Definitely a Post-Christian World

You know we are living in a totally post-Christian world when the Pope affirms the existence of a hell as a "real place" and it makes international news. Foxnews.com, reporting on an article in the London Times, headline reads "Pope: Hell Is A Real Place Where Sinners Burn in Everlasting Fire." No one is happy about the existence of hell, but the Bible leaves no doubt about the existence of a place of eternal torment for those who will not repent and believe.

The Good News, of course, is that hell is avoidable. Jesus offers salvation to all who will call on His name. Easter is upon us, let us reflect on the gospel...it is the good news of salvation.

Yet Again

It seems like I do this often, but I have once again posted a link to an article from Albert Mohler's blog. Read and enjoy this piece on tradtional marriage. He says it much better than I would, so no need for me to re-invent the wheel.

Blog

In his book, Blog, Hugh Hewitt traces the recent history of the blogosphere and its impact on society and the mainstream media. Hewitt's book is a must read for pastors and church leaders for its eye-opening insight into the world and impact of the blogosphere. My blog, or yours for that matter, has little impact in the large scope of things, but because of its far-reaching capabilities, leaders (both Christian and secular alike) must be bloggers. Blogging enables a leader to share his vision and ideologies with those in his organization regularly without the necessity of daily meetings. Further, for the church leader, the blog enables the entire church to be involved in the vision of the church as stressed by its leader(s).

I encourage Hugh Hewitt's book, and I encourage all church leaders to start blogging. It's not that difficult, and who knows who you will impact!

Environmentalists?

I know I should probably leave the environmental thing alone, but it really intrigues me. As a Christian, I believe that we have a responsibility to take care of that to which God had entrusted us (I even posted an almost environmental blog a while back). However, global warming has become nothing more than a pseudo-scientific political issue. Many of the "fixes" to global warming provided by the political left leave much to be desired.
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So far, no satisfactory answers have been given as to the proper disposal of the newest left wing savior, the flourescent light bulb. As that has been sinking deep into me, I ran across the article links below which suggests that the Hummer H3 is actually more environmentally friendly than the hybrid Toyota Prius. I would encourage everyone to take time to read the article. It will not cause your gas prices to go down necessarily, but it might erase some of that falsely initiated guilt being pushed by Al Gore's Inconvenient Truth.

http://takeourcountryback.townhall.com/g/e42913a4-c21f-46ee-b018-635c1e717fd4&trackbacks=true#comments

http://www.37signals.com/svn/posts/115-look-beyond-gas-mileage-when-making-an-environmental-choice

How Efficient Are We?

Today, I am attempting my first ever blog entry from my Blackberry, the revolutionary device that makes me more efficient...or does it? I just finished reading "To The Golden Shore," the biography of Adoniram Judson, the first American baptist missionary. I was both inspired and convicted as I read of the life and witness of this great man of God, but it was not only his outstanding faith that blew me away. Adoniram Judson accomplished more in his life than most of us colud ever dream to accomplish, and that was in a day before computers and mass transit. All of this caused me to question what I am doing with the many conveniences placed at my disposal.

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The fact that I now understand is that it is not the device or technology that make a man efficient, but rather the efficient man or woman who takes full advantage of technology. God has blessed us with technology beyond the wildest imagination of thinkers even fifty years ago, but what are we doing for the Kingdom of God with what we have been given? In other words, of what value is this Blackberry if it does not enable me to reach more people for the cause of Christ. And to you as you read this, because of the computer with which you have accessed this page, you have a tool with which you can impact the world for Christ. So, go forth, be efficient with your gadgets and tools of convenience and change your world with the love of Christ.

SC Lawmakers Pass Ultrasound Bill

South Carolina lawmakers in the house of representatives overwhelmingly passed a bill on abortion Wednesday. The bill, which in no way limits abortions, requires all women seeking abortions to first view an ultrasound of the unborn child and have that ultrasound interpreted and explained by a medical professional. Further, expecting mothers must wait at least an hour after the ultrasound before an abortion can be performed.
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Opponents of the bill claim first that it is degrading to believe that a woman seeking an abortion does not know what she is doing, and secondly that it would be painful for those who are victims of rape to have to view the ultrasound. As always, abortion rights activists want the public to believe that less information is more. As conservative Christians continue to be derided as ignorant, non-progressive, and stone-age on issues of morality, it is the radical left abortion rights activists that want less information. Though not the case in every situation, the history of the Christian faith has overwhelmingly been one of education and information. As Christians, we encourage the gaining of knowledge and understanding because we have full confidence that correct information and knowledge is always supportive of our faith and beliefs.

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Though I do not doubt that an ultrasound for a victim of rape will be painful, those instances, as always, are extremely rare cases. I am concerned more for the technicians and doctors who will perform these ultrasounds, count toes and fingers, only to find out later that the beautiful life they experienced on screen was ended. I know that for pro-choice advocates, their concern is that the decision of an expectant mother could be swayed by something other than her own self-centered desires. Heaven forbid someone seeking to end a life should have to look at that life first. Arguments were made last year that deer hunting over the Internet with a mechanized gun and a camera was unethical, and yet abortion rights activists in South Carolina argue for killing children without even looking at them. Shooting a man in the back is always unethical, but somehow the equivalent, when performed on an unborn child is celebrated in some circles...NOT IN MY CIRCLE!!!

Jesus Angered

In the account of Jesus' raising of Lasarus in the Gospel of John, an imprtant phrase is often over looked. In John 11:33, some versions of the Bible translate that Jesus was "troubled", and others that he was "angered" in his spirit. Regardless of the exact word used to translate this verb, the truth remains that Jesus was deeply bothered at this point, bothered to a degree that represents a greater emotion and response than sympathy. Jesus was not bothered because the people were crying or upset, after all he too was moved to tears and "Jesus wept." Jesus' indignation went deeper.

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The anger of our Lord here shows the love he has for his children. Jesus was indignant, not at the people, but at the root cause of all of this. Jesus was angered at the sin that brought about this event and such remorse. It is no accident that this anger is manifest at this time in Jesus life. He was fixing to enter Jerusalem for the very last time; the time for his crucifixion was at hand. Surely, the Lord understood what it was that he had to do, and he had great reason to have anger toward sin.

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In Luke 9:51, we are told that Jesus set his face toward Jerusalem, he knew what had to be done and he was focused on his goal...salvation for us through his death. Jesus must have been incredibly angry at sin by the time that he saw its effects on the people he loved so dearly and in light of the consequence of sin that he would bear just a few days later on the cross. We do not serve a soft Savior, but a Mighty King who was not only angered by sin, he overcame it. Thanks to him we can cry out with the apostle Paul, "O Death, where is your victory, O Death, where is your sting?" It has been erased with the blood of an angry savior on a terrible cross. A Savior who hated sin enough and loved us enough and was obedient enough to do the will of the Father, even when it cost him his own life. What an amazing Savior.

For All You Dad's Out There

Often times I just can't re-say something as well as it has already been said by another person. I've pasted a link to Al Mohler's blog above where he has an excellent commentary on an article written about the influence and role of dad's in the lives of their children. Check it out!

Let’s face reality, spring is upon us. Soon we will set our clocks ahead and begin enjoying more and more of that luxurious warm sun that seemed far away during the winter months. March 17th brings that traditional rite of passage into spring, St. Patrick’s Day. St. Patrick’s Day has become a secular holiday celebrated with huge parties and lots of alcohol, but believe it or not, it has not always been that way.
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In preparation for this article, I did a little research on St. Patrick and the circumstances surrounding the holiday named in his honor. It seems that Patrick was a Catholic bishop who was appointed to Ireland in the Fifth Century. History tells us that during his ministry he won many converts and was widely known for his beliefs. In addition, tradition holds that the shamrock became associated with St. Patrick because he used the three-leafed stem to describe the Trinity to the pagans of Ireland.
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So, I don’t just say happy March to you, I say happy St. Patrick’s Day. Wear your green hats and shamrocks proud. Take time to speak of the Trinity with someone who needs to hear about it and spread the good news of Christ’s love. Take St. Paddy’s Day back to its roots, make it all about the gospel.

Now I See

"He answered, 'whether or not He's a sinner, I don't know. One thing I do know: I was blind, and now I can see!'"

-John 9:25

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What an exclamation. "I was blind, and now I see!" The claim by this formerly blind man resonates with every Christian who has ever lived. It really doesn't matter what anyone else thinks about Jesus, "I know what he has done in my life." One can scarcely read this passage without being reminded of the great hymn by John Newton.

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It's interesting to note that John Newton wrote Amazing Grace following his contemplation on 1 Chronicles 17:16-17: "Kind David...said: 'Who am I, O Lord God? And what is my house, that You have brought me this far?..." The amazing thing about grace is not so much that we have been rescued from our spiritual blindness, but that God loves us enough to do it in spite of our sinful lives. We live in opposition to God, having nothing of value in our sinful condition that will add to God in any way, and yet, He sacrificed to give us life.

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The amazing thing about grace is the God who bestows it. John Newton wrote another verse to Amazing Grace, it goes like this: The earth shall soon dissolve like snow, the sun forbear to shine; But God, Who called me here below, shall be forever mine. He is an amazing God who not only saves us from our despicable condition, but actually attaches Himself to us, giving us the right to be called children of God.

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Amazing grace! How sweet the sound! That saved a wretch like me!

I once was lost, but now am found; Was blind but now I see.

The Overlooker of Sin?

"Neither do I condemn you," said Jesus, "God, and from now on do not sin anymore."

So, does the passage above mean that Jesus does not care about sin? Absolutely not, the only means for forgiveness of sins is repentence and faith. It seems that Jesus' condition for this woman was one of repentance, for the term itself means to turn away from your sins. Jesus' command to this woman caught in sin was to repent, for she had already shown dependence upon him for her salvation.

This is a beautiful picture of salvation as the Bible describes it. First, a person must wholly lean on Jesus for he alone is the giver of salvation. In this instance, only Jesus persuaded these men from killing this woman, she had no resolve but him, and Jesus proved to be the Savior that we know him to be. Further, the command of Christ to go and sin no more is the command to repent. We see all the elements of salvation wrapped up in this encounter. Jesus did not condone her sin or allow her sin, he forgave her sins and commanded her to avoid sinning in the future.

Jesus also forgives our sins, our salvation is dependant completely upon him. He alone can save, and his salvation means trusting in him completely and turning from our sins. Jesus does not overlook our sins, he atoned for them on the cross and commands us to turn from them. Salvation, is of the Lord!

Something to Ponder About Our Good God

What of the problem of evil in our world? How can a Christian affirm the providence of a loving God in the face of such pain and turmoil in the world around us? The answer lies not in our hearts, but rather in the truths of God’s word and is further illustrated in Christian writings and confessions throughout history. 1 John affirms repeatedly that God is love, and in chapter 1 verse 5 the apostle affirms that “God is light and in him is no darkness at all.” And yet, scripture also affirms that God is a just and even angry God. The message of Deuteronomy 4:24 is that “God is a consuming fire.” How then do we reconcile the love of God with the righteous anger and fury of God, or the goodness of God with the evil happenings in our world? Is it indeed possible that a good God can be in total control of all that happens in our sinful and fallen world?

The answer to the last question is an affirmative YES! God is absolutely in control and it is in His total control that Christians can find solace. If God were not in total control, how pitiable would the state of our world be, for in such a situation, the Christian can find no hope, save in the ability of him or herself. The problem with evil is not the problem that most people perceive it to be. The problem of evil is really the problem of coming to grips with man’s completely fallen condition.

The “problem of evil” as it is commonly called is the natural outgrowth of Christians and non-Christians who have come to believe that humanity is not as fallen and sinful as Scripture testifies to. “We deserve good things” is the common misconception, when the truth of the matter is that we deserve nothing but God’s wrath (Romans 3:23, 6:23). The evil that befalls us in our society is nothing more than the working of sinful creatures in rebellion to Holy God; and as sinful and fallen humankind, we deserve nothing less or more than the evil of which are a part.

The greatest conundrum is not “Why does evil occur in our world,” but rather, “Why would God allow us good things?” The answer lies only in an understanding of his infinite grace. We are undeserving of God’s love, yet he freely gives it anyway. Humans tend to define evil in the sense of how it affects humans at the personal level. Evil people are evil because of what they do or how they think in relation to the world in which we live. However, is a parent evil who disciplines his child? Is God, then, evil who might use means in this world to discipline His creatures? He is absolutely not the author of evil, but if I am in need of discipline and God uses an evil man to bash me over the head and get my attention, is God sinful? Absolutely not, I got what I needed; I was disciplined by God, and yet the perpetrator is still guilty of causing me harm. God’s purposes are lived out while the free-will of humanity is in no way hampered.

The man in the illustration above was sinful, but God’s goodness was shown in that he disciplined me. God drew me closer to him through the sinful actions of another independent human agent. This is not an easy truth to grasp for we tend to believe that we are in some way deserving of God’s greatest love and we often define love in a sentimental way rather than in a loving parent kind of way. Some would say, “If you love someone, you will never hurt them.” However, discipline is painful to the person being disciplined, and if you truly love a person at the deepest level, you will be willing to perform discipline so as to train that person to be better.

But what of the evil that is not personal or not so easily reconciled? What of cancer or what of greater evils such as the holocaust? What of a child who is raped or murdered? Where is God in these situations? What has a child done to deserve such an evil act? The answer is of course nothing, but God is still present and in control. We may never understand why these things occur, but God is in control and uses these situations, as wrong as they may be, to bring about his good purposes in His world. God’s presence is seen when the death of a young person brings about revival in an area. God’s love is shown when physical, spiritual, and emotional healing can occur in the life of a child who has been affected by a violent crime. God’s mercy is evident when death brings to an end the suffering of a terminally ill person. God’s grace was shown in the Holocaust as Christians throughout Germany worked to save Jews and to end the evil rule of Hitler. It is in times of greatest pain and evil that the good and the godly of this world stand for the things of God. It is in these times of greatest need that God’s love manifests itself in the greatest of ways. It is often necessary for God’s people to go through the valley of the Shadow of death before they can ever truly know God’s love.

God’s love goes beyond the common understandings of love that we develop. In the Greek language, there are four kinds of love, but only one is worthy of being used to define God’s love. The Greek word storge (storge) is used in reference to a kind of familial or affectionate love. The word philia (filia) refers to love shared between friends. Eros (eros), is the word used in reference to erotic love. However, only agape (agape) is worthy of describing the kind of love that God has for His creation. Agape love is an unconditional kind of love that moves beyond affection, or friendship, or even erotic love. It encompasses all three of those areas, but then goes beyond each one to exemplify a kind of love that will stop at nothing to redeem mankind. God’s love is practically beyond our comprehension. Our only logical response is: “Amen, we stand in awe of your goodness!”

When we turn our heads

"Rescue those being taken off to death, and save those stumbling toward slaughter. If you say, 'But we didn't know about this,' won't He who weighs hearts consider it? Won't He who protects your life know? Won't He repay a person according to his work?"

Proverbs 24:11-12

I have a good friend who often says, "When good men fail to do nothing, evil prevails." Solomon's wise words here speak of inaction, rather than action. It is often in the church to speak of sin as being those things we do that are dishonoring to God, however, it is right to consider those things that we do not do which bring dishonor to our God. I've heard many in older generations pray for forgiveness of sins of "omission and commission;" I wonder if we shouldn't work to be more aware of our sins of omission.

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What is the message for Christians today from Solomon? What we do not do is as important in God's eyes as those things that we do. Just as there are certain things in this world that we should abstain from as Christians, there are certain things that we should never abstain from. JHWH is a God of the down and out, and as God's people we too must be ministers to the down and out, serving as God's hands and feet and not turning our head to the plight of the broken. Be sure, just as God will repay a person for her work, He will surely repay for our lack of compassion and caring in a world that is broken and dying.

Kosher?

It is common among Christians to question why the Old Testament laws concerning dietary restrictions are no longer enforced in the New Covenant. We all understand that God spoke to Peter in a vision and showed Peter that all things were now clean. Specifically, in Acts 10:15 God says, "What God has made clean, you must not call common (or unholy)." But, why has God chosen to do this? Why are we as a part of the New Covenant allowed to enjoy bacon and ham when those of the Old Covenant were not?
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The answer is found in John 4. Jesus, in his exchange with the Woman at the well told her that the time had come when people would worship God in Spirit and in Truth. Until the time of Christ, God was worshipped in specific places with rituals and customs. The Spirit of God took up a residence within the temple where people came to worship. The dietary restrictions were ways that the people honored God with their everyday life...by restricting what they ate. In essence, the dietary and other Old Testament restrictions served as a daily reminder of the God whom they served. However, with the New Covenant (which is Christ), the reminder was no longer necessary just as the Temple was not necessary because the Spirit of God took up its residence within the people of God.
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The ending of dietary restrictions was not a relaxing of the recognition of sacred things in the world. Rather, the end of the dietary restrictions showed an increase in the sacred. No longer was holiness reserved for certain foods and places. With Christ, the people of God were now able to worship God in any place and circumstance. With the New Covenant, it is not that nothing is sacred, but rather that all things can be viewed as sacred and worthy of thanksgiving and praise to God because his Spirit resides within us as a constant reminder of whose we are. What God has now made clean, we must not call common, but rather we should praise him for all the goodness that he gives to us everyday!

What Did God Say?

Genesis 1:26-27 records a unique occurence in the Creation Story. Throughout the account of Creation to this point, God's creative powers have been used in exactly the same way. It was with His voice that God created. The powerful God of the universe needed to do nothing more than speak, and the earth, sky, and all creation came into being. The formula was the same, until verse 26.
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In verse 26, God moves from the "Let there be" formula, to a conversation, presumably with the other members of the Godhead. It is here, in verse 26, where God first establishes the difference between man, the crowning jewel of His creation, and the rest of creation. Rather than merely speaking humans into creation as He had done with all other things, God chooses a different route. "Let us make," He says, "man in our image." It was not good enough for humanity to be created in the same way as everything else, instead God chose to make human beings in a different way; He made humans in His image.
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Genesis 2:7 explains this difference for us. " Then the Lord God formed the man out of the dust from the ground and breathed the breath of life into his nostrils, and the man became a living being." God, in his infinite love, holiness, and knowledge, saw fit to make man with His own hands. The Bible says that God, the Great Creator, stepped from heaven to earth and made the very first human being from the dust of the ground. God did not stand back and watch His masterpiece take shape, God got His hands dirty so that we could have life. What an amazing God who would humble Himself to play in the mud for us. The same God who would later clothe Himself in flesh and hang from a cross. What a Savior!

The Season of Love

This is how we have come to know love: He laid down His life for us.

--1 John 3:16a

People everywhere talk about the Spirit of Christmas, but what is the Spirit of Christmas? I suggest to you that the Spirit of Christmas is truly the Spirit of Christ. It is love, love for your neighbor and fellow man. The Spirit of Christmas, regardless of how the world might like to spin it, is shown best in the manger and on the cross. The Spirit of Christmas is absolutely a Christian thing because it is God's incredible love for the world that brought Christ to earth...the very essence of Christmas.

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So, if you wonder how to get in the Christmas Spirit this season, just look to Christ. After all, He was a gift from God to humankind. He gave of Himself to all He encountered and He gave all of Himself on the cross so that we could live forever. Christ is the manifestation of the Christmas Spirit, let us all worship the King!

Engraved On The Palms of His Hands.

"Look, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands"

--Isaiah 49:16

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In Knowing God by J.I. Packer, the author makes it his purpose to show that the most important aspect of our relationship with God is not that we know God, but rather that we are known by Him. Paul makes this point in Galatians 4:9 as he says you "have become known by God." Being known by God is more than being known by your best friend, however. In fact, being known by God is infinitely greater than even God being known by us.

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As humans, we have a tendency to be absent minded on occasion. There are times when our minds are not concerned about the people we love. We may be occupied by a task or another relationship, and at that time we simply do not think about the other people in our lives. However, with God, it is completely different. He has inscribed us on the palms of His hands. In God's omniscience, omnipotence, and perfect love we are always on His mind. There is not a time when God is not loving you and me as His children. What an amazing thought that should drive us to the feet of our Father. Even in our worst moments, He is still loving us.

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What an amazing God we serve who is able and willing to love us at all times; even though that love cost him the death of His own Son. He loved us when he was born of a virgin, and he loved us when he hung on the cross. He loves us even now in the midst of our imperfect lives...WHAT AN AMAZING GOD!

What Is Love?

"Love is patient; love is kind. Love does not envy; is not boastful; is not conceited; does not act improperly; is not selfish, is not provoked; does not keep a record of wrongs; finds no joy in unrighteousness, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things." --1 Corinthians 13:4-7

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What is love? Well, the apostle Paul gave us a great definition in 1 Corinthians 13, but if that is not concrete enough for you, try this definition on for size. Love is a baby in a manger. That's right. If you ever wonder what love is, Christmas should be the perfect reminder for you. As you take time to look at the nativity scene in your home this year, pay attention to the baby in the manger. That is love right there. Talk about unselfish, not boastful, not envious...God, stepping down from the paradise of heaven where he is surrounded by praise always and coming to earth as a baby and being laid in a feed trough. WOW! If only we could love in the way that God loves.

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What is love? If a baby in a manger is not good enough for you, try this one. Love is a Savior on a cross. Paul says that love keeps no record of wrong. Jesus must have loved us intensely to be willing to die on a cross for us to forgive our sins. The Bible says that God's forgiveness is different from man's forgiveness. According to Scripture, God casts our sins as far as the east is from the west. In other words, he keeps no record of our wrongs once we have come to him for forgiveness.

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What is love? God is love! That is the message of the Bible. God loves you and desires to be in relationship with you. How much do you love God?

Christmas...Offensive?

Fox News is reporting that an airport in Seattle, Washington has removed all of its Christmas decorations to avoid being offensive to anyone. Needless to say, the airport did not seem too concerned over the millions of Christians who are probably offended every Christmas by a society that works very hard to push anything that could be translated as Christian out of a holiday that would not even exist without Christ. But really, should Christians be surprised when Christ is pushed out of Christmas? Absolutely not, after all, it was Herod who tried to trick the Magi into giving up the Christ child so that he could have him killed.

There has been an effort to push Jesus away since he was born over two thousand years ago. The problem is not that people do not want Christ in Christmas, it is that Christ is not welcomed in their hearts. Welcoming Christ means accepting all that he had to say and all that he did. Needless to say, that is not a popular concept. The world desires to view Jesus Christ as some sort of rock star to be printed on T-Shirts, but of course, very few people are willing to accept Christ as he is. Not a rock-star, but the Rock of Ages. He is the Lord of the universe and he desires to be more than a conversation piece, he will settle for nothing less than total control over our lives, but it is up to us to surrender our control to him.

Why is Christ being removed from Christmas? It's not because the world hates Christians, they hate our Lord. We should not be surprised, he told us this was coming.

Prepare For Action

"Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being soberminded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ."

1 Peter 1:13

In this exciting letter, the apostle Peter warns his readers to prepare their minds for action. He goes on to instruct his readers to be holy. As Christians, we have all been called to the holy lifestyle of which Peter speaks. However, before he ever instructs his readers to live a holy life, he tells them to prepare their minds for action. The mind is the key to spiritual victory in all aspects of life.

Believe it or not, sin takes place in the mind long before it ever takes place in the body. If you want to be holy, if you desire to live up to the holy calling of Christ, you must not leave it up to chance. Those who maintain holy lives do so because they first prepare their minds for action. A holy life is lived by the person who first has a holy mind. The very first Psalm speaks of the blessings to come for the one who meditates on the law of the Lord. Why? Well, the blessings come because the meditations on the Lord bring about a life lived in devotion to the Lord. The Psalmist says "prepare your mind for action."

Rest assured, the devil will attack your mind long before he tempts your body. How will you respond, is your mind prepared for action to overcome the schemes of the evil one. Jesus said that even harboring sinful thoughts is sinful. Maybe one of the reasons for that is because Jesus knows that as we harp on sinful thoughts, we will most likely act on those thoughts in the future. Peter warns us to prepare our minds. The battle is coming, will you choose to think holy so that you can live holy?