Perry’s Scope: Christian sermons, lessons, and resources for teachers

I recently heard Dan Fisher of Yukon, OK tell a story about a church in Germany during WWII. A member of that church said that their church building was located near a railroad track. Each Sunday during their worship services, trains would come by at a particular time. When they discovered that the trains were loaded with Jews going to concentration camps, the church members would sing louder to drown out the noise of the trains. If they heard any screams from the people on the trains, they would sing even louder to cover the cries.

The man said, “Years have passed and no one talks much about it anymore, but I still hear that train whistle in my sleep. I can still hear them crying out for help. God, forgive us who called ourselves Christians yet did nothing to intervene. Now, so many years later, I see it happening all over again in America. The response is the same as it was in my country – silence.”

Dietrich Bonheoffer, a Pastor in WWII Germany said, “Silence in the face of evil is itself evil. God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.”

Ecclesiastes 3 reminds us that there is a time for everything. There is a time to shut up and a time to speak up. In this time of active national Socialism, American Christians are in a unique position to speak up for God and America. If we do not, we are guilty of taking the nation down.

The Hebrew Bible reminds us that silence is consent. A possible translation for Leviticus 19:16 is, “Do not stand idly by the blood of your neighbor.” God has expected his people to take a stand when necessary. The watchman of Ezekiel 33 would be guilty of the blood of his people if he failed to sound the alarm. His silence was consent to the enemy.

Martin Niemoller was attributed with saying, “First they came for the Communists, but I was not a Communist so I did not speak out. Then they came for the Socialists and the Trade Unionists, but I was neither, so I did not speak out. Then they came for the Jews, but I was not a Jew so I did not speak out. And when they came for me, there was no one left to speak out for me.”

Who will stand up for America if we don’t? Who will stand up for the gospel if we don’t? Who will sound the alarm if not us?

FDR was correct when he said, “Americans would rather die on their feet than live on their knees.” The only one to whom I want to bow the knee is to our God, the Giver of Liberty. Let us stand against those who would seek to take the blessings of God from our children.

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene

I have been learning about essential oils lately. These are the plants’ life blood. When used correctly, these oils can b used as medicines for us. The Bible even mentions these oils including myrrh, frankincense, hyssop, and many more.

Some ideas and questions occur to me as I think about using the oils. First, God made us from the dust of the earth. Wouldn’t he also provide things from the earth to heal and maintain our bodies? Could that be the reason for the Garden of Eden?

Second, man often interferes, replaces, or neglects God’s plans. When we do,  WE suffer. Pollutants, certain manufactured drugs, etc. often lead to trouble.

Moses told Israel that if they listened to and followed God, they would prosper (Deuteronomy 30:15-20). This principle applies to the physical body. It also applies to the spiritual realm that we are part of.

If we reject God’s plans for our health and well being (remember the food laws in Leviticus?), we will suffer for it. If we reject health guidelines (quarantine infectious disease like leprosy), suffer. If we reject his spiritual counsel, our spirits suffer.

God gives direction for our own good. We are to love (Matthew 22:37-40; Deuteronomy 6:4; Leviticus 19:18); have no other gods; be moral people; honor parents; avoid coveting, lying, stealing, and killing (Exodus 20:1-20). Not only do we honor God when we practice what he teaches, we “do ourselves a favor” in the long run.

It is true that we never regret doing the right things. Conversely we will regret the wrongs we do. God still gives us the basic choices – follow his ways or other ways. His ways are the right ways for many reasons (John 14:6)

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene

Somewhere along the way Americans have allowed a separation between “on the job performance” and the character of the individual. Perhaps we are afraid that if we speak out about character, our own words will bite us in our imperfections. Perhaps we just don’t care about character as long as we have “a chicken in every pot.”

Did you know that the US Constitution does not authorize lifetime appointments for Federal Judges? According to Article III, Section 1 they are to” hold their offices during good behavior.” There are accounts of Judges who were impeached for being drunk or using profanity in their courts. These were not examples of good behavior for American citizens.

God does not separate conduct and character. They go hand in hand. Jesus reminds us that it is the heart of a man that makes him unclean, not the foods that go into him (Matthew 15:11).

This is why the “first and greatest commandment” is so important. We are to love God with all of our hearts, soul, and might (Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Matthew 22:37). This is not only inward, it is outward.

As we enter this New Year and new decade, let us resolve to work out what is within (Philippians 2:12). Let us resolve to “shine like stars” (Philippians 2:15). Let us resolve to do this, not only through knowledge of the scriptures, but in displaying it in our lives as well.

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene