With all of the chaos, fear, economic crises, tornadoes, tsunamis, floods, illnesses, wars and rumors of wars happening around the world today (with all of such plights increasing at an alarming rate), it should be obvious to most people that there is a huge spiritual warfare going on in the midst of it all for the souls of men.
Dr. David Jeremiah is has a new television series called Spiritual Warfare - Terms of Engagement and he also recommends reading a new book written by Warren Wiersbe entitled, "The Strategy of Satan - How to Detect and Defeat Him" (scroll down at link for book).
At my sister blog, God's Creative Call there is a new post up entitled Ambivalent Confessions? which shares another subtle strategy of Satan that is often used in order to squelch the effectiveness of Christians sharing the Gospel.
Greg Koukl's Stand to Reason website is a library of resources to assist you in your knowledge and defense of God's Word and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. You will be trained to become an ambassador for Christ, growing in knowledge, wisdom, and character through all of the resources available at Stand to Reason.
These days, we need all of the resources available to equip us with our Armor of God, and the websites that I have recommended today are two of the best!
~ Christine
Showing posts with label gospel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gospel. Show all posts
Outlive Our Earthly Lives
A brief post today, but one that I found especially important and inspiring. In the book of Acts, Peter was being asked by a crippled beggar for some silver or gold coins.
Then Peter said, "Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk" And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them--walking, leaping, and praising God. (Acts 3:4-8)
Max Lucado writes in his new book, Out Live Your Life:
It is interesting to note that the beggar didn't thank Peter for the healing - he at least knew enough to thank God for it!
Other beggars wanted healing. They watched the cripple dance and exclaimed, "I want my healing! Touch me!"
Lucado:
The Bible verse that tells us that we all "fade as a leaf" in this world indicates that our time here is quite brief - especially compared to all of eternity.
It is because of our iniquities that we needed a Savior, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross in our place in order that we could repent and be reconciled back unto God.
The story from the book of Acts in the Bible demonstrates the absolute fact that salvation is something we take with us, while money, possessions, fame, education, clothing, food, and everything else that we could do, accomplish, earn and utilize on this earth are all temporary; just items that we leave behind at our death.
However, the love of God and our love for others we take with us into God's kingdom! That is why our own personal salvation and the spread of the gospel of Jesus Christ for the sake of salvation for others is our daily duty as Christians.
The final commandment that Jesus gave his followers before he ascended back to God the Father was the Great Commission. (see Matthew 28 below).
Lucado:
Mat 28:1 Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb.
Mat 28:2 And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it.
Mat 28:3 His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow.
Mat 28:4 And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men.
Mat 28:5 But the angel answered and said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified.
Mat 28:6 "He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
Mat 28:7 "And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you."
Mat 28:8 So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word.
Mat 28:9 And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, "Rejoice!" So they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him.
Mat 28:10 Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me."
Mat 28:11 Now while they were going, behold, some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests all the things that had happened.
Mat 28:12 When they had assembled with the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers,
Mat 28:13 saying, "Tell them, 'His disciples came at night and stole Him away while we slept.'
Mat 28:14 "And if this comes to the governor's ears, we will appease him and make you secure."
Mat 28:15 So they took the money and did as they were instructed; and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.
Mat 28:16 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them.
Mat 28:17 When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted.
Mat 28:18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
Mat 28:19 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
Mat 28:20 "teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.
NKJV Footnotes:
(28:2) NU-Text omits from the door.
(28:9) NU-Text omits the first clause of this verse.
(28:19) M-Text omits therefore.
(28:20) NU-Text omits Amen.
Hat Tips:
Max Lucado.com: Outlive Your Life book
Blue Letter Bible
Then Peter said, "Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk" And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them--walking, leaping, and praising God. (Acts 3:4-8)
Max Lucado writes in his new book, Out Live Your Life:
What if Peter had said, "Since I don't have any silver or gold, I'll keep my mouth shut? But he didn't. He placed his mustard-seed-sized deed (a look and a touch) in the soil of God's love And look what happened.
It is interesting to note that the beggar didn't thank Peter for the healing - he at least knew enough to thank God for it!
Other beggars wanted healing. They watched the cripple dance and exclaimed, "I want my healing! Touch me!"
Lucado:
So Peter complied. He escorted them to the clinic of the Great Physician and invited them to take a seat. "His name,...faith in His name, has made this man strong...Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins my be blotted out, so that time of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord" (vv. 16,19)
Blotted out is a translation of a Greek term that means "to obliterate" or "erase completely." Faith in Christ, Peter explained, leads to a clean slate with God. What Jesus did for the legs of this cripple, he does for our souls. Brand-new!
The Bible verse that tells us that we all "fade as a leaf" in this world indicates that our time here is quite brief - especially compared to all of eternity.
Isa 64:6 But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousness's are like filthy rags; We all fade as a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, Have taken us away.
It is because of our iniquities that we needed a Savior, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross in our place in order that we could repent and be reconciled back unto God.
The story from the book of Acts in the Bible demonstrates the absolute fact that salvation is something we take with us, while money, possessions, fame, education, clothing, food, and everything else that we could do, accomplish, earn and utilize on this earth are all temporary; just items that we leave behind at our death.
However, the love of God and our love for others we take with us into God's kingdom! That is why our own personal salvation and the spread of the gospel of Jesus Christ for the sake of salvation for others is our daily duty as Christians.
The final commandment that Jesus gave his followers before he ascended back to God the Father was the Great Commission. (see Matthew 28 below).
Lucado:
An honest look led to a helping hand that led to a conversation about eternity. Works done in God's name long outlive our earthly lives. (bold mine)
Mat 28:1 Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb.
Mat 28:2 And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it.
Mat 28:3 His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow.
Mat 28:4 And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men.
Mat 28:5 But the angel answered and said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified.
Mat 28:6 "He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
Mat 28:7 "And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you."
Mat 28:8 So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word.
Mat 28:9 And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, "Rejoice!" So they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him.
Mat 28:10 Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me."
Mat 28:11 Now while they were going, behold, some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests all the things that had happened.
Mat 28:12 When they had assembled with the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers,
Mat 28:13 saying, "Tell them, 'His disciples came at night and stole Him away while we slept.'
Mat 28:14 "And if this comes to the governor's ears, we will appease him and make you secure."
Mat 28:15 So they took the money and did as they were instructed; and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.
Mat 28:16 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them.
Mat 28:17 When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted.
Mat 28:18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
Mat 28:19 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
Mat 28:20 "teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.
NKJV Footnotes:
(28:2) NU-Text omits from the door.
(28:9) NU-Text omits the first clause of this verse.
(28:19) M-Text omits therefore.
(28:20) NU-Text omits Amen.
Hat Tips:
Max Lucado.com: Outlive Your Life book
Blue Letter Bible
Sharing The Bread Of Life
I just began reading Max Lucado's latest book, "Outlive Your Life - You Were Made to Make a Difference." It was one of the gifts that my son bought me for Christmas. Since I had two other books to read before getting to this one, it has taken me two months to start Lucado's book.
I really enjoy Lucado's writing style. He always places some humorous anecdotes in his books while revealing profound truth about living the Christian life that Jesus would have us live. Even though I am only on page 40, the book has already had a great impact on my life.
After reading several pages of Lucado's book, I decided to go online and read what has been published on some of my favorite blogs. However, I got that usual annoying message that my borrowed laptop was "in need of repair." I wanted to skip over that, so I clicked on the choice "start windows manually." Well, after looking at a blank dark screen (except for the tiny "Microsoft" trademark message at the bottom of the page) for fifteen minutes, I decided it might be a good idea to listen to the recommendation to start up using the repair mode. So, I shut the computer off, restarted it, and this time I clicked on the "start up repair (recommended)" icon.
After watching the repair message at work for what seemed like 15 more minutes, I clicked on the choice to "cancel repair." Well...I must have waited too long because the message I got said something like this:
"The current repair session cannot be cancelled."
Lucky for me, it only took about five more minutes for the repair to be completed. I still had a bit of trouble. My computer was supposed to restart on it's own, but nothing was happening so I shut it off myself and then restarted it.
I thought about the statement, "the current repair session cannot be cancelled" and thought of God's mercy and grace through the cross of Christ. It must have been because I was reading Max Lucado's book that I drew a parallel between the computer message and God's message to mankind.
I have often stated here at this blog that Mercy is God withholding what we do deserve, and Grace is God giving us what we don't deserve. The gospel of salvation through the cross of Christ is the world's "current repair session that cannot be cancelled."
In chapter four, Lucado shares a humorous story about going on an errand, at the request of his wife, to buy bread at the grocery store. When he gets there, he collects his favorite cereal, milk, Oreo cookies, barbecue chips (does this guy love junk food or what??) and some ice cream. He checked out and went home. His wife looks at the purchases and then asked, "where's the bread?"
Max had forgotten the big item.
Lucado goes on to write:
Max Lucado gives us some insight into what it takes to make bread.
What an awesome and powerful analogy!
Our God is a God of second chances! If we will simply believe that Jesus is who He said He is - the Son of God, Savior and Lord, and we confess our sins at the foot of the cross of Calvary and accept him as Lord and Savior of our lives, we will be forgiven and saved. People, make sure that you receive the Bread of Life of Christ Jesus. The ONLY Bread of Life that really matters now and will ultimately matter in eternity.
Someone very dear to me and my family passed away in January. I can't know for sure if this family member was saved, but I tried my best to witness to her over the course of 15 or more years.
I usually do not share detailed personal information at this blog, but I will state that in the eulogy that I wrote for the funeral, I was led to share the gospel of Christ for the sake of the people attending. I do not know if what I said encouraged anyone there who is not yet saved to receive the Bread of Life, Jesus Christ, as Lord and Savior. Perhaps a seed or two were planted. However, when someone dies we realize just how brief this life on earth truly is. The Bible tells us that "it is but a vapor" compared to eternity.
Once a Christian receives the Bread of Life, it is our duty to pass it on. Max Lucado writes:
The secular world climate these days reveals an open hostility towards Christianity in general, and Jesus Christ in particular. Despite the fact that believers are often ridiculed and hatred is constantly being hurled at us, we must turn our distress, sadness, and fears into boldness so that we continue to be faithful ambassadors for Christ.
Hat Tip:
Max Lucado: Out Live Your Life
I really enjoy Lucado's writing style. He always places some humorous anecdotes in his books while revealing profound truth about living the Christian life that Jesus would have us live. Even though I am only on page 40, the book has already had a great impact on my life.
After reading several pages of Lucado's book, I decided to go online and read what has been published on some of my favorite blogs. However, I got that usual annoying message that my borrowed laptop was "in need of repair." I wanted to skip over that, so I clicked on the choice "start windows manually." Well, after looking at a blank dark screen (except for the tiny "Microsoft" trademark message at the bottom of the page) for fifteen minutes, I decided it might be a good idea to listen to the recommendation to start up using the repair mode. So, I shut the computer off, restarted it, and this time I clicked on the "start up repair (recommended)" icon.
After watching the repair message at work for what seemed like 15 more minutes, I clicked on the choice to "cancel repair." Well...I must have waited too long because the message I got said something like this:
"The current repair session cannot be cancelled."
Lucky for me, it only took about five more minutes for the repair to be completed. I still had a bit of trouble. My computer was supposed to restart on it's own, but nothing was happening so I shut it off myself and then restarted it.
I thought about the statement, "the current repair session cannot be cancelled" and thought of God's mercy and grace through the cross of Christ. It must have been because I was reading Max Lucado's book that I drew a parallel between the computer message and God's message to mankind.
I have often stated here at this blog that Mercy is God withholding what we do deserve, and Grace is God giving us what we don't deserve. The gospel of salvation through the cross of Christ is the world's "current repair session that cannot be cancelled."
In chapter four, Lucado shares a humorous story about going on an errand, at the request of his wife, to buy bread at the grocery store. When he gets there, he collects his favorite cereal, milk, Oreo cookies, barbecue chips (does this guy love junk food or what??) and some ice cream. He checked out and went home. His wife looks at the purchases and then asked, "where's the bread?"
Max had forgotten the big item.
"The one thing I went to get. The one essential product. I forgot the bread."
Lucado goes on to write:
Might we make the same mistake in a more critical arena? In an effort to do good, we can get distracted. We feed people. We encourage, heal, help, and serve. We address racial issues and poverty. Yet there is one duty we must fulfill. We can't forget the bread.
Peter didn't.Now, listen to what I have to say about Jesus from Nazareth. God proved that he sent Jesus to you by having him work miracles, wonders, and signs. All of you now this. God had already planned and decided that Jesus would be handed over to you. So you took him and had evil men put him to death on a cross. But God set him free from death and raised him to life. Death could not hold him in its power. (Acts 2:22-24 CEV).
[Peter] would eventually speak about poverty. The church would soon address the issues of widows, disease, and bigotry. But not yet. The first order of the church's first sermon was this: pardon for all our sins. Peter delivered the bread.
[Would] you consider the offer of Jesus? "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again" (John 6:35 NLT).
Max Lucado gives us some insight into what it takes to make bread.
The grain-to-bread process is a demanding one. The seed must be planted before it can grow. When the grain is ripe, it must be cut down and ground into flour. Before it can become bread, it must pass through the oven. Bread is the end result of planting, harvesting, and heating.
Jesus endured an identical process. He was born into this world. He was cut down, bruised, and beaten on the threshing floor of Calvary. He passed through the fire of God's wrath, for our sake. He "suffered because of others' sins, the Righteous One for the unrighteous ones. He went through it all--was put to death and then made alive--to bring us to God" (1 Peter 3:18 MSG).
Bread of Life? Jesus lived up to the title. But an unopened loaf does a person no good. Have you received the bread? Have you received God's forgiveness?
What an awesome and powerful analogy!
Our God is a God of second chances! If we will simply believe that Jesus is who He said He is - the Son of God, Savior and Lord, and we confess our sins at the foot of the cross of Calvary and accept him as Lord and Savior of our lives, we will be forgiven and saved. People, make sure that you receive the Bread of Life of Christ Jesus. The ONLY Bread of Life that really matters now and will ultimately matter in eternity.
Someone very dear to me and my family passed away in January. I can't know for sure if this family member was saved, but I tried my best to witness to her over the course of 15 or more years.
I usually do not share detailed personal information at this blog, but I will state that in the eulogy that I wrote for the funeral, I was led to share the gospel of Christ for the sake of the people attending. I do not know if what I said encouraged anyone there who is not yet saved to receive the Bread of Life, Jesus Christ, as Lord and Savior. Perhaps a seed or two were planted. However, when someone dies we realize just how brief this life on earth truly is. The Bible tells us that "it is but a vapor" compared to eternity.
Once a Christian receives the Bread of Life, it is our duty to pass it on. Max Lucado writes:
After all, if we don't, who will? Governments don't feed the soul. The secular relief house can give a bed, a meal, and valuable counsel. But we can give much more. Not just help for this life but hope for the next.
[So] along with cups of water, plates of food, and vials of medicine, let there be the message of sins forgiven and death defeated.
Remember the bread.
The secular world climate these days reveals an open hostility towards Christianity in general, and Jesus Christ in particular. Despite the fact that believers are often ridiculed and hatred is constantly being hurled at us, we must turn our distress, sadness, and fears into boldness so that we continue to be faithful ambassadors for Christ.
For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people's sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. So we are Christ's ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, "Come back to God!" For God made Christ, who never sinned to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:19-21 NLT).
Hat Tip:
Max Lucado: Out Live Your Life
What Jesus Makes Known to Us
Morning
Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends.
The LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do?--It is given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven.--God hath revealed [them] to us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, even, the deep things of God.-- [Even] the hidden [wisdom], which God ordained before the world to our glory.
Blessed [is the man whom] thou choosest, and causest to approach [to thee, that] he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, [even] of thy holy temple.--The secret of the LORD [is] with them that fear him; and he will show them his covenant.--I have given to them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received [them], and have known surely that I came from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me.
Ye are my friends, if ye do whatever I command you.
Joh 15:15 Ge 18:17 Mt 13:11 1Co 2:10,7 Ps 65:4 25:14 Joh 17:8 15:14
/---------------------------------------------------------\
Be sure to check out our other devotionals
http://bible.christiansunite.com/devotionals.shtml
\---------------------------------------------------------/
========================================
Daily Light on the Daily Path Devotional
Tuesday February 8, 2011
http://bible.christiansunite.com/devotionals.shtml
===================================
Evening
Thou shalt call thy walls Salvation, and thy gates Praise.
The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
Ye are no more strangers and sojourners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner [stone]; in whom all the building fitly framed together groweth to an holy temple in the Lord: in whom ye also are built together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.--If indeed ye have tasted that the Lord [is] gracious. To whom coming, [as to] a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God, [and] precious, ye also, as living stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
Praise waiteth for thee, O God, in Zion.
Isa 60:18 Re 21:14 Eph 2:19-22 1Pe 2:3-5 Ps 65:1
*******
Commentary from Christine:
Despite the fact that these devotionals are written in the form of Olde English, they are classic pieces of biblical literature. What makes them so great is that each devotional is chiefly written through the act of quoting directly from the Scriptures.
For example. Let's look at the wording in John 15:15 (using the NIV version throughout this post) -
"I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you."
Knowing that Jesus is Lord and Master should make us realize that we ought to be called his servants. However, He chooses to call us his friends. Being a friend is a much more intimate relationship than being a servant. In today's world, we could compare the term "servant" as being a subordinate co-worker. Sometimes, even a relationship with a co-worker can grow into a friendship.
What is important in this passage is the reason WHY Jesus can call his followers friends. He said, "for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you." Elsewhere in the Bible, Jesus tells us that "I (He) and the Father are One" and "he who has seen me (Jesus) has seen the Father."
Statements like this do not give us any leeway in determining who has the ability to save us from eternal death. Only Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, those who believe in other religions that exclude Christ as the Son of God are lost.
Jesus never minces his words. The entire chapter of John 15 is blunt and direct about who is saved and who is not. The two main themes within the chapter proclaim what Jesus teaches about the Vine and the Branches, as well as Jesus' warning about the world's hatred.
Here is the entire chapter:
Commentary from Christine:
Keep in mind that Jesus was speaking to Jewish believers in Him before he went to the cross. Jesus lived as a Jewish God-man during the Incarnation. When he said the following words to his disciples, the term "Christian" wasn't in existence yet:
Today, after the fact of the sacrificial death on the cross of Christ and his subsequent resurrection to life, we can also apply those words to Christian believers.
With all the turmoil happening in Egypt today and the virulent Muslim hatred for Israel and the Jews (especially the Zionists), plus the hatred againt Christ and Christians, we can see what Jesus was referring to when he said, "if the world hates you."
The chosen people of God (my people, Israel) and of God's Son, Jesus Christ, were prophesied in the Bible as being hated. Jesus himself warned us and we have the words written down in Scripture to remind us of that hatred. This is all the more reason to take Jesus' admonition in the following verses seriously:
Apart from Christ, we can do nothing. We must "remain in Him."
What does this mean? It means that we believe that he is God's Son (1 John 4:15). It means that we receive him as Savior and Lord (John 1:12). It means that we do what God says (1 John 3:24). It means that we continue to believe in the gospel (1 John 2:24. It means that we are to relate in love to the community of believers, Christ's body (John 15:12).
We are to be like a branch attached to the vine. Apart from Christ our efforts are unfruitful.
Keep in mind that the farming analogy in this passage shows how God is glorified when people come into a right relationship with him and begin to "bear much fruit" in their lives.
It is important to know that "bearing fruit" is not limited to soul winning, although that is a very important part due to the commandment of The Great Commission. Bearing fruit also includes answered prayer, joy, and love (as mentioned in John 15:7,11, 12). Galatians 5:22-24 and 2 Peter 1:5-8 describe additional fruit: qualities of Christian character. As you can see, we have our work cut out for us!
At the end of John 15, Jesus offers us much hope. He speaks about the Holy Spirit being given to us to help us endure the unreasonable hatred and evil in the world as well as the hostility many groups and individuals have towards Christ. The Holy Spirit is given two names, Counselor and Spirit of truth. The term 'counselor' conveys the helping, encouraging and strengthening work of the Spirit. 'Spirit of truth' points to the teaching, illuminating and reminding work of the Spirit. As we can see, the Holy Spirit ministers to both our minds and to our hearts.
John 16 is a wonderful passage where Jesus teaches about the Holy Spirit. I encourage you to read and study it.
Once I became a born again Christian, I recognized the fact that the world's value are often the opposite of God's values. This can make a believer feel like a misfit. However, even though life can be very difficult now, one day we will rejoice. As believers in the Messiah, Jesus Christ, Lord and Savior of the universe, we can look with confidence ahead as we keep our eye on the future because we can rely on God's promises! Remembering that the ultimate victory has already been won enables us to keep and claim the peace of Christ. Not the peace that the world gives, but the peace of God that surpasses all human understanding. Even in the most troublesome times we can take heart! For Christ has overcome the world for all eternity.
Hat tip: Christians Unite.com devotionals via email.
Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends.
The LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do?--It is given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven.--God hath revealed [them] to us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, even, the deep things of God.-- [Even] the hidden [wisdom], which God ordained before the world to our glory.
Blessed [is the man whom] thou choosest, and causest to approach [to thee, that] he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, [even] of thy holy temple.--The secret of the LORD [is] with them that fear him; and he will show them his covenant.--I have given to them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received [them], and have known surely that I came from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me.
Ye are my friends, if ye do whatever I command you.
Joh 15:15 Ge 18:17 Mt 13:11 1Co 2:10,7 Ps 65:4 25:14 Joh 17:8 15:14
/---------------------------------------------------------\
Be sure to check out our other devotionals
http://bible.christiansunite.com/devotionals.shtml
\---------------------------------------------------------/
========================================
Daily Light on the Daily Path Devotional
Tuesday February 8, 2011
http://bible.christiansunite.com/devotionals.shtml
===================================
Evening
Thou shalt call thy walls Salvation, and thy gates Praise.
The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
Ye are no more strangers and sojourners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner [stone]; in whom all the building fitly framed together groweth to an holy temple in the Lord: in whom ye also are built together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.--If indeed ye have tasted that the Lord [is] gracious. To whom coming, [as to] a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God, [and] precious, ye also, as living stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
Praise waiteth for thee, O God, in Zion.
Isa 60:18 Re 21:14 Eph 2:19-22 1Pe 2:3-5 Ps 65:1
*******
Commentary from Christine:
Despite the fact that these devotionals are written in the form of Olde English, they are classic pieces of biblical literature. What makes them so great is that each devotional is chiefly written through the act of quoting directly from the Scriptures.
For example. Let's look at the wording in John 15:15 (using the NIV version throughout this post) -
"I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you."
Knowing that Jesus is Lord and Master should make us realize that we ought to be called his servants. However, He chooses to call us his friends. Being a friend is a much more intimate relationship than being a servant. In today's world, we could compare the term "servant" as being a subordinate co-worker. Sometimes, even a relationship with a co-worker can grow into a friendship.
What is important in this passage is the reason WHY Jesus can call his followers friends. He said, "for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you." Elsewhere in the Bible, Jesus tells us that "I (He) and the Father are One" and "he who has seen me (Jesus) has seen the Father."
Statements like this do not give us any leeway in determining who has the ability to save us from eternal death. Only Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, those who believe in other religions that exclude Christ as the Son of God are lost.
Jesus never minces his words. The entire chapter of John 15 is blunt and direct about who is saved and who is not. The two main themes within the chapter proclaim what Jesus teaches about the Vine and the Branches, as well as Jesus' warning about the world's hatred.
Here is the entire chapter:
Jhn 15:1 "I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.
Jhn 15:2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes [fn] so that it will be even more fruitful.
Jhn 15:3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.
Jhn 15:4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
Jhn 15:5 "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
Jhn 15:6 If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.
Jhn 15:7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.
Jhn 15:8 This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
Jhn 15:9 "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.
Jhn 15:10 If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love.
Jhn 15:11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.
Jhn 15:12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.
Jhn 15:13 Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.
Jhn 15:14 You are my friends if you do what I command.
Jhn 15:15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.
Jhn 15:16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.
Jhn 15:17 This is my command: Love each other.
Jhn 15:18 "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.
Jhn 15:19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.
Jhn 15:20 Remember the words I spoke to you: 'No servant is greater than his master.' [fn] If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also.
Jhn 15:21 They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the One who sent me.
Jhn 15:22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin. Now, however, they have no excuse for their sin.
Jhn 15:23 He who hates me hates my Father as well.
Jhn 15:24 If I had not done among them what no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin. But now they have seen these miracles, and yet they have hated both me and my Father.
Jhn 15:25 But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: 'They hated me without reason.' [fn]
Jhn 15:26 "When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me.
Jhn 15:27 And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning.
NIV Footnotes:
(15:2) The Greek for prunes also means cleans.
(15:20) John 13:16
(15:25) Psalms 35:19; 69:4
Commentary from Christine:
Keep in mind that Jesus was speaking to Jewish believers in Him before he went to the cross. Jesus lived as a Jewish God-man during the Incarnation. When he said the following words to his disciples, the term "Christian" wasn't in existence yet:
Jhn 15:18 "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.
Jhn 15:19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.
Today, after the fact of the sacrificial death on the cross of Christ and his subsequent resurrection to life, we can also apply those words to Christian believers.
With all the turmoil happening in Egypt today and the virulent Muslim hatred for Israel and the Jews (especially the Zionists), plus the hatred againt Christ and Christians, we can see what Jesus was referring to when he said, "if the world hates you."
The chosen people of God (my people, Israel) and of God's Son, Jesus Christ, were prophesied in the Bible as being hated. Jesus himself warned us and we have the words written down in Scripture to remind us of that hatred. This is all the more reason to take Jesus' admonition in the following verses seriously:
Jhn 15:4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
Jhn 15:5 "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
Jhn 15:6 If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.
Apart from Christ, we can do nothing. We must "remain in Him."
Jhn 15:7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.
What does this mean? It means that we believe that he is God's Son (1 John 4:15). It means that we receive him as Savior and Lord (John 1:12). It means that we do what God says (1 John 3:24). It means that we continue to believe in the gospel (1 John 2:24. It means that we are to relate in love to the community of believers, Christ's body (John 15:12).
We are to be like a branch attached to the vine. Apart from Christ our efforts are unfruitful.
Keep in mind that the farming analogy in this passage shows how God is glorified when people come into a right relationship with him and begin to "bear much fruit" in their lives.
It is important to know that "bearing fruit" is not limited to soul winning, although that is a very important part due to the commandment of The Great Commission. Bearing fruit also includes answered prayer, joy, and love (as mentioned in John 15:7,11, 12). Galatians 5:22-24 and 2 Peter 1:5-8 describe additional fruit: qualities of Christian character. As you can see, we have our work cut out for us!
At the end of John 15, Jesus offers us much hope. He speaks about the Holy Spirit being given to us to help us endure the unreasonable hatred and evil in the world as well as the hostility many groups and individuals have towards Christ. The Holy Spirit is given two names, Counselor and Spirit of truth. The term 'counselor' conveys the helping, encouraging and strengthening work of the Spirit. 'Spirit of truth' points to the teaching, illuminating and reminding work of the Spirit. As we can see, the Holy Spirit ministers to both our minds and to our hearts.
John 16 is a wonderful passage where Jesus teaches about the Holy Spirit. I encourage you to read and study it.
Once I became a born again Christian, I recognized the fact that the world's value are often the opposite of God's values. This can make a believer feel like a misfit. However, even though life can be very difficult now, one day we will rejoice. As believers in the Messiah, Jesus Christ, Lord and Savior of the universe, we can look with confidence ahead as we keep our eye on the future because we can rely on God's promises! Remembering that the ultimate victory has already been won enables us to keep and claim the peace of Christ. Not the peace that the world gives, but the peace of God that surpasses all human understanding. Even in the most troublesome times we can take heart! For Christ has overcome the world for all eternity.
Hat tip: Christians Unite.com devotionals via email.
What Shall I Render to the LORD?
When situations get tough or a crisis happens within a family, it is so easy to worry, wail, and cry, "Why me Lord?" This is especially true whenever health issues pop up in our lives. Been there, done that....many times.
But how often do we, as believers in Jesus Christ, stop and consider the immense blessings that the Lord has bestowed upon us during our lives? How many times do we thank Him? At dinner each night? At church each week? Once a year at Thanksgiving?
A Bible verse comes to mind.
What shall I render to the LORD for all His benefits toward me?
Psalm 116:12
Even though we can give our heartfelt thanks for all that Jesus Christ has done for us, the question that Psalm 116:12 is asking is "what shall I render...?"
At Dictionary.com there are a LOT of definitions and descriptions for the term "render."
What can we learn from the Bible about this term and verse?
The Blue Letter Bible provides a Treasury of Scripture Knowledge page that gives us additional passages that can be studied regarding answering such a question:
Psa 51:12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.
No matter what happens on this earth, no matter how long each of us lives, no matter what obstacles are thrown in our path - we can always have the joy of God's salvation in our hearts, minds, and spirits! If we let Him uphold us by His generous Spirit - He most certainly will!
Psa 51:13 Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners shall be converted to You.
When we are filled with the joy of the Lord and His provision of salvation through Jesus Christ, we can then "teach transgressors" (all have sinned) His ways, and sinners (we all qualify for that title) shall be converted to God!
Psa 51:14 Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, The God of my salvation, And my tongue shall sing aloud of Your righteousness.
Once we know that we are delivered from all of our sins - even the heinous sin of bloodshed by "the God of my salvation," we can then sing the praises of the righteousness of Jesus Christ! It isn't our righteousness that saves - it is His!
Psa 103:2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits:
Is this verse telling us that blessing the LORD via our souls in prayer helps to remind us of all of His benefits?
Isa 6:5 So I said: "Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, The LORD of hosts."
The Old Testament prophets, such as Isaiah, looked forward to the coming of the Messiah to save them from their sins. Meanwhile, they sacrificed unblemished animals for the temporary forgiveness of sins - a foreshadowing of what Christ's sacrifice would accomplish in the final act of redemption for all of mankind. Isaiah prophesied much of what the coming Messiah would endure for our salvation. Seeing the King, the LORD of hosts was frightening indeed because of his sinful condition. But that's not the end of the story!
Isa 6:6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a live coal which he had taken with the tongs from the altar.
Isa 6:7 And he touched my mouth with it, and said: "Behold, this has touched your lips; Your iniquity is taken away, And your sin purged."
Another symbolic act where in the OT, the prophet Isaiah was assured that his iniquity is taken away by God and his sin purged from remembrance. In the next verse, look at Isaiah's huge change in attitude!
Isa 6:8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: "Whom shall I send, And who will go for Us?" Then I said, "Here am I! Send me."
Isaiah changed from the frightened sinner into a man that God could use! He enthusiastically answered "the voice of the Lord" by saying, "Here am I! Send me."
Rom 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.
When we get to the New Testament verses from this list, we see that the "brethren" were to present their bodies as a living sacrifice - meaning that they would gladly obey God's commands and be holy and acceptable to God while doing service for Him in spreading the Gospel of Christ.
1Cr 6:20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's.
And why would we become "living sacrifices" for God? This verse answers that question - because "we were bought at a price" through the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ on the cross! We are now called to glorify God both in body and spirit!
Now we get to the crux of the matter and can answer the question in Psalm 116:12 - What shall I render to the LORD for all His benefits toward me?
2Cr 5:14 For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died;
2Cr 5:15 and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.
Hat tips to all links.
Not God's Type: A Rational Academic Finds a Radical Faith
The following is an email newletter that I received today from Greg Koukl's Stand to Reason Apologetics ministry. The book that is introduced in the essay sounds like a book that every Christian could definitely benefit from reading!
Christine
*******
Dear Christine,
How do you reach out to someone who is not looking for God and does not even believe He exists? That’s a question I’ve asked myself more than once, which is why the opening lines of a little book I recently stumbled across immediately grabbed my attention:
"This book sets out to do what might seem to be a straight- forward task: to recount the experiences of a few months in my life in which I walked away from atheism and entered into Christian faith.
Nothing is ever as simple as that. It is no light matter to meet God after having denied Him all one’s life."
A delightful read—and also a fascinating radio interview with STR— followed. The book, Not God’s Type—A Rational Academic Finds a Radical Faith, is a memoir by Holly Ordway of her journey from atheism to Christ.
The guide God used to shepherd Holly on her pilgrimage was not a professional apologist, but rather her fencing coach—an ordinary, thoughtful Christian named Josh in whom she saw Jesus for an entire year before the name “Jesus” ever came up in conversation.
Josh was the personification of wisdom—“an artful method”—the second critical characteristic of a good ambassador. Here are some of the lessons I gleaned from Holly’s account of her friendship with Josh and his wife, Heidi.
One, respect people. Period. Treat others as special in God’s eyes regardless of their spiritual condition. To Josh, Holly wasn’t a heathen to be converted, but a human to be valued. He never reproached her for her unbelief, but treated her with genuine grace, dignity, and honor. He also did not fulfill any of the negative stereotypes she had of Christians. Instead, his character silently spoke volumes.
Two, begin at their beginning. Start at square one for that person. The basic message of forgiveness rests upon a number of assumptions about God, morality, guilt, Jesus, and more. Don’t presume the other person has crossed all those bridges.
“What’s helpful varies from person to person,” Holly pointed out. “I was glad for Josh’s willingness to be a guide as I entered this strange new territory, rather than trying to choose the path for me.” Like Josh, be a coach, a guide for the journey. Don’t choose the path for them. Answer their questions first, not the questions you think they should be asking.
Three, don’t push. “Josh didn’t try to close the deal on me—ever,” Holly wrote. If he had, she would have bolted. “Pressing for a decision [too early] would have been a disaster. It would have taken very little to make me close up and turn away, vulnerable and confused as I was.”
Don’t be afraid to move slowly. People need time to think, to digest, to reflect before they can ultimately commit. Don’t press for a “decision” for Christ when a conversion to Christ is what’s necessary. Trust the Spirit to do the deep work. Remember, God is in control.
Four, use questions. Josh consistently used carefully crafted questions to make his point. “If you could do something wrong that would benefit yourself,” he asked, “and you knew that no one would ever know about it, would you do it?” When Holly said no, he asked, “Why not? If there is no God, why be moral when it would benefit you personally to be immoral?” Josh was not trying to score points in an argument. Instead, he was probing the tension in Holly’s worldview, graciously challenging her inconsistency while presenting new ideas for her to consider.
Five, be clear. Make the central issues unmistakable. When Holly asked Josh what would happen to her when she died, he told her the truth—simply, without ambiguity, but without animosity. “I believe we will come before God in judgment,” he said, “and He will give each person either perfect justice or perfect mercy.” When asked, “What, exactly, would I be getting myself into?,” Josh told her two things that Jesus said: “My yoke is light,” and “Take up your cross and follow Me.” “I’ll let you ponder that.”
Josh was especially deft at navigating the challenge that Holly’s situation presented. Sensitivity like his is developed over time, learning how to proceed with wisdom—“an artful method”—based on knowledge—“an accurately informed mind.”
- Written by Greg Koukl
*******
About the book:
Not God's Type: A Rational Academic Finds a Radical Faith
Holly Ordway
Holly Ordway should never have become a Christian. A young, white, highly educated atheist and professor of English, she represents the kind of person that many observers of religion say cannot be converted anymore—a demographic supposedly beyond the reach of the church in postmodern America. Yet through a series of conversations with a wise and patient mentor, Ordway not only became convinced of God's existence, but also embraced Jesus as her Savior and Lord.
In this memoir of her conversion, Ordway turns her analytical mind toward the path that leads from darkness to light—from death to life.Simultaneously encouraging and bracing, she offers a bold testimony to the ongoing power of the Gospel—a Gospel that can humble and transform even self-assured, accomplished, and secular-minded young professionals like herself.
Hat Tip:
Stand To Reason.org
A Brief Review of "Crazy Love"
I wrote a review about the book "Crazy Love: Overwhelmed By A Relentless God" over at the Amazon.com website. Here is my review:
Perhaps it is not appropriate to write a review when one has only read the first few chapters of a book. However, while reading some of the negative reviews here I felt compelled and led to write this.
How can any Christian say that Chan's book isn't about God's love when it is stated so clearly by the end of chapter two? The statement that Chan shares - that "He (God) is everything" combined with the knowledge of the Bible verse of John 3:16 is enough to make one realize the "crazy" love that God has for us! Jesus Christ is God's gift of love - and there is no greater love in the universe!
Challenging Christians to FOLLOW Jesus is a great endeavor that each and every pastor should encourage. I suspect that those who object to such challenges may, in fact, be feeling some guilt within their own soul and spirit (I certainly have!) for lacking what Chan is describing as ways to more openly follow Jesus? It's a sobering thing - and a jolt to the heart to realize that we may never completely "arrive" this side of heaven, in our efforts to be complete followers of Jesus. However, we can continue to try and improve our walk with Christ each and every day of our lives. This is known as sanctification - and it is an ongoing experience that lasts throughout our entire lives!
I thought that Chan's analogy of "the movie of life" being about God and not about us was brilliant! He even goes so far as to state that this "movie" isn't about the great prophets and individuals we all know from the text of the Bible. For me, this is consistent with what Jesus articulated when Martha was complaining that she was doing all the work while Mary just sat at the feet of Jesus listening to his teaching. In Luke 10:42 Jesus said, "...Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her." No doubt both women loved Jesus and they were both serving him. It's just that Martha thought that Mary's way was inferior to her own. It brings to mind that sometimes we can be so busy doing things for Jesus that we aren't spending any time with him! The lesson: don't let your service to him become self-serving!
Chan writes, "the point of your life is to point to Him." And this is something that each of us can do in small and big ways throughout our lifetime, in whatever we are doing. We are to give the glory to God because after all, it is He who is worthy!
Perhaps it is not appropriate to write a review when one has only read the first few chapters of a book. However, while reading some of the negative reviews here I felt compelled and led to write this.
How can any Christian say that Chan's book isn't about God's love when it is stated so clearly by the end of chapter two? The statement that Chan shares - that "He (God) is everything" combined with the knowledge of the Bible verse of John 3:16 is enough to make one realize the "crazy" love that God has for us! Jesus Christ is God's gift of love - and there is no greater love in the universe!
Challenging Christians to FOLLOW Jesus is a great endeavor that each and every pastor should encourage. I suspect that those who object to such challenges may, in fact, be feeling some guilt within their own soul and spirit (I certainly have!) for lacking what Chan is describing as ways to more openly follow Jesus? It's a sobering thing - and a jolt to the heart to realize that we may never completely "arrive" this side of heaven, in our efforts to be complete followers of Jesus. However, we can continue to try and improve our walk with Christ each and every day of our lives. This is known as sanctification - and it is an ongoing experience that lasts throughout our entire lives!
I thought that Chan's analogy of "the movie of life" being about God and not about us was brilliant! He even goes so far as to state that this "movie" isn't about the great prophets and individuals we all know from the text of the Bible. For me, this is consistent with what Jesus articulated when Martha was complaining that she was doing all the work while Mary just sat at the feet of Jesus listening to his teaching. In Luke 10:42 Jesus said, "...Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her." No doubt both women loved Jesus and they were both serving him. It's just that Martha thought that Mary's way was inferior to her own. It brings to mind that sometimes we can be so busy doing things for Jesus that we aren't spending any time with him! The lesson: don't let your service to him become self-serving!
Chan writes, "the point of your life is to point to Him." And this is something that each of us can do in small and big ways throughout our lifetime, in whatever we are doing. We are to give the glory to God because after all, it is He who is worthy!
Why Humankind Needs the Savior
Way back in May of 2005, I created a post over at my Talk Wisdom Forum entitled, De-homosexualization of the Catholic Church. Ever since, GMpilot has been obsessed with the subject matter. Read through the thread and you will know what I mean.
The thread began with the following observation (plus a copy of an essay at WorldNetDaily - go to link above to read WND essay):
I have to admit that prior to reading this article, I did not know the genuine reason why Pope John Paul II was not more condemning of the homosexual pedophile priests and the Cardinals who shuffled them around to other churches where such priests, unfortunately, were enabled to molest more and more young boys. This scandal absolutely sickened most of the public and the suffering of the victims was just horrendous!
I just couldn't understand, for the life of me, why Pope John II acted indifferent towards the scandal. I wasn't aware of the genuine reason he refused to believe that it was actually going on. The following certainly explains a lot and helped clear up the mystery:
Quote:
Christine
*******
Since GM was continually talking to himself within the thread, five years and six pages later, I posted the following:
Then, GMpilot had this to say in reply:
I must admit, "So, who needs Satan?" is an interesting question. In reality, an entire book could be written in reply to such a question. Readers, feel free to share your thoughts about that.
Rather than addressing that particular question [mostly because Satan is, unfortunately, often used as an excuse by those who repeatedly choose to sin. You know - the ole' "the devil made me do it" syndrome], I chose to reply utilizing the Gospel message:
GM,
If the priests were after normal sexual relations, they wouldn't be performing homosexual acts with male children or young teenage and pre-teen boys. Why weren't they going after the beautiful women - who were of the age of consent - from the pews of the churches? Answer: because they were in homosexual/pederasty/pedophile lust for teens and boys.
Those priests who went after pre-pubescent girls were also pedophiles.
But all of this is pointless to discuss with you. You seem to think that because there are priests who are fakes - all must be fakes as well. During my childhood, I learned about a pedophile priest in our church. I only knew that he went after pre-pubescent girls, but perhaps he attacked some boys too. It was all hushed up and they named a street after him in town after he had died.
I also knew of a wonderful priest who kept his celibate vows and was wonderful (in an appropriate manner and way) to all parishioners - especially the children. He died 10 years ago and had a monument placed in a small existing park that was later named after him. There were benches there that were donated by members of the church. He was deeply loved.
There are people who try to live good lives, and there are people who don't. We all fall short of the glory of God. Recall the "good" test I told you to take? No one passes that test. If anyone ever claims that they did pass it - then you know that they lied.
This is why humankind needs the Savior. Jesus Christ was the only sinless God-Man who died on the cross for the forgiveness of sins of all who repent of their sins and believe in him.
Jesus Christ is the living example of mercy and grace through God.
Mercy is God withholding what you (we all) deserve.
Grace is God giving you (all) what you (we all) don't deserve.
There is evidence of grace being bestowed upon unbelievers and even the wicked in this temporal world. Some repent and turn to Christ, others don't. However, the choice to reject Christ (and his mercy and grace) prior to dying negates the chance for salvation after death.
Despite the fact that some who don't believe in Christ seem to have success in this life, it is an entirely different story [according to the Bible] when such individuals die without Christ. Why? Because they have chosen to reject God's mercy and grace for salvation. Therefore, they choose to leave this world to live in eternity separated from God forever.
God has done all that is necessary for salvation. Our job here on this earth is to either accept or reject His provision.
__________________
See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. Colossians 2:8
The eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth to show Himself strong to those whose hearts are fully committed to Him. 2 Chronicles 16:9
The thread began with the following observation (plus a copy of an essay at WorldNetDaily - go to link above to read WND essay):
I have to admit that prior to reading this article, I did not know the genuine reason why Pope John Paul II was not more condemning of the homosexual pedophile priests and the Cardinals who shuffled them around to other churches where such priests, unfortunately, were enabled to molest more and more young boys. This scandal absolutely sickened most of the public and the suffering of the victims was just horrendous!
I just couldn't understand, for the life of me, why Pope John II acted indifferent towards the scandal. I wasn't aware of the genuine reason he refused to believe that it was actually going on. The following certainly explains a lot and helped clear up the mystery:
Quote:
"Whenever Vatican investigators brought the results of their vetting process regarding an individual's candidacy for bishop, cardinal or other office, and they revealed he was a homosexual, John Paul II would refuse to believe it," he writes.
"He did so because accusing someone of homosexuality was a standard practice of the Communist government in his native Poland regarding anyone it regarded as an enemy of the state. From his ordination as a Catholic priest in 1946 to elevation to Archbishop of Krakow in 1963 and Cardinal in 1967, the then Karol Wojtyla witnessed this personal destruction repeatedly. So traumatized, he summarily dismissed such accusations as pope, and would approve the elevation of anyone so accused."
Christine
*******
Since GM was continually talking to himself within the thread, five years and six pages later, I posted the following:
Satan's grip on souls through sexual perversion
Sexual sin/perversion is one of the most difficult sins to overcome. No doubt about it.
__________________
See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. Colossians 2:8
The eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth to show Himself strong to those whose hearts are fully committed to Him. 2 Chronicles 16:9
Then, GMpilot had this to say in reply:
So who needs Satan?Quote:
admin: Sexual sin/perversion is one of the most difficult sins to overcome. No doubt about it.
But it's all part of The Plan™, isn't it?
God will make it all turn out in the end, won't he?
All that social turmoil, all those disgraced clergymen, all those shattered lives...God will use it all for good, yeah? Isn't that what you always say?
Yet after five years and fifty posts where I point out how widely and deeply and how many decades this has been going on, all you can say is how difficult sexual sin is to overcome? (I wasn't aware that any sin was easy to overcome!)
Your original posts were so full of fire and vinegar, and now they've dwindled to two little sentences that say nothing. Both the Catholic God and yours make it clear, and you've repeated it on this site often enough; they should die. After all, civil laws were broken, too.
When sex is not permitted to express itself in its proper way, it will always eventually express itself in an improper way. The more it's suppressed, the nastier it blooms. No Satan necessary.
I must admit, "So, who needs Satan?" is an interesting question. In reality, an entire book could be written in reply to such a question. Readers, feel free to share your thoughts about that.
Rather than addressing that particular question [mostly because Satan is, unfortunately, often used as an excuse by those who repeatedly choose to sin. You know - the ole' "the devil made me do it" syndrome], I chose to reply utilizing the Gospel message:
GM,
If the priests were after normal sexual relations, they wouldn't be performing homosexual acts with male children or young teenage and pre-teen boys. Why weren't they going after the beautiful women - who were of the age of consent - from the pews of the churches? Answer: because they were in homosexual/pederasty/pedophile lust for teens and boys.
Those priests who went after pre-pubescent girls were also pedophiles.
But all of this is pointless to discuss with you. You seem to think that because there are priests who are fakes - all must be fakes as well. During my childhood, I learned about a pedophile priest in our church. I only knew that he went after pre-pubescent girls, but perhaps he attacked some boys too. It was all hushed up and they named a street after him in town after he had died.
I also knew of a wonderful priest who kept his celibate vows and was wonderful (in an appropriate manner and way) to all parishioners - especially the children. He died 10 years ago and had a monument placed in a small existing park that was later named after him. There were benches there that were donated by members of the church. He was deeply loved.
There are people who try to live good lives, and there are people who don't. We all fall short of the glory of God. Recall the "good" test I told you to take? No one passes that test. If anyone ever claims that they did pass it - then you know that they lied.
This is why humankind needs the Savior. Jesus Christ was the only sinless God-Man who died on the cross for the forgiveness of sins of all who repent of their sins and believe in him.
Jesus Christ is the living example of mercy and grace through God.
Mercy is God withholding what you (we all) deserve.
Grace is God giving you (all) what you (we all) don't deserve.
There is evidence of grace being bestowed upon unbelievers and even the wicked in this temporal world. Some repent and turn to Christ, others don't. However, the choice to reject Christ (and his mercy and grace) prior to dying negates the chance for salvation after death.
Despite the fact that some who don't believe in Christ seem to have success in this life, it is an entirely different story [according to the Bible] when such individuals die without Christ. Why? Because they have chosen to reject God's mercy and grace for salvation. Therefore, they choose to leave this world to live in eternity separated from God forever.
God has done all that is necessary for salvation. Our job here on this earth is to either accept or reject His provision.
__________________
See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. Colossians 2:8
The eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth to show Himself strong to those whose hearts are fully committed to Him. 2 Chronicles 16:9
Why Muslims Don't Worship the Same God as Christians
While sharing comments at Sarah Palin's Face Book page, I pointed out to a young man who had written that "Muslims, Jews, and Christians all worship the same God" that he is incorrect. I referred him to an essay I had written back in 2006 at my Talk Wisdom Discussion Forum. I thought that it might be a good idea to share it on this blog so that when you encounter people (even some Christians!) who state that "we all worship the same God," you can be armed with the truth.
Do Muslims and Christians Worship the Same God?
The short answer is no! The bottom line is this - Hal Lindsey does not believe that Muslims worship the same God as Christians and Jews and I agree with him and his reasoning on the subject.
However, I also realize that some Christians do differ on this issue. In fact, President Bush once stated (incorrectly, IMO) that Islam worships the same god as Christians and Jews. I disagree and I will share many reasons that will explain to you why this is not possible.
First, a summary:
Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is co-equal with the Father. Jesus lived a sinless human life and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all by dying on a cross. He arose from the dead after three days to demonstrate His power over sin and death. He ascended to Heavens glory and will return again, to earth, to reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. (Matthew 1:22-23; Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1-5; John 14:10-30; Hebrews 4:14, 15; 1 Corinthians 15:3,4; Romans 1:3,4; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Timothy 6:14,15; Titus 2:13.)
The Koran denies that Jesus is the Son of God although it describes the virgin birth in a passage similar to Luke 1:26-38 (Surah 3:45-47) (Note: Surah is in the Koran).
The Koran calls Jesus a prophet, equal to Abraham, Jonah and others, but places Him in rank far below Muhammad. Surah 4:171 says that "Jesus...was only a messenger of Allah...Far is it removed from His transcendent majesty that He should have a son."
Muhammad totally ignored the claims that Jesus made about Himself. Jesus said, for example:
"I and the Father are one" (John 10:30).
"Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father" (John 14:9).
"Before Abraham was born, I am" (John 8:58).
The Bible also states that God Himself called Jesus His Son (see Matthew 17:5).
Demons trembled as they recognized the Son of God (see Matthew 8:29).
Doubting Thomas acknowledge Him as "my Lord and my God" (John 20:28).
John identified Christ as the author of creation (John 1:1-5); so did Paul (Col. 1:15-17) who also said, "In Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form" (Col. 2:9).
The only way to deal with this kind of evidence is to do what Muhammad did - simply ignore or deny it. Islam denies Jesus Christ's Deity so they do not worship the same 'god' in their god of Allah.
Next, a response to someone who thinks Allah and Yahweh are one in the same.
In response to an individual who was attempting to equate Allah with Yahweh, I wrote the following response and included some comments from others who agree with my stance:
What Muslims believe:
"Christ, the son of Mary [note: not as the "son of God"], Was no more than A Messenger; many were Messengers that passed away Before him [here, equating Jesus with mere Messengers, or perhaps prophets, but certainly not the Son of God]. Sura 5:75, Abdullah Yusef Ali, 10th ed. reprint, 2001.
"The similitude of Jesus Before Allah is as that of Adam; He created him from dust . . . ". Sura 3:59. A subsequent "created" man, like Adam. Not God.
What Christians believe:
However, "And the angel [being Gabriel, the same angel that allegedly dictated the "Holy Koran" to Muhammad] answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God" (Luke 1:35, KJV).
The Scriptures refer to Christ as "the seed of the WOMAN," knowing that no woman has any seed. The seed has to come from the male; Christ, as the Word incarnate (John 1:14), in an INCORRUPTIBLE SEED (1 Pet. 1:23) not like unto "corruptible MAN" (Rom. 1:23). Not like Adam, a created man who was not the son of God.
Thus, it comes down to a choice between these two disparate positions.
Either God showed up in the flesh, or he did not.
At this point in history, that makes you either believe God's inspired Scriptures testifying of himself in the flesh, or Allah's declaration that he did not visit in the flesh nor will he return once again.
The Koran indicates there WAS AND IS NO SON OF GOD in the flesh at any time. Muhammad thus cuts off the Isaac line through David to Jesus by God acting through Mary, and substitutes the illegitimate Ishmael to substitute himself for Jesus Christ as the New Testament "Comforter".
Jesus would then have been the son of Joseph (a corruptible man, dead and buried without resurrection), and therefore could not be the Son of God.
What does that make Muhammad?
I realize that some readers will regard this as harsh. I am just sharing the truth of the matter.
We are warned about such non-scripture by Paul when God cursed Muhammad (and any angel with whom he was consorting) for preaching "another gospel" (Gal. 1:8-9).
Below, are more differences that I have gathered through other's postings. (I will include first names or screen names only)
I am very politically aware of what is going on in the world today. In fact, here in America, as long as your god is just a word, the world has no problem with you. However, mention the name of Jesus Christ and they do have a problem. Why is that? Why is Jesus so offensive to those who do not believe in him?
Perhaps you already agree that we Muslims and Christians do not worship or serve the same God.
Christians believe in the Trinity (I John 5:7). God the father, God the Son (Jesus), and God the Holy Spirit.
Jesus said, "I and the Father are one" (John 10:30).
"If you have seen me you have seen the Father" (John 14:9).
In non-theological words, Jesus is God revealed to us in the flesh. Muslims do not believe in the same god, that is the God of the New Testament Bible. Let's just call it like it is. People must not try to trivialize our differences for the sake of peace.
When I was debating an individual about this topic, at the very beginning I had stated, "Since you are using a book - Koran - that I view as an improper addition to the Bible, anything I might say to rebut your allegations will probably not be accepted by you.
I do not say that the Koran is an improper addition to the Bible with a mean-spirited goal, it is just the truth as I see it being a born-again Christian. The Bible gives us a double warning in Revelation 22:18,19 not to add nor subtract from what is written, therefore, any book written after Revelation would be adding (and, in some cases subtracting, according to what is written in them) to God's Word which we are told not to do according to these verses."
With that said, I will share a few points regarding his dismay when I called Ishmael illegitimate.
I am currently in the middle of a Bible study on the book of Genesis. Here is a partial recap of chapter 16:
Here we find Sarai and Abram frustrated by the passing years without a son. So they devise their own strategy for "fulfilling" God's promise--and reap the consequences. Read Genesis 16.1.
It has been ten years since Abram and Sarai entered Canaan. What action does Sarai how suggest (16:1-2)?
Suggested Abram sleep with her maidservant to build a family through her.
2. What do you think this indicates about their trust in God?
They doubted that His promise would be fulfilled without them stepping in and "helping it along" the way. Sarai influenced Abram to commit adultery. (Another point to recognize is the name changes of both Sarai and Abram to Sarah and Abraham before Isaac was born; but even more significantly this occurred after Ishmael was born. A name change in Scripture is quite significant in that it indicates a great change in the path of the person. We see this in the New Testament when Saul was renamed Paul after his encounter with Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus and thus his conversion from not only just Judaism, but from being a persecutor of Christians to becoming one of the greatest apostles for Christ!)
3. How can our impatience with God's timetable lead us into unbelief and even disobedience?
It led to the sin of adultery in order to get the child they so desperately wanted. In fact, God did come through later with the conception and birth of Isaac.
7. Ishmael means "the God who hears." What does that reveal about the outcome in 16:15-16?
The Lord heard the child and Hagar's misery. Even though He told her the good news that He would increase her descendants so that they would be too numerous to count, He also told her the bad news; that Ishmael would be Gen 16:12- "And he will be a wild man; his hand [will be] against every man, and every man's hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren."
This is indicative of the hostility we have seen between Arabs and Jews throughout the centuries. We also see it in the radical fringe of Arab/Muslim terrorism going on around the world. (This is not to say that ALL Arabs/Muslims are terrorists because of course they all are not, but to point out that the hostility predicted in this Biblical account has come to fruition down through the generations and can be seen today as a result of this prophetic description of Ishmael in Genesis 16:12.)
I WILL REPEAT FOR ABSOLUTE CLARITY. I AM NOT SAYING THAT ALL MUSLIMS/ARABS ARE TERRORISTS!
In Chapter 17 we see that God's one and only covenant is revealed through Isaac. I have already included the Bible verses in previous posts.
Lastly, at my Bible study this past Tuesday, we ran across the following verse that reveals an astonishing truth about which son God Himself recognized as Abraham's "only son."
In Genesis Chapter 22 verse 2 we read:
"Then God said, "Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about."
Of course, we know that God provided a substitute for Isaac at the last moment by providing a ram caught in in a thicket by its horns (verse 13). This was a foreshadowing of the substitutionary sacrifice of Jesus Christ for the sins of mankind at the cross.
But notice also that God said that Isaac was Abraham's only son. Thus, we recognize Isaac's line in succession to Jesus Christ, not Ishmael's line of descendants.
__________________
Christine
See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. Colossians 2:8
The eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth to show Himself strong to those whose hearts are fully committed to Him. 2 Chronicles 16:9
*******
Update:
My Face Book friend, who happens to be a Christian biblical scholar from Australia - Bill Muehlenberg - has written two excellent essays on this topic. Please read them and be educated on this issue!
Culture Watch Blog: No, We Do Not Worship the Same God
Culture Watch Blog: What to Make of Allah
Do Muslims and Christians Worship the Same God?
The short answer is no! The bottom line is this - Hal Lindsey does not believe that Muslims worship the same God as Christians and Jews and I agree with him and his reasoning on the subject.
However, I also realize that some Christians do differ on this issue. In fact, President Bush once stated (incorrectly, IMO) that Islam worships the same god as Christians and Jews. I disagree and I will share many reasons that will explain to you why this is not possible.
First, a summary:
Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is co-equal with the Father. Jesus lived a sinless human life and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all by dying on a cross. He arose from the dead after three days to demonstrate His power over sin and death. He ascended to Heavens glory and will return again, to earth, to reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. (Matthew 1:22-23; Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1-5; John 14:10-30; Hebrews 4:14, 15; 1 Corinthians 15:3,4; Romans 1:3,4; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Timothy 6:14,15; Titus 2:13.)
The Koran denies that Jesus is the Son of God although it describes the virgin birth in a passage similar to Luke 1:26-38 (Surah 3:45-47) (Note: Surah is in the Koran).
The Koran calls Jesus a prophet, equal to Abraham, Jonah and others, but places Him in rank far below Muhammad. Surah 4:171 says that "Jesus...was only a messenger of Allah...Far is it removed from His transcendent majesty that He should have a son."
Muhammad totally ignored the claims that Jesus made about Himself. Jesus said, for example:
"I and the Father are one" (John 10:30).
"Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father" (John 14:9).
"Before Abraham was born, I am" (John 8:58).
The Bible also states that God Himself called Jesus His Son (see Matthew 17:5).
Demons trembled as they recognized the Son of God (see Matthew 8:29).
Doubting Thomas acknowledge Him as "my Lord and my God" (John 20:28).
John identified Christ as the author of creation (John 1:1-5); so did Paul (Col. 1:15-17) who also said, "In Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form" (Col. 2:9).
The only way to deal with this kind of evidence is to do what Muhammad did - simply ignore or deny it. Islam denies Jesus Christ's Deity so they do not worship the same 'god' in their god of Allah.
Next, a response to someone who thinks Allah and Yahweh are one in the same.
In response to an individual who was attempting to equate Allah with Yahweh, I wrote the following response and included some comments from others who agree with my stance:
What Muslims believe:
"Christ, the son of Mary [note: not as the "son of God"], Was no more than A Messenger; many were Messengers that passed away Before him [here, equating Jesus with mere Messengers, or perhaps prophets, but certainly not the Son of God]. Sura 5:75, Abdullah Yusef Ali, 10th ed. reprint, 2001.
"The similitude of Jesus Before Allah is as that of Adam; He created him from dust . . . ". Sura 3:59. A subsequent "created" man, like Adam. Not God.
What Christians believe:
However, "And the angel [being Gabriel, the same angel that allegedly dictated the "Holy Koran" to Muhammad] answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God" (Luke 1:35, KJV).
The Scriptures refer to Christ as "the seed of the WOMAN," knowing that no woman has any seed. The seed has to come from the male; Christ, as the Word incarnate (John 1:14), in an INCORRUPTIBLE SEED (1 Pet. 1:23) not like unto "corruptible MAN" (Rom. 1:23). Not like Adam, a created man who was not the son of God.
Thus, it comes down to a choice between these two disparate positions.
Either God showed up in the flesh, or he did not.
At this point in history, that makes you either believe God's inspired Scriptures testifying of himself in the flesh, or Allah's declaration that he did not visit in the flesh nor will he return once again.
The Koran indicates there WAS AND IS NO SON OF GOD in the flesh at any time. Muhammad thus cuts off the Isaac line through David to Jesus by God acting through Mary, and substitutes the illegitimate Ishmael to substitute himself for Jesus Christ as the New Testament "Comforter".
Jesus would then have been the son of Joseph (a corruptible man, dead and buried without resurrection), and therefore could not be the Son of God.
What does that make Muhammad?
I realize that some readers will regard this as harsh. I am just sharing the truth of the matter.
We are warned about such non-scripture by Paul when God cursed Muhammad (and any angel with whom he was consorting) for preaching "another gospel" (Gal. 1:8-9).
Below, are more differences that I have gathered through other's postings. (I will include first names or screen names only)
1. Muhammad sought earthly power and riches, including women from conquest. Jesus taught us that the Kingdom of Heaven is not of this world, and he gave up His life, via a gruesome Roman execution, so that we all might live again in the Kingdom of heaven, with all the angels and saints. And a final human act of murder and self-destruction will not gain one access to that Kingdom of Heaven, much less 72 dark-haired perpetual virgins. No, allah and God are quite different beings, with different requirements for believing in them. (contributed by John)
2. No Muslim believes that Jesus Christ in the trinity is one with God and God. Therefore they do not worship the same God. Allah does not reflect John 1:1 at all. Hence the reason one can not preach the teachings of Christ around Mecca. (contributed by Merle)
3. It is TOTALLY ILLOGICAL to say the god of Islam and God of the Jews and Christians are one and the same. Islamic scripture KORAN and Hadith is rife with Allah's disdain and hate of the the Jews and Christians. It is IMPOSSIBLE for God to hate the people (Jews and Christians) He created. Therefore Allah of Islam and God are not the same. (contributed by Paul)
4. To base arguments on the superficial use of the word 'God' misses the mark entirely. Even cults use the word 'God'. It is true that Judeo-Christian and Islamic beliefs have Abraham in common. From there though, Islam takes every Judeo-Christian belief and turns it upside down. (contributed by Terry)
5. Perhaps I can fill you in on some key points as to why I have trouble (with anyone who holds the opinion) that Allah is the same God of the Bible - God of Christians and Jews. First we need to be careful to resist our natural urge to claim common ground for the sake of unity and peace. Instead we need to look at historical facts and religious aims to see whether such commonality is possible. And we need to proceed LOGICALLY. The question we are asking is : Who is Allah? Here we are asking who Allah, the God of Islam is. We are asking who is the Allah god muslims worship to?
The Koran points out that Allah is the same as the God of Jews and Christians ( "the People of the Book") And muslims claim their faith as "the faith of Abraham" in one Creator God. So the question is settled? Well, not so fast!
As well meaning religious people, we like to see unity and peace. And we like to establish commonality with our neighbors. However to answer this key question, we need to be more objective. So let's clear up our mind and approach this question from the standpoint of a new muslim convert who is being introduced to Islam. What is the most important statement of Islam? It is the Shahada: That there is no deity but Allah and Muhammad is his prophet. This all important pledge states that Allah is the only God there is and Muhammad is his prophet. If you say this before two witnesses, you become a muslim. This all important claim of Islam DEFINES Allah.
Note that there are two parts to Shahada - "Allah is [the] only God that exist[s]" and "Muhammad is Allah's prophet". In other words, Shahada states "There is only Allah" but who is this god, Allah? "Allah is Muhammed's God" because Muhammad is his spokesman (prophet).
So the fundamental axiom of Islam DEFINES who Allah is. Allah is the God Muhammad worshipped! And this is a point that ALL MUSLIMS, CHRISTIANS, AND JEWS CAN AGREE ON.
Allah is the god Muhammad worshipped. This is how we should clarify who Allah is. This statement: "Allah is the God Muhammad worshipped daily" is a statement we all agree on.
Now we examine cold and hard historical facts.Was Muhammad ever a Jew? Nope. Was Muhammad ever a Christian? Nope. In fact, historians would agree that Muhammad was an Arab pagan who worshipped at Kaaba temple of Mecca. And he worshipped the supreme deity of Arab paganism - Allah of Mecca. We know that there is connection between the God of Christians and the God of Jews BECAUSE JESUS HAS BEEN A JEW AND SO WERE ALL EARLY CHRISTIANS. We can safely say that Christianity is a branch, if you will, out of Judaism because all early Christians were Jews and Christians accept Jewish Old Testaments VERBATUM.
By the same key criteria, we cannot say that Islam is a growth out of Judaism nor Christianity. Muhammad had never been a Jew nor a Christian and muslims do not accept the Bible verbatum. Instead Islam AIMS TO REPLACE THE BIBLE WITH THE KORAN. Because they believe that the Bible is full of errors while the Koran is the perfect book from the Heaven.
So let us summarize the above point why Allah is not the same as the God of Christians and Jews.
a. "Allah is the God Muhammad worshipped." If you want to talk Islam, you have to start from the Shahada. If you are unwilling to see the meaning of Shahada, we are talking at cross purpose. Shahada says that Allah is the God Muhammad worshipped and he is the only God there is. All other deities are idols to be denied and oppressed. (This is a point that all muslims, Christians, and Jews can agree on. )
b. Muhammad was an Arab pagan who worshipped at Kaaba temple of Mecca. (This also is a point that all can agree on. ) He was and never had been a Christian nor a Jew.
c. Therefore, Allah is NOT the God of Christians and Jews. (contributed by Jay)
I am very politically aware of what is going on in the world today. In fact, here in America, as long as your god is just a word, the world has no problem with you. However, mention the name of Jesus Christ and they do have a problem. Why is that? Why is Jesus so offensive to those who do not believe in him?
Perhaps you already agree that we Muslims and Christians do not worship or serve the same God.
Christians believe in the Trinity (I John 5:7). God the father, God the Son (Jesus), and God the Holy Spirit.
Jesus said, "I and the Father are one" (John 10:30).
"If you have seen me you have seen the Father" (John 14:9).
In non-theological words, Jesus is God revealed to us in the flesh. Muslims do not believe in the same god, that is the God of the New Testament Bible. Let's just call it like it is. People must not try to trivialize our differences for the sake of peace.
When I was debating an individual about this topic, at the very beginning I had stated, "Since you are using a book - Koran - that I view as an improper addition to the Bible, anything I might say to rebut your allegations will probably not be accepted by you.
I do not say that the Koran is an improper addition to the Bible with a mean-spirited goal, it is just the truth as I see it being a born-again Christian. The Bible gives us a double warning in Revelation 22:18,19 not to add nor subtract from what is written, therefore, any book written after Revelation would be adding (and, in some cases subtracting, according to what is written in them) to God's Word which we are told not to do according to these verses."
With that said, I will share a few points regarding his dismay when I called Ishmael illegitimate.
I am currently in the middle of a Bible study on the book of Genesis. Here is a partial recap of chapter 16:
Here we find Sarai and Abram frustrated by the passing years without a son. So they devise their own strategy for "fulfilling" God's promise--and reap the consequences. Read Genesis 16.1.
It has been ten years since Abram and Sarai entered Canaan. What action does Sarai how suggest (16:1-2)?
Suggested Abram sleep with her maidservant to build a family through her.
2. What do you think this indicates about their trust in God?
They doubted that His promise would be fulfilled without them stepping in and "helping it along" the way. Sarai influenced Abram to commit adultery. (Another point to recognize is the name changes of both Sarai and Abram to Sarah and Abraham before Isaac was born; but even more significantly this occurred after Ishmael was born. A name change in Scripture is quite significant in that it indicates a great change in the path of the person. We see this in the New Testament when Saul was renamed Paul after his encounter with Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus and thus his conversion from not only just Judaism, but from being a persecutor of Christians to becoming one of the greatest apostles for Christ!)
3. How can our impatience with God's timetable lead us into unbelief and even disobedience?
It led to the sin of adultery in order to get the child they so desperately wanted. In fact, God did come through later with the conception and birth of Isaac.
7. Ishmael means "the God who hears." What does that reveal about the outcome in 16:15-16?
The Lord heard the child and Hagar's misery. Even though He told her the good news that He would increase her descendants so that they would be too numerous to count, He also told her the bad news; that Ishmael would be Gen 16:12- "And he will be a wild man; his hand [will be] against every man, and every man's hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren."
This is indicative of the hostility we have seen between Arabs and Jews throughout the centuries. We also see it in the radical fringe of Arab/Muslim terrorism going on around the world. (This is not to say that ALL Arabs/Muslims are terrorists because of course they all are not, but to point out that the hostility predicted in this Biblical account has come to fruition down through the generations and can be seen today as a result of this prophetic description of Ishmael in Genesis 16:12.)
I WILL REPEAT FOR ABSOLUTE CLARITY. I AM NOT SAYING THAT ALL MUSLIMS/ARABS ARE TERRORISTS!
In Chapter 17 we see that God's one and only covenant is revealed through Isaac. I have already included the Bible verses in previous posts.
Lastly, at my Bible study this past Tuesday, we ran across the following verse that reveals an astonishing truth about which son God Himself recognized as Abraham's "only son."
In Genesis Chapter 22 verse 2 we read:
"Then God said, "Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about."
Of course, we know that God provided a substitute for Isaac at the last moment by providing a ram caught in in a thicket by its horns (verse 13). This was a foreshadowing of the substitutionary sacrifice of Jesus Christ for the sins of mankind at the cross.
But notice also that God said that Isaac was Abraham's only son. Thus, we recognize Isaac's line in succession to Jesus Christ, not Ishmael's line of descendants.
__________________
Christine
See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. Colossians 2:8
The eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth to show Himself strong to those whose hearts are fully committed to Him. 2 Chronicles 16:9
*******
Update:
My Face Book friend, who happens to be a Christian biblical scholar from Australia - Bill Muehlenberg - has written two excellent essays on this topic. Please read them and be educated on this issue!
Culture Watch Blog: No, We Do Not Worship the Same God
Culture Watch Blog: What to Make of Allah
No One Can Duplicate It
If you haven't taken the time to review the videos at Watch Glenn Beck.com: July 13, 2010 Show - Collective Salvation, then you might want to view them before reading this essay.
I have been thinking about the comparison between Biblical Christianity - which portrays the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross at Calvary and His subsequent resurrection from the dead as a victorious achievement - with that of what Black Liberation Theology (BLT) teaches. If you viewed the videos (link above), then you saw the founder of (BLT) actually describe what his brand of religion believes and teaches. Rather than portraying Jesus Christ as the Victor over evil, sin and death, Mr. Cone and his followers claim that Jesus Christ was a victim. He even labeled it as "one of the worst lynchings" known to man. Such a declaration is wrong on so many levels! However, I will share two reasons - from the Bible - that demonstrates how wrong Mr. Cone is in his thinking.
1. Jesus tells us that he willingly "laid his life down for his friends."
Jhn 15:13
Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends.
2. In Mat 26:53 - Jesus says to one of his disciples who just drew his sword and cut off the ear of one of the soldiers who came to arrest Jesus: "Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels?"
Now, don't you think that if Jesus could have summoned twelve legions of angels to prevent his arrest by the Roman soldiers, that he also could have called to His Father in heaven to send angels to rescue him from the cross?
Jesus didn't call for rescue. Instead, His atoning act RESCUES ALL WHO BELIEVE IN HIM from separation from God because of sin and nixes the penalty of eternal death.
These are just two examples of why Black Liberation Theology fails as a Christian religion. They have skewed the meaning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ with a false gospel that fits into their own mindset, politics, and demands for liberation and justice. In other words, they have corrupted who Jesus really is and made Him into their own "image and likeness."
I had dinner with a good friend last evening who is in despair. Who isn't these days?? The gangster government that appears to be working against our beloved country and appears to hate America and Americans, is enough to cause despair in anyone! She doesn't usually have the time to read blogs, so I often fill her in on what is being written about and said on them. She mentioned that the news stations she watches (not cable ones) all sound alike during their evening news broadcasts. It's as if they are each reading from a script. Truthfully? I wouldn't be a bit surprised!
Later during our dinner discussion, she asked me how I can deal with all of the evil, deception, lies, corruption etc. going on in the world and write about it on my blog without going into a deep depression. I told her that I do get depressed at times. It looks like there is nothing that WE THE PEOPLE can do right now to stop the madness coming out of Washington D.C. Our supposed "representatives" are not listening to the majority of Americans who call, write, fax, email and demand that they don't vote for the latest terrible legislation. It is obvious that these elected individuals are not really representing the people. They are busy voting for bills they don't read and passing legislation that will harm rather than help our economy. What's more, they seem much more interested in getting what they want done rather than what their constituents want done.
I told my friend that when I get down, I listen to the Christian music CD in my car. I read the Bible. I read the appropriate Christian book that will point me back in the right direction, away from the despair that the evil leaders in this world all wallow in and want spread around.
Today, while returning from a visit to the dentist, I was listening to a song by the Newsboys called "In The Hands Of God."
As I was listening to the song, I prayed for our nation and that what I do here on this blog and in my life would be pleasing to God. When the chorus of the song played that says about Jesus, "You're amazing, You're amazing You are" I couldn't help but think that everything that man does on this earth could never compare to, change, or overcome what Jesus has done for us!
Jesus' own words comfort us through all that we go through, cope with, and endure in this world:
Jhn 16:33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."
Then, the thought came to me! In fact, it ended up being the title of this post!
No one can duplicate what Jesus has done!
There are many great videos of "In The Hands Of God" at the YouTube site. I chose this one because I think the visual pictures emphasizes the title of the song and helps us to focus on the great lyrics.
Have a blessed day!
The Error of Collective Salvation and Black Liberation Theology (Update #3)
Did any readers see today's broadcast of The Glenn Beck Program on the Fox News Channel? It was a great expos'e of the errors of Black Liberation Theology (BLT) and liberation philosophy (lp). Glenn demonstrated how these two have hooked up with Marxism to create the skewed, unbiblical view of the definition of "social justice" that is being touted by the likes of liberal, progressive pastors such as Jeremiah Wright and Jim Wallis.
I want to encourage readers to DVR The Glenn Beck Program re-broadcast on the Fox News Channel tonight! In the past I have seen it shown at 11:00 p.m. (PT) and/or 2:00 a.m. (PT) - so check the listings.
The YouTube version of the show usually comes out several hours after the first broadcast, so I will be looking for it to include here in this post. Then readers can view it online.
I think that Beck did a great job describing both BLT and lp and explaining why it is in error of the true Gospel of Christ. He also included the Marxist elements (such as the ideas of "collective salvation" and "social justice") which Obama and his cohorts often refer to in lectures and speeches. We get a good idea as to why Obama's kind of beliefs mirror his maniac former pastor, Jeremiah Wright's Black Liberation Theology beliefs.
Beck had the author of Liberating Black Theology, Anthony B. Bradley as a spokesperson on his show to back up what Beck was sharing with the audience.
Even though Beck is a Mormon (he even acknowledged this during the broadcast) - which is viewed by most born again Christians as a religious offshoot in error of genuine Biblical Christianity - the fact that he DOES have a T.V. show and is able to use it to refute the "social justice" and "collective salvation" perversions of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is a HUGE advantage in and of itself. Fortunately, he resisted going into his particular religion's traditions and beliefs in the book of Mormon. Today he did a great service to viewers by showing the perversion of Black Liberation Theology and black liberation philosophy.
This blog post will be added to over the next several hours, so please check back as more information will be forthcoming.
Update #1 @ 4:23 p.m. PT -
Although Glenn didn't have a lot of time to go into detail about the connections between the Black Panther Party rants (and the subsequent dismissing of the charges of voter intimidation done by members in the 2008 election by the Obama administration DOJ Attorney General - Eric Holder) he did show video evidence of it on his show the previous day. Today's show dealt less with the horrid rants of members and leaders (former and current) of the Black Panther Party, and more with how it relates to the spiritual confusion being touted by Black Liberation Theology, liberation philosophy, the error of collective salvation, and the skewing of the biblical meaning of social justice. You can see how these elements of error are being used by certain organizations (like the NAACP) to cause politically-driven hatred, racial tensions and division by the perpetrators of such beliefs via these posts:
Daily Thought Pad
NAACP Readies Racism Resolution Against Tea Parties As Michelle Obama Tells NAACP: America Still Unequal
Gateway Pundit
Republican Tim Scott Releases Statement – Condemns NAACP Resolution Against Tea Party - Republican Tim Scott from South Carolina spoke out against the NAACP’s racist attack on tea party patriots today Tim released this statement this afternoon...
The Conservative Monster.com - Conservative News, Politics, Terrorism, CNIN - Steve Cooper
Explosive Debate Between Megyn Kelly & Kirsten Powers Over the DOJ Dismissal of the Black Panther Voter Intimidation Case - * Click here for the VIDEO* * Share this story * ** *[image: Bookmark and Share]* *Order The SPECIAL EDITION - Air Brushed - Conservative Mons...
Big Government
I Condemn the NAACP - The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) is expected to pass a resolution condemning the “racist elements” of the Tea Party m...
Le·gal In·sur·rec·tion
NAACP Passes "Tea Party Is Racism" Resolution - The NAACP just passed a resolution condemning as racist the tens of millions of people who consider themselves part of the Tea Party movement. As originall...
Desert Conservative
ERIC HOLDER: THE PROFILE OF A RACIST PROFILER! - Eric Holder, America’s Racist Attorney General! http://lisarichardsusa.wordpress.com/2010/07/12/eric-holder-racial-profile-racist/
Patriots and Liberty
The Evils of Collective Salvation - Faultline USA Update 5:20 PM: Be sure to watch Glenn Beck tomorrow, July 13th. The entire program will be devoted to the issue of Collective Salvation. Chr...
*******
All of the ills and divisions occurring in the hearts, minds, souls and spirits of mankind boils down these facts:
1. We are all sinners in need of the Savior - Jesus Christ.
2. We must be born again. (Jesus words in John 3:3)
3. Without Jesus Christ indwelling our hearts and minds in the form of the Holy Spirit, the minds of men are wrought in, and/or vulnerable to spiritual deception.
4. The rejection of God's Written Word, the Bible, and the ignorance and/or rejection of God's Living Word - Jesus Christ leads unrepentant minds into error, heresy and apostasy.
*******
Update #2 @ 6:15 p.m. PT -
Also see Glenn Beck's Page: Liberation Theology and Social Justice
Excerpt:
Jesus never said, "Take from the rich and let the government redistribute it." Take the parable of the Good Samaritan. The Samaritan chose to take it upon himself to help; he took on the bills himself. The government never told him to do it. Anything else is a perversion of Christianity and the perversion of the principles of God.Continue reading HERE.
You don't need to be a Christian to believe this. You need to understand this because a perversion of God is extraordinarily dangerous.
Tonight, I have to take it a step further.
We are living in dangerous times and unless you understand what people are saying and why they are saying it and how they arrived there, then too many Americans are going to be fooled.
We start with James Cone. He's one of the founding fathers of liberation theology. Liberation theology is a brand of Christianity based on the liberation of the oppressed from unjust economic, political or social conditions. It centers around the idea that people are in one of two categories: the oppressor and the oppressed. Poverty, according to this theology, is caused because the poor are "victims of others."
James Cone is credited with starting the same liberation theology behind Rev. Wright's church:
*******
Update # 3 @ 8:46 p.m. PT -
Link to The Daily Beck broadcast of The Glenn Beck Program for 7/13/10:
Watch Glenn Beck.com: July 13, 2010 Show - Collective Salvation
Also - Talk Wisdom made the list of "collective salvation" hot news!
The Constant And Ongoing Truth War
Many times, I have brought up the need for repentance when confessing sin and accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. However, it is sad to have to say that not all churches that label themselves as "Christian" believe such truth.
Bill Muehlenberg over at Culture Watch has an excellent post up called, "Another Jesus."
Bill is correct! When a preacher makes Jesus into his own image, or, makes Jesus fit into his own ideological beliefs rather than follow the true Gospel of Christ as recorded in the Bible, then such a preacher is guilty of heresy and apostasy.
There is a constant and ongoing truth war in this world. Jesus told us that as believers in him, we "are not of this world" - just as he claimed not to be of this world!
Where do we go to know the truth?
God's Word.
The Bible reveals the Living Word - which is Jesus Christ himself - and no other religion or spiritual leader who claims to have another type of truth (e.g. Another Jesus as Bill explains in his post) is genuinely in the truth.
This is why we trust in God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. Once born again in Christ, the Holy Spirit will guide us in our lives and make the Bible verses come to life in us. Scripture tells us that Satan's ploy could even fool the elect - if that were possible. This means that the deception can be so strong at times that even those born again in Christ could get fooled. But God's Word promises that the elect will not get fooled. Why? Because the Holy Spirit of God will guide us unto all righteousness and truth.
If what you are being taught at church does not agree with what is recorded in God's Written Word - the Bible, then REJECT it! This is how God guards our hearts and minds in the age of deception - which is stronger at this time in history than ever before!
My comment over at Bill's blog:
Hat Tip:
Culture Watch
Bill Muehlenberg over at Culture Watch has an excellent post up called, "Another Jesus."
Bill is correct! When a preacher makes Jesus into his own image, or, makes Jesus fit into his own ideological beliefs rather than follow the true Gospel of Christ as recorded in the Bible, then such a preacher is guilty of heresy and apostasy.
There is a constant and ongoing truth war in this world. Jesus told us that as believers in him, we "are not of this world" - just as he claimed not to be of this world!
Where do we go to know the truth?
God's Word.
The Bible reveals the Living Word - which is Jesus Christ himself - and no other religion or spiritual leader who claims to have another type of truth (e.g. Another Jesus as Bill explains in his post) is genuinely in the truth.
This is why we trust in God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. Once born again in Christ, the Holy Spirit will guide us in our lives and make the Bible verses come to life in us. Scripture tells us that Satan's ploy could even fool the elect - if that were possible. This means that the deception can be so strong at times that even those born again in Christ could get fooled. But God's Word promises that the elect will not get fooled. Why? Because the Holy Spirit of God will guide us unto all righteousness and truth.
If what you are being taught at church does not agree with what is recorded in God's Written Word - the Bible, then REJECT it! This is how God guards our hearts and minds in the age of deception - which is stronger at this time in history than ever before!
My comment over at Bill's blog:
Relativism is man's excuse for not repenting of his/her sins at the foot of the cross of Christ. The 'cross less' gospel is the one that the heretics preach because that type of false gospel allows them to keep practicing their favorite sins (and trapped in the lie) and keeps them away from the Truth.
Both John the Baptist and then, of course, Jesus began their ministries saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of God is near." Without repentance of sin, there is no forgiveness of sin. Without forgiveness, the soul of the unforgiven person is lost. Those who think that this is a minor issue are in grave error!
Great post, as always, Bill!
Hat Tip:
Culture Watch
A Verbal Shellacking of Wallis' "Social Justice" Agenda [video link added]
Whew! Glenn Beck certainly verbally whacked Jim Wallis and his "social justice" perversion of the Gospel on today's T.V. show! I'm sure that the videos of the show will be available to view later today or tomorrow.*** THIS is a show that you cannot miss! Glenn exposed the "social justice" movement agenda in liberal/progressive churches that has been previously camouflaged for what it really is - the socialistic march towards Marxism.
In a previous post, I wrote about how Glenn exposed the "social justice" terminology that was being used by the Marxists and radicals surrounding Obama at the White House. Today, Glenn excellently exposed how a perversion of the Gospel is being used to promote religious "social justice" in place of what Jesus genuinely meant when he preached during His three year ministry here on earth. The Bible is clear on this issue!
Perversion of the Bible is nothing new. It has been going on for thousands of years. There is "nothing new under the sun" as Solomon so wisely admonished in the book of Ecclesiastes. As Christians, we are to be on alert for such perversion, heresy and apostasy. The book of Jude gave us warnings about such attempts to skew true Christian faith through the guise of false religion. Such warnings are needed the closer we get to the end times. Jesus himself gave us instructions on what to do! See Mark 13.
Perhaps one of my first encounters with the "social justice" progressive movement was when I read and reviewed a book called UnChristian. At the time, I referred to such people as part of the "Emergent Church" movement. But what stands out to me now is the fact that the emergents usually criticize the Christians who believe in and follow God's Word and the Gospel of the Cross of Jesus Christ for salvation. I found it odd that they would allow, and agree with, the secular public who often attempt to disparage true Christian faith, beliefs, motives, and proper exegesis, hermeneutics, and interpretation of the Bible that has been passed down through centuries of scholarly Christian apologists, commentators, and writers.
Why is that?
If you read the link above, you will know why. Here is a short excerpt:
Back to Jim Wallis and the social justice movement.
It might help to read my previous post: Hunger and Thirst for RIGHTEOUSNESS
In a moment of honesty, I think that Wallis' title for the following post is true!
Social Justice is a perversion of the Gospel
Although the author (Wallis) claims that his "message is getting through to Glenn Beck," the exact opposite is happening! Glenn's message about Wallis' perversion of the Gospel is getting through to the American people! Especially genuine born again Christians! Remember, Jesus tells us unequivocally that the elect in Christ will not be fooled by false teachers, prophets or false Christs:
We are equipped through study of the Bible, Christ's Gospel, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit so that we will not be deceived!
So far, I haven't seen a response posted at Wallis' blog God's Politics. I wonder if a response will be forthcoming? Or will that guy shrink away from Beck's counter challenge? In the former post (link above) Wallis actually challenged Beck to allow him to debate on his radio or T.V. show. Do you think that Wallis will still want to do that now that his agenda has been fully exposed? Hmmm....
Oh wait! I found a more recent commentary at Wallis' blog (via his sidebar)!
Glenn Beck Promises Week-long Focus on Jim Wallis and His ‘Social Justice Nonsense’
But that was written on March 18th. We shall see what happens after today's broadcast. Stay tuned, folks. It promises to be quite the back and forth fight.
There are LOTS of comments to read through at this new link. I skipped over to the latest ones and found the following, which sums up why I think that Beck is right about Wallis:
Bingo!
Update:
View video clips here:
Barack Obama, Jim Wallis, 'Social Justice' & Marxism, via Glenn Beck & Pamela Key
posted by noreply@blogger.com (Arlen Williams) at Investigating Obama - 6 hours ago
Below are sequential excerpts of yesterday's Glenn Beck program -- one of the most important presentations he has ever given. Please take the time to listen to all of these and if or when you have, conside...
In a previous post, I wrote about how Glenn exposed the "social justice" terminology that was being used by the Marxists and radicals surrounding Obama at the White House. Today, Glenn excellently exposed how a perversion of the Gospel is being used to promote religious "social justice" in place of what Jesus genuinely meant when he preached during His three year ministry here on earth. The Bible is clear on this issue!
Perversion of the Bible is nothing new. It has been going on for thousands of years. There is "nothing new under the sun" as Solomon so wisely admonished in the book of Ecclesiastes. As Christians, we are to be on alert for such perversion, heresy and apostasy. The book of Jude gave us warnings about such attempts to skew true Christian faith through the guise of false religion. Such warnings are needed the closer we get to the end times. Jesus himself gave us instructions on what to do! See Mark 13.
Perhaps one of my first encounters with the "social justice" progressive movement was when I read and reviewed a book called UnChristian. At the time, I referred to such people as part of the "Emergent Church" movement. But what stands out to me now is the fact that the emergents usually criticize the Christians who believe in and follow God's Word and the Gospel of the Cross of Jesus Christ for salvation. I found it odd that they would allow, and agree with, the secular public who often attempt to disparage true Christian faith, beliefs, motives, and proper exegesis, hermeneutics, and interpretation of the Bible that has been passed down through centuries of scholarly Christian apologists, commentators, and writers.
Why is that?
If you read the link above, you will know why. Here is a short excerpt:
Why is there such a small percentage of those who hold a biblical worldview? We get our answer from Jesus himself when we read what Jesus said to the Father in his prayer:
Jhn 17:14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
Jhn 17:15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.
Jhn 17:16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
Jhn 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
I noticed that the authors talk about urging those who call themselves Christians towards "spiritual depth." I don't see them emphasizing the need for repentance and receiving the Holy Spirit of God indwelling the soul of the believer.
Back to Jim Wallis and the social justice movement.
It might help to read my previous post: Hunger and Thirst for RIGHTEOUSNESS
In a moment of honesty, I think that Wallis' title for the following post is true!
Social Justice is a perversion of the Gospel
Although the author (Wallis) claims that his "message is getting through to Glenn Beck," the exact opposite is happening! Glenn's message about Wallis' perversion of the Gospel is getting through to the American people! Especially genuine born again Christians! Remember, Jesus tells us unequivocally that the elect in Christ will not be fooled by false teachers, prophets or false Christs:
Mat 24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if [it were] possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
We are equipped through study of the Bible, Christ's Gospel, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit so that we will not be deceived!
So far, I haven't seen a response posted at Wallis' blog God's Politics. I wonder if a response will be forthcoming? Or will that guy shrink away from Beck's counter challenge? In the former post (link above) Wallis actually challenged Beck to allow him to debate on his radio or T.V. show. Do you think that Wallis will still want to do that now that his agenda has been fully exposed? Hmmm....
Oh wait! I found a more recent commentary at Wallis' blog (via his sidebar)!
Glenn Beck Promises Week-long Focus on Jim Wallis and His ‘Social Justice Nonsense’
But that was written on March 18th. We shall see what happens after today's broadcast. Stay tuned, folks. It promises to be quite the back and forth fight.
There are LOTS of comments to read through at this new link. I skipped over to the latest ones and found the following, which sums up why I think that Beck is right about Wallis:
lilschmoo 1 day ago
The term “social justice” has it’s roots in marxism and communism and is not in the Bible. The word "justice" in Hebrew from Micah 6:8 means the following (strong's concordance):
1) judgment, justice, ordinance
a) judgment
1) act of deciding a case
2) place, court, seat of judgment
3) process, procedure, litigation (before judges)
4) case, cause (presented for judgment)
5) sentence, decision (of judgment)
6) execution (of judgment)
7) time (of judgment)
b) justice, right, rectitude (attributes of God or man)
c) ordinance
d) decision (in law)
e) right, privilege, due (legal)
f) proper, fitting, measure, fitness, custom, manner, plan
What Christians mean as justice: aka, helping the poor, oppressed, etc. is NOT what the term “social justice” at its inception means and this is the phrase that Mr. Beck was referring too. Social justice is an ideologue that subscribes to progressive taxation, income redistribution, or even property redistribution. In other words: SOCIALISM. In that context, Mr. Beck was correct in saying what he said. Christians are not understanding that when the government says "social justice" it is not coming from a biblical understanding of God’s justice but rather a socialist agenda. God’s justice (which I am all for) and “social justice” are NOT the same.
Bingo!
Update:
View video clips here:
Barack Obama, Jim Wallis, 'Social Justice' & Marxism, via Glenn Beck & Pamela Key
posted by noreply@blogger.com (Arlen Williams) at Investigating Obama - 6 hours ago
Below are sequential excerpts of yesterday's Glenn Beck program -- one of the most important presentations he has ever given. Please take the time to listen to all of these and if or when you have, conside...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)