I don't want to say much on this subject, especially since this has been a very busy time of the year for me. But Christmas and Easter are the two times of the year when I see so many Christians rolling over and playing dead. Let's consider some things that are not true of every Christian, but if present, are the reason that Christians need to be activists for Christ all year.
1. Have you ever noticed that sermons around Christmas time get so focused on the Christmas story that pastors forget to address the needs of the people listening to those stories. Honestly, the Christmas stories are the same every year. As a preacher, I feel that the pastor should always be concerned for his flock and never lose sight of that, even in the Christmas holiday. This is a time of celebration, true, but make sure you do not get so wrapped up in your personal celebration of Christ's birth that you lose the body of the church. This is also a time of great stress, depression, and hurt for many people who will sit in that pew on Sunday morning. Granted, there might only be one pastor who reads this, but sometimes I speak my mind just so I can remind myself of what I should be doing when I stand behind a pulpit.
2. It's ok to say "Merry Christmas." I have not yet met a person who got so offended that I said Merry Christmas to them that they lost their cool. True, I've had a few people inform me that they do not celebrate Christmas, but I simply reply to that by asking them politely if they do observe a holiday, then wish them well on that holiday. Does this seem like a compromise, perhaps. However, I look at it this way. I cannot choose for anyone to believe as I do, and I know they will not care a wit about what I believe unless I first show them that I am respectful and courteous about what they believe. It is not a sure fire win, but I have made more openings to share the gospel with this method than with any other method that I have ever tried. Remember, your beliefs are yours and nobody should be allowed to tell you not to believe them.
3. My final point for our activism this Christmas season is this: do not forget that the world is falling apart. Just because it's a season of celebration does not meant that we should ignore our responsibility to the world around us. It also means that this should not be the only time that we think of our fellow man either. Instead, we should continue to be involved in speaking out against social wrongs, support humanitarian causes, and even keep watch on our government to be aware of the moral direction of our nation. If you find yourself being more charitable during the holiday season, then you should try to find a means to keep that charity alive when Christmas has passed.
These are not the necessities of Christian life, and you all have the freedom to celebrate Christmas as you so desire. I hope, though, that I have encouraged some of you to put the Christ into Christmas by being a shining ambassador of our Lord. When life has passed us by, I hope that we will have done something to understand and communicate the truth of what Christ's birthday really means.
Blessings and Merry Christmas,
Ryan
Dec 13, 2011
Oct 12, 2011
Take up Your Cross
Here are a few of the things implicated by this passage:
1) Before you can be devoted to God in discipleship, you must be willing to give up everything for the sake of following Him. In verse 26, he tells us to not regard personal relationships above following Him. In verse 28 and 31 He talks about counting the cost before deciding to commit. In reality, this is a problem in Christianity - and the world for that matter- that we lack true commitment. We want for all the blessings, we expect good gifts, but we are not committed enough to lay aside those things which withhold us from fully living out the gospel in our communities and world.
2) Discipleship is worthless when you hold on to this world. In verse 34 & 35, Jesus explains that salt that is no longer salty is useless. What does that mean to us? In part, I think it means this: if you are not able to be the right kind of person to impact this world for Christ, you are useless as an ambassador. In other words, you are wasting both your time and His.
Just think about it.
Oct 9, 2011
The 5 Minute Check-Up
There is a point for every Christian when they will get caught in a difficult situation without time to sit down and study their Bible or engage in deep meditative prayer. A certain coworker is having a bad day and is taking it out on everyone else, your child just broke something expensive or seemingly indispensable, or maybe your car broke down as you were on your way to work. How do you handle these moments?
Well, this is not the end all of suggestions for getting through those moments, but this is a tactic that I use that I have found to be helpful. Perhaps, some reader might come across this post some day and it might be helpful.
1. Quickly ask God for wisdom. James 1:5 tells us that God will give us wisdom if we ask for it. He has all the knowledge of the universe, and even more importantly, He wants to use it to interact with you. Asking God for wisdom is your way of acknowledging that He should be allowed to call the shots in your life.
2. Focus on scripture that you have studied and memorized. Psalm 119:11 tells us that memorizing Scripture can help keep you from sinning. In every situation of your life, it is important to learn to apply and utilize the Bible in how you respond. By so doing, you will fulfill the concept of meditating on the Word of God day and night as presented in Psalm 1.
3. Thank God for being there, and for things past He has brought you through. By taking time to reflect on God in thankfulness, you will find yourself less worried about the situation at hand. Also, Philippians 4:6-7 shows us that thankfulness is part of how we let go of our anxiety to approach God in prayer.
These steps are only effective if you live a disciplined life and make regular time to seek God in His word and talk to Him in prayer. Basically, the suggestion of these steps help you refocus in a situation so that you can get through God's way rather than letting your natural flesh respond. Maybe it will help some of you, maybe it won't. But, it is something that helps me... when I am wise enough to remember to do it. We've all still got a long way to go.
Blessings
Well, this is not the end all of suggestions for getting through those moments, but this is a tactic that I use that I have found to be helpful. Perhaps, some reader might come across this post some day and it might be helpful.
1. Quickly ask God for wisdom. James 1:5 tells us that God will give us wisdom if we ask for it. He has all the knowledge of the universe, and even more importantly, He wants to use it to interact with you. Asking God for wisdom is your way of acknowledging that He should be allowed to call the shots in your life.
2. Focus on scripture that you have studied and memorized. Psalm 119:11 tells us that memorizing Scripture can help keep you from sinning. In every situation of your life, it is important to learn to apply and utilize the Bible in how you respond. By so doing, you will fulfill the concept of meditating on the Word of God day and night as presented in Psalm 1.
3. Thank God for being there, and for things past He has brought you through. By taking time to reflect on God in thankfulness, you will find yourself less worried about the situation at hand. Also, Philippians 4:6-7 shows us that thankfulness is part of how we let go of our anxiety to approach God in prayer.
These steps are only effective if you live a disciplined life and make regular time to seek God in His word and talk to Him in prayer. Basically, the suggestion of these steps help you refocus in a situation so that you can get through God's way rather than letting your natural flesh respond. Maybe it will help some of you, maybe it won't. But, it is something that helps me... when I am wise enough to remember to do it. We've all still got a long way to go.
Blessings
Oct 6, 2011
What is a Christian?
I sat in a Bible study last night and the question was asked: "What do people think of when they hear the word Christian?" There was quite a list of things, but strangely none of them once mentioned a people that were imitating Christ Jesus with their lives. It makes you wonder, what is a Christian really? Do we know, do we understand, and do we live it?
First of all, I think that most Christians do know what it really means to be a follower of Christ. But, I think they also choose to ignore a lot of things that Christ commands them to do because it is either inconvenient or it is uncomfortable. This is not all Christians, mind you, but it is enough that the world has noticed. Do we ever feel guilty that we are associated not with the loving God of the universe, but are rather associated with a selfish, sometimes snobby community? I have had many times when I though to call myself something other than a "Christian" just to get the stigma off of me, but I have to admit that I am no better than the rest of my brothers and sisters.That's when God hit me... right in the heart.
Christ told us that loving God with our entire being and loving others was the basis for all of God's laws and commandments (Matt 22:37-40). In other words, the very central theme of Christianity is a deeper love for God and an outpouring of love toward our fellow man. Notice here, that personal ambitions are ignored. In fact, Paul includes selfish ambitions as part of the list of things not to do as a Christian (2 Cor 12:20, Gal 5:20). In Philippians 2:3-12, we are told that laying aside ourselves is what it means to follow Christ, who laid aside His majesty as Almighty God and became human flesh. And not just that He became man, but that He suffered and died despite His authority over the universe.
Love is considered the greatest virtue and the most important aspect of the Christian life, to the point of bringing unity (1 Cor 13, Col 3:10-14). It is the only commandment that Christ gives that is specifically pointed out by John in his letter to the churches (John 13:34, 1 John 2:7-11). In Galatians, we are told that the whole law is fulfilled in the statement, "you shall love your neighbor as yourself (Lev 19:18). In fact the entire theme of the Bible is to love each other, and even to love those who are your enemies. By doing so, you fulfill the Law of Christ, making you a follower of Christ.
Two points then, to consider. First, if we are supposed to overflow with love, where does that love come from. 1 John tells us that God is the source of love, and it therefore stands to reason that a deeper relationship with Him will give you that abundance of love. Perhaps I'll do a post on drawing from the source another time. Second, don't expect to just start loving people because you have Christ. It is natural to classify people as acceptable or unacceptable. But, Christians must work beyond their natural tendencies and aim to accept people for who they are. You do not ever have to love or condone the sin that a person commits, but you should always love the sinner. And then, when news such as that of when Osama Bin Laden was killed comes, you can feel the regret in your hearts that he is cursed to an eternity without God. That is what God's love does for you, it makes every life precious, and makes every person important... just because God made them. Think about it.
First of all, I think that most Christians do know what it really means to be a follower of Christ. But, I think they also choose to ignore a lot of things that Christ commands them to do because it is either inconvenient or it is uncomfortable. This is not all Christians, mind you, but it is enough that the world has noticed. Do we ever feel guilty that we are associated not with the loving God of the universe, but are rather associated with a selfish, sometimes snobby community? I have had many times when I though to call myself something other than a "Christian" just to get the stigma off of me, but I have to admit that I am no better than the rest of my brothers and sisters.That's when God hit me... right in the heart.
Christ told us that loving God with our entire being and loving others was the basis for all of God's laws and commandments (Matt 22:37-40). In other words, the very central theme of Christianity is a deeper love for God and an outpouring of love toward our fellow man. Notice here, that personal ambitions are ignored. In fact, Paul includes selfish ambitions as part of the list of things not to do as a Christian (2 Cor 12:20, Gal 5:20). In Philippians 2:3-12, we are told that laying aside ourselves is what it means to follow Christ, who laid aside His majesty as Almighty God and became human flesh. And not just that He became man, but that He suffered and died despite His authority over the universe.
Love is considered the greatest virtue and the most important aspect of the Christian life, to the point of bringing unity (1 Cor 13, Col 3:10-14). It is the only commandment that Christ gives that is specifically pointed out by John in his letter to the churches (John 13:34, 1 John 2:7-11). In Galatians, we are told that the whole law is fulfilled in the statement, "you shall love your neighbor as yourself (Lev 19:18). In fact the entire theme of the Bible is to love each other, and even to love those who are your enemies. By doing so, you fulfill the Law of Christ, making you a follower of Christ.
Two points then, to consider. First, if we are supposed to overflow with love, where does that love come from. 1 John tells us that God is the source of love, and it therefore stands to reason that a deeper relationship with Him will give you that abundance of love. Perhaps I'll do a post on drawing from the source another time. Second, don't expect to just start loving people because you have Christ. It is natural to classify people as acceptable or unacceptable. But, Christians must work beyond their natural tendencies and aim to accept people for who they are. You do not ever have to love or condone the sin that a person commits, but you should always love the sinner. And then, when news such as that of when Osama Bin Laden was killed comes, you can feel the regret in your hearts that he is cursed to an eternity without God. That is what God's love does for you, it makes every life precious, and makes every person important... just because God made them. Think about it.
Aug 29, 2011
Psalm 23, a Revision
I like to take a different perspective on the Word of God sometimes. It does not mean that I get it right, I just see it from a different perspective. You have to understand that to rephrase the Scriptures into a form that makes it more understandable for you can easily be misunderstanding. What I mean, is that you always have to understand that it is just your "take" on the Bible, not the actual meaning of God's Word. True, paraphrasing can simplify the truths of God's Word, but it lacks the deep technical understanding that comes from studying the original language. In the end, this is not an authorized translitation, but is just a transliteration of the Word as I understand it. Today, I'm going to do Psalm 23.
1 The Lord watches over me, I want for nothing.
2 He finds comfortable places for me to rest, and quiet places to be refreshed
3 He revitalizes me. He shows me right ways of living to honor His name.
4 Even if death seems imminent, I will not be afraid, because He is with me and nobody can stand against Him. Your correction and protection are comforting to me.
5 Even when my enemies threaten, you provide me with everything. You give me the honor of princes and give me more than I deserve.
6. Truly, blessings and mercy will be present all through my life, and I will abide with God forever.
Below is the NIV version... which is also a transliteration from the King James Version.
1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, 3 he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
The NIV version came through much scholarship... my version is just a personal understanding of this passage. If it helps you, I am glad. If not, remember it is not the absolute authority on the Word of God, it is just what God has shown me up to this point in my life. Ok, so maybe it was a little overkill with that point, but I want to make sure that you realize when reading this, that I am not proclaiming any authority. I just want to offer you some extra perspective.
God Bless, and happy reading!
1 The Lord watches over me, I want for nothing.
2 He finds comfortable places for me to rest, and quiet places to be refreshed
3 He revitalizes me. He shows me right ways of living to honor His name.
4 Even if death seems imminent, I will not be afraid, because He is with me and nobody can stand against Him. Your correction and protection are comforting to me.
5 Even when my enemies threaten, you provide me with everything. You give me the honor of princes and give me more than I deserve.
6. Truly, blessings and mercy will be present all through my life, and I will abide with God forever.
Below is the NIV version... which is also a transliteration from the King James Version.
1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, 3 he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
The NIV version came through much scholarship... my version is just a personal understanding of this passage. If it helps you, I am glad. If not, remember it is not the absolute authority on the Word of God, it is just what God has shown me up to this point in my life. Ok, so maybe it was a little overkill with that point, but I want to make sure that you realize when reading this, that I am not proclaiming any authority. I just want to offer you some extra perspective.
God Bless, and happy reading!
Aug 16, 2011
Sickness is not Sinfulness
I'm sick right now. Somewhere during the past week I contracted an upper respiratory infection. This has made me think of something that has been misrepresented in modern Christianity: sickness. There are a few perspectives being thrown around regarding this issue right now.
Perspective 1: (Prosperity Gospel) Those who are following God's Will accordingly will not get sick and do not have to fear getting sick. Therefore sickness occurs due to lack of a good relationship with God and a lack of faith.
Perspective 2: (Hyper-conservatism) Sickness is a judgment from God. Those who fall ill or are sick are being sent a message from God and need to repent of their sins and get their lives straightened out.
Perspective 3: (Liberal view) Sickness is part of a sinful world that afflicts Christians because of our presence in that world. God does not regularly intervene, so get to a doctor at your earliest convenience.
Perspective 4: (Balanced view) Sickness and illness are the result of a sinful, fallen world. It occurs for many reasons, but is never outside of God's sovereignty and plan.
I prefer a balanced view, because I consider what God has taught us about sickness and illness. Some sicknesses and illnesses were judgments from God. In 2 Kings 5 we find the story of how Gehazi was punished for his greed with Leprosy. In Leviticus, we see that some illnesses were judgments and God gave specific ordinances to test for that sin. Also, however, we see in 2 Kings 20 that Hezekiah fell sick, but it was not from God. God, however, used that as a point to show His power to Hezekiah. In the New Testament, there is the point where Jesus healed Peter's mother-in-law... no commentary on sin at all. Paul in Philippians 2 talks about a man named Epaphroditus who was sick and almost died. It was not an affliction for God, and it happened because of his sacrificial service to God.
My conclusion: God made man. Man sinned. Sickness entered the world. People get sick. God is sovereign and uses that sickness to try and draw men closer to Him. Occasionally, God might intentionally make a person sick, but it is for His own purposes. In all of this, we are not the judges or determiners of why a person is sick, we are just commanded to love them and provide support (Matt 22:39 & 25:31-46, Gal 6:2, and 1 Thess 5:14). In the end, God is in control and let's leave it that way. If you get sick, I'm sorry, but stop searching for deeper purpose and just ride it out. Let your attitude towards God and your heart focus remain unchanged whether or not you get sick. But, also, don't forget to take in some rest.
God Bless, and Hope you feel better soon.
Perspective 1: (Prosperity Gospel) Those who are following God's Will accordingly will not get sick and do not have to fear getting sick. Therefore sickness occurs due to lack of a good relationship with God and a lack of faith.
Perspective 2: (Hyper-conservatism) Sickness is a judgment from God. Those who fall ill or are sick are being sent a message from God and need to repent of their sins and get their lives straightened out.
Perspective 3: (Liberal view) Sickness is part of a sinful world that afflicts Christians because of our presence in that world. God does not regularly intervene, so get to a doctor at your earliest convenience.
Perspective 4: (Balanced view) Sickness and illness are the result of a sinful, fallen world. It occurs for many reasons, but is never outside of God's sovereignty and plan.
I prefer a balanced view, because I consider what God has taught us about sickness and illness. Some sicknesses and illnesses were judgments from God. In 2 Kings 5 we find the story of how Gehazi was punished for his greed with Leprosy. In Leviticus, we see that some illnesses were judgments and God gave specific ordinances to test for that sin. Also, however, we see in 2 Kings 20 that Hezekiah fell sick, but it was not from God. God, however, used that as a point to show His power to Hezekiah. In the New Testament, there is the point where Jesus healed Peter's mother-in-law... no commentary on sin at all. Paul in Philippians 2 talks about a man named Epaphroditus who was sick and almost died. It was not an affliction for God, and it happened because of his sacrificial service to God.
My conclusion: God made man. Man sinned. Sickness entered the world. People get sick. God is sovereign and uses that sickness to try and draw men closer to Him. Occasionally, God might intentionally make a person sick, but it is for His own purposes. In all of this, we are not the judges or determiners of why a person is sick, we are just commanded to love them and provide support (Matt 22:39 & 25:31-46, Gal 6:2, and 1 Thess 5:14). In the end, God is in control and let's leave it that way. If you get sick, I'm sorry, but stop searching for deeper purpose and just ride it out. Let your attitude towards God and your heart focus remain unchanged whether or not you get sick. But, also, don't forget to take in some rest.
God Bless, and Hope you feel better soon.
Jun 16, 2011
Ancient History... A Biblical View... Part 1 (the flood)
At the outset of this, I have to proclaim that I am not an archaeologist. I am just a person who is fascinated by ancient history and wants to understand how the Bible fits into history. That being said, I have found that there are some ramifications of ancient history that we ignore sometimes, when we listen to archaeologists tell us like it is.
Let's start at the beginning. In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth (Gen 1:1). During the six "days" of creation, God made man. Now some have considered the term "day" in the first passage to refer to ages, rather than literal days. However, I have to point out that the Hebrew word used here is yowm which is most often translated as "day" (24 hours). Study for yourself and decide which theory matches the Bible and history the best.
Now I'm going to start a timeline that runs from major historical events (i.e. A.A. for after Adam, and P.F. for post flood). From the creation of Adam and Eve, the Bible tells us specifically how long of a time we had from Adam to Flood. Because you cannot be certain of the total month count, I have approximated the number of years from Adam to Flood to be 1756 years (give or take 5 years). So, a few key things about this pre-flood time: First of all, if you carefully measure on a timeline, with all overlaps taken into account, you will find that the oldest man recorded in the Bible (Methuselah) died in the same year as the flood. This brings up the startling question, did he die by the Flood? This is an interesting consideration when you realize that Methuselah's father (Enoch) is mentioned in Jude as being a preacher of righteousness. Enoch was raptured because of his walk with God (that is what the Bible tells us in Genesis 5).
Prior to the flood, we have several descriptions of all sorts of technological advances. The society was fully invested in arts, music, and probably had a culture that would rival modern society. However, they would not have had computers or such, since they didn't need them. They themselves were probably smarter and could handle the complex equations that computers usually do by themselves. In fact, if you believe in the 7 literal days of creation you can easily accept that men were genetically and mentally superior in the pre-flood society which began to decay following the flood. Scientifically, this is probably a direct result of UV radiation.
Then on to the Flood! Could such a thing really have ever happened? Well, I think the evidence is pretty strong for it. Archaeological evidence has pulled up the "Epic of Gilgamesh" a tale from ancient Babylon that speaks of a great flood and a hero who survives it. While there are many scholars who suggest that this story pre-dates the Bible's account of the flood, I believe it gives accuracy to the Bible. The earliest known record of Gilgamesh is from about 2150-2000 B.C. This means that it would have been written about the time of Abraham. Now, from my calculations, Abraham left the Mesopotamian region about 380 years after the flood. What is more, is that Shem (a flood survivor) would still have been alive according to the Bible. So, if Shem was alive, why didn't he set the record straight? Well, the possibility is that Shem spoke a different language thanks to what his grand-nephew did at Babel 300 years before the legends of Mesopotamia were written down.
Scientifically, the evidence for the flood exists as well. First, many shells have been found on the tops of mountains. Some have suggested that this is caused by the lifting process that formed the mountains. However, that theory fails to explain why the shells are still shells and not fossils, since they are supposedly millions of years old. No, the reality is that Noah's flood covered every single mountain on the Earth, in fact, the flood probably caused some of those mountains. When the flood waters receded, we read that it was very gradual. The gentle decline of the water level would have left those shells resting comfortably on the mountain top without causing significant erosion. A second evidence for the flood is found in geological strata. Scientists suggest that strata are caused over long periods of time of material being left, petrified, and a new layer formed on top of it. The question to this theory then comes from hundreds of trees that have been petrified through several different layers signifying that the tree there for millions of years while it was petrified! No, it is much saner and more logical to just believe in a massive worldwide flood.
There are so many other things that can be considered when looking at the Bible, the Flood, and Creation. The simple reality that I see, however, is that evolution requires more faith to believe in than Creationism. What is more, the physical records of this world seem to support the Bible as accurate more than they support the gradual evolution and billion year development of the world. Take it as you will, but I will believe in a literal 7 day creation followed by a worldwide flood about 1750 years later. But for you, you either believe that the Bible is accurate, which supports that it is God given, or you think it is flawed, making it a useless document to modern society. But remember this, those who believe the Bible have a 50% chance of being right, and if they're wrong- according to modern society's beliefs- they still win. So I encourage you to look closer at the evidence.
Let's start at the beginning. In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth (Gen 1:1). During the six "days" of creation, God made man. Now some have considered the term "day" in the first passage to refer to ages, rather than literal days. However, I have to point out that the Hebrew word used here is yowm which is most often translated as "day" (24 hours). Study for yourself and decide which theory matches the Bible and history the best.
Now I'm going to start a timeline that runs from major historical events (i.e. A.A. for after Adam, and P.F. for post flood). From the creation of Adam and Eve, the Bible tells us specifically how long of a time we had from Adam to Flood. Because you cannot be certain of the total month count, I have approximated the number of years from Adam to Flood to be 1756 years (give or take 5 years). So, a few key things about this pre-flood time: First of all, if you carefully measure on a timeline, with all overlaps taken into account, you will find that the oldest man recorded in the Bible (Methuselah) died in the same year as the flood. This brings up the startling question, did he die by the Flood? This is an interesting consideration when you realize that Methuselah's father (Enoch) is mentioned in Jude as being a preacher of righteousness. Enoch was raptured because of his walk with God (that is what the Bible tells us in Genesis 5).
Prior to the flood, we have several descriptions of all sorts of technological advances. The society was fully invested in arts, music, and probably had a culture that would rival modern society. However, they would not have had computers or such, since they didn't need them. They themselves were probably smarter and could handle the complex equations that computers usually do by themselves. In fact, if you believe in the 7 literal days of creation you can easily accept that men were genetically and mentally superior in the pre-flood society which began to decay following the flood. Scientifically, this is probably a direct result of UV radiation.
Then on to the Flood! Could such a thing really have ever happened? Well, I think the evidence is pretty strong for it. Archaeological evidence has pulled up the "Epic of Gilgamesh" a tale from ancient Babylon that speaks of a great flood and a hero who survives it. While there are many scholars who suggest that this story pre-dates the Bible's account of the flood, I believe it gives accuracy to the Bible. The earliest known record of Gilgamesh is from about 2150-2000 B.C. This means that it would have been written about the time of Abraham. Now, from my calculations, Abraham left the Mesopotamian region about 380 years after the flood. What is more, is that Shem (a flood survivor) would still have been alive according to the Bible. So, if Shem was alive, why didn't he set the record straight? Well, the possibility is that Shem spoke a different language thanks to what his grand-nephew did at Babel 300 years before the legends of Mesopotamia were written down.
Scientifically, the evidence for the flood exists as well. First, many shells have been found on the tops of mountains. Some have suggested that this is caused by the lifting process that formed the mountains. However, that theory fails to explain why the shells are still shells and not fossils, since they are supposedly millions of years old. No, the reality is that Noah's flood covered every single mountain on the Earth, in fact, the flood probably caused some of those mountains. When the flood waters receded, we read that it was very gradual. The gentle decline of the water level would have left those shells resting comfortably on the mountain top without causing significant erosion. A second evidence for the flood is found in geological strata. Scientists suggest that strata are caused over long periods of time of material being left, petrified, and a new layer formed on top of it. The question to this theory then comes from hundreds of trees that have been petrified through several different layers signifying that the tree there for millions of years while it was petrified! No, it is much saner and more logical to just believe in a massive worldwide flood.
There are so many other things that can be considered when looking at the Bible, the Flood, and Creation. The simple reality that I see, however, is that evolution requires more faith to believe in than Creationism. What is more, the physical records of this world seem to support the Bible as accurate more than they support the gradual evolution and billion year development of the world. Take it as you will, but I will believe in a literal 7 day creation followed by a worldwide flood about 1750 years later. But for you, you either believe that the Bible is accurate, which supports that it is God given, or you think it is flawed, making it a useless document to modern society. But remember this, those who believe the Bible have a 50% chance of being right, and if they're wrong- according to modern society's beliefs- they still win. So I encourage you to look closer at the evidence.
Feb 6, 2011
Would Jesus Hang Out With Me?
Did you ever sit down and ask yourself: "If Jesus were here on Earth today, would he want me to be in his band of disciples?" That's a pretty important question for those of us who claim to be His disciples right now. When you think about what Jesus put up with from His own followers, ask yourself if you would make the cut so to speak were He recruiting today.
First, Simon Peter: always impetuous, spoke first, thought later. This man denied that He knew Christ when Jesus was standing before false witnesses. Despite his apparent cowardice, Peter had one thing that most people ignore: he was who he was. Peter did not claim to be holy or righteous. He had no delusions of grandeur about his position with God, although he was at times misguided about his commitment. When his mother-in-law was lying sick in bed, Peter didn't go to Jesus to ask a favor of healing. While mother-in-laws today can sometimes be portrayed as the "Wicked Witch of the West", back then, your wife's mother was your mother. Peter opened his home, but let Jesus be a guest, not a servant. You have to admire that. Later, Peter would jump out of the boat and walk on water when everyone else would stand in awe of Jesus walking on water. And finally, while Peter did deny the Lord during his trial, do not forget that when Jesus was first confronted, Peter was the only one who was willing to put up a fight. Peter was not perfect...but he was earnest in following Christ
Consider next, James and John: they did have presumptions about their position with God. They believed that they were in tight with the most high because they were in tight with Jesus. But when Jesus rebuked them, he gave them a difficult cross to bear. He let them know that they would have to face every inch of suffering that He Himself was to endure. James who wanted to be first in the kingdom, was first to get there. After all, he was the first martyr among the disciples. John, who died of old age, had to suffer many things, including torture and banishment. They were not perfect...but they were willing to change and see their faith through.
What of the rest: Andrew: started strong in the faith and recruited his brother Peter. After Jesus' death, Andrew stood with the rest on Pentecost to proclaim the wonders of Jesus' resurrection. Philip: used to preach to the Ethiopian. Thomas: even in doubting the resurrection, he committed wholeheartedly with a little proof from his Master. Matthew went on to write one of the four gospels.
The truth is that the disciples had something that we today need to consider getting: commitment. They endured persecutions, they continued when hope seemed lost, they abounded when the Holy Spirit moved. They weren't lost in a stupid TV series, or distracted by a new phone, computer, or other device. None of the disciples ever hung out in a bar just to see an old friend, nor did they work hard just to make money. When the chips fell, each one of them was committed to serving Christ. I would imagine that that is the reason that Jesus chose to hang out with them in the first place. So the question sits for us today, are we really committed to being a friend of Jesus? If there are distractions in your life, as there are in mine, it is time to pray them aside and get back in tune with God. We like to think we have plenty of time, but James reminds us that "life is a vapor." Don't wait, be the person that Jesus would want to hang out with, and bury the rest of you. The Bible tells us, that to be alive in Christ, is to be dead to sin. So, get out there and LIVE.
First, Simon Peter: always impetuous, spoke first, thought later. This man denied that He knew Christ when Jesus was standing before false witnesses. Despite his apparent cowardice, Peter had one thing that most people ignore: he was who he was. Peter did not claim to be holy or righteous. He had no delusions of grandeur about his position with God, although he was at times misguided about his commitment. When his mother-in-law was lying sick in bed, Peter didn't go to Jesus to ask a favor of healing. While mother-in-laws today can sometimes be portrayed as the "Wicked Witch of the West", back then, your wife's mother was your mother. Peter opened his home, but let Jesus be a guest, not a servant. You have to admire that. Later, Peter would jump out of the boat and walk on water when everyone else would stand in awe of Jesus walking on water. And finally, while Peter did deny the Lord during his trial, do not forget that when Jesus was first confronted, Peter was the only one who was willing to put up a fight. Peter was not perfect...but he was earnest in following Christ
Consider next, James and John: they did have presumptions about their position with God. They believed that they were in tight with the most high because they were in tight with Jesus. But when Jesus rebuked them, he gave them a difficult cross to bear. He let them know that they would have to face every inch of suffering that He Himself was to endure. James who wanted to be first in the kingdom, was first to get there. After all, he was the first martyr among the disciples. John, who died of old age, had to suffer many things, including torture and banishment. They were not perfect...but they were willing to change and see their faith through.
What of the rest: Andrew: started strong in the faith and recruited his brother Peter. After Jesus' death, Andrew stood with the rest on Pentecost to proclaim the wonders of Jesus' resurrection. Philip: used to preach to the Ethiopian. Thomas: even in doubting the resurrection, he committed wholeheartedly with a little proof from his Master. Matthew went on to write one of the four gospels.
The truth is that the disciples had something that we today need to consider getting: commitment. They endured persecutions, they continued when hope seemed lost, they abounded when the Holy Spirit moved. They weren't lost in a stupid TV series, or distracted by a new phone, computer, or other device. None of the disciples ever hung out in a bar just to see an old friend, nor did they work hard just to make money. When the chips fell, each one of them was committed to serving Christ. I would imagine that that is the reason that Jesus chose to hang out with them in the first place. So the question sits for us today, are we really committed to being a friend of Jesus? If there are distractions in your life, as there are in mine, it is time to pray them aside and get back in tune with God. We like to think we have plenty of time, but James reminds us that "life is a vapor." Don't wait, be the person that Jesus would want to hang out with, and bury the rest of you. The Bible tells us, that to be alive in Christ, is to be dead to sin. So, get out there and LIVE.