AMEN!

SOMETHING  TO THINK ABOUT     Congratulations to Mr. Mrs. Steven Crowder.  I wasn't able to attend their wedding, but they look like a lovely couple.  The fact is I had never heard of the folk until this article.   Steven is a comedian and he wrote his article in a somewhat euphoric state, so I'll forgive him some word choices and  his lack of mercy to those on the other side.   Bottom line I say "Amen!" to his article.  In fact, if you are short on time read his article and don't finish mine.   There are many things wrong with the view of morality that prevails in our day.   We try desperately hard in our culture to find/ Vote For Pedro create/invent a "righteous" way to fulfill any desire.  Pedro would definitely win.  The bottom line is not only in regard to sex, but concerning fiscal-policy, buying new furniture, or having another piece of pie, often self-restraint/denial is a very good thing (see here for some Biblical input).  Unfortunately this will surprise some folk.  Morality is not decided by a public opinion poll.  Surveys tell us what is popular, not what is right.   Often what feels very good right now, will make me feel very bad for a very long time.  Note the wise choice this Bible hero made. The Creator of the Universe--including you and me--gaveus a set of instructions for life contained in His Word.  He came to earth to be our Savior.  While here he said, "I came to give you life to the full."  (John 10:10)  Satan, on the other hand has been saying ever since Eden, "Maybe God did say that, but if you do this, you'll be better off."  How's that working out, so far? I look forward to hearing more from the Crowders.  Right now, I hope they are enjoying their honeymoon. It's STTA.

Satan Hates the Church:

Something To Think About

SOMETHING  TO THINK ABOUT     I've never been very impressed with the popular "Spiritual Warfare" movement.  I tend to plead to the Lord of the universe rather than rebuke the prince of the power of the air.  Having said that I'm greatly impressed with the evidence in the book of Acts that Satan hates the church.  When I say "church" I'm not talking about a building at 2140 S. Carpenter Drive, or even many organizations that go by that name.  I'm talking about those gatherings of God's people, who band together under the heading of "There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism,  one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all." (Ephesians 4:4-6)    The church I have in mind preaches "Christ, and Him crucified."  (1 Corinthians 2:2)  These are folk who have no back up plan.  If the world-changing, death-defeating, salvation-securing event that left an empty tomb in Jerusalem is somehow false, then "we are of all men most to be pitied."  (1 Corinthians 15:19)  They hold to a two millennia old story with a confidence that some outsiders find arrogant, others call foolish, but in the heart of hearts of the naysayers there is desperate craving for that security. Billy Graham and Larry King January 1988 Make sure you listen to Larry's final comment. . Why would the prince of darkness be concerned about a nickel and dime real estate deal?  Yet, Acts 5:3 clearly says "Satan filled" the hearts of this admiration-craving couple to lie about their finances.  Ananias and Sapphira likely weren't even pawns on the devils chess board.  They were dust that got brushed away when one moves a pawn.  What was important to Satan was this church exploding in Jerusalem--reaching into every area of society--soon to metastisize (from his perspective) and spread to Samaria, Antioch and the world.  These social climbers were nothing more than a scratch in the church's skin.  Satan figured it was a place where his virus of pride could infect the church, and cripple her with the moral compromise of falsehood.   Meanwhile, Saul of Tarsus, an up-and-coming, hard-charging young rabbi, began "ravaging the church."  (Acts 8:1-4 & 9:1)  After Saul became one of us--The Apostle Paul--he identified the source of that maniacal rage.  He told the Thessalonians to pray that he would be "rescued from perverse and evil men"--the very kind of man he used to be--and then he assures them that the "Lord [will] . . . protect you from the evil one." (2 Thessalonians 3:3) He educates the church at Ephesus,  "We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against "spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places."  (Ephesians 6:12)  Paul had always been a warrior in that battle.  He switched sides on his trip to Damascus. There is at least one other place in the early chapter of Acts where we can see the devil's fingerprints.  One of his names means slanderer; he is the accuser of the brethren.  (Revelation 12:10)   The squabble that introduces Acts 6is from a well-worn page of his playbook.  Feeding the needy is important, but it is not the supremely important, and besides arguing wouldn't provide any bread.  A church devoted merely to doing good, rather than dedicated to the supreme good is no good to God and no threat to Satan. Satan hated those Jesus-followers in the early chapters of Acts.  He still hates those who follow in that way.  His fiery darts  are dipped in the poison of "dis"--distraction, discouragement, and disgrace.  When churches fail, outwardly and obviously, but even more when the failure is under the radar, leaving a church-like shell that does him no harm and God no good, the church is disqualified for the task to which he pumps his fist and says "Yes!"    Lord, keep me on the right side.  Help me to lead the Covington Bible Church to be a church that Satan hates.  Keep me (us) fighting!   Amen  It's STTA.

A Word to Christians and Muslims, #2:

Something To Think About

SOMETHING  TO THINK ABOUT     There is a two letter "word" that I find just about as offensive as four-letter words.  The two letters, P-C have been used to silence students, workers, children and even preachers.  It seems that everyone thinks they are entitled to live in an offense-free zone.  Frankly, that offends me. Yesterday I spent part of my space, here at STTA, encouraging Christians to not be needlessly offensive to people of other faiths.  I used that word "needlessly" on purpose.  One totally unacceptable solution to offense related problems is for Christians--it seems we are most often the target--to simply not make any truth claims, or to so water down our proclamation that the only possible offense is because of excessive blandness. A verse I referenced yesterday, 1 Peter 3:15, says, "Sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;"  Make a defense, give an account.  The first word is "apologia"--not "I'm sorry," but a thoughtfully crafted case for the truth of what is believed.  The second word is "logos," word or speech.  The progression is: Live the truth. When asked, Make your case, but Be sure to do it with "gentleness and reverence." The Apostle Paul's message on Mars Hill, is a marvelous example of what his friend Peter was talking about. God has not guaranteed we Christians an exclusive voice.  He has sent us to be a voice--clear and strong.  Sometimes speaking the truth will be costly.  It is a cost we must be willing to pay. To those of other faiths, know that those of us who are committed to follow Jesus, and to obey His word cannot be quiet.  We must speak the truth.  Those of us who, in my humble opinion, see the issue most clearly, do not expect you to be quiet.  I expect you to make your case with your best rhetoric and writing.  I'm fine with that.  Just don't ask me to make my case with one hand of persuasion tied behind my back. To my fellow Christians, the victory will not come from silencing others.  It comes from winning others.  If we are able to proclaim the truth, that truth will bear fruit.    It's STTA.

A Word to Christians and Muslims:

Something To Think About

SOMETHING  TO THINK ABOUT     Here we go again.   Several US embassies have been stormed, in some cases    invaded, the US flag torn down, and, in at least one case, personnel killed.  I am a citizen of the United States, and am hurt on that level.  I mourn for, and pray for those who have suffered loss, and hope that my leaders will take appropriate action.   I write today, however, not primarily as an American but as a Christian and a pastor of an Evangelical, Christian Church.  Let me make a couple of points.  I share them with the hope of bringing greater clarity to the thinking of fellow Christians, and, should this be read by any Muslims, to offer some greater understanding. Please understand that the United States is not really a "Christian nation."  It is a nation whose culture and laws have been greatly influenced by Christianity, but it is not Christian--certainly not in the sense that many nations in the world can be said to be "Islamic nations."  This will anger some of myChristian brethren and will likely be incomprehensible to some Muslims, but I am glad that my nation is not a Christian country.  On the day of Pentecost (Acts 2) the church was born into hostile territory.  The church is counter-cultural.  I am a citizen of the United States, but I am also a citizen of heaven.  Sometimes those two are in conflict.  When they are, I must serve God rather than man. I do not expect the government to do the work of the church.  If I understand correctly, Islam sees religion and state as a monolith.  The job of the government is to create a society that will encourage, even enforce being a good Muslim.   I am thankful--and I believe it is in the best interest of my society--that by and large being a Christian is compatible with being a good, even patriotic, American, but they are not the same.  I don't want them to be the same.  I want my government to give me the freedom to be a good Christian.  As I see it, that means that my government also needs to extend to people the right to be good Muslims,  Hindus, Jews, or atheists.   There are things that go on in my nation that I object to.  Some, like the liberal laws in regard to abortion, I oppose politically.  Others, like the posting of needlessly and foolishly  offensive videos online, I may condemn, as I am here, but I acknowledge that in a nation that recognizes freedom, such excesses may be necessary.  To put it in other words.  I do not appreciate people using the name of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ as cuss-words.   I figure, though, that if my government tries to make a law against that kind of cussing that they would get it so wrong that it might make it impossible to talk. Just one more, today (I may continue.): I think it is wrong for Christians to needlessly say or do offensive things about, or to, persons or symbols of other religions.  I have spoken against the burning of the Quran.  It appears to me that the Apostle Paul condemned the desecration of temples even though these houses of worship were dedicated to dieties that he regarded as false (Romans 2:22).  When dealing with the idolatry of Athens, he did not desecrate the objects of their devotion.  He entered into intelligent dialogue.  (Sure in the Old Testament we find passages like Isaiah 44:9-17 where the case against the worship of a false diety is made with humor and ridicule, but at this point Isaiah was preaching to what should have been the choir.  When we Christians are speaking to the wider world, the Apostles Paul (above) and Peter--make sure you notice those words, "gentleness and reverence"--ought to be our model. My challenge to fellow Christians: Let's eschew the burning of books that others regard as holy, and let's avoid, and counsel others to have nothing to do with needlessly offensive books, pictures, videos, etc.   To Muslim fellow citizens of the US or the world, know that true Christians do not hate you.  We profoundly disagree with you, but our desire is to live in harmony, and engage in respectful discussion of life's most important issues.   It's STTA.     The heart of that message to which I am committed is found below:   http://covingtonbiblechurch.com/lifesmostimportant.html

Lash me to the Mast--spell that B-I-B-L-E

SOMETHING  TO THINK ABOUT 9/11 .    Are there any two other numbers that bring up such memories?   This year the anniversary of the horrendous attack on our nation intersects with a presidential campaign.  I'm thankful that both major candidates have declared a moratorium on negative campaign ads for the day.  Both candidates and their staffs are working hard to look suitably somber.  They want to make the point that their election is the "key" to the salvation of our nation, yet they must do so without appearing to "use" this sad remembrance.  It is an  interesting dance to watch.   Let me try a dance of my own.  (A strange image for an old Fundamentalist.)  On the one had I want to speak to some of my friends who have succumbed to a cynicism that spreads like early morning fog.  After two or three or twenty election cycles it is easy to say, "It doesn't matter."  Vote for Tweedledee or Tweedledum.  It really makes no difference.  Broken campaign promises become the fodder of the next opposition ads.  The syndrome creates jokes like the one that begins, "Consider liars and politics."  and then continues with, "Oh, I'm sorry.  I've repeated myself."   That kind of cynicism doesn't help.  It leads to decent people surrendering the process to the scoundrels.  I'm grateful for decent, honest, in some cases, even Godly people who wade into the political swamp and try to make it better. On the other hand, especially, those of us who claim to speak for God need to resist the siren call that becomes all but deafening every four years.  Odysseushad himself tied to the mast of his ship so that he would not abandon his course and crash on the rocks.  The mythic tale warns of a very real danger. As preachers of the Word of God, we need to be lashed to the Book.  We are not a-political.  We aresupra-political.  One of the images of the Bible is that it is a fire.  We ought to preach the Word in such a way that we hold the feet of those who listen to that fire.  The Bible ought to inform and shape all of our lives.  That has to include the great responsibility that we Americans have to vote for our leaders, and responsibly participate in our representative form of government.   Without the least bit of arrogance--in fact with a great deal of humility--I say that there are those of us who need to stay so tightly tied to the Word of God that we can be a guide through these dangerous waters.    It's STTA.     The heart of that message to which I am committed is found below:   http://covingtonbiblechurch.com/lifesmostimportant.html    Here is a good word from another preacher who is tied to the Word.

If a warning is shouted in a forest . . . ?

SOMETHING  TO THINK ABOUT If a tree falls in a forest and no one hears it, does it make a sound?   I say it does, but since I have so little interest in falling timber in uninhabited woods, I'm not going to argue about it.  I do know that if warning is proclaimed and no one heeds it, the results can be disastrous.   If you hear cracking wood and rustling branches you better look around!  What if radar signals or the ignored dispatch about the Pearl Harbor attack had been heeded?  Or closer to home, what if we guys paid better attention to our wives' raised eye-brows, and question that is isn't an inquiry, "Are you wearing that?"   A warning not heeded is useless--maybe worse than worthless, because of the "If only" recriminations that come later.   The Bible gives some important and basic warnings.  Unfortunately, many of us pay no more attention to them than to a falling tree on an uninhabited island 1,000 miles from the nearest human ear. We are going to die.  Do we really need that word?  Apparently so, because we so often live as if that end were not coming. We will give an account.  See the above link andhere.  Again it ought to be obvious.  We have an innate sense of right and wrong (warped though it may be) and sense that the injustices that flourish around us ought to be made right, but we too often try to get by. This world is not the end.  Solomon in his observations of life in this world saw what many other thoughtful watchers have seen.  We have "eternity in our hearts."  It doesn't make sense to live life without consideration of what comes next.  But we don't hear anything falling so . . . A life lived without acknowledging God's proper place is a life that is ultimately wasted.  In perhaps the strangest principle found in the Bible Jesus says if you attempt to keep your life, you will loose it.  (Jesus said this several times.  Here is one example. How many trees fell, while you were reading this?  Unless you work for the U.N Forest preservation group, it likely doesn't matter.  Whether you heed the warnings from God's word matters supremely.   It's STTA.     You'll find more about the Bible's warnings and provisions below:   http://covingtonbiblechurch.com/lifesmostimportant.html

"God" or no "God"?

SOMETHING  TO THINK ABOUT I confess I haven't read the platform adopted by either of the major political parties.  I am aware--how could you miss it--that the word "God" is not found in one of them.  I'm told by the arbiter of all such things, Google, that God is mentioned ten times in the other.   Slam-dunk! Close the books. What more do I need to hear?    Maybe not.     If you ask me, "What book in the Bible speaks clearly about God's sovereign activities in the affairs of nations and people?" I would likely respond, "Daniel." or, "Esther."  As one would expect the book of Daniel is full of references to God.  My computer tells me that in one translation the word "God" is found 81 times in the Book of Daniel.  The Book of Esther, on the other hand, never mentions God by any of His names, and contains no prayer.  Yet both books are powerful statements of God's control. I just finished reading the Prophecy of Isaiah in my daily Bible reading.  The book begins and ends with condemnations of people who were awash with the trappings of religion--the right religion--but were at heart Godless. Who requires of you this trampling of My courts?    Bring your worthless offerings no longer,   . . . I hate your new moon festivals and your appointed feasts, They have become a burden to Me;  I am weary of bearing them.   "So when you spread out your hands in prayer,   I will hide My eyes from you; (Isaiah 1:12-15).    But he who kills an ox is like one who slays a man; He who sacrifices a lamb is like the one who breaks a dog's neck; He who offers a grain offering is like one who offers swine's blood; He who burns incense is like the one who blesses an idol. As they have chosen their own ways, And their soul delights in their abominations, So I will choose their punishments And will bring on them what they dread. Because I called, but no one answered; I spoke, but they did not listen. And they did evil in My sight.  (Isaiah 66:3-4)    It is possible to talk about God all the time and be totally oblivious to what He is really doing.     I'm not saying none of this is important.  I am saying we need to do more than count words.   It's STTA.