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Fundamental Joy

John 14:1 says “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.” And verse 12 says “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.”

I dont completely understand how we can do greater works than Christ, except that maybe there was but one Jesus who returned to the Father leaving many brothers and sisters who would go proclaim the gospel and do great works “which God prepared beforehand” (Ephesians 2:10).

Sometimes I feel like life is just one little situation, one little problem, one little frustration after another. And I get discouraged and ask, “Whats the point?”

And then Christ comes along and says Let not your heart be troubled. I’ve prepared great works for you.

Life does not consist of little frustrations, little problems, but of great works prepared by our God.

Steve Saint, whose father was killed on the mission field said this: For the world, the pain is fundamental and the joy is superficial because it won’t last. But for us, the pain is superficial and the joy is fundamental.

Accurate Reporting or Left-wing Propaganda?

Shortly before the movie “Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed” came out, I reviewed it and recommended it on my blog. (I saw it in a special screening before it was in theaters. I did not review this movie without seeing it, as many in the left-wing media did.) I believe that the issues it speaks to are of great importance. I also believe that some in the aforementioned left-wing media would have us to believe otherwise.

As stated on the Evolution News and Views blog, an editorial in the New York Times presents, as fact, statements that are simply not true. It says that we creationists “struggle with reality,” that teaching the strengths and weaknesses of evolution is “code for teaching creationism.” These statements are simply false.

But it gets worse. It moves from ill-informed opinion to blatant lies:

Scientists are always probing the strengths and weakness of their hypotheses. That is the very nature of the enterprise. But evolution is no longer a hypothesis. It is a theory rigorously supported by abundant evidence. The weaknesses that creationists hope to teach as a way of refuting evolution are themselves antiquated, long since filed away as solved.

But The Scientist (magazine) would beg to differ. It seems that all the mysteries and questions surrounding the process of evolution have not been “filed away as solved.”

This theory of evolution is really a framework for thinking about change in the living world. It provides no specific guesses for the kinds of traits that may exist, no strong requirements or prohibitions on how they may interact to make a complex organism or ecosystem, and no commitments to how innovation can occur. Even the problem of how a differentiated population ultimately divides into two distinct species (posed in the title of Darwin’s seminal work) remains a major technical problem in evolutionary biology

Someone needs to explain to the New York Times the difference between fact and fiction.

Status Quo Was The Status Quo

I was recently scanning the “Religion” message forum – a place for open discussion of all things religious – on Amazon.com and I came across a very interesting “thread.” It was titled: What would the world be today if Jesus and Christianity had never existed?

Now I must admit I’ve never considered this question before. I’ve never heard the issue raised.

Status quo was the status quo. That is: most of the discussion was along the lines that, were there no Jesus, no Christianity, things in this world would be basically the same.

Now that surprising to me on many levels (some of which I will mention here). It seems absolutely none of the Christians I know would answer that the world would still be truckin’ along at basically the same pace with no major differences. So the overwhelming response was not coming from the Christian worldview, but from a secular atheistic worldview.

Now that may not be atheistic with respect to any god at all. But it is certainly atheistic toward a god who actually does anything.

Another surprise is that many of the leading secularists of the modern day – such as Sam Harris – blame religion for most of the world conflicts and wars. The one who hold this view would logically believe that the world sans Christianity would be a much more peaceful place.

I am stricken by the irony of this idea: that a religion centered around repentance, mercy, forgiveness and grace, a religion whose God, when he came to earth, said “Blessed is the peacemaker,” a religion whose primary carriers opt for martyrdom over resistance would merely propagate violence, hatred and widespread suffering. Though I disagree vehemently, I do appreciate the irony (or absurdity) of the view. I also recognize that many who have acted on behalf of (or in the name of) Christianity historically have acted often in ways very far removed from its teachings.

(I’m not stooping here to apologize for Christianity’s place in the Crusades, which are constantly thrown in my face as a miscarriage of justice on behalf of Christianity. If it weren’t for the Crusades, Islamic radicals would have probably taken over all of Europe. The entire western hemisphere would likely be speaking in Arabic, daily memorizing the Koran, making pilgrimages to Mecca and endeavoring in other vain attempts to earn passage into Paradise.)

But where does a Christian begin in considering the question: what would the world be today if Jesus and Christianity had never existed? We can at least say that there would be no substitutionary atonement on the cross. This would lead to no grace, no mercy, only wrath from a Holy God toward unrighteous man. This is a very bleak picture to begin with.

We could further extrapolate, however, with the apostle Paul who boasted only in the cross, for all good things come to man through it. Common grace would be absent. There would be no with-holding of wrath, by God, on behalf of the righteous remnant who trust in him.

This was the case with Sodom and Gomorrah. God would have with-held wrath had there been a mere 10 people who were righteous, who trusted in Him. But there weren’t. And fire and brimstone (literally sulfur) were rained down from heaven on these cities and their inhabitants were utterly destroyed. That is a picture of the absence of common grace because of the lack of a righteous remnant. Without Christ and Christianity the world would be a horrible place; mankind would be doomed to destruction.

But I must extrapolate even further. Without Jesus, there would be no Triune God. Genesis 1, in which God says “Let us make man in our image,” could not be. Without Christ, the second Person of the Trinity, there would be no mankind.

Be we must go even further still. Hebrews 1:3 tells us that our world holds together by the word of His power. (The “His” here refers to Jesus.) So without Jesus, everything – everything – would just fall apart, cease to be. Further, though, John 1:3 tells us that all things came into being through Christ. So, actually, everything wouldn’t fall apart because there would be nothing of our existance – or any other save for God himself – created.

However, we must still trek further. We must consider the very person of God. For without the second person of the Trinity – Jesus – God would be a far different God. Who could even speculate as to the kind of God he would be?

Apparently the secular and Christian answers to this question are far different – about as different as two answers could be. The real question to be answered though is not: what would the world be today if Jesus and Christianity had never existed? The real question is: Has God really spoken?

For if he hasn’t, the secular answer is as good as any. But if God has spoken, if He has revealed Himself, if the Bible is His revealed Word, then the secular answer fails at every level and the Christian answer to this question – and a million others – is the only pertinent answer there is.

So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” – John 8:31-32

Gullahorn Pez Dispenser

“Will the real creationists please stand up.”

I got an email from a friend of mine earlier today.  The text of it said “Will the real creationists please stand up.”  I felt it was fitting.

Earlier this week in Cleveland, a woman named Val Thomas, from whom the doctors had “removed all tubes” and given up to death, began speaking.  I don’t know if the doctors were in her room when they were talking to her family about donating organs.  But my imagination takes me to a hospital room where an elderly lady awakes to interrupt a conversation about the harvesting of her internal organs.

She said that she is back by the will of God, that the Lord has something left for her here.  Well, He has already floored me simply with the event of her “return.”  I say praise the Lord.  And I hope this would cause some who are a part of the “culture of death” to, like Val Thomas, open their eyes to life.

Why It Is Time for the Democrat Party to Change Its Name

The United States of America has the longest lasting current government in the world. It is based loosely on principles first set forth for governing by the ancient Athenians of Greece. The system they used was called Democracy. Under that system, all male citizens were afforded one vote each. The city-state voted on a great number of issues. It was ruled directly by the people.

Recently, the California Supreme Court, has struck down the ban on same-sex marriage in the state. This decision was fought for and widely supported by the members of the Democrat Party. It is in line with the party’s stance on marriage and other social issues. The ban was instated in 2000 when the issue came before voters. Citizens of California voted for the ban overwhelmingly – a 61% majority favored the ban.

I find it ironic that the “Democrat” Part – a term reminiscent of ancient Athens and their democracy – has used the pre-formed opinions of just 4 judges to overturn the will of the people.

It would seem that a party whose moniker hearkens back to direct democracy would favor a smaller government. Instead, they favor a big government which takes greater influence, or shall we say control, in the lives of the people every year.

I think its time for a name-swap. I think the term Oligarcal Party would fit a little better. An Oligarchy is a government which is ruled by just a handful of people. These people exert their will against that of the people, regardless of what the people believe. The most well known form of Oligarchy was the South African Apartheid which fell in 1994.

It would seem that if the will of the people is consistently crushed by the decision of the courts, then this longest running government of ours will not last much longer. The founders never intended the Supreme Court judges to legislate from the bench. If we fail to get things turned back around, there will be some mighty big changes for the future of America.

Billions of Missing Links – Evidence for a Creator

I read this (by Geoffrey Simmons) and I had to laugh:

The wombat has an upside-down pouch. Scientists presume, and it makes sense, that position prevents dirt from entering the pouch when the wombat is digging in the ground. Could there have been transitional species with pouches situated sideways, or did the first wombats have to scoop dirt out of their pouches every day?

For the Purpose of Godliness… Bible Intake

So I’m back to start the next chapter: Bible Intake Part 1.

The alternative to discipline is disaster. No spiritual discipline is more important than the intake of God’s word. There is no substitute for it. Lord, I confess that often I honor you with my lips but neglect you in my heart. I am often far from your word. I confess this and repent of it. Lord, I will strive to grow in the disciplines, especially this one of Bible intake. Grant me strength and will. For I can do no good thing apart from your power. Amen

Hearing God’s word is an important aspect of Bible intake. Luke 11:28 and Romans 10:17 both speak favorable of hearing God’s word. A church is a good place to do this. But other means are good too, such as recordings. Consider tape lending services and short wave radio. 1 Timothy 4:13 speaks favorably of corporate Word reading, preaching and teaching. Private “golf course” worship is possible but not a viable replacement. It is important that we prepare our hearts and minds to hear the word of God. This is true in church. We should hold hearing the word with higher reverence than we do. This is a discipline to be cultivated.

Reading God’s Word is also important. Since “all scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,” shouldn’t we read it? This must be a discipline. John Blanchard wrote on how often we should take in God’s Word. How often do we face problems, temptation, or pressure, need instruction, guidance, or encouragement, or need to see God’s face again? Everyday. DL Moody said a man can no more store up grace for the future than he can eat for six months at a time or breathe once for the rest of his life.

Practical suggestions for reading the Word regularly: Find a time. This takes discipline. But it is worthwhile. If it is when you are tired and sleepy, you will retain little. Find a plan, a schedule. Meditate on at least one word or phrase during each reading. This deepens understanding and helps us remember what we have read.

Reading God’s word gives us breadth, but studying gives us depth. Studying is very important. Consider Ezra who disciplined himself to study Gods word, to apply it, and to teach it (Ezra 7:10). Let us not fail to study God’s word. When you read, write things down. Cross reference. Outline, a chapter or paragraph at a time. This will give a strong understanding of the text. Read books by others but do not fail to explore the Bible for yourself.

More application. If your growth in godliness were measured by the quality of your Bible intake, what would be the result? What is one thing you can do to improve your intake of God’s word? The chapter closes with an exhortation from pastor Geoffrey Thomas to read the Word.

For the Purpose of Godliness… Discipline

Donald Whitney has written a book on spiritual disciplines. It is quite good. Here are my reflections on the first chapter.

Just opened my new book on discipline by Donald Whitney. This is a great book I’m looking forward to it. I will be writing more about it.

1 Timothy 4:7 says “Discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness” NASB. (ESV says “train yourself for godliness’). Godliness needs training. You don’t fall into. You don’t trip over godliness when you walk down the street and take it home with you. You must be disciplined. “The spiritual disciplines are those personal and corporate disciplines that promote spiritual growth.”

God uses 3 main things to help us grow, to make us more mature spiritually. He uses people. Iron sharpens iron. He uses circumstances. Pressures, conditions, even weather. Opened doors. We have no control over these. We do have some control over spiritual disciplines and how they affect our lives. However, even in this, spiritual growth is a gift from God. But the disciplines are our means of spiritually “working out.” Consider Blind Bartimaeus who never gave up or Zacchaeus. Neither affected their own spiritual growth. But both did what little they could to work toward it.

1 Timothy 4:7 is a command. Holiness is not an option but a mandate. The means of obtaining holiness is not a suggestion but a command. Christ modeled discipline for us, his disciples. Fruit follows discipline.

One thing I like about this book is at the end of every chapter, there is a “more application” section. It is usually a great addendum to each chapter. It usually has some emboldened statements and then some elaboration. There is danger in neglecting the spiritual disciplines. Whitney then elaborates with a story about the author Coleridge who was apparently undisciplined. There is freedom in embracing spiritual disciplines. Quoting a man who compares spiritual discipline to athletic discipline, he says “Discipline is the price of freedom.” But it takes time. There is an invitation to all Christians to enjoy the spiritual disciplines. Discipline without direction is drudgery. So practice for the purpose of godliness. “Jesus was the most disciplined man who ever lived and yet the most joyful and passionately alive. He is our example of discipline. Let us follow him to joy through the spiritual disciplines.”