ISIS is defeated.

ISIS continues to wreak havoc across the globe.   Just weeks ago they launched a coordinated attack in Paris, where 130 people have died and 368 people were injured.  Some of the injured were still in intensive care in critical condition at the time of this publishing.  Scores of people have been permanently affected due to the emotional trauma of the event.   We fear that ISIS or those who sympathize with their cause are already on our soil. We wonder, not if there will be an attack, but when.  When evil of this scale comes to the forefront, it seems that evil is winning.

The reality, however, is that ISIS is already defeated.  The script has already been written.  Evil will not win.  The victor has already been established.   Revelation depicts evil with images of a great dragon and two beasts, who do his bidding.  Evil seems to have unbridled power that cannot be challenged or diminished.   These same Scriptures describe a great battle beginning to clamor; yet when Christ arrives on the battlefield the war is over.   Jesus is the victor and all Heaven will break out in rejoicing. (Rev. 12-20)

The fate of evil was sealed when Christ defeated death and rose from the grave.  When we live with the end in mind we can persevere in the midst of suffering and great trials.  Paul writes the following to the church of Thessalonica:  

 “Therefore, among God's churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring. All this is evidence that God's judgment is right, and as a result you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering. God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels.”

2 Thessalonians 1:4-7

We know the future.  We know that when Christ comes, He will be victorious and us with Him.  But what do we do in the meantime?  What about the grief, suffering, and injustice that temporarily prevails?   

While patiently awaiting Christ’s blessed return we actively live and serve the victorious kingdom.  We do not allow angst to hold us back, but allow our light to penetrate the darkness.  We help people experience this kingdom by offering them comfort, relief, and rescue.  

The Jews awaited a Messiah to come and rescue them.  Scriptures promised and foretold his arrival.  Christmas is the season when we celebrate the arrival of this victorious King.   He is our Hope and in Him we have true joy.   Let not the news of the day dishearten or discourage us this Christmas season, for we know that Christ will come again and He will defeat all that stands opposed to us, once and for all. (Rev. 21:4)

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

Romans 12:12

Is God Intolerant Or Gracious?

“We should be tolerant of everything except intolerance.”   This seems to the mantra of our American mindset.  This mindset is further fueled by hyper individualism and the disbelief in absolute truth.  Those who are labeled ‘intolerant’ are often belittled, silenced, and considered closed minded.  The tolerance of our society simply can’t tolerate intolerance.  

‘Tolerate’ is defined as “to endure without repugnance; put up with:”  In other words, tolerance seems to mean ‘to get along’.  To be tolerant or to tolerate thus seems like a good thing.  A recent Mcdonald’s television and internet advertisement entitled “Archenemies” features this type of tolerance.  We see once bitter enemies like Dorothy and the Wicked Witch, a Bears fan & a Packers fan, and even a democratic and a republican getting along and having love for one another.  A catchy and fun song plays in the background; its chorus proclaims, “love is endless.”  We tend to love this ad and embrace it.  In a world of division and hate, a message of love is welcome.  

However, tolerance is often meant something more than just love one another.  Have you seen the COEXIST bumper sticker?  This bumper sticker features symbols of major world religions portrayed in such a way to spell out "COEXIST." But what does that mean?  Obviously, the general meaning is a message of tolerance.  However, some believe that it's saying that all religions are equally valid and true.  Some view the only way to be truly tolerant is to allow everyone to have their own truths and morality.   The lawsuits that exist over the usage of the “COEXIST” trademark, however, demonstrates even they don't accept this view of tolerance.    

God does not fit within this view of tolerance either.  God hates sin.  God does not tolerate false teaching.  There are various passages that list specific sins that God hates.  (ex. Deut. 12:31; Prov. 6:16-19; Isa. 61:8)  The Psalmist will describe God by saying,

“You love righteousness and hate wickedness;”

Psalm 45:7a

God is gracious.  God loves people.  God is patient and merciful with us in our sin.  In fact one of the most common descriptions of God in Scripture is as follows,

“The Lord is compassionate and gracious,

slow to anger, abounding in love. “

Psalm 103:8

God does not put up with our sins; instead He paid for them.  The cross is the quintessential example of God’s intolerance and grace.  God is graciously intolerant.  

God’s wrath against sin has been poured out on the cross.  All those who have faith can avert God’s wrath, having their sins paid for through Christ’s death.  God’s pardon for our sins is a gift we do not deserve.  This is grace.  (Romans 3:21-26; 5:1-21)

God was so intolerant of sin, He did not only pay for our sins. He also has redeemed us from the power of sin.  God raised Jesus from death into a new life.  We too, can have a new life through God’s resurrection power.  We are no longer bound or destined to a life of sin, but we can live a life according to the Holy Spirit.  We are free from sin.  (Romans 6:1-23)  

We are called to be “imitators of God." (Eph 5:1)  Therefore, how can we be graciously intolerant?   Jesus came “full of grace and truth” and demonstrated this in his encounter with the woman caught in adultery. (John 1:14)  Jesus does not condemn her and he calls her to live righteously. (John 8:1-11)  How can we not compromise truth while being full of grace?  We are to love people just the way they are; we are to love them so much, we don’t want them to stay that way.  How do we demonstrate intolerance of sin in our own lives and lead others to have the same conviction of their sins?

God is graciously intolerant.  May His Spirit give us the same steadfast conviction for truth and may His Spirit give us the same relentless, compassionate, grace for people. And may His Spirit give us the wisdom to live it out.  

Could watching or sharing a video on Facebook be immoral?

If you are watching a video that could be mistaken for the latest installment of Girls Gone Wild, then you probably already know the obvious answer.  However, that adorable video of that bunny eating raspberries that you just watched or shared on Facebook could be stolen and you didn't even know it.

I've seen this trend on Facebook and today I learned the proper term for it is "Facebook Freebooting".  I've had an issue with this for a long time but haven't posted about it until now.

If you have ever watched a video on Facebook that was shared a ton of times and it wasn't linked to YouTube it was likely stolen.   When a person posts a video on YouTube, they have the possibility of getting revenue from that video through advertising.  A person wanting to boost traffic to their page  will sometimes download a popular YouTube video that is not their own, upload it to Facebook and share it publicly.  They will do so without linking to the original YouTube creator or video and most of the time without permission.  This is called piracy.  Piracy is immoral.  If you're a follower of the Bible, it even made it into the top ten. (Exd 20:15)

Once the video goes viral on Facebook, instead of the original creator gaining revenue through advertising now, Facebook gleans the rewards.  Facebook is also culpable in this crime by not taking simple measures to police this practice nor reimburse the victims.

YouTuber, SmarterEveryDay has a video that explains this in a clearer and more entertaining way:

This form of piracy via social media is illegal and immoral.  If you share a pirated video, you are only perpetuating crime and robbing the victim even further.   Facebook now auto plays videos so it might be hard not to watch said video, but at least go to YouTube and watch it.  If you suspect or know that a video on Facebook has been pirated, here are three things you can do:

For a further and much better post about this subject read this blog by YouTube creator It's Okay To Be Smart.

Romans 13:7-9 (NLT) says

"Give to everyone what you owe them: Pay your taxes and government fees to those who collect them, and give respect and honor to those who are in authority.

 Owe nothing to anyone—except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God’s law.  For the commandments say, “You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not covet.”  These—and other such commandments—are summed up in this one commandment: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”