Another Sunday Morning Before Easter

There are many articles and editorials written that cause people to ask the question: Where Is God?

With every passing day, we hear of many unthinkable tragedies and acts of disregard for human life caused by man's inhumanity toward man. That is disturbing enough. But we also encounter violent acts of nature on a massive scale that seem so random, unfair, and inexplicable, we are often at a complete loss to deal with them.

One religious writer put it succinctly with this particular headline following the tsunami that devastated Asia five years ago: "Countless Souls Cry Out to God." The writer than proceeded to question how Christians could believe in God in the face of such suffering. Like the writer, many of us hold the misconception that God directly causes all natural disasters.

La Conchita tragedy

As religious broadcaster Shawn Boonstra recounts, it was another Sunday morning before Easter, yet the bereaved felt more as though it were the Friday night of Calvary weekend. An enemy had ripped away a best friend's life. Instead of a cross or a murdering act executed by a Roman spear, it was nature's killer rage that created a 9.0 earthquake deep in the ocean. And as in time past, when people stood standing at the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea, the cry of the human heart asked the same question: God, why in the world did you allow this to happen?

There on a beach in Southern California, debris caused by recent torrential rains made it possible for the hillsides to collapse, causing innocent people to die. The forces of nature brought heartbreak and devastation to a small California community. Because of what took place in Asia, the tsunami was still very fresh on everyone's mind. Then just two weeks later, this disaster hit Southern California. After torrential rains, which were reported as biblical in proportion, newscasts said there was flooding everywhere. Frightened people left their homes to stay in shelters as their cars and mobile homes were washed away.

In this little town of 166 homes, people knew they were living in the shadow of an unstable mountain. The folks understood that back in 1995, another mudslide took out a portion of the community. Then 10 years later, on January 10th of 2005, the hillside came roaring into La Conchita again. Unfortunately, thirteen homes were swallowed up.

 The American public were shocked and stunned as they watched a young father named James Wallet join the rescue teams digging through the mountains of deadly dirt. He was hoping to find his family. His 16-year-old daughter had left prior to the disaster to get some ice cream for her family, while 400,000 tons of earth buried all their hopes and dreams. Firefighters and county volunteers found the lifeless body of Wallet's pretty wife, Michelle, and hours later, the rest of his family were all found dead. What does a father think when an act of God allowed his three children and his wife to lose their lives?

One could point to the story of Job in the Bible. He cried out to God after a giant twister killed his three daughters and seven sons. Job didn't abandon his faith, however. He said, "The Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord" (Job 1:21).

Was it the Lord who reached down and deliberately took the lives of Job's family? In this case, Satan was responsible for the troubles that befell Job, according to the biblical account.

False Christians

It was this past Palm Sunday when a news story was developing about a Michigan-based militia group which had been raided by the FBI over the weekend. It seems the group were preparing for battle with the Antichrist. Their belief stands in stark contrast to mainstream Christianity. For in their minds, their war was a violent one against the federal government.

Make no mistake, and understand clearly, that those who would go to such extremes to wreak havoc upon our society shame the name of the greatest peacemaker in history, Jesus Christ.

The fact is that zealots like these are not Christians. They are unbridled troublemakers. Yet, somehow, Christians will be blamed for these people's deeds by the media, who have no use for the God of the Bible or His true believers.

However, little is mentioned by the same media about false teachers and preachers who pander a theology that falls into the realm of Marxism. Its tentacles are now embedded into our nation's policies. Shouldn't they too be classified as just as contemptible and irresponsible as overzealous professing Christians? For they have purposely corrupted the meaning of caring for and serving the needy and poor among us.

Congregants who attend "social justice" denominations come out of their sanctuary doors full of anger aimed at society. Unfortunately, the Lord's love cannot be exhibited in such anger, because it is not centered in the life-changing, everlasting gospel of Jesus Christ.

False teachers

 Revs. Jeremiah Wright, Otis Moss, Jim Wallis, and their ilk are demagogues who preach class warfare, social chaos, and loathing for America. So let us also categorize the term "social justice" as explosive and equally distorted and perverted as those arrested over the weekend. For these preachers have sown the seeds and fanned the flames of racism, anti-Semitism, and bigotry.

When God's truth is willfully tampered with, nothing good comes out of it except hatred and mistrust. Pastors and preachers of America's mainstream denominations had better begin to speak out against doctrinal falsehoods. Their job as pastors is to finish up the task of the Great Commission and protect their flocks from ravishing wolves. There is nothing biblical or liberating about liberation theology. The very term is demeaning. Christ came to save the world and to set the captives free by His atoning death on the cross. Now that is the Good News, and in itself it is liberating.

While ministers are preaching salvation by grace as well as the Second Coming of Christ, they must not allow untruths to go unchallenged in the public arena. Righteous clergy need to call out President Barack Obama's new spiritual leader and political advisor, Jim Wallis, for the fraud that he is. As it stands, he has managed to achieve his goal politically, and has helped Obama impose redistribution of wealth on every citizen. He then has the unmitigated gall to pitch his Babylon theology as biblical Christianity.

Godly pastors have the task of exposing this teaching or facing its consequences. The American people are being squeezed to the tipping point by a tyrannical administration from every which way. It's no wonder we find fringe groups waiting to take advantage of "manufactured crises" caused by our president.

Every day, the average citizen has to contend with outlandish verbiage and accusations aimed at them. It is coming from the president and the Democrats in Washington, D.C.

Media mischaracterization

The media directs their scorn against Americans who disagree with what is taking place in our country. Good, decent, law-abiding citizens are being lumped into the same category as those who were arrested a week ago because we oppose government's intrusions into our private lives. We disagree with Washington's increasing takeover of the private sector, which now includes socialized health care.

 Excerpts from FOXNews.com: "Michigan Militia Group Preparing for Antichrist" —

"The Michigan-based militia group charged with conspiring to kill police officers is preparing for battle with the Antichrist, according to a Web site purportedly run by the group.

"'Jesus wanted us to be ready to defend ourselves using the sword and stay alive using equipment,' Hutaree.com reads. 'The only thing on earth to save the testimony and those who follow it, are the members of the testimony, till the return of Christ in the clouds. We, the Hutaree, are prepared to defend all those who belong to Christ and save those who aren't. We will still spread the word, and fight to keep it, up to the time of the great coming.'

"Nine suspects associated with Hutaree, which is purportedly a Christian-based militia group, have been charged with conspiring to kill police officers and then attack a funeral in hopes of killing more law enforcement officials, federal prosecutors said Monday. U.S. Attorney Barbara McQuade said agents moved on the group because the militia members were planning an attack sometime in April.

"Members of the militia, including its leader, David Brian Stone, also known as 'Captain Hutaree,' are charged in the case. An indictment alleges that members of the group conspired to 'levy war against the United States, (and) to oppose by force the authority of the government of the United States.'

"Eight suspects have been arrested by the FBI and one more is being sought. Seven of the eight captured suspects are due in court later Monday.

"Andrew Arena, head of the FBI's field office in Detroit, said the case is an example of 'radical and extremist fringe groups' found throughout society." Full article

Hope in Christ

This Easter weekend, informed Christians will justly associate the disastrous things that have befallen our nation during the past year with the destructive agenda of President Obama. And they too will ask why God has not answered the prayers of His people. Freedoms are being eroded away. Christians look towards heaven for answers and intervention. His people understand they do not serve an angry God, but a victorious one.

 When the stone was rolled away, the Savior emerged triumphantly in our behalf. Sadly, however, this weekend, which began on Good Friday, darkness arose once again. There is fear that God is allowing our country to be destroyed by a president who believes America should be punished. And Obama does it so very easily as he looks through the lens of the teachings he holds. His conscience has been seared by a false, man-made doctrine. View — "Black Liberation Theology from James Cone to Wright to Obama."

Marxist "social justice" is not found in the Bible of the Almighty God. It was born out of the "Father of lies." Yet Americans will suffer the yoke of bondage as our God-given liberties are taken from us. If this situation is not drastically changed in upcoming elections, we will continue to see our lives enslaved.

At times God does not intervene, and too often innocent people suffer. Remember the story of the ten plagues of Egypt. There were hailstones, darkness, frogs, flies, and locusts. God's Word says that He sent them.

Stubborn, wicked people were the undoing of Egypt — beginning with a defiant Pharaoh who defied the will of God and kept His chosen people in bondage. All they wanted was life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Eventually, they would reach that Promised Land and receive it all. Will we be as successful?

There has been a consistent clarion call from RenewAmerica.com. There must be a renewal of the mind through Christ Jesus. Our cry has been to seek God's face and ask The Almighty to heal our land.

"Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus." — Philippians 2:5

My witness

It is my personal contention that very few of us really understand the suffering that Christ had to endure on the cross of Calvary to save us. Shawn Boonstra reminds us in "When Waters Overwhelm,"

"Jesus had always said that He would die and then live again on the third day. But when He was at the edge of the tomb, the mudslide of the grave, it actually came to the point where the hope, the confidence, the security of His mission were all taken away from Him. The presence of God was withdrawn. The knowledge of reunion was obliterated. And there, on the cross, in one horrifying moment, Jesus accepted and carried the reality of separation. For the sacrifice to be complete, Jesus had to go through the experience of a lost sinner who would never go home again, who would never again feel the love of His family. And in the agony of that moment, He cried out to a seemingly empty universe: 'My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?' (Matthew 27:46)."

Because Jesus gave His all for us, we do not have to face life's worst prospects alone. Death has been conquered by Him:

 "O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?" (1 Corinthians 15:55).

In the face of life's difficulties, we can cling to that hope. When we see the entire picture, it's clear that the cross of Christ is God's loving response to man's sin problem. The Father doesn't stand distant and aloof. He sent His only begotten Son! He didn't require the death of Christ — He allowed it — His gift to a perverse world.

As Boonstra writes, "In John 16:27, Jesus reminds us that 'the Father himself loveth you.' And that is the message behind the resurrection. As dark as Friday was, Sunday morning was the ray of eternal hope. It was the moment when death itself was defeated."

Stand with God. Do not hesitate to learn of Him. We will not be able to take American back if we do not "love and obey Him." Obeying Christ makes us a strong and persevering people who are not swayed by every whim and unscriptural doctrine. Today is the day of salvation, yes even of our magnificent nation, America. Pray and ask the Lord to spare our country from what we fear is coming. Start by asking Him to rule your life completely. He alone is worthy to be praised and served.

"Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls" (Matthew 11:29).

I've written the words for you to take the first step to begin a new life with Him. Will you pray and ask God into your life?

Dear Father in Heaven, thank you for overcoming every obstacle for us. Thank you for conquering even death itself. We want to place our broken and bruised lives in your precious and capable hands. We want you as our hope and our future. In humility, we accept the gift of your Son's atoning grace, the gift of Christ rising from the grave for us, and the gift of His living a sinless life for us. Thank you for making us a part of His resurrected life. We know that you are preparing special heavenly mansions for us. We so eagerly anticipate the day when we spend eternity with you. You are a mighty awesome God. We praise you for your love. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Song: God Will Make a Way