Any time we stand next to the casket of a loved one we may find ourselves asking why death exists in the first place.  Even those of us who know that God is love and reigns supreme see death as a very dark experience.  Could He not have devised an easier way for us to depart this life into eternity?  Must there be such suffering and fear?  I am quite sure that God, in His sovereignty, could have done things differently, but in wisdom He chose not to.  Even the joyful celebration of Christ’s resurrection at Easter time does not erase the darkness that was Christ’s necessary crucifixion.

Officiating at the funeral of a good friend reminded me of the suffering surrounding death. But the passage to our eternal state is intentionally difficult and I would like to address some reasons for that darkness and suffering.

We generally avoid the hard stuff in life as much as we can. Questions such as where we will spend eternity, as important as they are, are put off as long as possible, but the death of a loved one forces us, for at least a few days, to deal with reality. The fact that Christ died and we all die tells us that there is something wrong with the human condition. Sin, which is the failure to conform to God and the source of death, is a real problem! The chaos, confusion, violence, and conflict on every hand does not happen in a vacuum. It is the fruit of mankind’s sinfulness. God, on the other hand, is flawlessly perfect, and that presents a real problem for us! We live our lives in conflict with God!

At the same time, eternity is a very long time, and will be the wrong time to discover that we have made a mistake! Therefore, we need to address the hard questions while we can. I suggest you ask yourself two questions, “Am I ready to meet God?” and “will I meet Him on good terms?” Related to these questions, I have three others:

First, if we can get to Heaven by simply doing our best, why did Jesus go through the all the trouble of coming to earth as an infant, living with fallen people, face the rejection by the religious and political leadership, undergo the excruciating agony of the cross and the infinitely greater suffering of separation from His Father? It is important to understand that the greatest price Jesus paid on the cross was the spiritual suffering of being rejected by His Father. “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me,” was the heart-rending cry of the Eternal Son being in some unfathomable way torn from fellowship with His Eternal Father. It was His greatest fear as He prayed in the garden the day before His execution, and the reason for His asking if there were not some other way.

Christ was separated from His Father (which is what death is) so that we would not have to be. His death provided so that we would not have to die. The point being that we cannot gain heaven by anything we do. It has been provided for all who repent and trust Him as a gift paid for by Christ on the cross.

Second, if you would not get on board a plane without knowing its destination, why would you risk entering eternity without knowing your destination? Again, eternity is a long time in which to discover you have made a mistake! You may have been told that no one can know for sure they are going to Heaven, but you have been told wrong.  The Apostle John, in his first epistle wrote, “these things I have written to you who believe in the Name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life. . . .” (I John 5:13).

Third, what kind of God would leave this most important question unknowable? I don’t believe that a loving parent would tell his children, “If you get lost in the woods I may or may not come to look for you! You will just have to wait to find out.” And I do not believe for a minute that a loving God (and He is loving) would leave the most critical question of our eternal existence with an uncertain or unknowable answer. We can know whether we are going to Heaven if we truly want to know!

Therefore, what I am about to say is the most important message you will ever hear if you have not already heard it.

I will return to the first question: Why do we die? Why is physical death our certain reality? It is because we are already spiritually dead! We all died in Adam, and as I mentioned earlier, death is separation from a Holy God. When Adam rebelled against his Creator, he became alienated from Him and as a result we are all alienated from God as well. Death is not cessation of being (for we know we will exist somewhere forever). Rather, it is our spiritual separation from God that ultimately produces a physical separation from Him in Hell, which we think of as death.

The Apostle Paul, in Romans 3:23 wrote that, “for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God,“ and in Romans 6:23 he added, “the wages of sin is death. . . .”  It is, therefore, just as Scripture states elsewhere, “the soul that sins shall die.” Ezekiel 18:20. Our sins have separated us from God because we are sinners by birth and by choice.

Therefore, being sinners, we are in conflict with God because, as I mentioned earlier, He is flawlessly perfect in every way. Sin of any kind is repugnant to Him, and He can only temporarily allow its existence. On-the-other-hand, we are quite comfortable with sin. Oh, sure, we have learned to hate some forms of sin and we tend to reject the sins our culture rejects, but in general we excuse and rationalize sin as “it’s just a little white lie,” or “everyone does it,” or “they did it to me first,” and so on.

Amos 3:3 asks the question, “Can two walk together unless they be agreed?” This is, of course, the question: How can God and men have a harmonious relationship when we disagree about the fundamental issues of sin and righteousness?  The answer is that we cannot. It is this moral chasm that separates us so that we cannot see God, talk to Him face to face, or hear His voice. The best we have, and it is vitally important, is the Scriptures. But anyone who says they have seen God with their own eyes is lying.  “No man can see God and live.” Exodus 33:20, for “Our God is a consuming fire.” (Heb. 12:29)

The solution to this disastrous reality is that we must die as sinners and be “born again” as righteous! Is this possible? Scriptures state that it is precisely what God prescribes for our salvation! Jesus, meeting with the religious ruler, Nicodemus, in John chapter three, informed him that the only way he or anyone can enter the Kingdom is by being born again! This truth is stunning in its implications.

So, how am I to be born again? I cannot get into the details of this profound theological truth for they are beyond our ability to comprehend, and understanding the details is not necessary for us to receive its benefits. Let us simply take God at His word! He states that those who acknowledge their sinful state, turn from the sin, trust that the blood of Christ shed on the cross pays for those sins are forgiven and born again! Paul, in Galatians chapter two notes that those who come by faith are considered “crucified with Christ,” meaning that Christ’s perfect, sacrificial death becomes theirs, and the record declares that they have “died with Him.” And it goes on to say that Christ now lives in them, bringing life, new life, His life!

Therefore, if we have been born-again, we are now alive in and with Christ and we, having died with Christ, will never die again. I remind you that death is separation, and if we have been reconciled to God by our death with Christ, we are no longer at any risk of being separated from Him. Romans chapter eight states in unequivocal terms that nothing can separate those who have been born again from God.  We are His and will one day be in a personal face-to-face relationship with Him forever.

Physical death, which seems so real, is not really death. Jesus called it “sleep” when referring to His good friend Lazarus, who had physically died, but would never actually be separated from God. Jesus told Lazarus’s sisters, “he who lives and believes in Me shall never die!”

That stone marker in the cemetery at the end of our physical existence seems rather intimidating, but it means very little if we have been born again. It merely underscores our transition from this world to our eternal home in the presence of our Savior, Jesus Christ. We move from the “front porch” (our earthly home) into our real home, Heaven. Paul informs us in the glorious text of I Corinthians 15:50-54 that our mortal bodies are not fit for Heaven and must be transformed into immortal bodies. That which decays must be replaced with that which cannot decay. At the point we are removed from here to God’s presence the sting of death will be forever gone. We will be perfected in Christ’s righteousness!

Interestingly, King David’s sublime Shepherd’s Psalm speaks to this very point. It says, “yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me.” (Psalm 23). Now, I cannot walk through a brick wall, but I can walk through its shadow! I tremble to walk through real death, for it would be my eternal destruction, but I need not walk there because Christ did in my place! He walked through death so that I could escape it.  He took on my sin and died in my place; and He put His righteousness on my account that I might live in God’s presence (II Cor. 5:21).

Finally, we return to the point of our beginning: Why do we die and what is to follow? We die because of our sin; but to us who have been born again, we die physically to be transported into the presence of the God who created us, loves us, and paid in full the cost of our sin so that we could be forgiven and made His children!

In simple terms, if we die with Him and are buried with Him (a biblical term) we will also rise with Him; and the Easter (Resurrection Day) celebration centers on that fact. In Romans 6:5 Paul states, “If we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection. . . .”

Are you ready to meet God? Will you meet Him on good terms? The message of the Gospel, God’s “Good News” for sinful mankind, is that you can be ready, and you can settle things so as to meet Him on good terms! Christ’s resurrection two thousand years ago declares that God has accepted Christ’s sacrifice for your and my sin.  If you have not yet accepted His offer of forgiveness and salvation, then today is a good day to do so!

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”  (I John 1:9).

“He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree,
that we might die to sin and live to righteousness.
By His wounds you have been healed.”
~1 Peter 2:24

The death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ is the foundation of the Christian faith. That life can arise miraculously from darkness and death brings great hope. As spring and “new life” emerge, God’s expression can be seen everywhere. This hope that Christians share is a hope far greater than the changing of seasons.

The Resurrection is the central event that distinguishes Christianity from all other faiths. Only God Himself, through His sacrifice on the cross, could redeem man from sin, fulfilling the requirements of the Law. Only God Himself could rise from the dead, returning to deliver to His followers the freedom He had paid to secure.

Outside of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, we know of no other hope for mankind.  That is exactly what German Chancellor Konrad Adenauer once said to Billy Graham: “Mr. Graham, outside of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, I know of no other hope for mankind.” But as we know all too well, not all Americans share this belief.

The fall of Adam and Eve left this world a harsh place and gave birth to this world’s moral and fiscal poverty. The suffering caused by a pandemic like COVID-19 and was exacerbated by power-hungry political “leaders” reminds us that brokenness is everywhere. Indeed, Christ didn’t die on the cross for a world that didn’t need Him. He died for one that did and does need Him. Every one of us desperately needs a Savior.

That’s where the Resurrection of Christ brings the greatest hope. Our ultimate hope is not in public policy or in political leaders, though we must always strive to elect godly statesmen who don’t seek self-gain and pray for their time in office. Our hope is not in political solutions, though we must be good stewards of God’s amazing gift of self-government and advocate for biblical principles in the public square. Our hope is in the renewal that one day “the government will be upon His shoulders” as promised. Our future and our political freedoms are vitally important, yet we do well to remember that our ultimate (eternal) hope is in Jesus Christ and what He did on Good Friday and Easter morning. For that we should be truly thankful. And in hope, we look forward to the day when all things are made new.

“… the angel said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid,
for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified.
He is not here, for He has risen…”
~Matthew 28

So the grandest of all Christian celebrations is upon us. This year, Friday April 7th is Good Friday. Sunday April 9th is Easter. Or Resurrection Day as some prefer to call it.

The two dates vary from year to year. Why? It’s, well, complicated. Why do these two occasions give us the grandest of our faith celebrations as Christ followers? Because we get to color Easter eggs? Uh…wrong answer.

Let’s try to figure this out. The Bible has a very clear account of what took place on what we call Good Friday. I assume you know the story. Let’s check.

Jesus was crucified in a most cruel fashion on a cross on Good Friday because…

• A. He was a known criminal like the other two who were on crosses.
• B. He refused to heal animals as well as people.
• C. He claimed to be the son of God.

I hope you answered “C.” But the answer is incomplete! This next question clears it up.

Jesus willingly gave up His life to be crucified in order that…

• A. People would be convinced He was a tough guy.
• B. He would prove to His followers that the Romans could not break Him.
• C. An ultimate sacrifice for the forgiveness of sin would be paid once and for all.

Again, “C” should be your right answer.

Yes, BUT…why was the Resurrection so important?

• A. It showed you can’t keep a good man down.
• B.  It revealed Jesus had mastered survival techniques.
• C. It proved that Jesus had authority to conquer even death!

Let’s go with “C.”

How marvelous are these truths? It’s impossible to calculate their worth. God’s love is so rich, so amazing, that the Apostle Paul writes: ”…And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” (Eph. 3:17-19, ESV)

Here’s a fourth question. If you asked your children why we honor Good Friday and Easter, what answers would they give?

Christmas and Easter events are rightfully the two most significant occasions each year on our calendars. And the two most distorted! Cultural traditions have so thoroughly blurred the distinctiveness of the birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ that the truths of the Gospel story take a back seat to Santa and the Easter Bunny.

As in years past, a number of articles have surfaced about how to deal with this radical shift from truth. One column I noticed this year is titled, “What Do I Tell My Kids About the Easter Bunny?” The writer claims that symbols used to celebrate our Christian holidays “come from pagan roots rather than Christian traditions (and predate Christianity).”

This writer, Michelle S. Lazurek, explains why the date of Easter changes. And then we get an everlasting gobstopper right in our face: “Christian parents who celebrate the Easter Bunny are no different than those who celebrate Christmas by putting up a Christmas tree.” I personally find that easy to dispute.

There certainly are historical references to the use of evergreen boughs in pagan celebrations, But as even the History Channel notes, “Germany is credited with starting the Christmas tree tradition as we now know it in the 16th century when devout Christians brought decorated trees into their homes.” I don’t recall the Germans welcoming the arrival of the Easter Bunny.

Ms. Kazurek’s solution is as one might commonly hear: “…Christians should always listen to their conscience. If they feel they are dishonoring Christ by celebrating the Easter Bunny or having an Easter basket, they should refrain from doing so.”

Is that the answer? I can’t say definitively. But I’m rather confident that the more Christian parents blur the true meaning of Christmas and RESURRECTION day, the less convincing we are in advocating the truths we treasure most. Or should.

Santa stories may bring hope. But it’s the hope for more stuff for us. The Easter Bunny may bring hope. But it’s the hope of finding the most eggs. Jesus Christ brings authentic life-giving hope. I’m putting all my eggs into His basket.

In Proverbs 8:36, Lady Wisdom declares that “All who hate me love death.” Those who scorn wisdom, who are wise in their own eyes, are not merely prideful, they have a death wish. Wisdom comes to us in many forms — primarily through God’s Word and his Church, but also through the traditions of our family, culture, and nation (Prov. 6:20, 22:28). When a nation rejects these forms of wisdom, it will be a nation soaked with blood.

A recent poll conducted by the Wall Street Journal and NORC (the “Nonpartisan and Objective Research Organization” at the University of Chicago) showed that a mere 38% of Americans surveyed said that patriotism was important to them. This was down from 70% in 1998, when the same poll was last conducted. Now, patriotism is a difficult thing to preserve in an age when abortion is available on demand (or even through the mail) and homosexual “marriage” is the law of the land. But turning against our own nation is also dangerous.

What does this have to do with wisdom? God has appointed nations and cultures as a means of passing down wisdom from generation to generation. A nation that has turned against itself, placing little value on patriotism, is a nation that has shut itself off from a vital God-given source of wisdom. The traditions of a nation and culture, insofar as they are righteous traditions, are the collected wisdom of our fathers and mothers, and to consciously disregard these traditions is to undermine the stability of the social order.

The United States of America has little love for its own traditions, supplanting its once-Christian moral foundations with openly pagan laws and customs. In a word, the United States hates wisdom.

Returning to the point made at the beginning of this article, those who hate wisdom love death. We should not be surprised, then, to see this reflected in the same WSJ-NORC poll that only 23% of adults under age 30 said that having children is very important. A culture that does not value children is a culture that is soon to die off. Failure to marry and procreate is, quite literally, cultural suicide. Already, sociologists and statisticians are warning about the impending crisis that low fertility rates will bring about.

Of course, the same demographic that is eschewing the duty to marry and rear the next generation is still engaging in promiscuous behavior. And so, hundreds of thousands of babies are slaughtered each year. All who hate wisdom love death.

What is the answer to this crisis? Real patriotism. We need a generation of American citizens who love their nation enough to speak against it, condemning the ghoulish practice of abortion and the abomination of homosexual “marriage,” transgender contagion and cross-dressing. We need a generation of American citizens who will commit to abstinence until marriage and then raise children faithfully in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. We need a generation of American citizens who love God and the nation He blessed us with enough to preach the Gospel Truth, boldly calling our government and populace to repentance and righteousness.

The work of reformation will be difficult and laborious, and to those on the outside may appear decidedly un-patriotic—the proclamation of the Gospel is a proclamation of grace, but also judgment on sin. But such a message is necessary if we are to tear down our nation’s unfruitful practices while preserving our most valuable traditions.

Read more:

America Pulls Back From Values That Once Defined It (WSJ)

Most Americans don’t believe the US is the greatest country in the world, poll finds (Fox News)

Religion, Patriotism and Having Children Diminish in Importance for Americans (NCR)

It is a biblical principle that everything reproduces after its own kind. This is true in the physical world, going back to the first chapter of Genesis and right until today. Orange trees reproduce oranges (and orange trees), not apples (and apple trees), and dogs reproduce dogs, not cats. The same is true in the spiritual realm. As Jesus said,

“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.” (Matthew 7:15–20)

We can judge a ministry or a movement or a theology or an ideology by the type of fruit it produces.

Of course, there will always be outliers and exceptions. Not every single piece of fruit on a good tree will be perfect 100 percent of the time.

But without a doubt, a healthy tree will produce good fruit while an unhealthy tree will not.

Earthly Wisdom and Heavenly Wisdom

Jacob (James) also made this important observation about true wisdom, writing,

“Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such ‘wisdom’ does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.” (James 3:13–16)

Now, contrast this “wisdom” that is “earthly, unspiritual, demonic” with heavenly wisdom. Of this, Jacob says,

“But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.” (James 3:17–18)

What a beautiful picture!

Now, let’s think about this for a moment on a very simple, natural level.

Calmness begets calmness but agitation begets agitation.

When you’re in a stressful situation and the person in control exercises calmness, that produces a sense of calmness for everyone else. “Calm down, folks! Everything will be alright.”

In contrast, if the person in control is highly agitated, everyone else will become agitated. “Things are going from bad to worse! Time to panic!”

In the same way, kindness begets kindness but harshness begets harshness.

When you’re kind and gracious to someone, they’re more likely to respond with kindness. When you’re harsh with them, they’re more likely to be harsh with you.

This is common sense, not rocket science.

We Can Examine an Ideology by Its Fruit

That’s why it’s fair to examine a ministry or movement or theology or ideology by the kind of fruit it produces, generally speaking.

Again, we recognize that there will always be exceptions to the rule, but what is the rule? What is the norm?

If a couple has 10 children and 9 of those kids grow up to be exemplary human beings, with the other one being a bit of a jerk, you immediately have two questions: 1) What did those parents do to produce such amazing kids? I can learn from them! 2) What went wrong with that other kid? He obviously didn’t listen to his mom and dad.

I have dealt with Christians in one particular theological camp and found a significant percentage of them to arrogantly and condescendingly mock others outside their camp. This has made me ask myself, “What is it in their theology that produces this bad fruit? Why the cynicism? Why the extreme narrowness?”

BHI Sowing Seeds of Hatred

As I have interacted with Black Hebrew Israelites, I have asked myself similar questions: “Why so much hatred towards those of us you falsely consider to be ‘fake Jews? I don’t hate you because you’re a fake Israelite. Why do you hate me?”

Of course, in the case of this growing and dangerous cult, the answer is simple: They are openly and unashamedly sowing seeds of anti-White, anti-Jewish hate. Of course they will reap the fruit of this same hatred in the hearts of their followers.

Accordingly, when I factually confront their pernicious lies, I receive comments like this online: “U devil lie, just mad because Israel [meaning they’re version of Israel] is waking up. We racist but what the h*** do u call the u.s. government, bunch of murderers, thieves, pedophiles, and molesters, God will judge u devils.”

But this is low hanging fruit and all too easy to expose.

Are We Correct, But in the Wrong Way? What Fruit are We Producing?

What about some of our own political or social rhetoric? What kind of fruit does it produce? It is one thing to state our differences plainly and clearly and to confront the destructive views of those we oppose. It is another to produce a spirit of animosity and disdain for those with whom we differ. That is not from above but from below.

It’s the same with the spirit of our own religious exclusivity. (To be clear, I am a religious exclusivist, believing that salvation can come through Jesus alone. I’m talking about the spirit of our exclusivity). Does it produce arrogance, smugness, and self-righteousness? Or does it produce humility, gratitude, and compassion for those we believe to be lost?

We can have a right doctrine (or ideology or theology or political conviction) but a wrong spirit. We can be on the right side on an issue but carry ourselves in a wrong way.

What kind of fruit am I producing? What kind of fruit are you producing?

Let us judge our trees by their fruit. We may have some serious pruning (or replanting) to do.

This article was originally published at AskDrBrown.org.

Why has our culture gotten so bad, so fast? This question has been posed by many of us in recent days: young adults looking at the world we’re about to step into and wondering how we’ll manage, grandparents trying to figure out why their sweet granddaughter wants to be called Bert, parents watching the government school system trash their child’s faith, and pastors, trying to lead their flock away from glittering worldly baubles.

The Village Church of Barrington recently held a seminar series they titled “Parenting in a Godless Culture; Educating Parents and Grandparents.” Dr. Erwin Lutzer was a special lead speaker in this series and he addresses this question in his lecture he titled “The Eclipse of God in American Culture.” He did a wonderful job, weaving together the historical and sociological reasons for the downfall of society and walking us through how the west’s desire to “kill God” (figuratively – meaning no longer believing that He is the basis for reality and we must answer to Him) has set our country and culture on the same slippery slope Germany slid down in the 1930’s or Russia in the 1910’s.

Dr. Lutzer ends with some important thoughts on what parents and grandparents – and everyone else! – can do to help young people walk a different path. Please watch and share!

Understanding our Culture and how it Impacts our Children – Dr. Erwin Lutzer from Village Church of Barrington on Vimeo.

My mentor, when I became the leader of a pro-life organization, told me that it was not enough to inform Christians regarding the issues at stake in the abortion battle; I had to give them something to do or they would become frustrated and inactive. As I have listened to conservatives address the multiple threats the Left poses to America and our liberties, I find myself frustrated by the lack of options they present.

On one hand, there are a multitude of organizations and politicians asking for donations to “save the country;” but with the potential of scams being so real, knowing which requests are legitimate and which are making a difference is very difficult to determine. Contributing to an organization one is comfortable with is a start, but wisdom would suggest that America’s problems are such that more is required of us than merely making a donation. But at some point, if a person hears only how bad things are but is provided no course of action, he may grow weary and go back to whatever he was doing.

I understand the dearth of suggestions. The Left has gained such a stranglehold on so many of America’s core political and cultural institutions that things appear virtually hopeless. It does seem that there is very little an individual can do. However, such defeatism must not be permitted to shut down our efforts to oppose and overcome the Left’s agenda.

So, what is to be done?

First, Trust in God. By this, I am not referring to the trite and silly offering so many make of “have faith!” No, genuine trust in God requires an understanding of God, His nature, sovereignty, wisdom, and grace. So often His ways are, as a theologian would express it, inscrutable-beyond our understanding. We who have enjoyed the blessings of liberty want to see those blessings continue indefinitely, especially for our posterity. However, Scriptures are clear that God will one day destroy all earthly kingdoms and establish His own, with His Son on the throne. There is much we do not know of events between now and that great day, but one thing is clear: the world will be in the grasp of tyrannical powers by the time the Son of God makes His appearance to claim Earth’s throne. It takes no genius to see how perilously close we are to such a scenario at this moment.

Which leads us back to the point: we must learn what trusting God really means.  An important part of it is accepting that what we desire may not be His will! He is not our genie in a bottle to give us our desires. He has an infinitely wise and eternal plan for the world, and He will carry it to completion. His will may include the end of America as we know it sooner than we like. It may include persecution for those who love and honor Him. On the other hand, it may include a revival and revitalization of the nation for an unknown duration!

On what basis would God bring about such a revival? That is the question that none can answer. We simply do not and cannot know that. What we do know is that God offered Israel numerous opportunities to repent of their sinful rebellion and return to Him, even when it seemed all was lost. Because He is a gracious God and loves mercy, He may turn what appears to be an inevitable end of America into another “Great Awakening.” As one theologian noted, “God is a God of the cliff-hanger.” It is safe to say that He delights to “snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.”

Thus, I would suggest that the nation needs an authoritative call to repentance from every preacher, every pulpit, and every Christian. As it was so often in both Old and New Testament times, sin is rampant and glibly tolerated. Violence dominates the headlines, and God is scorned on every hand. No honest person can deny the similarity between the culture of today and that of Noah’s time when God noted that “every thought and intent of their hearts was only evil continually.” It is sobering to recall that Christ stated that as it was in the days of Noah, so it would be when He returned!

Another major hurdle in the process of preparing America for God’s blessing is that we are in this predicament in the first place largely because of apathy on the part of America’s Christians. We must stir ourselves into action. Slothfulness has never been a virtue and allows the vile and wicked to prosper and succeed. In the political arena, for example, it is said that only a fraction of professing Christians vote. If this is true, simply stirring up the lackadaisical will go a long way toward changing the political landscape, assuming those professing faith are genuine and will vote their consciences.

Someone has said that “If Christ were coming back tomorrow, I would plant a tree today, because He said, ‘occupy ‘til I come.’” A primary responsibility each of us has towards God is to faithfully do what He has told us to do, and that would include exposing and opposing wickedness. In America we have this call upon us first as Christians, but secondarily as good citizens. We citizens are, by the design of the U.S. Constitution, the actual government. All that happens in America is done under our authority, and thus we must be involved!

Therefore, I suggest the following:

1.) Be constantly in prayer. “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplications, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.”  Philippians 4:6. God is sovereign overall and works in conjunction with the prayers of His people to accomplish His will.

2.) Do not allow yourself to be pressured to conform to the thinking or conduct of the world, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds. . . .” Romans 12:2.  This means that we are to resist the corrupting influence of immorality, dishonesty, crudeness, pride and all ungodliness that has become normative for American culture, especially as it is promoted by Hollywood. Stop allowing the filth and nihilism of the Left to infect your mind and the minds of your children!

3.) Speak up and resist the open wickedness. “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.”  Ephesians 5:11. Because “the wicked flee when no man pursues,” we can accomplish much good by simply pointing out the wickedness of our culture and calling it what it is! It is also our right and responsibility to vote, and to do so intelligently. Be an informed voter and vote according to biblical principles. Also, be bold and encourage other Christians to take their biblical and constitutional responsibilities seriously and vote, too!

4.) Protect the vulnerable and powerless, such as children, the unborn, and their mothers. “Deliver those who are drawn toward death, and hold back those stumbling to the slaughter.”  Proverbs 24:11.  “You shall not afflict any widow or fatherless child.”  Exodus 22:22. From a nation created to “promote the blessings of liberty” to the future generations, America has degenerated into a nation that preys upon the young and helpless. We must be their defenders! This includes removing children from public schools which inculcate children with every kind of vice and evil.

5.) The stakes for America and her children are so high that we must no longer allow our concern for what others think of us hinder our involvement. The only One whose view of you matters is Jesus Christ, and He calls you and me to action!

This is by no means a comprehensive list of the things you and I might do to make a difference. While we are called to patience and to give people the benefit of the doubt when we do not know their motives, there is no longer any doubt as to the evil intentions of the Left! They truly represent all that is opposed to Godliness and goodness, and no longer even attempt to hide their wicked intentions. Therefore, let us “fight the good fight of faith,” as Paul said, and place our futures safely in the hands of the Loving Creator who “loves us and gave Himself for us.”

There is no longer any room for spectators in the arena of public affairs.

There are a lot of people proclaiming public schools as harmful – bastions of evil, intent on ruining innocent minds and brainwashing hearts. Some of it can seem like just plain noise, but how much of it is true? What is truly going on in public schools? Is there actually anything going on, or are people just crying wolf? During the Village Church of Barrington’s seminar “Parenting in a Godless Culture: Educating Parents and Grandparents,” church elder David Cartwright answers this question by tracing the history of public schools.

Elder Cartwright goes through some of the curriculum being taught, as well as the LGBTQIA+ push going on behind closed doors. School District 38 Superintendent Bob Gold admits that the environment in schools have become very political in recent years, but warns that not every school is dealing with the problems we see reported on Fox News Channel. He rightly advises that parents and grandparents know what is going on in their own local schools, the teachers and administrators. Above all, he encourages listeners to be very involved in discussions with your children.

Illinois Family Institute is deeply concerned that our children are being dumbed-down and trained in left-wing political ideology on purpose in order to fundamentally transform our nation; to rest our national values, and its Constitutional system of government. According to a 2018 Program for International Student Assessment report, students in 19 other locales scored higher than U.S. students in reading; 22 education systems scored above the U.S. in science; and 29 nations and other jurisdictions outperformed the United States in math. In the state of Illinois, the 2022 proficiency rates in these three core subject areas are unacceptable. See for yourself HERE.

This video is a must see for any parent trying to make a school decision (or curious non-parent’s wanting to remain informed). Please watch and share!

The Public School Option from Village Church of Barrington on Vimeo.

Most of what you read in the news (and, to be frank, most of what we at IFI report in our daily articles) focuses on things the writer thinks are wrong with the world. That’s certainly a vital function of journalism. All the same, it’s definitely a blessing when a journalist gets to report on something God-honoring happening in the world.

Earlier this month, U.S. Representative Mary Miller (R-Lincoln) announced the launch of the Congressional Family Caucus from the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives. In a brief but spirited speech, she explained that the caucus’ purpose is to defend the natural family from Left-grounded erosion. She subsequently criticized the Left for its support of “abortion, fatherlessness, surgical castration, and atheism,” as well as “eliminating parental consent and replacing families with the state.”

As the Congresswoman laid out the stakes in the battle over the family, she was firmly clear both about what the family is and about why the family matters. The “natural family,” as she put it, is “a man and a woman committed for life to each other and to their children,” and is fundamental for our nation’s prosperity as it is “the root of self-government, service, community, and personal responsibility.” To top it all off, she cited Deuteronomy 6 to justify why the family ought to be the hub of instructing our children to love and obey God, then she contended that U.S. Representatives have a moral obligation to protect the family. The caucus is co-sponsored by U.S. Representatives Diana Harshbarger (R-TN) and Brian Babin (R-TX).

And all from the floor of the House of Representatives. That Mrs. Miller had the boldness to call out the importance of the family was one thing, but to chastise the Left for their relentless undermining, to unequivocally define the traditional family contrary to the torrent of popular opinion, and to cite Scripture as support for her initiative, all deserve a standing ovation.

In an interview with Tony Perkins, Miller explained her and her co-sponsors’ efforts more specifically. The caucus’ purpose is to inform legislators about upcoming bills that would promote or tear down the traditional family. This would not only include legislation that is directly aimed at the family, but also bills that might have a completely different surface-level purpose—such as bills pertaining to the economy—but which have family-impacting implications. Miller again emphasized that God’s command about the instruction of children was given to parents, not to the government. And when Perkins asked her how she could use prayer, Miller referenced Psalm 18’s emphasis on the importance of words and asked for prayer for words that would be used to build people up. Let’s pray that the Lord continues to give Miller boldness to speak the firm and simple truth to a world that is blazing with lies.

Speaking of which, although Representative Miller said that the caucus has been met with a great deal of support, not everyone is thrilled about the new show in town. An article in the American Independent warned about the “new anti-LGBTQ Congressional Family Caucus, “lumping it together with recent GOP-sponsored bills addressing transgender bathrooms, locker rooms, and military service as yet another attack on the transgender community. We can only expect that the more effective the caucus becomes, the more fire it will draw from those who reject traditional, scriptural morality and seek to erode it. If you live in Illinois, but especially if you live in Legislative District 15, send Representative Miller an encouraging letter right now.

The great theologian and reformer, John Calvin, studied law before his conversion and service to the Lord as a pastor and teacher. He later wrote and taught on the use and purpose of God’s law:

1] It shows the way of perfect righteousness and also reveals to us how great is our sin.

2] It helps to restrain evil and maintain order in society.

3] It continues to guide believers in terms of our duty.

This is a very helpful summary that guides us in terms of our duty both to share God’s law and the gospel. God’s law is perfect, but it cannot provide salvation because no man save the Lord Jesus Christ can keep it perfectly.

Many Christians rightfully are concerned about sharing the gospel. We know that the gospel alone is what changes sinners from rebels to servants of the Lord Jesus Christ (Rom. 1:16-17). However, too many Christians ignore the proper purpose of the law. Although all men have been created in God’s image and know that there is a God and are aware of His power (Rom. 1:20), God did not just tell people to rely on their inner sense of right and wrong. God created our conscience, but He still determined to reveal His law to Israel, which, when properly understood, is applicable today.

This means that we cannot just sit back and hope that people will trust in Jesus. The reality of man’s sinfulness must be proclaimed along with the horror of God’s judgment. The hope and promises of the gospel must also be shared.

When we see wicked laws instituted at the state and federal level, laws that go against God’s law, we must speak out. The shedding of innocent blood through abortion cannot be tolerated. We cannot simply hide behind the fact that we ultimately want people to be converted and remain silent on the key issues of the day.

We live in a diverse nation, but morality cannot simply be determined by public consensus. The source of law is the God of all societies. We have witnessed a very long but demonstrable legal, moral, and religious revolution as, increasingly, the basis for the law has less to do with God and everything to do with public sentiment. This is not acceptable for those who know the truth.

Francis Shaeffer was once asked the question, “What would you do if you met a really modern man on a train and you had just an hour to talk to him about the gospel?” Shaeffer replied:

I’ve said over and over, I would spend 45-50 minutes on the negative, to really show him his dilemma – that he is morally dead – then I’d take 10-15 minutes to preach the gospel. I believe that much of our evangelistic work and personal work today is not clear simply because we are too anxious to get to the answer without having a man realize the real cause of his sickness, which is true moral guilt (and not just psychological feelings) in the presence of God. (Will Metzger, Tell the Truth)

In an earlier article, I mentioned the 2022 State of Theology conducted by Ligonier and LifeWay Research. That survey showed that on some matters, evangelical Christians overall have a correct view:

94% of evangelicals think sex outside of traditional marriage is a sin and 91% think that abortion is a sin. However, other questions continue to indicate confusion on important matters.

For instance, 37% of evangelicals believe that gender identity is a matter of choice, and 28% believe that the Bible’s condemnation of homosexual behavior doesn’t apply today.

On these two key issues, our world is going crazy, and over a quarter of evangelicals have little problem with the direction. We very much need the correction and guidance found in God’s Law on all these issues.

We must not be ashamed of God’s truth; rather, we must boldly and lovingly declare what God’s law states concerning sin and seek to share with sinners their only hope of salvation in the message of the gospel. In this way, we stand against the false message of tolerance, and we guard against hypocrisy.

Let’s commit to being faithful in sharing God’s law and gospel.

Gallup recently released poll results showing that 7.2% of American adults identify as “lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or something other than heterosexual.” When Gallup first started measuring LGBT statistics in 2012, this number was 3.5%, which means that the LGBT community as a proportion of the U.S. population has doubled over the last ten years.

However, the poll displays a more nuanced result when this 7.2% of the population is  broken down proportionally by age group. Only 1.7% of the Silent Generation, 2.7% of baby boomers, and 3.3% of Generation X identify as LGBT, which leaves the remainder of the U.S. population’s 7.2% to be made up by millennials and Generation Z: a significant 11.2% of the former and a staggering 19.7% of the latter. So according to Gallup’s numbers, not only is 1 or 2 in every 20 U.S. adults lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or “other LGBT,” but 1 in every 5 gen-z-ers is. We’ve come a long way over the last 50 years. Flash back to 1972, when the American Psychiatric Association was classifying homosexuality as a mental illness; now, in 2022, 1 in every 5 of young adults place themselves outside of the traditional heterosexual paradigm.

For some, this poll reflects an admirable shift in American culture. As society becomes more accepting and affirming of the lifestyle—celebrating it as an important aspect of a person’s identity and normalizing it to the younger generation—more and more of the nation’s young people go off to explore their sexualities in these sinful ways while they are young and impressionable and those who should be seeking help for this sexual disorder now feel legitimized in this broken lifestyle. Cathy Renna, the National LGBTQ Task Force communications director, seemed to convey this sentiment in her remarks to USA TODAY:

Who we are is rooted deeply in us and is something young people – growing up in a culture that has finally been able to tell them that they are aren’t alone [sic], that they are beautiful and perfect exactly as they are – will never turn back from now.

Sadly, however, Renna’s remark is truer than she might think. When young people grow up in a culture that tells them they are perfect “exactly as they are,” they might very well never turn back from it.

In Generation Z’s results, we now see the cumulative effects of the steady push to legalize, then normalize, then praise these sinful lifestyles. There’s a reason almost no one in the Silent Generation answered the Gallup poll as LGBT—they were all born before 1945, in a world which was not perfect by any means, but which was definitely more true to biblical standards of sexuality than ours is today. As the generations rolled on, the push to affirm the LGBT lifestyles got louder and louder, but it wasn’t until the most recent generations that we could really say that young people have “grown up” in such a sin-affirming world.

Most of us have a hard time imagining what the world would be like without cars, because we all grew up in a world saturated with them. We no longer think about whether they are beneficial or detrimental, as I’m sure many people did at the turn of the 20th century; we just accept them as a matter of fact, because they are an integral part of our world and they are here to stay. Likewise, I think many of the younger generations are now going to have a hard time imagining what the world would be like if heterosexual marriage were the universal norm. Vigorous debate does still persist right now, but if trends continue like they have been, then it’s going to be harder and harder to get people to believe the biblical paradigm. Perversion will be an integral part of our world and here to stay—or, as Renna put it, young people “will never turn back now.” For her movement, it’s a trend of liberation. But this is not liberty—this is bondage.

The Bible frighteningly describes how societies slip into this kind of sexual perversion—as a form of bondage, rather than a form of liberation. For those who want to see our nation avoid cultural self-destruction, this trend should bring us to our knees. Here’s the basic outline: God has made Himself plain to everyone, so that we are all without excuse if we try to deny Him (Rom. 1:19–20). Nevertheless, unbelievers refuse to acknowledge God; although they know God, they neither glorify Him as God nor are thankful to Him (Rom. 1:21).

So what is God’s response? Does God try to reveal Himself harder? Give people more signs? Make people think more clearly? No, the opposite is true. While God definitely extends His grace to many, and no one is beyond His saving power, Paul explains the natural trend of the unbelievers that refuse to glorify God: their thinking will become futile and their hearts will be darkened (Rom. 1:21). This is not liberation; this is debilitation. Even though they might claim to be wise—maybe even “woke” to all the injustices that no one else can see—unbelievers become fools. They exchange God’s glory for mere images (Rom. 1:22–23).

But the consequences don’t stop there. Not only does sin affect the mind, as unbelievers will claim to be wise while actually becoming fools, but rejection of God also affects sexuality. The very next step is that God gives them over—the same word used when Jesus predicted his betrayal—to sexual impurity, degrading their bodies (Rom. 1:24). They will exchange God’s truth for lies, and slip further into bondage. The unbelievers no longer serve God, but serve creation (Rom. 1:25).

This only spirals downwards, because God then gives them over—there’s that phrase again—to vile lusts (Rom. 1:26). And what are these vile lusts? Then come the chilling words:

For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error (Rom. 1:26–27, ESV).

It may sound cold to some, but here’s the harsh truth: homosexuality is not an immutable identity—it was never the way humans were ever supposed to be. Rather, when it is prevalent in a society, it is an enslaving consequence of rejecting God.

A society that openly accepts sin is far, far down the broad and wide road, and accordingly, Paul ends this passage by listing a series of evils, and then criticizing those who “not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them” (Rom. 1:32, ESV, italics mine). Which is what Renna, along with an increasingly vocal portion of our society, is now doing.

The increasing population proportion of the LGBT community and the promulgation of its acceptance are feeding each other in a vicious cycle. Renna hit the nail exactly on the head when she observed that a culture of acceptance will mean youth will never turn back. But that is precisely what is so frightening. Youth will never turn back if youth is enslaved by sexual perversion, having been “given over” to it as a consequence of sin. Our society is already far down the Romans 1 path that begins with rejecting God and ends in enslaving debauchery.

Only by a miracle of God can it be redeemed.

But our God is a God who answers prayer, and He is also a God of miracles.

Any parent knows that trying to raise children is difficult. Especially if you are trying to raise your kids in the nurture and admonition of the Lord in a post-Christian society, such as our own. Everywhere you turn it seems like the world is trying to destroy any semblance of innocence in the hearts and minds of the youngest in society. How is a parent supposed to compete when the world is so dark? One of the most important decisions a Christian parent can make is where their children are going to go to school – who is going to be teaching them, and what are they going to be taught?

Well, the Village Church of Barrington recently held a seminar that helped to answer this question entitled: “Parenting in a Godless Culture: Educating Parents and Grandparents,”

Elder Greg Nash kicks the seminar off by discussing what the Bible says about educating children and why so many young adults and kids have a worldly worldview. Videos of each speaker have been posted online, and we’ve linked the first video here. Please be sure to watch and share!

Holiness is a foreign topic for most people. Even Christians. We have a vague familiarity with the context in which it is usually found.

First and foremost, we are told that God the Almighty is “holy.” As the Israelites were getting familiar with their Divine Deliverer, these words were given to them: “For I am the LORD your God, so you must consecrate yourselves and be holy because I am holy.” (Leviticus 11:44,  CSB) This is repeated three more times in Leviticus.

New Testament readers are told, “That’s why the Scriptures say, ‘I am the holy God, and you must be holy too.’ (1 Peter 1:16, CEV) Rather intimidating instruction! The Hebrew word for holiness is qōdes. That which is holy is sacred, in contrast to everything common and profane. How did we allow this to slip by?

I encountered the importance of the godly character of holiness in the foreword of Chuck Colson’s excellent book, Loving God. Chuck had come across a resource of profound insight on the subject written by theologian R.C. Sproul. It was titled (appropriately) The Holiness of God. Chuck stated that after reading Sproul’s book, he fell to his knees deep in awe over the holiness of God!

I would later read that same book by Sproul. And others of his. R.C. was a man who clearly took God at His Word.

Holy. It’s one word—among many—that we abuse in our world today by minimizing its significance. How often do we hear holy used in conjunction with terms such as holy cow, holy moley, holy guacamole, holy hell (wow), holy cr*p, and the even more offensive holy sh**? Other variations certainly exist and all of them run quite counter to the instruction to be holy. Ironic.

In our modern thinking, words apparently don’t really matter. This is why I was struck by a recent Christianity Today story titled, “Words are Holy. so Why Don’t We Talk Like They are?” It’s written by Paul J. Pastor, who is a pastor, author, and editor.

As Pastor states, “Today, we live in a crisis of language. Not only is the sacred nature of our words largely forgotten, but language is becoming degraded. In a world of significant social, ecological, and spiritual crisis, this may seem like a low priority. But healthy language, like clean air or water, is something we take for granted until it is gone.”

Pastor uses illustrations from the legendary George Orwell, who found political speech quite disturbing in his day. Imagine what his perspective might be like in 2023! Pastor determines this about our times, “So the great threat to language is not from a shadowy politburo. It is from the sheer disposability of words as part of a general glut of information. Words are everywhere. What is everywhere must not be precious. Language becomes disposable.”

What words can you think of that have lost their meaning? How about amazing. Incredible. Unbelievable. Even great. All attributed to ideas, thoughts, or acts that are nothing more than ordinary. And let me add one of my favorites to the list: perfect. I’ve heard waiters and waitresses use that word when I tell them we need a table for two.

Admittedly, none of those word trivialities rank up there in my book with the abuse of the word holy.

To be clear, our call to holiness is not a call to live a life of perfection. That is an impossible task and attempting to do so can quickly move into legalism. But our call to live righteous lives is the target for which we aim in the faith. Even in our language.

How comfortable have we become with the abuse of the word holy? Enough so that when it is used in any derogative form, few are the souls who would dare correct or challenge it. Even among the church faithful.

I’m often haunted by Jesus’ words about words. “I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” (Matthew 12:36-37, ESV) I plead guilty to that charge often and have needed the healing words of forgiveness.

How about you? It might be worthy of some holy conversation!

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

I realize that there are many definitions of what a Christian is, but I am writing to those of you who have, like me, trusted Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior and have been born again.

We live in perilous times, and for the first time in hundreds of years on this continent, we face serious opposition and potential persecution.  It is not a pleasant thought, and we will find it very tempting to compromise truth, or just remain silent.  But that is not really an option!  Whether it will come to actual persecution as our brothers and sisters in China, North Korea and elsewhere face, only God knows.  Either way, it should not surprise us that we are hated by people of the world and especially by the Left.  Jesus noted when He was here that the world hated Him, and thus they would hate those who chose to follow Him.  In fact, He stated in Matthew 5, “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.  Rejoice and be exceeding glad, for great is your reward in heaven!” (Matt 5:11, 12 NKJV).  As poorly as we Christians have followed Christ, (and we must admit to failing Him), the aura of Christ still somehow shines through and those who hate Him also hate what they see of Him in us.  Interestingly, humorist Mark Twain noted that “there is nothing more irritating than a good example!”  Righteousness intimidates unrighteousness, and light angers those who love darkness.

America has been richly blessed beyond all other nations in history, and those of us who know our nation’s history, and are aware of how God has blessed the entire world through America, hate to see her attacked, and slandered.  Most people throughout time have lived under one type of tyrant or another.  Whether they were called kings, emperors, pharaohs, premiers, or comrades, the lives of average citizens were generally unpleasant, often miserable, and certainly not free.  Whether God, in His grace, renews our liberties or not hangs in the balance at the moment, but we must understand that Scriptures are clear that there will be no place like America during the final years of world history just prior to Christ establishing His kingdom.  We do not know God’s plan for this country, upon which He “shed His grace.”

However, this is not a call for passivity!  Because we do not know God’s mind, we should continue pleading for an extension of His grace to America.  But too many Christians appear to believe that merely asking for God’s blessing is sufficient.  I read and hear many people saying, “God bless America” without and reference to the fact that America has turned its back to God!  On what basis do we expect His blessings?  We should consider a relevant text found in II Chronicles where God specifically addresses this subject.  II Chronicles 7:14, while written for Israel and not the United States, still presents the theological pathway to a place where God might bestow His blessing, and that pathway begins with humility and repentance.  There is no reason for Christians to think that God will pour out His rich grace on America when multitudes of Christians live like the world and persist in activities and attitudes that are disgusting to His holiness!  Parents know better than to give treats to children who are disobeying them.  Do we think that God is not as wise as parents?

The “world system” is at war with God, and James warned in his letter that Christians who seek to please the world rather than God are like adulterers.  He noted, “he who would be a friend of the world makes himself the enemy of God!”  We cannot serve two masters; we must make our choice!  Twenty-eight-year-old missionary, Jim Elliot, who was martyred for his faith in 1956, wrote, “he is no fool who gives what he cannot keep, to gain what he cannot lose.”

Whatever gain you might make, or think you make by going along with the world will be short-lived at best and may cost you eternal blessings.  Christ said, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. . . .” (Matt. 6:19 NKJV).  It is not surprising when those who see this world as all there is, have no scruples in taking for themselves whatever they want without regard to the impact and cost to others.  But we Christians ought to know better.  It is a foolish Christian who allows himself to be tricked into thinking this world offers more than Christ does, or that we can please both the world and God!

I would like to urge every Christian who reads this to do some honest soul-searching to determine to what length they have compromised God’s word and righteousness in order to get along and avoid the world’s displeasure.  In whatever way you have failed in obedience, repent today, and accept God’s grace.  Whether it has been overt sinfulness, or passive silence in the face of the wickedness of our culture, determine to stand now!  Bring your spiritual, cultural, political, and personal choices into harmony with God’s revealed will.  Rebuke the evils of the culture, reaching out with the compassion of Christ to those injured by the prevalent hedonism of the day, and point hungry hearts to Christ!  He alone can save and bring hope and peace!

If we equivocate with our message.  If we remain silent in the face of evil.  If we are passive in dealing with the lies being foisted upon America and especially the children and young people, we will be failing God, and we will be failing those whose lives are being destroyed.  Have you considered the despair that characterizes millions of American young people who hear nothing but the nihilism and hopelessness of secularism that dominates the educational establishment and contemporary culture?  Do the deaths of tens of thousands of children and young adults through drug poisoning and suicide every year mean nothing?  Are you aware of the innocent little children being exploited and groomed by the sexualized curriculum of public education and public libraries?  God calls us to “deliver them that are drawn onto death. . . . “  (Prov. 24:11 KJV).

We have no way of knowing whether God’s gracious face will shine once more upon America;  but if He does not revive the nation, if we have been faithful to the One who redeemed us with His own blood on the cross, He will welcome us one day to His home with a “well done, good and faithful servant!”

Few Christians have been given great wealth or power, but everyone of us has been called to point people to the cross of Christ where they find forgiveness, peace, and joy for eternity; and that is a great calling and is well worth whatever little it might cost us here.

But there may be some who read this and wonder what I mean by the term “born again.”  Unfortunately, the expression has been hijacked for a variety of other uses and has been maligned by many.  However, Jesus Christ, in the third chapter of the Gospel of John, stated that one must be “born again” to see and enter His Kingdom!  For that reason, it is very important that you know what it really means.

Paul, the Apostle, wrote that everyone enters this world spiritually “dead in trespasses and sin.”  Death, in this context, refers to our being separated from God.  God, being perfectly holy and righteous, must and did separate Himself from us sinners, for “there is none righteous, no, not one,” (Rom. 3:10 NKJV).  Death is alienation from God, life is to be in fellowship with, or connected to God.  Thus, we all begin at the same place: spiritually “dead.”  However, when we understand that Jesus Christ’s death on the cross in our place “paid” the penalty for our sin, and that He offers us forgiveness when we repent and trust Him, the pathway to life becomes available to us.  Therefore, if we turn from our sin, ask, and trust Him for forgiveness, we are “born again” and become His children! (John 1:12).  We are at that moment given spiritual “life” for the first time and will never die spiritually; that is, we will never be separated from God again!  “For God so loved the world that He gave His Only Begotten Son, that whoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”  (John 3:16 NKJV).

If you have spoken with God, asked for His forgiveness and asked Him to make you His child, based upon the fact that Jesus paid for your sin, we would love to hear from you!