“But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 10:33)
Near the end of his life, the apostle Paul wrote to the young pastor, Timothy, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7). A few sentences later, he referred to a man named Demas who had deserted him, “having loved this present world, and has departed for Thessalonica.” (2 Timothy 4:10).
When it got too hard for Demas, he quit. He didn't want to be a follower of Jesus if it required anything of him, if it cost him anything, and certainly if it meant he would suffer persecution.
Jesus spoke of the same dilemma in the Parable of the Sower, in which He compared the Word of God entering the hearts of men and women to a farmer who scatters seed. Jesus explained, “He who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles” (Matthew 13:20-21).
There are some who will abandon their Christian faith when trouble comes or persecution arises. They give up. They deny the Lord.
One way people do this is by simply saying, “I don’t know Him.” But another way is to not confess your faith in Jesus Christ or to not speak up for Him when the opportunity arises.
Do people know that you’re a Christian? Do your coworkers know you’re a Christian? Do your family members know that you are a follower of Jesus Christ? Are you speaking up for Him? I hope so.
Copyright © 2008 by Harvest Ministries. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New King James Version, copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Monday, April 28, 2008
The Idea of God cont.
Perhaps the most important philosophical concept about God is that he is not a man, He is spirit. God is above the physical, and is beyond the grasp of men in understanding. We can attempt to understand the nature of God, and as we learn about Him, we will come to know Him, but we can never fully understand the mind of God.
Ideas
Philosophy contains the sciences of logic, ethics, aesthetics, metaphysics, and epistemology.
The questions become: Does Theism (and thus, Christianity) stand up to reason? Does it have a good philosophical foundation?
The heart of this apologetic approach is that the Christian is interested in defending the truths that Christ is the Son of God and the Bible is the Word of God. However, prior to establishing these two pillars on which the uniqueness of Christianity is built, one must establish the existence of God. For it makes no sense to speak about an act of God (i.e., a miracle) confirming that Christ is the Son of God and that the Bible is the Word of God unless of course there is a God who can have a Son and who can speak a Word. Theism, then, is a logical prerequisite to Christianity.
Norman Geisler, Christian Apologetics, Baker, 1997
Ideas
Philosophy contains the sciences of logic, ethics, aesthetics, metaphysics, and epistemology.
- Logic is the science of reason and the practice of principles of reasoning
- Ethics is the study of morals (right and wrong)
- Aesthetics is the study of beauty, perception
- Metaphysics investigates the nature of first principles, reality (meta = "after" or "beyond"; things after or beyond physics) - includes study of being (ontology) and study of the universe (cosmology)
- Epistemology is the science of knowing
The questions become: Does Theism (and thus, Christianity) stand up to reason? Does it have a good philosophical foundation?
The heart of this apologetic approach is that the Christian is interested in defending the truths that Christ is the Son of God and the Bible is the Word of God. However, prior to establishing these two pillars on which the uniqueness of Christianity is built, one must establish the existence of God. For it makes no sense to speak about an act of God (i.e., a miracle) confirming that Christ is the Son of God and that the Bible is the Word of God unless of course there is a God who can have a Son and who can speak a Word. Theism, then, is a logical prerequisite to Christianity.
Norman Geisler, Christian Apologetics, Baker, 1997
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
The Idea of God
The Bible, though, does make descriptions of God using anthropomorphisms - "God's mighty hand", the "his holy arm", "breath from His nostrils", etc. Why is it necessary to describe God in human terms? God cannot explain characteristics about Himself that are unknowable beyond our comprehension, but he can help us to understand Him better by using analogies that we are familiar with. When the Bible refers to His "eyes" we know that He "sees", because we see with our eyes. When we hear of His "arm" and His "hand", we know that God intervenes and is active in the universe, because we move things with our hands and arms.
To begin to discuss the idea of God we must have an concept of what we are looking for. We can start by looking at what the bible says about God and His nature, and we can then construct a reasonable argument about His existence.
1 Cor. 1:25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
These passages demonstrate by contrast, the difference between man and God in strength and wisdom. Even if God chose to limit himself to "weakness" or "foolishness", even this would be vastly superior to the best man has to offer.
These characteristics of foolishness and weakness can also be understood in another context — that which may appear to outsiders as foolishness or weakness on the part of the believer may indeed be strength and wisdom, from God's point of view. The Bible often calls upon the believer to exhibit "weakness" or humility, dependence (on God) rather than independence (rebellion), and to show love even in the face of persecution.
2 Cor. 12:9 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.
What appears as foolishness and weakness on the Christian's part perfects the power of God.
2 Cor. 10:3-5 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses.
We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ
John 4:24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.
To begin to discuss the idea of God we must have an concept of what we are looking for. We can start by looking at what the bible says about God and His nature, and we can then construct a reasonable argument about His existence.
1 Cor. 1:25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
These passages demonstrate by contrast, the difference between man and God in strength and wisdom. Even if God chose to limit himself to "weakness" or "foolishness", even this would be vastly superior to the best man has to offer.
These characteristics of foolishness and weakness can also be understood in another context — that which may appear to outsiders as foolishness or weakness on the part of the believer may indeed be strength and wisdom, from God's point of view. The Bible often calls upon the believer to exhibit "weakness" or humility, dependence (on God) rather than independence (rebellion), and to show love even in the face of persecution.
2 Cor. 12:9 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.
What appears as foolishness and weakness on the Christian's part perfects the power of God.
2 Cor. 10:3-5 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses.
We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ
John 4:24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Paul in Athens
Neither of the two groups of philosophers that Paul encountered were familiar with Paul's Jesus, they both took him to task to explain this new and different philosophy. The Stoics and the Epicureans were the practical opposites of each other, and the philosophy of each was in opposition to the teaching of Paul.
The Stoics taught that the true philosophy of life was a total indifference to both the sorrows and pleasures of the world; while the Epicureans sought relief from life's sorrows in the studied pursuit of its pleasures.
In opposition to the Stoics, Paul taught that we should weep with those who weep, and rejoice with those who rejoice. In opposition to the Epicureans, Paul taught that we should deny ourselves to all ungodliness and worldly lusts.
The Areopagus was a high outcropping, accessible by a flight of stone steps cut into the rock, leading to open air seats, where the judges, called Areopagites, held trials for criminals, and held hearings for grave religious questions. Since this was evidently an unofficial proceeding, this place was probably selected by those interested in hearing Paul, in hopes of generating a show - after all, these Athenians lived for " talking about and listening to the latest ideas."
Instead of his typical audience of Jews and proselytes, Paul now has an assembly of demon-worshipers. He cannot, therefore, open the Scriptures, and begin by speaking of the long-expected Messiah. The Scriptures, and even the God who gave them, are to them, unknown. Before he can preach about Jesus as the Son of God, he must introduce to them a true concept of God himself.
This aspect makes Paul's speech to the Athenians different from all others recorded in Acts. Paul recognized the difference in the beliefs his listeners, their widely disparate world views, and began by defining the true concept of God.
When we speak to the skeptical unbeliever, it is essential that we begin with a proper concept of the God of the Bible. Some people's God is a demon, like those worshipped by the Athenians, to some people, God is the same as the universe, to others, God is a part of the universe and subject to it, like us. It is not difficult to understand why the skeptic cannot accept a God like these.
We are all familiar with artist's renderings of God, an old man with a long, white beard, like Michelangelo's painting of God breathing life into Adam on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. Many people have anthropomorphic (human-like) ideas of God, ideas that are easy for a thinking person to knock down (a "straw-man" argument).
What examples of questions that people ask about God can you think of that demonstrate that they don't have an adequate concept of God?
The Stoics taught that the true philosophy of life was a total indifference to both the sorrows and pleasures of the world; while the Epicureans sought relief from life's sorrows in the studied pursuit of its pleasures.
In opposition to the Stoics, Paul taught that we should weep with those who weep, and rejoice with those who rejoice. In opposition to the Epicureans, Paul taught that we should deny ourselves to all ungodliness and worldly lusts.
The Areopagus was a high outcropping, accessible by a flight of stone steps cut into the rock, leading to open air seats, where the judges, called Areopagites, held trials for criminals, and held hearings for grave religious questions. Since this was evidently an unofficial proceeding, this place was probably selected by those interested in hearing Paul, in hopes of generating a show - after all, these Athenians lived for " talking about and listening to the latest ideas."
Instead of his typical audience of Jews and proselytes, Paul now has an assembly of demon-worshipers. He cannot, therefore, open the Scriptures, and begin by speaking of the long-expected Messiah. The Scriptures, and even the God who gave them, are to them, unknown. Before he can preach about Jesus as the Son of God, he must introduce to them a true concept of God himself.
This aspect makes Paul's speech to the Athenians different from all others recorded in Acts. Paul recognized the difference in the beliefs his listeners, their widely disparate world views, and began by defining the true concept of God.
When we speak to the skeptical unbeliever, it is essential that we begin with a proper concept of the God of the Bible. Some people's God is a demon, like those worshipped by the Athenians, to some people, God is the same as the universe, to others, God is a part of the universe and subject to it, like us. It is not difficult to understand why the skeptic cannot accept a God like these.
We are all familiar with artist's renderings of God, an old man with a long, white beard, like Michelangelo's painting of God breathing life into Adam on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. Many people have anthropomorphic (human-like) ideas of God, ideas that are easy for a thinking person to knock down (a "straw-man" argument).
What examples of questions that people ask about God can you think of that demonstrate that they don't have an adequate concept of God?
Monday, April 21, 2008
The Heart
The heart of this apologetic approach is that the Christian is interested in defending the truths that Christ is the Son of God and the Bible is the Word of God. However, prior to establishing these two pillars on which the uniqueness of Christianity is built, one must establish the existence of God. For it makes no sense to speak about an act of God (i.e., a miracle) confirming that Christ is the Son of God and that the Bible is the Word of God unless of course there is a God who can have a Son and who can speak a Word. Theism, then, is a logical prerequisite to Christianity.
Norman Geisler, Christian Apologetics, Baker, 1997
Biblical Foundation
Paul makes an unplanned side-trip while in Athens waiting for Timothy and Silas, and feels his "spirit provoked" upon noticing a city full of idols. Paul was speaking to everyone that would listen; first to the religious people in the synagogue, then exhausting that avenue, to people he found in the streets:
Acts 17:16-33 While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols. So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there.
A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to dispute with him. Some of them asked, "What is this babbler trying to say?" Others remarked, "He seems to be advocating foreign gods." They said this because Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection. Then they took him and brought him to a meeting of the Areopagus, where they said to him, "May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting? You are bringing some strange ideas to our ears, and we want to know what they mean." (All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas.)
Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: "Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you. The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. For in him we live and move and have our being.' As some of your own poets have said, 'We are his offspring.' Therefore since we are God's offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone – an image made by man's design and skill. In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead."
When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, "We want to hear you again on this subject." At that, Paul left the Council.
The passage above is the context of the comments for tomorrows post!
Norman Geisler, Christian Apologetics, Baker, 1997
Biblical Foundation
Paul makes an unplanned side-trip while in Athens waiting for Timothy and Silas, and feels his "spirit provoked" upon noticing a city full of idols. Paul was speaking to everyone that would listen; first to the religious people in the synagogue, then exhausting that avenue, to people he found in the streets:
Acts 17:16-33 While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols. So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there.
A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to dispute with him. Some of them asked, "What is this babbler trying to say?" Others remarked, "He seems to be advocating foreign gods." They said this because Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection. Then they took him and brought him to a meeting of the Areopagus, where they said to him, "May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting? You are bringing some strange ideas to our ears, and we want to know what they mean." (All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas.)
Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: "Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you. The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. For in him we live and move and have our being.' As some of your own poets have said, 'We are his offspring.' Therefore since we are God's offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone – an image made by man's design and skill. In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead."
When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, "We want to hear you again on this subject." At that, Paul left the Council.
The passage above is the context of the comments for tomorrows post!
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Knowing Our Limits
Proverbs 28:19 He who works his land will have abundant food, but the one who chases fantasies will have his fill of poverty.
Webster's defines entrepreneur: "one who organizes, operates, and assumes the risk in a business venture." [Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, Tenth ed. (Springfield, Massachusetts, 1993), "entrepreneur."] Entrepreneurs can smell an opportunity a mile away. However, what is often their greatest asset can become their greatest downfall. The road is littered with entrepreneurs who have been successful in one venture only to fail in countless others. Is this the natural way for an entrepreneur, or is there a better way?
King David was an entrepreneur. He grew up as a shepherd boy and later became Israel's greatest warrior. He responded to opportunities, like the time when no one would fight Goliath. He saw this as an opportunity. He ultimately became king of Israel and faced many opportunities placed before him. David learned an important lesson somewhere along the way that each of us as businesspeople should learn.
As an entrepreneur the greatest danger is engaging ourselves in activities in which God never intended us to be involved. This is poor stewardship of what God has entrusted to us. When the Philistines attacked David, he always inquired of God as to if and when he was to counterattack. When he was attacked a second time on one occasion, David inquired of God as to whether he was to attack yet. This time God said yes, but with a condition, "Wait until you hear the sound of marching in the balsam trees" (see 2 Sam. 5:24). This story tells us that David had learned an important lesson about staying vertical in his relationship with God at all times. David had learned the important principle of staying focused on what God wanted for him, not what seemed logical. He was an opportunist, but only through the filter of the Holy Spirit in his life.
How do you approach opportunities? Do you consider the merits of the opportunity only? Or do you inquire of God as to whether He desires you to pursue? It may be a wonderful opportunity, but it may not be God's will for you to be involved. Ask the Holy Spirit to direct you as you seek to use the skills He has given you.
A link to the source - http://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/marketplace/
Webster's defines entrepreneur: "one who organizes, operates, and assumes the risk in a business venture." [Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, Tenth ed. (Springfield, Massachusetts, 1993), "entrepreneur."] Entrepreneurs can smell an opportunity a mile away. However, what is often their greatest asset can become their greatest downfall. The road is littered with entrepreneurs who have been successful in one venture only to fail in countless others. Is this the natural way for an entrepreneur, or is there a better way?
King David was an entrepreneur. He grew up as a shepherd boy and later became Israel's greatest warrior. He responded to opportunities, like the time when no one would fight Goliath. He saw this as an opportunity. He ultimately became king of Israel and faced many opportunities placed before him. David learned an important lesson somewhere along the way that each of us as businesspeople should learn.
As an entrepreneur the greatest danger is engaging ourselves in activities in which God never intended us to be involved. This is poor stewardship of what God has entrusted to us. When the Philistines attacked David, he always inquired of God as to if and when he was to counterattack. When he was attacked a second time on one occasion, David inquired of God as to whether he was to attack yet. This time God said yes, but with a condition, "Wait until you hear the sound of marching in the balsam trees" (see 2 Sam. 5:24). This story tells us that David had learned an important lesson about staying vertical in his relationship with God at all times. David had learned the important principle of staying focused on what God wanted for him, not what seemed logical. He was an opportunist, but only through the filter of the Holy Spirit in his life.
How do you approach opportunities? Do you consider the merits of the opportunity only? Or do you inquire of God as to whether He desires you to pursue? It may be a wonderful opportunity, but it may not be God's will for you to be involved. Ask the Holy Spirit to direct you as you seek to use the skills He has given you.
A link to the source - http://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/marketplace/
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
The Illusion of Tomorrow
Ecclesiastes 12:1 Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth.
My next-door neighbor was a fine man. His friends spoke highly of him. One day, after completing his rounds as an orthopedic surgeon, he went to the cleaners to pick up his laundry. As he stood at the counter, a woman walked in carrying a purse that contained a loaded gun.
She accidentally dropped the purse on the floor, the gun discharged and the bullet hit my neighbor in the head. He died eight hours later. The Lord had called my neighbor home for his day of accounting. He was 41 years old.
Why does it often take something as weighty as death to get our attention? We live daily as though we are immortal, as though we will never die.
So we put off so many important things that really should be done today. I suppose procrastination is as old as death itself. It's interesting to me how we tend to procrastinate on some of the most important decisions and actions of our lives:
Solomon knew about procrastination. He places priority on remembering God not on our deathbeds, nor in our middle age, but in our youth. This results in a life that honors God rather than self.
Prayer: Ask God to teach you to number your days that you may live your life wisely.
Discuss: What have you been putting off today thinking you could do tomorrow?
My next-door neighbor was a fine man. His friends spoke highly of him. One day, after completing his rounds as an orthopedic surgeon, he went to the cleaners to pick up his laundry. As he stood at the counter, a woman walked in carrying a purse that contained a loaded gun.
She accidentally dropped the purse on the floor, the gun discharged and the bullet hit my neighbor in the head. He died eight hours later. The Lord had called my neighbor home for his day of accounting. He was 41 years old.
Why does it often take something as weighty as death to get our attention? We live daily as though we are immortal, as though we will never die.
So we put off so many important things that really should be done today. I suppose procrastination is as old as death itself. It's interesting to me how we tend to procrastinate on some of the most important decisions and actions of our lives:
- Saying words of encouragement, appreciation and love to our mates;
- Embracing our children in a hug (regardless of their ages);
- Playing with our children;
- Writing that letter of appreciation to our parents for all their hard work and labor in raising us right;
- Committing our lives fully to Christ as Lord and Savior;
- Living for eternity instead of for the moment.
Solomon knew about procrastination. He places priority on remembering God not on our deathbeds, nor in our middle age, but in our youth. This results in a life that honors God rather than self.
Prayer: Ask God to teach you to number your days that you may live your life wisely.
Discuss: What have you been putting off today thinking you could do tomorrow?
Monday, April 14, 2008
In Everything
"In nothing be anxious" (Phil. 4:6).
No anxiety ought to be found in a believer. Great, many and varied may be our trials, our afflictions, our difficulties, and yet there should be no anxiety under any circumstances, because we have a Father in Heaven who is almighty, who loves His children as He loves His only-begotten Son, and whose very joy and delight it is to succor and help them at all times and under all circumstances. We should attend to the Word, "In nothing be anxious, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God."
"In everything," that is not merely when the house is on fire, not merely when the beloved wife and children are on the brink of the grave, but in the smallest matters of life, bring everything before God, the little things, the very little things, what the world calls trifling things -- everything -- living in holy communion with our Heavenly Father, arid with our precious Lord Jesus all day long. And when we awake at night, by a kind of spiritual instinct again turning to Him, and speaking to Him, bringing our various little matters before Him in the sleepless night, the difficulties in connection with the family, our trade, our profession. Whatever tries us in any way, speak to the Lord about it.
"By prayer and supplication," taking the place of beggars, with earnestness, with perseverance, going on and waiting, waiting, waiting on God.
"With thanksgiving." We should at all times lay a good foundation with thanksgiving. If everything else were wanting, this is always present, that He has saved us from hell. Then, that He has given us His Holy Word -- His Son, His choicest gift -- and the Holy Spirit. Therefore we have abundant reason for thanksgiving. O let us aim at this!
"And the peace of God which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." And this is so great a blessing, so real a blessing, so precious a blessing, that it must be known experimentally to be entered into, for it passeth understanding. O let us lay these things to heart, and the result will be, if we habitually walk in this spirit, we shall far more abundantly glorify God, than as yet we have done. --George Mueller, in Life of Trust
Twice or thrice a day, look to see if your heart is not disquieted about something; and if you find that it is, take care forthwith to restore it to calm. --Francis De Sales
No anxiety ought to be found in a believer. Great, many and varied may be our trials, our afflictions, our difficulties, and yet there should be no anxiety under any circumstances, because we have a Father in Heaven who is almighty, who loves His children as He loves His only-begotten Son, and whose very joy and delight it is to succor and help them at all times and under all circumstances. We should attend to the Word, "In nothing be anxious, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God."
"In everything," that is not merely when the house is on fire, not merely when the beloved wife and children are on the brink of the grave, but in the smallest matters of life, bring everything before God, the little things, the very little things, what the world calls trifling things -- everything -- living in holy communion with our Heavenly Father, arid with our precious Lord Jesus all day long. And when we awake at night, by a kind of spiritual instinct again turning to Him, and speaking to Him, bringing our various little matters before Him in the sleepless night, the difficulties in connection with the family, our trade, our profession. Whatever tries us in any way, speak to the Lord about it.
"By prayer and supplication," taking the place of beggars, with earnestness, with perseverance, going on and waiting, waiting, waiting on God.
"With thanksgiving." We should at all times lay a good foundation with thanksgiving. If everything else were wanting, this is always present, that He has saved us from hell. Then, that He has given us His Holy Word -- His Son, His choicest gift -- and the Holy Spirit. Therefore we have abundant reason for thanksgiving. O let us aim at this!
"And the peace of God which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." And this is so great a blessing, so real a blessing, so precious a blessing, that it must be known experimentally to be entered into, for it passeth understanding. O let us lay these things to heart, and the result will be, if we habitually walk in this spirit, we shall far more abundantly glorify God, than as yet we have done. --George Mueller, in Life of Trust
Twice or thrice a day, look to see if your heart is not disquieted about something; and if you find that it is, take care forthwith to restore it to calm. --Francis De Sales
Wednesday, April 09, 2008
Independence That Leads to Sin
Luke 15:20 So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
The two young men had worked for many years in their family business. One day one of the sons decided he wanted to venture out on his own. He had been under the employment of his dad's business long enough. He felt he had learned all he needed to know. He wanted his independence. He wanted to take his stock options early, which would allow enough capital to begin on his own. The other son remained behind, working day in and day out, faithfully doing his job.
The first son went out on his own only to find it was more difficult than he had ever imagined. The immediate cash gained from the advance from his dad's business was a temptation that was too great for him. He spent all of the money, fell into sin, and failed to invest it in another business. He failed miserably. Finally, he came crawling back to his dad, seeking to be taken back as a mere laborer. The father took him back with open arms, fully restoring him to his original place. He experienced grace and love in a way he had never known before.
When we desire independence so much that we launch out without God's full blessing, we can expect to fall on our face. When pride enters our lives, it discourages us from dependence on anyone but ourselves; yet God says that we are to depend on Him alone. If we think we can go it alone, we will fail. On the other hand, in spite of the prodigal son's failure, he learned a great lesson of grace that he had not known before. This resulted in a humility of heart that had a lasting impression for the rest of his life. Therefore, God even turns our failures into successes spiritually when we are willing to admit our failure.
Pride always goes before a fall. Check your heart today and ask God if there is any pride that is encouraging independence from total trust in God.
A link tot he source - http://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/marketplace/
The two young men had worked for many years in their family business. One day one of the sons decided he wanted to venture out on his own. He had been under the employment of his dad's business long enough. He felt he had learned all he needed to know. He wanted his independence. He wanted to take his stock options early, which would allow enough capital to begin on his own. The other son remained behind, working day in and day out, faithfully doing his job.
The first son went out on his own only to find it was more difficult than he had ever imagined. The immediate cash gained from the advance from his dad's business was a temptation that was too great for him. He spent all of the money, fell into sin, and failed to invest it in another business. He failed miserably. Finally, he came crawling back to his dad, seeking to be taken back as a mere laborer. The father took him back with open arms, fully restoring him to his original place. He experienced grace and love in a way he had never known before.
When we desire independence so much that we launch out without God's full blessing, we can expect to fall on our face. When pride enters our lives, it discourages us from dependence on anyone but ourselves; yet God says that we are to depend on Him alone. If we think we can go it alone, we will fail. On the other hand, in spite of the prodigal son's failure, he learned a great lesson of grace that he had not known before. This resulted in a humility of heart that had a lasting impression for the rest of his life. Therefore, God even turns our failures into successes spiritually when we are willing to admit our failure.
Pride always goes before a fall. Check your heart today and ask God if there is any pride that is encouraging independence from total trust in God.
A link tot he source - http://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/marketplace/
Tuesday, April 08, 2008
Why Do You Believe (or Not Believe) in God Cont.?
Conclusions
Most people have religious beliefs - there are very few that deny the existence of God (or some idea of God).
In America, the overwhelming majority of people claim to be Christians, but do not conduct their lives according to their claimed belief. There are four likely reasons for this:
We can only address the last two items in this class.
Can Faith Be Too Simple?
Arriving at the conclusion that Christianity is true may not be simple - it requires examination of evidence, awareness of feelings and willingness to explore things outside of our immediate experience. Another quote from C. S. Lewis:
VERY WELL THEN, ATHEISM is too simple. And I will tell you another view that is also too simple. It is the view I call Christianity-and-water, the view which simply says there is a good God in Heaven and everything is all right – leaving out all the difficult and terrible doctrines about sin and hell and the devil, and the redemption. Both these are boys' philosophies.
It is no good asking for a simple religion. After all real things are not simple. They look simple but they are not. The table I am sitting at looks simple: but ask a scientist to tell you what it is really made of – all about the atoms and how the light waves rebound from them and hit my eye and what they do to the optic nerve and what it does to my brain – and, of course, you find that what we call "seeing a table" lands you in mysteries and complications which you can hardly get to the end of. A child saying a child's prayer looks simple.
And if you are content to stop there, well and good. But if you are not - and the modern world usually is not – if you want to go on and ask what is really happening – then you must be prepared for something difficult. If we ask for something more than simplicity, it is silly then to complain that the something more is not simple. Very often, however, this silly procedure is adopted by people who are not silly, but who, consciously or unconsciously, want to destroy Christianity. Such people put up a version of Christianity suitable for a child of six and make that the object of their attack. When you try to explain the Christian doctrine as it is really held by an instructed adult, they then complain that: you are making their heads turn round and that it is all too complicated and that if there really were a God they are sure He would have made "religion" simple, because simplicity is so beautiful, etc. You must be on your guard against these people for they will change their ground every minute and only waste your time. Notice, too, their idea of God "making religion simple": as if "religion" were something God invented, and not His statement to us of certain quite unalterable facts about His own nature.
C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity
Belief in God is a result of seeking truth. Christians believe in the God of the Bible both because we accept it on authority, and because it best explains the evidence.
The rejection of Christ is not so much a problem of the mind but of the will – it is not so much "I can't" but "I won't."
There is enough evidence to convince the honest and sincere seeker, but there is not enough evidence to force a man against his will when he is determined to reject it.
Most people have religious beliefs - there are very few that deny the existence of God (or some idea of God).
In America, the overwhelming majority of people claim to be Christians, but do not conduct their lives according to their claimed belief. There are four likely reasons for this:
- People are hypocritical
- People justify their own behavior through their beliefs - "man creates God in his own image"
- People are not informed about their religious doctrine
- People believe things for subjective reasons
We can only address the last two items in this class.
Can Faith Be Too Simple?
Arriving at the conclusion that Christianity is true may not be simple - it requires examination of evidence, awareness of feelings and willingness to explore things outside of our immediate experience. Another quote from C. S. Lewis:
VERY WELL THEN, ATHEISM is too simple. And I will tell you another view that is also too simple. It is the view I call Christianity-and-water, the view which simply says there is a good God in Heaven and everything is all right – leaving out all the difficult and terrible doctrines about sin and hell and the devil, and the redemption. Both these are boys' philosophies.
It is no good asking for a simple religion. After all real things are not simple. They look simple but they are not. The table I am sitting at looks simple: but ask a scientist to tell you what it is really made of – all about the atoms and how the light waves rebound from them and hit my eye and what they do to the optic nerve and what it does to my brain – and, of course, you find that what we call "seeing a table" lands you in mysteries and complications which you can hardly get to the end of. A child saying a child's prayer looks simple.
And if you are content to stop there, well and good. But if you are not - and the modern world usually is not – if you want to go on and ask what is really happening – then you must be prepared for something difficult. If we ask for something more than simplicity, it is silly then to complain that the something more is not simple. Very often, however, this silly procedure is adopted by people who are not silly, but who, consciously or unconsciously, want to destroy Christianity. Such people put up a version of Christianity suitable for a child of six and make that the object of their attack. When you try to explain the Christian doctrine as it is really held by an instructed adult, they then complain that: you are making their heads turn round and that it is all too complicated and that if there really were a God they are sure He would have made "religion" simple, because simplicity is so beautiful, etc. You must be on your guard against these people for they will change their ground every minute and only waste your time. Notice, too, their idea of God "making religion simple": as if "religion" were something God invented, and not His statement to us of certain quite unalterable facts about His own nature.
C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity
Belief in God is a result of seeking truth. Christians believe in the God of the Bible both because we accept it on authority, and because it best explains the evidence.
The rejection of Christ is not so much a problem of the mind but of the will – it is not so much "I can't" but "I won't."
There is enough evidence to convince the honest and sincere seeker, but there is not enough evidence to force a man against his will when he is determined to reject it.
Monday, April 07, 2008
Why Do You Believe (or Not Believe) in God?
Belief Through Authority
There is one last way of arriving at truth - accepting it on authority.
As adults, we can accept things like rules, laws, and even news on authority, perhaps because our experience allows us to do so, and the convenience of trusting what we hear is sufficient to release us from investigating every claim.
For more important or personal issues, the stakes are higher, so we don't usually accept things on authority unless we have better reasons to do so. To accept the statements of someone on authority, we have to know that person, and our experience and our intimate knowledge of them will testify to their trustworthiness.
When you were a young child, when you had a question, you asked your parents for the answer, trusting them implicitly to give you the truth. You knew that your parents would tell you what you needed to know; you knew that they loved you, and your experience told you that you could trust them — you accepted their judgment on authority.
Mature Christians accept God because they know Him personally, they have experience that tells them to trust His judgment, and they understand His love and His provision for them. They may begin their belief based on the authority of their parents' teaching, but eventually a Christian learns who God is, and accepts his authority because of that intimate relationship.
Read a discussion of this idea at the Stand to Reason web site:"How Do You Know Christianity Is True?", by Gregory Koukl
"Simply put, I believe Christianity is true because Jesus said it was. Or to put it more precisely, Jesus said He was true."
Gregory Koukl
The Christian can come to belief in many ways. Some start out with a trusting belief, and then confirm it through experience. Some can look at evidence, experience, and their own perceptions, and conclude with belief.
Heart Exam - Why do you believe in God?
If you are a Christian, think about the reason you believe in God. Did you make a rational decision based on evidence? (I suspect that very few have).
If you accept God on authority, think about the things that you know about Him that lend weight to your trust.
If you are not a Christian, and especially if you have doubts, think about what it would take for you to be able to accept such a proposition as Christianity. Be honest with yourself.
There is one last way of arriving at truth - accepting it on authority.
As adults, we can accept things like rules, laws, and even news on authority, perhaps because our experience allows us to do so, and the convenience of trusting what we hear is sufficient to release us from investigating every claim.
For more important or personal issues, the stakes are higher, so we don't usually accept things on authority unless we have better reasons to do so. To accept the statements of someone on authority, we have to know that person, and our experience and our intimate knowledge of them will testify to their trustworthiness.
When you were a young child, when you had a question, you asked your parents for the answer, trusting them implicitly to give you the truth. You knew that your parents would tell you what you needed to know; you knew that they loved you, and your experience told you that you could trust them — you accepted their judgment on authority.
Mature Christians accept God because they know Him personally, they have experience that tells them to trust His judgment, and they understand His love and His provision for them. They may begin their belief based on the authority of their parents' teaching, but eventually a Christian learns who God is, and accepts his authority because of that intimate relationship.
Read a discussion of this idea at the Stand to Reason web site:"How Do You Know Christianity Is True?", by Gregory Koukl
"Simply put, I believe Christianity is true because Jesus said it was. Or to put it more precisely, Jesus said He was true."
Gregory Koukl
The Christian can come to belief in many ways. Some start out with a trusting belief, and then confirm it through experience. Some can look at evidence, experience, and their own perceptions, and conclude with belief.
- Induction - Start out with a simple "child-like faith" (accepting it on authority - e.g. from parents) and through confirmation, end up with stronger belief.
- Deduction - Systematically eliminate other alternatives and end up with belief.
Heart Exam - Why do you believe in God?
If you are a Christian, think about the reason you believe in God. Did you make a rational decision based on evidence? (I suspect that very few have).
If you accept God on authority, think about the things that you know about Him that lend weight to your trust.
If you are not a Christian, and especially if you have doubts, think about what it would take for you to be able to accept such a proposition as Christianity. Be honest with yourself.
Friday, April 04, 2008
The Consequence of Faith
Romans 6:4 We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
If you commit yourself to live for Christ in and through your business life, there will be a consequence of faith. You could avoid much hardship and take a much easier road in life if you do not choose to live an obedient life of faith in Christ. This is a spiritual law. None of us is excluded from identification with the cross.
When we commit ourselves to fully follow Christ, He begins a "circumcision" process in each of us designed to rid all that is of the world system from our lives. This circumcision is required of every believer. Moses had much preparation from God for His calling to free the people of Israel from Egypt. He spent years in training as a young boy in the family of Pharaoh. He tried to free the people through the flesh by killing an Egyptian. That cost him 40 years in the desert of loneliness and toil before God said he was prepared to free the people from their suffering. God invested much in Moses; however, that preparation was not enough. Experience and preparation had to be mixed with obedience. God required his family to be circumcised. Moses failed to circumcise his son before returning to Egypt. This was so important to God that He was going to kill Moses if he did not uphold his commandment. "At a lodging place on the way, the Lord met Moses and was about to kill him" (Ex. 4:24).
Are there any areas in your life that have not come under the lordship of Christ? Is there any lack of obedience that will prevent you from being used fully by the Lord? Ask Him to show you this today so that you might be fully used of God.
Taken from Daily Workplace Inspiration by Os Hillman
If you commit yourself to live for Christ in and through your business life, there will be a consequence of faith. You could avoid much hardship and take a much easier road in life if you do not choose to live an obedient life of faith in Christ. This is a spiritual law. None of us is excluded from identification with the cross.
When we commit ourselves to fully follow Christ, He begins a "circumcision" process in each of us designed to rid all that is of the world system from our lives. This circumcision is required of every believer. Moses had much preparation from God for His calling to free the people of Israel from Egypt. He spent years in training as a young boy in the family of Pharaoh. He tried to free the people through the flesh by killing an Egyptian. That cost him 40 years in the desert of loneliness and toil before God said he was prepared to free the people from their suffering. God invested much in Moses; however, that preparation was not enough. Experience and preparation had to be mixed with obedience. God required his family to be circumcised. Moses failed to circumcise his son before returning to Egypt. This was so important to God that He was going to kill Moses if he did not uphold his commandment. "At a lodging place on the way, the Lord met Moses and was about to kill him" (Ex. 4:24).
Are there any areas in your life that have not come under the lordship of Christ? Is there any lack of obedience that will prevent you from being used fully by the Lord? Ask Him to show you this today so that you might be fully used of God.
Taken from Daily Workplace Inspiration by Os Hillman
Thursday, April 03, 2008
No excuses!
"The Bible says all men are without excuse. Even those who are given no good reason to believe and many persuasive reasons to disbelieve have no excuse, because the ultimate reason they do not believe is that they have deliberately rejected God's Holy Spirit.
"William Lane Craig, Reasonable Faith: Christian Truth and Apologetics, (Revised edition, Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 1994), p. 37.
"William Lane Craig, Reasonable Faith: Christian Truth and Apologetics, (Revised edition, Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 1994), p. 37.
Wednesday, April 02, 2008
Why do people believe in God / religion?
1. Emotional/Experience - Heart
Can we base our belief on our sincere feelings about God?
If you have ever invited young Mormon missionaries into your home, you may have been asked to pray about the truth of their testimony. You are told that if you have a "burning in the bosom," then that is proof that God has answered affirmatively about their assertions.
If we feel certain about an idea, does that indicate truth? James W. Sire, author of the book Why Should Anyone Believe Anything at All?, writes:
…many of us are indeed certain about our beliefs and are willing to die clinging to them. But notice something about certainty. It does not guarantee accuracy.If it’s the feeling of certainty we are after in our beliefs, we may not have much of a problem maintaining it. We can just believe, never question our beliefs, play our Walkman or watch television when we begin to wonder about our beliefs, and generally avoid asking if our beliefs are really the right ones.The problem is that some of our beliefs may be false.
See Questions & Answers on Apologetics, Nov. 1995
Do worship activities that work up our emotions bring us closer to God?
2. Mystical - Spiritual
1 Cor 2:14: Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things freely given to us by God, which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words. But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.
It seems that legions of people are claiming that they have had a mystical experience, and this, to them is evidence of God, or at least of the existence of the supernatural.
The skeptic dismisses the supernatural as an impossibility. Many Christians dismiss such experiences as well, since they do not appear to be happening to everyone who is a sincere believer.
Findings from a Gallup study conducted during January and February 1996:
An extraordinary high proportion of Americans, a net of 30%, report they have had at some point in their lives a "remarkable healing" related to a physical, emotional or psychological problem. A total of 21% say a physical problem; while the same proportion, 21%, cite an emotional or psychological problem. Most attribute the healing to supernatural forces, with 42% saying God or Jesus Christ or a higher power, and another 30% to their own prayers or to the prayers of others. Still another 27% gave other responses. Most who said they have had a healing say that it made them more aware of the importance of their spiritual life (89% said this), while 84% said it deepened their religious faith. Nearly half (47%) said it changed their lifestyle in terms of aspects of daily life such as eating habits. Thirty-five percent said they developed more interest in using non-traditional therapies or treatments.
See 3 in 10 Americans report a ‘Remarkable Healing’
Would a miraculous healing be reason enough to believe in God? Is God the only explanation for this phenomena?
The Bible is full of supernatural events, so we cannot rule out such occurrences based on Scripture. Can we rule out supernatural experiences based on evidence? Should we?
3. Rational Thought/Evidence - Mind
Of all the ways that we have of knowing truth, it is the rational process that we are most familiar and comfortable with. We use reason every day to help us make sense of the world. It is a democratic method, and well-accepted by non-religious people as a reliable way to find truth. If Christianity is true, then shouldn’t it be available through the use of reason? This is the main thrust of this course, since all of us will be searching for, thinking about, and drawing conclusions about truth using the material presented here.
4. Christianity is grounded firmly in all three
Even though the main purpose of this class is to discover the truth of the Christian story through reason and evidence, we must not forget about people's feelings, emotions and experiences, nor should we attempt to leave the supernatural or spiritual to the realms of fantasy. As thinking, feeling people, we must look everywhere for truth.
Can we base our belief on our sincere feelings about God?
If you have ever invited young Mormon missionaries into your home, you may have been asked to pray about the truth of their testimony. You are told that if you have a "burning in the bosom," then that is proof that God has answered affirmatively about their assertions.
If we feel certain about an idea, does that indicate truth? James W. Sire, author of the book Why Should Anyone Believe Anything at All?, writes:
…many of us are indeed certain about our beliefs and are willing to die clinging to them. But notice something about certainty. It does not guarantee accuracy.If it’s the feeling of certainty we are after in our beliefs, we may not have much of a problem maintaining it. We can just believe, never question our beliefs, play our Walkman or watch television when we begin to wonder about our beliefs, and generally avoid asking if our beliefs are really the right ones.The problem is that some of our beliefs may be false.
See Questions & Answers on Apologetics, Nov. 1995
Do worship activities that work up our emotions bring us closer to God?
2. Mystical - Spiritual
1 Cor 2:14: Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things freely given to us by God, which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words. But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.
It seems that legions of people are claiming that they have had a mystical experience, and this, to them is evidence of God, or at least of the existence of the supernatural.
The skeptic dismisses the supernatural as an impossibility. Many Christians dismiss such experiences as well, since they do not appear to be happening to everyone who is a sincere believer.
Findings from a Gallup study conducted during January and February 1996:
An extraordinary high proportion of Americans, a net of 30%, report they have had at some point in their lives a "remarkable healing" related to a physical, emotional or psychological problem. A total of 21% say a physical problem; while the same proportion, 21%, cite an emotional or psychological problem. Most attribute the healing to supernatural forces, with 42% saying God or Jesus Christ or a higher power, and another 30% to their own prayers or to the prayers of others. Still another 27% gave other responses. Most who said they have had a healing say that it made them more aware of the importance of their spiritual life (89% said this), while 84% said it deepened their religious faith. Nearly half (47%) said it changed their lifestyle in terms of aspects of daily life such as eating habits. Thirty-five percent said they developed more interest in using non-traditional therapies or treatments.
See 3 in 10 Americans report a ‘Remarkable Healing’
Would a miraculous healing be reason enough to believe in God? Is God the only explanation for this phenomena?
The Bible is full of supernatural events, so we cannot rule out such occurrences based on Scripture. Can we rule out supernatural experiences based on evidence? Should we?
3. Rational Thought/Evidence - Mind
Of all the ways that we have of knowing truth, it is the rational process that we are most familiar and comfortable with. We use reason every day to help us make sense of the world. It is a democratic method, and well-accepted by non-religious people as a reliable way to find truth. If Christianity is true, then shouldn’t it be available through the use of reason? This is the main thrust of this course, since all of us will be searching for, thinking about, and drawing conclusions about truth using the material presented here.
4. Christianity is grounded firmly in all three
Even though the main purpose of this class is to discover the truth of the Christian story through reason and evidence, we must not forget about people's feelings, emotions and experiences, nor should we attempt to leave the supernatural or spiritual to the realms of fantasy. As thinking, feeling people, we must look everywhere for truth.
Tuesday, April 01, 2008
From an essay by Douglas Wilson
— From an essay by Douglas Wilson (Covenant Community Church of Orange County, 1990).
"The Bible teaches that intellectual darkness is the result of rebellion, not the cause of it. Those who have been brought out of darkness have a responsibility to speak to those who are still in it. As they speak it is crucial to realize the source of intellectual darkness, and to address it through the demeanor of the speaker, and the content of what is said. If the apologist displays God’s character and demonstrates thankfulness to Him, then it is far more likely that God’s mercy will be demonstrated."
"The Bible teaches that intellectual darkness is the result of rebellion, not the cause of it. Those who have been brought out of darkness have a responsibility to speak to those who are still in it. As they speak it is crucial to realize the source of intellectual darkness, and to address it through the demeanor of the speaker, and the content of what is said. If the apologist displays God’s character and demonstrates thankfulness to Him, then it is far more likely that God’s mercy will be demonstrated."
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