The ‘full’ gospel series…

Sometimes it seems that only half of the message is preached. I think it’s because in our human wisdom, sometimes we think that we may alienate someone by telling it like it is. We want to candy coat it, so it’s more palatable. I’m of the belief that God didn’t make a mistake when He provided us with the Word in it’s fullness. For instance:

We’ve all heard that God is good. God is love. God is merciful.

But how about the fear of God? Did that get lost in the translation? The teaching is definitely in both the old and new testaments, and yet you may not hear that preached from the pulpit much. Is that wise…or is that human wisdom getting in the way of God’s wisdom?

Pr 9:10  "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

Lu 12:5  But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.

Where to draw the line…

1 Peter 4:12 ¶ “Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you.”

Have you ever been persecuted for who knows what? I mean…it may be public knowledge that you are a Bible believing Christian, but you aren’t the type that is forcing your beliefs on everyone around you. You are just living your life, trying to keep a good attitude, and being the best person you can be. It’s not like you are living in the days of the early church where you could be seen as a threat or heretic to other established belief systems. It’s not like you are a missionary in a foreign land that is known to be hostile toward Christianity. You are in your own backyard, so to speak, a predominantly Christian country. But…the persecution comes and it’s ‘strange’ because it’s hard to identify why you are being persecuted and attacked. Ever been there?

In 2 Timothy 3:12-13 he says: “In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.” I wonder sometimes about where that persecution comes from. Is it flesh and blood (Eph 6:12) or does satan do the persecuting? Does he take people captive to do his will (2 Tim 2:26)? Apparently so. Is satan persecuting you?

Rush and Hannity…

In my opinion, ‘conservative’ talk radio is damaging the Republican party. People like Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Laura Ingraham, and others, that do nothing beyond complaining and spewing negativity and hate speech will ultimately turn people away from the party. I can say that, because it’s happening to me. I personally have tired of their incessant critical, judgmental, and negative comments to the point where I turn to a different channel/station when I hear their voices. They are utterly predictable at this point. My Christian Interpretation would be that they have gone off the deep end, that satan has taken them captive. The Bible says that a tree is known by its fruit. The fruit of their lips appears to have little in common with the fruits of the Spirit.

It seems kind of ironic that these folks that see themselves as the saviors of the Republican party are actually putting the nails in the coffin.

Prayer…

I once heard a joke of sorts….that went something like this:

A Jewish man goes into the synagogue and prays. "O Lord, you know the mess I'm in, please let me win the lottery."

The next week, he's back again, and this time he's complaining. "O Lord, didn't you hear my prayer last week? I'll lose everything I hold dear unless I win the lottery."

The third week, he comes back to the synagogue, and this time he's desperate. "O Lord, this is the third time I've prayed to you to let me win the lottery! I ask and I plead and still you don't help me!"

Suddenly a booming voice sounds from heaven. "Benny, Benny, be reasonable. Meet me half way. Buy a lottery ticket!"

Which brings up the question…when you are praying…are you meeting God half way? If you are obese and pray that God will help you lose weight and yet don’t diet or exercise, what are you expecting? If you are unemployed and pray that God will open a door for you to gain employment…and yet put little effort into seeking work, what are you expecting? If your business is not doing well, and you pray that God will prosper you, but do nothing to address the deficiencies of the business, what are you expecting? That old saying ‘God helps those who help themselves’ rings a bit true. The Word of God paints a pretty clear picture about the benefits of hard work, of self discipline. It also paints a pretty clear picture of the pitfalls of laziness. Read the book of Proverbs closely and you will find many references. Does that mean, then, that whatever success you do achieve is purely by your own efforts? My Christian Interpretation would be that I don’t think so. God is still the great provider, but He also won’t be mocked…and a man truly does reap what he sows (excepting in regard to salvation itself).

Social Security…

I think most Americans know that the government has totally mismanaged the social security funds. After all, the baby boomers have been paying in tons of money for many years now. Any intelligent, responsible organization/business, would have been investing those funds so that they grew. Instead, the government tapped those funds and used them in other areas. Now that the baby boomers are (finally) getting close to retirement, we are hearing more and more comments about how the whole social security system is bankrupt (or close to bankrupt) and something needs to be done. One suggestion I’ve been hearing is raising the retirement age.

My personal opinion is that if the government wants to raise the retirement age, then that should only apply to the people who sign up for social security after that new contract is put into effect. In other words, those new to social security would be signing a different contract. They would know the new rules, what to expect from the start, and have time to plan accordingly. My Christian Interpretation would be that it wouldn’t be ethical or appropriate for the government to renege on the existing contract that so many people have been paying into, and making plans around, for all these years.

God couldn’t be more obvious…

I’m amazed at just how obvious God is in creation. There is a design to it all, and a ‘design’ speaks of a designer. Therefore, I’m even more amazed when people deny Him. This begs the question, what causes a person to deny God? Scripture speaks of men loving darkness more than light. I guess that would be one reason. They love sin more than they love God. They choose between the two and attempt to justify themselves by denying the choice even exists. Then there is the lack of humility. Sometimes people get mad at God and reject Him because He isn’t playing by their rules. I say ‘lack of humility’ because when you exalt yourself to the point of judging God, you surely are lacking in humility. It’s the old…if you are going to be that way…then forget you!

In pointing to a creator, I’ve been known to use the simple example of human hair. For instance, why do we have eyebrows? The obvious answer is to keep liquid (perspiration, rain, etc) from rolling right into our eyes. Why do we have eye lashes? The obvious answer is to keep things from getting in our eyes. There is a multitude of reasons for human hair in all its diversity. Every reason, though, speaks of a designer and a purpose. It’s so obvious that everything in creation was designed. The bible says that creation speaks of a creator and that on that day, men will be without excuse. In other words, God knows that you know He exists. You will not be able to make any excuses on that day and you will know that you have been purposefully denying and rejecting God.

Is choosing sin over God worth losing your life? Is rejecting God because of your anger, ignorance, and pride worth risking the loss of eternal life? Might not a God that has the wisdom, power, and knowledge to create the universe be worthy of your faith and trust in Him?

The issue of torture…

Noun: torture

1. The deliberate, systematic, or wanton infliction of physical or mental suffering by one or more persons in an attempt to force another person to yield information or to make a confession or for any other reason

2. Extreme mental distress

3. Unbearable physical pain

4. Intense feelings of suffering; acute mental or physical pain

5. The act of distorting something so it seems to mean something it was not intended to mean

Verb: torture

1. Torment emotionally or mentally

2. Subject to torture

So, using the definitions above, would water boarding be considered torture? Seems like it to me.

I have to admit, in a perfect world, torture of any kind would seem totally unacceptable. It’s a no-brainer. No one wants to be tortured, and therefore, if you don’t want to be tortured yourself, then you shouldn’t torture others. It does seem a bit contradictory, though, that in war…you can kill the enemy, but you can’t torture that same enemy to get information that might save others. Killing them on the battlefield…fine. Torturing them, not fine. Even if the torture doesn’t impose any real threat of death or physical harm, still not fine.

Imagine this scenario. Someone kidnaps your young children. The children are in a situation that promises they will be terribly abused and ultimately killed. You have captured one of the kidnappers. They have information that would likely save your children, but they aren’t talking.

Was Jesus GOD?

  Here is what scripture says:   1Co 8:6 But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord...