Category: secular humanism

To Be Seen and Heard #4

Friday, March 21, 2025

“But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,…” (Matthew 23:5 KJV).

Should we be in attendance at the “Desperate-for-Attention-and-Relevance Conference?”

Take up the context of today’s Scripture again: “[7] And [they love] greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi. [8] But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. [9] And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. [10] Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ. [11] But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. [12] And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.”

You can also refer to Mark 12:38 and Luke 20:46. Israel’s apostate spiritual leaders aimed to be flattered in public. The “markets” (marketplaces, town squares) were places where crowds could utter and hear those salutations, “Rabbi, Rabbi” (“My Master/Teacher, My Master/Teacher”). Countless heads were sure to turn and offer additional admiration. (I am reminded of noticing a religious leader arriving at a funeral home and him soaking up the praise he received from the gullible “faithful.”) Also, priests in Judaism were being called “father,” a carryover from heathen idolatry (Judges 17:10; Judges 18:19). These titles led to swollen egos, which prompted Jesus to warn His audience to have humility instead of exalting self (re-read Matthew 23:11,12). Also see Matthew 18:1-4, Matthew 20:20-28, Mark 10:35-45, and Luke 22:24-28.

If you thought Matthew 23:1-12 was severe, read the rest of the chapter. This diatribe features eight “woes” or rebukes and condemnations of the Perverts of the Kingdom (verses 13-16,23,25,27,29). Jesus calls them “blind” on five occasions (verses 16-17,19,24,26), “hypocrites” seven times (verses 13-15,23,25,27,29), “fools” twice (verses 17,19), “white sepulchres [tombs]” once (verse 27), and “serpents… generation of vipers” once (verse 33). Jesus is in the Jerusalem Temple, condemning its “ministers” for thoroughly perverting His nation with a manmade and man-centered religion—which religionists will ultimately insist on His crucifixion in literally just two days.

Sinful man is doing what he wants in Israel, he is at the center of attention, and he will swiftly eliminate the “competition” (the Lord Jesus Christ)….

To Be Seen and Heard #3

Thursday, March 20, 2025

“But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,…” (Matthew 23:5 KJV).

Should we be in attendance at the “Desperate-for-Attention-and-Relevance Conference?”

Today’s Scripture again: “But all their works they do for to be seen of men….”Their objective in Judaism in Jesus’ day was not to be seen of God, but to receive praise, recognition, approbation, or applause from their fellow humans! Several illustrations are provided. For instance, “they make broad their phylacteries.” These leather boxes held pieces of paper with Law-based Scripture on them. Such containers were attached to the forehead or left wrist with a strap. Larger phylacteries obviously meant someone was carrying many verses (“I know and obey more Bible passages than you!”). Huge phylacteries “advertised” the wearers were “more pious,” or “more religious,” than others. It was a way of bragging or flaunting self-righteousness.

Also, they would “enlarge the borders of their garments.” Mark 12:38 words it as, “Beware of the scribes, which love to go in long clothing.” Luke 20:46 warns, “Beware of the scribes, which desire to walk in long robes….” According to Numbers 15:37-41 and Deuteronomy 22:12, blue fringes or tassels served as a reminder to Israel to keep the Mosaic Law, the Old Covenant. Israel’s apostate leaders extended their fringes because they wanted to appear “more religious” or “more spiritual” than the rest. Their special clothing was ostentatious, pretentious, or “flashy.”

Moreover, as per the context of today’s Scripture, “And [they] love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues,…” (Matthew 23:6). They sought to have the best or most prominent seats at banquets (cf. Mark 12:39; Luke 20:46). Read Christ’s stinging words on this selfish practice in Luke 14:7-11. They strove to occupy the foremost spaces at the synagogues—like today’s “front-row pew seekers!” Again, eminence before their peers was their goal. Those who sit closest to the pulpit seem to be the “holiest” or “godliest,” right? “Look at me, see me, observe me, watch me!” Such behavior is nothing but self-aggrandizement, the prideful desire to be at the center of attention—especially in religion.

The Lord has even more to communicate here….

To Be Seen and Heard #2

Wednesday, March 19, 2025

“But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,…” (Matthew 23:5 KJV).

Should we be in attendance at the “Desperate-for-Attention-and-Relevance Conference?”

Read today’s Scripture in context, a long speech delivered just a few days before Calvary: “[1] Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples, [2] Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat: [3] All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not. [4] For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.”

Chapter 23 of Matthew is one of the most scathing rebukes the Lord Jesus Christ ever issued during His earthly ministry. (John chapter 8 is another extremely offensive sermon.) He warns His listeners—both His followers and any curiosity-seekers—of the religious corruption that had overtaken Judaism. The nation Israel’s spiritual leaders seem like Moses’ successors, God’s spokesmen, but they are hypocritical. Provided they taught the pure Word of God, the unadulterated Law of Moses, they should be followed. Nevertheless, as Christ Himself pointed out, there is also a counterfeit Word of God and an imitation ministry in Israel: these perverted religious leaders are teaching their words of men and passing them off as the words of God, and they are also failing to “practice what they preach” (“they say, and do not”).

They have watered down God’s commandments with mindless religious tradition. Instead of the LORD’S laws pointing out man’s sin problem, those laws have been “supplemented” with humanistic thoughts and deeds that portray man in a more positive light. God and His precepts are not at the center of attention because man has placed the spotlight on himself. It becomes all the more serious when we recognize this has occurred in God’s nation Israel, His channel of salvation and blessing to the nations in prophecy. As long as Israel languishes in spiritual darkness, she cannot be all that the LORD intended her to be. She is thus incapable of reaching the Gentiles….

The Roller-Coaster of Life #8

Tuesday, July 2, 2024

“God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord” (1 Corinthians 1:9 KJV).

In this roller coaster called “life,” who is truly “faithful?”

When the disciples learned how they would desert Jesus, they disputed it and called Him a liar! “And Jesus saith unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered. But after that I am risen, I will go before you into Galilee. But Peter said unto him, Although all shall be offended, yet will not I. And Jesus saith unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this day, even in this night, before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. But he spake the more vehemently, If I should die with thee, I will not deny thee in any wise. Likewise also said they all” (Mark 14:27-31). Of course, it came to pass exactly as Christ foretold: “And they all forsook him, and fled” (verse 50), including boastful Peter denying Him three times (verses 66-72)!

It contradicts humanism (“man is his final authority!”), is at variance with “feel-good” Christendom, and offends our ego. Yet, the fact remains that, because of sin, none (!) of us are faithful. Saul of Tarsus, who later became the Apostle Paul, was raised in Judaism (works-religion). Such “Judaizers” or denominationalists constantly promoted “the goodness of men” amongst his grace believers. Now, as a Christian, he composed these words: “For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:…” (Philippians 3:3,4). Indeed, Saul had “trusted in the flesh”—his religious performance—yet that was “but dung” (verses 5-8). “And be found in him [Christ], not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:…” (verse 9).

Never forget: Father God does not trust us, but He does trust Christ in us, so we may we trust Christ in us too! 🙂

I Am Comfortable! #15

Tuesday, January 30, 2024

“But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them” (2 Corinthians 4:3,4 KJV).

Why are they comfortable? Why are we comfortable about their choice?

Doubtless, Satan’s evil world system utilizes a variety of distractions to blind the minds of those without the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour (see today’s Scripture). They lack spiritual understanding or judgment and therefore fail to see reality: they value and concentrate on worthless ideas and silly activities, they make an effort to pursue what does not matter, and so on. Actually, this could even be true of those who know Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour.

God is always willing to convey spiritual light if we so want it: “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (verse 6, following today’s Scripture). Whether lost people or carnal (fleshly, worldly, secular) Christians, they have not yielded to the Holy Spirit’s teaching ministry. They have invested too much time, energy, and money in nonsense to turn around or reform. “I will stay on my chosen path! I will not repudiate my preconceived notions! I love what I have and I will never give it up!”

Here is what we can say about non-Christians. If they could be comfortable in not having an eternal relationship with God through Jesus Christ alone, if God could be comfortable in turning them over to what they wanted (eternity without Him), then we should be comfortable with it also. The more I have seen antagonism toward the Scriptures throughout these many years, the more I am at peace with letting people have the ignorance they want. It is unfortunate, but that is their problem: “If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord. But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant” (1 Corinthians 14:37,38).

-FINIS!-

I Am Comfortable! #14

Monday, January 29, 2024

“But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them” (2 Corinthians 4:3,4 KJV).

Why are they comfortable? Why are we comfortable about their choice?

Indeed, we should make every reasonable attempt to impart spiritual light to as many people as we can. Yet, dear friends, we must let them continue on their destructive path if they persist. “Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone” (Hosea 4:17). Once His longtime neighbors and acquaintances purposed to kill the Lord Jesus, He departed Nazareth (Luke 4:28-31)! When He was invited to leave, He went to the opposing shore of the Sea of Galilee (Matthew 8:33–9:1; Mark 5:15-21; Luke 8:35-40)! “Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind…” (Matthew 15:14).

“A man that is an heretick [teacher or supporter of false doctrine, for purposes of dividing] after the first and second admonition [warning] reject [shun, refuse]; Knowing that he that is such is subverted [turned over, perverted], and sinneth, being condemned of himself” (Titus 3:10,11). The LORD thrice commanded the Prophet Jeremiah not to pray for his people (Jeremiah 7:16; Jeremiah 11:14; Jeremiah 14:11). Divine judgment against their habitual sin was on its way, and would not be avoided.

If they are comfortable—contented and free from fear—in being out of God’s will, we are comfortable with them. If they want to be lost people, we value their free will. If they wish to be ignorant Christians, we let them have their lack of knowledge. Just like King Saul’s appointment was no accident, no unbeliever goes to Hell accidentally and no Christian remains in spiritual kindergarten unwillingly. “If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself” (John 7:17). In this world of technological advancements, the Scriptures are more accessible than ever. No one can legitimately complain, “I did not have a chance to know if there was a God or learn His will.” They are all without excuse.

Let us summarize and conclude this devotionals arc….

I Am Comfortable! #13

Sunday, January 28, 2024

“But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them” (2 Corinthians 4:3,4 KJV).

Why are they comfortable? Why are we comfortable about their choice?

The LORD knew King Saul would ultimately be a disaster and disappointment, so He warned Israel of the hazards. Although the Jews expected Saul to conquer the oppressive Philistines (1 Samuel 8:20), the Philistines killed Saul in battle and left Israel without a king and still in captivity to the Philistines (see 1 Samuel 31:1-13)!

Likewise, Romans chapter 2 has warned those who lack perfect righteousness face a precarious future: “[5] But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; [6] Who will render to every man according to his deeds:…. [8] But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, [9] Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;….”

When people refuse to acknowledge their sin problem, they are telling God they are just as good as Jesus Christ is, that they can replace His life with their own efforts. If they want to depend on their self-righteousness (as in Romans 10:1-3), He will let them do so—but their fate will be indignation, wrath, tribulation, and anguish. His justice demands His righteousness be enforced, so those without His righteousness must suffer the punishment their own “goodness” and efforts produce.

Second Thessalonians chapter 1: “[7] And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, [8] In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: [9] Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;….”

It is therefore not (!) God’s (!) fault (!) when people choose to go to Hell….

I Am Comfortable! #12

Saturday, January 27, 2024

“But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them” (2 Corinthians 4:3,4 KJV).

Why are they comfortable? Why are we comfortable about their choice?

As Israel rejected the LORD in favor of a human king, the LORD had Samuel give them their way! “Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee…. Now therefore hearken unto their voice…” (1 Samuel 8:7,9). The LORD warned them about the ensuing dangers of their poor decision to have a king (verses 10-18), but they did not wish to listen to reason. God replied, “Samuel, let them have their way!”

“[18] And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen you; and the LORD will not hear you in that day. [19] Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us; [20] That we also may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles. [21] And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he rehearsed them in the ears of the LORD. [22] And the LORD said to Samuel, Hearken unto their voice, and make them a king. And Samuel said unto the men of Israel, Go ye every man unto his city.”

People today constantly commit ancient Israel’s sin. They ignore the LORD God and His Word. What they have determined to think and do, they will think and do… no matter what. They aim to create a mindset and a life apart from His will because rationalism—human intellect—is their god. It is no accident. They do not want to hear about the dangers or consequences of their sin, but God has already made it quite clear as to the fate of people who die without His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, as personal Saviour….

The Key to Be Happy! #7

Friday, March 31, 2023

“Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding” (Proverbs 3:13 KJV).

What is the key to happiness?

Have you ever wondered who or what is the “strange woman” of Proverbs? You can locate her in 2:16, 5:3, 5:20, 6:24, 7:5, 20:16, 23:27, and 27:13. She is strange, not in the sense of bizarre or ridiculous, but “strange” as in “stranger” (for example, see “strangers” of Ephesians 2:12—Gentiles outside of Israel’s covenants, apart from Israel’s God, et cetera). She is a foreigner, and once a man connects with her, he is eternally doomed! “Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on hell” (Proverbs 5:5). “Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death” (Proverbs 7:27). She has no personal relationship with the God of creation, the God of the Bible, so she is a foreigner to the truth.

This “strange woman” is exactly like the “outlandish [foreign, pagan, heathen] women” who fooled Solomon (see Nehemiah 13:26,27; cf. “strange women” of 1 Kings 11:1!). In fact, such illicit sexual relations in the physical realm are related to satanic sexual relations in the spiritual realm (see Numbers 25:1-3; 2 Peter 2:14; Revelation 2:14,20-22; Revelation 14:4). Notice how the “simple man” (lacking wisdom—leaving Proverbs to follow Ecclesiastes) is the victim of the seductive strange woman (Proverbs 9:13-18). Here is the supporter of the Antichrist, a participant of the Whore of Babylon religious system (Revelation chapter 17), proselytizing precious souls and leading them to eternal damnation (Revelation 14:9-12). Of course, like any prostitute, she promises her “clients” “a good time”—and, only when it is too late, will they realize the spiritual disease she has transmitted to them!

Proverbs is much more than a handy “daily philosophy book.” It is literally a matter of spiritual life or spiritual death in the ages to come. The Jewish people have possessed the Book of Proverbs for 3,000 years—not to mention Ecclesiastes. However, in spite of all those warnings in more than 1,100 verses, they will still accept the Antichrist! While none of this relates to us the Church the Body of Christ, there is always a valuable lesson we can learn here….

The Key to Be Happy! #6

Thursday, March 30, 2023

“Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding” (Proverbs 3:13 KJV).

What is the key to happiness?

One of the Antichrist’s characteristics will be his “understanding of dark sentences” (Daniel 8:23). A brilliant man, someone endowed with satanic wisdom, he can deceive the masses by employing eloquent, elegant, seductive, lofty arguments. In fact, like King Solomon, he will follow the pattern of sin laid out in Ecclesiastes, enticing his supporters to chart their own paths (isolated from the one true God). While sounding unbelievable, this has happened on a small-scale countless times in human history.

World religious leaders, philosophers, founders of cults, et cetera, have drawn billions upon billions away from the God of the Bible by promising their groups “enlightenment,” “satisfaction,” “fulfillment,” “peace,” “prosperity.” The Antichrist will be a supreme master in these realms (see Daniel 11:21,23,24,27,32; cf. Psalm 55:20,21). Only Israel’s believing remnant, having accepted God’s wisdom, will be able to overcome these lies (see Matthew 24:4,5,11,23-26; Mark 13:5,6,21-23; Luke 21:8).

By the way, Job’s three friends—with all their useless, worldly, natural-man advice (see the Book of Job)—represent the lost religious leaders deceiving Israel throughout Christ’s earthly ministry (Sadducees, Pharisees, and Herodians). There is no wisdom of God in any of it, so the Jewish people as a whole were unable to recognize God’s wisdom that Jesus Christ declared to them. In the future (Daniel’s 70th Week), this ignorance will again be a snare, except Israel will now be vulnerable to accepting the Antichrist! As before, they did not learn the lessons of the Book of Proverbs, so they are bound to repeat Ecclesiastes (like apostate Solomon)!

There are 90 references to “fools,” “foolishness,” and “folly” in the Book of Proverbs—the Antichrist’s disciples. In Proverbs, there are well over 100 references to “wisdom” or “wise” people—the Lord Jesus Christ’s followers (the “happy” people of today’s Scripture). However, the fools have tried in vain to satisfy the void that only the Lord Jesus Christ can fulfill, so they have nothing but misery and hopelessness when He comes back to destroy the Antichrist, his adherents, and the evil world system he represents….