Harden Not Your Heart

“Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness: When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my work. Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, and said, It is a people that do err in their heart, and they have not known my ways: Unto whom I sware in my wrath that they should not enter into my rest.” (Psalm 95:8-11)

The heart is the well from which everything flows. The heart is the first cause that sets every effect into motion. All good or bad emanating from a soul can be backtracked to the heart. The heart is the physical representation of the spirit.

The New Testament meaning of tribulation is pressure. In the Old Testament tribulation is a reference to vexation. Tribulation then, is an adverse life event that forces out and reveals our true spiritual condition. 

The Psalmist says, “your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my work.” The tribulation, the vexing pressure was the temptation and proving. The result of this pressure was his “work”. Having our heart filled with Jesus (cause) will give us tranquility of spirit (effect), this allows us to act accordingly under any and all tribulation, or life’s vexing pressures. You would never ask, “What Would Jesus Do” if filled with Christ. It would flow as a natural by-product of the Jesus inside you.

The Psalmist warns against a harden heart. It’s a fair warning. The harden heart has an exterior of adamant. It is a shield that protects by warding off almost every blow. It is also a wall that prevents. Nothing penetrates the harden heart, including Jesus. How is this possible? A harden heart is the product of the will. One must choose it, just as one must choose Christ.

The Psalmist writes:

1. “It is a people that do err in their heart”. The mistake was in their spirit.

2. “and they have not known my ways”. The people “knew” in that they were aware of Gods commandments. The problem was that they chose not to adhere to Him or His ways. As the evangelist explains, “For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.” (Hebrews 4:2).

Tribulations in life reveal our true inner spiritual condition. Is that spiritual condition worthy of God? The answer is probably not, and it is why God is showing it to us. God made it crystal clear what he wants for us when He said, “Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord God: and not that he should return from his ways, and live?” (Ezekiel 18:23).

For us to repent and live we must understand what we are repenting from, why we are repenting of it and what the life is once we do. We must recognize sin as bad, a thing to be avoided and repented of. We must desire God first and foremost. He must be our “lot”, our desire and utmost choice. Repenting of sin is only the first step. Accepting God as our portion is the completion.

Unfortunately, all too often we are like the “generation” that the Psalmist speaks of. We are aware of our spiritual condition but focus on the immediate gratification of the physical world. We justify our actions by explaining the needs of the situation at hand. We sacrifice self at the altar of the gods, “Here” and “Now”. These two heathen gods will always appear to be the right and logical choice. They are material, physical and present. But there is no faith associated with these false gods. There is no promise to come with them. Here and Now do not offer salvation, only the opportunity to quench a salivating lust. These are the ones that God said, “I sware in my wrath that they should not enter into my rest.”

But the evangelist tells us, “There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.” (Hebrews 4:9).

Chose God. Repent and live.

Bill Hitchcock

What The Big Bang Theory Lacks

The Big Bang Theory, the idea that the earth and all of the universe was created when somehow matter and motion appeared out of nowhere, then somehow exploded and thus producing the universe falls short in a very important topic. Order. The Big Bang Theory does not explain order.

We learn at the very beginning of the Bible that, 

“God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters” (Genesis 1:1-2).

Notice how before the “Spirit of God” moved that the earth was formless and in a state of confusion (without form), empty (void), obscure and dark (and darkness), covered the abyss, the earth (upon the face of the deep).

Before the Spirit of God moved upon the earth, the creation of God was nothing but a vacuous, dark, state of confusion. It was only when His Spirit moved was there light, definition, purpose, and good. God ordered not only the physical creation, but created order for that creation. It is impossible for the Big Bang Theory to create order and purpose. This can only be done by intelligent design.

God is the first cause of everything. No cause is by accident or without reason. The cause is intentional and purposeful. The effect that the cause produces is to achieve a desired result.

Richard Hooker defines law as, “a directive rule unto goodness of operation”. By this definition of law we use for order. God’s law, or order of nature is a directive rule unto goodness of operation. God’s intelligent design is His directive rule. God’s law, or His commandments, precepts and principles are His goodness of operation. None of this is possible with the Big Bang Theory. Even if it were possible for the Big Bang to create matter and motion out of a void (which is impossible without God) and produce the universe from it, the Big Bang could only produce a pointless, formless meaningless, obscure, dark abyss. The Big Bang Theory cannot produce order and purpose. Only intelligence can do that and there is no intelligence or reasoning with the Big Bang Theory. The things that make mankind unique, God, Spirit, intelligence and reason are exactly what the Big Bang Theory lacks.

Bill Hitchcock

Only Peace and Unity

To advocate for diversity is to do nothing but to promote segregation. It builds walls and labels people. Animosity thrives due to the friction between factions that diversity creates.

Diversity advocating is a power struggle. It is an attempt for one group to gain advantage and control over another.

“But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us” (Ephesians 2:13-14)

Jesus Christ is our peace, the tranquility of soul we so desperately seek. Through Christ the wall of hatred that diversity creates and promotes is knocked down. With Jesus Christ the wall of division is no more. The nearer to Christ we get, the closer to each other we become. Think of a triangle with Jesus as the top point and you and I as the two base points. As we rise towards Jesus the distance between you and I gets less and less. Eventually when each of us is in Jesus and Jesus is in you and me, we then become one together in the unity of Christ.

There is no division, diversity or the strife it creates in Jesus. Only peace and unity.

Bill Hitchcock

Beware and Be Aware

Our operation is by the Spirit, the Holy Spirit, is it not? And because of the Spirit we are enabled, imbued and endowed with discernment. God gave us laws and commandments. These we follow. But God also gave us principle, precept and doctrine in which to discern through the Spirit, so as to equip us to live, move and have our being in this world as a child of God.

What isn’t black and white is discerned through the Spirit.

Yes we have scripture. But not everything of God is spelled out in a command or law.

Beware of the traditions of men, of form and protocol, of ceremony and of vain creeds and philosophies attached to God’s word.

At the same time, be very aware of nature, for God is in everything He has created. Is it not through nature that God touches even the most primitive of savages? Is not the Spirit placed in the hearts of the isolated that enables that man to see God through his surroundings?

Bill Hitchcock

Diversity Is Not The Goal Of God

Notice how diversity is not the goal, singularity is.

“For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.” Galatians (3:27-28).

“Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” (Ephesians 4:3-6).

Jesus Christ is the goal. His Spirit is the bond of peace.

In fact, God used diversity as a punishment.

“And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech. And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there. And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them thoroughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter. And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth. And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded. And the Lord said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech. So the Lord scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city. Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the Lord did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the Lord scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.” (Genesis 11:1-9)

Diversity has never been the goal of God. Unity of heart and soul invested in Jesus Christ always has been.

God is the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Diversity is the exact opposite. Diversity is the fight to separate and divide. There is no unity in division, except for the divisive. There is no Holy Spirit in division, only the spirit of antichrist.

This will be confusing to some. Especially when you look at the diversity of race, nationality, color, gender, etc. that is the make-up of Christianity. But what you have to understand is that diversity coalesces when “endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace”

The Spirit is the cause, peace and unity are the effect. The spirit of antichrist is the cause, division and strife are the effect.

Jesus Christ (the cause) said peace I leave you. My peace I give you (the effect). Not as the world (division) gives you. (John 14:27).

Jesus Christ one great purpose and prayer to God was the unity of all of His children, that we all may not be divided, but that we all become one.

“That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.” (John 17:21-23)

United, we stand. Divided, we fall. Put on the whole armor of God and stand!

Bill Hitchcock

God In All

Yes, “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1). But He didn’t stop there.

“But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee: Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee: and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee. Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the Lord hath wrought this? In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind.” (Job 12:7-10)

The Big Bang theory ignores God as the creator. But it also ignores God being in the creation itself. God is the first cause of everything including matter and motion. God caused the creation of the sun, the stars and everything that is the universe. God is also “in” everything. There is nothing Godless made and there is nothing made that does not have God in it.

Everything is maintained by God. If God were to remove His hand, the sun and moon would cease and life would be no more.

God’s hand maintains everything. He does so willingly, not by force, obligation or of necessity.

God does not stop at creation. All of His creation has His being. All of His creation is maintained by Him. Remove God from the equation and nothing is born, nothing exists, and nothing lives. 

Everything lives, moves and has its being because of God in them and through them.

Bill Hitchcock

Will, Action, Value

God made us rational and reasoning beings. He also made us faithful and believing. Some may consider these things polar opposites. They are not.

God also gave us a controlling agency called will. Our intellect, emotions and beliefs are controlled by our will. We act in accordance to our will. Our actions determine who and what we will be known to be. Our actions, controlled by our will, demonstrate what we value most.

Bill Hitchcock

Diversity

Diversity without singularity as the bond for its many components will lead to chaos and eventually death. Although we all have diverse attributes, we are all of one and the same nature. We are all made in the image of God. And it is God that is our singularity, it is God that is our purpose, and it is God that is our bond.

Diversity of the human attribute takes a backseat to the singularity of the God attribute.

Notice that Jesus calls for singularity first and foremost. “The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord” (Mark 12:29)

The first commandment is to love the one God. This is the necessary singularity and the bond that holds everything together. Then Jesus calls us to funnel all of us into Him. We are to love God, “with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength” (Mark 12:30).

Only after we have dedicated our entire being to the one, are we commanded to diversify.

“And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” (Mark 12:31)

There is no call for diversity with God. There is only a call to God, the one true God and for our benefit. Any deviation to that call and to that purpose will result in chaos and eventually death. Putting people first before God is a sin and in direct opposition to the command of Jesus Christ. Putting the attributes of man as a priority above that of God is a sin and will lead to chaos and death.

Diversity is an effect, a welcome benefit of the cause of singularity in God. Diversity is not the cause. The effect of diversity when it is the cause is destruction.

Bill Hitchcock

Appetite vs. Will

Richard Hooker was a 16^th century English priest and theologian. One of his groundbreaking works was a series of books known as, “Of the Lawes of Ecclesiastical Politie”. “Lawes” has been called, “The first substantial contribution to theology, philosophy, and political thought written in English.”

The primary guiding light for Hooker in writing the Lawes was, “Scripture alone is the rule that should govern all human conduct”.

Although in today’s world, “theology, philosophy, and political thought” rarely intermingle, the three were inseparable during times such as the Protestant Reformation and immediately afterwards during the founding of this country. This why reading great Bible expositor’s such as Augustine, Aquinas, Calvin and even Spurgeon will lead you directly to philosophers such as Plato and Aristotle. This is also why our founding fathers and great political thinkers such as George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Paine and John Locke were so deeply entrenched and guided by God and His word.

In reality, philosophy and political thought are branches from the theological tree, the tree of Jesus Christ and His word.

The following is a brief snippet from “Lawes” by Hooker. Here he explains the difference between appetite and will. Read carefully, for it dismisses any notion that we have no control over passions and urges.

“The object of Appetite is whatsoever sensible good may be wished for; the object of Will is that good which Reason doth lead us to seek. Affections, as joy, and grief, and fear, and anger, with such like, being as it were the sundry fashions and forms of Appetite, can neither rise at the conceit of a thing indifferent, nor yet choose but rise at the sight of some things. Wherefore it is not altogether in our power, whether we will be stirred with affections or no: whereas actions which issue from the disposition of the Will are in the power thereof to be performed or stayed. Finally, Appetite is the Will’s solicitor, and the Will is Appetite’s controller; what we covet according to the one by the other we often reject; neither is any other desire termed properly Will, but that where Reason and Understanding, or the show of Reason, prescribeth the thing desired.” (Richard Hooker- Of the Lawes of Ecclesiastical Politie-Book One, Chapter 8, Section 3).

Will is a choice made by reason and understanding. We may not be able to control having affections, but we do have control over whether or not we act upon those passions due to our will. So for those who say they believe in God and His word but succumb to homosexuality, do so willingly.

The urge is not debated, for the homosexual urge does exist. To one degree or another the urge exist in all human beings. But an urge is not an act. An act is the product of the will. Therefore the act is a choice. To be consumed by passions and to act on those passions is a choice and a decision of the will. The will rationalizes and permits the act of passion. Regardless of whether or not someone is “born that way”, homosexuality is a personal choice and a result of will.

It is important to note that since the will chooses and reasons. Therefore it can reason and rationalize anything it chooses. If the will elects God and His word, it will reason and rationalize accordingly. But if the will chooses to adhere to the world’s standards, then it will choose and act accordingly and give supporting evidence as to why it is correct.

God asks us to “Chose life” (Deuteronomy 30:19). God has asked us to use our reason, logic and deductive capabilities. He has asked us to squelch those passions that war against our soul. To choose life, to choose, it is an act of the will. Our relationship with Christ and adhering to his word is an act of our will. No passion can overcome us when we are in Christ and Christ is in us.

Bill Hitchcock

Knowledge In All Judgement

“And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ. Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.” (Philippians 1: 9-11)

Look at what Paul is praying for. Paul is praying that your love for Christ will be directed towards learning about Him and proper discernment with Him. Too many Christians remain in the spiritual side of Christ with no real practical knowledge of Him. The danger of the spiritual only is that they lack understanding and discernment. The spirit evokes emotions in man. But a spirit charged emotion that is ignorant to Christ is a very dangerous thing. Emotions minus knowledge leads to bad decisions. The emotion of love without the knowledge and discernment of Christ or even what that emotion is, will inevitably lead to sin. Love, without knowledge and discernment of Christ and His word tends to permit and excuse the sin of a loved one. This is not forgiveness but rather a death sentence for the loved one.

Now some folks will take this to the other extreme. Neither I nor Paul are suggesting that the spiritual relationship with Christ needs to be abandoned. That’s foolishness for it is the Holy Ghost that quickens our spirit in the first place (Romans 8:11). What is being prayed for is expansion. To expand past the spiritual alone and “abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment”. Learn of things ethical and divine. Head knowledge of the spirit isn’t a bad thing. For some reason many Christians think that it is. They think that through some divine metamorphic process that they will gain knowledge and discernment of Christ. Let me be the first to inform you if you believe that. You have to open your Bible and read it. You have to study its finer points and understand.

Remember, one of the very first things the devil did was to quiz Jesus about the word (See Matthew 4:1-11). The devil even twisted God’s word a little bit to see if Jesus would fall for it (Matthew 4:6 is a mutilation of Psalm 91:11).

How did Jesus respond each time to the devils test questions? Jesus responded with, “It is written….”

Now I have a question for you. How are you going to know what is written if you haven’t first read it? How are you going to apply and do what is written if you don’t understand it?

When the devil tempted Jesus it wasn’t a spiritual matter, for it was well established that He was the Son of God. The devil tempted Jesus with the word. He tempted the knowledge and discernment of Christ. The devil was trying to find out if Jesus could, “approve things that are excellent”, which means to understand and discern the truth.

Guess what? The devil is doing the same thing with you and me.

It was quite common for Paul to pray for Christians to funnel their love and spirit in the direction of knowledge and discernment.

“That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him” (Ephesians 1:17)

“For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;” (Colossians 1:9)

“That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.” (Philemon 1:6)

We are “filled with the fruits of righteousness”. Our spirit has been quickened by the Holy Ghost (Romans 8:11). But it is our responsibility to learn. We do this through diligent study of His word. The literal translation of the word “Theologian” means the study of God. We as spirit filled children of God must be ardent students of God, for a spirit with no knowledge or discernment will surely fall. And yes, there will be a test, a devil administered test. Will you be able to answer with, “It is written…”?

Bill Hitchcock

My Goodness Does Not Extend To You

“Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust. O my soul, thou hast said unto the Lord, Thou art my Lord: my goodness extendeth not to thee; But to the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent, in whom is all my delight.” (Psalm 16:1-3)

“Preserve”, from the Hebrew word, “shamar” means to guard or watch over. The original idea behind the word was to “hedge about with thorns” (Strong’s). The idea of the hedge was a fence for protection.

Satan accused God of “fencing” in Job.

“Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.” (Job 1:9-10).

The purpose of a hedge or a fence becomes very clear when you put it in context of the pathway of righteousness or Jesus as, “the way”. Also remember, the definition of sin is to “fall out of the way”.

So a hedge can be used by God to keep us from falling out of the way or the fence can be used to keep Satan and sin out of the way. This is what David is talking about when he says, “Preserve me, O God”.

Then David says something very interesting; “my goodness extendeth not to thee”.

God is our benefactor. We are the beneficent of His love and good graces. In this respects, our relationship with God is a one way street. We gain, while God remains. No one can improve upon God. He is perfect. Jesus and the cross were for our benefit, not God’s. We can’t add, nor subtract from the unlimited grandeur that is our Lord.

“There is nothing added to God; he is so perfect, that no sin can hurt him; and so righteous, that no righteousness can benefit him.” (Richard Stock)

So who does David extend his “goodness” to if not God? “But to the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent, in whom is all my delight.”

The “saints” and the “excellent” aren’t everyone. David is speaking about the children of God, the elect. It is to them, the sanctified and faithful that he extends his “goodness” to.

“Were God to do no more than a creature, where would his Godhead be? Were a man to do no more than a brute, where would his manhood be? Were not a saint to excel a sinner, where would his sanctity be? (William Secker).

For David to extended his goodness to the saints and to the excellent in no way detracts or deters from loving our neighbor as commanded by God in the Old Testament and Jesus in the New Testament. The two are mutually exclusive.

David takes it a step further. Look at what he says about those who “hasten after another God”.

“Their sorrows shall be multiplied that hasten after another god: their drink offerings of blood will I not offer, nor take up their names into my lips” (Psalm 16:4)

“The same loving heart which opens towards the chosen people is fast closed against those who continue in their rebellion against God. Jesus hates all wickedness, and especially the high crime of idolatry” (Charles Spurgeon).

We must love the good and the excellent which means we must despise the bad and unholy. We can’t only love. We can’t have love without its opposite. There can’t be a left without a right, neither can there be a dark without the light.

But notice David doesn’t hate the person. He does describe the fate of the ungodly. He says their “sorrows will be multiplied”. David does not say that he will be the cause of those sorrows. David does say that he will not participate in their ungodly acts and rituals and even says he will not even mention their name. But at no time does David confess or desire to hate or be the aggressor when it comes to the person.

Both God in the Old Testament and Jesus in the New Testament commanded to, “Love thy neighbor”. Love is directed towards the person. Hate is directed towards unrighteousness.

Bill Hitchcock

As It Becometh The Gospel

“Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God. For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake; Having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me.” (Philippians 1:27-30)

“Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ”. This is one of the more misunderstood passages due to the transliterated word, “conversation”. The word has nothing to do with talking or conversing. “Conversation” is referring to our state of being, how we are as well as who we are.

Paul is telling us that our manner of life and our character should be that, “as it becometh the gospel of Christ”. But the confusion of the word definition brings up an interesting point. There are plenty of folks that talk like a Christian, but far fewer that live, move, breathe and have their being as a Christian.

Also notice how Paul hopes that who the Philippians are and how they act should not change depending on whether or not Paul is there. How about us? Do we change and become all “Christiany” when the Pastor comes around? Are we all the more religious when we are around fellow Christians?  No matter where we are and no matter who we are with, we should always, “stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel”.

One spirit. One mind. Working together. In faith of one gospel. One Holy Ghost. One Jesus. One God. One scripture. Any, and I can’t stress this enough, ANY deviation from this oneness is sin. There is no other Christ. There is no other scripture. There is no other religion. There is one God.

Standing fast in this truth will be a “token of perdition” to the non-Christian. What does this mean? It means that your faith in Christ and our religion are a sign of destruction to the non-believer. It means your acts of Christianity are a manifestation of ruination to the adversaries.

Paul tells the Christians of Philippi not to be “terrified by your adversaries”. Why? Because Jesus and the gospels are, “salvation, and that of God”. Hold on fast to those words and never forget them! Our salvation is by God through Christ. The knee of every adversary will bow to that.

But understand this, although we have this truth and we have an adversary that is terrified of this truth, we still will have “conflict”. Satan (which means “adversary”) has lost, but contrary to popular belief, has not accepted that fact. He is outraged and is creating as much damage as he supernaturally can along the way.

God infuriates the devil. We are made in the image of God. So who do you think the devil is going to take his anger out on?

Paul chooses an interesting word for conflict. He uses the Greek word, “Agon” which means “struggle”. It is a reference to the struggle athletes have during competition. It was very typical of Paul to put things in sports or military terms.

We are to “suffer” for the sake of Christ, “Having the same conflict which ye saw in me”.

Staying true to Jesus Christ and His gospels will cause the adversary to react. These things are death and destruction to him. Conflict will arise as a result. Truth will be attacked by the adversary. But just remember what Jesus said.

“In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

Bill Hitchcock

To Live Is Christ

“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not. For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you. And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith; That your rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ for me by my coming to you again.” (Philippians 1:21-26)

For to me to live “is” Christ, and to die is gain. What an absolutely magnificent statement. Paul is saying that for him, his existence here on this earth is to “be” Christ. Now some may immediately think in terms of “being” holy and righteous and of “doing” miracles and wonders. No! For that was not who Christ was.

Jesus Christ “is” our Savior. His goal and purpose was to redirect us back on course to God. Christ didn’t come here for His benefit. He came here for our benefit.

“For me to live is Christ”: Paul knew that his life here on earth was to follow up in the steps of Jesus. To work the work of Christ in bringing mankind back onto the pathway to God. This requires one thing, self-sacrifice.

“To die is gain”: Yes, it would benefit Christ to stay in heaven and benefit Paul to go to heaven. But again, neither were serving self. They both gave up self to save all of humanity.

So, what “is” Christ? Nothing more than self-sacrifice towards all in hopes of saving all, but knowing you’ll only save some. I can only imagine that that was the greatest pain for Christ, the realization that all are offered but only some will respond.

Paul said, “I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.” (1 Corinthians 9:22).

Look at the power in the words of Paul and his overwhelming desire to serve, preserve, and save man. Paul said, “to abide in the flesh is more needful for you” so he was going to, “abide and continue with you all”. Why? “For your furtherance and joy of faith” so that, “your rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ”.

How many of us would by-pass heaven to stay here in this world so as to help along someone else’s faith in Christ?

Paul here is defining what a true minister (servant) of God is to be. “For to me to live is Christ”. It is to be Christ, to give up self in an effort to advance all to Christ. It’s the ultimate pushing a boulder up a hill. Paul knew that. Christ knew that. Both did it.

Bill Hitchcock

Walk In Wisdom Toward Them

“Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.” (Colossians 4:5)

A true and abiding Christian will have spirit knowledge and head knowledge of Jesus Christ and His word. But the wisdom spoken of here by Paul goes beyond that. This wisdom also includes a general knowledge of nature, science, people and overall life itself. And we are to take this wisdom to those outside of our Christian sphere. We are to be well versed ambassadors of/for Christ, aware of the world and the people around us.

But notice Paul adds a qualifier of, “redeeming the time”. This is to make good use of the time we have with those from without. And how would we do that? It’s by going where we are wanted and going where we are needed with this ability to understand and associate with those with whom we come in contact. How can we as Christians relate to others and adequately convey Christ if we are social misfits and ignorant of nature, science, and people?

Paul phrased it this way:

“For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law. To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you. (1 Corinthians 9:19-23)

“I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.”

You can be very “holy” and a tremendous theologian, but if you are not well versed in basic matters dealing with life, and are unable to associate or connect with those from without, then you will be unable to share the very thing you ought to share, which is Jesus Christ! What good is the Christian if he is a social misfit? What good is the Christian if he is dysfunctional outside of his Christian sphere of influence? This is a sin. It runs counter to the command of Jesus.

“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” (Matthew 28:19-20)

Jesus said, “Go Ye”! Where to? “ALL nations”! How? “In Wisdom”!

For those that are in Christ, “there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free” (Colossians 3:11). The walls of race, creed, color, gender, national origin, religion, etc., all of those walls come crumbling down when you are in Christ. But now that those barriers are gone and God has opened, “a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ” (Colossians 4:3), will you be able to relate to those outside of your Christian sphere? Can you communicate and associate with folks not like yourself? Do you have at a basic understanding of the world and how it operates? Jesus didn’t walk the earth as some holier than thou, unrelatable, God, He walked the earth as a common man, able to speak and relate to beggar, lame, sick, rich, poor, foreigner, local, black, white, brown, politician, military, business owner, shepherd, drunkard, thief, man, woman and child. Can you?

“I am made all things to all men” Are you?

It is very important to understand that to “Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time” does NOT mean that we have to become like those from “without”. The wisdom and ability to relate to almost everyone does not mean coming under their influence and being persuaded to sin. This is, however, a danger to be aware of! Prudence and care must be exercised at all times that you do not sin! That’s why Jesus said, “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.” (Matthew 10:16)

The serpent was a symbol of wisdom. “Wise” means prudent. “Harmless” is a reference to being “unmixed”, “undiluted” or “pure”.

With that said, walking “without” in wisdom and associating with a broad range of folks will be a very big positive.  “For they who have wisdom will profit by the experience of others” (Charles Spurgeon).

Jesus knows where He is sending us. But if we are in Christ and Christ is in us and walk in wisdom, we too will be able to, “save some”.

Bill Hitchcock

As I Ought To Speak

“Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving; Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds: That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.” (Colossians 4:2-4)

“Continue in prayer”. Paul is telling us to be steadfastly attentive and giving incessant care to our prayers. All prayers. In short, be present, be in your prayers, and don’t mindlessly, soullessly recite memorized words or some prepared invocation or benediction. Prayer is the pouring out of your heart and soul to God. Prayer is not an incantation. It’s you, opening up to Him. Be in your prayer. You’re talking to God.

“Watch in the same” Paul is stressing his point by rephrasing his last statement. It was a common Jewish practice to repeat words or rephrase them to give emphasis or importance of the subject matter. For example, when Judas came running out of the “great multitude with swords and staves” saying to Jesus, “Master, Master” (Mark 14:43, 45).

“Watch in the same” means to be diligent, meticulous, giving strict attention to prayer.

Why is Paul asking for all of this prayer? Why is he making sure that folks are praying in the spirit, from the heart with all diligence and care? It is so God will, “open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ”.

Paul is asking for prayer so he can preach the gospels, the “mystery of Christ”. Paul’s focus is Jesus, nothing more, nothing less, and nothing else. Not religion, not Church, not what he thinks or feels, not politics or civil/social justice causes. Paul isn’t interested in the plethora of subject matters so popular in today’s pulpits. Paul was interested in preaching one thing. Jesus and the cross.

“For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.” (1 Corinthians 2:2)

Paul was imploring others to pray for him to help accomplish the goal of preaching Christ and nothing else. Or, as Paul put it, “That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak”.

It’s time for preachers to examine how they, “ought to speak”. Are you preaching wealth, money and prosperity? Are you preaching the politics of the day? Are you preaching some other gospel? Or are you preaching Christ and him crucified?

Bill Hitchcock

Peace I Leave You

“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14:27)

Peace, true peace is the tranquility of soul that only Jesus Christ can give.

“...not as the world giveth”.
The “world” comes from the Greek “kosmos”, which means the universe, everything in whole and aggregate.

Some folks attempt to be “one with the world" or "one with the universe”, in an effort to achieve peace. This is not of divine design and is only a blending with the world. Be very cautious if you are one with the world, be very concerned if the world is one with you. We are not of the world. We’re just passing through. True peace will only be achieved through Christ. 

“Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid”

Jesus is talking about the physical heart (Greek, “Kardia”). Troubled is better translated as being “agitated” and is a physical disturbance. Afraid is better understood to mean, “Timid, full of anxiety” and is an emotional disturbance.

We are affected physically when we do not have tranquility of soul. It’s like sand on a membrane over a sound speaker. Turn up the music (trials and tribulations) and the sand (heart) starts jumping around, agitated, and moving in all different directions. But the movement isn’t random. Each specific tone (trouble) will cause the sand (heart) to form a specific pattern (emotion). Sound (trouble) doesn’t stop disturbing us until we hear and receive Christ (peace).

“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33).

Those who try to be one with the universe, one with the world are marrying themselves to tribulation.

It is very important to understand that Jesus does not say He will prevent all of our problems. He does offer us peace, His peace, so no matter what trial we may face, we can always have the peace of Jesus, the tranquility of soul within us. After all, isn’t peace and rectitude all we ever wanted in the first place?

Peace cannot and will not be found here. We can only have peace through Jesus Christ.

Bill Hitchcock

Satan and Revelation

There is one verse in the Bible that overloads us with Satan. It describes who he is, what his function is, and what his fate will be. This verse, as you might expect, is found in the Book of Revelation in chapter 12 verse 9. To give clarity as to what is actually being said, the definition of each name and title follows this verse. This alters our understanding and perspective of the passage. It also enables to better understanding what we are dealing now in our everyday lives.

“And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.” (Revelation 12:9)

Dragon: A name for the devil

Serpent: The serpent was an emblem of cunning and wisdom.

Devil: A calumniator, one who makes false and personal attacks, a slanderer

Satan: The prince of evil spirits, long established adversary of God and Christ, incites apostasy

Deceiveth: To cause to stray, to lead astray, lead aside from the right way. Which by the way, is almost the exact same definition as for sin.

World: The inhabitants of the earth, men

Angels: Messengers, can be either good or bad. “Angels are always spoken of in the masculine gender, the feminine form of the word does not occur." (Vines Expository Dictionary)

Satan is a wise and cunning deceiver. He attacks us personally with lies. He is anti-God and anti-Christ with the goal to cause us to stray out of God’s way, the path of righteousness, to sin and finally, to cause us to apostatize.

The devil would be a lot easier to identify and fight if he came at us head on and fought us toe to toe. He doesn’t do that. Since Satan is a cunning liar and master deceiver he will only come at us in a way that we do not expect or even realize. There is nothing more powerful than the word, so the devil will use words to hurt us, trick us and to move us in a direction away from God.

Doubt and guilt are wounds created by Satan. Words are the arrows and fiery darts that cause the wounds. Left unattended, guilt and doubt fester into anxiety, frustration, anger, depression, anxiousness, burn-out, paranoia and more.

There is no happiness, joy or peace with the devil. Pleasure and self-gratification at first, maybe. Jesus said that He will leave us with His peace. The devil will only ever leave us with death, destruction and misery.

“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14:27)

Jesus at the Sermon on the Mound said, “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.” Ethically speaking, “pure of heart” means free from sin and guilt. The devil wants you to sin and he wants you to feel guilty about it. Why the guilt? Because the devil can control and manipulate you with guilt. Those who feel guilty feel like they are not worthy and make themselves fodder for the prince of evil. Jesus frees us from sin and guilt thus freeing us from the grip of the great Dragon.

We have to understand that we are not presentable to God in the clutches of the devil. Jesus must be our mediator and savior. We aren’t washed clean so much as we are covered by the blood of Jesus.

The devil knows you. He knows where there isn’t any armor of God and that’s where he strikes. And like any contagion the devil’s virus spreads quickly upon contact. The only defense against the devil is God and His word. Rebuke the devil with God and His word and the devil will flee.

Don’t think you can defeat or withstand the devil on your own. The devil, more than anything else in the world would love for you o believe you can take him on without Jesus. Remember, “that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world”. Satan deceives “the whole world”.

Now, are we sinand guilt free after accepting Jesus Christ into our life? No, we will stumble and we will fall. But we are also forgiven and we are saved with Christ.

“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6).

If we accept Jesus as our Savior and stay focused on Him, those fiery darts of the devil will be of no effect and we will come unto the Father by Christ!

Bill Hitchcock

Left Behind

Jesus is situated by the Temple treasury, a chest where offerings and tithes are received. He witnesses the wealthy giving a lot of money. Then Jesus sees a poor woman cast in two mites. A mite is a copper coin, the lowest denomination in Jewish currency. It is analogous to a US penny, but understood to be of lesser value.

After seeing this, Jesus calls His disciples and says:

“Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living” (Mark 12:43-44)

“Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all: For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had.” (Luke 21:3-4)

The words “want” and “penury” come from the same Greek root word, “Hystereo” which means, “to be left behind”.

Let’s think about this for a moment. It’s a different mindset. The woman wasn’t considered to be poor, as in financially lacking or disadvantaged or oppressed. But rather within the kingdom of God this woman is considered to be left behind.

Let’s examine this further. This woman also, “cast in all the living that she had”.

We think of the word “living” as in the phrase, “making a living”, which means to earn money. But the word “living” in both the Mark and Luke versions is derived from the Greek word, “Bio”. It means “life”!

This woman has made the ultimate sacrifice. She didn’t throw in two small, almost worthless coins into the treasury. This woman threw in her entire life. She gave it all up, she gave herself up in faith and trust in God. Even though she had been left behind, she was still giving everything to God.

The Bible doesn’t tell us what happened next. The story line changes immediately to the disciples showing off the “goodly stones” to Jesus that were used to build the Temple.

What would Jesus do? What should we as Christians do in the situation above?

We know that we are to love our neighbor as our self. We also know that we should not hate a brother and “not suffer sin upon them”. (Leviticus 19:17). Jesus said blessed are the merciful (Matthew 5:7). We are to carry each other’s burden’s (Galatians 6:2). We are to give freely (Matthew 10:8), to be, “Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.” (Romans 12:13).

Who helps the person in need? All throughout the Bible it points to one person. Us. We help. We don’t pass the responsibility off to another. It is not the responsibility of the government or anyone or anything else. It is our responsibility as a Christian to help however we can and to the best of our ability.

“Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the Lord thy God which he hath given thee.” (Deuteronomy 16:17)

We also have to understand who we are helping. Don’t let the offense of the poor and indigent stop you from helping them. It is easy to say it is their own fault. Give!

“He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.” (Proverbs 19:17).

“Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” (Matthew 25:40).

It is easy not to give because you believe that you are being scammed. We might not know how our help, gift, or money will be used. But if your heart and spirit are motivating us to give, then give! Don’t disobey God because you think better of a situation.

“….Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. (Matthew 25:45-46).

We live, move and have our being in faith in Jesus Christ. This is not an academic proposition. Faith eliminates doubt. Thinking creates it. So when God calls you to do, do so in faith and don’t try to think or logic it out in your head.

The poor woman was left behind. She gave her life to Jesus. She gave her last two mites, her worldly wealth over to God. She is there in the House of God. What would you do with this poor woman?

Give! Help!

Bill Hitchcock

Happiness and Celebration

In the New Testament, the word “Blessed” is commonly transliterated from two Greek words. One is, “Makarios” and the other, “Eulogeo”. The first means “happy”, and the other, “celebrate”. We are blessed of God so be happy! Celebrate the gift which is our Lord!

God is our lot, our portion. He will never leave you nor forsake you. During the darkest of times and the best of times, during feast or famine, life or death, no matter! Our Lord and Savior is with us and loves us, always!

Yeah, I think that’s due cause for happiness and celebration, don’t you? You can throw in an extra heaping helping of peace and joy along with that blessing too!

“Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.” (Psalm 42:11)

Bill Hitchcock

What Socialist and Democrats Don’t Want You To Know About Corporate Taxes

- The government that levies taxes is the same government that allows for deductions.

- Deductions alter effective tax rate not the actual tax rate.

- Tax deductions may lower the amount of actual tax dollar paid to the government but does not necessarily decrease corporate expenditures. Deductions are still an expenditure, just not to the government.

- Tax rates are not determined by the amount of profit a company makes. You can have little profit and high taxes and you can have a big profit with little taxes.

- The effective tax rate or actual dollars paid into taxes levied are determined after deductions are applied.

- No tax is levied on funds that are spent on government approved goods or services (deductions).

- Deductions encourage a company to spend money on goods and services. This can be a very good thing for the economy because it keeps dollars rolling over within the system. For example. Office supplies are a tax deduction. These expenditures by company A helps fund retail outlet B, which in turn helps trucking C that ships the supplies and helps manufacturing D which makes the supplies and producer E who grows the raw materials and so on and so. The alternative is for the government to take the funds (tax). This removes the monies from system.

- Tax deductions cause a company to spend their funds on purchasing goods and services of other companies. This helps the other companies to grow. The goods and services purchased are intended to help the taxed company to grow.

- Deductions keep the monies within the system. Monies not spent by a company on deductible goods and services are taxed away by the government and redistributed where ever the government sees fit.

- Tax deductible expenditures are sometimes amortized over several years. The amount of that deduction can vary from year to year. For example, let’s say the cost of an expenditure is to be deducted over 5 years. One year the government may allow the company to deduct 20% of the cost. The next year 30%. The year after that 5% and so on. As a result of this variance, a company that kept income and expenditures the same could have varying profit margins each year.

- Deductions explain why a big corporation could have a lower effective tax rate than a smaller entity. Actual tax dollars paid to the government are determined by the actual tax rate and the deductions. This is known as the effective tax rate.

- What a company can deduct varies from year to year and is determined by the government that taxes the company.

Let me know if you can think of more bullet points to add to this list.

Bill Hitchcock

Would You Protest Against Your Rights?

Would you protest your right to protest? After all, it is your right to do so, right?

As silly as that sounds, that’s exactly what these multi-millionaire NFL football players are doing when they kneel in protest during the national anthem.

These football players are protesting against their constitutional first amendment right of free speech. That’s what our flag represents.

They are protesting against their “unalienable rights” of “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness” as stated in the Declaration of Independence when they kneel. That’s what our flag represents.

Our flag also represents the equality of all people. Yes, that’s written down in plain English in our Declaration. NFL football players, that’s what you are kneeling in protest against.

Our flag also represents the idea and ideal that man cannot grant you these rights. Only God can and we in America will die in defense of your God given rights. NFL football player, that’s what you are kneeling in protest against.

These NFL football players are biting the hand of God that frees them and the people of a country that will defend them. Why don’t you give some serious thought about kneeling in obeisance to God in appreciation for all that He has given you? God is the source of your rights, your life and all that you have.

Bill Hitchcock

Just Do It!

“And he set judges in the land throughout all the fenced cities of Judah, city by city, And said to the judges, Take heed what ye do: for ye judge not for man, but for the Lord, who is with you in the judgment. Wherefore now let the fear of the Lord be upon you; take heed and do it: for there is no iniquity with the Lord our God, nor respect of persons, nor taking of gifts.” (2 Chronicles 19:5-7).

God’s preferred system of government for man was Godly ministers called Judges. This system served man well for hundreds of years until mankind decided he wanted an earthly king to rule over them, and not God. (Sounds silly, doesn’t it?)

Jehoshaphat the king of Judah gave a bit of advice to the Judges, advice we all should take to heart.

“Take heed what ye do: for ye judge not for man, but for the Lord, who is with you in the judgment.”

We are not to think or determine things according to the ways and standards of man. We are not to apply man’s thoughts and opinions. We are to think, act and judge according to God. Whatever is the will of God just, “Do it”!

God is righteous, true, and perfect. “There is no iniquity with the Lord our God”. God’s way is the right way and the only way.

The principles and precepts of God are not only the pathway to Him, but also the hedge that protects us from harm and keeps us in the way.

Jehoshaphat makes it so simple. Just do it!

One final note. God gave specific commands for us to follow. He also gave us guidelines, standards, fundamental truths, tenets, and doctrine to follow too. God is sometimes specific and sometimes general. Why the mix bag? Because we are children of God blessed with the capability to think, deduce and reason. It is the spirit within us and our free will that utilizes these things to do, or not do the will of God. We are not hardwired robots. Nature is a wonderful example of the Spirit of God.

This frees us up. Instead of being like an Old Testament Jew, who followed a rigid set of rules, procedures and ceremonies, we have been set free by the Spirit of Christ! This why the Apostle Paul said:

“All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.” (1 Corinthians 10:23)

“All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.” (1 Corinthians 6:12).

The law is written on our heart (Hebrews 8:10 and 10:16) and the heart is our Spirit.

Bill Hitchcock

Free From All Men

“For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.” (1 Corinthians 9:19)

“Servant” comes from the Greek word, “Duoloo”. The Bible most often translates it as, “under bondage”

Now re-read what Paul wrote using the second translation.

For though I be free from all men, yet have I have put myself under bondage unto all, that I might gain the more.

To serve and minister to others. To uplift and edify. To love your neighbor as yourself. That’s what Paul is talking about.

Now hold that thought for a second.

To sin literally means to, “miss or wander from the path of uprightness” (Thayer's Greek Lexicon).

Paul, boy have we sinned! Boy have we wondered off the path. No longer are we concerned about others. No longer do we make our self, “servant to all”. Today we are overly concerned with self. Selfie cellphone pictures epitomizes the self-absorbed sinners that we have become.

Did you notice the root word in bondage is bond? When we serve others, when we are concerned over their welfare we create a bond. This bond is unbreakable when it is the spirit of God inside of you that is reaching out to others.

We have “unlearned” the God principle of when we serve others, we gain the more.

Bill Hitchcock

My Hiding Place

“Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word.” (Psalm 119:114)

God is my covering and protector. I wait and holdfast to His promise.

Our present is in patient hope and anticipation of the future God has promised us. We must do everything we can to live that promise now. In so doing we show our faith and belief in the word of God and in turn, our faith and belief in God.

God’s word is like salt. It preserves and protects us until the day of His return.

Bill Hitchcock

Fake News. A Biblical Perspective

“Thou shalt not raise a false report: put not thine hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness” (Exodus 23:1).

“Thou shalt not raise a false report”. That should be lesson number one in Journalism school. If there is any question as to what, “Thou shalt not raise a false report” means, then refer back to the ninth commandment when God said, “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor” (Exodus 20:16).

Journalism. At its most basic level should be involved in nothing but the facts and the truth of a matter. A journalist conveys, he doesn’t create, otherwise his work would be fiction.

Interestingly, the American Press Institute defines journalism as, “the activity of gathering, assessing, creating, and presenting news and information”.

Notice that truth as any qualifier or standard is not in their definition of journalism.

How important is telling the truth? All we have to do is to turn to the last page of the Bible for that answer

“Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie” (Revelation 22:14-15).

“Whosoever loveth and maketh a lie” shall not enter into the Kingdom of God. It’s plain and simple.

Keep this in mind. Words impact people. What we say creates a message that generates a way of thought and understanding for other people. This thinking then becomes a source of energy and power, direction and purpose. Our words influence other people. It causes them to think, to will and eventually to do. Journalist and media outlets hold tremendous sway over the general public. Any misrepresentation of fact can cause the public’s understanding of a situation to deviate away from reality. Knowledge of this power and its intentional use in order to serve a specific purpose other than the truth is intentionally communicating a false report.

This brings up another subject which many of our great Bible expositors address. There are two parts to any report. There is the teller and then there is the hearer.

“Were there no publishers of slander and calumny, there would be no receivers; and were there none to receive them, there would be none to raise them; and were there no raisers, receivers, nor propagators of calumny, lies, etc., society would be in peace” (Adam Clarke).

“Sometimes we cannot avoid hearing a false report, but we must not receive it, that is, we must not hear it with pleasure and delight as those that rejoice in iniquity, nor give credit to it as long as there remains any cause to question the truth of it. This is charity to our neighbour’s good name, and doing as we would be done by” (Matthew Henry).

“…for a lie would soon come to nothing from its own emptiness, and fall to the ground, if it were not taken up and supported by the unrighteous consent of others” (John Calvin).

“A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue” (Proverbs 17:4).

How we respond to a false report is equally as important as the report itself. Maybe even more so. John Calvin brings up an excellent point when he said that a false report would “soon come to nothing” if we did not act upon it.

In my opinion this is what we are seeing today. President Trump routinely decries journalists and news outlets as “fake news”. He has named specific organizations like CNN as “very fake news”. We have broadcasters, printers and webcasters working under the guise of news that the public has assumed to be true. It hasn’t been. But this is nothing new.

Over 200 years ago, President Thomas Jefferson wrote, “Nothing can now be believed which is seen in a newspaper. Truth itself becomes suspicious by being put into that polluted vehicle”.

It is our responsibility to hold accountable those we have entrusted in the media, just like it is our responsibility to hold those accountable who we have entrusted to public office. In addition, we must hold ourselves accountable to the news and policies these entities promulgate. Are we pursuing the truth? Can we discern the truth? What is truth? Contrary to some beliefs, truth is not subjective.

What is truth? Government tends to have a problem getting a handle on that question. Pontius Pilate (The government) looked Jesus Christ (The truth) in the face and asked him that very question. (See John 18:38).

Jesus Christ and His word are the truth. What is His word? It can be found in every page of the Bible.

Bill Hitchcock