Category: Philosophical

But I Say…

We all have opinions about everything. But Jesus never uttered opinions, only truth. The question is, how closely do your opinions match up with the teachings of Jesus? You might be surprised. What Jesus taught was often contrary to conventional wisdom and popular opinion.

Read Mathew 5: 21-45. Pay close attention when Jesus says, “But I say…”

On murder and adultery.

The sixth and seventh of The Ten Commandments are: do not kill, and do not commit adultery. Most likely you’ve never killed anyone, and hopefully you have never cheated on your spouse. But don’t be too quick to pat yourself on the back.

Jesus explained that these commandments go deeper than we realize. It’s not just about the physical acts; it’s a matter of the heart.

“You have heard that our ancestors were told, ‘You must not murder. If you commit murder, you are subject to judgment.’

But I say, if you are even angry with someone, you are subject to judgment!”

~Mathew 5: 21-22

“You have heard the commandment that says, ‘You must not commit adultery.’

But I say, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”

~Mathew 5: 27-28

God knows our hearts. We may not commit the physical acts of murder or adultery but sometimes the desire is there, and if we knew we could get away with it…

The bottom line is, Jesus taught that if you have ever looked at woman with lust, or burned with hatred against another person, you are guilty of breaking God’s law the same as if you had committed adultery or murder!

On divorce.

In our modern times, divorce is not seen as a big deal. If you’re unhappy, unfulfilled, or unsatisfied with your marriage in any way, just call it quits.

But Jesus taught that marriage is a sacred commitment, and that the only valid reason for divorce is an unfaithful partner.

But I say that a man who divorces his wife, unless she has been unfaithful, causes her to commit adultery. And anyone who marries a divorced woman also commits adultery.

~Mathew 5: 32

Some Pharisees came to [Jesus] to test him. They asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any and every reason?”

“Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’

and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’?

So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”

~Mathew 19: 3-6

On making vows.

How many times have you heard someone say, “I swear on my mother” or, “I swear on my kid’s lives”? It’s a fairly common thing, and it’s meant to show that the person is serious about the claim they are making.

But Jesus said not to use such oaths. We are to live with such integrity that people know our word is good at all times.

But I say, do not make any vows! Do not say, ‘By heaven!’ because heaven is God’s throne.

And do not say, ‘By the earth!’ because the earth is his footstool. And do not say, ‘By Jerusalem!’ for Jerusalem is the city of the great King.

Do not even say, ‘By my head!’ for you can’t turn one hair white or black.

Just say a simple, ‘Yes, I will,’ or ‘No, I won’t.’ Anything beyond this is from the evil one.

~Mathew 5: 34 -37

On revenge.

The desire for revenge when we are wronged is a natural impulse. We want those who hurt us to pay a price.

But Jesus taught that we should resist the urge for revenge and instead “turn the other cheek.” It’s hard to overstate how radical (and difficult) this teaching is. It goes against our every instinct.

But I say, do not resist an evil person! If someone slaps you on the right cheek, offer the other cheek also.

~Mathew 5: 39

Don’t say, “I will get even for this wrong.” Wait for the Lord to handle the matter.

~Proverbs 20:22

On enemies.

An enemy, by definition, is someone hostile toward you. They don’t like you, and they want to see you come to harm. The natural tendency is to reciprocate.

But once again, Jesus tells us to take a radically different approach.

“You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. 

But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!”

~Mathew 5: 43-44

So how do your opinions about these topics line up with what Jesus taught? Do you find some of the teachings hard to accept? If so, ask God to help you adjust your thinking, then ask Him for the strength to put these teachings into practice in your day-to-day life.

Nowhere To Hide.

I’ve been thinking about God’s omnipresence lately. This is the idea that God is everywhere; that there is no place you can go where God is not there. Since God is spirit and not material in nature, it’s probably more accurate to say that “everywhere is in God.” In other words, our material reality is encompassed by and permeated by God. But this is a semantic difference. The point is simply this: wherever you go in the universe, God is there.

There are some beautiful scriptures that illustrate this attribute of God.

…though he is not far from any one of us. 

For in him we live and move and exist…

~Acts 17: 27b-28a

I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence!

If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there.

If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans,

even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me.

~Psalm 139: 7-10

The Lord is watching everywhere, keeping His eye on both the evil and the good.

~Proverbs 15:3

Both disturbing and comforting.

The disconcerting thing about this is that God sees us at our absolute worst. Every time I’ve lost my temper, acted selfishly, or committed some shameful act, God has been witness to it. And there’s no way to fool or manipulate Him about what happened. He knows my innermost thoughts and motives. I don’t know about you, but when I contemplate God having intimate knowledge of my every thought and deed, I cringe.

The good news is, in spite of my flaws, in spite of my sinful nature, God loves me. Remember, He died for us while we were yet sinners (Romans 5:8).

God knows every bad thing you and I have ever done, and He loves us anyway. He wants to help us through this life, and promises eternal life and peace if we repent of our sins and follow Him (John 3:14-16 | Revelation 21:4).

The pride problem.

Our culture today preaches a message directly contrary to scripture. The world says not to be ashamed of anything! If it feels good, do it. Embrace who you are, do what you want. Your personal pleasure and happiness are all that matter. Nothing is really right or wrong, it’s all relative.

And so many people have become blinded to their own sin. Their pride won’t allow them to admit they’ve ever done anything wrong.

I’m convinced that pride will keep more people out of Heaven than anything else. Pride says, “I’m my own judge, and I’m fine just the way I am.” Humility says, “God is judge, and I’m a sinner in need of forgiveness.”

If you want God’s grace, humility is key.

And he gives grace generously. As the Scriptures say,

“God opposes the proud
    but gives grace to the humble.”

~James 4:6

Loving and merciful.

God is everywhere, sees all things, and knows all things. But this needn’t fill us with dread. In fact, it should fill us with awe that God knows us so intimately and loves us in spite of our sinfulness.

The LORD is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.

~Psalm 145:8

You can’t hide from God. But how sweet it is to know that God, who sees you at your best and at your worst, loves you, cares for you, and gave His life for you.

Humility.

Since the 1970’s, June has been known as “Pride Month” in the United States. Rainbow flags and other gay-pride paraphernalia are ubiquitous. Our culture now fully embraces the LGBTQIA2S lifestyle. The message: Be proud of your sexuality!

Social media encourages people to flaunt their wealth. You’re supposed to post pictures of the cool new toys you buy. Post pics of food from that fancy restaurant. Brag about your exotic vacations. The message: Be proud of your possessions!

Society encourages us to boast about our achievements. Go ahead and broadcast that you went to an Ivy League school. Make sure people know how successful you are. Brag about your intellect and business acumen. The message: Be proud of your accomplishments!

Notice the common thread. Pride is all about “me, me, me!” It is a form of self-worship, for it prizes the self above all else.

Not something to celebrate.

Pride is no virtue. In fact, it is chief among the cardinal sins.

In Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis said this about pride:

“Unchastity, anger, greed, drunkenness and all that, are mere fleabites in comparison: it was through Pride that the devil became the devil: Pride leads to every other vice: it is the complete anti-God state of mind.“

Here’s a sample of what the Bible says about pride:

Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall.

Proverbs 16:18

All who fear the Lord will hate evil. Therefore, I hate pride and arrogance, corruption and perverse speech.

Proverbs 8:13

In his pride the wicked man does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God.

Psalm 10:4

And he gives grace generously. As the Scriptures say,

“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

James 4:6

If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom. 

But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don’t cover up the truth with boasting and lying. 

For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. 

For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind.

James 3: 13-16

Opposite of pride.

Jesus taught humility.

Read Mathew 23:1-12 where Jesus condemns the pride of the Pharisees, and warns His followers not to be like them.

Read Luke 22: 24-27 where Jesus teaches His disciples that if they want to be truly great, they must humble themselves and serve others.

And Jesus didn’t just teach humility, He lived it. He demonstrated it when He healed the sick, when He ministered to the meek and lowly, when He washed the feet of His disciples.

For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.

Mark 10:45

Finally, Jesus exemplified humility in the most profound way possible: He took on feeble, human flesh, and willingly went to the cross to die for sinful mankind.

You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.

Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to.

Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form,

he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

Philippians 2:5-8

Food for thought.

A proud man is a miserable man. He looks down on those he deems inferior, and he burns with envy at the mere thought of anyone being superior. He lives in constant fear of being knocked off the pedestal on which he has placed himself.

Our modern world is at odds with The Almighty on the issue of pride. You have a daily choice to make: Will you go with the flow, and celebrate what God detests? Or will you dare to follow the example of Jesus?

Mind Your Tongue.

Julian Treasure gave a Ted Talk called, “How to speak so that people want to listen.” In this talk, he gives a list of seven things you should avoid when speaking. They are:

  • Gossip
  • Judging
  • Negativity
  • Complaining
  • Excuses
  • Lying
  • Dogmatism

When I heard the list, I smiled and thought to myself, where have I heard this before? (spoiler: it’s in the Bible!)

James chapter 3 reminds us just how unruly our tongues can be, and that if we are not careful our words can do great harm.

Proverbs 15: 4 says, “The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.”

Let’s look at the Biblical reasons that we ought to avoid the seven things on Julian Treasure’s list.

Gossip

Talking about people behind their backs is rarely a good idea. The one exception is when you have something positive to say. If you can’t say something nice, say nothing!

A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy person keeps a secret.

Proverbs 11:13

A perverse person stirs up conflict, and a gossip separates close friends.

Proverbs 16:28

Judging

Romans 3:23 reminds us that we all fall short of God’s perfect standard. God alone is qualified to judge.

“Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. 

For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged.

And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own?”

Mathew 7: 1-3

You may think you can condemn such people, but you are just as bad, and you have no excuse! When you say they are wicked and should be punished, you are condemning yourself, for you who judge others do these very same things. 

And we know that God, in his justice, will punish anyone who does such things. 

Since you judge others for doing these things, why do you think you can avoid God’s judgment when you do the same things?

Romans 2:1-3

Negativity

A negative attitude is toxic. Negativity drags people down.

As Christians we always have a reason to be positive, because the trials of this life are nothing compared to the glory that awaits us (Romans 8:18)!

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

Philippians 4:4

Always be joyful. 

Never stop praying. 

Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

I Thessalonians 5:16 – 18

Complaining

If you’re complaining, you’re probably focused on the wrong thing. You can complain that you’re stuck in traffic, or you can be grateful that you own a car. You can whine about needing to wear glasses, or you can appreciate the amazing gift of sight.

Shift your focus to the good things, and watch what happens. You’ll complain less, and smile more.

Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people.

Philippians 2:14-15

He comes to say that all are guilty for all the sin they have done and all the sinful things these sinners have spoken against God.

These men complain and are never happy with anything. They let their desires lead them into sin. When they talk about themselves, they make it sound as if they are great people. They show respect to people only to get something out of them.

Jude 1:15-16

Excuses

To make excuses is to abdicate responsibility. Never cast blame that you deserve onto someone or something else. Take responsibility for your actions.

[Adam] replied, “The woman you gave to be with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate.”

So the Lord God asked the woman, “What have you done?” And the woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”

Genesis 3:12-13

Don’t excuse yourself by saying, “Look, we didn’t know.” For God understands all hearts, and he sees you. He who guards your soul knows you knew. He will repay all people as their actions deserve.

Proverbs 24:12

Lying

The Bible has a lot to say about lies and truth. God is Truth. He cannot lie (Numbers 23:19 , Titus 1:2, Hebrews 6:18). We can trust in His promises.

The Devil is a liar and the father of lies (John 8:44).

We must strive to speak only truth.

So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body.

Ephesians 4:25

Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who act faithfully are his delight.

Proverbs 12:22

Dogmatism

Actually, sometimes, we should be dogmatic! When it comes to truth, we should stand firm, and never waver or compromise.

Where we should avoid dogmatism is in matters of opinion, or when we are uncertain about the truth. Dogmatism often stems from pride; from our need to be right. Be humble, and be open to the opinions of others.

Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

Colossians 4:6

Stop acting so proud and haughty! Don’t speak with such arrogance! For the Lord is a God who knows what you have done; he will judge your actions.

I Samuel 2:3

I don’t know how Julian Treasure came up with his list of seven things to avoid when speaking, but his advice is sound because it lines up with Biblical principles.

I challenge you to pick out at least a couple of things on the list, and make a commitment to eliminate them from your speech.

Taste And See.

You probably know who Jordan Peterson is. Personally, I admire him for his intellect and his principles.

Several months ago I watched his video series on Exodus. If you are unfamiliar, I would describe it this way: a panel of brilliant men with diverse backgrounds gather around a table to read and discuss the Old Testament story of how God delivered the Israelites from Egypt and brought them to the promised land.

The series consists of 17 episodes, and the total runtime is over 33 hours!

Prior to making the Exodus series, Jordan Peterson gave a series of lectures on the book of Genesis, and currently he is on a tour entitled, “We Who Wrestle With God.” He’s written a book with the same title.

It’s clear that Dr. Peterson is serious about his search for God. Sadly, with his current approach, I fear he may miss Him.

Knowledge vs understanding.

A parable:

There once was a brilliant scientist who wanted to learn all there was to learn about chocolate. He bought a chocolate bar, and conducted many experiments. He meticulously recorded his observations, and in time he came to know a great deal about chocolate: how its made, its melting point, the precise ratios of all the ingredients, etc.

The scientist dug deeper, learning about chocolate’s chemical composition, molecular density, atomic structure, and more. Finally, he felt confident he knew all there was to know.

Then, one day, a boy came into his lab. The boy simply ate the chocolate bar, and smiled.

You see, the scientist knows about chocolate; the boy knows chocolate.

Until the scientist tastes the chocolate for himself, he will never truly understand it. When he does, he will realize that what he knows about chocolate on an intellectual level doesn’t compare to the experience of eating it.

It’s similar with God. Using one’s intellect to get a deeper knowledge of God is no substitute for experiencing God in a real and personal way. As the Psalmist said:

Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.

Psalm 34:8

Uncomplicated.

Good news! If you want to know God, you don’t need special training or equipment. You don’t have to have a PhD in philosophy or religion. A personal relationship with God is available to anyone who desires it. All you need is humility and a tender heart.

About that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?”

Jesus called a little child to him and put the child among them. Then he said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.”

Mathew 18:1-4

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

John 14:6

For Jesus is the one referred to in the Scriptures, where it says,

‘The stone that you builders rejected
    has now become the cornerstone.’

There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.

Acts 4:11-12

Want to enter the Kingdom of Heaven? Want to find God? Humble yourself, repent of your sin, trust fully in Jesus, and you will.

Jesus is the way to God; there is no other. Through Him, the God of the Bible becomes more than just an abstract idea. He comes alive inside you. The One, True God. The God of the prophets, the God of King David, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Through Jesus, that God becomes your God.

Don’t settle.

I pray almost every day for Jordan Peterson. He is so close to the truth. I pray that one day he will humble himself and come to Jesus with the heart of a child. I pray that he will experience God, not as some impersonal, abstract idea, but as the awesome, terrifying, holy, and personal Being that He is.

If you have come to Jesus already, you know what I’m talking about. If you have not, don’t delay. Take a leap of faith. Experience God for yourself. Taste and see.

Obedience.

I’ve been thinking a lot about obedience lately: what it means, why it’s difficult, and why it’s important.

Let’s begin by looking at the dictionary definition:

obedience, n.

The action or practice of obeying or doing what one is bidden;

the fact or quality of being obedient;

submission to the rule or authority of another.

Oxford English Dictionary

Look closely at that third definition (submission to the rule or authority of another), for it is in this sense that Christians are called to obey God.

Obedience means surrendering your will to Him. It means praying, as Jesus prayed, “Not my will, but thine be done.”(Luke 22:42). It means doing what God says, even when you don’t want to. In fact, if God asks you to do something you want to do, then doing it isn’t obedience at all. There is no submission there; no surrendering of the will. Obedience is when you do what you’d rather not, because God told you to.

We find examples of this throughout Scripture. Abraham took Isaac up the mountain to be sacrificed (Genesis 22). Moses confronted Pharaoh and lead the Israelites out of Egypt (Exodus 4). Gideon reduced his fighting force down to 300 men before a crucial battle (Judges 7). In each case, these men did what they did, not because they wanted to, but because God told them to. They submitted to God’s authority; surrendered their wills to Him. They obeyed.

What makes obedience so difficult?

———-Pride———-

When we understand what obedience is, it’s pretty easy to see why it’s hard to be obedient. We’re rebellious by nature. We hate being told what to do. Our sinful flesh wants to be in charge. If our fallen nature has a motto, it mirrors the last two lines of William Henley’s Invictus: “I am the master of my fate; I am the captain of my soul.“(emphasis added).

Pride makes obedience nigh impossible. A prideful man does not recognize any authority higher than himself. He will not bend the knee, even to his Creator.

Humility is both prerequisite to, and a demonstration of, obedience. As always, Christ is our perfect example. Jesus humbly did the will of the Father at all times, no matter the cost.

[Jesus] humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

Philippians 2:8

———-Fear———-

A second obstacle to obedience is fear. You can be humble, recognizing God as the ultimate authority, and still not obey because of fear. Fear comes in many flavors: fear of failure, fear of ridicule, fear of loss, fear of pain, fear of death.

Fear is a paralytic toxin when it comes to obedience. As humility is the antidote to pride, so faith is the antidote to fear. To overcome fear, we must have faith that God is good, that He knows what is best, and that He will give us the strength we need to accomplish what He tells us to do.

The prophet Isaiah spoke often about faith and fear:

Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD himself, is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation.

Isaiah 2:12

[The LORD] will keep in perfect peace all who trust in [Him], all whose thoughts are fixed on [Him]!

Isaiah 26:3

Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD himself, is the Rock eternal.

Isaiah 26:4

Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.

Isaiah 41:10

Bottom line: Obedience requires humility and faith.

Why bother?

Since obedience is so hard, and it involves doing what we don’t want to do, why should we obey? Here are four good reasons:

1) For our protection:

When you tell a small child, “Don’t put your hand on that hot stove,” you do so because you care about the child. You know that if the child disobeys, they will suffer the consequences.

In the same way, many of the commands God has given us are for our own protection. We may not see how disobedience will lead to disaster (just as a child may not fully understand what will happen if they touch the stove), but God does. Obedience can, and often does, keep us from harm.

2) For our development:

When I tell my daughter to clean her room, or to do her chores, I’m not doing it just to throw my weight around. My daughter may think these things are not important, and that I’m being a horrible dictator, but that’s simply not true. I know there are important life-lessons that can only be learned from experience. By doing her chores, she learns about authority, responsibility, discipline, and much more. Doing what I ask of her develops her character in ways she does not understand.

Similarly, when we obey God, we gain valuable experience. We become more like Christ. Obedience strengthens our faith, and builds our character.

3) Out of love:

God’s love for us is clear. He created us, sustains us, and cares for us. Everything we have, and all that we are, comes from Him. He loved us so much that, while we were still sinners, He died for us (Romans 5:8).

God wants us to love Him in return, and to do that, we obey. Jesus said: “If you love me, obey my commandments.” (John 14:15).

4) For guidance:

Imagine that I come to you and ask you for directions and we have this conversation:

Me: Hey, do you know how to get to such-and-such?

You: Sure. First, head south...

Me: Whoa! let me stop you right there. I don't want to go south. I'm headed north. Can you please help me get to such-and-such?

You: Yes. Turn around and head south, then...

Me: Wait! I just told you ... I'm not going south. Now, please, just tell me how to get to such-and-such!

If I refuse to follow your instructions, you can’t help me, can you?

It’s the same way with God. If you want Him to direct you, you must make sure that you are following the directions you already have. For example, suppose God tells you to go to church (Hebrews 10:25), study your Bible (II Timothy 2:15), and spend time in prayer (I Thessalonians 5:17). If you refuse to do these things, how can you expect God to direct you any further?

Start obeying the commands you know, and God will guide you from there.

Take action.

Obedience is not easy. To submit to God’s authority, we have to swallow our pride and overcome our fears, but when we do, blessings come. When we obey, God protects us, develops us, and guides us.

See if you can think of just one command God has given you that you are not following. What’s stopping you? Pride? Fear? Ask God to help you change. Make a commitment to obey that command from here on out. It won’t be easy, but God will bless you if you do.

A God Too Small.

The God of the Old Testament is arguably the most unpleasant character in all fiction: jealous and proud of it; a petty, unjust, unforgiving control freak; a vindictive, bloodthirsty ethnic cleanser; a misogynistic, homophobic, racist, infanticidal, genocidal, filicidal, pestilential, megalomaniacal, sadomasochistic, capriciously malevolent bully.

Richard Dawkins

It’s utterly, utterly evil. Why should I respect a capricious, mean-minded, stupid God who creates a world which is so full of injustice and pain?

Stephen Fry

Either God wants to abolish evil, and cannot; or he can, but does not want to. If he wants to, but cannot, he is impotent. If he can, but does not want to, he is wicked. If God can abolish evil, and God really wants to do it, why is there evil in the world?

Epicurus

I’m fascinated when men who do not believe in God attack Him with such great passion and ferocity. “God doesn’t exist!” they proclaim, “But if he does, he’s an immoral psychopath because he allows or even perpetrates [insert atrocity here].”

Theologians and apologists have wrestled with “the problem of evil” for centuries. It’s often presented as evidence that God does not exist, but the quotes above assert something more. There’s an audaciousness to them, an attitude of superiority. They imply that if God exists, man possesses the knowledge, wisdom, and authority to sit in judgement of His actions. How foolish!

An incomplete picture.

Can you rightly judge the quality of a painting if you can see only one square inch of it? Can you read the first word of a book and determine the worth of its message? If you taste only one ingredient, can you fairly critique the whole meal?

In like manner, none of us has sufficient knowledge to criticize God’s actions. We see one speck of one piece of the puzzle, and dare to imagine that we are in a position to pass judgement on the whole. We don’t even know how much we don’t know!

Given our limitations, isn’t it possible that God has good reasons for allowing pain, suffering, and evil to exist? Reasons that we know nothing about? Reasons that are beyond our comprehension? Only pride would dare answer, “no!”

When a parent takes their small child to the doctor and allows the doctor to give the child a shot, what does that look like from the child’s point of view? The child doesn’t understand the purpose of the shot. They don’t know that it is ultimately for their good. All they know is that the needle hurts, and the parent let the doctor stab them with it! Would the child be right to call the parent evil based on what they experienced?

Obviously, the knowledge-gap between us and God is infinitely greater than the gap between a parent and their child. It’s fair to say that we are in no position to accurately judge the decisions of The Almighty.

Where were you?

You are probably familiar with the story of Job. He was a man who had it all… health, wealth, family, and fame. In an instant, God took it all away.

Job was flabbergasted. Why had God allowed all this evil to happen to him? Job’s friends came and basically said, “Wow! Job, you must have sinned pretty bad for God to do all of this to you.” Job insisted he was innocent; that he did not deserve what God was dishing out.

In the book of Job, chapter 31, Job boasts to his friends of his righteousness. Near the end of the chapter he states:

“If only someone would listen to me! Look, I will sign my name to my defense. Let the Almighty answer me. Let my accuser write out the charges against me.

I would face the accusation proudly. I would wear it like a crown.

For I would tell him exactly what I have done. I would come before him like a prince.”

Job 31:35-37

Bold words. He’s basically saying, “God, You messed up! You got this one wrong!” But his friend, Elihu, reminds Job who God is (Job chapters 32 – 37), and then God Himself responds to Job (Job chapters 38 – 41).

Then the LORD answered Job from the whirlwind:

“Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorant words?

Brace yourself like a man, because I have some questions for you, and you must answer them.

“Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell me, if you know so much.

Job 38:1-4

God asks Job a series of rhetorical questions to remind him of his place in the universe. Such questions apply to anyone who wishes to challenge God. Where were you when God created the universe out of nothing? Where were you when God brought order out of chaos and light into darkness? When did you become omniscient, omnipresent, and omnipotent? Who do you think you are?

Job, to his credit, responds in the only appropriate way:

Then Job replied to the LORD:

“I know that you can do anything, and no one can stop you.

You asked, ‘Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorance?’ It is I—and I was talking about things I knew nothing about, things far too wonderful for me.

You said, ‘Listen and I will speak! I have some questions for you, and you must answer them.’

I had only heard about you before, but now I have seen you with my own eyes.

I take back everything I said, and I sit in dust and ashes to show my repentance.”

Job 42:1-6

No limits.

I don’t know why God allows evil, pain, and suffering to exist, but I don’t need to. The Bible tells me that God is good, that He has a plan, and that He is without limits. God is not bound by time or space. He is not constrained by the laws of nature, physics, or mathematics. If He chooses, He can instantly right every wrong, and mete out His perfect justice to every human soul… past, present, and future. He can do this because He is Almighty God, and with Him nothing is impossible.

If you look at the current state of the world, and believe that evil, pain, and suffering are incompatible with a perfect and holy God, you simply believe in a god too small.

Freedom.

We recently celebrated the 4th of July here in the U.S.A. One of the main things we celebrate on this day is the concept of freedom. This got me thinking about what freedom is… and what it is not.

Free from… / Freedom to…

Total freedom (the ability to do whatever one wants without consequences) is actually a bad idea. For example, no one should have the freedom to commit acts of evil. When we talk about freedom, what we’re really talking about are individual freedoms (plural). These fall into two broad categories: freedom to do something, and freedom from something.

Our founding fathers believed in freedom from oppression. They risked everything, including their lives, to throw off the yoke of a tyrannical government. They also believed we had certain God-given rights, and they enshrined specific freedoms in the Constitution. Among these are freedom to peaceably assemble, freedom to worship God, and freedom to speak our minds.

Spiritual freedom.

Spiritually speaking, we are all born slaves. Slaves to sin. And sin is a cruel master, promising pleasure but delivering death. Have you ever seen a meth addict? Sin is like spiritual meth. It feels good for a while, but eventually it owns you, and you cannot escape its destructive effects.

A slave to sin puts “self” above all else. He is his own idol, his own god. He chases wealth, fame, and pleasure, believing these things will bring him happiness. But satisfaction is always just out of his reach, he becomes a prisoner of his passions, and sin slowly eats away at his soul.

Jesus talks about spiritual slavery in the book of John:

To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.“

They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?”

Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.“

John 8:31-34

There is only one way to be free from the tyranny of sin, and that is through Jesus Christ.

because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.

Romans 8:2

So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

John 8:36

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!

Romans 5:8-9

One master or another.

Spiritual freedom is a bit of a paradox, because the Bible makes it clear that we have to serve something. Here are a few verses that illustrate what I mean:

Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?

Romans 6:16

You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.

Romans 6:18

Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves.

I Peter 2:16

But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life.

Romans 6:22

Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.

I Corinthians 6:19-20

Why trade one master for another? What’s the difference? The difference is, God is a loving and kind master who wants what is best for us. We serve Him willingly because we owe Him everything, and to serve Him is to serve absolute Goodness, Truth, Love, Righteousness, and Peace. There is nothing higher or nobler one could dedicate themselves to.

We serve because His yoke is easy, His burden is light, and we enjoy rest for our souls (Mathew 11: 29-30).

True spiritual freedom is both freedom from sin and freedom to serve.

More than slaves.

As Christians, even though God is our Master, it’s not accurate to say that we are His slaves, at least not in the common understanding of the word. God could enslave all of humanity if He wanted to, force us to do His bidding, and there would be nothing we could do about it. But He wants us to come to Him and submit willingly.

Amazingly, scripture teaches that when we accept Christ as savior and are freed from sin, when we pledge our loyalty to our new Master, He goes far beyond anything we have a right to ask of Him: He elevates us to the position of sons and daughters, joint heirs with Christ!

For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship.

And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 

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.

Romans 8:14-17

The process of moving from a slave to sin to a child of God is something I have experienced personally. It feels like a crushing burden lifted off your back; like cruel, iron shackles falling away from your wrists and ankles. I pray you find the same relief that I have. Call out to Jesus and experience true freedom!

Is Faith Foolish?

faith; noun

“firm belief in something for which there is no proof“.

Merriam-Webster

Many people today are confused about the meaning of the word faith. They think it means believing in something ridiculous or absurd without any evidence. But that’s not what faith is, and what they don’t realize is that most of what they believe requires a measure of faith. Why? Because it’s extremely difficult to actually prove anything.

True faith is not about believing in things that are fanciful or unreasonable, rather it is a firm belief based on logic, evidence, experience, and inference when proof is not available.

For example, I have faith that the Earth is spherical. I can’t prove it, but I’m convinced the earth is shaped like a ball, spins on its axis, and rotates around the sun. Since I’ve never personally circumnavigated the globe, or viewed our planet from outer space, my belief in a globe-shaped Earth requires a bit of faith.

So it is with faith in God. I can’t prove His existence, but I’ve seen ample evidence to justify belief in Him. If you’re an atheist or agnostic, I encourage you to seek out the evidence for yourself. If you’ll read the works of Stephen Meyer, C.S. Lewis, and William Lane Craig with an open mind, you will find a wide range of scientific and philosophical reasons to believe that God is real.

Christian faith.

The Bible is the foundation of Christian faith. The Bible says that we are all doomed sinners. It says that Jesus Christ, God in the flesh, died in our place; that He rose from the grave on the third day; that all who repent and call upon His name will be saved.

This good news, passed down for thousands of years, has been the hope and joy of countless people. It takes faith to believe it. Christians have faith that the Bible is true, faith that Jesus is who He claimed to be, and faith that salvation is ours because of what Jesus did on Calvary.

But I want to know!

It was either Paulo Bitencourt or Carl Sagan who said, “I don’t want to believe, I want to know!” (Ironically, I’ve seen this quote attributed to both men, so I don’t know who said it, but I believe it was Bitencourt). I get it. Faith, by definition, means to believe without knowing; to believe without proof. Isn’t it better to know? To have proof and no room for doubt?

Why doesn’t God just provide us with definitive proof and render faith unnecessary? I don’t know, but God’s ways are higher than my ways; His thoughts higher than my thoughts. In lieu of proof, He has given us sufficient evidence, and He asks us to walk by faith, not by sight… for now.

There will come a day when faith will no longer be necessary. The day Jesus returns as King and Judge. On that day every knee will bow and every tongue confess that He is Lord. For those who know Him as Savior it will be a glorious day; for those who do not, it will be terrifying.

Until that day comes, I will hold fast to my faith, and to the hope I have in Him.

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.

Hebrews 10:23

Why Do People Believe In God?

I’ve always found the question, “why do you believe in God?” difficult to answer. When asked, my instinct is to provide intellectual reasons for my belief. For example:

I believe because…

  • …I find the philosophical arguments for God’s existence compelling (e.g. the cosmological, ontological, teleological, and moral arguments).
  • …the writings of men like Blaise Pascal, Gottfried Leibniz, René Descartes, and Sir Isaac Newton ring true to me.
  • …evidence put forth by scientists like Stephen Meyer, Michael Behe, and James Tour, points to a Creator.
  • …Christian apologists like Frank Turek and William Lane Craig present logically sound reasons for belief in God.

However, I read something recently that made me rethink my answer to the question. It was on the last page of a book called Symbolism and Belief by Edwyn Bevan.

The actual reason people believe.

To paraphrase Mr. Bevan, people don’t come to a belief in God because they are convinced by rational arguments, rather, belief in God comes first, and the arguments provide a justification for their belief. The final sentence of Symbolism and Belief reads as follows: “What actually causes anyone to believe in God is direct perception of the Divine.”(emphasis mine)

I’ve been pondering this statement for the last few weeks. Is it true? And if it is, what are the ramifications? I’ve been reflecting on my own belief, and thinking about the testimonies of other believers, and I think Mr. Bevan is correct.

What does it mean to perceive?

Merriam-Webster defines the word perceive as follows: to attain awareness or understanding of.

Awareness of something automatically creates a belief in that thing’s existence. For example, when I see the coffee mug sitting on the desk in front of me, based on that perception, I believe the mug exists. It would be difficult (not to mention irrational) for me to believe the mug does not exist. I can see it. I can touch it. My direct perception of the mug is strong evidence for its existence.

But how does one perceive the Divine? Does it require a supernatural experience? I personally have never witnessed a miracle, or received a visit from an angel. I’ve not seen God with my eyeballs. I’ve not heard Him with my ears. What then constitutes my direct perception of the Divine? Why do I believe?

Certainly, things that I have seen, heard, and felt have contributed to my awareness and understanding of God. In my mind’s-eye, I see countless experiences and memories, small slices of my life, as if they were photographs. Some of these “photos” are dark, while others have a powerful glow that hints at something beyond the material world. When all the pieces are viewed together, they form a mosaic. They create an unmistakable “image” of God.

That is the best way I can describe my personal perception of the Divine, and it’s as compelling a reason for me to believe in the existence of God, as seeing my coffee mug is reason to believe in the existence of the mug.

Lights in the darkness.

If belief in God comes from direct perception of the Divine, what then is our role in helping others come to belief? I believe Jesus spelled it out for us in the sermon on the mount.

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

Mathew 5: 14 -16

When Christ is at the center of our lives, we become like beacons that nonbelievers can see. When they see Christ in us, they perceive the Divine, and that is what leads them to believe.

The bottom line is, we’re not likely to change anyone’s mind about God by telling them the intellectual reasons for our belief. No doubt, they have already heard and rejected such arguments. As such, our focus ought to be on living out our faith so that others can perceive the Divine in us.

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