When I was still on the farm, I saw a shirt that got my attention. The slogan on the shirt read, “I’ve Got Culture: Agriculture.” I considered getting that shirt but instead opted for one that had a farmer standing in a field with the words, “Out standing in his field.”
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As I reflected on the farm humor of days gone by, I was reminded of the whole concept of culture in general. Often right and wrong is assessed based on cultural relativism, or cultural ethics. The problem with such an approach is that it allows culture to determine right and wrong rather than God. We must not forget that good and evil, right and wrong are determined by God, not us. We are not allowed to redefine it. Abraham Lincoln once asked, “If I call my dogs tail a leg, how many legs does my dog have?” His answer, four! My dog only has four legs no matter what I call his tail. Calling a tail a leg does not make it a leg. Calling something acceptable does not make it unsinful.
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As we consider the subject of cultural relativism, is it acceptable to suggest that some cultures are morally inferior to others? In our multicultural society, such a suggestion is prone to bring about accusations of bigotry and even racism. We must understand that in some cases it is only right to point out the shortcomings of a culture. For example, the Children of Israel were warned about a cultural practice of their neighbors the Ammonites who sacrificed their children to the false god Molech by burning them in fire. “And thou shalt not let any of thy seed pass through the fire to Molech, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the LORD.” Leviticus 18:21. Few would disagree that the culture of child sacrifice is evil.
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The example of the Ammonites is relatively benign for us today, for I do not know of many people who still worship Molech. Therefore I can use that example and not ruffle too many feathers. What about a culture that encourages its children to strap bombs to their bodies and blow themselves up in crowded public areas with the purpose of killing as many people as possible? What about a culture that prides itself in honor killings of relatives who they feel have disgraced their families and culture? From a Biblical perspective, not only must I condemn the religious beliefs of Islam, but also the culture of violence. Some would call me intolerant for such a statement. That’s okay with me, let me go on record that I am intolerant of murder. What is more intolerant, writing about those we disagree with or killing them? A culture of intolerance that leads to murder is something we all must be concerned about.
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I am saddened that the debate over culture often leads instead to a debate over race. Many Muslims are Arabs, but we must not come to the conclusion that all Arabs are more evil than anyone else. The issue is not their race, but what values they embrace.
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Many of those same issues come up when we examine the values of some of our inner city cultures in this county. For example, a culture that encourages drug use, out of wedlock births, and violence should be spoken against. Sadly, instead of speaking against such a culture, many speak against a race. These behaviors are wrong no matter what races are involved in them. Further, not every person of a particular race does those things, and it is wrong to imply they do.
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At the same time, it would be just as wrong to ignore the sinful characteristics of a culture just because of a fear of offending a certain demographic within our society. What I am suggesting is judging a culture by the content of its character, not by the color of its skin. -
What about the culture of our own small town agricultural area. It is easy to pride ourselves in our small town values, yet culture relativism has crept in here as well. For example, we live in a culture where premarital sex (fornication) is accepted. We live in a culture where our possessions have become our gods. We live in a culture were divorce and adultery are all too frequent. We live in a culture where we covet and want whatever someone else has. We live in a culture where it is not uncommon for our citizens to get drunk.
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1 Corinthians 6:9-10 says, “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.”
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It is time for people to reject their cultures and embrace God.
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“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” John 14:6
“I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” Luke 13:3.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Friday, February 20, 2009
A New Baby
I was sleeping soundly, all the excitement of the world around me shut out for several blissful hours of wonderful rest. Suddenly I heard my wife’s calm gentle voice next to me telling me that her water had broke. When your wife is nine months along, such news is not unexpected, but at twenty after three in the morning it can be a surprise. I knew I had to stay calm. A few weeks earlier Crystal had has some false labor pains and I had gotten all nervous. She reminded me that if I stayed calm it would be easier for her to stay calm.
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We had arranged ahead of time for a babysitter to come over for our older son when this special moment came. I placed the call to her, and then to my mother who was also planning to come. It is amazing how gracious people are about being woke up in the middle of the night when a baby is on the way. The joy of a new precious life coming into this world seems to overshadow all the feelings of inconvenience.
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We then made our way to the hospital, counting the minutes between contractions on our way. They were coming about 5-6 minutes apart by this time. The nurses helped Crystal get settled into our room as we excitedly waited for the arrival of our little A.J.
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Crystal was a real trooper. She calmly breathed through each contraction. I could clearly see the pain on her face, yet she had been through this before and knew what to expect. By 8 a.m. she was holding our beautiful baby son.
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It is amazing to witness a birth. I have watched calves, pigs, and even kittens come into this world, but those events pale in comparison to watching the births of my sons. A real live human baby breathing air for the very first time is a sight to behold. Just to imagining that this is the first time that this little person has ever experienced light or air is an astounding thought. No wonder they cry.
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Now that our son was born, we finally got to see him and hold him. Even though I had not seen little A.J. until the birth, we knew he was there. Once we confirmed that my wife was expecting, we knew for certain that a baby was growing inside of her, even though we could not see him. We witnessed the first ultrasound pictures at such an early date that we were not even able to tell if he was a boy or a girl. Even though these pictures were taken before 13 weeks along, we were still able to see the little head, body, hands, and feet. By 17 weeks she began to feel him move. Soon I began to feel him move. Clearly he was a real baby even before he was born. Our precious little Allan Jerry Miller was not just a glob of tissue, he was and is a real baby.
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I must admit that it disturbs me know that even in our little town there are likely some people who think that it would have been okay for us to have killed our little baby a few months ago before he was born. Now if these people do not even call themselves Christians, and make no pretense of a fear of God, such a position would not be all that surprising. What disturbs me most is when people call themselves Christian and yet defend the most ungodly things. Please see my article on should ‘Christians’ be trusted.
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If you are a real Christian, you should care what God’s Word has to say in this matter. Consider Psalms 139:13-15, “For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.” David speaks personally of himself in this passage, because even when he was in the womb, he was a real person.
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God speaks to Jeremiah, telling the prophet that he was personally known and chosen before birth. “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.” Jeremiah 1:5.
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John the Baptist is called a babe, not a bunch of tissue when he was in the womb. “And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:” Luke 1:41.
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As I look at my son, I cannot imagine anyone condoning killing him at this point. Only a complete pagan would suggest the killing of my sweet little boy. The question then must be asked, “if he was a baby before he was born, what is the difference between killing him then and killing him now?” If you are a Christian who has condoned the murder of innocent life, repent. If you have supported such barbaric acts because you do not know the Savior, realize that repentance is available to you as well.
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Finally, some who are reading this may be faced with the decision concerning life or death for a baby within you. Please get an ultrasound first and see who you are killing. Further, many women are filled with heartache over past sin. Please realize that even the sin of murder can be forgiven by God. If you come to Christ for salvation, He is able to remove our transgression as far as the east is from the west. 1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
-
We had arranged ahead of time for a babysitter to come over for our older son when this special moment came. I placed the call to her, and then to my mother who was also planning to come. It is amazing how gracious people are about being woke up in the middle of the night when a baby is on the way. The joy of a new precious life coming into this world seems to overshadow all the feelings of inconvenience.
-
We then made our way to the hospital, counting the minutes between contractions on our way. They were coming about 5-6 minutes apart by this time. The nurses helped Crystal get settled into our room as we excitedly waited for the arrival of our little A.J.
-
Crystal was a real trooper. She calmly breathed through each contraction. I could clearly see the pain on her face, yet she had been through this before and knew what to expect. By 8 a.m. she was holding our beautiful baby son.
-
It is amazing to witness a birth. I have watched calves, pigs, and even kittens come into this world, but those events pale in comparison to watching the births of my sons. A real live human baby breathing air for the very first time is a sight to behold. Just to imagining that this is the first time that this little person has ever experienced light or air is an astounding thought. No wonder they cry.
-
Now that our son was born, we finally got to see him and hold him. Even though I had not seen little A.J. until the birth, we knew he was there. Once we confirmed that my wife was expecting, we knew for certain that a baby was growing inside of her, even though we could not see him. We witnessed the first ultrasound pictures at such an early date that we were not even able to tell if he was a boy or a girl. Even though these pictures were taken before 13 weeks along, we were still able to see the little head, body, hands, and feet. By 17 weeks she began to feel him move. Soon I began to feel him move. Clearly he was a real baby even before he was born. Our precious little Allan Jerry Miller was not just a glob of tissue, he was and is a real baby.
-
I must admit that it disturbs me know that even in our little town there are likely some people who think that it would have been okay for us to have killed our little baby a few months ago before he was born. Now if these people do not even call themselves Christians, and make no pretense of a fear of God, such a position would not be all that surprising. What disturbs me most is when people call themselves Christian and yet defend the most ungodly things. Please see my article on should ‘Christians’ be trusted.
-
If you are a real Christian, you should care what God’s Word has to say in this matter. Consider Psalms 139:13-15, “For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.” David speaks personally of himself in this passage, because even when he was in the womb, he was a real person.
-
God speaks to Jeremiah, telling the prophet that he was personally known and chosen before birth. “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.” Jeremiah 1:5.
-
John the Baptist is called a babe, not a bunch of tissue when he was in the womb. “And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:” Luke 1:41.
-
As I look at my son, I cannot imagine anyone condoning killing him at this point. Only a complete pagan would suggest the killing of my sweet little boy. The question then must be asked, “if he was a baby before he was born, what is the difference between killing him then and killing him now?” If you are a Christian who has condoned the murder of innocent life, repent. If you have supported such barbaric acts because you do not know the Savior, realize that repentance is available to you as well.
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Finally, some who are reading this may be faced with the decision concerning life or death for a baby within you. Please get an ultrasound first and see who you are killing. Further, many women are filled with heartache over past sin. Please realize that even the sin of murder can be forgiven by God. If you come to Christ for salvation, He is able to remove our transgression as far as the east is from the west. 1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Friday, February 13, 2009
Should 'Christians' Be Trusted?
“Why should I become a Christian? They’re nothing but a bunch of hypocrites.” I have heard that statement more than once as I have shared the gospel. I am not surprised to hear such a response. The surprise comes when they hear my answer. I look them right in the eye and tell them that I agree. They don’t expect to hear that from a preacher- to hear him agree that Christians are a bunch of hypocrites.
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Now if you are upset with me because you are a Christian, let me explain just as I do with the unbelievers. The word ‘Christian’ and even the phrase ‘born again’ are thrown around quite loosely. Anyone can call themselves a Christian, and in many areas of our country it is still quite popular to do so.
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Originally, the term Christian was given to the followers of Christ. These were people who took His teachings seriously- so seriously that they were willing to die for them. Acts 11:26 tells us the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.
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Today it is much harder to know what someone means when they say they are ‘Christian.’ In fact, I just looked up the word in the dictionary and one of the definitions was simply “kind and unselfish”. In another era, when a man said he was Christian, it meant he was civilized as opposed to heathen. Both these definitions fall short of being a true follower of Christ, though a real Christian should be kind and unselfish.
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I have heard that 85-95% of the people in the United States claim to be Christians. I do not believe that anywhere near that number really takes following Christ seriously. That means the rest are a bunch of hypocrites.
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To support my assessment, let me site some figures that I found in a recent World Net Daily article entitled “1 in 3 ‘Christians’ says ‘Jesus Sinned’”. The article gleaned information from a Barna poll that suggests that half of “Christians” do not believe that Satan exists. 40% believe we have no responsibility to share our faith. 25% do not believe the Bible is accurate in all principles it teaches. These are basic things that all Christians should believe.
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II Corinthians 5:21 clearly tells us Jesus never sinned. “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” Job 1:7, tells us Satan is all too real, “And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.” For those who feel no responsibility to tell others about Christ, read Romans 10:14, “How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?” For those who do not trust the Bible consider Psalm 33:4, “For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth.”
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These statistics show us that we cannot trust what someone believes just because they call themselves Christian. In fact, these trends seem to indicate that we cannot even trust what many pastors are teaching. It is sad to realize how few preachers are actually going through the Bible verse by verse, telling their congregation what it teaches. No wonder we have so many ‘Christian’ hypocrites. They have not even learned what it means to be a follower of Christ.
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I pray that this trend would be reversed. It seems that too many pastors are either teaching the same old recycled denominational messages or else they have given into the seeker sensitive entertain the masses at the expense of the Bible mentality. Neither of these methods are true discipleship. Christ commanded in Matthew 28:19-20, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” The command is to TEACH, not to bore or entertain. Obviously many Christians have not been taught.
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How about you? Are you an unbeliever who is put off by a bunch of hypocrites? Realize that true Christianity is not hypocritical. Christ is not a hypocrite, in fact, He condemned them (Read Matthew 23:23-31). How about you? Are you one of the hypocrites? Repent, get into the Word of God and become a true follower of Christ. (Read Matthew 7:20-23). How about you? Are you a true follower of Christ? Read Matthew 5:16, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
-
Now if you are upset with me because you are a Christian, let me explain just as I do with the unbelievers. The word ‘Christian’ and even the phrase ‘born again’ are thrown around quite loosely. Anyone can call themselves a Christian, and in many areas of our country it is still quite popular to do so.
-
Originally, the term Christian was given to the followers of Christ. These were people who took His teachings seriously- so seriously that they were willing to die for them. Acts 11:26 tells us the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.
-
Today it is much harder to know what someone means when they say they are ‘Christian.’ In fact, I just looked up the word in the dictionary and one of the definitions was simply “kind and unselfish”. In another era, when a man said he was Christian, it meant he was civilized as opposed to heathen. Both these definitions fall short of being a true follower of Christ, though a real Christian should be kind and unselfish.
-
I have heard that 85-95% of the people in the United States claim to be Christians. I do not believe that anywhere near that number really takes following Christ seriously. That means the rest are a bunch of hypocrites.
-
To support my assessment, let me site some figures that I found in a recent World Net Daily article entitled “1 in 3 ‘Christians’ says ‘Jesus Sinned’”. The article gleaned information from a Barna poll that suggests that half of “Christians” do not believe that Satan exists. 40% believe we have no responsibility to share our faith. 25% do not believe the Bible is accurate in all principles it teaches. These are basic things that all Christians should believe.
-
II Corinthians 5:21 clearly tells us Jesus never sinned. “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” Job 1:7, tells us Satan is all too real, “And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.” For those who feel no responsibility to tell others about Christ, read Romans 10:14, “How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?” For those who do not trust the Bible consider Psalm 33:4, “For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth.”
-
These statistics show us that we cannot trust what someone believes just because they call themselves Christian. In fact, these trends seem to indicate that we cannot even trust what many pastors are teaching. It is sad to realize how few preachers are actually going through the Bible verse by verse, telling their congregation what it teaches. No wonder we have so many ‘Christian’ hypocrites. They have not even learned what it means to be a follower of Christ.
-
I pray that this trend would be reversed. It seems that too many pastors are either teaching the same old recycled denominational messages or else they have given into the seeker sensitive entertain the masses at the expense of the Bible mentality. Neither of these methods are true discipleship. Christ commanded in Matthew 28:19-20, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” The command is to TEACH, not to bore or entertain. Obviously many Christians have not been taught.
-
How about you? Are you an unbeliever who is put off by a bunch of hypocrites? Realize that true Christianity is not hypocritical. Christ is not a hypocrite, in fact, He condemned them (Read Matthew 23:23-31). How about you? Are you one of the hypocrites? Repent, get into the Word of God and become a true follower of Christ. (Read Matthew 7:20-23). How about you? Are you a true follower of Christ? Read Matthew 5:16, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
How God Wrote His Book
Why do we believe what we believe? It is important for each of us to ask that question. Why do we believe what we believe? For me the answer to that question is rooted in my belief in God, but it goes even further than that. I believe what I believe because I believe the Bible. God gave man a series of books. Today we call those books the Bible.
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Understanding how we ended up with the Bible can help us to have a greater confidence in the inspired Word of God. Many have heard the phrase “inspired word of God” without really knowing what it means. The Bible itself claims to be inspired, but that claim has little significance if a person does not know what it means. Webster tells us that inspire means “to breathe; to infuse by or as if by breathing; to instill; to communicate divine instructions to the mind of.” This is why Scripture is often referred to as God breathed or as coming directly from the mouth of God. Remember the holy words of the Bible are not just ordinary words, but the words of God.
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If these divine words came directly from the mouth of God, how did they get to the pages of the Bible? Let us allow God to answer that Himself through His word:
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“The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it.” Ps 68:11.
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“For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” II Peter 1:21.
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“Now go, write it before them in a table, and note it in a book, that it may be for the time to come for ever and ever:” Isaiah 30:8.
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In the above verses, the Psalmist tells us that the words came from the Lord. Peter wrote about how the Holy Spirit of God gave the words to those who He wanted to deliver His message. Isaiah tells us how He was specifically commanded to write down the words that were spoken to him. These were not just ordinary words, they were the words of Scripture given by God. Notice what the Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy concerning these words from God:
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“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:” II Tim 3:16.
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All Scripture is given by inspiration of God. That means every verse of the Bible came from God. Each jot and tittle was written by His intent. Yes, He used men like Isaiah, Peter, and Paul, yet as Isaiah testifies, God told them what to write. These men were moved by God. The Bible is not a bunch of ideas made up by these men. These men were guided specifically by a Holy God to write a message down so that we might know what God has for us to learn.
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We must guard against the idea that certain parts of the Bible are reliable and other parts are not. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God. If we pick and choose what we want to believe, we can make it look like it says whatever we want it to say. That is why it is so important to read it in context. Sometimes folks will try tell us that the Bible has things in it that are not “Christian”. Before you get upset at your Bible, read it and find out if they are taking a verse out of context. It is God’s word, let us make sure God is not taken out of context.
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Jesus Christ Himself testified to the importance of the Word of God: “But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:4. The Proverbs also testify of God’s Word: “For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.” Proverbs 2:6.
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These last few verses are not only a continued testimony of the importance of Scripture, but as well a testimony that it comes from God. There are also many verses throughout the Bible that have phrases like “thus saith the Lord” or “hear ye the word of the Lord”. The Bible claims to be God’s word, and thus is worthy of the title “The Word of God. That is why I believe it, and that is why it is to guide all that I believe.
-
Understanding how we ended up with the Bible can help us to have a greater confidence in the inspired Word of God. Many have heard the phrase “inspired word of God” without really knowing what it means. The Bible itself claims to be inspired, but that claim has little significance if a person does not know what it means. Webster tells us that inspire means “to breathe; to infuse by or as if by breathing; to instill; to communicate divine instructions to the mind of.” This is why Scripture is often referred to as God breathed or as coming directly from the mouth of God. Remember the holy words of the Bible are not just ordinary words, but the words of God.
-
If these divine words came directly from the mouth of God, how did they get to the pages of the Bible? Let us allow God to answer that Himself through His word:
-
“The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it.” Ps 68:11.
-
“For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” II Peter 1:21.
-
“Now go, write it before them in a table, and note it in a book, that it may be for the time to come for ever and ever:” Isaiah 30:8.
-
In the above verses, the Psalmist tells us that the words came from the Lord. Peter wrote about how the Holy Spirit of God gave the words to those who He wanted to deliver His message. Isaiah tells us how He was specifically commanded to write down the words that were spoken to him. These were not just ordinary words, they were the words of Scripture given by God. Notice what the Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy concerning these words from God:
-
“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:” II Tim 3:16.
-
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God. That means every verse of the Bible came from God. Each jot and tittle was written by His intent. Yes, He used men like Isaiah, Peter, and Paul, yet as Isaiah testifies, God told them what to write. These men were moved by God. The Bible is not a bunch of ideas made up by these men. These men were guided specifically by a Holy God to write a message down so that we might know what God has for us to learn.
-
We must guard against the idea that certain parts of the Bible are reliable and other parts are not. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God. If we pick and choose what we want to believe, we can make it look like it says whatever we want it to say. That is why it is so important to read it in context. Sometimes folks will try tell us that the Bible has things in it that are not “Christian”. Before you get upset at your Bible, read it and find out if they are taking a verse out of context. It is God’s word, let us make sure God is not taken out of context.
-
Jesus Christ Himself testified to the importance of the Word of God: “But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:4. The Proverbs also testify of God’s Word: “For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.” Proverbs 2:6.
-
These last few verses are not only a continued testimony of the importance of Scripture, but as well a testimony that it comes from God. There are also many verses throughout the Bible that have phrases like “thus saith the Lord” or “hear ye the word of the Lord”. The Bible claims to be God’s word, and thus is worthy of the title “The Word of God. That is why I believe it, and that is why it is to guide all that I believe.
The Truth Like No Other
I was recently made aware of an article where patrons were able to write in and give their experiences with customer service at various retail store chains. Some of the experiences were heart warming as store employees went beyond the call of duty to help their customers. It was interesting to note, however, that one of the store chains to receive a complaint, was called “Friendly’s”. Now I have never even heard of such a store and do not know if this was an isolated incident or not, but I found it interesting that a store with a friendly name had unfriendly customer service.
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The experience of this particular customer reminds us that things are not always as they seem. It also reminds us that we cannot always trust those we are told we should be able to trust. I grew up believing that I could trust the Bible. That belief has not changed. There were some people that I thought I could trust, but I later found out I could not. The Bible is different. The more I study it, the more I realize I can trust it. I cannot accuse the Bible of false advertising or clever gimmicks that do not hold true. It is just what it claims to be. It can be trusted. It is truth like no other.
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The reason we can trust the Bible is because it comes from God. It was not made up by a bunch of men, it came to us be the inspiration of God. When God does something, it is perfect. It can be trusted. Deuteronomy 32:4 says, “He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.”
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Our perfect God has given us a perfect book. There are no errors in the Bible. His word assures us that it can be trusted. There may be a few things which we do not understand. Things which seem to our human minds to be impossible, but we must remember, we are only men, He is God. He is the one who parted the waters and walked on them. Because we are only human, we cannot expect to have ALL the answers. Instead, we must accept what He tells us as truth. For example, before the days of Columbus, folks could have known that the world was round if they had just read the Bible. Sadly, many laughed at the reference to the circle of the earth in Isaiah 40:22. Today we know the earth is not flat, God’s Word once again proves itself to be true.
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God’s Word itself makes a claim of trustworthiness. Consider Psalm 18:30-31, “As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him. For who is God save the LORD? or who is a rock save our God?” II Samuel 22:31-32 actually has the same words as the above verses. Please read Psalm 33:4 as well, “For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth.” Christ Himself testified of the truth of God’s word as He prayed in John 17:17, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”
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These verses provide a foundation for the doctrine of the inerrancy of the Scriptures. There are other verses that also support this important teaching. “Thy word is very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it.” Psalms 119:140. “Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.” Psalms 119:160. “The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.” Psalms 12:6. “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12. “Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.” Proverbs 30:5.
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As you can see, the claim that we can trust God’s Word, is not just a claim that is made by a country preacher, it a claim that is made by the Bible itself.
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The experience of this particular customer reminds us that things are not always as they seem. It also reminds us that we cannot always trust those we are told we should be able to trust. I grew up believing that I could trust the Bible. That belief has not changed. There were some people that I thought I could trust, but I later found out I could not. The Bible is different. The more I study it, the more I realize I can trust it. I cannot accuse the Bible of false advertising or clever gimmicks that do not hold true. It is just what it claims to be. It can be trusted. It is truth like no other.
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The reason we can trust the Bible is because it comes from God. It was not made up by a bunch of men, it came to us be the inspiration of God. When God does something, it is perfect. It can be trusted. Deuteronomy 32:4 says, “He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.”
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Our perfect God has given us a perfect book. There are no errors in the Bible. His word assures us that it can be trusted. There may be a few things which we do not understand. Things which seem to our human minds to be impossible, but we must remember, we are only men, He is God. He is the one who parted the waters and walked on them. Because we are only human, we cannot expect to have ALL the answers. Instead, we must accept what He tells us as truth. For example, before the days of Columbus, folks could have known that the world was round if they had just read the Bible. Sadly, many laughed at the reference to the circle of the earth in Isaiah 40:22. Today we know the earth is not flat, God’s Word once again proves itself to be true.
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God’s Word itself makes a claim of trustworthiness. Consider Psalm 18:30-31, “As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him. For who is God save the LORD? or who is a rock save our God?” II Samuel 22:31-32 actually has the same words as the above verses. Please read Psalm 33:4 as well, “For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth.” Christ Himself testified of the truth of God’s word as He prayed in John 17:17, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”
-
These verses provide a foundation for the doctrine of the inerrancy of the Scriptures. There are other verses that also support this important teaching. “Thy word is very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it.” Psalms 119:140. “Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.” Psalms 119:160. “The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.” Psalms 12:6. “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12. “Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.” Proverbs 30:5.
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As you can see, the claim that we can trust God’s Word, is not just a claim that is made by a country preacher, it a claim that is made by the Bible itself.
Friday, January 16, 2009
Burrr Cold
You know it is cold when the gas meter locks up. Wednesday January 14, 2009 was a very cold day. If the cold itself were not bad enough, the wind chill was life threatening. Of all days for a furnace to quit. God gets your attention when He allows it to happen on such a day. What made the problem really serious was that ALL the furnaces in the church, not just one of them had quit. Not only the furnaces, but the gas water heater as well. Fortunately the problem was discovered before the temperature inside dropped enough to freeze any pipes. The gas company sent a man out to fix the problem and we had heat again within a few hours.
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Reflecting on what happened, I am reminded of all the challenges that the cold brings. I recall how much more difficult the cold seemed when I was farming. For those with livestock it is especially difficult. I can remember having to start the tractor to feed the cattle when it was bitterly cold. There were times when it just would not start. We would have it plugged in, with the battery charger charging, as the Nipco heater blew a bit of warmth onto the engine. As we waited for the tractor to warm up, we would have to go around and thaw out the floats and drinkers on the hog tanks. Then we would check the automatic waters for both the hogs and cattle and often they were froze up in spite of the electric heaters that were supposed to keep them working.
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Starting the tractor and thawing the water was not the only problem. The animals themselves faced their own challenges. Often the hogs would cluster together in a corner to try to stay warm. That worked well unless you were the pig at the bottom of the pile. Livestock would die. Gates would be frozen shut. Cattle would walk over fences. Still the best of farmers revel in these challenges rather than facing discouragement.
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No doubt the cold has become MUCH easier to bear now that I am no longer on the farm. Still that does not mean that I no longer have to contend with its challenges. I still get cold walking to the post office, the fan motor in the truck locked up on a bitterly cold morning, and then there was that incident with the gas meter. These, however, are minor compared to what I used to contend with. Today I face different kinds of problems then I did then.
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This reminds me a little bit of the salvation experience. Some suggest that if you just come to Christ, all your problems will go away. That may make for a good sales pitch. The problem is, it is not true. The Lord has not promised to take all our problems away, but He does help us to bear them.
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Furthermore, if we come to Christ just for what we can get, where is the repentance in that? We are to trust the Savior because He is God and we want to glorify Him, not just because we want our life to be easier. “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31
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The Apostle Paul warned that instead of ease, the godly Christian should expect problems. He said us in 2 Timothy 3:12, “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”
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So then, why would anyone even want to be a Christian? Because being a Christian is not just about us getting from God (we definitely get much), it is also about us trusting God- especially when the going gets tough. It would have been so much harder struggling to get the cattle fed, if I had not had the privilege of calling out to my Heavenly Father for grace to bear the cold.
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He doesn’t take all our problems away, but He does help us through them. “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13
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What’s more, as Christians, we do not just consider this life, but the life ahead. Paul admits in I Corinthians 15:19, “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.” Yet Paul was not miserable. His hope was for a better place. A place where is neither the bitter wind chill or the fires of hell. His hope was not of this world. His trust was not in this world. Even as he knew he would face more problems in this life, he was still joyful. Consider what Paul said in Acts 20:24, “But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.”
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I pray that you as well could finish your course with joy. The only way that you can do that is to put your complete trust in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. The next life will not be this cold, but it could be very hot if you neglect so great salvation.
-
Reflecting on what happened, I am reminded of all the challenges that the cold brings. I recall how much more difficult the cold seemed when I was farming. For those with livestock it is especially difficult. I can remember having to start the tractor to feed the cattle when it was bitterly cold. There were times when it just would not start. We would have it plugged in, with the battery charger charging, as the Nipco heater blew a bit of warmth onto the engine. As we waited for the tractor to warm up, we would have to go around and thaw out the floats and drinkers on the hog tanks. Then we would check the automatic waters for both the hogs and cattle and often they were froze up in spite of the electric heaters that were supposed to keep them working.
-
Starting the tractor and thawing the water was not the only problem. The animals themselves faced their own challenges. Often the hogs would cluster together in a corner to try to stay warm. That worked well unless you were the pig at the bottom of the pile. Livestock would die. Gates would be frozen shut. Cattle would walk over fences. Still the best of farmers revel in these challenges rather than facing discouragement.
-
No doubt the cold has become MUCH easier to bear now that I am no longer on the farm. Still that does not mean that I no longer have to contend with its challenges. I still get cold walking to the post office, the fan motor in the truck locked up on a bitterly cold morning, and then there was that incident with the gas meter. These, however, are minor compared to what I used to contend with. Today I face different kinds of problems then I did then.
-
This reminds me a little bit of the salvation experience. Some suggest that if you just come to Christ, all your problems will go away. That may make for a good sales pitch. The problem is, it is not true. The Lord has not promised to take all our problems away, but He does help us to bear them.
-
Furthermore, if we come to Christ just for what we can get, where is the repentance in that? We are to trust the Savior because He is God and we want to glorify Him, not just because we want our life to be easier. “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31
-
The Apostle Paul warned that instead of ease, the godly Christian should expect problems. He said us in 2 Timothy 3:12, “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”
-
So then, why would anyone even want to be a Christian? Because being a Christian is not just about us getting from God (we definitely get much), it is also about us trusting God- especially when the going gets tough. It would have been so much harder struggling to get the cattle fed, if I had not had the privilege of calling out to my Heavenly Father for grace to bear the cold.
-
He doesn’t take all our problems away, but He does help us through them. “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13
-
What’s more, as Christians, we do not just consider this life, but the life ahead. Paul admits in I Corinthians 15:19, “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.” Yet Paul was not miserable. His hope was for a better place. A place where is neither the bitter wind chill or the fires of hell. His hope was not of this world. His trust was not in this world. Even as he knew he would face more problems in this life, he was still joyful. Consider what Paul said in Acts 20:24, “But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.”
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I pray that you as well could finish your course with joy. The only way that you can do that is to put your complete trust in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. The next life will not be this cold, but it could be very hot if you neglect so great salvation.
Friday, January 2, 2009
I Don't Trust the Ice
Is there a difference between a coward and a cautious chicken? I hope so, because when it comes to ice covered lakes, I fall into the latter category. I have driven onto the lakes during the winter, but only after extended period of VERY cold weather and numerous reports of VERY thick ice. Even when the ice is over a foot thick, there is something unnerving about sitting in a fish house and hearing the cracks and rumbles as other vehicles drive over a bridge of ice that is only kept in tact by the freezing temperatures.
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One of my best friends was typically amongst the first to venture out in the fall and the last to come off in the spring. He worked long hours on road construction during the summer and had his winters free to fish. It was almost as if he reasoned that if the ground was froze too hard to build a road, then the lake must have thick enough ice.
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He would invite me to join him on the lakes at times that I just did not trust the ice. We would typically go back and forth about how safe it was. He would try to convince me not to worry and I would give the reason why I was not ready to drive out on the lake. He would reassure me of the thickness of the ice where he had his fish house, and I would ask if he had checked the thickness in every spot between there and the shore. Of course I did not expect him to do this just so I could feel confident in driving out to him, but my question was a reflection of my lack of faith in the ice’s ability to hold my pickup, and even myself.
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Now I could sit on shore and watch others driving back and forth on the ice between the shore and various fish houses. If you had asked me if I believed that one of those vehicles would fall through the ice as I watched, I would have had to say no. I did believe the ice would hold them, but I did not have enough trust to put my confidence in it.
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You see, there is a difference in the kinds of belief we have. There is a belief that acknowledges facts, and there is another kind of belief that ventures into the area of trust. So what does ice fishing have to do with our relationship with Jesus Christ? A true saving faith in Christ is not just an agreement about facts concerning the Lord, it is a trust, confidence, and life changing faith in Him.
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I could look at those other trucks on the lake and believe that the ice could hold them up, but if I did not put my trust in that ice enough to drive out there, I did not have a real life changing confidence in it. Many people approach a belief in God in a similar manner. They believe that He exists. They can see the evidence of it just as we can see people driving on the lake, yet they are not willing to change their lives and serve Him. I believe that is what James meant in 2:19, when he writes, “Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.”
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The devils- the enemies of God- believe that God exists. They even know all about Jesus, and that He died for the sins of mankind and deserves our worship. Does that mean that devils will get to heaven? No not at all. In fact, the lake of fire was made specifically for them. “Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:” Matthew 25:41.
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Those who do not have a saving belief- the sort of belief that puts a total confidence in Christ- will face the same wrath as those devils. That is why the love and forgiveness of God expressed in John 3:16 is so precious. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
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As we compare the words of James and John, we are reminded that the belief we are to have is not to be just a belief of existence. Our belief must be a belief of commitment and trust. Jesus tells us in Matthew 10:38-39, “And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.”
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As I think about the ice, I realize that putting my trust in it could be a life or death decision. The fear of falling through and dying in freezing water is a strong motivator. My friend finally found out how big a risk he was taking when his pickup fell through on a path others had crossed just a short time before. Fortunately he was not hurt, and only lost his pride and the time it took to get a Ford Courier off the bottom of the lake. As we consider the path of life, let us not forget, “Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” Matthew 7:14. The decision concerning trusting Christ, is not just a life threatening decision, it is an eternal life threatening decision.
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Christ is worthy of our trust, thin ice is not. Psalms 71:1, “In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion.”
-
One of my best friends was typically amongst the first to venture out in the fall and the last to come off in the spring. He worked long hours on road construction during the summer and had his winters free to fish. It was almost as if he reasoned that if the ground was froze too hard to build a road, then the lake must have thick enough ice.
-
He would invite me to join him on the lakes at times that I just did not trust the ice. We would typically go back and forth about how safe it was. He would try to convince me not to worry and I would give the reason why I was not ready to drive out on the lake. He would reassure me of the thickness of the ice where he had his fish house, and I would ask if he had checked the thickness in every spot between there and the shore. Of course I did not expect him to do this just so I could feel confident in driving out to him, but my question was a reflection of my lack of faith in the ice’s ability to hold my pickup, and even myself.
-
Now I could sit on shore and watch others driving back and forth on the ice between the shore and various fish houses. If you had asked me if I believed that one of those vehicles would fall through the ice as I watched, I would have had to say no. I did believe the ice would hold them, but I did not have enough trust to put my confidence in it.
-
You see, there is a difference in the kinds of belief we have. There is a belief that acknowledges facts, and there is another kind of belief that ventures into the area of trust. So what does ice fishing have to do with our relationship with Jesus Christ? A true saving faith in Christ is not just an agreement about facts concerning the Lord, it is a trust, confidence, and life changing faith in Him.
-
I could look at those other trucks on the lake and believe that the ice could hold them up, but if I did not put my trust in that ice enough to drive out there, I did not have a real life changing confidence in it. Many people approach a belief in God in a similar manner. They believe that He exists. They can see the evidence of it just as we can see people driving on the lake, yet they are not willing to change their lives and serve Him. I believe that is what James meant in 2:19, when he writes, “Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.”
-
The devils- the enemies of God- believe that God exists. They even know all about Jesus, and that He died for the sins of mankind and deserves our worship. Does that mean that devils will get to heaven? No not at all. In fact, the lake of fire was made specifically for them. “Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:” Matthew 25:41.
-
Those who do not have a saving belief- the sort of belief that puts a total confidence in Christ- will face the same wrath as those devils. That is why the love and forgiveness of God expressed in John 3:16 is so precious. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
-
As we compare the words of James and John, we are reminded that the belief we are to have is not to be just a belief of existence. Our belief must be a belief of commitment and trust. Jesus tells us in Matthew 10:38-39, “And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.”
-
As I think about the ice, I realize that putting my trust in it could be a life or death decision. The fear of falling through and dying in freezing water is a strong motivator. My friend finally found out how big a risk he was taking when his pickup fell through on a path others had crossed just a short time before. Fortunately he was not hurt, and only lost his pride and the time it took to get a Ford Courier off the bottom of the lake. As we consider the path of life, let us not forget, “Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” Matthew 7:14. The decision concerning trusting Christ, is not just a life threatening decision, it is an eternal life threatening decision.
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Christ is worthy of our trust, thin ice is not. Psalms 71:1, “In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion.”
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