ggs4boutlinefull

ggs4boutlinefull

Though we experience the New Covenant and our salvation based on the Scriptures alone, through grace alone, by faith alone, in Christ alone and for God’s glory alone; this experience of the New Covenant never stays alone.

Why, tell me why, in this Republican primary process are you supporting Donald J. Trump in such great numbers. Donald Trump may share your anger, but he doesn’t  share your values. He may not even be angry over the same things that you are. He’s just angry.  He most likely won’t make decisions morally but pragmatically. It’s possible he has the same concerns as you but he doesn’t know your Christ. Trump may articulate your fears but he won’t face them with your faith but rather with as much brute force as he can muster.  He’ll bully his way through things. The Donald on occasion may quote the good Book, the Bible, but he lives by his own book…remember it — The Art of the Deal.  He may have the endorsements of some of your leaders — Dr. Robert Jeffers of First Baptist in Dallas, and Jerry Falwell, Jr. President of Liberty University but he doesn’t serve your Lord, Jesus Christ. He has said over and over that he will owe no one anything.

In spite of Trump dropping F’Bombs and S’Missiles in almost every place so far, you evangelicals have given him as much or more support than the evangelicals in the race.  Trump has slandered almost every one of his competitors. I guess defamation of character is an easily forgivable sin, though Mr. Trump says he’s never asked God for forgiveness.  Senator Ted Cruz, Pastor Mike Huckabee, Dr. Ben Carson, Senator Rick Santorum and Governor John Kasich all have bon fide Christian credentials. They are flawed, yes, but they and others give testimony of their faith. So what’s up? Don’t you think that Donald Trump has more skeletons in his closet than the largest cemetery in Queens? The message you are sending to every aspiring Christ follower who would seek public office is frightening. Aren’t you saying that in order for Christians to support you brother or sister you need to mimic The Donald not the Christ.

Is it about the power? Do you actually think The Donald will listen to you because you endorsed him?  People, we are born again but not born again yesterday are we?  Is it about so desperately wanting to win you’ll sell your soul to someone who has made a lot of money building…casinos. Didn’t we used to believe and teach that gambling was bad? Maybe it is because we think the country needs a businessman, a true capitalist, who has built “a great company”. How do you think he did that? I know we are not voting for “saint and chief” but we aren’t voting for “bully and chief” either.

Evangelicals are now nothing more than a voting block. Spend ten minutes listening to any cable news station and you’ll see that this is all that we are thought of as. We are people to whom you can make a certain set of promises that you will never keep because we are just a special interest group. I thought evangelicals had one interest and one agenda, our Lord’s. Where is the kingdom agenda in all of this?

Circus tycoon P.T Barnum famously said, “there is a  sucker born every minute.”  In the circus that is the Republican primary, that sucker is much of the evangelical church and its leaders.  In the words of Judy Collins, “send in the clowns, send in the clowns….don’t bother they’re here.”

Harry Blamires, in an insightful book called The Christian Mind, asks where there are Christians with minds sharp enough to confront a culture that steadily drifts away from God. He calls for people who think “Christianly”about great moral issues. His fear, which I share, is that we fool ourselves into thinking that we are thinking people when we are not. With a stinging rebuke against the Christian public, he wrote: “Christianity is emasculated of its intellectual relevance. It remains a vehicle of spirituality and moral guidance at the individual level perhaps; at the communal level it is little more than an expression of sentimentalized togetherness.”

God Grand Story – Pt. 3outline

“It is the responsibility of every generation to reach their generation for Christ”. – Jack Wyrtzen, Founder of Word of Life Fellowship

God’s Grand Story – pt2outline

Today we lost an amazing public servant. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia passed away in his sleep sometime last night. He was 79 years of age. He had served on the SCOTUS since 1986. The loss of this man is palpable. He is irreplaceable. Our prayers should go out for his wife, his family, his colleagues and our nation.

Today his family has lost a husband, a father, a grandfather. So many others have lost a friend and a mentor. He was larger than life. He was an inspiration. We can’t imagine their grief. He will be so missed. We need to pray for his wife Maureen and their nine children and 35 grandchildren.

Today the legal world has lost an amazing jurist. He was a judicial genius. He was the leader of the conservative wing of the Supreme Court. He was the chief believer in original intent. Scalia knew the law thoroughly. Scalia defended the law publically and privately. He was a master at his craft. He was a friend to so many in the law profession including the other Justices, many who opposed his views but loved him. Prayer is so needed.

Today, babies in the womb lost a valuable ally. As a strong lifelong Roman Catholic, Scalia stood with the unborn courageously. He was their champion unrelentingly. They needed him. They are the innocent. Prayer is desperately needed.

Today, religious liberty has lost a powerful voice. Justice Scalia unashamedly stood for freedom of religion almost absolutely. He sought to protect people of faith from the secularist of our society who wish to push their beliefs from the public square. We could never thank him enough. Prayers are continually needed.

Today, the Constitution has lost a friend. Justice Scalia took its text seriously. He took its context seriously. He saw it as the bedrock for our nation. He fought against judicial activism. He didn’t believe in legislating from the bench but interpreting the law in light of the Constitution; not the whims of our times. He respected it as a critical document, not a living changing piece of paper but a life giving foundation for our nation. Prayers for our nation are immediately needed.

Today our Nation lost a Giant and it is a Giant Loss. Pray like it matters.

God’s grand story 1outline

God’s Grand Story New TestamentA