It's time to end the killing on America's streets. Stop the violence!

What Would God Say About All These Police Killings?

By Rev. Paul J. Bern

The United States of America is coming apart at the seams! That's an observation of current events in America, not just my opinion. Police shootings of unarmed Black men and youths are epidemic and notorious. Lately I have begun to learn, much to my own horror, that civilians have begun taking matters into their own hands by assassinating police officers while they are on duty and in uniform. We had two more such incidents this past Friday – one where a cop was shot execution style while fueling up his patrol car, and the other where an officer was dragged for several miles and was later pronounced 'DOA' at the hospital. So does this mean we have descended into a deadly game of tit-for-tat on American streets? Does a state of civil war now exist between African-Americans and law enforcement? I can sum up the answer in one sentence, and it's a quote from Christ: “He/she who lives by the sword will die by the sword”.

Of course, there are always two sides to every story. In several of the shootings of unarmed Black men, police officers have been charged with murder just recently, as you know. Yet by the same token, there was a nationally reported incident earlier this week where a man who had carjacked someone started shooting at the police when they cornered him, for which the perpetrator paid with his life. In cases like that, I believe police shootings are without question fully justifiable. God gave me a passage of Scripture earlier today that would fit this very well. It is a prophetic bit of Scripture taken from the first 11 verses of Jeremiah chapter 7 in the Old Testament. For those who don't know where this is in the Bible, it's between Isaiah and Ezekiel. I am going to take this just a verses or two at a time, because there is so much of the Holy Spirit in here that one cannot simply breeze through this and quickly move on.

“This is the word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: 'Stand at the gate of the Lord's house and there proclaim this message. Hear the word of the Lord, all you people of Judah who come through these gates to worship the Lord.'” (Jeremiah 7: 1-2, NIV) How would we say this in 21^st century English? Allow me to paraphrase: 'Stand at the entrance to the church, right in the middle of the doorway, and tell all the people who come here to wait outside and hear this message before entering the sanctuary.' Church services, it seems, will be starting a little late today. God is telling the modern church in America to stop what they are doing and hear these words. Otherwise, He is saying, you have no business coming in here. You would then become invaders in my house, encroaching on My holy territory, says the Lord. This, says the Bible and the prophet Jeremiah, is extremely serious and at the top of God's priorities.

“This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: 'Reform your ways and your actions, and I will let you live in this place. Do not trust in deceptive words and say, “This is the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord!” (Jer. 7: 3-4) Reform...and I will let you live in this place. What place is this? When it was first written by the prophet Jeremiah, it was a reference to ancient Israel in the years leading up to its downfall and being taken into captivity by the Babylonian Empire. But in a modern context it is a prophecy from the past that is equally applicable to the near future. Applicable to Israel just like in days of old, you ask? Partly, but also equally applicable to Israel's chief protector and ally in modern times, the USA. Prophecy, you see, is multidimensional – just like the God who we prophesy about.

“If you really want to change your ways and your actions and to treat each other justly, if you do not oppress the alien, the fatherless, and the widow and do not shed innocent blood in this place, and if you do not follow other gods to your own harm, then I will let you live in this place, in the land I gave your forefathers forever and ever. (Jer. 7: 5-7) Do we treat each other justly when we're shooting at each other like it's the end of the world? Who is worse, the cops who are killing the unarmed Blacks, the Blacks who are killing each other, or everybody else who is shooting and ripping off everything and everybody else? Is there anybody reading this who seriously believes that God is pleased with America in its current state of affairs? I should think not!! If nobody is right, then everybody's wrong! Does America oppress the alien? As long as racial profiling is allowed to continue within the ranks of law enforcement, this will continue to be the case. Moreover, all those people crossing our southern border into our country are not an invading hostile army such as the likes of Donald Trump have implied. The ugly truth is that they are economic and war refugees from Mexico and Central America. The war refugees are escaping the civil wars being waged by the drug cartels of Central America and Southern Mexico – wars that are being fomented by America's very own CIA. The economic refugees come here looking for work – work that is simply unavailable in their former countries. Also, there is a huge wage disparity between those countries and the US. According to the Economic Policy Institute in Washington, DC, a factory worker in Mexico has an average take-home pay of about $55.00 per month USD (as of 2014). A person in the US working full time at a minimum wage job takes home approximately $640.00 after taxes. So these “illegal” immigrants, as they're called by all the right-wingers (many of whom identify as Christian) see their take-home pay increase ten or 11 times just by relocating to America. Is it any wonder they are coming in droves? If the US used its foreign aid that it so freely distributes to create enough new jobs down there in Mexico or Guatemala, etc., those people wouldn't have to come to the US looking for work. Instead, the taxpayers spent $35 billion on the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, a plane America does not need.

Can I go on? Does America oppress the “fatherless”? All one has to do is visit America's jails and prisons. Eight out of every ten people who are incarcerated either grew up without a dad, or are estranged from their fathers – often because of prior abuse. It's a cycle that can often get passed down from one generation to another, a cycle that can run in families. Does America “oppress the widow”? Is there evidence of this ever occurring? All over America we see boarded up old houses in blighted neighborhoods, houses that people used to live in. But some smooth-talking mortgage broker came along one day and talked the homeowner, who was usually elderly and minimally educated, into taking out a new mortgage on a home that was decades old and sometimes in need of repair, only to have the homeowners fall behind on the payments and find themselves homeless. For another example, visit any nursing home in America, and you will find multitudes of elderly people who have been long forgotten by their families. In many cases, they have outlived everyone they ever knew and loved. America's elderly have become a disposable people just like America's workers, its former middle class. Is God pleased with this? On the contrary, He is deeply offended!

What about “shedding innocent blood?” Does America, or has America ever, shed innocent blood? For me, a guy who genuinely loves his country but despises and fears his government, the answer is hard to look at and still more difficult to receive, but look I must. America has shed innocent blood in millions of civilian casualties in the two Iraq wars, Afghanistan, Viet Nam, and both world wars. But there is more – America has shed innocent blood right here at home. We have killed innocent men on death row, men who were not guilty of their crimes, but who were executed because they were presumed guilty because they were African-American. So many more Blacks have been executed in lynchings since the end of the US Civil War that the country lost count. So yes, most definitely, America has shed much innocent blood. Does anyone seriously believe that God has not noticed, or that He was looking the other way at the time? What about that last one? Have we “followed other gods to our own harm”? This is evidently talking about addictions, although this can have to do with substance abuse just as easily as it could addiction to a spouse, sports hero, career, or getting a bigger house whether you needed one or not, the latest computer and electronic gear, yet another new car that you really didn't need, always wearing the latest fashions, and so on. Try unplugging from the world! Turn off your cable TV and save money, watch Christian stuff on the Internet instead, become a minimalist. Despise materialism, shun worldly wealth and those who crave it. Go green or live 'off the grid'. Do something, please don't just sit there! And now I'll conclude this message, beginning at verse 8.

“But look, you are trusting in deceptive words that are worthless. Will you steal and murder, commit adultery and perjury, burn incense to Baal and follow other gods you have not known, and then come before me and stand in this house, which bears my name, and say 'we are safe' – safe to do all these detestable things? Has this house, which bears my name, become a den of robbers to you? But I have been watching!', says the Lord.” (Jer. 7: 8-11, NIV) How are we trusting in deceptive words that are worthless, you ask? What is God talking about here to us through the prophet Jeremiah? I strongly believe this has a double meaning. In one sense, God is telling us our country's leaders can no longer be trusted because they have their own interests at heart instead of, or ahead of, “we the people”. Undoubtedly this is one point I need not explain to anyone! But why aren't we more outraged about all the waste and corruption in Washington? To me, if we are not opposing it then we are condoning this criminal behavior of our nations leadership. That makes us accomplices, and under no circumstances do I ever want to be seen that way by God. If this were to ever occur, that would be the day I would begin to pray in vain. Since I “work out my own salvation with fear and trembling”, I could never in my right mind go there or do that anyway. 

 

But what is the second part of the meaning? This time, instead of talking about political and corporate leadership, God is speaking to us through the Prophet about the leadership within our churches. The Bible says, “Judgment begins in the house of the Lord”. That's us, Christians. It's talking about us. Those who teach falsely and know it, and there are a dismaying number of “preachers” who do, will pay the ultimate penalty in eternity. Will we continue to commit sin after sin, hop from one affair to another mating like rabbits, lie, cheat and steal and think we got away with it because nobody saw us? Those who do those things are only kidding themselves. Have our churches become a den of robbers? As long as certain preachers continue to demand 10% of everyone's income, whether they can afford it or not, then the answer is yes. The money-changers have once again occupied the temple, and Jesus will soon return to throw them out again, since they apparently didn't learn their lesson the last time our Lord administered it 2,000 years ago. “But I have been watching, say the Lord”! God sees all of it, He is totally fed up, and judgment is coming to America as a result. As I write this in late August 2015, judgment is only weeks away, mark my words.

This week's Bible study will be 1st Thessalonians chapter 1

Becoming a Model To All Believers

[1^st Thessalonians chapter one]

Today we will begin our study and analysis of the First Book of Thessalonians, as we continue our exhaustive study of the apostle Paul's letters to the early churches. Since chapter one is relatively short while being long on content, that's all we'll be doing for today. As we open our study, we immediately find that this was a letter written jointly by Paul, Timothy and Silas, who were also important figures in the early church. Since there is no mention of being imprisoned like there was in other studies, we can conclude, as I do, that these men of God were freely preaching and teaching the Gospel unhindered by the power and ruthlessness of the Roman Empire at the time this was written. And so let's begin our study with that in mind, starting at verse one.

“Paul, Silas and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace and peace to you. We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers. We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction.” (1st Thessalonians 1, verses 1-5, NIV)

“Grace and peace to you... We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.” Let's pause here and begin asking ourselves some important questions. Are we “continually remembering” others in church and in God's army, not to mention the poor, the homeless, the disabled, the sick and the elderly? Is our labor inside and outside of the church done with the love of Christ in mind? Or are we laboring out of selfish ambition, or to somehow take advantage of the needy and the weak? Let's all be soldiers in God's army and laborers for the harvest for all the right reasons! Otherwise we are running our race in vain, finishing in first place only to be disqualified for the prize. As for our “endurance inspired by hope in Jesus Christ”, let's all be extra vigilant in this regard and be sure that we are putting Jesus first in everything we say and do. Pray constantly, or at least as often as possible. Do that and you have already won the battle, and Satan loses another one! Most importantly, “our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction.” You know what the apostle Paul was talking about here. He was writing about discerning the difference between preachers who use a lot of emotion to invoke an emotional response, and those who preach with the Spirit of the Lord so that the Spirit is clearly present to everyone in the room. Don't worry about being able to know the difference. All you have to do is listen to them closely and watch how the crowd reacts to their message. The more sensationalized their message is, the more emotionally affected people will be. But if the Holy Spirit is being invoked and prayed to, emotion is replaced by an unmistakable Spirituality that is markedly different than the sensational. Oftentimes when this occurs you will see people being healed of one kind of malady or another, for others there will be many tears, a kind of Spiritual and emotional cleansing that transcends physical healing. Also, there is often a psychological healing that takes place as well, an inexplicable calm within our minds that sets free all who open themselves up to it. There is nothing any of us can compare it to – God's healing is complete healing, it is genuine, and it lasts indefinitely if we will only commit to practicing our faith the same way. So if you want to heal, taking an active role in the healing of someone else is the first step towards healing yourself. That's the true nature of the Holy Spirit, and it is a wise individual who puts these things into practice. Having made that point, let's continue now at the second half of verse 5.

“You know how we lived among you for your sake. You became imitators of us and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message given to you with the joy of the Holy Spirit. And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. The Lord's message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia – your faith in God has become known everywhere. Therefore we need not say anything about it, for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead – Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.” (1 Thessalonians 1, verses 5-10, NIV)

The first three sentences of this passage of Scripture are very similar to my own missionary work in the inner city of Atlanta. I live in and go to church in one of the roughest, meanest and most blighted areas of greater Atlanta. I am currently the only Caucasian man in that particular congregation. I still play keyboards there on Sunday mornings just like I have for the last six years. Martin Luther King once said, “The most segregated place in America is at church on Sunday morning”, and it's still just as true as it was when he said it back in the 1960's. So I have taken it upon myself to cross the aisle on behalf of my Black brothers and sisters, because making this gesture makes a statement about who I am and what I stand for. It sends a message that it's time to embrace change, while simultaneously holding out an olive branch to Atlanta's black community. If any of them should question my judgment about this, I just quote 1st John chapter 4, verses 20-21 which says, “If anyone says 'I love God', yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother”. It also sends a message to the children in the congregation that says it's okay to be in church with different kinds of people. I come every Sunday to tell them tolerance is cool, not necessarily with my words, but just by being there. If you want to create and propagate positive change, you start with the kids, pure and simple.

“Your faith in God has become known everywhere...”. Are we living our lives this way? Has our faith in God become known everywhere? It all goes back to the teachings of Jesus Christ, “Love your neighbor as you would yourself”. Treat other people the way you would want them to treat you. For those of you who are not yet doing this, you will be pleasantly surprised at the results, I'm writing/speaking from experience here. Do other people you work with or hang out with know you're Christian? If not, why haven't you told them? The very least all of us can do is to live our lives as shining examples for other people to look up to. Leadership by example is often times the most effective kind. Not everyone can be an evangelist, nor a healer, nor a teacher and so on. But each of us has our own special job that we can do for the Lord. It doesn't matter much what it is, since Christianity and equality go hand in hand anyway (see 2^nd Corinth. 8: 13-15, Acts 2: 42-47, etc.). When true believers get to heaven, pastors may well receive the same reward as the janitors for all I know. But all I'm saying here is that we should all be living our lives for Christ without bothering to care who knows about it. Christianity is so much more than a belief system, it is a lifestyle. And living a Christ-like lifestyle is how we make our faith in God become known everywhere to everyone. It's how we fulfill our calling as ambassadors for Christ, and this is how we let our light shine for Jesus. It's our moral and social responsibility as well.

Those who follow Jesus get adopted as God's kids

Why Believers In Jesus Get Adopted As Relatives

by Rev. Paul J. Bern

The book of Ruth is one of the happiest stories in the entire Bible, except for the four gospels, of course. It has tremendous parallels with the salvation of Christ and his love for his Bride, the church. It also illustrates that those who are born again in the Lord of the water and the Spirit (see John's gospel chapter 3) literally become the relatives of Christ. We believers become married into – 'adopted' also applies here – the family of God. To begin with, Elimelech and his wife, Naomi, had two sons, and they were from Bethlehem, the birthplace of Christ Jesus. Elimelech died during a famine, leaving Naomi a widow. So she, along with her two sons, Mahlon and Killion, went to the land of Moab. This is where the borders of modern-day Jordan, Egypt and Israel come together near the eastern shore of the Dead Sea, but it was then a part of the Kingdom of Judah (see 1^st and 2^nd Kings in the Old Testament). Mahlon and Killian each had wives, Ruth and Orpah. According to the book of Ruth, after about ten years both Mahlon and Killian also died, leaving Naomi, Ruth and Orpah as widows who quickly fell on hard times. In spite of Naomi’s insistence that Ruth and Orpah return to their homeland to the north, Ruth maintains her allegiance to Naomi and travels back to Judah with her. Ruth was therefore considered to be, according to Ruth 1:4, a “Moabite” woman, a non-Jew, who had married into a Jewish household. Ruth’s faithfulness to Naomi, a Jewish woman, can be compared to the Gentile nations’ faithfulness to Christ by their worship of their Jewish leader and Savior. 

 

This is described in Ruth 1:15-16; “‘Look’, said Naomi, ‘your sister-in-law is going back to her people and her gods. Go back with her’. But Ruth replied, ‘Don’t urge me to leave you or turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God’”. This can be compared to Jeremiah 24:7, “They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart”, and Acts 15:14, “…God at first showed His concern by taking from the Gentiles a people for Himself”. 2 Cor. 6:16-18 also comments on this topic. “...For we are the temple of the Living God. As God has said, 'I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people. Therefore come out from them and be separate', says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters', says the Lord Almighty.”

So, Orpah returns to her homeland, but Ruth stays with Naomi. Next, Ruth and Naomi meet Boaz, who allows the starving women to follow after his workers who are harvesting his fields so they can pick up all the leftovers. Ruth and Naomi find favor with Boaz in Ruth 2, 10-12; “At this she bowed down with her face to the ground. She exclaimed, ‘Why have I found such favor in your eyes that you notice me - a foreigner?’ Boaz replied, ‘I have been told all about what you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband – how you left your father and mother and your homeland and came to live with a people you did not know before. May the Lord repay you for what you have done. May you be richly rewarded by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.’ “Boaz speaking of Ruth leaving her mom, dad, and homeland reminds me of Jesus in Mark 3, 32-34. “A crowd was sitting around Him, and they told Him, ‘Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you.’ “Who are my mother and my brothers?”, He asked. Then He looked at those seated in a circle around Him and said, “Here are my mother and my brothers!”

What Boaz did for Ruth, and Christ did for the people, was prophesied in Deuteronomy 10:18 and 24:17-18, taking up the cause of “the fatherless, the widow, and the alien”. Then, in Ruth 2:14, the Bible says, “At mealtime Boaz said to her, ‘Come over here. Have some bread and dip it in the wine vinegar’”. Here we see a Jew offering a gentile some bread dipped in vinegar. Contrast this to Matthew 27:48, where a gentile Roman soldier gives Christ Jesus, our Jewish Lord and Savior, a sponge dipped in vinegar to drink as He is hanging on the cross at Golgotha. What a terrible payback! Later, in Ruth 2:19-20, Boaz’s true identity is revealed; “…Then Ruth told her mother-in-law about the one at whose place she had been working. ‘The name of the man I worked with today is Boaz’, she said. ‘The Lord bless him!’, Naomi said to her daughter-in-law. ‘He has not stopped showing his kindness to the living and the dead…that man is our close relative; he is one of our kinsman-redeemers’”. Then, in chapter 3, Ruth goes to sleep at Boaz’s feet in verses 7-9. When Boaz discovers her during the night, he demands to know who she is. Verses 9-13 read as follows: “' Who are you'?, he asked. 'I am your servant Ruth', she said. 'Spread the corner of your garment over me, since you are a kinsman-redeemer'. ‘The Lord bless you, my daughter’, he replied. ‘This kindness is greater than that which you showed me earlier. You have not run after the younger men, whether rich or poor. And now, my daughter, don’t be afraid. I will do for you all you ask. All my fellow townsman know that you are a woman of noble character. Although it is true that I am near of kin, there is a kinsman-redeemer nearer than I. Stay here for the night, and in the morning if he wants to redeem, good. Let him redeem. But if he is not willing, as surely as the Lord lives I will do it. Lie here until morning’.”

Boaz calling Ruth “a woman of noble character” and offering to lead her, a Gentile, to a Jewish kinsman-redeemer is without a doubt comparable to Paul leading the Gentiles to Christ, their Jewish savior, as he said while preaching in Antioch to the Jews in Acts 18:26, “Brothers, children of Abraham, and you God-fearing Gentiles, it is to us that this message of salvation has been sent”. But this is exclaimed more directly by Paul in Acts 18:4-6. “Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks. When Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ. But when the Jews opposed Paul and became abusive, he shook out his clothes in protest and said to them, 'Your blood be on your own heads! I am clear of my responsibility. From now on I will go to the Gentiles'”. The word 'Greeks' is a synonym for Gentiles in this passage. Paul also wrote of Gentiles seeking Jewish redeemers both in Gal. 4:4-7 (“but when the time has fully come, God sent His son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. Because you are sons, God sent the spirit of His son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, ‘Abba, Father’. So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has also made you an heir”), and in Ephesians 1:7 (“In Him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace”).

Finally, in Ruth chapter 4, we have our happy ending! Boaz marries Ruth! In the same manner as Christ takes pride in His bride, the church, Boaz announces his pride in Ruth in chapter 4, verses 9 and 10; “Then Boaz announced to the elders and all the people, ‘Today you are witnesses that I have bought from Naomi all the property of Elimelech, Kilion, and Mahlon. I have also acquired Ruth the Moabite, Mahlon’s widow, as my wife, in order to maintain the name of the dead with his property, so that his name will not disappear from among his family or from the town records. Today you are witnesses’”. In the same way, once we were without redemption, unbelieving and steeped in sin. Our names would disappear with our deaths just like all the ones before. But Christ Jesus, our Lord and Savior, has redeemed us by claiming us as his own through his death and resurrection. The parallels between Boaz, a Jew, claiming Ruth, a Gentile, as part of his family and Christ claiming the Gentile nations as a part of his Bride, are unmistakable. Peter wrote on this subject in 1st Peter 2:9: “But you are a chosen people, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light”. Revelation 21:3 also speaks of this, “And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God’”.

Christ Jesus is truly our kinsman-redeemer. Ruth had faith enough to call Boaz her kinsman-redeemer, and she was rewarded by becoming part of his family. By claiming Christ as our kinsman-redeemer by our own faith, we affirm that we are a part of the family of God. The apostle Paul wrote about this in Romans 8:15-17, “For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of son-ship. And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father’. The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs – heirs with God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in His glory.” I sure am glad that we can claim Jesus as our kinsman-redeemer. I am elated at God's mercy, that He has called everyone who is a true believer his sons and daughters. It is truly wonderful and astonishing that we, the Bride of Christ, can truthfully claim to be the adopted relatives of Jesus Christ. So for all those unfortunate people – and I was one myself – who come from broken-up homes for whatever reason, and particularly for those who started out in life as orphans or stuck in foster-care like I was, all of you now has a new family you can truly call your own – the family of God.

"Sole Survivor" by Rev. Paul J. Bern

“Sole Survivor”, by Rev Paul J Bern; from orphan to heir, rags to riches and back, and from homelessness to full time ministry, based on a true story, $9.95, free shipping, tax deductible too! https://www.createspace.com/5245426

This week's Bible study will conclude our analysis of 2nd Corinthians

Paul's Final Warnings to the Corinthian Church

(2^nd Corinthians chapter 12, verses 14-21; Chapter 13)

In this week's study we will be finishing up 2^nd Corinthians as we continue our exhaustive study of the writings of the apostle Paul. Taking up where we left off last week, we are beginning at verse 14 of chapter 12, where Paul continues his train of thought about his trials and tribulations, testifying that he was only able to get through them all with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit of Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God. He then expresses his concern for the church at Corinth, wondering if they will be strong enough to hold up under trials and persecution as he had.

“Now I am ready to visit you for the third time, and I will not be a burden to you, because what I want is not your possessions but you. After all, children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children. So I will be very glad to spend for you everything that I have and expend myself as well. If I love you more, will you love me less? Be that as it may, I have not been a burden to you. Yet, crafty fellow that I am, I caught you by trickery! Did I exploit you with any of the men I sent you? I urged Titus to go to you and I sent our brother with him. Titus did not exploit you, did he? Did we not act in the same spirit and follow the same course? Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you? We have been speaking in the sight of God as those in Christ; and everything we do, dear friends, is for your strengthening. For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be, and that you may not find me as you want me to be. I fear there may be quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, factions, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder. I am afraid that when I come again my God will humble me before you, and I will be grieved over many who have sinned earlier and have not repented of their impurity, sexual sin and debauchery in which they have been involved.” (2nd Corinthians 12, verses 14-21, NIV)

Notice what Paul writes in the very first verse of today's study, “ ...what I want is not your possessions but you”. This is a clear reference to something he wrote in the previous chapter (that would actually be two studies ago) when he criticized various churches and factions for competing with each other for membership and fund-raising, very similar to the majority of today's churches. People can tithe their ten percent to the church for their entire lives, but if any are counting on their generous gifts to get them into heaven they are going to be disappointed at best – and horrified at worst – when their time comes. Remember what Jesus said in the four Gospels, “Those who exalt themselves will be humbled, but those who humble themselves will be exalted”. God is exactly the same as Paul wrote about. He couldn't care less about our stuff. He wants us. Everything he, Titus and Timothy (“our brother”) did was for the upholding and edification of the church. They took no credit for themselves for their ministries, but gave all the credit, praise, glory and honor to Almighty God through Jesus Christ our Savior. Yet Paul expresses his concern by wondering if he will find a unified church when he returns, or whether there will be “factions” within the church, as Paul called them. If he finds them at odds, or worse yet in competition, with each other then all Paul's work would have been for nothing and he would be faced with starting over again on a clean sheet of paper, so to speak. This was apparently a significant worry to him. Bearing that in mind, let's now continue at verse one of chapter thirteen.

“This will be my third visit to you. 'Every matter must be established on the testimony of two or three witnesses'. I already gave you a warning when I was with you the second time. I now repeat it while absent: On my return I will not spare those who sinned earlier or any of the others, since you are demanding proof that Christ is speaking through me. He is not weak in dealing with you, but is powerful among you. For to be sure, He was crucified in weakness, yet He lives by God's power. Likewise, we are weak in him, yet by God's power we will live with him to serve you. Examine yourselves to see if you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you – unless, of course, you fail the test? And I trust that you will discover that we have not failed the test. Now we pray to God that you will not do anything wrong. Not that people will see that we have passed the test but that you will do what is right even though we may seem to have failed. For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. We are glad whenever we are weak but you are strong; and our prayer is for your perfection. This is why I write these things when I am absent, that when I come I may not have to be harsh in the use of my authority – the authority the Lord gave me for building you up, not tearing you down.” (2 Corinthians 13, verses 1-10, NIV)

As you can see in verse 1, Paul has definite plans in place to visit the Corinthian church for a third time. We now know that this never did occur, as we discover in the book of Acts – also called the Acts of the Apostles – but I think I'll save that one until then so we can examine it in better context. For the moment, Paul clearly warns them sternly not to stray from what he taught them, and he wrote “our prayer is for your perfection”, meaning a form of perfection that transcends humanity and intellectual thought that can only be found in Christ. Jesus is the only way we can achieve Spiritual perfection. There is no substitute for Him, none at all. Finally, Paul reminds them that everything he has said and done has been for their own good, and he chides them about being too sensitive to criticism – an antique version of what we would call “tough love” today. Discipline and the exercise of authority, when done responsibly with love, can yield excellent results, and that's want God wants us all to achieve in our walk with Christ.

Never give up, never give in, but keep on trying to become not just a better person than what you are, but to become something more than what you are. Jesus said, “I have come that you may have life, and that you may have it in abundance”. He also said, “Ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find, knock and the door will be opened”. The point Jesus was making is that while God has given us the ability and the freedom of choice to better ourselves, He not only wants us to have as good a life as we possibly can, He also expects us to do our part to help make good things happen. Like the apostle Paul, Jesus would also give us some tough love – and occasionally does as I have found out firsthand – because that's how we become better Christians, better people, and better citizens of the kingdom of God. And now, Paul closes out 2^nd Corinthians with this elegant goodbye.

“Finally, brothers, good-bye. Aim for perfection, listen to my appeal, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you. Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the saints send their greetings. May the peace and the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.”

(2 Corinthians 13, verses 11-14, NIV)

Is There Any Such Thing As An Unforgiveable Sin?

Is There Any Such Thing As An Unforgivable Sin?

By Rev. Paul J. Bern

Have you ever done anything that was so bad, you thought God would not or could not forgive you? Believe it or not, this is an everyday occurrence, so you're not alone. Have you sinned so greatly that all hope is lost for you? The Bible’s clear warning can help you see for yourself! One of the most agonizing worries is the fear of being cut off from God. Even more distressing is the thought that one may be cut off forever, with no chance of redemption. Some fear that they have committed the "unpardonable sin." If you want deliverance from your guilty feelings—if you want to repent and you want relief for your feelings of despondency—there is help available. God wants us to be a part of His family and to share in His loving way of life. He wants us to learn from our mistakes, repent and change our lives. In other words, God wants us to grow in Him.

Scripture explains that those who have actually committed the unpardonable sin have seared their consciences—and are totally consumed with rebellion against God. They are not worried about committing the ultimate transgression. Just what is the unpardonable sin? Put simply, it is a sin that will not be forgiven. God is willing to forgive our sins if we repent of them, if we are sorry for them and if we are determined to change, as it is written: “My dear children, I write this to you so you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense – Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only ours but for the sins of the whole world.” (1^st John chapter 2, verses 1-2, NIV) But when one sears his conscience to never repent, he cannot be forgiven. Jesus states the problem clearly. "Assuredly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they may utter; but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is subject to eternal condemnation" (Mark 3:28–29).

 

Jesus said that all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, if they repent of those sins. Yet the one unforgivable sin is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. What does that mean? And how does one blaspheme against the Holy Spirit? Blasphemy, according to Webster’s Dictionary, is "to speak impiously or irreverently of God or anything sacred, or "to speak evil of, slander; abuse." A parallel Gospel account gives us a powerful example. "Then one was brought to Him who was demon-possessed, blind and mute; and He [Jesus] healed him, so that the blind and mute man both spoke and saw. And all the multitudes were amazed and said, ‘Could this be the Son of David?’" (Matthew 12:22–23). The crowds recognized that the prophesied Messiah, the Son of David, would be able to accomplish this miracle, but the Pharisees falsely asserted that Jesus used the power of Satan. "Now when the Pharisees heard it they said, ‘This fellow does not cast out demons except by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons’" (Matthew 12:24). These accusers blasphemed—they spoke evil of God’s miraculous work through the Holy Spirit. Jesus warned them powerfully: "Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come" (Matthew 12:31–32). We all need to heed that warning. Notice the apostle Paul’s warning to the early Church, "...If we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins..." (Hebrews 10:26).

Willful sin is defined as a fully conscious and determined act and attitude to not ever repent of sin, no matter how big or small that particular sin is. The willful sinner is intractable. This kind of sinner will never even entertain the thought of repenting and desiring to return to God’s way of life. The incorrigibly wicked are not blinded like the rest of the world; they have "knowledge of the truth." They know the effect of Christ’s sacrifice, yet they profane it. Such ones face "… a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace?" (Hebrews 10:27–29). Yes, there will be a fiery judgment—a lake of fire for those who persist in sinning willfully and who insult the Spirit of grace. Scripture also gives a warning to all who, as Christians, have been "partakers of the Holy Spirit." Remember that God gives the Holy Spirit to those "who obey Him" (Acts 5:32). If Christians willfully turn back to evil—if they fall away and turn to a hardened and permanent attitude of disobedience—Scripture teaches that it is impossible to "renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame" (Hebrews 6:6). Truly converted Christians are those to whom God has given the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:9). Even converted Christians will sin—but they are committed to repenting always. They need a repentant attitude of mind, always looking forward to changing their behavior and attitude, even if they feel too weak to do so just yet. God is patient, but we need to respond to that patience because the time is growing short. Always desire repentance. Always desire to change your life for good even if, through weakness, you give in to temptation. Ask God for a spirit of repentance!

We have seen that the unpardonable sin is a sin that will not be forgiven because the sinner willfully blasphemes the Holy Spirit, and hardens his heart to never repent. Such a sinner sears his conscience to do evil and will end up in the lake of fire, as we read in Revelation 21:8. How can we avoid having this belligerent mindset and hardened heart? We all have the opportunity to choose life and love, rather than death and disobedience. But how can anyone deliberately and permanently decide to go the wrong way into rebellion? This may come from wrong reasoning; or, from allowing resentment in your heart toward either God or some person who may have wronged you. This pattern of disobedience continues until he/she comes to change his/her whole course of their life, turning permanently from God. Hurt feelings often lead to resentment, and resentment turns to hate and bitterness. Are you resentful and hateful toward someone? We must always be on guard against such feelings. Remember the words of Jesus: "Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has any eternal life in him" (1 John 3:15). If you have those feelings, you need to overcome them by choosing to fear God and choosing to understand the seriousness of hate and resentment.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus gave another antidote to feelings of hate and desires for revenge. "You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust" (Matthew 5:43–45). To a carnal mind, that approach sounds naive and foolish. But following those instructions to pray for our enemies can keep us from the poison of bitterness. Yes, this is a revolutionary way of life. It is the antithesis of today’s selfish, covetous, me-first philosophy. But it is the way of life taught by the Son of God, and the way of life everyone in the Millennium—Christ’s future 1,000-year rule on earth—will learn. Try it! Actually get down on your knees and pray for the welfare of someone you may even hate. You will be surprised at the relief of stress you will experience. Our attitude and approach toward others is extremely important. God, in His judgment, will avenge injustice. As the apostle Paul wrote: "Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord" (Romans 12:19). We must all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. Trust God to punish the wicked, just as He says. Notice one more key to overcoming bitterness. "Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled" (Hebrews 12:14–15).

Here are some more warnings to avoid bitterness: "Pursue peace with all people, and holiness." Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount: "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God" (Matthew 5:9). He also said: "Do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you". (Matthew 5:44). Will you take His challenge? Will you humble yourself before God and pray for your enemies? This will go a long way toward overcoming any root of bitterness you may have. One can also lose the Holy Spirit, and go down the pathway toward the unpardonable sin, by continued neglect. Do you neglect prayer, Bible study and fellowship with converted Christians? Or similarly, would you like to give your heart to Christ and become a Christian but haven't done so because you don't care for churches?This world has such a pull on our interests that we can be distracted from our spiritual priorities. What is your personal goal in life? Jesus said: "Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you" (Matthew 6:33). That should be our goal in life, according to our Savior! Neglecting our spiritual priorities leads to spiritual weakness, but God’s Spirit is the Spirit of power and of love and of a sound mind. The Apostle Paul wrote: "Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind" (2 Timothy 1:6–7). Without that spiritual power, we will be unable to change our lives. But God is willing to give us that gift, the most valuable gift beyond the gift of His Son for the sins of the world. What must we do? On the day of Pentecost, at the very beginning of the New Testament Church, the Apostle Peter said: "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:38). Christians do receive that gift, but it is a gift that must be treasured, and even "stirred up," as the apostle Paul exhorted. Continued neglect of our spiritual priorities will lead to a "care-less" attitude—an attitude that can lead to a hardened heart and the unpardonable sin. Otherwise, "how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?". Christians must make the commitment never to allow bitter or resentful attitudes to poison their hearts and minds. And we must make the commitment to seek the Lord while He may be found. Keep up heartfelt prayer and Bible study. Choose to stay awake spiritually. Be committed to staying spiritually active and alert!

One of the most comforting and encouraging truths of the Bible is that billions of people—individuals whom some Christians have condemned or considered lost forever—were actually blinded spiritually. They were carnal, they were even wicked, but they never heard or understood the true Gospel. Yes, they will certainly be judged, as the wicked people of Sodom and Gomorrah were judged when God poured out fire and brimstone upon them. But did these blinded people commit the unpardonable sin? Jesus spoke about those cities which should have repented at His disciples’ preaching: "Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!" (Matthew 10:15). Even the people of Sodom and Gomorrah will have their opportunity for salvation! God gave His promises to the patriarch Abraham, but on the surface it appeared that fulfillment of the promises was impossible. Notice what the Bible says about Abraham’s attitude. "Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, ‘So shall your seed be’" (Romans 4:18, KJV). Abraham "against hope, believed in hope" or as the New International Version states it, “Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, 'So shall your offspring be'." Your Bible is filled with God’s promises to you as well. You can have an assurance, an expectation, and a hope for the future. There is not only hope, but promise—the promise of a new world, the Kingdom of God on earth and the millennial rule of Jesus Christ. I learned of Jesus’ promise to return to this earth—and that He would establish lasting world peace. Paul went on to say: "But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ" (Ephesians 2:13).

If you feel cut off from God, you can be reconciled. You can have hope. You can be brought near by the blood of Christ. There is hope for you—and for billions of people on this earth. God wants all of mankind to respond to His love. He "desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth" (1 Timothy 2:4). You, too, can come to that knowledge of truth. If you are committed to changing your life—if you are truly sorry for your sins and truly repent—you will be forgiven. A vital key to avoiding the unpardonable sin is always maintaining a repentant attitude. "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness". (1st John 1:9). We need to confess our sins to Jesus our God and Savior. Remember the tax collector whom Jesus said went home justified rather than the Pharisee? He prayed: "God, be merciful to me a sinner" (Luke 18:13). May God help you to seek Him wholeheartedly, because He is able to forgive you your sins, and to cleanse you from all unrighteousness. If we maintain this repentant attitude, we can know that we have not committed, and will not commit, the unpardonable sin!

This week's BIble study will be the first half of 2nd Corinthians chapter 12

The Vision of the Apostle Paul

(2 Corinthians 12: 1-13)

Today as we continue our Bible study of 2^nd Corinthians and the writings of Paul, we'll be digging into chapter 12. Taking up where we left off last week, we will finish analyzing Paul's train of thought as he continues to address “boasting” within the early Church. His chastisement of the Corinthian church, you will recall, stemmed from reports Paul apparently received about arguments from within the congregation over who was better equipped to lead, or whose faith was the strongest, or who had the greatest Spiritual anointing. So we can clearly see that denominational rifts have a history dating back to the early church. In other words, this kind of misbehavior among the leadership of today's church – competing against one another for additional membership – has been around for centuries. This is one of several reasons why I, as a minister of the true Gospel, refuse to align this church, my blog postings, or this website with any religious denomination. Such people are in church only for themselves, and in so doing they are bringing judgment upon themselves because they are there for all the wrong reasons, and this is essentially what Paul was saying to them. Having said that, let's take up where we left off last week, beginning at verse 1 of chapter 12.

“I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to be gained, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord. I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body, I do not know – God knows. And I know that this man – whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows – was caught up to paradise. He heard inexpressible things, things that man is not permitted to tell. I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses. Even if I were to choose to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so that no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say.” ( 2 Corinthians 12, verses 1-6, NIV)

I consider this to be one of the more intriguing nuggets of Scripture contained within the Bible, because we have a clear reference to to what we now call “out of body experiences”. No doubt you have heard of this in one form or another, and there are many videos posted on You-tube and other places on this topic. Clearly Paul knew someone personally who had one of these experiences, and that lucky person got a glimpse of heaven. He may have even been alluding to himself, but there's no way to tell that I can see due to the passage of time. By the same token, I have seen an equal number of videos or read a number of blog postings about people having such experiences, winding up in hell and then coming back to tell the tale. So it works both ways, and you had better believe there is such a thing as heaven and hell. There are living eyewitnesses to both, so we would all be wise to heed their warnings and believe their testimony. 

 

Moving right along, Paul finishes making his point when he wrote, “I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses. Even if I were to choose to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth.” So I think that what Paul is really saying is that if anybody is proud of what a good Christian they are, or if any pastor, teacher or evangelist sees themselves as being in a better position from a moral standpoint, Paul is telling those kinds of “religious” people they need to quit doing that. If they want bragging rights about anything, whether it is physical (“my church is bigger than your church”) or spiritual (“my God/faith is better than yours”), they need to cut out that childish stuff and start focusing the efforts of their congregations on what really matters, such as how we treat other people and seeing to the needs of the poor. (The conflict between Christians and Muslims would disappear overnight if we united in an effort to do this.) If we're going to boast about anything within the church, point out the Spiritual growth of certain individuals who are setting the best example. For instance, the gentleman who had the vision or dream that Paul wrote about could not have had such an experience unless he already had an exceptionally close walk with the Lord. It is to these things that we should all be aspiring. And now let's continue starting at verse 7.

“To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given to me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness'. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in my weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. I have made a fool of myself, but you have drove me to it. I ought to have been commended by you, for I am not in the least inferior to the 'super apostles', even though I am nothing. The things that mark an apostle – signs, wonders, and miracles – were done among you with great perseverance. How were you inferior to the other churches, except that I was never a burden to you. Forgive me this wrong!” (2 Corinthians 12, verses 7-13, NIV)

Paul's mentioning of “a thorn in my flesh” has long stirred controversy, mainly within the church, but not exclusively. To this day I don't think anyone can say for certain what Paul was writing about. But the beauty of this passage is God's response of quiet confidence, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness'. The moral of the story here is that we can accomplish nothing in and of our own strength, and even when we manage to do so it never lasts. But when we relinquish ownership of our lives and surrender control to Christ, then and only then can His strength supplant our own. The key, as the old adage goes, is to be willing to “let go and let God”. We have to let go of our pride and our ego and allow Christ to take over. That's how we let Christ into our hearts. It's not enough to simply invite Jesus into our hearts as some are teaching. We must surrender ourselves to Him so his healing can begin and so his indwelling can be initiated.

When I am weak, Paul wrote, then I am strong. When our bodies and minds are weak, or when our spirits need to be replenished, that is exactly when the strength of Christ works best. Conversely, when we insist on being in charge of our lives or force situations and various persons to work out for our benefit at the exclusion of everything and everybody else, Christ cannot work in those instances because we are standing in His way. God hates control freaks for this reason, not to mention the fact that being controlling and manipulative is not only a sin, but they are actually forms of idolatry – the worship of false gods (in this case the false god being oneself). Christ, being the complete gentleman that He is, will never force us to step aside. We must freely choose to do so out of a desire to please God so we make it to heaven when our physical lives are over. God is in charge and we're not. He surely doesn't need our help – he's God. Jesus, his only Son, intercedes for us from the right hand of his Father's throne. He's already got everything under control. Jesus said, “My yoke is easy and my burden is light”, meaning it's easier and better for us to give our lives to Christ. After all, He gave his life for all of us 2,000 years ago so we could each have eternal life. It seems only natural to me to want to reciprocate by giving my life over to Him. How about you? Has anyone reading this considered giving their life to Christ? Jesus said, “Anyone who clings to his life will lose it, but he who loses his life for my sake will find it”. That eloquent statement is even more true today than it was back then, and I believe Jesus was referring to this very topic. Surrender your life to Christ and let Him take over, the benefits are light-years beyond what you can see. Simply ask Him quietly into your heart as a dwelling place. He will do the rest if you willingly yield to him. How you ask Him doesn't matter, and who you are or what you have done doesn't either. Ask Jesus into your heart today, not just for a visit but to live within you forever, like a good lifelong relationship. You know, there really isn't much time left before He comes back for us all. Why not ask Jesus into your heart right now? Simply pray, “Lord Jesus, come into my heart. I dedicate the rest of my life to serving you. Show me what you want me to do for you, and I will do it. In Jesus' mighty name, amen!”

Will you help me return to the work force? Not asking for much.

I have a combined 5,000 friends and followers on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and Linked In. If I could get just 320 of them to please donate $10.00 or more apiece, I could reach my musical goal in just one day! Could you please help me record my albums? Thanks! http://www.gofundme.com/c49h8365g

The GOP debates, Jesus, and inequality

Poverty and Inequality Are Everybody's Problem

by Rev. Paul J. Bern

As I was watching the GOP presidential debates this past week, I was struck by the fact that several key issues were completely ignored. One was the urgent need for development of clean energy and a green economy. Another big one that got brushed aside was climate change and what we can do about it, not to mention what I view as the urgency of that situation. But the biggest issue by far that got ignored was economic inequality, the fact that 99% of America's wealth is in the hands of 1% of the population. This situation is much the same throughout the world. It is not something that is peculiar to America at all – far from it! My further observation of both of the presidential debates was that most, if not all, of the candidates running for the top office in the land are these same 1%-'ers who crave the Oval Office and the power that accompanies it. It seems that the same people who are part of the problem are putting themselves forth as being the engineers of the solution. Donald Trump is, without question, the best example of this so far. The fact that he's another billionaire from New York underscores the rampant and often extreme economic inequality that exists in America today.

According to statistics published by the Economic Policy Institute, and backed up by US government data, one in every seven persons currently living in the USA lives at or below the poverty line. One in seven sometimes goes hungry, especially children. For over one forth of America's school children, lunch at school is their only meal of the day. One in seven pregnant women don't get enough food for themselves and their unborn child. One person in every seven lives in a household with a gross income of under $14,000.00 per year for a single person, allowing only slightly more for children. Poverty devalues the individual in such a way that it can damage the mind or crush the spirit of anyone in its path. The hunger pangs are only what's on the surface. Poverty is everyone's problem because when one person is marginalized, then society as a whole becomes marginalized, and this is compounded the more that person becomes devalued. I submit to you that we are all made in the image and likeness of the same Almighty God who made us all (see Genesis chapter 1). 

 

It is our capitalist economic system that is broken, and we are all feeling the effects of it. More and more people are being thrown out of work, often losing their homes, their transportation and their dignity as corporate America continues to re-size downward. The more that American business downsizes, the more people will be affected. Life can sometimes be like a game of musical chairs, and people are starting to notice that the music has stopped playing and there are no chairs left. For one thing, jobs are disappearing. Many of these jobs were out-sourced overseas, and many more that still remain will be replaced with robots and artificial intelligence within 10 or 15 more years. The US economy, plus the job market or what's left of it, is in much worse shape than we're being told (surprise, surprise). People are banding together by family or by neighborhood to ensure one another's well-being. In Detroit, in particular, people are beginning to say the only way to survive is by taking care of one another, by recreating our relationships to one another, that we have created a society, over the last period, in particular, where each of us is pursuing self-interest. We have devolved as human beings.

We have been focused on taking care of ourselves for so long that we have forgotten how to take care of each other. Now that hard economic times have hit us right between the eyes, we need to do more to take care of each other. Get plugged into a volunteer program in your community. That would be one good place to start. Do this knowing that by helping to pick others up, you ultimately pick yourself up with it. And do it all knowing that God is watching over you as you go about your business. So, do not put God out of your life but rather keep Him within your heart and allow Him to dwell there. That is when you will know for sure that you are on the right track. Jesus summed this up perfectly when He defined the two greatest commandments, “...Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all of your soul and with all of your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the law and the prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22, verses 37-40, NIV) The apostle James similarly wrote, “If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. (James chapter 1, verses 26-27, NIV)

That's not all the apostle James had to say about the loving the world as opposed to loving God. He connected it with the same mass inequality that we see today when he wrote, “Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming upon you. Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. Look! The wages you failed to pay the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter. You have condemned and murdered innocent men who were not opposing you.” (James chapter 5, verses 1-6 NIV) Your wealth has lost its value!! Your investments have divested themselves of their own worth!! Not just their net worth either. Not only have you lost all your interest, you have lost the principal as well! Your entire portfolio is forfeit! Total disaster will overtake all of you who put yourselves into your careers and climb the corporate ladder to the exclusion of everything and everyone else! In so doing, you have fallen into idolatry!! Idolatry, you ask? But how? By prioritizing your careers over your worship, and by valuing your material goods over the supreme sacrifice Christ made for you on the cross. Make no mistake about it, the shed blood of Jesus Christ is more valuable than anything else on the planet – period! The biggest mansion, the most expensive yacht, the fastest car or truck and the trendiest clothes and night clubs are rubbish when compared to the purity of Christ. Besides Him stands no other! Jesus stands alone, heads above the rest!

Speaking of Jesus, He had lots to say about rich people. But, one of His most famous comments comes from the Sermon on the Mount: “Do not store up for yourselves treasure on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven,where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew chapter 6, verses 19-21 NIV) The more attached we become to our material stuff, the farther away we get from God. But it's more than just stuff. We can become more attached to our spouse or significant other, to our children, to our careers, and even to recreational activities like water skiing, snow boarding, our boats and motorcycles, or fitness training. There is absolutely nothing wrong with any of the above. But we must always put our personal relationship with Christ first because it's invariably the most important! I cannot overemphasize this one main point!

In closing, the fact that Donald Trump is still considered the GOP front-runner in the early part of the presidential race to the White House says a lot about the state of our country. The most eligible candidate, if the Republicans get their way, is the Donald, the one with the most money. The most eligible Democratic candidate, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, has reported earnings together with former president Clinton at $140 million over the last seven years. That's a cool 20 mill per year, there are a lot of professional sports players who don't make that much. So, the bottom line here is that the two front runners in the 2016 election are both 1%-ers who profess to have the solutions to the plight of the remaining 99% of us, when it's already an established fact that no matter who wins, the winner is beholden to the mega rich who bought the election in the first place. Capitalism – and the materialistic consumer lifestyle that goes along with it – has conquered the world without firing a single shot. In so doing, the top 1% are in charge of, and in many cases own, just about everything, right down to the land every building is built upon. But when Jesus returns, all power and authority will be given to Him on earth as it is in heaven, and the rich will be destitute.