What Is Going On?

On December 20, 2019, Todd Starnes had Franklin Graham on his radio program addressing an article in Christianity Today, a magazine his father, Billy Graham, started. In the article, Mark Galli argued that President Trump should be removed from office and invoked Billy Graham’s name, as if to legitimize his claim. Franklin addressed this article on Starnes’ program with the assertion that Christianity Today has become a leftist magazine and that his father would not approve. He further stated that while he has never spoken publicly about how his father voted, he felt compelled to share that his father knew President Trump and had indeed voted for him.

Franklin Graham: Christianity Today is Leftist Magazine

https://www.toddstarnes.com/show/franklin-graham-christianity-today-is-leftist-magazine/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=social-pug&fbclid=IwAR2EQWhO-BnREhLqgrQGa867YcXMJwy8VipsU-Jeaf_QbveQzxOS70wltQo

Trump Should Be Removed From Office

https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2019/december-web-only/trump-should-be-removed-from-office.html

My argument here is not to be political. It is about those who claim to be Christian but their words and actions do not align with truth.  

Why are so many abandoning conservative Christianity and looking more like the world? I believe the answer can be found in 2 Thessalonians, chapter 2. Here, Paul talks about the man of lawlessness and people being deceived. Satan has always tried to covertly usurp God’s authority. In the Garden of Eden, the serpent, that is the devil, asked Eve, “Did God really say…?” (Genesis 3:1). He tried to twist God’s Word and he succeeded, leading to the fall of man.    

Jesus also talked at length about those who appear to be saved but are not, causing dissention in the church (Matthew chapters 7:15,13:1-43; Acts 20:29). He warned His followers that there would be those who would mislead, or attempt to mislead, His people.  

What can we do?

Pray and study God’s Word daily. Don’t just read a few verses, a chapter, or a daily devotional. Study God’s Word for yourself. It’s okay to use resources that help explain God’s truth but pray and allow the Holy Spirit to guide you.  

I pray for each of you as you seek to know the truth. Do not grow weary but pray for strength and guidance and He will make Himself and the truth known to you.

God bless~

EVIL

Continued thought on the subject…

What is the definition of Evil?

According to Mirriam-Webster.com, Evil is, “morally reprehensible : sinful, wicked.”

Wikipedia.org states that evil, “in a general sense, is the opposite or absence of good.”

As a rule, I generally agree with Mirriam-Webster, but in this case, the definition given above (there are more as well) lacks a foundation. One might ask, who or what determines what is morally reprehensible, sinful or wicked? In this case, Wikipedia, not generally a favorite source of mine, gets closer to the root.

My personal definition is: the lack of good, or better still, the lack of God. 

You see, apart from God, there is no such thing as good. God is the absolute standard by which we measure what is good or evil. Some would argue that society measures what is good, moral, or evil but one must ask, which society? In some societies, it is okay to eat your enemy while in others, this practice is highly frowned upon.

In the movie Nuremberg, a movie about the trial of Nazi war criminals after WWII, a Jewish psychologist, U.S. Army Capt. Gilbert, is brought in to ensure the accused are fit, mentally and physically, to stand trial. While talking to the prisoners, he tries to get into their minds to understand how they could do the atrocious things they were accused of, mainly torturing and murdering millions of Jews. At one point, he makes the statement, “Evil, I think, is the absence of empathy.”

While his assessment sounds good, I think it falls short. He fails to base his conclusion on a set standard and relies on personal feelings. Some of those accused felt empathy but they still carried out their orders, out of devotion or fear but that is irrelevant. This destroys the basis for his conclusion.

When I heard his conclusion, I went back and listened to it a couple of times. I knew it was lacking and immediately, the thought came to my mind, God is love. Then I began to think about passages in the Bible that support this claim.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” -John 3:16 (NKJV)

“But God demonstrates His love towards us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” -Romans 5:8 (NKJV)

A holy God, who created us and everything around us, who has the right to do anything according to His will, chose to take human form so that He could live a perfect life and then voluntarily suffer and die to pay for our sins, that’s love. Then He rose from the dead, conquering sin and death, giving us the hope of the resurrection, and now sits at the right hand of the Father, waiting to bring us into complete communion with Himself and the Father. It’s almost too good to be true.

God is the only answer to sin, evil, and suffering.

Friend, if you have not yet experienced the peace and joy of a relationship with Jesus Christ, why not make this decision today? Call upon Jesus and He will hear you, forgive you of your sins, and give you new life.

If you make this decision, I encourage you to get a bible and begin reading the Gospel of John. I promise, you will never regret it. Then find a church that teaches truth found in the Bible and continue to read it for yourself daily. Spend time each day praying, simply talking to the Lord.

Feel free to ask any questions in the reply section of this post and may God richly bless you~