Are They Ready For This?

America’s Degeneracy is Flourishing



“Yet I had planted thee a noble vine, wholly a right seed: how then art thou turned into the degenerate plant of a strange vine unto me?” Jeremiah 2:21. In this verse God is speaking to Israel through the prophet Jeremiah, but is He saying the same thing to the people of America today?



There can be no doubt that the U.S. is floundering. I don’t mean just financially, although that is certainly a very real concern. No, what I’m talking about is the moral and spiritual degeneracy currently permeating our land.



Down we go, down to new depths of depravity. Most people in America haven’t a clue of what’s just around the next bend in the river concerning this nation, still, to some it obvious. America is currently wallowing in total depravity, but too many Americans see only what they want to see. Instead of a united nation, America is horribly fragmented. Increasingly we’re seen as a populous of “What’s in it for me” and “The devil take ya” attitudes. Something’s rotten in America, people, and I don’t think it’s oily fish.



Since America has given God the boot, American’s no longer give God the glory as the provider of their needs. Being thankful for what they’ve received from God has become a foreign concept. Americans have kicked God out of every aspect of life, even many churches no longer allow Him in. Is there still a question in anyone’s mind as to why America is riding the toilet rim?



Because these days are filled with bad news and economic down turns people keep turning to one political figure after another as a cure-all to fix everything, Instead we should be turning to the only One whose great pleasure it is to heal and restore. This One is mankind’s Savior, Jesus the Christ. According to a recent poll taken in America approximately 80% of Americans profess they are Christian. If that be the case, then we need to ask ourselves two very serious questions: First why, if 80% of America is Christian is there a Muslim determining America’s fate? Second, as a nation that claims its foundation stone was the rock Jesus Christ, why have we done a 180 degree turn away from Him and His teachings? America would not be in the toilet today spiritually and morally if we hadn’t turned our backs on God some decades ago.



Since 80% of American’s claim they are Christians, it tells me many are either lying or they don’t really have a clue as to what it means to be born again. It’s impossible to be a Christian without being born again. A person can’t just claim to be Christian yet have no knowledge of what that designation entails. They can play Christian but we can all see where that gets us.



“Ye are the light of the world.” Matthew 5:14. God surely planted a noble vine when He planted America, a light to a lost world. But that once very influential light has diminished and is now in jeopardy of going completely dark. Many theologians say America never was a Christian nation, only that God, for a time in the past, could claim a much larger portion of the American populous as His children. After doing extensive research into America’s past I’ve come to the conclusion those theologians may be correct. I don’t doubt 80% of Americans claim to be Christian, but I do doubt their spiritual conversion. And it’s as plain as day as to why I have my doubts.



“Ye are the salt of the earth:” Matthew 5:13a. To be a Christian means we adhere, as best we can, to the percepts put forth in the Bible. In the past we made it known to the world that America was a nation of Christ’s followers. If Americans as a majority are Christian, then they certainly aren’t following the Bible as their guide to living that Christ filled life. “...but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.” Matthew 5:13b.



God gave us everything we need in His word, and by that I mean He’s given us His commandments which are to be our guide in all life’s endeavors. But how many of the American’s polled who make up that 80 percentile group above actually read and study their Bibles? Or for that matter, how many even believe the Bible to be God’s inerrant word? It’s only my educated guess, but I would guess that only a small minority of those who claim to be born again (Christian) actually study and believe what they learn from God’s word, and even less actually apply what they’ve learned to their lives.



If I’m correct in my assumption, then as a nation we’re in real trouble, and we have been for some time. Our Liberties, those basic freedoms most take for granted have begun to deteriorate and are in danger of reaching levels not previously seen on the US’s portion of this continent. For this reason, the scarcity of true born again believers in Christ, America may well be beyond help when it comes to re-establishing our once revered republic.



How did the United States of America ever go so long without slipping into a totalitarian run country before now you might ask? I believe the numbers of those who actually placed their faith and their lives in Christ’s hands and allowed Him to have dominion over all aspects concerning their lives as well as their families was at one time much higher than the artificially inflated numbers we see today. In years past there were many more truly born again Christians who stood firm on the morals and precepts proclaimed in God’s word. They are the ones who did the voting and they placed their vote for individuals who had morals and were of good character. This just is not the case today; morals of the majority of American government officials are at an all time low. If we are voting for these folks as Christians, we are voting with our eyes closed.



Morals and character are two forgotten godly characteristics relegated to a by-gone era. These two lost biblical concepts are no longer taught in our public schools nor, I would gather by the evidence, in most American homes today. America’s school children are now taught more about sex than any other subject previously taught in those once hallowed halls. Why? It is and has been the agenda with the sexual revolution crowd for many years. It’s the old “anything goes mindset” the current mantra is “Let’s get today’s children indoctrinated in all manner of sexual practices and perversions at the earliest of ages possible” (in Montana sex education now begins with kindergarteners).



At some point in the not so distant future Americans will be living in a society where everything goes and immorality will be overwhelmingly practiced. Promiscuity will no longer be taboo but demanded from every child and applauded when they’ve reached the pinnacle of sexual depravation. “But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!” Matthew 18:6, 7.



Evil is ever present, and when not held in check spreads like cancer. Who holds evil in check? Holy Spirit filled Christians. The degeneracy of America has been coming for some time now, which tells me Christianity has been diminishing right along. So when we read of polls taken proclaiming an 80 percentile range of Christians in this country know this, something is amiss.



With little or no moral or spiritual education as children, and even less discipline, crime flourishes in America. Thus the national crime rates are continually rising; hence America builds more prisons to accommodate the ever increasing criminal population.



A very real and current danger arising from an over taxed populous is that many local and state principalities can no longer afford to hold onto their prison population. For example, the duration of court assigned sentences are being drastically cut because of a lack of funding to increase the size of county jails and for the jailers who supervise the criminals. This carries over on a larger scale when related to state and federal prisons. So criminals are being released back into the unsuspecting law abiding population long before they’ve paid their debt to society and where they may, with impunity, continue their lives of crime. That old adage of “If you can’t do the time don’t do the crime” is no longer relevant.



So criminals are turned back out on the streets and it becomes a never ending cycle of crimes leading to more crimes leading to more regulations which also become just as impossible to enforce because of the lack of enforcers. And it’s all because America has turned from being a nation made up of moral Christ followers, to a majority of followers of the religion of secular humanism where anything goes. The truth of God’s word is no longer embraced but debased.



The fault for the flourishing degeneracy of America lies with all Americans, but even more so with those who profess to know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. We allowed this evil to progress by what we allowed to be taught to our children in public schools. When our children, while attending public schools for twelve years, are taught that there is no God, that humans evolved from pond scum, and that our prehistoric ancestors were primates, we must expect and accept the consequences of those teachings.



Ultimately what happens to human beings indoctrinated with the lie of evolution, which is pure satanic, is a migration toward animalistic tendencies. Since those who are taught this lie are being convinced they evolved from an animal with no moral restrictions, they no longer perceive any moral absolutes, and the sky’s the limit when it comes to depravation.



When degeneracy is allowed to flourish in any society, all too soon that society will be transformed into a wasteland no longer fit for human occupancy. A nation that continues to loosen its morals and discards its character will, before long, end up as did the people that existed in the days of Noah just prior to the great deluge. And we all know what happened to those sick and depraved individuals, or do we? The Bible must be believed and interpreted literally to understand the account of Genesis 6 properly and to understand why God sent that worldwide flood. Those who don’t believe history, or who allow history to be changed to fit a more civil concept or even forgotten for that matter, are doomed to repeat it. “But as the days of Noe (Noah) were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” Matthew 24:37.



The key to a moral society is to live by God’s word. When His word is disparaged, or eliminated completely as it has been in our public school system, as well as in many homes in America, moral decay inevitably moves in. How can degeneracy and moral decay be abated? It can’t. At least not without God. Personally, I don’t see God being embraced by the majority of Americans any time soon.



America – 80% Christian? Not hardly. America – flourishing in degeneracy? Now we’re getting to the truth. America – willing to make changes and head back toward God? Not so you’d notice. America – a nation headed for self-destruction? Likely, very likely.



God save us from our own foolishness,



Ron Graham

twotug@embarqmail.com

All scripture is from the KJV

Born Again Christians and Sin



“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” 1 John 1:8. Anyone who says they have not sinned is living a lie. In the verse above you must notice John adds himself into the mix of sinners. He says if we say we have no sin. “No” in the Greek is “ou” and is expressed absolutely, and emphatically. It’s as though the Apostle John has asked someone if he considers himself a sinner, and the answer has come back to John in the form of a resounding NO!



We deceive ourselves: Here again John adds himself into the fray in that he too would be leading himself astray if he were to claim he had no sin. We just aren’t grasping the truth if we claim to be sinless. John is addressing believers in Christ in his epistles therefore he is addressing me and you; as believers we will continue to sin until we are called home. If anyone tells you differently they are deceived.



“If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” 1 John 1:10. Again, we must first understand that John is addressing believers “In Christ” not the unsaved. Here in this verse John tells us if we claim we have not sinned we make Jesus Christ a liar. John tells us His (God's) word cannot be in someone who says they have never sinned, or even in those who claim now that they are saved they no longer sin. Again John places himself in the middle of this assertion by using the words “we” and “us”. It also means we can’t have God’s Holy Spirit in us if we claim a sinless life or a life of no more sin after we are born again. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9. Nowhere in the Bible are we told we will stop sinning once we’re saved.



“My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:” 1 John 2:1. Can you see what a contradiction this verse is when we neglect the exegeses of the scriptures? “My little children” is referring to born again believers and John wants us to fully understand that point. When we compare “That ye sin not” to the previous verse we can see John isn’t advocating sinning. He’s simply saying turn away from habitual sin. In other words don’t let our whole focus in life be on one big sin party without thought of the consequences. If that be your case, salvation has eluded you.



In the last part of First John chapter 2 verse 1, John states that if any man sins we have Christ as our advocate for our defense. In this same verse, “if any man sin” actually means “in case”. So if we interpret this verse correctly, what John is saying is when not if we sin we have an advocate which is Jesus Christ the righteous.



“He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” 1 John 2:1. Is it possible that John is saying in keeping Jesus’ commandments we will no longer sin? The Greek word “tēreō” represents our English phrase “keepeth”. The Greek word actually has many meanings but in this context John is speaking of those who “observe or take heed to” Jesus’ commandments. Since John previously addressed the fact that all believers sin, the answer to the question above is “No”. What he is saying is in observing Christ’s commandments we won’t live our lives in habitual sin. For example, living a lifestyle as a homosexual is habitual sin, as is living as an unmarried couple, or lying habitually. Once we become born again there will be a change that everyone who new us before our conversion will see. This change will reflect Christ as a definite positive part of our lives.



“I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake.” 1 John 2:12. This verse is wonderfully placed in this chapter and in context we are told that all believers are forgiven sinners. Something that many “In Christ” believers stumble with is the fact that they continue to sin even though they have been justified (saved). Condemnation reigns supreme in their lives. But Paul tells us “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” Romans 8:1.



In the book of Romans chapter 7 Paul speaks about his childhood before he was taught the law “I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead.” Romans 7:7-8. Very young children don’t know what sin is until their parent’s teach them what constitutes sin and what doesn’t. That’s why parents must be responsible for explaining sin and its consequences to the children God has blessed them with.



In Jesus’ eyes the very young children are blameless. They aren’t corrupted by all the evil and sinful desires that adults are continually confronted with. Children see joy, happiness, and love in the simplest forms. But before we know it our children are at that age when they are accountable for their own sinful actions; if they aren’t taught Godly ways they will not see any sin in those actions.



In the following verses Paul addresses that age old conundrum, one that has continually plagued believers throughout the ages. Why do I continue to sin now that I’m born from above? Remember this, now that we are justified God sees us through His Son Jesus Christ and our sins past present and future are forgiven. Still, even though we are justified in God’s eyes (saved), we still sin. The Apostle Paul will explain why, “The law is good, then. The trouble is not with the law but with me, because I am sold into slavery, with sin as my master. I don't understand myself at all, for I really want to do what is right, but I don't do it. Instead, I do the very thing I hate. I know perfectly well that what I am doing is wrong, and my bad conscience shows that I agree that the law is good. But I can't help myself, because it is sin inside me that makes me do these evil things. I know I am rotten through and through so far as my old sinful nature is concerned. No matter which way I turn, I can't make myself do right. I want to, but I can't. When I want to do good, I don't. And when I try not to do wrong, I do it anyway. But if I am doing what I don't want to do, I am not really the one doing it; the sin within me is doing it. It seems to be a fact of life that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. I love God's law with all my heart. But there is another law at work within me that is at war with my mind. This law wins the fight and makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin? Romans 7:14-24. (NLT)



Now read and understand Paul’s last words on this subject, and please, dwell on them. “I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin...” Romans 7:25 (KJV). I hope the readers of this commentary will understand why I’ve inserted the verses in the paragraph above using the New Living Translation. Many have a difficult time understanding Paul’s explanation about the nature of sin in Romans 7, especially when read in the KJV. So there is no lingering doubts, Paul, far into his ministry, states the obvious, we are all sinners and will remain so until glorification.



That’s why God had to die for His creation. There was no other way for us to be redeemed from this life of sin. Please don’t misunderstand, born again believers will grow to hate sin over time and they will be remorseful each time they fall back into temptation. Neither the Apostle John nor Paul is advocating sin. On the contrary, they are preaching against sin. Even though we remain slaves to sin, through our Christian maturity, our walk with the Lord Jesus Christ, we will begin to walk to the far side of sin.



One last point, for the believer who occasionally stumbles (that’s you and me), “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”1 John 1:9. This was written to born again believers in Christ, what an awesome promise.



God bless you all,



Ron Graham

twotug@embarqmail.com

KJV and NLT were used in compiling this commentary. Those of you who are KJ only, forgive me.

Has the Word of God Gone Missing?



“The writers of the Bible believed their writings to be God inspired but in all actuality that just isn’t the case. The Bible is not to be taken literally as God’s word”. I heard the above quote recently on a national call in radio program. The caller told the radio hosts that her pastor was responsible for the above quote. The response from the two host pastors of the program was a rousing, in unison” RUN FOR YOUR LIFE!” Personally I thought that was good advice.



That pastor’s statement dismissing the fact that the Bible is God’s word reflects where we can place the bulk of the problems in the Christian Church today. The quote from that unnamed pastor can be laid at the feet of many pastors in many denominational, as well as non-denominational, churches around the world.



Why is Christ’s church floundering today? It is because the Bible, the inerrant word of God Almighty, is not taken seriously let alone literally by many of Christianity’s leaders. If we dismiss any portion of God’s word by implying it was not God breathed, then all of scripture becomes a bald face lie. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:” 2 Timothy 3:16. Apparently the above mentioned pastor’s opinion is we should simply dismiss the entirety of the Bible as man’s own mythological tales. If we believe man just made up the words that established the biblical canon of scripture then the Christian Church has no purpose and is meaningless.



Recently I read that approximately 70% of the people who attend Church services are not born again. That number, if accurate, is not only depressing but scary. The idea that some pastors are demeaning, disparaging, and dismissing the Bible’s true validity, and giving man the credit for its inception through his imagination, proves that many people no longer believe what the Bible says. Therefore that 70% figure referring to the unsaved in the church, again if that number is correct and I suspect it is, would be a very good indication of where the Church is headed. Perhaps we’re already there.



Many expositors condemn those who claim we are witnessing the great apostasy of the Church happening today. But I say when legitimate surveys are done which indicate significant numbers of people in Church are remaining in their lost state, how much more proof is needed before those expositors see what many of us have been aware of for quite some time?



Our foundation of faith is based on the Gospel of Jesus Christ. What will we do for a replacement for the Bible? Will we turn to “The Shack” as our study guide? What about “The Purpose Driven Life”? Or better yet, perhaps the book of Mormon will be our re-enforcing and permanent new foundation for biblical truth. Don’t let yourself become deceived by people who have no true biblical discernment.



The Bible is our God given tool, a place where we can go to study and learn about our Great God and Savior, Jesus the Christ. But what of the history of the world both past and future? Studying God’s word to obtain greater understanding, discernment, and wisdom is essential for the born again believer in Christ. But the new mantra from many pastors today is “Listen to me, I’ve got the truth, forget that tired, old antiquated nonsense of our forefathers. The Bible is no longer relevant in our new progressive society.” People, this type of teaching is more commonly referred to as cultic.



I’ve known for years that many parts of the Bible are looked on as allegorical in most denominational Christian Churches, and that fact alone will be a disrupting and divisive influence to Christ’s true Church in the last days, but a pastor who claims the Bible is not God’s word is certainly fixated on removing Christ as the foundation for our faith. Tragically, this kind of teaching has now seeped into many congregations.



These days, we’re seeing many new pastors, learned men and women (don’t get me stated on women pastors) who’ve come out of seminaries completely void of any real essence of God’s truth. They then proceed to fill the pulpits of our churches and the messages they deliver week in and week out are nothing more than tripe if they believe not in the inerrancy of the scriptures. Hence the figure of 70% of pew sitters who lack any real conversion experience (by the way, in case you’re wondering, that 70% figure comes from the Barna Research Group).



The whole concept of dumbing down the Church by disparaging the inerrant word of God is fully, unmistakably satanic, and it started way back when Satan had his first conversation with Eve, “…Yea, hath God said…” Genesis 3:1. That little piece of satanic rubbish caused Eve to doubt God’s word and from then on it’s been all downhill (spiritually speaking) for humankind. But not for Satan; he and his demonic hoards must be quite satisfied with their more current achievements. By infiltrating the minds of the professors in the seminaries and Christian collages, who in turn teach the classes and corrupt the vast majority of students with those old antiquated but effectual lies, Satan and his minions of evil have reached new heights in their attempts at destroying the truth of God’s word. These newly initiated followers of Satan are now intent on disseminating their new god’s doctrine instead of the One true God’s inerrant word.



If people would simply grasp the fact that there are two opposing supernatural forces involved in the lives of every human being on planet earth, one benevolent and the other malevolent, and understand that one is diametrically opposed to the other, there would be many more followers of Christ on planet earth.



Mankind, for the most part, knows there’s a very basic concept, a completely recognizable aspect of life which permeates our very existence. It’s the basic premise of good against evil. What most don’t realize is that this “good vs. evil” concept is supernatural, and the malevolent side focuses their attacks on creating the most deadly of consequences. These two opposing forces waging continual inter-dimensional war are fighting for one purpose and that is for the sole ownership of human souls.



It’s true; these two opposing forces are stuck in a battle which pits supernatural beings against one another. And even though that battle rages on in another dimension, much of the residual from this war ends up in our human dimension in the form of lies, deceit, hatred; the list goes on and on. The number one way this fight effects humanity is that the malevolent forces are constantly bombarding us with their lies. Their darkest agenda is to disrupt, disparage, confuse, corrupt, and ultimately destroy the truth of its opponent, the benevolent ones. Which means the truthfulness of the Bible will be continually attacked. Sadly, many people grasp the enemy’s lies as truth and they become so blinded by these lies that they become adamant in their quest to do the enemy’s biding by re-distributing those lies to others.



The Bible is not only a faithful representation of God’s precepts for the instruction of His children, but it is also a historical document used by many to learn of humanity’s past. The Smithsonian Institute of History, for example, uses the Holy Bible to reference people and places of antiquity. Even though the people the Bible focuses on are the Jews, archeologists have used the Bible for years in their research to determine the placement of cities, buildings, as well as lost civilizations other than the Israelites. God’s word has been an invaluable tool even for the secular segments of our society.



For the believer in Christ there can be no doubting the Holy Bible is the inerrant word of God. That fact alone should say something about those who stand behind the pulpits of the Christian Churches and claim the Bible to be nothing more than man’s great ability at writing fiction.



We can’t look at God’s word and call it false and then with a straight face claim to be born again. Calling God a liar is certainly not a term of endearment. Going about the routine of pastoring a Christian Church while placing doubt in the very word that is to be proclaimed from the pulpit, has and will continue to lead those congregations into unbelief. Certainly, pastors who teach the Bible to be fallible man’s own creation will only add to keeping a Church of lost folks lost. That 70% figure will undoubtedly increase exponentially if this type of teaching continues. “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.” Matthew 7:13-15.



Jesus refers to those who lead others astray as ravening wolves. “Ravening” signifies rapacious in the Greek. Pastors, or Church leaders for that matter, who would rather believe Satan over God when it comes to the inerrancy of scriptures are rapacious in their determination to lead their flocks away from God. Jesus is applying a metaphor by using the word “wolves” in this context as He describes cruel, greedy, rapacious, destructive men and women intent on leading their flocks astray.



If the majority of folks occupying Church pews these days are indeed unsaved sinners, then it becomes even more understandable as to how and why the great apostasy will occur in the end times. Jesus tells us the path that leads to destruction is very wide and many will follow that destructive path. If a pastor doesn’t believe the Bible he’s not going to preach on salvation through Jesus Christ, and Him alone. He’ll undoubtedly preach on all the different roads that lead to Heaven to placate all the diversity in the pews even though, in truth, he’ll be leading them to Hell.



There are, of course, many ways to authenticate the Bible as being the inerrant word of God, but there’s one truth that always comes screaming back to me at times like these. It’s the following verse in which the Apostle Paul tell us “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” 1 Corinthians 2:14. There are a lot of natural men and women out there pretending to be faithful shepherds of their assigned flocks.



If we don’t believe the Bible then we are no different than the natural man spoken of by Paul. As a matter of fact, we are just as lost and condemned as that natural man. For those of you whose pastor teaches as the pastor spoken of earlier, with regards to the Bible, then my suggestion to you is the same as the statement made by the two radio hosts I wrote about at the beginning of this commentary, RUN FOR YOUR LIFE!



God bless you all,



Ron Graham

twotug@embarqmail.com

All scripture is from the KJV

Women Pastors



“But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.” 1 Timothy 2:12-14.These Bible verses have certainly seen their fair share of controversy over the years. Battles rage over just exactly what Paul meant here and was he just speaking culturally to those folks at that particular time in history? For the answer to that question the Apostle Paul takes us clear back to the book of Genesis.



Many people don’t really have a clue about the deception that took place in the Garden of Eden. “Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?” Genesis 3:1. First of all we must ask the question “Why did the serpent (Satan) seek out the women to confront with his lies instead of Adam?” Satan brought his temptation against the woman because he perceived she was more vulnerable to attack. This is because she did not receive the command to not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil directly from God, but through Adam.



“And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” Genesis 2:15-17. God gave the clear command to Adam. Then, when God created Eve, Adam made God’s prohibition of that particular tree and fruit clear to her. But Eve probably didn’t really pay all that much attention to Adam when he passed on God’s command not to eat of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil because when the serpent (Satan) questioned Eve as to whether or not God said they couldn’t eat of the fruit of that tree, she responded with “We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.” Genesis 3:2-3.



We must take notice of the fact that Eve’s knowledge seems to be lacking. She doesn’t name the tree of whose fruit she and Adam were to abstain from eating.



Actually, Eve’s first mistake was in carrying on a discussion with Satan. “The Lord rebuke you” should be our only words as we address Satan. As we can see, Eve’s apparent lack of knowledge makes her all the more vulnerable to deception. She then went from bad to worse as she misquoted the command God gave to Adam. Her words, “Ye shall not eat of it” and “lest ye die” are close enough, but she added to the command and put words in God’s mouth when she said, “neither shall ye touch it.” The major consequence we see that arises from putting words in God’s mouth is we begin to teach the doctrines of men as if they are the commandments of God. “But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” Matthew 15:9. It’s interesting just how many of mans idiosyncrasies have become doctrinal mandates in our Churches today.



Secondly, Eve was deceived but her husband was not deceived “And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression” 1 Timothy 2:14. Satan perceived Eve to be the weaker link in the chain and so he approached her with his lies, sure enough she fell into transgression.



By taking us back to the beginning, Paul precludes any arguments that might arise concerning women teaching or usurping the authority of men as being a cultural issue of that society. Paul’s admonition was not a cultural issue then, nor is it now; it’s God speaking through Paul.



God knew what would happen if women were allowed to teach men and to usurp authority over them. Sure enough, the majority of the cults today were begun by women who have manipulated the scriptures so that they could, without fear of condemnation, rise to positions of authority over men.



Over the past few decades women have become pastors of churches because of a lackadaisical attitude on the part of the Church, not to mention men’s ignorance of scriptures. So what do we see happening today? The completely erroneous rendering of the truth of the scriptures by those who wish to supplant God’s word. “But I suffer not a woman to teach:“ The word “suffer” used by Paul is from the Greek word “epitrepō” and it actually means “permit”. Paul says he does not permit a woman to teach or usurp authority over a man. Women are not free to usurp authority over men nor are they at liberty to become pastors of Churches.



I know that I’ll receive a massive amount of letters disputing Paul’s stance on women in a pastoral position. Many will attack me for even suggesting there’s a problem with women being in a position of authority over men. They’ll march out Debra, Esther, Lydia, and Priscilla. None of whom were priests or pastors of Christian Churches. And knowingly or not they will be attacking God.



“This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;” 1 Timothy 3:1-2. A bishop must be the husband of one wife. Bishop, Elder, Pastor is what the text refers to. The Greek word for husband is “anēr”, a masculine noun with the following description: of a male, of a husband, of a betrothed or future husband, any male. And the Greek word of wife is “gynē”, a feminine noun. A description of the word “gynē” is: a woman of any age, whether a virgin, or married, or a widow, a wife, a betrothed woman. There can be no doubt as to what Paul was saying: no to women pastors, no to women teaching men. The text is clear.



We are all called to proclaim the Gospel to all nations, men and women alike. This means we explain the Gospel of Christ to anyone who will listen. Jesus Himself told us to do this simple thing. Speaking the truth of the Gospel is witnessing and possibly sharing your testimony with others. This is a far cry from where we see women have advanced to in today’s Christian Churches. Senior pastors, presidents of Christian seminaries and universities usurping authority over men.



“One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)” 1 Timothy 3:4-5. So we can see plainly that Paul only wants men who are capable of rearing their children in the admonition of the Lord. Not once does Paul include women in the mix of Bishop/Elder/Pastor, or Deacons for that matter. There are probably many well meaning women in leadership roles in churches who only wish to serve God with all their heart. But God’s word is firm and to the point, no women pastor, elders, bishops, or deacons in My Church.



“Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless. Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.” 1 Timothy 3:8-11. Women who bypass the clear exegetical rendering of scriptures to pursue and obtain the office of Pastor/Elder/Deacon are in full contradiction to God’s word, and so are the men who’ve allowed this error to escalate.



Here’s a little side note: In this same verse “the husband of one wife” has also been quite controversial in regards to men who’ve been divorced being excluded from holding the position of pastor of a Church or even that of Elder or Deacon. Paul was keenly aware of the pervasiveness of the cultural acceptance of taking in marriage multiple wives. But Paul in no way excluded men who were biblically divorced from entering the ministry or holding the office of elder or deacon. After all it was Jesus Christ (God Almighty) Himself who said that in the case of adultery divorce was acceptable. Who was it acceptable to? To God. Jesus put no restrictions on a man who divorces his wife for infidelity on her part, especially by excluding him from the ministry of preaching, or holding the office of elder, deacon or even a Bible teacher. This exclusion by many denominations has left many capable men who were called by God Himself into the ministry out in the cold. God says go and preach my word, and the Church says no. Makes a lot of sense doesn’t it?



Interestingly too, if the whole counsel of Scripture is bypassed, should we not also exclude Paul (who wasn’t married) and Jesus Christ Himself from being leaders of the Church or teaching? Of course not, what we must do is work within the boundaries of scripture instead of the boundaries of men.



Certainly by now the majority of the readers should see that Paul is quite adamant about the exclusion of women in the preaching ministry. Remember this verse? “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction and instruction in righteousness.” 2 Timothy 3:16. In other words, these verses I’ve included in this commentary are not just written by Paul the Apostle, but they were God breathed. If Paul says he does not allow women to teach or usurp authority over men, then we can be assured those words came from the Creator of the Universe.



If you are in a Church where your pastor is a woman then you are fundamentally standing with her, thus you’re standing against God. Ignoring the scriptures placed above even after looking into the Greek only makes your case weaker. Corrupting and manipulating those same scriptures, twisting them to say what you want them to say, or interpreting them contrarily to the exegetical norm won’t cut any ice with God when you try to explain your disobedience to Him concerning His word.



Lastly, I feel I must address the idea of homosexual pastors. A homosexual bishop/pastor/elder/deacon cannot possibly fulfill the requirement set down by God Almighty in which a man must be the husband of one wife. God sets the parameters, not man. God created male and female for a reason. “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.” Genesis 2:24. The word used here in the Hebrew for man is “'iysh” and means male, man, opposite of female. And the Hebrew word for wife is “'ishshah” and the description in the concordance is – woman, female, opposite of male. Absolutely no confusion here.



“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it…” Genesis 1:27-28. Homosexuals cannot multiply, they cannot replenish the earth, and they are actually a deterrent to replenishing the earth. Thus they stand diametrically opposed to God Almighty.



Homosexuals are an abomination to God, an affront to His inerrant word, and He would never condone the ordination of a women pastor, let alone a lesbian, to pastor a church. How in the world does a lesbian fulfill the requirement of “the husband of one wife?” It’s impossible. Again, it’s a case of people thinking that the Bible is not to be taken literally. God knew what would happen to His Church if these abominations were allowed to spread, and He tells us of the apostasy in the last days. People, we are there. Now women pastors and even homosexuals are taking over many of the mainstream denominations all because they either misinterpret the scriptures or they dismiss the word of God as simply metaphors and allegories and mostly irrelevant to society today.



Do you really want to be taught the scriptures by someone who avoids those verses that are clearly contrary to their position? Does “be ye not deceived” come to mind? Where’s all this headed? God knows.



“Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?” Luke 18:8.



God bless you all,



Ron Graham

twotug@embarqmail.com

All scripture is from the KJV



“My hard drive crashed a few weeks ago and everything was lost. I had backed up my address book a while before the crash but it was not current. To get back on my mailing list just resend your email address to me.”

On Broadway



Bright lights, adult theaters, jumping hot spots for socializing (among other things), fast cars, high rollers lots of fun and excitement to be had “On Broadway”. Now that’s the life, huh? “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:” Matthew 7:13.



There’s a Broadway in every town, in every community, in every nation. And I’m not talking about the street called Broadway, although many have become trapped and lost on that street. No, what I’m talking about is the Broadway Jesus speaks of as a particular path that each of us must choose to walk or avoid. It’s actually a simple path to follow. That’s why so many end up there. Fun, thrills, games of all kinds. A plethora of perversions and distractions from the woes of life can be found “On Broadway”.



What is the Broadway? It’s interesting when we look at the Greek word it actually means spacious, there seems to be no limitations on just how many people Broadway will accommodate. Any decision we make or any path we take which opposes Jesus Christ is the Broad-way that leadeth to destruction, and that my friends is just a simple fact.



There are many cults circulating the globe which teach their followers concepts that are diametrically opposed to God’s inerrant word, and those teachings culminate “On Broadway”. When someone says “There are many paths that lead to Heaven”, that’s Broadway. “All religions claim their own path to Heaven, Christianity is no different,” that’s Broadway. “I’m basically a good person; God won’t send me to Hell”, Broadway. “I don’t believe in God, or Satan, or Heaven and Hell”, okay, everybody say it together, Broadway.



Even in Christian colleges there are those who conspire with Satan to lead their students to Broadway. Anyone who teaches contrary to God’s word is conspiring with Satan. Satan, the father of all lies, invented the lie “…ye shall not surely die ” Genesis 3:4. In other words he called God a liar. That is precisely what we see happening whenever a pastor or college professor tells their parishioners or young impressionable students God didn’t really mean what He said. I’ve received letters from students confirming this to be the case. Be careful where you send your children for a Christian education. Many Christian colleges have successfully robbed that name from God and are currently well entrenched on Broadway.



A dear sister in the Lord recently wrote to me about the co-pastor “a woman” at her Church who line item vetoes verses from God’s word which she doesn’t like – Broadway.



Many Christian denominations come close to Broadway because they won’t recognize Israel’s legitimate claim to the land God gave them. “The Church has replaced Israel in God’s eyes”, that’s Broadway. God never reneges on a covenant. Those covenants He made with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and David are binding. Refusing to accept the truth of those covenants and thinking the Church has now replaced Israel in God’s eyes is just another way to call God a liar – Broaaadwaaay.



“Jesus is not God” – Broadway. “Jesus was a good teacher but He didn’t die on a cross or arise from the grave”, do you get the feeling Broadway’s filling up fast? Are we beginning to see why the Broadway is so easily followed yet so destructive? And why Jesus says many will enter thereat? There are so many lies infiltrating the minds of men that over time the truth of God’s word becomes diluted, and of non-effect.



“Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.” Colossians 2:8. The word “spoil” above actually means to give place to. In other words, when man gives place to the doctrines of men instead of adhering to God’s word – Broadway.



Today we see many doctrines of men being adhered to in the church. One which is a sure path to Broadway is by adding to the sufficiency of the cross. This concept, in effect, is saying Jesus didn’t pay the whole price for my sins so I must perform my own works, such as being baptized to complete the process, or I must speak in tongues, or be a member of a certain congregation… these doctrines of men (lies) go on and on. Instead of being saved by grace through faith, according to man’s doctrines , faith alone just won’t do. This lie will lead people away from believing that through faith in Jesus Christ are we saved by God’s grace. Ultimately many who go to Church to find the truth only find Broadway.



When believers in Christ fail in their assigned task of spreading the Gospel of Christ, Satan will take full advantage of that failure, and he has. Besides all the Christian cults, and demon possessed professors, many of our Christian leaders are vacillating when it comes to standing firm on the word of God. When the scriptures are allegorized, marginalized, or even discounted as mere fables by pastors and teachers, Satan gets elevated. This very real satanic promotion has and will in the future lead many to – Broadway.



“Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.” Matthew 7:15. Basically liars, these are men and women who have perfected the skill of lying to an art. They’ve made their father the devil proud. The only way any of us can keep from participating in their dance, “the Broadway shuffle”, is by being ever diligent in our studies of and believing in God’s inerrant word. God warns us again and again about liars. Sadly many just don’t pay attention or they don’t believe Him, and of course yet another path to Broadway.



“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” John 14:6. Of course this claim by the Creator of the universe is widely disputed among false religions, and even many so called Christian college professors; thus this disputed truth has been responsible for more people wondering onto Broadway than almost any other lie promoted by Satan.



Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” Matthew 7:14. Here Jesus drives home a fact. “Few” is His word when referring to just how many will eventually follow Him. The Greek word “oligos” can be translated as: little, small, few, or slight. In other words we’re looking at a Greek word which, when used in the above context, represents a very slight numerical value. God is telling us in no uncertain terms that huge multitudes of folks will find Broadway much more advantageous than to accept the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Just who are these people? Well, some of them you know. Some may even be related to you.



I don’t know about the rest of you but when I read God’s word about how few enter in through the narrow way (Jesus Christ) vs. the many that will go through the broad way (the path that leads to Hell) it’s not only sad but depressing. But imagine how our Creator God must feel when even one of His creation rejects His Son? God offers all of humanity a free gift of salvation, yet He tells us that Broadway will be packed. What a sad commentary as we see multitudes upon multitudes of deceived folks looking to Broadway (Hell) for their eternal future.



God knows something none of the rest of us can ever know. He, being outside of the restraints of time and space, has a unique advantage over us. He can see the beginning of all things as well as the end of all things simultaneously. This unique advantage allows Him to make statements such as “few there be that find it” (that is the narrow way – Jesus Christ), and “broad is the way that leads to destruction” (Satan’s way – Hell). God knew, even before He created the universe, who would believe in and follow His only begotten Son, and who would take the Broadway turnoff. This in no way diminishes our responsibility to choose for ourselves which path to take.



Yep, Broadway is a turnoff in more ways than one. It means going against the truth. It’s a deliberate choice that folks make to stand in complete rebellion against their Creator. The lies which the enemy supplies to all humanity are damning and he knows it. Satan cannot see the beginning from the end and thus all he can do is work day and night to corrupt God’s creation. Satan is a very powerful and intelligent supernatural being but he can’t hold a candle to God; as hard as the enemy tries to usurp God, God never loses control. But He, being the loving gracious God He is, will never force anyone to avoid Broadway. He gives us direction through His word and has placed the Holy Spirit on earth to guide us to Jesus Christ, but the final choice to follow Christ or to jump “the Broadway train” is entirely our domain.



Jesus gave us those verses in Matthew 7 as a warning to all who wish to occupy eternity with Him. He’s telling us that there will be much obstruction ahead (that’s another commentary), but the simple way will be the Broad way. The narrow way, which is only through Jesus Christ, leads to life, “and few there be that find it”.



Should we think that the more the lost see Christians being persecuted for their faith the better Broadway will look to them? Not hardly. Foxe’s “Book of Martyrs” tells of millions of early Christians being persecuted and executed, but they remained steadfast in their faith. He describes many scenes of Christians as they are being eaten by beast or burned at the stake all the while their faces resembled angels. It was as though they were looking at Jesus and He had given them a peace to endure the pain. These martyrs, by holding fast to their faith, are prime examples of how the Church, though hugely persecuted, grew to the size it is today.



The lies which permeate our current Christian culture are, on many occasions, voiced by those who over the years have gained our trust. During the dark times of persecution which are surely coming what can we expect from these fearless leaders? A new mantra of political correctness. The old adage “if you can’t stand the heat get out of the kitchen” is changing. Many of our Christian leaders today simply turn down the heat (water down the word of God). Christianity is currently perceived as politically incorrect; therefore many Christian leaders are simply falling in line with what society wants. “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” 2 Timothy 4:3-4. And what will those itching ears, and fables get them? Broadway.



Salvation through Jesus Christ alone is becoming more and more unpopular. The Muslims hate us for what we preach, and yes I mean all Muslims. There is no such thing as a moderate Muslim. They wish to inculcate Sharia Law across the globe and here in America the religion of Islam is spreading like wildfire. One main obstruction to their achieving their goal is Christianity; it must be eliminated so they can proceed with their agenda. Oh, and by the way, Islam and it’s 1.5 billion adherents – Broadway!!



Broadway is Satan’s undisputed path. Is it easy? Is it comfortable? Is it fun? Some may think so, but it’s actually deadly and Satan knows it. Satan hates humans, he even hates those who openly worship him as their god. It is not in his character to be benevolent. He is determined to lead and guide, through whatever deception seems to fly, as many people as he can down – to Broadway.



Jesus admonishes us to enter through the straight gate and narrow way which at this point in time obviously remains open. If this were not the case He would have shut the door and taken us home by now. Consequently there must still be time and room for anyone who chooses Him, albeit precious little time remaining.



Therefore we, as His followers, still have work to do. We are to hold fast to the faith ‘til He comes. We are to spread the good news of His Gospel to the world. We are to make disciples of all nations. And we are to do all this no matter how much persecution comes our way.



Question: Is the straight gate and the narrow way the only path to Heaven? Give that some real thought before you answer. Are there other roads that lead to the Father? If you believe, as many do, that there are many roads that lead to Heaven then you’ve just called Jesus Christ a liar and your future is secure – On Broadway.



May God bless and change lives,



Ron Graham

twotug@embarqmai.com

All scripture is from the KJV

Pulling the Wool over God’s Eyes

“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:28. Paul clearly states the obvious, punctuated by the true fact that we, who are born again believers, are all one in Christ. How can this verse be so widely misinterpreted? In response to a commentary I wrote on women pastors many have used this particular verse to contradict Paul’s teachings. As we all know, God’s word never contradicts itself. So in this commentary I’ll show what Paul was clearly teaching while addressing the Galatians.

It’s interesting, if we go back and read from the beginning of this chapter we see that Paul is disturbed by what’s going on in Galatia and his blood pressure must be more than just slightly elevated as he refers to the Galatians as fools. “O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth…” Galatians 3:1. Paul is speaking to the Galatians as believers who, by all accounts, knew the truth. They had been taught well and the knowledge and understanding was there. So what went wrong? The doctrines of men, the pride of life, the rebellion to the simple truth of the scriptures, and we see the same thing has happened today in many of our Christian Churches. Perhaps not the same deceptions as the Galatians were entertaining but deception none the less. Letting down our guard allows Satan a foothold and erroneous doctrines will creep in, most of the time unawares.

“… who hath bewitched you…” Galatians 3:1a. Paul is speaking to the Galatians as though they are under some kind of a spell. Paul knows the Galatians and what they’ve been taught, but something has changed. He sees the Gospel of Christ, having been previously accepted by them, being supplanted with a huge error. The Galatians were in the process of adding to the simple gift of salvation with the Old Testament Law of Moses.

Jesus Christ came to fulfill the law and the prophets and the Galatians were taught that truth. But they were bewitched in their thinking and became disobedient to that truth. The Galatians were heading off course and Paul had to help them get their sights back on Jesus Christ, and Him alone for salvation.

Unbiblical doctrines have once again permeated the Church, and strangely enough, these lies have become the norm and widely accepted by those in leadership. It’s as though no one pays attention to all the warnings against such doctrines. Jesus Himself addresses seven churches in the book of Revelation and most of them have strayed way off the correct path. Only two were still hanging onto the truth of the Gospel, and that was way back in the first century AD. Like the Galatians, much of the Christian Church has moved way off base.

Man’s perception of the Bible has changed over the years. It’s now seen as allegorical, erroneous, mythological and in many instances quite controversial. When man determines the Bible contains errors, or when verses are interpreted in a controversial way, some simply prefer to delete those supposed errors and stubborn contradictions so their agenda may be easier to achieve. If this procedure is continued for any length of time we can be assured many false doctrines will infiltrate our Christian Churches. Oh yeah, they already have. When people are blindly led by the rings in their noses instead of studying the scriptures for themselves these errors will fester into huge doctrinal issues which no one will want to deal with so they’re systematically ignored. Finally, erroneous doctrines become the new truth, and as we can now see are well entrenched in present day Christendom.

Paul saw this coming and he tried to head it off at the pass. The Galatians were being foolish in their attempts to yoke the Law of Moses with salvation, and Paul knew where this would lead. Our Christian Churches today have wandered off course; sadly there does not seem to be enough men with true biblical knowledge around to affect the change needed to get the Church back on course.

Over the past few decades there has been a huge lack of spiritual maturity among Christians. They’ve grown lax in how they deal with erroneous teaching. They’ve allowed new ideas and concepts that are unbiblical to filter in among the sheep, and in the end God’s truth has suffered greatly.

If we were to somehow conjure up Paul today and allow him ability to see for himself what has happened to the Church he would be both appalled and deeply saddened. His teachings are being treated with distain each time they stand in disagreement with or contradict a person’s personal stance on a certain issue. When someone doesn’t want to agree with the Apostle Paul because his words contradict their own manipulation of scriptures, they simply say “Although I respect Paul as a man of God he certainly didn’t speak for God in all instances”. This proves their own ignorance and deceitfulness. Of course since all scripture is God breathed (2 Timothy 3:16) we know that it’s not Paul’s words that are being tortured and manipulated, but God’s.

There’s an old adage that goes something like this, “If you torture the text long enough you can make it say whatever you want.” I’ve seen this many times, especially when someone disagrees with my commentaries. No matter how I try to explain various Scriptures in context and from the original Greek or Hebrew meanings, there are those who have been taught a skewed doctrine for so long that they cannot accept Biblical truth. Or Biblical truth doesn’t fit into their concept of how God should be doing things.

The Galatians were moving away from the pure teaching of salvation by grace through faith and trying to incorporate the Law of Moses into the salvation mixture. Paul basically resorts to teaching them all over again. This is what we learn as we read the entire 3rd chapter of Galatians.

In today’s world, a common occurrence is to manipulate the scriptures by taking them out of context. This misguided approach to the scriptures has proved quite successful for those who wish to further their own agendas. This erroneous and misguided manipulation of scriptures has led many people to believe these false interpretations while completely ignoring the exegetical process of studying scriptures. This ill conceived and satanic approach to the scriptures is what’s referred to as torturing the text. If you take a pair of scissors and cut the Bible into many pieces you can put it back together to read however you want it to read. Of course that would be cheating, and there are many who revel in this deceptive process.

“For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” Galatians 3:26-27. Paul’s admonition through these verses is for one purpose, to get the Galatians back on the track. To the traditional Jewish way of thinking you’re standing before God was predicated on whether or not you keep the Law. Paul says we can be considered sons of God in a different way: through faith in Christ Jesus. The Galatians were heading toward instituting a major error by attempting to add the Law of Moses to salvation, and ultimately by forcing the gentiles to adhere to the rudiments of the law, thankfully along came Paul to set them straight.

“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:28. Now we’re getting to the fundamental reason for this commentary. I sort of went the long way around the barn as it were, but it was a necessary route because of the misinterpretation, and erroneous manipulation of the above verse.

There is an old adage that states “The only barrier to receiving the truth is the belief you already have it”. Consequently I purposely explained the substance of the entire chapter of Galatians 3 so when I got to this verse those who might disagree wouldn’t just run away at this point. So keep reading and learn what Paul was really getting at.

You see, the problem that arose in the Church at Galatia was that some of the folks wanted the dividing line that once stood between the Jews and the Greeks to remain. It was Paul’s mission to open their eyes to the fact that in Christ Jesus no such line exists. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female. We are all one in Christ, so according to Paul what does “one in Christ” mean? There is no longer a dividing line between the three characteristics he mentions because when we become born again we are all “In Christ.” Greeks, slaves, and females are all the same when it comes to our inheritance of the Kingdom of Christ. We are all “In Christ”, one body, a group of people set apart for God’s good pleasure.

This doesn’t mean that there are no longer any differences. Paul knew that there was still a difference between Jew and Greek, and his evangelistic approach might differ to each group. “For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law. To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.” 1 Corinthians 9:19-22.

The slave still had a daily obligation to obey his master , though they might be equal in Jesus “Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men: Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.” Ephesians 6:5-8. The whole book of Philemon addresses this same thing.

There is neither male nor female? Of course there are still differences that no one can dispute, and there are still roles for male and female in the home and in the Church “This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?”1 Timothy 2:1-5.

“Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body” Ephesians 5:22-33. Though they are equal in standing before God there is still a chain of command set forth by God for all who belong to Him to follow. There are differences in role and in function, but none in standing before God through faith in Jesus.

“When we say that Christ has abolished these distinctions, we mean not that they do not exist, but that they no longer create any barriers to fellowship.” – John Stott

“He is not writing about a unity that comes about as a result of human achievement. He is saying that when people are saved by Jesus Christ they are brought into a marvelous unity, a unity between the saved and the Saviour and a unity that binds together all the saved.” – Henry Morris www.icr.org

“And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Galatians 3:29. This concluding verse of Paul’s ties it all together as to just what correcting was going on with the Galatians. This chapter of Galatians and in particular the verse that states we are all one in Christ has nothing whatsoever to do with women pastors or teachers; it’s about fellowship and our inheritance. Clearly Paul is addressing the Galatians erroneous view that adhering to the Law of Moses was a part of salvation. Paul uses this chapter to set the Galatians straight.

Although I understand how when taken out of context some might think by referring to there is neither male nor female that they’ve achieved their vindication for women pastors and teachers, clearly the opposite is true. “But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.” 1 Timothy 2:12-14. As for the word of God, it’s clear and thus it still stands.

Women who have taken on a teaching role or pastoral role by usurping the authority God gave only to men are in direct contradiction God’s word. But I’m sure these women, as well as many mislead men, will find another way to torture the text so they can continue in their attempt at pulling the wool over God’s eyes.


God bless you all,

Ron Graham

twotug@embarqmail.com

All scripture is from the KJV

Emulating Martyrdom


How is it that American Christians seem impervious to the extreme persecution that most of the rest of the world has been enduring for the past couple millennium? What makes us different? Why aren’t we being tortured and mutilated/beheaded like so many of our brothers and sisters worldwide? Don’t misunderstand; I’m pleased as punch for the freedom we enjoy in our open worship of our Lord Jesus Christ. But what evil lurks on our horizon?



“The twentieth century saw more Christians murdered for their faith than in all the previous centuries combined” – Chuck Missler – www.khouse.org. So what can those who unabashedly follow Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior expect to be confronted with in the 21st century?



The above question might well be on the minds of many of my brethren. We can pick up the newspaper and read about extreme Christian persecution almost every day, but it’s usually somewhere far removed from America. It should grieve our spirit to read about our brothers and sisters in Uganda or Somalia being butchered for their faith. In the Middle East Christians live in daily fear of being murdered. In China Christians are arrested everyday for holding firm to their faith and thrown into prison, many times for the remainder of their lives. Pakistan is another country that exhibits extreme cruelty toward Christians. In Bali, Indonesia the body of Christ suffers greatly; beheadings of Christ’s followers as well as bombs dismembering their bodies in this predominately Muslim country are all the rage. There are other nations treating Christians similarly, but what of America?



Here in America some Christian persecution has occurred, but nothing on the scale we read about in other countries. Just a few weeks ago I read about a man who was standing in front of a Planned Parenthood building, out on the public sidewalk no less, and he was arrested for silently praying. Praying in silence? How many of us have done that very thing, and in public? Even though that case has been dropped it is obvious Christians are being systematically discriminated against. We are losing our rights and freedoms to stand up for Christ in public. Another man who simply told a terminally ill patient to “trust God” was fired from his job as a counselor. Although we believers in Christ see this as harassment it’s not near the persecution many of the saints in other countries are forced to endure. Neither the man arrested for praying in silence nor the man who was fired bear any resemblance to Washington Irving’s headless horseman. Most of the time these intrusions on our God given rights to share our faith or stand firm on God’s precepts are followed by press releases. When the ACLJ or the Liberty Council gets involved, these matters are soon resolved. For now this seems to be the routine, but there’s no doubt in this believer’s mind that those in authority in America are purposely pushing the “attack Christians” envelope.



I’ve written about pastors who teach the Bible to be simply a document contrived from the minds of men; the dumbing down of the Church creates huge gaps in the pews where true born again believers once sat. Now those pews are being filled by the unregenerate. Of course this would normally be a good thing except for the fact that the type of teaching currently being promoted by unbelieving pastors will only result in keeping the unregenerate, unregenerate.



So I’ll ask the question again. Why such a small amount of persecution on American Christians? Persecution in America pales when compared to the majority of the rest of the world. Here’s a thought, is it possible that would be persecutors don’t see a noticeable difference between themselves and those claiming to be Christians?



“And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee…” Genesis 12:3. I know many refer to the US’s “helpful” association with Israel as the reason why there is so little persecution of American Christians. I see a problem here though, not only is our government cursing Israel by forcing the Jews out of their God given land, but denominational churches are cursing Israel by their false belief that the Church has replaced Israel. Since that is the case, shouldn’t we rethink the reason why American Christians seem to be impervious to the extreme persecution we currently see spreading across this globe?



The curse God places on those who curse Israel is not the persecution Jesus spoke about. The persecution Jesus speaks about, affecting all who follow Him, does not, nor will it ever, come from God.



There is a remnant of “in Christ” believers still remaining in this land we call America. Thus God’s hand of protection remains, for now. But have you noticed, though, how God seems to be somewhat easing His protection lately? Strange disasters have been seen for a few years now here in American that for the most part defies explanation. Who can explain September 11th 2001? How could a powerful nation – the most powerful nation on earth – allow something so devastating to be unleashed on its populous and its infrastructure? (Yes, those twin buildings which fell that day were a part of America’s infrastructure). Not to mention what it did to the American psyche.



All the disasters that have inflicted suffering on America’s populous will continue in frequency and severity, but they are unrelated to Christian persecution. It isn’t Christian persecution when entire nations suffer. The kind of persecution Jesus speaks of is reserved exclusively for those of us who follow Him, unashamed.



Is it just arrogance on the part of most Christians here in America to think we will escape this persecution? Jesus tells His followers that all those who follow Him will be persecuted. For those of you who still don’t get it, that includes His followers in America as well.



If it sounds as though I’m looking forward to the persecution Jesus speaks about you’ve got me all wrong. But I believe His word, therefore I know it is coming and there’s not a thing I can do but bear up under it. “Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you…” John 15:20. Well, we know our Lord was severely persecuted which ultimately resulted in His execution. Millions of His followers have died horrible deaths. Could it be that American Christians are living in denial? I don’t know about the rest of you but I thoroughly enjoy my comforts and I hate pain, therefore I’m not looking forward to any persecution whatsoever, but I’ve resigned myself to accept God’s truth.



As I mentioned previously, a more precise reason for the general lack of persecution hitting America’s Christian church these days is that it’s very hard to find the true Church among the apostate. Yet, just as a pig will root out a stump to get to the grub worms, the true followers of Jesus Christ will likewise be rooted out.



What can we expect as the enemy constantly recruits followers to seek out and destroy Christ’s Church? I’m not sure, but all sorts of evils come to mind. We should be aware that Satan has a lot of ideally suited harassments at his disposal, as well as an army of followers who hate us. The young Columbine High School student who would not denounce her faith in Christ as she stood looking down the barrel of that Christ-hating murder’s gun might be a good example of what we can expect.



Will all people who call themselves Christian go through this persecution? No. Why? “And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness; And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended.” Mark 4:17. Many are Christian in name only, not in their hearts.



There is a huge groundswell of hate aimed toward Christians and that pot is being stirred by blogs all over the internet. Even our current government leadership is, and will continue to be, a satanically led force standing against Christ’s followers. “If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.” John 15:19. The world on a whole is lost and they love their own. Many who profess to be followers of Jesus Christ reveal little if any Christian traits. The world, in many instances, can’t distinguish between themselves and the majority of the “Christian” Church. But how the world will react to true believers in Christ is becoming painfully obvious.



We who are the remnant Church will not see God’s wrath because God intends to pour out that wrath on a Christ-rejecting world. Christ’s Church will not be here to witness that piece of history unfold. But the wrath of God has nothing to do with the persecution believers “In Christ” are told to expect. Our persecution will be nothing compared to God’s wrath, which all who have rejected Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord will see and feel.



No matter what evil comes our way, the followers of Jesus Christ are promised peace and joy and the strength to endure whatever the perishing world throws at us. “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.” Romans 8:35-37.



We may, very soon now, find ourselves emulating the martyred Christians of the past. That’s millions of truly born again believers “In Christ” who put God first in their lives and refused to renounce Him as Savior and Lord. May the rest of us stand firm as well.



God bless you all,



Ron Graham

twotug@embarqmail.com

All scripture is from the KJV

Here We Go Again



A recent article circulating various news sites proclaimed 24% of American’s have made it known that they believe Barack Obama to be Muslim, not Christian, so the media is on a frenzy to prove his Christianity. The fact that everything he does is contrary to God and the fact that he promotes the Muslim faith every chance he gets couldn’t have anything to do with folks believing him to be Muslim, or could it? Perhaps the fact that he was born into a Muslim family with a Muslim father has something to do with what faith he embraces. Muslims claim that all children born into Muslim families are indoctrinated into the Islamic faith. So where would that leave Barack Obama?



The truth is Obama has never publically denounced his Muslim faith, and the fact that he enjoys an especially close association with those who adhere to the religion of Islam could be part of the reason many consider him a Muslim trying to hide himself in sheep’s clothing (pun intended). As we take a look at the people standing alongside Obama claiming he is a Christian, we can readily see they have no concept of just what constitutes the Christian faith.



Consider the following; these Obamaites say he prays every day, so do Muslims. They say he has Christian advisors (debatable), but he’s also saddled himself with Muslim advisors. They say he has his own special way of looking at the resurrection, yeah, as do all Muslims, (in their minds it didn’t happen). And those talking heads that speak for Obama regarding his religious faith, as well as the mainstream media, feel these things prove he’s a Christian.



The fact is, those of us who are actually born again know there is only one way to become a Christian. And it isn’t through the occasional lip service the media deems sufficient proof of one’s Christian faith. To be a “Christian” takes commitment to Christ, and many times we are faced with sacrificing family ties, friendships, even jobs for our faith. Believing in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior is a full, lifetime pursuit. There’s really no difficulty in accepting the truth of the Gospel of Christ, the difficulty comes in embracing that truth for life.



How can I be saved? “Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.” John 6:28-29. The people came to Jesus while He was at Capernaum and inquired of Him what they must do to do the work of God. In other words, what must they do to be saved? And what was Jesus’ answer? “… that ye believe on him whom he (God the Father) hath sent.” John 6:29b. How do we believe? By placing our faith, our trust, our very lives in Jesus’ hands. At the moment we’ve done that we are instantly born again (justified in the Father’s eyes) saved for eternity.



This is not just a causal belief system Jesus is referring to. No, our lives will go through a supernatural change. Even our own family members may ask “What happened to you?” Some may even disown us. When we become born again, born from above, born of God we begin a whole new life with a whole different family. Our faith now resides in God; we who are born again trust God and believe His inerrant word.



People listen to Obama as he claims to be a Christian and they believe him. Why? Because those folks have no concept of what it means to be born again. I’ve listened to Obama many times, but I’ve never heard him say he was born again, or when and where his conversion took place. I have heard him say, though, that he believes there are many paths that lead to Heaven, which in turn tells me he believes our Lord Jesus Christ, the one he claims to follow, is a liar (John 14:6).



“You seem to be somewhat judgmental Ron.” Do I? Over and over again, when I write about Obama, predictably I’m sent the scripture verse that reads “Judge not, that ye be not judged.” Matthew 7:1. Excuse me, but Jesus also gives the following admonition: “Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.” John 7:24. Again, predictably, that one they conveniently omit.



The Greek word for judge is “krino” and it means “to call into question”. This is what Jesus means when He says “judge with righteous judgment”. We are to call into question the unbiblical actions of individuals and discern for ourselves whether or not to follow such a person. This is something that is sorely lacking in the Christian community today. It seems everyone is afraid of being accused of judging others. Mostly this misrepresentation of scriptures comes from those who are not following Jesus at all, let alone being biblically knowledgeable. When that verse is used it is always in relationship to someone condemning someone else’s seemingly judgmental attitude. Christians aren’t to condemn, but we are to judge/call into question the actions of others and use biblical discernment to do so.



Obama displays no devotion to Jesus Christ; actually quite the opposite is true. No one can be a follower of Jesus Christ while standing so firmly against Him. No born again believer in Christ is going to promote and advance the Islamic religion. Obama, besides following Satan’s agenda by promoting and declaring Islam to be a religion of peace, is fully following Satan in other arenas as well. Obama is the most abortion happy president in the history of the United States. If he knew his Bible and believed it to be the inerrant word of God that it is, he could never condone the murder of the innocent.



Obama, as sitting president, is the most open and visible supporter of the homosexual agenda in our history. How can a born again believer in Christ stand so opposed to God and His word? How can any follower of Jesus Christ call evil good and good evil? “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!” Isaiah 5:20-21. Old Testament or New, standing against God in any sense is not following Jesus’ admonition “If ye love me keep my commandments” John 14:15.



Here’s another fact that must not be overlooked. Anyone who supports Obama is also a supporter of the same satanic agendas. Whether or not you agree with my above statement is inconsequential, it’s God’s stance on these issues that concerns me and that is where I take my stand using biblical discernment.



Not everyone worships the God of the Bible; but multitudes worship the god of this world. Yet they believe they are worshipping the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. True Christians know that Jesus Christ is the Creator of the Universe, and the One and only God worthy of our worship.



Why doesn’t anyone ask Obama if he believes Jesus Christ is everything the Bible says He is? I’ll tell you why. In a YouTube video Obama has admitted no confidence in the Bible. In this same video he makes statements to the fact that he believes Jesus to be a great teacher, a great humanitarian, but never in that video or in any of his speeches does he refer to Jesus Christ as God Almighty. Obama disparages the Bible; but question him on what he thinks about the Koran, and you’ll quickly see where his allegiance stands.



Perhaps someday Obama will follow his own mantra and make a “change”. He may one day see the truth and actually become a true follower of Jesus Christ. Every one of us should be praying for that day to come soon. But as of this writing that day has yet to materialize and nothing I see coming from this man indicates that a conversion experience is even on the horizon.



I’ll be the first to admit that we are all sinners, but all born again believers in Christ believe the Bible is God’s inerrant word and that those words are not to be taken lightly. Obama claims the Bible contains numerous obscure verses. No, there’s nothing vague, unclear, ambiguous, or doubtful about God’s word.



Many folks claim to be a Christian, just like Obama, but the proof is in the pudding. “Ye shall know them by their fruits. Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 7:16-21.



The fruit America and the rest of the world sees coming from Obama is far from anything that might even minutely resemble a good tree bringing forth good fruit. All we see is corruption and lies “neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.” Jesus says every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit must be hewn down, and cast into the fire.



Obama says this nation is not a Christian nation, a claim he seems to be proud of. I agree this nation is currently far from being a “Christian nation”, but it was established on Christian principles a mere two centuries ago. Yet I’ve never heard that fact brought out in any of Obama’s speeches.



He claims that Muslims are responsible for the majority of the innovations that have occurred over the last few centuries. To say that, one would need to exclude the mass of innovations made by the Jews. Of course we know the Muslims hate the Jews so there’s nothing eye opening about Obama’s statement when one actually understands who and what Obama really is.



Barack Obama believes that all Muslims are worshipping the one true God. He believes this falsehood because he is a Muslim and stands alongside his own. No true follower of Jesus Christ will ever make the statement “Muslims worship the one true God.” It is impossible to make that statement if God’s Holy Spirit dwells within you. Why? Because allah, the Babylonian moon god, is the antithesis of God Almighty.



As stated earlier, there is more to being a Christian than the US news media, or even many citizens of the US comprehend. By and large, most folks have no understanding of God’s word; in the minds of these two groups, the media and many US citizens, anyone who says they’re a Christian must be Christian. Otherwise why would anyone make such an outlandish claim? Why would anyone want to be something many Americans, as well as much of the news media, deplore? In Obama’s case, claiming to be Christian influences people; better stated, he gained the votes of the uninformed Christians through his false assertion that he is one.



Friends, Obama is not a Christian, and those 24% of American’s who were surveyed recently saying he’s Muslim are 100% correct. Will we in this country be forced to live under the regime of this socialist, Marxist, Muslim president for two full terms? God forbid it. After all America may not survive one term under Obama. If you are a Christian, a true born again believer in Christ, and you don’t see the truth about this man yet, hold onto your hats, you soon will.



There is a curse on this Nation, my friends, and its name is Barack Hussein Obama. Pray for God’s intervention in this matter, and soon.



God bless you all,



Ron Graham

twotug@embarqmail.com

All scripture is KJV and God breathed