Category: Religious Essays

The Gift

By Bob Beanblossom

27 July 2016

 It seems to me that we sometimes forget how great the gift of salvation is. We rest in the great grace of His sacrifice and forget that justification by faith thru grace is but the beginning of a great adventure, not the end. Running in place or dragging our feet here limits both our personal growth and His ability to use us for His glory.

Gardiner Spring wrote that, “Pardon thru the blood of the cross is preliminary to advancement thru its righteousness.” (The Attraction of the Cross, 1845)  He anchored our relationship with our Creator firmly in the blood of our Savior. There is no other course to salvation. The way is fixed, immovable, set by the very God of the universe who will have no other gods before Him.

Spring then pointed to our sanctification, the growth that yields an increasingly ‘setting aside’ of ourselves for His use.  God has set an impossible goal for us to reach:  “as obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: but as he which has called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:14-16)

We might be tempted to give up the fight against the impossibility of God’s command for each of us. Holy as God—not in this life. Exactly. But, before we go hide in a corner, we need to remember that, as children of the Most High God, we have a relationship with that God through the Blood of the Lamb and the indwelling Holy Spirit: we have access to the power of the Creator to move forward in that quest for holiness. There is a path laid out for us as we strive to please Him. God never demands of us what He will not join with us in achieving—if we let Him.

First, the warning: “And Jesus answering said unto them, Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God?” (Mark 12:24) We are not called to be spectators or passive vessels waiting for God to move upon us. Paul, in Ephesians 4:1, declared himself to be “the prisoner of the Lord.” A prisoner does his captor’s bidding. Paul, a voluntary prisoner of the Lord as we are, yielded himself to the service of his Master. A primary mission for Christians is to learn of Him through His Word and prayer.

Next, the power: “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7) That power comes with the gift of love and of a sound mind.  The power comes with the ability to use it.

Then come the tools: “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12) The Word of God is our primary tool and growth requires time in His Word (not reading about the Word) in the spirit of prayer. Fellowship with likeminded Christians and a careful selection of other reading material help, but are no substitutes for the real thing. Limitations to this gift are within us, not in the gift: “Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, according as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises; that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” (2 Peter 1:2-4) He is giving us all things—all things that pertain to life in Him and godliness. We are given promises: each promise comes with conditions, with obligations on our part. When we ask, He will give us wisdom and understanding to discern those conditions and obligations.

Why does he give us these magnificent gifts? That we should: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs; with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” (Colossians 3:16) This is the fellowship of fellow Christians; fellowship in the sense of sharing Jesus and His blessings, sharing our challenges and failures; upholding one another in specific prayer. A cup of coffee and discussion of the Big Game or The Election are not fellowship in this sense.

As we grow–a parallel activity, with each supporting the other–we have that familiar command, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.” (Matthew 28:7) We are to tell others of our salvation. We don’t need to be great orators—Paul said that he spoke in simplicity. We don’t need three points to a rehearsed message—we simply need to share the change in our hearts and lives. The Holy Spirit will do the rest.

Following the Crowd

By Bob Beanblossom

26 July 2016/Revised 18 November 2020eems toIt 

Americans are waiting for the results of what may be the most important  elections in the last 100 years or so.  The reason is foundational: a line has been drawn between traditional constitutional rule of law, and a rationalistic socialist state.  Americans want a nation based upon the Constitution, or a new America based upon influence and increased governmental control of their lives. Because it is foundational, it is divisive.  Most Americans seem to assume that Mr. Biden will be certified as the next President, but none seem content to accept the results and move on. Charges of extensive corruption in the election process are met with derisive attacks on those making those complaints–data and established procedures long-established by the rule of law–have little place in the conflict except where extractions without context can be utilized by media propagandists. There seems to be no movement, or even suggestion, to bring protagonists together into a working government that addresses rationally the needs of We the People and fulfill those Constitutionally mandated duties of our governing bodies. Confrontation is the rule of the day.

It seems to me that we find it much easier to follow the crowd than to take an individual stand. We are truly sheep-like. I recall the days of the hippies who were determined to bring peace and love to their world. They tried so hard to be different from the self-interest of their parents and the establishment that they formed an entire counter-culture. But, in their quest for individualism, they became indistinguishable from one another—they lost their identities in the herd. A corollary today is our shotgun mindset that seeks easy solution in broad group actions to solve specific wrongs. We complain incessantly on social media about increasing governmental interference in our lives even while demanding more regulations to fix what we only talk about. Talk–opinion–is the tool of the outraged citizen. Talk without follow up, without action, without results. We are mindless sheep allowing ourselves to be led into the chains of the new order: an impersonal governmental welfare state where each produces for the state that, after enriching the key players, doles out what it sees fit to those who produce and support it.  This liberal concept is not  new, and the practice in our nation has been progressing since the Great Depression, but the rate of change is becoming terminal. Generations living today will not live to see the swing back to conservatism.

As the courts “discover” and apply new rights for the most vocal micro-groups within society,  age-old moral values written into the United States Constitution from Judeo-Christian teachings are being ignored and replaced. Relativistic thinking and its champions are surging to the forefront in religion, socially active businesses, and self-serving politicians. Role models are raised from the ranks of corrupt media stars, athletes, and news personalities who have little experience in the real-world populated by those who hang on their every word and follow their every lead. This relativism has dominated philosophy for over a century, making incremental inroads into traditional all aspects of our lives. Often we do not even notice the change: but some changes cannot be missed, for they trample on traditional moral values. The relativist tells us that moral absolutes–in fact, any absolutes–are unfounded and, if they were possible, are irrelevant in our post-modern humanist society led by the obvious advances made by science in all areas. Here’s a short list of changes that are re-defining American society. Former President Obama promised to “fundamentally change America,” and these are just some of the obvious changes being made by those who, like him, are not satisfied with the old constraining order of absolute moral values, rule of law, and Judeo-Christian work ethics. 

  1.  The “news” has become largely a propaganda machine of the humanist movement and is effectively using traditional print and television while co-opting social media, movies, and advertising as outlets for their message. It is a moving target characterized by a concerted effort to shut-down competing worldview.  Distortion and lies are standard tools with terms like “fake news,” and “fact-checking” used to obscure truth. Selective reporting, always a problem, has become a standard tool of “informing” the populace as propaganda goals are pursued.
  2. Confusion is generated (a standard divide-and-conquer technique) as traditional societal moral values are directly assaulted by enlisting and using minority populations to destroy stabilizing foundational institutions such as marriage and motherhood. “Same-sex” marriage (an oxymoron) and society-funded abortion-on-demand are but two areas intended to undermine the basic building blocks of society. The propaganda machine constantly supports these efforts while effectively attacking individuals and groups who support traditional moral values as hate-mongering extremists. 
  3. Dissention from the new-norm is attacked on multiple fronts with techniques ranging from shaming to legal challenges where the rule of law is eroded by the abuse of the legal system.
  4. The Constitutional system is being dismantled as the Executive Branch legislates through Executive Order and selective enforcement, the Judicial Branch legislates through “creative” legal opinion, and the Legislative Branch panders to the media with headline-grabbing accusations and pronouncements that have little foundation in fact, while failing to fulfill their Constitutional responsibilities.
  5. The electorate clamors for term limits (that must be imposed by those who would be eliminated) to control politicians that various sectors would like removed from office in someone else’s voting district while failing to exercise their own vote to do the same in their own districts.

For the Christian—as opposed to the ‘christian,’ the pseudo-Christian who rejects biblical principles—the pressure is great to conform to the new thinking. Of course, it is not new at all, but that’s the message: ‘Get with it, everybody’s doing it.’ The new-wave, new-age, feel-good, god-loves-everyone, and all-gods-are-one crowd is blossoming.

The Psalmist had something to say about this trend 2500-3000 years ago: “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.” (all from Psalm 1)

“The counsel of the ungodly” seems an apt description for today’s common wisdom. The verse is comprehensive for being so compact: we are directed to avoid the advice, the walk, and the judgements of those in opposition to God. We are to avoid the influence of the ungodly, the sinner, and the scornful. We are to discriminate and discern.

Is our response one of submission? I learned one phrase in West Africa years ago. It is, roughly, “awu, awu.” It is a form of mourning: ‘Woe is me!’ I hear it in our churches and see it in our literature:  Awu, awu. But, I don’t believe that this is the course Jesus would have us follow. What then, are we to do? Glad you asked. “But his (the follower of the one true God) delight is in the law of the LORD; and in His law doth he meditate day and night.”

That sounds boring, you might say. My answer is simply, “Try it, you’ll like it.” It is far more satisfying than you might imagine. It does take desire, willpower, and effort to rise above the world and stay in the center of His will. In fact, you can’t do it by yourself. You will have to seek His help. Prayer works wonders to bring us into line with His will for our lives.

So, what do I get for the effort? The Psalmist continues, “And he (that’s you and me) shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth fruit in his season; his leaf shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. Like a healthy tree, you will gain moral strength that will stand you—and your family—through the storms of life. The last part is interesting. It isn’t a promise for riches untold, promotions on the job, or any other worldly prosperity. It is a promise of God’s favor. You might even become a moral beacon in this lost world.

Morality

By Bob Beanblossom

24 July 2016

“Morality is the outward manifestation of religion,” according to Tolstoy.

Paul Kurtz, author of the Secular Humanist Manifesto I and contributor to II and II, disagrees. While rejecting all legislated morality, especially that that can be traced to the Bible, he writes that some undefined moral code can be taught by relativistic humanists with no absolute foundation and achieve a higher universal morality. His views are echoed by a growing segment of political and educational leaders.  The Manifesto is a work in progress as the good-intentioned authors continue to revise it as they watch the power of individual greed and avarice overpower altruism in atheistic behavior.  As their system gains ground, the moral decay intensifies. They don’t seem to have the answer that they had hoped for.

In stark contrast, God’s plan is both absolute and final. The Law given to Moses by God is, and has been, the foundation of national legal systems around the world. The Law was given as a means of man securing a relationship with his God.  Man, however, found it impossible to keep the moral provisions of the Law. “Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in His sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.” (Romans 3:20)

We don’t like to be told that we are sinners. Today, in rebellion to that absolute law, we see that moral foundation being undermined by a shift to the relativism espoused by Kurtz.  Individual and small minority ‘rights’ are displacing the rights of the community as a whole.  Divisiveness and hate mongering by leaders intent on securing power from the people replace stability and equal standing under the law. Equitable treatment of all is replaced by ‘more equal’ treatment of select groups.  Increasingly, elites flaunt their always existing exemption from the law of the common people.

The Law was but an introduction to a higher order of God’s relationship with man, His creation. Designed by God to show man his weakness and moral depravity–ideas repugnant to humanists–it worked well: “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” (Romans 2:23)

Jesus Christ consummated the Law by His death on the cross, and brought grace to mankind.  Giving Himself once for our sins, He supplanted the ongoing sacrifices of the Law. Grace came, not instead of, but thru the living Word of God. Not as an afterthought or make-do measure of a God surprised by out failure to measure up to His statutes, but as the proposition planned even before the foundations of the world were laid.

Christ can say, without in any way compromising the continuity and integrity of His Word, but wholly displacing the recurring sacrifices of animals for sin, “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” (Luke 19:10)

“But these are written that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life thru His Name.” (John 20:31)

Evolution–Back to Basics

By Bob Beanblossom

20 July 2016

The theories of evolution begin with the assumption that all matter and energy that ever was or will be in the universe already existed. Evolution is and must be silent on the source and force of the creation of these basics. We will deal that another time.

We should understand from the start that there is no ‘Theory of Evolution.’ Today, there are as many theories as there are believers. Darwin’s ‘survival of the fittest’ has been replaced in scientific circles, but not in the popular media. No theory of evolution has been proven by the arduous criteria of the scientific method. Computer simulations that substitute for observed phenomena are just that—simulations (predictions) based upon suppositions. If you watch the weather forecasts, you are familiar with computer modeling—and their accuracy, even in the short term. Often cited examples of evolution such as the adaptive changes in virus to resist antibiotics are not evolution—they are adaptions. The ‘new’ forms are still virus. The theories of evolution today are matters of faith, of philosophy, and not science.

‘Proofs’ of evolution today start with existing life and describe various changes. Darwin described changes over time in finches’ beaks on the Galapagos Islands that he visited as part of his tour aboard the HMS Beagle. This argument is still used often in popular literature although it was set set aside long ago by scientists—these are simply variations due to change over time in the birds’ natural food supply due to weather and other natural factors. As the supply cycle continues, ‘evolutionary’ characteristics that disappeared reappear. Through it all, the finches are still finches.

We will look at evolution from a more fundamental perspective than the popular hunt for ‘missing links,’ although we will look at that briefly in closing.  This will be a brief but pragmatic approach to some of the basic assumptions vital to support evolutionary theory. These are the fundamental issues that must be recognized before any discussion can occur of species to species (kind to kind) transformations.

Here are the building blocks of evolution. This is not a rigorous scientific treatise, but is still intended to be accurate within the limitations of scope, time, and space. I submit to fact as I understand it, not to dogma. I stand to be corrected in any and all.

Evolution states that:

  1. Organic (living) matter evolved (changed fundamentally) from inorganic (non-living) atoms and molecules into complex organic molecules over vast periods of time.
  2. These changes occurred strictly by chance using existing matter, energy, and the laws of nature that we live with this very day. Evolution allows no external design, energy, or force to achieve these changes. Adaptions and permutations such as ‘biblical evolution’ that attempt to include design with chance do not meet the basic criteria of evolution. Theories of life arriving from ‘the stars’ still beg the question of origin.
  3. These developments occurred in environments ideally suited for their formation, growth, reproduction, and further development.
  4. Those organic compounds developed the necessary attributes to sustain themselves (live), procreate or replicate themselves, and further develop into more and more complex and specialized forms including living plants and animals. All in a finite life span. In other words, compounds such as sugar (C12H22O11), methane (CH4), and carbon dioxide (CO2) developed—over vast spans of time—into not only enzymes, RNA and DNA, but eyes, ears, legs—and brains, with internal and external communications networks, sensory perceptions, defense mechanisms—and intelligence, will, social behaviors.  In other words, the ability to not only live, but to interact creatively with its environment including other life forms.

Evolution of inorganic matter into organic

This essential step requires the formation of organic compounds from inorganic elements. The essential ingredient is the element carbon (C).  While it is contained in non-organic compounds such as carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2), and the basic carbon forms of diamond and graphite, it is an essential ingredient by definition in organic compounds. As early as 1828, Friederich Wohler synthesized urea from inorganic compounds. Many increasingly complex organic compounds including amino acids, purines, and pyrimidines have since been synthesized. It is important to carefully read the research, though, since discoveries of precursors in the laboratory seem to become The Missing Link in the popular press. Laboratory synthesis does suggests the possibility of natural synthesis.

Another problem is that all metabolism depends upon enzymes and most enzymes are proteins. Proteins are synthesized from DNA codes and transmitted to mitochondrial RNA. Therefore the synthesis of RNA and DNA requires proteins. In other words, proteins cannot be made without nucleic acid and nucleic acid cannot be made without proteins. (The Origin of Life, rcn.net, J. Kimball: http://users.rcn.com/jkimball.ma.ultranet/BiologyPages/A/AbioticSynthesis.html).

Natural evolution of organic matter into organic

Evolutionary biochemists cite the synthesis of these chemicals in the laboratory as proof that there is no essential ‘life force’ or ‘creative force’ necessary to produce life.  Since these processes have not been observed in nature, the logical failure here is ignoring the effects of the intentional activities of the scientist. Without those activities—the set-up, the process—the reactions would not have occurred. It must again be stressed that an enzyme is not a living creature—only a component of that creature.

Room for growth

The synthesis of increasingly complex organic molecules is interesting but inconclusive relative to evolution. Laboratory synthesis of polymers has proved that the processes explored so far are self-limiting.  That is, at a certain point the culture becomes toxic to the organic compound(s). As the compounds become more complex, the requirements for their development and for the development of even more complex molecules become even more stringent and less favorable statistically.

For our purposes, this means that as complexity increases towards real living organisms (and we haven’t even gotten close to that point), the likelihood of success decreases fundamentally.  That is the reason for the vast age of the earth and universe that evolutionists claim. I have discussed the dating methods in another paper. Organic compounds are not living entities. They are simply chemicals contained in living beings, like fuel is a component of a functioning internal combustion engine. Both are required, but are not the whole. Once evolved, these organic compounds have to be assembled both in very specific and very diverse ways to produce a living plant or animal. 

Creating offspring

We really can’t go here. Since we have not been able to create a life form, we have nothing to reproduce. If the conditions could be duplicated that were produced in the labs, it is conceivable that organic compounds could be synthesized. Remember, that this is akin to hydrogen and oxygen combining to form water. It is a chemical process. Water babies aside, chemicals are not life. They are only components of life. Essential, but incomplete.

This will not satisfy the devout evolutionist. It is not intended to do that. What I would like to do is to encourage some real investigation by evolutionists and creationists into the facts of the religion of the age.

Let’s conclude with one more step. It is important to remember that all of this is theory.  None of the above principles have ever been proved by the accepted tenants of the scientific method. Frequently cited ‘proofs’ of evolution (Ref. National Geographic Gene Study, Richard Peacock) include

  • “The universal genetic code.
  • The fossil record.
  • Genetic commonalities.
  • Common traits in embryos.
  • Bacterial resistance to antibiotics.”

With our improved working knowledge of the facts of evolutionary theory and our honed investigative skills, let’s look at those proofs. There is redundancy in the list: repetition is often a tool used to mask weak arguments.  I will combine some just to simplify.

Universal Genetic Code, Genetic Commonalities

Whether you assume a Divine Creator or evolution as described above, there is agreement that the elements of the universe are universal. A carbon-12 atom is composed of six protons, six neutrons, and six electrons. The source does not matter. It combines in specific ways with other elements, as do all the elements.  We would expect both predictability and uniformity here, and we get it.

Perhaps, this should not be an argument used by the evolutionists, though. Since evolution is described as a process taking place over millions of years in diverse times and locations, commonality seems to be a contradiction. We would expect more diversity from this process as local conditions provided different components and environments.

The Fossil Record

This is the most popular form of evolutionary ‘proof’ used today because it is easy to relate to, and it grabs our imaginations. The argument is a ‘Buyer beware’ situation, though. Here are some examples.

The website “Understanding Evolution” from the University of California at Berkeley presents the following: (http://evolution.berkeley.edu/evolibrary/article/lines_02)

“Fossil evidence

“Nicholas Steno’s anatomical drawing of an extant shark (left below) and a fossil shark tooth (right) below. Steno made the leap and declared that the fossil teeth indeed came from the mouths of once-living sharks.shark

“The fossil record provides snapshots of the past that, when assembled, illustrate a panorama of evolutionary change over the past four billion years. The picture may be smudged in places and may have bits missing, but fossil evidence clearly shows that life is old and has changed over time.

“Early fossil discoveries  In the 17th century, Nicholas Steno shook the world of science, noting the similarity between shark teeth and the rocks commonly known as “tongue stones.” This was our first understanding that fossils were a record of past life.

“Two centuries later, Mary Ann Mantell picked up a tooth, which her husband Gideon thought to be of a large iguana, but it turned out to be the tooth of a dinosaur,Iguanodon. This discovery sent the powerful message that many fossils represented forms of life that are no longer with us today.

“Additional clues from fossils Today we may take fossils for granted, but we continue to learn from them. Each new fossil contains additional clues that increase our understanding of life’s history and help us to answer questions about their evolutionary story.”

Did you notice anything missing?  There is no discussion of actual fossil progression from one species of life to another. In fact, there is no mention of evolution at all—just that life has changed with time. We have seen that in our own lifetime, but we have not seen evolution. Man, for instance, is very diverse in a number of characteristics, with some such, as height and weight, changing visibly.

Here is another look, this time from Austine Cline, self-identified as Agnosticism & Atheism Expert (http://atheism.about.com/od/evolutionexplained/a/FossilRecordEvolution.htm).

“When you hear talk of evidence for evolution, the first thing that frequently comes to mind for most people are fossils. The fossil record has one important, unique characteristic: it is our only actual glimpse into the past where common descent is proposed to have taken place. As such it provides invaluable evidence for common descent. The fossil record is not “complete” (fossilization is a rare event, so this is to be expected), but there is still a wealth of fossil information.

“What Is the Fossil Record?

“If you look at the fossil record, you find a succession of organisms that suggest a history of incremental development from one species to another. You see very simple organisms at first and then new, more complex organisms appearing over time. The characteristics of newer organisms frequently appear to be modified forms of characteristics of older organisms.

“Tis succession of life forms, from simpler to more complex, showing relationships between new life forms and those that preceded them, is strong inferential evidence of evolution.

“There are gaps in the fossil record and some unusual occurrences, such as what is commonly called the Cambrian explosion, but the overall picture created by the fossil record is one of consistent, incremental development.”

To be fair, there is more to his article, but the gist is that creation is not an option. To beat that dead horse, did you notice anything missing?  He does cite evolution in his equivocal certainty, but where is his “succession of organisms” that is the basis for his argument. Missing, again. Typically, following his admission that “common descent is proposed,” he concludes that the unspecified fossil record is “invaluable evidence.”

Let’s try again. This will be more detailed. Here is an excerpt from Evolution and the Fossil Record

(http://www.agiweb.org/news/evolution/examplesofevolution.html)

“Examples of Evolution 

“The fossil record contains many well-documented examples of the transition from one species into another, as well as the origin of new physical features. Evidence from the fossil record is unique, because it provides a time perspective for understanding the evolution of life on Earth. This perspective is not available from other branches of science or in the other databases that support the study of evolution. 

“Evolution of birds

“Most paleontologists regard birds as the direct descendants of certain dinosaurs – as opposed to descendants of some other group of reptiles. Paleontologists and zoologists have long accepted that birds and reptiles are related. The two groups share many common traits including many skeletal features, the laying of shelled eggs, and the possession of scales, although in birds, scales are limited to the legs. Among modern birds, the embryos even have rudimentary fingers on their wings. In one modern bird, the South American hoatzin, Opisthocomus hoazin, the wings of the juvenile have large moveable claws on the first and second digits. The young bird uses these claws to grasp branches.

“The descent of birds from dinosaurs was first proposed in the late 1860s by Thomas Henry Huxley, who was a famous supporter of Darwin and his ideas. Evidence from fossils for the reptile-bird link came in 1861 with the discovery of the first nearly complete skeleton of Archaeopteryx lithographica in Upper Jurassic limestones about 150 million years old near Solenhofen, Germany. The skeleton of Archaeopteryx is clearly dinosaurian. It has a long bony tail, three claws on each wing, and a mouth full of teeth. However, this animal had one thing never before seen in a reptile – it had feathers, including feathers on the long bony tail. Huxley based his hypothesis of the relationship of birds to dinosaurs on his detailed study of the skeleton of Archaeopteryx. 

“Here is the proof, including the citation of Thomas Huxley—an icon in the pantheon of evolutionary heroes. The discussion will center on the statements highlighted in bold print above.”

“many well-documented examples” Show me. Not commonalities (discussed below), not changes in characteristics (small horses developing into larger horses—that are all horses). Among the contributions of the science of DNA is a better understanding and adjusting of the classification of species.  This will be an area to watch with interest and honest skepticism as it is decoded.

  • “Most paleontologists regard” While this may or may not be a true statement, it is designed as a shaming tool—very much like ‘everybody is doing it.’ Intimidating, but meaningless.
  • “share many common traits” This is worth looking at. We hit it briefly above, but will consider the implications now. In a biological context, ‘traits’ include both physical attributes and behaviors.

o   Frogs, flies, and felines all have heads, yet I have not heard anyone claim they were in the same evolutionary ‘branch.’ That’s the proof of commonality.

o   More subtle commonalities such as those mentioned above are worth examining. Scales in fish and birds are cited as ‘proof’ of an evolutionary link. That’s like saying that all animals with hair are directly linked on an evolutionary branch. That would make mice, mountain goats, and men close kin, separated by only a few millions of years. So, when you set a mouse trap, remember: ‘There but by the fate of chance go I.’

  • “Embryos have rudimentary” is one of those ‘proofs’ that persist after the state of scientific knowledge has moved on. An often-cited example was that human embryos developed thru a series of stages that included fish. Modern medical techniques have debunked this theory.
  • “Evidence from the fossils” The statement is that there is a similarity (see above). There are no examples of reptile to intermediate species to bird.  Extinct species are not proof of evolutionary links that failed, but of species that failed. This occurs today. An endangered or species passing on to extinction is not an evolutionary link.
  • “never before seen” Lack of knowledge is certainly proof of nothing except a lack of knowledge.

If evolutionary theory were correct, there could be no ‘missing links.’  Each developmental species (missing link) would have to exist long enough and in enough quantities to develop into a new species that in turn changed into another species. The fossil record should reflect this abundance of life forms. It does not. The survival of any of those species had/has nothing to do with new speciation. If it did, those species which have died out in our lifetime are ‘missing links.’ And, they are not.

I have sought to show that evolution is not the fact that those who choose not to believe God would have the rest of us believe. It is philosophy, religion, rather than scientific fact. While some of the basic building blocks (organic compounds) are within the realm of science and the scientific method, the actual evolution of species to species is not. It has never been observed, cannot be tested, and cannot be replicated, or falsified by competent peers.

It is important to state similarly that creation is also a philosophy, a religion, rather than a scientific fact. It, too, cannot be observed, tested, or replicated in the laboratory. This is, of course disputed hotly by evolutionists who still claim that they rest on a scientific foundation.

But, there is a significant difference. Where evolution, as we have discussed above, argues from silence and supposition, the creationist argues from experience—his experience with a personal, communicating, self-revealing God. This is personal and cannot be quantified in objective measurements. That in no way makes it less real.

There is a missing link–it is the jump from organic compounds, no matter how complex, to life forms–to plants and animals.

Truth

By Bob Beanblossom

18 July 2016

It seems to me that we Christians are letting relativism into our personal and corporate theologies. In this system, there are no absolutes. ‘Facts’ are personal perceptions, ‘rights‘ are what I want them to be, and ‘truth‘ is both variable and adaptable–situational ethics. In spite of the relativist’s most ardent beliefs, their concept is false.  Even a quick look around will verify the failure of relativism to solve world problems.

There is a perverse nature in man that allows–even encourages–him to accept a part of truth that suits him and ignore or reject the rest. Perhaps the driving factor is that we don’t like to be wrong.

“I can do all things,” man says, while God concludes, “thru Christ which strengtheneth me.” Man in his own wisdom and power rejects the very Source of all power. All so he can say, “I did it my way.”

Let’s look briefly at the concept Truth.

When the God of Creation said, “Let there be light; and there was Light” (Genesis 1:3), Truth already existed in its final form, its only form. Jesus, the Word, said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” (John 14:6a). He anchored those attributes in eternity:  “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. (John 1:2). Situational ethics is not acceptable to our Lord: “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and forever. Be not carried about with diverse and strange doctrines.” (Hebrews 13:8-9)

Jesus explained the importance of a fixed Truth when He concluded John 14:6: “No man cometh unto the Father but by me.” Access to God is available to sinful man (that’s all of us) only thru Jesus.

Some religions–including some Christian denominations–have ‘pillars’ supporting their belief system–their theology.  True Christianity neither has nor needs pillars.  It is Truth, unadulterated, uncompromised, and unapologetic, in the person of Jesus:  the Christ, the Messiah.

Let me hasten to explain before I continue. I am not including outlines and teaching aids. But we humans tend to take the easy way out. We like ‘simple’ in the midst of our self-inflicted chaos. As a result, we are captives of short commercials, sound bites, and quick descriptions. All too often, the quick view, the Digest Condensation, is all we ever learn.  Look back–how many commercial jingles and slogans from the past do you remember when you forgot the year the Constitution was signed, or the date you were saved.

There are no degrees of Truth in Christianity, for Jesus alone, the uncreated One, is that Truth. There are no shades of gray in Truth. His Truth is neither a discussion item, nor does it share itself with other ‘truths’: it is absolute, complete, and eternal.

One must embrace it or reject it. There is no middle ground. It cannot be subdivided, classified, or indexed: it is singularly as complete as Creation itself but is far different: Creation is the work of God while Truth is an integral aspect of God.

It cannot be overpowered by man’s logic or bypassed by his experience, will, or ignorance.

Yet, it is but a part of the totality of a singular Godhead in three unique and distinct Persons, revealed to man the creature by his Creator, in the Person of the WORD, and by His written Word. Other descriptors such as omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent are combined with just, righteous, and many more to help us in our finite capacity to understand an infinite God. His very infinitude precludes us from anything approaching a real concept of His totality. The words, if we are not careful, become our concept of Him instead of pointers to His attribuites. God is, from eternity past thfu eternity future, absolute and changeless. 

He is Truth. Therefore, Truth never wavers, never changes, never departs.

We are left, then, with our responsibility, our duty.  It is simply what it has been from Creation.

Still, why would we want to give up that me-first centroid of personal achievement and pride? Why would I place myself under the rule of another–especially an unseen God?  That sounds like a throwback to the days of man-made gods and idols.  Here’s why: “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23) When we consider the real results of doing it our way, it starts to make sense. If we are honest, we have to acknowledge that our way has not been that great. At best, my way is a poor way. It leaves a lot to be desired.

Do I really need to change? Maybe I just need a dose of that power, a quick shot in the arm, so I can move on.  I’m afraid not: “For the wages of sin are death (that is eternal death); but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)

There it is again: we are bad.  God is good, and belief in and service to Jesus Christ is the answer. The Apostle Paul even called himself a ‘prisoner’ of the Lord–a voluntary position chosen as he realized his utter inability to be what God demanded without the help of God. He realized that it was not so much what we do for Christ as what we do thru Him that counts. Until we come face to face with that reality, until we acknowledge our own insufficiency, we cannot move forward.

What if I am not convinced. I’ve made it this far without God. What if I just ride it our for awhile and see how it plays out for me? That answer is simple: “He that believeth shall be saved (from eternal damnation), but he that believeth not shall be damned.” (Mark 16:16)

The first step is repentance:  “Repent ye therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out . . .” (Acts 3:19a)

Then the growth process begins here: “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15)

Need more help? Here it is: “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said to you.” (John 14:26)

Now comes the duty.  The last verse shows that we need not be a finished scholar. As He saved us from our sins when we knew so little, He will direct us in our endeavors. “Go ye into all the world, and preach (teach) the gospel to every creature.” (Mark 16:15)

A final note is necessary:  Nowhere does He promise health and wealth, peace and prosperity, or any other aspect of what we might call the ‘good life.’ We should not be lured by the unscrupulous into believing that.  After all, Jesus was crucified, His followers scattered or martyred, and to this day ridiculed–but He did give each one–every one–something far better: a personal relationship with the God of the universe and an internal joy that will never be quenched or even diminished:  “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Phillippians 4:7)

 

 

 

Be Ye Holy

By Bob Beanblossom

29 June 2016

It seems to me that the path of life always presents choices–maybe they are better called challenges. Our instructions from our Creator are clear: “Be ye holy as I am holy.” (from I Peter 1:13-16) That’s a big order. I have never quite met that goal.  In fact, I miss it constantly. But with His help, through the salvation we receive from Jesus, and the indwelling leadership of the Holy Spirit.

Sometimes it seems like we are caught in a burning building with no way out. We either don’t see a good choice, or don’t know which way to go.

When we come to an intersection in life where the choice seems to be between equals, it seems that the best choice is that one that provides the most benefit to others–not ourself: “Love your neighbor as yourself” is the rule of choice.

In our society we have graduated from “Do unto others as you would have them do to you,” to “Do unto others before they do to you” (from Luke 6:31),  to today’s version of “Forget others. If it feels good, do it.”

As Christians we are called to peace and unity with our fellow Christians.  Paul said it best:

I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,  with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. (Ephesians 4:1-7)

While he left an ‘out’ (“endeavoring”), the goal is still for behavior and attitudes that reflect our Savior. When we realize that our strength, our desire, is inadequate to reach the goal, we join Paul as he said:

O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? (Romans 7:24)

Maybe we should look at the whole passage. Sometimes we quit at the command and forget to look to the power:

Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: but I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin. (Romans 7:20-25)

There is hope, after all. Paul’s answer is ours: “I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

The battle won’t be over on this side of death, but we have help in choosing our path through this world.  It is a help certain, but requires our due diligence in maintaining and growing our relationship with our Savior:

These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. (John 14:25-26)

The journey will have bumps. But none will have eternal consequences. We are promised an otherworldly peace. The rest of that passage is:

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled,

neither let it be afraid. (John 14:27)

The bottom line is that we can try to travel through this life on our own, or trust the One who knows what our future holds, holds our hand, and leads through all minefields. If we loose Him, or feel alone, remember–He is where He always is. We only need to “seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matthew 6:33)

NEED RELIEF ?

 

It Seems to me . . .

By Bob Beanblossom

23 May 2016

It seems to me that we are the stressed out generation. Everything needs to be done now, we schedule activity on top of activity. This sort of endless rush creates stress on our minds and bodies, our relationships, and even our ability to do all the things we think we should be doing.

On top of that, we are bombarded with information that our nation, our economy, our ecological systems are all in dire straits. We are to prepare for the future, but how we should do that is as elusive as a straight answer from a politician.

Where do you look for relief from the problems you face personally, or for those we face as a nation?

Do you look to your ‘inner strength,’ or perhaps your superior intellect?

Do you believe that the Republicans or the Democrats or the Independents will save our country–maybe Hillary, or Bernie, or Donald is the coming savior of America?

 

 

 

If you are a Christian, when you pray, do you tell God what and when you want Him to do something to solve all of life’s problems–your way?

Do you ‘straighten out’ folks on the social media who are obviously uninformed, dangerous, and radical–because they don’t agree with you?

Here is what the Psalmist said (62:1-2):

“Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation. HE ONLY is my rock and my salvation; he is my defense; I shall not be greatly moved.”

 

 

 

The Hebrew word translated “salvation” means deliverance from, or something (or someone) saved from a threat or danger. It also includes more than simply being yanked from the lions’ jaws. It carries the thought of being brought into a quality of life and well-being,  encompassing the physical, emotional and positional health.

In other words, God’s salvation for the Psalmist included relief from a situation that he was unable to overcome on his own, relief that not only rescued him, but elevated him to be more in tune with what God would have for him.

This is not the Psalmist telling God what and when. Notice that his soul–his entire being–waits for the Lord’s schedule.

The Psalmist is confident that when he does wait upon the Lord that he “shall not be greatly moved.” He still anticipated some buffeting, some storms. But he is sure of God’s ultimate victory, with himself as a beneficiary thru the grace of God–he brought nothing to the battle. He learned the reality of faith and trust in his God.

Maybe we should rethink our confidence in ourselves, in our own great wisdom, and seek the strength of the God of the universe.

God’s Trinity–Anselm of Canterbury

 

Edited with comments by Bob Beanblossom

17 May 2017

 

It seems to me that the Trinity is a bit difficult for many of us to grasp. Over the years I have heard many wonderful analogies to help explain the relationship that is the Godhead: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

This is my favorite. Remembering that it is only an analogy, and that any attempt to describe God is far beyond man’s limited ability, you, too, might find it worthwhile.

Anselm of Canterbury (ca. 1033-1109) wrote extensively about deep theological issues. His commentators note, often in a somewhat surprised way, that he was consistent throughout his writings in his beliefs.  Although a Bishop in the Catholic Church, he was not always appreciated, and was exiled twice.

A defining aspect of his arguments was that he applied logic rather than Scripture, seeking to meet the detractors of God’s Word on their own turf. He did not deviate from Scripture, but, rather, built upon it. He is acknowledged as the originator of the ontological argument for the existence of God.

Here is an excerpted compilation of his arguments for the Trinity. He uses the Nile River system as his springboard. He is thorough, but enlightening. Stick with him and I think you will be rewarded. It is, of course, translated from Latin.

“The Nile is a spring flowing thru a river and accumulating in a lake. The spring is not the river or the lake, the river is not the the spring or the lake, and the lake is not the spring or the river.

“Yet the spring is the Nile, and the river is the Nile, and the lake is the Nile. Moreover, the three collectively are called the Nile; and the combination of any two of them is also called the Nile.There are not three Niles, but only one. The Nile is one nature, one water.

“Although the whole Nile is the spring, the whole Nile is the river, the whole Nile is the lake, yet the spring, the river, and the lake are all distinct from one another. The river is not the spring, but the river is what the spring is, viz., the Nile.

 “In this respect all three have the same nature. Likewise the whole river exists from the spring, and the whole lake exists from the whole river and the whole spring.”

“The Son exists from the essence of the Father; the Holy Spirit proceeds from the whole of the Father and the Son. The Son is not the Father or the Holy Spirit, yet the Son is what the Father and the Holy Spirit are, viz., God.

“There are not three Gods, or three sets of consciousnesses, but only three distinct spheres of relationship with one indivisible consciousness”

(Also see a very similar argument by Augustine in Faith and Creed)

PERSECUTION

It seems to me 8

Bob Beanblossom   April 20215

INTRODUCTION

Scripture is clear that as Christians living “godly in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 3:12) we will suffer persecution for His sake. Secular persecution—political, racial, lifestyle—are not considered here. When looking at persecution we have first to define persecution, then determine what our response to persecution should be. Jesus will be our primary resource and model with the apostles secondary as we explore the idea of persecution and our response to it.

PERSECUTION

Perceptions are very personal. For us conservative Christians in middle class America, we often equate persecution with bouts with illness, downturns in our financial status, a wayward child. These are concerns that Jesus truly cares about and wants us to bring to Him (Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28), but probably do not constitute persecution—all mankind suffers these problems.

We hear prayer requests from fellow Christians who are being harassed at work or school by associates who shun them or pester them for their public stance regarding their faith. Jesus also had something to say about that: Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake (Matthew 5:11).  And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake (Luke 21:17 emphasis mine). Scriptural persecution is suffering inflicted by satanic forces or agents on the church as a whole or as on an individual for Christ’s sake.

Others decry the evil and oppressive acts of our government. Examples in our land are often elusive as the mainstream news often ignores or slants the news:

American Jacobins: Sexual Revolutionaries Prepare the Battlespace for a De-Christianized America (Nationalreview.com) April 29, 2015 (Prosecutor in Obergefell v. Hodges gay-marriage case revealed that the sexual revolution demands “de-Christianization” of US).
 

Wisconsin’s Shame: ‘I Thought It Was a Home Invasion’ (Nationalreview.com) May 4, 2015 (Conservative activist’s home searched and ‘evidence’ confiscated by a dozen police with a battering ram).

 In plain view: Spite, hypocrisy in ‘gay marriage’ push (OneNewsNow.com) April 30, 2015 (Arlene’s Flowers found guilty, fined, for refusing service for same-sex wedding).

Gay NYT columnist says conservative churches must change views (OneNewsNow.com) April 10, 2015 (New York Times columnist Frank Bruni suggested that conservative Christianity needs to change its views on homosexuality and no longer view the act as sinful).

These are, indeed, areas for concern and prayers. Common wisdom tells us that we need to be politically active and fight these evils. The lives of Christ and his disciples do not. In fact, in 1 Corinthians 3:19 we are reminded that the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. Here we have both sides of the picture: our wisdom is no match for God’s, and those who believe in their own wisdom will be taken, or caught in their own foolishness. See verses 18-20 for the context.

Let’s broaden our scope a little and look at Christians in other parts of the world. Here are some recent headlines:

Religious Persecution in China Dramatically Worsened in 2014 (China Aid Association) Morning Star News, April 2015.

Ethiopia Mourns ISIS Christian Executions—24 beheaded. CBN News, April 21, 2015.

Confusion around Pakistani Christian Boy’s Burns Death, amid Communal Tensions. World Watch Monitor, April 17, 2015.

Pastor Saeed Abedini Threatened with Extended Prison Sentence. ChristianHeadlines.com, April 17, 2015.

What Americans Need to Know about Christian Persecution in Kenya. Religion Today, April 14, 2015.

These are not comprehensive, but give us an idea of the plight of Christians living their faith in other parts of our world. Both sets of headlines are examples of persecution of the church of Christ and of individual Christians.

Jesus, the Living WORD, the Messiah, the Christ, the Only Begotten of the Father, experienced persecution. During his public ministry he was a wanted man. The religious leaders of his own people sought to destroy him (John 10:31 and many others). The government considered him an outlaw, who as a messianic figure who, as leader of a rebel band, would seek to overthrow the government. The Jewish historian Josephus, contemporary with Paul, wrote that no fewer than eight militant messiahs who sought to liberate their people from the foreign oppression were crucified during Jesus’ ministry. As a result, Jesus was arrested, tried, scourged, and crucified. Barabbas, the prisoner released by public outcry at Jesus’ trial, was charged with the same civil crime as Jesus—attempting to overthrow the government. The reality of the threat was proven a few short years later in a war of rebellion that resulted in the destruction of the temple and dispersion of the Jewish people.

Here is a quick rundown of the persecution suffered in the early days of the church by the Disciples/Apostles:

Stephen—Stoned to death with the oversight of Saul, later known as the Apostle Paul (Acts 7:54). Known as the first martyr.

James brother of John son of Zebedee— Killed by Herod Agrippa with a sword (Acts 12:1-2 as well as secular sources of the period).

Peter—Crucified by Roman governor Aegaes when he would not deny Christ after the resurrection (John 21:18-19). He had been imprisoned by King Herod Agrippa I (Acts 12).

Andrew—Stoned and crucified by the Roman government six years after Peter for preaching to the Scythians and Thracians (secular sources of the period).

Thomas—Pierced by spears, burned by hot plates, and finally burned to death by priests in Phrygia after preaching the Gospel (secular sources of the period).

Philip—Scourged, thrown into prison, then crucified by hostile Jews after preaching the Gospel in Heliopolis, Phrygia (secular sources of the period).

Matthew—Beheaded in Nad-Davar, Ethiopia while preaching the resurrected Christ (secular sources of the period).

Bartholomew (Nathaneal)—Beaten with rods and beheaded by King Astyages of Armedia who was enraged when his idols fell face down when Bartholomew preached the Gospel (secular sources of the period).

James the Lesser—Appointed head of the Jerusalem Church local Jews took him to a high place on the temple to publically recant his trust in the risen Christ. When he did not comply he was thrown off the temple (secular sources of the period).

Simon the Zealot—Converted from a zealot of Barabbas to a zealot for Christ after witnessing the crucifixion and resurrection. Crucified by a Syrian governor after preaching the Gospel (secular sources of the period).

Paul—Targeted by the Roman government he once served, Paul was arrested. He used the legal system to preach the Gospel to every ruler he came before. In the process he suffered many hardships (2 Corinthians 11:23-27). Finally reaching the top, he was beheaded by Nero (secular sources of the period).

Judas Thaddeus (see John 14:22)—Beat him to death with sticks by pagan priests in Mesopotamia while preaching the Gospel (secular sources of the period).

Matthias (see Acts: 26)—He replaced Judas Iscariot and possibly one of the 70 sent out by Christ early in His ministry (Luke 10:1). While preaching Christ risen in Ethiopia he was crucified and stoned (secular sources of the period).

As an aside, note that many of the above are referenced to “secular sources of the period.” These are always to corroborate and support Scripture, never supplant the Word. As these documents and artifacts become available, human attacks on the veracity of the Word fall by the wayside and the Bible is shown accurate. Part of this omission is due to the timing of the deaths relative to the dates the books of the New Testament were written. More significant, however, is the relationship of individual martyrdoms and the message of the New Testament. The Gospel is about finding life through the blood of the resurrected Christ. The predicted suffering, while important to Christ who provides adequate grace for each individual who trusts His name, is incidental to the message of salvation and our eternal lives in Christ. Paul famously wrote of the ‘thorn in his flesh,’ but this and others described in the Scripture are part of His story for us, not a compilation of events like the genealogies.

Persecution—Christians losing their lives for serving the risen Christ—did not stop with the apostles. From the third century or so, the Catholic Church conducted holy wars killing Muslims, Jews, and non-Catholic Christians to ‘purify and cleanse’ the church. These were the Crusades and beyond. Similar “purging” took place in Europe throughout the Dark and the Middle Ages. These are the persecutions that led to the Reformation and later, led Christians to flee the Old World and establish new lives in North America. A key example was William Tyndale. Some 44 years after Columbus discovered the Americas, Bibles had been translated into most European languages. In an overt attempt to protect a corrupt clergy and maintain the dominant position of the church in England, English language Bibles were essentially forbidden. Tyndale made the first complete translation and printed (outside of England and imported) it in several formats. By order of King Henry VIII, Tyndale was strangled and his body burned at the stake. Men and women of faith from the time of the resurrection to this very moment have and are suffering estrangement from their families, jail, torture, and death for their active faith in Jesus. This will continue for the faithful until Christ returns: Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution (2 Timothy 3:12).

RESPONSE

Jesus’ response to persecution was uniform throughout his ministry. There are two aspects to his response we will look at: 1) what He did, and 2) what he did not do.

What He did: Throughout His ministry, Jesus was targeted by religious leaders who saw in Him a threat to the religious establishment to their power structure, and their relationship with the Roman government. While they were at odds among themselves, they were united in fear of–and hatred for–Him. Often conspiring among themselves even in His presence, they would seek to collect ‘evidence’ to charge Him with some violation of religious law. His response was to answer their questions directly, redirect their questions, or present a parable relating to their inquiries. John in Chapter 10 shows us a variety of response types.

He was not always passive, but his active attack was on secularized religious activities—desecrations of His temple. At the start and end of His ministry He removed the moneylenders from the temple with violence. (Matthew 21:12-17, 21:23-27, Mark 11:15-19, 11:27-33, Luke 19:45-48, 30:1-8, and John 2:13-16). These are the only recorded uses of force by our Savior during his earthly ministry. This follows the pattern of His verbal attacks on religious leaders who exhibited the form and function of the law, but not soul-changing belief in God.

What He did not do:  Our Lord confined His ministry to His message of salvation: He was come to seek and save that which was lost (Luke 20:19-20). He was the personality of the Trinity to demonstrate that God so loved the world (John 3:16 excerpted), and He was the one who submitted to the civil authorities to become the One who His Father gave, the only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16 excerpted).

In spite of the messianic hopes of the Jews of the time, at no time did Jesus  attach verbally or physically the government, nor did He in any way train or organize His followers into a political or military force to change or overthrow that government—the one that ultimately arrested, tried, scourged, and crucified Him. At his arrest, he was passive and cooperative with the unjust authorities.

In fact, He ignored politics and government and focused entirely on his mission: providing a path for salvation to a fallen creation. Even when the world failed to recognize the Creator or rejected the Messiah, He continued:

He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. (John 1:10:14).

If this had not been the case—if He had been sidetracked by the things of the world—we would be lost today.

He recognized civil government—even corrupt and violent government that would kill Him and all his followers–and afforded it authority and responsibility. Matthew, Mark, and Luke all tell of the Pharisees who sought to entangle Him in His talk (Matthew 22:15). When asked Jesus if it was lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not? (Matthew 22:17),  He responded:

But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites? Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription?  They say unto him, Caesar’s. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s. (Matthew 22: 18-21).

Defeated again by the Lord and Creator of the universe, they marveled, and left him, and went their way (Matthew 22:22).

This issue is much deeper than we can explore here, but we can review the gist of His command. Maintaining His focus on establishing the path of Salvation as the only solution for mankind’s sinful degraded and degrading condition, He affirmed the delegated legitimacy of the corrupt Roman government that held the Jewish people in often cruel bondage, whose ruler Herod beheaded Jesus’ cousin John the Baptist, and would soon crucify Jesus, himself.   Paul wrote:

Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? Do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. For this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour (Romans 13:1-7).

Our ultimate model for addressing persecution of any sort came from Jesus on the cross. Even after being arrested, tried, scourged, and hung on the cross. Speaking to God Himself and, I believe, including all of those who persecuted him throughout His ministry, he said:

 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. (Luke           23:33 excerpted).

His response to persecution was to seek to save the lost soul(s). Our risen Savior, even after suffering the cross, disregarded political issues in favor of matters of the heart and soul, charging his followers—including us—to evangelize the world:

Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen. And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned (Mark 16:14-16).

This was their commission and is our commission. As all commands from the Lord, do it comes with the power to accomplish it:

But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth (Acts 1:8).

Paul, as Saul, persecuted the Christians as an agent of the government and the Jewish religious establishment. After his conversion on the Damascus Road that opened his heart and eyes to the risen Savior as Christ, the Lord, he spent the remainder of his life preaching the Gospel and writing those divinely inspired books of the New Testament that bring the word of the living WORD to us. He did interact with the government he formerly served: he used his Roman citizenship and the laws of the corrupt civil structure to bring him before the most powerful and influential rulers of that day. Instead of seeking to ‘reform’ government, he addressed the real issue—the sinful heart of fallen man—testifying and preaching the Gospel to kings and governors, continuing the charge that started at Pentecost that turned the world upside down (Acts 17:6 excerpted).

SUMMARY

We will experience some degree of persecution if we live actively for our Savior. Persecution should be differentiated from the daily troubles that affect every one of God’s creatures. God not only cares about our personal situation, but has made His grace available for our daily concerns and troubles. Tribulation—the attack on His Church and on individual Christians is our focus here. Again, He has provided His grace for us when we continually commit ourselves, our physical beings, but more essentially our will, to Him. Tribulation and persecution are not threats to our souls:

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? (Romans 8:35).

Our call is to be a witness for our Savior. John the Baptist was created by God to be a witness:

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.  (John 1:6,7).

Ours is also to be a witness for that Light. He lights every man that cometh into the world (John 1:9 excerpted), we testify of Him spreading the gospel:

So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. (Isaiah 55:11)

Time is not flexible. We each have a limited amount of time to do all that our Lord requires:

Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest (John 4:35).

When we over-dilute His time with secular activities, we replace God’s mission with ours. We choose our wisdom over His. It would be good for all of us to prayerfully review Matthew 6 on a regular basis. The passage is familiar to us: But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you (Matthew 6:33).  Putting it into practice in every aspect of our lives is more difficult. The Greek word for ‘seek’ implies not only looking for something, but enquiring and going about or doing. This encompasses our whole life and being. The Greek word for ‘first’ is certain and unambiguous: it includes not only the thought of ‘at the beginning,’ and ‘first of all,’ but also the thought of ‘before,’ and ‘chiefly.’ Our work for our Savior should be all encompassing.

This does not exclude any sort of personal and family life, but rather includes these activities in our worship of and service to God. Like Christ Himself, as well as Paul and the martyrs listed and unlisted above, we need to strive through the power and leadership of the Holy Spirit to incorporate His will and power into every aspect of our lives. This will give impetus to our witness and assure His protection from spiritual effects of persecution.

In the upper room, Jesus told His disciples:

 

But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you (John 14:26).

Today we move at a pace unknown at any time in history. Work and work-related travel often consume well over a third of our day. Running here and there for ‘essential’ activities to keep our family fed and clothed, participate in recreational activities, and with the leftover time, sleep, rule our lives. We have given over control to the calendar and clock. One of the most common and condemning comments in our churches today is “We don’t have time to go into that . . .” even when we feel the Spirit’s leading.

 

 

We have more information available than ever before. We know more about political doings, celebrity lives, and sporting events of all sorts than our parents ever imagined. We too often want to recreate Washington in our image, not evangelize our leaders.  We complain about their behavior while we can’t wait to hear more, either for vicarious living, or self-righteous bigotry reminiscent of the Pharisees. TV time, the internet and cell phones consume prodigious amounts of time. Yet we know little of other Christians and the lives they lead around the world. As we rely on the ‘talking heads’ on TV to keep us informed of world events, we rely on our missionaries to take care of their flocks—we’ll send money as we feel led. Our knowledge of Scripture is more on the order of sound bites than holistic knowledge attained through dedicated prayerful study. Our witness is memorized script rather than allowing the situational leadership of the Holy Spirit. In our fear of failure, we seek our own knowledge instead of trusting the leadership of the Spirit.

Our emphasis is on recreation not re-creation.

Our time with God is carefully blocked out as time for devotions—usually a fixed segment of the day with little wiggle room to allow the Holy Spirit to lead and direct us. We spend more time with the TV remote and cell phone than the Bible. We spend more time texting than praying. We feel persecuted when someone with a different view speaks out or not meet our standards. Meanwhile, Christians around the world continue to die for their faith, and our family, friends, and neighbors continue on their roads to Hell.

Persecution is objective, not subjective. Our biblical response is to be objective. Souls are the priority—ours, fellow Christians, and the lost. Our response to those who persecute us (or just irritate us) is to be as Jesus: Father forgive them . . . (Luke 23:34 excerpted) Thy will be done . . . (Matthew 6:10 excerpted).

Two lifestyles representing two worldviews are available to the Christian:

And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, (2Timothy 2:2, 24). Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting (Matthew 17:21)..

And, again:

For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat (Hebrews 5:12).

Do you hunger and thirst after righteousness (Matthew 5:6). Do you study to show (2 Timothy 2:15) yourself approved? Is the time you spend with the God of Creation, the Jesus of Salvation, and the Holy Spirit of Counsel and Comfort adequate to promote your growth as a mature Christian, receiving not only nurture (1 Corinthians 3:1-2, Hebrews 5:12-14), but direction in God’s individual plan for fulfillment of the your Commission? (1 Thessalonians 3:11-13, 2 Thessalonians 3:2-5).

Salvation is not just an initial experience, but a relationship. It is not about hours of study or service, checklists, or programs, but about developing a constantly growing personal relationship with the Lord. Jesus Himself directed us to be always in prayer (Luke 18:1, 21:36) Paul mentioned numerous times that he prayed for fellow Christians, seeking God’s blessings on their spiritual health and growth (Romans 1:9, Philippians 1:4, Colossians 1:3, 4:12, 1 Thessalonians 1:2, 2 Thessalonians 1:11, and Philemon 1:4).

Paul summed up the Christian lifestyle in Ephesians 6:10-20, admonishing us to be strong in the Lord and giving us the source of that strength in the power of His might. He then showed us the tools required to partake of that power, and gave us access to those tools. He ended with the goal—the result—of entering into that relationship with our Savior:  that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;  above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; and for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,   for which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. (Ephesians 6:10-20).

The end is a personal relationship with our Savior, growing as He would have us grow, drawing our strength from the Creator of all, worshiping Him with all of our beings and going where and as He would have us go, speaking boldly of our personal relationship with our God. All else is secondary.

Note:  Much has happened in the world since I wrote this in April of 2015. If anything, the case is becoming more clear to the observant.

ETERNITY WAITED

It seems to me . . .

Bob Beanblossom   August 2015

The sands of Eternity stopped flowing. God the Father had turned His back on God the Son as He hung dying on the cross, more alone than any man could imagine. An unparalleled event was taking place. The inseparable God-head was suffering a rift, a division. Eternity waited, paused in the course of forever. On earth, the sky darkened and the ground trembled at the magnitude of the event. The Son cried, “My God, why have you forsaken me!” noting a significant shift in their relationship, the relationship that John described as being distinct in person yet one in being. The cause of this event demanded both the Son’s sacrifice and the Father’s response. The sin of man was beyond his feeble attempts to reconcile himself to his God—when he did try. Sin demanded a sacrifice—holy, without blemish–to reconcile God and man: No other sacrifice than that offered could be accepted. It was not His sin, not the punishment for His failure, but the voluntary acceptance of vicarious punishment for man’s willful failure to obey his Creator that Jesus took upon Himself.

Man’s failure, his self-willed rebellion against God through the ages, was no surprise to the all-knowing Creator. This plan of salvation had existed from before the foundations of the world were laid. In Jesus’ sacrifice, God’s plan was completed. The sacrifice required by a holy God to atone for the sin of Adam, and the sins of every person since, had been accepted. Jesus the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world had cried, “It is finished.”

Then, after three long human days, in the fulness of God’s time, the Father reached down into the cold rock where Jesus had been buried and said: “Wake up, Son. Eternity is waiting.” And as the angels watched, the Rock of Ages arose in his rightful majesty as King of kings and Lord of Lords and stepped forth from the grave never to return.

Jesus’ resurrection showed the Father’s acceptance of that unparalleled sacrifice. The blood shed by the God-Man is the only currency acceptable to the Father that allows the remission of our sins. The Tree of Life in God’s garden had become the True Vine, giving life to the lost, and new growth to the saved—those who believe on His Name. God was pleased. This was His Beloved Son, in whom He was well pleased. Never again would God turn his back on His beloved Son, the Only Begotten of the Father.

Eternity resumed its timeless journey from forever to forever, led now by Jesus the Bridegroom. Soon He will be joined by His blood-washed bride, His church triumphant, who will come at his call—again, in the fulness of God’s time.

And He shall reign forever and forever. Amen