Confronting Evil

There is evil in the world.  Of course you knew that didn’t you?  But to us here in America, despite the cowardly events of September 11, 2001, this evil can still seem “over there somewhere” to us.  Surrounded by our nice landscaping, “secure” jobs, and stocked grocery stores, we don’t have to think much about it.  After all, deflate-gate, what the Kardashians are up to, and the latest pair of Jordan’s are more fun to think about.  Insidiously, our nation and world are overrun with those things that not only dishonor God, but threaten the physical lives of many. 

On Memorial Day weekend, as I read the current news and thought through history, I was reminded of how quickly evil can turn from “over there somewhere” to up close and personal.  Thank God for the precious sacrifice of so many men and women who died and who were injured to protect us from evil.  May the Lord bless them, their families, and their legacy…

But you and I must be prepared to confront evil.

I’m not writing this to sound alarmist or to make anyone paranoid.  The facts are the facts.  There are people in this world plotting great harm.  ISIS is not just going away.  They will continue to crucify, throw people from buildings, rape young girls, and impose Sharia law.  Boko Haram and other groups the same.  China will likely continue its crackdown on Christianity, as it recently did.  Extremism will continue to grow unchecked in Europe.  Their socio-political beliefs and almost wholesale rejection of the Gospel give it an easy path.  Many don’t realize that extremism is growing right here in America as well.  Also, inner cities will continue to struggle with gangs and shootings, as we saw devastatingly last weekend in Baltimore and Chicago.  But it’s not just there.  Quiet towns and suburban areas and even churches will see their share of evil as home, church, and state reject Christ as King more and more.  (Did you see the report of the pastor shot in Connecticut while putting out American flags around his church?)  With some 100,000 Christians killed yearly for their faith, there is a brutal war on.

To those who have the courage to listen, I say evil must be confronted.  Christians must be prepared, not to return evil for evil, but to take just actions to defend life.

How?  By changing a mindset.  YOU, dear reader, are your own first responder.  And to the extent that you are willing, you may also see a responsibility to confront evil if it comes to innocents around you.  I know we like to think that everything is ok.  It isn’t.  As we have rejected God and His laws, lawlessness abounds.  Be prepared to preach the Gospel and do so.  Also be prepared to repel evil if it encroaches.  Be prepared to give, serve, and tangibly bless and do so.  Also be prepared to protect your family and innocent lives.  Have a plan.  Think it through.  Don’t just sit there and be a victim.

So…hopefully you had a good Memorial Day weekend, ate a hot dog or a piece of barbecue chicken, and thanked the Lord for selfless defenders!  Maybe you even thanked a veteran or a firefighter or a law-enforcement officer.  But now maybe consider how YOU will deal with evil if/when it comes...

Luke 22:35-36 ESV  And he said to them, "When I sent you out with no moneybag or knapsack or sandals, did you lack anything?" They said, "Nothing."  (36)  He said to them, "But now let the one who has a moneybag take it, and likewise a knapsack. And let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one.”

America's Changing Religious Landscape...and some Hope!

First, read this new study from the nonpartisan Pew Research Center if you would.  It was all over the news  yesterday...

Here

Here, in a in a nutshell, is what they found:

Ugly right?  Well, a few things should jump out at the Bible-believing Christian.  First and most obvious, not everyone counted in the Christian category is Christian!  

Second, there are two categories of great concern: Protestant Evangelicals and Protestant Historically Black.  Generally speaking, these two groups (ranging from Southern Baptists to the Church of God in Christ or COGIC) would be those who hold to the doctrines of Inspiration, Inerrancy, Infallibility, and to a lesser extent, Sufficiency as they relate to the Scriptures.

But the above graph doesn't tell the whole story.  Yes, even those two groups are declining as a percentage of population (the bad news!), but....

 And...

 

And...

Bottom line, those who believe the Bible is the literal Word of God and who are trying to uphold everything it teaches are holding on or even growing, even in the midst of the massive falling away around us!  God is faithful to His people!

Nevertheless, there are many noteworthy things in this article that require prayerful action:

  • The greatest losses are in the younger demographic
  • The "Unaffiliated" categories are absolutely booming
  • Although 70% of Americans claim "some form" of Christianity, only about one third of the nation is holding to Biblical truth.

And for for those of us working on family reformation, this graphic should have particular meaning:

Yep...we've been Called to Battle!  

Lots to think about here.  For one, even in the two groups I singled out for hope, wide variances exist in how the Gospel is viewed, family is taught and ordered, biblical worldview is inculcated, etc.  

The bottom line I think is we need to repent, pray, and live our lives by Scripture.  The big black gates remain.  We need a reformation in key foundational areas.  I actually wrote a book about this (smile).  The article simply confirms what we and many more have been saying and affirms the need to keep preaching and living by the whole counsel of God.

Oh Lord, help us in this hour.  We need Thee.

 

A Tribute to my Wife

A Tribute to my Wife

On May 17th 2015, by God’s grace, I’ll have been married to my beautiful wife Donna for twenty-three years!  I’m still so overwhelmed by who she is and all that she is…

  • Pro 18:22 ESV  He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the LORD.

She loves Jesus.

She’s so quick to embrace all our Master has commanded.  She reads His Word daily.  She’s so willing to serve our Lord!

  • Pro 31:30 ESV  Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.

She’s so beautiful.

Inside and out, my baby is simply lovely.  I still just love to look at her.

  • Son 1:5 ESV  I am very dark, but lovely, O daughters of Jerusalem, like the tents of Kedar, like the curtains of Solomon.
  • Son 1:15 ESV  Behold, you are beautiful, my love; behold, you are beautiful; your eyes are doves.
  • 1Pe 3:3-4 ESV  Do not let your adorning be external--the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear--  (4)  but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious.

She’s such a patient, loving mommy.

I have neither her patience nor her tenderness with our wonderful children.  She teaches them something precious each day.  Our children are truly blessed!

  • Pro 1:8-9 ESV  Hear, my son, your father's instruction, and forsake not your mother's teaching,  (9)  for they are a graceful garland for your head and pendants for your neck.

She works so hard.

All day every day, she is moving.  She never complains.  She just serves our family and our church, doing whatever needs to be done.  She's incredible.

  • Pro 31:10-31 ESV  An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels.  (11)  The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain.  (12)  She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life.  (13)  She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands.  (14)  She is like the ships of the merchant; she brings her food from afar.  (15)  She rises while it is yet night and provides food for her household and portions for her maidens.  (16)  She considers a field and buys it; with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.  (17)  She dresses herself with strength and makes her arms strong.  (18)  She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp does not go out at night.  (19)  She puts her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle.  (20)  She opens her hand to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy.  (21)  She is not afraid of snow for her household, for all her household are clothed in scarlet.  (22)  She makes bed coverings for herself; her clothing is fine linen and purple.  (23)  Her husband is known in the gates when he sits among the elders of the land.  (24)  She makes linen garments and sells them; she delivers sashes to the merchant.  (25)  Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come.  (26)  She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.  (27)  She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.  (28)  Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:  (29)  "Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all."  (30)  Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.  (31)  Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates.

She’s so wise.

The Lord has given her great wisdom, both spiritual and practical.  Her advice is priceless!

  • Pro 12:4 ESV  An excellent wife is the crown of her husband, but she who brings shame is like rottenness in his bones.
  • Pro 14:1 ESV  The wisest of women builds her house, but folly with her own hands tears it down.
  • 1Ti 3:11 ESV  Their wives likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things.

She’s so submitted.

She is so easy to both lead and serve.  It’s hard to believe how easy sometimes.  She never attempts to manipulate me.  She never tries to impose her own way.  She speaks up if she sees me about to make a mistake, but even then, lovingly.  She’s my number one cheerleader!  As a result, I simply love trying to bless her!

  • 1Pe 3:5-6 ESV  For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their own husbands,  (6)  as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. And you are her children, if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening.

She makes our house a home.

Each day I work, I cannot wait to see her.  I cannot wait to get home.  She has set a mood and tone with our children and into the flow of our home that blesses my soul.

  • Tit 2:3-5 ESV  Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good,  (4)  and so train the young women to love their husbands and children,  (5)  to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.

She’s my friend.

My best friend in fact.  There is no one else I’d rather spend time with!

  • Mat 19:4-5 ESV  He answered, "Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female,  (5)  and said, 'Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'?

I love her!

With all my heart!

  • Eph 5:25 ESV  Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her…

Thank you Lord for Donna Lynn McLeod!  I do not deserve her, but I sure am grateful! :)

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