Some of the Most Murderers "Regimes" Since the Early Nineteen-Hundreds, The Last One will Stun You!

We are disgusted with Hitler, with Stalin and with Mao. Rightfully so, we all know they were sick, sick people murdering millions. Some say "God has a special place for them in hell", and maybe he does, I don't know. We wonder "why didn't people step up and stop them"? How could the rest of humanity allow such atrocious atrocities? How could these criminals of humanity and their henchmen do such horrible deeds?

These are all deep questions that we need to perpetually ponder. But I do have to wonder how clean our hands are? In United States alone, where Christianity is a majority, the murderous deed of snuffing out unborn human baby's lives go unchecked. In addition, the sad fact is that many who name the name of Christ do these murderous deeds as well, taking the life of their unborn progeny.

When do you stop being you?

A Zygote from Gray's Anatomy

Let me treat you to a fictitious journey. You rubbed the "magic lamp" and made your wish, you are now on the way to becoming a younger you.

Wrinkles are disappearing and your face and body are looking younger. As the days turn into years you become younger, not older. But you are still you.

Now don't mind all the problems with this story, just let your mind wander with me for a bit.

Did I forget to tell you that you are looking so young that you are no longer an adult, nor a teen, nor a preteen but you just passed first grade? But wait, you are no longer an infant, now don't tell me how, but you now reside in your mother's womb the second time. However, you are still you, aren't you? Now I have a question, at what point do you stop being you - in other words, when do you become "a mass of tissue?"

Did I tell you, that with this wish, you have the potential to live your life three times - two growing older and one growing younger? (Maybe you you are not fond of this, but hey, at least I am giving you a chance here.)

But wait, that "blob of tissue from your mother's womb", if removed would not be a concern for you, because it is not you, it is just a blob of tissue we are told... For some reason, you are no longer able to live your life thrice, just twice. For you see, that mother of that tissue decided that she had her life to live, that blob would just get in the way because your life was not worth having around. Your mother let you down...removed that "tissue" which took your chance of again living your life. She just killed you!


Picture source: "Gray3". Licensed under Public domain via Wikimedia Commons

Spirit Led: Fact or Fiction?

Words can be used equivocally, that is they can be defined a number of ways. In fact phrases can be as well. Some can take on brand new meanings, this is what happens with many novel teachings in Christianity. Many times we become convinced of something and then we set out to prove it Biblically. The phrase "led by the Spirit" or "Spirit led" has become a doctrine in search for prooftexts.

Apply the logic

So using this logic, lets look at the phrase "Spirit led." Does the Bible teach it? Why yes, it does, but it also all depends on what is meant by "Spirit led." The Bible does not present it as a "feely" sort of thing. The Bible teaches that we need to be Spirit led, but in a totally different definition of how we usually hear it used.

Bible case for Spirit led

So let's unpack the correct and biblical case for this concept and how the Bible defines the phrase. First, here are two passages, "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God" (Romans 8:14). And second, "But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law" (Galatians 5:18). These are the only two places that say we are to be Spirit led. (There are others places that talk about some being Spirit led (i.e. Jesus), but maybe we will talk about those another time.)

Now what does it mean?

OK, so we do know that the Bible teaches that we are to be Spirit led, so what does the Scriptures mean by the phrase? Well, remember one of the first principles in reading something? Yes, read in context! Let's do just that.

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God (Roman 8:1-14).

Read through the text again and note the bolded items. These lead up to the phrase "led by the Spirit." If one will note, the passage is talking about sin and how if we are Spirit led, we will not live after the "flesh" or unrighteousness.

Well, what about the other passage?

For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another. This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another (Galatians 5:13-26)

Now I think we are seeing the picture, if we are Christ's, we are dead to the flesh. Being Spirit led is walking in the Spirit which is two fold, not having the fruit of the flesh and second we will have the fruit of the Spirit. Both sides are defined between these two passages.

Conclusion

So does the Bible teach we are to be Spirit led? Yes, but not this contemporary and novel definition that teaches individual personal guidance. This new doctrine has understandably taken the church by a storm during the past two hundred years and has caused confusion, allowance of moral relativism, lack of scriptural knowledge, decreases in clarity and transparency, and lastly the lack of reason and wisdom based off of God's word. The real definition is one who overcomes sin and shows forth virtue. Now that is having a true Spirit led life!

The Disease

I wonder how much this study cost?

McDermott and her colleagues found that study participants were 75% more likely to become divorced if a friend is divorced and 33% more likely to end their marriage if a friend of a friend is divorced.

So divorce is contagious…and you can catch the divorce bug from your friends—even from a friend of a friend (1)?

This article goes on to say the following:

Sociologists call the phenomenon “social contagion”—the spread of information, attitudes and behaviors through friends, families and other social networks (1).

So I bet I could have helped them save a lot of money and time! You can find the following text free on-line. The following is one of the most respected resources ever published. In fact people will freely give you the book that contains the following quote:

It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife. And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you. For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed, In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world (2; bold mine).

Yes, when sin becomes the norm and the "in thing", others follow suit.



(1) http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2013/10/21/is-divorce-contagious/
(2) 1 Corinthians 5:1-10

And the Band Played On

Recently I was given the task to sit through a docudrama called "And the Band Played On." There were some positive aspects, it was entertaining, good acting, educational and helps one understand that we all are people and we all have needs. Also, we can't just ignore others because of his or her beliefs. However, overall I was disappointed.

Concerns

Being made in 1993, it documented the beginnings of the AIDS epidemic. While the topic was interesting, I left feeling quite sad. Why? because the use of entertainment to promote a devious worldview. Here are my main concerns:

Desensitization 

The movie presented itself as a "docudrama," however, it seemed that they wanted to minimally desensitize people to same-sex relationships if not totally make it out as if one is immoral if one says it is sin.

Emotions in the place of arguments 

Since it was a docudrama, they made arguments in a  "pathos", or emotionally appealing way, to convince the listener. They sidestepped rational and moral arguments by tickling one's emotions. In other words, they circumvent the intellect via the emotions. If one is not prepared for this or has been desensitized already, one will fall pray to this rhetoric.

One sided, ungodly agenda

Third, they seemed to have an one sided agenda in both politics and religion. While some of these steps were incognito, others were quite open shots against Christianity and the "political right." This also included a number of scenes where where there was the lack of modest attire and immoral conversation. Sadly they could do this all in the name of entertainment with a dash of "documentary."

The common Joe

Regretfully, most watching this type of movie wouldn't know the difference between right and wrong, or they have been so desensitized to immorality that they have lost their moral compass. When one has a biblical truth foundation and is one who is able to see and cut through this type of  rhetoric, one is prepared for untruth and those that oppose this truth.

After watching this docudrama, one can understand the reason why those around, even those who claim to be Christian, don't follow the motto "...whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things" (Philippians 4:8). How can we change the world, and be a light and salt if we allow filthy and worldly rhetoric to be part of our lives?

Love Not the World

1 John 2:15-17 is a very important passage, it does two things, it prescribes what we should do and not do and second helps define one of the definitions of the word "world". It says the following: "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever."

I see two overarching concepts here: 1) Do not love the world 2) love not the things that are in the world. Concept two is broken down into three things. The first two seem to be broken down into both physical and nonphysical lust. Jesus makes application of this in Matthew five when he talks about murder and adultery (1). The third one tells us that pride is of the world and is sin.

To have the "love of the Father" in us, we need to flee immorality. If you are not a follower of Christ, repent and turn to him. If you are you are practicing unrighteousness, turn back to Christ. Idolatry, sexual immorality, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, homosexuality, divisions and wild parties are acts of immorality. Those who do these things "will not inherit the kingdom of God" (Galations 5:19-21; 1 Timothy 1:10).


(1) Matthew 5:21-28 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison. Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing. Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.