The Rules of Good Stewardship - True Riches - Part Two

 Part 2  

Introduction

A lesson from the past ignored

Have we learned anything from the example of God’s people, Israel?  The theme throughout the Book of Judges was “Failure through compromise,” and the theme found in the Book of Joshua was “Victory through faith.” 

How many books have been written, commentaries were blogged, and sermons have been preached about faith? Is the Church any better than historical Israel when it comes to being in obedience to His commandments? The Church has its moments of victory and its moments of failure. One generation who has forgotten what it took to be in fellowship with God proceeded by a generation crying out to God to intervene. Is this where the Church of this era is now confused, divided, and in despair? Many American and Canadian Christians are crying out to God for a revival. You wouldn’t believe how many stay-at-home believers refuse to be part of an assembly of the saints. Why? Many felt unwelcome (Hebrews 10:25). Some were rejected because they were smokers, and some because they had a criminal record. Really? Are we inviting only sinless candidates? Through COVID-19, haven’t the churchgoers tasted what it is like to be separated from the assembly of the church? 

Revival will not come unless we are willing to welcome sinners – to leave aside our prejudice. If we don’t, we are no better than the children of Jacob, Israel, before their deportation to Babylon. Inasmuch God warned Israel and Judah to return to Him and to His covenant to be a light for the surrounding nations, Jesus, through the Apostle John, wrote to North America’s Church to return as a good and faithful steward of His Word, fulfilling His commission, or else, it will be given to another nation.   

"For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another,"  Titus 3:3

“Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent,” Revelation 2:5

The Canadian and American Christian Church is not Israel. We do not replace God’s people just because the Jewish authority rejected Jesus. We live under a new covenant (Mark 14:24) under the dispensation of grace (Eph 3:2). We are bondservants by the same rules of stewardship as the Israelites. 

The present Canadian multicultural society, with its diversity of cultures and religions, reflects the same characteristics that existed during the time of Imperialist Rome and Autocratic Babylon.  It has degenerated to where all traditions, cultures, systems of beliefs, religions, and moral values of all nationalities are threatened by Cultural Marxism. 

Nothing is new under the sun (Eccl 1:9). 

In the Book of Judges, soon after the settlement of each Israelite tribe in their assigned territory, Israel quickly drifted away from God's covenant. In those days, there were no kings in Israel, and every man did what was right in his eyes (Judges 17:6). Doesn’t that also reflect the North American Corporate Christian Churches? Having good intentions, each congregation identifies itself with its personalized statement of belief - every church denomination is doing what is right in its own eyes, and so is each Christian. Aren't we far from being united in understanding all things in Christ (Eph 4:13)? So many seek a church that teaches the word of God without compromise.

Canada and America were once strong Judeo-Christian influences; it is no more. The Church has lost its salt flavour, the light on the lampstand has extinguished, and the lampstand will soon be relocated (Rev 2:5). If the Church doesn’t repent by obeying Christ Our Lord’s instructions, God will go elsewhere to do His work. It will leave the community desolate of His presence and His word.  It happened with Israel, and it also happened with the city of Ephesus (Rev 2:5). Our modern churches are not exempt.

 "Behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord God,

"That I will send a famine on the land,

Not a famine of bread,

Nor a thirst for water,

But of hearing the words of the Lord," Amos 8:11

The Canadian Churches failed the test.

In the Book of Judges 3:4, God allowed five lords of the Philistine to be used as a thorn in the side of the children of Israel (chapter 2:3).  The Canaanites, the Sidonians, the Hivites, Perizzites, and the Jebusites (verse 5).  Verse 4 explains how they tested Israel.  Their gods would be used as a snare (Judges 2:2). The snare was used to find out whether they would obey the commandments of God (Judges 3:4), in particular, “You shall have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:3-5). The consequences of being entangled in the snare, Israel's moral and spiritual disobedience, would lead to their deportation. 

What about Canadian Christians? Have we not been entrapped into the federal Cultural Marxism policies - an autocratic snare, and anti-Christian snare, dictating what ought to be taught to our children, overruling the parents' cultural and religious practices and beliefs, to unite all cultures, all religious faith unto one philosophy, one ideology, one religion under the ruse of false faith indoctrination and Darwinism evolutionary rhetoric?  We live in a so-called ‘Extreme Bias Cultural Marxism and in an Extreme Bias Multi-Gender’ nation. 

 

We, Christians, dropped our guard and allowed the Canadian federal and provincial leaders to dictate what we are to accept culturally. Both levels of government became autocratic to the core, under the umbrella of political correctness, accusing Christians of intolerance and racism when Christians voiced their concern.  

Freedom of Worship vs. Freedom of Religion

“Now, are we to shine our light within the four walls of the church building only?  Nonsense.”

At the opening and closing prayers, I heard pastors thank God for the freedom to worship, unaware that God has given them much more than a simple right to worship in Canada. I believe God wrote the Constitution on His behalf - for His purpose, not ours. Isn’t it also for the United States of America with its Bill of Rights? He gave us, not the government, the freedom of religion. The Constitution was founded upon the principles that recognize the supremacy of God and the rule of law. Not any gods, but the Christian God – the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. God, The Creator who so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son (Jesus), that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life (Jn 3:16). 

What is the difference between freedom of worship and freedom of religion?  The difference is that freedom of worship restricts a Christian’s sphere of influence by living according to their beliefs, ethics, and moral standard values within the wall of a building. In contrast, the freedom of religion gives Christians the freedom to carry their right to beliefs, ethics, and moral standard values everywhere in our society.   It is our civil right. Have you not noticed how often we hear from the secular to keep our religion at church?  It is a constant attack on our rights. Even Christians among themselves demanded not to mix religion with politics… go figure. 

We have the fundamental right to peaceful assembly in a church environment and freedom of religion in a social environment, especially in our school. 

“True and pure diversity in a multicultural society is to allow each parent to teach their children their religious beliefs, their values according to their culture and tradition, and to teach their sexual moral standard and behaviour without prejudice and interference from any level of government. Isn't that what the Charter of Rights and Freedom is about?”

The Snare (commentary)

We are incapable of untangling ourselves from the snare unless we Christians first repent and live by our personal faith, trusting in the Word. Institutions and the government will fail, but God will never, never fail us.

“For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God and put Him to an open shame.

For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated, receives blessing from God; but if it bears thorns and briers, it is rejected and near to being cursed, whose end is to be burned,” Hebrews 6:4-8

Haven't we been tested, and are we still? Many Christians, including me, are going through difficult trials. Our faith is being tested. 

"For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us," Romans 8:18

"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose," Romans 8:28

Next Part 3 - Your Sanctification  https://www.simplicityinthegospel.com/2022/06/the-rules-of-good-stewardship-true_16.html