I appreciate Erick's willingness to go out on a limb and use Scripture to back it up. But many of us are too attached to American civilization to let it go without a fight. Think of the arrogant, short-tempered Vince Lombardi and compare him with Tom Landry, a member of the board of Dallas Seminary as well as coach of the Dallas Cowboys. Hint: they do not play for the "Landry Trophy" in the Super Bowl. I think there is a place for Christian drill sergeants in our fallen world; each person must walk the line between striving for excellence and fleshly indulgence, or sin.
What a load of crap. Erick wants you sheep to think it is the "rich, secular, progressives" that are doing all the winning and overperforming. He writes, "You must understand that the prideful, Godless successful people are going to be popular and overperform." He's framed it so that you will believe he's talking about his opponets, the left. Because he is firmly positioned on the right. The truth is that it is the right that has been winning for the last 5 decades and are fighing to keep winning. The gap just keeps on growing.
This is one of your best pieces. This is TRUTH. We forget TRUTH to our everlasting shame. Being snarkier than thou sometimes feels very good, especially if you have crafted and honed your verbal assault weapons. But it isn't godly and it won't be blessed. I speak from the experience of learning by doing it wrong first. We must go ahead and love our neighbors who insult us and belittle us and make us feel tromped on, because Jesus died for them, too. I have great difficulty doing this. But it is God's call to us. Thank you, Erick, for saying it loud and clear.
What a wonderful, timely column! We were just having a discussion at our dinner table last night about how everything is feels like it's getting crazier every day. It's hard to maintain grace in some of these circumstances but it's what we are called to do. Thank you for sharing your thoughts!
Great article! I agree totally that we are to be the salt of the earth and a light for all to see. Lord, give us the courage and discernment to be just that in a world so divided.
Pragmatism is an ever-present temptation. Issac Asimov, in one of his Foundation novels, had a character who stated, “Never let your morals get in the way of a good decision.” You are accurately describing an attitude too prevalent among believers today. They are immature and poorly educated in Scripture, but they mimic your description nonetheless….
Excellent, Erick!!! I sometimes get crazy at how successful, hurtful and destructive to innocent people the godless can become...I want judgement and revenge on them!! But I also know God tells us to not exact judgement....that is His job and He will do it perfectly. If I could just get over my childish whining..."But it's not FAIR!!" ......
GRACE. How can we claim such a great grace from Jesus and then not live it out? It reminds me of the unmerciful servant of Matthew 18: The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant
21 Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.
23 “Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants.[a] 24 When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents.[b] 25 And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. 26 So the servant[c] fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ 27 And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. 28 But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii,[d] and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’ 29 So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ 30 He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. 31 When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. 32 Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 33 And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ 34 And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers,[e] until he should pay all his debt. 35 So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”
Thank you for your help in keeping us grounded in our FAITH. Every day I pray for His help to make me the person that He wants me to be or thinks that I can be. And every day I fail, some days more that others, but I fail. I will absolutely never quit trying.
A criticism I have of my church is I have sat through homilies that totally miss the scripture. To literal, no application to me, no guidance to me as to how it applies to me living in the world. I don't live inside the walls of the church.
There are important things in the world, family, country. We have to (have a privilege to America) elect leaders.
I think Trump was better than Hillary in 2016. He needs to go away. Trumpers need to repent.
I will not sit quietly by and let David Perdue think it is ok. Hershel Walker could be a force for good in the arena of mental illness but instead has chosen to walk with Trump.
But what am to do this Nov and in '24 when I have to choose between the lesser of two evils? No vote is a vote for the winner. Is a Democrat tantamount to Self-flagellation, I prove my devotion?
This is a consequence of having a faith that is entirely about a belief that will get you to heaven. “I believe Jesus is the son of God who died for my sins, therefore I’m going to heaven, no matter what. Let’s get what’s ours!”
Well said, Erick. I needed that!
Amen Erick, Psalm 73 is a constant read for me especially in these troubling times.
I appreciate Erick's willingness to go out on a limb and use Scripture to back it up. But many of us are too attached to American civilization to let it go without a fight. Think of the arrogant, short-tempered Vince Lombardi and compare him with Tom Landry, a member of the board of Dallas Seminary as well as coach of the Dallas Cowboys. Hint: they do not play for the "Landry Trophy" in the Super Bowl. I think there is a place for Christian drill sergeants in our fallen world; each person must walk the line between striving for excellence and fleshly indulgence, or sin.
What a load of crap. Erick wants you sheep to think it is the "rich, secular, progressives" that are doing all the winning and overperforming. He writes, "You must understand that the prideful, Godless successful people are going to be popular and overperform." He's framed it so that you will believe he's talking about his opponets, the left. Because he is firmly positioned on the right. The truth is that it is the right that has been winning for the last 5 decades and are fighing to keep winning. The gap just keeps on growing.
https://youtu.be/QPKKQnijnsM
This is one of your best pieces. This is TRUTH. We forget TRUTH to our everlasting shame. Being snarkier than thou sometimes feels very good, especially if you have crafted and honed your verbal assault weapons. But it isn't godly and it won't be blessed. I speak from the experience of learning by doing it wrong first. We must go ahead and love our neighbors who insult us and belittle us and make us feel tromped on, because Jesus died for them, too. I have great difficulty doing this. But it is God's call to us. Thank you, Erick, for saying it loud and clear.
Thank You. I would love to see you in the pulpit. This is what we need to hear. BTW....hot chocolate on the stove, up hear in Habersham!
What a wonderful, timely column! We were just having a discussion at our dinner table last night about how everything is feels like it's getting crazier every day. It's hard to maintain grace in some of these circumstances but it's what we are called to do. Thank you for sharing your thoughts!
Amen! Amen!
Great article! I agree totally that we are to be the salt of the earth and a light for all to see. Lord, give us the courage and discernment to be just that in a world so divided.
Pragmatism is an ever-present temptation. Issac Asimov, in one of his Foundation novels, had a character who stated, “Never let your morals get in the way of a good decision.” You are accurately describing an attitude too prevalent among believers today. They are immature and poorly educated in Scripture, but they mimic your description nonetheless….
Excellent, Erick!!! I sometimes get crazy at how successful, hurtful and destructive to innocent people the godless can become...I want judgement and revenge on them!! But I also know God tells us to not exact judgement....that is His job and He will do it perfectly. If I could just get over my childish whining..."But it's not FAIR!!" ......
GRACE. How can we claim such a great grace from Jesus and then not live it out? It reminds me of the unmerciful servant of Matthew 18: The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant
21 Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.
23 “Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants.[a] 24 When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents.[b] 25 And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. 26 So the servant[c] fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ 27 And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. 28 But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii,[d] and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’ 29 So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ 30 He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. 31 When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. 32 Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 33 And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ 34 And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers,[e] until he should pay all his debt. 35 So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”
Sometimes the meaning of scripture is difficult to discern; sometimes it's not! Thank you for this timely reminder.
Thank you for your help in keeping us grounded in our FAITH. Every day I pray for His help to make me the person that He wants me to be or thinks that I can be. And every day I fail, some days more that others, but I fail. I will absolutely never quit trying.
Thank you for this illumination!You speak truth in these words.
A criticism I have of my church is I have sat through homilies that totally miss the scripture. To literal, no application to me, no guidance to me as to how it applies to me living in the world. I don't live inside the walls of the church.
There are important things in the world, family, country. We have to (have a privilege to America) elect leaders.
I think Trump was better than Hillary in 2016. He needs to go away. Trumpers need to repent.
I will not sit quietly by and let David Perdue think it is ok. Hershel Walker could be a force for good in the arena of mental illness but instead has chosen to walk with Trump.
But what am to do this Nov and in '24 when I have to choose between the lesser of two evils? No vote is a vote for the winner. Is a Democrat tantamount to Self-flagellation, I prove my devotion?
This is a consequence of having a faith that is entirely about a belief that will get you to heaven. “I believe Jesus is the son of God who died for my sins, therefore I’m going to heaven, no matter what. Let’s get what’s ours!”