Romans Comparison Pt. 4 - Rom 1:20-25

Here is my next batch of comparisons.  I hope they may be of value to those who want to compare but don't have the time to do the work.  They are of value to me.  I hope they are of value to you:

Rom 1:20 KJV - For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, [even] his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:	Rom 1:20 NKJV - For since the creation of the world His invisible [attributes] are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, [even] His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,	Rom 1:20 ESV - For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.	Rom 1:20 NASB - For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.
God keeps his thoughts clearly visible to us by using holy words.  When he inspires a comparison of the "invisible things" of him to the visible "things that are made" he uses the same word.  The visible things illuminate the invisible things.  The vast expanse of creation, the mountains, hills, clouds, sun, moon, stars, etc. all give testimony of the greatness of God, but they are things and they give testimony of the "things" of God but they do not give testimony of the heart of God.   People without the written word of God look at creation and instead of their hearts knowing the goodness of God, their wicked hearts deceive them into vain imaginings, foolish reasonings and stupid speculations that elevate the creation above the creator.  They are without excuse because their heart is free to see the glory of God yet their wicked heart leads them to do what is right in their own eyes and by so doing they fill the earth with violence. To clarify:  God compares things to things NOT things to attributes.  God is intensely jealous of the words he uses to reveal his own thoughts, judgments, creativity and truth.  He knows the tendency of man to mis-direct his own thoughts and of the devil to use words to keep him mis-directed.  Holy words are God's first line of defense against evil.  Know the truth and the truth will set you free.  These comparisons are for the benefit of myself as well as for the wise reader.
Rom 1:21 KJV - Because that, when they knew God, they glorified [him] not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.	Rom 1:21 NKJV - because, although they knew God, they did not glorify [Him] as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.	Rom 1:21 ESV - For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.	Rom 1:21 NASB - For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
What is the difference between “when” they knew God and “although” they knew God?  The use of “when” indicates a condition that occurs at a point in time.  The use of "although" indicates the possibility of an existing condition that is not confirmed.  When is a specific time.  Although is a conjecture without a point in time in which a change occurred where they went from not knowing God to knowing God.  When sin happened, mankind was separated from God.  Paul is referring back to verse 20 saying, When man observed the invisible God in his creation, he knew God existed because he had observed God’s creation, but they did not glorify him as God, nor were they thankful (which would have given them purpose in life) but they became vain (without purpose) in their imaginations (the thoughts of their hearts) and their foolish heart (following these vain imaginations) became darkened (separated from the light of the glory of God.)  The imitations blur the point in time and they blur the thoughts of the heart that are wicked.  The thoughts of the mind emanate from what they saw in creation.  The thoughts of the heart emanate from their response to what they saw in creation.  Here is a little fun thing about the King James Bible1: Gen 2:4 KJV - These [are] the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens, Exd 13:17 KJV - And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led them not [through] the way of the land of the Philistines, although that [was] near; for God said, Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt: On the first occurrence of a word in the text of the whole bible, there will be a little clue-like definition of the word in question nearby the first occurrence of the word.  The context upon which this word is based is another clue as to the positive or negative nature of the word (this is not a law – this is just a fun fact that is observable in the word of God).  So, the first occurrence of when reveals that when means in the day.  That is the definition of when.  So, our Romans text would read “in the day they knew God…” if we were to substitute the King James’ internal definition in lieu of the God breathed word when.  As for context, we are speaking about the generations of the creation of heaven and earth, on the completion of which God pronounced “it was very good”. So, our perception of the use of the word when is a good perception (it is definite). In contrast, if we check out although we find the confirmation of my original instincts when I assessed the difference between “when” and “although” in the first paragraph above.  The word although does not indicate a definite condition exists.  Although is a position from which God’s people may return to Egypt.  Not only that: God led them not…  so we have the context of although set in a setting of God not leading his people near to Egypt because their wicked hearts would lead them to return to Egypt.  Our natural perception of the use of the word although is negative (or indefinite). Now is the time to synchronize our hearts and our minds.  It takes both a rational analysis (the thoughts of the mind) and a holy spirit led decision (the thoughts of the heart in submission to God’s spirit) to follow the path.  Then it requires further analysis and prayerful listening:  Are my conclusions in keeping with the “altogether good and righteous” laws, statutes and judgments of God? Gen 6:5 KJV And GOD saw that the wickedness of man [was] great in the earth, and [that] every imagination of the thoughts of his heart [was] only evil continually. (I have an analysis of imagination in progress – but I came back to Romans to try to stay focused.)  But, the only mention of man’s imagination is evil only, always, continually! Boy, oh boy – does the deceiver hate to denigrate the word “imaginations”?  That is because it is one of his best tools!  Why do you think our public education system bases the foundations of their reasoning strategies on vain imaginations?  They are free to preach “read to your children 20 minutes a day” – they are not free to preach “read the Kings James Bible to your children 20 minutes a day”.  The one would turn this nation around toward becoming a generation that dwells in righteousness.  The other promotes the proliferation of every evil device the deceiver and his minions can imagine.  Socialists love to promote vain imaginings.  They can turn millions of people into mind numbed robots, smiling at one another as they hold hands and wipe each other’s mouths on their way to their own destruction.  Come on everybody…. smile… hold hands… you are not alone!  2 million people can’t be wrong…. (Wasn’t it about 6 million that were killed in the death camps in Germany?)  Germany is a beautiful country, with beautiful people, they are very kind to one another.  How did they allow it to happen?  The same way that America is allowing it to happen today.  We are selling our children and our grandchildren into slavery to whoever holds the papers on the national debt.  While everybody heads off to their government job (while drawing their government pension), setting up a new government job base databank (where there are no private industry jobs because the government has destroyed the private market), while digging the debt deeper with government grants for re-distribution of wealth programs (re-distributing the wealth of our kids and our grandkids from their survival to the survival of the people holding the paper on the debt).  While everyone imagines that one day our prince will come.  Meanwhile, we elect another worker of iniquity into another position of public trust while smiling and telling each other how good everything is.  Isn’t Socialism wonderful??? – who needs God?  Let’s all just trust in the imaginations of our wicked hearts because after all folks – hasn’t Jesus overcome the world?  A:  Yes, if we follow him in obedience to God’s commandments, we too will overcome the world.  Otherwise, there is hell to pay. 1I learned this fun thing from Gail Riplinger’s book “In Awe of Thy Word” – great book – great fun, life changing clues to getting the most out of the holy word of God.  You can get it from her website at www.avpublications.com (http://www.avpublications.com/avnew/home.html).
Rom 1:22 KJV - Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,	Rom 1:22 NKJV - Professing to be wise, they became fools,	Rom 1:22 ESV - Claiming to be wise, they became fools,	Rom 1:22 NASB - Professing to be wise, they became fools,
Considering that it is “professors” who are leading this parade to our own destruction, I think God got it right once again.
Rom 1:23 KJV - And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.	Rom 1:23 NKJV - and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man--and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.	Rom 1:23 ESV - and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.	Rom 1:23 NASB - and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures.
From Noah Webster’s 1828 Dictionary: UN, a prefix or inseparable preposition, Sal un or on, usually an, 0. an, D. on, It is a particle of negation, giving to words to which it is prefixed, a negative signification. We use un or in indifferently for this purpose; and the tendency of modern usage is to prefer the use of un, in some words, where un was formerly used. Un admits of no change of n into I, m or r, as in does, in illuminate, immense, irresolute.  It is prefixed generally to adjectives and participles, and almost at pleasure. In a few instances, it is prefixed to verbs, as in unbend, unbind, unharness. As the compounds formed with un are so common and so well known, the composition is not noticed under the several words. IN, a prefix, L. en, is -used in composition as a particle of negation, like the English Un, of which it seems to be a dialectical orthography; or it denotes within, into, or among, as in inbred, incase; or it serves only to augment or render emphatical the sense of the word to which it is prefixed as in inclose, increase. In, before 1, is changed into it,as in illusion and- before r, into ir, as in irregular; and Now, reading only the words in red,  Who do you think got the full gist of God’s condition of being completely separated from corruption?  Pure, holy, undefiled --- completely separated from corruption.  Is God incorporated into corruption (incorruptible) or separated from corruption (uncorruptible)? (Yes, I know that incorruptible can reasonably be said to mean the same thing as uncorruptible -- the question is:  Why revise it down from perfectly uncorruptible?)
Rom 1:24 KJV - Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:	Rom 1:24 NKJV - Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves,	Rom 1:24 ESV - Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves,	Rom 1:24 NASB - Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them.
Rom 1:25 KJV - Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.	Rom 1:25 NKJV - who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.	Rom 1:25 ESV - because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.	Rom 1:25 NASB - For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
They didn’t exchange the truth for a lie!  They CHANGED THE TRUTH INTO A LIE!  That is the big problem!  If they had exchanged the truth for a lie, people may have recognized the lie for being a lie!  The IMITATIONS actually changed the truth into a lie.  That is what makes it so dangerous.  People think they are speaking the truth because it contains the truth that has been changed into a lie with the slip of a pen.  So, now we as an untoward generation worship and serve the creatures who identify themselves as bible scholars and tell us how the holy word just doesn’t measure up to the definitions they’ve read in their Greek lexicons, or studied in their defiled Greek classes at their exalted university…  This generation through the lusts of their own hearts dishonour their own bodies between themselves and they are now demanding that we teach our kindergarten children that their abominations are natural expressions of love between men.  How sick do people have to get before they start figuring out that there is a problem going on?

Romans Comparison Pt 5 - Rom 1:25-32

Rom 1:25 KJV - Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.	Rom 1:25 NKJV - who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.	Rom 1:25 ESV - because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.	Rom 1:25 NASB - For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
End Pt. 4 (previously posted – I copied it here too for context purposes.)
Rom 1:26 KJV - For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:	Rom 1:26 NKJV - For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature.	Rom 1:26 ESV - For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature;	Rom 1:26 NASB - For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural,
Vile needs no dictionary for even a child to understand it means something despicable.  They don’t even need to know what the vile thing is to know it is terrible.  The word vile is completely self explanatory.  Also, notice the contrast between the word affections and the word passions.  God is very specific in the words he chooses to relay his message.  There is no attempt to hide the fact that the things done against nature are both vile and affectionate at the same time.  Affectionate is a good term representing the loving of one human being to another.  This affection has been made vile by the change from the natural human affection into the unnatural vile affection that transforms the natural into that which is against nature.  The imitations fail to present the holy truth and give the promoters of unnatural affections a stepping stone into the illusions prevalent today by calling them passions instead of God’s chosen word affections.  Jonathan and David had natural and kindly affection one for another.  Homosexuals change the natural affections into that which is against nature.  God has chosen his words with care.  To defile his words is to defile him and to lead the world into committing vile affections because they put the affectionate perverts in the news to show how “affectionate” they are to one another.  They are not exhibiting “dishonorable passions” they are engaged in vile affections which lead them to commit acts which are against nature. Another issue:  unnatural versus against nature.  These are two different bases of reference.  Unnatural carries the connotation that they lack natural feelings which anyone who has known people who commit these vile abominations can see is not really true.  They very often do have natural feelings for each other and for other people.  The problem lies in the changing of that which is natural affections into that which is against nature.  Against nature is very specific.  It is not indefinite.   They are breaking the laws of nature and of nature’s God.  They are doing things that are against the laws of nature.  The laws of nature and of nature’s God operate the same as gravity.  They will reap the consequences of taking actions that are against the laws of nature.  God gives them up unto the laws of nature.
Rom 1:27 KJV - And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.	Rom 1:27 NKJV - Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.	Rom 1:27 ESV - and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.	Rom 1:27 NASB - and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error.
The imitations once again get it wrong.  The recompence is the natural outcome (their just reward) of their committing acts against the laws of nature.  The recompence is earned not imposed.  It is not a penalty.  It is the natural result of  breaking the laws of nature.  When God deals with it, it will be with eternal damnation.  Until then, the laws of nature will deal with it.  They will reap the recompence in their own bodies.  There will be a resurrection of the dead both of the just and the unjust.  Each will go to their just reward.
Rom 1:28 KJV - And even as they did not like to retain God in [their] knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;	Rom 1:28 NKJV - And even as they did not like to retain God in [their] knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting;	Rom 1:28 ESV - And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.	Rom 1:28 NASB - And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper,
The difference between a reprobate mind and a debased mind is that a reprobate mind has been rendered completely useless to God or man because there is no goodness found in it.  The debased mind has simply been devalued.  The imitations “lighten up” the words of God because imitators don’t want people to recognize the true danger they are in.  The fear of the LORD leads people to depart from evil.  The deceiver wants people to depart from God rather than to depart from evil.  Notice that God’s holy word is never wrong, the imitations are always wrong.  The foundation of their existence is wrong.  They were not ordained of God.  They are not part of the banquet table prepared for the marriage supper of the lamb.
Rom 1:29 KJV - Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,	Rom 1:29 NKJV - being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; [they are] whisperers,	Rom 1:29 ESV - They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, Words left  completely out: wickedness, fornication	Rom 1:29 NASB - being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips, Words left  completely out: wickedness, fornication
Pro 25:9 KJV - Debate thy cause with thy neighbour [himself]; and discover not a secret to another: Isa 58:1 KJV - Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins. Isa 58:2 KJV - Yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinance of their God: they ask of me the ordinances of justice; they take delight in approaching to God. Isa 58:3 KJV - Wherefore have we fasted, [say they], and thou seest not? [wherefore] have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, and exact all your labours. Isa 58:4 KJV - Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as [ye do this] day, to make your voice to be heard on high. Okay, I have researched the most fearful issue first (to me).  What does God mean when he has Paul include “debate” in his list of things that are separating people from God.  The answer is found in Pro 25:9 and Isa 58:1-4.  It requires both passages to get the full picture.  Keep in mind that the imitations have missed the mark by changing God’s holy words into unholy imitations, thereby creating the need for debate.  That is part of the picture.  Proverbs 25:9 gives us the information that it is a good thing to debate our cause directly with our neighbour and not to discover (whisper) the thing to another.  So, direct communication with the person we have an issue with is important and talking about them behind their back is not good.  But, debate is listed in the things that separate us from God so we must identify the object of our debate.  The object of this present debate is the flurry of imitations of the word of God that were produced in the twentieth century based on forged imitations of the textus receptus produced by a couple of Harvard reprobates by the names of Wescott and Hort in the second half of the 19th century. The debate battle is always between the truth and the lies.  We can lie to ourselves, we can lie to others and we can lie to God.  When we come to the place where we are willing to surrender the debate to the words God has written in holiness, there is no longer a debate.  While people lift up the cause of the imitations through the gossip of socialized lying indoctrination methods, we fail our neighbor, ourselves and our God by not proclaiming the truth of what we see in the streets of our land. When God says people fast for strife and debate, he is saying people fast to make their own voice be heard on high rather than for the purpose of surrendering their own minds and hearts unto God and allowing the thoughts and intents of their hearts to be transformed into the image of his thoughts and intents.  Sanctification is all about being transformed by the incorruptible seed of the word of God that liveth and abideth forever.  Every time we uproot the lies we believe and plant new seeds of the living, breathing, water of the living word of God we are allowing ourselves to be transformed from glory to glory by the power of God which worketh within us.  We are “seeding” the rivers of living water that spring up in our souls. The workers of iniquity like to transform the truth into a lie and they like to transform the lie into the illusion of the truth.  Servants of God do not debate.  They proclaim the truth from the heart of God by having their hearts and minds transformed into the image of God and then trusting God to give them the word to speak in the moment that they need the correct word.  Unproductive debate and strife with fellowman is reduced because God knows the thoughts and intents of the hearts of all men and if we hold our peace when he doesn’t give us a word fitly spoken, we will not enter into as many debates with the foolish who will not hear the word of God anyway.  It doesn’t mean there will not be debate or strife, the servant of God is ready to sustain a battle of words in victory because the servant of God has his whole armor on and is prepared for the day of battle. This leads us to another issue:  Very often people are wise, unwise, and foolish all at the same time!  Holding our peace is about knowing when God is telling us to speak and when he is telling us to remain silent.  In Acts, the apostles went under the direction of the holy spirit.  Sometimes their speaking bore many souls for the kingdom of God.  Sometimes they ended up beaten or dead.  Sometimes, they gave themselves up for dead and God picked them up and set them back on their feet.  Outward circumstances are no indication of inward conditions. So what am I saying in regard to debate?  Words are spoken against God’s words or for God’s words and the measure is always the King James Bible as led by the Holy Spirit sent from the Father because of the blood that was shed on the cross by our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.  Debate that is good rests on God’s word and is spoken to defeat the lying doctrines of this world.  Debate that is sin rests upon the wisdom of men and is spoken in defiance of the words of God.  In this world we shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer God has overcome the world by the words he has spoken, lived , delivered and manifested to us.  Now, we go into the world and preach the gospel of repentance toward the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus, faith in the power of God in Christ Jesus, living by the words of God given by Christ Jesus.  Man does not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.  The law of God is righteous altogether.  What a wonderful saviour is Jesus our Lord!
Rom 1:30 KJV - Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,	Rom 1:30 NKJV - backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,	Rom 1:30 ESV - slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents,	Rom 1:30 NASB - slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents,
Backbiters gives us a complete word picture of the danger.  A child can understand backbiting.  A child cannot understand slanderer.  A child knows what a back is and a child knows what it means to bite!  Many, many times the King James Bible is prepared to speak to the heart of a child because the kingdom of God belongs to those with the heart of a child. Despite is not violence.  Despite is disrespect for God:  Despite knowing the righteous requirements of God they do unrighteousness.  The theme builds: backbiters (tear at other people), haters of God (past no respect for God’s commandments all the way into hatred), despiteful (does their own will instead of God’s will), proud (having done their own will stand in the face of God and dare him to do something about it), boasters (stand in front of man and advertises his proud deeds)… There is just simply no substitute for holiness in the word of God.
Rom 1:31 KJV - Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:	Rom 1:31 NKJV - undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful;	Rom 1:31 ESV - foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless.	Rom 1:31 NASB - without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful;
More of the same down grading and disrespectful revisions of the holy word of God.  Most notably affecting our nation today is:  covenantbreakers.  We are a nation filled with people who having broken our covenant with God by allowing the perversions of his word to permeate our generation, broke our covenant between the states and allowed the federal government to usurp the limitations of its authority granted by the people of the states through the covenant of the Constitution.  We are a nation that has elevated people without understanding into our gates of judgment and we have become a people without understanding.  The only path of escape is repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Rom 1:32 KJV - Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.	Rom 1:32 NKJV - who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.	Rom 1:32 ESV - Though they know God's decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.	Rom 1:32 NASB - and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them.
If you have read this comparison of Romans with me and you are still willing to entertain the possibility that the imitations are anything less than the written messengers of hell itself, I fear for your salvation. -- Yes, I know, this is an inflammatory statement.  It is time for a few flames.  If one is filled with a love for the God of all truth -- this presentation should be effective in moving them into enough of the fear of the LORD to simply believe the truth.  Alternatively, if the person is a person who hungers and thirsts for righteousness, he will have more conflicting thoughts going around in his head and will need to do the research needed to lay every argument to rest.  This person is a harder sell because he will have been reading the lies proliferating throughout the scholarly kingdom and will have built some major mansions of wood, hay and stubble.  They may be beautiful monuments (shrines) to the wisdom of man.  This person (the hard sell) needs to feel the flames licking up the side of his leg so he will go dig up the truth.  (Or as Jesus would say, if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out...)  If your eyes are unable to see the truth because of the lies upon which you have built your understanding, pluck out the lens through which you are viewing the kingdom of God and the world.  Nothing has affected me so much as just going through and seeing that I can look at the imitations and compare it to the real thing and I can recognize the machinations of the deceiver by simply seeing how he besmirches, perverts and changes the words of God in order to transform the truth into a lie. --  If you choose this method, I highly recommend reading "In Awe of Thy Word" because it will give you a lot of quick pointers that will help you become aware of the beauty of the holiness of God's holy word.  This is not necessary, but it is helpful and it is fun.  The most fun and peaceful part of knowing that the word itself is the best place to go for the revelation of what God has revealed in his word is just beyond my ability to express in human words.  Comparisons without this knowledge will probably just wear you out and make you give up in defeat.  The deceiver is very subtle Think about having the peace that you are not dependent upon another human being's interpretation of the word of God!  Through the power of the holy ghost you are fully capable of reading it for yourself and letting the word itself speak to you!  This is ONLY true if you are actually using God's holy word.  The imitations will lead you astray and confuse you and tempt you to depend upon "bible study helps" who will help lead you further astray. Dearly loved, The word of God is spiritual and will speak directly to your heart and your mind at the same time.  Make sure you are using the word of God that is breathed out by the Holy Spirit.  Do not follow any other spirit. mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm all scripture in the series has been copied from blueletterbible.org.  Italics, highlighting, font changes, etc. are my own.

Freedom to Practice our Religion

I am responding to this piece relating an instance of unlawful court orders restricting the freedom to practice our religion and calling it "protecting our freedom" to practice our religion: federal-judge-orders-commissioners-in-nc-county-to-stop-opening-meetings-with/?intcmp=obinsite

Our God given responsibility to openly practice our religion comes from God himself and is not subject to the approval of the Supreme Court or Congress or the White House.  Our government is prohibited from interfering in our God given responsibility to practice our religion before him.  When the court rules to prohibit our freedom to practice our religion, they are ruling against the law of the Constitution and against the higher Law of God.  We are honor bound to defy the unlawful court ruling.  The court is outside the boundaries of their authority and they must be stopped.  The way to stop them is to defy them and continue to do what God has called us to do.  Go into all the world and preach the gospel of repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.  Be faithful in all of God's house which means we are to be faithful in the house of our skin, in the house of our family, in the school house, the church house, the court house, the houses of Congress, the White House and on the streets and the by ways.  We are to keep God's commandments before us as we go in and as we go out.  The government has no authority to prohibit the free exercise of our religion.