Five Reasons the Biblical Christmas Story is True

Detectives create lists. As a cold-case detective, I’m no different. When investigating an event in the distant past (in my case, an unsolved murder), I collect evidence, make lists and do my best to reach the most reasonable inference. When I began to investigate Christianity at the age of thirty-five, I approached the gospels the same way I approached my cold-case files. Lists were an important part of the process. One New Testament claim was particularly interesting to me: the conception and birth of Jesus. When I first read through the gospels, the birth narratives seemed incredible and unreasonable. I’m not the only person to express such a concern. In a recent article posted in the Herald Scotland, Reverend Andrew Frater called the Nativity story a “fanciful, fairy tale” and called on Christians to “disentangle the truth from the tinsel”. Frater is a minister and a believer, and even he doesn’t believe in the virgin conception of Jesus. As an atheist, I was even more skeptical. I rejected supernatural claims altogether, and the first Biblical claim about Jesus was a supernatural one. But as I collected the evidence and formed my lists, I found there were many good reasons to trust the story of Christmas. I’ve assembled them here with links to longer treatments of each topic:

Reason 1:
The Supernatural Nature of the Virgin Conception Shouldn’t Disqualify It
When I began to investigate the virgin conception, I was actually investigating my own philosophical naturalism. I was, in essence, asking the following questions: “Is the natural world all that exists?” “Is there anything beyond the physical, material world we measure with our five senses?” “Are supernatural events possible or even reasonable?” In asking these questions, I was putting naturalism to the test. It would have been unfair, therefore, to begin by presupposing nothing supernatural could ever exist or occur. If we want to be fair about assessing the virgin conception or any other supernatural aspect of the nativity story, we cannot exclude the very possibility of the supernatural in the first place. Our presupposition against the supernatural would unfairly taint our examination of the claim.

Reason 2:
The Claim of the Virgin Conception Appears Incredibly Early in Christian History
It’s always easier to tell a lie once everyone who was alive to know the difference has already died. But if you’re going to make a claim early in an area where people are still available to debunk your claim, be prepared to have a difficult time getting away with misrepresentations. The virgin conception of Jesus is one of the earliest claims in Christian history. The students of the gospel authors cited the virgin conception as a true claim about Jesus. Ignatius, the student of John (an Apostle who chose not to write about the birth of Jesus in his own gospel), included it in his early writings to local churches. Other Church leaders repeated the claim through the earliest years of the Church, and the doctrine also appears in the most ancient Church creeds. Even early non-canonical documents include the virgin conception of Jesus.

Reason 3:
The Birth Narratives in Luke and Matthew Are Not Late Additions
Critics, in an effort to argue the birth narratives in Luke and Matthew are not reliable, point to stylistic differences and “content shifting” within the gospels. Critics claim that the Greek language used in the birth narrative section of Luke’s gospel is far more Semitic than other sections. But the fact that this section of the gospel is stylistically or linguistically different than other sections does not mean it was a late addition. Luke told us he compiled the information for his gospel from a number of divergent sources (Luke 1:1-4). As a result, we should expect stylistic and linguistic differences within the gospel of Luke. In addition, any claim related to the late addition of the birth narratives defies all the manuscript evidence available to us; there is absolutely no evidence that the gospel of Matthew and Luke ever existed without the birth narratives. All manuscripts, translations, early Church documents and references to the gospels, along with every historic, reliable witness testifies to the fact that the birth narratives are ancient and part of the original record.

Reason 4:
The Virgin Conception Was Not An Invention of Early Christians
Some critics of the virgin conception argue that the earliest Christian authors inserted it in an effort to give Jesus a “heroic” birth consistent with other Old Testament heroes. But, not every Jewish hero from the Old Testament had an unusual birth story. Joshua, King David and King Solomon are just three of the more obvious examples of powerful Old Testament heroes whose birth stories were less than surprising or unusual. In addition, there is no other character from the Old Testament who was born of a virgin through the miraculous conception of the Holy Spirit. This characteristic of Jesus’ conception is unique to Jesus and follows no pre-existing Old Testament pattern.

Reason 5:
The Virgin Conception Wasn’t Borrowed from Another Source
Skeptics also attempt to discredit the virgin conception of Jesus by claiming it was borrowed from prior pagan mythologies such as those of Mithras or Horus. But any fair examination of pagan mythological birth narratives revels the dramatic differences between the virgin conception of Jesus and stories about the supernatural emergence of mythological gods. While “borrowing” may have occurred between belief systems, the weak resemblances between the Biblical account and pagan mythologies are far more likely the result of the Judeo-Christian influence rather than contamination from a pagan source. It’s irrational to believe the early Jewish readers of the gospels would embrace any part of paganism in the story of Jesus’ conception as continuous with the Jewish narrative from the Old Testament. In addition, early Christian converts were repeatedly called to a new life in Christ, told they were merely travelers passing through this mortal (and pagan) world, called to live a life that was free of worldly influences, and told to reject the foolish philosophies and stories of men. This group, in particular, would be the last to turn to pre-existing pagan stories and superstitions.

If there exists a supernatural Being capable of bringing all space, time and matter into existence from nothing, such a Being could certainly accomplish the virgin conception of Jesus, the Resurrection of Christ, or any of the other “lessor” miracles described on the pages of the New Testament. In addition, there is no historically, textually or philosophically necessary reason to reject the claims of the New Testament authors. If you’re a Christian this Christmas season, celebrate the birth of Jesus with confidence and certainty. The virgin conception is not a fanciful, fairy tale. It is a true story. In fact, there are five good reasons to trust the story of Christmas is factual, reliable and true.

Originally posted on coldcasechristianity.com

Homegrown Terrorism: Putting a Stop to Domestic Training Camps

Everyone has their opinions on what to do about terrorism.  Some are alarmists who want to ban guns or at least legislate them even further.  Others are bigots who want to blame all Muslims for the acts of a relative few.  Both of these approaches are constitutionally dangerous and will further limit the rights of Americans across the board. 

Terror attacks are causing many to jump to quick conclusions and make rash decisions that will, and do, affect the rights and freedoms that are enjoyed by all Americans.  If politicians can single out one group, what keeps them from singling out others?

Look at what our government did to Japanese-Americans during WWII.  They were put into internment camps because fear was allowed to rule.  These were law-abiding citizens whose only crime was their ancestry.  

Now, we are dealing with an ideology.  We are looking at a threat that is global in nature and is not so cut and dry as ancestry.  However, that does not mean that fear should be allowed to shape our reaction to the threat.  We do not need to resort to Nazi tactics or answer evil with evil. 

So, what do we do?

Start at home.  There are terror groups in this country, being trained on our soil, and the government knows exactly where they are.  The government knows the radical ideology behind these groups.  These are the ones that need to be targeted.  Here is where the network can be undone.  But, our government will not/cannot do anything about them because “they have not done anything yet.” 

Our own president refuses to acknowledge terrorism and call it what it is.  Nothing can be done until the groups that are perpetrating and facilitating these acts are called what they are and stopped in their tracks.  That means shutting down these domestic camps.  Strike them where they are and disband these fledgling cells before they become full-fledged terrorist cells that will carry out their jihadist mission on our soil. 

In the meantime, continue to pray for our country, our leaders, and one another.  God bless America. 

The Trap

Our society has fallen into a trap.  We are a civilization in decline.  You might ask how this can be.  After all, we are more educated, our technology is greater, people are living longer, our quality of life is better, and we are healthier than ever.  We have everything on-demand.  I can drive a mile up the road and purchase any and everything I could possibly want or need.  Or, I can order it online and never have to leave the house.  If there is something I need, “there’s an app for that.” 

I have 1000 channels on my T.V. to browse for hours if I need to kill time.  I have a PS2, 3 & 4.  My Xbox live account is stacked.  I have 24/7 access to my family and friends via Facebook, Twitter, Linkdin and a myriad of other social media sites.  I have 24/7 access to people I don’t really even know but who I call “friend” because social media says that’s what they are.

We have fallen into a trap.  We are more educated, but are we any smarter?  We have all of this technology, but are we using it as a benefit or as another distraction?  Is our quality of life truly that great when we spend 50% of our time staring at an electronic display?  Healthier?   There is a higher percentage of people classified as morbidly obese today than at any other time in history.  In 1900, the number of people who died of cancer was 64 out of 100,000.  In 2010 that number was 185.9 per 100,000.  Our food is poisoning our bodies while the media is poisoning our minds. 

We have fallen into a trap.  The disconnect created by “connecting” on social media has created a culture of empathy in word only.  That is, most people still possess enough empathy to say “that’s a shame,” or “things shouldn’t be that way.”  But social media allows us to compartmentalize the tragedy that surrounds us and affects our friends and neighbors.  We are insulated behind a keyboard so there is no need to engage someone who is going through a rough time.  After all, they may want you to stop by and see them.  They may actually ask you to help.  Their grief may make you uncomfortable.  Genuine empathy is hard to find.  Sympathy has become a hollow gesture.        

We have fallen into a trap.  We are raising a generation of entitled kids who believe that the world is going to fall into their lap at some point.  They have no respect for others, for hard work, for the law, for themselves, or for God.  The next generation is full of kids who have no idea what a day without a cell phone is like.  They have never been spanked.  They have never been told no.  The parents give in because it’s easier than dealing with the drama of discipline.  Being a parent is hard work.  Being a parent who disciplines is even harder. 

We have fallen into a trap.  Everything has become so easy that we have begun to think that everything is going to be easy!  Yes, you read that right.  Some things require effort.  Yes, we are educated, but what are we doing to put that education to good use?  We have better healthcare available, but are you doing your part to take care of yourself?  There are 1000 healthy things to do, but do you sit in front of a screen instead?  There are a lot of people that we call friend, but are you actively being a friend or just a spectator?  Are you raising your kids or are they being raised by Microsoft and MTV?  Do you pray with your kids?  Do they know how?  Do they know the meaning of respect?  Do you?

We have fallen into a trap.  What are you going to do about it?  The answer lies in getting right with one another and getting right with God.  This is a trap of biblical proportions and man will not dig himself out on his own.  You can do your part in your own part of the world.  But for a true, earth-shaking change to take place in our society, we need prayer.  We need the power of the Holy Spirit to help us enact the changes in ourselves that will help us to change the people and the world around us.  Humanism cannot do it.  Secularism cannot do it.  There is nothing for them to gain.  For the body of Christ, there are souls to take back from the evil one.  We have to stop allowing the evil one to distract us with technology, flashing lights, and remote controls. 

Take back the world.  Take control of your actions.  Be accountable.  Climb out of the trap.

0 Wins, 14 Losses

0 Wins, 14 Losses

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.  Proverbs 22:6

Opening Day Parade

0-14.  That was our Little League record.  We did not win a game all year.  Usually the games were not even close.  We lost most games by 15+ runs.  Most people would see this season as a dismal failure.  If you strictly look at the record, it certainly was.  0-14.  Most would put this monumental collapse behind them and look forward to the next season, never to revisit this lost summer.  What a colossal mistake that would be.

As we drove home from our final game last night, my wife looked at me and said she could see the frustration on my face.  It was not so much frustration as it was disappointment.  You see, I was their coach.  0-14.  I let them down.  How nice it would have been for them to have tasted the sweet nectar of victory just once this year.  0-14.

At the beginning of the season, I made a promise to myself that I was not going to be that coach who thinks he is coaching the Red Sox.  “No pressure.”  That was my mantra.  I would teach them and I would let them make mistakes.  I would correct them and help them along the way.  My goals as a coach were that the kids would learn about teamwork, responsibility, and accountability to others.    

I could not stop thinking about our team of 6-8 year olds all night and how I had let them down.  0-14.  Eventually, some good thoughts came and took the place of the disappointment.  I remembered the excitement on the faces of the boys when they each got their first hit.  How completely elated they would get at making a good play.  I remembered the smiles they brought to the game.  Even after those lopsided defeats, they left wearing those same smiles.  They had fun.  They learned to cheer on their teammates.  They learned how it felt to be cheered for.

After a bit of reflection, I have no regrets about this season.  Those boys each learned lessons they can apply to baseball or any other sport they choose to participate in.  More importantly, they learned lessons they can carry through life.  While losing is never really the goal, at 0-14 they know how to lose and how to be gracious in defeat.  It will drive them to do their best in future endeavors in order to secure victory.  They learned how to work as a team.  They learned what it is like to have others count on them. 

I think that all of us—myself, the kids, the other coaches—learned to let the kids have fun and enjoy the game.  I am a very competitive person, so this season was a humbling experience for me.  But, it was not about me.  It was about the boys; Boys, who will grow up to be men that will lead the next generation of young boys.  It was about teaching them.  It was about learning from them.  It was about showing them good team skills.  It was about allowing them to make friends and memories. 

Oh.  It was also about teaching them baseball.  They learned a bit about that, too.

 

 

 

 

Winning By Losing

The truest statement I have read in a long time.

Hey Satan

Praise God Almighty!
May the Lord of all the universe bless you today!

WWJD?

What Would Jesus Do?

Over the past ten to fifteen years, a popular saying among believers has been, “What would Jesus do”?  So popular in fact that the slogan graced many car bumpers and wrapped many wrists with the initials WWJD.  Many see it as a cute Christian catch phrase that was adopted by pop culture.  Others see it as a tangible way to make a decision in a tough situation.  Is it really that easy?

Every day, Christians attempt to reconcile faith and lifestyle based on their understanding of right and wrong, sin and righteousness.  But what is their “understanding”?  Is theirs right?  Is mine right?  Is it truth?  Rumor?  Hearsay? 

The understanding of Jesus is going to be different for each individual based on their experience with Him and their knowledge of His teachings.  People are people after all and bring their own desires and prejudices to the table when asking “WWJD”.  So, in essence, WWJD becomes WCIR (What Can I Rationalize?).  Thus, for the average person, relying on a slogan as a guidepost is reckless and imprudent at best. 

What are we to do?

 “Continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12b).  As believers, we have a responsibility to be faithful and obedient to God.  Being faithful and obedient means studying His word, trusting His word, and applying it to every aspect of our lives.  It means making time for prayer and devotion.  It means careful consideration of our choices, not reliance on a coin-flip or a catch phrase.  It means knowing that we serve a loving God who provided a real guidepost for our lives when He gave us the Bible. 

So, What Would Jesus Do?  Obviously it depends on the situation.  However, careful consideration through Bible study and prayerful meditation will allow believers to hear God’s will, enabling them to make the best decision.  Even Jesus prayed.

So, to answer the question “What Would Jesus Do?”; He would ask the Father for guidance.

Our hope

I would ask that all of you take a moment and pray for our country.  Every decade we fall farther into the pit that Satan is dragging us into.  Pray for revival. Pray for our future.

Many blessings,
Joshua

Prayer Pointers

How do you pray?  What do you pray for?  Why do you pray?  Many pray for protection for their loved ones.  Others pray for help for themselves or others when faced with difficulty.  Most certainly, people pray for forgiveness for their sins against God and their fellow man.  As Christians, we ask God for a lot.  Many of us, out of faith, lay all of our burdens at his feet because we know in our heart of hearts that the Lord will provide for us and protect us according to His will. 

What about praise?  Praise is the most important, yet the most overlooked, part of prayer.  Praise means giving back to the Lord for all of the blessings He showers into our lives every day.  The definition of praise is “to express warm approval or admiration of.”  But in the case of God, our praise should look more like exaltation.  Make it a heartfelt expression of respect, gratitude, adoration, and reverence. 

 In the NIV Bible, the word praise appears 296 times.  The Lord desires our praise and wants to hear how much we love Him.  Let Him know you love Him and how thankful and grateful you are for all that He has done for you.  Personally, I like to start my day with a prayer of praise and thanksgiving for all He has blessed me with and for the new day and new opportunities ahead. 

Finally, when you are spending time with the Lord, don’t do all of the talking.  Prayer should include quiet time where you can be still and listen to what God has to say to you.  This marvelous time in the presence of the Almighty God is best spent as a communication, not a list of requests. 

Many Blessings      

Memorial Day: So When Did We Forget?

Barbeques.  Parties.  Parades.  Flag waving and fireworks.  A day off of work.  For far too many people, this is the first thing they think of when they think of Memorial Day.  They can’t wait for the 5:00 bell on Friday afternoon.  The anticipation of a long weekend of celebrating with family and friends has their motor in overdrive.  Perhaps they will catch a ballgame, or pitch some horse shoes, maybe go fishing with their friends or their kids.  These things are all fantastic and bonding with family and friends is never a bad thing.  But do we stop to remember?  Does anyone understand what Memorial Day is really about?  Does it come up in the conversation at the barbeque?  In the fishing boat?  Beside the pool?  Do you take time to explain it to your kids?  So, when did we forget?

The National Center for Veterans Analysis and Statistics shows that, at present, there are over 22 million veterans living in these United States.  That makes up roughly 6.8% of the current U.S. population.  Chances are you have a veteran in your family.  Chances are even better that you know a veteran.  These are people that we look at and interact with on a regular basis.  So, when did we forget?

My paternal grandfather Harold Foltz served in the U.S. Army during WWII.  He was stationed in the Philippines, a hot bed of Japanese activity.  He lost friends there.  He fought for his life there.  He fought for his country there.  He fought for me there.  He fought for you there.  My great uncle and my maternal grandfather both served in the Merchant Marine, keeping our coast safe from what everyone thought was an imminent German U-boat invasion.  They stood guard for me.  They stood guard for you.  So, when did we forget?

Outside of my family I have many friends that have served in different branches of the military.  Several of them are combat veterans from Desert Storm.  Others have served more recently in Iraq and Afghanistan.  I love them just the same, but they are not the same men that walked into the recruiting office and signed up to fight an enemy that is hell bent on eradicating the “western” way of life.  They are changed.  Forever changed.  Most of them cannot, or simply will not talk about the things they have seen.  One friend is deaf in one ear because of an IED.  He lost his hearing but others lost so much more.  Arms, legs, lives.  The survivors are just that—survivors.  The things they witnessed; the Hell on earth they went through changed them.  They cannot forget.  So, when did we forget?

Some will say that Memorial Day is a day to remember the fallen and the combat weary, and it certainly is.  But it is also a day to express the eternal gratitude we should all possess toward those who served so bravely and selflessly, standing guard so we can sleep safely each night.  Even the survivors lost a part of themselves to that world. 

Who do you know?  Your dad?  Your sister?  Your best friend?  Your neighbor?  Go shake their hand.  Go thank them.  Hug their neck and let them know how much you appreciate the fact that they were willing to give up their lives so that we could all wave our flags, watch the parades, and have our barbeques.  Without our veterans, there would be no United States of America.  Lest we forget. 

Theology of Scripture

I believe in one true and living Triune God.  I believe that He has revealed Himself to humanity in many different ways.  However, we learn the most about God, His character, and His plan for us through the Scripture.  Herein, I will describe the nature of Scripture.  Then I will cover the manner in which a Christian should read Scripture in order to connect with the word of God on a deeper level.  Finally, Christians read Scripture for a variety of reasons.  But, why is Scripture relevant today?  These are the areas I will touch on in this statement on the Scripture.

Through the plenary guidance and inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the 66 books of the Bible were written by man to convey God’s revelation of love to humanity.  In its original form, Scripture is the inerrant, authoritative, spoken word of God whose soteriological nature testifies to all things concerning the redemption and salvation of humanity.    

The Holy Spirit inspired men to write the books of the Bible.  To say the Spirit’s inspiration is “plenary” is to say that Scripture is fully or completely inspired by the Holy Spirit.  Scripture is the standard-bearer of the Christian faith.  However, this inspiration was not limited to the original writers of the Bible. 

The Bible was written over the span of around 1300-1600 years.  So, it was not put together in the form that we have it today until all of the books were completed.  Someone had to put them together.  Those who were involved in the councils and formed the creeds that gave us the Christian Bible were also guided by the Holy Spirit. 

“In, through, or in spite of its clearly human, historical characteristics, Christians confess that Scripture repeats, conveys, or reflects the words of the living God” (Fowl, 2009, p. 2).  Though the Bible has gone through many hands and been the subject of countless attempts at interpretation and re-interpretation, the core message remains the same.  Because the possibility of errors in transcribing and translation exists, “the earliest text available should be sought, as well as the best translation” (Leclerc, 2013, p. 34).  In these earliest forms of Scripture are found the inerrant words of God. 

The Bible “is a book addressed to the whole people of God” (Leclerc, 2013, p. 40).  Its soteriological nature means that it reveals God’s doctrine of salvation for all of humanity.  It provides a backstory and a roadmap to redemption.  Through the backstory, God’s character is revealed as well as His plan for us.  That would be the Old Testament.  The New Testament provides the roadmap to redemption through Jesus Christ as well as the way to entire sanctification through Christian living.

 “Scripture fulfills its purpose when God fulfills God’s purpose in us” (Leclerc, 2013, p. 40).  What God wants most from us is obedience and fellowship.  Fulfilling that desire for God should be the main motivation behind studying Scripture.  The Bible teaches us how to communicate with, fellowship with, worship, and be redeemed by Him.  Fowl (2009) says that “Scripture reveals all that believers need to sustain a life of growing communion with God and each other” (p. 10). 

“All Scripture is inspired by God—The Spirit of God not only once inspired those who wrote it, but continually inspires, supernaturally assists, those who read it” (Thorsen, 2004, p. 84).  This is a process called double inspiration and was also prescribed by John Wesley (Leclerc, 2013).  As discussed, the Bible has a soteriological nature.  Therefore, “reading the Bible…is always intended to aid in our progressive sanctification” (Leclerc, 2013, p. 38).  A Christian should always read Scripture with that in mind.  Believers should allow the Spirit to guide them to the message, and then apply it in a way that will grow their relationship with God.  “Christians need to be sure that our interpretations and embodiments of Scripture are always directed toward enhancing our prospects of reaching our true home” (Fowl, 2009, p. 39).

A Christian reader necessarily needs to be sure to remember that “no single verse, or even passage, is to be interpreted in isolation from the whole Bible” (Leclerc, 2013, p. 40).  The message of Scripture is not revealed in a single verse or passage.  It is only when readers consider the message of the Bible as a whole that a valid interpretation can be made of any single part of the Bible.  Reading the Bible in this manner prevents Christians from picking out verses to satisfy a predetermined interpretation of a passage—called eisegesis (Leclerc, 2013). 

Biblical writers celebrate Jesus as the plumb line by which everyone is measured—see Rom 14:15, 1 Cor. 8:11-12, and Eph. 4:21; 5:2.  Therefore, when looking at Scripture, “evaluate them by the standard of Jesus’ life and words” (Thompson, 1994, p. 78-79).  It only makes sense that Scripture be interpreted in light of the New Covenant.  Christians are no longer under the Mosaic or Davidic covenants of the Old Testament.

The ultimate aim of reading Scripture is to allow God to reveal himself to believers as they make their way toward entire sanctification through the grace that He has shown to humanity.  “For Christians, the ends of reading, interpreting, and embodying Scripture are determined decisively by the ends of God’s self-revelation, which are directed toward drawing humans into ever-deeper communion with the triune God and each other” (Fowl, 2009, p. 6-7).

Another aim for reading Scripture is teaching.  In order for a teacher to be believable and effective, they must know the material.  It is no different for teachers of the Bible.  Students will be easily turned off if most of their questions go unanswered because the instructor does not know.

By unpacking the interpreter’s bag of Inductive Bible Study tools, Scripture comes alive and is shown to be relevant in today’s world.  Many biblical principles are universal and are easily translated from one culture or situation to another. In these cases, the cultural gap is not so broad.  However, in other cases the principles may be more specific to the original audience.  Here, the bridge between cultures is very wide and requires much work to cross.  By discovering the historical and literary context, one can begin to move from the ancient world to the modern world.  Understanding the world of the ancients allows us to begin to understand the true meaning of a passage.  From there, readers can evaluate the text and apply the passage to the modern world.

“Reading and searching the Scriptures then are the food of the Christian life that gives nourishment and energy in order for us to become all that God has created us to be” (Leclerc, 2013, p. 38).  Scripture is relevant to Christians today because it is where God continually shows Himself.  It is where readers can go to meditate on and discover the plans God has for them.  Inside are truths that are as universal and timeless as God Himself.  His love and His word endure forever.

It is through Scripture that Christians learn about God—His character, His ways, His love and plan for humanity.  Through inductive interpretation, readers are able to go far beyond the surface level of the text and discover true meaning of Scripture that God wants us all to see.  “God ‘authors’ Scripture not to warrant some grand system of theological ideas to guide people in orthodox confession, but rather to lead sinful people into thankful worship of a forgiving Lord” (Leclerc, 2013, p. 38).

           
References

Fowl, S. E. (2009). Theological interpretation of Scripture. Eugene, OR: Cascade Books.

Leclerc, D. (2013). Discovering Christian holiness. Retrieved from http://www.ebscohost.com

Thompson, D. L. (1994). Bible study that works. Nappanee, IN: Evangel Publishing House.

Thorsen, D. A. (2004). Interpretation in interactive balance: The authority of Scripture for John Wesley. In B. L. Callen, & R. P. Thompson (Eds.), Reading the Bible in Wesleyan ways: Some constructive proposals (pp. 81-104). Kansas City, MO: Beacon Hill Press.

Sin Triggers

What Causes You To Sin?  Now there is a loaded question.  But, think about it.  What are your “sin triggers”?  Sin triggers can be anything that causes us to sin, but especially those things that cause us to knowingly sin.  Everyone has them.  I have them.  Everyone tries to escape them.  I try to escape them.  After all, no good Christian consciously wishes to sin.  We try to please God in all that we do.  At least, that is what we strive for. 

But the devil is a cunning little deceiver.  He puts things in our path that stir up selfish, sinful desires.  Smokers, drinkers and addicts fight these desires every day and, sadly, most of them lose the battle.  But it is not only the addict that struggles daily with “sin triggers”.  We all do. 

Many of our sins are committed out of greed, lust, and a need for acceptance.  We want more than we’ve been given, we want what someone else has, we want to be noticed.  Our triggers cause a war to rage inside our heads.  On the one side you know that it is wrong.  On the other, you try to rationalize your sin or to talk yourself into believing it is okay to do this sin.  We think to ourselves, “Who is it going to hurt?” 

But that isn’t really the point, is it?  The Lord only restricts us from things that cause harm to ourselves, others and our relationship with Him; lying, adultery, murder, greed, jealousy, etc.  So, who do these sins hurt?  Everyone you love.  Everyone I love. 

So, I ask again, what are your sin triggers?  Is it perusing a social media site and finding yourself coveting what someone else has?  Perhaps it is looking at ads and being jealous of the way someone else looks.  Maybe you have an addiction to pornography that you cannot resist once the computer turns on.  Everyone fights a different battle, but we are all battling the same enemy. 

Jesus says that “if your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away” (Matthew 5:29a, NIV).  Does that mean that Jesus wants us to cut our eyes out if they cause us to sin?  Absolutely not!  It means that we are to remove things from our lives that cause us to sin.  Many times it is only through drastic measures that we can conquer sin.  For some, it means a complete change of lifestyle.  For others, it may mean making small changes to avoid tempting situations.    

In any case, try to identify your own sin triggers.  In doing so you will not only be able to walk closer to God, but you can avoid the devil’s other great trick—guilt. 

Why Believe?

Why Believe?

It has been quite a while since I have posted here.  But, this morning the Lord put this topic on my heart and I figured I would share it with you.  Many people will ask why you believe in God.  Why does an otherwise rational, educated person hold on to these old stories, these myths, these fairy tales?  The answer will vary from person to person as it does with almost anything.  However, here are a few of the reasons why I believe.

The Gutter

In my youth, indeed all the way through high school, I was a devout Christian.  But, beginning in my freshman year of college, I fell away.  When I fell, I fell hard (for more on this see “Nobody’s perfect”).  Over the next twenty years or so, I found each day tougher to manage, every ant hill turned into Everest, every penny owed turned into a mint.  I was failing in every aspect of life.  I hit rock bottom, face down in the gutter.  In that moment, I heard God calling out to me and, for the first time in a long time, I called back to Him.  From that day forward, my life has done a complete 180° turn around.  My life is far from perfect.  But I have all I could ever need and more thanks to Him who continues to bless my family and I on a daily basis.

The Power of Prayer

The turnaround above is due in large part to the power of prayer.  God listens.  He hears our pleas and our prayers.  I have seen people in the most difficult of circumstances find hope and a path out of difficulty thanks to deliverance through prayer.  I know people who were literally at death’s door and found themselves released from the grip of death thanks to prayer.  I have seen the impossible made possible, the crippled made new, the troubled made free of their burdens. 

My mother was told that without a heart transplant she would likely be dead within five years.  They found her heart to be severely deficient in many ways, with too many diagnoses to list in a short blog.  That was eight years ago.  Today, she lives with a pace maker and an implanted defibrillator in her chest.  These are the things that were to help her make it through those five years.  She still battles daily to stay healthy and, no doubt, it is an uphill battle.  But, she has God on her side.  She has a legion of prayer warriors lifting her situation to God every day.  Ask her and she will tell you that she is still here today because of the power of prayer.  Ask me and I would have to agree.    

The Power of God

In my own life, God works wonders for me every day.  My job provides much of what we need financially, but not enough.  We live within our means.  However, things happen when you have a family of seven that are completely unpredictable.  But, I never worry about money.  Every time it seems we are going to fall short the Lord provides for us.  The money always comes from somewhere.  He is my provider and my protector.  He has seen my family and I through many rough patches and carried us over impossible terrain in order that we should stay on course.  There is nothing that I hesitate to take to Him for His blessing and His wisdom.  Thank you Father for all you do.

The Evidence

Many people will argue science vs. religion, evolution vs. creation, etc.  The Lord makes Himself evident to me every moment of every day.  I do not need any more evidence than that.  However, there are those out there that do need some type of evidence. 

Ok, here is some scientific evidence.  Matter does not spring about from nothing.  If it did, it stands to reason that new matter would still be springing forth today.  Bottom line, something supernatural had to make it.

Assuming that all of the conditions were right for the Big Bang to occur, there are still a few mathematical impossibilities to overcome.  First, the chances that the four major forces would form in such a way as to not tear the universe apart are in the trillions of trillions to one.  Second, the chances that life could form out of the primordial soup that evolutionists believe it did are roughly 10/40,000 power.  Now, put the chances of both occurring from nothing and the mathematical odds become staggeringly impossible to overcome.  By the way, any mathematician will tell you that 10/50 power is considered a mathematical impossibility.

Ever heard of Alexander the Great?  Most of us who have taken a fifth grade social studies class know who he is, or at least we remember the name.  He was a 4^th century B.C. Greek emperor.  We read about him in textbooks, the History Channel has done documentaries on him, and we accept it for the truth.  However, no contemporary accounts of his life exist.  In fact, the nearest mention of Alexander the Great occurs hundreds of years after his death.  But it is accepted as fact. 

Jesus.  Who was He?  Was He even real?  In the case of Jesus, the entire New Testament is written by His disciples, those that knew Him, and those that knew the Apostles.   These books were all written between 40 and 150 A.D., very close in time to His life.  The fact that each author has a connection to Christ himself and/or the Apostles serves to solidify the historical nature of His life, crucifixion, and resurrection.  Bottom line, there is more solid evidence for Christ than for Alexander the Great.      

Are you missing the point?

You don't know the Bible.  At least, not until you let go of your preconceptions.  Culture, personal history, and familiarity can breed pride.  Here is how they can affect the way we look at Scripture.

 

Our technological and scientific understanding of the world around us grows by the second.  In many ways, the pace of our culture and the way that we exchange information could be a stumbling block when dealing with Scripture.  Remember, it was written for an ancient culture completely unlike ours. We need to be able to step into the culture of the ancient Israelites.  Their culture enjoyed a much slower pace and was family/group oriented, whereas we live in a fast-food, “it's all about me” society.  This can lead us to believe the Bible was written just for us instead of applying the ancient meaning to our present situation.  Context before culture.

 

Because of our personal history in the church, we may become overly familiar with certain passages. In other words, we have had the passage pounded into our heads through Sunday school and sermons since we were small children.  That kind of thinking leads us to believe there is nothing more we can learn from the passage.  Often, there is still much we can learn and we may find out our previous understanding was incomplete. 

 

Finally, we like to be right.  Our pride can cause us to come to a passage “with a theological agenda already formulated” (1).  Not only does that make for a bad study of the passage, it can be hazardous to our spiritual health.  The Bible contains a wealth of life lessons and spiritual knowledge.  Bringing our own agenda to the text overrides God’s word, causing us to miss the point.  The target is finding the message He wants us to get from the passage.

 

In our study of God's word we, like our Bibles, should be open.  Leave behind any preconceived ideas you may have and you will find many new treasures along the way.  Get the point?

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(1) Duvall and Hayes. 2012. Grasping God's Word.

Where Is The Love?

There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.  Romans 3:22-24  NIV

Have you heard this one lately?  “People who go to church are nothing but back-stabbing hypocrites.  They smile to your face and then turn around and talk down about you to their Christian friends”.  They come looking for hope and beauty and find a panel of judges and whisperers.  I hear it more often than I care to recount.  The fact that this statement comes from the mouths of people from all walks of life speaks to the underlying truth in it.  This is not the picture of God that the Bible paints. 

I chose the above verse for this blog because, consciously or unconsciously, we pass judgment on others though we are no better than even the worst of sinners.  Therefore, we are in no place to elevate ourselves in judgment above another.  

Jesus showed a prideful people that love for God was not about the amount of scripture you could memorize or how closely you could follow the Law of Moses.  In Matthew 22:37-40, Jesus tells us being faithful begins by loving God above all else, and ends with loving one another as we love ourselves. 

Dear friends, remember that Jesus was humble.  Though he was God incarnate, Jesus chose to serve.  Instead of expecting royal treatment, he lowered himself and washed the feet of his disciples.  He was a friend to the tax collectors, the adulterers, the outcasts.  He did not look at them sideways because of the way they acted or dressed.  He welcomed them with love and grace.  He is our example.  Our attitude toward others should mirror His.  Jesus would tell us plank-eyed saints to be a guiding hand, not a stumbling block.  Do not be a self-righteous judge, but a joyful witness.  I encourage everyone to look at themselves in the mirror, but look at others through the eyes of Jesus.        

New Year's Resolutions You Can Keep

Every new year we make promises to ourselves about improving ourselves in some manner.  Our resolve strengthened by the promise of a clean slate, we vow to eat better, exercise more, or get out of debt.  Most New Year’s resolutions are forgotten by the end of the first week.  With that in mind, I offer three resolutions that require minimal effort.  However, their impact on the lives of those who keep them can be profound.

First, spend more time being a kid.  If you have kids, this may simply mean getting down on the floor and playing with them.  In doing so, our spirits are fueled by their imagination and capacity to see the good in things.  Time spent with a child, in their world and on their terms serves as a reminder of simpler times before the specter of responsibility came knocking.  There is freedom in the smile of a happy child, both for them and for those who witness it.

Second, be a better partner, husband, wife, and friend.  Many times that means lending an ear, a shoulder, a helping hand, or a hand to hold.  Other times it means being willing to put ourselves on the back burner in order to accommodate the needs of another.  Everyone has that friend they refer to as a “shirt-off-his-back” type of person.  Most wish they could be like that.  I ask, what’s stopping you?

           
           Third, stop worrying.  “What if” will kill you.  There are stacks upon stacks of reports and studies showing the adverse effects stress and anxiety have on the human body.  If it’s in the past, there is nothing that can change it.  Leave it in the past.  Future things belong to God, for He alone knows our path.  In Matthew 6:27, Jesus asks, “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?”  The answer is no one.  That does not mean that we should not make plans or keep our responsibilities.  God makes clear that we are to do our due diligence in our lives.  However, when we rely on and trust in God, our future is manageable.

These are easy to keep if you remain diligent.  Plus, there is no guilt when you slip up and have a cupcake.  Happy New Year everyone.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”  Jeremiah 29:11 NIV