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Biblically Speaking of Evil and National SecurityWe have been learning to think Biblically and speak Scripturally about evil in order to teach our children about the dangers present in our fallen world, while setting our affections on things above (Colossians 3:2) and staying Spiritually minded (Romans 8:6). We first noticed that "it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret" (Ephesians 5:12), so we don't speak of those things. Righteousness can be encouraged over unrighteousness by noting that God rewards the righteous and curses unrighteous (Deuteronomy 11:26). The rewards of righteousness are many and include: Godly knowledge, wisdom, and understanding (Proverbs 1:7), peace and joy in the Holy Ghost (Romans 14:17, Galatians 5:22-23), and everlasting life (Romans 6:22). The curses which follow unrighteousness are the result of God giving the unrighteous person (or group of persons, Luke 17:29) over to: uncleanness, vile affections, a reprobate mind, being filled with unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness, envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity, whispering, backbiting, hating God, despitefulness, pride, boasting, inventing evil, disobedience to parents, a lack of understanding, covenant breaking, unnatural affections, implacability, being unmerciful, adultery, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrathfulness, strife, seditions, heresies, drunkenness, reveling. The unrighteous are said to be worthy of death and will not inherit the kingdom of God. (Romans 1:18-19, Galatians 5:19-21). It seems important for Christians to be able to directly identify and correlate theses curses, where present in the world, as the result of God's judgment. Then the Christian can share the Gospel of Jesus Christ in context, as the only power which can remove the curse from a willing person or group. It appears equally important for us to recognize when an individual or group will not hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:33). "And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city." Mark 6:11 At every secular educational institution, the unrighteous choice to reject "The fear of the Lord" (Proverbs 1:7) has resulted in God giving these institutions over to all of the curses listed above. The unwritten curriculum coming from these institutions is therefore an education in rejecting "the fear of the Lord," which has resulted in a "highly" cursed nation of people. Terrorists were also educated in a cursed pedagogy from which they perform their, more obviously, destructive career. The Scriptures demonstrate that blessings come to people as they are obedient to God and curses come to people as a result of their disobedience to God (Deuteronomy 11:26). The blessing of a secure nation, therefore, does not depend on government spending or modern defense electronics. It depends more on the choices that the Church makes to learn and love the Scriptures, live by the faith of the Son of God, and share the good news of righteousness through Jesus Christ. "Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse;" De 11:26"The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD." Proverbs 21:31 Dr. James Bartlett, PhD, PE ret., is President of Bartlett University which hosts the Family University Network with its Christian business incubator. Dr. Bartlett and his wife Lynn homeschool four boys in the Turtle Mountains of North Dakota. Dr. Bartlett can be contacted by calling 701-263-4574 or visiting http://bartlettuniversity.com.
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