GodsView : What Is Grace?

GodsView : What Is Grace?: Many years ago, Dietrich Bonhoeffer coined a term that has come to characterize much of evangelical Christianity — it's the term &quo...

What Is Grace?

Many years ago, Dietrich Bonhoeffer coined a term that has come to characterize much of evangelical Christianity — it's the term "cheap grace." Cheap grace is in reality a self-imparted grace, a pseudo-grace, and in the end the consequences of living by it are very, very costly.
Cheap grace is not at all a reference to God's grace; it's a contemptible counterfeit. It's a grace that is "cheap" in value, not cost. It is a bargain-basement, damaged-goods, washed-out, moth-eaten, second-hand grace. It is a man-made grace reminiscent of the indulgences Rome was peddling in Martin Luther's day. Cheap? The cost is actually far more than the buyer could possibly realize, though the "grace" is absolutely worthless.
Bonhoeffer was a German Lutheran pastor and Nazi resister. He was hanged in 1945 by SS guards, but not before his writings had left their mark. Bonhoeffer's theological perspective was neo-orthodox, and evangelicalism rightly rejects much of his teaching. But Bonhoeffer spoke powerfully against the secularization of the church. He correctly analyzed the dangers of the church's frivolous attitude toward grace. After we discard the neo-orthodox teachings, we do well to pay heed to Bonhoeffer's diatribe against cheap grace:

Cheap grace means grace as a doctrine, a principle, a system. It means forgiveness of sins proclaimed as a general truth, the love of God taught as the Christian "conception" of God. An intellectual assent to that idea is held to be of itself sufficient to secure the remission of sins. The Church which holds the correct doctrine of grace has, it is supposed, ipso facto a part in that grace. In such a Church the world finds a cheap covering for its sins; no contrition is required, still less any real desire to be delivered from sin. Cheap grace therefore amounts to a denial of the Incarnation of the Word of God.
Cheap grace means the justification of sin without the justification of the sinner. Grace alone does everything, they say, and so everything can remain as it was before. "All for sin could not atone." The world goes on in the same old way, and we are still sinners "even in the best life" as Luther said. Well, then, let the Christian live like the rest of the world, let him model himself on the world's standards in every sphere of life, and not presumptuously aspire to live a different life under grace from his old life under sin (The Cost of Discipleship [New York: Collier, 1959], 45-46).

Cheap grace has not lost its worldly appeal since Bonhoeffer wrote those words. If anything, the tendency to cheapen grace has eaten its way into the heart of evangelical Christianity. While verbally extolling the wonders of grace, it exchanges the real item for a facsimile. This bait-and-switch tactic has confounded many sincere Christians.
Many professing Christians today utterly ignore the biblical truth that grace "instruct[s] us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously, and godly in the present age" (Titus 2:12). Instead, they live as if grace were a supernatural "Get Out of Jail FREE" ticket-a no-strings-attached, open-ended package of amnesty, beneficence, indulgence, forbearance, charity, leniency, immunity, approval, tolerance, and self-awarded privilege divorced from any moral demands.
Sadly, the rank-and-file Christian is further cemented in an unbiblical view of grace by what comes out of some seminaries. There are scholars who actually legitimize the error as a correct understanding of grace. They call their teaching "grace theology" and their movement "The Grace Movement."
They advocate a "grace" that alters a believer's standing without affecting his state. It is a grace that calls sinners to Christ but does not bid them surrender to Him. In fact, no-lordship theologians claim grace is diluted if the believing sinner must surrender to Christ. The more one actually surrenders, the more grace is supposedly watered down. This is clearly not the grace of Titus 2:11-12.
No wonder Christians are confused. Christian churches mirror the world; Christian leaders follow the culture; and Christian theologians provide their stamp of approval. The situation is nothing short of deplorable.
But here's what I propose — let's start by laying down a biblical definition of grace with this simple question: What is grace?
Grace is a terribly misunderstood word. Defining it succinctly is notoriously difficult. Some of the most detailed theology textbooks do not offer any concise definition of the term. Someone has proposed an acronym: GRACE is God's Riches At Christ's Expense. That's not a bad way to characterize grace, but it is not a sufficient theological definition.
One of the best-known definitions of grace is only three words: God's unmerited favor. A. W. Tozer expanded on that: "Grace is the good pleasure of God that inclines him to bestow benefits on the undeserving." Berkhof is more to the point: grace is "the unmerited operation of God in the heart of man, effected through the agency of the Holy Spirit."
Grace is not merely unmerited favor; it is favor bestowed on sinners who deserve wrath. Showing kindness to a stranger is "unmerited favor"; doing good to one's enemies is more the spirit of grace (Luke 6:27-36).
Grace is not a dormant or abstract quality, but a dynamic, active, working principle: "The grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation…and instructing us" (Titus 2:11-12). It is not some kind of ethereal blessing that lies idle until we appropriate it. Grace is God's sovereign initiative to sinners (Ephesians 1:5-6).
Grace is not a one-time event in the Christian experience. We stand in grace (Romans 5:2). The entire Christian life is driven and empowered by grace: "It is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods" (Hebrews 13:9). Peter said we should "grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 3:18).
Thus we could properly define grace as the free and benevolent influence of a holy God operating sovereignly in the lives of undeserving sinners.
Paul frequently contrasted grace with law (Romans 4:16; 5:20; 6:14-15; Galatians 2:21; 5:4). He was careful to state, however, that grace does not nullify the moral demands of God's law. Rather, it fulfills the righteousness of the law (Romans 6:14-15). It does not annul the righteous demands of the law; it confirms and validates them (Romans 3:31).
Grace has its own law, a higher, liberating law: "The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death" (Romans 8:2; cf. James 1:25). Note that this new law emancipates us from sin as well as death. Paul was explicit about this: "What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace might increase? May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?" (Romans 6:1-2). Grace reigns through righteousness (Romans 5:21).
That is the good news of the gospel! God has acted to set us free from sin — not just the consequences, but it's very power and presence. One day we will never know the experience of temptation, a stray thought, a misspoken word, a false motive. Guilt will be gone, and with it shame, and "so we shall always be with the Lord" (1 Thessalonians 4:17).
In the meantime, we enjoy the liberation from sin's cruel power and defiling influence. God has enabled us, through grace, to "deny ungodliness and worldly desires" so that we can enjoy a sensible, righteous, and godly life in the present age (Titus 2:12). "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them" (Ephesians 2:10).

GodsView : God's Christmas Gift!!

GodsView : God's Christmas Gift!!: Over the years, the legendary Neiman Marcus Christmas catalog has featured some pretty extravagant gifts. The 1963 catalog offered his-...

God's Christmas Gift!!

Over the years, the legendary Neiman Marcus Christmas catalog has featured some pretty extravagant gifts. The 1963 catalog offered his-and-her submarines for $18,000. In the 1964 catalog, you could buy a hot air balloon for $6,000. In 1967, the catalog's offerings included a pair of camels for $4,000. And in 1971, an actual mummy case was selling for $16,000. But this year, Neiman Marcus has upped the ante with a trip to outer space for $1.7 million.
Maybe a ticket to space isn't at the top of your wish list this year, but perhaps you have certain expectations of what you hope to find waiting for you under the Christmas tree. If you put your hope in what Christmas offers, however, you will be very disappointed. But if you can get past that to what Christmas is really all about, it truly can be "the most wonderful time of the year."
The wise men brought the rather unusual gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to Jesus. But the first Christmas gifts were not gifts to the Child. The first Christmas gift was the gift of the Child. Christmas, at its best and purest state, is a promise of something else, something that no holiday or experience or earthly thing can satisfy. Galatians 4:4-5 says, "But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons" (NIV). Isaiah 9:6 offers a description of what God has given to us:
For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (NKJV)
Each of the above descriptions of the names of Jesus deals with an important area of our lives. They are like five Christmas gifts we can open, and each is special and unusual.
First, His name is Wonderful. That takes care of the dullness of life. "Wonderful" comes from the root word "wonder." The word used here for "wonderful" could also be translated "Amazing, surprising, astonishing, awe-inspiring." And as I contemplate the fact that the Almighty God made this sacrifice for me, it will produce in my heart a sense of bewilderment, awe, and finally, worship.
Second, His name is Counselor. That takes care of the decisions of life. We all have very important decisions that we have to make. The God who is Wonderful wants to give us counsel and direction. God has a plan for each of our lives-an individual plan, not a one-size-fits-all plan. When you are overwhelmed with the decisions of life, remember there is a God who wants to counsel you.
Third, He is the Mighty God. That takes care of the demands of life. We need to be reminded that Jesus was not just a good man. He was the God-man. And this God who is Wonderful, this God who wants to be your Counselor, will give you the strength to live the life He has called you to live.
Fourth, His name is Everlasting Father. That takes care of the destiny of life. We believe in an Everlasting Father with no beginning and with no end. It reminds us that life on Earth is temporal, that heaven is so much better than anything this world has to offer. Also, this hope of an Everlasting Father resonates with those who have never had an earthly father. Because of what Jesus did for us, we can now refer to the Almighty God, Creator of the universe, as our Father who is in heaven.
Fifth, His name is the Prince of Peace. That takes care of the disturbances of life. Life is filled with disturbances and, quite frankly, Christmas can be one of the most stressful times of the year. Old problems are often brought back to the surface. Friction, stress, and problems you are having with various family members can be at the forefront of your life at this time of year. But here is One who is the Prince of Peace, One who will help you with the disturbances of life.
Whatever gifts you may have waiting for you this Christmas, they pale in comparison to God's gift for you. It is better than anything the Nieman Marcus catalog could offer. It is the only gift that truly keeps on giving: the gift of eternal life.

GodsView : Do You Draw Near?

GodsView : Do You Draw Near?: Who is God? What is He like? Every fledgling believer asks those questions — the answers he finds evoke wonder and praise. Do you rem...

Do You Draw Near?

Who is God? What is He like? Every fledgling believer asks those questions — the answers he finds evoke wonder and praise. Do you remember that time? Your appetite for truth was insatiable, you attended every Bible conference you could, and you were faithfully involved in every ministry and program the church had to offer. Everything you learned about God filled you with joy and ignited zealous activity.
So, what happened? Sadly, I've watched many Christians lose the wonder of worship as the years pass. Life for them grinds on monotonously and church attendance becomes rote behavior — you sing, you listen to a sermon, you greet a few people with handshakes and smiles, and you go home.
If that sounds familiar, return to God by submitting to James' imperative: "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded" (4:8). To know the one true God is your glorious calling. Are you ready to draw near? Let me give you some practical encouragement on how to do that.

Understanding Worship
Worshiping God is the essence of being a Christian. Jesus explained that point to a Samaritan woman this way: "An hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers" (John 4:23). If we are Christians, we are worshipers. Our hope of eternal life is really an anticipation of unhindered, unadulterated worship. "This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent" (John 17:3). With that in mind, we evangelize the lost to gather more worshipers to fill our ranks. Worship then is at the heart of everything we are and do. Tragically, many Christians today have set their affections on the temporal things of this world, exchanging their great privilege of knowing God better for that which is mundane. King David had the best this world had to offer — money, power, success, fame — and yet he said, "One thing I have asked from the Lord, that I shall seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord and to meditate in His temple" (Ps. 27:4, emphasis added).
Let me make an important observation at this point. I think some people get the sense that doctrinal precision equates to emotional sterility. Though we can all point to examples of that, nothing could (or should) be further from the truth. There is no lack of passion in David's psalms, and his theology — under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit — was impeccable. Knowledge of God to Him was "to behold the beauty of the Lord" and he wanted to meditate on it for the rest of his life. Does that sound like cold orthodoxy to you?
Here's a simple way to look at worship: Worship is an overflow of a mind renewed by the truth of God. Cast in that light, delving into the truth of God's Word becomes discovery rather than dry and lifeless study. When you discover a great truth about God, you meditate on that truth — mulling it around in your mind — until it captivates your whole thinking process. That in turn will lead to worship.
Worship is really the outcome of two of the simplest Christian disciplines: Bible study and prayer. Study the Bible with the goal of discovering the wonders of God. Once you latch on to some great truth, fill your mind with it and ponder it in prayer before God. Your inner man will respond with righteous affections that will fill you with joy and renew your zeal to serve others.

Returning to Worship
So how do you get started? First, you must repent. The failure to worship God in spirit and in truth is not just an unfortunate lapse in spiritual enthusiasm, it is a sin. To love the Lord your God with all of your heart, soul, and mind is not the greatest suggestion in the Law, it is the greatest commandment (Matt. 22:36-40). Confess your sin, clear your conscience, and get ready for step two — prepare to worship God. Acceptable worship doesn't happen spontaneously — you must prepare yourself. Let's look at Hebrews 10:22. "Let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water." That verse begins with the phrase "let us draw near" — it is our call to worship. What follows are four checkpoints to help you prepare for worship.
The Checkpoint of Sincerity — We are to draw near "with a sincere heart." That speaks of a genuine heart, devoted to pursuing God. It is hypocritical to be worshiping God when you are really apathetic or preoccupied with self. Draw near to God with your whole heart.
The Checkpoint of Fidelity — We are to draw near "in full assurance of faith." The Hebrews were clinging to Old Covenant forms of worship to find acceptance before God; but the coming of Christ put an end to ceremony and sacrifice. Each person had to be willing to say, "I'm coming to God in full confidence that I am not saved by a system of ritual. I come fully by faith in Jesus Christ." You too are to be fully assured that God accepts your worship, not because of what you do, but because of what Jesus did in providing atonement for you.
The Checkpoint of Humility — We are to draw near to God "having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience." That is, you come to God with the knowledge that you are unworthy to be in His presence. The only reason anyone can come to Him is the blood of Christ, which was shed on the cross as a cleansing for sin.
The Checkpoint of Purity — We are to draw near having "our bodies washed with pure water." That refers to the daily cleansing by the Word of God. The process of sanctification ferrets out sinful thoughts and exposes sinful behavior. Before you worship, confess the sins that God uncovered through His Word so you can draw near in purity.
Every time you worship, whether corporately or privately, try preparing yourself by asking these questions:

• Am I seeing God anew in the Word through discovery and meditation so I am compelled to draw near to Him?
• Am I being sincere? Is my heart fixed on Him and undivided?
• Am I fully assured that only faith in Christ can bring me to God's throne?
• Am I coming humbly, realizing I can draw near only because of what Christ has done for me?
• Is there any sin in my life I haven't dealt with?

Perhaps you've been attending church for years, but you've never really drawn near to God, nor have you sensed His nearness — even in your own private devotions and prayers. Now you know, or perhaps have been reminded: God has redeemed you so you can worship Him. It is the purpose for which you were created. Continue living in the light of the wonders you discover about God in His Word, and ask Him to teach you more and more by experience what it is to worship Him in spirit and in truth. That is a prayer our great God will delight in answering.

GodsView : How Should a Christian Vote?

GodsView : How Should a Christian Vote?: Voting with a Christian Conscience I believe the evangelical church has finally been forced to conclude we cannot depend upon politics ...

How Should a Christian Vote?

Voting with a Christian Conscience
I believe the evangelical church has finally been forced to conclude we cannot depend upon politics to turn this country around, bring us back to biblical principles, or reverse the anti-Christian bigotry developing in the courts, the media, and the wider culture. Only the church, armed with the Gospel, is able to bring lasting change in the hearts and lives of people. God’s House—and not the White House—holds the key to the future of our nation.
If there’s ever been a time for the church to stand tall, it’s today—whether it’s with or without support from our political leaders. As you look back at history, you’ll see times when God has given nations better leaders than they deserved—at other times, far wares (think of 20^th century dictators). Still other times, the leader was a perfect fit for the people. But regardless of the leader, the church must remain faithful to its calling.
I refuse to endorse political candidates because (1) no one candidate is right on all the issues or, for that matter, wrong on all the issues, and (2) the Gospel should never be tied to a politician or political party.
We should never give the impression that one party or another is the “Christian party.” We must be able to say to Democrats, Republicans, and Independents—and everyone in between—that unless you believe in Jesus, you will be eternally separated from God.
I agree with Lyndon Johnson who said in his inaugural address, “Under this covenant of justice we have become a nation—prosperous, great, and mighty. And we have kept our freedom. But we have no promise from God that our greatness will endure. We have been allowed by Him to seek greatness with the sweat of our hands and the strength of our spirit…If we fail now, we shall have forgotten in abundance what we learned in hardship: that democracy rests on faith, that freedom asks more than it gives, and that the judgment of God is harshest on those who are most favored.”
We must pray not only that our candidates believe in God, but that their belief means something to them and their policies. At a minimum, they ought to be convinced our laws are to be derived from God, both through the writings of Scripture and natural law.
How will I vote? In the center of this newsletter, I list seven biblical issues. Amid the welter of negative ads and campaign hype, I will vote for the candidate who best represents these issues.
Run your candidate through this grid, and you will be given guidance as you cast your ballot. And let us pray for whomever wins!

How Should a Christian Vote?
Whether we are enthusiastic about our political candidates or disappointed with our choices, we should not shirk our duty as good citizens.
In my opinion, we should vote for the person who best represents our convictions on the following issues, which I list without further comment and in no particular order.

1. Character and integrity:
   “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; but when the wicked rule, the people mourn…The king by judgment establishes the land but he that receives gifts overthrows it…If a ruler listens to lies, all his servants are wicked” (Proverbs 29:2, 4, 12).
2. Sanctity of human life—abortion, stem cell research using human embryos:
   “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb” (Psalm 139:13).
3. Same-sex marriage or civil unions among same-sex couples:
   “You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination” (Leviticus 18:22).
4. Freedom for religious speech:
   “So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered them, ‘Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard’” (Acts 4:18-20).
5. Racial equality:
   “And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on the face of the earth” (Acts 17:26).
   “…and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God” (Revelation 5:9-10).
6. National Security:
   “And they all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and to cause confusion in it. And we prayed to our God and set a guard as a protection against them day and night” (Nehemiah 4:8-9).
7. Taxation and government spending:
   “We have borrowed money for the king’s tax on our fields and vineyards…we are forcing our sons and daughters to be slaves, and some of our daughters have already been enslaved, but it is not in our power to help it, for other men have our fields and our vineyards” (Nehemiah 5:4-5).
   
   

Whether our preferred candidate wins or loses, we have a God-given responsibility to pray for our leaders and support them in whatever way we can. Paul, addressing the Romans when Nero was on the throne, wrote, “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God” (Romans 13:1).
Be assured I will vote with prayer, seeking wisdom from God. And I hope you will vote with the same values in mind.

GodsView : Decision Making: Discerning the Will of God!

GodsView : Decision Making: Discerning the Will of God!: Everyone is confronted with countless decisions throughout life. Many decisions are of little significance, but some may change your life...

Decision Making: Discerning the Will of God!

Everyone is confronted with countless decisions throughout life. Many decisions are of little significance, but some may change your life forever. Sometimes just deciding what to eat for lunch seems difficult, but decisions that have weighty consequences can cause you grave concern.
Take a step of faith and trust God. He does not play “hide and seek” as you try to discover His will. The more intimately you draw near to the heart of God, the more clearly you begin to know the will of God. And as you sincerely begin to place His desires above your own desires, He is faithful to point the way.
What God Says
“Offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:1-2

GodsView : Thank You Mommy For Killing Me!

GodsView : Thank You Mommy For Killing Me!: If the enemies of Planned Parenthood wanted to make them look bad, they could not done have a better job than the baby-killing corporatio...

Thank You Mommy For Killing Me!

If the enemies of Planned Parenthood wanted to make them look bad, they could not done have a better job than the baby-killing corporation did with its new slogan and ad campaign. The slogan? “Care. No matter what.” The ad campaign, “Your Baby Will Thank You.”
Too bad Dr. Kermit Gosnell didn’t think of the slogan first. He could have boasted, “We provide baby-killing care no matter what. In the womb. Outside the womb. Early in the pregnancy. Late in the pregnancy. You just come in pregnant, we guarantee you’ll leave without a baby – although we might just keep some of the baby parts as trophies of the excellent ‘care’ we provide.”
Yes, mothers, your babies would certainly have thanked you for bringing them to such a caring doctor: “Mommy, I started to whimper and I was so afraid, but then that nice man snipped my spine, and I didn’t feel anything anymore.”
Here in Charlotte, North Carolina, the city’s busiest abortion clinic (located on Latrobe Drive), provided a different level of “care” for its customers. This week, it was temporarily shut down after, “Inspectors from the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services conducted a surprise visit to Latrobe April 19-20 and did additional investigation work in late April and early May.
“They found ‘that conditions at A Preferred Women's Health Center, LLC, present an imminent danger to the health, safety and welfare of the clients and that emergency action is required to protect the clients.’
“They found that the facility was improperly administering chemical abortions and improperly examining post-abortive women before they were discharged from surgery...These health violations come on the heels of a similar investigation in December, when state inspectors found dead insects, blood splatters and dirty surgical instruments inside the abortion facility.” (This is a link to the actual report.)
The Latrobe clinic also failed to reassemble the body parts of the aborted babies – clinically and coldly called the P.O.C., or “products of conception” – a procedure which is intended to ensure that the mother’s uterus is completely emptied of any baby remains.

GodsView : Richard Dawkins Exposes the Immorality of His Athe...

GodsView : Richard Dawkins Exposes the Immorality of His Athe...: Giving further ammunition to those who say that atheists cannot fully value all human life, Richard Dawkins has now stated that it would ...

Richard Dawkins Exposes the Immorality of His Atheism!

Giving further ammunition to those who say that atheists cannot fully value all human life, Richard Dawkins has now stated that it would be "immoral" not to abort a baby with Down syndrome. Are you surprised?
It was just last week that the British scientist exposed the irrationality of his atheism when he claimed that nice, nonviolent practitioners of religion served as enablers for religious terrorism.
He first noted that, "It's very important that we should not demonise ordinary, law-abiding, very decent Muslims, which of course is the vast majority in this country" (speaking of the U.K.).
But that was only the prelude to the punchline: "[However] there is a sense in which the moderate, nice religious people—nice Christians, nice Muslims—make the world safe for extremists."
How so? He opined that, "the moderates are so nice we all are brought up with the idea that there's something good about religion faith. That there's something good about bringing children up to have a faith."
And, since faith can't be defended rationally (according to Dawkins), then, "Once you teach people that that's a legitimate reason for believing something then you, as it were, give a licence to the extremists who say 'my belief is that I'm supposed to be a suicide bomber or I'm supposed to blow up buildings—it's my faith and you can't question that."
This is complete bunk, not to mention utterly irrational.
To give one example out of millions, let me tell you the story of my Indian friend P. Yesupadam.
Raised an untouchable, he rejected his father's Christian faith and his nation's Hindu faith.
Almost dying of malnutrition as a boy, he learned to hate the caste system and, at the age of 11, he became a Naxalite, a Maoist communist. Soon he was a committed atheist (in keeping with his Naxalite philosophy), an alcoholic, and a violent man, engaging in acts of terror against the rich.
Then, in his mid-20's, he had a vision of Jesus and has since given himself to serve the poor and needy of India (and other nations) for the last 40 years–-building orphanages, schools (from nursery school to junior college and nursing schools), feeding programs, homes for the elderly, training centers to teach trades to the handicapped, also bringing the message of the gospel to the tribal regions.
Of the many orphans and needy children his ministry has fed, clothed and educated over the last 25 years, some are now doctors in America, some nurses and school teachers in India, and others pastors and Christian leaders.
The accomplishments are truly staggering to the point that, when he turned 60 a couple of years ago, government leaders came to the celebration to commend him for his humanitarian work.
Following Prof. Dawkins' "logic," we would have to say that "nice Christians" like Yesupadam encourage people to strap on a suicide belt and blow themselves up, together with their innocent victims.
To repeat: This is complete bunk and a demonstration of the irrationality of Dawkins' atheism.
Now, to add insult to injury, Dawkins has exposed the immorality of his atheism, stating that if a woman knew she was carrying a baby with Down syndrome, she should "abort it and try again. It would be immoral to bring it into the world if you have the choice."
This is not just bunk. It is utterly rancid.
Aside from his claims that the baby would feel no pain in being aborted (he's quite sure about that?), he is doing the very thing that theists claim atheism can lead to, namely, devaluing of human life based on a survival-of-the-fittest mentality.
Really now, if you can determine that some people are not worthy to live before they are even born, surely it's not that big a jump to determine that some people are not worthy to live after they have been born.
Perhaps the very elderly and the hopelessly infirm, especially if their lives could be terminated "mercifully"? Perhaps those who are incorrigibly violent? Perhaps those who are seriously mentally handicapped?
Why not? Or, more specifically, based on what criteria do we judge who is worthy to enter this world and who is worthy to live?
Writing on LifeSiteNews.com, Dustin Siggins points out that, "Although it is widely believed that people with Down syndrome are doomed to a life of suffering, in one large survey 99 percent of respondents with Down syndrome said they were 'happy.' At the same time, 99 percent percent of parents said they loved their child with Down syndrome, and 97 percent said they were proud of them." (The siblings of Down syndrome children expressed similar, overwhelmingly positive sentiments.)
It is becoming increasingly clear that Dawkins is something of an embarrassment, even to other atheists (although he is still revered by many). The only question that remains is this: Are his irrational and immoral positions unique to him, or are they the logical outcome of his Darwinian evolutionism?

GodsView : Never Satisfied!

GodsView : Never Satisfied!: The tenth commandment—"You shall not covet" ( Ex. 20:17 )—is different from the other nine. It can be broken without anyone see...

Never Satisfied!

The tenth commandment—"You shall not covet" (Ex. 20:17)—is different from the other nine. It can be broken without anyone seeing it, because coveting is an inward attitude, not an outward action. This commandment probes the heart and touches on our desires. It deals with what we want, not just what we do.
But "stuff" won't make you happy. As Solomon said, "No matter how much we see, we are never satisfied" (Eccl. 1:8, TLB). That certainly nails it!
Coveting shows a dissatisfaction with God's provision. Covetous people will compare what they have with their neighbor and feel shortchanged. Coveting damages relationships with others. How can you love your neighbors when what they have is the object of your covetousness?
And coveting leads to other forms of sin—it spreads. Lot desired the land near Sodom, and that led to physical and moral danger for him (see Gen. 13-14, 19). Achan took what belonged to the Lord, and that caused the defeat of the Israelites in battle (see Josh. 7). David coveted the wife of Uriah, which led him to adultery and murder (see 2 Sam. 11).
So what is the spiritual antidote to covetousness? It's a lifestyle of contentment, the satisfaction that comes from realizing God knows my needs and provides for them."I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content" (Phil. 4:11).When you are content, it means you're saying, "What God has given is enough." Contentment doesn't come from what you have; it's independent of that. It comes from Whom you have. Note also from that verse that the cure must be learned; it's not genetic.
Contentment is related to godliness (see 1 Tim. 6:6). The more godly you become, the more content you become. Contentment is rooted in eternity (see v. 7). Our treasures are in heaven; we brought nothing into this world, and we will take nothing with us. Contentment rejoices in essentials (see v. 8). It enables you to say, "This is all I need." Contentment is ruined by craving more (see vv. 9-10). Those who lust after things are falling into a trap.
The cure must be practiced. How? With a single eye—with a focus on eternity, because things are passing. With a loose grip—because, again, we will carry nothing out of this world.And with an open heart—practicing generosity.
Consider how the Lord has provided for you and taken care of your needs. What do you need that you don't have? More money? More things? If your focus is on a dream house or a dream spouse or a dream car, could the problem be with your dreams?
Riches are not in themselves evil. It's what they do to us:covetousness binds us to the temporal, and it blinds us from the eternal. So have a light touch, not a tight grip. Remember, happiness is never from the outside in, but always from the inside out.

GodsView : Count Your Blessings!

GodsView : Count Your Blessings!: Sometimes when you don’t feel like praying, or you’re consumed with needing to speak to the Lord but can’t gather the words, try that old...

Count Your Blessings!

Sometimes when you don’t feel like praying, or you’re consumed with needing to speak to the Lord but can’t gather the words, try that old standby—count your many blessings, count them one by one.
It’s amazing how you can get carried away from worries and woes and self concern when you start naming out loud what you’re thankful for. Right away your focus shifts from your needs to the Father’s graciousness and love. Try this:
LOOK UP . . . thank You, Lord . . .

• for Your sovereign control over our circumstances
• for Your holy character in spite of our sinfulness
• for Your Word that gives us direction
• for Your grace that removes our guilt

LOOK AROUND . . . thank You, Lord . . .

• for our wonderful country
• for close family ties
• for an opportunity to help others
• for a place to live, clothes to wear, food to eat

LOOK WITHIN . . . thank You, Lord . . .

• for eyes that see the beauty of Your creation
• for minds that are curious, creative, and competent
• for memories of pleasures and recent accomplishments
• for broken dreams and lingering afflictions that humble us
• for a sense of humor that brings healing and hope

He is worthy of our highest praise and gratitude. To Him goes all the glory.
If you can’t pray, make a personalized list of blessings.

GodsView : It Will Happen!

GodsView : It Will Happen!: 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will com...

It Will Happen!

¹⁴And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. ¹⁵So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), ¹⁶then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. —Matthew 24:14-16

In Matthew 24, Jesus gave us some clear connecting points between Daniel 9 and the Book of Revelation. If we are going to be diligent about Bible reading, we are going to have to learn how to read prophetic passages. God is very clear that a prophet speaking for Him must be exactly right or he should be killed! (see Deuteronomy 18:20-21) This means the “prophets” featured in the supermarket papers wouldn’t last long!
Some of the things that happen through church history to make the fulfillment of prophesy apparent to the people of God are what are called “touchdown fulfillments.” Not the ultimate fulfillment, but an intermediate fulfillment. Take, for example, the prophecy of Isaiah 7:14, “A virgin shall conceive and bear a son.” There was a fulfillment of that in Isaiah’s day; and then ultimately in Christ.
The prophesy of Joel 2 mentioned in Acts 2 about young men dreaming dreams and old men seeing visions. That was fulfilled in Joel’s day and again in the birth of the Church, and there will be an ultimate fulfillment of that prophecy in the time ahead.
So it is with the Matthew 24 passage and the “abomination of desolation” that Jesus mentioned. Interesting, in 175 B.C., Antiochus the IV, a Syrian king, took the name Theos Epiphanes which means God Manifested. He marched through the Holy Land, down to Egypt. But because he was turned back (in 170 B.C.), he had such anger that he took it out on the Nation of Israel. He went into the Holy of Holies in the Temple and offered a pig on the altar there. And then he forced Jewish people to eat that meat and to bow down to him.
Now Theos Epiphanes had a bit of an ego problem, right? “Just call me God Manifested.” Eighty thousand Jews refused to bow down to him and they were all murdered in the streets of Jerusalem. Daniel’s prophecy was fulfilled and will be fulfilled again in the end.
Biblical prophecy is not a fantasy movie script. These are realities. And God has given us times in history to see a touchdown fulfillment of it. So we’re like, “That could totally happen. I can see that happening. It has happened — It will happen!” Like that. The ultimate fulfillment of the abomination of desolation is yet future, as Matthew points out when he notes, “let the reader understand.” Let’s anticipate God’s promises every day!

GodsView : The Film Industry's Celebration of Gays and the Wa...

GodsView : The Film Industry's Celebration of Gays and the Wa...: Once again, true to form, the film industry is celebrating the two latest gay and lesbian flicks, both featuring torrid affairs between a...

The Film Industry's Celebration of Gays and the War on the Age of Consent!

Once again, true to form, the film industry is celebrating the two latest gay and lesbian flicks, both featuring torrid affairs between an adult and a teenager, while at the same time there are howls of protest across America because an 18-year-old girl has been charged with crimes because of her sexual relationship with a 14-year-old girl. What a coincidence!
In France, there was such enthusiasm for a pornographic lesbian film that the top award at the Cannes Film Festival was given to both the director and the two leading actresses. Blue Is the Warmest Colour won the best film prize, nominated by a jury led by none other than Steven Spielberg and Nicole Kidman.
The movie, which features scenes that leave nothing to the imagination, tells the story of a 15-year-old girl who falls in love with an older woman. But not to worry—the age of consent in France is already 15.
Here in America, HBO aired the original movie Behind the Candelabra, hailed as “a moving and beautifully made film that traces the clandestine half-decade romance between Vegas showman and pianist Liberace and his much, much younger live-in boyfriend Scott Thorson.”
The film, which features Michael Douglas as Liberace and Matt Damon as Thorson, was reportedly deemed “too gay” to be successful by other studios, hence its airing on HBO. (In today’s gay-happy media culture, saying that the film was considered “too gay” is saying a lot.) Thorson became Liberace’s live-in lover when he was just 17.
The extreme praise for these two movies is reminiscent of the media frenzy over Brokeback Mountain, the first mainstream movie with gay sex scenes. It “won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival and was honored with Best Picture and Best Director accolades from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, Golden Globe Awards, Producers Guild of America, Critics Choice Awards, and Independent Spirit Awards among many other organizations and festivals.” It was also “nominated for eight Academy Awards, the most nominations at the 78th Academy Awards, where it won three.” The same year, Capote, about Truman Capote, and Transamerica, about a woman undergoing a sex-change, were also honored with awards.
Isn’t it fascinating that all these LGBT films are so incredibly good—or could there be a little bias in the movie industry?
Back to the real world. While these movies were airing, a national campaign was gaining steam on behalf of Kaitlyn Hunt, aged 18, who was charged with committing statutory rape and molestation on her 14-year-old girlfriend.
Why the national outrage over this case? Aren’t 18-year-old boys regularly charged with statutory rape for having sex with their younger girlfriends? Why aren’t we hearing about national protests on behalf of these young men?
It’s simple. They were charged with heterosexual offenses, while Kaitlyn Hunt’s case involved lesbian sex—and so it can only be “hate” that is driving the prosecution against her.
Robby C., commenting on my article “Immorality Is Trending,” wrote, “So being gay is immoral? An 18-year-old and 14-year-old being in love is immoral? What's wrong with you people. Love is love. Leave the poor girl alone and stop being bigots and hateful.”
Kaitlyn’s father, Steven, has launched a petition calling on the assistant state attorney to “stop the prosecution of an 18 year old girl in a same-sex relationship,” which begs the question: Why bring up the fact that it’s a same-sex relationship?
The petition also claims that “Kailtyn’s girlfriend’s parents are pressing charges because they are against the same-sex relationship, even though their daughter has stated that this is a consensual relationship.” How utterly hateful of them!
Kaitlyn’s mother claims "the parents of the 14-year-old who pressed charges are ‘out to destroy my daughter [because] they feel like my daughter "made" their daughter gay,’ and these ‘bigoted, religious’ parents ‘see being gay as a sin and wrong, and they blame my daughter.’” (How dare these parents not give full approval to their 14-year-old’s lesbian affair!)
As for the laws in question, one signer of the petition had this to say: “If this is an event you feel strongly about, and would like to see the decay of these archaic laws striking down children for being children then please take a few seconds out of your day to sign the petition to aid Kate Hunt in her search for justice.” As the Facebook page cries out, “Stop the Hate, Free Kate.”
Lost in most news reporting is that the younger girl’s parents, Jim and Laurie Smith (he’s white, she’s black), told WPEC-TV reporter Jana Eschbach that they "had twice asked Hunt to leave their daughter alone, and only went to police after a January incident in which their daughter ran away and spent the night at Hunt’s house.” And they made clear that they would have done the same had their daughter taken off with an 18-year-old boy.
But why should we believe them? After all, they must be hateful bigots. The talking points say so.
Interestingly, the 1972 gay rights platform called for the “repeal of all laws governing the age of sexual consent,” while in 2010, British gay activist Peter Tatchell argued that “the best way to protect our children from sexual abuse is paradoxically to give them more sexual freedom." Furthermore, "Age of consent laws vary from state to state in the U.S., with the majority being 16 and some ranging as high as 18, but Tatchell says they should all be lowered to 14.”

GodsView : Wife Abuse: Assault on a Woman’s Worth!

GodsView : Wife Abuse: Assault on a Woman’s Worth!: He was prominent in the community. What woman wouldn’t feel fortunate to be his wife? She certainly had all the finer things in life. And...

Wife Abuse: Assault on a Woman’s Worth!

He was prominent in the community. What woman wouldn’t feel fortunate to be his wife? She certainly had all the finer things in life. And the children … didn’t they have the best that money could buy? How could she think about destroying such a picture-perfect family or risk stepping into a future unknown? Where would she go? What could she do? How would she support herself? And even worse, if she began to expose the terrible truth, would she lose the children? She felt hopeless. Who would believe her? She had been so skillful at hiding her feelings, as well as the bruises. With swollen, tear-stained eyes, she reasoned … “It’s mostly my fault anyway!”
Even when reason seems skewed, the Psalms offer hope for the afflicted.
“You hear, O Lord, the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry, defending … the oppressed, in order that man, who is of the earth, may terrify no more.” (Psalm 10:17-18)
While abusive acts are committed by both husbands and wives, in cases of domestic violence, approximately 95% of the victims are women. Although the reality of wife battering reveals a long history of being tolerated—tolerated traditionally and even legally—abusive behavior has always grieved the heart of God. Any violation of this most sacred relationship always produces pain, but God promises to be close to the victim who suffers at the hands of an abuser.
“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” Psalm 34:18
Domestic violence is not an issue of “marriage problems” or “irreconcilable differences” solved by “conflict resolution.” This kind of abuse…

• ~ Affects everyone in the family
• ~ Bridges all levels in society: racial, religious, geographic, and economic
• ~ Undermines the value of others
• ~ Seeks to dominate others
• ~ Escalates in intensity and frequency

What Are the Different Types of Abuse?

• ~ Verbal Abuse
• ~ Emotional Abuse
• ~ Physical Abuse/Violence
• ~ Sexual Abuse/Violence

God’s Heart for the Victim

• ~ God hears the cry of the battered and abused.
  “You hear, O Lord, the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry.” Psalm 10:17
• ~ God holds the victim of abuse in the palm of His hand.
  “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10
• ~ God will rescue the victim of abuse and violence.
  “He will rescue them from oppression and violence, for precious is their blood in his sight.” Psalm 72:14

GodsView : Finding Strength and Security in God’s Word!

GodsView : Finding Strength and Security in God’s Word!: I’ll never forget when my confidence in God’s Word was put to the test as a young preacher. I was the pastor of First Baptist Church in ...

Finding Strength and Security in God’s Word!

I’ll never forget when my confidence in God’s Word was put to the test as a young preacher. I was the pastor of First Baptist Church in West Palm Beach, Fla, and to my amazement, I found myself in a meeting with leaders from my denomination debating whether or not the Bible was the Word of God.
One by one the moderator asked us to share our positions on this issue, and I was shocked and saddened as I heard the comments from many of my peers. They had doubts, they said, about the trustworthiness of the Bible.
It was almost my turn when I felt a surge of anxiety rush through my system. What was I going to say? When, at last, all eyes were on me, I decided to keep it simple—and true. “The Bible is the Word of God!”
 All were silent as my words hung in the air, but then the pastor sitting next to me piped up. “You mean the Bible contains the words of God,” he said. I couldn’t believe my ears. “No,” I said, “I mean the Bible is the Word of God.”
There is a subtle but strong difference between those two beliefs. Does the Bible merely contain some of God’s words? Or is the Bible the Word of God? Many modern ways of understanding and interpretation say the Bible is a vehicle for God’s truth instead of it being God’s truth itself.
But this doesn’t square with the apostle Paul’s validation in 2 Timothy 3:16, which says, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness….” The Bible is the Word of God. That’s not something believers should debate. It’s settled right here in the Scripture itself!
 I remember reading awhile back how the great evangelist Billy Graham once struggled with this truth. Recalling when he made the decision to accept the Scripture’s reliability, Reverend Graham said this:
When I accepted the Bible as the authoritative Word of God by faith, I found immediately that it became a flame in my hand. That flame began to melt away unbelief in the hearts of many people and to move them to the side for Christ.
 I found that I did not have to rely upon cleverness, or oratory, or psychological manipulation, apt illustrations or striking quotations from famous men. I began to rely more and more upon the Scripture itself and God blessed it….
 Every single person on the planet is hungry to hear the Word of God, even if they don’t realize it. We long for something solid to stand on in a wobbling and wavering world. So today, if it feels like your world is wavering and wobbling—open God’s authoritative Word and read it. Pray it. Memorize it. When you do, I promise God will speak directly to your heart and give you the security and strength you need!
[Pull Quote] If it feels like your world is wavering and wobbling—open God’s authoritative Word and read it. Pray it. Memorize it.

GodsView : The Enemy of Your Peace!

GodsView : The Enemy of Your Peace!: Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God...

The Enemy of Your Peace!

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God (Philippians 4:6, ESV).
When Paul coaches us, “Do not be anxious about anything,” it’s easy to react with indignation. “Really, Paul?! Have you looked at my life lately? Don’t be anxious about anything?” Since these are hard words to apply, let’s consider Paul’s advice thoughtfully to see how it bears up when the rubber meets the road.
The core of the word anxiousness is the idea of “a dividing care.” Worry, fear, and anxiety are like troubled sisters. But anxiousness evokes the idea of a dividing care—something that wakes you up at night, a distraction so nagging you can’t fully enter another conversation, a trouble that overshadows all your interactions. A care that divides your mind.
There is no peace in that. When you have peace, things are in their right place—entrusted to God—and no care divides your mind. When Paul tells us, “Do not be anxious about anything,” he is instructing us not to have a dividing care about anything.
We tend to rationalize our anxiety. Well, Paul’s advice applies to most people in most situations, but if Paul considered what I feel anxious about, he would make an exception. Clearly, I should be anxious about my burdens. But are our anxieties really so unique?
We can all agree that anxiety is natural and understandable, but many things are understandable that are not excusable. Because we believe that God’s Word is inspired by the Holy Spirit, we believe that every word is aptly chosen by God—even this nagging word anything. So we must accept that the God who made us wants us to hear, “Do not be anxious about anything.”
The decision to be anxious is the decision to forfeit your peace. It’s the decision to not trust God in your situation.
When we choose to sin, we choose to suffer. When God tells us not to be anxious, He is not trying to rob us of something satisfying; He’s warning us about something self-destructive. Anxiety has nasty, proven side effects: irritability, depression, insomnia, fatigue, migraines, muscle pain, elevated heart rate, high blood pressure, ulcers, weakened immune system, susceptibility to overeat and overwork. The side effects of anxiety seep into every area of our lives: physical, emotional, mental, spiritual. Anxiety is obviously not healthy.
God’s Word doesn’t just give the what-to-do but also the how-to-do-it. How do we banish anxiety? “But in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” We start praying. About what? Everything. When God says everything, He means . . . everything. There’s no wiggle room or creative way to parse this word. Pray about everything.
What could fall in the category of everything? Some ready examples:

• money
• children
• relationships
• health issues
• job

Everything envelops the small stuff too. There’s nothing dumb to pray about. Nothing makes the Unimportant Prayer Request List—there is no such thing. You can and should pray about everything.
Don’t be anxious about anything; pray about everything. Out with anxiety—in with prayer.

GodsView : A Catastrophic Missing Link Problem!

GodsView : A Catastrophic Missing Link Problem!: The news is often full of alleged missing links between dinosaurs and birds, like Archaeopteryx or Sinosauropteryx, or between man and ape...

A Catastrophic Missing Link Problem!

The news is often full of alleged missing links between dinosaurs and birds, like Archaeopteryx or Sinosauropteryx, or between man and ape-like creatures, such as Lucy (Australopithecus afarensis). Any time I read of a claimed transition between one kind of something to another kind of something, I love to find out what sedimentary rock layer it was found in.
Most of the time, secular reports give an “age,” not a rock layer. This age is an interpretation of a rock layer—keep that in mind. This age is not a measured quantity but an interpreted one (from chemical analyses or position in the strata sequence’s uniformitarian timeframe). And how is it interpreted? It is interpreted in light of millions of years being an absolute fact that cannot be questioned. So sometimes you have to do some searching to find out what rock layer the fossil was found in.
Sometimes you can do some “reverse engineering” by taking the age and back translating it to what rock layer the fossil was found in. For example, if someone says the fossil is 73 million years old, then this would be Cretaceous rock. See the chart below so you can reverse engineer these alleged ages to a rock layer.

Duration of Time for Rock Layers by Secular Dating

These rock layers are real layers; it is the assignment of time to them that is rather questionable. The majority of rock layers that contain fossils are sedimentary rock layers from the Flood of Noah’s day about 4,350 years ago (By adding up genealogies from the Flood to Christ, it is about 2,350 years, and Christ lived about 2,000 years ago.). Of course, there are rock layers that have formed since the Flood, due to local floods, volcanic eruptions, and so on. But most of the layers in question formed in the Flood.
Now why is this important? It obviously deals with the time issue in regards to the rock layers. But it is more than that. When people say they have found a missing link in the rock layers, it is typically sitting in Flood rock or post-Flood rock. See the chart below.¹

Rock Layers in Light of Noah’s Flood

For example, Archaeopteryx and Sinosauropteryx are found in rock layers associated with the Flood. So how old are they? They are about 4,350 years old. Dinosaurs are also found in rock layers from the Flood, putting them around 4,350 years old too. Did one turn into the other during the Flood? Not at all. They were fleeing from and finally buried and fossilized in the Flood. In other words, they died at the same time.
Besides, birds (Day Five) were created before dinosaurs (Day Six, being land animals). So birds were around prior to dinosaurs and did not need to evolve from dinosaurs. This is like someone arguing that the laptop computer evolved into the first airplane. This is clearly fallacious since airplanes were already around prior to laptop computers!
Furthermore, consider that Lucy and other australopithecines are found in rock layers often associated with post-Flood rocks (e.g., volcanic layers erupted on top of Flood layers). How could such a thing be the ancestor to humans (or a close relation to the ancestor of humans) when humans, like Adam through Noah, already existed?
As Christians, we need to start thinking biblically. When you start with the Bible, sensational finds of missing links are easy to refute. The transitions don’t exist because the alleged missing link fossils are found in rock layers that were from the Flood or afterwards, which is well after people and the animals in question already existed.

Footnotes

1. I understand that creationists debate over the exact placement of the post-Flood boundary, being at or near the K/T boundary (lower) to the higher end of Tertiary sediments (upper). However, this graph is for the purpose of relaying the idea of the fossiliferous rock layers being primarily a result of the Flood and post-Flood events, on which point both sides would agree.

GodsView : It's Never Too Late! for God

GodsView : It's Never Too Late! for God: Then Samson called to the Lord and said, “O Lord God, please remember me and please strengthen me only this once, O God, that I may be a...

It's Never Too Late! for God

Then Samson called to the Lord and said, “O Lord God, please remember me and please strengthen me only this once, O God, that I may be avenged on the Philistines for my two eyes.” . . . Then he bowed with all his strength, and the house fell. . . . So the dead whom he killed at his death were more than those whom he had killed during his life (Judges 16:28, 30, ESV).
Most people know only fragments about the Old Testament judge Samson—long hair, superhuman strength, seduced by Delilah—but there is so much more worth knowing.
Judges 13 introduces Samson through his parents, who were barren but were given a miracle child. An angel essentially announced to Samson’s parents, “You’re going to have a boy, and he’s going to be special. He’s going to belong to Me from the day he is born.” After years of infertility, Samson’s parents were fired up to worship God and do what He commanded. Samson was raised as a Nazarite, a person who took a strict vow to belong totally to God. Sadly—pathetically—Samson’s life did not belong to God; it belonged to Samson. He was a sensual person. Though he grew up under God’s blessing, his attention was drawn to pleasure like a moth to a sizzling bulb. It was only a matter of time before he wandered.
“Samson went down to Timnah, and at Timnah he saw one of the daughters of the Philistines” (Judges 14:1). He was in the wrong place to scout for a wife. The Philistines were the archenemies of the nation of Israel, a deadly nuisance in the neighborhood. Samson was chosen by God and given supernatural strength to drive the Philistines out. Instead of using his abilities to do the job God assigned him, he used his unusual capacity to satisfy his sensual self.
Samson allowed himself to be controlled by his appetites. Like all sensual wanderers, Samson’s life was out of control. Judges 14–16 details the drama and violence of Samson’s life: his wedding, his fits of rage, his slaughters, his entrapment by the seductress Delilah.
Just as the father had to let go of the prodigal son (Luke 15)—not because he wanted to, but because he had to—so God has certain responses to our deliberate wandering. Some people ultimately have to eat pig food before they find out how bad it tastes. In His mercy, God the Father sometimes lets us wander so we discover the futility of life without Him. How sad that Samson, who was raised to live a life in and for God, lived so far from, yet so close to, the one thing that would have fully satisfied him. Eventually God released him to his desires, saying in effect, “Is your way better than Mine? You think you have to have that? Then go.”
Samson lost everything before he realized what really mattered. “And the Philistines seized him and gouged out his eyes and brought him down to Gaza and bound him with bronze shackles. And he ground at the mill in the prison” (Judges 16:21). At this point in the story, it looks like it’s over for Samson.
Perhaps it seems that way in your life right now. Has the boulder of reality fallen on you? If you’re still breathing, there’s hope. It wasn’t too late for Samson, and it isn’t too late for you. Though Samson’s life had been reduced to grinding in darkness, “the hair of his head began to grow again” (16:22). The symbol of his calling began to return.
Blindness may have been a severe mercy for Samson. As a sensual wanderer, controlled by his eyes and appetites, he could no longer see. Perhaps being shackled at the mill was the best thing that happened to Samson because his feet couldn’t wander after sensuality. In His mercy, God put Samson on lockdown!
Do you recall how Samson’s story ends? God strengthened him once more, and he toppled the pillars of the Philistine house, killing thousands (Judges 16:30). But that’s not all. There’s a jaw-dropping footnote about Samson’s life. Hebrews 11:32 lists him as a man of faith. Samson’s failures didn’t disqualify him from God’s family.
It wasn’t too late for Samson, and it’s not too late for you. You don’t have to resign yourself to the way you are, fearing you’ll never be changed. You can be different—not by your own power but by the power of the Holy Spirit released in you when you surrender to Him.

---

Journal

• In what ways can you relate to the life of Samson?
• Why is it never too late to return to God? How does that give you hope for yourself or for other wanderers?

PrayLord, give me courage, strength, and purity—not legalism, but a surrendered life. Not just doing right things, but desiring right things and finding in Jesus Christ all my heart longs for. Never have I followed You and regretted that decision. Often I have wandered and felt the pain of living apart from You. Thank You for welcoming me home, Lord. Please write the final chapters of my life like Samson’s: a broken but redeemed, powerful life of faith. Thank You that it’s never too late. Your Son paid the full price for my sin, and it’s in His holy name I pray with humility and gratitude, amen

GodsView : God Always Wins!

GodsView : God Always Wins!: No weapon formed against you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is the heritage...

God Always Wins!

No weapon formed against you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, And their righteousness is from Me,” Says the LORD (Isaiah 54:17, NKJV).
In Hebrew, weapon refers to any tool or utensil used against a person. A weapon is anything that could be used against you for evil intent.

• If someone used his car against you, it shall not prosper.
• If someone used her cell phone against you, it shall not prosper.
• If someone used his checkbook against you, it shall not prosper.
• If someone used her clout against you, it shall not prosper.

“No weapon formed against you shall prosper,” the Lord says. Nothing built, sharpened, aimed at, or fired against you, your family, your church family, God’s kingdom, or God’s people will succeed. Though your enemies may seem to win for a while—a job may be eliminated, a child may wander far, a life may even be lost—in the end, even these tragedies will be enfolded in God’s agenda for prospering those who are truly His.
Why is this true? The reason “no weapon formed against you shall prosper” is not because you are a fierce warrior, but because He is. “One man of you puts to flight a thousand, since it is the LORD your God who fights for you, just as he promised you” (Joshua 23:10, ESV). Could you single-handedly chase away a thousand soldiers? No, but God can—and it is He who fights for you. He is the Defender of His children.
Isaiah assures us our enemies’ weapons will not prosper. That word is translated succeed in ESV and prevail in NIV, and the concept gives us hope. No assault will be final. Even if it appears to be prospering, it’s not done yet. Even if it wins the battle, it won’t win the war. God takes it very seriously when someone opposes or attacks the ones He loves.
Just as their weapons will not win, neither will their words: “And every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn.” Have you ever been a target for hurtful words because of your stand for the Lord? Have you experienced ridicule in your workplace or home because of your loyalty to Jesus? Do you know the sting of scorn because of your stand for God’s truth? Have you been rebuked because of your fidelity to God’s agenda?
If you answered “no” to all of those questions, that’s not a good sign. It suggests the people around you haven’t noticed a direct connection between you and God. Consider 2 Timothy 3:12, “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”
If you answered “yes” to any of those questions, then savor this truth: God always wins! Romans 16:20 previews the final round: “The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.”
You may wonder, When will this victory happen? Does God’s definition of “soon” match ours? “Soon” implies sooner than we think—especially from an eternal perspective. Before long we will be in eternity, astonished by how fast life on earth raced by. This story will soon be in its last, glorious chapter, and Jesus Christ the Lord will be forever victorious. Spoiler alert: at the end of the Book, God wins.
And because He wins, so will you. You get to share in His victories. “This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord.” As you face the weapons and words of your enemies, as you engage in the battles of life, set your heart and hope on the final outcome. It’s going to end well for you. Guaranteed.

GodsView : Whose Slave Are You?

GodsView : Whose Slave Are You?:                                                                                            But thanks be to God, that you who were once s...

Whose Slave Are You?

                                                                                          
But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification (Romans 6:17-19, ESV).
If you do whatever your boss says, without hesitation or question, then for all intents and purposes you are your boss’s slave. If you do whatever your spouse wants without evaluating or considering if that is really best, you’re a slave to your spouse. And if you do whatever your sinful nature says, without resisting or discerning the wisdom in that choice, you are a slave to your sinful nature.
We can be enslaved to countless sins. To illustrate, let’s visit the sin Rolodex, flip to the letter “S,” and survey just a few of the sins we find there:
Stuff. Some are slaves to stuff: more money, newer car, nicer clothes, bigger house, more, more, more. Consumed with acquisition, they are slaves to things.
Sexuality. Some focus almost exclusively on sex. Sexuality is a gift from God but has been perverted in their thinking. They’re slaves to the sin of immoral sexual thoughts and actions.
Substances. Some seem to be powerless against substances: alcohol, tobacco, legal and illegal drugs, caffeine, sugar. Addicted and unable to say no, they’re slaves to a substance.
Someone. Sometimes people wield undue influence, even outright control, over others. The slave is controlled by and addicted to securing the approval of another. A slave is willing to do whatever is wanted, and this is another form of bondage.
Ironically, Christianity is often viewed as too restrictive. Because they do not know God, they view His rules as bondage. On the contrary, his boundaries are designed to protect us, and can’t compare to the bondage of being a slave to sin. Which brings us to the reality of our options: to be “slaves of sin” (6:17) or “slaves of righteousness” (6:18), with the consuming desire to do what God the Master wants.
Whose slave are you? Here’s how you can tell whether you’re a slave to righteousness:
You are acutely aware of unrighteousness in you. When you sin, you feel conviction. Your heart grieves and you feel badly for breaking God’s standard. When you set your eyes on something inappropriate, say cruel or filthy words, or make a wrong choice, you feel specific conviction.
You can’t ignore personal sin and have to make it right. When the Holy Spirit convicts you of a specific sin, you feel the need to ask God to forgive you and those you have offended or injured: “I’ve sinned against you, and I’m truly sorry. Please forgive me.”
You want to please Jesus. Can you honestly say you think of Christ a lot—not every moment, but every day? Real slaves of righteousness have the Holy Spirit inside them prompting, Would this choice be pleasing to Jesus? Is this what He wants me to do?
So whose slave are you? Do you resonate more with the description of bondage to sin—enslaved to stuff or sexuality or substance or someone or [fill in the blank]? Or are you a slave to righteousness?
Paul calls us to: “Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves” (2 Corinthians 13:5). If you aren’t bearing the fruit of righteousness—not perfectly, but increasingly—then you must question whether you have ever been “set free from sin [to] become slaves of righteousness” (Romans 6:18). You can’t have it both ways: you can’t be a slave to sin and a slave to God.

GodsView : Redefining the Family!

GodsView : Redefining the Family!:                                                                                                                                            ...

Redefining the Family!

                                                                                                                                                                                                  I read recently that the definition of the family needed to be revised in light of cultural changes. The writer said a family should be thought of as "a circle of love," including any individuals who were deeply attached to each other. Somehow I know this is wrong but can't articulate why. How do you see it?

I am familiar with the effort to redefine the family. It is motivated by homosexual activists and others who see this institution as a barrier to the social engineering they hope to accomplish. But what is the traditional definition of the family? It is a group of individuals who are related to one another by marriage, birth, or adoption-- nothing more, nothing else. The family was divinely instituted and sanctioned in the beginning, when God created one man and one woman, brought them together, and commanded them to "be fruitful and multiply." This is where we begin, and this is where we must stand.
By contrast, if the term family refers to any group of people who love each other, then the term ceases to have meaning. In that case, five homosexual men can be a "family" until one feels unloved, and then there are four. Under such a definition, one man and six women could be regarded as a legal entity, reintroducing the debate over polygamy. We thought we settled that issue in the last century.
It would also be possible for parents who dislike a rebellious teenager to opt him out of the "circle of love," thus depriving him of any legal identity with the family. With such amorphous terms, wives would have no greater legal protection than female acquaintances with whom men become infatuated. We end up with an unstable social structure rife with potential for disaster.
There is good reason, then, to defend the narrow legal definition of the family as understood over the centuries. After all, the family as I have characterized it is not merely human in origin. It is God's marvelous creation. And He has not included casual social relationships--even the most loving ones--within that bond of kinship. Nor should we.