OLD BLOG In Defense of the Faith OLD BLOG

Moving to New Blog - Look Above!

2007-04-19T15:47:00.000-05:00

As I mentioned in my "Phasing Out" post before this one...

You can continue to follow my blog at it's new location:

http://www.indefenseofthefaith.org/

But, if you have stumbled upon this old Blogspot Blog, then look above at the top of this page and you will see a feed of my most recent 5 Blog entries coming from the new web site.

Enjoy the reading!

In Christ and In Defense of the Faith,

Phasing Out

2007-04-16T22:41:00.000-05:00

Hello Everyone,

Most people who get updates by E-mail from me already know this... But...

I recently revamped my website to a fully 'modern' system and look. I also integrated my blogging into my new web site design. Due to that success, I am completely phasing out of Blogger.com and fully moving into my new web blogging setup.

So, please take this as my last post here at this blog! Come and join all your future and continued reading at the new In Defense of the Faith Apologetic Ministry web site! =)

Sounds exciting doesn't it??? ;-)

Here is the direct link to my blog, but you can always get to it from my main web page address:

http://www.indefenseofthefaith.org/

The new RSS feeds are clearly available on my new web site, especially under the subscription tab.

May God be glorified in this move!

In Christ and In Defense of the Faith,

Global Garbage

2007-04-14T00:04:00.001-05:00

I just finished watching the movie, "Children of Men." It was very spectacular and thought provoking. I recommend it to anyone old enough to overlook a lot of vulgar language.

The movie takes place in 2027 and it has been 18 years since the last child was born. This means that there are no more children and no hope for human beings to survive... But that's all I will say about the movie. Go rent it and watch it and think about what people would do if there were no hope of future generations... no hope of anymore family once those people older than you died.

The reason for this post is in order for me to rant a moment. I decided to watch some of the extras on the DVD and, after the deleted scenes, I clicked on the portion entitled "The Possibility of Hope." This is where my title idea came from...

The whole point of that portion of the extras was to promote the idea of global (*cough*crap*cough*) warming - something I like to call global garbage - in the sense that global warming is a bunch of junk science. (Note: http://www.junkscience.com/)

Anyway, this documentary about planet earth had almost every philosophical whack you could think of, telling people that the earth was overpopulated... that the water level was rising... that people were going to start migrating (since we're all just mammals and products of evilution, I mean, evolution)... all a bunch of junk!!!

So... the most annoying part is the fact that they had these people on a DVD extra for a movie that was made to show what the world might become if no more children were born and the human race only had around 80 years till everyone died.

And since the planet is overpopulated, we don't need to have anymore babies... right? Wrong! If we don't have anymore babies, the world will go crazy! But the planet is still overpopulated! Shut up schitzoid! No, you shut up! (picture someone like Smeagol from Lord of the Rings)

Well, I think I'm done with my ranting. These people have to be some of the dumbest and most self-centered people the fallen world will ever produce. They also talked about how our capitalist economy was equivalent to a drug addict who couldn't quick. Come on now! Who are these people and what drugs have they been using?!?!

Wait! I know!… They are enjoying the luxuries of a free, capitalist society and making fun of it! Just like Al Gore drives to all his global warming parties in his multi-car pack of SUVs. Who are they kidding!

Okay, I'm done. I hope you enjoyed the rant. And may judgment fall on these people and may their hearts be broken by that judgment so that they turn hearts to Jesus for their redemption from the Devil and sin and death.

Just look into the link above if you want to know more about the junk science known as global warming. It's a good kicker to see just how silly global warming activists can be. They are the pinnacle of what the modern world has become... lacking in any serious knowledge of the past history of the planet - be it political, environmental, sociological, etc.

Go! And while you are going, let the global garbage advocates die off so that you can watch the world become a better place!

Which theologian are you?

2007-04-13T09:30:00.000-05:00

This is interesting... Those questions on this online test were sometimes too vague and what I might have took as a good statement might have been taken to mean something totally else. Either way, it's interesting to think about being a medieval theologian. Hah!

- Glenn

= = = = = = = = = = = = = =

You scored as Anselm. Anselm is the outstanding theologian of the medieval period. He sees man's primary problem as having failed to render unto God what we owe him, so God becomes man in Christ and gives God what he is due. You should read 'Cur Deus Homo?'

Anselm

100%

Karl Barth

80%

John Calvin

67%

Jürgen Moltmann

67%

Jonathan Edwards

67%

Friedrich Schleiermacher

53%

Martin Luther

40%

Paul Tillich

33%

Charles Finney

33%

Augustine

13%

Which theologian are you?
created with QuizFarm.com

Colbert Report Interviews Dr. Richard Land!

2007-04-13T08:48:00.000-05:00

I was not expecting to see him on Colbert’s show. But wonders never cease!

I’m not too sure Dr. Land was comfortable the whole time he was being interviewed. Either way, enjoy the show!

What Church Father Are You?

2007-04-05T10:59:00.000-05:00

Well, I just took this quick online test I found out about and it will tell you which one of the Patristics you are closest to in your thoughts and actions. Enjoy the test! I don't know exactly how accurate this is, but it certainly was fun to think about. =)

They recommended reading this book to learn more about Justin Martyr.

You’re St. Justin Martyr!

You have a positive and hopeful attitude toward the world. You think that nature, history, and even the pagan philosophers were often guided by God in preparation for the Advent of the Christ. You find “seeds of the Word” in unexpected places. You’re patient and willing to explain the faith to unbelievers.

Find out which Church Father you are at The Way of the Fathers!

My Testimony

2007-04-03T19:44:00.000-05:00

Well, since no one E-mailed me there testimony... HINT! HINT!

I guess I will only get to post mine. This is one that I typed up recently for a scholarship application for seminary funding. I hope you are encouraged!

- Glenn

= = = = = = = = = = = = =

I was born at 8:36 AM on September 28, 1981. My mother and father are Christians and members of the Southern Baptist denomination. They raised me in a Christian home and Christian schooling and from birth I was raised in a Southern Baptist Church, Red Bank Baptist, in Chattanooga, TN. There has not been a time in my life when I have been outside of participating within a local church community, or a time in my life, which I can recall to mind, that I have not known the Lord. I was raised in the covenant community and at a young age I recall praying to receive Christ as my personal Lord and Saviour. I was baptized when I was 14 years old. Throughout my life I have had struggles, but overall Christ has always drawn me to Himself and I have been able to overcome those struggles and grow in my faith by the power of His Spirit.

During high school I was engaged to think much more critically about my own faith and what I actually believed about God’s word. This started the next major phase in my spiritual growth and development. I studied every day and at night I even found myself unable to sleep until my mind had thought through all that I had read, trying to answer the questions I was asking myself. During this portion of my life I learned a great deal and I will always praise God for His mercy in granting me those desires to read and learn.

Through God’s providence, there were several factors which lead to my spiritual growth the last two years of high school. My teachers at Chattanooga Christian, in particular my Bible and English professors, were very encouraging and challenging. They pushed me to seek after Christ and His truth and by their ministry God built in me a passion for His kingdom and His truth. As I entered into college, God continued to build me into the man I have now become.

In going to a secular University I was not sure what to expect, but God showed me a place where I could minister and be ministered to – the Baptist Collegiate Ministry. I was able to learn much in the company of fellow Christians who came together to discuss the Bible and to minister to the students at the University. It is quite possible that during those years I developed my deepest and most foundational understanding of God’s word. In those years I also found my closest brothers with whom I now regularly fellowship.

This leads me to my next major phase of life. After becoming close to many of the brothers I met at the Baptist Collegiate Ministry I decided to visit the church they were all attending. I joined Concord Baptist Church at the beginning of 2005. Shortly after joining I met the woman who was soon to become my wife. We were married in October of that same year.

In September of 2006, our son (Ezekiel) was born on the tenth of the month. He has been such a blessing in our life and we are so thankful that God has given him to be part of our family. My wife left her teaching position at the end of that school year in order to take care of our son once he was born.

This is where I am now, in the great salvation God has given to me. I am working a full time job to support my family and I am enjoying every moment that I have to spend with them. My family and I are excited about my current attendance at Reformed Theological Seminary and we are praying that God will continue to reveal His glory to us as we grow in His grace.

Testimony Tuesday

2007-03-30T15:20:00.000-05:00

Hello Blog Readers,

Tim Challies has issued a cool proposal called "Testimony Tuesday" over at his blog.

I'm inviting any of my readers to submit their testimonies to me sometime before next Tuesday, April 3, in order to have them posted on my blog. I will also send a link of each testimony to Mr. Challies and he will collect everyone's links that are submitted to him and post a list of links on his blog.

If you have any questions, simply read his blog entry above or post a question on the comments section of this entry and I will do my best to answer. Then E-mail me your testimony if you would like it posted!

I hope you will take this opportunity to share your experience of God's grace and faithfulness to the rest of the Internet world. Enjoy the writing if you don't have one written already!

In Christ and In Defense of the Faith,

Building Stonehenge - This is one reason I'm an Engineer

2007-03-29T15:15:00.001-05:00

This is simply an awesome testimony to the great mind that God has given mankind to understand His creation.

If you ever thought that Aliens were involved in building Stonehenge, THINK AGAIN!

God said, "Behold, they are one people, and they have all one language, and this is only the beginning of what they will do. And nothing that they propose to do will now be impossible for them. 7 Come, let us go down and there confuse their language, so that they may not understand one another's speech." (Gen. 11:6-7)

The modern mind, mixed with evolutionary theory, has to appeal to aliens to explain how 'stone age' men could build the great wonders of the earth. But for Christians, all we need to understand is the reality that mankind is made in God's image and capable of doing anything that is really possible in this universe!

Thus, modernity proves simultaneously that is makes people as dumb as it does smart.

Enjoy the video and damn the alien theories!!!

McGrath vs. Dawkins

2007-03-26T23:13:00.000-05:00

This is great news! The recent and unexpected debate between Richard Dawkins and Alister McGrath is now available in MP3 for free online...

Therefore, you should all download these two MP3s and listen to them and enjoy the dismantling of Richard Dawkin's arguments by Alister McGrath.

Here they are: Part 1 and Part 2

[HT: Justin Taylor]

In Christ and In Defense of the Faith,

J.I. Packer Lectures on God

2007-03-24T20:19:00.001-05:00

Monergism has just posted an awesome new page of 19 lectures from J.I. Packer. Check it out and enjoy the audio!

Atheist Debate - McGrath vs. Atkins

2007-03-24T12:37:00.001-05:00

Darwin and humanity: Should we rid the mind of God?

A special debate between Alister McGrath, Professor of Historical Theology at Oxford University, author of "Dawkins' God" and "The Dawkins Delusion" and Peter Atkins, Professor of Chemistry at Oxford University, well-known atheist and supporter of Richard Dawkins. As seen on Channel 4's "The trouble with atheism".

This event was organised jointly by The University of Edinburgh Philosophy Society and The Christian Union. It was held in George Square Lecture Theatre which seats 500, however was overwhelmed by the number of people wanting to attend, over 300 people had to be turned away.

Jesus and the Sinner’s Prayer

2007-03-23T23:56:00.000-05:00

Over at Christianity Today you will find a great article well worth your read.

It is entitled: Jesus and the Sinner’s Prayer - What Jesus says doesn’t match what we usually say

I, as well as most of my blog readers, grew up being taught by the local church that Christians should do evangelism a certain way (*cough* easy believism *cough*) and that it lined up with what the Bible says.

Well, simply put, it doesn't line up with what the Bible teaches and we had all better re-evaluate our thoughts about sharing the Gospel and what Jesus actually calls us to do. For those of you who know me well, you will see why I liked this article's critique of modern Christianity's teaching about how to do evangelism.

Enjoy the article!

In Christ and In defense of the Faith,

Colbert gets it right! Well sorta...

2007-03-23T23:39:00.000-05:00

For those of you who do not know who Stephen Colbert is, you might be up for a shock. But I think he's actually showing us what the rest of the world sees when they think about the religious right and politics. Here is the video. Let me know what you think in the comments section.

D.A. Carson MP3s

2007-03-21T22:40:00.000-05:00

Go to this page.

Andy Naselli has compiled a great list of Dr. Carson's online sermons and lectures. Keep the blog entry in your favorites and listen to as many of them as you can!

[HT: Justin Taylor]

Are People Born Gay?

2007-03-20T19:00:00.000-05:00

With the many recent developments in science and research, a continued push is being made by many to find a genetic/natural cause for homosexuality. In most cases, this push is being made in order to remove the reality of any moral or subjectively chosen cause for homosexuality in human beings. In other words, the pro-homosexual crowd is eager to find a reason that will prove that their lifestyle should be acceptable to others and that religious dogma should be silenced.

The problems that arise out of this are numerous and the continued results from science are very intriguing and provocative.

So, let us revise the question... Is it possible that people are born homosexual (in terms of a disposition towards practicing the sin of homosexuality)?

First, I would like to point to an article from Albert Mohler that was recently published on his weblog. Click here to view it. This article has received a firestorm of criticism from both sides of the issue. But the people from both sides who have been critical of Dr. Mohler have overwhelmingly misread or not read his article at all. For an example of the responses, please read this news article here. Update: See Time Magazine's article on Dr. Mohler's statements.

Lastly, regarding the first article, Dr. Mohler has responded to his critiques here at this link. I encourage you to read through these links and think about what is going on in our current culture and how those of us, who are Christians, should respond.

So, getting back to the revised question... Is it possible that people are born homosexual?

I believe that all Christians should answer this question with a resounding... YES.

Now, don't jump to any stereotypical and negative conclusions, especially if you have not read the links referenced above. I do not want to repeat all the arguments that Dr. Mohler made, but I would like to comment on this issue and talk to you about how my views have developed over the years.

For some time now I have thought about and struggled with the possibility that some people are born with a disposition toward certain sins and that those dispositions might have a genetic origin. Due to recent scientific developments, it has become very probable that certain people are genetically pre-disposed toward certain sins as they grow up in their communities and cultures and as they develop their 'mature' understandings and desires.

Now wait, notice that I have not done what many people have done when accepting the possibility of genetic origins... Those people conclude, "Then it must not be sinful!"

On the other hand, it is my "crystal clear" position... that if in fact researchers do find a genetic link for why some people become homosexuals... then homosexuality will still be sinful!

As I was growing up, I came to know that I had a close relative who was a homosexual and that he was dying of aids. In the end he died from a sickness due to what the AIDS virus did to him. Now, rather than talk about the consequences of homosexual sin, I would like to discuss one way that people respond to family members or close friends who 'come out of the closet' as homosexuals...

Many people who are faced with the fact of a brother, sister, parent, or child being a homosexual begin to look for reasons to understand why it is that someone could do something so unnatural in the created order. Many of those people today (unlike the early 1990's when my relative died of AIDS) have heard about the scientific research that is being done and the connections that are being made regarding why certain people end up doing certain unnatural things to their bodies. And because of this information they end up rejecting the Bible and accepting some other form of final authority for what is good/righteous.

I point to a Disciples of Christ pastor who recently revealed (on his weblog and in his local paper) that his brother was gay and that he had come to accept his brother’s homosexuality as a good thing - given that his brother lives in a responsible lifestyle with the one he loves. In other words, promiscuity is not good, but monogamous and faithful sexual partnerships (regardless of gender) are acceptable in the eyes of God. For more information you can see his initial post here at his web site and also the post in his local town paper: Ponderings on a Faith Journey, Faith in the Public Square article

To quote his position from a portion of the E-mail he sent me in response to a couple of questions I asked him: "The seeds of welcome, as I see it, can be found in the broader theology of God's redemptive love. If, as I believe is true, this is not a choice but genetic, then I believe that in God's grace, responsible homosexual relationships are not sinful."

In a second E-mail, he responded with an article for me to read and consider. Click here for that article: Like the Wideness of the Sea? By Lewis B. Smedes

To resolve some of the questions you might have about my comments above, here are some points of clarity for your consideration...

1) I believe that God's curse (after Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden) on the creation reaches down into the genetic code of every living creatures since all are subject to death and physical diseases.

2) If, and this is a big IF, God chose to curse mankind by creating in them genetic weaknesses toward certain sins, then what better way to curse mankind for their rebellion against Him? (this is a rhetorical question)

3) Since the Bible teaches that everyone inherits a sin nature from their first father, Adam, then why would that nature not infect their whole being? After all, it is the body/flesh that the New Testament speaks of as being the thing that will not be redeemed until the resurrection (Romans 8:23). It is also the teaching of the Bible that there are sins that easily beset people (Heb. 12:1), therefore we must put away those sins by the power of God's Spirit and continue to run the race set before us. The Bible also says that human beings are "slaves to sin" (Romans 6:15-18; Romans 3:9-20) before any receive salvation/freedom from sin.

4) To be specific, if homosexuality does have some genetic background to its existence, then it will be even more imperative for us to better understand it in order to help homosexuals out of their lifestyle.

5) The previous point (No. 4) is only a possibility and nothing is concrete regarding the genetic origin of homosexuality. But as Dr. Mohler said, we are simply in need of having a conversation about all this, especially since homosexuality is a rising reality in all of our communities and towns.

6) There are always major issues to be dealt with in terms of Scripture: Therefore, please note that it is still my position that homosexuality is primarily a sociological and cultural development originating from the general effects of the sin nature we are all born with. Many people become homosexuals because of certain experiences in their life which cultivated that particular sin issue. Since everyone is born with a sin nature, that nature can feed off of anything in the experience of that person and if God decides to turn them over to a certain sin, then there is nothing within that person that will make them not want to practice that particular sin. (Romans 1:18-32)

7) In the end the Bible points us to God and it also points out the things that keep us from God. Therefore, since homosexuality is a clear and abominable sin - no matter what researchers discover about human genetics, people will still be responsible for that giving in to that sin as much as any other. In fact since Adam and Eve sinned, everyone has been born into sin and death (not having chosen that reality for themselves - this is a main point in the Bible). And the only way that they can overcome sin and death is by God's Spirit working in them the new birth, in which they are set free from the bondage of sin and death.

In conclusion, it is the Bible's teaching that people are fully condemned for choosing to do the things that they do - even though they are born with a disposition toward sinning and are already condemned for Adam's sin in the Garden.

I understand that homosexuals will not like to hear this, but Christians must struggle and deal with these issues as the Bible informs them and directs them to give an answer for the hope that they have.

I would love to hear your thoughts, so please post comments or send E-mails.

In Christ and In Defense of the Faith,

I can't stop laughing!!!

2007-03-19T11:33:00.001-05:00

Just to keep this blog up-to-date and hip! =)

How about some White and Nerdy???

Enjoy!

May the Judgment of God...

2007-03-03T11:23:00.000-05:00

This latest news about Germany's attack on homeschooling families shows just how evil its government is as it continues to echo Hitler's wishes.

My hope... May the judgment of God fall more severely upon that nation in the coming days for its continued idolatry and worship of the Nazi regime. And may this happen to bring about the countries repentance and reconciliation to God and His Christ.

Pray for these families, especially this family in the link above, that they will have their children returned to them and be united once again.

In Christ and In Defense of the Faith,

20/20 & The Nativity Story

2006-12-15T22:12:00.000-05:00

I'm watching 20/20 right now on ABC television. They were interviewing several scholars about the nativity of Jesus in the Gospels. I would first like to mention that Darrell Bock was one of those scholars interviewed. He did a great job, from the short clips they chose to show of him, defending the historical narratives of Matthew and Luke regarding the virgin birth and surrounding events.

But what struck me was one of the last statements made by the scholar ABC chose to end the segment on Jesus with... he basically said that the Gospels are beautiful poetry about the 'meaning' of Jesus and followed it by asking the question - isn't that even better than some historical set of events taking place in the past?

Well? Isn't it? Come on, Dude!

Okay, none of this surprises me. Especially the fact that 20/20 ended the segments with that scholar and a woman scholar saying that truth to ancient people, back in those days, was much different than our modern, scientific demands for empirically tested data that proves something to be true beyond doubt.

I simply cannot shake my head enough at these scholars who think that the Gospel accounts of Jesus' birth are merely beautiful poetry. So here are two things that I noticed...

1) These scholars who took that position, contra Dr. Bock, have assumed that modernity's demand for empirical evidence proves the Gospel accounts cannot be historically accurate. They have also, even further, assumed that truth has nothing to do with history. Now, I'm not going to try to explain what they believe truth is. For that answer you will have to ask them yourselves. But what I will say is found in observation two...

2) Why would we prefer beautiful, non-historical poetry over and against beautiful, historical poetry and records??? I mean seriously folks! How can any of us, who think about what the New Testament says - with the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus - want it to all be poetry??? Do any of us want this life to be IT? Do you want to die and cease to exist? Do you really not want to live forever? Even further, since the New Testament -especially the Gospels - tell us that Jesus' death and resurrection are the start of God's new creation and the beginning of His putting all things to rights, why would any of us want to think that death, war, hunger, poverty, terrorism, etc. are all going to continue to go on for the rest of time with no hope of change??? Do you really want to believe that? Now, I'm sure there are some people out there who believe that man is powerful enough to change all this and that one day we will discover a cure to live for much longer or even live forever and that we don't need God or any other 'deity' to help us... I'm sure some people think like that. But why?

Why does anyone have hope that mankind can change things by themselves? What is HOPE anyway? Do we have some crystal ball that tells us we are going to accomplish these things on our own? Are we really humanistic prophets that can make things happen because we say they will one day happen? Absolutely NOT!

Paul wrote to the Roman Christians and said the following about hope and about what Jesus accomplished for all those who believe in His Gospel and are faithful to His teachings:

Romans 8:18-25: "18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience."

This is God's promise, that He will put the creation back into order. God has promised that He will reverse all the death and destruction and will one day turn the universe over into the hands of His children for their everlasting enjoyment of it!

Where is there hope if we see the Gospels as "beautiful poetry"??? All I hear this man saying is, "There is no God... nanna, nanna, boo boo!" And who wants to hear that? I know I don't. =)

Well, to end this rant, I would like to say that 20/20 is doing the only thing that it knows. America likes to see things questioned. We like to know that others cannot tell us what to believe or how to live our lives or raise our children or anything that would 'take away our rights.' But isn't that exactly what is happening? Haven't we all been told to question everything and to believe what we want? Isn't America simply following what scholars and other people in influential power have told them to believe and accept as 'the way it should be' in order to 'really' be free and happy?

On the contrary, the God of creation has spoken to us through His Son, Jesus. He has acted IN HISTORY and continues to act in history through His Church. He has been in the process of making all things new and setting the world to rights since the resurrection of His Son from the dead! And God has continued that process by sending His Spirit to live inside the bodies of His people, who are His Church, and has filled the earth with the knowledge of His greatness and love more and more each day!

This is not poetry. This is not wishful thinking. These things are history. They are the things that are happening every day of our lives. We are part of this great STORY, but this story is real - it is REALITY and HISTORY. And if we believe this and believe that Jesus really did rise from the dead, then we can have hope and joy in knowing that God is changing this world and will one day judge the world by the Man, Jesus Christ.

The Apostle Paul said this about that event that will one day take place:

Romans 2:6-10: "6 He will render to each one according to his works: 7 to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; 8 but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. 9 There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, 10 but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. 11 For God shows no partiality."

It is only those who have been united to Jesus Christ that will obey the truth and seek for glory, honor, and immortality. And all this is only possible because God has given His Spirit to His Church in order that it will fulfill the righteous requirement of the law through faith in Jesus Christ and His death and resurrection. Everyone would do well to either embrace this Good News, or, according to some scholars, simply believe that the Gospels are beautiful poetry so that we can all ignore God and 'hope' that when we die nothing will meet us but non-existence.

Therefore, I urge you to remember the nativity of Jesus Christ this Christmas season. Remember that He came to rescue the world by dying and rising again for the justification of all those who believe in His name and are faithful to His teachings with the help of His Spirit within them.

May God be glorified in all things and in all the nations of the world! To Jesus Christ be honor and praise and fame for ever and ever! Amen!

In Christ and In Defense of the Faith,

New Bible publication literally cuts out unused parts

2006-10-30T22:41:00.000-05:00

Link: http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=52536

Well, this is truly hillarious! I wonder what people think when they get there hands on it?

Excerpt:

The publisher has reported that it has sold hundreds in just the first few weeks of availability.

However, the names listed for the officials of the foundation, "De Rijke" and "Fortuijn" give away the joke, which sometimes has produced more anger than humor among Christians.

"De Rijke" means "rich," and "Fortuijn" means "fortune," and the Bible actually is published by Time to Turn, a network of Dutch Christian students "who want to choose a sustainable and just way of life, based on their faith in Jesus Christ."

===============

Not to say that I know much about this group of students, but how true is this joke to the majority of the western world today, myself included?

In Christ and In Defense of the Faith,

James 4:17 - The Sin of Omission

2006-10-24T20:45:00.000-05:00

17 So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.

-----------------

Here James comes to the close of his argument against these merchants with a final sweeping blow given to his reading audience...

"If you know the right thing to do, but you don't do it, then that means you are sinning!"

What? If we omit something from our lives we are sinning? Yes. If you omit the Gospel from your lives, guess what? You’re sinning.

Let’s have that sink in for a moment…

Now wait just a minute! Isn’t that a little harsh of James? The poor merchants have to plan for the future, don't they? That’s part of their job. Are you saying that they have to say those words every time they talk about future plans or else they're sinning?

Well... No!

Here are a couple things I am NOT saying…

(1) I don’t believe James is teaching us that we have to use this phrase in verse 15 every time we talk about the future. In other words, we don’t need to wear it out like a red headed step child.
(2) Saying the magic words won’t make any of us right before God. Without faith in Jesus, no one pleases God. So, don’t ever get the mentality that if you say the right words and do the right things that you can earn your way into heaven: That is legalism and legalism only results in damnation. (Gal. 2:16)

Now, here is what I'm saying…

To bring it together for us, James is telling us that the particular sin of omission occurs when we ignore God, plan to do something, find success in doing it, and then brag about having done it.

A couple of examples from the gospels will enlighten our minds… Jesus told the parable of the Good Samaritan: (Matthew 10:25-37)

The first two men were not sinning because they were walking along the road to get where they had planned to go. They sinned because they omitted the fact that there was a man lying there on the other side of the road beaten half to death and about to die.

Only the Samaritan did the good he knew to do.

Remember the parable of Lazarus and the Rich Man: (Luke 16:19-31)

Jesus said that a poor man with sores all over his body only wanted to be fed by the crumbs off of the rich man's table. But the rich man omitted the fact that Lazarus was even there and never helped him once. Jesus says that even the dogs cared more for Lazarus because they came and licked his sores.

Do you see the point Jesus is making here? If we know the good things we ought to do, but we don’t do them… these are NOT just little oopsies. They are BIG uh-ohs!

This applies particularly to those of us in the Church. The Church has the Gospel and most of its members have believed it to some degree. So, one of the greatest sins anyone in the Church can perform is the sin of not doing what we know is good and pleasing to the Lord Jesus.

In James' day, the problem that these merchants had was not that their planning and working was evil. But that their attitude in planning and working was evil. They knew that they were supposed to acknowledge God and ask him for help and strength in everything that they planned to do.

But, as James points out, they were not doing that at all. They were omitting God from the picture and boasting in their own accomplishments.

So, for those of us who believe the Gospel… It is my challenge to you today to never omit God from your future plans, even the plans about tomorrow. I challenge you to believe that Jesus really is Lord and that He really is King of this universe, ruling and reigning at the right hand of God today at this very moment! This means that whatever He says goes! (1 Peter 3:22)

To close... as you read this today, I hope you will live your life with the attitude, “If it is God’s will, I will live and do this or that.” Don’t ever start to think you can make it with out Him. Don’t ever think that you can plan out all the details of your life, for even the next day, when none of us are guaranteed another breath without God willing that we breathe.

In Christ and In Defense of the Faith,

If watching THEM isn't good enough for you...

2006-10-07T07:17:00.001-05:00

Link: http://echurch.cf.huffingtonpost.com/

Now, I know this isn't real, but I wouldn't be surprised if someone actually did this one day. This is hilarious!

Enjoy!

James 4:16 - Don't Be Evil!

2006-09-23T23:00:00.000-05:00

16 As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.

-----------------

So, now that we have seen the Gospel alternative to the merchants problems... what else needs to be said? Well, you can give two options for life, but unless you give the ultimate outcome for eah option, others will not know why it is that you are recommending one over the other(s). Therefore, James tells his readers exactly what the problem is with the way these merchants are acting. This is where we start to finally see the importance for why James would address this issue so strongly.

Question: How is it that these merchants are bragging? Answer: I, I, I, me, me, me! I will go into this town and sell MY stuff and I will make a lot of money!

I will go to this college and I will get a good degree and I will find me a good wife and I will have 1.5 children, a house with a white picked fence… and don’t forget… a walk in closet!

We human beings know how to boast and brag all over ourselves. But what does James remind us?... If the Gospel is true… then all that boasting and bragging about ourselves is EVIL. It’s evil!

In fact, this is all over the New Testament letters. Paul says that boasting is excluded because we are justified by God through faith and not by our own works. (Romans 3:27-28) He also says to the Ephesians that we were saved by grace through faith – not by works – so that no one may boast. (Eph. 2:8-9) The only boasting that we are permitted to do is boasting in the Lord and in our weaknesses so that God’s strength might be shown in us through the power of the Holy Spirit within us. (2 Cor. 10:17; 11:30)

So, in all reality, James’ alternative for the merchants is an alternative form of boasting. A form of boasting that isn’t evil!

Any what bosting is it? We are to boast in the Lord… “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” THIS is Gospel boasting and Gospel thinking. If Jesus really is Lord, then our lives must be centered on His will and His glory and our boasting must only be about us in relation to Him.

“I will live and do this or that, if He has written my story that way.” That is true Gospel boasting that honor Jesus Christ and gives glory to God, our Father.

So, to sum it all up what does James conclude? What have we said he was trying to do?

Our lives show each other the doctrines we believe. Therefore, if our lives are not in accordance with the doctrine of the Gospel of Jesus, then that means our doctrine has to change.

Once again, that doesn’t always mean we need to change our intellectual answer about a specific Biblical teaching. But what that does mean is that if our lives are not in line with the doctrine of the Gospel, then we need to do one of two things…

We need to either… (1) Believe the sound doctrine that we have been taught by our ministers, or (2) we need to be taught some good, sound doctrine that we’ve never learned before and believe it with all that we are. If we will believe the Gospel, then we will be able to see the ways we act and speak begin to change in dramatic and Spirit lead ways.

Now, remember what I said briefly at the beginning. I believe that James was talking to merchants who were primarily members of the Church. That means that they knew the Gospel and they knew that Jesus is Lord.

That’s why James can briefly, but sternly, correctly their bad doctrine by altering how they speak about the work that they do. He meant to not only change what they said, but even more, change the way they thought.

And since they did know the Gospel and they did know that Jesus is Lord, but they weren’t living as though they believed it… what did that mean?

Well, James sums it up for all of us. He pulls all of in together for this final sweeping statement!

See my next post...

In Christ and In Defense of the Faith,

Germany Imprisons Mom - Dad and Kids Flee to Austria

2006-09-17T22:37:00.000-05:00

Link: http://www.brusselsjournal.com/node/1330

This is truly a sad and terrible situation that I did not know went on in Germany. I honestly did not realize Germany had such laws.

Here is a background article from last year:

http://www.brusselsjournal.com/node/139

This is Hilarious!

2006-09-14T22:55:00.000-05:00

Link: http://www.nbc.com/Video/videos/snl_1432_narnia.shtml

"The Chronic (what?) Cles of Narnia" is the name of the rap song. It's from Saturday Night Live. Enjoy!

Update:

http://nbc-snl.resultspage.com/search?p=Q&ts=front&w=narnia
(Since the first link above doesn't work anymore, I was able to click on this link and select "watch" next to the picture and view the video)This was just too good to lose!

James 4:15 - The Gospel Solution

2006-09-05T19:11:00.000-05:00

15 Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.”

-----------------

We said last time that James gives the only good alternative to the merchants bad doctrine... The Gospel.

So, what is the Gospel? Well, in one sentence… Jesus is Lord!

That is what Christ's Church confesses every day His followers gather together… either by song, or sermon, or by prayer or teaching.

So, if Jesus is Lord that means it’s up to Him whether we live or die! If Jesus is Lord, that means it’s up to Him whether or not we move, get a job, go to college, or finish high school. If Jesus is Lord, then that means it’s up to Him whether or not we take our next breath.

What does James say again? “If it is the Lord’s will... we will live and do this or that.” That’s the Gospel! If Jesus is Lord, then that means what He says goes. And that is GOOD NEWS because He is good and righteous and He is King of all the nations!

So, that’s the alternative James gives us, right? But what if we don’t take that alternative? What if we act like the merchants? James clarifies what it means to act like these merchants that plan to succeed in their goals without involving God…

In Christ and In Defense of the Faith,

James 4:14 - Life is Vapor

2006-09-05T18:01:00.000-05:00

14 yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.

----------------------

So, how does James correct this bad doctrine? Where does he start?

This is where he starts... He wants to make sure that his readers know that life without God is nothing but vapor. In essence, apart from Christ, our lives are short and we quickly pass away. James is basically giving them a picture of what every human life is like. The Psalmist writes in Psalm 90:10, “The length of our days is seventy years – or eighty, if we have the strength; yet their span is but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away.”

I'm reminded of the song "Dust in the Wind" by Kansas. This song is a perfect document for us to understand what James is saying here in verse 14. One verse says, "Don't hang on, nothing lasts forever but the earth and sky. It slips away, all your money won't another minute buy."

If we are going to act like atheists when we plan for the future and talk about the future, even if it is one day in advance, James wants us to know that our lives are meaningless and short and that all our words and money will not buy us one more second. We have no guarantee of tomorrow!

Why does he do this?... Because he means to humble us when he rhetorically asks, “What is your life?!”

So, if that’s all life is then why do we even try? Well, this is where the Kansas song fell short and where the Gospel comes into play. James doesn’t stop there with his rebuke of these merchants’ doctrine. Instead, James gives them a clear alternative in order to correct their doctrine…The Gospel.

More to come later...

In Christ and In Defense of the Faith,

And He Will Be My Son

2006-09-04T11:02:00.000-05:00

Link: AND HE WILL BE MY SON: A BIBLICAL PARADIGM FOR THE COVENANT OF WORKS CONCEPTION

This article was recently written by Dr. Sam Waldron and Eddie Goodwin from The Midwest Center for Theological Studies.

It offers a very helpful conclusion for those who are interested in studying the recent intramural Christian debates over the doctrine of "The Covenant of Works." Many have felt that this doctrine needs some reworking and this article seeks to do just that.

I believe this article will be very beneficial for all Christians who are interested in the issue. If you have not heard of "The Covenant of Works" or are simply unfamiliar with the doctrinal history, this article might prove to be helpful if you can accept the fact that more research will have to be done on the part of those who are not as up-to-date on the doctrine and the recent debates.

Here are some points that I offer to help clarify some of the issues dealt with in the above article:

1) Adam was created to be a mature judge/king and become higher than the angels. (Hebrews 2:5-8; 1 Cor. 6:2-3; Romans 8:18-25) Hebrews 2 via Psalm 8 is the primary passage for understanding this. We were made for "a little while" lower than the angels. This means that God's intent was always the eschatological glorification of mankind. It is not as though we should think that the subsequent passages, 1 Cor. And Romans 8, etc., are only plans God made for mankind after the fall. To deny that God's purpose for man was a higher state than Adam and Eve in the Garden is to imply that the glorification of humanity and becoming partakers of the divine nature (2 Peter 1:3-4) was an after-thought of God in response to the fact that man fell into sin while living in the state of Eden prior to the fall. The Scripture clearly tells us that the Edenic setup was a "probationary" period. It was the means to maturity, not maturity itself.

2) The prohibition of eating from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil was only temporary. (Genesis 1:29; ref. 2:15-17) God promised that all the fruit of all the trees would be food for Adam and Eve, therefore including the Tree of Knowledge. But we see that a prohibition to the Tree of Knowledge was made in the Garden as a temporary restriction until Adam and Eve had matured enough to attain to the Knowledge of Good and Evil that God had always intended for them to have. Of course we must be clear that this knowledge is not bad knowledge since God's response to Adam and Eve was, "Behold, the man has become like one of us in knowing good and evil." (Genesis 3:22) God had this knowledge, therefore it was good and holy. Also, the problem was not that God took issue with us becoming like Him, but that we became like Him in an immature state which God would have to rectify by sending His Son, the "second Adam." (Romans 5) And, as noted in my first point, God's intent has always been to make man a partaker of the divine nature and to fulfill his image bearing - which is to be made completely into the image of the "second Adam", God's eternal Son - Jesus Christ.

3) It must then be concluded that the "Covenant of Works Conception" is a valid and important doctrine for all Christians to affirm for the sake of sound eschatology and anthropological clarity.

==================================

Please consider the above referenced article a very timely and needed addition to the debate of this important issue of Covenant Theology. All Christians should study and understand this issue since it is a very important part of our understanding the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This doctrine helps to clarify and expound upon His earthly ministry, in which He accomplished the things that the first Adam failed to do.

In Christ and In Defense of the Faith,

James 4:13 - The Boast

2006-08-27T20:58:00.000-05:00

13 Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit"

----------------------

Okay, so the merchants are laying out a business plan, right? What’s wrong with that? I mean, we all plan for the future. We all plan for school, the type of career we want to have after college, and what type of life we want to live. What’s wrong with that? Isn’t that just something that we have to do since we don’t know the future?

Unfortunately there is a problem. What’s wrong with the way that I’m thinking? Or, more importantly, what was wrong with what the merchants planned to do in the city that they wanted to visit?

First, as creature we are very limited in our knowledge of what’s going to happen next, we find ourselves always planning to do things that are not for certain to us because we do not know what the future holds. That is James’ first response to these merchants.

Now, I’m sure they might readily admit that they don’t really know the future. But James wants them to realize that they are doing something when they speak the way they speak. They are thinking a certain way and it isn’t good.

So, what is the merchants’ problem? Read 1 Timothy 1:8-10

Just like Paul reminds Timothy, James is seeking to show his readers that some of them do not have sound doctrine. Even more, I want us to realize that these letters in the New Testament mean to tell us that life and doctrine are one. They are a not two separate things. If one is wrong, so is the other. If one is right, so is the other.

We can’t be people who say things like, “Oh, doctrine isn’t important, we just need to be good to each other and love each other.” Well, not only is that a doctrinal statement, but that person is telling us that our lives can somehow be honoring to God without the truth of God radically infecting our lives through power of the Holy Spirit.

Now, I understand that plenty of people who are asked specific questions about God can spout off the right answer. But during the rest of their daily lives their speech and actions do not line up with their answer in any way. They might comprehend something that is true Biblically, but their heart and life have not been changed by it. This poses a serious problem.

Take one man I know… If I ask him things specifically about Jesus and what Jesus did on the cross, he can tell me that Jesus died for peoples sins. Okay, that’s all well and good, but the rest of the day I hear him saying Jesus this and Jesus that, and it’s not very reverent… if you catch my drift.

This person does not have sound doctrine. In a similar, though different situation, these merchants that James was speaking to did not have sound doctrine. Why? Because their actions were not in accordance with the Gospel they had been told.

For all intents and purposes these merchants were acting like 'practical atheists' in the way they spoke about what they were going to do with their lives. [A practical atheist is someone who lives their life as if their was no higher being or authority such as God] This is just as bad as the people that James was addressing before this passage who were slandering their neighbor. (James 4:11-12) But the merchants aren’t doing something against their neighbor here; they are doing something against God. They are failing to love God with all their mind, heart, soul and strength. They are forgetting that God created and sustains the universe by the word of His power. These merchants are acting like they didn’t know what Paul told the men of Athens - for “In him we live and move and have our being.” (Acts 17:28)

But, if we are Christians, as I believe these merchants were… then we are suppose to know this!

So, how does James correct this bad doctrine? Where does he start? Check back for the answer in the next post.

In Christ and In Defense of the Faith,

James 4:13-17 - Verses

2006-08-19T14:07:00.001-05:00

Boasting About Tomorrow

13 Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit" 14 yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. 15 Instead you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that." 16 As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. 17 So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.

James 4:13-17 - Intro

2006-08-19T14:03:00.001-05:00

Now, before we talk about the passage, some things should be clear... Within the direct context of this portion of James, I think we have the best warrant to say that James transitions into primarily addressing people in the Church. He's not talking to people ignorant about Christ or the ways of God.

James' letter was written to Christians, but sometimes the groups or types of people he is talking about are not people in the Church. Thus, my conclusion about this specific passage is that these are a group of people in the Church who know the good they should do, but James has heard that they are doing something else.

Specifically, James refers to a group of merchants that will go from town to town and set up camp to make their living. Now obviously James had heard them say something in the past and is using what they said to get his point across. We read it in the first verse of this passage.

In Christ and In Defense of the Faith,

What is repentance?

2006-08-19T13:17:00.001-05:00

How often do we come to God expecting Him to forgive and so we don't recognize our sin and take the great gift of forgiveness for granted?
How do you ask for forgiveness?
What is repentance? remorse or contrition for past conduct or sin
J. I. Packer "Repentance is a fruit of faith, which is itself a fruit of regeneration... it is inseparable from faith... having at its heart a serious purpose of sinning no more but living henceforth a life that will show one's repentance to be full and real. Repenting of any vice means going in the opposite direction, to practice the virtues most directly opposed to it."
Repentance is a command of God. (Acts 3:19-21, Luke 13:5, Mark 1:15) It is not just to have a change of mind.
What is the difference between repentance and asking for forgiveness?
Can you ask for forgiveness and not be sorry?
Can you repent and not be sorry?
How do we repent?
Spurgeon- There must be a sorrow for sin and a hatred of it in true repentance. A discovery of iniquity and a hatred of it, without which there can be no repentance. Thinking more about the consequences of the sin instead of the sin itself is not true repentance. False repentance could lead to your heart being hardened more.
Do you confuse repentance with emotion?
Emotional grief does not guarantee real repentance. Repentance is an act, not an emotion.
It is not about how you feel but what your actions show. 2 Corinthians 7:9 As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us.
How often do you go to God and just say- forgive me for my sin?
Is that honoring to God?
Are you looking at you sin, being full of sorrow- hating it, and asking God to change your heart?
If we are all honest, that is not the way we come before a Holy God. Why???
Why do we think that being repentant is not that important?
Are you taking the blood of Christ for granted?
Do you think that because your sins are forgiven that you do not need to hate your sin and be repentant?

Repentance and faith are inseparable. We cannot manufacture repentance; it comes from God's enablement. 2 Timothy 2:25 Sin is so rooted in us and we cannot turn from it on our own. Repentance is turning from our sin and turning to Christ. This is the same as when we come to a saving faith in God. We should have a repentant spirit as believers. Ephesians 4:22-24
When we confess our sin, God forgives and restores us. 1 John 1:9

Let's look at David's plea for repentance and forgiveness.

Psalm 51:1-17

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! 3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. 4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment. 5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. 6 Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart. 7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice. 9 Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. 11 Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit. 13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you. 14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, O God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness. 15 O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise. 16 For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

Welcome!

2006-08-19T10:59:00.000-05:00

Hello Everyone,

This is the new BETA Blog for In Defense of the Faith Apologetic Ministry. I decided to go ahead and get things started on this web site and see what kind of new features Blogger.com was offering. I hope you enjoy the reading!

In Christ and In Defense of the Faith,