A Christian Perspective

Our Rights Come from God

September 14, 2024September 13, 2024 Loring Schultz

“So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” Genesis 1:27 NLT

We have all heard the statement “I have my rights.” You may have said it yourself. Having said it, it stands to reason you believe it. But what is the foundation your rights are built on? Where do your rights come from? Have you ever thought deeply as to their origin? Here in the United States, there is much debate over the issue of human rights. During a Presidential election campaign, the focus is on maintaining those rights whether you are on the left or the right. But what both political parties must recognize is ‘our rights come from God’ and not from the government.

Cries are coming from both sides of the fear of losing their rights. There is fear of losing the right to free speech, the right to bear arms, and the right of a woman’s freedom of choice resulting in losing their reproductive health care rights as it is so cleverly renamed. There is a legitimate concern in America for the possibilities of losing one’s rights as set forth in the U.S. Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. The founding fathers knew and proclaimed that individual rights come from God. The Declaration of Independence says, “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.” Note these rights are God given, not given by the government.

“However, if you think that we are granted our fundamental rights by the government, then you are more likely to seek additional favors from the government. If the government is the grantor of all good things, what is to stop someone from thinking up more good things that could and should be granted by our elected leaders?” (1) A case in point is the Roe v. Wade decision in 1973 which legalized abortion as a woman’s right to choose. The court read abortion in the 14^th amendment. “Justice Harry Blackmun said that the court held a woman’s right to an abortion was implicit in the right to privacy protected under the 14th Amendment. However, while the Supreme Court ruled in favor of a woman’s right to choose, it also acknowledged the state’s interest in protecting the ‘potential of human life.’” (2) Notice the Supreme Court didn’t rule that states could not limit abortion to protect human life.

As we head to polls this November or earlier through early voting keep in mind our rights come from God. May we be praying that our God-given rights will not be taken away by the next administration. May we pray that government policies will not create false rights that infringe on others, especially the right of ‘Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness’ for the unborn.

(1) The right way to think about rights | The Heritage Foundation

(2) What is the 14th Amendment and How is It Connected to Abortion Rights, Roe v. Wade? – NBC Chicago

A Christian Perspective

Our Protection Against the Conspiracy

September 7, 2024September 4, 2024 Loring Schultz

“They plot injustice and say, ‘We have devised a perfect plan!’ Surely the human mind and heart are cunning. But God will shoot them with his arrows; they will suddenly be struck down.” Psalm 64:6-7 NIV

There are times I hesitate in writing a devotional or a Christian perspective piece in fear of how it may be received. This is one of them. ‘Word for the Soul’ is not a political site, but politics and government references are scattered throughout Scripture and need to be addressed when the situation arises. We have a situation that has arisen again this year as it always has every four years in the United States, the Presidential election. The repeated phrase ‘this is the most important election in our lifetime’ may be true this time around.

What has been troubling me over the past several years has been the noticeable corruption in our government. Perhaps it has been that way for years, as I’m starting to find out, but I always managed to see the best in the land of the free and the home of the brave. Having said that, there are many good and brave people in government, but they are in a constant battle with those who what to do harm through their anti-Biblical agendas. As Christians, we are to take a stand against any policies and/or government actions that go against God’s written Word.

The United States is in a weaken condition. Most American citizens who pay attention to the news have grave concerns that is weakening their strength and hope for the future. Those who can care less about the events of the nation are also in a weaken condition for they do not know what has been and what could be. The American people are ripe for a conspiracy plot to burst forth. The seeds of corruption have been planted years ago, watered over the last several decades, and are ready to be harvested in 2024 with the rest of the world.

King David was in a weaken condition in writing Psalm 64. His enemies knew it and were conspiring against him. First, they started with their rhetoric, “They sharpen their tongues like swords and aim cruel words like deadly arrows.” (Ps.64:3 niv) Christians have also felt the cruel words from some politicians and government officials increasing over the years. Secondly David said those against him conspired secretly developing their plans to trap him. “They encourage each other in evil plans, they talk about hiding their snares; they say, “Who will see it?” (Ps.64:5 niv) In our modern-day, policies and agendas are often hidden in thousands of pages of passed legislation which are not read by those we vote to represent us. Yes, they are correct when say, “Who will see it?” Finally, David says, “They plot injustice and say, ‘We have devised a perfect plan!’” (Ps.64:6a niv)

Psalm 64 could have been written for us in 2024. In fact, it was. The Bible is a living Word and applicable for today. But be careful, it doesn’t change to line up, adapt, or confirm to our culture. God’s Word is applied to relate to our day in context with the day it was written and God’s overall standards. God will apply His justice to His standards in our day as he did in King David’s day. David wrote “Surely the human mind and heart are cunning. But God will shoot them with his arrows; they will suddenly be struck down.” (Ps.64:6b-7 niv)

Our protections from conspiracies against us will not come from any government official or candidate for President. Our protections from injustices done to us come only from the Lord on His timetable. He promises us protection, but there may be some suffering involved for we live in a fallen sinful world. So, we should be praying, as instructed in Scripture, for all those in authority and for those who will be in authority after election day that God’s will be done.

Read: Psalm 64 NIV – Psalm 64 – For the director of music. A – Bible Gateway

A Christian Perspective

When Good People do Nothing, Evil will Prosper

August 31, 2024August 30, 2024 Loring Schultz

“Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets.” Matthew 7:12 NLT

The most notable sermon and the one referred to most often is Jesus’ ‘Sermon on the Mount.’ People, both Christians and non-Christians, strive to live by Jesus’ words in His text. When mentioning the ‘golden rule’ there are not many who would not have heard or understood its meaning. They may not know its origin or where it is found in the Bible, or even that they are the words of Jesus, but they are familiar with, ‘Do unto others’ and try to live in such a way to treat others as they would like to be treated. None of us want to be treated badly, but when we are, most of us wouldn’t want that same fate to fall upon others, especially the most innocent who cannot help themselves, the unborn baby in the womb.

Eva Edl is an 89-year-old woman who escaped a communist concentration camp in Yugoslavia at the end of World War II. Nazi Germany’s death camps were being liberated, but the Soviets were just beginning after the war. Although being born in Yugoslavia, Eva and her family were of German descent and spoke the German language. Soon after the war the communist government embarked on a genocidal operation against the Danube-Swabians as they were called. Eva and her grandmother were forced into a boxcar of a train headed to one of the Soviet death camps. It was in that concentration Eva became a Christian and eventually was rescued from the horrors inside.

Eva immigrated to the United States after spending eight years in an Austria refugee camp after her escape from the communist concentration camp. She became an advocate of the Pro-Life movement since the Roe v. Wade decision in 1973. Eva felt God’s call on her to help rescue babies from death whatever the ramifications were for her own life. She realized many people had laid down their lives to rescue her and others out of the concentration camps and she realized the same thing happening again in the United States of America and she had to respond.

The consequences of her stance on abortion have come to fruition after being arrested 46 times since the 1980’s. Eva was convicted along with six others by a Federal jury on August 20^th of this year after their arrest at an abortion clinic in Sterling Heights, Michigan, on Aug. 27, 2020. She faces up to 10 years in prison for violation of the FACE ACT and is to be sentenced on September 26, 2024.

Sadly, it takes the example of an Eva Edl who has lived through a death culture and knows what it looks like for us to see what is right before our eyes. We as Christians are complaisant by our attitudes in thinking abortion is only a political issue and that is the problem. We choose to not get involved. But abortion is more than a political issue it is a moral issue, a matter of life and death. The pro-abortion sector is doing all they can to secure pro-abortion candidates in the upcoming election this November, under the guise of ‘reproductive healthcare’ which it is not. The life and health of the baby is never considered, surely not healthcare.

It is time for all Christians, men and women, in America and across the world to become Eva Edl’s. If we do nothing as those who watched the concentration camps trains go by, the evil of abortion will continue to prosper, and our voices will eventually be silence along with the baby in the womb.

Listen to Eva Edl’s interview with Glenn Beck: https://www.glennbeck.com/radio/prolifer-biden-doj-die-prison

Eva Edl’s Biography: https://www.shelookslikemylittlegirl.com/

DOJ Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/seven-defendants-convicted-federal-civil-rights-conspiracy-and-freedom-access-clinic

A Christian Perspective

Responsibilities of a President in the Eyes of God

August 24, 2024August 24, 2024 Loring Schultz

“For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God.” Romans 13:1 NLT

The God of the Bible clearly states that all authority placed on individuals on this earth comes from Him. That includes Presidents. The American people may feel their vote put their candidate in office, but it is ultimately God’s choice who will be the next President of the United States. The apostle Paul writes, “Those in positions of authority have been placed there by God.” (Ro.13:1b nlt) Being placed there by a holy God comes with the responsibility to administer their duties in a godly manner and what God directs through His Word, the Bible. This has nothing to do with any organized religion, but has everything to do with God, and God alone, and His Word being obeyed in every walk of life, and that includes governing a nation.

The commands of God throughout Scripture are not for only those in the day they were written. The Bible was written by 40 different authors through the Holy Spirit over 1,500 years. Obviously, it was not only for their time, but is God’s instruction book going forward for future generations to know Him, and His way of salvation through His Son Jesus Christ. It is also the manual on how to govern and to live in a fallen world. Those in authority need to heed what God says in His book. Government leaders must learn from the mistakes of the kings in the Old Testament with their paganism and anti-God lifestyle. The Roman Empire in the New Testament brought about great achievements to provide infrastructure that was needed and improved society, but they also were a corrupt and pagan government and eventually the Roman Empire fell.

The United States government is no different than any other country in the world. All leaders are in authority by God to rule, punish evil doers, maintain peace, and provide security and protection for those under their governance. They are under His authority to govern righteously in accordance with His Words laid out in Scripture. The next President of the United States may think their sole responsibility is to uphold the constitution, or save democracy, but it is to submit to the Lord God of heaven who gave them their authority to use righteously and governed accordingly.

A Christian Perspective

Deception: an illusion, fraud, and outright lying

August 17, 2024August 16, 2024 Loring Schultz

“But when the people of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai, they resorted to deception to save themselves.” Joshua 9:3-4a NLT

Desperate people will resort to deception when they are in fear or in danger of not getting what they want. The 2024 United States Presidential election have desperate people from both major parties. They will do and say anything that will prevent them from going down in defeat, or more accurately, that their opponent takes a seat in the oval office. Presidential campaigns have not been noted for their honesty and integrity for decades, but as the stakes become more pressing and larger, we can be sure of a bumpy ride until election day and all the votes are counted whenever that will be.

Deception is as old as our first parents, Adam and Eve. Satan, who had tempted them with deception, is at the root of every lie in any political campaign today. Jesus had this to say about Satan, “He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies.” (Jn.8:44b nlt) And the apostle Paul tells us Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. (2Cor.11:14) That’s the worst kind of deception, appearing to do and say all the right things as a person of integrity only to pull the mask off after election day. American voters have their homework to do in analyzing every statement made and how it compares with previous statements and more importantly previous actions taken by the candidate. Are they feeding us an illusion, being fraudulent, or outright lying, or all three?

Christians have a sure-fire way of determining the sincerity and integrity of a candidate. First, examining how do their statements and policy proposals line up with scripture? Second, we should be in prayer for wisdom to discern if the candidate can be trusted if they are telling the truth. The greatest example of not seeking the Lord in prayer is found in the Old Testament book of Joshua. The result of not asking the Lord for guidance caused Israel to fall for the deception from the Gibeonites, who were desperate and fearing for their lives. The United States is in desperate times. The future governing of every citizen is at stake. Both candidates and their campaigns are desperate. May we be praying for wisdom to discern the truth and not fall for the deception of Satan’s lies.

Read: Joshua 9 NLT – The Gibeonites Deceive Israel – Now all – Bible Gateway

A Christian Perspective

United States: A Country Divided

August 10, 2024August 9, 2024 Loring Schultz

Jesus, the great teacher, said, “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand.” Matthew 12:25 NKJV

The United States of America has established itself as the leader of the free world since its founding in 1776. Based on principles found in the Holy Scriptures from God who created the heavens, the earth, and human beings in His image, these principles have guided the nation for 248 years. Sadly, the United States once united ‘in God we trust’ have abandon, not only the motto, but very God Himself. Although not every citizen has rejected God and His Word, enough has that the United States is now a country divided.

The founding fathers are at the heart of this current divide. Disagreements over the intent of the framers of the constitution and its stability or fluidity have risen over the years. Legislation has been created and court decisions have been entered seizing the opportunity to establish law not found in the constitution. There is naturally a division when these laws are enacted as both sides see their view as the right one. The truth is the only view that matters is God’s and what He has written in His Word.

Many laws have been passed and put into effect and by law are legal, but by God’s law they do not pursue equal justice and violate the dignity of men and women made in God’s image. The founding fathers knew they were just men with human flaws and needed divine revelation in drafting the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Biblical principles were applied to ensure liberty and justice for all. When these principles are neglected and God is no longer relevant in governing the nation, legislation will become law that will divide the citizens of the country.

The United States is more divided in 2024 than any time in its history including the Civil War. History books record for us the result of such division that occurred in the first half of the 1860’s. We may not be heading into a civil war as in the past, but we are in a civil war of ideas, justice, and morality. Jesus’ words need to be resounded across every state in the union, “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation.” The United States is on the verge of collapse in Jesus’ words if we don’t reunite under His rule and authority. May we pray for such a reunion.

A Christian Perspective

No Disinformation Spoken in the Word of God

August 3, 2024July 31, 2024 Loring Schultz

“And as Jesus passed on from there, two blind men followed him, crying aloud, ‘Have mercy on us, Son of David.’” Matthew 9:27 ESV

“And when the demon had been cast out, the mute man spoke. And the crowds marveled, saying, ‘Never was anything like this seen in Israel.’ But the Pharisees said, ‘He casts out demons by the prince of demons.’” Matthew 9:33-34 ESV

Disinformation is a term that has gained great prominence in the past few years. Defined by Merriam-Webster as, “false information deliberately and often covertly spread (as by the planting of rumors) in order to influence public opinion or obscure the truth,” has been on display in full force in both social media and the news media. The purpose of each piece of disinformation that is dispensed is to enhance one’s agenda. There are those who will do whatever it takes to secure their position and see to it that their policies go forward.

We may be inclined to believe that disinformation is a 21^st century phenomenon, but it can be seen far back in history. During Jesus’ days walking the earth He performed many miracles. Jesus healed the sick, calm storms, fed thousands of people with two fish and five loafs, caused the blind to see and the deaf to hear, and He even raised the dead. The crowds were astonished by what they were witnessing, could this be the Son of David they said? Two blind men had the faith that Jesus was indeed the Son of David, the Messiah, who had come. They also had the faith that Jesus would be willing and able to heal them. “Then he touched their eyes, saying, ‘According to your faith be it done to you.’ And their eyes were opened.” (Mt.9:29-30a esv) But this did not set well with the religious rulers of the day, the Pharisees. They had their own agenda and Jesus was getting in the way.

The Pharisees seized the opportunity to discredit Jesus after He had cast out a demon from a mute and demon-possessed man with a bit of disinformation. They claimed that Jesus casted out the demon by the supernatural power of the prince of demons, even though they knew very well who Jesus was. The crowds were not wrong in saying, “Never was anything like this seen in Israel.” Matthew Henry notes in his commentary on the gospel of Matthew, “Because the people marveled, they must say something to diminish the miracle, and this was all they could say.”

We live in a time where disinformation is a way of life for many. Truth has become what it is said to be by those who proclaim it. If you desired true information there is only one true source for it, the Word of God. It is our instruction book on how to live from God Himself. “The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever.” (Ps. 119:160 esv) No disinformation is ever spoken in the Word of God.

A Christian Perspective

The Attack on the Kingdom of Heaven

July 20, 2024July 18, 2024 Loring Schultz

“And blessed is the one who is not offended by me……. From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence.” Matthew 11:6, 12a ESV

There is an all-out effort by governments around the world to silence the Christian church, the United States included. We should not be surprised by this or think this is unique to the 21^st century. It is true, persecution of Christians, attacks on churches, and labeling followers of Jesus as radicals outside the norms of society, have been steadily increasing, but attacks on Christians have been around since Jesus came to earth and declared, ‘Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.’(Mt.4:17) All Christians are a part of the kingdom of heaven.

Jesus made it clear there were attacks on His kingdom in His days on earth and they have continued throughout time. He told John the Baptist’s followers since the day John started preaching repentance and preparation for the coming of the Messiah the kingdom of heaven was under attack. John had been arrested by King Herod, the ruling authority at the time. He had been put in prison and eventually executed. The kingdom of heaven has been suffering violence ever since and will continue to increase in scope until the day of Jesus’ return.

There is a silver lining to this dark cloud of attacks against Christians. Jesus said, ‘blessed is the one who is not offended by me.’ (Mt.11:6) When we are not offended by Christ by standing firm in His truth we will be blessed. Jesus didn’t say we won’t be attacked, or arrested and sent to prison, or worse, no, He said we are blessed. The persecution that has been prevalent in many parts of the world has found its way to America’s shores. It may not as brutal or intense as in other countries, but the groundwork has been laid to remove God, His Word, and His way of salvation from all education and government institutions. Freedom to speak the truth of God’s Word even from the pulpit is rapidly being considered hate speech and subject to prosecution.

Christians will be attacked, that is of course when we are not offended by the name of Jesus as the only way of salvation and are offended by the rules and regulations of our godless society. Being silent during these days is not an option. It either signals our approval that we are not offended by anti-God legislation, or it shows our weakness and lack of faith in the God we serve. The assault on Christians is here to stay, it’s not going away. Remember the Lord God promises to be with us and promises us His blessings especially when we are attacked for His name.

A Christian Perspective

Hope for the Future begins with the Truth

July 13, 2024July 10, 2024 Loring Schultz

“Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life…………An unreliable messenger stumbles into trouble, but a reliable messenger brings healing.” Proverbs 13:12, 17 NLT

The 2024 election in the Untied States is the most divided in my lifetime and certainly most recently. One can debate if it is the most divided in the history of the country. The division has not been this strong since the Civil War era. The debate of “Make America Great Again” is driving one side and “Democracy Is at Stake” fueling the other. There seems to be no area where both sides can get together for the sake of those they govern. And that is just as well, because before that would happen both sides need the glue to fasten them together with the American people, the “Truth.”

The book of Proverbs says, “Hope deferred makes the heart sick……(and)…. An unreliable messenger stumbles into trouble.” The message of ‘hope’ has been a part of several Presidential campaigns for years, and yet all hope seems to be lost. When “hope” keeps getting pushed back the hearts of the people sink. Every election cycle they hear the same thing with the same results, no hope but despair. The reason why they are in despair is due to the lies they have been told repeatedly. There is a desperate need for truth. King Solomon, who wrote most of the book Proverbs knew a thing or two about governing a nation. First, he had God as his king. Second, he understood unreliable messengers could not be trusted, but they stumbled into trouble. There are many unreliable messengers in government positions today, along with those seeking government positions, and of course the news media aiding and abetting the lies, or misinformation as some refer to it. Either way it is not the truth.

Hope for the future of America rests on whether truth will prevail wherever it leads. All in government, journalists, and every news media outlet must put aside partisan politics for the sake of the people and the safety of the United States. Then and only then reliable messengers will bring healing and people will have a dream fulfilled. Only time will tell.

A Christian Perspective

Be careful not to pick up stones

July 6, 2024July 3, 2024 Loring Schultz

“They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, ‘All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!’” John 8:7 NLT

The story of a woman caught in adultery recorded in John’s gospel is a very familiar one with Christians and non-Christians alike. It reveals the hypocrisy of certain religious leaders and those who assumed the role of being one up on everyone else on morality. The main point made by many is Jesus’s words, “let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!” Admittedly there is not one of us who is able to throw that first stone, “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.” (Rom.3:23 nlt) That lesson should be applied to every Christian in our daily walk in the world in which we live. But there is also another point that lies underneath the surface of the immediate that reveals the foundation for that exchange with Jesus.

The law in which the accusers wanted evoked would have been the Old Testament law of adultery. But certain facts of the case were not presented in their entirety as only one of the participants was presented. This didn’t seem to bother those who brought the woman for their own interpretation of God’s law. The fact is they weren’t as pious towards the carrying out the law as they were about trying to set up a trap for Jesus. They cared nothing about the law, but only the response from the one who came as a fulfillment of the law.

The religious leaders brought to Jesus a woman, minus the man, caught in the act of adultery. Their intent was to corner Jesus into deciding on whether to stone her according to the Law. Jesus essentially ignored them knowing of their deception. If He agreed to stone her, Jesus would be looked upon as having no forgiveness or compassion. If He did not comply with the Law it would appear Jesus was not who He said He was, the Son of God. They did not give up but kept on asking Him. They wanted Jesus to answer them either way to discredit Him. Jesus was interfering with their authority and their way of life.

There are those today who view Jesus as interfering with their authority and their lives. They demand an answer to the laws they perceive as right and just in their own eyes. They view the commands of God found in scripture as irrelevant today. They have gathered stones in their hands and are willing to throw the first stone, believing they have no sin. But tragically their aim is at God and His Word for interfering with their way of life. Be careful not to pick up stones.