Bits and Pieces – 2nd Edition – March 15, 2020

DUST OF THE GROUND.  The intelligentsia of this world has long mocked the Christian belief that God made Adam from “the dust of the ground” (Genesis 2:7).  They should use their God-given brains to think a little more.

All of us, them included, are made from “the dust of the ground.”   Our bodies are sustained by food, and all the food that we eat, vegetable or meat, comes from “the dust of the ground.”  Seed is sown, plants grow, and we eat.  Likewise, animals eat plant life, and we eat them.  The same is true of the creatures of the sea.  We are sustained entirely by “the dust of the ground.”

God reminds us, “dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return” (Genesis 3:19), and that “it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 2:27).

FORTY YEARS AGO.  Toronto F.P.C. was part of a major protest outside the Maple Leaf Gardens, when it joined with others to highlight the communist infiltration of the Baptist World Alliance which was meeting there.   Toronto Sun editor, Peter Worthington, also carried an important editorial titled “Baptists and the KGB.”   Christianity and communism cannot co-exist.  One believes in God, and the other does not.  God commands, “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers.”  (2 Corinthians 6:14).

CONVERSION THERAPY.  The Federal government has introduced a bill to impose a blanket ban on causing a child to “undergo therapy aimed at altering their sexual orientation or sexual identity. The bill would also make it an offence for adults to undergo so-called conversion therapy  against their will.” (Toronto Star. March 10, 2020).   Justice Minister David Lametti said, “Conversion therapy is premised on a lie, that being homosexual, lesbian, bisexual or trans is wrong.”  Lametti is therefore calling God a liar!  The Bible is absolutely clear, homosexual practices are wrong.  (Leviticus 18:22.  Romans 1:27.  1 Corinthians 6:9. I Timothy1:10 etc.).  Conversion therapy was obviously used in New Testament times for Paul speaks of those who were cleansed from a variety of sins, including homosexual practices. He said, “Such were some of you.” They had been converted from their earlier sinful ways by the application of the Gospel of Christ.

The Canadian Psychological Association says there is “plenty of evidence that it causes harm to LGBTQ individuals, including anxiety, depression and negative self-image.”   Might it not be the case that those feelings come from practising something that is both unscriptural and unnatural?

THE NEXT STEP?.  Banning conversion therapy from one religion to another?  This is already being practiced in the ecumenical movement, spearheaded by the World Council of Churches (WCC).  It has now become syncretistic and its fellowship is based on belief in any god, as they progress towards a one-world religion.  Therefore, the preaching of the Gospel to cause people to convert to Christianity is not convenient for their syncretistic endeavours.

THE CORONAVIRUS. At the time of writing (March 14) some 170,000 people across the globe have been diagnosed as having Covid19, including the wife of the Canadian Prime Minister.  The bad news is that 5,400 have died, but the good news is that some 70,000 of those infected have recovered and are no longer in danger.  Jesus warned that one of the signs before His Second Coming would be “pestilences” (Matthew 24:7).

This is the worst outbreak of disease in living memory, with extreme travel restrictions put in place as various countries are severely impacted.  In North America major league, and highly lucrative, sports like baseball, basketball, ice hockey, golf and Formula I car racing have been shut down.  Even so prestigious an event as The Masters golf has been postponed.  Thankfully, Christians can call upon the name of the Lord, and plead His promise, “I will put none of these diseases upon thee”  (Exodus 15:26.  Deuteronomy 7:25).

SCHOOLS CLOSED.  Due to the Covid19 crisis the Ontario Government has closed all public schools by adding another two weeks to the one week March Break (March 16-20). This means that the schools will not reopen until April 6 at the earliest. Private schools, like our Whitefield Christian Schools, will follow suit.  Please pray for the safety of the staff and students.