Truth Talks

God and Prosperity

When we become Christians, God doesn’t promise us a trouble-free life of prosperity & bliss according to our definitions of the terms.  When God says that He has plans for us (Jer 29:11), His plans aren’t what most people think, for God’s thoughts and ways are not our thoughts and ways.  While it is comforting to know that God does indeed have a purpose for our lives, His ultimate purpose is for the advancement of His kingdom and for heavenly, not earthly, ends.

God does promise prosperity or abundance to believers, but not in the way we often think of it.  While we commonly think of abundance as happiness or material gains,  God promises us a future in heaven as adopted children of God.  He also promises to enable us to be the men and women He wants us to be here on earth through  the power of His Holy Spirit.  God’s promised blessings to us this side of eternity are spiritual & character blessings, not physical blessings (Eph 1:3-6), so that we can be holy and without blame before Him.  

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.  Against such there is no law.  (Gal 5:22 NKJV)

These are definitely spiritual blessings, all of which pertain to character, nothing more.  Godly character is highly valued by God because God looks at the heart of man, not his or her exterior.  We will have success God’s way when we allow God to make us into the people He wants us to be so that we can do for Him what He wants us to do.  The fullness of our prosperity, God’s way, will come when we get to heaven, not here on earth, but it will definitely be worth the wait!  While we are waiting, let’s just keep pressing on, pressing into God, and allowing Him to change us from the inside out as He so desires.

Who will you encourage today with the Truth you know?

Gay Rights Activists Trample Cross

There are a few things that render me speechless. However, when I saw the video last week of a gay rights activist snatch a cross from an older woman and stomp on it…my jaw dropped and all I could do was groan.

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness. Rom 1: 18

Please take time to read the rest of Romans 1. It is like reading today’s newspaper, from God’s vantage point. Men are suppressing the truth of a knowledge of God.

25If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, 27but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. … 29How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? 30For we know him who said, "It is mine to avenge; I will repay, "and again, "The Lord will judge his people." 31It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Heb 10:25-31

The audience in Hebrews is believers but serves as a reminder that God will avenge and repay those who trample the Son of God. No, the Styrofoam cross the woman held was not Jesus, but it represents all that he stands for.

Please pray during these times of ungodliness. All of those who are protesting for all the wrong reasons have eternal souls just like you and me. Pray that they will hear the truth and listen. Pray for our new president-elect that he will not suppress the truth of these and other crucial issues.

What will you do with the truth you have heard?

Should a Christian Consult a Fortune Teller?

Throughout all of human history, people have been fascinated with fortune telling.  The bible often mentions instances where kings consulted their sorcerers and soothsayers in order to predict the future.

 

Times haven’t changed all that much.  Sorcery and soothsaying are still alive and well today.  People are fascinated with the spirit world evidenced by major network shows such as “Medium”, “Ghost Whisperer” drawing large followings.  Blockbuster movies such as “Ghost” and “Harry Potter” also featured dabblings into the occult.  

 

Having a Christian worldview calls for us to avoid dabbling in the spirit world.  First of all, the bible is clear about this when it states in Deuteronomy 18:10-12

 

“There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, or one who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead.  For all who do these things are an abomination to the LORD…”

 

God views such behavior as “an abomination”.  He clearly does not like us to practice such things.  Seeking information about the future or seeking help from another spirit can be equated to idolatry.  God says that we should have no other gods before Him.

 

The good news is that as Christians we have direct access to the One who not only knows all that is going on in the world, but the One who created the world and controls all that is going on in the world.  We need not seek the “advice” of any other.  Our trust can be placed in Him whether or not we know what the future holds.  We can trust God’s plan because we know God’s character, and He is all Good.  

 

How will you seek God for the Truth?

 

What do you know for Sure?

 Volumes of data and photos reveal what only a handful of men and women have witnessed first-hand—a view of Earth from space. It’s unlikely that commoners like you and me will ever get to glimpse the world from that unique view.

However, consider for a moment the Christian’s view of the world and how incredibly unique it is:

• Humankind. Was he created, did he evolve, or something else? Does he have a free will/choice in his destiny?
• Morality/Ethics. Are there absolutes? Who/what determines them? What makes an action right or wrong?
• Knowledge. Can humans know anything? Is knowledge attainable? What is the role of reason?
• Reality. What is real versus perceived? How did the world as we know it and the universe come into being? Is it steady/static? Is it closed or open?
• God. Does this “being” exist? Is their many or one? If he is a he, is he personal? Is he active, proactive, reactive?

In America, the biblical worldview of Creationism is eroding and evolution is taking its place. Government funding of abortion and same-sex marriages is clearing the way to legalized prostitution. Human reason is replacing faith in God. Spirituality is crowding out Christianity. The reality of God is fading to mere theory. Have you been to Europe lately? Don’t bother; it’s coming to us.

Similar to the commonplace space shuttles of the 21st century, Christians in America take our freedoms and biblical worldview for granted. We treat it as if it’s just not a big deal. But, it should be. We know for sure that Jesus Christ saves man from his sin. This should be big news.  Sharing it is a freedom we should be exercising.

Take time today to reevaluate your worldview. Then ask someone the question,  “What do you know for sure?” As followers of Jesus Christ we:

• Know that God’s authority, glory and sovereign power is everlasting. (Daniel 7:14)
• Know that God’s words will endure. (Matthew 24:35)
• Know that faith, hope and love will remain. (I Corinthians 13)

What will you do with the truth you know and the freedoms you have?

Using Messianic Prophecy as Proof

As Christians communicating to unbelieving skeptics in our postmodern world today, it is more important than ever to have facts to back up our beliefs.   The next generation is skeptical of anything said to represent absolute truth.  However, the Bible in itself has enough detail to provide a compelling argument for its accuracy as anything else around.  We just need to know where to look.

Prophecy is one of the best ways to prove the authenticity of the Bible.  Scores of events are foretold and fulfilled throughout its pages.  Dozens of them are about Jesus were written hundreds of years before Jesus was even born.  All were fulfilled.  How many supermarket tabloid “prophets” can attest to that kind of accuracy?

Following are some of the most significant Messianic prophecies from the Old Testament, along with the New Testament verse showing the fulfillment of the prophecy (see note below).  Try them out on some of your skeptic friends.  The Bible is no ordinary book.

1. Born of a woman (Gen 3:14; Gal 4:4)
2. Born of a virgin (Isa. 7:14; Matt. 1:21)
3. He would be "cut off" 483 years after the declaration to reconstruct the  temple in 444 B.C. (Dan 9:24)
4. Of the seed of Abraham (Gen 12:1-3; 22:18; Math 1:1; Gal 3:16)
5. Of the tribe of Judah(Gen 49:10); Luke 3:23, 33; Heb 7:14)
6. Of the house of David (2 Sam 7:12; Matt 1:1)
7. Born in Bethlehem(Micah 5:2; Matt 2:1; Luke 2:4-7)
8. Anointed by the Holy Spirit (Isa 11:2; Mat t3:16-17)
9. Heralded by the messenger of the Lord (John the Baptist) (Isa 40:3; mal 3:1; Matt 3:1-2)
10. Would perform miracles (Isa 35:5-6; Matt 9:35)
11. Would cleanse the temple (Mal 3:1; Matt 21:12)
12. Rejected by Jews (Ps 118:22; 1 Pe 2:7)
13. Die a humiliating death (Ps 22; Isa 53) involving:

a. rejection (Isa 53:3; John 1:10-11; 7:5, 48)
b. silence before His accusers (Isa. 53:7; Matt. 27:12-19)
c. being mocked (Ps 22:7-8; Matt. 27:31)
d. piercing His hands and feet (Ps 22:16; Luke 23:33)
e. being crucified with thieves (Isa. 53:12; Matt. 27:38)
f. praying for His persecutors (Isa 53:12; Luke 23:43)
g. piercing His side (Zech 12:10; John 19:34)
h. buried in a rich man's tomb (Isa 53:9; Matt 27:57-60)
i. casting lots for His garments (Ps 22:18; John 19:23-24)

14. Would rise from the dead (Ps 16:10; Mark 16:6; Acts 2:31)
15. Ascend into heaven (Ps 68:18; Acts 1:9)
16. Would sit down a the right hand of God (Ps 110:1; Heb 1:3)

Note:  The above list was taken from the book When Skeptics Ask by Geisler/Brooks, p. 114-115.

Becoming Like God, Without Him

Isn’t the title of today’s post is ridiculous? I guess it depends on your definition of God. The idea is definitely not a new one, and to some it's not so ridiculous. At an unknown point on an infinite timeline, consider the words of a created creature:

“I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.” (Isaiah 14:14)

After being cast from the presence of the Most High for such a claim, he appeared on the scene again. He had not given up on his sales pitch:

"For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." (Genesis 3:5)

Fast forward some six thousand years and the Father of Lies is still deceiving people. Today it’s packaged in the new age movement, which is nothing new at all. Unfortunately, this post-modern, new age worldview has come to permeate the very fabric of humanity, including the Evangelical Church. I recently wrote a paper showing the birth and mutation of this false religion throughout the ages to where it is today. The warning to the churches is clear at the end. After you read it, answer this, "what will you do with what you know?"  More>>

Relevance vs. Engagement

In today's fast-paced postmodern culture, it is challenging to attract non-Christians to church services.  To try to reach these people, many churches have changed their Sunday services to appeal to “felt needs”.  However, this method may not actually be that effective.  Consider what Douglas Groothaus has to say from his book Truth Decay about this matter:

Because of the postmodernist redescription of truth, apologists must be wary of working to make the Christian message relevant to the felt needs of non-Christians.  What is relevant to those enmeshed in postmodernity is not, typically, the biblical view of truth or biblical truths themselves.  Our operative word ought to be engagement, not relevance. (p.163)

This makes sense to me.  After all, why would people who don’t consider truth to be absolute, come to hear how the Truth will set them free?  Engaging them does make more sense.  Generally, postmodernists love to think.   They love to engage in conversation and muse about what is really real and to define new truths for themselves.  Groothaus also points out that

Christians must shine the bright light of truth by raising penetrating questions and giving satisfying answers.  When words are cheap and float weightlessly over a wasteland of artificiality and cultural triviality, followers of Jesus must utter and write words of weight and significance—words that point to the unshakable but approachable truths of the kingdom of God. (p. 164) 

Engaging in individual conversations is essential and because of this, the burden of defending our faith falls more on our shoulders now than ever.  Our pastors do not have direct contact with the people we know.   Let’s get into our bibles, study that Truth, and get into the conversation with some intelligent answers as to why we believe what we believe. 

What will you do with what you know?

The End of Reason

Janna’s post was a good example of using logic to examine our biblical worldview of truth and reality. Consider for a moment how your worldview would be different if you didn’t use logic. Your decision making process would be greatly affected. Now, consider a culture that tosses these two values out the window. What you get is the end of reason.

Have you heard of the boiling frog story? This tale states that a frog can be boiled alive if the water is heated slowly enough — it is said that if a frog is placed in boiling water, it will jump out, but if it is placed in cold water that is slowly heated, it will never jump out.

When we stop reasoning on our own, we let others do our thinking. The news, the media and politicians are doing a lot of the thinking for Americans. It doesn’t take a lot of logic to see where that could end up. Think communism and you’re on the right track. But, who is doing the thinking in the church?

Sadly, many Christians are like the frog in the pot—enjoying the tepid water. They are unaware of the danger that awaits them if they stop doing their own thinking and reasoning in light of the Scriptures. I hope you are part of a church that encourages you to bring your Bible to worship service, and once you are there you actually open it and read the text. Paul said it best in 2 Timothy 2:15 (emphasis added):

Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that need not to be ashamed,

rightly dividing the word of truth.

We may not be able to control the end of reason in our culture, but we can and should continue using our minds and reason where the Scriptures are concerned.

"Come now, let us reason together," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.” (Isaiah 1:18 NIV)

Where Does Wisdom Come From?

According to my recent Costco magazine wisdom comes from Kirkland® children’s vitamins. Their sales pitch suggests young minds should be fed multivitamins because they need these essential nutrients. As a nutritionist, I agree that certain supplemental nutrients are essential for good brain development. However, I don’t see the connection between healthy gray-matter and wisdom, at least not as the Bible describes wisdom.

The concept of wisdom is an important one especially in our technological society, where we place a strong emphasis on knowledge. The Scriptures do not make the mistake of confusing wisdom with other mental capacities.

Over 300 times in the Old Testament a basic word group (hāķam, hoķmâh and hāķām) is used to mean understanding. These terms refer to wisdom to master life’s challenges in light of our relationship with God. Take a look at these verses from Proverbs 2:

6 For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth comes knowledge and understanding. 9 Then you will understand what is right and just and fair—every good path. 10For wisdom will enter your heart and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul. 11Discretion will protect you, understanding will guard you. 12Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men, from men whose words are perverse.

In the New Testament the concept of wisdom is expressed with the Greek word sophia representing an unusual mental ability, a philosophical or speculative knowledge. However, Paul referred to this concept as “human wisdom” in 1 Corinthians 1–3. This type of wisdom is prevalent today as people try to use their human wisdom and knowledge to reach God. God calls these attempts foolish. Ironically, sinful mankind sees God’s solution of Jesus Christ dying for their sins foolish. Who is right?

For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength. (1 Corinthians 1:25)

Although multi-vitamins are good supplements to add to any diet, they will not provide wisdom. Only when we abandon what seems wise by human standards and accept without hesitation the divine viewpoint as reveled in Scripture can we claim true wisdom. Wisdom comes from God.

What will you do with what you know?

Presuppositions of the Faith

I have been a Bible studying Christian for nearly thirty years. I have heard many ideas and debated my share of doctrine—all based on my presuppositions of the Christian faith.

We all hold a number of beliefs that we presuppose or accept without support from any other beliefs, arguments or evidence. “Such presuppositions are necessary if we are to think at all. In the words of the Christian thinker Augustine (A.D. 354-430), we must believe something before we can know anything. Whenever we think, we simply take some things for granted.”¹ The consequences are often significant, especially when it comes to matters of our beliefs about God.

Think for a moment, did you ever not believe in God? Although I did not come to know God personally until I was 18, I always believed in the all-knowing, eternal, supreme Creator God. This basic belief drives everything I do. It is the basis for how I interpret the Scriptures, view life after death, and good and evil, just to name a few.

This basic belief in God is moving from reality to theory in 21^st century America. Step outside of your church doors and, if you dare, ask a passer-by what they believe about God. Their answer will be based on their presupposition. Are you prepared to share what you believe and why?

We cannot get beyond the opening verse of the Bible before we are challenged with what we believe about God.  This week, read the first chapter of Genesis and as you do, contemplate your presuppositions of the faith.

(Consider this easy read, ¹Worldviews in Conflict, by Ronald H. Nash. Nash clearly outlines the Christian way of looking at God, self and the world.)