Have you seen those viral posts warning about witches and warlocks casting curses—maybe even using owls as secret messengers? With Halloween vibes and Wiccan influencers online, it’s easy to get spooked. Real talk: Some spiritual danger is legit, but a lot is just superstition. The Bible cuts through the fog, telling us what’s worth fearing and what’s nonsense. Let’s unpack it.

First, the Bible doesn’t ignore the dark side. Witchcraft and sorcery aren’t games—they’re serious rebellion against God. Deuteronomy 18:10-12 lists it right up there: “There shall not be found among you… a sorcerer, or a charmer… or one who calls up the dead. For whoever does these things is an abomination to the Lord.” Paul calls it a sin that can keep you out of God’s kingdom . Think King Saul—he snuck off to a witch at Endor, and demons showed up pretending to be Samuel . Or the slave girl in Acts 16:16-18, possessed with a spirit of divination until Paul casts it out. Demons are real, and messing with occult stuff can open doors to trouble . So yeah, if friends are into Wicca or spells, caution flag up—repent and burn the books, like those Ephesians did .

Curses? They exist too, but don’t freak. Balaam tried cursing Israel for cash, but God flipped it to blessing . Proverbs 26:2 nails it: “Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest.” Jesus took every curse on himself , so if you’re in him, you’re covered. No need for counter-spells—just Psalm 91 prayers.

Now, the superstition part: Animals like owls as witch messengers? Total bunk. Owls are just birds—unclean ones, sure , but not Satan’s email service. The Bible pictures the devil as a “roaring lion” or sneaky serpent , not an owl courier. That’s pagan folklore sneaking in, not Scripture. Jesus sent demons into pigs , but owls? Nope.

Wiccan spells sound powerful—”An it harm none, do what ye will”—but they’re smoke and mirrors. Pharaoh’s magicians copied Moses’ miracles at first, then bombed out when rods got real . Elijah smoked Baal’s fake prophets—no spell saved them . John reminds us: “He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world” . Satan fakes light , but Jesus crushed his powers at the cross . Most “witch power” is mind tricks, coincidence, or bluff.

So, what’s the takeaway? Stay vigilant, not paranoid. Suit up with God’s armor , test every spirit , and fear God alone. Witches walk among us, curses fly—but they’re toothless against the King. Ditch the fear; grab the Word. Who’s with me? 🛡️📖

“God loves the sinner but hates the sin”—it’s a reassuring mantra echoed in countless sermons. But Scripture paints a fuller picture: God hates both sin and unrepentant sinners, a truth spanning Old and New Testaments. This isn’t outdated wrath; it’s the New Covenant’s foundation for grace, urging flight to Christ.

In the Old Testament, it’s stark. Psalm 11:5 states, “The Lord… his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence.” Proverbs 6:16-19 despises proud schemers and liars as abominations—people, not mere acts. Hosea 9:15 confesses, “Because of the wickedness of their deeds, I will drive them out of my house… I began to hate them.” Malachi 1:3 declares Esau hated , while Deuteronomy 28 unleashes curses on rebels.

This doesn’t fade in the New Covenant. Jesus reserves “eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels” for merciless “goats” —personal judgment. Revelation 21:8, under the new heaven-earth, dooms the cowardly and immoral to the lake of fire. John 3:36 warns, “Whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.” Wrath abides post-cross, on unbelievers.

Hebrews 10:29-31 terrifies: Those trampling Christ’s blood face “a fearful expectation of judgment and a fury of fire… the Lord will judge his people… It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” New Covenant believers are warned against apostasy, lest they meet a hating God.

Yet Romans 5:8 shines: “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” God’s pursuing love  targets enemies under wrath , delaying judgment for repentance . Psalm 7:11’s daily anger persists, but Calvary absorbs it for the turning heart.

The myth dilutes this, birthing cheap grace. New Covenant truth? God hates unrepentant sinners to drive us to the Savior who turns hatred to sonship . Repent—the cross bridges wrath to welcome.

Imagine shelling out $50 for a concert ticket—not to see your favorite rock band, but to “worship God.” Elevate your hands, sway to the lights, and chase that emotional high. Sounds spiritual, right? But what if the real product is profit, not praise? Welcome to the multimillion-dollar worship industry, where Hillsong, Elevation Worship, and Bethel Music rake in fortunes from CCLI licensing, streaming royalties, album sales, and sold-out arena tours. Christians pay top dollar for the privilege of singing along to celebrity worship leaders, while Jesus warned against making His Father’s house a marketplace .

The Temple 2.0: A Billion-Dollar Bazaar

Jesus didn’t mince words when He stormed the Jerusalem Temple, flipping tables and driving out merchants with a whip: “Take these things away; do not make my Father’s house a house of trade” . Those money-changers turned sacred space into a for-profit racket, exploiting worshippers who traveled far to offer sacrifices. Fast-forward to today: Worship concerts mimic that chaos. Fans drop cash on VIP meet-and-greets, merch booths overflow with hoodies and devotionals, and arenas pulse with laser shows rivaling Coachella. Hillsong alone reportedly pulls $100M+ annually , Elevation Worship tours pack 20K-seat venues at $40-100/ticket, and Bethel’s ecosystem thrives on song licensing—churches pay CCLI fees to legally project lyrics, funneling millions back to the machine.

Don’t get me wrong: Artists deserve fair pay. Paul the tentmaker worked to support his ministry , and Scripture honors labor: “The laborer deserves his wages” . But when worship becomes a branded empire—complete with private jets, book deals, and influencer pastors—the line blurs. Concerts aren’t free church gatherings; they’re ticketed events where the band is the draw, not the cross. As one insider leaked, “It’s a business model disguised as ministry.” Jesus as the sole celebrity? Forgotten amid the spotlights.

Paying for a Seat at Jesus’ Table

This isn’t harmless entertainment. Believers fork over hard-earned money for an experience Scripture says is free: “Come to me, all who labor…and I will give you rest” . No admission fee required. Yet here we are, buying “nosebleed seats” to scream lyrics like “Oceans” or “Reckless Love,” while the real reckless love hung on a cross without a merch table. It’s the modern equivalent of Simon the Sorcerer trying to buy the Holy Spirit’s power —commercializing the sacred.

Commercial Christianity echoes the Pharisees’ love of “the best seats in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces” . Worship leaders become untouchable stars, their songs engineered for radio play and viral TikToks, not raw repentance. Paul urged, “Do not be conformed to this world” , but this world loves celebrities. The result? Shallow faith, where emotional chills replace conviction: “They worshiped the Lord, but they also served their own gods” .

Flipping the Tables: A Call to True Worship

Jesus cleared the Temple twice , roaring, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations?’ But you have made it a den of robbers” . Today’s worship industry? A glossy den, profiting off praise. Churches, wake up: Stream free hymnals, sing Psalms acapella , and make Jesus the only name that shines.

Support creators ethically—buy albums directly, not arena tickets. But let’s not fund empires built on His name. True worship costs nothing but surrender: “God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth” . Flip those tables. Make Jesus the celebrity again.

In recent years, a cadre of self-styled deliverance ministers—often dubbing themselves “demon hunters” or even apostles—has surged into prominence through viral YouTube videos, packed stadium events, and incendiary social media campaigns. Figures like Isaiah Saldivar, Mike Signorelli, Alexander Pagani, and Greg Locke exemplify this movement, crisscrossing the United States to cast out demons from ostensibly possessed Christians. They attribute everyday afflictions—anxiety, pornography addiction, even ADHD—to malevolent spirits such as “Jezebel,” “marine demons,” or “trauma entities.” Stadium revivals draw thousands, with dramatic spectacles of attendees convulsing on the floor, emitting guttural groans, or collapsing in what proponents call “Holy Spirit manifestations.” Yet, reports of relapses abound, where symptoms return more intensely weeks later. This phenomenon, while reminiscent of biblical exorcisms, diverges sharply from scriptural precedents, raising profound questions about theological fidelity, psychological dynamics, and spiritual manipulation.

Consider the practices of these ministers. Saldivar, boasting over 800,000 YouTube subscribers, conducts “deliverance maps” and mass exorcisms, claiming to liberate thousands from spirits allegedly inhabiting microwaves or causing depression. Signorelli collaborates with influencers like Grav3yard Girl in New York City events, targeting “hardware demons.” Pagani, author of The Secrets to Deliverance, posits that individuals may harbor up to fifty demons. Locke, pastor of Global Vision Bible Church in Mount Juliet, Tennessee, proclaims himself an apostle—a title he adopted in 2022 amid personal scandals—and has demonized everything from children’s plush toys to dissenting church deacons. Their events often feature participants writhing uncontrollably, barking, or lying unconscious, phenomena strikingly parallel to kundalini awakenings described in Hindu Tantric texts like the Hatha Yoga Pradipika. There, the serpent goddess Shakti uncoils up the spine, inducing kriyas , ecstatic cries, and trance states, as chronicled in Gopi Krishna’s 1967 autobiography. Physiologically, both evoke autonomic nervous system surges—endorphin rushes and frontal lobe deactivation per fMRI studies—yet the former invokes Christ’s authority while the latter channels impersonal energy.

Scripture, however, offers no endorsement for this itinerant demon-hunting model. Jesus and the apostles addressed possession reactively, not proactively. In Mark 1:32-39, after evening healings, Jesus prioritized preaching the gospel over exorcisms. Luke 4:41 depicts demons crying out unbidden, prompting rebuke rather than pursuit. Paul’s annoyance with a slave girl’s spirit in Acts 16 led to a spontaneous casting out, not a targeted campaign. The Lord’s commission in Matthew 10:8 emphasized freely given authority amid house-to-house evangelism, eschewing stadium spectacles. Post-resurrection, miracles confirmed the message , but Paul focused on gospel proclamation . Relapses in these modern ministries echo Luke 11:24-26, where an unclean spirit returns with worse companions to an unfilled house—a dynamic ministers like Pagani acknowledge but attribute to the recipient’s “reopened ground” rather than methodological flaws.

Greg Locke’s self-proclaimed apostleship exemplifies deeper issues. Biblical apostles were eyewitnesses to the resurrection , confirmed by “signs of a true apostle” like unparalleled miracles , and appointed by the church . Locke, ordained young and thrice-married amid a 2022 adultery scandal involving his ex-wife Tai , flouts pastoral qualifications in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1. These demand a man “above reproach,” “husband of one wife,” temperate, and of good reputation—standards Locke violates through plushie bonfires, COVID defiance lawsuits, and family estrangements, including public rebukes of his rebellious daughter. His retorts—”anointing covers imperfection,” akin to David’s adultery—ignore 1 Timothy 3:2’s permanence for office-holders and overlook David’s repentance and demotion.

Compounding these discrepancies is a pattern of spiritual manipulation designed to deflect reproof. Both Saldivar and Locke weaponize Psalm 105:15’s “touch not mine anointed,” branding critics as “Pharisees” or demon-possessed. Saldivar, in a 2023 video timestamped at 15:32, declares, “Religious Pharisees hated Jesus’ miracles. Same spirit questions my deliverances—bind it!” During his 2023 LA Revival at 42:10, he attributes relapses to victims’ “doubt,” shifting blame. Locke, post-2022 commissioning at 51:15, labels scrutiny “witchcraft against my mantle.” A 2023 Nashville event with Saldivar  equates opposition with “religious spirits” Jesus overturned. This echoes Diotrephes’ authoritarianism in 3 John 9, stifling the biblical mandate for mutual accountability . Jesus publicly excoriated hypocrites , Paul named false teachers , and 1 Timothy 5:20 prescribes open rebuke—hardly an untouchable elite.

A particularly alarming extension of their influence is the Spiritual Warfare Study Bible, co-endorsed by Saldivar, Locke, and allies. This edition overlays Scripture with wild annotations claiming household objects like Roombas and Keurig machines harbor demons, everyday foods invite witchcraft, and biblical passages mandate binding territorial spirits over cities via public prayers. Such extrapolations lack exegetical grounding, veering into superstitious fearmongering that pathologizes the mundane and fosters paranoia rather than peace . Readers should approach with extreme caution, cross-referencing against plain-text hermeneutics and sound doctrine.

Critics like John MacArthur warn that “hunting demons invites their pursuit,” prioritizing gospel preaching where demons flee naturally. Historical precedents—Shakers’ dances, Azusa Street falls—show experiential excesses across traditions, underscoring the need for discernment . While genuine deliverance occurs, this model’s spectacle, over-demonization of sin or medicine, apostolic pretensions, and anti-reproof rhetoric foster dependency over maturity . Relapses, scandals, and absent fruits  signal a departure from apostolic norms.

Ultimately, the church must reclaim local leadership , integrate counseling and medicine, and test every spirit by Christology . As Galatians 1:8 cautions, even angelic messages warrant scrutiny. In pursuing deliverance, let us not chase shadows but build on the sure foundation of Scripture.

Many times, when someone hears a Catholic call Mary the mother of god they are scandalized by the expression. And if the expression meant what many people think it meant, they should be scandalized! What does the title “mother of God” mean what you think it means?

First of all, let me say what the phrase does not mean. It does not mean that Mary created God. Any Catholic you talk to who has any education at all will tell you that is a false teaching. In fact the opposite is true. Jesus is the only infant who created his own mother!

Some would say that Mary is only the mother of the human part of Jesus, but that requires believing in a heresy for it to be true. Jesus is one person, and one person only. That person is fully divine and fully human and is not able to be separated into 2 persons. To do so takes us over into Gnosticism and it’s teaching of the spirit and flesh being separate beings. At no time was Jesus only reacting as a human or only reacting as a spirit. He was always reacting as both.

Well then, how can someone become the mother of a baby? Just as in natural conception, the child is both hers and the Holy Spirit’s. She became the “Mother if God” by giving birth to the person. No true Christian would ever dispute that Mary gave birth to Jesus. In doing so, she gave birth to the complete Jesus who was both 100% God and 100% man. So even though her own child created Mary, she is still “The mother of God” because Jesus is fully God and as a person who is both God and man he went through the birthing process.

So in spite of any misunderstandings, Mary truly does have the title mother of God once you know what that phrase means and does not mean. To say otherwise is to risk falling into heresy where Jesus can divide his natures from each other and is 50% God and 50% human instead of 100% both as one being. I hope that clears things up!

In the heat of battle for biblical truth, it’s tempting to grab any weapon at hand. Books like Alexander Hislop’s The Two Babylons and G.A. Riplinger’s New Age Bible Versions promise devastating blows against Roman Catholicism and modern Bible translations. They rally the troops with bold claims of pagan conspiracies and Satanic influences. But what if these weapons are rusted, bent, or even double-edged? Overstating the case, peddling inaccuracies, or indulging in wild speculation doesn’t just fail to persuade—it harms the very cause we cherish. Worse, it risks sinning against God’s call to truthfulness. As Christians, we must wield the sword of the Spirit with precision, not propaganda.

## The Allure and the Pitfall

Hislop’s 1858 classic argues that Roman Catholicism is a straight-line revival of ancient Babylonian paganism. The Pope? A stand-in for Nimrod. Mary? Rebranded Semiramis, the Queen of Heaven. Riplinger’s 1993 tome goes further, painting the NIV, NASB, and ESV as New Age trojan horses laced with occult terms like “Lucifer” and “holy ones,” masterminded by Freemasons and Theosophists. These books sell because they confirm suspicions and deliver shock value. Yet a closer look reveals fatal flaws: shoddy scholarship, fabricated connections, and outright errors.

Consider Hislop. He links the Catholic mitre to the fish-god Dagon and traces Lent to pagan weeping for Tammuz. Catchy? Yes. Accurate? No. Ancient sources show no Nimrod-Semiramis romance—it’s a late myth Hislop inflates. Dagon priests wore turbans, not mitres. Even Riplinger’s sympathizers cringe at her doctored quotes from Westcott and Hort, falsely tagging them as spiritists. The result? Skeptics and scholars dismiss the entire defense of the King James Bible or Traditional Text, not just the excesses.

## Biblical Warning: Truth Is Non-Negotiable

Scripture leaves no wiggle room. “You shall not bear false witness”  applies universally—even against theological foes. Jesus distinguished between false accusation and righteous rebuke: “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you… for My sake. But I say to you, love your enemies” . Ephesians 4:25 commands, “putting away lying,” while 1 Peter 2:1 urges us to “lay aside all malice… and slanders.”

Even when opponents err—like Critical Text advocates omitting key verses or Rome blending pagan rites—lying about them is sin. It quenches the Spirit , hardens hearts, and invites judgment. Proverbs 12:22 nails it: “Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who deal truthfully are His delight.”

## Real-World Damage: Scandals That Backfire

Overreach breeds backlash. Hislop’s etymological wordplay  fools no linguist today, tainting Reformation critiques. Riplinger’s plagiarism accusations and phantom conspiracies  have led former fans like Ralph Woodrow to publicly recant. Online atheists cite them as proof “KJV-only folks are nuts,” derailing serious discussions on Byzantine superiority or Jerome’s full-text manuscripts.

I’ve seen it in debates: A solid point on Mark 16’s long ending gets waved off because “You KJV guys believe Hislop’s fairy tales.” Credibility evaporates. Churches split. Seekers scoff. The gospel advances by truth’s power, not trickery .

## Better Weapons: Precision Over Polemic

We don’t need hype. Defend the Traditional Text with Burgon’s The Revision Revised, Hills’ The King James Version Defended, or Maurice Robinson’s patristic studies. Against Rome, lean on Foxe’s Book of Martyrs or primary councils—not myths. Critique modern versions? Use Aland’s own stats on Alexandrian omissions, not occult fever dreams.

Truth honors God, convicts consciences, and stands scrutiny. It even softens enemies: Speak accurately about Westcott-Hort’s liberalism, and doors open for real dialogue.

## A Call to Arms—Truthful Ones

Brothers and sisters, let’s pledge: No more overreach. Test every claim . If a book’s wrong, say so—even ours. Love demands honesty: “Even to him who is a bitter enemy to the truth… we owe the strictest courtesy” . Reclaim apologetics as holy ground. The faith once delivered deserves defenders who fight clean.

In a world drowning in fake news, let’s shine as lights—truthful, unashamed, victorious.

For further reading: Woodrow’s The Babylon Connection? , Cloud’s reviews of Riplinger, Burgon’s works.

# Truth Over Triumph: The Dangers of Apologetic Overreach in Defending the Faith

In the heat of battle for biblical truth, it’s tempting to grab any weapon at hand. Books like Alexander Hislop’s The Two Babylons and G.A. Riplinger’s New Age Bible Versions promise devastating blows against Roman Catholicism and modern Bible translations. They rally the troops with bold claims of pagan conspiracies and Satanic influences. But what if these weapons are rusted, bent, or even double-edged? Overstating the case, peddling inaccuracies, or indulging in wild speculation doesn’t just fail to persuade—it harms the very cause we cherish. Worse, it risks sinning against God’s call to truthfulness. As Christians, we must wield the sword of the Spirit with precision, not propaganda.

## The Allure and the Pitfall

Hislop’s 1858 classic argues that Roman Catholicism is a straight-line revival of ancient Babylonian paganism. The Pope? A stand-in for Nimrod. Mary? Rebranded Semiramis, the Queen of Heaven. Riplinger’s 1993 tome goes further, painting the NIV, NASB, and ESV as New Age trojan horses laced with occult terms like “Lucifer” and “holy ones,” masterminded by Freemasons and Theosophists. These books sell because they confirm suspicions and deliver shock value. Yet a closer look reveals fatal flaws: shoddy scholarship, fabricated connections, and outright errors.

Consider Hislop. He links the Catholic mitre to the fish-god Dagon and traces Lent to pagan weeping for Tammuz. Catchy? Yes. Accurate? No. Ancient sources show no Nimrod-Semiramis romance—it’s a late myth Hislop inflates. Dagon priests wore turbans, not mitres. Even Riplinger’s sympathizers cringe at her doctored quotes from Westcott and Hort, falsely tagging them as spiritists. The result? Skeptics and scholars dismiss the entire defense of the King James Bible or Traditional Text, not just the excesses.

## Biblical Warning: Truth Is Non-Negotiable

Scripture leaves no wiggle room. “You shall not bear false witness”  applies universally—even against theological foes. Jesus distinguished between false accusation and righteous rebuke: “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you… for My sake. But I say to you, love your enemies” . Ephesians 4:25 commands, “putting away lying,” while 1 Peter 2:1 urges us to “lay aside all malice… and slanders.”

Even when opponents err—like Critical Text advocates omitting key verses or Rome blending pagan rites—lying about them is sin. It quenches the Spirit , hardens hearts, and invites judgment. Proverbs 12:22 nails it: “Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who deal truthfully are His delight.”

## Real-World Damage: Scandals That Backfire

Overreach breeds backlash. Hislop’s etymological wordplay  fools no linguist today, tainting Reformation critiques. Riplinger’s plagiarism accusations and phantom conspiracies  have led former fans like Ralph Woodrow to publicly recant. Online atheists cite them as proof “KJV-only folks are nuts,” derailing serious discussions on Byzantine superiority or Jerome’s full-text manuscripts.

I’ve seen it in debates: A solid point on Mark 16’s long ending gets waved off because “You KJV guys believe Hislop’s fairy tales.” Credibility evaporates. Churches split. Seekers scoff. The gospel advances by truth’s power, not trickery .

## Better Weapons: Precision Over Polemic

We don’t need hype. Defend the Traditional Text with Burgon’s The Revision Revised, Hills’ The King James Version Defended, or Maurice Robinson’s patristic studies. Against Rome, lean on Foxe’s Book of Martyrs or primary councils—not myths. Critique modern versions? Use Aland’s own stats on Alexandrian omissions, not occult fever dreams.

Truth honors God, convicts consciences, and stands scrutiny. It even softens enemies: Speak accurately about Westcott-Hort’s liberalism, and doors open for real dialogue.

## A Call to Arms—Truthful Ones

Brothers and sisters, let’s pledge: No more overreach. Test every claim . If a book’s wrong, say so—even ours. Love demands honesty: “Even to him who is a bitter enemy to the truth… we owe the strictest courtesy” . Reclaim apologetics as holy ground. The faith once delivered deserves defenders who fight clean.

In a world drowning in fake news, let’s shine as lights—truthful, unashamed, victorious.

a.co/hKWW6em

The Word of God, at its very beginning, speaks of mankind as being created in the image of God. But what is meant by that phrase? I believe there is a clue or two in the original Hebrew of the text. The word translated as “image” is “tzelem” which comes from the word “tzel” which means “shadow”. So there is a definite connection, since whenever rays of light fall on something it casts a shadow, which is a type of image. So according to the Bible, we are in the image of God in the same way that our own shadows look like we do in a way.

Another connection can be seen when, in Exodus 31 God appointed a person named Bezalel to create the Tabernacle and its furnishings. His name in Hebrew, Betzalel, literally means “in the shadow of God”. The Tabernacle was used to facilitate the worship of a God by the ancient Israelites. When a human worships the God of the Universe, it is as though he or she were standing in the shadow of God, who dwells in unapproachable light.

which He will manifest in His own time, He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen. (I Timothy 6:15, 16 NKJV)

.

But how does this apply to us today? In Hebrews 1:3, the author describes Jesus as the “express image of His person”. We are in the image of God in the same way a shadow shows His image, but Jesus is the express image. It’s the difference between a shadow outline and a photograph. While people can and should be able to tell that God is with us, they will only get a clear and detailed picture of God when they see Jesus. And that biblical imagery should carry over into our worship today. When we worship God, we stand in His shadow as those who are created in His image and looking upon Him who is the perfect picture of the Father.

There are some things that are true when that standing occurs. For one, in order to worship in the shadow of God, like we were created to do, He blocks our view of other things. Those lesser things may be visible in our peripheral sight, but our focus will be on the One who overshadows us. Worship occurs when we “fix our eyes on Jesus” and give our while attention to Him. As we habitually do that, we will slowly but surely be changed ourselves into clearer images of Him.

But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. (II Corinthians 3:18 NKJV)

This may be bold, but I believe it is accurate. Anything that does not point us to Jesus and cause us to focus on Him is less than true worship. In the modern church over the past few decades, there has been a restoration of the truth about the joy of The Lord in Worship. What we need now is a restoration of the awareness of the awesomeness and glory of the One who alone is worthy of our adoration and worship. In doing so, we fulfill the destiny of why we were saved in the first place.

And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man. (I Corinthians 15:49 NKJV)

So next time you spend time in worship of God, whether alone, as a family, or with other believers, I would encourage you to focus on the One in whose shadow you stand. Contemplate the brightness of His glory, the perfection of His holiness, and the enormity of His power, and realize that as you stand there, He gazes back in love to you and knows your name, your thoughts, and the number of hairs on your head (Matthew 10:30). Know that He alone is worthy of worship, and look away form those things which have become idols in your life. Let no rival thrones survive as you gaze upon His majesty. Fix your eyes upon Jesus and from your heart, and love The Lord your God with all your might, mind and strength. You will be ruined for cold ceremony or dead rituals. But you will be worshipping in Spirit and in truth.

This is a story, aka parable, is based on the story Jesus used that is recorded in Luke chapter 18 of the Pharisee and the tax collector. I wanted to update the characters, without changing the story, but the first obstacle was that some may think I am referring to specific people I know. That could not be further from the truth. Both people are conflations of many hundreds of people I have met in 50 years of living. So if you think I am talking about you, you are wrong. If, however, you are convicted by what the story says, then maybe the Holy Spirit is trying to get your attention regarding some things and attitudes you may be harboring. As before, I still get none of the credit or blame for the results. So here goes.

One day in a church building in a typical city, a lifelong churchgoer stopped during lunch to pray. He had been reading many stories about various ones who were preaching error, as well as articles on apologetics aimed at exposing false doctrines that disagreed with the conclusions from Scripture of the author. With all this going through his mind, he prayed this way:
“Lord, I thank you that I am not like others who go to denominational churches. I don’t listen to worldly music, I attend every church service, I only associate with those who teach correctly and agree with me, I partake of weekly communion, don’t believe any false teachings, have been baptized in water, and worship only with those acts you authorize. Thank you that I am we’ll pleasing in your sight and am doing those things necessary to stay saved.”

Out in next to the curb by the church building is a man who is too ashamed to come inside. His guilt from sin is overwhelming and he is at the end of his rope. He cries out to God and can only say a simple prayer. “God, be merciful to me, a sinner.”

One of these men went home that day justified.

Why? Because whenever we start thinking that our standing with God is based on the quality or quantity of our performance, we are basing our salvation on our works, not on the finished work of Christ on the cross. Our standing with God produces good works, and not the other way around. When we deny salvation to those who have not performed a ceremony, or are not doing some list of required works to maintain their saved status, we have fallen from the gospel of grace.

Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? (Galatians 3:2, 3 ESV)

But wait, those men in Luke 18 were under the old law and not under the new system. For one, are you saying that under the New Covenant it is more difficult to be saved? Well not to worry. In Luke 16:16 Jesus said that the law and the prophets were only in force until John the Baptist, but after that people could enter into the Kingdom of God. Yes, people were being saved when they believed on Jesus even during His earthly ministry.

So I would ask you to read the little story again and ask yourself this question in light of Romans 10:9-10 –
In the story above, which one went home justified before God?

So one thing that annoys me is when words are redefined or symbols are changed from what they were first intended to be. This is especially true when some person or movement takes something that God has set aside as a reminder of His goodness and covenant promises and flips it on its head into something opposite of what God intended. Me example would be taking the word “Christian” and the symbol of the cross and letting it be used by Westboro Baptist Church.

But there is another example that is permitting our society. Please don’t misunderstand me here. If a person or group of people want to have a symbol, they are free to do so in our nation where free speech is protected. But when someone takes something God-ordained and uses it to symbolize that which God calls and abomination, then it is a direct affront to, and a mocking of, God Himself. Read this short passage and try to guess what I am referring to here.

“And as for Me, behold, I establish My covenant with you and with your descendants after you, and with every living creature that is with you: the birds, the cattle, and every beast of the earth with you, of all that go out of the ark, every beast of the earth. Thus I establish My covenant with you: Never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood; never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.” And God said: “This is the sign of the covenant which I make between Me and you, and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations: I set My rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be for the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth. It shall be, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the rainbow shall be seen in the cloud; and I will remember My covenant which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh; the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. The rainbow shall be in the cloud, and I will look on it to remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.” And God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant which I have established between Me and all flesh that is on the earth.” (Genesis 9:9-17 NKJV)

The scene is this. The judgment of God has fallen on sinful mankind and everyone has suffered judgment via flood. As a symbol of the covenant Jehovah makes with Noah, God designates the rainbow (the first one ever seen) as symbolic of His promise to never again use a worldwide flood to judge sinful mankind. In doing so, it would also be a reminder of the reasons that flood judgment came in the first place.

What society is doing now, by making that same rainbow a symbol of the homosexual movement, is to say the following things.
1. Mankind is showing a lack of the fear of The Lord.
2. Mankind is saying that they do not believe that God will judge sin. In fact, they are daring Him to do so.
3. Mankind is saying that we, as fallen, sinful people, have the authority to determine what is good and evil. We have erred in the same way as Adam and Eve when they decided they could define good and evil for themselves.

So does that mean we hate people because of who they sleep with? Of course not! It means that I love them enough to warn them of the dangers of mocking God and presumptuously assuming for themselves the authority to decide good and evil. It means I love them enough to tell them that God only wants what is best for them, and that His warnings are not arbitrary, but designed for their protection.

But the time has come for us to say “no” to the hijacking of the symbol of God’s covenant. The time has come to tell the world that the rainbow is symbolic of the judgment of God that sin will inevitable bring. But such judgment is not something that any of us must endure, for Jesus Christ has taken upon himself that penalty in our place. Come to Christ in full surrender, submit to His lordship, and escape the wrath to come!

Have you ever seen a city ordinance banning feeding of unicorns? Did you ever check the U.S. Fish & Wildlife regulations to see if it was legal to catch mermaids? Of course not. Why? Because they don’t exist, that’s why! It would be ridiculous to ban something, or even to pass a law allowing something, that was impossible or didn’t exist. But right now, the courts and the voting public seem to be doing just that.

One thing we need to do is to change our verbiage. We need to start saying “so-called gay marriage” instead of saying “same sex marriage” because gay marriage doesn’t exist. How can I say that? Well, because the Bible says that. God, the very Creator of the universe, exercises sole jurisdiction over marriage, and here is why.

God invented marriage

Back in Eden, God created man and woman and brought them together as husband and wife. Since God invented marriage, we do not have the authority to change it.

Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. (Genesis 2:24 NKJV)

God defined marriage, and Jesus Christ confirmed that definition

Jesus Christ himself repeated the definition during his earthly ministry. What our Heavenly Father has declared may not be altered by mankind, no matter what the culture desires.

And He answered and said to them, “Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’ ? So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.” (Matthew 19:4-6)

God performs the marriage

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Did you catch the last part of the passage I just quoted? When a man and woman are married, it is God Himself who joins them together in matrimony. Look at that again:

So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.” (Matthew 19:6)

And later on, the Apostle Peter wrote that husband and wife are “heirs together of the grace of life” (1 Peter 3:7)
So no matter what ceremony any couple decide to go through, and no matter how sincere they are, they are not truly “married” unless God joins them together.

No legislator, judge or public vote can make the impossible possible. It is Jehovah God who instituted, defined, and performs all real marriages, and anything we call marriage is presumptuous in His eyes and smacks of the very pride that God hates. Does that mean that homosexual couples can’t have a relationship that is recognized by the state that carries certain benefits that married couples also have? Not at all. But don’t call it same sex marriage, because same sex marriage doesn’t exist.