The Discriminating God

(“Explanatory Notes and Quaint Sayings”, as Charles Spurgeon would say.)

"God is in the generation of the righteous." (Psalm 14:5b)

Righteous: Justified and vindicated by God, not by self, not by your pastor or priest, not by your church, and not by your religion. It is by God and none other. Be very wary of Church tradition. Be very careful that the foundation and first cause is always God and His word.

Righteous in both conduct and character; in what you do and who you are. Who you are is the cause. What you do is the effect.

Righteous is congruence between God’s being and nature; His deeds and acts. This is the standard for all men which was manifested and expressed in Jesus Christ. Any deviation from God’s righteousness (nature and act) is sin.

Man, due to the fall, is stained with original sin. It has changed man’s nature from God’s “factory preset default position”. Original sin makes man susceptible and agreeable to sin as well as making his environment conducive to the act of sinning. The only true and everlasting righteousness man can have is through the blood of the Lamb, Jesus Christ. It is His covering which renders man acceptable in the eyes of the Lord.

Jesus Christ is the way, the only way to righteousness and salvation. We must accept Jesus as our Savior. We must confess Him with our mouth only if it is an outlet for our heart and spirit.

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.” (John 10:1,2,9)

Jesus is the way, the door. But why does the thief want so badly to enter in? Why does he deny Christ but yet try so desperately to be with the fold?

“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10)

The thief, he is also called the stranger and the wolf in chapter 10 by John. The thief is nothing but the adversary the devil. The devil, “walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8b).

The devil doesn’t want to go through the door that is Jesus Christ to get to the other sheep. That would mean accepting Christ as his Savior. That would mean becoming righteous and that would defeat his purpose of stealing, killing, and destroying.

The devil isn’t concerned about God and heaven. He knows his fate is sealed and it isn’t with God in heaven. What the devil is concerned about is you. He wants to make sure that you are not in heaven with God, but with him in hell instead.

Now is the time to secure your present and future.

“For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” (2 Corinthians 6:2)

Bill Hitchcock

Imagine

A friend of mine, Bob Geller posted the following verses from the Bible at his Facebook page. It so moved me to write the message I’ve posted behind the scripture. Thanks Bob for posting the words and wisdom's of The Holy Spirit through Paul.

“What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing? But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils. Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils. Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he? All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not. Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth. Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake: For the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof. If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake. But if any man say unto you, this is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof: Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man's conscience? For if I by grace be a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks? Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God: Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.” (1 Corinthians 10:19-33)

One of the problems this passage addresses is that often times sacrificed meats were sold to the meat markets (shambles). The concern was that folks were buying meats unaware that it was used in a ritual sacrifice to some false god/idol. They obviously did not want to unintentionally sin by eating meats sacrificed to some false deity.

This is why Paul says, "Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake" (1 Cor.10:25).

He continues this idea when visiting and eating as a guest with an unbeliever. Paul tells us to not worry about the meat, if it was used in some pagan ceremony or sacrificed to a false god. Paul says, "whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake." (1 Cor.10:27).

But if someone tells you that it had been offered in sacrifice then we are to decline it, not for our sake. But for the sake of others watching. For although we know that “All things are lawful for me” it can be a stumbling block for someone else.  This is consistent with what Jesus commands us to do in loving our neighbor. It is our duty to look after the interests of other people. As Paul says, "Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth." (1 Cor. 10:24). That’s no different than saying:

“Love thy neighbor”. The word love (agape) is defined as goodwill and benevolence towards others.

“Peace on earth and good will towards men” (Luke 2:14). The word goodwill (eudokia) is defined as love and benevolence towards others.

This theme of “Let no man seek his own”, to “Love thy neighbor” and “good will towards man” runs throughout the Bible in the word, “Love”.

Love in the form of care and interest in others aren’t just some nice ideas or quaint suggestions. Behind having one God and loving that one God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength; our care, treatment, and attitude towards other people, our “love”, is our one purpose on this earth. Love is so important that an entire chapter of the Bible is dedicated to it, 1 Corinthians 13.

The passage in 1 Corinthians by Paul is about nothing other than love for our fellow man.

Imagine what the world would be like if our present-day social justice warriors adopted this Godly love. If they removed self-interest and special-interests and replaced it with God’s interests of care, concern, well-being, and responsibility of others, all others and not just the interests that serves themselves best. Imagine if our modern-day social justice warriors loved, uplifted and edified those around them.

There are no riots, rock throwing, fights, beatings, and name calling with God’s love. There is no destruction, defamation, and hate with God’s love.

Paul speaks of what is expedient (helpful) and what will edify others. He states very clearly and specifically “Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth”.

Paul is concerned over the other persons conscience, their soul. Again, Paul is very specific in giving a command, “Give none offence”.

Imagine a modern-day social justice warrior that gave no, “offence”. Imagine these same politically correct social justice warriors if they were like Paul, as a Christian is to be and did, “not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many”

Imagine.

Bill Hitchcock

Power Capacity Potential

“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7)

The fear Paul is talking about is not the torment, stress, and anxiety of impending doom, pain, death, or danger. Power added to the emotion of fear would be of little use. The fear Paul is speaking of has to do with timidity and cowardliness. Everyone pulls back when against superior power that can dominate, overtake, and harm them. But they’ll push forward when they have superior power.

The Greek word for power is “dynamis” or sometimes spelled dunamis, as we’ll use here, because the “y” is pronounced like a “u” as in “due”. Dunamis (Dynamis) is where we get the word dynamite from. Power and force are usually the context in which people use the word. Power or energy, a show of strength and force. But that’s a severely limited idea of dunamis. The Bible uses dunamis in a much broader idea and context.

Dunamis is more about capacity, inherent capacity (dunamin) and potential (dunamei). It is applied in the realms of the natural, supernatural, physical, mental, ethical, and moral. In Aristotelian terms capacity and potential are the starting points of movement. It is the “first cause” that great theologians and philosophers such as Augustine, John Calvin, and Thomas Aquinas and others speak of so often.

Dunamis can be actual energy (energia) output. Dunamis can be capacity and potential, the starting point of movement, the instigation for all things including cause and creation.

Let’s look at how power, or dunamis is expressed and manifested in the Bible. The English words for dunamis are in quotations. It’s truly fascinating.

Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the “power” of God. (Matthew 22:29)

And he (Jesus) did not many “mighty works” there because of their unbelief. (Matthew 13:58)

And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that “virtue” had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes? (Mark 5:30)

And God wrought “special miracles” by the hands of Paul (Acts 19:11)

Therefore if I know not the “meaning” of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me. (1 Corinthians 14:11)

Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty “deeds”. (2 Corinthians 12:12)

Quenched the “violence” of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. (Hebrews 11:34)

And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and “strength”, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. (Revelation 12:10)

For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the “abundance” of her delicacies. (Revelation 18:3)

It is truly fascinating to see how dunamis is used to describe both actual power and energy, as well as capacity, potential, creation, miracles, and more.

We see how dunamis is used in actuality as energy in the words like power, mighty works, special miracles, and deeds.

We see dunamis expressed as capacity and potential with words such as virtue, meaning, violence, strength, and abundance.

It should be abundantly clear by now that although dunamis is most often thought of in the traditional sense of power, it is many things in actuality and potential as well as the physical and metaphysical.

Now that we’ve opened our eyes and minds to the actuality and potential of dunamis, let’s now apply it to the rest of the passage. Let’s apply dunamis to love. This is after-all God’s love, Agape!

Agape, often referred to as a Godly or brotherly love, is not an emotion. It’s not passion, affection, or lust. It’s more choice, diligence, responsibility and care than anything else. It’s the exercise of the Divine will by man in deliberate choice expressly for the benefit of another. Often times agape is rendered as “Charity” in the Bible, which gives a better feel and contextual understanding for what this type of love is about.

Agape love is concerned about good will and benevolence towards others. Now apply dunamis to this love. What do we get? We get good mighty works and deeds. We also get special miracles when we apply God’s love with dunamis. There is abundance and strength and since dunamis is capacity and potential, who knows what we can do and achieve when we honestly and earnestly love our neighbor. Greatness! This is all in, and for, the glory of God!

Don’t you find it interesting that the culmination of dunamis/power and agape/love in the verse by Paul is a “sound mind’? The emphasis of the sound mind goes beyond not being some carefree, irresponsible, self-absorbed person. The emphasis is on moderation and self-control. It’s the ability to curb carnal desires and impulses, and in short, having discipline.

So, let’s really think about this because 2 Timothy 1:7 gives the command to love your neighbor a tremendous amount of clarity. After all, how can you love your neighbor and carry out the desires of God if you don’t even like your neighbor, right? Well we don’t have to like them. God’s love is not some fickle emotion. It is more a concern for their well-being and responsibility towards others. 

Power isn’t just blunt and brainless force, but rather ability, capability and the range of possibilities.

It requires a sound, disciplined and responsible mind to love your neighbor. This cause, discipline by the way, also helps to perpetuate its very own effect of more discipline.  

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. Power, love, and a sound mind are all gifts from God. We didn’t create these things, God did. We didn’t create the ability and desire to do these things. God did! And as we have learned by the parable of the talents, the more we exercise these gifts, the more we are supplied with them.

Power is a great example as to why we should never restrict our thinking with a gift of God.

Bill Hitchcock

Profit

“What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth?” (Ecclesiastes 3:9)

I called it feeding the beast. I grew from being just an independent television producer, to owning and operating a full-fledged, turnkey television production studio, with all the equipment, employees, and debt to go along with it. I soon discovered that I had to bring in an exorbitant amount of money and work the time, just to cover costs. I was killing myself to attain zero. That was feeding the beast. It had to be constantly fed to be able to reach the level of break even. The beast had to be fed first before I could start to work on earning money for myself.

King Solomon, the preacher, asks a very good question. “What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth?” What gain is there in the blood, sweat, and tears we pour into our labors?

Since the fall, man has been relegated to toilsome work.

“And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.” (Genesis 3:17-19)

Man must work and sweat just to maintain, just to stay alive. He must toil and expend a lot of effort to feed the beast. But besides subsistence, what profit is there to our work?

Wouldn’t it be prudent to heed Solomon’s advice and determine what profit we gain in the work we do? No, not financial or material profit. We all must eat and have a roof over our heads. I’m talking about human profit, people profit, and divine profit.

“For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Mark 8:36-37)

“What profit hath he that hath laboured for the wind?” (Ecclesiastes 5:16b)

If all we labor for on this earth is dust in the wind, wouldn’t it be prudent to focus on what isn’t dust, but eternal and divine?

King Solomon, the richest and wisest man on earth at the time, “looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.” (Ecclesiastes 2:11)

Solomon brings up a very interesting point. Is what that is driving us, that is motivating us, nothing more than, “vexation of spirit”? Pride can vex our spirit and cause us to do things we really don’t want to do. Guilt, low self-esteem, lust, envy, all these things and more can drive us, propel us to do and to work incessantly at things that in reality, are just pure vanity.

The devil loves to vex our spirit. This is how he controls us, uses us, steer us in the directions he wants. We become useful to him when our spirit is vexed. We can become sinful and even criminal. There isn’t a person behind bars without a vexed spirit that drove them to do whatever crime it is they did.

This is why it is so important to labor with spirit and soul in mind. The peace of Jesus Christ is literally defined as tranquility of soul. The peace of Jesus causes us to be calm and tranquil under all circumstances. Our peace is internal, it is a tranquil soul. It is not dependent upon outward conditions or circumstances.

Ah, now were on to something.

Some folks say do what makes you happy and you’ll never work a day in your life. Here happiness comes in the form of the process. You enjoy what you do. Others have happiness as a goal, something to work for and towards. This happiness is a destination. The destination is usually material such as a house, car, a place, or the time of retirement. The irony of the financial destination is that you kill yourself for 30-40 years, so you won’t have to kill yourself during the waning years of your life.

So, is happiness the profit that we should strive for in our labors? Great philosophers such as Aristotle believed that happiness was the goal and purpose in life. But according to Aristotle, happiness is dependent upon virtue. Virtue was a state between excess and deficiency. Acts of virtue would cause a virtuous man to be happy.

Keep in mind, Aristotle was born almost 400 years before Jesus Christ. His idea for happiness strikes close to the life of a Christian.

When we try to find a thing that makes us happy, that’s working from the outside in. Jesus works from the inside out, so it doesn’t matter what the thing is we do. This is such a release from vexation and allows us to move onto the things that truly profit.

Solomon asks what profit is there in our labor?  We learn that it is all vanity and vexation of spirit. We also learn that peace is tranquility of soul obtained only through Jesus Christ. This peace calms our vexed spirit, settles the heart, and clears the mind. Our point and purpose in life changes. Our will to do and to be, changes. What now, is important?

Jesus was so calm during a raging storm at sea, that he would have slept through it all if it hadn’t been for the panicked disciples waking Him up. A vexed and disquieted spirit is a display of a lack of faith. Jesus asked his disciples upon quieting the seas, “Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?” (Mark 4:40)

This is our Ah-Ha moment! We have a vexed spirit due to a lack of faith and relationship with Christ. We turn to the world for peace and resolution. We look for a way to calm our vexed and disquieted spirit in occupations and vocations. These things afford us some degree of recognition and/or money. Our jobs can be satisfying either directly (you like what you do) or indirectly (you like where this will take you).

But Christ frees us from the turmoil of the toil.

“He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end. I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life. And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.” (Ecclesiastes 3:11-13)

The King James Version of the Bible doesn’t make the first part of this message clear. In fact, it can mislead us into thinking the opposite of what is intended. In the above, “he hath set the world in their heart”, the “world” comes from the Hebrew, “`owlam”. It means, “everlasting” or “eternity”.

God has made everything beautiful within God’s time frame, not ours. No man can see God’s work in its entirety, in its full scope, wonder and beauty.

“Though we see not the complete beauty of Providence, yet we shall see it, and a glorious sight it will be, when the mystery of God shall be finished. Then every thing shall appear to have been done in the most proper time and it will be the wonder of eternity. We must wait with patience for the full discovery of that which to us seems intricate and perplexed, acknowledging that we cannot find out the work that God makes from the beginning to the end, and therefore must judge nothing before the time. We are to believe that God has made all beautiful. Every thing is done well, as in creation, so in providence, and we shall see it when the end comes, but till then we are incompetent judges of it.” (Matthew Henry)

We are to rejoice and to do good in his life. (See, Aristotle wasn’t too far off the mark!) without a vexed spirit. God wants us to, “eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour”. This is the gift of God. We can only do this through Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, also a gift from God.

Bill Hitchcock

Servant

“Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?” (Romans 6:16)

It sounds like circular logic, doesn’t it? Who you give yourself to obey, is whom you become servant to. When you sin, you give yourself up as a servant to sin. Yeah, well, that’s not so bad, right? A little pleasure, a little fun. What’s wrong with that?

Do you not know, that the “sting of death is sin”? (1 Corinthians 15:56a)

Participating in sin is yielding yourself servant to death. Read that sentence again. Sweet may be the taste, but it is a poison designed to kill you.

Yeah, but that taste of sin is so sweet, so irresistible.

Heed the wisdom of James.

“But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. Do not err, my beloved brethren.” (James 1:14-16)

Of course the taste of sin is sweet! It’s a bait trap. Death has to offer you something to enflame your lust and entice your free will into action.

Who would you rather be servant to? Choose, for you will serve one or the other. There is no such thing as not serving.

Choose life. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life.

Bill Hitchcock

To Be Who We Really Are

“This above all: to thine ownself be true, And it must follow, as the night the day, Thou canst not then be false to any man. Farewell: my blessing season this in thee!”

(From “The Tragedy of Hamlet” by Shakespeare, Act 1 Scene 3, Lord Polonius)

To thine own self be true. HHhhhmmmmm………..There’s the rub!

There is the person we want to be. There’s the person we should be. There’s the person we present to the world as who we are. But to actually be who we really are is the most difficult to do and more impossible, to be!

We have created a version of our self that we present to the world. This version is tweaked and altered depending where we are and who we are with. We do this so as not to hurt or offend others or to impress and mislead.

But what if we were able to remove any and all barriers and facades? What if what we thought and felt was expressed and demonstrated. Would we recognize us?

Probably the greatest challenge is to be who we are. Should we even try?

Don’t get me wrong. I am not talking about unleashing our primal, carnal self, what Freud called the “id”. In Freudian terms, it is the superego that I’m addressing more than anything else. The superego is basically the hall monitor of self. It keeps both extremes, the id and the ego in check. But I’m thinking beyond these things.

A part of what we do and say, if not a large part, is an auto response. What we do and say is a knee jerk reaction to what we feel and think. I can’t stress this enough; intellect and reason are controlled or at least swayed by our emotion and conception, no matter how fickle, fleeting, or flighty they may be.

But while we defend our thoughts and emotions, do we ever pause to 1. Recognize and identify and 2. understand them? Why do we have these thoughts and emotions in the first place?

You know, when we repent, we are to search the heart completely. We are to find sin and then define the sin. We are to give that sin to Jesus and be remorseful, not just for doing it, but recognizing that all sin is bad and an affront to God. We should see sin as ugly and terminal. Finally, after we give our sin to Jesus, we are to ask for forgiveness and mercy.

Find the sin, identify the sin, understand it and be remorseful, hand it over to Christ, and then honestly and earnestly ask for forgiveness and mercy.

But why stop at sin?  Why not investigate the whole self? Why not understand our self completely and be that self, or change that self?

Who are we and why? If only we could draw a straight line from the inner man to the outer man.

Bill Hitchcock

Legion and the Swine

“And also this parable give I unto you: Not a few who meant to cast out their devil, went thereby into the swine themselves” (Nietzsche-” Thus Spake Zarathustra/Chasity)

That certainly gives reason for pause. Nietzsche comes out of nowhere with a parable, a recommendation that obviously has its roots in a parable from the Bible about Jesus, a legion of devils, and a herd of swine. And it’s good advice too. Let’s explore this deeper, a lot deeper. But first let’s look at the original Bible parable and then we’ll dive into what Nietzsche wrote.

Matthew, Mark, and Luke all tell the parable about Jesus, a legion of devils, and swine. Each version varies slightly but all have a consistent message and moral.

The parable consists of Jesus sailing across the sea of Galilee to the country of the Gadarenes (Gergesenes in Matthew). There Jesus encounters a man who lives in the tombs (graves) and is possessed of devils. The man wore no clothing, would yell and scream insanely and incessantly, and would cut himself with stones. This man was, “exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way” (Matthew 8:28). No chains and fetter couldn’t constrain him.

But something interesting happens when this demon possessed man sees Jesus. You would think that he would either try to escape from His presence or go on the offensive and attack Him. Instead, the man runs right up to Jesus, falls at His feet and says, “What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?” (Matthew 8:29).

Mark and Luke make no reference to, “before the time”. Notice how the possessed man uses the plural, “us” when referring to himself.

Before the time is an allusion to the end time of all time. Even the devils know that their time is limited. They know who Jesus is and out of respect call Him by His proper title, “Son of God”. They know His purpose and what is going to happen when the last soul commits to Christ.

Jesus asked the man what his name was. He replied, “My name is Legion: for we are many” (Mark 5:9).

The word Legion comes from the Greek, “legeon”. It is derived from the root word, “lego” meaning “to choose”. In the Roman Empire during this time, a Legion consisted of anywhere between 4,200 to 6,000 soldiers. What this means when this man said his name was Legion, is that he was possessed by several thousand of Satan’s chosen demons. They were the elite from Hell.

The Legion of elite demons know Jesus is going to cast them out, so they ask Him not to, “command them to go out into the deep” (Luke 8:31) or according to Mark 5:10 that Jesus, “not send them away out of the country”.

This request by the Legion demonstrates that they know ultimate power belongs to Jesus Christ and there is no point in trying to resist. It shows that they know Jesus is in control. It also shows that they know they are being evicted; they’re just hoping to have some influence as to where they are headed.

In the Luke accounting, the Legion do not want to go, “into the deep”. The Greek word for deep is, “abyssos” and is where we get the word “abyss”, that bottomless, unbounded, immeasurable depth. An abyss is known more for its infinite nothingness than it is for it being a place or thing.

Interestingly, the place the Legion does not want to go to sounds incredibly like what God first created before His Spirit moved upon the face of 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 1:2)

The earth, before the Spirit of the Lord moved upon it was an abysmal and chaotic place. To help demonstrate this I’ve defined the key words in the first part of Genesis 1:2. Notice how everything keeps defining the same dark, chaotic, infinite abyss; the very place that the Legion asked Jesus not to send them to.

“And the earth was without form (Formlessness, confusion, unreality, emptiness), and void (Emptiness, void, waste); and darkness (Darkness, obscurity) was upon the face of the deep (Abyss).

In the Mark version, the devils don’t want to be sent away out of the “country”. The word country comes from the Greek “Chora” and means “the space lying between two places or limits”. The root word means a gaping opening, a chasm, or a gulf. This sounds like an abyss again, although this time it seems to have a location, a proximity between two other things.

Now, am I saying that the devils and the rudiments of heaven and earth all come from the same chaotic, black hole kind of place?

Let me give you something else to thicken the plot with. Jordan Peterson in his best-selling book “12 Rules For Life” said, “Chaos is also the formless potential from which the God of Genesis 1 called forth order using language at the beginning of time” (Jordan Peterson).

Did God call forth from the chaos, from the abyss in his creation? Is that how heaven and earth were made, that they were brought forth from some abysmal black hole to this domain?

Let’s thicken the plot even more. What about Jesus? Was He possibly brought forth from this abyss we’ve been talking about? Both the Old Testament and the New Testament seem to suggest it.

“The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was. When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water. Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth: While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world.” (Proverbs 8:22-26)

“Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.” (John 8:42).

So, it seems that God didn’t create but rather brought forth all things from one domain into another, from one realm to a different realm. That this other domain, this abyss, this space between two places is something that the Legion of devils did not wat to return to.

This of course is wrong.

The Bible is clear, In the beginning God created heaven and earth. Created comes from the Hebrew “Bara” meaning of new conditions and circumstances, something that was not before and now is. This isn’t forming, reforming, or transforming. This isn’t bringing something from realm A to realm B. This is the creation of a new thing, something that never was before but now is.

Adam Clarke explains that creation, “expresses the commencement of the existence of a thing, or egression from nonentity to entity. It does not in its primary meaning denote the preserving or new forming things that had previously existed, as some imagine, but creation in the proper sense of the term, though it has some other acceptations in other places. The supposition that God formed all things out of a pre-existing, eternal nature, is certainly absurd, for if there had been an eternal nature besides an eternal God, there must have been two self-existing, independent, and eternal beings, which is a most palpable contradiction.” (Adam Clarke commentary on Genesis)

“Bara” refers to anything not previously extant that God caused to be. It is not exclusive to the creation of heaven and earth. For example, “But if the Lord make a new thing, and the earth open her mouth, and swallow them up…..” (Numbers 16:30)

“How long wilt thou go about, O thou backsliding daughter? for the Lord hath created a new thing in the earth…..” (Jeremiah 31:22)

So, let’s get back to Jesus and the Legion. Instead of sending the devils off “into the deep” or “away out of the country”, the devils asked to be cast into a near-by herd of swine that were feeding on the mountain. Jesus obliged them. As soon as the Legion entered the pigs, immediately the “whole herd of swine ran violently down a steep place into the sea, and perished in the waters” (Matthew 8:32).

That certainly took an interesting turn, didn’t it? A Legion of “uber” devils immediately recognize Jesus. They think He has come to torture them. They ask not to be sent to the abyss but rather to be sent into a herd of nearby swine. Jesus does as they request The Legion in turn, immediately charge down the mountain and into the sea, drowning all the pigs. Why?

It is always the intent of the devil to, “steal, and to kill, and to destroy” (John 10:10). This is exactly what the Legion accomplished. For whatever reason, the Legion was unable to kill the man they possessed. Maybe they didn’t want to, no one knows. Although the man tortured and hurt himself while possessed, he was still strong enough to ward off any fatal attacks.

The pigs were a different story. They didn’t have the mind or the spirit to defend themselves which made it simple for the Legion to control and kill them.

A question to be asked is why there was a herd of pigs in the first place? It was a Jewish settlement. Jews were not allowed to eat, own, or even touch swine. Is that why Jesus agreed to the Legions request? Did Jesus know what they were going to do and allowed the Legion to kill the pigs because they weren’t holy?

We learn in Luke that the “whole multitude of the country of the Gadarenes” (Luke 8:37) showed up after all of this happened. Even though the people found the man formerly possessed of the devils to be healed and free from the demons, they still asked Jesus to leave, assumedly because of what happened to the pigs. Why? Jesus saved a soul, got rid of something considered unholy, and made thousands of elite demons to go away. How could the towns people be upset with that? It would help to understand them if we first understood why they were keeping a herd of swine in the first place.

If anything, this shows the “tares” that the devil can sow. Remember, the goal of the devil is to, “steal, and to kill, and to destroy” (John 10:10). The Legion accomplished everything they set out to do. But keep in mind, God is in control. Nothing happens against the will of God.

It should be obvious by now that Nietzsche derived his parable of the swine directly from the Bible.

“And also this parable give I unto you: Not a few who meant to cast out their devil, went thereby into the swine themselves” (Nietzsche - “Thus Spake Zarathustra”- Chasity). As a side note, “Thus Spake Zarathustra” is replete with Bible references and allusions like this one.

Whether it was intended or not, Nietzsche hits the nail on the proverbial head with his parable. If you attempt to rid yourself of your demons, be careful you don’t exorcise yourself instead.

The fallacy of it is that it is minus God. Anyone who tries to do anything, especially something of a spiritual nature without God is going to get in trouble. In Nietzsche’s parable he is attempting to have people “to cast out their devil”. It is ill advised to attempt casting out demons without first having the will of the Lord in support of you and the power of the Lord infused in you. The will and the power must be of the Lord, not of you. It is inconceivable to try to cast out demons by yourself. Self-exorcisms are not recommended and tend to go awry rather quickly.

Keep in mind, we are to avoid evil both in word and deed. If you love life then you are never to be the instigator in confronting it.

“For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it. For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil. And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?” (1 Peter 3:10-13)

Bad things happen when we don’t heed the advice just given and we approach evil on our own.  Here is a good example from the Bible of what can happen when someone tries to call out a spirit without God.

“Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth. And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so. And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye? And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.” (Acts 19:13-16)

Man cannot succeed in the realm of the spirit with only his own power and will. These vagabond (wandering, like modern day gypsies) Jews had learned that the Apostle Paul used Christ’s name in casting out demons. They thought that the name alone carried some form of magic powers. “Jesus Christ” to these vagabond Jews was nothing more than an incantation, some magic spell in which to exorcise demons.   

During the time of Paul there were certain Jews who were called, “Masters of the Name”, said to have the ability to cast out demons.

Flavius Josephus, was a highly respected first-century Romano-Jewish historian. His most noteworthy work, “Antiquities of the Jews” which is still in wide distribution and usage today, often gave personal, firsthand accountings of many of the events and people in the Bible. Here’s a good example of Josephus and his encounter with the salt remnants of Lot’s wife.

“God then cast a thunderbolt upon the city, and set it on fire, with its inhabitants; and laid waste the country with the like burning, as I formerly said when I wrote the Jewish War. But Lot’s wife continually turning back to view the city as she went from it, and being too nicely inquisitive what would become of it, although God had forbidden her so to do, was changed into a pillar of salt; for I have seen it, and it remains at this day.” (Antiquities of the Jews 1.11.4)

Josephus also writes of his experiences with exorcists.

“God also enabled him (Solomon) to learn that skill which expels demons: which is a science useful, and sanative to men. He composed such incantations also by which distempers are alleviated. And he left behind him the manner of using exorcisms; by which they drive away demons; so that they never return: and this method of cure is of great force unto this day. For I have seen a certain man of my own country, whose name was Eleazar, releasing people that were demoniacal in the presence of Vespasian, and his sons, and his Captains, and the whole multitude of his soldiers….” (Antiquities of the Jews 8.1.5)

Whether this Eleazar was some trickster or not, no one can be sure. But during the time of the Apostle Paul it was not uncommon for people to lay claim to having the ability to exorcise demons.

In any case, it’s a bad idea to be unqualified and messing around with the unknown. I certainly do not want some demon stating, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?” followed up by a rather up close and personal visitation by said demon and then me bolting buck naked out the front door, just like what happened with the vagabond Jews.

Nietzsche warns about trying to cast out our own demons. That’s mistake number one. You can’t do it. Only God can.

Mistake number two. You can’t cast your demons back into the world. That’s their domain. You are not hurting them. You’re helping them. Jesus taught us this. He taught about what happens when an “unclean spirit” leaves a man, even when that man had cleaned up and straightened his life.

“When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out. And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first” (Luke 11:24-26).

If we can’t cast out the demons within, if good works and deeds aren’t the answer, if a clean life and clean living isn’t the way, then what is?

“Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.” (1 Peter 5:6-11)

The devil is actively seeking those trying to go it alone, those leading a clean life, especially those who are a “good person”. The devil will tear you apart and eat you up standing alone like this.

What is necessary is Jesus in our life. What is necessary is for us to cast all worry, care, and sin onto Him. To be “partakers of the divine nature” and to escape, “the corruption that is in the world” (2 Peter 1:4) we must accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.

“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.” (Romans 10:9-11)

It is important to understand what is happening when we pray in the name of Jesus Christ. This is what the vagabond Jews didn’t understand. Invoking the name of Jesus invokes the power and authority of Christ. God is the source of all power and authority. When Christ is in us and we in Christ, we have access to that power and authority.

“God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power belongeth unto God.” (Psalm 62:11).

All power and authority are not only vested in Christ but were created and are sustained by Christ. This includes all thrones, dominions, principalities, and powers in heaven and earth, be they visible or invisible.

As a child of God and only as a child of God, do we have access to these things through the name of Jesus Christ.

Nietzsche fails in his parable because he fails to include the sole source of power and authority, Jesus Christ. Keep that in mind whenever you read Nietzsche. Also keep in mind that Nietzsche tends to confuse man’s religion with the way, the truth, and the light. Man’s religion and Jesus Christ are separate and unique to each other. Nietzsche is angry and expresses it as criticism and cynicism towards God, never really realizing God’s perfection and man’s inherent flaws. Instead he looks for perfection in the very thing that never can be perfect, man. Nietzsche’s ideal, and what he believed the human race should strive for, admire, and worship was what he referred to as “Superman”. How sad it is to believe that perfection of man isn’t divine, but some perceived improvement of man, is.

“I TEACH YOU THE SUPERMAN. Man is something that is to be surpassed. What have ye done to surpass man?....The Superman is the meaning of the earth. Let your will say: The Superman SHALL BE the meaning of the earth! I conjure you, my brethren, REMAIN TRUE TO THE EARTH, and believe not those who speak unto you of superearthly hopes! Poisoners are they, whether they know it or not.” (Nietzsche- “Thus Spake Zarathustra” Prologue)

Remain true to the earth. Don’t believe those who speak of superearthly (divine) hopes. They are poisoners whether they know it or not. Truly sad, a life without God, without heaven, and without a transcendent hope, love, and peace. That’s the Superman. That’s the natural man to perfection.

I’d rather be supernatural and unearthly. I’d rather obtain perfection through the blood of Christ.

Bill Hitchcock

Unequally Yoked

“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” (2 Corinthians 6:14-18)

This entire passage is built upon the one simple command, “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers”. Most interpret this phrase as a warning about with whom you associate with. The basic premise being that you get fleas if you hang around dogs.

But according to Adam Clarke, the 19^th century British Methodist theologian, biblical scholar and commentator, the term, “unequally yoked together” is a military term meaning to, “keep in your own ranks; do not leave the Christian community to join in that of the heathens.” (Adam Clarke)

The Greek word for unequally yoked together is, “heterozygeo”. It is a verb showing action and is the only time it is used in the Bible, which should lend weight to its usage. This being a military term would be consistent with Paul’s writings. He often used metaphors and similes involving military, sports and games in his teachings.

Many believe that unequally yoked is a direct admonition against marrying a non-Christian. A yoke in the literal sense was a wooden bar that connected two beasts of burden together intending to haul a heavy load. This is a good metaphor for marriage. Life is heavy enough on its own. Marriage introduces additional weights and challenges that would never be encountered if single. But here’s the wonderful thing about being yoked in marriage.

It was found that one horse could pull a maximum of 8,000 pounds on its own. Logically you would assume that two equal horses would be able to pull double that, or 16,000 pounds when yoked together. But what was discovered was that the two horses can actually pull 3 times that the weight, or 24,000 pounds!

Amazing, right? And this type of exponential strength is needed for married couples. You have a spouse, mortgage, kids and their illnesses, school and associated activities. Your career, your spouses career, more bills, church, social life, etc., It all adds up. Two must become one and work as one.

But the key to the yoke is that one word, “equal”. The whole thing comes screaming to a halt if the horses are unequally yoked. Instead of 24,000 pounds being pulled by the two, you will be lucky if they both could pull 8,000 pounds. Why? If one is stronger than the other then it will end up pulling the weaker one, thus adding weight to the overall load for the one. Or if one horse won’t pull or gets distracted and goes in a different direction, or if a horse is lazy, etc. There are countless reasons as to why the task becomes more difficult if the two horses are unequally yoked, making the yoke a hindrance and not a help.

The same thing applies to marriage. If one is a Christian and the other not, there will be conflict and friction. Each will work against the other. Each will be carrying an additional load and if not, then one is conceding to the other. A Christian does not concede their values and beliefs, if they do, then they aren’t a Christian for, “faith without works is dead” (James 2:20).

A common theme throughout the Bible, particularly in the Books of Moses is what happens when God’s people become unequally yoked through marriage and intermingle with pagan’s and apostates. In Revelations 2:14 Jesus speaks of the, “doctrine of Balaam” sometimes called the error of Balaam. This is a reference to Number 22-24 when Balaam showed Balak how to entice God’s people, the Israelites, into committing sexual immorality (and other things) with pagans and strangers. Jude 11 and 2 Peter 2:15 refer to it as well. This commingling, or yoking God’s people with pagans ruined the Israelites. Sex and idolatry were the enticement. Disaster was the outcome.

As early as Genesis 6 do we see commingling of God’s people with strangers and the problems it creates.

“That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose. And the Lord said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.” (Genesis 6:2-3)

Notice how immediately after Paul says, “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers” that he follows it up with a half dozen questions. These are great questions that we need to ask our self, answer, and understand.

What fellowship does righteousness have with unrighteousness? None!

What communion does light have with darkness? None!

What concord does Christ have with Belial (devil)? None!

What part has he that believeth with an infidel? None!

What agreement does the the temple of God have with idols? None!

Sex was the attractant for the Israelite to the pagans. They allowed lust to defeat them and yoke them to pagans and their idolatrous ways.

Paul reminds the Corinthians that they are the temple of the living God, that God lives in them. Paul beseeches them to separate from the unclean, unyoke yourself, break the bond that binds them to the pagan. Do not touch the unclean and God will receive them. God will be a Father unto them, and you will be the sons and daughters to the Lord Almighty.

Marriage is not the only yoke that binds. Friendships and partnerships do too. The thing to be aware of is what you can control. You have control over who you marry, who your friends are, and who your business partner(s) are. You can determine who these people are, so choose wisely, choose according to scripture.

There are circumstances that go beyond your control. For example, you can’t determine who your co-workers will be, who your classmates are or who your roommate (School) or bunk mate (Military) will be. The same goes for your next-door neighbor. You can’t always decide who you will be yoked with.

So, what do you do? Simple. You always have control over you, not necessarily your environment. But you definitely have control over how you react to your surroundings and circumstance.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego had control of themselves, even though captured and held by an army. The reason for their capture was due to their refusal to bow to the huge idol of the king of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar. So, all three were to be thrown a fiery furnace. Due to the king’s anger, the furnace was heated up to seven times its normal strength. It was so hot that the heat killed the guards that held Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego as they approached the furnace. The three men were thrown in the furnace. Out of the bottom, King Nebuchadnezzar noticed something. The king noticed a fourth person standing with them amidst the blaze.

He said, “Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God” (Daniel 3:24b-25). 

Their faith saved Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego from the flames of the furnace. They knew all along that Jesus was with them. Jesus in response to their faith, made himself manifest in the flames, at the worst time for the three.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego had no control over their environment or the flames of the furnace, but they did have control over themselves. They could have gone against their faith and bowed to the idol as law mandated them to do. Everyone would have understood. But they didn’t. They could have folded to peer pressure and do what was popular and in vogue. They didn’t. These three men didn’t have control of anything but themselves. So, that’s what they did. They stayed true to themselves and their religion.

I’ll leave you with this thought. Two yoked together can pull not twice, but three times the weight, but with the opposite effect if unequally yoked. Sometimes this means being equally yoked, but in a bad way.

All too often we grow weary with the fight and concede. After all, sin is easy. Sin has no standards or principals. You don't have to do anything for sin other than to exist and to lust. You don’t even have to think, sin will gladly think with or without you. Add all of this to someone you love immensely, deeply, with someone you are yoked too. What you get are two in sin in tandem. Think of the possibilities!

Why fight against the delayed gratification of Christianity when you can have your cake and eat it right now?

Yes, sometimes it works the other way around. Sometimes Christianity wins out. Sometimes. But usually not. Usually the Christian falls back into the embrace of the world. It's easy and will always win approval from the world.

If we will just, “come out from among them, and be ye separate....and touch not the unclean thing" then God, "will receive you” (2 Corinthians 6:17).

As we just talked about, we have control over our self. If from the outset we associate only with God’s people, then we won’t find our self yoked, in love or in a marriage with the unclean. Beware of the “doctrine of Balaam”. Do not be involved with those in error of Balaam!

Choose God and allow Him to be a, “Father unto you”. He will surely let you be, “sons and daughters” unto Him!

Bill Hitchcock

Unto Good Works

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10)

We are handcrafted by God for the purpose of performing good works. We are physically built for that function. Just like God made Michael Jordan for basketball, He has handcrafted each of us unto good works.

God ordained or hardwired into our body and soul to “walk” or to do good works. It is natural for us to do them. A bird dog has to hunt, an eagle must fly. We are made, through Christ, unto good works. And it is called “works” and not deeds, niceties, favors, courtesies or any other reference to an easy and effortless act. God’s children will work and exert effort towards the benefit of another. God has specially built us for that purpose. We are physically unique and spiritually ready for the benefit and preservation of the children of God.

Our Lord has designed and built us for the task and gave us the spirit of help. But these good works are done autonomously because God made us with free will. God gave us the necessary tools be we must choose to use them.

When a piece of equipment is engineered for a specific purpose but either sits idle or does something it wasn’t built to do, problems will occur. Functions are ill performed, breakdowns happen, rust and corrosion take hold. The same holds true with us. God created us unto good works. If we don’t get involved in service to our fellow man, or if we concentrate our efforts on helping me, myself, and I, then our life is not being fulfilled or used for what it was built for. Our purpose is not being utilized. Misuse or non-use of our purpose and God given abilities can cause misery, loneliness, depression, isolation, and a feeling of disconnect with family, friends, society, and the world. We feel like aliens, strangers, lost and far from Christ. When we are in Christ He is our, “peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us” (Ephesians 2:14)

When we are in Christ and Christ is in us, His desire and will is made manifest in us and through us. His will becomes our will. Not to “walk” in His good works would be unnatural for us and we would feel it. Resisting good works is actual rebellion against our Lord.

Now why would doing good to our neighbor, such as loving and helping them be difficult for us? Why does it require effort and most often feel unnatural to help others? A better question would be to ask is why is sin so easy? We all know the answer to that. We have to go back to the fall, to Adam and Eve, when they allowed pride to dictate and they followed the suggestions of the devil. Sin then became an inherent part of all of mankind. This is an unnatural state for man to be in. Let me repeat that. The sin condition is an unnatural state for man. Our default condition is before the fall. The fall knocked man out of whack from the original design and purpose. This is why things that should come natural to us, such as good works, may be difficult for us to do.

God has been leading us back to him ever since the fall. Now good works in of themselves doesn’t get us into heaven. But becoming a new creation in Christ unto good works does. Good works are a result, a manifestation of Christ in us. The good works are part of our natural and righteous self. The righteousness can only come by Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.

We are God’s workmanship that have been created in Christ unto good works. This has been ordained by God before the beginning of time and is for us to do, and to be, right now.

Bill Hitchcock

Capital Punishment

Here’s the problem I have with capital punishment. I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t mash the button, flip the switch, or pull the lever to kill an individual. And if I can’t do it, then I’m certainly not going to ask someone else do it for me. If someone has absolutely zero problem flipping the switch and executing a person, then I believe that someone needs to pay a visit to a healthcare professional and do so rather quickly.

Sometimes three people are responsible for pulling three separate switches for the execution, with only one switch actually performing the task. This is done so that no one individual can feel responsible for the actual execution. Even still, if reducing the probability of you being the executioner down to 33.33% doesn’t give enough cause for remorse and a few sleepless nights, then you need to pay a visit to a healthcare professional and do so rather quickly.

Whether or not to participate in an execution as an executioner is a decision. Once you have made the choice to do it, the sin has been committed. The act is simply the manifestation of the sin committed in spirit.

“For out of the heart (the spirit) proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: These are the things which defile a man” (Matthew 15:19-20a).

The point is not to overly focus on the act, but on the condition of the heart, the spirit. Issuing a death sentence in spirit is the sin. Listen to what Jesus had to say about it.

“Ye have heard that it was said of them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.” (Matthew 5:21-22).

Letting someone else do it after the decision has been made does not absolve you of the sin. There is a great example of committing the sin of murder but having someone else carry it out for you with the Catholic Church during the middle ages.

The Roman Catholic Church, as a precursor to the Protestant Reformation engaged the British Crown to perform its dirty work of execution. Countless people were burned at the stake as well as other heinous acts and torturous deaths were done primarily for the sin of reading and teaching the Bible. It sounds bizarre I know but it is a sad truth and reality. At the time the Catholic Church heavily guarded the Bible and its contents, even prohibiting priests from reading and teaching from it in some cases. Bibles were literally chained to the pulpit. Parishioners were forbidden to have a Bible much less allowed to read it. Read Foxe’s Book of Martyrs by John Foxe. In it, Foxe details, often as an eyewitness, the many pastors, priests, and ministers that were put to death, as an offense to the Roman Catholic Church but executed by the British crown.

The Roman Catholic Church wanted people dead, but it was a sin. So the church had the Queen of England (and others) actually carry out the death penalty. This is how Mary Tudor, Queen regnant of England and Ireland got the nickname, “Bloody Mary”.

I couldn’t flip the switch to kill someone. And yes, I’ve played out a multitude of scenarios. I’ve been asked by folks, “But what if it was the guy that murdered your wife?” or some other horrible crime against a family member or friend. Now stop and think about this for a moment. How does my relationship with the victim justify flipping the switch? How does the need for revenge overrule justice? We have a serious problem if familial status can change sin into righteousness.

Here's the question you must ask. What is it you really want? Justice or revenge? If justice, then you won’t be overly concerned with outcome. You’ll be concerned with process, was it fair, equitable, and just. If revenge is on your heart, then you won’t care one bit about process. You will have already made up your mind and all you want is blood. We see this all to often, particularly with racially themed, high profile cases. The accused is already convicted in the public and media eye. They have determined that blood is the only justice due. Riots occur if the public and media don’t get their vengeance.

“Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, *Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord” (Romans 12:17-19)

*”To me belongeth vengeance and recompence; their foot shall slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste.” (Deuteronomy 32:35)

Am I pacifist? Not at all. If the person to be executed was chasing after me, my family, heck, even a complete stranger, with the intent to kill, then I’d have no problem in dropping them.

I do have a problem killing someone when there is no eminent danger to anyone, when the killing has been determined and approved by man, when I do not clearly see God in this picture. It doesn’t make it OK if someone else does it, or that the state sanctioned it, or any other method, person, or terminology is used to sanitize the whole ordeal. Human life is the most precious of all of God’s gifts and creations. I can’t, with a clear heart and soul push a button to end a life. I have a right and a responsibility to preserve life, including my own. Sometimes that means at the expense of another. How does executing someone preserve life?

God said, “Thou shalt not kill.” (Exodus 20:13). It’s one of the Ten Commandments given to Moses. The word kill means premediated murder or to assassinate. Would pulling the switch as an executioner be considered premediated murder?

Augustine, the 4^th century theologian and priest detailed what is referred to today as the “Just War Theory”. In short, Augustine lists out several priorities and conditions that must be met before committing to battle. For lack of a better term, the Just War Theory is a punch list or a pre-war checklist that a must be gone through and examined to determine if going to war is just and merited. In a very real way this sounds like the process of execution, but with one big difference. The Just War Theory is applied when being attacked by another country or army is eminent. Is that why we execute people? Is it the fear of the convicted committing more crime? Is capital punishment the last resort, because there is no hope for rehabilitation? Is it vengeance? How is killing someone just? Is it the eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth mindset?

Killing ends all hope, it ends all possibilities for the convicted and society.

Another bizarre statement people make to justify execution involves economics. The point is made that execution saves taxpayers “X” amount of dollars over the cost to house and feed the guilty. Do these people not understand that there is no relationship, no parallel between saving money and justice. Why is the state executing people in the first place? It isn’t for its cost saving benefits. Nothing, and I mean nothing should interfere with justice and judgment. These two things are the foundation of our legal system and government.

So, what do we do? First, I’d like to determine why we have the death penalty in the first place. Is it a simple matter of scale? Is death the ultimate price a person can pay? Is it a punishment or deterrent?

How about a life sentence without parole? If we want the convicted to benefit society then put him or her to work. Certainly, we can profit from a prisoner. Certainly, we can teach and train them to perform a function that would pay for their room and board and then some. The objective would not be to re-integrate them back into society. That would defeat the purpose of the sentencing, if not encourage others to commit the same crime. The purpose would be for them to pay their expenses of being imprisoned. This sounds like a better plan than executing them.

A person has the right and responsibility to defend and protect life, limb, and property. How does this apply to execution? It doesn’t. Execution is punishment, not self-defense. Execution by state does not make it any more just, only more legal and socially acceptable.

I am not preaching or advocation to end capital punishment. I have expressed my thoughts and concerns on the matter. I am all ears to your comments and thoughts. If I have missed something, then please by all means, speak up.

Bill Hitchcock

First You Must Dehumanize

People do not want to hurt, harm, or in any way act adversely towards another person. It’s innate, hardwired in us by God. Our Lord wants us to love our neighbor, to help, serve, and uplift each other. Hate, hurt, and harm are the polar opposites of God’s command.

This is why Socialism must dehumanize its detractors. This is why Hitler and Goebbels portrayed the Jews as rats. This is why the Left attempts to paint the right as racists and bigots. This is why Nazi Germany and today’s Left both have painted the rich and wealthy as evil, as purveyors of ill-gotten goods and wealth, that the way folks get rich is to oppress the working man.

The Left is attempting to dehumanize what it wants to defeat. It then becomes easy to hate what is not considered human and even easier to channel that hatred into action. The Left’s actions become justified because their opponents are subhuman and act accordingly.

Hate is the key ingredient to the Left’s Socialistic takeover. Hate is generated and perpetuated by identifying who and what you want to defeat as being racist, bigoted, homophobic, misogynistic, with the list of what to hate going on in perpetuity. The easily offended want to be offended so that they can hate. Once someone hates, they now can demean and reduce their opponent to something less than human and attack it, destroy it, and put it away. All of it is justified because after all, they weren’t human, and they were doing non-human things with non-human thoughts.

Philosophically and intellectually, the young, uneducated, being educated, and weak are prime candidates for motivating to hate and to support Socialism. They are the easiest to convince and manipulate.

Economically the poor and disenfranchised are the prime candidates to hate and support Socialism. There is a reason for their economic circumstance to start with and it has to do with self and not society as Socialism preaches. These folks are usually looking for someone to blame (besides self) and Socialism offers them the perfect solution. The poor and disenfranchised see Socialism as a way to not just step up, but a way to strike back at the system they believe has kept them down.

Socialist ply the fields of the philosophically, intellectually, and economically disadvantaged and challenged for their acolytes.

The true Socialist are those in positions of power or desiring to be in positions of power. Socialism is a precursor to Communism by design according to Karl Marx. Under the totalitarian regime of either, there is the upper class of rulers, government officials, the politburo, and the elite. In short, Socialism and Communism have their own upper class, wealthy 1% that controls everything. This is where all money, wealth, and most of all, power is maintained. Positions held are usually lifelong positions. Bernie and Elizabeth know this.

Politicians promoting Socialism want a seat in this upper 1% with all of its power and control, and will do and say anything to you to achieve it.

Socialism and Communism are Godless governments. They have to be to function.

Bill Hitchcock

Truth Is Pretty Powerful

I was listening to a lecture by Dr. Jordan Peterson on YouTube. He said something that stuck with me, or rather stood out above over what he was saying, although it wasn’t the point he was trying to make.

Peterson said, “If you are truthful, then what you bring out of potential, is good.”

This is significant because everyone has potential in “X” supply. Certainly, we are all fitted with a great, unknown amount of it.

Potential is unemployed capacity. It is inherent in and to us all. Everyone has unused and undiscovered potential, undefined and undetermined ways and means. We don’t know or understand the width, breadth, or depth of potential in its dormant state. Often potential is not so much discovered as it is revealed. It is realized when most needed. Potential becomes capacity and act when it is necessary to exceed the walls of limit.

What Peterson is saying is that if we are truthful, which is something we can control, then we can extract good from our potential, which is often undefined and unknown. This gives us power and control. Potential is a natural resource built inside of each of us. If we will just be truthful in deed, word, and spirit then we shall have good.

But what is good? Good in life is both process and destination, both cause and effect. We aim for a good life, one that will benefit us and make us happy. But we are also aiming at a target, a destination that has been determined to be good.

The good we are after has been determined to “be” good. Good is in a state of being or condition. Earlier we mentioned that to have the good we must be truthful. From this it is easy to deduce that truth is good and being truthful produces a good state of being as well as a good being.

The “good life” or rephrased as a good existence. A good existence (life) is a line segment. It has definitive beginning and definitive end. Most folks will look at a person, place, or thing as the target that will make them happy. Focusing on the target excludes existence and being, the journey to the destination that is believed will make you happy.

“We are all but sojourners (foreigners) and travelers here on earth….For our conversation (citizenship) is in heaven.” (1 Chronicles 29:15a & Philippians 3:20a)

Good is two separate things; it is the journey and it is the destination. These two goods are independent of each other but can act in conjunction with one another. But once the destination is reached, the journey ends as well as the destination, for you don’t keep travelling after you arrive to where you were headed.

Jesus Christ self-identified as “the way” and “the truth”. By definition, the New Testament word sin means to fall out of the way (journey) and to miss the mark (destination).

Unfortunately for some people, good is none of what we have just talked about. To these folks good is the consumption of an indulgence, experiencing some pleasure. For these people good is gratifying a lust or desire. Attainment of the good is the end of that good. It is the culmination of effort, thought, and desire in an act of consumption. The only thing left for the indulgent person and their idea of good once attained and consumed is repetition. So, the smoker smokes, the drinker drinks, the drug addict shoots up, the player has sex, the gambler gambles, the liar lies, and so on and so on……….

The good of the indulgent and pleasure seeker is constantly sought after, attained, consumed, and then repeated. The good of indulgence and pleasure is a continuous loop, a continuously shrinking loop.

So, in short what Dr. Peterson is saying, at least in my estimation, is that being truthful (like Jesus), which is a personal choice, causes our potential, which is built and hardwired within us all, to produce good in our life all the way to the end of our life as we know it here on earth.

Truth is pretty powerful.

Bill Hitchcock

The Love Of God

“Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.” (1 John 3:16-18).

The underlying tenets of the Christian religion are love and truth. The love by God and of God that is inside of each of us. Truth or righteousness that is bestowed us via the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

We have been given love and truth freely by the grace of God. Grace is a gift meant to be given, not held. We are to share and experience love and truth with our neighbor, our fellow man. As God has given to us we are to give to others in like fashion. Figuratively and realistically we are to, “lay down our lives for the brethren.”

But Gods’ love and truth does not reside in someone who holds the “world’s good” as their first love. Money, wealth, possessions are of this world and are temporal. This love is for vain things so therefore there is no truth in it. There is no God in the person who makes these things his priority over the brethren.

“How can a man love God who does not love those who bear his image?” (Albert Barnes)

We are to love our fellow man in deed and in truth. True love, true compassion, benevolence and good-will are not static. These are actions. It is impossible to truly love another with just words, thought and feelings. Both faith and love are dead being alone and unused.

“My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.” We must shift love out of the emotional, thought realm and into the application world of actuality. Thought without works is dead.

Bill Hitchcock

August 8, 2015