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daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and
exhortation.
Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne
Wednesday,
February
26,
2020
The
days have been warm so Mollie and Sadie have enjoyed
long walks including this one at the Cameron Estate Inn
on Donegal Springs Road. The grounds have several trails
to be enjoyed by both canines and humans.
"The
Abyss Of Moral Insanity"
Note:
Today's message is a bit longer than normal and
covers a topic that may be distressing to some. It
begins with an incredibly true story which is
indented.
Message
summary: We call out the faithful remnant to
earnestly seek the Lord and be diligent in our
efforts to retain the knowledge of God! May our
godly knowledge be the filter through which all
other information is understood, embraced, or
rejected.
Listen
to this
message on your audio player.
Listen
to this
message on your audio player."So God
created mankind in His own image, in the image of God He
created them; male
and female He created them" (Genesis 1:27).
"Furthermore, just as they did not think it
worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God,
so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so
that they do what ought not to be done"
(Romans 1:28). "They perish because they
refused to love the truth and so be saved.
For this reason God sends them a powerful
delusion so that they will believe the lie"
(2 Thessalonians 3:10,11).
Many
years ago (the late seventies/eighties) we were
foster parents and did so with the desire to make
a difference in a child's life. To this day we
remain in contact with several of the foster
children we cared for, who of course are now
grown. But even at that time the social workers
tended to be young and it was evident to us that
political correctness was creeping into the social
framework of foster care. In a recent conversation
Brooksyne learned just how crazy things have
gotten, as she tells us in the following story:
I visited with an employee who is
usually out on the field but he happened to be in
his office on this particular afternoon. Bill and
Susie (not their real names) are a Christian
couple with grown children who live in a very
rural area in a neighboring county. For several
years they have been caring for special needs
foster children, including those who come with
medical equipment enabling them to survive. They
presently have a little girl who is severely
disabled.
Bill told me about an encounter that
Susie had with the state social worker managing
their case. She took their foster child for a
visit with two of her older siblings during a
family visit. Her brother was "transitioning" to a
"girl", the sister was "transitioning" to a "boy".
The social worker introduced them by their new
names, the names that reflect their imaginary new
gender.
The siblings' change in appearance and
names was startling to the younger foster child as
well as Susie. Seeing the confusion in her foster
child's eyes and mannerisms, Susie suggested that
they deal with the topic later after the children
had visited for a while.
The social worker let Susie know that
later is not the time, but right now was the
proper time to set things straight with the
siblings' new imagined gender. She launched into a
very uncomfortable and confusing lecture directed
to the five year old foster child.
"If you want to be a doctor, if you want
to be a fire fighter, if you want to be an
astronaut you can be anything you want to be."
(That may be true when they grow up.) The social
worker continued, "If you want to be a butterfly
or if you want to be a unicorn, you can be
whatever you want to be...."
Shaking my head in disbelief I asked,
"Was she being serious as she said these things,
the butterfly, unicorn, etc.?" "Yes, she was" he
dejectedly replied. Of course, the encounter has
made this very devoted couple rethink their role
in reaching out to needy children as they are now
expected to uphold the philosophies of the Youth
and Children's Services rather than their
Christian convictions. This ridiculous encounter
along with the body language of the social worker
shocked Susie as it should.
Bill and Susie later had a meeting with
her and it didn't result in them feeling any more
comfortable in her expectations of their role as
foster parents. There is more to the story, but
this is the gist of what the transgender,
non-binary, gender neutral and all the other new
words created that seek to conform to the whims
and wishes of a very troubled segment of our
society.
The
other night I, Stephen, was thinking about this
story, and in seeking to spiritually understand
world conditions, the phrase in our daily message
title came to mind, "The Abyss Of Moral Insanity".
"Abyss"
is defined as "a deep or seemingly bottomless
chasm". I learned that "moral insanity" is
actually a psychological term but in the context
of this message we mean the insanity that results
in an individual and society when God's truth and
moral standards are rejected. It is described in
the Bible as a "depraved mind" and a "powerful
delusion" that leads people to believe a lie.
Today’s
text is an insightful verse from a powerful book.
Of course the entire Bible is powerful but Romans
provides a particular depth in understanding the
human condition, the tragedy of sin and scope of
divine redemption. In seeking to understand and
discern the current world situation and the
immense falling away from godly standards I have
been pondering this portion a lot. It describes
the inherent natural tendency to sin in each
person’s heart since the fall of Adam. The NASV
has a concise description for this section
heading, "Unbelief and its Consequences".
Suppression of God’s truth leads to "futile thinking" (Ephesians 4:17) and although there is self-assessment of being wise, in reality it leads to foolishness (Romans 1:21,22). Sin causes us to exchange God’s truth for the lie (v. 25).
Let’s examine today’s second text phrase by phrase:
"They did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God." Contrast this with those who diligently seek and find it immensely worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God. They study the Scriptures and seek to live by them. They realize the supreme call of the Proverb that cautions its readers, "Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life" (Proverbs 4:23). Retaining the knowledge of God is a lifelong pursuit, something we must be committed to. If we don't retain this knowledge we will fall for anything.
But many, really most, do "not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God". Instead they have chosen the heavily trampled broad way which leads to destruction (see Matthew 7:13-14). Substitutes for the knowledge of God abound materially, philosophically, educationally, and even in the spiritual realm. These substitutes are billed as "the real thing" and any other outlook may be ridiculed or viewed as "behind the times".
The consequence of this failure to retain the knowledge of God is that “God gave them over”. This is the third of three occurrences of this phrase in Romans 1. God’s restraining influence that would keep people living in proper relationship with Him and with each other is removed. This phrase “God gave them over” should put the fear of the Lord into every heart and mind. The master deceiver may have us thinking we are in control, but the Bible tells us, “The one who sows to please the sinful nature from that nature will reap destruction” (Galatians 6:8).
There is grave consequence in failing to retain the knowledge of God, "God gave them over to a depraved mind". The Precept Austin commentary notes that this depraved mind "speaks of a mind that is so clouded by sin that it is no longer able to make reliable moral judgments. Here we have gone beyond deliberate iniquity to something much more frightening. At this stage people have lost the desire and the ability to think clearly. They have lost their mind and don’t even know it. The result is a world that has left God far behind. It is a society with all restraints removed, a culture devoid of all sense of right and wrong, where everyone is doing what is ‘right in his own eyes'."
A "depraved mind" is a result of not retaining the knowledge of God. "Depraved" is not a word we often hear or use frequently. We may recall the theological term "depravity of man", which describes the consequences of the fall. Other versions use the word “reprobate”, “base and condemned”, “degenerate”, “debased”, “corrupted”.
John MacArthur writes, "Unregenerate people cannot think properly about spiritual truth because they have a 'depraved mind'. Only God can turn on the light in the human heart so that it can respond in saving faith to the gospel of the glory of Christ."
The verse ends with this phrase, "to do what ought not to be done". A depraved mind leads to depraved actions. In so many areas we see a rejecting of God’s laws where people are doing what ought not to be done. Unless there is a massive return to God’s ways (revival) this will only worsen. Thus the phrase "The Abyss Of Moral Insanity".
We call out the faithful remnant to earnestly seek the Lord and be diligent in our efforts to retain the knowledge of God! May our godly knowledge be the filter through which all other information is understood, embraced, or rejected.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer: Father, we
want to be a people whose hearts and minds
are one with Yours. Through our diligent
study and application of Your living word
our thoughts and attitudes are formed. Keep
us faithful to the truth of Your knowledge.
We stand in firm opposition to the world’s
substitutes; the acceptance, condoning, and
celebration of anything You describe as sin.
The world may dress it up, commercialize it,
make it appealing, and cover up the
disastrous results it brings on the
individual, his or her family and society at
large. Help us to read, retain, and regard
Your knowledge as our pattern for life. In
the name of Jesus we pray, amen.
Suppression of God’s truth leads to "futile thinking" (Ephesians 4:17) and although there is self-assessment of being wise, in reality it leads to foolishness (Romans 1:21,22). Sin causes us to exchange God’s truth for the lie (v. 25).
Let’s examine today’s second text phrase by phrase:
"They did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God." Contrast this with those who diligently seek and find it immensely worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God. They study the Scriptures and seek to live by them. They realize the supreme call of the Proverb that cautions its readers, "Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life" (Proverbs 4:23). Retaining the knowledge of God is a lifelong pursuit, something we must be committed to. If we don't retain this knowledge we will fall for anything.
But many, really most, do "not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God". Instead they have chosen the heavily trampled broad way which leads to destruction (see Matthew 7:13-14). Substitutes for the knowledge of God abound materially, philosophically, educationally, and even in the spiritual realm. These substitutes are billed as "the real thing" and any other outlook may be ridiculed or viewed as "behind the times".
The consequence of this failure to retain the knowledge of God is that “God gave them over”. This is the third of three occurrences of this phrase in Romans 1. God’s restraining influence that would keep people living in proper relationship with Him and with each other is removed. This phrase “God gave them over” should put the fear of the Lord into every heart and mind. The master deceiver may have us thinking we are in control, but the Bible tells us, “The one who sows to please the sinful nature from that nature will reap destruction” (Galatians 6:8).
There is grave consequence in failing to retain the knowledge of God, "God gave them over to a depraved mind". The Precept Austin commentary notes that this depraved mind "speaks of a mind that is so clouded by sin that it is no longer able to make reliable moral judgments. Here we have gone beyond deliberate iniquity to something much more frightening. At this stage people have lost the desire and the ability to think clearly. They have lost their mind and don’t even know it. The result is a world that has left God far behind. It is a society with all restraints removed, a culture devoid of all sense of right and wrong, where everyone is doing what is ‘right in his own eyes'."
A "depraved mind" is a result of not retaining the knowledge of God. "Depraved" is not a word we often hear or use frequently. We may recall the theological term "depravity of man", which describes the consequences of the fall. Other versions use the word “reprobate”, “base and condemned”, “degenerate”, “debased”, “corrupted”.
John MacArthur writes, "Unregenerate people cannot think properly about spiritual truth because they have a 'depraved mind'. Only God can turn on the light in the human heart so that it can respond in saving faith to the gospel of the glory of Christ."
The verse ends with this phrase, "to do what ought not to be done". A depraved mind leads to depraved actions. In so many areas we see a rejecting of God’s laws where people are doing what ought not to be done. Unless there is a massive return to God’s ways (revival) this will only worsen. Thus the phrase "The Abyss Of Moral Insanity".
We call out the faithful remnant to earnestly seek the Lord and be diligent in our efforts to retain the knowledge of God! May our godly knowledge be the filter through which all other information is understood, embraced, or rejected.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer: Father, we
want to be a people whose hearts and minds
are one with Yours. Through our diligent
study and application of Your living word
our thoughts and attitudes are formed. Keep
us faithful to the truth of Your knowledge.
We stand in firm opposition to the world’s
substitutes; the acceptance, condoning, and
celebration of anything You describe as sin.
The world may dress it up, commercialize it,
make it appealing, and cover up the
disastrous results it brings on the
individual, his or her family and society at
large. Help us to read, retain, and regard
Your knowledge as our pattern for life. In
the name of Jesus we pray, amen.Today's
Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources
"This
Little Child"
Video
Scott Wesley Brown This is a recent version with a
much older Scott Wesley Brown but as I recall the song
was written in the eighties and practically has a
prophetic tone. It speaks of the increasing fallen
state of the human race observable at that time but
which has greatly increased in the last 30 or 40
years.
Finally
today from Brooksyne: One other bothersome thought
comes to mind from the conversation I had with Bill.
During his and Susie's visit with the social worker she
blurted out, "I just can't understand why all these
Christians want to take these children and indoctrinate
them with their religious belief." Bill told me, it
really troubled him and either he responded to her or
wanted to say (I really can't remember which), "Have you
considered that it is Christians who are coming forward
to care for these needy children!" So true!
This last
weekend we saw this nonsensical sign at the Ronald
McDonald House in Philadelphia.
Send a message to
Stephen & Brooksyne
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Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. and the King James Version.
Personal Mission Statement: "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."
Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. and the King James Version.
Personal Mission Statement: "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."
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Weber - All Rights Reserved
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