Archive for the ‘Current worldview debate’ Category

Scripture reading for January 13th: Genesis 37-40

The story of Joseph is a fascinating one!  He was a dreamer and the youngest of 11 brothers.  He was also his father’s favorite and probably a little spoiled.  His dreams that showed his father and brothers as somehow bowing down to him caused him to nearly lose his life!  Jealousy arouses forces that cause trouble! At least one of his brothers showed a small amount of compassion and his life was spared.  So much for the big dreams!  Joseph was sold into slavery and taken to Egypt.

Joseph was evidently quite handsome and muscular.  In his new role as servant to a wealth Egyptian, Potiphar, he was noticed by his master’s wife.  One day when Potiphar was gone, as Joseph was doing his duties in the house, he was propositioned by Potiphar’s wife.  “Come to bed with me!”   Joseph’s response was full of truth and godly wisdom.  “My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife.  How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?”  This happened day after day and Joseph continued to refuse her advances.  What amazing self-control!

Adultery is a sin!  It is a sin against God and another person made in God’s image and joined as one to their spouse.  God hates sin and this sin causes lying, jealousy, hatred, violence and ultimately death.  Adultery sows violence in a relationship and destroys marriages and homes.  Children are the victims and the devil loves to devour children in the midst of adultery, lying and violence.

Joseph gives us some very practical advice about how to escape temptation.  Our first line of defense is our feet!  If we would just quickly remove ourselves from the temptation, how much easier we find we can resist!  When we linger and begin to make allowances and reason we will always be defeated!  Running away may seem cowardly but it is sure better than the mess caused by sexual sin!  “Use de feet to avoid defeat!”

One day he went into the house to attend to his duties, and none of the household servants were inside.  She caught him by the cloak and said, “come to bed with me!”  But he left his cloak in her hand and ran out of the house. Genesis 39:11-12  “

Marriage should be honored by all and the marriage bed should be kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.” Hebrews 13:4

Scripture Reading for January 13:  Genesis 32-36

Have you ever felt that God has told you to do something that you knew had the potential for trouble?  You know you heard the Lord but needed reassurance that it was going to work out in spite of the very real potential.  Our first move away from home to pastor a church in Washington was like that.  We were used to being around family and familiar surrounding.  The church we took had had some problems too.  We were not sure they would like us or love us when the going got tough.  We wrestled some concerning our move of 2000 miles with our daughter just ready for her senior year in a good Christian high school.  We had told God we would go anywhere, but not necessarily this far! 

Jacob faced just such a challenge in his move back from Paddan Aram to his homeland.  God commanded him to go back but he was concerned about the brother he had left behind nearly 20 years ago who was plotting to kill him.  (Genesis 31:3, 13) Jacob had taken this brother’s birthright and stolen his father’s blessing.  He had also just left his father-in-law upset by leaving and losing his family and herds to Jacob’s shrewdness.  Jacob sent his family across the Jabok, a tributary of the Jordan River.  He divided them in groups and sent gifts for Esau but was in great fear and trembling when he heard Esau was coming with 400 men to meet him.  He stayed behind to pray.

That night he was alone and Scripture says “a man wrestled with him until daybreak”.  (Genesis 32:22-31) This “man” touched Jacobs hip socket and put it out of joint.  Jacob would not let him go until this “man” blessed him.  The man asked Jacob his name–”Jacob” (cheat, supplanter).  The man changed Jacob’s name to “Israel” (wrestled with God and men and have overcome.)   The man wouldn’t give Israel his name, but did bless him and left.  Israel named the place “Peniel”.  This name states that he believed he had seen God face to face and was spared!  Thus the nation of “Israel” was born out of this amazing wrestling match!  God wins again! 

Wrestling with God isn’t a bad thing if we are desparate for His blessing!  God loves it when we lay hold of Him as our only hope!  It’s a sure way to true blessing, but we may walk with a limp!  It’s a humbling thing to be touched by the Lord!  We will never walk the same way again!  Thankfully, ways of cheating, lying and manipulating to get our way are left behind.  Our past is gone!  We have a “new Name” written down in Glory! 

And God said to him, “I am God Almighty, be fruitful and increase in number. A nation and community of nations will come from your body.  The land I gave to Abraham and Isaac I also give to you, and I will give this land to your descendants after you.”  Genesis 36:11-12 

“He who has an ear to hear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.  To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna.  I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it.”  Revelation 2:17

Today we have news that our new President-elect trying to bring unity to our nation by asking an openly gay bishop, Gene Robinson of the Episcopal Church, to pray.  He has been openly critical of Mr. Obama for asking Rick Warren, an evangelical minister who has spoken out openly against the gay agenda, to pray at the inagural ceremony.  Bishop Robinson says he will not pray a “Christian” prayer or use the Bible because not all  Americans like the Bible.  How should we as Christians look at these events and discern God’s will for our actions and response? 

Unity is a good thing.  In John 17:20-23, Jesus prays that his followers will be brought to complete unity to let the world know that the Father had sent Jesus and that God the Father loves them.  Does this prayer mean that we should just let this issue of gay sex and gay marriage be a personal preference and try to be one?  What about our nation?  Should we, for the sake of unity, make this issue another preference?  There is a worldview battle going on now to try and decide these issues!

God’s original plan from Genesis is that a man and a woman would be joined together in a covenant relationship.  God  blessed their relationship and the offspring that would come.  These offspring would be raised to know, love, and obey God, their creator and the giver of life.  Genesis 1 and 2 detail the creation of man and woman and their God-given purpose.  Satan and sin entered the human race in Genesis 3.  The temptation Satan offered to woman was to have a personal knowledge of good and evil and become like God.  She and her husband fell for it.  The results are still being experienced. 

Gay and lesbian sexual relationships are a rebellion against God’s stated design and purpose.  No children can come from these unions and God commanded fruitfulness. Gay and lesbian lifestyles are not new.  They were one of the underlying reasons for God’s judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis 19.  Lot tried to warn the men of the city who were seeking his visitors (men who were angels) for gay sex.  “Don’t do this wicked thing” was the warning that went unheeded.  Numbers 18 warns against gay sex and says that the land will vomit out those who engage in it.  In the New Testament, 1st Corinthians 6:9-11 states that no homosexual offender will inherit the kingdom of God.  It is plain that Christians who serve the one and only true God should not do anything to promote or sanction anything that God hates and is going to judge.  The most loving thing we can do is confront them with truth and pray for God’s mercy leading to repentance. 

Our President-elect may mean well and claims to be a practicing Christian.  Bishop Robinson may be trying to bring unity and is sincere. But  sincerity is not a test of truth!   Their worldview is out of line with the Bible and God’s revealed will.  Scripture says that will bring judgment, not blessing! 

Our nation and new leadership need our prayers.  We must pray to the one true God in order to be heard. We support them but do not agree with their worldview or choices.  We voice our opinions with respect, but cannot change our belief for the sake of unity.  We must live out our faith in our world in truth.  We love those involved enough to confront with truth in love with prayer and tears for their repentance!  When offered the choice, we vote for those who will stand for God’s will in this area.  May God have mercy on our nation!

Scripture Reading for January 12–Genesis 27-31

“When Esau was 40 years old, he married Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and also Basemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite.  They were a source of grief to Isaac and Rebekah.”  Genesis 26:34-35

Abraham sent his servant to find a bride for Isaac to insure the godly line would be continued.  Isaac and Rebekah had the twins Jacob and Esau.  But Esau had a taste for these Hittite women,  not just one, but two wives at the same time!  It seems that Esau was oblivious to the grief he caused his godly parents.  He went right ahead in spite of their personal marriage story and probably their godly training and advice.   Marrying one was bad enough, but two was too much of a bad thing!

God wants us to walk by faith and in obedience to His Word.  He has placed those in authority over us to help us learn how to live and please the Lord.  Choosing a mate is one of the most important choices we make in life.  We as parents know our children and we know God (hopefully).  We should give godly instruction to our children to marry only believers.  We should help them by setting an example of a godly marriage and home and helping them evaluate the kind of man or woman who would complement their personality.  This person, according to Scripture should always be a believer and strong person of faith!  (2nd Corinthians 6:14-18) In fact, this is one of the only restrictions God puts on marriage.  (Marriage is only between a man and woman.)

Why does God require this?  According to Scripture (Malachi 2:15) He desires godly offspring!  It’s simple enough to understand.  In Genesis 4, there were Cain and Abel.  One feared God, the other didn’t.  In Genesis 6-8 there were Noah’s offspring and all the rest who were wicked!  From Abraham and Sarah, there were Ishmael and Isaac.  From Isaac and Rebekah there were Jacob and Esau.  Believing parents have a better chance of raising godly children!  It is still not a guarantee because each person has a free will to choose faith or self.  The Christian worldview on marriage needs re-emphasis in our world today!  Unbelieving mates and unequally yoked marriages cause great grief and pain to believers and to the heart of God when He see children without a godly example in the home! Don’t marry “those Hittite women”!

” Then Rebekah said to Isaac, “I’m disgusted with living because of these Hittite women.  If Jacob takes a wife from among the women of this land, from Hittite women like these, my life will not be worth living.”  Genesis 27:46

“ Do not be yoked together with unbelievers.  For what have righteousness and wickedness have in common?  Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial?  What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?”  2nd Corinthians 6:14-15

January 8th Scripture Reading: Genesis 18-20

An ongoing debate and cultural war is going on in our society concerning gay and lesbian rights.  Their argument is that genetically they are made with a preference to have sex with the same sex.  They say it is discrimination and lack of tolerance when we will not allow them all the rights that traditional married couples have.  A large number of states have passed traditional marriage protection acts.  Courts are hearing challenges to these laws.  Petitions are being presented to legalize same-sex marriage and even to allow adoption of children to same-sex couples.  Two states have legal same-sex marriages.

From today’s reading, we get insight into how God feels about this sort of activity in a city or country.  He has ordained marriage between a man and a woman.  He made them male and female.  But sin, disobedience to the clear command and purpose of God, always brings consequences.  He is merciful to all who will listen and obey but will judge unrepented sin and rebellion.  Sin’s outcry reaches heaven and God’s ears.

Abraham had interceded with God and knew that God as the judge of the earth would not destroy the righteous along with the wicked. (Genesis 18:25)   In response to the reports of wickedness that had reached heaven, God sent two angels to Sodom to rescue Lot and his family before judgment fell.  As these angels were visiting with Lot, the men of Sodom came knocking on Lot’s door, demanding to have those visitors (the angels) for their own sexual pleasure.  Lot pleaded with them, “Please don’t do this wicked thing.” (Genesis 19:6) But they began to move to break down his door.  The angels intervened, pulled Lot inside, and struck the men blind so they could not find the door.  They then warned Lot to gather his family and leave because they were under orders from God to destroy that city.

The saddest note in this story is when Lot tried to warn his son’s-in- law about the coming destruction and they thought he was joking! (Genesis 19:14)  Lot had moved to Sodom with great riches.  He apparently tolerated the wickedness and even failed to help his own daughters find believing mates.  When the angels warned of the coming destruction, he tried to get out of going where they suggested.   His own wife looked back and was turned into a pillar of salt!  What a sad case of a man who knew God and His blessing and got deluded by the spirit of Sodom!  How’s your discernment?  Are you aware of the warnings of God’s Word?  Are you warning those involved in the “sin of Sodom?”  Are you careful to vote for godly men and women who will listen to God’s Word on this subject?  Pray for discernment and intercede for mercy for our land!

God’s message for our day is plain!  He designed man and woman for marriage and reproduction and raising godly children.  When we rebel against His plan and do our own thing, consequences will follow.  We have the freedom to choose our lifestyle, but the consequences surely will come with it!  “Don’t do this wicked thing!”

“Then the Lord rained down burning sulfur on Sodom and Gomorrah–from the Lord out of the heavens.  Thus he overthrew those cities and the entire plain, including all those living in the cities and also the vegetation in the land.  But Lot’s wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.” Genesis 19:24-26

http://news.aol.com/article/atheists-file-lawsuit-over-inauguration/291040

A lawsuit has now been filed by Michael Newdow, a California doctor and lawyer and atheist.  His suit attempts to legislate against any reference to religion or God in the inagural ceremony for President-elect Barak Obama.  He is joined by several humanist and atheist groups and has tried this two other times before during President Bush’s inagural events.  He was defeated each time and expects to be again. 

This again points up the dualist thinking that has entrenched itself in the thinking of our nation and even much of the church world.  Mr. Newdow did not list President-elect Obama in the suit because he has the personal right to ask for God’s help.  Mr. Newdow doesn’t want the unbelieving public to be exposed to references to God, such as “so help me God” in the oath of office.  It causes him pain and suffering.  Private faith and belief in God is alright, but it must not be practiced in public settings!  Faith has been classified as something of lower value because it is private and based on religious beliefs that don’t have the same value as public ‘truth’. 

This dualistic thinking has swept our country.  Our education system, media and journalism, and politicians and many clergy have bought into it.  They try to please everyone and end up displeasing God and helping no one.  God’s truth is true for all men at all times.  Our nation was founded on the biblical concept that “God created all men equal and with certain unalienable rights, life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”  We need Christians with backbones and a biblical worldview to work in education, media, journalism and politics and salt the workplace with this worldview.  We are called to be salt and light to a lost and confused and double-minded world! 

“You are the salt of the earth.  But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again?  It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.”  Matthew 5:13

 http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081231/ap_on_go_pr_wh/rel_inauguration_prayer
Last night, I read an article that illustrates how our vision of life, values, morals and biblical truth as Christians clashes with the world we live in.  There is ongoing debate about President-elect Obama’s choice of Rick Warren to offer the prayer at his inauguration.  In this article, the writer is trying to portray the need for respect of the various religious beliefs represented in our nation.  Muslims pray to “Allah” and Jews us the name “God”.  Concern is being voiced that a Christian minister praying in the name of “Jesus Christ” would be offensive to some.  Atheists and gay-rights activists are also not happy with Pastor Warren’s stand of faith and statements of biblical truth.  How can we know which of these worldviews are right?  Shouldn’t Pastor Warren yield in love to pray in a way that is inoffensive to others who believe differently?  Shouldn’t President-elect Obama be true to what he says he believes too? Why are all these people unhappy about this seemingly insignificant choice?

As Christians, we should respect each person’s right to believe what they choose.  God himself respects our right to choose.  What we are seeing here is the secular worldview that says that what we believe personally should just be kept to our own personal life.  It is only truth for those who believe it.  When you are in public, you should act in a way that will be accepted by all.  The idea is to be politically correct in the public world and still personally believe what you think is true.  This two-tiered view of the world is not biblical!   We should live a life that is true to Jesus Christ and His word, no matter what the setting.  Our values and morals should guide our words and our choices private and public. These values and morals should be derived from God’s Word, the ultimate source of truth.   Our goal is not just to please all men, but to please our loving Father by obedience and faith.  Let’s pray that all who name the name of Christ will seek to please Him alone.

As we embark on this trek through the Bible and a new year, God wants to instill an understanding of Scripture and His view of mankind in our hearts and minds.  He wants us to understand who we are and what we believe.  He wants us to know that His Word is not just true for those who believe, but it is true for time and eternity.  It is something we can base our life on that is a solid rock.  As we read the daily news and hear the debates and feel the pressure to conform to this world’s thinking, we will know the truth and that truth will make us free indeed! 

“There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.” Proverbs 14:12   Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, “if you continue in my word then you are really my disciples.  You will know the truth and the truth will set you free.”  –John 8:31-32