5 September 2008 by Brian.

I was reading Psalm 50 and was struck by the statement God makes at the end of this selection:

17     For you hate discipline,
and you cast my words behind you.

18     You make friends with a thief when you see one,
and you keep company with adulterers.

19        “You give your mouth free rein for evil,
and your tongue frames deceit.

20     You sit and speak against your kin;
you slander your own mother’s child.

21     These things you have done and I have been silent;
you thought that I was one just like yourself.
But now I rebuke you, and lay the charge before you.

The passage describes a community made up of people who have no regard for the righteousness of God.  They live according to their own rules, satisfying their appetites, and obeying their whims.  They disregard God’s corrective action in their lives, they disregard the moral law and freely accept injustice among them.  They speak evil, even of those to whom they should be most loyal - their own family.  So, they speak up in matters they shouldn’t and keep silent when they should speak up in opposition to evil.

God states definitively that He is completely different from this society of His supposed people.  God does not keep silent in the face of evil, but opposes it.  He does not speak evil, but doesn’t back down from the truth, even when it is uncomfortable to the hearer.  As His people (I refer to believers here), we are expected to glorify Him by living His character by the transforming power of the Holy Spirit.

So, if this is true, then why do I so often hear those who speak up against evil, injustice, or sin referred to as “mean” and those who keep silent and go with the flow as “nice”?  People tend to feel guilty for trying to do the right thing or requiring others to hold to a standard, whether it is simply a business policy that is the standard or its an issue of right and wrong.

We must be careful, always realizing that our judgment isn’t perfect and that humility and grace should always be present in the believer’s life.  But, there are many issues in our society about which God would have us speak up on behalf of Right and righteousness.  If God is who He says He is, then we should be faithful to do so.  The weak and vulnerable in our society need our voices.  People need to see us living the life of Christ at work, in our families, in politics, and, yes, even in church!

Do we dare to ask God to show us just how far short we fall and then trust Him to re-mold us in His image whether it’s comfortable or not?

Posted in Naturalism, Humanism, Abortion, Homosexuality, Eurabia, Social Injustice, Bible study, Inductive study method, Inductive Bible study, Social Justice, Community, Politics, Missions, Missionaries, Europe, Leadership, Evil, Environmentalism, Social Medicine, Trinity, Trinitarianism, Israel, Religious fanaticism, Sex, Biblical Worldview, Postmodernism, Postmodern Philosophy, Contemporary Christianity, Relativism, Sanctity of Life, Islam, Marriage, Postmodernity, North Korea, Morality, Religion, Radicalism, Radicals, Morals, New Age Spirituality, Spirituality, New Age, False Doctrine, Secularism | No Comments »

20 August 2008 by Brian.

Ravi Zacharias has edited a very helpful book entitled, “Beyond Opinion.”  I found one chapter in particular especially intriguing.  It was the chapter on, “The Role of Doubt and Persecution in Spiritual Transformation.”  You see, I’ve read a lot, studied a lot, and even done a little teaching on the topic of evil and how its existence can best be understood within the Christian worldview.  However, the author of this particular chapter (Stuart McAllister) does a great job of addressing the existential reality that we would often prefer to avoid.  In fact, I would argue that God attributes great value to the growth and the glory produced in the “desert experiences” of our lives, while those experiencing them (at certain stages, at least) are under the impression that nothing has any value whatsoever.  In order to understand the context, you need to know that earlier in the chapter, he shared his experience of having been imprisoned in a Czechoslovakian prison after being caught trying to smuggle Bibles behind the Iron Curtain.  Here are two brief paragraphs, which I hope will motivate you to read the entire chapter:

“The Trinitarian vision of God has served to sustain me in many different ways.  What do I mean?  As I journeyed into my life of faith I came to grasp (not very well) the historic teachings regarding the nature of God.  To see that God is a community of love, that he existed in self-giving relationships before the creation, and that he took on himself flesh in order to redeem us, was an awesome discovery.  The gift and life of the Holy Spirit was the final link in tying together what was for me, a vague notion.  This universe is a relational order, and I was now tuned in by virtues of God’s grace, mercy, and enabling love.  This understanding of God allowed me to dwell on God the Father, the Sovereign, the ruler, the God who humbled Egypt and led his people in the wilderness.  It also allowed me to consider Jesus as the incarnate one, the suffering servant, who although God in the flesh, restrained himself, sought out sinners, and gave his life in such an unselfish way.  The Father ruling, governing, guiding; the Son in his example, service, and sacrifice, followed by the Spirit in his comfort, keeping, power, and presence (John 14:26).  All these have been vital in my reflections.

How has this helped me practically?  It has meant that many times I could rest in the assurance of God’s ultimate and good control over life and circumstances.  Even though I had to face questions, I recognized my limitations and found comfort in the sense of God’s sovereign rule.  The example of Jesus continues to inspire and fuel a longing to be more like him: to follow his way, to respond as he responded, to treat people as he treated them, to love as he loved.  The assurance of the Spirit’s presence and help has met me in many ways, as I travel, preach, face questions, and seek to wrestle through issues.”

Posted in Humanism, Homosexuality, Community, Politics, Naturalism, Eurabia, Bible study, Social Justice, Social Injustice, Social Medicine, Taxes, Missionaries, Europe, Leadership, Missions, Evil, Trinity, Trinitarianism, Environmentalism, Religious fanaticism, Radicals, Sex, Biblical Worldview, Postmodernism, Postmodern Philosophy, Contemporary Christianity, Relativism, Sanctity of Life, Islam, Marriage, Postmodernity, North Korea, Morality, Religion, Radicalism, Morals, New Age Spirituality, Spirituality, New Age, False Doctrine, Secularism | No Comments »

31 July 2008 by Brian.

Dr. Henry Cloud says that great leaders learn to hate the right things well.

What is the role of ‘hate’ in your life?  When should we hate?  Care to comment?

Posted in Homosexuality, Community, Politics, Social Medicine, Abortion, Humanism, Social Injustice, Quotes, Eurabia, Naturalism, Taxes, Trinity, Europe, Christmas, Larry Norman, Leadership, Missionaries, Missions, Trinitarianism, Environmentalism, Evil, Social Justice, Israel, Biblical Worldview, Postmodernism, Postmodern Philosophy, Postmodernity, Sex, Contemporary Christianity, Sanctity of Life, Islam, Marriage, Relativism, North Korea, Spirituality, Religion, Radicalism, Radicals, Religious fanaticism, Morality, Morals, New Age, False Doctrine, New Age Spirituality, Secularism | No Comments »

5 July 2008 by Brian.

Ron Smith posts on some interesting revelations from unChristian.

If only we could ban the ‘f word’! 

Posted in Naturalism, Humanism, Abortion, Social Justice, Bible study, Religion, Religious fanaticism, Homosexuality, Community, Missionaries, Leadership, Missions, Evil, Politics, Environmentalism, Morality, Morals, Contemporary Christianity, Sex, Relativism, Marriage, Sanctity of Life, Islam, Biblical Worldview, Postmodernism, False Doctrine, New Age Spirituality, New Age, Spirituality, Postmodern Philosophy, Postmodernity, Secularism | 1 Comment »

4 June 2008 by Brian.

Rick Warren wrote what has become a well-known “Christian Living” book entitled,  “The Purpose Driven Life”.  I must admit that I haven’t read it, but I am well aware of the need to live for something and to orient our lives around that purpose.  When this purpose drives all of our attitudes, energy, and actions, we fulfill our purposes and enjoy the satisfaction of living a life that has an impact on the world.

I’ve recently been considering the “driven-ness” of the purposeless life and considering the pain brought by a lack of fulfillment.  The purposeless life can be just as driven as any other, but the effort expended is simply dissipated,  returning nothing but a shallow, short-term benefit, followed by the quick return of the hunger for fulfillment and the drive to satisfy that appetite.  Some return to the same well over and over, thinking the next attempt will prove more satisfying than the last…driven to addiction.  Others are smarter than that, so, for instance,  having tried illicit sex, they might move on to alcohol,  or drugs, or gambling, or…you get the picture.  Fundamentally, they believe that there has to be SOMETHING that will satisfy and they continue their desperate search to find it…driven to distraction.  Still others face the reality in front of them and, having lost hope, they dread another 60 to 100 years on this Earth through which they will “live”…driven to despair. As Dylan sang, “You gotta serve somebody.  It might be the Devil and it might be the Lord, but you gotta serve somebody.”

The fact is that there is no such thing as a purposeless life, but there are plenty of lives who have not discovered their purpose and there are plenty more who have, but they’re running from it!  Like it or not, we were all created to glorify God as we experience relationship with Him, through Jesus.  And it is only in giving ourselves to that relationship, that we discover who we were truly meant to be and can fulfill the specific purpose for which we were created.  Only God is big enough to capture our imaginations, to hold our wonder, and to meet every need in our lives.

Posted in Naturalism, Humanism, Quotes, Social Injustice, Religion, Social Justice, Abortion, Homosexuality, Missions, Missionaries, Evil, Environmentalism, Community, Politics, Morality, Morals, Sex, Biblical Worldview, Contemporary Christianity, Relativism, Sanctity of Life, Marriage, Postmodernism, Postmodern Philosophy, False Doctrine, New Age Spirituality, New Age, Spirituality, Postmodernity, Secularism | 2 Comments »

30 April 2008 by Brian.

This is too funny…at least now Sweden won’t have to deal with all those women on street corners, afraid to cross the street because the sign only instructs the men on how to do so.

When being “politically correct” replaces the obligation to be moral, all kinds of nonsense emerge.  This is just one example.

Posted in Eurabia, Naturalism, Humanism, Social Injustice, Social Justice, Radicals, Religious fanaticism, Homosexuality, Community, Missionaries, Europe, Missions, Taxes, Politics, Social Medicine, Radicalism, Religion, Sex, Biblical Worldview, Postmodernism, Contemporary Christianity, Relativism, Sanctity of Life, Marriage, Postmodern Philosophy, Postmodernity, Morals, Morality, New Age Spirituality, False Doctrine, Spirituality, New Age, Secularism | No Comments »

24 April 2008 by Brian.

I get the iTunes free Single of the Week each week, which happens to be a great value (most weeks, anyway). Occasionally, I don’t get the chance to listen to the song until it pops up randomly on my iPod and I realize I’m hearing it for the first time. Sugarcult’s, “Los Angeles” was one such song. I’ll warn you before you proceed, that the lyrics are harsh, but I’m posting them because they represent the stark reality of life as the center of one’s own universe. For contrast, I offer the 8th century hymn, “Be Thou My Vision” which hints at the enduring joy of a life of worshipping God through Christ.

Do you want to live a life of enduring hunger, never satisfied, simply consuming everything and everyone around you in your search for satisfaction? Or is a life of purpose, satisfaction, and joy which transcends circumstance a more reasonable goal? Read the lyrics and think about it…

Sugarcult – Los Angeles

I want a girl, girl that won’t talk back
And a job, job that gives me slack
And a car, car that won’t break down
In the heat of Los Angeles
Want to go, go without a map
Far away, away, I won’t get trapped
By the sound, a town, the sun beats down
In the heat of Los Angeles

One more holiday
I will not celebrate
I’m almost desperate
Cause I’m down, I’m down, I’m so beat down

This city’s killing me
I want, I want, I want everything
This city’s killing me
In the heat of Los Angeles

I want a love, love that won’t hit back
Want sex, sex without a catch
Want a face, to trust, to feel, to lust
In the heat of Los Angeles
Want to FUCK, FUCK, FUCK this up
Gonna feel, feel, feel you up
Had enough, enough, enough’s enough
In the heat of Los Angeles

This city’s killing me
I want, I want, I want everything
This city’s killing me
In the heat of Los Angeles
What has become of me?
I want, I want, I want everything
This city’s killing me
(I want everything)

Come on, come on
It’s alive and breathing
Come on, come on
Come alive today
Come on, come on
It’s a heartless beating
The sun is burning down Los Angeles
Los Angeles
Los Angeles

I want a girl, girl that won’t talk back
And a job, job that gives me slack
And a car, car that won’t break down
In the heat of Los Angeles

Come on, come on
It’s alive and breathing
Come on, come on
Come alive today
Come on, come on
It’s a heartless beating
The sun is burning down

(This city’s killing me)
Come on, come on
It’s alive and breathing
Come on, come on
Come alive today
(This city’s killing me)
Come on, come on
It’s a heartless beating
The sun is burning down Los Angeles (one more holiday)
The sun is burning down Los Angeles (I will not celebrate)
The sun is burning down Los Angeles (one more holiday)
The sun is burning down Los Angeles (I will not celebrate)

Be Thou My Vision

Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;_
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art_
Thou my best Thought, by day or by night,_
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.

Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word;_
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;_
Thou my great Father, I Thy true son;_
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.

Be Thou my battle Shield, Sword for the fight;_
Be Thou my Dignity, Thou my Delight;_
Thou my soul’s Shelter, Thou my high Tower:_
Raise Thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.

Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise,_
Thou mine Inheritance, now and always:_
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,_
High King of heaven, my Treasure Thou art.

High King of heaven, my victory won,_
May I reach heaven’s joys, O bright heaven’s Sun!_
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,_
Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.

Posted in Abortion, Homosexuality, Community, Humanism, Naturalism, Social Injustice, Eurabia, Politics, Trinity, Missionaries, Europe, Christmas, Missions, Evil, Trinitarianism, Environmentalism, Social Justice, Religion, Sex, Biblical Worldview, Postmodernism, Contemporary Christianity, Relativism, Sanctity of Life, Marriage, Postmodern Philosophy, Postmodernity, New Age Spirituality, Morals, Morality, False Doctrine, New Age, North Korea, Spirituality, Secularism | No Comments »

9 April 2008 by Brian.

It drives me nuts when I hear people use emotional terms when describing their thoughts about an objective, fact-based issue:

Question:  “What do you think should be done in order to prevent Social Security from going bankrupt?”  Answer: “I feel like privatization is the best option.”

What?!?  Nobody asked which flavor of ice cream you prefer today or your emotional reaction in the face of such a daunting challenge.  The question is one that needs rational analysis of a variety of facts and the consequences of the various potential solutions to the problem, producing a well thought-out decision.  Now, the decision could be wrong…nobody expects that the respondent will provide THE definitive, correct answer.  However, the question is one which requires and intellectual response, not an emotional one.

Jesus said, “Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.”  Our language betrays the fact that our generation has lost faith in objectivity, rationality, fact, and truth.  People rarely “think” or “believe” anything about anything anymore.  Now, they “feel like” everything from the sum of 2 plus 2 to their favorite flavor of ice cream to the results of their monthly budget or the existence or non-existence of God.

As believers, we should be aware that a rational, objective approach is insufficient for 100% of life, but this approach is foundational to reality because a Constant exists in the universe and He is the source of reality, the moral law-giver.  We should never be so arrogant as to believe that we perfectly understand everything and that we cannot be wrong about an issue.  However, we shouldn’t back away (nor slip into our culture’s habit) of speaking as if everything were up to personal choice.  This, I believe.

Posted in Humanism, Abortion, Homosexuality, Community, Naturalism, Eurabia, Bible study, Inductive Bible study, Social Justice, Social Injustice, Politics, Social Medicine, Missions, Missionaries, Europe, Christmas, Evil, Environmentalism, Taxes, Trinity, Trinitarianism, Israel, Religious fanaticism, Sex, Biblical Worldview, Postmodernism, Postmodern Philosophy, Contemporary Christianity, Relativism, Sanctity of Life, Islam, Marriage, Postmodernity, North Korea, Morality, Religion, Radicalism, Radicals, Morals, New Age Spirituality, Spirituality, New Age, False Doctrine, Secularism | No Comments »

1 April 2008 by Brian.

Well, at least insofar as they all purport to make claims as to the existence or non-existence of God.  Beyond that, there are some striking differences.  Here’s an example…see if you can pick out the subtle differences between Islam and Christianity as exposed by this FoxNews article.

“You are innocent if you are a Muslim,” Choudary tells the BBC. “Then you are innocent in the eyes of God. If you are not a Muslim, then you are guilty of not believing in God.”

Choudary said he would not condemn a Muslim for any action.

“As a Muslim, I must support my Muslim brothers and sisters,” Choudary said. “I must have hatred to everything that is not Muslim.”

One of the fundamental tenets of Islam is that everyone is born Muslim.  This means that all those who adhere to other faiths are apostate and enemies of Allah.  Further, enemies of Allah are to be hated and devotion to Allah can be measured by the intensity of the hatred for his enemies.  In stark contrast, the God of the Bible expresses His love and mercy toward humanity, even those who presently oppose Him.  As scripture clearly states, “God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”  As followers of Christ, indwelt by His Spirit, we are called to express this same love for our enemies.

Do we always live up to this high calling?  Sadly, we must admit that we do not.  However, we ARE, in fact, called to live out this same kind of self-sacrificial love for others…enemies included.  The Islamic worldview condones and even inspires hatred.  Same God?  I don’t think so.

Posted in Social Injustice, Eurabia, Social Justice, Religious fanaticism, Radicals, Community, Trinity, Missionaries, Europe, Missions, Evil, Trinitarianism, Radicalism, Religion, Postmodernism, Postmodern Philosophy, Biblical Worldview, Contemporary Christianity, Islam, Postmodernity, Spirituality, Morals, Morality, New Age Spirituality, False Doctrine, New Age, Sanctity of Life | No Comments »

17 March 2008 by Brian.

What comes to mind when you think of the term, “spiritual”? Angels? God? Heaven? Demons? Prayer? What about evangelism? These are all good answers, but what about digging ditches, mowing the yard, or even heartbreak? Too often, we forget that God is interested in our reliance on Him in ALL of life’s experiences. He created us and He knows our strengths, weaknesses, and struggles. We can bring any of our experiences to Him, the highs and lows included.

Check out the lyrics, to Larry Norman’s, “I’ve Got to Learn to Live Without You“. If the lyrics don’t seem “spiritual”, maybe you need to reconsider how you relate to God.

You came into my life, you took me off the shelf
You told my name to me and taught me what to do.
But then you went away and left me by myself,
I feel completely lost and lonely without you.

Why’d you go, baby? I guess you know,
I’ve got to learn to live without you.
I’ve got to learn to live without you.
I’ve got to learn to live without you, without you.

Today I thought I saw you walking down the street
With someone else, I turned my head and faced the wall.
I started crying and my heart fell to my feet
But when I looked again it wasn’t you at all.

Why’d you go, baby? I guess you know,
I’ve got to learn to live without you.
I’ve got to learn to live without you.
I’ve got to learn to live without you, without you.
It’s just no good without you, without you.
It’s just no good without you, without you.
It’s just no good without you.

I’ve got to learn to live without you.
I’ve got to learn to live without you.
I’ve got to learn to live without you.

Not hopeful or uplifting enough? Sometimes life isn’t. We need to be willing to face that fact and remember that God is present in all aspects of our life. His grace is available for the abandoned spouse as well as for the joyful Sunday morning worshiper. We should never run from an honest relationship with God in the interests of appearing “more spiritual”. If you’ve got a friend facing hard times, lift them up in prayer, but be willing to walk through the low times without condemning them for their lack of “victory” as they face the trials.

Posted in Abortion, Homosexuality, Community, Politics, Humanism, Naturalism, Social Justice, Social Injustice, Quotes, Eurabia, Social Medicine, Taxes, Missionaries, Europe, Christmas, Larry Norman, Missions, Evil, Trinity, Trinitarianism, Environmentalism, Israel, Religious fanaticism, Sex, Biblical Worldview, Postmodernism, Postmodern Philosophy, Contemporary Christianity, Relativism, Sanctity of Life, Islam, Marriage, Postmodernity, North Korea, Morality, Religion, Radicalism, Radicals, Morals, New Age Spirituality, Spirituality, New Age, False Doctrine, Secularism | 1 Comment »