It just keeps getting more and more interesting and perplexing. I am just not quite sure what to make of it all. The list continues to grow of businesses that have been forced to close or threatened with enormous lawsuits because they refused to provide services for individuals/couples who are openly gay. The cry against these businesses is discrimination. The proponents of the LGBT community assert that they are being discriminated against due to their sexual orientation. To this assertion I would like to make a few observations.

First, and of utmost importance, is the extreme double standard we see in these assertions. Let’s take the state of North Carolina as a case in point. Due to the controversy of HB2, there has been a massive outcry against what is perceived to be bigotry and prejudice. Concerts by Pearl Jam, Bruce Springsteen, and Boston have been cancelled, as well as performances by Cirque de Soleil. As of this writing, thirteen conventions have also been cancelled. The double standard is obvious, is it not? Businesses have been forced to close due to their commitment to the owner’s Christian convictions, and yet no form of reprimand is issued against these businesses, bands and performers for their obvious bigotry and prejudice. Why is no one talking about this elephant in the room?

Second, as to the list of businesses which have been forced to close, my question is simply this: why do proponents of the LGBT agenda try to force their preferences on those who hold to a Biblical perspective on sexuality? There are other bakeries, bistros, pizza parlors, flower shops, and auto repair shops that would love your business. Why try to punish businesses that disagree with your lifestyle based on their beliefs and convictions? You have your convictions, and I have mine. Why not just respect each other enough to accept that we are different, and nothing we say or do is going to change that.

Third, and finally, I would like to make a personal statement of belief. I firmly believe the Bible is clear on the subject of human sexuality. God created man and woman, and designed them in such a way as to fulfill His command to procreate and fill the earth with their offspring. Six times in Scripture there is a clear prohibition against any same-sex sexual activity that is outside the bounds of God’s creative order. However, sexual deviancy takes many forms: adultery, pre-marital sex, incest, bestiality, sodomy, and sex between same-sex partners. Am I only opposed to same-sex partners? Absolutely not! As a Christian who believes the Bible to be God’s inspired word which gives us instructions in how to live a God-centered life, I must strive to live according to the whole counsel of God. Does that mean I am a perfect person? Far from it. I am a sinner like everyone else. But by His grace, I am a forgiven sinner, and now strive to live my life for His glory. That simply  means that I will not commit any of the sexual sins clearly forbidden in God’s word. Does that mean I will never feel the urge to engage in any of these sexual activities? No, we are all human, and in our fallen human nature we will have urges to engage in forbidden pleasure. But by God’s grace we are able to abstain. The person who has the urge to engage in an extra-marital affair is no different than the person who has the urge to engage in same-sex relations. But God’s grace is greater than those urges if we will yield our lives to Him.

God is a gracious, loving, compassionate Father to all who will come to Him in sincere faith and repentance. His grace covers all sin, but the sinner must meet Him on His terms. Confess that we are sinners, and that His Son, Jesus Christ, died for our sins so that we might be forgiven and enter into a relationship with Him that not only gives us grace to overcome all our sinful tendencies in this present, temporal life, but will also usher us into His eternal presence when we pass from this life into eternity.

What have I missed? I am completely baffled, perplexed, beyond confused. I sometimes feel like a modern-day Rumpelstiltskin – like I have somehow drifted off into a 20 year sleep, and have no…

Source: Dazed and Confused

What have I missed? I am completely baffled, perplexed, beyond confused. I sometimes feel like a modern-day Rumpelstiltskin – like I have somehow drifted off into a 20 year sleep, and have now awakened in a different time and place. My country has somehow morphed into a place with which I no longer can identify. And it has happened so quickly, so dramatically, that I am perplexed as to how this transformation has taken place.

This morning (April 7, 2016) I heard that a South Carolina state senator is planning to introduce a bill which would protect the citizens of the state from those who wish to use the public restroom of their choice. Even before the bill is introduced on the floor of the senate for discussion and debate, the backlash has already begun. “We must protect the rights of the LGBT community,” they say. “We must think about the economic impact a decision of this nature would have on our state,” they say. “We must learn the lesson our sister state to the north has now learned since their debacle over this same issue,” they say.

But I say, where did all this lunacy come from in the first place?  What happened to common sense and common decency? What happened to the idea of boys and men going to male facilities, and girls and women going to female facilities? Is that such a foreign idea? Even those in the LGBT community would have to agree that, even though they might “feel” like they are trapped in the body of the opposite sex, they still have the biological parts of the particular sex they were born with. I don’t understand why they can’t simply, for the sake of all things decent, make use of restroom facilities specifically for those of their birth sex.

For the sake of discussion, and with the hope of clarification, let’s think about the three hypothetical quotes I mentioned above. First, “we must protect the rights of the LGBT community.” How about this: I will protect your right to believe whatever you choose to believe about yourself. How about you being willing to protect the rights of our daughters, grand-daughters, sons and grand-sons, and not traumatize them by forcing yourself into a restroom of the opposite sex. You are asking us to respect you, when you show no respect for those who do not see things from your perspective.

The second quote above – “we must think about the economic impact a decision of this nature would have on our state” – is a knee-jerk reaction based on the actions of other states asserting economic sanctions on any state that would stand against the implementation of new restroom use guidelines. Why in the world should a state be penalized for upholding long-held guidelines which protect innocent eyes from being forced to look upon the exposed body of a person of the opposite sex?

And then, finally – “we must learn the lesson that our sister state to the north has now learned since their debacle over this same issue.” Well, what exactly have they learned? They have learned that a very small minority of the population can make demands to replace long-held policies and practices with policies that force their agenda on the entire state. They have learned that there are repercussions to taking a stand for decency and common sense. And they have learned that sometimes a stand for what is right proves to be very costly.

In my estimation, the cost, no matter how high, is always worth it if the fight is over the protection of the innocent. There are ways this matter could be handled without all the extreme volatility we are witnessing. Both sides of the issue must learn to respect the other, even though we disagree vehemently over the issue. And, bottom line, the protection of our children and grand-children should be absolutely the top priority in whatever decision is reached.

Christians claim to have a personal relationship with God through His Son, Jesus Christ. They take Jesus’ words literally when He said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). This is a claim that puts Christianity in a class by itself. It reveals Jesus’ belief that He is the only way for a person to have any hope of going to heaven when they pass from this life. The question I would like to address in this blog is twofold: 1) what gives Jesus the authority to make such an assertion; and 2) where does this leave all the other major religions of the world?

First, what gives Jesus the authority to make the claim to be the only way of salvation? This is certainly a rather exclusive view toward attaining a relationship with God. So, are we to take Jesus seriously, or are we to understand, as many do, that Jesus is only one of many sources of attaining a relationship with God? It has become more popular in recent years to believe that there are many roads that lead to a relationship with God. So how are Christians to give a reasonable explanation for their belief in Jesus being the only means of salvation?

The short, simple answer is that Jesus is the only leader of a religious movement that arose victoriously from the dead after having been executed. All other religious leaders have lived, and died, and their remains are still buried where they were entombed. This, if for no other reason at all, would be enough to establish that Jesus is superior to all others. No other religious leader has so affected the world as has Jesus. History is actually divided by the date of His birth (even though those who developed the Roman calendar missed His birth date by a few years). No one person has had such a transforming affect on humanity as Jesus. Christianity stands firm even though it has been assaulted by so many in so many ways.

So what do other religions think about Jesus? Some, such as Islam, think of Jesus as a great prophet and miracle worker. They do not deny the historical existence of Jesus Christ – they, however, reject the idea that He is the Son of God. Other religions, such as Buddhist, think of Jesus as one of many emanations from God, but not the only begotten Son of God. Judaism, the one religion that should most readily recognize Jesus as their Messiah, reject Him because He did not fulfill their belief in what the Messiah would do when He came (even Jesus apostles did not understand until after His death, burial and resurrection). Jesus is such a world renowned and recognized figure that all other major religions have to explain Him, or, to be more precise, explain Him away, so that their religious thought systems will make sense.

So, now, back to Jesus. Who is He? Well, He claimed to be God. He claimed the name by which God identified Himself to Moses in the Old Testament. When Moses asked God whom he might say sent him to Egypt to deliver the people, God said simply, “Tell them ‘I AM’ has sent you.” Jesus then claimed that name for Himself time and again during His life.  His miracles proved beyond all doubt that He had supernatural powers, which no founder of any other religion has ever displayed. And His ultimate victory over death, hell and the grave is the crowning victory that sets Him apart from all others.

Thus, we are left with His claim to be the only way to attain salvation, and to enter into heaven upon departure from this life. All other religious leaders and founders died, and are still dead. Jesus is alive! Would you trust your eternal welfare to someone who could not conquer death himself, or would you trust the only  One who won the ultimate victory? The decision is yours – but there is only one reasonable choice.

A question for the ages – why am I here? How many times have you asked yourself that question? How many times have you sat and pondered the meaning of life in general, and the meaning of your life in particular? Why was I born? Why am I here? What am I doing? Where am I going? These are certainly not new questions, but rather questions we all ponder from time to time.

In my personal observations, which, admittedly, are limited, it seems to me that there are more and more individuals who seem to struggle with these questions continuously. They never seem to find anything that brings satisfaction, or gives meaning, to their existence. They seem to wander aimlessly from job to job, from career move to career move, from one exhilarating experience to another, from one relationship to another, trying to find something, anything, that would make their existence meaningful and satisfying. And yet, with all the varied experiences, all the exciting encounters, they are still, when all is said and done, empty, void of any true feelings of fulfillment or any sincere feelings of self-worth. They are left perplexed with the same haunting questions about the meaning of their existence.

Then, you see others who seem to enjoy life to the max. They are fulfilled, satisfied, and content with their place in life. They seem to have found something that the majority of individuals never seem to attain. They have found their niche in life, their place in society, their worth in who they are, what they are doing, and where they are going.

Sociologists, anthropologists, psychologists and many others spend their lifetimes researching this very subject. What motivates one to be a farmer, or a butcher, or a doctor, or nurse, or fireman, or police officer, or to make a career in a branch of the military, or a host of other possibilities? Why is one drawn to a certain career while others are repulsed at the thought of spending their life doing what brings such fulfillment to another?

The answer, for those who believe the Bible to be the Word of God, is found in that precious Book. One does not have to be a Christian to understand the concept clearly taught in Scripture. We are admonished in the Bible to “train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” This is a simple principle: the wise parent will observe his children as they grow and develop, and will make note of the natural tendencies of each child. Some children show a great interest in science, or math, or sports, or music, or art. The wise parent will help their child develop those natural preferences, and that child will grow to do what God designed him to do.

In other words, being fulfilled in life is a matter of discerning the desires God has placed in our DNA, and finding a career that will give opportunity to fulfill those desires. This will ensure a satisfying, fulfilling, contented life – one in which you are excited for the dawning of every new day, because you are doing what you were genetically designed to do.

So, go for it! That love you have for music, science, math, farming, biology, architecture, finance, medicine is not by chance. It is by design, and you will be the best you can be when you are doing what you were born to do.

Having said all that, I would be remiss if I did not share that the greatest way of finding your meaning in life is through a meaningful relationship with the God of the Bible, which is offered to us through God’s Son, Jesus Christ. When you find your purpose in life through your relationship with Him, you will find the greatest source of satisfaction there is, in this life as well as the life to come.

Easter. Resurrection Sunday. The culmination of Passion Week. Without question, the most important day in all of human history. But how can we honestly say that? How can we believe that one day in history exceeds all others in terms of significance and importance?

Admittedly, there have been numerous days of momentous importance in the scope of human history. Days of national significance; days of international significance; days of such immense significance that they altered the course of world history. However, in comparison with this one day – resurrection Sunday – all other days of significance fade into nothing more than blips on the timeline of humanity. No other event in the history of the world comes close in comparison.

So, you might ask, what makes this day so important, so significant? The answer is so simple, yet so profound. It is on this day, resurrection Sunday, that one man, Jesus Christ, did what no other man had ever done. He descended into the darkness of physical death, into the realm of spiritual death, and faced the punishment of eternal death. Think with me about the three-fold death of Jesus for a few moments.

First, let’s think about His physical death. Biblical as well as secular sources verify the fact of Jesus’ death. He was falsely accused of blasphemy by His enemies. They asserted that Jesus claimed He was God, an assertion that would be totally absurd if it had not been true. Jesus, was, is, and always will be, in fact, God. The enemies of Jesus denied Jesus’ deity, and therefore concluded that He was guilty of blasphemy and worthy of death. Thus, His physical death is a matter of record.

Second, think with me for a moment about His spiritual death. God the Father and God the Son (Jesus) had enjoyed unbroken, intimate fellowship until the very moment of Jesus’ death. It was on the cross that Jesus cried out, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” It was in that moment, for the very first time, that the Father and Son were separated, as Jesus experienced the anguish of spiritual separation from His Father.

Yet, that was still not the most awful part of this experience. From eternity past God the Father had made a decree that sin would result in death. The decree would include physical death, spiritual death, and eternal death. In order for Jesus to pay the penalty decreed by His Father, He would have to suffer the full brunt of death: physical, spiritual and eternal. The difficulty we have in understanding this is that we think of the word “eternal” in terms of time. Yet, God exists outside of time, and therefore is not subject to time. The death of Jesus met the requirement for eternal death in that His separation from the Father, and His descent into hell, paid the penalty imposed by the Father for those who sinned, which is each and every one of us.

Therefore, resurrection Sunday is without question the most important day in all of human history because it was on that day Jesus won the ultimate victory over death, hell and the grave. And what makes this so unbelievable is that He did it for us! For me; for you! We can be the recipients of the amazing, saving grace of God because of what Jesus did on resurrection Sunday over 2000 years ago.

Don’t miss out on the true meaning of Easter. Let Jesus’ victory become your victory by placing your faith and trust in Him as the One who faced and conquered death so that you might have life.

Foundation integrity is essential for the strength and stability of whatever is built upon it. A building might appear to be sound structurally, but if the foundation is faulty, the building will eventually begin to deteriorate. A house with a faulty foundation might begin to show signs of that fault which are almost imperceptible: a door that no longer closes tightly; windows that allow air to flow through; walls that begin to show hairline cracks; foundation walls that begin to show signs of shifting. Eventually, if left unchecked, these minor displays of a faulty foundation will worsen until major repairs are needed to reestablish structural integrity. This could result in huge expenses to the building owner. If, however, the owner decides to pay no attention to the warning signs of structural instability, the building might suffer irreparable harm, which would result in total destruction.

There is one definition of the word that I would like to focus on in this blog: “[foundation is] the basis or groundwork for anything: ex. the moral foundation of both society and religion.” It is interesting that this definition links two essential elements of human civility together that are oftentimes viewed as elements that have absolutely nothing to do with each other: society and religion. A casual, cursory stroll through history bears out the importance of this indissoluble union. Every nation has had its dominant religion. There are nations that are clearly linked to Buddhism, or Hinduism, or Islam, or Judaism, or Christianity, or one of many others. The very foundation of those nations is established on the principles of the dominant religion. Thus, there is an indissoluble link between society and religion.

The United States of America was established on the principles of the Christian faith. It would be so easy to provide a plethora of quotes from our founding fathers and signers of the Constitution that would prove beyond all doubt that this claim is true. However, we have all read those quotes so many times that I would like to go elsewhere to share a few quotes from a non-American, an outsider who took time to study America, trying to find the secret to its greatness.

Alexis de Tocqueville was a famous 19th century French statesman and philosopher. He traveled to America in the 1830s with the desire to find the secret for the incredible success of this nation. Allow me to share a few quotes which reveal what he discovered.

Upon my arrival in the United States the religious aspect of the country was the first thing that struck my attention; and the longer I stayed there, the more I perceived the great political consequences resulting from this new state of things.

Religion in America…must be regarded as the foremost of the political institutions of that country; for if it does not impart a taste for freedom, it facilitates the use of it. Indeed, it is in this same point of view that the inhabitants of the United States themselves look upon religious belief.

I do not know whether all Americans have a sincere faith in their religion — for who can search the human heart? But I am certain that they hold it to be indispensable to the maintenance of republican institutions. This opinion is not peculiar to a class of citizens or a party, but it belongs to the whole nation and to every rank of society.

America is great because America is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, America will cease to be great. (All quotes are excerpts from de Tocqueville’s two volume work, “Democracy in America”)

Is it not clear that America has ceased to be good, which has resulted in the loss of her greatness? There are far too many directions we could go in discussing this matter, any of which would demand too much time and space for the purpose of this one blog. So, for the sake of brevity, let’s focus on one sign of the eroding foundation of a society built upon the clear teachings of Scripture.

Does the name Gary Hart ring a bell? It should. From the political landscape of the 1980s, Hart was a real up and comer. He had served as Senator from the state of Colorado, and in 1988 was the seeming choice of the Democratic party as their candidate for the presidency. His resume’ was impressive, and he had captured the hearts, and the votes, of most of the party. However, there was a crack in his armor. Rumors began to swirl that Hart had been unfaithful to his wife. Rumors turned to allegation – allegation to investigation – and investigation to incontrovertible evidence that the rumors were indeed true. Hart was humiliated, dropped his bid for the presidency, and became veritably unknown.

Now, let’s compare that to this present presidential campaign. I don’t want this to be a scathing denunciation of any candidates. Rather, I want this to be an expose’ of the American people. In 1988, a bright, shining star of the Democratic party was literally run out of town due to marital infidelity. Now, we have candidates who clearly are much more morally bankrupt than was Hart, but now, instead of being run out of town, they are applauded. The frontrunners of both parties are clearly subject to moral scrutiny. One has had multiple wives, and even stated in an interview that he would date his daughter, if she were not his daughter, because she is ‘hot’. The frontrunner of the other party has openly lied about email cover-ups, and her role in the Benghazi debacle, and is married to a former president who was known for his sexual exploits while in office.

Now please understand, I am not their judge. Only God has the right to stand in that role. I simply want to make an observation about the eroding of the foundation of America. Less than 30 years ago this country still showed a great sense of moral understanding, and stood for moral integrity. Now we have cast moral integrity to the wind. We are either clamoring to one because of promises of becoming even more focused on an entitlement society, or the other who is appealing to the mentality of “let’s throw all the bums out and start over again.” And we seem to show no concern for their moral integrity.

From the words of de Tocqueville, America is great because America is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, America will cease to be great. Let’s look beyond the heated rhetoric and vicious verbal assaults. Let’s look for character, integrity, morality. Then perhaps America can be great again.

We have all seen them – those pro-athletes who give an enthusiastic fist-pump at the completion of an impressive play. Like the quarterback, who gives the fist-pump after throwing the long touchdown pass. Or the pitcher, after serving up the three pitch strikeout. Or the golfer, who sinks the amazing sixty-five foot putt. Or the basketball player, who hits the half-court shot at the buzzer. With adrenalin surging, emotions out of control, a state of frenzied euphoria results in the animated fist-pump. And the crowd goes crazy!

What is it that pumps your fist? What is it that causes you to experience that adrenalin rush that results in the fist-pump of excitement?

For those of us who profess to be Christians, let me make the question a little more specific: “When was the last time you gave Jesus a fist-pump?” I realize that may sound a bit strange, but, humor me for a moment, and give this some serious thought.

To the Christian, Jesus Christ should be the most important person in the world. He should hold first place in all of our relationships,  in all of our endeavors, in all our ambitions, yes, in all of life. If I truly embrace the Biblical truth that I am to do everything I do to His glory, and my ultimate goal in life is to be conformed to His image, then He, and He alone, deserves every “fist pump” I ever give. He should bring more excitement and enthusiasm to life than any other person or thing.

In every relationship – husband/wife, parent/child, employer/employee, neighbor/neighbor, etc.; in every endeavor – education ambitions, career advancement, personal goals/objectives; in every activity – mowing the lawn, washing the dishes, writing that paper, preparing that presentation, etc. etc. In short, in EVERYTHING!

So how does that look? What does that entail? To put it as simply as possible, it looks like Romans 12:1-2. It is there that the Apostle Paul said, “Therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.” (HCSB)

We are admonished to give ourselves as living sacrifices. What a powerful image! In the Old Testament, God demanded of His people, Israel, that they offer dead sacrifices. It was the shedding of the blood of sacrificial animals that was required by the law. The emphasis was on the horrific consequences of sin – death – and the necessity of the shedding of blood for the atonement of that sin. The sacrificial animals, specifically the Passover Lamb which was offered at the feast of Passover, served as a graphic portrayal of God’s judgment against sin. And yet, the blood of that sacrificed animal served as an even more graphic portrayal of the fact that God had provided a means of providing atonement for His people.

The New Testament shows clearly that Jesus Christ fulfilled the requirements of the Passover Lamb, and thus died once for the sin of humanity. Thus, we no longer are required to offer blood sacrifices because Jesus, our High Priest, has entered the Holy of Holies with His own precious blood, securing once and for all, not atonement (the covering over of sin), but propitiation (the appeasement of God’s wrath toward sinful man). Therefore, God does not require a dead sacrifice, but rather a living sacrifice – each person who trusts the saving power of Jesus’ blood. That certainly deserves a fist-pump for Jesus, don’t you think?

So now, I show my fist-pump for Jesus by doing what I am instructed to do: give my body as a living sacrifice. I accomplish that by the renewing of my mind, taking upon myself the mind of Christ, as Paul teaches in Philippians 2. That means I no longer do what the world tells me to do, but rather I do what God’s Word tells me to do. I no longer look like the world, think like the world, act like the world, but I strive to follow the instructions of God’s word as it gives directions for life.

The conclusion of the matter is simply this: we are to give Jesus the fist-pump of our lives by giving our lives to Him. As we learn more of His will by searching His Word, we live our life according to His will, and that will result in our being able to “discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.”

Fellow Christian, fellow pilgrim passing through this earthly life, let’s give Jesus the fist-pump He deserves! Let’s give Him our lives as living sacrifices that He might use us for His glory.

I will admit from the beginning that I ramble quite a bit here, but please read to the end before making a judgment. I, like many Americans, have been watching with keen interest the politicians as they debate and argue over the issue as to who would best serve the American people as POTUS. We have listened to their rhetoric, their raw and vicious verbal assaults on each other, and their over-blown promises of all they would accomplish if they were given the privilege to serve our nation. So, what is the answer?

I don’t claim to have THE answer, but I would like to make a few observations. I believe that what we are witnessing in this presidential election process is the graphic portrait of a nation void any spiritual moorings. I am reminded of the many times in the Old Testament in which God would allow His own chosen people, Israel, to suffer dire consequences for their rejection of God as their Supreme Ruler.

Now I know – I can hear those who would say, “We are not Israel, so don’t start using that analogy. It just doesn’t work.” Or others who would interject, “Religion has no place in politics, and politics doesn’t need religion.” Still others might contend, “Let’s leave that church talk in the church – we have more important things to discuss.”

However, I would contend that the most important thing to discuss has been pretty much swept under the rug. I am not referring to the religious aspect of our nation, but rather to the spiritual aspect. Some would say that there is no difference, and that it is only a matter of semantics. But I would deny that assertion vehemently. I will be the first to concur that religion has, many times in the past, in this nation as well as others, caused irreparable harm. Religion has caused wars, and continues to do so to this very day. What is the war on terror other than a war against a radical form of religion, Jihadist Islam in all its varied forms. Religion has been one of the most destructive forces in the entire history of the world.

But, I am not talking about the absence of religion, I am rather talking about the absence of true spirituality, which is based, not on religion, but on a relationship with God through His Son, Jesus Christ. Allah commands his followers to kill anyone and everyone who does not agree with Islam. Jesus did not come to kill, but to be killed, to give His life as the sacrifice demanded by His Father which would secure salvation for those who would turn to Him in repentance and faith.

Now, back to the subject at hand. What does this have to do with the United States of America, and specifically with this presidential election? It only takes a quick review of history to see that this nation was founded on the principles of Scripture. Many of our founders embraced Christianity, and even those who did not gave testimony to their belief that this nation would only survive as long is as it is governed by those who embrace Biblical principle. Thus, when we do as Israel did, turn our backs on God and His Word, then we open ourselves up to experience the same type of consequences as did Israel of old.

And what exactly did that look like? Simple, God gave them over to themselves! He would strive with them for a time, calling them to repentance and spiritual restoration. When they refused to return to God, He would give them over to their desires. That is exactly what we see happening in our nation. God has given us over to our desires. And what are those desires?

A large segment of our society wants to live on hand-outs from the government. They refuse to work, while expecting the government to provide everything they need. And where does the government get the funds to pay for those who refuse to work? You got it! From those Americans who DO work, and pay their taxes, and live peaceable lives. There is a Biblical principle which speaks clearly and forcefully to that mentality: Paul says that if a man does not work, he should not eat. Pretty clear, huh? We are not talking about those who CAN’T work, but those who refuse to work.

One of our major political parties believes in the government being everything to everybody, and the other believes in maintaining a society in which free enterprise gives everyone the opportunity to make a living on their own. Biblically, the choice between the two parties should be crystal clear.

Let me hasten to say, however, that this is not about Democrat or Republican, or even Independent or Libertarian, or Socialist, or Communist, or any other political persuasion. This is about a nation of people who have become spiritually blind. We have embraced so many social practices that are completely contradictory to Scripture, and yet don’t see the truth. We have candidates who show no regard for God or godliness, and yet we clamor to them simply because they either promise a hand-out, or promise to make America great again, but neither show any concern about the spiritual bankruptcy of the nation.

When you go to the poll and cast your vote, what is it that will be the determining factor in your choice of candidate? If you profess to be a Christian, could I encourage you, even urge you, to listen to what these candidates are saying about things that really matter. Don’t vote for someone simply because they are radical, out-of-the-box hot-heads who appeal to your desire for change. Yes, we desperately need change, but not from someone who has no regard for God.

Please, cast your vote. It is both an American privilege and responsibility. But do so in prayer, seeking the heart of God. And pray that the hand of God’s judgment will be stayed as this nation turns back to Him.