Uniquely His

     Christianity is but one in a great field of religious philosophies and ideologies that litter the landscape of humanity’s search for ‘something more.’  I once had a youth minister who described this search as an internal ‘god magnet’ that each and every one of us possesses.  That is, we are aware that there is ‘something’ bigger than ourselves that remains unseen.  Like a magnet, it draws us to itself.  For the Christian, this something is Yahweh, God.  But the fact that so many other religions claim that their particular set(s) of beliefs are correct calls the Christian claim into question.  What makes Christianity so special?  Why is the Christian right and everyone else is wrong?  What makes Christianity unique?

    

     In exploring this subject, the most compelling argument for the unique nature of Christianity is the nature of God, Himself.  He is the eternal, uncaused Creator who has made Himself known to humanity and desires a personal relationship with all people.  The mere fact that God is personal says that He is knowable.  This trait alone stands out against many religions.  For example, in Islam, adherents worship Allah who is linked to Yahweh in the historic sense.  However, theologically, Allah is unknowable and unreachable for the Muslim.  There is no personal relationship and many of Islam’s doctrines and beliefs are contradictory to the characteristics of the Christian God. 

     Buddhism is much the same in that there is either no god at all or there exists an “impersonal ‘Buddha essence’” to which followers are to attempt to attain ¹.  Although, in Mahayana Buddhism, many deities “came to be represented in art and revered in ways very similar to worship of Hindu gods,” none have the personal or knowable characteristics of the Christian God ².  Judaism, Christianity’s older brother, has even lost touch with the God of their ancestors.  For today’s Jew, being Jewish is less about religion and more about culture and tradition.  “The crucial question in Judaism is, What do you practice? or What are you doing with your life? not What do you believe?” ³.

     In writing to Timothy, Paul warned that religion would become tainted and men would follow evil spirits.  “The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons” (1 Timothy 4:1, NIV).  Hinduism and the tribal religions declare the existence of a number of gods.  In the case of Hinduism, the number of gods in their pantheon is staggering.  “Beyond the principal deities of the Trimurti and the avatars, it is estimated that there are 330 million other gods in Hinduism” ¹.  In some Hindu circles, Brahman (the supreme god of the Hindus) is seen as a “personal, loving god who desires the salvation of all men.  More usually, however, he is described as a supreme, impersonal being completely above all creation and uninvolved with life on earth” ².  The tribal religions tend to have many deities as well, though their pantheon is not as encyclopedic as that of Hinduism.  Their religions typically include nature gods and spirits and are “marked by a proliferation of ritual and magic” ³.  “They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshipped and served created things rather than the creator—who is forever praised. Amen” (Romans 1:25). 

     Chinese popular religions as well as Japanese religions have become an amalgam of many belief systems that have lost any philosophical or religious substance.  “The whole character of Chinese popular religion flows in the direction of a plethora of rituals and obligations without much discernable doctrinal underpinning” ³.  Likewise, “for many Japanese, religions do not offer a personal faith; they offer ceremonial services” ¹.  For the most part, these religions have become animistic folk-religions.  That is, while people search for that ‘something’ that pulls at them, they “become desperate, and…are tempted to grab for something that works” even if it is not the manner in which the particular religion is meant to function ¹.  They take the basic tenants of a religion or a philosophy and bend it to fit into their way of life.  They have been deceived into false beliefs that lead nowhere.  In another example of blending traditions, Sikhism synthesized Islam and Hinduism to form its belief system.

    

     Standing in stark contrast to the polytheistic religions described above is the exclusive nature of God.  The Christian God is all powerful, all knowing, and ever present in our lives.  Because He truly is the Almighty, He does not require any other ‘gods’ to help in overseeing His creation.  Paul writes that He is “able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine” (Ephesians 4:20b).  The power of God is unfathomable to the limited comprehension of the human mind.  The polytheistic religions have created their pantheon of gods with each having jurisdiction over a certain area of creation or having responsibility for a certain tribe, clan, or family.  

    

     Many will ask, What about Jesus and the Holy Spirit?  Is Christianity not polytheistic as well?  The answer is decidedly “NO.”  Jesus said, “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30).  Further, the Holy Spirit is also referred to as the Spirit of God or the Spirit of Christ twenty seven times according to the NIV ⁴.  It is understood that they Triune God is three persons of the same essence that make up a single Godhead.  Thus, when God says “Let us make man in our image” in Genesis 1:26, the ‘us’ is the Trinity, not a group of gods.

     This brings us to the next point; the place of humanity in creation.  The Hindus say humans are a part of the divine essence of the universe, a universal “Oneness” to which everyone will return.  The Buddhists claim people are a part of an impersonal aggregate to which they will return when they enter ‘Nirvana,’ “where the ego is extinguished” ¹.  Islam, like Christianity, claims that man was made by God but that there is nothing in us that is like Him.  Islam also denies that man is sinful by nature ¹.  Tribal religions tend to vary on their creation stories, but on the whole they tend to see man as a created being, possibly harkening back to a time when the religions were monotheistic in nature.  However, unlike the Christian God, the tribal creator god is “worshipped only in times of great distress” ³.  Christians believe God created them in His image (Genesis 1:26), loves them (Psalm 86:15), cares for their well-being (Philippians 4:19), provides for them (Matthew 6:31, 32), and desires a relationship with them (Romans 5:8).  He is worshipped and loved by Christians in all that they do (Colossians 3:17). 

     The sin problem manifests in other religions through fear of offending the spirits, the natural order, or some impersonal force.  That is, they are aware that they have a problem with sin, they just misunderstand how sin affects their relationship with a God they have lost touch with.  It is because of God’s love for humanity that He supplied a cure to man’s sin problem through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  None of the religions mentioned here make such a bold claim.  Instead, they rely on man to earn his own salvation through works.  However, to the Christian, Paul writes “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).  Ultimately this salvation ends with eternal life in Heaven, where we will be transformed and be like Christ’s “glorious body” (Philippians 3:21).  In all fairness, however, most religions promise an afterlife.  The end for Hindus is the merging of the self with the Oneness, the Buddhist seeks Nirvana, and others have some form of paradise that somewhat resembles the Christian idea of Heaven.

     Finally, there is Christ Himself.  Many call into question the uniqueness of Christ, namely His death and resurrection.  In ancient religious mythology, there are a number of gods who ‘died’ and were ‘resurrected’ in one manner or another.  For example, the ancient Egyptians claimed Osiris was killed by his brother Set, only to be magically brought back to life through a magic spell.  The very oldest depictions of Osiris show plants growing from his reassembled body, indicating it is a myth associated with agriculture.  Tammuz was a Sumerian god of vegetation.  He came to be worshipped through a life, death, and rebirth ritual that signified the changing of the seasons and the harvests. Others included Attis, Persephone, and Dionysus Zagreus.  According to Ring;

With the exception of the last, each of these was associated with a goddess—wife, sister, mother, or lover—whose emotions in the loss and recovery of her darling were a model for the emotions which the ritual of the cult aimed to arouse in the devotees ⁵.

Each of these were also myths associated with the harvest and/or seasons. 

     The Jesus story is sublimely unique for a number of reasons.  First, Jesus is not just the Son of God; He is the physical embodiment of God.  Second, Jesus is not killed by another god, nor is He killed against His will.  He freely offered Himself up as a sacrifice for the sins of humanity (John 10:17-18).  Third, there is an eschatological purpose to the death of Christ whereas the death and rising of these other ‘gods’ is simply a metaphorical myth.  Fourth, the death and resurrection of Christ are tied to actual historical places and events.  They are as verifiable, if not more so, as the life of Alexander the Great, while the personalities and adventures of Dionysus Zagreus and his compeers are the spawn of mythological fancy” ⁵.

    Christians serve a living God.  Jesus conquered death for the sins of the world.  Muhammed is lying in a grave.  Buddha is lying in a grave.  The Hindus worship and venerate statues.  The practitioners of tribal religions worship the creation as opposed to the creator.  Chinese and Japanese religion borders on secularism.  Christians are promised eternity thanks to a loving and knowable God who reached out to them in sacrificing His own son for our reconciliation and salvation.  Works can never be enough, but childlike faith wins the day.  The Christian faith alone has held onto its monotheistic roots and remains a religion of faith and obedience toward the one true God who loved us enough to save us from ourselves (John 3:16).

References

1. Halverson, D. C. (Ed.). (1996). The compact guide to world religions. Minneapolis, MN: Bethany House.
2. Cory, S., & Burroughs, D. (Eds.). (2007). The spirit of truth and the spirit of error: Comparing Christianity with world religions. Chicago, IL: Moody.
3. Corduan, W. (2012). Neighboring faiths: A Christian introduction to world religions (2nd Ed.). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
4. Blue Letter Bible Website. (n.d.). www.blueletterbible.org
5. Ring, G. C. (1944). Christ’s resurrection and the dying and rising gods. The Catholic Biblical Quarterly, 6(2), 216-229. Retrieved from http://catholicbiblical.org/publications/cbq

U.S. Judge Says "No" to Obama

After my tirade yesterday, finally some common sense comes from the judicial branch.  Obama has finally been put in his place regarding transgender bathroom rights, especially as it pertains to school aged kids. 

In a decision signed on Sunday, U.S. District Judge Reed O'Connor ruled that the federal education law known as Title IX "is not ambiguous" about sex being defined as "the biological and anatomical differences between male and female students as determined at their birth"¹.

The fight began when a group of 13 states, led by Texas, sought to block what the Obama administration’s guidance concerning transgender students in public schools that allowed them to use whichever restroom they choose.  Attorneys for the U.S. Department of Justice pursued a dismissal of the injunction arguing that the guidance is not binding and comes with no legal ramifications.  However, the U.S. Department of Education has threatened to withhold federal funding from districts that refuse to accept the Obama Administration’s guidance on the matter.

In reading through Title IX, there is nothing to indicate that the writers of the law had anything other than biological sex in mind.  That is where federal protection begins and ends. 

Civil rights are designed to protect people from circumstances beyond their control.  For instance, one cannot help what race they were born into, their age, a handicap, etc.  In the same manner, one cannot help which sex God made them.  When we are forced to enact legislation because the decisions of a few made them feel their civil rights are being violated, anarchy is not far behind.  Legislating identity, feelings, persuasion, etc. is a dangerous road. 

Common sense and a sense of well-being for the entire nation, not just a few, should be the guideposts for legislation and “guidance” in this country.  Our moral compass has become so skewed that people actually think it is a good idea to let 15 year old boys into the girls locker room because they “identify” as female. 

In what bizzaro world is that healthy for the females who are subjected to these laws?  How do I tell my 14 year old daughter not to be embarrassed or feel like her rights to privacy are being violated when a boy shares the locker next to her?  

The rights of a few should never be allowed to trump the rights of the majority in cases like this.  The boys need to keep their parts in the boy’s room and the girls, vice-versa.  Why is this even a debate?

Please share if you agree

Sources:

1) Associated Press

Our Politics are in the Toilet

Our Politics are in the Toilet

Joshua Foltz

Religion and politics aside, it is time we use some common sense in what has become one of the most ridiculous arguments in the history of our country.  That is, the argument that someone can use a restroom based on the gender they identify with.  I can end the debate very quickly. In fact, it is very simple.  Next time you use the restroom or step into the shower, look down and see what kind of parts your underwear are covering.  The discussion should end there.  But it doesn’t.  Why?

It is because we live in a society where everyone has a feeling of entitlement.  Everyone is owed something.  Everyone wants something for free.  Everyone wants things to be their way.  When things don’t go their way, they cry bigotry, discrimination, racism, or hate. 

I have nothing against anyone in the LGBT community.  I am not a hate monger or a bigot in any way.  I have friends and family in the community that I love very much.  This post is just my opinion on one subject.  Feel free to disagree.  Comments are welcome.

There is a case before Judge Gilbert in Chicago right now where a young boy feels it necessary to use the females’ changing room at his school.  Why?  Because, he “identifies” as a female.  The case was brought by 51 families who filed the lawsuit in May insisting on an end to the district policy that allows a boy to use the female changing rooms if that boy “presents himself as a girl”. The school district enacted the policy in 2015 when the U.S. Department of Education Office of Civil Rights (OCR) declared the district in violation of Title IX’s prohibition against discrimination based on sex¹.  To top it off, the DOE threatened the district, saying it would withhold up to $6 million of federal funding if the policy was not enforced. 

These are school aged kids, teenagers.  I have a teenage daughter.  At this time in the life of a teenage girl, they are at their most shy and are at a point when they are the most embarrassed and aware of their bodies.  They are going through changes both biologically and emotionally as they grow into womanhood.  To force one kid on a group in order to accommodate his “feelings” is beyond absurd, especially at that age. 

The plaintiffs in the case have argued, “Title IX regulations and 40-plus years of case law allow for “separate but equal” application when it comes to private changing facilities, sleeping accommodations, and athletic participation. Interpretation of the regulation has always recognized the distinction between male and female and the inherent need for privacy between the two sexes”¹.  

The defense has tried to argue that the “separate but equal” arguments harken back to the days of the Civil Rights Movement and racial segregation.  There is a marked difference between using the argument for sexual identity and race.  No matter what color a person is, they are a part of the human race and should be treated as such.  It is not a matter of how a person feels or how they want to be perceived.  It is a matter of birth.  So, to use that same logic for boys who want to use the girls’ restroom is not only indefensible, but it tramples on what the Civil Rights Movement was about.  One’s gender identity is in their pants, especially in the teenage years. 

“Similar battles are playing out around the country as the Department of Education has told public schools that transgender students must be allowed to use the bathrooms and locker rooms of their choice.  Texas and a dozen other states asked a U.S. judge last week to block the Obama administration’s guidance in the matter, saying it usurps the authority of school districts”².  

After the smoke clears and the arguing is done, there is only one opinion I need.  I asked my teenage daughter how she felt about the possibility of boys being allowed to go into the girls’ locker room because they identify as a female.  Her response was, “that is the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard.  I don’t want some boy in the locker room with me while I’m changing.”  From the mouths of babes. 

Please share if you agree.

Sources: 1) Bonnie Pritchett, Chicago judge considers meaning of male and female, world.wng.org, August 16, 2016

                  2) Fiona Ortiz, Illinois Next Battleground in LGBT Toilet Agenda ,CHICAGO (Reuters), August 15, 2016

                 

God's Got This

We live in a fast-paced, high output society.  Our lifestyles place a gaggle of demands on our time, energy and resources.  We dance a carefully choreographed routine that allows us to navigate the minefield that each day presents us with.  These demands can be troubling, stressful, and cause us much anxiety.  

These anxious feelings are further exacerbated when times of trouble strike.  When we are hit with unexpected expenses, higher demands in the workplace, or domestic stress, it tends to send our carefully balanced routines into a tailspin.  Oftentimes, those extra burdens require more strength than we have left to give once the day to day matters are taken care of. 

We ask ourselves where the extra money is going to come from.  How will I get all of this accomplished?  What can I do to make this right?  I have found through countless trials and troubles that only one answer is worth focusing on; God’s got this. 

I am by no means a prosperity heretic or one who thinks that God will simply take away all of your problems.  In fact, Jesus says that there will be problems in this life.

“"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world" (John 16:33). 

These words were delivered to the disciples just before Jesus was arrested in the garden.  Imagine that!  Jesus—who knew the torture, pain, and suffering that lay ahead for Him, who knew the agony that awaited Him as He would hang on a cross, bleeding out and suffocating under the weight of His own body—tells His disciples to “have peace” and “take heart” even though they will have troubles because He has “overcome the world.”  He did not say “I will overcome the world,” but “I have overcome.”  It was already done!  Even though the crucifixion and resurrection had yet to happen, Jesus boldly states that He has already accomplished the goal of overcoming the world.  He knew it was God’s will and that nothing could stop it.  Therefore, He could speak confidently of it.   

We can be confident in the knowledge that even when troubles hit hard, God hits even harder.  Instead of asking God why we are going through something, perhaps we really need to ask what it is that He is preparing us for.

Jesus tells us not to worry about the things of this world, but to “seek first his kingdom and his righteousness” (Matthew 6:33a).  This is not a call to be irresponsible or aloof of the future, but a call to rely on God and be faithful that His providence and will are going to prevail in our lives. 

Paul writes, “For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship” (Romans 8:15).  In another letter he writes, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God” (Philippians 4:6).  Our anxieties are not the product of faith, but of fear.  We who believe on the name of the Lord are children of the one, true, almighty, living God who loves us and cares for our well-being. 

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him” (Romans 8:28).

We live in a broken world that continues to revolt against God.  The fact that any good can come of suffering is, in itself, evidence of God’s love and patience.  He cares for you.  He cares for us all.  To those that will trust in Him and be faithful, He will do the same in return.  In all you do, glorify Him.  Trust in Him.  Have faith in Him.  Don’t worry.  God’s got this!