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Words of Wisdom Articles are mini articles that have been printed in the Oneida, TN, Independent Herald newspaper since September 2019. “Words of Wisdom” is published online weekly and available on: https://www.indherald.com/p/words-of-wisdom.

This week’s contribution is Take It To the Streets from July 3, 2025. 

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Words of Wisdom Articles are mini articles that have been printed in the Oneida, TN, Independent Herald newspaper since September 2019. “Words of Wisdom” is published online weekly and available on: https://www.indherald.com/p/words-of-wisdom.

This week’s contribution is Critical Race Theory from September 3, 2024. 

Please use the tags below as an Index for my entire website content.

Words of Wisdom Articles are mini articles that have been printed in the Oneida, TN, Independent Herald newspaper since September 2019. “Words of Wisdom” is published online weekly and available on: www.ihoneida.com/words-of-wisdom/ . This week's contribution is Equal Pay for Equal Work for November 14, 2022. 

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My Proverbs Commentary continues with Commentary Segment #118: Hurtful Holidays? focusing on Proverbs 17:1. It is now available in Studies in the Book of Proverbs.

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Jesus said: "Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses" (Luke 12:15). Envy and covetousness exist when those who “have not” train their eyes on what others “have,” desiring to obtain it by evil means, then we have an example of what God calls “covetousness,” which is idolatry (Colossians 3:5). Satisfaction with what we “have” comes from trusting God to be in charge: “Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you’" (Hebrews 13:5). When the “poor” are encouraged to covet what the “rich” have, they become “robbing hoods,” whether or not they are members of a political party, street thugs, labor union, man-made religion, or underworld brotherhood! - February 1, 2021

Please find this and other mini articles in Words of Wisdom Articles.

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In light of the 2020 chaos, my commentary segment #183: Don't Cross Flooding Water! centres on Proverbs 27:4 and its admonition regarding anger. The complete commentary, as well as the series of segments, are available on Studies in the Book of Proverbs.

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QUESTION: What has caused so much rioting?

REPLY: What began as peaceful protests were commandeered by paid, organized gangsters who steered the crowd into a vicious riot. After days of destruction and stealing from businesses (both large and small!) in many American cities, the question comes back: Why? 

1) According to the political doctrine of Karl Marxism, all humanity is divided economically along lines of the “haves” and the “have-nots.” Everything Communists say and do will emphasize this distinction and magnify “class envy.” Jesus identified one man’s “class envy” of his brother’s inheritance as “covetousness,” which He then condemned (Luke 12:13-21; Galatians 5:19-21). The only “solutions” Communists offer and encourage the “have-nots” to use are violence, rioting, and bloodshed, the very sort of things Barabbas had engaged in (Mark 15:6-7; Luke 23:18-19; John 18:40). And, as in the case with Barabbas, governments, as represented in Pilate, seem to want Barabbas’ on their streets rather than those who preach and teach Jesus Christ! 

2) According to the Gospel viewpoint, however, Jesus Christ came to give His life a “ransom for many” (Matthew 26:26-29), and this Gospel should be preached to “every creature” (Mark 16:15-16), of every “skin color.” Not until one has been “buried with Him through baptism into death” (Romans 6:3-5) can salvation occur and service to Christ begin. In serving the Lord Christ, those Christians who are “rich in this present age” should trust in God, not material wealth, and learn to “do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share” (1 Timothy 6:17-19). However, those Christians who suffer “in deep poverty” should also “abound in the riches of their liberality” because they, too, should first give themselves to the Lord (2 Corinthians 8:1-5). According to 2 Corinthians 9:6-11, God’s grace will supply our needs when we supply our possessions for His use!

For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have. (2 Corinthians 8:12)

Christians do not mourn over what they do not have, nor become prideful in what they do have, because what one has or doesn’t have is not as important as each one’s willingness to serve God! In the churches of Christ, therefore, “class envy” (a.k.a. “covetousness”) should not exist! Certainly rioting, violence, and bloodshed are no part of the solution for a Christian. Those who follow the Marxist/ Communist doctrine become criminal to any society seeking to abide by godly principles. “Preach the word” (2 Timothy 3:16-4:4), even to Marxists/ Communists and all those they use for their evil purposes, for “if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch” (Matthew 15:14).

- John T Polk II, June 7, 2020

More Bible based responses are available on my Questions Answered page.

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Please find my Words of Wisdom as Audio and as Transcripts for the days:

6/12/2017: Devolving Evolution

6/13/17/2017: The Water Line

6/14/2017: When Bad Happens

6/15/2017: Take It To The Streets

6/16/2017: Missing Father's Day

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