Narrow Way Chronicles: Popular, Wide, and Lukewarm Pt. 1

The world as we know it; is gone. The new world order is underway and progressing as expected. America is in a new era; an era that is grandly historic in context of world civilizations and history.  There are noticeable shifts and changes in societal norms, economics, and culture. Moreover, events and occurrences that were once viewed as odd and uncommon are now a normal part of American and Western society. The earth cries out because of the weight of sin.

Judicious Evaluations

This new era is anything short of prodigious.  My grandparents would’ve been astounded and dismayed by some of what we’ve witnessed in this century. Technological advances such as AI technology is moving at such a rapid pace that efforts for global legislation have been expedited.  Along with the technological advances, we also are observing an influx of social reform movements which have outpaced the both the Civil Rights Movement and the Vietnam war  (1948-1975 source).   Adversely, seemingly successful social reforms movements of today have had little to no effect to advance the cause of Christ. Most aid and help initiatives advancing the cause of moral degradation. The era we are in is an era of darkness aided by Satanic forces which is a precursor to the coming of Christ.  Modern Christians will be challenged and tested in ways we don’t want to imagine, yet,  no servant is greater than his master. The reality is that Satan is a real enemy with a fully functioning military. He’s highly intelligent, but sin is stupid. He is the prince of the air., but his under the sovereign power of God Almighty. He’s recruited apostates and many of the elect will be led astray by their efforts. His efforts have created a perversion of all of God’s creation that includes mainstream culture. It has infected art, politics, and religion; and all of these areas of society are filled with darkness and evil. Much of it is chaotic with the intent to steal glory and admiration from its Creator(see Alice Bailey’s 10 point plan for the NWO). Places and segments of society that would once be considered sacred,  are no longer sacred, and pragmatism is the new politics. Confusion and misinformation are easily accepted. People don’t think to pause, research, and give time for careful consideration.

People are indeed….”carried away”.

Manipulation of information and indoctrination continues to be highly effective. The result?  A world of reactionary emotionalism, impetuousness, impatience, and incivility.  Full-grown adults are not thinking critically and lack the ability to communicate effectively. Much of society is significantly dependent on technology tools and media. As the trajectory moves forward, slaves the to the rhythm of culture become tech zombies living in a world of oxymorons: inclusion within the mass of division and tribalism within cosmopolitanism. This way is contrary to what was once known as free and civil society.  Information isn’t organic; neither is the food. Journalism is a rare treat and newspaper companies are now called online content companies (see Chicago Tribune now called Tronic). This is a new day.

The Concern

So what is the concern? The so-called Christian engages in the same fashion as mainstream society.  Social topics invade and pervade daily living; so much so, that wisdom and worship of the Triune God have taken a back seat. Are we bearing fruit and is that fruit remaining? Are we waging war against sin?  Are we in constant fellowship with a local body or are we now living in Laodicea? Are we more concerned about being right or being righteous? A friend made a keen observation, she says “We are overfed and under-nourished”.  I think she’s on to something….

It is written:

I know your works; you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, I am right, I have prospered, and I need nothing, NOT REALIZING that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.

I took the liberty of emphasizing the words “NOT REALIZING”. If we are not careful, the Pied Piper of Culture play his way in your life and distract us.   To “not realize” is not also realizing pride, arrogance, and evil way.  It is ignoring that we have a propensity to think or behave in nature we inherently love;  hence, we become the opposite of what we think we are. Instead of being hidden in the character and likeness of Christ, we become more like our old nature:  wicked, spiritually blind, and exposed.

Nothing is hidden from the Father of Spirits.

This is the first of a few musings that will focus on the priority of worship;  and if we are committed to God’s plan in Christ to follow the Way in the new age of chaos? New Babylon is here.

Brothers and Sisters, let us check our hearts, and regularly take inventory of what should be chief among our priorities. The heat is slowing increasing and the cares of this world will turn many away.  Will you endure?

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The BIG DEAL About Voting: Blessed is the Poor

In recent times it seems that the act of voting has risen to a high level of importance for so many. People have become very passionate about it; even to the point of blame-shaming on social media.

The question I would propose: Is the act of voting a moral issue or just another social construct for assimilation?

Patriotic vs Obligation

Over the years, I’ve participated in the so-called American Democratic process. Respective to its history in terms of the Black American experience, I still find myself disconnected from its purpose. Factors such as corruption, partiality, elitism are evident because of the intended outcome. The “will of the people” is still limited to a select few…even on local levels. With that said, I can definitively rule out the moral issue.

With respect to establishing a social construct, most American citizens are taught early on that voting is a right, privilege, and a means to “be heard”. What we don’t learn is the whole history and how individual life experiences can have a profound effect on what we value with respect to these ideas. Just ask a Vietnam Veteran.

If one actively researches, most will find that the origins and purpose of the American voting system were used to create a social construct. Today, the spectacle of elections are more useful to distract the masses.

The only thing that is constant is change….selah

Lulling of Ignorance

As  famed fiction writer Vera Nazarian notes:

“It’s a fact—everyone is ignorant in some way or another.
Ignorance is our deepest secret. And it is one of the scariest things out there because those of us who are most ignorant are also the ones who often don’t know it or don’t want to admit it”.

Ignorance; a by-product of pride, continues to blind-side the Believer.

When one resolves to walk in God’s Truth one must submit this simple but profound truth: There is more to the story and we don’t have all the facts. If it doesn’t make sense, it’s not sensible.

God’s truth fosters the realization that says: Are you willing to renounce human tradition? This renunciation requires a steadfast faith in the Father through Christ!

Without Christ people don’t have the ability to see Truth, and Believers of Christ should walk in compassion toward them; but for those of us that are in the light and love of God’s truth, we have the benefit of His wisdom that is found for those that fear and obey Him (Psalm 86:11 Teach me your way, O LORD, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name).

A robust study of the voting system in its totality provides a full viable argument of why voting it is futile, particularly for the poor.  Though the origins of the Voting Right’s Act appeared to have retributive effects, it was never intended to act as a fair and just system for the American election process.  Further study shows that Federal “Executive Orders” and “Acts” are not enforced locally. If there’s no enforcement how can we conclude that the wishes of the EO or Act have been carried out? By local police? …PLEASE!!! If you dedicate the time and research, you quickly conclude that voices or votes of the poor people never really mattered, and most likely, never will. Generally speaking, poor people are invisible and expendable. Conservatives think all poor people are lazy and Democrats think all poor people are helpless. Both sides have an agenda and that agenda is under the grand agenda of the NWO. Bush #2 announced its induction on Sept 11, 1991.

Moreover; based on the purpose and origin of why voting exists, I have a personal conflict knowing that my “vote” is an act of allegiance to an individual that I don’t know. I don’t know how he treats his wife, children, or if he lives life Biblically. With respect to these standards, the vote or voice of the vote is an outward declaration and allegiance to an idea or an individual.

Let’s look at voting in the simplistic terms:

The following source is from the website Online Etymology

vote (n.)

vote (v.): mid-15c., “formal expression of one’s wish or choice with regard to a proposal, candidate, etc.,” from Latin votum “a vow, wish, promise to a god, solemn pledge, dedication,” noun use of neuter of votus, past participle of vovere “to promise, dedicate” (see vow (n.)). Meaning “totality of voters of a certain class or type” is from 1888.vote (v.)

vote (v.)

1550s, “give a vote to;” 1560s, “enact or establish by vote,”; see vote (n.). Earlier it meant “to vow” to do something (mid-15c.). Related: Voted; voting

Biblical Application

My family on the Caucasian side says “consideration should be made with respect to God’s sovereign grace. Therefore, gratitude should be the motive”.  On the other side, I hear:  “Black people died for the right to vote!”, so the conclusion is….. I’m obligated to vote. (as If my vote should be some sort of homage to another human!?) That argument conflicts with my resolve to live in the identity that is in Christ Jesus.

Again…I’m struggling to connect.  So now, voting has become an object of focus and a choice between patriotism or obligation..identifying as an Evangelical or a Negro!?…..why!?

“If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations— “Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings? These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh. If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your1 life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory”.

Though Paul is referring to deceptive teaching to the Colossae church, this exhortation is applicable in terms of culture; particularly in these last days and I am comforted and confronted by it. 

So……the Narrow way continues

Once again, I am faced with that reality of Christ’s clarion call to enter the narrow way. This time: recognizing that human traditions can conflict with the worship of the One True God; always looking at Christ as the example.

Sufficient is the Holy Spirit’s wisdom, teaching, and guidance in the Word of God! When we view the world’s system through the eyes of God’s love and wisdom, your eyes will conform to that which it watches…and in that view, there is great Freedom!

With careful research, study, and a resolve to walk in love, I was granted the privilege to understand the Amercian voting system in its totality; not for the purpose of throwing stones, but because it provides an evidentiary example of human depravity and the argument that people do not “grow in goodness” with time. Over time society will not move toward a positive change, it will become worse..this includes the elites of the world.  The doctrine of Human Depravity teaches this. Human depravity is real and it pervades every area of human society; domestic and abroad. Having a grasp of solid doctrine is useless if Biblical love is not preeminent. If we love people we must share the truth of God’s word and all its ugliness. Biblical love is compassion and its Truth. Even at the risk of losing everything.

Finally, the question becomes: How can you be so sure that Christ did not participate in the election process?

The scriptures do not say, but we are certain that this type of activity was not chief among priorities, nor was it a priority for the early church. Therefore, I choose to enter the narrow way, no matter the backlash.

 

Reading Refresher: The Pursuit of Holiness, Jerry Bridges

Too often, we say we are defeated by this or that sin. No, we are not defeated. We are simply disobedient. It might be good if we stop using the terms victory and defeat to describe our progress in holiness. Rather, we should use the terms obedience and disobedience. When I say I am defeated by some sin, I am unconsciously slipping out from under my responsibility. I am saying something outside of me has defeated me. But when I say I am disobedient, that places the responsibility for my sin squarely on me. We may in fact be defeated, but the reason we are defeated is because we have chosen to disobey.

We need to brace ourselves up and to realize that we are responsible for thoughts, attitudes, and actions. We need to reckon on the fact that we died to sin’s reign, that it no longer has any dominion over us, that God has united us with the risen Christ in all His power and has given us the Holy Spirit to work in us. Only as we accept our responsibility and appropriate God’s provisions will we make any progress in our pursuit of holiness.

Why Prison Ministry IS Important

“Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body”. (Hebrews 13:3 ESV)

As you read these accounts and thoughts of those returning back to our communities, may the Holy Spirit teach and reveal the true character of God….and…may you desire this attribute for yourselves. For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment….Selah 

http://sfbayview.com/2011/04/coming-home-revelations-from-former-prisoners-2/

 When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ (Matthew 25:31-40 ESV)

Men Are Leaving the Church

This is an interesting take of why less than 10% of men attend church. The attached link is the first part of four videos for this section of the series “The Restless Church” by the Fuel Project. I also encourage you to also check out “Know Your Enemy”.