Category Archives: Ministry

Articles, Prophecy, Teaching

OFFENDED PART THREE

In our first part, entitled: ‘You Bigot, Can Political Correctness Keep People from Being Offended,?’ we looked at how political correctness tries to protect people (especially women, ethnic and sexual minorities) from being offended. As a result, ‘freedom of speech’ takes a big hit. Even the slim possibility that one minorities might be offended means the other party must be closed down verbally … just in case.
In Part Two, entitled ‘I’m Offended: What Should This Really Mean?’ we learned a Biblical description about this miserable condition. It is a more sensible and far more enduring description than the politically correct one.
Today, the broader cultural scene is about the ‘New Tolerance.’ Political correctness (PC) is the mother tongue of the ‘New Tolerance’ and those who lead the charge in politically correctness are the patron saints. Jonathan Sarfati in ‘The Tyranny of Tolerance’ says  “Not long ago, the word ‘tolerance’ meant ‘bearing or putting up with someone or something not especially liked.’ However, now the word has been redefined to ‘all values, all beliefs, all lifestyles, all truth claims are equal.’ Denying this makes a person ‘intolerant,’ and worthy of contempt.’ That’s putting it mildly.
Failure to conform to the New Tolerance with politically correct language will invite a torrent of abuse. This includes, but is not limited to, ridicule, ostracism, ‘shouting down,’ insults, sensitivity training and the most offensive of behaviour you can imagine, even though the abusers are doing this to prevent offence! Student organisations on campus are prohibiting speakers who they deem politically incorrect (normally social and political conservatives). They even practice ‘non-platforming,’ meaning they refuse to speak at a public meeting with those whom they disagree. University heads have been forced out of office for violating PC.
Are things really that bad? Try speaking positively in the blogosphere about traditional heterosexual marriage, without saying a negative word about anyone or anything else, and watch what happens. Accusations like ‘hater,’ ‘intolerant,’ and ‘bigot’ will be thrown at you. Even Christian organisation are disciplining and firing people who do not conform to the theology of tolerance.
Why is this phenomena so serious?
A.    It enshrines people in a permanent ‘victimhood’ culture, which is very damaging in the long run. Christians are called to ‘victory,’ not ‘victimhood.’
B.    The defenders of the offended become the most offensive of all (a true double-standard), often times in a very vile manner.
C.    Our beloved ‘Freedom of Speech’ comes under serious threat, to the point of extinction.
D.    Finally, this is all an exercise in futility: Protecting people from offence is a lost cause in a fallen world, and does nothing to help them grow strong and mature;
A student complained at the Oklahoma Wesleyan University that he felt ‘uncomfortable,’ ‘offended,’ and ‘victimised’ when the university president gave a homily about love from I Corinthians 13, which is the ‘love chapter.’ Yet instead of pandering to the offended student, the president, Dr. Everett Piper, wrote in a blistering blog that went viral, ‘This is not a daycare. It’s a university.’ Dr. Piper went on to criticise a culture that teaches younger people to be ‘self-absorbed and narcissistic.’ Remember, this was at a Christian university! (http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2015/11/30/president-tells-students-this-is-not-day-care-this-is-university.html. Accessed 19/02/16).
Years ago, this author learned a maxim: Do not deliberately offend and do not be offended. This is wisdom! After all, to be offended is like a person who stumbles on the road, injures himself or herself, but refuses to get up. Another analogy is that an offended person builds a ‘Berlin Wall’ around themselves. Though this wall is meant to protect, it actually becomes a self-made prison! As long as the person remains offended, they will continue to be imprisoned.
So what can we do to avoid getting offended and offensive? As always, the Word of God is our guide:
1.     Be filled with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18): When you are ‘filled with the Spirit,’ you have the fruit of the Spirit which includes ‘love,’ ‘joy,’ ‘peace.’ Offended people lack peace, but Spirit-filled people have enough peace in their own hearts that they can give the overflow to others. When you are filled with the Spirit, there is no room for offence;
2.     Forgiveness: People who go around saying they are ‘hurt’ are almost always people who fail to practice a fundamental Christian virtue – forgiveness. This is not an option. Forgiveness is Christianity 101. The consequences of not forgiving are severe – continued ‘hurt’ and God’s refusal to forgive us our sins (Matthew 6:14-15; Matthew 18:32-35; Mark 11:25-26). Forgiveness does not let the other party off the hook (retribution must not come from us, but God, according to Romans 12:19); it sets us free from their offensiveness so we can get on with life. After all, an offensive person is offensive because they have problems; when they offend you, then they successfully transfer their problem to you  – so that their problem becomes yours, too. Forgiveness sets you free from the other party’s problems and from any hurt that it causes;
3.     Maturity: Perpetually being offended is a mark of emotional and spiritual immaturity. See the description of immaturity in I Corinthians 3:1-3. Yet, when you grow up spiritually, the things that once bothered you bother no more. Hebrews 6:1 exhorts us to aim for perfection (maturity). Mature people let go of petty offences, press on to fulfil their call; they don’t have time to mope around being offended;
4.     God’s Word in the Heart: One of my favourite verses in the Bible is Psalm 119:165: Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them. This is a promise worth grasping. When you ‘love God’s law,’ namely, His Word – you read it, study it, memorise it, and meditate on it regularly – you actually grow up in such away that you no longer are easily offended. This is very liberating. The same word in the heart that keeps you from sin (v. 11) is the Word that protects you from offence.
Put these into practice and say good-bye to being offended and you can get on fulfilling your spiritual call.

Articles, Prophecy, Teaching

OFFENDED PART THREE

In our first part, entitled: ‘You Bigot, Can Political Correctness Keep People from Being Offended,?’ we looked at how political correctness tries to protect people (especially women, ethnic and sexual minorities) from being offended. As a result, ‘freedom of speech’ takes a big hit. Even the slim possibility that one minorities might be offended means the other party must be closed down verbally … just in case.
In Part Two, entitled ‘I’m Offended: What Should This Really Mean?’ we learned a Biblical description about this miserable condition. It is a more sensible and far more enduring description than the politically correct one.
Today, the broader cultural scene is about the ‘New Tolerance.’ Political correctness (PC) is the mother tongue of the ‘New Tolerance’ and those who lead the charge in politically correctness are the patron saints. Jonathan Sarfati in ‘The Tyranny of Tolerance’ says  “Not long ago, the word ‘tolerance’ meant ‘bearing or putting up with someone or something not especially liked.’ However, now the word has been redefined to ‘all values, all beliefs, all lifestyles, all truth claims are equal.’ Denying this makes a person ‘intolerant,’ and worthy of contempt.’ That’s putting it mildly.
Failure to conform to the New Tolerance with politically correct language will invite a torrent of abuse. This includes, but is not limited to, ridicule, ostracism, ‘shouting down,’ insults, sensitivity training and the most offensive of behaviour you can imagine, even though the abusers are doing this to prevent offence! Student organisations on campus are prohibiting speakers who they deem politically incorrect (normally social and political conservatives). They even practice ‘non-platforming,’ meaning they refuse to speak at a public meeting with those whom they disagree. University heads have been forced out of office for violating PC.
Are things really that bad? Try speaking positively in the blogosphere about traditional heterosexual marriage, without saying a negative word about anyone or anything else, and watch what happens. Accusations like ‘hater,’ ‘intolerant,’ and ‘bigot’ will be thrown at you. Even Christian organisation are disciplining and firing people who do not conform to the theology of tolerance.
Why is this phenomena so serious?
A.    It enshrines people in a permanent ‘victimhood’ culture, which is very damaging in the long run. Christians are called to ‘victory,’ not ‘victimhood.’
B.    The defenders of the offended become the most offensive of all (a true double-standard), often times in a very vile manner.
C.    Our beloved ‘Freedom of Speech’ comes under serious threat, to the point of extinction.
D.    Finally, this is all an exercise in futility: Protecting people from offence is a lost cause in a fallen world, and does nothing to help them grow strong and mature;
A student complained at the Oklahoma Wesleyan University that he felt ‘uncomfortable,’ ‘offended,’ and ‘victimised’ when the university president gave a homily about love from I Corinthians 13, which is the ‘love chapter.’ Yet instead of pandering to the offended student, the president, Dr. Everett Piper, wrote in a blistering blog that went viral, ‘This is not a daycare. It’s a university.’ Dr. Piper went on to criticise a culture that teaches younger people to be ‘self-absorbed and narcissistic.’ Remember, this was at a Christian university! (http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2015/11/30/president-tells-students-this-is-not-day-care-this-is-university.html. Accessed 19/02/16).
Years ago, this author learned a maxim: Do not deliberately offend and do not be offended. This is wisdom! After all, to be offended is like a person who stumbles on the road, injures himself or herself, but refuses to get up. Another analogy is that an offended person builds a ‘Berlin Wall’ around themselves. Though this wall is meant to protect, it actually becomes a self-made prison! As long as the person remains offended, they will continue to be imprisoned.
So what can we do to avoid getting offended and offensive? As always, the Word of God is our guide:
1.     Be filled with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18): When you are ‘filled with the Spirit,’ you have the fruit of the Spirit which includes ‘love,’ ‘joy,’ ‘peace.’ Offended people lack peace, but Spirit-filled people have enough peace in their own hearts that they can give the overflow to others. When you are filled with the Spirit, there is no room for offence;
2.     Forgiveness: People who go around saying they are ‘hurt’ are almost always people who fail to practice a fundamental Christian virtue – forgiveness. This is not an option. Forgiveness is Christianity 101. The consequences of not forgiving are severe – continued ‘hurt’ and God’s refusal to forgive us our sins (Matthew 6:14-15; Matthew 18:32-35; Mark 11:25-26). Forgiveness does not let the other party off the hook (retribution must not come from us, but God, according to Romans 12:19); it sets us free from their offensiveness so we can get on with life. After all, an offensive person is offensive because they have problems; when they offend you, then they successfully transfer their problem to you  – so that their problem becomes yours, too. Forgiveness sets you free from the other party’s problems and from any hurt that it causes;
3.     Maturity: Perpetually being offended is a mark of emotional and spiritual immaturity. See the description of immaturity in I Corinthians 3:1-3. Yet, when you grow up spiritually, the things that once bothered you bother no more. Hebrews 6:1 exhorts us to aim for perfection (maturity). Mature people let go of petty offences, press on to fulfil their call; they don’t have time to mope around being offended;
4.     God’s Word in the Heart: One of my favourite verses in the Bible is Psalm 119:165: Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them. This is a promise worth grasping. When you ‘love God’s law,’ namely, His Word – you read it, study it, memorise it, and meditate on it regularly – you actually grow up in such away that you no longer are easily offended. This is very liberating. The same word in the heart that keeps you from sin (v. 11) is the Word that protects you from offence.
Put these into practice and say good-bye to being offended and you can get on fulfilling your spiritual call.

Articles, Prophecy, Teaching, Terrorism

SYRIA: Could the Civil War Become a World War?

The Syrian Civil War: By now we are all familiar with the term, but how much to we really know? First, there are the mind-numbing statistics: since the war first began in March 2011, as part of the ‘Arab Spring,’ 250,000 people have been killed, 7.6 million have been internally displaced (40% of the population), and another 4.4 million have registered as refugees outside of Syria. While Angela Merkel and Germany receive attention (and applause) for taking in 1.1 million migrants (not all are refugees from Syria), Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, and even Iraq, have 3.6 million UN-registered Syrian refugees.
Then there are peace talks in Geneva. Oh, good, we think, perhaps this wretched situation may be winding down.
Not so fast. Let’s take a closer look.
First, it has long ceased to be a ‘Syrian Civil War,’ because as you will see below, it has become a regional war.
Syria Rebels: The Syrian civil war first began when peaceful protesters in the southern Syrian city of Duraa were brutally suppressed by the Baathist Party (a strange combination of socialism, fascism, and Arab nationalism) al Assad regime. Having overcome their fear of al Assad’s police state, the people fought back by various rebel groups.
The goal of the Syrian Rebels: Get rid of the al Assad dynasty, which has been ruling Syria since 1970. Here is the ‘civil war’ stage.
Sunni nations step in: After this, the waters got muddied. Though most Syrians are Sunni Muslim, the al Assad regime is Alawite, an offshoot of Shia Islam. This is one of the reasons the regime aligned with the Shia-power, Iran. Sunni Muslim regimes like Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar, decided to get involved by funding Sunni rebel groups.
The goal of the Sunni nations: Get rid of al Assad and install a Sunni regime. The result is that the ‘civil war’ is now a ‘regional conflict.’
Assad’s Allies Respond: Remember Newton’s law? For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction? Al Assad’s allies – Iran, Russia, and the Shia-militia Hizballah in Lebanon, watched these events with alarm and decided to support the Syrian government forces. Hizballah went one step further and got involved militarily, fighting along side Assad’s troops.
The goal of al Assad’s allies: Preserve the status quo by keeping him in power.
Terrorist haven: The chaos in Syria has been a fertile field for terrorist groups to extend their tentacles. This includes al Nusra-Front, the al Qaeda affiliate in Syria, and the so-called Islamic State, an offshoot of al Qaeda, which was expelled by the latter in February 2014 for being ‘too brutal.’ Both groups occupy Syrian territory, including the archaeological site of Palmyra, and even territory close to Damascus.
What does it all mean? What started off as a rebellion against the al-Assad regime has turned into a regional conflict and a proxy war between Sunnis and Shia. The terrorist occupation of part of Syria further complicates an already complex and combustable situation.
The Syrian civil war is arguably the worse conflict and humanitarian crisis since the end of the Second World War in 1945. It’s potential for morphing from a regional conflict to a world war is greater than anything we have seen until now.

Enter the Russians: Westerners may not realise that Russia has had a long-term interest in the Middle East. Some of it is geo-political and some of it theological – Mother Russia wants to save the world. Russian pilgrims have been trekking to the holy land for decades, where they had their own compound in Jerusalem, complete with hospice, cathedral, and even hospital. In 2015, Russia became militarily involved by firing rockets into Syria. Iran, newly-freed from sanctions imposed because of its nuclear program, is playing ‘catch-up’ in terms of business deals, weapons acquisition, and exerting influence in the region.
Along with the Hizballah militia, the balance of power is changing in favour of al-Assad and the Syrian government. There is a real chance that they can retake Syria’s largest city, Aleppo, and this would help wind down the war.
Sunni Invasion: Turkey, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia view the potential of al-Assad’s survival with great dismay. Russia, Iran, and Hizballah are changing the game and they must not be allowed to succeed.
The solution? An ground invasion of Syria by a Sunni coalition. According to an article by Michael Snyder, the largest military exercise in the history of the ‘war-torn’ Middle East is being planned. The statistics are staggering: a coalition of Turkey, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Jordan, Bahrain, Sudan, Kuwait, Morocco, Pakistan, Oman, Qatar, Tunisia (even Malaysia), will contribute 350,000 soldiers, 20,000 tanks, 2,450 planes, and 460 helicopters to an 18 day operation called ‘Northern Thunder.’ The goal is to replace al Assad with a Sunni-regime in Syria.
(Michael Synder, ‘World War 3 Could Start This Month: 350,000 Soldiers In Saudi Arabia Stand Ready To Invade Syria’ http://www.charismanews.com/opinion/55194-world-war-3-could-start-this-month accessed 20 February 2016). Shockingly, the mainstream media is silent about all this.
The key players are America’s allies and Turkey is a NATO member. US President Barack Obama, who has worked hard to militarily detach the US from the Middle East, and constantly pledged ‘no (American) boots on the ground’ in any conflict, would have to give the nod.
If such a ground invasion of Syria were to occur, it would have to be soon. Would Russia, Iran, and Hizballah stand idly by as their significant gains in Syria come under threat? Would NATO have to get involved to defend its ally Turkey (that’s part of the deal – all NATO members must come to rescue of any member)? Could we be seeing the unthinkable – the beginning of World War III.
On the other hand, Saudi Arabia and some of these other countries have an untested military, Turkey

is bogged down with Kurdish sectarianism, and Obama wants to minimise, not accelerate, military involvement in the region. Are they willing to take the gamble of invading Syria, thus provoking Russia and Iran? It seems far-fetched, until you heard the quotes and see the actions.

For all praying people, this is a good time to go to work. And while you’re praying, remember the long-suffering Christian population in Iraq and Syria, who have been the focus of severe persecution by rebel and terrorist groups.
More than nukes and conventional arms, prayer is the greatest weapon of all.

‘Blessed are the peacemakers: For they shall be called the children of God’ — Matthew 5:9 
Articles, Prophecy, Teaching, Terrorism

SYRIA: Could the Civil War Become a World War?

The Syrian Civil War: By now we are all familiar with the term, but how much to we really know? First, there are the mind-numbing statistics: since the war first began in March 2011, as part of the ‘Arab Spring,’ 250,000 people have been killed, 7.6 million have been internally displaced (40% of the population), and another 4.4 million have registered as refugees outside of Syria. While Angela Merkel and Germany receive attention (and applause) for taking in 1.1 million migrants (not all are refugees from Syria), Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, and even Iraq, have 3.6 million UN-registered Syrian refugees.
Then there are peace talks in Geneva. Oh, good, we think, perhaps this wretched situation may be winding down.
Not so fast. Let’s take a closer look.
First, it has long ceased to be a ‘Syrian Civil War,’ because as you will see below, it has become a regional war.
Syria Rebels: The Syrian civil war first began when peaceful protesters in the southern Syrian city of Duraa were brutally suppressed by the Baathist Party (a strange combination of socialism, fascism, and Arab nationalism) al Assad regime. Having overcome their fear of al Assad’s police state, the people fought back by various rebel groups.
The goal of the Syrian Rebels: Get rid of the al Assad dynasty, which has been ruling Syria since 1970. Here is the ‘civil war’ stage.
Sunni nations step in: After this, the waters got muddied. Though most Syrians are Sunni Muslim, the al Assad regime is Alawite, an offshoot of Shia Islam. This is one of the reasons the regime aligned with the Shia-power, Iran. Sunni Muslim regimes like Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar, decided to get involved by funding Sunni rebel groups.
The goal of the Sunni nations: Get rid of al Assad and install a Sunni regime. The result is that the ‘civil war’ is now a ‘regional conflict.’
Assad’s Allies Respond: Remember Newton’s law? For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction? Al Assad’s allies – Iran, Russia, and the Shia-militia Hizballah in Lebanon, watched these events with alarm and decided to support the Syrian government forces. Hizballah went one step further and got involved militarily, fighting along side Assad’s troops.
The goal of al Assad’s allies: Preserve the status quo by keeping him in power.
Terrorist haven: The chaos in Syria has been a fertile field for terrorist groups to extend their tentacles. This includes al Nusra-Front, the al Qaeda affiliate in Syria, and the so-called Islamic State, an offshoot of al Qaeda, which was expelled by the latter in February 2014 for being ‘too brutal.’ Both groups occupy Syrian territory, including the archaeological site of Palmyra, and even territory close to Damascus.
What does it all mean? What started off as a rebellion against the al-Assad regime has turned into a regional conflict and a proxy war between Sunnis and Shia. The terrorist occupation of part of Syria further complicates an already complex and combustable situation.
The Syrian civil war is arguably the worse conflict and humanitarian crisis since the end of the Second World War in 1945. It’s potential for morphing from a regional conflict to a world war is greater than anything we have seen until now.

Enter the Russians: Westerners may not realise that Russia has had a long-term interest in the Middle East. Some of it is geo-political and some of it theological – Mother Russia wants to save the world. Russian pilgrims have been trekking to the holy land for decades, where they had their own compound in Jerusalem, complete with hospice, cathedral, and even hospital. In 2015, Russia became militarily involved by firing rockets into Syria. Iran, newly-freed from sanctions imposed because of its nuclear program, is playing ‘catch-up’ in terms of business deals, weapons acquisition, and exerting influence in the region.
Along with the Hizballah militia, the balance of power is changing in favour of al-Assad and the Syrian government. There is a real chance that they can retake Syria’s largest city, Aleppo, and this would help wind down the war.
Sunni Invasion: Turkey, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia view the potential of al-Assad’s survival with great dismay. Russia, Iran, and Hizballah are changing the game and they must not be allowed to succeed.
The solution? An ground invasion of Syria by a Sunni coalition. According to an article by Michael Snyder, the largest military exercise in the history of the ‘war-torn’ Middle East is being planned. The statistics are staggering: a coalition of Turkey, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Jordan, Bahrain, Sudan, Kuwait, Morocco, Pakistan, Oman, Qatar, Tunisia (even Malaysia), will contribute 350,000 soldiers, 20,000 tanks, 2,450 planes, and 460 helicopters to an 18 day operation called ‘Northern Thunder.’ The goal is to replace al Assad with a Sunni-regime in Syria.
(Michael Synder, ‘World War 3 Could Start This Month: 350,000 Soldiers In Saudi Arabia Stand Ready To Invade Syria’ http://www.charismanews.com/opinion/55194-world-war-3-could-start-this-month accessed 20 February 2016). Shockingly, the mainstream media is silent about all this.
The key players are America’s allies and Turkey is a NATO member. US President Barack Obama, who has worked hard to militarily detach the US from the Middle East, and constantly pledged ‘no (American) boots on the ground’ in any conflict, would have to give the nod.
If such a ground invasion of Syria were to occur, it would have to be soon. Would Russia, Iran, and Hizballah stand idly by as their significant gains in Syria come under threat? Would NATO have to get involved to defend its ally Turkey (that’s part of the deal – all NATO members must come to rescue of any member)? Could we be seeing the unthinkable – the beginning of World War III.
On the other hand, Saudi Arabia and some of these other countries have an untested military, Turkey

is bogged down with Kurdish sectarianism, and Obama wants to minimise, not accelerate, military involvement in the region. Are they willing to take the gamble of invading Syria, thus provoking Russia and Iran? It seems far-fetched, until you heard the quotes and see the actions.

For all praying people, this is a good time to go to work. And while you’re praying, remember the long-suffering Christian population in Iraq and Syria, who have been the focus of severe persecution by rebel and terrorist groups.
More than nukes and conventional arms, prayer is the greatest weapon of all.

‘Blessed are the peacemakers: For they shall be called the children of God’ — Matthew 5:9