Black Christians and Obama

There are a lot of things about the Black culture I don’t understand.

Music I understand.

I love Black Gospel. I love the blues. Most of what I listen to on the radio is Black Gospel music. Other Christian cultures could take some lessons on how to sing about Jesus with soul, how to worship, how to praise in the Spirit. Hezekiah Walker, Yolanda Adams, Mary Mary, Candi Staton, Cece Winans, I love ‘em all.

Some of my black Christian friends are the most passionate about their worship, and about witnessing about the grace of God through His Son.

So the Black Christian worldview, I would think, would be one in the same as a White Christian worldview.

Not when it comes to politics.

I DO NOT UNDERSTAND. I wish a black Christian reader would enlighten me.

Obama talk is all over the Black Christian stations. “We have a chance to make history – and put a Black man in the White House. Blacks should be excited, anxious, anticipatory. History is about to be made!”

WHAT?

How can a Christian be excited about putting someone in the White House who is the antithesis of Christianity.

He supports abortion. He even supports partial birth abortion.
He supports homosexual marriage.
His former pastor , close friend and mentor used God’s name in vain and damned America.
He has advisers and friends who mock Christ openly.
He has advisers and friends who spout racism.
He has publicly stated that he believes Jesus is not the only way.

I know. None of the candidates are what I’d call model Christians. Not even close. I doubt any of them are really Christian. But why pick the greater of the three evils just because he’s Black and be excited about it?

Somebody please explain how someone who worships and praises the name of Jesus can be excited about this man.

So evidently skin color is an issue after all?

I thought we were supposed to move past all that. At least us white folk have been told that. Somebody needs to tell the black folk.

A good ol' Cajun joke

Reverend Boudreaux was the part-time pastor of the local Cajun Baptist Church and Pastor Thibodeaux was the minister of the Cajun Covenant Church across the road. They were both standing by the road pounding a sign into the ground, that read:

***'Da End is Near! Turn You self Around Now! Before It's Too Late!'***

As a car sped past them, the driver leaned out his window and yelled, ''You religious nuts!''

From the curve they heard screeching tires and a big splash......Boudreaux turns to Thibodeaux and asks, ''Do ya tink maybe da sign should jus say BRIDGE OUT''?

To my Heckler Du Jour

The incident in Texas does not concern a Christian church. Mormons are not Christians, and no, I don't condone polygamy. Do you?

Ecumenicalism and the Emergent Church

More on the heretical Emergent Church movement (Rob Bell etc.).

Full article here.


Excerpt:

…two prominent emergent church leaders are participating in an ecumenical forum today in Seattle because they believe dialogue with Hindus, Buddhists, and Muslims will not only enrich their fellowship, but give them another view of Jesus the Bible doesn't give.

They will certainly get other views of Jesus that the Bible doesn’t give.

For instance:

Hindus teach that Jesus is one among many Masters or Prophets or Incarnations.

Buddhists teach that Jesus is just one of many deities with many incarnations. Deepak Chopra says in his book, “The Third Jesus”: “And finally, there is the third Jesus, the cosmic Christ, the spiritual guide whose teaching embraces all humanity, not just the church built in his name. He speaks to the individual who wants to find God as a personal experience, to attain what some might call grace, or God-consciousness, or enlightenment

Muslims teach that Jesus was a great prophet – but not as great a Mohammed, and that he did not die on the cross – that Judas Iscariot did. Muslims reject the deity of Jesus and reject the Trinity.

I don’t want “another view of Jesus”. The Bible has inspired (God-breathed) information. Any other information that contradicts that is trash.

Excerpt:

“...emergent church writers argue they need to "reinvent" or "reimagine" Christianity in order to reach the young culture."

They aren’t giving young people credit. Young people are real. They don’t want a watered down truth. Give it to them plain and simple. For instance, in my church the teens and young adults are given the truth of the Gospel…that we are sinners, that we need a Savior, and that we can’t be good enough to go to heaven. Most of them understand that easily. They know their sin. When confronted about it, they admit it. And thankfully, most of them eventually come to the point that their sin is not as important to them as their eternity – and they come to Christ. They are also told of the abundant life that God promises His children – the peace that passes all understanding and the joy of a victorious Christian life.

Isn’t that what everyone is really looking for? Love…joy…peace.

These things can’t be found anywhere else but in Jesus. The Jesus of the Bible. Not the Jesus of Hindus, Buddhists, Muslims, or the Emergent Church.


"But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed." Galatians 1:8-9

Feel the Love

The title to this post is misleading, I admit. It's a statement of sarcasm.

I was an unbeliever most of my life. An agnostic actually – didn’t know for sure if there was a God or not, but didn’t think we could know for sure. Figured if there was a God, He wasn’t an active one – just sat on the sidelines and watched us from a distance with minimal interference.

I argued with believers sometimes – especially if they tried to tell me about their faith. I disagreed with them. If they got too “pushy” I politely let them know I wasn’t interested in the discussion anymore.

The key word here is “politely”. It never crossed my mind to mock them, ridicule them, belittle them, bully them, or call them names or cuss them out. Sure, they’re wrong about what they believe (I thought), but they have just as much right to believe as I do to not believe.

Things have changed a lot. Especially online. Maybe the anonymity of online posting is a contributor, but the vicious, hate-filled, mocking, ridiculing, in-your-face name calling that I see so prevalent today from many atheists and non-Christians is disturbing. Militant. Unmerciful. Take-no-prisoners attitude.

Hate is the best word I can use to describe the trend I see. I’m shocked by it. And yet, it shouldn’t surprise me. There was a time when I couldn’t imagine a world that would actually condone hunting down, torturing and murdering Christians because of their faith. Yet that is exactly what the book of Revelation tells us will happen eventually.

I can see it now, where I couldn’t see it twenty years ago.


“Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.” I Peter 4:12-14

The Heart

I’ve heard it said that it doesn’t matter that one does not believe in Jesus, or subscribe to any particular system of beliefs or faith – that God knows our heart and will judge us according to our hearts.

That’s a scary thought, especially in light of what God has to say about the heart.

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” Jeremiah 17:9

God destroyed almost every living thing in the flood because of man’s heart.

“And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” Genesis 6:5

If there was another way of salvation other than grace, God would not have had to send His Son to die for our sins.

“O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever!” Deuteronomy 5:29


Ever been angry with someone? Ever felt hatred toward someone? Jesus said that if we are angry with someone, or hate someone, that we have committed murder in our hearts. That means you’ve broken the 6th commandment.

Ever lusted after someone sexually who was not your spouse? Jesus said that if we have lusted, we have committed adultery in our hearts. That means you’ve broken the 7th commandment.

Have you ever lied?
You’ve broken the 9th commandment.
Ever dishonored your parents?
You’ve broken the 5th commandment.

Ever put anything or anyone above God in importance in your life?
You’ve broken the 1st commandment and are an idolater.

What foul words come out of your mouth? “But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.” Matthew 15:1

“He hath said in his heart, God hath forgotten: he hideth his face; he will never see it.” Psalm 10:11

“The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.” Psalms 14:1


No. God will not judge us by our hearts.
If he did, we would all go to hell.

Envy

This was in my local newspaper yesterday, and though the words “Christian world view” were not mentioned, I can’t think of a better example in connection with envy.

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Question: I have some friends that I have had since high school, 20 years ago. Since then, some of us have made more money than others. I can tell it is starting to be an issue with one of my buddies. He is always commenting about some aspect of my money. What can I do to make this less of an issue?

Answer: Give him half your income.

O.K., maybe we should consider Plan B!
Anyone who has taken an Economics 101 class knows that limited resources (how much you have) are always chasing unlimited wants (how much you do not have — yet!).

Translation: we always want more than we have.

In and of itself, this is not a bad thing. Much of man's economic progress is caused by the fact that people want and buy things they don't really need — they just want them.
One hundred years ago, no one in Louisiana had air conditioning. We all sweated away the summers in relative contentment, knowing fall's cool air would one day arrive.
One hundred years later, imagine being the only person on your block without air conditioning. How happy would you be?

So what makes the difference? The air conditioner? Now — remember, you were happy in your sweat 100 years ago.

The difference is comparison. We want what we do not have. But when someone else has what we want (i.e., the air conditioner), then we really want it.
When it is a friend who has what we want, (and to compound the problem, it may also be something we cannot afford), well that just sends some people into orbit.
Economic comparison is just one form of envy, but envy it is.

Author Chuck Swindoll explains, "Envy is a painful and resentful awareness of an advantage (more money) enjoyed by another ... accompanied by a strong desire to possess the same advantage. Envy wants to have what someone else possesses."
If you are making ostentatious displays of your wealth or income around your friend, he will obviously find that offensive or boorish on your part. However, I doubt that is the problem.

The converse is usually the case. We humans tend to make the huge mistake of equating a person's affluence (income) or wealth (assets) with their value.
If you enjoy a degree of wealth with no degree of humility, you probably have no friends to run off.

On the other hand, if you are not as wealthy as some of your friends, don't feel like they necessarily look down on you. True friends don't do that.
My friend Tom had advanced degrees, yet chose a profession that did not pay a high salary. He once said with a smile, "I don't have to be rich. I just have to have rich friends!" He had the right attitude!

Admittedly, many of us have a hard time being as UN-self-conscious about this issue as Tom. When we socialize with friends who live in a certain neighborhood, or drive a certain car, or have a certain occupation, we can become very self-focused.
I've been around just long enough to know that there are many rich folks that do not deserve their riches. And there are many of meager means who deserve much better.
But I also know that engaging in comparison may make the rich full of false pride and the "average-person" full of false pity.

Focus on being a decent person and don't try to change to make your friend somehow feel better about himself.
He has just as much value as you do. But only he can tell himself that.
And for some of us, that is a long journey.

Byron R. Moore, CFP® is managing director/planning group of Argent Advisors Inc. Write to him at 500 East Reynolds Drive, Ruston, LA 71270 or call him at 251-5858. The information contained in this column should not be construed as a substitute for personalized investment advice.


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Scripture says a lot about envy. Here are just a few verses.


“A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.” Proverbs 14:30

“Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long.” Proverbs 23:17

“Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy?” Proverbs 27:4

“Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ? For he knew that for envy they had delivered him.”

“And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt:…” Acts 7:9

The book of Romans lists the sin of envy in with some other pretty horrible sins. The association is undeniable…

“Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,…”


It is clear that we are not to be envious of others or what others have. We are to be happy with what God gives us.

“Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.” Philippians 4:11

The Thief

The Thief

I believe that every single word in the Bible is there for a reason. Even the most seemingly insignificant passage has a message for the reader of some kind.

Take the account of the thief on the cross.
There were two thieves that day – one on either side of Jesus.

“Then were there two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left."

Both of them initially mocked Jesus. Both initially ask Him to save them.

"And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads, And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross…He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him…The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth."


After mocking Jesus, the two heard Him say repeatedly “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do…”

Shortly before Jesus died, one of the thieves mocked again. “…If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.”

At this point, evidently after seeing Jesus raise Himself up on the nails in His hands in order to cry out to God and ask forgiveness for those who were persecuting Him, one of the thieves suddenly realized the truth. He was there on his cross, deserving his punishment, but Jesus was truly Who He said He was, and didn’t deserve to be there. The thief could only conclude that Jesus was there for him, and that Jesus was God. So he said to the mocking thief, “… Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss."

That thief then did the only thing He could do to save himself. He trusted Jesus Christ to save him.

“And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.”

That was all it took. Faith. God did everything else.

“And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.”

Both thieves died on their crosses. But both did not go to heaven.

The thief who went to heaven:

Did not do any good works
Did not get baptized
Did not speak in tongues
Did not love God and serve Him
Did not go to confession
Did not tithe
Did not join a church


He did nothing. He only trusted Jesus Christ, Who was hanging on a cross dying. I doubt the thief even knew that Jesus would rise again in three days. All he knew was that he was a sinner, he deserved his punishment, and that his only chance of redemption was through Jesus Christ.

That was put in the Bible for a reason.
What are you trusting to get you to heaven?

Fools

Today is April Fool’s Day.

God has a lot to say about fools.

“The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God...” Psalms 14:1

“O LORD, how great are thy works! and thy thoughts are very deep. A brutish man knoweth not; neither doth a fool understand this.” Psalms 92:5-6

“The wise in heart will receive commandments: but a prating fool shall fall.” Proverbs 10:8

“He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool.” Proverbs 10:18

“It is as sport to a fool to do mischief…” Proverbs 10:23

“He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind: and the fool shall be servant to the wise of heart.” Proverbs 11:29

“The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.” Proverbs 12:15

“A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident.” Proverbs 14:16

“A fool despiseth his father's instruction…” Proverbs 15:5

“Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.” Proverbs 17:12

“A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself.” Proverbs 18:2

“A fool's mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.” Proverbs 18:7

“Speak not in the ears of a fool: for he will despise the wisdom of thy words.” Proverbs 23:9

“Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.” Proverbs 26:4

“As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly.” Proverbs 26:11

“A stone is heavy, and the sand weighty; but a fool's wrath is heavier than them both.” Proverbs 27:3

“A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards.” Proverbs 29:11

“The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.” Ecclesiastes 10:12

“Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.” I Corinthians 3:18

“And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” Luke 12:16-21