From the Home Place

September 11, 2025

As we remember the events of this date, once again the hearts of Christians are saddened. It grieved my heart greatly to hear of the death of Charlie Kirk. If you will recall, in my last writing I stated, “I believe persecution will come to America, it’s just a matter of ‘When?”” Well, I guess that question has been answered for us.

But just like 9\11, this attack was unexpected and driven by hatred. Here is my two cents: In Genesis Chapter 3 we see that the human reaction to sin is fear, (v.10) by Chapter 4, that fear has transformed into hatred and we read of the first murder ever committed (v. 8).

It seems that today we continue that same cycle. America tends to be a breeding ground for sin. The result of rampant sin is extreme fear. It would appear that we Americans on the average are fearful of everyone and everything. Yet, Jesus states “Fear not” over 300 times in the Bible. Why? Because fear leads to hatred and hatred leads to murder in the name of personal freedom.

Just like in the many events of history, people walk away from actual truth and adopt a pretend truth. You see, there is actual truth – Jesus stated, “I am the way, the truth and the life.” Jesus also declared that He came to earth “to bear witness to the truth.” Again, a person without real truth, will soon adopt sin as truth, leading to a fearful life, leading to hatred, leading to violence against those who speak truth.

George Orwell once stated, “The further a society drifts from the truth, the more it will hate those who speak it.” Well, here we are.

So, as born-again Christians living in America, are we going to continue our Sunday morning holy huddle and then retreatc to our homes? Or, are we going to gather to worship the living God, to be encouraged and strengthened by other believers and truth-filled lessons, and then walk into our communities with courage and a boldness to do our part in advancing the kingdom of God? Remember, just before leading Israel into the Promised Land, Joshua was challenged to “Be strong and courageous.”

Our strength comes from the working of the Holy Spirit in our lives, not our education about being courageous Christians. Jesus told His first disciples, as well as us, “you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you.” The Greek word used here for “power” is “dynamin,” from which we derive our English word dynamite. Dynamite can be used for great good, or terrible evil. It’s time that we Christians begin to use our God-given power for the good of those around us and for the glory of the amazing God we serve!

The “courage” comes from being in right relationship with God and realizing that we have the “power” to do anything He calls us to do. “I can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens me.” It is time to live the TRUTH with courage!

As a dear saint once said, “If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”(Joshua 24:15) Joshua was challenging his people to choose between that which their culture called truth and that which their God called truth. You too get to choose which one you will follow.

Choosing biblical truth with you, Neal