There is a line - I think. Somewhere between faith and presumption. When one is no longer standing in faith, but in presumption. I’m not sure where the line starts to blur, but I know it’s there.
For example, I heard a story the other day of someone who had diabetes. They believed that God was going to heal them. They refused any medical treatment at all. They even refused to alter their diet. They simply believed their faith in God was going fix everything.
Now I can’t say that they’re wrong. Maybe, they’re standing in faith? Maybe God will bring about a mighty healing in their lives? But in my flesh, I feel as though they may be standing in presumption. You know, God’s going to take care of it, so it doesn’t matter what we do. We can abuse our bodies, because one day, God’s going to fix it.
Is it faith or is it presumption? I don’t know. You could go to the other extreme and say, “well, God’s not healed yet, so let’s do everything the doctors say.” Is that response a refusal to stand in faith?
The thing is you could apply this question to a million different situations. I’m sure Mary looked as if she was standing in presumption when she believed she would have a child without even knowing a man. I’m sure Abraham stood in presumption when he took matters into his own hands to accomplish God’s will in his life. But yet, God says that Abraham believed God and it was accounted to him as faith? David must have been ridiculed as standing in presumption when he refused to take the crown that was prophesied as his by Samuel long ago. Who would’ve said that the three Hebrew children were standing in faith when they tested God’s ability to rescue them from a firey furnace.
We could go on and on. Impossible stories that to an unbelieving world looked like men were standing in presumption, because they could not comprehend faith.
Saturday, September 15, 2007
Friday, March 16, 2007
The True Story of Coca-Cola's Origin
One day in the middle of the forest, somewhere in the eastern United States, various chemicals began collecting in a pool at the bottom of a huge cavern. As the weather began to change, a strong wind began to mix the chemicals thus causing a chemical reaction resulting in a black, bubbly liquid.
To further complicate matters in a separate pool other chemcials, namely aluminum, were coming together to form what appeared to be a container of some sort? What happened next was nothing short of miraculous - the wind swept up the black liquid depositing it inside the container creating a vacuum that caused the container to seal. Almost immediately colored liquids began falling from the sky landing on the container creating various patterns and shapes.
A hunter who was out in the woods happened by the location that all of these mysterious events took place - and a shiny red object caught his eye. As he approached the object he saw what appeared to be a sealed cup with the words “Coca-Cola Classic” inscribed on it. He picked it up and it was cool to the touch. The cup said “refreshing,” and being parched from a long day in the woods he decided to try and open the cup and see if he could drink it.
After thoroughly examining the cup he found a small lever on the top, that when lifted applied pressure to the lid of the cup. As he applied more pressure, a “popping” sound was heard and a hole opened up. As he looked inside he could see that his premonitions were correct - there was liquid in there. But he hesitated from drinking it, because it was black (unlike water) and bubbling. Maybe it was poison?
However, curiosity soon overtook him, and he lifted the cup to his mouth and in one fell swoop he devoured the contents. It was good. It wasn’t just good - it was really good! As he looked around there were more and more of these cups on the ground around him. He gathered them up, and hurried for home, forgetting all about the nature of the business that had originally brought him to the woods that day.
In his excitement, he shared his discovery with a friend who encouraged him to recreate the product and sell it. The rest was history.
And that my friends is the honest-to-God true story of how Coca-Cola was created!
To further complicate matters in a separate pool other chemcials, namely aluminum, were coming together to form what appeared to be a container of some sort? What happened next was nothing short of miraculous - the wind swept up the black liquid depositing it inside the container creating a vacuum that caused the container to seal. Almost immediately colored liquids began falling from the sky landing on the container creating various patterns and shapes.
A hunter who was out in the woods happened by the location that all of these mysterious events took place - and a shiny red object caught his eye. As he approached the object he saw what appeared to be a sealed cup with the words “Coca-Cola Classic” inscribed on it. He picked it up and it was cool to the touch. The cup said “refreshing,” and being parched from a long day in the woods he decided to try and open the cup and see if he could drink it.
After thoroughly examining the cup he found a small lever on the top, that when lifted applied pressure to the lid of the cup. As he applied more pressure, a “popping” sound was heard and a hole opened up. As he looked inside he could see that his premonitions were correct - there was liquid in there. But he hesitated from drinking it, because it was black (unlike water) and bubbling. Maybe it was poison?
However, curiosity soon overtook him, and he lifted the cup to his mouth and in one fell swoop he devoured the contents. It was good. It wasn’t just good - it was really good! As he looked around there were more and more of these cups on the ground around him. He gathered them up, and hurried for home, forgetting all about the nature of the business that had originally brought him to the woods that day.
In his excitement, he shared his discovery with a friend who encouraged him to recreate the product and sell it. The rest was history.
And that my friends is the honest-to-God true story of how Coca-Cola was created!
Turn The Light On
Imagine, if you will, going into a dark room and trying to gather up all of the darkness and push it out the door. Would you start in the darkest corner, and try to sweep all of the darkness out? Or get a net and try to catch it all? The images create a pretty comical picture - don't they? After all the task would be impossible.
But walk into the same room and simply turn the light on, and immediately the darkness flees! The concept is simple, darkness is vanquished by light, and not vice versa. Darkness is simply the absence of light. So in order to get rid of darkness we have to bring in the light.
Now take those same principles in the natural world and apply them to the spiritual. Why do we keep trying to fight the darkness in our lives by trying to eliminate the it? Our hearts are symbolic of the room that is filled with darkness - sin. We know that the darkness needs to go, so we go in with a baseball bat to beat back it's stranglehold on our lives. The harder we try to eliminate sin from our lives the less effective we become, because we expend all of our energy on fighting something that doesn't exist! Simply put, sin is the absence of God's light in our lives. Granted there are all kinds of vices that help define that darkness, but they cannot be overcome apart from the light of God's power.
What if we simply turned the light on? What if we walked into that room with the presence of God? Wouldn't the darkness/sin have to flee? Once God comes in, there would be no room for anything else. Since darkness is simply the absence of light, in God's presence sin can not abound.
Let's stop trying to catch the darkness and throw it out the door. Instead let's turn the light on, and watch the darkness flee!
But walk into the same room and simply turn the light on, and immediately the darkness flees! The concept is simple, darkness is vanquished by light, and not vice versa. Darkness is simply the absence of light. So in order to get rid of darkness we have to bring in the light.
Now take those same principles in the natural world and apply them to the spiritual. Why do we keep trying to fight the darkness in our lives by trying to eliminate the it? Our hearts are symbolic of the room that is filled with darkness - sin. We know that the darkness needs to go, so we go in with a baseball bat to beat back it's stranglehold on our lives. The harder we try to eliminate sin from our lives the less effective we become, because we expend all of our energy on fighting something that doesn't exist! Simply put, sin is the absence of God's light in our lives. Granted there are all kinds of vices that help define that darkness, but they cannot be overcome apart from the light of God's power.
What if we simply turned the light on? What if we walked into that room with the presence of God? Wouldn't the darkness/sin have to flee? Once God comes in, there would be no room for anything else. Since darkness is simply the absence of light, in God's presence sin can not abound.
Let's stop trying to catch the darkness and throw it out the door. Instead let's turn the light on, and watch the darkness flee!
43 “When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none. 44 Then he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order. 45 Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first. So shall it also be with this wicked generation.” (Matthew 12:43-45)
Thursday, March 15, 2007
I Don't Believe In Atheists
Atheists do not exist. They're not real. If there were ever a true atheist, they would not invest so much energy in trying to convince themselves and others that God does not exist. The thought of God consumes them.
If someone claims to be an atheist, I think they're lying. What they're really trying to say is that God let them down, and they can't reconcile how a good God allow such evil.
I simply cannot in good conscience believe in atheists.
If someone claims to be an atheist, I think they're lying. What they're really trying to say is that God let them down, and they can't reconcile how a good God allow such evil.
I simply cannot in good conscience believe in atheists.
Do Not Forbid . . .
There seems to be a lot of judgment within the body of Christ between different denominations, churches and even within churches themselves. The kind of judgment I am referring to here is judgment based upon differences of opinion. Where someone states that someone cannot be a Christian or follower of Christ for differences of opinion, differing interpretations of scripture, etc.
However, I am reminded of Jesus words to his disciples:
I think so many times we, as believers, are quick to disassociate with each other or label someone as a heretic or apostate based upon our opinion of them when we don’t have all of the facts. I think of folks who say that well-known personalities are not Christian for any number of reasons. But in fact their “opinion” comes without due diligence. It is based upon something they have heard from a third party like the media or a friend, but in reality they’ve probably never even held a conversation with the subject of their criticism.
I can’t judge whether any of you are right or wrong before the Lord, because I am not personally involved in any of your lives. But my hope in being here is that we can deal with issues, and learn from mistakes made. Our own, and each other’s.
I will say that having personally suffered under the heavy hand of someone in leadership, it has made me re-evaluate my own heart. Most times finding that I was just as guilty (on some level) as the one who wronged me toward someone else.
Hopefully, I am a stronger man for my experience. And hopefully I will not make the same mistake when in similar situations, because except for the grace of God there go I.
It saddens me to see the disunity in the body of Christ at large. We all think that we have the correct way of thinking. That we alone possess God's plan for reaching the lost, when in reality we've simply placed God in a box. We've tied His hands by stating what He will and will not use and do.
I wonder how He feels about our haste to forbid those (who call themselves by His name) from accomplishing God's will simply because they don't follow us?
However, I am reminded of Jesus words to his disciples:
38 Now John answered Him, saying, “Teacher, we saw someone who does not follow us casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow us.” 39 But Jesus said, “Do not forbid him, for no one who works a miracle in My name can soon afterward speak evil of Me. 40 For he who is not against us is on our side. 41 For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in My name, because you belong to Christ, assuredly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward. (Mark 9:38-41)
I think so many times we, as believers, are quick to disassociate with each other or label someone as a heretic or apostate based upon our opinion of them when we don’t have all of the facts. I think of folks who say that well-known personalities are not Christian for any number of reasons. But in fact their “opinion” comes without due diligence. It is based upon something they have heard from a third party like the media or a friend, but in reality they’ve probably never even held a conversation with the subject of their criticism.
I can’t judge whether any of you are right or wrong before the Lord, because I am not personally involved in any of your lives. But my hope in being here is that we can deal with issues, and learn from mistakes made. Our own, and each other’s.
I will say that having personally suffered under the heavy hand of someone in leadership, it has made me re-evaluate my own heart. Most times finding that I was just as guilty (on some level) as the one who wronged me toward someone else.
Hopefully, I am a stronger man for my experience. And hopefully I will not make the same mistake when in similar situations, because except for the grace of God there go I.
It saddens me to see the disunity in the body of Christ at large. We all think that we have the correct way of thinking. That we alone possess God's plan for reaching the lost, when in reality we've simply placed God in a box. We've tied His hands by stating what He will and will not use and do.
I wonder how He feels about our haste to forbid those (who call themselves by His name) from accomplishing God's will simply because they don't follow us?
Insufferable Sins
After reading a book on church discipline where the author suggested that there were certain sins that were considered insufferable, I began wondering if this was true. Are there certain sins that if committed can disqualify someone from church leadership or membership indefinitely? More accurately stated - forever?
I know that there are certain qualifications for those who are to be elders, but once disqualified does that mean forever disqualified? Aren't the gifts and callings of God irrevocable? Didn't I read that too somewhere?
What is an insufferable sin? The book defined it as this:
The book goes onto suggest that men and women who commit such high offenses should be excluded from the church, and never restored back into the body.
This argument is very persuasive and bold. The rule is hard and fast, and doesn't leave any room for adifference of opinion. But is it scriptural?
The book uses the scriptural support of 1 Corinthians 5.
But that's all the author offers in support of his position on insufferable sins. Everything else seems to be extra-biblical. One man's interpretation of one small passage.
Let's see if the Bible has anything else to say about sin:
Ok, I'm going to have to do some more digging. I don't see but only one insufferable sin? And that sin is blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. Most scholars are not even in agreement as to what this actually means, so I'm not going to try to define it here.
But the rest of the references seem to imply that everything else is fair game for being washed and covered by the blood? In fact, I think it said that the more grievous the sins we've been forgiven of, the greater our love for the Father will be?
So for all those out there who feel that they are beyond redemption or have been told you are beyond redemption let me share with you the good news - "Assuredly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men!" And those aren't my words, they're the words of the savior!
Blessings!
I know that there are certain qualifications for those who are to be elders, but once disqualified does that mean forever disqualified? Aren't the gifts and callings of God irrevocable? Didn't I read that too somewhere?
What is an insufferable sin? The book defined it as this:
Insufferable sins, ". . . namely: notorious and aggravating licentiousness. . ." such as ". . .perjury, forgery, grand larceny, absconding in debt, habitual licentiousness, murder, treason, and such like gross violations of moral, civil, and criminal law" merit the ". . .exclusion" of the brother or sister, "without the ceremony of labor, upon the simple and certain ascertainment of the facts." (Link)
The book goes onto suggest that men and women who commit such high offenses should be excluded from the church, and never restored back into the body.
"Some may object to this view as being a course too summary, and as savoring of a spirit too uncompromising and too unforgiving, to accord to the genius of the gospel; and especially in case of real penitence. They may think that a transgression, however atrocious, if there be penitence in the case, should be forgiven; and the member retained in the church." However, "the position that every offender, in case of real penitence for his sin, should be retained in the Church, as well as forgiven, is as impracticable, in point of fact, as it is inconsistent with the universal sense of right." (Link)
This argument is very persuasive and bold. The rule is hard and fast, and doesn't leave any room for adifference of opinion. But is it scriptural?
The book uses the scriptural support of 1 Corinthians 5.
Now the rule given by Paul for one of these cases . . , is found in 1 Cor. 5:13 and is the true rule for all of them.
"Put away from among yourselves that wicked person." (Link)
But that's all the author offers in support of his position on insufferable sins. Everything else seems to be extra-biblical. One man's interpretation of one small passage.
Let's see if the Bible has anything else to say about sin:
Matthew 12:31 “Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men.
Mark 3:28 “Assuredly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they may utter;
Luke 7:47 Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.”
Luke 7:48 Then He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”
Romans 4:7 “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven,And whose sins are covered;
Ephesians 1:7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace
Colossians 1:14 in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.
James 5:15 And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 2:12 I write to you, little children, Because your sins are forgiven you for His name’s sake.
Ok, I'm going to have to do some more digging. I don't see but only one insufferable sin? And that sin is blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. Most scholars are not even in agreement as to what this actually means, so I'm not going to try to define it here.
But the rest of the references seem to imply that everything else is fair game for being washed and covered by the blood? In fact, I think it said that the more grievous the sins we've been forgiven of, the greater our love for the Father will be?
So for all those out there who feel that they are beyond redemption or have been told you are beyond redemption let me share with you the good news - "Assuredly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men!" And those aren't my words, they're the words of the savior!
Blessings!
Monday, March 12, 2007
Appeasement Theology Is Hinduism
In a conversation with someone regarding their Appeasement Theology, they made a comment about how Jesus was god to the Christian, just as Vishnu was god to the Hindu, just as Allah was god to the Muslim. The man claimed that we were all worshipping the same thing - god.
It was interesting to me his choice of Vishnu in comparison to Jesus. I spent over 6 months living in India, interacting with Hindus, and studying their religion and culture. Vishnu is not Jesus, nor do they reference the same object. Hindus might claim that Vishnu is a god, but they cannot claim that he is Jesus.
Appeasement Theology is nothing more than Hinduism. In the Hindu religion, there is not one way to god or eternal life. There are many. That is the lie of Hinduism. The lie told to the people living in India was that they were all Hindu. There were so many different forms of worship in India, but each were told they were Hindu in an attempt to unite the people. It didn't matter the name of the god by which salvation was found, it was Hinduism. A great big free-for-all.
Vishnu, is not God. He is a false god, just as Baal was in the Old Testament. God makes it perfectly clear that we are to have no other gods before Him. He will not share His glory with another.
Having been to India, and talking with many Hindus, the hardest thing for a Hindu to do is to forsake their numerous gods. They have no trouble accepting Jesus Christ as another god. They put their crucifix on the wall with the rest of their idols.
I remember sharing with one friend about Jesus Christ. I had invited this man to a Bible study we were having. He said he would gladly come. In the course of the conversation he asked me what set Christianity apart from other religions. I said, well Jesus claimed that he was the only way, the only truth and the only life, and that no one comes to the Father (goes to heaven) except through Him.
It was as if I dropped a bomb inside his soul. His temper quickly turned to anger as he cried, “I DON’T BELIEVE THIS! JESUS WAS NOT THE ONLY WAY.” I stood firm in my position that He was, even-though I felt as if he could hit me at any moment. He said through clenched teeth and fists that he would not be attending my Bible study. I advised that was fine, but wanted him to know that he was still invited. He left in a rage, stating that he was not coming over and over again, while I reaffirmed my invitation.
He called me the next day, and asked if he was still invited, which I implied that he was. My friend was the first one there, and was so disruptive that I asked him to step outside. He asked many questions, still vehemently opposed to Jesus' exclusive claim of being the only way.
Ironically, at the end of my 6 months in India, this man was the only real fruit that I remember seeing. Why? Because he was honestly seeking truth.
He came to me one day, and said “I think God spoke to me last night.” I said, “what did he say?” He said, “that he wants me to believe in Jesus.” I said, “what do you think?” He said, “I think that God brought you all the way from the United States so that I might know Him. I think Jesus led me to you, because He wants me to know Him.”
He came to know the Truth. I never tried to convert him, I simply shared with him the Truth. It was the Holy Spirit of God that opened his eyes so that he might see the lie that he had embraced. That lie was Hinduism. That there were many ways to eternal life. My friend had so embraced the lie and made it such a part of his thinking that he appeared willing to go to blows over it.
But when he seriously evaluated the question and the claims, in the end he consented. Why, because he had seen and heard the WAY, the TRUTH, and the LIFE for himself. He had tasted and had seen that the Lord was good!
It was interesting to me his choice of Vishnu in comparison to Jesus. I spent over 6 months living in India, interacting with Hindus, and studying their religion and culture. Vishnu is not Jesus, nor do they reference the same object. Hindus might claim that Vishnu is a god, but they cannot claim that he is Jesus.
Appeasement Theology is nothing more than Hinduism. In the Hindu religion, there is not one way to god or eternal life. There are many. That is the lie of Hinduism. The lie told to the people living in India was that they were all Hindu. There were so many different forms of worship in India, but each were told they were Hindu in an attempt to unite the people. It didn't matter the name of the god by which salvation was found, it was Hinduism. A great big free-for-all.
Vishnu, is not God. He is a false god, just as Baal was in the Old Testament. God makes it perfectly clear that we are to have no other gods before Him. He will not share His glory with another.
Having been to India, and talking with many Hindus, the hardest thing for a Hindu to do is to forsake their numerous gods. They have no trouble accepting Jesus Christ as another god. They put their crucifix on the wall with the rest of their idols.
I remember sharing with one friend about Jesus Christ. I had invited this man to a Bible study we were having. He said he would gladly come. In the course of the conversation he asked me what set Christianity apart from other religions. I said, well Jesus claimed that he was the only way, the only truth and the only life, and that no one comes to the Father (goes to heaven) except through Him.
It was as if I dropped a bomb inside his soul. His temper quickly turned to anger as he cried, “I DON’T BELIEVE THIS! JESUS WAS NOT THE ONLY WAY.” I stood firm in my position that He was, even-though I felt as if he could hit me at any moment. He said through clenched teeth and fists that he would not be attending my Bible study. I advised that was fine, but wanted him to know that he was still invited. He left in a rage, stating that he was not coming over and over again, while I reaffirmed my invitation.
He called me the next day, and asked if he was still invited, which I implied that he was. My friend was the first one there, and was so disruptive that I asked him to step outside. He asked many questions, still vehemently opposed to Jesus' exclusive claim of being the only way.
Ironically, at the end of my 6 months in India, this man was the only real fruit that I remember seeing. Why? Because he was honestly seeking truth.
He came to me one day, and said “I think God spoke to me last night.” I said, “what did he say?” He said, “that he wants me to believe in Jesus.” I said, “what do you think?” He said, “I think that God brought you all the way from the United States so that I might know Him. I think Jesus led me to you, because He wants me to know Him.”
He came to know the Truth. I never tried to convert him, I simply shared with him the Truth. It was the Holy Spirit of God that opened his eyes so that he might see the lie that he had embraced. That lie was Hinduism. That there were many ways to eternal life. My friend had so embraced the lie and made it such a part of his thinking that he appeared willing to go to blows over it.
But when he seriously evaluated the question and the claims, in the end he consented. Why, because he had seen and heard the WAY, the TRUTH, and the LIFE for himself. He had tasted and had seen that the Lord was good!
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