by Lance Cashion | Sep 25, 2020 | Apologetics, Culture, Current Affairs, Essays, God, Jesus Christ, Theology, Wisdom, Worldview |
Please share your insights by commenting below this post.
Fear is a foggy moonless night.
Fear is the cover of darkness that the enemy uses to infiltrate the church with false teaching and deception. Once inside the walls, false teachers spread a false gospel and false doctrine among the flock – beginning with the “least of these” children and the spiritually immature. The Bible suggests false teachers will lead unbelievers away from knowing Salvation through Christ and they will attempt to lead believers away from the truth (note: Salvation is secure for those who trust in Christ alone).
False teachers are wolves in sheep’s clothing. They have the appearance of light. Their smooth tongues and deception create divisions, confusion – leading the weak into falsehood and bondage.
To the false teachers, the Watchman warns, “Oh that you who causes one of the little ones who love God to sin… you are anathema.”
To the city of God, the Watchman cries out, “The enemy is approaching under the cover of darkness – take your stations and close the gate!”
To the wolves – Run with the hunted! The Sheepdog has apprehended the scent of your falsehoods, wicked schemes, and bad fruit. He has tracked you down and you are exposed. You have a choice; flee from the sheep fold or the Sheepdog will drag you out. You have been put on notice. Leave the fold or face open rebuke. Repent and believe the Gospel or perish.
Remember, those who’s hearts are dark love the darkness.
At this moment in history a virus, free-floating anxiety, and social chaos have created fear inside and outside the church. Fear can be blinding. Fear can be wielded by Satan in order to deceive, divide, and destroy. Like an enemy platoon that advances on its target at night or a lion that stalks its pray in darkness; false teachers use the cover of fear to spread their lies. However, we know that fear is NOT a fruit of the Spirit.
Christian, give fear no quarter – keep watch. Be of good courage!
The time has come to dispel the darkness of fear with the light of true truth. Christ stands champion over the darkness and will hold everyone accountable in His light. Beware, be vigilant, and walk in the light of God’s truth in a strong community of faith.
“But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.” – Matthew 18:6
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire…” – Matthew 7:15-20
“For thus the Lord said to me:
“Go, set a watchman;
let him announce what he sees.
When he sees riders, horsemen in pairs,
riders on donkeys, riders on camels,
let him listen diligently,
very diligently.”
Then he who saw cried out:
“Upon a watchtower I stand, O Lord,
continually by day,
and at my post I am stationed
whole nights.”
– Isaiah 21:6-8
Please share your insights by commenting below this post.
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by Lance Cashion | Sep 17, 2020 | Apologetics, Christianity, Culture, Politics, Theology, Video, Wisdom, Worldview |
Of wolves, boats, creation theology, Christian resistance and Alexander Solzhenitsyn
Today, I would like to commend to you a few things to read, explore and consider.
[Article] The Danger of the Evening Wolf (Alistair Begg – 2 min)
“The evening wolf, infuriated by a day of hunger, was fiercer and more ravenous than he would have been in the morning. This furious creature may promise a picture of our doubts and fears after a day of distraction of mind, losses in business, and perhaps ungenerous tauntings from our fellowmen.” Continue reading…
[Audio] Creation Theology (Theology Pugcast 51 mins)
God displays His glory and magnificence through His created order. The modern Christian has lost the beautiful and mysterious wonder of knowing God and understanding His attributes through creation. When I glimpse God’s beauty and goodness radiating from what He has made, I give thanks and glory to God. The question is, “How can modern Christians re-inhabit such wonder and awe of God’s majesty?” The guys from the Pugcast walk us through what a Creation Theology was to our predecessors in Christian tradition and what it might look like today. “Dr. Glenn Sunshine reflects on the idea that the Creation is sacramental, that is, that it points beyond itself to spiritual realities. He takes his cue from passages in Scripture that point to the Creation as pictures of truths about God and humanity.” Link to podcast page…
[Audio] Beyond Authority & Submission (Douglas Wilson “The Plogcast” – 17 mins)
Doug Wilson discusses what the Reformers called a “Theology of Resistance” of which there are three stages. Whether you agree with Wilson’s positions or not, it is worth considering how orthodox Christians (the Church) should respond in this cultural moment. The Bible and our forerunners give us an idea of properly ordered Christian resistance to tyranny and persecution. Listen to audio here…
[Article, Audio or Video] Alexander Solzhenitsyn’s warning “A World Split Apart 1978” (1 hr)
In light of this moment in American history, we must reflect on what happened in the past. Solzhenitsyn’s commencement address at Harvard University was cutting and prophetic. “Liberalism was inevitably displaced by radicalism; radicalism had to surrender to socialism; and socialism could never resist communism. The communist regime in the East could stand and grow due to the enthusiastic support from an enormous number of Western intellectuals who felt a kinship and refused to see communism’s crimes. And when they no longer could do so, they tried to justify them. In our Eastern countries, communism has suffered a complete ideological defeat; it is zero and less than zero. But Western intellectuals still look at it with interest and with empathy, and this is precisely what makes it so immensely difficult for the West to withstand the East.” Watch, read or listen to the speech…
[Book] The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics
This magnificent true story is one of the non-academic books I’ve read in a couple years. It’s worth every moment. “The sons of loggers, shipyard workers, and farmers, the boys defeated elite rivals first from eastern and British universities and finally the German crew rowing for Adolf Hitler in the Olympic games in Berlin, 1936.”
This book is available as a Young Readers Adaptation as well. So the entire family can enjoy (5hrs 34mins). Link to book…
Don’t forget, you can join me in our 6 week journey. Learn more here…
by Lance Cashion | Sep 9, 2020 | Apologetics, Christianity, Culture, Current Affairs, God, Jesus Christ, Theology, Wisdom, Worldview
I have written a two part series about the book “White Fragility” by Robin DiAngelo. [Links below]
Taken together, they provide a critical response and worldview analysis. I explain why Christians should not adopt concepts from DiAngelo’s book and I present why the Christian worldview offers the best solution. My prayer that these combined posts will help my fellow Christians think deeply and discern truth from ‘feel-good’ falsehoods.
Links to Parts One and Two:
“But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.” Hebrews 5:14
“The more one understands people’s ideas the better one can communicate the truth of scripture and the gospel to them. That is why one learns about cults and religions. And why missionaries try to understand the cultures in which they live. But not enough Christians put much effort into understanding the culture in which they live. New believers who come to the church bring their worldviews with them. Furthermore, those Christians already in the church who do not understand worldview issues will not realize when they are embracing non-Christian concepts.” – John MacArthur
Meditate on these passages of holy scripture:
“Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.” John 7:24
“For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.” 2 Corinthians 11:13-15
“For God is not a God of confusion but of peace…” 1 Corinthians 14:33
“See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.” Colossians 2:8
Links:
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by Lance Cashion | Sep 3, 2020 | Apologetics, Christianity, Culture, Education, God, Personal Growth, Theology, Wisdom, Worldview
Assignment One: Read "A Christian Manifesto" by Francis Schaeffer
Our first step in our six week journey will be to read the book “A Christian Manifesto”
Please order it this week so we can begin reading next Friday, September 11th. If you prefer, the audiobook version is very well done.
Link to Amazon to purchase book
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I chose this particular book because although it was written nearly 40 years ago, it is more relevant than ever today. Francis Schaeffer had an acute awareness of the coming cultural milieu that we find ourselves in as Christians in America. In this cultural moment, we are facing a competing worldview that is completely antithetical to the biblical Christian worldview.
We must keep in mind that there is only one worldview that has the philosophical and theological equipment to birth a nation with the words, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” No other worldview or philosophy could have made such a claim.
Since Schaeffer accurately diagnosed the problem decades prior to it emerging in culture. I think it is worth understanding the issues from Schaeffer’s perspective and solutions he offered.
Deep in the soil of our nation, there are the remnants of a good, beautiful and true Christian heritage. But, we find ourselves in a drought in this present darkness. It is time for the Church to dig deep and cultivate the Christian worldview artifacts that remain before they are lost forever. As we follow Christ as our first love, our lives redeem and restore the culture around us as a secondary effect.
“Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God.” Revelation 3:2
Beginning on September 11, 2020, we will be reading our Bibles, praying, exploring and discussing Schaeffer’s “A Christian Manifesto.” I will introduce articles, podcasts, videos and even music along the way.
I look forward to sojourning with you for a season.
by Lance Cashion | Apr 17, 2020 | COVID-19, Education, Generosity, Stewardship |
Donations can cause supply chain disruptions in neighborhood stores
This is a situation where good intentions can unintentionally cause problems in a local community. What are the unintended consequences of an act of goodwill?
As a local community pastor, I probably receive 2-3 emails or calls per day from nonprofits and agencies asking for supply donations from folks in the community. These requests encompass everything from food, water, PPE, hand sanitizer, diapers, formula, TOILET PAPER, etc. I know many of you receive the same type of requests.
We all want to help! We all NEED to help in some way. However, we need to think through how to help the RIGHT way.
Under normal conditions (non-COVID-19), local stores and supermarkets are very well stocked with essential items. When you or I go to the store, we can buy as much as we need in the full knowledge that what we take off the shelf will be replaced within hours.
You’ve probably noticed the phrase ‘Supply Chain’ mentioned more and more by the media and government officials. The supply chain starts where a product is sourced like a farm or manufacturer. Those goods make their way to distribution centers and then onto the shelves of neighborhood stores where you and I can purchase them.
The COVID-19 Crisis changed everything.
COVID-19 created a panic, which caused people to purchase more essential items and thus putting stress on the supply chain.
What does all this have to do with nonprofits and agencies asking me and you to donate essential items?
Well, unless you and I have a surplus of essential items in our homes to donate, we typically go to our local store to purchase those items. Then we donate them to the organization that is requesting them. While the intention is good and noble, there are unintended consequences.
This can cause supply disruptions in neighborhood stores.
When I go to my local neighborhood store to buy additional items to donate to an agency in need, I am taking those essential items off the shelf at a time when supply chains are stretched thin. Restocking those items may take days rather than hours depending on the item and location of the store.
There are those in our neighborhoods who depend on the availability of essential items in local stores. The elderly couple on fixed income may be able to go to the store once per week to purchase essential items. If I purchase items before they do with the intent of donating them to another area of need in my community, I’ve unintentionally created a problem – a disruption for that elderly couple. They must go without or ask for help.
Again, we’re all trying to help. But we need to be thoughtful of how we help and source supplies in this current COVID-19 crisis because supply chains are crucial on a micro-level.
How can we help the right way? I have a couple ideas.
1. If you want to donate essential items, give from your stockpile first instead of going to your local store. Even a few cans of food, a box of formula, etc can go a long way to helping a family in need.
2. If you do purchase from a local store, limit your purchase to a couple items to donate. Make sure to leave something on the shelves for others in your community.
3. Call your local store manager and ask them when they restock and time your visit. Again, limit your purchases.
4. Instead of donating essential items, ask the nonprofit or agency if you can donate money. Encourage them to source their needs at the distributor level instead of the neighborhood level. Big box stores and grocers will often help nonprofits source much needed items.
5. Help your community nonprofits connect with larger nonprofits and community resources that have access to distributors higher up the supply chain. Organizations like the United Way, Salvation Army and local food banks have greater supply chain access. Collaboration is everything. Help organizations work together to solve problems and ensure supplies get to the front lines the right way while preserving supplies in neighborhoods.
I hope this is helpful in helping you think through how we can avoid causing disruptions in local supply chains. Your elderly and immune-compromised neighbors with benefit from thoughtful giving.
Read previous post: A Church Without Walls – Serving Others
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