Mythology 101

What is mythology? For years I have been wanting to investigate the tales of the Greeks and the Romans. Like many of you my understanding is very limited and due mostly to bits and pieces of stories that I have heard over the years. Names like Zeus, Poseidon, Aphrodite, Medusa, Hades and the Titans come to mind. I am also familiar with authors like Homer and Virgil as well as books like Iliad and the Odyssey. I have vague memories of stories but over the years I must admit that the line between fact and fiction has become a bit blurred.

Many of you may know that I find great joy in watching USC football. I have been watching my beloved Trojans play since I was nine years old. I can’t believe I don’t know more about the Trojan Wars but I can tell you the names of all seven Heisman Trophy winners. I have not given it much thought but I now have a very clear understanding of the true story of the Trojan Horse. Without going into the whole story the Greeks tried to defeat the men of Troy but could not break through the city walls. So the Greeks devised a plan to hide their men in a giant wooden horse and leave it at the gate of Troy as a gift. At night when the city was asleep the men climbed out of the wooden horse, opened the gates and let the Grecian army into the city for a victory. Be honest, how many of you thought that was an actual historical event? Just one of many great myths found in Homers classic, The Odyssey.

How about the “warring men-haters” who were a nation of women, all warriors known as “Amazons”? Just a myth. And I hate to break it to you ladies but unicorns don’t exist either.

I find it fascinating that Greek and Roman mythology is generally supposed to show us the way the human race thought and felt untold ages ago. Through it we are suppose to retrace the path from uncivilized man to the man of reason and rationality. When these stories were being shaped we must understand that little distinction had been made between the real and the unreal. The imagination was vividly alive and not checked by the reason. So although real places were named and explanations for real things like creation, spiders, thunder, lightning and love were described reality was subjective.

The Greeks unlike the Egyptians, made their gods in their own image. Primitive man, whether in Indonesia today or ages ago in prehistoric wilderness has lived in fear and terror of who their maker was. The Egyptian gods had no semblance of reality. They were unlike all living things. A woman with a cat’s head, men with birds’ heads, lions with bulls’ heads and both with eagles wings deliberately made inhuman and mysterious.

Greek mythology humanized the world. Men were freed from the paralyzing fear of an omnipotent Unknown. The terrifying incomprehensibilities, which were, worshipped elsewhere, and the fearsome spirits with which earth, air and sea swarmed explained by the Greeks.

The “Unknown” or “God” as we would describe it was terrifying and irrational to Greeks. The Greeks felt as if they had freed the earth from the monstrous idea of the inhuman supreme over the human. We see the seeds that man is god.

Greek mythology is largely made up of stories about gods and goddesses but it must not be read as a kind of Greek Bible, or an account of the Greek religion. According to the most modern idea, a real myth has nothing to do with religion. It is an explanation of something in nature; how, for instance, any and everything in the universe came into existence: men, animals, trees, flowers, stars, storms, earthquakes all that is and all that happens.

It becomes very clear why the Bible begins with an explanation as to who made this world. The creator of the world is the God of this world. By trying to substitute Greek mythology into the science of creation the Greeks are able to eliminate God. We see the same war being waged today by scientists through the fable of evolution.

Myths are considered early science; the result of men’s first trying to explain what they saw around them. But there are man so-called myths, which explain nothing at all. These tales are pure entertainment. The sort of thing people would tell each other on a long winter’s evening.

The world of Greek mythology was a place of enlightenment to the beauty of man. They had no desire to create some fantasy shaped into their own minds. All the art and all the thought of Greece centered in human beings. Human gods naturally made heaven pleasantly familiar. Homer stated, “Greek artists and poets realized how splendid a man could be, straight and swift and strong, He was the fulfillment of their search for beauty.” And modern secular humanism was born.

The Greeks had no need for magic or ugly witches. The Greeks believed god was created in the image of man. We believe that man was created in the image of God. In this subtle difference man is really god according to the Greeks. The Greek gods are also described as being very human in their character. The most important god, Zeus is represented as falling in love with one woman after another and descending to all manner of tricks to hide his infidelity from his wife. He was not omnipotent or omniscient and he is not even the only god. It was a brilliant way to lower the true God to the level of man. Like man their gods are not perfect or holy.

I’m not sure if these myths originated as timeless tales or a masterful plan by the evil one to distract, misguide or even lie about the realities of how things came into being. It is evident to me as I learn more about them that they have been a stumbling block to many. Surely western political philosophy, which has been descended from Plato and extended to today, has been strongly influenced by these myths.

Finally be alert and stand firm for our battle is not against flesh and blood but against the schemes of the devil, the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places (Eph 6:11-12). See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ (Col 2:8) Where is the wise man? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God. The foolishness of God is wiser than men, the weakness of God and the wisdom of God (I Cor 1:18-25)

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It's the blood of Jesus, baby...

Tony, the faithful blogger. Thank you for not quitting! It has been an encouragement to me. Yes, it is amazing but true....I am blogging today! No excuses, so let's just get to it.

I love the post on the idea of "fun", and what is acceptable to the Lord. Interestingly enough, the idea that has been rolling around in my head has been something that has been related. I recently heard a song that hit me the wrong way. No surprise, really, since our culture is filled with songs that are worldly and reflect a wrong view of God and His holiness. But the song that I heard was not out in the world, per se. It was during a Bible study.

Before I get too far into this, let me clarify that I am not making a judgment on the heart of the person that wrote the song. And from what I heard, there was only one word that caused my consternation. So the rest of the song was fine, and actually extolled the truth that Christ shed His blood as a perfect atonement for our sin; a good thing! Here is how the chorus went:

It's the blood of Jesus
It's the blood of Jesus, baby
It's the blood of Jesus that sets us free

Again, I love the overall message that is conveyed. But I have a problem with the insertion of the word "baby" when talking about the sacrifice of our Lord and Savior. The one who was sinless, perfect, holy and fully Divine. The Word which became flesh (John 1:14). The one who became sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God (2 Cor 5:21). At the risk of sounding harsh, this is a flippant chorus as set against such a great and holy truth. I do believe that we have to be very careful when we examine how we approach our Bible study's and worship services.

Recently I went on a bit or a rant during the College/Career Sunday school study when talking about this issue. I use the word "rant" because I mentioned some things that were a personal conviction of mine, and did not clarify fully that these were not legalistic rules that I was looking to impose on everyone else. I was discussing the glorious truth of the holiness of God, and that we have the privilege to come into His presence to worship the Creator! I warned the class to be careful not to approach this time with carelessness. And I think I myself can approach the corporate worship service with too lax of an attitude.

- coming in late
- leaving early (to get the kids from the nursery, etc)
- standing during the time of singing while holding a cup of coffee
- getting up during the service for any reason that is not a dire matter of health or safety!
- not opening our Bibles during the sermon
- closing our Bible's and bags during the ending prayer
- or even worse, not having our Bible at all!

I could probably keep going. And the risk of stating concerns like this is that people may think that the above "standards" are a demarcation of true spirituality and devotion. But this leads us quickly to legalism. The things above are only indicators of where we are at. They are not catalysts for spiritual growth. In other words, do not set out on a quest to make the things above a "checklist" to begin your spiritual growth because it won't work. At the risk of being redundant, they are only indicators. Not tools for growth.

So when I heard the song above, it hit me that we are sometimes too casual with our declaration of the great things of God and His word. I would expect us to say things like "Man, that was a great jump shot, baby!" (~insert sound of high five here~) or "Oh baby, that steak looks good!" or "Do you want to go jet skiing today?"...."Yeah, baby!". But the last thing I would expect would be to use slang when talking about the shed blood of Christ.

We were bought with a price. We are His children, true, but remember that Paul considered himself a slave of Christ (Rom 6:18, Eph 6:6). He is our friend, but also our Master (Eph 6:9, Col 1:4). Let us boldly approach His throne of grace (Heb 4:16) but never forget that it is only because of His grace that we can come at all.

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Fun

Recently I read a paper entitled “Is the Holy Spirit fun?” As a younger man and one who enjoys the lighter side of life I must admit I felt a bit convicted when I reflected on my teaching style. I never realized the danger in having too much fun in a teaching environment. Not that I have ever felt the pressure to be entertaining or liked when I teach but I must admit especially when I speak to young people that I tend to be more of a “wise guy” than a guy who is “wise”.

I was reminded that we are living in an entertainment-based world and that most people have a very short attention span. I also recognized that fun-focused learning practitioners, like myself at times, are slaves to the latest thrill.

As one who teaches high schoolers at times I would hate to think that I am contributing to their future entertainment based thirst when it comes to God’s holy word. I would hope that my style would encourage them to want to learn more about the word and dig deeper. I can even evaluate my own spiritual growth and see that my true growth has come from having a hunger for righteousness and then being fed without any need for fun. Even one of my favorite speakers I have a hard time visiting because too much of his message is based on stirring up the crowd rather than just giving the message straight up.

Finally I note that one of my favorite authors, Francis Schaeffer, commented on the impoverished value of personal peace. Personal peace means wanting to have my personal life pattern undisturbed in my lifetime. That personal life pattern is the recreation, hobby, interest, or fun that each individual is in pursuit of to make them happy. Today the pursuit of affluency and fun are the marks of many Christian Americans, myself included.

Schaeffer sees the pursuit of personal peace as a primary danger because the pursuit becomes their life mission and the object becomes their god (i.e. most Christians will watch hours of television each night while passing on reading their bibles entirely). It’s simply more fun to watch T.V. than to read Exodus. Fun is a very real diversion from a difficult life into a world of fantasy and escape. Pleasure, recreation, entertainment, “FUN” is the god of our age.

But…

I have questions regarding Fun. I recognize that the pursuit of fun needs to be kept in check. The idea of making everything fun is dangerous and wrong but we are allowed or permitted to have fun. Given that one has fulfilled his work obligations, familial duties, and ministry opportunities then what is an acceptable form of fun? I guess I will start by saying these are some of the things that I find fun to do which I do not see as particularly spiritual:
1.Watching USC football.
2.Drinking Starbucks mochas.
3.Playing with my kids.
4.Listening to country music.
5.Watching movies like Gladiator and Star Wars.
6.Watching a tv show like Seinfeld.
7.Listening to Jim Rome.
8.Listening to Dennis Prager.
9.Reading the sports page.
10.Driving with my wife.

These are 10 things which I enjoy doing for non spiritual reasons. Now to the questions:

1.Why do Christians enjoy non Christian music?
2.Why do Christians enjoy counter cultural anti Christian value shows?
3.Is it okay to have diversions such as sports and music?
4.Are talk shows a waste of good bible tape time?
5.Is it really wrong to pursue fun activities with the kids?
6.While we are having “FUN” people are going to hell everyday should we just be in GO,GO,GO mode all the time?
7.How do we respond to those who are judgmental towards others liberties?
8.Should I be concerned that I enjoy these things (not that I enjoy them more than studying God’s word, teaching my family, having Christian fellowship, singing praises, etc.)?

This is not a question of legalism but a look at trust and devotion. Last week I studied Psalm 119 which is has 176 verses all point to faith, hope, trust, reliance, total dependency on God and His word.

What does 1 John say about loving the world or the things of the world? “If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of they eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father but is from the world” 1 John 2:15-16

James 4:4 calls those who have friendship with the world hostile toward God. Adulteresses, Enemies of God.


Is your goal in life to be righteous? To walk according to the book? Are you satisfied with a little sin here or there as long as the scales of justice weigh heavier on the good stuff? Is your goal to “Be like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves in all your behavior.” 1 Pet 1:15 “You are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Mt 5:48

So let’s be careful what we consider fun but let’s have “FUN”!

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Be Careful Little Eyes What You See

I can remember watching Leave It To Beaver when I was a kid and thinking that was the perfect American family. Dad would go of to his 9 to 5 job while the kids went to school and June Cleaver happily stayed home taking care of the house and the family while in high heels, pearls and a dress. Ironically some 50 years later the first lady of the United States Hillary Clinton would mock the June Cleaver and her cookie baking. Really what was being attacked was the idea that the Cleavers lifestyle represented an outdated Judeo-Christian 50’s lifestyle, which doesn’t work anymore.

American families have come a long way since the days of Leave It To Beaver and Father Knows Best. Americans spend more time than ever watching other families in movies and TV. Take a moment to think about the most popular families on screen today. Shows like The Sopranos, The Osbournes and this year’s phenomenally successful movie My Big Fat Greek Wedding demonstrate pop culture’s unprecedented embrace of households that make no attempt to seem normal. There is a trend to focus on weird, eccentric, even combative intact families.

Before you think that I’m trying to be a killjoy I will start by saying that one of the funniest movies I have seen in a long time was My Big Fat Greek Wedding. I really had a good time watching the movie with wife. With that said I would pick on this movie for this topic.

So what’s wrong with My Big Fat Greek Wedding (MBF)? MBF glamorizes many traditional values such as:
1.The relationship between the mother and father contains manipulation on both sides. Mother and daughter conspire against the father.
2.The mother is the true head of the family even though the father has the louder bark. I’ll never forget this statement, “The man may be the head but the woman is the neck and the neck turns the head.”
3.The daughter sneaks around behind her parents back. Nia goes to school under false pretenses and begins a relationship in secret.
4.The daughter engages in pre marital activities.
5.This charming couple comes from different religious backgrounds. Not only are they unequally yoked but also they belittle their own faiths.
6.The family as a whole is constantly bickering with each other.
7.The subtle hint of racism. As a proud Greek the father had difficulty accepting any other nationality.

Why am I pointing this out? When you formulate what your family is going to be like and pictures of these dysfunctional families race through your mind what kind of impact do you think they might have if any? Don’t think that shows like Married with Children, What about Ray, and even cartoons like the Simpson’s haven’t already penetrated into your mind.

The TV show Everyone Loves Raymond glorifies many marital struggles as if they are okay. The parents seem to dislike being with their children. The in-laws live across the street and are constantly intruding on Ray’s family. The husband is a wimp who doesn’t want, desire, or accept headship in his family. The wife hates the husband’s friends, family and any hobby Ray seems to have. The couple’s favorite sport is ridiculing one another. The whole show is based are arguments and family strife. There is never any real conflict resolution.

As funny as Everyone Loves Raymond may be, who would want to have a family like theirs? What TV family would you like to pattern your family after? When was the last time you saw a devout Christian family on TV? The last show I can remember was 7th Heaven, which had more family problems than any show I’ve ever seen.

Unfortunately we don’t have examples of family life in the Bible. We do find principles for family living throughout the pages of Scripture by which we can follow. More important we have our own families and we have church families.

The next time your thinking about watching a movie or a few hours of TV maybe you should spend some time fellowshipping at some church members home watching how they set up shop. And if you want drama try reading Genesis and the family of Abraham, Jacob and Moses.

When James warns us about being adulteresses do we listen? We must be very careful what we fill our minds and hearts with. The enemy is cleaver and subtle. He finds his way into our lives through beauty and humor which the world generously gives us through meda and art

You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whover wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. James 4:4

Are we going to find the path of righteousness through movies, music and sitcoms? What is a family? What are the roles of husband, wife, and children? The bible teaches us the following while the world contradicts every foundation principle that we cling to:

Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, as the Lord. Ephesians 5:22

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Ephesians 6:1

Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you. Matthew 6:33

All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching , reproof, correction and training in righteousnes, that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17

For whatever you do whever you eat or drink do for the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31

Blessed in the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, stand in the path of sinners or sit in the seat of scoffers for his delight is in the law of the Lord. And in His law he meditates day and night Psalm 1:1-2

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. Proverbs 1:7

How can we start our day bathing ourselves in the pure water of our Lord only to spend the rest of the day in the filthy lake of the devil? Be alert! Be on guard! Be ready!

I say all this to my own shame. As you can tell by my descriptions of some of the shows above I have watched them and have remembered them so clearly that I can review what I have seen years ago. What does that tell us about the impact of those shows?

So put on your full armour and make sure that you are careful what your little eyes might see.

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Did God Create Evil

At an unknown college there was a professor with a reputation for being tough on Christians. At the first class every semester he asked if anyone was a Christian and proceeded to degrade and mock their statement of faith. One semester he asked the question, and a young man raised his hand when asked if anyone was a Christian. The professor asked, “Did god make everything, young man?” “Yes, he did, sir,” the young man replied.

The professor responded, “If God made everything, then God made evil, and if we can only create from within ourselves, then God is evil.” The student didn’t have a response, and the professor was happy to have once again proved the Christian faith to be a myth. Then another young man raised this hand and asked, “May I ask you something, sir?” “Yes you may,” responded the professor. The young man stood up and said, “Sir, is there such a thing as cold?” “Of course there is, what kind of a question is that? Haven’t you ever been cold?” “The young man replied, “Actually, sir, cold does not exist. What we consider to be cold is really only the absence of heat. Absolute zero is when there is absolutely no heat, but cold does not really exist. We have only created that term to describe how we feel when HEAT IS ABSENT.”

The young man continued, “Sir, is there such a thing as dark?” Once again, the professor responded, “Of course there is.” And once again, the student replied, “Actually, sir, darkness does not exist. Darkness is really only the ABSENCE OF LIGHT. Darkness is only a term man developed to describe what happens when there is no light present.” Finally, the young man asked, “Sir, is there such a thing as evil?” The professor responded, “Of course. We have rapes and murders and violence everywhere in the world; those things are evil.” The student replied, “Actually, sir, evil does not exist. EVIL IS SIMPLY THE ABSENCE OF GOD. Evil is a term man developed to describe the absence of God. God did not create evil. It isn’t like truth or love, which exist as virtues like heat and light. Evil is simply the state where God is not present, like cold without heat or darkness without light.”

The professor had nothing to say…

Have you ever been stumped or trapped like the first student in this story? I have and it’s not fun. I much prefer being like the second student, be prepared and having quick answers. I find myself listening to lots of talk radio just so that I will be prepared when someone asks me some off the wall question or tries to trap me. I Peter 3:15 exhorts us to be prepared to give a ready defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness, and reverence; and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.

In sports there is a saying, “THE BEST OFFENSE IS A GOOD DEFENSE”. This works well in sports because if you don’t give up any runs in baseball, points in football, buckets in basketball or any goals in hockey (note the blatant disregard for soccer here), then you can’t lose the game. Sometimes we think that we need to know how to explain the molecular structure of an atom to prove creation when all we really need to do is defend our beliefs in a quick, clear, and concise manner.

What are you currently doing to make a ready defense? How are your apologetics? Are you so heavenly minded that you’re no earthly good?

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Nails In The Post

by
M.F. Cowdery

From the Civil War Era

There was once a farmer who had a son named John, a boy very apt to be thoughtless, and careless about doing what he was told to do.

One day his father said to him, “John, you are so careless and forgetful, that every time you do wrong, I shall drive a nail into that post, to remind you how often you are naughty. And every time you do right I will draw one out.” His father did as he said he would, and every day he had one and sometimes a great many nails to drive in, but very seldom one to draw out.

At last John saw that the post was quite covered with nails, and he began to be ashamed of having so many faults. He resolved to be a better boy, and the next day he was so good and industrious that several nails came out. The day after it was the same thing, and so on for a long time, till only one nail remained. His father then called him, and said, “Look, John here is the very last nail, and now I’m going to draw it out. Are you not glad?”

“Yes”, sobbed John, “the nails are gone, but the scars are still there.” So it is, with your faults and bad habits, you may overcome them, you may be degrees cure them, but the scars remain. Now, take my advice and whenever you find yourselves doing a wrong thing or getting into a bad habit, stop at once. For every time you give in to it, you drive another nail, and that will leave a scar on your soul, even if the nail should be afterwards drawn out.

We must understand that we cannot take the nails out of the post for forgiveness. Only Christ can remove the nails. We cannot work our sin off. The reality of sin is that there is always a consequence or in this case scars. Some scars are deeper than others and some scars take longer to heal.

Thank God that our Lord does not keep account of wrong doings. Christ’s blood wipes out all our sin thus removing the nails from the post. 1 Cor. 13:5 describes how love does not keep account of wrongs suffered. If God did keep a log we would never qualify for heaven based on our own righteousness. Instead He forgives and forgets.

Whenever you find yourself doing a wrong or getting into a bad habit stop at once. REPENT! Even thou our nails are drawn out, and our sins are forgiven, there was a price. Remember, THE NAILS DRIVEN INOT OUR LORD!

John 20:24-29. Vs. 27 Reach here your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand, and put it into My side; and be not unbelieving, but believing.

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A Little on John Calvin

As I have started to really acquire a taste of biblical history I have noticed that there is only one person whose name you bring up in Christian circles that causes so much controversy it is almost, if not entirely, ridiculous. It is not Satan, Pontius Pilate or Judas Iscariot. It is not Muhammad or Joseph Smith. It is not most of the people you would think of. It is actually the name of John Calvin.

As I have, as most try to do at some point in their lives, tried to pinpoint my beliefs on every major doctrine in the Bible, I can say almost anything on different subjects and will be listened to and reasoned with. But, bring up Calvin and people can get almost violent. Some have tried to just say “I believe the Bible” but so do liberal theologians who would be far from believing Sola Scriptura. So there has to be some extra thought on the individual subjects in the Bible to pinpoint easily what someone believes without spending 4 hours on each subject. Such as, I can tell you that I am a progressive dispensational premillennialist and most know exactly what I believe on eschatology without having to enter an all day discussion on the topic. Which, by the way, would be enjoyable anytime if you would like to discuss.

So, whether we like it or not, there has to be some sort of quick response to soteriology when someone asks, even though most like to skate around the subject if not completely avoiding the topic altogether. I just find it interesting that if I were to tell you that I believe what Luther and Augustine taught on the subject or even what Athanasius believed on the subject most wouldn’t blink an eye. Say I am a Calvinist or I believe what Calvin said concerning salvation and the backlash and disgust will start to pour out. What’s amazing is that most do not even know what Calvin taught or have ever even sat down and listened to his exegesis of Scripture. I have been reading a lot about his background lately trying to understand more of who he was, as have I been reading on Martin Luther as well. My most recent book that I have been reading, The Unaccommodated Calvin, pointed out something that I didn’t know about the man and also should remind us all on some things about these reformers.

The book goes into detail that the reformers were just men who wanted to exegete Scripture and preach and teach it. They were not men out to start controversies and definitely not men who sat out to be called “Lutherans” or “Calvinists.” They actually would have both hated to be called either one of these. Remember these two men, Luther and Calvin, were deep in the Roman Catholic Church and wanted to simply know what Scripture said on different doctrines and dogmas held so closely by the Catholic Church. Most people think that Calvin set out to prove his five points on Grace, commonly referred to as TULIP. What’s interesting is that this acronym is a 20th century term, Calvin was born and died in the 16th century, and he didn’t even come up with the five points, the Synod of Dort did in 1618/1619 to refute the teaching of James Arminius. John Calvin died in 1564. These men, Luther and Calvin and other reformers, were not men out to “die for their cause” they were just exegeting Scripture, following in line of men such as Augustine, Jerome and Athanasius. They were preachers, preaching the truth at the danger of dying for it.

The other part that amazes me and surprises a lot of people is on the subject that gets most people up in arms is Calvin’s view on predestination and/or election of the saints. Guess what, Luther wrote many more volumes on this subject than did Calvin and Augustine and Jerome were the first to really fight against “free will” in the 4th and 5th centuries against Pelagius.

The reason behind this post is just to open our eyes to the early church fathers and also to the reformers. I am not here to promote Calvinism but just want people to calm down on their hate for a man that wanted to preach like Paul preached, Christ crucified. Most of the reformers were either fighting heresies or fighting for the truth. They were not out to put a “stamp” on history, they were ones that stood for truth and that truth is the Bible. So next time when you hear someone mention Calvin’s name, listen to see how they are responding to a man who loved God so much that most of his life was spent trying to be killed for his reformed beliefs against the Catholic church and understand that he was fighting for the same truths and absolutes that we hold so dear today.

When he was nearing his death he often had to be carried to the pulpit so he could preach and also asked that when he died only the initials “J.C.” be put on the tombstone in an uncommon place with no witness or ceremony. He was a humble man who loved the truth and yet many if they saw him today would spit in his face. May we remember those who went before us and study the truths that aren’t theirs, but God’s, in His Holy Word.

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Police vs. Paramedic

Last week I was caught in traffic behind an accident. Unfortunately there were injuries so that meant that there were firemen on the scene helping out before the paramedics arrived. Have you ever been in an accident or watched one? It is actually interesting how each department has it’s own function. I don’t know all the specific duties but it seems as though there are some general differences between the function of the policemen and the paramedics.

When the policemen arrive on the scene their main duty is to maintain order. A major part of that order is making sure that an accurate report is made of the accident. We don’t want street justice occurring at intersections across town. Basically the police report is going to take testimony from eyewitnesses of the scene. In essence the report is going to state who was the victim and who was at fault. Although final judgment is not made at the scene, that report is a major factor. The presupposition of the report is that someone is wrong and we’re going to find out who. With that being said the police officers try to take the reports without being prejudice or bias. This tends to create a cold and callous type of interaction. Like Joe Friday would say, “Just the facts ma’am”.

When the paramedics arrive on the scene their main duty is to bring aid to the afflicted. They don’t care who was at fault. Their main concern is who is hurt the worst and tend to the victims in that order. Because of the nature of their function they tend to be gentle and kind as opposed to cold and callous. They try to comfort the victims.

So what type of Christian are you? When a friend of yours blows it (it’s there fault) or something unexpected happens (not their fault) how do you respond. Are you like Job’s friend Eliphaz who told Job that he was getting what he deserved Job 4:8?

I know that true love must be confrontive at times. But what is your basic approach? Can a policeman be gentle and kind? Does he have to be so indifferent? Do you view yourself as the judge of the scene?

Read Matt 18:15-17. How would you title this passage? If you think of this passage as the Church Discipline” passage verses “Biblical Restoration” you may get an idea of where you stand. The point or the goal of the passage is repentance, restoration, and redemption. The goal is not to have someone depart from the faith.

So the next time you’re in a situation where you are at the scene of a personal accident. Ask yourself which function do you want to have. Ask yourself which function is appropriate.

Are you a policeman or a paramedic?

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A Man Named Mentor

According to Homer’s Odyssey, when King Odysseus went off to fight in the Trojan War, he left his son Telemachus in the hands of a wise old man named Mentor. Mentor was charged with the task off teaching the young man wisdom.

More than 2,000 years after Homer, a French scholar and theologian by the name of Francois Fenelon adapted the story of Telemachus in a novel titled Telemaque. In it he enlarged the character of Mentor. The word mentor soon came to mean “a wise and responsible tutor”—an experienced person who advises, guides, teaches, inspires, challenges, corrects, and serves as a model. –OUR DAILY BREAD

Second Timothy 2:2 describes spiritual mentoring, and the Bible gives us many examples like Timothy had Paul; Mark had Barnabas; Joshua had Moses; Elisha had Elijah.

Do you have one or more mentors? I was thinking about that question and I realized that I have been blessed with a few different mentors in my life. I met with and elder for three and a half years every Wednesday morning at 5am. He would primarily advise and guide me in regards to my bible study. In business I worked for a man for four years who mentored me in business affairs. I consider another man a mentor of mine in the area of business investments.

The two most influential men in my life have been my father and my pastor. My father has been a mentor to me in all areas of life from sports, marriage, spiritual, business, and much more. I could never say enough about how much my father has influenced me. My pastor began as my Dean of Men at TMC, and then he became my discipler, then a marriage counselor, then a friend and then my pastor.

Rarely do I make any decisions without seeking the counsel of almost all of these men. All of these men have helped me in my faith and my relationships. I consider myself very fortunate to have such wise counselors.

Do you have a mentor or mentors in your life? 2 Timothy 1:16 mentions a man named Onesiphorus who eagerly searched out and found Paul. Search out Godly people and asked them to spend time with you. Your mentors might have different strengths. Maybe you have music or sports mentors who are quite different than your spiritual mentor.

Remember God teaches each one of us so that we can teach others. Not only should you have mentors but also you may be a mentor to someone else.

Remember the beginning of the story? What a legacy Mentor left behind. He was so successful at providing wisdom and influence that to this day we call that process “mentor”. Why are you here? What is the purpose of your life? What legacy are you leaving behind? There is no greater legacy than that of a human life influenced by you.

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Where's the Beef?

This used to be the slogan of Wendy’s back in the ‘80’s when talking about these other burger joints that had hamburgers with less than satisfying amounts of meat on their hamburgers. I am asking the same thing with the Gospel that is preached to the world these days: Where’s the beef? The Gospel has been so watered down that you cannot tell the Gospel and the preacher from just a speech and a motivational speaker. The question is where do we put our trust? Do we trust the power of the Gospel or the persuasion of words? Power of God or power of psychology? It really comes down to God or man. Look at Paul’s words:

And when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God. For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling, and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.

1 Corinthians 2:1-5

Why could Paul make this kind of statement? Because he knew the power of God’s word and believed in Isaiah 55:11

So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper [in the thing] whereto I sent it.

Yet today many of today’s “pastors” are looking for a better way to go around the gospel to make it more “meaningful” to the lost and more comfortable so that people are not turned off by the old and staunch words of our Lord. This leads to tickling the ears of the hearer and leads to the sad state of our church worldwide. I saw an interview with the hero of this watered down, motivational approach: Joel Osteen. He was asked if being a Christian was hard. He of course quickly responded, “No.” That should be the test for all of us not just Joel Osteen. We are told that the world will hate us (John 15:18); that we will be persecuted (2 Timothy 3:12); that Christ came with a sword and will separate families (Matthew 10:34). It IS easy to be a Christian if you never evangelize or never preach about sin or stand up against immorality. Of course that is an easy way to walk through this world, because you have become part of the world. But look to the warning that John gives those who are a part of the world instead of apart from the world:

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
1 John 2:15

And also James speaks out against it:

Ye adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore would be a friend of the world maketh himself an enemy of God.
James 4:4

We need to put the “beef back into the burger” and start to preach out against sin: To love the sinner and hate the sin; To love the deceived and hate the Deceiver; To hate the lie and love the truth. Joel Osteen’s Christian life is easy because he admits he never speaks against sin and actually never even uses the term in his “sermons.” How can someone repent and be saved if they don’t know their sin and they don’t know what they are being saved from. Also, what will happen to these same people when their lives come across trials or when a great philosopher comes across their path and persuades them another way? How do we guard against this? Paul again tells us:

that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and {attaining} to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, {resulting} in a true knowledge of God's mystery, {that is,} Christ {Himself,} in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I say this so that no one will delude you with persuasive argument. For even though I am absent in body, nevertheless I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good discipline and the stability of your faith in Christ. Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, {so} walk in Him, having been firmly rooted {and now} being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, {and} overflowing with gratitude. See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ. For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form.

Colossians 2:2-9

Did you catch that? All our wisdom is found in Christ. Why? Because He is fully God! If you don’t lean completely on Christ for your wisdom, people can take you away with their persuasion. If you lean completely on Christ for all your wisdom, you will never be deceived by these philosophies and persuasive arguments. But those who are, will be the ones that Christ says, “Away from Me for I never knew you.” I don’t want that to be anyone that I came across and preached the Gospel to. I want to be like Paul and simply preach Christ crucified; may it be the same with you.

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Why I am Not a Preterist

Some might be asking, “What is Preterism?” Preterist means “gone by” or “past.” Preterists believe that that Jesus’ prophecies in Matthew 24 were all fulfilled before AD 70 in the destruction of Jerusalem. They would also take that Revelation was written in AD 68 to AD 70 instead of the traditional AD 95 that even early church fathers point to. My post will not exhaustively take on this widely debated subject but I just want to give you some of my problems with this way of interpretation.

The very first thing that I notice with Preterism is the way of commingled hermeneutics that make the reader decide when he wants to take a passage, or even different words, as literal or figurative instead of letting the passage really speak for itself.

In Donald Green’s article “A Critique of Preterism” he states the following:

One of the standard authors on biblical interpretation, Bernard Ramm, says, “The interpreter should take the literal meaning of a prophetic passage as his limiting or controlling guide.” Without denying the presence of figures of speech or symbols, Ramm emphasizes that the literal meaning of words cannot be abandoned simply because the interpreter is handling prophetic literature.

So what am I, Donald Green and Bernard Ramm pointing out? In Matthew 24:34, the Olivet Discourse, Jesus Christ says that, “This generation will not pass away until all these things take place.” The Preterist would say that means that according to Jewish generations, which is 40 years, that all these things will come to pass before 40 years has ended. Here is where I have problem with this interpretation. If they take this part literally then they must take all of the prophecies that were spoken of before being literally fulfilled as well. So they should take that there would have been a great falling away from Christianity (24:10); there will be many false prophets (24:11); there will be a great tribulation, like never seen before (24:21); the sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from the sky (24:29); the Son of Man will appear in the sky, then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory (24:30). All happening on or before AD 70!

So does the Preterist believe that all these things have literally been fulfilled? No. They believe they have been fulfilled but all of them figurative instead of literal. The main point, the very point they rest everything on, is because Christ says, “this generation will not pass away.” They force all other things to fit into this one statement. Full Preterists are forced to even say that Christ’s parousia, His second coming, has already happened as well. This is plain and utter horrific hermeneutics.

If you look in the very next verse, Matthew 24:35, Christ says that “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.” Christ uses the very same phrase, pass away, for the end of the age that He just used with “this generation.” Could it be that He meant that the generation He is speaking of is a more loose term speaking of those followers that are living at the time all these things take place? It seems more likely that this would be the case. When you take “generation” to mean just that, you can now let Scripture speak for itself instead of having to take all these things figuratively.

Think of it: Has the sun been darkened? Was there a great falling away? Was the destruction of Jerusalem a great tribulation like never seen before? Has Christ returned on the clouds with His angels? The answer to all these is, no. Many Preterists claim that Christ is on His throne now and it is, of course, a figurative throne and not a literal physical throne. Quickly take a look at this verse:

But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne.
Matthew 25:31

Did you notice it? When Christ comes again, THEN He will sit on His throne. Christ doesn’t reign on the promised throne at this time. But at His second coming then He will reign forever like the Davidic Covenant (2 Samuel 7:8-16) promised.

Many early Christians were told to look for the second coming, to have hope in Christ’s return. Where is our hope if Christ has already come again and the Devil is bound? And how can you say that the devil is bound when it is obvious that he is still so rampant in this world and Peter actually says that he is still prowling around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8).

There are so many points of Preterism that I don’t agree with but just wanted to give a short summary of them here to start a discussion or start us all on thinking of these things. Let Scripture speak for itself and know that it is best to start on the literal and then let Scripture tell us when it is supposed to be taken as figurative.

I look forward to the parousia and can’t wait to see my Saviour come on the literal clouds with His literal angels to call all the literal elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.

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God's Will for Our Lives

Have you ever wondered what God's will is? Have you ever contemplated whether or not you truly are in God's will right now. Have you ever felt like you are standing outside of His will looking in, wondering how in the world you can be in the center of it? Ever come to a "fork in the road" concerning life, whether it is I career path to make or a ministry to join, and wonder how you know which one God wants you to take? I have faced this many, many times and find myself staring at the inevitable question once more. This time, the question does not just involve myself but my wife and potentially my kids. How do I know which road to take and how do I make sure the path that I am on is God lead. Three easy check points for truly knowing how to be in God's will.

1. This is the most important checkpoint. You MUST BE A CHRISTIAN! Now when I say a "Christian", I do not mean it in the loose, liberal, self-gratifying, all-inclusive way that the world uses it. I mean it in the strictest sense possible. A christian is someone that follows Christ. A servant of our living Savior and Master. A Christian is someone who has acknowledged their sin and need for a savior(they are going to hell), they have confessed with their mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord God Almighty, and they have believed in their heart, soul, and mind that Jesus died on the cross for their sins taking the penalty for our sins which is death and that He rose from the dead on the third day conquering sin and death and now sits at the right hand of the throne of God. (Rom. 3:1-10, 23; Rom. 6:23; Rom. 10:9-10; Acts 16:31) Without this belief and devotion to Christ, stop here, you will not be able to be in God's will without doing so first.

2. You must be walking with God and all sin confessed. This is a continual and ongoing event. In order to commune with a holy, righteous, just and awesome God, we must be pure of heart and holy in stature. A daily conditioning of our body must be in order. I believe that this is just part of what Paul is talking about in 1 Cor. When he declares that we need to "buffet our body and beat it into submission" and again the author of Heb. 12 when he stats "Therefore, let us lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily entangles us...". How can someone know the Will of God if he is not in harmony with God. The Bible declares that sin breaks our communion with our heavenly Father and therefore our relationship suffers. Have you ever gotten into a fight with a brother, sister, parent, or friend and then not speak for quit some time? It puts kind of a rift between you and the other person. How much more of a gap is there when we sin against our Holy Father and then not confess it? In order for us to be in God's will we must be living a holy, upright, and above reproach life.

3. Finally, knowing what God says in His word and then practicing it will allow you to be in His will. I believe that there are two pieces to His will: There is a Broad or General will that God has for every believer and there is a specific will that God has for each individual's life. The general will applies to every one and is consistent throughout. You can read what God has to say about this in several different passages. Starting with the great commission found in Matt. 28:18-20 you can see that one of our main goals as a Christian is to share the gospel and make disciples. This is a direct command from Jesus Christ. Another command that God has given us in His word is to "fight the good fight and run the race". Paul speaks of us "running the race with endurance" and "standing firm against ruler's of this darkness". (2 Tim. 2; Eph. 6; 1 Cor. 9:16-27) Our goal as believers is to stay true to his word and to finish the coarse that God has set before us. What is that coarse, you ask? It could be suffering. Paul pleads with us in 2 Tim. 2 (read the whole chapter) to "join with him in his suffering" for the sake of the gospel. Jesus tells the disciples that the world will hate you. "If it has hated me, it will hate you". Whatever the coarse, our main goal is to love and spread the gospel to those in need...Namely, everyone.

As for the specific Will of God for our lives, that is different for everyone. God directs each person differently but how we find that specific will for our lives is the same. Proverbs 3:5-6 gives us a pretty good understanding of how to find God's specific will for our lives.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.

A few things to note here: We are to trust God with EVERYTHING that comes in our path. We fall when we decide to trust in our own decisions and try to take matters in our own hands. I think all too often we go about our business OUR way and then turn to God when we have failed or need his help. The key here is to Trust God in everything and abandon our practice of leaning on our own deficiencies. If we do this then God, not us, will make our paths straight. Notice it says "paths", plural. I truly believe that God allows us to choose different paths within His will. In other words, He will make make whatever path that we choose straight as long as we are fully trusting in Him and leaning on His understanding and following His General Will. You could say that if we are in His General Will then we will be in His specific will for our lives. They go hand in hand.

So to recap, in order to find God's will for your life you must be a Christian that is walking with God and living a life that is above reproach. In so doing, you will be preaching the gospel and thereby running the race that has been set before us and allowing God to direct your steps because you are leaning on Him rather than your own understandings. The choices that you make will be aligned with God's choices because you are seeking His glory before your own. What a wonderful God that we serve, knowing that He has our very best in mind and planned out! May we always look to Jesus and Him Crucified!

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Quote

Just thought I would share a quote I saw over at Pyromaniacs from Machen:

If my idea of God were really mine, if it were one which I had evolved out of my own inner consciousness, I should attribute very little importance to it myself, and should certainly expect even less importance to be attributed to it by others. If God is merely a fact of human experience, if theology is merely a branch of psychology, then I for my part shall cease to be interested in the subject at all. The only God about whom I can feel concerned is one who has objective existence, an existence independent of man.
But if there be such a really and independently existent Being, it seems extremely unlikely that there can be any knowledge of Him unless He chooses to reveal Himself: a divine Being that could be discovered apart from revelation would be either a mere name for an aspect of man's nature – the feeling of reverence or loyalty or the like – or else, if possessing objective existence, a mere passive thing that would submit to human investigation like the substances that are analyzed in the laboratory. And in either case it would seem absurd to apply to such a Being the name of "God."

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Are You a Witness or a Wimp?

The persecution that we see as Christians in America is nothing compared to what we see in other countries, the persecution against our beloved apostles and early church fathers who have pleaded for sinners to repent and pleaded for the lost to look upon Christ. We recently had the opportunity to evangelize at a local community event and what surprised me the most is the amount of backlash I got for sharing the Gospel. The surprise wasn’t the amount of backlash but the lack thereof. The largest amount of backlash was a roll of the eyes or a “no thank you.” First thought for any Christian when they hear this is probably, “Well how did you evangelize? Did you talk about sin? Did you talk about hell? Did you bring humility to the proud and grace to the humble?” The answers to all these questions is an emphatic “YES!” The fact is that most that I talked to didn’t even know what God had done for them to replace His wrath upon their sin. They didn’t know what “repent” meant. They thought they were saved because they went to church or were baptized as an infant. When they heard what the Saviour did on the cross they were astonished and wanted to know more. I spoke to one middle aged woman who exclaimed that she had never spoken to a Christian!

What is our problem? We have people ready and wanting to hear and yet we sit down at night watching our T.V. or getting together with friends on the weekends talking and learning more about doctrine and theology and doing nothing with it. Who cares how much I know about the early church, the doctrines of Grace, or apologetics if I sit at home and just “pray” for the lost. I am not saying prayer isn’t important, for it is vital to God’s plan, but most cop out with prayer instead of action. Did Philip pray when the angel came and told him the following:

But an angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza: the same is desert.
Acts 8:26

The Scriptures don’t tell us he did, it just says that “He arose and went.” We have a country that allows free speech and yet we won’t even tell people about our Saviour who died on the cross while we were still in our sin, while we were spitting in His face, while we were giving Him vinegar instead of water, even though in return, He offers these same sinners the water which will forever quench their thirst.

Most will say, “I don’t know enough to share my faith, or I am too scared” Look at these two Scriptures and know you and I are without excuse:

And I, brethren, when I came unto you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
1 Cor 2:1-5

For God gave us not a spirit of fearfulness; but of power and love and discipline. Be not ashamed therefore of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but suffer hardship with the gospel according to the power of God;
2 Tim 1:7-8

Do you believe in the power of the Spirit? Do you believe in the power of God’s word? Do you even care that people all around you are dying and going to hell? Do you want to watch those who are your friends and family burn and watch the worm eat them? I would hope the answer would be “NO.” Look at what will happen at the end of the age:

And they shall bring all your brethren out of all the nations for an oblation unto Jehovah, upon horses, and in chariots, and in litters, and upon mules, and upon dromedaries, to my holy mountain Jerusalem, saith Jehovah, as the children of Israel bring their oblation in a clean vessel into the house of Jehovah. And of them also will I take for priests (and) for Levites, saith Jehovah. For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith Jehovah, so shall your seed and your name remain. And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith Jehovah. And they shall go forth, and look upon the dead bodies of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh.
Isa 66:20-24

I don’t know exactly what will happen at the end of our age but it seems as though there will be a time where we watch the unregenerate burn and watch the worm eat at their dead bodies. Next time you say you don’t know what to say or that you are too scared think of watching that loved one burn as they look into your eyes and ask you, “Why didn’t you share Christ crucified?”

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Holding On Too Tight to Tradition

I was asked this last week what I thought about “remember the Sabbath and keep it holy” and if a Sabbath day was still in effect for us in the New Testament church. My first response was to see if the questioner understood what the Sabbath was meant for and even to the most rudimentary level, what day the Sabbath was actually on. After finding out that he understood the latter but not really the former I proceeded to quote Colossians 2:16,17

Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of a feast day or a new moon or a Sabbath day: which are a shadow of the things to come; but the body is Christ's.

My thought is not to try and argue for why there isn’t a Sabbath’s day of rest anymore but the question from this gentleman was, “I have a friend whose church only meets on Wednesday nights, do you have an issue with this?” My first response being the good Southern Baptist that I am said, “Yeah, for some reason I do.” Then I told him I don’t know why it would bother me if I truly feel as though we as the New Testament church don’t follow under the rules that govern the Sabbath. Now, do I feel as though we should take a day out of our week for worshipping our Creator: of course. But tradition is the only reason we meet on Sunday. The apostles and the early church met every day, but especially on Sunday being that was the day of Christ’s resurrection.

What other traditions do we hold too tight of? I recently read on a church website that they don’t have Sunday school but have small groups on Sunday night instead. My first response? HERETICS! Wow, holding on too tight to tradition. What says we must have a time of gathering at 9am where we meet in our own age groups to learn more about the Bible? Nothing! But, I really do see the need and do love Sunday school but I have been too quick to judge when others have found other ways to minister to their congregation. We do have churches that hold so tight to their traditions that they would actually call it doctrine…ummm…oh yeah…the Roman Catholics. Way off target. Our only rule for judging whether something is of God or not is by His Holy Scriptures. We have Sunday school because we are told to edify the church, to long for the pure milk of the Word, to meditate on it day or night, to not turn to the right or left. So, Sunday school is another way to grow in our understanding of the Word of God. But Sunday school and other forms of worship that are loosely based on Bible should not become the blue print for how church is to be run while excluding all other forms of ministering to the body. So what if a church meets on Wednesday nights or has small groups on Sunday night or cancels Sunday school or has communion every week or every other week or once a month or has a worship band or just a pianist or a choir or uses the New International Version or the New American Standard or The King James Version. The question really comes down to this: Do you glorify God in all you do? Do you believe, truly believe, that it is by grace alone that you are saved and not by whether you only use The King James Version only or have Sunday school?

We really need to go back and understand what the reformers laid out for our focus: Sola Scriptura (Scripture Alone), Solus Christus (Christ Alone), Sola Gratia (Grace Alone), Sola Fide (Faith Alone), Soli Deo Gloria (For the Glory of God Alone). Return to the roots of why we worship and gather together and understand, it isn’t the programs, it isn’t the time of day or actual day we worship, but WHO we worship and WHY we worship. May God always be shown glory in our worship services with all reverence and fear.

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God's Will For Our Lives

Have you ever wondered what God's will is? Have you ever contemplated whether or not you truly are in God's will right now. Have you ever felt like you are standing outside of His will looking in, wondering how in the world you can be in the center of it? Ever come to a "fork in the road" concerning life, whether it is I career path to make or a ministry to join, and wonder how you know which one God wants you to take? I have faced this many, many times and find myself staring at the inevitable question once more. This time, the question does not just involve myself but my wife and potentially my kids. How do I know which road to take and how do I make sure the path that I am on is God lead. Three easy check points for truly knowing how to be in God's will.

1. This is the most important checkpoint. You MUST BE A CHRISTIAN! Now when I say a "Christian", I do not mean it in the loose, liberal, self-gratifying, all-inclusive way that the world uses it. I mean it in the strictest sense possible. A christian is someone that follows Christ. A servant of our living Savior and Master. A Christian is someone who has acknowledged their sin and need for a savior(they are going to hell), they have confessed with their mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord God Almighty, and they have believed in their heart, soul, and mind that Jesus died on the cross for their sins taking the penalty for our sins which is death and that He rose from the dead on the third day conquering sin and death and now sits at the right hand of the throne of God. (Rom. 3:1-10, 23; Rom. 6:23; Rom. 10:9-10; Acts 16:31) Without this belief and devotion to Christ, stop here, you will not be able to be in God's will without doing so first.

2. You must be walking with God and all sin confessed. This is a continual and ongoing event. In order to commune with a holy, righteous, just and awesome God, we must be pure of heart and holy in stature. A daily conditioning of our body must be in order. I believe that this is just part of what Paul is talking about in 1 Cor. When he declares that we need to "buffet our body and beat it into submission" and again the author of Heb. 12 when he stats "Therefore, let us lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily entangles us...". How can someone know the Will of God if he is not in harmony with God. The Bible declares that sin breaks our communion with our heavenly Father and therefore our relationship suffers. Have you ever gotten into a fight with a brother, sister, parent, or friend and then not speak for quit some time? It puts kind of a rift between you and the other person. How much more of a gap is there when we sin against our Holy Father and then not confess it? In order for us to be in God's will we must be living a holy, upright, and above reproach life.

3. Finally, knowing what God says in His word and then practicing it will allow you to be in His will. I believe that there are two pieces to His will: There is a Broad or General will that God has for every believer and there is a specific will that God has for each individual's life. The general will applies to every one and is consistent throughout. You can read what God has to say about this in several different passages. Starting with the great commission found in Matt. 28:18-20 you can see that one of our main goals as a Christian is to share the gospel and make disciples. This is a direct command from Jesus Christ. Another command that God has given us in His word is to "fight the good fight and run the race". Paul speaks of us "running the race with endurance" and "standing firm against ruler's of this darkness". (2 Tim. 2; Eph. 6; 1 Cor. 9:16-27) Our goal as believers is to stay true to his word and to finish the coarse that God has set before us. What is that coarse, you ask? It could be suffering. Paul pleads with us in 2 Tim. 2 (read the whole chapter) to "join with him in his suffering" for the sake of the gospel. Jesus tells the disciples that the world will hate you. "If it has hated me, it will hate you". Whatever the coarse, our main goal is to love and spread the gospel to those in need...Namely, everyone.

As for the specific Will of God for our lives, that is different for everyone. God directs each person differently but how we find that specific will for our lives is the same. Proverbs 3:5-6 gives us a pretty good understanding of how to find God's specific will for our lives.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.

A few things to note here: We are to trust God with EVERYTHING that comes in our path. We fall when we decide to trust in our own decisions and try to take matters in our own hands. I think all too often we go about our business OUR way and then turn to God when we have failed or need his help. The key here is to Trust God in everything and abandon our practice of leaning on our own deficiencies. If we do this then God, not us, will make our paths straight. Notice it says "paths", plural. I truly believe that God allows us to choose different paths within His will. In other words, He will make make whatever path that we choose straight as long as we are fully trusting in Him and leaning on His understanding and following His General Will. You could say that if we are in His General Will then we will be in His specific will for our lives. They go hand in hand.

So to recap, in order to find God's will for your life you must be a Christian that is walking with God and living a life that is above reproach. In so doing, you will be preaching the gospel and thereby running the race that has been set before us and allowing God to direct your steps because you are leaning on Him rather than your own understandings. The choices that you make will be aligned with God's choices because you are seeking His glory before your own. What a wonderful God that we serve, knowing that He has our very best in mind and planned out! May we always look to Jesus and Him Crucified!

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Lie, Steal, Cheat and Swear

Are you a liar, stealer, cheater or swearer? I grew up for thirteen years without doing the big four but I must confess when I began to do them on a daily basis my life was changed. I discovered that the more I did them the better I felt and the closer to God I became. Let me explain.

My first spiritual experience began when I decided to “LIE” down each night and pray to God. I must admit for a few years my prayers sounded like something you would hear an eight-year-old asking Santa Claus. As I continued over the years I found myself praying more for the salvation of others more than anything else. While attending The Master’s College my prayers turned more introspective as I became more aware of my own frailties and a need for serious personal spiritual growth. By the time I graduated I began to keep a prayer journal and each night when I would lie down I would pray about every and anything. I love that time just before bed when I lie down and humble myself before the Lord my God my maker.

While attending college I majored in history in which required tons of reading. Unfortunately I was not a good reader nor did I enjoy the process. I began to “STEAL” time each day reading God’s word a few months into my first year at The Master’s College. Nothing has impacted my life more than being discipled by God through His word. As an adult it seems as though time is the most difficult thing to obtain in life. I make it a point to steal time everyday sometime during the day in God’s word. Sometimes I read first thing in the morning sometimes it’s the last thing I do at night and sometimes I pull off the side of the road and steal some time from life.

I love to “CHEAT” the devil out of victory. The devil’s schemes are all around us and each time we succumb to his empty philosophies we give him victory. The spiritual disciplines of a Godly man like praying and reading God’s word cheat the devil out of the joy of keeping man complacent. The spiritual acts of worship like serving in the widow; orphan and poor cheat the devil out of gaining a foothold in the lives of struggling man.

Finally when I was thirteen I remember asking the Lord into my life. I can picture that day like it was yesterday as I sat in my room begging for his grace and mercy. I knew I wanted the sweet taste of salvation but what I didn’t know was that there was a response to redemption. It wasn’t until a few years later while attending Basic Youth Conflicts that I realized a life with Christ wasn’t just about taking it was about giving as well. It was then that I realized that Jesus was not only the Savior but also the Lord. I began to SWEAR allegiance to Jesus the Christ, Master of my life. Each time I bow the knee before His throne I renew my vow to follow Him. I know now to fear the Lord, worship Him and swear by His name. I will not follow any of the gods of the peoples around me.

So you see it is a good thing to LIE, STEAL, CHEAT and SWEAR.

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I Digress

As I have spoken to some of my fellow bloggers and others that have read this last post on hand raising I need to make sure I come back and make sure that I make something very clear. I have worshipped with and seen many fellow believers who find it very natural to raise their hands during worship and I would continue to stand and worship and fight the battle hand in hand and step by step with no thought of them being “showy” or doing anything of what would be considered selfish worship. My post was written from a point of view of someone who has been continually told throughout my entire life that he is lifeless and dead merely because he doesn’t raise his hands during worship. Told that I am not filled with the Holy Spirit because I don’t raise my hands. Told that I was cold because I don’t raise my hands. Told that all his churches that he has been in are cold and unloving and don't know how to worship because we didn't raise our hands. This has been an inner fight my entire life, knowing that if I ever said anything against it, it would be seen as a harsh attack on brothers and sisters in Christ. My intent was not to “fire” at an “opposition” as it came across to many, but was merely an attempt to make sure we continue to look to Scripture to guide us in every thing that we do.

Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
1 Cor 10:31

Or would be paraphrased by the reformers, “Soli Deo Gloria.”

I didn’t want people to look at this as an attack but realize it could easily be seen as that, I didn’t want it to be harsh, but it has been seen as that as well. I also know that if I was going to tackle this question at all it would always be seen in some way as an attack

So if you raise your hands during worship, I am not saying you are doing it out of selfishness or being showy, I am just asking you to examine the “why.” If you examine the “why” and you still feel as though the only reason you do it is because you are worshipping with fear, know that I would stand next to you and worship daily without any second thought. But also know as my hands are in my pocket or behind my back that my heart is reaching as high as heaven along with yours. Please take a second look at the post and understand it truly comes from a brother that does care for those around but truly is searching daily for the truth of how God commands us to stand for Him. Ravi Zacharias said it best; we as Christians are to conform to God’s Word and not expect the Word to conform to us.

Examine all things, hold fast that which is good
1 Thessalonians 5:21

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Got a Question?

This is what I used to think, because I thought I was funny, when I was a young Baptist growing up in the Bible belt when I saw people raising their hands in worship. I just never understood why people raised their hands in worship. I never understood why people would just stand up and raise their hands when everyone else was sitting down. Was this a way to put yourself on stage so all could see your “spirituality?” I would hope this wouldn’t be the reason but was always confused on why and how this practice started in worship. The only place we see this in the New Testament is in 1 Timothy 2:8;

I desire therefore that the men pray in every place, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and disputing.

What does the passage say? It says that during prayer; we should lift holy hands, not during the singing of hymns and praise songs. I know that some will say that it is just natural to lift their hands or that they are reaching for the God’s hand like a child to a father’s hand. Some say are showing that they are “receiving” God’s blessings, through worship, by raising hands. Sorry to be such a conservative but I don’t see it in Scripture and what I see out of a lot of people is show more than love for the brethren. Now I can’t judge people’s hearts and most would consider me apart of the “frozen chosen” but I am not going to do something that isn’t laid out in Scripture. We are told to be apart of the body of Christ and to never consider ourselves more highly of ourselves (Romans 12:3) and we are to be lowly and meek (Ephesians 4:2), how is raising hands showing you are apart of the body? Isn’t it putting other’s eyes on you instead of the focus being totally on God?

I know that this will strike a nerve with a lot of people but I want to know why? Why do people raise their hands? Why only during singing? Why only during certain songs? Why not during the preaching? Why not during communion? Why not during church discipline? We are only told to do this during prayer, even David mentions raising his hands during supplications to the Lord (Psalm 28:2), but where does it stop?

I am really tired of people saying that I am not spiritual or that our church isn’t Holy Spirit filled because most of us don’t raise our hands during worship. What a joke. I am tired of people telling us that we are dead or dry because we don’t raise our hands, when those same people can’t even defend their faith or give me a reason I should believe on the blood stained cross that Christ was shed on. These same people (that lash out, not necessarily ALL hand raisers) care more about show than theology. I am told that I don’t love God because I don’t raise my hands and speak in tongues when no one has ever convinced me that either are biblical. I have an idea, start believing in Sola Scriptura and then we’ll have some common ground to start at; start with your emotions and I will show you pagan worship.

To obey is better than sacrifice
1 Samuel 15:20-23

Here is my disclaimer on this whole post. Don’t think that I think badly of those who like raising their hands or have something against “hand-raisers.” I just test everything to Scripture and want to know the reason people raise their hands when it isn’t in Scripture. I want everyone to know I love my brethren, and love those whom I don’t see eye to eye on with everything on Scripture. I just really get tired of being told because I don’t do something, in this case raising my hands, that my heart isn’t praising God.

Remember God cares more about the inside than the outside. I understand that the outside sometimes shows the inside, such as Moses being demanded to take off his sandals when he was standing on holy ground. I am not a Gnostic, but understand that God does call us to do certain things to show our heart (giving, evangelism, loving the brethren, and all the gifts of the Spirit) but raising hands during singing isn’t one of them.

Circumcise yourselves to Jehovah, and take away the foreskins of your heart, ye men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem; lest my wrath go forth like fire, and burn so that none can quench it, because of the evil of your doings.
Jeremiah 4:4


And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them a heart of flesh; that they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God.
Ezek 11:19-20

The real question is where is your heart not where are your hands.

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Spiritual Warfare, Pt. 2

Seth and I were exchanging emails this week, and we both agreed that there have been some tough things to deal with over the last couple of days in our individual lives. Then he commented that it's possible that the enemy was trying to throw us off track for the upcoming time we will be gathering to witness at Maple Valley Days. Even after I had been thinking on the subject of spiritual warfare, I had not even connected these two thoughts as a possibility. The hard part is that cannot know for sure. But Seth's thought is a very real possibility.

Knowing that this battle is real, and the enemy is readily close, and that the work of God is always opposed, and that these forces that oppose are formidable and very strong, it requires that we understand the Biblical definition of what the battle is, and what the rules of engagement are.

The first passage that comes to mind when thinking about spiritual warfare is Ephesians 6:10-20. The phrase I want to focus on is in verse 11:

"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood..."

1) It is a struggle: While we should not fear these forces an longer, since we are in Christ (for greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world (1 John 4:4)), nevertheless it is a struggle. And one we need to be constantly vigilant to engage in. We will discuss later what the Scripture ascribes and limits how we are to engage in this battle.

2) It is "our" struggle: There are very few believers that warrant the attention of Satan himself, personally. He is not omnipresent, so must focus his attacks one place/person/event at time. Knowing this, and knowing that he can and does dispatch demons to do his work in world, we need to remember that we cannot isolate ourselves and expect to have victory in this struggle. It is "our" struggle, corporately, as believers. Let us not think arrogantly that we have the strength in and of ourselves to engage successfully in this battle. If we often lose the battle with our own flesh on a daily basis, then we cannot expect to win a greater struggle with powerful, intelligent fallen angels who are greater than we are (Heb 2:6-7).

More to come....

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