.by Gwendolyn Hansen Wehage on Wednesday, December 22, 2010 at 12:11pm.
Last night my husband and I watched the movie, "Fiddler on the Roof." We enjoyed the movie and the music very much. It seemed that there were two dominate themes throughout the movie that would describe prophetic philisophical events in the lives of the Jewish people that can also be ascribed to the gentiles in that generation, as well as a progression of postures we have seen in the generation of the 1970's and beyond.
In the story, there were three daughters who were of marriagable age. In this Jewish culture there was a woman who was assigned the job of presenting eligable men to the parents of the unmarried children, for consideration as possilbe matches. The matches were not based on "29 dementions of compatibility" but on their character and financial standing. And, most of all, they must be of the same religious persuasion.
There was a strong Jewish tradition that was designed to protect the children from mistakes that could be made out of youthful ignorance and inexperience. The movie has the usual Hollywood spin in the spirit of emancipation. I think, that when this movie was made those who wrote it may not have realized that the picture they painted, was a picture of rebellion and selfwill and it's progression of events that led to family strife.
In the movie the three daughters dreamed about the man they might marry, and agonized over the man the matchmaker might bring them. Their fear that they would have to marry someone they didn't love, was at times overwhelming. The eldest daughter had already chosen her own match without the benefit of the matchmaker. She experienced a great deal of anxiety over the prospect of having to tell her father that she did not want to marry the man the matchmaker had provided. But had in fact already decided who she wanted to marry. With much trepidation she approached her father in humility asking him not to make her marry the man the matchmaker had chosen. She fell at his feet begging him with tears. She knew that it was vitally important that she have her father's permission and blessing for the man she would marry. Her father, after reflecting on the character of the man she desired, and her love for that man, relented and gave her the permission and blessing she sought.
The second daughter also, wanting to make her own choice for a husband, went to her father to inform him of her decision to marry her gentleman. She made it clear that she was not asking her father's permission but that she did want his blessing.
The Third daughter found a husband for herself that violated the very fibre of the family by choosing to marry outside the Jewish faith. She did not ask permission or blessing, but only wanted her father's acceptance. She married secretly when her father's answer to her request was denied. He said that in her case, she had gone too far in her rebellion against her father's faith. She could not be even accepted. What she had done was the height of disrespect and rejection of the father's possition in the family while at the same time turning her back on her faith.
Notice the progression here. The three daughters desired to make their own decisions about marriage, each one having already chosen, but each one stepping one step farther than the other to accomplish thier wills. The first daughter could not bring herself to disobey her father, whom she loved and desired to please. She appealed to him in humility and was not about to defy him. When he gave his permission and blessing, she fell on his neck and thanked him for his kindness to her.
The second daughter stepped one pace away from honoring her father by asserting herself without humility but desireing her father's blessing even though she cared not about his permission.
The Third daughter stepped two paces away from honoring her father by asserting herself without humility or even respect for him. She proceeded without his permission, blessing and respect for his possition as the leader in the family and informed him that she was married. She did not include him in the marriage in any way, she cared not about him or his tradition, but only about herself. After all of this, she asked for his acceptance, that she might be still in good standing in the family.
The father bent a little in the case of the two older daughters, but when the younger one shattered all the rules of decorum and rejected the father's faith by marrying out of it, he could not bend anymore. He said that if he bent for this, he would break.
The story seemed to be describing our culture except that there has been a fourth step, and that is, as a culture we do not value the advice of the parents, nor do we care about their approval. We have taken the next step of considering our parents advice as interference instead of welcome wisdom that could spare us problems and heartaches. We have been blinded into thinking that everyone should make their own mistakes without benefit of counsel. The children of the 70's and beyond have spirned the wisdom of their parents and are going on to make a mess of their lives. Divorce, remarriage, abortion, losing their homes for massive debt and much more.
Sadly this progression has led to unruly and arrogant grandchildren who do not understand the value of parents or grandparents. The children of the seventies are raising these children now and all this rebellion will come back to bite them when they are in the grandparent stage. It is the fault of the parents of the 70's, they fell into the deception of the "self esteem" teaching and are reaping the rotten fruit of that now.
The next stage or step, is for the next generation of children to disrespect their parents to such a degree as to have them put to death for the sake of convenience. There will not be children to take care of the elderly because they have been raised to resist any inconvenience or difficulty. Life is about fun and pleasure for this generation and this is what they are teaching their children. It's all very fun right now, but it will bring heartache later, when they realize that the children have not learned to work, sacrifice or serve for anyone else. It is no wonder that the evils we see in our culture are escallating at an alarming rate. Our young people are hyper-sensitive to correction, therefore they can not learn from their mistakes.
In the movie, the father and mother of the girls, were introduced to each other on their wedding day. They had no say in the marriage and obediently married in defference to their parents. Their love grew out of a commitment to one another and from working through life together willingly. Their love was one of a deeper more lasting nature. A choice to love for God's sake rather than emotional infatuation.
Notice that we choose our spouses today and fall in love, but our marriages do not last, while the children of these marriages live in emotional trumoil. Moving from house to house on the weekends, they don't have two homes, they have no home at all. Then they are also faced with the boyfriends and girlfriends of their parents who very often abuse them either verbally or physically. The statistics show that most abuse is perpetrated by the non-biological parent or live in partner. When love is a feeling and not a commitment, it is devestating to our children and grandchildren and to our country as a whole. Stability is non-existant, fear abounds along with sadness and lonliness. Our culture is a wreck because of our individualistic attitudes and emotional gratification.
We must repent from our willful acceptance of the self-esteem teaching and ask the Lord to work in the hearts of our young people. We are losing our country quickly due to this attitude of rebellion. If we do not repent as a nation we will lose all the freedoms that we have known. Perhaps losing everything will bring us to our senses and out of our materialistic and pleasure oriented stupor.
Here is where we are right now in our country,
2 Timothy 3:1
"But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power, And from such people turn away!"
Here is where we should be,
Matthew 9:13
"But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy and not sacrifice. For I did not come to call the righteous to repentance, but sinners to repentance."
.
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Love God's Way
Cross Ministry Blog http://thecrossministry.org/blog/how-to-renew-your-love-for-christ/01.22.2007/#more-60
How to Renew Your Love for Christ
One of the greatest problems in the Christian life is losing our fervent love for Jesus Christ. We can gradually drift away from the wholehearted and fervent love commitment to Christ without consciously realizing what is happening. This is why the author of Hebrews warned us:
“Encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still ‘today,’ lest
And one of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin” (Heb. 3:13)
Losing your love for Christ can be a slow and silent process which goes on unnoticed until the bitter fruits “suddenly” appear. It would be better to set up an “early warning system” which would reveal the process to us than to wake up with the problem upon us.
I.The Problem: A Lost Love (Rev. 2:1-4)
Rev 2:1 Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;
Rev 2:2 I know thy works, and thy labor, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:
Rev 2:3 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast labored, and hast not fainted.
Rev 2:4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.
A.You may be very active in church work but still lose your love for Christ (v. 2a).
B.You may live a separated life and have Christian friends but still lose your love for Christ (v. 2b).
C.You may be zealous in defending the truth against all heresies but still lose your love for Christ (v. 2c).
D.You may “keep the faith” in spite of persecution but still lose your love for Christ (v.3).
Conclusion:
Everything externally is properly in place but Internally your love for Christ is gone or weak.
II.How to Discern the Problem: Discern the process by learning the signs of losing your love for Christ. Identify it early and deal with it seriously.
Twenty-five Signs of a Lost Love
1.When you lack concern for the problem.
2.When you switch primary and secondary motives
Primary Motive Secondary Motive
Love to Christ Love for people
John 14:15 Duty to God
John 14:23 Dedication to church
Fear of shame/embarrassment
Guilt feelings/keeping up appearances
(Joh 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
Joh 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.)
3.When you no longer yearn for or delight in private times of communion with Christ.
4.When your thoughts no longer fly to spiritual things when your mind is free but they fly instead to self or sin.
5.When you begin to excuse “little sins” as a matter of personality or situation.
6.When you regret giving your tithes and offerings and begin to cut back due to greed.
7.When you allow bitterness to arise through failed expectations and violated rights.
8.When you gossip or slander and ignore Matthew 18:15-20.
Mat 18:15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
Mat 18:16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
Mat 18:17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as a heathen man and a publican.
Mat 18:18 Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
Mat 18:19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them
9.When you begin to let witnessing opportunities slip by due to feeling embarrassed or “funny”
10.When you hold grudges and “cannot” forgive others.
11.When you feel uncomfortable around spiritual Christians and cannot look them in the eyes.
12.When you associate with “carnal Christians” who, like you, avoid spiritual discussions which search the conscience.
13.When you compete with other Christians for power or recognition.
14.When you “cannot” be transparently honest with others but wear a “mask” of spirituality.
15.When you no longer “feel” God’s love (Rom. 5:5;Jude 21)
Rom 5:5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
Jud 1:21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
16.When you do not see specific answers to your prayers.
17.when you pray in generalities instead of praying specifically.
18.When you experience general moodiness, anxiety, depression and insecurity.
19.When you are quick to seek advice from people instead of going to Christ.
20.When you start losing your temper and are impatient with others.
21.When you placate your conscience by “feeling bad” about your lack of spirituality but do not go on to take positive steps of repentance.
22.When you return to the sins of preconversion days.
23.When you feel no compassion or concern for others.
24.When you complain and murmur.
25.When you are defensive when others exhort you about your backsliding.
III.How to cure the problem: Twelve Cures
1.Get right with God by confession and repentance (Prov. 28:13; 1 John 1:9)
Pro 28:13 He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.
1Jo 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
2.Recommit yourself to Christ (Rom. 12:1-2)
Rom 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
3.Get right with those against whom you have sinned or toward whom you have been unforgiving and bitter (Matt. 5:23-24; 18:15-17; Eph. 4:31-32).
Mat 5:23 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath aught against thee;
Mat 5:24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.
Mat 18:15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
Mat 18:16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
Mat 18:17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as a heathen man and a publican.
Eph 4:31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
Eph 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.
4.Get alone and meditate on the kind of Christian life you used to experience when your love for Christ was fervent: “Remember from where you have fallen” (Rev. 2:5a).
Rev 2:5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.
5.Repent of what you have become (Rev. 2:5b).
Rev 2:5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.
6.Repeat the activities which grew out of your first love(Rev. 2:5c)
Rev 2:5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.
7.Read exciting and inspiring Christian books, particularly biographies (Jude 20).
Jud 1:20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,
8. Confess the problem to the church and ask for prayer (James 5:16).
Jam 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
9. Associate with spiritual people.
10. Fast and pray.
11. Spend time in private worship by listening to Christian music which both inspiries and humbles you (1 Sam. 16:14-23;cf. Col. 3:15-16)
1Sa 16:14 But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him.
1Sa 16:15 And Saul’s servants said unto him, Behold now, an evil spirit from God troubleth thee.
1Sa 16:16 Let our lord now command thy servants, which are before thee, to seek out a man, who is a cunning player on a harp: and it shall come to pass, when the evil spirit from God is upon thee, that he shall play with his hand, and thou shalt be well.
1Sa 16:17 And Saul said unto his servants, Provide me now a man that can play well, and bring him to me.
1Sa 16:18 Then answered one of the servants, and said, Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, that is cunning in playing, and a mighty valiant man, and a man of war, and prudent in matters, and a comely person, and the LORD is with him.
1Sa 16:19 Wherefore Saul sent messengers unto Jesse, and said, Send me David thy son, which is with the sheep.
1Sa 16:20 And Jesse took an ass laden with bread, and a bottle of wine, and a kid, and sent them by David his son unto Saul.
1Sa 16:21 And David came to Saul, and stood before him: and he loved him greatly; and he became his armor bearer.
1Sa 16:22 And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, Let David, I pray thee, stand before me; for he hath found favor in my sight.
1Sa 16:23 And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took a harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him. Col 3:15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
Col 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
12. Go and witness to non-Christians (Rescue missions, door-to-door visitation, neighbors, etc.).
Conclusion
Our love to the Lord Jesus must be constantly reaffirmed as the main motivation in the Christian life. We should love Him, for He first loved us!
How to Renew Your Love for Christ
One of the greatest problems in the Christian life is losing our fervent love for Jesus Christ. We can gradually drift away from the wholehearted and fervent love commitment to Christ without consciously realizing what is happening. This is why the author of Hebrews warned us:
“Encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still ‘today,’ lest
And one of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin” (Heb. 3:13)
Losing your love for Christ can be a slow and silent process which goes on unnoticed until the bitter fruits “suddenly” appear. It would be better to set up an “early warning system” which would reveal the process to us than to wake up with the problem upon us.
I.The Problem: A Lost Love (Rev. 2:1-4)
Rev 2:1 Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;
Rev 2:2 I know thy works, and thy labor, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:
Rev 2:3 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast labored, and hast not fainted.
Rev 2:4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.
A.You may be very active in church work but still lose your love for Christ (v. 2a).
B.You may live a separated life and have Christian friends but still lose your love for Christ (v. 2b).
C.You may be zealous in defending the truth against all heresies but still lose your love for Christ (v. 2c).
D.You may “keep the faith” in spite of persecution but still lose your love for Christ (v.3).
Conclusion:
Everything externally is properly in place but Internally your love for Christ is gone or weak.
II.How to Discern the Problem: Discern the process by learning the signs of losing your love for Christ. Identify it early and deal with it seriously.
Twenty-five Signs of a Lost Love
1.When you lack concern for the problem.
2.When you switch primary and secondary motives
Primary Motive Secondary Motive
Love to Christ Love for people
John 14:15 Duty to God
John 14:23 Dedication to church
Fear of shame/embarrassment
Guilt feelings/keeping up appearances
(Joh 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
Joh 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.)
3.When you no longer yearn for or delight in private times of communion with Christ.
4.When your thoughts no longer fly to spiritual things when your mind is free but they fly instead to self or sin.
5.When you begin to excuse “little sins” as a matter of personality or situation.
6.When you regret giving your tithes and offerings and begin to cut back due to greed.
7.When you allow bitterness to arise through failed expectations and violated rights.
8.When you gossip or slander and ignore Matthew 18:15-20.
Mat 18:15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
Mat 18:16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
Mat 18:17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as a heathen man and a publican.
Mat 18:18 Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
Mat 18:19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them
9.When you begin to let witnessing opportunities slip by due to feeling embarrassed or “funny”
10.When you hold grudges and “cannot” forgive others.
11.When you feel uncomfortable around spiritual Christians and cannot look them in the eyes.
12.When you associate with “carnal Christians” who, like you, avoid spiritual discussions which search the conscience.
13.When you compete with other Christians for power or recognition.
14.When you “cannot” be transparently honest with others but wear a “mask” of spirituality.
15.When you no longer “feel” God’s love (Rom. 5:5;Jude 21)
Rom 5:5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
Jud 1:21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
16.When you do not see specific answers to your prayers.
17.when you pray in generalities instead of praying specifically.
18.When you experience general moodiness, anxiety, depression and insecurity.
19.When you are quick to seek advice from people instead of going to Christ.
20.When you start losing your temper and are impatient with others.
21.When you placate your conscience by “feeling bad” about your lack of spirituality but do not go on to take positive steps of repentance.
22.When you return to the sins of preconversion days.
23.When you feel no compassion or concern for others.
24.When you complain and murmur.
25.When you are defensive when others exhort you about your backsliding.
III.How to cure the problem: Twelve Cures
1.Get right with God by confession and repentance (Prov. 28:13; 1 John 1:9)
Pro 28:13 He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.
1Jo 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
2.Recommit yourself to Christ (Rom. 12:1-2)
Rom 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
3.Get right with those against whom you have sinned or toward whom you have been unforgiving and bitter (Matt. 5:23-24; 18:15-17; Eph. 4:31-32).
Mat 5:23 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath aught against thee;
Mat 5:24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.
Mat 18:15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
Mat 18:16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
Mat 18:17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as a heathen man and a publican.
Eph 4:31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
Eph 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.
4.Get alone and meditate on the kind of Christian life you used to experience when your love for Christ was fervent: “Remember from where you have fallen” (Rev. 2:5a).
Rev 2:5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.
5.Repent of what you have become (Rev. 2:5b).
Rev 2:5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.
6.Repeat the activities which grew out of your first love(Rev. 2:5c)
Rev 2:5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.
7.Read exciting and inspiring Christian books, particularly biographies (Jude 20).
Jud 1:20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,
8. Confess the problem to the church and ask for prayer (James 5:16).
Jam 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
9. Associate with spiritual people.
10. Fast and pray.
11. Spend time in private worship by listening to Christian music which both inspiries and humbles you (1 Sam. 16:14-23;cf. Col. 3:15-16)
1Sa 16:14 But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him.
1Sa 16:15 And Saul’s servants said unto him, Behold now, an evil spirit from God troubleth thee.
1Sa 16:16 Let our lord now command thy servants, which are before thee, to seek out a man, who is a cunning player on a harp: and it shall come to pass, when the evil spirit from God is upon thee, that he shall play with his hand, and thou shalt be well.
1Sa 16:17 And Saul said unto his servants, Provide me now a man that can play well, and bring him to me.
1Sa 16:18 Then answered one of the servants, and said, Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, that is cunning in playing, and a mighty valiant man, and a man of war, and prudent in matters, and a comely person, and the LORD is with him.
1Sa 16:19 Wherefore Saul sent messengers unto Jesse, and said, Send me David thy son, which is with the sheep.
1Sa 16:20 And Jesse took an ass laden with bread, and a bottle of wine, and a kid, and sent them by David his son unto Saul.
1Sa 16:21 And David came to Saul, and stood before him: and he loved him greatly; and he became his armor bearer.
1Sa 16:22 And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, Let David, I pray thee, stand before me; for he hath found favor in my sight.
1Sa 16:23 And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took a harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him. Col 3:15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
Col 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
12. Go and witness to non-Christians (Rescue missions, door-to-door visitation, neighbors, etc.).
Conclusion
Our love to the Lord Jesus must be constantly reaffirmed as the main motivation in the Christian life. We should love Him, for He first loved us!
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Christian Hospitality What Does It Look Like
CHRISTIAN HOSPITALITY
One of the greatest virtues of the Christian life is hospitality. The development of this character quality is one of the most important elements of spiritual maturity.
I. What is Christian Hospitality?
Definition: It is the opening of the heart and home to entertain friends and strangers with a view to ministering to their physical and spiritual needs in the name of Christ.
A. The words, “opening the heart” refer to your attitude about having people in your home.
What is your attitude when people come into your home?
Happy or sad
Gracious or resentful
Warm or cold
Pliable or stiff
Joyful or angry
Friendly or rude
Here’s some probing Questions
Do you make people feel “at home” in your home?
Do they feel welcome?
Do your guests feel comfortable in your home?
Do you view them as invited guests or as intruders?
Do guests brighten or spoil your day?
Do you resent unexpected company?
Do you complain or murmur about people coming?
Do you feel “imposed upon” and “used”?
B. The words, “opening of the home,” mean that you have an “open door” policy toward people in which the emphasis is not on the quality or condition of the furnishings or food but on creating a warm and friendlly atmosphere in the home. It is better to eat beans in a home where there is an atmosphere of love and acceptance than to eat a steak dinner in a home where there is an atmosphere of bitterness and resentfulness. Feeling welcomed and accepted has little to do with whether you are in a hovel or a palace. It is your attitude which determines whether or not your guests fill welcomed ( Prov. 17:1;21:9;25:24).
C. “With a view to ministering” means that the purpose of inviting people over to your home is to minister to them. Thus your purpose is not to impress people or show off your house or its furnishings. You should seek to be of benefit to them by providing a place, a time and an atmosphere where they can experience the joy of a Christian home and be led either to salvation or fellowship.
D. “Their physical needs” means that if someone needs a meal, provide it for them. Think of all the single adults who would love a home-cooked meal. Think of the sick or the elderly and their needs. There are those who need to “get away” from their home and could enjoy a time visiting and resting in your home. You could keep the children of a couple who need to get away as husband and wife (James 2:15-16; 1 John 3:17).
E. “In the name of Christ” means that you view your acts of hospitality as being done not only “in the name o the Lord” (Mk. 9:41) and “to the glory of God” (1 Cor. 10:31) but also “to the Lord” Himself in a personal way (Matt. 25:34-40).
Once this is understood, then a lack of hospitality or a poor attitude while engaged in hospitality must be viewed as a personal rejection of Christ Himself. How you treat the Lord’s people is the surest proof of how you really feel about the Lord Himself. A consistent lack of hospitality is viewed by Christ as the clearest proof that a person is not saved but is destined for eternal punishment (Matt. 25:41-46). When you resent having people in your home, Christ takes this resentment personally.
II. Who is Supposed to be Hospitable?
A. Because hospitality is such an important virtue, the Elders must exemplify this character trait (1 Tim. 3:2; Tit. 1:8). Their home must be open to the needs of people. A man who does not like people in his home or who is not able to make people feel welcomed is not suited for the office of Elder. The same holds true for any leadership position in the Church (1 Tim. 5:10). The character trait of hospitality is an essential requirement for leadership. All leaders are to be role models for the rest of the congregation to follow ( 1 Tim. 4:12; 1 Pet. 5:1-4).
B. All believers should develop the virtue of hospitality (Rom. 12:13; Heb. 13:2; 1 Pet. 4:9). From the Old Testament (Gen. 10) to the New Testament (Philemon), godliness and hospitality have been synonymous. All of us have been called to minister to others. Jesus has left us the example and pattern to follow (1 John 2:6; 3:16-18; Rom. 15:3 etc.).
Conclusion
The Key to Hospitality
A right attitude + consistent action = a godly habit.
A godly habit + time = a Christ-like character quality.
Taken from "Cross Ministry"
One of the greatest virtues of the Christian life is hospitality. The development of this character quality is one of the most important elements of spiritual maturity.
I. What is Christian Hospitality?
Definition: It is the opening of the heart and home to entertain friends and strangers with a view to ministering to their physical and spiritual needs in the name of Christ.
A. The words, “opening the heart” refer to your attitude about having people in your home.
What is your attitude when people come into your home?
Happy or sad
Gracious or resentful
Warm or cold
Pliable or stiff
Joyful or angry
Friendly or rude
Here’s some probing Questions
Do you make people feel “at home” in your home?
Do they feel welcome?
Do your guests feel comfortable in your home?
Do you view them as invited guests or as intruders?
Do guests brighten or spoil your day?
Do you resent unexpected company?
Do you complain or murmur about people coming?
Do you feel “imposed upon” and “used”?
B. The words, “opening of the home,” mean that you have an “open door” policy toward people in which the emphasis is not on the quality or condition of the furnishings or food but on creating a warm and friendlly atmosphere in the home. It is better to eat beans in a home where there is an atmosphere of love and acceptance than to eat a steak dinner in a home where there is an atmosphere of bitterness and resentfulness. Feeling welcomed and accepted has little to do with whether you are in a hovel or a palace. It is your attitude which determines whether or not your guests fill welcomed ( Prov. 17:1;21:9;25:24).
C. “With a view to ministering” means that the purpose of inviting people over to your home is to minister to them. Thus your purpose is not to impress people or show off your house or its furnishings. You should seek to be of benefit to them by providing a place, a time and an atmosphere where they can experience the joy of a Christian home and be led either to salvation or fellowship.
D. “Their physical needs” means that if someone needs a meal, provide it for them. Think of all the single adults who would love a home-cooked meal. Think of the sick or the elderly and their needs. There are those who need to “get away” from their home and could enjoy a time visiting and resting in your home. You could keep the children of a couple who need to get away as husband and wife (James 2:15-16; 1 John 3:17).
E. “In the name of Christ” means that you view your acts of hospitality as being done not only “in the name o the Lord” (Mk. 9:41) and “to the glory of God” (1 Cor. 10:31) but also “to the Lord” Himself in a personal way (Matt. 25:34-40).
Once this is understood, then a lack of hospitality or a poor attitude while engaged in hospitality must be viewed as a personal rejection of Christ Himself. How you treat the Lord’s people is the surest proof of how you really feel about the Lord Himself. A consistent lack of hospitality is viewed by Christ as the clearest proof that a person is not saved but is destined for eternal punishment (Matt. 25:41-46). When you resent having people in your home, Christ takes this resentment personally.
II. Who is Supposed to be Hospitable?
A. Because hospitality is such an important virtue, the Elders must exemplify this character trait (1 Tim. 3:2; Tit. 1:8). Their home must be open to the needs of people. A man who does not like people in his home or who is not able to make people feel welcomed is not suited for the office of Elder. The same holds true for any leadership position in the Church (1 Tim. 5:10). The character trait of hospitality is an essential requirement for leadership. All leaders are to be role models for the rest of the congregation to follow ( 1 Tim. 4:12; 1 Pet. 5:1-4).
B. All believers should develop the virtue of hospitality (Rom. 12:13; Heb. 13:2; 1 Pet. 4:9). From the Old Testament (Gen. 10) to the New Testament (Philemon), godliness and hospitality have been synonymous. All of us have been called to minister to others. Jesus has left us the example and pattern to follow (1 John 2:6; 3:16-18; Rom. 15:3 etc.).
Conclusion
The Key to Hospitality
A right attitude + consistent action = a godly habit.
A godly habit + time = a Christ-like character quality.
Taken from "Cross Ministry"
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Honor Thy Father and Thy Mother
In recent years I have been speaking with people who have been expressing sadness over the attitude of disrespect that their children and their children's spouses have displayed. Our culture has lost sight almost entirely of the 5th commandment.
Somehow adult children have acquired the idea that they no longer have to respect their parents or the parents of their spouse, once they are grown and out of the house.
The articles that I have been reading, tell a story of incredible rebellion against authority and the wisdom of the older generation.
The new generation of narcissisticly trained children of the self esteem doctrine are arrogant and disrespectful, not because they know more than their parents, but only because they have been trained to be self absorbed and think they know more.
They have been excessively praised by school, church and home, to the point that they believe they really do know it all and old people are stupid.
We are to blame for this as a culture, because we were more concerned about our children liking themselves. We forgot to teach them to "love others better than themselves" as Christ taught in His Word. The only road back to respect is through repentance as a nation as a whole. If we can not acknowledge that we have wickedly trained children to love themselves above everyone and everything else, then there is no hope for us. Because our children are in the process now of teaching their children to exhibit even more disrespect than they do, except for repentance we are doomed to live in a culture that puts it's elderly to death because they will be considered of no value to their children.
I would like to share with you an article that I found on the Internet that expresses what God thinks of all of this lack of respect in children and what His consequences are to those who will not repent.
Honor Father and Mother (Exodus 20:12)
by Darryl on July 26, 2009
This summer we’re working our way through the Ten Commandments, asking what they mean and how they apply to our lives today. We’re looking at them because of their uniqueness – because they are the only time in redemptive history that God himself spoke to all of his people assembled in one place. We’re also looking at them because Jesus reaffirmed many of these commands, therefore showing that they’re still relevant to us today thousands of years after they were given.
Today we’re looking at one that you may think doesn’t apply to you. You may think that nine apply, but this one is for others, specifically kids. The fifth commandment says:
Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you. (Exodus 20:12)
So today I want to ask four simple questions:
What does this command teach?
What did Jesus say about this command?
What are some of the wider implications of this command?
How do we keep it?
First, what does this command teach?
I have some bad news for you if you think that this command doesn’t apply to you, because contrary to what some have thought, this is not a command that is only for children. This command was given to the entire national of Israel gathered at Sinai, most of whom were adults. In other words, this is a command given not just to kids but to adults as well. The command, regardless of your age, is this: honor your father and mother.
The word honor has the idea of weight. It carries the idea of not taking your parents lightly, of regarding them as something significant and heavy in your life. It means giving them the highest esteem, of elevating them to a place of importance in your life, and showing gratitude to them. God commands us: Treat your parents weightily; regard them as people of great worth. Treat them with deference. Take them very seriously in your life.
In the very early years, this happens naturally. If you see a very young child, you know that at a certain stage, mother and father are everything. Young children only want their parents. What their parents think of them is the only thing that matters. At a certain stage, children see parents as absolutely perfect.
But as children grow, this changes, and it should. We’ve all become more independent of our parents. Our lives give other people and other influences greater weight. We’re very aware of the faults of our parents. It’s at this point that God stops us and says: don’t you dare grow so removed from your parents, or so disillusioned with them, that you stop giving them a place of weighty importance in your lives. Don’t you dare stop caring for them, showing deference to them, speaking highly of them. Next to God, your parents are to receive the greatest respect and value in your life. Disrespecting them is a serious matter. Refusing to honor them is not just an offense to them; it’s also an offense to God, and a very serious matter.
Do you see how relevant and how challenging this command is? It’s especially challenging because there’s no exception clause for those of us who had less-than-perfect parents – and some of us did. As Martin Luther said, this command applies no matter how “lowly, poor, frail, and queer they may be.” The Heidelberg Catechism says it involves patiently bearing “with their weaknesses and infirmities.” This is not for perfect families with perfect parents and perfect kids; this is for all of us. This is for those of us who have parents who sometimes drive us crazy, or whose faults are very plain to us. God says that we are to honor that imperfect father who may have hurt us, and to honor our imperfect father. Not easy, but it’s what this command is about.
We’re going to look at what this means in practical terms in a minute, but before we move on we have to notice that this is the first commandment, as the apostle Paul writes later, with a promise. God says, “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.” This, of course, was given to the people of Israel who were promised a land. The apostle Paul translates this promise to those of us who know Christ: “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.” (Ephesians 6:3). What does this promise mean? It’s not an individual promise as much as it is a corporate one. Obeying all of God’s laws is the way to life. It’s the best possible way to live well. And honoring parents is crucial to the basic functioning of society in every way – socially, economically, and spiritually. Whenever the basic structure of the family breaks down, it threatens the well-being of the entire society. Life becomes diminished for everyone. But when we honor and care for our parents, we create a social climate that enhances the possibility of a good and long life, not only for each person but for society as a whole.
That’s what this command means. Now we have to ask:
What did Jesus say about this command?
It’s always interesting to see what Jesus said about these commandments. He taught on many of them in the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus didn’t talk about the fifth commandment in that sermon, however. Instead, he referred to it when he confronted some of the most religious people who lived at the time, who thought they had found a way around this commandment.
In Matthew 15:4-6, Jesus said:
And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition? For God said, “Honor your father and mother” and “Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.” But you say that if anyone declares that what might have been used to help their father or mother is ‘devoted to God,’ they are not to ‘honor their father or mother’ with it. Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition.
So let’s notice what Jesus says here. First, he affirms that this is a command of God. The command to honor our parents, according to Jesus, is of divine origin. Second, he quotes Exodus 21:17, which says, “Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.” Notice how serious this command is: in Israel, God’s covenant community, disrespecting parents is placed amongst commands dealing with death and physical injury, and failing to honor them is a capital crime. We don’t live in a theocracy – under the direct rule of God – so the punishment no longer applies, but Jesus affirms that this is not only a command from God, but that breaking this command is an incredibly serious matter.
But then Jesus confronts a group of adults who outwardly agreed with this command, but thought they had found a loophole around it. Jewish tradition allowed that funds originally dedicated to the care of parents could be declared Corban – legally dedicated to God – meaning that you would no longer be required to do anything to financially support your aging parents. Instead of giving money to your parents, you would instead give the money to the temple. Some scholars think that you were actually able to keep the money yourself and benefit from it, as long as it was dedicated to God.
In essence, they thought they had found a way out of financially supporting parents by playing the spiritual trump card. Jesus had no time for this. He said that this is actually a way of nullifying the word of God. They not only violated one a commandment and disrespected their parents; they also showed complete disregard for the word of God.
Do you see what Jesus has done here? He has not only reaffirmed the commandment to honor our parents, but he has emphasized its importance in the strongest of terms. He’s reaffirmed that this commandment applies to adult children, and he’s fleshed out what honor means. Honor means financially supporting our aging parents. The apostle Paul re enforces this too when he says, “Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever” (1 Timothy 5:8). Providing financially for our family is a spiritual issue. If we do not do this, it shows that we have not grasped the gospel. It is tantamount to denying the faith that we profess to believe.
So Jesus does not qualify this command or weaken it for us. Instead, Jesus re enforces it in the strongest possible terms, and helps us see that honoring means practically caring for the needs of our parents, including looking after their financial needs. To fail to do this is not only disrespectful to our parents; it also nullifies God’s word and implicitly a denial of the gospel. This is heavy stuff.
I want to stop here to ask about some of the wider implications of this command.
I want to be brief here and point out that, throughout the church’s history, Christians have seen this as a command that applies not only to our relationship to our parents, but to all authority. At first you may roll your eyes and think that they’re taking things a bit too far, but think about it for a minute. Martin Luther said, “Out of the authority of parents, all other authority is derived and developed.” Think about this. God has placed us in families, and the Bible teaches us that the family is the basic unit of society. In essence, the other structures developed when families got larger, so that the state or government is really, in essence, a very complicated extension of the family. This is a very different way of thinking. John Frame writes, “What we call ‘states,” then, are the governmental structures of the family of Adam.”
This is why the catechisms emphasize that this command applies not only to our relationship with parents, but it applies in a much wider way as well. That’s why, for instance, the Baptist catechism says, “The fifth commandment requires that we preserve the honor and perform the duties which belong to every one in their various roles as authorities, subordinates or equals.”
There’s one other wider implication. One day when Jesus’ family came to visit him, Jesus said:
“Who are my mother and my brothers?” he asked.
Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.” (Mark 3:34-35)
If we are thinking of ways to honor our families, we also have to think not only in terms of parents and authorities. We also need to think of our fellow believers. The gospel turns us into a family. We are far more than just an audience. Blood is thicker than water; the blood that unites us as family is the blood not of physical descent, but of Jesus’ own blood, shed on the cross.
When we really understand this command, it transforms not only the way we honor our parents; it will transform the way we relate to all authority. It will help us even see our relationship with each other within the church in new ways. It’s what the apostle Peter was getting at when he wrote, “Show proper respect to everyone, love your fellow believers, fear God, honor the emperor” (1 Peter 2:17). This command is about honoring parents, authorities, and our spiritual family, for the good of all.
Well, let’s finish by asking what may be the most important question this morning: how do we keep this command?
There are probably few times in history in which the fifth commandment could be more counter cultural, more timely, more necessary. We need this commandment. Most of us have been taught to question authority. Our children are taught to be autonomous at a very early age. The fifth commandment reminds us of the importance of submitting and honoring those who are in rightful authority over us, especially our parents. We tend to be very individualistic. So this commandment challenges us in some very practical ways.
Let me speak to parents. You’ve probably heard of Grimm’s Fairy Tales. One of the lesser known stories is of a very old man, “whose eyes had become dim, his ears dull of hearing, his knees trembled, and when he sat at table he could hardly hold the spoon, and spilt the broth upon the table-cloth or let it run out of his mouth.” His son and the son’s wife became so disgusted by him that they banished him from the table, and when he broke his bowl they made him eat of a trough. They treated him horribly.
One day the couple’s son, who was four years old, began to make something out of wood. The parents were touched and said, “What are you making?” “I am making a little trough,” answered the child, “for father and mother to eat out of when I am big.” The couple looked at each other and wept, realizing that they were teaching their son how to treat them when they got older. And they brought the grandfather back to the table, and from that point on they always let him eat with them, and they never complained even if he did spill a little of anything.
You get the idea. The way that you are treating your parents as adults is teaching your children how to one day treat you. How this applies will look different in every circumstance, but the principle is clear: honor your father and mother. How are you doing in keeping this command? We need to ask how we are caring for our parents financially, socially, emotionally. To the degree that we are indifferent to their needs, to that degree are we diminishing the possibilities of a well-functioning society for all.
You need to teach your children how to respect authority, and the best way to do this is to teach them not only with your words but with your example. Your children need discipline, but they also need your example. Teach them to honor parents and authorities by the way that you honor parents and authorities.
Our society talks a lot about deadbeat parents who fail to take care of their underage children. But there’s such a thing as deadbeat sons and daughters, who fail to care for their feeble parents. We need to teach our children not to be deadbeat kids, both by teaching them God’s Word and demonstrating what it means to honor parents by our behavior.
Now let me speak about how this applies to church. This commandment transforms our family relationships and it transforms our view of authority, but it also translates our view of church. The church is not something that I attend or that I’m part of when it suits me. It is Jesus’ own family, united by his blood. This means that we are called, as Peter says, to love one another. We’re called not only to honor parents and authorities, but to love those in our spiritual family for the good of all.
This is why church is so counter cultural. People will get if you go to a church that’s hip and that you enjoy. They won’t understand you committing to people who cost you something, who are sometimes annoying and inconvenient. They won’t understand you loving others and sacrificing for their good when it costs you. But that’s what it means to be part of Christ’s family. It means committing to a particular group of people and loving them sacrificially.
The fifth commandment pulls us out of our selfishness and lets us live for others, not only our parents but for all that God has placed in authority, not to mention all others who have been saved by Jesus blood. What could possibly pull us out of our selfishness so we can live for others? Because we serve a Savior who perfectly honored his own Father and gave his life so that we could be changed.
Father, we thank you for this commandment. We see today that it applies to us, and that it’s crucial that we follow it. I pray that you would help us see its importance, not only for us, but for our children and our church as well.
We pray for those today who have not been honoring their parents as they should. Give them the grace that they need so that they will care for their parents by speaking well of them, forgiving them, and supporting them in practical and financial ways.
We pray for parents. Please allow us as parents to teach our children the importance of honoring those in authority.
We pray for our church. Teach us that we are family, and allow us to be free to love and serve our fellow believers.
All of this is possible because we have a Savior who not only honored his Father perfectly, but who died so that we could be forgiven and changed. May every person here be transformed by trusting in Christ. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Somehow adult children have acquired the idea that they no longer have to respect their parents or the parents of their spouse, once they are grown and out of the house.
The articles that I have been reading, tell a story of incredible rebellion against authority and the wisdom of the older generation.
The new generation of narcissisticly trained children of the self esteem doctrine are arrogant and disrespectful, not because they know more than their parents, but only because they have been trained to be self absorbed and think they know more.
They have been excessively praised by school, church and home, to the point that they believe they really do know it all and old people are stupid.
We are to blame for this as a culture, because we were more concerned about our children liking themselves. We forgot to teach them to "love others better than themselves" as Christ taught in His Word. The only road back to respect is through repentance as a nation as a whole. If we can not acknowledge that we have wickedly trained children to love themselves above everyone and everything else, then there is no hope for us. Because our children are in the process now of teaching their children to exhibit even more disrespect than they do, except for repentance we are doomed to live in a culture that puts it's elderly to death because they will be considered of no value to their children.
I would like to share with you an article that I found on the Internet that expresses what God thinks of all of this lack of respect in children and what His consequences are to those who will not repent.
Honor Father and Mother (Exodus 20:12)
by Darryl on July 26, 2009
This summer we’re working our way through the Ten Commandments, asking what they mean and how they apply to our lives today. We’re looking at them because of their uniqueness – because they are the only time in redemptive history that God himself spoke to all of his people assembled in one place. We’re also looking at them because Jesus reaffirmed many of these commands, therefore showing that they’re still relevant to us today thousands of years after they were given.
Today we’re looking at one that you may think doesn’t apply to you. You may think that nine apply, but this one is for others, specifically kids. The fifth commandment says:
Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you. (Exodus 20:12)
So today I want to ask four simple questions:
What does this command teach?
What did Jesus say about this command?
What are some of the wider implications of this command?
How do we keep it?
First, what does this command teach?
I have some bad news for you if you think that this command doesn’t apply to you, because contrary to what some have thought, this is not a command that is only for children. This command was given to the entire national of Israel gathered at Sinai, most of whom were adults. In other words, this is a command given not just to kids but to adults as well. The command, regardless of your age, is this: honor your father and mother.
The word honor has the idea of weight. It carries the idea of not taking your parents lightly, of regarding them as something significant and heavy in your life. It means giving them the highest esteem, of elevating them to a place of importance in your life, and showing gratitude to them. God commands us: Treat your parents weightily; regard them as people of great worth. Treat them with deference. Take them very seriously in your life.
In the very early years, this happens naturally. If you see a very young child, you know that at a certain stage, mother and father are everything. Young children only want their parents. What their parents think of them is the only thing that matters. At a certain stage, children see parents as absolutely perfect.
But as children grow, this changes, and it should. We’ve all become more independent of our parents. Our lives give other people and other influences greater weight. We’re very aware of the faults of our parents. It’s at this point that God stops us and says: don’t you dare grow so removed from your parents, or so disillusioned with them, that you stop giving them a place of weighty importance in your lives. Don’t you dare stop caring for them, showing deference to them, speaking highly of them. Next to God, your parents are to receive the greatest respect and value in your life. Disrespecting them is a serious matter. Refusing to honor them is not just an offense to them; it’s also an offense to God, and a very serious matter.
Do you see how relevant and how challenging this command is? It’s especially challenging because there’s no exception clause for those of us who had less-than-perfect parents – and some of us did. As Martin Luther said, this command applies no matter how “lowly, poor, frail, and queer they may be.” The Heidelberg Catechism says it involves patiently bearing “with their weaknesses and infirmities.” This is not for perfect families with perfect parents and perfect kids; this is for all of us. This is for those of us who have parents who sometimes drive us crazy, or whose faults are very plain to us. God says that we are to honor that imperfect father who may have hurt us, and to honor our imperfect father. Not easy, but it’s what this command is about.
We’re going to look at what this means in practical terms in a minute, but before we move on we have to notice that this is the first commandment, as the apostle Paul writes later, with a promise. God says, “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.” This, of course, was given to the people of Israel who were promised a land. The apostle Paul translates this promise to those of us who know Christ: “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.” (Ephesians 6:3). What does this promise mean? It’s not an individual promise as much as it is a corporate one. Obeying all of God’s laws is the way to life. It’s the best possible way to live well. And honoring parents is crucial to the basic functioning of society in every way – socially, economically, and spiritually. Whenever the basic structure of the family breaks down, it threatens the well-being of the entire society. Life becomes diminished for everyone. But when we honor and care for our parents, we create a social climate that enhances the possibility of a good and long life, not only for each person but for society as a whole.
That’s what this command means. Now we have to ask:
What did Jesus say about this command?
It’s always interesting to see what Jesus said about these commandments. He taught on many of them in the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus didn’t talk about the fifth commandment in that sermon, however. Instead, he referred to it when he confronted some of the most religious people who lived at the time, who thought they had found a way around this commandment.
In Matthew 15:4-6, Jesus said:
And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition? For God said, “Honor your father and mother” and “Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.” But you say that if anyone declares that what might have been used to help their father or mother is ‘devoted to God,’ they are not to ‘honor their father or mother’ with it. Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition.
So let’s notice what Jesus says here. First, he affirms that this is a command of God. The command to honor our parents, according to Jesus, is of divine origin. Second, he quotes Exodus 21:17, which says, “Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.” Notice how serious this command is: in Israel, God’s covenant community, disrespecting parents is placed amongst commands dealing with death and physical injury, and failing to honor them is a capital crime. We don’t live in a theocracy – under the direct rule of God – so the punishment no longer applies, but Jesus affirms that this is not only a command from God, but that breaking this command is an incredibly serious matter.
But then Jesus confronts a group of adults who outwardly agreed with this command, but thought they had found a loophole around it. Jewish tradition allowed that funds originally dedicated to the care of parents could be declared Corban – legally dedicated to God – meaning that you would no longer be required to do anything to financially support your aging parents. Instead of giving money to your parents, you would instead give the money to the temple. Some scholars think that you were actually able to keep the money yourself and benefit from it, as long as it was dedicated to God.
In essence, they thought they had found a way out of financially supporting parents by playing the spiritual trump card. Jesus had no time for this. He said that this is actually a way of nullifying the word of God. They not only violated one a commandment and disrespected their parents; they also showed complete disregard for the word of God.
Do you see what Jesus has done here? He has not only reaffirmed the commandment to honor our parents, but he has emphasized its importance in the strongest of terms. He’s reaffirmed that this commandment applies to adult children, and he’s fleshed out what honor means. Honor means financially supporting our aging parents. The apostle Paul re enforces this too when he says, “Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever” (1 Timothy 5:8). Providing financially for our family is a spiritual issue. If we do not do this, it shows that we have not grasped the gospel. It is tantamount to denying the faith that we profess to believe.
So Jesus does not qualify this command or weaken it for us. Instead, Jesus re enforces it in the strongest possible terms, and helps us see that honoring means practically caring for the needs of our parents, including looking after their financial needs. To fail to do this is not only disrespectful to our parents; it also nullifies God’s word and implicitly a denial of the gospel. This is heavy stuff.
I want to stop here to ask about some of the wider implications of this command.
I want to be brief here and point out that, throughout the church’s history, Christians have seen this as a command that applies not only to our relationship to our parents, but to all authority. At first you may roll your eyes and think that they’re taking things a bit too far, but think about it for a minute. Martin Luther said, “Out of the authority of parents, all other authority is derived and developed.” Think about this. God has placed us in families, and the Bible teaches us that the family is the basic unit of society. In essence, the other structures developed when families got larger, so that the state or government is really, in essence, a very complicated extension of the family. This is a very different way of thinking. John Frame writes, “What we call ‘states,” then, are the governmental structures of the family of Adam.”
This is why the catechisms emphasize that this command applies not only to our relationship with parents, but it applies in a much wider way as well. That’s why, for instance, the Baptist catechism says, “The fifth commandment requires that we preserve the honor and perform the duties which belong to every one in their various roles as authorities, subordinates or equals.”
There’s one other wider implication. One day when Jesus’ family came to visit him, Jesus said:
“Who are my mother and my brothers?” he asked.
Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.” (Mark 3:34-35)
If we are thinking of ways to honor our families, we also have to think not only in terms of parents and authorities. We also need to think of our fellow believers. The gospel turns us into a family. We are far more than just an audience. Blood is thicker than water; the blood that unites us as family is the blood not of physical descent, but of Jesus’ own blood, shed on the cross.
When we really understand this command, it transforms not only the way we honor our parents; it will transform the way we relate to all authority. It will help us even see our relationship with each other within the church in new ways. It’s what the apostle Peter was getting at when he wrote, “Show proper respect to everyone, love your fellow believers, fear God, honor the emperor” (1 Peter 2:17). This command is about honoring parents, authorities, and our spiritual family, for the good of all.
Well, let’s finish by asking what may be the most important question this morning: how do we keep this command?
There are probably few times in history in which the fifth commandment could be more counter cultural, more timely, more necessary. We need this commandment. Most of us have been taught to question authority. Our children are taught to be autonomous at a very early age. The fifth commandment reminds us of the importance of submitting and honoring those who are in rightful authority over us, especially our parents. We tend to be very individualistic. So this commandment challenges us in some very practical ways.
Let me speak to parents. You’ve probably heard of Grimm’s Fairy Tales. One of the lesser known stories is of a very old man, “whose eyes had become dim, his ears dull of hearing, his knees trembled, and when he sat at table he could hardly hold the spoon, and spilt the broth upon the table-cloth or let it run out of his mouth.” His son and the son’s wife became so disgusted by him that they banished him from the table, and when he broke his bowl they made him eat of a trough. They treated him horribly.
One day the couple’s son, who was four years old, began to make something out of wood. The parents were touched and said, “What are you making?” “I am making a little trough,” answered the child, “for father and mother to eat out of when I am big.” The couple looked at each other and wept, realizing that they were teaching their son how to treat them when they got older. And they brought the grandfather back to the table, and from that point on they always let him eat with them, and they never complained even if he did spill a little of anything.
You get the idea. The way that you are treating your parents as adults is teaching your children how to one day treat you. How this applies will look different in every circumstance, but the principle is clear: honor your father and mother. How are you doing in keeping this command? We need to ask how we are caring for our parents financially, socially, emotionally. To the degree that we are indifferent to their needs, to that degree are we diminishing the possibilities of a well-functioning society for all.
You need to teach your children how to respect authority, and the best way to do this is to teach them not only with your words but with your example. Your children need discipline, but they also need your example. Teach them to honor parents and authorities by the way that you honor parents and authorities.
Our society talks a lot about deadbeat parents who fail to take care of their underage children. But there’s such a thing as deadbeat sons and daughters, who fail to care for their feeble parents. We need to teach our children not to be deadbeat kids, both by teaching them God’s Word and demonstrating what it means to honor parents by our behavior.
Now let me speak about how this applies to church. This commandment transforms our family relationships and it transforms our view of authority, but it also translates our view of church. The church is not something that I attend or that I’m part of when it suits me. It is Jesus’ own family, united by his blood. This means that we are called, as Peter says, to love one another. We’re called not only to honor parents and authorities, but to love those in our spiritual family for the good of all.
This is why church is so counter cultural. People will get if you go to a church that’s hip and that you enjoy. They won’t understand you committing to people who cost you something, who are sometimes annoying and inconvenient. They won’t understand you loving others and sacrificing for their good when it costs you. But that’s what it means to be part of Christ’s family. It means committing to a particular group of people and loving them sacrificially.
The fifth commandment pulls us out of our selfishness and lets us live for others, not only our parents but for all that God has placed in authority, not to mention all others who have been saved by Jesus blood. What could possibly pull us out of our selfishness so we can live for others? Because we serve a Savior who perfectly honored his own Father and gave his life so that we could be changed.
Father, we thank you for this commandment. We see today that it applies to us, and that it’s crucial that we follow it. I pray that you would help us see its importance, not only for us, but for our children and our church as well.
We pray for those today who have not been honoring their parents as they should. Give them the grace that they need so that they will care for their parents by speaking well of them, forgiving them, and supporting them in practical and financial ways.
We pray for parents. Please allow us as parents to teach our children the importance of honoring those in authority.
We pray for our church. Teach us that we are family, and allow us to be free to love and serve our fellow believers.
All of this is possible because we have a Savior who not only honored his Father perfectly, but who died so that we could be forgiven and changed. May every person here be transformed by trusting in Christ. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Friday, December 3, 2010
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Dr. Laura: Shame On You
I was listening to Dr. Laura while in my car a few days ago. I don't generally turn her on at home but do while I am driving around town, mostly for comic relief. Although this time, the answer she gave to a young married woman, enraged me.
The woman was complaining that her husband was an "excessive compulsive" personality and somewhat of a controller.
Dr. Laura's quick and ill-considered answer was beyond belief. She told the woman that she had picked her husband unwisely and must correct her mistake. The inference was that the woman should dump him by divorcing him. Then Dr. Laura gave her the alternative to dumping him, which was to have her tubes tied so that she would not bring children in to this "situation."
Dr. Laura's advice was not only uninformed but childish. We do not dump people we love just because they don't act exactly the way we like them to. We chose to love those we have committed ourselves to through marriage, by standing by them no matter what.
Secondly, how can Dr. Laura know for sure that this woman's opinion of her husband is correct. Women often state things in more dramatic terms than they really are. We are emotional creatures given to assumptions and perspectives based on our feelings. We can not trust our feelings, especially in a culture that had coddled and babied us all through our childhood.
My advise to that young woman would have been very different and I believe kinder than Dr. Laura's. I would have told the young woman that she may be overreacting, but for the sake of argument, let's assume she was not. Do we dump people because they don't meet our expectations? I would have asked for clarification as to what the wife was calling excessive compulsive. Is the woman in question doing her job as a homemaker and seeing to it that the work in the household is done for the sake of her family? Is she selfish and lazy? We don't know which is true by her testimony alone. Did she throw out that "psychological" term "excessive compulsive" to manipulate Dr. Laura into an answer she wanted to hear?
Thirty second marriage counseling can not be effective or accurate. It is showmanship of the worst kind. Playing counselor for three hours, possibly ruining the lives of people in thirty second snippets for the sake of ratings, is unconscionable.
I used to enjoy Dr. Laura, she would extol the virtues of homemaking and taking care of your man as though she really believed it. Is it possible that Dr. Laura only believes in these principles if we are married to perfect people.
I have news for Dr. Laura, no one is perfect. We all have things that we need to work on in order to grow into a better person, we don't divorce over them, we grow and change and work them out.
I was also angry when Dr. Laura used the phrase, "these kind of people don't change." It is an untruth. Many people change, and so what if they don't, we learn to accept the quirks in people and love them anyway.
One thing Dr. Laura does not understand, is that in Christ we can and do change. But being an unbeliever, Dr. Laura would not understand that changing power of Christ in someones life. She would never point anyone to faith in Jesus Christ. Because she does not believe people change, she leaves the caller with no hope at all for the marriage relationship that is experiencing trials.
Christians should not listen to Dr. Laura for advise. She does not know the Lord and will not counsel from the Word of God.
God's Word, as believers, is our authority for the situations of life. But in order to know God's way we must read His Word for general principles and then ask Him for direction on the specifics. If we seek the Holy Spirit for our wisdom, we will not go wrong. A perfect God has the perfect answer to everything.
The woman was complaining that her husband was an "excessive compulsive" personality and somewhat of a controller.
Dr. Laura's quick and ill-considered answer was beyond belief. She told the woman that she had picked her husband unwisely and must correct her mistake. The inference was that the woman should dump him by divorcing him. Then Dr. Laura gave her the alternative to dumping him, which was to have her tubes tied so that she would not bring children in to this "situation."
Dr. Laura's advice was not only uninformed but childish. We do not dump people we love just because they don't act exactly the way we like them to. We chose to love those we have committed ourselves to through marriage, by standing by them no matter what.
Secondly, how can Dr. Laura know for sure that this woman's opinion of her husband is correct. Women often state things in more dramatic terms than they really are. We are emotional creatures given to assumptions and perspectives based on our feelings. We can not trust our feelings, especially in a culture that had coddled and babied us all through our childhood.
My advise to that young woman would have been very different and I believe kinder than Dr. Laura's. I would have told the young woman that she may be overreacting, but for the sake of argument, let's assume she was not. Do we dump people because they don't meet our expectations? I would have asked for clarification as to what the wife was calling excessive compulsive. Is the woman in question doing her job as a homemaker and seeing to it that the work in the household is done for the sake of her family? Is she selfish and lazy? We don't know which is true by her testimony alone. Did she throw out that "psychological" term "excessive compulsive" to manipulate Dr. Laura into an answer she wanted to hear?
Thirty second marriage counseling can not be effective or accurate. It is showmanship of the worst kind. Playing counselor for three hours, possibly ruining the lives of people in thirty second snippets for the sake of ratings, is unconscionable.
I used to enjoy Dr. Laura, she would extol the virtues of homemaking and taking care of your man as though she really believed it. Is it possible that Dr. Laura only believes in these principles if we are married to perfect people.
I have news for Dr. Laura, no one is perfect. We all have things that we need to work on in order to grow into a better person, we don't divorce over them, we grow and change and work them out.
I was also angry when Dr. Laura used the phrase, "these kind of people don't change." It is an untruth. Many people change, and so what if they don't, we learn to accept the quirks in people and love them anyway.
One thing Dr. Laura does not understand, is that in Christ we can and do change. But being an unbeliever, Dr. Laura would not understand that changing power of Christ in someones life. She would never point anyone to faith in Jesus Christ. Because she does not believe people change, she leaves the caller with no hope at all for the marriage relationship that is experiencing trials.
Christians should not listen to Dr. Laura for advise. She does not know the Lord and will not counsel from the Word of God.
God's Word, as believers, is our authority for the situations of life. But in order to know God's way we must read His Word for general principles and then ask Him for direction on the specifics. If we seek the Holy Spirit for our wisdom, we will not go wrong. A perfect God has the perfect answer to everything.
Friday, November 5, 2010
Violence, What Does It Look Like
So often we equate violence with a smack in the face or a some other physical action that causes fleshly injury. There is another kind of violence that is much more subtle and damaging even than that which wounds the physical body.
Some of us who have lived more than 50 years, remember the days when a man would never speak crude language in the presence of a lady. In the eighteen hundreds in England, ladies were not allowed to attend funerals, or bars, or canteens where men hung out. They were considered the gentle gender in need of protection from those things that may emotionally upset them. We know that women had many hardships in their daily lives. Even those who were of healed means, experienced personal loss at young ages. There were diseases, accidents and hard work for those who were commoners. The disease also struck the wealthy, death was a common occurrence for everyone. There were no lack of lessons to be learned in the hardships of life.
There was a mentality in the old days that is conspicuously lacking in our culture today. That is the depth of concern for the well being of others. The women especially have felt the brunt of missing protection from the men. The women blame the men for their selfishness, and the men blame the women for the same reason. When in fact, both bear some responsibility, but the men carry the weight of the responsibility for their misunderstanding of the vision of the Biblical man.
The men abdicated their responsibility in caring for the woman in a loving manner, and the women responded wrongly in anger rather than in prayer. Both are cop able but the man holds the headship position ultimately is accountable for the condition of the home.
In business, if a CEO is not able to motivate his people in a manner that is fair and equitable, then he is accountable to the company for it's success or failure. The underlings are not held responsible for the company as a whole, but the CEO is. When a leader rules harshly and selfishly, then he presents a formula for failure and disaster. Of course the underlings are responsible before God to obey, but they are also responsible before God to inform the leader in a help-meet tone to protect him from disaster or error.
When the two work together in a Biblical manner with all considerations toward pleasing God, then all works together well.
When the two work together in a Biblical manner with all considerations toward pleasing God, then all works together well.
Monday, September 6, 2010
A Letter To A Muslim
The gospel of Jesus Christ is simple, according to God's Word, the Bible, mankind is "desperately wicked, without remedy." We can not be good, there is no good in any man or woman. We have "all sinned and fall short of the glory of God." The Bible says that there is only One that is good and righteous an that is Christ Jesus. God said that the penalty for our sin is death, and that there are no good works of our own that could pay that penalty, not even death. So Christ came to earth, the creator and Son of God is One with the Father, and gave His own life to pay the debt that we owed. The sacrifice for sin was death of a perfect God, the death of an imperfect person would not do. Christ was the only suitable sacrifice and He did that for us, because He is love. God said "there is not greater love than that a man lay down his own life for his friend." Christ said, "if you have seen Me, you have seen the Father, because My Father and I are One." He said that I am the Way, the Truth and the Life, no man comes to the Father except through Me." All that God requires is that we place our trust in Christ Himself and believe that He is God that saves us from our sin and from Hell, then begin to follow His commands. When we trust Christ, He changes us, we do not change ourselves. He, "makes us a new creation, all things have passed away , and all things have become new." He "writes His law on our hearts." When He changes us we begin to have a desire for His ways, we begin to love Him and yearn for Him. We have a relationship with Him as a dear friend and holy Savior. "We love Him because He first loved us." Before He gave us this new nature, we had no ability to love Him or anyone else. After He changes us, then we can love because He comes to live in our hearts, in our bodies and He does the loving through us. He saves us, He changes us, He keeps us and then He works His good works in us. Christ said, "our good deeds are as filthy rags." His works in us are perfect, we are not perfect, but He is perfect. My deep undying desire is for Muslims to come to know Christ as their personal Savior and have the assurance of salvation through Christ Jesus. God said that we can know we are saved if we trust Christ. We don't have to guess or hope we do enough good to merit heaven. What kind of a god would allow 49% evil in His presence. Our God is a holy God and can not allow any evil in His presence, but thankfully He provided a way, that "we be holy as He is holy." And, that is through His Son Christ Jesus. Please pray today and ask God who He is and ask Him if this is true. He will answer you because our God is One who wants you to know the truth and He wants to be your friend as well as your God and Savior. Hallelujah!
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
We Have A Home Reserved For Us In Heaven
Once Saved Always Saved
We must first understand that we are not saved by works of our own. Galatians 2:16“knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Jesus Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.” Christ’s blood on the cross was the payment for the debt of sin that we owed. If Christ paid our debt for us, what more could a mere human do to add to that sacrifice.
God says that our good works are as filthy rags. They are worth less than nothing. Isaiah 64:6 “But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousness are like filthy rags;”
Before we get started there is a question that needs to be answered. That question is, when God does a work, is there anything that man can do to undo what He has done?” This is an important question because one of the characteristics of the sovereignty of God is that no one can change His decree any more than a surf can change the decision of an earthly king. We can appeal to the king, just as we can appeal to God, but when a king or the King of Kings declares something to be so, then it is permanent. God can change his mind if He so desires but His character does not change. He said “But He is unique, and who can make Him change? And what ever He so desires, that He does.” Job 23:13
John 6:39 “This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing but should raise it up at the last day. And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.” God says here that He WILL raise us up on the last day, if we have placed our trust in Christ Jesus. He says in this verse that we will have EVERLASTING life. Everlasting begins at the moment of salvation.
1 John 5:13 “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may KNOW that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.” This statement is really a statement that "you will" continue to believe.
Romans 8:3-39 “Yet in all things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present nor THINGS TO COME, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Philippians 1:6 “being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you WILL complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.”
Romans 11:29 “For the gifts and calling of God are IRREVOCABLE.”
1 Peter 1:4 “to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, RESERVED in heaven for you.”
2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold all things have become new.” We are no longer the person we used to be we are changed, permanently changed. And, it was Christ that did the changing.
2 Corinthians 1:22 “who (God) also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a deposit.”
Ephesians 4:30 “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” We have the Kings seal upon us. We belong to Him.
Ephesians 5:8 “For you were ONCE darkness, but NOW you are light in the Lord, Walk as children of the light.”
Colossians 1:13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of His Love in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.”
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.”
If someone is living in continual sin without guilt or remorse, then it is likely that they have never surrendered their life to Christ in the first place. We must remember that we can not save ourselves by our good works and we can not clean ourselves up enough to satisfy a Holy God. He must do the saving and He must do the cleansing. God said "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." You see, He does the cleansing, but we must confess. And repent, repent meaning to turn from sin toward Christ, and He will do the rest.
After we have confessed and become cleansed by the Lord, He then sends us the Holy Spirit to live in us. The Holy Spirit is our helper that Christ promised and our seal as mentioned earlier.
What a weight is lifted from us when we realize that we cannot earn heaven and that Christ did it for us. Resting in His arms as He takes us through life is more blessed than anything on earth.
Blessings to you all. I hope that you have now or will find this peace that Christ can give through His Word and Strength.
We must first understand that we are not saved by works of our own. Galatians 2:16“knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Jesus Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.” Christ’s blood on the cross was the payment for the debt of sin that we owed. If Christ paid our debt for us, what more could a mere human do to add to that sacrifice.
God says that our good works are as filthy rags. They are worth less than nothing. Isaiah 64:6 “But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousness are like filthy rags;”
Before we get started there is a question that needs to be answered. That question is, when God does a work, is there anything that man can do to undo what He has done?” This is an important question because one of the characteristics of the sovereignty of God is that no one can change His decree any more than a surf can change the decision of an earthly king. We can appeal to the king, just as we can appeal to God, but when a king or the King of Kings declares something to be so, then it is permanent. God can change his mind if He so desires but His character does not change. He said “But He is unique, and who can make Him change? And what ever He so desires, that He does.” Job 23:13
John 6:39 “This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing but should raise it up at the last day. And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.” God says here that He WILL raise us up on the last day, if we have placed our trust in Christ Jesus. He says in this verse that we will have EVERLASTING life. Everlasting begins at the moment of salvation.
1 John 5:13 “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may KNOW that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.” This statement is really a statement that "you will" continue to believe.
Romans 8:3-39 “Yet in all things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present nor THINGS TO COME, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Philippians 1:6 “being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you WILL complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.”
Romans 11:29 “For the gifts and calling of God are IRREVOCABLE.”
1 Peter 1:4 “to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, RESERVED in heaven for you.”
2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold all things have become new.” We are no longer the person we used to be we are changed, permanently changed. And, it was Christ that did the changing.
2 Corinthians 1:22 “who (God) also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a deposit.”
Ephesians 4:30 “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” We have the Kings seal upon us. We belong to Him.
Ephesians 5:8 “For you were ONCE darkness, but NOW you are light in the Lord, Walk as children of the light.”
Colossians 1:13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of His Love in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.”
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.”
If someone is living in continual sin without guilt or remorse, then it is likely that they have never surrendered their life to Christ in the first place. We must remember that we can not save ourselves by our good works and we can not clean ourselves up enough to satisfy a Holy God. He must do the saving and He must do the cleansing. God said "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." You see, He does the cleansing, but we must confess. And repent, repent meaning to turn from sin toward Christ, and He will do the rest.
After we have confessed and become cleansed by the Lord, He then sends us the Holy Spirit to live in us. The Holy Spirit is our helper that Christ promised and our seal as mentioned earlier.
What a weight is lifted from us when we realize that we cannot earn heaven and that Christ did it for us. Resting in His arms as He takes us through life is more blessed than anything on earth.
Blessings to you all. I hope that you have now or will find this peace that Christ can give through His Word and Strength.
Monday, May 10, 2010
End Times Heartache, But Eternal Hope
We live in a culture today that loves to laugh and enjoy the pleasures of life. It is a culture that will not be corrected, because correction brings unhappiness. In the United States today we see that unhappiness is to be avoided at all costs, even at the expense of important life lessons.
It is unthinkable that we should experience sadness, in the minds of the typical American. According to the Lord, it is unthinkable that we avoid sadness at the peril of learned ignorance. The Word of God teaches us to glory when we experience trials, for they cultivate character in us.
Romans 5:3-5 says, "And not ony that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us."
In these last days we see the attitudes that are outlined in the Scripture when pleasure and happiness become our goal in life. Entertainment, personal gratification and self indulgence in all areas of life, have created the culture that we have today identical to the description we see in 2 Timothy 3:2-7.
"For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy. Without natural affection, promise breakers, false accusers, lacking self control, fierce, despisers of those who are good, Traiters, heady highminded, lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth."
Those of us who love the Word of God will be chastised in these last days for our "negativity" in exposing these attitudes. In order to remain possitive in our present state, culturally, we must be phoney. We must not call things what they really are and we must ignore sin and maintain a pretense of righteousness.
I am reminded of the Scripture that says, "These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men."
Matthew 15:8-9
We have been trained on "Self Esteem" for the past 40 years. We have been raised to love ourselves above all else and we become enraged when we are confronted with opposition or disciplined for misbehavior.
How can a culture, in such a state as this, ever be trained or taught according to the Scriputres that continually, convict and redirect "normal human" behavior. We are predisposed to wickedness and selfishness. How can we ever repent and be changed when we will not allow any negativity into our sphere of influence, and when we negate and ignore those who are attempting to bring Scriptual standards of Christ-likeness into our teaching.
The influence, weight and pressure of the media has turned our world into a desolate hotbed of carnality. It truly is "as in the days of Noah", when everyone did what was right in their own eyes.
Proverbs 13:18 "Poverty and shame will come to him who disdains correction, But he who regards reproof will be honored."
Proverbs 12:1 "Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge, But he who hates reproof is stupid.
God's instruction for us is that we "set your affections on things above, not on things on the earth. Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: Colossians 3:2,5
God also instructs us in how we can avoid becoming like the world around us, He says; "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Romans 12:1-2
How can we accomplish these principles when our lives are full of those around us who are living wickedly and selfishly? I think that the answer is to hear the Holy Spirit when He speaks. When someone will not listen to wise counsel we are to shake the dust from our feet and walk away. God says that "evil company corrupts good character." Those who do not wish to obey God will continually bring strife into our lives and keep us in a state of sadness. After walking away, we must stay in prayer for them, and for ourselves that we do not indulge in bitterness.
"Finally, brethern, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." Philippians 4:8
The more we think on the things God has commanded in Philippians, the darker the actions and attitudes around us will appear. The only way to survive the deluge of wickedness on a daily basis is to stay close to God's Word and prayer. When we look to Him, we acknowledge that we are not citizens of this world and our hope is not earthly. We are just passing through temporarily and soon we will be home, where all things will be made right.
Keep looking up, for our redemption draws near. Hallelujah!!
It is unthinkable that we should experience sadness, in the minds of the typical American. According to the Lord, it is unthinkable that we avoid sadness at the peril of learned ignorance. The Word of God teaches us to glory when we experience trials, for they cultivate character in us.
Romans 5:3-5 says, "And not ony that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us."
In these last days we see the attitudes that are outlined in the Scripture when pleasure and happiness become our goal in life. Entertainment, personal gratification and self indulgence in all areas of life, have created the culture that we have today identical to the description we see in 2 Timothy 3:2-7.
"For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy. Without natural affection, promise breakers, false accusers, lacking self control, fierce, despisers of those who are good, Traiters, heady highminded, lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth."
Those of us who love the Word of God will be chastised in these last days for our "negativity" in exposing these attitudes. In order to remain possitive in our present state, culturally, we must be phoney. We must not call things what they really are and we must ignore sin and maintain a pretense of righteousness.
I am reminded of the Scripture that says, "These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men."
Matthew 15:8-9
We have been trained on "Self Esteem" for the past 40 years. We have been raised to love ourselves above all else and we become enraged when we are confronted with opposition or disciplined for misbehavior.
How can a culture, in such a state as this, ever be trained or taught according to the Scriputres that continually, convict and redirect "normal human" behavior. We are predisposed to wickedness and selfishness. How can we ever repent and be changed when we will not allow any negativity into our sphere of influence, and when we negate and ignore those who are attempting to bring Scriptual standards of Christ-likeness into our teaching.
The influence, weight and pressure of the media has turned our world into a desolate hotbed of carnality. It truly is "as in the days of Noah", when everyone did what was right in their own eyes.
Proverbs 13:18 "Poverty and shame will come to him who disdains correction, But he who regards reproof will be honored."
Proverbs 12:1 "Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge, But he who hates reproof is stupid.
God's instruction for us is that we "set your affections on things above, not on things on the earth. Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: Colossians 3:2,5
God also instructs us in how we can avoid becoming like the world around us, He says; "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Romans 12:1-2
How can we accomplish these principles when our lives are full of those around us who are living wickedly and selfishly? I think that the answer is to hear the Holy Spirit when He speaks. When someone will not listen to wise counsel we are to shake the dust from our feet and walk away. God says that "evil company corrupts good character." Those who do not wish to obey God will continually bring strife into our lives and keep us in a state of sadness. After walking away, we must stay in prayer for them, and for ourselves that we do not indulge in bitterness.
"Finally, brethern, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." Philippians 4:8
The more we think on the things God has commanded in Philippians, the darker the actions and attitudes around us will appear. The only way to survive the deluge of wickedness on a daily basis is to stay close to God's Word and prayer. When we look to Him, we acknowledge that we are not citizens of this world and our hope is not earthly. We are just passing through temporarily and soon we will be home, where all things will be made right.
Keep looking up, for our redemption draws near. Hallelujah!!
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Unusual Mother's Day Thoughts
My husband asked me last night to write an introduction to a letter that he had written to his mother a few years ago. And, then to post the letter in its entirety here on my blog.
Many years ago Elsa Wehage left Saskatuan Canada at the age of 19 with her new husband Lawrence to make a home. The permanent home for the family was established in Portland Oregon, some 1500 miles from where she grew up, away from all her family.
Rodger's mother was terribly lonely the first year. It had been the first time in her life that she had lived away from brothers, sisters and her father. Her mother died when she was a very young girl, she never knew her. She was close to her father loving him very much.
Elsa once said to me that she was so lonely that first year away from home she felt she would run away and walk back home to the prairies. She didn't though, she remained with her husband and the many children that would come later. She was a devout Catholic, attending mass nearly every day for years with children in tow.
One of her sons, my husband, grew up and began to question the religion he was raised in. His desire as a small child was to know God, but the only way he knew to find Him was through the religion he was raised with. It was a comfortable place for him as he followed all the rituals and said all the expected prayers.
One day, the Lord opened his eyes to the truth about the Scriptures and his world opened up to a far more excellent way. Salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ was a new concept for him, but oh so very satisfying. Truth always fills those empty spaces of our heart. As Rodger grew in his walk with the Lord he became more and more concerned about his family, especially his mother. He had been close to her over the years until the time that he left the Catholic church. The relationship was strained after that, although Rodger still felt a special place in his heart for his mother.
As the years passed, he desired to tell her about Christ's way of salvation outlined in Scripture. Over the years he had mentioned it from time to time, suggesting that she open the Bible that she had in her home. She would never do that and said that she would not ever consider any other religion except the one she was raised with.
Toward the end of her life, Rodger felt so deeply about his mother's salvation that he wrote a letter to her, praying that God would tell him whether or not he should give it to her. After praying about it, he sensed the Holy Spirit telling him not to pass on the letter.
Rodger's mother passed nearly a year ago, and just this week, he found the letter that he had written to her.
Rodger asked me to pass the letter on to others, during this season of Mother's Day so that they can see the foolishness of not receiving Christ, rejecting His Word and spurning His instruction. Elsa's funeral was a sad one, not because she passed, but because we did not know where she went.
Rodger passed a small copy of the gospel of John to her before she died, she said that she would read it but we never knew if she did.
Rodger's Letter
My Mother's Day Gift To You
Dear Mother,
Happy Mother's Day! This is the time of the year when I honor you for your faithful work through your many years as mother.
For a number of months now I have been urging you to read a book. This is not a book that I selected for you. It is not a book that pushes some new-fangled religion. It is a book that has been in your home , the home I grew up in ---from the very beginning, for well over 50 years now. The book I want you to read is the Bible.
Why has this book gathered so much dust?
Let me ask you a few questions. When you were first married, I would guess that some in your family back in Canada wrote letters to you. Some of those letters might have been written by your father. Did you treasure those letters by leaving them unread, sealed up in their envelopes, by storing them away in some safe and secure drawer? Or did you tear them open, anxiously reading and re-reading every word because you knew and loved these people, and so desperately wanted to know what was going on in their lives? Did you save those letters for a long time and maybe even go back and reread them, just so you could feel a little closer to those loved ones so far away?
And, if you did leave them sealed up unread, what did you say to those loved ones when you saw or spoke to them again? "Oh, hi. Say! I got y our letter and I just want you to know that it's in perfect condition, unwrinkled (and unread), stored away in a nice safe place." Would they have felt hurt that you didn't take the time to read their words to you, words where they opened their lives to your mind, words that they took great care in selecting to let you--you know what was going on in their lives?
So it is with the Bible!
These are the words of your Father. These are the words of God Almighty, preserved from ancient days for you---you personally. Our Father in heaven did not exercise such great and loving care to tell you about Himself simply to have you reverently store them away unread. He wrote those words with you specifically in mind because He loves you and wants you to learn firsthand (from His own mind) what He is like. He wants you to read them.
Stop and think. If a messenger brought to you a letter from your father in Canada, would you choose to cast it aside and instead decide to listen to what the messenger had to say about your father? What if that messenger had not had direct contact with your father but instead had been told about your father by another messenger who had heard from another messenger who had heard from another messenger, who had heard from another messenger, who had heard from another messenger (and so on)? Which would you choose---hear-say or your father's own words?
You see, Mom your Father (in heaven) is my Father (in heaven). And in my mind there is no hesitation. I want to read for myself my Father's own words. Just like the tapes I recorded of my earthly father --I can hear his own words.
I know you are afraid that what you may read in the Bible may challenge what you have been taught and have come to believe over the decades. You once said to me, "I will never change my religion." But I'm not asking you to do that. The Bible has always been the foundation of Christianity. It is the basis for our belief in Jesus Christ our Savior. I'm simply asking you to open the book you have always held up to me to be the true word of God our Father. I'm simply asking you to personally seek God through His own words.
I don't use the word "religion" as in "my religion" or "their religion" when I speak of my relationship with Jesus Christ. He is my Savior and I love Him with all my heart and soul. The Bible says in John 3:16, "God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." That's all --just believe in Jesus! Not doing this or that special thing. [That comes after you are saved for the bible also says that "a faith without works is a dead faith."] These truths are repeated and reaffirmed throughout the Bible [see Titus 3:4 for another example]. But you have to read to see God's message to you.
So my belief in Jesus Christ as my Savior is a relationship, not a religion. Do you have that relationship, not a religion? Do you have that relationship? Do you believe what it says in the Bible in: John 3:16 and Titus 3:4
It's not me saying these words. It's that book that you have stored in a nice, safe, dust-free place in your home for the last 60 years. Maybe it's time for you to read it. Then, instead of me asking the question, "Do you believe?" you can ask yourself that question.
Your loving son,
Rodger
Many years ago Elsa Wehage left Saskatuan Canada at the age of 19 with her new husband Lawrence to make a home. The permanent home for the family was established in Portland Oregon, some 1500 miles from where she grew up, away from all her family.
Rodger's mother was terribly lonely the first year. It had been the first time in her life that she had lived away from brothers, sisters and her father. Her mother died when she was a very young girl, she never knew her. She was close to her father loving him very much.
Elsa once said to me that she was so lonely that first year away from home she felt she would run away and walk back home to the prairies. She didn't though, she remained with her husband and the many children that would come later. She was a devout Catholic, attending mass nearly every day for years with children in tow.
One of her sons, my husband, grew up and began to question the religion he was raised in. His desire as a small child was to know God, but the only way he knew to find Him was through the religion he was raised with. It was a comfortable place for him as he followed all the rituals and said all the expected prayers.
One day, the Lord opened his eyes to the truth about the Scriptures and his world opened up to a far more excellent way. Salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ was a new concept for him, but oh so very satisfying. Truth always fills those empty spaces of our heart. As Rodger grew in his walk with the Lord he became more and more concerned about his family, especially his mother. He had been close to her over the years until the time that he left the Catholic church. The relationship was strained after that, although Rodger still felt a special place in his heart for his mother.
As the years passed, he desired to tell her about Christ's way of salvation outlined in Scripture. Over the years he had mentioned it from time to time, suggesting that she open the Bible that she had in her home. She would never do that and said that she would not ever consider any other religion except the one she was raised with.
Toward the end of her life, Rodger felt so deeply about his mother's salvation that he wrote a letter to her, praying that God would tell him whether or not he should give it to her. After praying about it, he sensed the Holy Spirit telling him not to pass on the letter.
Rodger's mother passed nearly a year ago, and just this week, he found the letter that he had written to her.
Rodger asked me to pass the letter on to others, during this season of Mother's Day so that they can see the foolishness of not receiving Christ, rejecting His Word and spurning His instruction. Elsa's funeral was a sad one, not because she passed, but because we did not know where she went.
Rodger passed a small copy of the gospel of John to her before she died, she said that she would read it but we never knew if she did.
Rodger's Letter
My Mother's Day Gift To You
Dear Mother,
Happy Mother's Day! This is the time of the year when I honor you for your faithful work through your many years as mother.
For a number of months now I have been urging you to read a book. This is not a book that I selected for you. It is not a book that pushes some new-fangled religion. It is a book that has been in your home , the home I grew up in ---from the very beginning, for well over 50 years now. The book I want you to read is the Bible.
Why has this book gathered so much dust?
Let me ask you a few questions. When you were first married, I would guess that some in your family back in Canada wrote letters to you. Some of those letters might have been written by your father. Did you treasure those letters by leaving them unread, sealed up in their envelopes, by storing them away in some safe and secure drawer? Or did you tear them open, anxiously reading and re-reading every word because you knew and loved these people, and so desperately wanted to know what was going on in their lives? Did you save those letters for a long time and maybe even go back and reread them, just so you could feel a little closer to those loved ones so far away?
And, if you did leave them sealed up unread, what did you say to those loved ones when you saw or spoke to them again? "Oh, hi. Say! I got y our letter and I just want you to know that it's in perfect condition, unwrinkled (and unread), stored away in a nice safe place." Would they have felt hurt that you didn't take the time to read their words to you, words where they opened their lives to your mind, words that they took great care in selecting to let you--you know what was going on in their lives?
So it is with the Bible!
These are the words of your Father. These are the words of God Almighty, preserved from ancient days for you---you personally. Our Father in heaven did not exercise such great and loving care to tell you about Himself simply to have you reverently store them away unread. He wrote those words with you specifically in mind because He loves you and wants you to learn firsthand (from His own mind) what He is like. He wants you to read them.
Stop and think. If a messenger brought to you a letter from your father in Canada, would you choose to cast it aside and instead decide to listen to what the messenger had to say about your father? What if that messenger had not had direct contact with your father but instead had been told about your father by another messenger who had heard from another messenger who had heard from another messenger, who had heard from another messenger, who had heard from another messenger (and so on)? Which would you choose---hear-say or your father's own words?
You see, Mom your Father (in heaven) is my Father (in heaven). And in my mind there is no hesitation. I want to read for myself my Father's own words. Just like the tapes I recorded of my earthly father --I can hear his own words.
I know you are afraid that what you may read in the Bible may challenge what you have been taught and have come to believe over the decades. You once said to me, "I will never change my religion." But I'm not asking you to do that. The Bible has always been the foundation of Christianity. It is the basis for our belief in Jesus Christ our Savior. I'm simply asking you to open the book you have always held up to me to be the true word of God our Father. I'm simply asking you to personally seek God through His own words.
I don't use the word "religion" as in "my religion" or "their religion" when I speak of my relationship with Jesus Christ. He is my Savior and I love Him with all my heart and soul. The Bible says in John 3:16, "God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." That's all --just believe in Jesus! Not doing this or that special thing. [That comes after you are saved for the bible also says that "a faith without works is a dead faith."] These truths are repeated and reaffirmed throughout the Bible [see Titus 3:4 for another example]. But you have to read to see God's message to you.
So my belief in Jesus Christ as my Savior is a relationship, not a religion. Do you have that relationship, not a religion? Do you have that relationship? Do you believe what it says in the Bible in: John 3:16 and Titus 3:4
It's not me saying these words. It's that book that you have stored in a nice, safe, dust-free place in your home for the last 60 years. Maybe it's time for you to read it. Then, instead of me asking the question, "Do you believe?" you can ask yourself that question.
Your loving son,
Rodger
Sunday, April 25, 2010
The Professor Proclaims That God Created Evil
"Let me explain the problem science has with religion." The atheist professor of philosophy pauses before his class and then asks one of his new students to stand.
Professor: "You're a Christian aren't you, son?"
Student: "Yes Sir," the student says."
Professor: "So you believe in God?"
Student: "Absolutely."
Professor: "Is God good."
Student: "Sure! God's good."
Professor: "Is God all powerful? Can God do anything?"
Student: "Yes"
Professor: "Are you good or evil?"
Student: "TheBible says I'm evil."
The Professor grins knowingly. "Aha! The Bible!"
Professor: "Here's one for you. Let's say there's a sick person over here and you can cure him. You can do it Would you help him? Would you try?"
Student: "Yes Sir, I would."
Professor: "So you're good!"
Student: "I wouldn't say that."
Professor: "But why not say that? You'd help a sick and maimed person if you could. Most of us would if we could. But God doesn't."
The Student does not answer, so the professor continues. How is this Jesus good? Hmmm? Can you answer that one?"
The Student remains silent. "No, you can't can you?" the professor says. He takes a sip of water from glass on his desk to give the student time to relax. "Let's start again, young fella. Is God good?"
"Er....yes, the student says.
Professor: "Is Satan good?"
The student doesn't hesitate this time, "No"
Professor: "Then where does Satan come from?"
The Student falters, "From God."
Professor: "That's right. God made Satan, didn't he. Tell me son, is there evil in the world?"
Student: "Yes Sir."
Professor: "Evil is everywhere, isn't it? And God did make everything, correct?"
Student: "Yes"
Professor: "So who created evil?" The professor continued, "If God created everything, then God created evil, since evil exists, and according to the principle that our works define who we are, then God is evil."
Again the Student has no answer.
Professor: "Is there sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness? All these terrible things, do they exist in this world?"
The Student squirms on his feet. "yes."
Professor: "So who created them?"
The Student does not answer again, so the professor repeats his question, "Who created them?"
There is still no answer. Suddenly the lecturer breaks away to pace in front of the classroom. The class is mesmerized.
Professor: "Tell me," he continues onto another student. "Do you believe in Jesus Christ, son?"
The Students voice betrays him and cracks. "Yes professor, I do."
The old man stops pacing, "Science says you have five senses you use to identify and observe the world around you. Have you ever seen Jesus?"
Student: "No Sir, I've never seen Him."
Professor: "Have you ever felt your Jesus, tasted your Jesus or smelt your Jesus? Have you ever had any sensory perception of Jesus Christ, or God for that matter?"
Student: "No, Sir, I'm afraid I haven't."
Professor: "Yet you still believe in him?"
Student: "Yes."
Professor: "According to the rules of empirical, testable, demonstrable protocol, science says your God doesn't exist. What do you say to that son?"
"Nothing" the student replies. "I only have my faith."
"Yes, faith," the professor repeats. "And that is the problem science has with God. There is no evidence, only faith."
The student stands quietly for a moment , before asking a question of is own. "Professor, is there such a thing as heat?"
"Yes" the professor replies. "There is heat."
Student: "And is there such a thing as cold?"
Professor: "Yes son, there's cold too."
Student: "No sir, there isn't."
The professor turns to face the student, obviously interested. The room suddenly becomes very quiet. The Student begins to explain;
"You can have lots of heat, even more heat, super-heat, mega-heat, unlimited heat, white heat, a little heat or not heat, but we don't have anything called 'cold'. We can hit up to 458 degrees below zero, which is no heat, but we can't go any further after that. There is no such thing as cold; otherwise we would be able to go colder than the lowest -458 degrees. Every body or object is susceptible to study, when it has or transmits energy, and heat is what makes a body or matter have or transmit energy. Absolute zero (-458F) is the total absence of heat. You see, sir, cold is only a word we use to describe the absence of heat. We cannot measure cold. Heat we can measure in thermal units because heat is energy. Cold is not the opposite of heat, sir, just the absence of it."
Silence across the room. A pen drops somewhere in the classroom, sounding like a hammer.
Student: "What about darkness, professor. Is there such a thing as darkness?"
Yes the professor replies without hesitation. "What is night if it isn't darkness?"
Student: "Your wrong again, Sir. Darkness is not something; it is the absence of something. You can have low light, normal light, bright light, flashing light, but if you have no light constantly you have nothing and its called darkness isn't it? That's the meaning we use to define the word, in reality darkness isn't. If it were you would be able to make darkness darker, wouldn't you?"
The professor begins to smile at the student in front of him. This will be a good semester. "So what point are you making, young man?"
Student: "Yes, professor, My point is, your philosophical premise is flawed to start with, and so your conclusion must also be flawed."
The professors face cannot hide his surprise this time, "Flawed? Can you explain how?"
"You are working on the premise of duality," the student explains. "You argue that there is life and then there is death; a good God and a bad God. You are viewing the concept of God as something finite, something we can measure. Sir, science can't even explain thought. It uses electricity and magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully understood either one. To view death as the opposite of life is to be ignorant of the fact that death cannot exist as a substantive thing. Death is not the opposite of life, just the absence of it. Now tell me professor. Do you teach your students that they evolved from a monkey?"
Professor: "If you are referring to the natural evolutionary process, young man, yes, of course I do." The professor begins to shake his head, still smiling, as he realizes where the argument is going. A very good semester indeed.
Student: "Since no one has ever observed the process of evolution at work and cannot even prove that this process is an on-going endeavor, are you not teaching your opinion, Sir? Are you now not a scientist but a preacher?" The class is in uproar. The student remains silent until the commotion has subsided. "To continue the point you were making earlier to the other student, let me give you an example of what I mean." The student looks around the room, "Is there anyone in the class who has ever seen the professor's brain?" The class breaks out into laughter. "Is there anyone here who has ever heard the professor's brain, felt the professor's brain, touched or smelt the professor's brain? No one appears to have done so. So according to the established rules of empirical, stable, demonstrable protocol, science says that you have no brain, with all due respect, Sir. So if science says you have no brain, how can we trust your lectures, Sir?" Now the room is silent. The professor just stares at the student, his face unreadable. Finally what seems an eternity, the old man answers, "I guess you'll have to take them on faith."
Student: "Now, you accept that there is faith, and, in fact, faith exists with life," the student continues, "now Sir, is there such a thing as evil?"
Now uncertain, the professor responds, "Of course, there is. We see it everyday. It is in the daily example of man's inhumanity to man. It is in the multitude of crime and violence everywhere in the world. These manifestations are nothing else but evil."
To this the student replied, "Evil does not exist Sir, or at least it does not exist unto itself. Evil is simply the absence of God, It is just like darkness and cold, a word that man has created to describe the absence of God. God did not create evil. Evil is the result of what happens when man does not have God's love present in his heart. It's like the cold that comes when there is no heat or the darkness when there is no light."
The professor sat down.
This dissertation was taken from a facebook comment by Pam Barker
Professor: "You're a Christian aren't you, son?"
Student: "Yes Sir," the student says."
Professor: "So you believe in God?"
Student: "Absolutely."
Professor: "Is God good."
Student: "Sure! God's good."
Professor: "Is God all powerful? Can God do anything?"
Student: "Yes"
Professor: "Are you good or evil?"
Student: "TheBible says I'm evil."
The Professor grins knowingly. "Aha! The Bible!"
Professor: "Here's one for you. Let's say there's a sick person over here and you can cure him. You can do it Would you help him? Would you try?"
Student: "Yes Sir, I would."
Professor: "So you're good!"
Student: "I wouldn't say that."
Professor: "But why not say that? You'd help a sick and maimed person if you could. Most of us would if we could. But God doesn't."
The Student does not answer, so the professor continues. How is this Jesus good? Hmmm? Can you answer that one?"
The Student remains silent. "No, you can't can you?" the professor says. He takes a sip of water from glass on his desk to give the student time to relax. "Let's start again, young fella. Is God good?"
"Er....yes, the student says.
Professor: "Is Satan good?"
The student doesn't hesitate this time, "No"
Professor: "Then where does Satan come from?"
The Student falters, "From God."
Professor: "That's right. God made Satan, didn't he. Tell me son, is there evil in the world?"
Student: "Yes Sir."
Professor: "Evil is everywhere, isn't it? And God did make everything, correct?"
Student: "Yes"
Professor: "So who created evil?" The professor continued, "If God created everything, then God created evil, since evil exists, and according to the principle that our works define who we are, then God is evil."
Again the Student has no answer.
Professor: "Is there sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness? All these terrible things, do they exist in this world?"
The Student squirms on his feet. "yes."
Professor: "So who created them?"
The Student does not answer again, so the professor repeats his question, "Who created them?"
There is still no answer. Suddenly the lecturer breaks away to pace in front of the classroom. The class is mesmerized.
Professor: "Tell me," he continues onto another student. "Do you believe in Jesus Christ, son?"
The Students voice betrays him and cracks. "Yes professor, I do."
The old man stops pacing, "Science says you have five senses you use to identify and observe the world around you. Have you ever seen Jesus?"
Student: "No Sir, I've never seen Him."
Professor: "Have you ever felt your Jesus, tasted your Jesus or smelt your Jesus? Have you ever had any sensory perception of Jesus Christ, or God for that matter?"
Student: "No, Sir, I'm afraid I haven't."
Professor: "Yet you still believe in him?"
Student: "Yes."
Professor: "According to the rules of empirical, testable, demonstrable protocol, science says your God doesn't exist. What do you say to that son?"
"Nothing" the student replies. "I only have my faith."
"Yes, faith," the professor repeats. "And that is the problem science has with God. There is no evidence, only faith."
The student stands quietly for a moment , before asking a question of is own. "Professor, is there such a thing as heat?"
"Yes" the professor replies. "There is heat."
Student: "And is there such a thing as cold?"
Professor: "Yes son, there's cold too."
Student: "No sir, there isn't."
The professor turns to face the student, obviously interested. The room suddenly becomes very quiet. The Student begins to explain;
"You can have lots of heat, even more heat, super-heat, mega-heat, unlimited heat, white heat, a little heat or not heat, but we don't have anything called 'cold'. We can hit up to 458 degrees below zero, which is no heat, but we can't go any further after that. There is no such thing as cold; otherwise we would be able to go colder than the lowest -458 degrees. Every body or object is susceptible to study, when it has or transmits energy, and heat is what makes a body or matter have or transmit energy. Absolute zero (-458F) is the total absence of heat. You see, sir, cold is only a word we use to describe the absence of heat. We cannot measure cold. Heat we can measure in thermal units because heat is energy. Cold is not the opposite of heat, sir, just the absence of it."
Silence across the room. A pen drops somewhere in the classroom, sounding like a hammer.
Student: "What about darkness, professor. Is there such a thing as darkness?"
Yes the professor replies without hesitation. "What is night if it isn't darkness?"
Student: "Your wrong again, Sir. Darkness is not something; it is the absence of something. You can have low light, normal light, bright light, flashing light, but if you have no light constantly you have nothing and its called darkness isn't it? That's the meaning we use to define the word, in reality darkness isn't. If it were you would be able to make darkness darker, wouldn't you?"
The professor begins to smile at the student in front of him. This will be a good semester. "So what point are you making, young man?"
Student: "Yes, professor, My point is, your philosophical premise is flawed to start with, and so your conclusion must also be flawed."
The professors face cannot hide his surprise this time, "Flawed? Can you explain how?"
"You are working on the premise of duality," the student explains. "You argue that there is life and then there is death; a good God and a bad God. You are viewing the concept of God as something finite, something we can measure. Sir, science can't even explain thought. It uses electricity and magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully understood either one. To view death as the opposite of life is to be ignorant of the fact that death cannot exist as a substantive thing. Death is not the opposite of life, just the absence of it. Now tell me professor. Do you teach your students that they evolved from a monkey?"
Professor: "If you are referring to the natural evolutionary process, young man, yes, of course I do." The professor begins to shake his head, still smiling, as he realizes where the argument is going. A very good semester indeed.
Student: "Since no one has ever observed the process of evolution at work and cannot even prove that this process is an on-going endeavor, are you not teaching your opinion, Sir? Are you now not a scientist but a preacher?" The class is in uproar. The student remains silent until the commotion has subsided. "To continue the point you were making earlier to the other student, let me give you an example of what I mean." The student looks around the room, "Is there anyone in the class who has ever seen the professor's brain?" The class breaks out into laughter. "Is there anyone here who has ever heard the professor's brain, felt the professor's brain, touched or smelt the professor's brain? No one appears to have done so. So according to the established rules of empirical, stable, demonstrable protocol, science says that you have no brain, with all due respect, Sir. So if science says you have no brain, how can we trust your lectures, Sir?" Now the room is silent. The professor just stares at the student, his face unreadable. Finally what seems an eternity, the old man answers, "I guess you'll have to take them on faith."
Student: "Now, you accept that there is faith, and, in fact, faith exists with life," the student continues, "now Sir, is there such a thing as evil?"
Now uncertain, the professor responds, "Of course, there is. We see it everyday. It is in the daily example of man's inhumanity to man. It is in the multitude of crime and violence everywhere in the world. These manifestations are nothing else but evil."
To this the student replied, "Evil does not exist Sir, or at least it does not exist unto itself. Evil is simply the absence of God, It is just like darkness and cold, a word that man has created to describe the absence of God. God did not create evil. Evil is the result of what happens when man does not have God's love present in his heart. It's like the cold that comes when there is no heat or the darkness when there is no light."
The professor sat down.
This dissertation was taken from a facebook comment by Pam Barker
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Were We Ever A Christian Nation
We have been raised to believe we are a Christian nation and that our roots were in Christianity. I believe that we as a nation took some basic Christian principles from the Bible to form our country, but as a people we have not honored God most of the way along. We were more focused on our freedom than we were on Christ himself. We are not now nor ever have been a country that honors God in our lives as a whole. Of course there have always been the remnant as in any country. Those who are faithful but remain the minority. If we had truly been a Christian nation we would have been ruled by a group of elders who seek God everyday. Christ would have been our leader. That will not happen until the millennium. If we had been a Christian nation we would never have had the civil war which was started because of the evil of slavery and greed of many people. We would never have had the "Roaring 20's." We would never have legalized the killing of millions of unborn babies. We would not have passed legislation allowing for the open and free practice of homosexuality. We would never have taken the Ten Commandments out of our schools, or the Bible or prayer out of our centers of learning. We would not have established a public school system, because parents would have been educating their own children. If we were a Christian nation our people as a whole would have gone to their knees the first time God's standards were violated. Pockets of people, the remnant, did pray but most people did not. If we were a Christian nation we would have never taught self esteem to our children, or tolerated and endorsed our young people dressing like sluts and living together out side of marriage. Marriage is becoming rare in our culture. The movies we watch are deplorable and an abomination before God. If we were a Christian nation we would have never softened the laws on divorce and remarriage. We would have executed child molesters and murderers, rapists and drug dealers. God removed the Ten Commandments from our public places because we were not following them anyway. Christian nation....not a lick. Our churches are superficial and un-Biblical and irreverent toward the Lord. They are full of silly trivial preaching, full of marketing techniques, foolish jesting and evil meaningless music. We fail to preach convicting messages that lead people to sorrow over their sin. We are in this condition in our churches because we have failed to pass on to our children the deeper teaching of Christ and the principles of the Holy Word. Shame on us!!! We are under judgement for our pride. God never said that we must be politically free. Our freedom in Christ is in who we become because of Who He is. We can be free and yet in prison for His sake. We need to stop preaching freedom for our country and begin preaching repentance. Our people need to get on their knees and weep for their wickedness. There should be weeping in every congregation, weeping for all we have tolerated, all we have neglected to obey and all that we have endorsed by our silence. God is offended, our nation is in dire trouble. Repentance is what we need, the greater blessing that God could bring is our repentance, not more stuff and more pleasure and more freedom.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Does Our Life Match Our Words
There was a question in my mind some years ago concerning the words "believe" and "confess" in reference to the Bible passages that speak of salvation. I knew in my heart that just because someone says with their mouth that they believe in Jesus Christ, it is not necessarily indicative of their salvation. How could someone live like the devil, feel no sorrow for it and even get angry with those who would chastise them, and still consider themselves saved. The Holy Spirit showed me that there was no salvation in a case like this, but I didn't know how to prove it from the Scriptures. I prayed for guidance and studied and read some more. One day I was listening to a Bible teacher on the radio whom God used to illuminate me further.
1 John 3:24 through 1 John 4:3 says:
1 John 3:24 through 1 John 4:3 says:
3:24. Now he who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And by this we know that He abides in us by the Spirit whom He has given us. 4:1 "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.
This teacher was versed in the original Greek and Hebrew languages. He pointed out that the word confess in 1 John 3 and 4 was not just speaking what one believes but actually living the lifestyle of Christ likeness. The word confess means "a demonstration of ones life." There is a vast difference between just saying with our mouth that Jesus Christ is God, and actually living as though we know He is.
Matthew 15:8
"These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me; Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men."
In the passage in Matthew we see that God does not accept mere words as demonstration for our devotion to Him, but the demonstration is in our lifestyle. If we are saved our life will be a clear demonstration that we love the Lord. It will be His works in us that will count not our own fleshly works.
Something to ponder.
Gwendolyn
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