Truth Talks

Casting Your Vote

Tomorrow is Election Day in the United States.   Voters of all ages, races, religions and socioeconomic status will cast their votes in one of the most heated political contests in recent memory.   At days’ end tomorrow (assuming hanging chads do not get in the way) impatient voters will learn who will guide the future of our country.  Election anxiety will be over.  For better or for worse, we will have made a choice.

With the exception of birth and death, all of life is a choice.   With every action (or inaction) we cast our vote as to how our lives will turn out.   Each day is “election day”.   Each new day provides fresh opportunities to either go deeper in our relationship with God, living for Him, or to stay stagnant in our faith, living for ourselves. 

God delights in us getting to know Him.  He commands us to live all of our lives for Him.  When we do, we will be blessed.  The bible says

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful;

But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night.

He shall be like a tree planted by rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper. (Ps 1:1-3 NKJV)

When we cast our votes for Truth—for God—we are sure to receive what He promises.   We will prosper according to God’s way, in God’s time. God is not a politician.  He delivers on His promises no matter what political party rules on Capitol Hill.  

Like Joshua, we have a choice as to whom we will serve.    Joshua chose to serve God.  What will you choose?

How will you choose Truth today?

Wall Street vs Main Street: The Blame Game

Everyone is an arm-chair economist these days.  Because of the teetering world economy, the upcoming presidential election has nervous investors all over the world trying to figure out what went wrong and who to blame for the most recent stock market meltdown.  I feel sorry for Alan Greenspan, who is the latest victim of the blame game. 

I think we need to go deeper than Wall Street greed to evaluate what went wrong.  Sure, greedy mortgage lenders gave out funds to high-risk borrowers who coveted homes that perhaps they couldn’t afford.  Credit card companies, probably the next big “chip” to fall in this economic crisis also profited from lending to people living beyond their means.   Most of society is guilty of greed and covetousness because most of us want more than we currently have.  Even Main Street is guilty of greed. 

The real blame for our economic woes resides in society’s departure from a biblical worldview of money and wealth.  As a collective whole, we have put our trust in material possessions rather than in the living God.  The bible says the following about the place of money and wealth in our lives:

 

1. Our real treasure is in heaven, not in material possessions. (Mt 6:19-21)
2. Our security rests in God, not in our earthly riches. (1 Ti 6:17)
3. Our contentment should rest in what God has given us, not what others possess.  (He 13:5)

Where do you place your trust or contentment?  What provides you the most satisfaction?  If your answer to any of these consists of something other than knowing God, you may have some work to do in assessing your worldview.  Perhaps you need to start applying the truth that you know relating to a Christian worldview.  The real blame for the demise exists in each of us and our desire to have more than we currently possess.  Those of us on Main Street also have starring roles in the blame game.

 

How will you change because of the truth you know?

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?

Lack of Morality Leads to Financial Crisis

The Bible was the plumb line for all decision making as we raised our children. If you ask my kids today, they can tell you where their parents would and would not compromise. We taught basic values such as honesty, strong work ethic and right and wrong—principles that are clearly stated in Scripture. Without absolutes in these and other areas, a person’s life ebbs and flows based on feeling. Without these absolutes in business and politics, a country wakes up to financial crisis.

I listened to the Glenn Beck Program the other evening. A caller called in and made a brilliant observation, “A lack of morality is what is behind the U.S. financial crisis.” On this blog, our aim is conveying the importance of knowing and implementing a Christian worldview. One of the key facets of our worldview teaches that men and women have a conscience and is capable of choosing right or wrong. This is absolutism.

Conversely, proponents of relativism believe that each person can choose what is right and wrong and we should all tolerate each other’s differences. How do you feel about tolerating the CEO’s and politicians who lined their pockets and padded their checkbooks at the expense of the American people? Greed and unfair gain is wrong. If you feel, and eventually you will, the fallout of the bailout, you are a fool to remain a relativist.

These are strong words, I know. God gave us strong words and 10 very clear commandments. In a culture that has replaced rules with relativism, Scriptural truths become our only hope. Everything we do as a Christian should point to the absolutes of Scripture. When our life reflects absolutes, a confused world will notice. And that’s what it’s all about isn’t it—being light in a dark world?

"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. (Matthew 5:14-15)

What will you do with the absolutes you know?

Always be Prepared

This blog covers the spectrum of the Christian worldview concerning God, Humanity, Morality, Reality and Knowledge. Our intention is to get our readers thinking for themselves. We try to lead by example.

My example in Wednesday’s blog was to narrow down my two most important issues and report my findings. I hesitated before "stating that one party is against these specific things" until I read each platform's (Dem | Rep) words on the two issues that concerned me. Now, I am responsible to consider the information and then respond according to my convictions.

I hope you’ll take some time between now and November 4th to read the ‘doctrines’ of the parties. Then, I hope you’ll spend as much time reading the doctrine of our Savior. Ultimately, as believers we are called to:

Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks [us] to give the reason for the hope

which lies within [us], but do this with gentleness and respect. (1 Peter 3:15)

So, as we are instructed to be prepared to give an answer to the hope of our salvation, I’m trying also to be prepared to give a well-examined answer to why I vote the way I do, and to do it with gentleness and respect.

What will you do with what you know?

Wise Advice Concerning Politics

A wise advisor once told me, I should not complain about politicians if I do not vote. She further instructed that if I were going to point out a problem, I should be prepared to be part of the solution. My mom’s words ring quite clear today in light of the political frenzy of this election year.

I recently took a day away from the media, the voices and the ideals of others and did my own homework. I am relieved to report my conclusions are consistent with my core beliefs, values and faith.

The mammoth issues of our failing economy, need for social reform, to abort or not to abort, to approve gay rights or not, to drill or not to drill, soaring gas prices, collapsing mortgage industry, securing the borders, ending the war, funding the war, etc., etc. were driving me crazy. Then, I considered which issues, if any, were clearly defined, black and white, in the Bible. That’s when it became a no-brainer for me.

Like an onion, I peeled away the rhetoric from the media and the lip service from the candidates. I plugged my ears to what all of them were saying was “most important.”

The most important issue is honoring God with our choices.

It would be contrary to my values and faith in the inerrancy of the Bible to support anyone that supports abortion and gay-rights. As a speaker, writer and teacher of a Christian worldview, I would be a hypocrite if I supported a political party that openly opposes these values.

Here’s my “platform:”

1. On abortion: The Bible teaches that God is the giver of human life. The medical community agrees that the fetal heartbeat can be seen at five weeks and heard at eight. Since man is not the giver of life, man does not have the right to take human life.
2. On gay rights: The Bible teaches that God designed sexual relationship between a man and a woman; homosexuality is unnatural and is wrong.

All of the issues are extremely important and affect every one of us. Our challenge is to examine our values and make choices that are consistent with our Christian worldview.

I am attaching my ‘homework assignment.’ It is long and lengthy, but it was true research. Is it biased? No, I’m reporting the facts I found on the two issues that concerned me most. Is it persuasive? Maybe. I guess it depends on your worldview. Will you learn which candidate I will not vote for? Probably.

Avoid the frenzy of the election year, do your homework and be part of the solution.

More>>

Trifecta, Tricycle, Trilemma.

Trifecta, tricycle, trilemma. An interesting trio, don’t you think? Most of us are familiar with the first two, but the third may not be so familiar.

C.S. Lewis uses the idea of this “trilemma” to describe what you will have as you wrestle with three vary different conclusions concerning Jesus Christ. Once an agnostic Lewis writes, “I am trying to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about him: ‘I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept His claim to be God.’”

Jesus claimed to be God, if he was not, he wouldn’t be a great teacher, he’d be a liar. However, “someone who lived as Jesus lived, taught as Jesus taught, and died as Jesus died could not have been merely a liar. What alternatives are there?”

He’d be a lunatic. If he were crazy enough to think he was God, that might also explain why he spoke words that eventually got him crucified. But, historians and psychologists report his teachings were those spoken by a man with mental clarity. Now what?

He must be as he claimed, the Christ, the Son of God—Lord.

All three choices of the trilemma are possible, but which is most probable? Who you decide Jesus Christ cannot be determined by some “idle intellectual exercise. You cannot put him on the shelf as a great moral teacher. That is not a valid option. He is either a liar, a lunatic, or Lord and God.”[1] You must make a choice.

I’d love to hear from you. What do you think? What will you do with this trilemma?

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[1] Adapted from Josh McDowell’s More Than a Carpenter

See also McDowell’s Evidence that Demand’s a Verdict and Mere Chrisitanity by CS Lewis.

Obama, McCain on Abortion

Last week a forum was held with both presidential candidates. Each shared their view on abortion in non-committal riddles:

One candidate said a human is entitled to human rights at conception…but, he also supports stem-cell research.

The other candidate declined “to the answer with specificity as it was above his pay grade.” He did, however, commit to being pro-choice, for Roe v Wade, but not pro-abortion.

The cause for the apparent dilemma surrounding taking a human life from the womb stems from each man’s worldview.

The medical community agrees that the fetal heartbeat can be seen at five weeks and heard at eight. If this is so, why the dilemma? It’s as simple as Darwin’s theory of evolution.

It is important to understand the incredibly destructive influences that evolutionary theory has had on modern thinking. If life was not created by God, and if human beings are simply random occurrences in the universe, then of what significance is human life? 40 million abortions since Roe v Wade seems to conclude human life apart from a Creator is disposable.

Also, if all of life can be explained by evolution, and if there is no God who created us, then there is no supreme Judge to hold us morally accountable. Therefore, moral absolutes regarding human life are only subjective preferences.

The election issues provide perfect opportunities to dialogue with people outside the church. Revisit the creation story and be reminded afresh how God dialogued with Adam and Eve. He personally saw to their needs. Even after their disobedience, he remedied their wrong because he is a personal God who desires relationship with us.

When the eternal soul enters the body is up for debate—even in the Christian community. So, it’s not necessary to go there. What you can do is share with others the biblical worldview that God creates life and desires a personal relationship with every person through his son Jesus Christ.

What will you do with what you know?

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>>

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)