By Ricardo Barber
"Unless the LORD builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; unless the LORD guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows; for so He gives His beloved sleep. Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one’s youth. Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them; they shall not be ashamed, but shall speak with their enemies in the gate." Psalm 127:1-5
Blessed is everyone who fears the LORD, who walks in His ways. When you eat the labor of your hands, you shall be happy, and it shall be well with you. Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine in the very heart of your house, your children like olive plants all around your table. Behold, thus shall the man be blessed who fears the LORD. The LORD bless you out of Zion, and may you see the good of Jerusalem all the days of your life. Yes, may you see your children’s children. Peace be upon Israel! Psalm 128:1-6
If it is one thing that needs to be revisited and emphasized in evangelicalism: its child-bearing. Why do some Christians view children as a burden rather than a blessing? Children are looked on as problems to be avoided rather than as gifts to be received, loved, and nurtured. Some even view them as pets to be tamed and when annoyed they sweep them away as pests. That's a sordid commentary, but I believe it is true.
As I read the Psalms mentioned above I can't help but be overwhelmed with joy from the inspired words the Psalmist wrote. Just to set the record straight, I believe Scripture when taken up holistically teaches a faith in the providence of God approach toward family. And only a Christian family can operate in that matter because in Psalm 128 blessings are bestowed on the one who walks in obedience and reverence before God. In other words we as believers cannot put a cap on the number of kids we have because the sovereignty and providence of God decides when enough is enough.
We see in Genesis twice God told the human race to procreate, once to Adam and Eve and then to Noah and his family after the flood. Procreation is a gift to married couples. One can't help but notice the large families in the Old Testament. It was God who closed the womb and often in the Old Testament women were sadden deeply by the lack of ability to have child. And then we reach the Psalms were children are defined as treasures, gifts and rewards. The psalmist also says that we should see kids as a lasting heritage and the source of our happiness. Ironically in today's evangelical world it's the complete opposite, happiness and success comes if we hold off having kids until we are well established. But God says prosperity is from the fruit of the womb. A great many miss out on their reward because their quiver is empty or limited. In Psalm 128:3 the writer says to the God fearing man that their "children will be like olive plants all around the table," there should be plenty (kids) and there is always room for one more. There will be enough food for growing bellies. The problem is that many do not trust God or give him the opportunity to show his boundless love and faithfulness. We decide to play God and forget that it is God who gives us power to get wealth and also that children are a reward and true prosperity with the Lord comes from a family that can leave a legacy.
I believe it is a lack of faith when we do not trust in the wisdom of God to know when to close the womb. Procreation is a mandate for believing couples because in the New Testament Paul does not say if you have children in the passages about the Christian home. He simply assumes that married couples would have kids. Even in 1 Timothy when he lists the qualifications of a pastor he assumes the leader will have children. "One who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?)" Unless God in his providential reasoning decides that a certain couple can't have kids then married believers are obligated to procreate. The Creator’s gift of procreation should not be taken for granted. There are countless couples who can't produce a child but want to, while the couples who can produce a child, don't.
Today large families are frequently looked upon as an economic strain rather than being viewed is an advantage. Building a family legacy is all in the wisdom books and the Psalmist said that the godly man will see his children's children. No heritage can be established if conception is being avoided. I do not think it is the will of God when someone is able to conceive, but decides to hold it off because we cannot afford to care for them appropriately. Once again the Psalmist says our treasure comes from children. Children are a gift from the Lord and should not be seen as troubles to be shunned, but always as gifts to be appreciated and received. Why in the world are we rejecting the gift? Because we believe material possessions are the better gifts. Christianity is spread and kept alive through people not through possessions or property. Legacy is far greater than land. I pray that God heals our unbelief. We cry out about abortion, what about the many unborn kids and eggs that go untouched each day by Christians who have pious cover ups for their selfishness and faithlessness? Someone put it best, "Children are a poor man riches." Pity on him who thinks otherwise.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Bad Theology Is Spreading among Kids like Wildfire!
Theology is a great word. Over the years, however, we have allowed it to become a word that’s only used by theologians who wear wool sweaters and socks that don’t match. We’ve come to believe that theology is something foreign and impractical like medieval poetry—fine for odd little men who work at a university, but the rest of us have reports to complete, clothes to wash, and jobs that leave us exhausted and numb at the end of the day. Therefore we feel that because we live in the “real world” we have other, more important things to grapple with than theology. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Theology is like oxygen—it’s all around us whether we think about it or not. It’s actually impossible not to have some sort of theology. What you think about God is your theology. You may be a Protestant, a practicing witch, or someone just “making it up as you go”—but you do have a theology. Even the staunchest atheist who believes that there is nothing spiritual to believe in has a theology.
In recent years, an “open-minded” school of thought has become prevalent, in which parents wait for their kids to grow up and then allow them to choose a religion for themselves. This concept assumes that these children will operate through their formative years without developing a theology, but this is impossible. This well-meaning, though misguided, method indeed teaches theology very loudly and decisively. Through it, parents teach their children that religion is of very little importance and that all religions are equally irrelevant. And bad theology passes from one generation to the next.
We don’t allow our kids to grow up and then tell us whether or not they want to eat vegetables, learn to read, or take childhood vaccinations. These things are too important! We might give kids the choice of which Happy Meal they want or which toy they would like for their birthdays, but for the truly important things in life, we choose for them. By doing so, we teach them exactly how important these things are.
As a third-grader watches the clouds go by, he’ll ponder the world around him. Unfortunately, most of the answers to life’s questions are out of reach for his young mind. On his own he won’t come up with the notion of photosynthesis, or gravity, or the aerodynamics that allow a bird to fly. Were the child to grapple with these things alone, he would come up with wrong answers. His answers might be creative, even clever, but they would be wrong. That’s why we send him to school. Most of the answers to life’s spiritual questions are also out of reach. “Why do people suffer?” “Why do others have more than me?” “Where did the world come from?” “What will happen when I die?” And I guarantee you a healthy, honest mind will, at one time or another, struggle with the question, “Why would an all-powerful God not answer my prayer?” If a child is left to grapple with these questions alone, he will come up with the wrong answers. They may be creative and clever, but they will be wrong. He may decide: God must not care about what I need. He must be busy with more important things. I must not have used the right words. I must not have gotten His attention. Maybe I need to do something especially good before He’ll give me what I want. Left without good, biblical instruction, the child will arrive at answers to these great questions which will likely result in his disappointment in and perhaps even anger at God. And more bad theology is formed—bad theology that is spreading like wildfire.
In his classic book, The Knowledge of the Holy, A. W. Tozer tells us, “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” Our theology—good or bad—will steer our every thought and decision. If we listen to the worldview of the secular, mainstream media, we will conclude that if God exists at all, He’s either indifferent or He’s angry. Either is disastrous. If we believe, for the sake of discussion, that God’s chief characteristic is anger, any reasonable person will want only minimal contact with Him. We will want to stay off the heavenly radar screen until we really, really need help. But how do you convince an always angry God to actually render aid? We might, on occasion, need to perform a kindly act—like giving a five dollar bill to a homeless person. Because of this “selfless act” (actually rather selfish act), we might assume that God would be less angry with us and a bit more inclined to help when we’re in a fix. Sadly, this line of bad theology may be the predominant religious belief system in America today. If we allow our children to think wrongly about God, it will negatively affect the rest of their lives. Nothing is more important than good theology!
How, then, do we go about teaching our third-graders theology? Though not the only way, I believe storytelling is the most effective means. Jesus rarely taught without telling a story. The hard truth is that Christianity is complicated, and most of it is counter-intuitive. To be first, we must be last; to live, we must die. We must learn to resist natural impulses and foster supernatural impulses that we don’t even know we have yet. We won’t come up with this stuff on our own. Some of it is difficult, and much of it is mysterious.
Again, the best way to communicate the deep and the mysterious is through a well-crafted story. Jonah and the fish is an amazingly deep and rich story that you could study for years. Certainly it tells us about a stubborn and narrow-minded prophet, but more importantly, it
tells us volumes about God. God wanted to save the wicked city of Nineveh. God cared enough about Jonah to send a storm to swallow him and a fish to save him. God then had the fish deliver Jonah to the very shores of Nineveh. Jonah repented, and the people of Nineveh repented, too. God forgave Jonah and the people of Nineveh—neither of whom deserved forgiveness. This is real insight into the loving, forgiving character of God, and as such, this story communicates really good theology.
We can tell our kids that God is not always angry and that He loves them deeply, but our words will likely bounce right off their armor. To get past their defenses, it’s better to tell them the Old Testament story of the Jews wandering through the desert. It’s difficult to hear this story and not grow angry with the nation of Israel as they are saved from Pharaoh’s army, eat miraculous manna, and follow a cloud and a pillar of fire, only to rebel against God because they miss the yummy food they ate while suffering abject slavery in Egypt. This story will better communicate God’s patient and long-suffering character than any list of well-written propositions. Bad theology is spreading like wildfire, but good theology must be carefully taught, tended, and nurtured over a long period of time.
This is the very reason Insight for Living launched the children’s radio ministry of Paws & Tales. Through the use of story, we teach the kind of good, solid, biblical theology kids need when they are young and will benefit from it the most. We often deal with deep questions like “How does prayer work?” in the episode titled, “The Princess;” and “Is there really spiritual evil?” in the episode titled, “Powers and Principalities.” We’ve even created a wonderful, three-part musical retelling called The Story of Esther that teaches kids about suffering, the loss of hope, the importance of remaining faithful when all seems lost, the final price of wickedness, and best of all,
the amazing love and faithfulness of God. At Paws & Tales we are dedicated to using drama, humor, and music to teach kids good theology so that they will know the truth about God. With this as their foundation, they can then begin to grow to love God with all of their hearts, souls, and minds and, then, to love their neighbors as themselves (Matthew 22:37–39). And that’s the power of good theology.
Theology is like oxygen—it’s all around us whether we think about it or not. It’s actually impossible not to have some sort of theology. What you think about God is your theology. You may be a Protestant, a practicing witch, or someone just “making it up as you go”—but you do have a theology. Even the staunchest atheist who believes that there is nothing spiritual to believe in has a theology.
In recent years, an “open-minded” school of thought has become prevalent, in which parents wait for their kids to grow up and then allow them to choose a religion for themselves. This concept assumes that these children will operate through their formative years without developing a theology, but this is impossible. This well-meaning, though misguided, method indeed teaches theology very loudly and decisively. Through it, parents teach their children that religion is of very little importance and that all religions are equally irrelevant. And bad theology passes from one generation to the next.
We don’t allow our kids to grow up and then tell us whether or not they want to eat vegetables, learn to read, or take childhood vaccinations. These things are too important! We might give kids the choice of which Happy Meal they want or which toy they would like for their birthdays, but for the truly important things in life, we choose for them. By doing so, we teach them exactly how important these things are.
As a third-grader watches the clouds go by, he’ll ponder the world around him. Unfortunately, most of the answers to life’s questions are out of reach for his young mind. On his own he won’t come up with the notion of photosynthesis, or gravity, or the aerodynamics that allow a bird to fly. Were the child to grapple with these things alone, he would come up with wrong answers. His answers might be creative, even clever, but they would be wrong. That’s why we send him to school. Most of the answers to life’s spiritual questions are also out of reach. “Why do people suffer?” “Why do others have more than me?” “Where did the world come from?” “What will happen when I die?” And I guarantee you a healthy, honest mind will, at one time or another, struggle with the question, “Why would an all-powerful God not answer my prayer?” If a child is left to grapple with these questions alone, he will come up with the wrong answers. They may be creative and clever, but they will be wrong. He may decide: God must not care about what I need. He must be busy with more important things. I must not have used the right words. I must not have gotten His attention. Maybe I need to do something especially good before He’ll give me what I want. Left without good, biblical instruction, the child will arrive at answers to these great questions which will likely result in his disappointment in and perhaps even anger at God. And more bad theology is formed—bad theology that is spreading like wildfire.
In his classic book, The Knowledge of the Holy, A. W. Tozer tells us, “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” Our theology—good or bad—will steer our every thought and decision. If we listen to the worldview of the secular, mainstream media, we will conclude that if God exists at all, He’s either indifferent or He’s angry. Either is disastrous. If we believe, for the sake of discussion, that God’s chief characteristic is anger, any reasonable person will want only minimal contact with Him. We will want to stay off the heavenly radar screen until we really, really need help. But how do you convince an always angry God to actually render aid? We might, on occasion, need to perform a kindly act—like giving a five dollar bill to a homeless person. Because of this “selfless act” (actually rather selfish act), we might assume that God would be less angry with us and a bit more inclined to help when we’re in a fix. Sadly, this line of bad theology may be the predominant religious belief system in America today. If we allow our children to think wrongly about God, it will negatively affect the rest of their lives. Nothing is more important than good theology!
How, then, do we go about teaching our third-graders theology? Though not the only way, I believe storytelling is the most effective means. Jesus rarely taught without telling a story. The hard truth is that Christianity is complicated, and most of it is counter-intuitive. To be first, we must be last; to live, we must die. We must learn to resist natural impulses and foster supernatural impulses that we don’t even know we have yet. We won’t come up with this stuff on our own. Some of it is difficult, and much of it is mysterious.
Again, the best way to communicate the deep and the mysterious is through a well-crafted story. Jonah and the fish is an amazingly deep and rich story that you could study for years. Certainly it tells us about a stubborn and narrow-minded prophet, but more importantly, it
tells us volumes about God. God wanted to save the wicked city of Nineveh. God cared enough about Jonah to send a storm to swallow him and a fish to save him. God then had the fish deliver Jonah to the very shores of Nineveh. Jonah repented, and the people of Nineveh repented, too. God forgave Jonah and the people of Nineveh—neither of whom deserved forgiveness. This is real insight into the loving, forgiving character of God, and as such, this story communicates really good theology.
We can tell our kids that God is not always angry and that He loves them deeply, but our words will likely bounce right off their armor. To get past their defenses, it’s better to tell them the Old Testament story of the Jews wandering through the desert. It’s difficult to hear this story and not grow angry with the nation of Israel as they are saved from Pharaoh’s army, eat miraculous manna, and follow a cloud and a pillar of fire, only to rebel against God because they miss the yummy food they ate while suffering abject slavery in Egypt. This story will better communicate God’s patient and long-suffering character than any list of well-written propositions. Bad theology is spreading like wildfire, but good theology must be carefully taught, tended, and nurtured over a long period of time.
This is the very reason Insight for Living launched the children’s radio ministry of Paws & Tales. Through the use of story, we teach the kind of good, solid, biblical theology kids need when they are young and will benefit from it the most. We often deal with deep questions like “How does prayer work?” in the episode titled, “The Princess;” and “Is there really spiritual evil?” in the episode titled, “Powers and Principalities.” We’ve even created a wonderful, three-part musical retelling called The Story of Esther that teaches kids about suffering, the loss of hope, the importance of remaining faithful when all seems lost, the final price of wickedness, and best of all,
the amazing love and faithfulness of God. At Paws & Tales we are dedicated to using drama, humor, and music to teach kids good theology so that they will know the truth about God. With this as their foundation, they can then begin to grow to love God with all of their hearts, souls, and minds and, then, to love their neighbors as themselves (Matthew 22:37–39). And that’s the power of good theology.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
It so hard to say Goodbye…
By: Ricardo Barber
All the planning and preparation that has been done over the pass year has shrunk into a few short days. Wow! We are actually about to move. Ironically, as tedious as I am about planning I am not prepared to say goodbye. Boyz II Men, yep, from a boy to a man. I came to Middlebelt as a twenty-three year old new follower in Christ. God’s divine guidance led me to a church with men and women who would prove to transform me to a mature Christian. Thank you! Nate, for that first sermon. You went out on a limb on that one boy. Pastor and Mrs. Belton, who treated us virtually a sons and daughters. Man, I’m going to miss that. Shawn and Larry for all the sound wisdom you provided on marriage and theology. Paul, for showing me what a godly family man looks like. Shane, for making me think hard. To you all who are reading this right now: You will be missed. Felecia thanks for your faithfulness and always willing to baby-sit. Mrs. White you have greatly influenced my wife in more ways than one and Ms. Evon you showed my wife and I diligence in the ministry.
I will take with me all the memories and lessons I learned from you all. It’s so hard to say goodbye to yesterday, especially when I think about where we been. This move will bring so many changes… we will be leaving the all so familiar to explore something new. This has truly been a wonderful ride that I don’t want to end. But I guess we must catch the next ride of life. I know I will be in touch with some of you, but that only softens the blow of leaving a little bit. I love you all dearly! Pray for us as we pray for you. And if I never see you again, I long for the moment to reunite in Glory FOREVER.
In that case it makes saying goodbye easier because I will be seeing you later. This is coming from a man who is right now teary eyed.
I will thank my God in all my remembrance of you, (Philippians 1:3).
May God bless you and keep you AMEN.
All the planning and preparation that has been done over the pass year has shrunk into a few short days. Wow! We are actually about to move. Ironically, as tedious as I am about planning I am not prepared to say goodbye. Boyz II Men, yep, from a boy to a man. I came to Middlebelt as a twenty-three year old new follower in Christ. God’s divine guidance led me to a church with men and women who would prove to transform me to a mature Christian. Thank you! Nate, for that first sermon. You went out on a limb on that one boy. Pastor and Mrs. Belton, who treated us virtually a sons and daughters. Man, I’m going to miss that. Shawn and Larry for all the sound wisdom you provided on marriage and theology. Paul, for showing me what a godly family man looks like. Shane, for making me think hard. To you all who are reading this right now: You will be missed. Felecia thanks for your faithfulness and always willing to baby-sit. Mrs. White you have greatly influenced my wife in more ways than one and Ms. Evon you showed my wife and I diligence in the ministry.
I will take with me all the memories and lessons I learned from you all. It’s so hard to say goodbye to yesterday, especially when I think about where we been. This move will bring so many changes… we will be leaving the all so familiar to explore something new. This has truly been a wonderful ride that I don’t want to end. But I guess we must catch the next ride of life. I know I will be in touch with some of you, but that only softens the blow of leaving a little bit. I love you all dearly! Pray for us as we pray for you. And if I never see you again, I long for the moment to reunite in Glory FOREVER.
In that case it makes saying goodbye easier because I will be seeing you later. This is coming from a man who is right now teary eyed.
I will thank my God in all my remembrance of you, (Philippians 1:3).
May God bless you and keep you AMEN.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
When God cleans you up............
By Shawn Thrasher
I had the great pleasure this past Saturday of attending a Seminary graduation of a dear brother. I am not a big fan of graduations because I have always felt like the administrators know you are ready to just get the diploma and go but for this graduation I was excited to attend because I was able to witness the great power of God.
As I entered the graduation I was excited to see a dear friend not only graduate but be united with family from afar as they come to bask in this celebration. I know your probably thinking "this is just a graduation"! O no, I have had the opportunity to learn of my friends testimony. Here is a young man who was born into a home without a father, involved in drug dealing, drug consumption (alcohol included) and whatever else the mean streets of New Orleans could offer; but when God cleans you up......
In John chapter 9 verses 1-41, Jesus healed the man that was born blind. The first thing the disciples asked Jesus " “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he would be born blind?” Jesus answered, “It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him. Our situations and our lot in life is so that the works of God might be displayed in us. God cleans us up to put Himself on display! The blind man gained his sight and people did not believe he was once the blind man who was a beggar. When God cleans you up many people won't believe in the fact that you are not who you used to be. The blind man's parents had to come and testify that the man that now can see was the one who was born blind.
The blind man made it clear when he said " although I was once blind, now I see"! The blind mans testimony reminds me of my friends testimony in that he was blinded by sin an but has been made to see by Christ Jesus. The text goes on to say that the blind man knew that Jesus had made him to see and that the blind man became a disciple of Christ. My brother Ricardo has been made to see and has become a disciple of Christ. Jesus has given him sight and has blessed him as a Husband and father of two daughters, a preacher of God's word and someone who is trying to lead a righteous life. This new life is far from the life of old, many might not recognize him as that once blind man, but when God cleans you up.... What more can I say.
In conclusion not only has Ricardo turned from the ways of the streets to Christ, but one other thing excited me as I sat in my pew and opened the program; to see my friend and knowing his testimony graduate from his class Magna Cum Laude!!!! Praise God for his cleansing hand!!
New American Standard Bible : 1995 Update (LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Jn 9:3.
New American Standard Bible : 1995 Update (LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Jn 9:2.
I had the great pleasure this past Saturday of attending a Seminary graduation of a dear brother. I am not a big fan of graduations because I have always felt like the administrators know you are ready to just get the diploma and go but for this graduation I was excited to attend because I was able to witness the great power of God.
As I entered the graduation I was excited to see a dear friend not only graduate but be united with family from afar as they come to bask in this celebration. I know your probably thinking "this is just a graduation"! O no, I have had the opportunity to learn of my friends testimony. Here is a young man who was born into a home without a father, involved in drug dealing, drug consumption (alcohol included) and whatever else the mean streets of New Orleans could offer; but when God cleans you up......
In John chapter 9 verses 1-41, Jesus healed the man that was born blind. The first thing the disciples asked Jesus " “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he would be born blind?” Jesus answered, “It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him. Our situations and our lot in life is so that the works of God might be displayed in us. God cleans us up to put Himself on display! The blind man gained his sight and people did not believe he was once the blind man who was a beggar. When God cleans you up many people won't believe in the fact that you are not who you used to be. The blind man's parents had to come and testify that the man that now can see was the one who was born blind.
The blind man made it clear when he said " although I was once blind, now I see"! The blind mans testimony reminds me of my friends testimony in that he was blinded by sin an but has been made to see by Christ Jesus. The text goes on to say that the blind man knew that Jesus had made him to see and that the blind man became a disciple of Christ. My brother Ricardo has been made to see and has become a disciple of Christ. Jesus has given him sight and has blessed him as a Husband and father of two daughters, a preacher of God's word and someone who is trying to lead a righteous life. This new life is far from the life of old, many might not recognize him as that once blind man, but when God cleans you up.... What more can I say.
In conclusion not only has Ricardo turned from the ways of the streets to Christ, but one other thing excited me as I sat in my pew and opened the program; to see my friend and knowing his testimony graduate from his class Magna Cum Laude!!!! Praise God for his cleansing hand!!
New American Standard Bible : 1995 Update (LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Jn 9:3.
New American Standard Bible : 1995 Update (LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Jn 9:2.
Thursday, May 14, 2009
A Stroll in the Park: I need help!
By Ricardo Barber
A group of Theologians were discussing predestination and free will. When the argument became heated, the dissidents split into two groups. One man, unable to make up his mind which group to join, slipped into the predestination crowd. Challenged as to why he was there, he said, “I came of my own free will.” The group reacted, “Free will? You can’t join us!” And he retreated to the opposing group and met the same challenge. “What are you doing here?’ I was sent here.” “Get out!” they stormed. “You can’t join us unless you come of your own free will.”
- Leslie Flynn, Great Church Fights
As I take a walk in the park of philosophy and theology, I realize one thing: the walk never ends. Please can someone help me, I just wanted to enjoy the scenery and feed the birds. But now I find myself entrenched in a whirlwind conversation with a man while sitting on a bench. I didn’t ask for this or did I?
The worldview topics of metaphysics and anthropology in relation to determinism and indeterminism (predestination and free will) are an ongoing discussion in Christian Theology. One of the hindrances of progress in this area of discussion is people’s failure to define key terms. Be that as it may, I must define determinism and indeterminism. Ronald Nash defines determinism as the belief that everything that occurs in the universe is caused by prior states of affairs.1 Indeterminism is the belief that human choices can sometimes be independent of prior causes.2 Other terms that are important to this subject matter are compatibilism and incompatibilism. A compatibilist holds to the theory that freedom and determinism can somehow be reconciled, while an imcompatibilist believes they cannot.3 Each of these terms is important to the doctrine of salvation and man’s responsibility. Calvinist and Arminians differ especially in determinism-indeterminism. Hyper-Calvinists are considered hard determinist because they believe God causes everything in salvation. Hard determinism can and has led to fatalism because every event is caused by God. So they must answer the questions: Did God create evil and is this an all-loving God? There are implications of extreme Arminianism as well, some being the problems of the uninfluenced will. If actions are uncaused, conduct is unexplainable. Being able to observe these concepts from a philosophical standpoint helps one to avoid the extremes in Soteriology. It can really help us maintain a balanced view of God’s sovereignty and man’s will. Compatibilism could be that balance, it will take more time (which means I’m stuck in this park) biblical, and philosophical study, to determine the answer, if one is possible. I guess this is a good place to be. Come join me!
1 Ronald H. Nash, Life’s Ultimate Questions: An Introduction to Philosophy (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1999), 326.
2 Ibid.
3 Ibid, 327.
A group of Theologians were discussing predestination and free will. When the argument became heated, the dissidents split into two groups. One man, unable to make up his mind which group to join, slipped into the predestination crowd. Challenged as to why he was there, he said, “I came of my own free will.” The group reacted, “Free will? You can’t join us!” And he retreated to the opposing group and met the same challenge. “What are you doing here?’ I was sent here.” “Get out!” they stormed. “You can’t join us unless you come of your own free will.”
- Leslie Flynn, Great Church Fights
As I take a walk in the park of philosophy and theology, I realize one thing: the walk never ends. Please can someone help me, I just wanted to enjoy the scenery and feed the birds. But now I find myself entrenched in a whirlwind conversation with a man while sitting on a bench. I didn’t ask for this or did I?
The worldview topics of metaphysics and anthropology in relation to determinism and indeterminism (predestination and free will) are an ongoing discussion in Christian Theology. One of the hindrances of progress in this area of discussion is people’s failure to define key terms. Be that as it may, I must define determinism and indeterminism. Ronald Nash defines determinism as the belief that everything that occurs in the universe is caused by prior states of affairs.1 Indeterminism is the belief that human choices can sometimes be independent of prior causes.2 Other terms that are important to this subject matter are compatibilism and incompatibilism. A compatibilist holds to the theory that freedom and determinism can somehow be reconciled, while an imcompatibilist believes they cannot.3 Each of these terms is important to the doctrine of salvation and man’s responsibility. Calvinist and Arminians differ especially in determinism-indeterminism. Hyper-Calvinists are considered hard determinist because they believe God causes everything in salvation. Hard determinism can and has led to fatalism because every event is caused by God. So they must answer the questions: Did God create evil and is this an all-loving God? There are implications of extreme Arminianism as well, some being the problems of the uninfluenced will. If actions are uncaused, conduct is unexplainable. Being able to observe these concepts from a philosophical standpoint helps one to avoid the extremes in Soteriology. It can really help us maintain a balanced view of God’s sovereignty and man’s will. Compatibilism could be that balance, it will take more time (which means I’m stuck in this park) biblical, and philosophical study, to determine the answer, if one is possible. I guess this is a good place to be. Come join me!
1 Ronald H. Nash, Life’s Ultimate Questions: An Introduction to Philosophy (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1999), 326.
2 Ibid.
3 Ibid, 327.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Just One Look (Issues of Lust)
By Ricardo Barber
To say that we live in a highly sexualized society today is an understatement. From fashion to music, commercials, television, and movies, sexuality confronts us everywhere we turn. The old axiom “sex sells” is so true. Unfortunately, it can also lead to experiences that cause a lifetime of regret, sexual abuse, sexual harassment, premarital and extramarital sex, addiction and a host of other problems.
Every Sunday in churches throughout America, members of our congregations are dealing with sexual issues. God’s Word has the definitive answer to our problems and is the guide we know it to be, turning to non-Christians sources (i.e. Oprah or Dr. Phil) only makes the problem worse.
How does Satan tempt you? Or how are you enticed by sin? Perhaps by an attractive person who passed in front of you? What went through your mind as you looked at him or her? Were your thoughts honorable or not so honorable?
We all know the story of David and Bathsheba (2 Sam 11:1-27). It was only a look (v. 2) that led to David’s sin. David had time on his hand because he was not at war with his army. How are you using your free time? There’s an old saying’ “An idle mind is the devil’s playground.” That idle mind can look upon another person with a lustful eye; it can watch a movie or T.V. program that is morally bad. It can lead to websites on the net that then lead to impurity. David’s look would bring about adultery, murder, the death of a child, and chaos for his family as well as the nation.
David’s look led to a plan (vv. 3-17). Verses 3 and 4 reveals David’s plan. It’s bad enough that he was looking at Bathsheba while she was bathing; he then decides to inquire about her and send for her. This one sexual sin leads to another sin and another and another to where he eventually kills her husband Uriah. Looks and plans have consequences. James makes it very clear when he writes in James 1:14-15: “But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. 15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.” Do you see the progression? First desire (the look), then the sin, and last the consequences.
David’s plan led to destruction (vv.25-27). His life goes downhill after that. Verse 25 shows us how repeated sin can harden the individual, helping us to become more desensitized. What you begin to do seems too innocent and harmless. You trivialize it by saying, “It’s no big deal.” You rationalize it: “Everyone does it.” You internalize it: “Only I will know what I am doing.” There is no such thing as a secret sin. God who is our judge sees all.
The best time to deal with temptation is before it happens. Woodrow Kroll gives five memorable ways to avoid temptation: First, anticipate it, always be sober and paying attention. Second, avoid it; situations and people we know create temptation. Third, admit it, the potential and actual areas in our lives. Fourth, appraise it; understand temptation by reading God’s word. Every temptation presents the possibility of failure, but it also creates an opportunity for growth. Fifth, is activating your dependence on the Holy Spirit.
God is with you, walk by the Spirit and DEAL with the LOOK first!!!!
To say that we live in a highly sexualized society today is an understatement. From fashion to music, commercials, television, and movies, sexuality confronts us everywhere we turn. The old axiom “sex sells” is so true. Unfortunately, it can also lead to experiences that cause a lifetime of regret, sexual abuse, sexual harassment, premarital and extramarital sex, addiction and a host of other problems.
Every Sunday in churches throughout America, members of our congregations are dealing with sexual issues. God’s Word has the definitive answer to our problems and is the guide we know it to be, turning to non-Christians sources (i.e. Oprah or Dr. Phil) only makes the problem worse.
How does Satan tempt you? Or how are you enticed by sin? Perhaps by an attractive person who passed in front of you? What went through your mind as you looked at him or her? Were your thoughts honorable or not so honorable?
We all know the story of David and Bathsheba (2 Sam 11:1-27). It was only a look (v. 2) that led to David’s sin. David had time on his hand because he was not at war with his army. How are you using your free time? There’s an old saying’ “An idle mind is the devil’s playground.” That idle mind can look upon another person with a lustful eye; it can watch a movie or T.V. program that is morally bad. It can lead to websites on the net that then lead to impurity. David’s look would bring about adultery, murder, the death of a child, and chaos for his family as well as the nation.
David’s look led to a plan (vv. 3-17). Verses 3 and 4 reveals David’s plan. It’s bad enough that he was looking at Bathsheba while she was bathing; he then decides to inquire about her and send for her. This one sexual sin leads to another sin and another and another to where he eventually kills her husband Uriah. Looks and plans have consequences. James makes it very clear when he writes in James 1:14-15: “But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. 15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.” Do you see the progression? First desire (the look), then the sin, and last the consequences.
David’s plan led to destruction (vv.25-27). His life goes downhill after that. Verse 25 shows us how repeated sin can harden the individual, helping us to become more desensitized. What you begin to do seems too innocent and harmless. You trivialize it by saying, “It’s no big deal.” You rationalize it: “Everyone does it.” You internalize it: “Only I will know what I am doing.” There is no such thing as a secret sin. God who is our judge sees all.
The best time to deal with temptation is before it happens. Woodrow Kroll gives five memorable ways to avoid temptation: First, anticipate it, always be sober and paying attention. Second, avoid it; situations and people we know create temptation. Third, admit it, the potential and actual areas in our lives. Fourth, appraise it; understand temptation by reading God’s word. Every temptation presents the possibility of failure, but it also creates an opportunity for growth. Fifth, is activating your dependence on the Holy Spirit.
God is with you, walk by the Spirit and DEAL with the LOOK first!!!!
Friday, May 1, 2009
Should Christians use Birth Control?
By Ricardo Barber
Should Christians use birth control? In the twenty-first century this has been an ongoing discussion among Protestants. Most evangelical Protestants welcomed the wave of new technology that brought about birth control. But a growing number of evangelicals are rethinking the issue of birth control. The number one reason for this swift turn in philosophy is the emerging abortion uprising. In the 1980’s conservative Protestants came along side the Catholics in the defense of the unborn and the veracity of abortion forced a reconsideration of other issues as well. After establishing that human life must be recognized and protected from the moment of conception, evangelicals recognized Intrauterine Devices [IUDs] as abortifacients, and rejected birth control with any abortifacient design or result.1 The Pill, Depo-Provera and Norplant are aborifacients as well. These contraceptives terminate, rather than prevent pregnancy. Instead of stopping the sperm from fertilizing the egg they prevent the egg from effectively implanting itself in the lining of the womb. This horrible method is nothing short of abortion. The mentality of contraception sees children as problems to be avoided rather than as gifts to be received, loved, and nurtured. Albert Mohler states, this line of reasoning must be rejected because it is an insidious attack upon God’s glory in creation, and the Creator’s gift of procreation to the married couple.2
Implications from a medical standpoint arise from the use of birth control. The Pill contains steroid hormones that are a thousand times more powerful than any natural hormone in the woman’s body and that alone causes health risks. What’s so ironic about contraceptives is that it is the only time in medicine when potent drugs are given to a healthy person whose health declines after taking the drugs.3 Pharmacist John Wilks in his book looks at the development of the birth control pill and their often-under publicized side effects. He says the woman’s chance of developing cervical cancer is increased, since it causes the production of a type of cervical mucus that makes it easier for cancer- causing agents to gain access to a woman’s body.4
After all that is said and done it seems that the natural process of family planning that the Catholics preach is less dangerous and more toward the divine order. The Bible nowhere in Scripture mandates to maximize the largest number of kids possible. The focus should then be not on what to do, but how to do. How should Christians go about developing a family? Natural birth control carries less threats and one of the great positives is that it requires more communication on part of the couple. It takes faith to use NFP: in both God and the partner. “This faith is well rewarded,” Stanford suggests, a stronger “courtship/honeymoon” among NFP users.5 The contraceptive mentality is running without restraint in society and Christians should not buy into it. Children are a gift from the Lord and not seen as troubles to be shunned, but always as gifts to be appreciated and received.6
Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, The fruit of the womb is a reward (Psalm 127:3).
1 Albert Mohler, “Can Christians Use Birth Control?” Http://www.albertmohler.com/commentary_read.php?cdate=2006-05-08 (assessed May 8, 2006).
2 Ibid.
3 Jason Evert, Love, Sex, and Babies: How your Marriage can benefit from Natural Family Planning (San Diego: Catholic Answers, 2004), 38.
4 John Wilks, A Consumer's Guide to the Pill and other Drugs (Stafford VA: ALL Inc 1997), 30.
5 Joseph B. Stanford, “Sex, Naturally,” First Things 97 (1999): 29.
6 Albert Mohler, “Can Christians Use Birth Control?” Http://www.albertmohler.com/commentary_read.php?cdate=2006-05-08 (assessed May 8, 2006).
Should Christians use birth control? In the twenty-first century this has been an ongoing discussion among Protestants. Most evangelical Protestants welcomed the wave of new technology that brought about birth control. But a growing number of evangelicals are rethinking the issue of birth control. The number one reason for this swift turn in philosophy is the emerging abortion uprising. In the 1980’s conservative Protestants came along side the Catholics in the defense of the unborn and the veracity of abortion forced a reconsideration of other issues as well. After establishing that human life must be recognized and protected from the moment of conception, evangelicals recognized Intrauterine Devices [IUDs] as abortifacients, and rejected birth control with any abortifacient design or result.1 The Pill, Depo-Provera and Norplant are aborifacients as well. These contraceptives terminate, rather than prevent pregnancy. Instead of stopping the sperm from fertilizing the egg they prevent the egg from effectively implanting itself in the lining of the womb. This horrible method is nothing short of abortion. The mentality of contraception sees children as problems to be avoided rather than as gifts to be received, loved, and nurtured. Albert Mohler states, this line of reasoning must be rejected because it is an insidious attack upon God’s glory in creation, and the Creator’s gift of procreation to the married couple.2
Implications from a medical standpoint arise from the use of birth control. The Pill contains steroid hormones that are a thousand times more powerful than any natural hormone in the woman’s body and that alone causes health risks. What’s so ironic about contraceptives is that it is the only time in medicine when potent drugs are given to a healthy person whose health declines after taking the drugs.3 Pharmacist John Wilks in his book looks at the development of the birth control pill and their often-under publicized side effects. He says the woman’s chance of developing cervical cancer is increased, since it causes the production of a type of cervical mucus that makes it easier for cancer- causing agents to gain access to a woman’s body.4
After all that is said and done it seems that the natural process of family planning that the Catholics preach is less dangerous and more toward the divine order. The Bible nowhere in Scripture mandates to maximize the largest number of kids possible. The focus should then be not on what to do, but how to do. How should Christians go about developing a family? Natural birth control carries less threats and one of the great positives is that it requires more communication on part of the couple. It takes faith to use NFP: in both God and the partner. “This faith is well rewarded,” Stanford suggests, a stronger “courtship/honeymoon” among NFP users.5 The contraceptive mentality is running without restraint in society and Christians should not buy into it. Children are a gift from the Lord and not seen as troubles to be shunned, but always as gifts to be appreciated and received.6
Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, The fruit of the womb is a reward (Psalm 127:3).
1 Albert Mohler, “Can Christians Use Birth Control?” Http://www.albertmohler.com/commentary_read.php?cdate=2006-05-08 (assessed May 8, 2006).
2 Ibid.
3 Jason Evert, Love, Sex, and Babies: How your Marriage can benefit from Natural Family Planning (San Diego: Catholic Answers, 2004), 38.
4 John Wilks, A Consumer's Guide to the Pill and other Drugs (Stafford VA: ALL Inc 1997), 30.
5 Joseph B. Stanford, “Sex, Naturally,” First Things 97 (1999): 29.
6 Albert Mohler, “Can Christians Use Birth Control?” Http://www.albertmohler.com/commentary_read.php?cdate=2006-05-08 (assessed May 8, 2006).
Thursday, April 9, 2009
The Good Friday Atonement and what it Accomplished
By: Ricardo Barber
Well Good Friday is tomorrow and Christians all around the world will be celebrating Christ's work on the cross. But have we taken time for one minute to ponder on what the most unparalleled event in human history accomplished. When Jesus uttered the words “It is finished,” what did the Triune God complete? In other words, what constitutes the atonement?
Our relationship with God and our eternal destiny depends on what Jesus did when he died and rose again. The understanding that God took our place has biblical support in both the Old and New Testament. The Bible says that we are individually and corporately at war with God, we all sin willfully and in our fallen state we are “dead in sin.” Isaiah 53 presents Christ as the suffering servant who stands in the place of others. Jesus himself said that he would be ‘a ransom for many’ (Mark 10:45), the word ‘for’ (anti) means ‘in place of’; it is a substitutionary word. The Old Testament sacrifices pointed to Christ and also revealed God’s distaste for sin. Man is a sinner. How can a holy God commune with an unholy people? In the sacrificial practices we saw how God provided a substitute for humanity that pointed to Christ’s substitutionary sacrifice. God's holiness required a sacrifice and the unholy acts of people demanded punishment. God accomplished both fellowship with man and his wrath upon sin by way of the cross. God himself decided to suffer “the wages of sin”; Jesus freely agreed to suffer God’s wrath against sin. This is known as the penal substitution view, for Christ accepted the punishment for sin in our place.
The atoning work of Christ on the cross should be weighted with the heaviness of sin itself. Failure to consider sin at its fullest importance automatically depreciates the cross of Jesus. There is a theme that runs throughout Scripture, redemption from the bondage of sin. God from beginning to end revealed his plan of reconciling us back to himself, after that relationship was broken by the sin of Adam.
The penal substitutionary view sets forth God’s love toward us and his holiness. “Penal substitution explains how God remains God in forgiving us of our sins, for God would deny his very being as God if he forgave us and violated his justice and holiness.”1 The sinfulness of mankind makes us guilty before a holy God. The punishment and penalty we deserve was laid on Jesus instead of us.2 Isaiah 53 is considered by many scholars to be the most important passage in the Old Testament.3 Isaiah prophesied that Christ would bear our sins on the cross; his death in this passage is depicted as substitutionary and atoning. It shows the Father being appeased by the bruising of his Son. It’s the picture of a suffering servant who offered himself willingly and gladly to satisfy God’s justice and take the place of sinners.4
“The penal substitution answers the most important question of human existence: How can human beings enjoy a right relationship with God?”5 I pray that we do not treat Good Friday this year like we tend to do every year, a day where we get a day off from work. Please take time to reflect on the magnitude of the atonement and what it took to save us. Meditate on God’s holiness as it was displayed on Good Friday and turn over in your mind the significance of this immense undertaking with which our Lord Jesus accomplished. If you have not believed on him and accepted the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus, let this be the day! Let his pain be your gain. You can gain Jesus, who is eternal life today. My brothers and sisters in Christ witness this weekend, let the world know that your Lord and Savior:
"was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities;
The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,
And by His stripes we are healed." (Isaiah 53:5)
1 Thomas R. Schreiner, “Penal Substitution View,” in The Nature of the Atonement, ed. James Beilby and Paul R. Eddy (Downers Grove, Ill: IVP Academic, 2006), 94.
2 Ibid, 67.
3 For further references to this statement see Daniel L. Akin, A Theology for the Church (Nashville, TN: B&H Academic, 2007), 489.
4 Ibid.
5 Thomas R. Schreiner, “Penal Substitution View,” in The Nature of the Atonement, 93.
Well Good Friday is tomorrow and Christians all around the world will be celebrating Christ's work on the cross. But have we taken time for one minute to ponder on what the most unparalleled event in human history accomplished. When Jesus uttered the words “It is finished,” what did the Triune God complete? In other words, what constitutes the atonement?
Our relationship with God and our eternal destiny depends on what Jesus did when he died and rose again. The understanding that God took our place has biblical support in both the Old and New Testament. The Bible says that we are individually and corporately at war with God, we all sin willfully and in our fallen state we are “dead in sin.” Isaiah 53 presents Christ as the suffering servant who stands in the place of others. Jesus himself said that he would be ‘a ransom for many’ (Mark 10:45), the word ‘for’ (anti) means ‘in place of’; it is a substitutionary word. The Old Testament sacrifices pointed to Christ and also revealed God’s distaste for sin. Man is a sinner. How can a holy God commune with an unholy people? In the sacrificial practices we saw how God provided a substitute for humanity that pointed to Christ’s substitutionary sacrifice. God's holiness required a sacrifice and the unholy acts of people demanded punishment. God accomplished both fellowship with man and his wrath upon sin by way of the cross. God himself decided to suffer “the wages of sin”; Jesus freely agreed to suffer God’s wrath against sin. This is known as the penal substitution view, for Christ accepted the punishment for sin in our place.
The atoning work of Christ on the cross should be weighted with the heaviness of sin itself. Failure to consider sin at its fullest importance automatically depreciates the cross of Jesus. There is a theme that runs throughout Scripture, redemption from the bondage of sin. God from beginning to end revealed his plan of reconciling us back to himself, after that relationship was broken by the sin of Adam.
The penal substitutionary view sets forth God’s love toward us and his holiness. “Penal substitution explains how God remains God in forgiving us of our sins, for God would deny his very being as God if he forgave us and violated his justice and holiness.”1 The sinfulness of mankind makes us guilty before a holy God. The punishment and penalty we deserve was laid on Jesus instead of us.2 Isaiah 53 is considered by many scholars to be the most important passage in the Old Testament.3 Isaiah prophesied that Christ would bear our sins on the cross; his death in this passage is depicted as substitutionary and atoning. It shows the Father being appeased by the bruising of his Son. It’s the picture of a suffering servant who offered himself willingly and gladly to satisfy God’s justice and take the place of sinners.4
“The penal substitution answers the most important question of human existence: How can human beings enjoy a right relationship with God?”5 I pray that we do not treat Good Friday this year like we tend to do every year, a day where we get a day off from work. Please take time to reflect on the magnitude of the atonement and what it took to save us. Meditate on God’s holiness as it was displayed on Good Friday and turn over in your mind the significance of this immense undertaking with which our Lord Jesus accomplished. If you have not believed on him and accepted the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus, let this be the day! Let his pain be your gain. You can gain Jesus, who is eternal life today. My brothers and sisters in Christ witness this weekend, let the world know that your Lord and Savior:
"was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities;
The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,
And by His stripes we are healed." (Isaiah 53:5)
1 Thomas R. Schreiner, “Penal Substitution View,” in The Nature of the Atonement, ed. James Beilby and Paul R. Eddy (Downers Grove, Ill: IVP Academic, 2006), 94.
2 Ibid, 67.
3 For further references to this statement see Daniel L. Akin, A Theology for the Church (Nashville, TN: B&H Academic, 2007), 489.
4 Ibid.
5 Thomas R. Schreiner, “Penal Substitution View,” in The Nature of the Atonement, 93.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
One breath away!
By: Ricardo Barber
Stop regarding man, whose breath of life is in his nostrils; For why should he be esteemed? Isaiah 2:22
I find myself juxtaposed with the notion of trusting in man for any solutions for the problems of this world. Yet the masses continually with great zeal decide to look for help from Washington. STOP REGARDING MAN, states Isaiah, Oh! the irony in this verse. How weak man is: his breath is in his nostrils. At any moment he can exhale his last breath and yet and still we throw ourselves at the mercy of such a frail individual. Trusting and hoping that somehow he or she will make life all better. “For why should he be esteemed? Why? They cannot guarantee their own life but we insist on putting our confidence in them. For what reason? Because of broken promises that springs forth from politicians mouths like water from a busted pipe.
I hope the past two months has taught us something. Because it is obvious to most of us that the current leaders and past leaders cannot solve the problems of this nation. It looks as if the current administration is leading us to the crumpling of democracy, as we know it. About two hundred years ago, while the thirteen colonies were still part of Great Britain, Professor Alexander Tyler addressed himself to the fall of the Athenian Republic. He declared:
A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the voters discover they can vote themselves excessive gratuities from the public treasury. From that moment on the majority always votes for the candidates promising the most benefits from the treasury, with the result that democracy collapses over loose fiscal policy, always followed by a dictatorship.
That sounds like America’s present state doesn’t it? That’s what socialism leads too. Prideful man just wants to advance his agenda today. Don’t put your confidence in someone who is one breath away from disappearing from earth’s scene. Put all your hope in the Lord Jesus Christ. He’s the only solution to your problems, not little man promising what he can’t deliver no matter how hard he or she tries. Someone has stated it this way:
Philosophy says: Think your way out.
Indulgence says: Drink your way out.
Politics says: Spend your way out.
Science says: Invent your way out.
Industry says: Work your way out.
Communism says: Strike your way out.
Fascism says: Bluff your way out.
Militarism says: Fight your way out.
The Bible says: Pray your way out,
But
Jesus Christ says: “I am the way (out)…”
Do you really believe that or is your life centered on what a weak man can do for you?
Stop regarding man, whose breath of life is in his nostrils; For why should he be esteemed? Isaiah 2:22
I find myself juxtaposed with the notion of trusting in man for any solutions for the problems of this world. Yet the masses continually with great zeal decide to look for help from Washington. STOP REGARDING MAN, states Isaiah, Oh! the irony in this verse. How weak man is: his breath is in his nostrils. At any moment he can exhale his last breath and yet and still we throw ourselves at the mercy of such a frail individual. Trusting and hoping that somehow he or she will make life all better. “For why should he be esteemed? Why? They cannot guarantee their own life but we insist on putting our confidence in them. For what reason? Because of broken promises that springs forth from politicians mouths like water from a busted pipe.
I hope the past two months has taught us something. Because it is obvious to most of us that the current leaders and past leaders cannot solve the problems of this nation. It looks as if the current administration is leading us to the crumpling of democracy, as we know it. About two hundred years ago, while the thirteen colonies were still part of Great Britain, Professor Alexander Tyler addressed himself to the fall of the Athenian Republic. He declared:
A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the voters discover they can vote themselves excessive gratuities from the public treasury. From that moment on the majority always votes for the candidates promising the most benefits from the treasury, with the result that democracy collapses over loose fiscal policy, always followed by a dictatorship.
That sounds like America’s present state doesn’t it? That’s what socialism leads too. Prideful man just wants to advance his agenda today. Don’t put your confidence in someone who is one breath away from disappearing from earth’s scene. Put all your hope in the Lord Jesus Christ. He’s the only solution to your problems, not little man promising what he can’t deliver no matter how hard he or she tries. Someone has stated it this way:
Philosophy says: Think your way out.
Indulgence says: Drink your way out.
Politics says: Spend your way out.
Science says: Invent your way out.
Industry says: Work your way out.
Communism says: Strike your way out.
Fascism says: Bluff your way out.
Militarism says: Fight your way out.
The Bible says: Pray your way out,
But
Jesus Christ says: “I am the way (out)…”
Do you really believe that or is your life centered on what a weak man can do for you?
Thursday, March 26, 2009
What He must be if he wants to marry my Daughter
By Shawn Thrasher
The conventional or biblical idea of marriage is rapidly waning and leaving women who want to be married without. Without the sanctity of marriage as well as child-birth, two staples in life, this society faces destruction.
Where are the men at? Why don't they want to get married? I do have an answer to this question but that will steer me away from the current topic.
For those women that want to get married and for parents who have a daughter or son that will one day be married, I have a recommendation for a must read book regardless of age or sex!! Please go out to your nearest christian bookstore or click on Amazon and order "What He must be if he wants to marry my daughter" by Voddie Baucham . Dr. voddie is a pastor and cultural apologist who speaks directly to raising a godly family.
Men I have to say this; Everything starts with you!! The temperature of a household starts with the man and I am not speaking about a thermostat. Spirituality, responsibility, and love, to name a few, also start with the man.
Women, in a potential husband, regardless of age, you must be looking for a godly man. A biblicaly astute man. Many might say, "Well, they might not start out that way". Do not let this be an excuse. It is easier to start out on the right foot, as hard as it may seem, than to start out wrong and try to make things right.
Give love and marriage a chance by starting relationships the right way and thats by picking your mate the way God said to pick your mate.
Please if you will answer the poll survey at the bottom of the page. Thank You.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Have you been witnessed to?
By Shawn Thrasher
14How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" Romans 10:14-15
“Some want to live within the sound of church or chapel bell,
I want to run a rescue shop within a yard of hell”
– Pioneer evangelist C. T. Studd
In my 15 years of being a Christian, post salvation I have never had anyone witness to me about the Christian faith! Although at 19 years old the Jehovah's witness approached me but since then silence from all forms of faith. (Witnessing - One who publicly affirms faith in Jesus Christ both in Lifestyle and Conversation) Shawn's definition . To me this is just mind boggling, of all the people I have met in passing, none have ever offered Jesus Christ to me and some have claimed to be Christians. Some might say what is the problem with no one witnessing to you? Well I am glad you asked. The very fact that I and many other Christian friends of mine have never been witnessed to is a barometer for all of Christianity. Me just being one person, has travelled to over 40% of our United States and has lived in two of our countries largest metropolises, not to have had the Lord Jesus Christ offered to me or having someone even check to see if I am in the faith.
I believe we don't have a clear understanding of what evangelism really is. I have spoken to some people about this issue and they responded with "I talk about God all the time". For me this was not sufficient and the reason being is because it is so general! Folks we have to remember that the word "God" is not offensive but that magnificent name of Jesus Christ causes folks to yell out "STOP THE PRESSES!!!!" People do not have an offense to God but when you get specific and speak to people directly about what their relationship to Jesus Christ is; the atmosphere quickly changes.
Folks Christ did not say could you possibly make disciples or would you like to make disciples. He said make disciples (Matt 28:19-20).Please remember that evangelism is not a volunteer position! There is only two ways that disciples can be made and that is by opening your mouth about Christ and living a life to Christ; you can not have one without the other!
Although many of you are like me in that no one has attempted to witness to you or some might have had a better experience but I leave you with this; pray that the Lord will make us all bold witnesses for Christ with our mouths and with our lives.
Have you been a witness Today?
Thursday, March 12, 2009
The Destructive grip of Sin (Pornography)
by Shawn Thrasher
One of the biggest battles these days for Christians and unbelievers is the battle of Pornography. Be it Internet pornography, magazine, strip clubs etc. Men and women alike have fallen prey to this monster. What is most surprising about this great battle is the number of Christians who are involved in this sin. The numbers are overwhelming. Here are some statistics for you: 50% of Christian men and 20% of Christian women admit that they are addicted to pornography. (Christiannet.com 6.6.07) 51% of pastors say cyber porn is a possible temptation, 37% say it is a current struggle. (Christianity Today Leadership Survey, December 2001) Of Promise Keepers, 53% viewed pornography in the last week. (Internet Filter Review, 2006). 40 million Adults in the U.S. regularly visit porn sites on the internet. (Internet Filter Review) At 13.3 billion, the 2006 revenues of the sex and porn industry in the U.S. are bigger than the NFL, NBA, and Major League Baseball combined. (Internet Filter Review) 60% of all website visits are sexual in nature. (NSNBC Survey 2000) 47% of families said pornography is a problem in their home. (Focus on the Family Poll, October 1, 2003)
I would like to say whether you be single or married this is an issue you want to lay before the Lord and ask Him to help you to overcome. Pornography destroys in several ways: 1) Pornography gives you a false idea of what sex with your marriage partner is supposed to be like. 2) It can distort your view of men and women causing you to think of them only in perverse sexual ways and or just objects of desire. 3) Pornography can destroy a healthy sexual appetite. 4) Pornography transcribes its ugly images in the museum of your mind and will cause you to reflect on these images. 5) Pornography destroys the family.(causes you to live secretly and suspiciously) 6) Destroys your inter and intra-personal skills. (Not able to properly relate to men or women).
I recommend that if you are married or single that your computer be placed in the open somewhere where everybody can see. I also recommend an accountability partner who you trust to be blunt in asking you the deep personal questions about how you are living your life. I also recommend computer programs like the one I use called B-safe. B-safe blocks all xxx rated sites and monitors IMing to keep a record of chatting and blocks illicit conversations and language. Covenant Eyes is another program that can block pornography. There are also two books that I strongly recommend that we as Christians read for help for ourselves and equipping us to help others with this struggle. Every Mans Battle by Steve Arterburn and Every Woman's Battle by Shannon Ethridge.
Living righteously pleases God and gives us a great personal testimony when we witness and evangelize for the Lord. How we live privately is how we should live publicly. Sinners can spot a hypocrite 100 miles away.
I would like to leave you with a few scriptures and a video that displays a Pastor overcoming the grip of pornography.
Ephesians 5:11- Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them;
Mark 4:22- "For nothing is hidden, except to be revealed; nor has anything been secret, but that it will come to light
One of the biggest battles these days for Christians and unbelievers is the battle of Pornography. Be it Internet pornography, magazine, strip clubs etc. Men and women alike have fallen prey to this monster. What is most surprising about this great battle is the number of Christians who are involved in this sin. The numbers are overwhelming. Here are some statistics for you: 50% of Christian men and 20% of Christian women admit that they are addicted to pornography. (Christiannet.com 6.6.07) 51% of pastors say cyber porn is a possible temptation, 37% say it is a current struggle. (Christianity Today Leadership Survey, December 2001) Of Promise Keepers, 53% viewed pornography in the last week. (Internet Filter Review, 2006). 40 million Adults in the U.S. regularly visit porn sites on the internet. (Internet Filter Review) At 13.3 billion, the 2006 revenues of the sex and porn industry in the U.S. are bigger than the NFL, NBA, and Major League Baseball combined. (Internet Filter Review) 60% of all website visits are sexual in nature. (NSNBC Survey 2000) 47% of families said pornography is a problem in their home. (Focus on the Family Poll, October 1, 2003)
I would like to say whether you be single or married this is an issue you want to lay before the Lord and ask Him to help you to overcome. Pornography destroys in several ways: 1) Pornography gives you a false idea of what sex with your marriage partner is supposed to be like. 2) It can distort your view of men and women causing you to think of them only in perverse sexual ways and or just objects of desire. 3) Pornography can destroy a healthy sexual appetite. 4) Pornography transcribes its ugly images in the museum of your mind and will cause you to reflect on these images. 5) Pornography destroys the family.(causes you to live secretly and suspiciously) 6) Destroys your inter and intra-personal skills. (Not able to properly relate to men or women).
I recommend that if you are married or single that your computer be placed in the open somewhere where everybody can see. I also recommend an accountability partner who you trust to be blunt in asking you the deep personal questions about how you are living your life. I also recommend computer programs like the one I use called B-safe. B-safe blocks all xxx rated sites and monitors IMing to keep a record of chatting and blocks illicit conversations and language. Covenant Eyes is another program that can block pornography. There are also two books that I strongly recommend that we as Christians read for help for ourselves and equipping us to help others with this struggle. Every Mans Battle by Steve Arterburn and Every Woman's Battle by Shannon Ethridge.
Living righteously pleases God and gives us a great personal testimony when we witness and evangelize for the Lord. How we live privately is how we should live publicly. Sinners can spot a hypocrite 100 miles away.
I would like to leave you with a few scriptures and a video that displays a Pastor overcoming the grip of pornography.
Ephesians 5:11- Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them;
Mark 4:22- "For nothing is hidden, except to be revealed; nor has anything been secret, but that it will come to light
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
The Purpose-Driven Paddle from Russell Moore on Vimeo.
This was Dr. Moore's sermon a few weeks back. He did a sermon series on this topic. Amazing. Seriously, take the time to listen or watch this. Life changing.
God Bless!!
Thursday, February 12, 2009
My prayer for you this Valentine’s Day
By Ricardo Barber
The story is told of a husband who was accused by his wife of never telling her that he loved her. Out of exasperation, he replied, “Didn’t I tell you I loved you when we were married forty years ago? If anything changes I’ll let you know.”-Lawrence Vowan
As Valentine’s Day approaches this story brings a smile to my face. Valentine’s day is a day set apart in America where we express our deepest love to the ones we love. I trust that you will tell your spouse you love them on Valentine’s Day even though that love has not changed. The real question is has that love grown for them, for God, and for your brothers and sisters in Christ? Paul prayed that the church at Philippi would abound in love (Phil. 1:9). My prayer is the same for you, which is that your love keeps on overflowing, that it exceeds beyond measure. Paul also prayed that our love would increase more and more. Abounding love describes Christians at our best. This is our highest evangelism: By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another”(John 13:35). The two great commandments revolve around love (Mark 12:28-31). My prayer is that we just don’t choose to express agape on Saturday, but choose to increase our love for God and for one another thereafter. That’s the sign of the true Church. Brian Johnson says this, “The bible is summed up by two things, to Great Commandment and the Great Commission. With the former God is trying to do something in us and with the latter God is trying to do something with us.” I pray that your love will abound and that you will let someone know it by your actions.
And remember husbands the words of Paul, “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her” (Ephesians 5:25)
Happy Valentine’s Day!!!!!
Friday, February 6, 2009
Are we raising Anti-Intellectual Kids?
By Ricardo Barber
J.P. Moreland in his book, Love Your God With All Your Mind, makes this statement, “Many people today, including many Christians, simply do not read or think deeply at all. And when believers do read, they tend to browse self-help books or other literature that is not intellectually engaging.”1 Logically it follows if adults are doing this then they are not challenging their kids to develop an intellectual life of cultivating their mind either.
Moreland has a section in his book where he discusses the empty self: which is a set of values, motives, and habits of thought, feeling, and behavior that perverts and eliminates the life of the mind and makes maturation in the way of Christ extremely difficult.2 Moreland says that the traits of the empty self undermine intellectual growth and spiritual development.3 I clearly see this in youth groups at churches. The parents themselves don’t push the importance of reading; instead they buy tons of video games and even permit the kids to bring them to church. Moreland says that television has an impact on kids that begins early in life. He is right, the cartoons and television shows that appear on the screen now flashes to different camera views every second. All that flashing in the eyes of kids gives them shorter attention spans. They always need rapid movement before their eyes, so when a book is placed before them they can’t focus long enough to read it. The pages are still, so they become bore fast (We call it ADD and ADHD). The kids at church are passive, they love to entertain and be entertained by folks. How much T.V. do your kids watch? Do they invest more time watching television than they do doing homework. If you try to engage in stimulating thought provoking bible study little response is given. Why? According to Jane Healy television weakens the ability to listen, stay focused, and encourages an overall passive withdrawal from life. I am going to redirect my focus this year to the mind and challenge the kids to think and reason out their faith. The empty self is the picture of American Christianity. We even made the gospel individualistic. It’s no longer about family, community and God, but about what’s in it for me. No wonder kids come out of service unsatisfied, they see the gospel with selfish motives. We worship the gifts instead of the giver. The immaturity of church members shows the lack of use of the mind. Hard work is shunned and spiritual growth is stunned. Knowledge is desecrated and human experience is elevated.
Parents, let’s admit we have a problem. Both our children, and ourselves. Would we rather be entertained instead of making an effort to read? If so, let’s acknowledge the problem and choose to do something different. Start exposing yourself and your kids to intellectually stimulating material. Join discussion groups; get in conversations with people whom you disagree with so you can see the need to grow. We must raise and encourage our kids to develop their intellectual abilities for the service of Christ and His people.4 The 1980 Gallup Poll on Religion best sums up the church today and the purpose behind this blog. “We are having a revival of feeling but not of the knowledge of God. The church today is more guided by feeling than by convictions. We value enthusiasm more than informed commitment.”
“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.
Because you have rejected knowledge,
I also will reject you from being priest for Me;
Because you have forgotten the law of your God,
I also will forget your children” Hosea 4:6
1 J.P. Moreland, Love Your God With All Your Mind: The Role of Reason in the Life of the Soul (Colorado Springs: NavPress, 1997), 87.
2 Ibid, 88.
3 Ibid, 94.
4 Ibid, 19.
J.P. Moreland in his book, Love Your God With All Your Mind, makes this statement, “Many people today, including many Christians, simply do not read or think deeply at all. And when believers do read, they tend to browse self-help books or other literature that is not intellectually engaging.”1 Logically it follows if adults are doing this then they are not challenging their kids to develop an intellectual life of cultivating their mind either.
Moreland has a section in his book where he discusses the empty self: which is a set of values, motives, and habits of thought, feeling, and behavior that perverts and eliminates the life of the mind and makes maturation in the way of Christ extremely difficult.2 Moreland says that the traits of the empty self undermine intellectual growth and spiritual development.3 I clearly see this in youth groups at churches. The parents themselves don’t push the importance of reading; instead they buy tons of video games and even permit the kids to bring them to church. Moreland says that television has an impact on kids that begins early in life. He is right, the cartoons and television shows that appear on the screen now flashes to different camera views every second. All that flashing in the eyes of kids gives them shorter attention spans. They always need rapid movement before their eyes, so when a book is placed before them they can’t focus long enough to read it. The pages are still, so they become bore fast (We call it ADD and ADHD). The kids at church are passive, they love to entertain and be entertained by folks. How much T.V. do your kids watch? Do they invest more time watching television than they do doing homework. If you try to engage in stimulating thought provoking bible study little response is given. Why? According to Jane Healy television weakens the ability to listen, stay focused, and encourages an overall passive withdrawal from life. I am going to redirect my focus this year to the mind and challenge the kids to think and reason out their faith. The empty self is the picture of American Christianity. We even made the gospel individualistic. It’s no longer about family, community and God, but about what’s in it for me. No wonder kids come out of service unsatisfied, they see the gospel with selfish motives. We worship the gifts instead of the giver. The immaturity of church members shows the lack of use of the mind. Hard work is shunned and spiritual growth is stunned. Knowledge is desecrated and human experience is elevated.
Parents, let’s admit we have a problem. Both our children, and ourselves. Would we rather be entertained instead of making an effort to read? If so, let’s acknowledge the problem and choose to do something different. Start exposing yourself and your kids to intellectually stimulating material. Join discussion groups; get in conversations with people whom you disagree with so you can see the need to grow. We must raise and encourage our kids to develop their intellectual abilities for the service of Christ and His people.4 The 1980 Gallup Poll on Religion best sums up the church today and the purpose behind this blog. “We are having a revival of feeling but not of the knowledge of God. The church today is more guided by feeling than by convictions. We value enthusiasm more than informed commitment.”
“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.
Because you have rejected knowledge,
I also will reject you from being priest for Me;
Because you have forgotten the law of your God,
I also will forget your children” Hosea 4:6
1 J.P. Moreland, Love Your God With All Your Mind: The Role of Reason in the Life of the Soul (Colorado Springs: NavPress, 1997), 87.
2 Ibid, 88.
3 Ibid, 94.
4 Ibid, 19.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Where is God in the face of evil?
By Ricardo Barber
Each day the news and newspapers are filled with mindless killings, rape, torture, and abuse. Even the entertainment industry depicts these atrocious events and makes profit at times from glamorizing what in real life one would call evil. Why do we have to suffer? That’s the question that lingers in the head of great a many people. This question more often then not is put to the Christian for an answer, but other worldviews answer fewer questions and leave more questions unanswered. The burden of proof sometimes needs to fall on their shoulders to summit an answer to this multi-faceted problem. Christians should be faithful to what their worldview teaches about the problem of evil, which is the first step to answering the problem of evil.
“So why does God permit evil?” or “Why didn’t God fulfill his purposes without permitting it?” or “Why can’t God bring about every greater good while still preventing evil?” Is it logically possible that God has a reason for creating a world that now contains evil? Several interrelated attempts to justify God’s permission of evil are given in what we call theodicies. Theodicies are used in refuting the appeal to the proposition that God permits evil either to make possible some greater good or to avoid some greater evil.1
But perhaps the greatest version of the problem of evil is called gratuitous evil. If one can successfully get pass one argument by stating that God does have some reason for allowing so much evil, how can one explain the seemingly unwarranted and unreasonable suffering? What purpose is it for a two year old to develop cancer and struggle to live for 6 months then dies? What about the mentally deformed children and the hundreds that reside at St. Jude’s hospital or the millions in the world that suffers horribly from starvation? What could be the greater good for the six million massacred in the Holocaust? Couldn’t it have been five million or two million or ten people instead of six million? What greater evil was God trying to avoid in that case? Throughout history this world has been marred with wretched evil by the hands and choices of humans (moral evil) and by the horrors of earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, famine and the like, not resulting from human choices (natural evil). Are these mindless, irrational cases of evil? If so, the appeal to greater good would collapse.
But how could any human being know that gratuitous evil exists? Humans are limited to space and time, God has a wider frame verses our narrow frame of time.2 We don’t know what affect or role one’s suffering could play in all of history. God sees down through the centuries, we only are capable of seeing things unfold in our finite lifetime. So we have no grounds to say that gratuitous evil exist. Many evils appear to be gratuitous. Humans have cognitive limitations, so how could one actually know that some particular evil is gratuitous. “It seems the most that can be known is that some evils appear gratuitous."3 There are certain Christian doctrines that prove God’s presence in the face of evil.
1. The purpose of life is not human happiness, but knowing God.
2. Mankind is in a state of rebellion against God
3. God’s purpose spills over into eternal life. (Romans 8:28)4
These three show that we can find God in grief and suffering because he never promised a trouble-free life in an ungodly world especially when he has eternality to work with.
When it comes to dealing with the problem of evil one must have proper discernment to distinguish the many faces of evil. The mistake of confusing the emotional problem of evil with the intellectual problem of evil can bolster greater problems among the questions being addressed. “All my study and all the intellectual answers were of little help because the religious problem of evil (the problem about one’s personal struggle with pain and suffering and how that affects one’s relation to God) is not primarily an intellectual one,” writes Feinberg, “ instead it is fundamentally an emotional one!”5 People dealing with personal encounters of evil can go without a philosophical discourse about the nature of God and his providence over creation. However when a person is wrestling with the theoretical implications of evil, someone trained to assess the argument is required. The former is best conducted with the help of a caring pastor or friend, the latter demands assistance from a philosopher. These two problems ought not to be totally separated as to say that intellectual answers can’t help the person dealing with evil existentially. Spiritual truths must be used at times when the emotional pain has healed enough so that they can properly absorb and understand the answers given.6 It is very important that we keep these two problems at the forefront of encounters with persons who raises this vexing issue. If you know someone who is facing trouble in their life reach out to them. Your love and care for them may be the only thing that brings any light into their life. It is difficult to go on with life without hope. The fact that you care may be the only ray of hope that person has and God can use to bring a realization of himself to them. Remember the goodness of God in the face of evil and Jesus himself suffered to the point of death (Phil 2:5-11). We are not alone!
1 Daniel Howard-Snyder, “God, Evil, and Suffering”,77.
2 Patrick T. Smith, Notes from Challenges to Christian Faith and Practice, 11.
3 Ibid, 11
4 Debate between Walter Armstrong and William Lane Craig
5 John S. Feinberg, Where is God: A Personal Story of Finding God in Grief and 6uffering (Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 2004), 25.
6 Ibid.
Each day the news and newspapers are filled with mindless killings, rape, torture, and abuse. Even the entertainment industry depicts these atrocious events and makes profit at times from glamorizing what in real life one would call evil. Why do we have to suffer? That’s the question that lingers in the head of great a many people. This question more often then not is put to the Christian for an answer, but other worldviews answer fewer questions and leave more questions unanswered. The burden of proof sometimes needs to fall on their shoulders to summit an answer to this multi-faceted problem. Christians should be faithful to what their worldview teaches about the problem of evil, which is the first step to answering the problem of evil.
“So why does God permit evil?” or “Why didn’t God fulfill his purposes without permitting it?” or “Why can’t God bring about every greater good while still preventing evil?” Is it logically possible that God has a reason for creating a world that now contains evil? Several interrelated attempts to justify God’s permission of evil are given in what we call theodicies. Theodicies are used in refuting the appeal to the proposition that God permits evil either to make possible some greater good or to avoid some greater evil.1
But perhaps the greatest version of the problem of evil is called gratuitous evil. If one can successfully get pass one argument by stating that God does have some reason for allowing so much evil, how can one explain the seemingly unwarranted and unreasonable suffering? What purpose is it for a two year old to develop cancer and struggle to live for 6 months then dies? What about the mentally deformed children and the hundreds that reside at St. Jude’s hospital or the millions in the world that suffers horribly from starvation? What could be the greater good for the six million massacred in the Holocaust? Couldn’t it have been five million or two million or ten people instead of six million? What greater evil was God trying to avoid in that case? Throughout history this world has been marred with wretched evil by the hands and choices of humans (moral evil) and by the horrors of earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, famine and the like, not resulting from human choices (natural evil). Are these mindless, irrational cases of evil? If so, the appeal to greater good would collapse.
But how could any human being know that gratuitous evil exists? Humans are limited to space and time, God has a wider frame verses our narrow frame of time.2 We don’t know what affect or role one’s suffering could play in all of history. God sees down through the centuries, we only are capable of seeing things unfold in our finite lifetime. So we have no grounds to say that gratuitous evil exist. Many evils appear to be gratuitous. Humans have cognitive limitations, so how could one actually know that some particular evil is gratuitous. “It seems the most that can be known is that some evils appear gratuitous."3 There are certain Christian doctrines that prove God’s presence in the face of evil.
1. The purpose of life is not human happiness, but knowing God.
2. Mankind is in a state of rebellion against God
3. God’s purpose spills over into eternal life. (Romans 8:28)4
These three show that we can find God in grief and suffering because he never promised a trouble-free life in an ungodly world especially when he has eternality to work with.
When it comes to dealing with the problem of evil one must have proper discernment to distinguish the many faces of evil. The mistake of confusing the emotional problem of evil with the intellectual problem of evil can bolster greater problems among the questions being addressed. “All my study and all the intellectual answers were of little help because the religious problem of evil (the problem about one’s personal struggle with pain and suffering and how that affects one’s relation to God) is not primarily an intellectual one,” writes Feinberg, “ instead it is fundamentally an emotional one!”5 People dealing with personal encounters of evil can go without a philosophical discourse about the nature of God and his providence over creation. However when a person is wrestling with the theoretical implications of evil, someone trained to assess the argument is required. The former is best conducted with the help of a caring pastor or friend, the latter demands assistance from a philosopher. These two problems ought not to be totally separated as to say that intellectual answers can’t help the person dealing with evil existentially. Spiritual truths must be used at times when the emotional pain has healed enough so that they can properly absorb and understand the answers given.6 It is very important that we keep these two problems at the forefront of encounters with persons who raises this vexing issue. If you know someone who is facing trouble in their life reach out to them. Your love and care for them may be the only thing that brings any light into their life. It is difficult to go on with life without hope. The fact that you care may be the only ray of hope that person has and God can use to bring a realization of himself to them. Remember the goodness of God in the face of evil and Jesus himself suffered to the point of death (Phil 2:5-11). We are not alone!
1 Daniel Howard-Snyder, “God, Evil, and Suffering”,77.
2 Patrick T. Smith, Notes from Challenges to Christian Faith and Practice, 11.
3 Ibid, 11
4 Debate between Walter Armstrong and William Lane Craig
5 John S. Feinberg, Where is God: A Personal Story of Finding God in Grief and 6uffering (Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 2004), 25.
6 Ibid.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
An Evaluation of the Inauguration
By Ricardo Barber
As I sat back and watched the Presidential ceremony this morning a dozen things ran through my mind. My emotions were shooting in many different directions. I will not be all negative in my assessment of today’s activities, but it is quite interesting that the Obama supporters are so quick to say we (conservative evangelicals) should not “criticize Obama,” “why do you have to be so negative,” “can’t we all just support our new President without always finding ways to condemn him.” Why wasn’t the same type of treatment given to Bush four and eight years ago? He has been criticized for the pass eight years, but now we are asked to let Obama be above reproach. That’s the double standard that is being betrayed now. Obama deserves to be and will be evaluated, as should everyone in a leadership position as long as it is done in the right way.
There were some great things that took place today that I admit I am thrilled about. A black President no matter if you agree or disagree with his agenda does show the progress America has made over the last 200 years. As Christians we know in Christ, race is erased, but the world doesn’t and injustice has existed and does exist. To see a black man place his hands on a Lincoln Bible to take an oath to be President demonstrates the equality the Bible propagates in society. To see a peaceful exchange of power from one President to the next shows a looking world how a democracy works and that people truly have a role in democratic process. Rick Warren’s prayer was clear and uncompromising. He made clear to whom the God he was praying.
As those positives boiled up in me at the same time a sense of pity and amazement overshadowed them. The idolization of Obama is very disturbing. One might say that it is not his fault, yea, but has he once spoken out about the obvious worship. I have come to the conclusion that Americans are brainwashed. Wait, that’s strong language. Can you explain this Obama-mania any other way? In my 27 years of living I have never witness such a phenomenon. Martin Luther King Jr. in all his success came close, but the difference is that MLK actually accomplished something. Again what has Obama done or said that has any significance? The pictures of him on t-shirts, the letter O on the American flag, communists’ countries betray their leaders that way. They usually idolize their leaders. To see Americans do it is shocking. People are really putting all their trust and hope in one man. God help us!
It is better to trust in the LORD
Than to put confidence in man.
It is better to trust in the LORD
Than to put confidence in princes. Psalm 118:8-9
Rev. Joseph Lowery’s (The term "Reverend" is used loosely in his case) prayer was racially bent, if you can call it a prayer. Some of the comments were totally out of place. Take for instance when he said, “we ask you to help us work for that day when black will not be asked to get back and white will embrace what is right,” or the universal call to pray in a mosque or temple. These statements were made while he was standing beside a black President and standing before a crowd of white people who voted for and support Barak Obama.
As Christians we should appreciate this day even if it is not the President we voted for. Pray for the American people and President Obama as he embraces a tremendous task. Never hesitate to speak boldly about the pressing moral concerns that plague our nation and never hesitate to tell fanatic Obama supporters about the only King whom our ultimate trust and hope should be in- JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD.
“And the government will be upon His shoulder” Isaiah 9:6
As I sat back and watched the Presidential ceremony this morning a dozen things ran through my mind. My emotions were shooting in many different directions. I will not be all negative in my assessment of today’s activities, but it is quite interesting that the Obama supporters are so quick to say we (conservative evangelicals) should not “criticize Obama,” “why do you have to be so negative,” “can’t we all just support our new President without always finding ways to condemn him.” Why wasn’t the same type of treatment given to Bush four and eight years ago? He has been criticized for the pass eight years, but now we are asked to let Obama be above reproach. That’s the double standard that is being betrayed now. Obama deserves to be and will be evaluated, as should everyone in a leadership position as long as it is done in the right way.
There were some great things that took place today that I admit I am thrilled about. A black President no matter if you agree or disagree with his agenda does show the progress America has made over the last 200 years. As Christians we know in Christ, race is erased, but the world doesn’t and injustice has existed and does exist. To see a black man place his hands on a Lincoln Bible to take an oath to be President demonstrates the equality the Bible propagates in society. To see a peaceful exchange of power from one President to the next shows a looking world how a democracy works and that people truly have a role in democratic process. Rick Warren’s prayer was clear and uncompromising. He made clear to whom the God he was praying.
As those positives boiled up in me at the same time a sense of pity and amazement overshadowed them. The idolization of Obama is very disturbing. One might say that it is not his fault, yea, but has he once spoken out about the obvious worship. I have come to the conclusion that Americans are brainwashed. Wait, that’s strong language. Can you explain this Obama-mania any other way? In my 27 years of living I have never witness such a phenomenon. Martin Luther King Jr. in all his success came close, but the difference is that MLK actually accomplished something. Again what has Obama done or said that has any significance? The pictures of him on t-shirts, the letter O on the American flag, communists’ countries betray their leaders that way. They usually idolize their leaders. To see Americans do it is shocking. People are really putting all their trust and hope in one man. God help us!
It is better to trust in the LORD
Than to put confidence in man.
It is better to trust in the LORD
Than to put confidence in princes. Psalm 118:8-9
Rev. Joseph Lowery’s (The term "Reverend" is used loosely in his case) prayer was racially bent, if you can call it a prayer. Some of the comments were totally out of place. Take for instance when he said, “we ask you to help us work for that day when black will not be asked to get back and white will embrace what is right,” or the universal call to pray in a mosque or temple. These statements were made while he was standing beside a black President and standing before a crowd of white people who voted for and support Barak Obama.
As Christians we should appreciate this day even if it is not the President we voted for. Pray for the American people and President Obama as he embraces a tremendous task. Never hesitate to speak boldly about the pressing moral concerns that plague our nation and never hesitate to tell fanatic Obama supporters about the only King whom our ultimate trust and hope should be in- JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD.
“And the government will be upon His shoulder” Isaiah 9:6
Friday, January 16, 2009
Amazed by Christian Rap!!
By Shawn Thrasher
Anyone who knows me knows I am the biggest music fan! Most importantly I am big on the content of your music. One of my favorite music forms as of late is Christian rap. I am a late comer to christian rap due to the fact before it was extremely corny!!! My seminary professor, professor Solomon made it clear that we should come nothing short of a pleasing presentation when it comes to glorifying the Lord.
One of the best and my favorite, in the Christian Rap game is Shai Linne!!!He is the coldest(Yes i am old school). For Christian music your theology must be consistent with the Bible, not just words that rhyme or something for you to repeat a hundred times and scream after that. Please pick up Shai Linne's latest album "Storiez". You will be edified and God will be glorified!!!
Check out this youtube and see how they are amazed by Shai Linne and true Christian Rap. Please answer the poll at the bottom.
Anyone who knows me knows I am the biggest music fan! Most importantly I am big on the content of your music. One of my favorite music forms as of late is Christian rap. I am a late comer to christian rap due to the fact before it was extremely corny!!! My seminary professor, professor Solomon made it clear that we should come nothing short of a pleasing presentation when it comes to glorifying the Lord.
One of the best and my favorite, in the Christian Rap game is Shai Linne!!!He is the coldest(Yes i am old school). For Christian music your theology must be consistent with the Bible, not just words that rhyme or something for you to repeat a hundred times and scream after that. Please pick up Shai Linne's latest album "Storiez". You will be edified and God will be glorified!!!
Check out this youtube and see how they are amazed by Shai Linne and true Christian Rap. Please answer the poll at the bottom.
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