America the Deceived or the Deceiver???

Lately I've been baffled as I watch the pastors, preachers, ministers, shepherds and teachers leave their first love. Revelation 2:4, Jesus tells the church of Ephesus, "But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first".  The church lost its passion for Jesus like when they first were saved. It's a reminder of who saved you and why you were saved. It reminds the Christian of who they once were. And it can be assumed if you love someone (God, Jesus) you will want to please them.

So, Christians must continually ask, "What pleases God?" What pleases God includes having faith, obeying divine commands, and living a life of righteousness, justice, and LOVE TOWARDS OTHERS. This involves actions like demonstrating compassion, showing kindness, serving the community, and producing the fruit of the Spirit, such as love, joy, and patience. Specifically, some faiths highlight the importance of receiving God's gifts like forgiveness and pursuing holiness by saying no to sin and yes to righteousness. At this time in history, are Christians pleasing God?

Watching to TBN (Trinity Broadcasting Network) it's hard to see pastors, preachers, teachers, and ministers talking more about Republicans than God. They no longer point to God but to President Donald Trump. They tell their congregation, "We have a lot of people who are poor. What should we do because Jesus said in Matthew 26:11, "The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me". This verse is also found in Mark 14:7 and John 12:8, and is a direct reference to Deuteronomy 15:11, which states, "For there will never cease to be poor in the land". Why would a pastor say this? To make it palatable for Christians to not care about the suffering many poor people are experiencing under the Trump administration.

One of the jobs of Christians is to set THEMSELVES apart from the world, not to conquer the land. Right now the Evangelicals have banded together to make America a Christian nation again. That is good and all, but what makes a Christian nation? People accepting Christ.

"Separating yourself from the world" is a concept found in many spiritual and philosophical traditions, generally meaning to detach from worldly attachments, values, and desires to pursue spiritual growth, or to live a higher set of principles. It involves a deliberate choice to focus on inner self, practice detachment from material possessions, and avoid the negative or sinful aspects of the surrounding culture, without necessarily isolating from people entirely. 2 Corinthians 6:17, "Therefore go out from their midst, and separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you". This is a direct quote often cited in discussions about separation from the world. 

Christians have NEVER been called to force their beliefs on others. If America is to be a Christian nation, then people must have a heart change, other than this, it will be a forced Christianity which God doesn't desire. Several Bible verses address living in a way that glorifies God, particularly by demonstrating love and good deeds towards others. Key verses include the phrase "I never knew you" appears in Matthew 7:23 and Luke 13:25-27, where Jesus is speaking to people who have claimed to perform miracles in his name but have not truly followed God's will. In these verses, he states, "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness" 1 Peter 2:12, which says to "Keep your conduct honorable among the Gentiles... so that... they may... glorify God in the day of visitation," and Matthew 7:12, which is the Golden Rule: "Do to others what you would have them do to you". Another relevant verse is Philippians 2:4: "Look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others". 

If America is to be a Christian nation, the Christians must behave as Christians. Many of them have no problem saying WHO hates God. But have their attitude and behavior brought people to Christ or repelled people from Christ? In Romans 14:13, it states, "Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother.

Maybe people are rejecting Christianity not because of God, but because of His cold-hearted, callous followers.

Christians say they are concerned with the secular education their children are receiving and want to change it for the children. They want to change the different cultures to Christian. Well. change begins at home. Proverbs 22:6, which states: "Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old, he will not depart from it". Are Christians demonstrating their faith and trust in God complaining their children are being corrupted by the world? Are the faithful, faithful?

The Christian does not depend on playbooks like Project 2025. They look to where their help comes from, "My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth" is found in Psalm 121:2. It is part of a larger psalm (Psalm 121) that speaks of God as the ultimate source of protection and strength for those who look to Him. Christians are looking to Donald Trump to save them from sinners. How they forget, they are also sinners. What if we legislated Christians to live a truly HOLY life?

The church has a holy vision that they believe can only be achieved by cracking down on SINNERS. Not BIBLICAL teaching. How then can change come that is Godly? 2 Chronicles 7:14, "If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves, and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land". This verse is a promise from God that if His people repent, He will respond to their prayers with forgiveness and healing. It didn't say govern people with Christian laws and policies. No! It is Christians REPENTING and PRAYING that will heal the land.

One would believe Christians do not read their Bible or live by it. One would even question, do they know God? This is the FRUIT of the spirit onlookers see. I have long said Evangelicals are giving Christianity a black eye and God cannot be pleased with them trusting and relying on such a wicked, greedy, heartless, prideful man. That should be who they separate themselves from. DOROTHY GUYTON, author (BA, MA) INTERVIEWER: Trump, Evangelicals, and Wealth

The Bible verse about knowing people by their fruit is found in Matthew 7:16-20, which states, "Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? ... A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore, by their fruit you will recognize them". This passage is a teaching from Jesus to discern true followers and prophets by observing their actions and the outcomes of their lives. What fruits are Christians supposed to have and be recognized by: Galatians 5:22-23, which states, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law" (NIV). These qualities are produced by the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers. Christians today do not have the joy which comes from God. They are angry and bitter. Complaining all the time about sinful people.

The book of Revelation, the only book of the Bible which says not to change one WORD of its text, no adding or taking away, gave us a warning about the church (The primary Bible verses prohibiting changes to God's word are Deuteronomy 4:2 and Revelation 22:18-19) in the End Times. The seven churches of Revelation are Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, Laodicea, each with a specific problem addressed in the biblical text, warning us this church no longer honors or worships God. Ephesus was rebuked for leaving its first love, Smyrna for persecution, Pergamum for tolerating false teachings and immorality, Thyatira for a false prophetess, Sardis for being spiritually dead, Philadelphia for enduring trials, and Laodicea for being spiritually lukewarm and complacent. Keep an eye on the church to see if they are behaving like the 7 churches mentioned to KNOW how much trouble we are in if Evangelicals have been fooled into thinking Trump is an answer for a secular world. 

"My grace is sufficient to overcome the world" is not a complete quote from the Bible, but the sentiment comes from 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, where God tells the apostle Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” You can't evangelize if you are an oppressor or one seeking power and money. We know the church has become greedy and encouraging hurtful actions towards Christians and non-Christians. Maybe Christians are the cause of the problems we're facing. Maybe people are rejecting God because of His ambassadors representing Him.

When I think of today's church, I cannot believe how they are supporting Trump. I can't believe how easily they call others, sinners.

How to identify sinners in the Bible

• Look for actions that violate God's law: 

  The Bible lists specific sins such as murder, adultery, lying, stealing, and coveting. 
• Observe a person's relationship with God and others: 

  Sins like not loving God or your neighbor, speaking ill of others, or being selfish are also considered sinful. 
• Consider the role of intent: 

  The Bible distinguishes between those who knowingly violate God's commands and those whose actions are simply part of their sinful nature. 
• Recognize the presence of self-righteousness: 

  The Bible also identifies self-righteous people as sinners because their actions and words are not in line with God's law. 

While the Bible provides a clear definition of a sinner, it is not a label that can be used to judge or condemn others. Instead, it is a reminder that all people are in need of God's grace and forgiveness through Jesus Christ.  

Today's Christian is wrapped up in the sins of others and forgetting their duty as Christians. In Matthew 7:23, where Jesus tells those who claim to know him but did not do the will of the Father, "I never knew you; depart from me, you who practice lawlessness". The phrase "I never knew you" appears in Matthew 7:23 and Luke 13:25-27, where Jesus is speaking to people who have claimed to perform miracles in his name but have not truly followed God's will. In these verses, he states, "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness!'"

The Evangelicals BELIEVE they are doing the will of God when Jesus' ministry tells us to guard our hearts. Our heart condition is what matters and even if you quote scripture, look holy, or evangelize, those deeds are good, but it's about the unseen heart which God sees. This is how he can say "I never knew you even though my name was constantly on your lips.

If Trump does all the Evangelicals want, they won't be satisfied and need more. The lust of their heart is no longer God. We will have to stay tuned to see what the corruption of power will do to the church. History repeats you know. Stay tuned and don't let Christian people sway you into not trusting and depending on God to answer prayers if the CHRISTIAN repents and pray.

For LEADERS and teachers there is a dire warning they should be aware of. The seven woes in Matthew 23 are pronouncements of judgment by Jesus against the scribes and Pharisees for their hypocrisy. They are, shutting the kingdom of heaven from others, leading converts to hell, being BLIND GUIDES who prioritize minor details over major principles, being inwardly corrupt despite outward appearances, and feigning respect for prophets while perpetuating their violence. Self-righteousness led them from the ministry of Jesus.

The Bible strongly warns against self-righteousness, emphasizing that true righteousness comes from God's grace and faith in Jesus Christ, not from human works or merit. Self-righteousness is presented as a dangerous deception and a sin that blinds people to their true spiritual state and God's standards. Biblical passages like Romans 10:3, Galatians 6:3, and the parable of the Pharisee and tax collector in Luke 18:9-14 show that relying on one's own good deeds leads to pride, vanity, and a failure to submit to God's will. 

Key Biblical Teachings

• True righteousness is God's gift: 

  The Bible teaches that humans are inherently sinful and our best deeds fall short of God's perfect standard. Righteousness is not earned but is granted through faith in Jesus Christ's sacrifice. 
Self-righteousness is a deception: 
It creates a false sense of purity and blinds people to their need for God's cleansing and mercy. The apostle Paul rejected his own perceived righteousness, considering it a "loss" compared to the superior righteousness found in Christ. 
It leads to pride and judgment: 
Self-righteous people often focus on their own achievements and can become hypocritical and judgmental of others. Jesus highlighted this danger by showing how the humble tax collector, unlike the proud Pharisee, was considered righteous by God. 

The Heart Of Man

     My book is ready for purchase just in time for those going to the polls to cast their vote for president in fear in 2024. It is all but a sure bet, President Biden will be facing off against former president Donald Trump. This will be an IMPORTANT election with major SIGNIFICANCE. No matter who wins, our heart condition is going to matter.

    For both candidates, age is a factor. People are voicing their dissatifaction having to choose between elderly White man number one and elderly White man number two. The mental capacity of both candidates is in question. Each have rambled on camera, desparately trying to recapture their train of thought. 

    The daily news no longer reports on what is being done for our country. Each day, news reporters announce what kind of investigation is being filed against which elected official, spending countless hours providing evidence of the accused guilt or innocence. Our govenment is no longer a ruling body, but a soap opera with America tuning in to root for a villan or hero.

    As I stated earlier, there is an element of FEAR surrounding THIS election cycle. Fear - the man elected as president will die in office. Fear - the man elected will abuse his power. Fear - the man elected won't listen to the voter's needs. Fear - the office will be used to take vengence on the opposing party. Fear - no one will ever trust our free election process again. Fear - America will lose its standing as a super power. Fear - the cycle of self first over country will never end. 

    No one stops to evaluate what toll anxiety/fear plays on our bodies. The constant drumbeat of our way of life can be lost if we vote for the wrong presidential candidate. Studies have shown ndividuals with high levels of anxiety are at increased risk of coronary heart disease, congestive heart failure, stroke, fatal ventricular arrhythmias, and sudden cardiac death. Politicians want you to be fearful.

  Anxiety/fear can cause the hippocampus to shrink. The hippocampus is an area of the brain that plays a major role in learning and memory. It’s one of the most affected areas of the brain in individuals experiencing anxiety. The hippocampus connects to the amygdala, and together they control emotional memory recalling and regulation. Damage to the hippocampus can make it difficult for a person to remember things and form new memories. Politicians want you fearful.

Just as stress affects our ability to make new decisions, stress also affects brain chemistry, making it difficult to assess benefits and costs. This can lead to poor decision making where the risks are as great as the rewards. Politicians want you anxious, fearful, and stressed.

  What are the fearful masses of onlookers, potential voters, supposed to think? Well, that is just it. They are supposed to THINK in general. The cherry on top of fear, is RELIGION.  In a major election, there always seem to be a tug of war over God. Each side believes God belongs to them alone and the other should be rejected as evil. Social media has an uptick of "the end of the world" posts and to get right with Jesus. Evangelicals are calling Trump a savior and an equal amount of Christians are declaring him the antichrist. Who do we trust and where do we go for comfort and sanity?

    Our trust and faith should not be tied up in those calling themselves our leaders. They will always fail. Our trust and faith belong to God/Creator and rational thinking. In His word, the Bible, God has told us no one is in a position of power or leadership unless He ordains it. We may ask ourselves - surely when Hitler was in power, God did not ordain that? Well, when Moses went up against the Pharoah of Egypt God said that Pharaoh was put in that particular place of power for God's own particular reason, and He knew that Pharoah would harden his heart against the people he enslaved. 

    The one thing Trump's first presidency showed the world was the heart of man. As the leader, hatred, racism, prejudice, corruption, and bullying ran rampent during his administration. We are still feeling the reprecussions. Even though Donald Trump has been proven for years to be a criminal in several arenas, the people still hold him in high esteem, or up high on their own debased hearts and minds.

    Why would God have such a man, as Pharoah, over His choosen people? Without that particular Pharoah we would not have had a chance to read about God's miracle after miracle after miracle of saving the Israelites from bondage. Even though it may not seem like it, God is in control at all times over all nations. It is the behavior of his followers that is more important than the corrupt leaders. God has always been concerned with the HEART condition of man. The 21st century has dealt us some serious blows. The people are enraged at the government and the Christian leaders are concerned with their own political agendas. What are the Christians and masses to do? 

     Also in the Bible there is a man named Judas, who in his attemt to ensure right was done, did the unthinkable. Judas wanted to revolt against corrupt government rulers, to fight them with the same measure. Even if he was on the right side, his behavior was the same as those he viewed as evil; violent and divisive. Judas lost sight of his heart condition.

     My book, "The Politics of Prayer" examines the importance of prayer and wisdom when turmoil abounds. There is nothing new under the sun and history is filled with corrupt leaders and revolutions by the oppressed. My book has qoutes by presidents and influential leaders during times when chaos reigned in government. Examples such as during the Cival War each side, North and South, prayed diligently for victory. Each claimed God was on their side. My book reminds the reader to make sure to take care of their heart condition no matter who is in political power. I have collected Bible verses which instruct the reader how true change is accomplished when it comes to politics and how they are supposed to carry themselves when corruption runs rampant. 

    Many people, including Christians are wondering, "How can I survive this harsh economic time and leadership I do not agree with?" The answer for all of our troubles has been to rest and trust in God. All things fade away, but God and His word are everlasting.  Blind loyalty does not belong to a Republican or Democrat, in the end they are all flawed humans. There has to be a higher standard worthy of your trust.     For a perspective on how to live today as an example of Christianity when all others are trying to solve problems through their own devices, read my book. It will renew your mind and spirit as you walk daily with the Lord. At the end of each chapter is a prayer for you to pray as we deal with the circus of our political leaders. And, after reading the book, don't forget to vote.

DON'T FORGET: purchase my book "The Politics of Prayer" available on amazon.com and 

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