GOD is in Control

It seems as if I have taken for granted that Christians know that GOD is in control. I have simply assumed that the teaching of scripture on this matter is clear. Yet, when I mention that GOD is the one who puts rulers in place, who establishes our president and our congress and our judges and even chooses our parents for us, it is as if I am teach some foreign doctrine or religion.

Daniel 4:17. This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.

Proverbs 20-21:1.The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.

And, for those who like to discount the Old Testament;

Romans 13:1. Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. 13:2. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.

Now, why does this matter? Because, if you do not know this, then you will never seek to understand exactly why GOD is giving us the leaders HE is giving us. Since there are so many Christians who have determined that people decide who is president and who the leaders are, and that GOD exercises no control over these things things or these people, they seek to fix things by fixing the government.

Which is why we do not fall on our face and pray and seek HIS face. We have been led, and are being led, to think we can fix it in our own power. Since we do not acknowledge GOD a sovereign in the affairs of men, we do not see that our efforts are to fight against what GOD is doing. So, we enlist the help of GOD in our fight against GOD to undo what GOD has done.

This is where humanism and humanist doctrines have landed us. We are under the chastisement of ALMIGHTY GOD and we think we can fix it in our strength. (“WE” meaning Christians)

Folks, I implore you to look into this. Learn this truth. Understand that GOD establishes our governments so you can seek to understand what is needed to turn HIS chastisements into blessings. Only Christians can do this. So, only Christians can be held accountable if they do not do this.

Witch Hunt

Once again I find myself compelled by the actions of those I have aligned myself with to write a blog of disagreement. Recently I read an article that said that this group took a vote and decided “Transgender” didn't exist. Really? We can just take a vote and decide something doesn't exist? These are not medical professionals. Most of them probably never heard of Transgender until the last year or two.

This spirit that has gotten such a hold on the Christian church (once again), is the same spirit that burned witches, ran the inquisitions, and allowed Christians to support killing the Jews in Germany. It is a wicked and evil spirit that draws Christian men and women into pursuits that JESUS never suggested we be involved in.

Now, obviously, we as Christians should define what is and is not of Satan. What is and is not of GOD. What is and is not acceptable in the Christian Church. Understanding sin, and defining it for our churches, is good an proper. Certainly no one can argue that point. Since the only information I have been able to find on this vote is from a “news paper”, I do not know the intent or scope of this proclamation. What I do know is that it flies in the face of science and medicine. What I do know is that the idea of a group of non-professionals voting on something doesn't actually alter what that something is. It really just shows Christians as people who choose to be ignorant and stick their head in the sand. It is no wonder we can't accomplish anything in this society when we simply choose to dismiss what we do not like.

It is good to have a zeal for that which is good and right and holy. But, I think a quote from Paul best describes the Christian leaders of our day, “I attest of them that they have a zeal for GOD, but without knowledge.”

I am not sure what this proclamation has to do with the work JESUS sent us out to do. I doubt it will save one soul or lead one lost person the knowledge of GOD. I expect it is just another stumbling block set up between those who need a savior and the SAVIOR they need. This spirit that is at work in this organization is from Satan and those who know JESUS need to pray it out of here.

I love the Christian brothers and sisters of the denomination I belong to, but I really hate a lot of what they are doing, as it has nothing to do with JESUS or kingdom work and is just distracting our time and money from the real task at hand.

“Means and methods used for the improvement of society and the establishment of righteousness among men can be truly and permanently helpful only when they are rooted in the regeneration of the individual by the saving grace of God in Jesus Christ.” (From The Baptist Faith and Message)

Hobby Lobby

 

My pastor, bless his heart, asked me a tough question about the situation facing Hobby Lobby and their current court battle. The gist of the question was, “How does what you are saying play out in the real world?” I think I could have written a whole book on this question.

Of course, that was not the question at the time. But, as I pondered our conversation, I had to grapple with the very real aspect of being Christian in this society. There is a simple scripture that I thought would help to answer this question and as I prayed and meditated on it, the LORD gave me an even deeper understanding of some things.

For those who do not know, Hobby Lobby is embroiled in a lawsuit over being forced to supply insurance that would cover certain birth control methods that their founder finds unacceptable and against his religious beliefs as a Christian. There is more to it than that and there are always additional facets to issues that make everything less black and white. Yet, as I thought about it, it really is black and white.

In the book of Romans, chapter 13, the first couple of verses, Paul writes to us a very real truth. ALL authorities are established by GOD and to resist the authorities is to resist the ordinances of GOD.

13:1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.

13:2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation

In the case of Hobby Lobby, they have chosen to resist the ordinances of GOD by choosing to resist the authorities GOD has set in place. The provisions of Obamacare include the mandate that Hobby Lobby has determined to resist and to defend themselves against.

Regardless of who or why, a lawsuit has been brought against them to force them to comply with the law established by the authorities. In short, Hobby Lobby has chosen to resist the ordinances of GOD, in the name of GOD, and have asked GOD to help them.

They will stand before an authority that is put in place by GOD and will be tried. The outcome of this trial being fully in the hands of the GOD who has established the authorities and the ordinances which are currently at odds with Hobby Lobby and it's religious beliefs. Now, I would not have you fully ignorant of the fact that there is extreme Biblical precedence for this type of resistance to authority.

In the book of Daniel there is a story of three young Hebrew boys who refuse to bow down to a golden idol even though the offense is punishable by death. If I were in the shoes of Hobby Lobby, I would reply to the judge of this case in the exact same way these young Hebrew boys replied to the king.

As a Christian who is more answerable to GOD than to men, I would place all of my hope in the mercy and power of GOD. However, Hobby Lobby is likely placing millions of dollars and a great deal of hope in some slick talking lawyers who have no power at all to affect the outcome of this lawsuit.

My response to the lawsuit would be to ask forgiveness for resisting the authorities and for mercy in the court ruling. My presentation to the judge would go something like this;

“Since I know that the authorities are established by GOD, and these current rulers are in office as a chastisement and punishment of HIS people, I accept that my resistance to the ordinances established by the current leaders of our nation is a resistance to the ordinances of my GOD.

Throughout all of God's dealings with HIS people, HE has chosen to raise up Godless men and nations to take His people into captivity. So it it is today. I, therefore, have acknowledged to God, and now to this court of law, that I stand as the young Hebrew boys in the book of Daniel. We have no defense against the charges brought other than to honor our conscience before God in the way we have chosen.

Whatever happens in this court is in the control of JESUS the CHRIST. Either He will save us from the fiery trials and deliver us from this unscathed, or He will let the full fury of the law and ordinances be felt upon us. Either way, we cannot in good conscience bow down before this king or the idols it has erected.

In times past, America has been a nation of morality and decency. It is sad to see the decay that has taken place over the last 100 years, or even the last fifty.

When this company was founded, it was operated with Christian values and principals in mind. It was started at a time when those things were celebrated. Those times have passed. With them, perhaps, the time for this company. Should it be found true and appropriate that our government should have changed so much as to force a company to fund that which is abhorrent to it's founders, then this court will establish that truth. Should this court establish that truth, then Hobby Lobby will no longer be able to continue to do business under the current rulers of the nation.

The determination of these things is in the hands of GOD. Should HE choose that Hobby Lobby continue or end, HE is to be praised and what HE determines in this courtroom will establish the future of this company.”

With that, I would give all to the hands of GOD and whatever HE decrees through the judge would be so. I know that the government and authorities are established by GOD and the current ones are there to be a chastisement for HIS people. So, even these laws, the laws that Christians wish to oppose, are from HIS hand.

It is a slippery slope when we decide GOD is no longer in control. Since HE controls everything, it is only through real humility and repentance that we will ever see HIS chastisements removed and HIS blessings returned.