What is denominationalism? For many people it is very much an unfamiliar term, and yet many of the same people can readily cite names of various church affiliations for which the word categorizes. The collective membership of these churches is vast and growing, contributing to a high visibility in neighborhoods, towns, and cities across the nation and throughout the world. Denominationalism is generally associated with the Christian faith, but a search through the scriptures would reveal nothing to support the word’s use; for there are no references that would indicate that any biblical figure ever subscribed to a particular denomination. For instance, there is no evidence to suggest that within the Jewish culture Moses was a Presbyterian, or that Mary was Lutheran, or Peter was Methodist, or even that Paul was Foursquare. Sure, someone could attempt to make the case that John was Baptist. However, I submit that the reference 'the Baptist' had more to do with the fact that he baptized people, rather than him being a member of a neighborhood congregation. 

So what is denominationalism? A denomination is a splinter group or faction of Christian churches that share the same spiritual pedigree, and distinguishes itself by its mutually accepted, liturgical beliefs and ritual observances (teachings and practices). A group of such factions gives you denominationalism, relatives within the same faith-based family. For example, you and your siblings are of the same family and share its historical roots. You are subjected to the same rules and guidelines set forth by your parent(s), yet each of you has distinctly different names, physical features, and personalities. In spite of your differences it is the commonality of origin and relationship that defines you as a family. In addition, you are related by blood. Likewise, this is true of the separate denominations that give us denominationalism; which, by the way, are also related by blood, the blood of Jesus Christ! Due to this fact that denominational worship is not referenced in scripture, some legalistic minds try to marginalize, challenge, and even discredit denominationalism legitimacy; and yet many of these same people, themselves, adhere to some form of ritual practice and liturgy in their own church that is not supported in scripture. Those that are quick to discount the legitimacy of denominationalism’s viability as an instrument of God’s truth solely on the basis that it is not mentioned in scripture, or on the basis that the churches comprising it has adopted a different way to communicate God’s truth, should refer to Romans 12:4-5. The apostle Paul wrote: “Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body and each member belongs to all the other.” That word ‘function’ could also be interpreted as purpose, use, and even personality! In the following paragraphs I will share three snapshots from different angles of our family members that serve God through denominationalism.

Oftentimes I get many of my best ideas in the shower. Somehow, for me, it is conducive for creative thoughts and deep reflections. On one particular morning, as I was in my “zone”, I had an epiphany as I pondered over ideas for use in the writing on this topic. I began to reason how characteristically similar denominationalism is to a fraction. A fraction is an equation that is made up of two components, a numerator and a denominator. While the numerator, essentially, indicate parts of a whole, the denominator is the sum whole of something by which various numerators agree and takes part. In short, they share a commonality. Likewise, denominationalism is comprised of various numerators or, as we refer to them, denominations; which, although each differs in their liturgical adherences, subscribe to the same principles and inspired teachings of one author. Just as with the characteristic of a numerator in a fraction, so it is in Jesus, our Lord and Savior, which denominations agree and ARE a part.

But denominationalism can also be compared to the ice cream industry. Throughout the country and, indeed, around the world you can find this favorite creamy, frozen treat. From country to country and language to language it is known by different names, marketed under many different companies; and yet it adheres to the same basic recipe and is categorized under the same English subject heading, ice cream. And whether it is purchased in venues such as grocery stores, frozen treat parlors, amusement parks, or restaurants—to name a few—it is still ice cream. To increase their market shares, the industry created numerous flavors—distinguishable by their individualized special additives—to appeal to various groups of people with preferred taste. The flavors are often referred to by absurdly goofy and gimmicky names. Yet despite the flavor or its name, it is STILL ice cream! Likewise, there are countless numbers of different churches around the world that identify themselves as being Christian, but they are affiliated with various sects known as denominations. While these different denominations may, to some, give the false impression of doctrinal discrepancy or worst yet, hypocrisy, it is suggested that they exist simply because of people’s desire and preference for a particular kind of worship experience. The flavor of worship (denomination) attempts to do for its members as the many different bibles attempt to do for its readers. It’s a matter of taste and a mater of clarity! It is about a desired means of expression that enables a better view of our Lord and Savior that encourages a relationship with Him. And as is the case of ice cream, Christianity holds to the same simple, incomparable, time tested, basic recipe, regardless of the flavor of worship! 

Perhaps my most favorite illustration of denominationalism is to compare it to a symphony orchestra. A symphony orchestra is generally comprised of approximately a minimum of one hundred members strong. They differ in age, gender, race, and in nationality; and each are divided among four sections. These sections are woodwinds, brass, percussion, and strings. The instrument of each member determines his section. Many of these instruments are as funny looking as they are named, and each one presents its own distinctive sound. In front of each member is positioned a music stand with select pieces of music that will be performed. However, the musical arrangement for each differs from section to section. The notations have been specifically written for certain instruments and appear on different ranges of the scale for the purpose of producing a certain quality of sound, or creating a particular mood and/or movement within a musical composition. Before the performance commences, the orchestra will generally engage in a pre-performance warm-up that is similar to a singer warming up his vocal chords. But instead of a wonderful sound, this exercise by this sea of instruments oftentimes results in an air of loud unpleasantries. Screeches, chirping, blast, shrills, sour and in descript sounds resonates and reverberates all over the music hall! With clenched teeth and hairs on the back of the neck standing straight as soldiers at attention, you wonder if and how anything good could come from all of this         NOISE!

Then moments later a figure enters the stage. The audience quickly recognizes him as the maestro or conductor. There is an uproarious applause as he crosses to a podium at center stage and positions himself behind a music stand, facing the orchestra. Not visible to the orchestra and lying on the stand before him is the complete score for the symphony, including all of the various parts for the different sections of instruments. He unveils a long white baton that he taps loudly on the edge of the podium. Suddenly all of the noise and applause ceases. As he peers over the orchestra, he can see he has each of the members’ attention. With a gloved hand he slowly raises the baton over his head, as the members position themselves and their instruments expectantly. With one swift downward move of his baton the orchestra bursts into life, but now with the most beautiful tones! As he continues to gesture with his baton and hand, the orchestra carefully follows his lead as he skillfully uses their talents to interpret the drama through a variety of sounds. Occasionally he motions to a particular section with his baton or hand when they are to play a certain part that is accented in the musical piece. To think, just moments before the sounds produced by this same group were very uncomplimentary; in fact, they were offensive to the ears! So what was it that transformed these divided sections into this orchestra? Was it the tapping sound of the baton against the music stand? It certainly put an end to the noise and got the attention of the members of the orchestra. Or was it the baton itself? From the moment it was raised and throughout the musical piece, all of the members’ eyes were completely focused on it. OR, was it the presence of the figure wielding the baton? I believe it was the latter two. The baton, although it is the extension of his will that captured and held their attention, it in of itself is only an instrument, a symbol that is only relevant because it reflects the measure of the man holding it. For it is the measure of the one holding the baton that gives the baton its relevancy!

God has a symphony orchestra. He formed it from his heart of heart and designed it for His glory and His pleasure. It is comprised of millions of members strong and it too differs in age, gender, race, and nationality. Likewise they are divided among various sections, each having its own distinctive sound and bearing such unusual names as: Lutheran, Nazarene, Presbyterian, Baptist, Methodist, Foursquare, and many others! Within each section, every member’s an instrument with usable abilities, skill, and talents that can be used for furthering His kingdom. The deciding factor used in determining which section a member performs in is solely one of individual preference, and there is no section that is of lesser or greater importance to Him.  In this orchestra, members perform by the dictates of one inspired arrangement. It is called the Holy Bible. World renowned composer, the Holy Spirit, in a collaborative effort, helped composed this majestic masterpiece! The distinctive character of each section provides a panoramic flavor of the same love song. Undertaking the huge task of conducting this mass orchestra is none other than Jesus Christ, who entered onto the world’s stage amidst sinful humanity to orchestrate mankind’s attention back toward God. In the truest sense, Jesus willingly made Himself a baton for the hand of God; who did lift Him up for all sections, for all time to see! Today, two thousand plus years later, Jesus is still the reigning maestro of our faith, commanding the orchestra of God; and when all eyes are stayed on Him and His directions are adhered to, it produces a wondrous sound that is pleasing to God!

But, however, too often the fellowships that make up God’s church is more attentive of the minor denominational differences between them such as: the method by which baptism is conducted; that some believe in speaking in tongues; the absence or presence of musical instruments in worship services, and if so which ones; whether it is acceptable for women to wear pants, especially in church; and which Sabbath day is truly Holy and should be worshiped—to name a few. This is not to suggest that there could not be a legitimate basis for debate on these issues, but that in the larger scheme of things it is of little importance! Rather than the church entertaining the differences in regards to ritualistic practices, greater emphasis should be given to what is taught and believed. I do not wish to belabor the symphony orchestra analogy, but truthfully we, as a body of Christ, could learn much from observing how it is able to perform harmoniously as one; even though it is comprised of so many different sounding instruments that are playing different notes. What is more important, a denomination that follows Christ and adheres to his word, yet whose choice of worship practices does not compromise or breach the integrity of the faith; or one that consciously or unconsciously edits and compromises the sanctity of God’s word, and supports and condones those things that are contrary to His will?

In the final analysis, it isn’t our differences that define us but our oneness in Jesus Christ! We are His family and as such we should all strive together to show the world that we bear a strong resemblance to one another, but especially to Him whose name we bear. Simply stated, to use a sport’s analogy, we may wear different jerseys and play different positions, but we are on the same team, performing for the same coach, and following the same playbook!

I would like to preface this by offering this blast from the past.  Perhaps you are familiar with it.  “When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.  We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.  That they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable Rights.  That among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.  That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.  That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.  Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed.  But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.”  Those wise words were extracted from the United States Declaration of Independence.  It was penned by Thomas Jefferson and endorsed by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776.
 

Although the political landscape is covered with explosive ideology and emotionally charged issues, and We The People have been separated, grouped, and compartmentalized under an ownership heading as constituents, we are all still American citizens!  It does not matter whether a person is a resident of a red or blue state, or whether or not a person is of a particular political or religious affiliation.  We are STILL Americans!  We have shared common denominators; life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are still things that we Americans today all covet and still hold dear.  But we also share another commonality.  We have a common enemy.  They are a vast number of elected officials that occupy both sides of the political aisle, for they are equally guilty of being offenders of the public trust.

And as next year’s election draws upon us, they are gearing up for the opportunity to offend us further.  We will soon be inundated with well-polished and half-baked rhetoric, courtesy of spin-doctors, pollsters, and creative scriptwriters.  And we will be forced to endure the airways being over saturated with both combative and saccharine laced commercial ads.  We will be subjected to well-scripted but poorly staged photo opps of the incumbents with the common man, who for most of their term have been seen as nothing more than faceless, projected numbers on a strategist’s page.  We will see them sullying their hands with some menial task or performing some charitable act.  Christianity will suddenly become in vogue.  Many will be seen literally preaching to the choir with religious fervor, using transitory ac-cents and borrowed childhood memories.  Somehow their desire to hold onto their seats seems to bring out their best performances!  They become more creative, more passionate, and they sound even more sincere!  They are the true masters of illusions and are well versed in selling themselves to gullible people that are quick to invest their heart, passion, and their vote, instead of first engaging their brain.  Yes, while on the campaign trail their constituents and constituent hopefuls are valued as gold, and they pull out all the stops courting and wooing them for potential votes.  They will make all kinds of grandiose promises and will do almost anything to retain their power and continued use of their American Expense Card!  However by post election, they will quickly forget their promises made to their constituents, who they did fawn over; and whose faces and voices, again, fade back into the political background.  Now secure in the knowledge that they have been afforded yet another term and except for the occasional distraction, they will not have to deal with their constituents much until the next election cycle.

In my mind’s eye, I envision our incumbent leaders seated across from their opposition with a table between them.  On the table is a chessboard in the shape of the continental United States.  Its designated playing area is hued in blue and red.  Their pawns are US.  Each opponent makes up the rules as they go, which are always strategically calculated and statistically motivated.  The object of the game is for each leader to move his pawns around the board to affect a self-serving end, while somehow retaining all of his pawns for future games.  To them, the game’s the thing and nothing else matters!  For it is the adrenaline rush from the challenge, the satisfaction of finding and exploiting their opponent’s weaknesses, or exhuming the skeletal remains of their opponent’s past misdoings that supersedes any highs that they could ever get from just representing the people’s interest!

When is the last time that you have heard our elected officials debate important ideals and issues that we care about and which affect our lives?  They are too busy spending our money, attacking their opposition, writing bad laws, and pushing their own agendas that little else in the way of true governing is actually being accomplished, and very little attention is given to the concerns, needs, and wishes of the American people!  Take for instance the Hurricane Katrina fiasco!  During the aftermath of the storm and during the most crucial time for its victims, our elected officials were too busy pointing fingers and assigning blame to do anybody any good!  People were displaced, lives shattered, and bodies were yet to be unearthed; and the necessary help got delayed because it was bogged down with governmental bureaucracy.  Some people will shrug their shoulders and say it is just politics as usual!  However, we send our representatives into the political ring to raise issue, debate ideas, and work toward solutions.  We do not send them to office for the sport of it or for their own personal gain!  The political landscape has become no longer a battlefield of ideas but a stage for one-upmanship!  They see the citizens only as a means to an end.  We enable them to stay in the game.

Whoever coined the word party to reference the political apparatus sure got it right, didn’t they?  For it is definitely true that they do a lot of it on the hill, and we the citizenry are stuck with paying for all of their party favors!  I liken our electives to the stereotypical, out of town Shriner Conventioneer.  With his wife’s blessing he travels as a delegate to some distant town to represent his district or office, but his thoughts are less about the reason he is actually there and more about partying with his fellow delegates.  Now the story would continue with him getting very drunk and betraying the trust of his wife with someone that he and his buddies hired from some escort service, but this is where the analogy ends.  On the hill we have elected officials that are drunk with power—some are drunk with both power and alcohol—but it is they themselves that are the whores, politically speaking.  As for the Johns, they are the special interest groups that pay elected officials for services rendered, and, like any good political whore, those elected will assume any position that is dictated to him if the money is right!

Recently I read a synopsis of the events leading up to the American Revolution, how Britain’s monarch enacted one abusive act after another in the attempt to force the colonists to yield to his will.  Then, finally, the colonists were pushed too far, and with the same sentiment as the Howard Beale character in the movie Network, they were “as mad as h--- and they weren’t going to take it anymore!”  So they banned together for a common good, defeating their enemy, and establishing a Republic that would become a shining example of democracy and freedom around the world.  That was two hundred and thirty one years ago.  How ironic?  We rid ourselves of a sovereign king only to now be saddled with a bunch of renegade leaders whose ideology and practices, in regards to this nation’s welfare, are no less destructive!

Only in politics can an employee remain on the payrolls year after year when their work performance is found to be less than satisfactory!  In the real world—that is, outside of politics—the term ‘probationary period’ is synonymous with ‘term limit’.  It is during this time that an employee must prove his metal if he wishes to continue his employment, by satisfying the expectations of his employer.  If he fails to do so he is terminated, end of story!  The employer of this person isn’t interested in hearing assurances from him about how he will commit himself to the job better if given another chance.  The employer is more interested in how the employee’s time was spent and how much of his assignments were accomplished during the time already afforded him!  However, in the world of politics the dynamics are a bit different.  A candidate is elected (hired) by his constituents for the purpose of carrying out specific assignments.  He is given a term limit but he failed to perform as hoped.  As his time draws near, he acknowledges the need to do damage control if he wishes to stay employed.  So he launches a traveling road show/circus for which he uses to elicit support by baiting people’s emotions, to combat the facts by spinning his side of the truth, and for bribing them with empty promises.  The sad thing is that 8 out of 10 times this strategy actually works!  Many Americans appear more fixated on everything about an incumbent than the more relevant things!  Instead of weighing such things as the incumbent’s job performance, attendance, skills, integrity, and the ability AND willingness to follow instructions, many Americans are swayed more by such things as the incumbent’s charm, likeability, his commanding personality, charisma, gift of gab, and his showmanship.  Now these abilities might be of great importance to someone being hired as a used car dealer or a traveling salesman, but not as a public servant!  Many Americans also consider how their choice might benefit them personally.  Oddly enough this is exactly the attitude of many incumbents that hold office.  They are also motivated by “what’s in it for me?”  John Kennedy once spoke these words, “And so, my fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.”  We must invest ourselves in those leaders whose decisions and actions do not only negatively affect us in the here and now, but that it will not act as a prelude to future difficulties, impacting the civil liberties and welfare of our children and our children’s children!

Those two words, “public servant”, add up to more than a title; it is a mission statement!  Translated, it means to serve the public trust.  From all appearances many of those we have hired have become confused about what their job is.  I believe that as their employers we have the responsibility to remind them of their duties.  The best way to do that is by making some examples of those that have betrayed us.  They are no longer acting in the best interest or by the will of the American People, and their actions and decisions are leading this country to ruin!  And by their continuously disregarding our voices by constantly pushing the envelope to suit their own selfish purposes, they have in a sense drawn a line in the sand and are daring us to do something about it!  So I ask you all—Republican, Democrats, Independents, Conservatives, and Liberals—when do we take the dare?  When do we exercise our power and fire those that no longer represent our best interest?  The time has come to take a stand; we can no longer afford to sit idly by with a silent voice!  All of the complaining in the world about an elected official post election will not change the outcome of an election.  Now is the time that we can make a difference.  Political parties may be the machinery that runs the country, but it is We the People that empower them!  And I say it is time that we unplug some of these ambitious incumbents from the political power grid!

Yes I do understand the feelings of those that are considering boycotting the voting process entirely this coming election, for I also share those feelings of disillusionment, anger, and betrayal toward the party that I subscribe to.  It is also for just those reasons that I felt led to write this.  I wanted to give my voice to this issue that I believe many of you also feel strongly about.  But as angry as I am about BOTH parties, I have come to realize that the solution is not to be found in withdrawing from the process.  For even a non-vote benefits someone!  It’s sort of a wild card.  When you choose not to vote, you forfeit your control of who benefits from it.  So not participating is not the answer.  No, the best solution, the sure-fire best way to turn things around is to use the political process against these political elites that abuse the power of their office, on EVERY level of government!  Contrary to popular belief, we are NOT powerless!  Collectively, we have the power to fight back and make a difference!  Look, we have for years fired off warning shots across their bow!  We have bombarded them with regular mail, overwhelmed their e-mail addresses to the brink of crashing, flooded their fax machines, and we have tied up their office switchboard.  But now it is time to take more aggressive action!

Earlier I mentioned having done some light reading of the events leading up to the American Revolution, how the acts of an oppressive dictator galvanized into action a rebellion by former royal subjects.  It did not matter what the individual’s status or walk of life was; each endured the same fate under Britain’s rule.  There is something to be said about solidarity, being on the same page.  It is literally empowering, and makes one a force to be reckoned with!  As defined by our Declaration of Independence, the government’s role exist to support the rights of men (the people), and that it only exists through the power of the people that they represent.  The mandate to the American people that I find sobering and almost prophetic reads as follows: “When in the case that the American people have suffered many abuses, their civil liberties threatened and violated, and our nations’ welfare is put at risk while under the control of a totalitarian leader” or, in this case, democratic leaders, “then the American people not only have the right but the duty to overthrow that government!”  When our representatives in government fail to represent the voice of those that elected them or adhere to the people’s wishes, they should be removed from that position and replaced with those that will!

During our American Revolution, the colonists rose up and stood shoulder to shoulder to combat and be victorious over a common enemy.  Perhaps it is time for another go round; perhaps we need another American Revolution!  Our forefathers fought the first with a one-shot musket and powder.  We are all armed with the one vote; our powder is knowledge.  In this coming election We the People should fire, collectively, our one shot and pick off most of the incumbents in office, on EVERY level of government, and replace them with someone new!  They have become the enemy of the people that they pledged to serve, and have proven themselves to be a liability to our American way of life!  While both sides are claiming to be the answer to the country’s salvation, the truth is that neither side has a corner on the truth, but each side has shown themselves to be out of touch with the American mainstream!  They no longer represent the will of the people but have instead become just career politicians, consumed with the lust for money and power!

But who should we target, one might ask.  Well certainly not the good men and women of integrity that do diligently and sincerely work on the behalf of the people.  In government there is an expression that our elected officials love to make use of.  It is called ‘the litmus test’, which is simply a test where one single factor (such as an attitude, event, or fact) is used rightfully or wrongfully as a basis for deciding the outcome of something.  Both parties have placed in the hands of the American people such an instrument for deciding the outcome of their political careers.  It is referred to as the Immigration Bill.  Despite the ground swell of opposition to this stealth amnesty bill, the presidente, the demon-crats, and the repugna-cants were intent upon forcing this onto the American people.  Quite clearly these people do not have the best interest of the American people at heart.  Although this bill may have gone down in flames, the people that endorsed it and are embittered by its defeat are still in power, and they are positioned where they can strategize and plan for another attack in the future when we least expect it.  It is them that we should eliminate.  The American people need to go on the offense and hit them before they have the opportunity to regroup and attack us again!  For every person that signed this bill they should be eliminated, but not them only!  Those that considered it over the wishes of the people but backed away due to social pressure should also be eliminated!  Despite their claims of now seeing the light, what they are actually seeing is the specter of a possible lost election looming over their heads. How is it that most of the American people realized from the beginning that this was a bad piece of legislation, but these so-called representatives could not see it until their position was threatened?  And truly that is what has motivated this change of heart, for many of these clowns are now up for re-election and their only thought now is keeping their jobs!  Every one of these people should exact a loss this coming election and even the next.  They should lose every position hoped for, even the presidential election.  For should they retain their seats or, worst yet, be elevated to the country’s highest position, we can expect this bill to resurface in some shape or form some time in the future.  If we eliminate them now, they will not be around to help give it legs later, and it will send a clear message reminding others in office of who IS really in charge!  We are in a real sense in a cultural war where it is the political elitist verses the citizens of the commonwealth.  Let us as citizens make this the shot heard across the country, if not around the world!

My fellow Americans, have you yet arrived at the place where you are shouting or feeling the sentiments of Mr. Beale?  Have you had enough?  What is it going to take to make you fight back?  How long will you live in denial of these political predators whose only desire is to expand their territory?  Their wish is to encroach on our lives and expand their power over it.  For the moment, can’t we put aside our philosophical and ideological differences for the greater good?  As in the days of the colonists, let us fight the great fight as a united America against a common enemy, and not be distracted by the rhetoric of those whose sole focus now is winning an election.  Don’t buy into their coloring of the truth or be deterred by their playing the political race card in hope of weakening our resolve!  We must not let them divide us among party lines by demonizing their adversary!  We must, instead, lose our party pawn mentality and consider the big picture, and that is what is in the best interest of the country!  It is time that We the People circle our wagons, shoulder our weapons, and pick off as many hostiles as we possibly can!

OR you could, of course, just be content with griping and moaning with others around the water cooler or at other places about the affairs of state—no pun intended.  The choice is up to YOU!

 

When still a citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven, and he then went by the name of Lucifer, Satan and his minions initiated a direct confrontation against the Father. He lost that battle, but the war was far from over. He readjusted his strategy to include mankind, and has resumed his battle with God through those that God created. Although the end of the book has been written and he is aware of what has been foretold, it has not deterred him from diligently building up his forces over the centuries. Aided by his demonic army, he has been recruiting allies among the human race whose self-centeredness blinds them to his true identify. It is his intent that at the fullness of time to raise up his great army against God. It will be an act in futility! The hymn Onward Christian Soldiers denotes that we, as Christians, are part of the opposing army, the army of God. The word army suggests that we are in a war. As one involved in a conflict knows, it is essential in any successful campaign that you identify your enemy’s strengths and his weaknesses. You, then, chip away, repeatedly, at his strength for the purpose of wearing down his resolve, while at the same time exploiting his weaknesses. It is these three principles that form the bases of Satan’s strategy that he perpetrates on mankind, and because of his extreme hatred of God, he is VERY motivated and relentless in his mission! He will say and do anything to get back at Him, even if it means going through you!
 
Now there are many scriptural references naming and describing this enemy of our faith. What I have done here is not meant to usurp those references. On the contrary, my intent is just for the purpose of revealing to you my own personal revelations that have been exacted from my own battles with the enemy. As with many of you I have my own battle stories and some of the scars to go with them. I consider them my badge of honor because the learning process did not deter me from God, but brought me that much closer to Him. I pass on to you the discoveries I have made through my own life’s journey. I am sharing with you a different perspective of him through a contemporary lens. Just as we are known by him, we MUST know him! Please do not misunderstand this to mean that we should credit him in anyway! Nothing could be farther from the truth! I just believe that underestimating him could be just as big a mistake. To defeat an enemy, one must know his face and be familiar with his ways. It is my hope that these amplified descriptions may benefit someone in the heat of battle! Amen and Amen!!!

Fisherman

Some years ago I had the pleasure of writing a sketch for my church. It was a comedic illustration that attempted to show how Satan operates in the world. I depicted him as an averaged good old boy dressed in overalls and sporting a straw hat. His accessories were a cane-styled fishing pole, an oversized tackle box, and a large net. In the story Satan is a skilled sportsman who has a keen sense and understanding of fish, which he demonstrates by carefully choosing from his tackle box the right lure for catching specific types of fish. During the course of the sketch other actors—they played the parts of various fish—would fall prone to these individualized snares, and they would be reeled in to their eternal peril.The sketch drew a lot of laughter but the point was made that the evil occurrences in our life are not a random thing but a directed thing. Satan is literally out to get you through ANY means!As in the sketch, Satan is very much like a fisherman, and mankind in many ways IS like fish. Man swims along in his corner of the ocean—figuratively speaking, of course—seeking to fill a hunger that only God can fill. Then Satan dangles a lure in front of him that has the promise of satisfying that hunger. It is pleasing to the eye and arouses a blind desire. Man plunges at it in earnest, not realizing that just beneath the surface is a deadly hook. As he satisfies his hunger the reality of the hook draws ever so near to being exposed. Finally without warning Man feels its sting! Sudden feelings of self-abandonment mixed with guilt set in, making it easy for Satan to slowly reel in his catch.The nature of man is that he is drawn by that which is pleasing to his senses. He likes what he sees, he enjoys how it makes him feel, and it is pleasing to his taste. Remember the con he pulled on Eve, who bit hard, hook, line, and sinker? Okay, to that lady that I hear on the other side of my monitor, yes, Adam, too, bit hard! Satan always packages evil in something beautiful or desirable. Man would otherwise be repulsed if the true face of evil was exposed. So he sugarcoats it to make it appealing. Much in the same way that each individual responds differently to a certain stimuli because of factors like genetic code and dna, Satan has fashioned and positioned lures which are specifically intended for one individual person’s propensity for committing certain acts of sin. No two people’s reaction to any given lure is the same because no two people are the same.

Salesman

As a student of humanity, he knows your heart’s desire. If diplomas were given out, he would hold several degrees in YOU alone! He knows your nature and your weaknesses, and his sales pitch is made up of things that he knows will attract you or that you cannot say no to. Like a fast-paced talking salesman, with almost a religious fervor, he throws out word pictures in quick succession to overwhelm your mind, stimulate your passions, and weaken any remaining resolve that you have. The fact that you do not close your ears, divert your eyes, and walk away, encourages his continued verbal barrage. He knows that if he can hold your attention long enough, he will breach your integrity, and you will buy into whatever he is selling, only to later discover that the item he sold you was not all that he promised. And what a high price you paid for a worthless piece of goods.

Pusher

Sometimes Satan appears as a pusher, and as in the case of a pusher that exploits a person’s addiction to drugs for his own greed, Satan exploits people’s weakness to sin for his own pleasure. He knows exactly what his client, YOU, are yearning for and is more than willing to provide user specific fixes he says will ‘sure to please’. And it does, for a while. But the affect of sin is temporal. It is not designed to satisfy a need but to amplify a hunger. As the rush of the excitement of sin begins to fade, you double your efforts in the attempt to restore it, but it no longer gives you the pleasure or satisfaction that you once derived from it. Yet you continue to do it more out of habit than of release. You cannot stop yourself. You feel lost to yourself. You feel out of control. You are now dependent on something that no longer satisfies!

P_mp

When a particular sin has lost it flavor, Satan dons a new face with a specific purpose. He now wants to take you to a new level, to p_mp you out to newer sensations and excitement of related sin. Sin is a building block of relational threads, tightly woven, and acts much the same as an ocean’s undertow. It is designed to take you farther and farther away from God with every wave. So when the excitement of sin begins to wanes, he is quick to proposition you with something else to entertain your thoughts and your desires. But all roads eventually lead back to him being your pusher and the vicious cycle is repeated. You are beset with an even deeper sense of hopelessness, self-doubt, and guilt, which will eventually lead to callousness and self-loathing. Sometimes it may even lead to a hatred of God.

Terrorist

Satan can also be likened to a terrorist. He keeps surveillance on you from the cradle to the grave, documenting your behavior and your actions, while he lays and waits for the opportunity to present itself to orchestrate destructive acts in your life. Some credit his knowledge of how and where to strike to mind reading, but scripture do not support the notion. Through close scrutiny of your life and by observing your triumphs and your failures, your doubts and your fears, your whole history, he does not need to read minds. He has, in a sense, peeked at your holding cards, so he knows in advance how to play his hand against you. He blows up your life with tragedy, misfortune, and pain to evoke his desired responses. He is the leader of many supernatural cell groups. Some are easy to spot and hide in plain sight; others are stealthily disguised to appear righteous and good. Human resources such as will, selfishness, callousness, and greed help fund his operations. No one is immune to his led attacks.

Architect

Satan not only wears a face to deceive and manipulate individuals; he and his corps of engineers—demons and the ACLU, perhaps one in the same—are the architects responsible for changing the face of our nation. In America, his handiwork has resulted in such atrocities as: the destruction of marriages and families, the erosion of morality and traditional family values, the redefinition of marriage, the legitimization of sexual preferences, the desensitization of human life, free expression and style over modesty and good taste, racial discrimination and class envy, and liberalism. He is an anarchist who revels in social disorder and in causing disharmony!

This is the enemy I have learned through my own personal skirmishes with him on this battlefield we call life. And as I have found, it is not enough just to know your enemy. That is a good beginning, however, it is vitally important that you also be equipped to do battle with him! Knowledge alone will not sustain you in the midst of combat. Only the means in which to fight and the skill and willingness to use them will defeat an enemy. The spiritual directive from the Apostle Paul in Ephesians 6: 10-18 addresses it this way: "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints."

Brothers and Sisters the enemy is attacking! Are you suited up for battle? Well let him hear your battle cry! (JESUS!!!)

 

AMEN!

Before I begin I think I should clarify my position on this subject. I am not, I repeat NOT against the modern day worship music that now permeates throughout most of the non-denominational and some of today’s mainstream churches. Admittedly, yes, my preference is for the former, hymns, but I DO enjoy worship choruses aka praise music as well; or I should say SOME praise music. (Yes, I will clarify ‘some’ shortly.) I was raised on choir music and hymns, and so I lean toward that which is most familiar to me. It is not because it is more spiritual or more holy, but because, for me, it exalts and reveres the Lord’s name and character and edifies the body in a way that—in my opinion—is not exhibited by any other music style. There is no pretense, no mixed or empty messages conveyed. There is only the heavenly sound that envelops your heart! It is like being kissed by the Father himself! With that said, let me just say that, as with hymns, I have similarly experienced a stirring in my spirit when singing some praise/worship songs as well, with the added benefit of them being done to a progressive accompaniment and rhythmical beat. But unfortunately, in my opinion and based upon my own personal experiences, most praise/worship music do little more than entertain.

Now, please, I am neither a legalist, ritualist, nor a puritan. There is nothing wrong with making a joyful noise unto the Lord, as the scriptures commands us to do, but some of these praise/worship songs that I have heard in churches are nothing more than secular music with thinly veiled, shallowly religious sounding words attached to them for justification! The only thing that distinguishes them as faith-based songs is that they occasionally name God, they make use of some bible speak or Christianese, and they use religious sounding metaphors, yet they are just as dead as those that openly subscribes to secularism! Sometimes, at the end of a song, I have to fight off the impulse to snap my fingers and shout out "that’s really heavy man!" The songs say absolutely nothing, like being in a hippie commune with someone reciting vague poetry, and everyone thinks it is cool! I am not over-exaggerating! Have you listened to some of the songs these worship teams sing? Many of them are either meaningless echo songs that are likened to those sung around a campfire or they are lively songs with religious references but do nothing for the spirit. Just as I believe that when speaking in tongues the body of Christ should be edified, I believe the music should do the same thing. There is nothing wrong with entertainment for entertainment’s sake, but the purpose of singing in church is just another form of worship. However, with SOME of these songs, you find it difficult to even sing along with the worship team! I mean it is one thing to have a special number given by someone(s) or a choir for the purpose of blessing the body. A minister, likewise, blesses the body with his message. But I believe that a worship leader/team’s job is to lead the body into worship, and if the song is too progressive that the body cannot follow and only the worship group is singing, then the church body is just being entertained! I can not help but wonder sometimes whether some of these worship leaders are frustrated wannabees who, having not succeeded in a professional music career, they hold the worshipers hostage while they live out their dream each Sunday. I am not being cynical, just perhaps a bit sarcastic. Yes, I believe that you can worship and yet be entertained, and no I do not believe that only certain instruments are sanctioned for use in church; and, if you stray off the traditional Christian music reservation you are playing the devil’s music. On the contrary, clap your hands and stomp your feet, string up the band, bang the drum, and go blow your horn! But WORSHIP HIM!

I will say, however, that even the good worship music and the bad ones have one thing in common. Why must each song, each measuring about less than 20 lines on average, be sung six to ten times? I mean what’s the point? Has our fast food mentality in how we live our lives begun to now affect how we even worship in church? When I was a boy I knew numerous songs that contained multiple verses and a chorus. I learned them at a very early age from repetitively singing them over the course of time, and not through repetitively singing them over the course of one Sunday’s visit at church. In actuality, by the time a person has sung a worship chorus six or ten times, he has sung the equivalence of a hymn, except it is the same words over and over and over and etc! It almost seems as if it is perceived that the brain of today’s worshipers is deficient of mental bytes to handle a song with more than a few lines. "Let us sing short songs but let us sing them many times so they can grasp it!" It is difficult enough singing a chorus that you like that many times, but repetitively singing those that you hate is not going to make it sound any better or liked any more, no matter how many go rounds that you do them! At times I have been inclined to—in the words of Moses—shout out ‘let my people go!’ The worship leaders just don’t want to give it up! They may call it being raptured spiritually, but the repetitive nature of these songs are like a broken record or one in which the needle is stuck in the groove! It also makes me want to shout out, "Someone PLEASE pick up the needle and play it forward!" (Please explain that line about the needle in the groove to those that grew up with CDs.)

Now I can fully appreciate the church’s zeal in wanting to fill the pews with young people. I don’t think you would get any objections or arguments from anyone in regards to taking proactive steps to bring them into the congregation. However I believe the church is missing the big picture. Why must the church have to choose between one kind of music and another kind? Isn’t the church big enough to support each group’s taste in music? Am I to believe that we can have a blended, multi-cultured society, but we cannot find a way to blend two distinct types of music in our own church? The church is always boasting about being a family and yet in terms of music it generally comes down to slighting one and favoring another. A growing number in the Christian community have branded hymns as being archaic, out of date, boring, and no longer useful! How sad it is that what has survived hundred of years can so easily be supplanted. It appears that the church has told God that there is only room for one tool in his tool box and has chosen to retire the one THEY feel no longer has worth. In honest, each spiritual tool—much the same as a couple in a marriage—have their strengths and limitations, but when joined together they complete each other; and in the case of music, cast a wider net!

Even the world remembers its history, its roots, but the church seems to be determined to not only forget its history, but to replace it with something new. We have a rich musical history and it could all be lost on a generation because they never sing them, and the church no longer is encouraging them being sung. Wouldn’t it be a shame to lose old treasures such as Amazing Grace, Blessed Assurance, Softly and Tenderly, and, one of my favorites, Holy Holy Holy? Churches have found it easier to cast away their hymnals and robes in favor of what pleases the younger parishioners. True, you can never meet every individual need. No one is suggesting that. What I am suggesting is that the church, first, acknowledge the generational make-up of its members and then be willing to put forth an assertive effort so that it will feel like home not just for some but for all!

Some of the bigger churches’ solution to the growing divisiveness is to have two separate services, one featuring contemporary music while the other traditional music. It is a good gesture, but the problem still exists. It is still a church with a divided body! It does nothing in terms of bridging the generational gap. Some may be saying that I am being over dramatic and making too much about music in the church. It is not JUST about music, but more about today’s church forgetting who they are, where they have come from, and what kind of Christians will they be in the future! Music is a powerful catalyst for change! If it wasn’t so the church would not be dumping hymnals, burning robes, and rushing to buy guitars and overhead projectors as quickly as they can! They see music as the selling point for the kids.

Now as I said in the beginning, my argument is NOT against praise/worship music in the church, but against it being the ONLY music in the church. We do not have to choose one or the other. As the kids today say, "It’s ALL good!" We as a church must and should use what is good in this progressively changing world—its technology and musical flavors—while preserving the best of what has been. Can’t we all get sing along?

I believe that most conservatives or conservative Christians would agree that the product line of goods rolling off the assembly line from the movie capitol of the world is mostly anything but good! Each day we have to navigate through an all out assault and a bombardment of insults to our intelligence, against our moral sensibilities, and against our faith-based beliefs from the film and television media. Even if you are one of those that do not watch much or any television or go to the movie theaters, there is no escaping the influence that this medium has on our culture. How we speak, what we wear, the food and products that we buy, the way we live our lives, and the truths and fallacies that we believe are shaped and programmed by this insidiously aggressive, celebrity driven regime. And though it is true that most of our society’s degradation falls at the feet of Hollywood, I would have to say that the Christian community is also partially the blame. I am not surprised by anything that comes from the secular entertainment industry; they are just acting out their nature. So I don’t expect anything more from them than what contributes to our societal ills. The Church of God (Christians) is another matter!

Although many souls have been saved and are being saved through various ministries, special events, evangelical outreaches, and home and foreign missions, many more are not saved. These spiritual venues fail to do little toward motivating them to entertain the idea of a faith-based life or how their life would benefit from it. They are either frightened or offended by their own perception of Christianity. How do we reach THESE people? Personally, I believe that the Christian community has yet to fully employ one vital instrument as part of its ministerial arsenal. That instrument is fine arts, or more specifically film and television. Many in the Christian Community refuse to acknowledge the fact that we live in an entertainment driven culture, and they undermine it.

I believe Jesus gave a clear example of the power of entertainment. Now please don’t misunderstand me by thinking that I am even remotely suggesting that Jesus was an entertainer! No, on the contrary, but in addition to all that He was, Jesus was the world's best storyteller! Sometimes he would use direct speech, but other times he would convey his message by way of an illustrated story. In my mind’s eye I can see him before a small wild-eye group or throngs of people holding them almost spellbound as he conveyed some hidden biblical truth via an interesting tale. I would have to reason that the reason our own Lord and Savior sometimes did that rather than preach all of the time, was that he knew his audience/listeners. He created for them a more palatable atmosphere for them to hear Him. Now granted some eventually dismissed the stories once He revealed their true meaning, but for others the light came on and stayed on.

In my opinion, I think this opposition to using entertainment as a vehicle for ministry is due to the stigma that has been placed on the secular industry for much of the garbage it produces. Some in our community have even demonized the art form itself, when actually it is the ungodly messages being conveyed through it that is the problem. But rather than embracing and utilizing this art form for the glory of God, they are much quicker to organize public protests, point fingers and throw verbal stones at Hollywood when it cranks out more visual fodder. I am not suggesting that we should stand by and do nothing to defend ourselves against legitimate attacks to our faith, but that we should exercise care and choose our battles carefully. Public protest is a double edge sword! Sometimes it can work against you by generating interest and curiosity where none would have existed otherwise, and giving time would just disappear on its own. And lets be honest and admit the unsaid which is that the success of many of these television shows and box office films—good or bad, you be your own judge—can be partly attributed to Christians. If anyone believes otherwise he or she is in denial! Due to the absence of alternative Christian shows and films, those that the secular industry produces have filled the void.

But some may say in defense that the Christian community DOES have a film industry! Do you mean those straight to video gems that churches sometimes show in the sanctuary on their overheads or is found in Christian bookstores that most people would not be able to tell you a single title because they never rent them? Those you mean? When is the last time that you have seen one at your nearby movie theater or multiplex? Why hasn’t the Christian industry generated an interest or market for a Christian movie theater chain? With thousands of television stations worldwide and hundreds of channels to choose from, why aren’t there any devoted to Christianity? But you may also be saying, "Wait up a minute! There are some television shows being made by Christians; in fact, they are aired on and by a Christian owned station!" Do you mean those shows that are top heavy with mostly preaching, make-up, prophecy, sing-a-longs, talk shows, and MAKE-UP on a station that has a disproportionate number of mostly middle age and senior citizens watching? You mean those shows on that station?

We must counter secular television! Due to its easy access and the fact that it is free, it wields even more power and influence than film! Although it would be great to inundate the secular media with Christian or Family-friendly shows—not that that would EVER happen—it would be even better if we had our own channel where those in the Christian community had controlling interest. The appeal of a fairly popular Christian station—I would prefer not to mention its name—appears limited to a certain age and location demographic, and it falls heavily on the side of traditional ministry. By traditional I mean the entertainment value of their programming is almost a mute point, very little to offer or attract. For this reason or another I know many Christians whom this type of programming format does not appeal to. There is just not enough variety. Sometimes you just want to get lost in a good story!

Now please do not misunderstand! As I have said before, I believe that God has many well-crafted tools in his toolbox and each one serves a special purpose, and each has its strengths and limitations. So rather than demean or trivialize this station, I commend it for its efforts and its successes. However I must be truthful in stating the obvious. This particular station has a limited viewership and even fewer choices to choose from. Thus, it is a tool which use has not fully been realized. So, if it does not appeal very much to Christians, the odds of it appealing to non-Christians are not very high! As the saying goes, ‘a picture is worth a thousand words’. If this is true, then an innovated Christian channel with vision can speak volumes to a much wider audience!

I would like to see a Christian station that is geared toward entertainment much like their secular counterparts, yet without much of the garbage they air, AND without compromising itself. Yet it must not be timid or afraid to try new things. Even among Christians, we have different viewing preferences. Christian programming should be tailored to the taste of its diverse audience. Not everything will appeal to everyone, but hopefully nothing will greatly offend either. It should also air from time to time the best and worst of those video gems which now gather dust in those Christian bookstore. Why the bad? Because a filmmaker made it, and, who can predict the diverse taste of the audience or the impact one of these could have on one of its viewers? And as with the secular network, the audience ultimately will be the ones passing judgement on everything that is aired by what they choose to watch or don’t watch.

Now in all fairness to the Christian movie industry there are some well-produced films. However they are few and far between and they receive little attention from neither Christians nor non-Christians, and are straight to dvd rental and sale items in obscure venues, with little promotion or fanfare. And truthfully, most of what I have seen belongs there, for the quality, technically and artfully, is extremely bad! But the interesting thing is that even the bad ones will elicit praise from many Christians. You say Jesus’ name in a film and they will swear it was the best thing they have ever witnessed! Christians are such a forgiving people! As for the ones that I found that were pretty good, my issue with them is only that most are heavy-handedly done for Believers only. Don’t get me wrong; there is nothing wrong with making films that lends support and help for those navigating through dark waters, or that teaches new principles for strengthening and deepening their faith. Such films are great for those that already believe, but where are the evangelistic ones that reach off the screen and touch those that are unsaved, those that zeros in on their level and addresses the issues they face and the conditions in which they live? And where are the ones that appeal to both Christians and the unsaved? If the world can, OCCASIONALLY, produce a film or a show that is herald by both Christians and the unsaved, then, likewise, I believe we that are heirs to the King of the universe can do just as well if not better, but with more meaningful substance.

I realize that the Christian movie industry is made up mostly of low budgeted, independent studios, but I have seen and enjoyed some wonderful movies filmed on a modest budget by the secular industry. The reason that many in the Christian Industry do not do as well as they do—whether on the big screen or little screen—can be summed up by a movie manager that I complained to after watching the bomb, Time Changers, a few years ago. Here was a Christian film that was touted and promoted by the Christian media and those involved directly with the film as being "the film to watch"! To say that this was an over-exaggeration would be too kind! After viewing the film, I cited to the movie manager numerous technical problems that I had observed while watching the film, which I naturally attributed to the projectionist that was running it. However the manager stated that it was not the case. He said, "The problem with many of these independent films is that the filmmakers do a rushed job to get them into the theater, resulting in technical problems which you will generally find in the actual footage itself".

In all honesty, even without the technical problems this film would not have been received well, because the filmmaker’s message and purpose over shadowed writing a good story with a convincing plot. Furthermore the characters themselves were not convincing. As I watched the film, I imagined seeing little minister’s collars around every actor’s neck each time that they opened their mouths! People pay to be ENTERTAINED! Now if you can weave a subtle bible truth or message into the story line, that’s even better! But as a paying consumer, I expect—NO I demand the same quality in a Christian project as I would in a secular project! And God deserves no less! To do otherwise, you may win praises from some of those forgiving Christians, but you will anger those Christians that aren’t as forgiving. As for the non-believers you have targeted, if he is not distracted by the film’s technical errors, the evangelistic opportunity could still be lost, for the story itself may be viewed in much the same way as being preached down to by an overbearing, overzealous, fanatically religious person! A Christian filmmaker, whether he is targeting fellow believers or non-believers, he would be well advised to keep his focus on scripting a good story, finding talented and believable actors, and, if any is required, using the most affordable effects. In addition, and only if it can be done where it flows naturally with the story, a subtle message would especially be a nice touch.

The scripture say ‘that we should be shrewd as snakes but as innocent as doves?’ There are a number of ways one can interpret it, but I read it as confronting the world on its own terms, but without sin. I feel it is time that we as Christians stop taking it on the chin, stop bellyaching about what the world produces, and stop being on the defensive. It is time we take the reigns—much the same as some of our country’s ace Christian lawyers have done in defending our civil rights—and mount a constructive offense against visual pollution by the secular industry! We can not expect HollyWEIRD CaliPHONY to do anything more than what they are doing, because they answer to a different director than we do. In Scripture, Christians are aptly defined as ‘light and salt’; and, likewise, we are to take on their character in transforming our world around us. We must use the blessing of His gifts, talents, abilities, and the technology to dispel and displace the darkness in the world; and, in doing so, preserve His word and enhance the world’s understanding of His character, sovereignty, and endlessly abundant love. I can think of no better way to reach a rebellious world where it lives than through the power of the media! It’s time we fight fire with fire!

But we must not stop there! It would be foolish and even irresponsible of me to suggest that entertainment alone can get and keep a person saved! It is only as effective as what follows the performance. Regardless of how well a performance is or how spirit-filled the message is, the church involvement is VITAL in solidifying the message! Performance ministry can ONLY point a person in the right direction, but once the performance is over it still needs committed Saints to help them reach their destination. They will still need to be supported, equipped, and mentored. That was the failing of many in the church during the successful run of the hit movie The Passion. This Trojan horse called entertainment touched many unchurched and unsaved people, and yet many fell through the cracks afterwards! The main focus of some churches appeared to be in making the movie a big success and rubbing its success in the faces of the Hollywood elite, rather than using this rare opportunity for some serious mentoring and evangelism. So ministering through entertainment, absolutely, but then it should be backed up with a one on one, supportive, mentoring relationship. Nothing can ever take the place of that!

In closing, the bottom line is simply this. Our country today is being driven by pop culture, mostly the film and television industry, with Satan as its designated driver. Now we can either continue to be a complaining passenger or we can put our own car on the track!

Enough said. That’s a wrap!!!

When I was 12 or 13 years of age, back in the DARK dark ages, I desired to have a personal bible of my own. In those days, there were no bookstores in my small town, Christian or otherwise, but there was a catalogue from a Christian store in the city that my father did sometimes frequent. So I thumbed through it and found an old and New Testament that won my interest, and then I saved back money from my weekly allowances the sum in which I would need to purchase it. One day my family drove into the city, and, while there, my father took me to the store and I bought my first bible. After what seemed like an eternity of sacrificing, it was a great feeling! I dove into it almost immediately, searching for my favorite biblical stories that I had known all of my young life!

As time progressed I began to read and familiarize myself with other passages of scripture that were not familiar to me. I became like an explorer in search of discovery! But the excitement of the journey was short lived because I found myself being increasingly challenged by my inability to comprehend and decipher a lot of the text in many of the books. You see during my childhood there were no such thing as versions of scripture or, as I prefer to call them, flavors of scripture. Your choices simply were either King James OR King James. In other words, you did not have a choice.

The text of the King James is written in Old English vernacular, complete with colorful idioms and wonderful—almost poetic—imagery that is unsurpassed from a literary point of view! This is not to suggest that it has no profound value beyond that, but only that I can recognize and appreciate it for the qualities that distinguishes it from any other version of scripture. However, I found as a young child and as many people young and old have found, that comprehending something is the key component to reaping benefit.

Although I was able to effortlessly glean understanding from some of the passages, there were many others I could only grasp bits and pieces. I liken reading some of it to Spanglish or some other language where occasionally an identifiable word of English would be understood, which may or may not give you a clue to the context of what is being conveyed. This spotted comprehension resulted in my not fully enjoying my bible reading, and I felt cheated of the full experience of discovering God’s truth.

Now there were some commentaries available even back then, but they were structured in a way that assured the King James Bible of retaining its mystery, at least for me, for they offered little expository help. In fact, some were written pretty much using the same style, form, and with the same wording. To me it was like having a question answered with a question! But I kept on plugging away at it, relying heavily on pastors and lay leaders who appeared to have a greater depth of understanding of it and could bring its message into focus for me. This went on for several years until new versions of scriptures began to appear, including the more modern New King James Version. I considered a few before finally deciding on the New International Version, which I still use to this day. I enjoy this version because it conveys the same biblical message but within the framework of modern day speech. In other words, it spoke to me in a language that I could best understand.

For that same reason, there seem to be an opposition to the usage of this version of scripture. There are people who feel that the NIV is not only an inferior text, but argue its authenticity as an inspired work. These feelings are not limited only to the NIV but any version other than KJV. Somehow, some people have acquainted the KJV bible to being the legitimately true version of scriptures, even though the original manuscript was not written in English. Their sentiments seem to suggest that how something is worded is more important than what is being conveyed; and, because it was the first version written in English and offers a lot of archaic words like ‘thee’ and ‘thou’, it bears the factory seal of approval from God. There are obviously differences in style between the various biblical versions, now widely available for spiritual consumption. They each employ terms and words not traditionally used, but that is the whole point. It is a matter of taste and clarity! To many people’s credit, KJV is their favorite version and they have no difficulty relating to it, and that is great! However, the preference of others are for varying flavors of scripture that appeals to their taste and is much easily understood. This is not to imply that one version is best or better, only that it allows every reader full access to God’s word.

As I illustrated earlier with a page from my childhood, my enjoyment of reading scriptures was greatly diminished because of the language barrier and my own inability to fully comprehend all that I read. It is for those like me that these different versions of scriptures were created, that we can experience the entire inspirational message without its meaning being shrouded by tradition. Those that persist on having tunnel vision in terms of versions of scripture and what language is to be used should consider this. Wherever the bible is translated into other languages it undergoes subtle changes. Some English words do not translate well in other languages and visa versa, so subsequently other words must be substituted that bear similar meaning to the original text. What is most important here is conveying God’s essential truth without compromise. That is the key thing, to not breach the integrity of scripture. Whatever version a reader chooses it should consistently adhere to the universal truth of scripture and does not distort the character of God.

How do we know if the scriptures have been compromised or violated? I am a firm believer that God has written His truth on the heart of every man (gender plural), and that even if there were an absence of scripture those that are His would have a sense of them. In other words, I believe that the spirit of God quickens a righteous man’s heart to be able to discern and distinguish right from wrong even in the absence of the written word. The bible, in a sense, is the written translation and affirmation of the truth. It is the transcription of what God has already written on the heart, put into a comprehensible form known as the written word for universal understanding and application. That said, the different versions of scripture attempts to insure that each reader is on the same page, at least in terms of understanding what is being conveyed.

What about interpretation? Well that is another matter! I would only suggest that the reader first equip himself (gender plural) with a clear understanding of scripture, and then entrust God with the task of translating their true nature, meaning and applications as they relates to him personally!

May God’s truth become apparent to you regardless of which flavor you choose, and that your Spirit would be filled with gladness and satisfaction! Amen and Amen!!!

 

 

 If most people —believers or non-believers—were asked what sin was, their response most often would be a litany of various transgressions or evil deeds ranging from the blatant to the atrocious. In short, most people tend to believe that sin is the bad things that we do, and that we are sinners because we do them. That is simply not true. We do bad things or sin because we are sinners!

For many of us that grew up in church, we have heard all of our lives the word ‘sinner’ as defined in terms and expressions such as having a fallen nature, missing the mark, being predisposed to wrongdoing because it is our nature. We have heard that every man and woman was born into sin, thus everyone is a sinner. We have heard that we inherited our sin nature from our parents, and they from theirs, and so on and so on, stretching back to the first parents of humanity. All that is certainly true, but translated into today’s vernacular, sin is the total compilation of EVERYTHING unGodly and our propensity for doing any one of them, given the wrong spiritual climate. Or simply put, it is a cancer of the spirit that entered all humanity on the back of disobedience. Humanity’s forebearers unwittingly were persuaded to disobey God, and by doing so became surrogate parents of Satan’s evil. For through them he did birth this spiritual disease that would overshadow all of mankind for always!

As with the physical type of cancer, sin begins internally and works it way out, compromising the essentials of life and shutting them down in slow or rapid succession, as if powering off a mechanical device. Oftentimes, the person suffering from the disease may not exhibit any external symptoms in terms of appearances, yet the effect of its progression can most always be seen through the quality of life in which he lives. The behavioral temperament of an individual living in sin can acutely affect areas of his life such as: marital intimacy, personal relationships, job performance, and the lack of integrity—to name a few. It is the progressive nature of sin to dismantle life from the inside out, and sever the spiritual artery by which help and blessings flow!

In recent years science has ushered in a new term, which, thanks to an infamous celebrity trial, has now become a familiar household word. The scientific terminology is DeoxyriboNucleic Acid, but it is best known by its acronym, DNA. DNA is the molecules inside cells that carry genetic information, which is the blueprint for the physical characteristics of all living organisms such as instructions for growth, development, appearance, and replication. Furthermore, DNA is responsible for the transference of most inherited traits to an offspring along specific family lines, and for forwarding the same information from one generation to the next. This genetic code is built into every fabric of our being, and contains all the information required to define an individual organism. Similarly, sin is inherent and characteristically passed along through the offspring, but, unlike DNA, it isn’t limited to a specific biological relationship. Every human birth comes hardwired with a sinful nature and programmed instructions built in. Those instructions are the natural inclinations for doing evil. The cancerous effect is exhibited through man’s rebelliousness and disobedience. Whenever one exercises his freedom of choice to entertain evil, either in thought or deed, he defines himself as being an enemy of God!

As creatures of both our environment and circumstances, we are predisposed to making choices based upon those influences, whether good or bad. They are what shape our perspective and drive our actions, and can act as the catalyst for which sin comes to tempt us. Sin is triggered by user specific, exterior influences. Contrary to popular beliefs, there is ONLY one sin! It has many faces, but it is the same spiritual disease! Allow me to illustrate. Imagine if you will that sin was a tree with many, many branches. Upon each branch there is not just one kind of fruit but many varieties of fruit of different shapes, sizes, and texture; each possessing it own distinct smell and flavor. All of humanity’s evil can be found on one of the extended branches of this one tree, yet it is still all sin.

The judicial system is comprised of various rules, norms, statutes, edicts, and mandates that shape, limit, and secure our individual liberties and freedoms. However it also judges and punishes those that violate these established rules of conduct. In the penalty phase of a trial, the degree of punishment is weighed and sentencing is made according to the severity of the offense(s). In other words, murder is worst than rape, which is worst than drug trafficking, which is worst than stealing, and etc. Human law acknowledges these distinctions and each carries a range of potential penalties. In the spiritual realm, God sees sin as sin. He makes no distinction, regardless of the violation. They ALL come with the penalty of death! For He says in his word, Romans 6:23, "The wages of sin is death." In His eyes, a liar, a gossip, and a person that entertains unGodly thoughts are as equally guilty as a thief, rapist, and murderer!

Temptation is NOT sin! Temptation is nothing more than a formal invitation to sin, a hook to entice and persuade its intended to buy into whatever sin is being promoted. Jesus, himself, was tempted. Matthew 4, verses 1 through 11, accounts Satan sending out three carefully calculated invites to Him. However, it must be made clear that there is a distinct difference between the temptations and the objective that Satan had in mind for Jesus and the temptations and objective he has for you and me. Since Jesus does not have a sin nature, Satan could not hope to use Him as an instrument for evil, so he, instead, attempted to stop Jesus’ ministry and mission before it got underway through subterfuge and bribery. Jesus, using scripture, RSVPed Satan with a subtle rebuke for having sent them. As he is a good student of humanity, Satan knows the character of all man. He sends temptations to man as a way of recruiting his help. When man sins he is doing Satan’s bidding and is willingly contributing to the expansion of Satan’s earthly kingdom!

Some think God to be unfair for condemning all of mankind for the mistakes made by Adam and Eve way back then in the Garden of Eden. "After all, it was they that blew it by abusing their freedom of choice and forfeiting their very lives for a piece of fruit! I mean the rest of us didn’t come along until thousands of years later! Why should we be cursed for what THEY did?" Point taken. However, I suggest to you that, given the same set of circumstances, we would have made exactly the same choice as they did. People tend to forget sometimes that the people of the bible—like Adam and Eve—were also very human, and like we do sometimes, they erred in judgment. They chose to buy into a lie rather than embrace the truth of God. How are they any different than people today? Man may no longer live in a garden but he is nevertheless surrounded by a host of exotic fruit which, despite God’s provisions, he still chooses to listen to the wrong voice that leads him to those things that promises to satisfy his hunger. Yet the truth is, a person could feast upon the fruit of this world for all of his life and never get satisfied! The fruit of this world only amplifies the hunger, leading one to crave for more. Sin will never fill the empty space in a person’s life; only God can! And most importantly, sin WILL eventually cost a person his life and eternity!

You would think this a terrible note to end on if I were to end here; for me to define sin and cite its consequence, yet offer no hope, no alternative. God thought so too! In the signature words of news commentator, Paul Harvey, "Now the rest of the story!" Sin entered the world through the first man and woman at a great price. It indebted all of mankind. Actually it was a death sentence, because God sees ALL sin as a capitol offense! With no means and no hope of paying off such a debt, God sent mankind a reprieve in the person of his only son Jesus. Jesus was the ransom paid to the captor that held our spirit hostage. He paid the high price for our sin with His precious blood. Not only did His blood wipe away past sins, it arrested sin so there would be no future contamination. Jesus was not executed for any crime that He Himself committed. His death set us free, bridged the gap between man and God, and restored our freedom of choice. Man no longer has to be a slave to his sin nature. Through his faith in Christ he obtains a new birth right, and he is empowered to resist the whims of Satan and live as God intended! And through Christ, he has the assurance of Heaven and eternity! What an awesome deal!

But I have heard people say, "If God is love, how can he send people to Hell?" God IS love! It wasn’t nails that held Jesus to that cross; it was love! John 3:16 says, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." What more must He do? If after all Jesus has said and done, a person still chooses to refuse His free gift of salvation, it is the sin of that person that condemns him to Hell! John 3: 17-21 says, "For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God." Jesus has done more than enough! While we were still in sin, when we still rejected him, and profaned his name, He still died for us! But that still isn’t the end of the story! Jesus arose from the dead and now sits on the right hand side of the Father as our High Priest, Lord, and Savior. John 14:6 says of Jesus, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." Acceptance of Him is antidotal to being delivered from sin! However, the freedom to choose Him or not is still an individual’s decision. So if you choose to party with the Devil, you had better be prepared to pay for ALL of the party favors that you have enjoyed! And the price is HELL to pay!

 The announcer takes to the mike in the center ring, "In the left corner, sporting a multi-cultural worldview and secular ideologies, weighing in heavily with self-indulgences, rationalizations, and justification, the challenger, Reeeeeligion! In the right corner, sporting faith and reason, weighing in with truth and righteousness, the champion, the one and only Chrrrrristianity! Now let’s get ready to rumBLE!!!"

In my last writing I endeavored to define the true nature of a Christian, while dispelling the fallacies and misconceptions often used to define it. Today I wish to take it a step further or as famous Chef Emeril Lagasse would say, "kick it up a notch", by contrasting religion and Christianity. Yes, there IS a difference, and the two have been involved in an unending bout in this arena called Earth since the beginning of time. Yet this fight is not for a coveted belt—the stakes are much higher—but for the culture and lost souls!

Merriam-Webster’s dictionary—to paraphrase—limits the definition of religion to being faith-based, supernaturally driven observances, beliefs, and practices. Now, although it is true that most often it does encompass faith in the supernatural, it can, however, also include shared ideologies and beliefs between members of a particular group that do not hold to such faith-based beliefs. For instance, the shared philosophy of atheism is believed by many to be a religion of sort. Others would argue that it is not on the basis that it does not acknowledge or accept a Supreme Being running the universe, and because it denounces the supposedly inspired words attributed to Him. However I maintain that it is. Atheism is made up of individuals who all subscribe to viewing the world through the prism of intellect, idealism, and even emotionalism. And rather than relying on a sovereign God, they’ve usurped His authority, replacing Him with self-reliance, human ingenuity, and an individualistic sense of right and wrong. Thus, their collectively shared unbelief and the reasons they give for it IS their commonly shared belief. Religion, then, is a categorically all-purpose umbrella word that covers, compiles, and consolidates all ideologies, all beliefs, and all faiths that are supported and shared by those of a like-minded group, whether it is faith based or intellectually driven.

What distinguishes it from Christianity is the object of its focus. Religion, in general, places its emphasis on the acceptance of others to express their natural tendencies without condemnation. Its view of the world is seen through a selfish tint. Right and wrong are relative, and is depended on what an individual believes and perceives. It discounts traditional values while taking the position that there is no universal truth, no absolutes, and no moral standard of living. Yet it accepts, promotes, and qualifies the dictates of secularism as the new "normal". To ensure itself of staying ahead of the progressive curve, it requires regular maintenance to stay current to the ever changing, politically adapted, socially accepted, liberal ideas, attitudes, and mores of a society in flux. It trumps accountability with justification, adhering not to standards but to compromises. It panders to and pacifies its members, futilely attempting to please everyone and not offend anyone. The philosophy and creed it promotes can be capsuled by the following slogans it inspires: "Do your own thing", "Live and let live", and "Do and let die." It permits and supports the whims and follies of the popular culture, and validates it by providing a sanctuary for the indulgent, fool hardy, and the rebellious of heart! It is the breeding ground of superstar/celebrity ministers and their pews of devoted fans. It invests into the potentiality of cult followings. It is the high temple for man’s self-centeredness!

In a real sense, Religion is very much like an all-you-can-eat buffet, which claims "it has something for everyone". Buffets are very popular, because at little personal cost they offer a wide array of tantalizing treats to select from. The word ‘select’ is key, because you can pick and choose only those things that are agreeable to your particular taste. If you are like most people, you will begin with a sampling of items whose presentation appeals to you most; AND, if you are like most people, you plow through your first selections with abandonment and an almost religious fervor. (Translation: You quickly chow down like there’s no tomorrow!) But you find yourself still hungry. No problem! You’ll simply go back and treat yourself to more. Now on your second turn to the food bar you consider a different food combination, because you found the first group of selections lacking. Somehow it just didn’t do it for you! So this time you make some new choices or you may decide to pair your new choices with one or more items from your previous selections, thinking that the alleviation of your hunger is, perhaps, only a matter of finding the right combination of things. Having then made your choices you attack them with relish, enjoying the contrasting flavors of the different foods. But again you are beset by disappointment. It looked great and tasted good, and although you had a pretty good-sized helping of everything, you are STILL hungry! Now if you are truly famished you could go for a third turn or more to the food bar or you may be too anxious to get to the novelties and desserts. So you decide to top off your hunger by choosing the most richly, fattening, gooey dessert you can find! But even that does not suffice!

A person could, literally, spend his entire life consuming one exotic dish (liberal beliefs and ideals) after another in the attempt to satisfy a seemingly insatiable appetite. Religion is designed to placate its listeners—not satisfy them—and certainly not to challenge them! Instead it endeavors to make them feel good about themselves and the sinful choices they make. What Religion offers is equivalent to junk food. It provides a momentary fix, however the effects are not long term because it fails to offer anything necessary to promoting and for sustaining life. For the hunger of a man’s soul can ONLY be satisfied by the bread of life, a.k.a. Jesus Christ. He said of Himself in John 6:35, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty." He also said of Himself in John 4:13-14, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." Jesus was contrasting carnal appetites and spiritual need. The way of the flesh is to always crave more things for the flesh. It is NEVER satisfied! But when the spirit of Christ is in charge of the flesh, the hunger and the appetite for carnal things is brought under submission and is quenched in Him! With your hunger satisfied, you will be able to then sing from and believe in your heart these words from a popular worship song: "I’ve got peace like a river! I’ve got joy like a fountain! I’ve got love like an ocean in my soul!"

When one looks through the lens of history, one can get a rather distorted view of Christianity. At times, from all appearances, it seems to be as much the villain as those people and things it opposed, for many atrocities and much suffering can be attributed to people claiming to be practitioners of the faith! So it could be understood why the mere mention of Christianity might spark a negative reaction in people. Although it may be said that in some instances it was just a case where people were simply misguided in their thinking and they erred in judgment, the consequences nevertheless were no less tragic for those that were impacted by the offenders’ actions. But I submit to you that it was not the failure of Christianity but the failure of the vessels entrusted with the message. God’s word is flawlessly perfect as He is, but the instruments (humans) by which His message is made known is not. Just as His word was true then, it is true today. However, as in days past, there are some influential false imitators even today who, under the banner of Christianity, are driven by personal gain, while others are just blinded by their own ignorance. Fortunately, throughout history, there has also been a spiritual elect—men and women of good conscience and genuine faith—who sacrificially inspired and nudged others in the directions of truth and righteousness, and ushered in positive changes. It is through the legacy of those like these and through the living testimony of today’s elect that the true face of Christianity is seen. True Christianity reflects the face of the cornerstone and foundation of our faith, Jesus Christ.

But what is Christianity, one may ask? Well, again, referring to the dictionary, it defines Christianity as follows: "The Christian religion and the state or fact of being a Christian." That REALLY clears up a lot, doesn’t it? (Sarcasm from the writer.) It then goes on to define a Christian as: "Declaring belief in Jesus as Christ or following the religion based on his teachings." Wrong! Just believing in Jesus does not make one a Christian. Scriptures say that even Satan and his demons believe in him. As to following his teaching as a qualifier, there are people that have attended church all of their lives. They have given their time, their tithes, have taught and been taught, are familiar with bible teachings, and still are not a Christian. Oh certainly those things are applicable to Christianity, but they alone mean nothing if the most important component for which they are attributed to is missing. I cannot emphasize this enough. Christianity is RELATIONAL, thus the name Christian! Much the same as a woman that takes her husband’s name in marriage to signify a bond of unity between them; the name Christian signifies a union, a personal relationship with Christ. The church of God (Christians) is regarded in scripture as the bride of Jesus. Christianity, then, is our freely submitting to the will of Him whose name we bear. That said, everything, no matter how honorable or good the acts or deeds of a person may be, unless Jesus is the center of it all, it is viewed as worthless because the glory from them has been credited not to Him but to your account. Those that are His live not for themselves but to serve and glorify God through Him!

The infrastructure of Christianity is maintained by committed faith and obedience. When we adhere to the principles of Christianity we can find peace, clarity, fulfillment, purposeful service, AND hope. But contrary to popular belief, it is not a hope that is limited only to the promise of someday going to Heaven. It is a hope that can be enjoyed in the here and now! However, the reality of what Christianity holds can only be seen through the eyes of faith. Just as an ignition key is necessary to bringing a car to life, faith is the essential key to accessing the reality of Christ, and to the obtaining of those riches of life that flow through Him from the Father God. It must be clarified that the word ‘riches’ should not be misinterpreted in terms of material possessions—although God does promise to meet our needs—but it is a word to express the spiritual blessings of God. In short, it means to be content and happy in your own skin regardless of the external climate about you, or whether or not you have much or less. Remember, during Christ’s ministry here on Earth He had nothing to call His own, no home or bed to rest His head. As the Creator of the universe He could have had them and a whole lot more if He chose, but He chose not the material things of this world. He was not defined by what He had or didn’t have but by His living a life that glorified God, and in doing so all of His needs were met!

Christianity is the most hated yet most respected of all the faiths. It is the most hated because it dares to hold the individual accountable for his actions, it promotes and emphasizes a universal way of living, but especially—and this is the BIG one—for its uncompromising sense of right and wrong. In a spiritual sense, unbelievers can be likened to cockroaches. Have you ever had an infestation? In the dark these little bug-a-boos freely frolic and enjoy the good life. But when you turn the lights on they scatter everywhere because they hate the light. Likewise Christianity is hated because it is the light that illuminates the infestation of evil that strives in our spiritually dark world. Those in the world do not want their actions exposed; they don’t even want their actions questioned! Their response to the light is to take cover under justification, to hide within the crevices of indignation, and to burrow further into the wall of denial and/or ignorance.

But the name Christianity (Christian) is also revered. Why? Over the years, many of us have observed the countless parading out of celebrities at various award ceremonies. When an award is won, often times the icon that is accepting it is quick to thank God or Jesus for it, their careers, their spouses, and etc. But their dubious public life calls into question whether it is done out of a spirit of genuine thankfulness to the Lord and an honest desire to give Him glory for all that He has done, OR whether it is just a buzz expression to invoke respectability! Yes, despite all of the negative name-calling and the unflattering titles given to those of Christianity, there is still a perceived respectability that comes with the wearer of the name Christian, deserved or not. Perhaps they feel that to say you are a Christian they are afforded some special consideration or credibility somehow, that they are part of some prestigious club!

For similar reasons secularist groups and organizations, which stand in opposition to Christianity, have adjusted their strategy. Once, these groups were able to fire off their politically correct salvos with ease and without challenge. Now they have been met with heavy resistance and firepower from the mainstream, traditional Christian church. The once sleeping giant has awoke and have proven itself to be a formidable foil to these agenda driven social architects, and have shown itself to not only have size but that it has teeth too! To circumvent the church’s influence, thus minimizing the resistance that it poses, these enemies of the faith sought out and found willing allies among the compromised churches that bear Jesus’ name. The question to be asked is why was it so important for the secularists to court those that publicly claim a Christian affiliation, when there are already so many non-Christian churches that condone and support the issues they are promoting? The answer is quite simple really! The name Christianity commands respectability and credibility, and even a compromised church that adopts it name helps legitimize the attitudes and beliefs that secularists hope to institutionalize. A church that appears progressively accepting of such issues as homosexual marriage, abortion, pre-marital sex—among other things—would help win favor among those that are either hateful of and/or disillusioned with the supposedly archaic, out of step, traditional church. So aided by spiritual cohorts like these, the secularists have, to a degree, successfully managed to breach society’s traditional moral integrity, and are in the process of supplanting it with a politically correct gone amuck mentality that has resulted in the erosion of the framework of our society!

Yes, it is indeed a fight to the finish between challenger (religion) and champion (Christianity). And over the years and well into the future—should the Lord tarry—the two will continue to engage, swapping blow for blow and jab for jab for the hearts and minds of the lost and seeking. But at the sound of the last bell it will be Christianity that will still be standing. How do I know? Well, Proverbs 14:12 says: "There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death." Now since Jesus has already stated that HE is the way (John 14:6), any other way but Him, then, would be the wrong way! So to those that are quick to invest themselves into self-affirming ideas and beliefs that are contrary to that which He teaches, Jesus says in His word, John 7: 13-14: "You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose the easy way. But the gateway to life is small, and the road is narrow, and only a few ever find it." Human decadence is unquestionably plentiful and very flavorful! It is also very affordable, or so it appears! In order to fill the pews, Religion, including those imitators of Christianity, is very accommodating and they make concessions to those desiring a much-preferred latitude of secular permissiveness. They show you the sticker price that suggests that, for the low price of your will, you can have bundles of unrestricted fun and delight to your heart’s content. They do not make mention, however, of the hidden cost once the party is over. That cost is the loss of spending eternity with the Creator. How does that saying go; "You can laugh now, but you’ll cry later?!" Well, enjoy the feast!

 People believe they are a Christian for a number of reasons: because of their associations and lineage; on the basis that they believe in God; because they read and know scriptures; because they wear a cross and/or tote a bible; because of their church involvement; because they enjoy gospel music; because they are spiritual and think spiritual things; because they were baptized (sprinkled or poured on OR dunked); because of their attendance record; because of their affiliation with a church and the frequency in which they attend; because they are, by their own admission, a good person; because they are charitable givers of their time and/or resources; because they don’t sin as some do; because they do not eat certain foods or drink spirits (alcohol); because they don’t smoke, chew, or dip; because they don’t enjoy certain forms of recreation; and because they don’t entertain certain vices and habits. Whew! The reasons some people believe themselves to be a Christian are numerous, and they are both amusing and sad. However, they are popular misconceptions that performance-oriented people like to use as a kind of litmus test, believing that by doing or not doing these things will distinguish themselves as being a true Christian. On the contrary, true Christianity is not about image, prestige or associations, self-sacrifice, performance, rituals, or feeling good about oneself! It is about having a personal relationship with God through his son Jesus, about demonstrating His love to others, about living the life that Jesus modeled when he was here on Earth, AND it is about ownership. Yes, ownership! Who owns you? Who do your thoughts and actions define you as being a servant of? And do your actions promote or cast doubts on your confessed walk of faith? Despite the claim of being a Christian, the actions of many would suggest otherwise.

So what is a Christian? Well a person is not one simply because he chooses to wear the name or can speak a little Christianese. A person is a Christian when he believes in the person of Jesus Christ; when he sincerely confesses his sins and genuinely asks forgiveness in Jesus’ name; when he publicly denounces his old way of life and it becomes evident through visible, credible change; when he voluntarily relinquishes and turns over the deed of ownership of his life to God; AND when he has committed his life to be used by God for His purposes and for His glory! Scriptures refers to believers as ‘salt and light’. (Matthew 5:13-16) Salt is a preservative and a flavor enhancer. Servants of God should be as gatekeepers, preserving His word and at the same time impacting the flavor of the culture by being a positive influence and representing a better alternative. We are to be to this world what light is to the darkness, a stark contrast. Our lives should illuminate the world with a purposeful clarity and a sense of hope! We are to be a living example, for to some we are the only bible that they read. In a real sense, we are God’s public relations; we put a face to God and direct the lost and seeking to Him by our conduct and how we live our lives! But oftentimes, it is not God’s reflection that the world sees when they look at us. It is their own, just minus the spiritual baggage that is filled with ‘thou shalt nots.’ How will others know Him if we don’t live Him?

There are a lot of people confessing to being a Christian, giving lip service about their faith, quoting scriptures, and yet their activities and conduct paint a different picture. They can so easily turn on a dime from being spiritual to secular and back again at a moment’s notice! How can a skillet call a kettle black when it bears the same hue? The concept of what it is to be a Christian has been so skewed by the politically correct dictates of the popular culture and by the failure of many compromising church leaders who are unwilling to confront it. Many so-called Christians that adorn themselves in hypocrisy and inconsistency would have better luck attracting flies than a hungry soul! Why should a potential convert want what you are selling, if all you are selling are things they already possess? They don’t need God to live with a person outside of marriage or to have a sexual relationship. They don’t need God to tell dirty jokes or to use profanity. They don’t need God to read or watch pornographic material. They don’t need God to commit adultery. They don’t need God to get high or get drunk. They don’t need God to gossip and compromise a person’s reputation. They don’t need God to be unforgiving, vengeful and spiteful. They don’t need God to lie, steal, lust, gamble, and etc… They have the same junk in their trunk as you have, so why would they want to buy more? The only difference between their junk and yours is that you gloss over yours with the varnish of religiosity, but regardless of how thick a coating you use to cover it with, the true nature and value of it will show through. People are quick to invalidate what you say by the junk you are presenting! Furthermore, they will invalidate the claim of who God says He is and the promises He has made. I mean, how can a person be expected to trust God when His own public relation agents are misrepresenting—if you will—the product they have asserted as being good and life changing? A Christian’s life should be genuinely displayed through his conduct, activities, and speech. If they are not in agreement, it becomes less attractive to those that may be considering—figuratively speaking—buying into the life you are promoting!

There are a growing number among us in the church that insists on having a dual citizenship. They desire the promises of God but they refuse to abandon the things of Egypt (the world). They are deceived into believing they can have the best of both worlds, when in reality there is only ONE best and God rules it, AND he doesn’t share! To those that believe otherwise he says in Deuteronomy 5: 6-11, "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me. But showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments. You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name." A Christian CANNOT have it both ways! A real Christian would not want to! You are either His or you are not. There is no shade of gray and God doesn’t grade on the curve! Parodying the line in that old song by singer, Louis Jordan, ‘Is you Is or Is you Ain’t’….a Christian? For if you truly are, you can not be double minded in your thinking or have dual loyalties, but instead must follow Him fully in earnest and in truth even to the exclusion of personal liberties and relationships. God is second to nothing and to no one!

Many among us believe that being religious is the same thing as being a Christian, but there is a distinct difference. Religiousness is the way of man, and Christianity is the way of God. One of the illustrations that I like to use in differentiating between being a Christian from just being religious is to direct people to their closet. I know that sounds rather odd and unusual, but bear with me a minute. I tell them to envision their closet and its contents as they relate to clothing. As in most closets you are going to find various types of seasonal wear; various degrees of leisure wear; clothing designated for special events and activities; something for church service; and you might even have something old and worn set aside for working around the house or in the yard. In short, your closet will most likely be equipped to meet any clothing demands and afford you a different look for any occasion. Likewise, a religious person has many different outfits in his spiritual closet, and depending on whose company he is in or what the situation is, he dons a different persona in keeping with what he is experiencing in the moment. He is a human chameleon, adapting and aligning his appearance at will to blend into any situation. He adopts a worldview that is dictated by popular culture. He is driven by self-indulgences and places more importance on the favor and approval of man, than on being a righteous person that pleases God!

Okay, using a similar illustration, let’s say that a Christian’s closet had only one piece of clothing in it. Imagine, one piece of clothing for EVERY situation! What you wore to work you would wear to church, to a party, to the beach, to the movies, to a wedding, while on vacation—well you get the idea! That one suit is all-purpose. But, in addition to it being the only thing that you have to wear, it is something that you wear all of the time. It is like your skin, you wear it 24/7/365 days a year, regardless of the social climate, activity, or how you felt! It is always in season and always in plain view for all to see. It does not shrink from the world’s disfavor or run from disapproval. It holds up to public scrutiny and attacks. It is a one size fit all. And if it appears to not be fitting well, don’t blame the tailor. Might I suggest that perhaps the person is attempting to wear it improperly? No, Christianity is certainly not a product. The exercise here was merely for the purpose of emphasizing the type of commitment that is expected of a true believer. However, if it were a product I believe I would have the perfect slogan for it. "Christianity, you live it; you don’t become it! It's who you are, not what you are! Your life is your fashion statement! Wear it well!" The nature of a true child of God is a one hundred percent devotion to serving Him. We live not for our own pleasure but to glorify Him! We are to adhere to His principles, forsaking lifestyle choices that are contrary to his will. Just as a mural exhibits the quality of an artist’s talents, we are living tapestries that define the wonderful characteristic and rich qualities of a loving Creator!

"But we’re not perfect; everyone makes mistakes!" some may say. In the physical world accidents are commonplace, sometimes resulting in an extreme financial hardship. In the eventuality of an emergency situation and to lessen the financial burden resulting from it, people insure themselves so that they may collect a financial return on their loss. Of course no one hopes or wants to ever have to use their insurance policy, but they are comforted by the fact it is there should circumstances necessitate using it. Although the return can never change what occurred or fully replace what has been lost, it affords them the opportunity for a fresh start and new possibilities. Likewise God also offers—not insurance—but ASSURANCES through His Son Jesus. He understands man’s weakness. He, after all, has the unique prospective of not only designing and creating man to his own specification, but he entered through the back door of humanity to join its rank and file as one. There is a popular saying that goes, "Christians are not perfect, just forgiven!" In other words, people do not cease to be human when they accept God’s precious gift.

Yes, despite our heartfelt commitment and equipping our mind and spirit with God’s word, a true follower will still on occasion err in judgement and fall prey to his old nature, his sin nature. It is because God knows man that he made a provision for such a time as these. His name is Jesus Christ! Jesus died not just for man’s past sins, but his current ones, and for all of his future ones! Now the fact of this does not, however, suggest that it gives one a license to continue in sin. God knows the difference between a person with a committed heart that has a momentary lapse of weakness, and a willfully rebellious one that chooses to march to his own drum beat! God’s provision covers a multitude of sins, but it is applicable only to a repentant heart. So it is not a question of being perfect and never making a mistake, but a question of whether or not a person has a committed heart and is putting forth a sincere effort to live a Godly life. Although we’ll never be perfect in this life, what is expected of us is that we run a good race, that we give God our first fruit, our best effort, our excellence! And should and when we fail Him we can embrace His promise in 1 John 1:9, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify (cleanse) us from all unrighteousness." You know, the more I think about it His assurances ARE our insurance, because we can take Him at his word and rest on them! Amen? And that in itself is a great refund! With that said I ask you again, are you REALLY a Christian or are you JUST plain religious? Whose reflection are you seeing in this mirror?