What is Man?

Originally the term "man" was not merely referring to an adult male but to humanity in general.  The Hebrew word "adam", and the Greek "anthropos" were generic, referring to both sexes.  In the Genesis story God "male and female created he them" (Gen. 1:27).  The doctrine of original sin is that both male and female sinned and suffered the consequence.  We died spiritually (and eventually in the flesh as well).  As a result of the "fall" we were driven from the garden of Eden.  According to the Psalmist we are all conceived in sin (Psm. 51:5).  Apostle Paul wrote, "For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all shall be made alive" (1 Cor. 15:21-22).  To the Ephesians he wrote "And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience" (Eph. 2:1-2).  Today some will argue that there is no sin gene therefore this inherited problem cannot be true.  This is a spiritual problem however not a genetic one "for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God" (Rom. 3:23).  Muslims argue from the same view, they say that everyone was born Muslim (without sin) and fell away.  Anyone who has had to deal with a two year old will recognize the selfish nature of an infant.  If  he were born with the strength of a 200 pound adult he would be uncontrollably destructive and deadly to everyone around him.  Fortunately the child learns through discipline to restrain himself as he grows into his or her self.  Yet that sinful nature is always lying hidden inside.  We see a glimpse of it as anarchists tear up our cities.  Jeremiah the prophet wrote, "The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; who can understand it? (Jere. 16:9).

There is a heresy that often arises among evangelists that is called Pelagianism.  It is named after a British monk around 400 AD.  His theology it appears arose from a desire for holy piety calling men to be accountable for their own sins and not blame some inherent problem of Adam.  Charles Finney was one who we would label a Pelagian though he bore much positive fruit for the kingdom of God.  During the time of Pelagius, Augustine argued from a different perspective which has brought about other extremes that have come down to us in the form of Calvinism. 

Another twisted view of the fall of man is promoted by the Mormon church.  They claim that by eating the forbidden fruit man fell upward and became like God knowing good and evil.  And this they consider a good thing.  However, we call it a curse, which got us driven out of the garden.

Love Ain't What it Used to Be

Liberals and cults are famous for using terms that are misleading or down right deceptive.  The list above is one that is appearing around the nation.  At first glace one might think, that is simple enough.  The problem is, it is too simple.  We could take each line apart but let's just take one.  "Love is Love".  For those that don't study the bible it might come across as a fair statement but for those of us who have had to look at the original words in Greek or Hebrew we are faced with a problem.  In English we have only one word for love whereas in Greek there are several.  Is the love you have for your wife the same as a cowboy might have for his truck?  Or is your love for pizza the same as your love for your mother.  Or how about your love for a pet, is it the same as your love for a family member.  Love for some people is so twisted that it is confused for lust.  For other selfish people they will sacrifice relationships with humans over that of their pets (their pets will put up with them whereas humans will not).

A soldier in battle might have love for his comrades or his country such that he would lay down his life.  But it is not likely he would lay down his life for a truck (unless that truck is the only way to safety for his friends).  Put simply, words and simple phrases need definition because they mean different things to different people.  How about the line "Science is Real".  Real what? 

God so loved the world that he gave his Son Jesus as a sacrifice for our sins. 

Others love God's creation rather than God himself.  Admittedly God's creation is awesome and we should take care of it but to replace it for God is idolatry.

Another misleading statement found on signs is "all people are equal".  Tell that to a blind person or someone born with no limbs.  This egalitarian notion sounds good in politics but does not fit well in the real world.  If one is a foreigner and not a legal resident we are not equal in society.  From a biblical perspective we are equal in that we are all born into a fallen creation in need of redemption.  Jesus said unless we are born again we cannot enter the kingdom of God.  So there are two classes of humans.  Jesus even said to one group that their father was the Devil thus making an obvious distinction between those in His kingdom and those of this fallen world.

Cults Always Redefine the Terms

The word Trinity is a classic case of how people redefine terms to fit their religious view.  All cults either attack the concept of the Trinity flat out, or they will say they believe in the Trinity while redefining what it means.  The Mormons will often say they believe in the Trinity while being polytheists, that is believing in many gods.  They will claim the Father, Son and Holy Ghost are not one God, only one in purpose.  The Muslims will reject the Trinity based on what the Quran says, that is, the Father, the Son Jesus, and his mother Mary are the Trinity.  At least the Jehovah's Witnesses are honest and will reject it flat out as something dreamed up by the Catholics.

The reality is that our Father in heaven is obviously God (though Muslims will reject the title Father).  When Apostle John wrote that the Word was God and that he became flesh in 1:1,14 it seems quite clear.  The Jews knew what he was claiming and picked up stones to kill him for blasphemy.

 Next we find that the Holy Spirit (or Ghost, for the KJV people) is referred to as a person not an "it" or an energy or force.   In John chapter 16 Jesus said "And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness, and judgment..."  An energy does not convict anyone, only a person can do that.  So there it is in a nutshell.  Within the one God there are three persons, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.  We are made in God's image and we also are triune; spirit, soul and body.

Perversion from the Head Down

Over the past few months we have seen the push for Drag Queens reading to kids at public libraries and bookstores.  Now Washington State Governor Jay Inslee has signed into law the Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE)  sex-ed curriculum in the face of outrage by parents.  This came about just as the schools were being locked down because of the Covid-19 virus.  Now we see people all over the state signing petitions to push back against the liberal LGBTQwxyz agenda.  All of this has been an on going battle in our schools for years.  They have been systematically placing gay friendly books on the shelves of our elementary school libraries hoping no one makes a fuss in effort to seduce our children and pervert their minds.  Those that speak out find themselves looking for a new job.  New teachers with piles of debt in school loans are stuck between a rock and a hard spot.

What is being passed off as education is nothing more than porn grooming and brainwashing.  It is an all out attack on biblical standards from K-12 and onward to college level sports.

 San Francisco 49ers lesbain assistant coach Katie Sower

While we have not seen the rainbow on the White House since Trump

 came into office the agenda of perverts continues to move forward.

Navel Pondering

Go ye therefore, preaching the rapture and thou shall be saved!

Omphaloskepisis in Rome

I sometimes wonder at the approach some church leaders use in studying the bible.  Where is the practical application?  What is being accomplished?  Are people really being equipped to reach a lost and dying world or is it nothing more than navel pondering?  Is there any power being imparted, any real insight into the kingdom of God or is it simply a study of scholarly gnat swallowing?  In order to dissect a frog it has to be dead, and when one dissects every word of a simple letter an apostle was writing to a church it too can end up like that frog.

The Humbling of an Entertainment Society

Our society has become one driven by entertainment.  As apostle Paul wrote we have become lovers of self and lovers pleasures rather than lovers of God.  Our children worship their sports heroes and Hollywood stars and cannot even look up from their fancy phones.  Therefore human trafficking has become biblical.  "Your sons and your daughters shall be given to another people, and your eyes shall look and fail with longing for them all day long; and there shall be no strength in your hand.  (Deu. 28:32)

Our borders have disappeared and we have been invaded by foreigners, “The alien who is among you shall rise higher and higher above you, and you shall come down lower and lower." (Deu. 28:43)

“The Lord will send on you cursing, confusion, and rebuke in all that you set your hand to do, until you are destroyed and until you perish quickly, because of the wickedness of your doings in which you have forsaken Me."(Deu. 28:20)

“Moreover all these curses shall come upon you and pursue and overtake you, until you are destroyed, because you did not obey the voice of the Lord your God, to keep His commandments and His statutes which He commanded you.  And they shall be upon you for a sign and a wonder, and on your descendants forever.  Because you did not serve the Lord your God with joy and gladness of heart, for the abundance of everything" (Deu. 28:45-47)

Then suddenly Coronavirus/Covid 19 shows up.  Entertainment comes to a screeching halt.  Hollywood and Nashville heroes find themselves on Youtube giving pathetic home shows thus exposing the raw fallacy of their talent.  Churches that had become platforms for liberal shows of prosperity hype are forced to close their doors.  

There is even something for those who worship the outdoors.  Both hunting and fishing have been outlawed. 

Beware of being broken off

Our attitude toward Israel the natural olive tree 

should be a humble one

And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree, do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you.

You will say then, “Branches were broken off that I might be grafted in.” Well said. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear. For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either.   -Apostle Paul to the Romans