Hospitality

 

Kindness is repaid with malicious recompense.

“Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it. Share with the saints who are in need. Practice hospitality.” Romans 12:2, 13.

These verses are the rallying cry of many progressive churches that support and facilitate unfettered illegal immigration by welcoming all who “claim” refugee status. But, when hospitality is offered and accepted, respect must be given to the host. Failing to do so delegitimizes those imposing on their benefactors. Far too many of those welcomed into our nation pay back the hospitality with criminal actions. Instead of assimilating into their adopted homeland, they show contempt for the freedoms available to them. Rather than adding to our diversity and making a positive contribution to society, they are content to be a drain on our nation’s resources. Immigration without assimilation is tantamount to an invasion.

“They will devour your harvest and food; they will consume your sons and daughters; they will eat up your flocks and herds; they will feed on your vines and fig trees. With the sword they will destroy the fortified cities in which you trust.” Jeremiah 15:17

Those who advocate for those who take advantage of a nation’s good will are far from that which God expects. Those organizations that tout their tolerance, welcoming, and diversity as showing the love of Christ are completely misinterpreting Scripture. God’s love is perfect. Man’s love is far from it. The law of unintended consequences, or perhaps intended, impacts our imperfect love. Citing individual lines of Scripture, to fulfill human desires, without the context necessary to properly interpret God’s intent, is a recipe for disaster. Scripture must be the basis to guide our actions, and not as a justification of our actions. Follow God’s word, submit to His will, walk in obedience, and your path will be set straight.

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, fully equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Some immigrants, in particular some Muslims, are exploiting the western world’s hospitality to enable their plan to overcome the majority and convert society to an Islamic state. Islam is a false religion that rejects the deity of Christ and should be rejected, not embraced as another path to salvation. It is not a religion of peace, it advocates for its followers to commit acts of violence against unbelievers, or infidels. Our tolerance is used by Islamists to trample upon the Judeo-Christian values that we have relied upon for centuries to establish and maintain an effective and productive society. 

When immigrants bite the hand that feeds them, it just may be time to shake the dust off our sandals and reject the premise of affording compassion. If they reject the customs and practices of their host nation, instead trying to impose their belief system, they pervert any privilege due them. Unfortunately, Muslims are not alone as we have witnessed rioting from illegal immigrants waving flags of the very countries they fled. All the while, our fellow citizens on the left encourage lawlessness with continuous anti-American rhetoric.

“Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which is from God. The authorities that exist have been appointed by God.  Consequently, whoever resists authority is opposing what God has set in place, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.” Romans 13:1-2

Muslims are using our own compassion and desire to love our neighbors as a tool to defeat Christianity. Yet, some of our churches are the most naïve and are exploited by the very people they hope to help. As followers of Christ, we are also taught to turn the other cheek, but that does not require us to be led like a lamb to slaughter. But that is what our brothers and sisters are accomplishing, whether it is their intent or not. If we stand by and allow Muslims to attain a majority, they will be successful in their plan to fundamentally transform America and the west.

“It’s a sophisticated fusion of religion, politics and identity," said Mansour Al-Hadj, a Washington-based researcher on Muslim political movements and extremism. "The same networks that once focused on community services are now mobilizing voters and producing candidates. This is how political Islam adapts inside democracy." Fox News report.

Those that use the freedoms afforded those who live in the US to the detriment of the majority have no place in an open society. Those who would destroy us have made their intentions plain, yet those who are squarely in the crosshairs cannot see, nor understand the implications. Many diminish the risk that unfettered immigration of Muslims will supersede current geo-political mores, but a Muslim majority can and will shift the politics and religious freedoms currently enjoyed by western nations. Those coexist bumper stickers are antithetic to Islam. Islam seeks to overwhelm and replace religious freedom and institute an Islamic state. History has shown as much as former Christian nations such as Turkey, Egypt, Syria, Iraq, and more became Muslim nations once conquered. Today, no weapons will be necessary to conquer this nation. Our tolerance and acceptance will become our undoing.

On Tuesday, useful idiots in New York are likely to elect an avowed radical communist Muslim as mayor of that city on a shining hill. His intentions are exposed by the light of day, yet he is expected to prevail, nonetheless. Somali Muslims have taken over a portion of Minneapolis and speak of instituting Sharia law, with the blessing of some of their city and state leaders. Dearborn, Michigan is predominantly Muslim and has seen a marked increase in criminality. This is our future if we are content to stand idly by. Any immigrant residing in this nation that espouses evil intent should have their immigration status revoked immediately and deported. Yes, we are a nation of immigrants that should welcome refugees with open arms. But only those who want to be here and contribute to society should be extended that hospitality, not those who would destroy us from within.

Immigration without assimilation is tantamount to an invasion.

Forgiveness

 

We need to heal wounds, not emphasize past wrongs

If one holds a grudge, emphasis is on a negative emotion. When one looks past a personal slight and can offer forgiveness to the person who did you wrong, it will often lead to a positive outcome for both parties. Dwelling on past insults or offences can lead one on a path of distrust, suspicion and cynicism. These emotions will do nothing but fester within the person that perceives the wrongdoing. Our society is evolving and not in a good way. Diversity, inclusion and equity initiatives are heading our nation in the wrong direction. These “values” emphasize our differences rather that work to unite us within our similarities. Subjugating us by the color of our skin is simply a return the days of segregation and furthers the goals of racism.

We are all children of God. We share a common Father. Does that not make us all brothers and sisters? Are we not simply the human race regardless of how we look? Pull away the skin and we are all the same. This movement, rooted in Marxist ideology looks to divide us in order to create an upheaval meant to lead to a reinventing of our society. In other words, a fundamental transformation of this nation. This embrace of diversity, inclusion and equity pit those perceived to be oppressed against those perceived to be the oppressors. In other words, pitting us against each other. This divisive ideology rejects forgiveness and reinforces the ideas of retribution, retaliation and revenge. How this can be a positive for society eludes me. Whether or not you are Christian, as a society, we should be able to agree that in order to live in harmony with one another we need to learn to love our neighbors as ourselves.

Diversity is defined as, a set of conscious practices that involve: Understanding and appreciating interdependence of humanity, cultures and the natural environment. Practicing mutual respect for qualities and experiences different than our own. Understanding that diversity includes not only ways of being, but also ways of knowing. Building alliances across differences so that we can work together to eradicate all forms of discrimination. Excerpted from Queensborough Community College/CUNY. Sounds like this is a good path to unite, until you read the sentence that I omitted. Recognizing that personal, cultural and institutionalized discrimination creates and sustains privileges for some while creating and sustaining disadvantages for others. This is what the purveyors of this divisiveness concentrate on. You are privileged because of your skin color and if you are a person of a certain color, you should be personally affronted by the fact that you are being held down by the “Man”.

We all have experienced different cultures. We have often not practiced mutual respect for the qualities of those differences. We need to build alliances to eliminate racism and inequality. We need to understand those differences and treat each other with respect and dignity. That is how a civil society thrives. How a civil society dies is when we hold grudges and vilify others for past grievances, real or perceived. As we continue to acquiesce to this divisive ideology and incorporate it into acceptable society, we are witnessing, firsthand, the death throes of our society and nation. And most of us sit back and say nothing. When you are old, you can tell your grandchildren how this nation was once free.

Inclusion is referred to how diversity is leveraged to create a fair, equitable, healthy and high performing organization or community where all individuals are respected, feel engaged and motivated and their contributions toward meeting organizational or societal goals are valued. Excerpted from Austin Community College research guide. Sounds great. Again, everyone contributes, everyone is respected, and everyone’s contributions are valued. But, that word equity instead of equality stands out. Why has equity replaced equality? Why is equity of outcome more valued than equality of opportunity? These words seem so similar, yet their meanings are far different.

Equity refers to fairness and justice and is distinguished from equality: Whereas equality means providing the same to all, equity means recognizing that we do not all start from the same place and must acknowledge and make adjustments to imbalances. The process is ongoing, requiring us to identify and overcome intentional and unintentional barriers arising from bias or systemic structures. Excerpted from the National Association of Colleges and Employers. President Barack Obama said in 2014, at the College opportunity Summit, “The premise that we’re all created equal is the opening line in our American story. And we don’t promise equal outcomes; we’ve strived to deliver equal opportunity – the idea that success does not depend on being born into wealth or privilege, it depends on effort and merit. You can be born into nothing and work your way into something extraordinary. There was not much common ground with our former President and I, but this speech was extraordinary and right on point.

If we fail to recognize the evil that exists is this wonderfully sounding ideology and continue to mainstream these ideas, our nation will definitely be fundamentally transformed into something few of us would want. The opportunity to push back and defend your liberties and freedom and prevent this divisive ideology from infecting all aspects of our lives is waning. Want to reminisce about the good old days when freedom reigned in American in your old age, or do you wish to maintain this shining light of freedom on the hill? What are you going to do about it, remain silent or push back? The choice is yours. Make a difference or stand by idly as we fall.

By any Other Name

"What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet." This often quoted phrase from the William Shakespeare play, Romeo and Juliet, is typically used to explain that is doesn’t matter what something is called, it matters more what it really is. The word Lutheran describes a Christian denomination, founded by Martin Luther almost 500 years ago. Since its’ inception this church has evolved, mostly due to schisms or disagreements over doctrine, into several sub-denominations, ranging from the very traditional WELS to the progressive ELCA. No matter what doctrinal issues we disagree with, even the uber liberal ELCA is still part of the body of Christ, aren’t they? Well, what makes a Lutheran a Lutheran? Spiritually, grace by faith alone and doctrinally, Sola Scriptura or Scripture alone defines the Lutheran faith. Nothing we can say or do can earn us salvation, it is by God's grace we can enter His kingdom when we believe in His one and only Son. Whenever any “new thing” arrives, we must look to the Bible to ascertain whether it is of the Spirit or of man. In the ELCA, many new things, some challenging the very Truths of Christianity, have arrived. Doctrine, meant to lift up worldly things, has become central to the teaching of the ELCA.

1 John 4:1-3, “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.” It seems as though every new theological opinion is incorporated into the ELCA’s “big tent” of diversification. Most recently, the validity of the Virgin Birth has been the target of ELCA theologians. Disputing that Mary, through the power of the Holy Spirit, carried the Son of God seems to me to fit what the Apostle John writes about above. But, of course, this is not the official teaching of the ELCA, even though seminarians, who are the ELCA pastors of the future, are indoctrinated with these new ideas. Yet, the leaders of the ELCA continue to tout that diversity is making their denomination all the stronger. Let’s see, over 1 million congregants and over a thousand churches have fled the “Apostasy Gone Wild” ELCA over the last 3 years and somehow, this makes them stronger? Water down your faith and question the very truths they have sworn to uphold and somehow this adds strength to your organization? I guess if you drink the proper Kool-Aid it will make more sense. Any organization that disregards its’ governing documents or adheres to false doctrine, gains no advantage, and only weakens their position. And when the chairman of the board is the Lord of Hosts, creator of the universe, leading the faithful astray is frowned upon.

 

 

As the ELCA tramples upon the solid foundation of Lutheranism and replaces it with what is more pleasing to the world, it drifts further away from God and into the deep end of the pool of heresy. The bishop of the ELCA Greater Milwaukee Synod, meeting with our church council after our first vote to leave passed, said that “sometimes it is appropriate to dive into the deep end of the pool of heresy.” Apparently he believes that there is nothing wrong when he, who is charged to maintain order and make certain that proper doctrine is followed in his synod, advocates for his flock to go astray. I guess we all need to sow our wild oats from time to time, and why not give your flock the permission of the church to do so. Jesus said in Matthew 18:6-7, “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to stumble! Such things must come, but woe to the person through whom they come!” Our Lord and Savior plainly makes it known what will happen to those who encourage His children to dive into the deep end of the pool of heresy.

So, does the “This is not the official teaching of the” ELCA pass the smell test to still be considered a Lutheran church? While there remains islands of faith within the sea of apostasy that is the ELCA, they are becoming more and more marginalized. Those new and enlightened pastors that preach a gospel other than the Gospel our Lord taught, are lifted up as the face of the ELCA. The broader ELCA is not only no longer Lutheran, much of what is taught in their seminaries and spouted by their so called theologians is not even Christian. The idea that there are many valid paths to salvation is gaining steam in the ELCA as evidenced by their inter-religious relations with the Islamic faith. Embracing that Islam offers another valid path to salvation and by neglecting the call of Jesus to make disciples of all nations, shows that the ELCA willfully chooses to ignore our Lord and Savior’s call to bring the lost to Him. Just as they allow their members to be affirmed within their sin without repentance, they allow those who do not know Jesus to go happily on their way.

No, the ELCA is no longer Lutheran. Their goal is to placate the world, not to please the Lord, and the world is the realm of the evil one. Will the leadership of the ELCA ever wake up and truly serve the Lord? We can only continue to pray, because if they continue on this path, more of our brothers and sisters in Christ will have been lost. 2 Peter 2:17-21, “For they mouth empty, boastful words and, by appealing to the lustful desires of the flesh, they entice people who are just escaping from those who live in error. They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity—for “people are slaves to whatever has mastered them.” If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and are overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning. It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them.” This is why is so important to continue to proclaim the Truth, so that those who are found, do not become lost again.

Eye on the Prize

Keeping your eye on the prize is a motivational maxim often used in sports. Enduring demanding training is made more palatable when one knows that hard work may lead to a championship. We are told to keep focused on achieving the end result, rather than the obstacles that get in the way of our goals. Each step taken brings one closer to that desired outcome. When reaching for that accomplishment that somehow we believe will define us, we will often deny ourselves the things that we think may be a hindrance to achieving that goal. We believe that keeping our eyes on the prize will make all our sacrifices worthwhile. Problem is that once we reach these supposedly lofty goals, we rejoice for a time, but there always seems to be an emptiness as time goes on. For every goal achieved, another presents itself. One can never make enough money, rise high enough in the corporate world, or win enough championships. No matter how much we accomplish in this life, it is never totally satisfying. When we finally realize that the ultimate prize is eternal life with our Father in Heaven, the importance of earthly rewards begins to fade away.

Philippians 3:13-14, “Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” We need not win the game to be awarded the ultimate prize. Open the door and welcome Jesus into your heart. Jesus is depicted by a number of artists, standing outside a door and knocking, and most have one thing in common. There is no doorknob on the outside of the door. Only the occupant can open the door to allow Him in. When, by faith, we believe in the one true Son of God, that He freely offered Himself as a sin offering for each and every one of us, that He suffered and died for us, and defeated death with His resurrection, we are granted, through the grace of God, our salvation. Scripture tells us that at that moment, we are made anew or become a new person and that we die to our sinful selves and become a new creation, lifted up by the love of our Lord and Savior. We realize that our former person is someone to be discarded and we pledge our lives to giving all the glory to God. You see that even if we fall short in this life, the life to come is far more important than anything that can happen here on earth.

Sin persists in this world and has infiltrated Christ’s church through the worldly ambitions of those who have pledged allegiance to God, but instead have chosen to betray Him. Isaiah 43:18-19, “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?” Twisting these words of the prophet Isaiah, leaders of the ELCA tell their membership that God is now telling them new things that fit in with their vision of an all accepting new religion. The prize they seek is not the kingdom of Heaven. It is to create a heaven here on earth promoting tolerance, diversity and justice. The leaders of the ELCA abdicate their responsibility to lead the lost to Christ and instead challenge the ageless truths of Christianity. Those that love Christ endeavor to please Him in all we do, the leaders of the ELCA entice their membership with the false gospel of bound conscience, allowing them to please themselves instead. Those foolish enough to embrace these false gospels perpetrated by the leaders of the ELCA take their eyes off the prize and jeopardize their very salvation.

Hebrews 8:10-13, “I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest. For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” By calling this covenant “new,” he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and aging will soon disappear.” The intent of this passage is clear. When we belong to God, His law is written upon our hearts. Making the first covenant obsolete does not mean that God wants us to rewrite His laws. On the contrary, the first covenant condemned sin and was unable to offer forgiveness. The new covenant is Christ. His death and resurrection opened a door for us to be truly forgiven by our Father in Heaven. This new covenant pardons our sin and through the power of the Holy Spirit, gives us the ability to understand, the capacity to love, the courage to profess our faith, and the will to obey His laws.

We can do nothing to earn God’s mercy and grace. It is by our faith in the Risen Christ that opens that door. God’s mercy endures forever. His grace rains upon us without end. The prize is there for all who truly believe. Keep your eye on the prize that is the Risen Christ. Do not be deceived by those that would have you believe a gospel other than the one taught by Jesus. The enlightened leaders of the ELCA have fallen for the trap laid by the evil one. They remain not only in the world, but of the world and they truly love this world. 1 John 2:15-17, “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.”

Boxing God

Those “unenlightened, traditional Christians that adhere to the doctrine of “Sola Scrptura” and uphold the authority of Scripture are often accused of putting God in a “box”. The progressive Christian looks upon those traditional Christians as “Bible Thumpers” that simply are following a book of outdated rules. Those progressives look at Scripture and see an archaic book, written by uneducated men, that contain interesting stories that are, unfortunately, wedded to the time and place where they were composed. That the authors of the Bible were inspired by the Holy Spirit is something that only weak minded individuals would believe, say those enlightened by this modernistic religion where God is doing all kinds of new things. Jesus said in John 16:13-15, “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you.” That our Lord and Savior told the Disciples that He would guide the Spirit in revealing the truth to them is of far lesser importance to the leaders of the progressive ELCA than striving for social justice.

Fact of the matter is that these so-called enlightened progressive Christians that currently hold authority within the ELCA do not put God in a box when they refuse to acknowledge anything that does not fit with what their expectations of God are. They infer that God is doing "new" things that, astonishingly, tell them only what they want to hear. Their doctrine of love, acceptance and tolerance extends only to those who think and believe as they do. Those progressive Christians that create a god in their own image are doing nothing short of fighting God. They are so hung up on the “law” that accepting the authority of Scripture is simply not tolerable. Listen to Nadia Bolz-Weber in her rant against the Christianity that has boundaries that she happens to personally disagree with. I don’t want to judge a book by its cover, but there she is, addressing the national youth gathering of the ELCA, in jeans and a tank top, showing off all of her tattoos that were etched upon her skin by a fellow drug addict. She proudly displays those signs from a former life that almost cost her life on this earth, but fails to use them to teach the young and impressionable a lesson. Yes, she extols the fact that it was by God’s grace that He lifted her out of a life of drugs and despair, but she offers nothing about faith in the Risen Christ and why God so loves His children. The story of her finding an appropriate church had nothing to do with God’s love or repentance, but all to do with feeling welcome in a “tolerant and enlightened” church replete with the appropriate diverse membership that was acceptable to her expectations. Her ideal church is not one that welcomes all sinners, but one that recognizes no sin, has no need for repentance, and has a god that meets her expectations, made in her own image.

So, while those that uphold the authority of Scripture supposedly place God in a box, progressive Christians literally punch Him in the mouth as they deny the very truths they are called to uphold. Bishop Mark Hanson was the keynote speaker that addressed the Lutherans Concerned conference in July of this year. In that address he stated, “I am so grateful for the church we are today—a church committed to welcoming all while valuing our differences and respecting diversity. Through this unity in diversity we show forth the body of Christ.“ Let me take creative license here and interpret for you Hanson’s real intent in this message. “I am deeply disturbed at the state of the church today. So many traditional Lutherans fail to see the advantage of secularizing our church. Affirming members within their sin allows us to take the high road and fit in with society, rather than undertaking the daunting task of bringing the lost to Christ. Lifting up the gospel of radical inclusiveness over the Gospel of Jesus Christ brings the ELCA greater respect in the eyes of the world, rather than being viewed as a backward thinking organization that clings to their Bibles. And becoming a new creation when Christ fills your heart, well that is overrated. Denying oneself has such a negative connotation, people feel much better pleasing themselves without having to give up those things that the selfish nature desires. Unity begins and ends with the diversity that is the ELCA.”

It is true that the leaders of the ELCA do not put God in a box. They continue be engaged in a battle, fighting against Him, striking our Lord with body blow after body blow with each “new” thing that disregards our Lord’s will. But understand this, Psalm 145:17-20, “The LORD is righteous in all his ways and loving toward all he has made. The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them. The LORD watches over all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy.” Continue to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ and seek the lost in order to lead them to Him. Pray for our brothers and sisters who remain lost within the ELCA, that their hearts, eyes and minds be opened and that they return to the path that our Lord has set before them.