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

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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

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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

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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.

This is a post from: WomenRespond.com

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

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What we say and how we say it makes an important first impression, and I certainly appreciate the pleasantries offered here. However, it is frustrating when people do not go beyond saying friendly but empty words. In both the US and the UK when people ask you “How are you” they generally expect you to say “I’m fine.” The reality is that everyone is not fine and a reluctance to hear or to tell the truth means that many people do not receive the practical help, the prayers, the challenge or the encouragement that they need. It is important that we have friends who we can trust and from whom we can seek advice and expect an honest answer. There are times when we need to stand up and say that something is wrong because avoiding conflict, for the sake of smiling relationships, can lead to trouble and pain in the future.

In our home I tend to fluctuate between turning a blind eye to issues or over reacting. Yesterday I felt that I needed to react as my kids were watching “The Office” and there was some vulgar humor which I did not want in our home. James explained that this was mild compared to some of the jokes that his friends shared, and how could he talk about “The Office” the next day at school if he could not watch it. He also added that his friends were much better than most of the other teenagers at high school. They seem great kids. They are interested in hearing Bible talks at our home every Friday, but I knew that I needed to challenge my son regarding God’s perspective. I am pleased that I persisted and talked to him about how being a Christian does affect humor, attitudes and our thoughts and words.

I have written in other blog posts about the importance of Christians teaching the Bible to their children. What I should add is that when a sweet, ‘little darling’ grows to become 6ft 4″ it is not always easy to sit him down for a Bible “story”. Instead there are moments that become important teaching opportunities. This is also true with friends.

As a Christian mother encouraging her children to follow Jesus, I wanted James to understand that we should not be preoccupied with fitting in to please our friends. If we are God’s children we must be different and speak what is good, and avoid listening or contributing to what is rude and distasteful. The WWJD or “What would Jesus do” wrist bands are of some value if they encourage the wearer to consider whether Jesus would approve or join in an activity.

It would help if I always knew exactly where to turn in the Bible to show God’s perspective. Yesterday I struggled to know where to turn but thankfully God took control and I turned to 1 Peter 4 and I read verses 1-11. Alice, my daughter, would have wriggled away but James knew that he needed to hear God’s word and he listened and then curled up and prayed.

I want to share the following verses that were particularly relevant to our discussion:

“So then, since Christ suffered physical pain, you must arm yourselves with the same attitude he had, and be ready to suffer too.” (verse 1) In short, life is on a much deeper level for a Christian than pleasing ourselves, and it will involve suffering. Christ is our role model, (and our Savior) and we should seek to please him.

“You won’t spend the rest of your lives chasing your own desires, but you will be anxious to do the will of God. You have had enough in the past of the evil things that godless people enjoy-their immorality and lust….” (verses 2-3 ) This is a call to be different, to put off the old sinful life and to be a new creation in Jesus.

‘”Of course, your former friends are surprised when you no longer plunge into the wild and destructive things they do. So they slander you. But remember that they will have to face God, who will judge everyone, both the living and the dead.” (verses 4-5) Avoiding participating in vulgar jokes, and standing up for what is godly, will result in opposition but we must be more concerned about pleasing God. A changed life will show friends something about Jesus. Some will believe and change too, others will laugh at us.

The final verse that seemed so helpful was 1 Peter 4: 11: ” Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you.” James is aware that he has this gift and the challenge was appropriate. We can do a lot of damage with our words but we can choose to speak in a godly way and make a positive impact.

These verses are from the New Living Translation in a New Testament entitled “How to Find God” . The sub title is “Living Water for Those Who Thirst.” It is intended for new Christians or not yet Christians and the commentary can be helpful. This is what is written next to the verses in the first book of Peter that I read to James: ” One thing that should certainly change when we come to Christ is the way we talk. If we continue using God’s name in vain or keep telling dirty jokes, something is not right. Proverbs 8:13 says, “All who fear the Lord will hate evil.” That includes vulgar speech. But when we become indifferent to the way we speak (or the way others speak around us), we are downplaying the destructiveness of sin and doing a disservice to the Lord.” This added further insight and the timing was perfect!

God will give us the wisdom to know when we need to react, using His words. We must do this gently, but we must not avoid encouraging others to learn from God’s truth (especially our children). James is a good role model to his friends, but it is clear that Jesus wants him to go to the next level in his relationship with God and with others. We are not alone when we seek to help people learn God’s will by teaching the Bible. God cares more about our kids and our friends than we do. I hope that I have made it clear how Jesus showed me, an ordinary Christian mother, how to speak His words to my child. He will help you too as you encourage others to follow Him.

This is a post from: WomenRespond.com

Challenge others with God’s truth

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As a Christian I am concerned about the exclusion of Christianity in public schools. Like technology, if kids are not familiar with the Bible, they are likely to avoid it. If school shuns Christianity, where they spend most of their time, inevitably many will not consider picking up a Bible and reading it. If students are taught evolution as fact rather than as a theory, it is confusing to read the first few chapters of the Bible where it is taught that God created the world. Unless parents and churches teach the Biblical world view conscientiously school kids will assume that science contradicts faith.

I am not expecting public schools to exclusively teach a Biblical world view. However, the avoidance of any mention of God will have more serious consequences than failing to teach appropriate technology. The latter will cause us to potentially lag behind international competitors. Avoiding Jesus is resulting in many being ignorant of the meaning of life. We have been created by an all powerful, loving God, for a significant purpose. We are not a higher form of animal with instincts that need to be satisfied. We are made in God’s image to live godly lives responsibly reaching out in love to help others and to serve God. Sex education at school may suggest that satisfying our instincts is fine with appropriate protection. Christians need to teach a different message.

I appreciate that it is unlikely that schools will reintroduce the Bible and return to a pre-1960′s educational mind set. However, in my opinion good education should involve kids investigating different perspectives and opinions. Evolution should be taught as one approach and creation as another. In the same way that a biology teacher teaches evolutionary theory, it would be great if a Bible teacher could present the Christian world view. No one should be forced to believe, but good education requires an understanding of different perspectives. George Washington’s speeches should be read and discussed and his Christian perspective should not be eradicated by text book writers. Even if Christianity is not promoted, the kids should at least be encouraged to respect it and to understand how faith shaped American values and the constitution. Parents need to tell their kids about how Christians shaped this nation.

My husband could have made sure that all of our children were technically proficient making up for the inconsistent approach to technology at school. He chose not to push them to learn as they were already busy with homework and activities. It is easy to avoid making our children learn useful skills when they show little interest and start complaining. This is a greater problem when our children are not interested in finding out about Jesus. It is easier to leave them to sleep on Sunday mornings rather than take them to church against their will. Helping children to complete homework is bad enough but we may feel that encouraging them to read the Bible is yet one more battle. However if schools are no longer teaching about Jesus it is essential that we persevere.

I believe that despite our kids’ attitudes we must teach them about Jesus from the Bible and take them to church or to a meeting where they will learn from the Bible. My family is aware that many kids are not familiar with the Bible or church. Consequently we have been providing opportunities for our son James to ask his friends to come to our home to eat, play sports, “hang out” and to read the Bible. He invites lots of friends on Facebook and those who are interested come along. There is no pressure. They can walk from school in less than ten minutes. Most of the 8-12 kids who come have no church background but they are in a safe, comfortable place to ask questions. This has also boosted James’ faith. If it was not for him noone would come, and as a junior at high school he is learning the joy and the challenge of following Jesus. He is realizing that following is an active response and he is moving beyond just sitting and listening.

Jesus, in John 7:37 “cried in a loud voice, ‘if any man is thirsty, let him come to me and drink!’ ” We know that a drink is more vital than anything else. Are we receiving what we need from Jesus? Are we offering Him to others knowing that without Him they are spiritually thirsty and in great need? Encouraging kids to discover Jesus is not adding an extra burden to pressurized lives. We need to demonstrate that Jesus deals with our worries, refreshes us and loves us. He is not an extra activity but He is what life is all about and he offers life to the full. Kids are not hearing this at school, so we need to make sure that they are being offered the drink that Jesus offers. They may refuse to receive it now, but we can pray and we can offer opportunities for kids to find out more about Jesus.

As Christian women we can make a difference. If you are not yet a Christian Jesus will satisfy your thirst. Keep finding out about Him.

www.WomenRespond.com

This is a post from: WomenRespond.com

Biblical illiteracy

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People are inclined to forget that they are also vulnerable especially when they are behind the wheel of a strong looking car or sporting varsity football gear or a very impressive suit. There is a tendency to baby young kids, driving them everywhere and allowing them little freedom, until suddenly they are able to drive and their freedom apparently has few limits. As my two oldest kids are 18 and nearly 16, I am well aware of the potential hazards in and beyond the car. It seems that we need to train kids not only to drive well but to make good decisions. Once they can take passengers in the car, freedom is rather open ended. Arriving at a dance in a well cut suit or a beautiful dress at fifteen, must also be accompanied by a strong sense of right and wrong to ensure that the evening does not end in trouble. There are so many potential hazards.

Parents may spend many hours helping their kids learn to drive or investing money in various lessons to ensure that their children are accomplished in sports, music or ready to do well in the SAT test. However, I am not so sure that the same investment is always made to help them develop a good, responsible attitude. In my opinion, it cannot be assumed that either we or our kids can develop a godly response to life without help. According to the Bible, we are naturally inclined to make the wrong decisions. Ecclesiastes 7:20 illustrates this: “For there is not a just man on earth who does good and does not sin.”

If we are honest, we are all capable of thinking, saying and doing terrible things. Of course we need to protect girls and kids especially, from human predators but we also need to learn how to avoid foolish decisions that lead to awful consequences. This is particularly true for teenagers who are experiencing driving and dances for the first time, but it is also true for people of every age. We are generally careful to protect young, innocent children as we are more aware than animals that they are vulnerable. However, as they grow up do we train children to become aware of God’s wisdom that can help them make the right choices? As adults do we know and follow Biblical wisdom as we deal with life’s challenges? If we do not, how can we expect our kids or less mature people to take Jesus seriously?

We cannot be truly wise unless we submit our lives to Jesus, seek His mercy and forgiveness and study and follow Biblical truth. Proverbs 2:6 explains that “the Lord gives wisdom, and from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.” We are well advised to seek these great qualities and we can find out about them in God’s Word, the Bible. The book of Proverbs is filled with wise, godly advice. It is very clear that there are two paths: one is following God’s lead, obeying His commandments and willingly living life with His help. The other path is the alternative, turning our backs on God and living our lives with no reference to Him. God calls out to us to turn and follow Him. He does not want any of us to walk away from His love, His guidance and His forgiveness.

The words in Proverbs are insistent that we should “Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well for it is your life. Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evil men. Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn from it and go on your way.” (Proverbs 4: 13-15). The Bible teaches about temptation, good, evil and the amazing love of Jesus who can forgive us even when we have wandered down the wrong path. I hear people say that they have not got time to read the Bible, but I would argue that we do not have time to ignore God’s Word. Despite our age, our abilities or our wealth, without God we are defenseless. We must not only teach children the right way to go but we must also pay attention ourselves. We can only be changed from being hopelessly bad to become righteous when God takes hold of our lives, and these words express the beautiful potential of transformed lives: “The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day.” The next sentence is a reminder that we should avoid the alternative path: “But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble.” (Proverbs 4:18-19)

In John chapter 8 verse 12 Jesus proclaims,”I am the light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in darkness, but will have the Light of life.” Are you following Jesus? If you feel that you are struggling in the darkness, call out to Him, seek Him and humbly follow Him. Without Jesus we are in great danger, but with Him we are in a very safe place. He is waiting for you, reaching out like a shepherd rescuing a small lamb lost in a dark cave. All of us are lost until we respond to Jesus. Reach out to Him and thank Him for His compassion and His mission to seek and to save the lost. He can transform your life.

God is calling Christian women to respond: Help others to seek God’s protection.

www.womenrespond.com

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Seek God’s protection

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I struggle to simply follow the published curriculum or program. My teacher training in England encouraged us to develop our own teaching materials and games and I am very grateful that I could apply this approach to teaching the Bible to kids. It is too easy to read something about the Bible to the kids, rather than getting into the Bible itself. There are lots of enjoyable teaching methods that can help the kids have fun while learning, without distracting from the message. I am not suggesting that everyone should abandon teaching aids or curriculum. Rather, if we are teaching the Bible to anyone we should ensure that the curriculum is Biblical and that we do not rely on the program rather than the Word of God.

Adults are capable of listening to a sermon and leaving with a confused picture of the truth. It is even more likely that children jump to inaccurate conclusions. For example, if we refer to Bible “stories” they may assume that David and Goliath and the feeding of the five thousand are works of fiction. It is tempting to teach certain episodes over and over again but to avoid teaching doctrine. Children need to know that they were born sinful and cannot earn their salvation. They must be taught that we deserve the wrath of God but Jesus in His mercy took the punishment in our place. If we do not teach these truths, neither children nor adults will understand why we need Jesus. Other truths that must be taught include the reality that we can’t earn our salvation by being good but instead we are saved by God’s grace: a gift that we do not deserve.

Our lives are changed radically when we receive the Holy Spirit, God, who lives in us when we repent of our sins, confess that Jesus is Lord and start to follow Him. Our words, thoughts and actions will show that Christ is our Lord but they can never be the reason that we can go to Heaven. Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross is our reason and His resurrection is the proof that our hope is not in vain.

I remember attending a church when we had just arrived in the US when our kids were 4, 6 and 8. They obviously believed that children should understand these important principles of Christianity but they taught large chunks of the book of Romans to young children in a way that they struggled to understand. The approach must be age appropriate and this was not!

I was teaching teenage girls this summer and wanted them to understand the reality of sin and the need for forgiveness. I made a game, writing questions on cards and Bible verses on different cards. The goal was to find the answers from verses from Romans that I had pre-selected. Of course, ultimately we want everyone to be able to discover these truths from the Blble, but the teacher needs to make it relatively easy to understand the main ideas when working with young people. The tendency is either to avoid teaching anything difficult or inundating the youth with material that is over their heads.

In general, our expectations of young people, regarding their ability to understand and learn from the Bible, can be rather low. If a teenager is doing a number of high level classes at high school we should assume that he is capable of learning the Bible at a similar level. Parents are ultimately responsible for the Christian education that their children receive. The challenge is to study the Bible ourselves so that we can encourage our kids. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 reminds us why the Bible is more valuable than any other book. It is unique and deserves our focused attention. The Amplified Bible explains that “Every Scripture is God breathed (given by His inspiration) and 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.) So that the man of God may be complete and proficient, well fitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work.” This means that the Scriptures clearly show God’s standards and expectations for man. I am so thankful that God has made His will clear and, like a bad child, I know that I can come back to Him whenever I go against His will because He will always forgive me. Without this standard I would be lost and I would not know right from wrong.

As a parent, teacher, or anyone seeking to follow Jesus, we are well advised to read the Bible regularly, recognizing that it is God’s Word. It is not an ancient, outdated commentary; rather it is “living and powerful” (Hebrews 4:12) and Jesus, when tempted by Satan, quotes a passage in Deuteronomy saying, ” It is written , ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4) If we base our lives on God’s Word we will be much better off than struggling to satisfy the ever changing and confusing standards of the world. The Bible is even more important than food. We can’t live a fulfilled life without it. All of us at some time in our lives take on the role of teacher when we explain a concept to someone. When we are handling the Word of God, let’s make sure that we do not pull verses out of context but rather present our friends or children with an accurate picture of who God is and how He wants to change us.

Christian women respond: teach the Bible accurately and encourage other women to trust Jesus.

www.WomenRespond.com

This is a post from: WomenRespond.com

Teaching the Bible

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Isn’t it a tragedy that many men and women are living miserable lives, refusing to listen to Jesus and failing to receive the healing that He wants to offer us. We must challenge ourselves to consider whether we are really giving Jesus our full attention and receiving the healing that we need. Stubbornly refusing to pay attention to Jesus is like a foolish person refusing to go to the doctor when he is hardly able to breathe. Jesus offers much more than an inhaler to help an asthma sufferer breathe. He offers life in its fullness as well as eternal life, for Jesus is “the way, the truth and the life.”

Some people do listen temporarily to Jesus’ words, but not for long enough to receive long lasting benefit. Many of us are a bit like the patient who goes once to the doctor but does not actually take the medicine or return for future treatment. We can’t really blame the physician when we remain sick and neither can we blame Jesus if we do not allow Him to help us.

In Jesus’ parable some of the seed fell on “rocky places where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.”( Matthew 13:5-6). Jesus explains in verses 20-21 that this type of person hears God’s Word ‘with joy’ to start with but this is short lived for,”As he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away.”

This is a real wake up call isn’t it? The church in the west has got used to having it easy. Typically, many Christians do not see the need to immerse themselves in the Bible because they enjoy a superficial awareness of Jesus. Sadly many pastors do not challenge their congregations to dig deep and to become mature Christians. Rather than expecting to be tested and challenged by difficult circumstances, many people who have a shallow belief in God, give up the moment they face difficulty. James wants us to expect trials and to rejoice in the maturity and strengthened faith that result from facing such challenges with Jesus: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (James 1: 2-4)

It is essential that we realize that Christians must expect persecution in the same way that soldiers expect to be attacked. When we tell others the good news about Jesus (“sowing the seed”), we must not adapt the message to make it more acceptable. This might make us more popular but it would stop people discovering the only truth that can set them free. If we do not teach about sin and Hell, non Christians will not realize why they need Jesus’ offer of salvation. Christians are to suffer, and if we seek God’s help throughout the trial, our faith will become more mature and Christ like. Christians will be persecuted for their faith, just like Jesus was.

It is unpopular to teach that Jesus is the only way, and proclaiming a more tolerant message would lead to less opposition. However avoiding teaching the truth would lead to significant disappointment one day. Our goal must be to share the good news about Jesus and the bad news about our sinful state, irrespective of others’ responses. We need to explain that Jesus offers the only way to escape the eternal punishment that we deserve, and the only way to get to Heaven: a destination that so many look forward to. Instead of giving up, Paul describes how he and his companions respond to hunger and brutal persecution in 1 Corinthians 11-12: “When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it: when we are slandered, we answer kindly.”

Jesus will bless those who suffer or who are persecuted for His sake. We must not harden our hearts or give up the moment trouble or persecution challenge us, like a seedling that shrivels in the sun because it has so little root or depth. If you are experiencing opposition for being a Christian you are probably doing a good job of presenting Christ. Keep going, dig deeper into the Bible and persevere because Jesus loves you and your rewards in Heaven will be great. Our lives must not be about pain avoidance or seeking popularity now. “Now” is short lived but eternity is forever and our focus must be on pleasing the eternal king: Jesus.

www.WomenRespond.com

This is a post from: WomenRespond.com

Christians should expect persecution

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Tom & Sian outside Coulter House, University of Chicago

I had the opportunity to visit the college and to enjoy the green and leafy quads; and old buildings, at least by Californian standards. It reminded me of Cambridge and I was pleased that our son could experience such a wonderful college environment.

The students, at least at first glance, seemed academic, authentic and unpretentious. The dean, in his speech during the convocation in the Rockerfeller Chapel ceremony, encouraged me to believe that the goal was not to strive for political correctness but rather to understand opinion and different perspectives through academic inquiry.

The students join different houses where they live and eat. Tom is in Burton Judson which is old and attractive and the “house parents” of his house, Coulter, are grad students and they have a ten month year old. This adds a touch of real life to what is in danger of becoming a detached ivory tower. What is more, the “mother” did an M. Phil at Clare College, Cambridge and she loves books. She told Tom that his love of books meant that he would fit in well.

Mothers have the challenging job of raising kids so that one day they will be able to survive on their own. It seems ironic now that I struggled to leave my baby of a few weeks for a couple of hours with a friend. When Tom was six weeks old I joined a few mothers who had babies and toddlers. There was an eighteen month old “giant” who was shaking his mother’s keys somewhat violently. I felt that my tiny child might be attacked and I held him close.

At four years old Tom started school. I had been a kindergarten teacher in England before he was born and I was appalled to see the boring tasks that he was given to do. I had created games and exciting learning activities for other people’s kids and now I stood back and it hurt. In the evenings I tried to compensate, offering Tom art and teaching him to read the better way, but Tom was still stuck in a dull environment for a whole year. Whenever he was ill I was pleased to have him home with his younger brother and sister so that the nest was complete again.

How have I managed to let go now without too much pain, when in the early days I struggled so much? All those times when I had to let go, I was being pushed closer towards Jesus. I prayed more as I lost control. At the beginning I was meant to be Tom’s constant carer, but I still had to trust that God would protect him when I was not with him. Gradually as a child matures, he has to become more independent and finally, when he is ready to go, there is a sense that pulling him back would be like taping down a bird’s wings so that it could not fly. Martyn (my husband) and I have taught Tom the way to live life, relying on Jesus, through praying and reading the Bible. We have made mistakes and Tom has not always wanted to listen but our hope is that he has heard enough. Our prayers and words will continue to impact Tom’s life but now he will need to rely more on Jesus and his faith will become more of a personal reality.

Once we arrived in Chicago our roles reversed. Tom was in control of the maps and the timetables and he did well.

Chicago at night

His 6ft 1″ height and strong build were reassuring and I had to admit that he provided me with protection. It is only now that I feel ready to open my hands and to let him fly. My encouragement to parents, and to those who have opportunity to influence friends or relatives who have kids, is to trust Jesus, to pray, to model what is good and to “train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” (Proverbs 22:6) Training is very intentional. Do not just hope for the best but teach what is right and wrong from the Bible, through encouragement and discipline. You would not leave a child to simply walk past a piano if you wanted him to play well. Similarly we should not assume that our children will learn right from wrong without proper instruction. There seems to be so much time spent driving our kids to soccer or music lessons. These can be wonderful for our kids but nothing is more important than sharing God’s truth with them. Let’s go to a good church and let’s talk to our kids about sharing, sin, jealousy, forgiveness, sex, homosexuality, caring for the poor and so on ………. using the Bible to point us all in the right direction. It is never too late to start and if Jesus transforms your life in the process, kids, of any age, will be influenced positively.

May God bless you as you connect the hands of your kids with the almighty God.

This is a post from: WomenRespond.com

Letting go

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