Does the Bible have authority over the unbeliever?

December 27, 2011

We have already established the fact that the Scriptures are the Word of God (see question How Do We Know the Bible is True?), and therefore, all the Scriptures carry the authority of God.  Since that is has been clearly established, we need to simply accept in child-like faith these plain scriptures:

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” Romans 3:23

Since every human being is a descendant from Adam & Eve all truth that God has revealed applies to all people everywhere at all times.  The Bible clearly teaches that we all proceed out from our first parents.

“And Adam called his wife’s name Eve; because she was the mother of all living.” Genesis 3:20

As it is said of our first parents that they were created “in the image of God” (Gen 1:27), so it is that everyone reflects that same image of God.  The image of God primarily consists of the fullness of having life with special ability to make logical & reasonable decisions, and the ability to freely love.   Therefore having the image of God stamped into our very being, we are without a doubt connected to God and we are bound to a relationship (whether good or bad) with our Creator.  The unbeliever’s “unbelief” does not change the fact that the unbeliever has been created by God and is accountable to Him.  God requires obedience and acceptable worship to Himself alone from all His creatures.

No matter how hard one fights God’s authority – No matter how one tries to do their own thing – No matter if one considers themselves to be politically tolerant – No matter if one calls themselves a “free-thinker” – No matter if one tries to undermine the Holy Scriptures or ridicule believers.  If one chose not to believe in God, or decides not to serve God, that does not eliminate God’s existence or His authority!

“For the word of the LORD is right; and all His works are done in truth.”  Psalm 33:4

The unbeliever, in spite of his unbelief, is still responsible to obey whatever God says.  Anything God says is authoritative to all people, at all times, and in all circumstances.  Lastly, we believers were once unbelievers.  The question is how did we come to the saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ?  Answer:  We were unbelievers who read the authority of God’s word, (the Holy Bible).

 “…yea, let God be true, but every man a liar;”  Rom.3:4

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THANKSGIVING – What does it really mean?

November 23, 2011

Many across our nation will celebrate Thanksgiving Day.  If we can slow down before we are rushed into the commercial Christmas season, we still hear a few people say, “Happy Thanksgiving.”  Most of us know something about the first Thanksgiving with the Pilgrims and Indians and how both worked together to help one another to survive.  Some of us know about how the date of Thanksgiving was decided by each state on various dates up until about the time of Lincoln.  The first Thanksgiving celebrated on the same date by all states was in 1863 by presidential proclamation and later it became a national holiday.  Not until December 1941 was there federal legislation to make the fourth Thursday in November the official date for the celebration of Thanksgiving.  Digging into all the history can be very rich but it does not fully answer our question.

THANKSGIVING – What does it really mean?   First understand that one GIVES-THANKS for something, someone, circumstances, or situations.  We call these blessings.  So what does that mean?  If one GIVES-THANKS there must of necessity mean that there is a GIVER and a RECEIVER.  So many people say “Happy Thanksgiving” and do not realize the import of what they are saying.  In a new age tolerant world people say things without thinking of what they are saying – and people accept it since we should be tolerant.  They say “Happy Thanksgiving” like one shoots off the words “good luck.”  One cannot just arbitrarily say “Happy Thanksgiving” because once again the import has to do with a GIVER and a RECEIVER relationship.  This GIVER-RECEIVER relationship implies that in the end the Greater blesses a lesser.  Yes, God (the Greater) is the One who gives to the lesser (mankind).

“O give thanks unto the LORD, for He is good: for His mercy endureth for ever.” Psalm 107:1

The next time someone says “Happy Thanksgiving” ask that person who are they giving thanks to?  Expect deer in the headlights look, simply because no one ever stops to think.  For those who may be agnostic or atheistic, this question causes major problems, simply because one cannot arbitrarily say “Happy Thanksgiving” without having a meaning.  If this saying has no meaning to them and they just shoot this saying off in the air then in truth they are not really thankful, because once again the import has to do with a GIVER and a RECEIVER relationship, which implies that in the end the Greater blesses a lesser.  Yes, God (the Greater) is the One who gives to the lesser (mankind).  Technically, if one is atheistic in their belief system, then they should be consistent and not celebrate during this time of year, because it is set aside for acknowledging and thanking God for the blessings of life.

“Therefore will I give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and sing praises unto thy name.” Psalm 18:49

Thanksgiving : A full Thanksgiving dinner on a table set in cozy cabin

This brings us back to the first Thanksgiving.  These Pilgrims were thankful to the LORD God who providentially brought them through disease, famine, horrible weather, and many other troubles.  They recognized and celebrated that the Greater blessed and provided for the lesser.  This should be our desire and our motive in this and every Thanksgiving holiday.  Without doing so one becomes an unthankful glutton, better yet a fat leach feeding off the bounty of the land that God has given and becomes a sluggish zombie zoning out in front of the HDTV watching football games.  This should not be so!  Not that we can’t enjoy the food, our family, and some football, but stop and take the time to recognize and give thanks unto God for providing for us as individuals, as families, and as a nation for this is His will for us to do so!

“In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” 1 Thess 5:18

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Should a Christian Accept New Age Beliefs?

April 3, 2011

Sadly many Christians already do!  Today the world has influenced the church with words and terms such as “situation ethics,” “sensitivity,” and “tolerance.”  By redefining the meaning of these terms, they have been given a New Age twist in order to be “politically correct.”  Political correctness is the change of language in order to conform to the ideas and philosophy of unbelievers.  New Age political correctness comes from the heart of unbelievers who try to impose order and justice upon society without the authority of God’s word.  As a result, human society has turned everything upside-down.  Order has become disorder (Job 10:22).  Justice has become injustice (Eccl 5:8).  Everyone has become a victim of their circumstance and are no longer responsible for their actions: all in the name of political correctness.  As a result of much success by “new-agers,” the social pressure to accept New Age beliefs is so great, and so widely taught and accepted in our society, that it has become part of the main-stream Christian message and methodology.

If one is not politically correct according to this New Age enlightenment area, then one is considered to be narrow-minded, and bigoted.  Nevertheless, the Christian should not give up ground and conform to New Age beliefs.  Instead of being influenced by the world to be politically correct, Christians should go about to be BIBLICALLY CORRECT!  The Christian should pray that they would influence the world around them according to biblical correctness.  In doing so, the Christian will be seen as taking up the cause of the oppressed (Proverbs 3:31,32; Eccl 4:1), giving to the poor, pleading for the afflicted (Proverbs 19:17; 22:22), and showing mercy (Luke 6:26).  Biblical correctness goes far beyond political correctness by loving, praying, and doing good to ones enemies (Matthew 5:44-46; Luke 6:27-35).  Biblical correctness accepts all persons no matter what class, gender, or color of skin (Romans 2:11; 3:23; Proverbs 24:23; Romans 10:12,13; Galatians 3:28).  Biblical correctness righteously executes judgment in the land (Psalm 106:3; Isaiah 1:17; Proverbs 2:6-9).  Simply put, the Christian is not to accept the words and ways of the world, no matter how popular, no matter how correct, or no matter how right it may seem.  The Christian is to follow after and seek to do the commandments of the Lord Jesus Christ, a way that surpasses all worldly ways and wisdom (John 14:15; 15:9-14).

“Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”  (Matt 22:37-40)

 

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Can a Christian believe in Evolution?

March 22, 2011

This question is often debated.  If evolution were defined simply as a change, or variation within a kind – (for example, the growth of a tadpole into a frog) – everyone would agree with evolution.  However, the theory of evolution is that all life forms come from the same origin and the basic principle of life is a continual development from simpler elements into living organisms (for example: mud, molecules, monkey, to man).  Therefore, evolution is actually a complete world-view (or philosophy) that explains the origin and the meaning of life without the necessity of a personal God who created and upholds all things.  For a professing Christian to hold on to the complete and whole framework of evolution means bringing their faith and their understanding of the word of God into serious doubt!  Christians may differ with another regarding the understanding of the Bible, but so do evolutionary scientists in the area of evolution.  Why is it that the authority of the Bible must come into question and not evolution?  Evolution is so widely taught and accepted as “fact,” Christians are often tempted to accept the compromised position of “theistic evolution.”  Theistic evolution, views God as using the method of evolution as the means of creation.  Is it possible for a Christian to believe in some aspects of evolution?  The answer is, yes!  The Bible teaches in Romans 10:13 that “whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved,” NOT “whosoever does not believe in evolution.”  Nevertheless, the real question is: SHOULD A CHRISTIAN BELIEVE IN EVOLUTION?  The answer is, NO! A Christian’s desire is to be taught of the Lord (Psalm 119:26-28; John 6:45).  This means that the Christian is to take God’s word by faith whether or not it agrees with his preconceived ideas and regardless of what the Christian has been taught in the past.  Let it be understood that no one has all the answers.  Every Christian may disagree on certain minor teachings in the Bible.  This has resulted into many different Christian denominations.  Even so, certain central or foundational teachings in the Scriptures are essential to the Christian faith.  To modify the creation account of the Bible weakens these essential teachings.  These essential teachings are the Holiness of God, the origin of sin, mans need for a Savior, the person of Jesus Christ, and the hope of the resurrection.  The Christian should be ready, at all times, to compare scripture with scripture (Isaiah 28:9-13), and to interpret the meaning of life according to the Holy Bible.  It is very dangerous to accept or attempt to harmonize any form of evolution with God’s infallible word. God is the God of order and purpose.  To believe that He used the means of “survival of the fittest,” which involves death, bloodshed, confusion and cruelty, is inconsistent with the other attributes of His character as presented in the Bible.  To accept the theory of evolution as a means of creation is to be inconsistent with the plain teaching of God’s Word (Genesis 1; Exodus 20:11; Psalm 33:6-9; Isaiah 45:18).

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