Blogs

The Kingdom Light – Episode 1084

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We often see infighting within the body of Christ. Yeah, we are flesh and blood, and it can be hard to overcome our differences sometimes in the heat of the moment. But in this episode, I hope to get to the meat of the matter. Stay tuned.

– Show Intro –

Welcome to The Kingdom Light, where CHRIST is KING and TRUTH MATTERS! Our mission: To shine the Kingdom Light in an otherwise dark world!

Before we get into today’s topic…

Let me ask you a question. Have you visited the GCMedia Store? It’s the ONLY place where you can get GCM Gear. What’s that, you ask? I’ll tell you. T-shirts, coffee mugs, coasters, drinking glasses, tumblers, and more. Cool stuff for gifts or for yourself, so check it out. All you gotta do is go to TheGCMedia.com/gear – that’s TheGCMedia.com/gear! Grab some swag right there from the GCMedia Store and help support this ministry.

In fact, here are the latest designs. For you listening to audio only, sorry you can’t see this. But you watching on Rumble, check out these two items here. Just recently added, you got a cool t-shirt with the Kingdom Radio logo on the front and a beautiful artwork on the back showing a sort of heavenly radio station scene that’s hard to describe – but it’s really gorgeous. Then, here’s the latest coffee mug design. It features our new GCM logo on one side and the Kingdom Light slogan on the other: Shining the Kingdom Light in an otherwise Dark World. Both of these are really cool, and there’s lots of other stuff, so check out the Kingdom Storehouse.

Okay, let’s get into it, y’all.

Some years ago, I was in the position of Worship Leader at my church. Now, to people who come to church and enjoy the worship service on Sunday morning, that group of singers and musicians may seem like a well-oiled machine – working together in perfect unity and harmony. But in reality, a worship team consists of different personalities, different ideas and ways of doing things, etc. Overcoming differences of opinion or squashing arguments can be a challenge.

At practice one week, we had what I can only describe as an explosion of words occur between the bass player and the drummer. It was a case of one person’s personality irritatingly pushing all the buttons of the other. As worship leader, I found myself having to act as mediator and trying to defuse the situation. If I’m being honest, I felt almost completely inadequate for the task.

I myself had been involved in a similar argument in the past. Ironically, it was a time when I was the drummer and my brother was the bass player. As siblings, we could easily get on one another’s nerves. We had also allowed that brotherly clash of attitudes to invade a practice session, and now I was being reminded of this – hence my feelings of inadequacy to attempt to solve the problem.

As God always does, He showed me the solution. It wouldn’t be easy, but rather, it would be a learning experience for all of us. Sometimes, we just have to be reminded that we’re all brothers and sisters in Christ. As such, we are called to love one another. Love is the key. Real love. The kind of love that conquers all.

As the family of God, we often have obstacles to overcome in order to simply get along with each other. In my family, we have different political views, different world views, etc. Personality clashes happen all the time, so how do we get along in the end? We’re family, and we truly love each other. That love helps us see past our differences and our arguments to what really matters.

But as I said, it’s not always easy. It’s important to realize why getting past our differences can be difficult. Once we identify the real obstacles, we will start to see that – in truth – we’re making things tough on ourselves. This is because, most times, the roadblocks to loving like we should are put up by us.

Remember the “love chapter” – 1 Corinthians 13? It speaks of a love that is patient, kind, not envious or boastful, not arrogant or rude, and doesn’t insist on its own way. Yikes. Further, this love isn’t irritable or resentful, and it endures through everything. No wonder it’s not easy! We’re throwing up all kinds of barriers, aren’t we?

This kind of love is hard as long as we try to hold on to selfishness, pride, and bitterness. We have to learn to let go of these things and let love win out. We can’t let our anger get in the way. We can’t let our insistence on doing things our way block us off from loving, either. What’s more important? Winning an argument, or conquering self and embracing the kind of love God has instructed us to have for one another?

The Bible tells us that people will know we are Christians as evidenced by the love we share. If we’re not doing everything we can to walk daily in that kind of brotherly love, then we look just like the rest of the world. Why should anyone listen to us or believe when we try to be witnesses of Jesus when we aren’t showing the love He is known for?

Friends, I implore you. If you find yourself in an argument with a fellow believer, or if you fall into the trap of pointing out petty differences, just stop for a moment. Realize what you’re allowing to happen. Children of God are always going to have differing opinions, but what matters is that we’re all on the same side. We’re not enemies. Let go of pride. Let go of anger. Let go of self. And let love win the day.

God bless, and keep shining the Kingdom Light.

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The Kingdom Light – Episode 1083

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Folks, I tell ya, every single day it looks more and more like we’re living in the end times. So on today’s program, we’re gonna talk about the last days. Are we in them right now? We’ll see what the Bible says about this subject, next…

– Show Intro –

Welcome to The Kingdom Light, where CHRIST is KING and TRUTH MATTERS! Our mission: To shine the Kingdom Light in an otherwise dark world!

Before we dive into today’s topic, let me remind you about our radio station. Kingdom Radio is streaming encouraging and uplifting Christian music 24/7, and the best part is: you can listen to it pretty much anywhere. On your smart phone, tablet, or computer, you can go to TheKingdomLight.com/radio – that’s TheKingdomLight.com/radio – and click the listen button. Or download the Listen2MyRadio app on your Apple or Android smart device, open the app and search the word “Kingdom.” At home or on the road, you can have great and Godly tunes at your fingertips. Check out Kingdom Radio for yourself, and as always, share it with others.

Okay, as far back as I can remember, people have pondered about the end times. There have been countless predictions and theories as to how the world will end going back for ages. But lately – whoa – have we ever been witness to some truly crazy stuff?!

[clip: Miami mall footage, directed energy weapon, etc.]

It’s hard NOT to think we must be getting really close to the end. Could it be that the end really is near?

I don’t know about you, but personally, I have been more intently watching the skies recently. There was a lot of hub-bub a month or two ago about the solar eclipse over the US. A little later, we had a few nights of amazement with the northern lights being seen in the southern part of the states. They told us it was a geomagnetic storm caused by solar fares. Sure, okay.

[clip: MIB swamp gas]

Rather than go into a lot of the weird occurrences of late – ’cause that really could take a while to cover, and I don’t want to go down a bunch of rabbit holes in this particular episode – instead, let’s go straight to our most reliable source of truth…God’s Word. No matter what anyone else says, we can trust the Bible to give it to us straight.

There are some very straightforward passages on the last days, though people often misquote and convolute the scriptures for their own purposes. Let’s look at three particular areas of the Word where we’re given some clear indications of what to look for in the last days…

The Coming of the Son of Man, Matthew 24:29-31

²⁹ “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. ³⁰ Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. ³¹ And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.”

First, it indicates that Jesus’ return will follow immediately after tribulation. (pause) I’m just gonna leave that one alone. But it all seems to start with the darkening of the sun. Hold up. Don’t get excited yet, y’all. We’ve had several eclipses over the years, and I don’t think something as brief as a solar eclipse is at all what this is referring to. Further, the moon won’t give light, the stars fall, and all heaven will shake. This will be a much bigger deal, okay. It’s gonna grab everyone’s attention at once.

Next, there’s gonna be something appear in the skies that will leave no doubt as to what’s coming. The sign of the Son of Man – an unmistakable, supernatural sign of Christ – will be seen over the whole earth. People of all nations will bear witness, and many will begin to weep in knowing – this is IT. All will see Jesus Himself coming in the clouds with power and glory, and THAT is when He’ll send angels to collect His people from all over the world.

Woooo, now THAT’s exciting stuff! But wait, what about those who are crying about His return? Why are they weeping? Let’s get a little more insight from the next passage…

Revelation 1:7

Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.

So, to whom is this referring? This scripture mentions “those who pierced Him.” Does this mean even the Roman soldiers who nailed Jesus to the cross, and the one who pierced His side with a spear – even THEY will see Him? Pay attention to the part which states that “every eye will see Him.” Now, I believe this really is a literal statement. It doesn’t say that SOME will see Him – no, EVERY eye will see Him. That’s every single person, alive or dead, anyone who is or ever was. Not only that, but it would also seem to indicate that there will be NO ONE blind when it happens. Every eye will be opened, and all will see. Now, you may not believe it that way – and that’s okay – but I do.

Back to the weeping, though. It says there are gonna be a lot of people wailing at the sight of Jesus’ return. Those who have rejected Him, those who have aligned themselves with the enemy, all those who have continued to persecute His people – they will look up and see Him coming back, and it will be conclusively certain that time for them is up. It’s too late. No more chances to repent, turn back, and get right with God. His seemingly unending patience reaches its end, and all hope for forgiveness is finally over. Yeah, that’s definitely cause for some serious weeping. At that point, crying is all they’ll have left.

As sad and heartbreaking as that is, let that not be so of us! And let it serve as reason for us to witness to those around us as we are called to do, so that they may be saved. Indeed, for those who believe and have found grace and favor in the eyes of the Lord, this will be a day of never-before-seen rejoicing! Look here at this passage…

1 Thessalonians 4:16-18

¹⁶ For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. ¹⁷ Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. ¹⁸ Therefore encourage one another with these words.

Come on with me as I break this down. Jesus will come down from heaven, there will be a loud command for His people to be joined with Him, a trumpet call even. And can you imagine the sight!?! All those who died serving Him will rise up from the earth. We who are alive will SEE that! WOW!!!

[clip: Owen Wilson “wow”]

But just as that amazement has a chance to set in, we start leaving the ground ourselves! Folks, if you’re alive to witness that day and you serve the Lord, you are gonna fly up into the sky to meet with Jesus in the clouds! Wooooo! Are you kidding me?! If that doesn’t get you shouting happy, nothing will.

Hey, we still haven’t gotten to the best part though. After that, it says “and SO we will ALWAYS BE WITH THE LORD!” From that day forward, we’re gonna be with Him, in His presence, FOREVER! Let me tell you that, if there’s one thing I’ve learned over the years, it’s that IN GOD’s PRESENCE is the greatest place we can ever be. There is nowhere else I’d rather be than IN His awesome presence, y’all. And it’s gonna last for all eternity.

Finally, verse 18 says that we should therefore encourage one another with these words. I can’t think of anything anymore encouraging than having the knowledge that I will forever be with my God – that the life to come will be so much more amazing than this life could ever be. Think of it: no more crying, no more pain, no more anxiety, no more worries, no more sickness or death – just abundant life in the presence of our Redeemer. I’d say I’m looking forward to it, but that’s putting it quite mildly.

So keep looking up, y’all. Keep watching those skies. But also keep being about the Father’s business. Keep spreading the Good News to others. No matter how crazy the times may seem now, or what happens in the days ahead, know that God will not forsake His people. We may indeed be close to those final days, but the end times don’t have to be something to be feared or dreaded for those who’s God is the Lord.

Be blessed, and keep spreading the Kingdom Light!

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The Kingdom Light – Episode 1082

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In May of 2011, I began preparing to launch an online ministry called GCM, or Great Commission Ministries. By mid-June, it was ready to start with the video web-series titled “The GC.” The first episode was uploaded on June 16th of 2011. That was 13 years ago…

On today’s program, we’re getting back to our roots. By that, I’m both speaking of Great Commission Ministries AND alluding to our show topic. Stick around.

– Show Intro –

Welcome to The Kingdom Light, where CHRIST is KING and TRUTH MATTERS! Our mission: To shine the Kingdom Light in an otherwise dark world!

Yeah, you heard right. New show title, a few tweaks here and there, but it’s all part of going back to our beginnings as a ministry. Hopefully, you’ve been enjoying the look back at our original web-series. We will continue to bring you all episodes of The GC Revisited on our Rumble channel, and in doing so, it has become clear that a few changes were necessary going forward.

Occasionally, we get to a point where we must re-examine where we’ve gotten to and make some course corrections in order to stay on track. I believe this is where we are now as a nation, as well. We’ve moved into a dark period in America, to a time when each next step must be measured carefully. God has been saying to me personally that the truth must be spoken into this generation, as the Kingdom Light is needed now more than ever before.

And so, today I want to speak that truth to where we are as a country. We have gotten so far off our original path, and too many of us may not have even realized it. Have we gotten away from God? I won’t deny that’s the larger issue at hand, but there are smaller details that have pushed us off the tracks of being a Godly nation as well. I’m talking about a fundamental cornerstone of our country’s beginning that’s been forgotten by many. I’m referring to the intended nature of our American Republic.

The Truth About Republic vs. Democracy

It is lost on members of both parties. Why are they even CALLED Republicans and Democrats? Just as corruption permeates both sides, this insipid ignorance is also prevalent in both parties. Words matter. Terminology IS important. Ask random people on the street what kind of government we have in the US, and likely everyone will say we live in a democracy. Republicans and Democrats alike will all say the same thing. But it’s just not true.

Our government was set up as a Constitutional Republic. The word democracy does not even appear in any of our founding documents. Some people don’t know this at all, and others will say, “Yeah, but we have a lot of democratic principles instilled within our system of government.” I would challenge that. Even if true, it’s still a republic. I heard one guy put it this way: I might employ a few pickles on my cheeseburger, but that doesn’t make it a pickle sandwich. But even more importantly, people need to understand the difference between the two and why it’s so important.

Here’s the skinny, okay? Democracy basically means mob rule. In a democracy, 51% (the majority) of the people can mandate what the other 49% must accept. 51% can dictate to the other 49%, this is how it’s gonna be – deal with it. Does that seem fair? Does that sound like freedom? No, not at all. But in a republic, even 99% can’t impose their way on the 1%. Why? Because liberty is paramount. What does that mean? I’m glad you asked…

In our case, we have a Constitutional Republic, or a representative republic. That means even the minority of people get representation within the government. And the government itself is limited in what it can do because the Constitution recognizes God-given rights of the individuals FIRST and foremost to ensure those rights aren’t infringed upon. In other words, the government isn’t supposed to be able to overstep its bounds, thereby becoming oppressive and tyrannical. Individual liberties come first. Period. Now, doesn’t that sound a lot better than mob rule?

For decades and longer, the word democracy has been pushed on the American people. You probably learned it that way in school. It’s echoed by our supposed representatives – both democrats and republicans. It’s parroted by the media. It has been drilled into our psyche so much that people have accepted it as fact when it’s not. You hear it every day. We have to protect our democracy. So-and-so is a threat to our democracy. On and on, it goes. It’s malarkey.

I gotta tell you, when I hear a conservative speaker who I admire calling America a democracy – it just drives me crazy. They should know better. But even knowledgeable people slip up and say it because it has been effectively burned into our vocabulary. But knowing what a true democracy is now, and what a republic is, think of just how insane it is for a republican to call our Republic a democracy. Come on, folks. The terms we use really do matter.

So why have the establishment crooks tricked us into thinking we live in a democracy rather than a republic? Simple. A democracy is much more easily transformed into totalitarianism. Remember, our Republic places Constitutional restrictions on government and protects individual liberties. A democracy has no such restrictions on the government. And being effectively mob rule, a large portion of the people quickly realize they’re not being treated fairly – at which point, corrupt government officials promise them all kinds of incentives to pacify them.

How many times have we heard promises of “free” stuff? So called stimulus checks, canceling student loans, or food stamps. Here, have some of this delicious government cheese! Little band-aids here and there to fool us into thinking they actually care about us. But it’s really just to make us reliant on their subsidies and handouts. Once you’re hooked on them, they own you. They will force you to give up all your independence – your freedom – just to get whatever carrot they see fit to dangle in front of you. And as you know, where there’s a carrot, there’s also a stick. The stick is, you get stuck under dictatorial rule.

Read the Constitution. Read the Declaration of Independence. No mention at all of democracy. Someone asked Benjamin Franklin what manner of government the Continental Congress had created. He answered, “A Republic, if you can keep it.” These guys knew of mankind’s proclivity of embracing evil. They knew their posterity would face challenges. That’s why they carefully worded those founding documents the way they did. That’s why they gave us a Republic, if we can keep it. But evil forces threaten to destroy it.

Why do you think they took the Pledge of Allegiance out of schools? Oh sure, it was part of the effort to remove God – one nation, under God. But it was also to get rid of that pesky reminder that the United States is indeed a Republic. And to the Republic, for which it (the flag) stands… Yep. They dumped all signs of our Republic and replaced it with a lie – that America is a democracy. And boy, did they ever drive that lie into our brains so it would be accepted as truth!

Now that you know the REAL truth, or now that you’ve been reminded of it, what should you do? Apply it. Use it. Proclaim it loudly! It’s the truth that sets us free, so spread the truth around at every opportunity. Share it with family and friends. Remind people that we live in what’s SUPPOSED TO BE a Constitutional Republic – not a democracy. Don’t be afraid to correct people who use the wrong word to describe our form of government. If we want to take our freedoms back – take our country back – then we must take seriously the language being used (or misused) when discussing it.

Let’s get back to our roots, folks. God bless and keep shining the Kingdom Light!

Troy Dewayne Massengill, my father, was a preacher of the Gospel. He was a singer, a songwriter, and a musician. His legacy lives on in his children, as well as everyone he ever prayed for or ministered to in some way. We tend to idolize people after they’re gone, but I know he was by no means perfect. None of us are. But his love for the Lord and for people was indeed notable.

Growing up in his shadow meant learning to abide by certain standards: Obey God, and love people. When I look at the man I’ve become, I see obvious similarities. Like my dad, I am a singer and songwriter, as well as a musician. But also like my father, I love to minister to people. It’s a God-given passion, and it’s a calling. I am grateful for the upbringing my parents gave me, in the respect and admonition of the Word of God.

Dad was a pastor for many years, but I don’t really remember him for his sermons. I saw his passion for people come out when he would just talk with folks. And he really loved to sing. In fact, he had his own TV show on a local station for a while. It was called Praise Time, and on the program he would sing songs and pray for people who sent in requests. It was during that time I think he was most in his element – and this is a part of his character to which I can most easily relate.

So, as I prepare to begin my 14th year of this online ministry God gave me in 2011, it is with the knowledge that – in my own way – I am following in my dad’s footsteps. Spreading the Gospel message is every Christian’s duty, but I can’t help but think of my dad’s example this weekend. The 13th anniversary of GCM, after all, falls on Father’s day. It is my sincere hope that Dad is smiling down on me, proud of who and what I’ve become.

Happy Father’s Day, Pop! I look forward to seeing you in heaven. Until then, I want to carry on the work our Savior called us to do. With the help of Jesus, I will obey the Father, and I will love people, bringing the light of truth to those in darkness. In so doing, I will honor both my earthly and heavenly fathers.

What An Amazing Ride

In May of 2011, preparations began to launch an online ministry called GCM, or Great Commission Ministries. By mid-June, it was ready to start with the debut web-series titled “The GC.” Episode 1, “It Begins”, was uploaded on June 16th of 2011. With that introduction, GCM came into being. Since then, the ministry has ambitiously grown and expanded its scope.

“The GC” continued for seven seasons before wrapping up its run. From there, the ministry went to blogging from its official website, and also did a brief series of videos called “67 Seconds of Encouragement.” Meanwhile, GCM’s online ministry got into social media posts on several platforms. Eventually, the blogs turned into a podcast, initially titled “The Kingdom Hero Blogcast.” This program was later renamed “The Kingdom Hero Show.” The podcast was distributed in video format through YouTube and Rumble, as well as audio format on Spotify and several other platforms.

After 81 episodes, that show has been paused due to many factors. The occasional blog has still been available, and other content has continued. The YouTube channel has been abandoned in the last couple of years, and all new videos have solely been hosted on Rumble. In addition, the original web-series has been brought back, being reproduced and uploaded to the Rumble channel as “The GC Revisited.”

Finally, as GCM begins its 14th year, there’s a new series on the way. This new program will be a sort of amalgamation of The GC and The Kingdom Hero Show, combining the original series’ faster paced format with the more recent podcast’s wider range of content. Keep a lookout for “The Kingdom Light,” which is slated to debut on our Rumble channel AND Spotify next month.

In the meantime, help us celebrate our anniversary by sharing our current content on your social media pages. Thanks for being a part of this ministry’s efforts to spread the Gospel to the world via the Internet. And please continue this journey with us as we begin year 14 of Great Commission Ministries.

UPDATE ON MINISTRY PLANS

During this ministry’s most recent hiatus, God has been dealing with me about what direction to go next. He led me back to the beginning, and so I brought back the original web-series that launched Great Commission Ministries…

No sooner than I started reproductions of the original “GC” episodes, I was attacked by hell. This is what happens when you follow God’s calling – it puts you on the enemy’s radar. Satan began assaulting me at my weakest points: pain & anxiety. These are two things I live with every day, and I manage to keep them under control most of the time. But immediately after I began uploading episodes to the Rumble channel, both pain & anxiety intensified.

About 8 uploads into “The GC Revisited,” I had to take a break. It was a weekend, and I started praying and seeking for God’s guidance. He quickly showed me what was going on and why it was happening. I knew it was an onslaught from hell, so I additionally asked my brother to pray for me. Anxiety had me paralyzed, and pain made me feel powerless. LIES! Satan had tricked me into momentarily forgetting who I am in Christ.

Once I was able to see the truth of my situation, I was emboldened to stand on God’s promises. This is when he led me to the scripture in Matthew 21…

18 In the morning, as he was returning to the city, he became hungry. 19 And seeing a fig tree by the wayside, he went to it and found nothing on it but only leaves. And he said to it, “May no fruit ever come from you again!” And the fig tree withered at once. 20 When the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, “How did the fig tree wither at once?” 21 And Jesus answered them, “Truly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen. 22 And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.”

I then made and uploaded a video explaining what had happened, as well as the lessons God had for me in the above passage. First, I certainly never want to become fruitless like that fig tree. And second, I need to embrace my faith and overcome my mountains. And day by day, that’s what I intend to do. With God’s help and grace, I will.

GOD HAD A PLAN THE WHOLE TIME

Through all of this, I feel God is leading me to a specific place with this online ministry. I’m comforted by the realization that He’s had this planned all along. “The Kingdom Hero Show” is about to be renovated into a somewhat different series called simply “The Kingdom Light.” Yep, that’s what I was lead some while ago to rename this website, TheKingdomLight.com. I see God’s divine orchestration in that.

The new series of videos will pick up where The Kingdom Hero Show left off, but it will also be shorter than that podcast had become. In fact, The Kingdom Light will be much more fast-paced and concise in nature – more like The GC was. The reason for this change is pretty obvious: Simpler is better.

While I thoroughly enjoyed putting together a podcast with the scale of The Kingdom Hero Show, it took a lot of time. All the planning, editing and piecing together various video clips and news articles, then recording and producing all of that with more editing and so on, each episode was becoming a monumental endeavor. Ironically, I enjoyed that process. But I didn’t have adequate time to spend doing it how I wanted – I still work a regular job like any ordinary guy.

God showed me that I’d made the ministry He’d given me too complicated and less efficient. That’s why there were so many occasions of extended gaps between uploads. And once that starts, discouragement sets in. Not only is it difficult to find the time, but it’s even harder to find the motivation. That’s just a bad combination when all you really want to do is minister to people. He had to remind me that His yoke is easy, and His burden is light.

This was a lesson for me, but I sincerely hope it speaks to you as well. Don’t let the enemy discourage you. Stay in the Word so that you can be reminded regularly of God’s promises – and then STAND on those promises! And in the meantime, keep checking the Rumble channel for more uploads. Enjoy the GC Revisited series, keep an eye out for the new series in the near future, and keep on sharing the Kingdom Light!

God bless!

Reasonable people know this. It’s not hard to understand. But unfortunately, the 2nd Amendment to our Constitution has been convoluted by those who want simply to disarm the populous.

Understanding the Reasons for 2A

The tyranny seizing more and more control is held in check somewhat by the right we have to protect ourselves with firearms. So they engage in psychological and emotional warfare to challenge the very meaning of this crucial amendment. They falsely claim it was written with hunting in mind, though the wording clearly indicates otherwise. They make flawed arguments like, “It’s outdated – the writers never envisioned weapons like we have today.” Ridiculous.

Our founding fathers were visionaries. These guys weren’t stupid. They weren’t ignorant about advancements being made in weaponry. And they hadn’t just returned from a hunting trip when they wrote up this document. They had just liberated themselves from the tyranny of King George of England. They were carefully considering how to birth a nation with enduring freedoms. The tyranny they had just escaped was fresh on their minds when they wrote that 2nd Amendment, and they knew individual liberty was at stake.

Blaming Guns Rather Than People

Still, the emotionally charged arguments continue to equate guns with evil whenever some armed killer engages in mass homicide. Or when some young person gets hold of an unsecured firearm and accidentally shoots someone. These are tragic, but they’re also preventable. There is a large degree of responsibility every gun-owner has to assume, and properly storing guns and ammo can stop the accidents in their tracks. As for the deranged gunman, he can be – and often IS – stopped by a good guy with a gun. And an even deeper analysis shows there are often warning signs that go ignored, and we have to be vigilant about preventing tragedy before it happens.

Back to the amendment in question… Despite what we often hear, this basic but important freedom is more about personal protection than anything else. The 2nd Amendment recognizes our right to safeguard and protect ourselves, our belongings, our homes and loved ones – specifically with firearms because of their effectiveness. An armed citizen is less likely to be a victim of crime. In fact, armed citizens very often end up foiling the intent of would-be criminals. The effectiveness of firearms to provide defense, as well as stop or thwart crime, is precisely why we arm our police officers. But cops can’t be everywhere at once, so responsibly armed citizens are an absolute necessity.

Ignorance Speaks Loudest

All too often, people trying to argue for gun bans know very little about firearms themselves. They’ll make insane claims about certain weapons being “too powerful” for civilians to own. Just spouting off words, they say things like, “Nobody needs a rifle that fires 30 rounds per second!” Yeah, I’ve heard that one. But guess what? No one owns such a weapon. The argument is ludicrous because it’s not even based in reality. But I can promise you that when you are serious about protecting yourself, you want to have the best and most powerful tool at your disposal.

Too many of these people don’t understand the difference between automatic firearms and semi-automatic ones. They don’t realize that fully automatic weapons are already banned from civilian ownership. A fully automatic weapon, like the military M-60, is what many people refer to as a “machine gun.” Generally designed for combat, a fully automatic rifle allows the shooter to fire multiple rounds in sequence – one immediately after the other – because it automatically loads the next round as soon as the previous one is fired AND continues to fire as long as the trigger is engaged.

However, as stated, such weapons are already banned from civilian ownership. The vast majority of firearms available to the general public are semi-auto in design. Others, like a bolt-action rifle or a shotgun, have to be manually reloaded after each fire. It’s an older design that’s still popular, but they lack the quick efficiency of the semi-automatic weapon. Unlike the automatic firearm, the semi-auto only fires ONE SINGLE ROUND each time the trigger is depressed. The only thing automatic about it is that it loads the next round after the previous one is fired – a time-saving feature that makes it easier to use than a weapon you have to manually reload after every shot.

“Ban Those Scary Looking Guns!”

None of this matters to the whackos advocating for gun bans. Nor does the fact that criminals – by definition – don’t obey laws. Still, they point to what they call “assault rifles” – like the AR-15 – and claim no one should own it because it’s a military grade weapon. False. The AR-15 is not and was never used by the military. It’s also not automatic, but rather semi-automatic. Furthermore, AR does not mean “assault rifle.” It actually stands for Armalite Rifle, and the AR-15 was specifically designed for civilian use. What’s more, it’s a great choice of weapon for personal defense due to its easy handling and efficiency.

In fact, for all their attempts to instill fear in people regarding these “scary-looking” weapons, the AR-15 is rather tame when it comes to power. It’s basically the same as a regular .22 rifle with a few modifications to make it easier to grip and handle. The fact that it’s similar in appearance to the military M-16 rifle, giving it a more intimidating look, is one of the reasons it’s so effective as a personal defense firearm. A would-be attacker will think twice about trying to go up against a citizen carrying the AR-15 precisely because it’s “so darn scary-looking.”

Mind Your Own Business

Then they ask one of the dumbest questions I’ve ever heard. Even Joe Biden asked this question… “Do you need a hundred rounds?!”

First of all, this was asked at the time as though shooting a deer was the only reason anyone would want a gun. Again, it’s not about hunting. It’s about protection. I hope I never need 100 rounds to defend myself, but I certainly would rather HAVE and not need than to NEED and not have. However, all that is irrelevant. My answer to the question would be, “Frankly, sir, it’s none of your business how many rounds of ammunition I have.”

That brings us to the heart of the matter… The 2nd Amendment clearly states that “the right of the individual to keep and bear arms SHALL NOT BE INFRINGED.” This means it’s none of the government’s business what weapons I own – nor how many rounds I have – because it’s MY RIGHT to do so, and they have ZERO SAY in it. They are Constitutionally NOT ALLOWED to interfere in my ability to arm and protect myself – PERIOD. All the effort to make it seem like it’s about stopping mass shootings and violent crime is just a smokescreen.

The Bottom Line

Historically, there is but ONE reason a government has ever attempted to disarm the populous – just ONE – and that is so they could exact totalitarian control. Our founding fathers were keenly aware of the tyranny that could once again befall us – their posterity – if they didn’t do something to ensure individual liberties and put constraints on the government.

That’s why they wrote the Constitution in such a way that it limits the powers of the government while affirming the God-given rights of the people. The more limited the government, the freer the individual. We must realize that those who seek to expand the power of government are in fact seeking to destroy our freedom.

When we tell others the truth about what God’s Word says about sin, it is sometimes misunderstood as hateful speech. Saying, for example, that homosexuality is sinful – many times people see that as us hating gays. However, the opposite is true. If you see someone headed for disaster, you tell them so. That’s love. Hate would be sitting back and letting them be destroyed.

Conviction

Truth often offends. It may hurt your feelings. But if you feel convicted when you hear truth spoken, something else very important is actually happening. Conviction is a function of the Holy Spirit. Allow me to explain…

Every human being who is alive has the breath of God within them. Follow me here. God breathed into Adam and he became alive. Before that, there was no spirit inside Adam. He was an empty shell made in the likeness of his Creator. It was God’s breath that gave Adam his own spirit. The words spirit and breath are synonymous. If something is inspired, that literally means it is “God-breathed.” So, again, every live human being has God’s breath inside them. That is the living spirit that dwells within your body.

With this in mind, let’s go back to the uncomfortable feeling you have when truth about a sin you’re guilty of is spoken to you. That uncomfortable feeling is called conviction. But if I spoke that truth to you, it doesn’t follow that I am the one convicting you. I don’t actually have that power. It is the Holy Spirit bearing witness to that truth which causes an uneasiness within YOUR spirit.

Conviction itself is a spiritual occurrence. It’s evidence of a battle between your spirit and your flesh. Your spirit wants to please God, while your flesh just wants to please itself. It is the Holy Spirit which convicts. And if you feel that prodding in your spirit, you’d be wise to pay attention to it rather than lash out at the person who spoke truth to you.

All for Love

Truth may make you uncomfortable. But it is an act of love to speak truth to someone who might otherwise perish because of their sin. We speak the truth of God’s Word because we don’t want people to die in their sin. This is a reflection of how God feels about us. He doesn’t want anyone to perish in their sin, so He made a way for us to be redeemed and cleansed from our sin. He sent Jesus to pay the price for our sin on the cross. The Bible says, “While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” That was the ultimate act of love.

The truth of this good news is that we need only choose to accept the free gift of salvation. We do this by accepting Jesus as Savior, meaning that we believe He died in our place, paying the price of death that we owed for our sin, and then rising from the dead to further offer us eternal life with Him. Another part of this truth is that God is Holy and demands holiness of us. We couldn’t do that on our own, which is why we need Jesus. Truth and love, wrapped up in one complete package – and we just have to be receptive to it.

But if we reject His truth, we also reject His love and His free gift of salvation. In this way, we remain mired within our sin, separated from God. Die in this state, and we’re left to suffer an eternity apart from Him – and that’s hell. So it comes back to sharing the truth with the lost, hoping and praying that they will accept Jesus and be saved. Wanting to save people from hell…that’s not hate. It’s love.

Love people enough to tell them the truth. Otherwise, you could be held accountable for souls lost to which you failed to witness. You can prevent that loss with the Gospel message. They can know the truth, and that truth can set them free from the bonds of sin. So don’t be afraid to speak truth, speak life, speak love – speak Jesus at every opportunity, and save the lost. After all, this is our very calling as children of God.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH THE TIME GOD IS GIVING YOU?

Wanna seek out some wisdom? Take a deep dive into this passage!

PSALM 90 [ESV]

3 You return man to dust and say, “Return, O children of man!” 4 For a thousand years in your sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night. 5 You sweep them away as with a flood; they are like a dream, like grass that is renewed in the morning: 6 in the morning it flourishes and is renewed; in the evening it fades and withers. 7 For we are brought to an end by your anger; by your wrath we are dismayed. 8 You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence. 9 For all our days pass away under your wrath; we bring our years to an end like a sigh. 10 The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty;yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away. 11 Who considers the power of your anger, and your wrath according to the fear of you? 12 So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.

This is a song of Moses, a true man of God. Take some time and really study this passage, asking God to speak to you. He sure spoke to me! I’d love to read your comments on this. Shalom.