That's Crazy Talk! (Part 2)

As you (my dear two readers) may recall  from my last blog post I explored the definition of tongues as found in Acts 2. A simple exegetical read of the passage shows evidence that tongues is in fact a coherent, established language as opposed to the modern day “gift” of tongue speaking which is usually an incoherent train of repetitive syllables. Also, I briefly touched on the ideas that modern tongues (gibberish) are a necessary sign of salvation, a secret prayer language, and an undiscovered language, and gave a smidgen of evidence as to why none of these theories could be true. In Part 1 I stated that one reason as to why God gave this ability to speak in foreign languages to the apostles and disciples was to witness to the men who had traveled to Jerusalem during Pentecost. This time I would like to explore further what I discussed as well as the second reason as to why God gave this ability. I would ask though, for the sake of space on this blog, that you follow along in 1 Corinthians 14 because I will not be posting the verses here, but will only be referencing them.

1 Corinthians 12-14 gives a great amount of discussion to spiritual gifts with chapter 14 focusing on tongues. Paul begins this chapter by stating that prophesy is a greater gift than tongues because prophesy edifies the church, whereas speaking in tongues only edifies the one doing it. This runs both ways if we view tongues as the biblical “language”, and the unbiblical “gibberish”. If an American was in an American church and say, for example, stood and began speaking Chinese then no one would know what he was saying but himself. However, prophesying is not done in a foreign language and therefore everyone understands what is being said. Therefore, Paul instructs the Corinthian believers that they must have someone to interpret (Vv. 1-5). If someone was to speak gibberish then nobody would understand. If someone was to speak Russian in an underground Chinese church, without an interpreter, then nobody would understand. Based on the understanding from Acts 2 that tongues are an actual language, then it makes sense. If you read through these verses and think “gibberish”, and if you read and think “languages”, then it works for both and you can certainly steer your interpretation in either direction.

However, we have determined that these “tongues” are actual languages from Acts 2. It would seem quite odd that God would have the believers speak actual languages, then have them start speaking non-languages. For what purpose? As Paul clearly states throughout 1 Corinthians 14 it is to edify the church. He says “Even things without life, whether flute or harp, when they make a sound, unless they make a distinction in the sounds, how will it be known what is piped or played? For if the trumpet makes an uncertain sound, who will prepare for battle? So likewise, you, unless you utter by the tongue words easy to understand, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be speaking into the air.” (Vv. 7-9). There is no glory to God given if we speak nonsense to one another. No one will understand. You may say “that’s what the interpreter is for”. True, but in modern tongues the thought is that someone speaks gibberish and then someone else, through the spirit, stands and reveals to everyone else what is being said. That again takes us away from the idea that tongues are an actual language. In this biblical definition if someone was to speak Chinese, then there needs to be someone there to translate that back to English for the English-speaking congregation. If this Chinese speaking person did not have an interpreter then they would worship God in silence, yet speaking to God from within in their native tongue. This would be how the biblical definition of tongues would apply to verses 6-18. Paul also gives credence to the idea of tongues being an actual language when he says “There are, it may be, so many kinds of languages in the world, and none of them is without significance. Therefore, if I do not know the meaning of the language, I shall be a foreigner to him who speaks, and he who speaks will be a foreigner to me.” (Vv. 10-11). There are certainly many kinds of languages because they are defined by their nationality. However, there is only one kind if gibberish because gibberish is a non-language that cannot be defined. It is apparent from these verses that Paul is speaking of actual foreign languages that needs to be interpreted and therefor verifies that the tongues in Acts are actual spoken languages.

Another thought that I would like to toss to this is verses 20-25. As you may recall from Part 1 that the purpose of tongues in Acts 2 was to witness to the foreigners. Here Paul lays out the other reason why God delivered tongues as a sign gift- judgment. Paul quotes Isaiah 28:11-12 when he says, “In the law it is written: ‘With men of other tongues and other lips I will speak to this people; And yet, for all that, they will not hear Me,’ says the Lord.” (v.21). Isaiah was prophesying the judgment against Israel when they were taken into Babylonian captivity by people who did not speak Hebrew. So why would Paul requote that here? It is because the tongues that were being spoken here, as well as the day of Pentecost, were languages that were unrecognizable to the Jewish people. Therefore, they accused the apostles of being drunk. Throughout this section Paul states that tongues are a sign to unbelievers, because it was a sign that they were being judged for rejecting Christ. Maybe that’s why so many were saved during Pentecost? Because they remembered Isaiah’s prophecy and realized that God was judging them?

A few other nuggets about tongues: Many who speak modern tongue gibberish may defend the transition from languages in Acts 2 to ecstatic language in 1 Corinthians 14 as the establishment of some sort of special prayer language. First of all, that is reading something into the text that is based on an assumption and that is where heresy is born. As I had mentioned before Jesus had spoken against vain repetitive nonsense in Matthew 6. He also said, “not like the heathens do”. What did he mean by that? Well it is well known that since the Old Testament days that paganism existed as it did in Jesus’ time and it does today. One of the things that many pagan religions do is speak in ecstatic languages very much like the gibberish nonsense that modern tongue speaking Christians do. So, if you think that speaking gibberish is in fact some sort of special language that bypasses all obstacles and gets you directly to the feet of God’s throne- think again. You are doing nothing more than what the Satanic pagans do. Second, Paul certainly gives the instruction that there should be an interpreter. In most Charismatic and Pentecostal churches, many people speak out in gibberish without an interpreter, as well as speaking all at once and in a disorderly fashion. This goes against verses 26-33 and 40. Whether you follow the biblical model of speaking in languages, or the pagan model of speaking in crazy talk, there is a good reason why both should be done with an interpreter and in an orderly fashion, otherwise confusion will ensue and no one will be edified. Imagine if an unchurched guest was to walk into one of these churches, not knowing much about church or Christianity. If all verbal chaos broke loose then he would think that we all were out of our minds and probably would think that about all of Christianity. He probably would have nothing more to do with any church or religion. He wouldn’t know any different and would just assume that this insanity is what Christ is all about. “Therefore, if the whole church comes together in one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those who are uninformed or unbelievers, will they not say that you are out of your mind?” (v.23). Therefore, you had lost the chance to witness.

Again, with the last blog, my purpose is not to bash anyone. This is a continuation of my Holy Spirit Hoedown post. The purpose in these last three posts is to illustrate that the work of the Holy Spirit is not anything that would bring about confusion. Modern tongue speaking is viewed as the epitome of the Holy Spirit’s work. However, modern tongue speaking is nothing more than confusing gibberish and has nothing to do with the tongue speaking that had taken place during the early church in the New Testament. What had taken place then was actual true established languages and verifies the work of the Holy Spirit as a “helper”. So, if you choose to speak in uncontrollable nonsense, either with or without an interpreter or in or out of order, then fine. But as I had mentioned before please, PLEASE, do not say that it is the working of the Holy Spirit. Anything of the such is contrary to His work.

“For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints” (1 Corinthians 14:33).

In Christ Alone.

Who Is Jesus Christ (Part 3)? The Lord

“Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:9-11).

I must confess something embarrassing. For many years I had read the above passage and thought to myself that Jesus was the name above all names. But when paired with Acts 4:12 (“Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”), I often wondered if it was blasphemous for anyone else to have the name “Jesus”. What about all the Mexican men named “Jesus” (pronounced “Hey Zeus!”)? Should they have the name Jesus? Can they possess the name that is above all the others? What on earth were their parents thinking to name their child with a name that is only reserved for Jesus (not “Hey Zeus!”)? However, if you read the context of Philippians 2:9-11, it isn’t “Jesus” that is the name above all others. It isn’t “Jesus” that no other name shall be given in which we shall be saved by. No. Although it is true that His name is Jesus, it is His name in verse 11 that is the name above all others that no one else shall possess: “Lord”.

I would seriously hope that no one claims to be “Lord”, even if his name is “Hey Zeus!” However, for Jesus it is more than a name, it is who He is, and as we see above in Philippians 2, that every knee shall bow. This includes those in Heaven (the saints who have gone before us and angels), those on earth (the redeemed believers), and those below (the demons and Satan. Yes. I said “the demons and Satan”). Let’s take a moment to explore these three groups.

First is the group that is in Heaven. In Revelation 6:9-10 it says “I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held. And they cried with a loud voice, saying, ‘How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?’” These martyred believers stand before Jesus, calling Him “Lord”. Also in Revelation it says “The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying: ‘Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!’” (4:8). Aside from these four creatures, we also see the angels proclaiming the lordship of Jesus Christ: “Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, ‘The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!’ (Revelation 11:15). And I heard the angel of the waters saying: ‘You are righteous, O Lord, The One who is and who was and who is to be, Because You have judged these things.’” {16:5). These angels not only proclaim that Jesus is Lord, but also backup those claims by the evidence that Jesus is Lord and King of the earth, but also Judge.

Second is the group that is below the earth. You may be wondering how I come to the conclusion that the demons and Satan acknowledge Jesus as Lord. In Luke 4:41 it reads “And demons also came out of many, crying out and saying, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of God!’ And He, rebuking them, did not allow them to speak, for they knew that He was the Christ.”. Also “When [the man who was demon possessed, Legion,] saw Jesus, he cried out, fell down before Him, and with a loud voice said, ‘What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You, do not torment me’ For He had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man.” (Luke 8:28-29). James 2:19 says “You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!”. The demons recognize who Jesus is in that He is more than man, but also Lord. He holds command over the demons. They wreak havoc until Christ arrives and tells them to get lost. One should note that in the scriptures men failed to always cast out demons (Mark 9:17-29), but the demons had no choice but to obey Jesus every time. Also, regarding Satan, we read in Job 1:6-12 a conversation where Satan had to get permission in order to smite Job. He was allowed to bring about great destruction, but God would not allow him to destroy Job. As you can see, the demons and Satan recognize the Lordship of Jesus and know that they are under His authority.

Third is the group that walks upon the earth. Mankind will all eventually bow before Jesus and confess that He is Lord. For believers this happens now in their lifetime. Romans 10:9-10 states “that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” The Greek word used for “Lord” in this passage is kyrios, which means “he to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master, lord”. Essentially what this passage is saying is that you agree and believe that Jesus is master and that you choose to make Him master of your life. It is a conscious choosing of faith and obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ. A life that has made this choice of confession to the lordship of Jesus goes something like this: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” (Romans 12:1-2). Of course there are many other passages that we could explore, but for the sake of our attention spans we will avoid them. However, regarding the unbelievers, they will bow before Christ as well. But unfortunately for them it will be too late as they had chosen to reject Christ in this lifetime and will bow in the afterlife. “Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.” (Revelation 20:11-15). All of humanity will stand in Heaven before Christ, but is your name in the Book of Life? Will you bow to Christ now and make Him Lord of your life, or will you wait until you realize that He is indeed real and that He is indeed Lord as He sits upon His throne judging you before casting you into the lake of fire?

Jesus left His throne in Heaven as God the Son (or Son of God) and came to earth as the Son of Man. In doing this He experienced what we experience in life, all the way down to being formed within the womb of Mary. He experienced all that any man can experience here on earth. In doing so He is able to intercede on our behalf to the Father as the High Priest who offered up the perfect and final sacrifice to atone for our sins-Himself. In Hebrews 1:2 it states “[God] has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things…” an in Colossians 1:15 it says “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.” The word usually translated “firstborn” does not mean that Jesus was the first created being, but that He was given the rights of the firstborn heir. In Colossians 1:18 it says “And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.” He may have preeminence over all things. Why?

Because He is Lord!

In Christ Alone.

 

Decay Pt. 5: The End of the Beginning

I remember it well during President Trump’s inaugural speech. He had mentioned many times the name “God” and even at one time said that God would protect this nation. This, I am sure, threw all of the anti-Christians into an uproar. I am sure that this alone would have spawned many people to call for his impeachment just minutes after becoming president. On the other hand, I am sure that this gave much hope to the many Christians out there who had begun to fear that their faith was going to be outlawed and that full blown persecution was coming to Christian America. I even remember seeing on Facebook a meme that depicted Jesus running down a road, carrying multiple suitcases, saying that He was on his way back to the White House. Many conservative and Christian Americans once again held their head up high with hopes that we would return to the America of yesteryear. But when we put our hopes in man, we put our hopes in a false security. One look at our current President’s past, as well as his current actions, prove that he is no great Christian leader that we should put an iota of faith into.

            In reality this nation needs to repent and turn to Jesus Christ. Not a famous orator, leader, or governing official. Only then would we as people be changed from the inside out. But is this possible? Could an entire nation repent and thwart God’s judgment against them? The mighty city Nineveh repented after hearing Jonah’s prophecy. “Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, ‘Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before Me.’” (Jonah 1:1). “And Jonah began to enter the city on the first day’s walk. Then he cried out and said, ‘Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!’” (3:4). “So the people of Nineveh believed God, proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least of them. Then word came to the king of Nineveh; and he arose from his throne and laid aside his robe, covered himself with sackcloth and sat in ashes… Then God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God relented from the disaster that He had said He would bring upon them, and He did not do it.” (3:5-6, 10). Not just did the repentance of Nineveh hold back God’s hand of judgement, but eventually Israel repented. If you are familiar with the Biblical history of Israel it was their wicked and idolatrous ways that caused God’s judgement to come upon them and allowed them to be taken into captivity. What many Christians may not realize was that when they returned back to their homeland after the Babylonian captivity, they no longer worshipped the pagan idols and instead worshipped the One true Yahweh. God brought judgement upon them. He smacked some sense into them. They said “God is for real. The prophets weren’t kidding”. It took judgment to wake them up and to get them to turn from idols. Thankfully God remained true to His promises and did not wipe the entire nation clean off the face of the earth. Israel, an entire nation, repented. So yes, it is possible for a city and even an entire nation to turn back to God.

            In just the past two weeks there has been more evidence of a nation of godless, reprobate minds running loose without the restraint of God within their conscience. I happened upon a video of a liberal woman who helped instigate the Berkeley protests and riots that I had mentioned in Part 2. She said that she uses violence to stop others from speaking and that she promoted violence during that riot against the conservative speaker because his views could spark violence. The news program went on to air a video of her arguing with an opposing protester in the street in which a man who was accompanying her pushed the opposing protester down and they began kicking and stomping him in the street. So let’s stop violence by being violent? Another incident involved the conservative speaker (who is also a homosexual male) in question at Berkeley promoting man-boy (pedophilic) relationships. He found himself in trouble and those who usually side with him began to distance himself from him. The third incident involved vandalism to various Jewish synagogues. When the President’s daughter called for religious tolerance, the religious intolerant called her a racist and a promoter of hate. The disturbing part about this typical leftist view is that many who are against religion because of its stance against the LBGT agenda want to be allowed to destroy Christians for their beliefs. That’s why they don’t want religious protection against any religion that opposes LBGT. So therefore we allow them to hatefully destroy those that they see promote hate. These three incidents are just a sprinkle on the icing of the cake that is the current reprobate America. It leaves many to ask “Are these people seriously using their brains?” Sadly, yes. They are using minds that are void of God and are left to their own decaying mind (as I had discussed in Part 3). This is how you end up with a society of cut-throat savages. Every man for himself!

            Jesus said to his disciples “Then He came and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, ‘Simon, are you sleeping? Could you not watch one hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.’” (Mark 14:37-38). The problem with the modern American church is that it too has fallen asleep. Gone are the preachers who call for holiness and repentance. Gone are the preachers who could pull out a convincing “hellfire and brimstone” sermon that would even make saints fall to their knees in repentance. The popular preacher of the day is one who preaches a hippy Jesus that is all about love and happiness. Have you even noticed how big of a following that Joel Osteen has? This “Jesus” gives credence to the sinner for their wicked ways and condemns those who preach against sin and for repentance. The “Jesus” of today would’ve been the one to have imprisoned John the Baptist. The modern church has fallen asleep, and while she was snoring Satan crept in. This is why the modern American church’s gospel is as watered down as skim milk. There’s nothing there but fluff. There’s nothing there to counter balance the godless culture that is spiraling out of control and seeking to destroy the church. The church is no longer the lion, but is now the little lamb whereas Satan is the hungry lion.

            Jonathan Falwell (Thomas Road Baptist Church) has a commercial on our local Christian radio station where, at the end, he says that Christians just want to change the world. It is not our job to change the world because, as we see in the Book of Revelation, there are many unbelievers in the tribulation. It is, however, our job to influence the world with the gospel. We are to be a light in a world of dark as I had mentioned in Part 4. We are to be a bright light for all to see, not a dim flickering light that makes everyone say “Is it going to work or die out?”. But the modern church has lost its influence. It has become complacent in its position of “strength” and “power”.  It has become all about meeting the felt needs of the congregation, entertaining everybody, and receiving the applause and accolades of man. (For more of adescription on the modern church click here).

As I had mentioned in Parts 3 and 4, in regards to the reprobate man and the modern church, respectively, there is hope. That hope is Jesus. I know that that may sound like a cliché, but it is a fact. As Jesus said many times “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” (Matthew 3:2, among others). Just like the men at Pentecost said after being convicted of their iniquities, “’Men and brethren, what shall we do?’ Then Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.’” (Acts 2:37-39). “Repentance” means to turn from your sinful flesh and turn to Christ as Lord and Savior. “…if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Romans 10:9-10). “Confess” means to agree with. If you agree that Jesus is Lord and “If we confess (agree that we are a sinner in need of salvation) our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9). The hope is Jesus as Savior.

For the church Jesus said to the church at Ephesus “Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.” (Revelation 2:4-5). Even the bride of Christ is not immune to judgement. But, despite all of their works and programs, this church had forgotten the basics of their faith. The modern church needs to wake up and clean house like Jesus cleansed the temple of the money changers (so much for that happy hippy “Jesus”, huh?). They need to reacquaint themselves with the God of the Bible, not the god of man.

May we recognize that Jesus is Lord, no matter what side of salvation we may stand on. “Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:9-11).

But more on that in my next series…

 

In Christ alone.

Decay Pt.1: The Beginning of the End

No time in the history of American civilization has the depravity of man been on display as the most recent election year in 2016. When I was growing up I remember men with integrity and character being the nominee of their respective party and I am certain that it had been that way since the beginning. I remember a big tantrum being thrown during the 1992 presidential race because both George Bush and Bill Clinton were accused of having affairs. As a matter of fact, we all know what became of Clinton and Monica Lewinsky. An adulterous affair and the following cover-up were certainly the black cloud that threatened Clinton and his presidency. America wanted honest men. Men who stood for something and were faithful to their country, their families, and their God.

However, 2016 was different. The decay became evident, yet many Christians and conservatives couldn’t see it, and many anti-Christians and liberals failed to believe it. The sphere of decay was evident before the nominees were even named for the Republican and Democratic parties. Marriage had slipped into nothingness as men began marrying men, women began marrying women, pedophiles began to cry out for the same privileges, and men and women continued to treat the sacredness of their marriage as if it was just some passing new flavor at Starbucks. You don’t like it? Throw it out and get something else! The innocence of the children continued to dissolve as they grew up too fast on Twitter. And a million innocent babies never got to see the sunshine, stars, and moon.

These things shouldn’t have surprised anyone because we knew that eventually we would get there. The most baffling, however, is that the police became the enemy. Black lives were the only ones that mattered as officer after officer took a bullet and left behind children and wives. As a matter of fact, if you even said that “all lives mattered”, you ran the risk of being assaulted because to state such obvious truth was “racist”.

If you disagreed with the left, you were a foolish bigot (especially if you were a Christian who disagreed with homosexuality). If you disagreed with the right, you were called a “libtard”, among other things. Hate became redefined as simply disagreeing with or questioning someone else. More and more mankind split itself right down the middle in America. We became a nation divided with wounds split wide open for the whole world to see and the blood flows like the Nile.

Then came the election. There were many to be chosen. Men of honesty, integrity, character, and faith. However, on one side, we chose an angry, foul-mouthed narcissist with multiple marriages who, despite his “Christian faith”, has nothing to repent of. On the other side we chose a woman who has a track record of dishonesty and lying and had ample evidence stacked against her before she even became the nominee. And she won!?! Even though socialism has failed every nation that has tried it, there were a lot of people who really wanted the socialist to take her place as the nominee. This is what we wanted as leaders. Despite our choices this is what we chose to lead us. This has become the American people’s idea of good leadership.

During the debates both candidates fought and spewed insults that were even below that of two fifth graders fighting by the monkey bars during recess. And their supporters followed suit against the other side. It became a contest as to see who could insult the other the worst. But the worst of the worst came after the election. Trump supporters were beaten in the streets by Clinton supporters. The insults increased and people were smeared just as much as the blood that was in the streets. Rioters looted and destroyed property because the election didn’t turn out the way that they wanted. Hatred reigned supreme. Over two months later, the day after Trump’s inauguration, the fires still burned as many women marched in the streets, dressed as their own perverted genitalia, holding signs spewing hate, rioting still, and cursing those who they had seen as a threat to their cause. But how can we call the mass murdering of unborn children a “cause”?

I was once a “metal head” and one of my favorite bands then was Tool. On one album they have a song called “Right in Two” and there is a lyric that has returned to my mind in these recent days:

Monkey killing monkey killing monkey.
Over pieces of the ground.
Silly monkeys give them thumbs.
They make a club.
And beat their brother, down.
How they survive so misguided is a mystery.

            How did we get here? Men exchanging sexual relations and vows with the like, women as well? Brother killing brother over political differences? Christians being persecuted over their beliefs that have been intact since the beginning of creation? Bullies bullying bullies over their differences of opinion? Crimson rivers flooding their banks? Eyes fixated upon darkness in lust? God in the grave and mankind upon the pedestal?

And society calls it good!

How did we, as the evolutionists would like to say, become like the Neanderthals?

Black vs. white vs. citizen vs. non-citizen vs. gay vs. straight vs. woman vs. man vs. family vs. urban vs. rural vs. upper class vs. middle class vs. lower class vs. veteran vs. pacifist vs. well off vs. welfare vs. you vs. me vs. America vs. everyone else vs. thugs vs. police vs. media vs. truth vs. common man vs. Hollywood vs. Christian vs. atheist vs. my rights vs. your rights….

Republican vs. Democrat…

Conservative vs. Liberal…

Trump vs. Clinton…

But…

THIS ISN’T ABOUT POLITICS.

LOVE AND JUSTICE: The Attributes of a Divided God?

“How could a loving God send anyone to Hell?” This is a question that is often asked by the skeptics of Christianity and the Bible. We read in the scriptures of a God who is love (1 John 4:8). We see this love lived out in the example of Jesus Christ. He showed compassion to sinners, healed the sick, and led the lost. But, we also see a God who wasn’t so “loving”. We see a God who had the Israelites destroy the Canaanites, who took the life of David’s child through Bathsheba, and allowed the capture of Israel at the hands of ungodly enemies. Unfortunately, this has led many nonbelievers and “weak” Christians to come to the conclusion that there is a theological contradiction. In other words, that there are possibly two Gods in the Bible: the God of the Old Testament (Yahweh), and the God of the New Testament (Jesus). The latter being as a “hippie” from the 60’s, prancing around holding flowers, smiling and saying “peace brother, I love you”, and the former being as an angry judge, looking to pounce on and destroy anything that He deems as evil. Either there are two separate God’s of the Bible, or there is only one God who can execute justice and love at the same time. So which one is it?

It is foolish to assume that there are two conflicting Gods in the Bible. Jesus said “my Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. I and the Father are one.” (John 29-30, ESV). This is a very bold claim for Jesus to admit that he was God. Erickson states that “Jesus’ power over nature was part of what caused the disciples to recognize that he was God (Mark 4:39-41)”^[1] So, just on these two points alone (and there are plenty more to be found) we can see that Jesus was God incarnate. He is definitely the God of the New Testament, but also of the Old. You may be saying “Wait, how can God and Jesus, two distinct persons, be one person?” The answer can be found in the doctrine of the Trinity. John MacArthur states:

Though the fullness of the Trinity is far beyond human comprehension, it is unquestionably how God has revealed Himself in Scripture—as one God eternally existing in three Persons. This is not to suggest, of course, that the Bible presents three different gods (cf. Deut. 6:4). Rather, God is three Persons in one essence; the Divine essence subsists wholly and indivisibly, simultaneously and eternally, in the three members of the one Godhead—the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit… The Scriptures are clear that these three Persons together are one and only one God (Deut. 6:4).^[2]

I don’t want to concentrate on the role of the Holy Spirit, but we see here that the Bible clearly states that Jesus and God are the same, however with separate roles. So it is impossible to state that there are two Gods in the Bible. That still leaves us with the paradox of a loving God who punishes, or chastens. Can one love and chasten at the same time?

Hebrews 12:6 tells us that “For whom the Lord loves he chastens, and scourges every son whom he receives” (KJV). But what exactly do we mean by “chastening” and how and why does God do it?

Throughout Scripture, God portrays Himself as a Father. Those who have received Jesus as Savior are His children (John 1:12; Galatians 3:26). He uses the analogy of father/son because we understand it. He compares Himself to a loving father who not only blesses but disciplines His beloved children for their own good. Hebrews 12 goes on to show that those who do not receive God’s discipline are not legitimate children (verse 8). A loving father carefully watches his son, and when that son defies his orders and heads for danger, the father disciplines him to keep him safe. God does that with us. When a born-again child of God heads for sin or refuses to resist temptation, our Heavenly Father brings chastening into his life to direct him back to holiness.^[3]

Would a good father sit idly by and watch his son do bad things or hurt others and get away with it? Would a good father allow his son to do whatever he wants to do, despite the threat of negative results, without directing him to the correct path? I would hope not. So why would we expect God, who is our Heavenly Father, to be any different? Why would we expect God to allow us to do as we please according to our will, and there be no correction? But why discipline? Katherine Lee states: “Child discipline, when done correctly, is not about trying to control your child but about showing her how to control her own behavior. It is not about punishing a child for doing something wrong but about setting clear parameters and consequences for breaking rules so that she learns how to discipline herself.”^[4] I believe that the reason why is that we refuse to allow ourselves to believe that God is in a position to correct us. Or maybe, just maybe, we refuse to acknowledge that God will correct us because it means that we have to obey HIS will.

So we have determined by the Scriptures that there is only one God in both of the Bible’s Testaments, and we have also determined that God does chasten us to correct our behavior (and remind us as to Who is in control and Who’s will that we should follow). Let’s take a moment to examine some examples from the Bible where God chastened His people.

The first example (of many) that I would like to mention occurred to the nation of Israel just before they were to enter the Promised Land. After spies were sent to Canaan and reported back about the conditions of the land (Numbers 13:27-29), the people of Israel complained: “’Would that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would that we had died in this wilderness! Why is the Lord bringing us into this land, to fall by the sword? Our wives and our little ones will become a prey. Would it not be better for us to go back to Egypt?’ And they said to one another, ‘Let us choose a leader and go back to Egypt.’” (Numbers 14:2-4). God responded to this complaint by saying:

How long shall this wicked congregation grumble against me? I have heard the grumblings of the people of Israel, which they grumble against me. Say to them, ‘As I live, declares the Lord, what you have said in my hearing I will do to you: your dead bodies shall fall in this wilderness, and of all your number, listed in the census from twenty years old and upward, who have grumbled against me, not one shall come into the land where I swore that I would make you dwell (Numbers 14:27-30).

We see here chastening from God because of the unbelief of Israel, even after seeing all of God’s mighty works during their exodus from Egypt. Later, in Numbers 21, Israel again complains against God. “’Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we loathe this worthless food.’ Then the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many people of Israel died.” (vv. 5-6). It should be noted that through God’s direction for the construction of the bronze serpent, that Israel was spared (Numbers 21:7-9). Would an unloving God spare an entire nation that He promised would carry on Genesis 17:5-6)? He remembered His promise to Israel and kept back a remnant.

Another example is found in 2 Samuel 12:

Now therefore the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.’ Thus says the Lord, ‘Behold, I will raise up evil against you out of your own house. And I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun. For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel and before the sun.’ David said to Nathan, ‘I have sinned against the Lord.’ And Nathan said to David, ‘The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die. Nevertheless, because by this deed you have utterly scorned the Lord, the child who is born to you shall die.’ (vv.10-14, emphasis mine).

David had committed adultery with Bathsheba, and then had her husband Uriah killed as the cover-up. So the preceding Scripture is God’s judgment against David, spoken through the prophet Nathan. Notice that God did not kill David, but basically destroyed SOME of what was important to David. God had established the Davidic Covenant and kept His word. It was because of His love and mercy that David was spared. Of this particular event, John MacArthur states:

David had done evil to another man’s family. Therefore, he would receive evil in his own family, such as Ammon’s rape of Tamar, Absalom’s murder of Ammon, and Absalom’s rebellion against David… The Lord graciously forgave David’s sin, but the inevitable temporal consequences of sin were experiences by him. Forgiveness does not always remove the consequences of sin in this life, only in the life to come. Although the sins of David legally demanded his death, the Lord graciously released David from the required death penalty. This is consistent with justice and grace.^[5]

Finally, I would like to explore the greatest example of God’s justice being executed against those whom He loves, yet also revealing His love by grace and forgiveness. Because of Israel’s constant idolatry and turning their back on God, they faced the ultimate chastening:

God used Babylon as His agent of judgment against Israel for their sins of idolatry and rebellion against Him… Nebuchadnezzar would lead his armies against Judah until they laid siege to Jerusalem for over a year, killing many people and destroying the Jewish temple, taking captive many thousands of Jews, and leaving Jerusalem in ruins. As prophesied in Scripture, the Jewish people would be allowed to return to Jerusalem after 70 years of exile… The return under the direction of Ezra led to a revival among the Jewish people and the rebuilding of the temple.^[6]

Even though God allowed the capture and destruction of His own people, He did not allow their total destruction and allowed them to return to their land. This was grace and forgiveness in action, as well as God’s restoration. It should also be noted that Israel no longer returned to idolatry after the exile. Lesson learned.

These examples are much like a father who corrects his son so that he will do the right thing. There are consequences for the son’s bad actions, but correction is necessary in order for there to be a “lesson learned”. Some of these examples are a bit extreme because death was involved. However, we must remember that God is in control of both life and death. As Job said “Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” (Job 1:21).

We have determined that there is one God based on the doctrine of the Trinity, and we have determined that God executes justice by chastening those who He loves in order to correct them. So if there is one God throughout the entire Bible, then why do we see chastening in the Old Testament, but not the New?

Well, we do see it in the New Testament:

But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, and with his wife's knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles' feet. But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God.” When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it. The young men rose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him. (Acts 5:1-6).

Not just do we see the “Old Testament God of Justice” bringing judgement in the New Testament, but we also see the connection between the Holy Spirit (v.3) and God (v.4). You may think “Oh, that’s just the other mean God doing that, Jesus would never execute justice and judge anyone”. Well, if you are saying that then you still aren’t convinced that the God of justice (Yahweh) is also the God of love (Jesus). Let me illustrate for you just what the God of love is capable of delivering:

The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting there. And making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. (John 2:13-15).

Jesus doesn’t look much like a peace loving hippy anymore now does He? He too is capable of delivering judgement within the means of just and righteous anger. Again, there is only one God who is both just and loving at the same time.

When we read the Bible as a whole, we see the connection of justice and love. Erickson states: “The justice of God means that he is fair in the administration of his law… What we have done or not done is the only consideration in the assigning of consequences or rewards”^[7] Would a good judge allow a murderer or rapist to go free to commit more acts of horror? I would hope not. There must be consequences for the crime. Erickson states further: “In a fair number of cases, we bring evil upon ourselves by our own sinful or unwise actions… Much of the evil recounted in Scripture came upon people as a result of their own sin, or that of someone close to them”^[8] Many Israelites died because of their grumbling and lack of faith. David’s child died as a result of his sin with Bathsheba. Israel was warned by the prophets numerous times to turn back to God, and they refused. So God allowed them to be taken into captivity. You reap what you sow. “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.” (Galatians 6:7-8).

By our own eyes it would appear that there are two Gods in the Bible because there is so much judgment (or justice) being dished out in the Old Testament than in the New. “This should not be viewed as some sort of inconsistency or transformation… The major reason for the perceived difference is that there are very few contexts in the New Testament that portray rebellion and sin.”^[9] Most of the New Testament is a directive on how to live the Christian life, not a narrative like the Old Testament.

It is simply a case of God “spanking” His children for their disobedience. This correction is to guide them away from their sins and onto a better path because God loves them and wants what is best for them, not because he hates them.

This is just the sprinkle on the icing on the cake. There is so much more that can be explored on the subject of God’s justice and love. I hope that this article has proven, in a nutshell, that there is only one God of the entire Bible who is fully capable of being just and loving at the same time.


In Christ Alone.

 

---

[1] Millard J. Erickson. Introducing Christian Doctrine. 2nd Edition. Grand Rapids, MI.: Baker Academic, 2001. Pg.141.

[2] John MacArthur. “Our Triune God” Gty.org. Accessed May 5, 2015. http://www.gty.org/resources/articles/A215/Our-Triune-God?Term=trinity.

[3] Michael S. Houdmann. “What does it mean to be chastened? How does God chasten us?" Gotquestions.org. Accessed May 6, 2015. http://www.gotquestions.org/chasten-chastening.html.

[4] Katherine Lee. “Surprising Reasons Why We Need to Discipline Children” About.com. Accessed May 6, 2015. http://childparenting.about.com/od/behaviordiscipline/a/Why-We-Need-To-Discipline-Children.htm.

[5] John MacArthur. The MacArthur Study Bible, English Standard Version (Commentaries). Crossway, 2010. Pp. 439-440.

[6] Michael S. Houdmann. “What was the Babylonian captivity/exile?" Gotquestions.org. Accessed May 7, 2015. http://www.gotquestions.org/Babylonian-captivity-exile.html.

[7] Erickson, 101.

[8] Erickson, 152.

[9] John H. Walton and Andrew E. Hill. Old Testament Today (Zondervan, 2004). Pg. 218.

It’s May 22nd…And We’re Still Here

But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark (Matthew 24:36-38).

Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits…(Matthew 7:15-16). When a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the word does not come to pass or come true, that is a word that the LORD has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously. You need not be afraid of him (Deuteronomy 18:22).

And God saw the earth, and behold, it was corrupt, for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth. And God said to Noah, "I have determined to make an end of all flesh, for the earth is filled with violence through them. Behold, I will destroy them with the earth. Make yourself an ark of gopher wood. Make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and out with pitch (Genesis 6:12-14). Then the men (angels) said to Lot, "Have you anyone else here? Sons-in-law, sons, daughters, or anyone you have in the city, bring them out of the place. For we are about to destroy this place, because the outcry against its people has become great before the LORD, and the LORD has sent us to destroy it." (Genesis 19:12-13).

Recently a fellow devout Christian friend and myself were driving down the road and we had noticed a billboard that read “God’s Judgment Day: May 21, 2011”. I had been seeing these billboards for a very long time, but paid it no mind. My friend had never seen them (he is from out of town). This time I paid mind to the date. “Oh my, that is just a couple of weeks away” I thought to myself. So my wife and I decided to research this theory and the man or organization who is behind it.

Harold Camping. Who is this? If you haven’t heard by now he is the false prophet who is behind the billboards that actually are part of a worldwide movement. Although, many Christians and non-Christians are laughing at his ridiculous notions. He does have a following. I know of a family just minutes away who are swept up in this phenomenon and have a giant sign on their front lawn with this message and have the date scrawled all over their minivan.

But as we see from Matthew 24 above, it is impossible for any man to know the date of Christ’s return, because He Himself doesn’t even know. Not even the angels know. Only God knows. To say that you know something that only God knows is to say that you have the same knowledge as God. Even above The One who came to save you by His death on the cross. The last time I remember, Lucifer got cast down to Hell for trying to be equal with God. Mr. Camping is not anymore special than a fallen angel.

There are two noted stories in the Bible of destruction by God’s wrath. The world by the great flood, and Sodom by fire. In both accounts, God or angels of God came to Noah and Lot to warn them of what was to come. Mr. Camping did not receive his information from God, but from his own calculations by adding and subtracting things in the Bible that either do not exist, or mean nothing to Mr. Camping’s formula. God is the beginning and the end. He created, and will destroy. He knew that Harold Camping would mislead the world someday. To you honestly think God would have put a formula in the Bible that would give a date for the end? That would defeat the purpose of why God is keeping the date secret and would make Christ look like a liar for saying that He doesn’t even know.

Mr. Camping predicted the end was to come back in 1994 when the “Church Age” ended. What this basically means is that God stopped accepting people being saved in 1994, therefore anyone who was saved after that time is truly not saved and is hell bound. Do what??? Nowhere in the Bible does it say anything about this or that there will be an appointed time that people’s true salvation will be denied by He who saved us. From what I have read and understand, once the “elect” has been saved, that is when Jesus will return. Only God knows who is the elect. Not Mr. Camping.

Mr. Camping also said that this will all take place at 6PM on May 21, 2011. Which time zone? If there is something that will take place that will effect the entire world, you cannot put a time on it. How can California be caught by surprise when the east coast gets God’s judgment first? They will have three hours to prepare! Some countries are not even in the same day at 6PM across the globe. Notice Christ said “that day and hour no one knows”.

And the final nail in the coffin of Mr. Camping’s theory…today is May 22nd…and we’re still here.

Christian, please do not fall for false prophets. You need to look at the fruits of these people and compare them to God’s word. Do they contradict? No man knows more than God, so therefore no man can “debunk” God’s word or promises. I am not going to get into any doomsday theories or discuss the book of Revelations at this time. It is sad that not just are some Christian followers going to be let down and possibly question God, but many anti-Christians are going to have a field day with Mr. Camping being wrong. If Camping’s followers and other Christians would read their Bibles, they would know the truth and would not fall for the lies of false prophets. There is nothing more that we “truth knowing” Christians can do than to pray for Mr. Camping and his followers. May their eyes be opened to the truth.

Love In Christ

For more information on this I urge you to read the Bible, and to see Mr. Camping’s theory visit his website:
http://www.familyradio.com/graphical/literature/judgment/judgment.html