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The Problem of Anxiety

3/19/2023

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     One of the problems of a fallen world is anxiety of spirit. In this fallen world the human heart is prone to experience worry about the future which includes anxiety over what one will eat, or how one will be clothed. Such anxiety goes beyond normal concern that motivates one to action and morphs into a cancer of the spirit that eats away at one’s underlying sense of security. Left unchecked anxiety can snowball leaving the troubled heart in a state of dysfunctional panic.


     To some extent everyone deals with anxiety. Afterall, we are not living in heaven. Today we deal with the curse of sin in a fallen world and earn our keep by the sweat of our brow. Storms do come and the threat of sunny skies turning dark and threatening naturally produce apprehension in our spirit.


     How are we to navigate such living conditions? How are we to even think about tomorrow with such threats looming from many different directions? How can our spirit remain calm in the face of potential problems sure to arise as we travel through life? How will basic needs be met and why should I not worry about my future?


     The key passage in the Bible that addresses the broad subject of anxiety is found in Matthew chapter six. The teaching of Jesus in this chapter provides the antidote for a troubled spirit. His teaching on anxiety and worry provides the framework through which we can calm our spirit and find rest for our souls.


     Let’s begin at verse 24 of Matthew chapter six as Jesus addresses this problem:


“24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.


25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?


26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into  barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?


27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?


28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:


29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.


30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?


31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?


32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.


33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.


34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.”


     Notice in v25, v27, v28, v31, and v34 our Lord’s reference to worry. The expression “take no thought” is talking about worry. And of course, anxiety is the emotion experienced as one chews on thoughts related to the perception of problems coming against us. Often those perceptions are unfounded as they never materialize in the real world.


   With that said, let’s expand our definition of anxiety. I am quoting from Josh McDowell’s handbook on Youth Counseling in which he provides a helpful quote from Dr. G. Keith Olson on the definition of anxiety. He states:


     “Anxiety can be defined as the experience of unrest, apprehension, dread, or agitated worry. It has been described as a fear in the absence of real danger, or a fear of something that is not clearly understood . . . Anxiety, fear and worry form a complex system of emotions that make clear differentiation between them quite difficult. (Those suffering from anxiety) tend to overestimate the negative or threatening aspects of a situation while drawing attention away from the positive or reassuring aspects.


     The person is left feeling uneasy, concerned, restless, irritable and fidgety. Too much anxiety can produce severe, even crippling, effects.”


     It is normal for anyone, including Christians, to experience moments of anxiety. It is also possible for anyone, including Christians, to find themselves in a season of anxiety. This is exactly why Jesus addresses the issue in Matthew chapter six. He knows we may face any number of circumstances with the potential of gripping our spirit with worry, anxiety, and fear.


     However, his teaching is designed as an antidote for anxiety. Careful attention to his teaching has the power to free the mind and heart from anxiety. We will apply our Lord’s teaching to our personal lives in a moment, but first let’s pause to consider several underlying causes of anxiety.


     Biblical counselors point out the following causes:

  1. Treats
  2. Conflict
  3. Fear
  4. Unmet needs



     Now keep in mind that everyone is different. So, some people are not triggered easily by these causes, while others are triggered very easily by these causes. Furthermore, for some people it will take more than one of these things to be in play before they experience some level of anxiety.


     Let’s consider the potential of “threats” as a cause of anxiety. In his volume Josh McDowell notes: “Anxiety producing threats come from perceived danger, or a threat to one’s feelings of self-worth. For example, anxiety may be caused by rejection or harassment from a peer, in the case of children the possibility of parents divorcing, or any number of real or perceived threats.”


     Keep in mind these causes confront all ages in different ways.


     Next, conflict contributes to anxiety.  For example, a desire both to do something and not to do it. Decisions, especially ones that have clear consequences either way one goes, are a potential source of anxiety.


   Next, fear contributes to anxiety. There are all sorts of fear. Fear of failure, the future, sickness, death, and fear over perceived things. Such fears can build up in one’s mind and create extreme anxiety—often in the absence of any real danger.


   Next, unmet needs contribute to anxiety. Fear over the lack of food, clothing, and security contribute to anxiety.


     I am sure you can identify with these underlying causes of anxiety.    


     Now, as we consider the Biblical perspective on anxiety keep something in mind.
The Bible addresses the problem of unnecessary worry, and it addresses subjects of legitimate concern. The Bible does not teach us to ignore the identifiable problems of life. For example, to ignore danger is foolish. A moment of appropriate anxiety over real potential for harm is normal and necessary.
   However, in Matthew chapter six the Lord is addressing the problem of unnecessary worry. His teaching empowers us to overcome excessive, illegitimate worry. With that said, let’s return to Matthew six.


   Please take careful note of the end of verse 25. Jesus says life is “more than.” With this teaching our Lord is compelling us to hit the “reset button.” We need to maintain a proper perspective on life. If our perspective on life amounts to nothing more than the pursuit of things, then we are setting ourselves up for anxiety.


   The pursuit of material things always creates a batch of anxiety. While the Lord is not teaching us to be haphazard about work and doing what we can to provide for ourselves, we must not allow unrest in our spirit caused by a lack of faith in God.


    We need to recognize pursuit of the necessities of life has the potential of squeezing God out of our thinking. As this occurs one suddenly finds himself alone with his thoughts. In the absence of faith in God one thought leads to another until anxiety is ignited in the heart.


     Jesus’ rebuke in verse 30 contains the antidote for anxiety. We must develop faith in God. The faith we need to calm our troubled heart comes from knowing the Lord in a more intimate way. It is impossible to have a troubled heart when your mind is fixed on the character and goodness of God.


     Look at verses 31 and 32. our heavenly Father knows we have need of these things! Anxiety is fostered by a lack of confidence in the provision of a loving heavenly Father. Lack of confidence in the Lord may be due to age, or in the case of adults, it may be due to the neglect of walking with the Lord. My advice to you if you want a greater measure of the peace of God ruling in your heart is threefold:

  1. Learn to cast your cares on the Lord in personal, heart-felt prayer
  2. Reassure your heart with the promises of God
  3. Allow the Holy Spirit to speak guidance into your circumstances. Listen for his voice and he will show you the way. Let him carry the burden of TOMORROW!!!



Conclusion


     Look again at verses 33 and 34.  Verse 33 is basic to a life free of anxiety.  Seek the Lord first and seek practical righteousness; never allow the experiences of life to deter you from those two priorities.


     As the Father adds what we have need of, he will make us to lie down in green pastures and walk beside still waters! Revisit Psalm 23 and meditate on the truths revealed in those six simple verses. Remember, Jesus says to have faith in God. Like sheep totally dependent upon their shepherd, we must learn to find our rest in him.


    Whenever you find your heart troubled by worry of any kind, it is time to fix your mind and heart on the goodness and faithfulness of God. You can either continue to “chew” on the perceived problems of tomorrow, or you can choose to meditate on the Lord. Why not “chew” on the promises of God? Why not “chew” on the Word of God which reveals the character and faithfulness of our Provider?


     As we learn to rest in the Lord anxiety of heart will subside until our spirit is as calm as a glassy sea. Such an inner life of peace is not a mere dream. It is the possession of those who make the Lord their confidence. It is the possession of those who hide themselves underneath his wings and find rest in his everlasting arms. Amen.
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Protecting Your Children from Moral Confusion

3/5/2023

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   We are now living in unprecedented times in America. Our nation’s freefall into moral confusion is touching every sphere of our culture. As a result, the children of our beloved nation are at great risk. It is imperative godly parents take steps to protect their children from the evil that threatens to engulf them.    

     Over the past few years an explosion of transgender confusion has spread across our land like a giant tsunami. The willingness of those in high places to succumb to the demands of the LGBTQ+ activists has unleased a wave of moral confusion that is threatening the cohesiveness of America as a united people. The so-called “woke” crowd hates America and they are targeting the children of our once strong nation.

     To protect your children, there are two important things that can shield your family from evil in general and “transgender confusion” in particular.

     First, parents must fully embrace the role of protectors and providers. Children are entrusted by the Lord to parents. Parents must step up to the plate and embrace the responsibility of overseeing the well-being of their children.


     Next, as protectors of children, parents must be watchful. Parents generally do a great job providing for the physical protection of their children. This point goes without saying, but parents need to develop a keen eye for the spiritual protection of their children. It is in the power of watchful parents to stop the advances of evil in the life of a child. Like a pastor, watch for any influence that has the potential to harm a child’s spiritual well-being.


     Next, while it is not possible as children grow older to prevent them from crossing paths with evil, it is possible to keep them “innocent” concerning evil. The Bible makes a statement in Romans 16 that applies to all Christians, but it should find an important application to children. The Scripture says:


     “19For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple (innocent) concerning evil. 20And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.”


     How can parents keep their children innocent concerning evil? How can parents prevent their children from learning evil? One thing comes to mind immediately: strive to limit exposure to evil. A child cannot practice what he or she does not learn from wrong influences! Thus, keep them ignorant of evil while you train them to do good.


   Of course, the first line of defense against the influence of evil is the home. Consequently, parents must fight to make their home a haven from the world. Parents should stop evil at the front door of their home! While it may not be possible to control what is going on outside the home, it is possible to keep external evils from entering homelife. Consider the following example.


     Currently, much evil can potentially enter the life of a child via the mobile phone. Easy access to out-of-control social media and pornography is just a few clicks away on the phone. Consequently, parents must establish controls and accountability regarding the use of smart phones.


   Of course, one simple recourse when it comes to a smart phone is to require a child to buy and pay for the use of such phones. Such an approach will limit any unnecessary exposure to evil until a child is able to work and pay for the privilege of a phone.


   The point, however, is for parents to be watchful and alert. This is certainly true as it relates to the onslaught of transgender confusion. Parents absolutely must separate their children from any source of entertainment, education, or other social influences with the potential of introducing this confusion into the hearts and minds of their children.


     Remember this simple statement:  children are to be protected from evil!


     Consider these statements from Scripture to guide your thinking on the matter of protecting your children from evil:
 
3 John 1:11
Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.
 
John 17:15
I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.
 
2 Thessalonians 3:3
But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.
 
1 Thessalonians 5:22
Abstain from all appearance of evil.
 
   Certainly, if adult believers are to avoid evil, it only follows that children be protected from those same evil influences.
 

   Beyond creating a haven from evil in the security of homelife, parents must aggressively watch for the ungodly influence of adults upon their children outside the home. What adults are interacting with your children outside the home? Who teaches your children? Do those adults fear God? Are they men and women of godly character?


     Unfortunately, one of the most common places for children to be introduced to transgender confusion is in the melting pot of the public school. Public school systems hire teachers who fully participate in the LGBTQ+ movement either as activists who support the moral confusion of the movement, or who actively practice the moral deviancy of the movement, or both.


    Furthermore, confused children who desperately need godly counsel to avoid a lifetime of harm from the LGBTQ+ movement, are not removed from the schools. Rather, they are free to mingle with and influence susceptible peers. Not only that, but the system currently pushes this batch of moral confusion on the whole student body by virtue of compelling acceptance of this behavior as normal!


    It seems every day in the news I hear of some famous family who has a child coming out as “transgender.” The news article goes on to share the family’s acceptance and affirmation of this behavior. Sadly, a growing number of people believe children are born in a state of gender fluidity, and consequently they justify this abhorrent behavior.


   However, every child is born as a male or female. Only through the ungodly influence of the morally confused can a child stray from this basic tenet of life. But they can stray. Children are so impressionable and due to a confluence of contributing factors they can drift into acceptance of transgender confusion.


   Children need to grow up apart from these influences and if that means separating them from the public school system and limiting exposure to social media and the entertainment media, then so be it. We simply must fight the battle for our children! We must put their safety and well-being first above anything else.
 
Conclusion



   I believe the Lord will prosper the diligence of every family who awakens to this threat and makes the decision to separate from evil. Furthermore, I believe dads and moms who obey the straight forward guidance of Scripture to diligently teach the Word of God to their children will see the fruit of their labors. Our labor is not in vain in the Lord!


  I finish these brief thoughts by reminding you of the love and concern our Lord has for children. Jesus always had time for children. He never excluded them from his ministry. Rather, he allowed the little ones to be brought to him and he blessed them.


   Furthermore, he sternly warns against the mistreatment of children with these gripping words:


     “And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me. 6But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!”  (Matthew 18:3-7).
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CRT - Parental Rights - Video Game Warning

2/6/2023

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Here Are Three Important News Items You Need to Know About
 
‘Leave parenting to parents’; USPIE president slams article directing parents to implement CRT at home
 
USPIE documentary, ‘Truth & Lies in American Education,’ encourages parents to protect their children from insidious indoctrination
 
COLUMBIA, S. C. — Parents across the country are outraged at a recent article encouraging “race-conscious parents” to avoid raising “racist children” by openly discussing “history through the prim of racism.” “We live at a time when racism is on the front page of every newspaper, from racial killings to white supremacist rallies,” the author explains. The article targeted “white parents” for evading conversations on race with their children, urging them to not allow their children to grow up in a “colorblind” world.
 
Concerned parents lashed back at the thoughtless article, with many incensed at the increased instruction to insert divisive ideology into homes.
 
United States Parents Involved in Education (USPIE) Founder and President Sheri Few commented, “Onlookers need to leave parenting to  parents. It’s bad enough that schools are indoctrinating children with woke ideology such as critical race theory, but the fact that they are trying to insert this discordant philosophy into the homes of millions of Americans is absurd.
 
“Critical race theory teaches children to identify as either a victim or an abuser based solely on the color of their skin. This nefarious pedagogy is infecting American children on a mass scale, and if concerned citizens don’t make their voices heard and fight back, it might be too late!”
 
Article Number Two:
 
‘This kind of attack on the family unit cannot be tolerated’; USPIE president slams hospital recommendation to conceal child medical info

‘They aren’t even trying to hide the fact that they are attempting to cut parents out of the lives of their own children,’ Sheri Few says
 
COLUMBIA, S. C. — St. Louis Children’s Hospital shocked a local school district when a “transgender expert” advised a school counselor to avoid disclosing if a student is chest-binding (compressing or flattening one’s breasts in order to appear more masculine), even if it causes negative physical ailments such as restricted breathing, lightheadedness, overheating, fainting or damage to the ribs or spine. Instead of alerting a parent if there was a medical emergency related to chest-binding, the hospital representative suggested handing out pamphlets to the students about the potential side effects of chest-binding.
 
The hospital representative stated, “There is a lot of ethical debate about this, because parents are the parents, they’re in charge. On the other hand, the kids are with all of you 6 to 8 hours a day. I believe that the best practice would be to respect that kid’s gender identity to the best that you can, without informing the parents, throughout the school day as much as you can.”
 
“They aren’t even trying to hide the fact that they are attempting to cut parents out of the lives of their own children,” said United States Parents Involved in Education (USPIE) Founder and President Sheri Few. “Explicitly recommending to not keep parents involved regarding the health and safety of their children is absolutely ludicrous. Parents have the right to know what is going on with their children, and they are the only individuals who have the right to make decisions regarding their child’s health.”
 
Article number three:
 
Alex McFarland: ‘Cult of progressivism’ is a deceitful description for dark youth indoctrination
 
New LGBTQ video game update set to further corrupt America’s youth by glorifying transgender surgeries
 
GREENSBORO, N.C. — “The Sims 4,” a popular video game series that is marketed to children, horrified parents with a recent announcement revealing their intent to include characters with “top scars” that come from breast removal surgery or chest binders (a compression technique to one’s breasts in order to appear more masculine). The announcement drew a swift backlash online, with many gamers and parents expressing dismay that a children’s game would promote transgender surgeries.
 
Youth, culture and religion expert Alex McFarland commented on the normalization of transgenderism, noting that the indoctrination of innocent children reveals the dark truth of what is happening within America.
 
McFarland commented, “Proverbs 22:6 states, ‘Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.’ Insidious forces within America are working to corrupt innocent children with the LGBTQ agenda. By normalizing ‘top scars’ and transgenderism in a video game marketed to children, radical activists are indoctrinating today’s youth into the cult of progressivism.
 
“Today’s youth are being inundated with extreme anti-Christian ideologies, to the detriment of America. For a Christian nation such as America to have an entire generation baptized by sinful cultural iniquities is truly a tragedy.”
 
 
The American Family Association adds there perspective on this issue as well:
 
AFA speaks out against transgender agenda in popular children’s video game
 
AFA executive vice president calls ‘false prophets of sexual anarchy and gender confusion… modern-day manifestations of Ahab and Jezebel’

TUPELO, Miss. — Despite the growing outcry from those who regret transitioning and having organs removed, a new update to the popular children’s game “The Sims 4” highlights transgenderism and parents are in an uproar. The game will now give the option of creating characters with chest binders as well as characters with “top scars” to emulate elective surgery to remove breast tissue. The game promotes an anti-biblical worldview of creation and reality, asserting the falsehood that humans can be “non-binary.”
 
American Family Association (AFA, www.AFA.net) Executive Vice President Ed Vitagliano said the practice of bodily mutilation is merely a new expression of ancient paganism in its everlasting war against absolute truth and decency.
 
“We continue to warn parents that our culture is not a place of moral neutrality,” Vitagliano said. “The false prophets of sexual anarchy and gender confusion are modern-day manifestations of Ahab and Jezebel –– determined to lead the nation in rebellion against God and His word. The Bible says we should choose this day whom we will serve. For the sake of our very souls, we should be resolute in our faithfulness to Jesus Christ.”
 
Pastor’s Comment
 
     Just as pastors are called to “watch” for the souls of men, parents are called to “watch” for the well-being of their children! Godly pastors can help parents by warning of certain dangers facing their families and in so doing better equip parents to stand against evil.
     Remember, your efforts as a godly parent are NOT in vain. Take appropriate steps to assure your children never learn the ways of a lost world. Couple that with consistent teaching of the Word of God and they will learn the fear of the Lord. Your consistent parenting rooted in prayer WILL bring forth wonderful fruit in the lives of your children.


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The New Model of Morality for Millions of Teens

1/19/2023

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     Can our homes be a haven from the world? Can we successfully limit the influence of the world upon our children? Can we guide our children away from a culture that lies in spiritual darkness? Must our children “catch” the culture? Are they destined to simply conform to a lost world? Must parents resign themselves to the inevitable loss of their children to a godless culture?
 
     What do you think? How can we equip ourselves to stand against the flood of ungodliness that threatens our homes and the spiritual well-being of our children?
 
     Looking at the landscape of American culture the situation can appear hopeless. However, the Word of God has our answer. Wisdom gleaned from obeying the Word of God bears the fruit we so desperately want to see in our children.
 
     Understand this: while certain things are unique to our times one thing remains constant from generation to generation. Since the fall of Adam, through the days of Noah, until the time of Christ, and up to our present hour the spirit of the world remains the same. The Bible says, “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever” (1 John 2:16-17).


     One of the first things a parent must come to grips with to follow the lead of the Holy Spirit in child training is the necessity of separating from the world. With purpose a parent must set their children apart to the Lord and apart from the world. This will play out in the practical ways a parent allows the world to influence their children.
 
     Let me quickly say the issue at hand is not normal interaction with the world around us as a child grows up. However, whenever a parent allows consistent influences upon their children that have the power to shape their thinking contrary to the Word of God we have a problem.
 
     Let me site an example alive and well in our pop culture today. Recently a news release came to my attention I think you need to be aware of:
 
Alex McFarland warns against a ‘new model of morality’ for teens on social media
 
‘By training young brains to seek positive reinforcement from social media, we are allowing the world to mold young minds rather than the Holy Spirit’
 
GREENSBORO, N.C. —  A new study from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has confirmed the suspicions of many regarding social media’s effect on youth. The study found that “social media checking behaviors in early adolescence may be associated with changes in the brain’s sensitivity to social rewards and punishments.” Teenagers who spend excessive amounts of time on social media sites such as Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat are adjusting their perception of “good” and “bad” by how their peers respond to content, leading them to be more easily manipulated by social platforms. 
 
Youth, culture and religion expert Alex McFarland commented on this disturbing phenomenon, stating that if the results of the study, which suggests long-term detrimental effects to youthful minds, show even more irreparable intellectual and spiritual harm than the research reveals.
 
“‘Thumbs up’ or ‘thumbs down’ has become the new model of morality for millions of teens,” McFarland stated. “Peer approval can be a painful false god, and it’s incredibly easy for teens to get sucked into the online world and miss the truth of the Gospel. Not only can excessive social media negatively affect young people’s brains, the ideology of altering your viewpoint to garner more ‘likes’ is patently anti-Christian. Christians were called to be a light in the darkness, despite however the world perceives us. By training young brains to seek positive reinforcement from social media, we are allowing the world to mold young minds rather than the Holy Spirit.”
 
(An ordained minister for more than 25 years, McFarland has personally counseled thousands of families and individuals, and he is passionate about helping America’s youth build successful lives in the face of ever-diminishing morals, ethics, and values.)
 
     This news release touches upon the world of social media.  Every young person under the age of 20 has grown up with this new phenomenon. There is a lot to be said about the tsunami called “Social Media.” However, for now just focus on the powerful influence the world can wield on the minds of your children if they are left to themselves with social media.
 
     The wise parent will keep their children away from social media as long as possible simply to allow their children to grow up in a normal childhood!  Furthermore, as the teen years come along clear guidelines must be established for interaction with social media.
 
     The spirit of the world seeks to invade our homes from every direction. However, it is in the power of parents to limit this influence by shutting down the sources by which the world meanders into our home life. With that said, it is even more important to keep the Word of God front and center in the thinking of your children as they grow up and eventually come of age. Your practice as a parent is to INCREASE EXPOSURE TO THE WORD and LIMIT EXPOSURE TO THE WORLD.
 
     Our homes can be a haven from this world. We can limit exposure to the spirit of the world. We absolutely can guide our children away from the culture of this world. Our children will not be prone to adopt the culture of the world if they are a part of a “Christian subculture” in which convictions are developed from godly parents, pastors, and teachers.
 
     Thankfully, no parent need resign themselves to a guessing game about how their children will turn out. While it is true each child must inevitably make their own choice for Christ, diligence has its place. Fight the battle to win! I assure you those parents who limit the world’s influence upon their child and see to it that the life of their children is built upon the Word of God will make their way successful.
 
Pastor Rusty Yost

 
 
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The Battle for Your Children is Real

1/10/2023

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     In April of 2022 our current President made some interesting comments that should raise the eyebrows of every parent in America. He said at the 2022 National and State Teachers of the Year awards at the White House, "They're all our children. And the reason you're the teachers of the year is because you recognize that. They're not somebody else's children. They're like yours when they're in the classroom."

     Really. Do Christian parents believe their children belong to the teachers and administrators of the public school system? I don’t think so, however, those entrusted to care for and instruct the children placed in the public school system evidently do not see themselves as servants of parents. Rather, parents relinquish ownership of their children when they pass through the doors of the school. They are not “somebody else’s children” says the President, rather “they’re all our children.”

     Biden's remarks sound a lot like those of Terry McAuliffe. You may recall during last year's race for Virginia governor McAuliffe said, "I don't think parents should be telling schools what they should teach." His opponent Glenn Youngkin went on to an upset win claiming the governorship as he rode a wave of parental outrage to victory.

     While parental push back in that case is commendable the situation in our public schools remains out of control. The condition of public school education is horribly deficient for Christian families. Of course, I’m not talking about the condition of school buildings, or the lack of athletic programs, or other material needs such as computers, etc.  Rather, I’m talking about the dominance of atheistic, ungodly education that long since departed from God, Christ, and His holy word.

     I must remind Christian parents that a maturing knowledge of God developed in the hearts of children by daily instruction in the Holy Scriptures lies at the heart of real education. Any education that is devoid of Holy Scripture (which is able to make a child wise unto salvation which is in Christ Jesus our Lord) should be anathema to Christian parents. As our Lord says, we build upon sand if we hear his words and fail to obey. How much more are we building the lives of our children upon sand when the education they receive does not afford them the opportunity to even hear his word? I trust you see the point.

     For over 45 years now I have found it amazing that Christian parents find it acceptable to hand their children to a system devoid of the Word of God. Some argue that homelife and church life provide sufficient instruction for children of Christian homes. However, that is horribly short-sighted for at least two reasons.

     First, the hours spent at school over 13 years (K-12) dwarfs the hours a child spends receiving instruction at home and at church. Here is a break down of how this plays out:

*The absence of a Christian school experience means that we lost the opportunity to use the 7 hour a day, 180 days a year, 13 year educational experience to build disciples!

Consider the following: (13 years x 52 weeks x hours of instruction)

Church hours (13x52x3): 2028. (Assuming a child attends 3 times per week)

Home hours (13x52x7): 4732.  (The seven here represents one hour/day of home instruction.)

School (13x180x7): 16,380.    (13 years x 180 days x 7 hours per day) We lost these hours to secular education if the Christian school is ignored or if homeschooling is not an option for a family.
 
     Putting the hours of instruction at home and at church together totals 6760. Total hours at school amounts to 16,380. Of course, how many families take their children to church three hours a week? Furthermore, how many families spend a full hour per day seven days a week instructing children in the Bible?

     The point illustrated is simple to see. Most professing Christian parents have their children baptized in a secular school setting that amounts to the greatest influence in their life based upon the hours of interaction alone.

     However, there is a greater point to be made. The Word of God is replete with instruction to believers to avoid an uneven yoke with the world. The Lord warns his people NOT to learn the ways of the wicked. Separation from the practices and philosophy of the world is a big priority if we are to successfully win and train our children to follow Christ.

     Here is another blatant example of what is currently happening in our schools across the United States and the western world (this is only one example as the LGBTQ+ movement is literally putting all children at risk including those from professing Christian homes). I am quoting an article from Natural News to make this point:

     “In order to make the world a better place, the World Economic Forum (WEF) wants the nations of the world to legalize or at least decriminalize pedophilia, which the globalists are now referring to as “age gap love.”

     To criminalize the sexual molestation of children is to “violate human rights,” according to WEF head Klaus Schwab and his partner in crime Yuval Noah Harari, who says God is dead and “Jesus is fake news.”

     At its most recent Davos gathering, the WEF tried to argue that normalizing pedophilia and child rape will “save humanity” from, you guessed it: climate change. The WEF also stated that the growing pedophilia epidemic is “nature’s gift” to mankind for a number of reasons.

     One of those reasons is that molested children become so damaged that they are very unlikely to have families themselves. Child abuse and the destruction of innocence, according to the WEF, is nature’s way of cleansing the world and “saving humanity” from itself.

     Destroying the family unit and allowing adult perverts to engage in sexual perversion with “underage people,” as the WEF is now calling them, will help to depopulate the planet and bring it back into “harmony” and “balance.”

     One major way that the WEF is steering society towards accepting and even celebrating pedophilia as normal is through the “education,” aka indoctrination system.

     Schwab himself bragged in Davos that his globalist minions have infiltrated every level of Western education, which explains the heavy push for LGBTQP – the P stands for pedophilia – at even the preschool level. Today’s children – at least the ones who are sent to “school” rather than homeschooled by their loving parents – are constantly barraged with sexual perversion in the classroom, often by LGBTQP “teachers” who expose them to as much deviancy as they can get away with.

     These same children end up embracing sexual perversion themselves. Some cut off their body parts to turn “trans” while others engage in pedophilic behavior with pervert adults, who in some cases are their own “teachers.”

     This deviancy then spreads as these damaged children go out into society and spread the gospel of LGBTQP themselves, creating an entire society of sexual perverts who live their lives in hot pursuit of their latest victims. This is the America that was long envisioned by the globalists as ideal for achieving their goals.”

 
     Perhaps it is hard to believe such things are occurring in local public schools. However, I challenge you to find one public school in Erie county or otherwise who refuses to hire teachers who are a part of the LGBTQ+ movement. Such teachers are there and furthermore the administrators of our schools are not free to train children in Biblical morality.  For years the moral vacuum in our schools has been filled by the “values” of the ungodly who by precept and example have long since departed from the will of God.

     My advice to any Christian parent is to separate from the public school system. This priority is more urgent now than ever. I know that decision is not necessarily an easy one. However, in the battle for the heart and mind of your children it is foundational.

     Obviously there are examples of children from Christian homes who survive the public system. However, NO Christian young person is thriving in that system and sadly many are being lost to the world as the culture overwhelms them. Remember this: your priority is to win your children to Christ and train them in the fear and admonition of the Lord.  Can any Christian honestly say the public system is an ally helping to fulfill this priority in the life of their children?

​     I think the answer is obvious. I pray Christian parents will simply leave the system and focus with a zealous heart to raise up children who know the Word of God and come to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Our labor to raise up a godly generation is NOT in vain. The battle for our children is worthy of every sacrifice we make. May the Lord open our eyes to a fresh vision for the prosperity of our children is my prayer.


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I Love America and I Appreciate Our Founding Fathers

7/4/2022

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I want to say unapologetically, "I love America." The woke crowd within our nation that despises our founding and hates our constitution does not speak for the large majority of Americans. They are not of the same spirit that founded this nation. 

If you doubt that last statement perhaps it is time for you to refresh your own mind to the deep convictions of our Founders who gave us a constitutional republic that established the greatest degree of individual liberty ever known by any people in the long history of the world!

Of course, our Founders gave us a form of government designed to limit the power of the Federal government. Furthermore, at the Federal level they gave us a system that separated power into three branches of government. Their foresight in doing so protects against the concentration of power in one branch of government that lends itself to a growing tyranny.

Of course, our Founders insisted that the form of government procured by the revolution and instilled in the Constitution was only suited for a moral people. They staked the future of the nation on the persistence of its citizens to govern themselves by the Ten Commandments.

Unfortunately, education over the past six decades in America has capitulated to  godless secularism. This is the fountain head of our problems in the nation. Secularism forms the foundation of communistic governments, not that of a free republic.

Let's make another point abundantly clear: secularism is nothing more than open rebellion against God. Sadly, the spirit of secularism is the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience (Ephesians 2:2).

Those dominated by such godlessness can neither form a nation like America or sustain a nation like America! Our nation was not founded by atheists and evolutionists, rather its roots run deep into Biblical, evangelical Christianity.


Hear this well: "Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty" (2 Corinthians 3:17). A people dominated by the Spirit of the Lord (or said another way, dominated by a Biblical worldview)  gave rise to the American Republic.

It only follows that the preservation of such a nation depends on succeeding generations possessing a deep fear of the Lord. Such a happy state of affairs cannot persist with ungodly state education indoctrinating our children against the very principles that formed and made America great. 

With that said, we all can benefit from the 4th of July if we allow the celebration of Independence Day to take us back to the faith of our Fathers and to the passion with which they lived and died. Thankfully, it pleased the Lord to give them favor, with the result being unmeasured blessing upon their posterity. 

I say thank God for America! I say thank God for the faith and vision of our Founders who through great struggle and travail gave birth to the greatest nation the world has ever seen.

The current hour of struggle in America calls for us to stand for Christ and the gospel as never before. We must not shy away from persecution for righteousness sake. Rather, having done all to stand--STAND!

Stand for truth in every sphere of American life. Unapologetically, compel our people to return to the Lord and let that return begin with a new passion to obey Christ in our own lives is my prayer.
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Will 2022 Be a Year of Upheaval?

1/9/2022

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I think any American who simply pays attention to what is going on in our country will not sleep well unless they know the Lord.
 
Think about the unprecedented pressures coming to bear on our nation as we begin 2022:

  • Very real inflation that shows no sign of slowing down
  • The utter destruction of the dollar as government socialist spending (financed with the printing of several trillion more dollars) erupts like a volcano under the Biden Administration
  • Practically no border security as the current administration does little to nothing to stop the influx of illegal immigrants coming by the thousands
  • The ugly rise of open crime in our major cities with a record number of murders and the looting of stores in broad daylight
  • Unconstitutional vaccine mandates that threaten the jobs of millions of Americans
  • The very real attack on religious freedom from the elites promoting transgender confusion
  • Rising threats from Chinese and Russian aggression with the very real possibility of a major war in the Mideast as Israel prepares for an attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities
  • Deep concerns over voter integrity at the State level as the nation preps for the 2022 election in November
  • Constant philosophical conflict between those who embrace traditional Americanism and those who desire to expunge our history, burn our constitution, and plunge us into the nightmare of a Marxist/Communist government
  • A blatant, in-your-face deceitful media that refuses to report the truth; once they filter the “news” through the narrative they staunchly defend the truth often lies dead in the street!
  • The corruption of our university system which has basically sold out to Chinese influence
 
This is not a pretty picture as we enter 2022 and to think this is not all the problems we face. What are Christians to do about this mess?
 
A lot comes to mind as I think about encouraging those I am called to serve as a minister of the gospel. However, if I could boil my advice down to a single point this is it: MAKE 2022 A NEW YEAR OF OBEDIENCE TO CHRIST.
 
No believer is ready for what might happen in 2022 without a life of obedience to Christ. I challenge you to take spiritual inventory as 2022 begins. Everyone who names the name of Christ needs a revival of personal obedience to Christ in 2022.

The simple illustration of our Lord in Matthew chapter seven needs to be revisited earnestly by the average believer. In verses 24 through 27 our Lord gives us the parable of two builders. One built upon the rock and the other built upon the sand.
 
Of course, we all understand the importance of a strong foundation. Houses and other buildings built on a weak foundation cannot endure the test of time. When the right storm comes along, they will collapse.
 
However, those structures built upon the secure foundation of solid rock can bear up under the stress of a terrible storm. Surely we can understand our Lord’s illustration.
 
The point is those who hear the words of Christ and DO THEM (this is obedience, not lip service) are like the wise man who built upon the rock.

Here are a couple of devotional thoughts that come to mind:
 
Obedience makes the Lord our hiding place
 
Only submission to the good shepherd leads us into green pastures.



Through-out this new year build your life upon obedience to Christ. It is the only way to possess a heart dominated by the peace of God. Trust me. You will need the peace of God ruling in your heart as we navigate the choppy waters of 2022.






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The Light of the World

12/21/2021

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     There is something special about Christmas for believers. Beyond the busy activity of the season believers once again muse upon their great God and Savior, Jesus the Christ (Luke 2:11; Titus 2:13).

     There is something about his humble birth in Bethlehem that captures our imagination. The reality of God taking to himself human nature and coming to us as a helpless babe is more than we can fully grasp. Yet, it is true. Jesus is Immanuel, God with us!

     The night of his birth also reminds us there is little room for our Creator in his own world. Joseph sought an appropriate place for his promised wife, great with child, upon arriving in Bethlehem. However, there was no room for them in the inn.

     This may seem harmless enough in as much as many were travelling to satisfy the edict of the government of that day, but John’s gospel points out that he was in the world, and the world was made by him, yet the world did not recognize him (John 1:10).

     A king was born that night in Bethlehem, but there was no palace for him. Instead, just a stable where he was wrapped with swaddling clothes and laid in a manger. Unknown and unappreciated, the Light of the world had come.
    
Psalm 36 makes a wonderful statement that connects with this thought. For some context, read the following verses and note in particular the last verse:

     5 Thy mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds.

     6 Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy judgments are a great deep: O LORD, thou preservest man and beast.

     7 How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.

     8 They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures.

     9 For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.

 
     Indeed, “in thy light shall we see light.” 

     May I remind you that Jesus is the true Light that lighteth every man who comes into the world (John 1:9). Without his light we could never see light (that is, possess a right understanding of our world).

     The familiar words of the Christmas hymn say it so well:
 
     O little town of Bethlehem, How still we see thee lie!
     Above thy deep and dreamless sleep, The silent stars go by:
     Yet in thy dark streets shineth The everlasting Light:
     The hopes and fears of all the years Are met in thee tonight.

 
     May I say, the everlasting Light is still shining bright. In fact, he is the light that shines in darkness and the darkness cannot overpower him (Cf. John 1:5).

     Thankfully, all those who know the Lord Jesus Christ are no longer in darkness. As children of light (Eph. 5:8) we know the true Light.

     It is in this unique way Christmas rekindles the joy of our salvation. Our personal knowledge of Christ as Savior is the underlying reason we find such joy in the season. Indeed, the message of Christmas is one of good tidings and great joy. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord!

     As long as we celebrate the Savior and carry the good news of his birth, life, death, and resurrection to others the Light of the world will continue to burn bright. May the Spirit of the Lord empower us to do so as we celebrate Him at Christmas and in every season.

​     Amen.


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The Incarnation of God in Christ

12/19/2021

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     The doctrine of the incarnation of God in Christ is the cornerstone of Christianity. Since the inception of the church authentic believers have confessed the deity of Jesus Christ. Simply stated, we believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.

     He is the Lord from glory (that is His deity). His human name is Jesus, which means Jehovah saves, or simply Savior. And He is the promised Messiah, the anointed one, and thus in our Greek NT he is called the Christ.

      He is the Lord Jesus Christ. Those who follow the Spirit of God (the Spirit of truth) confess that Jesus Christ came in the flesh. The Bible says in 1 John chapter four:

     “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

     Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:

     And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world . . . hereby we recognize the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.”
 
     In these verses the apostle John is certainly referencing his teaching in the first chapter of his gospel. He begins his gospel by revealing, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” Then he declares, “And the Word was made flesh (that is, he took to himself human nature in the person of Jesus the Christ) and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father full of grace and truth.”

     Thus, John insists those who refuse to confess the unique nature of Jesus Christ are not of God. The spirit of error denies the deity of Jesus the Christ. This is the spirit of antichrist that manifests in the world through all sorts of false spirituality.

     However, we confess that Jesus the Christ is the Lord of glory. Thus, we call him the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
    
     Now let's continue our examination of the incarnation of God in Christ as we consider 1 Timothy 3:14-16. The passage reads as follows:

14These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly:
 
15But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
 
16And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.



     Let’s begin by noting Paul’s desire to come to Timothy. Timothy was a younger minister of the gospel serving in the office of pastor. He received much training from the apostle and in the opening verses of this epistle Paul refers to Timothy as his son in the faith.

     Paul hoped to see Timothy again, however, he wrote this epistle and sent it to Timothy so that he might know how to behave in the house of God. Look again at verse 15 where Paul says:

     “But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.”

     You should take note of the reference to the local church as the house of God.  Local churches corporately comprise the church of the living God. If you are saved, then you are a part of the church of the living God. You are a part of the greater body of Christ that finds expression in local assemblies of believers. Every believer should be connected to a local, Bible believing church where they can grow in Christ and serve the Lord.

     Notice also, the important statement at the end of verse 15. The Bible says the church of the living God is the pillar and ground of the truth. If you want to know the truth, then you must turn to the church of the living God to get it! The authentic church is the steward of the truth of God’s word, and it is the steward of the truth as it is in Jesus.

     With that said, the apostle immediately turns his attention to the cornerstone of all truth, namely the incarnation of God in Christ. He says in verse 16:
 
     “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.”
 
     Now let’s follow the outline the Holy Spirt provides us in this verse. First, He says there is no question that great is the mystery of godliness. The word mystery in this verse speaks of a hidden truth now revealed. The truth is fully revealed since the coming of Christ into the world. Thus, the verse proceeds to detail the manifestation of the mystery of godliness.

     First, the Bible says, “God was manifest in the flesh.” We use the word incarnation to communicate this great truth. During the Christmas season our minds naturally turn to that time some 2000 years ago when God sent forth his Son made of a woman.

     We must remember that God sent his Son into the world. The eternal Word (a specific title for Jesus, the Son of God) left his Father’s side and veiled his eternal position within the Godhead taking to himself a human nature in the person of Jesus the Christ.

     Thus, Jesus the promised Messiah was God manifest in the flesh. Jesus was truly man, and he was truly God in one person. The miracle of the virgin conception occurred when Mary was found with child of the Holy Spirit. This miracle clothed the eternal Word with the human nature of Jesus.  Thus, Jesus is unique. He is one-of-a-kind. He is the only begotten Son of God. As such, he is God manifest in the flesh.

     The wonder of Christmas lies in the truth of the incarnation of God in Christ. How can it be that the Almighty could be wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger as a helpless infant child?

     Humbly God came into our world in the person of Jesus the Christ. The incarnation of God in Christ was an act of great humiliation. He stooped from the glory of heaven’s throne to become the second Adam. In the person of Jesus, the Christ, God donned the clothing of perfect, sinless humanity.

     In so doing He emptied himself of the privileges of His intrinsic deity. He laid aside the outer clothes that normally manifested his glory so he could function as a humble foot washer. Indeed, he made himself of no reputation but took upon himself the form of a servant and was made in the likeness of men.

     Our Lord tells us exactly why he so humbled himself: “Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me.”  Why did the Father prepare for him a body? A body prepared him to be the sacrifice for the sin of the world.

     The Son of God humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. By which we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

     At the cross God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself (2 Cor. 5:19). Upon the cross he bore our sins in his body. His death upon the cross was for us. Upon the cross he, by the grace of God, tasted death for every man.

     God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself by virtue of his infinite sacrifice. Yes, he must be a man to redeem Adam’s race, but he must be God to pay the infinite price required by Divine justice.

     I say thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift—the gift of his beloved Son!

     Thank God unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given. He came for us. He came with a passion to do his Father’s will and he came with a passion to redeem his people.

     And so, in time he was justified in the Spirit. The mighty works he did as the perfect Spirit-filled Son of man confirmed his identity as the Christ, the Son of God.

     Upon the cross he offered himself through the eternal Spirit without spot to God. And then three days after his burial in a borrowed tomb he was fully vindicated by the Holy Spirit when God raised him from the dead.  (Somebody say Amen!)

     Furthermore, as our text states, he was seen of angels through-out his sojourn in this world. The angels watched in awe as the Son of God was born in the little town of Bethlehem. The Father gave them the cue and with the announcement of the angel to the shepherds heralding the birth of the Savior suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, good will toward men.”

     The angels watched over him in his youth and through-out his journey to the cross. Indeed, he gave his angels charge over him, to keep him in all his ways. They bore him up in their hands, lest he dash his foot against a stone.

     Later in the garden an angel came and strengthened Jesus so he could continue to the cross. And no doubt the angels waited for the summon from the Savior as he hung on the cross. Just one word from the Savior and they would have freed him. But he never prayed the Father to send them. Rather, he endured the cross. He endured the hour of darkness wherein his soul was made an offering for sin.

     The angels watched him die, but they also watched his resurrection. In fact, the angel of the Lord rolled away the stone. Not so Jesus could get out, but so we could get in to see that he is not there, but he is risen as he said!

      With joy the angel says to us, “why seek ye the living among the dead, come see the place where Jesus laid. He is not here, but he is risen.”
    
 
Conclusion
 
     Today he is still preached unto the Gentiles. Today he is still believed upon in this world. And today he is still received up into glory. As the apostle Peter says in Acts chapter three, “Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.”    
 
     He is now in glory. The humble babe, Jesus the Christ, the Son of the living God, is now seated by the Father from whence he shall return in great power and glory.

​     Exalt him during this Christmas season and through-out the year! 

 








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Gallup Poll: 71% of Low-Income Adults Report Inflation Hardship

12/9/2021

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Newsmax reports the following:

Despite Biden administration apologists' attempts to spin rocketing inflation as a non-issue for Americans, particularly those in lower-income households, that narrative is ostensibly outed as fake news by the latest Gallup poll.

An overwhelming majority (71%) of U.S. adults' households making less than $40,000 report a financial hardship from the rapid rise in prices of goods and energy heading into the holiday and winter season. That includes 54% of households without a college degree and 45% of all U.S. adults' households, according to the poll.  Access the full article here


Inflation certainly is touching us all. Unfortunately, it is not going to ease up anytime soon. While supply chain issues and various government policies play a roll in short-term inflation, the underlying reason for long-term inflation is easy enough to discern.

Our government continues to print money beyond anything we could have imagined just five or ten years ago. This is true not only of our government, but the governments of the world. Central banks over the past two years increased the global money supply by 20 trillion dollars. This increased money supply is the primary driving force behind rising inflation.

Since our government (and others) are bent on out of control spending there is no hope inflation will moderate any time soon. In fact, it is very likely to get much worse before it gets better.

Perhaps you have read more about inflation than I have, but to summarize what I have learned no nation in history has ever escaped the ravages of hyperinflation once on the path we are now travelling. It is reason for real concern.

The question arises as to how believers should react to this growing concern. I certainly am not going to pretend to have all the answers. However, there is some unchanging wisdom from God's Word that applies to every situation.  We would be wise to prepare for the future by applying that wisdom to our personal financial situation.

First, evaluate how you honor the Lord.  Do you find joy putting him first in your finances?  Remember, the promises of God's faithfulness to those who keep him first do not expire when the world is imploding. I suggest you evaluate your giving and always keep the Lord first (For a lesson on obedience and how the Lord is able to bless you even during a "famine," read Genesis 26:1-16; note verses one and twelve).

Next, embrace contentment. Contentment is the only antidote to the problem of covetousness. Covetousness has quietly troubled our nation as millions of Americans over extend themselves to live in houses that are to big, cars that are to expensive, and generally know no bounds on spending.

Of course, we have legitimate needs. However, why are so many Americans living pay check to pay check with household incomes of up to $150,000.00 per year? Simply stated we ignore the warning and wisdom found in 1 Timothy 6:6-10 and Hebrews 13:5-6.

Now don't misunderstand. Obviously household income varies greatly across the nation. However, without contentment it does not matter how much we make. While there are many families who do struggle with lower incomes, the fact remains millions of Americans should be doing much better than they are.

My advice to you is to beware of covetousness (Luke 12:15-21). The unique problem Americans have with covetousness is not that they are generating more income and thus need to "build bigger barns," rather they use debt to finance lifestyles that create the allusion of possessing "bigger barns."

As inflation grows new pressures are created on those who are over extended. The working poor feel those pressures, however so do the millions who look prosperous but are over extended.

The point is simple enough. Pull back and live simpler lives. Be contented with food and clothing. Evaluate your situation and do what is necessary to assure the ravages of inflation do not destroy your ability to have enough food and clothing. Vacations, gadgets, newer cars, etc. are not necessities. 

And that brings me to the next point. Reduce debt, do not increase debt.

The truth is those who are debt free can weather most any kind of financial storm.  It doesn't mean they don't feel the difficulties that come, but because they are free the situation is radically different for them. 

In the first place, in a bad economy you keep what you own. However, it is very possible to lose most everything you do not own. Consequently, strive to become debt free and in the current climate of growing inflation avoid consumer debt like the plague. 

Remember, the underlying spiritual problem that drives too much debt is discontent. Couple that with the problem of pride (keeping up with the Jones) and you have the perfect formula for personal financial disaster.

Unfortunately, greater challenges lie ahead for all of us. Our world is a mess and the ungodly do not have any answers. Sound, godly living is so minuscule there is little to hold back the inevitable collapse of the US and world economy. 

I cannot speak for you, but I believe the words of Jesus in Matthew chapter six. I believe we should obey the Lord and lay our treasure up in heaven where the thief (especially the one in Washington D.C.) cannot touch it and the rust cannot ruin it.

Be careful to strike the right balance. Fighting the battle against inflation to preserve the value of your net worth is only wise if you have an eye on eternity. Preserving wealth only to hoard it for self is the antithesis of the Spirit of Christ.

While our Lord certainly teaches us to avoid the accumulation of too much wealth in this world (we do so by becoming distributors of that wealth - Cf. 1 Timothy 6:17-19), that is not a prohibition against saving for legitimate needs. 

Appropriate savings is not in the category of "laying up treasure" on the earth. A good rule of thumb is to save 10 to 20% of your net spendable income for future needs. In time as the Lord may prosper you part of that savings can be put to work to grow more income over time.  

As your "fields bring forth plenty" you must then decide to avoid the "barn building" syndrome of which Jesus warns in Luke chapter 12.

I close with this summary: inflation is not going away and it could become very devastating; keep Christ first in your life; embrace contentment and by all means avoid consumer debt; if you are debt free STAY THAT WAY!; save appropriately; if the Lord has entrusted a measure of wealth to you beyond your needs be ready to help others as the needs around us grow.

​God bless.










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