The declaration of the fact we are sinners is rare these days. I’ve become saddened that so many people refuse to see that they are indeed wretched sinners, in need of a savior. The mere mention of the fact that we sin is enough these days to engender a harsh reaction, even profanity and blasphemy. I’m not kidding, the reactions are loud and brash.
People say that rather than see ourselves as at the core evil, we are created in the image of God and insinuate that then, of course, we are intrinsically good and worthy. They say things like ‘we’ve gone off course’, or ‘missed the mark’, or just ‘need a mid-course correction.’
NOOOOOOOO! It is a pure satanic twist, perpetuating the oldest and most basic satanic lie: changing the plain language of “sin”.
If we are intrinsically good and worthy, we do not believe we need a savior, which suits satan just fine. Satan’s first lie is that man is intrinsically good. We are not. Satan says if we are left to ourselves, we will do things that are moral, just and upright, (like heal the planet and refrain from wars and enact social justice and behave equitably.
Don’t you think that if we could collectively do that which is just and moral we would have already? Satan’s lie about just how good we are is refuted in Romans 5:12 “Wherefore by one man sin entered the world and death by sin, so then death is passed upon all men for all have sinned.”
Once the notion of sin is pushed away, and made to seem like just little stumbles, we can feel safe in taking the safe path toward a SELF-correction. That path is NOT safe, it is the worst of dangers and snares! “The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, That one may avoid the snares of death.” (Proverbs 14:7).
So do we believe the sins of the world can be cured by intrinsically good and worthy people working together to stop the ‘mistakes’ of oil drilling and excessive carbon emissions and social injustice? Has it worked, yet? This is another satanic lie, that we can control our own destiny.
Satan says man “is the captain of my own fate.” The LORD is the captain of our fate. The Scripture says, “A man can do nothing except it be given him from heaven.” (John 3:27) and “We can make our plans, but the final outcome is in God’s hands.” (Proverbs 16:1)
Even words previously commonly understood like racism, misogyny, equity, justice have been perverted to mean things they are not.
“They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator–who is forever praised. Amen.” (Romans 1:25). Earth-worship is not new, but calling oil drilling or climate change a sin or that we can manage ‘climate change’ by dwelling in a hotter house are vain acts.
It is the end time. “The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. (1 Timothy 4:1).
In these days of doctrines of demons, we read a great many things that are couched slyly as satan would say, with insinuating concepts of God as outdated, of personal sin as too harsh to accept against our innate goodness, of men who can collectively make a list and change the world through strength and actions of their own control of destiny.
Watch for statements like those, of conversations that accept these lies. We must be strong and call these statements what they are, not mistakes, or wrong thinking, but lies. We do not need correction of national mistakes, but forgiveness of personal sin. Why be so clear and pointed? Jesus calls them lies. Jesus calls them antichrists. “For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist.” (2 John 1:7). “Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have appeared; from this we know that it is the last hour.”
I’m not talking about the burnout that some busy pastors or elders experience, though that is a real thing as well. A genuinely burned out pastor is a tragedy. It happens over time from mental stresses of studying to produce an accurate sermon or two each week; from sadness of counseling relationally broken relationships, or physical exhaustion of small church pastors who do everything from mow the grass to paint the fellowship hall.
I’m not talking about spiritual weariness either. That’s when the relentlessness of daily Bible reading, prayer, intercession, church-going one or more times per week, just the long-term weariness that comes when you do anything for along time. Some days you (or I) might not feel like reading the Bible. We might not feel like praying. We might not feel like leading or participating in home devotions. We might feel ‘dry’ or distant from God. We’re weary.
I’m talking about spiritual exhaustion. Like after you’ve delved into a Bible teacher in a discernment project and discovered he or she is false. Like after a series of close encounters in a spiritual battle over your sin or the impact of others’ sin upon you. Like after a period of extra-closeness with the Lord. Close-up holiness is spiritually exhausting to the still-sinful human.
Here is a biblical example of spiritual exhaustion. Daniel.
This precious prophet was given a lengthy vision of the time of the end. All the abominations and trampling and death and inexplicable scenes, and especially the blasphemy, passed through his Yahweh-loving mind and his heart. When the vision was done, Daniel said,
Then I, Daniel, was exhausted and sick for days. Then I got up again and carried on the king’s business; but I was astounded at the vision, and there was none to explain it. (Daniel 8:27).
He said in the next chapter,
while I was still speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision previously, came to me in my extreme weariness about the time of the evening offering (Daniel 9:21).
Paul experienced spiritual exhaustion. And no wonder! He endured more hardships over 40 years than anyone I can think of! He traveled thousands of miles planting churches, relentlessly writing letters to each, urging spiritual strength and reliance on God. And he was the model of it. He said that he was weary often to the point of exhaustion, excessively grieved, sorrowful, angry, concerned… He relentlessly prayed for his congregations. He mourned over their sin. He engaged in endless spiritual battles.
When he wrote he was poured out like a drink offering, it means he had served the Lord down to his dregs. He was exhausted, used up, wrung out, and rejoiced in his soon homecoming.
Not many of us are called to serve like that, but in our frailties, we do get spiritually exhausted. Always turn in prayer and the word of God to refresh. His is an infinite and endless fountain of refreshment in living water.
He will lift you, sustain you, refresh you!
“For I satisfy the weary soul and fill up every soul who wastes away.” (Jeremiah 31:25)
“Female priests asked why God was still referred to as a man. The new form of worship, which removes words such as “Lord, he, his, him” and “mankind” from services, has been written by the church in an attempt to acknowledge that God is “beyond human gender”. Episcopalian bishops have approved the introduction of more “inclusive” language, which deliberately removes references suggesting that God is of male gender.”
They were already on a bad path. Did you catch that? “Female priests.” It sounds humble to say God is beyond gender. And while it is true, it is not humble. God revealed Himself as male in His word in His own words.
Once man decides to alter God’s word, it never stops there. It’s like all the leashes, and guardrails, and boundaries suddenly disappear and all bets are off. The Bible becomes a free-for-all.
Since sin never lays still and never ceases to try and pollute God’s people and His church, I decided to check back in now that 13 years have passed. Let’s see how the Scottish Episcopal Church is doing now. There is an advantage to have been blogging for 15 years, the chronicling I’ve done allows me to see trajectories. So, I checked back in with the Scottish Episcopal church now that it’s 2023 and 13 years have passed.
What happens when the rock starts sliding down the hill? It picks up speed. By 2017 the Scottish Episcopal Church voted to allow homosexual marriage. To become homosexual “inclusive”. Just 7 years after the change of language of God as male. It was stated,
By removing gender from our marriage canon, our church now affirms that a same sex couple are not just married but are married in the sight of God.
By the way, they call homosexual marriage “equal marriage”.
First, we already know that God is spirit and thus beyond human gender. Reiterating that fact by changing the language is not necessary. That language is already in the Bible. As John 4:24 states, “God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.” God is a spiritual being. We all know that if we read the Bible.
However, when the ‘female priests asked why God is referred to as a man’, their first answer should have been to refer to the scriptures. The answer is that though God is Spirit, He chose to reveal Himself to humankind as male, and His son was revealed to us as a male also. It is too bad that the method God chose to speak of Himself and the way He chose to reveal Himself to us is not sufficient for the priests at this church. But they were female priests, so…already in sin and therefore unable to think properly of the things above.
Secondly, Jesus, His son, referred to Him as male.
John 8:19 – “So they were saying to Him, “Where is Your Father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither Me nor My Father; if you knew Me, you would know My Father also.””
John 20:17 – “Jesus said to her, “Stop clinging to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I ascend to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God.'”” The Apostles also referred to God as a male. (Jude 1:1; 1 Peter 1:3; 2 Thess 1:2…) I’m sorry that the way that our Savior spoke of our Father is not credible to the priests.
They use the word ‘inclusive.” The word ‘inclusive’ these days is usually a code for ‘man’s fleshly desire.’ God is inclusive because anyone who calls on the name of God and repents will be saved.
Changing the scriptures to align with individual desires or mass culture is not only dangerous, but blasphemy. Why? “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,” (2 Tim 3:16). The scriptures the Scottish Church is changing were delivered by God. Man’s corruption of God’s work is blasphemy because it directly disrespects God and His sacred Word. Again, to use an overused word, “all scripture” means ALL, inclusive of Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21.
But! We were told that the days would come when people would not stand for the scriptures as is, but succumb to the pleasant words of man, wanting their ears tickled instead. “For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.”
UK Telegraph article concludes, “the blessing at the end of services has been changed by some ministers from “Father, Son and Holy Spirit” to “Creator, Redeemer and Sanctifier”. “The changing of God language is a little tricky,” admitted Rev Darren McFarland, convener of the church’s liturgy committee…” Well that explains it. A committee!
Someone got a raise you thought you should receive. Jealous! A friend got a new dress and it looks good on her. Jealous! Someone has a better relationship with the boss than you do. Jealous!
There are a million ways to sin with the sin of jealousy. Sin is endless and inventive. We could be jealous of someone’s looks, their power, their influence, their speaking ability, their clothes, their car, their house, their kids, their husband… Goodness, I could fill the internet with more ways to be jealous. It is a very old sin and it appears suddenly as an angry flash or simmers in a low burn that settles in with a long lease of resentment that eats away your insides.
We see in the Bible numerous instances of jealousy. None of them had a good ending.
Miriam and Aaron were jealous against their brother Moses (Numbers 12).
In this instance, Miriam seems to be the ringleader. She was jealous that God spoke to Moses and not to her (or Aaron). Barnes’ Notes says,
Miriam, as a prophetess (compare Exodus 15:20-21) no less than as the sister of Moses and Aaron, took the first rank among the women of Israel; and Aaron may be regarded as the ecclesiastical head of the whole nation. But instead of being grateful for these high dignities they challenged the special vocation of Moses and the exclusive authority which God had assigned to him.
She dare not accuse God, so she accused his intermarriage with an Ethiopian woman. This turned out to be a critical mistake. God gave Miriam leprosy. Moses begged, and God changed it to leprosy for a week. I surmise it was a lesson Miriam never forgot.
A tranquil heart is life to the body, But jealousy is rottenness to the bones. (Proverbs 14:30).
Miriam is cursed with Leprosy, stained glass, mid-16th c., Museum Schnütgen. Wikimedia
Eliab (the eldest) was jealous of his brother David (the youngest) (1 Samuel 17:28-29)
Now Eliab his oldest brother heard when he spoke to the men; and Eliab’s anger burned against David and he said, “Why have you come down? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your insolence and the wickedness of your heart; for you have come down in order to see the battle.” 29But David said, “What have I done now?”
First of all we see in David’s reply that this isn’t the first time his oldest brother had spoken this way to the youngest. Perhaps Eliab was still smarting over David being selected for king over him. Matthew Henry points out the nature of jealousy here:
Consider this, (1.) As the fruit of Eliab’s jealousy. He was the eldest brother, and David the youngest, and perhaps it had been customary with him (as it is with too many elder brothers) to trample upon him and take every occasion to chide him. But those who thus exalt themselves over their juniors may perhaps live to see themselves, by a righteous providence, abased, and those to whom they are abusive exalted. Time may come when the elder may serve the younger. But Eliab was now vexed that his younger brother should speak those bold words against the Philistine which he himself durst not say. He knew what honour David had already had in the court, and, if he should now get honour in the camp (from which he thought he had found means effectively to seclude him, v. 15), the glory of his elder brethren would be eclipsed and stained; and therefore (such is the nature of jealousy)…
Henry, M. (1994). Matthew Henry’s commentary on the whole Bible: complete and unabridged in one volume (p. 413). Hendrickson.
Eliab had thought that a lowly occupation such as shepherding was proper for the ruddy faced runt, while Eliab perhaps intended to gain glory on the battlefield, a nobler pursuit in his eyes. And now here was David intruding on his sphere, which Eliab had thought was all to himself! Jealous! We know the end. David slew Goliath and his stature grew. Eliab’s faded.
Proverbs 29:23– A person’s pride will bring him low, But a humble spirit will obtain honor.
A most famous instance of jealousy is King Saul against David.
Now it happened as they were coming, when David returned from killing the Philistine, that the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with joy and with other musical instruments. 7 The women sang as they played, and said,
“Saul has slain his thousands, And David his ten thousands.”
8 Then Saul became very angry, for this lyric displeased him; and he said, “They have given David credit for ten thousands, but to me they have given credit for only thousands! Now what more can he have but the kingdom?” (1 Samuel 18:6-8)
In his increasing jealousy-fueled paranoia, Saul tried to kill David numerous times. This is the end result of jealousy. Or, perhaps even further along the spectrum, madness is. Saul in the end tried to commune with a witch and contact the dead. Crazy time.
Sin will always drag you along a path you don’t want to go. If you were shown where unresolved jealousy ends up from the beginning, you would either be horrified and repent immediately, or you would just not believe it. But like leaven that puffs up dough, sin spreads and infuses your soul in ever increasing amounts. Jealousy is one of those sins.
Other instances of jealousy that didn’t turn out well are of course, Joseph and his brothers (they didn’t like hearing they would bow down to Joseph, nor did they like their father’s favoritism). (Genesis 37:11). They had a point with that last one. But that is no reason to attempt murder. See? Jealousy brings a person along. If the brothers were told when Joseph was born, looking at that sweet innocent baby, that one day they would try to kill him, throw him down a well, and later sell him to slave traders, they’d be aghast. But jealousy builds.
The Corinthians. Paul had to speak severely to that group. They were dividing into factions, and puffed up with pride and jealousy, which was causing strife.
And I, brothers and sisters, could not speak to you as spiritual people, but only as fleshly, as to infants in Christ. 2 I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to consume it. But even now you are not yet able, 3 for you are still fleshly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like ordinary people? 4 For when one person says, “I am with Paul,” and another, “I am with Apollos,” are you not ordinary people? (1 Corinthians 3:1-4).
In my opinion, people think too little of the seriousness of sin these days. All sins. Any sin. Jerry Bridges wrote a terrific book called Respectable Sins. “Have we become so focused on “major” sins that we’ve grown apathetic about our subtle sins? Renowned author Jerry Bridges takes you into a deep look at the corrosive patterns of behavior that we often accept as normal”…
No, while sin is part of our nature, sin is not normal. It didn’t start out that way. In the beginning, all things were “very good.” But disobedience to the Holy God of creation occurred and we inherited sin natures from Adam. Before salvation we sinned every day…every moment. We are awash in sin and do not recognize it. But once the Light comes and we see the darkness of our heart, we are grateful for the Holy Spirit’s help in slaying jealousy and other sins that try to thwart our holy walk with God.
Jealousy may be common to the human condition, as we see in the biblical examples, but it is not right. It leads down a tunnel of darkness that could end in murder, madness, or separation from God*. At the very least, it hinders our walk with God and destroys earthly relationships.
The good news is as Christians we can ask the Holy Spirit to help us identify its presence in our life, and once detected, to kill it. Step on that spider making a strangling web around your heart, and come back into full light of holiness.
*If we are saved, we cannot lose our salvation, but we could feel separate from God and the unrepented-of sin could hinder our walk, and destroy blessings. If we are not saved, jealousy could indicate that the person isn’t saved, and in the end demonstrate their walk was not genuine.
Editor Note: Pastor James Bell has been pastoring Southside Baptist Church in Gallatin TN for nearly 50 years. He sends a weekly newsletter and I am a recipient of it, even though I am not a member of this Tennessee congregation. Pastor James Bell is an example of one of the many, many pastors who labor faithfully in unknown corners of the world, shepherding, teaching, evangelizing persistently. The Lord has many like him, and I take encouragement from that fact every time I read one of his newsletters. I also take encouragement from its contents, always solidly Christian and quite encouraging. The newsletter material below is excerpted. It is Volume 48, No. 32, which means it is the 48th year of this newsletter and the 32nd week is August 15, 2023.
Again, the church is Southside Baptist Church / P.O. Box 1594 / 1028 South Water Avenue, Gallatin, TN 37066 (615) 452-5951.
Grow in grace newsletter! BY PASTOR JAMES BELL
Poisoned arrows! The Lord’s supper!
I. Faithfulness to Jesus; regardless of poisoned arrows! Years ago, missionary John G. Paton, was warned not to take the gospel among the ‘head-hunters’ in the New Hebrides! Why? They killed with poisoned arrows and had a reputation of never missing their targets! Paton remained focused on taking the gospel to these lost souls! Paton, obviously, believed that living and spreading the gospel must not be stopped because of difficulty or danger!
Trusting God alone and in bold humility, Paton proclaimed: “I am invincible until God calls me home!” so, Paton went to the New Hebrides; he arrived and proceeded inland! The poisoned arrows began to fly— but all of them missed their target! The head-hunters were so stunned that they listened to the gospel; and the kingdom of God was advanced.
II. What was it— now 3 or 4 years back? We had to deal with a virus, called covid-19. We were bombarded with 24 hour per day ‘official’ information from select elite sources— mostly from ‘authorities’ who were not on the front lines of actually treating patients! However, they and the many who supported them screamed: “Do what we say or you will die; or you might cause others to die! The positions of Dr. Fauci; CDC, (and others who agreed with them); and the media who was their 24/7 mouth-piece must be believed. All other positions are extreme, radical conspiracy theories. Moreover, these demi-Gods warned: “we will delete your information, which is different from ours; and block you from information which is different from ours.” as a result, many lived in daily fear and isolation!
Iii. There was and still is a virus; and some are warning of worse ones to come! Wake up— history is filled with the accounts of diseases and plagues and much more! Jesus warns of more coming. In the midst, Christians, we have a high calling!
Iv. Faithfulness with the gospel!
Regardless of various diseases, wars, persecutions, financial troubles— Jesus will continue to build his church. [the religious harlot who loves the world and is loved by the world is not what Jesus builds!] The church which Jesus is and will be building will be built by those, (like John Paton), who know that they/we are free to go forward, advancing the gospel— because, we are “invincible until God calls us home!” the apostle Paul labored with the same spirit: acts 20:21-24!!
Questions I must ask myself:
[1] am I, in all honesty living in morbid fear: forsaking the local church to which I say the holy spirit has joined me— forsaking gathering to worship; forsaking the encouragement of fellow saints; and forsaking going out to proclaim the gospel— because I fear I might die? (or because I fear I might lose friends?)
[2] or… Am I going to go forth in submission to Christ… And in love for Christ and his church; and resting in the reality that I am safe on this planet in the will of God— until Jesus calls me home?
Point number [2], above … Does not mean that God wants you or me to be a ‘dare devil!’ rather, do as most of you have always done: you take personal responsibility. You investigate. You seek to learn and to apply truth. You take precautions, like or similar to those we print every week on the last page of this newsletter.
What ‘point number [2] does mean is that in the same spirit with the apostle Paul, I confess: “and see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, 23 except that the holy spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me. 24 but none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.” (Acts 20:21-24).
“Nothing in my nature is a Godly woman. So every morning I have a challenge ahead. I need prayer.” ~Beth Moore
While true, Moore’s constant emphasis on her unworthiness eventually reveals a pietistic drumbeat similar to Pharisees mumbling long prayers or disfiguring their fasting faces in public. After 50 years as a Christian, one would hope there was something in Beth’s nature that she could acknowledge as good, namely 50 years of progress in slaying sin in her ever forward sanctification. But no.
While it seems humble to point to one’s sinful state, one must also thank the Holy Spirit at some point for His work. Constant pointing to one’s self, either as a boastful and prideful success, or as a seemingly pitiful sinner, is unbalanced theology and is a worldly focus on self.
@BethMooreLPM preaches Jesus but converts people to dead religion filled with fake piety and false holiness. Be careful not to fall into the trap of the Pharisees, making a show of our piety as a virtue signal instead of pointing to Jesus and reveling in His love and forgiveness.
Read about Esau’s false piety here, from Ligonier where we learn to be wary of seeking “the covenant’s benefits without seeking the covenant’s Lord“.
Fake piety is described in many places in the Bible, like here, 2 Timothy 3:5, holding to a form of godliness although they have denied its power; avoid such people as these.
Jesus gives us the main text against false piety:
Matthew 23:1-12 THE SCRIBES AND PHARISEES DENOUNCED Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to His disciples, saying: “The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the chair of Moses; therefore all that they tell you, do and keep, but do not do according to their deeds; for they say things and do not do them. And they tie up heavy burdens and lay them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are unwilling to move them with so much as a finger.
But they do all their deeds to be noticed by men; for they broaden their phylacteries and lengthen the tassels of their garments. And they love the place of honor at banquets and the best seats in the synagogues, and respectful greetings in the marketplaces, and being called Rabbi by men.
But do not be called Rabbi; for One is your Teacher, and you are all brothers. And do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. Do not be called instructors; for One is your Instructor, that is, Christ. But the greatest among you shall be your servant. And whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.
People see things and then decide that is it a sign from God or a particular instance of personal comfort in a person’s grief. Let’s use the “cardinal sighting” as an example.
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It’s said that when you see a cardinal it means angels are near to you and bringing a loving or comforting message from their loved one in heaven. Or that it’s a sign from heaven indicating the loved ones’ spirit is with you. This concept has been around a long time and the thought occurs in many cultures.
But IS It a sign from God? Or, are there other small signs of comfort He sends us that only the person would understand? Some people say they saw a such and such and it was a sign from God, a particular sunset, a certain tree, a rainbow, etc
Let’s go over what we KNOW.
We know that:
— ‘Signs’ as defined in the Bible are actual miracles such as speaking in tongues, visions, healing, raising the dead, and prophesying (having temporary ‘omniscient’ knowledge). A miracle is something that occurs that is outside of or suspends ‘natural’ law. (See Water into Wine miracle, blind-since-birth man sees),
— Signs in the Bible were for unbelievers & Jews as a judgment (i.e. Tongues at Pentecost- Isaiah 28:11–12 & 1 Corinthians 14:21) and also to authenticate the Apostles as having definitely come from God. (Mark 16:20).
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If a person is attributing an object or circumstance to God as a sign, this is dangerous. We must never ascribe a word or deed to God he didn’t say or perform. A cardinal is a naturally and frequently occurring common sight. If we ascribe to this bird “comfort from God” or “spirit of loved one” to it we are in essence putting words in His mouth or a deed He didn’t ordain.
What we do know about Jesus when we are grieving or struggling is:
Here is what we KNOW about Jesus and His operations among the believing populace:
— Jesus is intimately involved with His churches (Rev 1-3),
— Jesus is intimately involved with each individual believer even if they are alone (Matthew 28:20, Hebrews 13:5. see: Hagar in the desert, marginalized Woman at the Well, John exiled on Patmos…),
— Jesus knows the heart and mind of each person on earth. (John 1:48),
— He promised to comfort us- (Matthew 5:4,“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. He is the God of all comfort, (2 Corinthians 1:3–5). He is close to the brokenhearted- (Psalm 34:18 ).
So the question left to ask is, HOW does the God of all comfort give us that comfort? Not by having you see a cardinal or other sign or omen.
One way of course is that we take comfort in His promises in the word. That is the most secure place to seek and receive comfort, to be close to God, to ask for comfort, and even to receive answer to prayer (through illumination of the word to our mind). We take comfort when we pray knowing He is near to us and listening.
Also know that Jesus comforts us. We know He answers prayer according to his will. So, what was that thing I saw if it wasn’t a sign??
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This Q&A from Randy Alcorn’s Eternal Perspective Ministries addresses this question. Though the questioner in this essay thought the ‘sign’ might be her departed loved one sending her a signal. I thought the author worded her answer well: (https://www.epm.org/resources/2017/Jan/13/loved-ones-signs/)
Answer from Shauna Hernandez:
Thanks for your question. Sometimes I think God does indeed give us gifts that remind us of the loved ones we’ve lost. My mom passed away a few months ago, and God has definitely been kind in different areas. For example, my mom had made up pie dough earlier this year and froze it. We used it this past year at Thanksgiving and it felt like she was still able to contribute to our meal! I don’t believe this was any type of sign, but rather, it was God being sweet and, in a way, allowing my mom’s legacy to still be a part of our day.
While there really isn’t any Biblical evidence for those in Heaven sending us signs, or even for God giving us gifts to remind us of loved ones, He does say to be thankful for all things. I can’t tell you for sure that the break in the clouds and sunshine you mentioned is from God, but I believe it could be. He is the creator of the skies and the heavens (Nehemiah 9:6, Isaiah 45:12), and the giver of all good things (James 1:17). It could be the Lord giving you a gift as you think about your loved one who is now with Him. Certainly you can seek to be drawn closer to Jesus as you thank Him for the beauty of His creation and for His gift of salvation.
I love that God is so good and gives us reminders of His presence and care, both in our day-to-day lives and in His Word: “Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you” (Isaiah 46:4).
If something you notice as you go along in your grief reminds you of God, His love, His promises, then great. The Spirit might be reminding you of comforting verses that remind you of His promises. Or if you see a beautiful sunset and are reminded that God painted it and you used to watch a nice sunset with your mom, then great, as an example.
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I think it is unwise to state with certainty that the THING was definitely a message from God. Unwise because God has said many times in His word that He hates when people ascribe things to Him that He did not do or did not say. I think it is safe to say that you have a positive feeling that God answered that prayer and you can’t wait to find out for sure once you get there.
Philippians 4:4-7 says,
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentle spirit be known to all people. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and pleading with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Oh, the depth of the riches, both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who became His counselor? Or who has first given to Him, that it would be paid back to him? For from Him, and through Him, and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen. Romans 11:33-36
I saw a new book come across my screen and it piqued my interest. It is called “Taming the Fingers: Heavenly Wisdom for Social Media” by Jeff Johnson.
The book blurb says,
“While social media has many benefits, it often serves as a breeding ground for divisiveness and hostility. Hidden behind our screens, we are often tempted to type things we would never say aloud. With wisdom from the Proverbs, Pastor Jeff Johnson offers five practical questions that can help us cultivate heavenly wisdom in our use of social media: • Am I controlled? • Am I calm? • Am I careful? • Am I compassionate? • Am I conscientious? Read Taming the Fingers to turn social media into a tool for God’s glory.”
Intrigued, I purchased it and have read the introduction and first part of chapter 1. It’s a very short book, only 71 pages.
I am old enough to have lived a good part of my adult life prior to the invention of the internet. I was 37 years old when the world wide web came to my house. I wasn’t saved yet but as a life-long writer and a lover of research, I was thrilled I could self-publish and overjoyed not to have to drive 45 minutes in the freezing Maine snowy weather to the library and look stuff up from the card catalog.
Now, information was available at the touch of a button. Communication with loved ones far away was instant. Finding answers to burning questions such as ‘what is the diameter of the sun?’ or even niggling questions like when you’re watching a movie and you can’t quite remember the actor’s name, ‘what was that guys’ name??’ – just go to imdb.com.
It is a huge blessing to have this tool. Don’t take it for granted. It’s become such an embedded part of our lives and several generations have now been born after its invention, that we forget what a boon it is.
Then 6 years later I was saved. What joy! To be able to spread the GOOD NEWS of Jesus Christ at the touch of a button. To witness, evangelize, proclaim. To hear sermons from long dead or still alive preachers! To read Spurgeon’s sermons. To look up Puritan books online. To make friends with internet Christians.
The internet can be a wonderful tool.
It also can be a satanic tool.
In fact, the first line of “Taming the Fingers” book is:
“Sin does not operate independently of tools.”
It wasn’t long before doctrines of demons began percolating on the www (world wide web). Before long, a mixture of genuine Christians, false Christians, and non-Christians began muddying the doctrinal waters. False teachers like Joyce Meyer or Beth Moore grabbed ahold of the internet right away to spread their brand of evil.
False Christians and atheists know how to push buttons. Righteous indignation rises and before we know it we’re blotching our pure witness with unrighteous anger or secular snark or other behavior we are sorry for later. That’s the flaming fingers, having typed something you realize you either inadvertently worded poorly, or was drenched with some sort of sin you regret exposing to the world.
On Twitter (sorry I just not used to “X” yet, a curious name for a social media) D. Michael Clary, a Reformed conservative pastor of a church in Cincinnati, wrote the following on his Twitter stream the other day and I liked it. I thought it matched well with the above comment about the book Taming the Fingers I was preparing anyway, so I asked Mr Clary if I could repost it. He said yes.
Michael Clary @dmichaelclary said
The Twitter/TikTok generation should take heed of Proverbs 12:16.
“The vexation of a fool is known at once, but the prudent ignores an insult.”
People naturally want to talk about the things that make them angry. An insult. A betrayal. An injustice. An evil.
They quickly vent their frustrations online and others will cheer them on in agreement.
This is foolish. Anger can make you irrational and impulsive. Social media rewards our foolish impulses in all the worst ways.
If you’re angry or upset about something, don’t vent about it online. Everything you say on the internet is instantaneous, global, and permanent. There’s nothing good that will come of it, but plenty of bad things that can come of it. “An evil man is ensnared by the transgression of his lips” (V13).
Proverbs urges discretion. Don’t be rash with your words (V18). The “heart of fools proclaims folly” (V23). Ignore the insult (V16).
There are times to speak out about evil in the world, even on social media. But not as a self-serving emotional release. There are many pitfalls. “A prudent man conceals knowledge, but the heart of fools proclaims folly” (V23).
There are times to speak out about evil in the world, even on social media. But not as a self-serving emotional release.
Jeff Johnson, “Taming the Fingers”
In Proverbs, fools just talk-talk-talk all the time, venting their hot takes, contradicting themselves, lying, slandering, and confidently asserting nonsense. “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes” (V15).
The wise pick their moments. They hold their tongues (or their thumbs), and speak when it is wise to do so. They “conceal knowledge.” They see things and know what’s going on, but don’t weigh in on everything. But in the right time, they’ll speak up and make a meaningful contribution.
“Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment” (V19). ——end Clary comment
I’ve tried to abandon snark entirely online. I know, Paul was sarcastic, so was Elijah once or twice. I’m not them. I think just being nice and polite is enough. Mocking and anger have to go too. They don’t result in a gentle witness. With so much of our lives not on screens, taming the fingers is more important than ever. Proverbs and prayer can help with this.
If social media is getting you down, then there are a few things you can do. –You can scroll by and not read or engage in comments that rile you. –You can do a cleanse of the accounts that upset you with their comments by muting or blocking. –You can say ‘No thank you’ to invites on lists or Groups that will occupy your time negatively. –You can delete the particular social media that tempts your witness. –You can take a break from social media for a period of time. –You can delete social media altogether.
I’ve deleted a few social medias, such as MeWe and Pinterest, mainly because I felt overloaded with too many platforms. I’ve said ‘no thank you’ to invites on Facebook into Apologetics groups and Reformed groups. I don’t join Twitter ‘Lists’ or formulate them. I do not have a Youtube Channel. I haven’t even looked up TikTok or Blue Sky.
For me, I feel Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and my WordPress blog allow me to express my thoughts about Jesus and His word well enough. And that is the point. We can use social media for entertainment, sure. But if you use it for proclamation of the GOOD NEWS of Jesus Christ, then we should work in taming the fingers so we can maintain witness that satan cannot point to with accusations. God’s glory is the chief end of man.
Societal, cultural, financial, economic, political collapse. Some say all this collapse is near. It may be, or not. But either way, things seem in disarray.
A prophecy from Peter: “They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.” (2 Peter 3:4).
They say such things because they believe them. Satan has blinded the lost to the things of Christ. It has always been so. The Israelites taunted Jeremiah with the same:
“Behold, they say unto me, Where is the word of the LORD? let it come now.” (Jeremiah 17:15)
And why are people willing to believe the Zombie/Mayan/Cayce/Nostradamus apocalypse and not the Christian Revelation of the promised Apocalypse? Because the aforementioned are from satan. Satan, they’ll believe.
Technically, the world has been ending since Genesis 3, but the feeling of chaotic flying apart has increased dramatically in the last few years.
I’m enjoying the Spirit’s sweet presence every day. I enjoy my walk with Jesus in increasing amounts of awe and joy. I am encouraged by knowledge of the sovereignty of the Father. Far from being depressed personally, I am more joyous all the time. Seeing these world events and understanding where we are on the timetable of God’s prophetic clock, (that every day we are one day closer to the culmination of all things) I’m wonderstruck at the vastness of His intelligence and the scope of human history- and grateful that I am a part of His kingdom.
Yes, the days are difficult, and I mourn for people who are lost in sin and for my own sins. But the events we read about here and elsewhere far from saddening me, make me think of Exodus 15:11.
“Who among the gods is like you, LORD? Who is like you—majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?”
In the current phase of Christianity, many have lost that sense of awe. I think it is because many popular teachers and preachers have taught and preached man, not Jesus. “It’s all about you” too many sermons, talks, books, and conferences emphasize. The excessive focus on our prosperity, our self-esteem, our pits, our problems, combined emphasis of His love to us, His friendship with us, His Bridal “romance” of us, has resulted in a lowered God.
The ‘Buddy Jesus’ from the blasphemous movie ‘Dogma’
Too often Western Christianity looks to Him as a friend, (which He is) but in looking at Him only as friend, through that one facet, and not so much as Sovereign King, Judge, and Holy God. This looking exclusively at Jesus through one facet has allowed many to devolve His status in their minds from friend to ‘old buddy, pal o’ mine.’
Realizing that the lower society sinks the higher we can see Him is a balm to the soul. It is as if He is stripping away the layers and revealing us to be the depraved sinners we are and by contrast, we can’t help but see Him as August Holy One. At least, I hope you see it that way.
Quite simply, western Christianity does not have a transcendent view of God anymore, and thus a sense of awe is lost. This particularly applies to prophecy. Only a Sovereign God expressing His will upon the world knows the end from the beginning. Only He at His will and pleasure states what will happen in a thousand years, or six thousand years, and it comes to pass exactly as He said!
We are living in the times of Romans 1. Our nation is being judged, Romans 1 IS the judgment as He gives them over to their depraved minds. This is an awe inspiring thing- to see the Bible pages ripped from its bindings and come to life on earth in the news. It makes me fear Him and it makes me love Him.
That He stays His hand of execution despite seeing the perversity in the world makes me love Him even more.
So when I write of judgments to come, rather than be completely sad, I also focus on how compassionate He has already been. “It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.” (Lamentations 3:22).
He has been giving the Spirit time to grow seeds, waiting for us to repent, bringing many sons to come to Glory! (Hebrews 2:10). His wrath is tinged with patience, and I am in awe of this God who loves us despite the perversity and rebellion we see in the world today!! THAT is how I stay positive. I hope you do too.
Habakkuk finally got it, saying in chapter three:
“Yet I will quietly wait for the day of trouble to come upon people who invade us” and then he said,
“Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. GOD, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer’s; he makes me tread on my high places.”
No matter how low the world gets, the Lord makes me tread on high places. My Holy awe of Him is a reverence mixed with fear: “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our ’God is a consuming fire.’” (Hebrews 12:28-29).
Early Warning Radar is, “An early-warning radar is any radar system used primarily for the long-range detection of its targets, i.e., allowing defenses to be alerted as early as possible before the intruder reaches its target, giving the air defenses the maximum time in which to operate.” (Wikipedia).
This is military talk. But we in the Christian life are in a war, and Paul and Peter used military talk in their letters. We read of battles, fiery darts, victories, armor, ‘fellow soldiers‘. The metaphor is apt.
In the Old Testament God said He stationed Prophets as watchmen on the wall. They were to alert the populace if they saw a raid coming, and blood would be on their hands if they failed to watch and/or raise the alarm. (Ezekiel 3:17, Isaiah 62:6, Ezekiel 33:6). In the New Testament we are not Israel but the Church. We do not wrestle against flesh and blood. The Lord sent His Spirit to endow some in the church with watchman-like abilities who operate similarly to the Old Testament watchmen in their task. It’s called discernment. The folks in the Church who possess this spiritual gift are the Church’s Early Warning Radar.
EPrata photo. Nassau policeman on watch
These people can detect the long-range approach of its targets (false doctrine/false teachers) , i.e., allowing defenses to be alerted as early as possible before the (satanic) intruder reaches its target, giving the ground defenses (pastors) the maximum time in which to operate (refute, defend, excommunicate).
The long range watchers have an ability to ‘see’ a false teacher, spot a false doctrine, know when ‘something is off’. Many people say “I felt something was off with her but I couldn’t put my finger on it.” Well, discerning watchmen know exactly who, how, and what was “off” and warn about it specifically. They can see a false trend begin to coalesce, they can reject what they see is a not a legitimate movement but is in fact a fad, they can warn of incursions.
Remember the “Asbury Revival”? In February 2023 a seemingly spontaneous ‘revival’ broke out at Kentucky’s Asbury University sparked by students remaining in the Auditorium after a regularly scheduled chapel service, praying, singing, pouring out like fervent, excitable college kids do. More joined from local campuses, then more from other states, until it was a religious free-for-all. Your long range warning people early in February said it wasn’t genuine. They knew.
They were dismissed. Their warnings rejected.
And that is the trouble with those in the church who refuse to heed their local, identified discernment people. They are often ignored. Wisdom abounds in the discernment folks and in the learned elders who have trained up in discernment as part of their job. Here is a specific example of an early warning from a long range watcher with discernment.
On August 9, 2023, Owen Strachan (Provost & Research Professor of Theology, @GBTSeminary) posted the following mini-warning about a particular stance that well-known author Nancy Pearcy made in her new book:
Aimee Byrd is also well-known, but sadly she is known for turning egalitarian, then liberal, then fringe. So it is not a good comparison. Below is the tweet that Nancy made which Dr Strachan warned about:
In typical fashion, there was immediate pushback against this warning.
I’ve seen this often. A warning is given about a trend, false doctrine, or person. Hordes clamor against it, usually saying either the warning is not specific enough, or it is too early to say so and to just hush up and have some grace. ‘You don’t know their heart’ is a common rejoinder.
Then the trend, false doctrine, or person settles into the Christian zeitgeist, and more warnings are given. When it becomes obvious to many that indeed, the person, doctrine, or trends was a harm to the faith, the rejoinders change. ‘It’s too late to do anything about it/her/him’. ‘Just chew the meat and spit out the bones’. ‘Who are you to say anything against them, they’ve helped many despite their misguided interpretations.’ And so on.
A failure in a walk begins somewhere. Some people can spot that beginning and warn. Pearcy’s subtle shift of a previously commonly defined word is an early warning, and matches a trend of later failures. But the early warning was dismissed (at least by the women named ‘going godward’).
Here is another example, this time, of a mourning AFTER a fall. Early warning signs were ignored:
Somewhere, a pastor started heeding a cloaked liberal feminist calling herself a Christian named Aimee Byrd. Her advice was that even married men and women can have close relationships apart from spouses. Somewhere someone might have been concerned of this change in a pastor’s stance, or seen him carrying her book around, and said, ‘excuse me, sir but that book has too many liberal ideas… it’s dangerous.’ An early warning might have been given. If it was not heeded, the result was that this pastor had let the guardrails down, and then his sin got the better of him, and he fell into adultery.
However, the pendulum swing in the other direction in the aftermath of an obvious fall, after the bomb has hit, is that people either blame the messenger (as Beth Moore did to Tom Buck in her reply), or they say, ‘it’s too late, move on’.
The points here today are this:
TAKE WARNINGS SERIOUSLY. Ideas are not just ideas nor are they harmless. Ideas have consequences.
Train yourself in discernment. Even if you don’t possess the actual spiritual gift (1 Corinthians 12:10), you can and must train up in it. (Hebrews 5:14).
As your discernment grows you will be able to spot solid, credible men of the faith (after your own pastor or elders). Once you identify them, learn from them, listen to them, take heed from them.
Heed their warnings. Not blindly, but discerningly. Consult the Bible, consult good commentaries, consult appropriate resources. Be a Berean (Acts 17:11).
In this specific case with Nancy Pearcy, you could go to the website The Council on Biblical Manhood & Womanhood to seek information on the two big words Dr Strachan used, ‘complementarianism’ and ‘egalitarianism’. And look up the word “ezer” in a good Bible word dictionary or lexicon (like Biblehub.com) and read how the word is used in context.
