Better In Church
Good Morning
I was listening to Candice Owens recently. (I do so every six months or so, just to hear what she is saying.) That gal is conservative and articulate and would agree with us on much; but here are the two main subjects she talked about.
The reverse prejudice in NASCAR and Elon Musk blaming elite schools for turning his children into gender-confused commies. Regarding NASCAR, she said that if they had offered an internship with the requirements being “white,” the world would have exploded, but to say it required a black, Spanish, etc. was, somehow, okay. That observation is clearly true, and I find it amazing that NASCAR did this (she was accurate in her comments on the situation). As I recall, I was talking about the same subject thirty years ago when scholarships were only available in certain areas for minorities (certain universities even stopped offering scholarships to Asian students). Candice Owens has thousands of followers, and I am glad for that (I only have a handful). Listening to her provides a breath of fresh air. Honestly, though, she says little that has not been in Bible-believing pulpits for decades.
Regarding her comments on Elon Musk, the same can be said about Sean Hannity, who commented years ago that he sent his daughter to a big-name university, and she returned thinking he was an evil man ruining America (or something similar). Decades ago, I said, “Of course, that happened!” He sent his child to a school filled with anti-American, socialist-communist, anti-God, teachers and programs. Candice’s listeners could have received that revelation decades ago in any number of Bible-believing churches. I am glad she said it; my observation is that she is decades behind any good church.
I have been preaching against the corrupt colleges, universities, high schools, and elementary schools since I started our church in 1982, and I heard it from my pastor several years prior to entering the ministry.
I am not criticizing Candice Owens; I like her, and am so glad she is getting truth to an audience I will probably never reach. Had her audience been in old-fashioned Bible-believing churches, they would not be mourning their bad choices regarding life. Had Elon Musk joined our church he would have known better, and we would have had our new building.
When I say, “the church” in the following comments I am strictly referring to Bible-believing, KJV preaching, separated churches; there is a reason for that caveat, but I will not explain it here. Be sure that when I say, “the church,” I am not meaning Catholic, contemporary, Mormon, or others like that.
Now to the thoughts that were provoked by my observation:
• The church is the place that offers light in a dark world.
• The church is the place where Truth overshadows darkness.
• The church gives wisdom so parents can see what lies ahead.
• The church is the place where truth is clearly compared to the lies of the world.
• The church is the distributor of vision – the ability to walk into a situation and turn a few words into philosophical statements. (i.e. I had not heard President Obama speak five minutes before it was clear that he was Anti-American, anti-God, liberal, against the Constitution, and so much more – it took only minutes to notice. Every moderate or conservative who voted for him could have been enlightened and forwarned had they been a member of an old-fashioned, Bible-believing, separated, Baptist church.)
The church offers protection from error and warns about forks on the road of truth or error. The church trains the eye and ear to identify and classify foolishness and wisdom.
The church is the answer! (Remember my comment on what kind of church.)
Psalm 119:130 “The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.”
Psalm 19:11 “Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.”
Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
Titus 1:3 “But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching…”
1 Corinthians 1:18 “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.”
vs.19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.
Many such verses tell of the power of the Word of God and of the preaching of the Word. It may not be “trendy,” and it may not be something spectacular and new, but “new truth” has been in our pulpits for generations, folks just want to discover truth without getting too religious or committed to the holiness of God.
I heard a good young mother talk about a podcaster who made profound statements about training children, but the very subjects she commented on would have been common in a Fundamental Baptist pulpit anywhere from California to New York. There is a difference though; you pick and choose your podcast, but the preacher is in your face three times a week.
I, for one, love it! God bless the church!
Pastor
