The Dark Side Of Good

The heathen are sunk down in the pit that 

they made: in the net which they hid is their 

own foot taken.....The wicked shall be turned 

into Sheol (hell) and all the nations 

that forget God.

Psalm 9:15;17

     I used the word "sheol" as this is the Hebrew word that is translated "hell." Sheol means the place where the dead go when people die and there is in "Sheol" no understanding that this is a place of torment or punishment, rather the resting place for the dead. (Strong's Dictionary: #7585). I begin with this clarification so that there is no misunderstanding as to what I write. If a person does not have Authentic Faith in God, not just any god, but the God of the Bible, then they face death, Sheol, and there they reside until the return of Jesus when we all face the judgments seat and give answers as to our lives and words. 

     As a 75 year old man I have the ability to take time to reflect on my life, my past and I have found in this reflection time that the world I live in is not the world in which I grew up in to become a man, an adult. This history has much which is good, or seemingly good: i.e., the phone. When I was a boy on the ranch we had a party line, that is there was at least 9-13 people who could hear what was said when I spoke or others spoke to me on the phone. Not a problem: just watch what you said. Then came the rotary phone and even this had ears that could hear what you said: the operators: so watch what you said. Now we have cell phones and we can talk to people all over the world: but there is people gathering your phone calls, even though not in the present do they do anything about those calls unless NASA, or others think that you are a threat. Nothing has changed: people can still hear what you say on the phone. But it is good for business as one can be instantly appraised of sells, and other business needs and not have to wait long for answers, etc. and yet there is a down side to all this innovation: Texting and driving and people getting killed or maimed and others using you texts to affront you in some way. So this moderation is both good and bad. 

     As a boy growing up in the 50's television had just become purchasable and the shows on TV were very moral: i.e., Ozzie & Harriet; The Lucy Show: etc. Morals were held high and important. By 1960 things began to change and this change was a change in morality. Cinemas were allowing what would previously declared as pornography to be seen on the screen. The "hippie" movement that wanted to have "free love," anywhere and in any place. Porno shops opened up on many corners of the cities, not hidden any longer in the back room. Abortion became legal: the killing of unborn human beings, marriages floundered, both in the secular world but also in Churches as the world culture began to infiltrate into the Church. Divorce skyrocketed both in the secular and in the Church. The homosexual (gay) movement began, that is the lesbian and the male homosexual, and the women's liberation movement began and was and is now, taken to the streets. Television and movie producers pushed and are pushing the envelope so that what was considered X rated in the 50's and early 60's is now considered "g' rated. Here is an example: 1965: movie of the year: The Sound of Music, the academy award winner. A few years later the academy award went to Midnight Cowboy an X rated movie, the first such movie to win such a prestigious prize. We have gone from Leave It To Beaver to Beavis And Butthead. The change in this morality has not been good as sexual transmitted diseases have risen to an all time high, especially among the 15-25 year old boys and girls. Here is the facts:

 CDC FACTSHEET:

Reported STDs in the United States

2015 National Data for Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, and Syphilis

This fact sheet summarizes 2015 data on chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis published in CDC’s annual report,

SexuallyTransmitted Disease Surveillance, 2015

(available atwww.cdc.gov/std/stats).

The data are based on state and local STD

case reports from a variety of private and public sources. M any cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis continue to go undiagnosed and unreported, and data on several additional STDs — such as human papillomavirus, herpes simplex virus  , and trichomoniasis — are not routinely reported to CDC. As a result, the annual surveillance report captures only a fraction of the true burden of STDs in America.

However, it provides important insights into the scope, distribution, and trends in STD diagnoses in the country.

 STDs are a substantial health challenge facing the United States. CDC estimates that nearly 20 million new sexually transmitted inf ections occur every year in this country, half among young people aged 15–24, and account for almost $16 billion in health care costs. Each of these infections is a potential threat to an individual’s immediate and long-term health and well-being. In addition to increasing a person’s risk for acquiring and transmitting HIV infection, STDs can lead to chronic pain and severe reproductive health complications, such as infertility and ectopic pregnancy.

 

Snapshot: STDs in the United States, 2015

Despite recent declines, 2015 was the second year in a row in which increases were seen in all three nationally reported STDs. The approximately 1.5 million cases of chlamydia represent the highest number of annual cases of any condition ever reported to CDC. Substantial increases were also seen among reported cases of gonorrhea and syphilis. While young people and women are most severely affected by STDs, increasing rates among men contributed to the overall increase in 2015 across all diseases. 

     Here is a list and am I attempting to scare you? YES!

 What Causes Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)?

Depending on the disease, STDs can be spread with any type of sexual activity. STDs are most often caused by viruses and bacteria. The following is a list of the most common STDs, their causes. Additionally, there are other infections (see STDs with asterisk mark*) that may be transmitted on occasion by sexual activity, but these are typically not considered to be STDs by many investigators:

STDs caused by bacteria

Chancroid (Haemophilus ducreyi)

Chlamydia (Chlamydia trachomatis)

Gonorrhea (Neisseria gonorrhea)

Granuloma inguinale (Calymmatobacterium granulomatis)

Lymphogranuloma venereum (Chlamydia trachomatis)

Syphilis (Treponema pallidum)

STDs caused by viruses

Genital herpes (herpes simplex virus)

Genital warts (human papillomavirus virus [HPV])

Hepatitis B and D, and infrequently, A*,C*,E* (hepatitis viruses, types A-E)

HIV/AIDS (human immunodeficiency virus [HIV virus])

Molluscum contagiosum* (poxvirus)

STD caused by protozoan

Trichomoniasis (Trichomonas vaginalis)

STD's* caused by fungi

Jock itch (Tenia cruris)*

Yeast infections* (Candida albicans)

STD's caused by parasites

Pubic lice or crabs (Pediculosis pubis)

Scabies* Sarcoptes scabiei

As the illustration about the telephone and that it has with all the new technology as good as it may for people in some sense has brought with it much trauma. This account about morality does not have a good side, albeit those participating in "free sex," or "free love," have a horrible side affect: some 19 million men and women in the United States are affected by some sort of STD. Some STD, as with syphilis, a disease that can remain in the brain even after treatment, and can and often does disfigure a person, causes a women to no longer bear children and can be passed on to their children.

     This world culture and cultural Christianity has allowed for this change in morality. This is and has been done by new philosophical thought and a denigrating Christian principles. Everything has become subjective, a plurality of thought whereby everyone has some sort of right, not earned, but some how imparted to them by birth, to allow all sorts of beliefs: from antinomian that teaches that Christians are even free from the moral law by grace and faith, or just to be a follower of antinomy, an opposition against rules or laws. 

     Authentic Christianity has fallen under the sway of some eloquent speakers that have conjoined world thought to Christianity making for cultural Christians. The standard that they have set, that this world has set is against the Gospel. There has and is a pawing off these non-Christian philosophies made up by men as authentic faith, when in fact it has nothing to do with Authentic Christian Faith. The world has sunk down into a pit that they have dug sucking in those unaware of the truth. 

Authentic Christian Faith vs Cultural Christian Faith

They that forsake the law praise the wicked:

 but such as keep the law contend with them. 

Evil men understand not judgment: but they 

that seek the LORD understand all things.

Proverbs 28:4-5

     Throughout my writings I have used Authentic Christians, Authentic Christian Faith and yet there is many faulty ideas regarding the importance of Authentic Christian Faith. For some "good" people and those against "bad" things believe their faith is adequate. The fact is: this only may mean that you are a moral person; even those who do not believe in a God can be moral. In my years (in March 75 years) I have seen changes within Christian Churches as many Churches have adopted the culture of this world, or some of it, of this world and have little understanding what constitutes Authentic Christian Faith, or Authentic Christianity. It is not that they do not know basic facts about Christianity, it is that they have no idea as to how those facts should be applied in their lives. 

     The term "cultural Christianity" is one such term that I have used for those Christians that have adopted some if not most of this world's culture. A cultural Christian is one that do not make Authentic Christian Faith as important, to have a priority, they do not take time to teach their children as to what it is that they believe and why believe it? Often a great education has greater importance rather teaching them to learn about God. Parents are often embarrassed because their children do not possess a higher education, but they are not embarrassed if their children do not know God. Often children are left to learn about God on their own. If a child becomes a Christian or at least accepts some Christian doctrine or have some knowledge about the Gospel it is because they came to learn on their own and have come to some point whereby by intellectual conviction they chose Christianity but not due to family training. Unfortunately this intellectual conviction is not based upon true and authentic knowledge about God, but they believe that they have a "foot" in the door because their family is Christian, so they believe that they too are Christian. If a person believes that they are a Christian because they come from a Christian family, they are wrong, for Authentic Christian Faith cannot be inherited. Intellectual learning, or education may not be all bad, but the question is: Who is teaching them, and what are they learning? If education is not of Authentic Christian Faith many questions may not be answered according to the Bible. This leads many to question Christianity, to question the truth of Christianity and when they are challenged they often abort their Christian Faith, or they begin to associate with non-Christians. When you cannot defend your faith, not to be able to respond to questions about your faith, when confronted, either by peers, or professors, etc. and then it becomes easy to shrink back in fear, or to join the opposing group. 

     I have great concern for the future of Authentic Christianity for we live in a time when Christianity is being confronted by laws, by people who want to live autonomously, or by false teachers reaping financially while "sheering " the sheep. The climate in which we live as Christians today, a climate whereby worldly culture and education propagates an anti-Christian message should shake us out of our apathy. Our Christianity is being successfully attacked, marginalized by these anti-Christian groups because the majority of Christians cannot properly defend their faith, those augments that are deeply flawed. We should be alarmed that instruction in Authentic Faith has and is being neglected, if not complete, at least eliminated as we can see how this is played out in our schools, and universities. 

      Do you want Authentic Christianity? Are you willing to take the time to study about this issue? If so, stay tuned as I will be writing about the difference between Authentic Christianity and cultural Christianity. If then there is seen some defect in your understanding, then a change from the inside/out is necessary. 

Whosoever therefore shall confess 

    Me before men, him will I confess

also before My Father which is in heaven.

   But whosoever shall deny Me before men,

him will I also deny before My Father 

   which is in heaven.

                      Matthew 10:23-33

There is work to do: put on your spiritual gloves

Richard L. Crumb

Learning What Is Real Christianity: The Beginning

Study to shew thyself approved unto God,

 a workman that needeth not to ashamed,

 rightly dividing the word of truth.

2Timothy 2:15 

     The New Testament having been completed verse by verse I shall turn to another subject that is related to faith, and living an Authentic Christian life. Much of these blogs will have as their foundation the works of William Wilberforce in his book Real Christianity. Who is this William Wilberforce, you may know or have read some of his works, if not, you will be introduced to a man, an important figure in Christian history. The book Real Christianity was published in the year 1797 A.D. and you may, as some do today sort of scoff at earlier works and hold only to the works done during their present or within a short period of time in high authority. I believe that we should look into our Christian history so that our foundation and knowledge of our faith becomes Authentic. It is not that those present works are not always good, some are, but we need to know history and then determine if what is being written today matches Authentic Historical Christian Faith. Therefore, William Wilberforce' work is a classic work on Christian faith. This is what this blog is all about: Faith, changing ourselves inside/out to conform to Authentic Christian Faith. William Wilberforce born Aught 24, 1759 A.D., into a merchant family and in 1780 A.D., Wilberforce secured a seat in the House of Commons as a member of Parliament for Hull, he was just 21 years of age. Wilberforce was active in educational reform, the promotion of public health initiatives and advocating shorter working hours  and improved condition in the factories. Wilberforce always dealt to be the salt and light within his culture: "Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour wherewith shall it be salted" (Matthew 5:13)? Notice that the pronoun is masculine and not neuter, speaking of man, not just salt. Wilberforce engaged in prison reform worked with Jeremy Bentham and in partnership with Charles Fox in the abolition of the slave trade: "It is the true duty of every man to promote the happiness of his fellow creatures to the utmost of his power"(W. Wilberforce, A Practical View of Christianity, ed Kevin Belmonte; Peabody, MA). Three days before he died, he learned that Parliament would pass the legislation abolishing slavery throughout the British Empire. Wilberforce served his nation for 45 years, retired in 1825 A.D., and in 1833 William Wilberforce died but not after having affected many men: Thoreau, Emerson, Whittier, Jedidiah Morse, Samuel Morse, Lyman Beecher, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Jonathan Edwards, Abraham Lincoln, and many more and by his example we can learn that we too, if we choose to do so, affect many people starting with our spouse, our children, our friends, people we work with, and even to go to foreign lands as missionaries, or spokesman, you see, Authentic Christians are not apathetic or lazy, they are those who actively apply their faith in action: 'But be ye doers of the word, which is able to save your souls. But by ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your  selves.....But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of he work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth not his own heart, this man's religion is in vain. Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted form the world" (James 1:22; 25-27). "Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works" (James 2:18). 

     I will then write on the subject of faith. This subject is of the utmost importance and I have, and hope you will, research, question and repeatedly reflect on all that you will read. We have an obligation to do whatever we are able to do to promoted the welfare of our fellowman. Yes, I suggest that faith is everyone's business, and yet there is a need to advance faith as it is so intimately connected to the welfare of society that it should be even of particular interest to politicians, to you and to your association to others. I will not write for self-interest or to promote theological prejudice. There will be no attempt to convince skeptics or to answer the questions of unbelievers, those questions the so often ask, but rather to point out  some of the problems with the beliefs and actions of those who already claim to be christian. I am particularly disturbed by so many so-called Christians having little understanding in regards to the nature of the faith they profess. This subject is so much important that we should not ignore it because there are so many distractions of the heretics, those false teachers in our lives. I only ask that you take the time to check out what is said and written and if you accept the Bible and its authority, then I must assume you agree.

For wisdom is a defence,

     and money is a defence: 

but the excellency of knowledge is,

     that wisdom giveth life to them 

that have it.

              Ecclesiastes 7:12

Add to your faith, your virtue, knowledge

Richard L. Crumb