My Testimony of God's Love

 

Testimony of Warren A Johnson

26 Dec 2023

For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Romans 10:13 NKJV

 

My Christian walk hasn’t always been sinless, but my New York pastor of thirty-five years, Robert Engelhardt, brought me to my knees in repentance. My prayer life grew and my confidence in faith solidified. Here in Spartanburg, Pastor Rich Butler of Hope Church, and God’s other servants, encourage the same lifestyle. I ride, blessed knowing who my God is, and He inhabits my being.

May I tell you a story?

On November 8^th, the sunshine fills a cloudless sky. Perfect for a weekday motorcycle ride after a summer of mechanical issues preventing such things. Traffic barely exists, and the leaves drop, but the fair breeze cleans the roads of their litter. Route 276 winds up the mountainside with hairpin turns and short radius bends around the rock outcrops to the Caesar’s Head State Park in North Carolina. The bike I’ve owned for fifty years performs flawlessly. My heart overflows with joy.

After a brief stop at the state park and a photo op, I enjoy the downhill run to Brevard, where I have lunch, fill up my gas tank, and head for home on the back road to Hendersonville. I approach a T intersection coming from the left, where light traffic enters my path of travel. My clear road surface shows no obstacles and I observe the entering cars to be sure they won’t collide with me. In that same stretch in front of me is a hard right turn marked at 30 mph. I’m confident with the bike and my mountain experience, and lean the bike over to take the right-hand curve past the new road construction at the intersection.

The Romans verse comes within the context of Paul explaining faith and the living under it. As my bible says, “They (the teachings) answer questions on how to be delivered from sin, how to live a balanced life under grace, and how to live in the power of the Holy Spirit.” I was about to experience this in real life.

Halfway around this curve in Brevard, out of sight because of the terrain and the flora growing on the inside of the bend, I discover an unmarked railroad track crossing at an impossibly oblique angle to my travel path. Iron rails mean disaster.

With oncoming traffic, the options flee. I jerk the bike upright so I can brake and hope to maintain enough control to avoid certain death in a head-on collision. The bike steering is out of control and I bear into the oncoming lane. A mere split second before smashing into the first car, I realize all my efforts will be for naught, and I remember Who is with me. I say one word. “Jesus.”

The responding paramedic came up to me to ensure I was the victim and there were no passengers with me. I stood calmly alongside the road where two young men assisted me to my feet. I knew my injuries weren’t significant, other than my hands hurt. After doing a quick assessment of me, looking at the bike and car, and back at me, the experienced medic says, “I’ve never seen anybody get up and walk away from an accident like this.”

I stand here today as a living testimony God’s grace exceeds man’s expectations. But you also need to understand even if your life isn’t Biblically perfect, the regular immersion in God’s Word, through the Holy Spirit within you, and under the corporate teaching of a dedicated church group, you have access to God’s redeeming grace.

A Name, a Rock, and a Church

 

Matthew 16:18 NKJV

“And I also say to you that you are Peter (first thing-renamed him), and on this rock I will build my church (second thing), and the Gates of Hades shall not prevail against it (the third thing-it- is the church).”

 

This discussion between Jesus and the disciples took place in Snir, in Northern Israel near Galilee at the Sanctuary of Pan, the pagan god known for causing mischief. It’s where we get the terms: pandemic, panic, and pandemonium. Google has an extensive post about this sanctuary and photos/art of the place as it was known in Jesus’ day.

While on a trip to Israel under the leadership of our pastor in Spartanburg, SC, we visited the site. Here is a photo of the grotto beneath the sanctuary. The rock is some 10-12 feet in diameter and sits on the floor of the grotto. It's at the bottom left center in the photo below.

Photo courtesy of biblewalks.com

Our small group meeting today before the church service we attend spurred a vision. The discussion led by a member of the group compared Simon bar Jonah’s path from the earthly life he’d led up to the point where Jesus renamed him Peter in Snir. The change went from self-centeredness to the one Peter is known for: focus on God, servitude, and forgiveness, amongst other attributes of a Godly way of life.

What occurred to me in a mental image is of an inverted pyramid over this rock. The sequence of things most often interpreted by preachers has Peter being the rock on which the church would be built. However, considering the 1-2-3 aspect noted above, it seems to me there is a separation between the naming of Peter and the rock Jesus seems to be pointing at, namely the one that covers the gates of Hades.

I have no scriptural references to quote. Perhaps you can assist me with that. What I think is there was an earlier time when the Gates of Hades in front of Jesus that day, remained open, and demons traveled in and out (or mostly out) of Hades through this portal. Then one time (perhaps an earthquake?), that large rock fell from the ceiling of the grotto and shut off the way new demons could be released. Hence, there was a limit as to how many demons satan could release into the world.

Christ seems to be indicating His church will bear down on this rock and prevent any more demons from escaping hell. If the church does its job, no number of demons will be able to prevail against God’s will.

It’s the church's responsibility to stand with God’s Word on that rock until his return. It's then we know he’ll make the final elimination of the entire rebellious lot known as demons and angels from hell, along with satan.

 

 https://www.biblewalks.com/Banias

What's That Manger?

What is That Manger?

37) On that last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out saying, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. 38) He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water. 39) But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, who those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. John 7:37-39 (NKJV)

This morning, while looking at one of the creches my wife displays this time of year, I considered the babe in the manger. Let me tell you what I think I know.

The accommodation for Mary and Joseph was a stable, as in a cave or protected overhang of rock. In it, cattle were fed and watered because there wasn’t a field for them to pasture with a stream running through it. Think downtown Bethlehem.

The manger we’ve come to know now, wasn't a wooden structure then, but rather a carved out stone object. Think about what that scene looked like. Hay strewed about. Cattle standing and chewing their cud while others lie content in their surroundings. But where was their water supply?

Consider what it would mean if an impervious-to-water stone manager was used to water the cattle, rather than to feed them.

Jesus, the Living Water, gets displayed to all who visit by the most fundamental visual of Christ. From shepherds to Wise Men, poor to rich, all who see Him learn from His very first parable. Come to me and drink.

This brings new revelation to me of how John 7:37-39 brings into focus the ministry of Jesus Christ from His birth.

Vigilante, or Not?

 Today I saw a meme depicting the 376 motionless members of the police department at Uvalde during the active shooter casualty event. It also showed the one young man who stood up more recently to an active shooter. 

It's a rather clear picture, even by words, isn't it?

Then I considered what some people may say or think concerning the one individual who took action. I have not read, nor seen video of any of the original documents or videos from either event. I have seen some internet comments and, of course, the noted meme. The following is personal opinion and should not be construed as if I were speaking legally.

Two words came immediately to mind, Militia and Vigilante. Do not get the two confused.

According to the South Carolina state constitution:

ARTICLE XIII.

MILITIA

SECTION 1. Militia.

"The militia of this State shall consist of all able-bodied male citizens of the State between the ages of eighteen and forty-five years, except such persons as are now or may be exempted by the laws of the United States or this State, or who from religious scruples may be adverse to bearing arms, and shall be organized, officered, armed, equipped and disciplined as the General Assembly may by law direct."

Emphasis on shall is by me. The consideration is, under law, Shall is not optional as in May. In other words, if you live in South Carolina and are able bodied between the ages of 18 and 45, you ARE the militia, unless ruled exempt.

Vigilante is a group of a different bent. They are defined as a member of a self-appointed group of citizens who undertake law enforcement in their community without legal authority, typically because the legal agencies are thought to be inadequate. (Note: they operate without legal authority. Most notably, they take justice into their own hands by trying, convicting, and executing.)

The legal authority of militia stems from centuries of law before the constitutions of the various colonies came into existence. Once those colonies became states under the US Constitution, they retained all rights of militia organization and regulation because those rights were never part of the national constitution. The only mention of the militia within the body of the US Constitution refers to the right of the President to call up such a force to deal with treason, insurrection, and anarchy. The 2nd Amendment leaves the militia to the people.

Another initial intent of the founders little known to Americans today, requires the legal system of the Grand Jury to request the militia to arrest based upon fact and evidence, sorely lacking in the instance of vigilantes. And the militia has no authority to convict under civil law. That belongs to the courts.

To bring this back to full circle, the one lone gunman acting to preserve life guaranteed by the constitutions of the various states' laws (see right to use deadly force) wasn't acting as a vigilante. His state gave him the right to act to preserve life, as I understand it, through the castle doctrine.

There will likely be more discussion, evidence, legal opinions, and such during the next few months concerning Uvalde and other instances of US Citizens, militia members, and police interacting with aberrant shooters.

The Mistake About White Privilege in America

 

The Mistake About White Privilege in America

 

When someone throws out the white privilege concern, especially those in the United States, they forget our founders’ tenets when they established our new nation. We live in one of the latest structures of government in the world. The grand experiment of the Constitution outlives any other country’s government, especially those of a republic. But the Constitution’s foundation does not depend upon the Federal government. It depends upon the morality and character of a Christian people.

Our founding fathers’ quotes suggest humanity reverts to base behavior without scripture’s aid. It’s also why, even under the Articles of Confederation, the third article of the Northwest Territory Act in 1787 established a method for ensuring there were funds for public schools. Religion, morality and knowledge, being necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall forever be encouraged. The religion referred to is Protestant Reformation Christianity, which the entire group of English colonies understood. You may also consider the foundation of our university system started in its earliest form as seminaries. Yale, Harvard, William and Mary, and Princeton fall under this program.

The mistake is thinking any one group receives more than another. The majority of world cultures included slavery. There is no question concerning who held slaves. Africans, Hebrews, Mexicans, and native North Americans used slavery to bolster their economies. Many other groups did as well and still do. History shows mankind is anything but kind. Americans today are no different. But does that mean we are incapable of doing good, helping neighbors, supporting storm-tossed communities? No, and the reason is that we have a foundation of Christianity to support our governance.

Christian scripture, known as the Holy Bible, teaches God recognizes no person. The inference is God created all humans in His image. Each one of us reflects the image of God. The problem, of course, revolves around our heart issues. God made us, so He knows the issues. He sent His Son, Jesus, to give us one more opportunity to reestablish a relationship with God. Most of our problems, well all of them, concern our lack of seeking God, and when we find Him, remembering it’s Him who gives us light.

Christopher Columbus enjoyed a charter from Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand to go forth and discover new lands, claim them for the royal highnesses, and evangelize them. He started with the edict and then found gold. Humans seem to have a propensity to get tunnel vision, and Christobol did the same thing. He lost sight of God’s plan and focused on how rich he could get. Christobol failed God and didn’t repent of his sins, those of forgetting God’s plan. He died broken and penniless.

Here in America, scripture concreted our initial foundations. The Mayflower Compact strode ashore with the pilgrims in 1620 and laid the first course for a repentant people. Those foundations supported a wealth of businesses and expansion through the colonies and into the heartland of America. Contrast that with the Virginia experiment. The cavaliers who initiated Jamestown grew up as second or third-born aristocratic sons who had no inheritance. Their lifestyle dictated they were essential and others servants, be it indentured or enslaved people. When the Dutch ship landed in 1609 with the first boatload of enslaved Black people, it supplied the beginning of a vast selection of workers. Their Anglican priest had little influence. The plantation existence focused on the elite’s lavish lifestyle and the slaves bare existence.

We’re talking about European traditions and expectations. The protestant reformation happened in the late 1400s. Columbus brought the Roman Catholic version of Christianity to the New World, after which there were 250 years (1500-1750) of its expansion in the Americas. The English colonies and Protestant Reformation arrived early in the 1600s. By the end of the 18^th century, the people of the United States of America understood their roots. Their foundation supported the structure of the federal government. Protestant and secular men gathered to determine the future of the United States. Their great compromise ended in passing and ratifying the new Constitution. It declared all men were created equal, but it said nothing about achieving equal success. But again, men forgot God. Men, Christian men and secular men, saw the resources of a vast land and determined they’d get their share. All colors and ethnicities of men declared their intents. Many of them administered violence to each other.

What seemed like a good thing to Europeans, copying what the Spaniards did in South and Central America, led them on the trail to Manifest Destiny. Even their Christian background couldn’t keep them from using every advantage to advance themselves. Whether it be decimating natives, using up resources, or mandating illegal applications of Constitutional directives, Americans of all walks of life contributed to our degradation.

Still, there were remnants. The Methodist circuit riders saw significant expansion of awakening in the Christian community. Presbyterian ministers brought more revival. America as a nation started to turn back to God. Not white folks. Not black folks. Not immigrants. Americans.

And that’s the point of this post. What happened in American history includes many details obverse to our Christian heritage. But we shouldn’t forget those events, nor should we erase the account. On the contrary, we need to remember every one of the atrocities, wars, and examples of greed. Because when we do remember these things, our nature should take us back to the loving God who saw fit to keep North America sacrosanct until He had a plan for a country to grow in His grace.

America still lacks many of God’s principles. We should remember God doesn’t see persons. He sees reflections of Himself. Each of us has the same opportunities under the Constitution. As God’s children, each of us walks in a privilege of high standing with the Lord of lords. We must stay in touch with Him through His Word, prayer, and repentance to bring His kingdom into our lives.

It’s not an ethnic privilege to be an American, and it’s a mistake to consider it so.