What has gone wrong with America? What has happened to the country? It has shifted from a Biblical worldview to a secular worldview. The results of this shift are huge. The thought and lifestyles of Americans have changed dramatically. There has been a shift from God to the self.
Many think the change started in the 1960's with the ban on prayer and Bible reading in the public schools. But this was just the result of change that had already taken place. The change really seems to have started in the late 1800's. Men such as Marx, Darwin, and Freud had a negative effect on our country and world with their ideas. Also the tide of theological liberalism swept into the United States in the late 1800's and early 1900's. This cast doubt on the authority and reliability of the Bible. Many denominations took liberal turns denying the inerrancy of Scripture and denying foundational doctrines of historic Christianity.
With the shift from a Biblical worldview to a secular worldview the focus shifted from the God who is outside of us to our inner self, becoming our own god. Our ultimate problem is no longer that we are sinners who are morally guilty before a holy God. Instead we just have psychological problems that require a counselor. We hear much talk about tolerance in our modern society. In fact tolerance is the only virtue in modern America. We have embraced moral relativism and there is no right and wrong. There is no absolute truth that applies to everyone. Anyone making a truth claim will be labeled as being judgmental immediately.
We can see the seismic shift in our society with the issue of homosexuality. It has become widely accepted in modern America. This would have been unheard of just a short time ago. We have rejected the truth and become morally insane. Even some "Christian" denominations now approve of homosexuality. The reason for this can be traced back to their rejection of the authority of the Bible.
The decline of America goes back to it's rejection of Biblical authority. It must be said that the church itself has much responsibility for this. The modern church is weak and fails to confront the culture with Biblical truth. Rejection of Biblical authority leads to doctrinal confusion which leads to ungodly lifestyles. America has rejected the God who is there. We are in rebellion against him and face his judgment. Is it too late for our country? I do not know, maybe it is too late. Christians must pray and read, proclaim, teach and live the Bible because this is our only hope.
Monday, July 21, 2014
Monday, July 14, 2014
What's Right With America?
We hear much today about the evils of America. Liberals in Hollywood, academia, the news media, and government portray it as a terrible country. They present it as historically evil and the problem of the modern world. Even President Obama seems to have a negative view of America, seeing it as an oppressor. First lady, Michelle Obama said she was proud of her country for the first time when her husband, Barack Obama was elected.
On the other hand conservatives talk of American exceptionalism. So is America exceptional? Yes, if it is understood correctly. America is indeed the exception and not the norm historically. The freedom, prosperity, and high living standards in the United States are unprecedented. In America the average person is well off. Even the poor in the United States are much better off than the those in other countries. Most nations throughout history have been ruled by tyrants or monarchs. This is not so in the United States where there is a Constitutional Republic.
But why is America an exceptional country? Are Americans better than the people of other countries? No, not at all. It comes from the ideas and beliefs that form the foundation of the country. America has had at least somewhat of a Biblical worldview as a foundation. This has shaped the greatness of America. The Biblical worldview has provided the form needed for the freedom we have in this country. The problem with most countries is the foundation they are built upon.
America's economic system has been capitalism. It has provided unprecedented prosperity. The free market system has done more to help the poor than socialism has ever thought about doing. The free market system is the most beneficial to all people. It has been said that capitalism is the unequal distribution of wealth while socialism is the equal distribution of poverty.
It must be said that America is not a perfect country. Things like slavery and segregation are terrible blots on the history of America and the West. It must be pointed out that slavery did not begin with Western civilization but abolition did. American foreign policy has not been perfect either. But it has not been an aggressor taking over other countries even though it is a super power.
Our founders who though not perfect were brilliant men who provided us with the best form of government, laid out for us in the U.S. Constitution. A Republic based on a Biblical worldview has made America probably the greatest country in world history. The nation has been greatly blessed by God.
On the other hand conservatives talk of American exceptionalism. So is America exceptional? Yes, if it is understood correctly. America is indeed the exception and not the norm historically. The freedom, prosperity, and high living standards in the United States are unprecedented. In America the average person is well off. Even the poor in the United States are much better off than the those in other countries. Most nations throughout history have been ruled by tyrants or monarchs. This is not so in the United States where there is a Constitutional Republic.
But why is America an exceptional country? Are Americans better than the people of other countries? No, not at all. It comes from the ideas and beliefs that form the foundation of the country. America has had at least somewhat of a Biblical worldview as a foundation. This has shaped the greatness of America. The Biblical worldview has provided the form needed for the freedom we have in this country. The problem with most countries is the foundation they are built upon.
America's economic system has been capitalism. It has provided unprecedented prosperity. The free market system has done more to help the poor than socialism has ever thought about doing. The free market system is the most beneficial to all people. It has been said that capitalism is the unequal distribution of wealth while socialism is the equal distribution of poverty.
It must be said that America is not a perfect country. Things like slavery and segregation are terrible blots on the history of America and the West. It must be pointed out that slavery did not begin with Western civilization but abolition did. American foreign policy has not been perfect either. But it has not been an aggressor taking over other countries even though it is a super power.
Our founders who though not perfect were brilliant men who provided us with the best form of government, laid out for us in the U.S. Constitution. A Republic based on a Biblical worldview has made America probably the greatest country in world history. The nation has been greatly blessed by God.
Monday, July 7, 2014
Who Will Come To Jesus? (Part 3)
(John 6:65) "And he said, This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father." (ESV)
In the preceding verses Jesus has just presented some hard teaching to his disciples. As a result many of them have turned away from him. In response Jesus says the reason for this, is that no one can come to him unless it is granted by the Father. As in John 6:37 & John 6:44 Jesus stresses the absolute sovereignty of God in salvation. Those who are false disciples will respond in unbelief while true disciples will respond in belief. The reason why some respond in unbelief is that they have not been chosen by God.
Only those chosen by the Father will come to Jesus. They have been predestined for salvation in Christ (see Ephesians 1). It is clear that not all people are granted the ability to believe. The reason why some respond in unbelief is that they do not have the ability to believe. People are dead in their sins and must be made alive by God in order to believe (see Ephesians 2).
Our wills are not free but in bondage to sin. This is contrary to what is usually taught in the modern church but it is the truth. Left to ourselves we would never choose God, we would only continue in rebellion against him. We only choose God after he has chosen us and brought us from being spiritually dead to being spiritually alive. Those not chosen by God, who are not of the elect will continue in unbelief. We see the reason why some people believe and others do not. God chooses some for salvation while passing over others. Salvation is totally by grace and is not dependent on man's decision, will, or effort.
It must be pointed out that people are still responsible for believing in Christ or rejecting him. All people are commanded to repent of their sins and place their faith in Christ alone for salvation. But if God is absolutely sovereign how can man still be responsible? They seem to be contradictory but the Bible teaches them both. We finite humans are incapable of fully understanding the infinite God.
In the preceding verses Jesus has just presented some hard teaching to his disciples. As a result many of them have turned away from him. In response Jesus says the reason for this, is that no one can come to him unless it is granted by the Father. As in John 6:37 & John 6:44 Jesus stresses the absolute sovereignty of God in salvation. Those who are false disciples will respond in unbelief while true disciples will respond in belief. The reason why some respond in unbelief is that they have not been chosen by God.
Only those chosen by the Father will come to Jesus. They have been predestined for salvation in Christ (see Ephesians 1). It is clear that not all people are granted the ability to believe. The reason why some respond in unbelief is that they do not have the ability to believe. People are dead in their sins and must be made alive by God in order to believe (see Ephesians 2).
Our wills are not free but in bondage to sin. This is contrary to what is usually taught in the modern church but it is the truth. Left to ourselves we would never choose God, we would only continue in rebellion against him. We only choose God after he has chosen us and brought us from being spiritually dead to being spiritually alive. Those not chosen by God, who are not of the elect will continue in unbelief. We see the reason why some people believe and others do not. God chooses some for salvation while passing over others. Salvation is totally by grace and is not dependent on man's decision, will, or effort.
It must be pointed out that people are still responsible for believing in Christ or rejecting him. All people are commanded to repent of their sins and place their faith in Christ alone for salvation. But if God is absolutely sovereign how can man still be responsible? They seem to be contradictory but the Bible teaches them both. We finite humans are incapable of fully understanding the infinite God.
Monday, June 23, 2014
Who Will Come To Jesus? (Part 2)
(John 6:44) "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day." (ESV)
So who will come to Jesus? Only those the Father draws to him. No one can come to Christ unless God the Father draws him. When Jesus says no one can come to me, it means that no one is able to come to him.
People do not have the ability to come to Christ on their own. All people are enslaved to sin, their will is in bondage to sin (total depravity). People do not have the desire or inclination to come to Christ, they are unable to believe. The Father must draw them and give them the desire and inclination to come to Jesus and trust in him. God has to change people in order for them to become willing to believe.
It is obvious that God does not draw all people to Christ to be saved. All that he draws, he will raise up on the last day. Only believers receive the resurrection to life. All that the Father draws to Christ will be raised up on the last day. Only those chosen by God will be saved. Those not chosen or drawn by God will not be saved.
Whoever wills to come to God can, but only those made willing by the Father will come to him and believe. God chooses those whom he will save (unconditional election). Those he chooses will come to him (irresistible grace). It is efficacious grace, that is it brings about the desired result. All those chosen by God the Father will believe in Christ. They have been predestined to salvation by God who is absolutely sovereign.
So who will come to Jesus? Only those the Father draws to him. No one can come to Christ unless God the Father draws him. When Jesus says no one can come to me, it means that no one is able to come to him.
People do not have the ability to come to Christ on their own. All people are enslaved to sin, their will is in bondage to sin (total depravity). People do not have the desire or inclination to come to Christ, they are unable to believe. The Father must draw them and give them the desire and inclination to come to Jesus and trust in him. God has to change people in order for them to become willing to believe.
It is obvious that God does not draw all people to Christ to be saved. All that he draws, he will raise up on the last day. Only believers receive the resurrection to life. All that the Father draws to Christ will be raised up on the last day. Only those chosen by God will be saved. Those not chosen or drawn by God will not be saved.
Whoever wills to come to God can, but only those made willing by the Father will come to him and believe. God chooses those whom he will save (unconditional election). Those he chooses will come to him (irresistible grace). It is efficacious grace, that is it brings about the desired result. All those chosen by God the Father will believe in Christ. They have been predestined to salvation by God who is absolutely sovereign.
Sunday, June 15, 2014
Who Will Come To Jesus? (Part 1)
(John 6:37) "All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out." (ESV)
Jesus states in this verse that all the Father gives him will come to him. In other words those chosen by God the Father will receive salvation in God the Son. This contradicts much of the teaching in the modern church which puts the choice ultimately in the hands of man. We are often taught that the person's decision is the ultimate determiner of salvation.
But this verse emphasizes the sovereignty of God in salvation. God chooses those who will be saved, he has predestined them for salvation (see Ephesians 1). All those who are chosen by God will respond with repentance and faith in Christ. God is not trying to save all people and then failing, unable to bring all to salvation. God does not fail to accomplish his purpose. His absolute sovereignty guarantees his purpose will be accomplished. All those who are chosen by God will be saved.
Also those who are chosen by God will never lose their salvation. The perseverance of the saints is also guaranteed because of the absolute sovereignty of God. God preserves them so they can never lose their salvation. If salvation was dependent on the decision of the person then one could lose his salvation. Believers can be sure of their salvation because it is the work of God.
While God is absolutely sovereign in all things including salvation, people still have personal responsibility. People must respond in repentance and faith in Christ. They must believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. The sovereignty of God and the responsibility of man cannot be reconciled by the human mind. Both are true despite seeming to be contradictory.
Jesus states in this verse that all the Father gives him will come to him. In other words those chosen by God the Father will receive salvation in God the Son. This contradicts much of the teaching in the modern church which puts the choice ultimately in the hands of man. We are often taught that the person's decision is the ultimate determiner of salvation.
But this verse emphasizes the sovereignty of God in salvation. God chooses those who will be saved, he has predestined them for salvation (see Ephesians 1). All those who are chosen by God will respond with repentance and faith in Christ. God is not trying to save all people and then failing, unable to bring all to salvation. God does not fail to accomplish his purpose. His absolute sovereignty guarantees his purpose will be accomplished. All those who are chosen by God will be saved.
Also those who are chosen by God will never lose their salvation. The perseverance of the saints is also guaranteed because of the absolute sovereignty of God. God preserves them so they can never lose their salvation. If salvation was dependent on the decision of the person then one could lose his salvation. Believers can be sure of their salvation because it is the work of God.
While God is absolutely sovereign in all things including salvation, people still have personal responsibility. People must respond in repentance and faith in Christ. They must believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. The sovereignty of God and the responsibility of man cannot be reconciled by the human mind. Both are true despite seeming to be contradictory.
Monday, June 9, 2014
Truth With Love
The great Christian thinker Francis Schaeffer (1912-1984) always emphasized truth with love. This is exactly the right approach in dealing with all people, believers and unbelievers alike. We should confront people with the truth and reality because we have love for them and love for God. Love of God demands love of truth and love for people.
Unbelievers need to be confronted with the reality that God is there. It must be the God of the Bible (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) not just any god. People must be confronted with the truth of the Bible which is the Word of God. We must be willing to say that all religions are not true, only Christianity is the true religion. We must be willing to proclaim that Jesus is the only way to heaven and that all other roads lead to hell. We must be willing to confront various worldviews held by other people as false.
The reality that we have sinned against a holy God and therefore deserve to face his wrath is something that unbelievers need to be confronted with. People need to repent of their sins and trust in Christ alone for salvation. Also we must take a stand on issues such as abortion and homosexual marriage. Now matter how unpopular it may be we must stand for the truth. Of course our motivation for this should be love for people. We should desire that they be right with God and want to see them go to heaven and not hell.
Those inside the church also need to be confronted with the truth. All beliefs and lifestyles cannot be allowed. At some point we must draw the line. Those with unbiblical views and doctrines should be confronted. We must stand on the belief that the Bible is the literal, Word of God without error in all areas it speaks to. Also those living in open unrepentant sin must be confronted. Church discipline must be exercised and if necessary some people must be put out of the church. Of course church discipline is rarely used in the modern church. Any church wishing to be Biblical will have to use church discipline though. The purity of the church is very important. Of course it must be done in a loving way. The ultimate hope is that the person will repent of his sin and return to the Christ.
In our time few people are willing to confront others with the truth. It must be done if we love God and people. Our culture continues to decline because people are not willing to confront it with the truth. The modern church is weak because we are not willing to confront those inside it with the truth. Truth with love is the only hope for a dying culture.
Unbelievers need to be confronted with the reality that God is there. It must be the God of the Bible (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) not just any god. People must be confronted with the truth of the Bible which is the Word of God. We must be willing to say that all religions are not true, only Christianity is the true religion. We must be willing to proclaim that Jesus is the only way to heaven and that all other roads lead to hell. We must be willing to confront various worldviews held by other people as false.
The reality that we have sinned against a holy God and therefore deserve to face his wrath is something that unbelievers need to be confronted with. People need to repent of their sins and trust in Christ alone for salvation. Also we must take a stand on issues such as abortion and homosexual marriage. Now matter how unpopular it may be we must stand for the truth. Of course our motivation for this should be love for people. We should desire that they be right with God and want to see them go to heaven and not hell.
Those inside the church also need to be confronted with the truth. All beliefs and lifestyles cannot be allowed. At some point we must draw the line. Those with unbiblical views and doctrines should be confronted. We must stand on the belief that the Bible is the literal, Word of God without error in all areas it speaks to. Also those living in open unrepentant sin must be confronted. Church discipline must be exercised and if necessary some people must be put out of the church. Of course church discipline is rarely used in the modern church. Any church wishing to be Biblical will have to use church discipline though. The purity of the church is very important. Of course it must be done in a loving way. The ultimate hope is that the person will repent of his sin and return to the Christ.
In our time few people are willing to confront others with the truth. It must be done if we love God and people. Our culture continues to decline because people are not willing to confront it with the truth. The modern church is weak because we are not willing to confront those inside it with the truth. Truth with love is the only hope for a dying culture.
Monday, June 2, 2014
Why Do You Call Jesus Lord?
(Luke 6:46) "Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do what I tell you?" (ESV)
Jesus asked this question of those who were around him during the Sermon on the Plain (Luke 6:20-49). The Sermon on the Plain is similar to the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7). Preceding Luke 6:46 Jesus had said that you will know people by their fruits. True followers of his are characterized by obedience. If you do not recognize Jesus as Lord he is not your savior.
To be clear salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. It is not achieved by our good deeds or religious rituals. No one deserves to go to heaven because all have sinned and none are righteous (see Romans 3). Faith alone saves, but the faith that saves is never alone. In other words true faith produces good works and obedience. True Christians repent of their sins and turn to God.
It also must be pointed out that Jesus is Lord of all of life, not just a religious compartment. The home, workplace, social life, business, government, law, education, science, media, the arts, entertainment, and everything else belong under the Lordship of Christ.
Unfortunately there is an epidemic of people claiming to be Christians who reject the Lordship of Christ. Many reject the Bible as the literal Word of God, therefore not doing what Jesus tells them. They want to pick and choose what they will accept. They end up rejecting much of the teaching of the Bible which is the teaching of Jesus. Also there are many who live in disobedience while claiming to be Christians. They have lives full of immorality, profanity, blasphemy, drunkenness, greed, love of money, and just about anything else you can imagine. They are focused on the self and do not really care about others or God.
In conclusion many professing Christians are not true Christians. They are shown to be spiritually dead by their disobedience and rejection of the Lordship of Christ. Much of the blame for this condition belongs on the modern church which is not very serious. The modern church has weak teaching and no church discipline. It is almost as if the modern church itself is rejecting the Lordship of Christ.
Jesus asked this question of those who were around him during the Sermon on the Plain (Luke 6:20-49). The Sermon on the Plain is similar to the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7). Preceding Luke 6:46 Jesus had said that you will know people by their fruits. True followers of his are characterized by obedience. If you do not recognize Jesus as Lord he is not your savior.
To be clear salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. It is not achieved by our good deeds or religious rituals. No one deserves to go to heaven because all have sinned and none are righteous (see Romans 3). Faith alone saves, but the faith that saves is never alone. In other words true faith produces good works and obedience. True Christians repent of their sins and turn to God.
It also must be pointed out that Jesus is Lord of all of life, not just a religious compartment. The home, workplace, social life, business, government, law, education, science, media, the arts, entertainment, and everything else belong under the Lordship of Christ.
Unfortunately there is an epidemic of people claiming to be Christians who reject the Lordship of Christ. Many reject the Bible as the literal Word of God, therefore not doing what Jesus tells them. They want to pick and choose what they will accept. They end up rejecting much of the teaching of the Bible which is the teaching of Jesus. Also there are many who live in disobedience while claiming to be Christians. They have lives full of immorality, profanity, blasphemy, drunkenness, greed, love of money, and just about anything else you can imagine. They are focused on the self and do not really care about others or God.
In conclusion many professing Christians are not true Christians. They are shown to be spiritually dead by their disobedience and rejection of the Lordship of Christ. Much of the blame for this condition belongs on the modern church which is not very serious. The modern church has weak teaching and no church discipline. It is almost as if the modern church itself is rejecting the Lordship of Christ.
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