For the love of God

Quite often, we hear the phrase "for the love of God" used to express someone's stress or to put emphasis to the gravity of an action, i.e. "Stop! For the love of God"

While it's commendable to draw to mind our love of God and His love towards us when it comes to our actions, as with the name of Christ, the phrase has been turned into a common expletive instead.

It's not used to draw ones attention to God at all, but is become an off hand secular phrase.

However, in the hands of the christian, this shouldn't be the case.

Just like 'Oh my God!' shouldn't be used in a way that devalues God, to a believer, it should actually be used for a holy purpose.

Invoking God shouldn't be so commonplace that it loses its meaning. It should be intentional.

When it becomes commonplace, we are calling the Lord's name in vain.

To the unbeliever, this isn't an issue. That's because they don't love the Lord. They have no love for Him and they don't recognise any sort of the love from Him either.

To the believer, this should be a way to encourage one another and ourselves to good works.

We should always recall God's love towards us, and as recipients of His love, seek to love Him back.

We should identify where we are falling short in our love, repent, and walk upright before the Lord.

For the love of God, our King, our Saviour, let us caste off the sin that so easily ensnares us and walk humbly before Him.

Amen

No God? No Real Morals

I'll say it in many ways - but an atheist trying to build a case for objective morality is a stupid enterprise.

And subjective morality is an equally stupid enterprise

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The one who believes they can have objective morality without the existence of a God...

... is the one who believes their moral decisions are inherently superior to the moral decisions of everybody else

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without God, you're decision to not take the life of another person is no more moral than the decision of another person to take your life

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You're preference on what makes a thing moral or immoral does not negate another person's preferences on what makes a thing moral or immoral

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A thing cannot be determined to be objectively moral by popular vote

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For all of the various applications that the scientific process affords us, determining objective morality is not one of them

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The one who denies the existence of God while decrying religion as evil, is a walking contradiction

Equality?

The Declaration of Independence
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal..."

Within the first line of the declaration of independence, is a statement of faith.

The 13 colonies, who were fighting a war to be free from british rule, had as their foundation a theological understanding which served as the basis of their existence and rights that they could claim in opposition to the decrees of any monarch.

The religion that provided this framework? Biblical christianity.

Today however, the same nation who recognised and acknowledged the sovereign and living God, Christ Jesus, so many centuries ago, has been seeking to remove this foundation of their most basic freedoms.

While a certain amount of damage to this foundation has been self-inflicted, what with the sinful hearts of the christians of a bygone era blinding their minds to the clear biblical teaching on man stealing (kidnapping), enslavement, and hatred of neighbor being disregarded for mammon (wealth/power) - this has emboldened many to attack the religion that those backslidden men claimed to represent.

They now openly, and with reckless abandon, seek to remove the basis of their freedom from themelves and replace it with that which is self-evident to not provide the same freedoms - as its self-refuting.

- There are plenty of religions that teach that we all weren't created equal at all.

Hinduism, Mormonism, modern-day Judaism (which is pharisaism), and Islam being famous examples of this.

- If you remove religion from the table, saying that we weren't "created" anyway, this makes it worse, as then there is no basis to assume we have any value at all much less have equal worth.

As a matter of fact, there are many celebrated scientific minds that champion that we aren't equal.

One of the most famous being Charles Darwin.

Outside of a religious foundation, that is to say, without the existence of a being such as God who created everything and everyone, we lose all claims to any inherent "right".

There is no such right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness that could be called upon to trump the authority of a monarch, dictator, etc.

After all, rights are determined by those who are in power/who have authority.

If there is no ultimate authority... i.e. God - who sets a universal standard for all, there is no authority one could appeal to in order to overthrow the authority of those currently in power.

There wouldn't even be any morality because there is no universal authority that could declare what is morally right or wrong.

As the bible puts it, everyone would simply do what's right in their own eyes.

Ones personal preference as to what ought to be done and what ought not to be done can not, in and of itself, trump the personal preference of another.

What would have to happen is that one would go to the authorities to rule - and whatever the authorities decide is the correct moral action - as there is no other standard than what the authority decides.

Many people today are happy for this society until it turns against them.

And there are many examples of this doing just that.

- Authorities once determined that black people weren't fully human. They were literally placed in zoos at one point. This was morallt correct because the authorities deemed it so.

- Authorities once determined that jews weren't fully human.

- In China, the authorities determined whether or not a mother could carry a child to full term. The mother had no inherent right to make that decision.

There are many more examples that one could pull from recent history.

Those who take umbrage with a person's claim to live a certain way that affects people around them/that they interact with... solely on the basis that its religious in nature... become hypocrites.

They love and enjoy the freedoms and rights that come from the establishment of that religious position, hate the actual position itself, while bemoaning the fact that they are losing the freedoms and rights that the position that they are tearing down gives them.

They are a walking contradiction.

The famous anti-religion evolutionary biologist, Richard Dawkins, has been quoted as saying that he is glad that the countries he's lived in had a christian foundation.

The reason? Because if it was an atheist foundation, or another religion, he would have been silenced.

Mr. Dawkins has also been quoted as saying that christianity is what stands between the west and islam.

Richard is outspokenly anti-religion. Although he claims to he an agnostic rather than an atheist, he goes to many lengths to disprove the existence of a god.

Even if that isn't enough to display his hypocrisy, he is even quoted as saying that his position does indeed mean that there are no objective morals. That there is no good or evil... while at the same time telling people religion is evil and what he does is for the good of the people.

He is indeed a walking contradiction.

In times past, the writers of the declaration of independence, and many others like them, were not all christians.

However, they recognised the hypocrisy in holding to practical atheism while trying to claim that there were inherent rights, good, and evil.

So a number of people held to deism.

Now deism doesn't actually deal with the morality issue, but at least they knew and vocally declares that a god not only does, but must necessarily exist.

Many today who claim to be "woke" or "inclusive", openly cast off and ridicule the religiously held beliefs of the bygone era.

They gleefully curse the roots of the tree they live in, and proudly seek to detach themselves by sawing off the branch that they are sitting on, while expecting not to fall.

Those who call out their folly are labelled as haters and bigots. They are more than happy to remove rights of the religious. Their voices should be drowned out. Their businesses shut down.

In their minds, they are truly not equal. And those who hold to a religious belief that bucks against their non-religious practice should be treated with utter contempt for not obeying when they are told to contradict their god.

Deep Meditation

The christian is not one who is a pacifist.

No.

The christian is one who seeks peace with their neighbours, yet disciplines their mind and body for warfare, using biblical wisdom to know when violence (a strong hand) is the righteous path to pursue.

Is Fearing God Morally Right?

Psalms 111:10 (ESV)  The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!

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One of the things i see unbelievers complain about God is that the bible says that we should fear Him.

Fear Him as in being in awe of and honoring Him as well as being afraid.

I've heard some one once say that a God who demands people fear Him is one who is undeserving of respect.

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Now, the bible tells us that God created humanity in His image.

As such, the scriptures tell us that we stand in the place of God in a number of ways.

From political leaders, church elders, and even parents... we are as God in those positions of authority.

Romans 13:1-2 (ESV)  Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.

Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.

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In order to help us gain some understanding of God's perspective and refute this false notion, we should look to the positions of authority God created.

The most obvious one that all people can relate to is the parental relationship.

Everyone understands that a child should fear their parents.

Parents demand and expect their children to both honor/respect them and be afraid of them.

Even those who do not have kids, when they see a child who does not fear their parents in both aspects, they shake their head and lament at the parents inability to control their child.

When we see this lack of fear in a child in relation to their parents, we start to understand and grasp the expectation from God towards us.

We see it even greater when a child extends this lack of fear beyond their parents, and unto other forms of godly authority.

Society as a whole laments and is saddened when children have no fear of their teachers and police for example.

We aren't even mainly saddened by the expected result of what that lack of fear will eventually produce in that child's life down the road, although that is definitely a part of our concern.

No, we are mainly saddened that no fear is actually present in the child to begin with.

At times, we are even indignant towards the parents for allowing it.

Proverbs 19:26 (ESV)  He who does violence to his father and chases away his mother is a son who brings shame and reproach.

Proverbs 29:15 (ESV)  The rod and reproof give wisdom, but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother.

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One thing we should point out though. As the child grows into adulthood, our response to their lack of fear is greatly reduced.

Once the child becomes an adult and is no longer dependent on their parents for survival, indignation with the parents all but disappears as we expect the adult to be able to reason through life despite their upbringing.

We also expect the adult to no longer be afraid of their parents, but to still honor/respect them (in most cases).

This is how we as a society view this lack of fear of authority amongst those who were created in the image of God.

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With that in mind, let's look at humanity from God's perspective.

God created humanity. And just like any good parental authority in the life of a young child, He demands and expects to be honored/respected and for humanity to be afraid of Him for the prerogative He has, as one who is in that authoritative position, to mete out punishment and discipline those under His authority who disobey.

Proverbs 13:24 (ESV)  Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.

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To deny that fear towards God, is to deny parents in general their rightly due fear. For just as the human child is expected to fear their human parents, so too is God right and just for expecting the same fear from those who are made in His image.

Secondly, unlike human parents, we never grow out of dependence on God.

God is both creator and sustainer of the universe. So not only did He create humanity in His image, but He grants them air to breath, food to eat, and a life to live. He keeps the earth spinning and our hearts beating.

When an unbeliever claims they can live without God, it's like a child telling their parents that they gave birth to themselves.

Like a piece of clay telling a potter it will decide how and what it will be made into.

Like a man saying he is the determiner of universal/eternal moral truths, and as such, everyone else should do what he says.

Not only does it not work, it's simply nonsensical.

We are never in a position where we are equal to God in anyway, or become so great in knowledge that our wiser than Him.

1 Corinthians 1:25 (ESV)  For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

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The one who creates and holds atoms together is not a being that can be outdone by His own creation.

So, since we are forever dependent on God, we never reach a stage in our life when we shouldn't fear Him.

If a person was forever dependent on their parents, and didn't fear them, society would look down on them.

How much more, should we fear the Lord of Glory, who commands angelic beings and yet shows love towards those who were once numbered amongst those who hate Him?

The same being who created the earth, the mountains, and the sun, is the same being who created man in His image and breathed life into him.

It would do us well to have a healthy dose of fear when it comes to God.

While He is kind and merciful, He is also a just and holy who will punish those who practice wickedness and discipline those whom He calls His children.

Amen

Daily Meditation

The power of a legion of demonic entities cannot prevent God from saving a soul when He desires to do so...

... how much more is the will of a single sinner not an obstacle to the purposes of the living God.

The Kindness and Severity of God

There are many who think that because God is kind and merciful, that although they ignore Him and His way, that when He calls them to stand before Him, He will overlook their sins because He is kind and merciful.

Yet scripture tells us this is not the case...

Romans 2:3-5 (ESV)  Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God?

Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?

But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God's righteous judgment will be revealed.
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And in another place scripture says...

Deuteronomy 7:9-10 (ESV)  Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations, and repays to their face those who hate him, by destroying them. He will not be slack with one who hates him. He will repay him to his face.
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And again, our Lord says...

Exodus 20:5-6 (ESV)  You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.
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As well as...

Exodus 34:6-7 (ESV)  The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands,forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children's children, to the third and the fourth generation.”
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You will usually find this sort of thinking with unbelievers.

That no matter what they do or how they live, that upon death, God will simply forgive them because He is kind and merciful.

Just like the devil and his angels, they recognise that God is real and are able to identify attributes that God does indeed have.

Unlike the devil and his angels, they fail to take into consideration the other attributes of God.

God's righteousness. God's holiness. God's justice.

It's these characteristics of God that causes Him to say...

Ezekiel 18:4 (ESV)  Behold, all souls are mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is mine: the soul who sins shall die.

It's these characteristics that sees all of mankind as condemned.

Romans 3:23 (ESV)  for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

So then, we see that God's mercy and loving kindness doesn't do away with His holiness and righteousness.

Because of this, the mercy and loving kindness has a purpose behind it. That purpose is to draw one towards God.

To have them recognise that they are undeserved of the mercy and loving kindness that is shown towards them.

They would then turn from their sins (repent), recognise that Christ Jesus is Lord/King/God, and walk in humble obedience to His commands.

Those who see God's mercy and loving kindness as a get out of jail free card, do not acknowledge Christ's rightful place over them.

They have no desire to submit to the authority of Christ.

So how is it they expect to be welcomed by God?

They are able to do this because they've erected for themselves, an idol, who is not about justice, righteousness, or holiness.

They recognise the loving kindness of God towards them, but they inflate that to be all God is and does.

Romans 1:19-21 (ESV)  For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them.

For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.

For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
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The aspects of God that they ignore are the aspects that made it necessary for Christ to die on the cross for the sins of all those who would come to Him.

Isaiah 53:4-5 (ESV)  Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.

But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.
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It's because of this act in time, that one can receive the true blessing of God, which is to know Him and be known by Him.

Galatians 4:4-6 (ESV)  But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.

And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!”
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Those who recognise God's authority over their lives and act accordingly are those whom God has demonstrated His love towards.

Romans 5:8 (ESV)  ...but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 5:10 (ESV)  For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.
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When speaking about God, we must remember that His love and mercy is not so great that it over powers God's righteousness and justice.

As it is written...

Hosea 2:19 (ESV)  And I will betroth you to me forever. I will betroth you to me in righteousness and in justice, in steadfast love and in mercy.

Amen