The biggest problem in our world today is sin because it will end up causing most people to spend eternity in hell (Matthew 7:13-14). The case can be made that the root cause of our sin is misplaced fear because fear leads to sin. Other things which lead to sin such as pride really are a result of fear. Pride is simply a fear of being insignificant. Overcome the fear of insignificance and pride can not emerge.
People are fearful of changes going on in the climate, our economy, terrorism, and even the government’s solutions to these problems. In our day, these fears seem to be increasing the rate in which people are “tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine” (Ephesians 4:14, NKJ). And the one fear people should have is the one most people don’t allow themselves to develop: “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom” (Proverbs 9:10).
Fear of God drives us to Him for His mercy. Fear of anything besides God causes us to look to less capable alternatives for our salvation. As we experience the weakness of these alternatives, our fear only grows driving us to take irrational counter-measures… “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7). So misplaced fear, if allowed to fester, will eventually lead to sin.
It is helpful to consider how fear led to the beginning of sin. We usually think of sin beginning through mankind’s initial ancestors Adam and Eve but since Satan plotted to deceive them, he has the distinction of being the first to reject God. Ezekiel 28:14 describes Satan as the “the anointed cherub who covers… on the holy mountain of God.” Apparently Satan initially had a key role close to God protecting His holiness. As Ezekiel 28:12 says, Satan had been “full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.” So what would cause him to reject God? Isaiah 14:12-15 records the prideful mindset that caused Satan to go his own way. Satan feared that that his position in God’s kingdom was not high enough so he parted fellowship with God to pursue his own way.
Blessings can become a disadvantage for us if we forget how we came by them. Adam and Eve had the blessings of Eden yet they let their fears get the better of them. Genesis 3:1-13 chronicles the very first sin of mankind. Eve feared missing out on something God "had to be" withholding from her. So she allowed Satan’s lie to eclipse the truth of God. She also feared being alone in her disobeying God so she lured her husband to join her in eating the forbidden fruit. But Adam was complicit in Eve’s sin because he was with her and failed to stop her from disobeying God.
God gave Adam the truth of the forbidden fruit in Genesis 2:16 before Eve was even on the scene. So Eve had to find out about it from her husband. Thus Adam failed to live up to his God-given role as spiritual leader in their family allowing Eve to influence him. I’m sure he feared losing the affections of his wife who he knew was perfect for him since he had described her as, “bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh” in Genesis 2:23.
Upon eating the forbidden fruit, both Adam and Eve feared being seen in their nakedness. I once had a dream where I suddenly discovered having forgotten to wear any clothes to work; so I have a sense for what Adam and Eve must have felt. My dream no-doubt was an indicator that I needed to put more trust in Christ to overcome whatever it was I feared at the time.
Adam and Eve hid when the heard God “walking in the garden in the cool of the day.” They knew they had sinned against God and feared His reproach. Adam feared God’s condemnation and blamed his moral failure on his wife and ultimately on God himself for giving him a wife that enticed him to sin. Eve also feared God’s condemnation and proceeded to blame Satan who deceived her. This is what fear does; it causes us to blame others for our condition.
Fortunately, as God provided a covering for Adam and Eve’s nakedness, He also provided Jesus Christ to pay the penalty for our sin. As the first blood shed on earth was done by God to cover Adam and Eve; the most important blood shed in history covers the sin of all who trust in Jesus. Remembering that gives us courage when we find ourselves fearing anything that threatens us in this world.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Monday, January 11, 2010
Fearless
I’m preparing for a 6-week Bible study/discussion of Max Lucado’s most recent book “Fearless.” This is a timely study because there is a lot to be fearful of in our world today. While we have positive signs that the economy is improving, there is still the sense that it wouldn’t take much to plunge us into a deeper recession. Terrorist activity is growing around the world and it is just a matter of time before the Jihadists get their hands on weapons of mass destruction. Governmental elites are preparing us for draconian measures to combat global warming. And we have a government that is in a hurry to burden us with as much debt and impose as much control over the private sector as they can get away with.
But there is no reason for followers of Jesus to fear any of this. God loves those who believe in Jesus as John 3:16 promises and “perfect love casts out fear” (I John 4:18, NKJ). God does not want us to live in fear but to know Him and trust in His power to deliver us from the worst this world has to offer. “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7).
We should actually have joy in these fearful times because they provide great opportunities for Christians to help others see the practical benefits of following Jesus. God is in control and he has allowed things to develop the way they have to serve His purposes. We benefit from remembering what God has done to show us that He is in control and does indeed love us.
The Bible is full of miracles that reveal God intervening in the affairs of mankind. While this age is not characterized by the kind of spectacular miracles God used to authenticate His spokesmen, miracles are nonetheless abounding in our day. During this Age of Grace, it is especially important to remember that, “we walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7).
The greatest miracles in our day are the many people who are becoming followers of Jesus. this is clearly a miracle because as Jesus said, “no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father” (John 6:65). It is God who breathes live into our human spirits which changes our mind about Him. Jesus explained that, “unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). Being spiritually born is not something we can do for ourselves; it must be done for us by God. Fortunately Jesus also promised, “the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out” (John 6:37).
For the discerning, God reveals Himself daily in the miracles of answered prayer. Unbelievers write off circumstances that are beyond coincidence as mere chance but those who know God know better. And we also have the many prophecies about Israel that are being fulfilled in our day which tells us we are close to the end of the Age of Grace. The realization of this does not bring comfort to the unbeliever because all who are outside God’s grace know it. “He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him” (John 3:36).
The good news in this world is that, “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Acts 2:21).
But there is no reason for followers of Jesus to fear any of this. God loves those who believe in Jesus as John 3:16 promises and “perfect love casts out fear” (I John 4:18, NKJ). God does not want us to live in fear but to know Him and trust in His power to deliver us from the worst this world has to offer. “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7).
We should actually have joy in these fearful times because they provide great opportunities for Christians to help others see the practical benefits of following Jesus. God is in control and he has allowed things to develop the way they have to serve His purposes. We benefit from remembering what God has done to show us that He is in control and does indeed love us.
The Bible is full of miracles that reveal God intervening in the affairs of mankind. While this age is not characterized by the kind of spectacular miracles God used to authenticate His spokesmen, miracles are nonetheless abounding in our day. During this Age of Grace, it is especially important to remember that, “we walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7).
The greatest miracles in our day are the many people who are becoming followers of Jesus. this is clearly a miracle because as Jesus said, “no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father” (John 6:65). It is God who breathes live into our human spirits which changes our mind about Him. Jesus explained that, “unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). Being spiritually born is not something we can do for ourselves; it must be done for us by God. Fortunately Jesus also promised, “the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out” (John 6:37).
For the discerning, God reveals Himself daily in the miracles of answered prayer. Unbelievers write off circumstances that are beyond coincidence as mere chance but those who know God know better. And we also have the many prophecies about Israel that are being fulfilled in our day which tells us we are close to the end of the Age of Grace. The realization of this does not bring comfort to the unbeliever because all who are outside God’s grace know it. “He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him” (John 3:36).
The good news in this world is that, “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Acts 2:21).
Friday, January 8, 2010
City of Man
I recently read a Newsweek article titled “Red Mind, Blue Mind” which makes the case that personality and other psychological factors influence political ideology. The article attempts to explain why people take the positions they do on issues such as health care reform and global warming as a result of personality factors such as openness to new experiences and emotional stability.
The article brought to mind for me the differences in the cultural divide between rural regions and the cities. This divide is illustrated in the maps showing which counties voted Democrat or Republican in the last presidential election. Why is it that cities are a hot bed for liberals and the rural regions the domain of conservatives?
Cities bring people together to achieve great things. They are centers for culture, trade and usually provide more opportunities for jobs than is possible in rural areas. The critical mass cities provide enable people to be more anonymous yet be associated with something greater than themselves.
Cities are effectively monuments to the achievements of mankind. New York City is the epitome of what all that cities aspire to be. With buildings and pavement everywhere, Central Park is an accommodation to nature and an exception to what NYC is all about. In such a city, it is normal to be surrounded by the creations of men and thus easier to not even consider the creation of God.
In the country, people are much more aware that mankind’s role in creation is insignificant and dependant on God. When you are surrounded by things only God could create, it is much easier to remember that He created us as well. And rural jobs usually make it more clear that one’s livelihood is dependant to God’s help than a city job “working for the man.”
Babylon was the first classic City of Man. Genesis 11:1-9 tells us what happened with this first big city mankind built… “And they said, ‘Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top is in the heavens; let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth’” (Genesis 11:4, NKJ). God had to intervene there because the people were thwarting His will for mankind to populate the whole earth and their collective achievements were driving people from a relationship with Him.
At Babel, God limited the degree to which mankind could pursue collective efforts as an alternative to working with Him by forcing them to speak to each other in multiple languages. After Babel, people could only easily associate with those who spoke their language so the resulting parted ways with each other. This is why we have racial differences today, because certain dominant genes emerged among the various gene-pool subsets of people who inter-bred.
Today, the world is hard at work undoing the Babel effect. English has become the universal second language for the world since it has been established as the common language of commerce, technology, culture, and communications via the Internet. Cities are the centers for people coming together to do great things with no thought for God. So naturally it is the people in metropolitan areas who tend to be the most aligned with a world view that has no need for God.
People are drawn to cities for good reason. But we shouldn’t confuse what we long for with the weak substitute mankind builds in this world. Our Creator has made it a part of our psyche to long for the City of God. Revelation Chapter 21 describes the New Jerusalem that God is building as our eternal home. It is the city where God will reside with us and where God will fulfill all our desires that can not be satisfied in this world.
I agree with the Newsweek article that there definitely are different personality and psychological factors associated with political ideology. But is this a cause or an effect? I think a bigger factor is a person’s worldview based on how they regard the God of the Bible. Fortunately, a person’s world view can change from finding their salvation in the City of Man to the City of God.
The article brought to mind for me the differences in the cultural divide between rural regions and the cities. This divide is illustrated in the maps showing which counties voted Democrat or Republican in the last presidential election. Why is it that cities are a hot bed for liberals and the rural regions the domain of conservatives?
Cities bring people together to achieve great things. They are centers for culture, trade and usually provide more opportunities for jobs than is possible in rural areas. The critical mass cities provide enable people to be more anonymous yet be associated with something greater than themselves.
Cities are effectively monuments to the achievements of mankind. New York City is the epitome of what all that cities aspire to be. With buildings and pavement everywhere, Central Park is an accommodation to nature and an exception to what NYC is all about. In such a city, it is normal to be surrounded by the creations of men and thus easier to not even consider the creation of God.
In the country, people are much more aware that mankind’s role in creation is insignificant and dependant on God. When you are surrounded by things only God could create, it is much easier to remember that He created us as well. And rural jobs usually make it more clear that one’s livelihood is dependant to God’s help than a city job “working for the man.”
Babylon was the first classic City of Man. Genesis 11:1-9 tells us what happened with this first big city mankind built… “And they said, ‘Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top is in the heavens; let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth’” (Genesis 11:4, NKJ). God had to intervene there because the people were thwarting His will for mankind to populate the whole earth and their collective achievements were driving people from a relationship with Him.
At Babel, God limited the degree to which mankind could pursue collective efforts as an alternative to working with Him by forcing them to speak to each other in multiple languages. After Babel, people could only easily associate with those who spoke their language so the resulting parted ways with each other. This is why we have racial differences today, because certain dominant genes emerged among the various gene-pool subsets of people who inter-bred.
Today, the world is hard at work undoing the Babel effect. English has become the universal second language for the world since it has been established as the common language of commerce, technology, culture, and communications via the Internet. Cities are the centers for people coming together to do great things with no thought for God. So naturally it is the people in metropolitan areas who tend to be the most aligned with a world view that has no need for God.
People are drawn to cities for good reason. But we shouldn’t confuse what we long for with the weak substitute mankind builds in this world. Our Creator has made it a part of our psyche to long for the City of God. Revelation Chapter 21 describes the New Jerusalem that God is building as our eternal home. It is the city where God will reside with us and where God will fulfill all our desires that can not be satisfied in this world.
I agree with the Newsweek article that there definitely are different personality and psychological factors associated with political ideology. But is this a cause or an effect? I think a bigger factor is a person’s worldview based on how they regard the God of the Bible. Fortunately, a person’s world view can change from finding their salvation in the City of Man to the City of God.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Opposing Israel
I recently read a paper titled, “Strategic Implications of American Millennialism” which makes the case that the pervasiveness of those looking forward to the Rapture have adversely influenced US policy. The paper seeks to educate policy makers on this influence so that they would be better equipped to counter its impact.
The biggest policy errors that the author, U.S. Army Major Brian L. Stuckert, says the U.S. has made and is susceptible to are related to the support of Israel. He wrote, “if Israel were removed before the rapture, then the pre-millennialists’ theory of imminent escape from death would be falsified.” Well, I’m a pre-millennialist and that thought has never occurred to me because Ezekiel 37:21-25 says, “Thus says the Lord GOD: ‘Surely I will take the children of Israel from among the nations, wherever they have gone, and will gather them from every side and bring them into their own land… and they shall dwell there, they, their children, and their children's children, forever’” (NKJV). Israel being established back in their land is God’s doing and His very reputation is at stake in maintaining his promises.
Major Stuckert must not have had the briefing I had when I was in the Army. In 1980, the officers in my field artillery battalion had a session with an Israeli armor brigade commander to learn about his experiences going against Soviet weapons during the Yom Kippur War. I guess most would have written off his story of finding multiple Sagger missile guide wires draped over his tank following a battle as the result of incompetent Egyptian operators. But even as an unsaved junior officer, I recognized this as the providence of God; I had witnessed multiple firings of TOW missiles, the U.S. equivalent to the Soviet Sagger, and I had never seen one fail to hit the target. Wire-guided anti-tank missiles are always lethal.
There are multiple reasons I support Israel. But probably the most pragmatic reason is due to the promise God made to Abraham, the father of Israel: “I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed” (Genesis 12:2-3, NKJ). I certainly don’t want to be counted among the cursed of God.
Major Stuckert’s fear of pre-millennialists influence policy is a theme I’ve heard before but labeled self-fulfilling prophecy. As if we can bring about the return of the Messiah by precipitating certain events. Jihadists actually believe that but not Bible-believers. There is no prophetic event that must precede the Rapture of the Church. Jesus said, “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming” (Matthew 25:13, NKJ).
The idea that we can cause the Messiah to return reveals a lack of understanding of the nature of God who is in ultimate control. What is dangerous are those with the attitude of Major Stuckert who feels the need to counter-balance the influence of pre-millennialists. This will lead us down the path of no longer supporting Israel. Indeed the day is coming when this will be the case… “It shall happen in that day that I will make Jerusalem a very heavy stone for all peoples; all who would heave it away will surely be cut in pieces, though all nations of the earth are gathered against it” (Zechariah 12:3, NKJV).
The implication of Major Stuckert’s attitude is chilling. If you consider what he is advocating, you will find yourself more in league with the Jihadists who want to see Israel eliminated than with Bible-believers who fear the wrath of God for failing to support Israel. An anti-Israel attitude is growing in our government today and it is this very dynamic that will entice secularized government leaders to yield sovereignty to the coming charismatic leader of Islam. Indeed, the Antichrist will be loved by all who seek worldly solutions to their salvation… “All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life” (Revelation 13:8, NKJ).
Major Stuckert’s scholarly work was really well written but it was clear that he did not have a love for God. This brings 2 Timothy 3:7 to mind, “always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth” (NKJ). I am praying that Major Stuckert will have a change of heart.
The biggest policy errors that the author, U.S. Army Major Brian L. Stuckert, says the U.S. has made and is susceptible to are related to the support of Israel. He wrote, “if Israel were removed before the rapture, then the pre-millennialists’ theory of imminent escape from death would be falsified.” Well, I’m a pre-millennialist and that thought has never occurred to me because Ezekiel 37:21-25 says, “Thus says the Lord GOD: ‘Surely I will take the children of Israel from among the nations, wherever they have gone, and will gather them from every side and bring them into their own land… and they shall dwell there, they, their children, and their children's children, forever’” (NKJV). Israel being established back in their land is God’s doing and His very reputation is at stake in maintaining his promises.
Major Stuckert must not have had the briefing I had when I was in the Army. In 1980, the officers in my field artillery battalion had a session with an Israeli armor brigade commander to learn about his experiences going against Soviet weapons during the Yom Kippur War. I guess most would have written off his story of finding multiple Sagger missile guide wires draped over his tank following a battle as the result of incompetent Egyptian operators. But even as an unsaved junior officer, I recognized this as the providence of God; I had witnessed multiple firings of TOW missiles, the U.S. equivalent to the Soviet Sagger, and I had never seen one fail to hit the target. Wire-guided anti-tank missiles are always lethal.
There are multiple reasons I support Israel. But probably the most pragmatic reason is due to the promise God made to Abraham, the father of Israel: “I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed” (Genesis 12:2-3, NKJ). I certainly don’t want to be counted among the cursed of God.
Major Stuckert’s fear of pre-millennialists influence policy is a theme I’ve heard before but labeled self-fulfilling prophecy. As if we can bring about the return of the Messiah by precipitating certain events. Jihadists actually believe that but not Bible-believers. There is no prophetic event that must precede the Rapture of the Church. Jesus said, “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming” (Matthew 25:13, NKJ).
The idea that we can cause the Messiah to return reveals a lack of understanding of the nature of God who is in ultimate control. What is dangerous are those with the attitude of Major Stuckert who feels the need to counter-balance the influence of pre-millennialists. This will lead us down the path of no longer supporting Israel. Indeed the day is coming when this will be the case… “It shall happen in that day that I will make Jerusalem a very heavy stone for all peoples; all who would heave it away will surely be cut in pieces, though all nations of the earth are gathered against it” (Zechariah 12:3, NKJV).
The implication of Major Stuckert’s attitude is chilling. If you consider what he is advocating, you will find yourself more in league with the Jihadists who want to see Israel eliminated than with Bible-believers who fear the wrath of God for failing to support Israel. An anti-Israel attitude is growing in our government today and it is this very dynamic that will entice secularized government leaders to yield sovereignty to the coming charismatic leader of Islam. Indeed, the Antichrist will be loved by all who seek worldly solutions to their salvation… “All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life” (Revelation 13:8, NKJ).
Major Stuckert’s scholarly work was really well written but it was clear that he did not have a love for God. This brings 2 Timothy 3:7 to mind, “always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth” (NKJ). I am praying that Major Stuckert will have a change of heart.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Big Government Lies
It is obvious this week that the Houston area will experience a colder than normal winter. As I discussed this with coworkers over lunch, Global Warming came up as a natural adjunct to the weather topic. The consensus was that we don't know what to believe. On one hand you have the government, media, and scientists being paid by the government claiming that our Carbon Dioxide emissions will destroy life as we know it on earth. And then we have our common sense that gives us that nagging feeling that we are being lied to. The question posed to me was, "why would our government lie to us?"
Of course these are the kind of opportunities I live for so I launched into my mini speech that you really can't understand why the government would lie to us apart from a biblical perspective. The government's solution to global warming is essentially an excuse to "spread the wealth around" by bringing down wealthy nations like the United States while bolstering poor third world nations. The hidden agenda is to make the wealthy countries more cooperative in the world community of nations in order to realize their vision of a global government. The problems of climate change, the economy, and terrorism are perceived to be too big for any one nation to solve so a global government is seen by the elites as the solution. Since the Bible says we will have a global government before the Messiah returns, a biblical world views helps us understand these dynamics.
While I thought of it, I did not bring up the classic example of the Nazi government lying to their people. But I didn't have to, one of my coworkers offered this up himself. Hitler outlined the propaganda strategy of the "Big Lie" in his book "Mein Kampf." Big Lies are accepted by the public because they are so audacious that people will not believe their government would be so evil to deceive their own people in such a bold manner. I think that Global Warming is one of the Big Lies that is being foisted on us in order to realize the vision of a global government.
We don't like thinking of our government as being evil but the Bible makes it clear that all the world's governments are under the control of demons. Satan tempted Jesus by offering Him the kingdoms of the world for His worship (Matthew 4:8-9). This would not have been a valid temptation if it wasn't true that Satan had sufficient control of the kingdoms of the world to be able to offer them up. Jesus acknowledged that Satan was the "ruler of this world" in John 14:30. So the less government we have, the better off we'll be though the trend is toward bigger and bigger government.
Certainly some governments are more evil than others and there are some governmental leaders who personally follow Christ and are thus better equipped to resist the temptations of the Evil One. But even then the pressures of the office comes with the need to compromise in order to hold on to their power which insures that Satan still controls them to some extent. It is very true that in this world power does corrupt.
Just because we have an evil government, it doesn't mean our attention should be on resisting it. God has called each of us to prepare for eternity so our time is much better used being focused on our mission. God gives us the government we need to serve His purposes (see Romans 13:1). Indeed, the Lord raised up Hitler for a reason and one purpose most certainly was to bring the Jews back to the land of Israel. So we should pray, "for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence" (1 Timothy 2:1-2, NKJ).
Our government needs a lot more prayer than it is getting... pray that our leaders will have their hearts opened to Jesus Christ and will act with godly wisdom. And please vote with godly discernment for the lesser of the evils!
Of course these are the kind of opportunities I live for so I launched into my mini speech that you really can't understand why the government would lie to us apart from a biblical perspective. The government's solution to global warming is essentially an excuse to "spread the wealth around" by bringing down wealthy nations like the United States while bolstering poor third world nations. The hidden agenda is to make the wealthy countries more cooperative in the world community of nations in order to realize their vision of a global government. The problems of climate change, the economy, and terrorism are perceived to be too big for any one nation to solve so a global government is seen by the elites as the solution. Since the Bible says we will have a global government before the Messiah returns, a biblical world views helps us understand these dynamics.
While I thought of it, I did not bring up the classic example of the Nazi government lying to their people. But I didn't have to, one of my coworkers offered this up himself. Hitler outlined the propaganda strategy of the "Big Lie" in his book "Mein Kampf." Big Lies are accepted by the public because they are so audacious that people will not believe their government would be so evil to deceive their own people in such a bold manner. I think that Global Warming is one of the Big Lies that is being foisted on us in order to realize the vision of a global government.
We don't like thinking of our government as being evil but the Bible makes it clear that all the world's governments are under the control of demons. Satan tempted Jesus by offering Him the kingdoms of the world for His worship (Matthew 4:8-9). This would not have been a valid temptation if it wasn't true that Satan had sufficient control of the kingdoms of the world to be able to offer them up. Jesus acknowledged that Satan was the "ruler of this world" in John 14:30. So the less government we have, the better off we'll be though the trend is toward bigger and bigger government.
Certainly some governments are more evil than others and there are some governmental leaders who personally follow Christ and are thus better equipped to resist the temptations of the Evil One. But even then the pressures of the office comes with the need to compromise in order to hold on to their power which insures that Satan still controls them to some extent. It is very true that in this world power does corrupt.
Just because we have an evil government, it doesn't mean our attention should be on resisting it. God has called each of us to prepare for eternity so our time is much better used being focused on our mission. God gives us the government we need to serve His purposes (see Romans 13:1). Indeed, the Lord raised up Hitler for a reason and one purpose most certainly was to bring the Jews back to the land of Israel. So we should pray, "for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence" (1 Timothy 2:1-2, NKJ).
Our government needs a lot more prayer than it is getting... pray that our leaders will have their hearts opened to Jesus Christ and will act with godly wisdom. And please vote with godly discernment for the lesser of the evils!
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Islam versus Secularism
I have come to the conclusion that the Mahdi who the Islamic world longs for and the Antichrist is one and the same. This means that the Muslim vision of uniting the world under Islam will in fact be realized for a brief period during the Tribulation before Jesus returns (the real Jesus, not the false prophet who will insists that people follow the Mahdi). As amazing as this sounds, I think it helps explain the universal reluctance by European and American leaders to acknowledge we are in a war with Islam.
Bill Bennett was interviewing a conservative analyst this morning who said he thought the reason the British government resisted naming radical Islam as the root cause of the terrorism we are dealing with is that it would admit we are in a religious war. This would make combating an enemy that is out to kill us very messy since it is hard to know who your enemy really is. The analyst went on to say that a religious enemy has principles that their followers can rally around. Even though these principles are detestable, they do give them a strength that the Western world does not have.
I think this pretty much hits the nail on the head for why Islam will prevail in the culture war. Our pluralistic society has apparently irrevocably abandoned the Christian principles that have brought us so many blessings. Western Civilization appears to be totally committed to post-modern Secularism which embraces moral relativism... what is right for one person may not be right for another. Post-modern Secularists have a problem embracing the concept of universal truth. This is actually an age-old problem of those who reject God; as Pilate said before he condemned Jesus to crucifixion, "What is truth?" (John 18:38, NKJ).
A society with the only principle that there are no principles is at a distinct disadvantage against those with principles, even evil principles. And ultimately a secular society is on the same side as Islam relative to the true God as revealed in Scripture since Jesus said, "He who is not with Me is against Me" (Matthew 12:30, NKJ). Jesus also said that, "every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand" (Matthew 12:25, NKJ). This tells me that our pluralistic secular culture and Islam will eventually have to come together in some sort of compromise.
As Europe and America have had secular societies with principles inspired by the Christian religion, there will need to be a secular society with principles inspired by the Islamic religion (Sharia Law). I think that Turkey is currently at work in forming such a coalition. Eventually the Cultural Christian Secularists and Cultural Islamic Secularists will work together enough to rule the world.
I'm convinced that the only way our nation can prevail against Islamic terrorism is to turn to God. He is the true source of our security. As Psalm 127:11 says, "unless the LORD guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain" (NKJ). This is something I've been praying for since God can intervene and protect us in this country until the Rapture. Psalm 34:17 says, "The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles" (NKJ). Fortunately, "to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness" (Romans 4:5, NKJ).
Bill Bennett was interviewing a conservative analyst this morning who said he thought the reason the British government resisted naming radical Islam as the root cause of the terrorism we are dealing with is that it would admit we are in a religious war. This would make combating an enemy that is out to kill us very messy since it is hard to know who your enemy really is. The analyst went on to say that a religious enemy has principles that their followers can rally around. Even though these principles are detestable, they do give them a strength that the Western world does not have.
I think this pretty much hits the nail on the head for why Islam will prevail in the culture war. Our pluralistic society has apparently irrevocably abandoned the Christian principles that have brought us so many blessings. Western Civilization appears to be totally committed to post-modern Secularism which embraces moral relativism... what is right for one person may not be right for another. Post-modern Secularists have a problem embracing the concept of universal truth. This is actually an age-old problem of those who reject God; as Pilate said before he condemned Jesus to crucifixion, "What is truth?" (John 18:38, NKJ).
A society with the only principle that there are no principles is at a distinct disadvantage against those with principles, even evil principles. And ultimately a secular society is on the same side as Islam relative to the true God as revealed in Scripture since Jesus said, "He who is not with Me is against Me" (Matthew 12:30, NKJ). Jesus also said that, "every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand" (Matthew 12:25, NKJ). This tells me that our pluralistic secular culture and Islam will eventually have to come together in some sort of compromise.
As Europe and America have had secular societies with principles inspired by the Christian religion, there will need to be a secular society with principles inspired by the Islamic religion (Sharia Law). I think that Turkey is currently at work in forming such a coalition. Eventually the Cultural Christian Secularists and Cultural Islamic Secularists will work together enough to rule the world.
I'm convinced that the only way our nation can prevail against Islamic terrorism is to turn to God. He is the true source of our security. As Psalm 127:11 says, "unless the LORD guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain" (NKJ). This is something I've been praying for since God can intervene and protect us in this country until the Rapture. Psalm 34:17 says, "The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles" (NKJ). Fortunately, "to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness" (Romans 4:5, NKJ).
Monday, January 4, 2010
Why They Hate Us
On the drive into work this morning I was listening to Kevin Wall who was filling in for Bill Bennett on his conservative talk radio program. The topic being discussed was the latest terrorist threat revealed by the airline "underwear bomber" and how our government was "failing to connect the dots." Apparently we have not learned any lessons from 9-11 attack on the United States.
Our government is treating the "underwear bomber" incident like a crime and not an attack that is part of a greater war which would justify profiling as a tactic to be more secure. Of course profiling of any kind is not politically correct in our society and this is a weakness that Islamic terrorists will exploit. So we can expect more terrorist attacks against us. Indeed, our government's clueless response to the "underwear bomber" incident will embolden radical Muslims to make more terrorist attacks against the US. I don't know if this is true but it sure rings true what Kevin Wall said about President Obama... that he will not use the term "Islamic terrorist" preferring to label all Islamic terrorists as Al Qaeda instead. President Obama epitomizes a failure to connect the dots.
It is clear that the Leftist Liberals leading our government don't quite understand what we are up against. Our government's failure to connect the dots is more of a systemic failure to understand the nature of the threat. But this doesn't mean that all conservatives fully understand the situation either. Kevin Wall proceeded to speculate on why the Islamic terrorists hate the United States so much and his reasons were: (1) the US was the greatest power in the world and (2) the US supports Israel. By the way, it seems to me that wondering why terrorists hate the US struck me as a pretty Liberal thing to do since they are quick to blame the US for inciting others to hate us.
At least Kevin Wall's "secular conservative" conclusion for why Islamic terrorists hate the US is closer to what is really going on. But it still is only part right and without a biblical world view even conservative philosophers fail to grasp the broader picture of spiritual warfare. A biblical world view gives us the underlying reasons why the US has been the greatest power in the world and why we support Israel. God has blessed the US making us great because we were founded by people who sought the freedom to worship Christ. And followers of Jesus support Israel because Christians have been greatly blessed by the Hebrew people; the Bible was written by Jews, the Messiah was a Jew, the very history of the Hebrew people reinforces that the Bible is the Word of God, and the day will come when Israel will recognize Jesus for who He is.
The real underlying reason Islamic terrorists hate the United States is that we are the greatest Christian nation in the world. And the followers of Satan hate the followers of Christ as 1 Peter 5:8 says, "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour" (NKJ). Certainly the United States is pretty secular and becoming more so all the time but culturally, we have been a Christian nation due to our heritage.
While the Leftists working to control our culture are making great strides in squelching the idea that the United States is a Christian nation, the Islamic world still looks at us that way. And since the Leftist-Liberal mindset is so given to appeasement, our government leaders will eventually capitulate to Islamists which is the dynamic I think will cause all the world to unite under some secular cultural form of Islam (if you can't beat them, join them). I know this sounds incredible but that is the trend we are seeing in the world today and it is supported by Scripture.
There is great comfort in knowing the truth of Scripture. Not only does it help us know the reasons for the trends we are seeing today, it helps us know that the Lord has a wonderful plan for those who embrace the Truth. As John 8:32 says, "the truth shall make you free" (NKJ). It is such a blessing to know that we don't have to suffer the fate of the world.
Our government is treating the "underwear bomber" incident like a crime and not an attack that is part of a greater war which would justify profiling as a tactic to be more secure. Of course profiling of any kind is not politically correct in our society and this is a weakness that Islamic terrorists will exploit. So we can expect more terrorist attacks against us. Indeed, our government's clueless response to the "underwear bomber" incident will embolden radical Muslims to make more terrorist attacks against the US. I don't know if this is true but it sure rings true what Kevin Wall said about President Obama... that he will not use the term "Islamic terrorist" preferring to label all Islamic terrorists as Al Qaeda instead. President Obama epitomizes a failure to connect the dots.
It is clear that the Leftist Liberals leading our government don't quite understand what we are up against. Our government's failure to connect the dots is more of a systemic failure to understand the nature of the threat. But this doesn't mean that all conservatives fully understand the situation either. Kevin Wall proceeded to speculate on why the Islamic terrorists hate the United States so much and his reasons were: (1) the US was the greatest power in the world and (2) the US supports Israel. By the way, it seems to me that wondering why terrorists hate the US struck me as a pretty Liberal thing to do since they are quick to blame the US for inciting others to hate us.
At least Kevin Wall's "secular conservative" conclusion for why Islamic terrorists hate the US is closer to what is really going on. But it still is only part right and without a biblical world view even conservative philosophers fail to grasp the broader picture of spiritual warfare. A biblical world view gives us the underlying reasons why the US has been the greatest power in the world and why we support Israel. God has blessed the US making us great because we were founded by people who sought the freedom to worship Christ. And followers of Jesus support Israel because Christians have been greatly blessed by the Hebrew people; the Bible was written by Jews, the Messiah was a Jew, the very history of the Hebrew people reinforces that the Bible is the Word of God, and the day will come when Israel will recognize Jesus for who He is.
The real underlying reason Islamic terrorists hate the United States is that we are the greatest Christian nation in the world. And the followers of Satan hate the followers of Christ as 1 Peter 5:8 says, "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour" (NKJ). Certainly the United States is pretty secular and becoming more so all the time but culturally, we have been a Christian nation due to our heritage.
While the Leftists working to control our culture are making great strides in squelching the idea that the United States is a Christian nation, the Islamic world still looks at us that way. And since the Leftist-Liberal mindset is so given to appeasement, our government leaders will eventually capitulate to Islamists which is the dynamic I think will cause all the world to unite under some secular cultural form of Islam (if you can't beat them, join them). I know this sounds incredible but that is the trend we are seeing in the world today and it is supported by Scripture.
There is great comfort in knowing the truth of Scripture. Not only does it help us know the reasons for the trends we are seeing today, it helps us know that the Lord has a wonderful plan for those who embrace the Truth. As John 8:32 says, "the truth shall make you free" (NKJ). It is such a blessing to know that we don't have to suffer the fate of the world.
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