PSA: How the world sees Trumpers

• If you "only" voted for him, either you haven't been paying attention or you're just plain selfish.
• If you believe him, you're either just not very smart (see the Dunning-Kruger effect) or mentally ill.
• If you love him, you're either mentally ill or just plain evil.
• Getting upset because his evil nonsense is now affecting you (like you were warned) doesn't absolve you since you didn't care about (or even liked) how it would affect others.

The Ultimate Bottom Line

There are two types of humans: those who are stupid and those who are not.

That's it. Period.

And I mean stupid the way God does:

Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, 
but whoever hates correction is stupid.
 - Proverbs 12:1

My understanding is that the word translated as "stupid" here in English means someone who is "morally deficient." In other words, someone who is lacking in at least some core ways that affect everything that matters.

Sticking with the theme of "translated to English," almost no one "loves" discipline or correction. The idea is to value the importance of and therefore accept and implement it.

And here's why it matters: if you can't be corrected, you will always be part of the problem. And you won't even realize it. 

And the kicker? If you can't be corrected, even God can't correct you. And if God can't correct you, you are NOT going to heaven. Period.

We are supposed to be in this -- all of it! -- together, and the stupid people REFUSE to get that.

Faith vs Expectation

I was recently in a discussion that started with the person leading it asking, "how is your faith these days?" My immediate thought was, "faith in what?" See, I have zero doubts that God can do anything He wants; my uncertainty is with regard to what I can or should expect that He will do.

We think of "faith" as being confident in how God works in our lives. I now believe that God is immeasurably less concerned with our day-to-day earthly existence than we are. Don't get me wrong: He absolutely loves us, wants what's best for us, and actively works for the good of those who truly love Him (Rom 8:28). But what does this actually mean or look like? Does it really matter where we work, where we live, or even whom we marry (or if we marry!)?

Anyone who has walked with God for a few decades will tell you that life has not turned out the way they expected. Why is this? I think it's because we're conditioned to expect "happily ever after" -- especially if we're walking with God. Sadly, this just isn't reality. 

When I look back on my life thus far, I can see many times things didn't go the way I wanted them to; and, I can see how God worked through many of them for my good.

I think the problem is that we tend to think OT style: physical provision, protection, and blessings; but, NT style is primarily focused on spiritual provision, protection, and blessings. And it's very hard to appreciate the big-picture, long-term spiritual promises in the face of earthly, physical, in-your-face trials and suffering...especially when prayers seem to continue to go "unanswered."

BUT!

As we continue to fight the good fight (1 Tim 6:12, James 1:2-4), draw near to God (James 4:8), and set our minds and hearts on things above (Col 3:1-2), we begin to correct our understanding of what we are supposed to expect. In turn, we begin more and more to see it -- even if only after the fact. And the joy and peace that are ours only in Christ (Php 4:4, Php 4:7, Gal 5:22) become more and more part of who we are.

And then, Heaven. :)

Love Conquers All: The Real Jesus

If you do not consider yourself a Christian, how do you view Christians these days? Do you see Christians as

• loving? or hateful?
• compassionate? or bigots?
• humble? or hypocrites?

It is natural -- and right (Matthew 7:16-18) -- to judge someone by their deeds, and it is equally natural to judge an entity by its self-proclaimed representatives. Did you know, though, that Jesus taught that many who claim to be His followers actually are not?

"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'" - Matthew 7:21-23 For modern day readers, this passage is literally Jesus warning us that we can check all of our particular church's boxes and still go to Hell! How does this happen? The word translated as "knew" in this passage comes from the Hebrew word, yada. It basically means to know at a deep level, typically with regard to relationships. Jesus is saying here that we can do all the things but if we don't truly know Him and His true heart, and let Him truly know us -- evidenced by how we live! -- we are lost. And what does it mean to truly know and be known by Jesus? How does it show?

**Love** Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” - Matthew 22:34-40

I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. - Revelation 2:2-5

Here in Revelation, Jesus is once again making it clear that checking all the boxes (vs 2-3) means nothing if we do not love! We don't know for sure if He was referring to their love for Him, their fellow humans, or some combination; but, we do know that love is so key that He is about to take away their lampstand over it (i.e., render them a Spirit-less (lost) church)!

And here's the kicker: we must love as He loves!

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

 - John 13:34-35

In fact,

Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. - 1 John 4:20

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. - Matthew 5:43-48

And again:

“But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you. “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. - Luke 6:27-36

[Sidenote: the commands about turning the other cheek and giving our shirt also have specific meaning in the culture of that day and not what we tend to assume. Worth looking into.]

Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6). He has the only real answers. Following Him is not always easy, but it is always worth it.

Our world is hurting, some would say now more than ever. I obviously don't have all the answers, but I do know where to find them. If you would like to see Him for who He truly is and not how He is often misrepresented, to find the true hope and powerful love He offers, and learn what that actually looks like...ask Him. If you mean it, He will respond (Matthew 7:7-8, Deuteronomy 4:29)!

(And if you live in San Diego, you are welcome to come join my friends and me in exploring all of this together. 😊)