Category: Shadows (Page 5 of 18)

What Exactly is Idolatry?

The concept of idolatry has evolved and taken different forms in different cultures and generations. In biblical times, idolatry was associated with the worship of physical idols or images that represented various gods and goddesses. These idols were often made of wood, stone, or metal and were considered to have magical or supernatural powers. Do you know what sin is attacked more than any other in the Bible? I bet if I took a survey today, very few would get it right. It is the sin of idolatry. The very first commandment explicitly prohibits idolatry. It would be the most common thread of messages coming from God’s prophets that would be repeated over and over. Idolatry is humanity’s rejection of the one true God.

(Exodus 20:3-5)¹ – “You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me,”

Fast forward to today! There is a new consumer culture and an increasing emphasis on personal branding and social media. Idolatry has taken on many new forms. People often idolize celebrities, athletes, and social media influencers, placing them on a pedestal and seeking to emulate their lifestyles and behaviors. Do you think this is an overstatement? One beer company put the wrong image on their cans and immediately lost 5 billion dollars of their stock value. The Apostle Paul describes the origin of idolatry in Romans 1:21-25. “Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind so that they do what ought not to be done.” (Romans 1:21-28) Today, there are many more forms of idolatry. Fetishism, or the worship of trees, rivers, hills, stones, etc. Nature worship is the worship of the sun, moon, and stars as providing powers to nature. We see elements of this in the fanatical approach to our world’s climate concerns. VHEMT (Voluntary Human Extinction Movement²) was founded in 1991 by Les U. Knight, an American activist who became involved in the American environmental movement in the 1970s. He concluded that human extinction was the best solution to the problems facing the Earth’s biosphere and humanity. Let’s hope Mr. Knight never becomes a modern-day hero.

History tells us that during the Israelite’s long captivity in Egypt, they fell into idolatry. Unfortunately, the concept of idolatry continues to consume our world. Humanity is quick to worship anything other than God, including material possessions, power, and fame. Idolatry is nothing more than a form of spiritual or moral corruption, leading humanity away from a focus on the one true God and His Truth. Whether or not idolatry is “bad” depends on one’s individual beliefs and values. However, excessive focus on material possessions or the worship of human beings is detrimental to one’s spiritual, emotional, and mental well-being. The 2022 State of Mental Health in America report confirms the trend that mental health in the U.S. continues to get worse. ³

(Deuteronomy 4:15-16) – “You saw no form of any kind the day the Lord spoke to you at Horeb out of the fire. Therefore watch yourselves very carefully, so that you do not become corrupt and make for yourselves an idol, an image of any shape, whether formed like a man or a woman,”

When things are going poorly and people cannot understand their God, there is a temptation to find someone or something else to believe in. There is, however, a fundamental element to faith and salvation, and that is to stay focused on the ONE TRUE GOD! Humankind will never supersede Creation itself.

(John 3:16-18) – “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.”

Can you imagine into existence a universe? Does your breath create life? Every time we let the world redefine our God, we create a false image of who He is. That is idolatry. Humans always constrain our Creator according to their image. We would like to believe that God thinks the way we think, that God would make the same choices that we would, and that God would view the world’s issues and evaluate them as we would. Let’s be realistic for once. God is different from us and greater than any human can ever be. God is a pure spirit and all-powerful. God is omnipresent and eternal. Every time you try to either understand or control our God, you have made Him into a false god, an idol.

(Isaiah 42:8) – “I am the Lord; that is my name! I will not yield my glory to another or my praise to idols.”

How did the Jewish nations rid themselves of idolatry when it was their great national sin? It would be 70 years of exile, enslaved by the Babylonian culture, that would painfully remove those idolatrous tendencies. Let’s hope and pray that the same course of history—exile and enslavement—does not befall our nation. If you want to rid your nation of idolatry, a priority must be placed back on the idea that we can never fully understand, define, or encapsulate our God, His Son, or the Holy Spirit. All three are alive and well, just waiting for us to love them. They also know that there is nothing we can do to stop them from loving us.

How are we doing? There are storm clouds on our horizon. A recent Gallup poll indicates that Belief in God in the U.S. has dipped again to 81%, a new low.⁴ This is the wrong direction. Satan has been busy too. He couldn’t have a better strategy than to also go after the youth in our world. Once they adopt idyllic behavior, the road to hell is all downhill from there!

(Proverbs 3:5-6) – “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

Why do people believe in idols? The answer to this question is “sin.” It is the sinful nature of man that causes us to worship modern idols, all of which are, in one form or another, self-worship. The temptation to worship ourselves is mighty. It is so powerful that only those who fully comprehend the majesty of our Creator can hope to fight the destructive power of sin within us. God’s road of Grace is the only path that leads to eternal life. It seems like a clear choice to me!

Contemplations

Where do you see people substituting “things” or “people” for God?
- Ideas to Explore: Homes, cars, jobs, clothes, technology toys, search for fun, power, prestige, wealth, oh please, feel free to add a few of your own.
Why would someone think an object, made by humans, has power?
- Ideas to Explore: Maybe they place little or no value on God’s Word. They have been tricked or lied to by others. People may want to believe in something that they can see.
Where do you see humility in this story?
- Ideas to Explore: To defeat oneself, one must be truly humble.
Why will the things of this world never really satisfy the human heart?
- Ideas to Explore: Humanity cannot comprehend the full glory of eternity with God.

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NIV New International Version Translations
2
https://www.vhemt.org
3
https://www.mhanational.org/research-reports/2022-state-mental-health-america-report
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https://news.gallup.com/poll/393737/belief-god-dips-new-low.aspx

Could this be the problem?

By now, most conservatives should be confused as to why voters in Chicago chose a progressive former teacher over a tough-on-crime former public schools executive to lead the nation’s third-largest city. Chicago is reeling in uncontrolled crime spawned by progressive social justice reform led by the previous progressive mayor. The same shock might come from the election of a pro-abortion judge who has won a seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court, giving liberals their first majority on the state’s highest court in 15 years. It was all about the right to take the life of unborn children. And let us not forget the State of New York. Their incumbent governor won a full term in office despite a record of totalitarian rules for COVID-19 lockdowns and out-of-control crime in New York’s largest city. Religion, believing in a Creator, is declining and one might point out that the wellspring of leadership seems to be drying up in our nation as well. Is there an answer to this?

One might conclude that people are growing in their love of sin! People sin because sin is fun. Sin feels good. We can be a bit esoteric and say further that sin increases as temptations increase, human desires are given preference over Godly desires, and addictions are fanned by society’s desires. While self-control seems to grow weaker with each generation, there is a national affront underway to re-defining sins as personal rights. I have checked our Constitution and so far, have not found any sins fitting that description. Unfortunately, your rights to not sin are also under attack. Here we sit silent, drawing even the most conservative and Godly into sin! So, why does this happen?

“Sin will take you farther than you ever intended to go, it will keep you longer than you ever intended to stay, and it will cost you more than you ever intended to pay.” ~ Kay Lee Arthur

There is, of course, always Satan to blame.

(Isaiah 14:12-15)¹ – “How you have fallen from heaven, morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations! You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to the heavens; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of Mount Zaphon. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’ But you are brought down to the realm of the dead, to the depths of the pit. “

Isaiah sheds light on Satan’s sin of pride that caused him to be cast out of heaven along with his angels who followed him. We pick leaders who, by their very actions, believe they are greater than God Himself. This flaw of the soul loves to sin. And if everyone around them sins, they are loved even more by those around them.

We are, by nature, imperfect and sinful creations.

The original sin of Adam and Eve is often given as the reason why we are all born with a sinful nature. While true, we sin because of “Free Will.” However, our imperfections were fixed by Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. We should recognize that to live freely is a right worth keeping. Ironically, the very gift of free will from our Creator is what we give up when we choose poor leaders. Humanity is imprisoned by their very evil ways. What is a poor leader? A leader who leads his nation into sin and away from God!

People don’t know enough or know the wrong things.

Sometimes, people may not have access to accurate or complete information to make good decisions. This is especially true for those generations that rely heavily on social media and the Internet. This can make it difficult to assess whether the leaders are truly effective. Even news media has failed to uphold truth to God’s standards. To start with, God does not say always tell the truth. It is more complex than that. His ninth commandment in Exodus 20:16 states “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.” What exactly does that mean:

(Exodus 23:1-3) – “Do not spread false reports. Do not help a guilty person by being a malicious witness. Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong. When you give testimony in a lawsuit, do not pervert justice by siding with the crowd, and do not show favoritism to a poor person in a lawsuit.”

Proverbs sum it up, “The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in people who are trustworthy” (Proverbs 12:22).

People are self-centered and selfish.

Focus on oneself is another major root cause of sin and why people do all sorts of terrible things toward each other with no regard for the welfare of their fellow humans. Sin is the reason why selfishness and greed exist in this world. It exists among politicians, businesses, churches, communities, and families. No one is spared this sin.

(James 3:16) – “For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.”

Lust.

The lust for the flesh is another major reason why people sin. What could account for the extent of human trafficking across our borders? The cartels are just shipping products to the broken people of our nation. For every trafficked child, there is a buyer! The battle for our young children is for their bodies and minds. The entertainment industry has prostituted itself in the marketing of lust.

(Galatians 5:18) – “So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They conflict with each other so that you are not to do whatever you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.”

The sin of ignorance.

One last reason we sin is just pure ignorance. The Gospel’s message of forgiveness, repentance, and salvation is disappearing from our world. If you want to stop sin, just open the Book of Instructions, God’s Word. Want to understand our world, and learn about our God and our Savior, Jesus Christ? Open the BOOK!

(Acts 17:11) – “Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. “

The Problem Defined.

We like to sin. Our leaders are not leading us toward God but toward sin. They do so by redefining sin as a set of human rights. Why wouldn’t you elect someone who tells you that it is OK to be selfish, to steal, murder, and rape your neighbor? What is yours is theirs. Take what you want and enjoy this world for what you can get out of it. That would be the political banter of places like Chicago and New York. If you think this is not happening, then look at how God tells us to choose those who will lead us:

(Exodus 18:21) – “But select capable men from all the people—men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain—and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens.”

Are the leaders of our nation Godly people? Have they raised their families to be servants to the flock or to be served by the flock? Do they hold the guilty accountable? The question that needs an answer is why all our leaders become rich at the expense of the poor.

(1 Peter 5:2-4) – “Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.”

The love of sin and being disobedient to God’s word that condemns all sin is one of the major reasons why people sin in the first place. You will only sin or enjoy your sinful lifestyle if you love sin in your heart. So many people are in love with their evil ways and don’t want to turn away from them, it is as if sin gives them eternal life. Trust me, it doesn’t work that way!

(1 Peter 5:1-5) – “To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed: Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away. In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”

The above passages show the importance of leadership. Peter sets down in a series of contrasts, the perils, and the privileges of the eldership; and everything he says is applicable, not only to the eldership but also to all Christian services inside and outside the Church. We should use these guidelines for choosing our nation’s leaders too. Peter does not say that a person should be conceitedly or irresponsibly eager for office. Note that the leader is to accept office, not to make a shameful profit out of it. The Greek word used for making a shameful profit is aischrokerdes. The noun from this is aischrokerdeia, and it was a characteristic of leaders that the Greeks loathed. The point that Peter is making is that no person should ever accept office or render service for what they can get out of it. Finally, Peter reminds us that good leaders demonstrate humility just as Jesus did when He washed the disciple’s feet. Look to see whether our potential leaders are washing the feet of those they promise to serve!

Contemplations

If you hired a contractor to remodel your home and they were over budget, late on their commitments, not following your plans, and stealing your materials, what would you do?
- Ideas to Explore: Hire them again for all of your other projects. Do nothing, just tolerate their poor workmanship. Fire them and be more careful when you hire a replacement.
Why do people tolerate poor leadership?
- Ideas to Explore: Fear, bias, ignorance, like what they see?
A minority of people are stealing the lives of our children. Why do we let them?
- Ideas to Explore: Parents don’t care anymore? Does no one see a problem? Are people all too busy and self-centered to notice?
If children are raised without any knowledge of their God, what hope do they have?
- Ideas to Explore: People have given up? Do people no longer believe in a Creator? People are too sinful?
If crime is increasing, the national debt spiraling out of control, children are being taken advantage of, the economy crumbling, and war is inevitable, what do you think the answer is?
- Ideas to Explore: Can our nation be fixed with the present leaders? Can citizens change course?

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What does it mean to be exiled by God?

(Psalm 137:1-6)¹ – “By the rivers of Babylon, we sat and wept when we remembered Zion. There on the poplars we hung our harps, for there our captors asked us for songs, our tormentors demanded songs of joy; they said, ‘Sing us one of the songs of Zion!’ How can we sing the songs of the Lord while in a foreign land? If I forget you, Jerusalem, may my right hand forget its skill. May my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth if I do not remember you, if I do not consider Jerusalem my highest joy.”

The Bible refers to the forced removal of the Israelites from their homeland and their captivity in a foreign land as being “exiled.” The most prominent example of this was the Babylonian exile, which occurred in the 6th century BC when the Babylonian Empire conquered the Kingdom of Judah and exiled its people to Babylon. See our four-part series for more information on the Babylonian exile by clicking :

Part 1 – What was the Babylonian Exile All About?

Part 2 – Who was Zerubbabel?

Part 3 – Who was Ezra?

Part 4 – Who was Nehemiah?

Simply stated, exile was God’s punishment for the Israelites’ disobedience and unfaithfulness. Our question for this study is to ask the question, Would God exile us today for our idolatry and moral decay in our nation? And is exile necessary before repentance and renewal can take place?

Exile, as a form of punishment, has been used from the very beginning of God’s creation of the earth. In Genesis 3, Adam and Eve were exiled from the Garden of Eden. This was a permanent relocation because of their sin.

(Genesis 3:22-24) – “So the Lord God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken. After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.”

While the concept of exile typically involves being forcibly removed from one’s homeland and being sent to a foreign land, a person can be exiled within their own country. This can occur when a person is banished from their community or forced to leave their home or region due to political, social, or religious reasons. Governments or other authorities may use tactics such as arrest or the threat of arrest to restrict the movements and activities of individuals seen as threatening their rule. Even forced relocation to a different part of the country might occur because of crime, high taxes, and other autocratic policies hostile to individual freedom. When individuals do not conform to certain norms or beliefs, they can be ostracized or marginalized within their community. This can take the form of social exclusion, discrimination, the loss of one’s freedoms such as speech, or even physical violence, and can have a profound impact on the lives and well-being of those who experience it.

(Ephesians 4:18) – “They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.”

Exile of any kind is a tragedy. Remember that the principal goal of leadership in God’s eyes is to draw a nation closer to Him. The people installed poor leadership who, in turn, promoted their addictions of idolatry and sin. Idolatry can be the pursuit of wealth and absolute power over the people of a nation. Throughout the Old Testament, the prophets argued that exile happened because the people failed to follow God’s instructions. Remember, the people had made a Covenant with God (contract) where God gave the people specific instructions to show their faithfulness to Him. As the people ignored His Laws and other instructions, God became angry. Out came the prophets. God sent warning after warning to His people. Finally, God exiled His people because they just could not follow His Laws and instructions. It should not come as a surprise to anyone!

Exile, however, brings opportunities. Even before the destruction of Israel and the exile of Judah happened, the prophets spoke of eventual restoration. The Babylonian captivity significantly impacted the nation of Israel when it returned to their land. They would never again be corrupted by the idolatry and false gods of the surrounding nations. A revival among Jews took place after the return of the Jews to Israel and the rebuilding of the temple. We see those accounts in Ezra and Nehemiah as the nation would once again return to the God who had delivered them from their enemies. During exile, the people learned how to rely on themselves more, and how to adapt to new situations and surroundings. The people also became more resilient. The most important learnings were what their shortcomings were and how to live up to their part of the covenant they had made with their God.

The story of the Prophet Daniel is packed with stories about the Babylonian exile. Daniel would spend most of his life, seventy years, as a captive in Babylon. He would become a prophet, an interpreter of dreams, and a prisoner. He would fast, worship, and pray to the God of Israel under the threat of his life. He would survive a den of hungry lions by calling on God’s power and presence. The life of an exile was difficult, but God called Israel to repent, remain faithful, and trust in His saving Grace. We, too, are exiles in this world, longing for the day when we will live at home in the presence of Christ our King. We are citizens of heaven, but we take up residence in a sinful world for a time. Our task, present Christ’s image to all we meet on our journey. The Apostle Paul sums it up perfectly:

(Philippians 1:19-26) – “for I know that through your prayers and God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that through my being with you again your boasting in Christ Jesus will abound on account of me.”

During Daniel’s time in exile, he refused to compromise his standards and remained faithful to God. Daniel used his influence to help others and remained steadfast even when faced with hardships. The good news is that we can look forward to happy endings from our God. But first, we need to look at our sins. Our national sin is comprised of ever-growing entitlements and pork-barrel spending. Our nation is in a precarious financial position, one that can only grow worse. Our nation is in a mess spiritually, morally, and politically. The nation has forgotten God who had blessed us abundantly. We now celebrate lawlessness and slaughter our offspring both in the womb and on the streets of our cities. Our lack of borders is changing the very nation we live in. And finally, our nation’s enemies see our weaknesses, and all anxiously await our demise. Is exile upon us?

(Matthew 10:22) – “You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.”

Jesus understood this well. If you live for the next world, this world will hate you. Do you notice the hate lately? Our nation has become a hostile environment for those who live for Christ. None of us know when we will see our current exile end. Do you even recognize our nation any longer? Be aware, however, of one very important Truth from our God.

(Revelation 21:8) – “But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”

Contemplations

Do you think God is punishing our nation?
- Ideas to Explore: There is very little good news. Life expectancy is down, crime is up, the value of our money is disappearing, those rights we were guaranteed in our Constitution are rapidly going slipping away, children are under attack, and please, add a few of your favorites. No nation can survive the slippery slope we are on.
Whom do you think people are turning to for clarification and help?
- Ideas to Explore: Government, media, churches, Hollywood, schools, science, God? We see a nation giving up God, following a corrupt world in pursuit of false promises. To whom are you turning for help?
Where is all the hate coming from?
- Ideas to Explore: Who is rioting, who is killing, and who is it that you fear?
Are you willing to accept the sins of our nation to just get along with each other?
- Ideas to Explore: We have been divided into groups who can no longer live with each other. Our government wants your children, our parents want their children back. How do you think this will end?

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Leaving an Impression on our World

Have you heard about ChatGPT¹? This is an artificial intelligence project that is striking fear into people all over the world. The concerns are it could replace the need for humanity. If you apply it to Christianity, one could think that it could become so smart that all the pastors would no longer be needed and churches in the world would just close. Want to get to know God? Just load an application on your phone and you would be on your way to heaven! I would expect Hollywood to do a movie on this one day.

Is ChatGPT something that should concern us? Is our Creator giving up on humanity and just replacing us with something superior? Will artificial intelligence surpass all humans and erase the history of humankind with something better? Well, if you read the Bible with an open mind, you will see that humanity is burdened by sin. We are, by nature, self-centered, deceitful, stubborn, and just downright stupid most of the time. Think I am wrong? Read a few history books if you can find them anymore. Or just turn on the news! Better yet, look at the governments and leaders around the world, including those in our nation.

ChatGPT is all about this world, Satan’s world. God’s Kingdom is something even ChatGPT cannot define. The Kingdom of God is mentioned more than 80 times in the New Testament. Teachings of Jesus Christ center on the Kingdom of God. There are two parts to God’s Kingdom, His present spiritual reign over His people (Colossians 1:13) and Jesus’ future reign in the millennial kingdom (Revelation 20). Jesus promised He would come again to our world and establish His Kingdom as an eternal inheritance (Matthew 25:31-34). That seems to say that Satan will, in the end, inherit ChatGPT. This world is his dominion and Satan will be left with the bits and bites of logic, embedded with this world’s sinful bias. I asked ChatGPT what humanity could do to leave a lasting impression on history. Here is a summary of ChatGPT’s answer:

“Accomplish something noteworthy: People who make significant achievements in fields such as science, technology, politics, or the arts are often remembered for their contributions to society.

Create something enduring: People who create enduring works of art, literature, music, or other cultural artifacts can leave a lasting impression on history.

Make a significant contribution to society: People who make a significant impact on their communities or society are often remembered for their contributions.

Develop a new idea or concept: People who develop new ideas or concepts that change the way people think or behave can leave a lasting impression on history.

Overcome great adversity: People who overcome great adversity or tragedy can inspire others and be remembered for their resilience and perseverance.”

In short, do something remarkable, create something enduring, make a significant contribution to society, develop a new idea or concept, or overcome great adversity. Sounds pretty good, doesn’t it? ChatGPT just told you everything you need to know about how to be remembered forever in this world. Or did it?

(Jeremiah 29:12-14)² – “Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity.”

ChatGPT doesn’t believe in God. I know because I asked it. Faith in God and Christ is unique to the human soul. This wisdom database leaves it up to you and your faith to decide if God is real. The same is true for eternal life. ChatGPT was meant to be the culmination of worldly knowledge. God, however, is not of this world. People may be amazed by ChatGPT and artificial intelligence, but it will only make their creativity and intellect lazy. ChatGPT is meant to think for people. Humanity can now sit at the beach, let their government send them subsistence checks, use drugs to mellow out, and let all the creativity of our world be taken over by this mysterious “Artificial Intelligence.” However, ChatGPT has no humility, the kind we find when we kneel before God and allow the Holy Spirit to convict our souls. Also missing was the relief from guilt, knowing that the Son of God removed our sins. Does this then make the question become whether ChatGPT can save our world or hasten its demise?

(Acts 17:27) – “God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us.”

John Wesley³ was an English cleric, theologian, and evangelist who was a leader of a revival movement within the Church of England known as Methodism. The societies he founded became the dominant form of the independent Methodist movement that continues to this day. Wesley traveled widely, generally on horseback, preaching twice or thrice daily. It is said that he rode 250,000 miles in his lifetime and gave away 30,000 Pounds Sterling to the needy. Wesley preached more than 40,000 sermons, formed societies, opened chapels, examined, and commissioned new preachers, and much more. But just what was the item(s) of most value John Wesley left our world?

Doctor J. Edwin Orr, one of the greatest authorities ever on revival in the church was a lecturer at Wheaton College. He took some students in 1940 on a brief visit to England, to visit the Epworth refectory where John Wesley had lived. Orr tells this story.

Beside a bed in Wesley’s home were two worn impressions on a carpet where it was said that he knelt for hours in prayer for England’s social and spiritual renewal. As the students were getting on the bus, Orr noticed one student missing. Going back upstairs, he found that student kneeling on the carpet kneeholes praying with his face on the bed. “Oh Lord, do it again! Do it again!” Orr placed a hand on the student’s shoulder and said gently, “Come on Billy, we must be going.” And rising, Billy Graham joined the bus.

By the time Graham graduated from Wheaton College in Illinois, in 1943, he had developed a simple, direct message of sin and salvation that he delivered energetically for the rest of his life. They estimate that his message reached over 200 million people in his lifetime. Graham had five children, Gigi, Anne, Ruth, Franklin, and Ned. All are involved in Christian ministry today. The Samaritan’s Purse, founded by the Graham family, mobilizes staff and equipment and enlists thousands of volunteers to provide emergency aid to victims of tornadoes, hurricanes, wildfires, floods, and other natural disasters in the United States and around the world. While our world may still be Satan’s world, those Wesley knee prints on the carpet have allowed millions of people worldwide to hear the gospel of salvation and experience God’s love. Those knee prints were left by one man, on his knees praying to God every day!

(Ephesians 1:18-20) – “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.”

The mark for humanity that should become our goal is a mark that leads people to recognize their sinful nature, and the desire to seek eternal life via the path led by our Savior Jesus Christ. Leave God your knee prints from your prayers and leave this world to ChatGPT. God is not an artificial God. He is very real! Would you bet your eternal life on something created by humanity?

Contemplations

The only living creature in our world with faith, is humankind-Who do you think put it there?
- Ideas to Explore: Could it have come from millions of random cosmic acts? Why would virtually every civilization in history attempt to worship a higher power?
When you use a computer or phone, and the Internet, do you check who is responsible for the information and opinions that are expressed?
- Ideas to Explore: The risk associated with Artificial Intelligence is that it can hold bias. Do you think someone might try to manipulate people, or nations with biased information?
If our 1st Amendment Rights are diminished, how do you think this would impact ChatGPT?
- Ideas to Explore: The technology can contain biased information. It might be used to control large groups of people.
If people do not know the Word of God and God’s Truth, how do you think they can spot the obvious errors and biases embedded in artificial Intelligence?
- Ideas to Explore: Computers are but a mirror of humanity. Sin will be part of any ChatGPT. How will you be able to tell the difference in the future?

1
Chat Generative Pre-trained Transformer
2
NIV New International Version Translations
3
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Wesley

Does Equity Lead to Equality?

Our world is spending a lot of time lately talking about equity. Many see it as the foundational issue of our race relations, even the rationale for reparations to the disenfranchised. If you look in a dictionary published in 1947, you will find equity defined as the quality of being fair or impartial. Today, however, Merriam-Webster¹ defines equity as justice according to natural law or a human right.

To understand equity, we must recognize that the newer, contemporary definition links equity directly to bias and favoritism as requirements to fix past inequities. Equity has become the opposite of equality. It is all about making exceptions and giving different levels of support or assistance to people based on their circumstances that may require different treatment to achieve equality. Equity is meant to make up for past deficiencies so the disadvantaged can reach an equal status, a level playing field with those who are perceived to be “advantaged.” For example, lowering academic standards for one group is seen as removing a barrier for disenfranchised youth. Equity is NOT about giving everyone the same thing. That is equality. Equality means providing the same resources or opportunities to everyone, equally, regardless of their needs or abilities. Unlike equity, equality treats everyone the same. Nowhere, however, does either equity or equality assure the same outcomes.

What happens when we search God’s Word for guidance? Is there more clarity? The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia defines the word equity as “uprightness.” Uprightness means moral integrity; honesty in principle or practice; and conformity to righteousness and justice. On the surface, everything seems copasetic. However, equity is more complex than it may seem so we will walk up on our understanding using the Bible.

(Ecclesiastes 2:21)² – “For a person may labor with wisdom, knowledge, and skill, and then they must leave all they own to another who has not toiled for it. This too is meaningless and a great misfortune.”

Solomon points out in the verse above, that when an individual uses discernment, gains knowledge (wisdom), and works to obtain skills, success will generally follow them. However, if one just inherits (is undeservingly given) what another’s success has created, there is no lasting benefit, and the gain is meaningless in God’s eyes. If someone or some groups were purposely deprived of what others could fairly get, it might make sense to try to come up with “an equitable solution.” An equitable solution, however, is one where all parties know the cause of the disparities and agree to the necessity of giving unequal benefits. Remember, the test for any God’s equitable solution is the “Fairness” test.

Equity, as it is used today, is to provide different resources to achieve equality. Nothing, however, is said about equal results. The missing component seems to be a person’s initiative, pride, effort, skill, and willingness to work hard. Solomon is just pointing out that you cannot give someone enough money, and resources or lower the standards sufficiently to solve all the equality problems in our world. Whether we treat people equally or equitably, everyone must do their work to achieve success. To attempt to force solutions on one group at the expense of another group as some type of declaration of success, only creates more division and hatred, especially if the inequity was caused by humanity’s sinful nature in the first place. The bottom line then is that unless God becomes part of the equation, true equality cannot ever be achieved.

(Proverbs 17:26) – “If imposing a fine on the innocent is not good, surely to flog honest officials is not right.”

To be equitable, there must always be a sense of fairness in its actions. Not just fair for one group but for all groups. As we see in Proverbs, we cannot treat one group differently. That, by God’s wisdom, is unfair. Equity that takes opportunities from one group and gives them to another does not fit the first of God’s guidelines either. Making one group pay for opportunities afforded to another only creates more hatred and division. Letting one group have access to resources due to a systemic bias is not fair to those who have worked for those same resources but were not the source of any bias. The question should always be, Where is the “Fairness”?

(Isaiah 59:14) – “So justice is driven back, and righteousness stands at a distance; truth has stumbled in the streets, honesty cannot enter.”

When something is unfair, God says that justice cannot be served. This counters the goal we are after. The entire reason for today’s equity is to use bias to obtain equality. Yet God says unfairness is a roadblock to His Truth. At the time Isaiah the prophet said these words above, he was trying to get a sinful nation to turn back to God. There is a lot of sin to be found whenever there is unfairness present. Neither definition of equity, old or new, considers humankind’s sinfulness. When justice is driven by the bias of humanity, those with power set the agenda, determining who has been harmed, the harm, and who should pay for restitution. The justice we should be concerned about is the justice that will be administered by God! Today’s example might be the lack of enforcement on crimes based on race, or social status. This just doesn’t make sense if we look at God’s Laws! God’s commandments forbid murder, theft, and many other societal sins for everyone equally.

(Malachi 2:6) – “True instruction was in his mouth and nothing false was found on his lips. He walked with me in peace and uprightness and turned many from sin.”

In Malachi, we gain additional insight into God’s version of equity. The objective we are searching for is to reach the elusive goal of equality. This requires the practice of truthfulness. And when God’s kind of equity and equality is present, there is peace and an obvious lack of sinfulness.

The problem with perfect equality is that not everybody starts from the same place. While we are all created equal, our circumstances, family, nationality, and even DNA send us all down separate paths in our lives. Our travels take us to different places, providing completely different sets of experiences. A child growing up in a crime-ridden inner city may never achieve social equality with a child raised on a farm in a rural community. What about God? Was either child exposed to Godly parenting? In our prior example of dropping college entrance requirements, the entire purpose of those exams was always to offer some indication of an individual’s propensity to succeed. Those standards were to be part of life’s roadmap to success. Lowering standards is counterproductive. It would be more beneficial to all parties to raise the skill levels of the students and demand more from them!

(Matthew 26:11) – “The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me.”

God never intended for anyone to be poor or disadvantaged. However, God knew there would be poverty because of sin in our world. Jesus’ statement that the poor will always be with us is intended to remind us that they are poor only because we have failed them. Jesus never intended to justify tolerance for the poor. It is our problem, and we should constantly strive for equitable solutions.

Unfortunately, we only look at our nation’s equity issues through the lens of money and color. COVID-19, technological change, uncontrolled migration of unskilled people, burgeoning national debt, and poor government policies are just some of the problems that have created income and wealth inequality. At the same time, our educational systems are failing to graduate students with the critical skills necessary to earn a decent living. Drugs are being legalized. Trust me on this one but no one can show how our nation’s drug problems will fix any of the equality problems that exist today. Our legal systems are busy perverting justice, removing the requirements for accountability and restitution. What we need is restorative justice! To make matters worse, a corrupt society is driving our children and families away from God. Today’s definition of equity does not serve our nation well!

Equality should mean that everyone has equal rights and opportunities. Equity should mean that everyone is treated fairly and impartially. Our world is busy corrupting our very understanding of these two biblical concepts for social justice and political objectives. Simply said:

(Romans 2:11) – “For God does not show favoritism.”

There is no way a nation can hope to achieve equality among its people without God being part of the process. No amount of equity (allocating resources or opportunities based on individual needs) can fix a sinful world without repentance and revival! Our world has become a place where God’s Truth is no longer celebrated. Deceit and corruption are paving the way for a hopelessly divided nation, not one nation under God anymore, but a nation deceived and separated by its sinfulness. Our founding documents remind us that we were all created by God as equals in His eyes. Our nation’s constitution was meant to assure that all our citizens had equal access to opportunities, and our constitution was never meant to secure equal results for everyone. No one can have equality without freedom!

“A society that puts equality before freedom will get neither. A society that puts freedom before equality will get a high degree of both.” ~ Milton Friedman

Contemplations

Satan uses our language and changes our understanding of its words from generation to generation. How does this weaken our ability to communicate?
- Ideas to Explore: We hear each other but have been taught a biased interpretation. How do we protect ourselves and our children against this trend?
Why are changed definitions of our language a barrier to peace?
- Ideas to Explore: Is not a principle of communication, a common language? How might replacing the concept of “fairness” with “bias” hurt our nation’s future?
How would you ensure that “fairness” is always maintained when dealing with issues of equity?
- Ideas to Explore: How do you define fairness? How would you compensate for the past sins of a nation? Does one sin ever fix another sin?
How does a society ensure that Solomon’s concerns of creating a work ethic are taught to our younger generations?
- Ideas to Explore: Involve them in service programs for those in need. Start children at an early age in understanding the concept of work. How would you reward the hard worker? Should everyone get the same as everyone else, or different rewards, based on what type of criteria?

1
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/equity
2
NIV New International Version Translations

Have you ever been up a tree – Revisited?

(Luke 19:1-10)¹ – “Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. So, he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, ‘Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.’ So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. All the people saw this and began to mutter, ‘He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.’ But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, ‘Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.’ Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

The first question you should ask yourself when reading Scripture is why God gave us these words. Zacchaeus is a very important story because he is a perfect example of a sinful person who was changed by Jesus Christ’s compassion for sinners. Luke 19 describes Zacchaeus as a tax collector in the City of Jericho. His reputation was terrible. He was known as a corrupt tax collector who collected more than he should have collected. In the eyes of the community, Zacchaeus was hated. One question we should ask ourselves is whether there is more to the fact that he had to climb a tree to see Jesus. For this, let’s look at the chapter in Luke just before this parable.

(Luke 18:11) – “The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector.”

Our world is pretty good at hatred. Hating tax collectors was an easy thing to do. Roman taxes were excessive, and the Jewish people were not happy about that situation. Besides the corruption rampant in their trade, the taxes went to enrich the emperor and there was no real benefit bestowed back to the people who paid them. Jesus, Himself, compared tax collectors to pagans, as written in Mathew 18:17, “If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.” Based on this, the crowd’s perspective of Zacchaeus was really just the societal norm about tax collectors. Zacchaeus was hated because he was a thief. Standing at ground level, we are enveloped by “the crowd.” As the crowd saw Zacchaeus’ sin, we see others’ mistakes and sins. Humans are pretty good at spotting faults in others and spawning hatred toward them. Just watch the news media. Satan is a divider in chief. We are quick to judge others. Unfortunately, as part of the crowd, we often forget to look at ourselves. As the Apostle Paul states, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). How then, do we lift ourselves to see better, and see our life as our Savior sees us? Climb a tree!

There was a cherry tree that my grandfather had planted in the backyard of his home. Located in the inner city of Cleveland. The tree seemed out of place. I never knew my grandfather. He had escaped from his home country of Lithuania in the early 1900s. Russia had invaded his homeland and forced him into the Russian military as a cavalry officer. The term was to be 20 years of service. His hope for freedom came when he escaped to the United States. He died long before I was born. As a young boy, I would spend time at his home with my grandmother. One comforting memory is learning to climb into the branches of that cherry tree. Of course, sampling the fruits was one reward. I believe that my grandfather would be pleased to know that his tree cradled me in its branches. There is much to be said about leaving the ground. Your troubles seem to leave you. Dreaming can become easier. Your perspective changes and you see God’s fruit much clearer and closer to you. Often, we must plant trees for the next generation to climb. Thank you to all of those ancestors who took the time to plant their trees of faith for me to embrace.

Zacchaeus knew about Jesus. He was excited that He was coming to Jericho. Because he was very short, and could not see beyond the crowd, he climbed a sycamore tree. We have that same problem. We are often excited about Jesus, especially when we hear the stories of His forgiveness and healing. But what do we do to get out of the crowd? Zacchaeus was trying to find meaning in his life and he was eager to know the truth about life. But when Zacchaeus was in the crowd, they only saw his sins. Oh yes, he only saw their hatred too. We can reflect a lot on the perspective of Zacchaeus. We are all too short to see over the crowd. In this busy world full of noise in every area of life, we tend to want to find meaning in our lives to fill in the gaps that we are experiencing. Unless we try to “climb trees” to extend our eyes’ reach toward a quieter yet better future, our attitudes only reflect the judgmental attitudes of those around us. We just hate back! What we need is to place our eyes on the fruit, Jesus!

Don’t be surprised when you finally climb your tree that Jesus already knows you. Jesus already saw Zacchaeus and knew Zacchaeus even before he ever climbed the tree. Once the connection was made, things moved quickly. Here is what you should focus on (the cherries in the tree) in Luke’s story.

Jesus asked to come into Zacchaeus’ home, to stay in his house. Jesus did not care about how the crowd reacted.
Zacchaeus responded and opened his doors right away. This is also an attitude that tells us that Zacchaeus was a man ready to be saved and to serve. He opened his doors for Christ and was willing to listen to His advice.
What caught the attention of Jesus was Zacchaeus’ passion to be seen. We must try to show ourselves to Jesus even if we think Jesus doesn’t see us. Trust me, Jesus sees you!
Zacchaeus recognized his sinfulness. He repented and changed his life. His repentance included restitution of monies stolen by him.

Was it worth it? In Luke 3:12-13, “Even tax collectors came to be baptized. ‘Teacher,’ they asked, ‘what should we do?’ ‘Don’t collect any more than you are required to,’ he told them.” Yes, it is that simple! Each of us is asked to recognize that we have sinned and repent of our sins and then do our best not to sin. Jesus just wants to come into our house (hearts). That is what salvation is all about!

Contemplations

Where is your high and quiet place? Where do you climb to find Jesus?
- Ideas to Explore: Television, the Internet, employment, home life, and families rarely can offer a high and quiet place to think about our faith. Where is yours and how often do you go there?
Why is it so hard to see our faults?
- Ideas to Explore: Lack of humility. Engrained sinfulness. Stubbornness. What are your blinders?
Why do you think that repentance is part of salvation?
- Ideas to Explore: Repentance breaks the bindings of sinful behavior. Fear of God. Proves we are learning God’s Truth. Sharpens our discernment.
How do you think the crowd responded to the new Zacchaeus?
- Ideas to Explore: Brought others to Jesus? Was a visible testimony of the power of faith in Christ. What can your testimony do for others?

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NIV New International Version Translations

When both sides of a binary world are broken, choose not of this world!

There has been much discussion lately about whether the concept of binary is true anymore. Can you have two, six, thirty-seven, fifty-two, eighty, or even eighty-one genders? These are the answers you get if you search the Internet. This study is not about gender identity. It is about the structure of our world as God created it. Scriptures have a pattern of defining God’s Truth through binary choices.

(Genesis 1:3-5)¹ – “And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.

Here we get to see God’s pattern begin to evolve. There is light, there is dark. There is evening, there is morning. Much can be said about the merits of binary. Think of true/false tests, yes/no answers, and black-and-white comparisons. Binary systems were used in China, Egypt, and India thousands of years ago in the fields of mathematics, philosophy, and literature. Binary thinking made the invention of the computer possible. The binary code is the simplest mathematical language: a tiny realm based utterly on ones and zeroes, the concept of on or off! One might argue that God is the inventor and chief proponent of a binary reality. God organizes primordial chaos into neat divisions, water and land, birds and fish, and man and woman. There is a wondrous design held in a simple order for us to see and understand. Throughout the mind of God, we find this order, evil/good, death/life, curses/blessings, lies/truth, unbelief/faith, flesh/spirit, sin/righteousness, and captivity/freedom just to name a few. It is the binary law that leads us to the ultimate choice in our world, the Kingdom of Heaven, or the Kingdom of Hell!

(Genesis 2:9) – “The Lord God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.”

What we can see from these trees noted in Genesis, is that they represent a choice. God implies eating from the good tree because if you eat from the evil tree, you will die. These are simple, binary concepts yet they have far-reaching consequences. God never forces you to solve a complex riddle to be saved. God simply says here is my Son Jesus Christ sacrificed for your sins. Make Him your Lord and believe I raised Him from the dead and, you too can live with us both. Don’t believe Me and you will die and be eternally separated from Me. These are the basics of simple binary choices. The consequences of making the wrong choice are eternal. A binary number can only be 0 or 1, off or on. Binary choices are always directly opposed or opposites.

(Deuteronomy 30:19) – “This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live”

You cannot be in both binary categories simultaneously. Many people find it efficient to base their morals on a binary system. Such perspectives divide right from wrong, truth from lies, and sinners from saints. It distinguishes the saved from the lost or heaven and hell. Our binary system works until our worldly choices break down because binary becomes something else, making our choices overwhelming. An octal numbering system’s base is 8 instead of 2 for binary. The base 8 means the system uses eight digits from 0 to 7. All the eight digits from 0 to 8 have the same physical meaning as that of decimal numbers. The next digit in the octal number is represented by 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, and 17 which represents the decimal digits 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15.

It is OK not to understand octal. It was chosen as an example because it is confusing, complex, and used primarily for mathematics. If our God had not chosen a binary form to use within His Word, most people would have a big problem. Suddenly our footpath to redemption would come to round-a-bouts with dozens of exit ramps, rather than just simple forks in the road. What then? Overcomplicating God’s Word is a classic strategy used by Satan, like defining 81 genders! You no longer have two choices, but you have eighty-one to pick from.

When the word “world” is used in the New Testament, it’s a translation of the Greek word “cosmos.” “Cosmos” can be defined as the planet earth and includes its human inhabitants who mostly live their lives with their backs turned toward God. Satan is the Prince of this “cosmos.” He defines our language to state that the cosmos is an “orderly harmonious systematic universe.” Yes, our universe is orderly. However, our world is NOT! Chaos is probably a better word for describing our world. Chaos means “a state where chance is supreme, it is a confused unorganized state of primordial matter before the creation of any distinct forms.” In other words, our world is a constantly changing mess!

(John 12:31) – “Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out.”

The systems of the world are ruled by Satan. Until he is eliminated from our chaotic world, it becomes difficult to see and sort out what should be simple binary choices in life. The great news is that those who believe in Jesus are no longer part of this world, no longer part of the cosmos. When both sides of a binary world are broken, then, choose not of this world! When we are not in this world, not in the cosmos or chaos, sin has no power over us. We do not have to be trapped by the choices we must make. When principles no longer define God’s binary world, we have Christ!

(John 17:14-16) – “I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it.”

The good news is that we can still make our own decisions. But because we are in Christ, we don’t have to be a slave to any bad choices. Because we are in Christ, we have the power to choose NOT to do the sinful stuff the world loves. Think of yourself as an ambassador for Christ. You are visiting here, representing His Kingdom. The world’s choices are not the things Jesus would choose. Step out of this world, step into His light. When both sides of a binary world are broken, choose not of this world!

Our true home is not in this sinful world, it is in eternity with Christ. There is a glorious simple Kingdom that awaits us, a place greater than we can imagine. The good news is that all the choices have been made correctly. We don’t have to guess which is the 0 and which is the 1. We can stop trying to fit in there. Our call is not to act like people of this world, but instead, to become an imitator of Christ, spreading the good news of the gospel so others can one day abandon this world too.

Contemplations

To test your Biblical knowledge, can you find one or more places in Scripture where God says, you have three choices, sin, don’t sin, or do your best to get away with sin by covering it up?
- Ideas to Explore: We are always looking for the “fence” to stand on. Walking in the middle of the road still can get you killed. Even repentance means changing direction, not just branching off somewhere less traveled where you will not be seen.
What is the most bizarre untruth you are being asked to believe?
- Ideas to Explore: Why do you notice this specific untruth? What are the untruths that you do not notice?
Do you think that the steps to salvation are complex?
- Ideas to Explore: Where does your fear come from? It is binary, why are you afraid? If you choose Jesus and you are wrong, please think about where the risks are. Eternal risks, everyday risks?
Why do people fear Jesus?
- Ideas to Explore: Who did Jesus ever hurt? Whom did Jesus die to help?

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NIV New International Version Translations

Inflation, Does God Offer Us Any Answers?

The decreasing value of money caused by the increasing price of products and labor is alive and well in the world today. It would be great if we could open our Bibles to the Concordance and review God’s perspective on a huge issue. Sorry, inflation is one of those words in common use that the Bible does not use. From the perspective of economics, inflation is an increase in overall prices and a corresponding decrease in the purchasing power of the money in circulation. And yes, our Bible does offer us God’s perspective on this economic phenomenon. Let’s look at three of the causes.

The Siege

An attack on Israel by the Aramians (Syrians), occurred during the reign of King Jehoram. This resulted in a period of extreme inflation. It involved the siege of the capital city in Samaria and led to a lack of goods and out-of-control inflation.

(2 Kings 6:24-25) ¹– Sometime later, Ben-Hadad king of Aram mobilized his entire army and marched up and laid siege to Samaria. There was a great famine in the city; the siege lasted so long that a donkey’s head sold for eighty shekels² of silver and a quarter of a cab³ of seed pods⁴ for five shekels⁵.

Inflation was so bad that food and fuel became unaffordable. People, if they had money, were eating donkey heads and burning dove droppings to cook with. King Jehorham was ready to give up and surrender to Aram. He blamed the situation on God rather than on his poor leadership and sinfulness. You might think that this is too strange and doesn’t happen anymore. However, the siege of an economy can come through several methods. While wars are obvious, regulatory sieges are more subtle. The siege of an economy can also come from governmental regulations such as prohibitions on the use of fossil fuels, the forced shutdown of an economy due to Covid, the sudden expansion of a nation’s money supply, or even the rapid expansion of a nation’s population due to uncontrolled migration. Passing extremely disruptive laws and regulations often leave people, unemployed, hungry, and homeless. Sieges are artificial causes of inflation.

Global inflation is predicted to occur when God brings His final judgment to the earth. The third Horseman of the Apocalypse mentioned in Revelations brings war (Revelation 6:3–4). Jesus will return and open the third seal.

(Revelation 6:5–6) – “When the Lamb opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come!” I looked, and there before me was a black horse! Its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand. Then I heard what sounded like a voice among the four living creatures, saying, “Two pounds of wheat for a day’s wages, and six pounds of barley for a day’s wages, and do not damage the oil and the wine!”

The reality of inflation is a reminder that wealth is fleeting “Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle” (Proverbs 23:5). Haggai nails it, “You have planted much, but harvested little. You eat but never have enough. You drink but never have your fill. You put on clothes but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it” (Haggai 1:6). Sinful leaders exercise their power to control food, lifestyle, and wealth. How could this happen? Today, our nation purposely understates the inflation rate by excluding food and fuel costs from its rate of “core inflation.” They argue that food and fuel are too unstable to be used in any calculations. Yet one-third of our budget is on food and energy costs. Just a little sleight of hand going on here! Honesty is hard to find.

False Weights and Measures

Another element of inflation is theft and greed. It takes the form of price gouging, dishonest weights, and measures, and outright deceit. The Bible repeatedly condemns dishonest gain: “Do not have two differing weights in your bag—one heavy, one light. Do not have two differing measures in your house—one large, one small. You must have accurate and honest weights and measures, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.” (Deuteronomy 25:13–15). Rigging the system, using two scales, whether for weight or justice, is just stealing from the people.

Our nation’s government and the Federal Reserve have been printing money for a long time. In the past, other governments (e.g., China, Japan, etc.) would buy our treasuries. Our debt was sold. Today, no one wants it! Who holds the debt now for our nation? You do along with your children and your children’s children! Nations today still insist on honest weights and measures but usually exempt themselves from that requirement. Micah 6:11 asks, “Shall I acquit someone with dishonest scales, with a bag of false weights?” We live in a time when the government will prosecute someone dishonest in their business dealings but allow government leaders and the central bank to enact policies that devalue the currency. In other words, there are two scales of justice in their bag of tricks.

The Big Lie

Is inflation good for you and the economy? That is what some economists and politicians will tell you. Type in words like “inflation is good for you” or “inflation is good for the economy,” search the web and you will find the latest lies about inflation. Inflation is good for someone who is heavily in debt. They can pay back that debt in devalued dollars. The concept lacks accountability because there is never a budget or a plan to live within one’s means. And those who are holding the debt are paid back with a currency of lower value. This is akin to stealing someone’s savings. Remember, you are holding the nation’s debt!

(Jeremiah 6:10-11) – “To whom can I speak and give warning? Who will listen to me? Their ears are closed so they cannot hear. The word of the Lord is offensive to them; they find no pleasure in it. But I am full of the wrath of the Lord, and I cannot hold it in. Pour it out on the children in the street and on the young men gathered together; both husband and wife will be caught in it, and the old, those weighed down with years.”

Jeremiah is telling the people of Israel not to live beyond their means. He indicts the entire nation for its covetousness. Debt, whether personal or national, is dangerous. It is based on a belief that possessing something before one can actually able to afford it is a good thing. Good for the profiteers, but it enslaves the debtor to the creditor. The lie is that somehow, you can have it all now and pay for it later. When your credit card is maxed out, whether an individual or a nation, you have no freedom and become nothing more than a slave. Two years ago, Lostpine published a study called National Debt – National Shame[https://lostpine.com/home/shadows/national-debt-national-shame/]. Things have only gotten worse!

Conclusion

Inflation has been around for a long time. “Your silver has become dross, your choice wine is diluted with water.” (Isaiah 1:22). Inflation’s principal source comes from human-made events, all designed to gain power over people. Forced shortages, disruption of supplies, price gouging, and the all-popular deceptive packaging (right-sizing) lead to inflation. As a nation, why do we tolerate these things? To begin with, our trust should be in something more reliable.

(1 Timothy 6:17) – “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.”

(Matthew 6:19–21) – “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

(Proverbs 11:28) – “Those who trust in their riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf.”

Today, you can destroy a nation without war by simply destroying the value of its currency. It is subtle but effective. The Bible has quite a bit to say about money and most of God’s warnings concern debt. “The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is a slave to the lender” (Proverbs 22:7). By our nation continuing the process of facilitating debt, inflation is secretly confiscating our wealth, and we don’t even see it. So, how can we fix this? To begin, pay our debts. Next, appoint leaders that bring our nation’s spending policies within their means. Finally, “Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.” (Proverbs 3:9-10).

Contemplations

Do you understand the idea that, to the borrower, inflation is good?
- Ideas to Explore: Government borrows against your Social Security, Medicare, and Retirement funds. Inflation allows them to pay back (we hope) that debt with dollars worth less. In other words, the funds are yours, but you just lost money. What do you do to fully understand today’s economics?
The Bible uses three examples, war, fraudulent statistics, and cheating (not exposing the real motives or truth). Are you concerned?
- Ideas to Explore: The Internet and media are no longer reliable sources of information. Common sense and discipline are more important than ever today. What can you do to assure a government of sensible fiscal policy?
Why do people tolerate inflation?
- Ideas to Explore: Policies affect the necessities of life. They no longer must work for their money. Our educational system has failed to teach economics. Please add your ideas.
Raising interest rates brings on job losses and foreclosures. How does this help inflation?
- Ideas to Explore: This strategy affects the poor and middle class the most. Do wealthy people avoid this concern? When a nation is unemployed, the government just prints even more money. How does this help the problem?
What contemporary policies and regulations would you rank among those no different than siege tactics?
- Ideas to Explore: Environmental, Covid, immigration, IRS, fossil fuel, solar, social, etc. Please add your own.

1
NIV New International Version Translations
2
about 2 pounds
3
about 1/4 pound or 1 cup
4
doves’ dung
5
about 2 ounces

What does God Say about Choosing Leaders?

Elections, the voting process used by nations to choose their leaders, are expected to be free and fair. God reinforces this in His Word. In this study, we will journey through the Bible and see what message God has for us about exercising our right to vote. Proverbs 11:14 leads the way with a caution: “For lack of guidance a nation falls, but victory is won through many advisers”¹. The process of elections, voting, is a right, bestowed to us through our Constitution. Solomon’s wisdom begins with the notion that many advisors, such as our nation has, can lead us better than one dictator or a king. The victory, however, is not about winning wars, it should be about finding God (Proverbs 14:34). More of Solomon’s wisdom tells us that “The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity²” (Psalm 11:3). The goal, therefore, is to find people of integrity who know God, and know how to lead a nation to Him. And by the way, we may need to fight a few wars to get there!

The word integrity comes from two Hebrew words, (tom and tummah). Biblically, integrity means “simplicity,” “soundness,” “completeness,” “upright,” and “perfection.” When used in (Proverbs 19:1; 20:7) it references one’s sincerity of the heart and intention, truthfulness, and uprightness. The word “integrity” does not occur in the New Testament, but its equivalents may be seen in words like “sincerity,” “truth,” and “pure heart.” God is calling us to find and elect people who are honest, sincere, and genuine (true to their character)³.

There will never be any perfect candidates. However, we can get a sense of a person’s character through their words and how they behave. Once elected, they are not likely to act any differently. Character counts in leaders. Deceit, by the way, is not one of those human characteristics listed as a Godly asset. It is the responsibility of everyone who votes to do their best to find candidates with strong character. Need a checklist? Go back to the Bible and ask these questions: What does Christ value? What does He condemn? There is no better comparison for defining human character anywhere! Christ stands in sharp contrast to the wisdom of humankind (1 Corinthians 2:5-6). Need help recognizing Christ’s wisdom? Christ’s mind is revealed to us through the Spirit of God (1 Corinthians 2:10-12; 15). When selecting candidates, the Holy Spirit matters!

What are a few things to look for when determining a person’s integrity?

A history of taking responsibility for their good and bad actions (apologies).
Placing the needs of others above their own (generosity).
A willingness to help others who are weak and cannot offer them any benefit (compassion).
Giving others the benefit of the doubt (somewhat the opposite of being a know-it-all).
Choosing openness and honesty in all things even when it harms them politically (authentic).
Showing respect to everyone, especially those without anything to offer them (inclusive).
Humble (Proverbs 11:2).
Ability to admit when they are wrong (accountable).
A person with true integrity will always show up to an obligation (dependable, and reliable).
They convey true kindness to others (generous).

We hear a lot of campaign slogans⁴ these days, like “Make America Great Again” and “Build Back Better.” Most fit on a tee shirt and some even on a hat. But slogans don’t deal with the real issue affecting our nation, sin. Solomon is trying to tell us in Proverbs that the only thing that brings honor to a nation is its righteousness before God. If we stand together in sin, however, we will fall together, not rise. When we make our choices for leaders, our nation cannot brush over sin anymore. Redefining sin as pleasure or “personal rights” and then promoting it, gets more votes. However, it is a path to destruction. The foundations of our nation are crumbling because the sins of our nation are multiplying, even faster than the national debt!

There is no doubt that God will hold a nation and its leaders accountable for their actions. But there is a subtlety that is important not to miss. The people don’t get a free pass if they elect a poor leader! While the ultimate authority and sovereignty belong to God as the creator of all things, God holds us accountable for our votes. We can see how this works in God’s directions to Moses.

(Exodus 18:21-2) – “But select capable men from all the people—men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain—and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. Have them serve as judges for the people at all times, but have them bring every difficult case to you; the simple cases they can decide themselves. That will make your load lighter, because they will share it with you. If you do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied.”

In Deuteronomy, Moses explained that the people would play a role in selecting their leaders in the Promised Land. God would ultimately select the king. However, the people were tasked with confirming his selection. “When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you and have taken possession of it and settled in it, and you say, “Let us set a king over us like all the nations around us,” be sure to appoint over you a king the Lord your God chooses. He must be from among your fellow Israelites. Do not place a foreigner over you, one who is not an Israelite.” (Deuteronomy 17:14-15).

Fools despise godly wisdom and instruction (Proverbs 1:7). Later when the nation of Israel became mired in sin, God held the people partially responsible for the corruption and poor policies of their leaders (Isaiah 1:23). It’s a principle every citizen must take seriously as they step into a voting booth.

Apathy has no place in an election, and neither should we be anxious. The Bible reminds us that the evil acts of unrighteous leaders can never derail God’s sovereign plan. “There is no authority except that which God has established.” (Romans 13:1). Yet, half of all eligible voters do not exercise their constitutional right to vote. If we want better leadership and leaders who express godly wisdom and insight, we must rebuild the foundations of our country. And what is that cornerstone? It first begins with the fear of the Lord (Proverbs 9:10). So, when you vote, consider deeply your responsibility to elect a candidate who upholds God’s Truth. After the votes are counted, don’t panic. God is still on His throne regardless of who runs the nation. And then, pray for our leaders and the others who will advise them. The bureaucracy has more power than you think! Any leader, no matter how skilled, never leads alone.

Contemplations

Satan is active in the public relations business. What are your sources for knowing candidates better?
- Ideas to Explore: Please don’t use the Internet, social media, or news media in your list. Now, where do you go to learn about the candidates that you vote for? Trusted advisors, trusted friends, or the all-powerful, common sense of your eyes, ears, and own observations.
How do you rank the trait of leadership when they “do what they say?”
- How much does their style matter if they are true to their word?
Look at the list we created for picking leaders – How many of today’s leaders meet those criteria?
- If they don’t, why are they elected? Do they cheat? Does the media lie? Are we too naive in our selections?
Why wouldn’t our world be better if all its leaders respected God’s Truth?
- Any ideas? We elect fools over and over, why?
The bureaucracy is the unelected portion of our government. How would you hold it accountable to the people?
- The bureaucracy stays on, election after election, they are the real power. How did they get this power?

1
NIV New International Version Translations
2
duplicity: deceitfulness, double-dealing
3
https://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionary/integrity/
4
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._presidential_campaign_slogans

Immigration and the Bible

Our nation is undergoing an invasion. For many Americans, the images that come to mind are of fences and walls along the U.S.-Mexico border. Those images are followed quickly by the millions of people crossing our borders. While the subject of immigration is emotionally charged, it might be time to see if we can glean some holy wisdom on the entire topic from our Bible.

To start us off, the concept of borders (boundaries) was first established by God Himself. He did so both as a reward and to keep His people from the negative influences of the nations around them.

(Deuteronomy 32:8)¹ – “When the Most High gave the nations their inheritance, when he divided all mankind, he set up boundaries for the peoples according to the number of the sons of Israel.”

God’s expectation, also enshrined in our Constitution, is that one key role of government: would be to establish secure borders, know those who come into our nation, and protect us from those who would harm us. This can be viewed as a God-ordained role of (leadership) government.

(Romans 13:1-6) – “Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience. This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing.”

Let’s first understand that the Apostle Paul’s verses above are not a command to follow an ungodly government. When governmental policies result in drugs, the trafficking of women and children, and tens of thousands of deaths on both sides of the border wall, there is a serious problem. We are called to elect God-fearing people who will uphold our Constitution, including the protection of our nation’s citizens and our inalienable rights. We need leaders who love God and respect freedom. Only after we are able to establish such a government, are we then to submit to their leadership, pay our taxes, and become witnesses to the world. God calls us to His Truths first and foremost.

(Acts 5:29) – “Peter and the other apostles replied: ‘We must obey God rather than human beings!'”

Illegal immigration occurs when there is no regard for a nation’s laws. It does not matter whether immigration is to improve one’s life or to enrich oneself, to break a nation’s laws is wrong in the eyes of God. It is the role of the government to establish rules so that the immigration process is orderly and secure. In a more direct statement about safety and security, we find these permissions from our Creator:

(Numbers 32:17) – “But we will arm ourselves for battle and go ahead of the Israelites until we have brought them to their place. Meanwhile, our women and children will live in fortified cities, for protection from the inhabitants of the land.”

God permits nations to have border guards, armies, and “fortifications” along their borders to keep those who would harm them at bay. There is the practical expectation that all fortifications would include the use of “gates” through which ALL visitors can be directed. The Bible lists much about this topic². You can find a list of one hundred verses on the topic here: https://www.openbible.info/topics/immigration. And yes, even heaven will have a gate! “Not all who wish to enter will be granted access” (Matthew 7:21). It is easy, however, to miss that God defined three groups in His Word that are impacted by immigration. Let’s look at all three in more detail:

The foreigner – The Bible alternately uses the word, sojourner. It is a temporary resident; a stranger or a traveler who dwells in a place for a time. We call them guests and visitors.

(Deuteronomy 15:1-3) – “At the end of every seven years you must cancel debts. This is how it is to be done: Every creditor shall cancel any loan they have made to a fellow Israelite. They shall not require payment from anyone among their own people, because the Lord’s time for canceling debts has been proclaimed. You may require payment from a foreigner, but you must cancel any debt your fellow Israelite owes you.”

When visitors’ loyalties remained with their original nation, God called them “foreigners.” Foreigners were those born in a foreign land, not bound to the customs and laws of the land they were visiting. In the verse above, we find an example: tolerance for debt was extended for the citizens of God’s nation but not so for foreigners. Foreigners typically made lousy citizens because their allegiances remained with their homeland.

The immigrant – This pertained to someone who, for a variety of reasons, was seeking to relocate to another nation. Biblical history shows us that people sought sanctuary for many different reasons. One was economic, to find work/food. Other reasons included forced exile, or even seeking freedom, and escaping injustice. There was always an expectation that when someone immigrated, their new nation’s laws would be obeyed, and the cultural values of that new nation would be maintained. God’s cautions were always about absorbing the customs and gods of neighboring countries (Deuteronomy 6:14). Immigrants to God’s nation were to become Godly people, worshipping Israel’s God, Yahweh. When God’s people were in another nation, they were to obey the laws but remain faithful to their God!

The citizen – This last category pertains to the people within a nation who share common beliefs, goals, language, morality, etc. History shows us that when a diverse group of immigrants merges with a group of citizens, a cultural blending occurs. It had been God’s premise that the citizens of His favored nation would share His Covenant with all those who sought to become citizens of His Kingdom. The blending was to produce a better and stronger nation, but not absorb all of the beliefs of the immigrants. History tells us that this rarely occurred. It seems that it is always easier to pick up bad habits than good ones!

The Bible does not give us a comprehensive set of guidelines for immigration. However, God does have a strong opinion about the fairness and safety of the results. These three specific vulnerable groups of people are often highlighted in the same passages as objects of God’s particular concern.

(Deuteronomy 27:19) – “Cursed is anyone who withholds justice from the foreigner, the fatherless or the widow. Then all the people shall say, ‘Amen!’”

(Psalm 146:9) – “The Lord watches over the foreigner and sustains the fatherless and the widow, but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.”

It is easy to see that in today’s world of drugs, crime, human trafficking, and the importation of cheap labor go directly against many of God’s commandments. God’s view is that all life matters to Him. Whether a temporary visitor or someone seeking permanent citizenship, God expects equal and fair treatment of everyone. God also expects all people to obey His commandments and the laws of the nation they are entering! The citizens also remain bound to God’s commandments too. No free pass for anyone.

(Deuteronomy 24:14) – “Do not take advantage of a hired worker who is poor and needy, whether that worker is a fellow Israelite or a foreigner residing in one of your towns.”

(Malachi 3:5) – “So I will come to put you on trial. I will be quick to testify against sorcerers, adulterers and perjurers, against those who defraud laborers of their wages, who oppress the widows and the fatherless, and deprive the foreigners among you of justice, but do not fear me,” says the Lord Almighty.

There are many Bible stories about people being forced across borders. Joseph was sold by his brothers into slavery in Egypt. David escaped the violence of King Saul and sought asylum among the Philistines. Daniel and his friends were exiled from their homeland. They all worked for their sustenance by serving a foreign government. Even Jesus himself, as a small child, was forced to flee, escaping to Egypt (Matthew 2:16-18). When famine hit, Abram (later Abraham) and his family left their homeland at God’s instruction (Genesis 12:10). His son Isaac and grandson Jacob would also move because of famine. Naomi and her family were motivated by hunger and left the land of Judah.

What our Bible tells us is that compassion and immigration go hand in hand. In every Bible story, we find what is often missing in our approach to our own immigration policy today. There was always a work requirement for those who could work to participate in their own care and keeping. Yes, God wanted the generosity of His people to feed those who were hungry. God never asked the government to usurp this role in society. That was what the concept of “gleaning” was all about.

(Leviticus 23:22) – “‘When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Leave them for the poor and for the foreigner residing among you. I am the Lord your God.’”

It might be interesting to add here a Bible story about a smuggler or a terrorist that immigrated into a nation. But those are few and far between. That was what the guards and armies were established to handle. Our creator assigned the physical protection and the spiritual health of a nation to its leaders. He then said to those who became citizens to follow His Laws and uphold His Truths. God’s blessings were to make them fruitful. God knew that when the human heart was generous, His people would provide for the widows and orphans, those who could not work. God calls us to let those who seek asylum “glean in our fields.” We are to be witnesses to them, demonstrating the saving grace only our God can provide. That was always God’s master plan. You know, the “Light on the Hill.” When a nation’s leaders use immigration to enrich themselves at the expense of others, God sends the prophets! His judgment is always next. God has watched Satan’s trickery before. The ultimate test of leadership will always be whether a nation’s people move closer to Him! The survey group, Gallup, says just the opposite is happening in our nation today.

Should we then conclude that God wants our nation to open its gates, take down its borders and let tens of millions of people into our country? Unfortunately, both that question and a direct answer are missing from God’s Word. There is, however, an interesting test you can apply. First, our nation cannot physically hold all the people in the world. But why do they keep coming? It is because “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” We are one nation, under God! Many, however, are being enticed for nefarious purposes, only to become cheap labor and victims in our land. Too many are dying from drugs, gangs, trafficking, and profiteering to call our nation’s immigration system a Godly plan. To assure that our Constitution’s preamble has any hope of surviving for future generations, God calls us to first, remain a nation committed to law and order and the protection of our beliefs in the one true God. “GATES” and “BORDERS” have existed from the beginning of humankind as Adam and Eve found out the hard way. Therefore, it is reasonable to ask that immigrants seeking entry, allow us to defend our concerns for maintaining our own national identity (who we are), our nation’s economic health (financial stability), and national security (safety). That is what God’s Covenant is all about!

Contemplations

Are you willing to share your net worth with the people of the world?
- Ideas to Explore: Be honest now, to have open borders, our nation would consume all its wealth to house and feed all the people. How much are you willing to give up?
Is it reasonable to ask that people wishing to become citizens, learn our language, obey our laws, and gain a skill through which they can house and feed themselves and their children?
- Ideas to Explore: What is your opinion about adopting their laws from other countries? Do you agree that a parent can kill their child or spouse simply because they disobey? That, by the way, is a right guaranteed in some countries. Exactly what cultural blending is acceptable to you, religions, foods, morality, laws, etc.?
Should a politician/leader obey a nation’s laws?
- Ideas to Explore: Is it OK for leaders or special interest groups to ignore laws and do what they want? Why don’t people use the present constitutional process to change the laws they don’t want?
Do you believe benefit programs should have a “work requirement” component?
- Ideas to Explore: Should social programs be permanent? (Note: Social Security is not a social or welfare program. Beneficiaries have trusted the government and paid in their money, saving for their retirement.) Unfortunately, our leaders have given away those savings to people who have not contributed.

1
NIV New International Version Translations
2
https://www.gotquestions.org/gates-of-Jerusalem.html

Category: Shadows (Page 5 of 18)

What Exactly is Idolatry?

Contemplations

Could this be the problem?

There is, of course, always Satan to blame.

We are, by nature, imperfect and sinful creations.

People don’t know enough or know the wrong things.

People are self-centered and selfish.

Lust.

The sin of ignorance.

The Problem Defined.

Contemplations

What does it mean to be exiled by God?

Contemplations

Leaving an Impression on our World

Contemplations

Does Equity Lead to Equality?

Contemplations

Have you ever been up a tree – Revisited?

Contemplations

When both sides of a binary world are broken, choose not of this world!

Contemplations

Inflation, Does God Offer Us Any Answers?

The Siege

False Weights and Measures

The Big Lie

Conclusion

Contemplations

What does God Say about Choosing Leaders?

Contemplations

Immigration and the Bible

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