Steven Garofalo
Spirituality/Belief • Education • News
THE BOTTOM LINE TO LOVE OVER ANGER
By Steven Garofalo, May 12, 2023 (Copyright 2023)
May 12, 2023

The Bible is a supernatural gift given to us by God. Within the pages of the Bible, God often tells us “how to act, think and be”-directly in the positive and in the negative. The bottom line in today’s important passage is that the final product is for us to: “BE KIND TO ONE ANOTHER, TENDERHEARTED, FORGIVING ONE ANOTHER, AS GOD IN CHRIST FORGAVE YOU” (Ephesians 4: 32)

HOW DO WE GET THERE IS COVERED IN EPHESIANS 4:22-32, THIS IS WHAT IT TAKES TO ACHIEVE SUCCESS IN GOD’S BOTTOM LINE:

“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:32) God says:

  1. PUT OFF the old self that belonged to the world and that is corrupt and full of evil desires (vs. 22). Desires are what we simply want or desire in the flesh.
  2. BE RENEWED IN SPIRIT and mind (v.23).
  3. PUT ON the NEW SELF which is created in God’s likeness in true holiness and righteousness (v.24).
  4. Having PUT AWAY falsehood, God tells us to “SPEAK THE TRUTH OUR NEIGHBOR” (v.25).
  5. God gives us permission TO BE ANGRY but NOT SIN (v.26). God gives us a mix of the positive and negative in one verse. Anger is not a bad thing if it is rightful and does not move into our desire in the flesh to express our emotion outside of God’s bounds.
  6. God goes on to say in v.26, “DO NOT LET THE SUN GO DOWN ON YOUR ANGER”. The reason for this is that to fester in our anger will lead to unrighteousness and sin if not at that place in our heart and mind. In verse 27, God gives us the WHY “…and give no opportunity onto the devil”.
  7. Stealing in Paul's time was anoribkem. For those in the church who steal (which is one of the Ten Commandments), God makes clear: “Let the thief NO LONGER STEAL, but rather let him LABOR, DOING honest work with his own hands so that he may have something TO SHARE with anyone in I need” (v.28).
  8. We are to make sure that No corrupting talk COME OUT OF OUR MOUTH but to only SAY THINGS that are good for BUILDING UP others (namely the body of Christ) as fits the occasion. This I believe the hardest one of these for us bridal is trying to tame our tongue. The tongue is the most powerful weapon on plant earth. Nevertheless, God makes clear, that we are to work daily, through sanctification to bridal our tongue (which flows from the desires of our heart and self-discipline-which flows from the heart's desire). Instead, we are to use our tongue to EDIFY, ENCOURAGE and UPLIFT others-not break them down.

IN THE NEGATIVE (We are NOT To...)

  1. We are NOT TO GRIEVE the HOLY SPIRIT of GOD (v.30).
  2. We are NOT to allow bitterness and wrath and anger to clamor but rather PUT AWAY all SLANDER and MALICE. God gives us two commands in the negative here to achieve the positive. God is the Master Teacher, and as such, we are to listen in 4D to all God is telling us in both the positive and negative.
  3. FIRST, regarding our SPEECH, Paul cited Zachariah 8:16 says we are to speak the TRUTH. God tells us to allow no UNWHOLESOME speech (lit. “Rotten” vs.29; Matthew 17:17-18) because such talk harms believers and grieves God’s Spirit (v.30). Rotten speech should be replaced by that which builds one another up and passes on God’s grace (v.29). SECOND, and closely related, is anger. Anger is dangerous (Proverbs 29:22; Matthew 5:22). Psalm 4:4 though make clear that not all anger is sin. It’s festering or uncontrolled anger that leads to bitterness, wrath and slander (v.31) that is sin that gives Satan the opportunity to work in our hearts and divide us as the body of Christ; hindering the gospel. Paul gives us three directives relating to how we are to harness our anger. FIRST: Anger should be dealt with quickly (v.26). SECOND: Anger should be replaced with kindness (v.32). And THIRD: Rather than allow bitterness or verbal abuse to fester, we should offer up forgiveness to others in such matters.
  4. In closing, I want to leave you with the very last verse (v.32) which I believe is the BOTTOM LINE God has for us today which says this: “BE KIND TO ONE ANOTHER, TENDERHEARTED, FORGIVING ONE ANOTHER, AS GOD IN CHRIST FORGAVE YOU”. God is telling us in verses 31-32 that the old life comes from:  FIRST: A hostile heart of “BITTERNESS”. SECOND: Seeks its own way. And THIRD: Speaks “EVIL” and wishes evil on others. How do we put away ALL bitterness? By letting God fill our hearts with His perfect love. In other words, let the POSITIVE overtake our hearts and minds to the point that it naturally PUSHES OUT the negative. Before we know it, we will become more like Christ “naturally” as will do one thing (positive/God) as opposed two to the equal extent (God and working to push out evil). In the end, the new life is TENDERHEARTED, shows itself in ACTS OF KINDNESS, and is READY TO FORGIVE WRONGS suffered from others. And, that’s the BOTTOM LINE from GOD himself. Have a blessed day.
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DO PETS GO TO HEAVEN?

When I was in seminary, the question was raised as to if pets or animals in general go to heaven. Our professor, Dr. Norman Geisler said this: “Jesus Christ came to earth and died on the Cross for the human race, not animals.” I was working out at the gym one day when one of the regulars, who had just moved to Charlotte, NC from California told me that one of her beloved dogs died; and would that dog go to heaven. I have her the same answer. But, was that the whole story? That’s what we are going to look at today.

In a peace by Michael Housman, Founder of GotQuestions.Org, Housman wrote that “The BIble does not give any explicit teaching on whether pets or animals in general have souls, or spirits, or whether pets and other animals will be in heaven.

His answer was short but the animals not having souls maybe up for debate.

We can use general biblical principles to develop some clarity on the subject though Housman wrote. The Bible states that both man (Genesis 2:7) and animals (Genesis 1:30; 6:17; 7:15 and 22) have the “BREATH OF LIFE” that is, both man and animals are living beings. Furthermore, the primary difference between human beings and animals is that humanity is made in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:26-27), while animals are not.

Being made in the image and likeness of God means that human beings are like God in some ways; they are capable of spirituality; they have a mind, emotion, and “will”; and part of their “being” continues after death.

If pets and other animals do have a “soul” (or spirit or immaterial aspect), it must therefore be of a different and lesser “quality”. This difference possibly means that pets and other animal “souls”  do not continue in existence after death.

Another factor to consider regarding whether pets will be in heaven is that animals are a port of God’s creative process in Genesis. God created the animals and said they were good (Genesis 1:25). Therefore, there is no reason why there could not be pets and animals on the NEW EARTH as described in (Revelation 21:1). 

In the end, there will most definitely be animals during the millennial kingdom (Isaiah 11:6; 65:25). It is impossible to say definitely whether some animals of these animals might be the pets we had here on earth. We do know that God is just and that when we get to heaven, we will find ourselves in complete agreement with His decision on this issue, whatever that turns out to be.

So, there you have it. I think that’s the best answer on the subject in all honest. Please remember to SUBSCRIBE to our channel and check out StevenGarofalo.Com for exclusive content and early release of our two weekly podcast.

Until next time, I’m your host Steven Garofalo, and this is your reason for truth for today.

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AN ETHICAL ECONOMY IS GOOD FOR ALL
By Steven Garofalo, May 2, 2025

WHAT MAKES A GOOD ECONOMY

Government corruption comes to the advantage of a few-but at the expense of many if not all the rest of society. Today, I am going to show you through Ecclesiastes 5:8-9 that vanity and wealth, if not kept accountable, will devour one’s honor and the honor or the nation in whole. Let’s get started.

The Vanity of Wealth and Honor is an interesting subject in light of wealth, corruption, and the human heart. This subject effects many things, including what makes a good economy. 

In the Book of Ecclesiastes, chapter 5, verses eight to nine, Solomon says the following:

Ecclesiastes 5:8-9
“8 If you see in a province the oppression of the poor and the violation of justice and righteousness, do not be amazed at the matter, for the high official is watched by a higher, and there are yet higher ones over them. 9 But this is gain for a land in every way: a king committed to cultivated fields.”

COMMENTARY: There are two things king Solomon is saying here within the theme of the vanity of WEALTH and HONOR. Wealth and honor are two different things, as one can have wealth with or without honor or honor with or without wealth. That being said, let’s look at verses 8 and 9 independently to see the simple message God provides us today through Solomon.

BREAK DOWN
Ecclesiastes 5:8-9

THE ABUSE OF AUTHORITY & WEALTH
 “8 If you see in a province the oppression of the poor and the violation of justice and righteousness, do not be amazed at the matter, for the high official is watched by a higher, and there are yet higher ones over them." 

COMMENTARY: Verse 8 clearly illustrates that there is a corruption at every level of government, with higher level oppressors plundering the equally oppressive lower-level magistrates. This perhaps explains the st state of America and the world. With blackmail running. Rampant and the public sector unchecked, they have been robbing the everyday citizen of their hard earned money. As a result, the system became insulated and division between the haves and have nots became more defined. When the high level government officials rob and abuse those below them, someone above that person robs and abuses the higher level person himself.

In America, where we print money out of thin air for the world, in this short period of history, there is little need to plunder those under one authority because there is so much to steal that those in authority can simply pay them off or blackmail them; whichever is most convenient. Either way, Solomon makes abundantly clear that when there is nobody minding the ship, evil perpetuates to the point of overtaking the government in whole. As a result, we end up with a 2024 government, riddles with corruption, immorality, blackmail, lawlessness, and all other things evil due to the lack of God-ness which equates to “goodness”. 

Economically speaking, when this happens to a country, its own economy begins to decline into debt due to their insatiable desire and emotional need for more money and resources. When resources are stripped and money is squandered, the elite few are smart enough to collect those resources and money and we end up with a U.S. Stock Market where only 5% holds up to 80%  of the entire market wealth. 

WHAT IS THE ANSWER?
The answer and solution is to keep to return to the system we created in the first place which is free market capitalism that allows those who desire to work hard, to have a fair chance at success, making money and turning a fair profit. This is called “honor for everyone”.

HONOR FOR EVERYONE
"9 But this is gain for a land in every way: a king committed to cultivated fields.”

CONCLUSION:

Government corruption comes to the advantage of a few-but at the expense of many if not all the rest of society. Vanity and wealth, if not kept accountable, devours one’s honor and the honor or the nation in whole. Solomon (Qohelet) considered goverment to be frustrating becuase it was a necessary evil, something deply flawed but indespsnsible. On the one hand people sould "not be shocked" when they see OPPRESSION and injustice in a governmental province (v.8). After all, bloated government bureaucracy tends to frustrate justice (v.8b). On the other hand, government has it advantages (v.9). Many hold to the belief that this verse continues the negeative assessment of government. Others see this passage better understood more positively since it fits with Qohelet's normal pattern of "on the one hand, on the other.." way of teaching. 

Even a corrupt government is better than anarchy, which devastates a country, it's culture and in Solomon's time, an agrarian economy that would lead to starvation. Keeping to God's ways is the only solution to man's sinful nature; especially in governmental rule. In the end, a king who devotes himself to developing the resources of the land ushers in a systems that brings the opportunity for profit to all, not just the corrupt few.

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SOLA SCRIPTURA
A Protestant & Catholic View Comparison

I grew up Catholic and now go to a Protestant or non-Catholic church in Charlotte, NC. Michael Houdmann, Founder and CEO of GotQuestions.Org writes that a major difference between the two boils down to believing in the Bible alone as God's word verses believing that God's word plus man's input as the divine inspired word of God.

WHAT DO PROTESTANTS BELIEVE?

A major difference is the issue of sufficiency and authority of Scripture. While Protestants believe that the Bible alone is the source of God's special revelation to mankind, it also speaks to everything we need to understand as necessary for our salvation from sin.

Protestants view the Bible as the STANDARD for Christian morality and ethics which governs our behavior. This is called sola scripture and is one of the five Solas in Christianity. (Solas meaning "alone" in Latin. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 makes clear that "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work” (ESV).

WHAT DO CATHOLICS BELIEVE?

Catholics do not believe in sola scriptura hence do not believe that the Bible alone is sufficient. They see both the Bible and sacred Roman Catholic tradition as equally authoritative and binding on the Christian. While not all Catholics hold to doctrines such as purgatory, praying to the saints, worship or veneration of Mary, etc., the Catholic doctrine hold to them even though they have little or no mention or basis in the Bible. In truth, these doctrines are based on Roman Catholic traditions based on the Catholic Church's insistence that the Bible and tradition are equal in authority. The problem with this is that it undermines the sufficiency, authority, and completeness of the Bible. The view of Scripture is at the root of many, if not all, of the differences between Catholics and Protestants.

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