First things first. I've turned off comments on this blog. People are going to hate that. We've lionized 'debate' in our American culture. People piously talk about debate as if all views ought to be heard. Debate is fine, but God's way of debate is dictatorial. That's right, God is a dictator! When your read about the prayer of the Church in Jerusalem in Acts 4:24, we find them saying "Lord, thou art God". The word Lord given to us in the Greek manuscript is 'despotes'. He's a despot! God is holy and sovereign. A man who is a dictator can't be trusted, but a holy God who delights in saving men by grace can be trusted. Put your trust in Him, and you'll find out that He can be trusted. God says to a disobedient and proud nation, "Come now, let us reason" (Isaiah 1:18). God speaks to them and tells of blessing for those will to be taught by Him. He speaks of judgement for those who refuse to be still and listen. He mentions forgiveness of sins. Though He says that judgment is something He doesn't enjoy, a strange work, but we're told that He will perform it.
Books could be written on God as a dictator, but I'd better move on. Those who will look for the word 'despotes' relating God, using a concordance with dictionary, in the Holy Bible will be blessed.
I will agree that truth ought to always hold up under scrutiny, but we have an Adversary who loves debate. It's very difficult to debate theology without being tempted to go too far. Serious debate will always bring temptation with it. I find, in the heat of an argument, that I'm sorely tempted to take things too far and respond in some fleshly way. God is not going to use the Flesh, friends. He'll use clay, but He won't use flesh.
Don't get me started on comment spam. It's evil. So comments are out.
Some folks are going to wonder where Jesus is in all of the discussion here. The reader can hopefully see that I'm writing on topics that involve a Christian world view. But some will think that a web log with the name 'Jesus Only' shouldn't deal with everything under the sun. Well, there isn't anything under the sun that God is not prepared to deal with. All things work for the good of us who love God, and are the called according to His purpose.
I intend to mark out subjects that the Church should deal with while we're in this world. We ought to be able to defend the truth. We've allowed ourselves to become weak when it comes to engaging the enemies of our faith. God didn't tell the children of Israel to stay on the other side of the Jordan and organize car washes, dinners, and rallies. He told them to go in to the promised land and engage the enemy.
And let's be clear about who the enemy is; the World, the Flesh, and the Devil. It's not people. Our enemies are the rulers of darkness in this world and spiritual wickedness in high places.
If the Church is going to take a stand in this world, then we need to prepare. We must deal with sin in our lives, because it is poisonous. We need to take a good look at what we're doing. If something we've been doing hasn't born fruit in due season, then we need to examine it. That may mean refocusing our efforts. Jesus said that those who hear the Word and will let it take root, they are going to bear much fruit for His Kingdom.
For those of you who don't know where Jesus is, He is at the right hand of His Father in Heaven interceding for His Church.
