In modern Christianity we hear many different things proclaimed to us. Much of what we hear is self help, positive thinking, how to have a happy life, and general feel good messages. Unfortunately we often do no get actual Christianity. We are given a man centered message instead of a God centered message. We are told to reach up to God when in reality it is God who reaches down to us.
(1 Corinthians 15:3-4) "For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures," (ESV)
True, Biblical Christianity focuses on the cross and resurrection of Christ, it is the very heart of the matter. Adam sinned (Genesis 3) and we all inherited a fallen, sinful nature from him. We are all born sinners in rebellion against God. Sin brings about death, both physical and spiritual. Sin makes us enemies of God and we incur his wrath because of it. God is holy, he cannot tolerate sin, he hates it.
But God loved us and sent his Son to save his people from their sins. Jesus lived a perfect life without sin and died on the cross to pay for the sins of his people. He took God's wrath on himself in our place. Believers have the righteousness of Christ credited to them. Salvation is totally by the grace of God, we can do nothing to earn it. We are saved by faith alone in Christ alone.
Jesus was raised from the dead victorious over sin, death, and the devil. He was vindicated when God the Father accepted his sacrifice for our sins. The resurrection also proves that Jesus is God. If there was no resurrection there would be no Christianity. That is why people are skeptical and attack the doctrine so intensely.
Jesus appeared to over 500 people after he was raised from the dead. It is not likely that all these people would have the same dream or be delusional. All the early opponents of Christianity had to do was produce the body of Jesus. If the body could have been produced, Christianity would have been shown to be a hoax. But they could not produce the body because it was not there. Many of the early Christians died for their belief in the resurrection of Christ. People do not usually die for something they know is not true. Most of all we can believe the resurrection of Christ because the Bible tells us it occurred. The Bible is reliable, inerrant, and infallible. The most plausible explanation is that Jesus really did rise from the dead. Since the resurrection is true, Christianity is true.
Monday, April 4, 2016
Monday, February 29, 2016
Evangelicals And Donald Trump
Many evangelicals are supporting Donald Trump. So who are evangelicals? They are conservative Protestants, the Bible believing Christians. Some of the Trump support seems to be from the prosperity preachers but some of it is from mainstream evangelicals such as Jerry Falwell Jr., Robert Jeffress, and Pat Robertson. They have said that Trump inspires them and he will save the country. They contend that the usual political issues do not matter during this election cycle. Quite frankly evangelical support for Trump is baffling and stunning.
So what about Donald Trump's Christian claims? He says he is a Presbyterian who admired Norman Vincent Peale, a liberal positive thinker who was no evangelical. Mr. Trump runs casinos (his were the first to have strippers), he has bragged about sleeping with married women, and has even made weird statements about his own daughter. Trump is just as immoral as Bill Clinton, yet evangelicals who were outraged by Clinton give Trump a pass. Trump is also extremely profane and vulgar. He routinely disparages and demeans women and he even mocks disabled people. He is full of greed, a lover of money, a lover of self, and power hungry. Trump is a bully who tries to destroy all who disagree with him. He always slanders and belittles his opponents showing little love and respect for others.
In his own words Donald Trump says that he has never asked for forgiveness or seen the need to do so. He considers himself basically a good person who has done the best he can. The truth is that none are righteous and all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:10,23). Trump does not acknowledge that he is a sinner in need of forgiveness. He seem to have little understanding of Christianity itself. All true Christians realize they are sinners facing God's wrath and need forgiveness. They also know that salvation is found in Christ alone. Going by Trump's own words and actions he should be regarded as an unbeliever. The church he belongs to should exercise church discipline and remove him until he repents (See 1 Corinthians 5). Allowing people like Donald Trump to use the label "Christian" makes a mockery of Christianity.
There are similarities between Donald Trump and the prosperity preachers. They both love money, fame, and power. They also deceive people and lead them astray. They both make huge promises to people that they cannot fulfill. Both seem to have a special ability to make things right for people but of course they really do not. Both of them receive blind allegiance from their followers.
The Trump disciples are like mindless zombies who are under his spell. They give him blind allegiance and are led by pure emotion. They have rejected all reason and logic. They believe anything he says, after all they get the truth from "the Donald". How often has Trump denied something he has previously said? He constantly spreads falsehood about all who disagree with him. In reality Trump is not trustworthy and he is as dishonest as Hillary Clinton.
The Trump disciples remind me of the Obama supporters who thought he was a savior. The Trump disciples have an absolute devotion to him which borders on idolatry. This is very frightening for our country and it brings about the wrath of God.
Could evangelical support for Donald Trump be the fruit of a weak modern church? Does it speak to the sad state of the modern evangelical movement? Unfortunately the average Christian knows little theology and does not have a Biblical worldview. Modern evangelicalism has been said to be a mile wide and an inch deep. There is little serious thought from modern evangelicals and they are led by emotionalism. But what about someone like Robert Jeffress? He is usually reliable, definitely knows theology, and has a Biblical worldview. It is hard to understand but perhaps Dr. Jeffress has allowed desperation and emotion to cloud his judgment.
Evangelicals of all people should know that Trump is not their savior. He will not save our country because he cannot save our country. No politician can save
us. Our real problems are not political but are moral and spiritual. Evangelicals supporting Trump should be ashamed of themselves. The only hope for saving our country is turning to Jesus, not Donald Trump or any other politician.
So what about Donald Trump's Christian claims? He says he is a Presbyterian who admired Norman Vincent Peale, a liberal positive thinker who was no evangelical. Mr. Trump runs casinos (his were the first to have strippers), he has bragged about sleeping with married women, and has even made weird statements about his own daughter. Trump is just as immoral as Bill Clinton, yet evangelicals who were outraged by Clinton give Trump a pass. Trump is also extremely profane and vulgar. He routinely disparages and demeans women and he even mocks disabled people. He is full of greed, a lover of money, a lover of self, and power hungry. Trump is a bully who tries to destroy all who disagree with him. He always slanders and belittles his opponents showing little love and respect for others.
In his own words Donald Trump says that he has never asked for forgiveness or seen the need to do so. He considers himself basically a good person who has done the best he can. The truth is that none are righteous and all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:10,23). Trump does not acknowledge that he is a sinner in need of forgiveness. He seem to have little understanding of Christianity itself. All true Christians realize they are sinners facing God's wrath and need forgiveness. They also know that salvation is found in Christ alone. Going by Trump's own words and actions he should be regarded as an unbeliever. The church he belongs to should exercise church discipline and remove him until he repents (See 1 Corinthians 5). Allowing people like Donald Trump to use the label "Christian" makes a mockery of Christianity.
There are similarities between Donald Trump and the prosperity preachers. They both love money, fame, and power. They also deceive people and lead them astray. They both make huge promises to people that they cannot fulfill. Both seem to have a special ability to make things right for people but of course they really do not. Both of them receive blind allegiance from their followers.
The Trump disciples are like mindless zombies who are under his spell. They give him blind allegiance and are led by pure emotion. They have rejected all reason and logic. They believe anything he says, after all they get the truth from "the Donald". How often has Trump denied something he has previously said? He constantly spreads falsehood about all who disagree with him. In reality Trump is not trustworthy and he is as dishonest as Hillary Clinton.
The Trump disciples remind me of the Obama supporters who thought he was a savior. The Trump disciples have an absolute devotion to him which borders on idolatry. This is very frightening for our country and it brings about the wrath of God.
Could evangelical support for Donald Trump be the fruit of a weak modern church? Does it speak to the sad state of the modern evangelical movement? Unfortunately the average Christian knows little theology and does not have a Biblical worldview. Modern evangelicalism has been said to be a mile wide and an inch deep. There is little serious thought from modern evangelicals and they are led by emotionalism. But what about someone like Robert Jeffress? He is usually reliable, definitely knows theology, and has a Biblical worldview. It is hard to understand but perhaps Dr. Jeffress has allowed desperation and emotion to cloud his judgment.
Evangelicals of all people should know that Trump is not their savior. He will not save our country because he cannot save our country. No politician can save
us. Our real problems are not political but are moral and spiritual. Evangelicals supporting Trump should be ashamed of themselves. The only hope for saving our country is turning to Jesus, not Donald Trump or any other politician.
Monday, February 15, 2016
Trump, Obama, And The Political Problem
So what is the real problem in American politics? Some believe the government is not doing enough, there is just too much gridlock. Some believe the government is just being run by the wrong people. Still others think the wrong political ideology is prevailing.
Many Republicans think the problem with Barack Obama is that he lacks experience and simply does not know what he is doing. But this is not the case, President Obama knows exactly what he is doing. He is transforming America along his Leftist/Marxist worldview. The problem with Obama is not that he is incompetent but that he is implementing the wrong political ideology.
Meanwhile many supporters of Donald Trump think that we just have the wrong people running the government. The people in charge are just a bunch of losers, instead we need a winner like "The Donald". We just need Trump to manage the bureaucracy. The Trump followers want him to use the levers of government to get what they want. Supporters of Trump are not ideological conservatives. No committed ideological conservative would support Trump. Of course Donald Trump is not conservative, he seems to have no solid political principles. Though he is generally secular and progressive or statist in his political views.
The real problem we face in the political realm is the socialist/progressive agenda that has dominated our political sphere over the last century. From Franklin Roosevelt's "New Deal" to Lyndon Johnson's "Great Society" to "Obamacare", the march toward socialism has continued. Government has continued to get bigger, gaining more power and becoming more intrusive. From retirement to healthcare to welfare to education to the economy, government has gotten involved in all kinds of things it should not be involved in. We have adopted the government as god philosophy.
The solution to our political problem is a radical reversal in our guiding political ideology. We need to adopt a constitutional conservative political philosophy. We need a return to small, limited government. We must stop looking to the government to solve all of our problems. We must stop worshiping the government because it is not God.
Unfortunately most people do not really think about things they just feel and adopt what sounds good. Their decisions are based purely on emotion. Obama was not our savior and Trump will not be our savior. Those looking for a savior need to look beyond the political realm to Jesus Christ, the only savior.
Many Republicans think the problem with Barack Obama is that he lacks experience and simply does not know what he is doing. But this is not the case, President Obama knows exactly what he is doing. He is transforming America along his Leftist/Marxist worldview. The problem with Obama is not that he is incompetent but that he is implementing the wrong political ideology.
Meanwhile many supporters of Donald Trump think that we just have the wrong people running the government. The people in charge are just a bunch of losers, instead we need a winner like "The Donald". We just need Trump to manage the bureaucracy. The Trump followers want him to use the levers of government to get what they want. Supporters of Trump are not ideological conservatives. No committed ideological conservative would support Trump. Of course Donald Trump is not conservative, he seems to have no solid political principles. Though he is generally secular and progressive or statist in his political views.
The real problem we face in the political realm is the socialist/progressive agenda that has dominated our political sphere over the last century. From Franklin Roosevelt's "New Deal" to Lyndon Johnson's "Great Society" to "Obamacare", the march toward socialism has continued. Government has continued to get bigger, gaining more power and becoming more intrusive. From retirement to healthcare to welfare to education to the economy, government has gotten involved in all kinds of things it should not be involved in. We have adopted the government as god philosophy.
The solution to our political problem is a radical reversal in our guiding political ideology. We need to adopt a constitutional conservative political philosophy. We need a return to small, limited government. We must stop looking to the government to solve all of our problems. We must stop worshiping the government because it is not God.
Unfortunately most people do not really think about things they just feel and adopt what sounds good. Their decisions are based purely on emotion. Obama was not our savior and Trump will not be our savior. Those looking for a savior need to look beyond the political realm to Jesus Christ, the only savior.
Monday, February 8, 2016
(Psalm 46) A Mighty Fortress Is Our God
Martin Luther's famous hymn, "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God" was based on Psalm 46. Psalm 46 teaches us to trust in God for protection and security in the face of instability from nature and the nations. The Psalm was written to the nation of Israel and now applies to the church.
(Psalm 46:1) "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." (ESV)
God's people are secure in times of upheaval because God is our refuge and strength no matter what the situation.
(Psalm 46:2-3) Even with the instability of nature in things such as earthquakes and floods we should not fear because God is our refuge and strength.
(Psalm 46:4-5) God provides security and stability to his people no matter what the threat.
(Psalm 46:6-7) Even when nations rage and kingdoms totter, God is sovereign over all things, so we should not fear.
(Psalm 46:8-11) God will ultimately bring peace to all the nations. It will be fully realized in the new heavens and new earth.
(Psalm 46:10a) "Be still and know that I am God." (ESV)
We should step back and realize that God is God.
(Psalm 46:11) "The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress." (ESV)
Whether we encounter earthquakes or floods, war or terrorism, we should realize God is sovereign (in total control) and omnipotent (all powerful) and trust in him.
(Psalm 46:1) "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." (ESV)
God's people are secure in times of upheaval because God is our refuge and strength no matter what the situation.
(Psalm 46:2-3) Even with the instability of nature in things such as earthquakes and floods we should not fear because God is our refuge and strength.
(Psalm 46:4-5) God provides security and stability to his people no matter what the threat.
(Psalm 46:6-7) Even when nations rage and kingdoms totter, God is sovereign over all things, so we should not fear.
(Psalm 46:8-11) God will ultimately bring peace to all the nations. It will be fully realized in the new heavens and new earth.
(Psalm 46:10a) "Be still and know that I am God." (ESV)
We should step back and realize that God is God.
(Psalm 46:11) "The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress." (ESV)
Whether we encounter earthquakes or floods, war or terrorism, we should realize God is sovereign (in total control) and omnipotent (all powerful) and trust in him.
Monday, January 25, 2016
Donald Trump And Conservatives
Businessman and reality show star, Donald Trump is leading in most polls in the Republican primary and he gets endless media coverage. Many conservatives including the Tea Party and evangelicals are supporting him. After all Trump will take care of America's enemies, fix the economy, stop illegal immigration, and make America great again. Some people have even compared Donald Trump to Ronald Reagan.
In reality Donald Trump is no conservative. He is actually a populist and a statist. Even many prominent conservatives have come out against Trump. He supports government run health care, opposes entitlement reform, and will increase taxes and regulations. Trump has even donated money to people like Hillary Clinton, Harry Reid, and Nancy Pelosi. Trump says he was just playing the political game. It sounds like Trump was buying favoritism for himself. It seems Trump is actually part of the broken political system he rails against. Trump is the problem, not the solution.
Donald Trump seems to have little regard for the Constitution (Does this remind you of anyone else?). He promises to do all kinds of things regardless of whether they are constitutional or not. Conservatives have been outraged over Barack Obama bypassing Congress with executive orders. Yet they embrace Trump when he promises to do the same sort of thing. No constitutional, conservative can support Donald Trump.
The comparison of Donald Trump to Ronald Reagan is absurd. Look at Reagan in the 1960's and 1970's and then look at Trump over the last couple of decades. Reagan was conservative and Trump is liberal. The comparison of Trump to Reagan shows great disrespect to the legacy of Ronald Reagan. Donald Trump you are no Ronald Reagan!
Many in the Tea Party are supporting Donald Trump. Tea Party favorite, Sarah Palin has endorsed Trump. You have one celebrity endorsing another celebrity. Palin saw an opportunity and hopped aboard the Trump train. The Tea Party has opposed political authoritarianism yet many of it's members have embraced the authoritarian, Donald Trump. They vehemently opposed Obamacare, yet they support Trump who favors a single payer healthcare system. The Tea Party talks of it's love for the liberty and limited government promoted by the Founding Fathers. Yet it seems ready to bring in the reign of King Donald. Trump is not a conservative and is definitely not a libertarian. Much of the Tea Party has sold out.
Donald Trump also has support from many evangelicals. Recently at Liberty University, Trump read from Two Corinthians. "The Donald" continues to demonstrate his ignorance of all things Biblical. Previously Trump has admitted that he has never asked for forgiveness, could not name a favorite Bible verse, and expressed his great admiration for Norman Vincent Peale (a liberal clergyman). Never mind his support of abortion (including partial birth abortion) and homosexuality. Never mind that he operates casinos. Never mind that he is arrogant, self centered, and profane. Evangelicals supporting Trump are simply divorced from reality.
Donald Trump also has no foreign policy experience. He has little knowledge in this area and has said that he gets his information from Sunday talk shows. Does anybody think that operating casinos qualifies one to be Commander-In-Chief?
Trump is full of empty promises. Does anyone really think that he will build a wall on the Mexican border and have the Mexicans pay for it? Donald Trump is nothing more than a populist, demagogue who stirs up trouble and tells people what they want to hear.
Conservatives supporting Donald Trump have abandoned their principles. One wonders if these people ever held to a conservative political philosophy to begin with. How could they support a liberal, populist, statist? Support for Trump is based on emotion and not on reason. Trump recently remarked that he could shoot someone and would not lose a vote. The scary thing is that this statement may actually be true. No constitutional, conservative can support Donald Trump. Conservatives, wake up!
In reality Donald Trump is no conservative. He is actually a populist and a statist. Even many prominent conservatives have come out against Trump. He supports government run health care, opposes entitlement reform, and will increase taxes and regulations. Trump has even donated money to people like Hillary Clinton, Harry Reid, and Nancy Pelosi. Trump says he was just playing the political game. It sounds like Trump was buying favoritism for himself. It seems Trump is actually part of the broken political system he rails against. Trump is the problem, not the solution.
Donald Trump seems to have little regard for the Constitution (Does this remind you of anyone else?). He promises to do all kinds of things regardless of whether they are constitutional or not. Conservatives have been outraged over Barack Obama bypassing Congress with executive orders. Yet they embrace Trump when he promises to do the same sort of thing. No constitutional, conservative can support Donald Trump.
The comparison of Donald Trump to Ronald Reagan is absurd. Look at Reagan in the 1960's and 1970's and then look at Trump over the last couple of decades. Reagan was conservative and Trump is liberal. The comparison of Trump to Reagan shows great disrespect to the legacy of Ronald Reagan. Donald Trump you are no Ronald Reagan!
Many in the Tea Party are supporting Donald Trump. Tea Party favorite, Sarah Palin has endorsed Trump. You have one celebrity endorsing another celebrity. Palin saw an opportunity and hopped aboard the Trump train. The Tea Party has opposed political authoritarianism yet many of it's members have embraced the authoritarian, Donald Trump. They vehemently opposed Obamacare, yet they support Trump who favors a single payer healthcare system. The Tea Party talks of it's love for the liberty and limited government promoted by the Founding Fathers. Yet it seems ready to bring in the reign of King Donald. Trump is not a conservative and is definitely not a libertarian. Much of the Tea Party has sold out.
Donald Trump also has support from many evangelicals. Recently at Liberty University, Trump read from Two Corinthians. "The Donald" continues to demonstrate his ignorance of all things Biblical. Previously Trump has admitted that he has never asked for forgiveness, could not name a favorite Bible verse, and expressed his great admiration for Norman Vincent Peale (a liberal clergyman). Never mind his support of abortion (including partial birth abortion) and homosexuality. Never mind that he operates casinos. Never mind that he is arrogant, self centered, and profane. Evangelicals supporting Trump are simply divorced from reality.
Donald Trump also has no foreign policy experience. He has little knowledge in this area and has said that he gets his information from Sunday talk shows. Does anybody think that operating casinos qualifies one to be Commander-In-Chief?
Trump is full of empty promises. Does anyone really think that he will build a wall on the Mexican border and have the Mexicans pay for it? Donald Trump is nothing more than a populist, demagogue who stirs up trouble and tells people what they want to hear.
Conservatives supporting Donald Trump have abandoned their principles. One wonders if these people ever held to a conservative political philosophy to begin with. How could they support a liberal, populist, statist? Support for Trump is based on emotion and not on reason. Trump recently remarked that he could shoot someone and would not lose a vote. The scary thing is that this statement may actually be true. No constitutional, conservative can support Donald Trump. Conservatives, wake up!
Monday, January 11, 2016
Democrats And Socialists
What is the difference between a Democrat and a Socialist? Presidential candidate, Hillary Clinton and DNC Chairperson, Debbie Wasserman Schultz both struggled to answer the question. The reason neither could come up with an answer is that there is no difference between a Democrat and a Socialist. Hillary Clinton characterized herself as a progressive. What is a progressive? A progressive is a socialist.
The modern Democrat Party has become purely socialistic. It has really been on that track for the past century. Prominent Democrat leaders who led the way to socialism include Woodrow Wilson, Franklin Roosevelt, Lyndon Johnson, and Barack Obama. Democrats have constantly increased the size of government. It has become more and more involved in every area of life. Modern liberalism follows the teachings of Karl Marx.
The Democrats push higher taxes, more government spending, and more regulation. They seem to want government in control of every area of life. They think government elites can micromanage all things because they are superior and know more than the rest of us. Democrats believe that all money belongs to the government, not to the people who earn it. It is there for the government to redistribute as it sees fit.
Socialism has never worked and never will. Government cannot do all things, in fact it has no business being involved in most of the things it does. The government should defend the country, protect citizens, maintain order, promote justice, and restrain evil. Government should do the things it is meant to do and then leave us alone.
The modern Democrat Party has become purely socialistic. It has really been on that track for the past century. Prominent Democrat leaders who led the way to socialism include Woodrow Wilson, Franklin Roosevelt, Lyndon Johnson, and Barack Obama. Democrats have constantly increased the size of government. It has become more and more involved in every area of life. Modern liberalism follows the teachings of Karl Marx.
The Democrats push higher taxes, more government spending, and more regulation. They seem to want government in control of every area of life. They think government elites can micromanage all things because they are superior and know more than the rest of us. Democrats believe that all money belongs to the government, not to the people who earn it. It is there for the government to redistribute as it sees fit.
Socialism has never worked and never will. Government cannot do all things, in fact it has no business being involved in most of the things it does. The government should defend the country, protect citizens, maintain order, promote justice, and restrain evil. Government should do the things it is meant to do and then leave us alone.
Monday, January 4, 2016
Star Wars, The Force, And Christianity
With the release of a new film Star Wars has reemerged with great popularity. The Star Wars films have generally been family-friendly containing little profanity and immorality. Some Christians have even compared "the force" in Star Wars to the Holy Spirit. But is this an accurate or wise comparison?
Actually the concept of "the force" has much more in common with Eastern or New Age religion than it does with Christianity. The "force" in Star Wars is an impersonal force that can be tapped into to be used for good or evil. Power is achieved by a blend of discipline and mysticism.
On the other hand the Holy Spirit is a person with intellect, will, and emotions. The Holy Spirit is part of the Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). The Trinity is one God in three distinct persons. The Holy Spirit is equally God with the Father and Son, he has all the attributes of God. The Holy Spirit is only good and not evil. The Holy Spirit is sovereign, leads people to the truth, and convicts them of sin. All true Christians have the Holy Spirit, he is our teacher and the Bible is his textbook.
So comparing the Holy Spirit to "the force" is just plain wrong. They are not the same and are in fact very different. Star Wars does depict good and evil and good is portrayed favorably while evil is portrayed unfavorably. In modern Hollywood this is often not the case. Christians need to be discerning when they watch a film like Star Wars. They need to develop a Christian worldview so they will be able to tell if something is in line with Biblical teaching or not.
Actually the concept of "the force" has much more in common with Eastern or New Age religion than it does with Christianity. The "force" in Star Wars is an impersonal force that can be tapped into to be used for good or evil. Power is achieved by a blend of discipline and mysticism.
On the other hand the Holy Spirit is a person with intellect, will, and emotions. The Holy Spirit is part of the Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). The Trinity is one God in three distinct persons. The Holy Spirit is equally God with the Father and Son, he has all the attributes of God. The Holy Spirit is only good and not evil. The Holy Spirit is sovereign, leads people to the truth, and convicts them of sin. All true Christians have the Holy Spirit, he is our teacher and the Bible is his textbook.
So comparing the Holy Spirit to "the force" is just plain wrong. They are not the same and are in fact very different. Star Wars does depict good and evil and good is portrayed favorably while evil is portrayed unfavorably. In modern Hollywood this is often not the case. Christians need to be discerning when they watch a film like Star Wars. They need to develop a Christian worldview so they will be able to tell if something is in line with Biblical teaching or not.
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