Tuesday, March 5, 2024

The Curse of Sex Trafficking in America



“America’s devilish obsession with sex is the driver for innocent boys and girls to be ushered into the deep abyss of the sex trade.”







Along with millions of other movie-goers, my wife and I attended the blockbuster movie, Sound of Freedom. We did so due to the generosity of an anonymous donor that paid for the whole theatre! The theme of the movie came from a captivating line by Jim Caveziel’s character when he said, “God’s children are not for sale.” The movie took America by storm, framing the massive multibillion-dollar demonic sex trafficking industry in a compelling way. (Photo by Francesca Zama on Unsplash)

According to one source, “It is estimated that between 15,000 to 50,000 women and children are forced into sexual slavery in the United States every year…” And a few years ago, it was reported that over 50% of U.S. criminal cases for sex trafficking involved children. And not only does a massive number of victims originate from America, whom are shipped across the globe like cargo, but America also receives over 50,000 of these broken souls annually from other nations. Geoff Rogers, co-founder of the United States Institute Against Human Trafficking made this alarming fact about our nation, "The United States is the number one consumer of sex worldwide. So we are driving the demand as a society."

America’s devilish obsession with sex is the driver for innocent boys and girls to be ushered into the deep abyss of the sex trade. We are doing this to our own kids, and the children of the world! This realization should drop every American to their knees, and plead for the Almighty’s mercy. It is written, “For behold, the Lord will come in fire, and his chariots like the whirlwind, to render his anger in fury…” (Isaiah 66:15)

Americans lust for sexually explicit material naturally leads some to enter the sex trafficking industry. Pictures and videos are not enough, so a man searches out ways to experience it first-hand, thus providing demand. Scrolling through sexualized videos on Facebook, YouTube and other social media. Watching R-rated and X-rated movies with steamy sex scenes. Paying subscriptions to secretively watch porn on various websites. These avenues, combined with a culture that permits and encourages such perverted activities has created our nation’s sinful cesspool.

DO WE UNDERSTAND THE GRAVITY 
OF WHAT WE HAVE DONE?

We have soundly rejected God’s ways of preserving sex for a man and woman in the bounds of marriage, and are reaping its affects. The Scriptures say, “For they sow the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind.” (Hosea 8:7) For decades a faithful remnant of the church has proclaimed God’s truth, warning Americans to stop this progressive escalation of sexual obsession. Yet, we have mockingly rejected that call and are reaping its consequences. Accordingly, God has given us over to our destructive passions. The Bible says, “Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie…” (Romans 1:24-25)

What shall we do? The root of America’s sex trafficking problem is a spiritual one. We have exalted our immoral and perverted lust for one another over our Creator God. Instead, lust has become our god of choice. However, God still holds out His hands of mercy. For He says to our nation, “I spread out my hands all the day to a rebellious people, who walk in a way that is not good, following their own devices…” (Isaiah 65:2) According to His mercy, He sent Jesus to us, His beloved Son. And He says to all who recognize their disobedient ways and turn to His Son by faith, that He will joyfully grant immediate freedom from the slavery of sin. And He promises to wash away the deep stains of their sin and give them a transformed life.

A prayer for you – Lord God I pray that you will help us to see the connection between our obsession with sex and the curse of sex trafficking on our nation. Sexual temptations are so strong, but you are stronger. Help us to turn to you and cry out with a desperate heart, that we might be set free from our sexual sins, and destroy this evil from among us. In Jesus’ name. Amen.


Wednesday, February 21, 2024

Obedience to God is Optional. Right?


“Today, millions of church goers feel what they believe is more important than how they live.”


According to a study from Lifeway Research on the wide impact of pornography in America, “43 percent of people who use the Internet visit pornographic websites. Some 40 million Americans are regular visitors to porn sites, with pornographic downloads representing 35 percent of all Internet downloads. Of the 40 million regular visitors, 33 percent are women. A full 70 percent of men age 18-24 visit porn sites monthly.” And Lifeway asked pastors about the impact of pornography on their congregations, and concluded that, “Large numbers of church attendees are included in the nearly half of all Internet users who visit porn sites.”

Wow! It appears that millions of professing Sunday morning Christians, after they attend church and hear the Word of God preached, go back home and stare at sexual images and videos on their phones or computers. How is that possible?

This highlights a massive problem in the American church. First, we have an urgent situation with porn in the pew. Second, the even bigger issue, is the disconnect between what someone professes and how they live. This means millions of people feel what they believe, is more important than how they live. It means they see obedience to God as merely optional.

Somehow large numbers of professing Christians have been exposed to a teaching that conveys how obedience to God does not matter. They have been taught to believe certain things, make certain religious professions and do certain religious duties, then God’s mercy will cover whatever they do not get right, and their home in heaven will be certain.

Since Jesus is the foundation of Christianity, is this what He taught?

Days before Jesus went to the cross, He spent much time alone with His disciples, preparing them for what was to come. He stressed the importance of two truths - love and obedience. He taught, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15) Then again, He said, “Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me.” (Jn. 14:21) And another time, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word…” (Jn. 14:23) And finally, “Whoever does not love me does not keep my words.” (Jn 14:24)

Jesus, the Master Teacher, was not emphasizing mere rule keeping to His disciples, but obedience to Him that springs from a heart of love. Not a romantic love that is mere feeling. No. Instead, a love that is rational, deliberate and willing to lay down one’s life for Him if necessary.

Obedience is non-negotiable. It is a must! It is an expression of true saving faith and authentic love toward Christ, who loved and obeyed His own Father by giving all for Him through the cross. Let us follow Jesus’ example.

This is so important. Everyone is heading toward an appointment with God their Creator. On Judgement Day He will examine each of us. When He does and says, “Why should I let you into my heaven?” What will you say? Jesus once predicted exactly how conversations will end up playing out. He stated that people will come to Him and say, “Lord, Lord” and He will reply, “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord’ and not do what I tell you?” (Luke 6:46) And that will be it. Our mouths will be shut, unable to offer any response and our eternal fate sealed.

While we still have time, let us get it right. Today, let us obey His command to stop sinning, and bring to an end, the sinful things we are doing. Let us obey His command to trust in Him with all our heart for our acceptance and forgiveness, and stop trusting in our own goodness and the religious things we do. Let us obey His command to walk in holiness and faithful obedience to Him until our final breath.

A prayer for you - Lord God, help us to recognize the importance of belief, but also of obedience. Help us to see the connection between a genuine love for Christ and genuine obedience. Help us O, Lord to live a life of faithfulness unto you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

The Church’s Finest Hour!

Only one entity has the message for our

 times. THE CHURCH. It was built for

 moments just like these.”

America is rotting from within. Lethal illegal drugs are being trafficked into our nation. Criminals are running our cities. Teaching children unthinkable immoral acts is championed. Justice is dependent on your political party and personal views. The family has been redefined. Gender is a personal choice. Killing babies before birth is a convenience. Lies are declared as truth to sway the masses, and truth is based on feelings. Why is all this happening? Because of America’s insatiable desire to satisfy her own lusts, and the consequences of that perilous pursuit. (Photo by Felix Mittermeier from Pixabay)

As result, our nation is becoming weaker and more vulnerable to our enemies with the passing of each new day. And the nature of this rot is a moral one, where the hearts of millions are controlled by a darkness that seeks their own personal ambitions above the needs of their neighbor.

Who can save us from this systemic evil that lives in the hearts of the masses? Who has the answer for this generational evil that has a hold on vital American institutions and on crucial areas of our culture?

Can the American military, with all its power, save us? Can Congress, the courts, or the President of the United States? What about our education system? I argue that there is only one institution that has the answers? Only one entity has the message for our times.

THE CHURCH. It was built for moments just like these.

It was created to flourish in periods of war, chaos, moral upheaval, widespread injustice, and in seasons of division and danger. These times have always become the church’s hardest, yet finest hours.

The church was born in the mind of God, established through the death and resurrection of Christ and is the embodiment of Christ Himself. For He is the church working through all His followers by His message, His works, His Spirit and His power. This all communicates a divine charge for the church - to be the presence of Christ to the world around us, and fulfill Jesus’ mission to them. And the central part of Jesus’ mission, was His unique message. It was nothing like what any other religious leader taught.

At the beginning of His public ministry, Jesus laid down what the theme of all His teaching and preaching would be when He declared, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 3:2)

What does repent mean? It refers to a change of mind, leading to a change of life. It is where one turns from their destructive sinful self, and to God by faith through Christ. And when they do, they are instantaneously transformed. About others who have experienced this, the Bible says, “For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy…through Jesus Christ our Savior…” (Titus 3:3-6)

This was the message the Apostles taught and preached in the first century, and what the church was founded upon in its early years.

Sin was destroying people’s lives and the civilization they lived in, and it was only this message that could deliver them. It is the original message of the true church, and the message our nation so desperately needs today. To the enemies of the true Jesus, they frame it as words of hate, racism and bigotry. However, in the eyes of our Lord and Savior it is a message of truth, and one that is filled with love and compassion for a world on fire.

Rise up, O church. We need a remnant men and women who are filled with the boldness and courage of the Holy Spirit, to go forth and declare this timely message. The time is now!

A prayer for you – Lord God, stir the hearts of pastors and all believers. Remind them of your original message. Raise them up to call their neighborhoods and cities to turn from their evil ways and to faith in Christ. Bless their words as they speak forth your truth. In Jesus’ name. Amen.