War of the Worldviews

In 2005 Stephen Spielberg released his remake of the H.G. Wells story, War of the Worlds. This story, of course, is fictional. But the continuing saga of the war of the worldviews is not fiction. As Christians, we face daily pressure to adopt worldviews that are in stark contrast to how our Savior would have us think.

How should we view difficult social issues such as euthanasia, homosexuality, abortion, capital punishment, evolution, how to vote, and the claim that all paths lead to God? If we are dedicated followers of Christ, we view these issues through the lense of God’s Word. If our worldview is not built upon the foundation of the Word of God, then the only other worldview there is to adopt is a humanistic one.

My next few posts will deal with some of these issues. Let’s begin with evolution.

I chose evolution as my first war-of-the-wordviews issue to address because, 1) so many Christians have adopted it as their own worldview, and 2) the theory of evolution, if true, proves the very first pages of scripture to be false. So if we cannot trust the very first pages of scripture as true, why should we trust the rest of scripture?

There is so much scientific evidence that disproves – or at least calls into question – the theory of evolution, that it’s almost too broad to cover. So for my purposes here, I will address only a couple of issues and then direct you to some resources that can help with further investigation.

I’ll begin by addressing how the theory of evolution clashes with proven and accepted concepts of science. For example, the Second Law of Thermodynamics, otherwise known as the Law of Entropy, or the Law of Decay, states that anything left to itself always degenerates into lower forms of complexity. For instance, everything hot eventually becomes cold if left to itself. Everything that moves eventually slows down and stops if there is not an outside source of energy to keep it moving. Everything that goes up has to come down, everything that is new eventually wears out, and so on.

The Second Law of Thermodynamics is proven and reproducible, and we experience it every day. However, evolutionists would have us believe that a single-celled blob in the bottom of a primordial pond GAINED genetic information ON ITS OWN in order to eventually become a fish, which eventually became a fish-lizard, which eventually became a monkey, which eventually became a man.

The problem here is that, first of all, no one can explain how the elements that formed the single cell got there in first place, except to say that is was from a “big bang” caused by the interaction of gases out in nothingness. And, of course, no one can explain where the gases came from.

The second problem is that a single cell is so complex that it puts even some the most sophisticated computers to shame. Each organelle within a cell has a very specific purpose, and they all carry out their tasks with fine-tuned precision and timing. Sir Fred Hoyle of Cambridge University said that the chances of even a single cell developing through random chance is mathematically equivalent to a tornado hitting a junkyard and assembling a perfectly functioning Boeing 747. In other words, chaos and random chance never result in fine-tuned order. It goes against the Second Law of Thermodynamics. Rather, fine-tuned order will unravel into chaos and lower forms of complexity if left to itself.

Cells, therefore, whether fish cells or human cells, have a specific design and a highly precise logic in how all the parts function together within that design, and thus they have to have had a Designer.

We must also consider that in order to produce something as complex as even one human cell, there has to be information in order to program that cell, not to mention the information required to build an entire human being. It's exactly like how a computer program must have information in order for the program to do anything, and that information must have been installed by a programmer. It has been estimated that the information contained in one human DNA strand would fill 1,000 Encyclopedia Britannicas. Where did all that information come from if there was no Designer?

The scriptures tell us in the first chapter of Genesis that God made the universe, the earth, and all life upon the earth in a literal six days. It qualifies that they were literal 24-hour days by saying, “And there was evening, and morning, the first day… And there was evening and morning, the second day,” and so on. We have reason to believe, therefore, based upon the genealogies in the Bible, that the earth is somewhere around 6,000 years old.

So where does that place dinosaurs? Glad you asked. There is ample evidence that man lived contemporaneously with dinosaurs. There have been cave drawings discovered proving that early man saw sauropods like Brachiosaurus, and at least three different rock beds have been discovered – two in Texas and one in Russia – that show human footprints alongside dinosaur footprints. There have even been human remains excavated in Utah from rock layers previously thought to be millions of years old.

Speaking of which, we can’t really trust carbon dating of rock and some of the other methods of dating, because stratified rock layers, which are thought to represent periods of time, can be formed quickly during catastrophic conditions, such as during the flood of Noah. This was proven to be true in Spirit Lake in Washington in 1980 when Mount St. Helens erupted. During that catastrophic event, 300 feet of finely stratified rock layers were formed in THREE HOURS! So then, does natural phenomenon like the Grand Canyon represent what a river can do in millions of years? Not really. It represents what can occur during a global catastrophe.

I wish I could go on, but if I did I would have to write a book. If you want to know more, I recommend http://www.answersingenesis.org/ as a great Creation Science resource.

The bottom line is that we can trust the Bible, and if science and the Bible don’t line up, it’s the science that is wrong. And given enough time and open minds, that eventually becomes evident. But therein lies the problem. There is not an abundance of open minds in the field of science today because of atheistic and evolutionary biases. As outspoken evolutionist Sir Arthur Keith admitted, “Evolution is unproven and unprovable. We believe it because the alternative is special creation, and that is unthinkable.”

It seems obvious that evolutionists don't WANT to believe in the Biblical account of creation, because if they did, they would have to answer to the God Who will hold them accountable for all of their actions. As the scriptures say:

"The judgment is based upon this fact: God's light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. But those who do what is right come to the light so that others can see that they are doing what God wants." -John 3:19,20 (NLT)

Understanding Biblical Grace, Part 3

God’s grace is the most amazing thing in the universe. The scriptures say that even the angels marvel that frail and imperfect mankind is such an object of God’s affection. Psalm 8:4 asks the eternal question, “What is man, that you are mindful of him?”

The message of the gospel is one of grace, that immortal God of His own accord would pursue a love relationship with a mortal human race that has repeatedly spurned His affections. And when He finds those who want to enter covenant with Him, He takes them in as one would take in an orphan child, forgives their rebellion against Him, wipes the slate clean, replaces their evil with Jesus’ own righteousness, begins to change their character, and lavishes them with His love and provision.

The scriptures also teach that the Old Testament Law was given to show mankind how utterly sinful we are. The Law can’t save us, but it shows us that we do indeed need a Savior, because none of us have kept God’s commands. And the wonderful news of the gospel is that even after mankind repeatedly broke covenant with God, He came along in the form of God-in-flesh, Jesus Christ, to form a new and better covenant. In this new agreement, God said in essence, “I’m going to keep my part of this covenant just like I did with the last one, but this time you don’t have to rely on your own righteousness, because I’m going to place your punishment upon my Son, and by simply placing your trust in Him and walking in His example, you will be my children forever.”

So, imagine there are three choices set before you. On the one side, there is a works-based salvation that is full of striving and that ends in eternal destruction. On the other end there is a self-centered life driven by your own lusts that leaves godly character out of the picture. That one, too, ends in eternal punishment. But the choice in the middle is one where God says, “Enter my rest. Leave your sinful ways, and come and rest in my ability to save you and fulfill you by living life My way.” And that choice ends in blessing here on this earth and eternal bliss in heaven. Well, maybe I’m not a genius, but I think I’ll take choice #3! It’s an incredible deal!

So then, how are we to respond to such a grace? And how should we be preaching it?

The life and ministry of Jesus is a good representation of how to preach the gospel. Without exception, Jesus preached Law to the proud, and grace to the humble.

To the Pharisees, the self-sufficient, the rebellious, the proud, and the spiritually smug, Jesus always preached Law to reveal to them their sin and insufficiencies. Remember the rich young man? He was one who came to Jesus seeking salvation. What did Jesus say to him? Did He say, “Well, just believe in Me and – poof – you’ll be saved.” No, he preached LAW to that young man, because He wanted to reveal his idolatrous heart. And without understanding his idolatrous heart, he could not respond to grace.

However, to the tax collectors, the prostitutes, the dejected, and all those who already knew how wretched they were, Jesus always preached grace. And His message even to the repentant was clear: “I don’t condemn you, but go, and sin no more or else something worse might happen to you.” (see John 5:14, John 8:11) In other words, sin gives place to satan to wreak havoc on people’s lives.

In Post-Modern America we have preached His amazing grace very differently. We have shamefully twisted that grace into something unrecognizable by just teaching the cross and unconditional love alone, without teaching why Jesus had to die on the cross in the first place. Jesus had to die, of course, because He was acting as a scapegoat, a substitutionary sacrifice in place of you and me. You and I were under the judgment and wrath of God because of our willful rebellion against Him, and Jesus took our punishment upon Himself so that you and I might be declared “not guilty” simply by throwing ourselves upon the mercy of the court.

I heard a story of a judge in California that beautifully illustrates this truth. His own daughter was arrested for speeding at over 100 mph, and she had to make her court appearance in HIS courtroom. Being a just judge that cared about justice, he pounded the gavel and declared, “Two-hundred dollars, or two days in jail.” And then he did something pretty amazing. He stood up, removed his robe, went down and stood beside his daughter, and then took out his wallet and paid the fine himself. That’s exactly what God has done for us. We were guilty of the crime, and God paid the fine.

So what do you think an appropriate response from the judge’s daughter would be? Imagine if she walked out of that courtroom and said, “Whew! That was a close call. Glad dad was there to bail me out. He must really love me, so since he’s there to bail me out, I guess I’ll go live it up some more.” And that’s exactly what people do to God, and they point to God’s grace as a license for empowering them to do so. But the Bible teaches that until true repentance comes, we are all children of Satan, and that we are only adopted when we repent and place our trust in Christ. So unless true repentance comes, we remain in our sins and in the family of Satan and under his control. And until people understand this, they do not have enough information to truly make a decision for Christ. That’s why the Law MUST be a significant part of gospel declarations, because the Law shows us how far short we fall of God’s standards, and then when conviction comes, we present grace. Until people understand that they are under the eminent judgment of God, they cannot appreciate or respond to grace.

Consider carefully the following quotes from some great men of faith:

“Satan, the god of all dissension, stirs up daily new sects, the latest of which I would have never foreseen or once suspected. He has raised up a sect such that teaches that men should not be terrified by the Law, but gently exalted by the teaching of the grace of Christ.”
-Martin Luther

“[Sinners] will never accept grace until they tremble before a just and holy Law.”
-Charles Spurgeon

“Repentance can be a threatening message, and rightly so. The Gospel must be the bad news of the conviction of sin before it can be the good news of redemption… Repentance is an inescapable consequence of regeneration, an indispensable part of the conversion process that takes place under the conviction power of the Holy Spirit. But repentance is also a continuing state of mind… Without a continuing repentant attitude – a persistent desire to turn away from our own nature and seek God’s nature – Christian growth in impossible. Loving God is impossible.” -Charles Colson, from ‘Loving God’

“Evermore the Law must prepare the way for the gospel. To overlook this in instructing souls is almost certain to result in false hope, the introduction of a false standard of Christian experience, and to fill the church with false converts.”
-Charles Finney

It appears that perhaps today’s Church IS filled with false converts based upon Charles Finney’s statements, because the Church certainly IS filled with a gaping absence of the Law in preparing the way for grace. Thus, many people have gently exalted themselves with soft assurances of a grace that they may have never even experienced, because they have never trembled before a just and Holy God.

King David summed it up well when he penned, “There is an oracle within my heart concerning the sinfulness of the wicked. There is no fear of God before His eyes, for in his own eyes he flatters himself too much to hate or detect his sin.” -Psalm 36:1-3

Folks, as wonderful as grace is, it IS in fact conditional, and it does not cover willful rebellion against God. There are conditions to meet: Repentance, and trust in Christ for one’s entry into eternal life. And those who do not repent and begin taking on God’s nature are still in their sins. I don’t apologize for saying it even though I have been scoffed at for proclaiming this message. I don’t apologize because I know that what I am preaching is the gospel. And come hell or high water, I will continue to proclaim His Word so long as God enables me.

Understanding Biblical Grace, Part 2

Recall from my last post that I wrote that New Testament grace demands that we go beyond the demands of Old Testament Law. Those lofty New Testament standards were passed down by Jesus for two reasons.

First, Jesus wanted to demonstrate that a life of righteousness goes far beyond just outward actions, but that God looks on the heart. It’s not enough to just refrain from murder, for example, because God is also considering the bitterness and hatred that a person harbors even in the absence of the actual act of murder.

Secondly, Jesus wanted to show us that God’s standards are so lofty that there is no possible way we can keep the demands of the Old or New Covenants, and that’s why we need a Savior as a scapegoat for our sins.

Thus, genuine faith demands that we place our trust in the finished work of Jesus and stop trying to earn a place in heaven by keeping a spiritual check list, because our own righteousness is so far short of God’s that it’s a stench in His nostrils. By the same token, however, a genuine faith is also demonstrated by a lifestyle of repentance – a continual turning away from our old sinful nature and embracing God’s demands (yes, I said demands, not suggestions) for our lives. The book of James clearly and forcefully declares that a “faith” that does not result in an obvious life change that shows an unmistakable distinction between the followers of Christ and the world is not faith at all, and the implication is that those who think they are saved but who do not live according to the standards given to us by Christ are not saved at all.

This fact is also declared by Jesus when He said that there would be many on the Day of Judgment who will approach His throne expecting salvation, but will instead receive damnation!

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven . Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did not we prophesy in your Name, and in your Name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers.’” -Matthew 7:21-23

So then, there is a “spirituality” that is void of power to save, because Jesus declared that many who think that they are currently saved are in fact not.

What a horrible reality! Can you imagine feeling secure in your salvation only to hear on the Day of Judgment that Jesus never knew you, and then have to face the reality of going to hell?! Yet Jesus said that this would indeed be the case with “many.” However, He also said that there is a way to avoid that end.

Read those verses above again. Who is it that enters the kingdom of heaven? It is “he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” What is the Father’s will?

The Father’s will is first and foremost that we trust in His Son, Jesus, for our salvation and not our own righteousness, because our own attempts at righteousness apart from Christ is not righteousness at all (see Romans 3:21-24).

Secondly, faith that is true faith manifests itself in life change (James 2:14-26). So a true convert will have their affections set on the things of God, throw off the old worldly nature, and put on the nature of Christ (Ephesians 4:17-24). That new nature will inspire the “fruit of the Spirit,” which includes a love and compassion even for the unlovely; a sense of joy and restfulness of peace that transcends one’s circumstances; ever increasing patience with people and one’s trials; kindness; a purity and goodness in lifestyle that can only come from Christ; mercy toward those who do not deserve it; a gentleness that mimics the Good Shepherd; and a mastery of self-control that allows one to put the brakes on his/her carnal desires (see Galatians 5:16-26). And God’s will also includes a desire to see others come to Christ and grow in Christ-likeness to the point that we involve ourselves in the commands of Christ’s Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20).

So you see, the grace of God does not give us license to sin, as some think. Rather, it literally gives us the power to change and stop living like those who are unredeemed. If there is little difference between you and a person who claims no devotion to Christ, then there is reason to be concerned for your eternal destiny.

I’ll let scripture speak for itself. Pay close attention to what these verses are saying.

“What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey – whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?” -Romans 6:15-16

“Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation – but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. For if you live according the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by Spirit of God are sons of God.” -Romans 8:12-14

“As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.” -James 2:26

“Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envies, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” -Galatians 5:19-21

“But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. Nor should there be any obscenity, foolish talk, or course joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person – such a man is an idolater – has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore, do not be partners with them.” -Ephesians 5:3-7

“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age…” -Titus 2:11,12

Indeed, grace teaches us to say no to worldliness, and yes to the thing of the Spirit of God. And that’s how we know we are living in the family of God and that we have truly experienced His grace.

Understanding Biblical Grace

One-Hundred years ago articles like the one you are now reading would probably have not been often written, just as it is not common today. Yet, the reason articles of this type on grace would not have been often written circa 1900 is different than why it would not be commonly addressed today. Christians 100 years ago, for most part I expect, probably understood Biblical grace well, and so an article like this would not have been necessary.

However, today’s Christians, for the most part, have a very warped understanding of grace, and grace today is commonly trampled by a perverted version of it, and therefore an article like this would not be written because a good many Christians would disagree with it and would thus not write it, and a good many more would be afraid to write it or preach it because of the potential of offending their followings.

So what in the world could be so controversial about grace?

First, let’s define grace. The Biblical definition of grace is simply ‘undeserved favor.’ It is summed up well in Psalm 103:10 - “He does not treat us as our sins deserve, or repay us according to our iniquities.” While this verse does not give us a complete understanding of grace, it does provide a good starting place in beginning to understand it.

Today, there are two perversions of grace that are prevalent in our churches.

The first puts God’s amazing grace in a light that perhaps is not so amazing. God’s grace is regarded as fragile and limited. Thus, a good many well-meaning Christians will doubt their salvation, and feel as if they must approach the altar at church nearly every Sunday to be saved again because they didn’t pray enough the week before, or because they lost their tempers, or because they didn’t feel anything emotional like they do at church. My wife, in fact, was raised with this kind of teaching, and she completely fell away from her faith in high school because she once took a drink of alcohol at a party. Her thought was, “Well, I’ve blown it now. I’ve completely backslidden, so I might was well live it up because I can’t go back.” Clearly, that is a wrong understanding of grace because the overarching message of scripture is that for those who are truly seeking the Lord and striving to live according to His precepts and who have placed their faith in the finished work of Christ, all of our sins are covered. For those living a lifestyle of repentance, we do not have to doubt our salvation.

The other perversion of grace is the opposite extreme, and is probably the most common. It teaches that God’s grace basically gives you a license to live pretty much however one pleases without having to deal with conscience. It teaches that if you once said a “sinner’s prayer,” got baptized, and attend church once in a while, you can live pretty much in whatever way pleases you, and there are no spiritual or eternal consequences. Out of this twisted theology comes sects that literally teach that people can live their entire lives independent of God and His ways without so much as a passing thought about godly character, and still somehow get to heaven because they once got baptized and recited a few words. Of course, they have to throw out 99.9% of scripture and confine their doctrine to a few passages completely wrenched out of context to pull this off, but boy, they sure do believe it, and you had better not challenge them on it if you don’t want to be called a Pharisee or labeled as legalistic. (For a more detailed discussion on unconditional eternal security, see my book, “Eternal Security.” http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Eternal-Security/Andrew-G-Robbins/e/9781425901233/?itm=1 )

Perhaps I should define legalism as well. Legalism is a belief system based upon the faulty understanding that one must adhere to a set of standards – some Biblical, and some not – with nearly perfect obedience if one is to please God. Legalism focuses on outward actions, but rarely deals with the hidden motives of the heart. In other words, I could attend Sunday service without missing even once, use all the correct churchy lingo, not smoke, not drink, not steal, and not murder, and certainly look the part of a good Christian and feel good about myself because I look the part so well. Yet I would be completely oblivious to the fact that maybe I harbor resentment toward people in my heart, enjoy lusting at every pretty girl who walks by, and give lip service to worship, all of which God hates.

And that’s where New Testament grace is in such stark contrast to not only legalism, but also to the diluted version of grace so tragically common in today’s churches.

You see, if you are in love with God enough to actually take Jesus’ words in John 14:15 seriously – “If you love me, you will keep my commandments” – and if you are bold enough to actually proclaim that true love for God is obedience to His precepts, then there is a good chance that someone is going to accuse you of being a legalist. Their mantra is that we live in the age of New Testament grace.

Alright then, let’s examine the implications of New Testament grace. Brace yourselves…I’m about to shake a few paradigms.

The act of murder is forbidden according to Old Testament Law. But under the New Covenant, Jesus said you can’t even be angry at someone without cause, and if you hate someone you are a murderer (see Matthew 5:21-22). The Law simply addresses murder and stops there. But New Testament grace demands a much higher standard.

The Law says you can’t commit adultery. But under the New Covenant even looking at a women with lust is considered a sin equal to that of adultery (see Matthew 5:27-28).

Under the Old Covenant we were commanded to love our neighbors and forgive up to four times. The disciple, Peter, in fact, thought he was being extremely gracious when he asked Jesus if seven times was enough to forgive a person for offending him. But Jesus answered that seven times was indeed not enough, but seventy-seven times, a figurative amount for endless forgiveness (see Matthew 18:21-35). And Jesus also said that we must love even our enemies and do good to those who mistreat us. So under the Old Covenant we could forgive four times and be done with it, but under the New Covenant we must forgive endlessly and repay evil with good endlessly (see Luke 6:27-36).

Pretty high standard if you ask me.

Indeed, the book of Titus tells us that the grace of God teaches us to restrain ourselves, to say no to worldly temptations. If we have truly experienced the grace of God, then a lifestyle of obedience to God’s precepts will be the result. God’s grace motivates us and literally empowers us to live godly lives. Anything less is not grace at all, but a shameless trampling of it for the sake of justifying our self-indulgence.

______________________________

Because of space I cannot develop this teaching fully in one post, so I will qualify some of my above statements in the one following.

Saint Patrick's Legacy

This time every year on March 17th Americans celebrate a holiday called Saint Patrick’s Day. I wonder how many people actually know who and what they are celebrating on this holiday. Who was Saint Patrick, and why do we memorialize his life? What legacy has he passed on, and does his life have significance for us today?

We can draw some important lessons from this incredible life. Here’s his story:

Circa 405 A.D., a band of Irish raiders laid siege to an English village. In the raid they overpowered and kidnapped a teenage boy, taking him captive to a land foreign to him – Ireland. It was there that this boy was now given an Irish name – Patrick – and put to work as a slave tending sheep.

Young Patrick proved himself a hard worker and a trustworthy servant to his master. And the hours in the field looking after sheep gave Patrick ample opportunity for prayer. It was in those seemingly endless and lonely hours that Patrick found the God of his parents. Patrick later recalled that in a day’s time out in the fields it was not uncommon for him to utter more than a hundred prayers. Like King David before him whom had also been a humble keeper of sheep, young Patrick got to know God very intimately during those lonely years of isolation.

One night Patrick had a dream about a ship that would take him back to his homeland. By this time Patrick’s master grew to trust him, and he profited well with faithful Patrick seeing after his herd of sheep. So after several years of service, Patrick approached his master and asked for his freedom as payment for his trustworthiness. But Patrick’s master was a businessman, and he knew he would have trouble replacing such a skilled and faithful worker. So Patrick’s request was denied.

Patrick, however, walked away from his master and back into the fields, and just kept on going…and going, and going. Patrick fled on foot for days and covered over 200 miles of terrain until he reached the coast where the ships docked. It was there on those docks where he knew he would find the ship he had seen in his dream.

Patrick did find passage on a ship as a servant looking after dogs, and after two more years of severe trials trying to get home, he finally reached his destination and was reunited with his family in England after being separated for eight years. But their reunion was not to be final.

After a time, Patrick had another dream that would change the course of his life. In his dream, he saw an Irishman beckoning him to come back to Ireland, and Patrick was filled with a desire to bring the hope of the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the very people who had kidnapped and enslaved him. For the next several years Patrick prepared for his mission by studying to join the Catholic priesthood, and was ordained in 417. He eventually returned to Ireland on a missionary journey that would essentially be his life’s work.

The work was not easy, however. Ireland was a pagan land where the Druids had great power and influence. The Druids were a group of religious pagans who practiced sorcery, worshipped nature, and whose religious practices involved human sacrifice. They were advisors to the king and queen, and the entire country was in the grip of their perverse religion. And they did not take kindly to Patrick attempting to teach a new and better way to their subjects. Patrick once wrote that he daily expected to be violently killed or enslaved again, yet he forged ahead. On numerous occasions the Druid priests conspired to murder Patrick, but through Divine intervention Patrick’s life was spared and his work continued.

A Druid Priest

One incident that particularly outraged the Druid priests as well as the king himself occurred on the night that the annual fire to honor the Druid gods was lit. On this particular night, which happened to be during the same time of year the Christians celebrate Jesus’ resurrection, a huge bonfire was built, and to give further honor to the occasion, it was forbidden that any other fire be lit. In direct defiance of this law, Patrick went to one of the highest hills in the area – the hill of Slane – and built a fire so massive that it could be seen by nearly everyone in the surrounding villages. The message to the Druids and the king was clear: Your gods are dead and false, but my God is alive and the Light of the world.

The governing powers were incensed. They called Patrick to appear before the king, and the Druid priests were demanding his immediate execution. However, it was there in the presence of the ones who had the power to take his life that he was given the opportunity to share the uncompromised message of Christ. And it was this very night that was instrumental in the king and queen eventually denouncing the Druid religion, banishing the Druid priests, and embracing Christianity. As a result of this pivotal night and Patrick’s continued work in building churches and preaching and teaching throughout the country, the entire country of Ireland was eventually converted to Christianity.

Patrick’s Lasting Legacy
So many lessons can be drawn from Patrick’s story that all of them cannot be expounded upon here. We could talk about his qualities of perseverance in difficult and lonely times; we could point out his compassion; volumes could be said about his willingness to forgive his tormentors. For our purposes here, however, let us consider his bravery to stand up for what he knew was right and challenge the status quo, though he knew it could mean his very life.

The fire he built on that hilltop that fateful night was not only a monument to God, but is serves today to memorialize a man who was not content to enjoy the comforts of “going with the flow.” For a cause higher than himself, Patrick laid down his ambitions and comforts in order to stand and face tremendous opposition in the hopes that his single act of defiance would be instrumental in bringing about change that would ring throughout all the ages. And indeed it has.

Where are the Saint Patricks of our time? Instead of taking a stand, we slink back into the shadows and try to blend in. We use the same worldly slang and even profanity; we adorn ourselves in the same worldly and seductive attire; we watch the same TV shows; listen to the same music; and are barely affected when someone on the movie or TV screen blasphemes the precious Name of our Lord. Our spirituality is poisoned, and we don’t recognize it. Our minds are perverted, and we know it not. We have eyes but we don’t see our wretched condition. We have ears but we don’t hear the cries of the prophetic voices of our time who call for repentance and purity. Alas, we don’t even seem to know what repentance is, and our concept of purity is at best a very twisted version of God’s. Like the church in Laodicea whom Jesus addressed in the book of Revelation, we have said to ourselves, I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing (Rev. 3:17). But I believe what Jesus said to the Laodicean church is what He might be saying to the American church today. "I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were one or the other! So because you are lukewarm – neither hot nor cold – I am about to spit you out of my mouth… You do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked" (Rev. 3:15-17).

It's time to get red hot for the Lord like Patrick was. It's time to take a stand against the moral decay of our culture by refusing to be particpants in it, and that means we will often have to make difficult choices. But it must be done. Every one of us has a mission from God we are here to accomplish; some small, and some great. And part of that mission will always involve the mandate of Ephesians 5:11 - "Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them."

His Eye is Upon You

This is a picture of the Helix Nebula and was taken by the Hubble Space Telescope in deep space. It has been affectionately referred to as “The Eye of God.” I thought it provided some wonderful imagery for the subject of today’s post.

Second Chronicles 16:9 reads, “The eyes of the Lord wander to and fro over the whole earth to show Himself strong in behalf of those whose hearts are perfect toward him.”

That word translated ‘perfect’ is the Hebrew word, Shalem, which means complete, friendly, and peaceable.

Think of the implications of that. If we have made peace with God, if we are living on good terms with Him by having our hearts wholly and completely devoted to Him, then we are a delight in His eyes. Not that we are perfect in the sense that we are absolutely without sin, but that we have hearts that are hungry for God. Second Chronicles says that He is searching for people like that. Why? The verse clearly says why. Because He wants to show Himself strong on their behalf.

Wow! Doesn’t that make you want to be perfect toward God? There is no better person to have in your corner than the Almighty.

Now, let’s consider the opposite implication. If our hearts are not completely devoted to the things of God, then as His eyes are wandering to and fro throughout the whole earth looking for someone to bless, He may have to pass some of us by. So when trouble comes our way, we may have to try and work it out on our own feeble wisdom rather than having God showing Himself strong on our behalf.

All through scripture is it clearly taught that much of God’s help is contingent upon our faithfulness to Him. Scripture says that He shows Himself faithful to those who are faithful (read Psalm 18:19-27). Psalm 37:18,19 says, “The days of the blameless are known to the Lord, and their inheritance will endure forever. In times of disaster they will not wither; in days of famine they will enjoy plenty.” (NIV)

So what does it mean to be “faithful” and “blameless” then?

For starters, it means that EVERYTHING in your life revolves around God and His will. God is not a PART of your life that you pull out on Sundays or at night time prayers. God is the very center piece of your life. You live, breathe, work, eat, and sleep God. Your own desires and agenda bow to His desires and agenda for you. You take up your cross daily and follow Him, even if that means sacrifice. You love His Word; you love fellowship with His people; you love talking about the things of God; you love serving others; you love worship and prayer; your life is devoted to helping others experience His truth, whether that means some degree of Bible teaching for God’s people or evangelism of those who don’t know the Lord. You hate sin and love righteousness. You develop a love for the things He loves, and you develop a hatred for the things He hates. You are constantly growing in godly character. There is a clear and unmistakable distinction between yourself and those who don’t follow the way of the Lord.

When I was a kid, I used to love to play backyard sports with the neighborhood kids. I remember one day playing touch football with my older brother and a bunch of the older kids of the neighborhood. I remember running down the field with the ball and being chased down by a big teenager, and he tagged me so hard that it sent me sprawling on my face. Immediately my older brother, Gary, who was a little older than the teenager who made me eat dirt, became incensed at the older boy’s rough handling of me, and he sprang to defend me. He was quick to touch noses with the other boy and let him know he better be more careful the next time, or he was going to be handled rough as well. The fire in my brother’s eyes made the other guy back down and apologize.

Here's me and my childhood hero, big brother Gary. As you can see, I outgrew him so I get to protect him now!

That’s sort of like how God comes to the defense of those whose hearts are perfect toward Him, because He considers us His little children. In fact, Jesus said that it is inevitable that temptation comes, but woe to the person through whom those temptations come. It would be better for that tempter to have a large millstone hung around his neck and drowned into the sea than to experience the consequences of harming one of God’s “little ones.” (See Matthew 18:6-7)

To me, that means if your heart is perfect toward God and a person does you harm and brings temptation into your life, then that person had better be prepared to either repent and make amends to you and God or else be prepared to experience some very bitter fruit at some point, because it’s not going to be pretty. That is, as long as we don’t take matters into our own hands and try to set the matter right ourselves. That’s an entire teaching in itself that I don’t have space for here, but suffice it to say that we are to follow the example of Christ and leave all such matters in the hands of God who always judges justly.

Another way that God has His eye upon us is simply the fact that He watches our every move and knows us better than we know ourselves. He knows when we lie down, when we get up, when we eat, and when we play. He knows if you like puppies, or if you prefer kitties. He knows if you gag on spinach or if you love broccoli. He knows how many hairs are on your head. He knows if you have bad breath! He’ll see the mole on the back of your neck before you even know it’s there. He can see us from every angle, and yet He still loves us!! He even sees into the dark recesses of your insides! He was there when you were being formed in your mother’s womb. He knows your joy and is acquainted with your sorrow. (Read Psalm 139)

God is awesome, and He loves you and me so much. And even though He is so vast that He created the endless expanses of space, He stoops down to concern Himself with you and me. All He’s looking for is a little cooperation from people who are passionate enough about Him to search after Him like two young lovers search after being with one another. There is no limit to what God wants to do for those who love Him like that.

I don’t know about you, but I want to be a person who has a heart that is complete toward God.

“Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me, when you seek Me with all your heart.” -Jeremiah 29:12-13

A Christian's New Nature

I’m privileged today to be able to post a message by a friend of mine, a full-time missionary, Justin Spoonamore. Justin and his wife, April, pictured here, are currently back in the States, having come back for a few months to bring their new daughter into the world. In talking with Justin, I have come to understand that his worldview is very different from most American Christians, so I asked him to share some thoughts for today’s post. Enjoy!

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A Hindu said to a native missionary, "I am sure if I lead a good life and do what is right, giving up my bad habits, God will be pleased with me and receive me into heaven."

"That is the way most people reason today," replied the missionary. "You know the babul tree (a tree with long, sharp thorns). Now, suppose you break off from its branches a hundred or more of the nasty thorns, then will the tree cease to be a babul tree? Certainly not. Suppose you should apparently stop one or another or even many of your evil ways and habits, you would still remain the same like the babul tree. You must have an entirely new nature, must become a new man, in order to please God. Only Christ can give you a new heart."

The missionary's reply was sound and scriptural. The primary message of Christ to the world is that of sinful mankind's need of repentance.

Romans 6:10-13 “The death Jesus died, he died to sin once for all: but the life he lives, he lives to God. In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness.”

Ephesians 4:22-24 “You were taught with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”

John 3:3 “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.”

I am sure that many of you have heard these verses before, but have you ever stopped and asked yourselves what they truly mean?

Why is it that our new lives look so much like our old ones? If you are truly born again, shouldn’t your former way of life and every aspect of it truly be dead and gone? If we are given a new life, we have a new attitude and a new perspective on everything in this world. All the old views are gone; we are reliving everything looking through new eyes, thinking through a new mind, and feeling with a new heart created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

If I exit a Word document without saving it and open a new one, everything that was there before will be gone; it will be a new beginning. I challenge you all to take some time to look at everything you think, everything you do, every choice you make, every second you spend and ask yourself if they exhibit the true new birth you have been given. Are they truly righteous and holy?

Here’s a poem that articulates these truths:

You Tell on Yourself
You tell what you are by the friends you seek,
By the very manner in which you speak,
By the way you employ your leisure time,
By the use you make of dollar and dime.
You tell what you are by the things you wear,
By the spirit in which your burdens bear,
By the kind of things at which you laugh,
By records you play on the phonograph.
You tell what you are by the way you walk,
By the things of which you delight to talk,
By the manner in which you bear defeat,
By so simple a thing as how you eat.
By the books you choose from the well-filled shelf,
In these ways and more, you tell on yourself,
So there is really no particle of sense
In an effort to keep up false pretense.

Who are you living for? What does your life tell you? Who’s life is it anyway? Is Christ truly our foundation, or are we just saying that while continuing to live for ourselves?

2 Corinthians 5:15 “And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.”

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.”

Make a decision today to live that new life, to let every part of who you were die and to make drastic differences in how you spend your time, how you think, and how you use the blessings that God has given you to manage: the life you live, the words you speak, the “free time hours,” the money you have, and the possibilities that living in the U.S.A. brings. After you have made these changes and continue to make them, read your life again. What does it say? Does your reborn life still look the same as it did before?

Tied to Old Habits
A drunken man entered his row boat one night to cross the river. He picked up the oars and pulled away, or so he thought. He rowed all night but did not reach the destination. When daylight came, he was surprised to find that he was just where he started the night before. He had forgotten to untie his boat.

So it is with many of the Lord's followers. They are tied to their habits, desires, wills, or some cherished idol or idols of the heart. Consequently, their lives are fruitless. Shorebound Christians never flourish and are of little or no help to others.

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Wow. Powerful words, spoken from a person whose mission overseas has allowed him to experience a brand of Christianity so different than the shallow, self-serving one we have come to know in our Babylonian-like culture. May God forgive us for so abusing His grace that we treat it as common and a means to justify our self-indulgence.