Well, isn't THIS a surprise!
It's been awhile, dear Christian friends, but the Lord has put on my heart a scripture to share with any who may read here:
Leviticus 19:28
"You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor tattoo marks on you: I am the Lord."
First, for those of you who may in fact look up the passage in question and observe that the previous verse invloves cutting the fringes of the beard, let me say this; beards grow back and do not involve the worship of dead ancestors! God has a REAL problem with us making ANYTHING other than HIM an object of worship!
Exodus 20:3
"You shall have no other gods before Me."
Second, and more important for this discussion, how many people are even AWARE of the biblical prohibition mentioned above?
Not very many, apparently!
I mean, take a trip to the mall. There are more people there WITH tattoos than people without! The other day, I read an article about a girl who had been suspended from her school for having a nose piercing. Her argument against the suspension? Piercing was central to her religion, a "faith" that involved getting closer to "god" by being pierced as much as possible!
I think a cranium piercing is in order!
Anyway, in my opinion, there's something much more sinister afoot here! Think about it! We're coming to a time when "taking the mark of the beast" will be a choice that we'll all have to make. Those of us who do not know the Word of God will say "Sure! No problem! Ink me up!" Those who DO know God's Word will recoil in horror and state emphatically "Never!"
Meanwhile, we are being conditioned to accept tattoos as "art" and the ultimate in style. People who have already given themselves over to the wiles of the Adversary will call us whimps are prudes or whatever they can drum up to make us feel out of touch or geeky!
So, are we able to be saved once we've acquiesced and taken the mark? According to Jesus, there's only one sin from which we can never recover and getting a tattoo wasn't it! We CAN still receive Jesus even after we unknowingly got a tattoo but I can't conceive of a Christian who gets one even though I know more than several people who call themsleves "christian" who do in fact have them.
It's not for me to judge; I don't know what the circumstances are and I can't play the role of God and read their hearts and minds. I DO know this; knowing the Word of God and choosing to ignore it is a dangerous thing!
May God hve mercy on the ignorance of people and lead them to the truth before it's too late!
Saturday, October 02, 2010
Thursday, February 26, 2009
The Missing Link
Lately, a heated debate has been raised here in Texas over proposed changes to the state science curriculum. TEA officials would like to present evolution as the sole choice for instruction in science classes and, predictably, people of faith would like to present creationism at LEAST as a possibility alongside evolution. The scientists say that Texas students are being "held back" because they're not allowed to consider evolution alone and it's time for education in Texas to come into the modern era and put outdated and unproven notions aside.
Since I am a Christian AND a science teacher in Texas, I'm watching the debate with some interest.
First, to the science community, I'd like to ask a few questions. Science is about empirical evidence, is it not? Theories that are accepted as fact rely on the fact that everything we know about the behavior of the things affected by the theoretical construct are true. For example, we cannot see an atom and therefore have no means by which absolutely verify the physical construction of one, but we can see how atoms of different elements behave, bombard them with alpha particles, etc., to build evidence to support the theory of atomic structure. The question, then, is where is the empirical evidence to support the idea that species have evolved from lower forms of life? I mean, we hear scientists all the time talking about life merely springing forth from the primordial soup and then evolving into the forms we see today, but tell me how it happened! Duplicate your experiment in the laboratory! I'll spot you the living bacteria (life cannot be duplicated without a living progenitor); show me how it evolves over several generations and then extrapolate that into a human being in the approximately 65,000,000 years since almost every living thing on planet earth was extinguished by the K-T extinction meteor impact. Well, I spotted you the tough part; make the unliving alive, so show me how simple organisms evolve over time into something else!
That's just it; you can't! You see adaptation as something that is undeniable and you reason that life adapts over time for survival, but I have yet to see evidence of adaptation over an extended period of time OR fossil ancestors that were substantially different than their predecessors.
Show me the missing link!
You can't, and you won't, because it's not there!
Another question: What are scientists afraid of? If their theories are sound, won't they be held up by irrefutable evidence? Won't they be accepted because they're undeniable? The scientists in this argument remind me of Obama supporters. If what they say is correct, won't it bear fruit? What's the harm in letting the evidence speak for itself?
If the Divine spark that we attribute to God was some sort of cosmic fluke, duplicate it now! If men evolved from some lower form of life, show me the "transitional species" in the fossil record!
At least when I believe that God created it all, I have the very evidence of creation as proof. Scientists tell us that there may be millions of earth-like planets out there, but the more we look, the more obvious it is that there are not! Earth exists in the area around our sun known as the "habitable zone" in ours and similar solar systems. Scientists also tell us that life as we know it must have liquid water (part of why the "habitable zone" is called what it is) and needs chemical components that are typically only found on rocky planets like earth; minerals like carbon, phosphorous, nitrogen, and oxygen. Temperature and the amount of sunlight available are also keys to life; too cold, and liquid water does not exist (at least not on the surface). If it's too warm, only water vapor is possible and, once again; no life! So God placed earth exactly where it needed to be, placed the cornucopia of life there that He willed, and called His creation "good." I'd say "great," or "awesome," but He said good, so that's good enough for me!
I'm sure the secular scientists will win this one, because they own all of the seats of power in Austin. People of faith are seen as simpletons with no scientific background from which to argue, so they're not taken seriously even if they object.
Regardless of the outcome, the scientific community owes it to the public and to themselves to reconsider their stance until irrefutable evidence on their side of the argument has been found. Until then, the fact that the Word of God says what it says and cannot be disproven should be evidence enough of a viable alternative theory!
Lately, a heated debate has been raised here in Texas over proposed changes to the state science curriculum. TEA officials would like to present evolution as the sole choice for instruction in science classes and, predictably, people of faith would like to present creationism at LEAST as a possibility alongside evolution. The scientists say that Texas students are being "held back" because they're not allowed to consider evolution alone and it's time for education in Texas to come into the modern era and put outdated and unproven notions aside.
Since I am a Christian AND a science teacher in Texas, I'm watching the debate with some interest.
First, to the science community, I'd like to ask a few questions. Science is about empirical evidence, is it not? Theories that are accepted as fact rely on the fact that everything we know about the behavior of the things affected by the theoretical construct are true. For example, we cannot see an atom and therefore have no means by which absolutely verify the physical construction of one, but we can see how atoms of different elements behave, bombard them with alpha particles, etc., to build evidence to support the theory of atomic structure. The question, then, is where is the empirical evidence to support the idea that species have evolved from lower forms of life? I mean, we hear scientists all the time talking about life merely springing forth from the primordial soup and then evolving into the forms we see today, but tell me how it happened! Duplicate your experiment in the laboratory! I'll spot you the living bacteria (life cannot be duplicated without a living progenitor); show me how it evolves over several generations and then extrapolate that into a human being in the approximately 65,000,000 years since almost every living thing on planet earth was extinguished by the K-T extinction meteor impact. Well, I spotted you the tough part; make the unliving alive, so show me how simple organisms evolve over time into something else!
That's just it; you can't! You see adaptation as something that is undeniable and you reason that life adapts over time for survival, but I have yet to see evidence of adaptation over an extended period of time OR fossil ancestors that were substantially different than their predecessors.
Show me the missing link!
You can't, and you won't, because it's not there!
Another question: What are scientists afraid of? If their theories are sound, won't they be held up by irrefutable evidence? Won't they be accepted because they're undeniable? The scientists in this argument remind me of Obama supporters. If what they say is correct, won't it bear fruit? What's the harm in letting the evidence speak for itself?
If the Divine spark that we attribute to God was some sort of cosmic fluke, duplicate it now! If men evolved from some lower form of life, show me the "transitional species" in the fossil record!
At least when I believe that God created it all, I have the very evidence of creation as proof. Scientists tell us that there may be millions of earth-like planets out there, but the more we look, the more obvious it is that there are not! Earth exists in the area around our sun known as the "habitable zone" in ours and similar solar systems. Scientists also tell us that life as we know it must have liquid water (part of why the "habitable zone" is called what it is) and needs chemical components that are typically only found on rocky planets like earth; minerals like carbon, phosphorous, nitrogen, and oxygen. Temperature and the amount of sunlight available are also keys to life; too cold, and liquid water does not exist (at least not on the surface). If it's too warm, only water vapor is possible and, once again; no life! So God placed earth exactly where it needed to be, placed the cornucopia of life there that He willed, and called His creation "good." I'd say "great," or "awesome," but He said good, so that's good enough for me!
I'm sure the secular scientists will win this one, because they own all of the seats of power in Austin. People of faith are seen as simpletons with no scientific background from which to argue, so they're not taken seriously even if they object.
Regardless of the outcome, the scientific community owes it to the public and to themselves to reconsider their stance until irrefutable evidence on their side of the argument has been found. Until then, the fact that the Word of God says what it says and cannot be disproven should be evidence enough of a viable alternative theory!
Friday, January 02, 2009
No other gods
I'm disturbed somewhat by a trend I've noticed lately. For lack of a better term, I'll call it "Obama worship." I guess I noticed it first during the rhetoric of the last election, but it seems to be gaining momentum rather than subsiding, and it offends my sensibilities. Maybe it's because I worship the one true God, the Creator, the One who upholds all things by the power of His word, or maybe it's because it causes me pain in my soul when such actions make it so painfully obvious that others do not know Him and choose to place their faith and hope in other places. I guess it could be a combination of those two things.
For those who choose to join in the worship of this man Obama, I offer this:
Exodus 20
3 "You shall have no other gods before me. 4 "You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing love to a thousand {generations} of those who love me and keep my commandments."
Now, I offer this commandment mainly as a warning to those who choose to place someone or some other thing above God on their personal pecking order of love and attention. I know how hard it is to see what's taking place when you're on the outside looking in; you don't realize that you've placed a lot of "little g" gods above the one "big G" God, but that's exactly what's been done! Your time, your talent, your money, and your adoration have all gone to something other than God and only when you come to a place where you realize that it's all gone for nothing and you have nothing to show for it do you understand the error! Only then do you know that you cannot buy your way, or work your way, or into heaven! Only the acceptance of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross and your admission of need will get you there!
That's why this "Obama worship" is so painful to watch! He's one more "little g" god getting in the way! Misplaced hope and adoration, leading eventually to yet another disappointment, is sure to follow!
Deuteronomy 6:13 "Fear the LORD your God, serve him only and take your oaths in his name."
This is the verse that was quoted by Jesus to satan as he was being tempted in the desert. As satan tempts us to the worship of other in this time, it would do us well to remember this verse!
I'm disturbed somewhat by a trend I've noticed lately. For lack of a better term, I'll call it "Obama worship." I guess I noticed it first during the rhetoric of the last election, but it seems to be gaining momentum rather than subsiding, and it offends my sensibilities. Maybe it's because I worship the one true God, the Creator, the One who upholds all things by the power of His word, or maybe it's because it causes me pain in my soul when such actions make it so painfully obvious that others do not know Him and choose to place their faith and hope in other places. I guess it could be a combination of those two things.
For those who choose to join in the worship of this man Obama, I offer this:
Exodus 20
3 "You shall have no other gods before me. 4 "You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing love to a thousand {generations} of those who love me and keep my commandments."
Now, I offer this commandment mainly as a warning to those who choose to place someone or some other thing above God on their personal pecking order of love and attention. I know how hard it is to see what's taking place when you're on the outside looking in; you don't realize that you've placed a lot of "little g" gods above the one "big G" God, but that's exactly what's been done! Your time, your talent, your money, and your adoration have all gone to something other than God and only when you come to a place where you realize that it's all gone for nothing and you have nothing to show for it do you understand the error! Only then do you know that you cannot buy your way, or work your way, or into heaven! Only the acceptance of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross and your admission of need will get you there!
That's why this "Obama worship" is so painful to watch! He's one more "little g" god getting in the way! Misplaced hope and adoration, leading eventually to yet another disappointment, is sure to follow!
Deuteronomy 6:13 "Fear the LORD your God, serve him only and take your oaths in his name."
This is the verse that was quoted by Jesus to satan as he was being tempted in the desert. As satan tempts us to the worship of other in this time, it would do us well to remember this verse!
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Favorite Books
I have so many "favorite parts" of the bible, it's hard to pick a top ten or whatever, but the Book of John ranks right up there with any of them, for several reasons.
First, John was written by one of the disciples, a man who lived and walked with Jesus during His life and ministry. Of the other gospels, only Matthew's gospel can make the same claim. Second, John reports things that were not described in any other gospel. For example, turning water into wine isn't found anywhere else; the conversation with the Samaritan woman isn't found elsewhere; the raising of Lazarus isn't recorded in any other account! Third, and perhaps most important to me, John's gospel deals with matters spiritual more so than any other account. Since Jesus' message and ministry was all about the coming Kingdom of God, John gives us a first-hand account of what must be done to inherit the Kingdom!
John
1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was with God in the beginning. 3Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.
In only three verses, truth is revealed that isn't spoken anywhere else! First, Jesus is "the Word" and He was in the beginning, with God and He WAS God! How do we know Jesus is "the Word?" Compare scripture with scripture! In Revelation 19, this truth is revealed:
11I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. 12His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. 13He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. 14The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. 15Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations.
John also tells us that Jesus created all things in the beginning and that nothing was created without him. Think about that! We know that the entire Bible is about Jesus and that, over and over, prophecy after prophecy speaks of Him, but right from the beginning (In the beginning, God said, "Let there be light.") Jesus was there creating and letting Himself be known! How do we know He was revealing himself? John 1:4! "In Him was life, and that life was the light of men." So, "Let there be light" essentially means "let there be life" and Jesus IS that life!
Is that awesome, or what?
I have so many "favorite parts" of the bible, it's hard to pick a top ten or whatever, but the Book of John ranks right up there with any of them, for several reasons.
First, John was written by one of the disciples, a man who lived and walked with Jesus during His life and ministry. Of the other gospels, only Matthew's gospel can make the same claim. Second, John reports things that were not described in any other gospel. For example, turning water into wine isn't found anywhere else; the conversation with the Samaritan woman isn't found elsewhere; the raising of Lazarus isn't recorded in any other account! Third, and perhaps most important to me, John's gospel deals with matters spiritual more so than any other account. Since Jesus' message and ministry was all about the coming Kingdom of God, John gives us a first-hand account of what must be done to inherit the Kingdom!
John
1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was with God in the beginning. 3Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.
In only three verses, truth is revealed that isn't spoken anywhere else! First, Jesus is "the Word" and He was in the beginning, with God and He WAS God! How do we know Jesus is "the Word?" Compare scripture with scripture! In Revelation 19, this truth is revealed:
11I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. 12His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. 13He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. 14The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. 15Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations.
John also tells us that Jesus created all things in the beginning and that nothing was created without him. Think about that! We know that the entire Bible is about Jesus and that, over and over, prophecy after prophecy speaks of Him, but right from the beginning (In the beginning, God said, "Let there be light.") Jesus was there creating and letting Himself be known! How do we know He was revealing himself? John 1:4! "In Him was life, and that life was the light of men." So, "Let there be light" essentially means "let there be life" and Jesus IS that life!
Is that awesome, or what?
Sunday, November 16, 2008
My testimony
Today in church, one of the good brothers from the congregation preached again this morning. Our preaching minister left for another calling a couple of months ago and we've been without a pulpit minister since that time. Elders and brothers from the church family have been filling in during the interim. Before today's sermon, one of the elders made a point to thank all of those who've filled in while we search for a pulpit minister. At that, I thought to myself, "I wonder if I should volunteer?"
If I did, I think this is what I would share:
I was raised in the Lutheran church and I never really took my faith too seriously. Lutheran theology teaches that your baptism is your salvation and, once you're baptised, the devil cannot snatch you away from your salvation. Once, while attending confirmation classes, our pastor actually told us that if we came upon a wreck and found people unconscious, we should baptise them quickly to ensure their salvation if they should perish from their wounds.
What?
Well, that is in fact what we were told and, since then, I've visited the Lutheran church from time to time (my mother still attends a Lutheran church) and have heard that very same message from the pulpit. In addition, Lutherans were big on "works" and, even though I cannot recall ever hearing that salvation depends upon doing good works, I always got the impression that works were important primarily for that reason.
Works earn salvation, that was the message I was left with!
As I grew and got married as a young man, I began to attend the Catholic church with my new wife at her insistence. Over the years, we attended many different churches, all Catholic, attempting to find one where people seemed excited to be there.
With the exception of the Catholic Charismatic Center in Houston, I can't say that we ever found one. That facility was just too far for us to drive very regularly, so it wasn't a possibility. All the while, I had that nagging voice in the back of my head telling me that I had to earn my way into heaven somehow and another nagging voice that told me that I could NEVER be that good!
Then, a Christian brother who happened to be involved in the same youth sports league as myself and my boys were involved in invited us to his church to see an evangelist who was visiting. We took him up on it! The church was an Assembly of God church, a fellowship I'd never attended before. The first thing we noticed was that everyone seemed really glad to be there and went out of their way to make us feel welcome! As the service started, the music and singing was absolutely infectious! People were actually singing instead of the quiet mumbling I'd grown used to! Words to the songs were projected on a large screen, so there was no fumbling with books or trying to read music. When it came time for the message, the evangelist started by reading a scripture from Galatians as everyone in the assembly followed along. He read from Galatians 2:16
"knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified."
There was the word I'd been looking for my whole life! Man is NOT justified by works but by faith alone! You'd have thought that a man raised Lutheran would know this since this revelation was the very one that Luther had found, causing him to challenge the theology of the Catholic church of his day, but the Lutheran church has strayed from this simple truth and it has been obscured by the strange "saved by baptism" stance I described earlier! In any case, the truth of the word shook me to my very core and made me realize that I COULD be saved if only I would trust that Jesus died for me to pay my sin debt!
When the invitation was given, I stayed in my seat, but I prayed the prayer of salvation along with the preacher and felt an instant change in my soul! I was a new creation in Christ!
I immediately had a thirst for the Word of God, so I started reading the Bible daily until I'd read all the way through it. The first time I read through it, I read the original King James, then I read the NIV all the way through! As I read, the truth of the Word came to life in my soul! I learned why I'd never really understood the Bible before (the Word is spirit and it is life! John 6:63) and I learned that every word of the Bible is true, breathed into people by the very Spirit of God! (2 Timothy 3:16-17) Finally, I learned that works are important, but that works are the fruit of salvation not the way TO salvation! Jesus said that we would know other Christians by their fruit (Matthew 7:15-17). James said that faith without works is dead! (James 2:14-17), so the Gospel had come full circle for me! Works ARE important, but works are the natural result of a person living in God's grace! Works that are done to EARN salvation are done in vain because God said that all of our righteousness is like filthy rags in His sight (Isaiah 64:6)! The bottom line: we can NEVER earn our way into heaven! Only faith in Jesus can save us! Jesus said "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life! No one comes to the Father except through Me! (John 14:6)
As far as I'm concerned, the Gospel is pretty simple but we need to PREACH the Gospel if people are to hear it!
Today in church, one of the good brothers from the congregation preached again this morning. Our preaching minister left for another calling a couple of months ago and we've been without a pulpit minister since that time. Elders and brothers from the church family have been filling in during the interim. Before today's sermon, one of the elders made a point to thank all of those who've filled in while we search for a pulpit minister. At that, I thought to myself, "I wonder if I should volunteer?"
If I did, I think this is what I would share:
I was raised in the Lutheran church and I never really took my faith too seriously. Lutheran theology teaches that your baptism is your salvation and, once you're baptised, the devil cannot snatch you away from your salvation. Once, while attending confirmation classes, our pastor actually told us that if we came upon a wreck and found people unconscious, we should baptise them quickly to ensure their salvation if they should perish from their wounds.
What?
Well, that is in fact what we were told and, since then, I've visited the Lutheran church from time to time (my mother still attends a Lutheran church) and have heard that very same message from the pulpit. In addition, Lutherans were big on "works" and, even though I cannot recall ever hearing that salvation depends upon doing good works, I always got the impression that works were important primarily for that reason.
Works earn salvation, that was the message I was left with!
As I grew and got married as a young man, I began to attend the Catholic church with my new wife at her insistence. Over the years, we attended many different churches, all Catholic, attempting to find one where people seemed excited to be there.
With the exception of the Catholic Charismatic Center in Houston, I can't say that we ever found one. That facility was just too far for us to drive very regularly, so it wasn't a possibility. All the while, I had that nagging voice in the back of my head telling me that I had to earn my way into heaven somehow and another nagging voice that told me that I could NEVER be that good!
Then, a Christian brother who happened to be involved in the same youth sports league as myself and my boys were involved in invited us to his church to see an evangelist who was visiting. We took him up on it! The church was an Assembly of God church, a fellowship I'd never attended before. The first thing we noticed was that everyone seemed really glad to be there and went out of their way to make us feel welcome! As the service started, the music and singing was absolutely infectious! People were actually singing instead of the quiet mumbling I'd grown used to! Words to the songs were projected on a large screen, so there was no fumbling with books or trying to read music. When it came time for the message, the evangelist started by reading a scripture from Galatians as everyone in the assembly followed along. He read from Galatians 2:16
"knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified."
There was the word I'd been looking for my whole life! Man is NOT justified by works but by faith alone! You'd have thought that a man raised Lutheran would know this since this revelation was the very one that Luther had found, causing him to challenge the theology of the Catholic church of his day, but the Lutheran church has strayed from this simple truth and it has been obscured by the strange "saved by baptism" stance I described earlier! In any case, the truth of the word shook me to my very core and made me realize that I COULD be saved if only I would trust that Jesus died for me to pay my sin debt!
When the invitation was given, I stayed in my seat, but I prayed the prayer of salvation along with the preacher and felt an instant change in my soul! I was a new creation in Christ!
I immediately had a thirst for the Word of God, so I started reading the Bible daily until I'd read all the way through it. The first time I read through it, I read the original King James, then I read the NIV all the way through! As I read, the truth of the Word came to life in my soul! I learned why I'd never really understood the Bible before (the Word is spirit and it is life! John 6:63) and I learned that every word of the Bible is true, breathed into people by the very Spirit of God! (2 Timothy 3:16-17) Finally, I learned that works are important, but that works are the fruit of salvation not the way TO salvation! Jesus said that we would know other Christians by their fruit (Matthew 7:15-17). James said that faith without works is dead! (James 2:14-17), so the Gospel had come full circle for me! Works ARE important, but works are the natural result of a person living in God's grace! Works that are done to EARN salvation are done in vain because God said that all of our righteousness is like filthy rags in His sight (Isaiah 64:6)! The bottom line: we can NEVER earn our way into heaven! Only faith in Jesus can save us! Jesus said "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life! No one comes to the Father except through Me! (John 14:6)
As far as I'm concerned, the Gospel is pretty simple but we need to PREACH the Gospel if people are to hear it!
Sunday, October 05, 2008
Yesterday on "Dan's Place," I wrote a post about Revelation and how it seems to be coming true before our eyes.
I'd like to expound a bit more here.
First, the scripture:
Revelation 6
The Seals 1I watched as the Lamb opened the first of the seven seals. Then I heard one of the four living creatures say in a voice like thunder, "Come!" 2I looked, and there before me was a white horse! Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest. 3When the Lamb opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, "Come!" 4Then another horse came out, a fiery red one. Its rider was given power to take peace from the earth and to make men slay each other. To him was given a large sword. 5When the Lamb opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, "Come!" I looked, and there before me was a black horse! Its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand. 6Then I heard what sounded like a voice among the four living creatures, saying, "A quart of wheat for a day's wages, and three quarts of barley for a day's wages, and do not damage the oil and the wine!"
7When the Lamb opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, "Come!" 8I looked, and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following close behind him. They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth."
The four horsemen of the apocalypse; they're the stuff of legend, and few if any of us have not heard of them, either from direct study of the scripture or from exposure to popular culture, but how many of us have REALLY thought about their ride?
The first horseman, riding a white horse, is given the power to make war. Uhhhh......a world leader with the power to make war? ANY American president could fit the bill; as an office, THEY were given the power to make war after 911 and, since then, we've made war twice. Does this horse yet gallop? When combined with the others, it very well may! Many scholars believe that the rider of the white horse is the antichrist since he is "given a crown" and rides the white horse of a commander, but who really knows? Could the crown mean that he is simply a world leader, given a crown by divine providence? Since scripture says that all leaders are empowered by God, couldn't this be said of any leader? Frankly, in the context of the rest of the passage and the gospel itself, I'd have to say that the rider IS the antichrist and his ride starts the clock described by Daniel the prophet. Just for a moment, though, examine the possibilities. What if the rider of the white horse IS an American president? How would we know? Well, lovers of the "Left Behind" series know; the "Abomination that causes desolation" will broker a seven year peace deal with Israel and it is that act that starts Daniel's tribulation clock ticking.
Naturally, we'll know for sure if we've seen the white horse ride when we see the red horse emerge. What is the red horse? Violence! Mayhem! People killing each other for no apparent reason. Nations rising against each other and making war with one another for seemingly trivial reasons. Have we seen a rise in violence of this nature? Anyone out there watch "Gangland" on the History Channel? Gangs like MS-13 perpetrate violence "just because." They and other gangs use random acts of violence as initiation rituals and to avenge perceived "slights." Sounds like the red horse riding to me! If nothing else, the existence of such violence tends to desensitize us to it so that, when we see the red horse, it won't seem like much of a change from what we've seen before.
The black horse? Are you kidding me? Shortages of food? High prices for food? Who would be surprised by more of that in the current climate? I mean, even before hurricane season, fuel prices were making food costs exorbitant and now, after gulf rigs have been shut down and restarted several times this year, who's really surprised anymore? Do we even have to talk about the current banking crisis and what its done to credit markets and cashflows for small businesses? Does anyone else see higher prices coming from all of this? What about the ramifications of an Obama presidency? He's ONLY going to tax incomes of above $250,000. Any small business worth its salt out there NOT making that? What's THAT going to do to prices? Is there any question? The small business owners will pass on the additional expense to their customers in higher prices! Inflation, anyone? Today's food prices will seem absolutely bargain-basement in comparison! I'm sorry; I've seen the black horse riding for some time now, but it's going to pick up the pace very soon I fear!
Does anyone see how these things go together? Are well-nourished people apt to get sick as easily as poorly-nourished people? What does the pale horse portend? Is it the rise of antibiotic-resistant strains of staph and strep, or the inception of exotic viruses like HIV, Hepatitis, and Ebola, or is it just a combination of contagions from all of the above?
Frankly, I think it's the latter. We know that our use and overuse of antibiotics has given rise to a new generation of resistant strains that have medical science stumped. We also know that the lowering of our moral guard has enabled formerly unheard of viruses to run rampant in the human population and these are able to mutate into new strains that we can't stay ahead of no matter how hard we try! Increased use of drugs of all kinds, illegal and prescription, has led to all sorts of problems that our grandparents could never conceive of! People of vision have been warning of water shortages for decades! T. Boone Pickens, he of the Pickens energy plan, has been buying water rights in mid-America for years, fully expecting to cash in in his own lifetime. But what does that trend predict? We're running out of fresh water, that's what! You want disease and sickness? Make people drink tainted water!
I could go on and on, but you get the point (hopefully). We are at a crossroads and everything I see suggests that we are on the downhill side of the slope, beginning the slide toward the time when the four horsemen start their ride for real. When they saddle up, is it too late? That's the good part! Right NOW, it's NOT too late! Anyone reading here can accept Jesus as Lord and Savior right NOW just by praying a simple prayer like this one:
Lord Jesus, I can't do it on my own; I've tried it my way, but I've been left empty and wandering still. Lord, forgive me my sins, come into my heart and be the Lord of my life! Help me to be more like You each day, Lord, and help me to live in Your will. Thank You, Jesus for You sacrifice for me and thank You for hearing my prayer! In Your holy, precious name I pray, amen!
Hopefully, more and more will come to know Him as the days to the end grow shorter!
I'd like to expound a bit more here.
First, the scripture:
Revelation 6
The Seals 1I watched as the Lamb opened the first of the seven seals. Then I heard one of the four living creatures say in a voice like thunder, "Come!" 2I looked, and there before me was a white horse! Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest. 3When the Lamb opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, "Come!" 4Then another horse came out, a fiery red one. Its rider was given power to take peace from the earth and to make men slay each other. To him was given a large sword. 5When the Lamb opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, "Come!" I looked, and there before me was a black horse! Its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand. 6Then I heard what sounded like a voice among the four living creatures, saying, "A quart of wheat for a day's wages, and three quarts of barley for a day's wages, and do not damage the oil and the wine!"
7When the Lamb opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, "Come!" 8I looked, and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following close behind him. They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth."
The four horsemen of the apocalypse; they're the stuff of legend, and few if any of us have not heard of them, either from direct study of the scripture or from exposure to popular culture, but how many of us have REALLY thought about their ride?
The first horseman, riding a white horse, is given the power to make war. Uhhhh......a world leader with the power to make war? ANY American president could fit the bill; as an office, THEY were given the power to make war after 911 and, since then, we've made war twice. Does this horse yet gallop? When combined with the others, it very well may! Many scholars believe that the rider of the white horse is the antichrist since he is "given a crown" and rides the white horse of a commander, but who really knows? Could the crown mean that he is simply a world leader, given a crown by divine providence? Since scripture says that all leaders are empowered by God, couldn't this be said of any leader? Frankly, in the context of the rest of the passage and the gospel itself, I'd have to say that the rider IS the antichrist and his ride starts the clock described by Daniel the prophet. Just for a moment, though, examine the possibilities. What if the rider of the white horse IS an American president? How would we know? Well, lovers of the "Left Behind" series know; the "Abomination that causes desolation" will broker a seven year peace deal with Israel and it is that act that starts Daniel's tribulation clock ticking.
Naturally, we'll know for sure if we've seen the white horse ride when we see the red horse emerge. What is the red horse? Violence! Mayhem! People killing each other for no apparent reason. Nations rising against each other and making war with one another for seemingly trivial reasons. Have we seen a rise in violence of this nature? Anyone out there watch "Gangland" on the History Channel? Gangs like MS-13 perpetrate violence "just because." They and other gangs use random acts of violence as initiation rituals and to avenge perceived "slights." Sounds like the red horse riding to me! If nothing else, the existence of such violence tends to desensitize us to it so that, when we see the red horse, it won't seem like much of a change from what we've seen before.
The black horse? Are you kidding me? Shortages of food? High prices for food? Who would be surprised by more of that in the current climate? I mean, even before hurricane season, fuel prices were making food costs exorbitant and now, after gulf rigs have been shut down and restarted several times this year, who's really surprised anymore? Do we even have to talk about the current banking crisis and what its done to credit markets and cashflows for small businesses? Does anyone else see higher prices coming from all of this? What about the ramifications of an Obama presidency? He's ONLY going to tax incomes of above $250,000. Any small business worth its salt out there NOT making that? What's THAT going to do to prices? Is there any question? The small business owners will pass on the additional expense to their customers in higher prices! Inflation, anyone? Today's food prices will seem absolutely bargain-basement in comparison! I'm sorry; I've seen the black horse riding for some time now, but it's going to pick up the pace very soon I fear!
Does anyone see how these things go together? Are well-nourished people apt to get sick as easily as poorly-nourished people? What does the pale horse portend? Is it the rise of antibiotic-resistant strains of staph and strep, or the inception of exotic viruses like HIV, Hepatitis, and Ebola, or is it just a combination of contagions from all of the above?
Frankly, I think it's the latter. We know that our use and overuse of antibiotics has given rise to a new generation of resistant strains that have medical science stumped. We also know that the lowering of our moral guard has enabled formerly unheard of viruses to run rampant in the human population and these are able to mutate into new strains that we can't stay ahead of no matter how hard we try! Increased use of drugs of all kinds, illegal and prescription, has led to all sorts of problems that our grandparents could never conceive of! People of vision have been warning of water shortages for decades! T. Boone Pickens, he of the Pickens energy plan, has been buying water rights in mid-America for years, fully expecting to cash in in his own lifetime. But what does that trend predict? We're running out of fresh water, that's what! You want disease and sickness? Make people drink tainted water!
I could go on and on, but you get the point (hopefully). We are at a crossroads and everything I see suggests that we are on the downhill side of the slope, beginning the slide toward the time when the four horsemen start their ride for real. When they saddle up, is it too late? That's the good part! Right NOW, it's NOT too late! Anyone reading here can accept Jesus as Lord and Savior right NOW just by praying a simple prayer like this one:
Lord Jesus, I can't do it on my own; I've tried it my way, but I've been left empty and wandering still. Lord, forgive me my sins, come into my heart and be the Lord of my life! Help me to be more like You each day, Lord, and help me to live in Your will. Thank You, Jesus for You sacrifice for me and thank You for hearing my prayer! In Your holy, precious name I pray, amen!
Hopefully, more and more will come to know Him as the days to the end grow shorter!
Tuesday, September 09, 2008
Gimmick Religion
I don't hate anything or anyone, but I have a real problem with what I call "gimmick" religion.
Here in Houston, unfortunately at my previous church, I've recently been exposed to still more "gimmick" religion. Yes, my former church, Grace Community, is busy erecting a 150' cross to tower over Houston.
For what purpose?
I thought that the church was supposed to preach the gospel of Jesus and His crucifixion and resurrection. Could the funds used to erect two giant crosses be used to greater advantage elsewhere?
I don't know. But I DO know that stuff like giant crosses rub me the wrong way. Last time I read the 10 commandments (NOT "suggestions," BTW), there was one in there about not having any gods before THE God and NOT erecting any graven images to worship. (3 “You shall have no other gods before Me. 4 “You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; 5 you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, 6 but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments. - Exodus 20). Hmmm....what happened to the "no graven images" philosophy, I wonder?
Another former church adopted the slogan "2k by Y2k," meaning that the goal was 2000 tails in the pews on Sunday morning by the year 2000.
I have a feeling that it was the preacher's way to boost the old retirement fund, but I cannot say for sure.
Here's the deal. When we start delving into "gimmicks" to put people into the pews, it dilutes the message of the Gospel and puts us into a competition with "the world," IMHO. Romans 12 says that we are not to conform to the world, so why would we hold a competition with it?
What Jesus did for us on the cross is sufficient! We don't have to elaborate, or pontificate, or try to "fancy it up," or do anything else to it except ensure that people hear the message!
Okay.....I'll shut up now!
I don't hate anything or anyone, but I have a real problem with what I call "gimmick" religion.
Here in Houston, unfortunately at my previous church, I've recently been exposed to still more "gimmick" religion. Yes, my former church, Grace Community, is busy erecting a 150' cross to tower over Houston.
For what purpose?
I thought that the church was supposed to preach the gospel of Jesus and His crucifixion and resurrection. Could the funds used to erect two giant crosses be used to greater advantage elsewhere?
I don't know. But I DO know that stuff like giant crosses rub me the wrong way. Last time I read the 10 commandments (NOT "suggestions," BTW), there was one in there about not having any gods before THE God and NOT erecting any graven images to worship. (3 “You shall have no other gods before Me. 4 “You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; 5 you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, 6 but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments. - Exodus 20). Hmmm....what happened to the "no graven images" philosophy, I wonder?
Another former church adopted the slogan "2k by Y2k," meaning that the goal was 2000 tails in the pews on Sunday morning by the year 2000.
I have a feeling that it was the preacher's way to boost the old retirement fund, but I cannot say for sure.
Here's the deal. When we start delving into "gimmicks" to put people into the pews, it dilutes the message of the Gospel and puts us into a competition with "the world," IMHO. Romans 12 says that we are not to conform to the world, so why would we hold a competition with it?
What Jesus did for us on the cross is sufficient! We don't have to elaborate, or pontificate, or try to "fancy it up," or do anything else to it except ensure that people hear the message!
Okay.....I'll shut up now!
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