Some time ago I wrote a message on the subject of accountability, and this message is a follow up to that one with added scripture. There are all types of accountability, but we are dealing with accountability to God in these two messages. The previous message was based on Israeli procedure, which established the age when a boy or girl was considered mature enough to be accountable to God. Since this was in the period of time before the advent of Christ, there was no clear plan of salvation as we now have. Accountability was thus based on age. This age for boys and girls was usually 13, but over the years has been changed to as old as 15 or 16, depending on the particular Jewish congregation.
Our nation has established ages for accountability in consumption of alcohol and many other things. This method is far from perfect, but seems to work out fairly well. With the coming of Christ, age was replaced with maturity and understanding of the plan of salvation. We should not be confused to think that Israel in pre-Christ time did not know of salvation. They were aware of an after life. There are several examples in scripture that prove this, but you have to have a sharp eye and wit to discover them. Like so many truths in the bible, these gems are usually overshadowed by other truths which grab our initial attention.
The first clue I give you is found in 2 Samuel 12:22,23. "And he said, 'While the child was alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, "Who can tell whether the Lord will be gracious to me, that the child may live? But now he is dead; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I SHALL GO TO HIM, BUT HE SHALL NOT RETURN TO ME.'" David knew about eternal life and the future "home" for the child not committed through the sinner's prayer or by the age of accountability.
The second clue is from, of all places, the Book of Job. This is a small book, but it has so many sermon topics, it requires several in depth studies. We shall examine some verses of Chapter 3 that tell us Job knew about eternal life. See verses 1-19 (and more verses if you like), because this explains Job's knowledge of eternal life. "May the day perish on which I was born, And the night in which it was said , A male child is conceived. May that day be darkness; May God above not seek it, Nor the light shine upon it. May darkness and the shadow of death claim it; May a cloud settle on it; May the blackness of the day terrify it. As for that night, may darkness seize it; May it not rejoice among the days of the year; May it not come into the number of the months. Oh, may that night be barren! May no joyful shout come into it! May they curse it who curse the day, Those who are ready to arouse Leviathan. May the stars of its morning be dark; May it look for light, but have none, And not see the dawning of the day. Because it did not shut up the doors of my mother's womb, Nor hide sorrow from my eyes.
Why did I not die at birth? Why did I not perish when I came from the womb? Why did the knees receive me? Or why the breasts, that I should nurse? For now I would have lain still and been quiet, I would have been asleep; Then I would have been at rest With kings and counselors of the earth, Who built ruins for themselves, Or with princes who had gold, Or filled their houses with silver; OR WHY WAS I NOT HIDDEN LIKE A STILLBORN CHILD, LIKE INFANTS WHO NEVER SAW LIGHT? There the wicked cease from troubling, And there the weary are at rest. There the prisoners rest together; They do not hear the voice of the oppressor. The small and great are there, And the servant is free from his master." Job knew the future whereabouts of the unborn.
By now you may have surmised I'm writing about abortion, which I do not favor except for special conditions. I've heard so many loudmouth conservative men say there should be no abortions because it is murder of an innocent baby or fetus. However, if the mother dies, it is apparently okay. First of all, there is no such thing as an innocent baby or fetus. Upon conception, the fetus receives the seed of sin from human parents. See Romans 5:12, "Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world,, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned--" The term innocent sounds good, but does not apply to mankind, at any age.
Let's move on to murder--the term anti-abortionists define according to their personal agendas. Some believe it's Godly to kill an abortion doctor or any assistants. That's premeditated murder. Christ did not teach that and it is against God's commandments. Now to the conservative church people who CONDONE MURDER by refusing to permit an abortion to save a woman's life: We have a perfect example in November 2012 in Ireland. It made the newspapers and the full media in Europe and Asia, but was pretty well smothered in America.
The woman was 31 years old, a native of India, married, well educated and a dentist. Her husband is an engineer. She was in her 17th week of pregnancy, and the fetus was contributing to blood poisoning. An abortion could save her life. The fetus would die with or without the abortion. The woman suffered great pain until she died. Ireland is Catholic. The country's constitution forbids abortion for any reason. The decision by the Catholic church and medical people was to let the woman die even though the fetus would never have life. As she said, she was not Irish nor was she Catholic. So...the bishops and doctors were responsible for two deaths. At least one was murder. Her husband lost his wife, and they never had any possibility of having children.
Fortunately there were no anti-abortion American Catholics or conservatives involved in this horrendous sin. I might add that many liberals oppose abortion unless there are extenuating circumstances. You see, a fetus or baby that dies before the age of accountability or before accepting Christ as Savior, goes directly to be with Christ. David knew it. Job knew it. I recall the early stages of the anti-abortion movement when activists used the pain a fetus felt through an abortion. It was quite an emotional tactic. No mention was made of the woman's pain and suffering, nor the tragic loss of a wife or mother.
Neither David nor Job was a priest. Both, by the very Word of God, were men God described as Godly men. How do you suppose they knew about the after life and eternity? There was no radio or television. There were priests who really were the bearers of God's Word, not man's agenda. The priests didn't take polls to see what the people preferred. They didn't set up programs to entertain the public. The priests taught truth just as God directed.
There was an eagerness by the people to learn and understand the Word of God. When Israel passed through a time of "falling away", the Word of God wasn't taught, and the book of the Law was packed away to gather dust. The people forgot about their need to follow God's teaching. After most of the Jewish people were carried away to Babylon, those left behind were without any Godly influence until Nehemiah was permitted by the Persian king to return to his people in Jerusalem to rebuild the temple.
When the Book of the Law was found, the people were eager to find out what it contained. Nehemiah, Ezra and the Levites (priests) gathered the people together (we're talking about thousands and thousands), and the entire book was read and explained to them. They were so eager for the truth of God, they STOOD and LISTENED for the fourth part of an day--SIX HOURS! Nehemiah 9:3, "And they stood up in their place and read from the Book of the Law of the Lord, their God, for one fourth of the day; and for ANOTHER fourth they confessed and worshipped the Lord their God."
Friends, these people were the real thing. They spent half a day, most of it standing up, to understand the Word of God. I wonder how much time these wannabe leaders in politics or the church spend studying scripture. Not much, I'd say, considering they don't know about the future for stillborn or aborted babies. Or for much of anything else Godly, since they spout single verses of scripture to support their agenda. Conservatives and church people need to question and research the claims and teaching of these speakers so the fiction and fact can be separated. The church influence is failing, and it's because people are using reason to determine truth.
The current problem is the claim non believers, Muslims, liberals and Satan are responsible for the re-election of our president. They are saying GOD IS NOT IN CONTROL! He only created everything and selects kings, dictators, presidents, and those who fit His purpose; permits wars, natural disasters, performs miracles, and virtually everything else. BUT, He couldn't prevent Obama from winning the election? Even the non-believers can't accept this explanation.
Job said it all in 42:2, "I know that You can do everything, And that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You." If you really are a Christian, don't you think you should spend some "stand up" time to really learn what the Holy Book says? The future of America hinges on the revival of Christians and understanding of His Word.
Do you ever wonder why prayers aren't answered? Have you ever searched scripture to find out why? Is prayer just something you do out of habit without really expecting an answer? Do you pray about trivial things, or are you seeking major assistance? What do you do if prayer isn't answered as you hoped or isn't answered at all? How much store do you place on the trappings of Christianity? Are you impressed by ceremonial robes, extensive degrees, a large church building and a multi-service church schedule, or a wide array of social functions and special entertainment to draw people in? Perhaps the minister is a real charmer or the music really rocks.
You should know God prefers beauty because He created so many beautiful things and directed the building of the temple and used brilliant colors to decorate and separate specific items. You should also know God leads and judges us by what's inside our hearts. He understands the inner beauty of our soul. The universe and earth were created by Him, and all are in His hands. He has total control of everything. If bad things are happening, it is because mankind is free to make decisions and mistakes.
Prayer is one of the ways we try to influence the outcome of needs or wants. We need to look at a couple of other ways God uses to do this as well. They are "will" and ordination. When people pray, they sometimes seek the "will of God" in answer to their prayer. Now they are praying for an answer, but it also could be an acceptable way of resolving the issue. The third ingredient is "ordination". This word is used when a pastor is installed as a minister. The word means to be "rightly installed", When a person makes a full commitment to Christ, he/she is "ordained" as a Christian. This is a manifestation of "divine will". Ministers are supposed to take ordination very seriously, and that means they should follow the divine will. There are many references to the divine will in scripture, but you should pay heed to Matt. 26:42, "Again, a second time He went away and prayed, saying, 'O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done.'" Christ knew it was necessary that He suffer and die to provide salvation for us. As we see in John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life."
From this we should understand that when God acts, the results are in His will. If He answers your prayer and request positively, that answer is His will. If He does not answer, He has His reason to seemingly ignore your request. That also means a favorable answer to you does not fit in His plans. While it may be disappointing to you, you must accept His decision--that is, unless you are better suited to run the universe. You cannot disagree with Him in your actions. If you do, you were never ordained in your acceptance of salvation through a commitment to Christ. You are a Christian of convenience and headstrong over your personal desires. How would you handle the cup Christ accepted? Would you whine, say Satan did it, it was a mistake, your idea would be better? Would you ignore scripture--your spiritual manual?
I've had prayers answered positively, negatively and not at all. I've learned there is always a reason when the outcome isn't what I prayed for. Usually I was glad my request was turned down, although it took a passage of time to see the reason for the negative response. Friends, GOD KNOWS BEST. If you don't like His decision, you had better swallow your disapproval and get in line. Yes, get in line. His will will be done, whether you like it or not. You can be part of His solution, or He will make certain you will cease to be part of the problem.
I've heard all kinds of excuses for defying God's will in the recent presidential election. When some church people said the election assured America of "going down", I asked if they didn't believe God was in control. The confused answer was actually, "Duh!" Did Christ teach God wanted failure? Another "Duh". I didn't ask them if they studied scripture. The answer was obvious. And these were church people who attended church regularly, and some held office in the congregation.
A major Christian ministry had speakers on their radio program who had the same comments as previous church people. America is doomed because their conservative candidate lost. There was no mention of pulling together with the winner to raise up the nation. God must have made a mistake. Imagine that! I've been unable to find that information in scripture.
Worse yet, we've had that return to the 1860s, where backers of the losers have signed petitions requesting their states be permitted to leave the Union. Most of these people are too young to know much about our Civil War, and obviously lack the intelligence to look the subject up to understand how "duh!" they are. Many Americans on both sides were killed or wounded in that conflict, and for what? Because they wanted the right to do their own thing--continuing slavery, for example. One such petition signer said it was her constitutional "right" to protest. You can almost guarantee this person will not support anything the winner proposes.
Then there are the signs proclaiming "America Against Obama". In World War II these people would be in jail. When you take it upon yourself to represent the nation against a sitting president, you are speaking for a minority. The election proved that. You must not understand this is a democracy or republic. Yet, you seem to think you understand the Constitution. Why do so many church leaders and pastors simply accept the idea that only conservatives are moral, honest, faithful and workers? They need to look at their denomination and see their failure to follow scripture, especially the Gospel. Pastors will be first in line to answer to God in judgment.
If America fails, it will be because of strong willed people who refuse to accept God's direction or ordained leaders, and I don't include the throng of willful pastors who continue to preach division. The Christian church has become a place of convenience rather than a place to study and understand scripture. The so-called family values have dwindled, and been replaced by love of money and meanness. Many of our political and church leaders are not following God. Their personal agendas will cause the very end result they are attempting to blame on God's choice to rule.
This is America's opportunity not to fail--America's time to delay tribulation and the horror of the end time prophecy. Our future is in the hands of the people who claim to serve God. Will they accept His WILL, or will they continue to serve their own purpose? This is the test.
The Gospel is the Good News, and I would prefer to write all the nice little inspirational stories we can find in many Christian publications. The sad truth is our "accepted" faith is spiraling backwards to the time of John the Baptist. Remember him? Let's look at Matt. 3:1-3. "In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, 'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand! For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying: The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord; Make His paths straight.'"
You doubt my word, protesting Christians are witnessing, quoting scripture, sending missionaries, tithing and doing all the good things Christians are supposed to do. It's the evil heathens and followers of Satan who are taking people down the wrong path. You, my friend, have been reading instead of studying and listening instead of reasoning. You are not on John the Baptist's wavelength. He urged everyone to REPENT. That means to examine yourself and the life you are living to discover your mistakes.
The vast majority of Americans who say they are Christians are so pleased with themselves and their righteousness it drips from their words and is full of holes large enough to be mistaken for Swiss cheese. As a door-to-door cult member smugly told me, "I have the truth!" Friends, he didn't have the truth. He only had some scattered verses of scripture, and didn't come close to any understanding of the Gospel. He wouldn't discuss scripture with me even though he knew I was a minister. Without any formal education in scripture, he knew it all.
As a minister, I love to discuss scripture and things of the Lord with people. It is painful to me to find so many "Christians" that know it all and can't wait to enlighten me about the path they truly believe is the one John the Baptist is preaching. I'm fully aware you are going to drop my message as soon as you read things you don't like. I sort of know how John felt.
Before I begin scolding, I want to tell you what someone else has said about the state of Christianity. R. Albert Mohler Jr., president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, told the New York Times, the church people are getting their message out, but the moral landscape has changed. He was commenting on the results of our presidential election. Christians are surprised that their candidate lost. God must have made a mistake. He didn't answer their prayer.
This is the end of America? That's what I hear from disappointed people who did not really examine the issues brought forth by the losing candidate and his other presidential hopefuls. Each told us about "their" personal connection with God, who wanted them to be president. If you took the time to research their background, you may have wondered what that connection could be. You may say the winner isn't even a Christian or a bonafide citizen. How a pretender could get past the thousands of opposition lawyers to even run for the office is a mystery. His Christian commitment is not for us to judge, as is the case for his opponents. Matt. 7:1 tells us "Judge not, that you be not judged."
So...only God knows who is really committed to Christ. I am not supporting the winner of the election, as you may have concluded. I am pointing out that nearly all the candidates claimed a connection to Jesus Christ and God. They intimated they were the person God wanted to get the job. Obviously they all had the wrong number. To make a quick "spell check" as to the correctness of their claim, you only need to research their background and what comes forth from their mouth. You say they all lied, including the winner. Very true, but you also need to weigh the points they made issues to vote for or against.
If you continue to read the book of Matthew, or the other Gospel books, you will discover the TRUE message of Christ. I heard very little of Christ's teaching in the comments and claims of the church people who say they are conservatives. And, I heard lots of derogatory comments about "doubtful" church people who were not conservatives. The nicer comments were Liberals, rather than libs, dimocrats, demorats, Communists, queers, etc., etc. So, to be a Christian, one had to be a conservative. Friends, to be a Christian, one has to fully commit to Jesus Christ as Savior. The next step is to study scripture--especially Christ's teaching--and, with the assistance of the Holy Spirit, put His teaching into the guidance of your life.
Whether you're a conservative, liberal, Muslim or anything else, Christ taught the correct principles of God--the Ten Commandments, and don't forget Christ added an Eleventh Commandment. Christ made the points of the Commandments clear in parables if you take the time and effort to really study what He said. You should note there is NOTHING in His teaching that includes nastiness or cheating. There is nothing to encourage greed, nothing to champion material wealth and nothing to encourage oppressing anyone who genuinely needs help. Would you consider the Good Samaritan a "sucker" for helping the beaten and injured man? Or would you call the injured man a "leach" or "victim" that feeds off fellow citizens? Look at the Word of God, the teaching of Christ, if you want to claim you're one of Christ's followers.
Mr. Mohler also had this to say about the conservative church people movement. They got their message out, and it was obviously understood. Among the leading issues were abortion, same sex marriage, gay lifestyles and fiscal responsibility. Mr. Mohler was correct in stating the moral landscape has changed. Part of that change is the understanding that theocracies have never worked because mankind cannot handle total control. God told Samuel in 8:7 that the people rejected Him as leader, not Samuel as God's personal contact to the people. Most church people know as little about scripture as history. Don't want another history moment? Here's your Thanksgiving history moment: The Pilgrims came to America to gain religious freedom. When they got here they established their "freedom of religion" church. Within minutes, they set non scriptural rules and regulations that included locking people in stocks, trying them for witchcraft, burning at the stake, and other free choice matters. It was so bad, Roger Williams left and established a more friendly church in what is now Connecticut. You may want to look up the Inquisition.
Did the voters reject the issues put forth by conservatives and church people? Before you conclude that is the case, you need to listen to the understanding other people have of the issues. I don't favor abortion and I don't favor murder. Just this week as I write this, a pregnant woman in Ireland died because she was refused an abortion. She was in the midst of a miscarriage and in her 17th week. She died of blood poisoning. Ireland's constitution bans abortion. So...the fetus died. If you know scripture, you know the baby-to-be went to heaven. (Didn't know that? Didn't know where that scripture is? Don't want to know?) We don't know if the woman was saved, so we don't know her whereabouts. Oh yes! The woman died! She didn't have to die from a relatively common medical condition. She was denied treatment. She was MURDERED by a church rule.
This incident is one of the reasons people did not "buy" into the zealous campaign issues and set in cement interpretations of scripture by candidates and their supporters who obviously need to do some study. You see, not all abortions are murder of an innocent fetus or baby. Not aborting may be murder. This is not to mention you deny other children the woman may already have and the husband's need for her alive. Feel better now that you understand the full meaning of abortion?
Another major issue was contraception. Some candidates were seemingly frothing at the mouth about contraception. Amusing that these were mostly males. I agree that abortion shouldn't be a means for contraception. I disagree that all women should be controlled by the decisions of others, especially men who frequently shirk any responsibilities of their actions. It seemed several candidates were obsessed with sexual issues, including the medical invasion of privacy. If all conception must be documented, and all carried through, who is going to provide for and pay for the medical people required, the record keeping, the support of all the babies and their mothers? In the ministry we see many cases of extreme hardship and need with women and children abandoned by fathers. I'm not quoting scripture here. This is real life. You need to have some common sense AND study of Christ's teaching.
Church people of several political leanings agree that gay lifestyles are sins. They are only one sin, and are included in the Ten Commandments. Some people believe this is the "worst" sin, perhaps because scripture lists it as something God hates. All sins are equally "worst". If you single one out, that is also a sin. You're guilty. All sins except one are forgivable. Check Matt. 12:31 under "unpardonable sin". You don't "beat" or "fence out" gay or suspected gay children as some pastors preached. It's difficult for me to believe someone would preach this from the pulpit, but it happened.
I'm also not in favor of same sex marriage. However, you miss the possibility that two people of the same sex are just best friends, not sexual partners. They are truly soul mates. It's tragic that some traditionally married people are not best friends. There would be fewer divorces. Same sex marriage for the purpose of sex is wrong, and cannot be justified. That is scriptural. Certain civil rights should be given where same sex is platonic, not sexual. It's even constitutional. Some apparent sexually obsessed people even claim friendships such as David and Jonathan had were sexual.
The biggest difference in issues was perhaps the obsession with money. I'm not speaking of fiscal responsibility, but the definition of words such as entitlement, victims, leaches and lazy. The percentage of citizens who don't want fiscal responsibility is very small. The burden for building a bridge is the need for building material. The burden for balancing the budget is the need for money. It is also the need for wisdom on the part of those who decide what and how money is spent. Most congressmen and officials use ear marks. Most of these are very wasteful.
You pay bills with money. You live by eating and drinking. Do you think you could pay your bills by quitting eating and drinking? That's what fiscal conservatives believe. By not spending money for certain things, we can pay our bills. I have searched the Gospels over and over, and I haven't found any such directive by Christ. Christ was never concerned about the well-being of those with money. In fact, friends, He was very concerned about those who had money. Look at Matt. 6:19, Matt 19:16-22, Matt. 21:13, Matt. 25:14-30 (pay attention,especially to verse 26), and Luke 19:11-27. In this last reference, do you understand Christ is talking about how money is used for political control?
The issue of social security and going broke with social security is claiming that money is an entitlement is a total lie. That money represents a portion of salary paid to workers. It belongs to them just as the cash in your wallet is yours. For many, that is their 40lK or other retirement account. People pay into medicare. That is not an entitlement, either. There are some people who are unable to work, and they receive a social security supplement. Some who receive this do so fraudulently. We can't paint all recipients as frauds. Unemployment recipients were also included as lazy entitlement people. Do you know a person has to have current work history and pay records to be eligible to receive this money? It is money paid by the worker and employer while he works. Again, it is his money.
It was claimed nearly half the citizens think they are victims and they don't pay taxes. There are federal income taxes, state income taxes, municipal taxes, county taxes, excise taxes, school taxes, property taxes, worker privilege taxes and sales taxes. Even welfare people pay some of these taxes. The little people who may not pay federal income taxes run out of money from the other taxes before they get to the federal income tax. They (especially families with children) actually pay a disproportionate amount of taxes just through normal everyday taxes. Listing nearly half the citizens as non tax paying leaches is a lie, and further ignores the importance of workers who do the more menial jobs so the "more professional" workers can do their jobs.
It wouldn't be so terrible, if those who bemoan the lost election only read Christ's teaching and the Gospels and discovered why their election was lost. None of the issues in this message put forth by the conservatives were Godly messages. The election outcome should stimulate people who neglected to understand Christ's teaching and instead listened to man's way of doing things.
The church people who have talked to me all have said they couldn't believe their candidate lost. Now America will go down and be destroyed. Not One of them gave any thought about God's role in the election. None considered Obama was God's choice, and their reasoning was Satan controlled the election. None considered they were totally unscriptural in that reasoning, because they are then confessing that God IS not omnipotent, and Satan has free reign. They may have accepted Christ as Savior, but God is subservient to Satan. In conclusion, they must believe America is doomed. There is no hope. They won't follow the leader God chose. By this decision, they will insure the fall of America.
The lure of money and the willingness to accept misleading rhetoric have brought many professing Christians to the cliff of disaster. If you are a victim of this gloom and doom thinking, you are a professing Christian, not a committed Christian. Satan knows divide and conquer works, and the lack of truth makes the conquest quite easy. No matter who won the presidency, it was under God's control. He still rules the universe and your life. Better get used to it, and correct your course.
If you believe God is supreme, you must believe America can escape the terror of end time and destruction. However, you must also believe you must follow the leader God selected. I was told by someone they would vote for a conservative because they represented family values. Those subverted values resulted in the murder of a woman in Ireland. Part of the campaign myth was that non conservatives don't have morals, and that still persists among many church goers.
Satan is the representative of evil and darkness, according to scripture. If issues and rules are disregarded, they are subject to legitimate doubt. The talk is of transparency. Yet, we saw only one year's federal tax return for the losing candidate who refused to make any other returns public. This was bad enough, but he has a great deal of money in off shore banks--not in America. This raises a very strong suspicion about honesty. It is also ridiculous that poor people have to furnish their tax records to receive any type of assistance money such as the aid for winter fuel. If conservatives are so fiscally conscientious, why didn't they demand the tax returns? Why do the poor, who are supposed to provide the cushion at the bottom of the cliff, have to prove they're in need when it's obvious they are poor? How many of this "lower" class have worked their entire life and performed the grunt work (janitors, waiters, military people, cleaners, etc.?) Much of the wealthy people's money comes from investments--it is "earned" on paper only, not with sweat and callouses. They have freedom, the use of highways, communications and other services. They also enjoy an elite lifestyle. Do they want the poor to sacrifice even more while they've already collected $129,000 in each of the last 12 years in a tax break? It is easy to understand Christ's teaching in Matt. 19:24, "And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."
We're talking about honesty, Christian belief and God. We're also talking social justice, because that's what God and Christ teach. Notice I said "teach". That's because the information Christ gave us is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. Do not forget Heb. 13:8, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever." He knew you could be diverted from the Word of God by human emotions, and money and greed would be even a bigger diversion than love. That's why He gave us the Eleventh Commandment, Matt.22:39. "And the second is like it. You shall love your neighbor as yourself." You shall love the Lord (verse 37) is the great commandment, and (verse 40), all the law and prophets hang on these two commandments. If you truly love the Lord and Jesus Christ, you will give a great deal of thought to verse 39, and drop your commitment to jealousy, greed, and money.
