Reject Propaganda About Christ's Focus

“For the past 50 years in this country, the religious right, a political movement, convinced a lot of Christians in America that the two most important issues were ab..tion and homosexuality, two issues that aren't really discussed in Scripture. Ab..tion is never mentioned. Same sex consensual relationships are never mentioned. So it's remarkable to me that you have an entire political movement using Christianity to prioritize two issues that Jesus never talked about.”  James Talarico 

1. Who makes ab..tion and homosexuality important issues?

Those who passionately and aggressively promote them. 

Christians respond by obeying God commands to rescue the innocent and warn people of sins (Proverbs 24:11-12; 31:8; Romans 1:18-32). 

2. Are unborn life and homosexuality discussed in Scripture?

Yes! Clearly and repeatedly. 

For multiple Bible verses, see What Scripture Says About the Unborn and God's View of Homosexuality. Regarding Talarico's use of “consensual relationships,” see Responding to Revisionist Theology: Don't Overlook Verse 11. 

3. Did Jesus ever mention homosexuality?

He indirectly rejected gay lifestyles by affirming God's creation design for marriage and intimacy as one man and one woman in Matthew 19:4-6.

4. Did Jesus mention unborn life?

Scripture, which clearly teaches the sanctity of unborn life, is God-breathed (2 Timothy 3:16). While Jesus didn't specifically mention it during his earthly life, He affirmed the Old Testament by quoting it as God's Word, and He foretold the New Testament teachings (John 14:25-26). See "Red-Letter-Only" False Teaching.

This Talarico quote is 90% outright lie and 10% half-truth lie-in-disguise. He is mocking God and deceiving people, and that should inspire us to speak up.

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If you want to better understand why I'm using Talarico's quotes in this series, see Let's Not Avoid Controversy. 

And this is a good time to consider purchasing Lies In Disguise because it offers solid Bible teaching regarding the subjects which false teachers and politicians like Talarico are promoting. Click the title to read the description of each chapter in the book.

 

Kick 'Em When They're Down

▶ Job was at his lowest point, having lost his material possessions, his health, and his children.

Then his friends came and “kicked him while he was down,” blaming him for his difficulties, which he didn't cause (Job 22).

Like Job's friends, some people kick with a big foot of bad theology called “Christian Karma,” assuming we must have done something to deserve our difficulty.  

See Job's Judgmental Friends.

▶ Paul was in prison suffering for his faith. 

Then some “Christian” teachers kicked him while he was down (Philippians 1:14-18).

In the midst of persecution, these teachers were kicking Paul with a big foot of jealousy because God had given Paul a special role in the early church.

See The Destroying Monsters of Jealousy and Envy.  

▶ Have you ever had someone kick you when you're down? 

When we're needing comfort and sympathy, it's heartbreaking to get kicked with false judgment or jealousy.

So what can we do?

1. Seek God, not man.

Like Job, refuse to accept blame we don't own (Job 2:3; 42:7). 

2. Stay focused.

Seek God's purposes instead of focusing on our hurt (Philippians 1:18-19).

3. Seek God's comfort. 

When others are kicking, God promises to hold us in His arms (2 Corinthians 1:3-5).

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💙 Be sure to check out the Bible Love Notes devotional Wisdom for Life. It's for sale on Lifeway and Amazon. 

And you can also sign up for a free subscription to Bible Love Notes 1-minute devotions HERE.

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Let the Light of Scripture Reveal What’s Hidden in You

By Marika Marton

One morning, a beautiful ray of sunshine streamed into my kitchen. Suddenly, I noticed a dirty spot on the furniture that I hadn’t noticed before the light fell on it.

Another time, I accidentally left my reading glasses on when I went into the bathroom and noticed multiple dirty spots that I hadn’t seen without them.

After these experiences, I started thinking about how they relate to God’s Word and the way it shines into our lives, revealing things that nobody sees, even the most hidden “dirt.” Sometimes we deliberately want to hide these things; other times, we ignore them, and sometimes we are simply unaware of their existence.

But whichever the case is, God's Word is like a lamp (Psalm 119:105) to guide and also to shine its light on hidden sins (Ephesians 5:8-13). Like a pair of glasses, it magnifies and reveals our “innermost thoughts and desires” (Hebrews 4:12-13). But to be able to see these things, we must open our Bibles and read carefully.

When we discover some dirt in our lives, we need to have a genuinely repentant heart and ask God to cleanse us. It's such a wonderful thing to get rid of the “hidden dirt” and become clean again!

Next time you read your Bible, pay attention to the details that shed light on something in your life that you need to get rid of. Be honest about it. After you do what you need to do, you'll feel clean, free, and happy!

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Check out these two devotions about why God’s Word is also like a mirror:
Godly Mirror Gazing
The Mirror of God's Word

 

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6 Things to Remember in Our Anti-Christian Culture

What can we do in a world that has moved far away from God's commands and values?

“When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?” Psalm 11:3

Psalm 11 tells us to remember these things:

1. God is still on His throne (v. 4). His truth will ultimately triumph.

2. He sees all that is happening (v. 4). He knows how difficult our culture makes our lives.

3. He examines the hearts of those who do what is right (v. 5). He knows who has right motives and actions.

4. He passionately hates wickedness (v. 5). God will always oppose evil no matter how popular it becomes.

5. He loves justice (vv. 6–7). Perfect justice will prevail in eternity. At first glance, we might say that justice doesn't prevail because Jesus' followers will not die for our sins. But that is also part of God's justice: Jesus died in our place.

6. Those who love Him will see His face. Hallelujah! (v. 7)

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I encourage you to check out the Wisdom for Life devotional. It contains 100 one-minute devotions to challenge, encourage, instruct, and inspire your love for God's Word. Read the story behind Wisdom for Life HERE. And find out about the two free Bible studies with purchase HERE. You can read the first four devotions in the book by clicking "look inside" on Lifeway or Amazon. In addition, you can buy the book in Kindle format on Amazon and as an e-book on Barnes and Noble.

 

I also encourage you to sign up for a free subscription to Bible Love Notes and get a free e-booklet. Find out more HERE.

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Reject Propaganda About Scripture and Mary

I know this series on Talarico's quotes isn't popular with some readers, but I feel compelled to address these serious lies about the Lord and His Word (Galatians 1:10).

“This idea that there is a set Christian orthodoxy on the issue of ab..tion is just not rooted in Scripture.” James Talarico

Talarico claims life doesn't begin until a human being takes their first breath because Adam wasn't alive until God breathed life into him. 

He claims “in context of ab..tion … God asks for Mary's consent” to carry the Savior. Therefore, Talarico concludes that God is fine with a woman killing her child if she doesn't want it.

When asked about late-term procedures, he said they are “almost exclusively to save the life of the mother.” 

Let's see what Scripture says:

1. The sanctity of unborn life is deeply “rooted in Scripture.” 

See six Scriptures that show life begins at conception HERE.

2. Adam's creation was 100% unique (Genesis 2:4-25).

There was no pregnancy involved. Using Talarico's logic, we could claim no woman is alive until a man gives her one of his ribs (Genesis 2:21-22). 

3. In Luke 1:26-38, Gabriel never asks Mary's permission.(1)

Mary simply affirmed her willingness to fulfill God's plan. And Mary wasn't pregnant yet. To use this comparison would mean no woman gets pregnant without her consent, and we know that's not true.

And regarding late-term ab..tions: “The American Medical Association has reported that a late-term ab..tion is generally not necessary to save the life of the mother.” (source)

Talarico makes it clear that you can't approve ab..tion without believing lies.

And Proverbs 24:10-12 offers a strong warning to those who refuse to speak against the slaughter of the innocent. 

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(1) Using Mary as an example for this claim is even stranger because she is an example of someone who did the right thing even though it was difficult. See Mary Was Promised Soul-Piercing Pain & Incredible Joy. And for more encouragement, see Jesus Isn't Looking for Silent Partners.

All quotes: James Talarico

If you want to better understand why I'm using Talarico's quotes in this series, see Let's Not Avoid Controversy.  

 

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Joy in All Circumstances — Part 3

Biblical joy and worldly happiness are very different. These three one-minute devotions offer insights to enjoy! 

 

Happiness in Jesus 

Most of us get confused about the promises of Christ. This one-minute devotion addresses our confusion regarding happiness.

 

Crazy Joy

This book in the Bible, written from prison, is filled with encouragement to rejoice! What a blessing! 

 

Whiners and Shiners

We all have a choice when we face difficulties. Do you know what Ephesians 5:8 says about people with genuine faith?

 

Don't miss these other joy collections: 

Joy in Jesus Is Healthy — Part 1
Enjoy these three one-minute devotions and discover how biblical joy can make you healthier!!

Joy Is Healthy and Fun — Part 2
This small collection of three one-minute devotions highlights the fun and healthy aspects of biblical joy.

💙 If you enjoy one-minute devotions like these, please check out the Bible Love Notes devotional Wisdom for Life. It features one-minute devotions from Psalms and Proverbs and is for sale at Lifeway and Amazon.  

And please sign up for a free email subscription to Bible Love Notes online devotions HERE. 

 

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6 Character Traits of Christians Who Overcome Selfishness

Ever since Satan convinced Eve to place her desires above God's commands in the garden, he's been promoting pride and arrogance in the human race. 

When I scroll through “Christian posts” on social media, I'm regularly disappointed by messages emphasizing our significance and our desires instead of God's significance and desires.

⮞Narcissism is becoming more prevalent as people: 

(2 Timothy 3:1-5, 1 John 2:15-17)

1. Boast about themselves.
2. Refuse to confess mistakes, let alone their sins.
3. Have no respect for age or experience.
4. Value beauty, money, and power more than character.
5. Blame-shift. 
6. Compromise moral values.

Narcissism used to be a rare psychological problem, but this new form of narcissism is affecting many and giving them a destructive type of self-confidence.

⮞In contrast, God is looking for people who:

1. “Boast” about knowing Him (Jeremiah 9:23-24).
2. Accept correction (Proverbs 15:32).
3. Value the experience and wisdom of older Christians (Proverbs 23:22; Proverbs 30:11; 1 Timothy 5:1-2).
4. Value character and seek to develop it (Galatians 5:16-17).
5. Take personal responsibility, repenting of sin (1 John 1:9-10).
6. Refuse to conform to our culture (Romans 12:2).

These actions give us a healthy God-confidence.

We can't avoid the neo-narcissist voices in our culture, but we can reject them and seek a closer walk with the Lord. 💙 

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For more on this subject, check out the one-minute devotion The Pharisees Had High Self-Esteem. 

 

And check out the reasonably priced book Lies in Disguise. It offers wisdom about many of the half-truths that have infiltrated Christian teaching, such as the one briefly discussed in this devotion.

 

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Reject Propaganda About God and Government

The Pilgrims and Puritans fled to America to avoid persecution from the Church of England. Therefore, in the First Amendment, the U.S. Founding Fathers made it illegal to have a church sponsored by the Federal government.(1) 

Biblical principles and Christian prayer guided the founding of our country, and the Bible was the basis for our laws. Not all leaders were Christians, but they all affirmed biblical concepts in government.(2)

James Talarico says he “hates how religion and politics have been fused” and claims we're forcing our religion down people's throats despite the “sacred separation in our First Amendment” (Talarico).(3)

No one is demanding a government sponsored church or demanding citizens to comply with a religious doctrine. So what specifically bothers Talarico? 

As we continue this series, you'll see that Talarico wants laws based on popularity, not moral values.

All laws are based on beliefs about right and wrong, and biblical principles are the most gracious and healthy of all beliefs (Psalm 19:7-8). If you doubt this, check out sharia law.(4) In fact, as the U.S. has moved away from biblical principles, our nation has declined morally and become less safe and loving (Romans 8:6-7).

May we never forget that “righteousness exalts a nation, but sin condemns any people” (Proverbs 14:34). 

There is no hope for a country that turns its back on the true and living God. Wherever you live, please pray for your country and speak up against propaganda like this.

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Please read these footnotes

(1) First Amendment: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

Note: The phrase “separation of church and state” isn't found in the First Amendment. It comes from a personal letter Thomas Jefferson wrote to the Danbury Baptist Association in the State of Connecticut to affirm that the government shouldn't limit religious freedom. 

In 1947, Supreme Court justice Hugo Black “greatly deviated from the historical interpretation of the First Amendment when rendering his opinion.” One reason there is so much misunderstanding about the First Amendment is because this justice “initiated an unconstitutional line of reasoning that has suppressed the truth of the First Amendment for more than half a century.” Christian Heritage Fellowship

(2) Our Christian Roots: If you doubt that Christianity developed our country and many presidents unashamedly praised God's Word, check out this post with quotes from a number of presidents throughout history: The Book. And I also encourage you to read America the Prude.

(3) Universalism: Talarico's statements about separation of church and state are influenced by his belief that “Christians and Muslims and Jews all worship the same God” (source). He's not alone in denying this most basic Christian truth while identifying as a Christian (John 14:6; John 3:36; Acts 4:12; 1 Timothy 2:5; 1 John 5:11-12). And it further explains his desire to separate God from government. See Why Hoping All Men Will Be Saved Is a Sign of Unbelief. 

(4) Sharia Law: If you Google Sharia law, you will find that the propaganda far outweighs the truth. Propaganda has overtaken the internet in many ways. So be sure, when asking questions about Islam, you find articles written by ex-Muslims who've become Christian. For example: Ex-Muslim Woman on Life Under Sharia Law and Say No to Sharia Law and Nabeel Qureshi: Why I stopped believing Islam is a religion of peace.

If you want to better understand why I'm using Talarico's quotes in this series, see Let's Not Avoid Controversy.  

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Food for the Body and Food for the Soul

People choose restaurants for various reasons: location, menu, cost, cleanliness…

But a major reason customers become “regulars” at a particular restaurant is based on the way they are treated.

“While delicious food and a pleasant ambiance are important, exceptional customer service is the true differentiator that can set a restaurant apart from its competitors. Great service goes beyond mere politeness; it involves creating a welcoming atmosphere, anticipating customer needs, and ensuring that every guest feels valued and appreciated.” (source)

This shouldn’t surprise us. After all, friendliness includes many of the qualities God calls fruit of the Spirit—food for our souls: 

“The fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us] is love [unselfish concern for others], joy, [inner] peace, patience [not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting], kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23, AMP

These attitudes attract attention, and when we display them regularly, people are more apt to listen when we talk about our faith. This doesn’t mean we avoid unpopular aspects of the gospel in order to please people. It means we share those truths as graciously as possible.

 

It means we're motivated by God's love, a love that desires to see others saved, directed, and comforted by our wonderful Savior.

We know we have the best food for their souls, so let’s share it with healthy fruit … the fruit of God’s Spirit.  

 

For more “soul food,” see  Are You Spiritually Healthy and Why the Bible Is Like Dark Chocolate.

 

Free Subscription to 1-Minute Bible Love Notes. Have a one-minute devotion like this one delivered to your email each weekday.

10 Reasons You'll Love the Book Wisdom for Life. A collection of 100 one-minute devotions from Psalms and Proverbs and a great gift for people who love God's Word.

Full Description of the Book Lies in Disguise. A much-needed book to uncover half-truths that misuse Scripture and weaken Christian faith.

 

 

 

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Rejecting Propaganda About Christ's Mission

In Propaganda about Christ's Position, we discussed James Talarico's statement: “Not once in the entire Bible does Jesus ask us to worship him. All he asks is that we follow him. Love like He loved. Love the outcast. Welcome the stranger.” 

Perhaps Talarico downplayed worshiping Christ because he believes “Christians and Muslims and Jews all worship the same God.” (source) That's probably why he only mentioned loving the outcast and welcoming the stranger. 

Helping the needy is important (Matthew 25:35-40), but it isn't the focus of Christ's mission.

Jesus loved people enough to tell them to repent (Matthew 3:2; Matthew 4:17; Mark 1:15; Luke 13:3). He said those who refuse to believe in Him will die in their sins (John 8:23-24). He proclaimed He is the only way of salvation, and New Testament writers confirmed this truth: John 14:6; John 3:36; Acts 4:12; 1 Timothy 2:5; 1 John 5:11-12.

Many hated Jesus because he testified that their works were evil (John 7:7). If we follow Him and love as He loved, many will hate us too (John 15:18-19). 

Loving like Jesus loves means speaking against laws that promote evil (e.g., killing the unborn and promoting destructive sexual lifestyles). It means warning people of sin and Hell and helping them understand Jesus is the only way of salvation.

“For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” Matthew 16:26

An accurate description of Christ's mission must include these things which are central to the gospel.

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Christianity has a great heritage of helping the needy: Romans 12:13—Helping the Needy. But please beware of this popular lie that minimizes Christianity to helping with physical needs. This is very much like the “He Gets Us” Ministry: See Super Bowl Commercials Present False Christ for an in-depth look at this lie. 

If you want to better understand why I'm using Talarico's quotes in this series, see Let's Not Avoid Controversy.  

 

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