02/27/26 GOD TOLD IT TO NOAH
I am finally hearing a basic truth being told, but I think it is a little too late.
President Trump stated clearly and unapologetically that the main responsibility of the U.S. Government is to protect the citizens of the U.S.A.
I have cried aloud since my Bible college days (sixty years ago) that God instituted Human Government to protect the righteous (law-abiding) and punish the wicked (lawbreakers). And because the U.S.A. was systematically attacking the Divinely inspired, infallible, and authoritative word of God (through the State Education system, the Legal system, the medical and "scientific" community, and the social order), then the focus of God-ordained government shifted to man-based principles. This included the Divine reason for, and the exercise of Government, to protect and to punish.
From the 1950s until the 2020s, I constantly heard politicians, news outlets, educators, social programmers, and preachers refer to all manner of social programs, economic programs, "civil liberties," human rights, and other issues, which took our money, perverted our children, destabilized, undermined and enslaved the Black family through financial coercion, outlawed the American family, replaced Biblical faith and practice with a Humanistic worldview.
Finally, after those devastating attacks on Family, Faith (beliefs and behavior), Finances, and Freedoms, some people are recognizing that the government's job is primarily to protect its people.
President Trump asked Congress to stand if they agreed that their job is to protect the American people. Almost all of the Democrats remained seated. It was a simple, "Yes or No answer." Some folks have labeled it "a trap." NO, it was a simple question. The "how" is open to discussion, but the basic question is a slam dunk for any American who believes in the Constitution and the American way of life (which spring from Biblical principles).
To deny, to reject, to resist the basic God given institution and instruction of Government to protect its citizens is an act of insurrection against Divine law. No individual or nation is above the law of God.
Romans 13:1-5
1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:
4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.
5 Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.
If you have honest questions about this statement, please contact me. I will be glad to show you what God says.
To ask anyone if they agreed with this principle was not a trap; it was an opportunity to declare their love for, and their commitment to their country, and it was an exposure of those who do not hold this position.
BUT MANY OF THEM refused to stand in support of the fundamental reason for Government because they have another political agenda. Those people were not simply "the man on the street," they were the government leaders of this country. This indicates the tragic condition of our country, and it foretells the coming total collapse of our country.
Psalms 33:10-12
10 The LORD bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect.
11 The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.
12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.
NOW, with this in mind, we need to realize that this country will collapse completely under its own rebellion. The Scripture tells us that all the nations of the world will fail. It is not debatable. It is a fact.
I love my country. I want to see America do well and prosper. But I also know that rejecting Biblical directives leads to failure. As a Christian, I want the best for my fellow man. This is good citizenship. But my ultimate commitment is to Jesus, not to Humanism or Statism or any other ism. I know that this world is passing away, and I know that only what I do for Christ will matter. Christians live for the kingdom of God, not the kingdoms of this world.
To be committed to a failed and doomed worldly system is a commitment to failure. It is true,
Only one life,
Twill soon be past,
Only what's done for Christ,
Will last.
The Bible tells us not to trust in horses or chariots, or the arm of flesh. In other words, don't trust in self, but rather in God.
I recently posted that failure (personal, family, community, national, and world failure) follows Bible rejection, and is followed by Ballots, Bullets, and Body Bags.
I believe the Constitution of the U.S.A. is probably the best government document ever written, having been based on Biblical principles. But since it is not Divinely inspired, it is not perfect. However, it is closer to being a perfect government document than anything else made by man. But it will be overthrown, it will fail.
My point is, don't trust in the Ballot. We have already seen (years after the fact) that elections can be stolen in America, and then those who acknowledge election interference are threatened by the very thieves who stole the election. We are seeing that those who are aligning with anti-American, anti-family, anti-Christian faith, anti-freedom, and they are willing to use actual violence to actually overthrow our government and punish, imprison, and kill those who stand for historical American principles. Once they are solidly in office, our country will fall.
I am also saying that you cannot trust Bullets to preserve your freedoms. Bullets are fired from both sides, and those who have the least moral fortitude and the highest political and financial ground will unleash their full force against those who hold the higher moral ground. Those who kill babies, mutilate children, destroy families, and imprison peaceful protestors in the name of insurrection will subjugate their opponents to any and every oppression possible. Just look at the rest of history and the present condition of godless regimes.
There is a popular call for the "right to bear arms." I am not negating the right. I am saying that it is mostly a rattling of the tongue. The New Testament is clear in directing Christians to not spill the blood of their enemies. While it is true that God gives government the responsibility to protect the law-abiding and punish the lawbreaker with the sword of steel, God has a higher calling for His Church. We are not here to establish a worldly kingdom through violence.
There is a spiritual violence (in other words, a commitment to give our all for the glory of God), which is required. The Scripture says, concerning the kingdom of God, "the violent take it by force." Christian violence is the willingness to shed our own blood in following Jesus; it is not a call to spill our enemy's blood. If you want a blood-letting religion, turn to Islam, Roman Catholicism, or Reformed Theology. But if you are going to follow Jesus, you will bear the Sword of the Spirit rather than the sword of steel. When Peter took up a sword of steel to defend Jesus against the State, Jesus said that His kingdom is NOT OF THIS WORLD, if it was of this world, His servants would fight.
(There is much more Bible about this, if you are actually interested).
The evil kingdoms of the world hate life. If they are willing to kill the preborn, the newborn, the innocent children, the law-abiding, then they will also kill their political opponents. Our hope and the only hope of all men is faith in Jesus. Our job is to march forward in the blood stained steps of Jesus proclaiming the gospel of peace and the Prince of Peace.
Ephesians 6:10-17
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
Ballots will not save America; Bullets will not save America.
If God chooses to use ravens to feed believers, that is His choice, but He does not send believers to kill anyone. And I am not encouraging anyone to take up the sword of steel.
Before you become too vocal in attacking my Biblical position of Christian non-violence, remember, there are thousands who claim that they would stand up for God, family, and country, but they have actually not acted out their claims of righteous indignation. They have coward back as the State has overthrown family, freedom, and faith. They have boasted in horses and chariots and swords and the arm of flesh while selling their families, their fortunes, their freedoms, and their professed faith to the powers of darkness.
The only hope for anyone is a Biblical turning to Jesus. Not just talking it, but actually walking in the Spirit, walking in the Light, walking in the Truth. Where are the men of God? Stand up. Charge forward. Be not overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good. This is not a call to pacifism; it is a call to spiritual courage and commitment to walk in the steps of Christ, willing to die for Him. Remember, He does not call us to kill; He calls us to be willing to suffer and die. The word "witness," in the Greek is related to the word "martyr." Being a witness for Christ does not include taking life (which is given to the State as it protects the law-abiding and punishes the lawless [foreign and domestic]).
We are called to be witnesses, to be soldiers of the cross, to be ambassadors of peace and reconciliation.
Rejecting Biblical truth results in the failure of Ballots and Bullets, leading to Body Bags.
Friday, February 27, 2026
02/24/26 TWO PARTS OF THE SAME TRUTH
02/24/26 TWO PARTS OF THE SAME TRUTH
It is simple, it is clear, and it is true: godliness and sound doctrine are aligned.
Sinning religion ("salvation" that does not save FROM sin and sinning), or Satanic teaching that allows or excuses willful disobedience in the Christian life, are demonic heresies.
Godly living and Biblical truth must be present in true salvation.
It is simple, it is clear, and it is true: godliness and sound doctrine are aligned.
Sinning religion ("salvation" that does not save FROM sin and sinning), or Satanic teaching that allows or excuses willful disobedience in the Christian life, are demonic heresies.
Godly living and Biblical truth must be present in true salvation.
02/24/26 DO WHAT IS RIGHT INSTEAD
02/24/26 DO WHAT IS RIGHT INSTEAD
If "Ignorance is Bliss," why are Democrats and other Liberals so miserable, angry, and cantankerous?
This is rhetorical.
If "Ignorance is Bliss," why are Democrats and other Liberals so miserable, angry, and cantankerous?
This is rhetorical.
Don't tell me.
The Bible explains it, from Genesis to Revelation.
02/22/26 NOT ALWAYS SMOOTH SAILING
02/22/26 NOT ALWAYS SMOOTH SAILING
Someone may have noticed in some of my posts that my journey has not always been a typical pastoral life. For instance, I have referred to "my period of exile" or "standing against State oppression," which was actually "standing for the Lordship of Christ over His Church."
I have enjoyed a "normal" pastoral experience, including incredibly great periods of church growth, youth outreach, world missions support and involvement, Christian schooling for children and youth, Bible Ministry Institute (equipping adults for pastoral and lay ministries), spectacular musical ministries, jail and prison ministries, cross-cultural endeavors, Evangelist and Foreign Missions Conference speaker, and many other typical Chrisitan ministries, Denominational Foreign Missions Board Officer and Denominational Youth Board Officer, Short Term Foreign Missions in Mexico City, Ecuador, Colombia, Norway, Holland and England, I led an Evangelistic Outreach for entire time at Montreal Olympics.
I enjoyed the days of "Philadelphian Christianity." Those were years of long hours, hard spiritual battles with gain-sayers and wannabe church-bosses, and those who were satisfied with the status quo, and the encroachment of Statism. But evangelizing the lost, edifying the believers, supporting worldwide outreach, winning, discipling, and training future ministers (full-time workers and laymen), and multicultural outreach. During those years, I saw what a local church should be and could be. I watched believers work together as a well-tuned and Spirit-filled body.
But through the years, I have also been involved in less typical situations and ministries, which have put me at odds with social norms, Statism, and Americanized Christianity. It has been costly to remain faithful to God and His word, but well worth the cost.
I did not seek out or choose the conflicts, upheaval, or controversial path. All I wanted to do was preach, teach, and pastor God's people, leading them into a life of victory and service to God.
But as we have moved into (what appears to be) this day of Laodicean Christianity, I have encountered and engaged the powers of darkness in a way that was not typical prior to the 1980s. It has not been easy; it has not yielded the fruit I enjoyed years ago, but it has been rewarding, as well as challenging.
There came a time when Christians in America needed to realize that the tipping point had been reached, and it was time to come out from among the growing numbers of people who had a form of godliness, while denying the power of salvation. The Laodicean Period had approached slowly, but it came in like a spiritual, cultural, academic, political, and economic rogue wave, and most people continued on as if things were still the same as they had been.
America has never been the kingdom of God, but there was a time when the Christian message and morals, and influence kept America on an even keel. When it started to become evident that a major shift was taking place, most pastors and churches allowed the State to assume the headship of the Church and the family. Divine revelation was replaced with Secular Humanism and Scientism. Sanity was replaced with Sin-sanity. Faith-based living was replaced with materialism. Dignity and morality were replaced with Hedonism, and now Wokism.
It is too late to save that which has been eternally lost, but it is not too late to throw out the lifeline to those who are drowning in the sea of sin, self, Statism, and Satanic religion.
Someone may have noticed in some of my posts that my journey has not always been a typical pastoral life. For instance, I have referred to "my period of exile" or "standing against State oppression," which was actually "standing for the Lordship of Christ over His Church."
I have enjoyed a "normal" pastoral experience, including incredibly great periods of church growth, youth outreach, world missions support and involvement, Christian schooling for children and youth, Bible Ministry Institute (equipping adults for pastoral and lay ministries), spectacular musical ministries, jail and prison ministries, cross-cultural endeavors, Evangelist and Foreign Missions Conference speaker, and many other typical Chrisitan ministries, Denominational Foreign Missions Board Officer and Denominational Youth Board Officer, Short Term Foreign Missions in Mexico City, Ecuador, Colombia, Norway, Holland and England, I led an Evangelistic Outreach for entire time at Montreal Olympics.
I enjoyed the days of "Philadelphian Christianity." Those were years of long hours, hard spiritual battles with gain-sayers and wannabe church-bosses, and those who were satisfied with the status quo, and the encroachment of Statism. But evangelizing the lost, edifying the believers, supporting worldwide outreach, winning, discipling, and training future ministers (full-time workers and laymen), and multicultural outreach. During those years, I saw what a local church should be and could be. I watched believers work together as a well-tuned and Spirit-filled body.
But through the years, I have also been involved in less typical situations and ministries, which have put me at odds with social norms, Statism, and Americanized Christianity. It has been costly to remain faithful to God and His word, but well worth the cost.
I did not seek out or choose the conflicts, upheaval, or controversial path. All I wanted to do was preach, teach, and pastor God's people, leading them into a life of victory and service to God.
But as we have moved into (what appears to be) this day of Laodicean Christianity, I have encountered and engaged the powers of darkness in a way that was not typical prior to the 1980s. It has not been easy; it has not yielded the fruit I enjoyed years ago, but it has been rewarding, as well as challenging.
There came a time when Christians in America needed to realize that the tipping point had been reached, and it was time to come out from among the growing numbers of people who had a form of godliness, while denying the power of salvation. The Laodicean Period had approached slowly, but it came in like a spiritual, cultural, academic, political, and economic rogue wave, and most people continued on as if things were still the same as they had been.
America has never been the kingdom of God, but there was a time when the Christian message and morals, and influence kept America on an even keel. When it started to become evident that a major shift was taking place, most pastors and churches allowed the State to assume the headship of the Church and the family. Divine revelation was replaced with Secular Humanism and Scientism. Sanity was replaced with Sin-sanity. Faith-based living was replaced with materialism. Dignity and morality were replaced with Hedonism, and now Wokism.
It is too late to save that which has been eternally lost, but it is not too late to throw out the lifeline to those who are drowning in the sea of sin, self, Statism, and Satanic religion.
02/17/26 IT IS NOT A NEW THOUGHT
02/17/26 IT IS NOT A NEW THOUGHT
A period from my life and a metaphor for today.
There was a time in my life when my Christian position concerning certain social and government standards ushered me into the "exile period of my life" (personally and pastorally). It was not simply a matter of being opposed to certain standards; it was a matter of being totally committed to the Lordship of Christ over His Church and being forbidden and threatened by the State if I chose to follow my Christian faith, which is guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution.
I am not going into the details of my beliefs, convictions, or commitments at that time. I am addressing a particular experience and one of the many lessons I learned from that experience.
THREE CHRISTIAN OPTIONS TO STATE PERSECUTION
Christians can...
Fight the worldly powers of darkness (spiritually, legally, socially, morally), which I did until it was obviously futile,
or
Bite the bullet (willingly suffer the enemy's persecution), from which God delivered me,
or
Take Flight for safety (escape from unnecessary oppression), which led to my years of "exile."
This post includes a little of all three.
In order to live faithfully by my convictions, I either needed to fight the system, bite the bullet of suffering or take flight for safety. We see three options played out in the Bible.
After exhausting a search for support or help from other individuals and organizations (concerning government directives that conflicted with Biblical absolutes), including...
Well-known and respected pastors (nationally and locally),
Government Officials (Christian and non-Christian; Local, State, and Federal),
Christian Media Giants,
Well-known Law Offices and Associations (Christian and non-Christian, local and nationally), I faced the fact that it was time to leave the state. I was willing to stand, but God had other plans.
I had sought a path that would give me the opportunity to obey Jesus and submit to the State, but there was no path. I was willing to square off with the state in court, but I could not find a lawyer who would stand with me.
During this time, I became aware of how far our society had fallen from its spiritual, cultural, and legal heritage. The oppression we faced included attacks on personal obedience to Christ, surrendering the Lordship of the Church into the hands of a godless state, worship of the State, denial of Biblical directives and morality, families were being forced to give their children to the State, forced by the State to pay for abominable practices, as the song says, "And the beat goes on."
Though I (we) often stood fast and defiant in the face of looming legal action, God constantly put a hedge around me, my family, and my congregation. He had much more to teach me about Christian living in a Laodicean world.
Eventually it was time to leave the destructive, anti-Christian, anti-Bible, anti-family clutches of an unbridled social, political, religious system. I looked for a state where Christians could freely obey Jesus, without legal reprisals or compromising the faith. After a great deal of investigation, I moved to another state that had not yet surrendered fully to the god of Secular Humanism and Statism.
During our period of "exile" (which lasted approximately thirty years), we learned many lessons about living godly in this present evil age. Since we were going through State oppression without any support from Christians, churches, or law offices, I was very sensitive to other Christians who were going through the same kind of difficulties that I (we) were going through. I did what I could to help other believers in their endeavor to obey God in the face of oppression, intimidation, lawfare, and economic attacks (which are forms of persecution). I (we) traveled to other states (Tx. and Va.) to support other churches (Salvation Army and Independent Baptists). Being faithful to God's directives, we were willing to lose our homes, our vehicles, our jobs, friends, and family relationships. We were falsely labeled as cultic because we chose to obey God rather than men. It is costly to follow fully-Jesus.
Yet our losses were not worthy to be compared to the treasure we found in following Jesus. Also, our flight was for the purpose of saving our children from the clutches of Molech (Statism, Secular Humanism, Socialism, Communism, Globalism, Paganism, Hedonism, and, as it turned out, Islam and Wokeism). This attack on family and church authority has ruined the lives of 50+ million children and youth through the Public Education System over the past 40 years. Now look at America.
I (we) have not only chosen to walk the narrow way in obedience to Christ in the midst of an anti-God culture, but we have also warned people against compromising salvation and truth for cultural and material advantages. The cost of discipleship is real. Whoever will live godly in this present evil world shall be persecuted for their faith.
Persecution can be oppression, subjection and execution. When we have honestly told inquiring Christians what they might face if they follow Christ fully, they have often said they would not make the commitment or the sacrifice because they did not want to "Go to jail." These are not my words, these are the words of lawyers, pastors, university professors, politicians, Christian educators, and other believers.
I have had Christian legal experts tell me that they would help us if we would obey the laws that are contrary to the Bible. I had friends tell me to do what the government requires and keep on preaching. I had fellow pastors tell me that my responsibility is to obey the State. But I have read Romans 13, and I know that when the State contradicts the Bible, I must obey God rather than men. The Church does not have two heads. Only Jesus is the Head of the Church. I have read the Bible, and the end is not worldwide salvation; it is worldwide rebellion against God, persecution against God's people.
A major event during my "exile" period involved a local church in a different state that was being oppressed. I (along with my congregation) chose to stand with that local congregation (though they were of a different doctrinal background). This required moving from one state to another and relocating again to the property of the oppressed church to stand in solidarity. There were other churches from several states who joined in this momentous action, but we were the only ones who moved our entire ministry to their besieged property.
These moves cost us our homes (which we were buying) and our vehicles and required that we live in temporary and limited accommodations (sometimes campers, sometimes a bus, sometimes a van, sometimes tents, sometimes campgrounds and sometimes on church grounds). We did this while doing day labor, mowing lawns, decorating windows, making and selling lawn ornaments, "lumping" tractor trailers, building barns, roofing, house building, auto repair, house painting, house cleaning, hospital work, in order to eat and pay our bills and we were also running a very active ministry (music, worship, studies, printing, political rallies, Christian conferences, freedom fighting) and raising our families and educating our children.
When we took a stand with one particular church, we moved into group housing, we gave our money to support the corporate effort of that church in its stand for Christian truth and liberty. We ate communally, sometimes in a very large army tent, sometimes in our own homes, sometimes in the church fellowship hall.
Each family decided their own level of commitment in support of the host church. Our small church group (in its entirety) was willing to not only lose material possessions, but they were willing to go to jail and willing to lose their children to the State, in order to remain faithful to God's word and His calling. As Jesus said, "If any man will be my disciple, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily and follow me." We need to talk the talk and walk the walk.
Then, after we had spent weeks putting everything on the line to support and help the other church, the pastor (who did not believe or preach holiness of heart and life) made the decision to kick our church off of his property. One night he sent one of his parishioners to tell us that there would not even be any breakfast for any of us (women and children included) the next morning. Remember, we had given our time, our energy, our total financial support, our labor for an extended period of time. We were committed to help that church through their time of trouble. We weren't playing games.
When I was told to be off the property the next morning, I talked with all my people and told them what was happening. No anger, no nastiness, no regret, (holiness is a beautiful reality). We had done what God wanted us to do, and our trust was in Him, not the pastor or his church.
I walked to the pastor's house to address everything face to face (since he only sent a parishioner with the "eviction notice.)" He gave no reason for cutting ties, except he said he got tired of "tiptoeing through the tulips" around our church folks. That was it. That is all there was to it. His Carnal Mind, his Old Man could not stand living halfway in victory and halfway in sinful nature (the Double Mind). The lifestyle of holiness is a burden if you don't have a pure heart.
I told the pastor that we would be leaving, but giving us only a night's notice was unthinkable. I told him my people needed to find a place to live, and that his spur-of-the-moment notice was not reasonable. The pastor then said we could have a week. I told him we would be gone before the week was out. I also told him that we would feed ourselves. (Remember, we had given his people all our finances, thus we would only have whatever cash God would then provide through our own men, who would get paid for any day job they could find. We really were praying, "Give us this day our daily bread." As it turned out, God provided us a place to move our entire congregation within a day. Our hope was in Jesus and Jesus never fails.
We had relocated, left homes and jobs, sacrificed for the pastor and his people in their stand against the State, we had lost material advantages, we had put everything on the line, including our children, for the Lordship of Christ over His Church, but now the pastor wanted us off the property in the morning, without even having breakfast. (However, one of his parishioners came over, later that night to tell me that he himself would provide cereal for our people in the morning. I told him, "Thank you," but we would take care of ourselves.)
HERE IS MY POINT. I was committed to that which was good (standing with fellow believers, standing up for the Lordship of Christ over His Church. I was faithful to that which God required of me (as was my congregation). I submitted myself and my ministry to a legitimate project. But as soon as that project went in the wrong direction, I had no more obligation or subjection to it. This was true for the pastor and his ministry.
Here is a present-day application. I am a glad and willing supporter of that which is good and right. This includes political as well as ministry issues. I support President Trump when he is doing that which is legitimate (based on Biblical directives, such as protecting the righteous [law-abiding] and punishing the wicked [lawless]). But I will not stand with a wicked Political Platform or Politician. I am not committed to any person who makes decisions in violation of Biblical directives *murdering the preborn, *mutilating children, *promoting false or violent religions, and a host of other wicked policies.
We live in a day of TDS (Trump Derangement Syndrome), but I also see TMS (Trump Messiah Syndrome). Don't follow blindly. The old saying, "My country right or wrong," is a dangerous confession of faith. I am glad for the good things that have happened politically because of Trump reversing the wickedness of the DonkeyCrats and their head Burros, Obama and Biden. But make no mistake. Trump is a man. He is a man who denies he has needed to repent. He is a man driven by the love of money. He is a carnal, self-promoting man. He is a man without Christ. He is a man that God has used, just a God used the raven to feed a prophet, and God used the donkey to warn a prophet. But He is not THE MAN. Jesus is THE GOD MAN. Jesus is our hope.
It is just as wicked to worship Trump as it is to reject God's use of Trump. Take advantage of your opportunities at this present time. The future is going to get dark, very dark, very quickly. Our only hope is Jesus.
Some people are opposed to political leadership because of issues aside from governing issues. Some people will follow a political leader, regardless of how un-Biblical he is. There is an old saying, which is wrong: "My country, right or wrong." There are many things about which we can disagree, but we should never commit to a person, a party, or a movement when they are anti-Biblical, anti-family, anti-Christian, or anti-Christ in their leadership.
A period from my life and a metaphor for today.
There was a time in my life when my Christian position concerning certain social and government standards ushered me into the "exile period of my life" (personally and pastorally). It was not simply a matter of being opposed to certain standards; it was a matter of being totally committed to the Lordship of Christ over His Church and being forbidden and threatened by the State if I chose to follow my Christian faith, which is guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution.
I am not going into the details of my beliefs, convictions, or commitments at that time. I am addressing a particular experience and one of the many lessons I learned from that experience.
THREE CHRISTIAN OPTIONS TO STATE PERSECUTION
Christians can...
Fight the worldly powers of darkness (spiritually, legally, socially, morally), which I did until it was obviously futile,
or
Bite the bullet (willingly suffer the enemy's persecution), from which God delivered me,
or
Take Flight for safety (escape from unnecessary oppression), which led to my years of "exile."
This post includes a little of all three.
In order to live faithfully by my convictions, I either needed to fight the system, bite the bullet of suffering or take flight for safety. We see three options played out in the Bible.
After exhausting a search for support or help from other individuals and organizations (concerning government directives that conflicted with Biblical absolutes), including...
Well-known and respected pastors (nationally and locally),
Government Officials (Christian and non-Christian; Local, State, and Federal),
Christian Media Giants,
Well-known Law Offices and Associations (Christian and non-Christian, local and nationally), I faced the fact that it was time to leave the state. I was willing to stand, but God had other plans.
I had sought a path that would give me the opportunity to obey Jesus and submit to the State, but there was no path. I was willing to square off with the state in court, but I could not find a lawyer who would stand with me.
During this time, I became aware of how far our society had fallen from its spiritual, cultural, and legal heritage. The oppression we faced included attacks on personal obedience to Christ, surrendering the Lordship of the Church into the hands of a godless state, worship of the State, denial of Biblical directives and morality, families were being forced to give their children to the State, forced by the State to pay for abominable practices, as the song says, "And the beat goes on."
Though I (we) often stood fast and defiant in the face of looming legal action, God constantly put a hedge around me, my family, and my congregation. He had much more to teach me about Christian living in a Laodicean world.
Eventually it was time to leave the destructive, anti-Christian, anti-Bible, anti-family clutches of an unbridled social, political, religious system. I looked for a state where Christians could freely obey Jesus, without legal reprisals or compromising the faith. After a great deal of investigation, I moved to another state that had not yet surrendered fully to the god of Secular Humanism and Statism.
During our period of "exile" (which lasted approximately thirty years), we learned many lessons about living godly in this present evil age. Since we were going through State oppression without any support from Christians, churches, or law offices, I was very sensitive to other Christians who were going through the same kind of difficulties that I (we) were going through. I did what I could to help other believers in their endeavor to obey God in the face of oppression, intimidation, lawfare, and economic attacks (which are forms of persecution). I (we) traveled to other states (Tx. and Va.) to support other churches (Salvation Army and Independent Baptists). Being faithful to God's directives, we were willing to lose our homes, our vehicles, our jobs, friends, and family relationships. We were falsely labeled as cultic because we chose to obey God rather than men. It is costly to follow fully-Jesus.
Yet our losses were not worthy to be compared to the treasure we found in following Jesus. Also, our flight was for the purpose of saving our children from the clutches of Molech (Statism, Secular Humanism, Socialism, Communism, Globalism, Paganism, Hedonism, and, as it turned out, Islam and Wokeism). This attack on family and church authority has ruined the lives of 50+ million children and youth through the Public Education System over the past 40 years. Now look at America.
I (we) have not only chosen to walk the narrow way in obedience to Christ in the midst of an anti-God culture, but we have also warned people against compromising salvation and truth for cultural and material advantages. The cost of discipleship is real. Whoever will live godly in this present evil world shall be persecuted for their faith.
Persecution can be oppression, subjection and execution. When we have honestly told inquiring Christians what they might face if they follow Christ fully, they have often said they would not make the commitment or the sacrifice because they did not want to "Go to jail." These are not my words, these are the words of lawyers, pastors, university professors, politicians, Christian educators, and other believers.
I have had Christian legal experts tell me that they would help us if we would obey the laws that are contrary to the Bible. I had friends tell me to do what the government requires and keep on preaching. I had fellow pastors tell me that my responsibility is to obey the State. But I have read Romans 13, and I know that when the State contradicts the Bible, I must obey God rather than men. The Church does not have two heads. Only Jesus is the Head of the Church. I have read the Bible, and the end is not worldwide salvation; it is worldwide rebellion against God, persecution against God's people.
A major event during my "exile" period involved a local church in a different state that was being oppressed. I (along with my congregation) chose to stand with that local congregation (though they were of a different doctrinal background). This required moving from one state to another and relocating again to the property of the oppressed church to stand in solidarity. There were other churches from several states who joined in this momentous action, but we were the only ones who moved our entire ministry to their besieged property.
These moves cost us our homes (which we were buying) and our vehicles and required that we live in temporary and limited accommodations (sometimes campers, sometimes a bus, sometimes a van, sometimes tents, sometimes campgrounds and sometimes on church grounds). We did this while doing day labor, mowing lawns, decorating windows, making and selling lawn ornaments, "lumping" tractor trailers, building barns, roofing, house building, auto repair, house painting, house cleaning, hospital work, in order to eat and pay our bills and we were also running a very active ministry (music, worship, studies, printing, political rallies, Christian conferences, freedom fighting) and raising our families and educating our children.
When we took a stand with one particular church, we moved into group housing, we gave our money to support the corporate effort of that church in its stand for Christian truth and liberty. We ate communally, sometimes in a very large army tent, sometimes in our own homes, sometimes in the church fellowship hall.
Each family decided their own level of commitment in support of the host church. Our small church group (in its entirety) was willing to not only lose material possessions, but they were willing to go to jail and willing to lose their children to the State, in order to remain faithful to God's word and His calling. As Jesus said, "If any man will be my disciple, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily and follow me." We need to talk the talk and walk the walk.
Then, after we had spent weeks putting everything on the line to support and help the other church, the pastor (who did not believe or preach holiness of heart and life) made the decision to kick our church off of his property. One night he sent one of his parishioners to tell us that there would not even be any breakfast for any of us (women and children included) the next morning. Remember, we had given our time, our energy, our total financial support, our labor for an extended period of time. We were committed to help that church through their time of trouble. We weren't playing games.
When I was told to be off the property the next morning, I talked with all my people and told them what was happening. No anger, no nastiness, no regret, (holiness is a beautiful reality). We had done what God wanted us to do, and our trust was in Him, not the pastor or his church.
I walked to the pastor's house to address everything face to face (since he only sent a parishioner with the "eviction notice.)" He gave no reason for cutting ties, except he said he got tired of "tiptoeing through the tulips" around our church folks. That was it. That is all there was to it. His Carnal Mind, his Old Man could not stand living halfway in victory and halfway in sinful nature (the Double Mind). The lifestyle of holiness is a burden if you don't have a pure heart.
I told the pastor that we would be leaving, but giving us only a night's notice was unthinkable. I told him my people needed to find a place to live, and that his spur-of-the-moment notice was not reasonable. The pastor then said we could have a week. I told him we would be gone before the week was out. I also told him that we would feed ourselves. (Remember, we had given his people all our finances, thus we would only have whatever cash God would then provide through our own men, who would get paid for any day job they could find. We really were praying, "Give us this day our daily bread." As it turned out, God provided us a place to move our entire congregation within a day. Our hope was in Jesus and Jesus never fails.
We had relocated, left homes and jobs, sacrificed for the pastor and his people in their stand against the State, we had lost material advantages, we had put everything on the line, including our children, for the Lordship of Christ over His Church, but now the pastor wanted us off the property in the morning, without even having breakfast. (However, one of his parishioners came over, later that night to tell me that he himself would provide cereal for our people in the morning. I told him, "Thank you," but we would take care of ourselves.)
HERE IS MY POINT. I was committed to that which was good (standing with fellow believers, standing up for the Lordship of Christ over His Church. I was faithful to that which God required of me (as was my congregation). I submitted myself and my ministry to a legitimate project. But as soon as that project went in the wrong direction, I had no more obligation or subjection to it. This was true for the pastor and his ministry.
Here is a present-day application. I am a glad and willing supporter of that which is good and right. This includes political as well as ministry issues. I support President Trump when he is doing that which is legitimate (based on Biblical directives, such as protecting the righteous [law-abiding] and punishing the wicked [lawless]). But I will not stand with a wicked Political Platform or Politician. I am not committed to any person who makes decisions in violation of Biblical directives *murdering the preborn, *mutilating children, *promoting false or violent religions, and a host of other wicked policies.
We live in a day of TDS (Trump Derangement Syndrome), but I also see TMS (Trump Messiah Syndrome). Don't follow blindly. The old saying, "My country right or wrong," is a dangerous confession of faith. I am glad for the good things that have happened politically because of Trump reversing the wickedness of the DonkeyCrats and their head Burros, Obama and Biden. But make no mistake. Trump is a man. He is a man who denies he has needed to repent. He is a man driven by the love of money. He is a carnal, self-promoting man. He is a man without Christ. He is a man that God has used, just a God used the raven to feed a prophet, and God used the donkey to warn a prophet. But He is not THE MAN. Jesus is THE GOD MAN. Jesus is our hope.
It is just as wicked to worship Trump as it is to reject God's use of Trump. Take advantage of your opportunities at this present time. The future is going to get dark, very dark, very quickly. Our only hope is Jesus.
Some people are opposed to political leadership because of issues aside from governing issues. Some people will follow a political leader, regardless of how un-Biblical he is. There is an old saying, which is wrong: "My country, right or wrong." There are many things about which we can disagree, but we should never commit to a person, a party, or a movement when they are anti-Biblical, anti-family, anti-Christian, or anti-Christ in their leadership.
Thursday, February 12, 2026
02/12/26 GOD COMMUNICATES WITH US
02/12/26 GOD COMMUNICATES WITH US
God is not revealing anything new through so-called prophets.
God does speak to His people today, but not in the Prophetic or Apostolic way that He did in the Bible.
A basic checklist. Not intended to be a complete work, but it can be a good guideline.
God's REVELATION of His inerrant word was given only to Divinely chosen, anointed, inspired, guided, Spirit-filled men (holy men of old).
God's CONVICTION of sin and His CALL to repentance are given to sinners.
God's ENLIGHTENMENT is given through His word to believers who seek God (leading to growth in grace and knowledge).
God's personal leading is given to believers who seek God's will.
This does not depend on signs or fleeces, but rather spiritual awareness and discernment, which develop with spiritual maturity and a closeness to God (and they are always aligned with God's infallible word).
Always test the spirits, to see if they are of God.
Beware of those who claim, "I got a word from the Lord," Or "God told me."
It probably is not from God at all.
It is never a "New Revelation."
If it is God's leading, it will never disagree with the Bible.
If it is God's leading, it will always align with New Testament truth.
It might not be spiritual awakening at all; it might only be the awakening of the human mind to natural truth.
Beware of people who claim that God gave them a "word from the Lord" for someone else. (God talks directly to His own people.)
Beware of so-called "Prophetic utterances."
God does not speak to anyone in KJV English.
There are no present-day New Testament Apostles or Prophets. Any such claim is either from ignorance or deception. (Legitimate present-day "prophecy" is almost always the forthtelling of the word of God, but almost never the foretelling of future events.)
God does not appoint and send local people to give personal prophecies to neighbors or fellow church people.
Christians are God's witnesses, God's ambassadors; we are not God's revelators.
A faithful witness tells the truth. A legitimate ambassador is faithful to the actual words of authority.
Ours is a derived and a restricted authority, bound by Biblical protocols.
God is not revealing anything new through so-called prophets.
God does speak to His people today, but not in the Prophetic or Apostolic way that He did in the Bible.
A basic checklist. Not intended to be a complete work, but it can be a good guideline.
God's REVELATION of His inerrant word was given only to Divinely chosen, anointed, inspired, guided, Spirit-filled men (holy men of old).
God's CONVICTION of sin and His CALL to repentance are given to sinners.
God's ENLIGHTENMENT is given through His word to believers who seek God (leading to growth in grace and knowledge).
God's personal leading is given to believers who seek God's will.
This does not depend on signs or fleeces, but rather spiritual awareness and discernment, which develop with spiritual maturity and a closeness to God (and they are always aligned with God's infallible word).
Always test the spirits, to see if they are of God.
Beware of those who claim, "I got a word from the Lord," Or "God told me."
It probably is not from God at all.
It is never a "New Revelation."
If it is God's leading, it will never disagree with the Bible.
If it is God's leading, it will always align with New Testament truth.
It might not be spiritual awakening at all; it might only be the awakening of the human mind to natural truth.
Beware of people who claim that God gave them a "word from the Lord" for someone else. (God talks directly to His own people.)
Beware of so-called "Prophetic utterances."
God does not speak to anyone in KJV English.
There are no present-day New Testament Apostles or Prophets. Any such claim is either from ignorance or deception. (Legitimate present-day "prophecy" is almost always the forthtelling of the word of God, but almost never the foretelling of future events.)
God does not appoint and send local people to give personal prophecies to neighbors or fellow church people.
Christians are God's witnesses, God's ambassadors; we are not God's revelators.
A faithful witness tells the truth. A legitimate ambassador is faithful to the actual words of authority.
Ours is a derived and a restricted authority, bound by Biblical protocols.
02/12/26 WE ALREADY KNOW THE ENDING
02/12/26 WE ALREADY KNOW THE ENDING
An outline of the demonic plan to destroy America (a plan that has worked in other countries).
Bible rejection. Already enacted academically, politically, socially, and religiously (corruption of the Christian message).
Ballot manipulation. Already enacted by interference, lies, fraud, illegal aliens, and intimidation.
Bullet domination. Evil men and an evil agenda are totally dedicated to total destruction.
Body Bags implementation. Their philosophy is, "The right to kill."
SOMETHING I RECENTLY WROTE...
(quote) Here is a brief outline of America's fall from greatness to destruction.
The Bible. God's word gave America a foundation and guiding light that made America the greatest country in the history of the world, and also gave us the Divine solution to all of our earthly ills, but it has been abandoned.
The Ballot. The ability of citizens to choose their government, their laws, and their leadership. But America gave up the power of the Ballot when those who were elected were not held accountable for their abuse of their power and position. The Ballot has become a placebo and an opiate, a drug that killed America. The Ballot became a total joke, being manipulated for a totally godless political platform for the godless, Socialist leaning party today. The Ballot gives power to do good, but the Ballot does not keep the elected from turning on the people. The Ballot has failed.
The Bullet. When the people get tired of the oppression that follows their wasted Ballot, they often resort to the Bullet. While God will sometimes use social upheaval to relieve the people, it is only a band-aid, a quick fix, lasting only as long as there is a turning back to God and His word. If there is no actual return to God and His word, then the Bullets of the oppressor often outlast the Bullets of the oppressed. Eventually, if the society is not built on God and His word, then the Ballot and the Bullet will ultimately fail.
The Body Bags. When the Ballots and Bullets of well-intentioned people are silenced by the Bullets of the wicked, then the Body Bags will begin to stack-up, quelling the human attempt at reform.
The only answer to man's dilemma is to receive and believe God and His word. I hate to say it, but I think that ship has already sailed and our society is in a death spiral.
Our society has favored the worldly answers instead of the Biblical answers and directives. Do not align with the wicked, Christless agenda of the party that has an anti-Christ, anti-Bible, anti-family, anti-freedom platform. Don't let your quiet acquiescence help them kill the pre-born, mutilate and pervert the children and the youth, overthrow the family, undermine our Constitution, betray us to our enemies. Silent support is cowardly participation. And do not follow a supposed champion into an evil agenda. I am sickened (literally sickened) at the flood of perversity, sinsanity, idiocracy, the raping of our children (including literal raping right before our very eyes), attacks on our faith, the selling of our country. (end quote)
LET ME ADD...
The Bible tells us how this all turns out. There is no hope in human solution. The only hope is Jesus, and America will ultimately fail because it rejects Christ as Savior and Lord (you cannot have one without the other).
God postpones the return of Christ in order to give mankind every opportunity, but this world will not submit to God as King. Even the earthly reign of Jesus during the Millenium will be enforced with a rod of iron and will culminate in a worldwide rebellion.
Then comes the end of this present evil world.
Then comes eternal judgment.
Then comes eternal separation for the rebellious.
Then comes eternal reign of righteousness in a New Heaven, a New Earth and a New Jerusalem.
He is coming. Now is the accepted time of salvation. Don't wait, because He has already said, "Ready or not, here I come."
Even so, come Lord Jesus.
An outline of the demonic plan to destroy America (a plan that has worked in other countries).
Bible rejection. Already enacted academically, politically, socially, and religiously (corruption of the Christian message).
Ballot manipulation. Already enacted by interference, lies, fraud, illegal aliens, and intimidation.
Bullet domination. Evil men and an evil agenda are totally dedicated to total destruction.
Body Bags implementation. Their philosophy is, "The right to kill."
SOMETHING I RECENTLY WROTE...
(quote) Here is a brief outline of America's fall from greatness to destruction.
The Bible. God's word gave America a foundation and guiding light that made America the greatest country in the history of the world, and also gave us the Divine solution to all of our earthly ills, but it has been abandoned.
The Ballot. The ability of citizens to choose their government, their laws, and their leadership. But America gave up the power of the Ballot when those who were elected were not held accountable for their abuse of their power and position. The Ballot has become a placebo and an opiate, a drug that killed America. The Ballot became a total joke, being manipulated for a totally godless political platform for the godless, Socialist leaning party today. The Ballot gives power to do good, but the Ballot does not keep the elected from turning on the people. The Ballot has failed.
The Bullet. When the people get tired of the oppression that follows their wasted Ballot, they often resort to the Bullet. While God will sometimes use social upheaval to relieve the people, it is only a band-aid, a quick fix, lasting only as long as there is a turning back to God and His word. If there is no actual return to God and His word, then the Bullets of the oppressor often outlast the Bullets of the oppressed. Eventually, if the society is not built on God and His word, then the Ballot and the Bullet will ultimately fail.
The Body Bags. When the Ballots and Bullets of well-intentioned people are silenced by the Bullets of the wicked, then the Body Bags will begin to stack-up, quelling the human attempt at reform.
The only answer to man's dilemma is to receive and believe God and His word. I hate to say it, but I think that ship has already sailed and our society is in a death spiral.
Our society has favored the worldly answers instead of the Biblical answers and directives. Do not align with the wicked, Christless agenda of the party that has an anti-Christ, anti-Bible, anti-family, anti-freedom platform. Don't let your quiet acquiescence help them kill the pre-born, mutilate and pervert the children and the youth, overthrow the family, undermine our Constitution, betray us to our enemies. Silent support is cowardly participation. And do not follow a supposed champion into an evil agenda. I am sickened (literally sickened) at the flood of perversity, sinsanity, idiocracy, the raping of our children (including literal raping right before our very eyes), attacks on our faith, the selling of our country. (end quote)
LET ME ADD...
The Bible tells us how this all turns out. There is no hope in human solution. The only hope is Jesus, and America will ultimately fail because it rejects Christ as Savior and Lord (you cannot have one without the other).
God postpones the return of Christ in order to give mankind every opportunity, but this world will not submit to God as King. Even the earthly reign of Jesus during the Millenium will be enforced with a rod of iron and will culminate in a worldwide rebellion.
Then comes the end of this present evil world.
Then comes eternal judgment.
Then comes eternal separation for the rebellious.
Then comes eternal reign of righteousness in a New Heaven, a New Earth and a New Jerusalem.
He is coming. Now is the accepted time of salvation. Don't wait, because He has already said, "Ready or not, here I come."
Even so, come Lord Jesus.
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