Tear Down Statues Of Jesus?

Some protestors have recently advocated tearing down statues of Jesus.  While the phrase "black lives matter" is true, the Black Lives Matter organization is based on Marxism and postmodernism.  In this way of thinking Christianity is seen as the oppressor and some have even referred to it as "the white man's religion." Of course neither of these things is true.  The Black Lives Matter movement is founded on a false worldview.  

So, what if I told you that these protestors were actually right about removing statues of Jesus (though for the wrong reasons)?  You see statues of Jesus are actually a violation of the second commandment.  

(Exodus 20:4) "You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth." (ESV) 

I believe a statue of Jesus is definitely a carved image.  The prohibition of images would apply to all three members of the Trinity.  Any kind of image or representation of God tends to become a false idol.  God is the Creator and he cannot be confined to any representation by the creation.  The first commandment deals with who is to be worshiped and the second commandment deals with how God is to be worshiped. 

A Biblical/Theological View Of the COVID -19 Pandemic

We have basically been presented with a naturalistic view of the coronavirus pandemic.  Naturalism denies the supernatural and believes this world is all that exists.  Many people (including many professing Christians) are practical atheists.  They do not call themselves atheists but they live as if God does not exist.  In reality God is there and he is in control of all things.  

While we have tended to look at the COVID-19 pandemic as a purely naturalistic phenomena, it is not.  Things do not just happen.  Nothing comes to pass that is not ordained by God.  If things just happen then God would be less than God.  God is not the author of evil but he ordains all things that happen including the coronavirus.  God is the primary or ultimate cause of COVID-19 but he is not the secondary or proximate cause of it.  

The virus exists as part of God's plan and purpose.  Through the evil of the coronavirus God is bringing about a greater good.  We may not be able to understand it because finite humans cannot fully comprehend the infinite God.  We live in a fallen world that is under the sin curse and things like the coronavirus occur.  It is also something God is using to conform his people to the image of Christ.  

The ultimate purpose of all things including the coronavirus is to glorify God.  Christians need not fear death because heaven awaits all those who trust in Christ alone for salvation.  

The Bible And Reincarnation

The concept of reincarnation is taught in Eastern religions such as Hinduism and has even gained popularity in the West.  It is not uncommon to hear people in the Western world talking about good and bad karma.  But what does the Bible teach about reincarnation? 

(Hebrews 9:27) "And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment,"  (ESV) 

This verse clearly refutes the idea of reincarnation.  A person lives one life and after that comes judgment.  The idea of karma is also refuted by this verse.  Karma is a sort of law of cause and effect where a person reaps in this life what he has sown in a previous life.  In Hinduism the problem is ignorance of one's own divinity.  The solution is to break free from the cycle of karma and reincarnation and to merge into the great oneness (Brahman).  

The real problem we have is that we are all sinners who stand guilty before a holy God.  Because of our sin we are under God's wrath and on the road to hell.  But God sent his only, unique Son to save his people from their sins.  Jesus died on the cross to pay for the sins of his people and was resurrected victorious over sin and death.  Christ takes our sin on himself and his righteousness is credited to us.  Jesus is the only way to heaven.  We must respond with repentance and faith in Christ alone for salvation.  

Hebrews 9:27 and the entire Bible refute the idea of reincarnation.  So concepts such as reincarnation and karma must be rejected as false teaching from a false religion, Hinduism.  We must hold to the teaching of the Bible which is the Word of God.   

Books On Creation And Evolution

How old is the earth?  Are the creation days literal 24 hour days?  Were Adam and Eve literal, historical people?  Was the Flood global or local?  Should Genesis 1-11 be interpreted literally or allegorically?  These books will provide understanding and answers to these questions.  


The Battle For The Beginning by John MacArthur

Six Days by Ken Ham

Four Views On Creation, Evolution, And Intelligent Design edited by J.B. Stump 

Proverbs 16:33 (Short Commentary)

(Proverbs 16:33) "The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD."  (ESV) 


Even the casting of the lot or the roll of the dice is determined by the Lord.  Things that appear to just happen actually operate under the sovereignty of God.  There is no such thing as luck or chance.  God is in absolute control of all things.  

American Secularism, LGBTQ, And Christianity

Secularism is the non-religion, religion.  Secularists believe either that God does not exist or that a god exists but is basically irrelevant.  Recent polls show that 25% of Americans now identify as "nones" having no religious affiliation.  While 65% of Americans still identify themselves as Christians.  It should be obvious that 65% of Americans are not really Christians.  Many of those who profess to be Christians think and live as though God does not exist.  Secularism is especially prevalent among Millennials and Generation Z. Secularists think they are advancing the cause of humanity but are actually leading to the destruction of the nation.

We can see the advance of secularism particularly in the area of marriage and sexuality.  Homosexuality, transgenderism, and living together are now seen as normal.  A Biblical view of marriage and sexuality is now seen as abnormal and out of touch.  Secularists think they are advancing sexual liberty but are really leading people into the bondage of sin.  

The LGBTQ agenda is promoted in areas such as government, business, and the entertainment industry.  Of course the government redefined marriage to include people of the same sex.  The Democrat Party fully embraces the LGBTQ agenda while many in the Republican Party also give their approval.  Many businesses now promote LGBTQ in the name of diversity and inclusion but ironically never promote Christian beliefs.  Of course the entertainment industry is thoroughly secular, leading the way in promoting the LGBTQ agenda and other sinful lifestyles.  

Of course Christianity stands in the way of the advance of secularism with it's claims of absolute truth and moral absolutes.  God is the ultimate authority so right and wrong are determined by him.  This is why secularists have sought to undermine the authority of the Bible, the church, and the family.  Secularism denies the existence of absolute truth.  Of course this is contradictory because when you say there is no absolute truth you make a statement of absolute truth. So secularism actually ends up refuting itself.  

The great virtue in secularism is tolerance and secularists are tolerant until you disagree with them.  One only needs to oppose the LGBTQ agenda to see great intolerance by secularists.  Many secularists are totalitarians who will gladly enforce their agenda on you.  

Christians need to look at America more as a mission field than a battlefield.  The ultimate issues are spiritual and not political.  The problems go much deeper than the political level.  They go to the level of the worldview held by a person.  The foundational beliefs a person holds determine the way he views everything else.  Christians need not fear because truth and reality are on their side.  Secularists cannot escape the fact that they are made in the image of God and must live in God's world.   

Jeremiah 17:9 (Short Commentary)

(Jeremiah 17:9) "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?"  (ESV) 


Maybe just following your heart is not such a good idea after all.  The word "heart" refers to the will and emotions.  This verse speaks of what is known as total depravity.  This does not mean that we are as bad as we can possibly be.  It means that our entire being is corrupted by sin.  People are not basically good, they are sinful.