“But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.” (1 Peter 3:15-16 ESV)

No. I will not agree with you, fellow believer, simply to avoid a debate. Debate is good among those who believe. Debate is what institutions of higher learning should be all about. Doctrine is thereby purged, tried, and strengthened as spiritually mature men and women genuinely interested in rightly dividing the Word of truth study to show themselves approved unto God (2 Timothy 2:15). Exegesis is work and not science. God is an infinite continuum of possibility. Who is foolish and conceited enough to believe that only one point of view can encompass the totality of God’s mind or explain His ways exhaustively when His thoughts and ways are so much higher than ours (Isaiah 55:8-9)?

We need to repent of thinking more highly of ourselves than we ought to think (Romans 12:3). The government of the United States and church leadership alike would do well to remember that it is much more mature and productive to intelligently argue a point respectfully instead of drawing lines in the sand, refusing to acknowledge the validity of opposing views, and labeling those who don’t fully agree with us imbeciles, heretics, and fools. We seemed to be more forgiving communicators, more forgiving and respectful of others, prior to adolescence than we are now as adult disciples of Christ. How can this be? There is much to be said for the productivity of early church councils such as those which took place in Nicaea and Constantinople. Do we really need another twenty-thousand Protestant denominations in America today? How do people with opposing worldviews view such disharmony, finger pointing, and angst among those of us who profess to be disciples of Jesus Christ? Jesus prayed that we be one as Father and Son are one within the godhead (John 17:21-23)? In what hour will Christ’s church expend at least some effort toward caring enough to participate in answering this prayer of unity? Is there more than one Lord, one faith, and one baptism (Ephesians 4:5)? God forbid.

Lord, help me to build more bridges than I burn during this stage of my earthly imperfection. Help me to seek Your face with sincerest humility while respecting those who might never see as I see, hear as I hear, or believe as I believe. Help me to cherish those who challenge and refine my trust in You and the purity of Your holy Word. You have commanded me to love my neighbor as myself and to regard the entire world, not only those who agree with me, as my neighbor (Matthew 22:36-40). Help me to bear the discomfort of rejection, sneering, and scoffing I am sure to endure as I wait confidently upon You, Heavenly Father, in Jesus’ mighty name. Amen.

© 2009 Brian L Hunter

www.anointedwritenow.com

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Prayer Request

“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.” (Isaiah 26:3 ESV)

I have alienated some ministries by posting what I have written about politics being a divisive (Contrary to the spirit of John 17:21) topic to be preaching in this already politically and racially tense time. Especially considering America's brief history which is full of hatred, social inequality, and institutional injustice by design, I would personally avoid such topics and seek to concentrate more upon the infallible Word of God and the unity therein commanded much more so than espousing my opinions of other people while standing behind the sacred desk. Please forgive me, Almighty God, for the discord I have sown and the relationships I may have strained. Lord, please help me to keep my mind stayed on You instead of so much attention to politics, the opinions of people, and the other things of this world in Jesus’ holy name. Like John Lennon said, “all we are saying is give peace a chance.” We all must follow our own inspired convictions of just what promoting peace entails. I already know that I am an unconventional lunatic and therefore I have taken great pains to explicate this caveat.

Please pray for me that God's peace and wisdom will prevail in all of the relationships adversely affected by the impertinence of what I have published on my personal Facebook page. Please let forgiveness be found in Your church, Almighty God. In Jesus’ precious name I pray, loving and hoping in all things 1 Corinthians 13:7-8). Amen and amen.

© 2009 Brian L Hunter

www.anointedwritenow.com

#WritingHelps

More Exaltation of God Above Politics

Considering that family members no more than two generations removed were enslaved, raped, and treated like cattle under the first fifteen presidents of the United States of America, countless African Americans yet trusted God's Word rather than openly disrespect the office of the US presidency. My prayer is that some people would keep this in mind before failing to bridle their tongues and offending people who differ no matter what the differences may be (James 1:26). Jesus prayed that His beloved be one as Father and Son are one (John 17:21). The secret ballot policy in America respects this prayer whereas openly sharing my political views from every mountaintop, especially from the pulpit, runs counter to God's will. May the grace of our Lord be with you all, regardless of political affiliation, now and always in Jesus' name.

Disclaimer: Brian Hunter has not posted such maniacal ideas anywhere except on his very own blogs and social media pages (See Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights) and hence they are neither meant to be accepted doctrine, verified by any other human being within or without organized religion, agreed with by friends, or rubber-stamped by any person living or dead. 

© 2009 Brian L Hunter

www.anointedwritenow.com

#WritingHelps

More On Preaching Politics

 “For while I was with you I resolved to know nothing except Jesus the Messiah, and him crucified.” (1 Corinthians 2:2 ISV)

Preaching politics from the pulpit reveals faithlessness and fear which, sowing unto the flesh (Galatians 6:8), shall continue to reap division and not the unity for which Jesus prayed in John 17. How is God glorified when the ignorance, prejudice, and fear concerning any social ill or political displeasure is preached instead of His love, omnipotence, and sovereignty? Satan comes as an angel of light to preach such things (2 Corinthians 11:14). God’s grace has not ceased to be sufficient (2 Corinthians 12:9). When in chains and awaiting execution, Paul did not preach the need for political activism, civil disobedience, or different government to Timothy. Spiritual bigotry is no closer to exhibiting God’s righteousness now than it was during that recent era when, in America, we raped, whipped, and sold slaves on Sunday morning before heading to the local church for service. It would be easier to mix oil and water successfully than to mix faith and fear. The combining of lies with truth, however, has been Satan's modus operandi since the fall of mankind. Leaders of the first century visible church, following the lead of the apostles and also suffering vicious persecution under Nero throughout the Roman Empire, did not preach anti-establishment, political messages. No. They preached Christ crucified and the gospel spread exponentially, miraculously, and without the type of division that political preaching absolutely guarantees. Preaching politics from the pulpit is not completely unlike abusive fathers molesting their daughters since home and church should be the safest gathering places on earth. Let us, therefore, preach Jesus (and Him crucified, 1 Corinthians 2:2) rather than the wisdom of men, the gospel of peace rather than self-righteous condemnation of others, and the love of God rather than hypocrisy, bigotry, and hate. www.ministryofwritinghelps.com

“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12)

There is a difference of opinion inherent in politics. All Tweets aside, America’s founding fathers had the foresight to mandate that voters be able to cast their vote in private to protect the secrecy of the ballot. Preaching politics from the pulpit is not unlike eating meat which has been sacrificed unto idols (1 Corinthians 10:29). William Shakespeare wrote in Julius Caesar 3/2, “Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears.” Please allow me now to write this; friends whose hearts and attitudes threaten to separate us from the way, the truth, and the life need to be expeditiously separated from our lives by the two-edged sword of God’s holy Word, who was and is and is to come. What does it profit a man to gain a flesh-driven political utopia and yet forfeit his soul in the process (Matthew 16:26)?

© 2013 Brian L Hunter

Who is God?

“This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.” (Matthew 15:8)

What the world definitely does not need is a second coming of the Pharisees and Sadducees (Matthew 22:29). The first round was quite enough. Thank you. Heartless, self-righteous judgment and condemnation is not what the New Covenant through the Blood of The Lamb is all about (Romans 8:1-39). Fighting words? Really? Whether I refer to God’s Word as the Torah, the Bible, the Word, God’s revelation of His mind to man, or Jesus has absolutely no bearing whatsoever on the intimacy of my relationship with Him. Coincidentally, He answers when I call whether I refer to Him as Yeshua, Wonderful, Counselor, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit, God in Three Persons, Messiah, YHVH, Yahweh, Yeshua Ha-Mashiach, Ancient of Days, El Shaddai , or Jehovah. While people devoid of the mind of Christ are busy pointing fingers and arguing over divisive cultural facts and denominational insecurities which are entirely insignificant in the schema of God’s redemptive work, Satan, the author and finisher of the works-based salvation concept, is laughing his way all the way to hell with the souls of many and having his way in the world. When will we wake up and begin to participate in an answer to the prayer Jesus prayed in the seventeenth chapter of John’s gospel (John 17:1-26)? God’s people are one people. “So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don't get tied up again in slavery to the law.” (Galatians 5:1 NLT) Selah.

 
Note: I admonish true disciples not to be enslaved by translations. "Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do." (1 Timothy 1:4) This initial post has been a response to http://www.logosapostolic.org/bible_study/RP506JehovahYahweh.htm Please remember that we cannot believe everything we read on the Internet. :)

© 2013 Brian L Hunter