Anyone who thinks that the world is basically good, and most people are as well, has placed themselves in a tough position. The tragic events on the campus of Virginia Tech were a horrendous evil. There is really no reasonable answer to the question of "why". Why did such a thing happen? We cannot climb into the mind of the killer.
I was reminded of the disciples when they come to Jesus and ask Him to teach them how to pray. Everyone knows the Lord's prayer, but we don't often enough dig deep into what Jesus was saying and teaching. One line of that prayer is particularly applicable in light of this tragedy.
Jesus said we are to pray to the Holy Father to "deliver us from evil". There is some textual evidence that this could be read, "deliver us from the evil ONE" - referring to Satan. But, the point here is the same. The world in which we live contains evil. And we cannot deliver ourselves out of it's grip. If we could, then we would not need to pray to the Holy Father to deliver us from it.
We need deliverance from evil. And this is not just deliverance from evil influences apart from us. We need to be delivered from our own evil.
I have never killed anyone, but according to Jesus I am a murderer. He says that if you hate someone then you have committed murder in your heart. I am sure that at some point in my life I have fallen into that category.
I am a great person, compared to the killer at Virginia Tech. Unfortunately, I am not compared to Him. I am compared to Holy God and His righteous standards. To these I don't measure up. "For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." Rom. 3:23
Salvation is the gift of God's grace. It is God's delivering me from my own evil, and it is a work that could only be accomplished through the cross of Jesus Christ.
Final deliverance comes also as a gift of God's grace. One day, sooner rather than later, the Righteous Judge will return. When Jesus Christ comes again, those who are found truly in Him will receive the final gift of ultimate deliverance from all evil.
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
When the "Want To" and the "Ought To" Don't Match
Paul writes in Romans 7:14-20
"14We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. 15I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature.[c] For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. 20Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. "
This is a very familiar struggle for me. I find comfort that such a man as Paul struggles with some of the same things I do. I know the things I ought to do in Christ, but I don't want to. I want to want to(do you follow that?)
I found this great article on this subject by John Piper that is below. Now, I don't agree with all that Piper believes and says on many subjects, but this article is good.
When the "Want To" and the "Ought To" Don't Match
By John Piper October 29, 1998
If your "want to" does not conform to God's "ought to," what can you do to have peace? I see at least five possible strategies.
1. You can avoid thinking about the "ought to." This is the most common strategy in the world. Most people simply do not devote energy to pondering what they should be doing that they are not doing. It's easier to just keep the radio on.
2. You can reinterpret the "ought to" so that it sounds just like your "want to." This is a little more sophisticated and so not as common. It usually takes a college education to do this with credibility, and a seminary degree to do it with finesse.
3. You can muster the willpower to do a form of the "ought to" even though you don't have the heart of the "want to." This generally looks pretty good, and is often mistaken as virtue, even by those who do it. In fact, there is a whole worldview that says doing "ought to's" without "want to" is the essence of virtue. The problem with this is that Paul said, "God loves a cheerful giver," which puts the merely "ought-to givers" in a precarious position.
4. You can feel proper remorse that the "want to" is very small and weak - like a mustard seed - and then, if it lies within you, do the "ought to" by the exertion of will, while repenting that the "want to" is weak, and praying that the "want to" will soon be restored. Perhaps it will even be restored in doing the "ought to." This is not hypocrisy. Hypocrisy hides one of the two contradictory impulses. Virtue confesses them both in the hope of grace.
5. You can seek, by the means of grace, to have God give the "want to" so that when the time comes to do the "ought to," you will "want to." Ultimately, the "want to" is a gift of God. "The mind of the flesh is hostile to God . . . it is not able to submit to the law of God" (Romans 8:7). "The natural man cannot understand the things of the Spirit of God . . . because they are spiritually appraised" (1 Corinthians 2:14). "Perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth" (2 Timothy 2:25).
The Biblical doctrine of original sin boils down to this (to borrow from St. Augustine): We are free to do what we like, but we are not free to like what we ought to like. "Through the one man's disobedience [Adam] the many were made sinners" (Romans 5:19). This is who we are. And yet we know from our own soul and from the Bible that we are accountable for the corruption of our bad "want to's." Indeed, the better you become, the more you feel ashamed of being bad and not just doing bad. As N.P. Williams said, "The ordinary man may feel ashamed of doing wrong: but the saint, endowed with a superior refinement of moral sensibility, and keener powers of introspection, is ashamed of being the kind of man who is liable to do wrong" (First Things, #87, Nov. 1998, p. 24). God's free and sovereign heart-changing work is our only hope. Therefore we must pray for a new heart. We must pray for the "want to" - "Incline my heart to Your testimonies" (Psalm 119:36). He has promised to do it: "I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes" (Ezekiel 36:27). This is the new covenant bought by the blood of Jesus (Hebrews 8:8-13; 9:15).
Looking to Jesus, my life,
Pastor John
Oh Lord, give me the want to, the desire and the passion to seek and love you with all of my heart, soul, strength and mind.
Scott
"14We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. 15I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature.[c] For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. 20Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. "
This is a very familiar struggle for me. I find comfort that such a man as Paul struggles with some of the same things I do. I know the things I ought to do in Christ, but I don't want to. I want to want to(do you follow that?)
I found this great article on this subject by John Piper that is below. Now, I don't agree with all that Piper believes and says on many subjects, but this article is good.
When the "Want To" and the "Ought To" Don't Match
By John Piper October 29, 1998
If your "want to" does not conform to God's "ought to," what can you do to have peace? I see at least five possible strategies.
1. You can avoid thinking about the "ought to." This is the most common strategy in the world. Most people simply do not devote energy to pondering what they should be doing that they are not doing. It's easier to just keep the radio on.
2. You can reinterpret the "ought to" so that it sounds just like your "want to." This is a little more sophisticated and so not as common. It usually takes a college education to do this with credibility, and a seminary degree to do it with finesse.
3. You can muster the willpower to do a form of the "ought to" even though you don't have the heart of the "want to." This generally looks pretty good, and is often mistaken as virtue, even by those who do it. In fact, there is a whole worldview that says doing "ought to's" without "want to" is the essence of virtue. The problem with this is that Paul said, "God loves a cheerful giver," which puts the merely "ought-to givers" in a precarious position.
4. You can feel proper remorse that the "want to" is very small and weak - like a mustard seed - and then, if it lies within you, do the "ought to" by the exertion of will, while repenting that the "want to" is weak, and praying that the "want to" will soon be restored. Perhaps it will even be restored in doing the "ought to." This is not hypocrisy. Hypocrisy hides one of the two contradictory impulses. Virtue confesses them both in the hope of grace.
5. You can seek, by the means of grace, to have God give the "want to" so that when the time comes to do the "ought to," you will "want to." Ultimately, the "want to" is a gift of God. "The mind of the flesh is hostile to God . . . it is not able to submit to the law of God" (Romans 8:7). "The natural man cannot understand the things of the Spirit of God . . . because they are spiritually appraised" (1 Corinthians 2:14). "Perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth" (2 Timothy 2:25).
The Biblical doctrine of original sin boils down to this (to borrow from St. Augustine): We are free to do what we like, but we are not free to like what we ought to like. "Through the one man's disobedience [Adam] the many were made sinners" (Romans 5:19). This is who we are. And yet we know from our own soul and from the Bible that we are accountable for the corruption of our bad "want to's." Indeed, the better you become, the more you feel ashamed of being bad and not just doing bad. As N.P. Williams said, "The ordinary man may feel ashamed of doing wrong: but the saint, endowed with a superior refinement of moral sensibility, and keener powers of introspection, is ashamed of being the kind of man who is liable to do wrong" (First Things, #87, Nov. 1998, p. 24). God's free and sovereign heart-changing work is our only hope. Therefore we must pray for a new heart. We must pray for the "want to" - "Incline my heart to Your testimonies" (Psalm 119:36). He has promised to do it: "I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes" (Ezekiel 36:27). This is the new covenant bought by the blood of Jesus (Hebrews 8:8-13; 9:15).
Looking to Jesus, my life,
Pastor John
Oh Lord, give me the want to, the desire and the passion to seek and love you with all of my heart, soul, strength and mind.
Scott
Sunday, April 8, 2007
Resurrection Apology
Easter 2007 - Christ Is Risen!
The following is an exerpt from Josh McDowell's book The New Evidence That Demands a Verdict (pages 208-209)
Wilbur M Smith, noted scholar and teacher says, "No weapon has ever been forged, and ...none ever will be, to destroy rational confidence in the historical records of this epochal and predicted event. The resurrection of Christ is the very citadel of the Christian faith. This is the doctrine that turned the world upside down in the first century, that lifted Christianity preeminently above Judaism and the pagan religions of the Mediterranean world. If this goes, so must almost everything else that is vital and unique in the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ: 'If Christ be not risen, then your faith vain'" (1 Cor. 15:17)
Peter Kreeft and Ronald K. Tacelli describe the incredible impact of the resurrection:
The resurrection is of crucial practical importance because it completes our salvation. Jesus came to save us from sin and its consequences, death.(Rom. 6:23) The resurrection also sharply distinguishes Jesus from all other religious founders. The bones of Abraham and Muhammed and Buddha and Confucious and Lao-Tzu and Zoroaster are still here on earth. Jesus' tomb is empty.
The existential consequences of the resurrection are incomparable. It is the concrete, factual, empirical proof that: life has hope and meaning, "love is stronger than death"; goodness and power are ultimately allies, not enemies; life wins in the end; God has touched us right here where we are and has defeated our last enemy; we are not cosmic orphans, as our modern secular worldview would make us. And these existential consequences of the resurrection can be seen by comparing the disciples before and after. Before, they ran away, denied their Master and huddled behind locked doors in fear and confusion. After, they were transformed from scared rabbits into confident saints, world-changing missionaries, courageous martyrs and joy-filled ambassadors for Christ.
Wilbur Smith says,
But when He said that He himself would rise again from the dead, the third day after He was crucified, He said something that only a fool would dare say, if he expected longer the devotion of any disciples--unless He was sure He was going to rise. No founder of any world religion known to men ever dared say a thing like that.
As G. B. Hardy has said, "Here is the complete record:
Confucious' tomb: occupied
Buddha's tomb: occupied
Mohammed's tomb: occupied
Jesus' tomb: EMPTY
The verdict is in. The decision is clear. The evidence speaks for itself. It says very clearly:
CHRIST IS RISEN INDEED!
The following is an exerpt from Josh McDowell's book The New Evidence That Demands a Verdict (pages 208-209)
Wilbur M Smith, noted scholar and teacher says, "No weapon has ever been forged, and ...none ever will be, to destroy rational confidence in the historical records of this epochal and predicted event. The resurrection of Christ is the very citadel of the Christian faith. This is the doctrine that turned the world upside down in the first century, that lifted Christianity preeminently above Judaism and the pagan religions of the Mediterranean world. If this goes, so must almost everything else that is vital and unique in the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ: 'If Christ be not risen, then your faith vain'" (1 Cor. 15:17)
Peter Kreeft and Ronald K. Tacelli describe the incredible impact of the resurrection:
The resurrection is of crucial practical importance because it completes our salvation. Jesus came to save us from sin and its consequences, death.(Rom. 6:23) The resurrection also sharply distinguishes Jesus from all other religious founders. The bones of Abraham and Muhammed and Buddha and Confucious and Lao-Tzu and Zoroaster are still here on earth. Jesus' tomb is empty.
The existential consequences of the resurrection are incomparable. It is the concrete, factual, empirical proof that: life has hope and meaning, "love is stronger than death"; goodness and power are ultimately allies, not enemies; life wins in the end; God has touched us right here where we are and has defeated our last enemy; we are not cosmic orphans, as our modern secular worldview would make us. And these existential consequences of the resurrection can be seen by comparing the disciples before and after. Before, they ran away, denied their Master and huddled behind locked doors in fear and confusion. After, they were transformed from scared rabbits into confident saints, world-changing missionaries, courageous martyrs and joy-filled ambassadors for Christ.
Wilbur Smith says,
But when He said that He himself would rise again from the dead, the third day after He was crucified, He said something that only a fool would dare say, if he expected longer the devotion of any disciples--unless He was sure He was going to rise. No founder of any world religion known to men ever dared say a thing like that.
As G. B. Hardy has said, "Here is the complete record:
Confucious' tomb: occupied
Buddha's tomb: occupied
Mohammed's tomb: occupied
Jesus' tomb: EMPTY
The verdict is in. The decision is clear. The evidence speaks for itself. It says very clearly:
CHRIST IS RISEN INDEED!
Wednesday, April 4, 2007
His Blood Be On Us And Our Children
Matthew 27:24-26
24 So when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood; see to it yourselves.” 25 And all the people answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!” 26 Then he released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, delivered him to be crucified.
The Holy Bible : English standard version. 2001 (Mt 27:24). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.
Leading up to each Easter Sunday I like to read all four of the gospel accounts of Christ's crucifixion and resurrection. It is so filled with the details of my Lord's will, love, power, mercy, compassion, holiness, justice, and grace -- it staggers me.
In Matthew 27:24-26 we have one of the most ironic statements in all of scripture. It is a pivotal point leading up to the crucifixion. Pilate is doing everything he can do to try and release Jesus. He doesn't see any reason to have him killed. But, this angry mob of people is out for Jesus' blood, and Pilate is a politician. He won't let righteousness come before his political position. The Jewish religious authorities know that they have Pilate over the proverbial "barrel".
So, Pilate caves in. He is the most powerful man in town, and yet what is on display is his incredible weakness. In fact, what scripture clearly shows is that the least likely person in the entire account is the one with the most power - Jesus. He is arrested, bound, and at the hands of angry men who have his life in their hands -- or do they? No, scripture makes it clear- Jesus is in complete control of this situation. It is His will, His purpose, His power that is at work.
Back to the irony of the crowd...In an act of defiance before this crowd, Pilate brings out a basin of water and washes his hands. He tells the crowd, that they will be held accountable for the death of this innocent man, not him. The crowd responds to Pilate's defiant act of hand washing and declare, "Let his blood be on us and our children!"
You can't hear the tone in that passage, but the language is clear. This is a statement of utter arrogance and derision. But, the content is exactly what Jesus was coming to do!
I always seem to pause at this statement, because I too want to say it. But not in derision, as a humble plea.
This is exactly why Jesus came. This is precisely what He was about to do. Shed his blood for me and my children. He was going to bleed for you and I. For our sins He was going to suffer and die.
Thank You Jesus!
Do you realize how hopeless we would be without the shed blood of Jesus Christ?! It is hard to even describe. We take our sin too lightly to fully appreciate the sacrifice Christ made. He did not take our sin lightly. He freely gave His blood and His life to pay the penalty of my sin.
My prayer is that the Lord would continue to teach me and open my eyes to the depths of my sin and the magnitude of His love displayed on that cross. My prayer is that His blood would be on me and my children. That I would live a life that honors and glorifies Jesus Christ crucified and resurrected!
24 So when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood; see to it yourselves.” 25 And all the people answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!” 26 Then he released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, delivered him to be crucified.
The Holy Bible : English standard version. 2001 (Mt 27:24). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.
Leading up to each Easter Sunday I like to read all four of the gospel accounts of Christ's crucifixion and resurrection. It is so filled with the details of my Lord's will, love, power, mercy, compassion, holiness, justice, and grace -- it staggers me.
In Matthew 27:24-26 we have one of the most ironic statements in all of scripture. It is a pivotal point leading up to the crucifixion. Pilate is doing everything he can do to try and release Jesus. He doesn't see any reason to have him killed. But, this angry mob of people is out for Jesus' blood, and Pilate is a politician. He won't let righteousness come before his political position. The Jewish religious authorities know that they have Pilate over the proverbial "barrel".
So, Pilate caves in. He is the most powerful man in town, and yet what is on display is his incredible weakness. In fact, what scripture clearly shows is that the least likely person in the entire account is the one with the most power - Jesus. He is arrested, bound, and at the hands of angry men who have his life in their hands -- or do they? No, scripture makes it clear- Jesus is in complete control of this situation. It is His will, His purpose, His power that is at work.
Back to the irony of the crowd...In an act of defiance before this crowd, Pilate brings out a basin of water and washes his hands. He tells the crowd, that they will be held accountable for the death of this innocent man, not him. The crowd responds to Pilate's defiant act of hand washing and declare, "Let his blood be on us and our children!"
You can't hear the tone in that passage, but the language is clear. This is a statement of utter arrogance and derision. But, the content is exactly what Jesus was coming to do!
I always seem to pause at this statement, because I too want to say it. But not in derision, as a humble plea.
This is exactly why Jesus came. This is precisely what He was about to do. Shed his blood for me and my children. He was going to bleed for you and I. For our sins He was going to suffer and die.
Thank You Jesus!
Do you realize how hopeless we would be without the shed blood of Jesus Christ?! It is hard to even describe. We take our sin too lightly to fully appreciate the sacrifice Christ made. He did not take our sin lightly. He freely gave His blood and His life to pay the penalty of my sin.
My prayer is that the Lord would continue to teach me and open my eyes to the depths of my sin and the magnitude of His love displayed on that cross. My prayer is that His blood would be on me and my children. That I would live a life that honors and glorifies Jesus Christ crucified and resurrected!
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
The Secret - Part 2
The Secret - Is Satanic!
"The Secret" by Rhonda Byrne is Satanic. I don't say this to be hyperbolic and I am not over exaggerating to make a point. The philosophy she espouses in her book is Satanic in nature and origin.
I don't make claims like this flippantly, and I have read her book(It is fairly short and doesn't take too long to read). Let me explain how I arrive at my conclusion.
The basic tenet of her philosophy is the "law of attraction". This is not a new secret. It represents the common "new age" type thinking that has been around since the beginning of time. The law is that You are in control of the universe. How you think determines everything that happens in the universe. You are the universe, you are god, you are the all powerful force that controls and even creates everything.
I didn't make that up. This is not just a paraphrase or what I think Byrne is saying. She actually writes that in her book. "You are god" is a direct quote.
Here is a direct quote:
The earth turns on its orbit for You. The oceans ebb and flow for You. The birds sing for You. The sun rises and it sets for You. The stars come out for You. Every beautiful thing you see, every wondrous thing you experience, is all there for You. Take a look around. None of it can exist, without You. No matter who you thought you were, now you know the Truth of Who You Really Are. You are the master of the Universe. You are the heir to the kingdom. You are the perfection of Life. And now you know The Secret.
Wow! When I read this book I had a visceral reaction - it made me sick to my stomach. Normally, this type of new age philosophy cloaks itself a little better. New agers don't come right out and verbalize their intended conclusion that "you are god", Byrne does.
This is Satanic! Do you remember the Garden of Eden. The serpent comes and speaks to Eve. It tempts Adam and Eve to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
Genesis 3:1-5
Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made.
He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” 2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, 3 but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’ ” 4 But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
The Holy Bible : English standard version. 2001 (Ge 3:1). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.
Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made.
He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” 2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, 3 but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’ ” 4 But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
The Holy Bible : English standard version. 2001 (Ge 3:1). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.
You will be like God. That was the lie of the devil in the garden of evil. And this is the lie of "The Secret". You will be like god, because you are god. The devil has been using these lies for centuries and Byrne is just the latest in a long line of charlatans.
The reason the devil tries to deceive people to believe that they are god, that they are the master of the universe, is because if they believe that then they don't need Jesus Christ to be their savior.
More Problems:
The tenets of the secret also have problems just from a logical standpoint. Let me address a few of these.
Byrne suggests that if you just think positively about anything, if you believe you will receive and even act like you already have it, then you will get it. This can be anything from money, to cars, to relationships, to health, healing, anything at all. You don't have to work for any of these things, you just have to train yourself to think positively about these things.
If this is true, then you don't need a job, you don't need to go to school, you don't need to even eat. Just close yourself in your room and think about what ever you want and it will just materialize in your life(given enough time).
This philosophy could end world hunger. Those people that are starving in Africa and other parts of the world don't actually need food. They don't need people to teach them how to farm better and raise crops. They just need to be taught to think positively. They need to be trained to think that they are full and healthy. And without even taking a bite world hunger could end.
Scripture
I love that fact that Byrne quotes scripture to support her views. She pulls them completely out of context and applies them in a way that is completely inconsistent with the intent and meaning of the Bible.
I could go on and on, but I will leave you with this word of warning from scripture.
Isaiah 45:22
22 “ Turn to me and be saved,
all the ends of the earth!
For I am God, and there is no other.
22 “ Turn to me and be saved,
all the ends of the earth!
For I am God, and there is no other.
1 Peter 5:6-11
6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. 8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. 10 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 11 To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. 8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. 10 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 11 To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
2 Corinthians 11:13-15
13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15 So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.
2 Timothy 4:3-5
3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. 5 As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
The Secret - Part 1
The Secret -- Is Out!
If you haven't heard of "The Secret", that is good! You can read the reviews about this philosophy and book. It is written by Rhonda Byrne and "The Secret" is the title. It has been the number one best seller on the New York Times list for the last 10 weeks. It has sold millions, made millions, and even given a two day special "anointing" by Oprah.
Here is an article that encapsulates, in a more articulate manner, my thoughts on "The Secret" by Al Mohler.
Ever heard of the "Law of Attraction?" Rhonda Byrne learned it from a book entitled The Science of Getting Rich, written by Wallace Wattles in 1910. Wattles was an evangelist for positive thinking and he promised readers that they could attract everything they wanted -- including money, fame, success, or love -- by using his "Law of Attraction."
According to press accounts, Rhonda Byrne was given Wattles' book at a breaking point in her life. Transformed by Wattles' philosophy, Byrne got to work updating the "Law of Attraction" for a new generation. She turned the idea into an Internet-based movie and a book entitled The Secret. Now, the book is a runaway best-seller, ranking number one on The New York Times listing.
We should be very concerned to live in a country in which so many citizens evidently want to be told that they, individually, are the very center of the universe. The Secret is just the latest form of American esoteric positive thinking run amok. The nation seems to endure periodic waves of positive-thinking nonsense, and every generation seems primed to believe that it can have all it wants and more. Can anyone actually believe this stuff?
Evidently so. Oprah is a big fan, as are other Hollywood and entertainment types. Byrne has attracted publicity, books sales, and attention, if nothing else.
According to Byrne, every object and mind in the universe operates on its own frequency, and minds can attract matter. "Thoughts are magnetic," she argues, "and thoughts have a frequency. As you think, those thoughts are sent out into the Universe, and they magnetically attract all like things that are on the same frequency. Everything sent out returns to its source. And the source is you." Yep. You are the center of the universe.
"You are the most powerful magnet in the Universe!," she exclaims. "You contain a magnetic power within you that is more powerful than anything in this world, and this unfathomable magnetic power is emitted through your thoughts."
If you learn to operate by the Law of Attraction, she promises, you can attract anything you want. Success, riches, material objects, weight loss, acclaim . . . all these are to be yours if only you believe.
Food doesn't make you fat -- thinking that food makes you fat makes you fat. You are not sick; you only think you are sick. Reverse the thought and you will be well. If you are not rich, it is only because you are trapped in negative mental patterns. "Every negative thought, feeling, or emotion is blocking your good from coming to you, and that includes money."
Similar teachings are represented in movements like Christian Science and in the American gurus of success who have been around at least since the mid-nineteenth century. But Byrne seems to take the argument further than most. She suggests that you are God.
"You are God in a physical body," she writes. "You are spirit in the flesh. You are Eternal Life expressing itself as You. You are a cosmic being. You are all power. You are all wisdom. You are all intelligence. You are perfection. You are magnificence. You are the creator, and you are creating the creation of You on this planet."
It is almost impossible to read those words with a straight face. Is anyone believing this?
Jerry Adler, writing in Newsweek, makes this observation:
You'd think the last thing Americans need is more excuses for self-absorption and acquisitiveness. But our inexhaustible appetite for "affirmation" and "inspiration" and "motivation" has finally outstripped the combined efforts of Wayne Dyer, Anthony Robbins, Dr. Phil and Mitch Albom. We have actually begun importing self-help--and from Australia, of all places, that citadel of tough-minded individualism, where just a couple of years ago Byrne was a divorced mother in her 50s who had hit a rocky patch in her business and personal lives. It was in that moment of despair, when she "wept and wept and wept" (as she recounted to Oprah on the first of two broadcasts devoted to her work), that she discovered a long-neglected book dating from 1910 called "The Science of Getting Rich." In it she found how to let your thoughts and feelings get you everything you want, and determined to share it with the world. She called it "The Secret."
And it was that stroke of marketing genius that turned what might have been a blip on the Times's "Advice, How-To, Miscellaneous" best-seller list into a publishing phenomenon that Sara Nelson, editor of Publishers Weekly, says "could become this decade's 'Tuesdays With Morrie'." "Nobody," she adds, "ever went broke overestimating the desperate unhappiness of the American public." Self-help books roll off the presses with the regularity of politicians' biographies, and sell much better; Wayne Dyer all by himself has written 29 of them with sales estimated at 50 million. But Byrne had something else going for her. "It was an incredibly savvy move to call it 'The Secret'," says Donavin Bennes, a buyer who specializes in metaphysics for Borders Books. "We all want to be in on a secret. But to present it as the secret, that was brilliant."
Donald S. Whitney, Associate Professor of Biblical Spirituality at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, gets to the heart of the problem with The Secret:
There's no mention of sin in The Secret. The cause of all the problems in the world and in our individual lives is merely bad thinking, specifically the failure to recognize and appropriately use the law of attraction. Therefore the solution to everything lies within us. And that, of course, eliminates the need for a Savior, a Substitute, or a Sacrifice. The cross and resurrection of Jesus become irrelevant.
More:
The problem with The Secret is that it focuses our hope selfward and not Godward. It is all about self-empowerment, self-fulfillment, and getting whatever we want. But Jesus warned, "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?" (Matthew 16:26). The Secret disregards the fact that God has a Law and we have broken it (James 2:10). What Byrne fails to realize about her law of attraction is that our sinful hearts deceive us (Jeremiah 17:9) and attract not only more sin and guilt, but ultimately, the wrath of God.
However, God in His mercy sent His Son to receive this wrath as a Substitute for all who will repent of their selfishness and believe in Him. And "through the true knowledge of Him"--not Rhonda Byrne's book--"His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness" (2 Peter 1:3).
"The Secret to everything" (to use Byrne's term) is God Himself. And God, the "Great Secret," has been revealed in Jesus Christ, "in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" (Colossians 2:3). God has freely told us in the Bible everything we need to know about discovering the unlimited "treasures of wisdom and knowledge" found in Christ. And He remains an unknown Secret only to those who will not look for Him there.
In the end, The Secret points to the most basic question of life. Is is all about us, or about the glory of God? The elevation of the self in The Secret is truly breathtaking:
The earth turns on its orbit for You. The oceans ebb and flow for You. The birds sing for You. The sun rises and it sets for You. The stars come out for You. Every beautiful thing you see, every wondrous thing you experience, is all there for You. Take a look around. None of it can exist, without You. No matter who you thought you were, now you know the Truth of Who You Really Are. You are the master of the Universe. You are the heir to the kingdom. You are the perfection of Life. And now you know The Secret.
There is no real secret to The Secret. It is just the same old self-worship packaged for a new generation.
According to press accounts, Rhonda Byrne was given Wattles' book at a breaking point in her life. Transformed by Wattles' philosophy, Byrne got to work updating the "Law of Attraction" for a new generation. She turned the idea into an Internet-based movie and a book entitled The Secret. Now, the book is a runaway best-seller, ranking number one on The New York Times listing.
We should be very concerned to live in a country in which so many citizens evidently want to be told that they, individually, are the very center of the universe. The Secret is just the latest form of American esoteric positive thinking run amok. The nation seems to endure periodic waves of positive-thinking nonsense, and every generation seems primed to believe that it can have all it wants and more. Can anyone actually believe this stuff?
Evidently so. Oprah is a big fan, as are other Hollywood and entertainment types. Byrne has attracted publicity, books sales, and attention, if nothing else.
According to Byrne, every object and mind in the universe operates on its own frequency, and minds can attract matter. "Thoughts are magnetic," she argues, "and thoughts have a frequency. As you think, those thoughts are sent out into the Universe, and they magnetically attract all like things that are on the same frequency. Everything sent out returns to its source. And the source is you." Yep. You are the center of the universe.
"You are the most powerful magnet in the Universe!," she exclaims. "You contain a magnetic power within you that is more powerful than anything in this world, and this unfathomable magnetic power is emitted through your thoughts."
If you learn to operate by the Law of Attraction, she promises, you can attract anything you want. Success, riches, material objects, weight loss, acclaim . . . all these are to be yours if only you believe.
Food doesn't make you fat -- thinking that food makes you fat makes you fat. You are not sick; you only think you are sick. Reverse the thought and you will be well. If you are not rich, it is only because you are trapped in negative mental patterns. "Every negative thought, feeling, or emotion is blocking your good from coming to you, and that includes money."
Similar teachings are represented in movements like Christian Science and in the American gurus of success who have been around at least since the mid-nineteenth century. But Byrne seems to take the argument further than most. She suggests that you are God.
"You are God in a physical body," she writes. "You are spirit in the flesh. You are Eternal Life expressing itself as You. You are a cosmic being. You are all power. You are all wisdom. You are all intelligence. You are perfection. You are magnificence. You are the creator, and you are creating the creation of You on this planet."
It is almost impossible to read those words with a straight face. Is anyone believing this?
Jerry Adler, writing in Newsweek, makes this observation:
You'd think the last thing Americans need is more excuses for self-absorption and acquisitiveness. But our inexhaustible appetite for "affirmation" and "inspiration" and "motivation" has finally outstripped the combined efforts of Wayne Dyer, Anthony Robbins, Dr. Phil and Mitch Albom. We have actually begun importing self-help--and from Australia, of all places, that citadel of tough-minded individualism, where just a couple of years ago Byrne was a divorced mother in her 50s who had hit a rocky patch in her business and personal lives. It was in that moment of despair, when she "wept and wept and wept" (as she recounted to Oprah on the first of two broadcasts devoted to her work), that she discovered a long-neglected book dating from 1910 called "The Science of Getting Rich." In it she found how to let your thoughts and feelings get you everything you want, and determined to share it with the world. She called it "The Secret."
And it was that stroke of marketing genius that turned what might have been a blip on the Times's "Advice, How-To, Miscellaneous" best-seller list into a publishing phenomenon that Sara Nelson, editor of Publishers Weekly, says "could become this decade's 'Tuesdays With Morrie'." "Nobody," she adds, "ever went broke overestimating the desperate unhappiness of the American public." Self-help books roll off the presses with the regularity of politicians' biographies, and sell much better; Wayne Dyer all by himself has written 29 of them with sales estimated at 50 million. But Byrne had something else going for her. "It was an incredibly savvy move to call it 'The Secret'," says Donavin Bennes, a buyer who specializes in metaphysics for Borders Books. "We all want to be in on a secret. But to present it as the secret, that was brilliant."
Donald S. Whitney, Associate Professor of Biblical Spirituality at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, gets to the heart of the problem with The Secret:
There's no mention of sin in The Secret. The cause of all the problems in the world and in our individual lives is merely bad thinking, specifically the failure to recognize and appropriately use the law of attraction. Therefore the solution to everything lies within us. And that, of course, eliminates the need for a Savior, a Substitute, or a Sacrifice. The cross and resurrection of Jesus become irrelevant.
More:
The problem with The Secret is that it focuses our hope selfward and not Godward. It is all about self-empowerment, self-fulfillment, and getting whatever we want. But Jesus warned, "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?" (Matthew 16:26). The Secret disregards the fact that God has a Law and we have broken it (James 2:10). What Byrne fails to realize about her law of attraction is that our sinful hearts deceive us (Jeremiah 17:9) and attract not only more sin and guilt, but ultimately, the wrath of God.
However, God in His mercy sent His Son to receive this wrath as a Substitute for all who will repent of their selfishness and believe in Him. And "through the true knowledge of Him"--not Rhonda Byrne's book--"His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness" (2 Peter 1:3).
"The Secret to everything" (to use Byrne's term) is God Himself. And God, the "Great Secret," has been revealed in Jesus Christ, "in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" (Colossians 2:3). God has freely told us in the Bible everything we need to know about discovering the unlimited "treasures of wisdom and knowledge" found in Christ. And He remains an unknown Secret only to those who will not look for Him there.
In the end, The Secret points to the most basic question of life. Is is all about us, or about the glory of God? The elevation of the self in The Secret is truly breathtaking:
The earth turns on its orbit for You. The oceans ebb and flow for You. The birds sing for You. The sun rises and it sets for You. The stars come out for You. Every beautiful thing you see, every wondrous thing you experience, is all there for You. Take a look around. None of it can exist, without You. No matter who you thought you were, now you know the Truth of Who You Really Are. You are the master of the Universe. You are the heir to the kingdom. You are the perfection of Life. And now you know The Secret.
There is no real secret to The Secret. It is just the same old self-worship packaged for a new generation.
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Can You Be A Christian and Not Go To Church?
Question: Can I be a Christian without joining the church?
Answer: Yes, it is possible. It is something like being:
A student who will not go to school.
A soldier who will not join an army.
A citizen who does not pay taxes or vote.
A salesman with no customers.
An explorer with no base camp.
A seaman on a ship without a crew.
A businessman on a deserted island.
An author without readers.
A tuba player without an orchestra.
A parent without a family.
A football player without a team.
A politician who is a hermit.
A scientist who does not share his findings.
A bee without a hive.
- taken from Wesleyan Christian Advocate
Ephesians 5:25-32
25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. 28 In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, 30 because we are members of his body. 31 “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” 32 This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church .
The Holy Bible : English standard version. 2001 (Eph 5:25). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.
Answer: Yes, it is possible. It is something like being:
A student who will not go to school.
A soldier who will not join an army.
A citizen who does not pay taxes or vote.
A salesman with no customers.
An explorer with no base camp.
A seaman on a ship without a crew.
A businessman on a deserted island.
An author without readers.
A tuba player without an orchestra.
A parent without a family.
A football player without a team.
A politician who is a hermit.
A scientist who does not share his findings.
A bee without a hive.
- taken from Wesleyan Christian Advocate
Ephesians 5:25-32
25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. 28 In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, 30 because we are members of his body. 31 “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” 32 This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church .
The Holy Bible : English standard version. 2001 (Eph 5:25). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.
The Historical Present
"Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it." George Santayana
This famous quote is a little misleading. When Santayana says "we are DOOMED to repeat it"this insinuates that history is a bad, negative force. There are some things in history that we do not wish to repeat, like the Holocaust. There are others that we should strive to repeat, like the emphasis on scripture (sola scriptura) of the Reformation.
How much church history do you know? Any? Some?
I don't know nearly as much as I would like, but I have learned some. Church history can have many important points of applications to our lives today.
Here is an example. Recently I read a historical biography about George Mueller who lived in the 1800's. His life challenged me greatly in the area of prayer and faith. I would love to repeat his passion and dependence on prayer.
There are many other noble reasons to delve deeply into history in general and church history in particular. Jason Duesing has written an excellent white paper article that details these benefits. I encourage you to read it and learn from history.
Saturday, March 17, 2007
Mother Gives Birth, Then Coaches Game
I Love Sport, But This Is Ridiculous…
I love sports. I love to play them, and watch them. It is one of my favorite hobbies. I love my Aggies, the Cowboys, and the Mavericks. I even like to watch golf. I always thought that was boring when I was a kid, but now I like to watch it.
But, on my list of priorities sports is way down the list compared to things that really matter.
Carol Russell coaches the Nebraska-Kearney women's basketball team. She gave birth to her first child, a healthy boy in the afternoon. Five hours later she showed up to coach her team. She wasn't required to, and didn't have to, she chose to.
This woman gave birth to her child, and instead of spending time with her newborn, she felt like it was more important to coach a basketball game. Why bother even having kids if they are not going to be a priority in your life? She will never get another day of birth to spend with that special child. She will get to coach many more games, that will be just as meaningless. By the way, her team lost the game. And they didn't just lose, they were blown out 108-75!
I get the feeling, just from observation, that there are a lot of parents who really don’t like to be around their kids. Their children are not as big a priority to them as other things in their lives. It seems as if they look for any excuse or reason to get away from their kids. Imagine a family where the mother doesn’t have to work. She is able to stay home to do one of the noblest jobs on the planet, rear her kids. What a blessing until this family hires a nanny! This actually happens. They hire a nanny so the mom can have time away from the kids.
We love our kids. We like our kids. We like to be together as a family. We like to do things together. Of course, Michelle and I like a break every now and then. That is not what I am talking about. I am talking about seeing your children as a precious gift from the Lord. They are a gift that is supposed to be cherished and nurture. They are not the center of the universe, but they are also not the family pet.
Last week we took a family camping trip to Possom Kingdom Lake. It wasn’t long and didn’t cost much money. But we all were together, no cell phones or email, and had a great adventure. It rained on us, we saw loads of stars, found rocks, and went canoeing. It was a great time and hopefully will be one that we will always remember. A basketball game can wait!
I love sports. I love to play them, and watch them. It is one of my favorite hobbies. I love my Aggies, the Cowboys, and the Mavericks. I even like to watch golf. I always thought that was boring when I was a kid, but now I like to watch it.
But, on my list of priorities sports is way down the list compared to things that really matter.
Carol Russell coaches the Nebraska-Kearney women's basketball team. She gave birth to her first child, a healthy boy in the afternoon. Five hours later she showed up to coach her team. She wasn't required to, and didn't have to, she chose to.
This woman gave birth to her child, and instead of spending time with her newborn, she felt like it was more important to coach a basketball game. Why bother even having kids if they are not going to be a priority in your life? She will never get another day of birth to spend with that special child. She will get to coach many more games, that will be just as meaningless. By the way, her team lost the game. And they didn't just lose, they were blown out 108-75!
I get the feeling, just from observation, that there are a lot of parents who really don’t like to be around their kids. Their children are not as big a priority to them as other things in their lives. It seems as if they look for any excuse or reason to get away from their kids. Imagine a family where the mother doesn’t have to work. She is able to stay home to do one of the noblest jobs on the planet, rear her kids. What a blessing until this family hires a nanny! This actually happens. They hire a nanny so the mom can have time away from the kids.
We love our kids. We like our kids. We like to be together as a family. We like to do things together. Of course, Michelle and I like a break every now and then. That is not what I am talking about. I am talking about seeing your children as a precious gift from the Lord. They are a gift that is supposed to be cherished and nurture. They are not the center of the universe, but they are also not the family pet.
Last week we took a family camping trip to Possom Kingdom Lake. It wasn’t long and didn’t cost much money. But we all were together, no cell phones or email, and had a great adventure. It rained on us, we saw loads of stars, found rocks, and went canoeing. It was a great time and hopefully will be one that we will always remember. A basketball game can wait!
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Jesus' Casket - Update
"Jesus tomb documentary ignores biblical and scientific evidence, logic experts say"
The heavy weights have weighed in! James Cameron is airing a documentary that claims to have found the actual casket and bones of Jesus Christ. I wrote yesterday sharing my thoughts on this sensational claim.
Others have begun to make their opinions known. Scholars that have much more intellectual clout than I do have begun to publicly debunk the newest anti-Jesus myth.
For some great articles check out the Baptist Press News today.
Good articles by:
Michael Foust
Mike Licona - great summary of the evidence against this hypothesis.
Jeff Robinson on Dr. Albert Mohler who appeared on Larry King Live about this subject.
By the way, I have always watched the major television conglomerates religious specials. Peter Jennings has done some on religion in Israel in the last several years. There were a couple of programs that came out related to The Davinci Code. These shows always have several "experts".
Invariably, they always find some "expert" that has a view on the particular topic that is contrary to the majority of "experts" and is always more sensational.
"Experts" are a dime a dozen these days. This is true whether we are talking about religion, biology, or any other particular field of study. Since this is true, if you are building a case for a particular argument, you have give more weight and credibility to the majority of experts.
This documentary on Jesus' casket uses experts. But, from what I have read, the majority of experts that have been close to this issue since 1980 give no to very little credibility to the claims this documentary makes.
"When the Talpiot tomb hypothesis is weighed on the historian’s scale, a few beans may be placed on the side in its favor while a brick of historical evidence is placed gently on the side against it. The tip of the scale that follows is not a gentle one." Mike Licona
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