All posts by Kameel Majdali

Articles, Education, Prophecy, Teaching

Israel at War – Again. Why?

It is a familiar sound that had not been heard for a while: air raid sirens in major cities. People fleeing to bomb shelters. A thousand rockets had been fired into Israel within a period of 24 hours. While Israel’s Iron Dome intercepted many rockets, some got through, resulting in the death of six people, including an Arab father and daughter. Israel retaliated by bombing targets in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip. Several dozen people were killed, including Hamas leaders. It’s horrible, nasty, and deadly. But why now?

 

When it comes to the conflict between Israel & Palestine & the Arabs, it is easy to get it wrong. Part of the reason is that we are dealing with thousands of years of history, cultural clashes, and vastly different world-views. Also, there is temptation to over-simplify the causes of conflict, or view it from a one-dimensional secular political perspective. Unfortunately, the media has not helped – either through ignorance, ideological bias, or both.

Gaza & Hamas: The Gaza Strip is a small, overcrowded Palestinian enclave between Israel and Egyptian Sinai that came into being as a result of the 1948 Israel-Arab War. It is the most densely populated territory on earth, with 1.9 million people in territory 42 km by 6 km. From1967-2005, Israel occupied the Gaza Strip. Approximately 8,000 Jewish settlers live in 30% of the strip in 21 settlements. Then in 2005, Israel under Prime Minister Ariel Sharon unilaterally withdrew from the strip and handed it over to the Palestine National Authority in Ramallah. Two years later, in a violent coup the Islamist militant group Hamas seized the strip and has ruled it ever since. Thus, it was under Hamas that the wars with Israel began, including 2008-2009; 2012; and 2014.

More deadly: What makes the conflict of 2021 more deadly is that Hamas is much more heavily armed, thanks to its Iranian friends. The Islamic Republic provides money, training, and weaponry. Hamas rockets are now heading towards Israel’s two major cities: Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. The latter’s population is one-third Arab and houses Islam’s third most holy site, the al Aqsa Mosque.

Yet, another ominous sign is that Arab citizens of Israel are rioting in tandem with the Hamas rocket fire. Normally quiescent, commentators say this is unprecedented and potentially deadly.

The multi-faceted nature of the current conflict needs some explanation within the short amount of space we have here. There has been unrest for several weeks. Consider the ingredients of a potential tinderbox.

•    Iran has just celebrated its annual al Quds (Jerusalem) Day, highlighting Islam’s claim to the holy city and their hope of its recapture;

•    Israel also celebrated its own ‘Jerusalem Day,’ which commemorates the reunification of the city after the Six Day War of 1967;

•    A decades old legal dispute between Jewish landowners with Arab tenants/squatters in the Jerusalem neighbourhood of Sheikh Jarrah, known also as Shimon ha-Tzadek;

•    Clashes with rioters on the Muslim-owned el Haram el Sharif (The Noble Sanctuary), known also as Har Ha Bayit (Temple Mount).

•    Arab videos on Tik Tok showing physical attacks on Jews. This is featured on official Palestinian television.

•    Add to that the Muslim holy month of Ramadhan, when most Muslims are fasting during the day.

The Bigger Picture: The media will tell you the conflict is over the proposed Sheikh Jarrah Arab evictions (being appealed in the Israeli Supreme Court) or unrest at the Temple Mount. It is far bigger than that. For decades, the Arab world and the global community have said that the ‘Israel-Palestine issue’ is the most pressing foreign policy issue in the world today. Failure to resolve it would result in Middle East or even world war. Now, an increasing number of Arab states have lost patience and interest in the Palestinian cause, known in Arabic as al Qadiya al-Filastiniya. The Palestinians feel betrayed and want to get back on the Arab radar.

Other issues include inter-Palestinian division: Hamas, Fatah and the Palestinian Authority do not get along and the Arab world’s brokered attempts at reconciliation have failed. Another major challenge. Arab nations have their own issues to fix, including their response to Covid-19. They are concerned and annoyed over the alliance of Hamas with regional rivals Iran and Turkey. Donald Trump, ignoring decades of US foreign policy, stopped funding the Palestinians, opened an American Embassy in Jerusalem without major bloodshed and forged peace agreements with Israel and Muslim nations, known as the Abraham Accords. Trump disproved the prevailing notion that the Arab nations would never make a separate peace until the issue of Palestine was resolved. Palestine Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, called for local elections which have not been held since 2006, then cancelled them and blamed Israel. The current US administration has restored funding to the Palestinians of $290 million. Hamas wanted to take the stage, ‘defend al Quds’ and ‘al Aqsa,’ while sending rockets towards Jerusalem!

Iran is fighting a proxy war with Israel through Hamas; who is not the only adversary. Iranian allies in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and the Houthis in Yemen, all have the capability of firing rockets into Israel, thus broadening the war. In every direction Israel is under the shadow of rocket fire.

Spiritual side: When it comes to the Middle East conflict, there is more to the problem besides the politics. You have different religions and their respective theologies, including what will happen in the last days. Great insight can be gleaned from Psalm 2, which asks the question of why the nations are in turmoil? The bottom line has to do with their resistance, indeed, rebellion, to the living God.

Yet He who sits in the heavens shall laugh (v. 4) and, despite furious opposition, the Lord will place His king on the holy hill of Zion (v. 6). It is not a matter of partisan politics or divine favouritism – it is an issue of redemption for all people. By all means, in the current distress, pray for Israel and the Palestinians for peace and protection. Yet, since Bible-believing Christians believe that the king is coming, what we are witnessing may be nothing less than the birth pangs of a coming revival, if not the coming kingdom (vs. 8-12).

 

 

 

Articles, Discipleship, Education, Prayer, Prophecy, Teaching

Like a Bamboo Tree: How to Grow Spiritually and Quickly

 

2 Timothy 3:16-17

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

Life in the fast lane of the 21st Century requires spiritual strength and maturity. With potholes and speed bumps on the road and deep ditches on the side, it will take an amazingly resilient spiritual condition to keep steady and come out on top.

It is said that the bamboo tree has a very slow start. Its growth is short and measured. Then suddenly it miraculously shoots up overnight. In the coming days, we need to be like a bamboo forest.

Would you like to grow spiritually? And quickly? Experiencing God’s peace at all times, a flourishing prayer life where you get big answers and breakthroughs, and endowed with wisdom that unscrambles every riddle and points the way to a brighter future?

For the born again Christian, there are several key things that facilitate spiritual growth. These include:

1.       Prayer: This is particularly important when it is done ‘in the Spirit’ and also in the ‘understanding’ (1 Corinthians 14:15). Prayer helps you become strong in God; failure to pray renders one spiritually weak (Matthew 26:41).

2.       Discipleship: This is the core of the Great Commission, the only assignment God ever gave the church. Described in Matthew 28:18-20 (and elsewhere), the Commission involves teaching believers to know and obey the commandments of Christ.

3.       Fellowship: Interrelated to prayer and discipleship is fellowship – a key component of Christian life and growth.

TOP PRIORITY

Yet, here is something that should be top priority for every believer. We are called to learn the Word of God. The reasons are wonderful and compelling. The Word of God is:

1.       Protection from error;

2.       Good seed to the seeker, sincere milk to the babe, and strong meat to the mature;

3.       A lamp to our feet and a light to our path;

4.       Able to make you wise to salvation;

5.       Endures forever;

6.       Quick, powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword;

7.       Other metaphors of the Bible: mirror, hammer, fire, laver, honey, rain, snow, bow, gold, and power

It’s simple: Jesus tells us that we don’t live by food alone but by every Word that proceeds from the mouth of God (Matthew 4:4). Without its light, power, nourishment, we become distracted, dark, and weak like any other man.

God’s Word is more important than food itself.

Amos 8:11 speaks about a famine in the land, not of bread and water but of hearing the word of the Lord. There are credible and dramatic reports of an increase of Biblical illiteracy. This is a serious problem, because it prevents us from having a Biblical worldview. When Christians lacks a Biblical worldview, they think, speak, and act like people in the world.

Ignorance of God’s Word leads to serious error (Matthew 22:29; Mark 12:24). Furthermore, spiritual growth is stunted and people are caught off guard when trials and challenges come.

REMEDY

How can we get a healthy diet of God’s Word? It helps to attend services at a Bible-based church, where the Scriptures are preached with faith, anointing, and without compromise. For some, they can only access such priceless messages through the internet.

Even if you get a ‘ten course banquet’ each weekend, it simply is not enough. What about the other six days of the week?

Some think that by going to Bible college, you will become an expert in the Word. This author served as a lecturer and principal in a leading Australian Bible college: No, you will not be an expert at the time of your graduation. Bible college can help lay a good foundation for a life-time of study, but your only beginning, not finishing, your walk in the Word. Nor does Bible college guarantee spiritual growth, particularly if the emphasis more academic than spiritual and practical.

The truth is that spiritual growth comes from a regular intake of God’s Word, particularly quiet time or personal devotions; this is a must. Yet, let’s face it, many do not know how to set aside the time for devotions or even have the discipline of study.

Is there a remedy for all this?

Yes, join or start a small group textual Bible study that is interactive. Provided that the facilitator has a good guide and the participants are given quality material, it is amazing how much you will learn and grow together. It is recommended to do textual studymore than topical study. Both are great but textual study forces you to engage with the very words of God, allowing the Holy Spirit to speak volumes into your heart. Because you are in an interactive group, iron sharpens iron; you will learn from others and they from you.

Make this a priority and watch for the coming breakthrough in your life.

 

 

 

Articles, Education, Prophecy, Teaching

The Seventh Commandment – Part 04: Adultery & New Testament Teaching

 

 

A Christian theologian and culture war blogger sent out an SOS message to his readers: Help. HeChr had just posted a blog on the benefits of Biblical Christian sexual morality and was being mercilessly attacked online. Yes, the unchurched were at him but he could handle it. He’s an experienced debater. It was the putative Christians who criticised him as well that precipitated the SOS. The blogger wanted his readers to comment in support of his stance.

It may sound strange that there is not a solid consensus on something as fundamental as Biblical morality. One of the key reasons is that only a fraction of Christians have a Scriptural worldview whereby they live. Biblical illiteracy is the key reason for this.

This author simply asks those who dissent:

1.       Did God relax His holy standards in the New Testament?

2.       Did God tighten His standards in the New Testament?

3.       Are God’s clear standards still applicable today?

4.       Finally, is western society better or worse off by adopting the ways of the 1960s sexual revolution?

In this fourth and final part of The Seventh Commandment, which condemns adultery, we focus on what the New Testament actually says. As you read, please ask yourself: do these standards still hold true today?

A key New Testament passage on this subject is 1 Corinthians 6:15-20, originally written to a church that was zealous for spiritual gifts but showed shocking tolerance towards sexual immorality.

Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid. 16 What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh. 17 But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. 18 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. 19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

 

Our bodies (v. 15): While there has been modern emphases about ‘It’s my body, I can do what I want with it,’ the Biblical Christian response needs to be ‘my body is now Christ’s body’ and the ‘temple of the Holy Spirit.’ Keeping these points in mind, the exhortation to moral purity becomes all the more real and sensible. After all, to take a ‘member of Christ’s body’ and physically team up with a harlot, or any other non-spouse, is abhorrent. Physical intercourse renders a person as ‘one-flesh,’ whether with a spouse or stranger. The ramifications are massive.

Practical side: The same apostle who tells us to fight the good fight of faith (1 Timothy 6:12) tells us also to flee (6:11; 1 Corinthians 15:20), in this case, fornication. It is a sin against the body and God himself. Please remember, all you who name the Name of Jesus: it’s God’s body now (Romans 12:1). Don’t do anything with it without His leading or permission. Our bodies and spirits are to be used for His glory.

Sexual sin is bad news for anyone, anytime. It can disappoint, discourage, and destroy. When it happens in the church, and especially among leaders, it is beyond scandal. While we want to avoid being harshly judgemental, discipline of the offender is the only recourse. They have despised the LORD (2 Samuel 12:9-10) and used His name in vain (Proverbs 30:9). There can be discipline and eventual restoration, but not without repentance and a period of probation. Such moral failure need not be inevitable, but remember, it doesn’t happen overnight, either. Failure to repent can have harrowing consequences (1 Corinthians 6:9; Galatians 5:19-21). Of interest, (spiritual) adultery is labelled the condition of an apostate church (Revelation 17:1-5).

An Exorbitant Price

In order to encourage people to walk in moral purity, bear in mind that sexual sin has a very high price tag. Please consider:

1.      Disease: For many people, the Russian roulette of fornication/adultery is that the woman may become pregnant. It is always better to have a child after marriage, but conception outside of marriage is not an excuse for abortion, either. The child within, made in the image of God, needs to be protected and cared for like anyone else; it is not a punishment from God. Practically speaking, pregnancy is only possible three days out of the month. However, a more serious issues is sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), which can be contracted 24/7. Just one encounter can give you a life-sentence of STDs, even if they are of the non-fatal variety. Is it really worth it?

 

2.      Emotional: Since physical intercourse brings ‘oneness’ between the two parties, anything less than sex with a person who has made a Godly commitment towards the other, is a big gamble. In the absence of such a commitment, one party can walk away and leave the other in tatters. It can take months and years to recover, if ever.

 

3.      Spiritual: Even if a person escapes STDs and emotional upset, this last one is unavoidable. There is a spiritual dimension. One Bible teacher likened marital sex as a life-giving stream but sexual immorality as a broken sewer pipe. Again, graphic terms but they convey the fact that highest price tag of all is alienation from the living God (Revelation 21:8; 22:15). Only repentance, the gospel of Christ, and the new birth can give you the forgiveness and cleansing necessary, to start a new chapter.

 

Are you ready?

It is time to get right and cleansed before the LORD; the coming revival requires nothing less. Moral purity is a small price to pay for a lifetime of blessing and honour from Almighty God Himself.

 

 

 

 

Articles, Education, Prophecy, Teaching

The Kingly Messiah: Why Study the Gospel of Matthew? Part 01

 


Welcome to the New Testament! Having given introductions and surveys of all thirty-nine books of the Old Testament, the Issachar Teaching eLetter is pleased to offer you the same regarding the twenty-seven books of the New Testament. We begin with the Gospel of Matthew. Our purpose is to encourage you to do your own in-depth study of God’s Word.

Purpose of the Gospel of Matthew

Matthew’s apparent purpose is to persuade a primarily Jewish audience the case that Jesus of Nazareth is the long-awaited ‘Son of David’ and ‘Messiah of Israel.’ He does so by highlighting the following:

1.     

1.  Fulfilled Old Testament prophecy,

2.       Christ’s supernatural conception,

3.       The flight to Egypt,

4.       The use of parables,

5.       His genealogy via Abraham and David,

6.       The testimony of God the Father and the Holy Spirit at His Jordan River baptism,

7.       The witness of John the Baptist,

8.       Sermons,

9.       Discourses and,

10.   Emphasis on His many miracles.

Introduction to the New Testament

The Gospel of Matthew is the beginning of what we call the ‘New Testament’ or ΗE ΚΑΙΝΗ ΔΙΑΘΗΚΗ (He Kaine Diatheke), which is ‘The New Covenant.’ The word ‘covenant’ comes from the Hebrew ברית berith, a binding agreement between two parties which is ratified by a sacrifice and the subsequent shed blood. It is the last will and testament of the testator, namely Jesus Christ, Whose blood initiates the new covenant, first promised Jeremiah 31:31-34.

The New Testament is an anthology of books, written in Koine Greek, the international common language of the 1st Century AD. It teaches the gospel of Jesus Christ, practical Christian living, and highlights ‘things to come.’ The New Testament does not replace the Old; it in fact is the sequel. Without the Old, we could not understand the New.

For our purposes, the ‘new covenant’ can be described as God’s work of atonement and reconciliation between Himself and humanity through the death of His Son, Jesus Christ. He is called the ‘Mediator’ of the new covenant (Hebrews 9:15).

‘Gospel’ is known as evangelion Ευαγγελιον , from ευ good, and αγγελια a message, or ‘good news,’ ‘glad tidings.’ This news is so great that it brings joy. This good news is that through God’s unilateral initiative to bring reconciliation between Himself and humanity through Jesus Christ, Lord of all, who tasted death for every man. His death was for our offences and His resurrection for our justification (Romans 4:25). Those who believe this good news will receive the new birth, forgiveness of sins, mercy from God the Righteous One, and the gift of eternal life. This priceless gospel is known as the ‘free gift’ (Romans 5:15,16,18).

Other New Testament phrases for the gospel include:

•    The Gospel of God concerning his Son. Romans 1:1 , 3 .

•    The Gospel of the Son of God. Romans 1:9 .

•    The Gospel of the kingdom of God. Matthew 4:23 ; 9:35 ; 24:14 ; Mark 1:14 .

•    The Gospel. Mark 13:10 ; Mark 16:15 .

•    The word or doctrine (λογος) of the Gospel. Acts 15:7 .

•    The Gospel of peace. Ephesians 6:15 .

•    The Gospel of glory 1 Timothy 1:11 .

•    The Gospel of salvation

 

The gospel of eternal salvation in Christ is told through ‘four gospel narratives,’ Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. There has been debate of whether Matthew’s Gospel was originally written in Greek or in Hebrew (or Aramaic) and then translated into Greek. Why the latter? Because the extensive use of Hebrew idioms led scholars to believe the original gospel was in Hebrew, since the Greek translation of these idioms can be a little awkward. The current Greek text was published very early in church history.

Summary: In the Gospel of Matthew, the case is built that Jesus of Nazareth is the long-awaited kingly Messiah, for Israel and the world. In our estimation, Matthew through the Holy Spirit did an outstanding job.

GREEK NAME OF MATTHEW

From the Greek Kata Matthaion, according to Matthew.

AUTHOR OF THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW

The general consensus is that the author of the Gospel of Matthew is Matthew Levi, according to the early church fathers. Eusebius, the ancient church historian, quotes Papias who said that Matthew wrote in Aramaic before the gospel was written in Greek.

Matthew Levi, son of Alphaeus, one of the twelve original apostles of Jesus. Originally a despised tax collector for Rome in Capernaum, who got up and left everything in order to follow Jesus. He is the one that gave a great reception in his home in honour of Jesus.

Some question Matthew’s authorship because, if he were one of the Twelve Apostles, why does he heavily rely on Mark’s gospel, who was not one of the Twelve? Why isn’t he more ‘personal,’ like John’s Gospel? These issues are not so serious; after all, there can be stylistic issues, including being more formal and less personal in such an important document.

Articles, Education, Prophecy, Teaching

From Meltdown to Mountaintop: Making a Dynamic Ascent from the Lowest Valley Part 01

 


And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God — 1 Samuel 30:6

 

Meltdown (noun): A disastrous event, like the fall of share prices; an accident at a nuclear reactor, a nervous breakdown, an emotional outburst.

It happened to Job: He had gone from plenty and blessing to trial and tribulation, losing assets and family members all in one day. His was possibly the most extreme example of compound intense suffering in history

Yet it also happened to the ‘man after God’s own heart,’ King David. When he and his 600 men returned to their city of Ziklag, it had been burned with fire and their wives, children, and possessions were missing. The only consolation is that nobody was slain but they were hostages in the custody of the carnal Amalekites.

Here in 1 Samuel 30:6, we learn that David and the mighty men were reduced to tears and continued to weep until they ran out of strength. The mood went from grey to black. Now the spirit of mourning for sons and daughters turned into the spirit of murder: the mighty men spoke openly of stoning their leader David. The man who they followed and adored for years now was in the line of fire.

Please note: Persistent worry, fear, fretting, and despair, can and does lead to rebellion and sin. It must have been the darkest moment of David’s life. The men of David had been loyal to him throughout many challenges, starting from their gathering at the Cave of Adullam (1 Samuel 22:1-2). However, their grief was leading them to a tipping point.

After all, David was the leader. It was his responsibility to ensure the safety of all his people at Ziklag, including the women and children. Why did he take all the men and not leave a sufficient number behind to guard Ziklag? The answer was unknown and puzzling. Did he think the place was untouchable? That he had eliminated enough potential opposition? We just don’t know what David was thinking.

In summary, the grief and fear led to potential rebellion. If David was in a low mood, his men were even lower. They were not in a good frame of mind or spiritual condition. He was not yet king and if he failed to take wise and quick action, all would be lost.

Fortunately, David, had a track record of walking with God. At the end of this key verse was a note of hope: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.

WORD WISE: The Hebrew word for ‘encouraged’ is hazaq, used 290 times in the Old Testament. Hazaqis translated ‘strong’ 43 times; ‘strengthened’ 28 times; ’strengthen’ 14 times; ‘encourage’ 9 times; and ‘courage’ 8 times.[1]

Encouragement brings strength and strength begets courage.

David knew the location of the spout where the blessings flow out. He was experienced at finding the secret place, the hiding place, the Cave of Adullam, to retreat and be recharged in the presence of the Lord. This was the wisest course of action he could have taken and it led to a stunning reversal, from misfortune to massive blessing, from valley bottom to mountaintop.

How did he do it? And how do we encourage and strengthen ourselves in the Lord?

•    Focus on God’s personhood: With the Bible as your guide, mediate on God – His holiness, nearness, care as a good shepherd, faithfulness, and more.

•    Focus on God’s promises: There are many wonderful promises of God and they are all ‘Yes’ and ‘Amen’ in Christ (2 Corinthians 1:20).

•    Focus on past victories: Reflecting on the faithfulness of God for past victories brings encouragement that the Lord, who never changes, will do it again for you, today and in the future.

•    Focus on praise and thanksgiving: This under-utilised practice can get awesome results (2 Chronicles 20:20-22).

•    Know ‘who you are ‘ and ‘where you stand:’ This cannot be emphasised enough. Ignorance is the darkness that stokes the fires of fear. Knowing the facts, your legal rights, and how things work, can be helpful. Knowing your position in Christ is transformational. If we are on solid ground – and we know it – then we can handle the situation far better.

Next time: We will see how David responded and how you can respond today.

TO BE CONTINUED


[1] “H2388 – ḥāzaq – Strong’s Hebrew Lexicon (KJV).” Blue Letter Bible. Accessed 8 May, 2021. https://www.blueletterbible.org//lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H2388&t=KJV

Articles, Education, Prophecy, Teaching

Consort For Life: A Tribute to Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh

 

 The announcement Buckingham Palace of April 9, 2021 was brief and to-the-point:

“It is with deep sorrow that Her Majesty The Queen announces the death of her beloved husband, His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. His Royal Highness passed away peacefully this morning at Windsor Castle,” …“Further announcements will be made in due course. The Royal Family join with people around the world in mourning his loss.”

Just two months shy of his 100th birthday, HRH Philip Mountbatten, Duke of Edinburgh, Earl of Merioneth, Baron Greenwich of Greenwich in the Country of London. Knights of the Garter, quietly passed away at Windsor CastleThough his death was hardly a surprise, yet it still came as a shock for the Royal Family, the nation, and the commonwealth. After all, this was the man who had been a constant in the life of the Queen and for all her realms for over seven decades. He was so strong, robust, and consistent, it was as if he would be here forever. When his mortality finally took hold, the shock and sorrow followed quickly thereafter.

Prince Philip’s Life

By any measure, Prince Philip was a remarkable man. Though he married royalty, he was also royal by birth himself. He was part of the Greek and Danish royal families, though exiled from his native Greece at the age of 18 months. He did not live a stable two-parent family. Philip went to school in the UK, Germany, and France. At the age of 17, he joined the Royal Navy in 1939 and had a distinguished career.

He served on a variety of ships, either protecting Australian convoys in the Indian Ocean, or serving on the Mediterranean fleet. He fought in the battles of Crete and Cape Matapan. For his efforts he received the Greek War Cross. Appointed to the HMS Wallace, he was involved in the Allied invasion of Sicily. As the second-in-command, he saved this ship from a night bomber attack. Philip moved to the HMS Whelp and the British Pacific fleet. To top off his war-time military career, he was present at Tokyo Bay when Japan surrendered in September 1945.

Philip Mountbatten first met Princess Elizabeth when she was eight years old in 1934. Their correspondence began five years later. The dashing naval officer asked her father, King George VI, for her hand in marriage, which occurred on November 20, 1947, at Westminster Abbey. The wedding service was broadcast by radio worldwide as 200 million people listened in. Philip and Elizabeth had four children, eight grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren.

Philip had hoped to pursue a naval career well until his middle age. His goal may have been to follow his uncle Lord Louis Mountbatten and become First Sea Lord. However, his chain-smoking father-in-law died at the age of 56 and his 25 year old wife became Queen. Thus, at the age of 30, Philip Mountbatten had to immediately resign from the Navy and became the ‘consort-for-life.’ Though no longer in the military, he was given honorary roles like Marshall of the Royal Air Force, Field Marshal, andAdmiral of the Fleet.

For over 70 years Prince Philip dedicated his life to public service. In 1956, he opened the Melbourne Olympics – the friendly games – and also established the Duke of Edinburgh Award, seeking to help young people to foster a sense of responsibility to self and community. He was a founder of the World Wildlife Fund. Patron to 800 organisations, president to many others, and chancellor of Cambridge, Edinburgh, Salford and Wales university, Prince Philip plunged himself into a life of extensive and exemplary public service. Solo engagements over the decades totalled 22,219 – an extraordinary record.

The duke was a talented man in his own right who could command a ship, fly a plane, play sport, paint with excellence, and engage in deep thinking. Science was one of his great loves.

In 2011, at his 90th birthday, Prince Philip announced that he would scale back his royal duties since he had already ‘done his bit.’ At the age of 96 in 2017, he fully retired from royal work.

Regarding death, HRH got two of his wishes. He did not want ‘any fuss’ with his funeral arrangements; thanks to Covid restrictions, his televised funeral will be small. Nor did he want to live to be 100 – he had ‘no desire whatsoever’ to cross that milestone and quipped that, ‘bits of me are falling off already.’

Of course, like everyone, the prince had his faults: at times impatient, abrupt, and could be gaffe-prone. Yet, in his own way, he knew people often were intimidated by meeting a royal and wanted to help them relax by being jocular and natural. There was talk about how he, in his younger days as a handsome man, was in the company of beautiful younger women. Historian A.N. Nelson said: ’Not once in his life did any woman claim to have slept with him. There was never any scandal.’ Nelson concludes that either the Prince remained totally faithful to the Queen or if there was an affair, it was discreet enough to cause no harm to family life or the monarchy.[1]

Prince Philip’s Legacy

While the nation, commonwealth, and world will miss seeing him as the ever-present companion at the side of the Queen, there is more. Prince Philip connected the Victorian era with our time. A living link to history, here is a man who knew Churchill, Eisenhower, Menzies, and dozens of world leaders throughout the decades. He embodied cherished values which are in serious decline today. These include courtesy, devotion to duty, good manners, self-sacrifice, unpretentiousness, charm, and kindness. Endued with rock solid fortitude, Prince Philip maintained unswerving dedication to Queen, family, and country. His longevity and resilience, in life, marriage, family, duty, and service, will be sorely missed. Part of our sorrow and is this: Will we ever see the likes of the Duke of Edinburgh again?

•     Though a sailor and fighter, he also knew how to submit and flow with royal life;

•     A leader in his own right, Prince Philip became a model servant in a supporting role.

•     By being the ‘strength and stay’ of his wife, the Queen, this alpha male inadvertently became a great, ‘unintended feminist’ – in the best sense of the word.

•     Though squeezed into regimented royal protocol, he never lost his robust sense of life and adventure.

•     The father of four became the unofficial father, grandfather, and great-grandfather of the nation and commonwealth.

•     A highly gifted man, Philip, in partnership with the Queen, accomplished far more together than either of them could have done alone.

The ‘Consort-for-life’ lived a grand life and left a grander legacy.

Photo courtesy of Allan Warren, GFDL, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

 

 

 


[1] A.N. Nelson The Least Likely … The Most Triumphant, The Daily Mail, April 10, 2021, page 33

Articles, Education, Prophecy, Teaching

Harry & Meghan’s Oprah Interview: The Bigger Picture – Part 02

Call it a coincidence: A dashing British prince marries an American divorcee and, viola, exits on the royal stage. It happened in 2020 with ‘Megxit,’ and it also happened in 1936, when King Edward VIII abdicated the British throne in order to marry Wallis Simpson. While both events look superficially similar, Megxit poses a far greater threat than the Duke and Duchess of Windsor.

Many have written about Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, who did a ‘tell all interview’ with Oprah Winfrey, aired on March 7 – 8, 2021. Up to 50 million people watched it worldwide. Markle’s husband, Prince Harry, joined the interview later.

Before we proceed, it should be said: ‘Tell all’ interviews do not bring peace, unity, reconciliation, and forgiveness’ and usually do more harm than good, including to the persons being interviewed.

The purpose of this second and final article is not to examine the details of the interview but to view the bigger picture issues it spawned. These can be divided into three parts:

1.        How the interview blended into the on-going and intensified culture war.

2.        The frontal attack on the British monarchy.

3.        Perhaps, the most important issue of all which was overlooked by many – the role of the family.

Culture War in Cameo

Last month, we focused on a couple of key aspects of the culture war brought to light in the Oprah interview: ‘woke’and ‘identity politics.’ To this we add the following:

Cultural Marxism: Every thinking and concerned citizen needs to know about this theory. It is the notion of privilege, systemic racism, woke-ism, all are part of the larger picture. This ideology was birthed in the 1930s by the Marxist educators at the Frankfurt School. Key luminaries included Antonio Gramsci of the Italian Communist Party and Herbert Marcuse from Frankfurt. The goal was to undermine the values and infrastructure of Judaeo-Christian West and replace it with a Marxist utopia of equality, tolerance, and license. Faith and family were also in the cross-hairs of cultural Marxists, since they inhibit allegiance to big daddy government.

Gramsci taught that to undermine the West, you have to undermine western (Biblical) morality. Marcuse advocated a Marxist revolution based not on economics, since the proletariat just weren’t cooperating with the communist revolution. No, Marcuse’s Marxism was based on culture, race, identity and morals. Women, ethnic, sexual, and gender minorities are oppressed and white males are the oppressors; by infiltrating the cultural institutions, changing the vocabulary, and globally synchronised activism, the tables can turn and the Marxist paradise will dawn. Today’s ‘woke’ social justice warriors, with their activism, rioting, and cancel culture, resemble Mao’s red guard students during his 1960s Cultural Revolution; China was torn apart as a result.

The 1960s student unrest, fanned by this teaching, went underground, but now after half of century it has resurfaced again, stoked by decades of cultural Marxist curriculum in the education system. Even the church has been influenced by it.

Cultural Marxism spawns a victim mindset that was on full-display during the Oprah interview. Victims are free to tell ‘their truth,’ regardless of how subjective it might be. Their truth must be received uncritically, substantiation is not required, and the notion of ‘two sides to every story’ does not apply.

Meghan is left-wing, feminist who wanted to move monarchy in a ‘progressive’ manner. This was explicitly said in their first ‘Megxit’ statement. Fitting in with the royal family’s public stance of political neutrality was always going to be difficult for the duchess.

Independent journalist Glenn Greenwald says: With all the suffering and deprivation and real persecution in the world, it is utterly astonishing how often coddled, well-paid, highly privileged, coiffed, insulated, protected US elites posture as the world’s most oppressed class. It’s quite sickening and offensive.’

https://www.turleytalks.com/videos/tucker-carlson-ignites-media-civil-war-as-woke-meghan-markle-interview-backfires

With history being revised to buttress this narrative, students today are not learning about some of the anti-racist, pro-civil rights achievements of the ‘wealthy, white, western world.’ What about the following:

1.       Abolition of the slave trade by William Wilberforce;

2.       Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation of 1863;

3.       The abolition of slavery in the United States via the 13th and 14th Amendments of the United States Constitution;

4.       The successful civil rights movement and the celebrated work of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Junior (1929-1968). King was no cultural Marxist; he did not wanted to destroy America. He believed in the American system: Declaration of Independence, US Constitution, and Bill of Rights. His goal was to help African-Americans have a seat at the great American banquet table;

5.       The Voting Rights Act 1965;

6.       The Civil Rights Act 1964;

7.       War on poverty,

8.       Affirmative action.

9.       High achievers among African-Americans in sport, business, entertainment, US Supreme Court, including the ‘rags to riches’ success story of Oprah herself, a billionaire and one of the most influential women in the world.

The Monarchy & Western Civilisation

The Oprah interview can be seen for many things but one aspect major point was Meghan and Harry attack the monarchy, and the British press, as a racist, deceptive institution. Indeed, this is the main reason they left the United Kingdom. These are serious charges, but are they true? The palace was not given the right of reply.

While Harry and Meghan spoke positively of the Queen herself, attacking the monarchy is an attack on the monarch. They are inseparable. Elizabeth II represents many things: sterling dedication to duty and service, a living link to history and heritage, a symbol of the constitutional arrangement, the benefits of an apolitical head of state, which provides a stable form of governance. Perhaps her finest achievement is as the titular head of the Commonwealth of Nations, a cause to which she has devoted her life. No one is more respected, loved, and admired than her.

To equate the Crown and Commonwealth with racism is a serious, yet spurious accusation. Don’t confuse the Commonwealth with the British Empire, as Prince Harry did in a broadcast in 2020. The latter was colonial, hierarchical, and incorporated lands and people involuntarily. The Commonwealth, which comprises 54 sovereign nations, is a voluntary relationship on an equal footing. Citizens of member nations come from a variety of different races, and are celebrated as such. It is a big multi-ethnic family.

The monarchy has been and will continue to be attacked by those who despise western civilisation, of which the Crown is a potent symbol. Globalists and cultural Marxists have no time for it; they are the chiefest of republicans.

Yet spare a thought for the Queen, and her recently deceased husband Prince Philip, both in their nineties. They served with distinction the kingdom and Commonwealth for seven decades. The Duke of Edinburgh was in hospital during the Oprah interview and this, no doubt, weighed heavily on the Queen regarding her husband of 73 years. Imagine what it was like, at such a trying moment, the added indignity of having your grandchildren speak to an international audience of tens of millions and equating your life’s work with racism and deception.  Something about this scenario was not right.

American civil rights warrior Bob Woodson, in his article ‘The Civil Rights Movement I was a Part of has been Betrayed by a Twisted Progressive Ideology says:

The left has today weaponized race not for the purpose of healing wounds but for

gaining power. We see this same pattern of weaponizing race emerging throughout our elite institutions. From Hollywood to major corporations and government agencies, unfounded and often life-altering allegations of racism from the relatively privileged get more attention than the myriad of challenges facing low-income and working-class Americans of every race.

 

https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/civil-rights-movement-betrayed-progressive-ideology

Single-Most Important Issue: The Family

‘Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee’ — Exodus 20:12 (the 6th Commandment)

He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind … Proverbs 29:11

Family is God-ordained and sacred. None are perfect but we need to honour and respect it, as we would Almighty God. It is God’s command. If there is a problem, settle it within the family. Don’t broadcast it for the whole world to hear.

Prince Harry, who did less talking than Meghan, still managed to speak negatively about his immediate family, especially his father Prince Charles. ‘He won’t take my calls.’ ‘He cut us off financially.’ ‘I feel so let down.’ His strong and supportive brother William also was criticised. Harry called the post-interview reconciliation phone calls with Charles and William ‘unproductive.’ Does Britain and the world need to know this?

International television is not the place to air family grievances. Imagine the heartache for Charles, William, and the rest of the family, as the laundry was hung out before millions? Harry was much loved as a person and also for his work, both in royal duties or as a soldier in Afghanistan. His father, brother, his grandparents, and other near relatives have always been supportive of him. Is this the thanks they get for their investment of love? Do they not deserve better?

Unfortunately, Prince Charles did exactly the same thing in another famous ‘tell-all’ interview with Johnathan Dimbleby back in 1994. While admitting infidelity after the breakdown of his marriage to Princess Diana, he went on to say his mother the Queen was distant emotionally. His father Prince Philip was accused of being ‘harsh’ and ‘hectoring.’ Of course,  the royal couple were deeply upset by these words, aired in public; Prince Philip’s response was that he and his wife the Queen did the best they could. No doubt.

There is a maxim: if the person or persons are not part of the problem or the solution, don’t involve them. Very sound advice. For all the verbal hand grenades that were calmly lobbed during the interview, this public airing of family disagreement was actually the most serious result of all. Remember that the royals cannot respond in public – and better that they don’t. The Queen’s wise motto: Never complain and never explain.’

It would be appropriate to pray for the Queen and Royal Family, including Harry and Meghan. God can and will bring great good out of it all.

Photo courtesy of: Northern Ireland Office, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Articles, Education, Prophecy, Teaching

The Seventh Commandment – Part 03: Adultery & the Strong Words of Jesus

Adultery & the Strong Words of Jesus

 The Ten Commandments are the bedrock of a moral, ethical, and righteous society. 

The seventh commandment, which prohibits adultery, is a clarion call to personal purity. Here are some more insights of this important commandment from the words of Jesus. 

Warning: Be prepared for some strong undiluted statements from the Lord Himself.

 

And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell — Matthew 5:29-30

 

•  Right eye and right hand: Hard to believe but true, Jesus advocates removing a bodily member that causes you to sin, rather than keeping it and going to hell. Exceptionally robust words, indeed. Since we are not aware of anyone in the New Testament, or church history, taking such extreme action, what are we to make of His quote? Sin, especially sexual sin, should be viewed with the utmost seriousness. It is not a game, a joke, trend or a movie plot, but a death trap. If we had a life-threatening disease, we would submit to life-saving surgery that would cut out the offending growth? In the case of lust and sexual sin, the options include cut off the offending bodily member, though that is unlikely and undesirable. The demonstrably better way, in every way, is to repent, confess sin, be set free by God’s Spirit and truth, then go and sin no more. Simple principle, but how to implement it practically? Sometimes sin does not easily go away. If the sin is particularly stubborn and resistant, do not hesitate to work with a spiritually mature person for support and accountability. Other helpful practices include Scripture memorisation, meditation, and confession, prayer in the Spirit, and anointed worship. Remember the power of the cross of Jesus to deliver you from the sin-dominated self-life. Romans 6 describes this in glorious detail.

It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement: But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery — Matthew 5:31-32

•  Marriage & Adultery: If you thought the previous verses were heavy-duty, what about these? Moses apparently gave the Israelites an easy track to divorce – just write a bill of divorcement and send your spouse away. Jesus tightens the rules, saying Moses allowed this because of the hardness of their hearts (Matthew 19:7-8), but it was not God’s original intent in the created order. To divorce one’s wife is to cause her to commit adultery – if she remarries – and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery. Or, to divorce one’s wife without a cause in order to marry someone else is adultery. Wow. Even the twelve apostles choked when they heard these words; better to not marry at all (Matthew 19:10). Is there any way forward? Or is this in the ‘too hard basket.’

•  Exception clause: No, not every person who divorces and remarries has to wear the ‘scarlet A’ around their neck. Like a traffic accident, divorce is something you do everything in your power to avoid. Yet, it can happen. Are there ever any cases where divorce and remarriage are allowed by the church and the Bible? Many Biblically-based churches hold a high view of the sanctity of marriage, but believe the New Testament does allow for limited exceptions to divorce and remarry. These include sexual immorality (Matthew 5:32); desertion (1 Corinthians 7:15); and proven physical abuse (Ephesians 5:28-33). In addition, some denominations will remarry a person if their divorce occurred before they came to faith in Christ. Let it be said that you are well-advised to speak to your pastor and find out your church or denomination’s position on divorce and remarriage, what is allowed and what is not.

In our fourth and final part of The Seventh Commandment, we will look at the New Testament view on sexuality and adultery. See you next month. 

TO BE CONTINUED

 

Photo courtesy of Adobe Stock

Articles, Bible, Education, Prophecy, Teaching

Elijah is Coming: Why Study the Book of Malachi – Part 02

Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts — Malachi 3:1

Yes, God will send His messenger and indeed, he has already come. His name is Malachi, which literally means ‘my messenger.’ This last prophet of the Old Testament may actually be anonymous and his title has become his name.

 

While this book deals with issues of the day, it speaks about modern things like tithing (3:8-12). It is not an exaggeration to say that you can tell the direction of a person’s heart by where their money goes. In places where Christians are an oppressed minority, you can tell who the infiltrator or ‘fake Christian’ is during the church service because they steadfastly refuse to give money when it is offering time. As always, Jesus said it best ‘For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also’ – Matthew 6:21; Luke 12:34

SUMMARY OF MALACHI

The Hebrew people, soon to be called ‘Jews,’ were back in their land after the 70 year Babylonian exile. Though the religious life had returned to its familiar routine, there was spiritual lukewarmness. People were not tithing and intermarriage with heathen peoples was common. It was time to ‘wake up the sleepers’ and Malachi did precisely that.

He offers six oracles where 1. God speaks of His great love for His people; 2. His people dishonoured him; 3. Their offerings were rejected; 4. The sending of His messenger before the Lord’s sudden coming; 5. A call to return to the Lord; and 6. Addressing Israel’s unwarranted comments about God. There are 23 questions back and forth between God and Israel. The end of the prophecy – and the Old Testament – gives a solid warning and forecasts the long-anticipated ‘day of the Lord’ (Chapter 4).

Malachi mixes the Law (Moses – 4:4) with the prophets (Elijah 4:5), both whom appeared with Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration. After Malachi there is the 400 years called the inter-testament period that ended with the prophetic ministry of John the Baptist and the Gospel of Matthew. Daniel 11 is a prophecy about that period.

Malachi is quoted in Romans 9:13 regarding God’s love (1:2-3); the coming messenger (3:1) is quoted by Jesus Himself regarding John the Baptist (Matthew 11:7-15); finally, the prophecy of sending Elijah before the great and dreadful day of the Lord (4:5) is interpreted as John the Baptist (Matthew 11:14; 17:10-13; Mark 9:11-13). Revelation 11:3-6 speaks of the spirit of Elijah.

God does not want to see marriage or any other commitment as merely a contract, which has legal and financial implications but nothing more. No, marriage and relating to God is a covenant, a binding agreement. When covenant is honoured, there are great rewards; when broken, there are dire consequences. Covenantal faithfulness should be seen in marriage and family life.

Tithing, giving the first 10th of your income increase to God, is part of that too. Tithing settles the ownership question since everything belongs to God. Those who tithe acknowledge that principle. The prophet gives a challenge: if you pay your tithe, the windows of heaven will open and shower so much blessing that there is no room to contain it. In addition, God will rebuke the devourer for your sake. Finally, worship should be of the heart

The last chapter of Malachi and the Old Testament solidly focus on the future ‘Day of the Lord.’ It is likened to fire that burns up the stubble until there is nothing left. Yet, for those who ‘fear the Lord,’ you have a bright future because the Sun of righteousness is coming with healing in his wings. Instead of being judged, you will be an implement of judgement by treading down the wicked.

The faithful are to remember the law of Moses, given on Horeb, before the promise of the coming of Elijah, who will reconcile fathers to children and vice versa. Without this reconciliation, the Lord personally will come and smite the earth with a curse.

Yes, it’s true – the last word of the Old Testament is ‘curse.’ Understand that the Old Testament is a blessing, yet failure to obey God brings judgement. Remember the last words of the New Testament are The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen — Revelation 22:21. Thus, we go from ‘curse’ to ‘grace’ thanks to the gospel of Christ.

OUTLINE OF MALACHI

I.         Oracles of the Lord (Contemporary scene – 1:2-3:18)

A.     Oracle One: God’s Love for Israel (1:2-5) – Israel: How have you loved us? (1:2)

B.      Oracle Two: Israel’s disobedience (1:6-2:9) – Israel: How did we despise your name? (1:6); How have we polluted you? (1:7);

C.      Oracle Three: God rejects Israel’s offerings (2:10-16) – Israel: Why? (2:14)

D.     Oracle Four: The Lord will come quickly (2:17-3:6) – Israel: How have we wearied You and Where is God’s justice? (2:17)

E.       Oracle Five: Return to the Lord (3:7-12) – Israel: How do we return? (3:7) & How have we robbed you? (3:8)

F.        Oracle Six: Israel’s uncalled for statements about God (3:13-18). Israel – What have we spoken against you (3:13)? What did our obedience gain? (3:14)

II.      The Day of the Lord (Future – 4:1-6)

A.     A day of judgment against the proud and wicked (4:1)

B.      Day of victory for the righteous (4:2-3)

C.      Fathers and children restored to each other (4:4-6)

Articles, Education, Prophecy, Teaching

Ravi Zacharias Scandal – Part 02:

 

How to ‘Scandal-Proof’ Your Life and Ministry

The ministry of Ravi Zacharias (1946-2020) was globally renown and impactful. He was rightly celebrated. Unfortunately, after his death in May 2020, reports came forth of serious sexual abuse from numerous. The veracity of these reports was verified by an independent legal investigation.

Such unwelcome news has an adverse affect on the person, family, ministry, and the church at large. The televangelist scandals of the late 1980s caused churches worldwide, including in Australia, to face scrutiny, change names, and see donations and offerings drop off. No doubt, the same thing is happening today.

Last time, we looked at the role of two factors that greatly aid in fostering personal scandal:

1.       Accountability: The lack of proper and enforced accountability. It is a fact that the possibility of scandal is greatly reduced when such structures are in place. Remember, accountability is an insurance policy for your integrity.

2.       Double life: The hypocritical, double-standard, double-life phenomena, while not new, is increasing due to a low view of truth. The antidote to a ‘double-life’ include the key points listed below.

The Solution:

Having listed to key factors that incubate scandal, let’s explore some answers:

3.       Fear of the Lord: This is the beginning of wisdom and the best way to scandal-proof your life. The ‘fear of the Lord’ means to hear, obey, worship and serve the living God. See Hebrews 12:28-29. Knowing that God is watching your actions (2 Chronicles 16:9; Proverbs 5:21), attitudes and thoughts, and that someday you will have to answer to him (Matthew 12:36-37; Romans 14:12), can bring out the best. Yet, to lack this quality can lead to sin. One fallen minister, after his restoration, was asked when did he ‘stop loving Jesus’ and thus commit his transgression. His reply: ‘I never stopped loving Jesus … but I did stop fearing the Lord.’ Proverbs 16:6 shows the way forward: By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil. The fear of the Lord will motivate you to stay on the straight and narrow pathway more than anything else.

4.       Gift of God: Without questions, Ravi Zacharias was a gifted man and people benefited from that gift. Yet, let’s understand the nature of God’s gifts. The gifted person did not earn the gift – if they did, it would not be a gift. Gifts can be developed but still remain a gift. Neither are gifts based on character and integrity, though these things are very important for upholding the gift. Yet, look at the famous Israelite judge Samson in Judges 14-16. He was a gifted and anointed man, but that did not stop him from doing the wrong thing, more than once. His poor judgement and unwise relationships with heathen women nearly destroyed him. He paid a very, very high price for his folly. Also remember that God’s gifts and calling are irrevocable – Romans 11:29. Samson was still gifted, even when he was carnal.

5.       Look to God: It is important that we know and understand the difference between respecting and honouring a gifted minister versus putting them on a pedestal for worship. This is becoming even more common with our image-driven, celebrity obsessed culture, often making objects of adoration those who lack character, talent, or decency. Even the most spiritually mature among us can say and do things that are wrong. People get scandalised when it happens but it need not. Your focus of worship and service must be to God and God alone. Remember the humanity, limitations, and vulnerability of our spiritual leaders. As the adage says, ‘We all are a work in progress.’ When you keep your eyes on Jesus, you will stay above the waters. When your focus is on people, you will sink.

6.       Embrace integrity: This is a wonderful thing because it is becoming increasingly rare. The dictionary describes it as being sincere, honest, and morally upright. The Biblical definition goes much further: it means to the ‘salt of the earth’ and the ‘light of the world.’ People of integrity are faithful, honourable, trustworthy and accountable. You can depend on them to do the right thing. Before you partner with someone, see how they score on the integrity scales. If they are seriously deficient, then look elsewhere.

7.       Victims of Sexual Abuse: They need to be heard and respected but due process should always be implemented, for everyone’s sake. The guilty need to face justice and the innocent protected. Forsaking proper investigation, presumption of innocence, credible testimony, witnesses, and general rule of law, etc. endangers everyone and is an open invitation to tyranny. Let’s never forget the maxim that there are two sides to every story; it is as relevant today as it has always been.

In short, let’s remember that grace is wonderful but can be used and abused; sin stinks, and we to be discerning but not judgemental. The goal should be restoration, not revenge.

Put these things into place and it will rebound to the glory of God.

 

(Photo courtesy of Adobe Stock)