You Can't Help Who You Hate?

If I were to say I can't help who I hate, to justify some very serious act of  revenge, I suspect many if not most would say in response:

Well, you may not be able to help who you hate, but you must control how you act on that hate! When it comes to  hate, we understand that feeling can't be allowed to have free reign over or actions. But, what about love?

If we have loving feelings toward someone, are we incapable of controlling our actions that flow from those feeling? This seems to be some of the rationalization for overthrowing traditional, and dare I say biblical, concepts of sexual morality that had remained pretty constant throughout civilized societies up till just recently.

Do I agree we should be able to love whoever we want? Yes, the Bible says we should love everyone, even our enemies, but that does not mean we always feel warm feelings toward them? No, that is why they are our enemies, but it does means we do good to them, we love them with our actions, in spite of the feelings we may have. And, of course does not mean we should have sex with our enemies!

A huge error, or perhaps even intentional and nefarious switching of word meanings, has left many in modern society thinking that love and sex are interchangeable terms. The Bible has no issue with people loving (feelings) whoever they want, and we should do good to all (loving actions), but who we have sex with is a matter the Bible clearly speaks to.

Biblically, we should only have sex with someone of the opposite sex (defined by biology not feelings), to whom we are married.

I know, you may not  believe the Bible and do not want it to guide your life in sexual matters or otherwise. OK, fair enough, but please use accurate language as you defend your lifestyle.

There are the feelings of love which we can choose to act on or not, just like there are feelings of hate that we can act on or not. The only reason we might choose to not act on our hate is that some things are wrong (according to some moral standard), then there is surely some standard that dictates where the line between right and wrong is as it relates to acting on loving feelings as well. Kidnapping someone so you could have them all to yourself, because you have such strong loving feelings for them, would be morally wrong for example.

And of course love and sex are not the same thing, so if you mean you can't help who you have loving feelings for I will agree, but if you mean you can't help who you have sex with, that is ridiculous! 

First Christmas Without Our Son, Sam

It is hard to comprehend that our 18 year old son Sam died earlier this year. I miss him very much, and of course I spend much time wondering what I might have done differently and if the end results would be any different.

I can't understand why he had to be one of the statistics in the opioid crisis, while many others would find help and eventually live productive lives. Why did God's plans not line up with our prayers and best efforts to intervene in Sam's destructive behaviors?

I don't know, but somehow, by God's grace, I still love and trust Him!

A Case for Political Pacifism, From a Non-Pacifist!

 What I am definitely not saying:

I am not saying that the Bible forbids Christians voting for political candidates or for various amendments, laws, etc.

I am not suggesting that Christians should decline to fight in wars, or refuse to defend themselves or others under certain circumstances. I do believe a case could be made for choosing personal pacifism, not fighting for your own life or rights. However, fighting to protect the weak and defenseless, those in the category of widows and orphans in the Bible, are certainly worthy of our taking up arms if needed, either personally or as part of the armed services. Defending our own lives, so we can continue to protect and provide for the weak in our care, seems like a reasonable case for self defense as well.

I am not saying that I have all the answers about any of these topics.

What I am trying to prove:

That Christians are not commanded to vote in elections, based on Biblical teachings.

And,

That using terminology such as "Christians are obligated to vote", "Christians should vote" or saying things like "All Christians should support... in the coming election", is potentially making a law where God has not. This would be a very dangerous thing, assuming there is no actual biblical mandate to vote! 

The case for Christian political participation: 

I am not aware of any clear biblical teachings about voting in secular political elections, as those who followed Jesus in the time the Bible was authored, had no opportunity to exercise such a right.

Further, 

Even though there was much political corruption and abuse of power, by terrible evil rulers, there is very little said about politics in the NT scriptures, and most rebuking of political characters is reserved for the Jewish leaders and later false teachers in the church, as opposed to secular government figures.  

John the baptist did take the time at some point to rebuke Herod for his sexual sin, but Jesus and Paul used all their time before evil Roman leaders to highlight the kingdom of God and preach the gospel.

With that said, I do think you can make a good case for voting based on general biblical principles of doing what we can to bring about good in the world.

James 1:27 Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.

Rom. 12:18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.

Matt. 5:6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled.

1 Cor. 10:24 Let no one seek his own, but each one the other’s well-being.

OK, now that is a pretty short list, but these verses represent the kinds of biblical passages we might use to promote Christian political participation. We would, based on these, likely seek to vote for candidates and policies that would best protect orphans and widows, promote peace, seek to establish a more righteous nation and support policies that are on the whole best for humanity.

I am all for that! However, I do think it is a stretch to insist these must be practiced in the political realm. Clearly they are aimed at our own personal lifestyle, and while that does not preclude using politics to further what we think is best, politics is not the most plain application of them and politics is always a mixed bag. 

We may just as well find we are supporting much evil as we seek to promote good in politics, and we are to be careful of our associations on earth:

2 Cor. 6:14 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? 

Eph. 5:11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.

We also need to be careful we don't get too attached to this kingdom, as we are truly citizens of God's kingdom:

Col. 3:2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 

Am I taking these verses somewhat out of context? Yes, but I had to do the same with the verses which might be used to support Christian voting. Do I believe these passages forbid Christian voting, definitely not! Nor do I believe any other passages command Christian voting!

What are we commanded to do regarding politics? 

Rom. 13:1 Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.

1 Tim. 2:1 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.

OK, so  here are my conclusions based on this very short survey of NT biblical texts regarding the obligations of Christians for politics and in particular voting:

First, while I am very thankful for the freedom to vote, and I generally try to stay informed and exercise that right, I don't believe the scriptures would compel or forbid voting by Christians.

Further, trusting God's sovereignty in the realm of politics is absolutely essential to our faith and witness! Whoever God allows in power, we are to pray for them, and obey them, unless they ask us to sin, in which case we must respectfully decline (Acts 4:18-20). 

Finally, we must be very careful that those lost people we interact with never have the slightest notion that our hope is in anything but Jesus!

1 Pet. 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; ¹⁶ having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. ¹⁷ For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.

Heaven forbid anyone gets the impression our hope is in any particular candidate or political party!

Why would our church hold it's primary weekly service in a nursing and rehabilitation center?

Gathered by Grace Church had been meeting in our home for the first few months of its existence. We had specifically prayed for God to show us a ministry we could get involved in as a church, and to make it obvious if and when it was time to move into a more public space.

God chose to answer both prayers simultaneously, and He did make it obvious!

One of our members had done some caroling at a local nursing and rehabilitation center when serving with another local church. Having spoken to them again recently, he was informed that they were looking for someone to come and do a Sunday morning service for their residents.

 

After some prayer and discussion we saw the benefits of moving our regular Sunday morning service to this location and I wanted to give God the glory and let others know the possible benefits of holding services in a location like this.

1st - If we did not take the opportunity to provide sound biblical teaching there, someone else might have done the services with less sound teaching.

2nd - The scriptures frequently exhort us to take care of orphans and widows, and while not all the residents there are widows, and their physical needs are met, we are providing spiritual food and fellowship that is very much needed!

3rd -  Between the patients and their family members which often attend, it is a sure thing some will hear the gospel properly presented for the first time, and Lord willing become followers of Jesus.

4th - We have the opportunity to meet in a very nice facility with no expenses, so we can put more of our budget toward ministry.

I would strongly recommend this kind of location to other churches and of course invite anyone local to come check out our services. 

For more information: www.gatheredbygracechurch.com

To God be the Glory!

New Reformed Church meeting in the Clayton, Willow Springs, Benson area!

Gathered by Grace Church is currently meeting in a home, but will consider other meeting places as the Lord adds to our number. We  are not affiliated with any denomination, but seek to be as purely biblical in our doctrine as possible. For more information please comment on this blog post and we will get back to you as soon as possible!

Evolution and school shootings, no room for moral outrage!

Why all the school shootings?

I don't have all the answers, but I think a worldview that believes everything that exists simply came to be as a result of random chance and evolution over billions of years could be a main contributor. This of course is a worldview with no objective morality, except possibly the obligation for the strong to conquer the weak as the evolutionary means for the advancement of life.

Of course there are those of us who believe God created us (exactly as taught in the Bible) and that He also has given us the moral absolutes which mankind was designed to live by. I have heard evolutionists try to justify some kind of morality with their worldview, but in the end the only law of evolution is survival of the fittest.

The evolutionist may feel that the whole of humanity survives and evolves best when certain rules are followed by all people, but for the individual, there simply is no obligation to buy into that, only the obligation to survive and thrive by whatever means they personally deem best!

Consider the things that might go through the mind of a teen living in a world where it seems  popularity is needed for a good life, where the culture tells you the world is all about your dreams and happiness, and where fame is the highest goal!

Some youth will achieve the goal and be popular and others will not. Some will hold to the dream of  being famous for their brains, talent, looks or athletic ability, of course most will never be, but the dream keeps them moving forward and gives them purpose. However, others will likely come to think that they are always to be outsiders and their fame, if they are to have any, must come by some other means.

So in a world with no moral absolutes, where personal happiness is the highest goal, where popularity and fame are a right, and where everyone else is responsible for your unhappiness if they get between you and these goals, it makes perfect sense to get revenge on those who kept you from these precious goals and also in a way achieve them at the same time, by doing some fame acheiving act of violence against them!

Evolution, "survival of the fittest", really can't say anything moral against such behavior, it can simply try to keep people who might do this from getting access to weapons and further isolating their potential victims by better security measures.

When I was young....

We were taught that not everyone was going to be popular, and that is OK.

We were told we were probably not going to be famous, but simply to work hard and let the rest take care of itself.

The emphasis was not on eliminating bullying, but learning how to respond to bullies. If we have to get rid of all bullies for people to feel safe and be happy, well good luck with that!

The idea that life was all about us and our personal  happiness, was not a value to be taught but a lie to be rejected!

Because...

Happiness is not found by making it your goal, it is found by seeking the one who created us and living by His law for our good, His glory, and so mankind can be all it was created to be!

Matt. 5:6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.

Everyone wants to feel blessed/happy, and everyone is hungering for things they think will help them achieve that goal, but only God can promise to fulfill our true needs, and He does not need anything within the power of others (fame, popularity, being liked, etc.) to cooperate for us to be fulfilled, only that we seek to know and follow Him!

Jesus died so we could be reconciled to God and have the fulfilling life we were created for now and forever. Evolution would by nature tell us it is OK to kill others to achieve our happiness and we must admit there is no room for moral outrage in the evolutionary worldview.

I think science best supports creation as taught in the Bible, if you reject that OK, but at least admit evolution lacks any objective morality to call a school shooting evil, and that the evidence we see all around screams that an evolutionary worldview is very bad for mankind as a whole!