I know, I know.  What an arrogant question for a Christian to pose regarding a book he’s written, but please let me explain, and let me begin that explanation by saying that I love and revere the Bible above all things written, and forever will.

As I write this, I’m on the cusp of having spent 30 years teaching verse-by-verse through God’s inspired and perfect Word, and have spent nearly that many years shepherding His people, hopefully (as is said of King David), with integrity of heart.  Yet I must admit to a sadness, especially as it relates to the United States of America, and it is this: Despite the fact that there are tens of millions of born-again Believers in this country with full access to the levers that guide the Republic (voting, free speech, etc.), Darkness is positively steamrolling Light and Truth on a cultural and societal basis.

It’s one thing for lost humanity to pursue that Darkness, which includes the thievery and rot of socialism, the corrupting influence of open borders, sexual deviance and perversion, abortion, destruction of marriage and the nuclear family, a disgust for law and order, the love of anarchy, deranged environmental totalitarianism, etc.  It’s natural for the lost to do so.  It is, however, an entirely different thing that those who profess to be reborn of heaven’s Light join the lost in pursuing such ideas and ideals.  Yet since all of this thievery, rot and corruption is occurring despite the fact that if Christians voted and acted as a unified group it would barely exist at all in this nation (on a normative basis, at least), it’s obvious that true Biblical values aren’t being pursued as they should be in our midst.

Let’s take a quick look into both the problems and the solutions.

Problem 1: Ignorance and/or Apathy

This is the worst-case scenario.  I often teach, and sadly even personally tell folks from time-to-time, that if you’ve been a Christian for years or decades and don’t know what God’s Word says regarding human government, human sexuality, marriage, abortion, borders, the environment, etc., then you’re not paying attention.  I don’t question their salvation (only God is in a position to do so), but I do question their discipleship.  Either they’re not studying their Bible, or they don’t want to believe what it says about issues that may bring them into conflict with the world around them.  Sad in either case.

Problem 2: Not Knowing How to Be Involved in Human Affairs

This is far more common an issue, and it affects pastors and congregants alike.  It’s typically linked to what I call the gospel-only or Jesus-only method of ministry or outlook on life and planet Earth, and ultimately derives its source from a combination of (among others) the Great Commission: And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:18-20 ESV), 1 Corinthians 2:2: For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified (ESV), and 1 Corinthians 1:23,24 …but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God (ESV).

Are these inspired words?  Yes.  Are these good and noble principles for God’s people?  Absolutely.  Are they, though, the sum total of what “church” and Christian ministry should be about?  Definitely not.

Solution 1: Humanity’s Original Commission

As much as I love the Great Commission and have dedicated my life and ministry to it, it isn’t the only commission we receive from God in Scripture.  In fact, there is a far more ancient commission given to all of humanity found in the Genesis account of Creation, and it’s the commission given to us to be good stewards of this planet we’ve inherited.  And since Christians still qualify as human beings, it means that we’re still held accountable by God for this commission.

Let’s take a look at that commission, which is found in Genesis 1:26-28, but which is nicely summarized in Genesis 1:26 itself: Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth” (ESV).  Simply put, the affairs of Earth are human affairs, and we as Christians aren’t excused from them.  And it is the Image of God itself (and not necessarily the Gospel) that should guide us in such affairs.

Solution 2: UNGOD, Christianity’s Rosetta Stone for Involvement in World Affairs

As we’ve just seen from Genesis 1:26, the first mention of humanity in Scripture was done in conjunction with the first mention of the Image of God in Scripture, which was done in conjunction with the first mention of earthly stewardship in Scripture.  This means that appropriate earthly stewardship is tied directly to the Image of God itself, and by earthly stewardship I don’t necessarily mean things like caring for plants, land and animals, or solar and wind versus fossil fuels, electric vehicles versus combustion engine vehicles, etc.  Simply put, planet Earth is better off when the Image of God survives and even thrives upon it, and is worse off when the Image of God is waning or is even driven into extinction upon it.  So then, what actually is the Image of God?

This is where UNGOD: Humanity’s Glorious Struggle with Hell over the Image of God comes to the rescue.  Within its pages the idea of the Image of God is defined as perhaps never before in a marvelous way that unlocks the Christian’s ability to involve himself/herself in the affairs of this world with absolute confidence.  Structured in 4 sections focusing on how the Image of God interacts with (1) being a human being, (2) the idea of family, (3) the issue of culture and society and (4) the issue of human government, each section details 7 battlefields with Hell over the Image of God and how we can emerge victorious in such battles, resulting in a world in which the Image of God flourishes more and more.  For the Christian looking to make a difference in all areas of life on planet Earth, UNGOD is the Rosetta Stone for such involvement.

As such, it’s a fantastic book for use in either personal or group discipleship, and is instrumental in helping develop a truly Biblical worldview.

Purchasing UNGOD

UNGOD has just been published by the great folks at Equip Press, and is available in paperback and e-book at the major online retailers:

            Amazon

            Barnes & Noble

Additionally, there are 2 ways to purchase a signed copy, if so desired:

1. You can Venmo me at Nuclear Pastor LLC (@nuclearpastorllc) at $20 per copy, and I’ll mail you a signed copy directly.  If you do so, please also email me your name and address to nuclearpastor@gmail.com along with the Venmo payment so that I know where to send your copy/copies
2. If you happen to be in the Tyler, Texas area, please reach out to me via email for a signed copy at $15.00

For questions, interviews or to schedule a teaching engagement, please email me at nuclearpastor@gmail.com.

Author’s Note: There is an older version of the book (UNGOD: Unmasking the Dark Image of Hell) that is out of print through the now-failed enterprise of Dog Ear Publishing.  My grandsons call this the “Scary Man Book” due to the cover art.  I wholeheartedly recommend the newer version since it’s a far superior manuscript, and is the product of a further decade both of the softening grace of God in my life and of much wonderful input from its dedicated readers over that same period of time.

Thanks and God bless.

Defend the Image!

Pastor Barry