Posts Tagged ‘christian’

5 Oct

Baptists Assemble 2011!!!

Posted by tyrellh in Christianity, Reflections. Tagged: , , , , , , , .

The Baptist Union of South Africa held its 2011 assembly in Port Elizabeth over this past weekend. It was my second assembly, and my last as a probationer. This assembly had many highlights and BU quirks that I hope to share in this article.

Registration happened at a Presbyterian Church, we met at an Anglican School and many of the delegates were accommodated at a Roman Catholic lodging- it may sound ecumenical but it was more a baptism of the baptised for these groups.

One thing I learned about South African Baptists is that we can make the most unmusical song possible somehow sound musical. We had a theme song for the conference and the first line went like this, “We need effective Bible leaders”- oh the musical pain! However it gets the point across, this is what the BU was driving for as we met this assembly- Next year’s theme, “We Need Better Rhyming Theme Songs”

A welcome change to the assembly program was the addition of a time of Bible study and prayer which took up most of the mornings.

Bible study

The executive decided that since Baptists have historically been known as ‘people of the Book’, it would be good to place that Book in prominence in our meetings; so every morning God’s Word was studied and applied followed by a time of prayer. What a wonderful way to start the assembly! I feel that this was a wonderful move by the executive, it sets the tone for the kind of Baptists we want to be, what a great thing to put God’s Word and prayer as the most important part of our meetings together. We were fed with the Word and sought God’s Face before we went about seeking to do Assembly business- that’s the way to go. My group’s able facilitator was Peter Holness (Trinity Baptist’s Pastor in P.E.), I enjoyed being with this seasoned pastor, he has a real pastor’s heart and I learned from that even in the short time I was with him in the groups.

The Lord’s Day saw particularly interesting business being discussed, which also demonstrated something of how the Union has succumbed to secular pressures. During a discussion on amending the Union’s constitution with regards to a particular issue, the word ‘his’ was used when referring to a pastor, two delegates took exception to this, arguing that it should read ‘his/her’ (as you can well imagine Ephesians, 1 Corinthians, 1 Timothy and Genesis were not the passages being discussed in the morning studies). The response from the pastor chairing that meeting was basically to say that the constitution also says that whenever ‘he’ is mentioned’ both the masculine and feminine is implied; this was not good enough for the two individuals and a motion was passed to change the line to ‘his/her’. So with sadness I witnessed the Union’s bowing down to secular culture and the feministic attitude so prevalent in it, in this case directly disregarding Scripture.

One encouraging move on the other hand, was the tightening up of other aspects of our constitution. While pastors who are going through a divorce immediately have their name suspended from the ministerial list pending an investigation, till now nothing happened to pastors who were merely separated from their wives. This was tightened up and a clause was added which basically states that if a pastor has been separated from his wife for over a year, and there appears no way of reconciling them, the name will be dropped from the ministerial list. I was glad to see the step taken as it shows a desire to hold firm the integrity of the office of a pastor in the Union. Taking a strong stance like this, especially at leadership level bodes well for the growth and nurturing of biblical leaders.

Much of my time was well spent in fellowshipping with like-minded brothers; the four reformers (Mark Penrith, Rocky Stevenson, Malcom Cunningham and me) and one whose persuasion shall not be labelled (Ian Stuart) had good chats over issues ranging from Eschatology to Liturgy to the meaning of ‘perfect’ in 1 Corinthians 13. On the Sunday Malcom, Rocky and I took Ian to celebrate his birthday with an ice-cream and a walk on the peer; it was a very special time of Christian fellowship. Our little reformed group affectingly dubbed itself BATS- I can’t remember what it stood for, but it reminded me of Batman so I am cool with it.

The Baptist Women’s Division marked their 100th year with a wonderful banquet (from what I hear). This year we have the second none white BWD president over the last century. There were wonderful reports of the chaplain’s work; ministry in the defence force, prisons and police is very tough, but the fruit that those who labour there are seeing is extremely encouraging, to even the dreariest pre-mil…. I mean pessimist.

Another thing I found encouraging about our Union was the racial diversity, we had many people from different races; it truly was something of an anticipation of that day when there will be people from every tribe, tongue and nation worshipping the Lamb.

Even after I left the assembly the good times where not over, at the airport I bumped into Marcus and Sandra Elaya from the Ebenezer Community Church in Pietermaritzburg; we identified each other by the nifty BU blue bags we were given. This lovely couple have been working at a church plant for 10 years in an extremely poor area. It was so wonderful to fellowship with them and hear about their sacrificial work for the Lord. I praise God for bring us across each other’s paths; we enjoyed a good coffee and chat while we waited at the matchbox of an airport for our flights.

19 Sep

Use Your Gadgets to the Glory of God

Posted by tyrellh in Christianity, Devotional. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , .

Cell phones are wonderful tools, along with their helpful friends the tablet and e-reader. However even these things which God has seen fit to bless this generation with must be use in a proper way, more specifically a way that honours God. This is important to think through as Christians since we want to be pleasing to God in all of life. Considering how to use things like our cell phones to the glory of God ensures that we enjoy them in the best possible way.

The first principle that may help us lay a foundation for this discussion is to always remember to value people over gadgets. People that are in your life in the moment are more important than pieces of plastic in your hand, even if you say it is connecting you to other people. Think for a moment about relationships, you wouldn’t want to have a relationship with a spouse, or a good friend, or a parent or child that only existed over phone or virtual connection. The reason for that is obvious; these gadgets are limited in their ability to create any kind of intimacy or meaningful communication. There is a difference between seeing someone and then talking with them over the phone or texting them. Personal face time is important. So we read in the epistles about Paul longing to see certain people again (Romans 1:11; 2 Tim 1:4). The way you use a gadgets and the way you allow it to distract your attention from those around you sends a message of the value that you place on them.

Essentially, like all things in creation, use gadgets, don’t let gadgets use you. If you judge smoking because someone is addicted to it, then be careful when you use your gadgets that you don’t show the same kind of obsessive behaviour over them- don’t let your gadgets have mastery over you. 1Timothy 4:5 tells us that the things we can use in creation are consecrated by the Word and prayer, and we are to use them with gratefulness. Have you thought through the use of your cell phone? Do you seek to use it according to the Word?

One last thing before we think through some of this practically, we should appreciate that convenience doesn’t mean necessity. I mean this in a very specific way, just because you can tell someone something in the instant you think about it or feel you need to, doesn’t mean that you must. If you feel someone has wronged you or you feel irritable or anything like that, just because you have the convenience of making it known right away doesn’t mean you need to. One of the problems with the world of instant messaging and status updates is that people are able to say things without having had the right amount of time to cool off and think things through; the slipperiness of the tongue extends to the shockingness of the virtual.

Here are a couple of ideas that I try to use to avoid using the wonderful tools in a way that dishonours God.

If you are in a conversation with someone and you are expecting a call, may a point of saying that you are expecting an important call and may have to take it during the conversation, this shows the person that you are concerned about them and value your time with them. Why should someone else get to interrupt you just because they used a phone? It’s the same as if we were having a conversation and someone came and starting speaking to me and I just turned away from you in mid-sentence to talk to them. This is a Christian issue of love and respect, virtues that should be growing in all believers.

If you get an unexpected call in a conversation, excuse yourself from the conversation and ask if you can take the call if it really is important and cannot wait till you are free.

When texting or updating status on various platforms, and even at times when voice calling, avoid talking about personal issues, without voice tone, facial expression and such things communication can often be misunderstood. Something you mean innocently may sound very different to someone else. A comment in frustration about how horrible your husband just behaved can for example be interpreted very differently by someone who just lost their husband, or someone who is very critical and takes comments to extreme’s sometimes or someone who longs to find a spouse. Along the same lines choose your words carefully in light of these difficulties.

Lastly but not least, think about your Christian testimony in all these things, what will a certain status, a particular comment, a hasty SMS or a call you have not thought through mean for your Christian testimony? A few generations ago people may have bottled stuff up to much, but this generation is often happy to let it all hang out. Always let your gadgets use be seasoned with salt so that it may give grace to those that read it (Col 4:6).

10 Aug

Christian Students be Steadfast while Studying

Posted by tyrellh in Christianity, Devotional. Tagged: , , , , , , .

Exams, tests, friends, and life; All these things, plus a few more add up to make a student’s life a whirlwind of activity. This kind of pressure can be quite a thing to deal with for a Christian student at university. How much time should I spend on my devotions? How much time can I give to the church? When am I making my studies an idol? These are the worries of a student striving after godliness and striving after grades?

Here are some guidelines that may help the student get a grip on the great gauntlet of varsity vocation:

  1. All Work is Sacred

The first step is to look at your work differently. Studies are not the secular thing you do when you are not worshipping God; studies are a way to worship God. This is God’s calling for you during this stage of your life. Ecclesiastes 9v10 says, “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might…” The Reformation did a great service is showing how even the menial tasks of life are a service to the Lord, and so we read Pauls words to the Colossians, “…in all things obey those who are your masters on earth, not with external service, as those who merely please men, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord” (3:22). Use your studies as a worshipful thing, what Scriptures can you apply to your specific area of studying (e.g. Biology: We are fearfully and wonderfully made; Math: God is Faithful; etc)?

2. Seek First the Kingdom of God

In Matthew 6:33 Jesus said, “But seek ye first his kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you”. Being a Christian means you have been freed to see what is important, that is God’s Kingdom. While in seeking to be excellent in your studies you are achieving this in part, there are also the primary means of grace that you must be committed to. We are told in Hebrews 10:25 to, “not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.” As a believer you need to prioritise your attendance at the formal gathering of the Church, in most cases this is Sunday services and a mid-week meeting; this is far less than the early church met. One of the issues you will deal with is faith, you need to trust God that obeying Him will bring you greater reward and joy than slighting your means of grace for the sake of studying, there make be occasional exceptions to this as wisdom guides you, but this would be the rule. The next point is in the same line…

3. Keep the Sabbath

The fourth commandment to keep the Sabbath is still an important part of our lives, as it is God’s command. As you prioritise your work through the days and plan your schedule, plan in such a way that you close your books on Saturday evening to only open them again on Monday morning; use your Sunday for spending time in God’s Word, with God’s people, family and friends. So your work load for the week would be a bit more as you prepare yourself to not have to do work on the Lord ’s Day. It’s about preparation.

4. Sacrifice

Figuring out your priorities is an important part of dealing with the stress. God comes first, family, Church and then vocation. Now part of that may mean taking on fewer courses, or even dropping a course and extending your studies. It may mean dropping certain church activities that are good, but not vital during times of intense work. It may mean leaving dinner straight after a meal, or seeing friends less.

5. Time is Money

Well, time may not always be money, but think about the tithe, God doesn’t demand that all your money be devoted to church work, but rather that all your money is submitted to Him, to the church you only give as a guide 10%, over and above that you can give. Think about time in the same way; there is no reason why you must have a 2 hour devotional time everyday; there can be very productive and helpful devotionals done in 1 hour or even half an hour. During times of exams/projects you may need to take less time in devotion, not compromising the quality of your devotion, but rather the quantity of time spent.

6. Church Community

Believers are to help each other in bearing the burden of the curse. If you need to leave one of the church meetings early, arrange to leave immediately after a meeting instead of waiting around talking during times when you are very busy. Perhaps ask a group of people in the church to commit to pray for you during difficult times, this is a great way to be involved in the lives of other people in the church who you may not normally interacted with, ask some of the older people to commit to pray for you, and be sure to give them feedback.

7. Long Term Perspective

Remember that if you are unable to prioritise the important things in your life now, it won’t get easier when you work and have a family. Think about mentioning when you are at a job interview, that you will be unavailable for work on Sundays; explain that this is just something your employer must come to terms with upfront.

8. Seek Advice

Get help from your elders on applying these principles, and perhaps write out a time-budget and get them to look through it with you.

9. Don’t Over-spiritualize

Sometimes students try to over-spiritualize their work and pretend that praying replaces studying. This world is God’s world, so learning things about the world is learning how God designed things. In short- Serve God like you have not studied, and study like God won’t give you an iota of help.

Well, in order to save you some time, I’ll end this post now. Go love God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength and study hard!

27 Jul

Was a Christian Responsible for the Tragedy in Norway?

Posted by tyrellh in Christianity, Religion, Social Issues. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , .

Last Friday (July 22, 2011), a bomb went off in Oslo killing eight people and injuring many more. Later, a gunman went on a shooting spree at an island youth camp in Norway, killing 68 people. The gunman was arrested and later claimed responsibility for both attacks.

When questioned by the police, Breivik claimed that his actions were intended to save his country and all of Europe from Marxist and Muslim infiltration. He said that the Labour Party was not doing enough to prevent this, and that his attack was aimed at weakening that party.

This issue has become important for Christians since Brievik claims to be one. This raises questions like, ‘Does Christianity promote such violence?’, yet anybody with a cursory grasp of the Bible will know that Christianity does not promote violence, but rather the love and self-sacrifice displayed by Christ (if you are thinking of the crusades as a counter-example I encourage you to click here). My heart goes out to those who lost loved ones on that day, and our church continues to pray for the people of Norway, that they will find comfort in the Divine Comforter and Grand Equaliser of all things Jesus Christ. However, my intention in this article is to dissect to some degree Breiviks own beliefs, liberal media’s agenda, and then ask why these kinds of things happen on a practical level.

The liberal media loves making up its own labels for things, like ‘fundamentalist Muslim’(which most Muslims themselves denounce as a category), however in this case the media wants to portray Breivik as a ‘Fundamentalist Christian’ perhaps as some sort of attack on conservative Christianity.

Consider the following quote from Breivik:

“It is not required that you have a personal relationship with God or Jesus in order to fight for our Christian cultural heritage and the European way. In many ways, our modern societies and European secularism is a result of European Christendom and the enlightenment. It is therefore essential to understand the difference between a “Christian fundamentalist theocracy” (everything we do not want) and a secular European society based on our Christian cultural heritage (what we do want). (emphasis in original)

So no, you don’t need to have a personal relationship with God or Jesus to fight for our Christian cultural heritage. It is enough that you are a Christian-agnostic or a Christian-atheist (an atheist who wants to preserve at least the basics of the European Christian cultural legacy (Christian holidays, Christmas and Easter))[i]”

“As for the Church and science, it is essential that science takes an undisputed precedence over biblical teachings.”[ii]

“I’m not going to pretend I’m a very religious person as that would be a lie. I’ve always been very pragmatic and influenced by my secular surroundings and environment.[iii]”

There is a lot more where that came from, but I think it proves the point, a fundamentalist Christian? No. Perhaps a nominal, cultural Christian. He is as Christian as the majority of people born in Europe think they are, based on the fact that they are born in a State that formerly had Christianity as a State religion.

The philosopher Nietzsche observed how the elites of Europe in his day wanted the moral culture of Christianity without the actual doctrine and practise of Christianity. In another article I asked what the future of South Africa will be, as we seek to have the benefits of a Christian society, without the foundation of actual Christianity, what we see in Breivik is the far right-wing  approach to achieve that, while in Marxism we see the left-wing attempt to achieve it.

What can we except in the world, as it loses its grip on Christian truth, but wishes to hold onto its benefits? Perhaps more lost individuals like Breivik, along with many other manifestations of frustration as structures-wished-for collapse without the foundation required, that of Jesus Christ and Him Crucified.

[i] Andrew Berwick (Anders Behring Breivik), 2083: A European Declaration of Independence (London: Self-published, 2011), Pg 1361-1362

[ii] Ibid., 1403-1404

[iii] Ibid., 1344

5 May

Worship #5: Where to From Here?

Posted by tyrellh in Christianity, Doctrine, Worship. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , .

I promised in my last article to write about the apparent short comings on the ‘Baptist Confession of Faith’s’ section on worship, however, the more I have been looking at it and comparing it to other creeds I feel that I would be making a mountain out of a mole hill. The real issue still lies in other places…

I think that a tradition, whether it is 500, 100 or 10 years old, suffers from the same problem; We start with Scripture, but eventually put our final authority in our own traditions or views.  This may be one of the reasons why we have such a hard time figuring out what God wants us to do when we worship.

Every generation of the church is responsible to weigh its tradition and practice against the final authority of God’s word, and to be honest God has not been as specific in this area as some might prefer. The bible doesn’t give an order of service that applies to all cultures at all times. Similarly the Bible commands us to respect one another, but in African culture respect is shown by not looking someone in the eye when talking, in European culture, one should maintain a degree of eye contact, so just as the way respect is shown varies in those two cultures, it will also vary in the way worship is preformed. For example the Old Testament is full of choirs, musicians, processions, priests, robes, annual celebrations and instrument praise; but how relevant are these things since the New Testament doesn’t even mention them? Should we come before God with singing, dancing and instruments like Psalm 149? Or are those things now forbidden in the New Testament command to worship God ‘with reverence and awe’ (Hebrews 12:28)?

I find so ironic, that some of my own reformed brothers would use the ‘regulative principle’ to forbid instruments in Church along with hymns and spiritual songs… and then only sing unaccompanied Psalms which constantly mentions instruments, dancing and the like? AT the same time my Charismatic friends would sing about the holiness of God and His majesty, and then treat worship in a cavalier, superficial and sentimentalist way.

Some Christians think God has said nothing about worship, but the need for me to refute this thinking is useless now since if anyone has read the bible in even a superficial way they will see the folly of this thinking (I pray). God hasn’t told us everything, but He certainly hasn’t been silent on the topic.

PRINCIPLES FOR FORM

I would like to at this point suggest the guiding principles for how the ‘form’ of worship should be decided upon and evaluated. (It is helpful at this point to have read my article on the varies parts of worship). What principles guide, not the ‘elements’ or ‘circumstances’ of worship, but the ‘form’?

  1. Do what God clearly commands (regulative principle without the exclusivity part)
  2. Don’t do what God clearly forbids (Normative principle)
  3. Use SCRIPTURAL wisdom for everything else

We need to recognize that God has not given us a prescribed order of service that defines biblical worship. However we must seek to faithfully apply biblical principles and examples.

Furthermore, we must grasp the vital role that faith plays in corporate worship. Thus we never want ‘our way’ of doing things to replace vibrant real trust in the finished work of Christ to make our worship acceptable.

The next few blogs will be on how I think these principles should be applied in around 9 different tensions (I hope to make these blogs on worship more regular than once a week as we climb to the crescendo now). I also intent of shortly releasing a questionnaire that I trust will cause us to evaluate if indeed we are applying certain principles in our church.

For the growth and maturity of the Church as we all strive for the unity of the faith.

28 Apr

Worship #4: The Regulative Principle at Work… But Where?

Posted by tyrellh in Christianity, Doctrine, Religion, Worship. Tagged: , , , , , .

In my last article on worship I went into detail to explain what the ‘regulative principle’ is, I also spent some time breaking worship up into its various parts, namely: Elements, form and circumstances.

Today I would like to look at how these two things meet, in other words what interplay is there between the ‘regulative principle’ and the various parts of worship? If you have no idea what I mean by the parts of worship I have listed, or what I mean by the ‘regulative principle’ I strongly recommend you read the previous post on worship before continuing with this one.

The big question that I think often goes unasked in our everyday churches is, “Does the ‘Regulative Principle’ apply to all the parts of worship, or only to some of them?” It is my opinion that it is an incorrect application of the ‘RP’ that is behind much ‘unhealthy’ worship in churches.

-          Circumstances -

The Baptist Confession of Faith which in line with all generally with the other historic creed says the following about the circumstances of worship (Chapter 22:6):

Under the Gospel, neither prayer nor any other aspect of religious worship is tied to, or made more acceptable by, any place in which it is preformed, or towards which it is directed(1). God is to be worshipped everywhere in spirit and truth(2)… (1. John 4:21; 2. Mal 1:11; 1 Tim 2:8; John 4:23-24)

I think it is clear from the confession that the ‘circumstances’ of worship is irrelevant. A church is a church whether it meets under a tree or in a building or even in a Cathedral.

-          Elements -

With regards to elements, I think chapter 22:5 makes reference, but instead of calling it ‘elements’ calls it ‘parts’. It then goes on to mention all the elements which Scripture explicitly state must be in worship:

1)      Reading of Scripture

2)      Preaching and hearing of the Word

3)      Teaching and admonishing of one another

4)      Psalms, hymns and spiritual songs

5)      Baptism

6)      The Lord’s Supper

The first chapter affirms again the main idea of the ‘regulative principle’ when is says, “He (God) may not be worshipped … by any other way not prescribed in the Holy Scriptures (22:1)”

I agree with this, I must since my conscience is captive to God’s Word. I will not have smoke things shaking in my church to show how our prayers rise to heaven, I will not have icons or crucifixes for worshippers to fix their focus on (22:1 uses this as an example of what it means). These are the acceptable methods we use to Glorify God in worship (note that ‘announcements’ are considered as part since natural light tells us we need them).

So far we have seen that the regulative principle does not apply to the ‘circumstances’ of worship, but clearly it does apply to the ‘elements’ of worship. Which leads me to my next question…?

-          Form –

Does the regulative principle apply to the ‘form’ of worship? It is my opinion that it does not, but rather that the ‘form’ calls for an application of Biblical wisdom (Col 3:16) and ‘natural light’. If we were to apply the regulative principle in its strictest sense to ‘form’ (meaning not doing anything in a way not explicitly said in the New Testament) we would have no lecterns, pulpits or stages, the shortest sermon in church would have to be 50min minimum (based on book of Hebrews), seating would be an issue since we have no idea of where or in which direction people should sit, furthermore, the use of projectors/overheads would be very questionable. I realize I am being facetious, and an argument from inconsistency of those who hold to the principle is not an argument against it.

I think in ‘form’ we need to apply a variety of Biblical principles as well as the wisdom God has so given men to be able to make the elements most conducive to their purpose, namely worshipping God, or to put it another way, to declare the worthiness of God in ALL His attributes.

Conclusion

I trust that again you have found this helpful and stimulating as we think on this issue together. Next week I will address the issue where I feel the Baptist Confession of Faith falls short, as mentioned in my last post, since it ties in closely with the kind of wisdom I am talking about with regards to form.

29 Jul

The Knowledge of God- Implanted in Every Person

Posted by tyrellh in Apologetics, Christianity, Religion. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , .

I have been considering lately the idea of knowing God. And I would love to just throw out three things about knowing God, (1) Everybody has the knowledge that God exists, (2) Arguments given against God that claim the idea of God was just made up to control people actually gives proof to the fact that God exists, (3) That people who try to deny God’s existence or change who God is, as a way of removing all fear of God, only prove God’s existence and their knowledge of it.

(1) The first thing I noticed, is no matter where one goes, to whatever culture, tribe or people, everyone has the knowledge of God. All around the world from the hardened atheists to the farming natives, there is everywhere a fear of God. There are few people so backwards in thinking, and religiously anti-logical that they would deny His existence, even the man in an isolated tribe feels the desire to need and worship, so much so, that he will worship an idol made with his hands rather then not worship anything. In our western ‘civilized’ society, we worship ourselves, our dreams, our aspirations, we think man is the end of all things… Even then there is the invisible line that people will not cross, the line of human dignity, which for the atheist there is no basis, even though the Humanistic manifesto has this is its first point. Romans 1:18-20 tells us that everyone knows there is a God, but man became backwards in thinking, and mans heart was darkened.

(2) Some people in an attempt to disprove God say that the idea of religion was just made up to control people. I agree, that often people have added their own laws and made up rules, using religion to control masses (much like the Catholic Church in the ‘Dark Ages’ or Mohammed when he was preparing his attack on Mecca). However, this merely proves that everyone has the inherent knowledge and fear of God. Here in Africa, sometimes rebel warlords will use food to control people, they capture UN food supplies and force the people to starve or submit, no one has yet said that hunger was a tool made to control people… However, the fact the warlords can use food to control shows that the need for food and the very existence of food exists. In the same way, the fact that people have at times abused Christianity and religion to control others, only proves that the desire and fear of God exists universally.

(3) The contemporary move to post-modernism, and this your-truth-is-truth-to-you theory also proves this all the more, whether people make up gods that they are comfortable with, or all together try to deny His existence, it all the more proves He is there. You see, it is the universal fear of God, the fact that people know in their conscience that God will judge them, and that He is just, that forces them to either deny His existence, or to make up a god to suit themselves. Now, the skeptic may say, “Ah, but I can disprove your God”, the moment he does that he proves it… Tell me, how many papers have you read which argue against the existence of fairies and unicorns? None, well that is because it makes no difference to the atheist, but God, the One they know will judge them, although they don’t always feel this equally as strong, He, the need to rationalize away, they need to calm their conscience, so that when they live their life of selfishness, lust, lying, hate and blasphemy they can be at peace for a little while, Nietzsche and Dawkins are the opium of the atheist. This is why when so much as a leaf falls they fear that it may be the end.

God be gracious to those who do not know Him is a saving way, praise Him for Jesus Christ who brings freedom, freedom from sin and bondage, and not onkly a true fear but a love of God.

2 Jun

The Folly of the ‘Do unto others as you would have them do unto you’ Philosophy

Posted by tyrellh in Christianity, Religion. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , .

There is a common phrase in our day and age, people say that their only rule and the way they live there life is: “Do unto others as you would have done unto you”. In Luke 6:31 Jesus revealed this rule when He said “And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.” This can be seen as a rather good ethical code, and so some people say Jesus was a good ethical teacher. I say Christ was far more then a mere ethical teacher, and so when I say folly of the philosophy, I am not saying what Christ said is folly, but rather the way people who refer to themselves as ‘spiritual’ have decided to use it apart from Jesus Christ and the context He placed it in.

One thing to note, the moment you say that this is a rule, you have by inference said that not doing to others as you would have done to you is wrong.

This begs the question, why is it wrong?

If it is purely human wisdom and you have conceived of it yourself, what basis does it have except your own subject and often flawed heart?

Why should anyone else conform to this? Dictators, rapists and murderers often go unpunished their whole life, yet they assumingly don’t live by this code.

Despite the difficulties mentioned above, has anyone ever kept this law perfectly? Have you?

People shun away from God’s moral law as shown in the Ten Commandments yet many of these hang on the command to love your neighbor as yourself.

Don’t lie, steal, covet, commit adultery, murder, disrespect your parents? Have you kept all of these? If not you have not loved your neighbor as yourself. So then what? Is this a powerless law, will you go unpunished? If there is not punishment, then what is the good in keeping the law at all, since people who don’t follow this also find joy and a complete life?

This is why Paul said in Romans 3:20, “For by works of the law no human being will be justified in His sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.”

All that this moral code does is show you how far you are from perfection. It reminds me of speeding tickets. Do you realize that the law of the road will never justify you? It never records all the good driving you do and then rewards you as the countries best driver. The law only serves to bring knowledge of sin.

Furthermore, I am also sure that there are some bad people in prisons, right? Do you think we should let them out? I mean, would you like to be locked up for making a mistake!? We need to do to them what we would want done to us.

Can you imagine, what a chaotic society we would have.

However, people do go to jail, and we do have a sense of right and wrong, something which we couldn’t evolve to have, something which does not come from society (since we see isolated communities that know right and wrong), and the basis for there being a wrong is that there is a right.

Well, you say, I have only done a few things wrong then, not many. Well, how many things must one do wrong before one is guilty? Five, ten, sixty?

The entire issue has at its core, what is your source of truth?

Is it yourself? Your own reasoning powers and intellect, your own sense of justice? Jeremiah the prophet spoke about man, he said, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can understand it?” When we are sick, we look outside ourselves, when we are school learning, we look outside ourselves, but ah, when we are trying to justify ourselves we look at ourselves as the standard. In 2 Corinthians 10:12 Paul notes, “… But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding”. It is like the second grader who compares himself with another second grader and since he is a bit smarter, assumes he should be in university already- let him compare himself to the teacher.

Our source of knowledge comes from God as is revealed in the person of Jesus Christ, who is the express image of His Person. This we can discover in the written Word, the Holy Bible, a book which has stood the scrutiny of scholars for 1900 years. A book which one is hard-pressed to deny is perfect, completely harmonious (despite all reasons for it not to be), prophetic (in a testable verifiable fashion), amazing (in its content which surpasses the human mind in purity and holiness).

Rom 3:19, “Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God”

Our perception of good and evil comes since there is an absolute standard of good, God… He alone is the Perfect One. We have fallen far below that standard, and thus are culpable to the ordained of that standard. Since the crime is against and infinite God, it is infinitely punishable.

Herein lies the good news of the gospel, herein lies the purpose of Christ’ death: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus (Romans 3:23-24). Paul goes on later, “because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame. (Romans 10:9-11).

18 May

Is Doctrine that Important/ The Distaste of Doctrine (Part 5)

Posted by tyrellh in Christianity, Devotional, Religion. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , .

- QUESTIONS – (I recommend you read part 1,2,3 and 4 before this, unless it makes sense first time)

A Christian with a faith grounded in reality doesn’t steer clear of questions, he runs to them because He knows that God invaded the human world and became a man. He knows that God gave a perfect revelation of Himself in His word so we could have all the questions we need answering answered.

Questions are not daunting

What is daunting is when there are no answers.

What is heartbreaking is a faith that can’t stand up to them.

The other day I was sitting in a university first year philosophy lecture, I got into a conversation with a guy next to me, he saw I was reading a book which argues for the historical proof of Jesus and His resurrection. This guy told me how its good to ask questions about these things but His church doesn’t really let him ask those kind of things ( some churches want questions, just for the fun, but they don’t want to answer them, just enjoy not knowing). He went on to explain how the philosophy classes had made him think, that maybe Jesus wasn’t real, maybe God wasn’t real. After I said that there are answers, he got real excited, for the rest of the lecture he wrote down questions instead of listening, to ask me after the lecture ended.

He asked:

How does one become holy?

How do you know what is right and wrong?

How do you know if your interpretation of the Bible is correct?

Some other questions I have had asked:

Why do good people die in tragic ways?

Why do evil people prosper and good people suffer?

Why is there war and poverty if God is loving?

If God will forgive us when we ask, why not life any way we want, and ask him for forgiveness in our dying moments?

Since God controls all things, why is there evil, does God make evil happen (that sounds terrible right?) or do we have free-will and God has no control (cause that is also rubbish)… What’s going on.

These are a few questions, I have had hundreds upon hundreds thrown at me in my short life. I’ve spoken to heart-broken people, angry people, humble people, intellectual people, philosophical people. Let me tell you, the joy I have knowing that my God invaded this messed-up, crazy, painful, really real world and He didn’t bring a placebo, He brought the truth, a truth that can set us free from the pain, anger, lost-ness, intellectual burnout-ness.

This is why peter goes out of his way to point out that this is all real, he said, “For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.” We were eye-witnesses? He saw it, it was real it happened. What an amazing truth.

Am I saying that I know everything? No.

Am I saying that God has given me everything I need for life and godliness while I’m here on earth? YES (2 Peter 1:3)

I remember at school when I was young, they always said that there is no such thing as a stupid question, but as I got older, they started saying, that smart questions make one smart.

The truth of God’s word being a freedom, a freedom that I’m not lost without answers in a world that is full of questions. However some people ask questions like that ad, where the child just keeps asking ‘why?’ for the sake of it, not really to learn anything.

A question that doesn’t come out of the hunger for an answer is not a real question, it’s a heart with no blood.

Humility is saying, God you have the answer, I’ll accept what you say, no matter how hard it is, because you are the potter and I am the clay.

Trying to deny that there is an answer in the name of humility is like a student who doesn’t want to show his marks, or see anyone else’s, because ignorance is bliss, and I don’t want to know if someone is better then me, and I don’t want others to know I’m not so good.

Oh, that we would humble ourselves like little children and come to God to learn from Him.

Most often God brings questions to our lives about reality so that we have to throw ourselves at Him and learn more about Who He is? Like with Abraham in Genesis 18, God goes to Abraham, and by God’s actions brings a whole lot of questions up in Abraham’s mind, and each time God answers, Abraham knows God a little better.

Central to our Christian Faith, is that we have the truth incarnate. And so we bring our dead daughter to Christ and ask Him to bring healing, we bring our confusion about meaning and hope and ask Him to answer, because that’s part of why He came, to show us the way, the truth and the life.

Robert Brownings wisely said, “I thirst for truth, but shall not reach it till I reach the source.”

The Christian faith is something which makes a difference and is real, but more then that… its true. Otherwise it would be easier to just believing something else, if there was some natural nobility in believing something.

Pauls said that we should answer each person (Col 4:6). The problem is when people sometimes attempt to answer back to God (Rom9:20).

Many people today would like to turn Christianity into a mystery, they would like to turn God’s revealing of Himself and His answers into mystery…

And to be honest, it is, as we saw earlier, the natural man does not understand the things of the spirit! They are foolishness to him. It was once said in the Scriptures that no one understands (Rom 3:11).

But what does it say to believers? 1Co 2:12 Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God.” Wow, what a gift, we have the mind of Christ (1 Cor 2:16).

Where do we discover the mystery? Where do we find the answers? Paul said, “Eph 3:8 To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,

Eph 3:9 and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things,

Oh, Christians, are you left on earth to reveal in questions? Did the all powerful, loving God decide that the best answer for mankind would be mystery?

Build the boat!

Take the cruise!

It will save you!

Two possibilities: One; oh, wow, God is so big, I don’t understand how he is going to save or bring hope or life, I’m trapped in despair, and now I feel free to share it with everyone.. its so exciting to be lost without an answer and hope!

Two; Rom 16:25 Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages

Rom 16:26 but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith–

Rom 16:27 to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.

This has always been the understanding of Orthodox Christianity, a group of God loving holy theologians put this in a plain way in a great Christian confession, they said:

The whole counsel of God, concerning all things necessary for his own glory, man’s salvation, faith, and life, is either expressly set down in Scripture, or by good and necessary consequence may be deduced from Scripture: unto which nothing at any time is to be added, whether by new revelations of the Spirit, or traditions of men. Nevertheless we acknowledge the inward illumination of the Spirit of God to be necessary for the saving understanding of such things as are revealed in the Word

This tell s us a very obvious thing: If we are going to travel the distance Jesus traveled, if we are going His way, we need to make sure our ship has the right equipment to travel across the ocean. Then we can take our feet off of the firm ground of this worlds sinful and dangerous ideas, and put our faith in something ‘more sure’, we are aliens and travelers on this world, it is not our home.

In a world where the pieces don’t matter, and the focus is more just about the journey, we would be led by a group of people who are very much like kids about to go on holiday with their parents. They don’t know to pack the spare tire, or fill up, or do checks on the car, or pack medicine.

Now, as I have said, somethings are not as important as others….

Whether Jesus comes back before or after the tribulation, or after the millennium, is not an important issue… whether Jesus is coming back at all,, is a very important issue….

This is why Paul under the control of the Holy Spirit wrote these heavy words: Gal 1:9 As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.

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