Tag: trump

  • What is Truth?

    What is Truth?

    Opinion Poll | Vote today:

    Which politician do you believe?

    Who will vote for Truth?

    A vile venom of political and religious rhetoric is nothing new under the sun in the 1st century A.D. or this 21st century.

    If you share any of my political views or religious convictions, you’ve likely been agitated by escalation of accusations in current events.

    We find many parallels in history, but none with more impact that a 1st. century trial of Jesus Christ by Jerusalem’s Roman governor, Pontius Pilate.

    Truth on Trial

    politics and religion - imaginary view of Roman temple of Jupiter
    1st c in the year of our Lord

    Previously in 2020..

    We have been following the Gospel (Good News) of John:

    ALL took place in 1st century Jerusalem in the brief span of one week!

    Continuing Jesus’ trials..

    Yesus facing Pilate

    Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.”

    “You are a king, then!” said Pilate.

    Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”

    “What is truth?” retorted Pilate. With this he went out again to the Jews gathered there…

    John 18:37-38a NIV

    Jesus has already been found guilty and tried by the Jewish leaders Annas and Caiaphas during the wakening hours of this day. Then they brought the Messiah to the governor Pilate, who has just questioned their prisoner in his own judge’s quarters (which the Jews would not enter).

    John 18:

    38 Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?”

    Now Pilate brings Jesus back into the public spotlight.

    And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews and said to them, “I find no guilt in Him…

    What an amazing statement of truth!

    Prior to questioning Jesus in his Judge’s chambers, Pilate had already acquitted Jesus in public.

    What accusation do you bring against this Man?

    We read previously in Kings, Governors, Politicians & Priests 2 31 So Pilate said to them, “Take Him yourselves, and judge Him according to your law.”

    In effect, the Roman Governor of all the province of Judea acting as High Court Judge of Jerusalem tells them, ‘Case dismissed.’

    Now, after private questioning of Jesus about their accusation, Pilate once again finds Jesus, Not Guilty!

    But now begins the politics of playing the crowds.

    Justice by Public Opinion – a Poll of the people

    Once again, some time passes as the Jerusalem crowds gather for the preparation for the Passover feast. The buzz of the multitudes outside must have reminded Pilate of the great accolades for Jesus as He had approached Jerusalem just five days before.

    As Governor of Judea, Pilate also had to placate officials of the Sanhedrin who Jesus offended in the Temple courts on Monday.

    What’s a politically correct way to please the crowds who followed Jesus AND the Jewish leaders who help Pilate maintain the peace of Jerusalem?

    The Judge of Judea will show mercy to this innocent man.

    So the Prefect likely sent guards to the prison to bring a second previously condemned man to the governor near to Pilate’s position above the crowds. Now the Jews will see the truth of an innocent Man compared to an insurrectionist murderer like this prisoner Barabbas.

    “I find no grounds for charging him. 39 You have a custom that I release one prisoner to you at the Passover. So, do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews?”

    IF you didn’t already know the ending of this Good Friday, you might jump up and applaud Pilate’s political correctness.

    Everybody wins when the governor shows mercy. This powerful Roman governor of Judea seems to judge truth with great fairness.

    BUT, as you know, crowds may be easily swayed from doing what is right.

    40 They shouted back, “Not this man, but Barabbas!”

    Now Barabbas was a revolutionary.

    CSB

    John 19:1 Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged.

    To be continued...
    Page TWO - Please click Page 2 below for the questions.

    Yes, it’s a POLL

    Your political opinion about religion

    & politics A.D. 2020

    Pages: 1 2

  • Judge Not, Advice Ignored by Presidential candidates

    Judge not, that you be not judged.

    Matthew 7:1 NKJV

    An oft quoted Bible verse

    Most people know and many misuse the often quoted advice of Jesus, “Judge not, that you be not judged.” It’s a quote probably most often used by non-believers against Christians, but also spoken in anger by christians, rather than used as Christ intended.

    Matthew 7:

    “Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. 3 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.


    Brothers and Hypocrites

    Christ cautions against our tendency to judge others before taking a look into the mirror of our own fallen flesh. Our deceitful high-minded self-righteousness blinds our perspective and we fail to consider our own sin.

    hello-im-better-than-you

    The question in the mind of anyone confronted by our self-righteous accusations is almost always, ‘who made you the judge of my sins?’

    We all tend to believe, ‘my sins are better than your sins.’

    Although Jesus’ advice is available to all, his words speak to those who seek to do good and not evil.

    Unfortunately, Christians often strike out verbally out against others, rather than seeking to repay evil with good. [Romans 12:17] I am encouraged here by what Jesus tells us about the mercy of God, who will judge every soul.

    Mat. 7:11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

    Who will listen to God?

    Jesus calls followers, “brothers,” and I might mention that it wouldn’t have been proper for a man to address a woman. Women, or sisters in the Lord only addressed each other, a custom still observed by some families in the middle east. It is clear here that Jesus is addressing only His followers, those who today we would call Christians.

    By the illustration of the log in the eye, the Lord makes clear that a Christian must first examine our own sins, before we judge the foibles or sins of a brother (or sister) in the Lord. To do so would be hypocrisy.

    As for unbelievers, Jesus is not talking to you if you do not believe in God. Jesus is not talking to you if you continually do evil and do not seek the will of the Living God. And He is not talking to you if you are a worldly foolish woman or man of evil ambition.

    The lesser of two evils

    The vitriolic public debate of the 2016 US presidential campaign serves as a contemporary warning of why you and I ought not begin the finger-pointing game against the enemy of our intentions. We hear their debate: ‘she lied about this’ or ‘he did that.’

    Jesus tells us that we are no better than our leaders in judging the sins of others to make our own sins appear less significant. Why would their lies surprise even one voter?

    Like the politician we are inclined to talk about sins of others rather than addressing our own need to repent. The usual debate contains more accusation than confession and we observe more, ‘sorry I got caught,’ than ‘I’m sorry for what I did.’

    A cunning politician shows little regard for God or an opponent in the path of ambition. Even a righteous candidate (which describes neither current candidate) comes nowhere near the holiness of the righteous judgement of Almighty God!

    A verse to keep Christians (Christ-followers) from hypocrisy

    [ctt title=” “Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.” tweet=”Matthew 7:6″ coverup=”f1e9x”]

    For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. - Matthew 7:2
    For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. – Mat. 7:2

    It’s true, isn’t it, that foolish words which pour from our mouths about others come back to bite us?


    Jesus warned against judging others, even if what you say is true.

    Right judgment of the ungodly is throwing pearls before swine and 21st c. Christians must be wary of it.

    Only One Who IS Holy has the authority to judge sin!  The LORD will judge the evil of our unbridled tongues.

    We cannot separate ourselves from the dogs of evil by judging their sins.

    When we judge others, as political back-biting will illustrate again and again, the evil ones will trample your advice underfoot. Jesus warned us that these sinners you judge will turn and attack you.

    Judgment is a function of Law and obedience

    What does Jesus have to say about judgment to a group of followers in the Sermon on the Mount? How do you deal with people, even opponents? Are we just like our worldly opponents or do we try to respond more like God?

    What would Jesus have to say about judgment in a current political race?

    [ctt title=”Which sinner will you choose for President?” tweet=”A majority will say, I would choose neither.” coverup=”2ntp2″]

    The Golden Rule

    “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. – Mat. 7:12

    Everyone knows it, even presidential candidates.

    Is this what they do? Is this how either of our aspiring leaders conduct themselves?

    “Accusations aside, even if all sins of the opponents are true, is this how a leader acts toward others?

    Do the US Presidential candidates have any more regard for voters than they demonstrate toward their opponent?


    We live in a fallen world.

    We deplore a decaying, sinful world which espouses false doctrine such as a village should raise a child or mothers may murder the children of their womb. This fallen world is real estate ruled by greedy, self-aggrandizing men and women building towering fortunes hidden from the eyes of the needy.

    [ctt title=”Our royal political families and belligerent billionaires who buy the future of America cannot compare to humble leaders who once led one nation, under God.” tweet=”” coverup=”0OYTq”]

    Matthew 7:13 “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.

    A Tree and Its Fruit

    15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. 18 A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.

    [ctt title=”‘No woman or man – no president will rule over the hearts of a people unwilling to serve Almighty God.” tweet=”‘No woman or man – no president will rule over the hearts of a people unwilling to serve Almighty God. ” coverup=”6arhe”]

    debate2016

    While worldly candidates debate whose sins will disqualify, the world wonders what honor will remain for the office of President. We the people, recognize both by their fruits; and we must pray for the one who regrettably will prevail.

    God help America.

  • A Temporary Throne – 22

    A Temporary Throne – 22

     And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. – Genesis 6:5 KJV

    CHAPTER 22

    THE LORD confused the men who would make a name for themselves. Their babble was unintelligible to me (but I have never had understanding of other languages). When they confused the meaning of one another, they began to bicker and ultimately go their own ways. (Is it not also true of those of the same language?)

    Yet I saw that men traveled to the ends of earth to ‘make a name’ for themselves.

    God had remedied the result of the sin of the moment, but God could not cure the root of our original sin, that ‘the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth.’

    And I saw their names and their aspirations on the tops of buildings and stadiums and on images of man, carved into stone and erected for the glory of men and not the glory of GOD.

    The buildings gathered men to glorify men like Pharaoh and Caesar. Men gathered to worship idols and colossus of men great in their own eyes: men who are not GOD. Statue and structure, large and small, glorified man and beast and the desires of every imagination of man’s heart, which is only evil.

    Buildings grew and strengthened with the knowledge of men, from the dust and water baked in God’s sun to the sand and ore of the earth forged in the heat of man’s own desire – desire to glorify the evil workings of his own sin-forged heart, which is only evil.

    I saw names of men, and not GOD, men like: Washington, Eiffel, Rockefeller, Sears, Trump and many more. I saw buildings standing in pride to the glory of men I do not know; buildings for companies of men invested in speculation of empire of riches taken from men, the imagination of whose hearts is only evil.

    The Lord showed me rise and fall of empire and building: from ancient Babylon and Thebes; to beyond London, New York, Taipei, and Dubai. All built to the glory of mankind, by secretive men and women, whose desires of their hearts from youth are only evil.

    To be continued…

    A Temporary Throne is an original work of Roger Harned,

    © Copyright 2013, All Rights Reserved by the author.

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