Category Archives: It’s a Bonus Post

2020, COVID 19, Guests, It's a Bonus Post

John McArthur Speaks

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I am herein providing you a link to read John McArthur’s statement as to the decision Grace Community Church in California has asserted.

First, I have not always agreed with every stance John McArthur has made (and certainly if we were to enter dialog, he would find stances to be at odds with me); still, I am confident in calling him, my Brother.  And today I whole-heartedly agree with him and stand with him and Grace Community Church, praying for The LORD to uphold them, protect them, and glorify Himself greatly through them.

Today I read his article that I am urging you to read as well, particularly if you are a church leader. I will give you a portion to get you started and ask you to finish up at the Grace to You blog.

Christ, not Caesar, Is Head of the Church

by John MacArthur

Friday, July 24, 2020

A Biblical Case for the Church’s Duty to Remain Open

Christ is Lord of all. He is the one true head of the church (Ephesians 1:22; 5:23; Colossians 1:18). He is also King of kings—sovereign over every earthly authority (1 Timothy 6:15; Revelation 17:14; 19:16). Grace Community Church has always stood immovably on those biblical principles. As His people, we are subject to His will and commands as revealed in Scripture. Therefore we cannot and will not acquiesce to a government-imposed moratorium on our weekly congregational worship or other regular corporate gatherings. Compliance would be disobedience to our Lord’s clear commands.

Some will think such a firm statement is inexorably in conflict with the command to be subject to governing authorities laid out in Romans 13 and 1 Peter 2. Scripture does mandate careful, conscientious obedience to all governing authority, including kings, governors, employers, and their agents (in Peter’s words, “not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are unreasonable” [1 Peter 2:18]). Insofar as government authorities do not attempt to assert ecclesiastical authority or issue orders that forbid our obedience to God’s law, their authority is to be obeyed whether we agree with their rulings or not. In other words, Romans 13 and 1 Peter 2 still bind the consciences of individual Christians. We are to obey our civil authorities as powers that God Himself has ordained.

However, while civil government is invested with divine authority to rule the state, neither of those texts (nor any other) grants civic rulers jurisdiction over the church.     Click HERE for the remainder.

2020, Ephesians, Gospel of Matthew, Holy Soap Box, It's a Bonus Post, Political awareness

Words. Words. Words.

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Words. I like words. Words are vehicles of communication; they inform. However, problems arise with using Words. They can be perceived differently than intended. They can be spoken or written hastily. They can be used to edify the hearers. They can be used to wound the hearers (or readers). The speaker is responsible for his or her words. The hearer is responsible too; responsible to do his or her best to listen for understanding and to ask in a spirit of learning, did you mean what I have perceived? This is communication. It’s limited it seems to me these days.

These days we have Word Police. We get warnings or ticketed when we use words others do not like. Now, depending upon the intent of our hearts, that might not put us in such bad company. Here, let me give you an example.

Yeshua.
Some know Him as Jesus. If He were walking the earth today in His GODMAN body He would get warned and ticketed often.
Yeshua said what He meant and meant what He said.
And it was NEVER to hurt; it was ALWAYS to heal. I suspect often, though, it did sting and smart some of the hearers.  (It has me!)
Would you like an example? Matthew 23. Take a look.

And let us do likewise. Let our words be chosen for the purpose of healing, even when they hurt.
I know, it’s easier said than done; but, we can practice!

Ephesians 4:29  (AMP) 29 Do not let unwholesome [foul, profane, worthless, vulgar] words ever come out of your mouth, but only such speech as is good for building up others, according to the need and the occasion, so that it will be a blessing to those who hear [you speak]. source

2020, From the Quietness of the War Room, It's a Bonus Post

A Few

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I am confident you have heard the same definition of insanity as I have heard: continuing to do the same thing expecting a different result.

That fits this racism war. I am 68 years young. All my life here in America we have been doing the same thing expecting a different result regarding racism. We hate. We fight. We loot. We burn. We kill. We continually rehash generations gone; and today’s sins we plaster on every digital screen we can find: Network media, cable media, social media. Why?

It’s not working! We are not curing what ails us. And by these means, we never will. Racism will NEVER die in America this way. Not with protest – peaceful or violent. Not with media coverage. Not with more knowledge. Not with plastering our social media apps with the sins of we the people. It has not worked all these years and it will NEVER work. We will never bring peace, equality, and harmony this way. Because peace, equality, and harmony is not the goal – not for the majority. If it were, we’d have it already.

Hate lives deep. Its roots are balled in the heart of every racist of every shade. There is a cure. A few have found this cure. A few are living in peace, equality, and harmony. A few have met in the aisles of Walmart for the first time of varying shades from pale to dark and have laughed and hugged and prayed, looking forward to seeing one another again. Again and again, it happens. Day after day, year after year. The Cure works!

Racism dies when hate dies and hate dies when one by one, self dies to self and lives to Christ.

It’s a process and per our digital screens, hardly any of us have gotten on board. Honestly, I’m not looking to see folks lining up for The Cure. I’d like to but I’m a realist. It’s costly and few are willing to pay the price. But for those few who have and those who are now willing, thank you from the bottom of my heart!!