Think Better, Live Better is the title of a recent book by Joel Osteen. It is not a bad title because it does contain some truth in it. Of course Osteen encourages us to think positive and rid ourselves of all negativity. We might call this teaching Osteenism. But is the teaching of Osteen in line with the teaching of the Bible. We will compare Osteenism with the Biblical worldview.
First we will look at the view of God. If you do not have an accurate view of God you will not have an accurate view of yourself. The God of Osteenism basically exists for you. He is there to make you happy and help you achieve health, victory, and success. This God is kind of a life coach who makes no demands on you. He is not a judge and you do not need to worry about his wrath.
In contrast the Biblical view of God is very different. God is Trinity (3 persons of 1 essence), he is the infinite, personal Creator. He is sovereign, holy, and the ultimate authority. He is loving and merciful but also displays his wrath against sin and judges you. God is more concerned about your holiness than your happiness. In the Biblical view we exist for God and our ultimate purpose is to glorify him.
Next we will look at the view of man and his problem. In Osteenism the big problem is that we have to much negativity and are just not thinking positive. If you start thinking good, positive thoughts about yourself it will become reality (kind of like name it claim it). Joel Osteen actually says there is nothing wrong with you.
In sharp contrast the Biblical view says there most definitely is something wrong with you, it is called sin. We were born sinful (Psalm 51:5), we are not righteous (Romans 3:10), and all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). God is holy and therefore hates sin. Our sin makes us objects of his wrath (Ephesians 2:3). In contrast to Joel Osteen's view of man as basically good the Apostle Paul described himself as "wretched man that I am" (Romans 7:24) and "the chief of sinners" (1 Timothy 1:10).
Finally we look at the solution to man's problem. In Osteenism the solution comes from within yourself. You must stop all the negativity and just think those positive thoughts. Then you will achieve that happy, victorious life. You will have your best life now.
On the other hand the Biblical view presents a much different solution because the problem is entirely different. The solution is not found within ourselves but from outside of ourselves. We are all sinners in need of a Savior. God sent his Son, Jesus to save his people from their sins. Jesus lived a perfect life to provide righteousness for us and he died on the cross to pay for our sins. He was raised from the dead victorious over sin, death, and the devil. Those who repent of their sins and trust in Christ alone for salvation will be saved and go to heaven.
It should be quite obvious that Osteenism and the Biblical view are totally different. Those strictly adhering to Osteenism will be led astray and on the road to hell. Joel Osteen is preaching a different gospel (Galatians 1:6-10). He simply tells people what they want to hear (2 Timothy 4:3-4). The true church must call out Joel Osteen for what he really is, a false teacher peddling a false gospel.
Monday, June 26, 2017
Monday, June 12, 2017
Bernie Sanders Attacks Christians
Bernie Sanders is a U.S. Senator from Vermont and of course was a Democrat presidential candidate. The intolerance of this tolerant man was astounding.
The incident occurred recently in a hearing for Russell Vought, who was nominated for Deputy Director of the Office of Management and Budget. Bernie Sanders called Vought Islamophobic and hateful for comments he had previously made. Vought had pointed out that Muslims do not know the true God and stand condemned because they reject Jesus who is the Son of God. Sanders then asked Vought if he thought his statement was Islamophobic and if he believed Muslims would be condemned. Sanders also asked him if he thought Jews would be condemned. Russell Vought tried to explain to Sanders that these were simply Christian beliefs, the teaching of the Bible. But Bernie Sanders would never allow him to finish his explanation, continually cutting him off.
Sanders concluded that Vought was unfit for public office and that there was no place for these beliefs in the public square. Bernie Sanders apparently believes that no Bible believing Christian should be allowed in the public arena.
Sanders is of course a socialist and a secularist. If you do not tow the secular line you will be silenced. All religions are not the same and they do not worship the same God. Jesus is either God or he is not God. It has to be one or the other. Of course Sanders does not care about the Bible or the U.S. Constitution for that matter, he rejects both of them. He imposes a religious test for government officials and is more than willing to stifle religious liberty. Bernie Sanders is actually practicing Christophobia.
Sanders colleague Senator Christoper Van Hollen, a Democrat from Maryland also chimed in on the matter. Van Hollen said he was a Christian and that he thought part of being a Christian was recognizing that there were many paths to God. Van Hollen also concluded that Vought was unfit for public office. Of course Van Hollen holds to theological liberalism.
Theological liberals embrace secularism while trying to retain the Christian label. As J. Gresham Machen said, liberalism is not Christianity at all. If there were many paths to God, Christianity would make no sense. If there are many ways to heaven then Christ died on the cross for no purpose.
This is the view of two prominent Democrat leaders. Technically Sanders is an Independent but for all practical purposes he is a Democrat. The Left is only tolerant of those with whom it agrees. Sanders actually had significant support during his presidential campaign especially among millennials. This is very frightening. Why would any Christian support the Democrat Party?
(John 14:6) "Jesus said to him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (ESV)
(Acts 4:12) "And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." (ESV)
The incident occurred recently in a hearing for Russell Vought, who was nominated for Deputy Director of the Office of Management and Budget. Bernie Sanders called Vought Islamophobic and hateful for comments he had previously made. Vought had pointed out that Muslims do not know the true God and stand condemned because they reject Jesus who is the Son of God. Sanders then asked Vought if he thought his statement was Islamophobic and if he believed Muslims would be condemned. Sanders also asked him if he thought Jews would be condemned. Russell Vought tried to explain to Sanders that these were simply Christian beliefs, the teaching of the Bible. But Bernie Sanders would never allow him to finish his explanation, continually cutting him off.
Sanders concluded that Vought was unfit for public office and that there was no place for these beliefs in the public square. Bernie Sanders apparently believes that no Bible believing Christian should be allowed in the public arena.
Sanders is of course a socialist and a secularist. If you do not tow the secular line you will be silenced. All religions are not the same and they do not worship the same God. Jesus is either God or he is not God. It has to be one or the other. Of course Sanders does not care about the Bible or the U.S. Constitution for that matter, he rejects both of them. He imposes a religious test for government officials and is more than willing to stifle religious liberty. Bernie Sanders is actually practicing Christophobia.
Sanders colleague Senator Christoper Van Hollen, a Democrat from Maryland also chimed in on the matter. Van Hollen said he was a Christian and that he thought part of being a Christian was recognizing that there were many paths to God. Van Hollen also concluded that Vought was unfit for public office. Of course Van Hollen holds to theological liberalism.
Theological liberals embrace secularism while trying to retain the Christian label. As J. Gresham Machen said, liberalism is not Christianity at all. If there were many paths to God, Christianity would make no sense. If there are many ways to heaven then Christ died on the cross for no purpose.
This is the view of two prominent Democrat leaders. Technically Sanders is an Independent but for all practical purposes he is a Democrat. The Left is only tolerant of those with whom it agrees. Sanders actually had significant support during his presidential campaign especially among millennials. This is very frightening. Why would any Christian support the Democrat Party?
(John 14:6) "Jesus said to him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (ESV)
(Acts 4:12) "And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." (ESV)
Monday, June 5, 2017
Jesus Is God (The Gospel Of John)
The Gospel of John proclaims Jesus is God. Throughout it is very strong on the deity of Christ. We will look at a few verses from John's Gospel.
(John 1:1-2) "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God." (ESV)
"The Word" relates to the Old Testament in the sense that God spoke, he spoke things into existence. He is a personal God. "The Word" is also superior to the Greek concept of an impersonal force that orders the universe.
The Word is Jesus. He has existed eternally, has a personal relationship with God the Father, and Jesus is God. We see that two different persons are referred to as God. We begin to see the teaching of the Trinity. There is one God in three persons. That is three persons of one essence (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). The Jehovah's Witnesses translate the phrase as "was a god" instead of "was God". But the context clearly shows that the correct translation is "was God".
(John 1:3) "All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made." (ESV)
Jesus was not created, all things were made through him. All that exists besides God was created. Jesus is the Creator, therefore he is God.
(John 1:18) "No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known." (ESV)
In this verse God is spoken of as two persons just as he was in John 1:1. We see both the Father and the Son. Some translations have "only Son" instead of "only God" but "only God" is found in the earliest manuscripts. Jesus became man (see John 1:14), he has most fully revealed God to us. Jesus is both fully God and fully man.
(John 20:28) "Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!" (ESV)
Thomas had doubted the resurrection of Christ but when Jesus appeared to him and showed him the marks in his hands and side he proclaimed, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus accepts being called Lord and God because that is who he is. This verse is one of the strongest affirmations of the deity of Christ in the New Testament. Some cults who deny the deity of Christ have tried to say it was just a statement of astonishment by Thomas. Basically saying that Thomas was taking the name of the Lord in vain. But this interpretation is of course nonsense. John's purpose in writing the book is that others will proclaim Jesus is their Lord and God.
(John 20:31) "but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name." (ESV)
(John 1:1-2) "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God." (ESV)
"The Word" relates to the Old Testament in the sense that God spoke, he spoke things into existence. He is a personal God. "The Word" is also superior to the Greek concept of an impersonal force that orders the universe.
The Word is Jesus. He has existed eternally, has a personal relationship with God the Father, and Jesus is God. We see that two different persons are referred to as God. We begin to see the teaching of the Trinity. There is one God in three persons. That is three persons of one essence (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). The Jehovah's Witnesses translate the phrase as "was a god" instead of "was God". But the context clearly shows that the correct translation is "was God".
(John 1:3) "All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made." (ESV)
Jesus was not created, all things were made through him. All that exists besides God was created. Jesus is the Creator, therefore he is God.
(John 1:18) "No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known." (ESV)
In this verse God is spoken of as two persons just as he was in John 1:1. We see both the Father and the Son. Some translations have "only Son" instead of "only God" but "only God" is found in the earliest manuscripts. Jesus became man (see John 1:14), he has most fully revealed God to us. Jesus is both fully God and fully man.
(John 20:28) "Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!" (ESV)
Thomas had doubted the resurrection of Christ but when Jesus appeared to him and showed him the marks in his hands and side he proclaimed, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus accepts being called Lord and God because that is who he is. This verse is one of the strongest affirmations of the deity of Christ in the New Testament. Some cults who deny the deity of Christ have tried to say it was just a statement of astonishment by Thomas. Basically saying that Thomas was taking the name of the Lord in vain. But this interpretation is of course nonsense. John's purpose in writing the book is that others will proclaim Jesus is their Lord and God.
(John 20:31) "but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name." (ESV)
Monday, May 29, 2017
Two Books On The Trinity
Non-Christians and Christians alike often seem to be confused about the doctrine of the Trinity. It is a foundational and distinctive teaching of Christianity. Most false religions deny the Biblical teaching on the Trinity. So here are two excellent books on the Trinity.
The Forgotten Trinity by James R. White
Delighting In The Trinity by Michael Reeves
The Forgotten Trinity by James R. White
Delighting In The Trinity by Michael Reeves
Monday, May 15, 2017
Should The Bible Be Taught In Public Schools?
The typical evangelical says without hesitation that yes indeed the Bible should be taught in public schools. But have we really thought this through? Do we really want unbelievers teaching the Bible? If the Bible is taught in public schools will they even get it right? Have we ever considered that a major problem might be government schools in the first place?
If the Bible was taught in public schools they would not get it right. They would not teach it as true, the literal Word of God. They would teach it as mere literature and of course not true. The Bible is literature but it is far more than that. It is the very Word of God: authoritative, inerrant, infallible, and sufficient.
Why do we think government schools are a good idea in the first place? The government should have no control over what children are taught. Do we really want government run Bible teaching? Better solutions would be private schools and home schools.
The government has no business being involved in education at all. In private schools and home schools individuals and not the government would be in control of what is taught. There the Bible could be taught as truth, the Word of God. The entire school curriculum could be taught from a Christian worldview. This would be a much better alternative than the current mess we have with the public schools.
But is this even financially possible? If Christians used their money more wisely it might be. It might require us to stop living the life of luxury and actually make sacrifices.
We must also point out that instead of looking to the public schools, parents and churches should do a much better job of teaching the Bible to children. After all we are not exactly overrun with Bible scholars.
If the Bible was taught in public schools they would not get it right. They would not teach it as true, the literal Word of God. They would teach it as mere literature and of course not true. The Bible is literature but it is far more than that. It is the very Word of God: authoritative, inerrant, infallible, and sufficient.
Why do we think government schools are a good idea in the first place? The government should have no control over what children are taught. Do we really want government run Bible teaching? Better solutions would be private schools and home schools.
The government has no business being involved in education at all. In private schools and home schools individuals and not the government would be in control of what is taught. There the Bible could be taught as truth, the Word of God. The entire school curriculum could be taught from a Christian worldview. This would be a much better alternative than the current mess we have with the public schools.
But is this even financially possible? If Christians used their money more wisely it might be. It might require us to stop living the life of luxury and actually make sacrifices.
We must also point out that instead of looking to the public schools, parents and churches should do a much better job of teaching the Bible to children. After all we are not exactly overrun with Bible scholars.
Monday, May 8, 2017
When Atheists Call Christians Hypocrites
The charge of hypocrisy is sometimes leveled
against Christians by atheists. Christians are accused of not living what they say they believe. We must point out that not all professing Christians are true Christians. Also, most Christians have never claimed to be without sin. But it is true that even true Christians do not keep the law of God. This is also kind of the point of Christianity because no one is capable of keeping the law of God (See Romans 3:23). We are all sinners in need of a Savior. Salvation is found in Christ alone.
But we actually have a bigger problem than Christian hypocrisy. The atheist believes hypocrisy is wrong but he has no basis for even believing hypocrisy is wrong. In atheism God is not there so there is no ultimate authority or absolute standard by which to make a judgment. There is no ultimate authority to define right and wrong or good and evil. The atheist simply has no foundation on which to build a system of morality.
When the atheist refers to hypocrisy as wrong he is not living out his atheism consistently. Atheism cannot be lived out consistently, it is impossible to do because it does not fit reality. In order for the atheist to accuse the Christian of hypocrisy he must step out of his atheistic worldview and borrow from the Christian worldview.
So when the atheist charges the Christian with hypocrisy he ends up refuting his own atheism. The atheistic worldview is inconsistent, contradictory, and unlivable. It is self refuting and therefore proven to be a false worldview.
On the other hand the Christian worldview has a basis for calling hypocrisy wrong. It is the law of God. (Exodus 20:16) "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor" (ESV). The Christian worldview is consistent, coherent, non-contradictory, and livable. The Christian worldview is proven to be the true worldview.
against Christians by atheists. Christians are accused of not living what they say they believe. We must point out that not all professing Christians are true Christians. Also, most Christians have never claimed to be without sin. But it is true that even true Christians do not keep the law of God. This is also kind of the point of Christianity because no one is capable of keeping the law of God (See Romans 3:23). We are all sinners in need of a Savior. Salvation is found in Christ alone.
But we actually have a bigger problem than Christian hypocrisy. The atheist believes hypocrisy is wrong but he has no basis for even believing hypocrisy is wrong. In atheism God is not there so there is no ultimate authority or absolute standard by which to make a judgment. There is no ultimate authority to define right and wrong or good and evil. The atheist simply has no foundation on which to build a system of morality.
When the atheist refers to hypocrisy as wrong he is not living out his atheism consistently. Atheism cannot be lived out consistently, it is impossible to do because it does not fit reality. In order for the atheist to accuse the Christian of hypocrisy he must step out of his atheistic worldview and borrow from the Christian worldview.
So when the atheist charges the Christian with hypocrisy he ends up refuting his own atheism. The atheistic worldview is inconsistent, contradictory, and unlivable. It is self refuting and therefore proven to be a false worldview.
On the other hand the Christian worldview has a basis for calling hypocrisy wrong. It is the law of God. (Exodus 20:16) "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor" (ESV). The Christian worldview is consistent, coherent, non-contradictory, and livable. The Christian worldview is proven to be the true worldview.
Monday, May 1, 2017
Revelation 3:20 (In Context)
(Revelation 3:20) "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me." (ESV)
This verse is often interpreted as Jesus knocking at the door of a person's heart trying to come in. But this is actually an example of bad theology being read into the text.
Revelation 3:20 is part of the letter written to the church at Laodicea (Revelation 3:14-22). Revelation Chapters 2-3 contain letters written to seven churches. Laodicea is the only one that is not commended by Jesus for anything. Jesus rebukes the church telling them they are neither hot or cold but lukewarm. He then tells them he will spit them out of his mouth.
The Laodiceans were not hot or cold, they would not reject Jesus outright or embrace him with zeal. They were complacent and maybe just nominal Christians. Jesus says he will spit them out of his mouth, in other words this kind of "Christianity" makes Jesus sick. The church at Laodicea is told to be zealous and repent.
In Revelation 3:20 Jesus is pictured as standing outside of the church knocking at the door. If anyone there has true, saving faith he will hear his voice and open the door for his Lord and Master. Then Jesus will come in and have fellowship with him.
The common interpretation of Jesus knocking at the door of someones heart wanting to come in simply does not fit the context. This actually comes from bad theology being read into the text. It has Jesus trying to save people but often failing to do so. It presents Jesus as being unable to bring about the salvation of some people because they will not let him. Think about that, you have humans not letting the Sovereign Lord accomplish something. This is absurd and not Biblical. God's sovereign will cannot be thwarted by humans. He is sovereign even in salvation. Jesus is the Sovereign Lord who accomplishes salvation for his people and never fails. He saves all that the Father gives him (see John 6:37).
This verse is often interpreted as Jesus knocking at the door of a person's heart trying to come in. But this is actually an example of bad theology being read into the text.
Revelation 3:20 is part of the letter written to the church at Laodicea (Revelation 3:14-22). Revelation Chapters 2-3 contain letters written to seven churches. Laodicea is the only one that is not commended by Jesus for anything. Jesus rebukes the church telling them they are neither hot or cold but lukewarm. He then tells them he will spit them out of his mouth.
The Laodiceans were not hot or cold, they would not reject Jesus outright or embrace him with zeal. They were complacent and maybe just nominal Christians. Jesus says he will spit them out of his mouth, in other words this kind of "Christianity" makes Jesus sick. The church at Laodicea is told to be zealous and repent.
In Revelation 3:20 Jesus is pictured as standing outside of the church knocking at the door. If anyone there has true, saving faith he will hear his voice and open the door for his Lord and Master. Then Jesus will come in and have fellowship with him.
The common interpretation of Jesus knocking at the door of someones heart wanting to come in simply does not fit the context. This actually comes from bad theology being read into the text. It has Jesus trying to save people but often failing to do so. It presents Jesus as being unable to bring about the salvation of some people because they will not let him. Think about that, you have humans not letting the Sovereign Lord accomplish something. This is absurd and not Biblical. God's sovereign will cannot be thwarted by humans. He is sovereign even in salvation. Jesus is the Sovereign Lord who accomplishes salvation for his people and never fails. He saves all that the Father gives him (see John 6:37).
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