Must America Be Punished?

No nation has had the privilege that we have or the high standard of living for so many as America. We are indeed responsible to God for the way we vote and participate and pray for our nation as it is "under God." Israel was specifically known by God above all nations and therefore God chose to punish them (cf. Amos 3) and not let them get away with idolatry.

The captivity in Babylon cured them of that but they had the sign of hypocrisy and legalism to boot notwithstanding. The promises in Deuteronomy 28 refer to God's covenant with Israel and not the church. The Abrahamic covenant of blessing those who bless us is still in effect.

We are admonished to not give up on our leaders but to intercede for them. There's nothing endemically wrong with infidel leaders who are moral and competent. The promise in 2 Chron. 7:14 is valid and pertinent to the Gentile nations: "If My people, who are called by My name [Christians] shall humble themselves [and seek His face, etc.]" God shall "heal the land" That's a promise you can take to the bank! America will only be punished if His people fail our country en masse.  Soli Deo Gloria!

Can Controversy Be Good?

"Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace" (Eph. 4:3).

John Stott authored the book Christ the Controversialist and I think he's onto something here: Avoiding controversy completely is avoiding Christ, as it were. There are foolish controversies or quarrels, and there are ones that are worth the fight and are "non-negotiables." We shouldn't quarrel about disputable matters, such as eating meat or a Sabbath, but everyone should obey his conscience and be fully convinced in his own mind (Rom. 14:1ff).   Some have an unhealthy craving for quarrels and meanings of words (1 Tim. 6:4,8). 

We are to avoid "foolish controversies" or dissensions according to Titus 3:9. In the book Patton's Principles: A Handbook for Managers Who Mean It he admonishes us not to argue over something that you have nothing or little to gain in winning--to pick our fights wisely.  You could lose a friend arguing about a trivial subject.    As St. Augustine, Bishop of Hippo said, "In essentials, unity; in nonessentials, liberty; in all things, charity."

There will be factions though we are not to have a factious spirit (a fruit of the flesh) because Christ said that he came not to "bring peace, but a sword (Matt. 10:34). But we are to beware of "deceptive philosophy and empty deceit.." cf/ Col. 2:8. So don't let anyone fool you with sophistry or "plausible arguments" and not according to the Word (Col. 2:4).   Soli Deo Gloria!

What Do We Know About Israel For Sure?

Defining Israel as the descendants of Jacob, not just of the tribe of Judah, of which the modern-day nation of Israel is composed.

There are a few facts that are clearly delineated in Scripture about present and future Israel: (1) Israel is presently blinded by God but even now the elect or remnant are being saved (Rom. 11:7-8); (2) in the last days "all Israel will be saved" (Rom. 11:26); (3) Israel "stumbled over the stumbling stone" (Christ) (Rom. 9:32); (4) they will "come" to the LORD in the last days (Hos. 3:5); (5) today's condition of Israel is prophesied as without king, prince, sacrifice, sacred stones, ephod or idol (Hos. 3:4); (6) it is prophesied that they shall be "wanderers among the nations" (Hos. 9:17) and in the last days they shall be planted again in their own land (Amos 9:15);(7) Israel is a source of blessing for "in Abraham shall all the nations be blessed" (Gen. 12:2-3); (8) at last God will" pour out His Spirit" on Israel and they shall believe in Christ "whom they pierced" (Zech. 12:10); (9) finally, the mystery of Christ is that the Gentiles and Israel are heirs together in one body and share in the promise of Christ (Eph. 2:6).  There will come a time when they will not miss the ark of the covenant.  Soli Deo Gloria!