You're a Christian Because You're From Galilee

And after an interval of about an hour still another insisted, saying, “Certainly this man also was with him, for he too is a Galilean.” (Luke 22:59)

While I don't know that this is a common extrapolation from this text, it got me thinking about geographical location, and Christianity.

They knew Peter was out of place, noticing something about him that told them he was from Galilee, like Jesus.  "You're only a Christian", they will say, "because you grew up in a land mostly Christian, to a Christian family and Christian influences."

Why do you think Peter was a Christian?  It's an important question with an important answer that the world will scoff at.  Was he in Galilee because that's where God needed him to be when he would be a Christian when Jesus met Peter there, or was Peter a Christian because Peter just happened to be in the right place at the right time by mere luck when Jesus showed up on the scene?  Lucky Peter.  While those who accused him were correct that he was indeed a follower of Christ and from Galilee, the cause of his Christianity was not because of his location... and neither is anyone else's.

The world will try to tell you, "You're just a Christian, because you're from a Christian land, and you had Christian parents!  You could be Muslim or Buddhist if you were from somewhere else."

Wrong.  You greatly underestimate the power of this God.  If God wants me to be a Christian, He will put me in the exact place he needs me geographically, at the exact moment in time it is needed when He calls me.  In Peter's time, that place was Galilee.  Perhaps in your time, that place is America.  I suspect that is the case for most people reading this.

Your encounter with the Living God is not by luck.  He put you where He was, exactly when He needed you to be there, and then He called you.  It is not being a Galilean that will cause you to respond, and many from Galilee will not heed the call.  Those who know Jesus understand that Jesus was no mere Galilean.

Traditions Based on Truth: Why Have a Christmas Tree?

Why do you have a Christmas tree?  Why do you give presents on Christmas, and why do you put lights on your home?  Why do you put up a nativity scene?  Why do you hang stockings and fill it with goodies?  Why do you hang a mistletoe?  Why do you read from Luke Chapter 2 in the Bible?  Why do you sing certain songs, or drive around looking at neighborhood lights?  Why do you decorate cookies shaped like snowmen, candy canes, wreaths, and holly?  Why do you or don't you do any of these things?

Some may seem more obvious, while others you honestly can't really say.  Something I'm going to teach my children about traditions, is to think about them, and honestly ask "Why?".  Think about what they want to make their own, think about the ones they want to take with, think about others they want to leave behind, and in all their thinking to be honest about it before God and others.  After years of thinking about these things myself, I've come to a few conclusions and also find I am still settling on others.

1. It's okay to have traditions that don't have a direct Biblical origin, and can still be meaningful.

Some things are just fun and for pretty.  They bring back good memories shared with friends and family.  It's okay to have an annual bean bag toss because it's fun.  God has given us family, and friends, and all good things come from Him.  It's okay to remember the things He has given in our past, and to replicate them in a spirit of thankfulness.  While this can be droned, it doesn't have to be.  It's okay to bring pretty flowers in annually that are representative of the changing seasons.  All things God has made bring glory to God, because He is glorious and He does all things well.

While our traditions don't necessarily have to have a direct Scriptural reading explanation directly from the Bible, we should do all things with thanksgiving and give glory to God in them.  We should thank Him for the experiences and what He has given; may those things encourage us to do the really necessary work of sharing the Gospel with others, because we know that He is good and we should all delight in Him by His grace.  These things, while not having a direct command, should be wrapped up in the command to give God glory and thanksgiving for all the things we enjoy.  We should give Him glory for all the things we have, and also the things we don't have.  We know that the ultimate good and perfect gift was given to us in Jesus.  All of our experiences in this life, should be experienced through the knowledge of that grace.  To strive in tradition and enjoy the fruits of our labor apart from the knowledge of God, is vanity and chasing after the wind.

"There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God, for apart from him who can eat or who can have enjoyment? For to the one who pleases him God has given wisdom and knowledge and joy, but to the sinner he has given the business of gathering and collecting, only to give to one who pleases God. This also is vanity and a striving after wind. (Ecclesiastes 2:24-26)

"Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. (James 1:16-18)"

Just as "all things work for the good of those who love Him...", all good gifts come from God, that we should be a kind of firstfruits.  Everything you have up to this moment, or will have, has been given as part of the story whereby God brought forth in you a faith that gave Him praise to call Jesus Lord and Savior.  For the unrepentant sinner all of their gathering is all vanity in the end, sadly.  However, for those who are born again, it isn't vanity at all for you but is reason to give God glory--namely and chiefly, for giving all good things that we would ultimately call upon His Name, and give Him glory for all things and thank Him in all things.  Our traditions of all kinds don't have to be in vain, because we know the One Who gives good gifts.  I'm thankful for the cookies I make yearly with the family God has given me, not just because of vanity, but because I know that God has saved me and is working all things for my good in the end (eternal life, in heaven).  In all that we do--including traditions we may make up or assume--we should be mindful of that.

2. Don't reverse-engineer spirituality into a tradition that you didn't originally start for that reason.

This will be my longest point, because I think it's one we are often guilty of, and because of its tricky nature it requires greater explanation.  While it's okay to have traditions that don't have direct Biblical origin, I think it is dishonest and a mistake to be pretentious about our reasons for keeping said tradition.  That is after a tradition is already set, later on reverse-engineering into that tradition as a root cause, some spiritual origin that wasn't really there in the beginning.  This gives an appearance of spirituality, but ultimately is insincere and false.  Sometimes we do this in order to feel better about doing something we were already doing anyways and want to have a "good spiritual reason" to keep doing it.  I believe a lot of this kind of spiritually-false behavior, results from an obligation to solve a problem that isn't there because we feel guilty for having traditions we can't necessarily point to the Bible on (my first point above).  However, that's just dishonest.  I would rather be honestly selfish than dishonestly pious.  The good news is, however, we don't have to be either.

For example, maybe you did a bean bag competition for years, but later on wanting to be more spiritual in your yearly tradition, you say that the hole represents our souls need for God; tossing the bags in is like trying to fill it with stuff and ultimately it will never be filled.  We need Jesus.  While that's an okay picture, it's still insincere.  You just like playing bean bag toss and you reverse engineered into it a spiritual cause that allows you to feel better about what you were already doing.  It's not necessary.  See point 1 above.  Enjoy what God has given you and give Him glory for the times you have shared with others.  Give Him glory in all things.  That is spiritually good behavior.  The attempt to spiritualize all of our behaviors we are already doing is just dishonest and we shouldn't do it.  Better to just eat cake, because cake is good, you like cake, and you're thankful to God who gave you the taste buds to enjoy it.  When we start trying to make our traditions into "spiritual" observations that didn't begin there, we are taking the path of the pharisee who starts to make his traditions equal to the commandment of God, and in a vain attempt to become more spiritual, we have become less.  We may impress others with our piety, but God sees the heart.  This is a very tricky thing, and we often deceive ourselves or are deceived in this way to reverse engineer spirituality into actions we were going to do anyways.  We shouldn't do that.

Another example is you might have grown up putting lights on a tree, or on your house and you don't really know why.  You know that it's fun and pretty, and you have good memories doing it with friends and family growing up.  That isn't necessarily a bad thing.  Nobody ever really told you why you did it, and maybe they didn't even really know.  You never questioned it.  You just thought it was neat, you remember doing it, and you wanted to do it too when you were older.  Later on, however, we started to think about why we do what we do and we found out from someone that the lights are representative of Jesus being the light, and we are to be the light of the world, so you take that and run with it.  Assuming this is historical fact, now you say that this the reason you keep on doing it when really, there was no signs of stopping and it was being done long before this knowledge ever entered.  Can you see where the root of our tradition may be disingenuous when we tacitly apply a spiritual cause to the things we were already doing beforehand?

Okay, so what.  Maybe that *really is* where the tradition started, and you just didn't know about it.  Should you stop it and not talk about it because you didn't know?  I agree there is no sense stopping doing something because we didn't know the root cause really was spiritual to someone, at some point in the past. You could hold onto the tradition because of point one alone, which I expressed above.  Now knowing where it comes from, you have a special appreciation for it.  We can keep a tradition for a variety of reasons, but we should be honest about how it came to us, and how it became our tradition.  We should always be honest, and not pretentious.  Who can say where these things really started?  Do you really know?  I mean, really?  Did you read a book, or see it on the Internet?  How do we know?  History can be a very subjective thing.  Not all the time, but who can really know where this stuff came from?  Often times, all we can know for sure is why we do things today.  For the day has enough to worry about in itself.  Who has time to really confirm concretely what the true origins of some tradition is?  My point isn't to argue against sincere spirituality, but to encourage it with honesty before God and others; to think about it and to put out the false and pretentious kind.

Consider  Ananias and Sapphira who gave less sacrificially than they let on.  The origins or fruit of their sacrifice was disingenuous.  They pretended to give all that they had, of their own will, but really were holding back for themselves.  Their offering was tainted by a disingenuous spirit.  They are the ones who chose to give what they gave, but then made it appear spiritual by tacking that on at the end.  God calls them on the carpet, or the ground at least... as it were.  Give what you give, but really give what you say you give and don't make it seem more sacrificial than it really is.  Just be honest.  It seems like such a small thing to us, but at that time, God actually killed them for their dishonesty in it.  If we think it's such a small deal, consider their story.  It was recorded for us.

Maybe we realize we are guilty of "reverse-engineering" spirituality into many of our traditions.  That doesn't mean we have to stop those traditions, but I would at least recommend acknowledging how they truly began in our practice, and just be thankful for the good God has provided.  Thankfulness to God in the Name of Jesus, is spiritual.

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


3. It's okay to change or just remove traditions for the sake of doing something better--doing good.

Some traditions may need to go for the sake of spiritual growth.  It is easy to make traditions, and often hard to take them down.  It takes a very spiritual person, to take apart the meaningless securities that have provided familiarity for so long, but in which there is no substance.  It's possible that what was once good has been lost.  You find it hard to even be thankful for it.  You don't know why you do it, and to keep doing it just seems like a chore.  Cutting out traditions can make you seem like a real weirdo in your culture, and even spiritual family.  For example, dare you not get a Christmas tree?  We haven't gotten a Christmas tree for years, and it occasionally gets us a blank stare.  We must be careful that we do not take pride in confounding others with our peculiarities in traditions.  That is not the goal.  Nevertheless, it happens.

That's not to say we never will get a pine tree in our home and decorate it up all pretty, but it isn't something we currently put time and energy into.  For us, we were only able to arrive at that tradition by disingenuous leaps, and it just seems like a lot of work we didn't need.  I'm glad others do it though, because I like observing their Christmas trees and knowing I didn't have to do any of that work myself (haha)!  While a tree didn't hold any significant value to us in memory or wanting to make memories, maybe it does for you.  That's okay, so long as we are being honest about why it is we do what we do, there isn't blatant sin in it, and we give God thanks for what He has provided.  I like pretty things--pretty is fun.  In our personal attempt to make the holidays simpler and truly about Jesus, we saw the Christmas tree as a distraction for us that we weren't able to reconcile some spiritual call for.  Back to point 1 and 2, there doesn't need to be in my opinion, but there also weren't any memories so fond that we couldn't see replacing them with something simpler that was, us.  I do stress the, for us.  It doesn't have to be a distraction, and maybe there will come a day when we put one up.

Heartfelt obedience in loving God and loving others, must not be overthrown by our traditions, or our traditions are indeed in vain.  If they ever get in the way of obedience, they need to change--either our view of them, or the thing entirely.  Consider: is it possible the things we do because of tradition have actually become an inhibitor to obeying God?  Has all of this cleaning up for ceremonial traditions and celebrating just become business and caused us to grow deaf to the voice of God?  Are we too busy?  Have I over spiritualized things dishonestly, or have I just been going through the motions thanklessly?  Have our traditions actually become more important to us than sincere obedience to the Living God?  These are questions we must ask God, and nobody else can answer for us.  May our lips not honor God while our hearts are far from Him.


"Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, “Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat.” He answered them, “And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? For God commanded, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’ But you say, ‘If anyone tells his father or his mother, “What you would have gained from me is given to God,” he need not honor his father.’ So for the sake of your tradition you have made void the word of God. You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said:


“‘This people honors me with their lips,
    but their heart is far from me;

in vain do they worship me,
    teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’” (Matthew 15:1-9)

4. Don't judge others if their traditions are different from yours--or completely absent.

This is an ironic point, you might think, given all of what you've read here.  This is of course assuming these "traditions" don't actually involve sin, because that is another matter.  We should realize that we are all trying to figure this stuff out.  We should seek to live with one another in an understanding way, and encourage one another to sincerely seek God, and walk circumspectly.  Nevertheless, it is before Him we rise or fall, and we can only be accountable for our own actions.  Traditions can be fun, but in tradition there can be a sense of "knowledge" of the past, and knowledge can puff up, while love builds up.  Do not be puffed up in the knowledge of your traditions, or the lack of your traditions!  Seek to love one another, be merciful to one another, and maybe we can figure this all out together.

Making new traditions and cutting out old ones can be hard for a number of reasons, and it poses a problem as we become "different" to others in some of the things we do.  Difference, however, does not have to be indifference.  We can become indifferent with others when we abstain from certain traditions they do not, or visa-verse.  We can become embittered towards those who do not abstain like us, or who don't do the same things we do.  While it is important to encourage others into thoughtful behavior that gives God glory (as I hope this blog will do), it is unfruitful to judge our brother ignorantly.  This too, is a sign of spiritual immaturity we will need to address as we cut out certain things from our own practice.

Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand. One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God. (Romans 14:4-6)

Final thought...

It may be that whoever is reading this will find some contradictions in some of my thoughts, and that is very possible.  Sometimes in attempting to honestly navigate our own reasons for why we do what we do, we run into many conflicting feelings and thoughts for sure.  I have not finished making our traditions or making sense of the ones we already do.  As I honestly seek to form them in an understanding way to give God glory, and to be thankful to Him in them... I know that in the end, it is God and not my traditions that will save the day.

Is Your Glass Half Empty, Half Full, or Overflowing?

Seeing the glass as half empty or half full is a psychological dilemma people have poked and pondered for a very long time.  What does your view of the glass say about you?  Are you a half-full, or half-empty person?  Are you optimistic, or pessimistic?

We say those who view the glass as half full are generally optimistic, and others who view it half empty are pessimistic. What if either position is vain?

One solution to the dilemma might be to put it in a smaller glass that becomes full.  That would cause both to agree the glass is now full, but really just presents a new opportunity for envy knowing what they once had and has been taken away.  Maybe now both optimist and pessimist are saddened.

I suggest, however, either state of mind derived from a glass or its contents absent faith in the God who gives both drink and glass, is vanity.  Both have been deceived into thinking that their contentment should come from their glass or what is in it.

As the amount of liquid in their glass is the same, so can be the state of their eternal soul.  Optimist and pessimist will perish together, because they are equally lost and without true hope.  Both have found solace in vanity, and seek happiness in the drink that only their eyes perceive.  If both turn from their vain ways, however, and seek happiness in the One Who gives and takes away, both of their cups will overflow even if the cup that they see runs dry.
---
Matthew 6:25
“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?

Psalm 23:5-6
You prepare a table before me
    in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
    my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
    all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
    forever.

Christian Heroism, and Superheroes

"Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come." -1 Timothy 4:7-8

The mentioned Scripture and accompanying picture may already be exceedingly offensive to many, but please hang with me for a bit.

If most of our children's superhero's and general fascinations are with fictional characters made up for entertainment purposes only (or indeed our own fascinations), it isn't for lack of available faithful patriarchs in Scripture or elsewhere in human history. It really just depends on what we are choosing to guide and expose them to in what is heroic.  From David, to Jesus, and many all around and in between, I sometimes wonder why with so many real truly heroic examples, we find ourselves perpetuating the myths we do to our children.  I wonder, "What do I believe?"  Because truth be told, it really comes down to what we personally find to be heroic. So we know and believe, so we teach. That is key. Who are our personal heroes? That may be the hardest part to swallow in all of this. Why am I doing what I do, and what am I truly cherishing? It's a hard thing to address, and our pride will oppose the conviction often at every turn. It's possible that we find godly truths too boring and a creating or craving an available substitute is more appealing or convenient.

I get a little fun in fantasy has a place, perhaps. Make believe has a place, just maybe, when it has a point. It can be hard to determine I know, and to get lost in it all. I don't know that I have a hard fast rule, but only words and thoughts to take under advisement. Consider if our children (and yes, we ourselves) have been given over to godless myths. Is it the driving force in our celebrations and free time? Where there are godless myths, we would do well to avoid that altogether. I'm not saying all fantasy is a godless myth... but godless myths are godless myths. We would do well to consider what the myths are we are absorbing and giving to our children to be absorbed, and make adjustments accordingly. If we are offended by the thought of this, we should consider whether that is because our pursuits of things for entertainment purposes only has just gone on for too long, or if we really are walking soberly because of our actual love of the truth.

It would be very naive to think that entertainment driven heroes will not result in entertainment driven pursuits.  At the end of the day, our Maker knows, and He desires us to know that He has been exceedingly heroic above all we could ever ask, hope, or think.  Pursue Godly heroics, and not godless myths... whatever those may be.

"God is love"

We need to be careful when summarizing Scripture into our own pithy bits of truth.  We must remember that every Word has a proper context, and that often times even the entire verse isn't enough to provide that context.  When I really think about it, I'm sure I have been guilty of this countless times.

Most people know that the chapters and verses in the Bible are not considered inspired but were added later for ease of reference.  So, just because a verse is "a verse", even that doesn't mean that the verse is necessarily "complete".  But, how many times do I just drop a verse and call it "done"?

Okay, so before I go further I will say many times knowing our audience may determine the length of context we should provide.  For example, if I'm in a small group of people who I am pretty certain know the context and the importance of context, and after discussing a topic at length I drop, "God is love" into the conversation, perhaps there is a place for that.  However, I think we often do abuse, or, misuse God's Word to say what we want to say rather than what God's Word actually says.  And, I have been guilty of this I am certain.

So, consider, "God is love."  That is true, isn't it?  Of course it is.  It says it.  That phrase, though, is stated in 1 John 4:8 and is surrounded by a lot of other things.  The entire verse says, "Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love."  Even that, though, is really not enough to say what kind of love we are talking about.  Is it, just a feeling?  Is it, just whatever we want it to be?  Is God in every single feeling of love that exists, no matter the context in which it is expressed, felt, or said to exist?  I say it is love, therefore, God is love and must be therefore approved by God.  See, it says "God is love", right there. See that verse?  "GOD IS LOVE".  If you are against our LOVE then you are against GOD.  Check mate.

Oy vey.

To simply say, "God is love", while being very true, often makes a poor point on its own because our own inefficiencies to know God.  Without context, it makes no point at all except for maybe the point that we ourselves are trying to make for our own agenda.  What we should want to do is get to the point God is trying to make.

All that is to say, before we go saying things like, "God is love", make sure we know the context at the very least.  I'm just going to quote the entire chapter where that phrase is found, and perhaps even then it may not be enough for the full context.  If so, then see the rest of the Bible. Because God is love, but not all "love" is God.  God defines love, but He is not defined by what we often perceive as love.  In fact, the very chapter that says "God is love", also instructs us to, "not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world."  With false prophets, comes false love.

"The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.” -1 Timothy 1:5

Know God, know love.  No God, No love. God is love, but we can love bad things, and our love may not be of God at all.

---

1 John 4

1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already. 4 Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 5 They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them. 6 We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. 10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.

13 By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16 So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. 17 By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. 19 We love because he first loved us. 20 If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. 21 And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.

Going to Church--The Menial Task of Christian Fellowship (or so they say)

Do you see "going to church" as a menial task? Typically it is viewed as such, I think, for one of a few reasons among professing believers in God.

1. Probably the primary reason is because we do not see ourselves as in need of instruction--we got this thing all on our own, thanks.

2. We do not see how we are supposed to contribute to the instruction of others--who am I to judge another person anyways?

3. A person doesn't see church as a place of instruction and correction at all, but rather, as a less fun party house.  A place to organize potlucks, parties, and to make friends.  If this you, then you may already feel you have this pretty well covered on your weekends with your buddies at the country club, at the local bar, or back home at the man-cave, so who needs church?  Worse, if you do show up and find out you're a sinner, that seems terribly unfriendly.

All three are lies.  Are there other reasons?  I'm sure, but these I think are the big three.

Proverbs‬ ‭27:17‬ 
“Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.”

For this to make any sense, you must see yourself as a sinner.  You must realize your need for holy sharpening.  Not just abstractly a sinner, but a sinner indeed.  If you don't, then this will be lost on you.  You need to see your great need for a Great Savior.  You may have already stopped reading this because of one of the already mentioned reasons above are true for you.  If you don't see yourself as a sinner--personally depraved, with intentional and willful acts of aggression against God's holy commands--then you will not see any real need for Christian fellowship. You make good enough decisions.  You are reasonable, and collected.  You sin a little but not much and know that your sins fall within the context of God's love you have created in your own image, so you'll be fine. It's not like you are murdering people. Maybe then you should go to church (those people definitely should get to church, and have some people pray for them probably).  Not you, though.  You can take care of the checks and balances all on your own; and God's good with your little amount of sin.  Of course with God's distant and benevolent oversight, you'll be fine. Such thinking has a very weak and very wrong view of all sin in light of the holiness, and righteousness of God.

James 1:13 -- Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one.

You and I sin, and ultimately it is God's forbearance in allowing us to do so that should lead us to fellowship of constant reconciliation.  We don't often come to this conclusion on our own, or even from God alone, but through others who God uses.  Not the kind of holy and reverent kind of change that sets the bar high on God, anyways.  Perhaps  while neglecting fellowship in the body, we do see kinds of topical type from a bar set low on man's ideals.  However, it's this constant flow of reconciliation within the church that we need to truly grow as we are constantly learning, being challenged and corrected.  All of this should make us more grateful for His mercy and wisdom as we are being restored to the mind of Christ.  We who were once (many times) reconciled become the one who gets to help reconcile another, and visa-verse.  This special gift is found among the fellowship of believers, and unless you are making yourself a tangible part of it by joining in, then you'll have no part of it.  You might just be a vessel for dishonor.

2 Timothy 2:20-21
But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.

Just to be clear, I am not saying we go to church so that we can sin, in order to contribute and benefit from this restoration and sanctification,  I'm saying we go to church because we are already sinning and it is within the church God has designed, where we truly begin to sin less in ways that count for eternity.  Chiefly our understanding and presentation of the Gospel, and be fit for every good work, to have real impact in the eternal lives of others.  That work and that salvation should matter a lot to us.

James 5:19-20 -- My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.

Do you need church?  Well, of course you do.  It's not really a matter of whether or not you need it, but whether or not you see and accept it.  If by God's grace you are not in a season of excelling in sin (so we may think), then humbly consider your position and calling to restore the one who is.  Realize you probably have some ill-conceived ideas about what church is supposed to be.  Recognize that this reconciliation doesn't sincerely happen on the shifting sands of philosophical volleyball, bouncing ideas around about the rights and wrongs of life over a pint of self-affirmation brews and atta-boys at the local pub.  It happens where those who stand on the Firm Foundation seek the truth, within the church.

Psalm 42:1-4
As a deer pants for flowing streams,
    so pants my soul for you, O God.
My soul thirsts for God,
    for the living God.
When shall I come and appear before God?
My tears have been my food
    day and night,
while they say to me all the day long,
    “Where is your God?”

These things I remember,
    as I pour out my soul:
how I would go with the throng
    and lead them in procession to the house of God
with glad shouts and songs of praise,
    a multitude keeping festival

Healthy Living (your body is a temple)

Do you want a healthy life?  What does the Bible say about health?  Did you know that the picture below actually has very little (or quite possibly nothing at all) to do with the text included with it?

Have you noticed that people are becoming more strictly meticulous about the food they consider wholesome to eat--how they eat it, how to cook it or not cook it, how it is grown or how it was raised? There are vegans (both raw and not), vegetarians or fruitarians, all of which may consume GMOs and non-GMOs, or organic.  There is much debate to consume all of your time.

There are many fine pragmatic reasons to do many of these things, which in themselves are not sinful to do.  Meanwhile, however, the trend continues to become looser with the view of the body on what is wholesome use for sex.  From what we gaze upon to what we wholly give ourselves to physically.  Suffice it to say then that you may notice the scope of what people allow into their bodies is narrowing, while the scope of what we allow ourselves to do sexually is broadening.

But... God commands a different way.

"Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food”—and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.”
1 Corinthians 6:13 ESV

You have heard it said that our bodies are a temple.  This is a Christian concept, and many non-Christians adhere to the same thought.  According to the Bible, however, you can know nothing of food--nothing at all--and you can still rightly represent God's gift, in expressing your bodies as that temple (contrary to what "Christian Today" would wrongly suggest in the image above).

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.”
1 Corinthians 6:13, 19-20 ESV

Become the fittest and leanest meanest vitamin-enriched shining example of natural living, and the spitting image of physical health, yet you may still be poorly conditioning yourself to be a temple of the Holy Spirit.

Therefore if you want to live healthy in God's economy, you may need to start thinking much less about how your food was raised, and much more about what you do with your sexual arousal.

Should Christians boycott Target?

Should Christians boycott Target?

Target Boycott Pledge

I was discussing this with some friends recently, and here is the conclusion I (and I think we) came to.

First I will say this. If you legitimately don't feel safe taking your children to Target or using the restrooms because of this, then by all means don't go there, simply just don't use the bathrooms, or don't allow your children to without supervision.

Also, we should do good "especially to the household of faith" (Galatians 6:10). So if there is an alternative by which we can give business to a Christian providing the same services, I think we should do that. However, a lot of the time that isn't possible. If you know a Christian running a business that provides identical services to Target, then by all means shop there.

But, should we outright boycott or refuse business to target because of their "core beliefs" conflicting with ours? Initially I admit, my thoughts were leaning towards yes. I was ready to boycott them. However, I think it was I who was missing the mark. Given further thought and discussion on this, I don't think that is actually the most Christ honoring decision. Here are some reasons why.

1. Such as in the case of Target, can you imagine if this was Jesus' approach to evil? Likewise, can it really be his instruction to us who have been commissioned likewise to do so? Who would have heard the Gospel, and who would hear it today if the answer is to just boycott the sexually immoral--who make foolish decisions because of sexually immoral or greedy reasons? Consider 1 Corinthians 5:9-13.

"I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people—not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one. For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? God judges those outside. “Purge the evil person from among you.”"

I think it's a mistake to believe that by not doing "business" with places like Target (not a brother, not a professing Christian business), we are suffering or doing so for righteousness sake. I think part of the point of 1 Cor 9 is that we shouldn't be surprised when the world gets it totally wrong and delights in sin. "Since you would have to go out of this world..."

2. Filthy money is filthy money. No matter how you slice it, money is dirty. Do you know where your money has been? Do you know what it has accomplished? Money, no matter how we spend it, isn't where it's at. It's not where our minds or hearts should be. It's not what should bring us peace or fulfill our dreams. Look at your money and ask, "How much evil have you accomplished in your life?  What evil will you accomplish after I have released you?"  Do you really want to know?  Let's just not spend any more money, then.

..."but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven" (Matthew 6:19-21).

So the question we should ask then, is does shopping at Target (as opposed to anywhere else) cause us to not lay up treasure in heaven? I'm saying no because the treasures we lay up in heaven are not calculated like that. The women who gave two coins gave more than all the rest (Mark 12:44).  She was laying up more treasure in heaven, even though she gave less worldly wealth.  So, how does that work?

The exchange of money to the glory of God, is not even a matter of amount, but of the heart. So, what is your heart when you exchange money at Target? Is it just to get yourself more stuff and solve our problems with money? Is it to get sweet new fun game, nice shirt or pants, and buy joy? Are we merely exchanging money, or things, or are our minds and hearts focused on something deeper? Is our choice to not shop at Target because we think we are solving Target's problems by giving them filthy money? Then it is no wonder we can not longer say, "Silver and gold we do not have, but in the name of Jesus Christ, rise up and walk!" (Acts 3:6). Perhaps we are just missing the point all together.

3. If Target, then what about every where else? Whenever we need to buy something, or have repairs done, are we supposed to have the people who we might do business with fill out a moral and doctrinal questionnaire, first, before we commit to exchanging our money for their services? I think Paul is basically saying 1 Corinthians 5:9-13, is don't worry about it--sinners are going to sin. God will judge them. Let's speak truth and share the Gospel, absolutely. Don't shy away from name sin and the need for repentance--amen. However, are we doing that? Just refusing to do business with sinners because of sins like this is path that ultimately isolates us from those who need to hear the Gospel to be saved from those sins.

4. Target isn't requiring you to wave a LGBT (or LGBTQ, now) flag. They aren't requiring your to participate in any sexual sin. They are simply sinners, as all are, who miss the mark and are doing business in this world. Do we really want to isolate ourselves from Target and their employees, who need to hear the Gospel shared and seen it lived out in our lives?

Now all of that said, and back to 1 Cor 9--if a brother or sister is behaving as such... that's a totally different story. However, Target is not a "brother", and so I don't think we need to treat Target as such. Or else who else is left that we shouldn't be boycotting right now? Let's not let ignorance be an excuse. Let's find out the sin, name it, and boycott them all. Not really though, because I don't think that is the Biblical approach. Let's go to Target, let's not take part in the same sins, and let's share the Gospel with those we meet there.

Present Faith

Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. (Hebrews 1:1-2)

God has often said in His Word that we should remember many things that He has said and done; also, to hope about many things to come. That is things in the past, and things in the future. They shape our present, faith.

It is the faith (in Christ) that we hold onto in the present time, which saves us for the life to come. This saving faith is important, and it has never been blind.

Do you want to understand this hope and a future? We must know His Word about what He has done in the past, and what He promises in the future. Only then can faith be lived out, in the present.

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. (Jeremiah 29:11)

You Have Great Worth--Or, Worthlessness

As people, we generally love to be spoken to about our great value, worth, and greatness. Tell us we are wonderful, and we believe you have a wonderful message. We eat it up. While the Bible says a few things about our worth, it always has a connection to faith in God, as the gateway to that value. We derive worth not just because we exist, and not even just because God made us. Don't believe me? Consider this: What good will one's personal value do if they die apart from God and find themselves in hell? Apparently, they weren't very valuable.

"Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body." (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

We were purchased with a great price... and if we realize that, then we realize we are not our own. It is from God, and through God, that we get our worth. Consequently, it is in FAITH in Him who purchased us Who gives us value. Apart from Him, and apart from that faith that saves, we are not valuable.

"All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.” (Romans 3:12)

Worthless. That's a strong word. If someone ever tells you of your great intrinsic or even God-given worth, but in the same breath does not tell you about the Savior Who died to give worth, then take heed. We don't need more convincing of our own worth. Our own worth won't get us anywhere. What we need is more convincing of HIS WORTH. When we are convinced of that, then we will find our value--in Christ alone.

Still not convinced? Consider Jesus' Words when he spoke of our having value. Again, it was connected to FAITH IN JESUS. If you don't have that... it's a hard truth, but the Bible says, you don't have worth. But, eternal worth is right at your fingertips--IN HIM.

“So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 10:26-33)

What Makes A Man

I've heard many opinions from society on what "makes a man". Usually we are told confirmation of our, "man" title isn't based strictly on what lies below... but what lies within, and how that is expressed in action. In some occasions this might be expressed in mercy, while others it is expressed in violence. Often, it is expressed in personal responsibility.

Though I can't say, however, that I've ever heard an opinion from society on what makes a woman, yet the same principal should apply, shouldn't it? There may be some underlying cultural hypocrisy I'm not going to get into, now.

Not to be surprised, society is sure to get some of it right I suppose, but I would say more often than not, gets these judgment's wrong.

Here is a start for both men and women, on "earning" both our "titles".

Now, how are we doing?

-----
1 Timothy 2:7-10
For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling; likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire, but with what is proper for women who profess godliness—with good works.

Toeing the Line of Sin - Righteous fall but rise, and the wicked stumble.

"for the righteous falls seven times and rises again,
but the wicked stumble in times of calamity" -Proverbs 24:16

What's the difference between the falls of a righteous man who rises, and the wicked who stumbles, in times of calamity? Let me offer this explanation.

Do you ever find yourself toeing the line of sin? Then I suggest you, and I, are like the wicked man. Imagine a chalk white line: on one side is what is sinful, on the other side what is not sinful. Do you make the determination, to merely walk on the sinless side? For safety sake and for what is wise, do you toe the line on the side of what is not sinful, and you feel pretty good about yourself? I find myself doing that, not infrequently...

This is very weak way to live the Christian life. I believe this is the way the wicked man walks, who stumbles in times of calamity.

Living a life devoted to the righteous calling of God, in Christ, doesn't mean we toe the line of sinfulness. We must learn to flee from it, and pursue righteousness. It is not just the choices to not sin, but the choice to pursue righteousness, which leads to a Christ honoring life, filled with the Spirit of God.

What our lives must not look like, is a casual walk on the sinless side of grace, toeing the line of sin. Oh no no, not sinning. Of course that would be wrong. I suggest the wicked man who stumbles in calamity, may make many sinless choices, but toes the line.

"I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” -John 16:33

Eventually, you see, we all fall. When tribulation comes, the righteous will "fall" and rise again, but the wicked will "stumble". He will find himself in the muck of sin, and he will stay down in it for an indefinite period of time (maybe forever). When we do topple, if we are toeing, then that's the danger. Besides that, why would we want to toe the line? Are we so unconvinced of the glory of God? God convince me... that is my prayer.

When we toe the line, we will cross the line. It is inevitable. No matter how committed we thought we were in our casual toeing, sin-little life, we will eventually find ourselves on the other side. Like the wicked man, we will stumble. Not in the context of an avoidable oops, but in the context of an avoidable mistake we made by our own careless walk. When we toe the line, it's just going to happen--realize it, acknowledge it, and do something about it. We all go down from time to time, when calamity comes.

If we stumble like the wicked man, we won't be able to blame mere happenstance and play the victim. At least, God will know better, and so will many others. If we find our hands in the dirt of sin, it's not because we are without fault. We need to not be so arrogant, but humble, making room for our weakness and the calamities of life we know will come everyone's way.

Instead of toeing the line in a casual walk on this side of grace, we must see it and flee from the line. We must instead pursue righteousness and follow God away from the line.

Let us not gauge how walk today by how well we avoided sin, in toeing the line... but DID WE PURSUE GOD TODAY?

God help us...
---
2 Timothy 2:22 So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.

Shame and Enmity With God

Do you ever feel shame and fear towards God?

“And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” And he said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.” He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?””
Genesis 3:8-11 ESV

---

So much to think about here. It’s very sad, really. The Lord God walking seemed a normal occurrence, because they knew His sound as He came around. Adam and Eve’s fearful attempt to hide; clinging for protection to the cover of trees that God made to provide food, shade, and beauty. Never had the trees been used for this purpose before--they now used them to protect themselves from the approaching gaze of the God Who made them. No doubt it’s the first time they were afraid of Him, but they were afraid. They knew that their sin left them naked; not just a topical-physical problem, but a deep-cancerous, problem. Something in them knew that the goodness of God demanded recourse, and they have heard of this thing called “death” before. They knew their actions meant they had to die, whatever that was.

Shame. Fear. Confusion.

“Where are you”, God called out, though no doubt already aware. “What have you been up to?” Can you sense the heart of God, weeping as Jesus wept for us? “Who told you that you were naked?” Can you sense the sadness in this, rhetorical question? It’s all coming apart now.
But then, a promise they didn’t know about. God would put enmity between the deceiver, and the sinner. Rather than destroy them both together, and leave the enmity for being between God and the sinner, God would instead transfer the enmity to be between these two now natural bedfellows--deceiver and sinner. This holy, perfect, and unquestionably-righteous God would do the inconceivable, and separate them. It seemed that they must go together forever now, but God had other plans. His promise would take the enmity between they and Him, placing it instead between the sinner and his sin.

“I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.””
Genesis 3:15 ESV

So honestly, as you lie in your bed or sit thinking, and consider your sins before God, is there fear and shame? How do you see His judgment going, for you? Is there enmity between you and God? If we aren't in Christ, there should be those things, but it doesn't have to be that way.

If you are ashamed and hiding among the trees, thinking that hiding behind the things God made can save you--know that they cannot save you. You may rightly feel the enmity between you and God right now, but know that Jesus is the hope you have of reconciliation. He walks in the cool of the day and has a promise you never could have achieved on your own. He is your only hope, now. Only God can take that enmity that exists between you and Him, along with your fear and shame. He replaces the fear of certain judgment, and replaces it with the hope (promise) of eternal life.

But there is yet another choice you must make. Will you receive this gift, or will you continue to hide among the trees? God can see right through them and asks, "Where are you?" How we answer that question will determine where that enmity is placed, and where we will be for eternity. The only place we have any hope, is in Christ.

“And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.””
John 3:19-21 ESV
----
“Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned— for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come. But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man’s trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. And the free gift is not like the result of that one man’s sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.”
Romans 5:12-17 ESV
http://bible.com/59/rom.5.12-17.esv

Prayer Vigilante

One of the many things I love about Daniel's response to the decree not to pray to God, is that his decision and "method" of prayer was deeply intimate. What I mean is this.

He went to his house to pray. He wasn't hiding, and he wasn't protesting. He was meeting with His father. Daniel saw no reason to voice a protest, or to cease from his prayers. Often overlooked and equally important--he did not become more flamboyant or showy in his prayer. Daniel was just sitting down to pray to His Father, in his house, as He had always done. He wasn't worried about the ignorant decrees that would seek to thwart that.

No protest was organized to stress the need for more prayer in the city and public schools. He knew the futile plans of rebellious hearts were just that. Change of locale to a more central spot to get people's attention, unnecessary. He just went to his private place--his home--where he had to be spied out to be seen by those who knew his routine.

If we ever feel the need to lash out with public protest, and more easily viewed prayer to show people who dispute it how spiritual we are... we might just be demonstrating how spiritual we are not.

“When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously.”
Daniel 6:10 ESV

Help me, Ronda.

Help me, Ronda.

(What Ronda needs to know, and what Ellen or better fighting can't give her.)

Yahoo! Story, Link

“Once I got in the medical room and I was down in the corner, I was like, ‘What am I anymore if I’m not this?’” a tearful Rousey admitted to host Ellen DeGeneres. “I was literally sitting there and thinking about killing myself, and that exact second I’m like, ‘I’m nothing. What do I do anymore?’ and ‘No one gives a (expletive) about me anymore without this.’”

The primary contributor to suicide is not a lack of self-love, but a lack of love for God (embracing His love for us). In fact, it is self-love that is a primary contributor to suicide, and death.  It is a distinction that needs to be made and understood by the living who may or may not be considering suicide for a real "solution".

Those who put their faith in things that perish such as their own, will feel worthless when those things perish.  They may rise to the height of their field, or sport, but eventually we all weaken or are just outdone.  True strength does not come in recognizing our own strength, but in recognizing our own feeble weakness.  Inevitably when our idols fall, we will lose hope and fall with them.

Their idols are silver and gold,
    the work of human hands.
They have mouths, but do not speak;
    eyes, but do not see.
They have ears, but do not hear;
    noses, but do not smell.
They have hands, but do not feel;
    feet, but do not walk;
    and they do not make a sound in their throat.
Those who make them become like them;
    so do all who trust in them.
(Psalm 115:4-8)

When God commands our worship of Him above all else, it is for our own good and not only because He alone is worthy... though He is.  It is because He alone is worthy that He alone will never leave us disillusioned when we put their faith in Him--unlike everything else.  His strength will never fail.  His rule will always stand, and He will always reign throughout all eternity, regardless of rebellious hearts.  Therefore, it is only those who take refuge in Him, who can ever experience lasting hope.

God's command for you to put your faith and belief in Him only, then, is also the only means that you can have true lasting hope.  God's command for your worship of Him only, is ultimately also His gift to you; true hope, joy, peace, and salvation.  "Worship me. Don't you know all other hope is perishing?"

All the pep-talk in the world, but our strength has limits;our intelligence has limits;  our ability to win has limits.  Someday we will fail, and we will die.  If there was any doubt, there is death.  We cannot defeat the grave.  However, God can, and God has.

“O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:55-57)

Even if by some illusion we somehow manage to mask or weakness in supposed strength and subdue the desire for suicide with the deceit of self-importance, self-elevation, self-worth, and self-determination apart from God; prolonging our years so that we reach an otherwise natural death--what will we do in the life to come? How will our strength measure up to the strength of God Whom we should have trusted all along?  Even if a life is spared from suicide by convincing ourselves how important we are of ourselves, the soul that sins will still die in the end.  So then, the false hope that spares from suicide will only prove fatal, in the end.

If we want to have hope that saves from death, and to also give hope, then we must takes God's counsel and worship Him alone above all else.

Now I know that the Lord saves his anointed;
    he will answer him from his holy heaven
    with the saving might of his right hand.
Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
    but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.
They collapse and fall,
    but we rise and stand upright. (Psalm 20:6-8)

Properly Reading Children's Bible Stories Books To Our Children Requires More Than Reading Children's Bible Stories Books To Our Children

We cannot properly read illustrated Bible story books to our children, unless we have read and are familiar with the Bible ourselves.

When it comes to children's Bible stories books, I have found it's really hard to find books that I feel accurately convey the full truth of God's Word. Of course, you could always just read the Bible.  Nevertheless... :) Noah's ark, for example. Is there any more popular story we find told in children's books? With good reason--it holds great significance in Christian doctrine and is a fantastical story that apart from God (who was very much involved in the process), it would have been impossible.  Then of course David and Goliath, along with Adam and Eve

It's important when reading these books, to be prepared to fill in the gaps and correct error in them in order to bring them up to a higher standard of Scripture, I think.  Sometimes, it may require crossing things out and rewriting something (which I have actually done).  These books are made for our children, and generally that means attention spans can be short.  The writers and publishers know this of course, and they are made with this in mind.  I understand the attempt to be brief and summarize Scripture for this purpose, so I don't mean to be overly harsh.  However, it seems crucial details are often omitted, which give the "stories" their real meaning.  What you are left with is a nearly meaningless story of some guys that did some stuff because God told them to and it was neat.  Maybe that's the intention of the books, though.  Maybe they are just meant to start the conversation.  Anyways, I think with Noah's Ark probably more than any other story, important truths are misconstrued and others just outright left out.

On page one it says, "Long ago there was a man named Noah. Noah was a good man who obeyed God.  One day God told Noah to build a huge boat because a huge flood was coming".

So first off, was Noah good?  I think it is a direct contradiction of what we are told, in that there are "none good, no, not one".  And Jesus also confirmed, "Only God is good".  We are only on page one, and not doing so... good.

So a flood is coming and Noah is supposed to build a big boat.  The book never goes on to touch on why the flood was coming.  Again, so maybe that's our part as the adult reader.  But, it's an important part.  As it is the book just says a flood was coming so God told Noah to build a boat and people laughed at Noah because of it.  The reason for the flood is of grave (no pun intended) importance.  It just seems a flood was coming (not really sure why God didn't just stop the flood) so God decided to have Noah build a big (kind of small actually) boat.  Noah was good, so he did it.  Ahem... okay, so, it goes on and I'm just going to skip to the end.

The book concludes as you might expect, with the relatively tiny boat and giant animals exiting under a rainbow.  I'm not really sure this exaggerated illustration of a tiny boat with giant animals sticking their heads out of the roof is helpful.  Is that the image the Bible portrays?  If it is not, then is it the image we should portray to our children?  It only plays on the one of many misconceptions perpetuated among scoffers that there is no way there would be room enough on that tiny boat.

All this is to say that while these children's books aren't totally worthless, without an adult who knows their Bible reading and adding to it, they probably wouldn't be far off from that.  We should use wisdom in purchasing them, and in reading them to our children.  Where they inevitably fall short of Biblical truth, we need to be there to fill in the gaps.  Or, just read the Bible :)

Live By the Sword

Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword. (Matthew 26:52)

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What does "perish by the sword mean"?  For all who take the sword will perish by the sword.  We will call this a "warning" that Jesus gave, as the context makes it to be not a good thing: if you take up the sword you will die by the sword.  I have thought it to mean that if we live this way by the sword, wielding the blade, then we will ultimately suffer a similar fate at the end of a blade (by the sword).  It seems very logical.  Maybe I'm the only one who thought of it like that--though I doubt it.  However, that explanation hasn't always felt totally right to me because if that's what it means, what about the many Christians who died by the sword but did not wield it?  They suffered persecution and death at the end of the blade, though they did not take up the sword to fight with one.  So, what kind of warning would this be if to "perish by the sword" was also meant for those who did not take it up? And, "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints." (Psalm 116:15)

So, consider this alternate meaning.  I don't think this is simply a teaching on pacification.  When you pick up the sword in battle, and you die... you die by it.  That is, your sword.  You fall to the ground by your sword.  You perish by the sword.  That makes more sense because it is offers a scenario whereby a persecuted church may die at the end of a blade, yet not "perish by the sword", as Peter was warned of in a negative light.  The blade we chose to wield in this life will accompany us to the ground (and perhaps beyond) in our death.  I don't think Jesus is merely presenting this as a choice without any moral consequence.  After he told Peter (us) this, He healed the soldier's ear and undid the damage that was done.

Now, I could use this alternate meaning as a defense of, self-defense, because a person may die in doing so as in doing many things, yet in this context not necessarily "perish by the sword".  However, I'm not going to do that, primarily, and that was far from the reason I started to write this.  I believe there are some situations where physical self-defense (of yourself or another) is okay, though I won't get into all that now.  I think the greater point here is, what is the blade you choose to wield?  What is your weapon of choice?  Peter knew the death Jesus was to die, because Jesus told them He was going to do so.  Peter should have been letting the Word of God direct His steps, but here erred here.  Do you want to fall to the ground surrounded by the Word of God welcoming you and ultimately truly impacting the lives of those around you, or by a sharp and bloody piece of cold hard steel?  It's not so much a rebuke of self-defense as it is a rebuke of a life-long pursuit of solving conflict and suffering, in all circumstances and persecution.  Do we combat our suffering and seek to see others saved with logical tit-for-tat, or by the Word of God, through faith?

So, we have an alternate sword we can wield in life.  Not a physical blade, but the Word of God.  The Word of God is also likened to the sword in multiple places in the Bible (Hebrews 4:12; Eph 6:17).  The better alternative, is not a logical and methodical skill of a cold blade, but by the blade of God's Word.

This being said, "the sword" is not restricted to the use of a metal blade, but is analogous of our approach to all suffering--pragmatism in what we can see, or faith through God's Word in what we cannot see.  Like many of the things Jesus said, I believe this something best understood as a parable for a broader truth.  Now, it could very well mean we could find ourselves in a situation like Peter, desiring to pick up the literal sword when we should not.  Yet, I don't believe it is restricted to that specific act in general.  Like I said before, I don't believe the primary teaching here is just pacifism, but rather... what is the sword we choose to live by?  What sword to we draw when trouble comes?  Do we swing violently at our problems, or turn to God for His Word?  Are we pragmatic in solving our own problems with cold hard logic of our own making, or are we people of God's Word who turn to God for His deliverance and direction?

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.(Ephesians 6:12)

We must realize how short and miserable the reach of a cold blade is (our knee-jerk, human reasoning reactions), and how long the reach the sword of God's Word is.  A cold blade may reach a few feet in front of you to meet the heart of a man in order to kill him, but the sword of God's Word can reach down from the height of the heavens and into the heart of man to give him life.

This cold blade should not be our approach to life.  It's very short.  If we want our reach to be far, we must wield the blade that can go the distance.  The blade we choose will ultimately be the one we fall by when we die.  Do not go through life wielding a cold, short, and spiritually inept blade.  Instead when we die, no matter the means, fall to the ground by the warm, ever-reaching sword that brought life.

Osmosis-Evangelism

"But if that wicked servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed,’ and begins to beat his fellow servants and eats and drinks with drunkards, the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know and will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites."  -Matt 24:48-51

Something I've been too often guilty of, is "Osmosis-Evangelism".  The Gospel isn't spread by osmosis, but how often do we spend our time with others thinking that it does?  We think our Christian aura is going to rub off, if we just spend time with others doing the things they do.  Ultimately, this isn't charity, but arrogance.  "There is plenty of time", we think.  Our Master delays His coming.  Eat, drink, and be merry today.  Eventually they will get it.  The goodness of what I keep bottled up inside me will wear off on others, eventually.

There is no urgency in our "evangelism", so we never speak the Gospel (Romans 10:17).  We can easily convince ourselves that we are being "friends of sinners", when actually we are just being sinners ourselves.  Tomorrow is another day.  If the Gospel isn't spoken in our evangelism, then we can't call it evangelism.  No need to fool ourselves by changing the terms.  If letting our light shine before men, doesn't include speaking the Gospel at the forefront, then the light isn't on.  If we find ourselves practicing osmosis-evangelism, we are the ones who also need evangelized.

We need to not think our Master delays His coming, and the only mode of evangelism is breaking bread in our good presence.  We need to share the Gospel with words, my friends.  When necessary, do works. If we aren't doing this, then we think our own goodness is a better mode of evangelism than the one God has given.  Then, we need to consider what part we may have among the hypocrites.