The Battle for Moral Truth

The battles we face today are fact versus feeling, reality versus idealism and truth versus lies. – Clint Decker

A university student once listened to his professor give an unplanned lecture on why God does not exist, then afterwards he asked the students to write a paper on the question, “Does God exist?” The Christian student felt if he wrote a dissenting viewpoint, it could cost him a good grade. (Image by Unsplash)

An employee was working late one night when he witnessed his manager swipe some cash from the company safe. The manager spotted him, then instructed him to keep quiet about it. The next morning when the owner discovered the cash was missing, he told employees to come forward with any information. The employee wrestled with what to do, feeling he could not betray his boss who had been so good to him.

A young woman was asked out for a date by a charming and handsome young man. As the evening progressed, she felt such a connection with him, feeling like he was the perfect guy. While they were having conversation during dinner though, she noticed how he asked their server for his third beer. She knew about the dangers of alcohol all too well, as she had dealt with alcohol abuse in her family.

A pastor was once asked to share a message on what the Bible says about abortion. However, he knew there were at least two women in the congregation who had abortions and was concerned how they might feel about such a message.

The battle for moral truth is a war zone, and it becomes intensified when the truth conflicts with our feelings for others. The battles are fact versus feeling, reality versus idealism and truth versus lies. These struggles are the grounds for building a life of courage or ruining a life because of cowardice.

Jesus is our prime example for learning how to courageously stand for truth under fire.

Once some religious leaders approached Jesus to ask Him an accusatory question, “Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They don’t wash their hands before they eat!” (Matthew 15:2) To which Jesus immediately turned the tables and asked them, “And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition?” (Matt. 15:3) It was more of a rhetorical question, as Jesus did not give them an opportunity to answer. Instead, He publicly charged them in a bold rebuke saying, “…you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition. You hypocrites!” (Matt. 15:6,7)

It was such a startling and concerning exchange that the disciples approached Jesus privately and asked, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this?” (Matt. 15:12) How did Jesus respond to the concerns of His disciples? He did not back down or apologize at all. Rather he stated, “Leave them; they are blind guides.” (Matt. 15:14)

The charge the disciples made toward Jesus was serious. They were saying He was being a spiritual stumbling block to the religious leader’s relationship with God. Their question revealed how they had a greater concern for the Pharisees than for the truth of Jesus. This is the problem with our culture. We have equated feelings to the same level as truth, and if the truth is offensive to others we might go so far as to reinterpret the Bible to our liking, or just ignore it all together.

When we are not honest with people and dance around the truth, it is the greatest disservice we could ever do toward someone. Even though we may have avoided conflict, we have put their life and soul in jeopardy.

Conversely, when we speak the truth, is the most kind, gracious, humble, loving and compassionate thing you could ever do for someone in the eyes of God, regardless of their response and regardless of what happens to you.

Jesus once said, “Blessed is the one who is not offended by me.” (Luke 7:23)

A prayer for you – Lord God, I pray you will help us to be more concerned about the souls of others, than the feelings of others. Help us to never fear speaking your holy truth. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

God, Religion and The Human Soul

You were created to worship God, and it is through worshiping Him that you will find answers to life’s deepest questions, discover who you are and what you were made for.

– Clint Decker

Since our founding in 1776, most Americans have always been religious. This remains true nearly 250 years later. According to the most recent Pew Religious Landscape Study 40% of Americans are Protestant Christians, 19% are Catholics, another 19% do not identify with any religious group, 6% are agnostic, 5% are atheists, 2% are Jewish and 1% each are Muslim, Hindu and Buddhist. This means 62% of our nation’s 340 million people identify with some religious group. (Photo by Pexels.com)

Why are so many of us religious? Because we were made that way. The Bible says, “God created man in his own image…male and female he created them.” (Genesis 1:27) Since God Himself is a spiritual being, so are we. The evidence is found in our soul. It is said about Rachel, that when she was dying, “…as her soul was departing, she called his name Ben-oni; but his father called him Benjamin.” (Gen. 35:18) The soul lives on after our body returns to the way of the earth. But the soul is more than that. We ARE a soul and not just a body. It is written, “…those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.” (Acts 2:41)

Because we are these spiritual souls, we naturally ask probing questions. “Who am I?” “What is my purpose in life?” “Is there a God?” “Is there life after death?” “Why does God allow suffering?” All these and thousands more questions like them reflect our spiritual existence. Nothing else God created wonders about such things. The religions of the world point to this as well, for you were created to worship, and it is through worship you find answers to life’s deepest questions and discover who you are and what you were made for.

What is worship? The Bible says, “Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker!” (Psalm 95:6) To worship is to humbly submit yourself to something greater than you. That “something” is where you go for wisdom and guidance. It is where you go when facing times of crisis or when you are looking for meaning in life. Some worship through organized religion, while others may reject religion all together and even argue against the idea that God exists. But does that mean they do not worship? Stephen Hawking, a physicist and cosmologist once said “I regard the brain as a computer which will stop working when its components fail.” Hawking relied upon his own reasoning and his own mind for answering the questions of life. No matter if it is religion, nature, the universe or ourselves – our soul’s worship at the altar of something.

Considering that there are so many religions, and even those who reject God and religion; who is right? Since we were made to worship, is there one Being we were created to honor and submit our lives to above all others? The Bible says about Jesus, “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities — all things were created through him and for him.” (Colossians 1:15-16)

You were made by God and created to worship Him! He sent His one and only Son from heaven to earth to show you Himself that you might believe in Him with all your soul. And your soul has tremendous value. Jesus once declared, “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?” (Matthew 16:26) Jesus died and rose again for you. Your precious soul is of utmost importance to Him. Turn from your ways. Believe in Him with all your being. Come and worship!

A prayer for you – Lord God, in a world of so many competing religions and those who reject it all, show us the way. Let us see you high and lifted up above them all. Teach us your ways that we might understand and worship you with all our soul. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

A Message of Hate or God’s Amazing Love?

What people call “hate speech” because they are offended by divine truth, God calls perfect love. 

– Clint Decker

“Hate speech.” That is what one church attendee put on social media in response to my Sunday morning message titled, “The Destruction and Restoration of The American Family.” Then later it was censored by being removed from the church’s Facebook page. (Photo by Pixabay)

Since the 1980s the word “hate” started to become a politically and culturally charged word in the United States and around the world. Today we have “hate crimes,” “hate speech”, “hate groups” that have had a dramatic impact on our speech both in public and private.

What exactly is “hate speech?” Many public universities define this for students and faculty. Kansas State University, which is close to where I live states that, “Hate speech is speech that attacks a person or group on the basis of attributes such as gender, ethnic origin, religion, race, disability or sexual orientation.” Definitions like this should be concerning regarding potential bias. Can a man ever be a victim of hate speech due to his gender or only a woman? Can a white person ever be a victim of hate speech due to their race or only a person of color? Can a heterosexual ever be a victim of hate speech or only a person who is from the LGTBQ community? These are legitimate questions.

Policies and laws that define hate speech have incredible influence, but does that mean they are correct? Just because someone accuses you of hate does that mean they are right? Who is the arbiter of truth on this? I tell my nine-year-old great-granddaughter, “Pursue truth. Ask questions. Do not always take a person’s word for it – even mine. Look things up.” And then I teach her what is the source of all truth, the Bible.

Jesus spoke, “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies…” (Matthew 5:43-44) Hating means you detest or have a strong hostility toward someone, which is strongly condemned. Hate is also defined through contrast. Jesus says to love instead of hate. Love means having a longing in your heart for someone that is demonstrated through selfless sacrificial service, especially toward your opponents.

Can true love cause offense? The pastor of the church I preached at decried my message when he texted me, “God’s love is for all.” We are so grateful for the blessings of Christ like the gift of forgiveness, the hope of heaven, realizing there is no more condemnation, being a child of God and so much more. These evoke feelings of love, joy and peace among all. However, when pastors only speak of the blessings of Christ to the exclusion of the cross of Christ, they mislead their congregations.

The cross is ugly. Jesus’ death and resurrection revealed how sinful we are, and the divine sentence of judgement all mankind deserves. When we speak of these things it naturally causes offense. Jesus expected this resistance when He said, “For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.” (John 3:20)

What people call “hate speech” because they are offended by what heaven’s merciful light has exposed, Almighty God calls perfect love. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that He gave his only Son…” He lovingly gave His unique Son for the ugliness of our sinful disobedience, that we might humble ourselves, turn from our ways, place our faith in Christ and be spared God’s eternal wrath. Then in response, the marvelous blessings of Christ are lavished upon us without measure.

Let people call it what they choose but understand this. When you speak accurately about the uncensored truth of God’s Word, and do so with the right spirit, it is the most beautiful and merciful act of love you could ever do for a precious soul.

A prayer for you – Lord God, I pray you will search our hearts for any hate toward others or even toward the hard truths of your holy Word. Then cleanse us from this darkness and fill us with your amazing love that we would believe your truth, and love and forgive our opponents. In Jesus’ name. Amen.