"Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of Love to a thousand generations of those who love Him and KEEP his commandments"
Deut. 7:9"Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long."
Psalms 119:97"Love never fails"
I Cor. 13:8
There is much talk in Christian circles about "love." Yet how many of them know what kind of love God requires of them? Some have their own ideas what they think love is. Why should they know what love is when their spiritual leaders have failed to give God's WHOLE counsel on the matter? Others have bought the lie that loving others 'unconditionally' is Godly. It is much easier to simply love and accept everything and everyone because it avoids confrontation with sinners. But is this the kind of love God wants us to have toward a world who has forsaken it's Creator?
Christians today seem to think rebuking sin is somehow not a "Christian" thing to do. Is not the Bible the inspired Word of God? Is it not the manual we are to follow? Do you think that possibly God would have shown us how to 'love' a world that has strayed from His perfect Way?
"Love, in a general sense, means to be pleased with; to regard with affection, on account of some qualities which excite pleasing sensations or desire of gratification." WEBSTER'S 1828 DICTIONARY. "To Love" is the number one commandment given by God to His people! "On these two commandments depend the whole law and the prophets." (Matt. 22:40) What are those two commandments? "YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND." This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, "YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF." (Lev 19:18, Deut 6:5; 10:12; 11:1,13; 30:16; Matt 22:37-39)
What does God mean when He says, "to love Him with all your heart, soul and mind?" The key to understanding this kind of love is found in the words of our Savior Christ Jesus. "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments." (John 14:15)
To love God with all your heart is to love Him with your thoughts and feelings. (see Strong's Gk. word #2588, 'kardia') Our heart is the center of our emotions. The heart is the seat of our affections and passions, which includes love, joy, grief, hate, courage, pleasure, etc. With this knowledge a Christian can understand why Jesus said, "But the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and those defile the man. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders." (Matt 15:18,19) The heart can be vicious, right? How can we love God with all our heart when it is so evil?
Remember, love is also one of our emotions and by love we can overcome all others. How do we do this? II John 6 provides us with the answer; "And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, that you should walk in it." The psalmist provides us with great insight into this subject. "How blessed are those who observe His testimonies, (precepts) who seek Him with all their heart. (thoughts and emotions) They also do no unrighteousness; (violate His commandments) They walk in His ways." (obey His commandments) (Psalm 119:2,3) (emphasis and explanations added)
How can we follow His ways if we don't know them? Knowledge of the word of God and application of that knowledge will overcome all of the evil intentions of our heart. "For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12) We cannot "walk in His ways" and, at the same time, overcome the evil thoughts and intentions of our heart, if we don't have knowledge of His ways and believe that He means what He says. We are ultimately responsible for our lives, not our minister or teachers. We were admonished to "study to show thyself approved".
And so it goes. Loving God, "with all your heart", means letting the word of God apply to all things in life. Application of the word of God will then control your thoughts and emotions and it is well to remember that God placed heart love first in the foremost commandment, because our heart controls our life. "For as he thinketh in his heart, so he is." (Proverbs 23:7 KJV)
The heart has been defined as the subconscious part of the mind that stores original information. Such information, which comes from sight, hearing and other senses, thus forms our thoughts and actions. And the problem is this; the subconscious mind does not know the difference between right and wrong! Study and obedience to the word of God assures the Christian of what gets stored! Listed second in the foremost commandment is to, "Love God with ALL thy soul," The soul of a Christian is one's life. A living, breathing Christian is a soul. (see Strong's Gk. word #5590, 'psuche'.) (see also Strong's Gk. word for 'life' #5590) Adam became a living soul when God formed him from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the "breath of life." (Gen. 2:7) Strong's Hebrew word for soul, #5315, 'nephesh' means; a breathing creature. (see also Strong's Hebrew word for 'life' #5315) We can then read the second part of the foremost commandment to be, "Love God with all thy life." Thus Christ said in His parable concerning covetousness, "But God said to him, You fool, This very night your soul (your life) is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared." (Luke 12:20)
We do not live for ourselves, but unto God. If that is so, it doesn't matter what we think, but what God would have us do with our lives.
The soul (life) of a Christian or non-Christian is in the hands of God. In protesting his innocence from sin, Job spoke of this fact; "For what is the hope of the godless when he is cut off, when God requires his life?" (soul) (Job 27:8) A Christian who follows Christ is commanded; "Take no thought for your life." (Matt. 6:25) This is serious business! Devotion to Christ means; never giving a thought to what we shall eat, drink or wear! Do you fall short? We all do! Perhaps this is why the apostle Paul gave this warning; "For through the grace given to me I say to every man among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think" (Romans 12:3)
For good measure Paul left no doubt of the battle Christians must fight within themselves and the use of our life in Christ. "Let love be without hypocrisy, Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good." (Romans 12:9) When satan conversed with God regarding Job, satan knew the premium which men place upon their life and said, "All that a man has will he give for his life." (Job 2:4) Jesus said that the importance which man places upon his life can bring eternal death or eternal life; "He who has found his life shall lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake shall find it." (Matt. 10:39) "For whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake shall find it." (Matt. 16.25) Have we crucified self, what we think and feel God wants us to do, and turned our lives over to God, that is to seek HIS will and commandments and walk in them?
Someone has written; "Everyone wants to go to heaven, but no one wants to die." I'm not sure just how scriptural that statement is overall, but it is true that nobody wants to die. However, to put one's life and the desires of life above the commandments of God, is to invite eternal death. He is very serious about our obedience to Him! We pray the Lord's prayer but do we ever listen to the words we are praying to our Father? Don't we ask Him for "Thy will be done, Thy Kingdom come on EARTH as it is in heaven? Are we, Christians, too concerned about our eternal life to not care enough to see that God's will is done here on earth? Loving God with our soul, devoting our life to Him in everything we do, at home, in church and at work is the commandment of God! He created us, gave us our life, loves us, died for our sins and yet, somehow we think His commandments are unrealistic? He is Sovereign and is in total control of everything in the universe! "And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth." (Matt 28:18) Jesus follows this statement by commanding us to "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit," (Matt 28:19) Where? Every-where; at work, at play, at church, in state or out of the country, all Christians are commanded to do this with their life. Let's follow through now and find out just what we are to teach. "teaching them to observe all that I commanded you." (Matt 28:20) Teaching about Christ Jesus, His life, death and resurrection is just the first part of the "good news" of the gospel.
The third part of the foremost commandment is to "Love God with ALL your mind." The word 'mind' in this verse is Strong's Greek word #1271 'dianoia' and means one's understanding or intellect and that which is the will of a person. A study of all the Greek and Hebrew words for heart, soul and mind reveals a very close link between the three. Listed last in the foremost commandment, the mind comes your words and actions. Someone has written that "the interaction between the heart and mind determines the course of our life." It is either "garbage in-garbage out or truth in-truth out."
In your own study or in your study of someone else's work, you may come up with different definitions of heart, soul and mind. Do not let this deter you from the final truth. God commands us to live our life for Him! Our thoughts are to center around His word, our words must be seasoned with the word of God and our actions a result of His commandments. Surely there is no Christian who thinks so highly of himself that these commands do not humble him. "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23)
The second is like it, you shall love your neighbor as yourself." (Lev. 19:18, Matt 22:39) Who loves you more than yourself? About what person do you think about the most? Whose teeth do you brush and whose body you bathe, feed and worry about the most? God is not being critical about this self concern. He simply says, "love other Christians with the same concern." One of the difficulties in understanding this verse is that Christians are taught that neighbor means; anyone in the world! The Greek word for NEIGHBOR in this verse is Strong's word #4139 'plesion' and means; near or close by, a neighbor, i.e. fellow (man, countryman, a Christian or friend). Does not the parable of the 'good Samaritan' teach us that our neighbor is the one who obeys God's commandments, whether they claim to be "Christian" or not?
We must turn to the word of God for a better understanding of the word 'neighbor'. When the Apostle Paul wrote the letter to the Romans he said, "I would not have you ignorant brethren," (Romans 1:3) The word 'brethren' in this verse is Strong's Greek word #80 'adelphos' or 'delphus'. Notice the similarity in definition of the words brethren and neighbor. Brethren; (the womb); a brother (lit or fig.) near or remote, brother. The word 'brother' as used in James 4:11; "Speak not evil one of another (but brethren); He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the Law, and judgeth the Law; but if thou judge the Law, thou art not a doer of the Law, but a judge.", is the same Greek word #80 for brethren! When James wrote in James 2:23 that "Abraham was called the friend of God," the word 'friend' in this verse is Strong's Greek word #5384 'philos'. Philos means; dear, i.e. a friend; fond, friendly, an associate, neighbor, etc. James also wrote about friends of the world; "Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God." (James 4:4) Have Christians given "hearty approval" of a world that has made itself an enemy of God? We can now ask ourselves this question; Who are our friends, our neighbors, our brethren, our brothers, our close associates? Are they not our friends in Christ, our neighbors in Christ, our brethren in Christ, our associates in Christ? If not, are we friends 'of the world' and thus made ourselves 'an enemy of God'?
Have we, Christians, failed to heed Col 2:8? "See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the traditions of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ."
John wrote that Christ, "made us to be a kingdom". (KINGS) (Rev. 1:6) The word 'kingdom' or properly 'kings' in this verse is Strong's Greek word #935 'basileus' and means; a sovereign! We don't act like sovereigns do we? As a matter of fact, we act like slaves! Why? Because we have been taught that this (present) world belongs to "satan". God says, "The earth is the LORD'S, and all it contains, The world, and those who dwell in it." (Psalm 24:1) How did "satan" and his followers gain control of the world? God did not give it to "him", God gave it to us! "But you are a CHOSEN RACE, a royal PRIESTHOOD, a HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR GOD'S OWN POSSESSION," (I Peter 2:9) That is US, Christians! Isn't it about time we start acting like it? As kings and priests, under Christ, the King of kings, we have failed to enforce His Dominion and Authority and we, by disobedience, have turned it over to the ungodly. Is it any wonder we suffer so for disobedience? (Deut. 28, Lev. 26) Peter wrote, "Therefore gird yourself for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance." (I Peter 1:13,14)
Now that we know who our neighbors are and who we are, how should we treat each other in obedience to God? "Love thy neighbor". First of all 'love' starts at home. "But if anyone does not provide for his own, (brothers in Christ) and especially for those of his household, (family members) he has denied the faith, and is worse than an unbeliever." (1 Timothy 5:8)
This study cannot begin to list the verses regarding our required love for God or other believers. Entire chapters and books of the Bible are devoted to this subject. Here are but a few revealing verses about loving our "Neighbors."
1. Take no vengeance personally against our
neighbors. (Lev. 19:18, Rom. 12:19)
2. Bear no grudge (Lev. 19:18)
3. You shall not steal from your neighbor. (Lev.
19:11, Eph. 4:28)
4.Nor deal falsely (Lev. 19:11)
5.Or lie. (Col. 3:9, Lev. 19:11, Eph. 4:25)
6.Or oppress thy neighbor. (Lev. 19:13)
7.Or withhold wages. (Lev. 19:13, James 5:4)
8.Do no injustice in judgment. (Lev. 19:15, Rom.
2:1, Matt. 7:1)
9.Nor slander your brother. (Lev. 19:16, 1 Tim.
3:11)
10.Or hate him. (Lev. 19:17, Matt. 5:44)
11.We are to be compassionate. (Hosea 6:6, Matt.
9:13)
12.Reprove them in private. (Matt. 18:15)
13.Be extremely forgiving. (Matt. 18:21,22, Gal.
6:1, 2 Cor. 2:5-8, Col. 3:13)
.
14.We are to accept the weak in faith and strength
en them. (Heb. 12:12,13, Rom. 14:1, Rom 15:1)
15.We are not to be a stumbling block. (Rom.
14:13, 1 Cor. 8:13)
16.We are to pursue peace and build up one anoth
er (Rom. 14:19, Ps. 34:14, 1 Thes. 5:11)
17.We are to bear one another's burdens (Gal. 6:2)
18.We are to be humble, gentle and patient. (Eph.
4:2)
19.We are to be kind and tender hearted with one
another. (Eph. 4:32)
20.We are to live in harmony and be sympathetic
(1 Peter 3:8)
21.We are to be like minded. (Phil 2:2, Rom.
12:16)
22.We are to regard others as more important than
ourselves (Phil. 2:3, Rom. 12:10, Eph. 5:21)
23.We are to teach and admonish one another.
(Col. 1:28, 3:16, 1 Thes. 5:14)
24.We are to honor widows among Christians.
(1 Tim. 5:3)
25.Be willing to die for one another as Christ did
for us. (John 15:12-14)
"If you belong to the world, it would love you as it's own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you." John 15:19
The new wave of "hate crime" laws are extremely dangerous to Christians. Get ready for the consequences because the Feds are now targeting these newly created crimes. On March 25, 1991, FBI Director William Sessions stated, "The bureau will vigorously purse cases of hate crimes in which the motivation is the victim's race, religion, sexual orientation and ethnic origin." (Rocky Mountain News, Page 28, March 26, 1991) Mr. Sessions did not give this report to a group of Southern Baptists, the Catholic Church, the Methodist Church or any other group of Christians. He gave this report to a group of godless people who sponsor, pay for and promote evil in our government and society. ("Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the LORD? Because of this, the wrath of the LORD is upon you." II Chron. 19:2) "Let those who love the LORD hate evil, for he guards the lives of his faithful ones and delivers them from the hand of the wicked." Psalms 97:10
To say that Christians are not the target of all such legislation is to mock God. You will either conform to the word of God in obedience to Him or to the godless anti- Christian 'world'. For too long Christians have ignored the pleas of God to return to His Law. We have ignored His judgment against us and our nation. "For the eyes of the LORD move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His. You have acted foolishly in this. Indeed, from now on you will surely have wars." (II Chron. 16:9) It is time to get off our pious high horse and humble ourselves before Him. Remember, Christ said, "IF you love Me, you would keep My commandments." Our obedience is not required, but can we claim to love God and not do as He asks of us?
"And My people who are called by My nam humble themselves and pray, and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." II Chronicles 7:14 Like it or not, Christians, we are now involved in a fight for our very existence. It will be wise to remember the verse quoted at the top of this study. "Love never fails." I Cor. 13
Some last words of encouragement and admonition: "Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong!" I Cor. 16:13 "A time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace." Ecclesiastes 3:8 "We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ." II Cor. 10:5 "
The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person, For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil." Ecclesiastes 12:13,14
"Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done."
Revelation 22:12
Power Through Intimidation
(A quote of a quote from the book, "When the Wicked Seize
A City",
Chuck & Donna McIlhenny Frank York.
Available at your local bookstore.)
One of the most revealing articles ever written about the objectives of the gay rights movement comes from 'Guide', a homosexual magazine. The article, "The Overhauling of Straight America" (November 1987), goes into considerable detail about how gays will conquer straight America through a combination of propaganda and vilification. The authors, Marshal Kirk and Erastes Pill, outline several strategies designed to weaken family-oriented America. Among them are:
1. Desensitization. "To desensitize the public is to help it view homosexuality with indifference instead of with keen emotion." The authors say it's imperative that gays talk about their gayness as much as possible on TV and radio until people become indifferent to homosexuality. Straights will eventually be desensitized to the point that homosexuality will be viewed as just any other lifestyle. The use of the term "lifestyle" itself lulls the moral sensibilities to include them along side other normal lifestyles.
2. Portray gays as victims, not as aggressive challengers. "In any campaign to win over the public, gays must be cast as victims in need of protection so that straights will be inclined by reflex to assume the role of protector."
3. Give the protectors a just cause. "Our campaign should not demand direct support for homosexual practices, but should instead make anti-discrimination as its theme."
4. Make the victimizers look bad. "To be blunt-they must be vilified...The public should be shown images of ranting homophobes whose secondary traits disgust middle America. These images might include the Ku Klux Klan demanding that gays be burned alive or castrated..." The article goes on to describe a media campaign to promote homosexuality and to defeat the straight world. Marshall Kirk has since expanded this article into a book, "After the Ball," which is a tactical manual on how to seize power.
Book Review:
"When the Wicked Seize a City"
by Chuck & Donna McIlhenny & Frank York
From the back of the book: "The house is on fire!" A highly publicized lawsuit...a house fire-bombed in the night...the shatter of windows smashed by politically (and wickedly) motivated vandals cut into the night... All because Chuck McIlhenny voiced God's condemnation of a behavior and life-style and protested the destruction of society that results from its practice. That behavior is homosexuality, and that life-style is the gay culture. He was subsequently hounded and terrorized in his own town. This book explores the rise of gay power and what it will mean if Christians do not organize and prepare for the battle.
"Chuck McIlheny is a dangerous man. If we had 10,000 more like him, America might experience a revival instead of suffering a moral decline. It is a call to arms for the rest of us." -Cal Thomas
"Chuck and Donna McIlhenny's stand for freedom is a real example to those who find themselves up against the law...I was glad I had a small part in helping this man during his trial by fire." - John W. Whitehead
Forward by Dr. Jay E Adams.
If you want to know all about the homosexual movement-even more than you may wish to know-and how you, as a Christian should relate to it, this is the book for you.
In the chapters that follow, you will read of the struggles of the pastor of a small church and his family, living in the midst of San Francisco, a city captured and controlled by gay activists. You will read about what happens when they make an outspoken stand against great odds against the forces of evil.
You might think that after attempts to burn down their church, threats on the lives of their children, lawsuits, and innumerable other attacks, Pastor McIlhenny and his family would exhibit bitterness or hatred. Nothing like that is found in this book. While at every point abhorring compromise with sin, the book exhibits throughout a remarkable compassion for those enslaved by the sexual movement which falsely promised them freedom. It is one of a kind; it should be read by every thinking Christian."
AMEN! "For He(Christ) must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet." I Cor. 15:25
Let us be found good and faithful servants.
Why The Total Media Blackout On Groups Trying To Help Gays?
Helping Gays Go Straight
The media and liberals have totally suppressed most news about the groups which work to help homosexuals who want to change into heterosexuals. Why are these people never interviewed on TV talk shows or written up in the press? Is it because their work goes counter to the liberal theme that the gay lifestyle is the same as that of straights?
Homosexual Anonymous
(H.A.) operates like Alcoholics Anonymous. They have chapters in 14 major cities. Nearly 30% of gays wish they weren't. Such radical groups as "Queer Nation" and "Act Up" do not have many members yet they receive major publicity.
H.A. is headed by Randy Childs of Philadelphia. For years he was an active homosexual until one day he made up his mind to change his life. Childs is now married and has a daughter. He maintains that homosexuality is a learned behavior stemming from an early emotional detachment from a same-sex parent. H.A. gives counsel to those who want to change.
The group holds discussion sessions for members who tell why they decided to give up the "gay lifestyle." Childs says: "It doesn't happen overnight. You change as you begin to discover the origins and roots of your homosexuality. The biggest thing is to be able to share it."
Others Help
Dr. William Masters and Virginia Johnson along with psychiatrist Dr. Lawrence Hatterer (15 years with New York's Payne Whitney Clinic) says that homosexuality is the, "result of environment factors." Frank worthen head of Love In Action says, "I was in the gay subculture for 25 years starting at age 13. I had been rejected in high school. I never had any close friends. By entering the gay lifestyle I thought I found such people. I was promiscuous which hurt my self-esteem. After the break-up of a 11 year homosexual relationship I was on the brink of suicide. When I made the decision to give up the gay lifestyle I felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders."
Sy Rogers heads "Turnaround" in Orlando, Fla.
Rogers says that it was difficult for him to change and he was tempted by other men to return to homosexuality. He managed to overcome such feelings and today is married and has a daughter. He says his group has a 70% success rate and that:
"You don't just wake up one day and say you are no longer attracted to men. We have 17 steps to recovery. The first is to avoid all contact with the homosexual community. Leave all your gay friends. Do not read gay publications nor frequent any of their haunts. Associate yourself strictly within the heterosexual community."
Helps Lesbians
Darlene Bogle, 43, of San Francisco was a practicing lesbian for 17 years. She was kicked out of the military before she finally succeeded in becoming a heterosexual. She wrote the book for women wishing to change entitled, "Long Road to Love - A True Story of Hope for the Homosexual."
Why are not these people featured on the Oprah Winfrey, Phil Donahue, Sally Jesse, and all the other talk shows? Why is their good work totally blacked out by the media? The are not "politically correct" and would counter the liberal propaganda that the gay lifestyle is just as natural and wholesome as the heterosexual life. This "Big Lie" will fall like the rest of their house of cards when the bright light of reality is shined down upon it.
Proof that homosexuals must cease all acts of sodomy is demonstrated in the following statistics: in 1978 about 1% of the homosexual community in San Francisco carried the AIDS virus. By 1979, a little over 1% of the homosexual community carried the virus. 1980-2%, 1981-4%, 1982-8%, 1983-16%, 1984-35%, 1985-75%. Once again, proof positive that homosexuality is actually a... DEATHSTYLE
"The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" Rom 6:23
Since we are on the subject of the media, the following poem and quote from Jerry Mandler's book seemed appropriate. Maybe it will help us understand the bias of our media today.
The TV is my shepherd
I shall not want,
It makes me lie down on the sofa,
It leads me away from the faith.
It destroys my soul.
It leads me in the path of sex and violence
for the sponsor's sake.
Yea, though I walk in the shadow of
Christian responsibilities,
There will be no interruption,
for the TV is with me.
Its cable and remote control,
they comfort me.
It prepares a commercial for me
In the presence of my worldliness.
It anoints my head with humanism
and consumerism.
My coveting runneth over.
Surely laziness and ignorance shall
Follow me all the days of my life.
And I shall dwell in the house
watching TV forever.
Four Arguments for the Elimination of Television
by Jerry Mander's, 1978
1. Television is the ideal tool for such purposes [creating
totalitarianism] because it both confines experience and
implants simple, clear ideas.
2. Television is an experience that can be had by virtually
everyone at the same time. With all people confined to the
same mental and physical condition, a single advertising or
political voice appropriate to the common mood can influence
everyone. Once diversity of experience is reduced to
television, a relative HANDFUL of people can control
everyone's awareness..
3. Beyond being a delivery system for commodity life, it
[TV] is the solder to hold that life together, the drug to ease
the pain of confined and channeled existence.
4. Though television passes for experience, it is really
more like "time out," as we shall see later...Its interaction with
the human body and mind fixes people to itself, dulls human
sensibility and dims awareness of the world.
5. By focusing people on events well outside their lives,
television encourages passivity and inaction...
6. Television encourages separation: people from
community, people from each other, people from themselves,
creating more buying units and discouraging organized
opposition to the system. It creates a surrogate community:
itself. It becomes everyone's intimate advisor, teacher and
guide to appropriate behavior and awareness. Thereby, it
becomes its own feedback system, furthing its own growth
and accelerating the transformation of everything and
everyone into artificial form. This enables a HANDFUL of
people to obtain a unique degree of power."
- For a more in-depth study on the media, we recommend "Television, VCRs and Christians" by James Bruggeman, available from Stone Kingdom Ministries, P.O. Box 6388, Asheville, N.C. 28816, $3.50 ppd
"Teaching you true and reliable words, so that you can give sound answers..." Prov. 22:21
This column has been dedicated to redefining our language from the "gayspeak" crowd who would pervert it for their own ends. There is power in words. Since all revolutions start in the hearts and minds of the people, words are key weapons in persuading the people to your cause. "They sharpen their tongues like swords and aim their words like deadly arrows." Ps. 64:3
Words are weapons of war! Maybe you are familiar with the old saying, "The pen is mightier than the sword"? It is true! "With persuasive words she led him astray; she seduced him with her smooth talk." Prov. 7:21. By redefining our words, sinners can persuade us to accept their perversion as normal.
For example, in past issues we talked about the word "gay". It used to mean happy, but today the perverts began using it to refer to themselves when they are anything but "happy". We pointed out in previous issues how SAD they really are. Then we started hearing about Homophobia, fear of queers. This is also used as a weapon against those who will not accept their perversion as "normal."
Words can lead astray or can build us up. They are weapons of war and are used to take the thoughts captive. "We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ." II Cor. 10:5 This is our duty as soldiers for our Lord and His Way. We have been in a war against the ways of the world ever since Christ came and "turned the world upside down." Either we take the thoughts of the world captive to the obedience of Christ or the world will drag us down into their "way" of thinking. Which is it going to be Christians?
The homosexual crowd is shoving and evangelizing their perversion in the face of others who don't share their abnormality. Where are the Christians evangelizing their lifestyle that calls such perversion an abomination and worthy of death? (Lev. 18:22, Lev. 20:13, Romans 1:18-32) The two cannot co-exist, one must conquer. Christians need to love their God and neighbors enough to preach the only "Way" that leads to life.
The homosexuals expect the majority of society to accept them when they are not content to accept the majority of society. This is called "faith". When Christians adopt this same sort of zeal for their God and lifestyle they will truly overcome the world.
"He who has found his life shall lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake shall find it." (Matt. 10:39) Our hope is in Christ, the price is the surrender of our will to His and our duty is to "overcome the world". This requires clinging to the correct words, and wielding them in defense of Christ's Kingdom, "here on earth as it is in heaven!"
Do we love our Father enough to defend Him and re- establish His Law and Word in the world again?
"For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil." 1 Pet. 3:12
Prayer is the burden of a sigh,
The falling of a tear,
The upward glancing of the eye,
When none but God is near.
Prayer is the simplest form of speech
That infant lips can try;
Prayer the sublimest strains that reach
The Majesty on High.
O Thou, by whom we come to God,
The life, the truth, the way!
The path of prayer Thyself hast trod;
Lord, teach us how to pray."
- The Nature of Prayer
By J. Montgomery, 1818
"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer."
Rom. 12:12