FaithLife Ministries

“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!

“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing, and perfect will.”

Romans 12:2

We are in the season of Lent where Christians spend 40 days between Ash Wednesday and Easter in spiritual preparation and reflection. It is a time for prayer, fasting, and remembering Christ’s life, death, and resurrection and what it means for us. For some people it also means self-denial and giving up something during Lent, such as things they enjoy, as a means of self-discipline. For others it might mean attending a Lenten Bible study or prayer meetings. In either case, it’s a time to focus on God and not us.

Many of us carry around some bad habits, things that we do that we know we probably shouldn’t do since we are now followers of Christ. We often make New Year’s resolutions to try and change our ways, but they often don’t last long, and we end up back where we started. It’s because old habits die hard. They don’t want to give up their grip on us, and we often don’t want to let go of them either, even though we know we should.

When Jesus met with Nicodemus at night, Jesus told him that we must be born again (John 3:3). Nicodemus didn’t understand and asked Jesus how he could re-enter his mother’s womb. But that’s not what Jesus was talking about. He was talking about a spiritual rebirth and being born again in the spirit (John 3:5). It’s like killing our old life to have a new one. The Apostle Paul describes it as a new creation in 2 Corinthians 5:17 when he said, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come.”  Consequently, if we are a new creation in Christ, why do we still hang onto these old bad habits? And why is it so hard to get rid of them?

I would suggest that it’s hard because we think we need to get rid of them ourselves and by our own power. With that mindset we will always struggle because we cannot get rid of these physical habits with physical remedies. They can only be overcome by the Spirit of God through faith in Christ! As the Bible says in Zechariah 4:6, “Not by might nor by power, but by my spirit says the Lord Almighty.” Unless we submit our lives to God and His Holy Spirit, we will never be able to rid ourselves of our old bad habits. If we want to truly get rid of our bad habits, we must let Christ and His Holy Spirit take over our lives. There’s no other way for it to happen.

But we should also be aware that Satan doesn’t give up easily. He does not want us to change, nor does he want us to believe in Christ. His aim is to draw us away from Christ and to keep us there, essentially worshipping him instead. So, he will do whatever he must to keep us from submitting our lives to God through Christ. The Apostle Peter asserts this clearly in 1 Peter 5:8 when he wrote, “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” If we fail to pay attention, we will fall prey to the devil and his schemes.

But there is also more we can do than just be aware and alert. The Apostle Paul declares in Ephesians Chapter 6 that we are in a spiritual battle, not a physical one. In Ephesians 6:10-11 Paul encourages us to “Be strong in the Lord and is his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” In other words, we need to trust in God’s power and not ours, and to protect and arm ourselves in readiness for the battle with the evil forces that are sure to come. What are these protections you might ask? Paul lists them in Ephesians 6:14-17, and they include the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit (which is the Word of God). These are our spiritual weapons. With these, and God’s Spirit, we can defeat Satan and our old habits!

I recently saw the movie, The Jesus Revolution, which is a story about the Jesus Movement of the late 1960’s and early 1970’s that started in California. It documented the period when many young people of that time, especially “Hippies” (young people who rejected the norms of society and advocated non-violence), became followers of Jesus. They had become disillusioned about America and were turning to drugs, sex, and alcohol to find peace, love, and acceptance. But they did not find it there. Instead, they found it in Jesus! It was a move of the Holy Spirit that enabled them to overcome their addictions and find the life they were looking for. It reminds us that only God can take away our sin and our bad habits and give us true life.

If we want to get rid of our old habits, we must turn to Jesus and “renew our minds” and become a “new creation.” Complete faith and trust in Jesus it all it takes. How do we know? The Bible gives us two key stories where Jesus asserts this truth. The first is in Matthew 8:5-13 where Jesus heals the servant of the Roman centurion because of his faith. The second is from Matthew 9:20-22 where a woman with a 12-year bleeding problem believed if she just touched his cloak she would be healed, and she was. Jesus told her, “Take heart, daughter, your faith has healed you.”

So, even though old habits die hard, it is possible to get rid of them. But only when we put our faith in Jesus and His power to heal us, change us, and restore us!

“God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.”

1 John 4:16

Valentine’s Day is coming up in another week and so it seems appropriate to talk about love this month. There has been a lot written about love over the years, including books, songs, movies and television shows. There was the book Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus by Dr. John Gray, the top selling book on love and relationships of all time. Then there’s the song All You Need is Love by the Beatles. What about the movie Love Story which gave us the tag line “Love means never having to say you’re sorry”. And of course, there were television shows like the Love Boat that promised “something for everyone.”

Love can be either a noun or a verb, but I want to focus on love as a verb, an action, something that we feel, express, or do for other people. That includes feeling love for other people, saying I love you to someone, or doing something loving toward another person.

The dictionary provides several definitions for love as a verb. But the primary definition is to cherish, or to hold dear. This is the definition that best fits what I want to talk about. The other definitions are related to feeling passion towards someone (romantic), taking pleasure in something (eating, etc.), or thriving in something you do (work for example).

The New Testament was written in Koine Greek (Ancient Greek) and the Greek language has four words for love. They are Eros, for passion; Agape, for unconditional, selfless love towards others; Philia for brotherly affection; and Storge, for love of family. The Greek word Eros is not used at all in the New Testament, and the Greek word Agape is the one most frequently used in the New Testament.

In the New Testament, Jesus most often uses the word Agape for love, the unconditional and selfless love that we should show to strangers, the poor and helpless, and even our enemies. In 1 John 4:16 above, the Greek word the Bible is using for “God is love” is Agape and represents his unconditional and sacrificial love for all humans.

In our English-speaking nation today, however, people use the word love quite often and for lots of different things. It’s used to refer to our spouses, our families, our friends, our pets, our homes, our entertainment, what we eat, where we go, what we do, and what we individually value. So, it often depends upon the context in which the word is used to determine its actual meaning. Most often people use the word love to mean either passion for or taking pleasure in, love for friends, or love for family (eros, philia and storge). But rarely do people refer to the agape form of love.

Agape love is the highest form of love and can only be expressed through actions and what we actually do. In other words, we can’t say I agape (love) you, we have to show it in our actions. And those actions usually involve humility, sacrifice and selflessness, and are frequently done in secret. Otherwise, they would only be a self-seeking love that glorifies us instead of God. Agape love is the kind of love that God requires of us, because that’s the kind of love He showed us. “We love, because God first loved us.” (1 John 4:19)

So, what’s the importance of knowing which meaning is being used for the word love? I think it helps us to see the difference between what our world thinks and what God thinks.

Our world often only thinks of love in terms of passions, pleasures, and selfish desires. When the world loves, it is usually talking about what they love that gives them pleasure or benefit. In other words, what is in their own self-interest, whether its recognition, receiving love, or getting something else back in return. 

However, when God speaks of love, He is calling us to be selfless, unconditional, and sacrificial towards others. When God says we should love others, we get nothing in return other than knowing that God is pleased, and He alone is glorified. This difference is important and what should distinguish Christians from non-believers.

Of course, Christians can also love and enjoy our spouses, family, and friends. We can also love other earthly pleasures because God provides them to everyone for our enjoyment (1 Timothy 6:17). But we must also love our enemies, those that persecute us, and those that hate us because God still loved us when we did not love Him. We cannot love God if we hate others, refuse to forgive them, or refuse to help them when they are in need (1 John 4:20). Agape love is the kind of love that God requires us to demonstrate to others as followers of Jesus and is the kind of love that will draw others to Christ as well!

So, what does love mean? For a follower of Christ, it’s agape love – the selfless, humble, and sacrificial love for others!

“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love, does not know God, because God is love.” (1 John 4:7-8)

“Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord.”

Luke 2:1

Christmas Day is now behind us, and people have taken down their outdoor house displays, tossed out or stored the no longer needed Christmas tree, and put away all of the tree ornaments, lights and other interior Christmas decorations until next December. But is Christmas really over until then?

Last month I wrote about the secularized Christmas we experience today in America and much of the world. There seems to be no acknowledgement of the significance of Christmas Day beyond the traditions and joyful feelings that most people experience during the month of December. It is sad that Christmas has evolved into a mostly secular celebration. But even though that’s true, Jesus is still proclaimed at Christmas by almost everyone. How, you may ask, is that possible? Let me share three ways Christ is proclaimed in our secular culture, even apart from the Church.

First of all, the calendar most of the world uses today, called the Gregorian calendar, was introduced in 1582 by Pope Gregory XIII to replace the Julian calendar, which was introduced by Julius Caesar in 46 BC to replace the Roman calendar. The designations BC and AD that we use today stand for “Before Christ” and “Anno Domini”, which means “the year of our Lord” in Latin. So, whenever people write dates or refer to them, they are proclaiming Jesus Christ as the Lord!

Second, although many people today do not go to church even on Christmas, they often sing Christmas carols or listen to them on the radio. Those songs carry the message of the birth of Jesus as the Savior of the world. When people sing or hear “Joy to the world, the Lord is come”, or “Christ the Savior is born” in the hymn Silent Night, they are proclaiming that Jesus is the Savior of the world, whether they personally acknowledge it or not!

Third, the secular world recognizes Santa Claus as their primary Christmas character. Santa Claus is based on a real-life Greek Bishop named St. Nicholas, who would give gifts to the poor around Christmas. The name Santa Claus is an American derivative of St. Nicholas’s name in Dutch, which was Sinter Klaas. Consequently, although Santa Claus has become more of a secular figure, he is based on a Christian who lived out his faith and therefore represents a facet of Christ’s teaching on generosity. Acknowledging him (Santa Claus) acknowledges the One St. Nicholas served – Jesus!

Have you heard the song, the 12 Days of Christmas? Do you know what it is about? The 12 Days of Christmas is a sacred and festive Christian season denoting the 12 days between Jesus’ birth on December 25^th and January 6^th, which is Epiphany (the celebration of the wise men visiting Jesus from the east). This was established in 567 AD at the Council of Tours. Consequently, although Christmas Day is over, the Christian season of Christmas lasts for 12 days until January 6^th!

Now that Epiphany is also behind us, Luke 2:11 above reminds us that Christmas Day is not just a one day a year event, or even a season of twelve days. Although Christmas Day is the day we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and the Savior of the entire world, that event cannot be confined to just one day or even 12 days. It is an event that needs to be celebrated EVERY day! For Jesus came to the earth “to seek and to save what was lost” (Luke 19:10). That means you and me (and every other human being)! If not for Jesus, we would still be lost in our sin and eternally separated from God our Creator. What a miserable existence that would be!

But even today, many people reject Jesus as the Son of God and their Savior. Instead, they choose to live that miserable existence apart from God. They do not know the peace and joy that faith in Jesus produces. It still surprises me that so many people don’t accept Jesus as their Savior because He is the only answer to our sinful nature and corrupt world that can overcome the violence, hate, suffering, and evil that is so pervasive today. The Bible clearly points out that this is why God sent His Son, Jesus, into the world – not to condemn it, but to save it from its own sinfulness (“For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.” – John 3:17)!

So, Christmas isn’t over! For those who would put their trust and faith in Jesus, God promises them His peace and joy in their lives. And not just for one day a year, but for every day of every year! Now, that’s something to celebrate all year long!!

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Isaiah 41:10

We are rapidly approaching one of the two most important days of the year for Christianity – Christmas! The other, of course, is Easter. Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus, the day when the holy Son of God entered our earthly world to be among us. The other celebrates Jesus’ victory over death and His resurrection, the day when He left our world, secured everlasting life for those who put their faith in Him, and who now reigns in Heaven over all the earth! These two days are universally known around the world, even among those who do not acknowledge that Jesus is the only way to God (John 14:6).

These are also the two days of the year when many people (mostly nominal Christians) will visit churches. Some likely attend out of tradition, others to please family members, and others out of a desire to reconnect with God. Whatever the reason, they hear the good news of Jesus!

But what about those who don’t come to church? Christmas is also a perfect time for Christians to tell others in our community what Christmas means and to share the good news about Jesus and the birth of a savior, just like the shepherds did (Luke 2:17)!

In America, Christmas has been secularized for many years and its true meaning has been lost in much of our culture. Christmas is recognized more today as Christmas trees and decorations, Santa Claus, Elf on the Shelf, secular Christmas movies, and non-Christian Christmas songs rather than by the birth of a savior and its meaning for the world. How tragic!

How did it get this way? It happened because we as American Christians let it happen. We allowed the culture to define Christmas as being about love, family, giving to others, and traditions, rather than about the birth of a savior! These are not bad things, they are just not the meaning of Christmas! As a result, we need to speak up and remind the culture what the true meaning of Christmas is!

However, many Christians are now afraid to witness their faith or share the gospel. Our culture in America has turned against God and the Church, and those who openly practice or share their faith can lose their job, lose their friends, or even lose their life (e.g. – church shootings). Satan is behind the scenes working to intimidate Christians to keep us quiet in order to promote his godless agenda (1 Peter 5:8). And sadly, many Christians comply and stay silent, even during the Christmas season. That’s not what Joseph Mohr meant when he wrote the Christmas carol, Silent Night!

Although it is much harder today to speak our minds and witness our faith, it is still possible. We still have freedom of speech in our nation, but we do not have freedom of consequences! The intimidation is real, and the potential consequences as mentioned above are real.

But the real question is this: What are we afraid of? Isn’t our faith in Jesus enough? Don’t we trust Jesus to take care of us and provide for us? Isn’t that what faith in Christ is supposed to mean in the life of a Christian? God promises to “never leave us or forsake us” (Deuteronomy 31:6). Jesus said in John 14:1, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, trust also in me.” And the psalmist proclaims, “When I am afraid, I will trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me?” (Psalm 56:3-4)

When we are afraid to speak up, aren’t we really admitting that either we doubt God’s Word or fear losing our earthly treasures and comforts? Do we not believe that God will still provide for us? Do we not trust that He will walk with us and give us His strength and courage to endure our trials? Because if so, then we are merely Christians in name only, and our faith is weak and powerless. This makes me sad when I read about the incredible faith of persecuted Christians in places like North Korea, the Middle East, and Cuba (read about them in Voice of the Martyrs at www.vom.org).

Now is the time for all Christians in America to speak up and remind others what Christmas is really about. We need to greet others with Merry Christmas, not Happy Holidays. We need to share the Christmas story, not our favorite Christmas cookie recipe. And we need to witness our faith in our Christmas cards & letters and social media postings, and whenever we have the opportunity in conversation with others. But we must do so with “gentleness and respect” (1 Peter 3:15).

And let us not be afraid of what mortal man can do to us. Instead, let us trust God completely as Daniel did (Daniel 6), let us speak the truth boldly as Stephen did (Acts 7), and let us hold firmly to the faith in Christ that we profess (1 Corinthians 16:13).

If we don’t, who will?