by Emmett Smith

We hear a lot these days about addiction. An addict, according to one dictionary, is one who is "a slave to a habit or vice, especially a drug."¹ This definition pretty well sums up the idea, doesn't it? Thus, people are referred to as addicted to gambling, sex, and other behaviors in addition to substance abuses. This slavery to harmful behavior patterns is certainly not a novel concept. Jesus addressed this very subject in his discussion with the Jews, after they protested His statement that the truth would make them free.

John 8:34 (ESV) Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin."

The Jews didn't like to think that they were in bondage to anyone. They were Abraham's seed! But Jesus reminded them that bondage to sin is a universal problem. Unfortunately, even though the text says that they "believed on him" (cf. John 12:42), it also says they sought to kill Him because His word had no place in them. It sounds as if they were determined to die in their sins by rejecting mankind's only possible remedy. And so it is with many today.

However, there's really no choice as to whether we'll be slaves. We simply must choose one of two masters (Romans 6:16_vff). In 1 Corinthians 16:15,16 (KJV) the Apostle Paul wrote, "I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints,)  That ye submit yourselves unto such, and to every one that helpeth with us, and laboureth.".

Brother Paul simply wanted the Corinthians to develop good addictions rather than evil ones. What are you addicted to?

¹(c) Larousse plc. All rights reserved

by Emmett Smith

This week's news headlines have been rife with indications of the state of our world.

• Among them are the attempt of Norma McCorvey (AKA Jane Roe of Roe v Wade) to have a federal court in Texas begin the process of overturning that infamous 1973 Supreme Court decision.
• Another dealt with paganism and witchcraft on the rise in the UK, anticipating a massive pagan gathering at Stonehenge to celebrate the solstice.
• Yet another chronicled an attempt to build a taxpayer-funded memorial in Los Angeles to AIDS victims, in the form of the Aztec god Quetzalcoatl, whose worship involved human sacrifices.
• And then there was the Australian article in which so-called "pro-choice" (read pro-abortion) advocates denigrated an anti-abortion group's successful tactic of paying $1000 to women contemplating abortion to "choose life" rather than going ahead with their abortion plans.

Judging by the tone of these pro-abortionists, the enticement of money to prevent abortions was a terrible evil. It’s hard to imagine anything more topsy-turvy! How could anyone view encouraging someone not to kill her unborn child as evil? The level of commitment demonstrated by these advocates of evil is mind-boggling! And that raises the question of our commitment to the Lord's service, doesn't it?

A New York Times editorial reprinted in last Sunday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette discussed the decline of the work ethic in the UK, and concluded that a corresponding decline in the Protestant ethic of self-denial was to blame. A case can certainly be made that much of what drives the pro-abortion and pro-homosexual debates is an antipathy to the concept of self-denial.

A requirement of the so-called sexual revolution was that there be no negative consequences for immoral behavior. So if a woman became pregnant because of her sexual "freedom," she must have the "right" to terminate that pregnancy. What once was disgraceful proof of immorality became merely an inconvenience, easily dealt with by a trip to the nearby abortionist. And they insist behavior once generally regarded as sexual perversion must now be accepted as normal.

However, in spite of the insistence of these "enlightened" ones to the contrary, the inevitable consequences of these behaviors remain -- both physical and spiritual. There's no denying that HIV/AIDS is primarily spread (in the US, at least) by uniquely homosexual behavior patterns. And there's no denying that the over 40 million abortions in the US since Roe v Wade have had an enormous impact on our nation.

A memorial in the form of Quetzalcoatl is actually quite appropriate in view of the many human lives that have been sacrificed on the altar of "choice" over the last several decades. Yet choice is a necessary consequence of free will, isn't it? And making wrong choices is certainly nothing new. As Christians, we must do what we can to encourage right choices.

In Matthew 13:33, Jesus said, "The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened." This may be the only passage in Scripture in which leaven is used to represent influence for good.

The world desperately needs this leaven. Let's resolve to use every opportunity to be influential for our Lord!

by Emmett Smith

Among this past week's news stories were a couple that illustrate the concept of wolves in sheep's clothing.

One dealt with a Danish Lutheran minister who was quoted as having said, "there is no heavenly God, there is no eternal life, there is no resurrection." The article dealt with the various responses to such a shocking statement from a purported man of God. Interestingly, there was a supportive statement from the leader of Denmark's Theological College of Education, who was quoted as saying the minister's remarks were "refreshing."

The other story was about the election of an openly homosexual Episcopal Bishop in New Hampshire.

Of course, such incidents as these are nothing new. The evil one has always sought to clothe himself in religious legitimacy. And Jesus himself warned us to beware of false prophets who would appear in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are hungry wolves (Matthew 7:15). Paul used similar language in Acts 20, where he told the elders of the church at Ephesus that grievous wolves would enter in among them. It's interesting that Paul predicted the apostasy would be spread from among the elders. And as we look at the many religious denominations in today's world that are obviously infiltrated by false teachers, many of whom are "theologians" in the institutions of higher learning, we would be well advised to take a look among ourselves.

As Peter said in 2 Peter 2:1, "But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction."

Who would have ever thought that a self professed Christian would deny the very existence of God? And yet Peter plainly stated that these false teachers would even deny the Lord that bought them! However, most false teachers won't go so far as to take such a public stance ... at least not until they think they've garnered adequate support.

No, the false doctrines will be subtle at first. Precept upon precept, line upon line, here a little, there a little, to paraphrase Isaiah.

That's why we always need to study. We need to emulate the Bereans, who readily listened to Paul's teaching, but then searched the scriptures daily to make sure he was telling it like it is. As Paul said to the Corinthians, "let him who thinks he is standing securely beware of falling" (1 Corinthians 10:12).

God's word is alive and powerful. A studying, literate body of Christians is unlikely to be misled.

by Emmett Smith

Many in today’s world are offended by the assertion that something is evil. In an article posted on May 28 under the headline “Guest Chaplain's Prayer Offends”, WorldNetDaily reported that certain members of the U.S. House of Representatives were offended by a prayer invoked by the guest chaplain. The offending portion was quoted as follows, “leaders who will seek your truth … who accept that a lie is a lie and not spin; that it is immorality and not an alternative lifestyle; that it is murder not a procedure; that it is stealing and not creative accounting; that rebellion is rebellion no matter what name we give it.”

If you’re wondering what might have been considered offensive you must not have been paying attention to the political correctness trends of the past several decades. Representative Barney Frank, an avowed homosexual, said “…The statement is a condemnation of gay people. There are appropriate places where you can say those things." This statement causes one to wonder what places Mr. Frank thinks would be appropriate for such statements. He obviously doesn’t think it inappropriate for him to speak his mind wherever he wishes.

Edmund Burke once said, "When bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fall one by one, an unpitied sacrifice in a contemptible struggle." Mr. Burke was speaking of events in England in the mid to late 1700s, but the statement is equally valid today. England is a generation or two more “progressive” than we Americans have yet become. If we would think about what has transpired in England and Europe, and equate those events with what is happening here, we should be able to see many parallels.

And those of us who still subscribe to Biblical standards should be concerned. Indeed, we should have been concerned much sooner. Good men must associate, and do what we may to prevent further moral decline. This is not an unprecedented situation. Israel was often condemned for her moral relativism. Isaiah (Isaiah 5:20) spoke of those who call good evil and evil good.

In the third chapter of Malachi similar statements were made, and a harsh condemnation pronounced. But in the midst of the condemnation was a remarkable statement of hope. Verse 16 says “Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.”

Today, those who fear the Lord still must communicate regularly. As the guest chaplain said, rebellion is rebellion no matter what name we give it. May many more good men and women have the courage to stand for the truth in times to come. May God’s book of remembrance have many more entries!

by Emmett Smith

If today was an average day, more that 3,000 unborn children were aborted in the United States. Such entities as Planned Parenthood and their powerful lobby insist that this so-called constitutional right of infanticide must continue. There is much consternation as we approach a new congressional cycle that the 1973 Supreme Court decision in Roe vs. Wade could be overturned. In California, a legislator has introduced a bill (SB 1301) whose intent is to protect Californians from these anticipated "anti-choice" victories. Have you ever wondered why these folks are so insistent about what they call "choice"?

Of course it's not possible to fully develop such a complex issue in a brief article, but certainly one major component is population control. Thomas Malthus is generally regarded as the originator of the idea that population growth (exponential) would outstrip food production (linear). He predicted (in 1798) that the result of unchecked population growth would be catastrophic. Of course he was wrong. Food production more than kept up with population growth, and still does. Famine and starvation have lessened in magnitude even as population has skyrocketed. But these facts didn't deter Paul Erlich, who published his scholarly work titled "The Population Bomb" in 1968.

He predicted mass famine unprecedented in human history by the latter part of the last millennium. He insisted that at least 10 million people would starve to death during each year of the 1970s. When these predictions proved wrong, he simply extended the timetable into the future. Unfortunately, many accept these dire predictions, and consequently embrace the "necessary" solutions of population control. But what (or who) is missing from these calculations? God is.

I'm reminded of Paul's statement in Romans 1:22, "Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools". Paul contended that these people were "without excuse" because the evidence of God's existence was all around them. And Peter warned of the scoffers who would be willfully ignorant of God's existence and thus deny the Second Coming of Christ. Ironically, Malthus was supposedly a man of God. And unfortunately, many today who profess Christianity still accept the so-called "wisdom of the world".

Forth from his dark and lonely hiding-place (Portentous sight!) the owlet Atheism, Sailing on obscene wings athwart the noon, Drops his blue-fring’d lids, and holds them close, And hooting at the glorious sun in heaven Cries out, “Where is it?”

Samuel Taylor Coleridge

1 Corinthians 3:19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. Jeremiah 10:23 O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.