Jesus Denounces Critical Theory

Dr. Mike Kingdom Paradigms , ,

Mark 10:42-44

And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great one’s exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all.

Critical theory is a movement currently being taught in universities and expressed in the public arena throughout the western development world. The concept is built upon mankind’s carnal passion for power and is symmetrically opposed to the Christian worldview.

Critical theory exploits the dark side of humanity apart from God. This theory showcases a practicing model of those being victimized by those in power. This never-ending struggle pits groups of people in a continual conflict without ever reaching a resolution. Instead of bringing people together in a unified fashion, the process is a never-ending battle between sides.

Critical theory is programed for people to justify their personal anger, hatred, and violence without consequences for the life of others. Instead of reason, facts, and logic, the practitioners emphasize personal feelings, self-righteous indignation, and tribal mentality. Instead of exercising personal responsibility to accept and change their outcomes by building the necessary character to overcome their circumstances, they immaturely blame others and expect someone else to carry their load.

The basis of the theory is built upon portraying you as a victim struggling against those who have power over you. Under Marxist tutelage, the struggle was between working classes. However, in America the struggle isn’t with working classes because the free enterprise system allows people to move up into higher levels of status, education, employment, etc. Therefore, the critical theorist’s aim in today’s culture is to select common group classes that cannot be changed. The result is chaos and conflict between races and sexes.

When Jesus was presented with the issue of two of his disciples wanting positions of power within His Kingdom, his response was contrary with mankind’s carnal desires. Those who seek to rule, must first learn to serve others as a slave serves their master. The concept is radical in today’s ungodly environment. Yet history has shown over time that the best leaders who improve social and economic outcomes for the long-term are those who serve others and not lord over them. Yet to become like a servant, one’s attitude generally is shaped by learning to serve those who are currently in authority over you and who you have authority over. The Bible instructs us to serve one another for the glory of God.

Without God, this would be ridiculous. But with God, who created the world for all people to flourish, His ways and his teachings, and his fatherly involvement, makes His truths bear much fruit.

We have witnessed the western world like America built upon Judaeo-Christian principles prosper like no other nation in world history. On the other hand, we have also witness when countries eliminate godliness and moral integrity from their government, suffer from division, social animosity, and eventually self-destruction from within.

Jesus’ Kingdom reigns in the hearts and conscience of his children. When we lean on Him and make Him the central core of our being, the truth will set us free. We practice what He has demonstrated as His disciples have practiced for over two thousand years. It works better than anything else mankind has theoretically developed in their fantastical minds. Otherwise, we shall once again witness and even experience the self-destruction of another free democratic society.

The quicker we remove Critical Theory from our worldview, and build a unified consensus from humanity’s common Source, the better life will be for the individual and the masses.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Encourager & Founder of
Vocational Leadership 360
Author of e-Books:

 *  Dancing With God: Life-Giving Theology Explained
 *  Great Business Emulates a Good God
 *  Be Radical…Follow Christ!
 *  Simply The Messenger
 *  Unequally Married

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Freedom or Enslavement?

Dr. Mike Life in Christ , ,

2 Peter 2:19

They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved.

The Bible portrays an active battle between you and Satan, you and the culture, and you against yourself (1 John 2:14, 2:16, 4:4, 2 Peter 2:20, Romans 12:21, John 16:33). Jesus himself stated that everyone of us will go through tribulations of some kind during our lifetime. So, when evil arises, why are we so shocked?

As an old Yankee baseball friend once stated, “Life is wired to throw curve balls, sliders, and sinking fast balls while you are just entering the batter’s box and not even ready to swing the bat.”

Yet sometimes we forget. When life is comfortable, money is in the bank, family is healthy, and the world is speaking good news, we experience temporary utopia and believe life will be like this forever. Then the bottom falls.

Most of the time, it’s a family affair. A tragic accident, or death of a love one hits those immediately within our world. But when a major pandemic like Covid-19 becomes a worldwide threat, especially for the elderly and those with challenging immune systems, fear immediately seizes us.

A recent poll taken during the Covid-19 fallout showed that 88% of Americans stated this was the worst experience of their lifetime to date. Doesn’t this hint that most Americans live a sheltered life?

If fear, anxiety, and social isolation doesn’t wake up the hearts and minds of people living in spiritual stupor, then you wonder what will. What will make people take a step back and realize how fragile freedom is and how enslaved they are within their personal prison.

We are all slaves. You may think you are free, but if you step back and take an honest view of yourself, you will have to admit you are a slave.

You may think you live in a western-world democracy and therefore you are free. But are you? We know those who live under dictatorships are slaves to the state, but what about you?

If you can be honest for the moment with yourself, you will discover that you may be a slave of fear or anxiety. Or you may be a slave of your pride, your carnal desires, or even your thirst for more and more which is greed manifested.

You are enslaved by your smart phone, pornographic material, or fast cars and women.

Or you may just be enslaved by your weight, beauty, and appearance. Maybe it’s your ideology, aversion to risk, or suicidal tendencies. Maybe chronic health limitations, prescription drugs, or just the continuous alcoholic drink morning, noon, and evening.

Maybe it’s always to be right, resisting the love of others, or just being a self-made, independent person.

Maybe it’s not accepting personal responsibility, or making commitments, or just being lazy.

The fact is we all have issues that enslave us. The question though is how can we break free.

The choice of who or what you are going to serve will manifest itself in your life. We all will make poor choices somewhere and someplace. And we will most likely survive most of them. But will we thrive under anyone of them?

Real freedom comes from choosing who you will ultimately serve. You can choose anything you want and you will eventually feel its pain. Or you can choose to serve the King of Kings, and experience what real freedom within the divine circle of life truly is.

John writes in the letter to the church (1 John) that Jesus Christ is the answer. He already overcame the world for us. You can join Him and He will lead you like many others into real freedom.  He can help you break the cord that binds you to your carnal desires.

So, reach-out to HIM. Ask HIM to allow you to experience real freedom. Seek out others who also are on the journey to live free as HIS servants and lean on each other. And knock on all the doors HE presents to you. One or more of those doors you walk through will change your life into an amazing ride of intimacy, adventure, and meaningful fulfillment.     

But you need to choose wisely. And the first and last choice is always Jesus Christ.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Encourager & Founder of
Vocational Leadership 360
Author of e-Books:

 *  Dancing With God: Life-Giving Theology Explained
 *  Great Business Emulates a Good God
 *  Be Radical…Follow Christ!
 *  Simply The Messenger
 *  Unequally Married

Encourage a Friend…Share Today’s Message!

Copyright 2013-2020 Abbaco LLC | All Rights Reserved

Fruit of Ungodliness

Dr. Mike Life Tools , , , ,

Romans 1:18

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.

The first chapter of the Book of Romans does an excellent outline of the characteristics of the ungodly life. In fact, when one reads the chapter, one can easily identify the platform of a political party of this country. But leaving politics out at the moment, when you read through the 1st chapter you come across the attitudinal spirit which leads to ungodly behavior. Starting from verse 18 through 32, you find:

Suppressing the truth – the ungodly don’t care for the truth of a matter; only the personal fulfillment of their self-centered agenda.

Failure to honor God – God is removed from the equation and therefore doesn’t receive the respect and acknowledgement of his authority in their life.

Ungrateful toward God – In their eyes, God is the problem, not the solution.

Futile in their thinking – Rational thinking without God as the center leads to many theories but rarely a solid conclusion.

Foolish, darken hearts – The emotional center of the person is generally negative with strong leanings toward the dark side of life. Wisdom is lacking.

Claiming to be wise, they became fools – Wisdom begins with the fear of the Lord is how the Book of Proverbs explains. Without God, they reach conclusions without logical reasoning and wonder why their lives continue to be expressed in stupid outcomes rather than victorious celebrations. 

Exchange the glory of God for other images – they worship and glorify the idols of power, money, fame, status, etc. rather than God who makes all things possible.

Hearts of impurity – Rather than a rich, emotional inner chamber of love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, kindness, and self-control, their inner Spirit is empty and mostly full with the darkness of life.

Dishonoring their bodies among themselves – adultery, prostitution, abortion, etc.

Exchanged truth about God for a lie – The biggest lie is eliminating God from the equation of life. Lies distort the truth and reality. Without truth and reality, one is dealing with a fictional narrative. Without God, how many other lies and distortions of reality are built upon the shifting foundation of one’s beliefs? Lies are empty promises with trap doors leading to pain, suffering, and delusional outcomes.

Worship and serve the creature rather than the Creator – They worship humans, animals, earth, institutions, anything and everything rather than the God who designed and implemented Life from the beginning.

Dishonorable passions – women having sex with other women; likewise, men with men; and people having sex even with animals.

Committing shameless acts with one another – lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender sexual behavior is accepted by each but contrary of a godly, fulfilling life.    

Filled with evil, covetousness, malice, envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness, gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless – all negative attributes which lead toward societal suicide and destruction. A community cannot flourish when people oppose one another rather than up-build each other toward a common purpose built upon historical proven values.  

Approve others who practice these attributes – people like too associate with people like themselves.

We all have at times experienced similar ungodly attributes. The differences are those who regularly practice such behavior instead of once in a while unwanted blowups. Those who have surrendered themselves and have accepted the authority of Jesus Christ in their life, have changed their focus from glorifying self to worshiping the Triune God. Learning to walk as an apprentice of Jesus Christ covered under God’s grace, filled with HIS presence, and constantly pursuing a growing relationship with HIM, leads to a life where HIS life and beauty becomes a reflection in our life. A life worth meaning and purpose and flourishment for self and others.

Which is why the glory and honor is ALL HIS as we humbly walk with HIM.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Encourager & Founder of
Vocational Leadership 360
Author of e-Books:

 *  Dancing With God: Life-Giving Theology Explained
 *  Great Business Emulates a Good God
 *  Be Radical…Follow Christ!
 *  Simply The Messenger
 *  Unequally Married

Encourage a Friend…Share Today’s Message!

Copyright 2013-2020 Abbaco LLC | All Rights Reserved