Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him. Even so, I will defend my own ways before Him. ~ Job 13:15…from my Chambers’ read yesterday, Instinctive Integrity

Two of my favorite words; instinct and integrity.

In-stinct: an inherited tendency of an organism or species to behave in a certain way that is usually a reaction to something in the environment and that fulfills a basic need.

In-teg-ri-ty: the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles; moral uprightness:

“he is known to be a man of integrity”.

Cowardice would be my least favorite word, as many of my well-tuned readers know by now. Though there is integrity by degree, one may find instinct in cowardice. But seldom, if ever, will one find cowardice in integrity, or integrity in cowardice. In fact, survival instinct are two words paired together most frequently. The survival instinct in the coward is often the survival of self at the expense of other, while the survival instinct of integrity is for the survival of other at the expense of self. German Pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer would be the perfect example. In his final hours after 39 years on this earth, he was more concerned with the survival of the church than is own neck. He was the living example of “Costly Grace”.

My friend and mentor Rev. Bill Banuchi says, “As the church goes, so goes the man. As the man goes, so goes the marriage. As the marriage goes, so goes the family. As the family goes, so goes the neighborhood. As the neighborhood goes, so goes the community. And as the community goes, so goes the nation.” Because of these words, with which I am in complete and total agreement, cowardice in the pulpit is the great killer of nations. God’s perfect timing, as I find myself this morning on page 347, chapter 22 of Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy. The title of chapter 22 is, “The End of Germany”. And far, far worse than that…when there is cowardice in political leadership, the people’s power is lost. When there is cowardice in military leadership, people’s lives are lost. But when there is cowardice in the pulpit, people’s souls are lost.

The view of the Job 13:15 quote from the pulpit of “cheap grace” is, “Though he (man) slay me, yet will I trust Him.” Therefore, who am I to speak out, or stop him?

There are tragically few examples of Ephesians 6:20 boldness in the pulpit today. I give thanks and praise God for one such voice…

Today, as the church, our nation, and the world find themselves in the unprecedented danger of departure from God, of deceit, and of deliberate deafness to the voices of truth, His alarms are sounding loudly to warn and to rescue those in both immediate and imminent danger! But who will hear and listen to the voices of truth in our culture of both religious and political deception! As the Jews were packed into rail box cars and headed to Nazi extermination camps, churches within a stone’s throw from the rail lines had worship as usual, singing over the cries of those soon to be gassed. America is being dismantled right before our very eyes, and many who profess Christ are just piously turning a deaf ear to the reality of our Nation’s destruction and death. Not so with the true prophets and people of God! “When the enemy shall come in like a flood; the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him” (Isaiah 59:19)!  What “standard” or “banner” does the Holy Spirit lift up?  It is CHRIST and Him alone (see John 16:14)!  We must unashamedly and without further hesitation sound God’s alarm, less we be held responsible for both death and loss!  Read Ezekiel 3:17-21 (The Watchman) and Joel 2:12-17 (The LORD’s command to “Blow the trumpet in Zion…)!  And Paul said, not only to Timothy but to every faithful man of God and preacher, to “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season, reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine” (2 Timothy 4:2)!  Whose orders are we to follow as believers, and especially as leaders?  We are not lawless, but when it comes to a moral choice between God and His Word or man’s orders, we must choose God above all else – regardless of the consequences (Daniel 3:16-17-18; Acts 4:19-20)!  When God and state become separated, we find ourselves in great danger of His divine and deserved judgment, and America is at that place – now!  Let us soberly remember, however, “that judgment must begin at the house of God…” (1 Peter 4:17)!  Let it begin with us, as we humbly trust and follow our God!  May He bless you!  Always in the love of Christ, Pastor Steve Offringa 

There are a few good men who remember what it is to be good men…

Pastor Jackson Lahmeyer is running for United States Senator from the Great State of Oklahoma, and I am wholeheartedly endorsing him to win. He is the type of leader we need in Washington DC working for all citizens of Oklahoma and for our nation.

“We are not backing down; we are doubling down!”

We need the moral strength and courage of leaders like Jackson Lahmeyer right now. He is the right man for the right time, and now is that time! ~ General Michael Flynn

As Summer starts its turn for the Fall, the few remaining Board of Education Meetings are the very Front Line where the Wolf comes in like the Isaiah 59:19 flood Pastor Steve called out in his devotional…headed straight for our children…savoring the meal to come. I see mothers…I see fathers…in this hour of all hours, where is the shepherd minding his flock?

What has happened to transform the 1776 Black Robe Regiment into the 2021 Hear No Evil, See No Evil, Speak No Evil Regiment?