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How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed ? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard ? and how shall they hear without a preacher ? – Romans 10:14

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For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. – Romans 1:16

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Regarding Lordship Salvation - Comments (0)

Category: Articles,Doctrine
Author: Jerod Santo
Date: 15th January, 2024 @ 04:21:19 PM

You can listen to an audio version of this article on our Enjoy The Bible podcast:

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I recently heard a message from a radio preacher who answers questions from callers like this one:

It’s gonna be Randy from Dallas, Texas. Randy. Welcome.
What is lordship salvation? And what do you think of it? And I’ll hang up and listen to the radio.
Ok. Lordship salvation is just biblical salvation…

What follows is a common but well articulated defense of Lordship Salvation. Well, actually more of an attack on free grace than a defense of Lordship Salvation. I don’t think it’s a particularly good attack… it’s difficult to attack the truth… but like I said it was well articulated by a skilled orator so I thought I’d provide a response in defense of the truth: salvation by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. And not of works, lest any man should boast.

Let’s get in to it.

Lordship salvation is just biblical salvation. But it has been labeled that as a pejorative by one group of theologians. It’s a very modern theological system. It just arose in the last 200 years. Prior to that all salvation in the Bible was seen as lordship salvation.

But a group called the dispensationalists arose who say no salvation is not, does not involve Christ’s lordship. And if you teach that it does, then you’re preaching a false gospel.

Let’s pause here for a brief moment. This refrain is parroted all too commonly by those who want to discredit dispensational thinking as if it’s some new idea invented by a witch and popularized by John Nelson Darby in the 1800s. It’s not. I don’t believe the Apostle Paul had even been acquainted with Darby when he wrote in the book of Ephesians about the dispensation committed to him, which implies the one prior, and the dispensation of the fulness of times, which is yet to come.

And if it’s good enough for the Apostle Paul, it’s good enough for me. But let’s get more into the meat of this Lordship argument.

Well, the truth is, of course, any gospel that says that it doesn’t involve Christ’s Lordship is itself a false gospel. What lordship salvation refers to when these people use that term is saying that if you embrace Christ as your Lord, you will be saved. If you do not embrace Christ as your Lord, you’ll not be saved.

This is a fuzzy representation of the Lordship doctrine, because it depends on what he means when he says ’embrace Christ as your Lord.’ If by ’embrace’ he means believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and yes Lord is part of that, then that isn’t Lordship Salvation: that’s good ole’ fashion Biblical salvation that comes by grace through faith.

But if by ’embrace Christ as your Lord’ he means serve Christ as your Lord and then you’ll be saved… that’s the Lordship doctrine and that’s works-based salvation and that’s no good news for any of us.

When the Philippians jailor asked Paul and Silas, what must I do to be saved? He said, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you’ll be saved.

Well, Lord means Lord and Christ means anointed king.

Small nitpick: Christ means anointed one, not anointed king. Kings aren’t the only ones anointed. Aaron the high priest, for instance, was Christed as well.

So I mean, you have to, you have to embrace Christ as king. Now, the fact they said “believe on” Some people say, well, no, anyone who just believes in that Jesus existed meet those qualifications.

No, no, you have to believe he’s your Lord. You have to believe he’s the king. You have to… believing here is far more than just mentally assessing to it.

This is a straw man. He asserts that his opponents, the free grace dispensationalists, hold a position that they do not hold. How do I know this? I _am_ a free grace dispensationalist and I do not believe, nor does the Bible teach, that ‘anyone who just believes that Jesus existed meets those qualifications.’

Believing that Jesus existed puts you in the mainstream belief of all humanity ever since the books were written about him. Even most atheists believe that Jesus Christ existed. When Paul and Silas told the Philippian jailor that if he would believe in the Lord Jesus Christ then he would be saved, they followed that up with more information. As it says in the following verse, “then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house.” (Acts 16:32)

What is the word of the Lord that was the primary focus of Paul’s missionary journeys? It was the resurrection of Jesus Christ and all that extends from it. Not that the man existed, but that he was declared to be the Son of God with power by the resurrection out from the dead (Rom 1:4). An act, by the way, that no man in history has been able to accomplish by his own hand before or after Jesus Christ accomplished it.

What they did not say to the jailor in that crucial evangelical moment recorded in the scriptures for all history: was “make Jesus Christ the Lord of your life and you shall be saved.”

The devil mentally recognizes that Jesus is Lord and king, but he doesn’t, doesn’t embrace that. He doesn’t, you know, submit himself to that. You can’t believe that somebody is a king and think that it’s ok for you to rebel against him.

Straw man! Whose position says that, “it’s ok for you to rebel against the Lord Jesus Christ?” I don’t hold that position. I don’t think it’s “ok” just like I don’t think it’s “ok” to sin. Neither did Paul, despite those who slanderously reported that he did (Rom 3:7).

And when it comes to kings, there’s only two ways you can react, you can rebel or you can submit a king by definition owns you, or at least the Lord, a lord owns his servants. A king has rightful command over you. And anyone who recognizes that there’s a Lord, that they have a Lord, then that person is a servant.

That’s why Jesus said, “Why do you call me Lord, Lord… And you don’t do what I say?”

It doesn’t make sense. If I’m your Lord, you’re my servant. Why don’t you obey?

On this point we agree! It doesn’t make any sense to confess that someone is your Lord and to not actually serve that person in your life. And yet all Christians have lived out this very contradiction. O wretched men that we are!

If you called Jesus Christ, which means king

No it doesn’t, it means anointed savior.

Why then would you not see an obligation to obey a king? And what is anything other than obedience to a king, but rebellion?

You’re not saved when you’re in rebellion against God and against Christ. That’s the very thing that makes people not saved. And what makes people saved is they stop being in rebellion against him and they embrace him in that role happily by faith.

And that’s salvation.

Here we begin to see how shaky this line of reasoning is. You’re not saved when you’re in rebellion against God, but you are saved when you embrace him in that role? So on good days when I’m serving the Lord… I’m saved? And on bad days when I’m serving sin instead… I’m not saved?

And does he also think that every person who is subject to a king or Lord is at all times embracing him in that role happily? My children believe that I’m their dad. They believe that I’m in charge in our house _and_ they believe that they should obey me. Does that snuff out every rebellion of their heart before it hits their lips, or worse, their deeds?

A rebellious child is still your child. Your approval of that child, your association to the child, your judgment of that child are all at stake when they rebel. But the familial relationship is not.

John 10:27 says,

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.”

No man can pluck you out of your father’s hand. Not even yourself.

Likewise, a disobedient servant is still the Lord’s servant. His approval of that servant, his association to that servant, his judgment of that servant are all at stake when they disobey, but the Lord never calls his servants his enemies. He calls them what they are: wicked servants.

The Bible never separates salvation from the lordship of Jesus Christ. Now, the problem these people have is they want salvation to require nothing of the sinner. They want to just say, you know, just believing is all it takes. Anything else is works that if you have to do anything else, it’s works.

Well, where in the Bible does it say we’re not supposed to do good works?

At this point the speaker shows his arguments aren’t merely bad, they’re presented in bad-faith. And the audacity he will display in a moment when he turns to Ephesians 2 to back up this bad-faith ‘good works’ argument is outright offensive.

I mean in Ephesians 2:8 and 9, it says by faith, you have been by grace, you’ve been saved through faith and that not of yourselves. It is the gift of God, not of works lest any man should boast.

But it says, for you are created in Christ, Jesus unto good works or for good works, which has foreordained that you would walk in. And this is what the whole Bible teaches that we were saved to do good works.

How you can, in the same breath, quote the Bible saying you are saved by grace through faith and not by works… and just cruise right past that fact as if it’s a nothing to the part about good works… well, it’s astonishing. It’s agonizing, really, and it does despite to the gospel.

Of course we are created in Christ Jesus unto good works. We are born from above, by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and our purpose in that family is to do good works well pleasing to God. But the works follow the faith, and not necessarily as is evidenced by the life of Lot.

Lot, Abraham’s nephew, found the exact same imputed righteousness that Abraham did. The exact same righteousness that is described in Romans 4 when it says:

“For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.”

That’s how salvation came to Abraham, that’s how salvation came to Lot, and that’s how salvation comes to all people at all times. The difference between Abraham and Lot, though, is that Abraham lived his life by faith and Lot lived his life by sight.

There isn’t a single documented good work that Lot did in all the Scriptures. He was dragged out of Sodom kicking and screaming. He lost his wife and his kids to the world. He lived his final days in shame in a cave. And he begot, by his own daughters, two people groups that were perpetual enemies of God’s chosen ones.

There is on possible way that you can, with a straight face, claim that Lot served Christ as King and Lord.

And yet, because God’s grace comes by faith alone… and not of works! Lot is called just. Lot is called righteous. 2nd Peter 2 says that God,

“turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly; And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)”

Both Abraham and Lot received the gift of God by grace through faith. Both of them were declared righteous by God. He counted their faith to them as righteousness. Both of them were created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God had before ordained that they should walk in them.

Abraham walked in those good works and he received an accolade for it. He was called the Friend of God. Lot did not walk in his good works and he suffered loss.

As it says in 1st Corinthians 3:

“Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.”

Lordship Salvation is a prime example of God’s servants failing to do what we’re exhorted to do in 2nd Timothy 2:15, where it says: “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

Lumping together the Bible’s teaching about the free gift of God that comes by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone with the Bible’s distinctly different (and entirely additive) teaching about serving the Lord Jesus Christ by walking in the works that he has prepared for us is a grave error and does immense damage to the body of Christ.

Don’t fall pray to Lordship Salvation teaching. Don’t let the assurance of your salvation, that you received by the grace of God and not by works, be destroyed by men who wrestle with the scriptures and by their own works-based salvation logic, must conclude Lot to be unsaved when the scriptures clearly and boldly calls him righteous.

There is a doctrine of good works for us Christians, but it’s not Lordship Salvation.

Good Words from John Malone’s Funeral - Comments (0)

Category: My Life
Author: Jerod Santo
Date: 21st March, 2021 @ 07:27:18 PM

This special episode of the Enjoy The Bible podcast includes the eulogy and gospel message given at John Malone’s memorial service on Saturday March 6th, 2021.

John J. (Joseph) Malone, Sr.: March 15, 1951 – March 1, 2021 - Comments (3)

Category: My Life
Author: Jerod Santo
Date: 5th March, 2021 @ 01:42:13 PM

John was born in Omaha, Nebraska, on March 15, 1951. He went home to be with the Lord on March 1st, 2021 at age 69, in his home surrounded by family and friends, almost too many to count. There were tears and laughter, goodbyes, the singing of hymns throughout the night, hugs, and comfort. It’s the way he wanted it.

Soon after believing in the Lord Jesus Christ as his Savior by faith alone at the age of 24, John knew that God had called him to the ministry. He spent the rest of his life preaching and teaching the Word of God. He could be found downtown on street corners in Omaha, in his local church, overseas in Kenya and other places, and on radio programs and podcasts.

John met his wife, Karen, in Canton, Ohio in 1984 and they were married the next year. He accepted her four children as his own and they soon moved back to his hometown of Omaha where he had several successful business endeavors. In their later years, John and Karen were able to enjoy travelling to many parts of the world together.

With Karen helping, John structured his life, work and home around the ministry of the Word of God and his family. He worked to share the Gospel and bring the truth and power of the Word of God to many throughout his life. John’s love of family extended to his church family. Virtually every weekend his home was open to not only his grandchildren and family, but brothers and sisters in Christ, who were all welcome to enjoy food and fellowship together.

Preceded in death by his beloved wife Karen, parents Edward J. and Josephine, and brother Steven. He is survived by brother Edward J. (Elaine) II, sister Mary Jo (Thomas) Hines, children Stephanie (Bob) Miszuk, Kevin (Katie) Mercer, Jeff (Melanie) Malone, Melanie (Dan) Backens, 39 grandchildren, and 6 (soon to be 8) great grandchildren.

John believed that the work of the ministry was more important than any title, and wanted his epitaph to simply be JABSBG – Just a Brother, Saved by Grace.

Memorial service will be Saturday at 2pm at Nebraska Christian College 12550 S 114th St, Papillion, NE followed by graveside service at Voss Mohr Cemetery near 138th and Harrison. Friends and family are invited back to Nebraska Christian College to enjoy food, fellowship and memories together after the service.

“A Mystery.” - Comments (3)

Category: Articles
Author: John Malone
Date: 14th March, 2018 @ 08:39:53 AM

There are many mysteries in Scripture. Just remember that a “mystery” is a secret, and a disclosed secret at that.

Look at one of them, from Matthew 13, the key chapter to the key book of the New Testament, where seven mysteries line up.

Matthew 13:44
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.”

This secret is 5th in a sequence of seven, the purpose of this writing is not the systematic teaching of these seven that each disclose a secret in the unfolding of the kingdom of the heavens.

(For that full treatment, see the free audio messages.

But here we have:
– a hidden treasure,
– a field
– a man who finds & hides the treasure
– who, for joy, sells ALL
who buys THE FIELD.

When we think of a treasure hidden in a field, for which a man buys the field, paying a precious price, our minds may well run to the instance of the death of Sarah, and the dealings around that death by Abraham.

The transaction we are looking at is the purchase by Abraham of a chosen field, owned by Ephron of Zohar of the children of Heth, in which was the cave of Machpelah.

This transaction covers the entire chapter 23 of Genesis, and is well worth reading.

Yet it isn’t until chapter 49 of Genesis, well beyond Abraham’s own death, that the significance of that purchase is known, in the words of Joseph, Abraham’s great grandson, the favorite son of Jacob:

Genesis 49:29-32
“And he (Jacob) charged them, and said unto them, I am to be gathered unto my people: bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite,

In the cave that is in the field of Machpelah, which is before Mamre, in the land of Canaan, which Abraham bought with the field of Ephron the Hittite for a possession of a burying place.

There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife; there they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife; and there I buried Leah.

The purchase of the field and of the cave that is therein was from the children of Heth.”

Especially look at v. 31 which described who is buried in that cave:
I-saac
S-arah
R-ebekah
A-braham
L-eah
And lastly, Israel himself, whose name was formed by the acrostic.

The name of Israel himself hidden in that cave, as it were, a treasure – Israel – hidden in the field, which, as the previous (2nd) parable clearly taught, is the world.

This makes Abraham a type of Jesus Christ in his purchase, as Jesus Christ is the man Who “sold all he had” at the cross, and purchased the field – the world – in order to secure for himself his special treasure, Israel.

By the way, not that nation over there today, formed and abiding in unbelief. When Jesus Christ hides his treasure, it remains hidden.

Herein, we learn one of the secrets of the kingdom of the heavens, and it is concerning Israel.

Today, the Israel of God is a remnant “according to the election of grace (Romans 11:5),” hidden in the )field) world so that it will survive.

Today is yet the day of grace where God commands all men everywhere – Jew and Gentile alike – to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.

My Wife Karen - Comments (4)

Category: Articles,My Life
Author: John Malone
Date: 11th February, 2018 @ 06:55:19 PM

Ephesians 5:25
“Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it “

As a Christian in a local church, I suppose one can take for granted the love Christ has for his assembly, continually giving His wonderful blessings.

Such love is above and beyond His and our Father’s love for the world.

In Jesus Christ, you find One Who always loves you better.

And it is a blessed man who finds a woman who always loves you more, always loves you better. Karen always loved me better, and no one ever loved me as much.

I could speak of my love for her. It is measured by my broken heart today. I am loving the thoughts I have of her as I write this.

But she always loved me better. And if you were close enough to her, you discovered she loved you better, too.

Karen was a spring of life and happiness. Though she could no longer bear, she still gave herself to continual motherhood, becoming a grandmother before age 40, and still nurturing her children and many, many grandchildren to her final hours.

Karen was a person who constantly thought of others, and who moved my mind to follow along in her giving ways. She arranged herself for the benefit of others. This is the very definition of kindness.

Karen was kind to a fault. She even provided food for squirrels & rabbits & birds. And cats.

But her lap was always open to the many children who carry her traits.

Karen never wanted things. Except for the kids and their kids. She believed we were a wasteful society. Therefore, she was going to privately non-conform. When it came to things for us, I was the one pulling her into any spending.

Karen did some things you probably don’t know about.

She was the first Nebraska “Home School Grandma,” graduating from homeschool our oldest granddaughter, mom being a homeschool graduate.

Karen also founded the Warrior sports program. She never wanted that credit, but I wanted it for her. You see, that is how she was, so modest.

I took Karen out of that program, and other such life endeavors, because I needed her in our Africa adventures.

Without ever wanting it, Karen enjoyed a life of true adventure, always inside the faith. She visited China, spending weeks in fabulous places, in 1991.

She enjoyed a spectacular visit to the UAE, hosted especially by an oil sheik and the Regional Chef of the Intercontinental Hotels.

Karen sparkled in such settings. So pretty!

In Kenya, East Africa, Karen and I found especially romantic places, together with some difficult and hard work.

But we always took time to revisit a special and simple place called the Kentmere Club, just as we – with me pulling her – visited the fabulous Mount Kenya Safari Club, the ‘Ol Pejeta Ranch, Sweetwater Tented Camp, and even a tent on sticks in the midst of the waters of Lake Naivasha, amongst hundreds of hippos. We rode an ATV together through the Masai Mara, and saw each of the Big Five game animals.

Karen’s favorite adventure times were riding: once on a horse in the midst of so many animals, including elephants, and another time she rode a camel.

My wife Karen was an exciting woman, I can certify, and she thrilled me to my bones. The thoughts of these amazing rendezvous we arranged in our lives are both keeping me from and making me cry.

I realize the Scriptures teach is to “judge not.” And to “judge nothing before the time.”

But please allow me to reflect.

Because I have written about a few things out of an entire life, and even then only a slight reference.

Karen’s life was marked by much sorrow. She just took it so well that she wouldn’t let it bother anyone else. She actually called me to cheer me up in 2007 when she discovered she had the cancer that finally killed her.

She suffered in very many ways often at the hands of physicians.

This was part of the way of the cross in Karen’s life. That way that we don’t like to talk about.

She didn’t talk about it either. “I’m not a whiner,” she would say. On her death bed, she saw me in tears. “Don’t be a wimp,” she said, “You have to hold everything together.”

Because the glue of our amazing family was leaving us.

So my assessment is not what matters, the Lord will judge us all at the judgment seat of Christ, and that’s where I’ll see and be with Karen, and most likely some of you.

But in my assessment, Karen’s was a triumphant life, one well-lived because she loved us so well.

Good night, lover.

What’s Wrong with this Picture? - Comments (1)

Category: Articles
Author: John Malone
Date: 5th October, 2015 @ 02:42:26 AM

At first look, nothing wrong, it’s attractive.

It’s pretty. Perhaps inspiring.
Certainly it is intended to bring one’s thought to the empty tomb of Jesus Christ, and therefore to remind one of His resurrection out from the dead, by which he was declared to be the {Son of God with power.|Rom 1:4}

The problem with the picture is its inconsistency with the Scriptural account of Jesus empty tomb as presented to Peter and John, described in the Gospel  of John.

In John 19:40, we read, “Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury.

We need to inspect the phrase “wound it in linen.” We should understand the process for the burial was to take strips of linen, dip them in the mixture of myrrh and aloes customarily used for burial by the Jews, and then wind the limbs and torso of the dead.

There was a cocoon shell encasing the dead body.

In the case of Jesus’ burial, the compound of myrrh and aloes {weighed about 100 pounds |Jo 19:39}. The linen, becomes very heavy when soaked in the “spices” used for the burial.

In the account of the entrance of Peter and John to the empty tomb of Jesus, the supposed picture of which is above, they saw nothing like it.

Here is the compelling account (John 20:3-8)

3 Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre.

4 So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre.

5 And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in.

6 Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie,

7 And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself.

8 Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed.

John, referring to himself in third person, says in verse 8 that what he saw caused him to believe. The translation here – “linen clothes lying” – obscures what he saw.  That translation probably causes the artist of the picture above to get this wrong.What the speedier of the two apostles – not necessarily younger – saw first was the grave clothes as they were. That is, he saw them in the cocoon shape, yet empty, and the soudarion (napkin) that was previously draped over the windings folded neatly in a separate place.

The evidence John saw was persuasive. Jesus had passed through the shell of the grave clothes, unlike Lazarus, who came from his tomb yet bound in them, the {soudarion binding his face.|Jo 11:44}

Unlike Lazarus – raised by Jesus – no one needed to cut him loose from the clothes or the face wrap.

Here was powerful enough evidence for two of the “pillar” apostles to believe in Jesus’ bodily resurrection.

Social Oppression, Truth Suppression At Applebee’s. - Comments (1)

Category: Articles
Author: John Malone
Date: 14th August, 2015 @ 11:57:27 PM

Romans 1:18
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness;

So, Village Inn closed down temporarily, and I suggested Applebee’s for after the Wednesday night Bible study. No free pie, but half-priced appetizers.

Two of my grandsons and their friend – ever the hungry teenagers – decided to go, too.

While we are chomping down cheeseburger sliders and boneless wings, the boys are ordering three full appetizers each across the restaurant.

There were two men in their mid-twenties – let’s call them Matt and Chris – seated at the table adjacent to my grandsons, and their friend. Let’s call him Jay.

Matt and Chris, speaking loudly enough to be easily overheard, were discussing what the boys thought were unsavory things. Jay decided to engage them about their comments.

One thing led to another, and Jay sat down to talk to Matt and Chris, mainly Chris. Jay took up the subject of the free gift of God of eternal life by grace alone through faith alone in Jesus Christ alone. Interestingly and importantly, he did not take up the subject of homosexual sin, a practice which both Matt and Chris had been discussing openly.

Chris became quite interested in his discussion with Jay, while Matt apparently listened with his back turned: at one point Matt said, “If God is coming back soon, I’m in trouble.” The waitress for both tables apparently took a hostile interest in the polite conversation between the two that was taking place. She found ways to “hang around” the tables. At one point, she asked the older fellows, Chris and Matt, if they were being bothered. They did not say they wee, probably to her chagrin.

At one point, Chris said to Jay, “You have a lot of courage speaking up as you are. Most people wouldn’t do it. I respect you for that.” Later, the waitress would claim that Chris had tears in his eyes. There is a later to this story.

The Manager at Applebee’s – let’s call him Manager Chris – came over to Jay and asked him to quit speaking to the other fellows. Jay asked him why, and told him no one had any complaint. Despite being a teenager, and Manager Chris being somewhere in his mid to late thirties, Jay said he felt he held authority in the exchange.

At that point, Chris and Matt decided to leave without dessert.

I learned of this incident later, when the boys cam to our table across the way, told us about it briefly, and went their way. The details I have described above I got later.

I only knew that the boys had been asked by Manager Chris to stop their discussion when I went to take the matter up with him in person. He came out, we shook hands, and when I began to ask him why he felt compelled to break up a conversation between two will customers, he said that Matt had come to him complaining that they were being bothered. I have reason today to doubt that ever happened. In fact, after reflecting on the vents I’v yet to describe, I’m pretty sure the “complaint” came from the waitress the boys generously tipped!

I conclude this today, because, as I was discussing why Manager Chris decided to do what he did, two waitresses decide to hover around our conversation, just as one of them decided to hover around the one jay was having.

And she just couldn’t keep her mouth shut. “This is just gender discrimination!” she said angrily. I said, “Gender discrimination? How is that possible? They were all men?” Then she said something that, I guess, I am supposed to think about. “Two of those guys were homosexuals,” she said. So, apparently, to this generation of “Millennial,” there has become a proliferation of “genders.” No more can one treat a homosexual as a man, I suppose no longer can one treat a lesbian as a woman.

I answered her that she needed to believe on Jesus Christ. Somewhat to my surprise, as she nearly ran away, she threw back at me, “I do.” This could be, for no one is as much trouble as an apostate. No one.

And apparently, no longer can a manager at a chain restaurant regulate the rude conduct of his employees, but CAN regulate the polite conduct of his patrons.

I asked Chris if the subject matter of the conversation entered into his decision to break it up. He wouldn’t answer. He had such an obviously bad conscience, he almost couldn’t answer. I did tell him he would be judged by God Almighty for what he had done, and that i was pretty sure he knew that.

It was this very same employee, the waitress, who, while I was discussing this matter with Manager Chris, told her associate in the hearing of another patron, one of my friends, that “no matter what their attitude is, they (me and my table) need to get their #&%@ing %$#es out of here.”

I came back in to tell Manager Chris about this remark, and as I left, fielded insulting remarks from other employees.

I at once pity and am envious of what faces today’s youngest generation of Christians. On the one hand, they are facing persecution on every side, even as patrons in a restaurant.

On the other hand, there is this:

1st Peter 4:13-14
But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you:on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.