The Heart Of Worship

 "Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name: worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness"  (Psalm 29:2, NIV).

"Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, LORD," (cf. Psalm 89:15, NIV). 
"But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of thy Israel" (Psalm 22:3, KJV).

God desires those who worship to do so in spirit and in truth (cf. John 4:24), and this implicates our whole being and that we do it in the right spirit, or filled with the Spirit, and in truth or not hypocritical, phony, or mere lip service--but also consistent with sound doctrine--God is the God of Truth!   We are to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and this means everything that we are--our whole being!  It doesn't mean you be something you're not, but to be what God made you and do what you were designed to do. 

There's no "one-size-fits-all" way to worship:  some are traditionalists, seeking liturgy and ritual; some are musical; some caregiving; some activists; some contemplative; and some are even intellectual.  We are not all hard-wired the same, but we are all meant, designed, and made for worship.  Dostoevsky said, "Man cannot live without worshiping something."  That is, if we don't worship God, we will worship something; i.e., we will worship!  We've been called Homo religiosus, or the religious man or being.  We all have a spark of the divine in us and have been called Homo divinus (penned by John Stott) to point that out.

Worship (meaning worth-ship or ascribing worth that's due) isn't always corporate or in the church assembly--though this is highly rewarding and encouraging.  We offer ourselves to God or consecrate ourselves in surrender.  The believer must learn to live his life as a sacrifice to God and as a service to Him in offering himself.  God doesn't want our achievements--He wants us!   We don't want to just go through the motions, or get into a rut, but seek meaning and purpose in our worship.  We don't just go to church to worship--we go to work!  For example, A man laying bricks was asked what he was doing and he responded that he was building a chapel!  The condition of our soul and spirit is what is our aim, not just where we are. 

We are to keep the channel open and the link connected to God as we continually practice the presence of God in our daily chores and activities. Martin Luther proclaimed manual labor as dignified and to the glory of God.   All that we do is to be to God's glory (cf. 1 Cor. 10:31).  Living our lives in God's will is our sacrifice to Him, and this is our yoke, not the Law, as in the old covenant--this is real spirituality.  God wants our obedience in life and this is more important than being religious or having religiosity:  "To obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams" (cf. 1 Sam. 15:22).

The reason we meet together for corporate worship though is that we all have different gifts and need mutual edification.  Like it says in 1 Cor. 14:26 (NIV) that when we meet together "everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation." The gifts are given for the benefit of the body as a whole, not just for our personal growth.  The point of corporate worship is that the singing of hymns and spiritual songs is not the only form of worship:  We worship in giving of our monetary blessings; we worship in the Lord's Supper as a memorial to Him that contemplate; we worship by heeding the preaching of the Word, and we worship by our fellowship with our brethren. 

By way of analogy, our entire lives are to be an act of giving or of worship and thanksgiving as we render to God His due and live according to His will and walk with Him in the Spirit.  Worship is sacrifice among other criteria:  There are two sacrifices that the Bible stresses, besides the ones given in the Mosaic Law:  The sacrifice of praise (cf. Heb. 13:15); and the sacrifice of thanksgiving (cf. Ps. 50:23).

In summation, Psalm 100:1, 3, 4 (KJV, boldface mine)  portrays the right mental attitude or formula for opening the door to the throne room of God into His dimension for spiritual worship as follows:  "MAKE a joyful noise ...  Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with thanksgiving, know ye that the LORD he is God ... Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful  unto him and bless his name." [Note that we worship in making noise (i.e., audible attention-getting devices), serving (missions, ministry), coming (approaching in prayer--corporate and private, and fellowship--corporate and one-on-one) to Him, offering praise, being thankful (in everything), and in giving blessings (to God and others).]   Soli Deo Gloria!

Authentic Worship

 "... [Shout] unto God with the voice of triumph" (Psalm 47:1, KJV).

"I WAS glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD" (Psalm 122:1, KJV).
"Blessed is the people who know the joyful sound..." (Psalm 89:15, KJV).
"Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with song of praise" (Psalm 95:2, ESV).
"Blessed are the people who know the festal shout [call to worship]" (Psalm 89:15, ESV).

The heart of the matter of worship is that it's a matter of the heart; it reflects the condition of your heart and the extent of its surrender and offering to God, not how much of the Spirit you have, but how much of you the Spirit has. When someone says that he didn't get much out of worship, it only reveals his ignorance of its purpose--to glorify, extol, and lift up the Lord--that your motives are wrong and your worship for the wrong reason. The reason we worship is that we are designed for it and it is only natural--we are called homo divinus, or homo religiosus, meaning we are fulfilled and meant for worship as religious beings--much more, we will worship someone or something, if not God for we are hard-wired for it; however, God is the only one worthy of our worship. "Worthy are you ... to receive glory..." (Rev. 4:11, ESV). That’s because worship is from the contraction worth-ship.

Worship is about having an encounter with the God who is there; in fact, Christianity is not about believing in God, but the God who is in there. Francis Schaeffer says, "He is there, and He is not silent." Indeed, God melts us, molds, fills us and then uses us in worship as we recharge our spiritual batteries and get our checkup in the corporate worship experience of the local body of believers that we congregate and assemble with regularly. There is no one-size-fits-all for worship and that's probably why there are so many worship experiences; some are demonstrative, some stoical, but God sees the heart, while man looks on the outward appearance (cf. 1 Sam. 16:7; 1 Chron. 28:9) or “Your name is on their lips, but you are far from their hearts,” (cf. Jer. 12:2, NLT). Posture and gestures can be important, but mere lip service is vain and fruitless. We don't want to be like Israel: "... 'Is the LORD among us or not?'" (Ex. 17:7, ESV).

Worship is what church is all about, even in our giving we are doing it. And going to church should not be considered something on our to-do list or something we do perfunctorily, but something we gladly and willing do; you could say we "get to" worship God, not that we have to. Some say that they can worship God in the cornfield, so why attend church? Worship is more than music (Jubal invented in in Gen. 4), and some think they only go to church to hear a sermon, but we must realize that there is a purpose for each part of the service in our worship experience. They haven't discovered the power of corporate worship and that whenever two or three are gathered together in His name, Jesus promises to be present. Hebrews 10:25 exhorts us not to forsake the assembling together of ourselves--this is a command--God gives no advice, suggestions, or hints except in 1 Cor. 14:26 describing the gathering of believers.

Worship is important to us because we learn to connect with God and it changes us, not God--God invites us to join Him in His joy and gladness (cf. Neh. 8:10). The call to worship is to focus on who God is and what He has done as we thank Him for His actions, and praise Him for His being. We have the right attitude when we are in awe and humble ourselves before Him in Spirit and in truth. Remember, worship is about God, it's not about you! We learn to seek the presence of the Lord and His face and to be used by God in our surrender to bring Him joy, focusing on His presence on face.

We need to be reminded of the Spirit on a regular basis to keep in touch and not lose track of our fellowship--it's easy to drift off and backslide without regular fellowship and corporate worship--none of us is a rock or an island that needs nobody else--we all need each other for expression and mutual ministry Remember, worship is active and not passive, not something we listen to, but take part in and put all that we are able into it. Some have a form of godliness in so-called will worship, but deny the power thereof (cf. 2 Tim. 3:5).

Church, then is not a place for the goody-goodies to gather or those who think that it's a crutch for weak people or losers--indeed, no perfect people need apply, as God calls not the righteous, but sinners to repentance and church should be viewed as a hospital for sinners, not a hotel for saints. They say that it's filled with hypocrites too, but we should tell them to join in because they'd feel right at home! We don't abandon church or Christ as believers, but we can drift away slowly and should know the warning signs, like our worship becoming routine and perfunctory and hypocritical. The church is our lifeblood and the means of our renewal because the body needs each member and we are all in it together to glorify God and fulfill the Great Commission. The church is not meant to be a comfortable place for sinners to feel at home, but where the gospel is preached and people are enjoined to come to a decision, and making no decision is making a "No!" decision.

We must realize that "God inhabits the praises of His people" (cf. Psalm 22:3) and that we enter His gates with thanksgiving, His courts with joy (cf. Psalm 100:3) and that we should bless Him with all that is within us--all our being (cf. Psalm 103:1)--and be ourselves, not hypocritical. God thrives on worship and "The Lord takes pleasure in His people" (cf. Psalm 149:4a, CEV). We must worship God "in Spirit and in truth" (cf. John 4:24). The essence of worship is bringing joy and pleasure to God, and whenever we feel this joy in the Spirit, no matter what our endeavor--even working--it is worship and brings glory to God. "... [W]hatever you do, do to the glory of God" (1 Cor. 10:31, ESV). When God smiles on you, or you feel His pleasure, you're worshiping.

You can go to church to worship God or you can go to the factory to worship Him, for authentic worship is the offering of ourselves (as a living sacrifice (cf. Rom. 12:1.) The way we are in our daily lives is worship or sacrifice--we live and breathe worship! We must see the whole world as His temple and fertile territory for worship. Wherever we sense awe, love, respect, and fear we have the right attitude to come before His presence in thanksgiving for what He's done and praise for who He is, and put ourselves in the frame of mind to worship. Our life is an offering to God as we present ourselves to Him in devotion and live to His glory as vessels of honor! Let all that is within us praise the Lord!

Just like prayer, worship should change us, not God, and one should say that they realize we have been in the presence of God or have been with the Lord, as your "cup overflows." Finally, we must realize our need for worship and that it is a litmus test of our spiritual growth and condition, and we cannot thrive or grow without it having its rightful place.

Surely the fear of the LORD is in this place, and I wasn’t even aware of it!’” (cf. Gen. 28:16). Or worst-case scenario: As Abraham said, “Surely the fear of the LORD is not in this place.” (cf. Gen. 20:11). Worship is the serious business of God and heaven. Soli Deo Gloria!

"I Am What I Am By The Grace Of God."

 Paul declares this in 1 Cor. 15:10 to show his grace-orientation and blessings in God as he was redeemed from being Christ's archenemy of the church who nearly wreaked havoc on its spread. We have no right to look down on the wicked as if we are superior because we were once the enemies of God ourselves!  (cf. Romans 5:10).  We are to be held to a higher standard and realize that what God holds against sinners is realizing sin and not believing in His Son.  But God had mercy on him! George Whitefield said as he saw a condemned man go to the gallows:  "There but for the grace of God go I."  We must realize that if God withdrew His grace we would be no better than the run-of-the-mill sinner if not worse; we'd be left to our own evil devices or schemes!  ("The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked.. Who can know it?"  --Jer. 17:9). 

Our righteousness is God's gift to us, not our gift to God! (cf. Isaiah 45:24; Romans 15:18; Hosea 14:8; Isaiah 26:12).  This means we all have a dark side that only God knows about; we have seen ourselves for who and what we are and the picture isn't pretty!   Christian author Robert Louis Stevenson wrote Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, we all have an old sin nature that remains after salvation and we must not obey it. We have a new man as well as an old man and the one we feed and nourish the most dominates our demeanor and conduct. We must cease to do evil and learn to do good; it's not automatic or a given.  Even the fruit of the Spirit is a given but must be cultivated before it's ripe enough to harvest. We will reap what we sow. 

The wicked live by the rule of the jungle, each man for himself, looking out for Number One while trying to win the rat race. But his reward is in this life (cf. Psalm 31:15) and we are not to get too comfortable in our temporary abode as we are citizens of heaven and only passing through on a green card and are in a dry run or staging area, or dress rehearsal for our permanent home with the Lord. We have salvation in three tenses: our past is forgiven, our present is given meaning, and our future is secured.  We are saved from the penalty of sin, we are being saved from its power, and we shall be saved from its presence.  

Our lives stand in contrast to the wicked who lives for the here and now and virtually eats, drinks, and is merry as if he were ot die tomorrow.  The wicked do what is right in their own eyes and live for themselves, not some higher purpose or power. Essentially, they waste their lives and have no ultimate purpose, meaning, dignity, or worth.  They live according to what is right in their own eyes go their own way, or act according to feelings or worse yet, libido. (cf Judges 17:6; 21:25; Isaiah 55:6). When you don't surrender to the Lordship of Christ, you surrender to Satan's chaos and evil.  There's no middle ground of neutrality!s  The central question of humankind is: What think ye of Christ?  Even Christians can be deceived by the devil and held captive by him to do his will (cf. 2 Tim. 2:26) and should pray to be delivered from the evil one as the Lord's prayer says.  

We should realize that the wicked are self-condemned by their own conscience (cf. Romans 2:14-15) and will all be judged by our works either for reward as Christians or for salvation for the lost (cf. Romans 2:6; 2 Cor. 5:21; Matt. 16:27; Psalm 2:12).  God's kindness and goodness are meant to lead them to repentance (cf. Romans 2:4).  We are held to a higher standard and should realize that God can convert the wicked just like He converted us! No one who repents is too far gone for grace! (cf. Isaiah 1:18). But the wicked are too proud to seek God and believe they are not accountable since they reckon Him as dead and do not see their own sin due to their pride.  (cf Psalm 10:4); none seeks God! (cf Psalm 14:2).    Soli Deo Gloria! 

Are You Fighting God?

 "There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the LORD" (Prov. 21:30, NIV).

If you’ve heard the song, “I fought the law, and the law won!” you may realize that if you fight God, He will always win!

“You may even find yourself fighting against God, “(cf. Acts 5;39, Gamaliel).

On the road to Damascus Jesus confronted Saul that it was "hard for [him] to kick against the goads." (Cf. Acts 26:14, ESV). The NLT says, "... It is useless for you to fight against my will." God's will is stronger than ours--He's the Almighty! He gets His way! His power "works mightily in us" (cf. Col. 1:29). We have a will, but God decided our nature, and we act according to our nature, which God has the power to manipulate.

If everything seems to be against us, perhaps we are going the wrong way ourselves! For God is at work within us, "both to do and to will of His good pleasure" (cf. Phil. 2:13). He will make us willing on the day of salvation (cf. Psalm 110:3). God's will overcomes ours and it is vain and futile to oppose God: "... For who can resist his will?" (Rom. 9:19, ESV).

When God decides to save us, He doesn't just help us to believe (we cannot believe apart from God, as it says in John 15:5 that "apart from [Him] we can do nothing"), but He makes believers out of us (quickening our spirit with faith), by virtue of irresistible grace, called the effectual call of God (cf. Rom. 8:30). When we call someone they may or may not respond, but when God does it, the result is guaranteed and efficacious. Jeremiah proclaims "...[Y]ou are stronger than I and have prevailed..." (Jer. 20:7, ESV). We must not find ourselves contrary to God!

We must not find ourselves contrary to God's revealed or preceptive will (which can be thwarted), because God will find a way to work out His plan regardless: "If he snatches away, who can stop him? Who can say to him, 'What are you doing?'" (Job 9:12, NIV); "... No one can hold back his hand or say to him: What have you done?" (Dan. 4:35, NIV). God gets His way: "... 'Surely, as I have planned, so it will be, and as I have purposed, so it will happen'" (Isa. 14:24, NIV); "For the LORD Almighty has purposed, and who can thwart him [going against His decreed or secret will]? His hand is stretched out, and who can turn it back?" (Isa. 14:27, NIV); and finally, "'Have you not heard? Long ago I ordained it. In days of old, I planned it; now I have brought it to pass...'" (Isa. 37:26, NIV). Even the Gamaliel recognized the futility: "'... You might even be found opposing God!'..." (Acts 5:39, ESV).

God accomplishes His will in us: He will "equip you with every good thing that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight.." (Heb. 13:21, ESV). God will accomplish His will with or without our cooperation, and it is our privilege to be the clay in His hands, our Potter. For this reason, we ought to stop fighting God or kicking against the goads and get with the program. We are made to do His will and this is the only way to find fulfillment (in His will). Our wills follow our minds and God can change our minds and give us a "knowledge of the truth" (cf. 2 Tim. 2:25, NLT).

Isaiah wondered: "O LORD, why do you make us wander from your ways and harden our heart so that we fear you not?..." (Isa. 63:17, ESV). God can "uphold [us] with a willing spirit" (Psalm 51:12, ESV). It is for our own good that we pray the prayer of relinquishment and put ourselves in God's hands, praying that His will be done through us willfully, with our cooperation. Wycliffe's tenet applies: "All things come to pass of necessity," and we must realize God's sovereignty, that He is in complete control, working all things for our good (cf. Rom. 8:28) if we love Him. It is important to know that we are aligned with God's will, to know whose side we're on; it is vain to fight God the Almighty One, for He is stronger than us, His creatures, and there is not even "one maverick molecule in the universe," according to R. C. Sproul!

"...'The God of our ancestors has chosen you to know his will...'" (Acts 22:14, NIV). Christians are exhorted to seek His will and have the unique privilege of knowing it. We also pray in His will and all our prayers are answered if they comply with His will (cf. 1 John 5:14). One petition of the Lord's prayer is for God's will to be done. God's will is laid out to us in Scripture and revealed and illuminated through the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Even Paul tells the Greeks: "For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God" (Acts 20:27, NIV). We are responsible for what God has opened our eyes to; to whom " much is given, much is required" is the principle (cf. Luke 12:48).

Jesus said that those who do the will of God are His brother, mother, and sister! (Cf. Matt. 12:50, NIV). And so it is paramount that we seek, know, and do God's will. Why? "... For whoever does the will of God abides forever" (1 John 2:17, NIV); "you need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised" (Heb. 10:36, NIV); "... [That] you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured" (Col. 4:12, NIV).

Note: one reason David was a man after God’s own heart was that he fulfilled all God’s will (cf. Acts 13:36). Soli Deo Gloria!

Why Is The God Of Abraham Most Popular?...

 

Why is the Abrahamic God the most popular (known) god out of all the rest of the gods?

Karl Broberg, Blogger on worldview, student of philosophy, and researcher.

Answered 6h ago

That’s only because, in the West, Western Civilization or Christendom, became predominant and the Bible has had much influence and impact on culture. The Judeo-Christian worldview still thrives despite growing secularism. Jesus is the most important historical figure in the West. In AD 313, with Constantine’s Edict of Milan, Christianity became a legal religion in the Roman empire and soon thereafter the prevalent one and it spread throughout Europe.

Even today, despite the rise in Secular Humanism, Christianity holds lots of clout in the public square and open marketplace of ideas of the West such as in human rights and moral absolutes. Even the seven-day week and the rule of law are of Christian origin. It is a fact, Common Law in the UK is founded upon the Bible. And most, if not all, major social reform we did was via Christian influence. And many citizens are at least Christian in name only or nominal Christians. It is no coincidence that in the West most people celebrate Christmas in some fashion, even if not Christians themselves.

For example, in courts and in oaths of office we still swear on a Bible. And on our coins, it says, “In God we trust.” In our Pledge of Allegiance, we say the words, “One nation under God.” Yes, Christianity has made its permanent mark on our Euro-centric culture that America assumed especially amongst the founding fathers who were mainly Christians or familiar with it. The Declaration of Independence, says, we are “endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable rights.” Even on the Liberty Bell, it quotes Leviticus 25:10 to proclaim liberty throughout all the land and unto all the inhabitants thereof!!! All this has a psychological and social impact and contribution to the worldview of the West, especially America.

Now, Islam failed to make any ground in Europe and was literally booted out of Spain and forced into Africa and Asia where it still flourishes. However, now it is the second-largest religion and fastest-growing one there due to immigrants. But Christians do not accept Allah as the same God as the Judeo-Christian one of the Bible despite the fact that Muslims claim to be the children of Abraham.

As far as other gods prevalent in the East (Brahma, Krishna, etc.) like the Hindu ones, remain largely predominant only in India, and Buddhism doesn’t believe in any God as we would know it. Europe had pagan gods such as the Norse gods before these barbarians and heathens became converted to Christianity and “civilized.” (That is not just my judgment of their culture but what contemporaries believed.) Even today, despite its secularism, Christianity is still the official religion in several nations (e.g., Lutheran in Scandinavia, Anglican in England, and Roman Catholic in France and Italy).  Soli Deo Gloria! 

The Obedient Believer Part I

The Obedient Believer Part II

 "And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him"  (Acts 5:32, ESV).

"[T]eaching them to observe all that I have commanded you..." (Matt. 28:20, ESV). 
"And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal [not temporary, probationary, nor provisional!] salvation to all who obey him" (Heb. 5:9, ESV).  
"For they have not all obeyed the gospel..." (Rom. 10:16, ESV).
"[I]n flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus"  (2 Thess. 1:8, ESV).

"... [A]nd a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith"  (Acts 6:7, ESV).  Unbelievers are called "sons of disobedience" in Eph. 2:2 and God delights in obedience:  "To obey is better than sacrifice..." (cf. 1 Sam. 15:22).  Jesus said that you cannot love Him and be disobedient, for if we love Him we will obey Him as the proof of the pudding.  Christ doesn't give suggestions, hints, or good advice, but commands!  He instituted two ordinances to be done in His name and memory (baptism and communion).  Jesus said, "Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves me..."  (John 14:21, ESV).  What are these commands that are so pivotal to our salvation being fulfilled?

Jesus did say that His yoke is easy and His burden is light in Matt. 11:30, and John said in 1 John 5:3 that His "commands are not burdensome."  "And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us"  (1 John 3:23, ESV). Note that in the Upper Room Jesus instigated a new command:  to love one another as Christ has loved us.  He who loves another has fulfilled the Law!  Paul says in Gal. 5:6 (NIV) that the only thing that matters is "faith expressing itself through love."

At the Bema or tribunal of Christ, our works will be judged, not our shortcomings and mistakes or sins, because they were judged at the cross, and this includes sins of omission.  If Jesus commanded us to do something and we fail, it's a sin of omission.  He is not going to inquire as to what school of theology or denomination we subscribed to, but will be interested in granting us rewards for the deeds done in the Spirit--the ones done in the energy of the flesh will be burned as wood, hay, and stubble in a fire (cf. 1 Cor. 3:10-13).  Sin can be defined as knowing the right thing to do and falling short or not doing it.  There is a legitimate place for ignorance if it's not willful.

There is a danger in sectarian pride and bias, such as feeling you're right and everyone else is wrong or disobedient to the Word of Truth.  Churches aren't saved en masse, but members individually as if going through a turnstile one at a time.  A good believing and faithful Lutheran has the edge over a disobedient Baptist because churches don't save and aren't necessary for salvation, as Roman Catholics espouse, Christ alone is the Savior.  However, it is important to remain faithful to the faith you were taught and to abide in the truth without apostasy or heresy.  A church is a cult when they get exclusive and think they have a monopoly on the truth, or think they are superior to other churches or denominations.

The real reason we get baptized is that we are disciples who desire to follow our Lord and His example in baptism to inaugurate or make our testimony official and public.  We should never feel that it is just a hurdle to jump over or test to pass to get accepted and that we "have to do it for salvation."  Grace-oriented believers never feel they "have to" but that they "get to" or "want to" obey their Lord and do as He did, following in His steps.  Baptism is a chance in a lifetime to get on track and give your testimony in public in order to be welcomed with "the right hand of fellowship" per Gal. 2:9 (ESV).

There are many measures and standards of obedience, and Dietrich Bonhoeffer said that only he who believes is obedient, and only he who is obedient believes: "And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him"  (Acts 5:32, ESV).   Whether we pray regularly and walk in the Spirit, abide in the Word, witness and fellowship and worship through association with the body of Christ are also crucial factors to weigh and consider.

You cannot say that Baptists are the obedient believers because they are correct in this ordinance (i.e., baptism), while Lutherans are disobedient.   There are way too many aspects of obedience to just label believers like that due to sectarian bias.  As Paul says in Rom. 1:5 that he wants to "bring about the obedience of the faith," he is primarily concerned with the entirety of the person's walk--the whole package, net effect, or sum total and result.

The church needs to fulfill the Great Commission to be obedient as a body, though individuals can do it, it's usually a joint and cooperative effort to evangelize, preach, teach, baptize, and disciple.   As Jesus said, "To whom much is given, much is required."    But teachers are especially responsible for disseminating sound doctrine and being good examples to the flock.  Soli Deo Gloria!

Not By Might!

 "I have labored to no purpose; I have spent my strength in vain and for nothing," (cf. Isaiah 49:14). 

"Everything got its start in Him and everything finds its purpose in Him," (cf. Col. 1:16).

Too many Christians are doing the busy work of God's kingdom as it were and missing out on the spiritual aspect. Now, whatever we do, can be to the glory of God when it's done in His name (cf. Col. 3:17, 23; 1 Cor.. 10:31). Martin Luther said that dairymaids can milk cows to the glory of God.  Work had been considered a curse till the Reformation.  We must be convinced that we are engaged in doing God's will and fulfilling the ministry He has given us and the mission that we are called to do: Paul said that he desired to complete his mission with joy  (cf. Acts. 20:24). 

I like particularly what he said in Romans 15:18, "I venture not to speak of but what Christ has accomplished through me." We must realize that human do-goodery or do-goodism doesn't avail much in God's economy and will be counted as wood, hay, and stubble (cf. 1 Cor. 3:15).  We must work as the LORD works through us as His vessels of honor, being inhabited and controlled by His Spirit. All our fruits are from Him (cf. Hosea 14:8). All we have accomplished is from Him (cf. Isaiah 26:12).   We must not boast of our achievements but trust in God's accomplishment on our behalf.  As Martin Luther's hymn, Mighty Fortress, goes, "Did we in our strength confide, our striving would be losing." 

We ought to boast in our infirmities (cf. 1 Cor. 12:19).  Micah condemned Israel for accomplishing what amounted to nothing and then taking all the credit for it (cf. Amos 6:13): "You who rejoice in Lo-debar, who say, 'Have we not taken by our strength captured Karmaim for ourselves?'"   Zechariah warned us not to trust in the flesh in Zechariah 4:6, "Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit...."   David wrote: "My soul makes its boast is in the LORD," (cf. Psalm 34:2).

Faith is dead without works and they authenticate and validate it but we are saved by faith alone, but only by the kind of faith that isn't alone.  True faith produces fruit, not the foliage. And we will be known by our fruits in the eyes of men. We are not saved by works, but not without them either!  God has ordained certain works for us to perform in His Spirit and time and we are called to be faithful in doing them.  (cf. Eph. 2:10).

A Christian is to be engaged in being "zealous of good works," as Titus 2:14 says, but not in the flesh. That only encourages self-righteousness and self-esteem, not true righteousness and God-esteem.  This means ultimately that God uses weak instruments to accomplish His will and to His glory and we should be like Paul who said he'd rather boast in his weakness that Christ may be glorified, for not many powerful, mighty, wise, nor famous are called, but God uses ordinary vessels.  When our work is done if we aren't taken before our time, God will call us home to be with Him in glory, as David was after he had completed all God's will (cf. Acts 13:36). May we all check out after proclaiming, "Mission accomplished!" 

In the final analysis, God bestows blessings as a gift to us; what we do with them is our gif to God; we must come to the awakening that our righteousness isn't our gift to God, but His gift to us  (cf. Isaiah 45:24); no man will be able to boast in God's presence (cf. Eph. 2:9).  Soli Deo Gloria! 

Does God Expect Blind Faith?

 Remember, a faith that isn’t difficult isn't worth much either; it must be tested to see if it’s genuine. faith is what pleases God, not our intellect or human wisdom. “The world by wisdom knew not God.” Blind faith (that which is without evidence or reason or even against one’s better reasoning) is never expected of the child of God. Faith can not be avoided in life: virtually all knowledge is contingent and begins in faith (even in the scientific method, for example, if you're a scientist but even this is still faith).

Christians don’t believe in faith but in Christ. It’s not a matter of faith versus reason but faith versus faith, depending on what presupposition you are willing to accept as the first base; thus we are all people of faith.

Faith is not believing despite the evidence but obeying in spite of the consequences. In the final analysis, it’s not how much you believe but how well you obey. It is simply putting trust in what one doe shave a good reason to believe. God made us rational creatures and expects us to use our brains and not commit intellectual suicide of kiss our brains goodbye.

But doubt is a good thing and not the opposite of faith but an element of it and we would doubt our doubts not doubt our faith. But doubt is not just a Christian or religious problem, it is a human problem It takes courage to express doubt. God wants to reason with us and even answer our questions and in that day we shall ask no more. It is not wrong to be critical in itself but not to accept faith when sufficient faith is available may be foolish.

God does say that there is sufficient evidence of Him in nature itself and no one has an excuse. But there is never enough evidence if you dont’ want to believe. God will not force faith. It's a choice, a matter to be decided with the will. Some people say that they would believe but their brains get in the way, but the Bible says it’s in the heart that man denies God. “The heart of the matter is that it’s a matter of the heart.” We are not supposed to be gullible but to check things out; Paul invited scrutiny himself to his gospel and we will find out that faith doesn't go against reason, but beyond it. “The heart has reasons the mind knows not!”

In conclusion, it has been said, “Only in the reality where faith is difficult is it possible,” thus, it is normal to struggle in your faith.   Soli Deo Gloria! 

Why Do People Believe In God, Not Science?

That’s a false dichotomy. But to have your ultimate allegiance to what science says rather than God is wrong. You can believe in God and be a scientist: of the first fifty scientists who began the scientific revolution, only one was not a Christian. Christianity is the mother of modern science and Sir Francis Bacon founded the scientific method. Anyone who thinks there’s a contradiction between science and God understands neither. There can be no final conflict for Augustine declared: “All truth is God’s truth.” But science has its limits. It cannot make value judgments or philosophical statements To harness science for unscientific reasons is not science but “scientism.”

Belief in God is self-evident and God says no one has an excuse for denying Him, and only fools do. There’s plenty of evidence in nature and in the Bible. Besides, Jesus came to answer our questions once and for all by rising from the dead and proving He is God with “many infallible proofs,” according to historian Dr. Luke. This fact is more attested by various proofs than any fact of antiquity.

Evidence isn’t necessarily conclusive or compelling. There are proofs pro and con. Believing evidence doesn’t make it true and denying the Bible’s evidence doesn't make it false. It must be weighed. You go in its direction according to the facts, or with the preponderance of it. You cannot disprove God because this is a philosophical not a scientific matter; it’s metaphysical, not physical. God will not subject Himself to anyone’s laboratory analysis.

People usually believe the evidence that fits their worldview and believing or disbelieving it doesn't make it true or false—called confirmation bias. Christians don't claim to know all the answers, but scientists and secularists don't know them either. If you believe in science that makes you a person of faith too; faith in science is still faith. It’s not a matter of faith versus science, fact, or reason, but faith versus faith. All of it depending upon which set or presuppositions you are willing to accept.

You are greatly misinformed if you think science has undermined the Bible. If you think there’s a contradiction you understand neither. The Bible contains dozens of scientific facts that were ahead of its time and yet no scientific absurdities. Archaeology has verified biblical references with over 25,000 digs. Many who have tried to disprove the Bible have become believers in the process, including skeptical archaeologists. No amount of evidence will make a person believe who doesn’t want to. There is plenty of evidence for the Bible if you look for it objectively.

Did you know that in 1861, the French Academy of Science declared fifty-one scientific facts that controverted the Bible? Today, none of these so-called facts are believed and the Bible was proven correct.

To answer the question, believers worship God because they love God (“We love Him because He first loved us.”) and have the Spirit of God living in them. They want to worship, not have to. Mankind is a religious being as Dostoevsky said, and if he doesn’t worship God, he’ll worship someone else. People who worship God know God and the appropriate response is a love expressed in worship.  Soli Deo Gloria! 

The Genesis Of Faith...

 Faith must begin somewhere!  It is not mere emotion or intellectual capacity but an act of the will; one decides to believe freely. God has given mankind the power of volition and freedom of choice to believe to disbelieve in Him. A forced faith would not be faith.  The conception of faith arises in the Word of God itself as it is the gift of God as one hears the preaching of the Word of God; God has chosen the foolish means of the world to defeat the wisdom of man.  So Romans 10:17 says, "Faith comes by the hearing and the hearing of the Word of God."  That's it, it's a gift of grace but God intends for us to exercise this faith; it's His gift but our act!  

I might add that God plants the seed and opens the heart!  (cf. Acts 16:14; 14:27).  He can make the unwilling willing (cf. Phil. 2:13) and make believers out of us by grace.  In fact, we believe through grace (cf. Acts 18:27).  Faith is a gift and we cannot take credit for it but are stewards of it. (cf. Romans 12:3; cf. 2 Pet. 1:1). 

Faith needs an object to be valid; it is only as reliable as its object.  You can have strong faith in the wrong object or God and it is invalid and does no good. God doesn't demand perfect faith, but only unfeigned, sincere faith  (cf. 1 Tim. 1:5; 2 Tim. 1:5). Paul said that the Jews were zealous for God but according to knowledge (cf Romans 10:2; Prov. 19:2).  Jesus said to those skeptics that if anyone is willing to do God's will, then he shall know the truth (cf. John 7:17).  

Only in a world where faith is difficult can it exist!  Easy-believism is a self-contradiction biblically speaking.  The road to faith has never nor meant to be an easy one.  We all have doubts; the disciple who wanted a healing told Jesus:  "I believe, help mine unbelief."  That means that doubt is not the opposite of faith but an element of it; it's not just a religious problem but a human one--we have doubts or are capable of them. But we believe in many things we don't have all the answers to and doubt can survive alongside faith.  Everyone's faith must be tested in fire to see if it's genuine (cf. 1 Pet. 1:7).  

We all have a "measure of faith" given by God and are appropriately tested and responsible for it as a steward of this gift (cf. Romans 12:3). But not all have faith (saving faith that is) though everyone believes in something. It can take more faith to deny God, for instance, than to just accept him by default and put Him to the test: "Taste and see that the LORD is good." (cf. Psalm 34:8). Our God invites scrutiny!  Test God in this manner because the proof of the pudding is in the eating. 

We all have trials, tribulations, and adversities to endure by faith. But if you wonder why, the same sun melts the butter hardens the clay. It is through much tribulation that we enter the kingdom of God (cf. Acts 14:22).  Similar events sow faith in some and agnosticism or skepticism in others.  God is testing our hearts and motives.  He doesn't want us to merely believe because of fear of hell as some kind of fire insurance, but as a loving response to God's love and grace.  We love Him because He first loved us!  (cf. 1 John 4:19). Perfect love casts out fear (cf. 1 John 4:18). 

Now, faith isn't about how strong you believe or much you are convinced of the truths of the Bible but in your application of them. It's more about how much you obey than how much you believe.  That's why the only test of genuine faith is obedience (cf. Heb. 3:18-19). Dietrich Bonhoeffer, martyr from the Nazis, claimed:  "Only he who believes is obedient; only he who is obedient believes."  These two are juxtaposed in Scripture and we must not divide what God has joined together. Repentance is also linked to faith and goes hand in hand in complementary fashion (cf. Acts. 20:21; Heb. 6:1). In that case, it may not be a matter of having enough faith but not having a thorough enough repentance. 

Remember, the struggle with faith is not lack of faith so much as faith itself.  Only in a world of disbelief existing can faith exist.  God refuses to make Himself as obvious as the sun in the sky to believe but wants us to search with all our hearts to find Him. What pleases God is faith, not intelligence or wisdom (cf. Heb. 11:6). Jesus was asked to do miracles on demand and to do a biggie miracle to impress the Pharisees, but Jesus wouldn't accommodate them because they had the prophets to bear witness of Him for the Scriptures bear witness of Him (cf. John 5:39).  He said that despite His miracles, they would [not could not] believe in Him (cf. John 12:37).     Soli Deo Gloria! 

What Good Is Faith Without Works?

 Karl Broberg, Blogger/Bible teacher (10+ yrs), researcher, life coach

Answered 3h ago

The Reformers taught that we are saved by faith alone, but not by a faith that is alone. If it is not accompanied by works it is dead faith—which cannot save (cf. James 2:26). Even the demons believe and tremble (cf. James 2:19). Faith must produce fruit and have the natural byproduct of good works or deeds. We are to be known by our fruits (cf. Matt. 7:16). We are not saved by works, but neither without them. Works validate and authenticate our faith and prove it is saving faith. No fruit means no faith!

God has redeemed Himself a people “zealous of good works” (cf. Titus 2:14). James 2;18 says that James would show you his faith by his works! Anyone can say he has faith but will they use it to glorify God? For example, by faith, Abraham obeyed God and went out (cf. Heb. 11:8). There is no such thing as being a disobedient disciple because we are called to obey Christ by faith, as Jesus said that if we love Him, we will obey His commands (cf. John 15:10). How can you call Him Lord, and not obey? “All who call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved,” (cf. Acts 2:21). “No man can say, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ except by the Holy Spirit,” (cf. 1 Cor. 12:3).

The whole point of salvation is a changed life and becoming a new creature per 2 Cor. 5:17 (doing works fit for repentance, cf. Matt. 3:8; Luke 3:8; Acts 26:20). The idea of “no-lordship salvation” or easy-believism has been around for decades and Dietrich Bonhoeffer called it “cheap grace.”

There are only three ways one tries to get saved:

1. Works alone equals salvation (religion)
2. Works plus faith equals salvation (legalism)
3. Faith equals salvation that’s not producing works (Antinomianism or libertinism)
4. Faith equals salvation resulting in works. (correct).

NB: Antinomians are usually believers in “no-lordship” salvation or that you need not accept Christians the record of your life to be saved which would entail obedience. In other words, works need not result from salvation. It is works of the flesh that don’t please God. Our works must be wrought in God through the Spirit (cf. Hosea 14:8; Isaiah 26:12; Amos 6:13; Romans 15:18). In the final analysis, obedience is the test of faith and is linked in Heb. 3:18–19.  Soli Deo Gloria! 

Fideism Versus Faith

 By definition: faith is trusting in what we have good reason to believe.  We don't have faith in faith but faith in Christ; faith doesn't save, Christ does!  It's the object that counts. 

"Faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see," (cf. Heb. 11:1, NIV). 


We choose to believe with our volition, it follows from our heart and where that is; if it's in the right place. We don't believe despite the evidence nor demand that all the evidence be presented before drawing our conclusion or taking a stand. Just like in a jury trial we go with the flow, or in the direction of the preponderance of the evidence--which isn't always conclusive or even certain, and there may be unanswered questions or doubts. Belief is not independent of the facts or evidence but concordant with it.

Evidence is not always conclusive, and may be subjective too (it can be circumstantial, indirect, or direct), but is only one argument to consider in making the final decision. There may be evidence pro and con, arguments for and against, we must weigh all the facts pertinent before making the final decision. We don't reach a conclusion irrespective of the evidence; however, some people cannot be convinced no matter the evidence because they don't want to believe.

(Faith is not believing something you know isn't true! Everyone has faith in something, even Secularists have faith that science can answer the questions of man; it's not a matter of faith versus reason, because we all commence with some presupposition we cannot ultimately prove, whether divine revelation or science. Fideism is the belief that we can attain to knowledge (of God) by faith alone, apart from our reason, while rationalism is the opposite, that truth is arrived only by reason--true biblical faith is based on the evidence and respects the mind, it doesn't insult your intelligence.

Fideism is basically the conviction that faith is mutually exclusive of and opposed to reason. Augustine said all knowledge begins in faith, or "I believe in order to understand." You are entitled to your own opinions and faith in them, but not your own fabricated facts. Conclusions must be based on fact, fitting, and following them, the facts aren't made to fit and follow the preconceived conclusions or notions.)

We must not succumb to the notion that believing something makes it true or disbelieving something makes it untrue-- the evidence is either true or false regardless of acceptance or belief. We cannot prove without a doubt that Christianity is true because God requires a step of faith and we can demonstrate that faith is much more reasonable than doubt and even that doubt can be an element of faith itself (cf. Mark 9:24: "I believe, help thou mine unbelief"). We must make our decision in a rational manner and decide which one fits the facts more fully and completely. Christianity is not rationalism, though, and can be defended on the open marketplace of ideas, but is rational--Christians aren't asked to kiss their brains goodbye.

However, we are exhorted to defend our faith and to have a reason or rationale why we believe in 1 Pet. 3:15 (cf. "have a reason for the hope that is within you")--if we don't, we only confirm infidels in their unbelief! If we just go by feelings we may fall by the wayside and not endure testing and challenges to our faith, as people of other faiths may have duplicate feelings about their God or religion. The unique aspect of our experience in Christ is that it's backed up by and the only religion supported by the objective, external, historical evidence of the resurrection of Christ, as well as personal, internal, subjective experience in the life and heart of the believer--Christianity is based on evidence and facts of history, not fable or sayings of wise men such as Confucius or Buddha--which are really philosophies with religiosity. Christianity is a historical faith or it is nothing, and disproving its historical credibility would discredit the faith itself.

Many have tried to disprove historical references or its historicity, but have failed in the process and have even gotten converted to Christianity in the process against their wills. No amount of argument will convince the unwilling, you cannot argue someone into the kingdom of God or persuade him by rationalism; Christianity is rational, but it isn't rationalism. No one will come to faith in Christ apart from the work of the Spirit within his heart, but he must not base his faith on the fact that he feels Christ lives in his heart--going by feelings--a duplicate experience can be had by other faiths, but he must learn to see the power of the Word in changing and sanctifying him.

God asks no one to have blind faith, which is demeaning to believers and outrage to God, but only to take a reasonable step of faith into the light--faith is the antidote to blindness, not its cause! In the end, we all have a rationale for our faith and should be able to defend ourselves with our personal testimony--like the blind man who testified, "I was blind, but now I see." This cannot be refuted and no one can deny the reality of his profession. We are exhorted to testify of what we do know and the reality of our faith, not another person. When we witness we declare the facts as we see them and can verify by experience--it's admissible in a court of law!

The problem with unbelievers who don't believe is that they don't want to believe, not that they cannot. "Even after Jesus had done all these miraculous signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him" (John 12:37, NIV). John Stott adds that "we cannot pander to someone's intellectual pride, but must cater to their intellectual integrity." No one is required to commit intellectual suicide or believe without any answers. However, we all must take that leap of faith in obedience to the faith. The problem most have is moral rebellion, not intellectual problems or hindrances, and their questions or challenges are mere smokescreens to avoid the real issue of surrender to the lordship of Christ.

The heart of the matter is a matter of the heart! Nonbelievers are described in Rom. 2:8 as those who reject the truth, and this truth is true objectively, regardless of whether one believes it or not or who told us. What they do is feign intellectual problems to try to stump the Christian and change the subject from making a decision for Christ in surrender. God is no man's debtor and will authenticate Himself to any seeker who desires to know Him, but Jesus said that also that only those willing will believe: "If any man is willing to do His will, he shall know..." (cf. John 7:17).

In exhorting decisions, one must realize that he doesn't need all the answers to believe, but he can believe anyway if he is willing and wants to believe--no amount of evidence will convince the person whose heart is hardened. Just like a jury making a verdict based on known evidence, not all evidence may be in, so we just go ahead and believe anyway, though we don't know all the answers. The important thing is to know the Answerer!

We must realize that Christianity is a reasonable proposition and we will never be disappointed in our decision. As volumes have been written about the so-called evidence that demands a verdict and God gave us a mind and expects us to use it and inquire of the Lord. The evidence can be presented cogently and there is hardly any question that hasn't been answered--Christianity is not going to come tumbling down by some brand new doubt that hasn't been resolved before!

When the plain facts are presented cogently one will realize that Christianity is based on a rational body of truth, in history, and its veracity was proven in the blood of the martyrs who died for their proclamation about Jesus rising from the dead. Even the historicity of the resurrection is vouched by multiple sources and is probably the most attested fact of antiquity--would any historian doubt the reality of Julius Caesar or Alexander the Great in contrast--Jesus was no myth and his historicity is vouched for by many pagan sources too.

All in all, we cannot deny the facts and one must be confronted with making a decision for or against Him--making no decision, is making a decision against Christ! It is not the believer who has to fear the scrutiny of the facts, but the skeptic who refuses to face the facts and acknowledge the truth! It has been said that Christianity goes beyond reason, but not against it! If the facts of the Bible were presented to any court of law, the jury would have to declare them true based on the evidence which would be admissible.


Most people who don't believe have never examined the evidence or even read the Bible. This is the whole crux of the matter--that we don't have to defend it or prove it, the seeker can do that himself by reading the testimony of the evangelists in Scripture himself. God, indeed, welcomes any honest inquiry and doubt, because He expects no one to believe something he isn't intellectually convinced of, or to commit intellectual suicide. Soli Deo Gloria!