Studying at Cambridge

As a student at Cambridge University I became a Christian and I got involved in all sorts of fascinating debates. When evolution came up in discussion, I rather naively incorporated it into my world view. I assumed that God initiated and controlled evolution. Without much thought I had a confused picture of creation, trying to combine two ways of looking at the beginning of life and unsuccessfully knitting them together in an attempt to respect both God and science. This did not affect my faith and it did not seem to be a hot topic in the UK, although evolution was an important aspect of science, an arena that I avoided. I taught young school children, in both public and private schools, about the creation of the world according to Genesis, and this was perfectly permissible.

Arriving in the USA – Christmas banned. Evolution portrayed as fact

When Martyn and I arrived in The States with our children in the late nineties we were culture shocked. One of the shocks was that Christmas was a forbidden word and had been replaced with “the holidays”. Evolution was an even dirtier word for many American Christians and “creationism” was taboo for many non Christians, so much so that creation was not even mentioned in schools.

Christianity and politics

Christianity and politics were inseparable in the US whereas in the UK the Christian voice was mostly silent amongst politicians. In the US there was inflammatory division about issues such as abortion and evolution and in the UK there was ignorance and apathy. Neither situation was great, but comparing the two responses encouraged us to question our presuppositions which was a positive development. Now we understand both perspectives and we think that awareness of others’ views is valuable.

Recently at a meet the teachers night at the local high school, I spoke to a biology teacher. I suggested that it would be more academically honest for schools to teach various approaches regarding the origins and development of life. As none of us were actually present when the world began much is open to debate, speculation and faith.  If evolution is taught as fact, students are not given permission to discuss alternative theories. He was a very engaging guy but the teacher was surprised by my suggestion. Surely educators should encourage students  to look for evidence and discuss world views especially when there is still much to discover?

I am reluctant to go into details here about evolution because I am not a scientist and I am in danger of annoying someone who is. However, as a Christian I do think that it is important to take the first three books of Genesis seriously. If we dismiss the creation account as myth, why not dismiss the rest of the Bible too? Certainly the Bible is not a science text book and does not contain all the details, but God was certainly capable of creating the world in six days, instead of there being a series of mutations taking millions of years. While He could have chosen to use evolution to make living things, much scientific discovery as well as the Biblical text suggest otherwise.

An important Biblical principle in the first book of Genesis is that God made the living creatures “according to their kinds”. This strongly suggests that we are not all (animals and humans) descended from a common primeval ancestor. Also, Genesis 1 does not indicate that we are a sophisticated animal, for it is written that “God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him…” If we are merely refined animals, euthanasia and abortion would be possible; but God has a much higher regard for people and killing others for convenience is out of the question.

Being created in the image of God rather than evolving as a result of a series of mutations from an ape, means that we are highly valued. Human life is very precious and we were designed by God to have responsibility for the animals but not to be like them. If we seek a relationship with God (Jesus) he will make us like Him and He will give us God given compassion to love,  leading us away from wrong to do what is right and He will give us mercy and justice as we care for others and for God’s creation.

I believe that it is possible for Christians to both believe in Jesus and to believe in evolution. It is not a salvation issue. However I think that it is important for Christians to consider the important principles of Genesis and to take them seriously. I think that it is essential that we have an educational arena that encourages debate, and that scientists, Christians or otherwise, should have the freedom to investigate all theories using the scientific method. I have read information recently that has caused me to question the evidence for evolution. www.AnswersInGenesis.org provides much valuable information regarding the pros and cons of evolution and I recommend that you read some of their extensive written material. I want to encourage you to open mindedly consider the arguments against evolution as well as those in its favor. Perhaps it requires more faith to believe in evolution than to oppose it. Most importantly, please don’t let this debate prevent you from believing and worshiping the creator and Savior: Jesus.

This is a post from: WomenRespond.com

Evolution: Different Views

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Of course, many churches are working hard to teach teenagers about Jesus. However, few Christian teenagers attend as much Bible teaching as the Mormons. Each morning (very early) before high school they receive teaching. David has been learning from the Old and New Testaments and he has a good grasp of some Biblical truths- much better than many of his Christian contemporaries.

There is a big “however” though. David fervently believes that Jesus is his Savior, however he does not believe that Jesus is God and he does not believe in the Trinity. David needed to use our computer as his was broken, so he came to our house yesterday evening to use ours. It was then that I had the opportunity to speak with him and to gently inquire about the reliability of Joseph Smith and whether he could really trust a doctrine that conflicted with some of the orthodox, Biblical, Christian truths: If Jesus were not God, how could He have lived a sinless life to be our perfect sacrifice? No man, even filled with significant God given power could have achieved that. Even Adam and Eve who did not start off with a sin nature, failed to resist temptation.

I was happy that my son, James, had also spoken with David about the differences between Mormonism and Christianity at a basketball game. David said how much he enjoyed the conversation and how he admired James’ good behavior. James wanted to find out more about what Mormons believe and we studied the Bible together and read the appropriate section in Walter Martin’s “The Kingdom of the Cults.” This  helped prepare me for my conversation with David last night.

I encouraged David to keep an open mind when he read the Bible and not to shut his mind to the possibility of Jesus being God. He seems willing to keep inquiring and I prayed with him, asking Jesus to reveal truth to him. He is a very pleasant teenager.

People, old and young, stumble into cults for all sorts of reasons. If we are Christians we have a responsibility to teach the Bible clearly and thoroughly, especially to new Christians and young people. We must also demonstrate transformed lives, that are Christ-like and pure. If we see a teenager who is struggling, it is our duty to reach out to that person, to show compassion, to teach Christ, and  to encourage conversion and transformation. Unless we reach out in this way we are giving opportunity to false teachers to step in and do what we should have done.

In 2 Timothy 3: 6-8, Paul warns of people in the last days who “win their way into people’s homes and win the confidence of vulnerable women who are burdened with the guilt of sin and controlled by various desires….These teachers oppose the truth just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses. They have depraved minds and a counterfeit faith.”

In contrast, Paul alludes to Timothy’s Christian home where he was taught the Bible by his mother and grandmother. “…you know you can trust those who taught you. You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus.”( 2 Timothy 3:14-15)

There are vulnerable people in and beyond the churches who will possibly receive the incorrect teaching but wholehearted zeal from Mormons, or other false prophets, if Christians don’t get there first. If you are a parent, you can teach your children. If you are a Christian, look out for those who are vulnerable and show them the real Jesus, not a counterfeit Jesus who has been robbed of His position in the Godhead by those who teach half truths.

This is a post from: WomenRespond.com

How Christians Should Stop People Falling Prey To False Teaching

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My response to this question will be incomplete: too little time and too little knowledge! I will simply present a few Biblical truths for consideration. I would appreciate others’ contributions to this post to add to what I write.

John F. MacArthur Explains that Preaching is not about Pleasing Men

John F. MacArthur’s book “Our Sufficiency in Christ” brings up many important points. He reminds the reader that preaching in the New Testament  is not about pleasing men and winning them over. MacArthur writes: “When Peter preached at Pentecost, people were cut to the heart (Acts 2:37-41). He didn’t undertake to win them over. He didn’t try to charm them, entertain them, or make them feel good. He made no effort to engineer a positive response; he just proclaimed the truth. That’s the only methodology that the Holy Spirit uses. Those who employ any other technique are operating on their own.”

The Preacher should Explain the Terrible Nature of our Sin

In Romans 1:16 Paul wrote, “I am not ashamed of the gospel”. If preachers avoid teaching much of the Word of God it may be because they believe that it might be offputing or offensive. However if we soften the Word of God to please our culture we are unlikely to clearly proclaim why we need salvation. God’s gift of grace is a wonderful message and easy to receive, but it is incomplete and makes no sense if  the preacher does not also explain the terrible nature of our sin which needs to be repented, and our dark, miserable status if we have no relationship with Christ.

God gives to us and we give back to Him

The Bible is full of covenants. We can’t earn the right to be forgiven but we do have a role to play beyond merrily opening our mouths like baby birds to receive the delicious spiritual food that God gives us. Surely good preaching must teach God’s grace but it should also clarify that there are two sides to a covenant: God gives us His Spirit, an eternity in Heaven, forgiveness…., and we give Him our lives and we surrender our wills, as an act of worship and sacrifice. We can no longer be the same when we become children of the living God. At the beginning of the twelfth chapter of Romans, Paul preaches: “And so dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice- the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”

We are God’s Holy Ambassadors on a Mission

God does not want us to be fat, immobile baby birds that sit waiting for the next word of encouragement. We have not been set free from the kingdom of darkness to look from a distance into the kingdom of light. God calls us to be his holy ambassadors to be filled with His love and His light to penetrate into the kingdom of darkness, to help rescue others and to radiantly declare Christ’s presence.

Preaching must wholeheartedly teach the whole Word of  God to prepare men and women to leave behind all remnants of the darkness and sinful living and to live  Holy, Christ like lives.

A Definition of the Word of God

The Word is to encourage us and to uplift God’s people but it is not just a tonic to keep us pepped up as we either shudder in a dark world or feel naively separated from it, clutching our tickets to Heaven. 2 Timothy 3:16 explains that the Bible is the inspired Word of God and is profitable for “instruction, for reproof  and conviction of sin, for correction of error and discipline in obedience, (and) for training in righteousness (in Holy living, in conformity to God’s will in thought, purpose and action.) Verse 17 adds that the purpose of the Word of God is that “the man of God may be complete and proficient and thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

Preachers must administer the Word of God powerfully to Change Lives

I believe that the role of the preacher is to apply God’s Word to our lives to result in dramatic spiritual change as we become more like Jesus. As we are naturally sinful and foolish and stubborn, we need more than a word of encouragement, or the sharing of some benign truths. The Word of God is described as a sword(Hebrews 4:12) for good reason. It needs to penetrate deep within us to prompt significant change. If preachers teach God’s Word faithfully they will be like expert doctors diagnosing and removing life threatening disease. I would not want my doctor to humor me rather than to honestly deal with my medical condition. Similarly, preachers, please do not avoid the Gospel truth and deprive people of the opportunity to meet with the risen Christ.  Poorly diagnosed patients often die prematurely. People who sit in churches where the truth is withheld, may die in their sin and never receive the healing and refreshing forgiveness that they so desperately need.

This is a post from: WomenRespond.com

Preaching the Bible: Tickling Ears or Proclaiming Truth?

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Jesus’ family was poor and they could not have imagined the modern “essentials” that we give to one another at Christmas. There would have been no clutter to get in the way. The Roman census had forced the young couple to leave their families in Nazareth to travel to Bethlehem, adding their names to the list. They would have had very little with them.

There was no baby shower, no hospital help, no material comfort. We can be assured that God was there ensuring that His Son entered this world safely. He announced the birth with angels and a radiant star. He sent both shepherds and wise men to worship Jesus. We are also encouraged to worship Him. Our focus should be on the Savior and we should not remember Him briefly at Christmas and then forget.

The wise men gave Jesus valuable gifts: far more significant and costly than Mary and Joseph could have imagined. Do you realize that God wants to give you gifts way more valuable than those that your relatives can buy in the store? God is a “triune” God which means that He is one in three persons. At the first Christmas God the Father stayed in Heaven, as God the Son was born in Bethlehem. Once Jesus returned to Heaven after He died and rose from the dead (to secure the forgiveness and salvation for those who believe in Him) believers were filled with the third person of the Trinity: God the Holy Spirit. They were also given special gifts so that they could effectively help people on earth be blessed by God. These include  the “gifts” of communicating God’s message and the ability to help and to heal others.

Let’s push aside the clutter and the materialism and instead let’s worship Jesus. He alone can give us the gifts we need to be cleansed of our sins, filled with love and to have the capacity to love and to help our world as we share Jesus with them. In the movie “The Grinch who stole Christmas”, the Grinch’s heart trebled in size when he saw an unselfish response to Christmas and he became a good Grinch. When we receive the gift of Jesus’ presence (God the Holy Spirit) in us, our hearts will more than treble: they will burst with love for Jesus and for others.

John’s Gospel explains that Jesus came into the world that He created and most  people failed to recognize Him or to believe in Him. There are exceptions and some people responded and continue to respond to Jesus…”to all who believed Him and accepted him, He gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn – not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.” John 1: 12-13

If you are willing to walk away from your old sinful life and become a child of God, Jesus will give you a new, clean heart, capable of love that even the reformed Grinch was not capable of. You can be re-born as a child of God with the Holy Spirit(Jesus) in you.

Please receive the best Christmas present that you can receive. By now you may have grown tired (already) of your Christmas presents but Jesus is fulfilling forever.

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The Best Christmas Present

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If you have not seen the movie please go, if it is still showing at a movie theater where you live. Bring friends and family. It is ideal for anyone who is 13 and above, although some younger girls might also appreciate it.

The message reminds us that Jesus wants us to offer love rather than passive indifference or resentment. Love is an action and we can’t wait for our husband, child or friend to be pleasant before behaving in a godly manner. If Jesus is our Lord we have His power and His help to love unconditionally. “Fireproof” shows that with Jesus, true love is possible.

Thanksgiving and Christmas are times when the quality of our relationships are tested, especially when we are worried about finances or job security. Rather than focusing on others’ attitudes to us, let’s offer Jesus’ love without expecting anything back. In Ephesians 4:17-the end of the chapter and Ephesians 5 there are many examples of putting off the old sinful nature and putting on Christ. My challenge to you is to read these verses and apply them. If we are Christians, we are not living as we ought if we hang on to sin. We need to repent of any behavior that is ungodly but typical of our lives. Don’t simply remove it, but replace it with the godly alternative.

Ephesians 4: 21 exhorts: “Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from Him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life , which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature created to be like God- truly righteous and holy.”

We could develop a forty day challenge for ourselves, covering the period from Thanksgiving until the new year. Each day, I suggest we focus on a behavior that we must stop doing, repent of it and replace it with its godly replacement. The process should be cumulative. We should not forget about Biblical lessons that we have already learned, as we learn new ones. The challenge is to keep all aspects of godly behavior going …………! We can’t do this in our own strength. We must abide in Jesus, receiving the love and the stamina to persevere from the Holy Spirit.

The first challenge is in Ephesians 4:25 is “stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth…” I need to pray about this. When am I withholding truth? When am I agreeing with lies to keep people happy? How can I tell truth in a gentle, loving way? The second challenge is about anger in verses 26-27. I will let you work out what you need to “put off”regarding this and what godly behavior to replace it with.

I believe that as we apply the Bible to our lives, we will be changed. How else can we love our husbands, relatives or friends? We need God’s help but we also need to persevere. The movie “Fireproof” demonstrated changed lives. God encourages us to improve our relationships too. He wants to transform our lives and as we become more like Him, we will be much easier for others to love! We may even find that they change too, especially if they seek Jesus’ help.

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Fireproof the Movie and how our Lives can be Changed

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Yesterday I taught the Bible to teenagers at the Fellowship of Christian Athletes’ club at my daughter, Alice’s, middle school. I wanted them to understand the differences between a child of God and a child of the devil. I drew two columns on the white board, one for each type of child. There is a tendency in this culture to either over or under emphasize the devil. The children are usually shocked when I mention him and they are also offended by “hell” considering it to be a bad swear word rather than a real place where many are heading.

The kids wanted me to create a third column for those people who were not Christians but did not intentionally get involved with devil worship or witchcraft. I explained that I could not as the Bible clearly teaches that unless we are rescued out of the kingdom of darkness by Jesus ( Colossians 1:13 ) we are under the power of the evil one and are children of the devil.

I taught from 1 John 3:7-10: “Dear children, don’t let anyone deceive you about this: When people do what is right, it shows that they are righteous, even as Christ is righteous. But when people keep on sinning, it shows that they belong to the devil, who has been sinning since the beginning. But the Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil. Those who have been born into God’s family do not make a practice of sinning, because God’s life is in them. So they can’t keep on sinning, because they are children of God. So now we can tell who are children of God and who are children of the devil. Anyone who does not live righteously and does not love his brother does not belong to God.”

This passage does not say that by behaving well we can earn our way into the family of God. Instead it explains that when we become part of God’s family, Jesus enters us and because we are now led by the Holy Spirit, we are changed and we cannot keep sinning routinely (although we will still make mistakes).

How do we become part of God’s family? The teenagers who prepared their testimonies believed that baptism was the clear proof that someone had become a child of God. The Bible explains that baptism is symbolic of a believer passing from death to new life and this is a powerful image. The reality is that some people get baptized and then settle down to a life of sin with the smug assumption that they have done what it takes to go to heaven one day. A baptism must be accompanied by a dramatic spiritual new birth, if it is to be more than a historic ritual. John 1 explains that ..”to all who believed Him and accepted Him, he gave the right to become children of God.” They are reborn-not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan but a birth that comes from God.” God re- creates us when we respond to Him, believing and receiving Him, accepting Him as Lord of our new life and repenting of the messy lives we used to live.

Once we are under the leadership of Christ, rather than (wittingly or unwittingly) under the devil’s authority, we will change, so long as we really are living under the authority of Christ with His Spirit.1 John 2:3 says that ..”we can be sure that we know Him if we obey His commandments.” If we refuse to obey Jesus we are not His children. Jesus commands us to love one another in a Christ like way. 1 John 4:17 challenges us to copy Jesus. He showed us real love by giving up His life for us. Similarly, “..we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?” This is made even more challenging by the following verse: “Dear children let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.”

We are taught to be like Jesus: “Whoever claims to live in Him must walk as Jesus did.” If we are Christians we will obey Him and resemble Him, otherwise we are not His children. I John makes this very clear. A very important part of being a Christian is loving God and loving other Christians. Elsewhere we are also told to love our enemies: we are commanded to love everyone, but if Christians fail to love those who are members of the body of Christ, how can we effectively help people who are not part of the Christian family? We know that walking as Jesus did involved meeting all sorts of people, to heal them, to cast out demons, to teach them the truth and to invite them into a relationship with Him. Without Christ’s love we will fail to reach out to those who so desperately need His love.

If we are God’s children are we letting Him lead us, are we obedient, do we give up our lives to help others, are we asking Jesus to fill us with His Holy Spirit? Thankfully Jesus will forgive us and re-instate us as he did with Peter. We are told in 1 John that we will not continue to live a life of sin once we have been dramatically re-created as Christians, as Jesus is in charge of us. I John 1:8-10 encourages us that when we confess our sins Jesus will forgive us and purify us. Sin should be the exception rather than the routine. Let’s make sure that we are truly living as children of God: forgiven, transformed and radiating the love of Jesus in action. We can be full of good intentions but thankfully Jesus did not just profess His love for us but He demonstrated it on the cross. Let’s follow his lead and show others that we are truly God’s children expressing His love, extending His hand of mercy. If you are not yet a child of God, ask Him to rescue you from the kingdom of darkness and receive Him so that He will live in you, dramatically changing your life.

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A Child of God, or a Child of the Devil?

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My son James, who is a junior at high school, was writing an essay about the American Dream and how this ideal has changed for Americans through the centuries. Last night he asked me to edit his writing and it was this that prompted me to think about this further. James compared the colonists’ focus as pleasing God rather than themselves. Their ultimate hope was heaven and this was their “dream”. At the time of the revolutionary war the dream was now related to freedom. Unless they were free and independent they could not be fulfilled. The Romantics were intrigued with nature which was reflected in their art and literature. The American dream for them was to focus on the natural world, to escape from the urban, to see this as their ultimate goal.

I am sure that many other influences have affected the “dream” through the years but I thought that the analysis of the colonists, the patriots and the romantics was fascinating. I was particularly intrigued by the reference to Jonathan Edwards, one of the “colonists” who influenced the “Great Awakening” revival and encouraged many to focus on Heaven rather than on worldly pursuits.

Jonathan Edwards wrote “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.” My son, James , said that many of his class mates were put off by the strong references to God’s anger and man’s pitiful nature in Edwards famous sermon preached in 1741. However, I see it as a necessary warning to those who have not recognized that without God’s mercy they are on the way to hell. Edwards says “There is nothing that keeps wicked men, at any moment, out of Hell, but the mere pleasure of God.”

Unless we respond to Jesus we are incapable of correcting our own sinful nature, to make ourselves good enough for Heaven. In today’s Christian market place we are accustomed to hearing the “prosperity Gospel” and Christian book stores are full of self help advice on how to be a better Christian mother, lover, sister etc…. If we are not careful we will miss the point. Unless we repent and believe in Christ and obediently follow His Word, we are on a dangerous, wrong path. There is a real danger that we will try and improve ourselves without falling at Christ’s feet, seeking mercy from His righteous anger. Let’s make sure that our friends understand why we need to submit to Christ. Avoiding mentioning hell might be politically sensitive but we all need to know that hell is a place where we deserve to go and we can only avoid it if we seek Christ’s mercy and forgiveness.

In Edwards’ sermon: “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” he refers to the likely response of someone who finds himself in hell. This individual had planned to avoid this awful destination but had failed to follow Christ’s path, following his own dream instead:

“No, I never intended to come here: I had laid out matters otherwise in my mind; I thought I should contrive well for myself — I thought my scheme good. I intended to take effectual care; but it came upon me unexpected; I did not look for it at that time, and in that manner; it came as a thief — Death outwitted me: God’s wrath was too quick for me. Oh, my cursed foolishness! I was flattering myself, and pleasing myself with vain dreams of what I would do hereafter; and when I was saying, Peace and safety, then sudden destruction came upon me.”

We should be loving, welcoming, sensitive and kind yet not to the extent of avoiding telling the truth to those who without Christ will perish. Edwards was preaching a sermon in church. It seems totally appropriate to challenge people directly in church: to wake people up to the necessity of pleading for Christ’s forgiveness rather than assuming that Jesus will pamper them.

Many people do not attend church. They may be pursuing the American Dream or a version of this: prosperity or freedom or New Age ideology. Little seems to have changed. People continue to dream but Christians are Jesus’ representatives on earth and like Edwards, we can help them understand our fate. We need to show, through our behavior, that we are God’s children, changed by Him to reach out in kindness and self sacrifice. Our generous and loving response to those who are not Christians will make it more likely that they will want to listen to God’s message of hope and warning. If we genuinely care about their eternal future we will explain about heaven and hell. We might find Jonathan Edwards’ fire and brimstone preaching offensive, but avoiding spelling out the truth to both Christians and non Christians is ultimately much more offensive.

The parable in the Bible about Lazarus and the rich man (Luke 16: 19-31) reminds us of the reality of hell. The rich man goes to hell and the beggar, Lazarus, goes to heaven. The rich man wants his brothers to be warned about the horrible reality of hell. His life of luxury could not help the rich man in his eternal plight and his desire for his relatives is not a life of ease or of political correctness, but that they should be told the truth. I want to emphasize that we should avoid any type of American dream that fixes our attention on present riches, or on created things rather than on the Creator. The message of the Bible will be offensive to some but it will persuade others to seek God’s mercy. Jesus received God’s righteous anger when He died on the cross, receiving the punishment that we deserve. We can only expect God to avert His anger if we follow Him on His terms and seek His forgiveness. In contrast, worldly dreams may be inspiring but if they are not true, we will be bitterly disappointed one day.

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The American Dream compared with Jonathan Edwards’ “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”

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My parents were children in Britain during World War II and growing up we heard many of their stories about bombing, rationing and their Mickey Mouse gas masks. Mustard gas was an awful weapon used with lethal results by the Germans in the first world war. Many were blinded and the British took seriously the threat of Germany invading Britain during the second world war, bringing with them, the nightmarish gas. Thankfully, the Germans lost the Battle of Britain in the air and they failed to invade Britain, but we were ready. The Mickey Mouse gas masks were designed for the children. They were made to look fun so that the kids would be prepared to put them on. They had practices so that the school children were ready if gas became a threat. My mother’s family lived near London and the bombing during the Blitz forced them to initially hide in their cupboard, under the stairs and later to go in the air raid shelter that they had built in their garden. Living like this became a routine. It was a way of life.

I know that men and women who have fought in battle understand the necessity of being prepared, knowing exactly what to do when attacked. As a Christian I believe that we need to be aware that there is a fierce battle going on right now, in our midst. If you are not a Christian you may not be aware of this. Jesus came to earth two thousand years ago to rescue us from the power of darkness. In Colossians 1: 13 Paul writes that God “has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness”. Unless we reach out to Jesus and receive His salvation we are in darkness, under the power of the evil one, the devil. Paul continues that God “transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son (Jesus), who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.”

How did Jesus purchase our freedom? He died for us, He bled for us. He bought us with His blood. Imagine a Jew in Germany trying to escape. He might purchase his freedom by bribing a guard or paying for a ticket to get on a ship to leave the darkness that was engulfing him in Germany. Jesus purchased our freedom. We belong to Satan’s kingdom of darkness but we cannot enter God’s kingdom of light unless Jesus pays the ransom. We actually deserve to die. Paul writes “You were His enemies, separated from Him by your evil thoughts and actions. Yet now He has reconciled you to Himself through the death of Christ in His physical body, As a result, He has bought you into His own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before Him without a single fault.” (Colossians 1:21,22)

We need to realize that, unless we come before Jesus thankfully and humbly to receive the forgiveness that He secured for us by bleeding to death on the wooden cross, we will remain in the darkness. The devil wants to keep us there. It would be like sunbathing when the German bomber planes were attacking your neighborhood, but worse. If you are not a Christian please read the Bible, talk to a Christian who takes his faith seriously and wake up to the spiritual battle that is raging. Jesus has already defeated the devil but unless you have put yourself on Jesus’ side, becoming part of His Kingdom, you are in danger. If you are a Christian, are you pointing your friends to Jesus the Savior? Are you helping them understand the nature of the battle and are you seeking the protection that we need from Jesus as we deal with the backlash from Satan that we will receive?

As we remember those who died for their country let’s also remember Jesus who died for our eternal freedom. Unlike all the other war heroes who died, Jesus rose from the dead and He continues to battle on our behalf. He protects us and rescues those who believe from the Kingdom of darkness.

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Veterans Day: A Christian Response

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Martyn and I have done business presentations, putting in a lot of effort but receiving little response to our marketing services. We have dressed the part, prepared a first class presentation and provided food, and the audience has left smiling but unmoved and disinclined to buy. Conversely, a couple of weeks ago I walked three miles across the mountain separating us from our church and was certainly not dressed for business. I asked a couple if they would give me a ride home after the service. I did not really know them but was aware that they lived relatively near me and, as the weather was getting hotter, I did not want to return the way that I had come. Surprisingly, the couple had already determined to find either Martyn or me to discuss the possibility of us designing a web site for the wife’s business. It seemed that God had put us together and our prayer for business was being answered. God had shown up and was at least offering us the possibility to earn money.

At the National Outreach Convention, the lighting was stunning and the presentation was excellent. It was more impressive than our class act, presenting web design etc, but similar. There was interest and smiling faces, but from my perspective there was little connection between us: the audience and God. Sadly this is true of many Christian events. The focus can be on suggesting techniques to grow bigger churches, to attract people and to help leaders become terrific professional Christians. But God is bigger than techniques and we know that we can follow a prescribed formula and the result may not be relevant in the big scheme of things(from God’s perspective). I wanted to stop the steady progression of meetings and announce on some super loud microphone that everyone must drop to their knees and pray. This sounds like a Muslim call to prayer, but I think that it would have been a great re-focus. We would have been told to rely on Jesus, rather than talk about Him: to seek His actual presence.

On Friday, the final evening of the convention, the speaker, Francis Chan, stumbled onto the platform in tears, as he was impacted by the worship. Reaching for his handkerchief, he stammered humbly that he had never broken down in this way just before speaking. He confessed that recently he had experienced a level of pride seeing himself featured in Outreach magazine. Isn’t repentance and humility what we all need when we are in any way involved with talking about Jesus? We are weak vessels and we must transparently reveal Christ rather than displaying our own abilities. Our thoughts, words and efforts should not be wasted on declaring our own achievements. Christ through His word can make a much greater life changing impression than we can.

Francis Chan reminded us that without God’s power; strategies and ideas about church growth are meaningless. He compared tasteless salt with salt which is salty and wondered why our churches focused on the people who were like the flavorless type. They never changed and their only role was to add to the numbers, so that pastors could feel smug about the size of their churches. Chan showed us a plate of good salt and then he covered this with the useless type. I felt as though the “salt of the earth” described in Matthew 5:13 was being suffocated. Isn’t that what happens when churches pander to those who have no faith? In a futile attempt to entertain those who are not prepared to give up everything to follow Christ, they are in danger of discouraging believers, by teaching them all inoffensive half truths.

Francis Chan reminded us that the Christian faith is not one of compromise but a way of life that will result in our taking up our own crosses, following Jesus out of deep love for our Savior, despite the difficulties and the persecution. Chan taught Scripture as is. He did not cut and paste and he did not sew neatly cut pieces of Biblical patchwork together, avoiding context and raw truth. Many pastors avoid Biblical reality as it might drive away the half hearted. In contrast, the powerful message grabbed us and ushered in the presence of Jesus who was ready to change hearts and increase commitment. Hundreds of church leaders received prayer or prayed quietly on their own. I hope that they will return to their churches throughout the US and follow Jesus’ lead, teaching the whole truth because nothing else will do. Compromised truth will continue to result in heaps of tasteless ‘salt’ that might look like Christians but who “will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.” (Matthew 5:13)

Instead, let’s embrace the whole word of God, reading and teaching it as it has been written. It challenges people to become the “salt of the earth”. Let’s impact the world with God’s truth and trust that as people hear the challenging message, they too will become ‘salty’ and effective witnesses, pointing to our radical yet all loving and powerful, King Jesus.

This is a post from: WomenRespond.com

Francis Chan proclaims truth at the National Outreach Convention

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God does not suggest in His Word that homosexuality is the only sin to be avoided with the penalty of the offender being kept outside His kingdom. In 1 Corinthians 6:9 there is a list of various practices which will exempt people from a relationship with Jesus now and in the future, unless repentance and godly change take place: “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.”

We should not give the impression that we are singling out homosexuality. Rather we should stand up to limit any legislation that encourages greater freedom to promote any of the behaviors listed in 1 Corinthians chapter 6. Churches should clearly teach the dangers of all of these. For example we should be concerned about drinking laws. In the UK a few years ago it was made legal for pubs to dramatically extend their opening hours. Drunkenness increased. Adultery has already become almost acceptable. I am saddened that the partner who commits adultery, leaving his or her family, does not get penalized. Did Christians fail to stand up in the past to limit the consequences of adultery, by failing to petition for just legislation?

I was discouraged by one of the letters in my local newspaper, the “News Chieftain” this week: A woman wrote: “As a Christian I am ashamed that resources are being used to support this offensive proposition when we could be helping our parishioners who are struggling financially and losing their homes, feeding the hungry and teaching children tolerance not hate. That is what Jesus would do. Shame on them! My God loves all of his children.”

This woman writes half truths. Unless we are careful it all sounds so plausible. Certainly we must help the hungry and the poor, but this does not mean that we should not stand up for Biblical truth. John chapter 8 verses 31-32 explain “If you abide in My word you are my disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.” Free from what- freedom from sin and its consequences.

God loves everyone but the woman is wrong in claiming that we are all His children. Our response to Him determines whether we become His children. We can be adopted into His family if we believe in Him and receive Jesus: His love, His forgiveness, His presence and His word. “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” John 1: 12-13

Ultimately, if we are Christians, freedom should not be a free for all, but a desire to be free from sin. Rights should be about receiving what God offers us. Only He can give us the right to become a child of God. If we are headstrong and persistent in going our own way and ignoring His instruction in the Bible regarding adultery, homosexuality, drunkenness… we are not putting ourselves under His authority and we do not want to become His children.

When I was a teacher in England , I treated the kids as I would treat my own children. I wanted the best for them. As a Christian I oppose any legislation that is likely to push kids away from God. If Proposition 8 is defeated, homosexuality will be normalized just as adultery has been. Adultery has resulted in many children and adults being torn apart. The children are more likely to repeat the behavior that they have observed and the victims are miserable. Adultery is easy to do in this country and it breaks human relationships and it separates the offenders from God and His kingdom. Homosexuality will increase if Prop 8 is opposed, pushing more children and adults into a lifestyle that is opposed to God’s will.

Legislation does not discourage adultery. If one of the married couple breaks the marriage to have an affair with someone else, he or she is not penalized. However, it is unlikely that teachers will teach adultery as a good thing-yet…! In the case of homosexuality, teachers are likely to promote this lifestyle in California. Why else has the teacher’s union donated $1.25 million for the No on 8 campaign? Children will be adopted by homosexual couples in greater numbers and if the law is applied as wholeheartedly as hate speech has been in Canada, Christians will be arrested for teaching the Biblical message regarding homosexuality.

I want more people to understand God’s liberating truth. The truth that truly sets us free from sin. I will vote yes on Prop 8 because marriage is between a man and a woman who become one flesh and have children. Homosexuals, like adulterers are separating themselves from Jesus by their behavior. God does love them and so should we, but we cannot promote any behavior that separates them or anyone else from God.

If Proposition 8 is defeated, people will be encouraged to get involved with a lifestyle that will separate them from Jesus. If we are Christians we must teach the whole Word of God. It is important that we are free to teach the truth about sin. This includes homosexual acts as well as adultery, theft etc. We must also teach that Jesus is the only one who can forgive us from the sin that we are guilty of. He can forgive and welcome adulterers, homosexuals, drunks, prostitutes…. into His kingdom, but this is less likely if Christians are not permitted to call certain behavior wrong. We need to know in what ways we are sinful so that we can seek God’s forgiveness and help. Truth leads to freedom. Let’s vote to promote God’s truth: If you live in California please vote Yes on Propositon 8.

This is a post from: WomenRespond.com

Why should Christians vote yes on Proposition 8?

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