Female Elders and Overseers

Female pastors and elders has become a hot button issue in more recent generations.  If God has no issue with female pastors, neither should we BUT if God makes it clear about his ordained unique roles in His church, we ought to obey.  To know the TRUTH on this matter is extremely important.  It is the difference between standing on truth and obedience or denying God’s truth and being disobedient.  That’s huge.  To properly understand this, we must ALWAYS go to God’s Word first.  We will pick apart 1 Timothy 2:11-14, 3:1-7, 8-13, Titus 1:5-9, and then address common arguments.


1 Timothy 2:11-14 (NASB)

A woman must quietly receive instruction with entire submissiveness. ¹² But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet. ¹³ For it was Adam who was first created, and then Eve. ¹⁴ And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression.

That sounds harsh on its face value.  But lets break down this verse by verse, word by word, and apply cultural and historical contexts to help us extract the truth God reveals in this passage. 

VERSE 11

 2:11  γυνὴ ἐν ἡσυχίᾳ μανθανέτω ἐν πάσῃ ὑποταγῇ

 
ὑποταγῇ, Strong’s Number G5292, translated “hypotagē” to “submissiveness“, means “(1) the act of subjecting; (2) obedience, subjection“

Paul uses the same word translated “quietly” in 1 Timothy 2:2, and it is translated peaceable there. The idea is without contention instead of total silence.  In other places in the New Testament, even in the writings of Paul, women are specifically mentioned as praying and speaking in the church (1 Corinthians 11:5).  So we know that he does NOT mean that all women are to be silent and not speak.  To “quietly receive instruction“ has the idea of women receiving the teaching of the men God has chosen to lead in the church, with submissiveness instead of contention.  Not to publicly and openly argue or debate those who were ordained by God to teach, or by other means interrupt the teaching of God’s Holy Word.  It is more like a showing a level of respect and acknowledge order of authority for the office because of who appoints people to that office.

It DOES NOT mean that men are more spiritual than women or that women are inferior to men.  That is a misrepresentation, false understanding, and usually, but some, a flat out lie to manipulate Christians.  People that idolize their sex typically perceive these verses to be against women and belittle women and so on by default and assume the offense.

“Submissiveness” is the principle and “quietly receiving instruction” is the application of that principle.

Historically, women interrupted the church service by shouting questions and comments to their husbands during the service completely interrupting the teacher and the message being taught.  Paul wrote this letter to Timothy around mid 60 A.D.  That means, the church had been meeting already for about 30 years, since Jesus.  Imagine a church service, that you attended for years, where the pastor was constantly interrupted by yelling families.  Paul’s letter to Timothy is essentially a simple manual for church order.

VERSE 12

2:12  γυναικὶ δὲ διδάσκειν οὐκ ἐπιτρέπω οὐδὲ αὐθεντεῖν ἀνδρός ἀλλ᾽ εἶναι ἐν ἡσυχίᾳ

  
διδάσκω, Strongs Number G1321 translated “didaskō” to “to teach“, verb, means “to teach, to be a teacher, to, discharge the office of a teacher, conduct one’s self as a teacher, to instill doctrine into one, to explain or expound a thing“

αὐθεντέω, Strongs Number G831 translated “authenteō” to “exercise authority“, verb, means: “one who acts on his own authority, autocratic, an absolute master, to govern, exercise dominion over one“

Paul’s meaning is clear. Women are not to have the role of teaching authority regarding matters of doctrine and Scriptural interpretation, in the church.  To be under authority is the principle; not teaching is the application.  This is where all the worldly minds explode. 

BUT not all speaking or teaching by a woman is necessarily a violation of God’s order of authority in the church.  Whatever speaking or teaching is done by a woman must be done in submission to the men God has appointed to lead that church.  Their doctrines, scriptural interpretations, and applications must be in harmony with, and under, that which the Elders of that church teach.  This is more about being of one mind, in harmony, in sync, unified in doctrine.  And when there are two sides who disagree, God has given the authority to the men of that church to be the final say.

It also does not mean that every woman in the church is under the authority of every man in the church. Instead it means that those who lead the church – pastors and ruling elders – must be men, and the women (and others) must respect their authority. 

This has NOTHING to do with inferiority or less valuable.  There is ORDER in the very nature of God himself.  God The Father and God the Son.  God the Son does the will of God The Father, not vice versa.  And yet, they are co-equally God.  God created Adam first, then Eve.  God gave commandments to Adam, not Eve.  Adam taught Eve God’s commandment.

“I do not allow”

Now that is a very tough pill to swallow but it makes it easier when we correctly understand.  Paul is an Apostle of our Lord God and Savior, Christ Jesus.  He is filled by the Holy Spirit and, God, The Holy Spirit, is literally speaking through him at the very moment he wrote that statement.  So, what does this absolute imperative definitive explicit statement refer to?  The authority of the Teacher, that interprets doctrine, scriptural interpretations, and applications to women.  The words used by Paul show that this role within the church of  “governing and exorcising dominion over one with authority to instill doctrine into one, to explain or expound a thing” is not in any shape or form, within the church, given to women. 

VERSE 13-14

Again, another easily misconstrued set of verses by an ignorant and or hateful world.  This is not the blame game.  Paul’s purpose is not to place blame on Eve.  This is THE ORDER of which God ordained things.  God decides to bless us by giving us HIS reason for the order of church authority.  It’s pretty simple:  (1) God created man first.  God gave His command to Adam, who then gave it to Eve.  Eve received God’s command from Adam.  (2) Eve was deceived.  Adam knew exactly what he was doing when he disobeyed, he was not deceived.   This reveals important distinctions between men and women in the first place.  Eve’s ability to be more readily deceived made her more dangerous in a place of spiritual authority. “Eve’s reasoning faculty was at once overcome by the allegation of jealousy felt by God, an allegation plausible to a nature swayed by emotion rather than by reflection”(White).  Generally speaking, it may be observed that women seem to be more spiritually sensitive than men – but this can be true for good or evil. 

It is also important to note that Paul did not call Eve, “Eve.”  He purposefully called her “the woman.”  This is not a disrespect or a degrading attempt to belittle women, but rather it brings the reader back to the notion that there is a difference in the sexes and thus, the reason for the difference in ordained roles.

God’s reasoning is not dependent on cultural and historical changes in societies.  The justification comes from the beginning of humanity.  So even if culture changes and women were to completely rule the world, this God ordained order still remains.  It would just mean there would be a lot more disobedient churches.

 1 Timothy 3:1-7 (NASB)

“It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do. ² An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, ³ not addicted to wine or pugnacious, but gentle, peaceable, free from the love of money. ⁴ He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity ⁵ (but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?), ⁶ and not a new convert, so that he will not become conceited and fall into the condemnation incurred by the devil. ⁷ And he must have a good reputation with those outside the church, so that he will not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.”

ἐπίσκοπος, translated “episkopos” to “overseer“, masculine noun, means: “(a) a man charged with the duty of seeing that things to be done by others are done rightly, any curator, guardian or superintendent (b) the superintendent, elder, or overseer of a Christian church“

 

 τις, Strongs Number G5100 translated “tis” to “any man“, pronoun, means: “a certain one, a male“

 

VERSE 1:

 

3:1  πιστὸς ὁ λόγος Εἴ τις ἐπισκοπῆς ὀρέγεται καλοῦ ἔργου ἐπιθυμεῖ

 

We see right off the bat that Paul is talking specifically about men.  That if “any man” wants this job in the church, it is a good thing.  This is a formal official role within the church as an “overseer” of the spiritual well being of that church.  Paul purposefully chose a pronoun that only applies to a certain sex.  

VERSE 2:

3:2  δεῖ οὖν τὸν ἐπίσκοπον ἀνεπίληπτον εἶναι μιᾶς γυναικὸς ἄνδρα νηφάλεον σώφρονα κόσμιον φιλόξενον διδακτικόν

 

ἀνήρ, Strongs Number G435 translated “anēr” to “the husband“, masculine noun, means: “of a male, a husband, of a betrothed or future husband”  

 

γυνή, Strongs Number G1135 translated “gynē” to “wife“, feminine noun, means: “a wife, or a betrothed woman“

 

This qualification is as explicit as they come.  Not only does this single out polygamist but that who wants to be an overseer, must be the husband, if married.  And that married husband must be married to a women.  In the historical context of when this was written, transgender and gender fluidity was not a thing.  That would not have been on the mind of Paul when he wrote this; nor would it needed to be.  According to Paul, a male, is a born male and a female is a born female.  So this is an actually extremely basic requirement spoken by The Holy Spirit, through Paul.

This also then logically singles out is women.  Women can not meet this requirement.  “An overseer then must be… the wife of one husband …” was not stated here.  Nor were gender neutral pronouns used, and the sentence structure wouldn’t allow for it.  It would read “the spouse of one spouse.”  To remove the masculine noun “husband” and feminine noun “wife” would be dishonest, and not true to the actual text.

VERSE 4-5:

3:4-5  τοῦ ἰδίου οἴκου καλῶς προϊστάμενον τέκνα ἔχοντα ἐν ὑποταγῇ μετὰ πάσης σεμνότητος
εἰ δέ τις τοῦ ἰδίου οἴκου προστῆναι οὐκ οἶδεν πῶς ἐκκλησίας θεοῦ ἐπιμελήσεται

 

Here we see the theme all throughout scripture of how the men are ultimately responsible for his family.  Which, again, a requirement that women can’t meet, logically, because she is not the one held accountable before God to manage the family and discipline the children.  Again, a role ordained by God in the family and a theme here as a requirement for “overseer” of that church.

 

ALL VERSES:

If we take a step back, you will notice the masculine pronoun used throughout all the requirements of this spiritual authoritative role.  Just as God The Father is the ultimate authority over all reality, the earthly fathers (males) are ordained to the earthly authority in the church.  Again, this follows the order of creation and how the world worked before sin entered it.  God gave commands to Adam, then Adam taught Eve those commands.

Titus 1:5-9

 “For this reason I left you in Crete, that you would set in order what remains and appoint elders in every city as I directed you, ⁶ namely, if any man is above reproach, the husband of one wife, having children who believe, not accused of dissipation or rebellion. ⁷ For the overseer must be above reproach as God’s steward, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not addicted to wine, not pugnacious, not fond of sordid gain, ⁸ but hospitable, loving what is good, sensible, just, devout, self-controlled, ⁹ holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict.”

 Here we see the use of “elders” and “overseer” interchangeably.  Thus, an Overseer is a church Elder.  Same office, different name.

VERSE 6

There is Paul using that “any man” (1 Tim 3:1, see above) and “the husband of one wife” (1 Tim 3:2, see above) again.

So, again, this reinforces the office requirements.  To be a true, legitimate, and obedient Elder and Overseer, you must be male; if married, to one female.  It is that simple.  There is no getting around these verses due to how explicit the language is.

VERSE 9

This verse is actually scary for the men of a church lead by a woman who is the Elder and Overseer.  As to “exhort in sound doctrine and refute those who contradict it” is a command given to those men.  When they are subordinate to a woman Elder, they are, in fact, failing to be obedient to God and refute those who contradict the verses studied above.

ARGUMENTS FOR WOMEN PASTORS/ELDERS

Before we go through each of the common arguments for female overseers and elders, there are some elements that needs to be addressed.  

1.  First, the Church is not the same as The Nation of Israel or any other Old Testament entity.  So to apply OT religious structures on the NT Church is not very accurate; eating pork, getting circumcised, and worshiping on Saturday, for example.  This is the error for a lot of the arguments for female church authority that use OT justifications.

2.  Second, just because God uses someone to do something, doesn’t mean that is how it should have been in the first place.  God used Egypt and Babylon to enslave Israel, are we then to assume that because God used Egypt and Babylon that in some way they are a good and an example for us to follow?  No.  There are hundreds of actual and real prophets in the OT that were evil.  Yes, God uses women, he is the creator of them and the universe.  But “use” doesn’t mean anything more than that, used.   To say “Because God used women, women should be leaders” now apply that logic to all the evil people used by God.  It doesn’t work.

So keep those two in mind as we analyze each common argument. 

Debroah, The Judge

Refer back to statements 1 and 2 above.  Yes, God raised up a Judge over Israel that was female.  But that was actually a judgement on the men of Israel.  It was their duty to lead and they failed.  In that culture this would have been extremely insulting and humiliating; and that was God’s point.  This is an extremely poor justification for any sort of female leadership in The Church today.  Again, this was over The Nation of Israel, a completely different entity than the church.

Old Testament Prophetess 

Were there female prophetess in the Old Testament?  Yes.  But, that still doesn’t prove, support, or justify anything related to the Church office of Elder or Overseer.  Being any sort of Prophet or Prophetess does not, by default, justify anyone to be a Elder or Overseer in the Church automatically.  In fact, there were even real prophetesses that were evil and wicked (1 Kings 18:1-19; Revelation 2:18-23; Ezra 8:33; Nehemiah 6:5-14).  These two things are unrelated and thus, don’t support this issue.

New Testament Prophetess

Now this is a better argument.  We see in the New Testament Anna, the prophetess (Luke 2:36-38), and the four daughters of Phillip (Acts 21:1-9) were prophetess.  But, you still run into the same problem.  Being a prophetess does not automatically quality anyone for the Office of Elder or Overseer.  It is nothing more than a spiritual gift and anyone can be given that gift, the gift of prophecy.   When we look at Anna and the daughters of Phillip, in no where does the Bible state that they held any kind of Elder, or Overseer role.  They were just using their gifts to benefit the church, as they should, as everyone should.

The Prophecy of Future Prophetess

Joel 2:28-32 prophecy of the Spirit is used a lot in argument for female authority in the church.  Joel states that sons and daughters will prophesy and male and female servants too.  As mentioned above, he was right, Phillips daughters were prophesying and The Holy Spirit now will give that gift to whom ever He so chooses, regardless of sex.   But all these statements pointing out that there are and will be female prophets, prophetess, is unrelated to the Office of Overseer and Elder.  One does not have anything to do with the other.  They are separate.  One is a gift of the Spirit, now, the other is an actual position and office within the authority of the Church.

Priscilla, the wife of Aquila

 In Acts 18:2,18 we read about a female named Priscilla.  Here we notice that she was mentioned before her husband in v.18.  What does that mean?  It could mean all kinds of stuff but what is NOT said is that she was in any way an Elder or Deacon; that would be a false assumption not supported by anything in scripture.  But also, let us not forget that in v.2 her husband was also named first.  Regardless, they were trusted friends of Paul who travels with him from Corinth to Ephesus (Romans 16:3-4).  Does traveling and serving with a Elder or Deacon make you an Elder or Deacon?  No.  Again, nothing showing that they held any office.

Then we see in Acts 18:26, they talk with Apollos.  This dude was on fire for God but he didn’t know how to explain things about God.  So, they pulled him aside and helped him understand things of God better.  Now, here, some would say, well that is a responsibility of Church leadership.  But, that is actually the duty of every single Christian.  This act was nothing more than helping another brother in Christ better evangelize.  They are specifically called “brethren”, “ἀδελφός” which means: “a fellow believer, united to another by the bond of affection, Christians, as those who are exalted to the same heavenly place”  They were extremely effective believers, but, again, no were are they called Elders, Deacon, Bishop, Overseer, or any of the official titles Paul uses.

Paul notes that Priscilla and Aquila were his “helpers” in Christ in Romans 16:3-4.  Does that mean they held the offices of Elder?  The greek word “helper”,”συνεργός” means: “a companion in work, fellow worker.”  That is far from an endorsement of any sort of official authority or leadership role in the Church. 

We must conclude that Priscilla as a very bold, smart, and fearless woman for Christ, but was not a
Elder, Deacon, Bishop, or Overseer; a title, office, or adjective Paul never gave her.

Phoebe

Paul gives a shout out to a female named Phoebe in Romans 16:1-2.  He calls her “our sister” which he means a sister in Christ.  Now, this is where things get interesting.   He gives her a title of “servant of the church.”  The greek word used is “διάκονος” translated is “diakonos” which means: “one who executes the commands of another, esp. of a master, a servant, attendant, minister” and in the Church context means: “a deacon, one who, by virtue of the office assigned to him by the church, cares for the poor and has charge of and distributes the money collected for their us.”  He goes on to say this:  “that you receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and that you help her in whatever matter she may have need of you; for she herself has also been a helper of many, and of myself as well.” (Romans 16:2).  Which describes the duties of a Deacon of the Church.  That is an official endorsement.

In 1 Timothy 3:8-13 Paul lays out the qualifications for a Deacon.  Notice, Paul includes women in verse 11.  Therefore, we can conclude that women CAN hold the office of Deacon in The Church.  

When considering what Paul states in both Romans 16 and 1 Timothy 3, we CAN conclude that Phoebe was, in fact, a official Deacon.  But, given the description of the duties of THAT specific office, the Office of Deacon, we see that they DO NOT authoritatively teach doctrine or interpret scripture like an Overseer or Elder.  Therefore, Phoebe is not a good argument for a woman’s role as Elder or Overseer, in that she was not one.

The Pagan Customs of Ephesus

Some people have argued that Paul was only applying those qualifications to that certain Church in that area because of the pagan female-led customs of Ephesus.  And to protect the church from bringing in those worldly cultural customs, he limited the female role in that region.   Ephesus was known for its temple to Artemis where women were authorities in that branch of paganism.  But, this is an assumption not supported by scripture.  Paul could have very well mentioned this as to his justification, but he didn’t.   Paul wasn’t talking about any sort of paganism.  This theory to discredit the broad application of Overseer qualifications is unbiblical.

Education of Women

Another theory as to why Paul limited the role of women in Church is the argument that women were typically less educated.  But, much like the Pagan Customs argument, Paul never mentions anything about education as any kind of requirement.  Though men had a better opportunity to be more educated than women in that culture, he still never required any sort of educational level for any men, even uneducated men.  This theory is not supported by scripture either.

Ambiguities

Some people get confused when comparing 1 Cor. 14:33-38 and 1 Cor. 11:3-16. Implying, as if Paul is contradicting himself (which is actually doubting God’s Word without understanding how those two can be reconciled).  Or some even argue that this command was limited in its time and historical context and now is simply outdated.  Think about the implications of both theories;  God’s Word is false and or God’s Word is outdated.  But there is a way to harmonize them.  There is a time for singing, there is a time for prayer, and there is a time for teaching and instruction on God’s Word.  Women who were prophesying, were doing so in its proper time.  And when it came time for teaching holy doctrine and scriptural interpretation, only the teacher should speak.  Boom.  After all, the underlying two element in both those verses are church order and respect of the office of Overseer.

Times Change

This is by far the worst argument that can be made with regard to applying (or not) God’s Word.  Yes, cultures and societies continually evolve and change in their social norms and social constructs but, God doesn’t.  What was once a sin, will always be a sin.  What God once called good, will always be good.  God’s truths are completely independent from the continually evolving and changing social norms and social constructs.  God is not surprised by the future.  He already knows how things will change and how many times every culture in all history will change until the end of the world.  God’s truth revealed in scripture is not subjective or relative; or He can not truly be God.  And, as studied above, God’s truths are revealed.  But do we obey them and remain faithful to God’s revealed word or construct complicated arguments to justify our sinful hearts to do what we think is right in our eyes, in our time of age?  “Paul didn’t know that women would be hired by Christian Universities to teach doctrinal classes”  Think about that statement for a second.  This assumes God is ignorant, after all, the Holy Spirit spoke through Paul.  All that statement really does in condemn those Christian Universities for being disobedient to God.  Paul isn’t in the wrong, ever. 

CONCLUSION:

After in-depth word studies we can determine that God has commanded that men are responsible for the Office of Elder and Overseer.  And that a self proclaimed female Elder and Overseer is actually either a judgement on that church and its men, and or disobedience to God.  This ordained restriction does not mean less value or inferiority of women; it does mean an ordained order of how God’s creation and Church ought to function in obedience to him.  But this holy limitation is only over the Office of Elder and Overseer or that who teaches and interprets doctrine.  Woman can and should, in fact, be Deacons as so long as they meet the qualifications specified by The Holy Spirit, through Paul.  There is no scriptural support, precedent, or authority for female Elders or Overseers.  At the end of it all, it basically reveals the sort of obedience and respect Christians have for what God has ordained and ordered.

ALSO READ: 

Women Pastors And God’s Design

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Public Evangelism

Before setting out to conduct street evangelism and open air preaching it is a good idea to research the county and city ordinances regarding noise violations and disturbing the peace.  Odds are someone will get offended and call the police claiming one of the two.  When police are called, they have reasonable suspicion that a crime or ordinance violation has been committed.  They are obligated to respond and investigate.  This should be expected. (check out Is Street Preaching Biblical?).

Some cities require you to obtain a permit to pass out flyers or do speeches on public property.  It is right to seek to obtain the proper permits as most cities will not deny them knowing it will be a religious assembly and protected free speech.  In some countries it is flat out illegal to give religious speeches in public.  This is where a more modest personal approach is best suited like walking up to individuals and speaking to them more privately in a public location.  Where religious proselytizing is illegal, than an even more subtle approach is required through networking and relationship building for the missional purpose of presenting the gospel.  Once understanding the governing laws regarding public evangelism, next it is important to understand the culture of that public area.

College campuses, public parks around downtown business headquarters, suburb parks, tourist areas, and the region these parks are located in help understand the angle and focus of approach.  Regions that are less culturally divers or have a concentrated sub cultures are keys to understanding the spiritual needs of that area.  Once you have conducted the proper research and planning, having a game plan of what topics need to be touched and how to frame the conversations is next.

Planned Discussion

Of course the absolute end goal of all discussions are gospel presentations.  But getting there is not always straight forward.  On the personal level; You always want to introduce yourself, ask their name and if you can ask  them some questions.  Trust the Holy Spirit.  If they say no and do not want to talk, move on.  If you are open air preaching, and someone comes up asking genuine questions, you want to address them on a personal level.  If you have an evangelism team with you, have them address that persons questions and continue preaching.

Personal Public Evangelism

When walking up to people and getting their consent to ask questions always introduce yourself and ask for their name.  Throughout the conversation, call them by name; this is more personal and relates to how personal the subject matter actually is to them.  Avoid using phrases like “I believe…” or “I think…” because it is not a matter of your opinion verses theirs.  These are eternal truths, not personal opinionated beliefs.

Q:  Do you believe in God? (yes/no)

Deck of Cards analogy;  “If I throw a deck of cards in the air, what is the chance it will fall down in a completed house of cards?”, “Where did the deck of cards come from in the first place?”  “If I don’t have a deck of cards, what is the chance, a deck of cards will appear in my hand from nothing?”

Piece of Paper analogy;  “If I write ‘laws of nature’ on a paper, then tear it up into very small pieces, then throw it up in the air, what is the chance it will fall back into place in the correct order?”;  “Where did the piece of paper come from in the first place?”; “If I didn’t have a piece of paper to write ‘laws of nature’ on, what is the chance a piece of paper will appear from nothing or the letters will form themselves to form the intelligible sentence structure and words?”

Sometimes it is best, that when someone denies the existence of God, may was well just go straight to a gospel presentation.  You can do this by asking next:  Do you know who Jesus is?  Some may even argue that Jesus never existed either.  At that point you can attempt to explain to them the historical facts but odds are they will reject those too.  If that is the case, you can ask them what they believe or again, straight up ask them if they have ever heard the gospel itself.  If they are still willing to listen and engage in a friendly dialog, go right head and present them the gospel.

If they already claim to believe in god, continue on to ensure they get to know the truth about the real God if they don’t know him already.

Q:  Who do you think God is? (the universe / everyone / one being / unknown) 

These first two questions help gauge what the person believes; New age, agnostic, atheist, or theistic. 

Q:  Do you think God is pleased with you and how you have live your life?

Naturally most people will say yes.  The idea here sets up revealing to them their own contradictions and how they actually do not meet God’s standard with the follow up questions:

Q:  Are you a good person?  Are you morally perfect? 

Again, naturally, most people will say yes.  The Moral crime proofs then expose some flaws in their claim.

Moral Crimes Proofs;  “have you ever lied; have you ever stolen anything; have you ever hurt anyone, emotionally or physically; have you ever sexually desired someone; have you ever said GD or JC, and not as a noun?”  What do you call someone who has lied and stolen?  What do you call someone who sexually desires someone who is not their spouse?

Repeat their own answers.  Of course people who steal are called thieves and people who have lied are called liars.  Then ask:

Q:  Do you think God is pleased with thieves, liars, adultery/cheaters, and blasphemers?   

The discussion then may steer to relative morality.  The follow up question related to relative morality exposes further dilemmas in that belief:

Q:  Are you opposed to racism, rape, or killing homosexuals?  Why?

They are compelled to admit they are opposed to these because they are wrong.

Q:  Are countries and cultures that currently practice them, are they wrong?  Are societies in the past that condoned them, where they wrong?  How are they wrong, when their society condones it?  Is there a universal morality that applies to all mankind?  Where does that come from if not from society?

Q:  Does someone who commits such crimes/moral wrongs be punished?  (yes/no)

Here they have been lead to see that morality is transcendent and that moral wrongs deserve punishment.  Understanding the required justice is next.  This is where most Christians fail.  Understanding God’s perfect Justice is very important.

Q:  Why not just forget about the crime of racism, rape, and killing homosexuals?   Why even bother prosecuting them?  Just let them go free with no punishment. 

Now explain the actual value of violating God’s law and the worth of a transcendent crime.  Sin has eternal value in that it is an offense against the eternal God.  This eternal offense requires a just punishment.

Q: How much good can you do to pay back an eternal debt?  How much good can a friend of yours do to pay back your eternal debt?  If the crime of racism, rape, and killing homosexuals is just given 2 hours of community service, is that enough, why not?  

Q:  Early you admitted to being a thief, liar, adultery, and blasphemer.  You admitted to committing transcendent crimes against a perfectly holy and just God that you can not repay and still requires an equal just punishment.  Do you want to know how to be made right before God, have your debt payed for, and truly know God for all eternity?

(Due to the examples used above and given the dysfunction of today’s misquoting society, we must include this disclaimer:  we do not advocate, support, or encourage teachings or actions for rape, racism, and murder)

Avoid the arianistic Christian cliche “accept Jesus in your heart” or “say the sinners prayer”.  That is not what really happens and NOT what Jesus calls for.  Jesus called for people to REPENT and BELIEVE.  Thus, we should call for the same.

Present the Gospel message: God sent his eternal Son from heaven in the form of Jesus to die for your sin on the cross, payed your eternal debt of sin, and rose again three days later proving that he has the power to give life, eternal life.  He did this so that you can be free from the punishment of sin and free to truly know God.  Only Jesus lived the life you could not live and pay the price for sin that you can not pay so that you can enjoy God in this life and for eternity after this life.  Are you ready to leave your sins behind, repent and believe in God The Son?

Pray with that person and ask the Holy Spirit to work in their heart, empowering them to believe, make them born again, a new creation, adopted by God, be filled with the Holy Spirit, and follow Jesus Christ as their Lord God and Savior.  After praying, discuss any concerns they may have and give them your contact information.

This is a very general discussion with the key talking points but you will encounter all kinds of different people with all kinds of different arguments and justifications.  Not having every answer is OKAY!  You must remember that you are NOT the spiritual eye openers, The Holy Spirit is.  You are called to be faithful to God and loving to neighbors, strangers, and enemies; and there is nothing more loving than sacrificing your time, emotions, and efforts to give someone the greatest gift we can offer, the Gospel of Jesus Christ and pray that God gives the greatest gift of all; eternal life.  

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Is Street Preaching Biblical?

People have probably heard a preacher on the side of the road with a mega phone preaching.  Some people stop in listen while others carry on shaking their head.  In modern times, most feel that it is not the best approach to evangelism.  Some will go as far to say that it is too judgemental and pushes people away from God.  But is that true?  Is street preaching unbiblical, unnecessary, and harmful?  First, we must always look to God’s word and see what his faithful servants have done in the various cultures.

First we can look at Noah.  There was no church building to preach in.  No temple to preach at.  Just him and the world.  Peter describes Noah as a preacher or Herold of righteousness (2 Peter 2:5).  Of course the world listened and laughed maybe even felt judged and offended as he told them that God was going to judge the world due to their unrighteousness.  Next we can look at Jonah.  He literally walked down the streets of the large city proclaiming that the city will be overthrown if they don’t repent (Jonah 3:1-5).  Then we can look at John The Baptist.  He came out of the wilderness open air preaching in public (Matthew 3:1-2; Mark 1:4; Luke 3:3).  Jesus himself preached in public on a hill (Matthew 5-7).  Apollos, a disciple of Jesus, explicitly preached in public (Acts 18:27-28).  Paul himself didn’t always preach in churches or Jewish temples (Acts 17:22-34) even preached in the market place (Acts 17:17).  Given these biblical accounts we can now dive into the important questions:

Is Street / Open Air Preaching Wrong?

Clearly the answer is NO.  Jesus did it.  Jonah was told by God to do it.  The Apostles, lead by the Spirit, did it.  In different cultures throughout history.  The type of culture or time period does not exclude street preaching.

Is there a best ‘time and place’ to do it?

Again, looking at the biblical accounts, the time and place is everywhere, at all times, with who ever is willing to listen!  But this leads to the next question.

Doesn’t it drive away people from the church?

This is a failed excuse by those who don’t want to do it or who feel sympathetic to the sin of the world.  Those who feel that people are driven away from being saved by preachers fail to understand or deny God’s Absolute Sovereignty.  A quick study of John chapter 6 should answer this false dilemma:  John 6:26-40

²⁶ Jesus answered them and said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. ²⁷ Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you, for on Him the Father, God, has set His seal.” ²⁸ Therefore they said to Him, “What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?” ²⁹ Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.” ³⁰ So they said to Him, “What then do You do for a sign, so that we may see, and believe You? What work do You perform? ³¹ Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread out of heaven to eat.’” ³² Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread out of heaven, but it is My Father who gives you the true bread out of heaven. ³³ For the bread of God is that which comes down out of heaven, and gives life to the world.” ³⁴ Then they said to Him, “Lord, always give us this bread.”  ³⁵ Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst. ³⁶ But I said to you that you have seen Me, and yet do not believe. ³⁷ All that the Father gives Me WIIL come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out. ³⁸ For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. ³⁹ This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day. ⁴⁰ For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.”

So who WILL come to Jesus?  ALL that the Father HAS GIVEN.  How many will be lost?   NONE.  How many of them who God has given to Jesus come?  ALL.  But will some of them not come? NO.  ALL WILL.  Re-read  John 6:26-40 and let it sink in.

So how many people will street preachers turn away who have been given to Jesus?  NONE.  Street Preaching may drive away people, but not the ones God has called.  SIN has already driven away those who are ‘driven away’ by street preachers.  The lost are still lost, BUT now they have ZERO excuse for sure make God’s judgement on them that much justified.

People that claim to have been driven away from the Church due to ‘offensive’ street preachers clearly were not searching for Jesus but validation from man.  Some one that gets extremely offended, yet, has been given to Jesus, WILL, still, come to Jesus eventually.  Period.  That moment when they were offended by being called a sinner may stick with them and the Holy Spirit may break down the wall in their heart because of it.  OR like Pharaoh, God may use that moment to harden their heart further.  Who knows, but the result of the street preaching is UP TO GOD.  Regardless, EVERYONE who has been GIVEN to Jesus WILL come, no matter how offended they think they are by street preachers.

Are there Good and Bad ways to street preach?

Of course!  There is never a moment where we are not to be loving.  Even during street preaching and dealing with hecklers, agitators, and aggressively profane people.  But LOVE is also speaking the TRUTH.  Because Jesus IS TRUTH.  Using profanity and personally attacking people is not the way to go about proclaiming the truth and love of Jesus.  But don’t forget, the truth of Jesus is offensive to the world.  People WILL get offended.  Period.  Matthew 10:34-36, 15:19-20:

³⁴ “Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. ³⁵ For I came to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; ³⁶ and a man’s enemies will be the members of his household.

¹⁹ If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you. ²⁰ Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you;  

Pointing fingers at people telling them God hates them does NOT honor or bring glory to God.  BUT telling them that they are lost and in need of a savior does.  One focuses on sin, of which we are all sinners, but the other focuses on Jesus.  One hypocritically judges, while the other rightly judges.  One points down to man the other points up to Christ Jesus.  It is true however that ALL those who have been given to Jesus WILL come, even if the preacher is unloving in his approach BUT the preachers themselves are still held to a standard that which is loving God and their neighbor.  When street preaching we must keep Jesus’ words in Luke 6:27-28 in mind: “²⁷ “But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, ²⁸ bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.“

Some preachers were even maliciously bashing Paul behind his back (Philippians 1:17-18).   These guys were trying to belittle Paul and assert themselves as authority.  Their preaching was out of selfish ambitions.  YET Paul rejoices!  Why?  Because no matter the motives of the preachers, Christ is still proclaimed.   Faith comes by hearing (Romans 10:17) and people are still hearing the gospel despite the short comings of the preachers.  God is GOD despite the imperfect preachers.

 Why then do people get so offended?

John 3:19-21:

19 This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. ²⁰ For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. ²¹ But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.”

John 3:18:

“He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already…”

They are hateful and offended because they feel judged.  This is true, they and the whole world have been judged.  Judged and convicted as sinners before a holy and righteous God.  Yet, they love their sin more than God’s righteousness.  Thus, they hate the messengers.  Nothing new.  Genesis 19:9 quotes the people of Sodom rejecting Lot’s plea for them to stop their sin “they said, “This one came in as an alien, and already he is acting like a judge; now we will treat you worse than them.”.  That’s just like saying “don’t judge me”.  

What is the purpose of Street / Open Air Preaching?

This is the most effective way to reach people who refuse to check out a church, who don’t want to or thinking googling anything about gospel and even reaching people who are privately searching but don’t know where to start.  There are thousands of reasons why speaking publicly in a public place and reach people who can not normally be reached.  The ultimate goal is to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ for all the world to hear.  This sparks public conversation and those who hear take it home with them and tell their friends what they heard and saw.  Which may lead the friend to do some research.  The results are NOT up to the eloquence of the speaker or anything about the preacher himself.  The Holy Spirit is the one who works in the heart of the person who hears the message.  Regardless of the results, the preacher is called to be faithful to the Lord and proclaim the Lord’s good news. 
 

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Is Christmas Pagan?

Every year before Christmas we all see people sharing memes and articles about how Christmas is a pagan holiday or comes from pagan roots.  But is this true and does it matter?  First lets investigate where Christmas, the seasonal symbols and ideals, came from and discuss why it matters.

First lets look at the significance of December 25th.  This is around the time, every year, of the winter solstice.  A day that pagan cultures noted winter was half way over.  The agricultural based cultures would celebrate this because they were happy, the winter that killed their crops, was half way over.  They would celebrate heavily and thus their businesses would be closed due to the celebrations.  Those who had supplies stored up during the winter would help those who were running low on supplies.

In Roman culture, Saturn was the god of agriculture.  As winter approached they believed that the god Jupiter forced Saturn out of his provisional position thus the crops suffer from the cold in the absence of Saturn’s provisional power.  The winter solstice was a celebration that Saturn would regain power, the winter would end, and agriculture would begin again.  The winter festival, Saturnaila, was a well established week long festival by the time of Jesus, beginning December 17th and ending December 25th.  The celebrations would consist of all kinds of sinful behaviors.  The ever green fir tree was used to decorate the houses of Romans and the temples during the winter festival to have the look and feel that winter is ending.  Some pre-christian cultures would ring bells and light candles to drive out evil spirits. 

Then in the 4th century, Rome became officially a Christian nation.  Also in the 4th century the church then moved to redefine the winter festival to focus on Christian values instead of pagan ones by declaring December 25th as The Lord’s birth day and establishing the Feast of the Nativity.  Bells were rang to usher in a spirit (lower case spirit, not a being, but the qualities of an attitude) of making joyful noise for the Lord and celebrating the incarnation of Christ and charity.  Candles were lit to symbolize the arrival of the Light of the World. Gifts were given to the poor and charity was a major focus because of God’s charity to the whole world by giving the gift of his Son.  Christmas trees soon symbolized everlasting life through the incarnation of Christ.  The word Christmas is actually ‘Christes maesse’ which means, “the Mass of Christ.”  As more cultures absorbed the Christian beliefs, the various cultures added their own symbolism that were once pagan but redefined to focus on Christian beliefs. Back to our original question:

Is Christmas Pagan?

The answer is yes and no.  For atheists and other religions that celebrate the westernized Christmas, of course it is.  It serves no value in remembering the birth of The Lord and savior.  In some ways it is a holiday for making money for businesses and humanistic thought in showing goodwill and charity to justify ones self as a ‘good person’.  For Christians to celebrate the birth of Christ, it is not pagan.  All the symbolism reflect the faith in God the Son incarnate.  The roots of something does not necessary mean it is predominately and wholly corrupt.   The Christian themselves were once lost sinners and pagan but are now saved and made new, they themselves have been redefined and now glorify God in their redefinition.  Just about thing can be used to dishonor God then re-purposed to honor God.  An annual BBQ with family who were once unbelievers can be redefined as an annual BBQ for family evangelism.  A church building, once used as a porn shop, can be re-purposed as a place of ministry and worship for a new church who purchased the building.  There are endless examples of how things can be redefined to serve the Lord and glorify him.    

What about Santa?

The modern concept of Santa Claus comes from the gradual blending of a variety of traditions into one mythical figure.   The tradition of Santa Claus is barely tied to the historical figure, Nicholas of Myra, or “Saint Nicholas.”  Nicholas was a Bishop of the church in Myra.  There is very little historical information about Nicholas, though records do show that he was present at the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD.  There are legendary stories and folklore of his generosity. The most famous legend is that of his giving three gifts of dowry money by wrapping them up and tossing them through a window to save an impoverished nobleman from selling his three virgin daughters into slavery or prostitution. Thus we find the very basic elements of Nicholas as a supernatural figure and an anonymous gift giver.  But the Santa we have now is by far different from the actual person.  Currently he is portrayed nothing more than a mythical figure with very basic elements of the Christmas spirit.  Subtracting Santa from Christian Christmas celebrations does not change the Christian meaning of Christmas.  When it comes to celebrating God incarnate, Santa is irrelevant. 

Christians who DON’T celebrate Christmas

That is fine.  Nothing wrong with that.  If you can not, in good conscience, celebrate Christmas, you don’t have to.  Paul tells us to let everyone be fully convinced in their own mind what days they feel they should and should not celebrate (Romans 14:5).  But condemning Christians who do celebrate it is a failure in hearing what Paul (The Holy Spirit) is saying.  Some Christians CAN celebrate Christmas in good conscience because they are able to use the redefined traditions and focus the symbol-isms on Christ for God’s Glory.  They genuinely celebrate the birth of God The Son incarnate and reflect on the gift of the Son, eternal life, and the very nature of God to love, be charitable, and help those in need.  But again, not everyone has to.  

EVERY DAY IS CHRISTMAS

To be completely honest, EVERY DAY should be Christmas.  We are always to be thankful for God The Son incarnate and the gift of eternal life.  We should always show good will toward men and be charitable and help those in need.  The ‘spirit’ of Christmas should be an every day attitude and mindset for Christians.  But, being human, we need to be encouraged, supported, and revitalized.  Having a designated celebritorial day can do just that.

Conclusion

Some aspects of the current symbols in western Christmas celebrations may have come from pagan roots but that doesn’t even matter.  So what?  The question is how you have purposed them now.  Does what you do reflect Jesus Christ and his glory?  If Christians do not want to celebrate Christmas than they don’t have not.  It is nothing more than a culturally constructed celebration re-purposed for remembering God’s eternal gift.  But then again, we should, as Christians, always be in remembrance of God’s eternal gift in the form of Jesus for all the world.  The Christmas spirit should be an every day attitude. The meaning of Christmas is what you make it to be; either about Christ or not; but regardless it is a perfect opportunity to proclaim the gospel.

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Rediscovering The Vastness of John 3:16

 Everyone has seen or heard John 3:16 on football face paint, billboards, bumper stickers, t-shirts, everywhere.  It has seem to become a mindless slogan in evangelical christian culture.  When digging into the meaning and the message, we find something so grand, so majestic, so powerful, that John 3:16 has the ultimate implications for all humanity; contained in these 25 words (NASB).  For some, rediscovering John 3:16 can mean new eternal life!

We see the object, expression, recipient, intention, and duration of ultimate divine truth.  The seven wonders and maximal elements of reality all contained in this one statement.

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”

FOR GOD

Much like Gen. 1:1, God exists, is present, and acts first before anything.  Here, God, out of his very nature, not compelled by anyone or anything besides himself, takes action out of his own nature of LOVE.  Coming from the Almighty Authority of the creator of the universe where there is no greater.

SO LOVED

Not just a moderate love; like how we love our pets or hobbies, but the ultimate selfless sacrificial love; the absolute greatest form of love, divine love, from God himself.   He SO loved!  The absolute mightiest motive – divine love from a divine nature. 

This is not condoning the behavior or the desires of the object being loved.  It is separate, unconditionally uninfluenced benevolence apart for anyone or anything for no selfish intent.  Before the existence of anything, God SO LOVED.

THE WORLD

Jesus was speaking with Nicodemus, a Pharisee and member of the Sanhedrin who came to Jesus at night so that no one else would see him with Jesus.  He, and the rest of the Pharisees believed that salvation is only for the Jews and the rest of the world (all other nations that are not Jews) were not chosen for salvation (see Rom. 11:12; Isaiah 43:9; Zec. 9:1).  When Jesus tells him “THE WORD” Jesus is refering to the nations who were not Jewish.  He was telling Nicodemus that God’s divine love was for Israel AND all the world too (1 Tim. 2:4).

Thus, God’s love extended to THE WHOLE WORLD.  All the people of the world.  The ultimate maximal being shows the greatest and maximal form of love to the maximal amount of people.  This love is even for those whom God knew were going to perish anyway.  Since God knows all things, knows the hearts of all people, and has seen all of time from before creation; yet, he still loves.  God is perfectly JUST and therefore his LOVE must extend to all people. 

HE GAVE

In his absolute sovereignty, unassisted, and uninfluenced act, he selfishly and freely gave something of maximal value- eternal value.  Why give anything?  He knew the world was perishing.  How so?  The sin and disobedience had already been judged (see John 3:17) which by necessity required an equal consequence- eternal separation at judgement.  Because God is perfectly holy, righteous, and Just; he must deliver the equally just consequence for the offense.  BUT GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD HE GAVE!  He gave a solution for redemption that satisfied not only his love but also his divine justice.  But it was God who had to give.  The world did not deserve it, they were unholy, sinful, and perishing.  Notice that HE GAVE and not HE SENT.  This again shows his greatest form of love in offering and sacrifice for an undeserving unmerited world.  All while the world is perishing; Paul (The Holy Spirit) expresses this perfectly when he stated “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8).

HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON

He gave God The Son, the eternal heir to all glory and power for all eternity who was the perfect reflection and radiance and glory of God himself (John 8:58; Heb. 1:3; Col. 1:9,2:9).  He and the Son were one and the same (John 1:1,14, 10:30,33,36-38).  ONLY is because there, for all eternity, will and forever has been only one.  BEGOTTEN because he is FROM GOD himself.  The person, God The Son, is of ultimate and supreme eternal value to God.  Thus, he alone could satisfy God’s perfect justice and love simultaneously.

THAT WHOEVER

Now we see John (The Holy Spirit) change the scope that this solution accounts for.  It is not THE WORLD he is talking about now.  It is conditional reference, WHOEVER.  Though the Son was offered to the world with a value that can satisfy God for the whole world, not everyone will receive this redeeming atoning gift.  Because God is perfectly loving and perfectly Just, it was offered still, knowing not everyone would receive it.  It is God’s love that also allows for those who are offered the gift, to freely reject it out of their own will and desire.  None the less, the gift was still offered the THE WORLD- the absolute maximally widest welcome.  Though it is the absolute widest welcome, not all will be covered by the sacrifice of Jesus (Matt. 25:32-33, 26:28; John 10:11,15, 17:9; Acts 20:28; Eph. 5:25-27; Isaiah 53:12).  That is a very hard truth to accept but it is clear, the WHOEVER are only his sheep of the church who is the body of Christ.  Some will blast this as exclusionary and intolerant but one fact they can not escape is that this gift is offered to THE WORLD.  And due to God’s love, the grants them their ultimate desire- to justify themselves instead of being justified by God The Son.  Due to God’s perfect Justice, he must then allow them to perish and pay for the eternal consequence themselves without Christ.  None the less, it was still offered to all mankind.

BELIEVES IN HIM

This is the absolute easiest escape and relief from the pending perishing and final consequence.  Those few who receive this maximally eternally valuable gift from God, who believe in God The Son get to open this gift of faith in God The Son.  But this opportunity is hard to receive; that God himself would sacrifice for mankind.  The Jews felt crucifixion was shameful and embarrassing.  The Iliad wrote “Juno says to Vulcan: ‘Dear son, refrain: it is not well that thus A God should suffer for the sake of men” (Iliad, xxi., 379,380).  Muhammad refused to accept a great prophet from God would die in such a way.  Many Gnostic beliefs refused to accept this.  Sounds to low for a god to do and sounds to easy without the assistance of effort and works.  But that is EXACTLY THE POINT.  God’s free gift to the world is simply faith in God The Son that is not earned or merited through ANY kind of effort or works.  Seems too low for such a great God BUT the act of Jesus on the cross was perfect beauty planned from before the beginning of time!  It was selfless and voluntary for the absolute greatest possible good.  God ALONE is the author and giver of unconditional unmerited eternal salvation.  The Holy Spirit declares, through Paul, that we are “made right with God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe” (Romans 3:22)

SHALL NOT PERISH

This is the maximally perfected divine deliverance from a perishing state that only leads to an eternal consequence.  The consequence is due to the perfect justice of God.  This gift redeems whoever believes in God The Son and takes them out of the state of perishing and restores them to a state that is NOT perishing.  But not only satisfies the justice and removes their state of perishing but brings them into the most perfect state of all.  The Holy Spirit declares, through Paul, “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1).

BUT HAVE ETERNAL LIFE

This is the priceless divine possession.  The free gift of eternal life.  Whoever believes in God The Son WILL HAVE eternal life.  This is an absolute statement.  Eternal life is something obtained and can not be lost.  It is impossible to have eternity and then later not have it, because then it was not eternal.  The eternal state of something is never ending.  And anyone who believes will HAVE it, eternally.  This is of eternal maximal divine value offered to the world from God himself.  Something that can not be bought or earned.  Of which is ONLY found in Jesus Christ (John 14:6).

The Seven Wonders of John 3:16

1. The Almighty Authority – God
2. The Mightiest Motive – Love
3. The Greatest Gift – Begotten Son
4. The Widest Welcome – Whoever
5. The Easiest Escape – Believe
6. Divine Deliverance – Not perish
7. The Priceless Possession – Eternal life

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Church Shootings

Church shootings are a tragedy just like any other shooting that causes the loss of life.  Some however feel that they are worse in the sense they are done in a ‘house of God’.  There have been 14 fatal shootings at a house of worship since 2012 with different motivating factors.  Americans tend to be more shocked by these type of shootings verses all other types but is there really a difference?  There are 3 major misconceptions in American society: (1) A Church building is the house of God, (3) Limiting Gun access will reduce murders, (3) Prayer is not enough.

The House of God

People have long thought of Church Buildings as a House of God and are sacred because some believe that the actual presence of God is contained in them.  When people are asked what church they are a part of, they point to a building.  This is partly a continuation of per-pentecost history.  Though God’s presence and actions were all over the ancient world, in the Temple, in the Holy of Hollies chamber, the actual presence of God was manifest.  Then, Jesus came, taught of the coming poring out of the Holy Spirit into all believers.  When it happened, God’s temple was each believer.  The word “church” comes from the Greek word ekklesia which is defined as “an assembly” or “called-out ones.” Paul states in Romans 16:5 “Greet also the church in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in Asia.”  Paul makes it clear that a church is a group of people, “an assembly” and “called-out ones”; not a building.  Therefore, the House of God, is in each believer as they are the temple of God.  Jesus said in Mark 14:58 “We heard Him say, ‘I will destroy this man-made temple, and in three days I will build another that is made without hands.‘”  Just as Jesus drove out sin in the Temple prior to Pentecost, now Jesus drives out the sin with in us and purifies us because WE, you, every believer, are the temple of God now. 

With that said, Church buildings are nothing more than structures made of the elements no different from all the other buildings in this world.  Thus, they are vulnerable to the same sins and injustices in this world.  They are equally vulnerable to shoots just as any other building.  Church buildings are not the house of God, believes are. 

Limiting Gun Access

With every significant shooting, the discussion of stricter Gun Control comes up as a solution to these violent crimes.  That some how, more man-made laws will stop mass killings.  This is a false hope.  Looking into history we see mass killings throughout history long before Guns were invented.  Even after the invention of Guns we see mass killings committed by governments on its citizens who weren’t armed to begin with.  Nazi Germany, Communist Russia, China, Cambodia, and North Korea for example.  In cities in the US that have extremely strict Gun Control Laws, like Chicago, has the highest rates of killings.  In contrast, the countries with the some of the highest gun ownership per capita, such as Norway, Canada, and Finland have the least amount of gun violence.  These facts disprove that Guns are the problem.  The major dilemma for Gun Control advocates is the fact that criminals, by definition, do not obey laws to begin with.  And the ultimate law that should stop gun violence, murder, is already outlawed.  Increasing the number of laws does not stop those who kill.  What is the REAL and TRUE problem and solution?

The REAL and TRUE problem is the culture’s morality or lack of it.  If those who seek to kill other people lack the source of the value of human life; they will just use other tools.  More recent murders with the use of vehicles and knifes for example.  The tools are not the problem, the desire to use inanimate objects for the purpose of taking human life is; no different than Cain.  The second problem of the heart is that others feel the need to control other people.  Some FEEL as though they are more righteous in their anti-gun stance and want to control the people who are pro-gun.  Again, the ULTIMATE problem is of the heart; not inanimate objects or arbitrary man-made laws.

Odd that Christians who advocate for stricter Gun Control fail to address the sinful heart and fail to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ in every public forum and debate about gun violence.  It is not necessarily odd but directly relates to the second problem pointed out above.  Sinful people WILL kill; Cain used a rock before murder was ever witnessed, the Jewish authority used the lawful system to murder Jesus.  Communist Russia starved its unarmed people.  On October 31st, someone used a Home Depot truck to murder.  It is a problem of the human heart from day one.

Prayer

Following the Church shooting in Texas, some people took to social media and patronized prayer.  Even elected officials made negative remarks about praying for the families of those who were killed.  The idea presented is that prayer does not work but that action has to be taken- their solution- gun control action.  The fact of patronizing prayer as ineffective also reveals the ignorant heart of what prayer is and does. 

They are right in one sense.  Sending prayers, ‘positive vibes’ and energy to the victims and their families doesn’t work.  That is not true prayer.  Prayer conforms our hearts to the will of God.  That simple.  If you pray for ANYTHING that is in God’s Will, it WILL be answered.  Sounds pointless right?  Sense God will act out his will anyway?  Two things:  (1) It conforms our hearts and minds to what ever God’s will may be.  It helps us accept the sovereign will of God.  (2) God has seen all events in time all ready, thus, he knows what is going to happen and what people will pray for; before space and time was created.  God is love in that he does answer the prayers before the creation of the world but he is ALSO eternally knowledgeable.   He knows the best solutions to draw people to himself.  Far greater than we would understand.  That is why some times it seems God does not answer prayers the way we ask.  Doubting prayer is actually doubting God’s eternal love, knowledge, and sovereignty. 

The elected officials and others who believe prayer is ineffective think THEY have a better solution and through THEIR power; THEY can bring about change and justice.  Its a tough pill to swallow but some times the only way to reach people is through tragedy.  God had his only holy Son killed so that the world could see God’s love and righteousness.  In Jesus’ time, a tower collapsed and killed 8 Galleans.  He used that example to call for people to repent.  There was a man was born blind, lived his whole life blind.  I’m sure he and his family prayed for healing but it never came.  Then, Jesus came along and healed him later in life.  Jesus stated “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him” (John 9:3).

Name It and Claim It

Prayer is also not ‘claiming’ something “in Jesus’ name”.  If this was true, why not say this:  “I claim all mass shootings to stop in Jesus’ name” and boom. done.  right?  Why doesn’t the most righteous name it and claim it Word of Faith preach just do it already?  What are they waiting for?  You see, even the name it and claim it crowd do not truly believe their claims either.  Again, this is not what true prayer is.  It is just another attempt to feel in control over God’s sovereignty.
We pray to help us conform to God’s will and accept his vast perfect knowledge with the hope that it leads people to Him.  No matter what, his sovereign power is seen no matter the event.  He is in full control.  The illusion of humanistic Gun Control to save lives does not save others from all the other tools used to take lives; only God can truly save the lives of whom ever he chooses for his purposes.  The salvation of Souls is far greater.  Jesus declares “Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Matthew 10:28). 

Culture

The American culture will continue to decline and a vast number of tools to take lives will continue to be used despite passing vast number of regulations and laws.  Culture will decline because of the lack of morality and faith in God.  Church shootings will continue.  In fact, the Christian life under Rome was far worse still.  Unless the Church (believers in Jesus Christ) takes a stand and proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ; the hearts and minds of American society will continue to decay and lead to more violence.  No humanistic law will solve the sinful hearts of the society; only proclaiming The Gospel can.  Proclaiming The Gospel is far greater than proclaiming any secular Gun Control law, denouncing prayer, and feeling safe in a building.

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The Quran: Who Wrote It?

Is the Quran today the same as the original teachings from Muhammad himself?  Of course Sunni Muslims would say yes.  In fact, all Muslims must agree that they are, but, in the Shiite sect of Islam, not all are in full agreement of the source of the final product of the original teachings.  To remove Christian bias, we will look at the historical quotes from Muslims themselves and see how accurate the Quran is.

Did Muhammad Write The Quran?

There are no eyewitnesses anywhere in the Qur’an who said they saw Muhammad talk to an angel, nor did anyone say he met or talked with Allah.  The teachings of Muhammad, came from Muhammad himself, only, verbally.  Muhammad did not know how to read or write.  

“Before this, you did not read any book, nor did you write anything with your hands”. (29:48). Those who follow the Messenger, the unlettered prophet (7:157)

So if Muhammad could not read or write, who wrote it? The Qur’an was revealed gradually over a period of 23 years to his followers, who then memorized what he said and in some cases write it down on various formats. It was written on leaves and bone and such.  The majority of the teachings of Muhammad were memorized by his followers.

Muhammad himself did not perfectly memorize all that was revealed to him. 

Narrated Abdullah ibn Mas’ud: … (Muhammad said) I am only a human being and I forget just as you do; so when I forget, remind me … (Sunan Abu Dawud: bk. 3, no. 1015; also Sahih al-Bukhari: vol. 1, bk. 8, no. 394) 

So, when the divine revelation was forgotten, they simply replaced the divine revelation with something they felt was better or similar.

We do not abrogate a verse or cause it to be forgotten except that We bring forth [one] better than it or similar to it … (Qur’an 2:106, Saheed International)

So the importance of his followers to memorize what he taught was very important.

Did Muhammad’s Reciters Perfectly Transmit His Teachings?

The battle of Yamama in 632AD, after Muhammad’s death, made his followers realize the need to write his teachings down.  Over 700 Muslims were killed, over 400 were followers who had his teachings memorized were killed.  What if everyone who only had it memorized were all killed?

Muhammad’s close friend, Salim, who had memorized a great deal of what Muhammad taught, was one of the over 400 reciters killed in the battle of Yamama.

“Abdullah bin ‘Amr mentioned ‘Abdullah bin Masud and said, “I shall ever love that man, for I heard the Prophet saying, ‘Take (learn) the Qur’an from four: ‘Abdullah bin Masud, Salim, Mu’adh and Ubai bin Ka’b.’”(Sahih al-Bukhari, Volume 6, Book 61, Number 521)

Zuhri reports, ‘We have heard that many Qur’an passages were revealed but that those who had memorised them fell in the Yemama fighting. Those passages had not been written down, and following the deaths of those who knew them, were no longer known; nor had Abu Bakr, nor `Umar nor `Uthman as yet collected the texts of the Qur’an.  (John Burton, The Collection of the Qur’an, pp. 126-127, Abu Bakr `Abdullah b. abi Da’ud, Kitab al-Masahif’, ed. A. Jeffery, Cairo, 1936/1355, p. 23:)

Different Versions of The Quran?

Here we already see, as recorded by Muslim sources, that portions of the teachings of Muhammad were lost.  However, during the reign of Abu Bakr, Hafsah (a wife of Muhammad) kept for herself a written copy of Muhammad’s teachings and kept it until 667AD.  In fact, there were others who also had memorized the teachings of Muhammad in different dialects and versions.

“Masruq reported: We used to go to Abdullah Bin Amr and talk to him. Ibn Numair said: One day we made a mention of Abdullah Bin Masud, whereupon he said: you have made mention of a person whom I love more than anything else. I heard Allah’s Messenger as saying: Learn Qur’an from four persons: Ibn Umm Abd (i.e., Abdullah Bin Masud – he started from him – then Muadh bin Jabal and Ubayy bin Kab, then Salim the ally of Ali Hudhaifa. (Sahih Muslim, Book 031, Number 6024)

“Anas is reported to have said: Four persons collected the Qur’an during the lifetime of Allah’s Messenger and all of them were Ansar: Muadh Bin Jabal, Ubayy Bin Kab, Zaid Bin Thabit, Abu Zaid. Qatada said: Anas, who was Abu Zaid? He said: He was one of my uncles. (Sahih Muslim, Book 031, Number 6029)

“Narrated Ibn Mas’ud: I heard a person reciting a (Quranic) verse in a certain way, and I had heard the Prophet reciting the same verse in a different way. So I took him to the Prophet and informed him of that but I noticed the sign of disapproval on his face, and then he said, “Both of you are correct, so don’t differ, for the nations before you differed, so they were destroyed.” (Sahih al-Bukhari: vol. 4, bk. 56, no. 682) 

“Concerning the arrangement of the Qur’an in the manuscript of Abd Allah ibn Mas’ud, Al-Fadl ibn Shadhan said, “I found in a manuscript of `Abd Allah ibn Mas’ud the surahs of the Qur’an in accordance with the following (different) sequence … These are one hundred and ten surahs.” (Al-Nadim, p. 53)…  One of our reliable friends has informed us, saying that the composition of the surahs according to the reading of Ubayy ibn Ka’b is in a village called Qariyat al-Ansar, two parasangs from al-Basrah, where in his home Muhammad ibn Abd al-Malik al-Ansari showed us a Qur’anic manuscript, saying, “This is the copy of Ubayy which we have, handed down from our fathers.” I looked into it and ascertained the headings of the surahs, the endings of the revelations, and the numbers of verses. … one hundred and sixteen surahs. (Al-Nadim, pp. 58-61)

The witness accounts to differing renderings between Masud’s version and Ubayy’s version.  Both of them were reciters of Muhammad.  A discovery of the early San’a 1 (Standford 07) manuscript proves there were different versions of the Quran outside of Ziad’s version.  

Due to the loss of a great deal of followers who only had Muhammad’s teachings memorized, Abu Bakr appointed Zaid ibn Thabit to compile all remaining Muhammad teachings.  Aside from potentially losing the teachings of Muhammad, there was a growing issue of differences between the different reciters of the teachings; this was also causing confusion and conflict.

“Hudaifa b. al Yeman came to `Uthman direct from the Aderbaijan and Armenian frontier where, uniting the forces from Iraq and those from Syria, he had had an opportunity to observe regional differences over the Qur’an. “Commander of the faithful,” he advised, “take this umma in hand before they differ about the Book like Christians and Jews.” `Uthman sent asking Hafsa to lend him the sheets [inherited by her father, `Umar, from Abu Bakr, and now in her possession] “so that we can copy them into other volumes and then return them.” She sent her suhuf to `Uthman who summon Zaid, Sa`id b. al `As, `Abdul Rahman b. al Harith b. Hisham and `Abdullah b. al Zubair and commanded them to copy the sheets into several volumes. Addressing the group from Quraish, he added, “Wherever you differ from Zaid, write the word in the dialect of Quraish for it was revealed in that tongue.“… When they had copied the sheets, `Uthman sent a copy to each of the main centers of the empire with the command that all other Qur’an materials, whether in single sheet form, or in whole volumes, WERE TO BE BURNED…‘ (Burton, pp. 141-142- citing Ahmad b. `Ali b. Muhammad al `Asqalani, ibn Hajar, “Fath al Bari“, 13 vols, Cairo, 1939/1348, vol. 9, p. 18)

“Ibn Abbas reported Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: “If there were for the son of Adam a valley full of riches, he would long to possess another one like it, and the son of Adam does not feel satisfied but with dust.” And “Allah returns to him who returns (to him).” Ibn Abbas said: I do not know whether it is from the Qur’an or not; and in the narration transmitted by Zuhair it was said: I do not know whether it is from the Qur’an, and he made no mention of Ibn Abbas. (Sahih Muslim: bk. 5, no. 2285) 

The Official Version, Not Authorized by Muhammad?

The solution?  Create a single source text in one specific approved rendering and dialect (Quraish, the Ziad version) and burn the rest.  But some of those who were closest to Muhammad disagreed with conforming to Ziad’s version.  By this time, Umar took power after Abu Bakr and then Uthman after him.  Hafsah, a wife of Muhammad, refused to give hers so that it would not be burned.  Even Abdullah Bin Masud, a direct follower of Muhammad, disagreed with Ziad’s version.

“Abdullah bin Masud reported that (he said to his companions to conceal their copies of the Qur’an) and further said: He who conceals anything shall have to bring that which he had concealed on the Day of Judgment, and they said: After whose mode of recitation do you command me to recite? I in fact recited before Allah’s Messenger more than seventy chapters of the Qur’an and the companions of Allah’s Messenger know that I have better understanding of the Book of Allah (than they do), and if I were to know that someone had better understanding than I, I would have gone to him. Shaqiq said: I sat in the company of the companions of Muhammad but I did not hear anyone having rejected that (that is, his recitation) or finding fault with it. (Sahih Muslim, Book 031, Number 6022).

This consolidation effort continued because of the continued discrepancies between the different teachings.  Abdullah’s variant readings were attacked by those who were in power.

Narrated Ibrahim: The companions of ‘Abdullah (bin Mas’ud) came to Abu Darda’, (and before they arrived at his home), he looked for them and found them. Then he asked them: “Who among you can recite (Qur’an) as ‘Abdullah recites it?” They replied, “All of us.” He asked, “Who among you knows it by heart?” They pointed at ‘Alqama. Then he asked Alqama. “How did you hear ‘Abdullah bin Mas’ud reciting Surat Al-Lail (The Night)?“ Alqama recited:
“By the male and the female.” (Qur’an 92:3)
Abu Darda said, “I testify that I heard the Prophet reciting it likewise, but these people want me to recite it:
“And by Him Who created male and female.” (Qur’an 92:3)
But by Allah, I will not follow them.” (Sahih al-Bukhari: vol. 6, bk. 60, no. 468; also Sahih Muslim: bk. 4, no. 1799-1802) 

‘Yazid b. Ma`awiya was in the mosque in the time of al Walid b. `Uqba, sitting in a group among them was Hudaifa. An official called out, ‘Those who follow the reading of Abu Musa, go to the corner nearest the Kinda door. Those who follow `Abdullah’s reading, go the corner nearest `Abdullah’s house.’ Their reading of Q 2.196 did not agree. One group read, ‘Perform the pilgrimage TO GOD’ The others read it ‘Perform the pilgrimage TO THE KA’BAH.’ Hudaifa became very angry, his eyes reddened and he rose, parting his qamis at the waits, although in the mosque. This was during the reign of `Uthman. Hudaifa exclaimed, ‘Will someone go the Command of the Faithful, or shall I go myself? This is what happened in the previous dispensations.’ He came over and sat down, saying, ‘God sent Muhammad who, with those who went forward, fought those who went back until God gave victory to His religion. God took Muhammad and Islam made strides. To succeed him, God chose Abu Bakr who reigned as long as God chose. God then took him and Islam made rapid strides. God appointed `Umar who sat in the midst of Islam. God then took him also. Islam spread rapidly. God next chose `Uthman. (Burton, p. 143, Abu Bakr `Abdullah b. abi Da’ud, “K. al Masahif”, ed. A. Jeffery, Cairo, 1936/1355, p. 11;)

We were sitting in the mosque and `Abdullah was reciting the Qur’an when Hudaifa came in and said, ‘The reading of ibn Umm `Abd! [ie. `Abdullah] The reading of Abu Musa! By God! if I am spared to reach the Commander of the Faithful, I will recommend THAT HE IMPOSE A SINGLE QUR’AN READING!’ ‘Abdullah became very angry and spoke sharply to Hudaifa who fell silent. (Burton, p. 142, Abu Bakr `Abdullah b. abi Da’ud, “K. al Masahif”, ed. A. Jeffery, Cairo, 1936/1355, p. 13)

Hudaifa said, ‘The Kufans say, “the text of `Abdullah“; the Basrans say, “the text of Abu Musa“. By God! if I reach the Commander of the faithful, I WILL RECOMMEND THAT HE DROWN THESE READINGS.” (var. Masahif) `Abdullah said, ‘Do and God will drown you, but not in water!’ (Burton, pp. 146-147- citing Abu Bakr `Abdullah b. abi Da’ud, “K. al Masahif”, ed. A. Jeffery, Cairo, 1936/1355, p. 13).

“The Syrians,” we are told, “contended with the `Iraqis, the former following the reading of Ubayy ibn Ka`b, the latter that of `Abd Allah ibn Mas’ud, each accusing the other of unbelief.” (Labib as-Said, The Recited Koran: A History of the First Recorded Version, tr. B. Weis, et al., Princeton, New Jersey: The Darwin Press, 1975, p. 23) 

As the political preasure against Abdullah mounted, eventually, Ziad’s version (Utmanic textual tradition) became the source for the current rendering of the Quran.  But, still remains some issues.

The Incomplete Teachings of Muhammad

When Umar heard people declaring that they knew the entire Qur’an, he said to them: “Let none of you say, ‘I have learned the whole of the Koran,’ for how does he know what the whole of it is, when much of it has disappeared? Let him rather say, ‘I have learned what is extant thereof’” (Abu Ubaid, Kitab Fada’il-al-Qur’an).

Ziad’s versions was also dependent on Abu Musa’s reciting of Muhammad’s teachings but with that came a problem.  He forgot some of what Muhammad taught.

Abu Musa al-Ash’ari sent for the reciters of Basra. They came to him and they were three hundred in number. They recited the Qur’an and he said: You are the best among the inhabitants of Basra, for you are the reciters among them. So continue to recite it. (But bear in mind) that your reciting for a long time may not harden your hearts as were hardened the hearts of those before you. We used to recite a surah which resembled in length and severity to (Surah) Bara’at. I have, however, forgotten it with the exception of this which I remember out of it: “If there were two valleys full of riches, for the son of Adam, he would long for a third valley, and nothing would fill the stomach of the son of Adam but dust.” And we used to recite a surah which resembled one of the surahs of Musabbihat, and I have forgotten it  (Sahih Muslim 2286).

Not just there, but other places where teachings of Muhammad had been forgotten.

We used to recite a surah similar to one of the Musabbihat, and I no longer remember it, but this much I have indeed preserved: ‘O you who truly believe, why do you preach that which you do not practise?’ (and) ‘that is inscribed on your necks as a witness and you will be examined about it on the Day of Resurrection’. (As-Suyuti, Al-Itqan fii Ulum al-Qur’an, Page 526).

Another one of Muhammad’s wives (Aishah) also noticed that some verses were being left out.  Even teachings relating to stoning and breastfeeding were not included in Ziad’s version because, well, one of her written records was eaten by a goat.

A’isha . . . said, “Surat al-Ahzab (33) used to be recited in the time of the Prophet with two hundred verses, but when Uthman wrote out the codices he was unable to procure more of it than there is in it today [i.e. 73 verses].” (Abu Ubaid, Kitab Fada’il-al-Qur’an)

“It was narrated that Aishah said: “The Verse of stoning and of breastfeeding an adult ten times was revealed, and the paper was with me under my pillow. When the Messenger of Allah died, we were preoccupied with his death, and a tame sheep came in and ate it.” (Sunan ibn Majah 1944).

When considering all this, we see that the current version of the Quran is lacking a lot of Muhammad’s teachings.  Of what was consolidated we can only truly conclude that it is the version of Ziad and what he chose to include.  Even in his version, it still lacks all the teachings that were lost when followers of Muhammad were killed or simply forgot what he said.  Those who disagreed with his version were attacked and their versions were eventually burned.  But we don’t need their copies to know that the current version of the Quran is incomplete.  The testimony from those who were close to Muhammad himself prove this.  This leads to more questions regarding the reliability of the Quran.

Perfect Preservation?

How do we know Abdullah’s version is not the actual or more acurate words of Muhammad?  It is historically recorded that his version was different.  If both Abdullah and Ziad were both followers of Muhammad, who decided that Ziad’s version was the true version?  Ziad?  Because he had political backing?  Does politics and power determine truth?  That is actually a minor problem.

The real problem is the claim that the Quran has been perfectly preserved.  This is logically not possible given the historical evidences from Muslim sources.  By their own witness, passages have been lost, forgotten, and cherry picked to create the Quran we have today. The only thing that can be stated is that Ziad’s version has been preserved, but not all the teachings of Muhammad.  In fact, it is not clear that Ziad’s versions is the perfect preservation of Muhammad’s teachings because it differed from Abdullah’s versions of what Muhammad taught.  Not to mention there were other versions that may have also differed that were lost and burned.

The one thing that we can conclude is that Ziad ibn Thabit is the primary source for the modern Quran.

Surah 15:9 boldly declares “Indeed, it is We who sent down the Qur’an and indeed, We will be its guardian.”  But what happens if this declaration fails?  Given the Muslim sources recording the loss of verses and forgotten verses it is proven to not have been completely guarded.  This means the angels and chosen followers of Allah were unable safe guard the preservation of the revelations of Muhammad perfectly.  How then can it be divine and not just the teachings of Ziad ibn Thabit?

A claim that can be made is that Ziad ibn Thabit’s version of the remaining teachings of Muhammad have been perfectly preserved.  This is only true if we leave out the facts of the loss of teachings prior to Ziad’s final product.  But then, who are Muslims really following?  The teachings of Ziad ibn Thabit?  They can’t say the teachings of Muhammad because, as shown above, some of his teachings have been lost AND others differed from Ziad’s version.  So they can not say for sure they are following the teachings of Muhammad.  The claim of a supernatural mathematical system that proves the perfect preservation only validates Ziad ibn Thabit’s version because it is not possible to include the calculations of teachings that were lost, forgotten, and burned.

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Who are YOU?

You, your being, your essence, your identity, who you are.  What makes you, you?  The modern world uses conditional compound labels to construct who people are.  Race, politics, religion, family heritage, social economic class, sexuality, and other social constructs are used to build someone’s ‘identity’.  African American or Italian American.  Liberal or Conservative. Christian or Muslim.  Heterosexual or Homosexual.  Wealthy or poor.  Throw a bunch of these labels together and boom- you?  What if our true essence of being and eternal identity is not found in those? 

John sets the premise for true identity in John 1:12-13

But to all who did receive Him,
He gave them the right to be children of God,
to those who believe in His name,
who were born,
not of blood,
or of the will of the flesh,
or of the will of man,
but of God.

John distinguishes two groups.  Those who receive Jesus and those who do not.  He goes even deeper and states that those who did receive Jesus are ones who believe in His name and thus are given the right to be children of God.  The reverse means that those who do not receive Jesus, do not believe in His name and are not given the right to be children of God.  But, he doesn’t end there.  

Those who did receive Jesus; who believe in His name and are given the right to be children of God are not born into this, are not self-willed into it, are not given it by others- but only by God.  Their identity is NOT found in their “blood” which is the body, which is skin color and physical features. Our identity is NOT found in the “will of the flesh” which is our lifestyle, chosen religious preferences, or political associations.  Our identity is NOT found in “the will of man” which is government labels, family heritage, or cultural history.  What ALL these have in common are identifiers from a worldly perspective of identity.  God declares out identity comes from something greater, God himself.  At the core of all that he said; their true identities are from God and in Christ Jesus.  That’s it.  

People who make the claim they are Christian because they are White, conservative, heterosexual, and wealthy… are believing in social constructs to justify themselves. Other people will add on to their claimed Christian title.  For example, they will say they are an African American liberal homosexual Christian.  Again the problem is they are not basing their Christian identity in the one thing that John makes clear.  All those other labels are of the world, not of God.  

Paul expands on this issue of identity when he states in Galatians 3:28:

^“There is no Jew or Greek, slave or free, male or female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” 

He also states in Romans 10:12:

“For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.”

Race, ethnicity, genders, social economic class, or political affiliation do not define who you are before the Lord.  The only defining factor is belief in Christ Jesus or not.

So why the additions of labels?

In each and every single person is the natural desire to justify ones self.  When those who claim to be Christian buy into the thought that their identity is found in Jesus plus something else, they are going against what John and Paul are saying about who they actually are.  It is a very simple truth and is confused and corrupted by the desires and thoughts of the world. 

Faith in Jesus + Anything = Nothing, in the eyes of the Lord
Faith in Jesus + Nothing = Everything, in the eyes of the Lord

History

History repeats itself because the there is a common thread in all the human heart- sin.  The Apostles had to address this self identity being defined by cultural association.  They had to beat it into the heads of the early church that here is NO difference between Jew or Gentile.  The church has always struggled with this- humanity has always struggled with this.  The creation of constructed racial definitions such as “white” and “black” added to this worldly way of thinking.  In history, some in the church think that in order to be Christian, one must act “white” or accept “whiteness” as a standard of Christian living.  This goes against what the Apostles taught.  Yet others think that associating more with African heritage some how makes them more true in their identity.  Whether its a greater association with someones “whiteness” or “blackness” or any race-ness; the essence of the problem is the same:  Identity = race + faith.  This then leads to disunity in the body of Christ.  Instead of being “all one in Christ” the church is then divided up by race.  Instead of there being “no difference” there are.   As one focuses on their own adherents to their race, they not only exclude others but segregate themselves.

The early church struggled with Jew against Gentile.  Then struggled with White against Black.  Looking at the most common rhetoric in the church today, it seems to be now swinging toward Black against White as some see that leaving “white evangelicalism” is godly direction to take.  But what does that mean for those who are labeled and judged as “white evangelicals”?   As each generation struggles with disassociating itself from its brothers and sisters of different racial backgrounds.

Faith in Labels

When anyone thinks they ‘become’ Christian because their family was or thinks they are Christian because they are Pentecostal they are buying into the lie that Faith + Something = Identity.  Simply having faith that someone is a White Christian or a striving to identify as an African American Christian is not only placing faith in Jesus but also faith in their race as something that ALSO gives them identity.  Even believing having a more ‘liberal’ world view and supporting worldly causes with some how justify their faith in Jesus before the world is the same thing. It comes down to not faith in who Jesus is or what he has done but faith in something about you.  That is idolatry. 

Label Worship and Idolatry

If your will to adhere to a particular label prevented you from solely focusing on Jesus Christ and proclaiming his name alone, than you are actually serving the agendas of that label as your master.  If you are unwilling to part with that label so that you can solely focusing on Jesus Christ and proclaiming his name alone, that label is in fact your idol.  We must ask ourselves, are we willing to deny our worldly constructed racial definitions (or any worldly label) so that our desires and minds are absolutely focused on Christ alone?

If your family was the foundation for your faith, what would you do if God called you to leave your family (Luke 14:26)?  What if God made something explicitly clear about a particular desire, and required you to leave that desire, could you (1 Cor 6:9-1)?  What if politics was getting in the way of proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ, could you leave politics?  What if your adherence to your race, ethnicity, or culture was becoming divisive and causing disunity, could you deny yourself and leave the issue of your race and ethnicity for the sake of the Gospel and unity?  Would you risk your own worldly identified group hate you for the sake of proclaiming truth in Christ?  If the answer is no, than your identity is not resting in Christ Jesus alone.

In eastern cultures there is a greater dependence on family heritage and governmental or political party affiliation.  Do you have value, meaning, and purpose because you are part of a communist party?  Are you scared to shame and dishonor your family by following Christ instead of the defining religion of the family?  In those identities that only seem to give meaning and purpose, are still worldly constructs.

Identities become Enslaving

When people who claim to be Christian can become so consumed by their additional identities they become enslaved to the labels.  Over time of putting effort into conforming to a particular identity, people lose sight of life with out it.  Faith in a particular sexual identity leads to the greater focus on their sexuality than without it.  Faith in their racial identity leads to a greater focus on IT than on the gospel for all races. The enslaving focus leads to division and self segregation.  A simple test is:  Luke 9:23 “He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me.”.  Are you willing to deny EVERYTHING about yourself, even to the point of sacrificing your body, for Christ?  If your culture, race, and any associations that define you; are you able to see past them and forsake them for Christ?  If you can not forsake your racial identity (or any worldly identity), who is then really your master?

YOU

God declares that YOU are truly YOU in Him alone.  There is NO difference but ALL are one in Christ.  It is through Christ alone we find our true identity of who we are before the throne of our creator.  God won’t ask us if we were a good white person, or black person.  He will weigh us by how faithful we are to Christ’s work and how we loved ALL races, not just the ones we associate with.

You are made in the image of God created for his glory to worship him.   You are defined by your faithfulness to the person and work of Christ and not by anything else.  The only defining factors at God’s judgement are between the faithful and the wicked.  The world and all people will be identified by this alone.  The Absolute essence of our true identity of who we are, comes down to faith in Christ or not.  Those who have faith in Christ are ONE and are NO different for all those who believe have been adopted by God to become Children of God and baptized into THE SAME body.  All other dividing factors are carnal.  But, this does not negate the usefulness of the diversity in creation for God’s glory.

Evangelism

Even though we can rest in our true identity without focusing on race, sexuality, political associations, and cultural heritage; it can still be used as means of ministry and evangelism.  Some people within the world with a worldly mindset will only listen to those who they associate with.  Thus, the identifiers of the world, can used to reach the world.  They are not the focuses that define the identity of believers but focuses that are greater than identity.  For example, those who struggle with same sex attraction, by deny themselves to follow Christ, can better reach others who believe their same sex attractions define them.  Those who relate racially, can reach those of the same race who are only willing to listen to those they relate to.  Instead of those as defining factors of ones identity, they are actually tools to better reach those who are slaves in their belief those factors define them; with the hope of freeing them from that enslaving carnal identities.  Because in the end, true freedom is only found in Christ and not in any identity of this world.



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Commonalities of Cults

There are many subgroups of the Christian faith.  These subgroups tailor their teachings and focuses in different ways.  That is exactly how the Body of Christ functions BUT there are some groups that claim to be ‘Christian’ when in fact, they are not.  Some deny being ‘Christian’ but claim to have similar beliefs and ‘more correct’ views than that of orthodox Christianity; but how can you identify a cult?

The Teachings

Cults proclaim a NEW teaching or a more correct teaching revealed by a NEW prophet or writing.  Regardless of the source for their teaching, it is new a part from Christian orthodox.  They may even teaching an old teaching that was NEW in prior history but which is still outside of orthodox Christianity.  New writings are generated by the new prophet or group and followers are obligated to rely on the new writing along with or instead of The Bible.  Essentially, Cults teach that The Bible is not enough, cherry picked sections are only ones correct, or over all incomplete.

• Doubt or discredit the primary source (The Bible) as sole authority
• Generate secondary source(s) of authority to make new/morphed teachings authoritative
• Only approved teachings come from secondary sources.

 

The Rituals

Cults push followers to focus on their works by adhering to certain rituals or even abstaining from certain Christian orthodox acts such as communion and baptism.  Some even morph these acts and teachings of the acts to fit their new or more correct revelations.  Some rituals include financial indebtedness and status gains.  Essentially, they become controlling, isolating, and works based.

• Self centered rituals- “do this yourself to be good in yourself”
• Materialistic or worldly focus rituals- “give something tangible to get something tangible in return” 
• Pseudo love-  A false sense of loving others that which actually gratifies and justifies the self.
• End goal is deity of the self- “work hard and become a greater self or best self”

Verifiable

Their revelations and teachings tend to be non-verifiable and use circular reasoning to justify them.  A prophet is a prophet because it was revealed to him that he was.  Or the writings are divine because they were written by someone who said his writings are divine.  Some claim that they were given revelations in visions or by angels, and that’s that.  Essentially, the founder and their writings are unverifiable and have to be believed simply based on claim alone.

• Unable to verify or not supported with known history or testable natural phenomena
• Circular justification – “It is true because it is said to be true” 

Morality

Cults typically strive to be ‘good’ and do good.  They attempt to satisfy psychological, emotional, and intellectual issues of their followers.  They make their followers feel accepted and feel as though they have a purpose.  Some even provide financial security and promises of material and spiritual rewards.  But, this begins to fall apart once someone starts to question the groups teachings and wants to leave the group for what ever reason.  Those who question and desire to leave are guilt tripped, become more isolated, and more controlled by the group and its leadership.  The threat of destruction from God or their version of holy judgement is often deployed.  Those who do leave are shunned, and persecuted.  Those who remain in the group are caused to be depend greatly on the group.

• Emotional or materialistic moral justifications – “I feel or have therefore it is or should be” 
• Right and Wrong is defined through the secondary source of authority; which teaches how adherents should think and feel.
• Selective encouragement/ social conditioning- “You did good because you did what the organization/religion approves of; you did bad because you did what the organization/religion does not approve of”
• Decent or questioning the organized religion is a moral absolute evil.

Limit Learning

Cults often limit the source of their followers studies.  The groups that use the bible as part of their system discourage studying the bible alone and require the use of their writings.  This indoctrination allows for the cult to interpret how they want the bible to be interpreted to match their new teachings while at the same time allow the follower to feel as though they are learning what the bible says; even when they are not.  This is another form of manipulation and control.

• Instructed how to think only through secondary sources of authority as primary means to understand.
• Studying sources outside of the secondary authoritative source is discouraged by the organization or religious leaders and approved teachers.  Some may even actively restrict access to outside sources.
• Self teaching and self study is discouraged without the use of approved teachers or materials.
• Isolation is imposed to limit reaching outside sources of information.

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The Nashville Statement

The Nashville Statement is a document published online and authored by the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood that clarifies the orthodox Christian faith position on human sexuality.  Over 150 predominate orthodox Christian teachers from around the world have signed the statement.  Of course it is not without controversy given our day and age and with some rejecting Christians.  Regardless, much like in the days of The councils of past, it addresses and clarifies the orthodox Christian faith in this specific matter.  But is it biblical?  Read the statement here: https://cbmw.org/nashville-statement/

First and foremost, it is critical to understand that God’s truth is not contingent on the feelings of man.  Secondly, speaking truth in a clear way, is being loving; even if the world doesn’t want to see it that way.  How do we know that this statement reflects God and his truth?  Quite simply, we test it against holy scripture.  What does Holy Scripture reveal about the sexuality of humanity?

The Old Testament lays the foundation for marriage and anything that is outside of the God ordained covenant marriage. 

• Humanity was created as Male and Female (Gen. 1:26–28).  This does NOT say both at the same time, or fluid depending on their feelings.  The Male and Females were commanded to multiply and fill the earth.  Thus, procreation was a blessing within the God created Male and Female dynamic.   
• Man needed an equally valuable helper to co-exist equally in fulfilling God’s command to procreate and bless the earth.  When Woman was created, she was ordained to be a wife to man.  They come together and create a God ordained family unit (Gen. 2:15-25)
• When sin entered the world, it was through the temptation to be like God and to decide for themselves what they want and desire- a part from God.  When accountable to God, neither, male or female, owned up to their disobedience but instead justified it by blaming someone else (Gen. 3:1-24)
• The Law of God makes clear that sexual activity outside of the covenant of marriage of a male and female is adultery and is explicitly forbidden (Exod. 20:14).  That even to “covet” another mans wife is equally forbidden.  Covet means to yearn to possess or have (Exod. 20:17; Deut. 5:18, 5:21).  As God reveals more, we see that homosexuality is also forbidden as they face the same death due to sin (Lev. 18:22, 20:13).  Levitical Law called for the physical death which is no longer required sense Jesus freed us from it in his mercy and forgiveness; but the spiritual death remains unless there is a changed heart and faith in what Christ has done for this sin.  
• In Judges 19:22-26 we see that homosexual desires are far more dangerous to someone’s spirit than rape.  Though rape is explicitly morally wrong and corrupts everyone involved, homosexuality was far greater in its moral corruptible potential because it is less obvious in its corruption and immoral nature with its vast ability to spread.  Something only God can see and something the world would not understand.
• Then we see the forbidding of transgenderism in Deut. 22:5.  Clothing isn’t the issue of the heart, it was the desire to be the other gender.  Gender confusion and transgenderism was not in God’s Will for mankind as this verse makes clear.
• The desire of coveting another persons spouse and adultery grows into other horrible acts (Job 31:1, 7-15).  We see this in David’s adultery with Bathsheba in 2 Samuel 11:1-12:15.  Even though David confessed his sins and was forgiven, he still faced the consequences of his sin (2 Samuel 12:13-14).  Those with unwanted desires can seek the Lord in faith and he will save (Isaiah 59:1)
• These sinful sexual desires can naturally come from birth (Psalm 51:5) BUT there is always hope in the Lord for restoration from natural sinful sexual desires (Psalm 51:1-19).  These sins may feel right and naturally tempting but lead to spiritual death (Proverbs 5:3-6).  These sins are to be avoided, fought, resisted (Proverbs 5:8-14).
• Covenant marriage between the God ordained man and women is truly satisfying.  Having self discipline and being devoted to what God has ordained keeps man from a forbidden pleasure that leads to spiritual death (Proverbs 5:15-23, 6:20-35, 7:1-27).  Fully knowing that God sees all, even our hearts.  He knows when we step outside of the covenant of marriage (Malachi 2:14).

What does Jesus say about the issue of human sexuality?

• Not only does Jesus support what is stated in the Old Testament, as he quotes from it as his authority, but also he expands on it in the sense that it is a problem of the heart, which manifests in actions.  When simply looking at another women lustfully, that is the same as committing the act of adultery.  Lust is having a sexual desire for someone.  If this is the case, he then follows up with how important it is to remove yourself from it.  It is far better to struggle than to be spiritually dead (Matthew 5:27-30).  This would obviously include viewing pornography.  
• Jesus validates the truth and authority of Gen 1:27, 2:24, 5:2 which he reiterates that God made humanity as Male and Female for covenant marriage.
• Divorce was permitted BUT not out of God’s Will but because of “the hardness of your hearts”.  In the beginning, before sin entered the world, there was no divorce.  But because as the hearts of mankind became sinful, it was permitted for the sake of the lives of the wives of the husbands who would marry other women and kick them to the street, or in some cases, have them killed just so they could remarry (Matthew 19:8-9).
• Jesus recognizes persons who are unable to have sexual relations either by birth, by choice, or my punishments of that culture as persons who are still accepted by Christ for God’s Glory.  This applies to those who are born in which ever way that prevents them from desiring or acting sexually (Matthew 19:12). 

What does The Holy Spirit reveal about the issue of human sexuality?

• Acts 15:20, 29 tell us to encourage those who claim to be in the body of Christ to abstain from sexual immorality.  What is the sexual immorality being spoken of here?  Everything revealed in the OT and by Jesus.  1 Thess 4:3-8 declares it is God’s Will that we abstain from sexual immorality and control our bodies and lustful desires.  Ultimately, rejecting this truth about sexuality is rejecting God (1 Thess 4:3-8).  The law of God is for the rebellious, ungodly, and sinful.  1 Tim 1:9-10 explicitly states sexual immorality and homosexuality is rebellion against God.  The law reveals our sinful hearts and points us to our need for Christ.  Everyone is tempted, just as Jesus was, but unlike Jesus, some are then drawn away from God’s truths about human sexuality and enticed by their own sexual desires which leads to sin and spiritual death (James 1:14-15).  The fact is that our fleshly desires are Waring against us, Christians are empowered by The Holy Spirit to abstain while others give in and accept them and even embrace them (1 Peter 2:11).
• Those who reject God’s word and willingly pursue their own sexual desires and passions are then granted that by God and allowed to pursue them because that is what they ultimately desire more than God.  Paul’s example is explicitly homosexuality (Romans 1:26-27).  Pursuing their sinful sexual immoralities, they then openly support, encourage, and applaud others who pursue them too (Romans 1:32).  Christians are called to “put to death” the worldly natures of sexual immorality, impurity, and lust (Colossians 3:5).  An undefiled marriage is one that in accordance of God’s ordained covenant marriage.  All others, are judged as outside of what God desires (Hebrews 13:4).
• Sexually immoral people will not inherit God’s Kingdom (eternal life).  But Paul reminds them that some of them “used to be like this” but have sense been “washed” and “sanctified” by “the Spirit of our God”.  Freedom from these sinful sexual desires is possible for all those who seek Christ Jesus (1 Cor 6:9-11).  In Christ, we are made NEW.  Our old ways are gone and we can live a life that is pleasing to the Lord (2 Cor 5:17).  In the truth of WHY Jesus died on the cross (sacrifice for sexual immorality) we can “take off [our] former way of life, the old self that is corrupted by deceitful desires” and be renewed in our minds by how we see our sexuality in Christ through purity and truth (Eph 4:20-24).
• We are commanded to “run from sexual immorality”.  The sin is not against someone else but against their own body.  We are created by God and our “body is not [our] own” (1 Cor 6:18-20).  Thus the idea of sexual freedom to love who we want to love goes completely against what God has made known.  Those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its [selfish] passions and [sinful] desires (Gal 5:24).  God’s grace leads us to deny worldly lusts and sexual immorality (Titus 2:11-12).
• Sexuality is GOOD, within the covenant of God’s ordained marriage.  Marriage between a man and woman is even encouraged and highly recommended (though no commanded) to help resisting the temptation of sexual immorality (1 Cor 7:1-7).  
• We must speak the truth about human sexuality.  But with speaking truth, it must be done in a loving kind way because there is hope and peace that comes with forsaking the sinful sexual desires (Eph 4:15).  This truth also means that we are all sinners, just as much as the sexually immoral BUT those who trust and believe in God’s truth about sexuality are in Christ and recognize their sinful sexual desires as something unwanted (1 Tim 1:15).
• Gen 2:24 is also illustrated by how Christ is with the Church (Eph 5:31-32).  A holy covenant marriage in which there is no adultery in the sense that there are not allowed 3rd parties outside of the bride (the church) and the bridegroom (Christ). 

In light of what Holy Scripture reveals about human sexuality, we can then test the totality of scripture against what is stated in each article of the Nashville Statement.  When we do this, we see that it does not conflict with Holy Scripture but expresses what Holy Scripture declares in a modern language. 

Through early church history we see that the disciples of the Apostles and their disciples understood what scripture clearly declares about human sexuality.  The Didache written around A.D. 80 – 130,  Justin Martyr, c. A.D. 155,  Theophilus of Antioch, A.D. 168, Aristides of Athens in the A.D. 140s and Clement of Alexandria (Egypt) in the 190s explicitly agree with what is declared in the Old Testament and by the Apostles.  Some are even more specific in describing forbidden sexual acts such as Polycarp in early second-century, Irenaeus in France in the 180s, and Origen.  There has never been a time among God’s people that human sexuality outside of a covenant Marriage of a Man and Woman was morally right or justified. 

According to Holy Scripture, it is the position of true orthodox Christianity that the Nashville Statement is true in its expression of biblical human sexuality.  The authors and signers of this statement are in line with the teachers of the early church, The Apostles, Jesus, and The Prophets of the Old Testament.  Thus this statement unifies the church and clarifies biblical truth for the present generation and after.  Given the weight, relevance, and need for such a statement, and the unity of different teachers from different church backgrounds; this statement will be included to this site as an important historical authored document.  This statement proclaims truth and ALSO hope for all those afflicted by sexual sin.

Please read and understand the Statement here: https://cbmw.org/nashville-statement
  

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Who and What Is Satan?

Scripture reveals everything we need to know to recognize Satan and his schemes and temptations.   We will address where he came from, who he is, what he does, how he does it, and what his effects are and what they look like in the world around us.  We are commanded to test the spirits, and we can’t do that if we don’t know the difference.

 Where did Satan come from? 

He, and all the other angels of heaven were created at some point during creation (I John 3:8).  After he became full of pride and sin, he was caste out of heaven and to earth.  He was not annihilated from existence because, through being sin, he came dead already.  The death that which is separation from God.  He was not sent to hell but was allowed to remain on earth (Revelation 12:9).  Through his continued disobedience and deceptions on earth we see God’s power and righteousness more clear and greater- but by only those who haven’t been blinded by him

In Ezekiel 20:13-17 we read:

You were the signet of perfection,
 full of wisdom and perfect in beauty

Satan was made by God in perfect beauty with extraordinary wisdom.  He was given all the most beautiful wealthiest gifts and status. 

You were an anointed guardian cherub.
    I placed you; you were on the holy mountain of God;
    in the midst of the stones of fire you walked.
¹⁵ You were blameless in your ways
    from the day you were created,
    till unrighteousness was found in you.

He was anointed by God for a high role in the hierarchy of angels.  When he was created he was extremely powerful and beautiful; he WAS the standard of angels.  BUT, all that splendor and power ultimately corrupted him.  In the process of that corruption, sin was born in him. 

In the abundance of your trade
    you were filled with violence in your midst, and you sinned;
so I cast you as a profane thing from the mountain of God,
    and I destroyed [banished] you, O guardian cherub,
    from the midst of the stones of fire.
¹⁷ Your heart was proud because of your beauty;
    you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor.
I cast you to the ground;

He became so proud of himself and all his power and beauty that he then thought he could make himself to be like God and above God.  And THIS is the essence of all sin.

“I will ascend to the heavens;
I will raise my throne
above the stars of God;
I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly,
on the utmost heights of the North.
I will ascend above the tops of the clouds;
I will make myself like the Most High.” (Isaiah 14:12-14)

He was ordained and placed by God himself a high status, with deep wisdom, wealth, and power.  A kind that no other angels had.  This closeness to God lead to a natural desire with all that he had, to be greater than God.

This pride lead to his rebellion and fall.  But his rebellion with a third of the angels failed, and thus, he enlisted the support from man by tempting them to succumb to the same choice that he made – to love themselves so great they also desired to become autonomous from God, defy Him, and be their own god.

It is important to notice how Satan uses others for his agenda.  Isaiah was also speaking of the King of Babylon, and Ezekiel was also speaking about the King of Tyre.  Satan enlisted angels, Eve, and others throughout history. 

Why would a wise and powerful angel, who was so close to God, think a rebellion would be successful?

It is important to see that his wisdom was not perfect and since he was not God, neither was his power.  Secondly, his pride corrupted him, thus infecting his limited knowledge.  He became so blinded by his own pride, that he really thought he could win.  Therefore, believing he could win, he then tried. 

Did God create an evil angel?

No, scripture is clear that God did NOT create Satan evil, but Satan, in his own self became evil.  Then, after sin was birthed in him, he was caste out of God’s presence.  Same with mankind.  Man was NOT created evil, but good (notice perfect is not stated).  It was then, when temped by Satan, did that same sin and corruption spread into the minds and hearts of mankind.

But Why Create Satan?

If God is all knowing and perfectly loving, why create a being that would ruin creation in the first place and save all the heart ache?  First, consider this:  What is greater than executing a punishment? Mercy.  What is greater than hatred?  Forgiveness.  What is greater than never being able to earn something?  Grace.  What is greater than never knowing what is right?  Truth.  How could you see righteousness without anything less?  How meaningful is a love that costs nothing?  By allowing Satan to do what he did, God’s glory shines brighter.  By allowing creation to be corrupted, he then gets to restore it in a greater, grander, most glorious way.  Its not about the necessity of evil, but it is about illuminating what already exists to a greater extent.  We would not see the vastness of God’s righteousness, glory, and love, if Jesus did not have to suffer on the cross. How would we ever see the greatness of God’s Love, Mercy, Forgiveness, and Grace; if he never revealed it?  And how could he forgive, if he never needed to?  How could forgiveness exist without something to forgive?  He allowed sin so that He would show the creation that he loves, that he is greater than all.  And at the end of time, when we see all that has taken place, and we will fully know God and his absolute glory, perfect love, mercy, forgiveness, and completely understand his amazing grace.

God is not ignorant or lack knowledge of time.  He is outside of time, created time, and had knowledge of all time at once.  He knew Satan would pull his dirty tricks and infect the world.  Which is why he already knew his Son would be sent to redeem the world.  This is hard for our finite minds to grasp because we see things through the lens of time.  We must see and understand God through his attributes, one of which is his eternal attribute.  He is eternal.  Thus sees all of time.  He is all knowing and good.  Thus he already had the perfect plan to redeem his creation, before it was created.  Which also he uses to reveal himself in a greater way to his creation, through his creations downfall.  Though God is not responsible for sin, he works around it for a greater end- His eternal divine glory revealed to creation on the most grandest scale.

If Satan is so obviously evil, how is he ABLE to deceive? 

Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. (2 Corinthians 11:14-15)

Satan masks his agenda and temptations like something good and desiring.  This pseudo-light is actually darkness and corrosive BUT is purposefully not made to seem that way.

Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made.  Gen 3:1

With this pseudo-light and false hope that seems like God’s light and hope, but is actually not, he is crafty in how he presents it to individuals.  The Apostles warned of this false light and pseudo-gospel.

“But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed!” (Galatians 1:8)

It is critical to see HOW Satan deceived Eve.  They were in the very presence of God! Yet, were still able to be deceived.  How?  To see HOW it is possible to be deceived by Satan, we look at HOW he deceived in scripture.

HOW he deceives

Gen 3:1-8 Satan start off distorting what God said and in question form.

“he said to the woman, “Indeed, has God said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree of the garden’?”

Notice that Satan adds in some words that God did not say, but speak as though God did say it.  He rephrases God in a different way.  His confusion and deception leads Eve to consider what he is actually asking.  God never actually said “any tree” yet, Satan says “has God said?” 

Eve then honestly responds with what God told her.

“The woman said to the serpent, “From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat; ³ but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will die.’””

She was faithful to the Lord in her response.  That is exactly what He said and she needed to have complete faith that what He said was true.  But then Satan, after distorting what God said, follows up with casting doubt on what God specifically said.

The serpent said to the woman, “You surely will not die! ⁵ For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

After distorting and proposing doubt, he then manipulates the meaning of what God meant by “you will die”.  God was speaking about his spiritual relationship with man (James 1:15).  THEN Satan proposes the ultimate temptation in all the universe; to be like God.  THE sin that was born in Satan.  She then felt, for the very first time, temptation due to the distortion, doubt, and twisting the meaning of Gods words.

“When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate.”

She considered the question and meaning that Satan proposed.  This temptation lead her to consider what Satan told her and forget what God made clear.  She saw, was delighted in herself, and desired to be like God [his wisdom].  She then felt justified in her self.  She took for her self and disobeyed God.

Now fast forward to Jesus in Matthew 4:1-11.  Satan goes to the second Adam, the Son of God and God incarnate, and pulls out the big guns to get him to stumble just as he got Adam and Eve to stumble.  Satan sees the Son of God in the form of man, tired and hungry in the body, and goes straight to the point.

“the tempter came and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” ⁴ But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.’””

He was hungry in the body so Satan challenged him to satisfy himself, knowing he was fully capable of doing so.  The point was for Jesus to do a selfish act and satisfy himself.  That the pride of who he was would over shadow his mission of God the Father.  Where Adam and Eve failed, Jesus did not.  He did not forget the Words of God and instead of considering Satan’s idea, he quoted from the Words of God alone. 

Realizing Jesus had a firm knowledge of Gods words, he then attacks that.  He distorts what God said to confuse Jesus and manipulate him to spark a prideful selfish act. 

Then the devil *took Him into the holy city and had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, ⁶ and *said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down; for it is written,

‘He will command His angels concerning You’;

and

‘On their hands they will bear You up,
So that You will not strike Your foot against a stone.’”

⁷ Jesus said to him, “On the other hand, it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’”

Satan even quotes Psalm 91:11-12.  BUT again, distorts the meaning and purpose.  Satan attempts to tempt Jesus into thinking about himself.  It is not for Jesus to take selfish advantage of the protections of God but so that God The Father’s will is done, not his.  By proving to Satan this is about him, that would be a prideful and selfish act.  He has nothing to prove to Satan.  He only seeks the approval of his Father in Heaven.  Again, Jesus responds with Deut. 6:16 and uses God’s words alone. 

Then, here comes the biggest temptation yet.

“the devil *took Him to a very high mountain and *showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory; ⁹ and he said to Him, “All these things I will give You, if You fall down and worship me.””

Seems like an easy request with massive rewards.  Jesus could have all the kingdoms of the world, given to him; no more struggles with the dark forces in the world.  All he would have to do is bow down and worship Satan; and all the world would belong to him right then and there.  Of course, Satan, the great deceiver, would never really allow that; after all, he is still be the prince of the world  and be worshiped. 

Jesus could avoid the torture, pain, suffering, and try to put an end to it all right there; of course after worshiping Satan.  BUT, that wasn’t why he came.  He knew why he came.  He came TO be tortured, feel the pain of the world AND suffer FOR the world. AND he already knew he was going to retake the whole world and reconcile it back to God at his second coming anyway.  He kept his focus on God’s Will, God’s purpose, and God’s glory, not his own.

“Then Jesus *said to him, “Go, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.’””

Jesus did not even consider his offer.  Instead, he again, quotes God’s word and the ultimate purpose for everything; to worship God and God alone.  Satan had no more tools greater than these, so he left him alone.  Also notice that once Jesus said “Go”; he left.  Even though Satan is opposed to God’s interests, he must still obey God’s commands. 

In each one of Satan’s temptations we see that they are all self-centered for self seeking satisfaction and tickle a desire to satisfy wants, and be like God in control and power.  A side note: notice that Satan’s temptations are very similar to the modern health, wealth, and happiness teachings of modern charismatic preachers.  The most important take away is Jesus’ responses to all the various temptations: God’s Word.

He distorts and twists God’s words by manipulating the meaning or adding in words that were not said.  After this, He then attempts to tickle a self-centered, self seeking, self justifying, prideful, desire to be like God or be our own god, in our own way.

His temptations are appealing and at times seem to satisfy an actual need.  But he doesn’t do it for us, he tempts us to do it ourselves.  He didn’t give Eve the apple, she took it.  He didn’t give Jesus bread, he told him to turn stone into bread.  He leads us to see something in a selfish light and encourages us to take it for ourselves.

Satan’s Authority

After being caste out of heaven and into the world, he still maintained his power (1 John 5:19).  John 12:31 states that He is the ruler of this world.  Ephesians 2:2 states the he is the prince of this world and is at work influencing all those who follow his scheme.  God allows him to have control in the world but only those who God has not called for himself (Colossians 1:13).  Those who do not believe in the true gospel message of scripture have been caught in Satan’s snare and do his will, knowingly or unknowingly whether they believe it or not (2 Timothy 2:26; James 1:13,14).  Satan is the god of this world in the fact that he is worshiped and his ideals are worshiped (2 Corinthians 4:4).  Thus because people of the world knowingly or unknowingly worship Satan and his ideals, they are his (John 8:44) until God redeems them from Satan’s grasp (I John 3:8). 

Satan Hunts

Satan searches the world for opportunities (1 Peter 5:8-9) to plant a selfish desire in our hearts and minds.  He seeks to do this by confusing us about what God clearly means in scripture.  He whispers in the ears of those who are or seem weak (Matthew 4:1; Luke 4:2) and tries to infect them with a selfish desire to be like god in their own way.   Satan roams the earth, even embedding himself with believers (Job 1:6-8).   Satan leads man to put mans interests before God’s (Matthew 16:23).  When people reject the person and work of Jesus, Satan swoops right in and influences their hearts and minds (Mark 4:15).

What other characteristics of Satan does the Bible teach us?

Satan influences people to do things contrary to what God desires (1 Chronicles 21:1).  Satan has the ability, when allowed by God, to inflict health issues (Job 2:6-7).  Satan tries to accuse those chosen by God of things worthy of condemnation but God rebukes Satan (Zech 3:1-2).  The best weapons against Satan, is God’s Word (Matthew 4:10).   “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. ¹¹ Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.” (Ephesians 6:10-11).   Simple belief in God does not protect you from being deceived, Satan and the Demons believe in God (James 2:19)

“Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. ⁹ Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.” 1 Peter 5:8-9

 Other Religions 

You can see Satan’s influence in other religions.  Some claim to have been visited by an Angel or given information by an angelic source; yet seem to forget God’s words in Galatians 1:8.  Those religions then have self justifying rites, rituals, or belief systems that its followers must perform regularly or adhere to in order to be saved or maintain their supposed salvation.  These religions distort and twist God’s words by manipulating the meaning or adding in words that were not said.  They even generate their own writings and justify themselves.  Their teachings tickle a self seeking, self justifying, prideful, desire to be the originator and maintainer of their own salvation- through that chosen religion.  They seem satisfying as long as the religion is consistently practiced or performed enough, for less devote followers, to feel satisfied and justified in their efforts.  Secularism and Atheism is no different, this too requires a faith in something else besides biblical truth; a religious like devotion.  These religions seem appealing, self justifying, and self satisfying.  See the similarities with what Satan offered Adam and Jesus?

Questions to ask yourself:

1. Is someone else telling me how I should understand God’s word?
1. How do I know they are not distorting, twisting, and manipulating the true meaning?
2. Am I blindly believing what I am told to believe about the bible?
1. Are they telling me they are most correct, simply because they say they are?
3. Does what I am taught, lead me to justify myself by what I do?
1. Am I taught that I make myself right in God’s eyes by my works?
4. Is my religion based on a revelation from a later angelic source outside of scripture?
1. How do I explain Galatians 1:8?
1. If I am told by the religion establishment how to explain Gal 1:8, how do I know what I am told is true?  Simply because they say they are?
5. Does what I am taught, make me feel righteous based on how devoted I am in my deeds to the faith?
1. Am I taught that can earn and merit my place with God by how devoted I am to what I am told by the religious establishment?
6. Does what I am taught lead me to a greater devotion to God or the religion?
7. Does what I am taught lead me to see a greater need for Jesus and love for others?
1. Or does it lead me to feel a greater need for the religious establishment- as though it was god?
8. Do I really know who Jesus is or do I just believe what I am told about him by a religious establishment?
1. How do I even know the religious establishment is teaching the real Jesus?  Simply because they say they are?
9. Is my faith in The true God or in the religious establishment?

Satan’s temptations can seem appealing, may seem right, and may even seem like truth BUT the end result is always the same.  Worship of the self.  There is no greater deception than to convince people to worship themselves or a counterfeit god(s) that makes themselves feel justified by their works or what they are taught.

How is Christianity is Not a Scheme of Satan?

1. Faith is solely based in the person and works of Jesus; not the self or religious establishments.
2. The Bible is directly influenced by God, it interprets itself
1. Vague passages are understood in light of explicit passages
2. What is not explicitly stated is understood through what has been explicitly revealed.  What is not explicitly stated is understood through what is revealed about the Character of God himself in scripture (2 Timothy 2:15). 
3. Correctly understanding the language and culture the Bible was written in helps in correctly understanding the true meaning of what is written.
4. The Bible is correctly understood in light of the totality of scripture, not self interpretations of cherry picked verses (2 Peter 1:20).
3. Everything done in action and deed is for God’s Glory alone (Matthew 22:37,38).
4. The Gospel message as stated in scripture, does not and has not changed.
1. It is solely about the purpose, works, and person of Jesus. 
5. The mindset and focus of the Christian is eternal and heavenly and not material or earthly.  
1. Good deeds for others is not for personal validation or satisfaction but for salvation of others and God’s Glory.
2. Christians seek God’s Will and not their own.
6. Christianity is not faith in the church but faith in Christ, who is the head of the body of believers.
1. The difference between the visible church and the invisible church are those who claim to be Christian for selfish self seeking worldly means and those who are Christian because of faith in the gospel message which compels them to love, serve, and worship God.
7. Christians are saved by grace through faith.  This grace is unearned and unmerited. There is no amount of effort, deeds, or works that can earn the free gift of God (Ephesians 2:8-9).  This free gift from God is only through faith in Jesus Christ (John 3:16; 14:6)

Ability to Reject Satan

Because of Christ, man has been enabled by God to reject Satan; but only through faith in Christ (Mark 16:17).  Faith in Jesus enables us to then resit Satan (James 4:7).  And at the end of it all, the source of sin, Satan, and all his followers will be caste into Hell forever (Matthew 25:41).  

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Discussion with a Jehovah’s Witness

Evangelism takes shape in many forms.  At times God has random strangers walk up and ask random questions that spark spiritual conversations.  Other times major life events causes us to reflect on deeper matters which leads to spiritual conversations.  And at times, God even uses the internet.  In this case, God chose to use the internet.  A devout Jehovah Witness reached out and shared a screen shot image from the JW website about who they think Jesus is.  Given the massive importance of the topic, we felt it was necessary to engage in a dialog with this individual but it quickly changed in tempo, tone, and agenda.

THE DISCUSSION

We began to address the question, soon more questions rolled in.  As we attempted to address the new questions; the previously answered questions were re posted or asked in a different way.  It was odd but we continually attempted to address the same questions in the new re-posts.

The answers were not to the satisfaction of the individual, and as the same questions were re-posted, we noticed that our answers were being left out.  Even in some cases, only our references to support our answers remained but our actual answers were cropped out of the screen shot.

The individual’s rebuttals to our answers were in forms of YouTube videos produced by JW or screen shots from the JW website alone (later Wikipedia was used).  We then began to focus on bringing to light the unreliability of the NWT and issues with believing what you are told solely based off what the watchtower organization teaches.

The issues with the unreliability of the NWT and sole influence of the watchtower organization were never addressed by the individual.  Only more questions and rephrased questions without our answers were continually posted.

As we redirected the focus on the individual’s only sources, we began to notice our replies deleted and left out of screen shots as the same questions were re-posted again and again.

We then would ask follow up questions after we addressed the individuals question.  But, our questions were never answered.  No big deal, because our answers to their questions still shed light on the issue and brought truth to the odd constant questioning.

Given that this whole discussion (turned into an interrogation) was on Twitter, which limits messages to only 140 characters AND the constant bombardment of questions and re-posted questions; keeping up was becoming rather difficult.

The individual then made comments about how we had an audience.  It was then we realized that this was no longer a discussion but an attempt to publicly belittle and vilify.  So our focus shifted to the dishonesty of the re-posts and questioning and the unreliable nature of the sources.

Gradually, the questioning turned to more personal attacks and “showing [our] true colors” but the re-posts were manipulated where our answers were purposefully not included in the re-posts; with the accusation of avoiding to give an answer or changing the topics.  A clear dishonest accusation so that his audience would feel as though we were doing so.  When in fact we did address the topic, gave an answer which was deleted or cropped out of the screen shot in the re-post.  So the audience would not be able to see our answers, the original post was also deleted.

As we stood fast and focused on the fact the questions were answered in previous posts about Jesus and The Bible, questioning the reliability of the sources, and pointing out and exposing the dishonesty; we were then blocked.

WHY SHARE THIS?

There are important lessons to be learned here.  Those who do not live in the light, hate the light (John 3:30).  What is the light in regards to this discussion? The truth about God and Jesus.  The whole things started with the true identity of Jesus.  This individual may not have hated the person sharing the truth about Jesus but they hated the truth about Jesus: that He is God.  How is this hatred?  Well, if someone is truly forgiving, merciful, patient, loving, and gracious, there would be no need to block someone if they are having a simple civil spiritual conversation.  There would be no need to try and be dishonest and manipulative.  But it is the hatred of the light that leads people to become dishonest, manipulative, impatient and intolerant of truth.

Another lesson to be learned is that God WILL be glorified even if the hatred of the individual causes them to reject the dialog.  The person who remained patient and gracious in the conversation did so in faithfulness to the Lord despite the turned public interrogation and belittlement.  Not to mention, being in the public sphere, God may lead others, who witnessed all this, to be exposed to the truth.  For HIS will to be done!

In this day in age, social networks and the internet are a huge tool to reach people around the world.  Proclaiming the person and work of Jesus Christ world wide IS the mission; and this is a God given tool to do so.

THESE TYPE OF CONVERSATIONS ARE COMMON

The conversations usually start off civil.  A back and forth discussion about spiritual matters.  That is a good thing!  BUT when the lies become exposed, those who genuinely believe in the lies commonly become more and more hostile; that’s natural. BUT the dialog usually shifts from spiritual matters to personal matters; turns from a discussion to an interrogation in an attempt to shame, discredit, vilify, and belittle the truth speaker through any means necessary like dishonest quoting, and manipulation.  When these more extreme attempts fail and are also exposed; the dialog falls apart and the person who hates the truth flees or seeks to silence the truth speaker.  Because these situations on social networks, online forums, and conversation tools all over the internet are common, we should expect it BUT hope and pray for the truth to impact their heart by the conviction of The Holy Spirit.

COMMONALITIES TO LOOK FOR

• One way conversation;  when the individual asks questions and does not answer any questions posted to them.  This is a sign that they do not really want to seek truth but to only argue.
• Misquoting; when the individual consistently misquotes or leaves out the key answers to their questions.  This is done to avoid the truth within the answer given.
• Situation Manipulation and public deception; when the individual manipulates the discussion to frame it a certain desired way.  Like saying that the question is being avoided by asking it in different ways and leaving out what has already been stated when in fact the essence of the question has already been answered.
• Loaded or “Gotcha” questions;  these are deceptive questions posed to trip up the truth speaker in an attempt to vilify and shame them if they do trip up.  Quoting a verse in the bible where Satan or Pharisees are speaking and then asking something like “do you agree with this statement” without stating who said it is a common ‘gotcha’ question but at the heart is purposefully deceptive.
• Personal attacks; when the individual begins to make the questions personal and negative in tone.  In God glorifying spiritual conversations, it is not about the people in the discussion but it is about the glory of God and his Son Jesus Christ.  Both individuals are imperfect sinners but the truth of God is perfection.

HOW TO ADDRESS THESE COMMONALITIES

• Always address the question with truth.  Provide references and illustrations to help illuminate the answer. 
• If misquoted, re-state the answer and point out the misquote
• If the situation is being manipulated, point out this as well and re-focus the conversation on the truth.
• When personally attacked, do not buy into the bait; re-focus the conversation on the truth and not on any one individual.
• At the end of it all, the gospel (life, death, resurrection; person and work of Jesus Christ) needs to be proclaimed.
• Research context and backgrounds of bible verses to avoid the ‘gotcha’ questions then expose the line of questioning for what it is; being deceptive. 
• Continually re-focus the conversation on Jesus; He alone is the way, THE TRUTH, and the life.

Eventually, 1 of 2 things WILL happen.  The person who hates the light will genuinely consider the truth offered and The Holy Spirit will work in their heart OR the person will grow in hatred of it and either flee or attempt to silence the truth speaker.  Regardless, God WILL be glorified and His truth will shine.

HELPFUL INFORMATION FOR COMMON DISCUSSIONS

• GO TO: resource for quick bible verse references  
• Manuscripts of The Bible and Textual Criticism
• Evidence for The Resurrection   
• Did the Apostles distort what Jesus taught?  
• Correctly Interpret and Understand The Bible
• Modern Secular Historians and The Bible
• Early Accounts of Christianity from Non-Christians 
• Why The Bible is Divine: Prophecy 
• Why The Bible Is Divine: Christology
• Why The Bible is Divine: Miracles
• Information about Other Religions and points of discussion  
• Who or What Is The Holy Spirit? 
• Who Is Jesus Really? 
• The Triune God of Christianity

THE INDIVIDUAL OF THIS DIALOG:

We pray that this person considers the truths presented and the Holy Spirit works in their heart and mind to genuinely seek truth.  We thank the Lord for this opportunity to Glorify Him through the means that He has offered.  We pray that anyone following the conversation is impacted for God’s glory and seek Jesus Christ as their Lord God and Savior.

If you have any questions or comments about this article please contact us or join our discussion forms

How to be a local missionary for your community

Every Christian is called to be a witness of the person and work of Jesus Christ.  Though not everyone is called to go to some far away land but everyone is called to proclaim the good news exactly where they are because that is exactly where God has placed them at that moment in time.  How faithful we are to God in his calling is what we are accountable for, none the less, we are called and placed for this purpose.  Then how do we be a local missionary for our community?

Our Mindset

How faithful we are as a witness to Jesus Christ depends greatly on our mindset and how we see our purpose where we are at.  The fact that we are all missionaries should make every interaction we have at home, at work, with friends, and being active in our community seen in the light of being missionally purposed. That means, in everything we do or say, we consider how to bring glory to God by loving him and our neighbor just as he loves us- in everything we do.

We work hard at work, so that our quality of work brings God glory.  We serve at home with our families in such a way that God is glorified.  We interact with friends and the community in such away that God receives his due Glory.  We purposefully seek out the end result in all that we do for the Glory of God The Father in heaven through his Son Jesus Christ.

Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, love God with all your heart and mind and your neighbor as yourself, and what ever you do, do it for the glory of God (Matthew 6:33, 22:36-40; Proverbs 3:5-6; Colossians 3:17; 1 Corinthians 10:31).  This NEEDS to be our mindset in our daily every day life, everywhere we go, with everyone we interact with.   It if is not already, make it so!

The Work Place

What ever your job is, make your work of the highest quality.  When coworkers, managers, and bosses see your work they will see it worthy of praise.  As you make your faith known, they are able to see WHY you work the way you do.  But is also more than just the quality of work but the quality of your interactions with those at work.  With God IN US, we reflect his characteristics.  We must be caring, kind, compassionate, loving, gracious, forgiving, merciful, right, just, and selfless in EVERYTHING with EVERYONE.  Your true love is how they will KNOW you are a disciple of Jesus Christ (John 13:35) because there is NO greater love than to be willing to give up yourself for a friend (John 15:13).  And WHEN people start to hate you for this, you love them as well! (Matthew 5:43-48).

IF and WHEN coworkers, managers, and bosses inquire about your reason for the work and interactions, you proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ boldly and unashamed (Romans 1:16).  You love because Jesus first love you (1 John 4:19) and gave up his life for you while you were just a sinner (Romans 5:8).  Then, at the end of the day, you go home, and still nothing changes.

Build Relationships

Invite coworkers out after work.  Starbucks, dinner, at lunch, weekend BBQs, or just hangout at home.  Again, just as being at work, your interactions with them after work is missional but more personal.  They get to see that you are not just that way at work but that way because of your faith and in your personal life.  Regardless, the end goal, will ways be to give them a gospel presentation and answer any questions they may have when the time comes.

Community Needs

Various communities have various needs.   Some communities are extremely materialistic and have no real financial concerns.  But lack seeing their fulfillment and contentment beyond wealth.  Some communities are extremely poor and need to see the perfect hope that is in Christ alone.  Some communities are riddled with drugs and may unknowingly need resumption from them.  What ever the communities needs, the church is obligated to meet that need.  It is a REAL and TRUE opportunity to glorify God just as Jesus did during his earthly ministry. 

Get Involved

Get involved in the community.  Not just inviting people to church on Sunday.  That is like doing the bare minimum.  Seek volunteer work on Fridays or Saturdays.  Invite friends or coworkers to take part in the volunteer work opportunities.  Partner with a local ministry or serve organization and serve your neighbors in the community.  As time goes on, you will cross paths with individuals who’s greatest need is not food, clothing, or shelter, but the eternal life changing message of the Gospel.

Friendships

As time goes on, living in a community for an extended period of time, friendships will develop.  No different with coworkers or community involvement; we must have the same missional mindset with friendships.  Reflect God’s characteristics to them and love them the same.  Invite them to Starbucks, dinner, at lunch, weekend BBQs, or just hangout at home regularly.  Be involved in their life but also make them part of your life.  ALL with the hopes and goal of presenting the gospel message to them. 

Resources

If you have a big passenger car, offer rides.  Spark spiritual conversations with them as you drive them where they need to go. If you have a house, open its doors and have them over for dinner, watch football, BBQ or host a movie night.  If you have money, surprise them with gifts, pay for their meals, or aid them in any financial need they may have.  Having a missional mindset with all that you have is having the understanding that all that you have, is actually God’s (Psalm 24:1); that it was all given to you so that you can glorify him with it.

Involve Your Local Church

Start a prayer chain with people from your church for all those who you have interacted with and ask God continually for more opportunities to proclaim his good news.  Invite Christian friends and family members to pray with you about people you meet and opportunities in the future.  Make a list of people who you are not sure know the gospel or have heard the gospel, and make it a goal to check them off as you present the gospel to them.  Help organize events with your church to invite coworkers and new friends too.  Enlist your church in your missional efforts to glorify God.

Weight of the Task

It is and will be hard.  We will be filled with doubt and insecurity.  We will feel vulnerable at times and some may even hurt our feelings and gossip about us.  But understanding Jesus’ prayer on the cross explains this:  “Jesus was saying, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34).  Consider the gravity of what Jesus is saying here.  He is nailed to the cross by them.  His back has been ripped open from being whipped by them.  They beat him, spit at him, and shout obscenities at him.  YET, he asks God to forgive them BECAUSE, they do not know what they are doing.  They are victims of their slavery to their sins (Romans 6:20).  They do not know it but their sin is their master (John 8:34) and are blinded by it (2 Corinthians 4:4).  And regardless of their actions toward us, we are called to be forgiving, loving, and gracious all the more.  It is this amazing grace that breaks down hard hearts to ask WHY.  How can anyone remain so forgiving, loving, and gracious in the face of horrible treatment they ask.  Your answer, is always missional, because it is faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ that allows us to remain so.

THIS MOMENT

What can you do at this very moment?  Re-read the mindset section above.  Study the verses and get your mind right.  Take captive EVERY thought and MAKE it obedient to Christ! (2 Corinthians 10:5).  Ask your self, right now, ‘How can I be missional focused at work, at home, with friends, and in my community?’.  Write up a list of coworkers, friends, and family to pray for AND to present the gospel to.  If you are not secure in your knowledge of the gospel, READ IT, KNOW IT because IT is what saves!  Then as the days go on, be alert for opportunities to talk to people, invite people, plan events, and purposefully spark spiritual conversations with the hopes of proclaiming the gospel. Google local charities and volunteer opportunities.  Email the listed contacts and START the conversations to get involved.  Be faithful to the Lord at THIS moment and be missional in every moment that God has placed you exactly where you are today and right now!  Jesus Christ openly and publicly allowed people to shame him, ridicule him, humiliate him, spit at him, beat him, whip him, and ultimately kill him… for you.  What are you willing to do for him?  Because in the end, our faith compels us to serve the Lord.  The Holy Spirit through James said it directly “Faith without works is dead” (James 2:14-26).  Is your faith dead and useless?  LIVE your faith! LIVE for Christ and proclaim the greatest message to the world!

Read The Absolute Greatest Message To Tell Everyone

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Hurricane Harvey Help

It is critical that the church acts when there is a need.  Well, there is a need.  Hurricane Harvey hit Texas and Louisiana hard and there is an on going need of donations.  As the Body of Christ, we serve the Lord Jesus Christ in every opportunity and need.  We serve not for selfish reasons or intent but out of Love for God and others.  If God has given you a dry roof over your head, food, clothing, and life; it is your duty as a servant of God to use that which God has given you for others in need.  There are many ways to serve and help.

1. Pray for relief from the storm and for those being rescued and affected by this storm.  Form prayer chains with your local churches.
2. Give generously. Find reliable organizations to donate to.  Funds should be used for assessment, mobilization, relief grants for flooded families and churches, to purchase needed supplies and equipment, to construct Sheds of Hope, and to setup and operate flood recovery sites.
3. Send relief supplies & equipment. Get your friends, family, and church together and put together supply & equipment bucks which can be dropped off at local relief agencies or mailed to local churches.
4. Prepare to GO. register with a relief organization and volunteer to serve.

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1)  Mission To North America: Hurricane Harvey Relief

Click here to support efforts financially.

MNA Supply and Equipment list:

• Equipment Needed
• Tools Needed
• Kits
  • Cleaning / Flood Bucket Contents
    • Flood Bucket Assembly Video
    • Shipping Label-Flood Buckets
  • Bedding Kit Contents
    • Shipping Label-Bedding Kits
  • Hygiene Kit Contents
    • Shipping Label-Hygiene Kits

If you would like to volunteer and go serve the areas hit by flooding and need help; go to MNA to register (http://stat.pcanet.org/mna/disasterresponse/signin.cfm)

2)  Grace Community Church of Houston:

send a check or donate online at:

Hurricane Relief and Flooding Fund

c/o Grace

PO Box 891409

Houston TX  77289

https://grace.ccbchurch.com/goto/giving

3)  North America Missions Board Hurricane Relief

Donate to NAMB Hurricane Relief here

• Call 866-407-NAMB (6262)
• Mail checks to:

NAMB
P.O. Box 116543
Atlanta, GA 30368-6543
Designate checks for “Disaster Relief”

Volunteer and get Involved 

4)  Samaritans Purse U.S. Disaster Relief: Hurricane Harvey Relief

(https://spvolunteernetwork.samaritanspurse.org/hurricane-harvey-reponse/)

Click here to sign up to volunteer.

Donate online (here)

5)  Second Baptist Church Houston

(http://home.second.org/)

Volunteer to help

Donate to SBCH online

6)  TEXT MESSAGE DONATIONS

Donate to the United Way, text “UWFLOOD” to 41444
Donate to the Red Cross, text “HARVEY” to 90999

Be faithful to the Lord with your time and resources and leave the results to Him.

If you have any questions or comments about this article please contact us or join our discussion forms

Are You Fearless For Christ?

Are you fearless for Christ?  Seems like a basic and simple question but it is much deeper than most of us actually think.  The deeper question is, are you so dedicated to Jesus that you risk your own life to make him more known?  This is the question we must all ask ourselves in our daily lives.  Reflecting on what Jesus, the Apostles, and the early church had to endure and sacrifice should give us some pause and self reflection.

 FEARLESS ACCOUNTABILITY 

Think of the most popular highly esteemed preachers who everyone precised to be Godly men.  Now, what if they were wrong in essential areas of the faith.  Would you call them out?  Would you seek their repentance for God’s Glory?  That’s exactly what Jesus did.

The Pharisees were the top ranked most respected religious teachers in that day.  What they said, went.  Then, this guy out of a small village begins taking their spot light.  They try to downplay his significance and even attempt to make him look bad in public.  Then, boom, this person, who is Jesus, says publicly they are nothing more than a hypocritical (Matthew 23:13, 15, 23, 25, 27, 29), unsaved (Matthew 23:13), blind (Matthew 23:16-17, 19, 24, 26), fake (Matthew 23:25-26), wicked (Matthew 23:28), brood of vipers (Matthew 12:34; 23:33) and children of Satan (Matthew 23:15).  Wow, harsh, but true story.  See Matthew 12:24-37; 23:1-38.  And that WE can recognize and know them by their fruit (Matthew 7:15-23).

Are you fearless enough to call out pastors and teachers privately and publicly that are hypocritical, blind, fake, and wicked?  What about yourself?  What if you were charged with being hypocritical, blind, fake, and wicked?  Are you humble and honest enough to do some self reflecting?  After all, if you are, you have to pull the plank of hypocrisy out of your eye before you can clearly see them.  Are you fearless enough to admit that?

FEARLESS IN SOCIETY

In a culture that is more and more becoming less tolerant of Christian truth, are you fearless enough to publicly stand for your faith in Christ?  Fearless enough to face being labeled a criminal like Jesus, the Apostles and the early church?  And, when the time comes, are you fearless enough to face hatred, physical abuse, torture, and possibly death?

Jesus makes this point personal.  “If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you… If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also. ²¹ But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know the One who sent Me.” (John 15:19-20).  Publicly proclaiming the Gospel message of Jesus Christ WILL cause those of the world to hate you.  Are you okay with that?  Or do you want the world to love you like its own?  Jesus was personally attacked.  He was publicly humiliated.  He was viewed as a criminal, physically abused, tortured, and killed.  Same with His disciples, and their disciples.

Are you fearless enough to attend church, bible studies, prayer groups, and risk being socially ostracized and publicly humiliated at your work place, social life, and even by family members?   

FEARLESS AT HOME

One of Jesus’ deepest and in some ways most devastating statements is this: “Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. 33 But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven. 34 “Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I came to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; 36 and a man’s enemies will be the members of his household. 37 “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. 38 And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. 39 He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it.” (Matthew 10:32-39). THAT is how huge and important the person and work of Jesus is. Faith in HIM is greater than family. Are you fearless enough to proclaim faith in him even if your own family hates you for it?

FEARLESS GRACE

In light of all this, are you fearless enough to truly love them still? Fighting hate with hate is a worldly reaction. Fighting hate with GRACE is a godly solution. “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. 40 If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, let him have your coat also. 41 Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two…43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matthew 5:38-4). This is NOT saying that you CAN be sinless BUT Jesus IS saying that we can exhibit the perfect GRACE that God has shown us. Are you fearless enough to show the perfect Grace of God to those who hate you?

IF you are not fearless enough for all this; than you need to reflect on what God has done on your own behalf.

FEARLESSNESS IN YOU

Jesus took on YOUR sin. He was hated, beaten, humiliated, and murdered; FOR YOU! He died and rose again to PROVE TO YOU that you have NOTHING to fear. He sent The Holy Spirit to empower you to be fearless in the face of everything that Jesus experienced. The Apostles experienced this as well. They, like Jesus, were also hated, beaten, humiliated, and murdered. The early church was hated, beaten, humiliated, and murdered too. TO THIS DAY there are Christians around the world that are hated, beaten, humiliated, and murdered! THEY are fearless because CHRIST is worth more than anything in this world. AND the reward for this fearless faithfulness to the person and work of Jesus Christ is greater than any amount of health, wealth, and happiness this broken wicked world could ever offer. Meditate on the Gospel, the Good News, and strive to see the fearlessness in its message! THEN GO, make disciples of ALL nations; fearlessly!

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The Creed of The Universal Christian Faith

I believe in the One true God, who is in three persons:
The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit:
Who is eternal, holy, and perfect:
Almighty, all knowing, and always present:
Just, merciful, gracious, good, loving, and unchanging:
I believe in God the Father, Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth:
And in Jesus Christ, his one and only begotten Son, our Lord:
Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary:
Having two natures; fully God eternal, and fully man incarnate:
He lived the sinless life, fulfilled prophecies, and proven with divine miracles:
Suffered under Pontius Pilate; was crucified, dead and buried: He descended into hell:
The third day he rose again from the dead:
He ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty:
From thence he shall come to judge the living and the dead:
The faithless to eternal hell, and the saints to the new heaven and new earth:
I believe in the Holy Spirit:
Who convicts mankind of sin and is the counselor and perfect helper of saints:
I believe all mankind is sinful and unable to save themselves:
Those who are chosen by God are unconditionally elected by God the Father:
Their sin atoned for once and for all by the work of the Lamb of God on the cross:
And brought into faith and eternally sustained by The Holy Spirit:
The new life of grace and truth in Christ Jesus:
I am saved by God’s grace through this faith in His Son:
I believe in the holy universal church:
The communion of saints:
The symbol of baptism and remembrance in The Lords Supper:
Submission to the elders and deacons who are of the saints ordained by God:
The forgiveness of sins:
The resurrection of the body:
And the life everlasting.
All revealed in Holy Scripture that which has been made complete:
Declared by The Holy Spirit through the Prophets and Apostles:
Which is God’s Holy Word, sufficient for Salvation and sole Authority of the faith:
All for God’s Glory, in all, and through all:
All for His Will to be done for all time, Amen.

36 lines, 358 words. Combining key statements from the disciples of the Apostles, their disciples, The Apostles Creed, The Athanasian Creed, The Chalcedonian Creed, and main doctrines from the Three Forms of Unity; which came down from the Apostles of The Lord as recorded in Holy Scripture.

If you have any questions or comments about this article please contact us or join our discussion forms

Actually Trusting God

Knowing God can be trusted and actually trusting God are two different things.  One is just simple knowledge, the other is the application of the knowledge.  One is easier than the other.  But also our understanding of who God is helps us be able to actually trust him.  We can have no worries about the unknown future, results, and have peace with Joy; all from actually trusting God.

The Knowledge of the Trustworthiness of God

We can know for an absolute fact God can be trusted.  Isaiah 26:4 makes this clear: “Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal“.  Forever and eternal are things that never end and never fail.  Thus, his will never ends and never fails making him the most trustworthy being in all reality.  Jeremiah 17:5-8 is the best on this topic:

“Cursed is the one who trusts in man,
    who draws strength from mere flesh
    and whose heart turns away from the Lord.
⁶ That person will be like a bush in the wastelands;
    they will not see prosperity when it comes.
They will dwell in the parched places of the desert,
    in a salt land where no one lives.

⁷ “But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord,
    whose confidence is in him.
⁸ They will be like a tree planted by the water
    that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes;
    its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought
    and never fails to bear fruit.”

Trusting the will of the flesh (including yourself) and in other people is unreliable.  “When” problems come, which they will, trusting in someone or something other than God leads people away from God AND the WILL eventually fail.  BUT trusting in God, when problems come, is the absolute assurance that there is nothing to worry about in the face of trouble.  That God’s will and light WILL shine through those who trust God in the mist of their problems.  The key is being content with God’s will. 

The Holy Spirit declares through Paul that in everything God has planned and does for those who have faith in him will AWAYS result in goodness and the eternal benefit for those who believe (Romans 8:28).  BUT this is where modern charismatic and prosperity teachers twist scripture.  One of the hard lessons that we need to accept is that the eternal benefit and goodness may be simply knowing God and receiving the gift of eternal life and not material gain or good health.  But, eternal life and knowing God is eternally greater than any amount of wealth or good health in this life.  This contentment only found in accepting and trusting God’s will reveals a lot about our own hearts.  Do we actually trust that God is good, or do we feel our wants and desires are more good?

Unchanging

Another characteristic of God that makes him absolutely trustworthy is the fact he does not change.  He has the absolute greatest and best plan from before creation and this plan does not change, it does not need to; it is the best possible plan.  He is the source of all knowledge and sits outside of time allowing him to see all of time.  He has knowledge of all time before creation of time.  Thus, he knows the most beneficial result and goodness for each believer before they were created.  He knows more than us, sees more than us, and understands what is good far greater than us.  If God would go back on his plans and change is mind than he would not be trustworthy.  You may trust in God’s plan at one moment and then God changes his mind at the next moment.  That would make him unreliable, inconsistent, and untrustworthy.  Mal 3:6 God declares “For I the Lord do not change”.  So, if he does change… than he would be a liar too.

Applying The Knowledge of Trust

God wants us to take acts in faith.  Just sitting around telling people you believe in God is no different than demons having the knowledge of God’s existence (James 2:19).  Trusting God is not passive but is active.  James beats it in our heads that faith and trusting God WILL compel us to living out that trust and faith (James 2:29). The title of the chapter says it all “faith without works is dead”.  What is the work in this context?

We set forth plans and take steps of action for the purpose of loving God and our neighbor with God’s Glory as the ultimate goal.  God may close doors or lead us in a different direction causing us to adjust our plans.  It is trusting God in the unknown and accepting ANY kind of result from our efforts. 

The Unknown Future

We do not know the outcomes of our plans.  We can assume, research statistics, and make seemingly reliable calculated decisions but God is God.  We may have the greatest Gospel presentation memorized to perfection, plan the optimal date, time, and place to meet with the most open seeking person and then boom; our car breaks down.  We may weight the pros and cons of a job move and feel like we have made the best decision for our future and boom government action hurts the business and they freeze hiring.  But, with the broken down car and undesired job situation; it happened for the reason that only God knows and foresees; and we can trust that the future end result is perfect and good even though our small brains can not understand.

Flexibility Is Acceptance 

Even the Apostles had to remain flexible in their plans to spread the Gospel and grow the church.  Paul wanted to travel the world and plant churches everywhere, yet, it was God’s will for him to sit in Jail; but little did he know, he would evangelize the guards and convert even members of Nero’s family, from jail!  He didn’t see that coming.  Paul understood this Flexible Planning for God’s Will.  Acts 16:6-7 makes this clear: “Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. ⁷ When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to”  Paul planned one thing, The Holy Spirit had another plan, a greater plan.  Remaining flexible is us accepting the fact that God’s Will is greater than our own and allowing us to continually conform to what ever God has planned. God’ doesn’t change, we do, for him.

The Results

The last part of applying the knowledge of God’s Trustworthiness is leaving the results up to him.  We can willingly do this because we TRUST that they will be good no matter what the initial apparent result looks like.  If, on our way to give a the perfect gospel presentation to a seeking friend and our car breaks down, we can then get a ride and still meet up with that person.  Then, lets say we gave that perfect gospel presentation and our seeking friend just says “cool,  but I don’t believe it”.  Then what?  We leave that to God.  There are an infinite amount of possibilities that WILL lead to eternal good and God’s greatness; just that at that moment like we had hoped.  We can trust that even though we do not get the desired results at that moment, that God is trustworthy in his ultimate Goodness.  The results may never be seen by us.  The results may even be our hearts being changed in a greater understanding of God and his Glory.  Whatever, and whenever the results take place; they WILL be good, because God is Good; and THAT we CAN absolutely trust in.  

Overall Actualized Trust

1. Know and desire God’s Will and His desires and commands
1. Love God with all your heart and your neighbor as yourself
1. Make disciples of all nations and proclaim The Gospel of Jesus Christ.
2. Fulfill all ordained responsibilities: (husbands, wives, elders, deacons)
2. Take #1 and apply it to Planning and Goal setting
3. Pray that your heart is willing to be flexible if plans change and goals are not specifically achieved.
4. If God changes our plans and our goals, revise with #1 in mind.
5. Pray that your heart is willing to accept ANY result ordained by God.
6. Give thanks and praise God for ANY and ALL results (good or bad) or changes.

Notice that PRAYER is extremely important. It does not ‘change’ God’s mind but it conforms YOUR heart to what ever His Will is and will be.  It keeps us focused on the sovereignty of God and supports our trust in him at the task in hand.

Deny Your Self

In order for us to allow ourselves to trust God fully, we must denounce our wants and desires.  We must be willing to give ourselves up for God’s Will and his Glory.  Choosing to take a more difficult job or a job with less pay for God’s Glory takes a lot of self-denial.  Having to confront a close christian friend about sin they are living in takes a lot of trust that God will restore them.  Even the seemingly easy decision to sell an super expensive exotic car because of our sinful hearts the car is negatively influencing is a tough decision with God’s Glory in mind. 

Once we empty ourselves and deny our selfish prideful wills; the ability to be flexible and accepting of what ever God’s plan is becomes easier and we become more content in our faith.

At the end of it all, God’s Will will be done no matter what.  Actually trusting God brings us peace with this and allows us to experience Joy in this life no matter the goals and results of our plans.  We can have peace and joy during the hardest times!  We can have peace and joy in the mist of hardship and hatred!  We can trust God that all things will result for good; in the mist of trials and problems!  Actually trusting God brings him his due glory, honor, praise for all eternity and He gives us peace and joy in this life! 

If you have any questions or comments about this article please contact us or join our discussion forms

The World Changes, The Worldly Hearts Do Not

When reading through the Bible and take note of social norms in the early cultures all the way through the early church writings about social norms of those times; a pattern becomes apparent.  A social norms pattern that conflict with God’s moral standard.  Then, when looking at our modern times and its escalating social norms, we see the pattern continuing.  The pattern of child sacrifice and freedom for sexual immorality. But what is at the source of it and what is wrong with it?

Child Sacrifice. 

As early as 1500 BC we see The Phoenician culture practice sexual immorality and child sacrifice as a form of worship to a god Moloch.  This worship of Moloch even spread to North Africa and morphed into Kronos after the idea migrated to Carthage in Greece.  God set himself above the man invented god Moloch when he offered a greater alternative to human sacrifice (Gen 22:2-23) and commanded Israel not to follow those humanistic social norms (Leviticus 18:21).  But, as the fallen human heart is, even Israel eventually accepted the unholy social norms (1 Kings 11:1–8; 12:31; 2 Kings 23:10).  Even King Solomon could not escape his natural corrupted heart despite all his wisdom and knowledge of God (1 Kings 11:4-11).  More kings began to sacrifice their children (2 Kings 21:6; 2 Chronicles 28:1-4) then the people of Judah did the same (Jeremiah 32:35).  God made it absolutely clear, child sacrifice is unacceptable and incompatible to him (Leviticus 20:2-5).  The single common purpose for child sacrifice is to bring good fortune and future wealth whether from a god or from yourself as god.

But it did not end there.  Cultures continued to practice it.  Athenagoras of Athens around 175AD wrote a letter to the Roman Emperor explaining how Christians are against all forms of cruelty.  In Chapter 35 he uses specifically speaks of women who are pregnant purposefully terminate their pregnancy as absolutely wrong and goes against what Christianity stands for (read it here).  His statement “to regard the very foetus in the womb as a created being, and therefore an object of God’s care, and when it has passed into life [conception], to kill it; and not to expose an infant, because those who expose them are chargeable with child-murder” is clear.  He is not talking about killing a baby after birth but before it is born or “exposed”.  

Without question, child sacrifice to a god or god of the self is incompatible to Christianity.  And here we are, 2000 years later still discussing the issue like it was never settled or ever made clear.  The problem has never been the clarity of teachings but has always been the human heart to justify all types of evil.  Notice all the different cultures at different times; Phoenician, Roman, American. All whom practice the same thing for the same purposeful intended results; better fortune and more wealth.  
Also read Follow Your Heart?  | Abortion and God’s Gift | Me, Myself, And I and “Doing Me” 

Sexual Immorality 

Sexuality is not immoral when it is practice in the way that God meant it to be.  Sexual acts within the pure original design in beautiful and fulfilling.  Sexual desires and acts outside of the pure original design is enslaving, addicting, unfulfilling, and idolatry.  Sodom was demolished because of how sexually immoral that people had become.  The cultural norm had become ‘sex with anyone on demand’ (Gen 19:5).  Rape was viewed as part of the norm.  Adultery, fornication, same-sex (Gen 19:5-8), incest, bestiality, prostitution; all had no negative connotations in the culture.  They had become acceptable.  Lot even attempted to tell them that it is wrong, but they replied with the age old “don’t judge me” (Gen 19:9).   Later, God makes it absolutely clear about specific sexual acts are universally immoral (Lev 18:8-22) and the Holy Spirit reiterates this through the Apostles (Romans 1:26-28, 1 Cor 6:9-10). 
Also read Why did God destroy Sodom and Gomorrah  |  Freedom for The Law and Sexuality

Aristitdes of Athens around 125AD, Justin Martyr around 150AD, and Athenagoras of Athens around 175AD reiterate what is stated in Holy Scripture about what God has defined as sexual immorality.
Aristitdes even has to argue for the sake of Christians in Rome; It is specifically the sexually immoral community in Rome that is persecuting Christians the most, because they refused to accept the acts as moral; as recorded in Chapter 17 (read it here). 
Also read Normalized Adultery

Without question, sexual immorality is ANYTHING that is outside of a one husband and one wife marriage.  Here we are 2000 years later still wrestling with this issue.  Again, the issue has never been the clarity of the teaching but of the sinful desire in the human heart that can be seen in all human history.  From the Sodom culture, Roman culture, and the evolving American culture we see the same attitudes and practices.  Christians refused the accept it as moral and get persecuted in culture for it.
Also read How “Love is Love” is Unloving.  | Born This Way | The “Jesus didn’t say it” Reasoning | Don’t Judge Me | The Beauty of Accountability | The Original Pure and Holy Marriage | A Godly Couple

Conclusion

The one thing that ties these two patterns of a sinful heart together is self-righteousness and self-idolatry; the worship of self, instead of God.  Abortion is justified for the supposed betterment of the self.  Sexual Immorality is justified because of self seeking desires. Its justified because “it is what I want”. 
Also read God’s Truths are Not a Matter of Opinions  |  Your Feelings Do Not Determine Truth  |  The Self and The Center of Everything

Through human history, with Holy Scripture as the standard for morality, we see the pattern of immorality through time and culture.  The world may change from dominate culture to culture but the hearts of humanity have not.  They will continue desire child sacrifice in various shape or form and sexual immoral freedoms until Christ returns to judge the world.  We are not bringing world peace, Jesus is.
Also read The Joy of TRUTH  |  The Other Side of The Real Jesus  |  Test, Discern, and Righteous Judgement

The church needs to remain kind, loving, and gracious BUT never sacrifice God’s holy truth out of fear of cultural offense.  Always remember, Jesus was murdered because he was offensive (Matthew 10:34).  He told his disciples that they WILL be hated and they WILL be persecuted (Matthew 10:16-25).  History, past and present, validate this.  But the proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all the world is not contingent on culture norms; it is our responsibility regardless of culture norms.
Also read Christians that are ‘too christian’  | All Christians Are Missionaries | Radicalized Christians? | The Absolute Greatest Message To Tell Everyone | True Revival 

If you have any questions or comments about this article please contact us or join our discussion forms

Social Justice and The Church

The most recent political upheaval and social climate has revealed issues within society and in the church.  Some are condemning the church for not taking a visible stand against perceived social injustices and others are condemning the church for not being more clear on incompatible social norms to Christian living. Abortion, Gay Rights, Racism, and Sexism are the four primary social injustices declared in society of which the church is either being condemned for lack of compassion or being too worldly; but both can not be true at the same time.  So what is it? Where SHOULD the invisible true body of Christ stand and declare in regards to these four social issues? 

ABORTION:

All over the news we see ministers openly supporting abortion while at the same time other ministers openly condemning abortion.  This has brought confusion to the world.  To correctly know where the church SHOULD stand we must set aside human feeling and emotion and look toward God.  What has God made known about the value of human life and when it is declared life.  The explicit verse is Jeremiah 1:5 where he explicitly states:
 
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
and before you were born I consecrated you;
I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”

Here we see the value of a person, before birth.  And before birth we see the life of someone is declared.   Thus, pre-born people are known beings with a purpose. 

From the perspective of someone lead by the Holy Spirit in writing scripture we see that a person is a person before birth (Psalm 139:13-16).  Also in Exodus 21:22-25 we see killing a unborn baby is given the same valued penalty as murder.  

We can come to two clear and explicit conclusions from God’s perspective:

• A fetus is a person, a life.
• A fetus is equally valuable to a post-birth person in purpose and consequence.

Therefore: a fetus/unborn life is a living growing person with equal value and purposes.  This is the stance anyone who claims to know God must share if they truly know and understand God and his will.

For ministers, pastors, and anyone claiming to follow Christ to encourage, support, and aid in abortion is to act in contrary to God and what he declares in scripture.  To condemn and vilify those who stand against abortion is wrong!  God condemns abortion and it goes against his most greatest principle of The Life Giver! 

The Church needs to reach out to those who are confused on the matter in a loving and kind manner.  Instead of focusing on the self-seeking hardships that may result from giving birth; HOPE,  RESTORATION, and GODLY POTENTIAL need to be proclaimed over the life of the mother and the pre-born person!  This is where the church needs to take the open and public stand on this issue.

True Social Justice:  To seek TRUE justice in this matter is to actively seek to SAVE LIVES and PROTECT those who can not protect themselves- such as the unborn person.  While simultaneously offering HOPE and RESTORATION to whose who have had abortions or who are considering it.

Also read Your Feelings Do Not Determine Truth  |  Me, Myself, And I and “Doing Me”  |  Abortion and God’s Gift

GAY RIGHTS:

This message has been just as confused by the church.  Some are all for gay rights and others are against it.  Some ministers are openly Gay and others see it as an unwanted struggle.  Again, we must set aside flawed human emotion and corrupted desires and see it from God’s perspective.  

We must first understand that the human heart is sinful and that all people are sinners by nature.  Sin leads people to manifest this in their lives.  One of the manifestations of the sinful heart is same-sex attraction.  How do we know this? Because God explicitly declares this: (Genesis 19:1-13; Leviticus 18:22; 20:13; Romans 1:26-27; 1 Corinthians 6:9).  This NOT to say people who are gay are worse than others.  That is NOT true.  Everyone is sinful.  The difference is those who declare Christ as their Lord and Savior understand that their sin is sin and is a unwanted struggle that Christ payed for on the cross.  

 This is where the age old guilt tripping and condemning from the world hits hard.  Just look at the comments from the residents of Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis 19:9 ““Get out of our way,” they replied. “This fellow came here as a foreigner, and now he wants to play the judge! We’ll treat you worse than them.”“ That is the age old ‘don’t judge me‘ card used to force a guilted acceptance.  Lot stated it is wicked but he is not the one who declared it as such; God did.  He is just in agreement with what God has declared.  

There is a correct perception on this issue though.  The church has NOT done a good job at being kind and gracious in this issue.  Aside from the confusion from other people in the church; it has not graciously reached out to build positive relations and dialog with people of the LGBT community.  BUT this does not make the truth at the heart of the matter any less true.

Related to this issue is Same-sex Marriage.  Again, the world and its courts and laws do not define Godly truths.  A holy and pure marriage is not determined by worldly laws or supreme courts.  Thus fighting for the right to marry and to evolve a countries laws and definitions does not make it true justice or a righteous justice.  When that which is sought is contrary to what God has made known, it is not true social justice but worldly appeasement.  

Also read The Original Pure and Holy Marriage  |  SCOTUS and God

True Social Justice: The church needs to actively reach out to the LGBT community, participate in positive dialogs, and show the grace and kindness of God even if the LGBT community does not see the need for God’s Grace in this aspect of life.  The discussions need to be Gospel centered in the person and work of Christ and WHY Jesus had to do what he did on the cross.  The church should NOT condemn them and explain why EVERYONE is condemned without true faith in Christ’s work.  That there is HOPE, PEACE, and the truest sense of IDENTITY found only in Christ.

Also read Don’t Judge Me  |  Freedom for The Law and Sexuality  |  The “Jesus didn’t say it” Reasoning  |  Born This Way  |  Follow Your Heart?  |  How “Love is Love” is Unloving.

RACISM:

Historically the church has not been consistent in this issue and has been confusing the world on this issue as well.  Some notable ministers and pastors have been racists.  That’s just a fact.  Racism exists. But history and human nature does not define what God has declared.  Human nature can not be the measuring stick of truth and goodness.   Some in the church have bought into the worldly definitions and manipulative messages to distort biblical truths.  We will break down this issue in the way God declares it:

There is only 1 race: The Human Race which all came from Adam and Eve.  There are different ethnicities with unique social, cultural, physical, and location identifiers.  But ALL people are equal in value and purpose (Genesis 1:26-27) and ALL people are loved by God (John 3:16).  ALL people are equal before God and he does NOT show favoritism over one ethnic group over another (Deuteronomy 10:17; Acts 10:34; Romans 2:11; Ephesians 6:9).  

Favoritism for one ethnic group over others is ungodly.  This not only applies to those who identity as ‘white’ in favoring other ‘white’ people, but ALSO applies to anyone who favors ‘black’ people over ‘white’ people.   Favoritism is favoritism no matter who is pushing it.  WHEN this happens, because it will and does; it is the church that needs to speak up and speak out against it.

True Social Justice:  The church needs to stand with those who are oppressed and expose any and all sorts of favoritism within its self and in the world.  It needs to actively seek UNITY and PEACE for ALL ethnic groups.  It needs to proclaim the VALUE of all people.  It needs to openly REBUKE and REMOVE from its own ranks people who are unrepentant in their favoritism for one ethnic group over another.  

Also read Racism and God  |  The Beauty of Accountability

SEXISM:

Sexism has historically plagued the church.  Similarly to racism, the same truths apply.  All people are equal in value and are all loved by God.  The one difference that God has declared are the responsibilities he rests on the sexes.  The unique responsibilities do NOT reduce their value!  That is a worldly misconception.  But in God’s supreme will some times the uses a different sex to fulfill the responsibilities that the other sex failed to do.  When a father leaves his family, the mother has to fill both roles.  But, God will still hold the father accountable for his failure.  The same is true for when a mother negates her responsibilities for what ever reason; she will be held accountable.

True Social Justice:  The church needs to stand with those who are oppressed and expose any and all sorts of favoritism within its self and in the world.  It needs to actively seek UNITY and PEACE for ALL sexes.  It needs to proclaim the VALUE of all people.  It needs to openly REBUKE and REMOVE from its own ranks people who are unrepentant creating obstacles for a certain sex to fulfill their ordained responsibilities.  It needs to EMPOWER and SUPPORT each sex to fulfill their responsibilities.

UNTRUE SOCIAL JUSTICE:

The world WILL hate Jesus and those who follow him.  Jesus makes this explicitly clear.  The world will evolve and invent its own social norms that may stand in contrary to what God has declared.  Each of these four issues have in fact evolved to includ issues that are contrary to God.  Abortion has included the idea of Woman’s Sovereign rights over her body.  This flies in the face of what is declared in 1 Corinthians 6:19: “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?”  Seeking social justice in this area is NOT true social justice but a defiance and rebellion against God.  Gay rights is another issue that is founded on worldly principles that are contrary to God.  The fight for this is to lead people into a greater dependence on selfishness and infects the core of ones identity.  Seeking social justice for this may sound good to the world but actually leads people to deeper self idolatry.  Showing favoritism in racial issues can lead to false sense of social justice; where a ethnic group is so heavily favored it leads to neglecting others ethnic groups and disunity.  This is also true for Sexism.  

The church WILL be condemned for not standing up for UNTRUE social issues.  The church will be hated and those who disagree will be labeled and vilified in society.  The Church needs to be constantly reminded that it is not seeking the world’s favor but God’s Glory.   When the church properly addresses TRUE social issues and seeks TRUE social justice as God sees fit, he will be Glorified, even if the church is hated by the world.  The climate of the culture does NOT justify the rightness of the church.  God does, by how well the church seeks his commandments and truth.   

Also read Test, Discern, and Righteous Judgement  |  The Absolute Greatest Message To Tell Everyone  |  What is ‘Doctrine’ and does it matter?  |  The Amazing Grace of God  |  “The World” According To God


Some will argue this is why the church is shrinking and people are leaving the church.  This is untrue.  People who leave the body of Christ and never return were never actually part of it to begin with.  There is the viable church but there is the invisible church.  Those who have been called by God, chosen, and sealed with God for all eternity.  This is not seen by man.


Also read Is The Church Shrinking?  |  Radicalized Christians?  |  The Church and Politics  |  Who would Jesus vote for?  |  God and The Government  |  The Joy of TRUTH

If you have any questions or comments about this article please contact us or join our discussion forms

Racism and God

What does God say about racism, discrimination, and prejudice?  How to address this issue and what is the solution?  We need to understand the value of all people, the equality in God, and how to bring together each side and lead them to the throne of God.

The idea and term is misleading from its premises.  There is only one race, the human race.  Within the human race are different cultural and ethic groups.  The idea of “race” in the political climate is a socially constructed idea. 

First we need to understand the value of the whole human race.  Each and every person from every culture and ethnic group are created in the image and likeness of God himself (Genesis 1:26-27).  Every person is loved by God to the point that God gave his son as a sacrifice for every person
(John 3:16).  The rejection of this love and sacrifice is on each individual person; but the value given to each person is made know.  Every person of every culture and ethnic group are equal in worth.

Discrimination and Prejudice 

God does NOT show favoritism (Deuteronomy 10:17; Acts 10:34; Romans 2:11; Ephesians 6:9).  Each and every person is perfectly and justly held accountable for their own stance before God.  Whether they are made right before God or still under His wrath; each is given an equal perfect opportunity to be made right in his presence through his son Jesus Christ.  Those who reject his son, will be equally and perfectly judged accordingly.

God even commands us to love just as he loves (John 13:34).  God’s love is equality in truth and sacrifice.  If his love does not show favoritism, does not discriminate, or is prejudice but equal for all, than we are to be also.  But this love includes applying the truth in love to all people.  Even the truths that some cultures collectively reject.    

Also read Don’t Judge Me | God’s Truths are Not a Matter of Opinions

The Holy Spirit spoke through the Apostle James in James 2:4-8 where he made it clear that unequal favoritism or partiality is evil.  To discriminate against someone and to be prejudice toward any ethnic or cultural groups is sin. Only in Jesus Christ is there true ‘racial’ equality (Ephesians 2:14; Galatians 3:28; Colossians 3:11).     

Collectivism

This is the practice or principle of giving a group priority over each individual in it.  Instead of rightly judging an individual, the entire group the individual is a member of, is judged.  This is unbiblical and not how God himself works.  Discrimination and prejudice spawns from collectivism.  God knows YOU personally (Luke 12:7).  And each individual will give an account before God for every word they say (Matthew 12:36).  God judged entire cities and nations only because he knew every single individual sinful heart of every person in that city or nation.  The church needs to reject falling into the belief of collectivism and get to know each and every person they interact with. 

Read: Can We Rightly Judge with Statistics? 

To Racists

Anyone who is racist or discriminates is hypocritically judging.   The log in their eye is blinding them from their own self-righteousness and disobedience to God’s fundamental command in john 13:34.  First they need to remove the log and see themselves before a holy and righteous God, humble themselves, and repent (Matthew 7:5).  Because they are most likely blind to their own sin, the church needs to be the light in the world and gracefully, mercifully, and lovingly be the hands, feet, and voice of Christ to the racists.

Also read Radicalized Christians?

To Victims of Racism

Similarly, victims of racism need to be unconditionally forgiving and remain obedient to Christ and love just as Christ loves them despite their own sins against him.  The Holy Spirit, through Paul, in Ephesians 4:32 calls everyone to be kind, compassionate and forgiving just as Christ has forgiven.  Becoming bitter and lashing out hatefully toward racists is hypocritical as well. 

Also read Did God Cause Evil? |  Rioting Christians?

To Both Sides

The focus needs to be taken off the self, sins, the flesh, the world, and on Christ and his holiness and forgiveness.  The he said she said keeps eyes focused on problems of the world and off the absolute forgiving love and self sacrifice of Christ himself for both sides.  Seek first the kingdom of God, not of things of the world, and all these things, like peace, justice, and love, will be given to you (Matthew 6:33).  Both, racists and victims of racism are sinners.  Both need Christ equally and both are called by God to be forgiving and loving unconditionally (Revelation 5:9).

Also read The Beauty of Accountability 

How to Respond to Racism 

Without The Gospel Message in the conversation; it is just a back and forth discussion of the flesh.  Racists need to be lovingly held accountable for their evil thoughts (James 2:4) and lead to repentance.  Those who experience racism need to forgive and pray for the racist’s repentance (Matthew 5:44).  Showing Christ’s self sacrificial love in the face of racism and leading all racist conversations and situations to an opportunity to present the gospel message is the ONLY way to truly change race relations and the hearts of those who are racist.  It will also stifle prejudice within the victim.

Also read The Church and Politics  |  All Christians Are Missionaries

Without Christ and The Gospel message IN the race relations discussion; there will be NO true lasting solution.  Since this IS a growing issue in America, the Church needs to be the front runners with steering the conversations toward Christ (Romans 6:13).  This is NOT to say to avoid discussions on racism and oppression.  That would be wrong in itself.  The discussions of racism and oppression NEED to happen and the church need to lead it.  BUT, when those discussions occur, The Gospels NEEDS to be preached. 

Also read God’s Judgement on America | God and The Government

 

If you have any questions or comments about this article please contact us or join our discussion forms