Pastor’s Desk March 30th

Scripture Passage:  “There is a way that seems right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.”  Proverbs 14:12

“Righteousness exalts a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.”  Proverbs 14:34

Dear Friends,

     I am going to create a bumper sticker that says, “Just do what is right!”  We have had some good ones down through the years.  “Just be kind.”  “Don’t worry, be happy.”  “I know I’m somebody cause God don’t make no junk.”  The problem with my bumper sticker is there are so many ideas today about what right is.  I read about a court case in Sweden last week that said a woman’s right to have an abortion, trumps two mid-wives refusal to perform them because of religious convictions. It was the opinion of the court that there were two legitimate rights in question.  Their decision was based upon which right they felt was more important.  The LGBTQ movement has become a force to be reckoned with where religious liberties are concerned.  It began with the right to choose and freedom from criticism as its driving force.  It now chooses to target and persecute any form of religious opposition and to oppress any individual who dares to disagree with their ideas.  The Bible, which at one time was the standard for determining what was right, has been replaced with a construed understanding of our Constitution and Bill of Rights.  We have reached a place where we are manipulating all three to say what we want them to say.  The Constitution, Bill of Rights, and our entire judicial system was based upon the precepts of the Bible and the Ten Commandments. Now is appears to me that right is whatever each individual determines it to be.  The truths I have built my life upon have been relegated to whatever truth is relative for the situation at the moment.  You can no more live life without absolute truths than you can play a game of football without rules and a referee. 

     “There is none righteous, no not one: There is none that understands, there is none that seeks after God.  They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that does good, no, not one.”  Romans 3: 10-12   Scripture makes it clear.  If you leave it up to each individual to determine what is right and what is wrong you automatically fail because no one person is righteous in, and of, themselves.  Isaiah says, “All our righteousness is as filthy rags.”  The problem with my righteousness is that it seems right to me.  If I try hard enough I can justify anything I do, say, or think.  Just because I think it right, does not make it right.  All my actions and thoughts have to be evaluated against a proven standard set by Holy God.  That takes all the guess work out of it.  If I continue to determine my own truth, I may get my way but the final result is death. Adam and Eve were promised death if they sinned against the commands of God and so are we, both physical and spiritual.  It is dangerous to try and make ourselves God. 

     Righteousness based upon the righteousness of God exalts a nation.  If a man exalts God by obeying His commands, he lives a good, pure, healthy and productive life.  There would be no need for armies, police, jails, or hospitals.  By honoring God, we also live in respect for each other.  When God is given his rightful place in our lives, the righteousness we have is His righteousness.  God’s righteousness always does what is right for everyone.  It knows no racial prejudice, social disparity, or economic restrictions.  It did not become right yesterday. It has always been right since the very beginning of creation.  It was not debated by a committee or voted on by the public.  It has been tested, initiated, and proven.  It keeps the universe in perfect balance and will do the same thing for all of God’s creations.  “Eureka!”  “I have found the answer for all our nation’s problems.”

In Christ,

Pastor Johnny


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