james

Walking in Darkness with Trump

Tom Ratkovich, , , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

I have said repeatedly that I neither know or judge the heart of POTUS. Only He who sits on the Great White Throne can do so. I can, however, observe his walk – as can each so-called Christian who rationalizes and enables that walk in darkness.

1 John 1:5–7 is one of the richest summaries in scripture of what it means to live in authentic relationship with God:

This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

God is light. His nature is pure and true. There is no sin or evil. No deception. Only perfect moral clarity.

Authentic Faith

We, of course, are not perfect. We sin. We deceive. But walking in the light does not affirm sinless perfection. Rather, it is a lifestyle lived openly before God – one in which we pursue truth and righteousness but are honest about our sin. This is authentic faith and by the blood of Jesus Christ we are cleansed of that sin.

But counterfeit faith belongs to those who live deceitfully. Those who profess fellowship with God but thrive in darkness are living fraudulently. One’s faith is revealed in how he or she lives, not simply by what one says.

In chapter two of his epistle, James asserts, “I will show you my faith by my works” (v. 18b). Conversely, infidelity to the Lord is exposed by works of darkness.

The Walk in Darkness

I will say it again…we all sin. But those who live in darkness do so repeatedly, vigorously and unrepentantly. They see weakness in what the Lord calls strength. They treat God’s written word as a suggestion that takes a backseat to the satisfaction of their own fragile egos.

Donald Trump walks in darkness. That is not my assessment of his heart which I cannot judge – it is my appraisal of his behavior – of which GOD CALLS UPON EACH OF US TO JUDGE! Personally, I do not understand how anyone can appraise it differently.

But what of those “Christians” who do indeed gauge it differently – and thereby enable, empower and encourage POTUS’ walk in darkness?

The Normalization of Darkness

The assumption of those who sanction the darkness of Trump is that the end justifies the means – that moral compromise is acceptable to appease their worldly fears. That a strategy of deception is prudent to eradicate enemies. That silence is just fine when the truth is inconvenient.

By seeking to divide the world into “us” v. “them” like their demigod, the apologists are effectively partitioning the darkness and the light. They claim to know God while embracing a life that contradicts His nature.

However, the Lord wills that “we have fellowship with one another” in His light – a fellowship that can only be achieved and sustained when we seek to live without deception, immorality, self-centeredness and wrath. Authentic faith lived in His light is manifested in truth, compassion, humility and love. The benefit of such faith? “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.”

“He who says, ‘I know Him,’ and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” 1 John 2:4

Silence in the Face of Evil

Tom Ratkovich, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

“Why? Seriously, I cannot understand why he’d post this. Is he looking for a response? Does he actually think this? Either way, two things are true. 1) a little humility would serve him well 2) God shall not be mocked.”

These are the words of conservative political activist Riley Gaines in response to Donald Trump’s heretical posting of himself as Jesus Christ.

BRAVO!

Gaines was not alone in chastising POTUS. As expected, many of those towards the opposite end of the political spectrum registered their indignity. Rightly so. But conspicuously absent among the those in condemning Trump’s blasphemy were many of the duplicitous grifters who curry his favor to satisfy their own egos and/or bank accounts. They masquerade as church leaders, but they are instead false prophets, serving only themselves rather than the sheep they profess to shepherd.

This episode is quite revealing about the scale of their hypocrisy.

The Bible is unequivocal regarding the responsibility to recognize and oppose evil. And while I as a layman seek to fulfill that responsibility through writing and example, the obligation of church leaders to shepherd their flocks to eternal life with Christ through obedience to His word is infinitely greater.

Thus, their silence – or, worse, their rationalization – is incriminating.

Scripture leaves no room for neutrality. Silence in the face of evil is complicity – and the consequences are severe, particularly for those who are called to be our watchmen. Failure to speak against heresy can be self-indicting.

“If the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, and the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at the watchman’s hand.” Ezekial 33:6 (NKJV)

In his epistle, James, the brother of Jesus, puts it in simple terms that even the grifters should readily understand. This goes beyond simply avoiding evil – it includes the failure to oppose it.

“To him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.” James 4:17

Clearly, sins of omission are on equal footing with those of commission. But more disheartening than the sin of silence is the wickedness of defending blasphemy against Christ.

“Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil!” Isaiah 5:20

The Apostle Paul reminds us that the righteous judgment of God awaits all of us. Judgment, however, will be particularly harsh for those who enable, endorse and encourage sin:

“Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.” Romans 1:32 (NIV)

In concluding, I defer to Paul to deliver the Lord’s wisdom to those who sin by their silence:

“Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.” Ephesians 5:11

Why Faith Matters More Than Being Good

Tom Ratkovich, , , , , 7 Comments

In a recent discussion around faith, a friend of mine made the comment that “I just want to be a good person. That’s all that matters.”

Two questions came immediately to mind: (1) what defines a “good” person, and (2) in whose eyes does this individual want to be one?

Upon further contemplation, I realized that my friend’s position on such questions comprised a single answer: a good person is someone who does things (works) considered good by other people. That is, this individual seemingly desires to be elevated to the status of “good” by his/her peers.

Continue reading “Why Faith Matters More Than Being Good” →