Category: Truth


Giving All to Him!

Filed under: The Good News, Truth — Leave a comment
November 20, 2010

Giving is an important and humbling attitude, yet not always the most exciting prospect to our flesh. As I think back to when I was little, I don’t think I was ever more excited than when I knew I was getting (not giving) something new. But one thing I now know… there is a reality beyond this world that reminds me that it’s truly more blessed to give than to receive. Acts 20:35.

When Jesus spoke these words, I don’t believe He was talking against or contradicting the blessedness of receiving His glorious Gospel. Rather He was shining His light upon the selfish heart of fallen man. Adam’s race is by very nature selfish, creatures that desire to get as much as they can, many times giving only when expedient to self. In a nutshell, we are consumers at the core. But…once translated into the Lord’s Kingdom, being born again by His incorruptible Word, the beauty of giving should begin to bloom, becoming more and more precious as we yield to His Holy Spirit and Word. But why is giving more blessed than receiving? For the answer we need to go back to the beginning. 

God freely gave Adam and Eve their very souls, time every day to fellowship with Him, a place to live, food to eat and the company of one another. He gave them everything, yet instead of following His example of giving, they did the very opposite, taking what rightfully belonged to their Maker. They took their lives into their own hands, stealing from the Lord God. Ever since that first act of robbery, men have sought to take and take and take, not content until all is consumed, much like the locust.

But praise God He did not leave us in this predicament!  Jesus entered His creation, choosing to be born at the appointed time. Romans 5:6.  He was born as a man, never stopped being God, to do what no man had ever done, yet was originally created to do- enter into a life of giving everything unto the One who rightfully deserves it all.  Jesus laid it all down, giving up His life even unto death. Philippians 2:8.  Instead of taking, He gave His life unto the Father, a living sacrifice to redeem thieves and robbers. What mercy! What grace! What love indeed!

Giving, in and of itself, is a futile act unless you know the True One you are giving all to.  This is the key!  It truly is more blessed to give that to receive when you know who you’re giving it all to – The Lord Jesus, our Blessed Redeemer! Knowing what He has done for such a wretch as me… now knowing Him, my heart sinks in utter humility and is  filled with love for my Jesus! How could I do any less than give all to Him? May we always seek His face, asking the Lord to help us see how foolish it is to hang onto things that aren’t even ours! We have been purchased; bought with a price. Truly we are His, and what could better than that!? 

 “But drops of grief can never repay the debt of love I owe.  So here, Lord, I give myself away.  ‘Tis all that I can do!”  ~Isaac Watts

“Serve the LORD with gladness: come before His presence with singing.  Know ye that the LORD He is God: it is He that has made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise: be thankful unto Him, and bless His name.  For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting; and His truth endures to all generations.”  ~Psalm 100:2-5

“O give thanks unto the LORD; call upon His name: make known His deeds among the people.”  ~Psalm 105:1

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Are You Safe in the Savior?- A Unique Look at Noah’s Flood

Filed under: Creation, Truth — Leave a comment
October 17, 2010

This is an excellent 3 minute clip featuring Mike Riddle from Answers in Genesis providing a one-of-a-kind animated look at what it might have been like as the flood of Noah’s time impacted this planet.  What a great reminder of both God’s judgment and His mercy!  Please feel free to pass this along! 

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Plastic Jewel #1- Psychology and Right Brain/Left Brain Thinking- Part 2

Filed under: Emergent, Truth — 13 Comments
October 15, 2010

Psychology literally means the study of the soul or mind, not the brain. Are not the soul and mind both areas which only the Holy Spirit alone can renew and transform?  How is it that we have abdicated the necessity of God’s Word and working through the power of His Holy Spirit for vain philosophies devised by men?  For an overview of popular psychology, two excellent and free e-books are strongly recommended: “Christ-Centered Ministry Verses Problem-Centered Counseling” and “Person to Person Ministry- Soul Care in the Body of Christ”.  Both are written by Martin and Deidre Bobgan. 

For the remainder of this blog, I plan to do three simple things.  First, I will provide several quotes revealing what many research scientists are saying about the so-called science of right brain/left brain teaching.  Second I will provide the Scriptural support, if any, for these teachings.  And finally I will provide two excellent links for further reading. 

Although there are areas within science today that should more aptly be labeled science falsely so-called, i.e. evolutionism and popular (counseling) psychology, there are many fields of science which can be observed and are repeatable.  There are fields of research psychology which unlike the over 400 theories of counseling psychology are credible and act much like watchdogs for the many ‘theories’ that have made their way into both the secular and Christian mainstream.  There are also those doing serious study in the fields of neurosciences that have become somewhat frustrated at the simplification of certain right brain/left brain research in order to make it more palatable and understandable to the general public.  Carefully consider the following quotes:

·         Nobelist Dr. Roger Sperry says, “The left-right dichotomy . . . is an idea with which it is easy to run wild.” 1 Sperry also says:

The more we learn, the more we recognize the unique complexity of any one individual intellect and the stronger the conclusion becomes that the individuality inherent in our brain networks makes that of fingerprints or facial features gross and simple by comparison.2

·         Dr. Michael Gazzaniga, in a book titled The Social Brain, has a chapter titled “Left-Brain, Right-Brain Mania: A Debunking.” He says:

Where does all of this conjecture come from? How did some laboratory findings of limited generality get so outrageously misinterpreted? Why were they picked up so hungrily by the press and then embraced by every sort of scientific dilettante? There are several reasons. The left-brain/right-brain dichotomy was simple and understandable and provided a way to talk about modern brain research and how it applied to everyday experience. Certainly no one was going to argue that people have artistic-intuitive skills and logical-linguistic skills. Prima facie there are manifestly different activities of mind. So science is used to prove that one set of skills is in the left brain and another in the right, which in turn proves that mental skills are different, and therefore able to be differentially trained. The image of one part of the brain doing one thing and the other part something entirely different was there, and that it was a confused concept seemed to make no difference. . . . The runaway fervor for such ideas relates, in part, to the difficulty in communicating scientific ideas to the general public. To really understand concepts arising out of experimental data is a serious business, and most people do not have the time or interest to assess information at that level. There is an extensive and usually foreign vocabulary to learn. The necessary qualifying remarks and constraints on the ideas prove to be too much of a burden for the potential audience. So scientific journalism purveys its stories on simple to-understand claims that most people can relate to, preferably at a personal level. This wouldn’t matter for the present story except for the fact that the distortions get in the way of why split-brain patients are truly interesting. And the oversimplifications and outright erroneous information have also tended to trivialize the complexity of the integrated processes of our minds.3 (Emphasis added.)

 

·         After interviewing several researchers in the field, Kevin McKean says:

The problem arises when the right-brain movement implies that its conclusions are based on hard fact, rather than an essentially metaphorical interpretation of scientific discoveries. The differences between the hemispheres are still not well understood, and Gazzaniga, like Springer, says that the newest research tends to emphasize the way the two cooperate with one another during the normal functioning, rather than how they differ. 4(Emphasis added.)

 

·         McKean also says:

Scientists are understandably annoyed when they see careful but often inconclusive work popularized and exploited so glibly. As Deutsch puts it: “I get bothered by people saying, ‘This is all based on neurological theory, therefore it’s true.’ It’s not legitimized by neurological theory. There is no evidence that people favor one portion of the brain or the other—-that’s pure speculation.” 5(Emphasis added.)

 

·         Neurologist Dr. John Mazziotta at the UCLA School of Medicine says:

Even on the most trivial tasks our studies showed that everything in the brain was in flux—-both sides, the front and back, the top and bottom. It was tremendously complicated. To think that you could reduce this to a simple left-right dichotomy would be misleading and oversimplified.6 (Emphasis added.)

 

Next, I planned to provide Scriptural backing for right brain/left brain teaching, however I could find none.  But consider this quote- “What must be said for those who reinterpret the Bible and counsel Christians based upon this humanistic myth? 2 Timothy 4:3-4 warns, “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.”  The fulfillment of that prophecy seems to have come upon today’s church with a vengence.” Dave Hunt, TBC Newsletter, “Science Falsely So-Called, Feb. 1, 1989.

As we daily seek the Lord, may we always be willing to set aside the lies of this world so that both hands are free to cling tightly to the truth and sufficiency of God’s Word!

Finally, here are two excellent resources on this topic-  

·         E-Book- Chapter Fourteen of Prophets of PsychoHeresy II, written by Martin and Deidre Bobgan

·         “Science Falsely So-Called”, The Berean Call Newsletter, Feb. 1, 1989, written by Dave Hunt.

 

____________________________________________

End Notes

1.       Roger Sperry, “Some Effects of Disconnecting the Cerebral Hemispheres.” Science, Vol. 217, 24 September 1982, p. 1225.

2.       Ibid.

3.       Michael S. Gazzaniga. The Social Brain: Discovering the Networks of the Mind. New York: Basic Books, Inc., Publishers, 1985, pp. 48-49.

4.       Kevin McKean, “Of Two Minds: Selling the Right Brain,” Discover, 1985, p. 40.

5.       Ibid.

6.       John Mazziotta quoted by Kevin McKean, p.38.

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Plastic Jewel #1- Psychology and Right Brain/Left Brain Thinking- PART 1

Filed under: Emergent, Truth — Leave a comment
October 11, 2010

     For the next several posts, I plan to share some of the largest and most colorful plastic jewels that I had picked up while in the world.  After becoming a born-again believer it took time for me to begin understanding that there were many things I had picked up and was still picking up from the world.  These jewels were easy to find, and get ahold of simply because they were and are so popular and pervasive.  The first in this series of blogs is the popular notion of right brain/left brain psychology which is still main stream in numerous educational resources and couples self-help articles and books. 

Right brain/left brain psychology entered the main stream somewhere in the early to mid 1980’s and can truly be labeled science falsely so-called. Many in the neuroscience fields know this concept has little data and much assumption surrounding it, yet many Christians have unfortunately clung to it as a precious jewel.  Every time the saints accept worldly philosophies in lieu of God’s Word, both our walk and our witness are affected.  One man put it like this, “The cause of Christ is not discredited by failure to keep up with modern science (which has nothing to do with spiritual reality), but by the substitution of “science falsely so-called” for God’s unchanging truth. This is a modern abomination.” Dave Hunt, TBC Newsletter- “Science Falsely So-Called”, Feb. 1, 1989.

There are few topics that are held with such passion as that of popular psychology.  It would be one thing to say that the world won’t let go of it, but unfortunately most of today’s Christianity is spell-bound by its teachings, raising many popular Christian psychologists up to a priest-like status that is almost untouchable even by the Word of God.   After all, you need a degree to become a psychologist so how could someone who only knows God’s Word ever be able to correct a psychologist?  Yet many go to psychologists for the very reason they should be going to our Lord and Savior- for counsel.  This article will not be an attempt to critique popular psychology and the love many Christians have for it, but since right brain/left brain thinking has its home in this general area let me say just a couple more things pertaining to psychology in light of God’s Word.

Did you know that psychology is the number two field of study both in Christian and secular universities alike?  It is interesting that no matter what bookstore you go to you will more than likely find more books on counseling and psychology than you will on biblical Christianity.  To say the least, psychology is very popular among both Christians and non-Christians alike.  Did you also know that the Lord never ascribes counseling as a spiritual gift in the Bible?  He does give some to be teachers, pastors, and some to be apostles and evangelists.  Some have the gift of helps, and others have the gift of tongues and prophecy.  And others have the gift of healing, yet nowhere does God reveal to us that He gives anyone a specific gift called “counseling”.  (Romans 12:7, 1 Corinthians 12:28, Ephesians 4:11) With such a big draw and such an apparent need, why are the Scriptures silent on a gift of counseling?  It seems the Lord has perhaps overlooked the needs of us living in the 20th and 21st Centuries. Perhaps this is why Godless men like Abraham Maslow and Carl Yung were raised up.  Perhaps they were raised up to assist us poor, needy Christians who didn’t know how to properly give or receive counsel for almost 2,000 years prior to their arrival.  Or perhaps there is another answer. 

Is not God Himself called the Counselor, and does not the Holy Spirit indwell all believers?  (Isaiah 9:6, John 14:16-17) Is not the entire body of Christ commanded to draw along side one another to bear each other’s burdens, helping the weaker for the strengthening of the whole body, which is fit together and supplied by the love of Christ?  (Romans 15:1-2, Galatians 6:2-3, Ephesians 4:11-16, 1 Corinthians 12:18-27)  Does not the Word of God claim to be sufficient in all things pertaining to life and godliness?  (2 Peter 1:1-3) Then why should we go to the muddied streams of human psychology that was invented by Godless men, to try to glean a few nuggets of truth that will minister to hearts and minds? 

“But you have not so learned Christ; If so be that you have heard Him, and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: That you put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that you put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”  Ephesians 4:20-24

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Plastic Jewels

Filed under: Emergent, Truth — Leave a comment
October 7, 2010

There are so many lies that I bought into while walking in darkness.  They all seemed so sensible at the time.  But now they seem at best like plastic jewels. I remember playing with little pieces of colored plastic as a kid, pretending they were valuable rubies and diamonds.  Too often we hold onto the doctrines of this world as if they are beautiful and valuable jewels adorning us.  In reality they are at best useless, and at worst deadly. 

Once I accepted the full and free forgiveness of my sins by Christ Jesus, He began to shine His light on the lies I had once held to so tightly. After I saw the truth I began to realize these were not jewels.  I had been lied to!  The vain philosophies of the world and sciences-falsely-so-called are very alluring.  Unfortunately many of its teachings don’t just fall away once we come to Christ.  Why do we hold onto supposed jewels when we could instead be filled to overflowing with the treasure of the knowledge of Christ?  May the Lord continue convicting our hearts with His truth and love so that we may desire to make Him our One and Only Treasure! 

“For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, has shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.” 2 Corinthians 4:6-7

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As We Worship…

Filed under: Emergent, Truth — 5 Comments
October 3, 2010

Although music is only one of the many facets of worship in the Scriptures, the purpose of this blog is to briefly, yet carefully explore music’s modern role in the worship of our Creator and Savior. As those who have been born again worship at the feet of Jesus, hearts bowed low both before His Cross and His Throne, may we never check our minds at the door of His throne room!  Our worship is not born from mindless melody, rhythm and beat designed to tweak our emotions.  True praise ought to always emanate from the knowledge of the Holy, revealed to us by His Spirit and His Word. 

Music…in and of itself.  First and foremost, may we never seek to make music our source of revelation.  While songs might inspire and ‘speak’ to us, ultimately Jesus Christ, revealed by His Holy Spirit through the heartfelt study of His Word is where our true motivation and love should reside and reflect. As we grow in our understanding of the true and living God, praise ought to overflow into thanksgiving to the One who died for a wretch like me. Although this generation of Christians has learned to seek fun and exciting rhythms, may we never forget to seek to understand and know our God through His Word before all else. “Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to our King, sing praises! For God is the King of all the earth; Sing praises with understanding. God reigns over the nations; God sits on His holy throne.” Psalm 47:6-8 (Emphasis mine.)

Music…A dramatic influence.  It is an understatement to say that music is a dramatic and driving force in the technological age in which we live.  It most certainly has a motivating effect on the listeners of today.  Are we not trained to respond to music?  Its influences are virtually everywhere.  Think about it…what would a movie or TV program be like without its soundtrack?  How many restaurants and stores attempt to effectively use music to motivate their patrons?  And now that we have entered the digital age, the possibilities for musical motivation seem almost endless. But even though our generation is the first to have such amazing technologies, we are not the first to be moved by musical melodies.

Throughout time, music has arguably remained a very powerful tool in effectively altering the state of the listener.  Every generation has utilized music both for entertainment and spiritual enlightenment.  Music is not simply entertainment, but a tool that can, when properly crafted, influence us greatly. With this as a basic foundational understanding may we always, always remember to enjoy and make music with biblically discerning hearts and minds.   

Beware… Musical Wolves in sheep’s clothing.  Not only pastors, teachers and evangelists spread false doctrines.  With music as such an integral part of our society, why would the enemy avoid utilizing this popular and powerful medium?  It is clear he has not.  Although music has been used to influence and direct those in darkness for centuries, we are facing a time in the Body of Christ when the enemy’s lies are openly allowed entrance through musicians and their music.  Below is a short excerpt giving us a glimpse of the seduction we face today. 

“Michael W. Smith has most likely sent tens of thousands to the feet of mysticism proponent Brennan Manning through his endorsement of Manning. In light of Manning’s spiritual views, that is very troubling. For instance, in Manning’s book, Above All (in which Smith wrote the foreword), Manning echoes the words of Thomas Merton biographer and mystic William Shannon when Shannon (and Manning) rejected the idea that a loving God would send His son to a violent death: THAT God does not exist, they both insisted. What’s more Manning actually teaches mantra-like meditation is his book, The Signature of Jesus.

David Crowder, also at the conference, is the author of the contemplative-promoting book, Praise Habit (referring to the habits worn by Catholic nuns). In an interview with LifeTeen.com (a web site for Catholic teens), Crowder admits: “Much of the Catholic traditions and writings have been influential in my formation of faith … I’ve found much inspiration there.” These Catholic traditions referred to are those emulated by monks such as Thomas Merton and Thomas Keating.”  (Emphasis mine.) See the entire article at: http://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com/blog/?p=181

Influences… It always amazes me to read some of the musical influences stated by those in today’s Christian music scene.  Why when asked about musical influences and inspirations do so many artists list bands that have been so clearly influenced by anti-Christian sources, i.e. Eastern philosophy, meditation, drugs, etc.?  There is discussion within the Body of Christ over music, and I by no means hope to settle others’ debates. I do, however, desire to encourage every thinking believer to carefully check their own influences. May we always remember that those who influence us were also influenced themselves and those influences, like seeds are most likely passed on to their hearers. And many of these seeds have the potential to entangle us again with the world from which we were so graciously set free from.  Galatians 5:1 says, “Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.” 

Motivations…  Should music make us, or should we make music?  As a Christian, this should be an easy answer.  We are confident that only the Lord, not music has the power to transform (make) us.  As He works within us, we cannot help but express Jesus’ love and truth that springs forth.  For some, music becomes one of the means by which we allow the love for our Maker to shine forth.  But just like any other saint, those who write and make music are called to carefully point others to the truth, not to the music itself.  Music should not be our ultimate motivation, rather we should be motivated to point others to the One who moves and transforms His children.

The Challenge… The challenge to both the musician and those enjoying their music is the same.  Music has the power to subjectively reach and move our emotions.  And while God has created us as emotional creatures, we are not designed to be directed by our emotions.  Unfortunately, in the sinful state of our hearts, emotions have the tendency to drift toward lifting up self, turning us away from our Maker.  The challenge in making music is that we ought always desire pointing the hearer to the objective reality of God’s truth found solely in His Word- The Bible.  We all need to beware of allowing music- its subjective and emotional rhythms, timbres, tones, and melodies to be more important than the primary, and objective Influence and Motivation- The Lord Himself.  In this self-centered and soulish generation, it can be a difficult task to carefully draw that line between the objective nature of God’s Truth and the emotional, subjective nature of music.  Praise and worship, in the musical sense should always require an active mind thinking on Him, not merely enjoying a song for music’s sake. 

There are times where the unintended, or perhaps intended ideas of relativism and subjective, emotionalism might take center stage in the hearts and minds of those enraptured in certain songs.  May we make extra effort as listeners and makers of music to clarify that line so that there is no confusion as we enter into worship.  May we always desire to praise our King with understanding, always allowing the Lord to speak more clearly to and through us than the vain philosophies of this world.  May we continue bowing low before our Lord, never allowing man’s ways to be our influences or motivations.  Praise be to God that His ways are above ours, and His power greater than this world’s!   

Finally… be lovers of the Truth!  The answers to life are not found in music, rather in the truth of God’s Word! Truth, not emotionally charged rhythms, is how God ultimately communicates to men.  Man is separated from the animal world because God has created men alone with the capacity to understand.  And understanding is ultimately produced by and expressed in words, not in pictures and not in rhythms.  In God’s Word, Jesus says much concerning the truth.  As a lover of music, I must always remember that I am called to be a lover of the Truth more than a lover of music.  This love for the Truth of God, His Word, and the reality of His creation is what should daily move me more than anything else.  Consider the following verses concerning the value God places on the truth (all emphasis mine):

  • Psalm 51:6a– “Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts…”
  • John 8:31-32– “Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
  • John 17:17– “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.”
  • 2 Thessalonians 2:9-10– “The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.”
  • 1 John 5:20-21– “And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life. Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.”

My prayer…   It’s my prayer that I never worship music, rather worship the Lord Jesus in Spirit and in Truth.  Some times this worship will involve praising God through music made by those who love Him; who love the truth.  My heart’s desire is that I always consider carefully my own influences, allowing the Lord to transform me into His image, so that I may truthfully, lovingly, and even musically point others to a thoughtful understanding of Jesus Christ, and Him alone!

“And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, [even] in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.” 1 John 5:20-21

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Don’t Be Ignorant

Filed under: Truth — Leave a comment
September 17, 2010

Dictionary.com defines ignorant as “Lacking knowledge or awareness in general…”  Some say ignorance is bliss, and I guess that’s true for some things.  The only problem is there will come a day that our ignorance will evaporate under the intense Light of God’s Glory.  As believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, His saints most definitely ought to be ignorant of the sinful things of this world. There are, however, somethings we should not be ignorant of.  We should never be ignorant of the truth.  Also, we should not be ignorant of the devil’s schemes. 

Many have pointed out the fact that those who work at the Treasury Department don’t study counterfeit money to catch counterfeiters. Treasury agents must study true bills to detect the fakes.  And for those who have been born again, it is key to stay rooted in the truth to keep from falling for counterfeit doctrines.  Staying in the truth of God’s Word will guarantee the promised freedom from the heavy burden of sin so easily supplied by the world.  See John 8:31-32. 

On the flip side of the coin, those in the Treasury Department must be aware of the many popular practices and avenues developed and used by counterfeiters.  The same is true for any good coach or general.  In order to be as effective as possible,  these men need not only study the fundamental truths at hand, but they must also know their enemy or opponent.  This is true for God’s children as well. 

We must love, know, and do the truth.  The truth is our only solid foundation. But we, as children of the Light, must also take great diligence to not remain ignorant to the current schemes of the wicked one.  That’s not to say we should spend all of our time learning the lies of the devil, but every generation has key avenues which transport his false doctrines.  Even though Satan’s lies don’t really change, the packaging has been adjusted throughout man’s history. And if we’re not paying attention, we might unwittingly fall or pass along doctrines from the Father of Lies.   

We are commanded by our Heavenly Father to take heed, to be on guard and be alert for our enemy prowls around seeking whom to devour.  (Mark 13:33, 1 Peter 5:8)  We ought to never be ignorant of the enemy’s devices.  To do so would not only be foolish, it also could be harmful to those we love and hope will receive the truth.  May we always spend time loving and learning God’s Word. But may we also be alert and on guard, never ignorant of the enemies popular avenues and devices. 

“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”  2 Timothy 2:15

“Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.” 2 Corinthians 2:11

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God’s Faithfulness is Tied to Israel

Filed under: Truth — 1 Comment
September 13, 2010

God’s faithfulness is centered in His very nature and is inextricably linked to His promises both from the Old and New Testaments.  How can we as New Testament saints trust our God for eternal life if He hasn’t kept His promises recorded by the prophets of old?  There is much danger for those who believe that God’s promises to Israel have been broken and transferred to the Church.  To believe this one must say God has either edited or worse yet revoked His very faithful covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  

How ironic it is for those who correctly believe so strongly that the Old Testament is the foundation of the new, and Creation as literal, to say that God’s promises to Israel are either allegorical or no longer applicable.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  God’s promises are irrevocable, and Israel’s blindness is not in full, but in part.  

 For those who think God is through with Israel, the challenge of this article is to lay aside all that you’ve been taught and let your Savior’s Word speak plainly to you.  Consider a few of the Old Testament promises to Israel from the LORD God. (Note: All emphasis added below is mine.)

  • Genesis 28:13 and 15– “And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed…And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.”
  • Exodus 12:23 and 24– “For the LORD will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when He seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts, the LORD will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you. And ye shall observe this thing for an ordinance to thee and to thy sons for ever.” 
  • 2 Samuel 7:23-26– “And what one nation in the earth is like thy people, even like Israel, whom God went to redeem for a people to Himself, and to make Him a name, and to do for you great things and terrible, for thy land, before thy people, which thou redeemedst to thee from Egypt, from the nations and their gods? For Thou hast confirmed to Thyself Thy people Israel to be a people unto Thee for ever: and thou, LORD, art become their God. And now, O LORD God, the word that Thou hast spoken concerning Thy servant, and concerning his house, establish it for ever, and do as Thou hast said. And let Thy name be magnified for ever, saying, The LORD of hosts is the God over Israel: and let the house of Thy servant David be established before Thee.”
  • 1 Kings 10:9- “Blessed be the LORD thy God, which delighted in thee, to set thee on the throne of Israel: because the LORD loved Israel for ever, therefore made he thee king, to do judgment and justice.”
  • 1 Kings 11:39- “And I will for this afflict the seed of David, but not for ever.”
  • 1 Chronicles 16:12-19- “Remember His marvellous works that He hath done, His wonders, and the judgments of His mouth; O ye seed of Israel His servant, ye children of Jacob, His chosen ones. He is the LORD our God; His judgments are in all the earth. Be ye mindful always of His covenant; the word which He commanded to a thousand generations; Even of the covenant which He made with Abraham, and of His oath unto Isaac; And hath confirmed the same to Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant, Saying, Unto thee will I give the land of Canaan, the lot of your inheritance; When ye were but few, even a few, and strangers in it.”
  • 2 Chronicles 33:7b- “In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen before all the tribes of Israel, will I put my name for ever.”
  • Psalm 105:6-11- “O ye seed of Abraham His servant, ye children of Jacob His chosen. He is the LORD our God: His judgments are in all the earth. He hath remembered His covenant for ever, the word which He commanded to a thousand generations. Which covenant He made with Abraham, and His oath unto Isaac; And confirmed the same unto Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant: Saying, Unto thee will I give the land of Canaan, the lot of your inheritance…”
  • Jeremiah 31:7-13- “For thus saith the LORD; Sing with gladness for Jacob, and shout among the chief of the nations: publish ye, praise ye, and say, O LORD, save thy people, the remnant of Israel. Behold, I will bring them from the north country, and gather them from the coasts of the earth, and with them the blind and the lame, the woman with child and her that travaileth with child together: a great company shall return thither. They shall come with weeping, and with supplications will I lead them: I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters in a straight way, wherein they shall not stumble: for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is My firstborn. Hear the word of the LORD, O ye nations, and declare it in the isles afar off, and say, He that scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd doth his flock. For the LORD hath redeemed Jacob, and ransomed him from the hand of him that was stronger than he.”
  • Jeremiah 31:31-32-“Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD…”
  • Jeremiah 33:14-16-“Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will perform that good thing which I have promised unto the house of Israel and to the house of Judah. In those days, and at that time, will I cause the Branch of righteousness to grow up unto David; and he shall execute judgment and righteousness in the land. In those days shall Judah be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell safely: and this is the name wherewith she shall be called, The LORD our righteousness.”
  • Jeremiah 33:20-21a–“Thus saith the LORD; If ye can break My covenant of the day, and My covenant of the night, and that there should not be day and night in their season; Then may also my covenant be broken with David my servant…”
  • Jermiah 33:25-26a-“Thus saith the LORD; If my covenant be not with day and night, and if I have not appointed the ordinances of heaven and earth; Then will I cast away the seed of Jacob, and David my servant…”
  • Jeremiah 51:5-“For Israel hath not been forsaken, nor Judah of His God, of the LORD of hosts; though their land was filled with sin against the Holy One of Israel.”
  • Ezekiel 11:17-“Therefore say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will even gather you from the people, and assemble you out of the countries where ye have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel.”

One final note:  God is called the God of Israel 201 times. 

“I am the LORD, your Holy One, the creator of Israel, your King.” Isaiah 43:15

For a good follow-up article concerning God’s Word and Israel, see- “Israel and Prophetic Proof” Part 1 from The Berean Call at: http://www.thebereancall.org/node/7745

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Four Soils Dilemma

Filed under: Truth — Leave a comment
September 1, 2010

In Luke 8 Jesus is teaching the parable of the sower to a multitude of people.  There are four soils in this parable, and the seed is the Word of God. Luke 8:11.  After He finishes the parable, the disciples ask Him the meaning.  He then explains that the four soils are four hearts- the first, a hard heart, the second one is a heart that receives the Word with joy, but withers when trials and persecutions come.  The third heart is choked by the thorny worries and cares of the riches of this world, never producing any fruit.  And the fourth heart is a good heart, the heart that wants to understand (Matthew 13:13) the Word, producing much fruit. 

There is some discussion over this parable, especially the two middle hearts.  Perhaps I am just not seeing correctly, but there seems to be a dilemma I have not read or heard about before.  The dilemma I see is between the theology of Calvinism and the teaching of this parable. There seems to be a glaring issue when trying to align this parable with the Calvinistic teaching on God’s sovereignty and man’s total inability to choose Him. For those who believe man cannot choose anything but evil, and that man is so dead that he is actually unable to turn to the Lord, there should be some recognition of a dilemma in Jesus’ parable. Let me explain further. 

The first heart is clearly a representation of lost mankind. To many who call themselves Calvinists this first heart would represent dead men ‘at the bottom of the ocean’ unable to even reach out to Christ at any level.  The fourth heart is the heart that produces good fruit.  And to the man who holds to Calvinist teachings, this heart would be the man who has been regenerated by the Spirit of God.  This is the heart which Jesus swam to the bottom of the ocean for, reviving and bringing him from death to life.  Not that I believe that God must revive us before we can believe, but I can understand how someone could use these two soils to further their reformed, Calvinistic theology.  But here is the dilemma. 

If the reformed, Calvinistic perspective is true, then why even bother adding the second or third soil to the parable?  If men are so dead that they cannot do anything other than choose evil, and if all men truly cannot understand anything regarding the Gospel of God, then what place do soils two and three have? 

Soil 2: For some to receive the Word with gladness (Mark 4:16), then turn away when trials and tribulations come seems to imply that they are not truly saved. Even though lost and dead in their sins, they are able to receive the Word, albeit with wrong intentions, i.e. to make their lives more comfortable.  Or would you say that they were saved, but then simply turned away?  If so, the Calvinist would have to admit that God has sovereignly allowed some to actually receive the Word only to force/cause them to turn away during persecutions and trials.  Would this not be a strange action by the God which the Bible declares is love? 

Soil 3: Then there is the third soil which is filled with the worries and  cares of this world.  This man again receives the Word, but doesn’t seem to turn  away from the old nature.  Much like Lot, he moves back into Sodom instead of fleeing it.  Again the question is this- Has God sovereignly predestined and regenerated this man to receive the Word of God, then causing them to keep the worries so much as to choke the fruit of the Word from ever being produced?  And if these are true, born-again believers which God has sovereignly regenerated, then why not sovereignly sanctify them to keep from having any thorns at all? 

Soil 1: Lastly, there is the dilemma of the first heart, the heart that is so hard that the seed never enters and Satan comes to snatch away the Word.  In Matthew 13:19, Jesus reveals that this heart is hard because it does not understand.  Now to many Calvinists, this would be that all men cannot understand without God regenerated them.  Most Calvinists would say that men not only do not want to understand, but that they cannot understand.  Although the Bible does say men, in general, don’t want to understand, no where does it teach that they are not able to at least understand that God is the Creator and that they are in need of the Savior.  See Romans 2:14-15.  Are the first three hearts representations of sinful men? If so, then what is the point of drawing a distinction between soil 1,2, and 3?   And if soil 1 is the only unregenerate man in this parable, then are soils 2 and 3 sovereignly regenerated hearts that have been caused to later reject or choke the Word?  Would not both of these be strange conclusions?

Frankly, if our theology doesn’t fit the Word of God, we need to throw out our theology!  It will only benefit us and those we seek to teach.  Why couldn’t it be as simple as this- When Jesus began to teach this parable there was a multitude of people who gathered, including His disciples.  I’m sure the Lord knew that the multitude consisted of a variety of hearts.  Some had soil 1.  Others had soil 2. Still others had soil 3, and a few had soil 4.  Jesus told His disciples, “For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.” Matthew 13:15.  Two notes: First, Jesus says the people closed their eyes themselves.  God did not make them do it.  Secondly, He says every one of them has the option at anytime of seeing, hearing, and understanding so as to be converted and healed.  It truly reads as though all have the option of receiving the Word, however after hearing, some will refuse, others will hear wrongly, and others will never yield to the Word, even though they have heard. 

This parable seems to make much more sense when taken in light of man’s ability to at least be able to hear the truth of God’s Word and respond.  When the reader starts with man’s ability to respond to God’s invitation, the parable of the sower seems to serve as a warning both for the hearer to be careful he receives the true Gospel and after receiving, to take care in correctly teaching it to others.

When dilemmas arise within our understanding of the Scriptures, it might mean we need to pray for deeper and clearer understanding.  Or it might simply mean we are attempting to mingle the ideas of men with the Word of God.  May we always desire the Truth of God’s Word over any of man’s teachings! 

“I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto Him: for He is thy life, and the length of thy days…”                   Deuteronomy 30:19-20a

“And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve…” Joshua 24:15

“And ye shall seek Me, and find Me, when ye shall search for Me with all your heart. And I will be found of you, says the LORD.” Jeremiah 29:13 and 14a

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Jesus is God and…

Filed under: Creation, The Good News, Truth — 4 Comments
August 30, 2010

As a Christian, all of what I believe is completely and utterly centered around who Jesus Christ truly is.  However elemental this sounds, the born again believer will never move beyond it, only deeper into it.  The truth of  Jesus Christ is the absolute key to eternal life and is found in His Word, illuminated by the Holy Spirit of God.  To say we are Christians is to actually say we are followers of Christ and His truth.  It is not for us to claim anything other than His Word as our doctrine.  It has rightly been said that Jesus is not merely a good man.  He is either a liar, a lunatic or the Lord Almighty.  His claims to be The Messiah, The Prophet, The Word of God, The Savior of the World, and The Almighty God are not good unless they are true. 

For those who have moved beyond the stumbling stone of Jesus being God, there is a peace and comfort knowing God became a man, never stopped being God. Entering His creation, Jesus died upon the cross taking away the penalty of our rebellion against Him.  There is rest in knowing that Jesus is our Advocate, the Bishop and Shepherd of our souls.  He truly is the Lamb of God, and the Lord of Lords! 

Although there is comfort and rest in the wisdom that is beyond this world, we always need to be careful not to become complacent,  falling asleep to the lies which our adversary spews forth.  We are to always be on guard and alert against false teachings and teachers which claim to be from God, yet are not.  There is one word that will reveal the heart of false teaching. It is the little three-letter word “And.”  

Why is it that some who claim to hold so tightly to the divinity of Jesus Christ also hold onto the misguided and antichristian teaching of human godhood?  Although many who claim to be Christians would agree upon the fact that Jesus is God, some hold to what I would call the doctrine of “…And”.  “Yes, Jesus is God,” they would say.  But then they would go just a little further…”And…so are we.”  What!?  How can someone who truly knows the Lord of Lords not only fall for such heresy, but also teach such lies?  Is there still a small part of the old man in them that desires to share in the Glory of God?  Perhaps they do not really think they are that bad?  Or maybe they are happy their sins are forgiven, but don’t like it that they won’t get some of the credit for being good enough to get to Heaven.  Or maybe they have never truly believed the true Gospel of Christ.  Consider a few quotes from very popular teachers who claim to believe the Gospel of God…

  • Kenneth Copeland  “Every Christian is a god. … You don’t have a god in  you, you are one“. (Kenneth Copeland, The Force of Love (Fort Worth, TX: Kenneth Copeland Ministries, 1987), audiotape #02-0028, side 1.)  
  • Benny Hinn says “God came from heaven, became a man, made man into little gods, went back to heaven as a man. He faces the Father as a man. I face devils as the son of God. Quit your nonsense! What else are you? If you say, I am, you’re saying I’m a part of Him, right? Is he God? Are you His offspring? Are you His children? You can’t be human! You can’t! You can’t! God didn’t give birth to flesh…You said, “Well, that’s heresy.” No, that’s your crazy brain saying that.” (Benny Hinn, Our Position in Christ #2—The Word Made Flesh  Orlando Christian Center, 1991).
  • Mr. Kenneth Hagin, “Every man who has been born again is an incarnation and Christianity is a miracle. The believer is as much an incarnation as was Jesus of Nazareth.”( the Incarnation Kenneth Hagin, p. 12). 
  • Creflo Dollar-“Now I gotta hit this thing real hard in the very beginning because I ain’t got time to go through all this, but I am going to say to you right now you are gods, little “g”, you are gods because you came from God and you are gods. You are not just human.  The only human part about you is this physical body that you live in.” (Sept. 15, 22, 2002, Made after his Kind)
  • Joyce Meyer– “You know, I was listening to a set of tapes by one man and he explained it like this, and I think this kind of gets the point across, he said, ‘Why do people have such a fit about God calling His creation, His man—not His whole creation, but His man—little gods? If He’s God, what’s He going to call them but the god-kind?’ I mean, if you as a human being have a baby, you call it a human kind. If cattle has another cattle, they call it cattle-kind. So, I mean, what’s God supposed to call us? Doesn’t the Bible say we’re created in his image? Now, you understand I am not saying you are God with a capital G.” Joyce Meyer, “Authority and Opposition,” audio tape 1236.

The false teachings here make the dangerous and unbiblical assumption that creation (ie. Adam and Eve) was not only created by God, but created from God.  So just as a kitten comes from a cat, men come from God- making men little gods.  I remember talking to a Mormon once reminding him that God went to great lengths to record how Adam was formed…He was formed out of the dirt.  Man was not made from God, he was made from the dirt which God made out of nothing on Day 3.  Yes God breathed life into man, but no where, absolutely no where does God’s Word teach that man was created from God. 

Interesting side note:  “After their kind…”   All trees, plants, sea and air and land creatures were all created to produce after their own kind.  For mankind, the difference is not that we were created to be something other than men, i.e. little gods, but that man was created to produce after our own kind as vessels for the True and Living God, our Creator and Savior- Jesus Christ. “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.” 2 Corinthians 4:7

So is Jesus God?  Absolutely!!!  But should the true follower of Christ ever believe or teach that we are little gods?  Absolutely NOT!!! May we carefully consider the warning from the One and Only God in Jeremiah 10:11…

“Thus shall you say unto them, The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth, even they shall perish from the earth, and from under these heavens.” Jeremiah 10:11 

“Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like Me…”  Isaiah 46:9

“For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God Himself that formed the earth and made it; He hath established it, He created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else.”  Isaiah 45:18

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