
Trusting in the Sufficiency of Jesus
The post Trusting In The Sufficiency Of Jesus first appeared on Fig Tree Watchers.
Trusting In The Sufficiency Of Jesus
Trusting in the Sufficiency of Jesus
The post Trusting In The Sufficiency Of Jesus first appeared on Fig Tree Watchers.
Trusting In The Sufficiency Of Jesus
The congruency of rebellion by Adam and Eve, birthed the virus of sin into the world, giving way to corruption, pollution, disease and finally death.…
The Biblical Congruency of Rebellion
Do you speak to God with the clarity of speaking with a friend. Authentic prayer is empowered by the knowledge of scripture and guided by the understanding and wisdom of a loving Father.
“And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words. So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him. “Pray, then, in this way: ‘Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. ‘Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. “Give us this day our daily bread.”
And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.” Matthew 6:7-13 NASB
My earliest memories of my parents faith is their prayer life. Prayer was always at the top of their list of things to do. They would pray about everything and anything. It was such a normal activity, that even the family dog would act as if she were praying. She would sprawl close to my mom, with paws crossed during her prayer times.
My siblings and I were raised on the numerous stories of answered prayer. These life changing accounts filled our minds with the belief that God answers prayer. It was not until I turned 12 that I saw with my own eyes the first of many miracles; my mother completely healed of the crippling disease, Myasthenia gravis. This forever doomed me to the knowledge that Christianity was real, Jesus was real and God answered prayers of righteous people. I could never deny that God was real, so I was left with no excuses. Although I rebelled often as a youth and young adult, I could not ignore where my selfish behavior was leading me. Sin can seem fun. It can also lead to destruction. We still have the free will to choose our path. I know that the tearful prayers of my parents worked.
Thank God, I finally straitened out. Thankfully it was His goodness that allowed me to see sin as He does and bring me to repentance through Jesus Christ my Lord.
Now that I am older and wiser I return to those memories of my parents prayer life and the lessons I learned. Prayer should always be the first thing you do when facing a crisis or before making a decision. I wrote about this in a previous post: The Crazy Chaos of a Busy Life… It also needs to be persistent and enduring, which you can read in: Enduring and Persistent Communication…
Lately I have been asked, “How can my life change, so that I am really walking with Jesus?” “Why do I keep struggling with my faith?” These questions reflect a need in the church body to understand authentic prayer and Biblical based meditation on The scripture. Real changes come when people read the Bible consistently, meditate on what it says and add its understanding to their prayer life.
Isn’t it interesting that the Christian who prays every day, reads the Bible every day, memorizes scripture and shares his faith; never shows or expresses any doubts about his salvation. The knowledge of knowing the Father has given that Christian an assurance of salvation in Christ alone.
Do you want an authentic relationship with God?
So lets take a look at the example Jesus gave us on how to pray with authenticity.
“And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words. So do not be like them;”
It is not the amount of words we use or the vocabulary, but the genuine heartfelt utterances that we speak to God. These are the words that matter to our Father. We do not pray mantras but sincerity from our heart and soul. We speak the languages of brokenness, honor, humility and we speak them with tears, thankfulness and praise.
“for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him”
We are to pray with the anticipation of knowing that God is paying attention to our lives, He knows every detail. We pray with the expectation that His will, will be done; because we know that He loves us. He is our Father, who is in Heaven.
“Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. ‘Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven.”
We surrender to His will, and offer thanksgiving and service to our Father’s Kingdom. We honor Him as our King, supreme in all authority, wisdom, knowledge and power. His understanding surpassing any situation we will face. We recognize that we are not alone, we belong to the Kingdom of God and are supported by the righteous right hand of God which is Jesus Christ our Lord.
“Give us this day our daily bread.”
God wants us to express our needs, concerns and fears. He want open and honest communication from us. He is never busy, always ready to listen. We remind him of the promises of Jesus.
“And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.”
We seek forgiveness for ourselves and for the grace to forgive and love others. Granted to us through the blood of Jesus.
“And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”
We ask for deliverance from temptation and endurance to overcome the trials and tribulations of living in a sinful world. We pray for healing and for strength.
“For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.”
We finish our prayer with praise, worship, and thankfulness, because God always wins. He is faithful and true, His love reigns supremely.
May your prayers be authentic and transforming. May people see Christ revealed in your life. May the proof of your faith be the Christ in you, the Hope of Glory.
God Bless,
Stephan
The moment we respond in anger or hurt, we have dismissed love from our life. True love looks beyond the disagreement and builds a bridge that demonstrates the Christ with you.
One of the scribes came and heard them arguing, and recognizing that He had answered them well, asked Him, “What commandment is the foremost of all?” 29 Jesus answered, “The foremost is, ‘Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is one Lord; 30 and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” 32 The scribe said to Him, “Right, Teacher; You have truly stated that He is One, and there is no one else besides Him; 33 and to love Him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as himself, is much more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” (Mark 12:28-33)
Two years ago I had the privilege of preaching through the Gospel of Mark in tandem with the senior pastor at the church where I was volunteering. It was a great experience for me. I was always a huge believer in expository preaching; but to actually explain the text verse by verse, was one of the most transforming experiences of my life. My walk with Christ radically changed during this period. You may find this humorous, but most of the sermons I preached, affected me. It seemed that every sermon preached was at myself. I began to wonder if the passages assigned to me were done out of an intentional purpose. Did the senior pastor see something in my life that needed to be changed? I found out later that it was all the work of the Holy Spirit and the pastor was oblivious to what was happening to me. One of the passages that was life changing for me was Mark 12:28-33.
It has been over three years and that sermon still stirs within me. It convicts, encourages and transforms. This passage teaches us how to love. It gives us understanding of how to accept the love of God and where true love comes from. This may take a few posts to explain, so I plan on keeping each post easy to read. (Yes I am A.D.D. and feel your pain.) The subject of love is important for a number of reasons. Our society has forgotten how to really love one another and how to love God. It has forgotten that God loves us and what that love truly looks like.
Jesus breaks this passage down in two ways, surrendering to God and loving God. In this passage we learn that Jesus is making an absolute statement, that the greatest commandment is to live in total love and to live a completely surrendered life to God.
One of the scribes came and heard them arguing, and recognizing that He had answered them well, asked Him, “What commandment is the foremost of all?”
For many, Christianity is a list of rules that no one one can live up to. Most people view us as hypocrites. They despise our hypocrisy because they view our moral code as changing in order to meet our own selfishness. This is not supposed to be the case. Some people try to live by a moral code. But even the best moral code fails when there is no love. The scribe was seeking righteousness through moral living. God wants us to seek righteousness through surrendered living.
And He summoned the crowd with His disciples, and said to them, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. (Mark 8:34)
So what does this mean?
Simply put, Jesus is asking us to deny selfishness in any form or behavior, lay your life down for others and follow His example of unconditional love. Think about how contradictory that is to what the world is telling us through social media and Television. Is it loving to be on your phone texting, when you are with someone else? Of course not! We have become so self absorbed as a society that we cannot even see when others are hurting. Self love is being promoted in the absence of genuine compassionate love for others. This is denying otherness. Jesus is calling us to deny oneness, selfishness, pridefulness and our egos. Our world has become so self centered, that anyone who breathes, must conform to the collective mindset or be destroyed. Selflessness allows others to foster opinions different from our selves; yet embrace those individuals with unconditional love. Jesus demonstrated that love to us, by dying for us even though our sins were contradictory to the nature of God.
“Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaint. As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” (1 Peter 4:8-10 NASB)
Recently, after an online Bible study, a young man asked the question, “Am I really saved?” After spending some time asking questions, it became clear that he was living with guilt and shame over his personal struggles with sin. The more we love God with our total being; heart, mind, soul and strength, the more God’s love, grace and forgiveness strengthens our resolve to follow Him in righteousness. We don’t have to worry about if we are saved, if we live in committed love towards God. We do not need to worry about our salvation, if others see the light and love of Christ in us. If our mind is dedicated to His word, and our soul to worshiping God, then our strength is in Jesus. When our heart belongs to Him, then our love will be pure and faultless. This is not earning salvation. This is living in the works of our faith out of gratitude for what Jesus did on the cross. Our salvation was earned by Jesus, as a free gift for us, but we must have the free will to receive it. The choice we make either brings us life or it leads to death.
“There is a way which seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death. Even in laughter the heart may be in pain, And the end of joy may be grief. The backslider in heart will have his fill of his own ways, But a good man will be satisfied with his.” Proverbs 14:12-14 NASB
In the last eight years, the life I desire is to be a disciple of Jesus. I desire to be known by my love and not my anger, selfishness or tone. It is in my love for others that I demonstrate the reality of a fulfilled relationship with Jesus. My love is the proof of my faith.
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35 NASB
Transgression through unity, a profound example of collective rebellion – and it remains a symbol of Man’s desire to collectively construct Heaven-on-Earth
A few months ago, a friend recommended a book to me that truly rocked my world. I believe this should be read by every pastor in America. I gave a quick review in the following blog post: Year End Review (Part
I was amazed to be granted an interview with the author, Carl Teichrib. The following is that interview. My questions are in bold. I did not edit any of his answers, I felt this would compromise or manipulate the interview process. I hope you enjoy, You may find his book, Game of Gods on Amazon. I have received no compensation for this interview, or for recommending his book; not even a signed copy of the book.
Carl, thank you for joining us here on Proof of Your Faith. For the readers who don’t know, what is Game of Gods about?
There’s a line in the book’s Introduction that reads: “Humanity has three Great Desires: To be as God, to be Masters of Meaning and Destiny, to build Heaven on Earth – this is that story.”
Game of Gods is a sweeping survey unpacking those three interlocking subjects, the underlying worldviews tying each together – especially the spiritual-religious paradigms central to the discussion – and the implications, outcomes, and consequences. Along the way we explore the history of ideas and movements, investigating how and why the West has changed in terms of faith, purpose, and social understanding. We tackle heavy topics in the process, including the quest for global order, transhuman aspirations, the spiritual politics ofinterfaithism, and the transforming nature of cultural transgression.
Numerous concepts and subthemes are encountered: The switchfrom Postmodernism to Re-enchantment, the role of myth in producing social vision and meaning, the shift from secularism to spirituality, the development of alternative salvation claims through political and cultural engineering, the tension between group dynamics and individual values, and the global-to-local challenges faced by the Christian community in an era of transformation. A key concern is the issue of Oneness and Otherness.
For our readers, How do you define “Oneness and Otherness?
Both are ultimate views of reality.
Oneness – that God, Man, and Nature all share the same essence; that each of the three domains are fundamentally one. Interconnection, interdependence, and continuity are therefore expressed at the most meaningful level. Final distinctions are illusionary.
Otherness – that God is utterly unique, being fundamentallyseparate (Holy and Exalted) from Man and Nature. Humanity is of a higher order than the animal and plant kingdoms, keeping in mind that the natural world has intrinsic value because of who created it.
Dr. Peter Jones from TruthXChange was helpful in fleshing out this understanding. He uses the terms One-ism and Two-ism. Consider this explanation from Dr. Jones: “Oneism is a form of spiritual holism where everything is considered good because it is an aspect of the whole – including God and Satan, virtue and vice. Twoism in its very essence contains holiness, where things are not confused but have their special, God-ordained places.”
What inspired you to write about this?
It was simply time to do so. Allow me to explain. Since the early 1990s I’ve been wrestling with many of the core subjects found in Game of Gods. By the mid-1990s I was writing articles on those same topics, and in 1997 this hobby-of-sorts became a full-time endeavor as I was hired by a Christian author to be the lead researcher for a major project. After 2001 I took-up freelancing, providing research assistance for lecturers, media hosts, and other authors. Then, in 2007, I produced and edited a monthly publication titled Forcing Change, a technical magazine devoted to unpacking and understanding the spiritual, social, and political forces of change. Along the way I amassed a significant library of pertinent materials, and a repertoire of fieldwork experiences to draw from – first source information, personal interviews, and direct observations.
With this back-story in mind, and with the advent of social media and the easy dissemination of misinformation, hype and sensationalism, I was compelled to write a book that did two things: First, rise above the noise and present an offering of practical and deep analysis – compelling us as Christians to seriously consider the subject. Second, to hopefully raise the bar in terms of Christian research and readership – to move away from memes and clickbait thinking.
The following section of text is taken from the Scope/Structure page of my book,
“Keep the cookies on the lower shelf,” I have heard it said, for reader’s attention spans have shortened in our age of information overload. Implied is a lower expectation, a sense that we are incapable of nuanced thought. Game of Gods, on the other hand, is written with the belief that we – author and reader – must reach for higher treasures of knowledge and understanding, that we are capable of wrestling with big ideas. With that in mind, Game of Gods is written as a robust work, treating topics with a serious tone and analytical style. Much of it is survey oriented, having a reference quality – a text you can return to in your our own studies. But it is more: Interspersed are excerpts of my own personal story, a journey of exploring and weighing world views, observing the interplay of global agendas, and being a witness to the tides of visionary ideas and grand movements. Game of Gods is meant to be a bulwark, an island fortress in a sea of chaotic information.
In chapter 3 of your book, you quote Francis A. Schaffer; “The church was under the teachings of the Bible – not above it and not equal to it.” Today this seems to be the opposite. Why is this dangerous for the church and Christians.
It assumes we take a position of revelator; we become the masters and dispensers of spiritual knowledge and meaning. Our focal point is no longer on God’s word and His position, but upon the power invested in ourselves.
How does this impact the otherness view?
It risks blurring the distinction between God’s authority and our own.
How does the “Temple of Man” differ from the biblical view that our body is a temple?
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 says, “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.”
In this passage we recognize that, for believers in Jesus Christ, our very bodies are His own possession.
The Temple of Man as found in Game of Gods has an entirely different context. Here, the meaning is closer to that found in Romans 1:25, “who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator…” It is Man’s vision of Heaven-on-Earth, a remake of Babel, humanity venerating itself; in other words, the desire to transform into something grander, a coalescence that elevates ourselves as the object of worship.
Vladimir Lenin, the Soviet visionary who believed in the Marxist engineering of a New Man, offers this chilling depiction: “Yes, we are going to destroy everything, and on the ruins we will build our temple!”
How has the religion of “good works” infiltrated the church?
Normally we think of this question from a personal perspective, that if I do the right things, then saving merit will be bestowed. In Game of Gods I push us to consider “good works” from another angle, the collective position, and give the example of the early Social Gospel movement with its version of Heaven-on-Earth. Their method of “good works” was “righteous internationalism,” world patriotism as a faith, reflected in political and economic restructuring.
Grand ideas of collective salvation remain in play. Going beyond the book, I witnessed this concept of collective “good works” and salvation during the fall of 2018 when attending the Parliament of the World’s Religions. The implied notion of salvation and works was evident in many of the talks and discussions, but the final remarks from the Executive Director of the Parliament hit this home: We are engaging in the salvation of the Earth, and therefore in the salvation of each other.
In the above examples, “good deeds” equals collective action to save humanity by transforming political, economic, and social structures. Similar thinking can be found in the teachings of contemporary Progressive Christians. Brian McLaren makes such a case in his book, Everything Must Change, downplaying traditional views of individual salvation while calling for collective restructuring to save humanity.
But let’s quickly return to the personal aspect, that of doing good as individuals. Yes, our faith is to be active, and good works are important in that such acts are a practical demonstration of our faith. The Book of James lays this outbeautifully and succinctly. At the same time, we need to guard ourselves against elevating good deeds as a method of redemption. Ephesians 2:8-10 is a necessary reminder of salvation by grace alone and the subsequent response of good works,
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
Why is free will pivotal to Christian theology?
Can there be love without free will? How about rebellion? What about forgiveness? The very notion of disobedience signals the fact that we exist with free will, as does the ability to change one’s actions and heart attitudes. Can repentance exist without free will?
Without going into a discourse on theology, I think the above questions and their implications are important reminders of free will. Without the freedom to choose, sin and forgives, hate and compassion, love and repentance are but illusions; human relationships can be but nothing more than pre-set mechanical responses.
The alternative is a deterministic monism, which philosophically degrades God to an impersonal force of nature, and we are no longer responsible for our actions.
Aren’t the arguments for the feelings of “Oneness” the same as the unity the body of Christ is supposed to have? The joy we have in Serving Christ?
No. The feelings of Oneness explained in the book are quite different, being experienced through a form of alternative spiritual practice (often connected to neurochemicalstimulation). This sense of Oneness is grounded in the mystical and/or ecstatic, and may be stimulated through psychedelic or entheogen substances. It is a feeling of boundary dissolving wholeness, timelessness and flow, blurring the lines between Divinity, Humanity, and Nature. Because of these features, it has immense influence upon the construction of worldviews related to the perceived “new reality.”
I gently probe the reader to consider this question: Are we, during our church worship time, encountering the same Oneness sensation? And if so, how do we know it’s of God? Or have we inadvertently bought into the power of group flow – the energy of ecstasies – the gospel of experience?
Why is Gnosticism dangerous to the body of Christ?
Without going into the diverse believes and history of Gnosticism, a spiritual philosophy that challenged the early church, I would like to consider one part of its structure: Thatthrough the process of illumination – the unfolding, inner knowledge of self-realization – we gain access to the Kingdom of God, which is found within. It is essentially a path of self-redemption through personal experience, the discovery of the “divine spark” within the mystical heart of humanity.
This is a break from the moorings of Biblical doctrine, opening up a theology of self-liberation, the gospel of experiential knowledge. Gnosticism offers an alternative salvation, just as it assumes an alternative view of God.
Are some pastors selling positivity and Gnosticism in place of sound Biblical teachings?
Oh yes! The Christian community has long bought into the gospel of human potential. And there is a Gnostic soft sell in much of this: of finding the secret in you, of connecting to your higher self, of contemplative practices to center yourself in the stillness of God’s quite voice. We are being asked, in so many ways, to “go within” and discover our divine union.
Every chapter of your book seems to describe a new front in the war to destroy Christianity, scripture and morality. It seems overwhelming. What are Christians to do?
I discuss a Christian response in chapter 15 – not a reaction, but a response. Basically, we have to learn what it means to be ambassadors for Christ in a pagan culture.
What is an ambassador? Let’s briefly explore this using Christian terminology: Someone who acts as the legal and official representative of a sending government – in our case, the King of Kings. An ambassador represents the values and interests of the King first, and then articulates the King’s message to that land, regardless if the place is hostile or accepting. An ambassador also studies the foreign culture he or she is sent into: Not to be of that world, for an ambassador is set apart, but to better understand the setting and how to effectively communicate within it.
We have an ambassador model to work with. The Apostle Paul, while at Mars Hill (Acts 17), presents a remarkable illustrationof what this looks like. I unpack his approach on pages 533 and 534, followed by a Christian outreach example from Burning Man.
In chapter 10 you describe the U.N. goal of Cosmopolis. How did the Tower of Babel let evil into the world? How does this affect us today?
The Tower of Babel is a model of transgression through unity, a profound example of collective rebellion – and it remains a symbol of Man’s desire to collectively construct Heaven-on-Earth. It is the first recorded Temple of Man, a worship ofpower-in-unity.
Chapter 10: Cosmopolis – the City of Man – demonstrates how this theme of power-in-unity is evident within the human landscape, from Hendrik Andersen’s dream of an International City to Stalin’s Palace of the Soviets, to more recent architectural examples. Babel, in this respect, serves as a model. More than that, it a foreshadowing of even greater expressions of collective unity.
What is Transhumanism? Why should people be concerned?
Transhumanism is an intellectual movement viewing science and technology as the means to overcome human limitations, to intervene in the evolutionary process, and thus self-create a new image of Man.
Here’s an explanation from Game of Gods, “Transhumanism is thus a changeover, a stepping-stone, but not the final stage; it is a transition to a post-human potential, moving beyond what we presently are. This is a future-oriented vision, one fueled by incredible scientific and technical advances, and the possibilities they portend: greatly magnifying cognitive abilities, enhancing sensory input, genetic restructuring to permanently eliminate disease and weakness, finding ways to move our consciousness into a non-corruptible body, the extension of human life – to the point of immortality – and even resurrecting the dead.”
Ethical concerns and questions of social/cultural importance abound, but from a Christian criticism one glaring point needs to be acknowledged: At the core of Transhumanism is an alternative salvation message.
On your chapter “Magical Re-Enchantment,” you describe a diabolical plan that involves drugs, witchcraft, yoga, Satanism and environmentalism worship. Is this really a global initiative?
From the book’s point of view this is less of a diabolical plan and more of an historic movement, a discernable cultural shift from Postmodernism into another epoch. The examples givenreflect how Re-enchantment is structured by changing social values, presenting new myths as carriers of meaning, and how spirituality is re-packaged to fit the desired worldview. And yes, there are organizations and personalities that envision a global transformation – and they are not without influence, nor are they without some measure of success. This, too, is documented.
How prevalent is the occult and satanism in our governments and the U.N.?
The United Nations abounds with people who adhere to an esoteric philosophy or mystical conception; of course, this can’t be said of everyone who works for the body – it’s an entity with an enormous range of agencies and personnel. However, many of the UN’s visionaries do lean toward esoteric and Theosophical belief systems. I witnessed this while attending the UN Millennium Forum, and to a lesser extent, the UN World Urban Forum in 2006. I’ve also observed an esoteric worldviewwithin some of the affiliated NGO community, such as LucisTrust. And in Game of Gods I quote UN personalities, like Robert Muller, who promoted a spiritual vision of Oneness within the world organization. Of course, the UN’s meditation room speaks to a level of spiritual interest.
As for the US government, I cannot say, as I have not studied this at a comparable level. There are, however, some indications in my text. That Washington DC does have esoteric symbolism is hinted at in chapter 7, and the ten-page discussion of the New Age exchanges in the late 1980s – a unique interlock between American and Soviet interests – is a peculiar piece of the spiritual back story I unpack in the book.
You made the statement, “Dear Christian, there is a danger in mistaking ecstasies for the Spirit, for in doing so, we risk exchanging Wisdom for feeling. God remains true no matter how I feel.” Why does our world crave feelings over wisdom and truth?
Feelings are compelling, affirming and gratifying, and none of this is inherently the problem. At a more base level, I think wegenerally crave to be the arbitrators of wisdom and truth – the god of our own lives – and we allow our feelings to reinforce this desire. I think we all have succumbed to this at some point in our lives. I have.
Another factor needs to be considered, especially for the Christian. In many cases we genuinely want to have a closer relationship with God, and we mistakenly use our feelings as the gauge to determine notions of intimacy. This is especially evident when it comes to feelings of ecstasies generated through corporate worship; it’s not theologically sound nor spiritually healthy.
Why can’t Transhumanism and Christianity mix? How has it influenced the church already?
If we understand transhumanism in its fullness – to become god-like in our capability and capacity, to deify ourselves through technology and information – then the two are at odds with competing salvations claims.
The weight of transhumanism is subtle in that it’s not the intellectual movement, so much, that exerts influence. Rather, it is the changing nature of technology that has been keenly felt in the church, especially the power of information technologies. The same problems, challenges, and complexities that the world is facing with information technologies are prevalent in the church.
But more is at stake, and big questions loom. Allow me to include a section of text pulled from chapter 13,
Tech-enterprises are likewise wrestling with ethical dilemmas, and governments will soon find themselves debating difficult boundaries. A few Christian ministries and institutions have also been discussing implications, but more review is necessary. Awareness within the Christian community is generally lacking; churches need to be informed and equipped to understand the worldviews behind the movement, bringing sober realism and wisdom to the conversation. Seminaries and apologetics ministries ought to formulate Biblical responses to the hope-in-technology, and search for opportunities to speak into the subject. Moreover, such an approach would be internally helpful as Christians navigate the maze of concerns and changing issues…
As innovation pushes us closer to post-human promises, which way will the moral compass swing? When pragmatism clashes with ethical barriers, will transhumangoals be willingly tabled? How might the self-proclaimed “evolutionary imperative” configure in the post-human worldview? Will transhumanists claim a position of Darwinian authority; that evolution demands the strongest survive, damning those incapable of enhancement? Is the vision of techno-humanity sacrosanct? If so, then Comte’s Positivism and Darwinian pragmatism will be the guiding principles – science is all that matters, and evolutionary succession is the only measure of victory.
If it can be done, or perceived so, will it be – no matter the cost? David Gelernter thinks so: “Everything is up for grabs. Everything will change. The Orwell law of the future: Any new technology that can be tried will be.”
In our attempt to be a new species, will we act less than human?
For Christians and conservative individuals, other questions need be asked: Will we shun technologies that are medically beneficial or otherwise valuable because of associations with transhumanism? I hope not. Augmentation itself is not wrong; it could be argued that eyeglasses and heart pacemakers are technological enhancements. BCI can be helpful to individuals who are physically immobilized, VR platforms are useful in communication and education, computers and internetconnectivity are important tools for business and personal use. We daily use technologies linked to transhumanvisions. Discernment is required to know the difference between the techno-faith that seeks to fundamentally transform mankind into an unknown quality, and the helpful uses of innovation for present-day humanity. Will we use innovation and technology in ways that are good and advantageous? We have in the past and I trust we will continue doing so, even being trailblazers in scientific discovery and innovative development.
Transhumanism is far more than a zeal for science and technology, a fascination with digital tools and manageable matter; it is a social pressure cooker, a container heated by the intellectual forces of Modernity.
It is also an attitude of religion.
Sci-Fi movies love exploring singularity, is this god like fascination to be taken seriously by Christians?
The idea of the singularity (its meaning and composition) is open to debate, even within the transhumanist community. Nevertheless, the god-fascination of transhumanism is a subject Christians need to be aware of – not because of rapid technological advances that give rise to the notion – but because of the tangible desire for ascension. In other words, it takes on a religious flavor, a saving faith in technology. And so the Christian community is faced with another redemption alternative within the marketplace of beliefs.
On another level, when Man plays God we tend to overstep boundaries and ethical lines, and even destroy others. This reality demands we take notice, and where possible inject a voice of caution and reason.
Obviously the Oneness dogma is here to stay. How can Christianity survive in a world that celebrates it?
Arguably the Oneness dogma has been with us since Genesis 3. The Christian message of God’s truth, however, will survive because of whom it points to: Him who remains the same, yesterday and today and forever. I am reminded that the early church flourished in the midst of a pagan culture. May we, too, kindle a first-love for Jesus Christ in this present age of re-enchantment.
You make it clear persecution will be the norm for Christians. Suffering will come daily, so how do we prepare?
The way all other Christians who have faced persecution have done it, or are now doing so. We become far more serious with our faith; we work to strengthen our families in God’s word and in love for one another; we build each other up, and the church family becomes a network of support and trust; we prepare ourselves spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and even physically if possible (can we provide for our families under the stress of suffering?); we remain active as ambassadors, changing tactics as necessary, but not losing sight of the calling; and we consciously place our hope in Christ and not Man – all easier said than done, but our strength ultimately comes from the Lord.
Psalm 46:1-3 reminds us that,
God is our refuge and strength,
A very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear,
Even though the earth be removed,
And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
Though its waters roar and be troubled,
Though the mountains shake with its swelling
How do we endure this onslaught without becoming angry, violent or loosing our love? Without compromising or denying Jesus, what methods can we use to influence change?
It’s easy to become angry, and we should be upset when we see the corruption of truth, the establishment of agendas for social control, the erosion of liberty, and the undermining of Biblical values. But there is a difference between righteous and unrighteous anger; moreover, we are to exhibit the fruits of the Spirit such as self-control.
Galatians 5:22-23 says, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness,faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.”
Are there ways we can influence change? Absolutely! Without becoming a field manual with specific action points – I know that’s what many people want, but it’s not effective or healthy –my book, instead, encourages what should be self-evident approaches. Nuggets of thought, to that end, are scattered throughout the text, and pages 543 to 550 specifically engages the reader with options and examples and areas of concern.
I’ll end with one general but important consideration taken from page 545,
“We tend to think that large and organized movements are needed to effectively engage in worldview issues, that challenges to liberty and the Christian faith are best handled through agencies and groups dedicated to those causes. There is a place for such, but personal responses are needed. It is the teacher tactfully asking valid questions when the curriculum demands global citizenship; the healthcare worker who raises concerns when One-istspiritual practices are sold as medicine; the pastor challenging denominational leaders on interfaithism; the student offering alternatives to the professor’s leftist ideologies; the landowner standing up to the encroachment of overbearing green policies; the engineer and specialist reigning in technocratic tendencies in their chosen fields; the politician working on behalf of constituents while curbing the tide of statism. It is the parent showing love, and sharing in knowledge and wisdom. It is the friend who cares for a friend, and who extends a hand to the stranger.”
What we need are truth tellers who act in love, men and women who credibly stand in the gap.
Thank you so much Carl, for provoking thought and bringing awareness. It has been a pleasure having you here on Proof of Your Faith.
Grief, depression and sadness are natural human responses to tragedy, trauma and suffering. We can not endure this on our own, God provides hope.
“Then, when Mary came where Jesus was, and saw Him, she fell down at His feet, saying to Him, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.” Therefore, when Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her weeping, He groaned in the spirit and was troubled. And He said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to Him, “Lord, come and see.” Jesus wept.” John 11:32-35 NKJV
It is never easy to lose a loved one, but for Mary this past December; she lost a daughter in a car accident and a husband to a heart attack. Her twenty year love affair with her husband, gone in a second. Her only child, cruelly ripped from her life. How do you even begin to console someone in this situation? The grief is overwhelming, nothing you say will comfort the pain. Mary was a good Christian woman, why should she suffer?
“The LORD is near to the brokenhearted And saves those who are crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the LORD delivers him out of them all.” Psalms 34:18-19 NASB
My Aunt and Uncle, are two of the most compassionate individuals I’ve ever known. They have always demonstrated what it means to have a servant’s heart. Whomever needed help they were there. Their help always came with joy, love and without condemnation. A few years ago my uncle was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Lately their lives have been devastated with sleepless nights, injuries and despair. My once strong Aunt, has become frail from the stress they face as a couple. Why would God allow this? Doesn’t God look out for Christians?
“Incline Your ear, O LORD, and answer me; For I am afflicted and needy. Preserve my soul, for I am a godly man; O You my God, save Your servant who trusts in You. Be gracious to me, O Lord, For to You I cry all day long. Make glad the soul of Your servant, For to You, O Lord, I lift up my soul. For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, And abundant in lovingkindness to all who call upon You. Give ear, O LORD, to my prayer; And give heed to the voice of my supplications! In the day of my trouble I shall call upon You, For You will answer me.” Psalms 86:1-7 NASB
One of the greatest lies told, is that if you become a Christian your life becomes easier and you will be happy. Trust me this is a lie.
Christians suffer. In some countries we are raped, tortured, burned alive and killed. The positivity preaching is a destructive lie. It deludes people into a false hope. Jesus said this, “”If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you.” John 15:18-19 NASB
What happens to the new Christian when their life is thrown into tragic turmoil and they realize that being a Christian is hard and difficult? The happiness sermons and positivity preaching become cancer to a hurting soul. This is why the truth of God’s word is better than false teachings. God’s word deals with the truth! Peter warned Christians, “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you;” 1 Peter 4:12 NASB
So is God playing games with us? Why does this happen?
Most people blame God. They become bitter and even denounce their faith. The problem is that we forget about our real enemy. We blame God for what Satan does. Satan hates us. Let’s get real for a moment, we all know there is evil in the world. We see cruelty, greed, hate and horrific acts done on our tv every day. So evil exists. So why do we blame God for what Satan is doing? Shouldn’t our anger be directed at him? Peter warns us again,
“Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world.” 1 Peter 5:8-9 NASB
God’s word comforts us in knowing that other Christians are enduring the same trials. We are not alone, as Christians, we recognize that we are part of the body of Christ. We have each other and we have Jesus. This is why it is important for Christians to go to church, to share their burdens, to pray together and to pray for each other. United in Christ we can endure and stand against the schemings of Satan.
“After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you. To Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen.” 1 Peter 5:10-11 NASB
Christians suffer; but God is our shield. He provides us with endurance and strength to cope through the grief, depression and the loss. Christ suffered on the cross and that becomes more meaningful, when we understand that we are sharing in His sufferings. Christ endured and persevered in His suffering for us, so that we can persevere and endure under trials of our own. We become mature as Christians complete in our faith, knowing that Christ is our shield, strength and salvation.
“Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear Him, On those who hope for His lovingkindness, To deliver their soul from death And to keep them alive in famine.” Psalms 33:18-19 NASB
The attitude in which we suffer is what separates us from a world without hope. We know that this life is short in comparison to the eternal life, promised by God. This is not our kingdom, but our King is coming, we then must be prepared. God always comes through in the end.
“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.” 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 NASB
Don’t give up! Pray, read the Bible and pray some more. Be vigilant, be strong and love deeply. Encourage one another in love. Our time is short. Jesus is coming back!
God Bless,
Stephan
A special announcement: Next week’s blog will be special. I will have the privilege of interviewing Carl Teichrib the author of Game of Gods. Here is a link to his book and his site: gameofgods.ca
Why do the nations rage. and the people plot a vain thing? Psalm 2:1 Our world is in deep need of a savior. The answer came 2000 years ago. His Name is Jesus. Very soon He will return, are you ready?
“But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?” II Peter 3:10-12 NKJV
The world we live in is a scary place. For many Christians, who read their Bibles, there is a nervous excitement. So many biblical prophecies are coming true in such a rapid manner. We know that the return of Christ is eminent. Some choose to bury their heads in the sand, other irrationally deny the current events as coincidental hysteria; but for those who have been watching and waiting, we know the truth. Jesus Christ is returning. So I thought it would be cool to list some of the world events that are lining up with Bible prophecy.
War is coming! Ezekiel 38-39 (Please read)
The nations mentioned in this passage, seem unrecognizable, but most Bible scholars and historians do have a common consensus as to who they are. These nations mentioned will invade Israel. It will be a massive, horrific and bloody war.
So to avoid debate, I am going to list them as most experts generally agree. I myself am not in total agreement, but in this case, let’s keep it simple and go with consensus.
Prediction validation: So right now, Russia, Turkey and Iran are occupying Syria which is on the border of Israel. This fulfills the big three nations as predicted by Ezekiel. This last week Sudan president met with leaders in occupied Syria. Below is a link to the article.
https://www.syrianews.cc/sudan-president-visit-damascus/
https://twitter.com/withinsyriablog/status/1074393390777815040?s=21
Is Sudan fulfilling Biblical prophecy by joining the coalition? It would seem that way.
Libya is the one that always seemed strange to me. This country is very poor, so how could it raise the funds to prepare a military, buy weapons, and mobilize for war with Israel? Well that answer became clear this week by reports from multiple news agencies. Libya is funding it war machine through the selling of black slaves. This is a barbarous act, reminiscent to the slave trade that Libya conducted before the American Civil War. Some black Americans are becoming outraged over this news, but the media in America is strangely silent. Only conservative groups are speaking out. As Christians we cannot remain silent.
Black Slaves for Sale in Libya.
Arab Muslims Selling Black Africans as slaves.
The world is becoming ugly, we need Jesus more than ever. The war with Israel, mentioned in Ezekiel 38-39 is inevitable, but God will be the victor. God has a master plan. For those who trust God, there is hope and life, even through trials, wars and famines. For those who deny Christ with their actions and behaviors there is death.
2000 years ago, Jesus was born in Bethlehem to erase the debt of sin. His death and resurrection provides humanity hope in a world gone mad. Jesus fulfilled 300 prophecies regarding His birth, life and resurrection. The good news is that He promised to return. Jesus gave many signs of His return. As we celebrate the birth of Christ, shouldn’t we look at the events around us as a sign to turn back towards God and await the return of the King?
“And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.”Luke 21:25-28 NKJV
If you don’t know Jesus as your personal savior, I encourage you not to wait any longer. Please email me with any questions.
Here are five sites I recommend to help you grasp world events in the light of Bible prophecy. Just click the link.
Jason A This is one of my favorites. I recommend you go back a few months and view a few of his videos. They are not long, quite short, but very impactful.
Prophecy Watchers Weekly interviews
Behold Israel This is like getting insider information into the mindset of the Israeli Military.
The Watchmen Another great site mixing news reports with scripture.
Himitsustudy This is a friend of mine who is very thorough and deeply insightful.
“Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’ “Behold, all those who were incensed against you Shall be ashamed and disgraced; They shall be as nothing, And those who strive with you shall perish.” Isaiah 41:10-11 NKJV
God Bless,
Stephan
Gratitude and thankfulness are lost on today’s culture. Rarely do you hear “Thank you” or see gratefulness demonstrated. We live in a world cold of love and full of depression.
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. “Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth.” Matthew 5:3-5 NASB
This is the time of year to be thankful, to have a heart of gratitude. Gratitude and thankfulness is the only way that we should live. But it’s not easy because we are often blinded by our circumstances that we fail to see what God has provided.
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7 NASB
I have a friend in Kenya, who is always encouraging and positive. She smiles with the contentment of knowing that God supplies her needs. Everyday she lives with gratitude and thankfulness to Jesus, who saved her life. She is a single parent, who lost her job recently due to an economic downturn. As a child she lost both parents. She should have reasons to be upset and angry at God; instead she is grateful. She has only been a Christian for five years, but has more wisdom than most Americans. I have learned much from her.
“Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” James 1:2-4 NASB
For many who suffer from depression it can be a time of perilous pain. Depression can seem like an overwhelming giant. It often leaves a person with feelings of loneliness and insignificance, but God wants you to know, that you are not alone or insignificant. God loves you and He loves “David vs Goliath” scenarios. Just like He equipped David with a slingshot and rocks to beat his Goliath, so He has also equipped us with the attitudes of gratitude and thankfulness to fight the powerful giant that depression can be.
“In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;” 1 Peter 1:6-7 NASB
I have been learning a lot about gratitude and thankfulness. These attitudes go a long way in subduing the thoughts and emotions of depression. This year has been a good year for me in dealing with depression, in spite of the fact it has been one of the most stressful and difficult years to endure. Finding joy came only when I learned to be thankful in the midst of trials and when I was grateful to God for helping me endure the hardships and stresses of living through the trials and difficulties that I faced.
I want everyone to understand, I could not have made it through this year without Jesus. I grew so much this year spiritually. My devotion times were amazing, my prayer times were the best they have ever been. Even my wife and I bonded closer spiritually.
Yes, I endured anxiety and worry, but I knew I was not alone; because of Jesus.
Yes, I endured financial hardships, fires, and stupid irritating things that would just go wrong; but Jesus was there.
It was such a brutal and difficult year to endure, but it was an awesome year to endure it with Jesus. I am so grateful for the lessons I learned on Gods faithfulness, love and grace.
The more I drew closer to God, the more Satan attacked. The more I grew in taking on the attitudes of Christ, the more Satan would attack me in my weaknesses. Jesus helped me to resist and to endure through the most difficult of times. He comforted me, like I have never felt before.
“Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation.” 1 Peter 4:12-13 NASB
Oh yes, I failed quite a bit this year, in being Christ like. The emotional roller coaster was unrelenting and difficult to bear. It was in those times I would humble myself and live in a repentant manner. It was amazing to see beyond my depression to know with such clarity that God was at work. I saw miracles take place at precisely when they were needed most. This year, through two major pay cuts, fires, medical issues with my kids, cars breaking down, increased bills, and other monumental issues; I saw Gods amazing hand at work. I learned to be grateful to Him, thankful as He helped us over every little hurdle. It was though these moments that joy overcame depression. Often my wife and I were in shock as God put on a spectacular performance of His grace, compassion, faithfulness and never ending love.
“O give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; For His lovingkindness is everlasting.” 1 Chronicles 16:34 NASB
I am in awe that we made it through this year, so I have no other choice but to be grateful and thankful to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” Colossians 3:15-16 NASB
So I encourage you to be grateful, thankful and to give God the Glory for the great thing He has done in your life. Reflect on the goodness of God, pray with thanksgiving and gratitude in your hearts and you will see beyond your depression.
God Bless,
Stephan
God has a plan for your life. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” God imprinted His image on our DNA, so that we would know how much He loves us. The encoding information points to an Intelligent Design.
“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” Ephesians 2:10 NLT
Atheists often ask the question of Theists, “Where did God come from?” The better question to ask is, “Where did spontaneous generation come from?” Spontaneous generation is the belief that the universe came from nothing. Where in science has this theory ever been duplicated? It hasn’t. Something cannot come from nothing. The Big Bang theory is flawed for this reasoning, as well as the fact that no explosion has ever produced any kind of life, rather explosions produce death, destruction, and chaos.
Dr. Harold Morowitz, a world renown physicist from Yale University and author of Origin of Cellular Life (1993), stated, ‘The odds for any kind of spontaneous generation of life from a combination of the standard life building blocks are one chance in 10E100000000000.”(That is a 1 followed by 100,000,000,000 ZEROS.) Morowitz, Harold J. Energy Flow in Biology. Academic Press, 1968.
If the improbability of spontaneous generation coming from a combination of standard life building blocks is unlikely; what are then the chances that this would happen from nothing? The reasoned explanation is to conclude what the Bible says:
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light.” Genesis 1:1-3 NKJV
God created the universe, He brought it together with His Word. The disciple John gave us greater insight into creation, when he wrote:
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.” John 1:1-4 NKJV
What John is telling us; is that the life force of the universe is Jesus, and that all life comes from Him. Since God created us then we can have can have the joyful understanding that we have a purpose. Compare this to the atheist philosophy.
When I see a quote like this, I am drawn to thoughts of my friend Jorri. No one I know is a more compassionate animal lover than her. She is particularly attuned to the suffering of animals. Her anger towards the indifference that others show to animals is only contrasted by her compassion and pity that she demonstrates to God’s creatures. Her disposition is not just another random act of the uncaring evolutionary process. Jorri’s purpose, design, emotions and characteristics were all carefully coded and imprinted into her DNA by a loving God. Jorri, as well as all of us were created with a purpose. This purpose was understood by The Psalmist David; he grasped the complexity in which he was created. David wrote these words:
“For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well.” Psalms 139:13-14 NASB
Our cell structures are literally woven by our DNA. Only God could have revealed this to David 4,000 years ago. What was once called the simple cell, by evolutionists, is now being called complex. The incredible complexity of our cells and DNA, demonstrates the thoughtful engineering of an Intelligent Designer. It is a deliberate, robust and unique pattern. Contrast this with the theory of random chance; that somehow miraculously happens again and again. The blind faith of atheists in their religion, evolution, is astonishing and misguided. Science through the understanding of our DNA is disproving Darwinian evolution. Darwin practically predicted its inevitable downfall.
“If it could be demonstrated that any complex organ existed, which could not possibly have been formed by numerous, successive, slight modifications, my theory would absolutely break down,” — Charles Darwin
Dr. Stephen Meyer argues this exact point. He believes that the encoding information of our DNA points to an Intelligent designer and not a random material process. It is too complex, too well organized and too intentional to be random.
“The DNA molecule is literally encoding information into alphabetic or digital form. And that’s a hugely significant discovery, because what we know from experience is that information always comes from an intelligence, whether we’re talking about hieroglyphic inscription or a paragraph in a book or a headline in a newspaper. If we trace information back to its source, we always come to a mind, not a material process. So the discovery that DNA codes information in a digital form points decisively back to a prior intelligence.”— Dr. Stephen C. Meyer (Meyer, Stephen C. Signature in the Cell: DNA and the Evidence for Intelligent Design. HarperOne, 2010.)
In today’s world we are ignoring our need and purpose to engage in relationships. Society has become technology dependent, replacing human interaction, with texting. We have reduced relationships to social media comments. We delude ourselves with the lie calling this community. This is destructive and it is not our purpose!
The Apostle Paul, wrote this warning to us:
“Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.” Romans 12:9-10 NLT
Obviously, social media fails in this obligation. God made us to live together, in face to face relationships; to love, laugh, cry, and grieve with one another. This mirrors, how God desires to be in a relationship with us. God created us in His image, so our need to be relational must mean we received, this imprinted purpose, from Him by design in our very DNA.
“How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up, you are still with me!” Psalms 139:17-18 NLT
So, what does this all convey to us? It is simply, that each of us was meticulously thought out and intended to live with a purpose. It demonstrates that God is relational, and wants a relationship with us. God loves us and built our genetic code to be a representation of His Image. We have a purpose! We have a reason to live. It is because of God’s love that I choose life. I choose to live a life that is pleasing to the one who created me. It is God who divinely planned humankind to have a relationship with Him. When life becomes difficult, it is in God that I trust and not a process. I do this because because He understands me. He created me with a purpose.
“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.” John 3:16-17 NLT
Thanks for reading, please leave a comment I will respond. Please leave a like if you enjoyed the post and as always share this post with someone else, it may change a life.
Final Note: Many geneticists and chemical engineers are now moving to Intelligent Design as a rational explanation of the complexity of our biology. (See the links below)
Intelligent Design Wins Another Nobel Prize
This Book Changed My Mind On Intelligent Design
In small towns, bells were a way of gathering people together or of warning people of imminent danger. Today Jeremiah warns America of a danger reminiscent of 2500 years ago. The warning bell is sounding, but are we listening?
“This is what the Lord says: “Stop at the crossroads and look around. Ask for the old, godly way, and walk in it. Travel its path, and you will find rest for your souls. But you reply, ‘No, that’s not the road we want!’ I posted watchmen over you who said, ‘Listen for the sound of the alarm.’ But you replied, ‘No! We won’t pay attention!’ “Therefore, listen to this, all you nations. Take note of my people’s situation. Listen, all the earth! I will bring disaster on my people. It is the fruit of their own schemes, because they refuse to listen to me. They have rejected my word.” Jeremiah 6:16-19 NLT
America is at a crossroad, we need to look around and pay attention. One of the false teachings commonly preached from the pulpit, is that the Old Testament is irrelevant. Many pastors will not even preach from it. They will tell their congregations that the New Testament did away with the Old Testament, that Jesus replaced it. This is a lie! The apostle Paul contradicts this heresy, when he wrote to Timothy these words:
“All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17 NLT
This means, that we are to pay attention to the Old Testament and heed its warnings. We need to study, meditate, contemplate, memorize and preach from the Old Testament. Today these passages are more relevant today, because of the warnings and prophecies they provide. One of the most ignored books of the Old Testament is the book of Jeremiah. Jeremiah was written approximately 2550-2600 years ago, few understand this books relevance and warnings that are current for today’s world. For the past several months I have been in a deep study of this book. It has left my soul distraught and in painful anguish. It has moved me to tears and indignation. Jeremiah was written to warn Judah of God’s coming wrath and judgments; but its prophetic warnings are applicable to America, which sits at the crossroad of God’s impending wrath. Please believe me, I do not like writing words this controversial. These words don’t come easily, my heart aches as I write them down. The warnings of Jeremiah are real and must be paid attention to.
“Behold, you trust in lying words that cannot profit. Will you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, burn incense to Baal, and walk after other gods whom you do not know, and then come and stand before Me in this house which is called by My name, and say, ‘We are delivered to do all these abominations’?” Jeremiah 7:8-10 NKJV
Divorce, adultery and pornography are all to common in America. The entertainment industry loves to propagate filth and obscenities, and we love to soak it up. Why is it, that we think it is okay to watch sex scenes, but scream when a person is a “peeping tom”?There is no difference in the eyes of a just God.
We have become a nation of idol worshipers, putting everything and anything as more important than obedience to God and His word. Even our laws have become corrupted and politicized.
Our nation is in peril, because of our hypocrisy. We sing, “God Bless America” in one breath and without hesitation, we commit ourselves to every and all abominations that would grieve the heart of God.
Does the world we live in today reflect the prophetic message of Jeremiah’s time?
According to the commentary, “The Message of Jeremiah,” the author gives some examples of the similarities that exist in our world today. Here is an abbreviated summery:
Wright, Christopher J. H. The Message of Jeremiah: against Wind and Tide. IVP Academic, 2014.
Today we speak of a “New World Order”. Globalism and Socialism are now in the mindset of many Americans. Many claim to be Christians, but have now understanding of what that means. Many churches are turning away from the scripture and abandoning the laws of God. Social evils abound everywhere; inequality, cheating, injustice and immorality are collapsing the moral compass of America. Political abuses are horrendous on both sides of the political isle and churches are full of false teachers and greed. The similarities are obvious!
“Thus says the LORD: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man And makes flesh his strength, Whose heart departs from the LORD.” Jeremiah 17:5 NKJV
In the end, God wiped out all of Israel. He had Jerusalem destroyed, The temple burned to the ground and the Jewish people carried off into slavery. God did this because His anger burned against their wickedness and disobedience. God gave His “chosen people” many chances to repent and turn from their ways, but they would not listen. The wrath of a just and loving God is coming to America. This conflicts with many, they have created God in their image by manipulating the Bible. This is called idol worship.
“But any nation who refuses to obey me will be uprooted and destroyed. I, the Lord, have spoken!” Jeremiah 12:17 NLT
I know, many of you are rolling your eyes. You don’t believe in a God of wrath and you also don’t believe that a loving God has limits to His patience. As a parent their are times that I get angry with my kids and discipline them. I take no joy in grounding them or taking away privileges, but it does not change my love for my children. It is the same way for God. Many people say they love God, but few honor God with living obedient lives before Him. Their speech, conduct and lifestyles are in open rebellion to God. So what would a just God do?
The Apostle Paul said this:
“But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God,” Romans 2:5 NASB
This is scary to know that there is a boiling point to God’s anger. We must turn from our ways and cry out to God to change our nation, our states, our cities and homes. Individually, we need to stop pointing fingers at others and look at our own lives and ask God if we are right with Him; for God is not just a God of wrath, but one of love and compassion and forgiveness. He desires that we live justly before Him.
“Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?” Romans 2:4 NASB
The greatest attribute of God is His love for us. Yes, God is full of grace. His goodness leads us to humility and repentance. Jesus paid our penalty; for our rebellion, with His blood.
“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.” Romans 5:8-10 NASB
God provided His Son as a ransom for the sins of all humanity.
So why do we think it is acceptable to push the limits of God’s grace?
Shouldn’t our rebellion against Him be punished?
We need to be a Holy people before God. We need to honor God’s love and grace with a lifestyle of Holiness. We need to go from being a fan of Jesus, to a committed follower.
So what can we do?
Let me know what you think. I would love to hear from you. Leave a comment or email me.
Stephan