Are Works Imperative?

 "...Set an example of good works yourself..."  (Tit. 2:7).

 There is a grand distinction between religion and Christianity:  works out of a pure motive and not for applause versus to ingratiate oneself, or to get brownie points with a deity.  Religion says, "Do!" while Christ says, "Done!"  Christians are not "do-gooders" per se but do good deeds because they want to, not because they have to.  The key is not "in order to," but "therefore."  Good works logically follow a changed life, through which Christ lives. Changing lives is Jesus' business and the point of salvation.   In a works religion, you never know how much is enough!

Since salvation is a gift only in Christianity, the person is free to do good out of gratitude.  We don't have to, but want to! Many Americans have fallen prey to the misconception that achieving the "American dream" or "living the good life" is all that is necessary to accomplish salvation; that they have "made it."  God requires perfection and any effort to earn one's way is in vain.  We are saved by grace alone, through faith alone (a living one), in the person and work of Christ alone according to the Reformers.

Some misguided souls subscribe to the credo that since salvation is by grace alone, works aren't necessary or don't follow (but we say grace is necessary and sufficient).  The Reformed doctrine is that salvation is "by faith alone, but not by a faith that is alone."  Works equaling salvation is the essence of religion; combining works and faith for salvation is legalism.  Faith that produces no works is antinomians, being against the law or lawless.  The prevalent view that faith alone without any evidence (some will say gifts of the Spirit like speaking in tongues) will suffice is erroneous, being initial evidence validates salvation or the filling of the Spirit.  This is known as antinomianism or "no-lordship salvation."

Nota bene: if you don't have good works to "work out" (cf. Phil. 2:12) your salvation is suspect.  The kind of works I am referring to is good deeds not works of the law.  We are not saved by works;  but not without them either--but unto works!  Works (or righteousness) prove faith to self others and God, as well as yourself (cf. Isa. 32:17); but are not the substitute for it.  We must put our faith into action--as James would say, "The faith you have is the faith you show" (cf. James 2:18).

There is no irreconcilable difference between Paul and James; they come from two vantage points:  Paul was dealing with those who couldn't do enough and thought the Law of Moses was necessary;  James was dealing with "do-nothing" libertines.  Paul would say, "I'll show you my works."  James would counter, "I'll show you my faith."  Paul talked about being "rich in faith" (1 Tim. 6:18).  James talked about being "rich in deeds" (James 2:5).  James says, "But someone will say, 'You have faith, I have deeds,' Show me your faith without deeds and I will show you my faith by what I do"  (James 2:18).

Faith doesn't have a dormant or inert stage; it can't be left in mothballs! It goes places!  Faith and works are distinguished, but cannot be separated.  Faith without works is dead (James 2:17, 26).

Our works will be judged (for reward)  not our faith per Romans 2:6; Psalm 62:12; Prov. 24:1  (our faith is a gift according to Rom. 12:3, Acts 14:27; 2 Pet. 1:1, et al.)!  "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ" (1 Cor. 3:15; 2 Cor. 5:10).  "God will repay each person according to what he has done'"  (Rom. 2:6).   Our works have to do with our testimony (Matt. 5:16; Tit. 1:16, 2:14)--"By their works they deny Him."  We are to be a people "zealous of good works" (Tit. 1:16).  We are to be "thoroughly furnished unto all good works" and  "are created unto good works" (2 Tim. 3:17; Eph. 2:10).  The faith we have is the faith we have is the faith we show!  Faith must be authenticated by works or it's suspect.

It is important that we give glory to God (Soli Deo Gloria).   "I venture not to boast of anything but what Christ has accomplished through me" (cf. Rom. 15:18;  Amos 6:13).  Jesus said, "Apart from me you can do nothing."  Isa. 26:12 reads, "All that we have accomplished you have done for us."  The reason God blesses us is so that we can bear fruit (cf. 2 Cor. 9:8).  We are commanded to do good works (Gal. 6:10; Phil. 2:12).   Most of all the importance of it all is summed up:  "Bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God"  (Col. 2:10)--note how they are correlated.   

There is a grand distinction between religion and Christianity: works out of a pure motive and not for applause; i.e., to ingratiate oneself or get brownie points with a deity. Christians are not "do-gooders" per se but do good deeds because they want to, not because they have to. The key is not "in order to" but "therefore." Good works logically follow a changed life, through which Christ lives. We are not saved by good works neither without them! We're not saved by good works but unto good works! (cf. Eph. 2:10). In a works religion, you never know how much is enough! Since salvation is a gift only in Christianity, the person is free to do good out of gratitude.

PART II

"...Set an example of good works yourself..." (Tit. 2:7).
Americans have fallen prey to the misconception that achieving the "American dream" is the ideal and living the "good life" is a "salvation." God requires perfection so any attempt to earn our way is in vain--we need grace and heaven is that gift which is by faith alone, but only a living faith.

Some misguided souls subscribe to the credo that since salvation is by grace alone works aren't necessary (we say that grace is necessary and sufficient and that faith is a gift according to Rom. 12:3; Acts 18:27; 2 Pet. 1:1: John 6:29; Phil 1:29; Acts 14:27). The Reformed doctrine is that salvation is "by faith alone, but not by a faith that is alone." Works equaling salvation is the essence of religion and mixing works with faith for salvation is legalism. The prevalent view that grace is both necessary and sufficient--there's no place for merit) without any evidence will suffice is erroneous. This is known as Antinomianism or "no-lordship salvation."

Nota bene that if you don't have good works to "work out" or a spiritual workout (cf. Phil. 2:12) your salvation is suspect. The kind of works I am referring to is good deeds--not works of the law. We are not saved by works; but not without them either--but unto works! Works prove, validate, and authenticate, faith to others, God, as well as yourself (cf. Isa. 32:17); but are not the substitute for it. We must put our faith into action--as James would say, "The faith you have is the faith you show."

There is no irreconcilable difference between Paul and James; they saw two vantage points: Paul was dealing with those who couldn't do enough and thought the law was necessary; James was dealing with "do-nothing" libertines. Paul would say, "I'll show you my works." James would counter, "I'll show you my faith." Paul talked about being "rich in faith" (1 Tim. 6:18). James talked about being "rich in deeds" (James 2:5). James says, "But someone will say, 'You have faith, I have deeds,' Show me your faith without deeds and I will show you my faith by what I do" (James 2:18).

Faith doesn't have a dormant or inert stage; it can't be left in mothballs! Faith and works are distinguished, but cannot be separated. Faith without works is dead (James 2:17, 26).

Our works will be judged (for reward) not our faith since faith is a gift (cf. Rom. 12:3)! We are judged according to our works, not our faith (cf. Romans 2:6; Prov. 24:12; Psalm 62:12) "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ" the Bema or tribunal) (1 Cor. 3:15; 2 Cor. 5:10). "[God] 'will reward each according to what he has done'" (Rom. 2:6). Our works have to do with our testimony (Matt. 5:16; Tit. 1:16, 2:14)--"By their works they deny Him." We are to be a people "zealous of good works". We are to be "thoroughly furnished unto all good works" and "are created unto good works" (2 Tim. 3:17; Eph. 2:10).

It is important that we give glory to God (Soli Deo Gloria). "I will not venture to boast of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me" (Rom. 15:18). Jesus said, "Apart from me you can do nothing, " (cf. John 15:5). Isa. 26:12 reads, "All that we have accomplished you have done for us." The reason God blesses us is so that we can bear fruit (cf. 2 Cor. 9:8). No fruit means no faith. We are known by our fruits. We are commanded to do good works (Gal. 6:10; Phil. 2:12). Most of all the importance of it all is summed up: "Bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God" (Col. 1:10) [Note how they are correlated.]

NB: WE ARE NOT SAVED BY WORKS, NOR WITHOUT THEM EITHER. WORKS VALIDATE FAITH AND WITHOUT THEM OUR FAITH IS SUSPECT! Soli Deo Gloria!

Wherefore Art Thou, My God?

"There is no one who understands; no one who seeks God" (Romans 3:11,

HCSB).
"'Surely the LORD is in this place, and I did not know it'" (Gen. 28:16, HCSB).
"... [W]hile my enemies continually taunt me, saying, 'Where is this God of yours?'" (Psalm 42:3, NIV).
"Why let the nations say, 'Where is their God?'" (Psalm 115:2, NIV).

NB: WHEN ASKED, "WHERE IS GOD?" WE OUGHT TO REPLY, "WHERE ISN'T HE?"

Job wondered of the whereabouts of God and sought Him wholeheartedly, only to be finally rewarded by His visitation. Remember: God didn't move, we did! "If only I knew how to find Him so that I could go to His throne" (Job 23:3, HCSB). If Job can wonder, so can we; not that He's deserted or left us alone, but that we sense His presence and feel in His will and at peace with Him. The Lord promises to be found by all sincere searchers, but His pet peeve or main complaint against man is that he doesn't seek God (cf. Rom. 3:11).

"... But from there, you will search for the LORD your God, and you will find Him when you seek Him with all your heart and all your soul." (Deut. 4:29, HCSB). Jesus reiterated that if we seek, we shall find; God is no man's debtor and will authenticate Himself. But Isaiah even recognized that God is making Himself known to triflers and the merely curious or disobedient, in that he said, "Yes, You are a God who hides Himself..." (Isa. 45:15, HCSB). Jeremiah also noticed that if we seek we will surely find God, "You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you..." (Jer. 29:13-14, HCSB).

Our God is the God who is there (Jehovah Shammah) and He is here even when we don't know it, for He's always as close as the mention of His name. Some people think they have found God, but He found them first: Pascal said, "I wouldn't have found God, had He not first found me." Jesus is the great Hound of Heaven in search of lost sheep and He will find them. This is verified in Scripture, Isaiah 65:1, HCSB, as follows: "'I was sought by those who did not ask; I was found by those who did not seek Me...." There used to be a bumper sticker that proclaimed, "I found it!" but they obviously didn't realize what Amazing Grace says, "I was lost, but now am found." (Then they changed their rallying cry to "He found me!" He found them! God wasn't lost! And God is not called it!

Francis Schaeffer wrote a book about God's presence saying "He is there, and He is not silent." He said that Christianity is about the God who is there! Many who search for Jesus have just missed the boat on fellowship and have unconfessed sin or spiritual skeletons in their closets, and forget that He's as close as confessing all known sin, (call it as it is without cover-up) for God indwells each believer and sometimes we quench the Spirit's fire and even insult the Spirit of grace, which grieves Him. Let us always live up to the calling we have received in a worthy manner (cf. Eph. 4:1).

Now God has no galactic address or physical place of residence, for His everywhere-ness is apparent in His Providence and dealings with man. For God is spirit! If we approach Him in prayer and get entree to the throne room of grace and mercy, it's like entering another dimension and the presence of God. For it has been postulated that God is invisible because He's in another dimension! But we are not capable of seeing the invisible and the spirit world.

So where is God? "'Am I a God who is only near'--this is the LORD's declaration--' and not a God who is far away? Can a man hide himself in secret places and where I cannot see him?'--the LORD's declaration.. 'Do I not fill the heavens and all the earth?' --the LORD's declaration" (Jer. 23:23-24, HCSB). Thus we are not capable of comprehending His presence: "The finite cannot penetrate (grasp, or contain) the infinite" (old axiom).

In sum, after Adam had rebelled and fell in the Garden he hid out of shame and guilt and possibly wondered where God was or even wasn't, only to find out that God didn't hide, he did--and to discover you cannot hide from God!


PART II

"God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us" (Acts 17:27, NIV).
"Truly you are a God who has been hiding himself..." (Isa. 45:15, NIV).
"Oh, that I knew where I might find him..." (Job 23:3, NIV).
"I am sought of them that asked not for me, I am found of them that sought me not..." (cf. Isaiah 65:1).

Paul reminded the Athenians that God isn't far from any one of us (cf. Acts 17:27)! The whole message of Christianity is that we can actually find God! Job thought he lost God and despaired where he was: "O, that I knew where I might find Him." God is not hiding, He just wants us to search earnestly and sincerely. God is no man's debtor and will authenticate Himself to us for seeking Him. Pascal wondered this very point: What we see is not the manifest presence nor total absence of God, but the presence of a hidden God.

God doesn't want to be so obvious that it takes no faith to see Him, but there is enough light if one chooses to see, and enough darkness to keep the stubborn and rebellious blinded. There is always enough evidence for the willing, or never enough evidence for the unwilling. No one can claim ignorance due to lack of evidence, for the heavens declare the glory of God; no one has an excuse in God's view.

The doctrine of the immensity of God and the omnipresence shows that God is wholly present everywhere! He says, "...' I live in a high and holy place, but also with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite'"(Isa. 57:15, NIV). When God seems distant or MIA it is not His fault, but ours: He didn't move; we did! Recall how God asked Adam as an analogy: "Where are you, Adam?" This is where walking with Christ matters, to keep in touch with the Almighty on an intimate basis.

It is a fact that God tests us by removing some of the sense of His presence as He did to Hezekiah to see what was really on his heart (2 Chron. 32:31). Our faith must be tested by fire! (Cf. 1 Pet. 1:7). The measure of our faith is not our ecstasies or experiences, but our obedience! Abraham by faith obeyed! Dietrich Bonhoeffer's famous dictum is pertinent: "Only he who believes is obedient; only he who is obedient believes."

Christianity, in essence, isn't just about believing in God, but God in us and about the God who is there! As Francis Schaeffer wrote: "He is there and He is not silent." That's why we must maintain our dialog and communication link open to become intimate and near to God as our Father. We are never alone if God is with us! We have not lost all if God is in us! We must examine ourselves to see if Jesus is indeed in us (cf. 2 Cor. 13:5)!

And so God is transcendent, ubiquitous, and immanent: He is both above and beyond as well as near to every one of us. It's not about a galactic address but a spiritual realm or domain we cannot see. The reason is that He is not defined, bound, or confined by space, for He cannot be limited by the time-space continuum that He created. In a sense, God is extra-dimensional! However, we can enter His presence in the privilege of prayer!     Soli Deo Gloria!

In His Time; He Is The Timekeeper! ...

"My times are in your hands," (cf. Psalm 31:15, NIV). 

Remember: God invented and created the time-space continuum  (time being the corollary of space and matter) and that we are captive and limited to; therefore God escapes the confines and limits of space, matter, and time as a consequence of being the Creator not part of creation.  Ecclesiastes says that God makes everything beautiful in His time (cf. Eccl. 3:1). That was especially true at the advent of Christ in the fulness of time when everything was prepared and ready. It can be said that God is not limited or defined by time because He created it and it can not confine Him as we are to the four dimensions.  He is above and beyond and extra-dimensional as it were however, God entered history and continues to orchestrate it as the unfolding story of man's divine redemption in real-time. 

With God, time is not of the essence; He has all the time in the world! He never wastes time but uses it according to His decrees while He perfectly orchestrates history and micromanages the world's time-keeping. With God, time is everything and His timing is perfect! Jesus was born in the nick of time when it was His time and everything was ready including the prophecies.  Likewise, we must seek God's timing and realize He never tarries and will do everything according to schedule and plan. 

There is a time for every purpose under heaven and God calls us especially to "wait on the Lord." Our life is to be of expectancy! We may be in a trial and must learn patience as God had patience with Israel in the wilderness and the exile and in the captivity.   Thank God that He can relate to our sense of time because He entered our dimension of time in the Person of Jesus and experienced our weakness. Jesus actually stepped into time, which He created!   We must certainly learn God's patience. God will also meet us when we are ready and knows the best time for us individually. When Jesus was incarnated, it was a special work of Providence when God chose purposefully to intervene in our lives and history.  We must also look to our visitation as to Jesus stepping into our lives and intervening in our personal time. 

We must have faith in God's timetable that He knows what He's doing with His time, for we are living on borrowed time!  Since God is never early or premature, but on time and never late or postponed or canceled, so should we strive to be godly. He is on time all the time with no partiality and preference to change it for someone.  Things always happen according to His Plan and He needs no Plan B for  His will is destined to happen.  

Part of being human is a sense of time and of eternity; some live in the past and some in the future and both are cheating themselves of their lives in real-time.   Soli Deo Gloria!

Four Concepts Of God

What do you think when thoughts of God enter your mind?  What image do your conjure up? 

There are four views of God from our perspective, based on whether He's engaged, judgmental, or any combination thereof.  First:  people see God as authoritative (both engaged or personal and judgmental) and as somewhat of a father figure, authority figure, or caretaker who exercises it as both personal and judgmental. Some speculate this is how we came to believe in God as a throwback to our need for a father figure.

The second way to see God is as a Life Coach or benevolent figure or Benefactor (trouble arises when people want the benefits apart from the Benefactor or in limiting God to this role). He is Almighty God and immanent in our lives as an Advocate, Counselor, Guide, Role Model, and Leader.  He is both engaged or personal but non-judgmental. This idea of God is too human and in our image. Many see this God as their friend and they as His sidekicks or insiders. 

Third: to see God as a Critic in Chief or Inspector General who is both judgmental and disengaged or impersonal; these people fear the displeasure of God and appear to be God-fearing individuals; they even may believe in karma or impersonal fate.  Who'd be attracted to a God like this? 

The fourth way to see God and many do is that He is merely a force, influence, inspiration, or power behind creation: "the force be with you." Note that we use things or forces but we know persons; these people haven't conceived of God as a loving personage.  He is seen as the cosmic force behind all lifeforms. This god is both disengaged or impersonal and distant.  How do you think people believe in "Mother Nature?"  This god may be nature itself and unknowable. You'd be surprised as to how many people believe George Lucas' version of the Force even with a dark side. 

The concept you have of God determines your destiny: you must be right about the Person of Jesus and who He is!  People who see God as the critic are more likely to be judgmental themselves. People who see God as authoritative are more likely to be control freaks and to be boss people around and to even micromanage. If you believe God cares about our predicament and is engaged and personal, then you are more likely to be charitable and to work for the betterment of mankind in relief work or good causes. 

Note that how we see God is the most important thing about us and reflects our character and personality and how we apply what we know and how wise we are; for the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge:    The real concept of God is that He is personal and involved or engaged with us personally and that He is near to us but that He is far from the wicked and stands as the Judge of all the earth, but we are delivered from the wrath to come.   All four concepts have some truth to them, but we must put them into perspective and in the right relationship. We are accountable to our God and must live according to His will to please Him.  God is both transcendent or distant and above and beyond but He is also immanent and nearby and not far from any one of us. 

So what are we to conclude? Beware lest you put God into your box and limit Him and His infinite nature that cannot be grasped by finite intellects.  Don't let your idea of God be too small!   The problem comes when we limit God to our specs and see Him in only one dimension.  In a sense, He is all of the four concepts but in perspective to His holiness; God is whatever we need Him to be for us:  I AM THAT I AM or I AM WHO I AM or I AM THAT I AM.  Actually, it's simply:   I AM ... ad infinitum with no predicate:  He fills in the necessary completion: God's name is fearful (cf Judges 13:18)!  

God meets our needs wherever we are and fulfills the by the provision; Jehovah-Jireh, or, the LORD is our Provider.  We must not look to a Man Upstairs, Cosmic Killjoy, Benefactor, Pure Mathematical Mind, Fearful Celestial Policeman, Ultimate Spark of Life, Wizard of Oz, Superman, Mean Judge, Kind Father Time, Sentimental Grandfather, Jolly Old Santa Clause, Great Spirit in the Sky, or Magician to bring wonders. We must remain in awe of God and this means true fear of God that we never lose the initial wonder and reverence for God.

Note that only in the Christian faith is God a personal one we can know, love, and have faith in.  Other faiths like Islam denies we can know God because He is too Supreme and definitely doesn't love us.  This is one of the most profound truths of the faith:  Jesus loves us and delivered His life up on our behalf.  The whole point of Christianity is that Christ is God and all we need to know of Him is revealed in His person wth begins with a leap of faith to begin a living relationship with the living God.   Soli Deo Gloria! 

Is Faith A Gift?...

 Is faith a gift or a work? "Who makes you to differ? What do you have that you didn't receive?" (1 Cor. 4:7). Are we not clay in the hands of the potter? "For it has been granted unto you...to believe..." (Phil. 1:29).  Jesus is the "author and finisher of our faith;" hence He originated it. Let us live according to "the faith God has distributed to each [of us]..." (Rom. 12:3).

Some believe it is a meritorious work because they believe in merit plus grace and not sola gratia or grace alone as the reformers championed. "This is the work of God [not our work] that you believe in Him whom He has sent" (John 6:29). "For by grace are you saved through faith, and that, not of yourselves, it is the gift of God [antecedent is faith as the gift], lest anyone should boast" (Eph. 2:8-9). If faith were a work then we would be saved by works.

Faith is not our salvation and faith is not reckoned as righteousness but unto righteousness (cf. Rom. 4:3 translation of dia meaning unto). Faith is the instrumental cause of salvation (cf. Acts 18:27; 16:14), and we don't put faith in faith but in God. Faith doesn't' save, Christ does! God opened the door of faith to the Gentiles in Acts 14:27, and He opened Lydia's heart to believe in Acts 16:14. It might be interpreted as God quickening faith within us (cf. Acts 18:27). The Spirit kindles faith in a dead person.

Why is this important? 1 John 5:1 says "Everyone who believes that Christ is the Christ has been born of God [ESV]." That means that regeneration precedes faith--we don't conjure up faith and then get saved. If we could believe without regeneration, we don't need it to be saved and we would get some merit in our salvation. God gives us faith and expects us to use it. It is our faith but it is the gift of God. "Who believed through grace" means that we're enabled by God to believe as 2 Pet. 1:1 says we have "received a precious faith like theirs." "... [B]ecause God has from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth" (2 Thess. 2:13, KJV). [NB: sanctification precedes belief.]

Thus we are given faith. This doctrine is important so that we don't have a merit-based rather than grace-based salvation. God wants all the glory (Soli Deo Gloria). To sum up, "Faith comes by hearing and by hearing of the Word of God" (Rom. 10:17).

This is an issue that separates theologians and some call it a doctrine that divides. If you believe faith is a work, then you are saved by works. If you believe faith is a gift, then you are saved by the grace of God. Titus 3:5,7 says we are "saved by grace." Faith is not something we conjure up, but it is bestowed on us through the preaching of the Word. "Faith comes by hearing and by hearing of the Word of God" (Rom. 10:17). Regeneration actually precedes faith according to John Piper and John Orr. If we could believe without regeneration, what good is it? The Spirit is like the wind that blows where it wills. "For by grace are you saved by faith, and that (the complete deal) not of yourselves, it is the gift of God..." (Eph. 2:8-9).

We don't psych ourselves up for faith, and we don't catch it like an illness from others, we don't conjure it up--it comes directly from the Holy Spirit who quickens faith within us. He overcomes our hardened hearts and reluctance to believe. God has the ability to cause us to do something willingly in His omnipotence. Some, on the other hand, have made faith into a meritorious work, and deny that there is any such "gift." What else could it be, a work? Are we saved by grace or works, then?

Some pertinent verses are as follows for meditation:

"For you have believed through grace..." (Acts 18:27). "...To those who have obtained like precious faith..." (2 Pet. 1:1). "For it has been granted unto you ... to believe in Him..." (Phil. 1:29). "Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ HAS BEEN born of God..." (1 John 5:1 ESV). Nota bene that this is the past tense indicating that regeneration precedes faith. "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him..." (John 6:29). "God ... opened the door of faith to the Gentiles..." (Acts 14:27). "God opened Lydia's heart to pay attention to Paul..." (Acts 16:14). "What do you have that you didn't receive?" (1 Cor. 4:7).

Faith is our act (God doesn't have faith), but it is God's work. Soli Deo Gloria. God gets all the glory, and we have nothing to boast of. It isn't our virtue nor our wisdom, but God's. God is no man's debtor and isn't obligated to save anyone. It is grace that He saves anyone. God works all things "according to the pleasure of His will." "We are the clay, He is the potter" (See Isaiah 64:8).

Is There A Social Gospel Or Is This A Misnomer?

"When Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature, do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law" (cf. Rom. 2:15, ESV).

PART I

We have been given the Great Commission and the Great Commandment, but is there a Great Cultural Mandate? Some refer to a social gospel, but this is a misnomer. Our ultimate allegiance is to Jesus, naturally, not to the government, and Jesus did say that His kingdom is not of this world--that He was no threat to Caesar. What kind of social calling do we conclude from Scripture? Some Christians believe this society isn't worth saving, some believe politics can't change the human condition, some believe the Bible is not relevant to civil government, and some do believe we should secure and take back society for Christ or reclaim America for Christ! Is it our calling to save America?


You can get too involved in the politics of this world that you are getting nowhere spiritually and getting your eyes off Jesus, but there are evils in society that must be rooted out and the government is instituted to overcome evil, restrain it, and contain it. You look at some of the greatest social movements in history, such as ending the gladiator fights, ending slavery, ending child labor, and giving women their rights, which are the result of Christian influence--so there is a place for Christians to get involved with a divine calling.


We also need Christian influence in the government, i.e., as elected officials and public servants influencing for the good as salt and light. Christ's kingdom is one of the hearts of men and is not visible, it will be set up visibly at His second advent and we will rule with Him in glory. But some Christians believe we should try to take over and impose our way of life on the infidel: making him behave or live in a Christian manner and standard. Christian law has been tried and failed several times in history: Calvin's Geneva; Bradford's Plymouth; Winthrop's Massachusetts' Bay Colony; Cromwell's England, among others. We frown upon Muslims saying that tomorrow belongs to Islam and when they set up Shariah law, that they aren't recognizing the rights of minorities, i.e., Christians. How can we expect non-Christians to live like Christians? This is really Christian Shariah law (like blue laws, gambling restrictions, prohibition, anti-abortion laws, etc.).


The purpose of government is not to outlaw sin but basically to protect freedoms, protect property, punish crime, securing justice. We are to "render to Caesar that which is Caesar's" (cf. Matt. 22:21) for sure, and we are never told to eschew society, start a revolution, or join hands with the powers that be as partners in crime either. We don't have carte blanche to wreak havoc on the social order. If we lived in a communist nation, we are not get involved in a subversive underground of resistance but be model citizens and fulfill our mission of being salt and light.


However, there does come a time when the government tells us to do something immoral or forbids the free exercise of our faith, then it's imperative to disobey in an act of defiance and civil disobedience. Here's the rub: "We must obey God rather than men" (cf. Acts 5:29; 4:19). This is amply demonstrated by Daniel refusing to pray to the statue and being thrown into the lion's den; he neither flaunted nor privatized his faith as a prime minister who was salt and light.


The Bible makes it clear that our primary mission is to change hearts through the gospel message, and hopefully, society will be revolutionized as a direct result. Paul didn't make it his mission to overthrow slavery, but with the spread of Christianity, its demise was certain as believers rejected it and had more influence--not forced change. We are not called to set up a theocratic government or experiment with a nation ruled by religious leaders. It was Christian influence that said we have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness--rights are conferred from God and recognized by the state.


However, the conclusion of the matter is that we represent Christ to the world as His hands, feet, heart, and voice and we have the power to make a difference by being that salt and light, which preserves and shows the way in the darkness. The church shouldn't get overly obsessed with turning stones into bread or mission work unless the gospel is propagated with it, we are not to become mere do-gooders and must remember and not lose focus of the fact that we are "aliens and foreigners" and our real "citizenship is in heaven" (cf. Phil. 3:20). Christians do have a duty and responsibility to the state, though, as Edmund Burke phrased it: "All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing."
Soli Deo Gloria!




SOCIAL GOSPEL PART II
"They asked only that we remember the poor, which I made every effort to do" (Gal. 2:10, HCSB).
"... 'He defended the cause of the poor and the needy, and so all went well. Is that not what it means to know me?' declares the LORD" (Jer. 22:16, NIV).
"The righteous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked have no such concern" (Prov. 29:7, NIV).

Jesus brought the good news to the poor, but He met them where they were at in their need. For instance, he never sent a crowd of listeners away hungry. But the primary purpose was to focus on the gospel message and make it relevant. There is no social gospel, which is a misnomer; however, we have another commission--the Social Commission, which hasn't been rescinded, to practice what we preach and to care for each other in the family and our community as good neighbors so our testimony will not be jeopardized as a church body. Jesus said we would be known by our fruits and we must all practice practical, sacrificial love to our neighbors, especially to the family of faith.

But we want to keep the main thing the main thing (the Great Commission), but also realize our call to turn stones into bread. And we must not end there; being known primarily as do-gooders; even Jesus didn't want to be known as a miracle worker and didn't do any for show, but only out of compassion and to illustrate a point in His teaching, especially His Deity. The church must not despise the poor or down and out, but show mercy (this is a spiritual gift) and reach out to the people who are down on their luck. Some people feel used and manipulated and are taken advantage of even by the church. We must not stereotype them as lazy or having made bad choices, but be gracious with the attitude: "There but for the grace of God, go I"--the words of George Whitefield. It could happen to you! Anyone could need someone to help them get back on their feet someday.

Sympathy would help the church to put themselves in the shoes of the destitute, the homeless, and the needy or ill. Why do you think we have high crime rates, but due to social injustice? Part of the problem is systemic; namely, our education and economic safety net. This means some have the cards stacked against them from the get-go. Poverty can happen to anyone because God says He's the One who makes one rich and another poor. You even hear of lottery winners declaring bankruptcy. Sometimes all it takes to begin the cycle of poverty is an unexpected car repair, an extended sickness, drug abuse (illicit or prescription), alcoholism, mental illness (treated or not), hospitalization, divorce (one's fault or not), or long periods of unemployment (voluntary or not).

Many people in our country live paycheck to paycheck believe it or not. Loss of a vehicle can limit one's opportunities, but Christians don't believe in the equal outcome, redistribution of wealth, or complete equity of income, but in fairness which demands equal opportunity and social justice for all under the law. God hates the exploitation of workers (cf. Mal. 3:5) and of the rich taking advantage of the poor in their vulnerabilities.

Social nets and programs don't always fill in the gap or meet all the needs--there are manifold ways and reasons for poverty. Many people rely on family, but what if you've had to burn bridges? Certain personal problems such as depression and PTSD are becoming more prevalent and these people are becoming stigmatized, which is detrimental and counterproductive to society's "general welfare." Depression itself is a highly debilitating illness and many don't understand what it can do to a person and these people often commit suicide before getting help and don't know how to seek help or send out warning signs and their cry for help is ignored or unnoticed.

People can be victims of circumstances like a flood, tornado, fire, etc., and have no control over them--this can happen to anyone and they will find their need for the Red Cross or Salvation Army. People may ask, "Where's God?" But the real question should be, "Where's the church?" It has been said that many philanthropists do the work of God because they don't feel God is doing it--touche!

People need to believe they have hope and can overcome their situation (when a man has nothing to lose he is capable of nearly anything) and find their way out of the cycle of poverty (the Bible doesn't teach that poverty is necessarily due to laziness or is one's own fault); often success stories and motivation speakers can inspire and give hope, but the gospel is the good news they need to hear and take to the bank. One can never understand the value of education for getting ahead in our technical age and some have been left behind and are still living in the last century!

People can get victory over their problems with Christ as their champion, hero, Lord, and Savior, but they must want to be healed and helped, putting God first in their lives at the helm ("Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you" --Matt. 6:33). Christians must remember the words of Mother Teresa, canonized by Rome and 1979 recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, saying: Christ has no feet to go for Him but ours; no hands to lend a helping hand but ours; no eyes to see problems but ours; no ears to listen to others but ours; no voice to speak for Him but ours; no mind to solve the problems with but ours! We have an eternal debt to provide for the needy and to work for the betterment of society (cf. Jer. 29:7)

They must never give up because there's always hope and no one is beyond the grace of God. I am a great believer that government is neither the source nor the solution of all our problems and don't believe we need a government program for everything--government is not the means of salvation nor of achieving utopia. We are not here to usher in the kingdom of God nor advance His kingdom by our efforts--it's not of this world! They say an Englishman is a self-made man who worships his creator! I do not believe in self-help (we all owe a debt to our community) or in becoming a self-made man (there is none!), but in learning to walk by faith and to give God the glory following His will--that's why we're here (cf. Isa. 43:7). The worldly-savvy will tell you that "God helps those who help themselves"; however, God "gives more grace" to the humble (cf. James 4:6).

Most people just need a second chance and are willing to go the extra mile if required--they aren't afraid of work, they just haven't found something they're suited for or what they can enjoy or is gainful employment--everyone has a gift and we shouldn't sell anyone short and just think they are fit only for being slaves or common laborers like Aristotle thought of the mass of men--it's a sin to underestimate or shame men and refuse to give them their warranted dignity and self-worth, just as much to honor a fool or promote a scoundrel.

Christians don't believe in castes, karma, classes, discrimination, or prejudice of any kind (cf. Gal. 3:28), but that every believer is a child of God and capable of doing God's will to glorify Him. We believe in the dignity of man and the sanctity of life and that man is in God's image, not an animal to be treated without rights conferred by God. Christians don't believe in rugged individualism nor in communism but in being a member of a family, a community, and a body of Christ. Each of these three institutions ordained by God (family, government, church) has its own sphere of sovereignty and responsibility over us.

When a person gets saved and finds the Lord their whole life can be turned around and he can start over with the God of a second chance and fulfill God's best for his life. It's never too late to get on board with God and to be commissioned by Him in His work and will. No one is beyond hope in God's eyes! There's a reason why the Beatitude pronounces blessings on the poor in spirit. They have the right mindset! Getting saved implies more than pie in the sky and spiritual hope, but also the redemption of one's life for God's will! It's never too late to get with the program and look redeemed as a witness to the world and contribute something to it!

CAVEAT: We must be careful not to endorse "prosperity theology" or that God promises financial gain for our spirituality, supposing godliness is a means to financial gain (cf. 1 Tim. 6:6). God does promise to reward us by making us prosperous in doing His will (cf. Heb. 13:21) and this is different to different people (cf. Josh. 1:8; Psalm 1:2; Jer. 17: 8). We have no guarantee of achieving the so-called American Dream, for example, but we will be blessed in doing God's will and He will supply all we need to do it out of His provision (cf. Phil. 4:19). It is God who gives us the power to get rich, but the evil can also prosper--it's no sign of God's blessing or countenance of our lives. He teaches us the way we should go! (cf. Deut. 8:17-18; Isa. 48:17).

Soli Deo Gloria!

Until Shiloh Comes

Too many sincere evangelicals and even mainline denominations get the whole mission of Christ wrong.  There is no "social gospel," though there is a "social commission" to fight for social justice and defend and remember the poor and needy, reaching out to all in desperate straits.  But we are not to usher in God's kingdom on earth for His kingdom is spiritual in our hearts, as Andrew Murray eloquently wrote in his book, The Kingdom of God is within You. He already rules the hearts of His children and is called the Emperor of Love because He has conquered more with love than Muhammad by the sword.  

We are entreated to pray that God's kingdom to come in the Lord's prayer, and what is meant is that it begins with us and us doing our part in the Great Commission.  The kingdom is a reality to those who inherit it, and the only way is to come as a child and in faith, not head first that is! We must all take that initial leap of faith, not into the unknown or the darkness, but as a step into the light.  We realize that the kingdom of God is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit and is not in word but in power and wherever Christ rules hearts, there it is.  We are enjoined to preach the gospel of the kingdom till He comes to assume it. Entering the kingdom doesn't refer to heaven, but to the abundant life in Christ that is available to every believer if they seize and claim it by faith. It must be received in the heart and one must make room in his heart for the Lord who knocks at its door. 

When the fulness of time had come, (cf. Gal. 4:4), the first advent of Jesus was completed.  The "Desire of all Nations," (cf. Haggai 2:7), surprised the Jews who had anticipated the Messiah for centuries but the wrong vision of Him.  They fully expected deliverance from Rome and return to national glory as was in the days of King Solomon. Little did they know that Jesus had come but that He must be a Savior first and King second.  His mission in coming was to die!  

He was the One to whom the kingdom belonged and was the rightful heir, and was even proclaimed the King of the Jews, the Son of David that is.  Jesus had said that His kingdom was not of this world and that it was not "of this world." We have business trying to usher in the kingdom of God by political maneuver or fiat and to advance the kingdom of Christ ourselves as Bradford of the Mayflower fame, and Winthrop of  Massachusettes Bay Colony fame had attempted. 

Many sincere but misguided believers have attempted to establish a Christian nation; e.g., John Calvin and Oliver Cromwell--both utter failures and counterproductive to the work of God and the Great Commission which is supposed to be Job One and when we keep the main thing the main thing, this is our priority and focus. We are to save souls not nations.  We are mere lights to show God's truths and salt to preserve the institutions of the government established by God. Thus we are called to wreak havoc on the social order nor to be revolutionaries even if we live in a communist country  

It is now a reality that the kingdom of God is within us!  John the Baptist and Jesus had both announced that the kingdom of God was at hand!   Believe me, Hab. 2:3 says "the vision is for an appointed time .. and ... it shall surely come, it shall not tarry."  We see God's kingdom already established worldwide in the hearts of the Church at large throughout the world. Jesus has been given all authority and has doesn't just reign but he truly rules as the King of kings and Lord of lords.  

If His kingdom were of this world, Jesus said we'd fight for it, but it isn't!  We are, first of all,  citizens of heaven before any earthly loyalties.  The church started out as a Jewish sect in Jerusalem to become the official religion of the Roman Empire by AD 325 under Emperor Constantine, who converted. Now His church is a worldwide phenomenon and power to be reckoned with in religious and cultural influence.  It's the largest religion by affiliation in the world with over 1.6 billion adherents who claim the moniker, Christian.  He rules in our hearts only when we surrender the throne of our hearts to Him and give Him our sole allegiance and ownership of our lives putting Him at the helm.  

Israel was expecting the Messiah and missed Him for the most part except for God's remnant because of ignorance, and let's hope that Christ's church is expecting and ready to meet the Lord when He comes again to reign in His Millennial Kingdom.  But what ought we do till He comes? We are to be engaged in our doing business as would be usual, worship the best we can, watch for signs of the times,  pursue righteousness as a witness, and occupy till He claims His throne.    Soli Deo Gloria! 

Where Is God?

 What I wonder about is the “special” presence or blessing of God and Jesus at the time such as “when two or three are gathered in [His] Name” (cf Matt. 18:20) in prayer, or when He manifests Himself. We are not to believe it when people claim: “Christ is here.” But we have no excuse for not having the presence of God within us.

New Age spiritualists, who even take over some churches, seek the “God within.” Does any “church” or people have a monopoly on the presence of God then? Don’t believe it if people claim this: “Christ is here or Christ is there.” However, since the ascension and the coming of Pentecost, we are better off with the Holy Spirit’s residence than they were with Jesus’ presence.—another mystery.

Do we need to seek the presence or “face” of God or is it automatic because we can be filled with the Spirit, and we just don’t’ recognize it like Abraham in Gen. 28:16, “Surely the LORD is in this place: and I knew it not.” So, God is everywhere and we just don't know it or comprehend it—it’s our fault for not knowing it. We cannot limit God at all or put Him into a bo and restrain His presence. God is big!

To Christians, God has made His home within our hearts and dwells within (cf 1 Cor. 3:16). Thus, it’s not a matter of God being here or how much He is, but how surrendered we are and how much of us the Spirit has—not how much of the Spirit we have. We don’t need more of God, but to give Him more of us.

Some even go so far as to say that the Lord is present in a special way at the Lord’s Supper. But God is truly “far” from the wicked, a form of judgment. And if God is in hell, and being omnipresent implies that, is this also means that He is not there is His goodness and mercy, but only in His judgment.—God is able to manifest aspects of Himself or of His divinity at will. “Showing His goodness or His glory.” God made this point clear to Israel because they intended to believe Gods were territorial and Yahweh was only Israel's deity and not around the world.

But some theologians say that God is ‘fully present” everywhere (immensity of God). Yet He judges by withdrawing presence-a paradox. He fills the heavens and the earth (cf. Jer. 23:23–24) and we just cannot see it, like the fact that he “inhabits eternity” and also the “praises of His people.” (cf. Isa. 57:15 Ps. 22:3)

Believing In "Another" Jesus

 "And this is eternal life, that they may know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent," (cf. John 17:4). 

"... For if you believe not that I am he, you shall die in your sins," (cf. John 8:24). 

"... For unless you believe I AM who I claim to be, you will die in your sins," (John 8:24, NLT). 

"Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God," (cf. 2 John 9). 

"Who do you say that I Am?"  This is the whole point of Jesus and our faith, the one litmus test in our creed, to know Jesus, and what distinguishes us from false religions, sects, cults, and heresies.  Remember: It's not how big your faith (but how big your God) nor how sincere or fanatical you are, but the object of your faith that saves; faith doesn't save, Jesus does--and it needs to be the real Jesus, the only begotten Son of God (coequal, coexistent, and coeternal to the Father).  

When Jesus claimed to be God without even beating around the bush or using figurative language, only the Pharisees knew His claim and they plotted to kill Him for His "blasphemy."  The disciple were clueless till the resurrection. The point is that you must believe in the real Jesus, who He claimed to be, and not just who you think He is or want Him to be. He was not God's surrogate or a deified man that was misunderstood by His disciples.  They were not expecting the one they saw, for He was not the Messiah of conventional wisdom and that they were taught (a mighty conquer who would liberate Israel from Rome).  

Jesus was who He claimed to be or He is a demon, liar, or even lunatic (and there is no evidence to lend credence to any of these false beliefs) because He clearly claimed deity. It was only because of preconceived notions and ignorance of prophecy that they couldn't see the truth. Jesus did fulfill over 333 prophecies to the letter. The Jews you will know were monotheistic and couldn't conceive of a triune Godhead.  Jesus was truly man as well as truly God and they only saw His humanity and that He was a man but didn't see that He is One with the Father. He demonstrated and proved His divine claim by the ultimate and final evidence of the resurrection, which Luke said had "many infallible proofs." 

They may have seen Him as a Son of God, even calling Him "Lord" and worshiping Him, but not God made man--God with skin on or personified in the flesh. But it is only because He is God that He's fully adequate and qualified to be our Savior! He can suffer the infinite penalty and price for sin on our behalf. This is theologically called the atonement and Jesus death is substitutionary. He took on our sins so we would need not punishment. The principle of representation goes back to Adam who took our place as the head of the human race and sinned thus making us all sinners because of his one sin. 

If a so-called Christian who claims to believe in Jesus receives Him without His claims to deity, they are denying Him and do not know the real Jesus but "another Jesus" (cf. 2 Cor. 11:4).  The book of 2 John v. 9 says that if we do not abide in the doctrine of Christ we do not have the Father, meaning this is the litmus test for Christians--they know Jesus for who He is, not some deified man, demigod, or humanized God or man with superhuman powers. 

But we must recognize that Jesus had to be God because it fulfilled the prophecies. The Jews were blinded to the truth and needed to be enlightened. Since He is the Almighty and our Creator, we must worship Him and surrender to Him our lives.  In application, the Jehovah's Witnesses and the LDS do not have the right to go by the moniker Christian for they deny Jesus full Deity inclusion in the Godhead as coequal and coeternal to the Father.  These belief systems are not bona fide denominations but sects.  The only reason they really are not cults is that they don't steal your money and have slaves and people who don't know how to escape like the Church of Scientology.  But LDS are erroneous in claiming secret knowledge and this was the error of the Gnostics who believed in salvation via secret knowledge or enlightenment.  

Sooner or later all of us must come to the decision of whether we will accept the Jesus He claimed to be: Lord of all!  But we cannot come to Jesus on our own initiative; the Father must woo or draw us to Him--the call must be granted by the Father.  "As many as were appointed to eternal life believed," (cf. Acts 13;48).   Paul said in Rom. 11:7 that the elect obtained unto it and the rest were blinded or hardened--God must open the eyes of our hearts and kindle faith.  It literally takes a miracle to change someone's heart and open it to receive the Lord.  The general call of the gospel goes out to all (cf. Titus 2:11) but whomever God calls always gets saved (cf. Rom. 8:29-30). "You did not choose Me, but I chose you," (cf John 15:16).  That's why it's said, "Many are called but few are chosen," (cf. Matt. 22:14).     Soli Deo Gloria! 

Know Your Place!

The Greeks of antiquity admonished us to "know thyself," while Sun Tzu wrote in The Art of War, to know your enemy.  In the church, it's vital to know our spiritual gifts and we can only find them out by venturing out of our comfort zone and becoming a servant of the church body because the purpose of the gift is to sanctify and bless the body of Christ--we're saved to become blessings,  This even means doing things that we may even think are not our gift!  We may have to put up with subordination and following and submitting to authority, but this is not a form of inferiority but obedience which even Christ did to the Father and humbled Himself to become our servant. Note that Christ did the servile act of foot-washing to teach that we should deem no service for the Lord's sake as "beneath" us or not what we are gifted to do or not even spiritual enough to do as that it is something the deacons or elders should do.  

The Bible tells us to know God and the Lord, and even the Bible and by corollary, know sound teaching. This all shows that our faith is more about knowing than about doing. In other words, religion always says "Do!" while Christ says "Know!"He said, "This is eternal life, to know [God] and Jesus Christ whom [He] has sent."  In other words, we don't need another "to-do" list!  We also may know that we are saved and even the will of God!  But I want to write about knowing where we belong and our place, for it's offensive to be out of place or to usurp authority or assume power where one doesn't deserve it. There's nothing more annoying for a parent for a child to not know his place or to speak inappropriately when he should know better. I'm assuming that we know what we are doing, are spiritually inclined, have a measure of maturity, and can apply what we know to what we do, which is common wisdom; putting knowledge into action. 

In other words, we know and learn (and we are all on a learning curve) by doing and practicing what we know: translating our creeds into deeds (being a people of God zealous of good works).  But to do the right thing and this is an example of leadership, we must know sound doctrine and get our thinking straightened out, including having a Christian worldview unaffected by the Secular Humanism so prevalent and rampant in academia. Even believers can become brainwashed by the human viewpoint.  Knowing is the first step to feeling good about yourself: know right, think right, act right, and then feel right. As we know, the divine order is:  fact, faith, feeling! We must not get the cart before the horse or depend on our feelings for direction in life.   

We have an objective, absolute, and trustworthy source to rely on (the Bible as our plumb line) and put faith in as truth and knowing that God is the final Arbiter of Truth.  Remember, the better we know our gift and place in the church, the more opportunity we will have for good works and to be oriented to the vision and mission of the church and to navigate ourselves within the body and interact with others. Learn not to stand on the sidelines but stand up for what you believe and dare to be like Daniel who defied the king when he prayed. 

In conclusion, let me add that servants don't ever start out at the top but work their way up!  The best leaders have first been followers first and know the ropes of dedication and faithfulness.  Remember the words of Mother Teresa: "God doesn't call us to success, but to faithfulness." Leave the success to God!  But God but that doesn't mean we don't expect great things from God attempt great things from God?  This means our ministry our outreach isn't measured by the human standards of a numbers game.   Soli Deo Gloria!