Christianity: A Continuation of Judaism, or a Brand New Covenant?

When Jesus came to earth, He changed religion forever. The implications of His arrival were extremely serious to the devoutly religious audience that he chose. Jesus descended to a people who traced their religion back four thousand years, and their ancestors back to Adam, not to add to their religion, but to completely abolish it and to establish a new one. It must have been extremely difficult for the Jewish people to overcome their proud entrenched ideas, and conform to a completely new order: many never did.

Ephesians 2:14-16 “¹⁴For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, ¹⁵by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, ¹⁶and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity.” The phrase “one new man” is key. There are two words in the Greek for the word “new,” ‘Kainos,’ and ‘Veos.’ ‘Kainos’ literally means “made brand new,” and ‘Veos’ literally means “old made new, or renewed.” The Greek word used in this verse is ‘Kainos.’

Jesus fabricated an entirely brand new religion. The old religion was completed by the establishment of the new one. Jesus wanted the Jewish people to clearly see this, and illustrated it by speaking out against the temple (later allowing it to be destroyed,) and choosing to present the gospel to the gentiles. At times, He did not observe the Sabbath, and overall, His actions on earth portrayed a person out from under the laws of Judaism.

II Timothy 3:16 states that all scripture is inspired by God. With this in mind, God also chose to use the word ‘Kainos,’ not ‘Veos’ in Hebrews 8:7-9 “⁷For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion sought for a second. ⁸For finding fault with them, He says, "BEHOLD, DAYS ARE COMING, SAYS THE LORD, WHEN I WILL EFFECT A NEW COVENANT WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL AND WITH THE HOUSE OF JUDAH; ⁹NOT LIKE THE COVENANT WHICH I MADE WITH THEIR FATHERS ON THE DAY WHEN I TOOK THEM BY THE HAND TO LEAD THEM OUT OF THE LAND OF EGYPT; FOR THEY DID NOT CONTINUE IN MY COVENANT, AND I DID NOT CARE FOR THEM, SAYS THE LORD.”

The word ‘Kainos’ is also chosen in Hebrews 9:15, “¹⁵For this reason He is the mediator of a new covenant, so that, since a death has taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance. ¹⁶For where a covenant is, there must of necessity be the death of the one who made it. ¹⁷For a covenant is valid only when men are dead, ^[b]for it is never in force while the one who made it lives. ¹⁸Therefore even the first covenant was not inaugurated without blood.” Again, a clear distinction is made between the “old,” or “first,” covenant, and the ‘Kainos’ “made brand new covenant.”

Existentialism vs. The Woodsman

Singing to Death

Check out this popular song being played on the radio in every state across America right now. This is what our nation’s youth is listening to.

Galatians 6:7

“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.”

God forgive our country

"Blah Blah Blah"
by: ke$ha

(feat. 3OH!3)

Coming out your mouth with your blah blah blah
Just zip your lips like a padlock
And meet me at the back with the jack and the jukebox
I dont really care where you live at
Just turn around boy and let me hit that
Don't be a little bitch with your chit chat
Just show me where your dick's at

Music's up
Listen hot stuff
I'm in love
With this song
So just hush
Baby shut up
Heard enough

Stop talking that
Blah blah blah
Think you'll be getting this
Nah nah nah
Not in the back of my
Car-ar-ar
If you keep talking that
Blah blah blah blah blah

Boy come on get your rocks off
Come put a little love in my glove box
I wanna dance with no pants on
Meet me in the back with the jack and the jukebox
So cut to the chase kid
'Cause I know you don't care what my middle name is
I wanna be naked
But your wasted

Music's up
Listen hot stuff
I'm in love
With this song
So just hush
Baby shut up
Heard enough

Stop talking that
Blah blah blah
Think you'll be getting this
Nah nah nah
Not in the back of my
Car-ar-ar
If you keep talking that
Blah blah blah blah blah

You be delaying,
You always be saying some shit
You say I'm playing,
I'm never laying the bitch
Sayin' "blah, blah blah"
'cause I don't care who you are
In this bar
It only matters who I is

Stop talking that Blah blah blah
Think you'll be getting this
Nah nah nah
Not in the back of my
Car-ar-ar
If you keep talking that
Blah blah blah blah blah

The Bleeding Church- Modern Relevancy

Some of our pastors, churches, and congregations have bought into an egregious lie. In a movement pioneered by the formation of America’s “mega-churches,” churches have been restructuring their attitudes in an attempt to become more “user-friendly” for a world whose culture poses a stark contrast to the traditional church. Fundamental Christians have been labeled “extreme” to the point where even the word “fundamental” now has negative connotations. Our religious leaders fear coming across as abrasive to the culture that they are enveloped in. I am in no place to judge the motives of various pastors, but whether their intentions were bent towards evangelism or simply to grow their church, the effects of such actions are dangerously the same. There are sizable churches in my city that have removed crosses and crucifixes because studies showed that they are “offensive symbols.”

We Christians are too concerned with offending the people around us with the judgmental abrasiveness of the scripture. In 1 Corinthians 1:23, Paul refers to the message of Jesus as a stumbling block and foolishness to the world. Jesus says in Luke 12:51-53 “⁵¹Do you suppose that I came to grant peace on earth? I tell you, no, but rather division; ⁵²for from now on five members in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three. ⁵³"They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law."

2 Corinthians 6:14

¹⁴Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?

¹⁵Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever?

¹⁶Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said,
"I WILL DWELL IN THEM AND WALK AMONG THEM;
AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE.
¹⁷"Therefore, COME OUT FROM THEIR MIDST AND BE SEPARATE," says the Lord.
"AND DO NOT TOUCH WHAT IS UNCLEAN;
And I will welcome you.

What fellowship has light with darkness? We have been called to separate ourselves from the world. Now this does not mean that we should all practice pietism and retreat from the world, isolating ourselves. Mathew 5:10-16 portrays a perfect example of what Jesus expects of His followers.

¹⁰"Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

¹¹"Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.

¹²"Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

¹³"You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men.

¹⁴"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden;

¹⁵nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.

¹⁶"Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

Being an ambassador of Christ means that we will be persecuted, but God tells us that we are to go out into the world anyway. The world will not like us, nor will they be accepting of the implications that the presence our faith brings, following us everywhere we go. Pay close attention to the words of John in chapter fifteen verses eighteen to twenty-one; "If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, 'A slave is not greater than his master ' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also. But all these things they will do to you for My name's sake, because they do not know the One who sent Me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin.”

If you were of the world, the world would love its own. We should not feel comfortable in the world. Our lives should be a living reflection of Christ, showing that “now they have no excuse for sin.” Romans 12:2 says “do not be conformed to this world,” and Romans 12:9 tells us to “abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.” We cannot be accepted by evil if we abhor it. Our churches cannot house Christians living in sin if we consistently spoke God’s truth. If, in your personal life, you find it easy to live your life in the world, then reevaluate it. Like I said before, I accuse the reader of the same things that I accuse myself, and personally, I am dismayed by how close I am with the world.

James 4:4

⁴You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

Restoring Those Who Have Erred: By Spurgeon

SPURGEON’S COMMENTS ON JAMES 5:19-20

“Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins” (James 5:19-20).

It was not merely that he fell into a mistake upon some lesser matter which might be compared to the fringe of the gospel, but he erred in some vital doctrine--he departed from the faith in its fundamentals. There are some truths which must be believed, they are essential to salvation, and if not heartily accepted the soul will be ruined. This man had been professedly orthodox, but he turned aside from the truth on an essential point.

Now, in those days the saints did not say: ‘We must be largely charitable, and leave this brother to his own opinion; he sees truth from a different standpoint, and has a rather different way of putting it, but his opinions are as good as our own, and we must not say that he is in error.’

That is at present the fashionable way of trifling with divine truth, and making things pleasant all round. Thus the gospel is debased and another gospel propagated.

I should like to ask modern broad churchmen whether there is any doctrine of any sort for which it would be worth a man’s while to burn or to lie in prison. I do not believe they could give me an answer, for if their latitudinarianism be correct, the martyrs were fools of the first magnitude.

From what I see of their writings and their teachings, it appears to me that the modern thinkers treat the whole compass of revealed truth with entire indifference; and, though perhaps they may feel sorry that wilder spirits should go too far in free-thinking, and though they had rather they would be more moderate, yet, upon the whole, so large is their liberality, that they are not sure enough of anything to be able to condemn the reverse of it as a deadly error.

To them black and white are terms which may be applied to the same colour, as you view it from different standpoints. Yea and nay are equally true in their esteem. Their theology shifts like the Goodwin Sands, and they regard all firmness as so much bigotry. Errors and truths are equally comprehensible within the circle of their charity.

It was not in this way that the apostles regarded error. They did not prescribe large-hearted charity towards falsehood, or hold up the errorist as a man of deep thought, whose views were ‘refreshingly original’; far less did they utter some wicked nonsense about the probability of their having more faith in honest doubt than in half the creeds.

They did not believe in justification by doubting, as our Neologians do; they set about the conversion of the erring brother; they treated him as a person who needed conversion: and viewed him as a man who, if he were not converted, would suffer the death of his soul, and be covered with a multitude of sins.

They were not such easy-going people as our cultured friends of the school of ‘modern thought,’ who have learned at last that the deity of Christ may be denied, the work of the Holy Spirit ignored, the inspiration of scripture rejected, the atonement disbelieved, and regeneration dispensed with, and yet the man who does all this may be as good a Christian as the most devout believer!

O God, deliver us from this deceitful infidelity, which while it does damage to the erring man, and often prevents his being reclaimed, does yet more mischief to our own hearts by teaching us that truth is unimportant, and falsehood a trifle, and so destroys our allegiance to the God of truth, and makes us traitors instead of loyal subjects to the King of kings (C.H. Spurgeon, “Restoring Those Who Have Erred,” Words of Counsel for Christian Workers, pp. 139-142).

The Bleeding Church: The Need for Accountability

I write this as a man who is completely humbled by my absolute failure to adhere to this extremely vital portion of God’s word.

1 Corinthians 5:9-13

⁹I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people;

¹⁰I did not at all mean with the immoral people of this world, or with the covetous and swindlers, or with idolaters, for then you would have to go out of the world.

¹¹But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler--not even to eat with such a one.

¹²For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Do you not judge those who are within the church?

¹³But those who are outside, God judges. REMOVE THE WICKED MAN FROM AMONG YOURSELVES.

(Italics mine, Capital letters written that way by Paul)

This is a very powerful and often overlooked passage of scripture. Paul clearly states here that Christians are to hold each other accountable, even disassociating themselves from people in the church that call themselves Christians, but fail to act like it. This is not a suggestion, if you believe II Timothy 3:16 (all scripture is God breathed) than it is a commandment, an important but rarely used tool that God gave us to preserve the integrity of His church, and to keep individuals from straying.

Let’s assume that the reader has a friend “mike” who goes to church, or professes to be a Christian, but decided to move in with his girlfriend. What are the implications?

Action speaks louder than words. You can tell Mike however you want what you think of his decision, but going to his house negates your words to a degree because your action condones his decision. If your Christian friend is sexually active, they should not feel comfortable in the company of other believers. God tells us not to associate with them because He wants us to confront them. We need to not only tell, but show Mike, through our actions, that His lifestyle is not ok. Also, it provides the person confronting Mike an opportunity to stand up for what they believe in.

This is a very difficult concept of scripture to apply. 1 John 4:7-8 states “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. H who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” We must understand that this principle is not about condemnation, but about love. Mark 9:47-48 says, “If your eye causes you to stumble, throw it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, than, having two eyes, to be cast into hell, where THEIR WORM DOES NOT DIE, AND THE FIRE IS NOT QUENCHED.” God is worried about His people. He does not want to see people that He created burn themselves alive by falling into sin and hardening their hearts against Him. Mark 9:47 is not a parable or metaphor, God is literally saying “hey, save your soul at all costs.” It is written (in relation to sexual immorality) “Can a man take fire to his bosom, and his clothes not be burned? Can one walk on hot coals, and his feet not be seared?” Proverbs 6:27-28. In love, confront your brothers and sisters in Christ. Jesus gives us the perfect blueprints on the best way to approach a Christian in sin.

Mathew 18:15-20

¹⁵"If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother.

¹⁶"But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that BY THE MOUTH OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES EVERY FACT MAY BE CONFIRMED.

¹⁷"If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.

¹⁸"Truly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.

¹⁹"Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven.

²⁰"For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst."

(I find it interesting how Jesus closes this monologue by telling about the immense power that is spawned by a few believers humbly approaching their God together.)

My brothers and sisters, the American church is so diluted. The young Christians in our congregation are sitting next to people in pews who have a blatant disregard for the things of Christ, and are in open rebellion against Him. If we cannot stand up for the things of our Lord in our own churches, then where shall we stand? At some point we must put our faith into action, and represent our Christ as the ambassadors that He asks us to be. (2 Corinthians 5:20)

Galatians 6

¹Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted.

²Bear one another's burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.

³For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.

⁴But each one must examine his own work, and then he will have reason for boasting in regard to himself alone, and not in regard to another.

⁵For each one will bear his own load.

⁶The one who is taught the word is to share all good things with the one who teaches him.

⁷Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.

⁸For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.

⁹Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.

¹⁰So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.

¹¹See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand.

¹²Those who desire to make a good showing in the flesh try to compel you to be circumcised, simply so that they will not be persecuted for the cross of Christ.

¹³For those who are circumcised do not even keep the Law themselves, but they desire to have you circumcised so that they may boast in your flesh.

¹⁴But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

¹⁵For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.

¹⁶And those who will walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.

¹⁷From now on let no one cause trouble for me, for I bear on my body the brand-marks of Jesus.

¹⁸The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brethren. Amen.

Please- approach, confront, and pray for the members of our churches struggling with sexual immorality; in and through love.

What Does America Think of Christians?

I found this research very relevant and interesting. This is a study that the barna group compiled in 2007

A New Generation Expresses its Skepticism and Frustration with Christianity

As the nation’s culture changes in diverse ways, one of the most significant shifts is the declining reputation of Christianity, especially among young Americans. A new study by The Barna Group conducted among 16- to 29-year-olds shows that a new generation is more skeptical of and resistant to Christianity than were people of the same age just a decade ago.

The study of Christianity’s slipping image is explored in a new book, entitled unChristian, by David Kinnaman, the president of The Barna Group. The study is a result of collaboration between Kinnaman and Gabe Lyons of the Fermi Project.

Rising Reactions

The study shows that 16- to 29-year-olds exhibit a greater degree of criticism toward Christianity than did previous generations when they were at the same stage of life. In fact, in just a decade, many of the Barna measures of the Christian image have shifted substantially downward, fueled in part by a growing sense of disengagement and disillusionment among young people. For instance, a decade ago the vast majority of Americans outside the Christian faith, including young people, felt favorably toward Christianity’s role in society. Currently, however, just 16% of non-Christians in their late teens and twenties said they have a "good impression" of Christianity.

One of the groups hit hardest by the criticism is evangelicals. Such believers have always been viewed with skepticism in the broader culture. However, those negative views are crystallizing and intensifying among young non-Christians. The new study shows that only 3% of 16 - to 29-year-old non-Christians express favorable views of evangelicals. This means that today’s young non-Christians are eight times less likely to experience positive associations toward evangelicals than were non-Christians of the Boomer generation (25%).

The research shows that many Christians are innately aware of this shift in people’s perceptions of Christianity: 91% of the nation’s evangelicals believe that "Americans are becoming more hostile and negative toward Christianity." Among senior pastors, half contend that "ministry is more difficult than ever before because people are increasingly hostile and negative toward Christianity."

The Set of Perceptions

While Christianity has typically generated an uneven reputation, the research shows that many of the most common critiques are becoming more concentrated. The study explored twenty specific images related to Christianity, including ten favorable and ten unfavorable perceptions. Among young non-Christians, nine out of the top 12 perceptions were negative. Common negative perceptions include that present-day Christianity is judgmental (87%), hypocritical (85%), old-fashioned (78%), and too involved in politics (75%) - representing large proportions of young outsiders who attach these negative labels to Christians. The most common favorable perceptions were that Christianity teaches the same basic ideas as other religions (82%), has good values and principles (76%), is friendly (71%), and is a faith they respect (55%).

Even among young Christians, many of the negative images generated significant traction. Half of young churchgoers said they perceive Christianity to be judgmental, hypocritical, and too political. One-third said it was old-fashioned and out of touch with reality.

Interestingly, the study discovered a new image that has steadily grown in prominence over the last decade. Today, the most common perception is that present-day Christianity is "anti-homosexual." Overall, 91% of young non-Christians and 80% of young churchgoers say this phrase describes Christianity. As the research probed this perception, non-Christians and Christians explained that beyond their recognition that Christians oppose homosexuality, they believe that Christians show excessive contempt and unloving attitudes towards gays and lesbians. One of the most frequent criticisms of young Christians was that they believe the church has made homosexuality a "bigger sin" than anything else. Moreover, they claim that the church has not helped them apply the biblical teaching on homosexuality to their friendships with gays and lesbians.

The ‘UnChristian’ Label

When young people were asked to identify their impressions of Christianity, one of the common themes was "Christianity is changed from what it used to be" and "Christianity in today’s society no longer looks like Jesus." These comments were the most frequent unprompted images that young people called to mind, mentioned by one-quarter of both young non-Christians (23%) and born again Christians (22%).

Kinnaman explained, "That’s where the term 'unChristian' came from. Young people are very candid. In our interviews, we kept encountering young people - both those inside the church and outside of it - who said that something was broken in the present-day expression of Christianity. Their perceptions about Christianity were not always accurate, but what surprised me was not only the severity of their frustration with Christians, but also how frequently young born again Christians expressed some of the very same comments as young non-Christians."

Changing Allegiances

One reason that Christianity’s image is changing is due to the shifting faith allegiances of Americans. Simply put, each new generation has a larger share of people who are not Christians (that is, atheists, agnostics, people associated with another faith, or those who have essentially no faith orientation). The new book refers to this group as "outsiders" because they are describing what Christianity looks like from an outsider’s perspective. Among adults over the age of 40, only about one-quarter qualify as outsiders, while among the 16 to 29 segment, two-fifths are outsiders. This represents a significant migration away from the dominant role that Christianity has had in America.

As pointed out in the Barna Update related to atheists and agnostics, this is not a passing fad wherein young people will become "more Christian" as they grow up. While Christianity remains the typical experience and most common faith in America, a fundamental recalibration is occurring within the spiritual allegiance of America’s upcoming generations.

Yet, the research shows that millions of young outsiders have significant experience with Christians and Christian churches. The typical young outsider says they have five friends who are Christians; more than four out of five have attended a Christian church for a period of at least six months in the past; and half have previously considered becoming a Christian.

"Older generations more easily dismiss the criticism of those who are outsiders," Kinnaman said. "But we discovered that young leaders and young Christians are more aware of and concerned about the views of outsiders, because they are more likely to interact closely with such people. Their life is more deeply affected by the negative image of Christianity. For them, what Christianity looks like from an outsider’s perspective has greater relevance, because outsiders are more likely to be schoolmates, colleagues, and friends."

Responding to the Research

David Kinnaman, who is a 12-year-veteran of the Barna team, pointed out some of the unexpected findings of the research. "Going into this three-year project, I assumed that people’s perceptions were generally soft, based on misinformation, and would gradually morph into more traditional views. But then, as we probed why young people had come to such conclusions, I was surprised how much their perceptions were rooted in specific stories and personal interactions with Christians and in churches. When they labeled Christians as judgmental this was not merely spiritual defensiveness. It was frequently the result of truly ‘unChristian’ experiences. We discovered that the descriptions that young people offered of Christianity were more thoughtful, nuanced, and experiential than expected."

"Some Christians fear the changing reputation of Christianity and it certainly represents an uncomfortable future. Yet, rather than being defensive or dismissive, we should learn from critics, especially those young Christians who are expressing consternation about the state of faith in America. Jesus told us to expect hostility and negative reactions. That is certainly nothing new. But the issue is what we do with it. Is it a chance to defend yourself and demand your rights? Or is it an opportunity to show people grace and truth? Common ground is becoming more difficult to find between Christians and those outside the faith. When the Apostle Paul advises believers to 'live wisely among those who are not Christians' and to 'let your conversation be gracious and effective,' (Colossians 4:5-6, NLT) he could be writing no better advice to committed Christians in America."

The book also includes exclusive perspective from 30 Christian leaders, including Mark Batterson, Chuck Colson, Louie Giglio, Dan Kimball, Brian McLaren, Kevin Palau, John Stott, and Rick Warren. Kinnaman described their contribution as an effort "to make sense of the complex and challenging project - both why the problems exist as well as what Christians ought to do in response to the information. We looked for the biblical space in order to respond to the sharpest criticism. Beyond simply reporting the problems that we discovered among a skeptical generation, my partner Gabe Lyons and I want the book to help Christians find a way forward, to read positive examples and find hope that their life can provide a clearer picture of Jesus to skeptical people around them."

For Your Reflection

New Gallop polls show that the divorce rate among self proclaimed born again Christians is higher than the divorce rate among atheists.

Among these born again Christians polled, the divorce rate was less than 1% for marriages that prayed together every single day.

This poll implies a whole lot. The importance of prayer, the extent that the church has been watered down... you interpret the math however you like.

Implications of Reflecting Christ

Newton wisely noted that every action has an opposite reaction. This theory goes beyond physics and is applicable to veins of thought and progressing philosophy as well. Philosophical actions, or altercations and advancements to popular thought are rebutted by opposing reactions. The presence of God is evident in all corners of the earth that He created, and man is forced to constantly tweak their justification of a life without God as His truth repeatedly shines through man’s attempt to wall Him up and silence Him.

Many times throughout philosophical history, man’s attempt to escape God was merely an effort to rid themselves of a corrupt religious establishment. Luke 17:1-2 states “¹He said to His disciples, "It is inevitable that stumbling blocks come, but woe to him through whom they come! ²It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea, than that he would cause one of these little ones to stumble.” It is a shame the way God has been misrepresented by man, acting upon greed in the name of a Holy God.

Foucault proposed that the idea of truth is a tool used by authorities to justify power. This notion was his response and critique of the church in his day. Thirteenth and fourteenth century monks questioned “how do we really know things” in response to their churches inability to face questioning and confrontation. This idea led to Erathmus claiming that man is the determining factor of truth.

Max Lucado once wrote, "Christianity, in its purest form, is nothing more than seeing Jesus. Christian service, in its purest form, is nothing more than imitating Him who we see. To see His majesty and to imitate Him, that is the sum of Christianity." Christ in us, the hope of glory is what believing in God is all about. Galatians 5:25 states “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” In 2 Corinthians 5:20, it is written “Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.” I think Christians need to take a hard look at history, and learn the implications of what they say and do as representatives of Jesus. When we bend His word to fit our needs, we pollute His image to the people around us. People need God, not our impression of God. Believers must work harder on reflecting Christ to the world around them.

Sorry Guys

Crazy couple of weeks for me. I am working on a new post now

The Essence of Christianity

"Christianity, in its purest form, is nothing more then seeing Jesus. Christian service, in its purest form, is nothing more then imitating Him who we see. To see His majesty and to imitate Him, that is the sum of Christianity"

- Max Lucado

Man’s Attempt to Survive a Life Without God

“Archaeologists have unearthed Neanderthal graves containing weapons, tools and the bones of a sacrificed animal, all of which suggest some kind of belief in a future world that was similar to their own. The Neanderthals may have told each other stories about the life that their dead companion now enjoyed. They were certainly reflecting about death in a way that their fellow-creatures did not. Animals watch each other die, but as far as we know, they give the matter no further consideration. But the Neanderthal graves show that when these early people became conscious of their mortality, they created some sort of counter-narrative that enabled them to come to terms with it. The Neanderthals who buried their companions with such care seem to have imagined that the visible, material world was not the only reality. From a very early date, therefore, it appears that human beings were distinguished by their ability to have ideas that went beyond their everyday experience.”
-Karen Armstrong: A Short History of Myth

Psalm 139:13-14
13For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother's womb.
14I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well.

We were each custom made by God, but more importantly for God. Man was created with the intrinsic understanding of his creation by a superior being, and the myriad of implications that would render. No human being can escape His presence. How does man cope with his own blatant disregard of inherent knowledge? The answer to this question explains many events throughout history. Man cannot. The answer is as simple as that. There is absolutely no way of dealing with a personal refusal to yield to a deity that is omnipresent in the world around us.

Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote, “Nature never spares the opium or nepenthe; but, wherever she mars her creature with some deformity or defect, lays her poppies plentifully on the bruise, and the sufferer goes through life, ignorant of the ruin, and incapable of seeing it, though all the world point their finger at it every day. The worthless and offensive members of society, whose existence is a social pest, invariably think themselves the most ill-used people alive, and never get over their astonishment as the ingratitude and selfishness of their contemporaries.”

Everyone knows that annoying kid who always thought he was “mad cool.” That, is the essence of man. Without God, we cannot possibly cope, so we are faced with two choices: spend the rest of life in submission to this deity, or spend the rest of life convincing ourselves that there is no such ultimatum. If man rejects God, it is imperative that he devalues the significance of his choice; this is man’s only chance at sanity.

Romans 1:17-32
17For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "BUT THE RIGHTEOUS man SHALL LIVE BY FAITH."
18For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,
19because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them.
20For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.
21For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
22Professing to be wise, they became fools,
23and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures.
24Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them.
25For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
26For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural,
27and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error.
28And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper,
29being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips,
30slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents,
31without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful;
32and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them.

Who understands human nature in more depth than the being who created it? He knows the implications of rejecting Him. This is where is gets scary… He is very active in man’s rejection of Him. Verse 24, “Therefore God gave them over,” verse 26 “For this reason God gave them over,” verse 28 “God gave them over to a depraved mind.”

Psalm 81:9-14
9"Let there be no strange god among you; Nor shall you worship any foreign god.
10" I, the LORD, am your God, Who brought you up from the land of Egypt; Open your mouth wide and I will fill it.
11"But My people did not listen to My voice, And Israel did not obey Me.
12"So I gave them over to the stubbornness of their heart, To walk in their own devices.
13"Oh that My people would listen to Me, That Israel would walk in My ways!
14"I would quickly subdue their enemies And turn My hand against their adversaries.

God’s longing for us to find joy in Him is not a notion to be underestimated. He gave His Son up to die for us. He desires to fill our every need and to comfort us, but when that offer is rejected, he allows our hearts to be calloused and confused. This principle applies to Christians as well. Just because we go to church and claim to follow Jesus, does not protect us from ensnaring ourselves. This is where introspection becomes so vital. We must fight everyday to see through the opium and nepenthe of our lives, because seeing ourselves as we really are is the factor that keeps our souls breathing. Being His children does not infer that we are immune from God giving us over to the desires of our hearts. We are completely free, able to choose between God and ourselves every second of the day. We are also filthy and decrepit beings, forced to overcome ourselves in order to see God every day. This collaboration is the most frightening aspect of life. If there is a particular area that we refuse to yield to God, it will grow. The more we choose this area over God, the closer we creep to the point where God gives us over to that area. He will cry and plead, but He will only hold on for so long, in order to preserve our free will. Delusional Christianity is dangerous. Consider Mathew 7:19-23: 19Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20"So then, you will know them by their fruits. 21"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. 22"Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?' 23"And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me; you who practice lawlessness.” Believing in God is not enough. James 2:19 mentions how even satan believes in God. It is Surrender that God seeks… complete surrender.

The minute we refuse to submit even the minutest point of life, we turn down the volume of God’s voice in our hearts. Mathew 13:14-15 says that the heart of people has become dull because of our unwillingness to see and hear God, but states that if we returned, He would immediately heal us.

In the words of our Lord Jesus, “Keep watching and praying, that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Matthew 26:41) We must stay on top of ourselves with the most excruciating attention, and pray daily that God will show us our weak points. God forbid we find ourselves in a place where we look for God, but do not remember where to find Him.

Kant and Epistemology

Kant promoted in his first major philosophical work, Critique of Pure Reason, that anything that could not be seen or touched could not be considered truth. According to Kant, truth was something that came pre-organized in the human mind. On this issue, he directly opposed Hume and Locke, who saw the human mind as an empty chasm waiting to acquire enough experiences to begin formulating knowledge. The implications of his position were that it left no room for religion. As far as Kant was concerned, religion was suitable for sensory expeditions, and even provided insight and explanations for human condition, but was incapable of achieving reliability. Essentially, religion was a mode of understanding, not a path to absolute knowledge.

Through this writing, he hoped to analyze and refute the popular notion that all knowledge comes from experience, and show how human experiences and instincts differed in the production of knowledge. In order to do this, he made a case that absolute certainty of knowledge is impossible if all knowledge comes from sensation. In his mind, as he later stated, he was rescuing God from skeptics trying to force the notion of God into the boundaries of reason, but according to his contemporaries he had destroyed the case for God, because an immortal soul and a good God could never actually be proven by reason. He effectively made the situation he was attempting to rectify even worse.

This led to his second major piece of philosophical writing entitle The Critique of Practical Reason. He retraced his steps and claimed that morality was inherent, we are immortal, and thus, there must be a God. He advocated that “Since religion must be based not on the logic of theoretical reason, but on the practical reason of the moral sense, it follows that any Bible or revelation must be judged by its value of morality, and cannot itself be considered the judge of a moral code.”

It is amusing how difficult it becomes to understand the concept of an omnipotent God through the resources of human logic. Kant’s search for truth is similar to the servant who demands that his master travel to his house to issue him the master’s orders.

The Jesus of the Gentiles: Charting the History of how God Brought Salvation to the Rest of the World

The Jesus of the Gentiles
Acts 6-10
Ephesians 3:5-10 says, “5which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit; 6to be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel, 7of which I was made a minister, according to the gift of God's grace which was given to me according to the working of His power. 8To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ, 9and to bring to light what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God who created all things 10so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places.” When Jesus came to earth, He opened the Gospel to everyone, Jew and Gentile. Although this window was immediately opened, it took time for the church (composed by people of Jewish descent) to overcome the entrenched traditions and notions they mentally depended on, and to accept these Gentiles as brothers in Christ. In describing Jewish sentiment towards Gentiles during the time period Acts was written, Barclay writes that, “at their worst, they (Jewish People) declared that God had created Gentiles to be fuel for the fires of hell; at their mildest they believed that someday the Gentiles would become their servants.” (Barclay 53) Chapters six through ten in The Book of Acts can be viewed as a history of the construction of the bridge that God directed built between Heaven, and all corners of the earth.

Acts chapters six through ten illustrate God’s complete understanding of man by the gentle way in which He primes the Jewish church to accept Christians of all different ethnicities. Toward this end, there are three major cornerstones within the five chapters: Stephen, who articulates a God of all cultures; Saul, who is converted to Paul and raised to be the Gentile’s greatest missionary and advocate; and Peter, who breaks ground at the house of Cornelius, and represents God’s first wave of assault on Satan’s stronghold, the Gentiles.

Stephen was selected among a group of seven (considered to be the church’s first deacons) to resolve a dispute between Hellenist Jews and Hebrew Jews. [i] The Hebrew Jews considered themselves “purebred” and took great pride in their heritage, which led to the discrimination of the Hellenist Jews who spoke mainly Greek and were looked at as half Jews. This is extremely important to understand, because God confronts Judaism’s pride slowly, essentially stating “Hebrews and Hellenists are equal.[ii]” Stephen’s character emerges through the settling of this dispute and he becomes viewed as a leader, teaching and preaching Jesus in the Synagogues, even performing miracles. (Acts 6:8) His emphatic teaching leads to him being setup, arrested and sent to trial by the Sanhedrin. Many theologians consider Acts seven to be “Stephen’s defense,” but it reads nothing like a defense. While he was speaking, he knew that his words could only result in his death. His speech was not in defense of himself for whom he apparently had no regard, but in his God that he followed and for whom he desired to die rather than to have people misunderstand. He used Abraham[iii], Joseph[iv], Moses[v], and The Tabernacle[vi] (God) to construct his argument and condemn their mindset. His three main points to the Jewish religious leaders were: they were resisting the Holy Spirit as they had always done; they were persecuting and killing prophets as they had always done; and they were breaking the laws of Moses as they had always done. (Boice 125) Using Jewish heroes like the father of their race, and the savior of their people to incriminate them, they went berserk and murdered Stephen. Barclay notes that the Sanhedrin had no authority to put someone to death, so this was a lynching, not a legal death sentence. (Barclay 61) The gist of what Stephen was trying to communicate was simple. He advocated a God so big, that he could not be confined to one nation, one people, or one building. His ideology seems a little more progressive then that of his companions, and he should definitely be viewed as “the voice in the wilderness” for open Christianity.

Stephen’s death elicits massive persecution of the Church, presumably led by Saul. The Christian community was comfortable, and had no reason to disperse and spread the gospel. These events show the hand of God, as He merely sends His people out on missions to all corners of the globe.[vii] Among those to disperse was a man named Philip, who was selected along with Stephen as one of the seven to absolve the issue between the Hellenist and Hebrew Jews. He travels to the Samaritans to perform miracles and preach Jesus in what the scripture indicates as a massive revival.[viii] (Acts 8:5-8) This marks another example of Jesus reaching out to people who the Jews considered abominable. They were “half Jews” as well, but because of religious affiliation more than heritage. God is still busy preparing the world for His radical change, and puts one more piece into play here. After starting a revival, the Holy Spirit transports Philip to go talk to an Ethiopian Eunich. Blaiklock points out that Philip was obviously very bold and in tune with God to be getting rides around the universe like that, and compares him to an Old Testament prophet. (Blaiklock 79) He baptizes the eunich (another Gentile) and again gets carried away by the Holy Spirit.

Next, God picks out the man to pioneer His agenda to the world. A massive and daunting expedition, His representative would have to be ambitious, ideologically stubborn, and extremely passionate. Who better then Saul? God waits until Saul is on the tail end of a long journey implying too much time to think, then confronts him. Immediately, he is obedient, almost as if God literally lifted a veil off of Paul’s heart. God audibly tells him, in what Boice declares the summation of all Christianity, to “go into the city and be told what to do.” (Boice 107, Acts 9:6) By combining Acts chapter nine with Galatians chapter one, we can surmise the events of Paul’s conversion and sanctification. From the Damascus Road where he met God, he was taken in by Ananias, recovered, learned, then started preaching in Damascus. The recipients of his message tried to kill him, and he went off to Arabia by himself[ix] to study God. Three to five years later he returns and continues teaching in Damascus. Newly converted and immediately out on his first preaching mission evoking the crowds to attempt to kill him… God found his guy. (Acts 9:20-23)

Everything is in place for God to start his mission. Peter has been traveling around preaching, healing, and raising the dead through the Holy Spirit when he is led to settle down in Joppa is the residence of a man named Simon, who is a tanner by trade. (Acts 9:31-43) A tanner would be considered permanently unclean by the Jewish because of the constant presence of dead animals that the trade requires. (Numbers 19:11-13) Peter’s decision to stay at his house shows the progressiveness in which Peter is growing in the Lord. (Barclay 82) While abiding here, God sends Cornelius, a Roman Centurion, a vision that results in him sending messengers to Simon the Tanner’s door to retrieve Peter. While the Centurion’s messengers are on their way, Peter has three consecutive dreams of God telling him to eat what can simply be described as Gentile foods. (See Leviticus 11) Peter objects, stating to God that he has never eaten anything unclean, to which God replies “What I have cleansed, no man can call unclean.” Peter gets the message; no man is common or unclean. Peter’s understanding and application of this is imminent. When the centurions men arrive they stop at the door because they know its forbidden for a Jew to have unclean men in his house, but peter invites them to enter. (Barclay 82) The men bring Peter back to their master’s house. While Peter is preaching, the Holy Spirit descends on the Roman people. The significance here is vivid. Throughout the book of Acts to this point, the Holy Spirit was bestowed on men by God through the apostles and baptism. In this case, there was no baptism or laying on of hands as of yet for these Gentiles. God simply reached out and visually chose them.

The heart of God is exposed through these five chapters by the methods He used to evoke His will. The Creator of the universe could have easily shook things up and obliterated traditions and cultures in order to get His message to the Gentiles, but He chose to work slowly, tweaking the heart of man, and carefully navigating around cultural boundaries to achieve His will. This demonstrated both His indefinite knowledge of man, and His patient love for man. In chapter six, He shows the Jewish people (the chosen people) that people born of a different heritage that share their faith should be equally accepted; not as Hellenistic Christian Jews and Hebrew Christian Jews, but as fellow believers. Then for the first time in history, chapter seven displays the first recorded speech derived from the notion that God is too big to limit to one group of people. Their pride still remaining perfectly intact, the Christian Jews must then accept the Samaritans, who shared their heritage but not their customs. God was slowly leading His people through this radical change sensitively, in baby steps. While simmering the hearts of His people, He chooses Paul to represent Him and spearhead His message to the Gentiles. While Paul is being trained, God initiates a skirmish at a Roman centurion’s house, and the spiritual war that had been raging for thousands of years was suddenly opened to all corners of the earth. If this cannot portray the love and intricacy of God, then nothing can.

[i] Every Friday two collectors would go house to house to receive a collection of both money and goods for the poor to be distributed later in the day. This was called the “kuppah” meaning “basket.” Also, a daily collection was taken at the synagogue called the “tamhui,” meaning “tray” for families too poor to wait for the weekend. (Barclay 51) The Jewish people understood this as their natural civic duty, but were often chastised by Old Testament prophets for neglecting this. (Boice 112) In this case, the complaint was that the Hellenist widows and poor were getting left out when these goods were distributed.
[ii] Note that at this time, many priests were being converted to Christianity. (Acts 6:7) One cannot help but wonder what role this played later on in the book of Acts as the tension between Jewish Christians and Gentile Christians increases. Few Jewish people would be more fundamental and traditional in their beliefs then a Jewish priest.
[iii] Stephen points out that god visited Abraham before He lived in Haran. This is a similar argument to the one he makes about Moses, both illustrated that God has worked and appeared in places other than the “holy land.” Wherever God is present, the land is holy. This point Stephen makes informs us about and event that the Old Testament does not depict. (Boice 121) He also points out that Abraham always considered himself a pilgrim. (Hebrews 11:10) This analogy was meant as a slap in the face to the religious officials that were so comfortable and settled in on earth that they had allowed God’s temporal blessings to eclipse their sense of God’s presence. (Boice 122)
[iv] Joseph was mistreated, sent into a foreign land, and became the Savior of his people. Possibly an inference to Jesus.
[v] Moses was the sacred lawgiver and cornerstone to Judaism, but Stephen points out how he was twice rejected by his people. He also talks about how God personally goes to talk to Moses in Midian, another indication that Jerusalem was not the only “Holy Land.” (Acts 7:30-31)
[vi] The Jewish tabernacle was both the source of, and pet of the immense Jewish pride prevalent in that time period. He compares this magnificent gold-plated building to wilderness tabernacle, which was basically a mobile tent, and states that there is no significant difference between them. He quotes Isaiah 66:1-2 where God asks, “what kind of house can man build for God?” Essentially, the time of the temple had passed, and what they worshipped was nothing more then a few walls and building materials.
[vii] Noteworthy for reflection: The passage talks about a mass exodus of Christians fleeing for their lives, but Jesus’ apostles stayed and preached unharmed. They deserted Him once at Gethsemane but learned their lesson and courageously held fast. These were clearly very changed men.
[viii] Acts 8:13-25 Is one of my favorite passages of scripture. It tells of how the church receives news of the revival amongst the Samaritans, and quickly sends Peter and John to give out the Holy Spirit and minister to the new Christians. They call in the “big guns”
[ix] Paul went to be alone with God. A man of intense Old Testament knowledge, Paul learned about God from God. Not from others explaining God to them. This is a facet of our faith we often overlook.

*I have more of an expositional commentary written about these events and this time period if anyone is curious, or questioning the validity of what is written.