I feel the need to title my post as such above because this chapter is often used to pull people away from the things they love to follow God… without any preservation or anything like that. If God were to take things away as Job believed He did (Job 1:21) — this short passage is found in page 11 of my NKJV Bible, page 15 of my NASB Bible, page 26 of my VOICE copy, and pages 25-26 of my Amplified Bible (Classic Edition) copy — He wouldn’t be worth following, would He? For it is written in 1 Timothy 6:8 that if we have food and clothing, we’ll be content with that. We also need places to live in, as a verse of Acts 17 (VOICE version) says… and a job… and friends… and so on. I thank God that He’s restored me to a pretty good extent, especially since lately, while I’m hanging out with my niece every so often, I can start a bike cleaning side gig! I won’t turn it into a business unless the Lord Jesus wills, for I need a permit from the town I live in to do that.
Anyway, it frustrates me (and the Holy Spirit) to no end when people say that God tests people — that’s NEVER been His heart, despite the translations that people have tried to deceive others with by removing the context of other Scriptures, such as James 1:13. I can only suppose that a fake movement called Calvinism has tricked pretty much everyone who’s ever been to church into their lies, for they are intentionally inflammatory, provocative in speech, divisive, have hearts that cherish anger more than anything, just to name a few. For centuries, people have been using all sorts of passages to ruin others’ lives with this theology (with points such as the heresies of limited atonement, double predestination, sovereign grace, and much more), and Jesus is calling more people out of them like He had done with me, for I never believed their crap. Instead, I read the Bible to get my opinions and beliefs from it. Too bad it’s very popular in this nation and in many parts of the world. There’s a reason why many people in my age group and younger have left the church before, sometimes more than once. I’ve done it a few times before, even if just temporarily. They put God’s love and justice (especially in terms of restoration despite much suffering) on the backburner… to the point where I’m afraid to find that Jesus might have to leave not just the U.S., but also other nations… permanently. Thank God He’ll return one day at least seven years from now, though (Revelation 19:11-16, also Daniel 9:24-27).
Over the years, this chapter has been used to teach too many lies, some of which I’ve mentioned above. I think it’s an idol, the “teachings” people have made from this part of Genesis. I’ve actually noticed many evil deviations of the Scriptures (that, thank God, are refuted by Scripture itself)… and sadly, I can’t stop even one of them. I also believe people worship order, and that only fuels the punishment mentality. For since when would it work to get people to do good? Instead, the grace of Jesus leads all to Him. Too bad that it’s often counted as useless, though. I think the spirit of religion owns too many people, especially in the churches we go to. I wish we could lead a more peaceful life because of Jesus inside you! But instead, in many scenarios, persecution is sovereign in those churches and in our culture… to the point where you might as well count loving the good illegal in a number of cases. Also, Scriptures like 2 Thessalonians 3:6-15 are too often used to promote discipline over the love of Jesus. But we were born to want to do good in our world. Too bad people often tell you that you must do something in order to impress Jesus, which’ll never happen apart from faith (Hebrews 11:6, contrast James 2:14-26). Another thing they’ll tell you is that you shouldn’t give your hopes up, not mentioning their corrupt belief that Jesus doesn’t help those who either can’t or don’t help themselves. My family has believed this for too long, and I’m thoroughly disgusted with this, for I’m probably the first in my family line to ever become Christian since the peoples first came to what is now northern Europe. (I get most of my ancestry from them.) Indeed, what about the homeless people who are stuck because of injustice in the world? For if the Church did what was right, NO ONE throughout the entire planet would be sleeping on the streets. The U.S. has over two million homeless people in it, most of whom have been attacked by Satan himself so that they’d despair of life. There’s about 320 million people in it, sure, but in other developed countries, the homeless population per capita is much lower. Too bad lots of people give them the middle finger, though. I’ve been in the streets twice, but I thank God He can pull out anyone from that, and if they have committed any sins, they will be forgiven.
I could go on about how much I hate the mentality that you must earn whatever is promised no matter what, even if you’re in poverty to some degree. For God is willing to make anyone struck by injustice secure, even in a violent community. But much of the time, whatever’s promised isn’t much, or it’s even less than it actually is. It is true that prosperity doesn’t always happen to everyone, for Jesus Himself was homeless before (though He is alive and thriving in Heaven today). However, if anyone deprives any worker or needy person any provisions they deserve to have, they will cry out to God, and He will destroy those greedy and stingy people (Proverbs 24:11-12; see also Deuteronomy 15:7-11). For this is how Sodom started going down the slippery slope of reprobate conduct (Ezekiel 16:49). (Reprobation is when someone rejects Christ and they are thus without hope perpetually.) If you can’t afford anything to give because you have too little yourself, there’s really nothing you can do about it. But there are others who are willing to give… but the number of generous people has never been very high. Even so, God can give them live-saving provisions anyway! That’s kind of why I only put the first eight verses on the post title, for I want to make this chapter a little unpredictable. Too bad prosperity is often worshiped, though. It started in the 1940s here in the U.S., and hasn’t really diminished over the last 70-some years. So when you meet such a Calvinistic person, it’s pretty much an automatic game over. I also can’t promise anything good will happen because of them, for there are still too many prosperity preachers like Benny Hinn around.
Any prayer requests you want to make? Leave them in my e-mail: ron.outland4727@gmail.com! I’ll read each one, then write them down and tape them to my bedroom walls, however many (or few) there are! Have a blessed Monday night, everyone!
Ron And His Stories 