Opinion and Hatred

     Yesterday, I wrote that hatred is the hugest problem facing America, but also the entire world. Hatred is breathed from the air since Satan is "prince of the power of the air" (Ephes 2:2).
     Everyone should be familiar with The Boy Who Cried Wolf  by Aesop. It is called "a fable" but it is true to form. The little boy would scream in fear about a non-existent wolf and people came to his rescue. He did it so often that when the real wolf came, no one responded to his cry! Calling something a "wolf" can create fear, but the actual wolf is dangerous. Of course, the fable is not really about a boy and a wolf, but is a metaphor for anything dangerous.
     Scripture identifies a similar metaphor: " Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves" (Mat 7:15). Prophets really are not wolves dressed as sheep, but those whose doctrine is seemingly good but actually quite ravenous or "wolfish."
    Scripture has another similar metaphor: "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour" (1 Pet 5:8). In that one, the Devil is not really a lion, but ravenous like one. He will not actually "devour" anyone but will destroy whomever falls prey to his cunning! The little boy could as easily cried "lion" as "wolf" without changing the context.
     What do both metaphors warn about? Evil doctrine disguised as good. The wolf and lion are symbolic of evil, and their doctrines are the "sheep" and us. The Doctrine of Christ represents the flock of sheep, Jesus the Lamb of God, and people as sheep. The lost sheep represents those who are not safe within the Doctrine of Christ (Luke 15:16). The Jewish people are often referred to as "lost sheep" (Mat 15:24, Psalm 119:176, and elsewhere.)
     In the United States, there are presently two major political doctrines: (1) socialism and (2) capitalism. Spiritually, there are also two doctrines: (1) Judeo-Christianity and (2) all others. Since Judeo-Christianity is the traditional and established religion, and socialism is progression from the established, Christianity is under attack by socialism.
     The latter disguises itself as good sheep, providing comfort to the shepherds, but in actuality are wolves/lions/devils who seek to devour the sheep. Socialism makes no pretense: it devours capitalism and feeds some of it to the other sheep but keeps most of it for the rams. There is an ensuing power struggle about who gets the sheep and the power which goes with it.
     That is not to say that capitalism is all "good" for it is not. There are many hateful capitalists as well seeking to devour naïve people. That is called, "crony capitalism" and it too is evil. However, outside of condoning slavery for a time, American capitalism has followed through; it feeds the sheep. Those who have not enjoyed the fruits of capitalism are angry sheep. Those who are the most rebellious sheep are those who desire other sheep to work so that they don't need to. That is the basis of socialism - "From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs" (Karl Marx).
     Christian doctrine is one of charity. Rather than Christians voluntarily sharing the wealth, Marx proposed that wealth be confiscated. That notion makes Marx the God and Jehovah superfluous, and socialism the gospel of prosperity and the promise of a Savior a mere opiate: "Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, and the soul of soulless conditions. It is the opium of the people" (ibid).
     Hence, socialism has been known as "godless" although everyone is their own gods and goddesses who are in the image of the greater god, Karl Marx. Rather than disciples of Christ, his sheep - socialists - become Marx's sheep not knowing that socialist leaders are wolves in sheep's clothing!
    The two most vociferous wolves were Joseph Stalin and Adolph Hitler. Both of them rose to power promising prosperity, but devastation was the outcome. Both the Bolsheviks and Nazis were socialists, and their "utopias" were the same - world-wide domination - as both ideologies sought global control. They even hated the same people. Hatred of Jews was their common denominator, and just for the sake of it, they added to them, Christians.
    Hitler's given name "Adolph" means "noble wolf" (Wikipedia; "Adolph"). Hitler lived in his compound called "The Wolf's Lair." Ironically, Stalin's assumed name means "steel." "Joseph" means "he will add." Of course, Stalin's goal was worldwide colonialism with the world his throne!
     No one says in derision, "You are a Stalin!" because to the world, that sort of socialism is seemingly better than Hitler's brand of National Socialism. Stalin actually was responsible for more deaths than Hitler (Snyder, Timothy; The New York Review of Books; "Hitler vs. Stalin: Who Killed More?"; Mar 10, 2011). Surely, Hitler was the wolf and Stalin the steely lion. Both came to the world in sheep's clothing and devoured many.
     Haters resort to name-calling and insults rather than rational discussion. When anyone says something different than what the herd wants to hear, they cry-out epithets like,You're a Nazi or You're a  Hitler. Usually, it are those who are Marx and Stalin's types  that cry the insults! Because there are innocent sheep in the herd, some of them cry out (bleat) with the leader. The herd cries "wolf" each time they disagree with others.
     According to the Bible, the Beast will come soon. The Beast is the Antichrist who will be a harlot disguised as righteous Jesus. He will be the epitome of a wolf or a lion in the Lamb's clothing. Many will not recognize him for what he is. So many antichrists - those against Christ - have came that when the false Christ comes, few will recognize him. I believe that The Antichrist will be Isa - Islam's "Jesus" and the "religion" a socialist/communist government ruling with Sharia Law. (I have written of that many times, but today that is not the point I'm making.)
     It is in vogue for "progressives" to call Donald Trump, "Hitler," and for the right to accuse socialists of Nazism. To be forthright, neither is true. Nationalism is merely patriotism and ethnicity is merely prideful of identity. For the "thought policemen," black pride is acceptable but white pride is not because of the nation's history. I submit that both are acceptable as long as they are not used to hurt others or to belittle them. Patriotism and ethnicity is not Hitlerarian. Many before him, good people, were proud of their heritage and race!
     Calling Trump and his supporters, "Hitler" is like the boy who cried wolf. When the real wolf or lion comes, they will not hearken unto the cry. The Beast is coming and if every shadow behind a tree is a beast, how will he be recognized?
     On the other hand, progressives are not wolves either. They do, however, see themselves as saviors although what they feed is poisonous fodder. The naïve herd will not recognize the real Wolf or Lion when he comes. They busy themselves so much "crying wolf' that they don't recognize the lupine behavior in themselves! They cry "big bad wolf, Donald Trump," when the wolf is within themselves. Progressivism/socialism/communism is the ideology of the Beast. Progressives have taken the nature of the Beast and think that they are the gentle lambs! They are the Eves in the World, who just as Eve, buy into the lies of the Serpent.
     There is an identifiable trait in National, Soviet, Chinese, Cuban, Venezuelan, and even Nordic Socialism to some degree; (1) none trust God for prosperity - they trust their governments, and (2) none respect the sacredness of life. A socialist can always be recognized by who kills the innocent, and no brand of socialism is less evil than the other; their victims are merely different.
     Who is Trump killing? No one! Who are the progressives killing? The most innocent of the innocent - the unborn. "Progressivism" (sic) has killed more people and with greater speed than both Hitler and Stalin, yet they have the audacity to call civilized people, "Hitlers!" That brings to mind what scripture says:

Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? (Mat 7:1-3)

     Jesus warned not to cry wolf by comparing the barbarism of others as worse than your own.  I often attack doctrine but try to never attack the person. (Admittedly, sometime in anger I do that.) Everyone has killed a Jew! Everyone has murdered! "Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him" (1 John 3:15). Everyone hates somebody, so everyone is a murderer. That person who cries "Nazi" and "Hitler are haters and murderers and are much like Hitler!
     What Jew did we all kill? We all killed the Jewish man, called Jesus. He died for everyone because he loved us. Sin is inflicting a wound on the very flesh of God. Hitler killed Jews, and they, like us, deserve to die, as we all deserve death. However, the Jew - Jesus - was innocent on all counts, yet we helped kill Jesus. I know... he is already dead, but he died for the sins of future sinners as well!
    People are so ready to condemn; judging harshly is condemnation: "Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned" (Luke 6:37). Who is it that wants you to hate? Who is it that wants you to cry wolf or call people "Hitlers" or "Nazis?" Those who do, do the will of their father the Devil (John 8:44), but think they are the righteous ones! All are little boys crying "wolf."

   

Meekness - Transition of Natural to Spiritual Man

      Reward in heaven is for those with a change in attitude; their nature has been modified. "Nature" is the fundamental traits of people, and is manifested in their attitudes. Before regeneration, men (and women) are like the natural man and natural woman in that  "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" (1Cor 2:14).
     The natural man operates without the Spirit of God. God's precepts are foolishness to the natural man. The natural man is proud and arrogant, and will only bow to God in derision. In contrast to the natural man, Hosea refers to "the spiritual man" (Hosea 9:7) who was considered a mad man. The spiritual man has a spirit of meekness which can come and go (Gal 6:1).
      "Regeneration" is the transformation from natural man to spiritual man. The very natures of the "beasts" transforms from prideful to meekness. The old creature becomes as new. (2 Cor 5:17). Paul compared the old creature with the old nature. The old man lives for the flesh: "The works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like. (Gal 5:19-21). 
     In contrast to that is the new creature with a new attitude who exhibits: "love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance. (Gal 5:22-23). If "Christians" do not exhibit the characteristics of the spiritual man, then his or her transformation is in question. The idea of an "iniquitous Christian" is double-mindedness. Sure, Christians do sin, but if they continue in sin without sincere repentance they take grace cheaply (Rom 6:1). That is likely where Deitrich Bonnhoeffer got the idea of "cheap grace," which is perhaps a haughty person role-playing meekness. Continuing in sin is haughtiness, and is the nature of the "natural man."
     Regeneration was known in patriarchal times. Isaiah, using different words, knew that the nature of people change:

15 For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. 20 But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. 21 There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked. (Isa 15,20-21).

     Isaiah called regeneration a "revival of the heart." The heart is a metaphor for a change in attitude - to one of loving kindness. The characteristics of those is contrition; they have an humble spirit. Regeneration is to revive the spirit of the humble.
     Jesus said, "You must be born again." (John 3:7). Rebirth is regeneration; not back to the innocence of infancy but to the Designer's intent when he first generated Adam and Eve. Their natures were "spiritual man" and "spiritual woman" since Adam was created with the Spirit of God and the appearance of Jesus. (Gen 1:26-27).
     Adam and Eve soon degenerated. Their arrogance "as gods" provided new knowledge: in addition to "good" they came to know "evil." Their nature went virtuousness to one of depravity. To regenerate mankind, virtue flows from Jesus (Mark 5:30).
     On the Cross, to heal the nations, Jesus's blood and water for salvation resulted in an extreme loss of virtue; he asked, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" (Mat 27:46) because he felt so drained of virtue. Jesus took the depravity away and replaced it with virtue. The spiritual man is the virtuous man, and his attitude is one of meekness - serving others rather than himself, and serving Jesus - the flesh of God - rather than his own flesh!
     The transformation from natural man to spiritual man is partaking of "the divine nature." It is returning to the genesis of mankind. Adam was created with a divine nature as he was generated in the very image of God. When the natural man is born again, his divine nature returns. Jesus re-imbues the cleansed soul with his own virtue - the Holy Ghost. Peter described that transformation well:

3According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. (2 Pet 1:3-4)

     Virtue and divinity are interdependent; those with divine natures have virtue, and those who are virtuous exhibit the nature of the Divine. Men can be identified by their natures. Is it themselves they serve or others and God? Servitude, not attitude, is the characteristic of the spiritual man. They exhibit meekness when they consider themselves lesser than others and certainly God. 

     "Self-esteem" is not the Way to salvation but a barrier. Christ-esteem is the Way to salvation. There is a huge reward for meekness, diminishing oneself and elevating God! "Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth" (Mat 5:5).  The concept of meekness is imperative for the reward. "Blessed" is becoming like the Divine. Scripture calls that "glorification" and that is reward in Heaven with a renewed spirit and a new incorruptible flesh. "Blessed" is returning to the genesis of mankind.

      God prepared a place for mankind. It was in the Garden of Eden. That's where spiritual man resided. The re-genesis (regeneration) of natural man is a return to Paradise. How will the meek inherit the earth and why would God do that? Because in the end, the natural earth (the physical) and the spiritual earth (Heaven) will be "snatched down" - a sort of inverse rapture:

And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. (Rev 21:1:2).

      That is the "Earth" which the meek shall inherit. As children of Eve and God, the Garden is the inheritance for those who God has "adopted" by emancipating them from the Devil. (Ephes 1:5). The natural man belongs to Satan, and the spiritual or divine man to God! The arrogant man belongs to the Serpent and the meek man to Jesus! The eternal home of the meek man is the Earth. How is that possible? The Earth will experience a re-genesis as is written in Revelation.
     Meekness is an identifiable trait of regenerated people. When I see Christians as the center of attention, I question their nature. When I write this, I question my own nature! Am I elevating myself or God? Am I diminishing myself to meekness or is this arrogance to make it appear that my nature is of the divine? Mankind's nature is the problem; Jesus's nature is the solution! Jesus served us all by dying in our place. Meekness is our salvation; to accept that we can't save ourselves but Jesus did, is meekness.

Worst of the Worst

     The acronym WOW is used for "worst of the worst." Yesterday, I was asked by a gentleman, "What is the greatest problem we're facing?" Without hesitation, my response was, "Hatred!" (with the exclamation point). I despise hatred yet I still hate somewhat. I do that which I'd rather not do, but do it anyway. (The apostle Paul had that trouble as well.) The propensity toward hatred is "original sin," and no one is immune.
     The Devil uses division to incite hatred. Just as the Serpent of long ago, the pleasure of sin made mankind proud. People, indeed, can pursue pleasure, power, and esteem. The pursuit thereof is what the Serpent meant when he used the term, "as gods." Why did the Serpent say that? The Serpent, Lucifer, endeavors to be as God:

How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. (Isa 14:12-15).

     The "virus" transmitted from the emissions of the Serpent is that we too, desire to be as gods! Satan knows his own heart, and knew mankind's very well, because the hearts of the unregenerate are the hearts of their father the Devil (John 8:44). Mankind degenerated from their generated condition, and thus require regeneration back to God's design - not "as gods" but in the image of God (Gen 1:26-27).
      Hatred is incited by division, and as such, division is America's greatest problem. Look what Paul said:

Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple (Rom 16:17-18).

     Would the reader not agree with that? Who is it that generates hatred? Paul said that it are those "contrary to doctrine" - the Doctrine of Christ. Further hints were that: (1) they serve their own belly (appetites) and do so, (2) by good words (narratives) and fair-(sounding) speeches. Ah, but there is more: their promises are false, and they use simple-minded people to deceive.
     Because people are proud, no one considers themselves simple-minded. Ironically, some of the most educated are the simpletons! Why is that? They absorb knowledge - both good and evil - but cannot distinguish between the two. That simple-mindedness came about by the cunning of the Serpent and his faulty fruit (Gen 3).
     We think of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil as providing discernment between the two. However, it is the opposite; the fruit from it blurred the mental capacity to discern good from evil. The fruit of the forbidden tree made simpletons out of mankind. As heirs of Adam, everyone else has been born simpletons. The forbidden tree didn't offer truth but deception; there came over mankind spiritual blindness: "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 Cor 2:14).
    "The natural man" are those men who are not endowed with God's Spirit. Endowment is the regeneration when people are born again, losing the natural man, and gaining the spiritual man. The natural men are fools - simpletons -who have knowledge but lack discernment and wisdom. They perceive that they know much, but actually understand very little!
     When Himmler's soldiers led Jews off to their deaths, they thought they were being resettled. Himmler devised ways to murder the Jews "humanely" (from their lexicon). As the Jews died, they still did not perceive that they were dying as the poisonous gas just drifted them off to sleep. Of course, that was the "humane method" but those who were shot knew their fate.
     Socialism was more transparent in the Third Reich. They were honest about who they were; they were haters and did not care if the world knew! Socialism today, operates disguised as progressivism. "By good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple" (Rom 16:18). Jonathan Gruber admitted that when he said, “the stupidity of the American voter” made it possible to pass the socialist legislation called Obamacare. What Gruber was saying is that Obama used good words and fair speeches to deceive the hearts of the simple! Gruber was paraphrasing the apostle Paul!
     In Romans 15:17-18, Paul was describing the methods of socialism - the most contrary doctrine in opposition to Christ. Socialism is "godless" in that it deprecates God and makes the masses their own gods. Socialism is people "serving their own bellies." It seems all about the benefit of the individual, but since the Marxists serpents are still cunning. socialism is for the benefit of the Devil.
     Today, America is divided mainly into two political camps: socialists and capitalists. That division is destroying America. Of coruse, there are "crony capitalists" but even they wear the cloak of socialism. The world's most prominant instigater of socialism is crony capitalist George Soros. Why would that captialistic-minded serpent want socialism? To make himself "as god!"
     America is also spiritually divided: Christians and non-Christians. Like Soros who masquerades as a socialist, many non-Christians role-play. They deny spiritual justice in favor of social justice. Simple-minded people fall for their doctrine, thinking it fair. The Christians who have fallen for social justice are simpletons. They do the Serpent's work, thinking they are doing God's.
     Thus, the country is divided into those who serve bellies and those who serve God, or socialism and Christianity. The goal of the Devil is for Christians to hate socialists as badly as socailists despise Christians. Division is how that the Devil will rob the souls of Christians, making us no better than the enemy!
     It is obvious; I despise socialism because it is ungodly under the pretense of kindness. Satan tempts Christians to redirect their hatred - psychological "transference" -  from the hatred of the doctrine of socialism to actual hatred of socialists. I don't want to hate socialists, but yet have to fight that temptation. If I hate them like they hate me, I become one of them! I use the pretense that I hate the sin but love the sinner, but it's difficult to separate that succinctly. Even Christians need to beware of simple-mindedness; it is not okay to hate the enemy in God's name! Sometimes, some of us fall for that.
     I believe that ultimate love is desiring that "none should perish" in Hell according to John 3:16. When the demons tell me that I'm as wrong as the socialists, the Spirit asks, Do you truly want them to perish? I really don't! I do, however, want that socialism perish, but that's not going to happen until after the Great Tribulation when Jesus comes back to reign for a millenium. In other words, Christians must still love socialists as we hate socialism. Contrary to the doctrine of the world, it is okay to hate evil as long as we love its simpletons.
     Neither Socialism and capitalism are the worst problem with the world; hatred is, regardless of who hates. Satan's scheme is to use the hatred of his side to promote hatred from the other side, and simple-minded people fall for his cunning. Hatred is the world's WOW problem because God's precept against it is The Greatest Commandment.

Fixing What's The Matter

     My former preacher, William Rhodes, quite often declared, "God is greater than what's the matter!" He said so very much with that motto.

     Salvation is what God is all about; always was about and always will be! Few, though, understand salvation. Some understand what it is: to trust in the God's sacrifice of His own flesh for the sins of mankind (1 John 2:2). Many either do not understand "trust" or fail to trust. Jesus used, as an example, the trust the Hebrews had in the Lord when they held up and depended on Jesus to crucify the Serpent (John 3:14).  Some of the Hebrews had confidence that Jesus would slay the Beast long before God came in the flesh. They had great confidence in the Lord. 
     Many who proclaim Christ as their Savior fail to trust him. They turn to vain philosophy and psychiatry when Jesus is the solution to their "psychosis." 
     "Psychosis" is from Greek psukhōsis ‘animation’, from psukhoō ‘I give life to’, from psukhē ‘soul, mind’. (Wikitionay, "psychosis").  Troubled people turn to the vain philosophy of men (Col 2:8) to repair their souls! Psychologists are in the business of trying to save troubled souls. According to their own words, "There is no cure for psychosis" (Psycheguides.com; "Psychosis Treatment Program Options"). That confirms what the writer was taughtin graduate school; that psycholgists cannot fix anything and credible ones don't claim that they can. Even with that honesty, people with troubled souls seldom turn to God who can fix anything (Mat 19:26). He even repairs anxiety:

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Phil 4:6-7 ESV)

     People  think that Jesus came to provide peace on earth, but he did not; he came to provide peace within the souls of people! (Mat 10:34). Jesus came to provide hope. When people trust in Jesus, they have hope. What is that hope? "It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord" (Lev 3:26) which is restated in the New Testament by Paul: "But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation" (1 Thes 5:8).
     "Hope" is some to some event to which those born again look forward.  "Salvation" is sometime subsequent to when Christians first believe: "And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed" (Rom 13:11).
     Salvation and its timing is not a New Testament notion; it was the plan from the beginning. Isaiah knew what salvation entails and when it would occur.
     Thus saith the Lord... My salvation is near to come (Isa 56:1). Isaiah knew Jesus and foretold that salvation is in the future. Of course, from Isaiah's time it certainly was, but he was prophesying; it was the future of those in latter times as well.
     Jesus said, "In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you" (John 14:2). Salvation is where God is. Isaiah understood that God would prepare a city as a sanctuary from Satan. Isaiah all but said Jesus's very words:

Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off. (Isa 56:5).

     The Father would build a house, which in scripture is referred to as the City of God - New Jerusalem (Rev 22:2). That great City has been prepared in Heaven but it will exist eternally on it's original foundation as New Jerusalem.
     The Father's house is eternal safety from Satan in God's sanctuary. Thus, salvation comes when the souls of Christians enter the Mansion which God has prepared. While Christians still live, they are safe from the wiles of Satan who is unable to destroy the souls of the faithful: "And the Lord said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand" (Job 1:12). That is the condition of those who are faithful today. Why would God have different expectations for Job than for the rest of Christiandom?
     It has been taught that God changed the rules for salvation between the old and new covenants. Both are Abrahamic Covenants in that the prosperity that God promised the Hebrews was salvation, and the land was more than Israel but eternal Jerusalem - the City of God. The Abrahamic Covenant was for all Abraham's seed. Isaiah understood that Gentiles would become Hebrews by adoption:

The Lord God, which gathereth the outcasts of Israel saith, Yet will I gather others to him, beside those that are gathered unto him. (Isa 56:8)

     It should be obvious that salvation is for everyone, and everybody are spiritual Hebrews. God waited for the Gentiles to be his people, and salvation would not come until that time. Salvation came on Calvary when God provided His own flesh for the sins of mankind. The Serpent was vicariously crucified that day when the unrepentant thief died on his tree. However, effectually, people are saved when delivered from the cunning of Satan. That is always sometimes in the future: "shall be saved" indicates that (Acts 2:21). Paul said, "To die is gain" if in Christ (Phil 1:21).
     Why is dying gain? It's the time of salvation for Christians. Until then, God keeps Christians safe from "the hand" of Satan. Satan will never be allowed to kill the soul of those who are born again, but he can and will tempt and provide tribulation to undermine their faith.
     Faith is a shield (Ephes 6:16). It keeps the hand of Satan from destroying the souls of Christians. Why would Christians need a shield of faith? Because Satan can steal souls by cunningness (Gen 3:1). Christians must trust Jesus for the condition of their souls; neither philosophy nor psychology (merely the study of the soul) can fix broken souls. Faith is for the duration of life or it would not be faith; it would be doubt and delusion - which psychiatrists call "psychosis."

Controversial

    I have written much; for years I written letters-to-the-editor to the local newspaper warning that we would soon be where we now are. Sometimes they were moral warnings, and at other times political, because oftentimes they cannot be differentiated. God uses government for His will. Sometimes God's will is to bless and other times he uses governments to turn things around.
     For instance, as Israel became more evil, God allowed an empire to be created to destroy them - Assyria. When the sister country of Judah would not listen, God allowed Babylon to be created to punish them. When they had been punished severely, suddenly the empire of Persia came from seemingly nowhere, destroyed Babylon and restored Judah. Then the punishments came from Greece, and Rome, with a respite when the Maccabees gained independence for Judea.
   The rewards and punishments of "Israel" were in accordance with the agreement Abraham and God made with each other. The prophets always warned Israel of punishment. Jeremiah was the main prophet giving fair warning. Jeremiah was controversial. Jeremiah made many accusations such as the following:

For among my people are found wicked men: they lay wait, as he that setteth snares; they set a trap, they catch men. As a cage is full of birds, so are their houses full of deceit: therefore they are become great, and waxen rich. They are waxen fat, they shine: yea, they overpass the deeds of the wicked. (Jer 5:26-28a)

     Jeremiah spoke of his own time; the wickedness of Judah. However, if the reader looks closely, Jeremiah was describing the scribes and Pharisees who were in power at the time of Jesus Christ. Those two groups were setting snares to trip-up Jesus in his claim to be God. Rather than caring for the souls of people, the party of the Pharisees had grown rich and powerful. Like the analogy or not, the scribes and Pharisees in apostolic times were "the swamp" and Jesus came to "drain the swamp." (Donald Trump's words). Both Jeremiah and Jesus were controversial. They dealt not only of civil matters but spiritual as well.
     Jesus taught separation of church and state, not as we now think of it, but how Jesus did: The political parties of Pharisees and Herodians tried to set a snare for Jesus (Mark 12:13).  They thought Jesus desired to be King but Jesus came to be Lord. Firstly, they complimented Jesus (Mat 12:14), then queried him about taxation: "Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not? Shall we give, or shall we not give?" (Mark 14b-15a). Jesus knew they were trying to ensnare him (Mark 15b).
     Then Jesus responded:

Bring me a penny, that I may see it. And they brought it. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? And they said unto him, Caesar's. And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's. (Mark 12:15b-17)

     Jesus made the material for the penny since he in the beginning created all things. (John 1:3). Thus, the penny belonged to Jesus. In another case, Jesus paid tribute unto Caesar (Mat 17:24-27). In that case, Jesus not only made the drachma but also delivered it from the belly of a fish. Jesus created and provided. On the other hand Caesar merely used what Jesus provided. Jesus validated that when he told Pilate,

Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee? Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above. (John 19:10-11)

     Although the coins belonged to Jesus, he gave them to Caesar. Jesus was controversial: he was a servant to mankind - Caesar and Pilate included - but it was voluntary. He also came to serve those who ensnared him and finally had him crucified: "Therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin" (John 19-11b).
     The Herodians didn't crucify Jesus; they were merely political. The Pharisees had Jesus crucified; they were the religious party, and Jesus condemned them more than even Pilate. In the end of time, it won't be the government that ensnares and beheads Christians, it will be a whorish religion authorized by a corrupt government just as Jesus was crucified in the same manner.
     I write often of the corruption in our government. Jesus lived in a similar environment, and allowed persecution to occur to grow the faith. In the end, persecution will be to destroy the faith and the faithful just as Assyria and Babylon did to David's kingdom. The end of time government, in colleague with a wicked church, combine for The Great Tribulation. Jesus taught a type of separation of church and state because he knew the state would fail the Church. He foresaw and allows socialism; they and their state-influenced churches are the "harlot Babylon" (Rev 17:15).
    Jeremiah was mocked for prophesying the destruction of Judah. In the same manner, modern time preachers and people as myself are mocked because we warn of godless socialism. Jesus was asking the people not to depend on the government for prosperity, but on him. Give to Caesar his penny, but give unto Jesus trust. Not written on their money was, "In God We Trust" but it was still there!
     Right after Jesus had them pay tribute to Caesar, he spoke of Heavenly things. Another political party - the Sdducees - then came forth to snare Jesus on spiritual matters regarding the resurrection in which they did not believe. Jesus responded to them as well: "Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God? (Mat 12:24). Jesus pointed out their ignorance to the Sadducees. In both cases, Jesus dealt justly with deception and cunning of the political and religious parties.
     Now in America, the government is against Christ, but Christians support the government. Jesus knew of that type of "wall of separation of Church and state." He knew that the government would infringe upon Christianity, but that Christianity would not infringe upon the government. Those who are truly Christians are not revolutionaries who fight to overthrow the president and democracy, but do speak the truth about the conniving and dishonesty of modern-day bureaucrats and government - the modern-time "scribes" and "Pharisees."  Likewise, true Christians don't persecute but warn of the Sadducees who represent the progressive-minded liberal church.
      Yesterday a man said, "I know you somehow!" I knew what he was thinking. Before long, the man said, "You're the person who writes controversial letters to the editor!" He saw me as controversial, and I spent a great deal of time explaining to him that I am only controversial to those whose frame of reference is different. I told him that my thoughts are not my own, but are from Holy Scripture. In the end, he said, "I'm glad we met today." I believe that he saw that controversy is perception. He and I agreed on many things.
     Jeremiah was controversial and mocked, as was Jesus who was mocked and given the Kaepernick knee: "And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!" (Mat 27:29). Jesus claimed to be God; that was controversial. I know prophecy and what Jesus was talking about. That too is controversial. Anyone who supports Christ must be zealots for him. We are a "peculiar people" since we are of "a holy nation" (1 Pet 2:9). We will be persecuted by the government and liberal churches for Jesus's name's sake (Luke 21:12).
     If any Christian is not controversial in a wicked world, they should check their "Christianity". Were they really born again? Do they truly trust Jesus or is it "Caesar" and "Pilate" they trust more? The doctrine of the world is social justice and the Doctrine of Christ is spiritual justice. Are Christians to pay tribute to Marxist socialism or Jesus's Kingship? That's more than rhetorical, but profound!

Speech and Thought Control

     Everyone should be interested in truth. Why live a lie? Truth is accordance with reality, or that which matches a standard (Merriam-Webster Dictionary). Pontius Pilate asked Jesus, "What is truth?" (John 18:38). God's word is truth (John 17:17). Thus, God is the standard for truth, and as such, whatever Jesus spoke is truthful.
     Christianity gets a bad rap because of its standard of truth which is, "Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee" (Acts 8:22). Wickedness is denial of the truth, and those who don't buy into the truth are wicked men. People don't like to be called wicked, so their tactic is to develop new standards. "We henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ" (Ephes 4:14-15).
     What bothers the world is that Christians profess the Doctrine of Christ. (2 John 1:9), and defiance of the doctrine of men. In George Orwell's Brave New World, the doctrine of the socialist society was "newspeak" wherein there was no negativity allowed. There was no evil, but only "ungood." To accentuate the extreme, that society used terms like "double plus ungood." The implication is that there was nothing bad in the world, and to validate that, even old news was changed and history rewritten on a daily basis to make Oceana - the socialist government - be positive and on target all the time.
     "Newspeak" in the millennial age, is called "political correctness" (PC) - "language, policies, or measures that are intended to avoid offense or disadvantage to members of particular groups in society. Since the late 1980s, the term has come to refer to avoiding language or behavior that can be seen as excluding, marginalizing, or insulting groups of people considered disadvantaged or discriminated against, especially groups defined by sex or race. In public discourse and the media..." (Wikipedia; "political correctness").
      Political correctness evolved from the psychological term "self-esteem." It has become ungood to hurt anyone's perception of themselves. Their problem is that Christ will be the judge of mankind:

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. (1 Cor 5:10)

     Negative judgment is not affirming! People resent Christ because his doctrine is judgmental, and the punishment harsh. Jesus cringes at people's self-esteem because his desire is that he be esteemed. Why should Jesus be esteemed? He died to save all mankind; even those who deny him. (John 3:16). However, because people want to do whatever they want, they perceive Jesus as cruel and inhumane. Rather than thank God for his mercy, they resent Jesus for his justice. As such, political correctness is rebellion against God and his authority.
     God issued fair warning: "If ye love me, keep my commandments" (John 14:15). His commandment is one, but it has a corollary: love God and others - The Greatest Commandment. Hence, loving others is manifesting love for God. There was a reward for loving, and a penalty for unloving, to say it in newspeak. Political correctness does not condone negative speech even if it is truthful.
     Since the doctrine of men - PC - is only positive and ameliorating, the Doctrine of Christ is taken as unloving in their newspeak lexicon. The man who so loved the world that he died in their place is unloving? PC turns love into unlove. PC policemen are more dictatorial than the Oceana autocrat - "Big Brother." Rather than unloving Christ and Christians, only they are allowed to hate. George Soros, the 2019 "Big Brother" is a proponent of Popper's Paradox of Tolerance, which is, "In order to maintain a tolerant society, the society must be intolerant of intolerance." That can be rewritten as, In order to maintain a loving society, the society must be hateful to haters. 
     Soros grants the politically correct the right to hate others for the sake of loving. "Paradoxes" are either absurdities or holding conflicting thoughts at the same time. Orwell had a word for that as well - doublethink. Popper's Paradox grants PC police the right to hate others as a way to resist truth.
     For instance, no longer are handicapped people "handicapped" but have "special needs." No longer can white people notice that some minorities are black or brown. PC disallows color in a colorful society! Why would being black or brown cause stress for black and brown people? Because PCers perceive that black and brown people must be ashamed of their color! By protecting certain people, PCers imply that they are lesser: They need PC rules to protect them because they are unable to protect themselves! How belittling is that?
     Reasonable people cannot even have ungood thoughts: that people are different is "ungood" in the PC lexicon. The PC police demand that everyone be good to their standard. Christians are hated because they know the truth and respect the author of "good." It is imperative that Christians understand that only God is good. (Mat 19:17). The authors of PC, not only believe that God is ungood, but God is intolerant and hateful, and that Christians who are to be like God, are intolerant and hateful.
     For example, when Christians condemn the act of homosexuality, the PC police condemn them as hateful. (Now, they have enlarged that to include Muslim terrorism.)  PC means that everyone is "good," not just God, and that the ungood must be overlooked. The M-13 gang must be respected because they are mere products (victims) of white privilege.
    On the other hand, those who adhere to truth are evil throughout and deserve ostracization and punishment. Have you not noticed that the greatest haters are the PC police and liberal Democrats? Donald Trump is hated intensely because he is trying to "drain the swamp" of those who make money off the stupidity of the American voter. They are the foolish people who actually believe that progressives are there to help! Help who? Themselves, for the love of money" (1 Tim 6:10) and for power as they make themselves, "as gods" (Gen 3:5).
     Speech control has been obvious for years, but now "thought control" is in vogue. People are now judged by the PC police by what they perceive people to be thinking. Lately, the vice-president has been under attack by one specific thought policeman - Pete Buttigeig - for Pence's religiosity. Buttigeig, a homosexual who is married to a man, perceived that Pence disagreed with that, and belittled Pence for being hateful when Pence was kind and non-condemning of Buttigeig. Christians are not allowed to even think truthful things!
     The truth is that God finds homosexual behavior abominable (Lev 18:22). Buttigeig's denomination - Episcopalian - has deemed God hateful and a liar for saying such a ungood thing! However, Buttigeig has the audacity to challenge Pence's faith! He, like Adam, has accepted the lie because there was certain fruits which he desired - forbidden fruits. Rather than shame and remorse, Buttigeig, in defiance of God, accepts the philosophical fruit of men from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Ungood (sic). Who are the haters? The PC lawmakers and the PC police. They don't know what they do, as usual (Luke 23:34) like Eve, or know full-well like Adam (Gen 3).
     I think that homosexuality is ungood behavior, not because I perceive it that way, but because God says it is! I believe that I am a sinner, not because that is what I desire to be, but because God says that I am. For God to correct sinners, we must condemn ourselves and have remorse. Homosexuals have "gay pride." They are proud that they come short of God's standards (Rom 3:23).
     Who sets the standards of politically correctness. Historically, it has been those of the "Philosophy Tree." What I mean by that are those of the psychological faith, evolutionists, geneticists, archeologists, the media, and even from holistic medicine and pagan religions. They write the rules in defiance of God who already has, and they endeavor to force the world to perform to their rules.
     Who is it that truly (truthfully) loves homosexuals? Jesus - "whosoever" in John 3:16 includes homosexuals and Buttigeig. However, God has written standards to which sinners must conform, be they others or me. To rationalize that sin is acceptable to God denies truth, God does not want to even see sin.

For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. (Heb 10:26-27)

     That is harsh judgment by God and is not politically correct. Those who deny truth will be judged and burn for eternity in Hell. For that reason, sinners hate Christ and Christians because they adhere to that. God is only tolerant to a degree. He loves everyone, but they condemn themselves by their beliefs.
     Pence, as myself, wants that none should perish just as Jesus does. Since repentance is required to not perish, those who tolerate the sinner are they who are unloving. Rewrite John 3:16 for Buttigieg: For God so loved the homosexual, that he gave his only begotten Son, that if Buttigeig believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Buttigeig, just as the rest of us, must believe what God says, and that homosexuals suffer sins.
     As a Christian, I don't like the idea that beautiful women tempt me. God doesn't condemn me for the temptation, but he would for the sin. To show my allegiance to God and His Word, I must honor it although my preference is for pleasure. If I cannot honor God by playing to His rules, then why would He have mercy on me? The same goes for anyone! He expects homosexuals to have self-control (Tit 1:8).
     Buttigeig, apparently has none! Does that sound unfair and harsh? Not as much as burning in Hell which is the alternative. Tough-love is desiring that none should perish - even political enemies and homosexuals. Bittigeig's attitude was that Pence and Christ's doctrine perish. If they go away, then he is free to do whatever is his heart's desire.

The Drug Epidemic

     There is a drug-use epidemic. Lives are ruined because of alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, heroin, designer drugs, and especially crystal meth. After the earth was cleansed, Noah immediately turned to alcohol after deliverance from perishing (Gen 9:21). His attitude was not one of gratitude but defiance; I will still do what I want to do. The Earth had been washed clean from drunkenness, licentiousness, fornication, and ribaldry; then Noah engaged in the same obnoxious behavior. Because he could not face tomorrow without a crutch, Noah's seed was cursed (Gen 9:24-26). To this day, drunkenness is a curse. 

     I have relatives who are addicted to alcohol and also several friends. They despise their addiction but keeping on imbibing. Their inebriation is one of two things: (1) enjoying the moment or (2) enabling them to face tomorrow. Only a fool would say that drunkenness is beneficial; but most believe that consumption is attractive and stress-relieving. Only fools would deny that alcohol addiction is possible without alcohol consumption. Most consume alcohol anyway, gambling that they won't become drunken nor addicted. How do people know if they are addicted? Quit consuming. If it is troublesome or difficult to abstain, then it's an addiction.

     Although alcohol use is pleasuring for the moment to most people, inebriation may be to face tomorrow. The same goes for marijuana, and other drugs. Drugs remove inhibitions and stress. Gateway drugs, after inhibitions are released, allow people to advance to harder drugs. Sin always works in the same manner: "Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death" (Jas 1:15). Lust, the affect of temptation, brings forth sin. The cause is temptation. 

     Why would anyone consumer anything which "brings forth death?" Because it is tempting! People always think of death as cessation of physical life; death is really the loss of the contents of the soul. The soul yearns to be filled with something. There are two: iniquity or the Spirit of God. They cannot coexist for any length of time without guilt ensuing. The soul is much like a pressure cooker; when sin becomes to great to bear, the "steam" is released. Either sin must be released or God's Spirit will bleed from the safety valve!

     Those who use drugs to escape reality or for pleasure, either dismiss God as frivolous or emancipate themselves from dependence on God. Isolation from God is the ultimate death! That's what the Word was trying to get across to Adam and Eve, but they failed to understand the entire concept of death. Those who gamble with drug usage of any type fail to understand what death is. Drug use creates the walking dead; they are still physically alive but with dead souls. Today, they are called zombies, and anyone who has associated with inebriates, potheads, or meth users know they are little more than pitiful zombies. Sober people do not hate nor fear them, but have pity on their lost souls. 

     Can Christians be drug abusers? Sure they can, but they gamble with their soul. In a Faustian manner, they trade off to Satan God's Spirit for just a little pleasure. When that makes them feel good, they trade a little more of the Spirit for a little more pleasure. That repeats until all the Spirit is gone and the pursuit of pleasure becomes their heavy cross! Like it or not, but the Doctrine of God is that Christians do not "lose their salvation," but trade it off for pleasure!

     People use drugs, oftentimes, to face the future. That task belongs to the Comforter - Jesus's Holy Ghost. (John 14:16). Jesus have up his Ghost (Luke 23:46), and later his body and Spirit reunited (the resurrection.) Jesus's Spirit experienced death on the cross but only God's Flesh died. Therefore, Jesus's Spirit experienced death and became his Holy Ghost (John 7:39).

     The Holy Ghost's purpose is to comfort. People often use drugs to comfort. That is not respectful to Jesus. It makes his death - his very purpose - in vain! Consider the Gaither song, "Because He Lives:"

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow
Because He lives, all fear is gone
Because I know He holds the future
And life is worth the living, just because He lives. (Written by: Gloria Gaither, William J. Gaither Lyrics © CAPITOL CHRISTIAN MUSIC GROUP)

     Jesus died that people have hope in the future. Jesus died to remove fear and make life worth the living. Gaither captured Jesus's purpose well! Although Jesus died to save all immortal souls from perishing (John 3:16), people still kill their souls one drink, one hit, one huff, one pill, or one needle at a time. Understand this: if you refuse that drink or joint, chances are that you will never face harder hits. I have never spoken to a young hard drug user who had not previously consumed alcohol or smoked marijuana. Some say that potheads have character flaws which make them dependent burn-outs. I submit that taking the first hit is a character flaw because it is irrational to live in a stupor!
    It is unknown whether hard drugs were a problem is ancient times or not. Perhaps they were not as foolish as people are today. However, the Bible uses the example of strong drink, perhaps wine with strong alcohol content:

Come ye, say they, I will fetch wine, and we will fill ourselves with strong drink; and to morrow shall be as this day, and much more abundant. (Isa 56:12).

     People drank strong drink because they perceived that facing the future would be easier. That is a false perception! There was always another tomorrow, and with strong drink, maybe a harder tomorrow:

Ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. (Jas 4:14)

    The concept of "tomorrow" is abstract. People live for tomorrow. Like Adam, they eat of deceptive fruit, living only for the moment. Christians look for tomorrow in the more distant future. Christians can face tomorrow because of the hope of eternal life.
     Now for my concern: The western world is in an epidemic.  I have relatives who have lost their lives because of drug use. I have acquaintances who have died because of cocaine. I have loved ones who depend on marijuana to cope with life, and who have no relationship with God. Lack of communication with God is spiritual death! How can God convict people of sin when their inhibitions are not there? Those who depend on getting high to face life, deny God whose purpose is to provide hope. People can rationalize their cannabis use using logic: "See, I smoke it and didn't die!" Adam saw Eve eat of the forbidden fruit, and she didn't seem to die, so he ate. That deception is of the Serpent. That first drink or huff could be the beginning of death. No one sees that until death is imminent!
     I have people I love dearly who are addicts. Because I love them, does not make their sin okay. One is being charged with attempted manslaughter because he did things when high on meth. Just three of four years ago, he was a "good" kid. Now he may face many years in jail just because he wanted to feel good.
     I have another loved one who smokes marijuana daily. He depends on marijuana. He can't face the day without it, how could he dare face tomorrow? How will he face God at the Great White Throne judgment when he cares more for Maryjane that Jesus? He visits MJs house daily but never enters God's house. Just who is his God? Well, I believe his God is himself, and Maryjane just appeases him.
    Christians are now accepting the "tobacco lie." For years, the tobacco industry taunted cigarettes as acceptable, appealing, popular, and even healthy. They lied! Now the same industry is promoting marijuana. People are again accepting the lie. The way of the Serpent is deception and stupid people are easily deceived. Unfortunately, with even mild usage, people become more stupid!
     I will never be addicted to drugs of any type. How do I know that? Because I will never consume any drug. If you have, then you gamble with addiction, and maybe your life. Addictions destroy lives! Addictions destroy families. Addictions destroy careers, and addictions may even destroy eternally living.

Progressivism Revealed

     I have written much about socialism, not to be political, but because there is only a one-way wall between the church and state. The government can easily penetrate the wall, but they have big "guns" to prevent Christians from encroaching upon the secular. Why socialism when I could write about the mafia, M-13, war, or even child abuse? Because although it is never heard today, socialism was always preceded by one or two adjectives: "godless socialism: or "creeping socialism." That makes sense since most things godless slowly imbues what was before Christian.
     Karl Marx had antipathy for religion - Judeo-Christianity in particular - because it stood in the way of the communist ideology and socialist Utopia. Why would men need a Paradise in Heaven when they have Utopia on Earth? When people put their faith in God, they have less confidence in the doctrine of Marx. Although, Marx and his cohort, Freidrich Engles, had much negative to say about religion, below are a few examples (Wikipedia; "Karl Marx Quotes"):

• “Religion is the impotence of the human mind to deal with occurrences it cannot understand.” 
• “The foundation of irreligious criticism is: Man makes religion, religion does not make man... This state and this society produce religion, which is an inverted consciousness of the world, because they are an inverted world...
• Religious suffering is, at one and the same time, the expression of real suffering and a protest against real suffering. Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, and the soul of soulless conditions. It is the opium of the people.
• The abolition of religion as the illusory happiness of the people is the demand for their real happiness.
• Religion is only the illusory Sun which revolves around man as long as he does not revolve around himself.” ― Karl Marx, Critique of Hegel's Philosophy of Right

     The notion of an Almighty God interfered with Marx's will for mankind. His will was an illusion of contentment on earth. Of course, Marx's doctrine was one of revolution rather than Utopian, but his revolution would lead to the betterment of society. Socialism/communism - the same "ism" - in Marx's Manifesto, would provide hope to the worker, unfortunately at the expense of everyone else. 

    Marxism is the antithesis of Christianity as both claim to provide hope but only one of them can! Socialism is the application of serving the biblical "two masters:"

No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon (man)" (Mat 6:24).

     Marx was somewhat honest in that respect. He knew scripture well, it seems, because his ideology expounds the same idea - the masses cannot serve both themselves and God. Christianity is all about self-denial and the magnification of God. God just does not fit well in communist doctrine.
     In contrast to that, democratic-socialism presents Marxism and Christianity as compatible. They know the voters are too stupid (Jonathan Gruber) to see the incompatibility. Socialism is endeavoring to serve two masters. Communism ensues when the farce is exposed: You cannot serve yourself and God, which is a re-arrangement of what Matthew wrote in the above passage.
     Of course, the idea that people improve themselves is illusional and delusional. The real motive for socialism is for power, not to the people but for the leadership! The evidence of that is in the eventual totalitarianism of historical socialism. Marx as much as admitted that socialism is a opaque process of introducing communism. What is the difference? Socialism is "Uncle Tom's" who prefer a lifetime of meager existence out of fear of self-improvement and motivation. Communism is when "Aunt Jemima" tires of making pancakes for other people and spits in the face of her master. When that happens, communism puts her in her place. Strangely enough, the cruelty of communist dictatorships is well known, but "Uncle Tom" and "Aunt Jemima" remain happy serving others as long as they believe they are doing good things!
     Of course, I am not writing about minorities, but people of all races who serve another master without realizing that they are mere pawns for the foremen who want to own the capitalistic "plantation." Indeed, socialism has much in common with antebellum plantations; merely with different colors of slaves and brutal masters who seem really nice to the servants who survive off the crumbs of their masters' tables. To be blunt, socialism is voluntary servitude (indentured) whereas communism is slavery (forced). Both are different degrees of Marxism.
     Karl Marx wrote of the all the extant systems of socialism in Europe and America. He wasn't satisfied with any type of socialism, be it democratic or radical socialism. His initiative was never only democratic-socialism, but full-blown autocratic communism! However, he was willing to use their naivete for his own purposes. Within the Manifesto, Marx elaborated how communists would use the socialism of other countries for his own purposes.
    Marx understood quite well that the masses would not accept violent revolution and the overthrow of their governments. Therefore, in Marxism, democracy is imperative. The "masses" of which Marx writes, are the majority of people. Like Jonathan Gruber, his ideology depended on the stupidity of the people. Democracies can lead to autocracies unless tempered by republicanism.
     The founders of the United States were well aware that a democracy would lead to totalitarianism. They also knew that the righteousness of a just God would change the temperament of self-serving people. Never forget that those who favor socialism are self-serving under the guise of serving others. Their type of "social justice" is for others to pay for their notion of moral responsibility. Taxation is not charity, it is slavery to the government, but their system must be funded on the backs of others! Progressive income taxation was one of Marx's initiatives to move toward communism.
     Since most people are not willing to fight a revolution, socialism is not only creepy, but creeping. It must come about without the masses being aware. That's where the stupidity of the voter (Gruber) is used to further Marxism. The technique of creeping socialism is fairly well how any iniquitous behavior is compounded according to James, "Every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death" (Jas 1:14-15). 
     Socialism is based on lust; the masses want what the wealthy have without regard to how much hard work went into creating wealth. The basic tenet of Marxism is, "From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs!" (Marx, Critique of the Gotha Program; 1875). That sounds fair, but it operationally it is, From each who have worked, to each according to his wants without working hard for it.
     Marx knew that socialism had to be come covertly. He knew that as stupid as people are, there is a limit to their stupidity. He developed a way of getting the people to accept godless communism gradually; sort of humanely walking into slavery:

In America, where a democratic constitution has already been established, the communists must make the common cause with the party which will turn the constitution against the bourgeoisie and use it in the interests of the proletariat. (Engels, Freidrich; Draft of a Communist Confession of Faith, pg 25)

    The "bourgeoisie" are those who have property and manage direct laborers. The "proletariats" are those who provide direct labor - the workers.

     Engels missed the republicanism in the U.S. Constitution. Indeed, before the War Between the States, republicanism was much stronger in America than now. Engels wrote that before the War. Why has the United States not become full-blown socialistic? Because it is a democratic-republic. The left at the present wants to eliminate the electoral college - a barrier to socialism because it favors republicanism.
     Marxists, for years, had their own party in America - The Communist Party, USA. Some within the movement withdrew and formed The Progressive Labor Party through the Workers Student Alliance and Students for a Democratic Society. Note that those folks remained "communists" but called themselves "progressives" and "democratic." That type of covertness was what Engels wrote over one-hundred years before!
    During the turmoil of the 1968 Democratic Party Convention, radical progressives (communists) went into hiding. They saw it more effective to be Democrats than communists or even socialists or progressives; they became a wing of the Democrat Party to influence their platform toward socialism. Just as Marx sought, it was necessary to tolerate the moderate socialism for a time before full-blown communism could be implemented. As Engels suggested, the Democratic Party (sic) was selected because it leaned more toward democratic ideals than the Republican Party. (Although at that time, the Republican Party was nearly as ripe with progressive Rockefeller Republicans.)
     Since 1968, the progressive minority in the Democrat Party has expelled all the conservatives within the party and most of the moderates. What remains are the progressives who only digress from each other minutely. The Democrat Party has become the Progressive (i.e., socialist) Party! Since Trump's campaign, they have become belligerent, quickly becoming revolutionaries with intimidating tactics and even violence. America is on the precipice of violent revolution and the overthrow of a legitimately elected president, and the left still depends on the "stupidity of the American voter" as Jonathan Gruber indicated. They created a crisis with the Russian collusion hoax to further their aims. As Rahm  Emanuel indicated, "Why let a good crisis go to waste?" Why not create a crisis? is a better question!
     What makes voters so "stupid?" They are blind to truth. They are being deceived by the cunning Serpent. This time, it's not a viper in a tree, but a snake in the underbrush. I am referring to George Soros. If you don't know who Soros is, it would be wise to find out! As the implementer of socialism in America, he is the leader of the "deep state" who controls the media and the progressive agenda. Why would Soros, a billionaire capitalist, want socialism? For the love of money! Somehow, rich philanthropists gain when socialism makes people their servants. American socialism is feudalism; just examine the number of the one-percenters who are socialists!
     Progressives use "social justice" to increase their numbers. They care little about sexism, racism, immigration, and so forth except for one thing -  votes and power. Just as the communists and progressives of the 1950s to the 1970s used the turmoil of race wars and Viet-nam protesting for their purposes, they use students, LBGTs, feminists, and minorities to further socialism. Stupid voters are content with a modestly improved minimum wage (another objective of Marxism from the Manifesto) as crumbs to tempt the people toward revolution. Somehow, progressives no longer discard their useless slaves, they convince blacks to murder their own in the womb!
     The façade of socialism is never-ending. It is not a one-act play but they fake concern so well that they deserve Oscars for their performances. One day they care about things, but when Republicans propose the same things, they no longer care, but consider their previous positions inhumane. Orwellian thought is Democrats having conflict with their own beliefs. Political correctness is Orwellian "newspeak." Democrats even have a propaganda ministry as can be seen from their daily "narratives."
     Likewise, with Orwellian perfection, they even rewrite history, as an example, as Biden just did with the Clarence Thomas accusations by Anita Hill. Democrats even have their own thought-police force! How communistic will they get before the stupid voters realize they have been had?
     Is Marxism a left-wing conspiracy? Emphatically, no! It is Satan's will they are doing. The apocalypse in scripture describes a seemingly benevolent global government with a rock-star type leader who wins the people. That sounds like socialism. Then after three-and-one-half years, force is used to get the people to fall into line.
     Christians will be beheaded for not taking the mark of the beast. I believe that Sharia Law, a type of ruthless communism, will be the end-of-time government. I believe the Antichrist will be a Muslim leader who claims to be Isa - their "Jesus" coming with a vengeance. Marxism marries Islam and their bastard child belongs to Satan.

Resurrection: Time of Salvation

     The Old Testament is about the creation called "genesis" and the New Testament about a second creation called "the resurrection" which is a re-genesis. Re-genesis occurs in two stages: (1) regeneration and (2) resurrection. Regeneration is when the soul is kept safe and resurrection is when the safe soul reunites with a saved body.
     The concept of regeneration is found throughout the Old Testament. Indeed, the Old Testament is all about discovering Jesus. Moses and the prophets had  firm belief and trust in Jesus, not only on his birth and death, but also the resurrection:

Your dead shall live; their bodies shall rise. You who dwell in the dust, awake and sing for joy! For your dew is a dew of light, and the earth will give birth to the dead. (Isa 26:19)

     "Your dead shall live" refers to resurrection. Furthermore, it is seen that it refers to Jesus and those dead in Christ: "Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock" (Isa 26:4). The Lord (Jesus) is the rock who is everlasting: "The Lord lives, and blessed be my rock, and exalted be the God of my salvation—" ((Psalm 18:46). Jesus's name means "Yahweh is salvation." Isaiah saw Jesus's resurrection and had faith that the dead in Jesus would also rise: "Just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life" (Rom 6:4).
     If Jesus had not died and risen, neither would anyone have the hope of resurrection. Jesus will come back to gather the dead just as Isaiah envisioned. Paul made the same prophecy as Isaiah when he wrote, "For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first" (1 Thes 4:16).
     The resurrection is the time of salvation according to Paul, "Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed" (Rom 13:11). Christians have the hope of resurrection as they have the "hope of salvation" (Psalm 55:5; 1 Thes 5:8). 
    Salvation is when the Devil can no longer harm Christians. The ultimate time of salvation for all those living is when Satan is utterly destroyed, and can no longer tempt. Until that time, those who are regenerated live in safety in that Satan can do them no harm beyond tempting (Job 1:12). 
     Christians are in safe-keeping by a spiritual hedge about them (Job 1:10). When Jesus appears in the sky, the occasion is the "time of salvation". When Jesus snatches up the living and the dead in the sky, and they rise with him, that unknown time is salvation. 
      From what are Christians "saved?" From the Devil and eternal death in Hell. The sanctuary from Hell is Heaven. That's the destination of the resurrected. Resurrection occurs in two stages: The soul is immortal. When the flesh dies, the soul remains. Matthew wrote: "Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell" (Mat 10:28). Stage one is the safety of the soul since it is immortal, and stage two is the body finally saved.
     I often write that Adam and Eve didn't understand death because death had never occurred to know its meaning. They didn't understand the intensity and gravity of disobedience. For that reason, God was gracious and provided safery for the two until they are resurrected. As such, their souls were saved from perishing when they died. Thus, from the time God covered them with a coat of skin which he sacrificed on their behalf, until they are resurrected, they were safe from the cunning of the Serpent. 
     Death is when both the body and the soul perish; it occurs when both are cast into Hell with the Devil. Salvation is an exemption from dying. It pertains firstly to the soul, but at the resurrection, both body and soul are saved from Hell or eternal death.
      Christians often say, "Jesus saved me." That is true to a certain extent. His death provided the blood antidote to death, but it is similar to an innoculation until the moment the death angel comes. Because Jesus died for everyone, doesn't mean that everyone is safe. Only those who accept his gift of faith are safe. All others live in peril. Upon death, the souls of Christians are saved, and at the resurrection, their bodies are regenerated just as at the generation, and with that, the body and soul are saved!
     This all sounds complicated, and indeed, those with confidence can say with assurance, I am saved, because they see the prize ahead. Jeremiah wrote, "But I will give you your life as a prize of war in all places to which you may go," (Jer 45:5) which was validated by Paul when he said, "But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus" (Phil 3:13-14). They both were looking forward to the time of resurrection when the dead bodies of Christians arise!
      What is written herein is the doctrine of Arminius which aligns quite well with the Doctrine of Christ. Resurrection is important to Christians because that is the time of salvation of the body as it reunites with the soul. What's important, is that because Jesus was resurrected, Christians will be as well!
     What happened after Jesus flesh died? His body "gave up the Ghost" (Mark 15:37 KJV). Where did Jesus's body go? To the tomb. Where did his soul go from the Cross? 

When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.” (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) (Ephes 4:8-10).

     Jesus, since he took all the sins of mankind on himself, went to Hell to drop them off onto the Devil. His body was still in the tomb, thus his living soul visited Hell, then ascended to Heaven on Good Friday since he would be with the thief that day in Paradise. His soul and body were two different places until the resurrection. What happened to Jesus will happen to all Christians. The day Jesus was resurrected his body rejoined his soul, and Jesus became a living soul again as God again breathed life into him just as he did Adam back on the sixth day of creation. The resurrection is re-creation... a re-genesis! That is the prize to which Christians "running the race" see as they run the Way of Jesus! (1 Cor 9:24).
     The resurrection is the time that both the bodies and souls are reunited and saved. By celebrating Jesus's resurrection, we celebrate our own; it is a day of thanksgiving because Jesus died and was resurrected that we too might be saved.
     When Paul preached, he put great emphasis on the resurrection because that is the time of complete salvation. For those who are in Christ, salvation is when they are snatched up; theologians call that "the rapture." You will know that you know that you know you are saved when you meet Jesus in the sky! I "see" him now because I trust the Word.
     This is the day others should consider because it has so much importance; to save your body and soul, you must believe that Jesus died and was resurrected. If he was not, then neither will you be. This is a great day for those who have the hope that they shall be saved just as Jesus was resurrected.

Note: All passages are from the English Standard Version (ESV) except as noted (KJV).