Is God Cruel?

With so much racial tension, religious division, political polarization, cancer, COVID-19, the increase in violence, human trafficking, so much disease, wickedness and cruelty; how can people really believe that God is good?  In fact, with all of the chaos and suffering in the world, it could cause some to wonder if God even exists; and if He does exist, how can we ever believe He is a God of love? How can a loving God destroy the earth with a Flood?... allow a global pandemic?... refuse to stop the suffering?

To answer these questions, we must return to the very beginning. Genesis 1-2 tell us that everything God made was good and ultimately very good.  Plants, animals and humans were created with maturity and set in the most perfect garden home. There were no predators and prey, there was no disease and death, there were no weeds and toiling, there was no fussing and feuding – only the most perfect of perfect settings in this world that God created.

Sadly, Adam & Eve CHOSE to rebel against God and believe the lie that God was holding things back from them. Being instructed by God not to eat of the “Tree of Knowledge of Good & Evil” and being forewarned of the consequences, should they do so; they chose to rebel against God. This act resulted in what is known as the Fall of Man and the curse on the once perfect world (Gen. 3).

God did not cause the violence, division, evil, suffering, sickness, disease and death.  These things came into our world because of the choice made by Adam and Eve to commit high-treason against their Creator – the Holy One Who created them, loved them and set them in a perfect world. They lied, they tried to hide their sin, pride crept in, they tried to cover themselves with leaves, they lied and the downward spiral has continued from that day until now.

While God made a way to redeem them through the blood of the Lamb, that redemption was for their soul; not for the sake of erasing the consequences of their actions. In came sweat, pain in childbirth, murder, sadness, sickness, disease, evil, and all that our world endures today. The suffering and violence that we see today is the result of humans thinking they knew better than God and revolting against Him.

So before you blame God for the condition of our world, realize this is far from the world He created and the plan that He intended. The fallen condition of our world was ushered in by the first Adam; but salvation and redemption is the work of the second Adam – Jesus Christ!  For those who know Christ as Savior, we can claim the promise of Rev. 21:4 - And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

So to summarize, God is patiently waiting and delaying His final judgment on this sin-sick and fallen world. He is giving people time to repent and turn from their sin and turn to Him for salvation. God wants each of us to spend eternity with Him in Heaven -- that place where there will be no more suffering, sorrow, sickness, disease or death.  For whosoever will may come -- have you invited Jesus Christ to be your Savior and Lord?  If not, what are you waiting for?

Take time to read:  2 Peter 3:9; 1 Cor. 15:26 and Rev. 21:3-4.  Also take some time to read back through Genesis 1-2 to see the perfect state of God’s creation and then Genesis 3 to see how the world has deteriorated into the fallen state that we observe today.

Doors of the Bible

Let’s Make a Deal” has been a long-running and very popular TV game show. The show will often give people the choice of selecting the prize behind door #1, door #2 or door #3.  The prizes behind the doors can range from a toaster oven to a brand new car!  Contestants will often look to their friends and family members in the audience to help them make the decision of which door to pick.  Some win and some lose, but all are rewarded based on the door they choose.

Interestingly, we also read about many doors in the pages of the Bible and each of these doors also comes with a prize. To make the proper selection can result in eternal life or death – so we must choose wisely.

1. Door to the Ark  (Genesis 6:16)

The ark had only one door through which the people and the animals all entered into the safety of the ship.  All of mankind was invited to walk through the door and to find safety inside the ark, but only 8 chose to enter. The choice of each individual resulted in his/her salvation or destruction.

2. Passover Door (Exodus 12:3-12)

During the 10^th plague prior to the Exodus, God instructed the Israelites to kill a lamb and to paint its blood on the sides and tops of the doorframes of their houses … The blood was to be a sign for the death angel to pass-over those houses (those lives were spared). We too can choose to apply the blood of the Lamb of God and be saved.

3. Inner Temple Doors (Hebrews 10:4)

"For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins.”  This teaching was given to those Jews who had been practicing the “Day of Atonement” and forgiveness of sins through the sacrifices of the priests.  Once Jesus’ sacrifice had been made on the cross, the Law fell short and only those who found forgiveness through the blood of Jesus (the Lamb of God) could be made right with God.

4. Sheep’s Door (John 10:7,9)

During a visit to Israel we saw the common areas shepherds share for keeping their sheep safe at night. There is one way in and one way out.  Jn 10:1 states, “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.  Jesus said, “I am the door of the sheep… I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.”  There is safety under the care of the Good Shepherd and He states the benefit of choosing the right door is salvation and rest.

5. Door to Salvation (John 14:6)

Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6). The way of salvation in Noah’s day was the wooden Ark with a single door. Today, the way of salvation is through the wooden cross upon which Jesus died. We are promised that those who choose to find remission / forgiveness of sin through the shed blood of Jesus Christ will be saved.

6. Tomb’s Door (The stone in Mark 16:4)

When Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome approached the tomb, “…they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away—for it was very large.”  Jesus entered the door as a dead man and left fully and physically alive! He victoriously conquered death and hell, fulfilled His prophecies of resurrection, and now sits on the right hand of the Father interceding for us.  It is completely up to you whether you choose to follow a dead god or choose to follow the risen Savior!

7. Narrow Door  (Matt. 7:13-14)

“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide  the gate and broad  the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. ¹⁴ Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.”  Throughout history and through the Scriptures we find that the majority is often wrong! Following Jesus may not be the easy or popular choice, but the choice is yours and the results are eternal.

Today, you get to choose a door. The prizes behind the doors differ -- behind one door is Heaven and the other is Hell.  Behind one door is eternal life and behind the other is eternal torment and damnation. One thing that is different from game show “Let’s Make a Deal” is that God has already told you which door to pick, but he still gives you the power to make the choice.

So, which door will you pick today?  Will you choose to confess your sins and choose Jesus Christ as your Savior?  Or, will you choose to reject Christ and pick for yourself damnation?  The choice is yours! 

How Should Christians Respond to Racism?

Today’s children are being taught a whole new vocabulary: “Woke,” “Systematic Racism,” “Critical Race Theory,” “Whiteness,” and so many, many more divisive terms.  When we take a few minutes to really study history, we notice that great strides had been made toward eliminating racism in America.  It was not until 2010 that the embers of racism started being fanned again. Whether it was for political gain or simply to cause division, racism was resurrected and has been spewing forth with a vengeance. There have always been small pockets and fringe groups of Nazi’s, Skin-heads, etc.; but those backwoods groups that were not often heard from have been catapulted to the forefront by those seeking to divide our nation. So what is a Christ-follower to do? 

First, we must know the issues. Someone once said, “It is better to keep your mouth shut and let people think you are a fool, than to open it and remove all doubt.”  Some attribute the quote to Abraham Lincoln, others to Mark Twain.  The real quote is found in Proverbs 17:28 – “Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue.” So let’s look briefly at the issues, so we can know what we are really talking about.

• Critical Race Theory is a view of society that deems a group to be oppressed and another to be the oppressors.  (men vs. women, black vs. white, healthy vs. disabled, etc.)  CRT interprets everything through the lens of someone is oppressed and someone is the oppressor.
• The Bible teaches that all mankind are sinners in need of the Savior -- that no man is good enough to get to heaven -- and that their only hope comes through the blood of Jesus Christ that paid our sin debt. Notice that skin color never enters the equation.

• Social Justice is the desire to right the wrongs we see happening around us. Many Christians have a heart for social justice; but wrongly choose to participate in violence or become toxic in response to their feelings and emotions.
• Real change and transformation comes through exhibiting the love of Christ and working to bring unity in the church and across the community. The Apostle Paul said, “If it is possible on your part, live at peace with everyone.”

• “Whiteness” takes on so many different meanings. A simple Google search will reveal that there are many differing definitions among those who use the term.  Most refer to the customs, culture and privileges of those having white skin in America. One groups states – “Racism is based on the concept of whiteness…” and calls it a constantly shifting boundary.
• Scientific Fact – All mankind have skin tones that are some shade of brown. The differences are simply the result of variations in pigmentation, stemming from genetics or exposure to the sun. So any cultural aspects associate with skin color are man-made and are learned within society and/or the family structure.

So what are people who teach these various concepts of racism trying to achieve?  It appears their ultimate goal is Utopia. They want everything to be perfectly equal among all the races. In addition, there are others who seek Utopia among genders, lifestyles, religions, etc.

The Bible is VERY clear regarding its teachings on prejudice and racism.  Sadly, some professing Christians have misused Bible passages to spread racist ideas; but the Bible teachings are very clear to those who truly seek its advice.

1. We are all created by God.

Genesis 2:7 - And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.

2. We are all made in God’s image.

Genesis 1:26-27 -  Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” ²⁷ So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

3. We are all one race.

Acts 17:26 – And He has made from one ^[a]blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their pre-appointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings,

4. We are all loved by God.

John 3:16 -  For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Let me close this devotion with the lyrics to an old children’s song, written by George Root. The song is familiar and we would all do well to get reacquainted with its message during this time when racism is dividing the nation – and even the Church:

Jesus loves the little children
All the children of the world
Red& yellow, black & white
They are precious in his sight
Jesus loves the little children of the world

Jesus cares for all the children
All the children of the world
Black and yellow, red and white
They're all precious in His sight
Jesus cares for all the children of the world

Jesus came to save the children of the world
Red and yellow Black and white
They're all precious in His sight
Jesus loves the little children of the world

Noah's Ark is NOT a Fairy Tale

 

Have you ever seen the cute pictures of Noah’s Ark?  What about the church diaper-bag tags with a cartoon of Noah's Ark on them? Does your child have a toy ark with the cute stuffed animals?  Maybe you decorated your child's bedroom or baby nursery with the adorable little baby animals?

My wife and I recently crossed an item off our bucket list, when we visited the Ark Encounter in Williamstown, KY.  The exhibit opened in 2016 and displays a full-size version of Noah’s Ark, a zoo, zip lines, restaurants and more!  I would certainly recommend it for a family trip and you should also plan to visit the Creation Museum while you are there.

When you walk through the rainbow gateway to the park, your eyes immediately see the ark and your jaw drops open. The ship is massive!  It has three decks, cages, storage areas, living quarters, interactive exhibits, concession stands, a gift shop, animals that look real and yes… even dinosaurs!

A very small section of the Ark Encounter made the biggest impression on me. The section was called the “Fairy Tale Ark” exhibit. The section was bright and cheerful, and immediately lured children into the fun and very cute room. Once inside, the parents were confronted with the reality of Noah’s Ark and the horror of the Flood.  The world-wide Flood was God’s greatest judgment on mankind to this date.  It was gruesome and horrifying to say the least. The “cute” pictures, logos and décor that we see utilizing the ark; too often hide the meaning of the story – GOD JUDGED AND DESTROYED THE EARTH!  Think about it… people, animals and every living thing that walked/crept on this earth drowned.  Only Noah, his family members, and the animals with them in the ark survived.

The reality is that God exercised Divine Judgment to punish the people for their sinful choices, behaviors, lifestyles and indulgences. The world had become so wicked and the people had turned their back on their Creator, to the point that God regretted creating them.

Genesis 6:6-7 says – “The Lord regretted making human beings on the earth, and his heart was grieved. ⁷ So the Lord said: I will wipe out from the earth the human beings I have created, and not only the human beings, but also the animals and the crawling things and the birds of the air, for I regret that I made them.”

A plaque in the Ark Encounter states it this way:

“ Jesus spoke about the days prior to the Flood in Matthew 24:37-39. He said that the people went about their regular activities – eating, drinking, marrying, and giving in marriage – until the day Noah entered the Ark. They were unaware of the coming judgment until the Flood swept them all away.  Jesus also likened the state of the world at the time of His return to the condition of the world in the days of Noah.”

So we have to ask the question, “Why do churches and Bible-believing parents paint such a fairy tale picture of Noah’s Ark?” The answer is that they either do not understand or do not believe the Bible! The flood was God's judgment on a wicked world -- not a happy story about adorable animals.  Those who teach Bible stories as fairy tales are undermining every effort to make disciples of the children that God has entrusted to them.  For if you can convince someone that the Flood was not real, then you can also convince them that Heaven is not real.

What should be our real take-away from the story of the Flood and Noah’s Ark?  We find the answer in Matthew 24:37 and Luke 17:26 – “For as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.”

Now you know… so today, you are accountable for whether you teach God’s Word accurately or convince your children that the stories of the Bible are simply fairy tales.  Regardless of your choice, most would agree that our present world looks a lot like it did in the days of Noah.  Realizing this, the ultimate question is, “Are you ready if Christ was to return today?”

You can see pictures and read more about the “Fairy Tale Ark” by clicking this link - 

https://arkencounter.com/blog/2018/09/20/fairy-tale-ark-exhibit-teaching-our-children-truth/

Psalms, Hymns & Spiritual Songs

 

Do you find yourself singing in the shower... while you do chores... or joining in when you hear a familiar song on the radio?  I love to hear one of our housekeeping staff as she sings while she works.  I remember vacuuming in the church one time, while wearing headphones. I was belting out the song, but not realizing anyone else was around. All they heard was my terrible voice, which is not even a joyful noise... it's just noise!  When you have the joy of the Lord, you just can't help but to sing.  He puts a new song in our heart and we can't keep it in.

Sadly, there is FAR too much conversation and controversy in today's churches regarding musical styles. Satan is using a beautiful tool designed for worship and using it to divide the Body of Christ.  The Bible is very clear about the music that should fill our hearts and help us bring glory to God. The Apostle Paul outlines this in his instructions to the Church at Ephesus. Listen to Eph. 5:19 - "Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord."  Let's examine what these types of songs are and the differences between them.

Psalms are inspired songs that were part of the Hebrew Scriptures and used to give praise to God in corporate worship.  In Mark 12:36, the writer quotes Psalm 110:1 -  "David himself, speaking by the Holy Spirit, declared: “‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet."  The Holy Spirit led David to write and this Psalm was included as part of the Holy Scriptures. So, Psalms are literally songs inspired by God.

Hymns is obviously not Paul's reference to the "hymns" that we have in our hymnals today.  Humorously, many of the hymns that religious zealots defend today were set to early bar-room tunes and not initially permitted to be sung in the churches.  The hymns Paul refers to were not inspired songs and were not included in the pages of the Bible, but they often taught doctrinal truths and were included in Jewish worship. Some of the great hymns of the faith also teach doctrine truths and should be included in corporate worship and taught to our children.  So, hymns are songs written and sung to God by the worshippers.  

Spiritual Songs communicate a wide variety of sacred themes. They may teach, encourage, prompt action, express the joy of salvation, revel in the grace of Christ, or exalt the greatness and power of God. These songs, praise choruses, worship music, etc. span various genres. These are the songs that are so often shunned by the older "religious" crowd, because they don't like the musical style, repetition, etc. The Apostle Paul said to include spiritual songs about God in our worship of God.

So, the Apostle Paul instructed the church to use psalms, hymns and spiritual songs.  Rather than arguing that God only likes "your" style of music, let us realize that God is the God of variety! Realize that music was part of Lucifer's anatomy (Ezekiel 28:13 KJV- ...the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created.)  It only makes sense that Satan would use his strongest gift to divide the Body of Christ.  So, let's stop arguing and focus on worshipping. Let's each sing the song(s) the Holy Spirit places in our individual hearts. Just belt it out (psalms, hymns & spiritual songs) and let others know that you have the joy of the Lord -- even if you don't have a great voice.

Praise Report for June 2021

 In Psalm 26, we read, “…I come to your altar, O Lord, singing a song of thanksgiving and telling of all your wonders.” I want to take a few minutes to tell you of the wonders God has been doing here at Grace Church during the month of June.

We are blessed and thankful to be almost fully reopened after the pandemic. The final move to reopen will be to relaunch our AWANA clubs this fall (Sept. 8). People are coming back to worship, groups are gathering for fellowship, and it is good to see people’s faces as they enter the church & join together for corporate worship.

1. In the month of June, God blessed us with:

• 5 people trusting Jesus Christ as their personal Savior
• 5 adults & 2 teenagers taking the step of baptism
• 5 adults completing our membership class and becoming part of our church family.
• Salvations – 5
  
  

2. Music was a BIG part of our ministry in May/June.

• HCA band concert
• HCA choir concert
• Caroline Canning’s senior recital
• Night of Worship for the whole church family

3. We were blessed by our Annual Church meeting.  While that may seem strange to some, our church is of one accord and unified in purpose.

• We exceeded our 2020-21 missions budget and increased our missions budget by $10,000 for 2021-22. 
• We made a few changes in our Bylaws to better serve our people.
• New Deacons and Church officers were elected to serve the body.
• A new budget was passed to help us accomplish the vision God has given to us.

4. “Supper 8” is our effort to connect the adults in our church body and to introduce new families to our church members.  This has been so well received with 90+ adults participating and enjoying meals in each other’s homes.

5. Pastor Duane preached on the Sunday that Flora & I were with our family in Virginia. His message on “Rest” was very much needed by the educators in our church, who have been stretched so thin by hybrid learning during COVID.

6. Our Grace Family kicked-off our summer Sunday nights with “Worship and Watermelon” on June 13. We had not seen rain in months; but that event had to be moved inside, due to the monsoon!  People still came, worshipped, shared testimonies, enjoyed the watermelon and each other’s company.

7. We were blessed to honor the dads of our church on Father’s Day. We recognized men in some humorous categories and gave bright colored socks to the winners! That night, the men and sons of our church gathered for a basketball fellowship in our gym.

8. Our Grace Ladies hosted a craft night that was VERY well attended! They had such a great time painting pottery and making bird houses. You should take time to visit our Facebook page, to see pictures of this event.

9. VBS was back to a normal format this year, although the attendance was slightly lower. We had 300+ participating in the “Treasured” VBS and we also hosted a VBS for adults that was also well attended. Our thanks to Miss Method, all of our volunteers, and the Nicholson’s for directing our adults.

10. Summer Day Camp has been a hit this year with 120+ children enrolled. They are having a great time with trips, daily activities, crafts, games, and so much more. We thank God for allowing us to open up to the public again this summer.

11. We also thank God for the excitement we are seeing as we look toward the fall.

• AWANA returns on Wednesday, Sept. 8
• Our new Equipping-U will also launch with a 4-year discipleship track made-up of 12-16 in-depth classes including: Doctrinal studies, OT Survey, NT Survey, Bibliology and more!
• Our LIFEgroups will become “Connection groups” and some new efforts will be made to connect our church family and revamp our curriculum for more participation.
• We’re also adding a brand new weekly welcome class for our first-time guests.

12. Finally, there is so much happening at Highlands Christian Academy!

• Our enrollment looks GREAT for 2021-2022 with many new students joining our HCA family.
• All of our teaching positions have now been filled and we believe God has brought us some wonderful and exciting educators who are excited about their subjects, but also committed to our “Biblical Immersion” model.

The list of blessings goes on and on! We take no credit and give God ALL the glory for the things HE is doing at Grace and Highlands. We also thank each of our family members, who are embracing the mission and supporting the vision.

Thank you, God, for the wonderful things You did through the people of Grace in June! 

Evidence of Our Christian Heritage Across Washington, D.C.

 

The face of our nation and our political climate is changing more rapidly than at any other time in our nation's history! The USA appears to be following the track of Europe and quickly moving toward post-modernism. Who could have imagined the unity & patriotism that followed the 9/11/01 attack on the World Trade Center would deteriorate into the extreme political polarization that divides our nation today? Who could have imagined wickedness and open debauchery would become a normal part of our society? Who could have imagined that those who risked their lives to escape Communism & Socialism would arrive on our shores to hear people pushing for Socialism here in the USA? Who would have imagined our Founding Fathers would be labeled evil men? Who could have imagined prisoners released due to COVID, would be replaced by ministers imprisoned for holding church services? Who would have imagined that biblical, Christian values would ever be labeled as "hate?"  

In this new era, many schools, universities and politicians are attempting to rewrite history; even making efforts to remove the 245 years of influence that Christianity has had on our nation.  It doesn't take much effort for one to realize that America was founded upon Christian principles and the God of the Bible. While efforts are being made to rewrite history, it is interesting to discover that some of the greatest proofs of our nation's Christian roots are found across Washington, D.C.  Just consider the following examples:

The Washington Monument
From the tallest structure in Washington a message of ‘Praise be to God”  goes forth. Engraved upon the aluminum capstone on the top of this 555 foot monument is Laus Deo. Inside the structure are carved tribute blocks with many Godly messages: “Holiness to the Lord,” “Search the Scriptures,” “The memory of the just is blessed,” and others.

The Library of Congress
Within the Great Hall of the Jefferson Building are two cases, one containing a Gutenberg Bible and the other a hand-copied Giant Bible of Mainz. Many Biblical inscriptions can be found on the ceiling and walls.

In the Main Reading Room are statues and quotes representing fields of knowledge. Moses and Paul represent religion, with the inscription, “What doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy and to walk humbly with thy God?”

The Supreme Court
The Biblical foundation of American law is evidenced throughout this building. On the outside East Pediment is a marble relief of Moses holding tablets containing the Ten Commandments. Engraved on the oak doors at the entrance of the Court Chamber are the Roman numerals I through X, and above the heads of the justices is a carved marble relief with a large stone tablet containing I through X (each set of numerals represents ancient law, that is the Ten Commandments).

The Capitol Building
All of the eight large paintings in the Rotunda present aspects of our Christian history including The Baptism of Pocahontas and Departure of the Pilgrims from Holland which depicts the Pilgrims observing a day of prayer and fasting. “In God We Trust,” our national motto, is inscribed in letters of gold behind the speaker’s rostrum in the House Chamber. Also in this chamber, above the central Gallery door, is a marble sculpture of Moses.

The White House
An inscription by the first president to inhabit the White House, John Adams, is cut into the marble facing of the State Dining Room fireplace. It reads: “I pray Heaven to Bestow the Best of Blessings on THIS HOUSE and on All that shall hereafter Inhabit it. May none but Honest and Wise Men ever rule under this Roof.”

OTHER MONUMENTS AND BUILDINGS

On the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery is the inscription: “Here rests in honored glory an American soldier known but to God.” On the front facade of Union Station three Scripture verses are engraved including, “Thou has put all things under his feet” and “The truth shall make you free.” Lincoln’s words on his memorial exclaim “that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom.”

While some would like to erase the influence of Christianity from our nation's history, Chief Justice William Rehnquist stated it well, “No amount of repetition of historical errors . . . can make the errors true.”

As we come to July 4 and the celebrations to commemorate the birth of our great nation, let's take time to reflect on the Christian principles upon which this nation was founded. Let's thank God for our freedoms and realize that America is the greatest nation on Earth, because of the Judeo-Christian principles upon which it was founded. Let's pray for a great revival, another Great Awakening for our great nation!  

2 Chronicles 7:14 - "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land."