Rampant Ambivalence

 

When we consider the role that ambivalence plays in the moral decay of a society,  we must understand that it is a concept that has already been addressed in the scriptures.

Man's nature is to rationalize in his own mind what he considers right or wrong, moral or immoral. We are told in Judges 21:25 that,

"In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes." Another portion of scripture which alludes to the nature of all men and their thought processes is found in Isaiah 55:8, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord."

Some observations of Rome's moral decay in secular history point to some type of mental health issue brought on by lead in the water pipes of the day. We could never, however, expect secular historians to suspect any possibility that original sin had any thing to do with their journey down a slippery slope.

There is no way of knowing for sure whether the concept of rampant ambivalence came into play in the political arena of Rome, but from history we do know with certainty that there were plenty calls for a change of leadership. The fact that there were about 70 Roman emperors from the beginning of the reign of Augustus in 27 BC, until the end  of Romulus Augustus in 476 AD. Far from the concept of democratic elections, many came to power through force or violence. According to an article on PBS.org,

"What’s more, the empire started through violence and depended on force. Emperors could only survive if their people believed they could outgun anyone and everyone else. If an army grew dissatisfied, the emperor was in trouble; if dissatisfaction spread further, he was finished.

Civil war had brought Caesar to power. Once emperor and without an obvious heir, he had adopted Augustus. He may have been the first to choose a successor and call it hereditary succession, but he was not the last – Claudius sidelined his own son in favor of Nero, while Nerva "adopted" Trajan to ensure a smooth succession." 

 The corruption and immorality of a nation's leaders more often than not culminates in a corrupt and immoral populace. The accounts of the various emperors and their vices and perversions are well documented in the annals of history. A brief glimpse into what we know about Caligula, Nero, Commodus, Caracalla, and Maxaminus Thrax should suffice to make the case for the debauchery conveyed to the masses.

Scripture teaches us something of the moral character of the people of Rome that secular history would prefer to gloss over. We get a glimpse into the truth of what Psalm 9:17 warns concerning any nation that turns it's back on God.

"The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God."

As a matter of fact, scripture gives us the truth about the moral decline of Rome's culture that secular history is not even aware of. Historians can certainly point to and describe the vices which were present, but only the Word of God explains how they found themselves in a state of utter ruin spiritually.
 
The Bible however, is very clear in the first chapter of Paul's epistle to the Romans of the role original sin played in the progressive movement towards a moral decline.

"And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them." Romans 1:28-32

A close sister to rampant ambivalence would be the concept of ambiguity as it is applied to both political and spiritual matters. Defining ambiguity as simply being the quality of being open to more than one interpretation or inexactness, we can certainly see how a great gulf would exist between political parties as well as religious denominations.

The dangers to any nation associated with the widespread use of ambivalence and ambiguity as the criteria for deciding political or spiritual matters is that it is extremely divisive.
Lincoln himself understood the words spoken by Christ in Luke 11:17,

"But he, knowing their thoughts, said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house divided against a house falleth."

The picture that is painted by secular history of the Roman Empire's decadence, corruption, and perversion bears a marked resemblance to the leadership we see in Washington, D.C. today. Both houses of Congress and the Oval Office are in the back pockets of the enemies of America. High ranking officials have joined hands with the "baneful foes" of foreign governments to sell out America's sovereignty to the United Nations. Many, on both sides of the aisle, are willing to trade the liberty and freedom of the American people for the global governance of a Godless regime.
The enemies of America have been, for decades, methodically indoctrinating the young minds of a generation that has finally taken the bait of Marxism hook, line, and sinker.

Paralleling the nation of Rome, American leadership has started down the broad path of Matthew 7, and it is bringing an indoctrinated populace along with it.
With that begins the next progressive step down the slippery slope towards judgment.

Preface

 The Rapid Descent And Inevitable Collapse Of The American Empire; Or The Pleasures Of Sin For A Season

Any serious endeavor of man to examine how the God of the universe has dealt with the nations of the world throughout history would be futile without, at least, considering the Bible. Scofield made this point of consideration in his introduction to the scriptures...

"The Bible, incomparably the most widely circulated of books, at once provokes and baffles study. Even the non-believer in its authority rightly feels that it is unintelligent to remain in almost total ignorance of the most famous and ancient of books."

Through the word of God we learn that true wisdom comes from above. James 1:5 tells us,

"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him."

There is however, a stipulation and a caveat that goes along with that truth in verses that follow.

"But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways." James 1:6-8

Man asking outside the sphere of faith will find no revelation of God's truth. In the matter of wisdom and faith we see some passages that deal with this. In Hebrews 11:6 we're told,

"But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."

"For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe." 1 Corinthians 1:19-21

"But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." 1 Corinthians 2:14

So we see then, outside of a personal relationship with Christ through the new birth, it is impossible to rightly divide the truth of scripture.
 

 In a discussion examining the moral decline and eventual spiritual destruction of any nation, we must look at it through the disinfecting light of God's word rather than the deceitful lenses of man's heart.

 

Two prominent verses that stand out as we ponder this, is given to us by the wisest man that ever lived. Solomon tells us in the Book of Proverbs that, 

"There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death." Proverbs 14:12, and that, 

"Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people." Proverbs 14:34
  

America, as a nation, is certainly at the threshold of succumbing to the same demise that the ancient Roman Empire eventually had to capitulate to. Gibbon listed many reasons for this capitulation, but ultimately, we know from scripture that the major component of it's decline and ultimate fall was the moral decay of the foundation of it's society.

Washington in his Farewell Address made this observation, 

" Can it be that Providence has not connected the permanent felicity of a nation with its virtue ?"

The Bible is very clear regarding the felicity of a nation. In Proverbs 14:34 we see that, " 

"'Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people." Further, we are told in Psalm 9:17 that, " The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God."
 

The corruption and immorality of the leadership of the day, eventually led to the populace of Rome being inundated by wickedness, immorality, and lawlessness. The philosophical approach to mankind's existence wound up being examined from every possible angle other than God's word.

America appears to be going down the same path to destruction. The apparent attempt to rewrite history as to our founding, helps to cast a negative light upon a nation that was founded on the Christian principles found in the Word of God. 

Were this attack merely an attempt by academia to undermine our culture, we could possibly stem the tide of it's onslaught. Instead, it has been further advanced by the Federal government as an engine of change. 

Washington went on to warn and exhort future generations of the dangers of a centralized government headed up by nefarious individuals with little restraint. Washington's caveat further enlightens us as to the dangers of foreign entanglements and alliances.

 "Against the insidious wiles of foreign influence, (I conjure you to believe me fellow citizens) the jealousy of a free people ought to be constantly awake; since history and experience prove that foreign influence is one of the most baneful foes of republican government."

It is interesting to note the use of the word "wiles" as it applies to the enemies of a free people. We are exhorted in scripture to, " Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil."(Ephesians 6:11).

The battle we face in America today is not just a political one, but a spiritual one. A battle not easily discerned by the average person. 

The Apostle Paul understood in his day the nature of the enemy that the church faced. 

"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." (Ephesians 6:12)

Our enemies know that to topple a mighty nation you must first erode it's foundations. The baneful foes of foreign influence have penetrated the halls of Congress by the trojan horse of political correctness. High ranking officials, with allegiances to foreign powers, now dictate foreign policy and are privy to sensitive information vital to our security.
 

To further exacerbate the decline, like Rome, the corruption of our government inevitably leads to the decline of the morality of it's people. We see that unfolding in our culture. 

This decline in morality progresses into lasciviousness and lawlessness. This corruption eventually permeates the church and the downward spiral toward God's judgment begins.

However, more injurious than the government and it's citizens backing this agenda is the adoption of these practices by the professing church. By adopting and championing the Social Gospel along with Critical Theory within mainstream religion, the church officially joins hands with the world. This opens the door to the regime that ultimately ushers in the Antichrist.

Therefore, the greatest threat we face in America today is the attack on religious liberty and the effectiveness of the Gospel of Christ. Marxism and Ecumenism, the greatest threat to the sovereignty of America and the catalyst of the New World Order.

Welcome

The above is a painting I have titled the "Ninety and Nine". If you would like a print on canvas or paper you can DM on my Twitter page. Thanks 

Welcome to Truth Crusade Ministries. Our mission is to share the "glorious gospel of Christ" with the world. 

Part of that mission is  endeavoring to "earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints " ( Jude 1:4 )

That work grows more contentious day by day, as we see a surge in false teachings and a social climate that seems to be hostile to the fundamental teachings of Christianity. 

These encumbrances to the work of the Gospel abound not only here, but around the world. With the wholesale acceptance of Socialist and Marxist ideologies not only in society, but in mainline Protestant churches; we face an uphill battle against false doctrine that is plunging the Professing Church deeper into apostasy. 

Paul warned the Church in his first letter to Timothy that, 

"Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;" ( 4:1 )

He later described other attributes of the state of the end time Church in Chapter 4 of his second letter to Timothy. In verses 3 and 4 he says, 

"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables."

If we are attuned to what is going on around us, we should certainly be able to see the degradation of society, and an ever so gradual falling away from the fundamentals of the faith. 

While not concerning ourselves too much with attempting to right all the wrongs of the past and the present; let's instead concentrate more on pointing people to a personal relationship with Jesus. 

There is certainly no doubt, if we believe scripture, that we are in the end times that the Bible has predicted. Let's be busy with expounding sound doctrine and exposing false teachings as we have opportunity. 

Let me close the same way the Apostle Paul does in the Epistle to the Romans. 

"To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen."  

My dear friend, if you have never received Christ as your Saviour, would you do so today? Pray this from your heart. 

Dear Jesus, I know I am a sinner. I believe you died on the cross for my sins. I believe you were buried and rose the third day. I ask you now to forgive me of my sins and come into my heart and save me. Amen 

The Standard

We are at a time, in the history of the church of God, where it has never been more imperative that we hold forth the Standard of Christ. Regardless of who the writer was that coined the phrase "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing--conceptually, the argument has never been more compelling. 

In the history of the battles of the world, we see the Standard--or a Banner as it is sometimes called--playing a very significant role. It was considered as an honor to be chosen as the bearer of the Standard for ancient armies. 

During the Crusades, Bishops and even Commanders have been known to have carried it into battle. 

Danish Naval history gives us some excellent insight into what the purpose and design of the Standard during battle was. The following excerpt is from the NavalHistory.dk website and is known as the Danish Oath of Allegiance:

"I trust you this Banner; because I believe, You are an honest and brave Man; You must lead it, like it is proper for a loyal Warrior. 
You must safeguard it, like a real Dane will safeguard his Wedded Wife. 
You shall wave this Banner for honest People, but never wave it for traitors. 
On the March and mounting Guard, during Storms and Battles, you must appear as an Example to brave Soldiers; you should never retreat; equally you should never cause the Army to become discouraged and running away from the enemy. 
If, in the Battle, the Enemy should cut off your Right Hand, grasp the Banner with your left hand. 
If you loose both your Hands, grasp the Banner by your Teeth's. 
You must safeguard it, as long as you are a live and breathing. 
Are you forced to give up fighting, may God forbid that; you must wrap the Banner around your Body and die."

Holding forth the Standard of Christ. The Apostle Paul admonishes us in 2 Timothy 2:3 "Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ." Study the life of Paul and you will find that he certainly led by example. Let us resign ourselves, as "good soldiers of Jesus Christ", to use the example of the Danish Oath as our guidon into battle. 

Central Theme

If we were to take a survey of people around the world, asking them what they thought the central theme of the Bible was, what responses would we receive? Most would answer, in one way or another, that it is God's message to the world. Others would probably state that it is a guide book for holy living--a road map if you will. The Psalmist stated "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path."(Psalm 119:105). Therefore, we see that both answers would be reasonably correct.

Dr. C.I. Scofield made the statement in his "A Panoramic View of the Bible", that...
"The Bible, incomparably the most widely circulated of books, at once provokes and baffles study. Even the non-believer in its authority rightly feels that it is unintelligent to remain in almost total ignorance of the most famous and ancient of books."

He goes on later to give seven great marks that attest to the oneness and unity of this blessed book. To shed more light on the question of the central theme of the Bible--we look to Dr. Scofield's sixth point in his introduction. He states "From beginning to end the Bible has one great theme--the person and work of the Christ."

The Apostle Paul tells us in his letter to the Christians at Corinth "For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.(1 Cor. 2:2)

From the day that he was struck blind on the Damascus road, until the day when he gave his life for the witness of Christ, Paul had one message--Jesus Christ and him crucified. Paul said the power of God was the preaching of the cross. "For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God."(1 Cor. 1:18). He was steadfast in that message until he stated in 2 Timothy 4:6-7, "For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:"

The central theme of the Bible? Redemption--through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. From Genesis to Revelation...Jesus Christ.

Giving Back

I was reminded today about how important giving back to others can be. Thank God there have been those in my life who, first of all, cared for me and then shared some of what helped them cope and work through hard times.

Social media is a two edged sword sometimes--it can be used in a very productive way...other times, not so much.

I was blessed to receive a message from a young lady today describing how she had gone through a battle with depression. The most amazing part about what she shared wasn't the fact that she overcame depression--but the first step in the journey. The part of her message that really helped me pause and reflect were these words...

"I suffered depression. So to combat this, I started to help somebody else."

Pause for a moment and let that sink in...

After thinking about these words and reflecting, I began remembering some of my past struggles and what ultimately brought me help and peace. The following is the reply I sent. My prayer is that it will encourage her and help her realize that what she is doing is so very important. 

"What a need there is today for those who are willing to give of themselves to help others. I too went through a dark time after returning from the Gulf War. Thankfully, there were people who cared and told me that God loved me long before I had ever thought about him. David, in the Bible went through a dark time when he said in Psalm 142:4 "I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul." There are many today with those same feelings. My spiritual journey has helped me beyond my expectations. The fact that some people did care and pointed me towards the giver of all inner peace--Jesus Christ. I want to give back so I too share an aspect of my life which helped me. I feel the two keys were people who cared and spiritual truth found in God's word. Paul gave us the recipe for real peace when he said "Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." (Phillipians 4:6-7). Thank you for your desire to give back to others. May your way be blessed. Please stay in contact through this medium and let me know how your efforts are being rewarded."

Giving back...sometimes the greatest gift we could ever give is ourselves. Jesus said...

"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13

Unity

"Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!" Psalm 133:1

Most of us have often heard the term "there is strength in numbers ". Webster defines this as "used to say that a group of people has more influence or power than one person."

Unfortunately, though this is certainly true, many times groups can effect change which is not necessarily beneficial to all who will be affected. There's always two forces at work--good and evil. History has taught us that the concept of strength in numbers has oftentimes resulted in mob mentality and mob rule.

Thankfully, the founding fathers of this nation understood that our Constitution needed to be framed in such a way as to combat the threat of mob rule.

With that being said, let's dwell rather on this concept of strength in numbers being used as a way to effect positive changes in today's society.

There are many grassroots organizations that are working, in unity, to bring us together as a nation--as opposed to dividing us. Seek out those organizations, first of all, that strive to better the lives of veterans, children, and the less fortunate. You will find that those organizations(which effect positive changes in lives) usually have some spiritual and moral components that drive their core beliefs.

The great composer Irving Berlin penned these words many years ago referring to America...

"Stand beside her and guide her, through the night with the light from above "...

May God indeed guide us, as a nation, "through the night with the light from above ". The Psalmist told us...

"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path". Psalm 119:105

As a nation, let us as brethren, dwell together in unity and seek the light from above.