Stand Firm in Your Faith (Daniel 6)

Daniel 6 - "Stand Firm in Your Faith." Next in series, "Keeping Your Wits in a Wacky World"

Pride Has Consequences (Daniel 5)

Pride and Arrogance Have Consequences! (Daniel 5)

Why I am Not a Calvinist

I grew up in South Florida surrounded by people from various nations, tribes and tongues. I had friends of different colors, heard different languages daily and routinely learned new things from those I spent time with. Truly, we did not focus on our differences; but rather chose to enjoy each other’s friendship. We had great conversation and debate about things we viewed differently, but we never drew lines in the sand or ended friendships over differences of opinion.

So what has happened in America? Now we “cancel,” threaten, unfollow, cyber-bully, un-peacefully protest, and occasionally even harm those who have differences of opinion. What happened to good, open debate and the opportunity to share, listen and learn from those who held different viewpoints? 

I’ve seen this in the secular world and I am seeing it more and more in the Church.  One of the most obvious examples is the argument over a person’s position regarding Soteriology – the Doctrine of Salvation. Are you a Calvinist, Arminian, or a Provisionist (traditionalist)?  Just as denominations divided and segregated believers into various groups, this new argument is further sub-dividing the already divided Church.

Sadly, the focus for many has shifted away from the mission of bringing people to Jesus and now focuses on trying to bring other Christians to their viewpoint. That is simply a distraction that causes division in the body of Christ and keeps those without Christ from hearing the Good News of the Gospel. I usually try to avoid these debates in public; but I want to address it here, because I am getting asked my “position” more and more frequently.  So, my response comes from the words of Scripture:

• God loves everyone, not just a few (John 3:16)
• Christ died once for all (Rom. 6:10; Rom. 5:18)
• Jesus’ payment for sin was sufficient for all (1 John 2:2)
• God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9)
• Whosoever will, come after me… (Mark 8:34)
• As many as received Him… (John 1:12)
• Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord will be saved (Rom. 10:13)
• There are many, many more verses that show salvation is available to all, not just a select few.

For the sake of those who are still trying to figure this out and even some who are seeking answers to a question they really don’t even understand, I’ve included book titles and links to some great YouTube videos that address the reason I personally hold to a Provisionist (traditional) position regarding salvation – meaning that salvation is available to anyone who will receive it.  My position regarding salvation is based solely on the Bible and I personally have problems with both Calvinism (Presbyterian/Reformed theology) and Arminianism, so I refuse to be pigeon-holed into either camp. 

To those who are “knowers,” the videos below will not change your opinions. To those who are “learners,” I know you will enjoy some good conversation and intellectual stimuli. 

BOOKS:

Against Calvinism by Roger E. Olson. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011.  207 pp. $14.00. ISBN: 978-0-310-32467-6 

Does God Love Everyone? The Heart of What is Wrong with Calvinism by Jerry L. Walls. Eugene, OR: Cascade Books, 2016. 88 pp. $15.00. ISBN: 978-1620325506.  (See article link below) 

ARTICLE: 

“Does God Love Everyone? The Heart of What is Wrong with Calvinism” by Jerry L Walls. 

YOUTUBE: 

https://www.youtube.com/c/Soteriology101 – Soteriology 101, Dr. Leighton Flowers 

https://www.youtube.com/c/MikeWinger - Learn to Think Biblically, Mike Winger. Once on the site, just search the word Calvinism 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQXSXfXl4kw – Why Calvinists Get Romans 9 Wrong (Election & Mission), by Dr. Matt O’Reilly 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJWIWv69D_0&t=44s – The Best Argument Against Calvinism, by Dr. Braxton Hunter

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JASX8g6sWkw – Calvinism Refuted in 10 Minutes, by Greg Boyd 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JASX8g6sWkw – Jerry Walls: What’s Wrong with Calvinism?

 

 

Faith in the Flames (Daniel 3)

With God, Nothing is Impossible (Daniel 2)

Daniel 1 - "Welcome to Babylon"

"Commanded to Love" Series - Week 1 - Love God

Is it OK for Christians to Rebel Against Authority?

Let me start this post by saying – I truly do NOT care about your position on COVID, vaccines, testing, mandates, conspiracy theories, government overreach, political affiliations, authority of OSHA, power of the POTUS, etc.  If you, in any way, think this post is about any of those topics – you have already missed the point!  This post is about the spirit of rebellion, disobedience, insubordination, etc. we are seeing in the attitudes and actions of “God’s people” toward those in authority (teachers, police, local officials to federal employees) during this pandemic.  Some are confusing American liberties with Christian responsibilities. It is my goal to raise awareness to this issue and encourage Christ-followers to act more like Jesus, to be people of peace, and increase the intensity of their witness. With that premise, allow me to introduce the topic and share from the heart of a concerned pastor.

There is no question that this pandemic has impacted the world, not only the USA, as the political conspirators have tried to portray. My heart truly goes out to the families of all who died during COVID; but this post goes far beyond sympathy and compassion. The job market, the world, and even the church looks different and will be forever changed going forward after this pandemic.

As I have now watched the COVID pandemic unfold for almost two years, it has become more and more clear that modern Christianity is far from what Jesus taught and what we see recorded about the early church. The early church put faith over fear, even to the point of martyrdom. Our menial inconveniences including lockdowns, TP shortages, etc. hardly qualify as suffering or persecution. Yet these minimal inconveniences have resulted in a decline in church attendance, reduced participation, and a blowing away of the seeds that fell on the rocky soil of attractional church models.

Many false prophets, fearmongers and dooms-day preachers have come onto the scene.  Many religious people, claiming to be “Christians;” are using this pandemic to stir strife, sow discord, cause division, foster rebellion and spew their anti-government rants. Open debate is gone... differing opinions are not permitted... "you're a racist" now means "I have no credible argument"... preferences are now championed as "convictions" and protecting our rights has replaced submission among “God’s people.”  Most sad is that intense conversations about COVID protocols are dividing families, friends, churches; and have replaced conversations about the good news of the Gospel.

So, what about you?  Take a moment to ask yourself --  

• Have I engaged more people in conversations about COVID, vaccines, mandates, testing, personal rights, etc.; than I have in conversations about Jesus?
• Have I brought more converts to my COVID or political view, than I have to my Savior?
• Do I speak more passionately about my “convictions” for/against the vaccine or about my faith?
• Do my comments light fires or bring unity between my friends, family and the Body of Christ?
• Do I find myself submitting to or rebelling against the authorities God has placed in my life?

While Jesus frequently challenged the heresies of religious authorities; He, and other Bible authors, taught submission to those those in authority (i.e. - parents, employers, civil government, etc.).  Consider the following examples from the Scriptures:

• Jesus taught humility and submission at home and work (Eph. 5-6)
  
• Jesus instructed the Disciples to “render unto Caesar that which is Caesars”
• As Jesus entered Jerusalem, the people threw down their coats and palm branches believing that Jesus was going to overthrow the government and establish a new earthly kingdom. That was not His mission.
• When Peter cut-off Malchus’ ear to defend Jesus, Jesus rebuked him, replaced it, and surrendered Himself to the Roman guards.
• Jesus humbled Himself and opened not His mouth, while being falsely accused and beaten by the Roman soldiers.
• Paul taught believers to obey those in authority, because all authority comes from God.
• Paul and Barnabas sang and ministered in prison, asking the Church to pray for their effectiveness with the Gospel, rather than praying for their release.

In recent days, I’ve heard “God’s people” use Bible stories out of context, in an effort to justify their rebellion against various authorities over things they simply don't "like." In the Bible, the accounts of rebellion against authority were toward those who perverted worship or sought to silence the Gospel. Some of these stories include:

• Acts 5:29 the High Priest instructed Peter and the apostles to stop preaching about Jesus. “But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: “We ought to obey God rather than men.”
• Daniel 1:8 – Daniel refused to eat the king’s food; because it was a violation of the Jewish dietary laws, thus making him unclean (unfit to worship) before the Lord.
• Daniel 6 - Daniel was thrown in the lion’s den for refusing to engage in false worship by offering prayers to King Darius.
• Daniel 3 - Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were thrown in the fiery furnace for refusing to bow down and worship the golden statue set-up by King Nebuchadnezzar in the plain of Dura.
• 2 Kings 18 - Hezekiah rebelled against the king of Syria by tearing down the idols and turn the hearts of the people back to God.
• 2 Kings 24 - Jehoiakim rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar at the Lord’s command, because of the sins of Manasseh.

These stories all show the common thread of rebellion against authorities who perverted worship.  These situations are all VERY different from the rebellion toward authority that some “Christians” are trying to justify today. Today's rebellion stems from personal “preferences,” opinions, rights, American freedoms, etc.; and has nothing to do with the worship of God.  Listen closely and you can almost hear Samuel’s words to King Saul in 1 Sam. 15 echoing to today’s church, “For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.”

So what is a true believer to do? Certainly Christ-followers do NOT have to agree with those in authority 100% of the time, we don't have to like their decisions, we are allowed to have differing opinions, and we can rest assured there are times the authority will be flat-out wrong; but as believers, here are some biblical instructions to guide us:

• Seek to live peaceably with all men (Rom. 12:18)
• Submit to authorities, because all authority comes from God (Rom. 13:1)
• Realize that rebelling against authority is rebellion against God (Rom. 13:2)
• Practice submitting to authority as a matter of principal (Rom. 13:3-5)
• Give everyone what you owe them (Rom. 13:6-7)
• Realize that love is the fulfillment of the Law (Rom. 13:8-10)
• Realizing the day of salvation is near (Rom. 13:11)
• The Church must be the Church! (Rom. 13:12-13)
• Clothe yourself with Christ and make no provision for the flesh (Rom. 13:14)
• Stop quarreling over opinions (Rom. 14:1-2)
• Refuse to judge others who view things differently (Rom. 14:3-4)
• Follow the humble example of Jesus
• Look out for the weaker brother (Rom. 14:13-15)
• Avoid contention and put the interests of others before your own (Phil 2:1-4)
• Remember, God hates… those who sow discord in the Body of Christ (Prov. 6:16-19)

Practicing these biblical principles, will get us started in the right direction. Realize our personal preferences (frequently mislabeled “convictions”) are too often, just self-centered desires. True convictions are built on biblical precepts and principles that are worth dying for (i.e. - Read Foxes Book of Martyrs for stories of those who died for their convictions). If your position is not worth dying for, it is not a “conviction,” it is merely a preference.  While your preference may be to go 70 mph in a 55 mph zone, there are consequences when you choose to disobey those in authority. While you might prefer to dine in public without a shirt; remember the old sign - "no shirt, no shoes, no service" - it meant that abiding by your preference limited your dining choices. The same is true in God’s Kingdom – every decision has a consequence – so I implore you to make your choices in light of eternity, submit to those in authority, and to bring honor to our Savior. Let's truly be people of peace in this world of chaos.

Take a few minutes to read Romans 13.

Need a Push?

 

Need a push? Those words can apply to a child on a swing, a teen at the top of a ski slope, a clueless adult walking beside a pool, a car stalled in the road, or for anyone who grew-up in the church - it could mean the church bus broke down on the way home from summer camp.  Synonyms for "push" are: shove, propel, ram, bump, prod, poke, nudge, impact, etc. The idea is to get something moving again.  

The word "push" can also mean to encourage someone to improve or move beyond mediocrity. It can mean to help someone over a hurdle. In one sense, we can help "push" people past their fears.  My kids usually needed me to "push" them to try new things. I would "push" them to go on roller coasters, to go down tall water slides, etc. Once they tried it, they loved it and wanted to do it again and again. In a spiritual sense, we all need a little push to help us keep or regain our momentum.  

January is the start of a new year, and it provides a great time to "push" ourselves forward spiritually. Maybe you lost some spiritual momentum during COVID -- you don't attend church services as often... you stopped serving in a ministry... you got in the habit of staying in your PJ's and watching online... etc.  If there were good spiritual habits and disciplines that you engaged in prior to COVID and have not yet resumed them, now is a great time to "push" yourself to restart. As you start to gain momentum, look around to see if there is someone else you can help "push." Continue to find others who are stopped or stuck spiritually and "push" them forward in their faith.  

A car needs all cylinders fully functioning, if it is to run properly.  A team needs all of its players healthy and working together, if it wants to have a chance at winning. The Church is the same way -- we are a Body made-up of many parts. We need all of our parts in order to function properly and fulfill our God-given purpose. So, we need you to get unstuck! We need you to get off the sidelines and back in the game! We need you to get out of your PJ's and back in the pews! We need you to stop sitting and start serving! We need you to help us push forward in the mission God has assigned to His Church!

The Apostle Paul wrote about this in 1 Thess. 5:11 - "Encourage one another and build each other up."  The author of Hebrews said, "And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works." I read these passages as let's "push" each other toward the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. I'm planning to push you in 2022, and I hope you will push me. If we do this for each other, then together we can cross the finish line and hear the words, "Well done, My good and faithful servant." 

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.