abandoned to Christ.

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UPDATE

(09/25/2024)

(original post 09/20/2024)

I don't know Steve well. I've only met him a handful of times and chatted with Anne at a Women's Bible study we both attended in Dallas; and when we visited Trinity Bible Church of Dallas (TBCD) for a brief time (about five years ago). We found them both to be tireless and faithful ministers of our God and Father.

When I first heard the news, my heart broke for my brother Steve,my sister Anne, their children, grandchildren, personal and ministry friends, and all those who, like me, have benefitted and have been spiritually well-fed by the teaching ministry in which the LORD God Almighty has equipped and called Steve, and the ministry He equipped and called Anne to as Steve's exceedingly suitable helpmeet.

Some have already shared my sentiments, while others rail and rejoice at his private fall and public humiliation from Satan's seeming "win" over another one of God's holy and dearly beloved children (Rom 8:28-39).

But this is not a new story, a news story, or an occasion to set our minds and hearts to Pharasaical judgment that Christ admonished us to abandon, "Judge [condemn] not that you be judged [condemned]. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye." (Matthew 7:1-5)

What has happened to our brother Steve has sadly happened to many other faithful men and women who have come before him. And sadder still, while we are all still in this temporal tent, there will be more who will be devoured by their temptations until the Day of our Lord Jesus.

How then should we regard our brother Steve? Let us take heed to how our God and Father has commanded us through His Son, by the power of His Holy Spirit,

This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is requried of stewards that they be found faithful. But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself...Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God.
~1 Corinthians 4:1-3, 5

Much (or all), of what has been shared publicly originated from the announcement from TBCD (pictured below with my highlights and suggested dross).

I crossed out an area in the second paragraph that is much ado about TBCD and it's piety rather than the first thing God tells us about His character during His first proclamation of His own Name (cf. Ex 34:6)—merciful and gracious, abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.

When I read this announcement, I was further heartbroken for my brother Steve and Anne, friends, and others like me (in the peripheral of his life and ministry) because of the cold, arms-length, pithy and unnecessarily ambiguous, yet clearly forthright position of this announcement: A stench and stain among us was revealed. We got rid of it. We've removed our financial support from it so everyone will know that we remain just as clean as we were before him.

This announcement lacks the transparent and true warmth,love,and compassion that Christ has on all who repent and trust in Him. It lacks the honor and faithfulness of God our Father's work in Steve's life, and more than 40 years of proclaining the excellencies of Christ our Lord. It lacks the brotherly affection we are all commanded to have for one another (Rom 12:10). And the heartbreaking reality is, this frigid announcement has produced Pharasaical and falsely-pious reactions from others who are sharing this "news".

Therefore, let us follow the path that Christ our Lord has set before us, and not the path of opinions based on conjecture, obtuse information, and self-proclaimed piety. Let us first sit before the feet of Jesus, hang on His every Word, listen intently to know Him more so we may love Him better, and prudently seek His will for what He's given each of us (for we do not all have the same gifts and means of ministry). But we do all have the same Spirit of the Son of God who loved us and "gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession who are zealous for good works." (Titus 2:14)

Below, is the warm and loving and compassionate statement from the OnePassion Ministries board.

Let us all remember this before we continue to pray and discuss this sin of our brother Steve,

Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges [condemns] his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, He who is able to save a to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?
~James 4:11-12

My husband and I have already prayed about and discussed this, we are not going to "throw the baby out with the bathwater". We will keep what we already have, without promoting what we have nor purchasing anything more.

We were first introduced to God's faithful teaching through Dr. Steven J. Lawson at a Ligonier Ministries Conference more than a decade ago. The first book of his that had an enormously helpful and exhorting impact in my life was, Made In Our Image: The Fallacy of the User-Friendly God. We've read and studied many other books since then. And we will continue to apply the godly wisdom our brother Steve has shared with so many, as we continue to live coram Deo.

In all this, please pray for our brother Steve's full repentance, and especially for Anne: For her protection from Satan's schemes; covering under the safe, assuring, and refreshing wings of the Almighty; comfort for her broken heart, and strength and wisdom to continue to live out Proverbs 31:12, in spite of the pain her husband has caused her. May she continue to live steadfastly in the power and comfort of her Strong Tower who will never leave her nor forsake her.

And may God envelope us all with the peace, humility, wisdom, and love of Christ (Jas 3:17-18) that we may not sin in our disappointment, anger, and self-righteousness, but that we would live as those who know that we are not our own—we are Christ's.

Where I’ve Been

In January 2020 I had my third heart surgery. Then I had serious issues with my eyes caused by my atrial fibrillation. While that was creating more appointments to my retina specialist, both my knees and my right elbow continued to worsen.

Since the last time I wrote (April 2020), I’ve had three surgeries within three months. I had my second surgery on my right knee in July, a major elbow surgery in September, and a minor surgery to remove and biopsy a small lump on the inside of my right cheek. All this has been quite daunting and depressing.

To add to my already (as one of my specialist put it) “eventful medical record”, I was also having severe pain in my index finger on my left hand. However, I didn’t mention it to anyone because there was already so much going on, that I could tell that I was overwhelming my doctors. And because I had already asked my Father, if it would please Him, to resolve this ailment without the use of medical intervention, I waited patiently, while seeking fervently for His answer.

During about four months of waiting, I suffered silently in prayer, but not alone in prayer. For my Lord Jesus is always with me and ever intercedes for me.

After several months had passed, all my fingers on my left hand and my right hand began to feel as if someone was crushing each one of them, while simultaneously setting them on fire. Also, some of my fingers began to turn blue. So when I was two weeks post-op from my elbow surgery, I shared my excruciating pain with my darling husband, and made an appointment with my dermatologist. She diagnosed me with secondary Raynaud’s phenomenon, that is being caused by another connective tissue disease. She then referred me to a rheumatologist who will examine, run tests, and treat both my Raynaud’s and whatever connective tissue disease is causing it.

For the time being, I’ve been prescribed diltiazem for systemic treatment and relief, as well as a nitroglycerin cream to provide my fingers some immediate relief. I was also told to wear gloves at all times (even while asleep), and to keep from touching anything cold with my bare hands.

Now that the weather here in Texas has cooled off, no one stares at me for wearing gloves everywhere. At first, many people stared and some asked if it was really that cold outside, or if I was taking extra COVID precautions.

I was quite the site up until a couple of weeks ago. Not only did I wear gloves at all times, but I also had a full leg brace on my left leg, a brace and compression sleeve on my right leg, a full arm (from shoulder to wrist) cast on my right arm (then eventually a full arm, telescopic brace), and a sleeve on my left arm. Yes, I got stared at quite a bit. But not by anyone for parking in the handicapped spot. Hmm…I wonder why? (I’m giggling as I write this part.)

Where I’m Headed

Therefore, in order to make the best use of my time with every new ailment and every new specialist (Eph 5:16-17), I’ve been repenting more, so that I may walk humbly with my Lord; neither foolishly running ahead of Him, nor idly walking behind Him (Js 4:17). It’s important to me to repent first of my past encounters I have had with others during my sufferings, that I may not repeat the same sins—sins of trying to be more cheerful or concerned, or apathetic, or…whatever I think might best demonstrate the power of Christ in me; rather than praying Ephesians 4:29 (trusting that God alone knows what the best demonstration of His power is for each person).

I’m grateful to my Father for granting me the freedom in Christ to be able to repent daily. I love being set free to repent because it’s always such a delightful and refreshing time with my Father. Just like a good cry helps the weight of burdens flee, repenting to the LORD and whomever I’ve sinned against relieves me of God’s opposing hand. And I get to once again, be exalted to be nearer to Him (Js 4:6-10); enjoying His perfect peace (Is 26:3-4).

When my Father faithfully washes and renews my mind with His Word, my eyes see clearly; my ears hear obediently; my mind understands humbly; and my heart desires greatly, to follow my Lord into any and all hardships—knowing that like my Savior, I will learn obedience through what I suffer (Ps 119:67-68 and 71; Heb 5:7-8).

I pray for my Father to daily, help me forget what’s behind (failures and successes) and strain towards the good work He has prepared for me in advance, that I might walk in them (Phil 3:14, Eph 2:10).

To God be the glory, forever and ever. Amen.

As I shared in my last post, it’s been a very painful and grievous two years due to a thorn wedged into my flesh by Satan; but only by the good and wise permission of my sovereign God and Father—who is using this to conform me all the more into the image of His Son, Christ Jesus my Lord, my First and Greatest Love.

But before you take more pity on, or think more highly of me than you ought, I must confess: I am not entirely an innocent “victim”. I played a prominent role in the degree and depth of this pain. I made many foolish decisions, without prayer, that allowed Satan to twist and turn this thorn, further and further into my flesh—causing as much damage, and destroying as many relationships as possible.

For foolishly thinking I could handle this situation on my own (Prov 3:5-8), I repent…with much praise and thanksgiving to my compassionate, gracious, and merciful Father who is slow to anger and abounds in steadfast love. I give thanks for the gift of repentance—the ability to manifest godly sorrow, for it is a pleasant and rich gift, in and through the Son—allowing all God’s children to keep short accounts and unhindered intimacy with our Father (Ps 51:15-17).

Hallelujah!

There is no greater joy in this life or the next, than the joy of Jesus Christ—to freely obey the Father and glorify His holy name. And as a beloved daughter of the Most High God, I get to experience this awesome and heavenly joy, while still living here on this earth.

I get to live in the peace of God that transcends all understanding, because I know with the greatest surety, that my sovereign and good Father, hides me from the secret plots of the wicked who hate me. Hated, not because I have done them evil, but because my Father uses my love and devotion for Christ to expose their feign profession. But this is neither new nor isolated to me. It’s been happening since the beginning of time to all whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. Every person who falsely professes their love for God, or are prideful and envious saints in Christ, whom God has not gifted the same way in which He has gifted others, have and will continue to assault those they envy (e.g., Aaron and Miriam, Num 12:1-10; David’s older brothers, 1 Sam 17:28 and 1 Sam 18:8-9; Hananiah the false prophet, Jer 28:12-27; the Pharisees, Jn 8:42-47 and Mt 27:17-18).

I share these sorrows, these hardships, not to garner pity, but to encourage, comfort, and exhort and remind all of you, as much as the Lord enables me: Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus Christ.

Our Father has promised us good in all things (2 Cor 4:16-18)…even the painful things. How awesome is His majestic power and love, that even what was meant to do us ill, is turned by the hand of God, to do us good? If our Father uses even the evil works of our enemy, to do us the highest good, that is, to conform us into the image of Christ; what wickedness can truly overcome and destroy a child of the Most High?

None.

Therefore, remember, no matter the size of the wave that threatens to encapsulate us, we who abide in Christ, will always be carried above the waves, or be made to breathe in the depths.

Here my voice, O God, in my complaint;
preserve my life from dread of the enemy.
Hide me from the secret plots of the wicked,
from the throng of evildoers,
who whet their tongues like swords,
who aim bitter words like arrows,
shooting from ambush at the blameless,
shooting at them suddenly and without fear.

They hold fast to their evil purpose;
they talk of laying snares secretly,
thinking, “Who can see them?”
They search out injustice,
saying, “We have accomplished a diligent search.”
For the inward mind and heart of a man are deep.

But God shoots his arrow at them;
they are wounded suddenly.
They are brought to ruin, with their own tongues turned against them;
all who see them will wag their heads.
Then all mankind fears;
they tell what God has brought about
and ponder what he has done.

Let the righteous one rejoice in the LORD
and take refuge in him!
Let all the upright in heart exult!

~Psalm 64, ESV

During my praise and quiet time this morning, one of the chapters included in the Bible reading plan I use, was 2 Corinthians 11. When I got to verse 30, "If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.", I realized this is something I rarely do. I often boast of Christ crucified (as every Christian ought), and I often boast about the good works of God displayed through the hands of His children. I've boasted about my Lord Jesus' power made perfect in my weaknesses. But today, it hit me...I don't often boast about things that show my weakness.

It's difficult to do because I don't know what's enough or too much. And to be honest, I try to forget about all the pain and weakness I constantly feel, because who wants to hear about it? Most people don't. I've had numerous occasions when I've tried to share and either the person is clearly disinterested or they interrupt and change the subject to something funny or cheerful. Some people wrongly judge me and think I'm making excuses to get out of volunteering for something, or serving them somehow. Others think I'm a hypochondriac and am just making all this up for attention because I don't look sick.

And that's the most difficult struggle with my "illness"—it's not easily visible to the naked eye. It's only visible to the loving eye. But sadly, it seems the loving eye, is the one most of us rarely use to see God, others, or ourselves. We look at one another with a roving eye, a rolling eye, a disinterested eye, an envious eye, the eye of hatred and disgust, and the eye of arrogance and false-piety. Rarely do we look up to our awesome Father God with the eye of holy love, adoration and gratitude, and thus, rarely do we look at one another that way.

If we're honest, we'll admit, that the majority of the time we look to our Father is when we want to feel better about ourselves, our situation, or sadly...even our sins. Rarely do we look to our Father to wound our pride and sin-filled desires with His faithful rebuke and rod of discipline. There's nothing wrong with looking to the LORD for comfort and help (we're commanded to). But our sights are unbalanced if we rarely, or never look to Him for the latter.

To the naked eye, I look well. As a matter of fact, some even say I look fit, healthy, and vibrant. I'm 47 years old and our oldest son is 23, yet I'm often mistaken for his sister, girlfriend or wife. By the sheer look of things, I appear to be the picture of health. But I'm not. Inside, I'm a mess. Inside, I look like my son's great-grandmother. And I'd rather look old on the outside than feel this way on the inside.

But since I was convicted to boast in the things that make me weak, let me give you a glimpse of some of those things.

I had to have my first emergency surgery eight years ago when my gall bladder burst, causing me to have sepsis. I have sixteen titanium screws, two titanium rods, one titanium plate and five artificial discs holding my spine together.

I still have non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, two kidneys that don't clear well, oral lichen planus, degenerative disc disease, hyperparathyroidism, migraines, and sick sinus syndrome. I have a host of other conditions, but I think you get the picture. My insides are a train wreck. This is why I've had eight surgeries in seven years, countless procedures in between, multiple ER visits and hospital admits, and more specialists than there are colors in the rainbow. And this is why I'm in constant pain and weakness.

But for whatever reason, my wise, good and sovereign Father God has chosen my outside to appear to be the complete opposite of what my insides look like. This makes it difficult for most people to see how much I'm hurting daily and how truly difficult simple tasks like, eating, cooking, cleaning, and meeting someone for lunch or coffee is for me.

It takes a loving eye to notice that I'm pressing firmly on the side of my face, next to my ear because I'm in extreme pain while talking or chewing due to the discs dislocations on both sides of my jaw. It takes a loving eye to notice that I keep changing positions whether I'm standing or sitting because I'm hurting so bad and have to move constantly in order to shift the pain from one area to another. Due to my rebellious nature, I'm somewhat ambidextrous and can do many things with my left hand just as well as I do them with my right. So it takes a loving eye to notice that I'll start eating, writing, cooking or doing things with my left hand rather than with my right because my right shoulder, arm and hands are too weak, or they're in too much pain to move.

Only those who look at me with the eye of love, can see all these little ways where I exhibit how much pain and weakness I'm suffering from right before their eyes. And thus, most of the time, I suffer in obscurity—but I'm never alone. Through it all, my gracious Savior, who's suffered and endured more pain and heartache than any human being can imagine, understands how I feel and has compassion on me. Compared to what Christ suffered for my sake, everything I just mentioned here is like a cake walk. It's not even in the same league. But I will boast today, and endeavor to boast more often, of the things that make me weak, so that it can be more clearly seen that if I can do anything, no matter how small or easy it may seem to others, it is only by the great might and grace of God that I am able to do anything.

"For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong...For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us...So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light and momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, so we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal...[Therefore] I do not consider my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God...[for] Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all.

-2 Corinthians 12:10, Romans 8:18, 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Acts 20:24, Philippians 2:17

May God teach us all to number our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom, and die to self daily, so we can live for Christ daily.

**NOTE: Before you comment or send me an email with remedies and an array of solutions for all these things that make me weak, please know that it's due to the severe damage done to me because of the sins of others whom I will never publicly shame, and therefore, will never publicly mention. Thank you for understanding.

We must pray for our President's repentance before he suffers severely from waving his fist at the LORD of hosts, the Lord Almighty who is, and who was, and who is to come (Rev 1:8).

"NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim June 2016 as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month." -President Barak Obama

On Tuesday, May 31, 2016 President Obama made a proclamation demonstrating his utter foolishness and wickedness. Ever since the President took office in 2009, he has been contending supremacy with God. And now, sadly, to increase his enmity with God, he openly and unashamedly blasphemes the name of our holy and awesome LORD. In this audacious act of megalomania, our President is attempting to rename and recreate what the LORD Almighty has said is good (a man is a man, a woman is a woman, both created in the image of God, Genesis 1:27).

"A woman shall not wear a man's garment, nor shall a man put on a woman's cloak, for whoever does these things is an abomination to the LORD our God."

-Deuteronomy 22:5, ESV

"For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened...For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error."

-Romans 1:21 and 26-27, ESV

Our President is suffering from severe self-deception, therefore, knows not what he is doing. He truly believes, along with the LGBT community and their supporters, that being a lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender is something new. It is not. Which is why, by His grace and extreme act of kindness and mercy, the LORD God lovingly admonishes His image-bearers to refrain from such heinous acts against His holy name.

"Whatever has come to be has already been named, and it is known what man is, and that he is not able to dispute with one stronger than he."

-Ecclesiastes 6:10, ESV

King Nebuchadnezzar tried to contend supremacy with God and the LORD Almighty struck Nebuchadnezzar with madness so that he crawled on his hands and knees and ate grass like an animal. It wasn't until he humbled himself before the LORD and repented of his arrogance that he was restored (Dan 4:24-33).

King Herod also tried to contend supremacy with God and the LORD Almighty caused him to be eaten by worms, and he died (Acts 12:21-23).

These are only two examples of numerous occasions recorded in Scripture of people who dared to contend supremacy with God, and the destruction they brought upon themselves. Our God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. May He grant our President repentance that leads to saving faith in Jesus Christ.

And may our magnificent Father God grant all His children the strength, discernment and wisdom to lovingly and unashamedly proclaim His excellencies to all people. And may our gracious and merciful Father remind us that our sins are just as heinous before His sight. We are no better than anyone in the LGBT community or those who support them. We, like every human being God has created, have sinned grievously against our holy God and only by His grace have we been granted the gift of repentance that leads to saving faith in Jesus Christ (Rom 2:4, Eph 2:8-9).

Therefore, let us not boast in what we ourselves have done nothing to earn. But let us strive to share the Gospel with the lost, that they may also hear, believe, and be saved.

"He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the LORD.

"Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust, who does not turn to the proud, to those who go astray after a lie!"

-Psalm 40:3-4

When I first heard the news about Target and their new Transgender bathroom and fitting room policy announced on Tuesday, April 19, 2016—I prayed. I prayed for the Lord to give me wisdom in conversations regarding this issue, and for the safety of innocent women and children who may be endangered by those who would abuse this policy to satisfy their sinful passions.

The crux of Target's policy is summed up in this quote, "Most relevant for the conversations currently underway, we welcome transgender team members and guests to use the restroom or fitting room facility that corresponds with their gender identity."

Before you get offended by my prayers, please understand, I absolutely do not think everyone who identifies themselves as transgender is more perverse than those who don't. I know for a fact that all people: gay, straight, transgender, Black, White, Asian, etc. are all inherently perverse (wayward, wicked, corrupt—sinful) before the sight of a holy God—and that includes me.

As God Almighty has revealed in His Word, only through repentance and faith in the atoning work of Jesus Christ alone, can anyone do anything that is good and acceptable in the sight of the Righteous Judge of all—the Great I AM.

" 'None is righteous, no, not one;
no one understands;
no one seeks for God.
All have turned aside; together they have become worthless;
no one does good,
not even one.'

"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus..."

-Romans 3:10-12; 23-24, ESV

Sexual Predators Posing As Transgender

Sadly, to inflame this already heated debate, there have been erroneous news reports from both Christian and non-Christian sites regarding sexual predators posing as transgender females in order to abuse innocent women and children. One of the faulty reports is about 33-year-old Jason Pomare, who fraudulently posed as a transgender female in order to use the women's bathroom at a Macy's store in Palmdale, California. Though the news reports of this incident are accurate, the reports about when and why it happened are not. This incident did not take place in April 2016, but actually took place in May of 2013. Therefore, though what Pomare did was atrocious (videotaping women in bathroom stalls), this incident did not occur due to any recent battles regarding laws or policies that make provisions for transgender people to use whichever restroom or dressing room they prefer.

But just because the date of the incident was incorrect doesn't mean we ought to foolishly discount the entire report...because it did happen. Sexual predators like Jason Pomare of California, and 37-year-old Christopher Hambrook of Toronto, are everywhere. And there are countless other sexually deviant men and women like them, who already have, and will continue to falsely pose as transgender men and women in order to prey on and abuse the innocent.

Again, I am not accusing all transgender men and women of this crime, I am rightly accusing anyone; truly transgender or falsely transgender, who will see policies like Target's as a gateway for their ruse to abuse.

Biblical Perspective on Transgender Restrooms and Dressing Rooms

As a Christian, I am not alarmed by this policy. We live in a fallen world, and my Lord Jesus already warned all who belong to Him, of the trials and tribulations we will suffer in this life (John 16:33). With His warnings, Jesus also plainly revealed how we, as dearly beloved children of the Most High God ought to respond.

Christians are commanded by God to faithfully, lovingly and boldly preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ in order that some may be saved. We are commanded to protect the innocent and wish no ill on anyone, but to speak up and fight for the protection of the innocent. We are not, however, called to fight social battles that neither endangers nor threatens the welfare of others (e.g., boycotting Starbucks and other companies who choose to say "Happy Holidays" rather than "Merry Christmas"). However, this issue of allowing transgender people to use whichever restroom or dressing room they prefer does jeopardize the safety of innocent women and children by exposing them to falsified transgender men and women. And this is why we must speak up and take action.

Therefore, every Christian ought to boycott Target because Target is foolishly entrapping innocent people by exposing them to the wave of sexual predators who have, and will continue to abuse policies like these.

Reasonable Solution

If Target or other companies want to include transgender people, then they ought to assign bathrooms and dressing rooms that are unisex. That way, those who feel comfortable using the same restroom or dressing room with a transgender male or female, will be able to do so, without forcing those who are uncomfortable with this arrangement to comply.

PARENTS BE ADVISED: the video below is not appropriate for young children.

In Acts 11:26, it's recorded that this is the first time disciples of Christ were called "Christians". The entire New Testament books are replete with what it truly means to be a disciple of Christ—a Christian. In those days, "Christian" was not a complimentary or even as a neutral term for a group of people, but rather, they were called "Christians" as a derogatory term. We know this because we read account after account about the many who suffered for being named a Christian.

"Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name."

-1 Peter 4:12-16, ESV

In Acts 2:42-47, we're given a beautifully clear picture of what the Church (that is, the Body of Christ) looked like: devoted to the apostle's teaching (Scripture); breaking of bread; prayer; having all things in common; sacrificially and generously giving to one another not out of compulsion, but from sincere hearts; habitually fellowshiping in the temple and at one another's homes; praising God; and the Lord added to their number daily, those who were being saved. This is what the Church should look like today, but doesn't.

We more resemble the Corinthian church—full of sexual immorality, greed, gluttony, pride, envy, strife, misuse of spiritual gifts, spiritual laziness/apathy, nominal and corrupt church leaders who neglect the flock while filling their egos and lives with mammon. Beginning with the sexual devolution promoted by Hugh Hefner in the early 1950s, leading to the women's liberation movement in the 1960s and culminating with the legal right to murder innocent lives if they're an inconvenience in 1973 with Roe v. Wade; it's been a slow fade. It's understandable that these wicked behaviors founded on wicked beliefs are fulfilling to the people of this world, but it's a complete abomination that these same wicked behaviors are being accepted, excused, and chased after by professing Christians.

Yesterday, I saw something on Twitter that grieved my heart: a list of the top 25 bestselling "Christian" books for March 2016. It's too painful to share all 25, so I'm only sharing the screenshot of the top 10 because the rest of the list is just more of the same.

I was heartbroken that Sarah Young's blasphemous and heretical book Jesus Calling, two books by well-known heretic and unbeliever Joel Osteen, the undoctrinal book about prayer Fervent by Priscilla Shirer (which the movie War Room was largely based on), and worse...adult coloring books, topped the list.

Here's what Waterbrook Multnomah (Waterbrook Press), whose membership was revoked from NRB (National Religious Broadcasters) in 2014 says about their adult coloring book Whatever is Lovely, "Color your way to peace and worship. We live in such a busy, hectic world—but what waits for you inside this adult coloring book is a way to quiet the noise, express creativity, and spend some sweet time with God. Each page features an original design from one of a dozen different artists, beautifully illustrating a contemplative quote from an inspirational writer, a beloved hymn, or Scripture."

Mind you, there are four adult coloring books that make this list of top 25 "Christian" bestsellers, and three of them are listed in the top 10. If you're interested, you can view my top 20 favorite and recommended books by clicking here: Sunny's Top 20.

I lament to say that I know too few "Christians" who read, study, meditate and understand the Bible (in context), and too many who can only quote Scripture out of context (or can't quote Scripture at all), and get the majority of their theology from heretical books, heretical TV miniseries and heretical "bible" movies. Prior to this, they could only share what they "felt" like God's Word says to them, but now, they can also, literally, color in God's Word however they'd like.

As I consider how the Bride of Christ is shamefully defiling herself with vain and worldly philosophies, rather than cleansing and strengthening herself with the Word of God, these words from our heavenly Father come to mind, "Folly is bound in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far from him" (Prov 22:15), "When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways." (1 Cor 13:11), "Great are the works of the LORD, studied by all who delight in them." (Ps 111:2), "And he [Christ] gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes." (Eph 4:11-14), "For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." (Heb 4:12)

The word "Christian" used to mean someone who is crucified with Christ, someone who carries their cross daily—dying to sin and living in Christ's righteousness. It used to mean someone would sacrifice personal comforts and delights (family, friends, riches, food, etc.) for Christ rather than settle for false peace just to keep "good" relations with family and friends who profess Christ, yet practice sordid ways of living that oppose and mock Him (1 Jn 2:3-6, 3:7-10).

To the many who love Jesus Calling and other heretical books and movies, I pray you repent of your idolatry, hunger and thirst for righteousness, and grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus (Col 1:9-12). Kill your pride and throw off every weight and sin that clings closely; hindering you from running with endurance, the race God has set before you in Christ Jesus (Heb 12:1-2).

To the few who diligently read, study, meditate and memorize the gracious, pure and precious Word of our LORD, press on and sow the good seed of faith even while you mourn, for our Father promises you comfort in your sorrows (Zeph 3:17), and an eternal weight of glory beyond comparison when you arrive Home (2 Cor 4:15-18, Heb 11:13-16).

Part of my daily Bible Reading today was Proverbs 18. As I read this chapter, I stopped at verse two and began to earnestly pray for the Lord to keep me from being a fool in His sight. Whether I am a fool in the sight of people is of no grave consequence to me. Being a Christian doesn't mean I don't care what people think about me (who doesn't want to be liked?). It means I care more what Christ thinks about me (Gal 1:10).

Knowing the days are evil (Eph 5:16), I strive to live every day in view of That Day...when I will see Christ my Savior in His full glory. I long to hear Him say that I have done well in His sight and that my life was a beautiful offering (Mt 25:21, Mk 14:6). I pray this article is well pleasing to my Lord, and that He will use it as an instrument to sow peace and wisdom within the Body of Christ, while proclaiming the undefiled Gospel of Jesus Christ to the lost.

Like many of you, I've seen the video (below) of Dr. Robert Jeffress, Senior Pastor of First Baptist Dallas and Dr. David Jeremiah, Senior Pastor of Shadow Mountain Community Church join false teachers like Paula White, Kenneth Copeland, Jentezen Franklin, etc., in prayer for 2016 GOP presidential candidate, Donald Trump.

But before I share what I learned regarding Dr. Jeffress' participation in this meeting that took place in New York, at Trump Tower on Monday, September 28, 2015, I want to share these words from our Father God so that our hearts and minds are well-established on His precepts and not on our opinions or personal affinities.

"The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way, but the folly of fools is deceiving...A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion."

-Proverbs 14:8; 18:2, ESV

"I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."

-Romans 12:1-2, ESV

"But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace."

-James 3:17-18, ESV

Now that our hearts and minds are firmly established in God's Word and His perfect precepts, let me share why I reached out to Dr. Robert Jeffress and not to Dr. David Jeremiah. Dr. Jeremiah has already proven to be an unorthodox and untrustworthy preacher/teacher of the Word of God by aligning himself with many false teachers including New-Age, Roman Catholic Roma Downey (with his participation in the making and promoting of A.D. The Bible Continues), and heretical Word of Faith preachers (pictured below). However, Dr. Jeffress hasn't been known to do the same, so I wanted to extend him grace (Matt 7:12) and provide him the opportunity to review and share his thoughts regarding his participation in last week's meeting with Donald Trump.

How did this prayer meeting come about? Who invited you?

I'm not exactly sure how/why I was included on the invitation list. I was with Mr. Trump several weeks earlier at his rally in Dallas because I was asked to pray at the event. As I said to The Christian Post, I am willing to pray for any presidential candidate who asks.

Does your participation in this two-hour meeting and prayer alongside well-known heretics like Paula White, Kenneth Copeland, etc., mean you're now in agreement with their false teachings and abominable practices?

No, it does not. I had no idea who was attending this meeting and my participation isn't an automatic approval of the theological viewpoint of every person in the room.

Are you concerned that your involvement with this group of false teachers might inadvertently mislead the flock you're called to shepherd at First Baptist Dallas to begin following/listening to these false teachers, if they don't already?

No, I'm not concerned at all. My congregation knows me and they know my commitment to biblical accuracy.

Can you say with a 100% assurance that your entire congregation has the spiritual discernment to know these are false teachers without you telling them, and in hindsight, if you could do this all over again, would you; or do you regret your involvement?

I think my congregation would know. I have no regrets about any aspect of my participation in the meeting last week with Mr. Trump.

I'm not wavering on my convictions that light should not partner with darkness (2 Cor 6:15). But that doesn't mean I'm going to drag Dr. Jeffress, who I believe to be a brother in Christ, through the hot coals of "Live out your Christian life, exactly the way I live mine...at the moment." None of us has perfect theology, therefore, none of our convictions are perfect and none can claim that at every point in our lives, that any of us, has worshiped Christ as we should. I don't want to judge my brother Dr. Jeffress based on what I would or wouldn't do (Pharisaical judgment), but I want to judge him based on God's perfect Word and precepts because that's the measure I want to be judged by.

And God's Word tells me to be gracious, patient and understanding. God says that His wisdom is first of all pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy, good fruits, and is impartial and sincere. That is what I'm working to demonstrate here.

I lovingly and unequivocally disagree with Dr. Jeffress that his participation in this meeting with false teachers was wise or that it would not endanger his flock. And therefore, I pray for, rather than rally against my brother, that God would move His heart to do what's most pleasing to Him, no matter how uncomfortable or humbling that experience may be. I also pray that all of us would deal with Dr. Jeffress in the loving and understanding way we would want to be dealt with if we were found to be in error (Prov 15:1, 21:1, 22:11).

Being a mom, and especially a Christian mom, is hard. It's what I call, hard heart-work. God builds a special bond between a mother and each of her children. There's something inexplicably wonderful about the life that proceeds from a mother's womb. Which is why abortion is such a horrible and wicked thing to encourage women to do—to strip herself of the beautiful life God graciously gave her in spite of what sins she may have committed, or what sins may have been committed against her.

Every child is an unmerited gift from God.

Therefore, in view of God's mercy, we offer ourselves as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to God, which is our spiritual worship. This command extends to motherhood also. Which means, rather than mothering our children in order to please and seek love for self, we care for our children in order to please and love God and our children sacrificially, and not just when it's easy, fun and dignified. It means we must love God and our children even when it's hard, painful and humiliating. And those three words often sum up the other side of motherhood that many of us neither want to think about or talk about. But we must.

Motherhood is a beautiful thing. It's filled with incalculable joys and fears from the moment you realize God has graced you with the ability to bring forth life.

I remember my first pregnancy; amazed that there was another human being inside of me; that God was secretly forming every part of him: visible (his body and personality) and invisible (his soul). My son was safely tucked in my womb, hidden from view and harm. And it was my job to keep it that way—to love and protect my child—to do him good and not harm all the days of his life—to train him in the love and discipline of the Lord (Eph 6:4). And it's still my job because a mother doesn't stop laboring for her children when she gives birth. A mother stops laboring for her children when either she or they, die their first death.

Sometimes a mother's labor results in great joy and sometimes it results in great pain. A mother has great joy when she gets to see the physical fruit of her labor—a living being from her womb; and when she gets to see the spiritual fruit of her labor—the life of her child secured in Christ. Along with these joys come the arduous, daily heart-work of keeping your child healthy, clean, fed, clothed, warm, safe and especially, Christ-honoring. A mother who fears the LORD, joyfully and willingly sacrifices her own comforts for her child's comforts. She would happily give up her food and go hungry, rather than see her child go hungry. She would cheerfully give up her sweater or coat and be cold, rather than see her child shiver. She would generously give up all her strength and be weak, rather than see her child hurting; and she would, without hesitation, joyfully give up her own life, rather than take the life of her child. A mother who fears the LORD, sacrifices everything, whether great or small, for her child's benefit, without consideration for her own. That's the way God made us. And that's what Jesus exampled for us when He disrobed Himself of His glory, left Heaven, and came to earth—to suffer, to die, and to rise from the grave, to grant eternal life, to all who repent and believe.

Being a mother isn't about fulfilling our already overweening egos. It's not about living our unfulfilled dreams and hopes through our children. It's not our second chance at life. It's our children's first chance to live the life God planned for them. Our children's lives are not about filling voids, trapping men, or something to be discarded because they're inconveniencing us somehow. Our children's lives are gifts from the Lord in spite of our sins, our frailties and ineptness; to properly love and care for another human being.

Being a mother who fears the Lord requires the willingness to suffer well and long for our children's best. It means being willing to tell your children hard truths about themselves, even if that means they won't like you...or even hate and totally reject you. It means daily feeding them the Gospel of Jesus Christ, reminding them that we're all sinners in desperate need of the one and only Savior. It means genuinely sharing your sins (age appropriate) so that they may learn and not fall into the same temptations. It means humbly asking them for forgiveness when you've sinned against them. It means living what you say you believe about Jesus; that He is sovereign, good, and perfect. Therefore, you're entire being, your thoughts, opinions, and conduct is based on what's found in the holy Word of God and not what's found in our defiled, self-absorbed world, or selves.

My hardest heart-work of being a mother has never been in the physical realm. It's always been the spiritual battles I've fought and continue to fight for and with my children, on my knees, and in my face-to-face conversations with them. I've always told my children that they can count on me to help them with anything...except sin. And I continue to remind them that I will stand against them, if necessary, with all the strength God provides, to give them what is good and not evil. It's extremely painful to watch my children sin (the same or differently than me), and this pain often causes me to want to crawl into a hole and just cry, but I don't...crawl into a hole. Rather, I follow my Savior and do what He did when He was here. I go to a lonely place (Lk 5:16) and I cry and talk to God Almighty (Ps 40:1-4, 16-17) instead of crying and talking to myself in the hole of self-pity.

I'd love to tell you that training up your children in the way of the Lord is easy and filled with stories of all the "great and amazing things God is doing" in their lives. I'd love to tell you that if you raise your children in the love and discipline of the Lord, they will love, honor and appreciate you. But I can't tell you any of these things because it's not true. Proverbs 22:6 is a precept for parents to obey, not a promise of absolute results.

We have two sons, 22 and 20. We raised them both in the love and discipline of the Lord Jesus Christ. We imperfectly lived out our faith before them; repenting to God and to our children whenever we sinned (which for me, was and still is, more often than I'd like). We always showed them how every rule for our family could be found in God's Word so that they would know that it is by the Lord's Word and standard, and not by our word and standard that our family is established and maintained.

With all our hearts, we loved and obeyed God's mandate to parents in Deuteronomy 6:5-9. Though I'm a night owl rather than a morning person, I willingly died to my natural inclinations, for how God created my children...to rise early (Php 2:3-4). During the first 18 years of my children's lives, I would wake up one and a half to two hours earlier than my children in order to have my personal praise and quiet time with the Lord, prepare a hot breakfast for our boys, and do our daily breakfast devotional. Between the ages of four and five, I taught them how to have their own praise and quiet time with the Lord; training them to wake up an hour before school so that they would have ample time for private and family worship.

When they were school-aged, we'd continue our talk about the Lord on the way to school, when I picked them up and as we did homework and played together. We'd pray and discuss the Lord at dinner, and during our "family time". When we took them to bed, we'd snuggle them (through age 13), prayed with them, then scratched their backs and massaged their heads as we sang any three songs they chose, to worship and praise our God together.

We literally have God's Word on our walls, on our furniture and everywhere you turn in our home. We purchased our children pocket Bibles so they would have God's Word with them wherever they go. I made them bookmarks with Scriptures to help them through trials and remind them of how to humbly receive praise. I made them lunch every day and included a simple note that reminded them of God's love, sovereignty and goodness in their lives. Since we felt led to public school our sons (I wouldn't recommend this to everyone, I recommend homeschooling), I practically lived at their schools, volunteering for everything I could: art assistant, music assistant, homeroom mom, office assistant, library assistant, chaperone, etc. I basically attended school with my children and walked or drove home with them when we were done. On the way home, I would ask them about how they witnessed God's goodness throughout their day.

Our sons were raised in sound doctrine and knowing how to interpret Scripture with Scripture rather than by their emotions or worldly philosophies. We purchased them reference Bibles by the time they both reached the third grade and taught them what the little numbers and letters next to verses and words meant and how to use the concordance in the back. We purchased a Holman Bible Atlas and taught them the timeline of events in the Bible as well as go over the maps so they could see the locations and distances of where people lived, how they traveled, and how far they traveled to obey God.

We purchased the Basic Training Course so that as a family, we might learn how to biblically and effectively share the true Gospel of God's grace rather than the prevalent, man-centered false gospel. We took the course together when our sons were 9 and 11, and we did all the activities together so that we might labor in the Lord's harvest field as a family. When they turned 12, we purchased Student Study Bibles (I recommend the ESV, it's excellent) so they could learn to study God's Word for themselves, with helpful resources and notes that were applicable for their life stage. There's much more that we did and still do with our oldest son who's still home with us, but I'll stop here because I think you get the point: my husband and I, with all our hearts, poured into our children, the love of God and the holy Word as best as we could.

I don't share any of this so you'll think highly of us. Rather, I share this with you to demonstrate that though you too may love and obey God's command in Deuteronomy 6:5-9, it's not to your glory if your children grow into Christ-honoring adults, nor your complete blame (if at all) if they grow into Christ-mocking adults. As I shared earlier, we have two sons, 22 and 20. Our youngest is our prodigal and left home at 19 to live his life as he pleased and not as God pleased. Our oldest is still with us while working to receive his graduate degree in Accounting. But that doesn't mean our oldest son is perfect and never brings us heartache like our youngest son does. It just means that though they were both raised in the love and discipline of our Lord, they walk divergent paths. We love them both dearly (for how can a mother lack compassion for a son from her womb?) and fervently pray for both of them to walk in a manner that's worthy of the Lord Jesus Christ (Col 1:9-12).

Though sometimes Christ-honoring parents are blessed to raise Christ-honoring children, some of us are blessed to continue our labor for our children's eternal souls until the day one of us dies. And sometimes those who aren't Christ-honoring parents, produce Christ-honoring children (e.g., Madalyn Murray O'Hair, the famous atheist, who's oldest son William "Bill" became a Christian because of God's sovereign choosing and the faithful labor of others). This is why we can't take credit or full blame for how our children choose to live. God is sovereign and all knowing and all wise. We are not.

While the rejection of our youngest son continues to pain us, the greatest heartache isn't that he isn't reconciled to us, but that he's not reconciled to God Almighty. My heart grieves every time either of our sons sin and succumbs to ways of the world (what's cool and popular) over the holy ways of God that are good and right. But their lives are not mine to hold, rather their lives are mine to entrust to the LORD who alone is faithful (2 Tim 2:13).

Whatever stage you're currently in with your mothering, please know, there's nothing wrong with desiring godly children whose lives are eternally secured in Christ. This is the most loving thing a mother can desire for her children. And we should certainly labor for that. But it's a sin to allow this good desire to be the hope and reason why you train them up in the love and discipline of the Lord—because it becomes an idol. The only reason why we should or shouldn't do anything, is for the pleasure, honor and glory of God. If your heart's sole purpose in training your children as God commands is because you love Him first and foremost, then your hard heart-work will not be in vain. You will not be prone to pride if your children walk with the Lord, nor will you be crushed if they don't. No matter the results, you will remain steadfast in hope, persevere in your labor for your children without bitterness, be patient in tribulation, fervent in prayer, bless them if they persecute you, rejoice with them in righteousness, and live peaceably with them as much as it is up to you (Rom 12:9-21).

Photo credit: David Whitlow, courtesy of AFFIRM Films/Provident Films
War Room with Priscilla Shirer and Beth Moore

NOTE: Since I did not see War Room, this is not a review, but simply my comments based on multiple in depth reviews I've read by those who both liked and disliked the film. Thankfully, all the reviewers included some actual lines from War Room so that I could test them for myself with the Word of God. I share links (below) to the two brothers who reviewed the movie with biblical discernment, choosing no one's "side" except Christ's.

When War Room was being promoted last year, I had many readers contact me, asking what I thought about this upcoming (and now here) Christian film. My response at the time was that I didn't have an opinion one way or another because I didn't know much about it, but would look into it. All I knew was that it was written and produced by the Kendrick Brothers (Stephen and Alex) and so far, I've liked their movies: Facing the Giants, Fireproof, and Courageous. But as many of you already know, I'm vehemently against showing favoritism (though I've done it and repented of it with Kirk Cameron), and am a proponent of testing all things with God's Word, rather than giving blanket approval to everything someone says or does (Acts 17:10-11). We're all fallible human beings and are subject to deception, so we must test all things with God's Word, because Scripture alone is perfect.

As time passed, I began to see and hear more about this movie. Then about a week ago, I saw that Beth Moore and Priscilla Shirer were in the film, with Shirer playing the lead female role. This instantly gave me cause to be greatly concerned about the message of the movie. For those who don't know about Beth Moore's false teachings, please refer to my article here: "What Do Ann Voskamp, Beth Moore and Sarah Young Have in Common?". In short, Beth Moore believes in the unbiblical practice of "binding Satan", as well as proudly declaring her extra-biblical prophetic messages and false visions from the Lord. Unfortunately, Priscilla Shirer is close friends, ministry partners, and contemplative prayer practitioner/teacher with Beth Moore, and as God warned us, "Bad company, ruins good morals." (1 Cor 15:33)—and Beth Moore is certainly bad company for anyone, especially believers.

But still, I wanted to be open-minded about the movie, so I prayed about whether or not I should go see it and write a review on it myself. Thankfully, the Lord answered my prayers with these two reviews by Justin Peters and Seth Dunn.

War Room sadly promotes and teaches: wives to be worldly submissive rather than biblically submissive, conversing with Satan, and many other Word of Faith types of practices. But sadly, I am not surprised because Alex Kendrick did not heed the admonition in 1 Corinthians 15:33, and earlier this year, he immersed himself with Word of Faith false teachers at the Missions and Marketplace Conference 2015. Strangely enough, the link to this year's speakers (as you can see pictured below), has recently been deleted so that you can't see that Alex Kendrick was one of their keynote speakers.

You can't travel with and work alongside false teachers and remain completely undefiled by their heresies and presumptuous blasphemes they proclaim and to their hurt, teach others to practice. This is why I wasn't surprised to hear that there were so many Word of Faith type prayers and proclamations (e.g., when Mrs. Clara was held at knife-point, she rebuked her assailant "in the name of Jesus", Elizabeth rebuking Satan, etc.).

"Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

"Yet in like manner these people also, relying on their dreams, defile the flesh, reject authority, and blaspheme the glorious ones. But when the archangel Michael, contending with the devil, was disputing about the body of Moses, he did not presume to pronounce a blasphemous judgment, but said, 'The Lord rebuke you.' "

-Jude 1:3-4; 8-9, ESV

While I agree with the premise of this movie: that we need to pray more, I disagree with the unbiblical manner in which War Room teaches and promotes prayer—as our personal power source to get something from God (to fix our lives) rather than what Christ told us prayer is for—the gift of God to know and submit to His will rather than our own.

I also take serious issue with the one little line by Beth Moore's character has, "Sometimes submission to your husband looks like ducking so the Lord’s punch hits him instead". Sisters, while this may feed our flesh, it certainly does not feed our spirits with pure spiritual milk. This line completely opposes the humble, loving and biblically submissive heart-disposition God delights in Proverbs 31:11-12. Rather, a godly wife readily admits she is a sinner and is grateful for the mercy she's received from the Lord, therefore delights to submit to her husband from her overflowing love for Christ, and not so that her husband would get "punched" by God (which denigrates our Father's holy and righteous character). A truly biblically submissive wife understands the admonition given to ungodly husbands in 1 Peter 3:7 and out of her love for Christ and her husband, she prays for him and submits to him for His good and not for his harm—for God to grant him the same mercy she's received in Christ.

I'm disappointed and saddened that this latest film from the Kendrick Brothers succumbed to the seeker-friendly, happy-clappy, false Christianity. But I hope and pray that their next film will return to more doctrinally sound portrayals of what it looks like to be a true disciple of Jesus Christ—the light and salt of the earth.

As you read the reviews from Justin Peters and Seth Dunn, please keep in mind something Charles Spurgeon once said, "Discernment is not a matter of simply telling the difference between right and wrong; rather it is telling the difference between right and almost right." And War Room is dangerous, because it's almost right.

Why Commenting is Closed

I did a rare thing today. I closed comments on this article early because I'm responsible to God for all the the content found on this site, including the comments.

I've learned from the past, and can more quickly discern when an article begins to garner too many ill-mannered commenters rather than edifying commenters. It doesn't bother me when people disagree with me (read my other posts where hundreds of people disagree with me, here and at the Christian Post). I actually appreciate and am very encouraged by sincere, loving and challenging comments/questions by brothers and sisters in the Lord and always pray about and take into serious consideration any disagreements. I know that I can and am often wrong and am encouraged by the true expression of love that I'm shown by those who care enough to correct me. So I test sincere disagreements with God's Word and if I'm right, I stand firm, and if I'm wrong, I thank the person who loved me enough to take the time to correct me and openly share my error so others won't make the same error I did.

Commenting on my blog is allowed as long as it's respectful, loving, and edifying to others; and most importantly, honoring to Christ (Ephesians 4:29-32, 5:4 and 2 Tim 2:14, 24-26). When comments become belligerent and emotion-led rather than Spirit-led, I close the thread so that I may maintain an environment of God's truth and peace, rather than provide a place for havoc and ranting.

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