Secure In Who You Are

We all know who we are supposed to be in Christ as a body:  We are a holy nation, a peculiar people, a royal priesthood, a chosen race, and a people for His own possession (cf. 1 Pet. 2:9).  However, we are individual members one of another with our own peculiar gift and identity in the Lord.  It is vital to find out who we are in the Lord ourselves and where we fit in, and not try to be all things to all people.  We go astray when we compare ourselves with others or commend ourselves with one another (2 Cor. 10:12).   Like one saying: "Compared to him I'm a saint!" or "I just can't compete with Mother Teresa!" The compare game is a no-win proposition.

We all like to size people up and put them in a box and see what they are capable of.  Caveat:  Don't belittle someone's gift (remember that to whom much is given much is required and your race is different from theirs) and worst of all, don't exalt someone and be fooled by charisma (Greek for gift), for many cult leaders have displayed great personalities and are therefore able to lead many astray. These are wolves in sheep's clothing and charlatans to boot.

We celebrate diversity in the body, as the eye needing the ear, we all have different functions in the body and are all necessary to get the body going on track.  You cannot expect someone to have the same passion for music as one gifted in this area and feels called to have a music ministry. Likewise, some people feel the passion of God when writing and this cannot be expected as normative.  Eric Liddell, in the movie Chariots of  Fire, said that he felt God's pleasure when running and realized this is what he was meant to do.  We need to find our own passions and develop them and not try to keep up with the Jones, spiritually speaking.  I used to go to a church that had a member who always said "amen" to everything the pastor said, and we called him Amen Eddy--but he was just being himself and we loved him for it, we didn't feel compelled to copy his behavior. To be sure, we are all unique and God threw away the mold when He made us!

There is such a thing known as gift envy when we wish we had someone else's gift or position in the church.  We are prone to worry that we fall short when we get our eyes off Jesus and unto others--Peter sank in the water when he took his eyes off Jesus!  There is no gift more important than another per se, but rather the spirit that the person exercises it in, and the faithfulness he demonstrates that brings reward from the Lord at the Bema  (Judgment Seat of Christ).  We want to hear Jesus say, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant."

There is no "one-size-fits-all" way to worship God, as some are more demonstrative and some stoical and feel inclined to be reverent and respectful of the presence of others, not presuming to be the spiritual leader.  Some people naturally follow and some lead but we are all one in Christ--neither is more "spiritual."  It is not a matter of "inhibition" whether one feels free to express his praise, but sometimes just a matter of church background--for instance, Pentecostals are known for being unruly and free-spirited.  Those of this persuasion think that is the only "spiritual" way to be in church.  I disagree with Pentecostal-type worship on doctrinal grounds, having been there and done that, I know where they are coming from.  The intellectual loves God more with his mind and the sentimental person may wear his feelings on his sleeve.  It is too easy to rely on feelings, and let others run the show in chaos or in an unruly manner.  It is faith, not feelings that pleases God.

I, personally, am suspicious of charismatic excess, and anything that is not decent and in order as being a sign of disrespect to others.  There are plenty of churches where this is welcome.  We go to church to worship God, be edified, and get a spiritual checkup--but they are going nowhere edification-wise in the Spirit.  We should worship God in any way that seems fit or suitable--that's why there are so many denominations.  We all have our own ideas as to what is right and what is suspicious, foreign, or "strange fire" before the Lord.

The other error is gift projection, where we think everyone should be like us and imitate our gift or way of worship.  We cannot expect others to have our gift or to measure up to our standards, but we must see that we all are part of the picture and fit into God's plan in a unique way. We are not to hold someone in special esteem as our exemplar, except Christ, who alone is worthy--we are to look to Him and keep our eyes focused on the Author and Finisher of our faith.  When we expect others to be like us or like a person we respect we are presuming to be the spiritual leaders and have spiritual ambitions that as an ulterior motive.  

Besides bringing honor to the Lord, we want to get some attention for ourselves. We shouldn't expect others to meet our standards and expectations, nor should we point others out as the one to follow and bring him into the limelight, especially if he desires to keep a low profile; but let the Holy Spirit lead through multiple people.  The Holy Spirit, Himself, is not interested in attracting attention, but only in magnifying and glorifying the Lord.

Don't get into a worship rut and be confined to one way to worship.  Don't think that your church is right and everyone else just doesn't get it. Some people are caregivers and love God through meeting the needs of others.  Some are born singers and just love to sing unto the Lord all day long--it thrives in their souls.  Some people are social activists and like to get involved in political or social causes and see this as serving and loving God.  Catholics and Lutherans are highly traditional and show their love for God through a devotion to ritual.  The point is that you must learn to be yourself and not imitate others or envy what God does through them.  God is looking for real people, not ideal people and especially not people thinking they are ideal people--no perfect people need apply!

We don't want to "betray" someone as the de facto spiritual leader ("You're the man!"), and put them under pressure.  The devil sure would like to see who we see as a leader and tempt him or use him. It can go to one's head!   It is vital that we notice when someone is exalting themselves or presuming upon themselves a position of authority or leadership--the way up is down and we must heed John the Baptist's words:  "He must increase, I must decrease" in John 3:30.  The way up is down in God's economy.  

Before honor comes humility and also we should know that the wolf in sheep's clothing always tries to get in some other way than a legitimate way, and likes the back door or a side door that is not the conventional way--he recognizes no chain of command or authorized leadership but his own, and doesn't understand authority.  Soli Deo Gloria!

"Acquaint Now Thyself With Him"

Why know God?  To know Him is to love Him.  When studying Him we are drawn to emulate Him and reflect His nature in our lives as a testimony that we know Him.  Plato said, "If I want to know how to live in reality, I must know what God is really like."  A. W. Tozer said, "What we believe about God is the most important thing about us."

"And this is eternal life, that they may know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent"  (John 17:3, ESV).

"But the people who know their God, shall be strong and do exploits"  (Daniel 11:32, KJV).

"For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings"  (Hosea 6:6, ESV).

"... There is no faithfulness or steadfast love, and no knowledge of God in the land"  (Hosea 4:1, ESV).

Title ("... and be at peace") taken from Job 22:21.  We need to turn our knowledge about God into an active, working knowledge of Him.  How do we accomplish this as we study God and are led to God? God blows us away and boggles our minds as our wits our expanded to new dimensions of thought. God truly is the greatest thought we can have and we are meant to study and worship Him.  God-study is an exercise in mental gymnastics. We apply our knowledge by doing good deeds ("... doing good works and increasing in the knowledge of God," says Col. 1:10);  praying and meditating, which is just focused thought or thought with a purpose instead of random and aimless daydreaming or drifting. We best make use of our knowledge by the unnatural act of worship and this can only be done in the Spirit to please God ("God is Spirit, and seeks those who worship Him in Spirit and in truth," according to John 4:24).  Our ultimate goal should be to see that God is indeed worthy of our trust, obedience, and worship.   Don't be content just to be theologically correct or orthodox, but practice orthopraxy or right behavior and know God and demonstrate it in your life---what is the gospel according to you?

Without God in the picture of life, life makes no sense and "if we are considered without reference to God we become a useless passion," according to Jean-Paul Sartre.  Without God in the equation, or having a secular worldview or belief system, everything becomes relevant and there is no absolute truth--what standard can you rely on or refer to?  Many people are practical atheists, that is, they claim adherence to a faith, but they live contrary to it or ignore God in their life.  Psalm 10:4 says they have no place for God in their thoughts.   We cannot know how to live without absolutes of right and wrong and we need God to show us the way:  "If we knew what God is like, we would know how to live," said Plato.

God is a personal God and is obviously a person, not a blind, aimless, or purposeless force or influence.  He is no impersonal force and doesn't have a "dark side" as in Star Wars.  Satan is not the counterpart of God, but only a fallen angel who at one time was (per Ezek. 28) "full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty."  We have to first acknowledge how little we know of God and that we need His guidance and illumination to know Him.  But it is not that we know Him, that saves us, but that He knows us (cf. Gal. 4:9).  There is a consequence of not knowing Him (to believe in Jesus is to know Him at sufficient level): "In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God..."  (2 Thess. 1:8).  Romans 1 reveals what man is like when he leaves God out of the reckoning.

And so, what is God like?  He is multifaceted like a diamond!  Can we describe Him? Thales the ancient Greek philosopher couldn't come up with a definition, but the Greeks eventually concluded that God must be immaterial, immutable, and eternal and as such is the only necessary being or thing in existence. Being eternal means He has no cause and is, therefore, the first or primary cause and unmoved mover of the cosmos.  We describe God in terms of His eminence, affirmation, and negation.  His holiness or purity regulates all the other attributes and His moral purity is unequaled. There are communicable and incommunicable attributes--for instance, only God is omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent.  God is perfect:  "He cannot change for the better, for he is already perfect; and being perfect, he cannot change for the worse"  (A. W. Pink)  God so perfect he needs no repentance--i.e., His nature never changes, though He does relent per a change in circumstance (e.g., Jonah's prediction of the destruction of Nineveh).

Luther told Erasmus that his thoughts of God were too human:  He put Him in a box.  We put God in a box when we describe him as the man upstairs, father time, cosmic killjoy, mean judge, doting or permissive grandfather, or spirit in the sky, without reference to His other attributes.  ("O, I like to think of God just as my Father.")  God is infinite and cannot be defined adequately to our satisfaction. We will be studying Him forever.  His glory, majesty, sovereignty, and Trinity are incomprehensible to us and God has to speak to us in baby talk or lisping to relate to us. J. B. Phillips wrote a book Your God Is Too Small; consequently, our comprehension of God affects our actions.  God is the incomprehensible one and His nature has profundity--we can never analyze Him, peg Him, nor figure Him out--"Canst thou by searching find out God?" says Job 11:7.  All we need to know about God's nature is given in the person of Christ, who is the incarnation of God and the perfect God-man, or perfect God, perfect man, very God of very God, and very man of very man--fully God, fully man.

God wants to authenticate Himself to you and is no man's debtor; any honest seeker will find Him. The proof of the pudding is in the eating. "Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good!"  (Psalm 34:8a, ESV).  The person who knows God has experienced Him personally and the Spirit bears witness with His Spirit that he is a child of God.  God has made Himself known through the incarnation of Jesus Christ, the God-man, who is the personification of everything God wants us to know of Himself.  His unprecedented conduct, unparalleled claims, unique character, and unequaled credentials (as one scholar points out) prove that He is the living and the one and only-begotten Son of God made flesh on our behalf.  Everything we need to know of God is revealed in the second person of the Godhead, who is Jesus, the icon or image of God.   Soli Deo Gloria!

Where's Your Faith, Peter?

Peter saw Jesus walking on the water but doubted it was Him, even after Jesus announced:  "I AM." Jesus reaffirmed His identity but Peter wanted to put Him to the test and see if he could walk on water as evidence.  Now, it is easy to look at Peter's weaknesses, but often he stood as the spokesman of the group or the point man.  He showed that he wasn't afraid of an apparition or ghost, as the others did and took up Jesus at His challenge to "come" to Him on the water.  Peter did step out, which proves he took the leap of faith that is required for salvation, no matter how weak our faith, we need to step out!  Peter knew this was no great challenge to the Lord and showed great faith in even venturing out, though he did falter.

When Peter walked on water he didn't debate the pros and cons of obeying the Lord or the consequences of his act of faith, he just did it.  It is the same with us, just do it!  God will give you the faith if you step out keeping your eyes on Him.  Peter knew nothing of Newton's laws of gravitation and even though he had no idea of its formulation he knew that water couldn't hold him up and that something was supernatural in his act of walking on water.  In correspondence to our walk, God asks us to step out unto the water and storms of life in faith and to "walk on water," as it were, or do the impossible.  With God all things are possible and we know the one who made the rules and can suspend them at will or overrule them according to His will and plan.  If we are walking with Christ we are able to walk on water and do whatever God requires of us, no matter how unrealistic it seems to us at the time, because God makes all things beautiful in His time.

When we have faith in God's power, He can work His power in us and there is no such thing as a small task to ask God to do or a small favor, because they are all small to Him, because He is so big. Peter did take a few successful steps into the unknown in spite of the storm and waves on the lake, but he failed to follow through on his faith.  Hebrews 12:1 exhorts us to keep our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith-- this is where he failed and we need to learn a lesson.  The moment Peter took his eyes off the Lord he began to sink. He focused on the circumstances and not on the power of God and His providence and care.  When we get sidetracked by the cares of this world we can't walk toward Jesus as our goal to come to Him in faith.

This story is analogous to our salvation experience when we first experience God.  Isaiah 45:22 exhorts us:  "Look unto me, and be ye saved, all ye ends of the earth...."  Hebrews 2:9 says:  "But we see Him...."  Jesus bids us come to Him! He is the great  Pursuer of our souls. Even if we start to sink Jesus will lend His hand to rescue us so that we won't utterly drown in the evils of the world and our flesh once we have made the decision to come to Him in faith.  Just like in the story Jesus is coming after us as He foresees our predicament and destiny. We don't have to know all the rules of engagement to come to Him, but just know that it is Him who is calling us and putting our faith in Him, not in our ability to adjust or cope with the call. In other words, it is not how much faith we have, but the object of our faith that saves--faith doesn't save, Jesus does!  When the Hound of Heaven chases you, be ready to respond in due faith. Remember, without faith, it is impossible to please God according to Hebrews 11:6.  Note that Peter cried out, "Lord, save me!"  Our faith must be directed towards Him and, if it is sincere, He will save us.

Doubt is not the opposite of faith, but an element of it; no one has perfect faith, but only sincere and unfeigned faith.  The problem with most Christians is that they refuse to admit their doubts and fears and to thereby get healed of them. Just like Jesus asked Peter why he doubted, it is vital that we confront our doubts and resolve them rather than run from them.  People are ashamed to doubt and don't know that God can answer their questions and can give them great faith. We don't need great faith to do great things, for having faith the size of a mustard seed can even move mountains. We never do great things, says Mother Teresa of Calcutta, we only do things with great love.  God is the one who makes our labors great and we have nothing to boast about. "...[Y]ou have done for us all our works" (Isaiah 26:12 ESV).

Peter did a great thing is attempting to walk on water and God may call us to do some great and even unusual or questionable task that takes faith in our walk with Him. We cannot look down on or judge Peter because he sank, because we have never even made one step on the water ourselves.  It is too easy to criticize when you've never tried it yourself.  "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me"  (Phil. 4:13).  "For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me..." (Rom. 15:18).   Soli Deo Gloria!

How Are You Celebrating Christmas?

As a history lesson, Christmas wasn't celebrated until the fifth century about A.D. 450 to commemorate the Feast of the Nativity.  The day was chosen as Mithra's (the god of the Roman soldiers) birthday on the 25th of December because the Romans gave presents during the Sol Invictus  (the unconquerable sun), and the Saturnalia from December 17-24.  It is not mentioned or documented that the early Christians even celebrated Christ's birth, or even that Christ did--that's why we don't have a precise date.

In the spirit of greetings, you don't have to be Christian to wish someone a Merry Christmas any more than you have to celebrate New Years to wish one a happy New Year, Irish to wish someone happy St. Patrick's Day or a Jew to wish one happy Hanukkah.  It is a simple courtesy, not political correctness, and expressing pleasantries.   Whether one believes or not one can be a well-wisher.

There is more to the meaning of Christmas than the story of the nativity and the wise men.  Of course, the spirit of giving was especially inspired by the gold, frankincense, and myrrh, but we all must not only celebrate the birth of the Son of God or His incarnation but the celebration of the birth of God in our spirits. I identify with the little drummer boy who had no gift fit to give a king.  The wise men sought out the Lord, and wise men still seek him; this shows that Christ came for all mankind and not just to redeem Israel as its king, though He was born the rightful heir apparent to the throne of David.

Christmas is an opportune time to recount the biblical narrative and the believer never grows tired of hearing its simple, straightforward message in a new light.  It is especially the time to relate the story in simple terms so the children can apprehend the meaning and significance of this birth. Children understand what adults have lost the sense of--the awe and magic of the story so poignant and touching to the heart, even melting the stony one because there is power in the Word if one gives it a chance to work in his heart. We need this chance to relive our childhood.   But we have to honor tradition in its own right (there's nothing wrong with tradition as long as it bows to the Word of God and doesn't have equal authority), and to make traditions we can call all our own--for instance, every family has its own Christmas tree decorum and present exchange rigmarole.

Christmas has more than religious significance but also an outreach to the unsaved (reach out and touch someone, as they say), and this is the time for bringing families and coworkers or friends together, which wouldn't otherwise be done.  It's the time to show the testimony and witness of the love of Christ, and in a way, Santa shows kids this caring and saintly love that we let them believe, as we let kids be kids and develop their power of imagination.  I can find myself almost believing in Frosty the Snowman and Rudolf the Red-nosed reindeer myself after hearing so many carols over the radio stations--music has its magical influence and makes you believe on a level of consciousness whether one admits it or not--I can believe in my heart because I relate and identify.

It's the idea of the fairy tale that has impact and kids love a story, even if they know it's make-believe.  At a young enough age, children will insist on believing in Santa:  "Mom and Dad don't believe in Santa, but I still believe and here's why."  Santa is a kind of a man who stands in loco Dei or in the place of God in their eyes, and believing in him is equated with believing in God.  Why? Because of their innocence and imagination--they can think they know more than their parents.  I find myself becoming a "believer" in the "Santa spirit" after watching "Miracle on 34th Street."  I'm with Kris Kringle and see the world through his eyes in the small screen.  We must preserve the ideals this teaches and the lessons we can learn:  We see life through the eyes of kids once a year in a special way, and relate to them on their level.  We get the opportunity to be kids for a season. It is vicarious, I know, but everyone should experience life through the eyes of a child.

Another good fruit of Christmas is all the caroling and the "fun" songs that the season has.  Virtually every major musician, including Paul McCartney and Paul Lennon, have made Christmas songs that are really moving and pique the senses in a special and even maudlin way ("Simply having a wonderful Christmas time" and "So this is Christmas").  Even Lennon admits there's a feeling that only comes this time of year.  I hardly ever get sentimental but some of these songs really are tearjerkers and some bring joy to the heart.

Now, we don't want to forget the spiritual and religious hymns and carols, because part of Christmas is also having fun and singing for the fun of it--I don't know of any other time of year when so many people know so many of the songs being played and recognize many more than at Christmas.  God wants us to have fun too and not always be serious and sober, but to enjoy ourselves with celebration and laughter, and sharing the festivities.  Even the secular stations playing Christmas carols do not fail to give the truth of the nativity story its due and allow "religious" lyrics.  And finally:  What is the most wonderful time of the year without caroling--it wouldn't be complete!  Whether you are a participant or a spectator it is a natural.  It has become part of the culture of Christendom.  Viva la Christmas carols!

To some most people, Christmas has degenerated into a consumer frenzy and especially kids just interested in what they get under the tree.  It is family time and kids learn their values here--this is the time to show them.  We don't want them to grow up becoming greedy, covetous, or materialistic, but also we want them to learn to enjoy God's blessings and to be thankful for what He has bestowed.  The biggest lesson is what Jesus said:  "It is more blessed to give than to receive" (Acts 20:35).   Unfortunately, our nation's economy is consumer-oriented and dependent on consumer spending and commercialism, and especially the power of advertising to lure the shopper to get the latest big thing.  I didn't get much from my brothers for Christmas, but to me, it is the thought that counts and I am glad to be remembered sent something of themselves that makes it personal, and I'm glad they know I appreciate it and don't expect anything.

For some folks, Christmas ranks right up there with Thanksgiving as the day of the big fellowship dinner or feast, and people make a big to-do about what they traditionally feast on.  I love to reminisce about old times eating rice pudding and mince-meat or pumpkin pie and of course turkey with all the "fixin's."  Getting the wishbone was my preoccupation and it only made the dinner complete after a cup of coffee and family fellowship and sharing of the latest news.  I'll bet I learned how to eat like a gentlemen going to all those family get-togethers and/or reunions of extended families.

For me, one of the most important events is the receiving of edifying and beautiful cards (especially the Courier and Ives prints), and I take the opportunity to post them on my wall or door to behold the artwork and handicraft. To me, the most important part of a greeting card is the beauty to behold, because God is an artist and the most beautiful, collectible ones are by the late Thomas Kinkade.  It takes more effort to send a meaningful card that has a message than just making a comment on Facebook.  Somehow Christmas seems too formal and holy or sacrosanct to just send emails or text a greeting.  Christmas cards are really an institution in my book and are a gesture not to be forsaken.

Most of all Christmas is a truly intimate family holiday that offers itself to individual family traditions to have a personal character all its own.  For me, I get to hear from my brothers, as I have no family of my own and if it wasn't for Christmas we'd probably drift further and further apart to the point of no longer knowing each other.   It is a time of family ties and to renew them, to bury all hatchets and to make peace--WWI had a Christmas ceasefire at the trenches of the front lines.  It's time to live out the gospel message of Christ bringing peace to all men of good will.  The world is especially watching the believer during this special time of year and it may give the opportunity to witness like no other one time can.  God opens doors that are rarely opened at other times and we are to seize the day, so to speak!  Take and conquer the promised land for Jesus!

Finally, in the spirit of Christmas, let's emphasize that the real thing God wants for Christmas is us. Love is spelled T-I-M-E.  Spending time with someone is the surest way to show love and to give of yourself.  Notice that the believers in the Bible first gave of themselves to the Lord. I want you to realize that Christmas is for kids from 1 to 92!  We can wish Jesus a happy birthday by giving Him our heart and following Him more nearly, knowing Him more clearly, and loving Him more dearly, as Richard of Chichester first said.    Soli Deo Gloria!

The Greatest Messianic Prophecy/...

If you've ever heard Handel's Messiah, you know that it is based on this verse (Isaiah 9:6):

"For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."

This says it all and is no understatement of the job description, as it were, of our Lord and Savior. There is utmost significance to each title rendered (actually Jesus has 118 titles mentioned in the Word).  Indeed, His name is Wonderful and in one sense He has no name, but only descriptions to make Him known, for God cannot be labeled, defined, or analyzed by man to fit in a box for our convenience--this is only to condescend to us and it is like God lisping or speaking baby talk to us, as it were. He is born a child in the flesh in His incarnation but is a son given in His deity, which was preexistent.

He was the eternal Son of God before His incarnation and quite ironically He is also called the Everlasting Father because He is the eternal Father who created time and is the Alpha and Omega. Jesus is a Father to us:  "... Behold, I and the children God has given me"  (Heb. 2:13 ESV), quoting Isaiah 8:18. This title is often cited by those who deny the Trinity.

He is a Counselor because He identifies with our plight as mankind, can explain God's ways to man, and has been touched with our infirmities and weaknesses as a compassionate human being personally on earth in all its suffering and joy.  He is the mediator or middleman or daysman betwixt us and God the Father and knows both sides of the story so that we can relate to him as the icon of God Himself.

He is not just called Mighty God, but is God in the flesh, as "the Word became flesh and dwelt among us." His deity is attested to by signs, miracles, the Holy Spirit Himself, and Scripture.

Why is He the Prince of Peace?  Because they were expecting a liberator from Rome, but only true and lasting peace can be found in Him (to know Him is to know peace, and having no Jesus, there is no peace).  "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee, because he trusteth in thee"  (Isaiah 26;3).  Only the infinite sacrifice of God Almighty could be an adequate sacrifice on our behalf.

One of the significant points of His wonderful name is that we can aspire to emulate Him:  We can be counselors with the power of the Spirit; we can be peacemakers in Christ; we can be father-figures with Christ in our hearts and submit to His authority as a subordinate, even as He was to the Father. We are not God, but God lives in us and will make His glory manifest in us and through us as His vessels of honor to bring Him glory, which is why we are here (cf. Isaiah 43:7).

Why were the Pharisees so upset when He claimed equality with the Father, because the prophecy said He'd be called the "Mighty God" (not just in the power or Spirit of God)--they should've known this and most likely some did.  They despised the fact that He assumed the divine prerogatives of God Almighty, such as the authority to forgive sins and to usher in the kingdom of God with his Messianic Manifesto.

They also despised Him for profaning the Sabbath Day, which was a fetish with them and their favorite commandment and center of their legalism and control of the people. Even more, they despised His charisma and that the people flocked to Him and listened to Him, thus invading their turf and job security and threatening the future of the nation of Israel as a people. They complained about Him because "[He is] a mere man that makes Himself out to be God."

The problem was that they didn't quite visualize the Messiah as being God Himself, but only a martial hero to liberate them from the yoke of Rome and grant international utopia for the Jewish state, and when this dream didn't materialize their hopes were shattered:  They got a pacifist instead who was to reign over hearts not nations.

Jesus will indeed reign over the entire world in His Millennial Kingdom and bring world peace, but that will be another age. Before He could come to reign He must come to suffer, but they couldn't visualize two advents. The cross had to precede the crown and it is the same with us!  Soli Deo Gloria!

The Appearance Of Wisdom

It would seem that "holy" men like Mahatma (Mohandas) Gandhi or the Dali Lama of Tibet have reached a level unattainable by the average person.  But religiosity is not what God seeks.  Asceticism is condemned by Paul in Col. 2:23 and its show of holiness because the person thinks he is giving up something for God and doing Him a favor by impressing Him of his holiness--these types have a "holier-than-thou" attitude condemned in Isaiah 65:5.  Severe denial of pleasures or the good things in life is not the answer--God has given us richly all things to enjoy (cf. 1 Tim. 6:17) and we are not to refuse anything if received with thanksgiving--God is the source of all good things and blessings.

We are not any better because we give up something.  But fasting is a temporary abstinence of something for the sole purpose of humbling oneself to God and seeking His guidance or deliverance in a trial or difficult time or decision time--not to be practiced for its own sake as a measure of spirituality.  The purpose is to learn and practice self-control in all things, not just our eating habits as some allege.  Martin Luther practiced extreme self-flagellation, and if anyone could've benefited by such a lifestyle it would have been him--he took it to its logical conclusion and found out it didn't work nor impress God.

Faith is what pleases God, not religiosity--He tests our faith as if by fire and brings trials our way to force action.  There are plenty of athletes who have a lot of bodily self-discipline but aren't even saved.  Jesus didn't come to make us good people who have good habits, but to make dead people alive who enjoy the more abundant life He promised.  Abstinence of pleasure or the good things in life is not taught (I'm not talking of sin); for instance, there is no case for teetotalism.  Soli Deo Gloria!

When You Fast

Matt. 6:16 says that our fasting should be in secret to be rewarded.  We are not to be as the hypocrites who make a show of it and try to impress others with our self-flagellation, or self-discipline.  True fasting is self-control in all things in Spirit, not just skipping a meal and thinking that pleases God. The goal is to maintain discipline in every facet of life according to 1 Cor. 9:25.  Isaiah 58 says that only spiritually motivated fasting pleases the Lord and we shouldn't think we can force God to favor us on account of it, but it is done to humble ourselves as we see a need.

Isaiah 65:5 says that we should never think like we have a holier-than-thou attitude, especially that we have a spiritual strength and others have a weakness (cf. Heb. 12:1-2).  We all have our easily besetting sin and Satan knows us well enough to attack us at our area of weakness.  True fasting sets the prisoner free and puts the person in a more spiritual mood, if the person already has that he doesn't fast for the sake of fasting, thinking that it is the means of sanctification.  Self-control is a fruit of the Spirit, and like all fruits, they must be cultivated and grown;  everyone is at a different level of growth and maturity and we are not to look down on our brother or even condescend to him, but see him as our equal in Christ--we are all one in Christ.

The Pharisees were especially guilty of drawing attention to themselves and practicing their piety before men, to be seen by them and this is forbidden in Matt. 6:1.  We shouldn't brag about our spirituality either or toot our own horn as to our piety, but let another praise us.  Religiosity is no sign of spirituality and if an unbeliever can duplicate it or fake it, it isn't of God.  There is a time to fast and a time to celebrate, but never to indulge.

There is always a danger of going overboard, but Christians should know that moderation in all things is a principle and never to go the extreme.  The Bible neither teaches nor endorses asceticism, abstinence, nor indulgence as lifestyles.  Fasting isn't just giving up food but can be many things the person "enjoys" and has the discipline to carry it out faithfully, such as skipping needed rest or entertainment. Soli Deo Gloria!

What Is Unpardonable?

Jesus prayed for those who blasphemed Him in ignorance, but those who were enlightened and maintained their blasphemous spirit were unforgivable. Christians, because of the restraining grace of God working in them cannot commit this sin.  By definition, blasphemy involves words, not thoughts, and is like making a smear campaign against the Lord.  Even in the occult they may curse Jesus out of ignorance and be forgiven--this is a deliberate and known, unrepentant sin.  This sin is clearly an assault on the very nature and good character of God and brings it into question.

Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is said to be unforgivable in Matt. 12:32, but what does it entail? Is there a point of no return?  Today evangelicals all say that Jesus died for all our sins except rejecting Christ, which would make him consigned to hell as a consequence.  If this is true, how can pagans go to hell that has never heard of Jesus?  It is a proven fact that the average convert doesn't accept Christ until he "rejects" Him seven or eight times (even making a "no decision" is reckoned as rejection).  If rejecting Christ was so serious, why did God continue to convict and work in the person and woo them to Christ repeatedly? Why are people with hardened hearts given a second chance to repent?  God is able to make people with hearts of stone become ones with hearts of flesh (cf. Ezekiel 36:26).

Jesus was addressing and referring to the Pharisees, who regarded His deeds as done by the power of Satan, and attributed His works to be in cahoots with the prince of demons himself--they blasphemed the Holy Spirit's ministry through Him.  The Pharisees actually said, "He has an evil spirit." This is an extremely hard (and is very rare) sin to commit in today's age; nevertheless, it is possible to be so hardened to absolutely and finally to see Christ as a demon or in league with them, and to use the tongue (to speak or write using words) to spread this doctrine perniciously and viciously to do harm to the kingdom of God (false teachers are specifically vulnerable to this type of sin since they are in a position of influence). You can find people of all faiths saying things about Jesus, but they don't go so far as to say he was evil. Even the Muslims admit He was without sin in the Qua'ran and don't attribute His miracles to the devil. Few infidels ever regard Jesus as "evil" but as a good man in their way of thinking, of course.

There are people who have worried about whether they've committed this sin, but if they are concerned they  aren't guilty of it, because it implies a certain unrepentant hardness of heart that seeks to harm the cause of Christ (determinedly, willingly, and knowingly and not flippantly or casually), and not just misunderstand it. There is no sin that cannot be forgiven or sinner too bad to be saved if they repent. No one will be able to tell God they wanted to believe and repent but couldn't.  There is no lack of evidence, so no one has an excuse!  If you think you've committed this sin and are concerned, you haven't and God is still working in you.  However, if someone hardens his heart, God is able to confirm that hardening in judgment (cf. Isaiah 6:10; 63:17).  God hardened Pharaoh's heart after he rejected God's offer and request to let His people go.

We all have to realize that we are at the mercy of God and must sue God for mercy and throw in the towel, humbling ourselves before Him knowing that He is in control of our destiny, not us.  The unpardonable sin is more of a character (it is not just loosely saying something that one might regret or change his mind about) and it is of the Antichrist and not a specific one-time sin or act. The person knowingly and willingly does it without repentance, and has no desire for the things of God or seeking His kingdom.  Soli Deo Gloria!

The Bema Of Christ

"Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death unto life"  (John 5:24, ESV, emphasis added).

Paul said, "For each of us shall give account of himself to God" in Rom. 14:12.   Before that in the context, he says, "For we all shall stand before the judgment seat of God [Christ]."  For the Father has given all judgment to the Son.  Note that there are two judgments:  One for the believer and one for the unbeliever. 1 Cor. 3:13ff describes how a believer's works are judged as to their due reward--they must remain after being tested by fire!  He has appointed a day to judge the world (this is the Great White Throne Judgment mentioned in Revelation 20:11). That refers to the lost and the "books" will be opened to judge their works.  By their own words, they will be condemned--they are all hypocrites. Christians have nothing to fear of a judgment day because there is no condemnation for the believer (cf. Rom. 8:1). Our words will justify us and not condemn us!

"I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words, you will be condemned"  (Matt. 12:36-37).
The so-called "day of judgment" is the one appointed by God at the last day and is called the Great White Throne Judgment.  Christians will not be present here but at the Bema.  Note that Christians will be justified by their own words (testimony and witness) and unbelievers will be condemned by their own words and testimony.

Bema is the same as tribunal or judgment seat in Greek and Christ will judge our works and test them by fire whether they are silver and gold, or wood, hay, and stubble which will burn up (NB: There is no double jeopardy).  Our sins have been forgiven past, [present, and future, and we fear no future embarrassment of reprimand, but God is able to present us blameless before His throne with great joy (cf. Jude 24).  Many Christians try to put the fear of God in their brothers by telling them they will be judged, but God has already judged our sins and they are deleted from His memory bank, never to be brought up again.  The judgment we face as believers is to how much reward we are worthy of and how much we glorified Christ with the opportunities, resources, talents, gifts, and time that God conferred on us by grace.     Soli Deo Gloria!

Biblical Theory Of Relativity

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, the German author of Faust:  "Tell me your certainties, I have enough doubts of my own." 

Albert Einstein, who got the Nobel Prize in physics in 1921, was noted for his special theory of relativity, in which he claimed there was a time-space continuum:  They are not absolute then but depend upon the motion of the person measuring it or the observer. He also formulated the general theory of relativity claiming gravity can bend and influence both time and space, which is like a continuous fabric.

In Postmodern thought, in which they despise Truth with a capital T, they say all truth is relative: One prof said, "You can know nothing for certain!"  A student quipped, "Are you sure?"  "Yes," he replied, "I am certain." Dr. Allan Bloom of the University of Chicago, in his book The Closing of the American Mind, said that saying all truth is relative is a nonsense statement and has no truth value. This is ultimately irrational; however, it is the governing epistemology of academia.  Wouldn't this statement also be relative?  The dual problem of believing truth is relative is that of absolutism in which you are claiming this as an absolute and thus contradicting yourself, and of relativism, in which you must admit this statement is only relative, too.  Without God, all truth is indeed relative but knowing truth would be impossible to determine or ascertain.  We would live in a world of "I don't know!"  George Lucas has concluded that all religions are "true."  To say everyone is right is equal to saying no one is right--logically, they can all be wrong, but not all right without violating the law of noncontradiction.  Religious Pluralism is the belief that no faith is completely true, thus they should all; be regarded equally. Postmodernism likes to say:  "That may be  true for you."  But there is an objective truth that is true, whether one believes it or not!

In Postmodernism and other contemporary worldviews, they really only believe the truths relating to the Christian worldview are relative and their metanarrative or grand narrative (or outlook) is absolutely correct.  They have made many presuppositions, including that there is no God or Higher Mind and that matter precedes mind and has the power to create it and has some life-force within inherent to it like a cosmic energy.  In their methodology of reasoning, they call "inference to the best explanation," they formulate all possibilities of solutions or hypotheses to their problem or question. And it should be noted that they have a preconceived notion that there is no God or supernatural and have ruled out Him of the equation.  In one extreme they say in New Age thinking:  "If it feels right to you, it is."  They have no place for God in their worldview--He isn't even considered a possibility because they do not want to let a divine foot in the door, so to speak.

A Greek sage of antiquity said, "To begin learning you must admit your ignorance." In science, we have to be willing to admit we could be wrong to be able to arrive at the truth.  There are only four kinds of minds according to Jesus: There is the shallow mind that doesn't think things through and is apathetic; there is the distracted mind that has too much on its mind, and the closed mind that has its mind made up and doesn't want to be confused with the facts, and finally an open and receptive mind.

There is an element of truth in every religion; it is that margin of error that makes it evil because evil is not the opposite of truth but its distortion.  People today like to say, "That may be true for you, but it isn't for me!"  Or they say, "It works for me!"  If something is true it is true and not relative. Someone has called this phenomenon true truth.  Truth is not relative or it wouldn't be truth it would be a subjective opinion and not objective fact.  Objective truth doesn't exist from our point of view--we are all biased.  But God is objective and has revealed truth to us:  Jesus came to bear witness of the truth and claimed to be the personification or embodiment of it. If one says truth is relative, then he has to admit he could be wrong:  Then he must admit the possibility of God's existence and ergo the existence of absolute truth based on His divine nature.

Opinions are relative to a person's worldview--one sees reality not as it is, but as he is. And some things are workable for some and not for others, but this doesn't lead to the erroneous conclusion that truth is relative.  If they insist truth is relative, then ask them, "Relative to what?" That statement must only be relatively true!" "In the absence of God everything becomes relative [there is nothing to measure it by as a standard]," according to William Lane Craig; however, there is absolute truth and morality, ergo a God!  Without God, we cannot even account for truth or knowledge, but all truth "claims" become mere nonsense and relative to the thinker in a subjective manner.

John Dewey, along with Jonathan Edwards (Christian influence) and Horace Mann (Unitarian influence) was one of the fathers of American education and was a founder of the Secular Humanist movement co-writing the so-called  Humanist Manifesto,  and A Common Faith, said that the test of an idea is not whether it's true, but whether it works--just consider the consequences--results matter!  Today students are taught an ethic that just considers giving well-thought-out and valid reasons for one's behavior (responsible decision making), without regard to an absolute value system of right and wrong (be true to yourself)--for without God there is no such system and all is permissible.  In the New Morality, also referred to as "situational ethics," the only thing that matters is motive which should be love, or in the utilitarian view the one that does the least harm and/or most good. Without absolute truth (this implies there is no God and without God, all is permissible accordingly, as a corollary) our society loses its mores and standards and will disintegrate and self-destruct socially.

We must posit that there is truth because it has been revealed in Christ and we can know it if we have an open mind, willing spirit,  needy heart, be teachable, receptive and ready for the truth, and willing to obey it if known or obedient in spirit.  Jesus said in John 7:17 (ESV) that "If if anyone's will is to do God's will, he shall know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority." The problem mentioned in John 12:37 is that although they saw miracles they would not (not could not) believe.

Note this:  Only the Bible is called "truth" and only Jesus claimed to be the incarnation or personification of truth ("I am the ... truth," says John 14:6).  There is a difference between being true and truth.  Truth alone changes your life and transforms your soul.  You can read science manuals that are true, but they won't change your life.  Truth is that which is unchanging or immutable, while something considered true may change over time, and is in a state of flux--the opinions of science, for example, have changed throughout history.

Being accepted as true, then, doesn't make something true.  One witness in court said, "If I knew the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, I'd be God!" And so no one has all the truth or a monopoly on it and in that sense all of our revelations and illuminations or intuitions are relative--we can only be sure of what God has revealed to us supernaturally and propositionally in Scripture.  Thus the only way to separate the wheat from the chaff, or truth from fiction is the canon, measuring rod, and standard of Scripture as absolute revealed and divine truth--you have to start somewhere.

We can rely on the Word of truth and Jesus even said, "And you will know the truth, and the truth shall set you free" (cf. John 8:32).  The Bible is the only source that tells it like it is and gives us the truth about ourselves.  Our natural response is to worship Him in spirit and in truth (cf. John 4:24).  In His priestly prayer in John 17 Jesus called His Father "the only true God"--other gods have elements of truth but just enough error to be deceptive and evil (evil is not the opposite of truth, but the perversion, distortion, and twisting of truth).  Paul says unbelievers have "exchanged the truth of God for a lie" (cf. Romans 1:25).

In summation:  Thomas Aquinas was right that all truth is God's truth and all truth meets at the top." All truth is only truth if it corresponds with God and His nature who is the measure and standard of reality, and is relevant to Scripture as that which is revealed to us from the Almighty (not per the correspondence theory of truth that something is true when conforming with reality--whose reality then, because this is highly subjective?). Ipso facto, the Bible is the standard by which we judge all truth claims then.  Man's problem is not knowing the truth, but not obeying the truth he does know.
Soli Deo Gloria!