November 2, 2024

                 What’s In Your Heart?

“You have heard it said to our ancestors, ‘Do not murder,’ and whoever murders will be subject to judgment. But I tell you, everyone who is angry with his brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Whoever insults his brother or sister will be subject to the court. Whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be subject to hellfire.”

– Matthew 5:21-22

Surely I’d misunderstood. I watched the clip again. No. I hadn’t misunderstood. Donald Trump really said it.

He said that Liz Cheney, former congresswoman from Wyoming, should be shot. Her great sin? She opposes Trump and has vowed to use her influence to keep him from being elected again.

Why am I surprised? This is a man who incited the January 6th assault on the United States Capitol. He says he admires Hitler. And he vows revenge on anyone who disagrees with him.

I will likely never understand how Christians can support such a candidate. I hear all the excuses. They claim they aren’t voting for the man but rather for the values and policies he represents.

How can anyone support a candidate who thinks that those who disagree with him belong in jail or in a coffin? That’s not from Jesus. That’s not about love or mercy or kindness.

I am appalled by Trump. I have been for quite some time. But what saddens me most are those people who attend church every Sunday and still believe Trump’s words and actions are acceptable.

One day we will all be judged by what’s in our hearts. What’s in yours? Do you think that those who disagree with you deserve death? Do you spew out ugly names toward those who believe differently than you do?

Donald Trump continues to divide our country and our churches. He does this because we allow it. Jesus said to love people. The Bible even tells us to love our enemies. We are to pray for those who persecute us.

I pray for Donald Trump’s soul. I also pray for you and me and for our great nation. Will we stand up for what Jesus truly said? Or will we fall to Satan’s lies?

Following Jesus isn’t about attending church on Sunday mornings. It’s about what’s in your heart. Your reaction to Trump’s words reveal what’s truly in your heart.

January 20, 2022

 

Pharisee or Sinner?

 

If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. – 2 Chronicles 7:14

 

How many times have we seen this verse on social media? People begging for Christians to bow down and pray for God to heal our land from this awful disease called Covid. People asking God to restore Himself to leadership in this land. People demanding that God restore Donald Trump to the presidency. People living in comfort crying out for God to increase their prosperity.

 

The one thing we haven’t seen a lot of are those same people admitting their own sins. They’re too busy pointing their fingers at the sins of others to acknowledge that maybe they should change their own hardened hearts before they demand the same of others.

 

If Christians truly lived as Jesus lived, our country wouldn’t need social media posts demanding our will from God. We’d be too busy praying and serving, extending kindness and grace and a helping hand. But that might cause us to get our own hands dirty. It might make us admit we’re wrong in our judgements of people we do not know.

 

In Luke 18, Jesus told a parable about a Pharisee and a tax collector both going to the temple to pray. The Pharisee was thanking God that he wasn’t like other sinners. He was praising himself for fasting and tithing. The tax collector would not even lift his eyes to heaven as he begged God for mercy on himself, a sinner.

 

Which are you? Are you the Pharisee who is so busy praising himself that he has forgotten how to humble himself before God? Or are you the sinner who names himself as such as he bows before God Almighty? Reread 2 Chronicles 7:14. Are you the haughty Pharisee or the humble sinner? Your words and actions reveal your answer.

July 18, 2019

Who Do You Follow?

It is the LORD your God you must follow, and him you must revere. Keep his commands and obey him; serve him and hold fast to him. – Deuteronomy 13:4

I was amazed, though not surprised, by the hatred and ugliness the Facebook post brought forth. I share many things related to faith but even I hesitated with this one. Was I a coward? Possibly.

Sometimes people are so blind they can’t see themselves. Saying anything remotely negative about Donald Trump among some members of the Christian community brings out the Pharisee within them. I simply didn’t want to be part of it. That was wrong. How can we truly know Jesus if we deny His truth?

Here’s the quote:

You can follow Jesus, or you can follow Trump; but you don’t get to follow both. – John Fugelsang (posted by The Celtic Christian Tradition)

The simple truth seems obvious to me. We can find it throughout the Bible. We cannot serve God and someone or something else. It’s not a political statement but rather a Biblical one.

If you’re upset about the quote, try this: Insert the name Obama where Trump’s name is. Are you still furious or do you feel justified? Then your allegiance is in the wrong place.

But don’t stop there. Insert a political party, a celebrity, a popular coach, or even a well-known evangelist. The answer remains the same. We can’t serve two masters. We can’t truly follow Jesus when we are holding someone else up as His equal.

Trump is a fallible human being. So is every other person who walks this earth. Trump can’t save us. Only Jesus can do that. But there are some Christians who seem convinced that Trump can do just that.

I don’t know what your political allegiance is. I don’t care. Just remember that Jesus is our Lord and Savior. Be very careful when you start looking to someone or something else to do what only He can do.

July 23, 2018

Are You A Hypocrite?

He replied, “Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written:

‘These people honor me with their lips,

But their hearts are far from me.

They worship me in vain;

Their teachings are merely human rules.’

You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions.” – Mark 7:6-8

It’s the hypocrisy that bothers me the most. It’s not about politics or whether someone is a Democrat or Republican. That’s irrelevant to someone whose citizenship is in heaven.

I have trouble understanding how someone can proclaim Jesus Christ with one breath and in another defend someone who publicly lies on an almost daily basis. How can he be from God when he ignores God’s laws? How can he serve a Risen Savior when he has yet to repent for past wrongs. Indeed, he doesn’t seem bothered by them at all.

Most of the time I remain silent. There is no discussion with those who strongly support our President. Their anger and belligerence astounds me. Whatever happened to honest debate? Whatever happened to civil discussions? Neither seem to exist anymore.

I have never liked Donald Trump. It’s not personal because I have never met the man. I just don’t care for high-profile playboys who flaunt their transgressions and condemn anyone who disagrees with them. I suppose that’s also why I don’t watch a lot of reality television.

I was amazed at how he played his role and ousted some good candidates on his road to the presidency. He is smart. He is also manipulative. It has served him well in the public arena.

What breaks my heart is how quickly Christians make excuses for him. We continue to bring up his opponent, though he became president long ago. His opponent is irrelevant when it comes to his behavior. We aren’t judged on the behavior of others but, rather, on our own behavior.

Are lies okay if you think he’s benefiting you in the area of business? Is deception okay if you think he’s making our country stronger in the military arena? Are degrading comments about women, bully tactics designed to keep opponents silent, and hateful commentary against anyone who isn’t “like” us okay? Apparently with some Christians it is.

We wonder why so many people are turning away from Jesus. We wonder why so many look down on Christians. We are so busy pointing fingers and defending someone whose actions we should condemn that we miss the point. We miss Jesus.

That’s what the world sees. They see a bunch of hypocrites where Jesus should be evident. Maybe we need to look deep inside. Maybe we need to make sure He’s really there.