Church Leadership- Where Are The Men?

Reading Time 13 min.

Americans used to pride themselves on their masculinity and masculine impulses. Men were men. When I was growing up, the western cowboy was what every kid wanted to be. That rugged individualist fighting off bandits, Indians and cattle rustlers, used to define our culture. Since the 1960s, there has been a change in men. There were still some red-blooded American males in the late 1970s who were inspired by Clint Eastwood's portrayal of Josey Wales and Dirty Harry. 

We once used the titans of the past to inspire us to become a strong nation, masculine, independent men rather than the weak slaves of the state. Thanks to the rise of the New Left, things changed. Great men like MacArthur and Patton are out, and the plant food boys of Antifa are in. That's both because the left canceled our heroes and because the feminist movement led to the feminization of society. People with less than noble motives trashed Titans of history and masculinity itself, destroying our community. A nation needs strong, not weak, men to function. America and the West generally have far too many of the latter and far too few of the former, thanks to what the left and feminists started in the 60s.

Masculinity was kicked out of the workplace, the home, and the Church. The world of cancel culture was in style. I can remember when schoolboys would fight out their difference on the playground. Today they are taught to talk it out, which has resulted in more school shootings than any time in history. Do you remember when guys drove their pick-up truck to school with a rifle in the gun rack?

The heroes of the glorious past are gone. Men like Daniel Boone, Davy Crockett, Robert E. Lee, George Washington, and the 300 Spartans of Thermopylae are being struck from our memory. We are replacing them with celebrities who lead disgusting lives with no real accomplishment or moral code.

And what has that created? A nation of weak men that shy away from pride, accomplishment, and responsibility. They would rather spend their time sitting on the couch playing video games. They live their lives vicariously through sports personalities or movie celebrities. This brings me to what I want to talk about today.

Over the years as a minister, the discussion of women and their role in the Church has sometimes put me at odds with fellow ministers. In some churches, it will look as though Christianity is oppressive to women. But I will contend that women have taken over Christianity. Is this a bad thing? Yes and No. There is a visible lack of men in church attendance. Why? It could be that women have taken over the Church. Let me first say most churches would have closed their doors had it not been for the faithfulness of women in the role of leadership. God has used women from the beginning of the Church. The first messenger of the resurrection was a woman. Jesus commissioned her to tell his disciples he has risen. With that, let me say, I am in agreement with Isaiah the prophet, "As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead you cause you to err and destroy the way of your paths." This is the judgment of God upon a nation where men have failed to be the leaders. The man's leadership role has a significant impact on the well-being of the family and the Church, which, in turn, has a substantial effect on society. 

There has been numerous research done as to why men do not attend Church. I find it strange that 5 out of 6 men will call themselves a Christian, but only a small fraction will attend Church. From the small number who attend Church, fewer are willing to be leaders.

Jesus, the Head of the Church, is a man. The twelve Apostles are men. Elders and deacons are men - since they must be "the husband of one wife" (1 Timothy 3:2, 12).

As leaders in the Church, men have a heavy responsibility. Paul told the elders at Ephesus: "Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood" (Acts 20:28).

The world has redefined leadership, and the idea of being a servant or being humble has been given negative connotations. Yet, the biblical perspective of a Christ-like leader as one who serves others and is humble remains imperative. God is the one who chooses his Church, and he is the One who chooses who leads it – and the men who God calls to lead in the family and the Church have the responsibility to respond and submit to equipping for their leadership role (1 Peter 2:9-10; 2 Corinthians 6:16; 2 Thessalonians 1:13-4). Spiritual leadership comes into focus here since it overlaps with the positions of leadership in family and Church. These leaders are not chosen by the will of man but by God. It should also be understood that God keeps all leaders accountable in the roles to which he has called them.

The man's spiritual leadership role is to accomplish God's purpose in the family. These are based on a firm belief that 1 Peter 2:9-10 biblical norms guide the spiritual leadership role of the man found in Scripture. 

  9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light; 10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy

There is a significant leadership vacuum in Church and society. Genesis 1-3 holds that man was created first by God, after which he was given work to do, and then God created Eve, and together they were given the command to have dominion over the earth (1:27, 28). However, Genesis 3 shows how Adam fails to be the leader that God designed him to be. He disobeys God's command, and sin enters the world. The opening verses in Genesis 1:27, 28 give mankind a glimpse into what God designed as his perfect order for the relationship between man and woman. In the context of humanity, the male was created first, and subsequently, God made the female from the rib of the man. They were both created in the image of God: they were both equal in value but had distinct roles. The equivalent value of man and woman and their specific roles are keys to the way men and women ought to understand their importance and role in family and Church.

Amidst a lost and broken world, God conforms his people to the image of his Son (Romans 8:28-29). Adam's sin caused his fellowship with God to be broken. As a consequence, his connection with his wife is shattered. When men fail to be the leaders at home and in the Church, there is a broken leadership in the family and the Church. Because Adam fails to be the leader in the family, all humanity is paying for his failure. It was not Eve who failed, but Adam. Eve was deceived. Adam was not; he chose to disobey the LORD. The same is true today. God has appointed the father to be the spiritual leader of the family and in the Church. When men are not the spiritual leader in the family, they will not be spiritual leaders in the Church.  

Many within the Church do not understand or know the importance of the order of leadership. Let me use the example of the military.

The type of leadership used by the military was called 'Command and Control' Leadership. It was the style of leadership that worked for centuries. After World War II, command and control leadership was often used extensively in companies where employees expected to spend their entire careers and be rewarded with a pension. Before the internet, employees didn't have as many options to change jobs. Leaving a company searching for greener pastures was less common, as employees valued stability and tenure over flexibility.

This is not true anymore--workers are more comfortable exiting jobs, and more than half of employees are actively looking for a new job. Many workers are happy to be their own boss. 

Today's workers don't need to tolerate command and control leadership. Employees who feel micromanaged or strictly scrutinized by their managers feel comfortable jumping ship and finding a new job with more autonomy to do as they please.

At the end of World War II, there was a change in the family structure. Women had spent the last four years working in the war factories providing for the family. They gained new freedom and independence that allowed them to become independent. This changed the whole leadership role of the family. The husband gave authority over to the wife. He gave his spiritual leadership responsibility to the wife.

An elder must hold "fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict" (Titus 1:9). To be a leader, you must first be taught sound doctrine. You cannot know what sound doctrine is if you have not taken the time to learn. Men in the Church will not take the time to learn sound doctrine. They leave that responsibility to the women.

Peter instructs Elders: "Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by constraint but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock" (1 Peter 5:2, 3). Just a side note, women are not lords.

Younger Christians are to submit to their elders: "Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for 'God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble" (1 Peter 5:5).

If men are not the leader they are called to be, then God will use the women to carry out His plan. In doing this, God brings judgment to the nation, as seen in Isaiah. 

The account of Deborah and Barak is found in Judges 4 and 5 in the Old Testament. The Israelites had been under the control of the Canaanite king Jabin and the commander of his army, Sisera. The Canaanites had 900 chariots of iron and ruled over Israel for 20 years (Judges 4:2–3).

A prophetess named Deborah judged or made rulings for the people of Israel under a palm tree during that time. One of Deborah's judgments was to instruct Barak to summon 10,000 men and attack Jabin's army. Likely fearful of complying with such a command, Barak told Deborah, "If you go with me, I will go; but if you don't go with me, I won't go" (Judges 4:8). She replied, "Certainly I will go with you. . . . But because of the course you are taking, the honor will not be yours, for the Lord will deliver Sisera into the hands of a woman" (verse 9).

Deborah and Barak then gathered 10,000 troops and attacked Sisera and his army. Barak's troops won: "All Sisera's troops fell by the sword; not a man was left" (Judges 4:16). Sisera himself fled to the tent of a Hebrew woman named Jael. She gave him milk to drink and covered him with a blanket in the tent. Then, "Jael . . . picked up a tent peg and a hammer and went quietly to him while he lay fast asleep, exhausted. She drove the peg through his temple into the ground, and he died" (verse 21).

Following this battle, "God subdued Jabin king of Canaan before the Israelites. And the hand of the Israelites pressed harder and harder against Jabin king of Canaan until they destroyed him" (Judges 4:23–24). Deborah's prophecy was fulfilled: Barak won.

• A woman killed Sisera.
• The Israelites were freed from their enemies.

Because Barak would not assume his leadership position, God used two women to give victory to Israel.

Since the laity is primarily women, ministers have adapted their message to women. And men and women have different characteristics. Women will try to gain the goodwill or favor of someone; they try to maintain bonds of friendship; they try to avoid conflict—and all these feminine tendencies have affected both the way churches operate and what doctrines are taught. For example, most agree that sin and evil exist, but personalizing sin and evil damages self-esteem. It is not nice to call someone a sinner or to say they are evil. The result is a "believism" rather than a conversion through conviction, repentance, and new creation. The Scriptural plan of salvation is distasteful, so it is not the accepted method in the profession of Christianity.

I find it amazing that twelve men were the core of leadership at the beginning of the Church, appealing to other men to the point that they turned the world upside down in twenty-four months. Has the Scripture changed? Has the message of salvation changed? Has the message of love become an emotional, squishy relationship of touchy-feely. 

Why is it then we had command and control leadership there was the highest enlistment for military service and love for our county but not for the Church? Yet, 83% of Americans call themselves Christians. Could it be Christianity has lost this masculine sense of a struggle against the forces of evil? Is it that the message has been watered down to passionate feelings and emotional responses that men find difficult to identify with?

Paul used expressions that appealed to men, his description of evil was in military terms like-- conflict, swords, armor, battles, and warfare. Men outside the Church consider going to Church to be a place for passive wimps and other weak people who need help. That may be the reason military enlistment has been voluntary for the past several years. Men are conquerors and protectors and are supposed to be strong. The Church has changed the message to appeal to women, not men. The warrior class is missing. Sunday School lessons are written primarily by women. Devotional and self-help are written to attract the woman reader.

Christianity has become an emotional religion of the heart. Over the years, the Church's terminology has become feminized. The predominance of feminine emotions or religion of the heart has brought about a subtle change in Christianity to conform more to the desires of the feminine heart. A shift in the emphasis on the emotion from the true evil nature of sin has made it difficult to distinguish from the Christianity of the Gospels. The struggle for inner peace and eradicating corruption has all but disappeared from modern Christianity in favor of a message of universal acceptance that does not require holiness but rather goodness.

Many women who are leaders in the "church" have constructed an image of Jesus as they wished men were: sensitive, always ready to talk about their relationship, loving, kind, and unwilling to show anger. This Jesus is not the Jesus of the Scriptures. This is a perverted view of Jesus, making him a wimp in the eyes of men.

Men who are attracted to the Church will not stay in a feminized church. The Church must develop a proper understanding of the meaning of masculinity and femininity, an understanding that is consistent with a balanced view of Scriptures. Only then will men return to the Church and become the leaders they are called to be. I might add that most women I know in the Church would be happy to have men in leadership roles.

So men, if you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior, you have accepted a commission to serve in the Army of the Lord. With that commission comes an oath of service to protect the Church against enemies within and without the Church. Those failing to perform the duties of leadership are traitors. Give the women a break, and it's time to step up and be the leader you have been called to be. 

There was a time when the Sunday school teachers were men. Boyes and girls were taught separately. Men taught the boys, and women taught the girls. 

Titus 2:3-5 The aged women likewise, that they be in behavior as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.

Ladies, I am not the one that handles telling young girls how to dress and conduct themselves. That is your job. Older women in the faith model and teach the younger women the above curriculum so that "the word of God may not be reviled" (Titus 2:5b). The Greek word blasphemer translated "reviled" in English. Blasphemer is a word that is used to mean "to speak against God so that you cast through or make null and void God's word and His truths." [v] God is jealous of His name and His glory (Exod 34:13-14). This is why it is so imperative that Christian women obey the commands to be self-controlled, pure, kind, submissive to their husbands, etc.

Disobedience to these commands can confuse non-Christians into assuming that Christianity does not change a person's heart and behavior but instead causes them to remain the same or become a worse individual. A woman must also resist the temptation to obey the commands she deems worthy of obedience and then disobeys the ones she considers culturally irrelevant. God's Word is timeless, and it must be respected and obeyed in its full context.

It is my responsibility to teach things which become sound doctrine: that the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience. Young men likewise exhort to be sober-minded.

The men of this Church must teach the young men to love their wives and family. You cannot teach what you do not know or practice.

Colossians 3:19 - Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.

Ephesians 5:25 - Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the Church, and gave himself for it;

1 Peter 3:7 - Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honor unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.

Ephesians 5:28 - So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.

1 Timothy 5:8 - But if any provide not for his own, and especially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.

I do not know if the men of this Church will step up to be the spiritual leaders teaching the Word of God and instructing the young men or if the older women will instruct the young women. If you do not assume the responsibility you are charged with, we will lose another generation of our youth.

The Illusion of Winning

Since 2010, I have been saying that we need to prepare for what is coming. I have shown scriptures to prove we will not win the battle against the forces of evil. Only in the coming of Jesus Christ will evil be defeated and judged. We seem to have forgotten that what is happening now is part of the end-time plan.  

Jesus revealed to the Apostle John what would take place. The Evil One--Satan would make war on the saints.

"And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations." Rev. 13:7

The end-time would be a time of people being deceived and worshipping the Devil. It would be a time when the faithful followers of Jesus Christ would be put to death for not worshipping the Devil.

 And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. And he doeth great wonders so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. Rev. 13:11-15

You are either asleep or blind if you cannot see the Church is not winning the battle against sin and evil. We are at a place where evil is in full control, and we cannot stop it. Some openly push an evil agenda, anti-Christ, and criminal, and nothing is being done to stop them. Every day we see malicious actions flaunted before our eyes, and we ask how can this be?

Jesus told His disciples, "Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves." Matthew 10:16

Being wise as a serpent means knowing when to avoid danger. It is time for Christians to learn to recognize when they are losing. We need to learn to accept the imminent defeat and know that Jesus Christ will only win the war. We must learn to rest in the confidence that we are ready to stand for the truth at the cost of death. We must have the faith of the Three Hebrew boys when faced with death.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. Dan 3:16-18

We cannot win all battles, but this does not mean we cannot stand for the truth. The three Hebrews could not win this battle against the angry king and those who plotted against them. They could only stand for what was the truth. They trusted the outcome to the LORD. They were willing and ready to die for their faith. Every major military strategy book advises against fighting battles you cannot win, including The Art of War. We must learn to put the outcome in the hands of the LORD.

I am concerned that the pastors and religious leaders are sending the wrong message today. They keep saying and repeating that Bride of Christ is precious and unique and that it will always be a winner. We are constantly being told that we will be raptured out of tribulation and persecution.

I have often said I hope I am wrong and that the faithful Christians will be spared the tribulation and persecution coming on the Church. I am, however, concerned that many have based their theology on teaching that makes them exceptional to all other Christians down through history.

This is not the impression the LORD has of the present Church. Here is what He sees.

And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Rev.3:14-19

The mentality that we are special has made Christians think they are invincible and the LORD will snatch them out of tribulation and persecution. The problem with this thinking is when you are faced with tribulation and persecution, you are crushed and defeated and will be unable to stand for the truth. The LORD said He wanted them tried in the fire to be made pure. He said nothing about snatching them out of the fire.

It may be cruel to say this, but the modern Christian is nothing special compared to the early Christians who suffered tribulation, persecution, and death for the cause of Christ. How will you react when hard times fall upon the Christians? When in one moment the government takes away all your possessions and locks you away from all your loved ones? If you are not prepared for what is coming, you will be defeated and your faith shattered. Most Christians are not going to be able to cope with what is about to come upon the Church. They have not learned to accept the fact that we cannot win the battles that are coming. We must leave the outcome to the LORD. If we are saved from tribulation, persecution, or death, then we will be blessed. If we must go through terrible times, then we will be richer for the experience and counted worthy to suffer for the LORD. We will have been tried in the fire!

I have come to this conclusion the LORD does not require us to step out and fight in a blaze of glory against tyrants and oppression that is happening right now. Most Christians have no idea who the good guys are and who are the bad guys. It is our responsibility to salt and light. We are to expose the darkness to the light. We are to stand for truth. If we are doing our job, we will become marked individuals.

We are slowly being stripped of our rights as Christians, making us unacceptable to the new normal of society. Conservative Evangelical Christians are already being labeled as "domestic terrorists." I have heard Christians say they will defend their rights and freedom. So on the day when you step out from your house with a rifle in your hands to fight "oppression and tyranny," you'll be shot by a neighbor who sees you as a terrorist, and he is gonna be afraid for his two kids. Or, months before that, you'll be slowly stripped of whatever you own.

We have already seen how the Supreme Court will rule if you own a business and stand for your rights. How are you going to win the battle when you are no longer "acceptable" in the new normal society? How are you going to win the battle when you no longer have a job? How are you going to win the battle when you are portrayed as a terrorist?

I foresee the day when your children and grandchildren will turn you in to authorities because you have weapons, talk about rights and freedom, believe marriage is between and man and woman, and that we are living under a tyrannical government.

Ezekiel 16:44. Behold, everyone that useth proverbs shall use this proverb against thee, saying, As is the mother, so is her daughter. For the son dishonoureth the father, the daughter riseth up against her mother, the daughter in law against her mother in law; a man's enemies are the men of his own house.

Luke 12:49- 53 The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law.

If you think that there will be a major uprising, as seen in the movies, to overthrow the government, you are deceived. I had a man tell me while wearing a mask that the government will not take his guns. He had already been brainwashed to obey mandates; what was he going to do when mandates become law? Some may have forgotten what President Biden said about insurrection. Biden claims that no one can defeat the American government without fighter jets and nuclear weapons. So how is your handgun or rifle going to stop the government? 

Many have forgotten the gun confiscation that took place during Katrina.

 As reported by the Washington Post, New Orleans Superintendent P. Edwin Compass made clear, "No one will be able to be armed," and, "Guns will be taken. Only law enforcement will be allowed to have guns." At the time, NRA Executive Vice-President Wayne LaPierre noted the nature of the seizures, stating, "In many cases, it was from their homes at gunpoint. There were no receipts given or anything else at a time when there was no 911 response, and these citizens were out there on their own protecting their families."

City authorities were selective with their order, discriminating against the most vulnerable. The Times noted that the city's order "apparently does not apply to the hundreds of security guards whom businesses and some wealthy individuals have hired to protect their property… Mr. Compass said that he was aware of the private guards but that the police had no plans to make them give up their weapons."

The Early Church learned how to fight their battles, how to avoid battles, and how to protect themselves against a tyrannical government. They went underground, and they were careful who they confided in. They were protective of one another. We could learn from the early Christians. Keep in mind the line between the loss of freedom of speech and permanently silence them is a short line. Be careful of your actions. We live in a time when you can be shot for not wearing a mask or flying an American flag. What do you think will happen when people find out you are a terrorist?

Another False-Religion

 As a person who values my freedom and liberty, I find it disturbing many are willing to sacrifice so much for safety.  The entire world is paralyzed with fear.  Last year Americans gave up their right to work, earn a living, attend church, visit friends and family, be with dying family members in hospitals and nursing homes.  We wore masks, limited our contact with people, made sure we stayed six feet from other humans, sanitized everything we touched because we were afraid we might die.  The fearful developed a new religion based on fear.  Safety became the watchword of this new religion.  If your husband or wife had to die alone, it was worth being safe if your grandmother or grandfather was locked in solitary confinement in a nursing home; that too is worth it for the sake of safety.  

What added insult to injury is the number of politicians, doctors, scientists who lied to us for the sake of safety.  Truth is not as important as safety.  Ever since the Patriot Act, we have been deprived of the joys of freedom and liberty.  We are afraid of getting sick. We see a terrorist in those who own a gun, speak against the tyranny of the government, belong to a Patriotic organization, fly the American flag, and believe the Bible.  Elected leaders and self-appointed spokespeople for safety have labeled those who hold freedom and liberty sacred as domestic terrorists or extremists.

While our cities are burning, we defund the police.  Elected leaders ignore the violence sweeping the country.  Those in the safety religion are only concerned with one thing, have you bowed your knee to compliance and taken the sacred shot?  

When will we say enough is enough?  

The final push toward a totalitarian state is upon us, and an all-out assault on freedom and liberty seems imminent. 

With half of the population joining the religion of Safety-ism and obeying every tenant of the faith, what are those that see this new religion as false teaching and are willing to defy the lie to do?  The leaders of this false religion will be pushing their evangelism with extreme propaganda, fear-mongering, fake "virus" attacks, more mask-wearing, more vaccine mandates, and more social distancing. There will be martial law declared in non-compliant areas as the tyranny reaches total control.

The more that refuse to accept this false religion, the better, as time runs out to convert the non-believers. There will be a more significant push to convert.  There will undoubtedly be many deaths in the fall and winter, which will be blamed on those who have not converted and bowed the knee to compliance and taken the sacred jab. The wheels of tyranny will turn faster and faster in an attempt to finish this long-planned coup to capture and control the hearts and minds of humanity.   

As a person who values my freedom and liberty, I am not willing to sacrifice so much for safety.  I refused to be paralyzed with fear.  I have put my trust in the LORD and will accept what he has for me. 

The Belt of Truth

 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.  Eph. 6:14-15

In the '70s, a famous saying was, "If it feels good, do it." Today we hear that same mentality expressed in sentiments like: "What's truth for you may not be the truth for me." The saying has so thoroughly saturated our culture that our top value as a nation is tolerance. Tolerance Today does not merely mean that you accept another person for who they are. Today the term "tolerance" means you must affirm and endorse people's values and behaviors. If not, you are a bigot or some other malicious creature.

Anyone who questions the set agenda of the Synagogue of Satan will be labeled a conspiracy theorist, anti-vaxxer, white supremacist, racist, domestic terrorist, an enemy of the state, or extremist. 

 

Each one of these labels is a lie against the Truth.  You need to know this, I don’t care if you agree with me or not but when I give you the message of the LORD your disagreement is not with me but the LORD.

 

 The problem is that as American Christians, we have turned a deaf ear to the voice of God for so long that we can no longer distinguish his voice from the noise of Satan. We have enjoyed our comfort zone of ease and pleasure for so long that we have lost our dependence upon God to supply our needs. We have become complacent, self-absorbed, and blinded with false teaching to the place we have grieved the very heart of GOD.

 

We started down this slippery slope when we felt we must be tolerant of everyone's views. Our tolerance led to the acceptance of the very thing God warned us against. The tolerance deadened our hearing to the voice of the Spirit. Our acceptance of allowing everyone to do what was right in their own eyes turned us from the absolute Truth to the gray areas of sin. The result is that we are no longer just tolerating and accepting evil; we are condoning it. We have been walking on corrupt ground for so long we have forgotten what it is to serve God. God says, "This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me." We must never forget that not everyone who says, "Lord, Lord will enter into the Kingdom of God."

 

Our tolerance has created a society where the enemies of God are openly opposed to Him and those who faithfully serve the LORD. To question the lies that are promoted each day will get you marginalize, silenced, de-platformed, or in some cases, arrested. We are being lied to each day about medicine, education, science, technology, religion, gender identity, race, you name the subject, and there will be a lie.  

 

Are you aware that Satan wants to poison your thoughts and emotions away from the purity of God's Truth this morning? His attacks center on two areas: your mind and your heart. Jesus calls Satan the Father of Lies in Jn. 8:44. Jesus warns us that we face the Devil's onslaught in the realm of lies vs. Truth daily. That means to stand for the Lord Today, and we must:

 

BE ON GUARD FOR THE FATHER OF LIES

The Father of lies wants to snatch the Word of God from you.

The Father of lies wants you to think that sin is not so bad. Hebrews 3:13 13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called Today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

 

The Father of lies wants you to learn to laugh at sin on television or at the movies. Proverbs 14:9 9 Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favor.

 

The Father of lies wants to destroy your conscience so it will no longer warn you.  Timothy-1 4:2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

 

The Father of lies wants to entertain you with sin so that you won't think it's as evil as sin is.  1 Thes.2:11-12 Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the Truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

 

The Father of lies wants to drown you in a sea of sin so that you become very tolerant of it. 1 Corinthians 5:11 11 But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner—not even to eat with such a person.

 

He wants to fill your mind with doubts, lies, immorality, and false doctrine.

James 1:5-8 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. 6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.

 

He wants to debilitate your will and get you to do things you shouldn't do.

Romans 7:8-17 8 But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law, sin was dead. 9 For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. 10 And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death. 11 For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me.

12 Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. 13 Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful. 14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. 

15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. 16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. 17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me

. good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by [his] fruit. 1Corinthians- 15:33 Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.

 

How can we combat these lies? We must have the mind of Christ and put on the armor he has given us. We are starting with the belt of Truth.

WE WEAR HIS TRUTH as the guide of all our ways. John 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the Truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. Christ, saturates us with the Word of God, and it becomes part of our very life.

 

When we trust Christ, we received Him as Truth. Paul told the Romans to "put on the Lord Jesus Christ" (Rom. 13:14). By faith, put on the armor and trust God for the victory. Once and for all, we have put on the armor at the moment of salvation. But there must be a daily renewal. When King David put off his armor and returned to his palace, he was in greater danger than on the battlefield (2 Sam. 11). We are never out of reach of Satan's devices, so we must never be without the whole armor of God.

 

In Ephesians 6:10-17, we see six clear articles we are commanded to wear.

 

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the Devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood. Still, against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

 

Belt of Truth (v.14a) Vital to every soldier was this belt from which all battle tools hung. This belt also held the soldier's robe together. To the Christian soldier, a belt of Truth means that we are surrounded by "honesty," "truthfulness," "integrity," and "sincerity" that Truth governs every part of our life. Dishonesty brings defeat! If we are not belted, if Truth does not hold in our lives, any deception will bring defeat to our lives.

 

God calls each of us to stand in joy, peace, hope, and love. Satan, the world, and our flesh call each of us to fall into anger, anxiety, fear, and selfishness.

 

We face the unseen but real world of the supernatural—spirit beings of immense powers of evil. Christ already defeats these enemies, but their deadly forces are only resisted by us when walking in step with the Spirit of God in Truth.

 

The complete guide to standing and not falling into sin, discouragement, hopelessness, uselessness, and emptiness is right here before us in Ephesians 6. The key to powerful ministry is right here. The way God has planned for our lives to magnify the Lord and unleash His Word is right here.

 

The Roman soldier had a thick leather belt that held their gear in place and could cinch up their tunic for battle. The standard dress was a large square of material with head and armholes draped loosely over the body. In any combat, that looseness of the garment ended. No tangles were desired, and the belt held fast the cinched-up tunic.

 

The Truth is to hold us up, hold us in, and protect us from falling. We are held in place by Truth. This Word (Aletheia) means both the content of Truth and the truthfulness of our life. God wants both. He wants us to know the content of Truth and live the integrity of truthfulness. Truth means we have the readiness to obey; we have the integrity of commitment to Truth; we are opposed to all deception and dishonesty. We have no loose ends of our life that dangle and trip us up. We are girded, belted, strapped in by Truth.

 

Knowing the Truth saves us. (Jn. 8:32; 17:3)

 Eating the Truth sanctifies us, which means it makes us worthwhile to God. (Jn. 17:17)

 Surrendering to the Truth transforms us (Rm. 12:1-2)

Obeying the Truth stabilizes us (2 Tim. 2:4; Heb. 12:1-2)

Our lives are to be surrounded and held together by Truth we know, believe, and practice.

 

How many times have I said we are in a war against evil? 

 

Girding of our loins with Truth means that tunic had to be tucked in and girded around them. Do you know what this was? A CALL FOR PREPAREDNESS IN THE TRUTH. Now turn to Luke 12:35. Our Lord talks about this, spiritually speaking, to his disciples. He reminds them, "Be dressed in readiness," or "be girded - to put on what you need for what's coming." Why? Verse 35 - "and keep your lamps alight and be like men who are waiting for their master when he returns from the wedding feast." What he's talking about is, be perpetually on the alert. That's what this was girding up the loins was about. He said if you're in the battle and if you are going to be involved, he says, "Gird up your loins, put on your belt. So, it has to do with the whole idea of being committed and being ready to go into battle. And that commitment of being prepared to go into battle means that we are ready.

 

Many Christians are defeated, their minds wander, their hearts are divided, their concentration is broken, and they have not girded up their spiritual loins to battle. They haven't yielded and focused on Jesus Christ. They have not calculated the cost. They have not decided to discipline and bring themself under the control of the Holy Spirit.  

As the Truth of God penetrates your mind, it attacks and demolishes the sin it confronts.

 

John 17:17 was what Jesus told us, Mt. 4 He demonstrated it! Jesus said the way we become holy is through the Word. 

Remember, this book will keep you from sin, and sin will keep you from this book!

 

Jesus Christ, the Truth Liberates Us from Bondage.

 

How does sin imprison us? Fearfulness is a form of evil that imprisons believers. This type of fear is not from God. We are living in a time where fear is the watchword of the day. There is a new expression being used called fear porn. People are living their lives in fear that is being pushed on them every day. 

 

We have become accustomed to hiding behind a mask, being locked in our homes, avoiding physical contact, all based on fear of dying.

 

Paul told Timothy that "God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a strong mind." Truth liberates us from the prison-house of fear where we are captives and liberates us to trust, follow, and walk in the newness of life in Christ.

 

Are you exercising yourself in the Discipline of Truth? The Discipline of Truth starts by personally meeting Jesus Christ by faith, bowing before Him as Lord and Savior, and receiving by faith His salvation and then living each day asking Him to liberate us from the imprisoning power of sins like fear, impurity, bitterness, rebellion or jealousy.

 

The Discipline of Truth sets us free from living under the imprisoning power of fear. Fear imprisons us, but Christ the Truth liberates us. Sin can also imprison us with impurity, with pride, with doubt, with jealousy, or with any other of the sins of the flesh. Sin imprisons, but the Truth of Jesus Christ sets us free. How? By asking for freedom. It is that simple.

 

Believing God enough to walk before His Throne by faith and confess: "Almighty God, I believe what You say. I am a prisoner of fear, or impurity, or bitterness, rebellion or whatever. I ask you to set me free."

 

That instant, God responds. We are freed. That is the power of God, the supernatural work of God in us. But, why are we not then free from that particular sin, or even all sin from then on? Why do we go from the spiritual bliss of forgiveness and liberation to defeat and coldness towards God after a while? Stated, it is because we neglect God's Word.

 

Look back at John 17:17 with me because there we find another dimension of the Truth. We have already seen:

• First, we know the Truth is a person of incomprehensible importance.--Jesus Christ.

• Second, we know the Truth is a power that sets us free from the imprisonment of sin. But now:

Third, we know the Truth is the Book God wrote that Sanctifies us.

In John 17:17, Jesus Christ explains to us the heart of the Discipline of Truth: John 17:17 (NKJV) "Sanctify them by Thy truth. Thy Word is Truth".

 

It is essential to know the Truth. It is crucial to stand for the Truth. It is vital to understand how to use Truth as a weapon against sin and evil. We can change the hearts of evil men by the Truth. We must stand for the Truth and push back against the lies that we face each day. You must become the voice of Truth to a world that is based on lies.

 

Spread the Word. Stay Informed. Be Prepared. Remain Vigilant. Stay Ahead of the Curve. Remain Flexible. Have a Backup Plan. Follow the Money. Don't fall for the Narrative. Determine Who Benefits. Resistance is Always Greater When You are over The Target. Discover Who You Cannot Criticize. Stand fast in the liberty wherein Christ has made you free.  Push back on the lies that are bringing death to those who deny the Truth.  Be the light and salt you have been called to be in a world of darkness.

A Conspiracy Theorist

 I have for years been considered a conspiracy theorist because of my viewpoints on specific issues.  What I find interesting is that many of my conspiracy ideas have become an open reality.  This tells me it was not a theory but a truth.  Anytime you expose the profits and power of an individual or group, the more likely you will be considered a conspiracy theorist.  The controlling manipulators of this world do not want their evil exposed.  They will use terms designed to marginalize and ridicule you.

The term conspiracy theorist has been purposely planted in our minds as a deflection of truth.  Most people refuse to know that they have been subconsciously programmed to consider a conspiracy theory as a lie.  The idea that it is too far-fetched to be true is an insult to their intelligence, and they cannot accept it as truth.  All one needs to do is classify the information as a conspiracy theory, and we can go back to our safe illusion that we are still free people.

When I write about the dangers of government control, the lethality of taking the kill shot, the war on the white race, the complete loss of our freedoms, the breakdown of the supply chain, the collapse of our economy, the signs of the end time, I am not doing this because I'm not too fond of the government, the medical industry, or the race, gender or religion of those different from me.  I do it because I am required to be a light unto the world.  That means I must expose the darkness in the world by shining the light of truth on what is taking place.  It would be so much better for me to remain silent and not have the judgment, shaming, ridicule, hate, and exclusion from exposing the lie.  I love my family, friends, and neighbors but run the risk every time I write something outside the accepted norm of losing them.

Paul wrote in Ephesians 5:11, said, And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.  If there is something evil, then it must be exposed.  Christians have been exposing the corruption or so-called 'conspiracy theories in this world for decades. They have delved into the darkest recesses of what humanity is capable of, consciously lifting the veil to see the world for what it is. Many know the veil exists, but they don't dare to look beyond it. These are the people who shout out 'conspiracy theorists.  These people are not brave. They are unconscious.  They have their eyes blinded by Satan and refuse to see the truth.

I have struggled with the value of sharing information that exposes the lie or keep the information to myself.  There are many things I know to be the truth that cannot be shared with others because they lack background knowledge, refuse to change their thinking, and do not see the importance of exposing the lie.  These people are in complete denial and will continue to drink the Kool-Aide.  They are content to be entertained by a steady diet of propaganda and lies from the MSM, Hollywood, and a corrupt government.

You may call me a conspiracy theorist as a derogatory remark. Still, I will consider you another person programmed to accept the lie and a denier of truth, blinded by Satan and the delusion that you are free.