Do You Qualify?

Have you ever wondered if you were good enough for heaven?  Did you ever think you were on probation or on your scout's honor to do your best till Jesus comes or you die?  The fact is is that we are never good enough to be saved, but must realize we are bad enough to need salvation.  We cannot compare notes at our judgment as if we would be graded on a curve and think that we have a advantage over someone less fortunate.  "Who makes you to differ?  What do you have that you didn't receive?" (1 Cor. 4:7).  God doesn't grade on a curve and if He were to mete out justice to all, none of us would be able to escape hell; salvation is not because we deserve it, that would be justice, not mercy. 

The requirements for heaven are to have the righteousness of Christ, and the only way to get it is by imputation or God just reckoning it to our account.  We are not just forgiven of our wrongdoings and brought to a place of neutrality, but given the righteousness of Christ to boot--actually we are declared righteous or reckoned as righteous, but we are not made righteous, which would be different. We tend to think that God is looking for our achievements, or even cares about them, but God is looking for our obedience. 

Religion is about man's achievement; Christianity is about God's accomplishment.  Religion tries to reach out to God, while, in Christianity, God reaches out to man.  God doesn't even call us to success but to faithfulness.  What the world regards as success, I am saying, is not how God sees it.   You cannot be a man of the world and a man of God, they are mutually exclusive.  John exhorts us not to love the world (cf. 1 John 2:15) are not to be of the world (John 15:19).

People shouldn't come to their judgment and tell God about all the works they did, even if they were miracles, (Matt. 7:22) because Christ may say He never knew them.  We are not to put our faith in our works--works are no substitute for faith and works don't save--only faith in Christ saves. It is the object not the faith that saves.  Let me repeat:  Faith doesn't save; Christ saves.  

We live in an era when people applaud faith, even blind faith and most don't care what your faith is as long as you have it.  When someone says, "Keep the faith," it is meaningless and has no spiritual value. The reason the people are rejected who did great works in God's name is because they put their faith in their works and not in Christ.  They had a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge as it says in Rom. 10:2. You can have a lot of faith, but if it is misdirected, it does zilch and is worthless. 

Who gets saved, but the lowest bidder!  It is not the person who says he meant well, and was sincere, and did his best and believed the right creed, but the person who comes to God with nothing to offer and knows his wretchedness and knows he is at God's mercy, saying:  "God be merciful to me, the sinner." The way up is down in God's economy!   Don't think so highly of yourself!  You cannot think too lowly of yourself in God's eyes (actually humility is not thinking of self at all!), because you are just that:  Your righteousness is as filthy rages (cf. Is. 64:6).  You must despise yourself, hate your life, and realize you have nothing to offer God.

It cost a lot to be saved, and Jesus never made it seem easy, but it cost more not to be saved or to ignore His gospel message of being saved solely by grace, through the instrumental means of faith, in the object of Christ as Lord and Savior--God gets all the glory and the authority is the based on the Word of God.  Anything less is heresy, and corruption of the gospel and not evangelical in emphasis, but influenced by false teachings [the three heretical twists of the gospel's purity].   

"Salvation is of the Lord," (Jonah 2:9) and of the Lord alone (we contribute naught)--that is its essence. God has done it all--"It is finished!" Reckon it as a done deal.  There are religions galore that emphasize our achievements; however, Christianity stresses divine accomplishment, not human achievement!   Soli Deo Gloria!

Getting Something Out Of Church...

Most believers go to church for the wrong reason:  For comfort; for fellowship; to get favors; for making friends; for spreading their agenda or ministry; for the music; for a sermon; ad infinitum.   We may go to church for the wrong motive, but we ought, nevertheless, go:  "Let us not abandon the assembling together of ourselves as is the manner of some (cf. Heb. 10:25), but encourage one another." Today, the typical Christian will die for a church he won't attend!  God wants us to have the right motives, but can work with us even if our motives are wrong--He wants us in church and that is where we belong.

The church is an organism (a living entity) and not just an organization or a business run by some well-intentioned do-gooders.  All the members need each other and no one has all the gifts necessary to make the body function.  We all bring our gifts to share with the body or family we are part of and contribute as God has equipped us. Our gifts are for the edification of the body, and not to be selfishly used for our own service or profits.  We do not peddle the Word of God but make it available without price and without cost.  Our ministry is to the body and in another vein, our mission is to the unchurched or unbeliever.

Someone might say, "I didn't get anything out of worship today!"  That person went for the wrong intent and needs to examine his motives and heart and the doctrines pertaining to the church's raison d'etre.  Christ established the church for the edification of the body and the dissemination of the gospel message to the world at large.  The church's primary goal is to fulfill the Great Commission.

When you go to church do you feel better equipped to do that?  Worship isn't passive, but active, it is contradictory to listen to worship because worship is giving and not receiving.  God has commanded all creation to worship its Creator and corporate worship can only be done in the assembly of believers known as the local church.  There is a special presence of Christ when two or three are gathered together in His name.

The key to worship is surrender and the more one loves God, the more he has to give in worship--there must be a relationship there to build on. Some churches teach that there should be no holds barred in worship and everyone should feel free to be as spiritual as they are inclined to be and not inhibited or concerned about what others think, but the truth is that there is no one-size-fits-all worship service and everyone is at a different "stage" or phase, in there spiritual journey and walk in the Lord, and we cannot compare ourselves with each other.  There's no "one-size-fits-all." 

Everything we do in church is worship:  Singing spiritual songs and hymns; giving of our tithes and offerings; fellowshipping and reaching out to others; serving with our gift, and even listening to the sermon is worship!  "Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams" (1 Sam. 15:22).

We go to church to contribute something of our spiritual gift and to receive from other's gifts in exchange--it is mutual and we need each other; no one is an island to himself.  Look for a church in which you can serve with your spiritual gift.  We only get what we put into it and we shouldn't go unprepared, like showing up without any spiritual preparation or devotion.  We all can minister to another and reach out to those in need with our gift.


Finally, to get the most out of worship, we must empty ourselves, or stop dwelling on ourselves, and get our eyes on Jesus.  The gateway is to focus on others and not be self-centered, but reach out in love to one another.  Emptying comes before filling, and being filled with the Spirit is an imperative because worship is unnatural and we can only do it in Spirit and in truth (cf. John 4:24).

To conclude:  We are to be active listeners: Listening with a purpose like we want to learn and be challenged.  We don't go to church solely to hear a wonderful sermon and get uplifted, but that may be part of the equation of a well-balanced church attendance.  This may involve taking notes or discussing the sermons afterward--anything that reinforces it and it doesn't end up in oblivion after church.  You will find that the more in the Word you are the more interesting you will find the sermons and the ability to follow them critically and positively.  God commands our respect and attention, and it is sacrilegious to purposely be a distraction and cause others to lose focus on the message.  Remember, God has anointed the minister and has something in mind for you to learn and apply directly to your life.    Soli Deo Gloria!

Competent For Every Good Work

It is the Word of God that gives us the expertise to do His will and accomplish every good work (cf. 2 Tim. 3:17: (We are "thoroughly furnished unto all good works!")  We have everything we need and this is what is meant by God supplying our needs-to equip us for His will.  2 Cor. 9:8 says we may abound in every good work because of the grace of having sufficiency in all things!  If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.  We will never be overwhelmed in the Lord (i.e., if we are doing His bidding and will) and God will be with us in the storm and when we pass through the waters He will be with us (cf. Is. 43:2).

We can never boast that we have done something for the Lord, but only that we are counted worthy to be used as vessels of honor for His glory.  "I venture not to speak, but of what Christ has accomplished through me"  (Paul, in Romans 15:18).  We should be humbled that God used us for glory and not shame because He has a purpose for everyone in His plan, even Judas was decreed to betray Him and went according to what was written.  

The people of Israel became haughty and prideful that they had done something worthy of praise, but God downplayed it and put them in their rightful place:  "You who rejoice in Lo-debar [Hebrew for "nothing"], who say, 'Have we not by our own strength captured Karnaium [nothing] by ourselves?'" (Amos 6:13, ESV).  That means they had an overrated and exaggerated opinion of themselves and needed to be brought down a peg after their victory and give the credit and glory to God.   "[Y]ou have done for us all our works" (Is. 26:12, ESV, cf. Hosea 14:8) or "all that we have done God has accomplished for us."  Isaiah knew that it was just God using them and they should give Him the glory.  Colossians 1:29  (ESV)  is Paul's explanation:  "For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me."

The whole purpose of our life is to glorify God according to Isaiah 43:7 and "... God will equip you with everything good that you may do his will"  (cf. Hebrews 13:21, ESV). According to the Shorter Westminster Catechism, "The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever."   In the end, we want to accomplish great things for God, and believe God for greater things, knowing that if we are in His will He will provide all we need to perform it.  St. Theresa said she was intending upon building a convent.  They asked her how much money she had as resources.  When she said only twelve pence; they said that even Saint Theresa couldn't do much with twelve pence.  "However," she said, "God and Saint Theresa can!"

"To whom much is given, much is required" and this also goes for needs.  It's not that some people inherently need more, but are attempting more in God's will and God wants to see them through in these needs.  God is really supplying all His needs according to His purposes and we don't realize it.

In conclusion, God is able to multiply our "loaves" exponentially into enough to feed "multitudes," and we are to turn stones into bread and walk on water if that is the obstacle to God's will and completing the mission that He has given us.  Truly, we shall be able to do greater things than the Lord in greater dimension and magnitude than He was able to reach out to. (Per John 14:12 in the ESV:  "... [Whoever] believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.")  Thus, we are all competent to do what God has designed us to do; the key is to find that out and where we fit into God's framework and design. Soli Deo Gloria!

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!