3 in 3 for 6-21-24

By: Chris Johnson

Sports. Money. Independence. Political Power. Self-image.

It’s amazing the trouble these good things can cause when we allow them to hold too much influence in our lives.

The great American theologian, Jonathan Edwards, made this thought provoking summary: “God’s purpose for my life is that I have a passion for God’s glory and that I have a passion for my joy in that glory, and that these two are one passion.”

This passion keeps everything else in their proper place. When we are seeking to glorify God and enjoy glorifying God in the way we use and partake of sports, money, independence, political power, self-image, etc. we find inspiration, creativity, and community.

In the Decency Minute transcripts below, which you may listen along to by clicking on the titles, you’ll find this point being made again in the first, and then the following two give examples of what happens when people make things like power and money their passion, rather than the glory of God.

---

Turning God’s Blessings Into Idols

As many Christians have noted before, sports are a common idol in our nation and our time in history, but the truth is, things like sports are enjoyed most fully as a blessing from God, rather than as a god.

Pastor and author John Piper famously coined the phrase, “God is most glorified in us, when we are most satisfied in Him.” When we look to our blessings – whether that be watching or playing sports, or our job, or our preferred political cause or candidate, etc. – for hope or for joy or fulfillment, we are stealing God’s glory and missing out on His best for us. We turn God’s blessings into idols!

How much more enjoyable is softball, or whatever your favorite sport or hobby might be, when you can participate in it with the knowledge that God made it especially as a blessing for His people to enjoy?

 

“Biden Bucks” Makes “Zuck Bucks” Look Like Child’s Play

What do the Department of Agriculture, Department of Education, Homeland Security and hundreds of other federal agencies have to do with the upcoming election?  Each of these is unlawfully using taxpayer dollars to turn out Democrat voters for Joe Biden.

Biden has issued an executive order directing federal agencies to engage in voter registration and get-out-the-vote efforts.  It sounds harmless. Encouraging Americans to exercise their right to vote is a good thing.  However, Biden has once again defied the Constitution and usurped states’ rights to turn the entire federal government into a massive voter turnout campaign only targeting likely Democrat voters.

Referred to as BidenBucks, this scheme makes Mark Zuckerberg’s Zuckbucks election interference look like child’s play.

“Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?” Psalm 2 asks.  While their schemes may seemingly prevail, God is at work as He unfolds His will.

 

Think of the Children

For as long as I can remember, if one wanted to get a law passed, or excuse a divorce, or push through some questionable school-related expense or program, it was often accompanied by the phrase “it’s for the good of the children.” By tugging on heartstrings, those traditionally objectional agendas had a better way of being accepted.

Recently, the Massachusetts House of Representatives UNANIMOUSLY passed a new bill that would permit women to sell their babies to the highest bidder. In effect, the House declared that children are now a commodity to be bought and sold. Some call it a step forward in LGBT rights, but really, it’s an open door to exploitation and abuse, because it removes critical safeguards designed to protect the welfare of the child.

Danger, brokenness, and degradation are always left in the wake of rejecting God’s design for marriage, gender, and sexuality.

---

Elsewhere Jonathan Edwards provided us with this reminder, “The enjoyment of God is the only happiness with which our souls can be satisfied.” As we observe our political leaders and the world around us and live in the aftermath of their misdirected passions, may we continue to find joy in the one place it’s always been.

 Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10

 

To view this article in your browser, Click Here

For more information, articles and newsletters, please check out our website at https://americandecency.org/

You can support ADA financially by visiting: https://give.cornerstone.cc/americandecency

 

---