Thursday, May 22, 2014
Wednesday, May 21, 2014
This is amazing - from Wretched Radio!
This is a great snapshot of the ignorance of some who claim to know Jesus, and the postmodern (absolute truth denying) worldview of many agnostics and atheists. Thanks Wretched Radio!
Monday, May 19, 2014
Great insight into the question, "can you be gay and Christian"?
James White and Micheal Brown have debated each other on other issues, but they are very insightful and unified in their discussion of the increasing acceptance of homosexuality in the church and it's relationship to biblical authority, the gospel, and the moral/spiritual decay of our society. Check out the video as James and Michael discuss Michael Brown's new book, Can You Be Gay and Christian?
Tuesday, May 13, 2014
Who do you fear?
When King Saul failed to follow God's directions, it led to being rebuked by God through the prophet Samuel. In a day when we people are quick to throw out certain biblical teachings for the sake of "love", or to downplay hard teachings and choose to rather focus on social justice and "being Jesus to the world", I suggest we reconsider God's priorities, as He describes them -
1 Samuel 15:20 And Saul said to Samuel, “But I have obeyed the voice of the Lord, and gone on the mission on which the Lord sent me, and brought back Agag king of Amalek; I have utterly destroyed the Amalekites. 21 But the people took of the plunder, sheep and oxen, the best of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice to the Lord your God in Gilgal.”
22 So Samuel said:
1 Samuel 15:20 And Saul said to Samuel, “But I have obeyed the voice of the Lord, and gone on the mission on which the Lord sent me, and brought back Agag king of Amalek; I have utterly destroyed the Amalekites. 21 But the people took of the plunder, sheep and oxen, the best of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice to the Lord your God in Gilgal.”
22 So 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 heed than the fat of rams.
23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft,
And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.
Because you have rejected the word of the Lord,
He also has rejected you from being king.”
As in obeying the voice of the Lord?
Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice,
And to heed than the fat of rams.
23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft,
And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.
Because you have rejected the word of the Lord,
He also has rejected you from being king.”
24 Then Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord and your words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice.
Yes, obeying God's word will get folks mad at you sometimes, but who will we fear?
"Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved."
Thursday, May 8, 2014
Wednesday, May 7, 2014
Why do people look to celebrities for wisdom?
It seams like every day we here of another Hollywood celebrity espousing their great wisdom on the issues of the day. Why do people assume that someone is wise, just because they are famous? Does the fact that someone is an accomplished actor, actress or musician, mean that they are automatically qualified to speak on morality, politics or economics? It is bad enough that the secular culture sees fame as an assurance of wisdom, but it is truly shocking that Christians would follow suit.
Recently a number of famous Christian performers have spoken out on gay marriage, including Jars of Clay lead singer Dan Haseltine and Amy Grant. Neither of these musicians are known for their theological training or competence to teach biblical doctrine. Their claim to fame is that they have written and performed songs that are popular with many people who are Christians. Why would people with little or no theological training feel empowered to bring doubt to an area where there has been clarity and agreement for many centuries among those who have had extensive biblical training? I am not sure what is more ridiculous, people thinking these "artists" are a good source of theological information or the artists thinking they are in any position to speak out on such important issues from a position of relative ignorance.
In the articles linked above I noticed two common thoughts that attribute to the errors of these artists. Dan Haseltine suggests we can't really know what scripture means and Amy Grant suggests that she does not speak out about issues like this, because her feelings on them may later change. Well, I think these are two sides of the same error. Neither artist is seeing the scriptures as the ultimate source of truth. For Haseltine, the Bible is so open to your interpretation, that it is really not a book that can speak authoritatively, and for Grant, it is her feelings on a subject that are important, not the absolutes of God's word.
So, what is the answer? First we need to fear the Lord enough that we don't speak too quickly or lightly, on issues which He has spoken strongly and clearly!
Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,
But fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Next, we need to believe the word of God is able to be understood and that it should be taught and learned by those who believe!
Matt. 28:18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
2 Tim. 3:16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
"Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved."
Recently a number of famous Christian performers have spoken out on gay marriage, including Jars of Clay lead singer Dan Haseltine and Amy Grant. Neither of these musicians are known for their theological training or competence to teach biblical doctrine. Their claim to fame is that they have written and performed songs that are popular with many people who are Christians. Why would people with little or no theological training feel empowered to bring doubt to an area where there has been clarity and agreement for many centuries among those who have had extensive biblical training? I am not sure what is more ridiculous, people thinking these "artists" are a good source of theological information or the artists thinking they are in any position to speak out on such important issues from a position of relative ignorance.
In the articles linked above I noticed two common thoughts that attribute to the errors of these artists. Dan Haseltine suggests we can't really know what scripture means and Amy Grant suggests that she does not speak out about issues like this, because her feelings on them may later change. Well, I think these are two sides of the same error. Neither artist is seeing the scriptures as the ultimate source of truth. For Haseltine, the Bible is so open to your interpretation, that it is really not a book that can speak authoritatively, and for Grant, it is her feelings on a subject that are important, not the absolutes of God's word.
So, what is the answer? First we need to fear the Lord enough that we don't speak too quickly or lightly, on issues which He has spoken strongly and clearly!
Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,
But fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Next, we need to believe the word of God is able to be understood and that it should be taught and learned by those who believe!
Matt. 28:18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
2 Tim. 3:16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
"Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved."
Monday, May 5, 2014
Youth ministry?
I think there is much wisdom in the discussion of youth ministry in the audio found here, from White Horse Inn.
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