Grant Phillips

Corruption Invites Judgment :: by Grant Phillips

Published on: by RR2

Most in our society today have the erroneous belief that we Christians must compromise with the world and its beliefs and “just get along.” Certainly we are not advocating an unloving and uncaring attitude, but that isn’t what Scripture teaches. Compromise is not always good, and in the case of Scriptural truth it is definitely not good.

When the Holy Word of God says that Jesus Christ is the only way to the Father it cannot be compromised. When it says Jesus was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, died, and rose again it cannot be compromised. When it says that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, in fact God, it cannot be compromised.

Major truths of the Bible, such as those in the previous paragraph, and others, cannot be compromised, and what God calls sin cannot be compromised.

Whether or not we sing from a hymnal or a screen on the stage is a matter of preference. Whether we sing old hymns, southern gospel, or contemporary music is irrelevant. Whether the pastor wears jeans or a suit is not an issue, and whether he uses a pulpit or not, doesn’t matter. These are like arguing over the color of the carpet. Who cares? Compromise!

But when churches start ordaining homosexuals we have a serious problem. Should we love these who have chosen this type of sin? Absolutely, just as much as we would love those filled with pride! Sin is sin. We most certainly should love the sinner and pray for them, but we absolutely should not support the sin.

When churches turn a blind eye to fornication and adultery it is wrong. It is not a time to compromise. When parishioners lie, steal and cheat, the church must not keep silent … but most of the time, it does.

Those of us who call ourselves Christians should first and foremost recognize that we may be saved, but we are saved sinners. We used to sin, and we still sin. That doesn’t mean we just keep our mouth shut and accept blatant sin that is shoved in our faces on a daily basis.

Some would have us believe that we who are “conservative” Christians are just too belligerent. We are trouble makers. We want to point out everyone’s sin but ours. Maybe that’s true of some, but it isn’t true of all. What are we supposed to do, just sit back and keep quiet? Keeping quiet is exactly why the church is in such a pitiful state today. Apostasy in today’s church is like a cankerous sore that is eating it alive from the inside out, and few are willing to use so much as a band-aide to draw attention to this terminal disease. Those who do, get “called on the carpet” for being unwilling to “get along.”

Jesus called us out to love one another, and He also said,

“Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. Matthew 10:34-35

“The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.” Luke 12:53

Now He is not sending us out to pick a fight with anyone who disagrees with us. He is simply saying that His Truth is so controversial and adamant it will cause divisions. The problem arises when so many who claim Him as Lord do not serve Him. They will not speak His Truth. They just want to compromise. When a few do speak the Truth they are labeled as trouble-makers. So be it.

Surely by now we can see what compromising has gotten us, major problems within the churches. When corruption is allowed to fester it will not heal, it will just continue to rot. This is where many of our churches in America are today, full of rot. No wonder Jesus will spew many out of His mouth. We stinketh!

The only thing that has even a sliver of a chance in postponing judgment on our churches and our country, for a short period, is repentance on our part. Otherwise, judgment is coming, and in my opinion, it will be here much sooner that most of us think.

God has always warned those He is about to judge, and we have warnings flying around like fireflies (lightning bugs) on a dark night. Unfortunately, too many of us aren’t seeing them. That isn’t God’s fault. They’re here. Look around. Get in the Word. Look around some more. Just don’t take too long.

I realize the following verse was written specifically to Israel, but it is still a promise we can depend on if we take Him seriously and repent.

“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14

Notice God isn’t addressing this to those who are not His. He is addressing this to His people, in our case, the Church.

Is judgment coming? Yes it is, but maybe He will postpone it for a short time if we would just admit to Him we have sinned and ask His forgiveness.

Grant Phillips

Everybody Loves A Hero :: by Grant Phillips

Published on: by RR2

Many moons ago while watching the old westerns I, as all other children, automatically knew the good guys wore white hats and the bad guys wore black hats. The guys in the white hats were our heroes. It’s been a long time since our heroes wore white hats to distinguish them from the bad guys, but all of us still have our heroes.

I’ve always loved the old westerns, and my favorite cowboy actor was Randolph Scott. After him were Joel McCrea, and thirdly Audie Murphy. The westerns of that era were my favorite.

Almost any show or movie you watch has a hero that wins the day, whether it’s a western, mystery, detective show, war movie, even sometimes a love story. We like to have heroes in our lives.

I can’t leave out Tarzan. The old Tarzan movies with Johnny Weissmuller always got my attention. I could sit for hours watching those movies, and just loved it when he would call his animal friends to give him a hand.

Today’s movies still have their heroes, such as; (no particular order) Gladiator, Ironman, Avengers, Sherlock Holmes, Taken, Shooter, Miracle, Rocky, Open Range, Batman, Superman, Blind Side, etc. The list could go on endlessly. (By the way, I am not endorsing any particular movie(s). I am just giving examples that we love our heroes.)

There must be something about the human psyche that longs to cheer on a hero, especially an underdog that becomes a hero. Sports fans, for example, cheer on their teams. Why? Because the team is their hero striving to defeat the “enemy.” We would even like to be the hero, and as children, we would often pretend we were just that.

Animals can be heroes. I think of Seabiscuit, a horse that gave people something to cheer for during trying times. Lassie was a hero to many children of yesteryear.

Children from the past and up through today want to be policemen, firefighters, nurses, and doctors because they protect and save the lives of others. They may want to be sports stars to be honored for their skills, or warriors to prove their bravery.

So heroes can be individuals, groups or even animals.

And then there are the unsung heroes. Immediately our military comes to mind. These kids deserve all the honor we can give them. Those from the Vietnam era received little from this country, and we should hang our heads in shame.

The Mom who faithfully tends to her family’s needs may not think she is a hero, but she is right up there on top. The hours spent cooking, cleaning, washing may not seem like much, but they are. She is there for her children, and her husband, at night when they are sick and she is bone tired, perhaps not feeling well herself. She is their encourager and their strength. Good Moms are heroes.

Every Dad that spends his days earning a living to provide for his family is a hero to those he loves. By the end of the day, when returning from work, he is tired but not too tired to pitch ball with his son and sit in the floor with his daughter sipping imaginary tea. Knowing his wife, his children’s Mother, is also tired, he asks her, “What can I do to help?” Good Dads are heroes.

These scenarios may not be totally realistic in today’s world, but they could be, and probably are by more than we think. Heroes are within our own family.

Teachers spend most of the day with our most prized possessions, our children. Good teachers treat them as their own, teaching them, correcting them and being an encourager and example to them. Good teachers are heroes.

So the reality is we have more heroes within our families and next door than we may realize. Let us honor them.

There is another hero I have saved for last because He is the greatest hero of all. His name is Jesus. He is the Son of God. Since He and the Father are one, He is God. In true heroic fashion, He came to our rescue.

He is my Hero because He reached down from a bloody Roman cross and:

“He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along.” Psalms 40:2

Bound for hell, with no hope, the God of Heaven came to my rescue. He forgave me my sins against Him, and put His Spirit within me. My enemy is defeated. He just doesn’t know it yet. My home is in Heaven with my God and my Lord.

We usually imagine our heroes in beautiful array, dressed in white, with an authoritative presence. When Jesus returns to the earth every eye will recognize Him as the Hero of heroes.

“And standing in the middle of the lampstands was someone like the Son of Man. He was wearing a long robe with a gold sash across his chest. His head and his hair were white like wool, as white as snow. And his eyes were like flames of fire. His feet were like polished bronze refined in a furnace, and his voice thundered like mighty ocean waves. He held seven stars in his right hand, and a sharp two-edged sword came from his mouth. And his face was like the sun in all its brilliance.

When I saw him, I fell at his feet as if I were dead. But he laid his right hand on me and said, “Don’t be afraid! I am the First and the Last. I am the living one. I died, but look—I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and the grave.” Revelation 1:13-18 (NLT)

Many heroes of the old westerns often rode on white horses. Again, this distinguished them as the hero of the movie. The Hero of Heaven and earth also will be on a white horse.

“Then I saw heaven opened, and a white horse was standing there. Its rider was named Faithful and True, for he judges fairly and wages a righteous war. His eyes were like flames of fire, and on his head were many crowns. A name was written on him that no one understood except himself. He wore a robe dipped in blood, and his title was the Word of God. The armies of heaven, dressed in the finest of pure white linen, followed him on white horses. From his mouth came a sharp sword to strike down the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod. He will release the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty, like juice flowing from a winepress. On his robe at his thigh was written this title: King of all kings and Lord of all lords.” Revelation 19:11-16 (NLT)

When my Hero returns I will be with Him as he vanquishes His enemies. I will be in good company, for there will be many in His army who have also made Him their Supreme Hero. We will all be riding upon white horses, clothed in fine linen. That day may not be very far off. Will you be with us?

Everybody loves a hero, but have you chosen the right one? Just put your faith in Jesus and He will save you by His glorious grace, and be your Hero too.

Grant Phillips