The Pharisee Says Fair I See

July 30, 2025

27 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. 28 In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.

29 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous. 30 And you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ 31 So you testify against yourselves that you are the descendants of those who murdered the prophets. 32 Go ahead, then, and complete what your ancestors started!

33 “You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell? 34 Therefore I am sending you prophets and sages and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify; others you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town. 35 And so upon you will come all the righteous blood that has been shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berekiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. 36 Truly I tell you, all this will come on this generation.

-Matthew 23:27-36 (NIV)

Holiness provokes hatred. The greater the holiness the greater the human hostility toward it. It seems insane. No man was ever more loving than Jesus Christ. Yet even His love made people angry. His love was a perfect love, a transcendent and holy love, but His very love brought trauma to people. This kind of love is so majestic we can’t stand it.

-RC Sproul from “The Holiness of God”.

This was one of many brilliant quotes from the late RC Sproul (1939-2017).  It describes the sad reality of the state of the world since the fall of humankind.  The whole world rejected the Son of God (Jesus Christ).  Godly Old Testament prophets and disciples were rejected.  Godly New Testament disciples and messengers were outcasted and chased out of towns.  And here we are today.  Now hearing this, would some of you dare to think that life would be any better or any easier while living on God’s earth today?  In my humble opinion, I don’t think so and not when the world continues to rebel and warrant God’s incoming wrath.

For any adult and genuine Christian reading this, I’d be surprised to hear any of you mention you haven’t experienced some form of ill will or persecution because of your Christian faith at some point in your life already.  Furthermore, if you’re a genuine Christian and at some point, you will face “types of Pharisees” in your life.  What do I mean by that?  The biblical Pharisees were seen as experts at “righteous living” and were quite influential with day-to-day living.  They enforced rules to “live well” and to “live right” in God’s eyes, but their teachings were merely human rules (Mk. 7:7).  What the Pharisees taught, preached and told was fair according to the gaze of the world, but as Christians we are not called to live that way.  The righteous live by faith and not by sight (Rom. 1:17).  What’s fair and even desirable to the world is often folly for Christians.

….So when I say “types of Pharisees” I mean people in our lives that try to sway you into living according to the “human rules” of the world and according to the pattern of the world (Rom. 12:2).  These people may mock you, may criticize your Christian lifestyle and really make your life miserable.  These people may say, “You’re just blowing money away by giving to the church.”  And overtime, these people may have the bigger house and nicer car, but what good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?  (Matt. 16:26).  These people may have no problems with greed, lust, lies, hypocrisy or any other form of folly that leads to a comfortable life on earth but ultimate destruction in the life everlasting.  These people may press cultural norms over biblical truths – this last one is more common than you realize.  I implore you, please don’t play their game!  At the end of the day, their path is set in one direction (the world) while yours is set on another (God’s heavenly kingdom).

And it may be a surprise to you, but Jesus wasn’t nice to everyone!  He wasn’t nice to Pharisees.  He called them whitewashed tombs and a brood of vipers.  Pharisees constantly led people astray and made lives difficult for true believers.  With every encounter they were always in the face of Jesus and opposing him.  You may have heard me quote from Luke 6:28-30 last Sunday about blessing those who persecute you.  That is true, but we don’t have to associate and make friends with those who constantly persecute us.  We’re called to love our enemies, but we don’t have to like them or be friends with them.  Pray for them sure (Lk. 6:28) and pray goodness for them, but you don’t have to let them trample over you and stop your path to our triune God.  If Jesus allowed the constant entertaining of the satanic brainwashing of the Pharisees and Sadducees his mission would not be complete, he would not be obedient to God the Father and he would not be sacrificed for our sins.  Thank goodness Jesus was faithful!   And would it surprise you that your own so-called friends and family could also stand in your way of our triune God as well? (Matt. 10:34-36).

….So you got haters for the sake of Jesus Christ?  Good, you must be doing something right if you ask me!  All of God’s followers Old Testament and New Testament had haters too – it comes with the territory!  I’ll close with another great RC Sproul quote:

“When I think I’m unfairly hated, I try to remember that I’m unfairly loved.”

Being loved by Jesus Christ is all I need!

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He Cares

July 23, 2025

27 “Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 28 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! 29 And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. 30 For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31 But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.
-Luke 12:27-31 (NIV)

Sometimes I’m inspired by music…. actually I’m always inspired by music and the music is always my favourite part of worship services.  Go figure, eh?  The Pastor that preaches God’s message doesn’t even admit that the sermon is his favourite part of worship services.  Well, there you have it and, “You learn something new every day” as the famous saying goes.  Now off and on for the last few months I’ve been thinking about the song called “Flowers” by Samantha Ebert (a Christian musician from Ottawa), and I know a while ago now one of our many great church vocalists sang this song solo during the Offertory portion of one of our Sunday worship services.  Okay, and I’ll make another giant confession here – a number of times I have to fight to hold back tears when some of our church vocalists sing for God and when I heard this song at our church, that was one of these times.  They say, “Music soothes the savage beast” as another famous saying, and I was soothed that Sunday.  It’s a real touching and beautiful song if you ask me.  For anyone that hasn’t heard the song before, here’s a YouTube link for it (Click on it):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DDeSUxcTIY

Apparently, Samantha Ebert wrote this song about navigating through life with Lyme Disease.  I don’t know much about Lyme Disease, but a quick Google search tells me having Lyme Disease can produce symptoms of rashes, fever, fatigue, headache, muscle and joint aches, and swollen lymph nodes.  That doesn’t sound fun at all.  In fact, any disease or any other hardship is not fun.  And if you’re ever going through a difficult time in your life whether it’s from an illness or any other setback, I want you to know that God cares for you and God will even use these events for his glory’s sake.  Through all of life’s challenges and setbacks, they’re all reminders that tell us we’re not meant for life on earth to be our eternal domain.  If that were the case, then we wouldn’t have moments of pain, suffering and loss here.  We are then left with the conclusion that our eternal home is with Jesus in the heavens until the new earth and new heaven come (Rev. 21).

Too many times, we struggle to sense God’s presence when things don’t go well or when we’re going through a difficult time.  It’s usually during these times when we question, “God, are you really out there?” or “God, do you really care for me?”  Surely God does care for you!  He cares enough for you to send his one and only Son in Jesus Christ to die for you and that changes everything!  Some of you may be wondering if God cares about even the little things in life – when we go through a job change, or when we go through a relationship change or even just waking up in the morning and having breakfast.  Believe me, God knows, and he cares.

I hope and pray you find comfort in our Luke passage.  I’m not sure if Samantha Ebert wrote her Flowers song with inspiration from the same passage, but when I hear that song, this passage comes to mind.  Look!  God decorates his wide earth with beautiful wild flowers and isn’t it interesting that he mentions Solomon here, because in Song of Solomon 2:1 it mentions “lily of the valleys” in reference to their beauty and the maiden speaking.  Did you know that God also describes his children of believers as “jewels in a crown” (Zech. 9:6)?  What I’m trying to say is that God not only cares for you and loves you, but that he SUPREMELY cares for you and loves you.  He does not leave you alone to go through life’s trials by yourself, but he desires for you to turn to him in prayer and always hope through life’s good and bad.  And above all else, we are constantly encouraged to seek his kingdom (and his righteousness, Matt. 6:33) – by doing so, God will take care of the rest.  Please never doubt that he cares and like the above mentioned song says, “I’m a good God and I have a good plan.”
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God’s Will

July 16, 2025

4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
-Philippians 4:4-7 (NIV)

Last week and while on my Study Leave, I received a very sad message from my cousin (Philip) in Toronto.  He shared his wife (Stephanie) just passed away from cancer at the age of 51 and leaving behind two young children in their teens.  Apart from my own wife, Stephanie was the most caring and loving person I ever met.  This is now the fourth close family member I lost in the last four years.  Much like when my brother-in-law (Toronto Police Constable, Andrew Hong) got murdered in 2022 (died at the age of 48 and leaving behind two teen children), I quickly flew back to Toronto for Stephanie’s funeral.  When planning the funeral, Philip told the pastor he’s expecting under 100 people to attend.  At the actual funeral, it turns out people were lined up standing around the perimeter walls and even into the hallway with over 300 people in attendance.  At the funeral I talked to my cousin’s son (Bryce) and I found out he wasn’t there to say his last goodbyes to his mom because he was in the Dominican Republic winning the silver medal for Canada in the men’s pairs beach volleyball tournament at the NORCECA - U18 qualifier.  He wrote a touching message to his mom after his win.  It turns out his next steps will be to play for Canada at the U18 Volleyball World Championships in October at Qatar – I can’t wait to cheer him on while watching him on TV!

And as great as that moment was to hear Bryce’s accomplishment, it couldn’t take away the sadness of losing another close loved one.  At the funeral however and during the pastor’s sermon, I thought his message of the hope of the resurrection and peace was remarkable.  It’s sad losing another loved one, but through it all I was reminded of the fact that GOD IS GOOD and it’s his will over mine!  During the sermon the pastor said a quote, “God thank you for giving me my wife.  God thank you for the time spent with my wife.  And God thank you for bringing her home.”  You see while others grumble and curse God for all of life’s losses, tragedies, sadness and especially when we lose a loved one, we are reminded our eternal home is with Jesus in the heavens (until the new heaven and new earth) and that everything we experience here is temporary.  We can only be thankful for…. EVERYTHING!  And even for the painful people and circumstances God allows to come into our lives, it all should refocus our position towards heaven.  Sure, hardships and losses are difficult, but I’m convinced that when we get to heaven, all those losses will be shown to have great worth and meaning revealing the infinite and magnificent joy of Jesus Christ in his fullness in comparison to all the suffering and loss this world brought.  Imagine receiving Jesus’ immeasurable grace, his infinite love, his amazingly warm embrace no longer tainted by sin, pain and suffering for eternity – I can’t wait for that, even more than cheering on my nephew!

And you know what?  We’re supposed to embrace God’s goodness even today and not just wait for when God takes us home with him in eternity!  This is why Paul tells us first to rejoice in the Lord and to repeat that statement because it’s so important.  We tend to get so weighed down by life’s hardships that we forget to rejoice in the Lord!  If you’re doing that, your gentleness will surely be revealed (though flawed at times).  We will not find true joy apart from the Lord Jesus Christ and we are greatly encouraged and instructed to present and lay down all kinds of hardships and burdens to God in prayer, and at all times.  This also relates back to rejoicing in the Lord.  Haven’t you noticed how many times you feel better after laying your concerns to God?  Haven’t you noticed the more time you spent with God, the more at peace you are?  Haven’t you noticed that even when losses and hardships come, the supernatural peace of the Lord settles all your pains and losses?  I will take God’s will over mine any day of the week and I will rejoice in the Lord, focusing on him and delighting in him daily.  And this is where the rest of the world got it twisted.  Most people upon hearing about Jesus want all the benefits he brings – joy, peace, patience, all the fruits of the spirit (Gal. 5:19-21), but they don’t want Jesus himself.  They want all the benefits of Jesus without having Jesus!  But the true joy and peace is obtained through a right relationship with Jesus and only found within Jesus himself!  Submit to God’s will – it’s the best decision you can ever make!

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It Means More than Everything

June 25, 2025

48 “However, the Most High does not live in houses made by human hands. As the prophet says: 49 “‘Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool.  What kind of house will you build for me?
says the Lord.  Or where will my resting place be?  50 Has not my hand made all these things?’  51 “You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised. You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit! 52 Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him— 53 you who have received the law that was given through angels but have not obeyed it.”  54 When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. 55 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56 “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”  57 At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, 58 dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul.  59 While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep.
-Acts 7:48-60 (NIV)

In this last portion of the final testimony of Stephen, we have the incredible witness of the gospel and his Christian faith.  Remarkably and just like all the disciples (except Judas Iscariot), Stephen was willing to die for his faith and so he did.  Stephen and all of God’s followers (Old Testament and New Testament) had such an unshakable faith that they were all willing to die for their faith! 

For them, God through Jesus Christ meant more to them than anything else in life. 

Some of you may be saying, “Well the Old Testament has no mention of Jesus so how can that be true for the Old Testament followers?”  For anything thinking that, I’m sorry to burst your bubble, but it’s incorrect.  I’ve mentioned in the past a number of times that the specific “angel of the Lord” or “angel of God” title doesn’t refer to just any angel and actually refers to Jesus in the Old Testament.  This theological phenomenon is also known as the Christophany – pre-incarnate appearance of Jesus.  In fact, the New Testament even documents this theological phenomenon (in places like Jn. 8:56-58, Heb. 11:26, Jude 5, 1 Cor. 10:4, Jn. 12:40-41 to name a few).  You may want to read my March 12, 2025 devotional posting entitled “The Lord Will Provide” to bring you up to speed.  In summary, God told his followers in the Old Testament about Jesus and Prov. 30:3-5 is proof.

…So if the Old Testament followers and New Testament followers were willing to die for their faith, the question I have to ask is, are you?  Rev. 21:8 lists the unbelievers, the vile, the murderers, the sexual immoral, those practicing magic, idolaters, liars AND EVEN COWARDS as people to be sent to hell. Are some of you surprised?  Now do you know how series our Christian faith is?  It’s literally a matter of life or death!

Acts 1:8 tells us that we as Christian believers will receive power by the Holy Spirit and that we will be witnesses.  The Greek word used for witnesses here is actually martyr.  The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines a martyr as “a person who voluntarily suffers death as the penalty of witnessing to and refusing to renounce a religion.”  Stephen did no wrong and in fact Acts 6:8 says Stephen was full of God’s grace and power, performing great wonders and signs among the people.  Acts 6:15 describes Stephen as having a face like that of an angel.  Now to be frank, to be a Christian is to be a witness, and to be a witness is to be a martyr for Christ.  To be a martyr for Christ is to be at enmity to the world and an enemy to the world (James 4:4) but a friend to Jesus Christ.  Stephen was full of the Holy Spirit (verse 55) and was building the House of the Lord (ref. verse 49).

Can we honestly say about ourselves that we’re doing the same?  Are we building the House of the Lord like Stephen is?  Are we devoting ourselves to God like Stephen has done and are we willing to pay the price that Stephen paid in verse 60?  Stephen was put to sleep meaning he was put to death.

….So some of you think your finances, your health, your spouse, your children, your family, your home, your time, your relationships, your reputation, even your life or anything else is greater than your pursuit of God through Jesus Christ?  The pursuit of Jesus is all or nothing and nowhere in between.  That’s the cost of discipleship!  Your Christian faith should never utter words such as, “I’ll follow God and trust in him, but let me deal with ______ first.” (fill in the blank with xyz scenarios).  Christianity doesn’t work that way and God waits for nobody!  Do you fear for your life and anything in it?

Doesn’t Jesus Christ and his kingdom mean everything to you?

John MacArthur (An American Pastor) once said, “All death can do to the believer is deliver him to Jesus.  It brings us into the eternal presence of our Saviour.”

….for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. (1 Jn. 5:4).

……blessed is the one that overcomes for his is eternal life!  (James 1:12, Rev. 21:7).

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The Potter

June 18, 2025

5 I am the Lord, and there is no other; apart from me there is no God.  I will strengthen you, though you have not acknowledged me, 6 so that from the rising of the sun to the place of its setting people may know there is none besides me. I am the Lord, and there is no other.  7 I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the Lord, do all these things.  8 “You heavens above, rain down my righteousness; let the clouds shower it down.  Let the earth open wide, let salvation spring up, let righteousness flourish with it; I, the Lord, have created it.  9 “Woe to those who quarrel with their Maker, those who are nothing but potsherds among the potsherds on the ground.  Does the clay say to the potter, ‘What are you making?’  Does your work say, ‘The potter has no hands’?  10 Woe to the one who says to a father, ‘What have you begotten?’  or to a mother, ‘What have you brought to birth?’
-Isaiah 45:5-20 (NIV)

Maybe I’m guessing here, but my guess is that everyone doesn’t entirely like everything written in the Bible.  Now I might be wrong about that, I’m not sure.  That’s just my guess because we’re all sinful people in needing of the Saviour (Jesus Christ).  I’m actually a fallen person too!  And I wish everyone could go to heaven with not most people going to hell.  I wish the elected few didn’t have to suffer on account of their Christian faith (Rom. 5:3-5).  I wish the penalty and the wages of sin is not death (Rom. 6:23).  And because it’s such a heated topic with so many broken hearts, I greatly sympathize with many hurting people on both sides of this topic - I’ll go out on a limb here and skate on thin ice, but a part of me actually wishes God was okay with non-traditional unions apart from between one man and one woman.  Again, it’s coming from the part of me anguishing with the hurting people on both sides of this topic (and believe me, there are many people hurting everywhere and not just on one side of this topic).  I need further sanctification that’s for sure, and that only comes with convicting help from the Holy Spirit.

However, though parts of me feel this way, overall I understand the reasoning:  It’s because we’re dealing with the Potter!  I shared many times in the past that God is infinitely holy, just, righteous, sovereign and good!  And well…..HE’S GOD and I’M NOT!

Whatever xyz sinful behaviours we’re going through, we are ultimately accountable to him and his ways are perfect!  Because he is such a holy God, his standards are also holy and God in his absolute wisdom also knows we could never reach any kind of perfection, which is why he sent Jesus Christ down to take all the blame for sin and rebellion against God the Father and on the cross (2 Cor. 5:21)!  This is all hard to swallow for some, but the alternative is trying to quarrel with the Maker!

I mentioned last Sunday from the pulpit that God’s divine order matters and it surely does!  Adam and Eve tried to usurp God’s divine order and it didn’t go well and Satan tried to do it too and it didn’t go well either.  They all got kicked out of their homes!  We cannot dare go against God’s divine authority because God alone is sovereign and he sets and makes the rules by which we’re to live by.

Now here’s something many people don’t understand about rebellions and God’s authority:  Rules without relationship = rebellion!

This means the more time you spend with Jesus and develop an amazing relationship with him, the more you’ll appreciate his ways and his care for you.  How can we ever keep rebelling against God?  How can we ever think his ways of life as expressed in scripture are bad or even wrong?  He’s the one that brings prosperity and disaster.  He’s the one that brings righteousness.  He’s the Potter and we’re just the clay.  We have no right to be rebellious or disobey God.  I don’t know about you, but I don’t want what happened to Adam and Eve or to Satan.  I want to dwell in the house of the Lord forever and thank goodness the blood of Jesus guarantees that, marked and sealed with the Holy Spirit (Eph. 1:13).

Now here’s great reflection questions for the day:  How much do you appreciate and enjoy God’s ways for righteous living as evidenced in scripture?  What parts about scripture give you trouble and why?...and also, do you hurt with people who are far from God through Jesus Christ?

And now, what are you going to do about all of this?  I suggest you start with prayer.

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The Spirit of Truth

June 11, 2025

7 But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8 When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 about sin, because people do not believe in me; 10 about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; 11 and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.
12 “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. 13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14 He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. 15 All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.”
-John 16:7-12 (NIV)

John 8:44 describes Satan as the Father of Lies and if you ask me, he does a superb job in making the whole world believe all kinds of lies!  Here’s some of the bigger lies that I know of:

There are multiple ways to Heaven and eternal life.

Hell isn’t real and even if it were, it’s not a place of eternal suffering.

Everyone will get to Heaven in the end.

You can continue to sin and just ask God for forgiveness later.

You don’t have to repent (and any and all sins can remain hidden).

Jesus can never forgive ______ (insert any type of sin)/his atonement is limited.

Once saved is not always saved.

Jesus is equal or lower to other gods.

The biblical Christian Jesus is not the real Jesus.

The Jesus found in ______ (insert any other non-Christian faith) is the real Jesus.

Jesus already died for my sins and therefore I can do anything I want.

Satan is not real.

There is no afterlife.

There are probably a lot of other big lies Satan constantly promotes, but these are just a few.

 And when I look at the world today, perhaps we need the Spirit of Truth now more than ever! 
 

Arguably now more than ever I’m stunned (in a bad way) thinking about how morality seems to be upside down and twisted.  The loud advocates of transgenderism, sensuality, sexuality, adultery, rage, lust, abortion, Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID), pedophilia, polygamy, Diversity-Equity-Inclusion (DEI), etc. more and more are seen as heroes in modern society.  It wasn’t that long ago when all of these issues were frowned upon and rejected by the modern western world.  What happened?

I can tell you what happened.  People are not led by the Holy Spirit and it’s getting worse.  I hope and pray Jesus comes back soon, but until that happens and to anyone reading this, I hope and pray you are continually led by the Holy Spirit of Truth!  Notice I spelled Truth with a capital T!  Some of us know Jesus is described as “the” truth and not “a” truth (Jn. 14:6).  And knowing this makes a world of a difference.  No more deceit and no more games.  The Holy Spirit (the Advocate) has come into the world on Pentecost and verse 8 of our reading tells us, “he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment.”  Moreover people reject John 3:16 because of John 3:19

Admittedly we all don’t like hearing the truth at times because it exposes just how sinful we are and needing Jesus, the Saviour….And although we may not want to hear it at times, we have to realize healing can only come after the decayed parts of us (our sinful behaviour) is removed, and that’s a painful but rewarding process.  You can be sure that Jesus is the only one able to wash our sins away and make us presentable to God.  There is no alternative and the more we know scripture, the more the Holy Spirit of Truth illuminates our lives to live holy and pleasing to God.

Let me say this plainly and bluntly:  Turn to Jesus now because your life depends on it!  Have you seen what’s happening in L.A. currently (riots)?  Have you seen mobs of riots and protests in the UK, Dallas, parts of Europe, Canada, etc.?  Something bigger is happening to the world right now, and a large part of me thinks this is just the preliminary works of the Antichrist or demonic forces ushering in the Antichrist.  I wish I could put my finger on exactly what.  I just know the world needs the Spirit of Truth!  Francis Chan calls him “The Forgotten God” meaning the forgotten 3rd person of the Trinity.  Let’s pray for the convicting power of the Holy Spirit.  Let’s pray that the Holy Spirit is revealed to these places and people of hurt and confusion.  Only our triune God can improve things and make it right. 

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Trustworthy, Complete, Perfect and Authoritative

June 4, 2025

12 So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have. 13 I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body, 14 because I know that I will soon put it aside, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. 15 And I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things.

16 For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” 18 We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain.

19 We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. 20 Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. 21 For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
-2 Peter 1:12-21 (NIV)

If you’re a Professing Member of our church or a known Adherent, we want you to vote on Sunday, June 8th, 2025 (ideally in person).  In fact, it’s extremely important for the health and life of this congregation, that you vote on that Sunday.  We are voting to depart from the Presbyterian Church in Canada (PCC).  The PCC is only giving one method to depart: The Voluntary Withdrawal (VW) Procedure.  This procedure details departing congregations must vote on two separate occasions successfully in order to actually depart.  We had our first successful vote date in November of 2024, and now on June 8th, 2005, we’ll have our second and only remaining vote day.  There will be no other chances to vote.  If we fail this upcoming vote, we will not depart from the PCC and completely give-up any ownership of our assets (land, building, etc.) to the PCC. – Yes, this is why it’s SO IMPORTANT to vote!

During the first vote, we passed the required threshold by an extremely narrow margin (by I believe 3 votes).  If we successfully vote on June 8th, we will continue to function and operate as we always have and we’re staying true to scripture – The Word of God!

If you have questions on the process or the vote, please do not hesitate to contact me or an Elder before the vote date.  PLEASE PRAY FOR THE VOTE – We need God’s help!

That being said, I just shared our congregation intends to stay true to the Word of God!  In every age people heard the Word of God and most of the world has rejected it.  Most of the world believes the Word of God (scripture) is man-made and full of lies or partial lies.  In every age most of the world cannot stand for scripture and hates scripture.  However, and in every age, do you know what also happens?  In every age, a select few discovers scripture to be 100% infallible, inerrant and inspired and the only 100% trustworthy, complete, perfect and authoritative document ever in existence!

Are there naysayers to Christianity?  Of course....but how many of them have taken painstaking time, money and resources in extended attempts to disprove the validity of scripture for everyone in every generation?  Of the stories I’m aware of, these such people ultimately realize the Bible is true for everyone, everywhere and for all generations.  Lee Strobel (former atheist journalist) is a great example and he’s now a famous Christian apologist.  Ironically in his attempts to disprove Christianity and scripture, he came to the complete opposite reality that Christianity and scripture is purely authentic in all of its claims, statements and findings.  I hope and pray Joe Rogan (UFC and media personality, actor and comedian) is another one and it seems like he’s on the right path so far.  He used to reject, insult and smear Christianity but now is regularly attending church at the time of this writing.  And for anyone that doesn’t believe in our triune Yahweh through Jesus Christ as the Son of God and Lord and Saviour, I believe RC Sproul is right in that I believe atheists (and others) have a moral problem with God.

Here's the short video clip of RC Sproul explaining it:

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/YGik6kmU5zU

And as mentioned, I believe the above video clip not only applies to atheists, but I believe for everyone outside of those confessing Jesus is Lord and Saviour!  Such people have a moral problem of hating Jesus and scripture!

Scripture is not man-made and no error to be found.  Any unique oddities found in it can easily be verified from credible sources.  It is complete and perfect in its entirety, because it was written by the Holy Spirit, and not man.  Verse 21 in our reading explains that the origin of scripture is God through the Holy Spirit.  This means the author is ultimately God himself and sent his gospel message to human men to inscribe and carry out.  And we must constantly remind ourselves of this statement as Peter urges in verses 12-15. 

Therefore, the disciples and apostles that wrote scripture (cover-to-cover) were not mere copyists or transcribers.  If they were, they could not have produced the same message that links every book of the Bible together and could not account for the vast number, diversity, and accuracy of prophecies that came true over thousands of years, which mathematically is incalculable.  Furthermore, we have credible non-Jew and non-Christian historians and politicians (Josephus, Tacitus, Thallus, etc.) that also wrote about the accounts of Jesus and Christianity and thus corroborating Christian accounts.  No other faith manuscript can make these claims.  Not Hinduism, Buddhism, Muslim, Shintoism, Jainism, Taoism, Confucianism, Zoroastrianism, Baha’i Faith, Animism, Scientology, Mormonism, etc.

And although the matter of human sexuality and marriage is on the table and though the vast majority of our congregation wants to depart from the PCC and keep ownership of our building with it, we are departing ultimately because the PCC has changed scripture – and in this case, marriage and human sexuality as a symptom of the untrue and imposed changes to God’s Word (scripture).  Cover-to-cover, and even when exegeting the Old and New Testament, and even when parsing Greek words like arsenokoites (men who engage in sexual activity with other men) and in context, there is no contradiction or ambiguity and scripture is still trustworthy, complete, perfect and authoritative for all people, all time and everywhere, and only promotes marriage as between one man and one woman.  There is no other type of union that is encouraged or promoted by Yahweh, and all other unions are even condemned.  I’m reminded that scripture even says everything is permissible, but not everything beneficial (1 Cor. 10:23).  God designed, blessed, hand-picked, approved and ordained the marriage between one man and one woman only and for human flourishing.

Of course I’m well aware of the emotions, family and friends involved and how upsetting this topic is.  Most of my life I’ve either worked with or have friends that are in the LGBT+ community, so I can understand how difficult this subject is, and it does break my heart (even to tears on at least one occasion thinking about a friend).  Myself or the congregation, we do not treat anyone as better or worse.  Whether black, white, Asian, Hispanic, First Nation, LGBT+, tall, short, thin, wide, blue hair, pink hair, tattoos or not, piercings or not, wheelchair bound or not, old or young, etc., all are welcome, but not all is welcome to stay as they are (including myself and paraphrasing from a Timothy Keller statement with Heb. 12:6 in mind) – meaning all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23) and we are all accountable to the complete Word of God with no cherry picking (2 Cor. 10:5).

In my limited time on God’s green earth, I’ve heard all the arguments promoting the more liberal view of marriage (any other union apart from one man and one woman) when going through scripture and believe me, they’re all misunderstandings and/or lies.  You may have heard them as follows:

1)     Instead, it’s talking about pederasty.

2)     Instead, it’s talking about a lack of hospitality.

3)     Instead, it’s talking about a conquest ritual or custom.

4)     Instead, it’s talking about temple prostitution.

5)     Instead, it’s talking about an immoral relationship between patron and receiver.

6)     Instead, it’s talking about the disapproval of the pagan or dominant culture around and not directly commenting towards God’s followers.

7)     Instead, it’s mistranslated.

8)     Instead, there was always a bias against the LGBT+ community.

9)     Instead, the term homosexual wasn’t around until recent times.

10)  Instead, people in biblical times didn’t understand the concept of orientation.

11)  Instead, with modern science we know more and better (CS. Lewis calls this “chronological snobbery”)

12)  Instead, everyone has both male and female persona or spirits within them (everyone is trans, two-spirited or non-binary).

13)  Instead, it was once frowned upon, but okay and even blessed (with God’s approval) now.

14)  Instead, the church has shunned this prohibited behaviour, but turns a blind-eye to others, so therefore this behaviour should be accepted (with a blind-eye), or approved and blessed like other prohibited behaviour as well too.

15)  Instead, Jesus never talked about it.

16)  Instead, nowhere does it mention the prohibition or condemnation of covenantal unions.

17)  Instead, we’re dealing with a covenantal union, and any union outside of a covenantal union is prohibited or condemned, and so therefore, “our version” of a covenantal union is good, okay and blessed, which excludes “someone else’s version” of a covenantal union.

….and there’s more not on this list.…

Instead, there is no intellectual problem, but a moral problem! 

Once again, RC Sproul’s quote stands!...and by the way, have we forgotten 1 Cor. 6:9-11?  Have we forgotten the Holy Spirit washes people clean of this sin and others? - Yes, people can change!  Have we forgotten only the Holy Spirit can do this and we cannot do it on our own efforts?  In other words, I’ve heard so many theological gymnastics are deployed in order to believe a narrative counter scriptural.  Many of these distortions are based upon the premise of, “Scripture is true, but not here or in these instances.”  Well, if scripture is not true, then there is a false assumption that it’s not the work of the Holy Spirit being the original author. 

Sometimes I heard it said, “I don’t believe in the traditional view of marriage, because I believe in a loving God.”  Well, yes, God is love (1 Jn. 4:8), but since when do we get to define love outside of God’s definition and holiness and righteousness?  And when did we get to define love on our own terms such that the flawed and limited perspective of any human defined love has then changed to suit the flawed and limited human dictated narrative?  This narrative can then change with the times and who’s to say your definition of an approved form of love is better than mine or someone else 100 years before me or after me or from a different country or continent apart from God’s Word?  You want more context?  The other day I watched a 60 Minutes Australia’s story of “Why People are Falling in Love with A.I. companions”.  Well then and if I agreed love with an Artificial Intelligence (AI) device is good in every way, then I can deploy many of the same arguments used for those advocating a Godly approval for a non-traditional union of marriage – also known as (aka), all of these “Instead…” blasphemies and distortions.

Here's the direct link to that 60 Minutes Australia video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_d08BZmdZu8

Moreover, there are no new and profound insights into scripture.  There is only a holy and joyful submission to our infinitely, holy and sovereign God through Jesus Christ, obeying all that Christ teaches (John 14:5) or not.  And if you truly believe the Holy Spirit is the real author of scripture, and if you truly believe the Holy Spirit is God, just as Jesus is God, and the Father is God, then you also know to obey not just the words of Jesus in the New Testament, but all of scripture cover-to-cover, because they’re all God’s trustworthy, complete, perfect and authoritative commands and teachings!  I believe I was talking to Jon in church office one day and he shared how he knows a Christian that doesn’t like the idea of a “red letter bible” that printed Jesus’ direct quotes (New Testament) in red text, while everything else is in black text, because all of scripture is actually God’s words.  – To that, I emphatically agree!

Now will you uphold the Word of God or not?

I pray that you do, and act to display this belief with humbleness, love, and grace, while not distorting or treading away from God’s truth.

As for me, I will defend and die knowing all of scripture is trustworthy, complete, perfect and authoritative.

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