I look forward to death

I wish it would come at this very moment. That is freedom. To live as if we were about to die is something we all should strive for. In matters of perception not one of us is blessed with premonition of future events and the twists and turns God's plan for our life holds. Jesus spoke often of we humans not knowing about anything. 

Matt 24:43

But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into.

Notice how Christ doesn't say "think about this", "ponder this", or "if you've got a moment you may like to consider".

He says "KNOW THIS"

Matt 24:44

“For this reason you also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will.

So we need to always be ready. We need to acknowledge that "He will" return. Not might, probably will, eventually will. HE WILL. I think it imperative that we live as if He was on His way. Granted, I'm sure most every generation thinks that Christ was going to return in their lifetime. This is not be discouraging, but encouraging. We have a chance for the hope of all creation to return in our lifetime. Check this out-

Matt 24:45-51

45 Who then is the faithful and sensible slave whom his master put in charge of his household to give them their food at the proper time? 46“Blessed is that slave whom his master finds so doing when he comes. 47“Truly I say to you that he will put him in charge of all his possessions. 48“But if that evil slave says in his heart, ‘My master is not coming for a long time,’ 49 and begins to beat his fellow slaves and eat and drink with drunkards; 50 the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour which he does not know, 51 and will cut him in pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 

Who then is the faithful and sensible slave? If we live in a way that we are called to, doing God's work, maintaining His kingdom we will be rewarded upon his return. 

On the other hand, if you live as most of our generation lives, hurting those around you, drinking and carrying on, treating today as if it is not the day of the Lord's return you risk being cast from His sight.

I pity those to whom the Lord will describes in saying:22“Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ 23“And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.

Matt 7:22-23

We are called to the highest standard of living. Clean and blameless in the sight of men (Ephesians 1:4, Phil 1:10 & 2:15, 2 Peter 3:14). To be examples, showing others Christ by living as He lived and so often told us to live. 

But how can we, fallen and fleshly, ever succeed in such a task?

Through Christ and Christ alone for: he has reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and without blemish and blameless before him (Colossians 1:22)

Yet we can't pray for Christ to guide our walk if we refuse to move our feet. Caught in a perpetual cycle of fleshly living (of which I also continually fall short).

We are in the midst of a spiritual battle. As new believers we are called up to the throne room of God, filled with the Holy Spirit (the spirit of truth, meant to guide us, our helper) For more on the Holy Spirit

Then we are cast back down to earth (spiritual metaphor of course), Born Again. We are thrust as new-borns back into battle. So we need to do two things

1. Protect our new borns, arm them, defend them against the ways of the world. 

Keep in mind: Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour 1 Peter 5:8

Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. 1 Peter 2:11

We are exiles of the world do not be surprised when the world does not understand our lack of interest in worldy desires

Read more in 1 Peter 4:2-4

2. Arm and defend ourselves, waging war against the flesh

1 Peter 4:1

Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin

So how shall we arm and defend ourselves then? From this enemy that surrounds us on all sides?

Ephesians 6:11-17

Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.

 12For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

 13Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 

14Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 

15and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 

17and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,

Check it out

1. We are at war, the guy in me loves this sooo much. I think every man desires to be that hero, that warrior, fighting the good fight against the dark. Just as every woman wants her prince to ride in and sweep her off her feet. Not to say that women aren't in this fight too, but we as men have a specific calling to lead and charge into the battle. 

A. We're not fighting against man. But against the ways of the world (culture, society, friends, peers)

(side note-nothing in scripture says to kill or attack in the name of Christ, only suffer and die in His name. Hence the Gospel of "Peace" in verse 15)

B. We've got to arm ourselves! Be ready, so that we can make a stand, constantly ready so we are never unprepared. So what do we arm ourselves with? What's in our arsenal? 

2. We've got Armor, God armor, all the armor we could ever need.

A. We've got a belt of Truth. It holds everything together (remember John 18:37, why Christ said He came?)

B. We have the breastplate of righteousness. 

In being righteous, not allowing sin a foothold our armor is strong. The breastplate protects the chest, the largest piece of armor we wear. When we let sin in we allow cracks to form in our hearts and the flesh to be exposed. So stand firm, and don't let sin create cracks in righteousness we have in Christ Jesus

C. We've got shoes! So that we can be ready (Remember Matt 24:44?)

Always prepared to share the gospel, flee to His word, and be ready for His return

D. We have a Shield to protect from the flaming darts of the evil one! That's gnarly huh? 

I think we can all attest to having those darts hit us and stick. Giving us those little bits of poisonous doubt. In times such as those I think of Peter and what he wrote as he was about to face death in 2 Peter 1:16-19. He tells us that this isn't some cleverly designed plan, he isn't crazy, he isn't lying, and he really saw the transfiguration of Christ (Matt 17)

Not only that but he tells us that even better evidence of the Truth of Christ is the Bible itself! What a blessing we have in God's Word. Through which He continually speaks, comforts, grants knowledge, show's His infinite love, and show's us where, when, and how we step out of His will.

F. We've got a helmet of salvation

The Helmet, signifying the protection the head, the vitals, an essential part of living. 

So the helmet of salvation (or hope of salvation in some translations) Our souls are protected from the harshest of attacks of the enemy by our hope and faith in salvation and a life to come. This is verse can't be understood without knowing it first in your heart. Please pray for that for all of us to come to know the hope of salvation better than we ever have.

G. Now we've got a sword! Sharper than any weapon, as said in Hebrews 4:12:

"For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart."

I beg of you, read the Word daily. It has a way to go straight for the jugular, then mends the wound for all time. There is no book like it, no book equal to it, no book that is to be added to it. Perfect, complete, translated correctly, not to be changed for now and for always.

It cuts like a knife all the desires of the flesh, all the doubt in your mind, and all the spite from the world. Rather than make you bitter and cynical, it creates love and hope. The Word of God it active and alive, never irrelevant, never old fashioned, never changing for God's Will doesn't change, the world changes.

I'll end for the day with few quotes about the Bible that I think should be heard

Reading the Bible without meditating on it is like trying to eat without swallowing. --Anonymous

The Bible is a book that has been read more and examined less than any book that ever existed. --Thomas Paine

It is not at all incredible, that a book which has been so long in the possession of mankind should contain many truths as yet undiscovered. -- Bishop Butler

It is clear that there must be difficulties for us in a revelation such as the Bible. If someone were to hand me a book that was as simple to me as the multiplication table, and say, 'This is the Word of God. In it He has revealed His whole will and wisdom,' I would shake my head and say, 'I cannot believe it; that is too easy to be a perfect revelation of infinite wisdom.' There must be, in any complete revelation of God's mind and will and character and being, things hard for the beginner to understand; and the wisest and best of us are but beginners. --R.A. Torrey

The letter of Scripture is a veil just as much as it is a revelation; hiding while it reveals, and yet revealing while it hides.—Andrew Jukes

Some people like to read so many [Bible] chapters every day. I would not dissuade them from the practice, but I would rather lay my soul asoak in half a dozen verses all day than rinse my hand in several chapters. Oh, to be bathed in a text of Scripture, and to let it be sucked up in your very soul, till it saturates your heart! --Charles Haddon Spurgeon

In most parts of the Bible, everything is implicitly or explicitly introduced with "Thus saith the Lord". It is... not merely a sacred book but a book so remorselessly and continuously sacred that it does not invite -- it excludes or repels -- the merely aesthetic approach. You can read it as literature only by a tour de force... It demands incessantly to be taken on its own terms: it will not continue to give literary delight very long, except to those who go to it for something quite different. I predict that it will in the future be read, as it always has been read, almost exclusively by Christians. --C.S. Lewis

One of these days some simple soul will pick up the Book of God, read it, and believe it. Then the rest of us will be embarrassed. --Leonard Ravenhill

Remember this always. Think of this always. Know this not only in your head, but in your heart

Joshua 1:5-9

 5No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you. 6Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them. 7Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success^a wherever you go. 8This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. 9Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”

Be radical, be strong, don't be scared.

Romans 8:31

What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?

God bless; Please pray for me, for one another, and for God to have us all be continual blessings in the lives of others. 

Is America a Christian Nation?

“Amendment I: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” (United States Constitution)

The idea of America as a “Christian Nation” has exploded onto the forefront of the American political spectrum. Matters of faith have become a key factor in many elections. In 2008 President Obama was berated with rumors of being a secret practitioner of Islam, there were even whispers of him being the Anti-Christ. This may have been due more to his political ideology, race, and birthplace. Why are matters of faith so paramount in a country who’s foundations were laid in a way that deemed it impossible to be a nation of any specific faith or denomination?
Recently, particularly after the attacks on the World Trade Center, the polarization of American politics has become nearly dichotomous. The republican right is seen as back woods, Bible thumping, uneducated hillbillies, while the left is seen as pompous, elitist, atheists, who want to make your children either gay or aborted. Obviously, this paradigm is not accurate. Unfortunately the media and politicians use matters of faith and beliefs to exploit both parties. Republicans and conservatives are often distracted by highly emotional issues such as gay marriage and abortion rather than war and the economy.
Many secularists see the First Amendment as the founding father’s attempt to distance our country from all religion. They neglect to remember why the United States revolted from Great Britain in the first place. “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” (Declaration of Independence Ln 5). The issue was God given rights, freedoms from having any ruler but God Himself.
These ideas of freedom, God given rights, and democracy stem directly from  English Puritan beliefs. Hugo Heclo explains the viewpoint of Alexis de Tocqueville stating that, “the foundation of Puritan principles- fervent Christian piety, democratic self-government, and freedom- spread its influence to gradually enlighten “the whole American world” (Heclo 75) The concept of this freedom in all aspects of a man’s life was that one could not legislate morality because belief and faith cannot be forced by any government entity. Examples of Christian beliefs towards free will and equality for all are seen in nearly every fundamental shift in American Governmental policy. Christian thought was a major driving force behind the destruction of institutionalized slavery.
The abolitionist movement was a thoroughly Christian ideology. John Welsey, the Angelican founder of Methodism, declared to slave owners, “Thy hands, thy furniture, thy house, thy lands are at present stained with blood” as a consequence of using slave labor and that, “only repentance before God and emancipation could put things right” (Montgomery 122-123). In 1835, nearly thirty years before the emancipation proclamation, Professor Asa Mahan, of Lane Seminary, was offered the presidency of Oberlin College. He accepted but only on the condition that negroes were admitted on equal terms with other students (Oberlin was already a co-ed college). Oberlin became the first American institution which gave equal opportunity to higher education to both sexes of all races (Montgomery 126). This in radical in light of the presidential order of federal troops to descend  on University of Mississippi in 1963 in an attempt to quell riots and allow entrance to James Meredith, the University’s first African-American student, nearly one-hundred and thirty years after Oberlin College integrated (Webb 220-221). Unfortunately, increasingly over the last hundred years of American History, these highlights of Christianity, contributing to freedom of choice, have been far overshadowed by the Christian Right’s attempts to legalize the morality of others.
In following the concepts of English Puritans, the thoughts of our Founding Fathers, and the parables of Christ, it’s hypocritical of Christians to attempt to legislate morality. In Jesus’ words, "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?” (Matthew 7:3). How can a professed Christian, believing that all sin is equal (James 2:10), attempt to tell a non-believer how to live while they themselves don’t walk the true Christian path. Is this a Christian nation? Clearly, in light of hermeneutical cyclical logic, America was founded of Christian principles, but as a populous are we truly a Christian Nation?
According to a Pew Research Center survey, two-thirds of American adults profess belief that they “consider the United States a Christian nation” (Feld Straughn 280). Professed Christians account for nearly eight out of every ten people in America. From 1990 to 2006 the self described “religiously unaffiliated” has grown from under ten to sixteen percent in the same period that self described Protestants fell from sixty to fifty percent of the American adults (Feld Straughn 281). It should be noted that even among the religiously unaffiliated the majority claimed to believe in a personal God and/or the Bible being divinely inspired (Helco 65). There are obvious deep ties to faith in our country, even amongst the non-religious. Talking the Christian talk is not to be seen as true belief. Do we as a “Christian Nation”, walk the walk? At least eight out of every ten of us?
Helco presents, in Political Science Quarterly, a confusing series of statistical trends. While four fifths of Americans profess Christianity, only forty-five percent are strongly believe that the a Christian faith is relevant in their lives these days. One fourth say that the basis for their moral decisions in grounded in the principles and teachings of their religion. Amongst self-described Catholics only sixteen percent and “born-again” believers, only a four out of every ten say that Biblical or church teachings are their primary source of moral guidance. Six out of ten Americans state, “that their moral guidance comes from considering what will bring the most pleasing results to themselves or other persons“ (Helco 66).
How can that not be seen as quasi-hedonism, or at minimum an equational basis to morality? Even if the twenty percent of non professed Christians claimed this, that would still leave four out of ten Christian believers making moral choices based on what make them happy. This is radically contrary to the Apostle Paul’s writings in Colossians 1:10, “And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God.” Christians are called to live a life in an attempt to please God not man (Galatians 1:10), also to continually be “growing in the knowledge of God”. Considering that ninety-two percent of Americans claim to own a Christian Bible, only one out of three claims to open it weekly outside of church services. “Given the rate of Americans’ false reporting about churchgoing and tithing, it is fair to surmise the actual proportion of Bible readers is a small minority of Americans” (Heclo 73).  Outside of the obvious lack of true belief in Christian principles and doctrine, are Americans even living the faith? Regardless of church attendance, how often a person reads their bible per week, or whether or not they think the Bible is the ultimate authority, can we find where true passions lie in our free time?
Internet pornography is a twelve billion dollar industry; it brings in more revenue annually than the combined revenue of ABC, NBC, and CBS. More money is spent in the U.S. in strip clubs than the combined revenue Broadway, regional, and non-profit theaters and symphony orchestra performances. Americans spend more on the “adult entertainment” industry than on professional football, baseball, and basketball combined every single year.
It’s a growing industry too, in the late 1980’s around sixteen hundred hard-core adult films were released. At the turn of the millennia this number had grown to over eleven thousand new releases. From 1998 to 2004 the number of individual pornographic webpages had grown from fourteen million to around four hundred and twenty million. As of 2005 half of the multimedia traffic carried U.S. mobile carriers was pornographic content (Heclo 74). Surely a nation of professed Christians wouldn’t participate in such lewd behavior. At least we can be confident in the pastors of such churches to set an example as Jesus taught them to, “For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you” (John 13:15). Unfortunately even church leaders fall far short of their calling. Over a quarter of American pastors confessed to seeking out porn on the Internet anywhere from a few times a year to a couple times per month or more (Helco 75).
None of this is to say that Americans do not follow other major tenants of Christianity. Individual Americans accounted for 152.6 billion dollars in charitable donations in 2000. Considering, “Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive’”, Americans actually seem to be doing well in the self sacrifice department (Acts 20:35).  Per capita that comes out to around five hundred and eight dollars from every man woman and child. The only issue that comes to mind is that as this moment the per capita GDP in the United States is $47,240. That equates to Americans giving a mere one percent of their income. Granted, in no fashion is giving limited strictly to finances. Many give time, skills, and compassion as freely as they received them. When it comes to the American’s pocket book, the game time film does not match the coach’s game plan.
For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ (Matthew 25:35-40 ESV)

The average GDP in the world today is a mere $9,217. Ironically, the Occupy Wall Street Protesters are, in a global perspective, the true one percent. Globally, the top ten percent of the world’s income bracket controls two thirds of the worlds wealth; the bottom ten percent controls just under one one-thousandth of a percent of the worlds riches. 1.4 billion people currently sustain themselves on less than two dollars a day (Lorea 263). These 1.4 billion human beings, with hunger, joy, brothers, sisters, and mothers, just like you and I, are “the least of these” whom Jesus refers to. This is a clear distinction from the American Dream that so many, that adhere to this notion of a “Christian America”, strive for.
The truth is that following true “Christianity”, not simply being Christian by name sake, is about as counter-culture as a person can be in America. Many theologians even interpret Luke 12:16-21 as a the denouncement of retirement, social security included.  In layman’s terms Christianity is against every thing America is currently for. Yet we continue to see ourselves as the “David vs. Goliath“ story; a nation chosen for the divine purpose of correcting injustice. Statements such as “greed is good” and “we’ll put a boot in your ass it’s the American way” are testaments to how far from a “Christian  America” we truly are.
The only reason the debate even rages about the authenticity of America’s status as a Christian nation is because is keeps both sides of the aisle focused on shiny immaterial things. They are  both constantly manipulated by the media and politicians who shine the spotlight on highly emotional topics. Never before in history has being highly political been seen a Christian thing to do. Although this country was built on many Christian ideas, as a populous we are far from any form of real Christian following.  By attempting to define true “Americanism” as being a white Protestant Christian any other minority group is excluded from being American.  Straughn and Feld state “a key function of symbolic boundaries is to ‘separate people into groups and generate feelings of similarity and group membership.” We are at an apex in human and American history. This is a time to look towards our similarities rather than our differences. The concept of “America is a Christian nation” creates an intersection between political and religious boundaries. It creates a wall between Christians and non-Christians that regulates more or less “prototypical” Americans (Feld Straughn 283).
Christians who identify themselves by their religious and nation background forget their “Lord’s” own words, “Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world...” (John 18:36). A true Christian see’s this verse for what it is. Their faith should not be a part of any political or national identity. Unfortunately, as research has revealed, Christianity has become something radically disfigured and continually manipulated for gain in the United States except to a select few.

Sure there will be some disagreements. Open for discussion. God Bless. Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving
-Blake

In an Age of Fops and Toys

By: Ralph Waldo Emerson

 

In an age of fops and toys,

Wanting wisdom, void of right,

Who shall nerve heroic boys

To hazard all in Freedom’s fight,—

Break sharply off their jolly games,

Forsake their comrades gay

And quit proud homes and youthful dames

For famine, toil and fray?

Yet on the nimble air benign

Speed nimbler messages,

That waft the breath of grace divine

To hearts in sloth and ease.

So nigh is grandeur to our dust,

So near is God to man,

When Duty whispers low, Thou must,

The youth replies, I can.