A Moral Problem

Matt Post at the Capitol

Last month’s school shooting in Parkland, Florida that killed 17 people has not only triggered more calls for gun control but students leaving classes in protest. As part of the nationwide walkouts this past Wednesday, students gave speeches outside the U.S. Capitol alongside Democratic lawmakers. A video of the speech made by Matthew Post (no relation to me) has gone viral. This high school senior from Maryland declared, “We have a moral problem in this country…The adults have failed us. This is in our hands now. And if any elected official gets in our way, we will vote them out.”

I can sympathize with Matt’s anger and frustration but don’t agree with how he and others like him are reacting. Matt threatened to “shame our national policy leaders into protecting us.” No politician is perfect but we are supposed to honor and pray for those in authority. Many young people nowadays don’t respect their elders.

Voting out certain elected officials is a good idea. I would start with those that stood with Matt on the Capitol steps. Politicians wanting to tamper with the Second Amendment are hypocrites for having armed personnel protecting them. School shootings won’t cease if comprehensive gun control legislation is implemented. The city of Chicago has toughened their gun laws but the murder rate there has actually increased.

Terrorists have found ways to kill people without using guns. After the 9/11 attacks in 2001, we didn’t hear proposals to outlaw airplanes. When two brothers killed and maimed multitudes at the Boston Marathon five years ago, we didn’t see protestors calling for a ban on pressure cookers. Many teens still die from texting while driving even though it’s illegal in most states. I haven’t heard any of their friends and loved ones advocating the elimination of cell phones (although a few fanatics want to get rid of cars).

Yes, Matt. I agree adults have failed you. Proverbs 22:6 says, “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” Ever since prayer and Bible reading were removed from American classrooms generations ago, we’ve seen an increase in crime, drug usage, and out-of-wedlock births. Homosexuality and gender transition are now taught in our schools as normal behaviors. God-fearing individuals who won’t condone these things are labelled as “haters.”

On the same day Matt gave his speech outside the Capitol, he posted on Twitter: “We’re going to keep marching. We’re going to vote. And we, the youth, are going to bring morality to this country’s politics.” Matt, I hope you do. You seem like a bright young man who has the potential of making a greater impact on our nation. But preaching morality without repentance won’t bring lasting change. It’s like putting a Band-Aid on cancer.

The real moral problem is sin. The solution is knowing Jesus Christ as Lord and planting the incorruptible seed of God’s word in the human heart. When people become born again, they have the supernatural ability to obey His commandments including "Thou shalt not kill."

“There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.” - Proverbs 16:25

Predestined to Hell?

Like many people, I was surprised to hear of Robin Williams committing suicide last Monday. Minus the profanity, I enjoyed Robin’s comic talents especially in the movie “Good Morning, Vietnam” and the parody of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood in his first album “Reality...What a Concept.” It’s sad this actor/comedian who made millions laugh gave up his battle with depression by taking his own life.

This past Thursday I read a WorldNetDaily article about Robin Williams accepting Jesus Christ while in rehab. One man responded to the article with this comment: “God chooses who is to be saved and then opens their hearts to receive the message.” I attempted to correct this man of his belief in predestination, a doctrine popularized by 16th century theologian John Calvin. One dictionary defines predestination as “the act of God foreordaining every event from eternity.” 

A passage often cited by Calvinists can be found in Romans 8:29-30:

"For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified."

God is omniscient and inhabits eternity (Isaiah 57:15). Although God knows in advance who will reject Him, He still gives everybody the option of receiving eternal life. Deuteronomy 30:19 says, “I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live.” 

Because man was made a free moral agent, sometimes we make unwise choices. If someone died in a car accident because he was speeding or ran a red light, was that the will of God? No. The dead man simply made a foolish decision of his own free will.

If God predestined certain individuals to hell, then why bother witnessing since some people are supposedly “doomed from the womb?” On the contrary, God doesn’t want anyone to perish (2 Peter 3:9). Jesus commanded us in Mark 16:15, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to EVERY creature.” Acts 17:30 says that God “...commands ALL MEN everywhere to repent.” 

So if you’re not in right standing with the Lord, you can still choose to receive the free gift of salvation and spend eternity in heaven. You are not predestined to hell.

“For many are called, but few are chosen.” - Matthew 22:14

Freedom of Choice

Occasionally when I ask people if they think they are going to heaven, they respond with something like, “That’s for Him to decide.” What they don’t realize is that man has been given the freedom to choose his destiny. 

Adam and Eve could have chosen to follow God’s instructions not to eat the forbidden fruit but did so anyway. Cain could have chosen not to become bitter about his rejected offering but later murdered his brother Abel. We can choose not to sin instead of using that old Flip Wilson alibi, “The devil made me do it.” Hebrews 11:24-25 says that Moses “…refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin.”

Some choices may seem insignificant such as what clothes to wear or where to eat dinner. Then again, our choices can greatly affect the lives of others. Just last night, a pastor I was riding with drove us to Papa John’s where he planned to buy us pizza. Five young people were hanging around outside and I immediately knew I was supposed to witness to them. One of them already knew the Lord. The other four thought they were good enough for heaven. Eventually, they prayed to get born again. My pastor friend then decided to eat at Pizza Hut instead. Our waitress and another customer there got saved. Glory to God!

Apart from salvation, probably the most important decision anyone can make is who to marry. Once I proposed to my then-girlfriend and she accepted. But soon afterward I didn’t have peace inside. Although we mutually agreed to call off our engagement, my premature proposal caused my girlfriend a lot of heartache and pain. It would have been better if I had waited until I was absolutely sure this woman was someone God wanted me to spend the rest of my life with.

One thing that irritates me is when I make plans with someone and that person keeps flip-flopping. God wants us to be decisive. Look at James 1…

6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.

7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;

8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

As a young believer, I had a hard time making certain decisions because I was afraid of missing God. One thing that helped set me free in this area was a comment I heard by Joyce Meyer, “Sometimes you have to step out to find out.” Since then I have stepped out when I perceived God wanted me to do something but then backed up if I perceived I was going the wrong direction. Colossians 3:15 tells us to “…let the peace of God rule in your hearts.”

A man’s choices will affect his life now and for eternity. Will you choose God’s best for your life?

“I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live”-   Deuteronomy 30:19