First, a few selections from history:

+ PAGAN IDOLS—earth, animals, trees, rocks, weather
When I taught fourth grade four decades ago, it seemed obviously silly how ancient people actually worshipped the earth and things it contained.
It wasn’t long after, that the world established “earth day,” so we could officially worship the physical world around us with the misguided environmental movement.

+OLD TESTAMENT ISRAEL IDOLS—the golden calf at Mt. Sinai, ‘high places’ for duplicating pagan worship on mountains away from the temple, fiery molech for child sacrifice, even physical idols brought into God’s temple.
God set the record straight with severe repercussions, repeatedly as required.

+ROMAN/GREEK IDOLS—named gods for every human need, with human personalities, with human weaknesses, with human needs, providing material for a world of literature, fascinating in itself.
What a phenomenal exercise in futility.
They instinctively knew this did not cover their spiritual requirements, so they added to their physical idols an altar “to the unknown god.”

+CATHOLIC IDOLS—popes and councils add to the Bible (oppose people reading the Bible), indulgences (buy forgiveness—build cathedrals), saints for every need and every occasion (praying to saints unabated for 2000 years, shamelessly, with shrines and dates), Jesus alone is not enough, church itself becomes the idol.
God sends the Reformation—people read the Bible and find Jesus—Catholicism basically unchanged (still depending on the pope and praying to saints when you need them).

PROTESTANT/AMERICAN IDOLS—our enlightenment (we got salvation right, we brush over that Catholics don’t get it quite right, at least we all have Jesus—or do we?), our success (best Christian nation ever), economy (too good to depend on God), personal retirement (unbiblical), evolution to abortion (we didn’t stop either), sex worship to sex perversion (unclean pulpits—unclear message—unthinkable inclusion), social justice to socialism (church mission abdicated to government).
– – –
Jesus alone is enough—adding anything to Jesus and the Bible, by any church, at any time, is false gospel and idolatry—truth is unchanged!
We worship, condoning what God clearly forbids—no illusions that we’ve made any progress since Eden.
If nothing else, don’t give satan more to gloat about.

Warning:
Speak out against the idols of the day in the church—expect to pay a high price, now.

Warning:
Fail to speak out against the idols of the day in the church—expect to pay a higher price, soon.

2020 is not just another new year.

I don’t know how much time I have left.

So I’m going to make the next minutes count, for me writing this, and for you reading this.

After I wrote this, I realized this is very much what Daddy would have shared if he was here today.  (He would have been 115 years old February 1.)

– – –

First, bringing Thanksgiving and Christmas together:

Give thanks with a grateful heart,

Give thanks to the Holy One.

Give thanks because He’s given

Jesus Christ His Son.

 

And now let the weak say, “I am strong.”

Let the poor say, “I am rich,

Because of what the Lord has done for us.”

Give thanks.

– – –

We may not think of ourselves as weak.

We may not think of ourselves as poor.

But Jesus said we must come as little children, to enter His Kingdom.

So I thank God for sending Jesus, so we can come to Him weak and poor, and have our name written in heaven because of what the Lord has done for us.

Give Thanks.

– – –

2020—CLEAR, SPIRITUAL VISION

“In the last days perilous times will come.”

Hard times are not limited to the last days, but the Bible says it’s going to get really, really bad closer to the end of the world.

In the meantime, a few more promises to live by—guaranteed to all Jesus followers.

– – –

“We must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.”

That verse is engraved on my brother’s tombstone at The Grove, Texas for good reason.

He was a total invalid for 37 years, from polio at 6 months—and my parents cared for him in our home the entire time—major impact.

– – –

“You will be hated by all people because of my name.”—–Jesus said that.

– – –

“Beware when people speak well of you.”—–Jesus said that.

– – –

After a list of two dozen sins at the end of Romans 1, the Bible says, “Knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but consent with them who do.”

Read Romans 1, to the end of the chapter.

– – –

Back to the starting verse on perilous times—the most dangerous, most perilous place for Christians is comfortable—getting along, fitting in, included, and inclusive.

Ask yourself, “Am I living ‘called by Jesus’ daily—or—Am I fitting Jesus into the life I have chosen?”

– – –

We cannot go along with what’s happening in America—and happening fast.

It will sneak up on every one of us, soon.

I pray for a sense of urgency for each of us to be aware of the evil forces waging war against Christians in America, now, and be bold to stand for Jesus, counting the cost now, and not be surprised when persecution hits close to home.

– – –

Anyone God chooses to use mightily, He first tests severely.

Anyone God uses, will face persecution.

Do you want to be used by God?

– – –

Each of us ask ourselves, “What will I say, now, and on ‘that day’?”

Either:

I was faithful, I ‘fought the good fight,’ I lived for Jesus, and people knew it.

Or:

I went along to get along in America, and I was respected for that, like Lot—

—he first “pitched his tent toward Sodom—

—then he moved into Sodom—

—he became a civic leader in Sodom—

—he was “vexed with the filthy conversation of Sodom”—

—Uncle Abraham prayed to save Sodom if there were ten righteous people in Sodom—

—not found—

—Lot lost everything.

– – –

America is Sodom now—we may lose everything—may it be because we live for Jesus now, and don’t compromise.

Christian compatibility with the culture in America is now history.

Welcome a return to authentic, historical, Biblical Christianity, like our brothers and sisters who are sacrificing everything, around the world today.

– – –

I close with this:

In 2020—It will become harder to be a Christian, but it will be easier to tell who is a Christian.

– – –

Missionaries ?

or

Mission Field ?

– – –

MERRY CHRISTMAS, AND A CLEAR 2020—A BLESSED NEW YEAR

Can we show perseverance without opposition?

Can we show bravery without fear?

Can we show faith without flack?

Can we follow Jesus without persecution?

Jesus said no.

“If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you.”

“All who live Godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.”

“And when the fight is fierce, the warfare long,

Steals on the ear the distant, triumph song.

And hearts are brave again, and arms are strong.”

 

Christians, look to the Bible for authentic, historical Christianity—not to the Cinderella honeymoon we’ve had in America, dramatically coming to end.