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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How Do We Explain the Different Races?

June 20, 2011

From the beginning of creation it was God’s will for man to populate the whole earth, but in Genesis chapter 11 we read the historic account that human society was of one language and determined with one mind to stay together (Genesis 11:4).  Due to their disobedience to the LORD, He confused (or confounded) their language, so that they could not understand one another.  In doing so, the Lord “scattered them upon the face of all the earth” (Genesis 11:5-9).  As a result of the different languages, people married those whose language they could understand.  This arrangement produced separate INBREEDING groups.

Over a few generations these inbreeding groups produced specific characteristics, including different eyes, ears, noses, and shades of skin color.  Despite different characteristics and different languages, nevertheless, we all have blood flowing through our bodies, we all are given a soul, and we all are created in the image of God according to (Genesis 1:27).

As foreign as this may seem to this generation, “racial barriers” are broken down by the preaching of the gospel, and not by political correctness.  In fact, there are many Biblical examples of racial barriers being broken by the simple preaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  In Acts chapter 2, Jews from every “nation” believed.  In Acts chapter 8, there is the bringing in of the Samaritans and the Ethiopian eunuch into Christianity.  Acts chapter 10 records the preaching of the gospel to many Italians in the house of Cornelius.  While in Acts 17:16-34, the gospel is preached to the Greeks in Athens.  Therefore, if any racial barriers are to broken down it will come through the church of Christ being BIBLICALLY CORRECT.  The truth is that, the original manuscripts of the Bible do not use the word “race” to describe different people.  Rather, God uses the words “NATIONS, TRIBES, KINDRED, TONGUE, and PEOPLE.”  The concept of “race” was purely invented for convenience in biological and anthropological studies.  Such concepts led to the pseudo-scientific belief that one race is superior to others.  Evolutionary scientists may not all be racist in their personal philosophies but, like it or not, this humanistic philosophy can be traced throughout history as promoting racism.  The Bible teaches that there is only “one blood” or one race of men upon the face of the earth – the human race (Acts 17:26).

 “And (GOD) hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;” Acts 17:26

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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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