Website owner: James Miller
What brings the wrath of God down on the heads of man?
What brings the wrath of God down on the heads of man? We find the answer in the following passage:
Col 3: {5} Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: {6} For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: {7} In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. {8} But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. {9} Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;
Def. Mortify. v.t. 1. to subjugate (the body, passions, etc.) by self-denial, abstinence, ascetic discipline, etc. 2. to cause to feel shame, humiliation, chagrin, etc.
Def. Concupiscence. n. 1. Sexual desire; lust. 2. Any immoderate desire.
Def. Covetousness. adj. Extreme desire (for something); avariciousness; greediness.
What defines the modern western world more than its moral impurity, lustfulness, and greediness? What words better describe it than such words as lustful, lascivious, licentious, dissolute, profligate, and greedy? What is the Devil’s way to man? More than anything else it is through moral impurity, lust, and greed.
We now draw attention to the word “mortify” in the above passage (Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth). Mortify means to subjugate (the body, passions, etc.) by self-denial, abstinence, ascetic discipline, etc. Perhaps more than anything else Christianity is about self-denial, self-discipline, abstinence, etc. Self-discipline is basic to Christianity. Indeed, self-discipline is basic to a happy and good life.
I think there is a strong tendency in all of the Christian denominations (Catholic and Protestant) to trivialize Christianity by making being a Christian a trivially simple, easy thing to do by reducing it to a matter of simply following easy formulas and recipes, rites and rituals instead of presenting it as a matter of obedience to the teachings of Jesus, practice. Obedience and practice imply seriousness and self-discipline. Self-discipline is not something that appeals to the masses. Moral purity is not something that appeals to the masses. The masses don’t want a religion that requires a lot from them. If the preachers preached the truth no one would go to church. So the religious leaders make the necessary modifications in the message to bring in the masses. Their biggest interest is their own self-interest (i.e. big congregations, getting paid, their own livelihood) as opposed to the souls of the people.
As a side note, I observe that the Bible never anywhere suggests that discrimination against someone for any reason (i.e. because of race, gender, sexual orientation, etc.) is wrong. That idea is a “manufactured sin” arising out of the mind of depraved western man. All of our anti-discrimination legislation, hate-speech legislation, etc. is foolishness arising from the foolish brains of egg-headed, godless liberals. From it we get Christian persecution in the form of Christians being fined $135,000 for refusing to sell their soul to Satan by baking a wedding cake for a homosexual marriage (or Christian ministers refusing to sell their souls to Satan by performing homosexual marriage ceremonies). There are great godless forces in this country who receive great pleasure in stomping down Christians and these forces have gained ascendency in this land. Who are these people? It is modern liberal secularism (secular humanism) and, closely related, the homosexuals.
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1 Tim 6:11 Thou, O man of God ... follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
2 Tim 2:19 Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
Rom 13:12-14 Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. {13} Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. {14} But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.
Dec 2017
Jesus Christ and His Teachings
Way of enlightenment, wisdom, and understanding
America, a corrupt, depraved, shameless country
On integrity and the lack of it
The test of a person's Christianity is what he is
Ninety five percent of the problems that most people have come from personal foolishness
Liberalism, socialism and the modern welfare state
The desire to harm, a motivation for conduct
On Self-sufficient Country Living, Homesteading
Topically Arranged Proverbs, Precepts, Quotations. Common Sayings. Poor Richard's Almanac.
Theory on the Formation of Character
People are like radio tuners --- they pick out and listen to one wavelength and ignore the rest
Cause of Character Traits --- According to Aristotle
We are what we eat --- living under the discipline of a diet
Avoiding problems and trouble in life
Role of habit in formation of character
Personal attributes of the true Christian
What determines a person's character?
Love of God and love of virtue are closely united
Intellectual disparities among people and the power in good habits
Tools of Satan. Tactics and Tricks used by the Devil.
The Natural Way -- The Unnatural Way
Wisdom, Reason and Virtue are closely related
Knowledge is one thing, wisdom is another
My views on Christianity in America
The most important thing in life is understanding
We are all examples --- for good or for bad
Television --- spiritual poison
The Prime Mover that decides "What We Are"
Where do our outlooks, attitudes and values come from?
Sin is serious business. The punishment for it is real. Hell is real.
Self-imposed discipline and regimentation
Achieving happiness in life --- a matter of the right strategies
Self-control, self-restraint, self-discipline basic to so much in life