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Morgan Wallen's dad, Tommy Wallen, has just released the nineteenth episode of 'Tommy's Sunday Seven.' The father of the country megastar releases a 7-minute episode every week where he dives into biblical scripture on 'Morgan Wallen Radio' via SiriusXM.
This week, Tommy begins by diving further into Genesis chapter four. Firstly, he chooses to recap with a verse about Cain and Abel, humankind's first pair of brothers that Tommy covered in last week's episode.
Citing Genesis 4:3-7, he reads, In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. 4 And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, 5 but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.
6 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? 7 If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”
The Tennessee preacher elaborates on this by adding his personal outlook; "Religion without a true relationship with Jesus Christ is a very dangerous thing," said Tommy. "It's referred to as the way of Cain."
He elaborates on this for his listeners by explaining that Cain, through his offering and ways of life, wanted to embark on his relationship with the Lord in his way, and not God's way. According to Tommy, this is an intention that can often be found in Christians who value their religious structure over a personal, intimate relationship with God and Jesus.
Cain serves as the inspiration point for many of the lessons Tommy teaches in this episode. Tommy mentions the concept of "works-based redemption," which he says that when zooming out and taking a look at all of the major religions of the world, they all encourage the idea of salvation based on the good works and actions its followers commit; except Christianity, which encourages faith-based redemption.
"They all insist on humanity having to do something to get to God, true Christianity requires no work, but simply taking God at his word, that what Jesus Christ did at his death, burial, and resurrection, is enough," said Tommy.
Citing Romans 10:8-10, Tommy states, But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: 9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.
Outlining the differences between Christians that are purely religious and Christians that are purely spiritual, Tommy says that Christians that are more focused on religion are often quick to anger - perhaps from being more so focused on the religious structure rather than their personal relationship with God.
"It was the religious people of Jesus's day that had him crucified," Tommy explains. "All Cain had to do was listen to God and offer what God required."
On the contrary, of course, we know that Cain instead got angry at God and killed his brother Abel out of jealousy and spite.
Citing 1 John 3:10, Tommy states "This is how God’s children and the devil’s children become obvious. Whoever does not do what is right is not of God, especially the one who does not love his brother or sister."
Similarly, "love one another" is often referred to as one of the greatest commandments given to humanity by God and Jesus.
"Do not be surprised, brothers and sisters, if the world hates you," said Tommy. "This is the beginning of a spiritual battle between a religion of works, and true salvation that comes only through Jesus Christ."
Mentioning the twelve apostles that experienced gruesome deaths after the resurrection of Jesus, Tommy says that the one apostle who did not die gruesomely was the disciple, John. Even though attempts were made to kill him by boiling him in water, he lived.
However, many other disciples and followers of Jesus were killed. Using the apostle John as segue, Tommy recommends listeners a book to read on disciples that were harmed for defending their faith in Jesus, 'Foxe's Book of Martyrs.'
Recapping Genesis 4:11-14, the Tennessee preacher goes back to the story of Cain after killing his brother, Abel. God curses Cain for the murder, stating the ground will no longer yield crops for Cain, causing Cain to become socially displaced and a "wanderer." Cain was fearful, knowing that if he was alone wandering, someone would kill him for what he'd done to his brother. In his mercy, however, God placed a mark on Cain so that no one would kill him.
Tommy uses this scripture to explain to his listeners the importance of turning away from sin, and that even when we are sinful, God's mercy abounds.
New episodes of 'Tommy's Sunday Seven' air every Sunday on 'Morgan Wallen Radio' via SiriusXM.
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