“I’m talking of the fear of religion itself. I speak from experience, being strongly subject to this fear myself; I WANT atheism to be true. It isn’t just that I don’t believe in God and, naturally, hope that I’m right in my belief; It’s not that I hope there is no God! I don’t WANT there to be a God; I don’t WANT the universe to be like that. I am curious whether there is anyone who is genuinely indifferent as to whether there is a God - anyone who, whatever his actual belief about the matter, doesn’t particularly WANT either one of the answers to be correct.”
atheist philosopher Thomas Nage.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Monday, June 29, 2009
There is no evidence for God!
Isn’t that an interesting statement? Atheist high priest Richard Dawkins says that he’s “leery of strongly held beliefs in the absence of evidence.” That’s what he says. Yet those who worship Richard, and he himself states strongly that ‘There is no evidence for God.’
My question is, “Where’s the evidence that the universe could come into being without an eternal Creator or Cause?” I thought atheists needed evidence to make a statement like that? Don’t atheists want evidence to support their strongly held beliefs? Seems that the atheist’s favourite tool, rubber rulers, have been pulled out to get just the measurement they want.
This atheist dogma is doubly perplexing when we realise that science in fact refutes the atheist claim that Everything can come from nothing by nothing. Science and Philosophy tell us, and they tell us in a manner that is verifiable, trustworthy and clear as crystal that the universe couldn’t have come into being without an eternal supra natural First Cause.
So why do atheists persist in making anti scientific claims?
My question is, “Where’s the evidence that the universe could come into being without an eternal Creator or Cause?” I thought atheists needed evidence to make a statement like that? Don’t atheists want evidence to support their strongly held beliefs? Seems that the atheist’s favourite tool, rubber rulers, have been pulled out to get just the measurement they want.
This atheist dogma is doubly perplexing when we realise that science in fact refutes the atheist claim that Everything can come from nothing by nothing. Science and Philosophy tell us, and they tell us in a manner that is verifiable, trustworthy and clear as crystal that the universe couldn’t have come into being without an eternal supra natural First Cause.
So why do atheists persist in making anti scientific claims?
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Just a followup
This is just a followup to “Atheist Women Reject Kindness.” I find it profoundly sad that we live in such an angry, angry world. We live in a world where atheists judge people as acceptable and worthy of respect by the person's level of education, or ability to spell, or by their wealth, or looks, or power and especially by the other person's intelligence. We live in a world that is cruel and insensitive, violent and dangerous. We live in a world where millions of children are all but on their own.
All of that is sad enough, but here’s what really gets me. When I lay out the evidence that the Bible in general and Christianity in particular, by far and away admonishes us to treat other people with love and kindness. When I point out that those in our community who are the weakest and most powerless are upheld in the Bible with instructions for us to treat them as our superiors. When I point out that kindness, gentleness and mercy are top priorities of Jesus, what do I get from atheists? A shrug and accusations of being judgmental. A SHRUG! When I put forth a Book that goes beyond any well-known text that I’ve seen in demanding safety and equality for women, atheists give the women of the world a shrug. When I offer advice from a world-view whose overwhelming emphasis is on forgiveness - undeserved forgiveness - atheist women who are themselves in desperate need of forgiveness and compassion give a shrug and say, So what? Screw the weak. Screw the world. I'm in this for myself. Just another atheist absurdity.
All of that is sad enough, but here’s what really gets me. When I lay out the evidence that the Bible in general and Christianity in particular, by far and away admonishes us to treat other people with love and kindness. When I point out that those in our community who are the weakest and most powerless are upheld in the Bible with instructions for us to treat them as our superiors. When I point out that kindness, gentleness and mercy are top priorities of Jesus, what do I get from atheists? A shrug and accusations of being judgmental. A SHRUG! When I put forth a Book that goes beyond any well-known text that I’ve seen in demanding safety and equality for women, atheists give the women of the world a shrug. When I offer advice from a world-view whose overwhelming emphasis is on forgiveness - undeserved forgiveness - atheist women who are themselves in desperate need of forgiveness and compassion give a shrug and say, So what? Screw the weak. Screw the world. I'm in this for myself. Just another atheist absurdity.
Atheist Women Reject Kindness
Isn't it weird how atheist women will shore up their beliefs on some obscure verses in the Bible; verses whose meaning, if twisted enough makes rejecting God easier? And while they're clinging to those obscure verses, they'll ignore verses that are perfectly clear on how women should be treated with respect and dignity.
Isn’t it interesting that atheist women would rather be against kindness than agree with what the Bible says in how they should be treated? That’s seems to be an obvious conclusion when I hear atheists attempt to document the Bible’s “unjust” attitude toward women. Just how bitter and bigoted does one have to be to rather have harsh treatment than agree with the Bible? Before I begin, as a point of interest, while it’s true that women, in six different places in the Bible are told to submit to their husbands, in nine places men are told to submit to their wives with the added admonishment for men to be ready to die for their wives. In fact men, as the spiritual leaders of the home, are supposed to take the lead in demonstrating submission to their wives and servant leadership for their wives. NO WHERE does the Bible tell women to obey their husbands.
In the second part addressing the issue of atheist women railing against what they believe the Bible teaches, I give you the following.
James 3:17 - Now the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy.
Gee, that sounds to me as though a person like that would make a pretty good husband. Of course, you can’t judge Christian directives by just one verse. How about his one.
1st Peter 5:5 - Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another because God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
This is talking about how young men should treat women in general.
Colossians 3:12,13 - Therefore, as God’s chosen people, Holy, and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another and forgive as the Lord forgave you.”
Hmm. I wonder what kind of women would hate a man who treats them like that.
These next two verses deal with the issue of a double standard for men.
1st Timothy 3:2 - Now an overseer must be . . . the husband of but one wife
Titus 1:2 - An elder must be . . . the husband of but one wife
What these verses mean is that the husband must be faithful to his wife. He is not to lust after another woman, nor leave his wife for another woman. The writer allows for no double standard where the man can be sexually immoral but the woman must be faithful.
1st Corinthians 7:3,4 - The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. The wife’s body does not belong to her alone but also to her husband. In the same way, the husband’s body does not belong to him alone but also to his wife.
This verse does not allow for a double standard where the man is deserving of special treatment, but not the woman. This verse also upholds the importance of sex in a marriage. This is relevant today in a world where the demands of kids, work, work and more work make finding time and energy for sex a real issue in a large number of marriages.
Ephesians 5:25, 28, 33 - Husbands love your wives, just as Christ loved the Church and gave himself up for her. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies . . . Each one of you must love his wife as he loves himself.
Colossians 3:19 - Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.
Hmm, no directives for husbands to have dominion over or to rule over their wives so far. We better check further.
A guy named Matthew, who was a follower of Jesus and who witnessed the death and resurrection of Jesus recorded many of Jesus teachings. Some are listed below:
. Treat women with respect instead of just sexual objects
. Forgive your wife as you have been forgiven by your Heavenly Father
. Don’t judge your wife in a hypocritical manner
. Don’t forgive your wife when she sins against you only seven times, but every time.
. Love your wife as you already love yourself
. Love your wife even if she is your enemy, do good to your wife even if she hates you, bless your wife even if she curses you, pray for your wife, even if she mistreats you. If she strikes you on one cheek, turn to her the other also. Be merciful to your wife just as your Father is merciful.
. Do not judge your wife. Do not condemn your wife.
. Do for your wife the kind of things you would like her to do for you.
. Love your wife. As I have loved you, so you must love your wife.
The following is from the letters of a guy named Peter. He was a follower of Jesus and an eyewitness to His death and resurrection. He was killed because he wouldn’t deny that His Lord and Saviour had risen from the dead.
. Rid yourselves of all malice and slander of every kind toward your wife.
. It is God’s will that by doing good to your wife, you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men.
. Show proper respect to your wife.
. Husbands, be considerate as you live with your wives and treat them with respect.
. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult but with blessing because to this you were called.
. Whoever would love life must seek peace with their wives and pursue it.
. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
The following is from the letters of a guy named John. He too was a follower of Jesus and an eyewitness to His death and resurrection. He was killed because he wouldn’t deny that His Lord and Saviour had risen from the dead.
. Love one another
. Let us not love with words but with actions.
. Whoever does not love his wife does not know God because God is love.
. Whoever loves God must also love his wife.
. [Jesus'] command is that you walk in love.
The following is from the letters of a guy named James. He too was a follower of Jesus and an eyewitness to His death and resurrection. James was one of Jesus’ brothers who became a leader in the early Church. He was killed because he wouldn’t deny that His Lord and Saviour had risen from the dead.
. The wisdom that comes from Jesus is peace-loving, considerate, full of mercy.. Peacemakers who sow peace in their marriages, raise a harvest of righteousness.
. Do not slander your wife’s name.
. Love your wife as you already love yourself.
. If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue when talking to his wife, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.
. Everyone should be slow to become angry for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.
The following is from the letters of a guy named Paul. He too was a follower of Jesus. His experience with the risen Jesus caused him to turn from his violent, Hitchens’ like hatred of Christians and become the single greatest cause for the Gospel of Jesus being transported to Europe. He was killed because he wouldn’t deny that His Lord and Saviour had risen from the dead.
. Make sure that you never pay back your wife wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other.
. Do not lie to each other
. In Christ everyone is equal, none better than another. You are not better than your wife.
. Therefore as God’s chosen people, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive your wife just as the Lord forgave you.
. Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.
. Let your conversation toward your wife be always full of grace.
. This is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless in your relationship with your wives.
. Husbands, love your wives just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.
. Each one of you must love his wife
. In your anger do not sin against your wives for anger gives the devil a foothold.
. Be completely humble and gentle with your wives; bearing with one another in love.
. Love your wife as yourself. If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.
. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrong. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.
. A husband must not divorce his wife.
. You, then, why do you judge your wife? Or why do you look down on her? For we all stand before God’s judgment seat.
. Do not repay your wife evil for evil.
. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with your wives.
. Do not take revenge, my friends.
. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
The next verse talks about the respect with which men should view women in general.
1st Timothy 5:2 Treat older women as your mothers, and younger women as your sisters, with absolute purity.
Most atheist men view seeing women as sexual objects as one of the keys to “normal” happiness. However, this verse is saying, don’t see women as objects to be used and abused. See women as human beings worthy of respect and dignity. The Bible leaves no doubt that men should see women as absolute equals to men. It does not look down on them. It does not belittle them. In fact, and this is as true today as it has always been, women with Christian husbands (in the full meaning of the term) have always been treated far better than women in the surrounding culture that are not Christians nor married to Christian husbands.
But the Bible doesn’t stop there. These verses make no distinction between men and women. This is light-years from how women are, according to community standards, treated in non Christian cultures.
Romans 12:9-21 - Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil, cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honour women above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervour serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God’s women who are in need. Practice hospitality toward women. Bless women who persecute you/ bless and not curse. Rejoice with those women who rejoice, mourn with those women who mourn. Live in harmony with all women. Do not be conceited. Do not repay any woman evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of all women. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live in peace with all women. Do not take revenge, my friends.
Romans 13:1,2 - Everyone must submit himself to women in governing authority, for there is no woman in authority except she who God has established. The women in authority have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against a woman in authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.”
Remember, Scripture does not give any indication that women are not to hold positions of power and authority outside the church.
1st Corinthians 1:4,10 - I always thank God for you women because of His grace given you in Christ Jesus. I appeal to you, sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought.
Galatians 5:13 - You, my sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature, rather serve all women in love.
Galatians 6:10 - Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to all women, for we are all members of one body. Do not let any unwholesome talk about women come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to the needs of all women, that it may benefit those women who listen. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger toward women, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to all women, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
1st Peter 3:7 - Husbands be considerate as you live with your wives and treat them with respect. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing.
Ah gee. It looks like atheists are completely and totally wrong, once again. The Bible teaches that men are to have absolute and total respect for their wives. In fact men, as the spiritual leaders of the home, are supposed to take the lead in demonstrating submission to and servant leadership for their wives.
But what about that verse in Genesis; the one about “Man will have dominion over you?”
In Genesis 2:18, God is recorded as saying that he will make a “Helper” for Adam. People who don’t understand God and who hate anything to do with Him use this as proof that under God’s direction, husbands are to have control over or have dominion over their wives. What they don’t understand is that the word that is used for “helper” or “helpmate” in this verse is the very same word that is used in the Bible to describe God as OUR helper. This helper, as God calls her is NOT a one down position. Man and woman were created equal in value. However, they were created with different roles. Later, after all of Creation had fallen under the curse of sin we have the verse in question, Chapter 3:16. It reads, “You desire will be for your husband, and he will have dominion over you.” As we can see from the verses above, this verse is not a declaration or command or directive as to how men are to act toward their wives specifically or to women in general. It is a statement of fact, a fact that we have seen played out down through history. Women have always desired to have the lives of men. Men on the other hand have, by and large, kept women from attaining the equal standing that God created them to have. This is not because of God but because of sin.
So what has this got to do with Jesus and Christianity? We, all of us, are constantly being drawn to into the vortex of popular culture. It takes enormous strength to counter our culture. This was no different in Old Testament times. In comparison to our “modern” times, the rules and regulations concerning the Israelites seem crude and barbaric. However, they are and were revolutionary in comparison with the cultures and societies that surrounded God’s people. In comparison with their pagan neighbours, Israelite women were truly liberated. Not compared to now, but compared to then. When Jesus came along, he changed that again by about 1000%. He touched women. He spoke to them as equals. They were leaders and people of influence in His ministry. The New Testament, which Jesus said describes our behaviour as the Old Testament Law intended them to be, was not just radical for it’s time. The behaviours outlined as it pertains to husbands and wives is as relevant today and as radical today was it was in first century Palestine. In fact, some of the most egregious behaviours that we see today, regarding how men treat women can be found in the atheistic, Hip Hop music seen on tv. These singers, both male and female, whose lives demonstrate an absolute disregard for God and His commands belittle, demean, and degrade women to as great an extent as any patriarchal society that has ever existed. This attitude is seen in the sex trade. It’s seen in commerce. It’s seen in some religions. Any attitude that demeans women is an “against God” attitude.
Isn’t it interesting that women, some women, atheist women would rather be against kindness than agree with the Bible? That’s seems to be an obvious conclusion when I hear atheists attempt to document the Bible’s “unjust” attitude toward women. Just how bitter and bigoted does one have to be to push away the attitudes described above? As a point of interest, while women, in six different places in the Bible are in fact told to submit to their husbands, in nine places men are told to submit to their wives with the added admonishment for men to be ready to die for their wives. In fact men, as the spiritual leaders of the home, are supposed to take the lead in demonstrating submission to their wives and servant leadership for their wives. NO WHERE does the Bible tell women to obey their husbands.
Isn’t it interesting that atheist women would rather be against kindness than agree with what the Bible says in how they should be treated? That’s seems to be an obvious conclusion when I hear atheists attempt to document the Bible’s “unjust” attitude toward women. Just how bitter and bigoted does one have to be to rather have harsh treatment than agree with the Bible? Before I begin, as a point of interest, while it’s true that women, in six different places in the Bible are told to submit to their husbands, in nine places men are told to submit to their wives with the added admonishment for men to be ready to die for their wives. In fact men, as the spiritual leaders of the home, are supposed to take the lead in demonstrating submission to their wives and servant leadership for their wives. NO WHERE does the Bible tell women to obey their husbands.
In the second part addressing the issue of atheist women railing against what they believe the Bible teaches, I give you the following.
James 3:17 - Now the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy.
Gee, that sounds to me as though a person like that would make a pretty good husband. Of course, you can’t judge Christian directives by just one verse. How about his one.
1st Peter 5:5 - Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another because God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
This is talking about how young men should treat women in general.
Colossians 3:12,13 - Therefore, as God’s chosen people, Holy, and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another and forgive as the Lord forgave you.”
Hmm. I wonder what kind of women would hate a man who treats them like that.
These next two verses deal with the issue of a double standard for men.
1st Timothy 3:2 - Now an overseer must be . . . the husband of but one wife
Titus 1:2 - An elder must be . . . the husband of but one wife
What these verses mean is that the husband must be faithful to his wife. He is not to lust after another woman, nor leave his wife for another woman. The writer allows for no double standard where the man can be sexually immoral but the woman must be faithful.
1st Corinthians 7:3,4 - The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. The wife’s body does not belong to her alone but also to her husband. In the same way, the husband’s body does not belong to him alone but also to his wife.
This verse does not allow for a double standard where the man is deserving of special treatment, but not the woman. This verse also upholds the importance of sex in a marriage. This is relevant today in a world where the demands of kids, work, work and more work make finding time and energy for sex a real issue in a large number of marriages.
Ephesians 5:25, 28, 33 - Husbands love your wives, just as Christ loved the Church and gave himself up for her. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies . . . Each one of you must love his wife as he loves himself.
Colossians 3:19 - Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.
Hmm, no directives for husbands to have dominion over or to rule over their wives so far. We better check further.
A guy named Matthew, who was a follower of Jesus and who witnessed the death and resurrection of Jesus recorded many of Jesus teachings. Some are listed below:
. Treat women with respect instead of just sexual objects
. Forgive your wife as you have been forgiven by your Heavenly Father
. Don’t judge your wife in a hypocritical manner
. Don’t forgive your wife when she sins against you only seven times, but every time.
. Love your wife as you already love yourself
. Love your wife even if she is your enemy, do good to your wife even if she hates you, bless your wife even if she curses you, pray for your wife, even if she mistreats you. If she strikes you on one cheek, turn to her the other also. Be merciful to your wife just as your Father is merciful.
. Do not judge your wife. Do not condemn your wife.
. Do for your wife the kind of things you would like her to do for you.
. Love your wife. As I have loved you, so you must love your wife.
The following is from the letters of a guy named Peter. He was a follower of Jesus and an eyewitness to His death and resurrection. He was killed because he wouldn’t deny that His Lord and Saviour had risen from the dead.
. Rid yourselves of all malice and slander of every kind toward your wife.
. It is God’s will that by doing good to your wife, you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men.
. Show proper respect to your wife.
. Husbands, be considerate as you live with your wives and treat them with respect.
. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult but with blessing because to this you were called.
. Whoever would love life must seek peace with their wives and pursue it.
. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
The following is from the letters of a guy named John. He too was a follower of Jesus and an eyewitness to His death and resurrection. He was killed because he wouldn’t deny that His Lord and Saviour had risen from the dead.
. Love one another
. Let us not love with words but with actions.
. Whoever does not love his wife does not know God because God is love.
. Whoever loves God must also love his wife.
. [Jesus'] command is that you walk in love.
The following is from the letters of a guy named James. He too was a follower of Jesus and an eyewitness to His death and resurrection. James was one of Jesus’ brothers who became a leader in the early Church. He was killed because he wouldn’t deny that His Lord and Saviour had risen from the dead.
. The wisdom that comes from Jesus is peace-loving, considerate, full of mercy.. Peacemakers who sow peace in their marriages, raise a harvest of righteousness.
. Do not slander your wife’s name.
. Love your wife as you already love yourself.
. If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue when talking to his wife, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.
. Everyone should be slow to become angry for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.
The following is from the letters of a guy named Paul. He too was a follower of Jesus. His experience with the risen Jesus caused him to turn from his violent, Hitchens’ like hatred of Christians and become the single greatest cause for the Gospel of Jesus being transported to Europe. He was killed because he wouldn’t deny that His Lord and Saviour had risen from the dead.
. Make sure that you never pay back your wife wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other.
. Do not lie to each other
. In Christ everyone is equal, none better than another. You are not better than your wife.
. Therefore as God’s chosen people, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive your wife just as the Lord forgave you.
. Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.
. Let your conversation toward your wife be always full of grace.
. This is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless in your relationship with your wives.
. Husbands, love your wives just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.
. Each one of you must love his wife
. In your anger do not sin against your wives for anger gives the devil a foothold.
. Be completely humble and gentle with your wives; bearing with one another in love.
. Love your wife as yourself. If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.
. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrong. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.
. A husband must not divorce his wife.
. You, then, why do you judge your wife? Or why do you look down on her? For we all stand before God’s judgment seat.
. Do not repay your wife evil for evil.
. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with your wives.
. Do not take revenge, my friends.
. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
The next verse talks about the respect with which men should view women in general.
1st Timothy 5:2 Treat older women as your mothers, and younger women as your sisters, with absolute purity.
Most atheist men view seeing women as sexual objects as one of the keys to “normal” happiness. However, this verse is saying, don’t see women as objects to be used and abused. See women as human beings worthy of respect and dignity. The Bible leaves no doubt that men should see women as absolute equals to men. It does not look down on them. It does not belittle them. In fact, and this is as true today as it has always been, women with Christian husbands (in the full meaning of the term) have always been treated far better than women in the surrounding culture that are not Christians nor married to Christian husbands.
But the Bible doesn’t stop there. These verses make no distinction between men and women. This is light-years from how women are, according to community standards, treated in non Christian cultures.
Romans 12:9-21 - Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil, cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honour women above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervour serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God’s women who are in need. Practice hospitality toward women. Bless women who persecute you/ bless and not curse. Rejoice with those women who rejoice, mourn with those women who mourn. Live in harmony with all women. Do not be conceited. Do not repay any woman evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of all women. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live in peace with all women. Do not take revenge, my friends.
Romans 13:1,2 - Everyone must submit himself to women in governing authority, for there is no woman in authority except she who God has established. The women in authority have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against a woman in authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.”
Remember, Scripture does not give any indication that women are not to hold positions of power and authority outside the church.
1st Corinthians 1:4,10 - I always thank God for you women because of His grace given you in Christ Jesus. I appeal to you, sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought.
Galatians 5:13 - You, my sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature, rather serve all women in love.
Galatians 6:10 - Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to all women, for we are all members of one body. Do not let any unwholesome talk about women come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to the needs of all women, that it may benefit those women who listen. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger toward women, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to all women, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
1st Peter 3:7 - Husbands be considerate as you live with your wives and treat them with respect. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing.
Ah gee. It looks like atheists are completely and totally wrong, once again. The Bible teaches that men are to have absolute and total respect for their wives. In fact men, as the spiritual leaders of the home, are supposed to take the lead in demonstrating submission to and servant leadership for their wives.
But what about that verse in Genesis; the one about “Man will have dominion over you?”
In Genesis 2:18, God is recorded as saying that he will make a “Helper” for Adam. People who don’t understand God and who hate anything to do with Him use this as proof that under God’s direction, husbands are to have control over or have dominion over their wives. What they don’t understand is that the word that is used for “helper” or “helpmate” in this verse is the very same word that is used in the Bible to describe God as OUR helper. This helper, as God calls her is NOT a one down position. Man and woman were created equal in value. However, they were created with different roles. Later, after all of Creation had fallen under the curse of sin we have the verse in question, Chapter 3:16. It reads, “You desire will be for your husband, and he will have dominion over you.” As we can see from the verses above, this verse is not a declaration or command or directive as to how men are to act toward their wives specifically or to women in general. It is a statement of fact, a fact that we have seen played out down through history. Women have always desired to have the lives of men. Men on the other hand have, by and large, kept women from attaining the equal standing that God created them to have. This is not because of God but because of sin.
So what has this got to do with Jesus and Christianity? We, all of us, are constantly being drawn to into the vortex of popular culture. It takes enormous strength to counter our culture. This was no different in Old Testament times. In comparison to our “modern” times, the rules and regulations concerning the Israelites seem crude and barbaric. However, they are and were revolutionary in comparison with the cultures and societies that surrounded God’s people. In comparison with their pagan neighbours, Israelite women were truly liberated. Not compared to now, but compared to then. When Jesus came along, he changed that again by about 1000%. He touched women. He spoke to them as equals. They were leaders and people of influence in His ministry. The New Testament, which Jesus said describes our behaviour as the Old Testament Law intended them to be, was not just radical for it’s time. The behaviours outlined as it pertains to husbands and wives is as relevant today and as radical today was it was in first century Palestine. In fact, some of the most egregious behaviours that we see today, regarding how men treat women can be found in the atheistic, Hip Hop music seen on tv. These singers, both male and female, whose lives demonstrate an absolute disregard for God and His commands belittle, demean, and degrade women to as great an extent as any patriarchal society that has ever existed. This attitude is seen in the sex trade. It’s seen in commerce. It’s seen in some religions. Any attitude that demeans women is an “against God” attitude.
Isn’t it interesting that women, some women, atheist women would rather be against kindness than agree with the Bible? That’s seems to be an obvious conclusion when I hear atheists attempt to document the Bible’s “unjust” attitude toward women. Just how bitter and bigoted does one have to be to push away the attitudes described above? As a point of interest, while women, in six different places in the Bible are in fact told to submit to their husbands, in nine places men are told to submit to their wives with the added admonishment for men to be ready to die for their wives. In fact men, as the spiritual leaders of the home, are supposed to take the lead in demonstrating submission to their wives and servant leadership for their wives. NO WHERE does the Bible tell women to obey their husbands.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Richard Dawkins Believes In Fantasy Jesus
When I first saw a picture of Dawkins at the beach wearing a T-shirt saying "Atheists for Jesus" I thought, why would someone who declares atheists to be people of intellectual and moral integrity, admire a deceptive, deceitful liar? I mean, if Jesus wasn’t who He said He was (and I’m sure Richard doesn’t believe that Jesus is God incarnate), a liar is the least of names that we could call Him.
On the other hand, if Jesus is not exactly who He said He is, there should be a crime against His words and actions for they are vile in the extreme. And that’s why I wonder, since he believes that Jesus is an imposter and a fraud (and if true He’s also a monster), what is it about Richard Dawkins that he is drawn to such a pathological personality?
. Jesus conned people into dying for Him. Yet Richard Dawkins admires Him.
. Jesus told people to worship Him. Dawkins seems to like that idea.
. Jesus told others to be honest, while He lived a lie. Dawkins seems to relate.
. Jesus told others to trust Him to save their souls. Not unlike Dawkins and his sycophants.
. If Jesus was not who He said He was then He was a blasphemer of the highest order. 'Nuff said.
. If Jesus was not who He said He was then He was a megalomaniac. Hmm. Interesting.
Jesus said that He was / is the God of the Old Testament. Just one among many, many comments along those lines is, “Before Abraham was, I Am.” The Spiritual leaders of the time understood perfectly that Jesus was saying that He was what Dawkins describes as the “Nasty God of the Old Testament.”
When it comes to the Lord, Liar or Lunatic explanation, Richard Dawkins in all his brilliance adds what he thinks is the undoing of that proposition. “Perhaps Jesus was mistaken,” says the brilliant biologist. Ya, right. The soundest, purest and most intelligent mind to ever walk the earth was mistaken about being God. ‘Oh. I thought I was God, certain about it really, but I guess I was wrong. Sorry.’
In describing Jesus, Historian Philip Schaff says, “A character so original, so complete, so uniformly consistent, so perfect, so human and yet so high above all human greatness, can be neither a fraud nor a fiction. The [author], as has been well said, would in this case be greater than the hero. It would take more than a Jesus to invent a Jesus. How, in the name of logic, common sense, and experience, could an impostor - that is a deceitful, selfish, depraved man - have invented, and consistently maintained from the beginning to end, the purest and noblest character known in history with the most perfect air of truth and reality? Someone who lived as Jesus lived, taught as Jesus taught, and died as Jesus died could not have been a liar. What other alternatives are there?”
I can’t presume to know the motives for Richard Dawkins’ seeming inability or unwillingness to discern the fact that it’s only one way or the other. Either Jesus was and is God, or He wasn’t. This sidestepping of the evidence seems to become more and more typical of Richard Dawkins as his early writing transits from clear thinking, entertaining biological science, to his latest works that seem to be clouded by raging anti-Christian polemics.
If Jesus was / is God then we’d better order our lives around that fact. That just makes sense, doesn't it? If Jesus is God, then worship Him as such, or rail in opposition against Him. Both are valid options that God has left open to us.
If He wasn’t God, then Jesus needs to be dealt with in our minds the way we deal with any repugnant personality. But please, if Jesus wasn't God, don't pretend that He was some wonderful person when He clearly wasn't.
Richard Dawkins can’t figure it out, but maybe you can. For the sake of your life on earth and for eternity, I pray that you find Jesus as Lord and Saviour and find Him soon. It’s a wonderful, healthy, rarified, bracing, exhilarating, blessed and freeing experience.
On the other hand, if Jesus is not exactly who He said He is, there should be a crime against His words and actions for they are vile in the extreme. And that’s why I wonder, since he believes that Jesus is an imposter and a fraud (and if true He’s also a monster), what is it about Richard Dawkins that he is drawn to such a pathological personality?
. Jesus conned people into dying for Him. Yet Richard Dawkins admires Him.
. Jesus told people to worship Him. Dawkins seems to like that idea.
. Jesus told others to be honest, while He lived a lie. Dawkins seems to relate.
. Jesus told others to trust Him to save their souls. Not unlike Dawkins and his sycophants.
. If Jesus was not who He said He was then He was a blasphemer of the highest order. 'Nuff said.
. If Jesus was not who He said He was then He was a megalomaniac. Hmm. Interesting.
Jesus said that He was / is the God of the Old Testament. Just one among many, many comments along those lines is, “Before Abraham was, I Am.” The Spiritual leaders of the time understood perfectly that Jesus was saying that He was what Dawkins describes as the “Nasty God of the Old Testament.”
When it comes to the Lord, Liar or Lunatic explanation, Richard Dawkins in all his brilliance adds what he thinks is the undoing of that proposition. “Perhaps Jesus was mistaken,” says the brilliant biologist. Ya, right. The soundest, purest and most intelligent mind to ever walk the earth was mistaken about being God. ‘Oh. I thought I was God, certain about it really, but I guess I was wrong. Sorry.’
In describing Jesus, Historian Philip Schaff says, “A character so original, so complete, so uniformly consistent, so perfect, so human and yet so high above all human greatness, can be neither a fraud nor a fiction. The [author], as has been well said, would in this case be greater than the hero. It would take more than a Jesus to invent a Jesus. How, in the name of logic, common sense, and experience, could an impostor - that is a deceitful, selfish, depraved man - have invented, and consistently maintained from the beginning to end, the purest and noblest character known in history with the most perfect air of truth and reality? Someone who lived as Jesus lived, taught as Jesus taught, and died as Jesus died could not have been a liar. What other alternatives are there?”
I can’t presume to know the motives for Richard Dawkins’ seeming inability or unwillingness to discern the fact that it’s only one way or the other. Either Jesus was and is God, or He wasn’t. This sidestepping of the evidence seems to become more and more typical of Richard Dawkins as his early writing transits from clear thinking, entertaining biological science, to his latest works that seem to be clouded by raging anti-Christian polemics.
If Jesus was / is God then we’d better order our lives around that fact. That just makes sense, doesn't it? If Jesus is God, then worship Him as such, or rail in opposition against Him. Both are valid options that God has left open to us.
If He wasn’t God, then Jesus needs to be dealt with in our minds the way we deal with any repugnant personality. But please, if Jesus wasn't God, don't pretend that He was some wonderful person when He clearly wasn't.
Richard Dawkins can’t figure it out, but maybe you can. For the sake of your life on earth and for eternity, I pray that you find Jesus as Lord and Saviour and find Him soon. It’s a wonderful, healthy, rarified, bracing, exhilarating, blessed and freeing experience.
Friday, June 26, 2009
Atheist Pharisees Are Out And About
The Pharisees hated Jesus. Why? He loved the wounded. He touched the unclean. He offered forgiveness to the worst of society. Just the opposite of the Pharisees. They had rules about rules on top of rules. They had all kinds of reasons why you might not be acceptable to God. It’s the same with atheists. The concept of God’s grace sends them into a fit of self-righteousness. The very thought that today’s nasty bastard might someday be forgiven angers atheists perhaps more than anything else.
One night Jesus had been invited to a Pharisee’s house for a meal. This Pharisee would have been one of the very men who had already barred Jesus from teaching in the temple. His invitation to Jesus had “set-up” written all over it. Even though sharing a meal in that culture was akin to a mini peace treaty, Jesus was NOT among friends. Not that evening. The point was proven when Jesus arrived. Even the most minimal courtesies were denied Jesus. No kiss on the cheek. No embrace. No offer of a servant to wash His feet. A lessor man may have been intimidated. Jesus went directly to His appointed place.
It was not unusual nor inappropriate for people from the community to wander into the courtyard and observe what the gathering was all about. A woman, a “bad” woman who had earlier received Jesus’ forgiveness was there. She had observed how Jesus had been mistreated by His host and it pained her deeply. Jesus was perhaps the first man who had ever shown her genuine love and acceptance. Acceptance is something the Pharisees would have never given to her. From them she’d only known rejection and judgement. It offended her to see how her Saviour had been snubbed. It broke her heart to see someone as gentle as Jesus be mistreated in such a manner. She reacted the only way she knew how. She reacted the only way a woman of the street could.
She let down her hair, a sure sign of her low morals.
She broke open an expensive jar of perfume, probably received from a wealthy lover.
Mixing the perfume with tears of genuine sorrow and gratitude, she washed Jesus feet.
The Pharisees who’d gathered were indignant. "Obviously," they mumbled, "Jesus wasn’t a real prophet or He would know what kind of woman she was. And if He knew what kind of a woman she was He would not so easily offer her forgiveness."
“Simon,” Jesus said to His host. “The one who has sinned much has asked for and has received forgiveness for much. But you, Simon. You have not asked for forgiveness for even the little you have sinned and so you have not receive ANY forgiveness.”
An atheist said to me yesterday, “[In Christianity]You can rape people, molest children, and do the most horrible, despicable deeds imaginable, but as long as you say, "I'm sorry, Jesus!" you're saved.”
This is what offends Pharisees. This is what offends atheists. Judgmental to the core. Self-righteous to the core. Both of them. Pharisees and atheists. Hard hearted. Longing to withhold mercy and kindness and forgiveness.
“Be careful,” said Jesus. “For with the manner you judge, so you too will be judged. With the measure you use, with that measure it will by used against you.”
One night Jesus had been invited to a Pharisee’s house for a meal. This Pharisee would have been one of the very men who had already barred Jesus from teaching in the temple. His invitation to Jesus had “set-up” written all over it. Even though sharing a meal in that culture was akin to a mini peace treaty, Jesus was NOT among friends. Not that evening. The point was proven when Jesus arrived. Even the most minimal courtesies were denied Jesus. No kiss on the cheek. No embrace. No offer of a servant to wash His feet. A lessor man may have been intimidated. Jesus went directly to His appointed place.
It was not unusual nor inappropriate for people from the community to wander into the courtyard and observe what the gathering was all about. A woman, a “bad” woman who had earlier received Jesus’ forgiveness was there. She had observed how Jesus had been mistreated by His host and it pained her deeply. Jesus was perhaps the first man who had ever shown her genuine love and acceptance. Acceptance is something the Pharisees would have never given to her. From them she’d only known rejection and judgement. It offended her to see how her Saviour had been snubbed. It broke her heart to see someone as gentle as Jesus be mistreated in such a manner. She reacted the only way she knew how. She reacted the only way a woman of the street could.
She let down her hair, a sure sign of her low morals.
She broke open an expensive jar of perfume, probably received from a wealthy lover.
Mixing the perfume with tears of genuine sorrow and gratitude, she washed Jesus feet.
The Pharisees who’d gathered were indignant. "Obviously," they mumbled, "Jesus wasn’t a real prophet or He would know what kind of woman she was. And if He knew what kind of a woman she was He would not so easily offer her forgiveness."
“Simon,” Jesus said to His host. “The one who has sinned much has asked for and has received forgiveness for much. But you, Simon. You have not asked for forgiveness for even the little you have sinned and so you have not receive ANY forgiveness.”
An atheist said to me yesterday, “[In Christianity]You can rape people, molest children, and do the most horrible, despicable deeds imaginable, but as long as you say, "I'm sorry, Jesus!" you're saved.”
This is what offends Pharisees. This is what offends atheists. Judgmental to the core. Self-righteous to the core. Both of them. Pharisees and atheists. Hard hearted. Longing to withhold mercy and kindness and forgiveness.
“Be careful,” said Jesus. “For with the manner you judge, so you too will be judged. With the measure you use, with that measure it will by used against you.”
Thursday, June 25, 2009
14 Degree Atheists
There’s a spectacular piece of road in the Canadian Rockies. It’s seven kilometres long with a 14 degree slope. No turns. Two runaway ramps. Good engine required going up. Good brakes required going down.
So one day there’s four atheists in a car. First time in the Canadian Rockies. On the way down and half a kilometre from the top, one of the atheists quips,
A1 - Seems like we’re going pretty fast
A2 - Ya I was noticing the same thing
A3 - Try the brakes there Stanley
A4 - I did
A1 - You did?
A4 - Ya, I tried them back a ways. There’s nothing
A2 - Nothing?
A4 - Nope. Nothing. Pedal goes right to the floor.
A3 - Hmm. Say! Did I ever tell you about the time my next door neighbour showed me a good way to change a flat tire?
A4 - No, you never did. What did he have to say?
A3 - Well, it sounds real handy. Now you take the tire iron and you hold it like so . . .
A2 - Hold on a minute there Harold. That sign we just passed said there’s a runaway lane just up there to the right.
A4 - Ah, who needs it. So what do you do after you hold the tire iron just so?
A1 - You know if we’re still going 180 when we get to that turn up ahead we could be in trouble.
A3 - Did I ever tell you about the time that I screwed my aunt Myrtle?
A4,1 & 2 in unison - No. I’d love to hear that story.
Isn’t that just like atheists though? They’re heading for disaster and they’ll try to talk to you about the darndest things. In fact, atheists will talk to you about everything BUT salvation.
. If they don’t accept their need for forgiveness they’re doomed. Yet they’ll spend countless days talking about whether they can be as moral, more moral or less moral than someone who doesn’t believe in God.
. If atheists continue to deny God’s role in their lives they’re as good as gone. Yet they’ll discuss for years on end whether it’s more correct to say that they don’t believe in God or whether they’re non believers in God.
. If they don’t get right with their Creator, atheists will spend eternity in hell. Yet they’ll post back and forth how, on the one hand, there’s no such thing as right or wrong, while on the other hand they’ll describe their own set of morals as impeccable.
. If atheists continue to convince their own children that God doesn’t exist, the definition of hell will take on a whole new meaning. Yet they continue to describe in the smallest detail the God that they claim to not believe in.
Forgiveness? Don’t want it
Salvation? Who needs it
Say, did you see Hitchens in that debate last night? That guy is brilliant!
So one day there’s four atheists in a car. First time in the Canadian Rockies. On the way down and half a kilometre from the top, one of the atheists quips,
A1 - Seems like we’re going pretty fast
A2 - Ya I was noticing the same thing
A3 - Try the brakes there Stanley
A4 - I did
A1 - You did?
A4 - Ya, I tried them back a ways. There’s nothing
A2 - Nothing?
A4 - Nope. Nothing. Pedal goes right to the floor.
A3 - Hmm. Say! Did I ever tell you about the time my next door neighbour showed me a good way to change a flat tire?
A4 - No, you never did. What did he have to say?
A3 - Well, it sounds real handy. Now you take the tire iron and you hold it like so . . .
A2 - Hold on a minute there Harold. That sign we just passed said there’s a runaway lane just up there to the right.
A4 - Ah, who needs it. So what do you do after you hold the tire iron just so?
A1 - You know if we’re still going 180 when we get to that turn up ahead we could be in trouble.
A3 - Did I ever tell you about the time that I screwed my aunt Myrtle?
A4,1 & 2 in unison - No. I’d love to hear that story.
Isn’t that just like atheists though? They’re heading for disaster and they’ll try to talk to you about the darndest things. In fact, atheists will talk to you about everything BUT salvation.
. If they don’t accept their need for forgiveness they’re doomed. Yet they’ll spend countless days talking about whether they can be as moral, more moral or less moral than someone who doesn’t believe in God.
. If atheists continue to deny God’s role in their lives they’re as good as gone. Yet they’ll discuss for years on end whether it’s more correct to say that they don’t believe in God or whether they’re non believers in God.
. If they don’t get right with their Creator, atheists will spend eternity in hell. Yet they’ll post back and forth how, on the one hand, there’s no such thing as right or wrong, while on the other hand they’ll describe their own set of morals as impeccable.
. If atheists continue to convince their own children that God doesn’t exist, the definition of hell will take on a whole new meaning. Yet they continue to describe in the smallest detail the God that they claim to not believe in.
Forgiveness? Don’t want it
Salvation? Who needs it
Say, did you see Hitchens in that debate last night? That guy is brilliant!
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
He Walks The Other Way
Ok, here’s a confession. Right off the start I have to say that with my wife, I watched Jon and Kate’s “big announcement.” While my wife watches the show faithfully, this is my first time, and I suppose you should know, I fell asleep before the end. I kind of knew what was coming because over time, my wife has kept me up to date on what’s led up to this announcement.
Within the first few episodes, Wendy said things to me like,
“She doesn’t treat Jon very well.”
“She’s kind of a bitch.”
“I don’t think they have a very good marriage.”
If I’d cared about the show at all I would have paid attention to what Wendy was saying. I would have paid attention because my wife is VERY astute, especially regarding relationships. In our last congregation, on the second Sunday that our “new” Pastor was preaching, Wendy leaned over to me and said, “There is something wrong with that man and there is something wrong with that marriage.” This was a guy who was really packing in the people. They even began plans for an addition to the Church. Yet, by the end of the year, our new Pastor had left his wife and children for the Church secretary. What has that got to do with Jon and Kate plus eight? Can’t remember. Anyhow -
It dawned on me last night that day in and day out, as a counsellor I work with people like Kate. I work with people who push others away. No - they drive others away from themselves. So annoying, so angry, so conflicted, so contradictory, so difficult to love are these people that a picture could be drawn of each one of them. The client would be standing in the centre of the picture with numerous people, from both the past and the present walking the other direction, away from the person. Be it mental health issues, addictions, or just so much pent up pain and anger, these people make everyone around them miserable. And usually, sooner if not later, their families and friends leave; if not physically at least emotionally. They leave in droves.
However, in this picture, if you look carefully, there is one person who is going against the tide. There is one person whose focus is locked on to the one who is suffering the most. He makes His way through the crowd of deserters and stands there waiting. He’s waiting for an invitation to come and wrap His arms around the one who is so very difficult to love. He’s waiting to come and make you safe. That of course is Jesus. The One who goes against the tide, the One who counters every culture is our Creator, Lord and Saviour, Jesus the Christ. “I come not to those who think they are good enough. I have come to save those who know they are lost and wounded.”
Thank you Jesus for your compassion. Thank you for your love. You love us not in spite of our failings but because of our failings. You love us because we are prone to wander from your love and your safety. Thank you for your patience and kindness and gentleness. Thank you most of all for your salvation.
Within the first few episodes, Wendy said things to me like,
“She doesn’t treat Jon very well.”
“She’s kind of a bitch.”
“I don’t think they have a very good marriage.”
If I’d cared about the show at all I would have paid attention to what Wendy was saying. I would have paid attention because my wife is VERY astute, especially regarding relationships. In our last congregation, on the second Sunday that our “new” Pastor was preaching, Wendy leaned over to me and said, “There is something wrong with that man and there is something wrong with that marriage.” This was a guy who was really packing in the people. They even began plans for an addition to the Church. Yet, by the end of the year, our new Pastor had left his wife and children for the Church secretary. What has that got to do with Jon and Kate plus eight? Can’t remember. Anyhow -
It dawned on me last night that day in and day out, as a counsellor I work with people like Kate. I work with people who push others away. No - they drive others away from themselves. So annoying, so angry, so conflicted, so contradictory, so difficult to love are these people that a picture could be drawn of each one of them. The client would be standing in the centre of the picture with numerous people, from both the past and the present walking the other direction, away from the person. Be it mental health issues, addictions, or just so much pent up pain and anger, these people make everyone around them miserable. And usually, sooner if not later, their families and friends leave; if not physically at least emotionally. They leave in droves.
However, in this picture, if you look carefully, there is one person who is going against the tide. There is one person whose focus is locked on to the one who is suffering the most. He makes His way through the crowd of deserters and stands there waiting. He’s waiting for an invitation to come and wrap His arms around the one who is so very difficult to love. He’s waiting to come and make you safe. That of course is Jesus. The One who goes against the tide, the One who counters every culture is our Creator, Lord and Saviour, Jesus the Christ. “I come not to those who think they are good enough. I have come to save those who know they are lost and wounded.”
Thank you Jesus for your compassion. Thank you for your love. You love us not in spite of our failings but because of our failings. You love us because we are prone to wander from your love and your safety. Thank you for your patience and kindness and gentleness. Thank you most of all for your salvation.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Can I be good WITH God?
Atheists are often heard to pronounce to anyone who will listen, “I don’t need God in order to be good.” The delusion involved in this statement has nothing to do with whether you have God in your life or not. The delusion is thinking that you can become a good person - period. I mean, face it! You don’t even live up to your own ethical standard. You judge others by their behaviours while judging yourself by your intentions. So claiming that somehow a perfectly Holy Creator God is not going to hold His nose in your presence is a bit ridiculous. The question then arises, “Can I be good WITH God?”
Only a person who is “BECOMING” a good person can know that every step we make in the direction of goodness opens our eyes to the evil still left in us. If you actually believe that you’re a good person, then you’re just about as corrupt as a human can be. That is why Christians talk so incessantly about evil while atheists can hardly force themselves to acknowledge the existence of evil unless it crashes planes into office towers, or until it takes up a crusade against infidels. Actually, atheists don’t recognise evil at ALL unless
a) religion is somehow involved in the event, or
b) it happens to them.
Regardless, salvation is an event whereby constant improvement in character is actually THE SIGN that the event of salvation has taken place. Each of us who claim Jesus as our mentor should be better people than we were the year before. Our lives should reflect more mercy, more patience, more grace, more love for our enemies than they did last year at this time.
I joked a couple posts ago about an atheist who said that he “proved” people could improve who they are without the aid of God. How did he do that? He went a month without eating chocolate. Perhaps that’s a big step for an atheist. I don’t know.
Anyhow, something that I’ve noticed almost thirty years down the road in my walk with Jesus is that the closer I get to heaven, both figuratively and literally, the more conscious I am of how much I deserve to be in hell. That’s what happens when Jesus changes us for the better. That’s why atheists are so offended that Creator God would even think of allowing such wonderful people as themselves to go through such a horrible experience as hell. They really can’t see any reason for their exclusion from heaven. It’s beyond their ability to comprehend.
Since being with Jesus means that we become more aware of the evil still in us, and since this creates in us a deep desire to step completely out of the life destroying mire of sin, it becomes obvious that the reason most people don’t feel sinful is the same reason a fish doesn’t feel wet. They’re immersed in sin. It fills every crevice of their existence. They breath in evil like people in Mexico City breath in pollution.
They watch sin.
They read sin.
They listen to sin.
They embrace sin.
They laugh at and with sin.
They’ve adapted to sin and they’re comfortable with it in their lives.
Why else would we allow and even encourage a world that sells children into sexual slavery? Why else would we allow and even encourage a world that starves to death thousands of children EVERY DAY? When we fist step into a darkened movie theatre, we’re appalled at how blind we are. Very soon however we grow accustomed to the darkness and we move about quite freely. So too with sin. We adjust to it and soon enough we hardly notice that we’re cloaked in spiritual darkness. Soon enough we become oblivious to the stench of spiritual death that emanates from our every pore.
As we grow closer to Christlikeness we should become more aware of our need for Jesus’ salvation, and more appalled at the sin still left in us, more cognisant of our deep, deep dependence on Jesus for any improvement in our character, and more and more grateful than ever for Jesus’ offer of forgiveness.
Can I be good with God in my life? If I’m not getting progressively better, there a pretty good chance that God isn’t in my life. I’ll never be as good as I should be but hopefully I’ll be better than I was.
Salvation kick starts a process of rehabilitation.
Salvation begins a way of life that is dynamic, dramatic and difficult.
Salvation is my destiny.
Only a person who is “BECOMING” a good person can know that every step we make in the direction of goodness opens our eyes to the evil still left in us. If you actually believe that you’re a good person, then you’re just about as corrupt as a human can be. That is why Christians talk so incessantly about evil while atheists can hardly force themselves to acknowledge the existence of evil unless it crashes planes into office towers, or until it takes up a crusade against infidels. Actually, atheists don’t recognise evil at ALL unless
a) religion is somehow involved in the event, or
b) it happens to them.
Regardless, salvation is an event whereby constant improvement in character is actually THE SIGN that the event of salvation has taken place. Each of us who claim Jesus as our mentor should be better people than we were the year before. Our lives should reflect more mercy, more patience, more grace, more love for our enemies than they did last year at this time.
I joked a couple posts ago about an atheist who said that he “proved” people could improve who they are without the aid of God. How did he do that? He went a month without eating chocolate. Perhaps that’s a big step for an atheist. I don’t know.
Anyhow, something that I’ve noticed almost thirty years down the road in my walk with Jesus is that the closer I get to heaven, both figuratively and literally, the more conscious I am of how much I deserve to be in hell. That’s what happens when Jesus changes us for the better. That’s why atheists are so offended that Creator God would even think of allowing such wonderful people as themselves to go through such a horrible experience as hell. They really can’t see any reason for their exclusion from heaven. It’s beyond their ability to comprehend.
Since being with Jesus means that we become more aware of the evil still in us, and since this creates in us a deep desire to step completely out of the life destroying mire of sin, it becomes obvious that the reason most people don’t feel sinful is the same reason a fish doesn’t feel wet. They’re immersed in sin. It fills every crevice of their existence. They breath in evil like people in Mexico City breath in pollution.
They watch sin.
They read sin.
They listen to sin.
They embrace sin.
They laugh at and with sin.
They’ve adapted to sin and they’re comfortable with it in their lives.
Why else would we allow and even encourage a world that sells children into sexual slavery? Why else would we allow and even encourage a world that starves to death thousands of children EVERY DAY? When we fist step into a darkened movie theatre, we’re appalled at how blind we are. Very soon however we grow accustomed to the darkness and we move about quite freely. So too with sin. We adjust to it and soon enough we hardly notice that we’re cloaked in spiritual darkness. Soon enough we become oblivious to the stench of spiritual death that emanates from our every pore.
As we grow closer to Christlikeness we should become more aware of our need for Jesus’ salvation, and more appalled at the sin still left in us, more cognisant of our deep, deep dependence on Jesus for any improvement in our character, and more and more grateful than ever for Jesus’ offer of forgiveness.
Can I be good with God in my life? If I’m not getting progressively better, there a pretty good chance that God isn’t in my life. I’ll never be as good as I should be but hopefully I’ll be better than I was.
Salvation kick starts a process of rehabilitation.
Salvation begins a way of life that is dynamic, dramatic and difficult.
Salvation is my destiny.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Atheists and Chimps
“We are only one chromosome away from chimpanzees”
Yet another atheist blogger was addressing how similar we are to common primates. Another atheist said that we aren’t similar to apes, we ARE apes. This reminded me of an article that was printed in Time Magazine several years ago. I dug it out of my filing cabinet. It’s by Andrew Lansdown. Here it is.
“No single, essential difference separates human beings from other animals.” So began a feature article on evolution in Time Magazine (“How Man Began,” March 14, 1994). The more I thought about this sweeping statement the more I began to warm to it.
For example, like humans, apes have well formed rational faculties. Their ability to develop an argument, follow a line of logic, draw conclusions and frame hypotheses is quite remarkable.
Also like humans, apes have a marked faculty for language. (This, of course, is intertwined with their powers of reason.) Their vocabulary is enormous, their grammar complex and their conversations deep and meaningful.
The apes’ ability to codify language in writing is further proof of their close relationship to humans. In this respect, it was most gratifying to see the number of apes who wrote to Time magazine in response to the article on “How Man Began.” I was particularly interested to follow the line of reasoning of the orangutan who argued that apes had evolved from humans, not vice versa.
Like humans, apes also have a strong spirit of inquiry. Their research in the fields of astronomy, mathematics, medicine and physics is noteworthy.
Apes also (again, like humans) yearn for meaning in life. This is why they devote so much of their time to philosophy, theology and ethics. The religious sentiments and practices of all apes can be traced back to their intense and endless quest for meaning.
Apes are concerned about questions not only of origin but also of destiny. The best proof I can offer for this claim is the maxim by one famous ape philosopher who said, “Whether my life leads ultimately to the dirt or to Judgment, either way, I’ve got a problem.”
Apes also have, like humans, a refined aesthetic sense. They admire beauty and long to surround themselves with it. When an ape cultivates a garden, puts flowers in a vase, or hangs up a painting, what is it doing if not expressing a love of beauty?
Again, like humans, apes have a strong creative impulse. This is seen in their poetry, painting, dance, drama and music. To a lesser extent their creativity is also evident in the way they gather in weekly craft groups to weave baskets, spin wool, knit shawls, and cover photo albums.
The sense of humour shared by all apes is another proof of their close kinship to humans. Their delight in the ridiculous and their love of a good laugh is plain from the popular ape jokes they tell.
Reason, language, inquiry, wonder, longing, religion, morality, aesthetics, creativity, imagination, aspiration and humour . . such intangible but fundamental qualities are by no means unique to humans, as I hope I have conclusively shown. Therefore, in the profound words of Time magazine, “No single, essential difference separates human beings from other animals.”
This being the case, Christians are plainly wrong to insist that humans and animals are vastly different. And they are also obviously wrong to insist that this difference arises from the fact that God created humans in His own likeness. And if they are wrong to insist that God made us in His own likeness, then they are wrong to insist that God has any claim on us.
Such is the logic of chimps - I mean atheists
Yet another atheist blogger was addressing how similar we are to common primates. Another atheist said that we aren’t similar to apes, we ARE apes. This reminded me of an article that was printed in Time Magazine several years ago. I dug it out of my filing cabinet. It’s by Andrew Lansdown. Here it is.
“No single, essential difference separates human beings from other animals.” So began a feature article on evolution in Time Magazine (“How Man Began,” March 14, 1994). The more I thought about this sweeping statement the more I began to warm to it.
For example, like humans, apes have well formed rational faculties. Their ability to develop an argument, follow a line of logic, draw conclusions and frame hypotheses is quite remarkable.
Also like humans, apes have a marked faculty for language. (This, of course, is intertwined with their powers of reason.) Their vocabulary is enormous, their grammar complex and their conversations deep and meaningful.
The apes’ ability to codify language in writing is further proof of their close relationship to humans. In this respect, it was most gratifying to see the number of apes who wrote to Time magazine in response to the article on “How Man Began.” I was particularly interested to follow the line of reasoning of the orangutan who argued that apes had evolved from humans, not vice versa.
Like humans, apes also have a strong spirit of inquiry. Their research in the fields of astronomy, mathematics, medicine and physics is noteworthy.
Apes also (again, like humans) yearn for meaning in life. This is why they devote so much of their time to philosophy, theology and ethics. The religious sentiments and practices of all apes can be traced back to their intense and endless quest for meaning.
Apes are concerned about questions not only of origin but also of destiny. The best proof I can offer for this claim is the maxim by one famous ape philosopher who said, “Whether my life leads ultimately to the dirt or to Judgment, either way, I’ve got a problem.”
Apes also have, like humans, a refined aesthetic sense. They admire beauty and long to surround themselves with it. When an ape cultivates a garden, puts flowers in a vase, or hangs up a painting, what is it doing if not expressing a love of beauty?
Again, like humans, apes have a strong creative impulse. This is seen in their poetry, painting, dance, drama and music. To a lesser extent their creativity is also evident in the way they gather in weekly craft groups to weave baskets, spin wool, knit shawls, and cover photo albums.
The sense of humour shared by all apes is another proof of their close kinship to humans. Their delight in the ridiculous and their love of a good laugh is plain from the popular ape jokes they tell.
Reason, language, inquiry, wonder, longing, religion, morality, aesthetics, creativity, imagination, aspiration and humour . . such intangible but fundamental qualities are by no means unique to humans, as I hope I have conclusively shown. Therefore, in the profound words of Time magazine, “No single, essential difference separates human beings from other animals.”
This being the case, Christians are plainly wrong to insist that humans and animals are vastly different. And they are also obviously wrong to insist that this difference arises from the fact that God created humans in His own likeness. And if they are wrong to insist that God made us in His own likeness, then they are wrong to insist that God has any claim on us.
Such is the logic of chimps - I mean atheists
Sunday, June 21, 2009
It’s all behind me now
I can list what many might think are impressive credentials. You know my pedigree; a legitimate birth, circumcised on the eighth day; an Israelite from the elite tribe of Benjamin; a strict and devout adherent to God’s law; a fiery defender of the purity of my religion, even to the point of persecuting the Church; a meticulous observer of everything set down in God’s law Book.
The very credentials these people are waving around as something special, I’m tearing up and throwing out with the trash - along with everything else I used to take credit for. And why? Because of Christ. Yes, all the things I once thought were so important are gone from my life. Compared to the high privilege of knowing Christ Jesus as my Master, firsthand, everything I once thought I had going for me is insignificant - worth less than dog dung. I’ve dumped it all in the trash so that I could embrace Christ and be embraced by Him. I didn’t want some petty, inferior brand of righteousness that comes from keeping a list of rules when I could get the robust kind that comes from trusting Christ - God’s righteousness.
I gave up all that inferior stuff so I could know Christ personally, experience His resurrection power, be a partner in his suffering, and go all the way with him to death itself. If there was any way to get in on the resurrection from the dead, I wanted to do it.
I’m not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don’t get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward - to Jesus. I’m off and running, and I’m not turning back. So let’s keep focussed on that goal, those of us who want everything God has for us.
We’re waiting the arrival of the Saviour, the Master, Jesus Christ, who will transform our earthly bodies into glorious bodies like His own.
Paul the Apostle
The very credentials these people are waving around as something special, I’m tearing up and throwing out with the trash - along with everything else I used to take credit for. And why? Because of Christ. Yes, all the things I once thought were so important are gone from my life. Compared to the high privilege of knowing Christ Jesus as my Master, firsthand, everything I once thought I had going for me is insignificant - worth less than dog dung. I’ve dumped it all in the trash so that I could embrace Christ and be embraced by Him. I didn’t want some petty, inferior brand of righteousness that comes from keeping a list of rules when I could get the robust kind that comes from trusting Christ - God’s righteousness.
I gave up all that inferior stuff so I could know Christ personally, experience His resurrection power, be a partner in his suffering, and go all the way with him to death itself. If there was any way to get in on the resurrection from the dead, I wanted to do it.
I’m not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don’t get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward - to Jesus. I’m off and running, and I’m not turning back. So let’s keep focussed on that goal, those of us who want everything God has for us.
We’re waiting the arrival of the Saviour, the Master, Jesus Christ, who will transform our earthly bodies into glorious bodies like His own.
Paul the Apostle
Saturday, June 20, 2009
What’s this atheist trying to prove?
Every so often, I see on atheist blogs the reporting of a Christian who has done something wrong. And this reporting is done in such a way as to make it sound worthy of front-page news. I saw it again yesterday and I do not understand what he’s trying to prove. I mean, by posting about Christians who do wrong things, you’re actually proving the Christian’s point exactly. We, all of us are tainted to the core by our sinful nature. Everything that humans touch turns to crap, including Christianity, the Church and Religion.
Remember atheists, we Christians are not the ones who are SELF-righteous or who see ourselves as “good.” That’s for you, the atheist who thinks you are good enough as your are. That’s for you the atheist to think of yourself of not needing any help let alone forgiveness. By pointing out OUR failures, you aren’t proving anything except what we’ve been telling you all along. We are sinful human beings in need of forgiveness.
Remember atheists, we Christians are not the ones who are SELF-righteous or who see ourselves as “good.” That’s for you, the atheist who thinks you are good enough as your are. That’s for you the atheist to think of yourself of not needing any help let alone forgiveness. By pointing out OUR failures, you aren’t proving anything except what we’ve been telling you all along. We are sinful human beings in need of forgiveness.
Friday, June 19, 2009
The evidence convinced me
C. What evidence do you have for atheism?
A. What do you mean?
C. Evidence. What evidence to you have for believing that God does not exist?
A. We’ll there isn’t any
C. So God could exist
A. He could but I deny that He does
C. Can’t you do better than that? Don’t you have evidence that God doesn’t exist?
A. There isn't such a thing. You can’t prove a negative.
C. But why not just show the evidence for a natural cause for the universe?
That would prove that God doesn't exist.
A. There isn’t any evidence for a natural cause.
C. But you believe that's what happened.
A. Yes.
C. Without any evidence. Interesting.
Well why not just show evidence that a natural
process brought matter into existence?
A. There isn’t such evidence.
C. But that is what you believe. Right?
A. Yes, but . .
C. Without any evidence. I always thought that was kind of a creed or something for atheists. You fancy yourselves to be scientifically minded so you only go where the
evidence leads and all that.
A. That's exactly what I do.
C. No. That's not what you do. At least show evidence that a natural process can turn non life into life.
A. There isn’t any evidence for that but Dawkins SAID that's what happened.
C. Because he has proof?
A. No, he doesn't have any scientific proof. But he seriously believes it.
C. Isn't Dawkins the one who said that he's wary of strongly held beliefs in the absence of evidence?
A. Maybe
C. Yes, yes he is. I'm sure that's who said that. Doesn't that make him a hypocrite? or maybe just a liar. Anyhow, if you don't have any evidence for the most important parts of your belief system, just how DO you support your faith in atheism?
A. I just believe it
C. Hmmm, interesting.
A. What do you mean?
C. Evidence. What evidence to you have for believing that God does not exist?
A. We’ll there isn’t any
C. So God could exist
A. He could but I deny that He does
C. Can’t you do better than that? Don’t you have evidence that God doesn’t exist?
A. There isn't such a thing. You can’t prove a negative.
C. But why not just show the evidence for a natural cause for the universe?
That would prove that God doesn't exist.
A. There isn’t any evidence for a natural cause.
C. But you believe that's what happened.
A. Yes.
C. Without any evidence. Interesting.
Well why not just show evidence that a natural
process brought matter into existence?
A. There isn’t such evidence.
C. But that is what you believe. Right?
A. Yes, but . .
C. Without any evidence. I always thought that was kind of a creed or something for atheists. You fancy yourselves to be scientifically minded so you only go where the
evidence leads and all that.
A. That's exactly what I do.
C. No. That's not what you do. At least show evidence that a natural process can turn non life into life.
A. There isn’t any evidence for that but Dawkins SAID that's what happened.
C. Because he has proof?
A. No, he doesn't have any scientific proof. But he seriously believes it.
C. Isn't Dawkins the one who said that he's wary of strongly held beliefs in the absence of evidence?
A. Maybe
C. Yes, yes he is. I'm sure that's who said that. Doesn't that make him a hypocrite? or maybe just a liar. Anyhow, if you don't have any evidence for the most important parts of your belief system, just how DO you support your faith in atheism?
A. I just believe it
C. Hmmm, interesting.
He Suffered and Died
I find it hard to believe that anyone can be so ignorant as to believe that Jesus came down from the cross alive. However, yet another atheist has made this claim in His defense of the proposition that the reason the tomb was empty is because, well, Jesus really wasn’t dead. Have you ever noticed how often atheists and Muslims agree on things? It’s a little unnerving. Anyhow, when I said Jesus most certainly was dead, this atheist stated, “Where the evidence?”
Drawing from eyewitness accounts, and from what we know of Roman execution, and the Jewish / Roman interaction, Physician Truman Davis writes the following about Jesus’ death:
The whip the Roman soldiers use on Jesus has small iron balls and sharp pieces of sheep bones tied to it. Jesus is stripped of his clothing, and his hands are tied to an upright post. His back, buttocks, and legs are whipped either by one soldier or by two who alternate positions. The soldiers taunt their victim. As they repeatedly strike Jesus’ back with full force, the iron balls cause deep contusions, and the sheep bones cut into the skin and tissues. As the whipping continues, the lacerations tear into the underlying skeletal muscles and produce quivering ribbons of bleeding flesh. Most often the victim's bowels were laid bare. Pain and blood loss set the stage for circulatory shock.
When it is determined by the centurion in charge that Jesus is near death, the beating is finally stopped. The half-fainting Jesus is then untied and allowed to slump to the stone pavement, wet with his own blood. The Roman soldiers see a great joke in this provincial Jew claiming to be a king. They throw a robe across his shoulders and place a stick in his hand for a scepter. They still need a crown to make their travesty complete. A small bundle of flexible branches covered with long thorns are plaited into the shape of a crown, and this is pressed into his scalp. Again there is copious bleeding (the scalp being one of the most vascular areas of the body). After mocking him and striking him across the face until he is unrecognisable to those who know him, the soldiers take the stick from his hand and strike him across the head, driving the thorns deeper into his scalp.
Finally, when they tire of their sadistic sport, the robe is torn from his back. The robe had already become adherent to the clots of blood and serum in the wounds, and its removal - just as in the careless removal of a surgical bandage - causes excruciating pain, is almost as though he were being whipped again. The wounds again begin to bleed. In deference to Jewish custom, the Romans return his garments. The heavy horizontal beam of the cross is tied across his shoulders, and the procession of the condemned Christ, two thieves, and the execution party walk along the Via Dolorosa. In spite of his efforts to walk erect, the weight of the heavy wooden beam, together with the shock produced by copious blood loss, is too much. He stumbles and falls. The rough wood of the beam gouges into the lacerated skin and muscles of the shoulders. He tries to rise, but human muscles have been pushed beyond their endurance. The centurion, anxious to get on with the crucifixion, select a stalwart North African onlooker, Simon of Cyrene, to carry the cross. Jesus follows, still bleeding and sweating the cold, clammy sweat of shock.
The 650 yard journey from the fortress Antonia to Golgotha is finally complete. Jesus is again stripped of his clothes except for a loincloth which is allowed the Jews. The crucifixion begins. Jesus is offered wine mixed with myrrh, a mild pain-killing mixture. He refuses to drink. Simon is ordered to place the cross beam on the ground, and Jesus is quickly thrown backward with his shoulders against the wood. The legionnaire feels for the depression at the front of the wrist. He drives a heavy, square, wrought-iron nail through the wrist and deep into the wood. Quickly, the soldier moves to the other side and repeats the action, being careful not to pull the arms too tight, but to allow some flexibility and movement. The beam is then lifted, and the title reading “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews” is nailed in place.
The victim Jesus is now crucified. As he slowly sags down with more weight on the nails in the wrists, excruciating, fiery pain shoots along the fingers and up the arms to explode in the brain - the nails in the wrists are putting pressure on the median nerves. The severing of the median nerve by the nails would produce the degree of pain as if someone grabbed, with pliers, the same nerve embedded in your elbow joint and squeezed it and twisted it for hours on end. As he pushes himself upward to avoid this stretching torment, he places his full weight on the nail through his feet. Again, there is the searing agony of the nail tearing through the nerves between the metatarsal bones of the feet. At this point, another phenomenon occurs. As the arms fatigue, great waves of cramps sweep over the muscles, knotting them in deep, relentless, throbbing pain. It was not uncommon for the shoulders to be pulled out of their sockets by the weight of the person’s body. The muscles would then be stretched two to three inches from their normal length. With these cramps comes the inability to push himself upward. Hanging by his arms, the pectoral muscles are paralysed, and the intercostal muscles are unable to act. Air can be drawn into the lungs but it cannot be exhaled. Jesus fights to raise himself in order to get even one short breath. Finally, carbon dioxide builds up in the lungs and in the bloodstream, and the cramps partially subside. Spasmodically, he is able to push himself upward to exhale and bring in the life-giving oxygen.
Now begin hours of this limitless pain, cycles of cramping and twisting partial asphyxiation, searing pain as tissue is torn from his lacerated back as he moves up and down against the rough timber. Then another agony begins. A deep, crushing pain in the chest as the pericardium slowly fills with serum and begins to compress the heart. It is now almost over - the loss of tissue fluids has reached a critical level; the compressed heart is struggling to pump heavy, sluggish blood into the tissues; the tortured lungs are making a frantic effort to gasp in small gulps of air. The markedly dehydrated tissues send their flood of stimuli to the brain. His mission of atonement has been complete. Finally he can allow his body to die. With one last surge of strength, he once again presses his torn feet against the nail, straightens his legs, takes a deeper breath, and utters his final words.
When the chief executioner comes to ensure death has taken place, the spear's thrust releases the blood that is now separated into serum and platelets. This appears to the eyewitness who wrote this account as water and blood. Jesus was in fact, dead when they laid Him in the tomb.
Drawing from eyewitness accounts, and from what we know of Roman execution, and the Jewish / Roman interaction, Physician Truman Davis writes the following about Jesus’ death:
The whip the Roman soldiers use on Jesus has small iron balls and sharp pieces of sheep bones tied to it. Jesus is stripped of his clothing, and his hands are tied to an upright post. His back, buttocks, and legs are whipped either by one soldier or by two who alternate positions. The soldiers taunt their victim. As they repeatedly strike Jesus’ back with full force, the iron balls cause deep contusions, and the sheep bones cut into the skin and tissues. As the whipping continues, the lacerations tear into the underlying skeletal muscles and produce quivering ribbons of bleeding flesh. Most often the victim's bowels were laid bare. Pain and blood loss set the stage for circulatory shock.
When it is determined by the centurion in charge that Jesus is near death, the beating is finally stopped. The half-fainting Jesus is then untied and allowed to slump to the stone pavement, wet with his own blood. The Roman soldiers see a great joke in this provincial Jew claiming to be a king. They throw a robe across his shoulders and place a stick in his hand for a scepter. They still need a crown to make their travesty complete. A small bundle of flexible branches covered with long thorns are plaited into the shape of a crown, and this is pressed into his scalp. Again there is copious bleeding (the scalp being one of the most vascular areas of the body). After mocking him and striking him across the face until he is unrecognisable to those who know him, the soldiers take the stick from his hand and strike him across the head, driving the thorns deeper into his scalp.
Finally, when they tire of their sadistic sport, the robe is torn from his back. The robe had already become adherent to the clots of blood and serum in the wounds, and its removal - just as in the careless removal of a surgical bandage - causes excruciating pain, is almost as though he were being whipped again. The wounds again begin to bleed. In deference to Jewish custom, the Romans return his garments. The heavy horizontal beam of the cross is tied across his shoulders, and the procession of the condemned Christ, two thieves, and the execution party walk along the Via Dolorosa. In spite of his efforts to walk erect, the weight of the heavy wooden beam, together with the shock produced by copious blood loss, is too much. He stumbles and falls. The rough wood of the beam gouges into the lacerated skin and muscles of the shoulders. He tries to rise, but human muscles have been pushed beyond their endurance. The centurion, anxious to get on with the crucifixion, select a stalwart North African onlooker, Simon of Cyrene, to carry the cross. Jesus follows, still bleeding and sweating the cold, clammy sweat of shock.
The 650 yard journey from the fortress Antonia to Golgotha is finally complete. Jesus is again stripped of his clothes except for a loincloth which is allowed the Jews. The crucifixion begins. Jesus is offered wine mixed with myrrh, a mild pain-killing mixture. He refuses to drink. Simon is ordered to place the cross beam on the ground, and Jesus is quickly thrown backward with his shoulders against the wood. The legionnaire feels for the depression at the front of the wrist. He drives a heavy, square, wrought-iron nail through the wrist and deep into the wood. Quickly, the soldier moves to the other side and repeats the action, being careful not to pull the arms too tight, but to allow some flexibility and movement. The beam is then lifted, and the title reading “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews” is nailed in place.
The victim Jesus is now crucified. As he slowly sags down with more weight on the nails in the wrists, excruciating, fiery pain shoots along the fingers and up the arms to explode in the brain - the nails in the wrists are putting pressure on the median nerves. The severing of the median nerve by the nails would produce the degree of pain as if someone grabbed, with pliers, the same nerve embedded in your elbow joint and squeezed it and twisted it for hours on end. As he pushes himself upward to avoid this stretching torment, he places his full weight on the nail through his feet. Again, there is the searing agony of the nail tearing through the nerves between the metatarsal bones of the feet. At this point, another phenomenon occurs. As the arms fatigue, great waves of cramps sweep over the muscles, knotting them in deep, relentless, throbbing pain. It was not uncommon for the shoulders to be pulled out of their sockets by the weight of the person’s body. The muscles would then be stretched two to three inches from their normal length. With these cramps comes the inability to push himself upward. Hanging by his arms, the pectoral muscles are paralysed, and the intercostal muscles are unable to act. Air can be drawn into the lungs but it cannot be exhaled. Jesus fights to raise himself in order to get even one short breath. Finally, carbon dioxide builds up in the lungs and in the bloodstream, and the cramps partially subside. Spasmodically, he is able to push himself upward to exhale and bring in the life-giving oxygen.
Now begin hours of this limitless pain, cycles of cramping and twisting partial asphyxiation, searing pain as tissue is torn from his lacerated back as he moves up and down against the rough timber. Then another agony begins. A deep, crushing pain in the chest as the pericardium slowly fills with serum and begins to compress the heart. It is now almost over - the loss of tissue fluids has reached a critical level; the compressed heart is struggling to pump heavy, sluggish blood into the tissues; the tortured lungs are making a frantic effort to gasp in small gulps of air. The markedly dehydrated tissues send their flood of stimuli to the brain. His mission of atonement has been complete. Finally he can allow his body to die. With one last surge of strength, he once again presses his torn feet against the nail, straightens his legs, takes a deeper breath, and utters his final words.
When the chief executioner comes to ensure death has taken place, the spear's thrust releases the blood that is now separated into serum and platelets. This appears to the eyewitness who wrote this account as water and blood. Jesus was in fact, dead when they laid Him in the tomb.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
You hear what dat bum just called me?
The weirdest thing just happened. The barefoot bum just called me a fascist. A fascist? Even Dawkins admits that the only government that ever has or ever will be fascist in nature is one that is made up of darwinists. And this bum calls ME a fascist. He even said I can't post there any more. Nothing like atheists for promoting censorship and suppression of opposing ideas. Well, atheists and fascists.
The atheist’s biggest myth
I can’t remember if it was vjack or Hemant. It was someone like that a couple days ago writing that the biggest myth regarding atheists is that they’re immoral people. “I don’t need God in order to be a nice person,” is the mantra by which most atheists operate. Who ever wrote that post was right of course. Far too many people believe that atheists, by definition are more immoral than the rest of the people walking down the street. On the other hand I believe that there is an even greater myth that’s making the rounds.
The greatest myth of all time is that we are in fact good people. In justifying this belief we have this tendency to compare down instead of up. We’re all tempted to do this of course, but it is particularly noticeable in people struggling with an addiction. I’ve heard hundreds of times, “Ya well what about him? He’s the one who should be sitting in this chair.” Well, maybe he should be sitting in that chair, and maybe one day he will be sitting in that chair, but you also need to be here ‘cause you have exactly the same problem.
It’s no different with atheists. Sure as anything, when I suggest that perhaps this or that atheist may not be a “good” person, that person will point to Hitler, or Ted Bundy and say, “Well, I’m not like that.” Ok, but neither are you perfect. You compare down to serial killers when you need to be comparing up to God. If God exists, and I believe that He does, that is the standard by which we’ll be judged. So, no, you may not need God in order to be what you define as a good person but you do need God in order to be forgiven.
Then of course the atheist will go into some song and dance about how this isn’t fair and how God shouldn’t have made us in the first place if He was just going to torture us in hell forever and ever, etc. etc. I’ve even had one atheist tell me that Yes indeed, God SHOULD have made us robots so that we couldn’t do wrong things. Well, whether you agree with the plan or not, God gave us free will. He gave us the ability to choose because there is no other way to know real love. And real love is the greatest entity in the whole universe. Besides, God has done everything possible to make sure you don’t go to hell at all. You disagree? Try this on for size.
- All of us have sinned and deserve to be separated from God forever. It’s completely fair. The playing field is absolutely level. Some people are worse than you and some are better but none of us are good enough to be good enough for heaven. Nevertheless, God rescues those who are not looking for Him, loves those who hate Him, and makes peace with those who are His enemies. 2nd Samuel 7:18; Isaiah 65:1; Romans 10:20
. The rebellious cannot complain because they are in fact guilty of rebellion.
Genesis 3:22; Psalm 14:3
. The saved cannot boast because they have done nothing to deserve salvation.
Romans 3:27,28
The playing field is level.
- God is infinitely just
- Therefore God must judge sin
- God is infinitely loving
- Therefore, God must also love and forgive us
But how can that be done? How can God punish sin without punishing us? Actually it’s quite simple.
God has to punish sin because He’s completely and totally just. No one and no thing gets away with any thing. This is totally opposite from the atheist world view. In the atheist utopia, if you can get away with stealing and elderly woman’s home, or molesting your child, or cheating on your partner or any other vile act during you life on earth, you get away with it forever. And in fact everyone tries to do exactly that to one degree or another.
According to Jesus however, there are no free lunches. God’s justice guarantees that sin will be punished. Someone is gonna pay - Big Time. On the other hand, "God is compassionate, and merciful, slow to anger and full of grace." Because of that, God Himself has decided to take our punishment upon Himself. Why? Why would He do that?
It’s call love. That’s why He’s done it. In the form of Jesus a sinless substitute has taken our place. Why sinless?
Because the substitute, the sacrifice for our sins must not be in any way suffering for His own sins. But why MAKE Jesus be a sacrifice? That’s not fair.
Mmm, no. If He was forced to be our substitute it wouldn’t be fair. The thing is, though, Jesus wasn’t made to be our sacrifice. Because of His infinite Love, this was God’s plan from the very beginning that He in the form of Jesus would VOLUNTEER to be our substitute, our sacrifice. Jesus willingly went to the cross for you and instead of you. Remember, somebody is gonna pay; either Jesus, or you. It’s your choice.
So God’s infinite love for us actually demanded that He take upon Himself His own wrath against sin. That’s why Jesus was able to say, not as a simplistic pat answer, but from ultimate knowledge,
“No greater love has anyone than to lay down His life for His friend.”
Jesus has done that for you!
No one is good enough to be good enough for heaven. Our sin separates us from God. The Bible tells us that the wages of sin is physical death and spiritual separation from God for eternity. But God, through Jesus, has built a bridge by which we can cross from death into life. There is absolutely no need for anyone to experience the horrors of hell. No one needs to experience God’s wrath against sin.
Can you see now why Jesus says that He is the Way, the ONLY Way to God? It’s because He is the only sinless substitute available to pay the penalty for our sins. This isn’t an arbitrary or arrogant statement of “My way is better than your way.” There is simply no other choice or alternative for God to deal with sin without harming us.
“I take no delight in the death of the wicked. So turn from your sin and be saved.”
Creator God has only one way that He can reconcile His infinite love with His infinite justice. That is through the sinless Christ, Jesus.
"So," we might ask, "why doesn’t everyone cross the bridge from death into life?"
Everyone can if they want. Certainly everyone is called. Why do some turn their backs and ignore that calling? What could possibly keep someone from accepting this gift of salvation that is being offered, free of charge to you, even though it cost Jesus a price that we can’t begin to comprehend?
Why indeed, would anyone, perhaps even you, refuse to cross the bridge?
The greatest myth of all time is that we are in fact good people. In justifying this belief we have this tendency to compare down instead of up. We’re all tempted to do this of course, but it is particularly noticeable in people struggling with an addiction. I’ve heard hundreds of times, “Ya well what about him? He’s the one who should be sitting in this chair.” Well, maybe he should be sitting in that chair, and maybe one day he will be sitting in that chair, but you also need to be here ‘cause you have exactly the same problem.
It’s no different with atheists. Sure as anything, when I suggest that perhaps this or that atheist may not be a “good” person, that person will point to Hitler, or Ted Bundy and say, “Well, I’m not like that.” Ok, but neither are you perfect. You compare down to serial killers when you need to be comparing up to God. If God exists, and I believe that He does, that is the standard by which we’ll be judged. So, no, you may not need God in order to be what you define as a good person but you do need God in order to be forgiven.
Then of course the atheist will go into some song and dance about how this isn’t fair and how God shouldn’t have made us in the first place if He was just going to torture us in hell forever and ever, etc. etc. I’ve even had one atheist tell me that Yes indeed, God SHOULD have made us robots so that we couldn’t do wrong things. Well, whether you agree with the plan or not, God gave us free will. He gave us the ability to choose because there is no other way to know real love. And real love is the greatest entity in the whole universe. Besides, God has done everything possible to make sure you don’t go to hell at all. You disagree? Try this on for size.
- All of us have sinned and deserve to be separated from God forever. It’s completely fair. The playing field is absolutely level. Some people are worse than you and some are better but none of us are good enough to be good enough for heaven. Nevertheless, God rescues those who are not looking for Him, loves those who hate Him, and makes peace with those who are His enemies. 2nd Samuel 7:18; Isaiah 65:1; Romans 10:20
. The rebellious cannot complain because they are in fact guilty of rebellion.
Genesis 3:22; Psalm 14:3
. The saved cannot boast because they have done nothing to deserve salvation.
Romans 3:27,28
The playing field is level.
- God is infinitely just
- Therefore God must judge sin
- God is infinitely loving
- Therefore, God must also love and forgive us
But how can that be done? How can God punish sin without punishing us? Actually it’s quite simple.
God has to punish sin because He’s completely and totally just. No one and no thing gets away with any thing. This is totally opposite from the atheist world view. In the atheist utopia, if you can get away with stealing and elderly woman’s home, or molesting your child, or cheating on your partner or any other vile act during you life on earth, you get away with it forever. And in fact everyone tries to do exactly that to one degree or another.
According to Jesus however, there are no free lunches. God’s justice guarantees that sin will be punished. Someone is gonna pay - Big Time. On the other hand, "God is compassionate, and merciful, slow to anger and full of grace." Because of that, God Himself has decided to take our punishment upon Himself. Why? Why would He do that?
It’s call love. That’s why He’s done it. In the form of Jesus a sinless substitute has taken our place. Why sinless?
Because the substitute, the sacrifice for our sins must not be in any way suffering for His own sins. But why MAKE Jesus be a sacrifice? That’s not fair.
Mmm, no. If He was forced to be our substitute it wouldn’t be fair. The thing is, though, Jesus wasn’t made to be our sacrifice. Because of His infinite Love, this was God’s plan from the very beginning that He in the form of Jesus would VOLUNTEER to be our substitute, our sacrifice. Jesus willingly went to the cross for you and instead of you. Remember, somebody is gonna pay; either Jesus, or you. It’s your choice.
So God’s infinite love for us actually demanded that He take upon Himself His own wrath against sin. That’s why Jesus was able to say, not as a simplistic pat answer, but from ultimate knowledge,
“No greater love has anyone than to lay down His life for His friend.”
Jesus has done that for you!
No one is good enough to be good enough for heaven. Our sin separates us from God. The Bible tells us that the wages of sin is physical death and spiritual separation from God for eternity. But God, through Jesus, has built a bridge by which we can cross from death into life. There is absolutely no need for anyone to experience the horrors of hell. No one needs to experience God’s wrath against sin.
Can you see now why Jesus says that He is the Way, the ONLY Way to God? It’s because He is the only sinless substitute available to pay the penalty for our sins. This isn’t an arbitrary or arrogant statement of “My way is better than your way.” There is simply no other choice or alternative for God to deal with sin without harming us.
“I take no delight in the death of the wicked. So turn from your sin and be saved.”
Creator God has only one way that He can reconcile His infinite love with His infinite justice. That is through the sinless Christ, Jesus.
"So," we might ask, "why doesn’t everyone cross the bridge from death into life?"
Everyone can if they want. Certainly everyone is called. Why do some turn their backs and ignore that calling? What could possibly keep someone from accepting this gift of salvation that is being offered, free of charge to you, even though it cost Jesus a price that we can’t begin to comprehend?
Why indeed, would anyone, perhaps even you, refuse to cross the bridge?
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
I cain't hep it!
The doctor's office phoned to say my bloodwork results were back and that the doctor wanted me to come and see him.
When I walked into the office there were thirteen people ahead of me. One woman was talking on her phone and telling someone how long she'd been waiting. Another woman was at the desk asking, "How much longer will it be?"
I stepped into the pharmacy and bought a bottle of O.J. I sat down, cranked open the juice, took two swallows and someone called my name. It couldn't be, I thought. But there it was again. Sure 'nuff, that's my name alright. As I was walking into the back with the nurse someone said, "He just got here!"
Hey, honey. I cain't hep it if I'm lucky.
Oh, and as far as the tests go? The doc must have just bought a new boat or something 'cause everything is fine. I guess you could call me a health conscious individual - Pfft!
When I walked into the office there were thirteen people ahead of me. One woman was talking on her phone and telling someone how long she'd been waiting. Another woman was at the desk asking, "How much longer will it be?"
I stepped into the pharmacy and bought a bottle of O.J. I sat down, cranked open the juice, took two swallows and someone called my name. It couldn't be, I thought. But there it was again. Sure 'nuff, that's my name alright. As I was walking into the back with the nurse someone said, "He just got here!"
Hey, honey. I cain't hep it if I'm lucky.
Oh, and as far as the tests go? The doc must have just bought a new boat or something 'cause everything is fine. I guess you could call me a health conscious individual - Pfft!
Atheists and Train Wrecks
A couple years ago a 23-year-old woman in our town was killed. She’d been walking along the train tracks, going home from technical college. As the train came barrelling down on her from behind, the whistle blew repeatedly. She refused to move.
It was only later that the news released the information that she was deaf. She didn’t hear a thing.
Did she expect that the only train to come would be from in front?
If someone had jumped in front of her to warn of the train, would she have heeded the warning?
Did she know exactly what she was doing?
We’ll never know.
To me, this is somewhat like atheists. Eternity is bearing down on them like a freight train and they are as oblivious to that fact as this deaf woman.
They’ve got plans.
They’ve got thoughts.
They’ve got lives to live, families to raise, products to purchase.
Atheists are concerned with everything except the one thing that counts the most.
And when you warn them, what happens? Nothing.
Deaf as a post.
Doomed by their negligence.
Stuck with their noses deep in the box looking for the last kernel of buttered pop-corn while an eternity that will be forever spent separated from their Creator is just moments away.
It was only later that the news released the information that she was deaf. She didn’t hear a thing.
Did she expect that the only train to come would be from in front?
If someone had jumped in front of her to warn of the train, would she have heeded the warning?
Did she know exactly what she was doing?
We’ll never know.
To me, this is somewhat like atheists. Eternity is bearing down on them like a freight train and they are as oblivious to that fact as this deaf woman.
They’ve got plans.
They’ve got thoughts.
They’ve got lives to live, families to raise, products to purchase.
Atheists are concerned with everything except the one thing that counts the most.
And when you warn them, what happens? Nothing.
Deaf as a post.
Doomed by their negligence.
Stuck with their noses deep in the box looking for the last kernel of buttered pop-corn while an eternity that will be forever spent separated from their Creator is just moments away.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Atheist Comhradh - For Your Eyes Only!
"There is not one piece of corroborating evidence to suggest that Jesus lived or died as he is described in the Bible."
While this is a statement made by Comhradh, it is typical, typical, typical. Just another atheist justifying his denial of God by adopting a blind faith state of belief without first checking the facts.
Extra Biblical, Non Christian documentation from the time of Jesus and / or his disciples:
Regarding Jesus died due to Crucifixion -
“The Christians, you know, worship a man, the distinguished personage who introduced their novel rites and was crucified on that account.” Lucian of Samosata - (The Death of Peregrine), 11 - 13
“Nero fastened the guilt of the burning of Rome and inflicted the most exquisite tortures on a class hated for their abominations, Called Christians by the populace. Christus, from whom the name had its origin, suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of one of our procurators, Pontius Pilatus.” Tacitus - Annals 15.44
“When Pilate, upon hearing him accused by men of the highest standing amongst us, had condemned him to be crucified.” Josephus - (Fides et Historia) 13
“Or what advantage came to the Jews by the murder of their Wise King, seeing that from that very time their kingdom was driven away from them?” Mara Bar Serapion, in a letter to his son from prison. - Fragment currently at the British Museum, Syriac Manuscript
“On the eve of the Passover, Yeshua was hanged on a cross.” The Babylonia Talmud - Sanhedrin 43a - I. Epstein Editor and translator, London
=================
Extra Biblical documentation from the time of Jesus and / or his disciples:
Regarding the dramatic changes in the character in the disciples and claims of witnessing the resurrected Jesus.
“Therefore, having received orders and complete certainty caused by the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ and believing in the Word of God, they went with the Holy Spirit’s certainty, preaching the good news that the kingdom of God is about to come. Jesus’ apostles were fully assured by Jesus’ resurrection. Polycarp also was not only instructed by apostles, and conversed with many who had seen Christ, but was also, by apostles in Asia, appointed bishop of the Church in Smyrna, whom I also saw in my early youth, for he tarried on earth a very long time, and when a very old man, gloriously and most nobly suffering martyrdom, departed this life, having always taught the things which he had learned from the apostles.” Clement of Rome - (1 Clement ) 47
“Bishop Clement has conversed with the apostles to the extent that it might be said he had their preaching still echoing and their traditions before his eyes. Nor was he alone, for there are many still remaining alive who had received instructions from the apostles. When I was still a boy I saw you in Lower Asia with Polycarp, when you had high status at the imperial court and wanted to gain his favour. I remember where Polycarp sat and conversed, his comings and goings, his character, his personal appearance, his discourses to the crowds and how he reported his discussions with John the apostle and others who had seen the Lord. He taught what they reported about the Lord and his miracles and his teaching, things that Polycarp had heard directly from eyewitness of the word of life and reported in full harmony with Scripture.” Irenaeus - (To Florinus) 5.20
“For this is the manner in which the apostolic Churches transmit their registers: as the church of Smyrna, which records that Polycarp was placed therein, by John the apostle; as also the church of Rome, which makes Clement to have been ordained in like manner by Peter.” Tertulian - (The Prescription Against Heretics) 32.
“Paul himself and the other apostles, for they did not love the present age, but Him who dies for our benefit and for our sake was raised by God.” Polycarp - (To the Philippians)
The above sources point to multiple, very early and eyewitness testimonies to the disciple’s claims of witnessing the risen Jesus. The late New Testament critic at the University of Chicago, Norman Perrin, who rejected Jesus’ resurrection wrote, “The more we study the tradition with regard to the appearances, the firmer the rock begins to appear upon which they are based.” What we have are three categories of evidence that the disciples claim to have seen the risen Lord. 1) Paul 2) Oral tradition 3) Written Tradition.
Paul had firsthand fellowship with the disciples. We have an oral tradition originating from the time of Jesus resurrection. We have written tradition that attests to the disciples claims.
Extra Biblical documentation from the time of Jesus and / or his disciples:
Regarding the suffering and martyrdom of the disciples:
“The greatest and most righteous pillars have been persecuted and contended unto death. Peter, endured, not one or two, but many afflictions, and having borne witness went to the due glorious place. Paul pointed to the prize. Seven times chained, exiled, stoned, having become a preacher both in the East and in the West, he received honour fitting of his faith. Thus he was freed form the world and went to the holy place. He became a great example of steadfastness.” Clement of Rome - (1 Clement ) 5:2-7
“. . . the unlimited endurance of Ignatius, Zosimus and Rufus as well as the apostle Paul and the rest of the apostles among others. In association with Jesus they also suffered together. For they did not love the present age. Polycarp - (To the Philippians)
“And when Jesus came to those with Peter, he said to them: “Take, handle me and see that I am not a bodiless demon.” And immediately they handled him and believed, having known his flesh and blood. Because of this they also despise death.”
Ignatius - To the Smyrnaeans 3:2
“That Paul is beheaded has been written about. And if a heretic wishes his confidence to rest upon a public record, the archives of the empire will speak. We read the Lives of the Caesars: At Rome Nero was the first who stained with blood the rising faith. There is Peter girt by another, when he is made fast to the cross. Then does Paul obtain a birth suited to Roman citizenship, when in Rome he is ennobled by martyrdom.” Tertulian - Scorpiace, 15
According to Tertullian, if one did not want to believe the Christian records concerning the martyrdoms of some of the apostles. He could find the information in the public records, namely “The lives of the Caesars.”
“The disciples’ devotion to the teachings of Jesus was attended with danger to human life and that they themselves were the first to manifest their disregard for death’s terrors. Jesus who has both once risen Himself, and led His disciples to believe in His resurrection, and so thoroughly persuaded them of its truth, that they show to all men by their sufferings how they are able to laugh at all the troubles of life, beholding the life-eternal and the resurrection clearly demonstrated to them both in word and deed by this one, Jesus.” Origin - Contra Celsum - 2.56
. Papias cites both Paul and the apostle John and records their sufferings and deaths. (Fragments: Traditions of the Elders) 2,5 (Fragment 5)
. Eusebius in Ecclesiastical History 2.23 cites Dionysius of Corinth - Tertullian, Origen, Josephus, Hegesippus, Clement of Alexandria, all who wrote of the “martyrdom of James the brother of Jesus.”
All these non-Biblical sources affirm the disciples’ willingness to suffer and die for their claims that Jesus rose from the dead. The disciples’ willingness to suffer and die for these claims indicates that they certainly regarded those claims as true. The case is strong that they did not willfully lie about the appearances of the risen Jesus, for liars make very poor martyrs.
. On his way to be martyred in Rome Ignatius of Antioch penned several letters to various churches. All of which attest to the reality of Jesus and the suffering of His disciples.
In his letter to the church in Smyrna, Ignatius writes that the disciples were so encouraged by seeing and touching the risen Jesus that “they too despised death” and that after his resurrection, Jesus ate and drank with them like one who is composed of flesh. 3:2-3 “So pay attention, however, to the prophets and especially to the Gospel, in which the Passion has been made clear to us and the resurrection has been accomplished.” 7:4
In his letter to Philadeophians, Ignatius writes concerning the gospel, which of course was at the centre of Christian preaching. “But the Gospel possesses something distinctive, namely, the coming of the Saviour, our Lord Jesus Christ, his suffering, and the resurrection.”
In his letter to the Magnesians, he writes, “I want to forewarn you not to get snagged on the hooks of worthless opinions but instead to be fully convinced about the birth and the suffering and the resurrection, which took place assuredly by Jesus Christ.” 11:2-4
“And the wonderful thing is, that, though he did not accept Jesus as Christ, he yet gave testimony that the righteousness of James was so great; and he says that the people thought that they had suffered these things because of James. Origen on Josephus - (Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol 10) (Antiquities of the Jews) (Contra Celsum) 1.47
“Jesus appeared to them alive again the third day, as the divine prophets had foretold these and ten thousand other wonderful things concerning Him.” Agapius - (Historia) 1.7.13
“Peter preached the Gospel in Pontus, and Galatia, and Cappadocia, and Betania and Italy, and Asia, and was afterwards crucified by Nero in Rome with the head downward, as he had himself desired to suffer in that manner. Andrew preached to the Sythians and Thracians, and was crucified, suspended on an olive tree at Patrae, and town of Achaia; and there too he was buried. John, again, in Asia was banished by Domitian the king to the isle of Patmos, in which also he fell asleep at Ephesus, where his remains were sought for, but could not be found. James, Jesus brother, when preaching in Judea, was cut off with the sword by Herod the tetrarch, and was buried there. Philip preached in Phygia, and was crucified in Hierapolis with his head downward in the time of Domitian, and was buried there. Bartholomew again, preached to the Indians, to whom he also gave the Gospel according to Matthew, and was crucified with his head downward. And was buried in Allanum, a town of the great Armeia. And Matthew wrote the Gospel in the Hebrew tongue, and published it at Jerusalem, and fell asleep at Hierees, a town of Pathia. And Thomas preached to the Pathians, Medes, Persians, Hyrcanians, Bactrians and Margians and was thrust through in the four members of his body with a pine spear at Clamene, the city of India, and was buried there. And James the son of Alphaeus, when preaching in Jerusalem, was stoned to death by the Jews, and was buried there beside the temple. Jude who is also called Lebbaeus, preached to the people of Edessa, and to all Mesopotamia and fell asleep at Berytus, and was buried there. Simon the Zealot, the son of Clopas, who is also called Jude, became bishop of Jerusalem after James the Just, and fell asleep and was buried there. And Matthias who was one of the seventy, was numbered along with the eleven apostles, and preached in Jerusalem, and fell asleep and was buried there. And Paul entered into the apostleship a year after the assumption of Christ; and beginning at Jerusalem, he advanced as far as Illyricum, and Italy and Spain preaching the Gospel for thirty five years. And in the time of Nero he was beheaded at Rome, and was buried there.” Hippolytus - Cyprian, Novatian, Appendix [ECF 1.5.0.2.3.0]
. Celsus - a critic of Christianity wrote strongly against the resurrection but admitted that the tomb was empty and that no body was found anywhere. He was forced to propose magic or deception i.e., lies. This type of claim shows that critics like Celsus had to respond to the reality of the empty tomb and the bodily resurrection of Jesus.
. Pliny the Younger, . Suetonius, Tactus, and Celsus were all enemies of Christianity yet attested to the historicity of Jesus.
“Nero fastened the guilt of the burning of Rome and inflicted the most exquisite tortures on a class hated for their abominations, called Christians by the populace. Christus, from whom the name had its origin, suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of one of our procurators, Pontius Pilatus. Tacitus - Annals 15.44
. Shepherd of Hermas (Parable 9, section 28); (Vision 3, section 1) . Melito of Sardis
. Hegesipius . Polycrates - (To Victor of Rome) are early Christian authors attesting to the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.
Modern:
. “That he was crucified is as sure as anything historical can ever be.” John Dominic Crossan - Founder of the Jesus Seminar - In (“Jesus: A Revolutionary Biography”) San Francisco, Harper Collins, 1991 - 145,154, 196, 201
. Rudolf Bultmann - (“What Really Happened to Jesus - A Historical Approach to the Resurrection.”) John Bowden Trans. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 1995 - 80
. Paula Frederickson - Historian - In an interview with Peter Jennings for “The Search for Jesus,” American Broadcasting Company, 2000.
The amount of evidence that we have concerning Jesus is actually very impressive. We can start with approximately nine traditional authors of the New Testament. Another twenty early Christian authors, and four heretical writings mention Jesus within 150 years of His death on the cross. Moreover, nine secular, non-Christian sources mention Jesus within the 150 years of His death: Josephus, the Jewish historian; Tacitus, the Roman historian; Pliny the Younger, a politician of Rome; Phlegon, a freed slave who wrote histories; Lucian, the Greek satirist; Celsus, a Roman philosopher; and the historians Suetonius and Thallus, as well as the prisoner Mara Bar-Serapion. In all, at least forty-two authors, nine of them secular mention Jesus within 150 years of his death. Why am I telling you this? Let me make a comparison.
Julius Caesar, was one of Rome’s most prominent figures. Caesar is well known for his military conquests. After his Gallic Wars, he made the famous statement, “I came, I saw, I conquered.” Only five sources report his military conquests: writings by Caesar himself, Cicero, Livy, the Salona Decree and Appian. If he made such a great impact on Roman society why didn’t more writers of antiquity mention his great accomplishments? Yet no one questions whether Julius made a tremendous impact on the Roman Empire. Yet within 150 years of his death, more non-Christian authors alone comment on Jesus than all of the sources who mentions Julius Caesar’s great military conquests within 150 years after his death.
One more example. Tiberius Caesar was the Roman emperor at the time of Jesus’ ministry and execution. Tiberius is mentioned by ten sources within 150 years of his death: Tacitus, Suetonius, Velleius Paterculus, Plutarch, Pliny the Elder, Strabo, Seneca, Valerius Maximus, Josephus and Luke. Compare that to Jesus’ forty-two sources in the same length of time. That’s more than four times the number of total sources who mention the Roman emperor during roughly the same period. If we only considered the number of secular non-Christian sources who mention Jesus and Tiberius within 150 years of their lives, we arrive at a tie of nine each.
I’ve mentioned that the vast majority of historical scholars, be they merely secular, atheist or Christian attest to the life, death and resurrection “sightings” of Jesus. These scholars attest to the empty tomb, the conversion of the sceptics Paul and James, the dramatic change in the disciples and of course the rise of the Christian church based solely on the belief that Jesus rose from the dead. As there are not very many historical scholars who specialise in this area I will list them here. Glank, Blinzler, Bode, von Campenhausen, Delorme, Dhanis, Grundmann, Hengel, Lehmann, Leon-Dufour, Kremer, Lichtenstein, Manek, Martini, Mussner, Nauck, Rengstorff, Strobel, Stuhlmacher, Trilling, Vogtle and Wilckens. There are sixteen additional prominent scholars who are not evangelical who attest to the historicity of the above: Benoit, Brown, Clark, Dunn, Ellis, Gundry, Hooke, Jeremias, Klappert, Ladd, Lane, Marshall, Moule, Perry, Robinson, and Schnackenburg.
These forty-five prominent scholars believe that there was an empty tomb, that the disciple truly believed they saw the resurrected Jesus, that that belief caused such a dramatic change in Jesus’ followers that they endured hardship, persecution and many suffered execution for that belief, that the sceptics Paul and James were changed by an encounter with what they believed to be the resurrected Jesus. In the world today, more than one hundred historical scholars who specialise in this areas believe these premises versus thirty-five who do not.
While this is a statement made by Comhradh, it is typical, typical, typical. Just another atheist justifying his denial of God by adopting a blind faith state of belief without first checking the facts.
Extra Biblical, Non Christian documentation from the time of Jesus and / or his disciples:
Regarding Jesus died due to Crucifixion -
“The Christians, you know, worship a man, the distinguished personage who introduced their novel rites and was crucified on that account.” Lucian of Samosata - (The Death of Peregrine), 11 - 13
“Nero fastened the guilt of the burning of Rome and inflicted the most exquisite tortures on a class hated for their abominations, Called Christians by the populace. Christus, from whom the name had its origin, suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of one of our procurators, Pontius Pilatus.” Tacitus - Annals 15.44
“When Pilate, upon hearing him accused by men of the highest standing amongst us, had condemned him to be crucified.” Josephus - (Fides et Historia) 13
“Or what advantage came to the Jews by the murder of their Wise King, seeing that from that very time their kingdom was driven away from them?” Mara Bar Serapion, in a letter to his son from prison. - Fragment currently at the British Museum, Syriac Manuscript
“On the eve of the Passover, Yeshua was hanged on a cross.” The Babylonia Talmud - Sanhedrin 43a - I. Epstein Editor and translator, London
=================
Extra Biblical documentation from the time of Jesus and / or his disciples:
Regarding the dramatic changes in the character in the disciples and claims of witnessing the resurrected Jesus.
“Therefore, having received orders and complete certainty caused by the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ and believing in the Word of God, they went with the Holy Spirit’s certainty, preaching the good news that the kingdom of God is about to come. Jesus’ apostles were fully assured by Jesus’ resurrection. Polycarp also was not only instructed by apostles, and conversed with many who had seen Christ, but was also, by apostles in Asia, appointed bishop of the Church in Smyrna, whom I also saw in my early youth, for he tarried on earth a very long time, and when a very old man, gloriously and most nobly suffering martyrdom, departed this life, having always taught the things which he had learned from the apostles.” Clement of Rome - (1 Clement ) 47
“Bishop Clement has conversed with the apostles to the extent that it might be said he had their preaching still echoing and their traditions before his eyes. Nor was he alone, for there are many still remaining alive who had received instructions from the apostles. When I was still a boy I saw you in Lower Asia with Polycarp, when you had high status at the imperial court and wanted to gain his favour. I remember where Polycarp sat and conversed, his comings and goings, his character, his personal appearance, his discourses to the crowds and how he reported his discussions with John the apostle and others who had seen the Lord. He taught what they reported about the Lord and his miracles and his teaching, things that Polycarp had heard directly from eyewitness of the word of life and reported in full harmony with Scripture.” Irenaeus - (To Florinus) 5.20
“For this is the manner in which the apostolic Churches transmit their registers: as the church of Smyrna, which records that Polycarp was placed therein, by John the apostle; as also the church of Rome, which makes Clement to have been ordained in like manner by Peter.” Tertulian - (The Prescription Against Heretics) 32.
“Paul himself and the other apostles, for they did not love the present age, but Him who dies for our benefit and for our sake was raised by God.” Polycarp - (To the Philippians)
The above sources point to multiple, very early and eyewitness testimonies to the disciple’s claims of witnessing the risen Jesus. The late New Testament critic at the University of Chicago, Norman Perrin, who rejected Jesus’ resurrection wrote, “The more we study the tradition with regard to the appearances, the firmer the rock begins to appear upon which they are based.” What we have are three categories of evidence that the disciples claim to have seen the risen Lord. 1) Paul 2) Oral tradition 3) Written Tradition.
Paul had firsthand fellowship with the disciples. We have an oral tradition originating from the time of Jesus resurrection. We have written tradition that attests to the disciples claims.
Extra Biblical documentation from the time of Jesus and / or his disciples:
Regarding the suffering and martyrdom of the disciples:
“The greatest and most righteous pillars have been persecuted and contended unto death. Peter, endured, not one or two, but many afflictions, and having borne witness went to the due glorious place. Paul pointed to the prize. Seven times chained, exiled, stoned, having become a preacher both in the East and in the West, he received honour fitting of his faith. Thus he was freed form the world and went to the holy place. He became a great example of steadfastness.” Clement of Rome - (1 Clement ) 5:2-7
“. . . the unlimited endurance of Ignatius, Zosimus and Rufus as well as the apostle Paul and the rest of the apostles among others. In association with Jesus they also suffered together. For they did not love the present age. Polycarp - (To the Philippians)
“And when Jesus came to those with Peter, he said to them: “Take, handle me and see that I am not a bodiless demon.” And immediately they handled him and believed, having known his flesh and blood. Because of this they also despise death.”
Ignatius - To the Smyrnaeans 3:2
“That Paul is beheaded has been written about. And if a heretic wishes his confidence to rest upon a public record, the archives of the empire will speak. We read the Lives of the Caesars: At Rome Nero was the first who stained with blood the rising faith. There is Peter girt by another, when he is made fast to the cross. Then does Paul obtain a birth suited to Roman citizenship, when in Rome he is ennobled by martyrdom.” Tertulian - Scorpiace, 15
According to Tertullian, if one did not want to believe the Christian records concerning the martyrdoms of some of the apostles. He could find the information in the public records, namely “The lives of the Caesars.”
“The disciples’ devotion to the teachings of Jesus was attended with danger to human life and that they themselves were the first to manifest their disregard for death’s terrors. Jesus who has both once risen Himself, and led His disciples to believe in His resurrection, and so thoroughly persuaded them of its truth, that they show to all men by their sufferings how they are able to laugh at all the troubles of life, beholding the life-eternal and the resurrection clearly demonstrated to them both in word and deed by this one, Jesus.” Origin - Contra Celsum - 2.56
. Papias cites both Paul and the apostle John and records their sufferings and deaths. (Fragments: Traditions of the Elders) 2,5 (Fragment 5)
. Eusebius in Ecclesiastical History 2.23 cites Dionysius of Corinth - Tertullian, Origen, Josephus, Hegesippus, Clement of Alexandria, all who wrote of the “martyrdom of James the brother of Jesus.”
All these non-Biblical sources affirm the disciples’ willingness to suffer and die for their claims that Jesus rose from the dead. The disciples’ willingness to suffer and die for these claims indicates that they certainly regarded those claims as true. The case is strong that they did not willfully lie about the appearances of the risen Jesus, for liars make very poor martyrs.
. On his way to be martyred in Rome Ignatius of Antioch penned several letters to various churches. All of which attest to the reality of Jesus and the suffering of His disciples.
In his letter to the church in Smyrna, Ignatius writes that the disciples were so encouraged by seeing and touching the risen Jesus that “they too despised death” and that after his resurrection, Jesus ate and drank with them like one who is composed of flesh. 3:2-3 “So pay attention, however, to the prophets and especially to the Gospel, in which the Passion has been made clear to us and the resurrection has been accomplished.” 7:4
In his letter to Philadeophians, Ignatius writes concerning the gospel, which of course was at the centre of Christian preaching. “But the Gospel possesses something distinctive, namely, the coming of the Saviour, our Lord Jesus Christ, his suffering, and the resurrection.”
In his letter to the Magnesians, he writes, “I want to forewarn you not to get snagged on the hooks of worthless opinions but instead to be fully convinced about the birth and the suffering and the resurrection, which took place assuredly by Jesus Christ.” 11:2-4
“And the wonderful thing is, that, though he did not accept Jesus as Christ, he yet gave testimony that the righteousness of James was so great; and he says that the people thought that they had suffered these things because of James. Origen on Josephus - (Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol 10) (Antiquities of the Jews) (Contra Celsum) 1.47
“Jesus appeared to them alive again the third day, as the divine prophets had foretold these and ten thousand other wonderful things concerning Him.” Agapius - (Historia) 1.7.13
“Peter preached the Gospel in Pontus, and Galatia, and Cappadocia, and Betania and Italy, and Asia, and was afterwards crucified by Nero in Rome with the head downward, as he had himself desired to suffer in that manner. Andrew preached to the Sythians and Thracians, and was crucified, suspended on an olive tree at Patrae, and town of Achaia; and there too he was buried. John, again, in Asia was banished by Domitian the king to the isle of Patmos, in which also he fell asleep at Ephesus, where his remains were sought for, but could not be found. James, Jesus brother, when preaching in Judea, was cut off with the sword by Herod the tetrarch, and was buried there. Philip preached in Phygia, and was crucified in Hierapolis with his head downward in the time of Domitian, and was buried there. Bartholomew again, preached to the Indians, to whom he also gave the Gospel according to Matthew, and was crucified with his head downward. And was buried in Allanum, a town of the great Armeia. And Matthew wrote the Gospel in the Hebrew tongue, and published it at Jerusalem, and fell asleep at Hierees, a town of Pathia. And Thomas preached to the Pathians, Medes, Persians, Hyrcanians, Bactrians and Margians and was thrust through in the four members of his body with a pine spear at Clamene, the city of India, and was buried there. And James the son of Alphaeus, when preaching in Jerusalem, was stoned to death by the Jews, and was buried there beside the temple. Jude who is also called Lebbaeus, preached to the people of Edessa, and to all Mesopotamia and fell asleep at Berytus, and was buried there. Simon the Zealot, the son of Clopas, who is also called Jude, became bishop of Jerusalem after James the Just, and fell asleep and was buried there. And Matthias who was one of the seventy, was numbered along with the eleven apostles, and preached in Jerusalem, and fell asleep and was buried there. And Paul entered into the apostleship a year after the assumption of Christ; and beginning at Jerusalem, he advanced as far as Illyricum, and Italy and Spain preaching the Gospel for thirty five years. And in the time of Nero he was beheaded at Rome, and was buried there.” Hippolytus - Cyprian, Novatian, Appendix [ECF 1.5.0.2.3.0]
. Celsus - a critic of Christianity wrote strongly against the resurrection but admitted that the tomb was empty and that no body was found anywhere. He was forced to propose magic or deception i.e., lies. This type of claim shows that critics like Celsus had to respond to the reality of the empty tomb and the bodily resurrection of Jesus.
. Pliny the Younger, . Suetonius, Tactus, and Celsus were all enemies of Christianity yet attested to the historicity of Jesus.
“Nero fastened the guilt of the burning of Rome and inflicted the most exquisite tortures on a class hated for their abominations, called Christians by the populace. Christus, from whom the name had its origin, suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of one of our procurators, Pontius Pilatus. Tacitus - Annals 15.44
. Shepherd of Hermas (Parable 9, section 28); (Vision 3, section 1) . Melito of Sardis
. Hegesipius . Polycrates - (To Victor of Rome) are early Christian authors attesting to the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.
Modern:
. “That he was crucified is as sure as anything historical can ever be.” John Dominic Crossan - Founder of the Jesus Seminar - In (“Jesus: A Revolutionary Biography”) San Francisco, Harper Collins, 1991 - 145,154, 196, 201
. Rudolf Bultmann - (“What Really Happened to Jesus - A Historical Approach to the Resurrection.”) John Bowden Trans. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 1995 - 80
. Paula Frederickson - Historian - In an interview with Peter Jennings for “The Search for Jesus,” American Broadcasting Company, 2000.
The amount of evidence that we have concerning Jesus is actually very impressive. We can start with approximately nine traditional authors of the New Testament. Another twenty early Christian authors, and four heretical writings mention Jesus within 150 years of His death on the cross. Moreover, nine secular, non-Christian sources mention Jesus within the 150 years of His death: Josephus, the Jewish historian; Tacitus, the Roman historian; Pliny the Younger, a politician of Rome; Phlegon, a freed slave who wrote histories; Lucian, the Greek satirist; Celsus, a Roman philosopher; and the historians Suetonius and Thallus, as well as the prisoner Mara Bar-Serapion. In all, at least forty-two authors, nine of them secular mention Jesus within 150 years of his death. Why am I telling you this? Let me make a comparison.
Julius Caesar, was one of Rome’s most prominent figures. Caesar is well known for his military conquests. After his Gallic Wars, he made the famous statement, “I came, I saw, I conquered.” Only five sources report his military conquests: writings by Caesar himself, Cicero, Livy, the Salona Decree and Appian. If he made such a great impact on Roman society why didn’t more writers of antiquity mention his great accomplishments? Yet no one questions whether Julius made a tremendous impact on the Roman Empire. Yet within 150 years of his death, more non-Christian authors alone comment on Jesus than all of the sources who mentions Julius Caesar’s great military conquests within 150 years after his death.
One more example. Tiberius Caesar was the Roman emperor at the time of Jesus’ ministry and execution. Tiberius is mentioned by ten sources within 150 years of his death: Tacitus, Suetonius, Velleius Paterculus, Plutarch, Pliny the Elder, Strabo, Seneca, Valerius Maximus, Josephus and Luke. Compare that to Jesus’ forty-two sources in the same length of time. That’s more than four times the number of total sources who mention the Roman emperor during roughly the same period. If we only considered the number of secular non-Christian sources who mention Jesus and Tiberius within 150 years of their lives, we arrive at a tie of nine each.
I’ve mentioned that the vast majority of historical scholars, be they merely secular, atheist or Christian attest to the life, death and resurrection “sightings” of Jesus. These scholars attest to the empty tomb, the conversion of the sceptics Paul and James, the dramatic change in the disciples and of course the rise of the Christian church based solely on the belief that Jesus rose from the dead. As there are not very many historical scholars who specialise in this area I will list them here. Glank, Blinzler, Bode, von Campenhausen, Delorme, Dhanis, Grundmann, Hengel, Lehmann, Leon-Dufour, Kremer, Lichtenstein, Manek, Martini, Mussner, Nauck, Rengstorff, Strobel, Stuhlmacher, Trilling, Vogtle and Wilckens. There are sixteen additional prominent scholars who are not evangelical who attest to the historicity of the above: Benoit, Brown, Clark, Dunn, Ellis, Gundry, Hooke, Jeremias, Klappert, Ladd, Lane, Marshall, Moule, Perry, Robinson, and Schnackenburg.
These forty-five prominent scholars believe that there was an empty tomb, that the disciple truly believed they saw the resurrected Jesus, that that belief caused such a dramatic change in Jesus’ followers that they endured hardship, persecution and many suffered execution for that belief, that the sceptics Paul and James were changed by an encounter with what they believed to be the resurrected Jesus. In the world today, more than one hundred historical scholars who specialise in this areas believe these premises versus thirty-five who do not.
When Jesus sees you coming
The Setting: Jesus and His disciples had been working night and day. The people just kept coming and coming with no end in sight. The sick, the blind, the demon possessed. They were desperate for help and Jesus was the only one in their entire lives who could deliver the goods. “They didn’t even have time to eat,” was one comment that described the situation. Exhausted from the relentless push of needy people, they pressed on with the work at hand. And then they hit the wall. News reached them that their friend and Jesus’ first cousin, John the Baptiser had been beheaded. It was just as gruesome and horrific then as it is today.
Perhaps this was the first time that the disciples realised that they were in deep. Challenging the status quo is serious business. Countering your culture can bring you deadly attention regardless of which side of the fence you’re on. Jesus went to each of His followers and let them know that first thing in the morning, just before sunrise, they were getting out of there.
And so we read about Jesus and His closest friends rowing across the lake to get some r & r. It’s springtime. The fields are full of new grass and fresh flowers. And best of all - no people. They finally had time to sleep, collect their thoughts and grieve the loss of a dear friend and fellow worker. We don’t know how much time they’d had alone but the inevitable happened. Someone, somehow found out where they were. First dozens, then hundreds and then by the thousands they came. In all 12 to 15 thousand men, women and children all seeking the same thing - Jesus. We don’t know how the disciples felt, but we do know Jesus’ reaction.
“He had compassion on them for they were like sheep without a shepherd.”
That is what happens when we come to Jesus. We are no less lost and helpless than the people on that day. We are no less in need of a Saviour than they. We need Jesus to heal us, to comfort us, to set us on the right path just as much as anyone, anywhere at any time. And Jesus has compassion. He cares about us. He loves us. Rather than being irritated by our neediness, Jesus loves us BECAUSE of our neediness. That is why
“With boldness and confidence we can come to the throne of grace to receive mercy and find grace in our time of need.”
Now some people seem to think that Creator God would be overwhelmed or that He couldn’t possibly pay attention to, much let WELCOME billions of prayers. The fact is, God doesn’t need to pay attention to billions of prayers. Not even millions or even thousands. The only life that God is interested in is yours. The only conversation that God listens to is mine. The only person that Jesus is showering with compassion is the person next door. God is fully present with every person everywhere. You don’t need to compete for God’s full attention. If you’re someone like an atheist who is expending enormous effort in a futile attempt to deny God, it’s hopeless. If you are Christopher Hithchens, or someone like him, you find that God’s presence and God’s attention is suffocating. If you are a Christian however the presence of God’s Spirit is the most wonderful thing in the world. So let Him love you. Let Him guide you. Let Him counsel you and correct you. Most importantly of all, let Him forgive you and free you from real guilt.
If He could attend to the needs of thousands of people back then when He was in human form, He can certainly do it now for you.
Perhaps this was the first time that the disciples realised that they were in deep. Challenging the status quo is serious business. Countering your culture can bring you deadly attention regardless of which side of the fence you’re on. Jesus went to each of His followers and let them know that first thing in the morning, just before sunrise, they were getting out of there.
And so we read about Jesus and His closest friends rowing across the lake to get some r & r. It’s springtime. The fields are full of new grass and fresh flowers. And best of all - no people. They finally had time to sleep, collect their thoughts and grieve the loss of a dear friend and fellow worker. We don’t know how much time they’d had alone but the inevitable happened. Someone, somehow found out where they were. First dozens, then hundreds and then by the thousands they came. In all 12 to 15 thousand men, women and children all seeking the same thing - Jesus. We don’t know how the disciples felt, but we do know Jesus’ reaction.
“He had compassion on them for they were like sheep without a shepherd.”
That is what happens when we come to Jesus. We are no less lost and helpless than the people on that day. We are no less in need of a Saviour than they. We need Jesus to heal us, to comfort us, to set us on the right path just as much as anyone, anywhere at any time. And Jesus has compassion. He cares about us. He loves us. Rather than being irritated by our neediness, Jesus loves us BECAUSE of our neediness. That is why
“With boldness and confidence we can come to the throne of grace to receive mercy and find grace in our time of need.”
Now some people seem to think that Creator God would be overwhelmed or that He couldn’t possibly pay attention to, much let WELCOME billions of prayers. The fact is, God doesn’t need to pay attention to billions of prayers. Not even millions or even thousands. The only life that God is interested in is yours. The only conversation that God listens to is mine. The only person that Jesus is showering with compassion is the person next door. God is fully present with every person everywhere. You don’t need to compete for God’s full attention. If you’re someone like an atheist who is expending enormous effort in a futile attempt to deny God, it’s hopeless. If you are Christopher Hithchens, or someone like him, you find that God’s presence and God’s attention is suffocating. If you are a Christian however the presence of God’s Spirit is the most wonderful thing in the world. So let Him love you. Let Him guide you. Let Him counsel you and correct you. Most importantly of all, let Him forgive you and free you from real guilt.
If He could attend to the needs of thousands of people back then when He was in human form, He can certainly do it now for you.
Monday, June 15, 2009
A Conspiracy of Lies
That’s what atheists say about the New Testament and particularly about Jesus’ followers - they lied about seeing the resurrected Jesus. Sure they did. And then they endured years of hardship and beatings and torture and ultimately death, all for a lie that they invented. Listen to someone who actually knows about being caught in a conspiracy.
“Watergate involved a conspiracy to cover up, perpetuated by the closest aides to the President of the United States - the most powerful men in America, who were intensely loyal to their president. But one of them, John Dean, turned state’s evidence, that is, testified against Nixon, as he put it, “to save his own skin” - and he did so only TWO WEEKS after informing the president about what was really going on - TWO WEEKS! The real cover-up, the lie, could only be held together for two weeks, and then everybody else jumped ship in order to save themselves. Now, the fact is that all that those around the president were facing was embarrassment, maybe prison. Nobody’s life was at stake. But what about the disciples? Twelve powerless men, peasants really, were facing not just embarrassment or political disgrace, but beatings, stoning, execution. Every single one of the disciples insisted, to their dying breaths, that they had physically seen Jesus bodily raised from the dead. Don’t you think that one of those apostles would have cracked before being beheaded or stoned? That one of them would have made a deal with the authorities? None did.” Chuck Colson.
“Watergate involved a conspiracy to cover up, perpetuated by the closest aides to the President of the United States - the most powerful men in America, who were intensely loyal to their president. But one of them, John Dean, turned state’s evidence, that is, testified against Nixon, as he put it, “to save his own skin” - and he did so only TWO WEEKS after informing the president about what was really going on - TWO WEEKS! The real cover-up, the lie, could only be held together for two weeks, and then everybody else jumped ship in order to save themselves. Now, the fact is that all that those around the president were facing was embarrassment, maybe prison. Nobody’s life was at stake. But what about the disciples? Twelve powerless men, peasants really, were facing not just embarrassment or political disgrace, but beatings, stoning, execution. Every single one of the disciples insisted, to their dying breaths, that they had physically seen Jesus bodily raised from the dead. Don’t you think that one of those apostles would have cracked before being beheaded or stoned? That one of them would have made a deal with the authorities? None did.” Chuck Colson.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Chuck does it!
I’ve heard this story before but was reminded of it again this morning.
Most parents know the heartache of seeing their child be rejected by friends or see the pain in the child’s eyes as they’ve been left out of something or not be invited along. Well, one little boy like this was Chuck. Chuck was in grade one and every day his parents had to watch him walk to school all by himself as the other kids consistently went on ahead or physically kept him out of their circle.
Teachers have become pretty good at avoiding this situation now, but Chuck lived back in the day when you could actually get only one or two valentines while the popular kid could get one from everyone in class. As the story goes, a week or two before Valentine’s day, Chuck told his mother that he wanted to make 20 valentines for every kid in his class. His mother sighed and put a hand to her breast as she could imagine little Chuck not getting even one valentine. Nevertheless she helped her son work his little heart out to get the valentines ready. On the morning of the big day, Chuck carefully packed all his valentines into his school bag and off he went. At the end of the day, Chuck’s mom waited anxiously at the door for her little boy to come home from school. As he can running up the driveway she could hear him saying to himself, “Not one. Not a single one.”
“Oh no,” she thought. “My worst fears have come true.”
However when she asked Chuck about his day, he grinned at her and said, “I didn’t miss a single one. Every single kid in my class got a valentine from me.”
This is how Jesus sees us. God's plan, from before the creation of the world was that Jesus would not miss a single person on earth with His love. Even while we were still His enemies. Even while we were deliberately rejecting Him, Jesus provided a means of bringing us safely home. God's love is a love that is only interested in giving. Every single person on earth, including you, has been given Jesus offer of salvation. Every single person on earth, including you, has been given God’s love in the form or Jesus.
It's pretty silly to refuse the offer of the single best thing in the universe, the love of your Creator.
Most parents know the heartache of seeing their child be rejected by friends or see the pain in the child’s eyes as they’ve been left out of something or not be invited along. Well, one little boy like this was Chuck. Chuck was in grade one and every day his parents had to watch him walk to school all by himself as the other kids consistently went on ahead or physically kept him out of their circle.
Teachers have become pretty good at avoiding this situation now, but Chuck lived back in the day when you could actually get only one or two valentines while the popular kid could get one from everyone in class. As the story goes, a week or two before Valentine’s day, Chuck told his mother that he wanted to make 20 valentines for every kid in his class. His mother sighed and put a hand to her breast as she could imagine little Chuck not getting even one valentine. Nevertheless she helped her son work his little heart out to get the valentines ready. On the morning of the big day, Chuck carefully packed all his valentines into his school bag and off he went. At the end of the day, Chuck’s mom waited anxiously at the door for her little boy to come home from school. As he can running up the driveway she could hear him saying to himself, “Not one. Not a single one.”
“Oh no,” she thought. “My worst fears have come true.”
However when she asked Chuck about his day, he grinned at her and said, “I didn’t miss a single one. Every single kid in my class got a valentine from me.”
This is how Jesus sees us. God's plan, from before the creation of the world was that Jesus would not miss a single person on earth with His love. Even while we were still His enemies. Even while we were deliberately rejecting Him, Jesus provided a means of bringing us safely home. God's love is a love that is only interested in giving. Every single person on earth, including you, has been given Jesus offer of salvation. Every single person on earth, including you, has been given God’s love in the form or Jesus.
It's pretty silly to refuse the offer of the single best thing in the universe, the love of your Creator.
Ya gotta have faith, faith, faith
Atheists hate the word faith, yet they live their lives immersed in it. In fact, enormous amounts of faith is a requirement for being an atheist. If you do not have enough faith to believe that nothing can create everything, and I mean REALLY believe that, then you do not possess enough faith to be an atheist.
Without any evidence to back them up and many times with evidence contradicting what they do believe, by faith alone atheists believe that:
Everything came from nothing by nothing.
by faith alone atheists believe that:
Even in the face of evidence to the contrary, the precise fine tuning of the 100 or so constants and qualities were “put in” to the Singularity prior to Planck time because of a really, really, really amazing coincidence.
by faith alone atheists believe that:
Even in the face of evidence to the contrary, nothing that begins to exists needs an explanation for it’s existence
by faith alone atheists believe that:
Even in the face of evidence to the contrary, while it takes intelligence to write a sentence, it does NOT require intelligence to write a code with a comparable volume of 1,000 sets of encyclopedias capable of directing the functioning of every organ and every cell in a living body from conception to death.
by faith alone atheists believe that:
Even in the face of evidence to the contrary, time plus chance can turn the impossible into the possible.
by faith alone atheists believe that:
Even in the face of evidence to the contrary, a mindless process can do what brilliant scientists in several hundred years of trying cannot i.e., create life from non life.
by faith alone atheists believe that:
Even in the face of evidence to the contrary, the Cambrian explosion has no significant meaning whatsoever.
by faith alone atheists believe that:
Even in the face of evidence to the contrary, the results of micro evolution can be extrapolated onto macro evolution.
by faith alone atheists believe that:
Even in the face of evidence to the contrary, the New Testament writers, to a person, were liars, delusional and power hungry.
by faith alone atheists believe that:
Even in the face of evidence to the contrary, Jesus didn’t die on the cross
by faith alone atheists believe that:
Even in the face of evidence to the contrary, Jesus wasn’t buried in a rich man’s tomb
by faith alone atheists believe that:
Even in the face of evidence to the contrary, The tomb was empty, but not because Jesus rose from the dead
by faith alone atheists believe that:
Even in the face of evidence to the contrary, the disciples went from cowards who denied and ran away from Jesus to fearless witnesses who proclaimed the resurrected Jesus, but not because Jesus rose from the dead.
By faith alone atheists believe that:
Even in the face of evidence to the contrary, sceptic Paul went from killing Christians to becoming one of Christianity’s most powerful witness, but not because he was met by the risen Jesus.
By faith alone atheists believe that:
Even in the face of evidence to the contrary, the sceptic James, Jesus’ brother went from thinking His brother was insane to worshipping Him as Creator God, but not because Jesus rose from the dead.
Without any evidence to back them up and many times with evidence contradicting what they do believe, by faith alone atheists believe that:
Everything came from nothing by nothing.
by faith alone atheists believe that:
Even in the face of evidence to the contrary, the precise fine tuning of the 100 or so constants and qualities were “put in” to the Singularity prior to Planck time because of a really, really, really amazing coincidence.
by faith alone atheists believe that:
Even in the face of evidence to the contrary, nothing that begins to exists needs an explanation for it’s existence
by faith alone atheists believe that:
Even in the face of evidence to the contrary, while it takes intelligence to write a sentence, it does NOT require intelligence to write a code with a comparable volume of 1,000 sets of encyclopedias capable of directing the functioning of every organ and every cell in a living body from conception to death.
by faith alone atheists believe that:
Even in the face of evidence to the contrary, time plus chance can turn the impossible into the possible.
by faith alone atheists believe that:
Even in the face of evidence to the contrary, a mindless process can do what brilliant scientists in several hundred years of trying cannot i.e., create life from non life.
by faith alone atheists believe that:
Even in the face of evidence to the contrary, the Cambrian explosion has no significant meaning whatsoever.
by faith alone atheists believe that:
Even in the face of evidence to the contrary, the results of micro evolution can be extrapolated onto macro evolution.
by faith alone atheists believe that:
Even in the face of evidence to the contrary, the New Testament writers, to a person, were liars, delusional and power hungry.
by faith alone atheists believe that:
Even in the face of evidence to the contrary, Jesus didn’t die on the cross
by faith alone atheists believe that:
Even in the face of evidence to the contrary, Jesus wasn’t buried in a rich man’s tomb
by faith alone atheists believe that:
Even in the face of evidence to the contrary, The tomb was empty, but not because Jesus rose from the dead
by faith alone atheists believe that:
Even in the face of evidence to the contrary, the disciples went from cowards who denied and ran away from Jesus to fearless witnesses who proclaimed the resurrected Jesus, but not because Jesus rose from the dead.
By faith alone atheists believe that:
Even in the face of evidence to the contrary, sceptic Paul went from killing Christians to becoming one of Christianity’s most powerful witness, but not because he was met by the risen Jesus.
By faith alone atheists believe that:
Even in the face of evidence to the contrary, the sceptic James, Jesus’ brother went from thinking His brother was insane to worshipping Him as Creator God, but not because Jesus rose from the dead.
Saturday, June 13, 2009
The Triune God Of Atheism
“I value and admire intelligence, and even the smartest person turns into a complete fucking idiot when he starts talking about his religion.”
Yet another atheist shows us his basis for living. They say that atheism isn’t a belief system, that they don’t live by faith and that their’s is not a world-view. They even say there is not dogma to the atheist faith. All wrong.
So what is the object of an Atheist’s belief? Upon what object do they place their deep and abiding faith? IT is the triune god of Science, Pride and Intelligence.
This in itself is somewhat amazing since each aspect of their god is so incredibly fallible.
- Atheists place their faith in Science to provide for them answers and direction.
- Atheists place their faith in their Pride to keep them emotionally afloat.
- And atheists especially place their faith in and worship their Intelligence to provide them with a sense of security, belonging and value.
The Atheist belief system and the god of Science:
Sadly, the so called “Science” that atheists hold so dear in their belief system doesn’t even resemble the science they claim it to be. In fact, regarding origins of life and origins of the universe, atheistic science does exactly the opposite of how science is supposed to operate. Instead of observing evidence and then coming to a conclusion or interpretation through repeated testing and verification, atheistic science begins with a conclusion (God does not exist) and then goes in search of evidence that will support their presupposition. In fact, regarding origins, the atheist scientist’s search for acceptable answers has descended into multiple origins of the universe mythologies to explain how we are here today.
Atheists place their faith in a presupposition that is absolutely baseless, ie. There is no God, therefore life came from non life. Atheists then back that up with a self contradicting statement that matter created itself. No less absurd, atheists posit that DNA / RNA was simply “found” in the first living cell. In this, atheists place their faith. On this chunk of sand atheists build their philosophy of life.
According to atheists, all intelligent life originated from totally inanimate and inorganic chemicals. Because of this, the importance of positive, life enhancing mutations can hardly be overemphasized. Yet those are so rare as to be non existent. Julian Huxley wrote “. . . not only is it [mutations] an effective agency of evolution, it is the only effective agency of evolution.” Theodosius Dobzhansky, an evolutionary biologist stated, “The deleterious character of most mutations seems to be a very serious difficulty [with this theory].” If evolution, as it is currently promoted is correct, then positive mutations had to have occurred trillions of times in many different species! This is the theory that makes Richard Dawkins feel intellectually fulfilled. In this, atheists place their faith. On this chunk of sand atheists build their philosophy of life.
The Atheist belief system and the god of Pride:
The pride that atheists hold so dear in their belief system is derived from many things, any one of which can be ripped away in the blink of an eye. This includes, attractiveness, wealth, possessions, power, relationships and of course intelligence and education. Atheists state that God does not exist but that we can simply attribute worth to ourselves. That is a nice thought but it doesn’t work. For if you say that you have one unit of worth and your neighbour says that you have no worth, in a secular world your neighbour is just as correct as you are. In a secular world, worth is nothing more than an arbitrary attribute. In a secular world, people feel forced to follow the ebb and flow of human standards of worth within a whimsical and convoluted environment. This is where atheists are forced to place their faith because outside of their selves, there is nothing that can attribute worth to them. In this, atheists place their faith. On this chunk of sand atheists build their philosophy of life.
The Atheist belief system and the god of Intelligence:
Atheists trust in intelligence. They glorify it and sing its praises. Atheists derive their sense of worth from their intelligence and judge the worth of others by the degree of intelligence they deem the other person to have. Read any of their blogs and you’ll see that the atheist’s sense of belonging arises from grouping together and talking about the lack of intelligence in Christians. Here’s just a few description of me, according to atheists.
"Sux big time to be you. Moron."
"Fool."
"Get an education. You are pathetic."
"Predictably you won't educate yourself as you are an obvious willfully ignorant yo yo,"
"I won't even engage your pathetic lack of understanding. You are just sad."
"If the secular explanation for morals is incoherent to you, you just aren't very bright."
Any casual observer of human behaviour can plainly see that intelligence fails dismally in protecting anyone from the perils of faulty decisions, especially as they arise in relationships. For example:
. The intelligence in which atheists place their faith is the same intelligence that allows men and women to rationalise abandoning their children and spouses in order to pursue affairs with other individuals.
. This is the same intelligence that produces more divorces the higher one’s education.
. This is the same intelligence that produces more alcohol consumption the higher one’s education.
. This is the same intelligence that leads a person to say, The living organism within my womb that I’m aborting is not a human being. In fact, even when the child’s head has exited my vagina and its brain is being sucked out of its head, this is still not a human being. My right to freedom is more important than another person’s right to life.
. This is the same intelligence that leads a person to say, divorce is actually good for the kids.
. This is the same intelligence that leads a person to say, It’s ok to steal millions of dollars from other people’s pension plans.
. This is the same intelligence that thinks pornography doesn’t hurt anyone; that in fact pornography should be a protected form of expression.
. This is the same intelligence that believes that what we watch, read, listen to or think about might influence others, but it won’t influence me.
. This is the same intelligence that says we can have an effect (the universe) with no cause.
. This is the same intelligence that says that matter and energy can create itself.
. This is the same intelligence that sees this logical contradiction as acceptable, as long as it keeps a Creator God out of the picture.
In this, atheists place their faith. On this chunk of sand atheists build their philosophy of life.
. This is the same intelligence that says that a cosmos that reveals purpose, order and design points to an accidental origin with no external cause.
. This is the same intelligence that points to moral, intelligent, living beings and thinks it rational to say they are the product of an accident with no evidence of design.
. This is the same intelligence that says all humans have an idea of a most perfect being because there is no such thing.
. Atheist intelligence is the kind that rejects any book that challenges their faith by claiming “It’s only written by humans.” Then, this same intelligence turns around and vehemently supports its beliefs by quoting from books written by, yes of course, humans.
. This is an intelligence that supports ethical and moral codes established by community and social norms. This, even though those same community and social norms have been in the past, and are today responsible for the most horrendous abuse we could ever imagine of humans, animals and the world itself.
. This is the intelligence that will spend years and years and years debating which is an easier definition to defend, “Atheists don’t believe in God,” or “Atheists are non believers in God.”
. This is the same intelligence that refuses to acknowledge that atheists are in fact suppressing an innate knowledge of God.
. This is the same intelligence that says, I don’t have to have a reason for what I believe. It’s you (the Christian) who has to give reasons for what you believe. And then, and THEN they believe that comment gets them off the hook! One Atheist even went so far as to say to me, “I’m right because I say so.”
This then is the triune god of Science, Pride and Intelligence in which atheists place their faith. This is the chunk of sand upon which they build their philosophy of life.
“The basic reality of God is plain enough. Open your eyes and there it is! So nobody has a good excuse for denying the existence of God. People know God perfectly well, but when they don’t treat Him like God, refusing to worship Him, they trivialize themselves into silliness and confusion so that there is neither sense nor direction left in their lives. They pretend to know it all, but are illiterate regarding life and how to live it.” (Romans 1:18-23 - The Msg.).
Yet another atheist shows us his basis for living. They say that atheism isn’t a belief system, that they don’t live by faith and that their’s is not a world-view. They even say there is not dogma to the atheist faith. All wrong.
So what is the object of an Atheist’s belief? Upon what object do they place their deep and abiding faith? IT is the triune god of Science, Pride and Intelligence.
This in itself is somewhat amazing since each aspect of their god is so incredibly fallible.
- Atheists place their faith in Science to provide for them answers and direction.
- Atheists place their faith in their Pride to keep them emotionally afloat.
- And atheists especially place their faith in and worship their Intelligence to provide them with a sense of security, belonging and value.
The Atheist belief system and the god of Science:
Sadly, the so called “Science” that atheists hold so dear in their belief system doesn’t even resemble the science they claim it to be. In fact, regarding origins of life and origins of the universe, atheistic science does exactly the opposite of how science is supposed to operate. Instead of observing evidence and then coming to a conclusion or interpretation through repeated testing and verification, atheistic science begins with a conclusion (God does not exist) and then goes in search of evidence that will support their presupposition. In fact, regarding origins, the atheist scientist’s search for acceptable answers has descended into multiple origins of the universe mythologies to explain how we are here today.
Atheists place their faith in a presupposition that is absolutely baseless, ie. There is no God, therefore life came from non life. Atheists then back that up with a self contradicting statement that matter created itself. No less absurd, atheists posit that DNA / RNA was simply “found” in the first living cell. In this, atheists place their faith. On this chunk of sand atheists build their philosophy of life.
According to atheists, all intelligent life originated from totally inanimate and inorganic chemicals. Because of this, the importance of positive, life enhancing mutations can hardly be overemphasized. Yet those are so rare as to be non existent. Julian Huxley wrote “. . . not only is it [mutations] an effective agency of evolution, it is the only effective agency of evolution.” Theodosius Dobzhansky, an evolutionary biologist stated, “The deleterious character of most mutations seems to be a very serious difficulty [with this theory].” If evolution, as it is currently promoted is correct, then positive mutations had to have occurred trillions of times in many different species! This is the theory that makes Richard Dawkins feel intellectually fulfilled. In this, atheists place their faith. On this chunk of sand atheists build their philosophy of life.
The Atheist belief system and the god of Pride:
The pride that atheists hold so dear in their belief system is derived from many things, any one of which can be ripped away in the blink of an eye. This includes, attractiveness, wealth, possessions, power, relationships and of course intelligence and education. Atheists state that God does not exist but that we can simply attribute worth to ourselves. That is a nice thought but it doesn’t work. For if you say that you have one unit of worth and your neighbour says that you have no worth, in a secular world your neighbour is just as correct as you are. In a secular world, worth is nothing more than an arbitrary attribute. In a secular world, people feel forced to follow the ebb and flow of human standards of worth within a whimsical and convoluted environment. This is where atheists are forced to place their faith because outside of their selves, there is nothing that can attribute worth to them. In this, atheists place their faith. On this chunk of sand atheists build their philosophy of life.
The Atheist belief system and the god of Intelligence:
Atheists trust in intelligence. They glorify it and sing its praises. Atheists derive their sense of worth from their intelligence and judge the worth of others by the degree of intelligence they deem the other person to have. Read any of their blogs and you’ll see that the atheist’s sense of belonging arises from grouping together and talking about the lack of intelligence in Christians. Here’s just a few description of me, according to atheists.
"Sux big time to be you. Moron."
"Fool."
"Get an education. You are pathetic."
"Predictably you won't educate yourself as you are an obvious willfully ignorant yo yo,"
"I won't even engage your pathetic lack of understanding. You are just sad."
"If the secular explanation for morals is incoherent to you, you just aren't very bright."
Any casual observer of human behaviour can plainly see that intelligence fails dismally in protecting anyone from the perils of faulty decisions, especially as they arise in relationships. For example:
. The intelligence in which atheists place their faith is the same intelligence that allows men and women to rationalise abandoning their children and spouses in order to pursue affairs with other individuals.
. This is the same intelligence that produces more divorces the higher one’s education.
. This is the same intelligence that produces more alcohol consumption the higher one’s education.
. This is the same intelligence that leads a person to say, The living organism within my womb that I’m aborting is not a human being. In fact, even when the child’s head has exited my vagina and its brain is being sucked out of its head, this is still not a human being. My right to freedom is more important than another person’s right to life.
. This is the same intelligence that leads a person to say, divorce is actually good for the kids.
. This is the same intelligence that leads a person to say, It’s ok to steal millions of dollars from other people’s pension plans.
. This is the same intelligence that thinks pornography doesn’t hurt anyone; that in fact pornography should be a protected form of expression.
. This is the same intelligence that believes that what we watch, read, listen to or think about might influence others, but it won’t influence me.
. This is the same intelligence that says we can have an effect (the universe) with no cause.
. This is the same intelligence that says that matter and energy can create itself.
. This is the same intelligence that sees this logical contradiction as acceptable, as long as it keeps a Creator God out of the picture.
In this, atheists place their faith. On this chunk of sand atheists build their philosophy of life.
. This is the same intelligence that says that a cosmos that reveals purpose, order and design points to an accidental origin with no external cause.
. This is the same intelligence that points to moral, intelligent, living beings and thinks it rational to say they are the product of an accident with no evidence of design.
. This is the same intelligence that says all humans have an idea of a most perfect being because there is no such thing.
. Atheist intelligence is the kind that rejects any book that challenges their faith by claiming “It’s only written by humans.” Then, this same intelligence turns around and vehemently supports its beliefs by quoting from books written by, yes of course, humans.
. This is an intelligence that supports ethical and moral codes established by community and social norms. This, even though those same community and social norms have been in the past, and are today responsible for the most horrendous abuse we could ever imagine of humans, animals and the world itself.
. This is the intelligence that will spend years and years and years debating which is an easier definition to defend, “Atheists don’t believe in God,” or “Atheists are non believers in God.”
. This is the same intelligence that refuses to acknowledge that atheists are in fact suppressing an innate knowledge of God.
. This is the same intelligence that says, I don’t have to have a reason for what I believe. It’s you (the Christian) who has to give reasons for what you believe. And then, and THEN they believe that comment gets them off the hook! One Atheist even went so far as to say to me, “I’m right because I say so.”
This then is the triune god of Science, Pride and Intelligence in which atheists place their faith. This is the chunk of sand upon which they build their philosophy of life.
“The basic reality of God is plain enough. Open your eyes and there it is! So nobody has a good excuse for denying the existence of God. People know God perfectly well, but when they don’t treat Him like God, refusing to worship Him, they trivialize themselves into silliness and confusion so that there is neither sense nor direction left in their lives. They pretend to know it all, but are illiterate regarding life and how to live it.” (Romans 1:18-23 - The Msg.).
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)