The Exception to the Rule

Humans are rule-breakers by nature. It began with Adam’s disregard for the one prohibition in the Garden. He broke it, and ever since, we have been prone to follow in his footsteps. The well-known proverb says that to every rule there is an exception. Perhaps that is just an excuse people use to cover their indiscretions, but it has the ring of truth to it. The Farlex Dictionary of Idoms says, “The saying simply means that real-life situations are messy. Policies often bend for special circumstances.” The Bible has plenty of examples of policies being bent by heroes and villains alike.

Abram told the half-truth that his lovely wife was his sister to keep himself out of the king’s sights – twice. Jacob and his mother, Rebekka, told a whopper to poor blind Isaac to cement Jacob’s inheritance over the rightful claim of his brother Esau. Afraid the lie would come back to bite him, he ran to his uncle Laban’s ostensibly to find a wife, but equally to hide from his brother’s wrath. He then proceeded to run a complex breeding scam on Laban to pay him back for his dastardly sister-wife swap with Leah and Rachel. His own sons told an awful lie after they disposed of their father’s very favorite son, Joseph. Joseph parried a lie of omission into the motivation to get his wayward brothers to bring the family to Egypt. Jacob’s son Judah produced a son from an incestuous relationship who would have a prominent place in the genealogy of the Messiah.

Speaking of the Messiah, Jesus did some rule breaking of His own; at least, that is what the Pharisees would have called His miscreant behavior. He regularly healed on the Sabbath; gasp! He led His disciples through a field where they “harvested” grain for their seventh-day meal. When the Pharisees brought Him a woman taken in the act of adultery, He skillfully defused the situation by questioning their motives. He became angry and drove the money changers and their beasts from the Temple with a whip He fashioned from cords. He intentionally withheld an important aspect of His mission from His followers for two years by omitting to say that He would eventually be executed and they would become hunted as heretics. In each of these instances, it was the Savior's love that grounded His actions.

All of this proves to me that although Yahweh is a God who is always truthful and makes rules for His people, He is adept at conforming our rule breaking into His ultimate plan for our good, even when that rule breaking is committed by the perfect Lamb of God – or especially where the Lamb was concerned. One cannot miss how grievously the Father broke His own rule about child sacrifice. The Sanhedrin heard a prophetic statement from its leader when he said, “It is profitable for you that one man should die for the people, and the whole nation not perish.” The immensity of this breakage is amplified by the knowledge that the Father and the Son knew this would be the outcome of their redemption plan hatched before the world began.

So, where does this leave us as mere humans struggling to trust and obey. I think it leaves us in a quandary. We know that God has given us His Word for adequate “doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness.” However, the Word also says that the approved workman will “rightly [divide] the Word of truth.” (KJV) The literal Greek for that phrase is “straightening the Word of truth along a straight path.” In other words, an approved workman will not bend the truth for his own benefit. But it leaves open the interpretation that the “straight path” may require some “straightening” of the Word. I think the essence here is that we need to follow the spirit of the teaching and not necessarily hold to an ironclad literal application.

Well-meaning Christians in the antebellum South of this country straightened the Word to support their version of slavery. The abolitionists were appalled; we should be too. Degrading humans made in God’s image to less than human status was inexcusable. Paul’s advice to slaves was in a context far different from the plantations of the American South in 19^th century America. Yet, the plantation owners used biblical evidence in their defense. A similar “straightening” of the Word is happening today with regard to the crisis of gender dysphoria. I listened to a trans “priest” preach that God is trans according to her/his interpretation of Scripture. That much straightening is heartrending – rending mine and God’s.

I have witnessed many aberrations in the application of the Word by sincere Christians. Early in my Christian education ministry, I faced a school board of hyper-fundamental Baptists who rebuked me for allowing a school-sponsored trip to hear a contemporary Christian concert. There were guitars and drums in the band. Horrors! My teachers loved it; their students loved it; the parents loved it. The board hated it. In that case, I have to insist that the board completely misinterpreted Scripture in their objection, but they thought they were making a “straight” application.

I think we are treading on dangerous ground when we claim that our human policies represent the straightest application of God’s Word. The Pharisees in Jesus’ time were dead certain that they were right and He was wrong. Jesus rebuked them saying, “You splendidly ignore the commandment of God so that you can keep your tradition,” aka human policies and procedures. The slavers of the nineteenth century were wrong. The twentieth century Baptists who forbade dancing and movies and playing cards were wrong – at least in part. I believe we err when we place adherence to policies above the needs of the people we are meant to serve or reach with the gospel. Sometimes, there are righteous exceptions to the rules. Love demands that we get that straight.

Related Posts: Values Clarification; The Knowledge of Good and Evil

The Nations Rage

Psalm 2 opens with this curious depiction of political realities: “Why are nations in tumult, and countries plotting in vain? The kings of the earth establish themselves, and the rulers conspire together against Yahweh and his anointed: ‘Let us tear off their bonds and cast their cords from us!’ He who sits enthroned in the heavens laughs. The Lord derides them.” I think this is a peek behind the curtain so to speak. I wrote at some length in “Who Are the Other Gods” about this mystery – a mystery for some anyway. We are told that God “breathed” His word to His holy writers, and that they were “moved along” by His Spirit to put His thoughts into words. That we miss the meaning of some of those words should not be surprising since His ways and His thoughts are high above ours.

Yet Jesus also promised that the Holy Spirit would come to guide us into all truth. If we apply ourselves to the study of God’s Word diligently as Paul recommended to Timothy, the Spirit can give us insight into the mysteries of God’s purpose. I don’t want to focus on politics, but because this is a mid-term election year, and because our two-party system is in such a factious state, it might be good to step back and rediscover who is really in control. The nations rage, as the King James puts it, and God laughs. But there is more to that picture than human actors playing parts on the earthly stage.

Throughout the Old Testament, we are offered glimpses of the real battle that is going on at a cosmic level. I mentioned several examples of this in “The Evolution of God.” In Psalm 2, we see the arrogance of the “kings of the earth and the rulers.” I believe “kings” and “rulers” refer to two different classes of beings. Kings are obviously earthly leaders. However, in both the Old and New Testament, the word rulers is consistently used to refer to spiritual powers. Paul famously said our battle is against “world rulers of this darkness,” which he then identifies as, “spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.” Speaking of His ultimate purpose on earth, Jesus declared, “Now is the judgment of this world! Now the ruler of this world will be thrown out!” He echoed this twice in His final discourse. (Jn. 14:30; 16:11)

When Yahweh created the separate nations by His judgment of the Tower of Babel builders, He did more than confuse their language. Language is an integral part of any culture, so Yahweh indirectly created different cultures that each went their own way from the Plain of Shinar. The Old Testament record clearly states that all the nations under heaven were in the thrall of various demi-gods – small “g” gods who were the compatriots of the Angel of Darkness and complicit with him in his rebellion against their Creator. We are told that the angels who rebelled were “thrown to the earth,” a condition which positioned them to tempt Adam and Eve resulting in the curse upon the perfect earth Yahweh had created, and the deposing of God’s chosen ruler over earth, Adam.

When Yahweh called Abram to start His favored nation, He sent him to a land which was crawling with lesser gods who controlled different regions of the promised land. The oracles against the nations that we find in several Old Testament prophets reveal God’s distinct displeasure with the behavior of the angelic beings who had made it their business to influence humans to commit all sorts of wicked behavior. Idol worship is itself a detestable thing to Yahweh, but He repeatedly mentions such abominations as ritual prostitution and infant sacrifice to these demon-gods. The reason God gives Abram for delaying his acquisition of the land is curious: “The guilt of the Amorites is not yet complete.”

Yahweh says that He takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that He wishes all men would come to salvation. In this we can see His patient endurance that gives time for repentance. Those statements were ostensible spoken of humans, but can we not assume that He feels similarly toward the heavenly cohort of His creation? We tend to forget that the angels were created before humans, and they are “higher” than us in God’s creation order. Paul implies that the mystery of the gospel is now being made known “to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places through the church.” I picture Yahweh speaking to His heavenly audience saying, “Watch this! I am going to show you how much I love my creation.”

This makes me wonder what Yahweh thinks about the current world-rulers in the heavenlies. I have no trouble imagining Hitler, Pol Pot, Iddi Amin, or the Iranian Khamenei as under the influence of demons. We can also extrapolate from Scriptural evidence that God uses evil regimes to move His plan forward so that He may yet be disciplining His people through them as I suggested in “Today’s Chaldean Chastisement.” Someone has said that in a representative democracy such as ours, the people get the rulers they deserve. Our society has changed dramatically since it ceased to be “one nation under God,” and the Bible was removed from the public square. America was never a Christian nation per se, but biblical principles undergirded our founding documents and flavored our culture for nearly two hundred years. No longer. That cannot be pleasing to God!

I think it is beyond likely that the disgusting moral condition of modern society is being driven by heavenly rulers through their earthly minions. The dissolution of biblical marriage and the acceptance of all manner of sexual perversion will do more to destroy Western society that any invading army could ever do. I once read that the elevation of sexual perversion has historically preceded the fall of every society we know of. The family is the foundation of any culture, and once it is degraded, the fabric of society must necessarily be torn apart.

There is a passage in Zechariah similar to many others in the prophets where God says, “And many nations will join themselves to Yahweh in that day and will become My people. Then I will dwell in your midst, and you will know that Yahweh of hosts has sent Me to you.” In that context, Zechariah is speaking about the coming of the “Branch,” aka the Messiah, our King and Savior, Jesus Christ. Although we still live in a world where nations rage, we know that the rulers in the heavenlies have been defeated. It is our Christian duty to elect representatives to government who are least likely to be influenced by evil rulers. Nations rage; God laughs. But He also cries. Remember, although the nations were separated at Shinar; they are welcomed back into the fold at Calvary. That is the mystery of the gospel.

Related Posts: America Held Captive; Isaiah as a Cautionary Tale; Jesus Wept?; The Cry of Sin

Spiritual Warfare: The Sequel

If you haven’t read the original article, “Spiritual Warfare,” or the related article, “What Were You Thinking,” I recommend reading those before this one. Soon after writing “Spiritual Warfare,” I was led by God to consider Paul’s situation that he reported in 2 Corinthians 12. Paul says, “So that I would not exalt myself, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan, in order that it would torment me.” He says he asked God to remove the “thorn” three times, but eventually God said, “My grace is sufficient for you, because the power is perfected in weakness.” Then Paul makes this curious statement: “Therefore rather I will boast most gladly in my weaknesses, in order that the power of Christ may reside in me. Therefore I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in calamities, in persecutions and difficulties for the sake of Christ, for whenever I am weak, then I am strong.”

I realize now that my situation closely resembles Paul’s. Paul’s thorn was permitted by God “so that [he] would not exalt [himself.]” As I prayed about the similarities between Paul’s situation and my own, I began to think I was raising the “shield of faith” Paul recommended to the Ephesians by my own strength. In fact, the shield is called the shield of faith because it exists as evidence of our faith in God not by some conjuring of our own. I think I was trying to mentally raise a shield instead of resting in my faith that God would shield me. That subtle difference in attitude reminds me of the error committed by many so-called charismatic believers who seem to be proud of their power over demonic forces. They sound like the 72 who came back from their super-powered mission whom Jesus mildly rebuked saying that they should revel in their salvation rather than their power over evil.

I wrote previously, “I struggle; I raise my shield against Satan’s fiery darts. I’m waiting impatiently for the maturity that will allow me to consider my situation ‘all joy.’” That “I raise my shield” highlights the first half of what I have been learning from my situation. The other part is equally important. It is in my comment that I was impatiently waiting for the joy that my suffering was supposed to bring. I also quoted Paul’s line to the Philippians that God “graciously” allows us to suffer on behalf of Christ. That means that if I resist or complain overmuch about the suffering God has allowed in my battle against evil, I am resisting the grace of God. Oh!

Just the other day, someone suggested that I consider Paul’s instructions in Romans eight. “For if you live according to the flesh, you are going to die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live….  The Spirit himself confirms to our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, also heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer together with him so that we may also be glorified together with him.” We suffer with Him, Paul asserts, so that we may also be glorified with Him. Strange as it may sound, this seems to be teaching that our suffering on Christ’s behalf brings glory to God.

There is a related idea hidden in Paul’s comment that we will live [spiritually] if by the Spirit we put to death the deeds of the body. Paul uses “body” here as a synonym for “flesh” which he used in the first part of the sentence. The flesh he is speaking of is the part of the inner man he lamented in the previous chapter; it is the part of every believer that must be continually put to death because in Galatians it is in opposition to the Spirit; it is the “old man” of Colossians that must be put off so the new man may be renewed, recreated in the image of the One who created him.

As if all that wasn’t enough to spur me on, there is also this from Romans eight: “For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, “Abba! Father!” In my previous post, I shared my poem about what I came to call “The Dreads.” I was waking up almost every night with an irrational fear of getting up and getting on with life. It was often centered on school, but many times it was as mundane as whether I forgot to turn out the lights in the garden; did I remember to pay a bill; would our trusty old car start or fail us. Irrational. I see now that this was also based on my perception of my ability to perform as I was expected to. The truth is that if God is my Abba, I can rely on Him to see me through whatever may befall me. No fear.

It seems fair to ask at this point where Satanic attacks come from. I believe the Scripture reveals many different sources, although our Sovereign God is ultimately responsible whether through direct action on His part or through the actions of others allowed by His grace (as Paul said.) We know His direct action is supported by Scripture. Numerous words of the Old Testament prophets declare that God brought “evil,” known also as calamity and disaster on His people. Read Micah 2:5 as one example: “Behold, I am devising against this family, an evil demise from which you cannot remove your necks.”  His judgment of wayward Israel is both direct and indirect. There is no reason to think this cannot still happen to His renewed Israel, the church.

As examples of mediated attacks, think of Job’s situation or that of Paul and his thorn. Paul also mentions several instances of attacks coming from within the church. Even Jesus suffered this kind of trouble from his disciples; remember He said, “Get behind me, Satan,” speaking to Peter. Without doubt, God uses secular governments to deliver His judgments. The prophets consistently report God’s intention to use other nations to punish Israel. Consider the evil perpetrated by the Supreme Court approving abortion or the redefinition of marriage. The Jewish Sanhedrin did one of the most dastardly evils in all history when they condemned their Savior to death.

Your family, your friends, your employer, whether they are believers or not, may be used to buffet you for God’s gracious purposes. So, I am committed to return to the battlefield; my King has requested my service for His glory. As for the joy, I am reminded of the explanation given for my Savior’s willingness to enter the greatest battle of all human history on the hill of Calvary. The Hebrew writer says that we should “Fix our eyes on Jesus, the originator and perfecter of faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” My joy is that I have the privilege of serving Him, and I will one day join Him in the throne room. That’s good enough for me.

Related Posts: What Were You Thinking; Spiritual Warfare; Driven to the Cross; Forget Not His Benefits

Spiritual Warfare

 

This post is mostly autobiographical, but I hope something in it helps someone face the realities of the battle every believer is in. I have often written (See below) that everything from Genesis to Revelation and beyond centers on a cosmic conflict between the forces of good and evil. I am not referring to the pagan mysticism of yin and yang; those are lies intended to obscure the truth made popular by the Star Wars franchise and other media hypes. What I am referring to is the plain truth of Scripture which describes the battle as an historical record with commentaries by prophets and preachers – one of the most significant being Jesus Himself.

The Apostle Paul couldn’t have been more clear than his warning to the Ephesians. “Our struggle is not against blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. When the seventy-two disciples were sent out to preach the gospel, they returned astounded at their ability to do battle against evil forces. Jesus’ response was to proclaim, “I saw Satan falling like lightning from heaven.” He may well have been referring to an actual historical event in His recall. He was no doubt present when Satan tried to wrest power from God Himself, only to be cast down to the earth. He cautions His followers with this: “Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are inscribed in heaven.” Indeed!

I interpret that to mean that power over evil spirits is helpful for those afflicted, but it is paramount to remember that the power is only there because you are a member of Christ’s family – God’s anointed, chosen few – “the elect” as Paul calls us. When people begin to revel in their power over the enemy, they often go astray. I know people who became deeply involved in the so-called charismatic movement years ago. They shared teachings and experiences with me that expounded the wonders of deliverance ministries and demon exorcism. I was fascinated but cautious. My upbringing did not include such wonders. I studied. I concluded that they were not wrong, but that they had focused on the minors instead of the majors. As Jesus said, remember where the power comes from rather than on what it can accomplish.

When I graduated from university with a degree in teaching, I often learned that more than one hundred applicants sought the position I was applying for. Through one of my father’s contacts, I was offered a teaching position in a Bible college. The president of the college offered me a part-time position with the suggestion that I take courses while teaching. I did. That was definitely a Godly coincidence. I fell into Bible study like a starving man into a five-course dinner. I discovered that teaching positions were available in Christian schools, and I found one when I finished my course of study.

This is where it gets interesting. My first position was in a school that was so severely fundamental that I could not abide them nor they me. Next, I moved to a school with a more broad sense of what the church of Christ should look like, and I fit in rather well. Although I think I flourished there, the administrator/pastor who hired me was released due to internecine conflicts. Because I was his protégé, I was not welcome to stay. In my next three situations, I had similar issues. I was either too conservative or too liberal for their tastes. Eventually, I became frustrated with the petty issues that consumed our time, and I left teaching for a sabbatical. My seminary advisor at the time tried to comfort me by saying that he knew the conditions of the schools where I had struggled, and he assured me that the problem was theirs, not mine.

My expected two-year sabbatical ended up being twelve years long. After that, I came back to teaching in a secular, for-profit college for a few years, and then I retired. After ten years, I took a job substituting in a Christian school in the city where we were spending our winters as RV travelers. My reasons were strictly mercenary: I wanted some extra money. When they saw my resume, they immediately asked if I would consider teaching full-time. Initially, I said no. The full story of what happened is in “What Were You Thinking.” Suffice it to say, after four requests, my wife and I concluded that I was supposed to take the position. We assumed that the reason we were in place was to do something for God at that school.

I have been miserable since day one. At first, I had trouble learning four new computer programs that were necessary to do my job. Three weeks in, I was getting comfortable with the computer, but I was still miserable. Then I began to suffer from physical maladies. I missed more days off work in four weeks that I had missed in twenty years of classroom teaching. My response was to ask God what was going on. As the result of much prayer by myself, my wife, our friends, the school staff, and the parents it has become clear that this is a satanic attack. As I continued in prayer, I realized that my problems reach all the way back to when I began my ministry at Christian schools.

In the 90-91 school year, I began to suffer from a neuro/muscular affliction that was never diagnosed. After seeing an ENT and a neurologist, I was sent to a university study hospital for tests. They concluded that I had been attacked by some sort of nerve virus (never identified) that disabled the muscles controlled by my right cranial nerve. Those included my right vocal cord. I didn’t lose my voice entirely, but speaking became difficult with only partial use of one cord. A full day of classes resulted in very sore muscles in my throat. That, along with my frustrations with Christian school administration, caused me to take the sabbatical.

Because my voice is still not 100%, I initially declined the latest offer of full-time teaching. I relented because I believe God can empower me to do whatever He wants me to do. That’s when the latest attacks began. I have had sinus problems, digestive problems, emotional problems, recurring speaking difficulties, and serious doubts about the wisdom of taking another teaching position. Some of you may have seen my poem, written in the midst of this entitled, “He Comes to Me in the Night.” (See below) I am not a happy camper!

Paul gave the Philippians some strange advice: “[Don’t let] yourselves be intimidated in anything by your opponents, which is a sign of destruction to them, but of your salvation, and this from God, because to you has been graciously granted on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer on behalf of him.” This is the not first time I have marveled at how being “allowed” to suffer is a good thing for believers. I would prefer that God’s grace would deliver me from suffering. But I am reminded that Paul asked God to remove the thorn in his flesh – a condition that he attributes directly to Satan. God’s answer was that He allowed the buffeting of His servant as a means to keep him humble. Anyone who knows me will see the likely parallel there.

Commenting on Paul’s recommendation to take up the shield of faith, John MacArthur says: “As a believer, the shield that protects you is your faith in God. If you never question His character, power, or Word, you’ll never fall victim to Satan’s attacks. That doesn’t mean he won’t besiege you; but when he does, his assaults will be ineffective.” Hmm? That sounds like a contradiction. “You’ll never fall victim… but [Satan will] besiege you.” That same paradox caused James to say, “Consider it all joy, my brothers, whenever you encounter various trials, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking in nothing.”

I’ve probably said a hundred times that God is more concerned with our character than our comfort. I have also heard it said that our faith seldom grows when we are at ease; it takes pressure to make a diamond. So, I struggle; I raise my shield against Satan’s fiery darts. I’m waiting impatiently for the maturity that will allow me to consider my situation “all joy.” The enemy wants Christian education to fail. Our pastor at the school told the students that they were fortunate to be starting their lives as believers at a young age; they have a lifetime to serve Christ. Satan sees that too; he sees an army of well-equipped soldiers coming against him. I pray they will all raise their shields and wield their swords in a wave of victory for the Kingdom. In the meantime, I battle against the spiritual wickedness in the heavenlies.

Related Posts: War is Hell; Understanding Salvation; It’s Not All About You

He comes to me in the night,

That ancient enemy of my soul.

He whispers in my sleepy ear

That I’m not up to the fight.

 

I tell my heart not to fear

When I wake in the valley of shadow

I remind myself of God’s promise

Always to be near.

 

In the dark of night, it is good to know

That God has promised to bless me.

 And when I rise with morning light

He’s with me wherever I go

The Evolution of God

Teaching creation to my fourth graders has reminded me how thin the thread is that connects us to the truth of creation by God. Adam is the closest we have to an eyewitness, even if it was immediately after the fact. We know he told his children because there is a line of his descendants who remembered their Creator. Abel did, though he didn’t live long enough to pass it on. I suspect Enoch did or he would not have been taken directly into God’s presence without having to experience death. We don’t know exactly where to put Job on the Bible timeline – either pre- or post-flood, but there is no doubt he heard who was responsible for the Creation.

Then we come to Noah. It is interesting to me that if you believe the Bible genealogy (I do), Noah’s father and grandfather would have been contemporary with Adam’s final years on earth. (See chart below.) That might explain why Noah was so very willing to put everything in the ark that God told him to build. He knew what God could do. Not many generations after the ark landed and people began to spread across the land, they decided to make their own way to god rather than listen to their Maker. At the Tower of Babel, God separated the people into different nations and chose one for Himself. Abram must have been one of the few who still believed in the Creator, or he wouldn’t have been willing to give up everything he knew and go to a land that God would show him. There God promised he would become the father of a great nation – God’s chosen nation, Israel.

Abraham’s sons, Isaac and Jacob, both had their encounters with God, encounters that apparently bolstered their belief in the God of their fathers. When God rescued Jacob’s descendants from 400 years of slavery, Moses had enough faith to believe the voice in the burning bush was indeed the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Although Israel struggled with unbelief for years, the word of the prophets confirmed again and again that it was the God who created the earth Who demanded their obedience. The Psalmists offer numerous reminders that their God was the God who named the stars. Israel’s second most important purpose (after that of bringing the Messiah to the world) was to incubate the truth that God created the heavens and the earth.

Biblical and extra-biblical history prove that humans everywhere came up with a creation story. On every continent and all the islands in between, people make up tales to explain their existence. Some of them are eerily similar to the biblical record, lending credence to the idea that it is one of the oldest. I believe that when God separated the nations at Babel, He put them in the hands of fallen angels who were in league with Satan. The Old Testament is rife with accounts of cosmic battles depicted as conflicts among “the nations.”

When Ezekiel prophesied about Egypt’s destruction, there is clear reference to Pharoah’s gods. The prophet is told to warn Pharoah that his fate will be like that of Assyria, Elam, Meshech, Tubal, Edom, and the Sidonians. The language in that chapter is clearly speaking of cosmic powers and not just human rulers. The angel who came to Daniel reported having been delayed by “the Prince of Persia,” a definite reference to a spiritual battle rather than a physical one. All ancient cultures believed in a supernatural power that held sway over their lives. We enlightened moderns have lost that awareness regrettably.

Why is the enemy so intent on directing people away from the truth about creation and God’s involvement with it? The answer should be obvious. Without a creator God, man is left to go his own way, to make his own rules. Without a sense of obligation to the one true God, people are susceptible to the lure of the demi-gods I believe are among those whom God cast out of heaven with their leader, Satan. What else could explain the mindless adherence to the fully discredited “theory” of evolution. Darwin himself admitted that if a single living cell was more complex than he imagined (he had no high-powered microscopes), his whole theory of origins would be proven false. And it has – in more ways than I can count. (See “Think About It”)

Not only has microbiology disproved the “theory” of evolution, but astrophysics has too. We now know enough to be certain that none of the theories of the origin of the universe can be scientifically supported. The popular “Big Bang” theory has a Big Flaw that few are willing to face. Even if you dare to imagine a massive particle that exploded, becoming all that we know as the universe, no one can explain where the massive particle came from. The Big Bang is not a theory of origins; it is a sidestep to avoid the truth: the universe came into existence at the word of the Creator God of the Bible. Honest scientists everywhere are leaning toward this truth with their suppositions of intelligent design. They haven’t found the God who created everything, but they have admitted finding His fingerprints.

I titled this “The Evolution of God” because human concepts of God have evolved. Ask most atheists or agnostics what they think of God, and they will come up with their own definition of who God is. The problem with that is their definition is faulty. Their “god” is not to be believed. The God of the Bible is the only one who can be believed – can be trusted. The enemy has to discredit creation because it is the basis for the Bible record of the fall and redemption. The last thing Satan wants is for anyone to discover redemption at the Cross where he was defeated.

Here’s what God said through Ezekiel about man’s evolutionary thinking: “As I live, says the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why will you die, O house of Israel?” That’s how I know Satan is behind the evolution of God; he knows it tempers his defeat. He wants to take as many with him as he can. Don’t let him fool you.

Related Posts: The Patience of God; I Don’t Believe in God; Think About It; It’s Not All About You

Spare the Rod; Spoil the Child

We live in a generation that proves the truth of the ancient proverb. The evidence of spoiled children (and adults) is all around us. I am a first-generation product of the Greatest Generation, as the Depression/WWII generation was named. We Boomers, so-called because there was a boom in reproductive activity, were the first generation to experience the boom in material prosperity and increased financial opportunity generated by the massive build-up for WWII. After the war, soldiers, sailors, and airmen came home to a country bursting with possibility.

My parents had experienced severe hardship. They weathered the dual storms of the Great Depression and a world at war. They could pinch a penny so hard that Lincoln screamed. I was brought from the hospital to a house my dad built with his own hands. I rode in a second car, a necessity because Dad travelled for his business. There was always food on the table, although there was seldom steak and never caviar. My “soft drink” was mixed from a jar of syrup Mom bought from the Jewel Tea delivery man. Mom made most of the clothes my sisters and I wore, or she bought them from the Sears Roebuck sale catalogues. We had all the basics, but we were never coddled, never spoiled.

My wife and I raised our three children much the same way, although we were able to provide a few things that went beyond bare necessities. I am happy to say that as they grew and raised children of their own, they did not spoil them either. Not so with their peers. The Millennials and all the X, Y, Z gang are characterized by a sense of entitlement. I do not think it is coincidental that this is the first generation who were told that spanking was abuse. This is also the generation who attended public schools where prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance were eliminated and the Bible was banned. Time-tested, biblical methods of discipline went out the window, and lackadaisical attitude toward child rearing flew in.

I have written previously about the dumbing down of students in the public schools in America. I have witnessed such ridiculous notions as “invented spelling,” multiple test retakes, and blue ribbons for simple participation. I have seen the results of such nonsense in college freshmen. They wanted “A’s” for showing up – or even for showing up occasionally. The mistaken idea that a child will be damaged emotionally if success is not manufactured for them has created a generation who feels entitled to success without effort on their part.

This is not just an academic problem. The same distorted reality has begun to appear in the workplace. The demand for a minimum wage sufficient for subsistence exposes the belief that people are entitled to make what they need to live on no matter how menial the job. Minimum wage jobs are supposed to be platforms to learn what work is about and to build character. Then, perhaps promotion from a minimum wage job will lead to a wage sufficient for subsistence. Sadly, the Millennials expect more than what a minimum wage was intended to deliver.

That’s not all I see in the “Entitled Generation.” My part-time work after I retired revealed a class of young people who thought they deserved a paycheck whether they did their job efficiently or not – whether they showed up regularly, on time, or not. Whether the customers were the ones who were entitled to service or not. The entitlement mentality has seeped into our society so deeply that even emotional satisfaction is expected. Millennials expect to feel good at all times. If something is hard, they believe they are being abused. They are spoiled. Period.

The pitiful condition of American morality and the selfishness that characterizes so many people is a direct result of being spoiled. Everybody wants something they don’t deserve. Blacks want reparations. Illegal aliens want financial support. Criminals want immunity from prosecution. Mothers want to be rid of their unborn children. Christians want to sit in churches where they can feel good about themselves. Everybody feels entitled to something. Entitlement leads to disobedience: “You can’t tell me what I can or can’t do!”

It is hard to find biblical support for the entitlement attitude that is endemic in America today. However, it is easy to find biblical methods that would result in a proper attitude. “Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.” (Pr. 22:15 KJV) “Do not withhold discipline from the child; although you strike him with the rod, he will not die.” (Pr. 23:13) “All discipline seems… painful, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness for those who are trained by it.” (He. 12:11) “But whoever misleads one of these little ones who believe in Me, it would be better for him to have a millstone hung about his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.” (Mt.  18:6 MEV)

You may not see how the last quotation applies. My frustration with spoiled students and lazy co-workers and selfish citizens makes me wish some parents could be drowned. I think I have God’s mind on this. Referring to Israel’s disobedience, God spoke through Ezekiel: “With the fire of my wrath I destroyed them; I returned their [disobedient] way upon their head.” Through the prophet Samuel, God told King Saul: “Rebellion is like the sin of divination; arrogance is like iniquity and idolatry.” Throughout the prophecies of coming doom on wayward Israel, Yahweh says that by bringing disaster on His people, He will prove that He is God alone, and He hates disobedience.

Spoiled behavior demonstrates selfishness and pride. That is precisely what got Adam and Eve kicked out of the Garden and sentenced all of us to a life bound to sinful desires. That is what Satan brought upon the human race. Paul recognizes this when he warns: “Our struggle is not against blood and flesh, but… against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.” A proper application of the rod will decrease the necessity to wield the sword later on.

Related Posts: The Dumbing of America; Paging Phinehas Eliazar

This is Love

If you know me at all, you know I am a stickler for doctrinal purity. You may also have recognized that God has given me the gift of teaching. I am happy to use my gift, and I enjoy doing it. There is one thing that sobers me, however. James cautions that teachers will come under stricter judgment than others because they present God’s Word with their teaching. Woe is me if I misrepresent the Word. This is why I read the Bible daily. This is why I have spent over fifty years in intense Bible study. This is why I learned Greek so that I did not have to rely on what someone else thinks the original text says. This is why I went to Bible college and then earned two graduate degrees in education from Christian institutions.

However, to echo Paul, none of that is worth a hill of beans if I don’t have love. I wrote recently that “love” in Paul’s Corinthian treatise on the subject is a verb in the original Greek. My point was that biblical love, agape love, is made evident by behavior. I am motivated by love for the Word and love for people to teach the Word as accurately as possible. Jesus did not say people will know I am His follower because I have pure doctrine; He said my love would show whom I follow. In my defense I will say that Jesus also said to love Him is to keep His commandments.

John stresses that in his second letter: “And this is love: that we walk according to his commandments. This is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, so that you should walk in it. For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess Jesus Christ coming in the flesh. This person is the deceiver and the antichrist! Watch yourselves that you do not lose what we have worked for but receive a full reward.” John seems to be implying that the antichrist is anyone who teaches that we don’t have to follow Christ’s commandments. If that is the case, we have plenty of antichrists around today.

John Mac Arthur comments, “Often Christians are willing to compromise sound doctrine for the sake of loving others. They believe that doctrinal precision is somehow divisive and unloving.” To the contrary, doctrinal purity is pure loving. Granted, we are told to speak the truth in love, meaning I suppose that our approach and tone should not be merely accusatory. I know better than most how difficult it is to be corrective without being critical, judgmental in my tone. The reason Paul recommended speaking the truth is to avoid being “carried about with every wind of doctrine by the trickery of men, by craftiness with deceitful scheming.” (MEV)

Crafty, deceitful scheming is precisely what you find if you dig into the teachings of the LGBTQ+ “theologians.” It is what leads adulterous couples into thinking their sin is acceptable because they love one another. It is what allows liberal denominations to abandon the Bible and preach a feel-good social gospel. It is what prosperity preachers use to fleece their followers. Paul said that we are not ignorant of the devil’s schemes; I think we are.

I’m afraid we have let the world’s definition of love color our thinking about what true love is. We have taken the old saw that says, “Hate the sin, but love the sinner” and made it into, “Love the sinners, but don’t do or say anything that would offend them.” In other words, I think many have come to believe that loving someone biblically precludes telling them that they are wrong in their thinking or behavior. I have been accused of hating people because I have called their sin “sin.” I don’t think our perfect Savior, Jesus Christ, hated the people He came to save, but He did not refrain from calling out their sin. Remember His numerous interchanges with the Pharisees. He spoke some very harsh words to them; I believe He did it out of His love for them. He would have loved to see them come to the truth.

Paul’s admonition to, “Speak the truth in love,” might be understood as, “Speak the truth out of your love for the sinner.” It is not a loving thing to ignore sinful behavior in another person. We know that sin not only displeases God, but it also affects the sinner, often in immediate, physical ways (think AIDS or alcoholism or broken marriages.) It should go without saying that habitual, intentional sin also affects the sinner eternally. I’m not suggesting that pointing out sin in an unbeliever is a good evangelistic strategy. However, a believer involved in a sinful lifestyle might be in for a shock on judgment day. The loving thing to do for those believers is to remind them of the consequences of willful sinful behavior. Speak the truth. This is what love does. This is love.

Related Posts: Better Living Through Right Thinking; Fast Christians; The Bible on Homosexuality;  Sex is a Big Deal

What is the World Coming To?

Anyone with a smidgeon of moral sensitivity must be asking what is happening to the world. Jesus told the people things would get pretty awful at some point in their future. “And then many will be led into sin and will betray one another and will hate one another, and many false prophets will appear and will deceive many, and because lawlessness will increase, the love of many will grow cold.” Some people think He was talking about the end of the world which is still in our future. Others believe He was referring to the coming destruction of Jerusalem and the Jewish religious system. If that is what He meant, that is in our past. I think both could be true because there are other instances of dual fulfillment of prophecy in the Bible.

A look at the historical record shows that much of what Jesus prophesied did take place when the Romans destroyed Jerusalem after a seven-year siege. Jesus predicted that there would be wars. Rome waged war on Jerusalem. Historians record that many Jews acted treacherously during the siege, taking advantage of one another, and even going so far as to kill their children to avoid starvation. Jesus said that many would come falsely claiming to be the returning Messiah. That too is found in the historical record. I believe the events around 70 A.D. could be a fulfillment of what Jesus predicted.

I also believe that we are seeing many of the features of Jesus’ prediction in our day. The idea of many false prophets leading people into sin is sad commentary on the state of the church in the West today. One obvious example is the way some so-called Christians label other Christians as hatemongers because they disagree with their biblical interpretation. I have written many articles about the deception being perpetrated by people who call themselves Christians but deny that God forbade homosexual relationships. Another example I have mentioned previously is preachers who deny the existence of hell. They prefer not to recognize that while God is love personified, He is also a holy and righteous judge who will find it necessary to condemn some people to an existence apart from His benevolence: hell.

It is clear that the moral state of not just unbelievers, but sadly, the church fits Jesus’ prediction of the last days – whenever that may be. I will defer to my fellow believers who wish to follow the Darby/Schofield scheme of the end times. I have written about that ad nauseum for many. They may be right. I choose to believe that most of the book of Revelation is in our past. That does not mean that God cannot make similar things happen again to bring about a second fulfillment. Whatever the case, they and I believe that Jesus is coming again to judge the world. The timing of those final events is less important than belief in their finality. God will judge the earth and its inhabitants someday, and what follows will be our eternal destiny based on our earthly decisions.

I have written far too many words as an introduction to my topic. (Yes, that was an introduction.) I have been reading through Jeremiah in my through-the-Bible reading plan. I was struck by the number of times “the earth” is mentioned. There are numerous passages that seem to refer to the earth as the actual, physical ground itself. Here is one example: “For the land is full of adulterers; for the land mourns because of a curse.” Without getting too deep into the Hebrew language of the Old Testament, I will say that the Hebrew word for “land” is broad in its meaning. It sometimes clearly means dirt or earth. It sometimes refers to a land as a country. “This land is my land; this land is your land, etc. – you know the song.”

What got me thinking is that in other verses, Jeremiah uses a different word for “land” that really does mean dirt. “Turn back please, each one from his evil way, and from the evil of your deeds, and live on the land that Yahweh has given to you and to your ancestors from a long time back and until forever.” The Hebrew word Jeremiah uses for land in that verse is “adamah” which is, as you might see, the same word that God used in Genesis to explain where Adam came from – the dust. If the dirt “mourns because of a curse,” we might need to rethink our understanding of just how sentient our planet really is.

I wrote previously about Peter’s explanation of what happens on “the Day of the Lord.” That phrase is usually interpreted to mean the last day of the earth’s existence. I discovered that Peter’s prediction may not have anything to do with the physical earth. He may have been alluding to the destruction of the evil spirits that influence evil people to commit evil acts. The earth itself may be reserved for another special treatment.

I think of what Paul mysteriously said in Romans. “For the eagerly expecting creation awaits eagerly the revelation of the sons of God. For the creation has been subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of the one who subjected it in hope that the creation itself also will be set free from its servility to decay, into the glorious freedom of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans together and suffers agony together until now.” The subjection Paul refers to was initiated by Adam when he sinned. He brought the curse on the whole earth.

The “eagerly expecting creation awaits eagerly” makes it sound like creation itself is sentient. We know that Old Testament personification has trees clapping their hands, and stars singing. Jesus said that if He silenced the people on His triumphal entry, the rocks would cry out. What if all that is not just poetic language but reality we have dismissed? What if “creation” is just as anxious for the revealing of the redeemed as we are? I am looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth where I will live forever in the presence of God Himself. I believe that is what the world is coming to. Are you as eager as I am?

Related Posts: The Cry of Sin; Alternate Realties; What Happened in the Fall; Selling Heaven on Earth

Love is a Verb

Most translations of 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 use adjectives to express what love is. Paul used verbs in his original Greek. The English teacher in me sees this as a significant difference. Paul didn’t just describe what love is; he detailed what love does. This fits perfectly with his theme throughout his writing, as well as all Scripture, that actions display intentions. If I say I intend to wash my car, but never get the hose and bucket out, my intention is meaningless. If I say I have love, Paul says, but never do loving things, my love is meaningless. Worthless.

This is some of what Paul says love does in 1 Corinthians 13: 4-7:

1. Love perseveres. It hangs in there no matter how tough the going gets. If there is a desired behavior or circumstance one is hoping for, the one who loves waits patiently. My wife loves me so much that she waited patiently (for years) for me to figure out what it means to be a good husband. She didn’t stop loving me; she persevered. (Her perseverance paid off; I’m still not perfect, but through God’s grace and her loving patience, I am much better than I used to be.)

2. Love does the useful thing. Most versions translate Paul’s word as “love is kind.” The root of the Greek word he used is serviceable. That means that to love is to do what is necessary or needed in any situation. My wife had back surgery recently, and she is in a long process of healing. Out of my love for her, I have been doing things that she needs done but cannot do for herself. It would be very unkind of me to sit around and let the dishes pile up in the sink. She cannot stand long enough to wash them; I can.

3. Love does not brag or become self-important. A loving Christian understands what Paul said to the Corinthians, “What do you have that you did not receive? But if indeed you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?” I don’t go around boasting about my ability as a teacher and writer. My main spiritual gift is teaching, and that is clearly a gift from God. The fact that I learned to write well is a combination of my natural talents (God given) and years of education and experience (ordained by God).

4. In that same vein, love is not self-serving. As with all spiritual gifts, mine is not given to me for my benefit. My gift is to be used for the benefit of the body of Christ. If you read 1 Corinthians 12-14 you will see that the church was making their individual gifts a matter of personal pride. Chapter 12 ends with Paul’s corrective: let love be the most important factor governing the exercise of spiritual gifts.

5. Love does not provoke another or keep an account of wrongs. My wife could have written a book of all the things I did wrong in our early marriage. If she had kept reminding me of them it certainly would have provoked me; one of my problems was pride, and if she had suggested that I was not the perfect husband, had she listed all the ways I failed her, it would not have made for a happy moment. Because she loved me with the love of God, she bit her tongue. I would offer this caution: sins borne must be forgiven and laid at Jesus’ feet or they will fester into a root of bitterness. Again, love is the antidote to bitterness.

6. Love does not rejoice at wrongdoing but rejoices at the truth. Truth is that which matches God’s design; wrongdoing is that which ignores God’s design. Sin is simply that which brings chaos whereas right living brings peace. A perfect example of this is what has happened in America with the chaos of sexual perversion that is being rejoiced over by some. Some are glad that the traditional family is being destroyed in favor of “alternative lifestyles.” They even think that such destruction is a loving thing; they call their opponents hateful. Hello Chaos.

7. Love anticipates good things. Back to my wife: she spent years anticipating my discovery of what a good husband should be like. She hoped I would learn to love her as Christ loved the church. She bore up under the disappointment I caused. This kind of love is what makes it possible to love our fellow Christians despite their unchristian behavior. Church is messy; look at the Corinthians. Someone said that church would be a fine thing if it were not for the people in it. We know that in the resurrection, we will all be glorified; until then we live in anticipation.

The prophet Jeremiah was given a message for the people of Judah: “I am Yahweh, showing loyal love, justice, and righteousness on the earth, for in these things I delight, declares Yahweh.” If we would be pleasing to God, we must be doing the right things, the things He has modeled for us. Jesus said that love for one another would be the hallmark of His disciples. Jesus was love personified. We are predestined to become like Jesus. Jesus lived love perfectly. He demonstrated that love is a verb. So, in the words of that famous advertisement: just do it.

Related Posts: Don’t be a Poser; Are You Qualified?

What Were You Thinking

I am starting a new full-time job this month. This means I am un-retiring for the third time. It is not because I was unhappy with retirement. On the contrary, I was mostly happy with my situation. My wife and I were living the dream as far as many people would see it. We own a large RV which is stationary in Arizona, and we have a smaller trailer that we travel with during the hot summer months. This allows us to visit friends and family in Michigan and to see the sights across the country.

We are in our thirteenth year of full-time RV living, having taken a one-year break from the road to attempt the creation of a sober living home for women. (For details see “Grace Realized”) When we began travelling, my wife had retired, and I was teaching part-time at a college that had quarterly terms, so I could take one term off during the winter to escape the snow. We went through about forty of the lower forty-eight states in our first few winter excursions. On one of our early trips, we followed Route 66 as far as Kingman, Arizona. (See Route 66 Adventure) We spent the first three winters in Mesquite, Nevada. After one winter in Salt Lake City to help our daughter with her new baby, we settled in the Kingman/Golden Valley area of Arizona as our winter getaway.

From Golden Valley, it is a short climb through Union Pass to Bullhead City. We did much of our shopping and restaurant visiting there, so we looked for a place to park more permanently. The first place we looked was managed by a thoroughly Christian couple who were endeavoring to build a Christian community in the park. They “just happened” to have a fifth-wheel trailer for sale which would suit our needs for a more permanent winter home. We worked out a deal that very day, but we couldn’t fully pay for the trailer until we closed on the sale of our Michigan sober living house. We drove away thinking the deal would be in limbo, but fifteen minutes later, the manager called to say a small downpayment would hold the trailer for us. We said thank you Lord and signed the deal.

When we returned that October, we were fully convinced that God wanted us in Bullhead City at that park. We visited some churches and eventually found one we believe is God’s place for us. We continued looking for opportunities for ministry, but nothing substantial turned up despite putting our several feelers in local ministries. After four years, we decided that we wanted to move back to Michigan as our “permanent” home with travel back to the area as snowbirds in the future. Our Arizona home didn’t sell. For two years. During our fifth year I offered to substitute teach at a local Christian school. They were happy to have me as qualified subs were difficult to come by. I spent a few days in elementary classrooms as a sub and enjoyed it immensely.

At my sub interview they asked me if I would consider teaching full time, and I said no. After I had subbed a few times, the Assistant Principal asked me again if I would like to take a full-time position in the coming fall. I said no. Again. A couple weeks later, as I was filling out my pay voucher he asked again. I said I just didn’t see how it could work. We were going to Michigan for the summer with numerous plans that could not be changed, and I couldn't imagine how I could make it to a teaching job in August. Shortly after that, I received an email from the Assistant Principal telling me that there would be several openings in the fall, and he wanted to know if I would consider taking one.

At that point, I looked at my wife and asked if we were missing something. Was this God telling us why we were still in Bullhead? We both shrugged, sighed and resigned; this must be why we have been kept here by God. I said I would take a position but there were certain limitations to my availability throughout the summer. I was granted exceptions and offered a contract. When I received my contract, I looked at the salary offering; I had not even considered salary as a factor. I had to lift my jaw off the floor. I had agreed to offer my services as a teacher because I believed that was what God wanted. God, in His inimitable way, would bless us for being obedient to His call.

This has been primarily an autobiographical post. I told this personal story because I believe it has application to many of my fellow believers. I have written several articles over the years about how to know God’s will for us individually. Sometimes it is crystal clear; sometimes it is not. The main idea in what I have written and taught in the past is that we should pray, study the Scripture, and press on knowing that God is in control. Take the next step; as I wrote recently, roll the dice. Our Sovereign will fold our decisions into His will in miraculous ways. (Sidebar: a teacher at my new school has just taken National Institute for Learning Disabilities (NILD) training for helping struggling learners. My wife is a certified NILD therapist. Huh?)

Letting go and letting God take control of my life has always been difficult for me. You too? In my head I know that it is as Isaiah said, “My ways [God’s ways] are higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” It still takes a Herculean effort on my part to let go. My flesh wants to rule. This experience has given my wife and I a large-as-life example of what it means to live in the Spirit, to be led by the Spirit. I get it. I’m down with that. But, when I realize that means getting up at 5:00 on weekday mornings, I ask myself, “What were you thinking!?”

Related Posts: Forget Not His Benefits; The Meaning of Sovereignty; Be Careful How You Pray; What’s Your Ministry; Mounting Everest; Grace Realized

 

Slaves and Masters

In twenty-first century America, the average citizen has more freedom than anyone, anywhere, at any time in history. We have the freedom to go just about anywhere, do just about anything (within certain legal limitations), and to be whatever we have the determination to be. I just completed a 2,000+ mile trip across the country, and there was not one border check, no language barrier, nobody questioning what I was doing. (OK, some of my friends thought it was crazy to drive that distance alone in three days.) I witnessed the freedom others expressed with their disdain for speed limits and simple traffic courtesy; I was exposed to a few music choices at extreme volume in the middle of the night at rest stops; I watched people leave their cars blocking the gas pumps while they dallied in the store. These were people doing what they wanted. Regardless.

Maybe they want to be rude, lawless, inconsiderate boors. There are few people who will stop them in twenty-first century America. Fortunately, there are also people who have decided to do something with their lives to improve the condition of their fellow citizens. I was reminded of this by a random post on my Facebook page. The post noted that President Trump has surrounded himself with an entourage of pretty regular folks. He didn’t choose the usual elite snobs and self-important pooh-bahs that most Presidents have surrounded themselves with in the past. They are everyday folks willing to step in and help a President whom they believe has the best interest of the American people at heart.

I may be more sensitive to this at the moment because of a series of novels I am reading written by Cap Daniels. On the surface the heroes appear to behave like every other shoot-em-up, black ops mercenary team. But Daniels lets his patriotism and Christian belief in giving help to those who cannot help themselves come through loud and clear. Bad guys get dead and good guys get rescued, but Daniels lets the psychological and spiritual struggle come through loud and clear. One of the main characters epitomizes this dichotomy: he is a Baptist preacher when he is not using his sniper rifle to rain judgment on the villains. Daniels writes in his afterward that he detests the evil that is everywhere in our world, but he also lauds the patriots who risk their lives to make our lives a little safer.

Heaven matters most in this because every human being is a slave to something or someone. Paul writes: “Don’t you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living. Thank God! Once you were slaves of sin, but now you wholeheartedly obey this teaching we have given you. Now you are free from your slavery to sin, and you have become slaves to righteous living.” (Rom. 6:16-18 NLT) We commonly think of this as referring to slaves to drugs, or sex, or money. Sinful things. Think again. Anything we do with our “freedom” that removes God from the center of our lives is sin.

Whenever we choose to fulfill our desires instead of seeking God’s desire for our lives, we become slaves to our desires. It could be a job, a hobby, or just plain laziness that enslaves us to something that is not God’s best for us. Paul says we choose to be enslaved to sin, or by choosing to give our lives to Christ, we become slaves to righteousness. We must not think of that too narrowly. It does not mean we have to give up everything and become a missionary. It does not mean we have to abandon a secular career and join the clergy. It may be those things for some, but for the vast majority of us, it is something far more mundane and, at the same time, more wonderful.

The “slave to righteous living” Paul applauds is someone who makes the effort to live according to God’s righteous principles. Jesus identified the sine qua non of His followers: that they love one another. If you have been a Christian for more than a minute, you know that the love Jesus recommended is a selfless, sacrificial love; it means caring for the other person more than for yourself. If you want to see it demonstrated, look at the Cross of Calvary. You could translate John 3:16 like this: “God loved the world in this way: He gave His Son so that anyone who believed in Him would be free from slavery to sin.”

Paul said slavery to sin leads to death; God said slavery to Christ leads to eternal life. Those of you who are as old as I am might remember a folk singer named Bob Dylan who came to Christ after a long career in secular music. One of my favorite songs of his post-conversion repertoire is “You Gotta Serve Somebody.” His lyrics list about every imaginable lifestyle and circumstance, and in every case, Dylan insists you are going to serve somebody. His theology is right there with the Apostle Paul. You may serve the devil, or you may serve the Lord, but you are going to serve somebody. And the truth is clear: there are only two choices.

The biblical concept of freedom is foreign to our modern way of thinking. N.T. Wright speaks of the paradox of Christian freedom. “We become more truly human, more genuinely free, when we are giving ourselves away. That, I think, is the clue to a whole new way of looking at the world, and perhaps at freedom itself….  Humans are made for a purpose. Only when we find and follow that purpose will we be ‘free’…. The gospel sets us free to love, to live to God’s glory, to be wise stewards of his creation and wise agents of his new creation. And at this point human freedom and divine enabling mysteriously come together.”

That is the truth, and Jesus said that the truth would set us free. He also said, “[God's]Word is truth.” For the last ten years or so I have had the blessing of “free time” every morning to read the Bible and pray. I could almost say I have become enslaved to that devotional time to the point that I am unwilling to start my day without it. Martin Luther famously said, "I have so much to do [each day] that I shall spend the first three hours in prayer." Like Luther, I read to hear God’s will; then I pray for His assistance to accomplish it – whatever it is. He is my Master; I am His slave. And I am free.

 

Want What You Have

Delight thyself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart. PS. 37:4 KJV

This verse is often quoted to support the idea that Christians can have whatever they want as long as they “delight in the Lord.” That idea always smacked of selfish materialism to me. It seems to fly in the face of the biblical concept of humble submission and acceptance of whatever God wants for us. I took a deep dive into the Greek translation* of Psalm 37:4 recently and learned that it may not be saying what the King James seems to imply. The result of my study led me to this very different interpretation: “If you chase after God, He will produce longings in your heart that are in line with your relationship to Him.” In other words, He will give you what He wants not necessarily what you want.

Someone wisely said that true peace comes from wanting what you have not having what you want. That sentiment seems to be more in line with what the Bible teaches. It was the Apostle Paul who said that he had learned to be content with what he had. The Hebrew writer said, “Your lifestyle must be free from the love of money, being content with what you have.” The Book of Proverbs is laced with warnings about the dangers of relying on material wealth. Paul called the love of money the root of all kinds of evil. Jesus warned that you cannot love both money and God.

None of this should be taken to mean that money/wealth is evil in itself. It is the attitude towards material possessions that must be guarded. “The wealth of the rich is his strong city, and like a wall, it is high in his imagination. (Pr. 18:11) Relying on wealth implies a displacement of God from the calculation. That is idolatry. Proverbs warns, “There is a way that seems upright to a man, but its end is the way of death.” There is no way to hide your true motivations from God. “A crucible is for the silver, and a furnace is for the gold, but Yahweh will test hearts.” (Pr. 17:3)

But maybe your desires are not for wealth. Maybe you desire some plan to succeed. What does the Bible say about that? “The mind of a person will plan his ways, and Yahweh will direct his steps.” (Pr. 16:9) Planning is a good thing; the Bible recommends it. But the plans must be laid before the Lord. “Commit your work to Yahweh, and your plans will be established.” (Pr. 16:3) This sounds very similar to the promise of Jesus that if we ask anything in His name, the Father will grant it. That too veers from the idea that we can have whatever we want. To ask in Jesus’ name implies aligning the request with the will of the Father.

One wonders what happens when we don’t know what God’s specific will is in a given situation. The wisdom of Proverbs covers that too: “The lot will be cast into the lap,

but all of its decisions are from Yahweh.” (Pr. 16:33) This idea comes from the Old Testament practice of asking for God’s will by casting lots. We don’t know exactly what was used, but it involved something similar to modern dice. Stones, bones, or pottery shards were chosen or painted with different colors. When tossed, the appearance of the items was interpreted as a yes or no answer.

I don’t think God wants us to use physical objects to discern His will today. Our modern phrase, “roll the dice” suggests that one takes a step or a position and waits for the outcome. The advantage we have over the OT Jews is the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. When we face a decision that has a go/no go choice to be made, we should bathe it in prayer, search the Scriptures for direction, ask for godly advice, and then proceed unless something leads us to pull up short. In other words, roll the dice knowing the results are in the Lord’s hands.

I must say that this process does not guarantee smooth sailing every time. I can remember many times in my life when I thought I was doing what God would have me do, but the results were far from what I had hoped for. Years ago, I was called to an administration position at a Christian school in California. I detailed that Michigan to California trip in “God’s Little Coincidences.” All I will say here is that we have come to call it “The Ordeal.”

The reason God wanted us in California remains something of a mystery. After only a few weeks, the administrator who hired me as his assistant principal was fired. I was asked to take over the school. I did my best, but it soon became apparent that the board and I had different ideas about what a Christian school should be. They thought I was “too Christian.” I did stop the faculty from leaving in protest over the firing of the former administrator. I did save the school from imminent financial embarrassment. I did handle the day-to-day responsibilities of running a 330-student K-10 school with a faculty and staff of 35 without complaint. Despite all that, the board replaced me with a former public-school administrator after only three months. Needless to say, I did not return for a second year.

My wife and I have asked repeatedly if we were wrong to think the job in California was God’s will for me. Should I have realized sooner that my philosophy of Christian education was not in line with theirs? Or did God get exactly what He wanted from me even though I would never have chosen the experience had I know what was going to happen? With decades of hindsight, the answer seems clear: I didn’t get exactly what I wanted for my first school administration experience, but God got precisely He wanted for the school.

 I believe that anyone who attempts to have a genuine trust in God’s provision will face tough circumstances at some point. If we truly believe in a loving, sovereign God, we can rest peacefully with the knowledge that He will provide what is best for us. The life we live is in Christ, and His Spirit lives in us. Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is peace. That’s what I have. That’s all I want.

* Between 250 and 132 BC, a group of 70 devout Jews in Alexandria, Egypt, set about to translate the Hebrew Old Testament into Greek because few people could read Hebrew. This translation gives us a peek into the minds of what those Jewish scholars believed was the true word of God. Their translation has become known as the Septuagint which means “the seventy.”