How Can A Christian Seriously Support President Trump?

I get this now and then.  Someone will say to me, "Pastor Rich, how can you being a Christian support Trump?  And to top it off, you're a pastor!"

 

It's so easy! Let me tell you how -- "I am commanded by God to do so."  Plain and simple.

Get ready, because here comes the passages:

Romans 13:1-7:

Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. 2 So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished. 3 For the authorities do not strike fear in people who are doing right, but in those who are doing wrong. Would you like to live without fear of the authorities? Do what is right, and they will honor you. 4 The authorities are God’s servants, sent for your good. But if you are doing wrong, of course you should be afraid, for they have the power to punish you. They are God’s servants, sent for the very purpose of punishing those who do what is wrong. 5 So you must submit to them, not only to avoid punishment, but also to keep a clear conscience.

6 Pay your taxes, too, for these same reasons. For government workers need to be paid. They are serving God in what they do. 7 Give to everyone what you owe them: Pay your taxes and government fees to those who collect them, and give respect and honor to those who are in authority.

Here's a few observations from this passage:

1. v. 1 - "all authority comes from God and all have been placed there by God."  Yes, even the ones in North Korea and China.  Even the one the Israelites were under in Egypt. Even the one that was ruling at the time Paul wrote this who was the infamous pagan, Nero!  You have to look pass the government or person to the God who is behind it all. He has His reasons for putting in place certain governing authorities and the people under such authorities.

2. v. 2 - "So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished" -- Notice -- "anyone."

So hey, let's rephrase the question. A better question is not "How can I as a Christian support Trump," but "How can you as a Christian NOT support Trump, and think you are in a right standing before God?"  When you jettison what the Bible says, it's all pure delusional!

3. Notice v. 4 says that "authorities are God's servants." Yes, even the bad ones.

"The bad ones! How can this be?"

Listen, do you seriously think that God is restricted in His almighty power to use only good and moral ones to accomplish His will?  Here's a news flash: God can use anyone He chooses -- the good, the bad and the ugly to achieve His ultimate purposes!  God will not and cannot be restricted.

Can you explain why God called a very corrupt and wicked king such as Cyrus "His anointed" and "my shepherd" (Isa. 45:1, 24, 28)?

Why? Because God is able to use the wicked to bring to pass His righteous ways. Don't ever think for one moment that God cannot fulfill His ways unless He conforms to your way of thinking.

Isa. 55:8-9:  “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord.
“And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.  9 For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts."

Furthermore, do you think that the crucifixion of Jesus was a plan gone awry?  Check out this passage:

Acts 4:26-28:  The kings of the earth prepared for battle; the rulers gathered together against the Lord and against his Messiah.’ 27 “In fact, this has happened here in this very city! For Herod Antipas, Pontius Pilate the governor, the Gentiles, and the people of Israel were all united against Jesus, your holy servant, whom you anointed. 28 But everything they did was determined beforehand according to your will."

God used wicked Herod, wicked Pilate, the wicked Gentiles and the rebellious Jews to bring to pass the perfect plan of God which was the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.   If it were up to the moral, Jesus would not have died. So God left it up to the immoral to kill His Son -- which was God's intended purpose.

So stop saying, "How can you being a Christian support Trump?" Better to ask yourself, "How can being a Christian, NOT support Trump?"

"But pastor Rich, Trump treated women badly." Yes he did. And you know what?  So did King David. He stole another man's wife, committed adultery with her and then had her husband killed to try to cover up his sins (see 2 Sam. 11). God never demoted him as king and God never told anyone in Israel to stop following him.

"But pastor Rich, David repented."  Yes he did. How do you know that Trump hasn't repented? Does he have to go on national TV and cry in front of the camera like Jimmy Swaggart?   And even if Trump didn't repent, God is not commanding His people to not support him as their president.

Keep on reading the rest of Romans 13 and tell us, how can you, who professes to be a Christian, NOT support Trump.

And while you are thinking of how to do that, let me give you another assignment.

1 Peter 2:13-17: For the Lord’s sake, submit to all human authority—whether the king as head of state, 14 or the officials he has appointed. For the king has sent them to punish those who do wrong and to honor those who do right.

15 It is God’s will that your honorable lives should silence those ignorant people who make foolish accusations against you. 16 For you are free, yet you are God’s slaves, so don’t use your freedom as an excuse to do evil. 17 Respect everyone, and love the family of believers.  Fear God, and respect the king.

Notice verse 13 - "submit to all human authority." Not just a Democratic President, but also a Republican.

v. 14 - "or the officials HE HAS APPOINTED." Who is behind all appointments to public office? God!

v. 15 - "It is God's will. . ." How are you going to skip around this?  I know how. Just pretend this passage doesn't exist.  What are "honorable lives" in verse 15? Lives that are submitted to present day authority -- whomever or whatever it may be.

I did not agree with Clinton or Obama when both served two terms. But they were my presidents and I prayed for them. I did not agree with a lot of their ideas, moral behavior and stance on life, but as long as they were in office, they were my presidents.  I submitted to them because I chose first and foremost to submit to God.

You see, my friend, if you got a submission problem toward Trump, just admit it, you also got a submission problem toward God.

For the non-Christian this does not apply. But if you profess to be a Christian, you are obligated to do something with Romans 13 and 1 Peter 2.  Those passages are the Word of God. What are you going to do about it?

So my question to you, dear Christian is this: "How can you, professing to be a Christian and a follower of Jesus Christ, NOT support this current president -- Donald Trump, in light of the biblical passages I presented here?"

Take time to give me your biblical rebuttal. I'll be patiently waiting.

The Politics of Greed - How It Works, Part 2

You have forgotten the God of your salvation and have not remembered the rock of your refuge. (Isaiah 17:10)

So liberals tell us, slap 70% tax on the rich — or even 90% as FDR did? This is always self-defeating because such high tax rates curtail investment, resulting in a reduction in business activity. And that, of course, means a massive loss of jobs. This is one of the main reasons we're told that the economic downturn in 1929 slid into The Great Depression.

Then there's the Socialist Congresswoman from New York, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who has dismissed all the concern about cost by simply proposing that we "print money." That is the prescription for a run-away inflation which would destroy the value of all savings.

The politics of greed is the inherent weakness of pure democracy. It will always end up destroying the democratic system.

Our Founding Fathers were very aware of this problem because they believed in the biblical view of Mankind — namely, that people are born with a sin nature and therefore cannot be trusted.

As we all know, they rejected monarchy. What is amazing is that they also rejected Oligarchy (the rule of the privileged, which is what is being practiced today). The reason that is remarkable is because most of them were aristocrats. But the point is that they did not even trust themselves. Nor did they believe in pure democracy because they did not trust the Common Man. They knew that pure democracy always evolved into mobocracy.  This is the form of government of the Middle East!

So, they established a Representative Democracy whereby, hopefully, enlightened persons with high morals and great wisdom would be elected to represent the masses.

This is why they insulated the federal government from the direct vote of the people, and for good reason. They accomplished this by making only members of the House of Representatives eligible for direct election. Senators were appointed by state legislatures. And the President was selected by an Electoral College whose members were, in turn, selected in any manner a state might choose.

The "Progressives" want no barriers to "the will of the people," regardless of how perverted that will may be. So they are advocating the abolition of the Electoral College and a scheme to pack the Supreme Court with judicial activists who have no respect for our Constitution.  This is why they want open borders and have it so that you do not need to be a citizen of the U.S. to vote.

"Power to the people!" That's the politically correct cry of today. It sounds so good, but it results in horrors like the French Revolution because there is no magical goodness in the people or in the majority vote.

The question looming before the American electorate is whether or not we are willing to sell our souls and our freedoms for "free stuff." I believe we are.

Keep in mind that in the last presidential election, the future of our nation — the Millennials — overwhelmingly supported Bernie Sanders, an out-and-out Socialist, and when he failed to get the nomination, they voted for Hillary. Remember too, that Hillary received three million more votes than Trump. The only reason Trump is our President is because of the Electoral College which the Liberals and Socialists are determined to abolish. So you see what can happen if we left our country to the majority?

The most sobering thing to keep in mind is that all the recent polls reveal that only 9% of Americans have a biblical worldview, and only 15% of professing Christians can be characterized as "Bible-believing."

Our nation's glory days are over, or at the very least coming to an end. We are destined for destruction, and the fundamental reason is that we have forgotten about God.

End of Series

The Politics of Greed - How It Works, Part 1

We often think of the average politician as being stupid and a liar. Lying, yeah you can make a case for this, but stupid, no. They know exactly how to tap into the culture of greed.

For example, our political system has deteriorated even more to the point where politicians are now appealing primarily to greed by attempting to purchase votes. Just consider the current promises that presidential candidates are making:

The forgiveness of all college loans.

A guarantee of free college education in the future.

The provision of reparations to all descendants of slaves.

A promise of reparations to same-sex couples.

A pledge of universal medical care.

The gift of a $1,000 savings account for each new baby.

The provision of free child care.

A guaranteed job for every person.

A guaranteed minimum income.

This is insane because there is nothing above that's free! So why promise such things? Because the promise-makers know that in the same way they are greedy, the people they are appealing to are also greedy, probably even more so.

So this insane mantra goes on and on. All the candidates seem to be yelling -- "Free stuff! Free stuff! Vote for me and get free stuff!" And people are responding like cows running to a fresh bale of hay. It's a sad scene of unmitigated greed.

And who is going to pay for all this "free stuff"? The answer of the these promise-makers is, of course: "Someone else, but certainly not us."

It was H. L. Menken  who once wrote when he characterized elections as "an early auction on stolen goods." George Bernard Shaw put it this way: "A government that robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend upon the support of Paul."

Every good or service is produced at a cost, and producers demand to be paid. So [politicians], while promising you free stuff, are really promising to make your neighbor pay for it.

So, if the greedy masses are not going to pay for all the "free stuff," then how is it to be financed? The solutions being put forward are: "tax the rich," "tax the corporations" and "print money."

When corporations are taxed, they respond by one of three things or a combination of them:

Freeze or lower wages.

Reduce the dividends to investors.

Raise prices to the consumers.

The most frequent choice is, of course, to raise prices. In any case, it is people who end up paying the taxes.  Therefore, in the real world, corporations cannot really be taxed!

End of Part 1

How To Make People Unhappy? Part 2

In Part 1, I shared that the number one reason to make people unhappy in life is to sow within them seeds of ingratitude.  This is what I believe to be the modus operandi of the liberal Democratic establishment as a very good example of this.

And I believe this for the following reasons:

First, they sow the seed of victimhood.

People are constantly told that they are victims because of their upbringing, because of past prejudice against their group, because of material inequality, because they are female, and for many other reasons.

Ingratitude always leads to or comes from victimhood.  Ungrateful people, by definition, think of themselves as victims.  And perceiving oneself as a victim or perceiving oneself as a member of a victim group may be the single biggest reason people hurt other people -- from hurtful comments to mass murder.  Liberal Democrats are notorious for encouraging groups of people to see themselves as victims of someone or something. People who think of themselves as victims tend to believe that because they have been hurt by others, they can hurt others.  This is what is behind the Democratic Party and to the Republicans to a lesser extent.

Second, ungrateful people who see themselves as victims are plagued with anger.

The ungrateful are angry, and angry people lash out at others.  If ingratitude makes people unhappy and mean, then gratitude must make people happy and kind.  And so it does.

Think of the times you have felt most grateful – were they not always accompanied by a feeling of happiness?  Weren't they also accompanied by a desire to be kinder to other people?  Also a desire to be content and thankful?

The answer, of course, is yes. Grateful people aren't angry, and they don't see themselves as victims. The problem, however, and it’s a big one, is that in America (through the help of the liberal media especially) and much of the rest of the world people are becoming less grateful. 

Why? Because people are constantly told that they are entitled to things they haven’t earned – what are known as “benefits” or “entitlements.”

The more things that people think they should get, the less grateful they will be for whatever they do get.  And the more angry they are, and therefore unhappy, they will be when they don't get them. 

Here’s are two rules of life:

Rule number one. The less you feel entitled to, the more gratitude you will feel for whatever you get and the happier you will be.

Rule number two. The more you feel entitled to, the less happy you will be.

That’s why, for example, children who get whatever they want are usually less happy children. We have a word for such children – spoiled. And no one thinks of a spoiled child as a happy child – and certainly not a kind one.

The more that you feel that life or society owes you, the angrier you will get,

the less happy you will be. As a result, the liberal Democrats are increasing the number of angry, unhappy, and selfish people -- all over!

Next time you want to assess any social policy by either political party, ask this question first: Will this policy increase or decrease gratitude among people? You will then know whether it is something that will bring more goodness and happiness to the world. Or less.

If I were granted just one wish, it would be that all people be grateful. Gratitude is the source of happiness, and the source of goodness; and the more good people, and the more happy people there are walking around, the happier and better our world will be.  And gratitude begins with ME first before others will begin to take note.

Special Note:  I have been following the work and progress of the "protectors" on the Mauna -- Mauna Kea.   I deeply admire their tenacity for standing up to the government for decades of lies and broken promises regarding their land.

However, I am very concerned. I am hoping that none of what they are doing is done out of a spirit of ingratitude. If it is, then they will view themselves as victims, because they primarily been taught and told they are, which will then foster unhappy, angry people who feel entitled to get things they may not get, and if so, will end up hurting others and causing more harm to themselves and their cause.

Has the present and past government broken promises to the Hawaiian people? You have to be living a La La Land not to realize that.  Remember this whole series is on how the Democratic government does things to make people unhappy by making them ungrateful. We all have received from the government, the good as well as the bad. But don't let such things cause you to become ungrateful. That's what they want. They want to shove you into a political category group of entitlement expecting benefits and rights that you will not receive to your complete satisfaction.  Governments are not perfect!

Don't allow anyone to take away your gratefulness.  If they do, you'll be unhappy, angry, identify as a victim, expecting handouts, and if you don't deal with your ungrateful heart, you will hurt others.

This is the liberal Democrat Playbook. Don't give them the power that they desperately want by making you feel ungrateful, and therefore totally dependent of them for your happiness.

Be akamai!  

Bible passages on gratefulness (2 Tim. 3:2; Rom. 1:21; Col. 3:15; James 1:24; James 5:13; 1 Thess. 5:16-18; Eph. 1:16; Ps. 103:2; Acts 24:3; Luke 17:17-18; Prov. 14:30).

End of Series

Thoughts on Transgenderism, Part 5

My final thoughts on this will be for me the most compelling argument against going the way of transgenderism. While the passages in the Bible that speak of God creating just two genders and that each person is born with their God-given gender (i.e. identity), still to me not as compelling of a argument as the one I am about the share.

We're told in Jeremiah 17:9 - "The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; Who can understand it?"

If there is one thing we must never do especially if we are about to make a major choice in life, and that is to "follow the promptings of our hearts." Our hearts will lead us astray!   Notice some observations about the verse above that strengthens my point of not trusting our heart.

1. We are told that the heart is "more deceitful."  More deceitful than what? More deceitful "than all else." Whatever Satan uses to bring deceit, the corrupt heart that we are born with is his number one go-to device.

2. We are told that the heart is "desperately sick." Why would anyone who wants answers in life trust something that is desperately sick. Following your heart is like taking counseling from a demon rather than an angel.  The heart is said to be "desperately sick" because it is severely sinful. It is born that way (Psalm 51:5).

3. We are told that no one is able to understand the true intentions of the heart. That is, no one but God. Therefore, rather than listen to our desperately sick heart on such important matters that pertain to gender and identity, we would do so much better to listen to God who alone understands our heart and will guide us from going in the wrong direction.  In other words, internal guidance is never enough. We need external guidance -- a more reliable source outside of ourselves.

Now this may not be apparent to children, some who are often told that they are not biologically who they are because an adult told them otherwise. This is why transgenders go after children because of their vulnerability.  But what I am looking at is this: Christian parents who come across a child who feels he or she was born the wrong gender ought to remember what the Bible says about our sinful heart -- it is very deceptive and will lead us astray if we allow it to.   The greater deception that people often suffer from comes from the deception of their own heart.

Here are some common ways we can become self-deceived:

First, we deceive ourselves when we think that our actions will not have consequences.  Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. (Galatians 6:7-8 )

Second, we deceive ourselves when we think that hearing the Word is preferable than its application. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves… (James 1:22)

Third, we deceive ourselves when we think that the consequences for sexual sin with regards to choices are no big deal. Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men, nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. (1 Cor 6:9-10)

Be sure of this, no fornicator, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light… and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness. (Eph 5:5-11)

When lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. (James 1:16)

Fourth, we deceive ourselves when we think that bad people will not affect us or our children.  Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals.” (1 Cor 15:33).

Fifth, we deceive ourselves when we conclude that the way of the heart is better to trust in than the teachings of the Bible. Jesus answered them, “You are deceived, because you don’t know the Scriptures or the power of God. (Matt 22:29)

Conclusion: We are going to see and hear a lot more about people coming out and transitioning themselves to another gender. Although I expect this to happen among non-believers since they have no objective moral compass to guide them, I don't see why this occurs among those who profess to be Christians, unless they simply abandoned the authority of the Bible and their profession of faith is simply on stony ground.

We need to show compassion, but in the right way.  I can't think of no better way to show genuine compassion than to hold tightly to the Word of Truth so others who are struggling with transgenderism can find their way back with the help of the Holy Spirit.

End of Series

Thoughts on Transgenderism, Part 4

I would like to revisit the thought of compassion that I mentioned in Part 3. In Part 3, I said that compassion should be shown on the back end of repentance and not on the front end so as not to allow one's emotions to become a snare and embrace a lifestyle that God directly opposes in His Word. But I need to explain this in a little more detail so as not to give the wrong idea behind the need to show compassion.

Showing compassion can and should be given on the front side of repentance. For example, if you were to see a homeless man, woman, or family in the park, you wouldn't tell yourself, "I am not going to show compassion unless I see evidence of repentance." No, that would cruel.

Homelessness is not a sin or crime. Transgenderism, though not a crime, is a sin. Therefore, regarding sinful behaviors and choices, it is often best to show compassion on the back end of repentance. With regards to social and personal conditions, it is often better to show compassion on the front end of repentance -- i.e. giving a cup of cold water (food, clothing, etc) in the name of Jesus.  Some needy people need such things now not later.

But here is the one thing about compassion that makes it really stand out:

Our compassion will develop in direct proportion to our involvement in seeing and meeting the needs of others.

When the disciples saw the hungry multitude, they did not want to become involved, so they urged Jesus to send the people away. However, when Jesus saw the needs of the multitude, He "was moved with compassion toward them" and got involved. This compassion compelled Him to meet their needs. (See Matthew 14:14-21, 15:32-38.)  Jesus saw their needs and was moved with compassion and got involved. Again, this was done by Jesus on the front end of repentance because being hungry is not a sin.

When a priest saw a half-dead victim of a robbery, "he passed by on the other side." When a Levite saw the wounded man, he "looked on him, and passed by on the other side." But when the Samaritan saw him, "he had compassion on him" and invested his time and resources to meet the wounded man's needs. (See Luke 10:30-37.)

A willingness to invest ourselves in meeting the needs of others is preliminary to fulfilling Matthew 9:37-38. Jesus gave this command after He “... went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd" (Matthew 9:35-36).

God will do great things through a person whose heart is willing to see needs and show compassion to others.

This explains why the Levite "saw" the same man on the side of the road and decided to walk pass him. His heart was not willing, even though his eyes had witness a great need.

The three necessary ingredients for compassion are:

1. (Mind) Witness a need either through sight or hearing. "Seeing" or "hearing" of a need engages us in the experience and we are more likely to respond.

2.  (Heart) Have a willing heart to help and do what you are able.

3.  (Will) Get involve.

Most of us desire to do something great with our lives, yet many people do not realize that God's perspective on greatness is different from the world's perspective. Jesus tells us, “Whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; and whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:26-28).

As further motivation to show compassion by serving others, we should remember that Jesus said, “Inasmuch as you have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, you have done it unto me” (Matthew 25:40). We will never achieve true greatness in serving Jesus without compassion.

True heart rendering compassion ought to be prevalent among people who hold on to the name of Jesus. There are plenty of ways for us to show compassion on the front end of repentance.  Even with someone who is in sin, we can show compassion on the front end of repentance if their immediate need is neutral (non-moral).  If someone makes a bad choice and does so with conviction -- i.e. they chose to and not simply fell into it, if that person expects compassion in the form of acceptance of their wrong moral choice, that should not be given without severe compromise to follow.  When we compromise, instead of one person needing help, now there's two -- you and the person you compromised with.

End of Part 4

Thoughts on Transgenderism, Part 3

Remember, I mentioned in Part 1 how the spirit of confusion is associated with transgenderism?  You know how the devil tries to get us to overcome this issue? He uses the spirit of compassion against us. It is through compassion that the devil tries to get people to embrace transgenderism.

Let me show you what I mean.  When God brought Israel to the border of the Promise Land, He gave to them instructions on what they were to do with the Canaanite inhabitants.

Deut. 7:2:  When the Lord your God hands these nations over to you and you conquer them, you must completely destroy them. Make no treaties with them and show them no mercy (compassion). 

Notice, God said to show no mercy or compassion to such people. Why? Go to verse 16: To do so, "would be a snare for you."  In other words, if you allow your compassion and mercy (emotions) to get the best of you, it will be a snare to you and remove you from staying in the will of God.

Just think for a moment, how many times can you recount the moments you allowed your compassion to get you to make a decision you later came to regret while the truth was starring you in the face? You bought something from a salesperson that felt sorry for and later came to regret it. You allowed a friend or family member who literally begged you to stay in your home. Your better judgment told you it would not be a good idea. Later you kicked yourself while saying, "I knew I should have said no." But you allowed your compassion to embrace a bad idea. And on and on. . .etc.

So, when we hear of the struggles, heartaches, traumas, internal conflicts, bullying, depression and near suicide attempts from those who are transitioning, our heart goes out to them and we want to extend mercy and compassion. Many do, and in so doing, their emotions turns into a snare and they embrace a behavioral lifestyle that God does not endorse.  

So Satan uses both the spirit of confusion and a wrong application of compassion to cause Christians to embrace transgenderism. And this become doubly hard for those within the same household -- such as family members.

The tricky part for all Christians is to love and show compassion for the person, while not getting ourselves caught in a snare so as to embrace their sin and wrongful behavior.  When Christians do this, they compromise their faith. And you cannot be a beacon of light to bring someone up from the pit of unholy mire, when you are embracing both wrong thinking and wrong behavior.

"But Pastor Rich, compassion is a God-given emotion. We need to use more of it."

I agree, but we need some guidelines to help guide us in our use of compassion. So let's go to the Bible and get some help.

I am thinking of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15:11-32. When you read this story, you'll see that it is more about the compassionate father than it is about the wayward son. The prodigal son illustrates us who stray from God the Father now and then and the Compassionate Father illustrates God the Father.

The story begins with the son asking his father, "Give me my share of the estate that belongs to me" (v. 12).  The idea here coming from the son is, "Father, I want to come out from under your authority and live my life. I choose to leave and do what I want. I need money to do it. I cannot wait until you die. Give to me my share now."  The father grants the son's request.

Days later the son took off to a distant land engaged in loose living (v. 13).  He then ran out of money and needed money to buy food and shelter (v. 14). He then went to look for a job and got hired tending to pigs which was against his Jewish beliefs. But what could he do?  He was desperate (v. 15). In fact, he was so desperate that food fed to the pigs seemed good to eat.  But no one showed compassion in order to help him (v. 16).  And then, he came to his senses and realized it was time to return home to his father. It was then that he realized he made a terrible mistake (vv. 17-19). 

His father saw his son returning home from far away and with a heart full of compassion, he hugged and kiss him. The father ordered his servants to prepare a big celebration, so big that the older brother said to himself, "Wow, I was never given a party like this!" (vv. 20-32). 

Now, what are some vital lessons on compassion we can take away from this story?  Here are two very important principles: 

First, notice that the father's compassion was NEVER expressed VISIBLY until AFTER the son repented and came home (vv. 18-23). The father had compassion for his son the whole time, but the father did not expressed his compassion in a visible manner until the son came home with a heart of repentance.

You see, if the father had shown compassion to his son during the time of his rebellion and giving the son the understanding of acceptance for his choice that he wanted, the father would have embraced his son's rebellion and become a partner along with it.  No, the father was deeply sad and deeply compassionate, but he did not expressed his heart's compassion toward his son until the son came home with a change of heart.  By showing compassion to his son when he returned home, the father was not glorifying the son's time in the world fulfilling his fleshly lusts, but instead the father was magnifying his son's return home showing a heart full love and acceptance awaits those who come to their senses and repent.

Principle: Compassion needs to be shown on the back end of repentance and not on the front end.

Second, by not embracing the son's rebellion, and by not even stopping his son from leaving home, and by not even running after the son to go looking for him, the father removed himself from being in the way and allowed consequences to do its work.

Too often we get in the way with our enabling and our rescuing, that the work of consequences are postponed and never given the full opportunity to do its job.  Even God prohibited others from showing compassion to the son in his state of rebellion - "and no one was giving anything to him" (v. 16).

We know how hard it can be to simply "wait on the Lord." We feel that we just got to do something.  We got to try. We can do something -- we can pray.  The bible says that "while the son was still a long way off he saw him" (v. 20).  The son never left his father's heart. The father prayed for him and waited for God to bring his son home in His timing using His ways.

Principle: Get out of the way and let God use consequences to bring the wayward sinner to his or her senses.

Understandably, it is difficult for us to not show compassion to someone we feel sorry or pity for. But remember this:  Satan is a great counterfeiter. We all know how he counterfeits, Christians, the church, preachers and teachers, love, etc. So it ought not to be surprising if he also is able to counterfeit emotions, one of them being, "compassion."  The struggle that we face with our emotions goes back to how the devil uses the spirit of confusion to derail us.

End of Part 3