Serving God or Serving Idols

Are we developed towards God?

All of mankind is worshipers and they will either worship Jehovah or idols because no one is neutral. In Rom. 1:18-19, we are told, “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.” All people have God’s clear revelation of truth, but it is wicked people who will suppress that truth. This is why Paul goes on to say that although they know God they do not glorify him, but become futile in their thinking and eventually worship idols.

But, what about our children. Do they act the same way as adults do: either a worshiper of God or of idols? Consider this: children either respond to God by faith or they suppress the truth in unrighteousness. So, yes there is a choosing that begins when we are very young between two ways of life and sometimes we forget that all are made in the image of God and therefore, even at a young age, we can either be serving God or serving idols. I think this is why Solomon spoke about spanking a child and how it was done to drive folly away from the heart of a child (Prov. 22:15). Consider further that the preaching of the cross, to the world, is folly (1 Cor. 1:18). So, basically Solomon was stating that something was wrong with the child’s heart that required correction. It obviously was not headed in the ways of God, but down a different path.

You see, the heart is not neutral and the idols that I mention that can be in the heart of our children or us are things not made of wood or stone. But rather, the subtle idols of the heart. Things like conformity to the world, embracing earthly mindsets, and setting our affections on things below. And, with these idols comes our motives, desires, wants, goals, hopes and expectations that rule the heart.

So, either we will respond to life as children of faith who know, love and serve Jehovah or we will respond as children of foolishness and unbelief, who neither know God nor serve him. So, whom do we worship and more importantly, whom do our children worship? For parents, parenting is not just providing good input, creating a constructive home atmosphere and positive interactions. The child is interacting with the living God and is either worshiping, serving and growing in understanding of who God is, or he is seeking to make sense of life without a relationship with God. If he is living as a fool who says in his heart there is no God, he does not cease to be a worshiper—he simply worships what is not God. Thus, part of the parents’ task is to shepherd that child pointing him to the One whom alone is worthy of his worship.

Prov. 4; 23 tells us, “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” Life flows out from the heart and parenting cannot be concerned only with positive shaping influences. It must shepherd the heart as an elder shepherds the church! And, we cannot forget that the world’s smallest hand-to-hand combat field is a child’s heart and we need to provide them with the quality of relationships in our homes that reflect God’s grace and mercy for sinners, a home whose values are scripturally based and that any punishments are appropriate to reflect a holy God’s view of sin. We must all realize that either we grow in love and trust in God or we turn more fully to the forms of idolatry and self‐reliance because selfishness is not outgrown nor is rebellion against authority outgrown. Therefore, we must pray that God will work in and around us and our efforts as parents so we can make ourselves and our children people who know and honor God.

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Bible Verses on What Saves

Many things work together to save us.  It is our observance of all of these things which work to perfect our faith.  It is one’s faith complete that saves.   James 2:22 “Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?”  We are saved by all of what the Word of God says that saves us.

God Saves Us
Isaiah 12:2
Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.

1 Peter 1:3-4, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you”

Jesus Saves Us
1 Timothy 1:15, “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.”

Hebrews 5:9, “And being made perfect, he [Jesus] became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him.”

The Spirit Saves Us
1 Corinthians 6:11, “And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.”

Grace Saves Us
Acts 15:11, “But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.”

Romans 3:24, “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus”

Ephesians 2:8, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God”

Love Saves Us
John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

Mercy Saves Us
Titus 3:5, “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost”

The Cross Saves Us
1 Corinthians 1:18, “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.”

Galatians 6:14, “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.”

Jesus’ Blood Saves Us
1 John 1:7, “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”

Romans 5:9, “Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.”

Ephesians 1:7, “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace”

The Name of Christ Saves Us
Acts 4:10, “Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.”

The Word Saves Us
Romans 1:16, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”

James 1:21, “Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.”

Preaching Saves Us
1 Corinthians 1:21, “For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.”

Mark 16:15-16, “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.  There is a response required when we hear the gospel preached.

Baptism in Water Saves Us
1 Peter 3:20-21, “Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.  The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ”

Calling on the Name of the Lord Saves Us
Romans 10:13, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Working Saves Us
James 2:24
“Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.”
Acts 10:34-35, “Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.”
Philippians 2:12, “Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.”
Romans 2:7-10,  “To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile.”

John 6:27, “Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed“.
Luke 13:24, “Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.  John 5:28-29 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.”

Obedience Saves Us
Hebrews 5:8-9, “Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him”

Endurance Saves Us
Matthew 10:22, “And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.”

Patience Saves Us
Hebrews 6:12, “That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
Revelation 14:12-13, “Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.”

The Love of the Truth Saves Us
2 Thessalonians 2:10, “And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.”

Fear Saves
Jude 23, “And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.”
Philippians 2:12, “Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.”

We Can Save Ourselves
Acts 2:40, “And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.”  How do we save ourselves?  The Bible tells us:
1 Timothy 4:16, “Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.”  By heeding and continuing in the doctrine of Christ.

The way of Salvation:

Hearing Saves Us
Romans 10:17, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

Believing Saves Us
Hebrews 11:6, “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”  The account of the Philippian Jailor in Acts 16:30-31, “And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.”  Romans 10:9, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”

Repentance Saves Us
Luke 13:3, “I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.”  2 Corinthians 7:10, “For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.”

Confession Saves Us
Matthew 10:32, “Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.”
Romans 10:9-10, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”

Baptism saves Us
Mark 16:16
“He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.”

Faithfulness unto Death Saves us
Revelation 2:10
“...be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.”

No one thing in and of itself will bring salvation.  All the things that scripture teach that save us work together in unison to bring about our salvation.  Leaving anything out is to leave the commandments of God unfulfilled and our salvation undone.  God played a role in our salvation.  Man did not deserve it, cannot earn it or pay for it, and can never repay it no matter what works he may accomplish in the name of Jesus Christ.  Our hope for salvation was offered by the grace of God.  Grace is defined as an undeserved, beneficial disposition towards someone.  Grace is a comprehensive term which represents God reaching down to fallen man from heaven with a plan for life.

Man has a role to play in his redemption as well.  Man’s role is accomplished by faith.  Faith is a comprehensive term which represents fallen man reaching up to God in hope for life through obedience to His will.

God did His part, we must do ours.  God’s grace and man’s faith working together towards the eternal purpose of the Father.  By grace we are saved through faith.

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Chick-Fil-A

Hey JCP Corp; Get A Clue – Before You Go Bankrupt!

We all know the story well by now; how since JC Penney hired known lesbian Ellen DeGeneres to be featured in some of their advertising, presented an ad with two women with their children as a “family” in their Mother’s Day flyer, and spotlighted and supported similar deviancy with two male “dads” and their “family” of children in their Father’s Day flyer, the company has virtually plummeted down the fast track to nowhere but bankruptcy. According to the AFA in July of this year, “Since February, the company stock has lost more than half its value, and Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services lowered its credit rating on J.C. Penney Co. further into ‘junk’ status.”  This has also resulted in a reported 350 layoffs at their home office. Contrast that with this…

When Chick-Fil-A’s CEO, Dan Cathy, did nothing more than just respond to a question by saying that “…we are very much supportive of the family — the biblical definition of the family unit,” and thereby simply just publicly admitted that the Bible defines his understanding of marriage as being the God-blessed and defined, very unique and exclusive bond between one man and one woman, well, the militant, radical, homosexual hate-mongers and spin meisters went to work to discredit him and destroy his business in the eyes of the buying public. …Enter former Arkansas governor “Mike Huckabee’s appeal to patronize Chick-fil-A on Aug. 1 as a display of support for traditional Christian values and as a reminder that our Constitution protects religious freedom,” as I received it via e-mail that morning, and that is where the encouragement – and incidentally, this personal account for me – truly begins…

As I indicated in the concluding paragraph of the morning e-mail which I sent out to just over 275 of my e-contacts inviting them to join me in patronizing Chick-Fil-A for lunch that day:

I would never ask anyone to do that which I would not for the cause of Christ in the defense and proclamation of the gospel (Phil. 1:7). At 11:30 today, I am planning to leave work, pick up Karen, and make the 50 minute or so trip one way to Stillwater to eat lunch at Chick-fil-A. I hope the lines are so long that I have to wait an hour in the 110 degree heat to eat, as I will elatedly do so. I [know from Jesus] that if we are not willing to act on our Christian convictions with more than mere words, that our Christianity isn’t worth anything at all – either here or hereafter (See: Mk. 8:38) What about you? If you believe as I do, may I humbly suggest and invite you to Chick-fil-A for lunch or dinner – even Drive-thru?

And what a wondrous sight greeted our welcoming eyes when we arrived at the Stillwater, Oklahoma, Chick-Fil-A! The parking lot between their restaurant and the local Hobby Lobby was jam-packed, wall-to-wall with cars (I haven’t ever seen it half that busy even in the height of the Christmas holiday shopping season)! The drive-through easily encircled the entire building, and the lines inside were backed up outside! Into the 110+ degree heat! And no one seemed to really care! People were smiling and talking, entertaining their little ones, conversing back and forth with total strangers, taking pictures, and enjoying standing up for their convic-tions from God’s word. What a wonderful, courteous, and well-mannered group! (And those who defend the fanatical attacks and hate-filled antics of the militant homosexuals they support, call us unloving?!? Wow!)

As I stood in line, a gentleman immediately behind me had gotten onto his smart phone and found out that at that exact point in time – 12:55 on a working, weekday, Wednesday afternoon, in the 110 degree Oklahoma heat – that particular small town Chick-Fil-A franchise had reportedly put out one thousand and sixty two orders! And there was no end in sight judging by the lines which still extended two, three, and four wide, all the way out the doors and onto the curb; a line of customers onto the end of which others were adding themselves continually! One had to wonder at that moment just what was going to happen when the lunch-time ‘warm-ups’ were behind us and the real test of the evening dinner hour actually hit!

After a paltry and very pleasant 35 minute or so wait, I got our food and retreated to the car where my wife and I sat and ate (the restaurant was overflowing) immensely enjoying the experience as the flood of convicted customers continued to fall in line. And as we left the parking lot, we purposefully journeyed down past the small JC Penney store that also sets in that same little strip mall, and quickly counted the 7-8 lonely cars that sadly sat in the largely empty parking lot out in front of it. But the story doesn’t stop there…

My daughter and son in law and their two children, along with my other daughter who works in Tulsa, all got together and went out to lunch at the Promenade Mall there in Tulsa. They reported that the lines in the food court at the Chick-Fil-A not only extended out into, but then out of the food court, and even to several stores down the mall aisle, two and three people wide, before finally ending. All of this while the workers at several of the other vendors’ kiosks there in the food court literally had not one customer to serve and nothing to do but stand idly by and watch in amazement.

After happily waiting in line approximately 45-50 minutes to receive their order, my daughters and son in law then sat down to eat and got caught up in yet another friendly conversation with a complete stranger who explained to them that there was a man in Oklahoma who had no Chick-Fil-A within less than 200 miles of his home. Not wanting to not participate in this show of support for what is good and right and decent as far as God-ordained and defined marriage being between a man and a woman and those who would stand up for what God said despite the cost or consequences, he decided to drive the 200 miles, eat lunch at Chick-Fil-A; wait around several hours; order supper at Chick-Fil-A; and then drive the 200 miles back home.

Bottom line? It is way past time that the moral and overwhelming majority of good, honest, hard-working, bible-believing people in this country finally stood up to the liberal, bibliophobic mainstream media and all of their deviant deceptions. If this experience involving JCP and Chick-Fil-A has taught us anything – anything at all – it ought to be this: That we as “Christians” are nowhere near as outdated, outmaneuvered, or outnumbered of a people as the ungodly perpetually seek to convince us that we are; and that those who practice or advocate the God-defined and abhorrent sin of homosexuality (See: Romans 1:18-32; I Corinthians 6:9-10; also: http://www.clevelandcoc.com/?page_id=170; http://www.clevelandcoc.com/?page_id=173) are NOWHERE NEAR AS MANY AS THEY WOULD LOVE TO CONVINCE US TO BELIEVE THEY ARE! Otherwise, JCP would be easily upheld by all of the homosexuals who would wantonly flood their stores, while Chick-Fil-A would be the one suffering and on the verge of financial collapse instead of vice-versa. Satan is a liar; and all of those who choose to believe him instead of the truth of Jesus are Satan’s children whether they choose to accept and/or admit it or not, according to Jesus Himself in John 8:42-47 (which see).

Jesus said repent or perish (Cf. Lk. 13:3). One cannot fight God and win (Cf. Acts 4:18-29). When will JCP, Home Depot, Starbucks, Amazon, the mainstream media, and the God-denying politicians and others alluded to in I Timothy 3:1-9 (which see) finally learn this? Before, or after it’s too late for them and their failed companies, when they’re both out of business and/or office? Let us all as God’s people determine to obey at all cost or consequence, the Holy-Spirit’s divinely-inspired instruction as delivered by Paul to young Timothy in the verses that follow that (I Timothy 3:10-4:5). God has never lost nor will He now with this (Jn. 12:48-50)! Stay strong and fight on (2 Cor. 10:3-6; Eph. 6:10-20); ‘cause in the end those still behind Jesus win – guaranteed (Rev. 19:11-20:15, 21:8)! To God be the glory; always and in all ways!

________________________________________________________________________________________

A couple of other e-responses received from other faithful brethren who receive our weekly e-bulletin:

  • I am happy to share with you that the Village Meadows Church of Christ in Sierra Vista AZ Is supporting this event. We do not have a Chick-fil-A locally, so we are travelling to Tucson. We shall pray for our brothers and sisters who participate across America.
  • I just wanted to share with you what I witnessed on my way home this afternoon.  I pray many today have even more successful stories to tell than the one below. I will start by telling you that I have lost a lot of faith in the last 10 years concerning the moral integrity of this country.  However, what I witnessed today has given me a bit of hope. I drive past a Chick-fil-A on my way home.  At 1530 when I drove past the store it was 101 degrees in Kansas City according to the thermometer in my car.  There was a line of cars blocking traffic in the street because of people waiting to go through the drive in.  There was a line out the door and around the corner of the store of people waiting to go inside.  The parking lot was full and people were parking in the Wal-Mart parking lot next door and walking to stand in the line that was growing longer as I sat in traffic watching.  The bad part of the story would be how close I came to hitting the car in front of me from watching the out pour of support for this organization and the values its leadership professes. I pray more organizations join in with the Cathy family in their support of Biblical marriage.

“Be faithful until death and I will give you the crown of life”

~Jesus Christ; as recorded live and resurrected in Revelation 2:10; circa 100 A.D.

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I Believe I am Saved

We’ve all heard it from the lips of our denominational friends, neighbors, and family members: “But I believe I am saved ; in fact, I’m sure I am; I feel it deep inside! So why all the fuss about baptism and the like anyway?”

Because just like a computer which will only produce output based solely and exclusively on what has been programmed into it, so we too as human beings tend to do. Terrorists who are convicted enough to kill innocent victims are still wrong, despite the obvious strength of their convictions; just as those who routinely kill unborn babies “because of the [biblical] ignorance that is in them due to the hardness of their hearts” (Ephesians 4:18) are still wrong, despite their contrarian convictions and delusions (Prov. 6:16-19). And those “religious folk” today whose convictions fly in the face of God’s Word are still wrong, despite the strength of their convictions to the contrary; it’s always been that way (See the following for example: Isa. 30:8-14, 66:2-5; Jer. 5:30-31; Hos. 4:1-6; Matt. 7:21-23, 15:1-14; Lk. 6:46-49; Jn. 14:15, 16:1-3).

Saul of Tarsus, an extremely devout – and one of, if not the most well-educated religious man of the first century, was so convicted that Christianity was a pagan and ungodly religion that he became a literal Christian-killer, later stating: “Indeed, I myself thought I must do many things contrary to the Name of Jesus of Nazareth. This I also did in Jerusalem, and many of the saints I shut up in prison… and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them. And I punished them often… and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly enraged against them, I persecuted them even to foreign cities…” (Acts 26:9-11). He was so “zealous toward God” that he persecuted Christians “…to the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women…” (Acts 22:3-4; see also Acts 7:57-8:3). But his zealousness and convictions – although strong enough to mercilessly and maniacally kill for – were completely contrary to God’s will! Why? Because they were not based on an absolute knowledge of, and obedience to, God’s total and undeniable, infallible truth (Romans 10:1-3; Acts 22:1-16)! What we “think” or “feel” simply will not save us on Judgment day, if it is not absolutely, accurately, and obediently in accordance with God’s holy Word – which Jesus said is exactly and exclusively what we will all be judged by on the last day (Jn. 12:48).

What we need to lovingly ask our sincere but biblically ignorant and errant religious friends and relatives is this: “If you’re truly saved as you believe you are, then why not come and study God’s word with us and simply confirm it for sure? What have you got to lose? You can help me out if nothing else, by helping me see the biblical truth about salvation. And if through the thorough study of God’s Word, you should conclude that you’re somehow not saved, it will surely show you what is lacking so you can correct it. Either way you win!  What’ve you got to lose? Nothing by coming to study; everything by not. Please contact us today and let’s study only what God really has to say.”

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I Must Be Mentally Ill! : Spanking

I realize that the title of this article may sound offensive, and please let me state in the onset that I have absolutely no intentions of speaking in a belittling way or making light of that which is serious. Rather, I am addressing a recent study published within the journal Pediatrics and upheld by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Several weeks ago, researchers examined data from more than 34,000 adults and found that spanking children as a form of discipline increased the risk of developing mental health issues as adults. In addition, their studies declared the association between corporal punishment and mood disorders, including depression and anxiety, along with personality disorders and alcohol and drug abuse. As a matter of fact, they estimated in this article that childhood physical punishment (slapping, shoving, grabbing and hitting) attributes to as much as seven percent (7%) of adult mental illness [as I am sure you may predict, I will address this in a moment]. The study went on to state that spanking as a form of discipline increases the risk of, among other things, major depression by forty-one percent (41%), alcohol and drug abuse by fifty-nine percent (59%) and mania (?) by ninety-three percent (93%). While the analysis tried to exclude individuals who reported severe maltreatment, such as physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, physical neglect, emotional neglect and such like, the author of the study (Tracie Afifi, PhD, of the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, Canada) explained, “We are not talking about just a tap on the bum. We were looking at people who used physical punishment as a regular means to discipline their children.” She concluded, “It definitely points to the direction that physical punishment should not be used on children of any age,” which complies with the conclusion of researchers and the stance of the AAP: “It is important for pediatricians and other healthcare providers who work with children and parents to be aware of the link between physical punishment and mental disorders.”

As I alluded, this is nothing new, and it only supports past efforts of those who supposedly are experts, for past studies have linked spanking toddlers to increased aggression in older children. Such may go back decades to the infamous counsel of Dr. Benjamin Spock. Nevertheless, if persistent studies continue to proclaim that spanking as a form of discipline leads to mental illness, then the only conclusion from which I may draw is that I must be mentally ill! I state that proudly as not only one who received necessary spankings from my godly parents, but also in that I administered such when necessary to my three children.

It is extremely sad that such highlights a larger problem today—more and more “experts” are taking positions that are opposite of that which divine wisdom instructs. Rather than becoming godlier as a nation, we are becoming more godless, and these reports only further influence those that lead to a greater digression from God. One of the major problems we face is a lack of respect for authority, and such begins in the home!

No matter what studies in journals as Pediatrics declare, the word of God still emphatically teaches, “He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes” (Prov. 13:24). Inspired wisdom still proclaims, “Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him” (Prov. 22:15). Divine truth still resounds, “Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die. Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell” (Prov. 23:13-14). Divine counsel still teaches, “The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame” (Prov. 29:15). Therefore, are you going to listen to those who profess themselves to be wise, or are you going to listen to God?

Naturally, our hearts pour forth in righteous anger to those who truly mistreat their children and in sympathy to those who are recipients of such. I am thankful that the researchers at least attempted to delineate between literal child abuse and spanking, but the conclusion they drew does not align with what God has already declared for the home. Thus, if they continue to propagate such declarations, then I must proudly declare, “I am mentally ill!”

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