For the love of truth, just be honest!

Saints, what is going on in our United States of America? Why is it that objective truth is no longer popular? I do realize that truth has not been very popular since the "father of lies" stepped into the picture and mankind fell, but it really seems like more than that. As time progresses, objective (that which has "actual existence or reality") truth is being rejected more and more ... even within the church.

What am I talking about? Is this just an exaggeration? No, I don't believe so.

Let me give some examples to put things into perspective:

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Issues in religion:

“There can be unity between us and the Roman Catholic church.”

No! Do you know anything of the eucharist and the celebration of mass?

“Some Christian churches say that Christ is present only in faith; others affirm his presence in the act of communicating. The Catholic Church holds for the real presence of Jesus in the eucharist. But how is Jesus present? He is not present physically in the same way that this book is present to you or the way that a teacher and a class are together in a room. He is not just present there by his power or by his authority as a government authority might be. His presence is not just evoked by the presence of a picture or a momento. In Catholic tradition, Christ is really but sacramentally present to the believer. The sacrament, in its symbol and in its ritual, makes present here and now the saving reality of Christ that it symbolizes. This is true of all the sacraments. In the sacrificial meal of the eucharist, it is Christ himself who is made present and presented to us as the food and drink that enables us to partake fully of the fruits of his sacrifice.” (Catholicism Today, A Survey of Catholic Belief and Practice, Third Edition, by Matthew F. Kohmescher, S.M.), Pg. 110.

“The mass (where the eucharist is presented) is likewise a sacrifice, tied in with Calvary.” (Catholicism Today, A Survey of Catholic Belief and Practice, Third Edition, by Matthew F. Kohmescher, S.M.), Pg. 107.

Did you get that? The eucharist of the Roman Catholic Church is their Jesus. Not only that, the meal of the eucharist is sacrificial. So to the Roman Catholic, every time the eucharist is presented, Jesus himself is presented; and not only that, He is offered up as a continual sacrifice.

Saints, isn’t it central to the Gospel of the Christian faith that Jesus Christ was offered up once and for all?

God says, “…every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this man (Jesus), after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.” Hebrews 10:11-14

There cannot be unity!

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“Islam is a religion of peace.”

No! What is at the very heart of Islam? One can just look at the state of affairs in the Middle East, where Islam is truly practiced.

Some may argue for Islam that Jihad, Holy War, is only referring to individual Muslims and their own personal spiritual struggles. However, it is a fact that many Muslims today, and from the past, view(ed) Jihad as a spiritual and actual military struggle.

Muhammad, the founding prophet of Islam, said these words: "I have been ordered by God to fight with people till they bear testimony to the fact that there is no God but Allah and that Mohammed is his messenger, and that they establish prayer and pay Zakat (money). If they do it, their blood and their property are safe from me." (Bukhari, Volume I, Pg. 13)

Islam is not a religion of peace, and it is not of the Lord Jesus Christ, who said, “Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.” (Matthew 26:52)

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“I believe that they (Mormons) believe in the same Jesus that I believe in.”

No! What does the Mormon religion teach about Jesus? Was Joseph Smith, the founding prophet of Mormonism, even a follower of Jesus?

According to God’s words, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God … And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” (John 1:1,14)

Jesus is God, and always has been. Mormon doctrine teaches otherwise: Jesus Christ, “by obedience and devotion to the truth … attained that pinnacle of intelligence which ranked him as a God.” (Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine (Salt Lake City, UT: Bookcraft, 1966), p. 129.

And Joseph Smith was not a follower of Jesus Christ. He said these words: "Come on! ye prosecutors! ye false swearers! All hell, boil over! Ye burning mountains, roll down your lava! for I will come out on the top at last. I have more to boast of than ever any man had. I am the only man that has ever been able to keep a whole church together since the days of Adam. A large majority of the whole have stood by me. Neither Paul, John, Peter, nor Jesus ever did it. I boast that no man ever did such a work as I. The followers of Jesus ran away from Him; but the Latter-day Saints never ran away from me yet. You know my daily walk and conversation. I am in the bosom of a virtuous and good people. How I do love to hear the wolves howl! When they can get rid of me, the devil will also go." (History of the Church, Volume 6, Pg.'s 408-412)

Joseph Smith did not follow Jesus and Mormons do not believe in the same Jesus.

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Issues in politics:

“…and the fetus…” You mean the baby, right?

Please don’t give me any of this “fetus” business! “Experts” continually refer to unborn children as mere fetuses. It’s not the truth! They are babies! A baby is truly a baby from conception.

According to God’s words, “…thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.”

Perhaps calling a baby only a “fetus” helps to appease one’s conscience concerning abortion.

When people truly see how precious a baby is from conception, especially in the eyes of God, it will help to prevent the taking away of innocent lives by the cruel act of abortion.

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“God made me this way.” (Homosexuality)

No! God did not make a homosexual the way he or she is. It’s an individual’s life choice.

It’s true that each of us were conceived in sin (Psalm 51:5). That does not mean, however, that God made us sinners. All of us are sinners by nature because of the fall of Adam, which showed mankind’s choice to turn away from God to obey satan (See Romans 3:10-12, 23; Romans 5:12).

So can we use that as an excuse to live out a life of sin? Can you imagine a convicted murderer using the excuse, “God made me this way?”

Homosexuality is a sin, plain and simple. God says, “Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.” (Leviticus 18:22)

The sad thing is, societal acceptance of homosexuality has creeped its way into the church. Even ministers of various supposed christian denominations are bold about their life choice. (Read 1:18-32 about rejecting God and His truth. You see that part of its fruit is homosexuality.)

Speak the truth about homosexuality. And I am not saying to just preach the Law, but to share Jesus Christ and His sacrifice for all sinners (including homosexuals).

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"God is not welcome in the public spectrum."

Thanksgiving Day is coming up; a national holiday, recognized by both church and state. What was its purpose when first established?

George Washington said these words: "Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor, and Whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint committee requested me to "recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanks-giving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many single favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness." (President George Washington, Presidential Thanksgiving Day Proclamation, November 26, 1789)

At one time the nation as a whole did acknowledge Him, and gave thanks and praise unto Him. God is worthy of it.

Folks, whether or not you welcome God into the public spectrum, He is there. God is omnipresent, "present everywhere simultaneously." You may try and deny the fact, but it doesn't change a thing, as far as He is concerned. However, it will be detrimental to the people of this country. The more we, as a nation, turn our backs on God, the more we will see its ill-effects.

God says, "Blessed [is] the nation whose God [is] the LORD; [and] the people [whom] he hath chosen for his own inheritance." (Psalm 33:12)

And God says, "Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin [is] a reproach (a disgrace) to any people." (Proverbs 14:34)

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Saints, there may come a time in the near future when some of these things will not be able to be so freely shared, without some form of widespread resistance, rejection, and persecution. Who knows, some day it may even lead to fines and/or imprisonment.

It seems like more and more liberty is being brought to this country … except for those “radical,” “fundamentalist,” “Bible-loving,” Christians.

Christian, in spite of the fact that more and more people are calling evil good and good evil, be bold in being honest. (Isaiah 5:20)

Follower of Jesus Christ, in spite of the fact that more and more people, even those who are religious, are turning away their ears from the truth and turning unto fables, be bold in being honest. (2 Timothy 4:1-4)


For the love of truth,

One Clay Soldier among many