Theologue

Why do you need to study Theology? Part 2

2010-04-29T00:16:00.001-05:00

By Ricardo Barber

A great many folks frown upon studying theology. It is readily considered boring, irrelevant and complex. But for those who want to KNOW God, the study of theology is vital.1 The word “theology comes from two Greek words, theos (meaning God) and logos (meaning word). If you want to have a meaningful relationship with God, you must have the correct knowledge of him. For me to have a healthy relationship with my wife I must invest time in getting to know her better than when we first met. The more I learn of her, the more my love will increase for her, the more I will enjoy her because of my intent on increasing my knowledge of her. Knowledge is the goal of theology.

"Knowledge without devotion is cold, dead orthodoxy. Devotion without knowledge is irrational instability. But true knowledge of God includes understanding everything from his perspective. Theology is learning to think God’s thoughts after him. It is to learn what God loves and hates, and to see, hear, think and act the way he does."2

There are clear connections in scripture between knowledge and worship, between knowledge and love, and between knowledge and behavior. Notice the passage in Hebrews 5:11-6:1, it teaches that if we deepen our theological understanding we will be able to discern right from wrong, and it exhorts believers to mature in their knowledge of God and his ways:3

For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil. Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity.

Charles Schulz in one of his “Peanuts” cartoons, shows Lucy and Linus looking out the window, watching it rain. Lucy begins the conversation:

Lucy: Boy, look at it rain… what if it floods the whole world?
Linus: It will never do that… In the ninth chapter of Genesis,God promised Noah that this would never happen again, and the sign of that promise is the rainbow.
Lucy: You’ve taken a great load off my mind…
Linus: Sound theology has a way of doing that! -Robert L. Short, Parables of Peanuts

Yes it does!!!!

1 Adapted from the ESV Study Bible, the section entitled “Biblical Doctrine”
2 Ibid.
3 Ibid.

Why do you Need to Study Theology?

2010-04-21T23:01:00.002-05:00

By: Ricardo Barber

“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15)

We need to study theology for several reasons. First because everyone is a theologian, everyone thinks about God, his existence, his work, his purposes, his will. Since everyone is a theologian, why not be a good one? Studying theology removes subjectivity from our thoughts about God and provides the opportunity of understanding God truthfully. It moves us from feelings to rational truth, not what just seems right or our own opinions. It can help us critically evaluate popular displays of religion and be able to discuss and present the truth of God to counter them. It helps us defend against new presentations of spiritual life. New religions and new expressions of old religions are constantly appearing on the religious landscape. We are called upon to defend our faith, this defense is known as the study of apologetics. Historical theology is particularly helpful here. The study of theology allows us to satisfy our intellectual cravings. Even though our culture has worked hard to subdue intellectual pursuits through TV, video games, over-busy lives, sloth, we have been created to desire intellectual pursuits and critical thoughts.(See blog titled "Are we raising Anti-Intellectual Kids?) “An unexamined truth is not worth believing.”

Studying theology also provides absolute truth in our relativistic culture. This culture denies absolute truth and Christianity claims there is truth and there is an absolute standard of truth- God and his revelation. The study of theology produces Biblically informed truth that grounds us and protects us from swaying in the wind with the whims of our culture and our own minds. It grounds our Christian life of worship in truth. It also produces a life transformed according to the truth of God’s word. Studying theology grounds our teaching/preaching in truth; and it protects our congregations from falsehood. Lastly it grounds our worldview in a biblical/theological culture rather than in the world’s culture.

“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.” (2 Peter 3:18)

Children are a blessing from the Lord

2009-09-23T09:32:00.006-05:00

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.

Bad Theology Is Spreading among Kids like Wildfire!

2009-07-22T14:56:00.001-05:00

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.

It so hard to say Goodbye…

2009-06-10T23:54:00.005-05:00

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.

When God cleans you up............

2009-05-20T21:34:00.009-05:00

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.

A Stroll in the Park: I need help!

2009-05-14T09:09:00.003-05:00

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.

Just One Look (Issues of Lust)

2009-05-07T13:29:00.006-05:00

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!!!!

Should Christians use Birth Control?

2009-05-01T09:27:00.006-05:00

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).

The Good Friday Atonement and what it Accomplished

2009-04-09T08:56:00.006-05:00

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.

One breath away!

2009-04-02T00:31:00.003-05:00

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?

What He must be if he wants to marry my Daughter

2009-03-26T14:45:00.006-05:00

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.

Have you been witnessed to?

2009-03-18T13:11:00.006-05:00

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?

The Destructive grip of Sin (Pornography)

2009-03-12T12:26:00.009-05:00

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

2009-02-25T22:25:00.001-06:00

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!!

My prayer for you this Valentine’s Day

2009-02-12T19:04:00.013-06:00

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!!!!!

Are we raising Anti-Intellectual Kids?

2009-02-06T12:18:00.010-06:00

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.

Where is God in the face of evil?

2009-01-29T14:27:00.009-06:00

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.

An Evaluation of the Inauguration

2009-01-20T22:03:00.006-06:00

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

Amazed by Christian Rap!!

2009-01-16T14:58:00.007-06:00

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.

Should Same Sex Marriage be Legalized?

2008-12-08T16:52:00.002-06:00

Proposition 8 in California was brought to a halt this past November in the very liberal California. With the state governments having to deal with the issue on a continued basis I believe I know the outcome of all this(The squeaky wheel gets the oil). At the bottom of the page is a poll that I would like to gather your thoughts on this issue. Thanks

Continually Thankful

2008-11-25T19:44:00.003-06:00

By
Shawn Thrasher

Greetings to everyone we reach through the ministry of this blog. We wish you and your families a Happy Thanksgiving. As you all know this Thursday November 27, 2008, we will celebrate another Thanksgiving. This in itself is a blessing, but as Christians we don't just make one day our time to be thankful. We as Christians should continually be thankful. Included are just some ways, times, reasons and places to be thankful.

The Angels are thankful: Rev 7:11
It's Commanded: Psalm 50:14
In Private: Daniel 6:10
In public: Psalm 35:18
In Everything: 1 Thessalonians 5:18
Before Eating: John 6:11
For the Gift of Christ: 2 Corinthians 9:15
For the Supply of our bodily wants: Romans 14:6-7

Pray for our leaders

2008-11-03T20:47:00.009-06:00

By Ricardo Barber

Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (1 Timothy 2:1-4)

Noted historian Will Durant wrote that he could find no case in history where a nation survived without a moral code and no case where that moral code was not informed by religious truth. Our country rests upon God centered values. Are those values fading away?

The election polls are just about open and you must make a choice. I hope you have prayed for and studied the candidates well. The text above exhorts us to pray for all men and for kings and all who are in authority. Respect for authority runs throughout Scripture. Responsibility to pray for those in authority is also the Christian’s obligation. So pray for our leaders because God desires that all men be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth. Contrary to popular belief God does not separate religion and public life. Society needs religious influence and our prayers. Why? Verse 2 says so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. The purpose of prayer for our life is to live a quiet life. This means free from outward disturbances. Will the candidate jeopardize our way of life? We are to pray they don’t, why not vote for the one who won’t or the one who has the best chance of not disturbing our religious freedom. Powerful members of Congress are seeking statutory reenactment of the so-called “fairness doctrine”—a program of government regulation of broadcast speech that presents a grave threat to First Amendment guarantees of the freedom of speech and the free exercise of religion. In particular, it would substantially undermine the continued viability of conservative “talk radio” shows, as well as religious broadcasts that directly address such “controversial” topics as abortion, physician-assisted suicide, and varied sexual lifestyles. Read more at:

http://www.leadingtheway.org/site/DocServer/NRB_Fairness_Doctrine.pdf?docID=1861

Peaceful means inward tranquility. Ask yourself this as a Christian: Can I honestly lay my head down in peace and sleep with a stable and clear conscience after I leave the polls? Will the candidate I vote for enable me to live a peaceful life in all godliness and honesty? Are my moral concerns resolved by them or will they be in conflict with what the Bible teaches? Remember in all godliness and honesty. 4,000 babies being killed daily disturb me. How about you? Gays given the right to get married disturb me. How about you? The government entering into the family disturb me. How about you?

I will be in prayer before and after the election. I hope you will too. Remember the words of Charles Colson, "Our first loyalty is not to the kingdom of man but to the kingdom of God."

For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. (Phil 3:20)

VOTE BIBLICAL VALUES. DO NOT SUPPRESS THE TRUTH!!!!! GOD EXPECTS YOU TO.

The CULTURE OF DEATH ... And ITS CANDIDATE

2008-10-28T16:55:00.003-05:00

by Voddie Baucham

As I have noted a number of times, I simply cannot comprehend why Christians (of any color) can support Barack Obama. As Robert George of Princeton University noted recently, “Barack Obama is the most extreme

pro-abortion candidate ever to seek the office of President of the United States.” In fact, George didn’t stop there. He went on to say: “[Obama] is the most extreme pro-abortion member of the United States Senate. Indeed, he is the most extreme pro-abortion legislator ever to serve in either house of the United States Congress.”

Sadly, despite these facts, George observes that “there are Catholics and Evangelicals -even self-identified pro-life Catholics and Evangelicals- who aggressively promote Obama's candidacy and even declare him the preferred candidate from the pro-life point of view.” George’s piece is clear, passionate, well-written, and spot-on. He even makes the link between abortion and slavery that so few people are willing to acknowledge.

I think it is sad that both the Presidential and Vice Presidential debates have steered clear of the “life” issue (and the border issue, and the judges issue, and sodomy issue, etc., etc., etc.). There has been no real discussion of abortion, stem cell research, or euthanasia. Evidently, those of us who view these as important issues are in the extreme minority (or just don’t own media outlets). We have to stand in line behind people like the preacher who said to me, “I don’t care about abortion. That doesn’t concern me. I just want to see a black man in the White House.” Moreover, while the Republican Platform is clearly and vocally pro-life, the so-called conservative, pro-life candidates have chosen to give Senator Obama a pass on his blood-thirst. Everyone is screaming about Obama’s relationship with a terrorist who bombed a few buildings in the 1960’s (and he should answer for that), but what about the 3,600 unborn babies (on average) who are murdered every day in this country (disproportionately among minorities)? What about Mr. Obama’s insistence that that taxpayers be forced to pay for these assassinations of the unborn? Abortion rates have fallen slightly in recent years. However, the culture of death is no the march.

I’m grateful for voices like Robert George, and also for groups like Vorthos Forum (see the videos below). We need to be clear about what America is “choosing” in this election. This is what we have come to accept. This is what we are willing to do in the name of personal wealth and prosperity. Somewhere Margaret Sanger is rejoicing. Well.. maybe not. Watch these videos and pass them on.

Can you be Christian and vote for Obama?

2008-10-17T22:17:00.003-05:00

As this election swiftly comes upon us, I have had many opportunities to speak to those who say that they are Christians and yet still will be voting for Obama. Some Christians are ignorant of what he stands for and some are clear as to what he stands for; neither group is deserving of a pass. My fellow co-laborers in Christ; Ricardo, Larry and myself (Shawn) all struggle with this to the point that we rent our garments!!! (utter discuss). So we want to put it out to the people; at the bottom of this page is a poll that I would like for all of our readers to take and please feel free to leave your comments on the page. We are extremely interested in what you think in the poll as well as your comments. Thank you.

Christianity and Social Responsibility Part 3

2008-09-24T18:32:00.010-05:00

The Enemy Within

By Ricardo Barber

Amos 3:6
If a trumpet is blown in a city will not the people tremble?
If a calamity occurs in a city has not the LORD done it?

Is there is voice in the wilderness speaking for God in this postmodern world today? Has the pulpit become a sounding board only declaring what people want to hear? I marvel at the politicians and media who always paint God as a blessing machine and protector neglecting His wrath and judgment. We dare not say God caused 9/11 or Hurricane Katrina. That would be politically incorrect. God only blesses America; He cannot possibly judge us. The trumpet has blown in our nation. Are we afraid? Yes, of an economic meltdown, money, the god of America, but in no way do we associate our current crisis with God’s judgment. God said that He was going to judge Israel. They failed to respond. It should have had an effect on their lives, but they did not listen to the prophet. Is our nation listening to the Word of God today or to Wall Street? Is there a preacher with enough boldness to step up warn our nation of coming judgment. “If a calamity occurs in a city has not the Lord done it?” This word calamity means judgment. There must be a cause for the effect. God is in control of His universe, therefore when calamity strikes, there is a lesson to be learned from it. America’s love for money is what God is using to get our attention. Did we learn from the first depression? No, and we still are not listening to God. God will not let any nation dwell in peace and prosperity when it is in sin. There may be a brief period of it but judgment will come. Many years ago an article in the Wall Street Journal was produced at the start of the Depression:

What America needs more than railway extension, western irrigation, a low tariff, a bigger cotton crop, and a larger wheat crop is a revival of religion. The kind that father and mother used to have. A religion that counted it good business to take time for family worship each morning right in the middle of wheat harvest. A religion that prompted them to quit work a half hour earlier on Wednesday so that the whole family could get ready to go to prayer meeting.

America’s problem is the same today; it is a spiritual problem. Instead of new innovative energy plans, lower taxes, universal health care, and more jobs, America needs a spiritual awakening. An editorial from a major metropolitan had this to say:

This betrayal of Christ in the name of Christianity is one reason for the moral and spiritual malaise with which this country is afflicted. The melancholy fact is that the churches no longer influence the development of national character. People go to church mainly because of an impulse to participate in a service of worship, not because of any spiritual guidance they expect from the clergyman.

The historian Edward Gibbon in his book, The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire gives five reasons for the decline and fall of the Roman Empire:

The first step down is the undermining of the dignity and sanctity of the home, which is the basis of human society.

Second, higher and higher taxes, the spending of public money for free bread and circuses for the populace.

Third, the mad craze for pleasure, sports becoming every year more exciting, more brutal, and more immoral.

Fourth, the building of great armaments when the great enemy is within — the decay of individual responsibility.

And fifth, the decay of religion, fading into mere form, losing touch with life, losing power to guide the people.

We are in serious danger as a nation. All the political pragmatism won't fix the problem. We see in this current election season the bashing of one political party against another. I hope the American people are not so simple-minded as to think if we can get a certain party in office or a certain candidate, our problems will be solved. If there is some success in solving the mess that America is in, will the American people do like Amos said Israel did, “You who rejoice in Lodebar, and say, "Have we not by our own strength taken Karnaim for ourselves (Amos 6:13)? Will we continue to trust in the strength of military and money as Israel trusted in Jeroboam II? “Reverse natural laws, reverse national fortunes and the world takes note; reverse moral values and no one thinks anything significant has happened.”[1] It is obvious that there is a moral breakdown in America that is unprecedented in our history, or the history of any other nation, yet it is not treated as such. Economy, energy and war are at the top of the list of America’s major problems. In one year, Americans spend 65 billion dollars on alcoholic beverages. Sixty percent of the young people under age 25 have tried some form of illegal drug. 1 in 5 American over the age of 11 has a sexually transmitted disease. Everyday 8000 tenagers contract a sexually transmitted disease. Billions of dollars a year are spent on pornography. Homosexuals have banded together to form one of the most powerful, intimidating forces in politics.[2] Thirty percent of high school students have experimented with same sex activity. I get reports from the kids I minister to, that it is starting in junior high now. Every 2 minutes there is an alcohol related traffic injury and every 31 minutes there is a fatality. 16,885 people died in alcohol-related car crashes in 2005. Alcohol was involved in 39 percent of all crash fatalities in 2005. My prayers always goes out to our fallen soldiers that have lost their lives in Iraq, but no one is rising concern over the victims of drunk drivers (at least the media isn’t). One and a half million babies are aborted every year in this country. What about the consumers we are losing from abortion, 43 million consumers murdered since Roe v. Wade in 1973. The greatest threat America faces is ourselves and if we don’t speak up and own up our moral decay ultimate doom will come.

Mirror, mirror on the wall,
Can you see our nation fall?
Headlines scream of our decay.
Is there any hope today?

Smog doth blind and traffic choke,
Wages bind and buildings smoke.
Welfare roles are soaring high,
And hard drugs cause one young to die.

Villains are heroes on TV
While legal loopholes set them free.
“Morality” is a foreign word,
Love with marriage is absurd.

Campus riots, no win war,
Busing is a festered sore.
Candidates are often shot
When they seek a major spot.

Highjacked planes, a lefty press
Schools are in an awful mess.
Mirror, mirror on the wall,
Is there any hope at all?

-Author unknown

You will not see this poem on T.V. or in a newspaper today. What’s so striking about all of this is that our rebellion is not ignorance. We are a miniature of Israel; we have had God’s word more than any other nation besides Israel. Yet America is in the spiritual state that it is in. “Behold, the eyes of the Lord GOD are on the sinful kingdom, and I will destroy it from the face of the earth (Amos 9:8).” The enemy is within and change must first start with a repenting church if there is any hope for America. A former U.S. Senator states that the average life of the great civilizations of the world has been about 200 years. And they go through the following stages:

From bondage to spiritual faith
From spiritual faith to courage
From courage to liberty
From liberty to abundance
From abundance to selfishness
From selfishness to complacency
From complacency to apathy
From apathy back to bondage

What stage do you think we are in? How long is this nation going to last?

[1] J.A. Motyer, The Message of Amos (Downers Grove: Inter-Varsity Press, 1974), 146.

[2] J. Vernon McGee, America Needs a Declaration of Dependence, 8.

Christianity and Social Responsibility Part 2

2008-08-27T00:24:00.000-05:00

How Do I Choose?
By: Tom Minnery

You know you should vote, but how can you tell whether you’re voting for the best candidates? Here are some thoughts and questions to consider:

Separate principles from policies. All politicians talk about broad principles (or goals): world peace, quality education, affordable housing. Achieving them, however, requires how-to policies. Would the candidate’s policies likely increase the size of government? Government spending is usually wasteful and does best when it sticks to public safety, roads and sewers, national defense and a safety net for the needy. New programs usually mean higher taxes and more waste.

Does the candidate have a Christian worldview? Is he pro-life? A clue is whether he knows the embryonic stem-cell debate and opposes the process. Does she firmly support God’s definition of marriage, and does the she oppose civil unions that give marriage benefits to same-sex couples? Does he believe that parents, rather than the state, have ultimate say over what a child learns in school? Is she hostile toward or silent on matters of faith? A candidate’s positions on all these issues are important indicators.

Political parties matter. You like the platform and value of a local candidate who’s running with the party you typically vote against. Should you cross party lines and vote for him? Don’t forget that whichever party is in the majority has control over which bills eventually reach the floor. You’re voting for more than individual candidates; you’re voting for which party sets the agenda.

Isn’t the lesser of two evils still evil? There will never be a perfect candidate; we’re all sinners. Think of it this way: How much that is good will protected by candidate A as opposed to candidate B?

What if all choices are bad? Write in a name, or skip that race, but there are other races on your ballot, so don’t stay home. The success of our form of government depends on the participation of its citizens.

Christianity and Social Responibility Part 1

2008-08-07T17:57:00.006-05:00

By: Ricardo Barber

Politics, what does it mean? According to the Pocket Dictionary of Ethics politics is, “the organized conduct of and various attempts to regulate relationships that exist within any form of human community.” In other words politics is how we live in a city or community collectively. It goes on to stay that, “politics is generally used in the narrower sense of denoting the science and art of governing human society.” Are we as Christians suppose to be involved in politics? What about social service? If one looks at the former definition of politics the answer is yes. Social involvement is evident in Scripture. Jesus himself was a political leader. Did he start a political party or attempt to overthrow Caesar? Certainly not. He was more concerned with the human community than with creating a program of governing a nation. It is hard to do anything socially without taking a political stand. If we believe mankind is created in the image of God and it is our duty to protect human life, a stand must be taken on abortion and euthanasia. Social responsibility and spreading the gospel go hand and hand. If we want to restore the dignity of the family and prevent further breakdown a stance on homosexuality is obligatory. Or we can sit back and not be involved at all. This world is getting worse and worse, only Christ can fix it is the pious cover up we use for our lack of political activity. Getting our hands dirty is out of the question. The priest and Levite thought the same way as they passed the wounded man on the way to their holy castles in the Good Samaritan parable (Luke 10:25-37). They must have thought that everything was okay as long as they going to their church to fellowship with their people. “Love your neighbor as yourself.” That’s social concern. The Good Samaritan saw a need and took action. “Jesus and the apostles did not build hospitals, or require them to be built, but Christian hospitals are a legitimate extrapolation from Jesus’ compassionate concern for the sick.”[1] I am not suggesting a social gospel or creating political agendas by no means because we cannot bring Utopia on earth. Our social concern should draw from the first commandment “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind.”

“The church should, therefore, not forget its primary calling to pray, worship, evangelize and call people to follow Christ. Politically, it also needs to be aware that even as it seeks the very best for human society and studies the Word of God in pursuit of a Christian mind, it cannot enshrine Christian thinking into a particular political programme.”[2]

Man is fallen. Freeing him from social and economic chains want change that. It takes both evangelism and social action and of course the power of God to spark revival in our nation. We must be committed to the eternal gospel of Christ and not to temporary programs that politicians campaign. We should rest on God’s principles for clarity on social involvement, not man’s agenda. This requires a biblical mind with a deeper understanding of the doctrines of theology:

Nature of God
Deity of Christ
Original Sin
Church
Salvation
Mankind

We need a biblical worldview (which is different from all other thinking) before we can enter the arena and battle for justice. The war starts in the mind. How is your thinking?

For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, THAT HE WILL INSTRUCT HIM? But we have the mind of Christ. 1 Cor 2:16

[1] Taken from John Stott’s book “Issues Facing Christians Today”
[2] Ibid.

How Should We As Christians Vote?

2008-07-22T20:14:00.016-05:00

How Should We As Christians Vote?

Shawn Thrasher

As we draw near the US Presidential election we, as Christians, need to know exactly in which direction to cast our votes. Regarding what some would deem a dilemma, you would think that as Christians, we would already have our answer. After several debates and interviews with people, all professing Christianity, there seems to be some serious ills among us . I could say that this is a very serious election but all elections are very serious. The main stream media tends to characterize this particular election as "one of the most important in US history" because there is an issue of race involved. Let me be very candid, race should be inconsequential to an election. If someone is of the same color as you are they obligated to do something specific or favorable for you and others that look like you? That would be an injustice to all people. So what should your disposition be? Answer Philippians 2:5; "Have this mind in you that is also in Christ Jesus". We should have the mind or attitude of Christ. What was the attitude of Christ? Philippians 2:1-8 answers the question as to what type of mind we should have. 1. Christians should be Unified. Unified in Christ. Christ did the will of the Father therefore; if we are in Christ we will do the will of the Father. 2.We will be intent on one purpose, bringing Heaven to Earth. 3.We will regard others as more important than ourselves; specifically the unborn children. 4. Do not look out for your own personal interests; so many people are waiting on the next president to fix the economy that they forgot that it is God who regulates an economy, not a president!!! In addition, if you're a poor steward it won't matter how good the economy is because you won't benefit from it. 5. Last of all, Jesus humbled Himself, till death, to authority. If we say that we obey God we must obey the earthly governments because He has commanded us to do so. That means pay your taxes, pay your tickets, keep your car insured, and whatever else the government deems as the law. It is not until the government violates the laws of God do we not have to comply. Have this mind that is also in Christ Jesus!! Below is a video that gives some great reasons as to how we should vote. Please allow yourselves to see past the messengers to a message that benefits us all.
The party does not make the individual nor is one party more righteous than the other. It is not the Democratic or Republican party that you will have to answer to in the end. Ultimately, we will answer to the King of Kings who, by the way, was not voted in democratically.

Restoring the Historical Roots of American Education

2008-07-11T16:00:00.002-05:00

By Ricardo Barber

Two Hundred years after the American Revolution, America is still governed by its first Constitution. We are now the longest running constitutional republic in the history of the world. To give some perspective, France has had eight constitutions in the same 200 years. Italy has had 54 constitutions in 200 years. Why have we survived so long? It is because our founding fathers built our constitution according to a set of ideals that are unparalleled in the history of the world. Abraham Lincoln said, “The philosophy of the school room in one generation will be the philosophy of government in the next.” If our founding fathers had a successful philosophy of government, which obviously they did, then it is very fair that we look back to the classroom to see what they taught.

Harvard is the oldest ongoing university in the U.S.; Harvard produced a number of our early leaders, including John Quincy Adams, John Hancock, John Adams, and Samuel Adams. Harvard’s original stated purpose for its students was: “To be plainly instructed and consider well that the main end of your life and studies is to know God and Jesus….
One requirement of students was that, “Everyone shall so exercise himself in reading the Scriptures twice a day that he shall be able to give an account of his proficiency therein.”
Yale also produced many early leaders, men like Noah Webster, William Samuel Johnson, Abraham Baldwin. One of Yale’s requirements for its students read as follows: “Seeing that God is the giver of all wisdom every student, besides his private and secret prayer will be present morning and evening for public prayer.”

Princeton, founded in 1746, produced people like James Madison, Benjamin Rush and John Witherspoon. John Witherspoon became an ordained minister and was president of Princeton University (1768-1776) until New Jersey sent him to Congress. During those years at Princeton the average class was between 17 and 28 students per year. In the nine years that Witherspoon taught at Princeton the school graduated 1 President, 1 Vice President, 3 Supreme Court Justices, 10 Cabinet members, 12 Governors, 21 U.S. Senators, and 39 U.S. Congressman. About one-third of the early leaders were trained at Princeton University. What was the philosophy of an institution that produced so many national leaders? Princeton’s founding statement was: “Cursed is all learning that is contrary to the cross of Christ.” It has been many years since we have seen this kind of vision of godly leadership within society set before us.

The Articles of Confederation, The Declaration of Independence, The U.S. Constitution and The Northwest Ordinance are the four documents that are considered as the laws upon which all other laws are built in the United States. The Northwest Ordinance tells a territory specifically what it has to do in order to become a state in the United States. Article III requires that no territory could become a state unless the schools in that territory were teaching religion and morality as well as knowledge. As a result, many state constitutions contain the following: “Forever in the schools of this state, religion and morality will be taught as well as knowledge.” You may want to check your state constitution.

Look at Fisher Ames’ ("the forgotten founding father") philosophy of education, who by the way was the author of the First Amendment of the Constitution, which today is mis-interpreted to mean we must separate God and government.

“Why, then if these new books for children must be retained, as they will be, Should not the Bible regain the place it once held as a schoolbook? Its morals are pure; its examples are captivating and noble. And the reverence for the sacred book that is thus early impressed lasts long; and, probably, if not impressed in infancy, never takes firm hold of the mind."

When God was removed from American education it started the self-destructive results our nation is seeing now. Our students never become leaders in their communities, nations, and the world. Birth rates for unwed girls (15-19) have increased more since the removal of God from education and the number of dropouts as well. The only hope of America is for Christ-centered leaders to be trained and to rise to positions of influence throughout society and for us as Christ-followers to evangelize the persons we come in contact with everyday.

"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge,
But fools despise wisdom and instruction." Proverbs 1:7

Instant Replay Overcoming Guilt of the Past

2008-07-02T15:59:00.001-05:00

Instant Replay
Overcoming Guilt of the Past
by David Jeremiah

Is an unconfessed sin replaying itself over and over in the depths of your conscience?

In His mercy, the Lord sent a friend to confront David. At last, the hidden thing was known, out in the open to be dealt with. Psalm 51 is David's prayer of confession and repentance. Here he accepts full responsibility for his sin, saying, "Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Your loving kindness. . . . Blot out my transgressions . . . for I acknowledge my transgression, and my sin is always before me. Against You, You only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Your sight" (verses 1-4).

The only way to eradicate guilt is to acknowledge what we have done, take full responsibility for it, and seek God's forgiveness. If you keep covering your sin-hiding it and pushing it away-you'll never know the relief David found. He didn't blame society. He just looked himself in the mirror and said, "I'm the one. It's my responsibility."

Biblical confession provides the world's only answer to guilt.

I noticed in reading Psalm 51 that, having described sin with great intensity, David went on to describe forgiveness with the same intensity. He asked God to wash him, cleanse him, make him whiter than snow, blot out his transgressions, create in him a new heart, restore joy to his life, and renew his testimony so that other sinners might learn about forgiveness and be converted. "O Lord," he cried, "open my lips, and my mouth shall show forth Your praise" (verse 15).

When I was in high school, I worked for a hardware store. One night I realized I had accidentally kept $20 without depositing it in the register.

I rationalized that I'd been working hard and deserved to keep the money, and save my dad a lot of embarrassment. As time went by it occasionally came to mind and I felt guilty about it.

Years later, I became overwhelmed with the guilt of what I'd done, calculated the interest on twenty dollars, and sent $60 to the hardware store owner. I felt a little better; but still, I had not confessed my sin or asked forgiveness.

Sometime later, I moved to Fort Wayne, Indiana; and during my pastorate there, the hardware industry had a convention in our city. One Sunday, as I was in the pulpit preaching, who should walk into the church but my former boss, Fred, the hardware store owner, and his wife.

As soon as the service ended, I took them back to my office and said, "I want to ask you a question. Do you remember several years ago getting an envelope with sixty dollars in it?"

"Yeah," said Fred, curious.

"That was from me," I said, breaking down in tears. "I want to ask you to forgive me because I took some money when I was working for you as a fifteen-year-old boy. I put it in my pocket and I took it home, and I never did repay it. I tried to repay it with the money I sent you, but I know that's not the way it's done. So I'm asking you to forgive me."

They put their arms around me and hugged me and told me they loved me and thanked me for the courage to confess my actions before them.

Forgiveness erases the tape and brings an end to the constant, tormenting instant replays of the conscience. Forgiveness brings freedom, and God grants forgiveness through the blood of Jesus. You don't have to live with guilt all your life. You can be liberated. God will forgive you, and I think most people will forgive you, too, if you ask them. But you've got to initiate the process.

"Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit," proclaimed David in Psalm 32:1-2.

If you've never received the forgiveness of sin and the release of the guilt of your life, you can do it today by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.

###
This article was excerpted from Turning Points, Dr. David Jeremiah's devotional magazine. Call Turning Point at 1-800-947-1993 for your complimentary copy of Turning Points.

Worship, The Foundation for Loving God

2008-06-17T21:34:00.009-05:00

By: Ricardo Barber

Worship is the expression of love toward God, bowing down inwardly in one’s heart. John expressed that love toward Jesus by revealing the majesty, wonder, work and uniqueness of Christ as the Son of God. Do we today express that same love? Do we really worship the Savior as he was revealed in the Old Testament and self-disclosed in the New Testament? He is the creator and sustainer of the universe. John said in his Gospel that it was Christ that Isaiah saw on the throne high and lifted up,

“But although He had done so many signs before them, they did not believe in Him, that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke: “Lord, who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?” Therefore they could not believe, because Isaiah said again: “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, Lest they should see with their eyes, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them. “These things Isaiah said when he saw His glory and spoke of Him (John 12:37-41).”

How are we not impressed with him? John had a close intimate commune with the Son that drove him to his face. He had an inner reverence that was rooted in his right thoughts about God and his visible actions reflecting God. True worshippers worship with their lives. This is the fundamental problem in the church.

The glory of God is not honored.
The holiness of God is not reverenced.
The greatness of God is not admired.
The power of God is not praised.
The truth of God is not sought.
The wisdom of God is not esteemed.
The beauty of God is not treasured.
The goodness of God is not savored.
The faithfulness of God is not trusted.
The commandments of God are not obeyed.
The justice of God is not respected.
The wrath of God is not feared.
The grace of God is not cherished.
The presence of God is not prized.
The person of God is not loved.1

Piper goes on to say that this disrespect is opposite of worship. “Worship is not a gathering. It is not essentially a song service or sitting under preaching. Worship is not essentially any form of outward act.”2 These are merely things we use to express worship. Jesus says, “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth (John 4:24).” Jesus is saying that worship is a lifestyle. The external part of the worship would be of no value if it is not agreeing with the internal state of the worshippers. Worship must be done from the heart, from the inside out.

The purpose of our worship is to glorify, honor, praise, exalt, and please God. Our worship must show our adoration and loyalty to God for his grace in providing us with the way to escape the bondage of sin, so we can have the salvation he so much wants to give us. The nature of the worship God demands is the prostration of our souls before him in humble and contrite submission.

Worship in Hebrew means to “bow down” with respect. It occurs 171 in the Old Testament. In the Greek New Testament this same word is used for worship. It occurs 26 times in the Gospels mainly when people would bow down before Jesus. The Book of Revelation uses it frequently (21 times) because the angels and elders in heaven often bow down before God. The interesting thing is that it only occurs once in the epistles, Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians. It doesn’t occur at all in the letters of Peter, James, or John.3 How is the church suppose to know how to worship if none of the epistles write about this subject. It started with Jesus teachings on worship in John 4:20-24. I first like to add that I am fascinated at the number of times in the New Testament that the statement “in him” or “through him” occurs in reference to Christ. Everything was and is fulfilled and found in him. The Jews main place of worship was the temple. The temple in the Old Testament pointed to him. He is now the place of worship. Jesus identified himself as the true temple. “There is One greater than the temple (Matt. 12:6).” In him is were we meet God, not in formal ceremonies, outward rituals, or localized activities but in a personal, spiritual experience with him at the center.4 In John 4:20-24 Jesus uses the Old Testament word for worship to move it from the outward form to an inward reality. He said the hour has arrived when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth in verse 23. How so? It has arrived in him. True worshippers would not be those who go from place to place and shows or uses all the outward forms. They only would be counted true worshippers who worshipped in spirit and in truth. Worship “in spirit” means heart worship in contradiction to all formal, material, carnal worship. Worship that is led by the Holy Spirit and is mainly an inner experience opposed to an outward experience. Worship “in truth” means that it must be done according as God has specified in the Bible. One writer says, “In spirit regard the inward power, in truth the outward form. The first makes strikes at hypocrisy, the second at idolatry." John avoided using the Hebrew word because he and the other writers wanted the essence of worship as Jesus taught to be clearly understood. We worship by our very lives. Our love for Christ should be reflected in our conduct. “If you love Me, keep My commandments (John 14:15).”

John Piper, Let the Nations be Glad: The Supremacy of God in Missions (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2003), 206.
Ibid.
Ibid, 216.
Ibid.

Are We All God's Children??

2008-06-12T11:40:00.000-05:00

Are we all God’s Children?

By

Shawn Thrasher

Are we all God’s children? This is a statement that is made by many people who want to comfort themselves or make the lost feel comforted or they just have a misconception of the relationship between God and Man. This doctrine is known as Universal Fatherhood. The doctrine states that God is the Father to all and all humanity are related as brothers. Let me be quick and plain to say this is not a true statement!! God is the Creator of all but not the Father of all and we are not all brothers. Our best evidence for this argument is scripture itself. God is the creator of all humanity as stated in Genesis 1:27 “God created man in His own Image, in the Image of God He created him; male and female He created them”. From this statement from God we see that He created all humanity.
The Bible makes clear the distinction as to which family you belong to; after the Pharisees made the claim that they were children of God because of their ancestry Jesus refuted their claim in John 8:44, He told those who were against Him in verse 42 “If God were your Father you would Love Me”. He then went on to let them know as to what father they had come from; they were from their father the Devil “v 44 You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father”. Jesus made it clear that those who did not recognize “Truth” because He is Truth, did not know God “v 47 He who is of God hears the words of God; for this reason you do not hear them, because you are not of God”
Adams’ sin broke the relationship we had with God. Sin made us contrary to Him in every regard possible. The Holy Spirit for those who are believers has delivered us from our past slavery to the flesh and has given us the spirit of Adoption as stated in Romans 8:14-17 “14 For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15 For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.” We the believers have entered into an intimate relationship whereby we can renounce all previous formalities, we as believers approach God as Abba or “Daddy, Daddy” just like a young child.

How can we logically conclude that everyone is God’s child when so many deny Him as God before we can even get to them accepting Him as Father? There are those as Christians who like the Pharisees claimed that they know God as Father but disregard what the Father has to say to His Children. People deny Christ but still want God. You can’t have one without the other (John 10:30) only those who receive Christ will become children of God. John 1:12 makes this plain “12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. The Lord also makes it plain that the world does not even recognize us(Christians), we are the real extra terrestrial or aliens because we have been born again and we now have a heavenly origin (Eph 1:3-6). God has shown us the greatest love by calling us and bestowing upon us the greatest honor next to the forgiveness of sin and that is the honor of calling us children of God “1 See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. 2 Beloved, now we are children of God” (1 John 3:1) Please place your attention on the word “now” at the end of 1 John 3:1; the word now points to the fact that at some point you were not a child of God!!! But now after the Gift of Christ and to those who received the gift we are the Children of God.

In closing I leave you with these words from God as written down by the Apostle John;
“By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God” 1 John 3:10

Steps Downward

2008-06-03T21:03:00.000-05:00

By J Vernon McGee

I want you to notice a philosophy of history that we find in God’s Word. The three steps that precede the downfall of any nation are first of all, religious apostasy; second, there is moral awfulness; and third, political anarchy. These are the three steps downward that all the great nations of the past, lying this moment in rubble and ashes, have taken. Rome, for instance, is the classic example. The historian Gibbon gives five reasons for the decline and fall of the Roman Empire. The first step down is the undermining of the dignity and sanctity of the home, which is the basis of human society. Second, higher and higher taxes, the spending of public money for free bread and circuses for the populace. Third, the mad craze for pleasure, sports becoming every year more exciting, more brutal, and more immoral. Fourth, the building of great armaments when the great enemy is within — the decay of individual responsibility. And fifth, the decay of religion, fading into mere form, losing touch with life, losing power to guide the people. These were the downward steps that Rome took, Greece took, and which all the great nations of the past have taken. If God should call America into court today and specify His charges against us, where would He begin?

Political Anarchy

Would He begin with political anarchy? Certainly He could, for the press tells of the open scandal that exists today in high places. In spite of all the smoke, it is obvious to the average citizen that there is some fire. Today in America we have, as I’m sure you recognize, political anarchy. We are in grave danger as a nation. They are trying to doctor that up,trying to patch up the dike by putting in a little plastic here and a little there,and it’s all political expediency. We think if we get a certain party in and a certain party out,or if we get a certain candidate in, we’ve solved the problems of the nation. I do not discuss politics and I’m not doing it now. But, my friend, just changing parties is not what America needs — any more than you can cure cancer by putting on another suit of clothes. God could put His finger down on political anarchy, which is at work in our beloved nation today, but I do not believe that is where He would begin.

Moral Awfulness

Would He begin with moral awfulness? It is obvious that there is a moral breakdown in America that is unprecedented in our history,or the history of any other nation. In one year, Americans have spent 65 billion dollars on alcoholic beverages. Sixty percent of the young people under age 25 have tried some form of illegal drug. Eight billion dollars a year are spent on pornography. Homosexuals have banded together to form one of the most powerful, intimidating forces in politics. One and a half million babies are aborted every year in this country. Surely God could bring a charge of moral awfulness against our nation, but I do not believe that He would begin there. Now when the Lord Jesus came to Jerusalem, He could have spoken to them about the political situation. John the Baptist as a prophet rebuked Herod,the king, but did you notice that the Lord Jesus did not attempt to straighten out Herod? Other than referring to him as “that fox,”He had no word for Herod whatsoever. Have you ever noticed that He did not attempt to correct the moral condition of the city of Jerusalem? It was corrupt. Why,they even brought to Him a woman taken in adultery and He forgave her.

Religious Apostasy

But I’ll tell you where our Lord did put His finger down. It was on religious apostasy. He nearly took the hide off the Pharisees, and they were the fundamentalists of their day. They represented the best in religion. But because their hearts were far from God, they delivered Him to be crucified. Also, in Isaiah’s day, God put His finger down on religious apostasy. In a scathing way He denounced His people:

"To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the LORD; I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts, and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he-goats." (Isaiah 1:11)

These people had a God-given religion. They had a God-appointed ritual in a God-constructed temple, but they were wrong in that which represented the very best in their religion. They were bringing sacrifices and going through the ritual according to the letter of the Law, but their hearts were in rebellion against God, and their lives were lived in sin. God says, “I don’t want your sacrifices anymore, I don’t want you to bring these vain oblations to Me. I don’t want these things, for the very simple reason that your heart is far from Me.” Oh, my friend, it’s easy to go to church, even be active in the services there, and still have your heart far from God. Where is your heart? Does God have it? Let me paraphrase what God says,“There’s no use coming to church, there’s no use going through the ritual. It’s all a sham and a show — unless your heart is right with Me.” What about your heart?

Everyone must be a Theologian

2008-05-27T16:52:00.000-05:00

John H. Gerstner

Christian laymen, the average persons sitting in the pew on a Sunday morning, sometimes think they need not be theologians. That, however, is a very great mistake. They do need to be theologians--at least they should be amateur theologians. In fact, that is the one vocation every man is obliged to follow. A layman does not need to be a plumber, a carpenter, a lawyer, a doctor, a teacher, a laborer, or a housewife. These are all possibilities, but not necessities. A layman may be one or the other of these as he chooses. But he must be a theologian. This is not an option for him, but a requirement!

A Theologian Is One Who Knows About GodWhy do we say that a layman must be a theologian? Well, let us first realize what a theologian is, that is, an amateur theologian. A theologian is a person who knows about God. A lay theologian is a person who has a true knowledge of God which he understands in non-technical, non-professional, non-academic terms. However, such a person is truly a theologian.

Is it not clear why a layman must necessarily be a theologian? Is there anyone, layman or otherwise, who does not need to know God? Does the Scripture not say, "This is life eternal, that they might know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent" (John 17:3)? It is no mere option, then, with a layman whether or not he will be a theologian, or whether he will have eternal life or not; it is not an option with him whether he will know God or not. The knowledge of God is necessary to eternal life. And if eternal life is necessary for every man, then theology is also necessary for every man.

If a theologian is a person who knows God, then, by reverse reasoning, a person who is not a theologian is a person who does not know God. There is no shame in a layman's being told that he does not know carpentry, or plumbing, or medicine, or law, or teaching, or the ways of a housewife; but there is surely the greatest of shame in a layman's being told that he does not know God. Furthermore, there is more than shame: there is very great danger! The Scripture says that to live apart from God is death. And just as John 17:3 says that it is life eternal to know God and Christ, John 3:36 says that they who do not believe in Jesus shall not see life and, furthermore, that the wrath of God abides on them: "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life; and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him.

""Well," the layman may say, "look here, you've slipped in a new term on us. That last passage talks about faith and not knowledge. It says that unless a person 'believes' in the Son. It does not say anything there about knowing Jesus."

True, the passage does not use the word "know." It speaks about "belief" or "faith" rather than "knowledge" or "reason." But have you ever believed in someone or something about which you knew nothing? Is it possible to have faith in Christ unless we know who Christ is? Is it not clear, then, that this passage, though it does not state expressly the necessity of the knowledge of Christ, certainly states it implicitly? So we say that if a person does not have a knowledge of God and Christ it is not only a shame, but a peril to his soul, not only in this life, but in the eternity which begins at death.

Sinnerama[1]

2008-05-13T13:36:00.000-05:00

By: Ricardo Barber

If man happened to make a movie about the condition of mankind in this world. What would the title of the movie be? One would probably hear titles like: The Greatness of Man, The God who needs Man, The Goodness of Man revealed in Man, and Do no Evil. There are plenty more to name especially in this postmodern culture. What if God were to title a movie describing the condition of the human race? He already has and also has written the script for it. The Apostle Paul in Romans 1:18-3:20 sets forth the whole world and God’s charge against it. The world is guilty before a Holy God and is digressing away for God. In simple terms the title of the movie would read: Man is a Sinner. Paul is not attempting to prove that man is a sinner, he is stating the fact that he is. The argument statement of this section is the revelation of the wrath of God against all the sins of man and the certainly of its judgment. The brief outline of Romans 1 verses 18-32 are as followed: General Revelation of God revealing His power and Godhead (18-20), Graceless Response of Man revealing his unbelief in God (21-23), Glaring Results of Man from man’s unbelief in God (24-32).

Romans 1:18 reveals the wrath of God, his attitude toward sin is unchanging. Either the sinner will have the righteousness of God or God’s wrath; both are from heaven. Ungodliness denies God’s existence – the state of the soul and unrighteousness is sins against man- the action of the soul.This is how bad sin is, look at the cases of venereal diseases in America. I have statistics that show graphic numbers of great proportions. The CDC releases a report each year on chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis, three diseases caused by sexually transmitted bacteria. Chlamydia is the most common. Nearly 1,031,000 cases were reported last year, up from 976,000 the year before.

Romans 1:20 reveal the power and deity of God. Creation is clearly seen and proves the power and existence of God. Paul said this, “ he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness”(Acts 14:17). Man’s sin is not by ignorance, the light of creation leaves him without excuse. There was and is willful rebellion in the presence of clear light.

Romans 1:21-23 shows 7 steps downward for mankind, it shows how man is moving away from God. This is the graceless response of man revealing his unbelief in God. Man goes from knowing God to changing his glory to corruptible images. First man starts off knowing God, he doesn’t improve, get smarter or behave better. The move is downward. Then he glorified him not as God- that’s self-sufficient. “Unthankful,” not recognizing and showing gratitude for what God is doing. Vain Imaginations, their foolish hearts was darkened, professing to be wise, they became fools and finally changing the glory of the incorruptible God into an image.

Now we see the glaring results of man from man’s unbelief in God. In verses 24-32 we see idolatry and gross immorality as the result of rejecting God’s revelation. Three times it says God gave them up which literally means God handed them over. This is abandonment; God is letting sin run its course. Sin is self- destructive and I mentioned earlier about the sexual diseases, AIDS and HIV is proof of the penalty of their error. Women is before man in regards to sexual perversion. Is this for a reason? I believe so. Women are more sensitive and compassionate, through childbearing they have more of a sense of what is natural then men. By Paul mentioning them first it shows the extent of depravity. This list that he states can be found in any newspaper today. Verse 32 shows once again that this is rebellion not ignorance. Is America in this state? I don’t know, a former U.S. Senator states that the average life of the great civilizations of the world has been about 200 years. And they go through the following stages:

From bondage to spiritual faith
From spiritual faith to courage
From courage to liberty
From liberty to abundance
From abundance to selfishness
From selfishness to complacency
From complacency to apathy
From apathy back to bondage

What stage do you think we are in? How long is this nation going to last?

[1] Arguments based on J. Vernon McGee’s commentary “Romans” (Nashville: Nelson, 1991), 35-42.

Barak Obama: A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing

2008-05-06T21:25:00.000-05:00

Voddie Baucham Ministries

Barack Obama: A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing
Friday, April 18, 2008

Barack Obama is the most pro-abortion candidate ever to run for President. He could not even bring himself to vote for the Born Alive Infant Protection Act which would have protected children born in the process of an abortion. That’s right, Mr. Obama cannot even bring himself to support a plan that simply says to doctors, “If they slip past while you are trying to kill them, you have to let ‘em live.” With this vote, Obama was more pro-abortion than the radical abortion group NARAL.

I am absolutely amazed that at a time when Margaret Sanger’s Darwinian, Eugenics inspired dream of eliminating the poor, the lame, and the inferior races through targeted abortion is being propagated at record rates, black people still support the man who epitomizes her murderous philosophy. Black and hispanic women make up less than 13% of the population, but account for nearly half of all abortions. The overwhelming majority of Planned Parenthood’s abortion mills are located in minority neighborhoods. Abortion is absolutely racist. Yet most blacks have no problem supporting people like Mr. Obama who want to make sure that the killing doesn’t stop.

In his article, “Shepherds Leading the Sheep to Slaughter,” Rev. Clenard Childress notes:

“Here are the birth statistics for African-American babies in the City of Philadelphia just a couple a years ago: 10,880 born, 9,259 aborted. Nearly half or 46% of all babies in the City of Brotherly love were dismembered and brutally killed by means of abortion. Moreover, there are twenty-five other major urban cities in America that report having a higher abortion rate than live birth rate.”

This is absolutely astonishing! The only thing more astonishing is the fact that black clergymen in Philadelphia are supporting Mr. Obama. Then there is the consistent mantra from black supporters of America’s first bi-racial candidate... “I’m just happy to see a black man in this position.” Amazing! That’s like Hitler hiring a Jewish doctor (on his father’s side) to run the human experiments at Dachau and hearing the Jewish prisoners hail the fact that ‘one of their own’ has ascended to such great heights in the Nazi regime.

America is slaughtering children at a rate of about 3,600 per day. Unfortunately, a disproportionate number of those children look just like me. I was born to a single, teenaged black girl in South Central Los Angeles, CA in 1969. I shudder to think about the pressure my mother would have faced were she to find herself in that position in the current moral climate. Today people consistently make the argument that people in my mother’s position would do better to kill people like me before we’re born.
But what about cases of rape? Well, as the father of an adopted son whose biological mother was a rape victim, I say, he didn’t deserve to die either. I praise God his mother realized that he was an innocent party in a terrible tragedy. I am also honored to call him my son. Our second adopted son was born to a fourteen year-old middle school girl who also bucked the odds and gave her baby life.

So many people are more concerned about gas prices than they are about the greatest moral crisis of our day. I’m afraid we are going to get precisely the leadership we deserve. I was just in Munich, Germany where people are paying over $8.00 a gallon and still driving over 100 mph on the Autobahn. Ironically, gas doesn’t cost as much as bottled water, but we are more worried about paying a few bucks at the pump than we are about genocide right under our noses. God help us! Or should I say, God Forgive Us!

The Importance of Worldview Thinking

2008-04-30T20:37:00.000-05:00

By Ricardo Barber

A worldview is the way one sees the world, and from this understanding they think and act out their worldview. A worldview contains a person’s answers to the major questions in life, and Nash suggests that almost all of the questions contain significant philosophical content.[1] The philosophical systems of great thinkers of the past outline their worldviews. Based on these systems we can determine how they view life and the world around them. Since we can categorize personal beliefs and put them in particular worldviews, it helps us better understand a person’s convictions, so our approach toward them will differ from another.

It is a biblical mandate for the Christian to witness. The study of philosophy can help us realize what a person's worldview is and assist them by providing new information that will fill and eliminate inconsistencies in their conceptual system. By removing these errors we push the person closer toward a conceptual scheme that contains Christian theological beliefs by which they can interpret and judge reality rightly. Worldviews contain at least seven elements of beliefs, namely beliefs about God, external reality, knowledge, ethics, human nature, human history, and what happens at death. Worldview thinking has important connections to Christian Theology. “Instead of viewing Christianity as a collection of theological bits and pieces to be believed or debated, individuals should approach it as a conceptual system, as a total world-and-life view,” writes Nash.[2]

Worldview thinking also has significant implications in regards to religiosity. A person cannot separate his beliefs and use them when he pleases, it is rather a dimension of life that shapes and influences everything we do and believe. Religion is an inescapable given in life because all humans have something that concerns them ultimately, and whatever that may be, that object of ultimate concern is that person’s god.[3] No human is religiously neutral quotes Nash from Henry Zylstra’s book Testament of Vision:

"Whether the person in question is an atheistic philosopher offering arguments against the existence of God, or a psychologist attributing belief in God to cognitive malfunction, or an American Civil Liberties Union lawyer attempting another tactic to remove religion from the public square, no human is religiously neutral."[4]

There isn’t a dichotomy that splits religious folk from nonreligious folk. The world is composed of only religious people who have different ultimate concerns and different gods and who respond to the living God in different ways[5]. All persons are “incurably religious,” as John Calvin taught; we just manifest different religious commitments. Nash states that, “This point obliterates much of the usual distinction between sacred and secular. A teacher or a politician who pretends to be religiously neutral is not thinking very deeply.”[6] Christianity isn’t a part of life religion; it is an all of life worldview that has something to say about the whole of human life. Understanding these concepts about worldview thinking can give us a clear view of God and also put us in better position to rationally justify our beliefs and actions in every area of life.

[1] Ronald H. Nash, Life’s Ultimate Questions: An Introduction to Philosophy (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1999), 13.
[2] Ibid.
[3] Ibid, 18.
[4] Ibid, 19.
[5] Ibid.
[6] Ibid.

4 Poor Seminary Students

2008-04-28T18:30:00.000-05:00

These are the thoughts of 4 poor seminary students.