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

The "Talking Snake" Objection

For awhile  now I've been hearing those who are against christianity object to it on the basis of it having a talking serpent and donkey.

They usually state this objection as though its some kind of supreme logic that completely reduces the bible to fairytale land.

This, of course, is absurd.

The argument is actually quite nonsensical when you actually put some thought in it.

So, for the benefit of exercising the ole grey matter, i thought i'd refute this objection.

First things first, we need to understand the presuppositions behind this argument.

That would be that a serpent cant talk because... ?

Well, the first thing we think of is literal verbal communication.

A serpent can't verbally talk because they dont have the necessary biological organs to permit them to do so.

Also, it's not that a serpent cant communicate at all. After all, they communicate with each other at the very least.

However, the bible didnt say that the serpent spoke like a human did.

This is simply assumed as being the case.

Also, the bible doesnt say that this was an everyday occurrence.

There is no biblical indication that adam and eve spent their days conversing with animals. This isnt The Jungle Book afterall.

No. This was a one off. Something different than the norm was going on that caused the serpent to be able to "speak" in a way that adam an eve could not only understand but to fully converse with.

The issue is that the Holy Spirit chose not to give us a lot of details in regards to how this was happening. So, speculation and imagination tend to run wild as to the how.

One option is that at this time in human history, due to the affects of sin not being present, that humans actually had a relationship with animals that included actual understanding.

We actually see instances of this today. Not with just cats and dogs, but animals such as lions, elephants, horses, etc.

Where there is a level of "friendship" where the human seems to have a connection to an animal where they seem to "understand" each other.

There are numerous cultures throughout human history who believe that its possible to have spiritual connections with animals.

Even with some people having an affinity to one sort of animal as opposed to others.

There are even people who claim to be "animal whisperers".

Once sin entered into creation through the rebellion of Adam, nature was set against him. One aspect being that humanity was no longer able to have that easy connection with animals to understand one another on such a level.

Another option is that it wasnt a real serpent, but rather one of the biblical antagonists know of Satan, who took on the form of a serpent.

Satan, after all, is an angelic being. He has the capacity of reason just like humans and us able to speak as well.

Angels are also able to transform themselves into other creatures, such as humans.

The third possible option is that Satan actually possessed an actual serpent, granting it the ability to communicate somehow.

Out of these three options, the 3rd one is considered to be the orthodox christian position.

The 1st option is a close second in popularity.

Some even combine those two and say they're both true.

The 2nd option is not believed by a large amount of people.
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With that, we can see that the first presupposition is dealt with.

That is, the serpent was able to "speak" due to a spiritual ability to communicate with humans that was either innate or enabled by the possession of the spiritual entity known as Satan.

Those who have some knowledge of the bible are actually aware that this is the orthodox belief.

So, there is a second presupposition that we must look at.

That is, that its not possible for this scenario to take place.

This is where the objection becomes nonsensical.

For someone to maintain that this scenario couldnt take place, regardless of whether it is option one or option three, theyd have to be a materialist.

And once you're a materialist, you're worldview is not worth having.

A materialist is one who claims to believe that the only thing that exists is matter.

This means that there is no spiritual reality. So there is no spiritual entity known as Satan.

However, this also means that there is no such thing as a soul. Feelings aren't real either. Having a mind (not a brain) isnt possible. Logic and its laws aren't real either.

For materialism to be true, all nonmaterial truths, that even materialists believe to be true, must be false.

But since the very laws of logic are immaterial, and there is no scientific evidence to show that "matter in motion" will produce truth, holding to such a worldview means that you do not function within reality.

For example, no one is actually making decisions to do something. Decisions and reasoning are all immaterial.

Within a materialistic worldview, ones actions are detetmined by "matter in motion". In other words, a person doesnt actually have control over themselves, but are simply being controlled by their biological matter within their bodies.

Just as blood flows throughout our body and our heart beats without our control, so too, in a materialistic worldview, would our actions and decisions be beyond our control but would simply be the result of matter moving within our body... independent of our input.

We wouldnt even be considered sentient puppets.

For something to have sentience, it would need to have a mind. A mind is different from a brain as a mind is what we would consider to be consciousness. Some might call it awareness.

So a computer's brain would be its circuitry, but if a computer had a mind, it could recognise that its brain is the circuitry.

A materialist would have to deny the existence of the mind as its not material in nature, and so the puppet would never be sentient as without a mind, consciousness is not possible.
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Lets do a brief recap before we continue.

Those that raise the objection that christianity is false because it has a talking serpent do so by presupposing two things.

The first presupposition is that serpents can't speak as humans do.

However, the bible doesnt say the serpent did that.

Instead the bible indicates that there was something spiritual happening rather than a serpent being able to speak like a human does.

The second presupposition is that there is no such thing as a spiritual reality.

This means that materialism is true. However, materialism is self-refuting as it is not what is experienced by any materialist and is not affirmed by science, as all science presupposes immaterial truths such as logic.

So, now that we know that position is flawed the only one left is that spiritual reality is indeed real.

Since it's real it makes no sense to assume that a spiritual being could not possess a creature nor cause it to do something that it couldnt do before.

As a matter of fact, the bible shows that this is actually the case. That spirits can and do unhabit and possess creatures, be they human or not, and cause creatures to be able to do things not normally possible.

One example of this is the demoniac mentioned in the new testament. He was possessed by multiple spirits and was able to break chains with his bare hands which is not a normal human feat.

It also states that when Christ Jesus spoke to the demoniac that it was the spirits who spoke back... as a collective... instead of the man himself.

In other words, once the existence of the spiritual side of life is affirmed there is no good reason to deny the possibility that a serpent can indeed speak as long as the right spiritual conditions are met.

That being said, the majority of the people who use this objection are not materialists. They arent atheists either.

They are simply those who have an unreasonable bias against christianity and will use any nonsensical argument to try and knock christianity down, as long as it looks good on the surface.

However, this argument doesn't even look good on the surface because the spiritual life, that which is immaterial in nature, is actually reality.

Everybody affirms that this is the case.

And those who don't affirm this basic truth, do not function within reality, but are the ones believing in fantasy.

Soli Deo Gloria

LGBT from the Christian POV

The christian/biblical position on lgbt is not that one can't be born with such a disposition.

Although there are many christians who erroneously state this, it's simply not true.

The bible clearly teaches that all of humanity are born sinners. We are born with a disposition to do things, think things, and want things, that are contrary to God's desire.

Therefore, it is obviously possible for a person to be born in the spectrum of lgbt.

However, its equally possible for a person to be born with an overt desire for some other sin.

This includes the spectrum for all other sins.

Lgbt proponents balk when they get compared to beastiality or incest, however, from the biblical view, their sin is like other sin.

Just like they are born with a desire for lgbt, others are born with a desire for beastiality and incest.

This is undeniable fact. There are people who want to have sex with inanimate objects like cars.

Once we get into the realm of being born with a sinful desire, then all sinful desires are up for grabs.

The difference is that the lgnt have couches their sin in an expression of love.

The incestuous adult couple are never afforded the same even though there isnt a non-religious reason not to allow their relationship.

So being "born this way" makes one no different than anybody else. And makes their sin no less than anyone else's.

Even having their sin define their life is not different than a lot of other ppl. Its just that their sin has becone socially acceptable in contrast to other similar sins.

And the answer to all of these sins is the same as the answer to the sins of non-lgbt people.

The answer is found in the life, death, and ressurection of Christ Jesus of Nazareth - who came to pay the price for the sins of all those who would turn away from their sins and turn to Him for salvation.

Show Love (part 3)

In the last post, we took a brief look at how a christian is supposed to love others.

However, there are two things that are often left out when dealing with a believer's responsibility to love.

The first one we need to look at and understand stand is that the kind of love that God is and shows, does not mesh with sin in any way.

We get a glimpse of this in God's proclamation of Himself, but He is quite explicit about it.

Psalms 5:5 (ESV)  The boastful shall not stand before your eyes; you hate all evildoers.

Psalms 26:5 (ESV)  I hate the assembly of evildoers, and I will not sit with the wicked.

Psalms 97:10a (ESV)  O you who love the Lord, hate evil!

Proverbs 8:13 (ESV)  The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate.

Amos 5:15 (ESV)  Hate evil, and love good, and establish justice in the gate; it may be that the Lord, the God of hosts, will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.

Zechariah 8:16-17 (ESV)  These are the things that you shall do: Speak the truth to one another; render in your gates judgments that are true and make for peace; do not devise evil in your hearts against one another, and love no false oath, for all these things I hate, declares the Lord.”

Romans 12:9 (ESV)  Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.

1 Corinthians 13:6 (ESV)  it (love) does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.

1 John 5:16-17 (ESV)  If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and God will give him life—to those who commit sins that do not lead to death.

There is sin that leads to death; I do not say that one should pray for that.

All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that does not lead to death.
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The love that we are supposed to show, is one that calls out sin. Love is shown when one cares enough about another to warn and help them deal with their sin.

It's akin to the following famous verse...

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

The one who turns a blind eye to another's sin, doesn't really love them.

Even worse, the one who celebrates in the committing of sins, definitely doesn't love them.

Just like the expression of God's love causes Him to not only highlight the sins in our life, but to also use the rod of correction to drive those sins out of us, we too are called to expose and seek to deal with the sins in those whom we love.

The goal of this love isn't simply so our loved ones can stop doing a specific sin. It's not simply for their benefit so that their life can be stopped from a downward spiral.

The goal, is the love of God. To glorify God. When we show love to others, especially to those within the body of Christ, we show love to God.

Matthew 25:34-40 (ESV)  Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’

Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink?

And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you?

And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’

And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’
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On that note, we see the second forgotten part of love.

That is, that it's embedded and cannot be separated from, loving God.

Loving our neighbours can only be done in the context of loving God.

And the way we show that we love God is to obey Him. Not a begrudging obedience either.

God wants the heart of His people to be one which delights in doing what He commands.

Hosea 6:6 (ESV)  For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.

1 Samuel 15:22 (ESV)  And Samuel said, “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.

1 John 2:5 (ESV)  but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him:

1 John 3:24 (ESV)  Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.

1 John 5:2-3 (ESV)  By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.

John 14:15 (ESV)  If you love me, you will keep my commandments.

John 14:21 (ESV)  Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.”

John 14:23 (ESV)  Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.

John 14:31a (ESV)  but I (Jesus) do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father.

John 15:10 (ESV)  If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love.
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Jesus drills into our head the idea that our love for God is shown in our obedience to Him.

Loving our neighbour in the way He commands, and not in our own way... or according to the standards of the world, is actually loving God.

1 John 4:21 (ESV)  And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.
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What about those who not only dont obey, but don't care about obeying God's commands?

Well, God tells us...

John 14:24a (ESV)  Whoever does not love me does not keep my words.

John 3:18 (ESV)  Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

John 6:28, 40 (ESV)  Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?”

For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.

Numbers 15:31 (ESV)  Because he has despised the word of the Lord and has broken his commandment, that person shall be utterly cut off; his iniquity shall be on him.”

2 Samuel 12:9a (ESV)  Why have you despised the word of the Lord, to do what is evil in his sight?

2 Kings 17:15 (ESV)  They despised his statutes and his covenant that he made with their fathers and the warnings that he gave them. They went after false idols and became false, and they followed the nations that were around them, concerning whom the Lord had commanded them that they should not do like them.

Proverbs 13:13 (ESV)  Whoever despises the word brings destruction on himself, but he who reveres the commandment will be rewarded.

Mark 7:9 (ESV)  And He said to them, “You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to establish your tradition!

Luke 10:16 (ESV)  The one who hears you hears me (Jesus), and the one who rejects you rejects me (Jesus), and the one who rejects me rejects him who sent me (the Father).”
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There are many more verses that can be called upon to prove the point.

Those who disobey God, are showing that they not only don't love Him, but that they despise His commands and by extension, Him.

This even extends to believers, as its an indication that sin still dwells within us, warring against our new man.

However, the difference between the unbeliever and the believer is that the believer has the desire to mortify that sin.

They may not always recognise their sin, whether its ignorance or self-deception, but because the Holy Spirit dwells in them, He will not allow them to go their own way for long.

He will call them back to obedient repentance and faith, and will chastise them with the rod of correction if necessary.
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With all that said, we now have an overall view on the sort of love that God is, and the sort of love He commands us to have.

God is love. That means God is merciful and gracious. It also means He is righteous and just.

To those whom He loves, He calls them to be like Him in their love towards others.

So they are supposed to be merciful and gracious, while at the same time being righteous and just.

They are to treat others as how they'd want to be treated, while calling people to holy living.

Their love for others should be spurred on by their love for God first and foremost.

Just as how people recognise that love without mercy and grace is not love, so too, love without righteousness and justice is also not love.

We show the love of God when we, in obedience to God, love our neighbours in the way God commands us to love them.

Amen