Yesterday, several major news outlets ran a story about a god in Japan known was the "God of Poverty." The Bimbo Gami shrine houses a wooden statue believed to be the poverty deity, a man who brings about economic misfortune. Visitors can travel to the remote location four hours outside of Tokyo where they are free to release their anger by punching, kicking, and throwing dried beans at the deity. The statue is battered by as many as 500 people per day.

It is hard not to laugh at the ridiculous concept of this god. It is hard not to smile at the foolish belief and behavior of individuals who pay money to visit the shrine only to attack the idol. Certainly, the one true and living God is laughing at the foolishness of men: "He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision" (Ps 2:4).

While some will downplay the concept of beating the "God of Poverty" by saying it is merely a therapeutic release, the truth of the matter is that multitudes believe in a plethora of gods—including the poverty deity. Idolatry is still present in the hearts of multitudes and therein is the tragedy. Even Christians are susceptible to forms of idolatry.

James Packer reminds the Christian community of the temptation towards idolatry in his book, Your Father Loves You. "What other gods could we have besides the Lord? Plenty. For Israel there were the Canaanite Baals, those jolly nature gods whose worship was a rampage of gluttony, drunkenness, and ritual prostitution. For us there are still the great gods Sex, Shekels, and Stomach (an unholy trinity constituting one god: self), and the other enslaving trio, Pleasure, Possessions, and Position, whose worship is described as "The lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the pride of life" (1 John 2:16). Football, the Firm, and Family are also gods for some. Indeed the list of other gods is endless, for anything that anyone allows to run his life becomes his god and the claimants for this prerogative are legion. In the matter of life's basic loyalty, temptation is a many-headed monster."

Hollywood recently awarded Sean Penn with an Academy Award for his portrayal of Harvey Milk, the first openly homosexual man to be elected to public office in California. Milk ultimately became an icon for the homosexual movement soon after he was assassinated in November 1978. Several thoughts immediately come to mind about honoring a man and a movie that represents such an anti-biblical lifestyle.

First, the nation continues slouching towards Gomorrah, as Judge Robert Bork might say. This is not just being done figuratively but literally. Of course, the end result of this movement of social and cultural suicidal madness will be the same as it was for the inhabitants of the ancient city for the God of righteousness is eternally the same. It is only a matter of time. The longsuffering of God will some day end and judgment will begin in earnest. There is historical precedent for such a dire prediction. No nation has ever survived the influx of the moral decay when it turns in this direction. The Greeks, Romans, and Nazi Germany all could not survive the tolerance of behavior that is contrary to nature, and in similar manner, America too cannot survive.

Second, evil (injurious behavior) is militant. The homosexual community has not grown to such prominence by being silent. There was war in heaven when Lucifer said he would be like God and there is now war on earth because individuals say they will be like others—accepted and respected and not on the merit of morality but by demand.

A third thought that comes to mind is that the church is unable to stem the tide of the nation slouching its way towards Gomorrah. The church is unable to arrest the militancy of an evil social movement. There is a reason for this ineffectiveness. In part, I believe the powerlessness of the church is because individuals have not yet done what Christ has told Christians to do in Matthew 7:3-5. In context Jesus asked a question:

"And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?"

The question of the Lord is convicting. We Christians stand in judgment on the moral decadence of others—and rightly so—but have failed to judge ourselves. No wonder Jesus calls us hypocrites. "Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye." When Christians live with secret sin, when Christians devour one another in the local assembly, when people hold secret home meetings to destroy individual’s character, when church leaders turn on their pastors and then justify their attitude and actions, and when Christians are morally outraged at selective acts of evil outwardly but fail to deal with personal flaws inwardly, there will be no ability to help others be better. Protecting decadence in self will promote the honoring of decadence in others. When we as Christians begin to judge ourselves then, and only then, will we be in a position to help others.

"Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy" (Matt 5:7). 

There is a great word in the Bible—it is the word eleos meaning mercy. Mercy has been defined as the outward manifestation of pity; it assumes the need on the part of the person who receives it, and resources adequate to meet the need on the part of the one who shares it. According to Ephesians God is rich in mercy. The Bible says, "But God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us. Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ…by grace are ye saved" (Eph 2:4–8).

The Bible teaches that people are born dead in trespasses and sin. There is physical life but no spiritual life. Because there is no spiritual life there is only a state of corruption, suffering, and misery under the avenging justice and terrible wrath of God. This state of spiritual death is a corruption of the heart so that all the powers of man's soul work in opposition to God.

Because he is spiritually dead man's understanding is darkened to the point that he does not know the good but loves a lie. He is utterly void of true wisdom though he has much knowledge. The will of the natural man is perverted so that man does not, and cannot desire and choose for righteousness and holiness in the love of God. All of the inclinations of the natural man are impure and defiled so that he longs for acts of iniquity.

In the hour of final death, the heart of the natural man, instead of being filled with the love of God, is moved by hostility against Him. Following the counsel of Job's wife they curse God and die. This is the terrible state of the natural man, the sinner apart from Christ. He is carnal. His nature is fleshly. The Bible says, "they that are after the flesh, do mind the things of the flesh...for to be carnally minded is death... because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be."

Since man is helpless, hopeless, and defiled by nature and by choice God must show divine pity upon him. In marvelous matchless grace, the Bible reveals that God does indeed set a special love upon the elect. "He loved us," says Paul. "Even when we were dead in sins Christ loved us and He made us alive together with Christ." No one who is the object of Divine mercy can ever earn or deserve it.

The mercy of God reaches out to all mankind—Jew and Gentile, rich and poor, young and old, male and female all know the mercy of God. His mercy is expressed most often in the gifts of life. To be clothed and fed, to be housed and provided for day after day year after year is part of the great mercy of God.

Having been shown mercy, it is a distinguishing mark of a Christian to want to show mercy to others. Mercy can be shown in many ways. Mercy can be expressed by the lips. One poet wrote:

"If any little word of ours,
Can make one life the brighter;
If any little song of ours,
Can make one heart the lighter;
God help us speak that little word,
And take our bit of singing,
And drop it in some lonely vale,
To set the echoes ringing."

From time to time we need to be reminded that: 

A careless word may kindle strife,
A cruel word may wreck a life;
A bitter word may hate instill,
A brutal word may smite and kill;
A gracious word may smooth the way,
A joyous word may light the day;
A timely word may lessen stress,
A loving word may heal and bless.

It is a gracious person who can speak words of mercy to those who are hurting. It is a gospel duty to seek to show mercy to others.

There is a third way mercy can be shown: by disposition. The story is told of an old couple who quarreled so frequently that the whole community knew about it. Suddenly, they stopped their bickering. A neighbor wanted to know why and so approached to ask what had happened. "Two bears did it," said the wife with a twinkle in her eyes. "These two bears are found in the Bible," offered the husband: "Bear ye one another's burdens, and forbearing one another in love."

In order for peace to come into a life, in order for kindness to be expressed, in order for mercy to be genuine, there must be a change in the disposition. The inner person must change. By life, by lip, by disposition the merciful are blessed and become the recipient of divine mercy. This is only proper since mankind receives so much of divine mercy.

Let the people of God show tender compassion and pity towards others. The greatest mercy we can demonstrate is to give out the gospel. What a wonderful gospel we have to share. We can tell others about the gift of eternal life. We can go out and proclaim that the Lord is still rescuing precious souls from the penalty and pollution of sin.

There is one another way we as Christians can demonstrate mercy and that is to minister within the family of God. One day there shall be a final accounting. What a wonderful thing it will be to hear from the Great White Throne the King say, "Come ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was an hungered, and thirsty, and a stranger, and naked, and sick, and in prison, and ye ministered unto me."

Perhaps the Lord has set before you someone to whom you can show mercy. There are people all around who need extra grace like Don Barlette. Barlette was born with major physical handicaps— a nose improperly placed, no upper lip, a gaping hole in the roof of his mouth. His father rejected him. The children in town called him names, laughed, kicked, and spit at him. His first and only friends were the rats in the dump outside of town. But then one day a prominent white woman in the town saw potential in this young Indian boy. She invited him into her home. She taught him to eat in new ways, how to speak for the first time, and how to read. She arranged for corrective plastic surgeries. She told him about a loving heavenly Father. But how could he understand when his own father didn't love him? For years Don rejected the idea of anyone—even God— loving him. And then he discovered the love of Christ. "Jesus Christ helped me," he now says, "to accept myself, my reconstructed nose, my speech impediment and my Indian heritage as I learned how to relate to all people. I learned that there is a time to be born, a time to die, a time to cry, a time to laugh, a time to hate, a time to love and a time to forgive. I began forgiving and I began loving the very people that rejected me." Don Bartlette is able to do this because someone had mercy on him.

The answer to the question: Why has God chosen to save sinners by grace? is easy to answer. It can be said that God saves sinners by grace, because there is no other way for souls to be saved. Sin is the transgression of the Law of God -- who is perfectly just. Infinite justice cannot be satisfied with man's feeble attempts to right the wrong he has committed. His very efforts become another offense. When the serial killer Ted Bundy looked at the parents of an eight-year-old girl he raped and murdered, his very offer of sorrow became an insult. In like manner, the sins committed against a holy and righteous God are of such a despicable magnitude that the very offer of good deeds in recompense is offensive. If there is to be restoration of fellowship between man and God, the initiative must come from the gracious character of the one offended since there is nothing of merit in the offender.

Then second, God has ordained that sinners are to be saved by grace in order that he might have the praise and the glory in salvation (Eph. 1:5, 9). The Bible says, "That we should be to the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in the beloved." God is a jealous God and he will not loose his praise. Nor will God share his glory with another. The only way this can happen is if sinners are saved by grace. Because of the Divine protection of his character and his eternal decree (Eph. 1:3,4; 3:8-11; Rom. 9:23), the greatness of the glory of grace is manifested. We find in grace the attributes of God engaged for us:

His mercy. "For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion" (Rom 9:15).

His wisdom. "In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence" (Eph 1:7-8).

His power. "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time" (1 Pet 1:3-5).

His justice. "Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God" (Rom 3:24-25).

His holiness. "If his children forsake my law, and walk not in my judgments; If they break my statutes, and keep not my commandments; Then will I visit their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes. Nevertheless my loving kindness will I not utterly take from him, nor suffer my faithfulness to fail. My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips. Once have I sworn by my holiness that I will not lie unto David" (Ps 89:30-35).

His care. "Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. There is hardly a limit as to what grace can do for sinners" (1 Pet 5:7).

Grace can take sinners into favor with God who are yet in their natural sins: "I have caused thee to multiply as the bud of the field, and thou hast increased and waxen great, and thou art come to excellent ornaments: thy breasts are fashioned, and thine hair is grown, whereas thou wast naked and bare. Now when I passed by thee, and looked upon thee, behold, thy time was the time of love; and I spread my skirt over thee, and covered thy nakedness: yea, I sware unto thee, and entered into a covenant with thee, saith the Lord GOD, and thou becamest mine" (Ezek 16:7-8).

Grace can make children of those who have been by nature the enemy of God: "As he saith also in Osee, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved. And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God" (Rom 9:25-26). 

Grace can make sinners God's people who were not once God's people: "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy" (1 Pet 2:9-10).

Grace can pardon ungodliness, and justify the wicked by the righteousness of Christ. Grace can lift up those who are down. It can heal those who are wounded and can multiply pardon when there are multiple transgressions. Grace and mercy are everlasting; grace is the delight of God; grace will stand up and shout in joy against judgment; grace, therefore, really is the most safe and secure way of salvation. For man to try to think of another way of salvation is to defy the known will of God.

When Israel tried to follow after the Law, they stumbled and fell. When Christ was offered to Israel in grace, the nation rose up to kill the Son of God. The prophets had taught that this would happen (Rom 9:33). Like Cain of old, man has an insatiable need to try to please God by the energy of the flesh. Men constantly offer to God their own spiritual labors and insist that it please him. When the prophetic Word is declared that such human labors are not acceptable, we become angry. More than one person has swore that if they are not good enough to go to heaven apart from the church, apart from the love of Christ, and apart from gospel duties, they will be damned.

It is grace that awakens the hungry heart to the dangers of eternal hell fire. It is grace that produces tears at the sight of a wounded bleeding Savior. It is grace that makes the conscience tender and moves the heart to pray for mercy and pardon. The final word on this whole matter is that we must be saved by grace or else the main pillars and foundations of salvation are broken up and overthrown.

If man is not saved by grace, divine election becomes a non-choice of God, the new covenant ceases to exist, the death of Christ holds no meaning, and the glory of God is overthrown. But this will never happen. The Bible teaches that what God hath purposed shall stand. "The election of God standeth sure" (Rom. 9:11; 2 Tim. 2:19). The covenant of grace is confirmed. Hebrews 9:16-17 states, "For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. 17 For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth."

Christ, who is the sure foundation is the same "yesterday, today, and forever" (Heb. 8:8). The glory of God shall never be diminished. There is only one will that shall triumph in the universe and that is the will of God. There is only righteousness that shall save a sinner and that is the righteousness of Christ. There is only one covenant that will be honored and that is the covenant of grace.

Because sinners are saved by grace several things happen:

• The fear of failure is vanquished. Martin Luther, when he tried to please God by works, grew to hate God because he realized that he could never please God. Then he discovered that the just shall live by faith.
• The glory of God is manifested. Why should God be God if He is not to be the object of universal and complete adulation.
• There is freedom of soul to think and write, to travel and talk, to create. Grace brings security so that life is not consumed by trying to work our way into heaven.

Every soul must ask itself, "Have I found grace?"

Paul found grace: "And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers. 15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace" (Gal 1:14-15).

• Moses found grace in the sight of the Lord.
• There was grace for incestuous Lot.
• There was grace for murderous David.
• There was grace for Peter after he denied Christ.
• There is grace for the worst of sinners.

But the grace of God must not be abused as Judas did. The grace of God must not be rejected as the thief on the Cross did. The grace of God must be accepted and received by faith. The grace we are to receive is compared to a sea and an open fountain.

Micah 7:19 He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.

Zechariah 13:1 In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness.

The grace we are to receive endureth forever according to twenty-six passages in Psalm 136:

Psalms 136:1 O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth forever.

Psalm 136:2 O give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy endureth forever.

The grace we are to receive can do more than we ask or think.

Ephesians 3:20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.

The grace we are to receive invites us to come boldly in prayer.

Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Let us therefore embrace the gospel truth that salvation is saved by grace alone.

John Grisham is a gifted writer who often presents his personal Christian beliefs through many of his characters and plots. The Testament took his readers to the Brazilian wetlands, into a man’s search for spiritual renewal—a country Grisham knew well after having spent time in Brazil on a mission trip. Many times, he reflects his Christian sentiments in his novels as he presents the transforming power of the gospel of Jesus Christ. He is to be commended for doing that, which is most unusual. While not all of his main characters elicit sympathy, and while some of his language is guttural, Mr. Grisham presents realistic situations that causes a person to think about important moral issues. In his latest novel The Associate, Mr. Grisham raises a very interesting ethical dilemma. Without giving the plot away, a question arises in the narrative whether or not a confession and apology should be offered to someone whom they have harmed if that confession and apology will lead to other lives being ruined. Does a person’s need to find forgiveness and release from the burden of guilt justify the disclosure of facts that if embraced might lead to a jail sentence for self and others? Should one search for reconciliation even if that will only bring heartache and shame for family members who do not know the past?

As a pastor, when faced with these situations, I have counseled that private transgressions should be dealt with privately and public transgressions are to be dealt with publicly. Some situations can be and should be covered by the discretion of silence. If God is pleased to allow a fault to be hidden then let it remain in darkness. This is not to suggest, however, that transgressions are to be covered up but to point out that they can be covered by the blood of Christ—provided one has had genuine repentance, quiet restitution, and has not returned to or repeated the evil (injurious behavior).

In one of his sermons, Charles Spurgeon acknowledged an area of weakness in his personal life. It was not a moral transgression and most people would not have given what he confessed to a second thought. However, Mr. Spurgeon was convicted and the next Sunday he apologized to the congregation saying that he should not have set before them his own private failings. 

In the end, every person must do what he or she believes the Holy Spirit is leading him or her to say and to do. If a moral matter is exposed and the truth is one’s personal guilt, then it should be settled publicly. Today, the world of baseball is reeling with player after player being exposed, not only for the taking of drugs in private, but for lying in public in an attempt to cover-up illicit and unethical behavior. At such times, confession one to another should be made and the consequences embraced without protest. Along with confession, prayer is to be offered one for another so that there can be spiritual healing.

If your heart is burdened with guilt and you need personal help, please write to me for prayer, encouragement and counseling according to gospel terms. I would love to hear from you—because I care.

After Jesus fed the five thousand, he went up on a mountain by himself to pray. No one had joined him. None of his disciples had bothered to stay. Instead, they were in a boat on the Sea of Galilee. During the course of the night, a tumultuous storm arose against their boat causing violent wind and angry waves to toss the diminutive vessel precariously about the water. Jesus witnessed this scene from his position on the mountainside, but he was not alarmed. The Lord was not unduly concerned about his own safety, nor was he frightened for the security of his disciples—after all, he was still sovereign over his creation. Even the elements of the universe were created by him and to be controlled at his command. After moving down the mountain then to the water’s edge, Jesus did not stop there. He placed his holy foot on the water and began to walk. It is here during the narrative that we must pause and make a decision. We can either smile in unbelief, or we can believe that this event actually took place as described in the Bible. If doubt arises, it is not surprising. Even the disciples in the boat could not believe what they were seeing. "It is a ghost!" they cried out, their words reflecting their fears.

The disciples were not only afraid of the "ghost," but were also frightened of the weather. Being experienced fishermen, they knew that more than one boat had been destroyed upon these waters during violent storms such as the one they were encountering. The weather put them in a serious situation. The disciples knew their sailing vessel was no match for the majesty of nature. The disciples were afraid of the weather, and they were afraid of dying. Just imagine the grief of their loved ones back on land. Peter's wife would be expecting his return; the parents of James and John would be concerned about their sons. Now, it seemed as if life would soon end. To compound their fears, the disciples thought they were seeing an apparition. They did not recognize the features of the shadowy form on the water. All they saw was a human image walking steadily towards them. "It is a ghost!" they cried again. It was at that point that the disciples heard a familiar sound. It was the voice of Jesus. As he drew near the boat, the Lord called out, "Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid." With these simple words, Jesus changed the dynamics of the whole situation. "Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid." Two commands can be gleaned from his words.

The first command is, "Take heart" or "Be of good cheer." Most people who find themselves in a distressing situation do not like to be told to "cheer up." There can be an emotional rejection of such counsel. In the midst of some very real problems, the command of Christ to the disciples could have seemed almost out of touch with reality. "LORD, do you not understand the desperate condition we are now in? LORD, look around. This boat is too small. The waves are too high. If the water does not drown us, the pounding waves will dash this structure to pieces."

The experience of the disciples is the experience of all God's people. We find ourselves overwhelmed with the circumstances of life, which are beyond our control. An unexpected injury, the finances are suddenly cut short, relationships fall apart, a promotion or position we wanted does not materialize and suddenly it seems that we are ready to perish.

We look up and see only dark clouds. We look around and see violent forces engulfing with a fixed determination to destroy everything in its path. We listen and hear only the howling of the wind. Faith flees, and fear takes control. What is to be done? Out of the blowing winds, if we listen, we can hear the Divine voice of Christ calling out, "Be of good cheer! Be of good cheer!" But is this really possible? It is not only possible, it is the command of the Lord.

The second command is, "Do not be afraid!" Fear was not part of the original creation. When Adam and Eve were created and placed in the Garden of Eden, they did not fear the Lord. They walked with him in sweet fellowship each day in the cool of the evening. Nor did Adam and Eve fear the animals. The magnificent display of reptiles and mammals brought them delight. But then came sin and with sin all of nature was changed. Fear became part of the human experience. Sin still brings fear into our hearts today. We are afraid of many things. Sometimes we are afraid of each other. While being socially polite we are afraid to speak freely and truthfully. Special relationships are never formed or they become broken, because we are afraid to talk about the things that burden our hearts. Sometimes we are afraid of losing things. God has given gifts and resources. He has blessed us and then we become afraid that it will be taken away. We are familiar with the trials of Job and do not want to experience what he had to endure.

Sometimes we are afraid of the future. We do not see how the bills can be paid. We do not know from where the resources are going to come. We plan many things, but our imagination only produces more emotions of fear. To these fearful hearts of ours the Lord says again, "Do not be afraid." There is a reason. There is a reason why Christians should be of good cheer and should not be afraid even in the midst of the storms of life. The reason is that we are not alone. Jesus himself is with us, just as the hymn-writer beautifully described in the song Never Alone. We can disobey the Lord and refuse to be of good cheer. We can disobey the Lord and cling to our fears. Or we can rejoice because we really believe there is the divine power and presence of Jesus. Despite the storms of life, Jesus has come to bring peace to our hearts and to bring calmness to our situations.