The
online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen
&
Brooksyne Weber
A
daily, Bible-based perspective of hope,
encouragement and exhortation.
Mobile users:
Visit Daily Encouragement on your mobile browser, hit "Add to
home screen" or "Add page shortcut." This creates an instant
Daily Encouragement App!
Search Daily Encouragement
A
new message is updated most weekdays usually by Noon Eastern
Time (USA).
(Click refresh or reload for current message)
(Click refresh or reload for current message)
Wednesday, May 4,
2022
This scenic view is near Strasburg, PA across from the Strasburg Railroad.
Our part of the world is really getting green!
(Click on photo for larger view)
(Click on photo for larger view)
"Calling
Good An Abomination"
Message
summary: As God's children
let us hear the words of the apostle Paul and "hate
what is evil; cling to what is good" (Romans 12:9).
"Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter" (Isaiah 5:20). "But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death" (Revelation 21:8).
Today's message is written concerning current events here in the USA but the teaching is applicable wherever you may live.
For nearly
50 years among the most contested cultural and moral
issues here in America has been the legalization of
abortion, more specifically the killing of innocent life.
In 1973 the Supreme Court decision asserted that abortion
is a "constitutional right". Two days ago a leaked report
indicated that this decision may be overturned which has
reignited simmering coals to a blazing hot fire in what has been called the
culture war.
The report
resulted in
an emotionally strong reaction from both sides reinforcing
the reality that there is a deep,
deep division on this subject matter. But I was especially
struck each time a statement played over and over on the
news made by a prominent senator. He used a word from the
Bible that describes what God strongly hates and abhors
when he asserted that the decision to overturn Roe V. Wade
would be "an abomination" (see here).
That
immediately caught my attention since one of the
abominations mentioned in the Bible is child sacrifice. "They
built the high places of Baal that are in the Valley of
Ben-hinnom to make their sons and their daughters pass
through the fire to Molech, which I had not commanded
them, nor had it entered My mind that they should do
this abomination, to mislead Judah to sin" (Jeremiah
32:35). Essentially he was calling
an abomination the opposite of what God calls an
abomination!
"An abomination is something that causes hate or disgust. In biblical usage, an abomination is something that God loathes or hates because it is offensive to Him and His character."(gotquestions.com)
Today let us
examine timeless truths from the Holy Scriptures that
address this matter as we seek insight and needed
discernment.
We have used the first daily text many times in the course of writing these messages over the last 25 years, especially the first part, "Woe to those who call evil good and good evil". Evil is increasingly called good and good is increasingly called evil. Evil has existed during every generation after the fall but there are certain periods of time it increases and other periods, such as revival, when it's tamped down a bit. You can see this in Israel's history during the period of the Judges with the ebb and flow of good kings and evil kings.
In the 1960's the church, whether liberal or conservative branches, was practically unanimous in its understanding of life, marriage, family and sexuality:
We have used the first daily text many times in the course of writing these messages over the last 25 years, especially the first part, "Woe to those who call evil good and good evil". Evil is increasingly called good and good is increasingly called evil. Evil has existed during every generation after the fall but there are certain periods of time it increases and other periods, such as revival, when it's tamped down a bit. You can see this in Israel's history during the period of the Judges with the ebb and flow of good kings and evil kings.
In the 1960's the church, whether liberal or conservative branches, was practically unanimous in its understanding of life, marriage, family and sexuality:
1)
Life begins at conception.
2)
Marriage is a lifelong commitment between a man and a
woman.
3)
The family is the fundamental unit in society.
4)
The moral understanding that sexual relations were
reserved for marriage.
5)
God created male and female.
For that
matter even society at large had these moral
underpinnings. Hollywood used to have Biblical standards
which was reflected in the Hays Code in the 1930's
regarding the movies they produced to be viewed by the
public!
But throughout my lifetime there's been a steady erosion of morality and subsequently so much "calling evil good". This has brought about the inevitable corollary; good is called evil, even abominable. And with a deep fog of spiritual blindness enveloping our country (and many other countries) people are frustrated and confused. There seems to be a huge lack of discernment.
Several years ago a nationally known preacher made a statement concerning our present moral condition that is imminently Biblical and sensible regarding the obvious consequences to children being raised without a father's influence. He was excoriated by the national media with the typical charges of being intolerant, narrow-minded and of course hateful.
Among the signs of our culture's moral downfall is the failure to uphold the Creator's standards, which has led to great confusion as to what even constitutes evil.
What a powerful message in our first daily text. "Woe" is a literal transliteration of the Hebrew. In other words it's an expression that sounds the same in Hebrew, English or any language (similar to the word, "hallelujah"). Woe is also an onomatopoeia, which is when the formation of a word imitates the natural sound associated with the object or action involved. Consider the sounds of deep, painful wailing. Isaiah's "woe" is timeless.
"Woe" is an exclamation of pain and grief. As our culture drifts farther and farther from its Biblical moorings we see the truth of Isaiah's proclamation. Do we also feel his exclamation of woe as well?
What is the subject of this woe? Three are listed in the daily text.
Those:
But throughout my lifetime there's been a steady erosion of morality and subsequently so much "calling evil good". This has brought about the inevitable corollary; good is called evil, even abominable. And with a deep fog of spiritual blindness enveloping our country (and many other countries) people are frustrated and confused. There seems to be a huge lack of discernment.
Several years ago a nationally known preacher made a statement concerning our present moral condition that is imminently Biblical and sensible regarding the obvious consequences to children being raised without a father's influence. He was excoriated by the national media with the typical charges of being intolerant, narrow-minded and of course hateful.
Among the signs of our culture's moral downfall is the failure to uphold the Creator's standards, which has led to great confusion as to what even constitutes evil.
What a powerful message in our first daily text. "Woe" is a literal transliteration of the Hebrew. In other words it's an expression that sounds the same in Hebrew, English or any language (similar to the word, "hallelujah"). Woe is also an onomatopoeia, which is when the formation of a word imitates the natural sound associated with the object or action involved. Consider the sounds of deep, painful wailing. Isaiah's "woe" is timeless.
"Woe" is an exclamation of pain and grief. As our culture drifts farther and farther from its Biblical moorings we see the truth of Isaiah's proclamation. Do we also feel his exclamation of woe as well?
What is the subject of this woe? Three are listed in the daily text.
Those:
1) who call evil good and good evil,
2) who put darkness for light and light for darkness,
3) who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.
Biblical morality is being turned on its head, not only in Isaiah's cultural setting but also in our own lifetime. Sometimes I am stunned by that which is so contrary to the right and wrong I was taught as a child now being accepted by non-believers and sadly even some professed believers. Today much of what is evil is called good and what is good is called evil.
The second daily text is a zinger of truth that we all need to hearken: "But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death" (Revelation 21:8).
Today let us remain faithful to the perspective that God gives us through the inspiration of Scripture. As unpopular, "intolerant", socially insensitive, and politically incorrect as it may be described, let us continue to call evil "evil" and to call good "good". For sure, let us not call a good decision an abomination!
As God's children let us hear the words of the apostle Paul and "hate what is evil; cling to what is good" (Romans 12:9).
2) who put darkness for light and light for darkness,
3) who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.
Biblical morality is being turned on its head, not only in Isaiah's cultural setting but also in our own lifetime. Sometimes I am stunned by that which is so contrary to the right and wrong I was taught as a child now being accepted by non-believers and sadly even some professed believers. Today much of what is evil is called good and what is good is called evil.
The second daily text is a zinger of truth that we all need to hearken: "But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death" (Revelation 21:8).
Today let us remain faithful to the perspective that God gives us through the inspiration of Scripture. As unpopular, "intolerant", socially insensitive, and politically incorrect as it may be described, let us continue to call evil "evil" and to call good "good". For sure, let us not call a good decision an abomination!
As God's children let us hear the words of the apostle Paul and "hate what is evil; cling to what is good" (Romans 12:9).
Be
encouraged today, (Hebrews 3:13)
Stephen
& Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer: Father, we do not want to
be overcome by evil but we want to
overcome evil with good, as described in
Scripture. And the way we do this is to
absorb, maintain, and uphold the
Scriptural understanding of good and
evil, no matter what others may do or
think. We pray against authorities,
personalities, and persuasive rhetoric
that tempt us to compromise or water
down the truths we learn from Scripture.
The contrasts of light vs. darkness,
good vs. evil, the spiritual nature vs.
the sinful nature are abundant in
Scripture. May the guiding light by
which we live our lives in these evil
days be the light of Your Holy Word. In
Jesus' name we pray. Amen.Today's
Suggested Music and Supplemental
Resources
"Hymn
of Heaven" Video Phil
Wickham We dedicate this song to our
friend Joe and his mother Doris.
Two
feedback points from yesterday's message
on farm smells:
Joe
Sherer, a pastor friend wrote, "I
was at a leadership conference last week
focused on strengthening the mission of
our network of churches, and a speaker
said that we are the "scent ones"
referring both to today's passage as well
as our mandate to reach the world for
Christ. I thought you might appreciate
that apt pun!"
My
brother Pat served in the Air Force
in Germany. His friend, Roger, who grew up
on a dairy farm in Minnesota received a
small prescription container from his
brother in the mail. He opened it,
inhaled a whiff of the enclosed manure and
enthusiastically commented, "It smells
like home!"
Yesterday
we snuck into a Senior Pastor's luncheon
in Camp Hill PA. (We surely aren't old
enough to be seniors, are we!) There we
saw many old friends. "Old
Friends" Video Bill
Gaither The late Kenny
Rogers sang a song with a thoughtful
truth, "You Can't Make Old Friends".
When you meet someone and become a
friend they're inevitably a new
friend, regardless of how old they
are! Another common phrase is,
"Old friends make it great to grow
old." We would probably word it,
"Having old friends is one of the
positive aspects of getting old". So
here's to you Dave Simpson, Mike
Matangelo, Tom Neizmik, Mark Pulliam
and so many, many others!
Bob Lecocq
is a friend from college we had not seen
for many years.
The
Bradneys are retired missionaries to Costa
Rica which our church supported when we
pastored in northern PA in the 80's. Our
folks from back home will be pleased to
see them in this photo.
To
receive the "Daily
Encouragement" each
Monday-Friday use our sign-up
form or this
page to subscribe to our
free email list.
You can also subscribe to the
Wordpress rss
feed or through a Wordpress email
subscription. (See the email
subscription on the top right side
after opening this page.)
Daily
Encouragement on: 
Wordpress
iHeart
radio
Permissions: Please feel free to pass on, reproduce and distribute any material on Daily Encouragement Net, in part or in whole, in any format, provided that you do not alter the wording in any way or charge a fee beyond the cost of reproduction. It is our desire to spread this material, not protect or restrict it. We do request that you keep the contact, copyright and subscription information intact.
Wordpress
iHeart
radioPermissions: Please feel free to pass on, reproduce and distribute any material on Daily Encouragement Net, in part or in whole, in any format, provided that you do not alter the wording in any way or charge a fee beyond the cost of reproduction. It is our desire to spread this material, not protect or restrict it. We do request that you keep the contact, copyright and subscription information intact.
To
donate
directly
online
click here.
This will open
to a page that
designates the
offering to: STEPHEN
&
BROOKSYNE WEBER -
700001-237376 SERVING
IN SPECIALIZED CHAPLAINCY
Please Note: If
you
desire you can donate
directly through
PayPal using this link.
This will open
to a page that
states
"Brooksyne
Weber".
We
keep this option
available due to the
familiarity,
convenience,
international
supporters, and for
those who may not need
an official receipt.
You can also set up
for recurring
donations. You can
also use PayPal
on this link.
Stephen & Brooksyne
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."
© Copyright 2022 Stephen C. & Brooksyne Weber - All Rights Reserved
Daily Encouragement Net - 495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552 USA