A few days ago I ran across a blog with the following subtitle: "Nothing Fails Like Prayer." I've read articles entitled the same thing. And I've read various writings through the years of people who mocked prayer and argued against its practice. It's easy to locate writings against any faith-based activity.
The phrase, "nothing fails like prayer" has become quite popular with the faithless. I imagine it's used because it's highly charged and garners strong emotions that result in debates often sought after by those seeking a forum to mock. For a people who pride themselves on living an evidence-based life it strikes me rather odd to give prayer such a lofty title as "most failed." Surely they can think of something else that fails as much as they think prayer might - perhaps even more. Drug rehab, government welfare, criminal rehabilitation, education and host of other things have a pretty solid failure rate. The faithless are often quiet about other things with high failure rates.
Another blog cited the following quotation, attributed to anonymous: "There are none more ignorant and useless, than they that seek answers on their knees, with their eyes closed."
Free speech affords all us the constitutional right (at least in America) to say what we want. Freedom of religion in America also thankfully affords us the right to practice our faith. Separation of "church" and "state" is a good thing, in spite of what some Christians think. We don't want the state teaching religion to our children. That's the job of every Christian home.
Perhaps some of the rhetoric of the faithless is spurred on by the evangelical movement, which has done harm to the Truth. What better enemy of the Truth of God's Word than something disguised as religious or faith-based? While some among the movement teach slivers of Truth, quite often it's done with such self-righteous indignation and piety that it does disservice to the Truth. Most in the movement teach no doctrine other than that of love, prosperity, feeling good about oneself, and other touchy feely concepts. As they go about as a traveling carnival filled with snake oil salesmen it's no wonder the faithless are often quick to attack religion. Certainly much of what is passed off as Christianity isn't. The plight of the faithless is to draw conclusions on the Gospel of Christ based on the error of human teaching disguised as the teaching of Christ.
To argue with the atheist is unprofitable most of the time. Christians are viewed as ignorant, stupid and gullible by most of them. We do things blindly and without any reasoning. Our beliefs, they will often argue, are not evidence-based. Never mind that they're wrong in that assumption and that the Gospel of Christ makes perfect sense.
Paul told the congregation at Rome that serving God was logical - it makes sense. Rom. 12:1 "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service."
It's logical because of the sins of man, which cannot be forgiven without the blood of a Savior - Jesus Christ. In order to reconcile ourselves back to God, God put the plan into place. It makes sense to do what we must to save ourselves in eternity - thanks to God's grace extended to us by giving His Son to become the supreme sacrifice or atonement for our transgressions. It makes no sense to ignore or despise that gift of God by refusing to obey the Gospel or by disbelieving it. It makes no sense to direct ourselves toward an eternal hell when God has put into place a means for us to avoid it and go live with Him forever instead.
The plight of the faithless is their firm conviction that they are right. They write and speak of prayer being a waste of time. They write how we can't alter God's plans. Of course, most atheists have a notion that all so-called Christians believe in miraculously answered prayer. It's a false assumption. They incorrectly think we all pray for God to miraculously heal a person diagnosed with a terminal "can't be cured" disease. No, some of us pray for God to help that person, and their family, endure that illness. In all things we pray that God's will be done, not our own. True Christians know that God is not our servant. We're his.
The faithless know they're right. They know we're foolishly devoting ourselves to a God they can neither see, feel or hear. They know there is no heaven or hell. They know this life is all there is. Their knowledge is based on far less than our faith. The evidence-based faith that we incorporate into our lives is greater evidence-based behavior. Faith based on the Gospel of Christ is evidence based!
True Christians are like the apostle Paul - we're persuaded. We're not conned. We're not gullible. Twice Paul used the phrase "am persuaded."
In Rom. 14:14 he was persuaded that eating anything was okay provided we gave proper thanks to God. He knew not all men of his time were persuaded of this though and he was mindful of his influence on those who may be weaker. "I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean."
He was also persuaded that his life of physical pain and suffering was worthwhile. To Timothy he wrote in 2Tim. 1:12 "For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day."
The faithless don't understand that. Few will be persuaded, but still we try. And still we attempt to be a light to this world. Not by barking back at those who use rhetoric that can frighten the most hardened among us - I mean, just reading the phrase, "nothing fails like prayer" is pretty dramatic, isn't it? A continuous faithful life devoted to the God we serve is still our best sermon. There are times where words won't suffice. And if our behavior or actions cause men to hate us or revile us - I suppose we ought to count ourselves blessed as disciples did in ancient days.
Acts 5:41 "And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name."
We should be mindful of our actions and behavior. Perhaps by our godly actions the world will see the reasons for our hope and faith. Study your Bible. Worship God in truth and spirit. Behave righteously every day. Live your life as though it matters - because it does!
Thursday, August 31, 2006
Saturday, April 08, 2006
Can We Know The Truth?
Yes, we can absolutely know the Truth. The Bible tells us so.
The often cited verse is John 8:32 "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." Clear enough. Time and again Christ talked of telling the truth. He spoke about the way of God being truth.
Truth can be defined as that which is in accordance with fact or reality. Truth opposes myth or fiction or imaginations.
2Tim. 2:15 "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
John 17:17 "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth."
Relativism is the doctrine that knowledge, truth and morality exist in relation to culture, society or historical context and are not absolute. For example, some argue that the teaching of 1st Corinthians 11 on headship are not binding today because they are relative. The culture of that day must be considered to put that teaching into historical perspective, they claim.
It's easy to see the draw of such a doctrine. We can easily explain away any doctrine or command that puts restrictions on us. Such a doctrine has become the spiritual equivalent of diplomatic immunity. God's Law doesn't apply, or it really doesn't mean what it says.
Others embrace portions of relativism, but won't go so far as to declare there is no truth. For them, it's more comfortable to acknowledge some truth while rejecting other truth. It's the best of both worlds. It makes no more sense than relativism. In fact it's far less consistent than relativism, but equally destructive to God's commands.
Something may be truth for you, but not for me. And sometimes one thing is true, while at other times it's not. It certainly leads to contentions and needful debate. Yet, we read in 1 Cor. 14:33 "For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints."
Now how is that possible? If there is relative truth then there must necessarily be debate and contentions. People must discuss and argue about what is true and what isn't. And the object of that debate isn't what God has to say about it, but rather what men have to say about it. Times change. Cultures change. So the debate must be continual if we're to determine truth for us at any specific moment in time. Even then, it's not for sure because we can never really know what is true. This describes a high risk proposition - not what God has architected to save us!
And history can't really help because if we buy into this false doctrine - what was true yesterday may not be true for us today. Truth is ever changing as it's influenced by both mankind and time.
Nevermind that the Hebrew writer was inspired to write in Heb. 13:8 "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever." That's either true or false. If it's true then God's message given through Christ and inspiration of the Holy Spirit is still true - just as it's always been true. Or it's never been true and it never will be true. And if the later is so, then God is a liar.
Rom. 3:3, 4 "For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged."
God gave us Truth when He sent His Son to earth to be the sacrifice necessary so mankind could be saved. He gave us Truth when Christ preached what God gave Him. He gave us Truth when He sent the Holy Spirit to give His words to the men who wrote the Scriptures. God breathed it. And God did not breathe lies. He breathed Truth.
It can be known because the Scriptures teach edification, understanding and discernment. What God gave can be preached, understood and obeyed. That means the Truth can and must be known.
1Cor. 1:18 "For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God."
1Cor. 1:21 "For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe."
If the foolishness of preaching saves them that believe, then it is logical that men are able to understand that preaching.
2Tim. 4:17 "Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion."
The Gentiles were able to know the Truth by Paul's preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Today, we can all know the Truth by the same preaching of the Gospel. We obey it by first knowing it or understanding it.
Consider the preaching at Pentecost. Peter preached the Gospel to the people who crucified the Lord. They understood what he preached. Many of them obeyed it and became disciples, Christians. From then to now - and until the end of time - that is how Christians are made. They're made by understanding and obeying the Gospel of Christ.
Rom. 10:17 "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."
Faith isn't possible without the Word of God. We hear the Word of God when we listen to it preached or when we read it. We learn or know Truth when we hear the Gospel. That establishes our faith.
Faith isn't blind. Faith is reasonable, logical and makes complete sense once a person knows God's Word. God's Truth is His Word.
Rev. 20:12, 13 "And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works."
Judged by our works means what? Who's going to determine if our works are worthy of eternal damnation or eternal bliss? By what standard is our behavior going to be judged?
Am I going to stand in judgment condemned for something that in my culture, society and time was wrong, but somebody else is justified because it was true (or righteous) in their culture, society and time? If so, God is a respector of persons.
Acts 10:34 "Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:" Of a truth, Peter? God isn't a respecter of persons? You mean God will judge us all by the same standard? That's exactly what the Scriptures teach.
To know God is to obey Him. To obey Him is to follow His Word. To obey Him is to love Him.
John 14:15 "If ye love me, keep my commandments."
John 8:32 "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." Knowing the Truth frees us from sin and the threat of the second death - a devil's hell.
Not only can we know the Truth - we must! Our souls depend on it. Our eternal destiny will be determined by our knowledge and obedience to the Truth.
The often cited verse is John 8:32 "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." Clear enough. Time and again Christ talked of telling the truth. He spoke about the way of God being truth.
Truth can be defined as that which is in accordance with fact or reality. Truth opposes myth or fiction or imaginations.
2Tim. 2:15 "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
John 17:17 "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth."
Relativism is the doctrine that knowledge, truth and morality exist in relation to culture, society or historical context and are not absolute. For example, some argue that the teaching of 1st Corinthians 11 on headship are not binding today because they are relative. The culture of that day must be considered to put that teaching into historical perspective, they claim.
It's easy to see the draw of such a doctrine. We can easily explain away any doctrine or command that puts restrictions on us. Such a doctrine has become the spiritual equivalent of diplomatic immunity. God's Law doesn't apply, or it really doesn't mean what it says.
Others embrace portions of relativism, but won't go so far as to declare there is no truth. For them, it's more comfortable to acknowledge some truth while rejecting other truth. It's the best of both worlds. It makes no more sense than relativism. In fact it's far less consistent than relativism, but equally destructive to God's commands.
Something may be truth for you, but not for me. And sometimes one thing is true, while at other times it's not. It certainly leads to contentions and needful debate. Yet, we read in 1 Cor. 14:33 "For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints."
Now how is that possible? If there is relative truth then there must necessarily be debate and contentions. People must discuss and argue about what is true and what isn't. And the object of that debate isn't what God has to say about it, but rather what men have to say about it. Times change. Cultures change. So the debate must be continual if we're to determine truth for us at any specific moment in time. Even then, it's not for sure because we can never really know what is true. This describes a high risk proposition - not what God has architected to save us!
And history can't really help because if we buy into this false doctrine - what was true yesterday may not be true for us today. Truth is ever changing as it's influenced by both mankind and time.
Nevermind that the Hebrew writer was inspired to write in Heb. 13:8 "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever." That's either true or false. If it's true then God's message given through Christ and inspiration of the Holy Spirit is still true - just as it's always been true. Or it's never been true and it never will be true. And if the later is so, then God is a liar.
Rom. 3:3, 4 "For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged."
God gave us Truth when He sent His Son to earth to be the sacrifice necessary so mankind could be saved. He gave us Truth when Christ preached what God gave Him. He gave us Truth when He sent the Holy Spirit to give His words to the men who wrote the Scriptures. God breathed it. And God did not breathe lies. He breathed Truth.
It can be known because the Scriptures teach edification, understanding and discernment. What God gave can be preached, understood and obeyed. That means the Truth can and must be known.
1Cor. 1:18 "For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God."
1Cor. 1:21 "For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe."
If the foolishness of preaching saves them that believe, then it is logical that men are able to understand that preaching.
2Tim. 4:17 "Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion."
The Gentiles were able to know the Truth by Paul's preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Today, we can all know the Truth by the same preaching of the Gospel. We obey it by first knowing it or understanding it.
Consider the preaching at Pentecost. Peter preached the Gospel to the people who crucified the Lord. They understood what he preached. Many of them obeyed it and became disciples, Christians. From then to now - and until the end of time - that is how Christians are made. They're made by understanding and obeying the Gospel of Christ.
Rom. 10:17 "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."
Faith isn't possible without the Word of God. We hear the Word of God when we listen to it preached or when we read it. We learn or know Truth when we hear the Gospel. That establishes our faith.
Faith isn't blind. Faith is reasonable, logical and makes complete sense once a person knows God's Word. God's Truth is His Word.
Rev. 20:12, 13 "And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works."
Judged by our works means what? Who's going to determine if our works are worthy of eternal damnation or eternal bliss? By what standard is our behavior going to be judged?
Am I going to stand in judgment condemned for something that in my culture, society and time was wrong, but somebody else is justified because it was true (or righteous) in their culture, society and time? If so, God is a respector of persons.
Acts 10:34 "Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:" Of a truth, Peter? God isn't a respecter of persons? You mean God will judge us all by the same standard? That's exactly what the Scriptures teach.
To know God is to obey Him. To obey Him is to follow His Word. To obey Him is to love Him.
John 14:15 "If ye love me, keep my commandments."
John 8:32 "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." Knowing the Truth frees us from sin and the threat of the second death - a devil's hell.
Not only can we know the Truth - we must! Our souls depend on it. Our eternal destiny will be determined by our knowledge and obedience to the Truth.
Saturday, January 21, 2006
To What Are You Resolved?
Resolved. The verb form means to reach a decision or make a determination. The noun form means firmness of purpose or a determination or decision; a fixed purpose. Like the squirrel determined to hang onto the wire - people are resolved to do certain things, or to avoid doing things. That is, they've made up their minds about some things. At the moment, this squirrel appears to have made up his mind about remaining on this wire. But from the looks of things, I'm not sure if he's going to stay there. He seems to be considering his next move.
The Bible contains many stories of resolve and determination. Moses, under God's orders, negotiated with Pharaoh to let God's people leave Egypt. He was resolved that God's conditions of walking away would be met. Pharaoh made it hard, but Moses pressed on. God helped things along by bringing plagues on Egypt, but without the resolve of Moses to stand toe-to-toe with Pharaoh God's people would have remained enslaved.
Abraham resolved to obey God even though he didn't always know how God would see him through. He left home and family because God said, "Go." Throughout his life he followed God's commandments because he had his mind made up that serving God was the priority of his life. He trusted God.
David resolved to fight for God when he slew Goliath. Years later, as King, he sinned, but when confronted with what he had done - he resolved to repent. He couldn't avoid the consequences of his sin, but he made up his mind that serving God mattered most.
Peter apparently resolved that if all other disciples forsook the Lord, it would never happen to him. He was wrong. That's why we see him weeping after realizing that he had denied Christ three times. He resolved he'd live more carefully and more diligently from that moment forward.
Paul was resolved to punish Christians. He considered them a threat to his Jewish heritage and the Old Law. Blinded while enroute to Damascus he was forced by God to think about his behavior and his faith. When a man preached the gospel of Christ to him, he resolved to obey it. After his baptism he resolved to work as tirelessly for Christ as he ever had in working against Christ ignorantly.
Felix resolved to ignore the gospel message searching for a more convenient time to obey.
Agrippa resolved to almost consider what Paul preached.
The rich young ruler resolved to mourn because Christ commanded him to sell what he had and give to the poor, then follow Him. The Bible says, "He went away sorrowful, for he had many riches."
So many stories of resolve. Some good. Some bad. Some happy. Some sad.
Resolve speaks to God's own resolve that men make up their own minds. When God created us he gave us the ability to decide for ourselves. The entire gospel message is a message that appeals to the sensibilities of mankind. It's rational. It makes sense to obey it. God wants us to want to serve Him because we've made up our own minds to do so. He won't force anything on us.
Too frequently perhaps we're like the squirrel. Resolved only for one moment in time, but searching for our next leap. We jump from one thing to another, never fully decided about where we ought to perch in life. As a result we fail to grow.
Growth is impossible when you're not planted. Do a search on your Bible software for the words "grow" or "rooted." The Lord expects His people to be resolved to obey Him no matter what. He insists we be rooted and grounded in the Truth so we can grow, bear fruit and reach Heaven.
In 1896 James H. Fillmore, Sr. wrote the hymn "I Am Resolved."
I am resolved no longer to linger,
Charmed by the world’s delight,
Things that are higher, things that are nobler,
These have allured my sight.
Charmed by the world’s delight,
Things that are higher, things that are nobler,
These have allured my sight.
I will hasten to Him, hasten so glad and free;
Jesus, greatest, highest, I will come to Thee.
I will hasten, hasten to Him, hasten so glad and free;
Jesus, Jesus, greatest, highest, I will come to Thee.
Jesus, greatest, highest, I will come to Thee.
I will hasten, hasten to Him, hasten so glad and free;
Jesus, Jesus, greatest, highest, I will come to Thee.
I am resolved to go to the Savior,
Leaving my sin and strife;
He is the true One, He is the just One,
He hath the words of life.
Leaving my sin and strife;
He is the true One, He is the just One,
He hath the words of life.
I will hasten to Him, hasten so glad and free;
Jesus, greatest, highest, I will come to Thee.
I will hasten, hasten to Him, hasten so glad and free;
Jesus, Jesus, greatest, highest, I will come to Thee.
Jesus, greatest, highest, I will come to Thee.
I will hasten, hasten to Him, hasten so glad and free;
Jesus, Jesus, greatest, highest, I will come to Thee.
I am resolved to follow the Savior,
Faithful and true each day;
Heed what He sayeth, do what He willeth,
He is the living Way.
Faithful and true each day;
Heed what He sayeth, do what He willeth,
He is the living Way.
I will hasten to Him, hasten so glad and free;
Jesus, greatest, highest, I will come to Thee.
I will hasten, hasten to Him, hasten so glad and free;
Jesus, Jesus, greatest, highest, I will come to Thee.
Jesus, greatest, highest, I will come to Thee.
I will hasten, hasten to Him, hasten so glad and free;
Jesus, Jesus, greatest, highest, I will come to Thee.
I am resolved to enter the kingdom
Leaving the paths of sin;
Friends may oppose me, foes may beset me,
Still will I enter in.
Leaving the paths of sin;
Friends may oppose me, foes may beset me,
Still will I enter in.
I will hasten to Him, hasten so glad and free;
Jesus, greatest, highest, I will come to Thee.
I will hasten, hasten to Him, hasten so glad and free;
Jesus, Jesus, greatest, highest, I will come to Thee.
Jesus, greatest, highest, I will come to Thee.
I will hasten, hasten to Him, hasten so glad and free;
Jesus, Jesus, greatest, highest, I will come to Thee.
I am resolved, and who will go with me?
Come, friends, without delay,
Taught by the Bible, led by the Spirit,
We’ll walk the heavenly way.
Come, friends, without delay,
Taught by the Bible, led by the Spirit,
We’ll walk the heavenly way.
I will hasten to Him, hasten so glad and free;
Jesus, greatest, highest, I will come to Thee.
I will hasten, hasten to Him, hasten so glad and free;
Jesus, Jesus, greatest, highest, I will come to Thee.
Jesus, greatest, highest, I will come to Thee.
I will hasten, hasten to Him, hasten so glad and free;
Jesus, Jesus, greatest, highest, I will come to Thee.
To what are you resolved?
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