Honey From the Rock

Honey From the Rock

"He made him ride on the high places of the earth, that he might eat the increase of the fields; and he made him to suck honey out of the rock, and oil out of the flinty rock;

Butter of kine, and milk of sheep, with fat of lambs, and rams of the breed of Bashan, and goats, with the fat of kidneys of wheat; and thou didst drink the pure blood of the grape" (Deuteronomy 32:13-14).

            Today's church is caught in a "PUZZLEMENT" never before seen in religious history. Much like today's health care "PREDICAMENT, curing nothing, treating symptoms. It happens over and over and we know why. In the city of Surprise, Arizona, large mega Purpose Driven Church, Pastor Dale Lee McFarland, disciple of Pastor Rick Warren (Saddleback Church Lake Forest, California), sued for $6.6 million by a couple claiming fiduciary duty and intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress, after McFarland, counselor to the couple, made sexual-perverted-pleasure advancements on the wife, for his purposes. McFarland, former executive with Microsoft had decided that he was called into the ministry, and as often the case with man calls rather than God calls, had built a large following of nominal-nomianist church members.

            In the new doctrine of nomianism a "half way house," "shades of grey," "religion," conjured up by Satan, so attractive to so many so called "Christians"  taught that grace is sufficient to cover all activity: that every "believer" will go to Heaven anyway, that God does not mind a little messing around. After all, God knows that we are all just human.

            Evidently Pastor Warren and Pastor McFarland have never read where Jesus requires a new birth, "Ye must be born again" (John 3:7). AND, Paul's admonition, "Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new" (2 Corinthians 5:17).

            This old writer-doctor found early in life, people want truth. Even the agnostic will admit to desiring truth about an after life, and, you can attract great crowds to a mega church that will compromise with truth, The Beatles "All you need is love," and Sinatra "I did it my way."

            The ever present caution of Catholics and Baptists, "If they are in the pews, don't offend them-don't scare them with words like 'sin' or 'Hell', Christ redemption." In my lifetime, promotion of a "God in a glass box" religion, hammer outside, break the glass if you need him. Over and over, circumstances determining your faith rather than your faith determining your circumstances. The "bellhop" religion, Madison Avenue techniques, 20th century political correctness, 20th century, making a beggar of God...he needs us. For God to be God, he does not need anything. The one who threw the stars into space could convert an entire city of 500,000 over night if he desired, wanted them, having chosen them (Eph 1:4).

            Most large church houses, even old denominations, attendance shrinking, mostly just grey hair.  Young people who want truth are thrilled with store front, simple, assemblies. They want the simplicity of the gospel, basic Christianity. The record is clear, figures are out. Only 1% of all churches (I did not say cults) are growing by baptism. "A man convinced against his will is of the same opinion still." This writer, long ago, a member of Belleview Baptist, Memphis, Tennessee, the great preacher, R.G LEE (church seating thousands, he, always in his white suit), standing at the front, end of service, the choir singing over and over again "Just as I am", begging reluctant sinners to "Come to Christ." I saw this many times, many places. Look at my first paragraph, "Treatment of symptoms does not cure anyone." When will we learn about the soil and sower (Mark 4, Matthew 13)? When will we learn that God "Worketh in you both to will and to do of [his] good pleasure" (Philippians 2:13): "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me" (John 10:27)?

            Never before in history have men needed more STAMINA and courage. Not only to care for the soul but care for the body. I believe that Christian faith is 90% raw courage.

            We know that health depends on what you put in your mouth. Probably, because of the poisons (chloride, fluoride) in public water systems, toxins in our food (GMO's, MSG's, preservatives), people have been so dumbed down. As the body, temple of God has become a dumpster, we are no longer able to discern right from wrong in our living, BODY OR SOUL. Healthcare expenses increased 23% the past three years and will go up 40% with Obamacare. So essential to detox the body, get all the junk out of it from marauding chemicals of our environment, lifestyles. Equally important to detoxify our soul, denying self-taking up cross (Matthew 16:24)....Mr. McFarland, Dr. Warren and all fellow human beings because, the born again-saved followers of Christ, know what to do. "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God" (1 Corinthians 10:31).

           

            Many of us, including your writer, have known the gullibility of flirting with the Devil while holding on to our belief in Jesus. This day, next week, next year, believe me reader, I want more of Jesus and less of me. The older I get, the more I realize the distances we encounter from Jesus. Young, immature in everything, certainly care for our body, certainly love for God, heart, soul, mind, and neighbor as self (Matthew 22:37). Often a great distance mired up with the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches. (Mark 4:19). With age, the distance to the transforming alter grows nearer-clearer-dearer, "present your body a living sacrifice, holy to God which is your reasonable service, and be not conformed but transformed" (Romans 12:1-2).

            Years ago, this writer, speaking to a group of preachers (not like McFarland and Warren), said, "I worked hard for my academic degrees, military rank. After death, my ashes will be interred next to the graves of my marvelous-hard working-God fearing mother and father. I just want my name, lifespan, and these words on the marker ' Because thy loving kindness [is] better than life, my lips shall praise thee'" (Psalm 63:3).