CHURCH – ‘OR’ – STATE

March 22, 2026 By Leave a Comment

Hmmm

Does the debate over “church and state” mean we have to choose between church OR state ?

The Roman State became The Roman Church.
Both were BAD !

The Roman State became ‘bad’ for Christians, wih severe persecution.

BUT GOD – – –

Result of persecution was so powerful for growth of Christianity that the ‘church’ took over the state—which made the known world of ‘church and state’ even worse.
The church gained power, so much control, then it had to desperately maintain such control, so that THE CHURCH had to restrict freedom of the people to think for themselves, even eliminate* them to read the Bible for themselves.
That canceled the transformation by the Word that is the heart and soul of the power in Christianity.

For centuries ?
Yes.
Until the Reformation, and even beyond for many people.

Is the answer to have ‘balance’ ? Balance between church and state ?
Does balance mean compromise—that is, mutual compromise ?
NO NO NO
NEVER WORKS

Reminds me of “mutual submissiom” in marriage.

Mutual submission is an oxymoron in any context.

Similar to “agree to disagree”—that means someone doesn’t have strong enough convictions to stand on, stand for, to make a difference, pay the cost.

Church and State—
Organized Church is not Christians called to be salt and light.

Organized Church and State—
Both run by human nature seeking power to control people.

Mission of Christians, surrendered to Jesus, is seeking changed lives from the inside, that will make a difference in society (in other people), no matter what the form of government.

Government set up “of the people, by the people, for the people” is ideal for discipling and missions.
American governmentt blessed this country through “TRUST IN GOD”.
So, “GOD BLESSED AMERICA”.

And then—
Sadly, the profound success of revivals, awakenings, and sending missionaries, eventually led to profound prosperity and comfortable Christianity and loss of faithfulness – – – faithfulness which endures only through hard times.

History repeats.

Church history repeats.

BUT GOD repeats, calling His faithful remnant back to repentance and relationship and power.

CHURCH ~ STATE

  • When Christians are in the persecuted minority, we are in good company, closer to Jesus and each other “in the fellowship of His sufferings.”
  • When Christians seem to be in the ‘majority’, be very careful to stay on “the narrow way” that Jesus said, “few will find it.”

In times like these
Be very sure
Your anchor holds
And grips the solid rock.

That rock is Jesus,
Yes He’s the One.
That rock is Jesus,
The Only One.

BE VERY SURE.

*eliminate, often literally

Filed Under: Educational, Faith Based, Political---Cultural

OF’•FENSE OR OF•FENSE’

March 22, 2026 By Leave a Comment

Whether in sports or personal relations or international relations or spiritual matters, you can’t engage in
of’•fense
without creating the result of an
of• fense’.

“Offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes!”
—–Jesus

“There is something wrong with a person who gets along with everyone.”
—–Adrian Rogers

Note this:
Of•fense’ is not necessarily the fault of the person engaged in of’•fense.

Filed Under: Educational, Faith Based

IN THE CENTER OF GOD’S WILL

March 22, 2026 By Leave a Comment

Is the center of God’s Will something that I achieve (must achieve) in my life ?
Is living in the center of God’s Will a lifelong search, like “Be perfect, as your Father in heaven . . .”
Are we destined to frustration because we haven’t ‘arrived’ at the place where we want to be, or where God wants us ?

Contentment includes believing I am in the center of God’s Will, even if I’m not in the center of my will.

Filed Under: Faith Based, Inspirational, Time

HELICOPTER PARENTING – – – HELICOPTER HUSBANDING ?

March 22, 2026 By Leave a Comment

The question is this:
Would it work in our lives if we took the Bible verses just as they are written, and applied them ?

“Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, His body, of which He is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.”

If we don’t believe it would work, then the Bible continues in the next verse with how it works.

“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her . . .
In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies.”

Nowadays we think we improve on many things the Bible says, to make us more comfortable or more excited.

For decades now there has been a plethora of ‘upgrades’ to fit our enlightenment—book after book and programs galore explaining how marriage and family really work.
Doesn’t anybody raise a healthy skepticism over the compulsion to write a new list or formula that gets it right—meaning we didn’t have the secret before ?

How is it that we have created such a demand for new answers from psychology, and authors and talk show hosts capitalize on the ‘market’, boosting the search for even more.

Mutual submission does not come out of Eph 6, unless you are trying to ‘soften the blow’ of wives submitting.

If your marriage is great, you don’t have to listen to all the new presentations.
If your marriage is not good, then you ‘have to’ pay attention and try to follow every new book that fixes thousands, guaranteed.

Filed Under: Educational, Faith Based, Family, Inspirational, Political---Cultural, Time