Marcus Aurelius and Christian Persecution

Marcus Aurelius was a Roman emperor and also a Stoic philosopher. Stoicism calls for an unemotional view of life, calm and steady. It has lots of fine things to say actually, some find it compatible with Christianity to some degree.

Unfortunately, many Christians were persecuted and martyred under his reign.

Some historians claim he did not have an active part in the persecution, and some claim he may not have ever known it was going on.

Whatever the case, Christians were persecuted. And I don’t just mean that Disney said some stuff that upset them. I mean they were killed in evil, nasty ways.

One man in particular suffered greatly.

A Christian man named Attalus was put in an iron chair over a fire. If you do the physics, the iron would heat up and basically grill the person while alive. After this, he was given a chance to recant, but he did not. He remained faithful in his testimony.

So they threw him to wild beasts in the amphitheater, but for whatever reason, some claim divine intervention others say the beasts were already full from previous eatings, the wild beasts did not kill him!

So, the decision was made to stab him in the neck. And, if that wasn’t enough, he was then beheaded.

Reading about these things is often hard to believe. I would encourage you to find a couple books on Christian martyrs and read their stories. Some are hard to imagine.

Thank the Lord we have not had to face such things. But also ask Him for the faith that would withstand such trials if called to do so.

Did God Create the Alphabet?

We all know Genesis 1:1. We can quote it, been hearing it since Sunday School days. But do you know you don’t know all of it?

This isn’t a trick question either. There’s a Hebrew word left out of our English translations. After “In the beginning God created” there is the Hebrews word ayth, a combination of the Hebrew letters Aleph and Tav.

This word, or some say it’s more of a symbol, denotes completion and is often placed close to the Hebrew word Yahweh. In other words, whatever it’s talking about in the context, God did it fully.

Aleph is the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet, and Tav is the last letter of the Hebrew alphabet. It’s a word that encompasses the whole alphabet, as the Greek idiom puts it, “Alpha and Omega.”

If you include this word in the translation it would say “In the beginning God created A-Z.” He created all things to a point of perfection.

So, that’s one way to look at it.

Another way is the Hebrew traditional view that the first thing God created was the Hebrew alphabet! Now, that might sound weird, but is it?

This all sounds intriguing when you include John 1:1, “In the beginning was the Word!” Or Hebrews 11:3, “The worlds were framed by the word of God.”

These verses could support the idea that the ayth in Genesis 1:1 might actually be talking about letters in the alphabet, God creating all things with words.

The alphabet is the building block of words and thus language. Creation had to start somewhere, and the Bible is clear that it started with the words from God’s mouth.

I don’t know that this is definitely the case, but is cool to contemplate. Goes to show you that even the verses you already know everything about you don’t know everything about!

Wonder what else we’re missing?!

Malachi and How Many People in Church are Annoying God

Malachi is a great little book. It’s a series of questions clearly showing God’s irritation and frustration with Israel.

In 2:17 God says He is wearied by their words. Particularly when they say, “Every one that doeth evil is good in the sight of the Lord, and he delighteth in them”

We’re doing this today also. Lots of “peace, peace” when there is no peace being preached to people who are doing evil. What we do matters. I know we like to talk about faith alone and emphasize grace and love, but what we do matters, and it matters hugely.

Two verses later, in 3:2, we’re told, “But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap.”

The reason why what you do matters is because God is coming to judge and His judgment burns up non-eternal, non-spiritual things.

We like to ignore God’s judgment. We’re more happy and at peace when we talk about His love and mercy, rightfully so since we need that so desperately. His judgment is still a thing though, and He takes that job seriously. Get a load of Malachi 2:3

Behold, I will corrupt your seed, and spread dung upon your faces, even the dung of your solemn feasts; and one shall take you away with it.

Yup, He will do the judging and if you’re on the wrong end of it, it’s not going to be fun. He takes the excrement produced by their religious feasts to wipe on their faces. I love God. I really do!

Lest we think this sort of judgy talk is only for the Old Testament, Malachi makes sure we know this isn’t some isolated incident, maybe we won’t be judged. “For I am the Lord, I change not” he says in 3:6. If He judged His people then, I’m pretty sure He’ll judge people today.

The dividing line of who gets His judgment and who doesn’t is pretty clear, consistent, and has also not changed. In case you’ve forgotten, we’re told what the judgment is based on in 3:18.

Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.

Hm, who knew? Anyone who seriously reads the Bible knew.

You can either come to God and do good, or you will ignore Him and do evil, yet while doing evil you will tell yourself and everyone else that they are fine. You will conclude everyone is in heaven and all is well even for people who are set on evil continually.

Don’t do this. Sober up. Get a vision of God that is actually real and biblical. He has always wanted a people who would love and serve Him. Always, from Genesis through Revelation this is what He’s wanted. Nothing has changed. Nothing is going to change.

God is gracious to the humble, merciful to the merciful, loving to those who love Him. It’s all pretty simple. Don’t confuse it and don’t play games.

For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.

–Malachi 4:1,2

How I Failed At Expecting Less From People Today

Yesterday’s post had a quote about how to enjoy your faith and life more by expecting less from people and possessions, and expecting more than just temporal fixes from God.

I said I’d give it a try.

Today I had two checks on my behavior; two times I got caught not doing this!

One was I rolled my eyes at my wife and she totally caught me doing it. I tried for a second to get around it, but then I just admitted it. We have an ongoing discussion about a matter that has to do with other people. She said a thing that I disagreed with and rolled my eyes.

It wasn’t a subtle roll either, it was the kind where your eyes kind of hurt. Oops. Don’t do that. I expect her to think just like me. She doesn’t. So then I rolled my eyes. Violated the first rule.

The second one was also a violation of the first rule. I was talking to a friend about someone I struggle with and how they said something stupid. I kind of went off. Afterwards I went and rechecked what was originally said and I didn’t hear it right. If I had heard it right it would not have been as bad as I made it out to be.

So, that was gossip and not giving the benefit of the doubt. I expected the other person to say things how I say them. I heard them say a thing way worse than they said it because I assumed their disagreement.

I think expecting too much of people, setting the bar too high, and then judging and being resentful is one of my major hang-ups.

I will fail at this one a lot, but I’d like not to.

I have to watch those emotional reactions and getting carried away in the faults, or perceived faults brought on by doubt of other people. It’s ok if people don’t say and do things like me. It really is.

I apologized to my wife and the guy I was talking to. Not that all is well, but at least I recognized it and tried to set it right.

I shall try again tomorrow!

Want to Enjoy God, Life, and Faith more? Here’s a Start

“When you stop expecting people to be perfect, you can like them for who they are. And when you stop expecting material possessions to complete you, you’d be surprised at how much pleasure you get in material possessions. And when you stop expecting God to end all your troubles, you’d be surprised how much you like spending time with God.”

I like this quote. This might be one of the most geniusy quotes I’ve read in a Christian book for quite some time.

If you expect perfection from people, that they won’t be wrong, or sin, or let you down, you will be disappointed. Your disappointment will make you become a resentful jerk because now you think you have reason to not be perfect toward the other person.

God is perfect. That’s it. He’s the only one. Don’t look for anyone else to be. If you do, not only will you be kept from spiritual growth, you will keep the other person from it too, because they will fail and when they do, you will grind them into the dirt. This helps no one.

Material things work the same way. Commercials promise you a perfect, happy life if you get their product. Life doesn’t work that way. Get off the treadmill of buying more stuff. None of it is going to fulfill you or complete you.

God can fulfill us, yet we hardly scratch the surface of what that means.

Instead of taking all that is available from Him and through the Gospel, we settle for health and money problems, surface issues, all things on the material/physical level.

We ask for money and for no health problems and yet we still have health problems and still not enough money. Therefore, we doubt God, doubt His love, and quit praying since it doesn’t work anyway.

You would enjoy prayer more if you used it for more than talking about everyone’s problems most of which are reaping what was sown and are not going to be magically removed.

It’s like we think prayer was invented just for that. Church prayer lists are 90% health and money requests. Maybe 10% is spiritual requests. We’re so far off in understanding what it’s all for.

So, the conclusion of these three sentences in the quote is this:

Expect less from people: no one is perfect including you. When you truly grasp this you will become more loving and forgiving and less judgy and lonely.

Expect less from material possessions: nothing will satisfy you and the more junk you have the more space you need. All is vanity. Unplug from the materialism around you. Learn contentment and peace, which only happens by letting go of material things.

Expect more from God: He is perfect. He doesn’t just exist to fix problems and make you healthy and rich. He exists to prepare you and equip you for eternity. Love Him for who He is—Your Creator, Savior, and Father.

All of this may seem trite, but it’s quite deep. The more you expect from God the less you’ll expect from people and possessions. It’s pretty much what Ecclesiastes is about.

How does one do this though?

Be kindly affectioned one toward another. Tenderhearted, forgiving one another. Walk with lowliness, meekness, forbearing one another in love. All of this stems from having a right view of humanity in its fallen state, including your part in it.

Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and He’ll take care of you. The love of money is the root of all evil. You can’t serve God and mammon. Lay hold on eternal life. Live like Ecclesiastes is true.

Getting people and possessions in their right place will create better worship of God. We don’t worship the creation, but the Creator. It’s Christ who lives in us, no longer us. Present your body a living sacrifice unto God. Walk in love as He also loved us.

It’s a package deal really. I imagine life would be way better if we actually did this. Maybe I’ll give it a try.

There Are Conditions for Getting Grace, Mercy, Love, Goodness, and Forgiveness

There are several words in the New Testament that are indeed great words, but they also get twisted.

They are all “happy” words. They evoke positivity and encouragement.

All of them have been stretched so far into happy talk that they cease to mean anything anymore except license and guilt-free sinning.

Grace, mercy, love, goodness, forgiveness, and words like that are what I’m talking about.

Again, these words represent great things, and I am in no way against them. I am against using them in unbiblical ways, however.

I’ve heard many people stress these words so much they eliminate any sort of qualifiers on how to get them. It’s as if God is just throwing them out there to anyone without any reason why.

This isn’t some Calvinism thing either, where God irresistibly forces you to take His grace. I mean people don’t think there is any cost or responsibility associated with these words.

Yet each of these words has verses that let you know they are gotten by meeting conditions. If those conditions aren’t met; you don’t get those happy benefits.

Meeting conditions does not mean earning these things. It means meeting a condition. Conditions determine who gets these things. So, unless you are a universalist and think everyone will be saved, there has to be some reason why some people get grace, mercy, and love from God while others don’t.

Here are some other verses about these words that should factor into our talk about them. All of these verses have conditions in them:

Grace:

“God gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6; 1 Peter 5:5).

“Grace be with all them who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity” (Ephesians 6:24).

Mercy:

“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy” (Matthew 5:7).

“And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy” (Galatians 6:16).

Love:

“Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father” (John 14:21).

“If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love” (John 15:10).

Goodness:

“Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off” (Romans 11:22).

Forgiveness:

“For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you” (Matthew 6:14).

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins” (1 John 1:9).

Now, I know these aren’t the only verses about these words. There are plenty of other ones. I think we’ve heard those ones a lot. I think they have been stressed to the point of meaninglessness.

These verses are in the Bible too, and they are in there for a reason: to keep people from going to ridiculous and illogical places!

The whole Bible is profitable for doctrine, I suggest we use it and use it correctly. When we do this, it has a way of keeping us from error and that’s a great thing.

Be Careful: People Say Weird Things About Grace

“Grace” is the most misused word in Christianity, in my opinion.

Anytime a Christian starts talking about grace, you can expect some error to come pretty quick.

Take the recent book I’m reading for instance. I got to a chapter on grace and read the following sentences:

“The grace of God means forgiveness has preceded repentance in our lives.”

[When they understand God’s grace] “they come to realize that repentance isn’t something they do in order to earn God’s forgiveness; it’s a heartfelt response of those who realize they have been forgiven.”

The whole section was on the Prodigal Son. He came home and didn’t even get words out of his mouth before his father forgave him. Instead the father threw a party.

There was no discipleship by the father and there was no repentance on the part of the son.

This sounds like a nice, happy theory, but the son coming home was the repentance. If the son had never come home there wouldn’t have been a party.

Yes, the father was ecstatic his son came home, but the son did come home!

The author of this book makes it sound like the son was forgiven while out doing all the weird stuff, so even if he never had come home he still would have been forgiven.

The son was eating with pigs. He came to himself. He knew he had messed up and decided to return home. That whole process was his repentance. “Repent” means to turn and go a new way. Going home was the new way.

This sort of nonsense gets passed off as biblical doctrine by way too many Christians.

In case you think I’m just railing on something I don’t like, my immediate thought was to look up verses using “repent” and “forgive.”

Guess what? There are eight of them in the New Testament (Mark 1:4; Luke 3:3; 17:3, 4; 24:47; Acts 2:38; 5:31; 8:22) . Every single one says repentance comes before forgiveness. Go ahead, look it up.

The most devastating one is Acts 8:22 about Simon wanting to buy spiritual power.

“Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord in the hope that he may forgive you for having such a thought in your heart.”

Get a load of that verse! This verse seems to imply that even with repentance God still might not forgive him! Sincerity of heart is the main issue (8:21).

Goodness. Be careful out there. Please read the Bible. You’ll be able to tell when people are teaching bad doctrine and you will cease saying it yourself.

The Great and Terrible God

In Daniel 9, the prophet Daniel is praying to God with sackcloth and ashes, pouring out his heart and making confession to God for the sins of his people.

At the beginning of his prayer (9:4) he says, “O Lord, the great and dreadful God.”

Wow. What a way to open a prayer.

We’ve been told our whole Christian life that we have a personal relationship with God. It’s, in fact, not a religion; it’s a relationship.

There is truth in this to an extent, but not to the extent that we forget who we are talking to.

The New American Standard, NIV, and ESV soften it to “awesome” God. That’s pretty cheap.

The root word means fear, affright, afraid, terror. In this form, it means that which makes you afraid. I suppose back in the day “awesome” meant that, but it doesn’t anymore.

I’d prefer the recent translations to use a word that conveys the fear and terror, rather than how we cheaply use “awesome” in our day to basically mean, “Cool, or impressive.”

There is terror here. Daniel is calling upon God’s authority to enforce the covenant. He admits that they have sinned terribly, blown apart the covenant, and have no rightful basis to approach Him.

He’s afraid.

Daniel, a righteous guy who has nothing negative said about him in the Bible.

Contrast that with us, who have no testimony near Daniel’s, flippantly addressing the terrible God as some guy we know.

And yes, I know we have boldness to enter through grace and I know we are sons of God and can cry out “Abba.” I got it.

But flippancy may reveal we aren’t really sons; maybe we’re presuming too much.

Yes, Christ has changed the covenant, and yes as members of the new covenant we are not under God’s wrath. But does this imply a lack of respect for who God is?

Does your sin bother you? Do the sins of the church bother you? How about the sins of our culture we’re a part of and watch and take pleasure in?

Shouldn’t we have a little bit of humility and perhaps fear of God since that is the case?

We can overdo grace and love and end up blaspheming God. Presumption is a sin we should be mindful of. Perhaps a little sackcloth and ashes might be appropriate for us in our flippant day.

Maybe a little awareness of sin and God’s role as Judge should temper some of our flippancy.

Something to seriously consider.

Daniel, Lion Mouths, and Free Will

Daniel got thrown into a lion’s den because he prayed to God toward Jerusalem with his windows open. Seems a silly reason for the death penalty, but alas, equally silly things are coming our way soon I imagine.

Remember that Daniel was praying toward Jerusalem with his windows open before they made it illegal. In fact, it was him doing this that gave them the idea for the prohibition.

Daniel had guts to keep his daily meetings with God.

The king was genuinely bummed that he got played by the guys who hated Daniel. He stayed up all night worried about Dan and how he was doing with the lions.

Early in the morning he opened the den and called to Daniel. He received a response! Shock number one. Shock number two is that Daniel said the Lord sent an angel to shut the mouths of the lions.

Was this the same angel that appeared in the fiery furnace with Daniel’s three friends? Seems likely. Was this a pre-incarnate appearance of Christ, THE angel of the Lord? Could be, no further details are given.

I like the picture of an angel coming to shut lion mouths!

How did he do that?! Duct tape?

The lions, left to their own devices, would have devoured Daniel in a few seconds. Their free will was removed.

Does this imply that every time a lion opens its mouth it’s God making it do that? No, not at all.

Just like when God hardened Pharaoh’s heart, does that mean that every time a person disobeys God it’s because God hardened their heart? No, there would be no reason to conclude that.

Lions do what lions do. The reason we know this was a miracle, the reason the king knew it was a miracle, is because for once lions didn’t do what lions do.

For instance, when the creepy guys who set up Daniel were tossed into the same den with the same lions, the lions crushed them before they hit the floor.

Was that a miracle? Did God have to override their free will to make them eat the bad guys? Nope, just lions being lions, plus they were extra hungry going a whole night without food.

Be careful not to extrapolate weird notions out of biblical accounts. Read them for what they say. Doing so will keep you from blaspheming the name and character of God. That’s a good thing.

If however you do, understand this is your own stupidity; God did not make you do it!

Loving God Implies Loving His Word

A recent book I read said our relationship with Jesus should be one of “passionate, romantic love.”

Which, first of all, gag.

But secondly, his illustration was a young man engaged to a woman. He tells her he loves her. She responds with how she studied the word love in the Greek and Hebrew and read a treatise on love.

His conclusion from this is that this is how too many Christians’ relationship with God is. Instead of loving Him we just read His book and study it.

This reasoning nauseates me. I’ve heard it many times.

The obvious flaw in the reasoning is that God isn’t sitting there talking to you, but He did write you a book. If you love Him, you will indeed study that book. Yes, you will do more than that, but you have to do that at least.

This is also highly ridiculous in this age when our biblical literacy is so low. The odds someone will study the Bible too much is very, very low.

Psalm 119:88 says, “In your unfailing love preserve my life, that I may obey the statutes of your mouth.” Seriously? Doesn’t David know that a loving relationship with God has nothing to do with obeying God’s Word?

Psalm 119:97 says, “Oh how I love your law; I meditate upon it all day long.” Shame on David! How evil of him! He shouldn’t waste his days like that! He should be out reveling in the passionate romance of God’s love.

Psalm 119:124 says, “Deal with your servant according to your love; and teach me your decrees.” Doesn’t David know that romantic love does not involve teaching and learning? How does he not know this?

Psalm 119:159 says, “See how I love your precepts; preserve my life, Lord, in accordance with your love.” Come on, man! Love has nothing to do with precepts; it’s all about the feels.

The Bible says that if we love God we should keep His commandments. His commandments are not grievous.

Anyone who belittles God’s word (and remember that “in the beginning was the word, the word was with God, and the word was God”) does not understand God’s love for us and it’s doubtful whether they love God.

This isn’t my judgment upon them; this appears to be the teaching of the word, which they would know IF THEY READ IT MORE.

But they don’t.

They think it’s all feels.

No one needs a warning that they are paying too much attention to God’s word. No one.

“But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them.”
–1 John 2:5

One Way God Judges Sinners

God is a God of righteousness and judgment, among other things. In our day, I think we stress His love, grace, mercy, and other “positive” attributes to the exclusion of what we consider to be His “negative” attributes.

His judgment sure doesn’t get air time in the modern church.

God does get upset with sinners over their sin. He promises He is paying attention and will set things right. You may get away with some stuff for a while, but you’ll get your comeupins.

The prophets are the best at showing God seemingly reveling in judgment. Although we are told that judgment is God’s strange work (Isaiah 28:21), when He gets around to doing it, He’s all in.

Nahum is a great example. Nineveh is a nasty place. About 140 years prior to Nehum’s warnings, Jonah visited the town. At that point they repented. Some have thought Nineveh’s repentance must have been fake since Nahum calls them out.

But I wouldn’t say that. God isn’t fooled by false repentance. What happens is that people repent and then have kids. As generations pass, old repentance doesn’t count.

Children are not held responsible for their parents’ sin, and they aren’t granted benefits because of their parents’ righteous deeds either. Ezekiel 14 is pretty clear on this issue.

Nineveh repented. About 4 generations pass and Nineveh is back to their evil ways. Consider America 140 years ago. We’ve slipped a bit too by any measure.

Nahum is torching Nineveh, calling them out for their violence and sinfulness. We get to Nahum 3:5-6 and hang on to your hats when you read this one!

“I am against you,” declares the Lord Almighty.
    “I will lift your skirts over your face.
I will show the nations your nakedness
    and the kingdoms your shame.
 I will pelt you with filth,
    I will treat you with contempt
    and make you a spectacle.

I have to tell you, this is awesome!

Everything about this makes me happy, I mean, ok, I’m not happy for those people who were sinning, but it is nice to see sinners get judged! The description of this judgment is so explicit, so clear, it’s almost as if there is a certain emotional fulfillment taking place in describing how terrible the judgment will be.

Lifting skirts over their heads is pretty self-explanatory. All your naked bits are seen, which is humiliating. All the nations will see their shame.

And then, and then! Get this! God is going to pelt them with filth! Oh man, I love God.

They will be a naked, shamed spectacle with God throwing dirt on them.

Oh Lord, even so, come quickly. I can’t wait to see all sin and evil be judged and put down and eliminated. I can’t wait for evil people to get theirs. I can’t wait for righteousness to reign under Christ’s authority.

Some people get nervous about this sort of talk. Not me! Bring it on! I love this stuff. If God enjoys writing about His wrath this way, I think we should at least enjoy reading about it!

Don’t mess with God. You can’t fool Him. He is keeping track and if you’re not in Christ, you are heaping up wrath for yourself for the Day of Wrath and God knows how to show wrath.

Don’t be an object of God’s wrath.

The Purpose of a Vine

Ezekiel 15 says that vine wood is useless. You can’t make stuff out of it because it’s not strong. It makes terrible wood for burning because it burns so quick it doesn’t give off heat.

Therefore, it’s useless. All they do with it is throw it in trash heaps and burn it up.

Ezekiel uses old vine wood as an illustration for the people of Israel as God drops judgment on them.

But I thought Jesus said He was the vine and we were the branches? If vine wood is useless, why does Jesus say He’s the vine?

There is one thing vine wood is good for: being a vine!

When a vine is healthy, it’s pretty tough, even Tarzan can swing on them!

A living vine is not worthless because living vines bring forth fruit.

Vines that don’t bring forth fruit are dead, and dead vines are burned up since their wood is now worthless.

Jesus said you will know His disciples by their fruit. Our whole job as followers of Christ is to bear fruit. This was also the whole job of the people of Israel.

When Israel obeyed their God they would be a witness to the nations. When believers in the New Testament bear fruit, we help people glorify out Father who is in heaven.

If there is no spiritual fruit then there is no spiritual life. The Bible really can’t be more clear on this point.

“But indeed the axe is already being laid at the root of the trees; so every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”

—Luke 3:9

Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit.

–John 15:2

I am the vine, you are the branches; the one who remains in Me, and I in him bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.

–John 15:5

My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.

–John 15:8

Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you also were put to death in regard to the Law through the body of Christ, so that you might belong to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God.

–Romans 7:4

The point of being in the vine is to bear fruit. If you’re not bearing fruit then you are not connected to the vine. Fruit is always the test of whether life exists or not.

Bear fruit. It’s why you’re here.

Don’t Be Worthless

The prophets have a great way of expressing God’s problems with humanity. Ezekiel 15 is a great chapter; it’s only 8 verses long. You should read it.

Wood from a vine is the illustration for the people of Jerusalem.

Vine wood is worthless, you can’t even use it for a peg. You can’t make anything out of it. In the fire it just gets consumed right away. In sum, vine wood is not good for anything.

“Behold, while it is intact, it is not made into anything. How much less, when the fire has consumed it and it is charred, can it still be made into anything!”

–Ezekiel 15:4

Because of its worthlessness, it just gets burned up in a junk pile.

This is how God views the people of Jerusalem.

As the wood of the vine among the trees of the forest, which I have given to the fire for fuel, so have I given up the inhabitants of Jerusalem

–Ezekiel 15:6

So, why is God destroying the people? Because they are good for nothing! They have no value because they don’t do anything.

It’s always good to remember that the New Testament tells us that the Old Testament was written for our learning.

We like to bash on the failings of the Old Testament people of God, but the Bible sure seems to be saying that the New Testament people will fail the same way.

We’re good for nothing because we don’t do anything.

Many in the modern church have even made this their leading doctrine.

“Christ said, ‘It is finished!’ We don’t have to do anything. There’s no need to pursue righteousness of holiness; that might even be dangerous as it will make you trust yourself and not God’s grace.”

So, here we are. Modern people playing Christianity don’t do anything. Oh sure, we sing some songs and spout some nice clichés, but we don’t actually do anything. Well, I mean, we do some church things, some busy activity we do to pretend we’re serving God. But we’re not actually seeking first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness.

The Book of Revelation tells us this world will be burned up. The fire will consume a bunch of worthless vine wood that can’t be used for anything.

Don’t be that. Be the exception to the rule. Be like Noah. Build something helpful that will free you and others from going through judgment.

Using the Historical Context of a Verse to Deceive People

As much as I think it’s vital to understand the context of a Bible passage to know its meaning, there is a popular idea that we also need to know the historical context of the audience it was first written to.

I get the idea and probably mostly agree with it. I’ve also heard it used in weird ways that deny the obvious meaning of a passage.

If I have to understand the historical context, the actual thoughts, feelings, and lives of the original audience, to understand any verse in the Bible, I need to be a history and sociology major to understand the Bible.

History changes as well. Whose history are we going with? We’re pretty good at rewriting history. In my years of listening to Christians I’ve heard a lot of theories about what people did in Bible times that were later proven to be wrong.

A recent example of this historical context deception I heard was a theology professor being told that when Paul says an elder should be the husband of one wife this clearly means elders should be men and not women.

He denied this interpretation. Why? Well, he said it’s only because we live in this time that we view the passage as meaning that. If you were in Africa in the first century you would have known the emphasis of that verse was forbidding polygamy.

How does he know what first century Africans thought of a verse in 1 Timothy?

And even if he was talking about polygamy, it still says the elder is to be the husband of one wife. It still says the elder is a husband.

How come when the professor interprets the verse his way he isn’t also swayed by his culture? No major voice in church history thought women should be pastors until the last hundred years or so. This leads me to believe that women being pastors is a societal emphasis.

Although it sounds good to tell people they need to know the historical context to understand a verse, and sometimes it is, you should also be aware that this idea is being used to deceive people in a biblical sounding way.

Satan can twist the best of ideas to mess us up. Don’t fall for his devices.

Read the Word and ask for wisdom from God. You’ll be fine.

God Inhabits the Praises of His People

Came across a phrase from a verse in a theology book that I thought was cool. It’s in Psalm 22:3

But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.

The book talking about it said that God has chosen to inhabit the praises of His people. When they worship correctly, according to how God says to do it, God is praised and dwells in those praises.

Huh. I never saw that one before.

Usually Psalm 22 is all about verse one, maybe verse 3 just slipped by while contemplating how Jesus quoted “My God why have you forsaken me?”

This is the King James translation, most other ones use the word “enthroned” instead of “inhabits.”

Keil and Delitzsch, premiere Hebrew commentators, say about this verse, “The songs of praise, which resounded in Israel as the memorials of His deeds of deliverance, are like the wings of the cherubim, upon which His presence hovered in Israel.”

Most other commentaries skip over it, probably because they don’t know what to do with it either.

Pretty cool to think of God inhabiting praises from His people though. It probably has to do with the temple, the place where God dwelt among the Israelites. When they praised Him in the temple He was present with them.

In our day, each believer and the assembly of believers are the temple. Christ told us that all believers are in Him and He is in them. So, whatever Psalm 22:3 is talking about in relation to Israel, the idea has to be heightened in the New Testament sense of being in the Body of Christ.

Either way, I have no idea what all to do with this phrase, but it’s a cool one to think about. If nothing else I will tuck it away in my memory and bring it out at some small group discussion and really wow people with my cryptic humble brag quotation.

And aint wowing people in small group really what it’s all about anyway?

You Should Probably be More Concerned About Your Eternity than You Are

I’m always amazed at the flippancy with which Christians talk about salvation.

“Oh yeah, well he’s saved.”

“I know she’s in heaven.”

“I can’t wait to be with Jesus.”

I can’t wait either, but maybe you should examine if that’s actually a real expectation for you.

Whenever I bring up such things I’m always accused of being judgmental. “Who are you, God is the judge.” I know. I understand that.

Here’s the thing though: I’ve read the Judge’s book quite a few times now and He does a lot of explaining about who is saved. One of the points the Judge makes several times is that not many people are.

You wouldn’t know that by how Christians talk. Everyone they know is saved.

I’m fine if a person can’t wait to see Jesus, but I’ve heard this from people who have no desire to listen to Jesus.

If you don’t want to do what He says here, what makes you think you’ll enjoy being with Him there?

Paul says some amazing things in Philippians 3. Several verses in Philippians 3 are said frequently and flippantly by lots of Christians.

Have you ever noticed the phrases in this chapter about Paul seeming a little concerned about his eternity? Have you ever noticed his determination to make sure he is good? No? I’m not surprised.

We all know Paul is saved, he’s an apostle, wrote half the New Testament, of course he’s in, what does he have to worry about?

I don’t know, but he seems a little concerned about it, way more than most of us are concerned about our salvation.

We’re familiar with Philippians 3:10

That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

Do you remember the next verse?

If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

Huh, what a verse. If you look this up in commentaries they will very quickly tell you Paul isn’t worried about missing the resurrection. Ok, maybe not. But even if he’s not, he’s still saying something. He’s doing everything he can to be part of the resurrection.

He’s not flippant about it like we are. There’s no, “I know I’ll be resurrected because that whole Damascus Road thing. Just gonna coast in now.”

Yet most Christians I’ve met say they aren’t worried about their salvation because of something they did in the past once. Hm. Weird how Paul is concerned but we aren’t.

Verse 12 says he is following hard after Christ so that he might apprehend what he’s so far been unable to apprehend.

Verse 14 he says he’s pressing toward the mark, stretching out with energy to attain the final goal.

Verse 17 we are told to follow Paul’s example.

Why are we so assured of everything so easily and flippantly? I wonder if we’re missing something. I wonder if on Judgment Day many will be shocked.

If only there were some verses about lots of people being shocked on Judgment Day that they really aren’t saved even though they thought they were.

I’m not here to make people doubt their salvation; I’m here to get people to listen to the Bible that seems way more concerned about our salvation than we are. I imagine that means something.

The Judge awaits you. Will you be ready?

People Don’t Need a Cool Take on Christianity; They Need the Gospel

I recently read a book written by a fairly popular religious writer. The premise of the book is that he befriended a guy who is secular and has secular friends and they wanted him to write a spiritual book that would appeal to their non-religious upbringing and lives.

So, he wrote this book making an appeal to secular people.

It was awful.

He used spiritual, angsty, floaty words, goofy metaphors, obviously trying to be cool, being down to earth and real and hip while simultaneously sharing his cryptic views from above.

As I was reading it I was thinking, “This book is not hitting the mark at all. This means nothing and is saying nothing.”

In the Epilogue he shared the response from the secular guy and his friends to his manuscript. None of them liked it! They all said it missed the mark.

He published it anyway and apparently people bought it. I didn’t, someone gave it to me.

While trying to avoid Christian lingo, he missed Christianity entirely. He never once brought up the Gospel. In the end, when you suck the life out of Christianity, you’re left with a quasi-spiritual pile of goo.

No one wants a quasi-spiritual pile of goo. At least hit them with the Gospel. If they don’t have any interest in that, at least you communicated it.

They now think they have rejected Christianity. They are right to reject his mess, but man, it breaks my heart that they reject Christianity because of how this guy portrayed it.

He was pleased with his book and all his flowery ideals he worded so well. He was bummed it didn’t work for his friend. But now he has made lots of money by foisting it upon the world.

There are people who like to feel religious and in the clouds while completely missing the entire point of Christianity. Those people will eat this book up and say it’s the most profound thing ever written.

OK, I just looked. It has 2,400 reviews on Amazon, 80% of which are 5 stars. Many said it was the most profound book written.

Christianity is in huge trouble.

If you’re going to communicate Christianity with people, here’s a tip: share the Gospel and drop your angsty, floaty attempts at being cool. Just share the Gospel.

Yes, the world thinks the Gospel is foolishness and the world will be way more receptive to your watered down angst, but the Gospel is the power of God unto salvation. Your watered down angst is the power of you trying to be cool.

No one needs that.

More Answers to Why Bad Things Happen to People

There are three answers most often given for the question: Why do bad things happen to people?

1. We live in a fallen world because of Adam’s rebellion against his creator. All creation is deteriorating and thus, bad things happen.

2. Suffering exists to bring glory to God. The Calvinist answer: all things exist to give glory to God and even if babies are raped by terrible guys, God is glorified somehow.

3. God chastens His children whom He loves.

These are the top three reasons given. I know this because I read a book that said so.

I can go with 1 and 3, 2 I’m a little skeptical about. Yes, I do believe a believer can bring glory to God by how they deal with suffering, but I’m not convinced God is glorified simply by humans suffering. Guess I’d need a little more explanation on that one.

One I do see missing is that suffering is really, really good for us!

Romans 5 says tribulation leads to patience, experience, and hope. We are also told that if we suffer with Him we will also be glorified with Him. It’s almost as if suffering has to come before glorification.

Psalm 119:71 says beautifully, “It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.” Suffering is a fantastic teacher.

This isn’t just in God chastening us either. Life is suffering. In this world you will have tribulation. CS Lewis said pain is God’s megaphone to get our attention. It wakes us up. Makes us think of eternity. Makes us reconsider our choices. It certainly humbles us and reminds us of our mortality.

I suppose you could also say another reason suffering is here is because we are idiots. I’ve added layers of suffering to my life just from being dumb.

Life has enough suffering on its own, it doesn’t need our help to add more, yet for some reason we seem bent on creating more anyway.

I do believe there are many reasons why there is suffering in the world. Another reason is so we are massively impressed with the glory that is to come.

Another is because the Gospel is all about suffering, dying, and being resurrected and there’s something deep going on there. God becoming human and joining us in our suffering. Perhaps it is there to facilitate the Gospel and God’s love.

Next time you are in a group talking about this issue, skip the cliché answers, the top three, and go for one of these other answers, just to change things up, have a little fun. Maybe even drag the conversation on so long that it provides suffering that will teach people.

Your Biggest Hurdle to Understanding the Bible

I was listening to the author of a book on statistics for the layman. He talked about how a little bit of education is a dangerous thing.

There is a new movement to have statistics taught in high schools to supposedly help people recognize fake news better. The author said more than likely these classes are taught by people who don’t know statistics, and all they are doing is making students think they know what they are talking about.

Therefore, they become even harder to show the truth to. They already think they know, so to teach them accurately you have to unteach what is in their head and then reteach them. The blank slate is gone. He basically thinks it’s impossible to reteach something to someone who already thinks they know it.

He then, and this is a secular author, likened it to people who know the Prosperity Gospel and thus can’t deal with the real Gospel.

I thought that was fascinating for him to go there!

Because that’s where my head was going!

The hardest people to teach right doctrine to are people who grew up in church.

Everyone who grew up in church thinks they have right doctrine, “I’ve been in church my whole life, of course I know what I’m talking about.”

It’s easier to teach an atheist or agnostic or just someone who is outside the sphere of Christian influence correct doctrine than those who’ve been in Christianity their whole life.

Even harder to convince are those who are now in positions of leadership in Christianity who have taught others. They arrogantly think that obviously they know what they are talking about or else they wouldn’t be teachers. On top of that, now lots of people know what the teacher believes. The teacher’s reputation is now on the line. They have to be consistent. They’d have to eat lots of crow if they changed.

If you want to understand the Bible, you seriously have to forget everything you’ve ever heard about it.

There’s a guy I listen to who talks about the Bible a lot who doesn’t claim to be a Christian and has no real Christian background. Yes, some of his takes on the Bible completely miss the point.

Yet I’ve learned more insightful and practical truths from him about the Bible than from any pastor I’ve heard.

I’m not kidding.

This isn’t just a theory either. Many years ago I became convinced I didn’t know what I was talking about doctrinally. I was unable to coherently defend what I thought I believed. It got to a sleep loss kind of state.

So, I acted as though I had no idea what was going on in the Bible, which wasn’t entirely an act. Then I just began to read it and read it and read it. Much of this blog tracks my thoughts as I read and read.

My doctrine changed immensely. But now I fight the urge to claim I know it all now. What else am I missing because I think I know it all now?

I encourage you highly to forget everything and inundate yourself in the Bible.

This will be the best thing you’ll ever do. It’s scary to admit you don’t know, to perhaps go against your past stands, or against the family or church doctrine.

But you’ll learn so much and probably, for the first time ever, learn who Jesus Christ is. You might even end up getting saved. I did.

Conversations, Control, and Free Will

I listened to a podcast about conversations and how many of them turn into arguments. The Conversation Expert said the reason arguments happen is because people want control.

They want to control the conversation, but they also want to control the other person and what they believe. When two people are like this, arguments ensue. He said seeking control is a fundamental characteristic of human behavior.

This got me to thinking.

Our desire for control, which we all have due to pride, is clear evidence that we have free will. When we know we are not in control we have a reaction, often a reaction that attempts to reassert control.

How would humans have this incredible drive for control in them if they were fully controlled to the point of not having free will?

Furthermore, I’m always curious about why Calvinists argue so much. If God has ordained everything, why are most Calvinists so argumentative? I know their answer is because God ordains the means and the ends, but that explains nothing.

Why do they get so angry? Anger is not something someone with no free will would do. God has free will. God gets angry.

Perhaps people who want to believe in a God who is in meticulous control of all things are people who really like control.

That has been my experience.

I know many Calvinist dads who rule their little roosts and their kids go nuts. Their hyper-control authoritarianism drives the kids away in the end, even though the kids may be in fearful subjection while at home. Or, if they don’t rebel, they remain unhealthily submissive to the guy they are terrified of.

People who go all in on Calvinism are people who like to be in control. I think that’s why Calvinism has become so popular recently—our world is spinning out of control. We feel lost, so it helps us to remember that “God is on the throne” and “there’s nothing happening down here that He’s not doing.”

It might soothe you in the moment, but long term you’re undermining Scripture and the character of God, which will lead to much bigger problems.

Our desire for control, to assert our pride, is what drives people apart. People who truly trust God will deny themselves; they will let their rights get trampled. The will relinquish control. Read the Sermon on the Mount and pretend Jesus meant it.

People who argue and fight and cause drama are proud people desiring control. Don’t be one of those. Study to be quiet. Work with your own hands. Pray for those in authority. Fear God. Keep the commandments of Jesus Christ.

Submit yourself to Him and watch how love, joy, and peace enter your life.

The Resurrection of Jesus Changes Lives

When people question the reality of Christ’s resurrection, Christian Apologetics says at some point, “Look at the disciples before the crucifixion. They were afraid and confused; they never seemed to know what was going on. But after the resurrection these guys totally changed! They lived new lives with confidence and boldness completely absent before the resurrection.”

In other words, one of the prime proofs for the resurrection of Jesus Christ is the changed lives of the disciples.

I agree. Their lives were changed completely because of the resurrection.

What amazes me is that in all the sermons I’ve heard about the resurrection and when Christians talk about it, very few if any have ever said that the resurrection of Jesus Christ continues to change people.

Some have even said a person can be saved without any change or proof showing up in their life at all.

So, let me get this straight, the resurrection only changed the lives of the disciples, no one else?

If you read Romans 6 you very clearly hear Paul saying that the resurrection of Jesus Christ raises the believer up to newness of life where the believer will now yield the members of his body to righteousness and not sin.

He can’t say it any clearer. The resurrection continues to change the lives of people.

Many people say “He is risen;” very few live like He is risen.

One of the proofs that you believe the resurrection of Jesus Christ is that your life has changed.

If it hasn’t, have you really believed that Christ rose from the dead? Do you understand the power of the resurrection?

Christians make two points about why Christ rose from the dead:

1. it showed God approved of Christ’s sacrifice and

2. now when you die you will live again.

Neither of these is wrong, but oh, it’s so much more than that.

Paul says in his long chapter on the resurrection, 1 Corinthians 15, that if Christ didn’t rise from the dead then our faith is vain and we are yet in our sins (15:17). Later in the same chapter, all about the resurrection, he says to awake to righteousness and sin not (15:34).

Christ did rise. You are not in your sins. So don’t sin!

Where is this part of our resurrection talk?

Why do we make it all about when we’re dead?

Romans 6 says if I truly believe the Gospel I am already dead, buried, and raised up to new life in Christ. My new resurrection life has already begun at the point of salvation.

We really don’t like the implications of the resurrection. Oh sure, we’re glad Jesus did all that suffering and dying stuff, and we like happy thoughts about us being in heaven someday, but when it comes to this life, we’d rather the resurrection of Jesus Christ just leave us alone.

I find this sad and troubling. We’re missing a huge aspect of the Gospel’s power.

In Philippians 3:10 Paul says he wants to know Christ, the fellowship of His sufferings, the power of His resurrection, and be conformed to His death. He follows that with this:

“If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.”

Before we go making bold statements about how because Christ rose from the dead I will go to heaven after I die, perhaps we should make sure we actually are going to.

If we were sure, the humility of what Christ has done for us would make us desire to experience as much Christlikeness as possible before we get there.

You don’t have to wait to see Christ to start being made like Him. He gives you the power of His resurrection right now. You can use it. It’s there. It’s why He rose from the dead. Not to leave you alone losing against sin until you croak, but to transform your life so that when you croak your transition into eternity is seamless.

It’s a beautiful thing. Don’t undermine the power of the resurrection.

Don’t Forget the Resurrection!

It’s Easter season, so Christians are posting lots of inane things on the internet. I’m always glad when Christian holidays are over.

Sheesh.

Here’s one I saw this morning:

Christ drank the cup of God’s wrath, offering his blood on the cross, as our propitiation declaring our sins “paid in full!” This is the gospel.

I’ll skip over the “cup of God’s wrath” deal since I’ve dealt with that before.

I’ll skip the “paid in full” thing simply because it’s probably right, just horribly worded. Not sure how sins are paid for, or who gets paid. But, alas, I’ll move on.

The reason I’ll move on is because there’s a much more glaring problem with this statement.

“This is the Gospel” is firmly stated and yet leaves out the biggest part of the Gospel. The part that Paul said if it didn’t happen, our faith is vain and we are still in our sins.

Paul wrote his longest chapter on this aspect of the Gospel.

The Resurrection. Like, the whole thing that happened on Easter Sunday.

I notice this a lot. Several years ago I noted it the first time, how often the resurrection is left off the Gospel. Since then, I’ve paid more attention to it and concluded that there are two groups who drop the resurrection most frequently when they talk about the Gospel:

1) Calvinists

2) Easy Believism people

Here are my theories as to why both do this.

1) Calvinism/Reformed Theology is just a slightly reduced Catholicism. Calvin just copied Augustine and Augustine is considered the father of Catholicism. Catholicism likes to leave Jesus on the cross. Crucifixes are a great way to inspire guilt in people. They like the death, the blood, the wrath, the guilt. Calvinism jumps on board that train. Puritans, the most serious of all Calvinists since Calvin’s day, are dour, judgmental people who like to talk about wrath and such things. Calvinism removes love from the Gospel and makes it all about wrath and justice. They miss the point completely. Resurrection stuff is too happy. Oh sure, they bring it up. Calvin wrote about it. They will mention it. But listen when they off the cuff talk about the Gospel, often the resurrection is just tacked on as an afterthought. The big deal is the wrath and death and blood and aren’t you a terrible, rotten sinner who should feel terrible? Indeed, I am a terrible, rotten sinner, but thank God the resurrection gives me a new life in Christ that will end in glorification. That’s a nice thought.

2) Easy Believism says that salvation is gotten by simply mentally agreeing that you think Jesus died and rose again. As long as you have faith, you’re good to go. Again, they will mention the resurrection, but listen when they off the cuff explain the Gospel. They won’t make much of the resurrection. The reason why, I think, is because the resurrection implies new life for the believer. It implies a life giving power at work in the believer. It implies a new, Spirit given, righteousness pursuing new life in Christ. Can’t make too much of new life, that sounds like works! They like to think any old sinner is saved as long as they said some words once. There’s no power in the Gospel, it just leaves you right where you were, which is fine with them because they do like their sin. No need to shed that old man; I kind of like what the old man does. I said the prayer, let me sin, I still get to go to heaven. They don’t like the resurrection because it implies that faith is always evidenced by a new life.

Those are my takes. You can disagree if you want. Doesn’t bother me. These are my theories I’ve come to after observing people for a long time. Just theories. My brain trying to make sense of people.

Again, all Christians will say they like the resurrection. If pressed, they will all state how important it is. But listen to people’s off the cuff statements of what the Gospel is and notice if the resurrection makes the cut.

You’ll be amazed how many times it gets left off. Ask yourself why. Why would this person keep forgetting to mention it? Hmm. My guess is they are in one of these two groups of people, and maybe even in both.

The resurrection is a big deal, both for this life on earth and the life to come. Emphasize the resurrection. Plenty of people were crucified back in the day; only one raised Himself from the dead. That’s the hard bit to believe. And believing the resurrection will change you fundamentally into a new person!

This is a great thing. Believe it. Then watch a new life grow in you!

Why The Secret Book of John is Not In Your Bible. Or mine, for that Matter

A few days ago I mentioned the Gnostic writing called, “Jesus’ Digestive System.”

The Secret Book of John, or sometimes called The Apocryphon of John, is another Gnostic book. Gnostics were people who felt they could gain secret knowledge through experiences and visions and so forth.

They were largely condemned as heretics, and, if you read what they wrote, you can quickly see why.

In The Secret Book of John, the disciple John is questioned by a Pharisee who doubts the validity of Jesus’ teaching. John is bummed and goes off to pray.

John sees a bright light that came down next to him. In the light he saw three forms: the Father, Mother, and Child.

Then things get weird. I can’t even summarize, so I’ll quote another summary:

From this divine principle came a thought, a feminine divine entity, named Barbelo. Though typically referred to as “she,” this thought is really the elemental father and mother, completely androgynous. She is known as the first of the Aeons and the consort of the Divine Principle (which is also a feminine word). Together, Barbelo and the Divine Principle, the Monad (the word means “one unit”) brought forth the other Aeons, which were actually further emanations of the Monad. Light (another word for Christ) and Mind were among the first to be created and, under the direction of the Monad and Barbelo, they, in turn, started creating other aeons. Eventually, there would be 365 aeons. The last one to be created was Sophia (Wisdom). Wisdom believed she was wise enough to try creating something on her own. Without any direction or consent from the Monad or Barbelo, she created Yaltaboath, who had “the form of a lion-faced serpent with eyes that flashed like lightning.”

You got that?

Yaltaboath made Adam eat the fruit. He sent Eve to make sure he would. Christ came to defeat the darkness of Yaltboath. Etc.

All very weird and confusing.

You will be told many times that there are other books of the Bible that “some Catholics” didn’t let in your Bible. You are missing out on so much revelation.

No you’re not. Your Bible is good. Catholics didn’t pick and choose what you could read. There weren’t really many good options, no matter what the documentaries on The Discovery Channel tell you every Easter and Christmas.

Read the Bible. You’ll be well cared for there.

What Would it Look Like if You Did Offer Your Body as a Living Sacrifice?

Rickson Gracie was a fighter from the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu camp. He is considered a legend of Mixed Martial Arts fighting. Some consider him the best of all time.

In order to achieve this level of performance, whether you like MMA fighting or not, you have to respect the dedication and discipline.

He said his key to athletic success was having complete control over his mind, body, and breath.

That made me think of what Jesus said about the Greatest Commandment:

“And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.”

In order to achieve as he did, he needed all aspect of who he was devoted to his sport.

Paul tells us to copy athletes in our pursuit of spiritual growth (1 Corinthians 9:24-27). Pick the greatest athlete in a sport, see how they live, how they train, how their mind is completely focused on being better.

Take that mentality into your spiritual life. Run it to win.

We’re not competing against other Christians, or trying to be better than other people. We wrestle not against flesh and blood. Satan is out there getting ready to throw an Evil Day at you. Will you be able to stand in that day?

So much of Christianity tells you to take it easy. There’s an over-emphasis on grace, on Jesus doing it all, that we’ve become weak, apathetic, and afraid of effort or work.

It’s no surprise the church is the way it is. Biblical literacy is terrible. The morals and spending habits of Christians and the world are nearly the same. There is no real distinction in fruit between a group of Christians and the world.

I think much of this is because we’ve dropped off Paul’s encouragement to discipline ourselves. That’s for monks and crazy people, legalists who don’t know grace and liberty. Jesus did all that dying and suffering stuff, all I do is bask in the blessings!

So, we take it easy. We go with the easy believism and the easy grace and the don’t-do-anything mentality. Then we watch as more and more Christians fall away and delve into doubt and insecurity when life gets hard.

They didn’t do anything to prepare, of course they won’t stand in the evil day.

What would it look like if you did give your body as a living sacrifice as part of your reasonable service? What would it look like if you devoted your heart, soul, mind, and strength to loving the Lord?

When we mention “loving the Lord” in there it makes it sound soft. We’re just supposed to feel lovey feels really strong or something. But read 1 John. What does it mean to love God?

1 John 5:2,3 says that love for God means keeping His commandments. How well do we do that?

Are you training to get your life to look like the Sermon on the Mount? Are you loving others as Christ loved you, giving your life for them, dying daily?

Oh come on now, that’s too much. You don’t have to do all that. Better watch out for legalism, man.

I know, I know. I’ve been told that many times. I’m also watching Christians. I want to hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant,” not “Nice job fitting in with the rest of the world down there.”

We are not to be conformed to the world. The road to destruction is broad.

It seems the majority of Christians I’ve run into all agree that we don’t have to do anything, life is easy breezy, and when we die we go to heaven because we did this one thing one time that showed we believed.

This is a lie. Let no man deceive you with vain words.

The church is filled with deceivers and they will grow worse and worse as time goes on. Expect to hear more of this sort of teaching. So much so that eventually no Christian will ever at any point do anything for fear of doing too many good works and being legalistic.

They call evil, good and the good, evil. We’re repeating biblical history. It ended the first covenant and will end the second one too.

Be like Job and Daniel. Stay faithful to what you’ve been given in Christ. Use all the resources provided you in the Gospel and fight the fight. Run to win. Don’t let the lazy, apathetic deceivers rampant in the church today slow you down.

You serve the Lord God. Serve Him well. It’s worth it.

Train Today for the Battles Tomorrow

Pretty much the only place in the world where I hear encouragement to be disciplined and work hard is in athletics. Athletes do unbelievable things to get in shape and prepare for competition. They give everything they have for the pursuit of victory.

This single-minded focus athletes have is why Paul tells us to copy them. We compete for an eternal crown, they only do it for a temporal crown. How much more should we discipline ourselves and bring our bodies under control (1 Corinthians 9:24-27)?

But we don’t.

See, because we are saved by grace! We don’t have to do anything! We can sin and waste time, live it up in comfort and entertainment because I’m saved, I’ll go to heaven when I die! Take it easy, man! Christ said He finished it, relax, take a seat, don’t get carried away into fanaticism and potentially legalism. Chill down here with us!

I’ve heard this message so many times in Christianity. It’s nauseating. It’s sickening and it’s so foreign to Scripture. But since Christians are taking it easy and chilling, they aren’t reading the Bible enough to know what it’s talking about.

Athletes do all this to defeat other people. I’ve heard a number of athletes say “I train all the time because I know there’s someone else out there working on it right now and someday I’ll face that guy. Better stay disciplined so when I do face him, I win.”

Our job is not to defeat other Christians. You don’t seek spiritual discipline to show up other people or be impressive. You do it to win, but you have to know who the enemy is.

“We wrestle not against flesh and blood.” We know this, but we also don’t know what to do with it. Usually when this verse is brought up it delves into some weird thing about spiritual warfare.

And granted it is talking about principalities, powers, and demonic forces. It is. But it’s not some weird out there thing; it’s incredibly real. Keep reading the context of Ephesians 6.

Paul says to put on the armor of God to withstand the wiles of the devil (6:11).

We do this because we wrestle against spiritual forces, not humans (6:12).

Take up the whole armor of God so you can withstand in the evil day, and having done all to stand (6:13).

So stand (6:14)!

There is an evil day coming. The evil day is not death or Judgment Day. The evil day is when evil things happen to you, what will you do? Did you use your off time, days when nothing terrible is happening, to prepare? Or did you take it easy, watch some tv, and chill with the rest of Christianity?

Armor has to be tested. Remember David with Goliath? He didn’t use Saul’s provided armor because David hadn’t tested them. He went with what he had tested.

Are you in the Word? Are you hiding it in your heart? Are you seeking righteousness? Are you battling sin? Are you mortifying the deeds of the body?

If you aren’t doing this on the off days, what makes you think you’ll stand strong  in the evil days when life falls apart?

There’s a day coming when you’ll face the enemy who hasn’t taken one day off. Every day Satan is out there training, practicing, doing his thing, paying attention to how to derail you and defeat you.

He’s out there every day sharpening his arrows to bring you down. What will you do in that day? It probably depends greatly on what you’re doing today.

Don’t let the ease of today fool you into thinking some tomorrows aren’t going to have an evil battle for you. Train like there’s a battle coming.

You won’t hear this much in Christianity. I’ve been told every time I’ve brought this up that I’m being legalistic and treading on dangerous ground and denying grace and all manner of other things summed up with, “Dude, come chill with us.”

No thanks. I’ve watched many of those people who’ve said these things to me over the years. I’ve seen them in the evil days they’ve faced: they collapsed. Their house on the sane fell flat. I don’t want that for you or me.

The Bible tells me to be disciplined like a champion athlete and prepare for the day of battle. I’m going to go ahead and do my best to do that.

Saying “Peace, Peace” On Our Way to Hell

There are tremendous differences between the Old and New Covenant. But Paul also tells us the stuff written before was written for our learning (Romans 15:4).

Therefore, there has to be some commonality between the covenants.

Making too big of a difference between the covenants leads to severe theological error.

Throughout the Bible God has wanted people to listen to Him. God loves us, He made us, we are His kids. He wants His kids to listen. Any parent knows inherently what this is like.

It breaks your heart when your kids reject your wisdom and go do dumb stuff, yet that’s what kids do. Hopefully they learn before doing themselves in.

God wants us to listen. Everything He’s ever done in relationship to us has been to get us to listen to Him.

Israel had a clear cut covenant: listen to God and everything will be great. Don’t listen to Him and everything will be terrible.

Israel rejected that covenant. Even during the time of the Major Prophets, when all the terrible was coming on them, they continued to be obstinate and not listen.

But to make it worse, not only did they not listen, they lied about how terrible it was!

Therefore I will give their wives to others, Their fields to new owners; Because from the least even to the greatest Everyone is greedy for gain; From the prophet even to the priest, Everyone practices deceit. They have healed the brokenness of the daughter of My people superficially, Saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ But there is no peace.
–Jeremiah 8:10,11

All the terrible is dropping on them, instead of repenting, changing their ways and receiving God’s blessing, they turned to lying about it. Nah, it aint that bad. Peace peace, it’ll be fine.

One chapter later Jeremiah says:

Everyone deceives his neighbor And does not speak the truth. They have taught their tongue to speak lies; They weary themselves committing wrongdoing. Your dwelling is in the midst of deceit; Through deceit they refuse to know Me,” declares the Lord.
–Jeremiah 9:5,6

The New Covenant does not carry physical curses and blessings. The New Covenant is primarily focused on the spiritual. So, how are we doing this same stupid thing in our day?

Many people are playing at Christianity. They do some churchy things, say some nice stuff, post a verse over a cute photo on Facebook. But their lives are a complete mess because they are not listening to God.

They are going through the motions. They are playing the game with no reality behind it. Their mouth says nice things about God, but there heart is nowhere near Him.

As their lives fall apart, as sin abounds, and sin’s terrible fruit comes home to roost, what does the church tell them?

Oh, it’s ok. You’re still saved. Remember when you were seven and you said the prayer? Don’t worry about it. Just remember God’s promises.

There’s no dealing with the sin, there’s no call to repentance. All they hear is “Peace, peace. Don’t worry about it. God loves you. You’ll still go to heaven because you did that thing that one time.”

This is the same stupid thing Israel did back then.

God wants you to listen to Him. He doesn’t want you sinning and living in lies that will destroy you.

Later in Jeremiah 9 we are told:

This is what the Lord says: “Let no wise man boast of his wisdom, nor let the mighty man boast of his might, nor a rich man boast of his riches;  but let the one who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who exercises mercy, justice, and righteousness on the earth; for I delight in these things,” declares the Lord.
–Jeremiah 9:23,24

Most people are playing a game with God. God is smarter than that; if you knew Him you would know that. You can’t lie your way out of reality. Reality and truth will always stand firm and your lies will break in pieces eventually.

Soothing and comforting and reminding people of promises that don’t apply to them will not help them on Judgment Day.

Saying pleasant thoughts and happy phrases over and over might make people feel good right now, but what will you do when you stand before God and His truth is brought before you?

The church is blowing this big time, just like Israel. It’s as if we aren’t even reading the Bible. Oh wait, we aren’t. We’re just going with the lies people tell us as we trip toward hell.

Enjoy the ride. The destination will be awful.

Costly Sacrifice

Anyone in Christianity has heard that the Old Testament sacrifices are a picture of the sacrifice of the Messiah, Jesus Christ.

The sins of the people were put on the animal, the animal shed its blood and died to atone for, or cover, those sins. Without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin.

God gave us life. When we disobeyed Him we chose death. The wages of sin is death. Going against the one who gave you life, moves you in the direction of death.

But the New Testament also tells us that the shedding of the blood of bulls and of goats can never fully take away sin. We needed a better sacrifice. Jesus bore our sins in His own body on the cross, died, and rose again for our justification.

He dealt with our sins in this way to make us right with God.

All very cool.

But there’s a flippancy I hear among Christians about this sacrifice stuff.

An aspect of these OT sacrifices I don’t hear mentioned much is that those animals cost the people! They were their animals, and were to be the best of their herd too. This was no small price.

Not only did you lose the value of the animal, but if it was the best one you would also lose the potential breeding capabilities. Usually you keep the best one and mate it with another best one so you have healthy offspring. Getting rid of the best ones would diminish the quality of your flock.

But that was part of the price of sin.

But we skip that.

This then leads to flippancy about the death of Jesus. Oh yeah, He took my sin, He did all the dying and stuff, I just get the forgiveness.

This is so overplayed we go so far as to tell people sin isn’t that big of a deal. You can still be saved and live in uninterrupted sin because of the sacrifice of Jesus.

If there was a cost for sacrificing animals to merely cover sin, is there not a cost for the sacrifice of Jesus Christ who once for all put away our sin?

Sure seems like there would be.

But, but, but, Jeff! There is grace in the New Testament! Nothing is required of us. There is no cost. It’s all grace, man.

That’s what I’m told. But unlike a lot of people, I read the Bible as though it were written by the one who will judge me. I don’t just listen to crazy ideas of crazy people who are not my judge.

There’s one verse, a popular one, one you know, one that gets quoted all the time that tells you what the cost is for the life of Jesus Christ being laid down for your life. Shall I remind you of it? I shall. Romans 12:1, perhaps you’ve heard of it:

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”

The reasonable sacrifice is your body. Christ’s body was broken for you. It seems fair.

In fact, it still seems like an awesome deal for us! It’s no longer I who lives but Christ who lives in me, and the life I now live in this body, I live by the faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me.

My flesh is already crucified with Christ with its affections and lusts. I want to put off this old man, this dying carcass. Giving up my body seems a very high cost, but when you understand all this in the light of the Gospel, it’s the exact thing the Believer wants to give up anyway!

Jesus told His followers to “count the cost.” His yoke is easy and His burden is light. There’s a cost, but the payoff is huge and eternal.

Valentinus and Jesus’ Digestive System

Gnostics were people who felt they could know things by secret revelation, usually attached to some spiritual experience. The early Charismatics of Church History.

They were largely condemned as heretics because they just made up stuff and most of that stuff was straight crazy.

But some was also highly entertaining.

Valentinus was an Egyptian trained in Alexandria, and rose to some fame in the Roman Church, almost considered for pope.

Valentinus was a good writer and speaker. He wrote quite a bit, but most of it has been lost. There are fragments of his writings that have survived, including one fragment entitled, “Jesus’ Digestive System.”

Now, early church heresies were largely about the person of Christ. Was He divine of human? Some thought Jesus was so divine He had no flesh body. Others thought He was so human there was no divinity at all, He’s just a guy used by God. Then there are heresies all in between those extremes.

Valentinus leaned toward Jesus is more divine than human. This conclusion then led him to pontificate upon Jesus’ digestion. If He wasn’t much human, did He, like, go to the bathroom?

I mean, I think we’ve all had our minds wander there a time or two. Did He mess His diapers when He was a baby? Hard to imagine the Son of God doing that. That’s where Valentinus came down on the issue. I’ll let his fragmentary writing say the rest:

“He was continent, enduring all things. Jesus digested divinity; he ate and drank in a special way, without excreting his solids. He had such a great capacity for continence that the nourishment within him was not corrupted, for he did not experience corruption.”

So, there ya go!

Jesus wouldn’t see corruption in death, therefore, there is no corruption in Him and therefore, food can’t decompose in His system. Sounds logical to me.

And also straight crazy.

Ah yes, Gnosticism. Sure am glad we’ve advanced past this goofy stage.

What Was Noah’s Wife’s Name?

The standard Christian answer to that question is: we don’t know, the Bible doesn’t tell us.

However, the Bible not telling us stuff has never stopped us from answering such questions before, why let it stop us now!?

According to Gnostic lore, we do know Noah’s wife’s name: it was Norea.

I kid you now. Look it up.

You can type “Noah’s wife Norea” into any search engine and you will get more information than you ever cared to get about this dear lady.

Apparently, due to my extensive skimming of several sources, Norea was a daughter of Adam and Eve according to Gnostics.

(Gnosticism, by the way, is a group of people who find hidden knowledge through personal religious experience. They were the early Charismatics of the church. They developed a rather colorful mysticism around biblical stories, for instance, everything about Norea. Typically their myths seemed to try as hard as possible to be counter to typical Christian understandings. They were trying to be weird, and succeeded wildly.)

Anyway, back to our tale.

Norea was the daughter of Adam and Eve, and there’s another Norea who is the wife of Noah’s son, Shem. Somehow or another, the historian Epiphanius reported that Norea was Noah’s wife, and that is how she’s largely remembered by those who remember such things.

You can read all you want about her elsewhere. I won’t go into all the crazy details.

There are at least three Gnostic books that mention Norea: The First Book of Norea, The Thought of Norea, and The Reality of the Rulers. You can look them up, probably even read them. I’m not one who is afraid of people reading such things. It won’t take you long to realize how silly it all is.

The top thing you should know about her is that she burned down the ark three times because Noah wouldn’t let her in.

Yup.

There are many Gnostic tales out there about the Bible. Every Easter the History Channel and such places put out documentaries about how goofy Christianity is and always bring up Gnostic Gospels to throw you off about whether you can trust the Bible and how come evil dead white guys didn’t include Gnostic Gospels in the Bible? What did they know and when did they know it? It’s a cover-up! Probably involved Leonardo Di Vinci paintings and aliens and boy howdy, aren’t Christians the stupidest people in the world for believing this stuff?

So, yeah. Good luck out there.

My advice is to ignore Norea. Stick with the Bible, people! All other ground is sinking sand.

How Much Supernatural Activity Should be in a Christian’s Life?

My answer would be, It depends. What do you mean by “supernatural?”

It also depends on who you ask I guess. I’m reading a book about abuses in the Charismatic church written by someone in the Charismatic church.

He actually uses the Bible and thinks it is authoritative, which is nice. Very rarely, in my experience with Charismatics, is this the case. Most would probably say it, but their insistence that God is revealing things to them undermines their claim.

Even though he uses the Bible, he’s still Charismatic, which means he’s going to use the Bible weirdly at some point. Here’s a prime example:

“The statistics show that one-third of the Book of Acts deals with supernatural activity, and one-tenth of the Book of Acts tells of people who received personal direction for their lives through some supernatural means.

“The Book of Acts was meant to be a pattern book, not just a history book. If this is so, one-third of our Christian life should be comprised of supernatural experiences, and one-tenth of all the personal direction we receive should come from supernatural sources.”

Couple things:

1. Again, I don’t know what “supernatural activity” is. That’s a very squishy term, easily warped into who knows what. I’d like to see his list, which he did not provide. I doubt he includes preaching and teaching as supernatural activity.

2. Exactly who did those statistics and how were they devised? He said nothing about that. Is it by verse, by chapter? I don’t know. Nothing about the method used is revealed.

3. The Book of Acts is about a lot of people, it’s not a book about one person’s life. In no way can these “statistics” from Acts that covers history over many years and many people, be extrapolated into a normative experience for every believer’s individual life.

4. Although he admits that apostles were special people, he never takes the next step that perhaps that had something to do with their supernatural activity (see Acts 2:43, 5:12; 2 Corinthians 12:12), he then makes zero distinction between apostles and you and me or him. To ignore this is pretty careless.

5. The majority of his book is about Charismatics saying and doing completely ridiculous things in the guise of supernatural activity. Telling these people that even more of their life should be supernatural is not going to reduce the amount of ridiculous things Charismatics do.

In the end, I’m not a Charismatic. I am a Cessationist, I believe the sign gifts ceased with the completion of Scripture and the end of the apostolic age.

However, this is an inference, not specifically stated in the Bible. Therefore,I am always concerned about quenching the Spirit due to an inference, so I read Charismatic things every once in a while to see where they are coming from. Their use of Scripture is typically what does me in.

This is another example. This doesn’t mean they are wrong necessarily, but it does mean that they use Scripture terribly and this helps them none at all.

I appreciate the author’s desire to bring the Bible into consideration in the Charismatic church and his desire to correct the wrongs. But when he uses the Bible like this, I can’t imagine how he will end up helping.

He is sincere and I applaud his efforts to a point, but grieve that he appears to be grieving the Spirit in sloppy use of Scripture.