FaithLife Ministries

“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 3:12-14

It is now 2024 and the beginning of a new year. Some people look forward to the experiences and opportunities that await them this year, while others are not so enthusiastic about the year ahead. Sometimes that depends upon our individual perspective and what kind of year we had in 2023. But no matter how one views the past year, many believe that the future is trending downward in cultural, economic, and political ways, and are distressed and concerned by the direction our nation, and the world, is going.

There are several reasons why people may not be optimistic about 2024. First, there are 2 major ongoing wars in the Ukraine and Israel that could spread to other nations. Second, there are difficult financial and economic struggles that many people are facing. Third, there is political division in the US and other nations, and the growing desire for socialism, redistribution of wealth, and a focus on group identity rather than individual merit. In addition to these three reasons, it’s also an election year here in the USA (and many other nations as well). Considering our past few elections, this one will likely be even more contentious and uglier. So, with a difficult year ahead of us potentially, some people yearn to return to the “good old days”! They prefer the “then” to the “now”.

I just turned 70 years old and I often think back on the days from my past. These were days when life seemed simpler and less hurried with lots of opportunities. But the reality is, the past is gone forever and we can’t live in the past nor should we try to (see my blog from last November : The Role of History | FaithLife Ministries). While there are some things from the past worth hanging on to, such as our principles and values, we must live in the present and embrace a future filled with both change and opportunity. We must seize the “now” and let go of the “then”!

Consequently, I think it is beneficial for us to consider four things that are better today than in the past that might help to give us some perspective on now vs. then.

First, take personal computers. They have also enabled greater access to information and products & services than ever before. I remember having to go to a library for information if I wanted to know or learn something. Today, we have information and knowledge at our fingertips on virtually anything. We can search for information from all over the world and get answers immediately. Similarly, in the past we had to go to a store if we wanted to buy something. Today, we can buy what we want, when we want, where we want, and how we want without ever leaving our home. When it comes to computers, I do NOT want to go back to the old days when we did not have them!

Second, let’s consider communications. Today we have instant communication around the world through email and cell phones. Before the personal computer, there was only the US mail. You had to write and mail a letter and then wait a week or two for a reply (or longer if it was international). Today we can send emails across the world and get immediate responses. Before the cell phone, there was the phone in your home and payphones in high traffic areas. If you had an emergency while away from home, you had to go find the nearest pay phone. With a cell phone, we can now call for help immediately. We can also use our cell phones to send emails, get directions, take photos, and call from anywhere in the world! We also now have satellite GPS which enables us to plan travel routes, avoid traffic delays, and calculate how long it will take. With today’s communications, I’ll keep my computer and cell phone, thank you!

Third, what about air travel? Back in my younger days airfares were fixed and there were limited destinations, flight connections, and only certain days of travel to certain places (e.g. – weekly or MWF). Today we have an array of choices and costs and can reach virtually every nation in the world on any day and with relative ease. We can also book our seats in advance and earn rewards for our air travel. And after adjustment for inflation, airfares are less expensive today than they were 50 years ago as well. I definitely prefer the air travel of today to the air travel of yesterday!

Finally, while we may lament the increased secularization of our nation, the fourth benefit of today’s world is that we now have more Christian movies, television channels, radio stations, concerts, and websites to deepen our faith and reach others with the gospel than ever before! These are great tools that we now have available today that were not as prevalent or even available 50 years ago. It is certainly easier now to grow our faith and reach others for Christ!

These are four positive developments that offer us some hope for 2024 and the future. And while some things in our culture are getting worse, such as a lack of respect for God and the Church, the negative influence of social media, the increase in drug use, and the growth of all kinds of sexual sin, these things can be overcome over time with the gospel, prayer, and the technology tools the Lord has provided us with in today’s age.

But it is still up to us as individual Christians to share our faith, share the gospel, and to offer this hope to our fellow citizens. But to do so means that we must recognize the opportunities that are before us in 2024. Rather than dwell on the past (Isaiah 43:18), we must go forth into the future, however bad it might appear, to bring God’s truth, God’s Son, and God’s hope to everyone! Then was then, and we can’t change it. But now is now, and we have been given the opportunity to bring about a better future starting today. Let us not shrink back from our call to “make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19) and be the Salt & Light of our generation (Matthew 5:13-16)! There is no better time than NOW!!

And who knows, perhaps God is preparing us “for such a time as this” (Esther 4:14)!

“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.”

John 15:18-19

It’s now December and Christmas Day is still 3 weeks away. But the season of Christmas has already begun and is in full swing! Although Christmas has become more and more secular over the years, it’s still about the birth of a little baby in Bethlehem named Jesus who would be the Savior of the world! It’s because Christmas isn’t Christmas without Christ! Christmas is still recognized as a Christian event by over 2.2 billion people around the world. That’s one-third of the world’s population! And yet, Christianity is also the most persecuted faith in the entire world.

Were you aware that according to an Open Doors International report from 2021, 360 million Christians face persecution for their faith every day? For some that means imprisonment, torture, and even death! But for others it means loss of home, loss of job, or loss of family relationships. There are also other subtle forms of persecution, such as silencing of Christian voices and forcing Christians to do things that are opposed to Biblical teaching and their beliefs.

According to the latest Pew Research study in 2018, Christianity leads the list of the most persecuted religions, followed by Islam and then Judaism. And while the war between Israel and Hamas has stirred more antisemitism and anti-Islam feelings the past couple of months, Christianity still leads the world in being the most persecuted faith.

This is truly an amazing paradox when we think of all the good things that Christianity has brought to the world. Christianity introduced the concepts of morality, equality, monogamy, generosity, care for orphans, widows, and the elderly, and to love one’s enemies!  These led to the creation of hospitals, orphanages, homeless shelters, food pantries, not to mention the Red Cross, Samaritan’s Purse, and Salvation Army, organizations begun by Christians that serve the world’s sick, poor, and hopeless.

So, if Christianity is does so much good, why does the world hate it?

The world hates Christianity because Jesus said it hated Him first (see John 15:18-19 above). Why? Because the world is comprised of people who reject God and His sovereignty over all creation (Exodus 20:3). Satan was the first being to reject God, and when he convinced Adam and Eve to distrust God (Genesis 3), they brought sin into the perfect world God created and it became corrupted from then on. As a result, Jesus was sent to the world to save the world from its own destruction. And although every human can receive this free gift of salvation, many still choose to reject it today.

But it also seems to me that there are 3 primary reasons why people reject or hate Jesus and persecute His followers.

First, Jesus taught that all people should put their faith and trust in Him alone. The Bible says in John 14:6 that the only way to God is through Jesus, His Son. To follow Christ is to submit our will to Jesus and God the Father, and to obey their commands. But many humans don’t want to yield their lives to God by putting their faith and trust in Jesus. They prefer to live according to their own desires or the way of the corrupt world. Either of these choices will end in death (Proverbs 14:12) and eternal separation from God. This is a message that the world does not accept or want to hear because it conflicts with their desires. And they will often do whatever it takes to try and silence that message!

Second, Christianity opposes earthly power structures. Whether it’s a national religion/tradition/culture, a political ideology, or an economic system, Christianity focuses on the freedom of the individual to follow Christ and His commands, which often contradicts the existing power structures. Those in power typically rule according to man-made rules and will often go to extreme lengths to stay in power by eliminating opposition and forcing conformity. History has shown the violence that human rulers have used to hold on to their power (Hitler, Stalin, Mao, Sadam Hussein, etc.).

Third, many people have had bad experiences in churches or Christian communities. This often leaves them hurt, used, and wounded. As a result, they have given up on God, believing He doesn’t truly care about them. Or perhaps they have been misled by false teachers and prideful leaders that have left them bewildered, confused, and doubting God’s Word. They were told that God would take away all their struggles and problems and leave them prosperous and happy. But that is contrary to what the Bible says. Jesus said in John 16:33 that “In this world we will have trouble”, while Paul wrote in 2^nd Timothy 3:12 that “Everyone who wants to live a Godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” To believe that the Christian life is easy is a misnomer.

Paul also said in Romans 8:17, “Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.” In other words, to submit to God and follow Jesus we will likely have to endure earthly suffering. They go hand in hand. Christians are never exempt from trials, but we are not alone in them either. God will always be with us (Joshua 1:5)!

I think what this all comes down to is that world hates Christians because they are a threat to their personal pursuit of earthly pleasure, earthly power, or earthly position, just as Jesus was! Many people like their life or their culture as it is and don’t want to conform to God’s design and intent, even for the benefit of a better life or a better world. People who follow Christ reflect their God-created purpose, and the life God wants for all people. So, to eliminate the threat and assuage their guilt, they hate and persecute Christians who remind them of it.

But we Christians should not be dismayed nor fearful. Let us remember the words of the Apostle Peter in 1 Peter 3:14 when he said, “But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.”

We should also rejoice, because as the Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 8:38-39, “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

As you celebrate Christmas this year, remember that Jesus was not only born for you, He also suffered for you and was resurrected for you! He did this so that you may persevere through the inevitable trials of this world and rejoice that you are eternally His!

Hallelujah! Christ has come!

“Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, did God really say, ‘you must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”

Genesis 3:1

There are many people today who question God’s authority and design. Sadly, many of them also claim to be Christians and followers of Christ. God’s authority refers to His sovereignty over all things and all people. God’s design refers to His creation, including people, and how everything is supposed to function according to Him and His Word.

Regarding God’s authority, in the beginning, it was Satan who questioned God’s authority and convinced Eve to do something she knew God had explicitly told her not to do (Genesis 3:1-3). As a result, sin came into the world and has corrupted it and all people ever since! To fix this problem, God sent His one and only Son, Jesus, into the world to take upon himself the penalty and judgement for that sinful act, and all human sin, once and for all! Christians today acknowledge that fact when they place their trust in Jesus for their salvation.

Secularists and non-Christians do not believe in God and therefore do not submit to His authority. They challenge God’s authority all the time and are free to do so since they do not believe in Him. They maintain that they have authority over their own lives. They often also confront Christians in the same way the serpent did in the garden of Eden by challenging them on God’s authority in their lives. And the unprepared Christian can then be swayed by human arguments and cultural norms if they don’t know the Bible and what it says or doesn’t say.

Regarding God’s design, He created the earth and everything in it (John 1:3). He created humans as male and female to reproduce (Genesis 1:27) and to take care of the world and have dominion over everything in it (Genesis 1:28-30).  He created marriage between the male and the female and that family structure as the basis for all society (Genesis 2:24). Secularists and non-Christians assert that sexual preference, gender identity, and nature management are human choices apart from God. As a result, they will not submit to God’s design either and will challenge it at every opportunity. They put themselves above God!

So, why do so many Christians today act more like secularists and non-believers by doubting God’s Word and challenging God’s authority and design? I believe that there are three reasons for this. First, they lack a relationship with God. Second, they succumb to worldly pressure. And third, they act in their own self-interest.  Let me explain each one.

First, since God created us, He desires to have a relationship with us (John 3:16). After all, we are made in His image (Genesis 1:27). But He also gave us the freedom to choose to have a relationship with Him. If we choose to do that, we will draw near to God and He will then draw near to us (James 4:8). And the more we know God through reading His Word and prayer, the stronger the relationship we will have with Him. Relationships are built by spending time together! And the strength of that relationship is what produces trust in Him and faith in His Son Jesus. A weak relationship with God and His Word produces doubt and a lack of trust in His promises, which leads us to question or doubt what God really said. When we fail to spend time with God, we can be easily led away from Him through the same words Satan used to deceive Eve!

Second, because of sin we live in a fallen and corrupt world. We must live in the world, but not be “of the world”. 1 John 2:16 says “For everything in the world – the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does – comes not from the Father but from the world.” In other words, the world (sinful man) is against God and will try to separate us from Him and His son Jesus. This is typically done through cultural influences and what people and nations believe to be normal and acceptable behavior and practice. But if we become a friend to the world, we become an enemy of God (James 4:4). So, Christians must be on their guard from false teaching and people who question what God’s Word really says. We must know the Word and then trust God and not the world!

Third, most people live according to their own interests and desires. It’s in our nature to be self-centered and rely on what we think or know or have experienced ourselves. But God challenges us to submit to His will, design, and purpose for our lives because it is what is best for us. Unfortunately, we humans think we know better and often choose our own way instead of God’s way. We would rather trust in our experience and knowledge than risk trusting in God and His promises. In doing so, we fail to receive the blessings He wants to give us and instead prefer to live a less abundant and safer life (John 10:10). We don’t believe in His Word when he says, “Delight yourself in the lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.” (Psalms 37:4) Yes, God really did say that!

We live in a time and culture that seeks to remove God and His Word from our world. Whether it is persecution of Christians through imprisonment or death, marginalizing or limiting the voice of Christians, or influencing Christians to question their faith through the twisting of God’s Word, they are all attacks on God and His people, the heirs of His Eternal Kingdom. As Christians, we must put on the full armor of God so we can resist the attacks of Satan and the world (Ephesians 6:11-12). We must know His Word, trust His promises, and put our faith in His Son, Jesus!

Did God really say… “Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.”?

Yes, He did!! (Galatians 6:8)

“I remember the days of long ago; I meditate on all your works and consider what your hands have done.”

Psalm 143:5

History is an important subject. We learn about history in our schools, museums, movies, documentaries, and books. Historical events have been written down, and more recently recorded on film or video, to help us learn from the past. History has much to teach us if we pay attention.

However, in recent years there has been a movement to change history to reflect current thought. This is very dangerous because history is a record of events written down at the time they happened. People changing history today weren’t there when it happened and are therefore infusing current thinking into situations that they have no direct experience with. Consequently, they distort reality to fit their own ideas and agenda.

The Bible also contains a record of the history of God’s relationship to His people. And there are also some who want to change that history, or reinterpret it, to fit modern times. But that is also very dangerous and is an attempt to change God and His Word (Malachi 3:6).

In this month’s blog I want to discuss the role of history and what I call the 6 R’s of history. First, on the positive side of what we should do, I will share the first 3 R’s. Those are to record history, to read history, and then to remember history.

First of all, history must be recorded so that people in the future will know what happened and why in our times (Exodus 17:14). If we fail to record or document what happened, then future generations will not learn from, or know, the truth of what took place today. For example, during World War II, General Dwight Eisenhower ordered that photos and film be taken of the Jews and concentration camps so that the evidence would be recorded and not forgotten or distorted in the future. Today, the nation of Iran is attempting to deny the holocaust despite all of the evidence to the contrary!  He understood the importance of recording history. Similarly, The Bible records the history of the Jewish people and the life, death, and resurrection of God’s Son, Jesus Christ, so that we may believe and trust in Jesus today! The documentation for Jesus as the Messiah and His death and resurrection is overwhelming and cannot be refuted, though some people still try.

Second, history must be read so that we can know what happened in the past that can inform us today. If we fail to read and study history, then we will likely not know the truth of what happened in the past and why. Knowing history helps us to appreciate what our ancestors did, how they suffered, and how they helped build a better future for us today. Reading history can also help us to better understand how we got to where we are today and why things are the way they are. The Bible reveals the history of God’s relationship with his people and why Jesus came to earth to save us from our sin (John 3:16). Without the Bible we may never have fully known what God did, why Jesus came, and why it matters to us as human beings.

Third, history must be remembered so that we learn the lessons of the past (1 Chronicles 16:12). When we look at history from a present-day perspective, we can see the mistakes that were made that we can now avoid. We can also see what was done right and how those decisions in the past have benefited us today. Today, we celebrate our relationship with God in history though Christmas (Jesus’ birth), Easter (Jesus’ resurrection), and Pentecost (the coming of the Holy Spirit). And we celebrate Holy Communion in our churches regularly to remember Jesus’ sacrifice for us on the cross! (Luke 22:19)

The second 3 R’s are on the negative side, what we should not do. These are that we should not rewrite history, we should not relive history, and we should not repeat history.

The first thing we must not do is try to rewrite history. History is exactly that – history! It is a recording of events that took place in the past at the time they took place. To rewrite something today that happened long ago does not help us learn from the past. Instead, it alters the truth and reality of the past to suit current attitudes and beliefs. Its only purpose is to create a false narrative for political or other deceptive purposes. As Christians we must be on guard against those who would try to alter Scripture (or reinterpret it) to suit man’s agenda, not God’s purpose (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

The second thing we should not do is to relive history. As much as we may have enjoyed our youth or days in the past, we cannot go back to that time. If we try to relive the past in the present day, we will find that it is not the same and never will be. I lived and worked in London, England for a year from 1987-1988. I enjoyed those days immensely with my English experiences and my family. But if I were to go back and live in London today, everything would be different – the people, the culture, where I lived, etc. It could never be the same no matter how much I want it to be, and I would be disappointed. We are wise to live in the present and not the past! “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.” (Isaiah 43:18)

The third thing we must not do is to repeat history. Much of our personal and national history is full of errors and mistakes that caused us, or our nation, suffering and pain. Some examples might include our past bad behavior or our nation’s struggle with slavery. And all of us would probably agree that we would never want to make those mistakes again or go back to those times. The Bible teaches us that when we put our faith in Jesus, we are a new creation, that the old is gone and the new has come (2 Corinthians 5:17). After knowing how Jesus died for our sins on the cross, why would we ever want to go back to our old life again?

The Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 15:4 that “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.”  In other words, The Bible is our history and reminds us of what a great and loving God we have and what an incredible Savior He gave us in Jesus!

So, let us not seek to change history. Instead, let us remember it and learn from it so that we may live purposeful and productive lives for God and our world!

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
2 Timothy 3:16-17

It is the time of the year in America when children go back to school to continue their learning. Children generally start school at age 5 and receive free education until the age of 18 through our public school system. Students are taught the basics of mathematics, science, language, and history so that they understand our world and how things work. Like other nations, we want to educate our children so that they can become productive members of society and prepare themselves for adulthood and earning a living. Getting a higher education (college or university degree) is an option but is not required nor is it free. The point is that education is a highly valued asset and recognized as necessary for a nation to innovate, grow, and prosper.

In ancient history (Egypt – BC), most schools were private and only available to the wealthy or the elite in society. Public education became more available in the Middle Ages, primarily through the Catholic Church and the establishment of universities in the 12^th and 13^th centuries. The formal education of children in the United States began in the early 1600’s in Massachusetts and by 1870 all US states had tax-subsidized elementary education.

It is also important to mention that early schools and universities in the United States used the Bible as a source of education. Today, the Bible has been completely removed from our public education system. Sadly, it also seems that today the focus of our public education system is now about adhering to a political agenda than teaching the basics of math, science, language, and history. And some of the basics that are taught today are not factual either (American history, biology, economics).

Our nation, like many others around the world, is facing numerous challenges and difficulties. In America they include issues like violence, injustice, racism, abortion, human trafficking, homelessness, drug abuse, suicide, border control, inflation, and debt that threaten our society, our economy, and our unity. Our people are also deeply divided on how to resolve these issues. One side sees more government control as the answer while the other side looks to more individual freedom and accountability as the solution. So, what is the right answer?

To answer that question, let’s think about the computer that we use or the car that we drive. Most of us, if we are honest, begin using them the moment we get them and never bother to read the user manual that comes with it. When we run into problems with them, we try to use our own experience or knowledge to fix the problem. And sometimes that works. But if not, we then try googling to see if there is an answer online. If that doesn’t produce a solution, we then think of calling someone we know that has more knowledge who can help solve the problem.

But occasionally, we come across a problem that we can’t resolve on our own, on the internet, or through a friend. When that happens, we finally come to our last resort, which is to go to the user manual to find the answer. And very often we will find the solution there. It is because the manufacturer has already provided the instructions for operating the computer or car. And it’s usually something built into the system we just did not realize was there! In other words, to solve our problem we needed to go back to the source!

We also already have a user manual that explains human behavior in a way that can solve our societal problems. It’s called the Bible. Trying to solve the social or economic problems in our nation on our own or through human wisdom won’t work unless we go back to the source to understand how people function. Knowing how people were designed and created enables us to figure out how to solve these kinds of problems. The Bible is often referred to by an acronym – Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth. The Bible is our user manual for understanding how we were created to function and interact. If we ignore it, like we do our computer or car user manuals, we will likely never be able to resolve our social or economic problems.

One of the ways that we ignore our “user manual” is by believing two things. First, many think that people are basically good. On the contrary, the Bible clearly says in Romans 3:23 that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Furthermore, Paul writes in Romans 7:18 where he says “For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.” If we believe that people are basically good and will always do the right thing, that is not true. We humans can choose to do good or evil and our sinful nature often chooses evil!

The second belief we have that ignores Scripture is that man is wise and knows all. God declares in Isaiah 55:9 that “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Additionally, Job 12:13 says that “To God belong wisdom and power; counsel and understanding are his.” In other words, our wisdom and knowledge will never approach the wisdom and knowledge of God. But God will give us His wisdom if we ask for it. When God asked Solomon what he wanted, Solomon said, “Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people, for who is able to govern this great people of yours?” (2 Chronicles 1:10) “And God said, ‘therefore wisdom and knowledge will be given you.’” (2 Chronicles 1:12) Relying on our own wisdom is foolish!

I don’t believe that we will be able to solve our nation’s problems if we ignore our sinful human nature and continue to rely on our own knowledge. Continuing to trust in man’s ways and man’s wisdom will always fall short – “There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.” (Proverbs 14:12). Instead, Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us to “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.” 

In other words, we need to go back to the source, the Bible, to solve our problems. The more we know about how and why we were created the better able we will be to find the right solutions that can solve the issues we face today.

“Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.“

Joshua 1:8

One of my favorite television dramas for many years was the show “Law & Order”. In this show the first half hour was about the police investigating a crime where someone broke the law. The second half hour was devoted to the prosecution of the suspected offender in court using the law to convict or exonerate the accused. It was an effective way of showing how our justice system works in the United States.  The police are those who enforce the law (investigate and arrest lawbreakers) while the court system determines if the accused is guilty of breaking the law (evidence and testimony).

But today it seems we live in a culture of Law & Disorder. People regularly break or ignore some laws (e.g. – traffic, drug use, etc.), and some people want to limit the ability of police to enforce our laws. This has led to a rise in crime rates due to a lack of law enforcement. We are also witnessing the weaponizing of our justice system to target some people while refusing to prosecute other individuals for their crimes. This has led to a growing mistrust of the justice system as well. When there is no law enforcement and no justice there will be disorder!

To understand any justice system, we need to answer two questions. First, why do we have laws in the first place? Second, how are criminal and civil laws determined and established?

So, why do we need laws in the first place? It’s because people are flawed and broken human beings. And while one could argue that most people try to do good and do not commit crimes, the reality is that every person is capable of committing a crime and breaking the law. Criminal history reveals the truth that even people thought to be good can be pushed beyond their ability to control their behavior in given circumstances. Fortunately, most people are able to control their actions. But society needs laws to protect the vast majority of its people who obey the laws from the small minority who can’t and who commit crimes. So, laws are enacted to deter crime and to punish the lawbreakers (usually by separating them from society in prisons so they can’t harm others).

Without laws there would be no deterrent to harmful human behavior. For example, if we didn’t have traffic laws, driving would be sheer chaos because there would be no order in our driving. Everyone would go where they wanted to go, as fast as they wanted to go, and would not always yield to other drivers. Without laws, people will do whatever they think is best, and that doesn’t always work out well for everyone else (Judges 21:25).

It is also common for nations to change their laws over time according to changing governments, morals, technologies, or circumstances. We have seen a weakening of the laws in our nation today that allow stealing (theft under $950 in California) and even murder (abortion). Some laws are also being ignored (border control). When our laws are weakened or not enforced, chaos results. And chaos produces fear, mistrust, and disorder. Laws are necessary to protect innocent people, create a safe environment for all people to live in, and enable societies to function in an orderly fashion. Without effective laws or law enforcement, the result is always more chaos and disorder.

The second question is about how every nation determines its laws. In most nations, the laws are based on what each nation considers to be the negative or criminal behavior of its citizens. And often the laws are quite different in different countries. For example, in Malaysia, a person convicted of selling drugs can receive the death penalty while in countries like the Netherlands the drug laws are much more relaxed and often decriminalized. Each country’s laws are usually determined by each nation’s government. Normally laws are created to protect their citizens from other citizens or to deter actions that are harmful to society. But most of them are also based on 3 of the 10 Commandments from the Bible – don’t kill, don’t steal, and don’t lie.

God is a God of order, and He provided a set of laws for His created people too. His 10 Commandments set the rules for what He expects those He created in His image (all people) to live by. But the 10 Commandments are not for His benefit, they’re for ours! His laws are not meant to keep us out of prison, but to free us from the prison of sin and enable us to live lives that are good, fruitful, beneficial to others, and pleasing to God! Obeying God’s laws is meant to produce order in our lives and in our world. It also produces good!

But when we break God’s laws, it produces disorder and chaos in our lives as well as our world. Our sins impact those around us and can cause disorder that lasts for generations. God does not arrest us or take us to court and have us thrown into prison. Instead, He gives us the opportunity to repent of our sins and receive His mercy (2 Peter 3:9). Instead of punishing us, He forgives us and enables us to get back on the right path in our lives. However, if we don’t repent, we will ultimately face His judgment when we die (Romans 14:10). If we haven’t placed our trust in Jesus to intercede on our behalf, we will go straight to prison – otherwise known as hell – forever!

People know what might happen if they ignore or break our earthly laws. They could face prison time or even death depending upon the laws they break. People know what earthly prisons are like, either from television or personal visits, and prefer not to experience incarceration themselves! And that is often a strong enough deterrent to keep people from breaking our earthly laws.

But I believe that many people are not deterred by God’s laws or the threat of ending up in hell (a prison they cannot see). They somehow think that their sin will go unnoticed, hell isn’t real, or they will not be punished for them. But God sees everything we do and every law we break, and He will hold us accountable when we die (Romans 3:19). His Law will convict us of our sin every time (Romans 3:20). We cannot escape His judgement. All we can do is put our trust and faith in Jesus that He already paid the penalty for our sins, and that through His death on the cross, we are forgiven and reconciled to God!

Earthly laws are designed to prevent disorder and chaos. God’s laws are designed to produce right living and order among His created people. And while we can break earthly laws and sometimes get away with it, if we break God’s laws, we will always be caught (Proverbs 10:9). We will also be punished for them unless we put our faith in Jesus Christ and His sacrifice on our behalf. Don’t be fooled into thinking God doesn’t exist or He doesn’t care. Jesus is the proof that He does!!

So, let’s stop looking for ways to get around God’s Law. Instead, let’s be obedient to His laws and commands and live a good and ordered life! If we do that, we will be blessed! “He (Jesus) replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.” (Luke 11:28)

“Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshipped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.”

Joshua 24:14-15

Principle or progress? That is a common conundrum in every generation. Do we hold onto our values and principles from the past that have gotten us to where we are, or do we jettison them in favor of new ideas or new ways of looking at the issues that we face today to shape the future? How do we know when it’s time to let go of the past and forge a new future? Some people think that this is a tough decision. But it really isn’t as I will explain.

What I am talking about here are principles that we rely on to guide our behavior as individuals and the policies and laws we enact as a nation. We often refer to them as core values. These are the principles that are timeless and do not change from generation to generation. While other things may change, such as technology, scientific discoveries, economic markets, and global politics, the principles and values that we rely on to guide our actions and decisions should not change. It would be dangerous for us to build our lives, or our nation, upon a shifting or unstable foundation (Matthew 7:24-27)!

Let’s first look at our nation’s principles and values. We just celebrated our Independence Day yesterday, but our nation is deeply divided. There seems to be a strong and growing desire in America today to ditch the principles and values of the past in favor of adopting new principles and values for the future. This is evidenced by the rewriting of the origin of America (1619 Project), the weakening of law enforcement (defunding police and open borders), and the promoting of economic policies based on ideology rather than what benefits Americans (replacing fossil fuels). There are also voices clamoring for changes to our U.S. Constitution, claiming it is out of date and not in keeping with the times.  As a result, some have lost confidence in the principles and wisdom built into our founding document. They would rather change these principles to fit current times instead of using them to guide our policies for the future.

But does our American Constitution need revision? Do the principles that guided the formation of our nation and Constitution need to be adapted to today’s culture? The only way to answer that question is to look at the principles and values embedded in our Constitution.

The principles in our U.S. Constitution reflect our system of self-government and include our citizens’ right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Some of these rights include equal rights for all citizens, free speech, freedom of religion, private property ownership, the right to bear arms, the right to a trial, and the right to pursue our own individual destiny. But some of these rights are under assault today as outdated or needing change to fit the current times. But if we change them to fit the current times, won’t we need to change them again in the future to fit the new current times? And while our nation has not always lived up to the principles embedded in our Constitution, the principles are nonetheless valid, beneficial, and worth keeping!

If we look at the Christian Church in America today, we see that there is also a desire to alter its founding document – the Holy Bible. The progressive movement in the Church today wants to redefine Scripture to fit current cultural norms rather than letting Scripture inform us of God’s principles for our lives. Some Christian pastors and denominations have aligned themselves with earthly cultural and secular values instead of Godly values. This is evidenced by Christian pastors and churches supporting abortion (Exodus 20:13), homosexuality (Leviticus 18:23), gender ideology (Genesis 1:27), and prosperity theology (Matthew 6:19-21). These are all clearly against Biblical principles and teaching as referenced in the noted Scripture passages. As a result, they lead believers away from God’s truth and His principles and advocate ungodly lives and behaviors which are harmful to them as well as to our nation.

Some American Christians also think that the Bible as our founding document is outdated and written for a different time that doesn’t really apply to today’s culture. But nothing could be further from the truth! The Bible has plenty to say to us today regarding our culture, just as it did to the culture when it was written. It is just that progressive Christians don’t want to accept it as truth or adhere to it. Rather than look to God’s Word for wisdom and counsel regarding today’s issues, such as justice, gun violence, abortion, sexual behavior, or any other current topic, they prefer to rely on their own truth instead of His principles. In essence, they are only seeking justification for their sinful lifestyles and secular ideologies instead of being obedient to God’s principles for living His way!

Christians do not get to decide what Scripture is good and what is not. It is God’s Word and not ours. It’s God’s revelation to man not our interpretation of our God. His Word cannot be changed, and it should never be changed (Revelation 22:18-19)! Instead, we are called to meditate on His Word (Psalm 1:1-2) and obey it (Acts 5:29)! Furthermore, we will be blessed when we do so (Luke 11:28)!

So, the answer is always principles over progress when it comes to our lives and our nation’s policies and laws. To do otherwise would be to destroy the solid foundation upon which our lives and nation are built and to suffer the consequences of our own sinful behavior and the influence of our corrupt world. The truth is that Biblical principles don’t need to change – people do!!

Can I get an Amen!

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.”

1 John 1:9-10

One of the disturbing trends in our American culture is that fewer and fewer people seem to be willing to take responsibility for their own lives or actions. They want to be taken care of by others and be exempt from the consequences of their own actions. One of the reasons may be that those who grew up in the past 30 years did so in an environment that emphasized self-esteem over self-reliance and group affiliation over individual character. They received sports “participation trophies” for simply being on the team, regardless of their effort or contribution to its success. They were taught that it isn’t fair for one person to receive awards and recognition over another and that everyone should receive benefits whether they earned them or not. This ends up sheltering them from taking responsibility for their lives or their individual actions.

But there are also other people that either blame others (or society in general) for their own failures or they seek to justify their actions as legitimate because it’s how they “feel”. We are seeing this play out currently in the form of identity politics that puts people into collective categories by race, gender identity, or nationality, and divides them between oppressor and the oppressed. This holds people accountable for the group they are in and not their individual actions. Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream of having people “judged on the content of their character rather than the color of their skin” appears to have been tossed on the trash heap of history. When people no longer take personal responsibility for their own actions, they see no need to repent because in their mind they have done nothing wrong!

This failure to be responsible for personal conduct and actions has had a major impact on our nation. From a sociological and cultural perspective, if individuals do not take responsibility for their own actions, then they can do whatever they want without being held individually accountable. If you belong to one of the “oppressed” groups you are free to steal, commit violence, or slander others without punishment. This is evidenced by the passing of laws that allow stealing, the demonization of groups of people instead of individuals, and penalizing individuals who achieve success. But if you are categorized as one of the oppressors, you are condemned regardless of your personal behavior. This ideology pits our citizens against each other and has resulted in discrimination, conflict, and violence. In other words, it has allowed evil to flourish, leading to lawlessness and chaos that is slowly destroying our nation!

This new “Man-centered” ideology (instead of “God-centered”) has had a profound impact on Christians and churches in America as well. Any attempt to share God’s Truth with our world is met with criticism and disdain, if not outright hostility. One of the reasons for this is that Bible believing Christians are one of the major voices in America who are standing up against this Godless ideology. Therefore, that makes Christians an enemy that must be silenced as the voice of opposition to this ideology championed by the institutions of government, media, academia, and entertainment.

The Christian faith is built on the premise that we are created sinful (Romans 3:23) and that we are in need of a savior. But if people believe that they are not responsible for their actions then they will not accept this premise of their own sinfulness. This is in direct conflict with their political ideology. It also makes evangelism more difficult and results in a lack of repentance for individual sins in our culture. Without repentance there is no forgiveness or reconciliation and therefore no need for Christ or Christianity. People can do whatever they determine for themselves to be right regardless of how it affects others (see Judges 21:25).

So, why is repentance so important for our nation and the world? First of all, the belief in man’s inherent sinfulness is critical to the well-being of everyone in the world. Western civilization and prosperity were built on Biblical principles and an understanding of man’s sinful nature. Nations that have failed to acknowledge this fact have started wars that caused massive suffering and material destruction in the name of racism, communism, and totalitarianism. One would think the world would understand this by now. Unfortunately, it hasn’t! Secondly, once we acknowledge that individuals are sinful and need to be held accountable for their own actions, people can repent and forgive one another and seek peace. Third, repentance and forgiveness lead to the reconciliation of our differences (see Matthew 18:15-17). Reconciliation is what enables cultures and nations to grow and prosper together. Without reconciliation, there is no peace, there is only more conflict and evil!

On a personal level, the recognition of our sinfulness is what leads to repentance and confession of our sins. When we acknowledge our sins and repent of them, we are forgiven by God and can move forward with our lives. This is why repentance is so critically important, not only for us as individuals, but for our nation and culture as well. The first thing that Jesus preached when he began his ministry was repentance (Matthew 4:17, Mark 1:14). It was to turn away from our sins and to seek forgiveness for them, and to bring peace into our lives. If we do not confess our sins or seek forgiveness for them, God will still hold us accountable for them (Ecclesiastes 12:14). The only way to remove the judgement of our sins is to put our faith in Jesus Christ, whose death on the cross paid for our sin once for all so that we might be reconciled to God (Romans 5:10). In other words, through Christ, God has forgiven our sins “and purified us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1: 9).

If we want a better world, people need to take responsibility for their own actions, repent of their sins, and seek reconciliation. In doing so, they will diminish the violence, discord, and division that ravages our world so that all people can live in peace and prosperity!

“But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.’”

1 Samuel 16:7

We have often heard the expression “the tip of the iceberg”. It refers to the fact that most of an iceberg is underwater and cannot be seen by ships that might be passing nearby. It presents a real danger to any ship if it hits the iceberg, such as the Titanic did in 1912, because of the unseen portion below the waterline that can damage a ship and cause it to sink.

The “tip of the iceberg” is also a metaphor that refers to any problem or situation we face in life where we can’t see the whole picture. If we base our decisions or conclusions on only what we can see, we risk making a poor judgment that could cause problems for ourselves.

The reality is that we humans do this all the time. It is because we often only trust what we actually see or experience ourselves. Jesus’ disciple Thomas exemplified this problem after Jesus’ resurrection. He famously said, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” (John 20:25) Similarly, if we are called to be witnesses in court, we can only testify as to what we actually saw or heard ourselves. Any other testimony is called hearsay and is not admissible during a trial, even if we got the knowledge from someone else who actually saw or heard it.

Because of this problem, we can easily misjudge the actions of another person because we only see “the tip of the iceberg” – the part that is visible to us. We do not see the “rest of the iceberg” that is out of our sight. The part we don’t see is often the motives for their actions or even what led up to what we witnessed. Although our observations are real and true, there is usually “more to the story than meets the eye” as is often said. Several years ago, Ameriquest Mortgage made a series of short tv commercials about judging situations too quickly. They humorously reminded us of this reality! Here’s my favorite one: Cat Commercial for Ameriquest Mortgage – YouTube.

The Bible addresses this issue of the “tip of the iceberg”. God said to Samuel in 1 Samuel 16:7, that “People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” We are not God, and yet we often try to act like we know what is in another person’s heart or know all the facts. When we do that, we make assumptions and rash judgments about others and their actions without knowing the whole story. As Christians, we must be careful not to judge other people based only on what we see because God will judge us in the same way as we judge others (Matthew 7:1-2).  Instead, we must seek to discover the “rest of the iceberg” that resulted in the actions of the individual, whether those actions are good or bad, so that we can better understand them and their actions. If we don’t, we condemn others and bring judgment down on ourselves.

The same is true for information about people or incidents that we see on television or the internet. For instance, we often watch videos from news organizations, bloggers, and FaceBook posts that show some egregious or questionable action by someone. The video is often just a clip of something, and we don’t get to see what led up to the incident in question, or even what took place after the incident, that could provide some context as to what actually happened. As a result, viewers can be led to draw conclusions and form opinions about an individual or incident without knowing all of the facts or the whole story. Additionally, the video clips are often edited in such a way as to create a narrative about what happened that the provider wants people to accept, even though it may not be the whole truth. As a result, viewers can be manipulated to spread false or misleading information to others.

The same is true of attention-grabbing headlines or news articles that we see in newspapers or online. In an attempt to attract readers, the headlines are often misleading, and the news articles often present opinions instead of facts. This is especially true on the internet, where the goal is to get readers to click on the article link, or respond to a post, so that the originator can monetize them in some way (add subscribers, present advertising, gain revenue for their site, etc.)

Consequently, in the world we live in today, we need to be very discerning about what we watch and read. The news is no longer neutral or unbiased. The media (and those who share these videos and news articles) often have a financial motive or an agenda to influence their readers towards their beliefs, ideology, or political views. It is not to inform the public of the facts anymore. It has become more like propaganda.

So, the question then becomes, how do we discern what is truth and what are lies or distortions of the truth?  There are two ways we can do this.

First, we can look to God’s Word, which is the Truth. Jesus prayed for his disciples in John 17:17 saying, “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.”  We need to examine what we see and hear according to what we know from the Bible to be true. If something we see or hear does not line up with Scripture, then it is false and not true.

Second, we can ask the Holy Spirit to give us discernment and to reveal the truth to us about what we see or hear. Just as God revealed the dreams of King Nebuchadnezzar to Daniel, He can reveal the unseen to us as well today. Jesus said, “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth.” (John 16:13) God will give us His truth and discernment if we ask for it!

So, let us look beyond only what we see and ask God to reveal the “rest of the iceberg” we don’t see so that we can discern the truth and honor Him in all we say or do!

“He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.”

Psalm 103:10

One of the terms I hear so often in our culture is the expression that I “deserve” something. Whether it is break today (as the McDonald’s ads used to proclaim), a vacation, a chance at fame, happiness, a job, healthcare, a college education, or anything else in life, in most of these claims we do not deserve anything. We only “deserve” something if we have earned it!  However, some in our culture have come to believe that we deserve some of these things based on simply nothing more than our citizenship or existence.  We sometimes call this the “entitlement mentality,” a belief that we are somehow entitled to something that we did not have to work for or pay for ourselves.  The truth is that we only deserve something if we have worked for it or have earned it by our own efforts. 

In America today, it seems that the Puritan ethic of working hard is rapidly disappearing from our culture.  While there are still many Americans who continue to work hard for a living and do not expect anything from the government or others, we are seeing younger Americans who have this entitlement mentality and expect someone else, or the government, to provide for them.  They believe that they “deserve” certain things, like a free college education, free healthcare, a good job, a comfortable lifestyle, or a nice retirement without having to work for them or earn them.  Although the economy may be different today than it was when I was their age, the principle still remains that if people want certain things, they need to develop a skill, get a job, and then work hard to obtain them.

The Bible confirms this principle when it says in 2 Thessalonians 3:10 that “If a man will not work, he shall not eat.”  In other words, we are to work (if we are able to) for what we want or need in life. The Bible does not condone laziness or sloth. The only exception are those people who are disabled or unable to work. In those cases, the Bible says that we, as followers of Christ, are to help those in need (Matthew 25:44-45). But it is also true that humans sometimes get things that they didn’t earn themselves. These are generally things like gifts, inheritances, or perhaps winning the lottery.

So, what exactly do we as humans deserve in this life? For those of us who are Americans, one of our founding documents, our Declaration of Independence, says that we have the right to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”. In short, that means we have the right to live, the right to live as we choose, and the right to pursue our own vocations and education. The implication of this is that we have the freedom to make our own way in life, whatever that is, within the bounds of the law and our constitution. But that’s all we deserve – an opportunity to build our lives as we each desire!

Many other nations of the world provide this same freedom of opportunity, although there are some that do not, such as communist nations and dictatorships. But America is unique in that it was founded on this principle. Our freedoms have generated economic growth and better lives for all of our citizens more than any other nation in history! History has also shown us what happens when freedom of opportunity does not exist, such as in the former Soviet Union, North Korea, and Cuba. Everyone gets what they need to live, but its citizens are much worse off than those who live in nations that provide freedom of opportunity to determine their own way of earning a living.

But there is one thing that we as humans do deserve, no matter what nation we live in. All of us were born into sin and have a sinful nature (Romans 3:10, 3:23). We therefore deserve God’s punishment for our wickedness because He judges all humans for their words and actions in this life. As Ecclesiastes 12:14 says, “For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.”.  And while many people don’t believe they are sinful and deserve punishment, they are only fooling themselves. As 1st John 1:9 says, “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” Failure to heed God’s Word does not mean that we will escape His judgment and justice. God will judge all people when their earthly life ends (Matthew 12:36). Judgment Day is coming for all of us!

But there is good news! This coming Sunday is Easter Sunday, a day where Christians celebrate God giving us what we don’t deserve – forgiveness for our sins through the death and resurrection of His only Son Jesus Christ! Jesus already paid the penalty for our sins on the cross 2,000 years ago. God’s judgment fell on His only Son Jesus instead of us, so that “whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16) This is God’s gift to us because we don’t deserve it! We did not, and cannot, earn God’s grace. We simply need to trust and believe that Jesus died for our sins to receive this wonderful gift. The Apostle Paul wrote about this to the church at Ephesus when he said, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works so that no one can boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9) God’s grace is purely a gift given to us out of His immense love for us!

So, this weekend, let us remember what God has done for us through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross to pay the penalty and judgment for our sins! Let us come before Him with grateful hearts and songs of praise on our lips to thank Him for giving us what we do not deserve – forgiveness of our sins and eternal life with Him and His Son Jesus! Let us daily live our lives for Him because of what He’s done for us and let us also share this good news with others with the time we have left on this earth!

To God alone be the glory! Amen!