CAUSE AND EFFECT
By Ken Walker
In one simple statement God gives us a warning and a
promise. God told us:
"My people are destroyed for lack of knowl-edge: because thou
HAST REJECTED KNOWLEDGE, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt
be no priest to me: seeing thou hast FORGOTTEN THE LAW OF THY
GOD, I will also forget thy children" Hosea 4:6.
Those words are very sobering and should send a shudder of
fear through every man and woman in the United States of America,
and especially for Christians. According to God's word we have
brought a death sentence to our children. Read the last part of
Hosea 4: 6 again and understand that God does not utter words
just to hear Himself talk.
I know that some of you will say that in the passage in
Hosea God is only talking to His people, the physical Nation of
Israel. Read Romans 9:6b again and truly understand what God
meant when He said "...they are not all Israel, which are of
Israel." If we put Galatians 6:16 with this statement it will
help our understanding. When God said "my people" (in Hosea 4:6)
He is referring to someone who calls on Him, and whom God has
called and placed His name on. In our modern language we commonly
call them professing Christians."
The recent financial mess that the world nas found itself in
was, and still is, numbing to tre average mind. The sad part of
this situation is that we are still in financial trouble and the
worst could still be heading our way at breakneck speed.
Revelations 18 tells us of a complete financial meltdown in
these last days. Could this possibly mean that the following
statement by God is true? "For the LOVE OF MONEY is the root of
all evil..." 1 Timothy 6:10a.
The bullet that ricocheted through the financial empire of
this world was triggered by subprime loans, and the financial
derivatives that they were tied into. That bullet came from
America, commonly called a "Christian nation". Yes, the fiasco
that stretched worldwide came from the shores of a nation that
was founded on Religious freedom and a full and sincere belief in
the sovereignty of God.
In an oversimplification, among other bad real-estate
investments, many bad loans (subprime) were made, due to greed,
to take advan tage of America's Housing Bubble. Financial
"Security houses" (packagers) would then put the bad loans in
with a few good loans, put a good "spin" on them and sell them to
banks and other institutions through financial markets all over
the world. For the packagers, truth (morality) had no bearing on
what they were doing and wanted to accomplish. Truth was an
expendable item that would have hindered their progress.
We have a modern understanding for the word called "spin."
The way we use it now, we, in essence, make telling a lie
acceptable. It must be acceptable because we constantly accept it
from our Government and leaders in all walks of life. In truth, a
lie is all that a "spin" really is. Facts, morality and truth are
all irrelevant if they get in the way of us getting the results
that we want. We will take a statement of fact and present it in
whatever way that we choose to bring about the results that we
want. "Common folk" and true Christians call it 'lying' but
politicians, bankers and lawyers, call it putting a "spin" on it.
And that makes it acceptable???
Let us take a closer look and try to understand, at least in
a large part, the cause that brought about the effect that we can
see. Humans are a product of their teachings: The educational
resources that we have and the daily observations of the
environment that we live teach humans, both formally and
informally. If we understand that simple fact, then we understand
that as an individual and as a society, we are a product of our
education and our upbringing.
If we keep that simple fact in mind, what does that tell us
about our business leaders and our politicians? The effect of our
American business greed was a worldwide catastrophic event. If we
take a closer look at our CEO's, bankers, financiers, brokers,
politicians, merchants and companies, we also understand that
they too, are products of their education and upbringing. They
are simply a product of our society. In short, we have made them
what they are. Think about this and follow it through.
We also need to understand that the financial mess that the
world is in did not happen overnight and the repercussions of
this event will be felt for years. Perhaps the worst is yet to
come. It has already started to topple our "house of cards" that
we have built for ourselves to live in.
"Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth,
that shall he also reap" Galatians 6:7. God then describes in
detail, in verse 8, what we see happening in our nation now. "For
he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap
corruption..." All we have to do is to look at the news to
realize the depth of moral corruption that is rampant in our
"Christian society."
Morality comes from KNOWLEDGE OF GOD'S LAW. The Bible very
plainly tells us in Romans 7:7 that our knowledge of right and
wrong comes from God's Holy Law, the Ten Commandments. The
Apostle Paul explains that he would not have known what lust was
except the Law told him that he should not covet. The Apostle
Paul did not say that the Law made him lust (covet). On the
contrary, Paul explains very thoroughly that he was FULL OF LUST
and the LAW ILLUMINATED the problem. Paul then goes on to explain
that God also provides the proper (and only) solution for this
ugly problem of sin in our life. Knowing that we have a problem
and identifying it is the first step to seeking and finding the
cure.
Common sense tells us that if we do not know that we are
sick then we will not seek help. The Apostle Paul tells us the
purpose of God's Holy Covenant Law in very plain language in 1
Timothy 1:9,10 "Knowing this, that the Law is not made for a
righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the
ungodly and FOR SINNERS... (there follows a long list of evil,
sinful acts and lying is included) ...and if there be any other
thing that is contrary to sound doctrine."
Why is the law made for sinners? It is made to show us right
from wrong. It was made to show us what is wrong and dangerous to
us.
It was made to illuminate the problem so we will seek the
solution. It is pure and simple. "THY WORD IS A LAMP UNTO MY FEET
AND LIGHT UNTO MY PATH" Psalms 119:105. What happens when it is
dark and you take away the light? We usually stumble and fall off
of the path and hurt ourselves. That is what has happened here in
America. The light that only the truth of God can bring has all
but gone out here in America. This is the 'cause' that shows us
the 'effects' that we see every day now.
As a Nation and as individuals we are without excuse. There
are churches on almost every corner. The name of Jesus is
everywhere that we look, from churches to billboards to business
logos and signs. Think about what happens when an individual
stumbles in the dark (because the light has been taken away) and
bangs their knee hard. Usually they will utter the name of God or
Jesus followed by other words that are not reverent in any way.
The same thing happens when a carpenter hits his thumb with a
hammer. This automatically tells us that God and/or His Son,
Jesus Christ is etched indelibly in our minds. We are absolutely
without excuse.
We call ourselves a Christian Nation. However, we need to
think about what kind of a witness our "Christian Nation" is for
Jesus Christ.
We are a society that believes and teaches that there are no
absolutes for morals. Most of our churches believe and teach that
whatever we believe is okay as long as we "believe in Jesus." Our
society, as a whole, believes that if we think it is okay and it
does not hurt anyone else then it must be all right.
History tells us of another time when every man did what was
right in his own eyes. "In those days there was NO KING in
Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes"
Judges 21:25. Now ask yourself this question. If modern
Christianity is pushing the belief that every person can do what
he sees as right in his own eyes, as long as they claim the name
of Jesus, how can they turn around and then tell anyone that they
have a King and His name is Jesus? The Bible has just told you
and me and the whole world that if this is the condition that we
are in, then THERE IS NO KING HERE no matter what we say. How can
we keep a straight face and say to people that we serve KING
JESUS when God has just said the opposite? We have just given you
a perfect example of how we make use of the word "spin." We have
just put our own "SPIN" on the truth! No matter what words we
use, our actions and beliefs tell the world a different story.
Remember that God is not the author of confusion (1 Corinthians
14:33).
We can now begin to understand the root cause of the effects
that we witness every day in the news. The cause stems from the
fact that we have become a Godless society despite being
bombarded by the name of God and Jesus constantly. We have become
a LAWLESS society in America despite the mountain of man-made
laws that we have created. We have so many laws that Congressmen
keep a very large staff to keep up with the laws and try to
understand them, because one man could not do it.
All of this is to try to legislate morality because our
society has totally rejected God's Holy Covenant Law that teaches
us morality. God uses a simple form that is so profound that we
have a hard time comprehending the depths of its wisdom. It is
called the Ten Commandments. So with all of our secular laws we
end up in reality being a lawless society and we see and feel
the results.
MODERN CHRISTIANITY, for all of its rhetoric, TEACHES
LAWLESSNESS and then tries to disguise it as righteousness in
God's name. Didn't God have something to say about not using His
name in vain? "Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God
in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his
name in vain" Exodus 20:7. Read the last part again and
understand the depth of this simple statement. When we make a
mockery of God and take His name in vain (for our own use and not
for the intended use) He WILL HOLD US GUILTY. There is a price to
pay for this disobedience. Only the second and third Commandments
have a direct stipulation for punishment included in them. Could
it be that this is in addition to "THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH" in
Romans 6:23? We cannot teach and preach lawlessness in God's name
and walk away free and clear. That is a promise from God. Think
about it.
Christianity tries to teach that God's Holy Covenant Law was
nailed to the Cross along with Jesus, but that means that we
would be lawless. This also would mean that we are sinless and in
no need of a savior. How can I say this? "SIN IS TRANSGRESSION OF
THE LAW" (1 John 3:4). If we have no law then we have no sin. Are
you living in a world that has no murder, rape, robbery, lying or
cheating? Every day I am surrounded with news of these and other
terrible evil events. Evidently then, sin is still abounding in
this world. That means that the law that defines sin, the Ten
Commandments, is still here, alive and healthy just as God said
it would be.
What we are being taught by MODERN Christianity is totally
contrary to what the Apostle's taught (Romans 7:7,12,14,22/ 13:
9,10/ 1 Tim 1:8-11/ James 2:8-12/ 1 John 3:5/ 5:2,3/ Rev.22:14).
The Apostle Paul told us that one of the purposes of our
transformation through Christ is not to do away with the Law of
God but "That the RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE LAW MIGHT BE FULFILLED IN
US..." Romans 8:4. Is that not what Jesus meant when He said
"Think not that I am not come to destroy the law, or the
prophets: I am not come to destroy, but TO FULFILL" Matthew 5:
17.
Modern Christianity teaches us to "love one another" (Romans
13:8) but modern Christianity does not teach us that "Love is the
fulfillment of the law" (Romans 13:10). Simply put, we are told
that the Law of God was abolished but yet we are told to fulfill
it. This is another SPIN on the truth of God. As the old saying
goes, we want to have our cake and eat it too! This is very
confusing. I thought that God was not the author of confusion. As
reality slowly sets in we should begin to understand what kind of
a testimony that we, as a Christian Nation, present to the world.
The "cause and effect" that we are talking about has spread all
through our commercial and political system even to the highest
levels.
If we think that the effect that we, as a society, have
caused does not reach to the highest levels of our country we
only have to think about "ACORN" and I am not talking about the
kind that the squirrels eat. Could it be that God is allowing us
to have what we want and deserve?
To understand this a little better, think about the leaders
that we have in all aspects of our society now. Where did they
come from? What did they come through to get where they are now?
What was the foundation of their childhood like? The answer to
these questions would tell us the impetus of their formative
years that molded them into the adults that they now are. Were
they raised in a God-fearing, Bible believing society? No! Our
present leaders were RAISED AND TAUGHT in a permissive society
that was trying as quickly and fervently as they could to become
a GODLESS SOCIETY.
The professors in our Universities and Colleges are a
product of the same society and environment. They thrive on and
push the anti God, no absolutes movement in the name of
"Freedom." In other words, in the institutions of higher learning
in our society, morals are far from being an important aspect of
teaching or practice.
God warned us that this was coming.
"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine;
but AFTER THEIR OWN LUSTS SHALL THEY HEAP TO THEMSELVES TEACHERS,
HAVING ITCHING EARS. And they shall TURN AWAY THEIR EARS FROM THE
TRUTH, and shall be turned unto fables" 2 Timothy 4:3,4.
When we think about this it should not come as a surprise
that we now have a multitude of men and women with MBA's who are
turning out to be the least moral generation of leaders that we
have ever seen in America. This sickness that is caused by a lack
of morals has spread across every segment of our society and that
includes religion. You do not have to search very far in your
memory to find current "religious empires" that have collapsed in
our lifetime due to moral scandals.
Jesus warned us that this condition was coming in the last
days, which is our time. In Luke 18:8b Jesus made a comment that
we need to truly meditate on with fasting and prayer. When Jesus
was commenting about God avenging His children at Armageddon
Jesus said, "....when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith
on the earth?" Jesus was pointing at our day and our time of
life, because we are very near His second coming. Was Jesus just
having an idle chat with His buddies? How could Jesus wonder such
a thing when His name and God's name is everywhere that you look?
After all there are literally hundreds of millions of people that
proclaim the name of Jesus when they go to Church, at least twice
a year, on Christmas and Easter. Is that not enough? If we are
smart enough to figure out that this attitude is a mockery of God
and that it IS taking His name in vain, then we realize that God
obviously understands that fact also.
God and His son Jesus knew what this world would be like in
these last days. Jesus said that "...strait is the gate, and
narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and FEW THERE BE THAT
FIND IT" Matthew 7:14.
God knew that our "Christian Nation" would be in trouble in
the last days. That is why God said to "...COME OUT OF HER MY
PEOPLE" in Revelations 18:4. In verse 8 of the same chapter God
then explains to us that if we stay in that false religious
system we will suffer the same fate that has been promised to
her. The "HER" that is spoken of is the false religious system of
Babylon as shown to us in the book of Daniel and in Revelation,
especially in Chapters 17 and 18 of Revelations. Remember that
God's third Commandment tells us that God will not hold us
innocent if we take His name in vain. Obviously, this would
include false, apostate Religions and Church systems.
So then what should you and I do? What can we do?
"CRY ALOUD, SPARE NOT, LIFT UP THY VOICE LIKE A TRUMPET, and shew
my people their transgression and the house of Jacob their
sin--Let the priests, THE MINISTERS OF THE LORD, WEEP between the
porch and the altar, and LET THEM SAY, SPARE THY PEOPLE, O LORD,
and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should
rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where
is their God?" Isaiah 58:1 and Joel 2:17.
We will close this article with God's eloquent words from
Proverbs 30:11-14.
"There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not
bless their mother. There is a generation that are pure in their
own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness. There is a
generation, O how lofty are their eyes! and their eyelids are
lifted up. There is a generation whose teeth are as swords, and
their jaw teeth as knives, to devour the poor from off the earth,
and the needy from among men."
......
From the March 2010 edition of "ACTS" magazine, a publication of
the General Council, Churches of God (Seventh Day), Meridian, ID,
USA.
Ken Walker is Director of Missions for the GENERAL COUNCIL and
resides in MO. with his family. Ken is also the speaker for the
Missouri Watchman radio program which is currently airing in
Nigeria, Africa.
Scripture emphasis is added by Mr.Walker.
|
