Revolutionary Thoughts

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May 312019
 

John 18:40 of the Bible (NET version) says “Now Barabbas was a revolutionary.” Remember Barabbas? When Jesus was arrested, Pilot gave the people a choice to release one man. Barabbas was the guy the people chose to release rather than Jesus. I think it’s bizarre that the people demanded a REAL revolutionary be released so they could hold Jesus for crucifixion, accusing him of being . . . a revolutionary.

The Jews accused Jesus of declaring himself king and thus trying to overthrow Rome. It was an excuse. A ploy they used to trap Pilot in a corner where he had no choice but to hand Jesus over for punishment. Amazingly, their very actions brought about his crucifixion and set in motion the miraculous events that birthed the biggest “revolution” of human history.

It never ceases to amaze me how blind and confused sin and evil can be. Sometimes it even encourages me. It makes me realize that evil does not require my efforts to defeat it. If I maintain my integrity and, with a good attitude, continue to do right, evil will in time often bring about its own destruction. Perhaps it is true that all evil needs to prevail is for good men to do nothing. But maybe the “something” that good men should do does not require us to strive against every evil we find in the world. That’s exhausting. Perhaps the “something” good people should do is to faithfully work at doing, and being, good ourselves. Then as God’s lite shines through us, darkness disappears.

Not Acceptable

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Apr 292013
 

Yesterday, I heard on the news about a prominent athlete who “came out” and admitted he was gay.  That was good news.  I am all in favor of honesty.  What was bad news to me was the way it was received.  So many people were so supportive, from the President of the United States on down.  The reason, the media postulated, for such wide acceptance was because a large portion of the population involved in sports are young.  And the vast majority of young people aged 18 to 30, believe the gay lifestyle should be accepted.  That, to me, was the bad news.

Since the Bible teaches that the homosexual lifestyle is wrong, that means most young adults in our society have pretty much decided to ignore the Bible and make up their own rules of right and wrong.  Our country is in trouble.  I prayed to God that He would not allow evil to prosper.  That He would not allow wrong doers (including me) to get away with sin.  I prayed that sinners would reap the consequences of the lifestyle they sow, and that they would know the reason for the consequences.  It’s a scary prayer, because it includes me.  But now more than ever, I realize that reward and punishment is a good thing.  That sowing and reaping is vital for the maintenance of righteousness.  And that a God who loves me cannot forever allow me to live content in my sin.

I Never Eat There

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Aug 032011
 

I ate at McDonalds for lunch today.  I proudly marched right in and I didn’t even have a kid with me.  I even liked the food.

There.  I’ve said it.  What almost no one else will admit.  Ask just about anybody about McDonalds and they will get this high-brow look on their face as they tip their head ever so slightly back, looking down their nose at you.  “McDonalds?  Uuggh!  We hardly ever go there unless the kids insist.”  It’s what they say, but I don’t think it’s what they do.  If it were, McDonalds would be a lot less busy at lunch, and nearly everybody there would be under the age of 10.

At lunch today I saw kids and parents, single people, business people, people in ties, people in uniforms, hippies, yuppies, red necks and high brows. They were all there, but none of them like McDonalds.  If you ask them, none of them eat there.

So what makes people this way?  Why do we all refuse to admit that we actually like to eat at McDonalds on occasion?  I think I know.  It’s pride.  We think people will think less of us if they know we indulge in a Big Mac, so we fall victim to an issue that got the Pharisees in so much trouble over 2000 years ago.  A pet sin that grew so ugly it demanded Jesus’ death rather than admit its own existence.  The sin that tries to hide all others.

That site where they serve all those x-rated pictures?  Uuggh!  I never go there!  Juicy gossip?  Are you kidding me?  That’s so unhealthy!  I would never consume that!  Dishonesty?  Never.  We meet our Christian friends at church then head to lunch for some holy fellowship.  We pass right by the busy McDonalds, but nobody even suggests we go there.  Why would we?  Nobody eats at McDonalds.

 

“Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer: `I thank you, God, that I am not a sinner like everyone else. For I don’t cheat, I don’t sin, and I don’t commit adultery. I’m certainly not like that tax collector! I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.’
“But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, `O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.’ I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
     – Luke 18:10-14 NLT