My constant emphasis on this blog over the years has been the two edges of the Sword of the Word of God, and the two distinctly different, even opposite, ministries of these two edges. The two edges are grace vs. law, faith vs. obedience, gospel vs. kingdom, what is “above you” (your relationship with God) vs. what is “beneath you” (your responsibilities here on the earth)—four different ways to express the same idea. It has been about 20 years ago that I first began…

Beth Moore, popular Christian Bible teacher, recently tweeted, “I do not believe these are days for mincing words. I’m 63 1/2 years old & I have never seen anything in these United States of America I found more astonishingly seductive & dangerous to the saints of God than Trumpism. This Christian nationalism is not of God. Move back from it.” Moore is not questioning Donald Trump’s lack of character, his crass ways, his attacking style or his failure to appear “presidential,” which are the…

The political situation today in America has completely captured the attention of citizens who are at all aware of what is happening around us. The political issue that will ultimately determine our future as a free republic or a Venezuela-style, cultural Marxist, Socialist nation, is this: at such a crucial crossroads in time, which fork will the organized, traditional church take its people? Yes, I believe the church holds the key to our nation’s future.  I believe two forks are clear: Fork #1. “We…

As the recent election has unfolded, and the evidence for massive election fraud has continued to pile up, it has become obvious that the powers-that-be, Republican as well as Democrat, want nothing to do with truly investigating the situation. “We gave it our best shot and it’s time to move on” (read: ‘Now that we have gotten rid of Trump, let’s forget this unpleasant, four-year nightmare and get back to business as usual in the Swamp.”) I listened to Rush Limbaugh this morning playing…

As I was thinking about writing this blog posting a few days ago, I was reminiscing over the 62 years since Jesus Christ first began to open my eyes to His desire to capture my heart. In my spiritual autobiography, Waiting for the City, I chronicle that journey.  What a trip! There have been at least 10 campsites where I pitched my tent along the way, thinking each time I had arrived at the City, the final answer to life. But at each site,…

It does only if God, Himself, is waiting to see who our electoral system favors to determine our President for the next four years. The Bible is clear about that. He is not dependent on us for anything: “But our God is in heaven; He does whatever He pleases” (Psalm 115:3). That means that God Himself “… removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding” (Daniel 2:21).  So, we can know for sure…

The day the Democrats have been eagerly anticipating for four years is finally upon us. In two weeks they have the opportunity to bring America out from under the oppressive, fascistic, narcissistic, leadership of the bad, incompetent “Orange Man,” Donald J. Trump. They are rallying around a stalwart, charismatic, dynamic candidate to lead them to victory, Joe Biden. He brings a new vision of free abortion, free health care, free education and free baby-sitting for us, and even for our children! He promises to…

Some time ago, the pastor of a large, metropolitan church called and invited me to breakfast. As we talked, I learned that there was a large group in his church who were experiencing some difficulties with his leadership. He was a strong leader, and his church followed the episcopal church model that has one man as the ultimate decision-maker in the church ministry.  We had been friends for a number of years and had discussed the question of church government previously, always amicably agreeing…

Last week we discussed the differing opinions of John McArthur and Andy Stanley on whether the church should continue to meet, in view of the state’s mandate that they remain closed. We saw that In both cases, their churches fail in following all the biblical parameters of how a church meets. We saw that the Bible teaches that they are to be: 1.) a church that is visible, attendable and available; 2.) a church with intimately related members; 3.) a church where all participate…

Every church in America faces this dilemma. What do we do when the state tells us to close up shop and meet out of doors or online only? There are two famous pastors who are vividly demonstrating the two obvious options. John McArthur in California says, “We will obey God and continue to meet just as God has commanded us. We must obey God rather than man.”  He is doing so with a congregation of thousands, continuing to meet every Sunday morning. Andy Stanley…