God's Primary Means of Judgment

Be warned:
God's primary means of discipline for humanity,
Is to allow us to have exactly what we say that we want;
Even though, according to His Law, that is not what we need.

This is what it means to be "consequentially educated." When He can no longer instruct us, then He will permit our sin to do it instead... It is however, a much less gracious, but far more harsh master...

Scripture:

Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done.

Romantic 1:28

Secular Progressivism - A Worldview

1

. The truth is,
Devout Secularists believe
Their program for the improvement of Humanity
Is far superior to the ideology of any Religion,
Including that of the Christian God (Even though historically, the existence of Social Progressivism would be impossible, without the Christian Faith).

2. Secular Progressivism (on the whole) is clearly the most aggressive toxic and dominant worldview/ideology within the American Culture today. 

3. Many self-identifying Christians in our Culture today, are in actuality, more akin (at their core) to being Secular Progressvists, with a Christian mantle; rather than being Christian in their core, accompanied with Christ-like parallels to Secular Progressivism (as they like to think).
Remember, the inexorable nature of a worldviews is: "There can be only one."

Choice

A mother lives
And therefore, exercises her right to choose...

An infant is terminated
Before they can exercise their choice to live...

True Salvation in Christ

There can be no Salvation (Temporal and Eternal) without Righteousness

There can be no Righteousness without Obedience

There can be no Obedience without Repentance

There can be no Repentance apart from an encounter with the Holiness of God, through Jesus Christ...

And this is the other side of the proverbial coin about why some deny Jesus Christ...

Some reject Jesus because they have never encountered a compelling representation of Him in the life of a Believer

This is True...

Equally True however is:

Still others reject Jesus precisely because they have had an authentic encounter [Charakter];* and the Cost is, quite simply, too great...

Inauthenticity often fails to allure...
Authenticity often drives away...

Notably, the second one happens far more, than many think.** Especially those who have made a living, by drawing attention to the first...

* Heb 1:3

** Including fellow believers

Imputed Righteousness

"Imputed Righteousness" -

It's blessed but painful cost,
regarded apathetically by believers in the Church;
and the eternal penalty for its absence, 
no longer compelling and relevant
to the unbelieving world...

1 Therefore, since we have been declared RIGHTEOUS by FAITH, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ... (9) since we have now been declared RIGHTEOUS by His BLOOD, we will be saved through Him from wrath.

Romans 5:1,9

Why We Need God's Mercy

A life of faith is replete with undulations, fits and starts, hits and misses... 
Which is why Sanctifying Grace is so important... 
Lord, be merciful to us all...

Christian Fundamentalism vs. Christian Social Progressivism in My Life

In Retrospect...

When I look back down the road of almost 30 years of ministry, I can clearly recall beginning it during the cultural height of Christian Fundamentalism.

I spent the preponderance of those 30 years seeking to correct the disastrous excesses of Christian Fundamentalism (I.e. pejorative expressions of "biblical truth") by teaching and discipling the Great Doctrine of (Sanctifying) Grace; as well as the vital importance of the authentic witness "in Christ," for the Believer...

It was through these two, legitimate and primary expressions of the Christian Faith that I sought sincerely to help establish "The Kingdom of God," and to give Him "Glory."

But in Retrospect, I believe there were too many times when I over-sold, under-delivered and simplified too much the fullness with which we are to live our lives for Christ...

And in doing so, probably played no small part with inadvertently misguiding some of those (some of which are on my Facebook friends list) for whom I was responsible for... That is... If I am honest, I gave some instruction and eager permission to commit oneself to be theologically out-of-balance...

Do I believe there was enough "sufficiency" and "responsible" teaching to fall within the acceptable broad stream of orthodoxy? "Yes..." But could I have done better? Most certainly "YES!"

So for those who have known me, and may have personally experienced my personal failure in this way, please accept my sincere apologies, and for the sake of Christ, devote yourself to Him in new ways, that will enable you to experience and live for Him in a more thorough and full manner. (James 3:1)

So, now I find that I am spending a significant amount of time, attempting and dedicated to bringing correction, not only to the imprecision of my woeful past, but also to the unfolding and toxic (a contorted Hegelian Dialectic) "GRACE ONLY," Zeitgeist (1) dominating both the sacred and secular portions of our culture... (2)

Looking Forward:

Should the Lord be gracious and kind enough to give me 30 more years in ministry, I can only hope that I achieve a better doctrinal proportionality (via media), than I did before...

For example:

It is a great Truth
To say the we must Love everyone;
It is equally a great Love
To convey Christ's Truth,
As well...

(1) https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zeitgeist

(2) Remember, what could be more utterly demonic than for God's Attributes to be taught in an out-of-balanced fashion and then used against each other (E.g. Truth in opposition to Grace and Grace in opposition to Truth),

Some Differences Between Social Progressivists and Conservatives

I offer this a bit "tongue in cheek..."

So! If my Social Progressivist friends want to post on social media, articles, videos and personal comments, related to perceived racism, opinions related to poverty and pleas to be open about things like Gay Marriage, that's fine and a cool and responsible thing to do...

If someone like myself posts articles, videos and personal comments on things like the selling of aborted baby organs and body parts, media socio-cultural hypocrisy, worldview issues and government accountability (on a whole range of salient issues)...

Then we are cautioned to be more positive, to check our (i.e. cite more responsible) sources and to come to terms with the facts that: 1. We are not as informed/educated, 2. We are not quite as naturally intelligent 3. We have not evolved as much as those who see things more clearly...

I kid you not... Those have been some of the responses I have received...

Not Truth, But No Absolute Truth is the Cruel Master

Many today resolutely reject,
The reality of Absolute Truth.

Because it makes for an inconvenient and dissatisfying Master

But there is however,
No more subtly pernicious and cruel master,

Than the "absolute truth"
That there is no "Absolute Truth."

Christians Should Never Disaffirm

A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Future...

One day we all woke up only to discover, that our highest calling as a society, is to NEVER disaffirm one another's feelings...

If there is a "sin" then, it is to: "Offend."

Christian Theological Bifurcations

IMAGINE a World

Where the Person of Jesus Christ and His Gospel
Are NEVER perceived as offensive.

Where all Non-Believers
Are ALWAYS "Truly Sincere."

Where the effects of the Fall
Resulted EXCLUSIVELY in Human "Brokenness,"
And not "Depravity."

Where the effects of the Fall
Resulted EXCLUSIVELY in Human "Depravity,"
And not "Brokenness."

Where Christians who "Fail" the World,
Did so, ONLY because they did not demonstrate enough
"Love" and "Grace."

Where Christians who "Fail," the World,
Did so ONLY because they did not teach
Eternal "Truths" and "Holiness."

Where insisting on "Christ-likeness"
Actually meant ALL of the Attributes Likened to Christ's Nature.

You would have to IMAGINE it,
Because in REALITY,
It doesn't exist...

A Kingdom vs. The Kingdom - Buildings Before Ministry

An Observation...

It is rather amazing
How a pastor's "biblical" theology
Can be magically shaped and inspired 
By a newly constructed edifice,
With large mortgage payments*

So much so, that 3,500 years of Judeo-Christian teaching can be driven and over-turned, by a mere 35 years of Secular Progressive challenges...

It can give a whole new meaning
For the Church as a "non-prophet" organization...

What you win people with
You keep them with
And you win them to

What you are in bondage with
You will seek to enslave others to

'Your god will be their god
Your people their people'

6 The one who is taught the word is to share all good things with the one who teaches him. 7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. 8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.…

Galatians 6:6-8

* Half-informed, personality driven, and adoring crowds are a factor as well...

Christian Subjectivism

Quite simply, there just isn't much light between the prevailing (trendy) practice of "christian" subjectivism (1) and humankind's ancient and inexorable evolution towards self-deification.

(1) The "heart" as our sole authority for humanity to follow God

Celebrating July 4th

In every way that our Sovereign God, led and influenced our Founding Fathers, in the establishment of any goodness and greatness as a nation, as well as the benefits and blessings from it, and that we and the world have enjoyed, let us heartily and joyfully remember and celebrate that this day!