GraceUncovered

Authors home articles Gracelife

GRACE BLOGS COLLECTION

How Religion Makes Us Stupid (And Jesus Makes us Wise)

by

Religion is an endless car race and I have a trackside seat. I smell the fumes of religious ambition, and I hear the sickening crunch of condemnation. The religious race goes on and on, and I get to watch people slamming into the hard wall of rules and unforgiveness. I don’t particularly want to watch this, but Jesus said to help the hurting, and many of them are lying broken on the religious racetrack. Religion hurts people. The old religion of rules and regulations ministers condemnation and death. Hopefully you know this. But did you also know that religion can make you stupid? But their minds were made dull… Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. (2 Cor 3:14-15) The word for dull in this passage means a kind of stone. Live by the ministry carved on tablets of rock, and you’ll end up with rocks in your head. (You have to love the language of the Bible!) Rule-based religion will give you a dull mind and a veiled heart. I see proof of this every day in my message box. Consider this question I was recently asked: Paul, I have been told that [...]

The Church Can Stop Governmental Intrusion

by

Church and State

In recent decades, the Federal government has accelerated its reach into the personal and social lives of Americans. People feel isolated; business are over regulated; and the church has been intimidated. The sense of being overwhelmed by the massive intrusion into marriage, family, bathroom choice, and personal privacy was at the center of the frustration in many who rose up in this last election to say, "Stop! It's enough!"

Can the growth and intrusion of government be stopped? After all, somebody thought the laws and regulations were necessary for the welfare of the country. Human behavior must have some guidelines and boundaries or we will have mob-rule.

The Only Antidote to Government Overreach

There is a way. Only self-government can make government overreach unnecessary. As long as individuals and groups are controlled by their own desires for pleasure, demanding their own personal rights, and ruled by their basest passions, there will need to be a forceful external authority to assess penalties to curb hatred, greed, and perversion. But if people had a moral code that ruled over such human vices, the need for excessive regulations would not exist.

If people had a moral code that ruled over such human vices, the need for excessive regulations would not exist.

This introduces the role of the church as designed by God. The apostle Paul designated it "the ground and pillar of truth." (I Timothy 3:15) Its role in society is to offer freedom from enslavement to sinfulness and to equip people to live productively with God and each other. When its voice is silenced or ignored, the need for civil government involvement increases. When its voice is heard, the whole society reaps the benefits. Truth brings freedom.

The hope for a civil government that is effective in protecting its citizens, and ceases to intrude into their personal lives, all the while remaining small enough to stay within a reasonable budget, lies in the rise of the true church. Only the offer of forgiveness and the grace to love others more than ourselves can change people from "takers" to "givers." Only the security of being loved by the One who knows all and sees all can free us from the shame which destroys both our own lives and our societies.

It’s Time for the Church to Act

Only the offer of forgiveness and the grace to love others more than ourselves can change people from "takers" to "givers."

It is time for the people of God to take our assignment seriously. We have the message of truth. When believed, it liberates all people without distinction. We have the power of the Holy Spirit to live as Jesus modeled on earth.

We also have the commission from our Lord who promised to be with us into all the world. The masses await our appearance. Many will hear and believe. Those believers can be equipped to influence every sphere of society with the transcendent truth of divine order. Schools can teach truth again. Businesses can not only make a profit, but bless their workers and the communities in which they thrive. Other nations can look to a productive model -- all because the true church arose to teach people how to be self-governed by submitting to the God of truth.

Rise up O Church!

God’s Harsh Love

by

iStock-621596240__1479931259_198.49.27.212

A dear friend’s wife had stopped on the interstate with all the other cars for a traffic accident. A large 18-wheeler slammed into her and her car burst into flames, and she died. She had so much life and was such a giver of life to others. He called me a few minutes later.

Life can be harsh.

The call transported my thoughts to the early morning call I received almost 15 years ago. My 93-year-old father's home was struck by lightening and he died in the fire. I remember screaming out to God, "Why like this? Death is bad enough, but burned beyond recognition -- why?"

Love can be harsh.

God’s Love: Beyond Our Understanding

When we hold a concept of love as a standard, and things happen we don’t think loving, we can accuse the one who could have altered the circumstances but didn't of not being loving. Judged by our definition of love, God is condemned. Some have done that.

But real love, God’s love, is too large for the meager minds of men. Our concepts don’t cover it. In order to embrace it, we must trust. God is love, but our understanding of love does not define God. God defines love.

The God of the Bible is clearly revealed as both sovereign and loving. He makes it plain that He rules in the affairs of this world, weaving together the choices of his people and the events of history to accomplish his ultimate objective, which is to delight us in his love.

Real love is too large for the meager minds of men.

The grand narrative of the Bible shows that God's love is larger than our concepts of love. With our sentimental concept of love we would view the expulsion Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden as unloving. What about the flood? Seems horrible, doesn't it? The plagues on Egypt were severe. The conquests of the land of Canaan were brutal.

But more brutal than anything man has ever endured is that God himself through the Son became sin and absorbed the wrath that hung heavy over a rebellious creation. Love has never been harsher. It has never been more real than it was on the Cross.

He loves enough to correct, discipline, destroy evil and take the consequences of our choices upon himself. His ways are beyond finding out, but they are always expressions of love. Trust opens our hearts to find a comfort that our minds could never discover apart from his revelation.

Finding Joy in God’s Sovereignty

Look at Job. The book of Job confounds many people. They are so certain that Job's troubles were the result of his sin that they find a way to justify God's harsh treatment of him. Oh, I know it was Satan who did the dirty work, but he had to ask God. But Job would not be persuaded that God had turned on him, nor would he agree that it was his sin that brought on the trouble.

His confession revealed his trust in God’s love. "Though He slay me, still I will hope in him; yet I will argue my ways to His face." (Job 13:15) Job didn’t impose his own understanding of love upon God, but trusted that God loved him and everything that happened to him somehow showed God’s love.

The greatest delight that mankind can experience is a living trust in the God who is eternally both good and sovereign.

The greatest delight that mankind can experience is a living trust in the God who is eternally both good and sovereign. He doesn't mind our questions; He even entertains our arguments; but in the end we fall into loving arms of the Father who loves us so much that He gave His Son who gave His life that we might know the love of God.

Nine Great Blessings in God’s Forecast for You

by

Rays of Sunlight - 900

Have you ever thought about the idea of blessings and curses? These words are seldom used these days, except as polite and impolite words we sometimes interject in our conversations with each other.  The Bible takes the idea much further than that, telling us that people may live under a curse or a blessing. But what might that mean?

Some people think of witches and potions when they think of curses; and as for blessings, that's mostly about thinking nice thoughts. That's not what they're about, though, and the difference is important.

Paul, the author of much of the New Testament penned this to the sophisticated people of Ephesus in the first century.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 1:3)

Jesus Christ, our representative before the Father, has been blessed fully and eternally. All available blessings have been conferred upon Him. Jesus followers are "in Christ," so God's forecast for them is bright and sunny. It is full of blessings.

Should we then be concerned about living under a curse? Alan Wright says, "a curse is not so much a magical spell whipped up in a witch's pot, as it is the voice of fear forecasting [things that are] opposite from the word of God."

Though we who are in Christ are not cursed, we can live as those who are by believing something contrary to God's word concerning us. When we make conclusions based on fear instead of trust, we will be inclined to forecast a future that features calamity and conspiracy.

For instance, when the people of Israel confronted the promised land, they were told by God through Moses that it was theirs for the taking. They sent out spies to see what was there and how they would go about taking what God had given. Most of the spies came back with fear; they concluded that they would fail if they tried. When the people believed that fearful report, they chose the curse of its fulfillment. When Joshua and Caleb believed the promise of God in the face of daunting circumstances, they moved ahead under blessing.

What then is God's forecast for His people in Christ?

Your faith is evidence of God's election and His eternal love being expressed to you. His mercy has been bestowed upon you. Jesus "became sin" so that you could be His righteousness. He set you apart as His chosen vessel to display His glory through you. He has given you His life so that you could enjoy Him as He enjoys you. He sees you as His child and delights in your success in fulfilling your calling. He has made you an heir to His entire estate. He has already gone into the heavens to establish your place there. He has conquered death to free you to live now with trusting abandon. He has allotted necessary grace for each stage of your life and every circumstance on your journey.

Thanksgiving was just a couple days ago, but the time to embrace your blessing with thanks is still now. Refuse the report that comes from fear. Keep your external and internal conversation consistent with His proclamation.

In Christ we are blessed, because He took the curse. The giants may appear imposing, but the forecast is sunny.

A Coming Exodus?

by

Mass Exodus Exit Vision - 900

Is it time for another exodus? Is God setting the stage to deliver His people from another government gone bad? The great Exodus from Egypt is the central event in the Old Testament Scripture. God delivered His people from the oppressive rule of Egypt. Several Hollywood types threatened to leave the country if Donald Trump won the election. It’s hard to tell whether they’ll actually carry through with that, but perhaps another exodus of an entirely different sort may be coming.

I want to explore what would warrant such an exodus in today's world, what it would look like, when it might take place, and what its effect might be.

What would warrant another exodus?

In short, a departure from our culture's defining narrative -- which is indeed happening. We know that cultures are built around narratives that tell the people "who we are," "how we got here," "what is wrong" and "how to fix it." All moral decisions and ultimately all social structures tend to adhere to this narrative. Today in America, those responsible for sustaining our founding narrative, the one by which our culture was created and has been upheld, have set it aside for another one.

The people want their culture back. They don't realize the narrative has changed.

Much of Americans' frustration can be traced to the fact that the people want their culture back, but don't realize the narrative has changed. At one time it was a story about the creator and His creation, in which humans are given the privilege of managing the earth according to His principles of order. This same creator-God is also a redeeming God who does what is necessary to resolve the conflicts of human failure. This narrative has been replaced by one in which mankind has become the final authority by means of random chance. The ramifications are staggering. When there is no authority above human intellect, human-created governmental structures tend to grow until they begin to define reality and determine individual rights. All other social structures such as family, church and business shrink in liberty and power as they are regulated by a central governing agency. Religious liberty, God-ordained rights, and private property fall under grave threat.

What would such an exodus look like?

I'm not talking about hordes of people packing up and moving out physically. I'm talking about moving out from under the new, false narrative. When the children of Israel made their exodus from Egypt it wasn't just to another land. It was to freedom and to a better and truer narrative regarding reality. This is what I would expect of another exodus, then, based on the pattern in biblical history and the nature of the gospel narrative.

It will begin with people tired of an oppressive culture. These people will defined themselves not so much by class, race or education as by an overriding story that gives them hope. (Otherwise, they will just be revolutionaries reacting in frustration.) They will believe in that story enough to die for it. They will coalesce around the essential tenets of the story and live in an interdependent community where the ramifications of their narrative can be practiced. Their culture within the national culture will be criticized, marginalized, and sometimes criminalized. They will need each other for survival. Yet for them the story will have preeminence. It will be prized, preached and practiced until it serves as the basis for all moral decisions and social structures.

The one story that meets these conditions is the gospel of Jesus Christ

Of course the one story that meets these conditions -- especially that of being worthy to die for -- is the gospel of Jesus Christ

When will this exodus take place?

Not as long as people are willing to let the new narrative of comfort and convenience -- administered either by government, the economy or religions marked by compromise -- rule their lives in place of the true gospel narrative. But there is great hope for a real exodus in the not-too-distant future. God is already raising up spokesmen for the original story. Those who have heard in the depths of their hearts the joyful sound of God's redemption in Christ are tired of the empty materialism and moralism that had demanded center stage for too long.

They want more than a spectator church. They long for community where faith is lived out among broken but confident believers. The seed of God's word has taken root in them and they earnestly desire to learn and grow in it. They have put up long enough with nice motivational talks, and they are tired of being spiritually anemic. They are ready to demand the bold proclamation of the mighty works of God accomplished through Jesus the Son.

Will the coming exodus result in the preservation of this country?

All I know is that it is our only hope. If we continue to insist upon or permit a society that excludes God as creator and sustainer, we pull the curtain down on this experiment of a democratic republic. Destruction is not a matter of if, but when. A government "of the people" cannot function when controlled by the spirit that works in the children of disobedience. (Ephesians 2:1-2) The salt and light influence of the gospel is essential for any such government to properly function.

What would happen if miraculously a large remnant returned to the original narrative revealed in the gospel?

In a word, it would mean life-giving change for our culture. When we acknowledge God as the source and sovereign Lord of life, we begin to think sanely again. Moral reason returns. We see that God created mankind with a special dignity with unalienable rights that must not be oppressed by any man-made structure. In that light we submit to our assignment of managing creation under His guidance and authority. We define work, worship, recreation, and procreation in light of the truth of His word as interpreted by the gospel.

Virtues like responsibility, accountability and integrity become more valued than bank accounts and titles. Our approach to education changes in the light of the knowledge that wisdom begins with the proper fear of the Lord. Leaders in church, government and business see themselves primarily as servants rather than superiors. Creativity thrives, leading to art that enlivens and ingenuity that provides unexpected solutions.

In short, we reflect the kingdom of God on earth, resulting in more people being truly helped than was ever possible under the existing ineffective structures. The effect will work like leaven through the loaf. There is no promise in scripture that God will save America. There is great promise that God is exalting His Son and those who join Him will not be ashamed. This is the best we can hope for, and I choose to live with that hope in my heart.

If we are tired enough of the oppression, let’s cry out to God. He is already saying, as He said to His people in Revelation 18:4, "Come out of her, My people." We don't have to move our address. Just our hearts.

The War is on, and the Chief Weapon is Accusation

by

warrior - 900

Contrary to popular opinion there is a spiritual war going on right now. Those who mock that suggestion, thinking that spiritual reality is a myth reserved for the primitive mind, do so at their own peril. There is a devil, and he has schemes intended to defeat humans and deface God:

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. Ephesians 6:10 (RSV)

To be willfully ignorant of such schemes is to cede victory to the devil. To know the schemes and ignore them is foolish and will produce the same result.

The designation of the evil one is "Satan." The word means "accuser." He accuses without the foundation of truth. In the original garden, he accused God to Adam and Eve of not being forthright with them, thus not being fully good. After Adam and Eve sinned, he began his shame campaign on the human race. His hatred is always aimed at God, and he tries to deceive those whom God loves. He loves to reinterpret circumstances to show that God is not both sovereign and good. Those who accept that perspective are held captive by such deception.

His main scheme with believers is to distract by accusation. It works like this: The believer trusts God for full forgiveness and cleansing. With a purified soul the believer can attack the strongholds of deception and evil, and Satan loses. So, Satan focuses on getting the believer to doubt his cleansing and remember his failures. Now, the believer can't see the opportunities to displace darkness with light, because he is focused on self.

An example of this was evident in the first presidential debate. Donald Trump' supporters groaned when he needlessly spent several minutes defending himself against accusations instead of focusing on the message he needed to deliver. There's a lesson here: you can't focus on yourself (either in defending or in promoting) and still see the opportunities to attack your enemy.

Many a Christ-following father has grieved the waywardness of a son who refuses to honor his parents and legitimate authorities. The son justifies his actions and accuses his father of being a hypocrite. If the father takes the bait, he disqualifies himself from the battle. He might needlessly try to defend himself or slip into condemnation based on the accusation. The truth is that he is still the father and the forgiven believer who has the name of Jesus and the discernment of the Spirit. Based on truth, he can engage in prayer and in communicating truth in love.

As long as we are susceptible to accusation we will easily be taken out of the fight. Defending our own righteousness is foolish. We have no such righteousness to defend. But followers of Christ have been given the righteousness of Jesus, which needs no defense. When Satan suggests that we are not fully clean and qualified to represent the kingdom of God on earth, he is accusing God of an incomplete salvation. We don't have to take the bait. The salvation given through Jesus satisfies God and that is enough.

The times are crucial. There is no time for foolish fighting. The real war is raging. The people of the ultimate victor must engage in it or our generation will walk in deeper darkness.

Please Don’t Give Me That Old Time Religion!

by

Often in Facebook dialogues, I see someone say something to the effect of, “Our church preaches the old time Gospel, and we sing the old time songs.  We all need to get back to the old time religion.” When I hear things like that I cringe. What they mean is that they want us to

How Does the Devil Fight?

by

ITALY - JULY 09: Venice, Accademia (Picture Gallery) Original sin, 1550-1553, by Jacopo Robusti known as Tintoretto (1519-1594), oil on canvas, 150x220 cm. (Photo by DeAgostini/Getty Images)

The very thought of spiritual warfare frightens some people. They seem to think of the devil as they do Santa Claus or the Easter rabbit. Reality is so much more comfortable if it's confined to what we can see, observe, and understand. But the New Testament makes no apology for defining a reality with spiritual forces at work. The Apostle Paul, writing to the people he loved in Corinth, stated his concern for their plight while facing doubts about spiritual authority.

But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. (2 Corinthians 11:3)

If we can ascertain how the serpent deceived Eve, we can gain insight in how to win in our battles with his attacks.

Basically, the serpent reinterpreted the circumstances in the Garden. There were many trees with fruit on them, matching all of Adam's and Eve's needs and tastes. There was another tree that was forbidden to them. You see, the good and sovereign God had created them out of the overflow of His love so that they could enjoy Him fully. They were partners with him on earth will full access to Him. Everything was an expression of his love. The trees offered satisfaction for every possible desire in the couple.

The tree in the midst of the garden offered them a special opportunity: If they would trust God without fully understanding why, they would taste the most delicious delicacy possible for humans: a trusting life together with the One is good, trustworthy, and had their best interests at heart. It would be like dessert after a great meal.

Now, look at how the serpent reinterpreted the circumstances. He implied that God was good, but not totally. "Sure, he has given you all the trees but has forbidden you to eat from some of them. He is holding back on you. His character is in question. He doesn't want you to be like him. He wants to keep you suppressed from your potential."

Too often we focus on our unpleasant circumstances and blame them on the devil. It is his distorted interpretation that should draw our attention. Don't get me wrong. He deceives people and thereby brings pain to others. So many of the horrendous things we do to each other come from deception, which incites weak and fearful people to act wickedly to protect themselves.

But the serpent is not sovereign. God has promised to work all things together for our good. (Romans 8:28) The devil is always suggesting an alternate interpretation of what is happening. If we listen, we will become bitter, fearful, angry, vengeful and cynical. Think of all the people you know who are now skeptical of church, government, family and even former friends. Many of them have been hurt according to a distorted interpretation of the events. Now they're isolated from the very means of their joy.

Let's review the truth as God has affirmed it.

God is good and sovereign. He is actively involved in the lives we are living. He is always seeking to do us good even when bad things happen.

The devil is real. He is constantly reinterpreting the circumstances in our lives to cast doubt on God's goodness and his rule. We have the responsibility to resist him and choose to believe the truth -- even when we don't fully understand.

God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and he will draw near to you. (James 4:6b-7)

How Does the Devil Fight?

by

ITALY - JULY 09: Venice, Accademia (Picture Gallery) Original sin, 1550-1553, by Jacopo Robusti known as Tintoretto (1519-1594), oil on canvas, 150x220 cm. (Photo by DeAgostini/Getty Images)

The very thought of spiritual warfare frightens some people. They seem to think of the devil as they do Santa Claus or the Easter rabbit. Reality is so much more comfortable if it's confined to what we can see, observe, and understand. But the New Testament makes no apology for defining a reality with spiritual forces at work. The Apostle Paul, writing to the people he loved in Corinth, stated his concern for their plight while facing doubts about spiritual authority.

But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. (2 Corinthians 11:3)

If we can ascertain how the serpent deceived Eve, we can gain insight in how to win in our battles with his attacks.

Basically, the serpent reinterpreted the circumstances in the Garden. There were many trees with fruit on them, matching all of Adam's and Eve's needs and tastes. There was another tree that was forbidden to them. You see, the good and sovereign God had created them out of the overflow of His love so that they could enjoy Him fully. They were partners with him on earth will full access to Him. Everything was an expression of his love. The trees offered satisfaction for every possible desire in the couple.

The tree in the midst of the garden offered them a special opportunity: If they would trust God without fully understanding why, they would taste the most delicious delicacy possible for humans: a trusting life together with the One is good, trustworthy, and had their best interests at heart. It would be like dessert after a great meal.

Now, look at how the serpent reinterpreted the circumstances. He implied that God was good, but not totally. "Sure, he has given you all the trees but has forbidden you to eat from some of them. He is holding back on you. His character is in question. He doesn't want you to be like him. He wants to keep you suppressed from your potential."

Too often we focus on our unpleasant circumstances and blame them on the devil. It is his distorted interpretation that should draw our attention. Don't get me wrong. He deceives people and thereby brings pain to others. So many of the horrendous things we do to each other come from deception, which incites weak and fearful people to act wickedly to protect themselves.

But the serpent is not sovereign. God has promised to work all things together for our good. (Romans 8:28) The devil is always suggesting an alternate interpretation of what is happening. If we listen, we will become bitter, fearful, angry, vengeful and cynical. Think of all the people you know who are now skeptical of church, government, family and even former friends. Many of them have been hurt according to a distorted interpretation of the events. Now they're isolated from the very means of their joy.

Let's review the truth as God has affirmed it.

God is good and sovereign. He is actively involved in the lives we are living. He is always seeking to do us good even when bad things happen.

The devil is real. He is constantly reinterpreting the circumstances in our lives to cast doubt on God's goodness and his rule. We have the responsibility to resist him and choose to believe the truth -- even when we don't fully understand.

God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and he will draw near to you. (James 4:6b-7)

Not ‘The Man Upstairs’: Your View of God Matters

by

viewofGod

I suppose it is because some Christians don't want to be offensive that they seem hesitant to disclose the name of God. They prefer terms like "a higher power," or the "the man upstairs" instead of God or Jesus. I appreciate their trying to be sensitive to those who might not believe in God -- though I notice that people of other religions don't hesitate to identify their deity.

The idea behind this vague reference to God seems to be that His name and His nature don't matter. What matters is just that one believes. That's all.

Actually that is very deceptive. Who God is makes all the difference. It determines the way in which He calls us to approach Him, and what kind of relationship we can enjoy with him.

The fourth chapter of John's Gospel relates the story of a Samaritan woman who met Jesus at Jacob's old well. In the midst of their conversation Jesus told her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, 'Give me a drink,' you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water." She thought He was a just a traveler, although unusually kind and strange for a Jew. If she had known He was the Messiah she would have been enjoying the opportunity to drink from the river from heaven rather than being suspicious of Him. She would have been asking for the life she had longed for rather than questioning Him about Samaritan theology.

When people believe God is angry, they try to avoid His wrath. When they believe He is distant, they live in loneliness. When they view Him as mostly a judge, they try to do good and hide or justify their failures. When they see Him as a boss, they try to perform for blessings and curry His favor. But when they have seen Him as the loving Savior, they rejoice in admitting to being a sinner. Only the sinner qualifies.

I can remember when I first saw this about God. I had tried to qualify for His pleasure, earn His favor; gain His blessings, be a good person. But I knew I was a sham at best. Good deeds didn't erase my guilt or shame. But when I understood who God really was, I knew at last I qualified for something: I was eligible for grace.

The righteous (whoever they might have been) did not need him. The strong were doing fine. Even with all my effort, though, I knew I was neither righteous nor strong.

When I came face to face with God's true nature, I was astounded. He came for me! He had more mercy than I had sin! He had more grace than I had weakness! I could never drain the resources of His love. I wanted to run toward Him. I wanted to know Him. I wanted live with Him. I was free from trying to make points because I realized He wasn't keeping score.

Don't settle for relying on your faith in some nebulous higher power. Refuse to let vague snapshots or previous impressions of God serve as your perspective of Him. He has revealed himself fully in His Son, and His Spirit will open your eyes to see Him when you ask. If you knew the one who today is confronting you, you would ask and He would give.

Is Trump a Modern Cyrus?

by

Trump Cyrus - 900

It was the 6th century B.C., and God's people, the Israelites, had been in exile for almost 70 years. They had broken covenant with their God, but God had promised to show them mercy and restore them. Their Babylonian conquerors had themselves been conquered by Persia, under King Cyrus. Cyrus became God's means of release for the Jewish people.

Some people today are wondering whether Donald Trump might be a modern-day Cyrus.

Cyrus was not a believer in Israel's God. He was acting according to his own political expediency, yet it fit nicely into what God was doing at that time. The prophet Isaiah verbalized God's view of Cyrus (Isaiah 45), even referring to him as God's "anointed." He was an unwitting leader, chosen by God to accomplish the purpose God had in mind for His people.

Surely God does that kind of thing in history. The illustrations are numerous. But we must be cautious about drawing parallels between Cyrus and Trump.

First, the Israelites were God's people by virtue of his covenant with them. That is not the case with America as a nation. The closest parallel today is not between Israel and America, but Israel and God's people, the Church.

Even here there is another very important distinction: Cyrus as a deliverer pointed as God's illustration toward God's ultimate rescue by His ultimate "anointed one," the Messiah. Israel's return to the homeland was only a shadow of the full blessing God had in mind. Jesus Christ, the ultimate deliverer came and fulfilled the covenant, even paying the penalty for breaking the covenant, defeating death and giving true believers the Spirit to live as his people on the earth. That was true deliverance indeed.

So we see that the rescuer the Scriptures have in mind is Jesus, and the people are the people of God by faith in His Son. Any other connections to historical or prophetic persons are incidental and secondary.

To see Cyrus as biblical grounds for hope that Mr. Trump will be the rescuer of this nation is wishful thinking. Sure, we would all like to see a sensible way out of disturbingly confused political trends, but the supposed Trump/Cyrus connection is not it.

God has sent his anointed one to liberate his people, not from political oppression, but from sin's oppression. Cultures change as people experience God's freedom and infect society with the virtue they have found in Christ. Governmental structures then begin to magnify justice, mercy and humility.

So if we want to stop the slide toward societal rot, we must place our hope in the one true deliverer. Where we have been complacent, passive, judgmental and irresponsible, we must repent. We must take our place as God's liberated army fighting against the spiritual forces of deception and destruction.

We have the authority of Jesus' name as well as the power of His Spirit within us as individuals and corporately as his body on earth. We can do something that matters while we place our trust in the sovereign God who has the kings of the earth in His hands.

We do have hope. We trust in the sovereign God of the universe who can use anything or anyone in carrying out his plan. But we don't look for saviors when we already have one. We don't have the luxury of wasting time in expecting Mr. Trump to deliver God's people. Our Savior is currently knocking at the door of the Church, desiring to come in and empower us to express the transcendent power of his kingdom (Revelation 3:20). Let's welcome him in and the nation will reap the benefits of a healthy Church led by the ultimate deliverer.

Trump’s Khan Attack, His Fatal Flaw, and the Way Past It

by

Donald Trump - 900

Donald Trump’s recent criticism of a slain Muslim U.S. army captain's family, just the latest in a long line of reckless insults from the presidential contender, points up an alarming weakness in Trump. I am praying that the root of this uncontrollable urge to pummel with disdain those who criticize him will be cut away and he can be free of it.

I regularly pray for both him and Hillary Clinton because we have been instructed in Scripture to pray for our leaders ( I Timothy 2:1-6). This is not only our responsibility but our privilege. God answers prayers from his people. So I have been seeking to pray for both our current and future leaders.

As for Trump, he presents himself as a winner, but his outbursts are costing him politically and personally. This chink in his robust outward armor makes him vulnerable to even moral dwarfs. Instead of exhibiting strength to ignore causeless curses and laugh at the folly of Lilliputian-like schemes, Trump must actually feel that he is so small that he must prove himself.

Some seem to enjoy his outbursts of vitriol, but many of us are embarrassed when he ignores the grief of parents who have lost a son while fighting for this country. Earlier, he threw insults at Fox News journalist Megyn Kelly for simply asking a probing question. And we gasped when he viciously attacked Ted Cruz's wife after a Super Pac mentioned Trump's wife posing without clothes for GQ.

Like a third grader he feels compelled to give derogatory monikers to competitors: "Lying Ted," "Little Marco," "Loser," "Crooked Hillary," etc. Even after he had won the nomination he could not let Ted Cruz's non-endorsement speech at the GOP convention go by without attacking him.

This flaw will make it very difficult for him to win the election. "The devil can't get your goat until you show him where the goat is tied." Be assured Mr. Trump's opponents know where his goat is tied. He will be easily distracted by those who personally attack him. He will be off chasing the little foxes that spoil the vines when he should be presenting substantial solutions to the national problems he has identified. It is not hard to defeat a person who is so susceptible to personal criticism.

If by the providence of God Mr. Trump wins the election without dealing with this flaw, it will be a great detriment to his governing.

"A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls." (Proverbs 25:28)

It is interesting that he has shown self-control in matters of smoking, drinking and drugs. It is a mantra for him and his family. I hope that his strength there does not deceive him and prevent his acknowledging his lack of self-control in matters of personal offense. It is also interesting that he has made building a wall one of his campaign pillars, while he demonstrates that the wall of protection around him has been broken down. He is a very vulnerable man.

Of course Mr. Trump is not alone in his weaknesses. We are all susceptible to such deception, but he is out front, and we are evaluating our potential leaders. We dare not judge him in the sense that we write him off as hopeless or worthless, but we must be concerned. He is the nominated leader of a party that has openly embraced many values that conservative citizens hold dear. His failure would seriously affect the chances that those values get implemented. As Christians we should fervently pray for his release whether or not we agree with his politics.

If our prayers are to be more specific than, "God please bless our leaders," we should pay attention to where they need the grace of God. Let us pray that God's abundant grace will expose this flaw and empower Mr. Trump to renounce it and embrace the perspective of the real winner of this battle, Jesus Christ.

All the while, let us examine our own hearts. May we, too, be moved from fear-based reactions to love-based confidence. We can repent as we pray. Even if you don't know what to do at the polls in November, you are able to know what you can and should do today. Pray!

Categories

Recent Posts