Category: Food For Growth

¹⁶ The heavens are the LORD’s heavens, but the earth He has given to the children of man. ~ Psalms 115:16

I recently saw a video of a girl eating out at a restaurant, showing that she refused to drink her drink with a plastic straw in order to save sea creatures. When she put her drink down, she pulled her plate of food in front of her and started to eat. What was she eating? Louisiana Seafood Boil. Crab Legs. Shrimp. Crawfish. There were so many comments and reaction videos to this video, making fun of her. And in all honesty, I thought the same thing when I first watched the video, but then I started to think about it. And I actually get her point.

See, she isn’t against fishing and/or catching sea life. She’s against the pollution of plastic killing off, injuring, and hurting sea life. We were put on this earth to take care of the earth and the animals on it, yet the LORD told Noah and Peter to kill and eat. There was never a point in time when the LORD set a law not to kill and eat.

See, fishing isn’t the issue. Hunting isn’t the issue. Overdoing those things is. Pollution is. Think about this, more than one hundred thousand sea mammals and approximately one million seabirds die from plastic pollution each year. An estimated 8 to 14 million metric tons of plastic enter the ocean annually, with projections suggesting this could triple within the next two decades. Recent research indicates that as few as six pieces of rubber can kill 90% of seabirds, while 29 pieces of plastic are often lethal to sea mammals. Plastic has been found in the digestive tracts of nearly 1,300 sea species, including all sea turtle species and every family of seabird and sea mammal. Discarded fishing gear, known as “ghost gear,” kills hundreds of thousands of animals annually, with 640,000 tonnes of such gear entering oceans each year. In fact, scientists warn that by 2050, the weight of plastic in the ocean could exceed the combined weight of all fish in the seas.

This isn’t how we should treat the home the Good LORD above gave us. This isn’t how we should treat His creatures. Eating seafood isn’t the problem; how we treat the earth and the sea is, though. It’s easy to quickly cast a judgment and not really think about what’s being said or what’s happening. We have to learn to think deeper and contemplate more.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Look Deeper Than The Surface.

¹² Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, ¹³ for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. ~ Philippians 2:12-13

I recently saw a video of a very well-known Muslim apologist admit that the very thing that brought him to Islam turned out to be false, but he will not leave Islam because he found faith. He went on to explain that Allah used this specific belief to draw him to Islam. So, in other words, Allah had deceived him in order for him to believe. And what’s keeping him there isn’t the Truth, but simply blind faith. But faith in what? The one who blatantly lied to him.

I live by the belief that if there is one error in Scripture, then none of it is trustworthy. None of it is Truth. Therefore, if the very thing that brought me to Christianity turned out to be false (the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of my sins and those of the whole world), I’d have to walk away because none of it could be trusted.

If your sacred text from the very mouth of God cannot be corrupted, but somehow contains errors or flaws, then why stay? Why remain believing? Could it be that you receive money from views, engagement, speaking, debates, etc.? Our eternal soul is nothing to play or gamble with. It won’t die; instead, it will last forever in one place or another. A place of rejoicing and peace, or a place of weeping and torment.

Each one of us, the Christian and the nonbeliever, must critique our own beliefs. We have to analyze and study our Scriptures. We have to have faith, but we have to be sure in what we have faith in. If our Holy Book is flawed or has any flawed beliefs within it, we have to get real with ourselves and seek earnestly for Truth.

¹⁰ Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.

2 Peter 1:10

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Be Sure Of Your Eternity.

¹⁷ And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; ¹⁸ they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover. ~ Mark 16:17-18

I saw a video the other day about a con man who faked prophetic gifts back in the 80s. His wife would tell him who was coming up to the platform, where they lived, what their prayer request was, etc. in an earpiece. So, as they came up, he pretended that God revealed to him all of that information and that they would receive whatever it was that they were praying for. He conned thousands of thousands. Sanctuaries were packed with people seeking something more than the average Christian walk. They were seeking prayers answered and words from the LORD. They were seeking after signs, wonders, and healings.

The worst part is, these people weren’t just random people from the world that don’t know any better. These were church members. They were church going Christians. Men and women who should have known better, but yet, they were still deceived. See, as Christians, we are to know the Scriptures and put them into practice to apply them to our lives. We are to judge the actions of others by those same Scriptures. One promise from the LORD is that we don’t have to rely on man in order to hear from the LORD (1 Timothy 2:5-6). Another is that our prayers will be answered if we ask in the name of the LORD Jesus (Matthew 7:7-11). That healing is the children’s bread (Mark 7:24-30). There are so many promises in Scripture, so why don’t we see them come to pass?

Because each one has a prerequisite. We have to draw near to God and THEN He will draw near to us (James 4:8). Our prerequisite is that we have to give up the things of the world in order to gain the Kingdom of God, which is difficult. It’s hard to deny and crucify the flesh. It’s hard to give up the world that we can see, for the world that we can’t. So, instead of seeking the LORD and going first after His Kingdom and all that comes with it (the blessings, prayers answered, closeness with the LORD, words from the LORD, healings, etc.), we follow those who say they can give it to us for something as simple as money.

It’s easier to write a check than it is to spend an hour in prayer. It’s easier to throw in a hundred dollars than to spend time in worship. It’s easier to follow a man who requires nothing more of you than the currency of this world, than to follow God who requires the currency of the eternal world. So, instead of signs and wonders following us, we follow those who say they have these gifts. We try to have our cake and eat it too. We try to cheat the system. When in reality, we’re only cheating ourselves.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Avoid The Con.

⁸ See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. ⁹ For in Him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, ¹⁰ and you have been filled in Him, who is the head of all rule and authority. ~ Colossians 2:8-10

I recently watched an interview where a well-known worship leader was asked if there was room in Christianity and Contemporary Christian Music for Buddhist Christian like himself. The worship leader said that he would hope that he felt like the doors were open and that he thinks that Jesus would love to sit down and have that conversation with him. He went on to say that he hoped that the Church would be that open. And asked why he would not have a place in Christianity and Contemporary Christian Music? He went on to say that even if they disagree on something, why would he not have a place in Christianity and Contemporary Christian Music? He went on to say that the only people Jesus shooed away or snapped at were the religious Pharisees. And then went on to say:

I can believe what I can believe, and still be able to sit down and share a meal … we might not align on these things, but like, doesn’t God call me to love you and to listen? … I think there’s something we can all learn from one another.

This is the kind of Christianity that just isn’t Biblical. It sounds good. It sounds nice and open. Great and welcoming. But no where did he discuss change. In fact, he said:

You’re not going to benefit from me saying you’re wrong. … Let’s have a conversation and see what God does with it.

He’s not going to benefit from someone putting out his false beliefs that lead to death? He’s not going to benefit from hearing the Truth? You can’t share the Truth without sharing that he, as a Buddhist Christian, is not only wrong but going to Hell. Never did Jesus shy away from showing anyone their sin. The only time Jesus didn’t point out a sin was when that person already knew they were in sin and came to Him for forgiveness. That is the only time. Jesus spent His ministry warning of the dangers of sin and how it leads to Hell. There are core beliefs that we can’t just agree to disagree on.

Paul, the greatest apostle who ever lived, warned the Colossians not to be taken captive by philosophy (which literally translates to human wisdom) and empty deceit. In other words, Paul would have corrected this deceived man and shown him his error. Shown him the Truth. Buddhism is about what you can do in order to reach Nirvana. In order to reach Heaven. This is incompatible with Christianity. There is nothing we can ever do to gain salvation. To achieve salvation. Nothing. That is the beauty of Christianity.

Unlike every other religion, we acknowledge that we can’t save ourselves. We aren’t strong enough. We aren’t good enough. We aren’t enough. That is why God came to earth, took the form of man, and died for us. And when He rose, He purchased our salvation with His own blood. The only perfect blood. Untainted by sin. This is the Gospel. This is the Good News of Hope.

When we add philosophy and empty words to the Gospel, we don’t just water it down, we corrupt it. It no longer saves. Yes, every church door should be (and I can’t think of a single one that isn’t) open to all people. All walks of life, regardless of past, sin, ideologies, but Churches aren’t supposed to be community centers where you just come, hear encouraging words, have good conversations with people, and then go home. We’re supposed to be a spiritual hospital. Jesus is the doctor. Yes, everyone should feel welcome in church, but they should feel conviction to change. Otherwise, what is the purpose of the Church? If a hospital isn’t able to fix your broken bones, heal your disease, etc. you wouldn’t go back to that hospital, so why do we feel we should turn the church into a building that no longer wins souls for Christ?

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Just Share The Good News.

¹⁶ If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and God will give him life—to those who commit sins that do not lead to death. There is sin that leads to death; I do not say that one should pray for that. ¹⁷ All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that does not lead to death. ~ 1 John 5:16-17

²² But if you sin unintentionally, and do not observe all these commandments that the Lord has spoken to Moses, ²³ all that the Lord has commanded you by Moses, from the day that the Lord gave commandment, and onward throughout your generations, ²⁴ then if it was done unintentionally without the knowledge of the congregation, all the congregation shall offer one bull from the herd for a burnt offering, a pleasing aroma to the Lord, with its grain offering and its drink offering, according to the rule, and one male goat for a sin offering. ²⁵ And the priest shall make atonement for all the congregation of the people of Israel, and they shall be forgiven, because it was a mistake, and they have brought their offering, a food offering to the Lord, and their sin offering before the Lord for their mistake. ²⁶ And all the congregation of the people of Israel shall be forgiven, and the stranger who sojourns among them, because the whole population was involved in the mistake.
²⁷ If one person sins unintentionally, he shall offer a female goat a year old for a sin offering. ²⁸ And the priest shall make atonement before the Lord for the person who makes a mistake, when he sins unintentionally, to make atonement for him, and he shall be forgiven. ²⁹ You shall have one law for him who does anything unintentionally, for him who is native among the people of Israel and for the stranger who sojourns among them. ³⁰ But the person who does anything with a high hand, whether he is native or a sojourner, reviles the Lord, and that person shall be cut off from among his people. ³¹ Because he has despised the word of the Lord and has broken his commandment, that person shall be utterly cut off; his iniquity shall be on him. ~ Numbers 15:22-31

In his letter, John didn’t over-explain like Paul did. John, especially in this point, almost under-explains. Why? Because both writers know their audience. John is writing to Jews who have converted from Judaism to Christianity. So, these aren’t Gentile believers ignorant of the Law like those whom Paul taught and wrote to. Therefore, they knew and understood the hidden context behind what John was saying.

John was referring to a law in the Law of Moses that (like all the Law) has a spiritual meaning for us (the Church) today. In the Book of Numbers, Moses records a law addressing sacrificial offerings for sin. One specific sin, the unintentional sin of the people of Israel. See, when a sin was done unintentionally in Israel by the congregation, they came together and offered one offering on behalf of all. If one person sinned, they would come and make a sacrifice and be forgiven. When they sinned unintentionally, it was seen as a different type of sin, a sin that didn’t lead to death. Now that Jesus has sacrificed once for all, sins that do not lead to death can be prayed for by the congregation of spiritual Israel, the Church.

Sins that do not lead to death aren’t just sins done mistakenly, of course, but sins that are not as serious as others. Sins that lead to death? Paul names nine main sins in 1 Corinthians 6:9-10:

Sexual Immorality, Idolatry, Adultery, Homosexuality, Thievery, Greediness, Drunkenness, Reviling (Abusers), and Swindling (Robbers).

The interesting thing is that Paul starts off with the unrighteous will not inherit the Kingdom of God, but that word translated as unrighteous is actually not the word unrighteous, but the word wrongdoer. Which, of course, ties back to James’ letter stating that all wrongdoing is sin, but I digress.

John states in Revelation 21:8 that the sins (wrongdoings) that lead to death are:

Cowardice (The Fearful), Faithlessness (The Unbelievers), Detestable, Murder, Sexual Immorality, Sorcery (Witchcraft/Magic), Idolatry, and Lying.

These are the kind of sins that John warned that we should not pray for a fellow believer to be forgiven on their behalf, because these sins aren’t just mistakes, they are grievous sins that need to be corrected, not just overlooked. This is the importance of studying and knowing Scripture. Unless we know what sin is, we’ll never be able to know sin that leads to death vs. sin that does not. One, so that we don’t fall into either. Two, so that we know what sins need to be addressed, corrected, and brought to the forefront vs. what sins can be prayed for without confrontation.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Study All.

³³ I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world. ~ John 16:33

⁴⁴ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, ⁴⁵ so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. ~ Matthew 5:44-45

Randy Alcorn has a thought-provoking quote that goes as follows:

The best of life on Earth is a glimpse of Heaven; the worst of life is a glimpse of Hell. For Christians, this present life is the closest they will come to Hell. For unbelievers, it is the closest they will come to Heaven.

This life is filled with thorns and thistles overrunning our paths, making the race set before us a difficult one to run. Then there are giants, villains, and monsters chasing, disrupting, distracting, and intimidating us in an effort to stop us from reaching our end goal. Then we have our own flesh we must crucify daily as we carry our cross. Jesus warned us, as recorded by John, that in this life we will have trials and tribulations. Hardships and great difficulty are for the last days, Paul warns us. John said that we are in the last Days. That it started with the coming of Christ. Now, Jesus didn’t stop at His warning, though.

Jesus said don’t fear. Don’t be afraid. Don’t be discouraged, for I (Jesus) have overcome the world. We overcome because He first overcame. We overcome through Jesus. Our world is a taste of the good and the bad. The Heaven and the Hell. For us, Christians, believers, followers of Christ, these tribulations are as close as we will ever get to Hell. But for the unbeliever the blessings, joys, and good things of this life are as close to Heaven as they will ever get.

Yes, God pours out blessings on both the righteous and the unrighteous, but those little blessings today cannot compare to the blessings and good things in store for us in eternity. Paul said these minor afflictions are nothing compared to what God has for us in eternity. I wanna put into perspective the kind of Hell Paul endured on this earth, He was stoned and left for dead. Shipwrecked. He received the 39 lashings on his back. Five times. At the hands of his own people. He was disowned by his own people. Chased out of cities and nations. Then he was martyred in Rome. His Hell on this earth was more than just hurt feelings. It was more than just afraid of offending someone or losing his friends or job for spreading the Gospel. Paul put his life on the line,

There’s people right now enjoying the blessings of God on this earth. Enjoying the good things that God has given them, but never knowing the good things that God has for His people in eternity. Good things that we can’t even think or imagine. How sad of a thought it is that they will never know the good things that God has for His people. That this life is as close to Heaven as they will ever experience.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Pray For Their Eternity.

Matthew 21:12-17
[12]  And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who sold and bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. [13] He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you make it a den of robbers.” [14]  And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple, and he healed them. [15] But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying out in the temple, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” they were indignant, [16] and they said to him, “Do you hear what these are saying?” And Jesus said to them, “Yes; have you never read, “‘Out of the mouth of infants and nursing babies you have prepared praise’?” [17] And leaving them, he went out of the city to Bethany and lodged there.

Jesus entered Jerusalem Triumphantly. The crowds shouted hosanna. They laid down palm branches and their own clothes before Him. It was a joyous occasion, but when He entered the Temple the mood shifted. Righteous indignation filled Him. Why?

See, this was the day that Israel was to choose their Passover Lamb. When Jesus entered the Temple, He saw the sellers and the money changers. The sellers and buyers and He drove them out. Why would He do this? They missed the Passover Lamb. The one that would be the final sacrificial offering. The one that would finally wash them (and all who would believe) clean from all their sins. The one that would reconcile them to God Himself, and they missed Him.

They were caught up in the sale. The ritual, so much so that they missed the importance of the ritual. The very purpose and reason for the ritual in the first place. They missed the Passover Lamb entirely.

Jesus came riding into Jerusalem on a donkey 2000 years ago and the majority of people missed Him. Today, 2000 years later, we are waiting for His return. We’re waiting for Him to break that Eastern Sky and collect His Bride. His Body. His Church. The men and women of His generation missed the signs and the times. They were too busy with rituals that they missed the purpose of the ritual, the foreshadowing of the Messiah who was now before them. The times and signs are all around us today. We are getting close to the end. Are you ready? Are your loved ones ready? Are your friends, co-workers, neighbors ready?

Just as Jesus removed those from the Temple who weren’t ready for His Triumphal Entry, those who missed His coming, those who chose the animal over the Living God, so will He remove from His presence those who miss His Second Coming. Those who miss His Return. They will be forever removed from His presence. From His Temple.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Choose The Lamb.

Romans 8:14-15

[14] For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. [15] For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”

I recently heard of a marriage ritual that is done by the bride to be. Her mother and sister shave each strand of hair from her head, leaving her completely bald. Why? It symbolizes leaving her old life and preparing for her new one. These girls go through a physical transformation to symbolize the change in their lives that is about to take place. We, as Christians, do something similar as well.

When we get saved, something happens in the spiritual, the old man dies, so we do a physical action to express it to the world. We get baptized to symbolize that we have died with Christ. That He now lives through us. That to is Christ, to die is gain. Baptism is not our salvation, it’s a physical, public declaration of our salvation.

Baptism is similar to these girls who shave their heads. Shaving their heads isn’t the marriage, just preparation for it. Baptism isn’t our salvation, just preparation for its fulfillment when Jesus returns. For our marriage supper of the Lamb. Our faith and salvation do not come from baptism. Baptism, however, is step towards the marriage supper of the Lamb. A step to our salvation being fulfilled.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Fulfill Rituals.