The Wilderness Project Experience Podcast: Recent Episodes
Dr. Marcus Johnson
Honest, transparent, and to the point. The Wilderness Project Experience is a podcast for a tribe of men, rough men, men who have “been there” and “done that”. A tribe of men who know that there is something more to “all of this”. They are seeking answers to questions – why? And they either know, suspect, or are curious – that a relationship with Jesus Christ is the solution that they need. The ills that are harming our families, our communities, and our nation lie in the heart of men and this is where we need to focus.
Website: https://thewildernessprojectexperience.com/
This is Part 2 of a two part series. In Part 1, I spent some time defining socialism and comparing this philosophy to capitalism. While supporting with scriptures, the focus was predominantly on that of God given freedom and rights as ordained by God. I posited and argued that socialism tends to violate biblical views of freedom and God given rights while Capitalism operates in a manner more consistent with true biblical concepts of freedom and rights.
So, what's the rub?
Many Christians on the Left seek to reinterpret Jesus’ earthly mission in exclusively economic and political terms. In their view, Jesus came primarily to deliver those who were poor and oppressed in a material sense. But every member of the human race is poor in the sense of being spiritually bankrupt. Jesus came to end our spiritual poverty by making available the righteousness that God demands and that only God can provide. It is heresy to state that God’s love for people varies in proportion to their wealth and social class. It is nonsense to suggest that all the poor are good and all the rich are evil.
Once we eliminate the semantics by which some refer to as a non-coercive voluntary utopian type of socialism, it becomes clear that socialism is incompatible with a truly free society.
Part 1 of a 2 part series. At issue is the growth in interest in Democratic Socialism.
"The democratic party is no longer recognizable as the party of Kennedy, or even Bill Clinton for that matter" - a variation of this quote is often stated from those that are NOT a member of the Democratic Party. Members of the DNC disagree with this statement, however, I've been around and paid attention long enough to see a vast difference between the DNC of 2021 to the DNC of the 1990s or even the early 2000's.
Scriptures that are used to support socialism lean very heavily on those that discuss actions for the poor and love of our brothers and neighbors. In opposition, scriptures that discuss capitalism lean very heavily on talents, performance, and trade while also being very critical of those that are lazy or the husband that fails to take care of his family. What I noticed missing, somewhat abstractly, were components of God given rights and freedom as ordained by God. When we consider biblical morality when it comes to our God given rights and freedom, the argument against Socialism becomes very clear while support for a free market economy (Capitalism) is also very clear – to me anyway. Socialism is fundamentally at odds with the Christian worldview and seeks to suppress all peoples in support of the state.
The biblical worldview implies that since God is the creator of all that exists, He ultimately is the rightful owner of all that exists. Whatever possessions a human has is temporary and is ultimately accountable to God for how he uses them. The biblical worldview also contains claims about human rights and liberties. Human beings have certain natural rights inherent in their created nature and have certain moral obligations to respect the rights of others.
I found my purpose. I found my strength. I want others to find theirs. No matter what it takes!
What I realized after coming to Christ is that growing up through adult hood, I never knew my true identity. Because I did not know my identity, I did not understand my purpose. I was orphaned as a sinner. I did not know the names the Lord had given me. I was victim to whatever the world threw at me, enveloped into the fallen world of Adam.
What do you believe your name to me? Liar, thief, failure, unworthy, unloveable and unlikeable for starters? These were the names that I received from my father and I carried with me for almost 40 years.
For me, Jesus came to me as the Light of the world and saved me from the darkness I was just as written in John 8:12. As we also read in 1 Peter 2:9, He called me out of the darkness and into His light. This allows the character of Jesus to come out when I realize that what was once weak has been raised in glory (1 Cor 15:43). But the struggle is still real.
Jesus Christ did not die just so we could have a good day or get away with sinning on a regular basis. Galatians 5:13 reminds us that we shall not abuse the freedom we now have in Christ. The names of God (Holy Spirit): Advocate, Comforter, intercessor, spirit of Truth, spirit of God, helper (paraclete), Counselor, teacher,
Once baptized in the Holy Spirit, I was awakened to my new names: worthy, trustworthy, lover, friend, and when my wife is angry at me, “Marcus Johnson!”.
The Johnson Amendment of 1954 attempts to mitigate the direct support or opposition of candidates for elected office from the Church Pulpit? The secular environment agrees with the construct due to the "separation of Church and State", but they neglect the "Establishment Clause" of the First Amendment which places a prohibition against government, not the other way around. The Johnson Amendment is actually a short snippet of words included in a much larger Tax Code, that "supposedly" impacts the 501C3 status of Churches. However, what many people miss is that there are laws in place that place a prohibition on the IRS against acting as "pulpit police".
So, how did the Johnson Amendment come about and why? What does the Johnson Amendment do, and what can it NOT do? How many times has the Johnson Amendment been applied?
Over the last 3 years, the Lord has been dealing with me regarding how we, as a nation, use Social Media to propagate our “opinions” and “beliefs” in the hopes of spreading our opinions and beliefs to others. This can be good, if used correctly, but also bad for those bent on evil and misdirection. For self-professed Christians, we ought to take our use of Social Media very seriously.
Ten categories of social media users: 1) The Listener, 2) The Activist, 3) The Spammer, 4) The Passionista, 5) The Social Butterfly, 6) The Trolls, 7) The Influencers, 8) The Early Adopter, 9) the Black Booker, and 10) The Family Person.
As Christians, if we pass a false story (whether knowingly or not), this not only impacts your own integrity, but can also impact the Christian community. Some may disagree, but I believe it is ok to share your opinion about a topic, but, you ought to indicate that it is your opinion if not obviously so. Think about your heart and the impacts to others. Is your message coming from your heart, or, are you so outraged by an issue that your human bias is blocking what your spirit is telling you?
Don't be rude. Don't be excessive. Don't be possessive or too dependent. Don't be secretive.
Christians need to be distinctively (yes, even radically) different in the way that we use whatever the world promotes or the culture deems acceptable. The strength of the choice is in your hands.
Should the US Census include a question about whether you are a US Citizen or not? Many opinions abound regarding whether this question is legal, or, even whether it is moral. There are two perspectives in which we can consider the basis of a question regarding citizenry: the bible and the US Constitution.
Proponents of including the question claimed it is necessary to gather an accurate statistical count, while opponents claimed it might suppress responses to the Decennial Census and therefore lead to an inaccurate count.
In either case, one thing is clear. The reason we complete a Census in the USA is to determine tax apportionment (which means how much federal dollars communities receive for infrastructure and project initiatives) as well as to determine representation in the US House of Representatives. IF illegal immigrants are counted, this can affect both of these areas of purpose.
When we read the stories breathed into life in the Bible, we can sometimes miss how these stories apply to the world today, particularly scripture found in the Old Testament. Allow me to share, with you, the story of King Rehoboam.
One upon a time, in an ancient land, there was a king named Rehoboam. King Rehoboam had inherited the kingdom from his father, who was considered the wisest man in all the world.....
The Equality Act, as it supposedly called, is legislation that members of Congress have been attempting to pass for several years; it is not new legislation. While purporting to enforce equality, it comes at the cost of forcing a square peg into a round hole, and they will do whatever it takes to make the round hole a square. It states that it is attempting to recognize gender equality while ironically discriminating against genders. It opens the door to discrimination where discrimination does not exist while simultaneously forcing lifestyle choices and belief systems into the livelihoods of others while disallowing the lifestyle choices and belief systems of others. It is not just an issue for faith based religions, it is an issue for women in general. But, make no mistake, this legislation is an affront to God but as Representative Jerry Nadler, Chairmen of the Judicial Committee stated, God's will has no place in Congress.
For those that are LGBTQ, this would be a blessing as many feel that they have been disenfranchised or hurt based on current policies and regulations. For supporters of LGBTQ, this might make sense; but, our focus should NOT be on the leaven of Herod, but on the leaven of His Kingdom. As we know, the leaven of Herod involves an exalting of civil law above God’s moral law – putting man’s law above God’s law.
In this episode, I share a view that there are babies struggling to make it out of the womb before they are murdered. This is not a religious view as I opposed abortion of convenience for decades before I was a Christian, and my born again experience has not changed that view, it reinforced it. However, even after I was born again, I still believed in abortion under special circumstances such as rape or incest. Prior to my born again experience, I was ok with the procedure if the baby was determined to have birth defects that would affect its quality of life - this view did change after I accepted Christ.
In 1 Corinthians 10:31 we are reminded that”Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” Can anyone say that killing a baby in the womb is being done to the glory of God? Can anyone say that killing a baby in the womb is acceptable with the two great commandments of Jesus Christ “to love”?
My perspective on "acceptable" abortion changed in a millisecond in the fall of 2018 when several states approved late term abortions, including right up to the moment when the babies head was crowning. What I witnessed were monsters celebrating these laws, clapping, laughing, and raising their arms in praise of these wonderful laws that would kill babies during birth. It sickened me and in less than a second, my heart changed. What I witnessed was pure evil and I had been party to that, even if only from a position of support.
We find in Galatians 1:15 where it says that “But then God called me by his grace; and in love,he chose me from my birth to be his.” We also find in Ephesians 1:3-4 where it says, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love”. These scriptures declare the Lord’s love for the baby in the womb, all are precious in His eyes.
Your theology, whatever it is, is a system of religious beliefs based on the study of who you view as God. This includes an atheistic theology as well as an agnostic theology as even both of these views require faith. From a Christian sense, your Christian theology is a system of beliefs based on the study of the nature of God through your interpretation of the Bible. In either case, the Lord does not say anywhere in His Word that you are to test your life experiences against your theology; the Lord doesn't even say that you are to build a theology about Him.
Your theology is an intellectual exercise, it is as man made as religion; yet, your theology will drive your mindful behavior (i.e., using your head). However, faith is a spiritual experience, which is fed from the heart. In this case. your Christian life should be based on your Jesus experience as opposed to your theology.
Continuing to behave as a true and faithful man of Christ is very difficult and challenging. Losing my oldest son in February of 2011 was very close to the final straw for me, almost took me down. Yet, here I am, continuing to profess my love for Christ, sharing Him with anyone and everyone that will listen, and not concerning myself with what others might think of the position I hold near and dear to my heart. Why? Read Romans Chapter8. This is why I Keep Going. Why I Keep the Faith. and Why I Keep Pressing forward.
So why, if I suck at being a Christian, do I keep going, keep the faith, and keep pressing forward?
Because there are guys out there that are good, honest Christians. There are guys out there with tattoo’s, who occasionally use “soldier speak” and who like to drink beer. These are people who exhibit behaviors that would typically get you kicked out of the God Club. Aren’t they living in sin? Do they suck at being Christians like me? This is not why I am a Christian, just FYI, that would be a stupid reason.
These same guys love me for who I am and they love people who are hurting and messy. These same guys, tough on the outside, share openly about how they hurt and are repeated failures. They love their wives unconditionally and always speak highly about them. It is the joy I see in their eyes even in the middle of their tears and pain. They absolutely do not pretend to have it all together nor do they claim to have all of the answers – it is ok to simply say “I don’t know”. They Keep Going, They Keep the Faith. They Keep Pressing Forward.
For our nation, trouble isn’t coming, it's already here. This means the days and years ahead will be of a different caliber of difficulty and complexity than anything we’ve ever experienced in the past. The new normal will not look like the 90s, the 00’s, or even the 10's. I believe that times ahead are going to be significantly more challenging than people expect; however, the Kingdom opportunities are far beyond what we can imagine. Christians must not get complacent or be passive, they need to find where and how they can get involved. Get outside of your circle and have open, honest, and civil discussions with others that have opinions which differ from yours. Learn why people believe what they believe, don't argue with them or debate them, learn, and do it with grace and honor.
In the Old Testament (2 Kings), there was a group debating severe issues for themselves. As they contemplated their courses of action they asked themselves “Why do we sit here until we die”? (2 Kings 7:3). They correctly asserted that complacency and passivity would not solve any problems. Once they made a decision, at the prompting of their heart, the Lord prepared their path. Psalm 11:3 reads that “If the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do”? The Book of Hebrews reminds us [what the righteous can do]. God is still up to something and we need to join Him in His work. Who speaks for Christians today? The answer is simple. You and I do.
There are two topics that many consider to be taboo: religion and politics. Oh man! Two topics that I LOVE having intellectual discussions about. When you blend Christians with a political discussion – watch out!!
General Politics
We are in dangerous times and the climate is getting worse as tribal lines are drawn; as each tribe fights for it’s right to survive, its members have to go to more extremes to get their point across (tit for tat). As things get more extreme, tribes work to strengthen their lines, they dig into their trenches, and all out warfare ensues. If this sounds like trench warfare similar to WWI, I feel it is.
Christian Politics
- Political Speak, Respect Those in Authority
- Live in Peace and Unity and Stand For What Is Right; But Remember Honoring God Comes First
- We Have To Pay Taxes (Even If We Don’t Want To)
- We Are Called To Pray For Our Leaders well being, but it does not mean that we need to pray for their success when they are counter to biblical principles (this also doesn't mean that we pray for leaders in the morning and then “talk junk” about them for the rest of the day)
- Virtue; We Are Called To Seek Justice, Defend The Oppressed And Help The Poor
The World View
- The Christian worldview speaks to all areas of life.
- Politics are unavoidable.
- We need to love our neighbor.
- Government restrains evil and promotes good.
I also share the Jesus example who chose a ZEALOT and a TAX Collector to be two of His disciples, two men on polar opposites of the political spectrum of the time.
Christians have many different opinions about what constitutes good government. Jesus said that his “kingdom is not of this world” (John 18:36). That marvelous statement still leaves an important question unanswered: As long as we live in this world, what kind of civil government is right for humankind?
If we knew each others life stories, would we cover our mouths and our noses with our hands, or, would we Praise God? Would we shake our heads and roll our eyes, or, would we strengthen our resolve to be “saltier” in the world? Would we view a brother or a sister as they share the Word and what it means to them as a loved member of the body, or, would we view them with contempt, eye roles, and gossip?
For me, Jesus came to me as the Light of the world and saved me from the darkness I was in (John 8:12). He has called all of us out of the darkness and into His light (1 Peter 2:9). And the character of Jesus comes out when we realize that what was once weak has been raised in glory (1 Cor 15:43). If this makes me square, then square I am happy to be. But the struggle is still real.
What does HONOR mean? What does the idea of Honor mean to you?
Jesus said in Matthew 6:4 that, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, among his own relatives, and in his own house.” Jesus states further in John 5:41, “I do not receive honor from men.”
HONOR is something you live, you experience, and you express. HONOR is a commitment to standing behind what you say and do and by simply doing the right thing with no expectation of reward or praise.
So, I ask again, "What does HONOR mean to you?"
As a professed Christ follower, are you still a sinner? If you are a vessel of Christ, can "Christ" and "Sin" co-exist in the same space?
Paul wrote in Romans 7:17, "So I am not the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it."
Paul later writes in Romans 8:2, "For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death."
To truly answer the question of whether a true Christ follower is still a sinner, we need to understand the difference between what your BELIEF and your OPINION.
We are a product of the stories we tell ourselves. So if you constantly tell yourself "I am a sinner", what makes you different from those that do not believe in Christ? John wrote in John 8:11, " …… And Jesus said, “I do not condemn you, either. Go. From now on sin no more”.
A great leadership team is one that exhibits the values, motivations, commitments, and behaviors of honor. There are NUMEROUS stories about how successful small business thrive when they hold to a level of values and moral systems of conduct where employee’s enjoy work. An environment rife with toxicity is an environment doomed to fail.
How do you minister to a close family member about toxicity? When it comes to ministering to people, the toughest job is often right there at home. Its difficult to work with your own family; they know you so well. The points of contention, the areas of resistance, the times, places and people in our worst experiences and struggles can either be left as bad history and place markers of pain and unfairness, or, they can become your entry points to healing, resilience and enlightenment.
2 Cor 4:17-18 For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
The American Nation is divided more than ever, and no matter who is sworn in as President, the division will not heal because of who was elected. Why is our nation so divided? What part is the media, and social media, playing in the science of sowing division? How should Christian men conduct ourselves in response to this division? Bottom line is that a godly man, a Kingdom Man, should have the courage and fortitude to NOT add to the great divide. It's easy to cave, it's hard to bring peace to the storm - but there is a way that Christian brothers should be, one man at a time.
Let's work together and not worry about where and how to cast blame - this serves nothing and does not honor or respect the Lord who elected us and saved us.
The assault on our nations Capital Building was "not cool". But, neither should it be a surprise. The BOTTOM LINE is that many Americans DO NOT trust the electoral process, their elected leaders, or those with whom they disagree.
So, from a Christian perspective, why DID this happen and what am I, a Christian, supposed to do about it? One unsavory truth is that people on a chosen side of the aisle, don't care what the other side believes, wants, or desires. But, there is a Way! If only we would choose to RISE above the chaos that surrounds us.
Why should I, a Christian, get involved? One of the things that I find disappointing and frustrating within the boundaries of the Church and other Christians, is their evoking of Romans Chapter 13 in reference to submission to authority. They argue that it is unbiblical to get involved in “worldly” affairs when we are focused on “Kingdom” affairs. I believe this is a cop out by Christians due to fear and uncertainty. I also believe this is an unbiblical view. My response is that Christians MUST be involved based on two items: because God says to, and because seeking to change the culture changes us for the best.
How can I, a Christian, make a difference? 1) Repent personally, 2) Intercede passionately, 3) Speak graciously, and 4) Act redemptively
And start telling the truth. Stop lying. The TRUTH may sting, but our LIES are killing us (inside and out)
Do you know the calling God has on your life? Are you experiencing challenges with achieving or working on it? Paul write in Ephesians 4:1 " As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received." But some of us are impeded from living up to Christ.
Things happen to us and/or around us that makes being a Christian difficult, much less fulfilling what you believe God has called you for. Things that challenge our temperament or attitude. But Paul also continues in Ephesians 4:7 "To each of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it".
Grace doesn't happen just because we want it or because we have mastered our own will power. It happens when we allow the Holy Spirit to supply us with what we need and then apply it in our lives.
When that happens, we can then answer God "Here I am Lord! Send me!"
In this episode, I share why it is that we should be seeking God's Approval versus man's approval. Galations 1:10 "Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ."
To experience Jesus more, you will have to become friends with the Holy Spirit.
Church Cliques are dangerous, they are antithetical to Gods expectations of His Church. People naturally associate with others who are most like themselves, this is not a clique. But, according to a study by Balswick and Layne, Church cliques do exist in four types: conjugal clusters, Christian Education clusters, Established Member Clusters, and Prominent Member Clusters. Theology is typically NOT a factor, in fact, scriptural and spiritual growth is typically limited to whomever the dominant member of the clique is. Finally, I share what you can do if you find yourself confronted with a clique in your church.
James 2:1 "...believers in our Lord Jesus MUST NOT show favoritism".
What is the difference between a Circle of Trust and a Clique? Does a Clique exist in your work place, or worse, your Church? If Cliques do exist, how does it make you feel? Are you part of a Clique? Cliques are damaging to a church. They make people feel unwanted, unloved, and rejected. If we consider that a church is full of hurting people, imagine what a church clique can do.
In this episode, I share how it took an encounter with Christ Himself to open my eyes to the truth of His Church. While man places labels on denominations and church buildings, they try to draw a box around you based on your beliefs. However, a true Church encounter will reveal to you that: 1) The Church belongs to Jesus, 2) Christ is the leader of the church, not men, 3) It's not your church or my church, it's Christ's Church.
I also learned that most denominations focus on Jesus as the Central Figure. If they don't, then it's not Christian.
In this episode, I share how it was "church labels" that keep me away from Christ for so long. I am referring to the plethora of denominations and church buildings that pocket the landscape. My rational thought was "If there is only one Jesus, then how can Christianity be so divided". What if I choose the wrong one? The challenge: I had no one in my life to lead me. Chances are, you went through this, or, you know someone that is.
In this episode, I share highlights of how I was led to share stories of my past and why. How is it possible for a man that spent the first four decades of his life despising everything about God, to turn around and celebrate the love, mercy, and grace of Jesus Christ? This is the first of a three part series answering the question - why did it take me 40 years to come to Christ?
In this episode, I share the testimony of the death our son Christoffer, who died o/a 17 February 2011 while serving in the Air Force in the the Middle East (Qatar). This is the first time I have ever shared this in this level of detail. This testimony goes way beyond his passing - there is a very polished sequence of events that could ONLY have been orchestrated by the fingerprints of God.
In this episode, I share how it was unanswered prayer that actually led me to spiritual revelation. I learned three things:
- It is because you do not have faith that He will answer the prayer.
- It is because I am holding onto fear, referring to the worldly outcome to me if my prayer is not answered. I am being "selfish".
- It is because I am holding onto strongholds, blocking the needed Spiritual variables to operate and work through me,
In todays episode, I discuss the the idea that we are losing the American soul. We are allowing culture to define us into categories that are contrary to the ideas and ideals that make us equal. There is a war for the soul of America, but the largest part of this war is the battle for the soul of men. Nonetheless, I still have hope that we can get back on the right track, but it will require that we focus on what makes us equal, not what makes us different.