WHY DO YOU THINK YOU DESERVE FREEDOM?

Watching as a new brand of Christianity unfolds. This pandemic, as well as the riots that have spread throughout the cities of America, has highlighted what people of faith are considering the new normal in truth and justice.

It has caused me to ask a very different question than in the past. The question: Why does America deserve to be free? Why do you and I think we are entitled to be free? What does God think about His children right now?

My son came over this afternoon and was complaining about his life, he has recently been laid off again for Covid 19 testing and he has a family to feed. Another son just recently asked for a loan because he can’t make ends meet on the income they currently are living on. A church just called and cancelled all meetings; the school district just notified me that the backpack giveaway we were going to be partnering with has cancelled. The homeless ministry will start late because of the current Covid 19 scare. The fear of Christians has been alarming- a real eye opening experience. At the same time, the President cancelled the Republican Convention in Jacksonville Florida. The news keeps sending horrific information over the screen daily about children in Chicago, Baltimore and other cities being killed in their beds because of stray bullets. Black lives matters, communist, racist, and much more expletive language flies across our air waves or across social media.

But what has impressed me, not only with my own children, but with the world, is how much we think we deserve freedom and the goodness of God. Social media has opened my eyes to how irrational so many have become in the Christian community. Even many of the so called leaders of the church have become easily fooled and unable to connect the dots of life and the Bible.

If you ask a large number of Christians what they believe, they will tell you all the right words – God loves me - I am a sinner - Jesus died for me - He was buried and now has arose, Thank you very much! But if you ask them what they believe about the ultimate truth of God’s Word, they stumble and often pick and choose to obey only what they themselves wish to believe. They stammer as they rationalize their truth. Whether it is false or true no longer matters as they connect their faith to the world they live in. Yet they expect God to answer prayers and save them from all pain and sorrow. They have one thing to say, but their actions do not match their words. They choose to live one way and vote another way, not based on Truth, but on their personal desires and the propaganda they have chosen to believe.

When I ask Christians why do you drink and get drunk? Why do you not attend church with your family? Do you believe Homosexuality is a sin? Do you believe sex outside of marriage is sin? Even while you watch illicit sex as it streams across your family choice on Netflix or Vudu. Do you believe it is right to kill babies before they are born and after they are born? Do you believe porn is not just a problem but a sin? Do you watch and absorb movies or TV that would be inappropriate to watch in front of God? Do you think morality is on the decline in America? What part do you and I play? What do you formally support? What has become passive support by not reacting at all and not saying an opposing a word? Has that added momentum to evil? What are you verbally supporting and touting? Does it line up with God’s word? Why or why not?

If we are again to bring light to a dying world, we as Christians need to gain the moral high ground in our families and in society. After seeing the blindness and often disobedience of the Christians it is no wonder why the word "hypocrite" has been attached to so many of our lives. Is it any wonder we are where we are today? Is it any wonder why God calls us to repent and turn from our sins? Why do we think we deserve his blessings? Why do we think we deserve freedom in America – we have forgotten the number one priority in our lives. Chronicles lays it out when the author says to us as Christians, “IF WE HUMBLE OURSELVES (REPENT), HE (GOD) is faithful and true to forgive us and heal our land.” "We Humble Ourselves" is based on a verse from the Old Testament: "If my people, who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land." Your vote will tell a lot; it is secret between you and God. I am not telling you how to vote, but I am telling you as a Christian that your vote may lead us as a nation to enslavement, because we as Christians fall for the devil's lies. We will vote for the people who support the killing of babies and immorality of all kinds, of hate and anti-God and more. Gain the moral high ground in you personal life then influence others.

The devourer is held back by obedience to God, His will, and truths found in the Bible,

especially for Christians. The person who has yet to accept Christ as Savior and make Him boss of their lives is not capable of making the right decisions – they are blinded from the truth and not touched by the Holy Spirit, but you are different and you can know the real truth. God is going to do everything to make you more Christ-like through discipline and trials...why? Because He loves you and me.

In closing – I am well aware that God is most interested in the inner man. Are we motivated by a love for God or a sense of superiority as the pharisees who had such a problem with Jesus? But this I know, that if I love God with ALL my heart, soul, and mind and I love others, I am on a strong foundation. Part of loving is to send out a warning as I feel led.