The article that follows comes from a book I recently picked up in the Chapel here in Iraq... What an interesting place to find a piece of literature that so accurately describes the full nature of the God of the Bible against the false gods of man's imagination...
Within the past couple of weeks, since I arrived "in country" I have engaged in countless discussions on who God is... to the Christian, to the Muslim (obviously) the Mormon, the Jehovah's Witness, the Catholic (with much animosity), and other religions of modern and ancient times...
I am not a scholar by any means, and will probably never be - however, I do desire to be able to represent and present the God of the Holy Bible accurately, and without error whenever and where ever possible... Therefore, I am constantly searching for extra-Biblical sources of learning that can help me in my pursuit to know and understand the Word of God more fully...
Within the last couple of days, I have engaged myself in a discussion on a rather popular book now available in bookstores that has taken the world by storm much the way the Prayer of Jabez, or Rick Warren's The Purpose Driven Life have over the past decade. The book in question is The Shack. Outside of the appeal of a heart-wrenching story about a father who has lost his daughter in a horrific abduction and murder, is the "fictional" account of a man who is trying to establish a relationship with God...
And that is where my difficulty with the book begins... As with Dan Brown's the Da Vinci Code, this book claims to be a work of fiction, and I do not contest that fact - however, people are reading it as though it is a work of literature to be used in order to understand and learn something about God that they either cannot or have not yet been able to find anywhere else - including, sadly enough, within the pages of their own Bible...
It has been, and will continue to be, (until or unless someone can bring me to a point of alternate understanding with Scripture) my contention, and I believe, the contention of the Word of God, that if we are going to have a relationship with God, we should first understand what His requirements for a relationship are, rather than to seek out the ideas and opinions of people who are presenting a version of God, Christ and faith that differs from the one put forth in the only absolute source of Truth - the Word of God itself...
The article follows...
You have often heard it said: "It really doesn't matter what a person believes as long as he is sincere." -But, what if he is sincerely wrong?
Throughout the Bible we learn that it matters enormously what or who is actually Lord (in control) of our lives.
There is a great deal in the Bible about idolatry. Even today, many are deceived and assume that they may have several man-made gods (though they do not call them such) in their lives. These "gods" are objects of the hearts' real desire and preoccupation. Although they haven't rejected the One True God, His importance above all gods continues to diminish.
Exodus 20:3 is the first of the Ten Commandments from God. The Old Testament idols were images representing a deity, such as "the golden calf" (Exodus 32:1-4) and the Israelites willingly gave their gold to Aaron to achieve that "god." It is written that they worshiped the works of their (own) hands. (2 Kings 22:17).
The Lord Jesus Christ quoted from Deuteronomy 6:13 in the Gospel according to Matthew 4:10.
On another occasion, Jesus said: "The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; the Lord our God is one Lord: and thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these." Mark 12:29-31
When you know what it is that takes first place in a person's thoughts concerning material things and desires, what he looks forward to, and what he is willing to sacrifice for above all other things, you know what his god - his "golden calf" if you will - is...
A person's real god is what he finds the most satisfaction in his heart thinking and talking about. These things or persons could become his idols.
In contrast, if we acknowledge our real God is the One True God expressed in three Persons as Father, Son (Jesus, born of the Virgin Mary), and Holy Spirit, we will find great pleasure in sharing Scripture from Genesis through Revelation and our experiences about the Lord Jesus with others. In every decision He will be our first consideration. A true Christian will seek...first the Kingdom of God, and His righteousness Matthew 6:33 This means our first consideration is to know the will of God as revealed in the Bible in regard to all decision: Our loyalty to Christ and His Church will be our first consideration. All else will be of less importance, such as employment, hobbies, sports, friends, etc...
As God's children, it is of utmost importance that our loyalty, love, and devotion to the One Living and True God be first in all earthly consideration. We will desire to have Christ as Lord (Ruler) over our lives.
We cannot have two supreme loyalties. As Jesus said: No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve both God and mammon (money, goods, material things) Luke 16:13
But they that will be (desire to be) rich (in material things) fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition... 1 Timothy 6:9 These Scriptures suggest that the word "idolatry" stands for whatever secular activity or persons become more important than our submission to Christ as Lord of our lives.
The Apostle Paul was led to warn that covetousness... is idolatry. Colossians 3:5 Covetousness is self-concern and self-interest, as well as devotion to a person or material things, that interfere with our opportunities to serve the Lord. This means giving to self that loyalty and devotion which belogs to Jesus as Lord of our lives.
A true believer in the One True God is not deceived by the theory of "situational ethics" which assumes there is no absolute standard of right and wrong but rather that right or wrong depend upon circumstances.
The Apostle Paul was led by the Holy Spirit to describe true Christian conversion as turning from idols to serve the living and True God 1 Thessalonians 1:9. Turning from idols is far more than merely professing that we are a Christian.
The Lord Jesus Christ proclaims: Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve... Matthew 4:10 Jesus warned that the way of eternal life is a narrow...way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it Matthew 7:14. And not every one that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven; but he that doeth the will of My Father which is in heaven. Matthew 7:21.
In contrast to the world, Jesus demonstrated by His life and death that doing the will of My Father which is in heaven involves a willing subordination of our wills and way of doing things to the will of God. Each of us gives allegiance to someone or something, we're made that way. We do have a god in which we find life's satisfaction.
Paul was also led by the Holy Spirit to write of some whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things. Philippians 3:19
But he also wrote: Present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 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 If we are committed to Jesus being Lord of our lives, then we will bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:5
We do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness. Colossians 1:9-11
Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet (qualified us) to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son (Jesus our Savior): In whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins: Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature. Colossians 1:12-15
For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in eart, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him: And He is before all things, and by Him all things consist. And He is the Head of the body, the Church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things He might have preeminence. Colossians 1:16-18
That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:10-14
Reprinted from The Best of Bible Pathway - devotional guide; Murfreesboro, TN - John A. Hash, Editor in Chief
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
The One True God vs. Idolatry
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Covert Evangelism
You've all been in one... A Port-O-Pottie is how it is most commonly labeled... However, it seems to be anything but... Oh sure, they came from somewhere else, but once they're there, they never seem to go anywhere... And even less likely it seems, is that they will ever be cleaned, therefore, at least the second half of the name is accurate...
Have you ever noticed, while visiting one of these fine public amenities, that random people, from time to time, enjoy sharing their thoughts? Quite often, if you're spending more than a fleeting moment while holding the breath you walked in with, you'll read a Chuck Norris joke you hadn't heard yet - or you'll enjoy some sort of fun limerick that unfortunately couldn't be written without the smattering of 4 letter filth words in order to get the lines to come out just right...
Amateur artists occasionally attempt to display their inspirations and, once in a blue moon, someone professing to be a Christian scrawls or carves the words "Jesus Saves" or "John 3:16" in the wall... Which IS, in fact, vandalism, and doesn't really do or say much to or for the person reading, except perhaps to cause them to skip along onto the next crude joke written below...
Well yesterday, I happened to be visiting what the Army affectionately refers to as a "latrine." Don't know where the word comes from, don't care - and after two years in the Navy, referring to the bathroom facilities as anything other than "the head" is just weird to me...
Anyway, as I sat down to contemplate my reason for being there in the first place, I looked up and noticed a piece of paper staring me in the face... It read:
Not exactly topics you were expecting to read about when you decided to click on this article, huh? Well, that brings me to the point of this post... Since arriving in Iraq, I've been praying for opportunities that God might bring my way in order to share the gospel with my fellow brothers-in-arms... Being bound by General Order 1, I have to be careful how and when I bring up conversations about God, the Bible, and Jesus in particular... Thanks to folks like our President, speaking about Christ openly can be considered devisive, and is therefore, frowned upon, and even forbidden...
So what I've begun doing is to remove the page from the wall, and write the following just above their headline...
(Ephesians 2:4-5)
Although you have broken His law - the 7th Commandment...
(Exodus 20:14, Matthew 5:27-28)
He promises to forgive you and freely give you the gift of salvation...
(Acts 2:38-39)
if you will repent - call upon God for forgiveness and turn your back on your life of sin - then put your faith in Christ...
(Acts 20:21)
Whom God sent to Earth to take your place in punishment for the sins you've committed...
(Ephesians 5:1-4)
But don't take MY word for it... Read John Chapter 3...
Then get right with God...
Because unprotected sex is literally the LEAST of your worries...
(James 1:13-15, James 2:10-11)
Then find a church service that teaches the Bible, verse-by-verse, so you can learn God's Word, that you may be thoroughly equipped for every good work...
(2 Timothy 3:16-17)
Then read the Bible daily and obey what you read...
(John 14:21)
http://www.needGod.com
I sincerely hope and pray that I see you in heaven someday...
Saturday, March 7, 2009
A double standard?
There seems to me to be a bit of hypocrisy among the detractors from the faith of Christianity... The nay-sayers who profess that they'd rather go to hell than worship the ego-maniacal tyrant of a god that their parents pushed on them while growing up... And if it wasn't their parents, perhaps it was another family member or friend...
Now, not all, obviously, who have a problem with Christianity, but easily 9 out of 10 people who hold some modicum of animosity toward the worship of Christ in particular, hold an irrational and uninformed opinion and understanding of the faith itself...
One criticism is the belief that Christians "brainwash" their children... To which I would reply, if your accusation is that we indoctrinate our kids with our beliefs, then I would readily admit it... That is what any society must do in order to further the education of those who are part of it... (Proverbs 22:6)
Much the same way Muslims bring their children up from birth to chant that there is only one god, Allah, and Mohammad is his prophet... or someone practicing witchcraft might bring their little one up to care more about the well-being of a tree than a human life...
Another criticism is that we are "hate-filled" with our beliefs - to which I would pound my fist on this desk and scream using the foulest language I could think of that they're $%^&* wrong... I'm kidding of course...
On the contrary, I would suggest to you that the true Christian can and would demonstrate no more hatred than any other person you might meet walking down the street today... Outside of the common grace that God provides to each and every one of us, we ALL have the potential to carry out GREAT evil deeds, as well as good stuff too... (1 Cor. 6:11 - Isaiah 64:6)
However, its not our "good stuff" that is going to earn us our place in heaven when we die... Which brings me to another area of contention when it comes to your common atheist vs. Christian debate...
If God is "good" why did He create Hell? Why would He send people there? I cannot believe in God because everyone I meet who calls themselves a Christian keeps telling me that I'm going to Hell... (Romans 6:23)
And that's because... short of God forgiving us for sinning against His law (The Ten Commandments - lying, stealing, coveting, adultery, idolatry, hatred, murder, disobedience, rebellion, blasphemy...) we are all HEADED for Hell... the place He has prepared for those whom He will punish for eternity...
It only makes sense, doesn't it? That, if He would reward those obey Him, that He would likewise punish those who don't? His reward for those who obey His Word, and humble themselves through repentance and faith in His son, He rewards with everlasting life - those who continue in their rebellion against Him, He rewards with Hell... He resist the proud of heart, and gives grace to the humble in heart... (James 4:6 - 1 Peter 5:5)
Before God forgives a person, there is a LOT of tendency to cry out "now that's not fair"... Until that person considers the fact that God came to Earth in the form of a man, Jesus Christ, to give Himself as a sacrifice for our sins... He took our place in death, that we might join Him... (John 1:29)
Instead of holding a grudge against Christ because of the actions of some of His presumed followers, consider your own state in His eyes, rather than theirs... How does HE see you, how will HE judge you in the Day of Judgment... (Romans 2:1-16)
If you're guilty of breaking even one of those laws listed above, you'll be in danger of the judgment, and it will be everlasting... If anyone's ever tried to warn you of this fact, perhaps it wasn't because they were filled with hate, rather they loved you enough to tell you the truth - it was simply the truth that you didn't want to hear that caused you to consider their words to be hateful... (Romans 2:4-16)
If you hear the voice of the Lord, do not harden your heart - this is the day of salvation... Admit that your a sinner in need of His forgiveness - listen to your conscience, then cry out to Him for mercy, and the same Bible that says He is filled with wrath toward sinners, says that He is also rich in mercy toward those who are broken in their spirit... (Proverbs 16:4-5)
