WHY THE CHRISTIAN MUST LIVE COUNTER TO THE CULTURE

It pushes one’s resolve to “go against the grain,” or to “swim upstream” especially when everyone around you is doing the same thing. Matthew 7:13,14 says, “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.” “Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. What does it take to live counter to prevailing belief systems in a culture? What does it take to defend your beliefs and religion sometimes at the threat or cost of your life as countless Christians are doing throughout the world and who have done so in antiquity?

If our behavior conforms to a worldly standard then we are not pleasing God. The world is defined as any system, belief, idea, or philosophy which contradicts the word of God. Presently, even churches that profess belief in Jesus Christ are in agreement with every trend and belief system the world presents. James 4:4 says, “Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” Even though Christians have to live in the world, our behavior is not to conform to the belief systems of the world. Romans 12:2 says, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” I John 2:15 says, “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” The Bible is replete with scripture that confirms love of the world or living according to the course of this world (culture) places the Christian in a dangerous place with God. One way to assess if your behavior is against God is to observe how popular the idea or the behavior is. If a majority of people are in agreement with a behavior most likely it is offensive to God. This is what is meant by the scripture in Matthew about the destructive path being broad. Doing things God’s way isn’t always easy, but it is always right.

The most important thing it takes to live counter to a decaying culture is faith. When Shadrach, Meshach, and AbedNego stood before King Nebechanezzar and eloquently spoke saying, “our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king.” “But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.” These men spoke with confidence that God was able to deliver them from an agonizing death by fire, yet their faith was so strong that even if God chose not to deliver them, they chose not to serve false gods. Only faith in God can produce bold actions in a Christian and give us the resolve to stand; no matter what.

The next thing that it takes to live counter to a majority in a culture is courage. I didn’t know that when I was five years old and my mother put me, and my brother and sister on an all white bus to help desegregate an all white school system that God was preparing me to have courage. The ability to live a courageous life isn’t inborn, it is something that God prepares one for. It is also something that one is called to do throughout one’s life. When God spoke to Joshua and said, “Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go,” God had been preparing Joshua for the leadership of His people from the time they had left Egypt. Joshua was God’s man for the job, but he’d been in preparation all of his life. The only way to lead others is with courage and decisiveness. When standing on any Godly principle the Christian can not waver. We can not say that something is an abomination one day and another day speak the words that “it isn’t that important.” Part of courage involves standing firm even when everyone around you is speaking the opposite of what God says.

Finally, it takes trust in God and a belief that He will do what He has promised to do and knowing that God does not fail in any of His promises. Proverbs 3:5,6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths.” A large part of the Christian’s faith is the trust in God’s word as being true and real. This is why there are such fierce attacks on the word of God. If the adversary can get someone to believe that God didn’t actually “say” something then that is the door by which all forms of evil can enter your life. After all, when the serpent tempted Eve the first thing he got her to do was to question what God said. Courage and trust are the visible results of faith. God doesn’t call anyone to do anything without the faith to accomplish it. “above all taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.” Ephesians 6:16.

THE BENEFITS OF HOMESCHOOLING

Looking at the world’s present situation I’m thankful that all my children are grown and capable and productive adults. However, I do still have my grandchildren to think about and I’m thankful that my daughter chose to withdraw my granddaughter from the circus of the public school system and has no plans to put my grandson in that environment.

When I was raising my daughters in the 1990’s and early 2000’s I was in a constant death battle over vaccines, the anti- God curriculum and the warehousing of my children’s education. I didn’t have a spouse who saw my vision of why the public schools and some private schools were not in my children’s best interest, so I had to leave them in that environment and just fight. I realize now the fight was always of a spiritual nature and the battle was literally for my children’s souls. One reason the public schools became such an unfit place for children is because of the deliberate agenda to remove any hint of God from its existence. The removal of prayers to God by teachers and discouraged from students was the beginning of the death knoll of the public school system. The public schools have become an unfit environment for children the same reason the public sector in America is becoming daily unfit for human habitation.

I believe with every fiber of my being that this generation will see the coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I know to unbelievers and some Christians this sounds like a fairy tale or wishful thinking; yet I settled it in my heart long ago that my trust is in Jesus, my Savior and that this world was never my home. So one way Christians can spare their children the constant assault on their religious beliefs, turmoil, and ungodly agenda is to remove them from it. The Covid-19 contagion has forced the hand of many parents and caused them to have to monitor teaching their children from home: I say if you are a believer, why not just remove them altogether. Because if they remain under the public school banner they are still subjected to its laws and rules. The system has proven they are incapable of adequately instilling any type of morality or absolute truths in developing minds and they are also incapable in most instances of training them academically. (the numbers of children who reach 12th grade as functionally illiterate is astounding)

And it seems under the current “crisis” the whole public system has become psychotic: one month the children are able to attend in-person another day they are shut down, why put your child through such utter nonsense? If a government can cause us to play musical chairs with the human beings that are most dear to us, it isn’t much it won’t be able to force us to do. Pray to God, listen to your conscience, and pray to God for strength and direction. He will never fail us, if our trust is in Him.

A note: To all the single parents, please look into your local homeschool association and see if they have resources that can assist you in homeschooling your child or children. Your local church may be a resource also, since many people who homeschool are also Christians.

How Lies Are Disguised As Truth, Why Blacks Continue To Vote Democratic

For years I voted the Democratic Party because I felt they cared about the underdog, the disenfranchised, and the poor. For years I wanted to believe this because being a Black American I felt that my people had suffered at the hands of racism and injustice for so long; it was music to my ears to hear someone repeatedly say, “We care, we want to help, we want to right the centuries of wrongdoing.” This brings me to the first principle of how lies appear to be true:

1) TELL SOMEONE WHAT THEY WANT TO HEAR. It’s true that if you say something loud enough and long enough, somebody will eventually believe it; even if it isn’t true. Most women know this type of seduction which comes from a man because the man knows what a woman wants to hear: ” I will take care of you,” Yes, I love you.” ” I will always be there for you.” The lie becomes truth to the woman, simply because she wants it to be true. The voluminous repetition of the lie is what gives it validity; it doesn’t matter that it isn’t real. It becomes evident that it is a lie when the woman is left with a child, or children to take care of and the man strangely disappears and his lies with him. Hence, whether the realm is political, spiritual, or romantic; an idea doesn’t become true simply because we want it to be. Saying something and doing something are very different things. Many Black and minority people are being seduced by lies because they want them to be true; this is a basic psychological and emotional ploy that works in getting people to succumb to manipulation.

2) TRAUMATIZED PEOPLE MAKE DECISIONS FROM THEIR POINT OF HURT

The way you know someone hasn’t been healed from trauma is that they can’t stop thinking or talking about it, and they see the world based on the trauma they experienced. Most Black people in America have never healed from the trauma of slavery, segregation, Jim Crow laws, and discrimination. One reason they can’t heal from it is because the effects of it are still very real and present, even though many of the perpetrators have long since died or many policies have changed or been eradicated.

Another reason Blacks can’t heal from past trauma is because in their minds they are helpless, and perpetual victims. ( You react to your world based on how you see it.) A characteristic of victimhood is feelings of helplessness and powerlessness. If you are always in a position of needing help, how does that encourage you to find a way to help yourself. Which brings me to a side point; doing things for people that they can do for themselves doesn’t help them: it cripples them and leads to perpetual dependency and helplessness. Someone is benefitting from the victim mentality that many people cling to; and it’s not the supposed victims.

People don’t vote for someone by drawing names from a hat: people vote for someone for one of two reasons, either the candidate has the same values and beliefs, or they feel the person can do something for them. Looking back, I returned to the Democratic Party over and over again because I was hoping they had something to give me. It was a true sign of neediness, not because I agreed with many of their policies. I would ignore their policies and platforms because my only concern was if they could assist me out of my helpless state.

3) LIES APPEAR TO BE TRUE WHEN THE PEOPLE LIED TO ARE IGNORANT. You can only act differently on an idea if you have something to compare it with. This is one reason social media is deleting opposing views about political candidates, Covid-19 cures, police brutality and the list goes on. If you only have one narrative available to listen to, then you are more likely to listen and believe it. Most Americans have been trained to be good people and believe what you are told. Many Americans have the mistaken belief that if someone has authority and power, they will use it to benefit everyone. As with most societies, people are rewarded for following the crowd, not opposing the narrative. Those who oppose or who voice a different opinion are silenced and shamed.

It has taken me all my adult life to not live from a place of neediness and dependency. I know that much of my neediness came from being orphaned early in life with the death of my father. It is a horrendous statement about anyone who exploits the weak and the needy; yet unfortunately this seems to be what humanity thrives on, taking advantage of someone’s perceived weakness and exploiting that weakness for material gain. It’s all right to be weak, if you understand that even in weakness you are still strong because the Spirit of God dwells in you. Political parties, whether Democratic, Republican, or Independent can never give us the lives we want and deserve; only God can do that. And it took me all my life to understand that I only needed the hand of God with the strength he gave me to overcome and realize that I am who God says I am, not what a political party says I am.

When voting it’s important to vote from a position of being informed and of conscience. It isn’t so important who the candidate is that you vote for, as it is that you vote being led by God, and by what you value and believe. It’s also important that the candidate reflects those values and beliefs. Do your own research and think for yourself.

” And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. ….for Christ’s sake, For when I am weak, then I am strong.”( 2 Corinthians 12:9,10)

COPING WITH LIVING ALONE

jokondotnet

36250_10150377813820463_324632135462_16914250_1234530_nAll my childhood and all my adult life I’ve been surrounded by people. As a child it was a host of brothers and sisters; even though all huddled together in a small space, we weren’t very close emotionally. It doesn’t seem possible that you can be surrounded by people yet still be lonely; that’s another post, I’ll continue.

When I went away to college it was my roommate, whom I didn’t get along with very well, and as a teenage mother I had a little one with me when I wasn’t busy trying to get through classes, mid-terms and finals. Then marriage and the birth of three more children filled my living quarters to the brim and I hadanunlimited amount of company for numerous years to come. The children grew up, went away to college, and one of them, yes my precious Jaynae passed away. The feelings of loneliness were…

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