Freedom of Religion
Several years ago, I read an editorial in a religious publication that lamented the change in the political language of President Obama when he referred to religious freedom. Instead of espousing his belief in our nation’s “freedom of religion” he began saying we had a “freedom of worship”. I thought the writer was being a little paranoid when he said that it was a meaningful distinction. He said that it amounted to our freedom to have religion convictions and beliefs literally ended as we exited the doors of the church. But what he feared is certainly becoming reality.
In essence, we are being told that we can have our beliefs as we gather to worship but we can’t practice our religion in our public lives. Spreading the love of Christ is now considered “hateful” behavior and even “harassment”. We don’t even have to say anything. Christians have to be careful about wearing pins and/or jewelry that shows the cross at work or in schools. People have gotten fired or have been refused jobs because of their public stance on Biblical issues. A Bible in view on a desk or work station is cause for discipline. Did you ever think it would come to this?
When I was a cameraman at a TV station, we recorded a show that had religious leaders answering questions from people who wrote letters to the show. One of the men was Bro. John. He knew I was not walking with the Lord and he would “harass” me about it. He encouraged me to get back in church. It wasn’t an easy process for him as I was a long way away from Jesus. However, when my dad was called to pastor a church just a few miles from my home Bro. John encouraged me to visit the church. When Dad left that church a couple of years later, I was actually on the committee that asked Bro. John to be our interim pastor as we searched for a full-time leader.
I’m glad Bro. John Chafin was so full of “hate” that he “harassed” me into a better life for myself and my family. I pray that in our wonderful nation we continue to have the freedom to do that.
Say good things about your Savior and His Church on the Bluff
Bro. Tony
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Marriage Between Man and Woman
When did marriage between a man and a woman become a controversial idea? For that matter, when did the belief that there are only two sexes that were revealed at birth, even become a matter for discussion? Yet in the past few weeks I have heard there was a concern about a politician or a businessman because they attended a church that taught those “controversial” beliefs. Is it a sign that Christianity is in trouble? Yes and no.
First understand one doesn’t have to be a Christian to believe gender isn’t fluid and that marriage is meant for only men and women. Those beliefs aren’t taught…they are innate; that is, natural and inborn. You just “know” those things. So, in order for someone to think otherwise, you have to be taught otherwise. So why now, in an otherwise sane and civilized culture, are those particular beliefs targeted? That has to do with the “yes” part of my answer about Christianity being in trouble.
Those core beliefs are part of mainstream, evangelical Christianity. We believe them, not only because they are innate, but because the Bible certainly underscores them and affirms God’s purpose for them. Therefore, if society can be led to believe that there is no difference in the sexes and that gender is only a matter of the mind, Christianity can, and will be, viewed as a negative and evil philosophy. And that….is why those particular agendas are being pushed so hard.
Now about the “no” part of my answer. Christianity is never in real danger. A culture may seek to squash the growth of the Kingdom of God. It is impossible. Even if driven underground it flourishes and thrives. God will always have His faithful followers who understand the importance of evangelism; of spreading the good news of Jesus. But also, and as important, perhaps a little persecution will wake up the church and spur us to a time of revival and renewal. We certainly need that.
Say good things about your Savior and His Church on the Bluff
Bro. Tony
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Christians and Politics
Does our Christianity affect our politics? I certainly hope so. Our faith in the Lord and our obedience to His teachings should impact every area of our life. But we do have to be careful about some things. I’m not talking about compromising our beliefs or watering down our doctrine. I’m talking about putting politics ahead of our purpose.
As Christians our first call is to lead people to Christ; to spread the Gospel. We have to be careful that our political beliefs do not interfere with our ability to witness to those who are lost. We have to take a step back sometimes and think about whether or not our political discussion will lead into a way for us to talk about God’s purpose, His grace, and His forgiveness. We must always strive to leave the door open for evangelism. Often, we find some of our political ideals can prevent us from reaching the lost. I saw an article that asked the question “Was Jesus a capitalist or socialist?” I can answer that easily. Jesus was the Savior. He came to seek and save the lost. Jesus came to save capitalists who are lost as well as socialists who are lost.
Words we use and our demeanor are also important. For instance, I’m very opposed to abortion on demand and protesting outside an abortion clinic can be both political and religious. We, as Christians, should never be ashamed to participate in such events. But…we do have to be careful how we present ourselves. I saw a protest outside a clinic recently and several people were holding up signs that said, “abortion is murder”. True enough. But I also saw some signs that said, “God loves you and loves your baby”. Which people do you think left the door open for an opportunity for meaningful discussion about the Lord
Think of it this way: suppose you wore a red MAGA hat to Five Points South here in Birmingham to pass out salvation tracts. You may agree with most everything President Trump has done and you most certainly have the freedom to wear the hat but….how many people would you have the opportunity to witness to about the Lord?
Sometimes we just need to focus on what is eternally important.
Say good things about your Savior and His Church on the Bluff
Bro. Tony
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Abortion
I wonder if the people who championed “abortion on demand” ever thought it would come to this? When the Supreme Court decided the infamous “Roe vs. Wade” case, did they really imagine that in just over 40 years someone would watch an ultrasound of an infant in the womb being killed, pump their fists in the air, and claim a victory for “women’s rights”? If those justices who voted in favor of that case were still alive would they be proud that their decision would lead to babies being aborted at full term? I would hope not. I can’t believe they would be. Then again, I can’t fathom a sitting governor signing such a bill, smiling, and being championed as a hero. How sad.
How did this happen? How can a civilized nation accept and condone such an obviously barbaric act? Admittedly it was a slow process, but once the law said that life didn’t begin at conception it was a sure process. First trimester, second trimester, viability, etc. We began sliding down that slippery slope and the logical ending is that we splashed down into the muddy waters of infanticide. How wonderfully progressive of us to began killing our children as a matter of convenience. You know, like they did hundreds of years ago…in barbaric and uncivilized cultures.
Our world has done everything it can to mitigate the horror of the act of abortion by leveraging it with sympathy for women by calling it “a woman’s right to bodily autonomy”, a “woman’s reproductive health right”, or even a “woman’s constitutional right to privacy”. What about the baby’s constitutional right to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”? Men are told to keep quiet because we are men, and this is a woman’s issue. This is NOT just a women’s issue….this is a HUMAN issue.
The most egregious and immoral voices, though, are those who claim to love, honor, and worship God almighty yet stand on the side of abortion; who say to God “yes you knitted them in the womb, but we know better than you whether or not they need to come to be”. I believe any Christian clergy who blesses an abortion clinic and any Christian who participates in the abortion process need to get on their knees in front of The One who created those in whose killing they are complicit and repent. And please don’t hide behind the “woman’s right to choose” façade. That is nothing more than a weak-kneed and wish-washy way of trying to hold onto the things of the world while holding on to God. It is what God says He spits out because it is neither cold nor hot.
Take a firm and unyielding stand on protecting children in the womb. They can no longer depend on the compassion and common sense of our regressive laws.
Say good things about your Savior and His Church on the Bluff
Bro. Tony
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Christians, Israel and Anti-Semitism
As a Christian I see many signs of our nation distancing itself from God. We have walked boldly away from the Biblical definition and purpose of marriage and we have done our best to remove the very mention of Christ from the schools and every aspect of government, be it local or national. And now I see another encroaching on our national consciousness: our relationship with Israel. It could well be the most dangerous of all.
From the time God called Abram to follow Him God has had His hand on them. He made a covenant with them that they would always be His special people. In His calling of Abram, God made a very special promise: “I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” (Genesis 12:3 NIV). That promise has never changed.
So, when I hear the horrible rhetoric coming from the mouths of some of our elected officials it causes concern. It doesn’t surprise me that such talk comes from Muslims; history teaches us that they have always hated the Jews. I suppose they always will. But to hear anti-Semitic speech coming from young people as they are indoctrinated on college campuses and encouraged by the spineless lack of response by those in places of political power…that’s frightening.
Please note that we have to be careful in our reasoning. We shouldn’t automatically view everything Israel does politically as being Godly. They are human and political minded as are we. But when people and nations take aim at them because of their uniqueness as Hebrews…when they want them destroyed as a people, not just as a political ideology…that’s should raise a red flag.
One of the ways that our nation can, and should, honor God is to always ally with His special people, the Israelites, against their enemies. To distance ourselves from that nation is not just a swing of the political pendulum from conservative to liberal. It is another step away from God. A very large step.
I also need to make one more point. Just because the Jews are a people chosen by God it does not mean they do not need a saving relationship through the blood of Christ. The Gospel was sent to them first. They need to hear it as badly as the rest of the world. Jesus told a certain Jewish man that unless he was reborn he had no part of the kingdom of God. It can’t be any clearer than that.
Say good things about your Savior and His Church on the Bluff
Bro. Tony
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Christian Persecution
A man walked into two mosques in New Zealand and brutally murdered 50 people. From what I have read he murdered them because he is a white supremacist, anti-conservatism, eco-fascist. Although you will not hear about his extreme liberal/fascist views from the media; only the white supremacist aspect. But I digress.
I want to make something very clear: He did not do this because he is a Christian who hates Muslims. No Christian can rightly claim that he/she is motivated to hate and murder because of their Christian beliefs. Anyone who claims to kill in the name of Christ has ever met Christ, nor or they being obedient to His words. In fact, every Christian abhors what this man did and wants him prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Christians are as outraged over this event as every other decent human being.
But what happens when a group of people are savagely murdered with guns and machetes by Muslims because they are Christians? Where is the outrage there? In Nigeria over the last few weeks over 120 Christian men, women, and children were slaughtered by Muslims simply because they were Christians. You may not know that because it hasn’t been on the major network news. There is no international outrage and public condemnation of the horrendous acts of violence against Christians around the world. None.
There have been no tweets from politicians condemning the rhetoric, let alone the teachings, that lead to the massacres of Christians at the hands of Muslims. There have been no resolutions in Congress and no calls for more gun control from the media. Why not? It is simple, really.
The hate and wrath of Islam would be publicly exposed. Muslim teachings would have to be scrutinized by those who so ignorantly advocate for them in our politics and news media. It would open the door for more honest discourse concerning Islam’s violent history and present intent. The general public would be able to contrast the true doctrine of Islam with the teachings of Christ and, believe me, the true nature, beliefs, and actions of the Muslims would be laid bare. No anti-Christian wants that.
Pray for your Christian brothers and sisters around the world that suffer and die because of their faith in Christ. Pray that the eyes of the haters will be opened to see the truth.
Say good things about your Savior and His Church on the Bluff
Bro. Tony
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For God So Loved The World
John 3:16 is arguably the most “famous” verse of the Bible. It is the purpose of the Bible in one sentence: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” I will paraphrase it like this: “God loves each person so much that He sent Jesus to die on the cross so that everyone who believes in Him will spend eternity in heaven.” That’s a lot of love when you consider “each one”.
You see, that includes the man out west who killed his wife and two daughters. It includes the gang member with tattoos all over his face that murdered a young girl in a drive-by shooting. It includes the drug dealer and prostitute as well as those who choose a homosexual lifestyle or try to live in opposition to their sex. Every liar, every thief, and every gossiper is deeply loved by God. He abhors their sin and hates the un-Godly things they do but He loves them so much that if they repent of their sin and confess Him as Lord, He will save them. It is that simple…yet that amazing.
For the Christian, then, there is this: “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34-35 NIV. Yes, we are commanded to love those that God loves…each and every one.
That doesn’t mean that those who break civil law shouldn’t be punished. Of course, there will be repercussions for breaking the law. Nor does it mean that we give those that break God’s moral laws a pat on the back and tell them that because God loves them, they can live out their carnal desires. But it does mean we do not shun them or fail to present the Gospel to them. We are to “speak the truth in love…” Ephesians 4:15 NIV.
Sinners don’t want to hear the truth, though, especially in an age where Satan is telling them the opposite in an increasingly secular and twisted world. Therefore, everyone who speaks it are called haters. Ironic, isn’t it? The people with the most love on their hearts are called haters.
Say good things about your Savior and His Church on the Bluff
Bro. Tony
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Historical Church Buildings and Gov’t
There is a town in Vermont that has, as many towns in that state do, several older structures that have been designated as “Historical Buildings”. The government has a program that assists with the costs of restoring or helping preserve such structures. That is, of course, unless it is a church. Yes indeed, a church rightfully designated a “Historical Building” was refused help because it was…well..a church; a religious building.
The (warped and biased) thinking is that the government preserving the structure would be viewed as endorsing religion. We can’t have that, now can we? What kind of government would want to preserve a structure that implies that religion was an instrumental part of the history of a nation? Just let it collapse and turn into ruins. Perhaps some “right-thinking” city council or state organization could then have it razed and erase the sordid memories of people singing hymns, having “dinner on the grounds “, teaching the 10 Commandments or, heaven forbid, preaching the Gospel. Surely, we don’t want to save any structures that have the “taint” of religion on them.
Just when you think someone in government may have an inkling of common sense or just the decency to allow Christians the same rights as others…this comes along. Perhaps if it had been a boisterous tavern selling whiskey and naughty entertainment, or a “house of ill repute” with a famous madam. Maybe if it had been a witches den or an inhumane prison it could receive government help. I think the government would be throwing money at such places because they were part of the fabric that made this nation great.
If it wasn’t so sad it would be laughable. Pray for your elected servants. And remind them from time to time that that’s exactly what they are: servants of the people. Even religious people like us.
Say good things about your Savior and His Church on the Bluff
Bro. Tony
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Can Christians Support “The Wall”?
Can a Christian support “The Wall”? I’ve read a couple of times recently that a true Christian betrays the character and purpose of Christ if he or she supports the building of a wall between the United States and Mexico. Is a wall inhumane or hateful? Is it cruel and unloving? Let me rephrase the question at hand and perhaps we can get a clearer picture of a Christians response to the volatile and divisive subject: Can a Christian support controlled immigration?
The answer to that question is simple. Of course, we can. There is nothing cruel and hateful about being able to control who comes into our nation. In fact, it is sensible thing to do. We have been doing it in several ways since 1875. This outrage and arguing at the Southern border is mostly political grandstanding and pandering for votes. Let’s not let the rhetoric and name-calling divide us.
There are between 765,000 and 810,000 legally protected people allowed into this country every year. Estimates of 500,000 enter illegally every year. I do not believe it to be wrong to be concerned about the 500,000 who come into the country illegally. Why? Last year there were over 256,000 illegals deported. Of that number over 68% were criminals, gang members, or terrorists. I have a mandate to protect my family and if controlling immigration will help me achieve that goal, I will do it. It is neither unloving, uncaring, racist, or selfish. It is certainly not un-Christian.
At the same time, we are to minister to all who are in need. So as Christians we do have a unique calling of ministry to people in need. No who comes to our church asking for help has ever been asked their immigration status. I never question the many benevolent ministries we support if they check for green cards of those who are hungry or in need of clothes. But…..I can and will continue to support controlled immigration. That doesn’t make me a bad person.
Say good things about your Savior and His Church on the Bluff
Bro. Tony
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Christians Will Be Hated
Two Muslims were elected to Congress and that worries me. Although they are women, their gender doesn’t bother me. It’s also not a racial thing because, because the two are not of the same race: One has Somalian roots and the other a Middle Eastern background. Muslim is not a race. Muslims are followers of Muhammad and his perverted religion of hatred and conquest.
Am I “Islamophobic”? My goodness, yes. Absolutely. At its core, Islam is antithetical to almost everything that makes our nation unique and wonderful. From a spiritual viewpoint it is an un-Godly mish-mash of satanic deception. The thought of Muslims making national and foreign policy decisions worries me to no end. But that is not what causes me the most concern!
It bothers me that a Christian politician, in a nation built upon Christian doctrine and policy, faces extraordinary inspection and questioning (and even skepticism and ridicule) about the impact of his or her beliefs on policy while Muslims skate by without any concerns about what their deeply held religious beliefs would do to their ability to govern fairly. There is something seriously wrong with that picture. Why would a thoughtful, intelligent person consciously choose to denigrate Christianity while accepting Muslims with open arms?
Many would say it is because of the Christian stance on such issues as same-sex marriage and abortion and the ill-defined “women’s rights” issues. While that certainly plays a part in their disdain for us Christians, if you look at the historical Islamic stance on those very issues you find them barbaric at best and horrific at worst. So, what could it be?
It is simple: Christians are ultimately hated because they are Christians. Read John 15:18-25. Jesus told us that the world would hate us, and He told us why. Honestly, why are we surprised? But how else can you explain American politicians becoming allies with Islam? Both have an intense hatred of doctrinally sound Christians and thus this old saying has a lot of merit: “the enemy of my enemy is my friend”.
Our response? Spend a lot of time in prayer. Be a student of God’s Word to be sure of your beliefs and doctrine. Be strong and stand firm. We still serve a mighty God.
Say good things about your Savior and His Church on the Bluff.
Bro. Tony
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