October 8, 2011

  • My Birthday is today

    19 years ago, I became a Christian.  It wasn't an easy process for me --- at that point in time I had already been in the church for 10 straight years and many people believed I already was a "Christian".  I wasn't.  It was merely a game to play every Sunday --- and a list of rules for me to do or don't.  I look back in retrospect and say now that I was a moralist during those 10 years... a legalist who thought that living a good life made me a good person.  I was wrong.  Paul looked at his own early years of searching for God and said it was all nothing more than garbage on a huge garbage pile.  (Philippians 3:7-8)

    I hurt a lot of people along the way with my sinfulness and in the end I brought a judgment upon myself that cost me 2 years of my life.  Thing is, though, I accepted the judgment as right and proper.  And where I sinned against someone, I did my best to go to them and repent.  My conversion was atypical in that I openly repented in front of every one.... even though it cost me everything I had at the time. (and it did).

    Two people who knew me before and after I was a Christian once told me (this is a composite of their statements):

    Back when I lived with you, you were my role model of how NOT to be a Christian.  Everything you did was motivated by selfishness and pride, that was clearly evident to most everyone but yourself.  I used to get so angry with you when you would call yourself "Christian" because it put a bad name upon those of us who were actually trying to be followers of Christ.

    But I have to say that having come to know you now, the change is so entirely radical as to be unbelievable.  It's almost like you used to be a dragon --- and now you're a puppy, and if Jesus can turn dragons into puppies, well, there's hope for the world yet.  I now find being with you a sheer pleasure if only because your passion for Christ is so refreshing and challenging.

    I am not kidding, those things were honestly said about me from those who knew me before and after my conversion. 

    Giving birth is painful to the mother.  I am not sure if there has ever been a scientific study to find out just how painful it is for the child.  Consider for a moment what is said of giving birth (the best description I ever heard is that it's like trying to shoot a watermelon through a waterhose) and think of it from the opposing position... imagine BEING the watermelon going through the straw... ouch.

    My new birth was painful.  I lost my freedom at the time.  I lost more friends than I can count.  I lost my pride... which did really hurt.  I lost my arrogance and selfishness.... God took me down to nothing, and then refashioned me as He saw fit... and it hurt.  I don't regret it in the least, though I lost family, friends, job and prestige.  These things that the world chases after because they believe they'll find fulfillment in them --- I learned that these things were worthless in the scope of eternity.  Not worth spit. 

    Matthew 10:37-39 Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.  Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me.  Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.

    Today is my birthday.  My spiritual birthday.  and never in a million years would I have guessed where I would be taken along the way of serving my Master, my Savior, my Lord.  If you had told me even 5 years ago that I would be a missionary... it would have seemed foreign to me.  And yet, this is where God has placed me.  If you would have told me 10 years ago that my writing would be useful... I would have laughed.  I wrote only for myself back then... and the few friends who managed to pry my notebooks out of my hands.

    This was written about me yesterday by the friend I have known longest (it's now going on 30 years for us).  He was responding to my request that he read my last post (RE: We ARE all evil) and whether or not I had stepped off into heresy.   What he said really was touching --- but gave me pause to stop and think about where I've been, what I've gone through, and where God's taken me along the way.

    First, I must admit, it's been a while (maybe a couple years or more) since I've read any of your writings.
    WOW .. God has matured your heart and head in your OLD AGE (sorry, had to get that in there ... we're both getting older!)  Seriously, that was good writing (the opening part, not the follow-up EDITORIAL NOTE: He's refrencing the debate that ensued in the comments after the post...).

    ------- (boring technical stuff I won't bother reposting) -----

    To answer your question - no, you're not off in anything you are saying.
    And THANKS for sending that.
    It was a good reminder to read your stuff.

    19 years ago I became a Christian... and today, I am humbled to remember just what I've been saved from.... and how amazing the adventure has been since I humbled myself before God and repented of all my sin.  And.... I am humbled by how God can use us... if we simply obey and submit to Him without condition or reservation clauses.  I am a sinner.  I know grace.  And by that grace my life is all the richer and more precious.  Amen.

October 6, 2011

  • We ARE all Evil

    This is not the post I intended to be next, but I came to realize that in order to post the next post, I had to re-introduce a term that we've lost sight of.  A term critical to understanding why Jesus had to die and why God himself has to call us to himself.  That term is evil, and if my last mini-post is any indication (18 views, no comments) then there is a serious deficiency in how we understand and view the term now-a-days.

    There are roughly 450 passages in the Bible which speak of "Evil".  I've taken the time to review each and every one and make notes... it took me several days time.  In doing so I came to understand that those things we call "sins" are called by God "EVIL" and that there is a good reason that Jesus point blank stated that it is our core nature.  We ARE Evil.

    In our modern day and age, we've come to view Evil as something --- SOMEONE --- ELSE which does that which surpasses the standard for normal civil or societal behavior.  The Starbucks worker who fouled up your order is not "evil" --- Hitler is evil.  The driver who cut you off in traffic this morning is not "evil" --- Jeffrey Dahlmer is evil.  It seems to come down to something of a numerical statistic ---- Kill "X" number of people and BAM... you're evil.  When Osama Bin Lama laid to waste the World Trade Center in New York he was "EVIL"... but before that time, he was merely a bad man.

    Yet, Jesus says this

    This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light BECAUSE THEIR DEEDS WERE EVIL.  (John 3:19)

    “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone?  Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake?  If you, then, THOUGH YOU ARE EVIL, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!

    Jesus seemed to believe that all men were evil, by nature... and that all our deeds were evil as well. 

    How does that sit with you?  Do you believe that?  Have you looked at yourself today and thought "My, how evil I am."   We seem to think of ourselves in pure terms that are condoning of our flesh.  "I'm Ok, You're Ok"... so the modern fairytale tells us.  Surely "God made me this way" and noone has the right to question my behavior --- thus we pour our excuses out for our behavior and justify our selves --- It's not my fault, God's the one to blame!

    In going through the Bible verses, I found that every one of the Ten Commandments ---- Every one of them ---- is viewed as evil if you break them.  Commit Adultry?  It's evil in the eyes of God.  Sex before marriage?  It's evil in the eyes of God.   Break a vow (a promise)... it's evil in the eyes of God.  Lie, cheat, steal --- they are all more than mere sins --- they are all counted as evil somewhere in merely the first 5 books of Scripture.  Even --- now get this --- disobeying your parents... is evil in the eyes of God.  (It's counted as rebellion and stubbornness)  As I stated.... nearly every single one of the Ten Commandments is represented.  If you break them... you are evil. 

    Footnote:  I found this one extremely fascinating --- the law of Lex Talionis (Latin: An Eye for an eye) was said of those who bear false witness!!!!  If you go before a court of law with the intent of seeing someone else get hurt and you are found to be a false-witness --- then let it be done TO YOU as you sought for it to be done TO THEM.    Check it for yourself.... Deuteronomy 19:16-21  --- LIARS.... should have come back upon themselves the evil that they sought to push upon others.  Does that make you scared in the least?

    If you show contempt for the ruling of a court of law --- a ruling that wasn't in your favor, say --- your contempt is seen as evil by God. And on and on it goes.

    Time and again I read the term evil as it was applied to things we barely hesitate to notice today.  Someone screwing someone else's wife.... oh, that's not evil, that's merely an affair --- it's bad only if you get caught.  Cheating on your taxes --- that's not evil, that's just making sure you stick it to the government for all that they didn't give to you.  Breaking the speed limit --- it's to be expected, everyone else is doing it.  There is nothing that we do anymore which we define as "EVIL".... and yet it seems that time and again the Bible specifically labels it that way. 

    Today we live in an age that tells us that we're basically good at heart, that we are not bad people, that we are ok so long as what we do doesn't hurt anyone else.  As long as it makes our feelings tingle and happy and doesn't violate whatever moral society is currently aping.... then you must be good, cause very few people are "EVIL".... we're all "Good" men & women.

    In the end, though, for all I could write about the Bible saying what is evil... it's really the dictionary that is going to condemn us all.

    e·vil   [ee-vuhl]

    adjective
    1. morally wrong or bad; immoral; wicked: evil deeds; an evil life.
    2. harmful; injurious: evil laws.
    3. characterized or accompanied by misfortune or suffering; unfortunate; disastrous: to be fallen on evil days.
    4. due to actual or imputed bad conduct or character: an evil reputation.
    5. marked by anger, irritability, irascibility, etc.: He is known for his evil disposition.

    noun

    6. that which is evil; evil quality, intention, or conduct: to choose the lesser of two evils.
    7. the force in nature that governs and gives rise to wickedness and sin.
    8. the wicked or immoral part of someone or something: The evil in his nature has destroyed the good.
    9. harm; mischief; misfortune: to wish one evil.
    10. anything causing injury or harm: Tobacco is considered by some to be an evil.

    Dictionary.com's definition for the record.

    Someone marked by anger has "an evil" disposition.  Wish harm or mischief on someone is to wish one "Evil".  Something that is morally wrong or bad encompasses "an evil life" (although our modern age would question any seeming sense of morality)....  seems that from merely a dictionary definition that something far more encompassing of basic sinful intent or actions would be pointed to.  If simple bad conduct can garner someone an "Evil reputation" --- then maybe all of us ARE evil.... whether we think so or not.

     

October 2, 2011

  • What is "Evil" anymore?

    I'm working on two posts back to back.  I have to.  One will explain the other, and without an introduction post, the second one doesn't hit it's mark.

    Since both posts are taking time for me to research and work out, I thought I would post up this short thought and allow people to simply respond.

    Today, in our society and modern enlightened age --- What is "Evil" any more?

    Respond, comment, debate or simply drop me a message in my box.... I really want to hear from you --- and maybe even your friends --- on this one.

    Thanks to one and all.

September 27, 2011

  • Asking Evolution questions to an atheist

    So Facebook provided yet one more opportunity to work on my apologetics... and I thought that maybe the information might do some good out here for others to ponder and consider.  Here's the conversation as it worked through.

    A mutual friend posted a picture that stated the following.

    Religion is like a P**is
    It's fine to have one
    It's fine to be proud of it
    But please don't whip it out in public and start waving it around
    and PLEASE, don't try to shove it down my children's throats

    I responded first.....

    ME --- Can't say that I agree with this one, maybe cause I've seen "religion" in a totally different light... and seen just how beautiful it really can be and how wonderfully God can change the human existance when we submit to him. Guess to each his own... sadly.

    JJ --- @Wayne: I know, right? I can't tell you how fulfilling it is to know the one true God. I for one have been touched by His noodly appendage and wish everyone else could be so touched. It is sad for all of those who will never know the overwhelming love of the Flying Spaghetti Monster. Have a blessed day. Ramen.

    ME --- Without making this into a preachy retort, I'll only say this JJ --- I've seen all the evidence and more to give me reason to doubt what the world tauts as the "next big thing" and go with that which actually has been standing firm since the beginning of time. Keep your Flying Spaghetti Monsters and Pink Unicorns --- I once was an Atheist, now... I've seen the light.

    JJ --- Do you claim that the "light" you've seen is truer than Russell's teapot or the gods of Olympus or Allah of Muslims? Given your response, you appear to at least to find some unfalsifiable gods (or more generally, ideas) to be unworthy of consideration.

    I'll bite: what separates your god from those other ideas? If you cannot provide any evidence more persuasive than personal experience or personal revelation, then you must realize that your claims of god rest on foundations no more epistemologically sound than those of Muslims, Scientologists, or especially of the Buddhists you proselytize. Or indeed of the FSM.

    Knowing this, how can you possibly tell people that you know the truth? Regardless of whether you're right (and I find it exceedingly unlikely that you are), you can't KNOW you're right. If I were to tell you I KNOW there are an even number of 1nt coins in the till at the OK Mart at Academia Sinica, I'd be lying to you whether or not I turned out to be right. Yet, I've a 50/50 chance of being right -- far greater than the chance any one of the contradictory religions is right. In that context, how can you in good conscience condescend to those who believe differently that you are in possession of the truth and that it is sad that others can't see the light you do? How is this any different than a lie I might tell about knowing how many 1nt coins are in a till I've never seen?

    ME --- JJ --- let me turn the questions around to you --- What force in this universe is strong enough to hold oppositely charged (and therefore, by the laws of science, naturally repulsvie) ions together? Your very atoms exist in a conundrum, for at their core is positive and negative charged ions seemingly co-existing in harmony.

    Ever study mathematics? Ever study the rules of mutation? It's fascinating when you combine the two... Mutations generally tend negatively --- an extra toe, an unusable appendage, or like me, an extra vertabrae in your spine (it's the truth, I am a mutant). These mutations do not breed forward, they die with the mutation. that accounts for roughly 90% of all mutations. Of the remaining 10%, 9.5% are deadly mutations --- killing the host upon birth or thereafter, they generally are not given time to breed forward. A hole in ones heart, a non-functional butt-hole (I saw a rat that was born without a hole for it's pee to be relieved.... it wasn't a pretty site after a few days.) or the like.

    Now... we're left with .5% This percentage accounts for forward-moving mutations. But.... generally you have the whole dominance / recessive matter coming into play, so your fraction splits further.

    This number keeps getting smaller and smaller, mind you... until you come up with something that mathematicians actually have a term for.... "a mathematical improbability." In other words, the math is so minute as to render the possibility of occurrence moot.

    Now this is where you land with evolution.

    Tell me again how you got here....

    Ever consider WHY (not how...) we see everything in color? Everything (evolutionarily speaking) evolves upwards with purpose. Well... what purpose does seeing in color serve? Plenty of animals see in black and white and get by fine....so what is the point of seeing in color? It doesn't distinguish friend from foe -- doesn't tell me what's edible or not --- doesn't even do a good job of telling me my light has turned green while I'm impatiently waiting for it to turn green.  In effect --- seeing in color is pointless. UNLESS --- you factor in seeing the beauty in a sunset, the playful blush of embarassment on a loved one's face when you've surprised her or any number of millions of scenarios wherein color actually serves an aesthetic purpose solely. For the enjoyment of beauty... we see in color. There is NO --- N.O. --- Evolutionary purpose to color vision. Go figure.

    I told you --- I was an atheist. I spent many years digging into these things.... and in the end I had to admit that science was guessing just as much as it claimed religion was.

    Let me end with this question. What are the basics of scientific principle?

    1) form a hypothesis
    2) establish a test to put the hypothesis through it's paces
    3) watch the test run through and tabulate data
    4) (repeat last two steps to make sure it wasn't a fluke)
    5) evaluate data and form a conclusion.

    So I ask you.... what person in all of history has had BILLIONS AND BILLIONS OF YEARS to watch "evolution" go through it's paces and tabulate the data for SOUND (mark that word) scientific conclusion???? What test could you honestly create????

    The point is --- Evolution is established on short-cuts, and as every student of science knows, short-cuts lead to false conclusions.

    I keep making this point over and over --- Evolution is based on the dating of strata which evolutionary scientists tell me was laid down gradually over time.

    And yet.....

    history proves time and again that this is not the fact of the matter --- strata is laid down catastrophically --- consider Mount St Helens ---- one eruption laid down nearly TWENTY FEET of strata in a single day. Thousands of years from now Scientists will dig through that strata and say that they found an advanced civilization that co-existed with the neanderthal.... simply because one was exposed at the time that the other was catastrophically buried.

    And from all of this I could simply point to a universal flood that explains why there are single-celled SEA creatures deposited at the tops of our highest mountains... (google it, you'll find that to be a scientific anomaly) go figure. (which, by the way, also disproves the other side of Evolutionary theorum --- namely that everything progresses universally constant. Tell that to the Hundreds of thousands of Pacific Asians who've died in Tsunami's in the last 10 years alone.)

    All these questions.... with no real answers within science... and you want to question me on something as simple as a creator who has the power to hold oppositely charged ions together in a glorious balance.... Sorry, I'm sticking to my guns here, cause this one makes more sense.

    There's things as they have progressed thus far... if there's more, I'll post it when it hits.  I seem to think that this will be the end of the conversation though.

September 20, 2011

  • Judgement comes, P4: A Presuming Spirit

    There are very few things that scare me.  Honestly, I mean that. 

    1. Ghosts?  Don't believe in them --- It is appointed for man ONCE to die, and then for judgment. (Hebrews 9:27) 
    2. Monsters?  Don't buy into them --- there's so very little of this world that man hasn't seen that if there is a bigfoot or yeti or Loch Ness out there... they're avoiding us for a reason. 
    3. Aliens?  I'll quote Larry Norman on this one --- If there is life on other planets, then I'm sure that He must know and He's been there once already and has died to save their souls.  

    This universe may be big --- but it's not bigger than God, nor His grace, nor his ability to save.

    No, there are seriously few things that scare me --- but this is one of them.

    In our day and age, information is wealth.  Those with the greatest knowledge at their disposal presume to have power.  And with the internet so freely available to one and all --- the pride of man shows it's ugly side time and time again.  I was just reflecting this morning on the fact that the more civilized a society becomes ---- the greater it's propensity towards sinful things becomes.  Today, we think ourselves not as sinners, but rather as good people who just happen to do bad things --- occasionally... well, infrequently.... ok, hardly ever. 

    But it's not information or knowledge that scares me, it's the presumption that we can all be teachers.... that we all know God intimately and can pull Him out of our pocket at any time --- we've all got this "god" thing figured out and can teach you how you, also, can know "the truth as I see it".  (The link is to my post from April entitled "What's wrong with American Christianity, Pt 2: Wiki-Bible-Pedia)

    There is a Bible verse that says that teachers (within the Church) will face a harsher judgment (James 3:1).  Ever wonder why that is?  When we teach, we presume to explain the Truth of God.  Who He is, what He's all about, and more importantly (cause everyone loves to be a follower) what God expects of us.  We, in teaching, represent God ------ or.... we MIS-represent God and lead people astray. 

    Wrap your mind around this for a moment.

    There are only two paths.  Heaven.  Hell.

    By speaking the truth, we lead people away from Hell and into Heaven.  BUT ---- ONLY ---- by speaking THE TRUTH.  Half-truths are weapons in the hands of our enemy to deceive and lead people astray.  If we only give half of the picture --- we are not leading people to God.... we're leading them to an IDOL we've named "God" and thus leading them into the sin of idolatry.

    Every cult and major religion was started by someone who presumed to teach FOR GOD.  Someone dissatisfied with God's TRUTH who decided the Church had it wrong and he should set them straight.  Joseph Smith (Mormonism), Charles Taze Russell (Jehovah's Witnesses), Mary Baker Eddy (Christian Science), Mohammed (Islam), Nimrod  (Founder of the Babylonian cults which still pollute and foul the world today) --- the list of people who presumed to speak for God is massive, and every one of these people had one thing in common --- they presumed to be teachers of / for / sent by the one true God when in fact, they spurned truth and spread lies in it's place leading

    BILLIONS

    of people into Hell.

    Paul said that new believers ought not to be servants within the church. 

    Greek word: Diakonos --- translated by the King James Crew as "Deacon" but in reality the word simply means "servant"... someone, anyone, who works in and for the church. 

    There was good reason for that --- new believers don't know enough lead and teach.... they have zeal, but it is not tempered by knowledge. (Romans 10:2)  They are prone to error and as such, prone to leading others astray.  There is good reason why James told us to be quick to listen and slow to speak (James 1:19).  Our words will someday judge us.

    Our words
    will someday
    judge us.

    Have you ever fully thought about that?  There is a judgment of believers (1 Corinthians 3:11-14).  Judgment STARTS WITH believers (1 Peter 4:17) and then moves onward to non-believers. 

    Footnote --- Consider for a moment the parable of the Sheep and Goats (Matthew 25:31-46).  WHO was dealt with first?  The sheep.  The blessing comes to the faithful ones, then... judgment for all else.  Even the parable of the Wheat and the weeds (Matthew 13: 24-30) shows that there will be a separating of true and false believers someday...

    Jesus said that for every idol word that comes out of our mouths  ---- we WILL be judged (Matthew 12:36 --- the word "WILL" makes that a promise).  I honestly don't believe that we believe this any more.  I honestly believe that we still buy into the whole "well, I'm really pretty decent and surely God sees my efforts for him and will consider that in my favor" attitude that stinks of trying to buy grace.  I say we don't believe this because far to many of us presume to be teachers --- speaking forth on God's behalf without taking the time or effort to make sure we're speaking T-R-U-T-H.  (2 Timothy 2:15)

    Unless the LORD builds the house,
       its builders labor in vain.
    Unless the LORD watches over the city,
       the watchmen stand guard in vain.
     In vain you rise early
       and stay up late,
    toiling for food to eat—
       for he grants sleep to those he loves.  (Psalms 127:1-2) 

    That was one of the greatest problems in Israel --- prophets who spoke for the Lord abounded.... and not one of them was called to be a prophet.  They just wanted the title, prominence, importance, or maybe they just liked having power over people ---- esp. the king.  But time and again God would send a true prophet to correct the false ones and you know what --- the false prophets never once repented.  They all still presumed to speak for God, even when faced by the truth.

    Bear all of this in mind for the next sentence.

    For every 450 prophets of Ba'al --- there was only 1 prophet of God.

    For every 1,000 false teachers, who presume to represent God --- there's only a few, a handful out there, who are really doing the harder work of staying faithful and true to God's Word and seeking to represent God faithfully, honestly and without creating yet one more "god" idol.   Billions across this planet follow some man's teaching ABOUT God --- from men who did not know God, and only serve to led men to hell.... In God's name. 

    Consider for a moment the next few verses in light of what I am saying

    The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.  Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. (1 Timothy 4:1-2)

    For the time will come when men will NOT put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.  They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.  (2 Timothy 4:3-4)

    Today, we presume to speak for God.... to teach His word.... to know His mind.... we all want to share what we presume to know about God... without taking the time to honestly get to know God first.  We've become like Israel during the time of Ahab... and one of the more common indicators of judgments approach was when everyone assumed the role of prophet and presumed to speak for God.

    Judgment comes... are we ready?

    I was going to add this as a comment, but I hit "edit" instead of "add comments" and was taken here... guess here is as good a place as any to say what I need to.

    Before anyone comes forward and says "Ya know... what you just wrote... it applies to you as much as anyone else..."  I want to say that I completely understand that --- and live in fear of it.

    Years ago I led a daily bible study with some guys.  In order to do the one hour bible study, I spent SIX HOURS A DAY IN STUDY.  Six hours.  Every day.  Just to teach one.  I stood fearful of misrepresenting God, His Truth, His Word or His Son to those men --- and I stand equally as fearful today, some 19 years later.... even though I know quite a bit more than I did back then.

    Am I "God's spokesperson?"  No.

    Humorous footnote: Someone in the Charismatic movement once said of me "God is going to form new religion through you --- to bring the world back to pure Christianity."   I laughed in the guys face and told him that was the last thing this world needed, one more religion.  That was nearly 30 years ago, and in all that time I have never felt that "prophecy" to be anything more than a joke.

    Do I represent the Word of God faithfully?  I do my best.... even when what I say cuts me as well as everyone else. 

    When I was leading the Bible study 20 years back, I once stopped in the middle of the study and told the guys I couldn't continue for the lesson --- I needed to ask forgiveness from someone I had offended and couldn't teach with that sin not dealt with. 

    I live under no pretense of being perfect... of knowing everything... and there have been many times I have been rebuked by others and have had to remove a post for a time in order to do more study or prayer to make sure what I said was right.  @Ehrinn_l, for instance, has faithfully and patiently sought to keep me on the straight and narrow over the years, and I respect that.  Her rebuke is always "iron sharpening iron..."

    Nevertheless, what I said is true... and you can verify it against the Bible... in fact, I strongly recommend it.   Be like the noble Bereans (Acts 17:11) my friends.... Check God's word for what is and isn't true.... and do your best to live by what you read there.

September 14, 2011

  • What is "Tithing" anyway?

    A recent ReveLife post (Linked for convenience) purported to teach believers about tithing and likewise sought to compel Christians into doing so by calling us "Robbers" if we're not.   The original poster merely re-cited the Malachi passage and applied it to all Christians today... just as she was doing with the whole matter of tithing in general. 

    Well, I caught the post originally at it's poster's website where I sought to correct her regarding the purpose of tithing.  Clicking over to Revelife proper, I discovered that Revelife had reposted her thoughts... so I wound up making my comment there as well.  My comment generated further comments, including one persistent plea to make it a post.  So I guess I'm doing that now --- with extended footnotes covering what I originally left out for brevity's sake.

    I posted this at your Revelife site directly, guess it might help to repost it here.... since Revelife seems intent on spreading your BAD rendering of the use and intent of "Tithing".  Here's what I wrote previously ---

    It never, NEVER ceases to amaze me how little Christians today KNOW their bible.  And Tithing... is the first evidence of just that ignorance.  You write so eloquently... and yet you miss the point entirely by skipping over key passages on tithing.

    Let me ask you this --- what was the point of the tithe?

    According to Deuteronomy, we are called to EAT our tithe.  It says this not once, not twice, but three separate times.  In one passage specifically, (Deut 14:22- 26) it spells it out plainly.

    You are not to EAT the Tithe of your fields at home.

    You are only to EAT the tithe of your fields at the place where the Lord will call HIS home.
    If the place where the Lord calls HIS home is to far, then convert your tithe to money --- take the money with you --- go to the place where the Lord has placed HIS Name --- use the money to buy WHATEVER YOU DESIRE --- and EAT the tithe of that year AT the place where the Lord has placed his name.

    The following verses also lay out that the purpose of the Tithe was likewise for the benefit of the Levites who had no inheritance in the Land so that they would not be forgotten.

    Christians --- in all of the entire New Testament --- are never once called to Tithe.  Not once. Ever. N-o-w-h-e-r-e.  We are called to "GIVE"... as our hearts so purposes.

    1st Corinthians 16: 1-2 --- GIVE

    Romans 12:8 --- GIVE

    2 Corinthians 9:7-11 --- GIVE

    Philippians 4:15-17 --- GIVING
    James 2: 15-16 --- Giving (to meet the needs of others)

    The passage everyone loves to point to is Galatians 6:7-9 --- but in context it's not about tithing, it's about doing good and providing for the needs of others.  People have twisted this one out of context for many centuries.

    It comes down to this --- far to many people think God is impressed by their faithful "TITHING" when God doesn't look to your money, he looks to your heart.  Here's the clearest passage of all on the matter.

    Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.  (2 Corinthians 9:7)  >>>>> Interesting footnote: The greek reads backwards and says "A cheerful GIVER loves God."   Consider that one for a moment.

    Please, take the time to re-read your bible in context.  Tithing was a matter for Israel so that the Levite tribe would not be forgotten and likewise so that men would remember that it was God who gave them the increase.... when they celebrated their tithes by eating them. 

    Re-write your post.

    -----

    Now, all that said... I must say that there are passages in the gospel wherein Jesus was directly dealing with Israelites on the matter of tithing --- but this was PRE-Church, wasn't it?  Those passages are references to an entirely separate entity (RE: the nation Israel), same as the Old Testament passages you cited above.

    Go back to the Malachi passage for a mere moment and look at the context.

    Who is robbing God?  (Your whole NATION)
    Where are they to bring the Tithe?  (Into the Storehouse --- is the church ever referred to as "a storehouse?  No, it's the Bride of Christ... not some dingy food warehouse!!!)
    Why are they to bring it there?  (So the Levites can eat)

    Everything I have pointed to in my original comment is shown specifically in the very passage you use as your proof text.  Tithing was an Israelite matter specifically set up so that those with no inheritance would not be forgotten.

    Next thing we know you'll be trying to re-instate Nazarite Vows.... sheeesh.  (Ummm, Paul did under take Nazarite Vows on two separate occasions in the book of Acts --- but I don't see that commanded of Christians anywhere either.)

    God wants your life --- and if He has that, your money is His as well.  Give to Him as you see you can, and know that He's pleased by that, no matter how great or how small.  Your money says nothing about your holiness --- it only serves to allow us to do good to others, such as what we're called to be doing anyway.

    Having said all that --- there were a few more points that I failed to note merely because they didn't seem relevant at the time.

    1. Tithing is not 10%
      • There are three separate tithes in Scripture, one for the priests, one as a celebration, and one for the poor.   EACH are 10% making your total tithe (if you want to be serious about it) around 30% of your income.
      • Since Israel had no national taxation policy --- you may actually see this as one of the first attempts to procure one.  Consider where the money went ---
        1. governmental employees (Levites)  (Numbers 18:21)
          • Sidenote: Even this was divided down further
            • The Levites were allowed to take 10% of all the 10%'s given as their personal portions.  (Numbers 18:26-27)
            • the Levites were also commanded to give another 10% of all the 10%'s given to the priests who labored in the House of the Lord -(Numbers 18: 28 --- Nehemiah 10:37-39 shows this in practice)
        2. the poor  (RE: the orphan, widow and foreigner --- Deuteronomy 26:12)
        3. a national festival for which you were one of the many participants.  (Deuteronomy 14:23)
      • Sound similar to what we have today?
    2. Tithing was of crops and livestock
      • You might state that Farming was a nation economy --- but there were other businesses, and not all of them revolved around agriculture. 
        • Prostitutes were not told to relinquish 10% of their take. 
        • Neither were politicians  (When was the last time a King had to surrender taxes back to his own nation anyway????)
        • nor slave traders (I'm sorry --- I have to take 1/10th of your slave to cover your tithe, would you prefer to lose a hand or a foot?)
        • Cooks, chefs and other restaurant personnel --- someone had to keep Jerusalem fed....
        • Fishermen were not required to tithe --- I'm not sure they could have gotten it into the storehouse without refrigeration.
      • You may likewise state that agriculture was more important and thus a far more ready income generator.
        • There was national coinage --- usually made from precious metals.... Jesus paid his temple tax with coins pulled from a fishes mouth, remember?
        • Likewise you find all over scripture that Silver and Gold were tradable commodities and even had standards of measurements for keeping local business men honest.  A worker is worth a denarii.
        • Farm livestock were far more burdensome to evaluate as a means of wealth.  What was the price of a camel?  Livestock values are never mentioned anywhere in Scripture --- Gold and Silver is.
    3. Tithing was YEARLY and with special instructions for the "Every THIRD YEAR tithe".
      • Could you imagine how this would break down the infrastructure of the modern church if they preached "ONCE A YEAR -- don't forget to tithe"
      • The "every third year" tithe was the one set up for the widows, orphans and general hospitality.  This tithe was allowed to be eaten at home (as opposed to the yearly tithe which was eaten at Jerusalem) and was specifically to encourage generosity and compassion for your lesser well of neighbors.

    Now ---- all that said.....  let me set you up with a picture that will totally blow your socks off.

    Remember Jesus forming a whip and chasing out the buyers and sellers from the temple?  (John 2:14-16)

    Ever wonder "WHY???" they were there?

    Deuteronomy 14 explains it all.

    Be sure to set aside a tenth of all that your fields produce each year.  Eat the tithe of your grain, new wine and olive oil, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks in the presence of the LORD your God at the place he will choose as a dwelling for his Name, so that you may learn to revere the LORD your God always.  But if that place is too distant and you have been blessed by the LORD your God and cannot carry your tithe (because the place where the LORD will choose to put his Name is so far away),  then exchange your tithe for silver, and take the silver with you and go to the place the LORD your God will choose.  Use the silver to buy whatever you like: cattle, sheep, wine or other fermented drink, or anything you wish. Then you and your household shall eat there in the presence of the LORD your God and rejoice.

    The buyers and sellers were making a fortune!!!!  Men would live on the outskirts of Israel, sell their cattle for, say, a days wage ---- travel to Jerusalem, go to the temple to buy what they wanted ---- and be charged THREE DAYS WAGES for the same cow!!!

    Talk about diminishing returns!

    People were literally being fleeced (pun intended --- bah, bah) by their own countrymen ---- simply because they were obeying God's command to tithe.

    Now... hopefully this puts into perspective the reason for tithing and the call upon Christians to "Give"

    I have one last thought.  Paul quotes Luke 10:7 when he writes about pastors and preachers being worthy of double honor and not forgetting them for "a worker is worthy of his wages" (1 Timothy 5: 17-18)  His point is that we should not forget those who labor in the Lord to keep us on the straight and narrow path.  This is a point worth closing with ---

    If God cared enough about the workers in His Temple that He gave special commands to make sure they got provided for ---- do you not think He would likewise desire for us to care for those who even today labor in His fields?

    10%, 20%, 30% ---- even 5% --- the matter comes down to how much you can reasonably afford and give cheerfully.  Rick Warren, after his book "Purpose Driven Life" took off as a national best seller, gave 90%  ----- NINETY PERCENT ----- because he felt that the money wasn't the issue, serving God with all that he provides is.

    How much does your heart say?  Give that, and be comforted that God is honored.

    2 Corinthians 9:7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.  

    Simple as that.

September 13, 2011

  • Judgment comes, Pt 3: Harlots, Prostitutes & Adulteresses

    All throughout scripture there is found a reference that we glance over with little attention.  The reference usually is from God, Himself, and it generally precedes judgments approach.  In the Old Testament economy, the terminology was "Harlot" or "Prostitute".... in New Testament times it's Adulteress.  The reference is simple enough --- you've left God in favor of following some idol.  But I don't think we pause long enough to reflect on the utter disgust the description pictures.

    Harlot = Promiscuous woman.  Someone who spreads her legs for the tiniest bit of sexual satisfaction ---- which often enough is really no satisfaction because promiscuity generally breeds discontent with real love and the inability to actually feel anything from the neck down.  In modern terminology we'd call the woman a tramp, a nympho or a whore.  All three terms carry negative connotations and are not the kind of adjective you would like your friends calling you around your mother.

    Prostitute = Someone who engages in sex for money.  Did you ever think about that.  God is not just saying that you've opened your legs to any passing fancy --- he's actually saying that you're selling yourself for a price.  If the harlot lives for pleasure, the prostitute lives for gold.  Money is the bottom line in the prostitute's economy.  Modern age has made the prostitute something of a noble profession.  "What happens in Vegas, stays in vegas" (Except venereal disease which goes with you everywhere....) has become something of a "Wink, wink, nod, nod" affair where we think it's cool and fun and clever.  Pretty Woman epitomizes our modern concept of the whole profession as something worthwhile and glamorous.  That is not how God sees it... and we need to grasp this.

    Adulteress = A MARRIED woman who engages in sex --- apart from her husband.  Someone for whom a vow is not a promise.  Who's promise is not trustworthy.  Someone whom the words "FAITHFULNESS" are meaningless and who clearly cares nothing for the one she said she'd love "In sickness and in health, for better or worse, til death do us part."  The adulteress is actually the graver sin here.... for while a harlot is merely living for pleasure, and the prostitute is guided by greed for money ---- the Adulteress shows little to no concern for those in her life, she's actually living for selfish pride.   A Thief, who steals to provide food for his family, may find pity in the eyes of society, but the man who takes another man's wife will N-E-V-E-R live down his shame.  (Proverbs 6:30, 31-32)

    There's something interesting here, though.

    Israel is called a Prostitute, a Harlot.  Someone who lives for pleasure and money.
    Those in the Church, who turn from Christ --- they are called adulteresses, they live for self.

    Israel prostituted herself into slavery to idols --- and God constantly paid the price for her redemption to buy her back.
    The Church --- has one sacrifice and if we spurn that, there only comes judgment.

    Let me give you two fascinating verses from the book of  Hebrews to illustrate my point (strengthened by two similar sets of verses found in Galatians and Romans).  The Hebrew verses are both from chapter 10 --- and the point they make are diametrically polar opposites even though they say virtually the exact same thing!!!

    In Hebrews 10:1-17 the writer sets up the "Once, for all" sacrifice of Christ as sufficient to meet our salvation needs.  He then drops this bombshell on the Jewish readers ---

    Hebrews 10:17 (for context sake) Then he adds:    “Their sins and lawless acts
       I will remember no more.”

    Hebrews 10:18 And where these have been forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin.

    No longer any sacrifice for sin.
    No longer.  Finished.  Done.  Complete.

    Our needs for a sacrifice where met in the cross.  When Jesus forgave our sins, He did so permanently. 

    Jesus paid it all and we are forgiven and there is no further need for us to seek a sacrifice because His payment was final.

    But wait, there's another side of this.

    If you are still pressed forward to seek "something more", inclined to believe that Jesus wasn't sufficient or that His demands on your life are a bit to cramping to your lifestyle --- there's this warning but a mere 8 verses later.

    Hebrews 10:26-27  If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.

    So ponder this with me.

    Jesus paid it all.  I don't have to seek further sacrifice

    (i.e. the Roman Catholic Mass which is a repeated re-sacrificing of Jesus cause they say his death was not enough.  I'm not making this up, you can read it for yourself. There are two links there, one to the Roman Catholic answer and another to a Christian apologetic response with citations from official Catholic doctrine.)

    and there is glorious freedom found in knowing that Jesus delivered us from our sin.  (Here are the Galatians & Romans counterparts:  Galatians 5:1 & Romans 8:1-2 ... now see next note below).

    No sacrifice remains... it's done.

    But --- if we keep to sinning after we've embraced Christ... if we separate ourselves from the body of Christ, the Church (Hebrews 10:25 put it in that context) --- then no sacrifice for sins remains for us because we've effectively abused Grace.  We actually show that we live for OURSELVES and not for our Lord, our Savior, our Master.  (Galatians 5:13, 19-20; Romans 8:6-8)  We do not enter into the Kingdom of God!  (Galatians 5:20)

    If you come to Christ so that you can have guilt-free sinning ---- you've missed to point entirely and His sacrifice DOES NOTHING FOR YOU!!!  You are not saved, worse, judgment comes.

    You are the adulteress --- who cares nothing for her husband, but only for her foolish selfish desires.  You'd rather keep your sins than let them go.  You are an enemy of God by James accounting.  (James 4:4 You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.)

    For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?  (1 Peter 4:17)

    Judgment BEGINS with the family of God.

    Our land is full of adultery.  Do you think that God has not noticed how it's even become a part of His Church?  If Israel was judged for harlotry and prostitution --- how much more so will we be for turning our backs on the very one who died to save us?

    Judgment comes.  "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the Living God."  (Hebrews 10:31)

    Here's that quote in full

    Hebrews 10: 28-31 Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.  How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace?  For we know him who said, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” and again, “The Lord will judge his people.”   It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

September 12, 2011

  • Welcome to the NEW Church

    It is honestly not very often that I take the time to share thoughts from someone else.  In my 7 years of blogging, I have never ceased to find something to say, it seems, but infrequently something catches my eye that bears repeating, and this piece definitely qualifies.

    What follows was written by a Facebook friend, Charles Metropolis.  The occasion was a debate on liberal christianity, the meaning of "homosexuality" in scripture (the liberals were claiming that it's a Heterosexual person TRYING homosexuality, and not the lifestyle itself.  In otherwords, the sin is only if you are not BORN a homosexual... but simply want to try it out to see what it's like.) and how "accepting" the liberal church was of people who merely wanted the adjective "Christian" added to their personal list of life achievements. (My sarcasm is showing)  As I have long said, Christianity is not an adjective, it's a verb and a noun.  It's who I am and it impacts all that I do.

    Anyway, Charles, in a moment of pure brilliance, put forth this gem.... enjoy.

    The NEW Christianity has arrived! ---with new, IMPROVED Truth, as we now officially declare the old "Holy" Bible to be antiquated and obsolete, and certainly not to be studied and obeyed. We declare that Jesus is NOT necessarily the "Son of God", if you don't like that term, He's just a real cool, nice guy Who died for no particular reason, He just ticked off the wrong people with His big mouth!

    And our NEW motto is:

    "LOVE THE SINNER, AND LOVE ALL HIS SIN, TOO!"

    We expect it to be very popular with the masses. No repentance, no obedience, just do what you want and obey all the lustful desires of your heart and flesh! What could be better? IF IT FEELS GOOD, DO IT!

    Prostitute, doth no man condemn thee? Then neither do we! NOW GO THY WAY AND GET BACK TO WORK IN THE STREETS DOING WHAT YOU DO BEST!

    Drunkard, we will never try to dissuade you from your drunken revelings... in fact, WE'LL BUY THE NEXT ROUND! AND THE ONE AFTER THAT, TOO! Whatever turns you on, that must be God's will.

    Adulterer and Idolater, no need to change your ways... BECAUSE WE, THE ENLIGHTENED ONES, LOVE YOU AND AND ACCEPT YOU AS YOU ARE AND WE TOLERATE ALL YOUR "SINS" OPEN-MINDEDLY! There are no more puritanical "standards" or laughable "holiness" required... just DO AS YOU FEEL! We neither condemn our own sinful behavior, nor will we ever intrude upon yours. Welcome to the new "Heaven", where TOLERANCE abounds and every man does that which is right in his own eyes!

    (And if you don't like it, WE WILL SIMPLY UNFRIEND YOU as a closed-minded heretic.)

    Genius, pure genius.

September 6, 2011

  • Judgment comes, Pt 2

    There is a strange pattern in scripture that gets little notice.  I've been looking at it lately and wondering why.  Do we not see?  Are our hearts hardened?  Or have we just failed to learn the lessons from the past?  I'm not complaining this time... I'm just observing.... and wondering.

    The pattern I am referring to is this: Judgment comes when men cry "Peace, Peace".

    In Jeremiah's day it was the (false) prophets and (false) teachers of the law.  They told the King "Peace, Peace" when Babylon was on the horizon.  Israel had fallen to the Assyrians and Jeremiah was sent to Judah to preach repentance.  Thing was, his message was not received well.  No one wanted to hear it.  To many preachers were filling the children of Israel's ears with nonsense.  "Peace, Peace" doesn't seem to refer to peace in the land... it seems to refer to when men cry out and yearn for peace --- but turn anywhere but God for it.

    Jeremiah had a condemning message to Judah --- You say I will turn to Egypt, surely they will protect me, but I tell you that Egypt, too, shall fall and leave you barren and unprotected.   It's not what the king and the people wanted to hear.  Better to trust in man, than to turn in repentance to God.

    Even in Jesus day men were crying out for peace.  They wanted a political messiah to bring about the end of the Roman oppression.  Peace, to 1st century Israel, was merely an outward circumstance that had little to do with our standing before a Holy God. 

    Today we are hearing "Peace, Peace" again.   We want peace in Egypt.  We want peace in Greece.  We want peace in Russia and in Europe and in Great Britain.  We yearn for peace in the Middle East and Israel.   All over the word we are seeing civil unrest and regimes toppling --- only to hear later that the new leaders have made no difference.  People look to men, and spurn God, and then wonder why the problems persist. 

    Yet "Peace, Peace" isn't ONLY men falsely claiming that there will be no war --- it's men claiming you can find peace anywhere but God.  Want peace?  Try modern psychology, surely they have the answers. Just accept yourself -- be who you are -- and don't let anyone tell you that you sin, for they don't know what's best for you.   Want peace?  Turn to the scientists, they have all the answers.  Observation of the clearly definable always leads to answers.... doesn't it?  If the earth has been unchanged since the beginning of time, well then Evolution works.... but if there was a global flood... doesn't that change the entire equation??????  (Seems to me that sediment isn't laid down gradually as evolutionists assume, but catastrophically --- such as when Mount St Helen's blew and laid down 10+ feet of sediment in a single day.)

    Want peace?  Buy the latest fashion and you'll have peace (till fashions change).   I'm not saying that Science doesn't hold some answers.  I'm not saying that psychology is entirely wrong.  But when men turn away from God to any passing fancy in order to find peace  --- and when even Christians follow --- it begs the question of when Judgment will follow.

    Today I'm looking out across the world and curious --- in a time when men are crying "Peace, Peace" (both to others and inwardly to themselves) and turning to whatever is new, fashionable & shiny --- when Lady Gaga and Oprah can tell people "be who you are and don't let others judge you: Accept yourselves" and be the most popular preachers (quote unquote) on the planet --- then I really have to wonder when Judgment will come.

  • Judgment comes

    Leonard Ravenhill once asked "Where are the Elijahs of God"?  That was nearly 40 years ago, but it led a generation to ask the same thing... who will trust God so completely and thoroughly as to stand up against the prophets of Ba'al of our age.  Keith Green took that message to heart and his incendiary preaching led thousands of Christians into a deeper relationship with Christ.

    Today I am looking across modern Christianity and I am led to wonder "Where are the Jeremiah's of God?"  Where are the preachers stating plainly "prepare yourselves, for judgment comes"?  Where are those like John the Baptist who would stand toe to toe with a king and tell him face to face "You're sinning!"?  Where are the preachers of righteousness of our day?

    Lately my facebook commentaries have been bold and blunt.  I'm growing tired of the complacency I see around me that tolerates sin and allows blasphemous and foul things to be preached from the pulpit as though God did not see.  I hear preachers saying that black is white, wrong is right and bad is good.... and noone willing to speak up for fear of being shamed.  It is better to be shamed before men, say I, than to be shamed before God.  It is better to speak the truth, though unpopular, than to say nothing and pretend that nothing is wrong.

    I have also seen the trend in Christian circles that disclaims accountability to anything other than the little voice in their ear that pretends to be Christ.  I recently actually had someone say to me "I don't listen to you, I only follow Jesus" --- this after I pointed out several scriptures regarding matters in their lives that needed addressing.  While it's true, I am no authority, I would hope that as a self-proclaimed "believer" they would at least have the decency to acknowledge the Scriptures place in their sanctification.   If we've come to a place where we live as we desire and claim that Jesus "condones our sinful lifestyle" ---- Judgment comes.

    I'm not through with this topic yet --- but for tonight I have said what I needed to say and asked what I needed to ask....

    Where are the Jeremiah's of God proclaiming to one and all "prepare your hearts --- Judgment comes"?