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GRAMMYS ILLUSTRATE THE ROOT OF AMERICA’S PROBLEM (Friday Church News Notes, February 7, 2014, www.wayoflife.org fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143)
The Grammys last week illustrate the root of America’s problem, which is the apostasy and spiritual compromise in the churches. Hollywood is filthy, but Hollywood is not the root problem. The Democratic and Republican political parties aren’t the root problem. Nashville isn’t the root problem. The White House isn’t the root problem. The self-serving officers on the Joint Chiefs of Staff aren’t the root problem.
America no longer fears God and is mute before the vilest sin because the vast majority of churches no longer preach the fear of God. Every preacher and every Christian in the country with even a flicker of Bible-believing faith should have denounced this filth from the pulpit and by every means at his or her disposal, and in this day and time the means are significant. The Bible says that if we hear cursing and do not condemn it we hate our own souls (Proverbs 29:24).
There are a few voices, but overall the silence is deafening. In fact, multitudes of “Christians” watched the filth on television and the web and others were present for the blasphemous performances. Some even accepted awards from that sorry outfit and expressed gratitude. What folly! Does it please and glorify God for His people to accept rewards from those who hate Him? The film/music industry has represented a godless crowd going back even to the silent movie days. In those days there were enough churches pushing against them that they had to watch their mouths, keep their clothes on, and hide their ungodliness in a closet. The churches in general were more salty then, and that salt was a preservative for society at large. As churches have lost their spiritual power, the society has gotten progressively more wicked. Many smart, conservative people have identified the multitude of problems that exist today at every strata of American government, industry, and society, but they can’t fix the problems. We have brave soldiers with amazing training and equipment, but they can’t even fix the military itself. We have some wise people in politics and in high levels of business and industry, but they can’t fix the problems. We have well informed, passionate people in Tea Parties and conservative news outlets. But it’s as if their hands are tied. It’s as if they can only rail against the night.
It is as if America is under a curse. Bingo! This is not a problem that can be solved by anyone or anything other than the churches. Are you praying for America every day, my Christian friend, or is it business as usual even as the enemy as it the gate? “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14).
In 1998, gospel star Kirk Franklin said that
“homosexuality … is a problem today in gospel music–a
major concern–and everybody knows it” (Church Boy,
pp. 49, 50). The truth of this has been demonstrated more
clearly with each passing year. The most recent example
is a trio named Micah’s Rule which recorded their first
album in 2012. The band is composed of Greg McCaw, a
homosexual; Chasity Scott, a lesbian; and Mary Anne
Hewett, a “transgender.” Their first CD is “a mix of
Southern gospel, classic country, blues and a medley of
1960s peace songs–all with a Christian message” (“Gay,
Transgender Band Breaks Barriers in Christian Music,”
Religion News Service, Feb. 15, 2013). McCaw was a
Church of God pastor for 25 years and sang bass for more
than two decades for popular Southern Gospel and CCM
musicians such as Sandi Patty, Bill Gaither, and the Gatlin
Brothers. Currently, the members of Micah’s Rule attend
St. Jude Metropolitan Community Church in Wilmington,
North Carolina. Micah’s Rule wants their music to speak
the message that “in life, it’s how you walk your road, not
listening to people who say you’re not worthy of God’s
love.” McCaw adds, “We’ve all had that experience.”
This is a deceptive smokescreen. The issue is not whether
homosexuals are loved of God, or whether Christ died for
them, or whether they can be saved. It is not whether their
sin is greater than someone else’s. The issue is repentance.
The Bible plainly teaches that Christ shed His blood and
died because God loved the whole world of sinners (John
3:16). Christ came to seek and to save every lost soul. But
the Bible just as plainly teaches that men must repent of
their sin in order to be saved (Luke 13:3-5; Acts 17:30),
and homosexuality is most definitely a sin before God. In
Romans 1:26-27 it is called “vile,” “against nature,”
“lust,” “unseemly,” and “error.” Homosexuals today must
do what homosexuals did in ancient Corinth. They must
repent of their sin before God and receive the lifechanging,
sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit in
regeneration. “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not
inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither
FORNICATORS, nor idolaters, nor ADULTERERS, nor
EFFEMINATE, nor ABUSERS OF THEMSELVES
WITH MANKIND, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor
drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the
kingdom of God. And SUCH WERE SOME OF YOU:
but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are
justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit
of our God’ (1 Cor. 6:9-11).
Source Way of Life Literature
Newsletter March 2013
Additional Source
The following article is from Sword & Trowel, Issue 1, 2011, Metropolitan Tabernacle, London, England:
In reviewing the sins of the flesh (in Galatians 5:19-21) the apostle mentions witchcraft, often today translated sorcery. He actually uses a word which we have in English, although for us it has a much nobler meaning.
The Greek word is a form of our word ‘pharmacy.’ Obviously, no Bible translation would use this term, because for us it denotes a healing profession, not a sin of the flesh. So in what way were the sorcerers and witches of olden times involved in pharmacy?
For them, a large field of expertise was the preparation of drugs and potions with mood-altering, consciousness-altering properties; now known as psychoactive, psychotropic drugs. They prepared hallucinogens, opiates and aphrodisiacs both to heighten and suppress emotions. Some were designed to dull the senses and banish care; to disengage from the world in order to float along in sublime indifference and peace. More commonly (the experts tell us) they prepared euphoric drugs to send people soaring into ecstatic dreams and trances, or to amplify love or deepen hatred. In Galatians 5 ‘witchcraft’ refers to shamanistic pharmacy.
Opium (weaker in those times) was used both for pain relief and euphoria. It as the ancient Sumerian ‘joy plant.’ Cannabis was a very well-known hallucinogen. Jimson weed also was in use as a fantasy producer.
To seek these artificial sensations is listed as a work or sin of the flesh: something base, carnal and injurious. The imbiber effectively says — ‘I don’t want to be a human being. I don’t want my mind to be in charge. I don’t like rationality. I don’t want responsibility. I want exciting sensations, or detachment from reality.’
All this is sought today to a greater degree using even more powerful versions of these drugs. But the level of mood tampering attainable by first-century people was of the same order as that which may be achieved by alcohol, and by heavy, relentless beat music. Amplifiers, tweeters, and woofers now produce the high-decibel excitement and compelling power of rock, securing strong emotional effects. Tremendous skill goes into the production of fascinating, irresistible band arrangements designed to get hold of the emotions and carry listeners along. but it is mood-manipulating ‘pharmacy.’
Hearers may take no potion, but they succumb to sensations, getting outside themselves, and either dulling or exciting the mind. Many come to depend on it for well-being.
Are we hooked on ‘pharmacy’ music? Is the mood-affecting rhythm vital for us? Is it so important to us that we overlook the lyrics that are sensual, anti-moral and anti-God, little realising that the musical vehicle is tampering with the mind, bringing us under addictive power, and becoming our chosen alternative to joy derived from the Holy Spirit?
Does not the apostle also say in 1 Corinthians 6:12, ‘All things are lawful unto me … but I will not be brought under the power of any’?
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Gal 5:20 Idolatry, witchcraft (G5331), hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies
Strong’s G5331 – pharmakeia
1) the use or the administering of drugs
2) poisoning
3) sorcery, magical arts, often found in connection with idolatry and fostered by it
4) metaph. the deceptions and seductions of idolatry
DiscernIt 
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