What is EPISTEMOLOGY?
To many bible believers this word may never come up in any conversations you have. Though, since coming to reformed faith I have heard it frequently. In general it is not a word you would see in your everyday sermon from your pastor. I've heard it spoken at conferences, such as Ligonier and on programs such as the White Horse Inn. Lets see if I can do this word any justice.
The standard dictionary definition of this word states: A branch of Philosophy that investigates the orgin, nature, methods, and limits of human knowledge. In the Greek we find the word episteme, which means knowledge. We see a form of this word (epistemon) used in James 3:13. Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? Let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. We don't see this actual Greek word used in scripture, and we don't see the term Epistemology used at all. A couple of the most frequent used Greek words for knowledge in the New Testament are "Gnosis", or "Epignosis".
The word EPISTEMOLOGY is used typically in high intellectual settings such as Colleges and Universities. But if we look at the bible it is full of the orgin, nature, methods, and limits of human knowledge. We know that all knowledge comes from God when we have Paul in 1 Corinthians 1:5 say "That in everything ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge". It starts as early as Genesis with the tree of knowledge in Genesis 2:9. We are told that this tree is the tree of Knowledge of good and evil (Gen 2:9). But we also know that in Genesis, God creates everything. We are told that he speaks everything into existence. We know that God is the giver of our Knowledge, but at the same time he is the limiter of our knowledge. God could have told us everything about him, but he didn't. He could have told us exactly how the world was made, the compounds he used, the purpose for doing it and etc... However, he didn't. God is the great supplier of knowledge, and he is also the great limiter of that knowledge.
The scriptures are full of knowledge. Reading and understanding the knowledge that is in scripture leads us to be wise. Wisdom is what we all should seek, but without the knowledge of who Jesus Christ is in our life's, we will never have that wisdom. I thought that it would be important to understand the origin, nature, methods, and limits of human knowledge before we take on any other words. I hope I did it some justice.
Look for my new word next Monday.
Monday, January 28, 2008
Sunday, January 27, 2008
The White Horse Inn.
I want to give a plug for a great organization called the White Horse Inn. The White Horse Inn is a nationally syndicated radio talk show hosted by Michael Horton, Rod Rosenbladt, Kim Riddlebarger and Ken Jones. On the air since 1990, the show features a regular roundtable discussion of Christian theology and apologetics.
I would suggest each and every visitor of mine go visit this site. They are currently running a great series that will make you re-think how Holy are God truly is. My favorite so far is the one titled "Joel Osteen: A Case Study in American Religion". You may be shocked to find out what you will learn about one of this countries better known preachers.
This isn't just a beat-down on Joel Osteen, it is a program designed to help you "Know what you believe, and why you believe it". Most of us don't even know why we believe something, other than it was told to us years ago. Go to the site and read the "About us" link. The radio broadcasts are the "bomb".
Give it a listen, I promise you won't be disappointed.
Something New.
I'm going to start something new on Monday. Around Lunchtime I will post a new dictionary word to define. To help me and all my friends with our bible terminology I will post each and every week a different word. I will attempt to define the word by Webster's dictionary. I will also define it biblical, and I'll finish up by putting the word in some type of context. i.e. in what it means to us, and why we should understand the definition.
I hope you will all enjoy this new endeavor.
I hope you will all enjoy this new endeavor.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
The Religion of Peace Strikes again.
This is what makes me mad about the followers of Islam. Fox News is reporting that a man in Afghanistan downloaded a paper that supposedly condemns the religion of Islam. This man even supposedly admitted his error and asked for forgiveness. However, a panel of three judges found him guilty and he is sentenced to die for his crime.
Now this aggravates me on two fronts. One, isn't this the country where our men and women are dying trying to give them freedom. We just liberated them from the Taliban and this is what they turn too. Second, isn't this the religion of peace, shouldn't any peaceful religion ask their people to hold their faith up to scrutiny. Check and test the faith to ensure it is true. Maybe I'm blinded because I claim Christianity, but that is what we should do in any faith. I challenge you to hold Christ up to scrutiny, test the faith, test his witness, test who he says he is. I have no fear in your findings. Is it that our Muslim brothers are worried about what they might find out. Will Islam not hold up to spiritual or even historical scrutiny. I don't know what the findings will be. I do know I have no fears with Christ and who he is and what you would find.
My Muslim brothers who may read this, can't you see the problem here. Where is your outcry for this person. Where is your compassion for him as a fellow human. Scream from the roofs how wrong this is, especially if you have any compassion for your fellow believers. I don't desire to challenge you on your faith or what you believe, but your brothers and sisters should be able to seek the truth and they should be able to seek it without a death sentence hanging over them.
I'd like to finish by saying that I'm a pretty reasonable person. I understand the culture; I spent 15 months in Saudi Arabia at the U.S. Consulate in Dhahran on Embassy duty, so I can relate to the religion and the people. But, I find this sentence scary, and I find the lack of any outcry on the Moderate Muslims even more scary. You can read the article here.
Now this aggravates me on two fronts. One, isn't this the country where our men and women are dying trying to give them freedom. We just liberated them from the Taliban and this is what they turn too. Second, isn't this the religion of peace, shouldn't any peaceful religion ask their people to hold their faith up to scrutiny. Check and test the faith to ensure it is true. Maybe I'm blinded because I claim Christianity, but that is what we should do in any faith. I challenge you to hold Christ up to scrutiny, test the faith, test his witness, test who he says he is. I have no fear in your findings. Is it that our Muslim brothers are worried about what they might find out. Will Islam not hold up to spiritual or even historical scrutiny. I don't know what the findings will be. I do know I have no fears with Christ and who he is and what you would find.
My Muslim brothers who may read this, can't you see the problem here. Where is your outcry for this person. Where is your compassion for him as a fellow human. Scream from the roofs how wrong this is, especially if you have any compassion for your fellow believers. I don't desire to challenge you on your faith or what you believe, but your brothers and sisters should be able to seek the truth and they should be able to seek it without a death sentence hanging over them.
I'd like to finish by saying that I'm a pretty reasonable person. I understand the culture; I spent 15 months in Saudi Arabia at the U.S. Consulate in Dhahran on Embassy duty, so I can relate to the religion and the people. But, I find this sentence scary, and I find the lack of any outcry on the Moderate Muslims even more scary. You can read the article here.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
The Great Commission - What are we forgetting?
Very frequently we hear about the "Great Commission". In many church circles the great commission means a yearly or bi-yearly trip to some place other than where the Church is (Missionary Trip). The trip is a time to gather as many of the flock together for the purpose of saturating an area with Gospel presenters. Sometimes this trip is designed to be taken outside of the United States to some poor area of the world where the Gospel has not been, but in many Church's this trip is taken somewhere in the United States for the same purpose. This can be an effective ministry if there are teams of local people to follow-up with the seeds planted with these missionary teams. I would like to focus on what we should be doing after this Gospel presentation.
The follow-up seems to be what is essentially missing when we evangelise or go on mission trips. If we read the scripture in Matthew 28:18-20 we can understand what Jesus truly means with the great commission. Let us read. And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always , even to the end of the age." Amen.
Jesus tells us to make disciples of all the nations, we are to baptize them, and then we are to teach them to observe all that He commanded us to do. So many times we are in a great rush to make disciples and even a greater rush to baptize. However, what seems to missing most is the follow-up, or the "teaching to observe all things" part. We can't teach someone something if we never see them again. When we meet unbelievers, and we show them they are guilty of violations of the Law (Bad News) and they will surely perish, but that there is a savior that will take their place for the Wrath that is coming to them, and all they have to do is Repent of their sins and Believe (Good News), we set them up for failure; we also have to continue to teach them and strengthen them in the faith. It is our responsibility under the great commission to do this. We can't just give them the Gospel message without any support. It would be like telling someone to drive to Michigan from Tennessee in a car when they don't know how to drive and they have never seen a car. It is setting them up to perish. We are doing the same poor job with our unbeliever when we don't take the time to follow-up with them and bring them into a body of Christ. We are setting them up to perish.
We are taught about the body of Christ and that the Church is like a body with all the different parts functioning together in some form or another. This new Christian must become part of the body of Christ to become a faithful servant. Just like Paul alludes to in Hebrews 5:12-14 concerning the immaturity of believers. New believers must be given the milk to prosper like a little baby into a fully developed adult. Like babies, we need other adults out there teaching us, supporting us, and carrying us, if needed. As they prosper they will then be nourished with solid food. This process cannot be done if we just do blanket gospel presentation and do not follow-up with the teaching. We must be there for these new believers, otherwise they will perish like a baby not being fed.
Shame on us, and shame on the Church. When we evangelize, lets make sure we also teach. This new believer needs to be taught all that Jesus commanded of us. Why? Well so he can be a functional member or functional part of the Church body. Another or most important reason that we are to teach is because Jesus commands it of us.
The follow-up seems to be what is essentially missing when we evangelise or go on mission trips. If we read the scripture in Matthew 28:18-20 we can understand what Jesus truly means with the great commission. Let us read. And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always , even to the end of the age." Amen.
Jesus tells us to make disciples of all the nations, we are to baptize them, and then we are to teach them to observe all that He commanded us to do. So many times we are in a great rush to make disciples and even a greater rush to baptize. However, what seems to missing most is the follow-up, or the "teaching to observe all things" part. We can't teach someone something if we never see them again. When we meet unbelievers, and we show them they are guilty of violations of the Law (Bad News) and they will surely perish, but that there is a savior that will take their place for the Wrath that is coming to them, and all they have to do is Repent of their sins and Believe (Good News), we set them up for failure; we also have to continue to teach them and strengthen them in the faith. It is our responsibility under the great commission to do this. We can't just give them the Gospel message without any support. It would be like telling someone to drive to Michigan from Tennessee in a car when they don't know how to drive and they have never seen a car. It is setting them up to perish. We are doing the same poor job with our unbeliever when we don't take the time to follow-up with them and bring them into a body of Christ. We are setting them up to perish.
We are taught about the body of Christ and that the Church is like a body with all the different parts functioning together in some form or another. This new Christian must become part of the body of Christ to become a faithful servant. Just like Paul alludes to in Hebrews 5:12-14 concerning the immaturity of believers. New believers must be given the milk to prosper like a little baby into a fully developed adult. Like babies, we need other adults out there teaching us, supporting us, and carrying us, if needed. As they prosper they will then be nourished with solid food. This process cannot be done if we just do blanket gospel presentation and do not follow-up with the teaching. We must be there for these new believers, otherwise they will perish like a baby not being fed.
Shame on us, and shame on the Church. When we evangelize, lets make sure we also teach. This new believer needs to be taught all that Jesus commanded of us. Why? Well so he can be a functional member or functional part of the Church body. Another or most important reason that we are to teach is because Jesus commands it of us.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Quarrel's among us.
I've noticed a trend among my many friends that attend Christian Church's. The trend seems to be that we, to include myself are quarreling in church. We are fighting among ourselves and wasting our energies and resources. Seriously, this is happening not just in small town Oneida, but all over the country and in church house, after church house, after church house. I've not met one, listen to me, NOT ONE pastor that hasn't or isn't currently going through some type of quarrelling at church. I don't simply mean the occasional flare-up over carpeting or paint, I mean quarrelling that divides Church's. Quarreling that leaves men spent and finished or so demoralized they don't want to come to church to do the Lords work. Quarreling that has driven men to anger, and left friendships in disrepair. Quarreling that has made Godly men leave the ministry. So what is it that we quarrel over.
It's simple, the issue is Pride. Oh now you can name a million things it could be, but in 99% of the cases, it comes back to pride. The definition of Pride is a high or inordinate opinion of one's own dignity, importance, merit, or superiority, whether as cherished in the mind or as displayed in bearing, conduct, etc. The universal truth "Pride will come before the fall" fits here. Let us look quickly at Proverbs 16:18 "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall". We can't teach the proud, they will see destruction. Pride is the issue causing us to quarrel and fight. Pride will be the reason some of us are sent to Hell.
So how do we rectify this situation. Lets go to James 4:1-3 "What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. When you ask, and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures".
This is a pretty good comparison to US in the church. You see, with the pride in our life's, we battle for what we want in the Church. We may want a better youth, maybe a new vehicle, a new Pastor, even new better faithful members. All of this is of the Devil. We ask for selfish, prideful reasons. Sometimes we use the saying "oh, things will be better after this and that happen". Wrong, we still will have the same problem once we look in the mirror. The problem of US is still there. We are that person in the mirror, we are those people at church, and we are the problem.
James tells us how to fix this situation later on in verse 7. "Submit yourselves then to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will wash your hands you sinners and purify your hearts you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord and he will lift you up." For us to solve this problem James tells us we need to worship God. Look at verse 9 again. We are to Grieve, mourn and wail, and in verse 7 we are to Submit to God. If we want to get rid of Pride in our life's we need to make some easy fundamental change. 1. Submit to God, 2. Worship God, 3. Resist the Devil. That's why Pastor after Pastor, and Christian after Christian told me to Pray before I do anything. Put my heart in the right frame of mind. As we pray, we aim ourselves in God's direction which should allow us to ask of our Lord with all the right motives.
One last point. In James 4:6 it says "God opposes the proud". We are in for a tough road if we don't get rid of our pride and point our hearts to God our creator. Make the easy changes and enjoy the worship in God's house, not the quarrels.
It's simple, the issue is Pride. Oh now you can name a million things it could be, but in 99% of the cases, it comes back to pride. The definition of Pride is a high or inordinate opinion of one's own dignity, importance, merit, or superiority, whether as cherished in the mind or as displayed in bearing, conduct, etc. The universal truth "Pride will come before the fall" fits here. Let us look quickly at Proverbs 16:18 "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall". We can't teach the proud, they will see destruction. Pride is the issue causing us to quarrel and fight. Pride will be the reason some of us are sent to Hell.
So how do we rectify this situation. Lets go to James 4:1-3 "What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. When you ask, and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures".
This is a pretty good comparison to US in the church. You see, with the pride in our life's, we battle for what we want in the Church. We may want a better youth, maybe a new vehicle, a new Pastor, even new better faithful members. All of this is of the Devil. We ask for selfish, prideful reasons. Sometimes we use the saying "oh, things will be better after this and that happen". Wrong, we still will have the same problem once we look in the mirror. The problem of US is still there. We are that person in the mirror, we are those people at church, and we are the problem.
James tells us how to fix this situation later on in verse 7. "Submit yourselves then to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will wash your hands you sinners and purify your hearts you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord and he will lift you up." For us to solve this problem James tells us we need to worship God. Look at verse 9 again. We are to Grieve, mourn and wail, and in verse 7 we are to Submit to God. If we want to get rid of Pride in our life's we need to make some easy fundamental change. 1. Submit to God, 2. Worship God, 3. Resist the Devil. That's why Pastor after Pastor, and Christian after Christian told me to Pray before I do anything. Put my heart in the right frame of mind. As we pray, we aim ourselves in God's direction which should allow us to ask of our Lord with all the right motives.
One last point. In James 4:6 it says "God opposes the proud". We are in for a tough road if we don't get rid of our pride and point our hearts to God our creator. Make the easy changes and enjoy the worship in God's house, not the quarrels.
Geography Test
Here is a nice litte travel / geography IQ test. Lets see how well you can do. I finished level 10, but have struggled to get past 8.
I tried embedding it into my blog, but can't make it happen. Get it here.
I tried embedding it into my blog, but can't make it happen. Get it here.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
New Church Growth video, I hope our church uses it.
Here is a little tongue and cheek with the Chruch growth movement. My friend Allen sent it to me. I hope you enjoy it. See it here.
Baptist's aren't supposed to mislead baptists, are they?
A article in the Baptist Press is seriously misleading on Reformed faith and evangelism. This article paints reformed faith in the way they want to see it; bad. The growth of Calvinism in our Church's is due to many factors to include lack of serious education in the SBC Church's. People want to know about Theology and Doctrine, but if you go to most SBC Church's you will find a serious lack of Theology and Doctrine being preached from the pulpit or taught in a Sunday School setting. It seems very few Pastor's show a high view of God in the pulpit. Hawaiian shirts and sandals from the pulpit show to me a lack of respect for our high and holy God. If our Pastor is that lax with our God, well I can be also. Evangelism, ha, that's another issue. I've been to many, many Church's and very few if any practice evangelism as a practice for life. Few Church's are doing this and it seems from the article that reformed Church's do more of it. Another issue has to do with the 7 - 11 songs. You know seven verses / eleven times. I believe the old hymns not only worship God to the highest, but they were packed full of theology. We are learning and don't know it. I can go on and on and on.
Hebrews 5: 11-14 comes to mind here. "You ought to be teachers, but you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word". This is our SBC Church's. Most of our members are in this very same boat. Many have attended church their entire life but act like religious babies with very little knowledge other than "God loves you". This is true, God does love you, but we need to learn about our savior, we need to soak in everything about him, almost like bathing in his word, living off of it; we need to live like him and live off him. As long as we continue to live like babies in the SBC, the SBC will continue to have the problems they have.
This article appears to be a knock on reformed faith, but at least he realizes there is a problem in the SBC and he attempts to put his finger on it, but is misdirected with the Calvinism point. He has some serious studying to do. Point the finger at reformed faith if you want, but the problem is deeper than the growth of Calvinism. Read it here. Notice also the title of the article "Evangelists lament Calvinism, SBC trends". Lament means to express sorrow or regret. Ughhh. SBC Stop this junk, stop the slander, do something simple like read the Bible and teach it to the flock, and you might be surprised with the results.
Hebrews 5: 11-14 comes to mind here. "You ought to be teachers, but you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word". This is our SBC Church's. Most of our members are in this very same boat. Many have attended church their entire life but act like religious babies with very little knowledge other than "God loves you". This is true, God does love you, but we need to learn about our savior, we need to soak in everything about him, almost like bathing in his word, living off of it; we need to live like him and live off him. As long as we continue to live like babies in the SBC, the SBC will continue to have the problems they have.
This article appears to be a knock on reformed faith, but at least he realizes there is a problem in the SBC and he attempts to put his finger on it, but is misdirected with the Calvinism point. He has some serious studying to do. Point the finger at reformed faith if you want, but the problem is deeper than the growth of Calvinism. Read it here. Notice also the title of the article "Evangelists lament Calvinism, SBC trends". Lament means to express sorrow or regret. Ughhh. SBC Stop this junk, stop the slander, do something simple like read the Bible and teach it to the flock, and you might be surprised with the results.
Saturday, January 12, 2008
A common word between us and you. Muslim / Christian
Much has been made of a letter that was sent to the Christian church at large from Muslim scholars, clerics, and intellectuals.
The letter speaks to the "common ground" between the two religions. I'm not sure if their is much common ground. Common Ground can be found, but not in the actual religions, perhaps in a vague way as I mention below. However, as a Christian believer we know that Christianity is the only answer. Unless the Muslim faithful come to the saving knowledge of who Jesus Christ truly is, then they in no way can be saved. Putting your trust and faith in who Jesus is the only way to be saved. Repent and believe is what my Bible says. On the topic of common ground which they allude to, I don't see it. They talk about a god. In their letter they vaguely try telling us that their god and our God are one in the same, but I don't see how they are. God sent Jesus Christ to save us, otherwise if the god of Muhammad is God, why would he have wasted the life of Jesus Christ. I don't see God wasting anything, and I don't see God setting up two religions that would compete for souls. What I see in the world news is one peaceful loving religion and one not so peaceful religion based on hatred and killing. Muslims might disagree with that last point, but all one has to do is turn on the news or read the paper to see Muslims killing Muslims, Muslims killing innocent people, and Muslims killing Christians. We don't see the reverse, unless you want to go back to the Crusades or the Reformation. Now this might not be the reality of the situation, but perceptions are powerful.
What I would have liked the letter to say would be something to the effect of... 1. We promise not to persecute Christians in any foreign land to include traditionally Muslim countries. 2. We believe Christians have the right to worship in any country in this world and we support their right to do so. 3. We believe that women have the same rights to the court systems, divorce, marriage, and many, many more topics.... just name them. 4. Religion does not run free countries. 5. We ask that you respect our religion as we respect yours. Knowing we both believe different things, we (us and you) promise to disagree respectfully.
Do you see what I'm getting at. That's cooperation. Cooperation is not us buying off on a ambiguous term of God, which is suppose to talk about our God and your god as the same being. I whole heartily agree that we should respect the rights of any religion but I wholeheartedly disagree when it compromises my faith or who I am in Christ.
The response from our own Christian community is very similar and just as disappointing. We should cooperate and we should let them know that. But our God is not their god and vice versa. I can't and won't apologize for the sins of our fore fathers during the crusades that I'm not even related to. I can't walk away from the trinity and I can't call another religions god, my God. Al Mohler has a great response to this whole mess and I suggest you read it.
Before you get a opinion of any of this, I suggest you read the letter "A common word between us and you", "A Christian response to 'A common word between us and you'", and then Al Mohlers response to the whole topic. I want cooperation, but not religious cooperation. I want peace and I pray to God for peace, but until the hard core fanatics stop spreading hatred in Allah's name with bullets, and until the average Muslim is in the streets telling them to stop spreading Allah's message this way; to me there cannot be cooperation.
Now, I know this may offend some of my Muslim friends. I want you to please not take this as in insult. I do not intend to insult the Muslim faith or your belief's, but just bring clarity to a muddied situation. Lets cooperate, but cooperate in the fact that we will love each other, and respect each others views. My Muslim brother I do love you as God tells me to, but I just disagree with you respectfully.
The letter speaks to the "common ground" between the two religions. I'm not sure if their is much common ground. Common Ground can be found, but not in the actual religions, perhaps in a vague way as I mention below. However, as a Christian believer we know that Christianity is the only answer. Unless the Muslim faithful come to the saving knowledge of who Jesus Christ truly is, then they in no way can be saved. Putting your trust and faith in who Jesus is the only way to be saved. Repent and believe is what my Bible says. On the topic of common ground which they allude to, I don't see it. They talk about a god. In their letter they vaguely try telling us that their god and our God are one in the same, but I don't see how they are. God sent Jesus Christ to save us, otherwise if the god of Muhammad is God, why would he have wasted the life of Jesus Christ. I don't see God wasting anything, and I don't see God setting up two religions that would compete for souls. What I see in the world news is one peaceful loving religion and one not so peaceful religion based on hatred and killing. Muslims might disagree with that last point, but all one has to do is turn on the news or read the paper to see Muslims killing Muslims, Muslims killing innocent people, and Muslims killing Christians. We don't see the reverse, unless you want to go back to the Crusades or the Reformation. Now this might not be the reality of the situation, but perceptions are powerful.
What I would have liked the letter to say would be something to the effect of... 1. We promise not to persecute Christians in any foreign land to include traditionally Muslim countries. 2. We believe Christians have the right to worship in any country in this world and we support their right to do so. 3. We believe that women have the same rights to the court systems, divorce, marriage, and many, many more topics.... just name them. 4. Religion does not run free countries. 5. We ask that you respect our religion as we respect yours. Knowing we both believe different things, we (us and you) promise to disagree respectfully.
Do you see what I'm getting at. That's cooperation. Cooperation is not us buying off on a ambiguous term of God, which is suppose to talk about our God and your god as the same being. I whole heartily agree that we should respect the rights of any religion but I wholeheartedly disagree when it compromises my faith or who I am in Christ.
The response from our own Christian community is very similar and just as disappointing. We should cooperate and we should let them know that. But our God is not their god and vice versa. I can't and won't apologize for the sins of our fore fathers during the crusades that I'm not even related to. I can't walk away from the trinity and I can't call another religions god, my God. Al Mohler has a great response to this whole mess and I suggest you read it.
Before you get a opinion of any of this, I suggest you read the letter "A common word between us and you", "A Christian response to 'A common word between us and you'", and then Al Mohlers response to the whole topic. I want cooperation, but not religious cooperation. I want peace and I pray to God for peace, but until the hard core fanatics stop spreading hatred in Allah's name with bullets, and until the average Muslim is in the streets telling them to stop spreading Allah's message this way; to me there cannot be cooperation.
Now, I know this may offend some of my Muslim friends. I want you to please not take this as in insult. I do not intend to insult the Muslim faith or your belief's, but just bring clarity to a muddied situation. Lets cooperate, but cooperate in the fact that we will love each other, and respect each others views. My Muslim brother I do love you as God tells me to, but I just disagree with you respectfully.
Friday, January 11, 2008
Where are the Godly men.
I was speaking to a friend last night and he asked me to pray for a family he knew. Apparently the Husband left his wife and two young children. Allegations of a affair and drug or alcohol abuse were made. As we spoke my mind kept drifting to "where are all the men". What is going on in a society that claims Christ, but rips his heart out in their actions. I won't say this is a trend and I won't say I know something different than you, but it sure does seem like this is playing out constantly in our country and tragically in our Churches. I know of at least 5 couples that have gone through this, and I'm in the Church at least 2-3 times a week. How many of our brothers and sisters out of the Church see this. When I say 5 couples, I say 5 church going couples. Couples with children, couples that made a commitment before God, couples that loved God and couples that supposedly loved each other at one time.
Where is the Ephesians chapter 5 in those lives. You know like Eph 5:8 "for you were once in darkness, but now you are light in the Lord, Walk as children of light". Or what about Eph 5:17 " Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is", which is referring back the earlier part of Eph 5. Let us not forget the strongest part of Ephesians, Eph 5:25 "Husbands, love your wifes, just as Christ also loved the church and gave himself for her," and verse 22 "Wifes, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord".
Husbands (you and I), do we love (Agapao) our wives this way. Do we deny ourselves to take up her, or do we continue to love her selfishly the way we married her. You know, she made you happy, you loved being around her, she made you laugh....we love selfishly and married selfishly. Husbands, I challenge you to move to the next level. Love her just because, love her because of what scripture says, love her because of your commitment to God. Live to a higher calling. May God be with us as we try to love like him. The last verse in Matthew chapter 5 says "Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect". Please commit to doing the best for your family, and may we aspire to live perfect like our father in heaven.
Where is the Ephesians chapter 5 in those lives. You know like Eph 5:8 "for you were once in darkness, but now you are light in the Lord, Walk as children of light". Or what about Eph 5:17 " Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is", which is referring back the earlier part of Eph 5. Let us not forget the strongest part of Ephesians, Eph 5:25 "Husbands, love your wifes, just as Christ also loved the church and gave himself for her," and verse 22 "Wifes, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord".
Husbands (you and I), do we love (Agapao) our wives this way. Do we deny ourselves to take up her, or do we continue to love her selfishly the way we married her. You know, she made you happy, you loved being around her, she made you laugh....we love selfishly and married selfishly. Husbands, I challenge you to move to the next level. Love her just because, love her because of what scripture says, love her because of your commitment to God. Live to a higher calling. May God be with us as we try to love like him. The last verse in Matthew chapter 5 says "Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect". Please commit to doing the best for your family, and may we aspire to live perfect like our father in heaven.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Put the "Care" back in Healthcare.
The issue of healthcare in the United States is playing big in our country especially during this election time. One certain Senator and maybe two feel we need to move to a socialized healthcare system. Socialized healthcare means the "state" (Federal Government) picks up the tab for the health of our entire country. Now this seems fine, but we live in a country that has experimented with Socialized Healthcare, just look at the results with our Medicare, Medicaid, and Veteran's Hospitals. I think the results speak for themselves. I would be fearful for our people if we go in that direction. Socialized medicine is not my point today, and that is a debate which would take more time then I have right now, my point today is the same as Glenn Beck's, "put the care back in healthcare".
I came across an interesting video from Good Morning America (GMA) with Glenn Beck. He went in for some out-patient surgery, but later in the evening his wife had to rush him back to the hospital. His issue is demonstrative of what is wrong in the United States. Where is the Care, where is the compassion, where is the desire to take care of people in need, and most importantly, where is the Love. Here is a famous person going to his local hospital and he is treated with dis-respect and disdain. What does that mean for me and you as we are rushed to the hospital. I'll let him speak to you through video. Here is the link. http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/PainManagement/story?id=4101741&page=1
Let each of us pray that we will show compassion for those in need. We are to be demonstrative of who Christ is. We (you and me) are the Church. Let us not point the finger to the Church for those in need. You and I need to take care of that person's need. If we work in healthcare, let us treat each patient as if we were treating ourselves. If any of us needs a refresher on Love and how it is demonstrative of Christ you must reread 1 John 4: 7-21 and Matt 5:38-48.
God save us!
I came across an interesting video from Good Morning America (GMA) with Glenn Beck. He went in for some out-patient surgery, but later in the evening his wife had to rush him back to the hospital. His issue is demonstrative of what is wrong in the United States. Where is the Care, where is the compassion, where is the desire to take care of people in need, and most importantly, where is the Love. Here is a famous person going to his local hospital and he is treated with dis-respect and disdain. What does that mean for me and you as we are rushed to the hospital. I'll let him speak to you through video. Here is the link. http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/PainManagement/story?id=4101741&page=1
Let each of us pray that we will show compassion for those in need. We are to be demonstrative of who Christ is. We (you and me) are the Church. Let us not point the finger to the Church for those in need. You and I need to take care of that person's need. If we work in healthcare, let us treat each patient as if we were treating ourselves. If any of us needs a refresher on Love and how it is demonstrative of Christ you must reread 1 John 4: 7-21 and Matt 5:38-48.
God save us!
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Little Beauty
I'm sitting here at work and decided to take a fifteen minute break. I'm downstairs in my office trying to work, but all I hear is my young daughter Chloe screaming. It brings me back to the year 2001 when my son Benjamin was born. I was so unprepared for what it took to raise a baby, or even to bring a baby home. They scream a lot. Why didn't someone tell me this? I remember reading an article where an author stated something to the effect that we need drivers licenses to drive, but need nothing to have babies. Wow, I could have used a baby license for Benjamin. But, never the less he prepared me for his sister, so I got all my MISTAKES out on him. I remember asking my wife everyday if something that he was doing was normal. I was clueless. I'm still clueless, but not as bad. I listen to the screaming now and find it rather interesting. I, like my wife, but not quite as good as her can tell what the different cry's mean, or what she is wanting. I can tell from this cry she is wanting attention. I feel vindicated in this because I can still hear my wife walking around, yet Chloe has stopped screaming. I need to make sure that I give Benjamin much more credit for his help. He truly prepared me for bringing a precious little girl home, crying and all. I thank God for these two gems in my life and I thank him daily. My prayer for them is that God will use them to his glory, and I pray that another Christian family somewhere is raising up a boy and a girl right now to pair up with these two someday (in the far future). May God find glory in our family and in these two young lives.
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Who's Charismatic, are you?
Wow, a new survey from the Barna group shows a large growth in Charismatic Churches. Though the article heading seems to show a large growth in this type of movement, the figures they provide show otherwise. For instance they say that a decade ago 3 out of 10 adults claim the Charismatic designation. Today that figure is 36%. Do you see the change in designator for their claim. Sure it is a 6% growth, but it is not as strong as they attempt to make it out to be. Why the change from 3 out of 10 to a percentage, hmmm.
A figure that threw me for a loop was that 7% of Southern Baptists hold to a Charismatic movement. Fortunately, I haven't found one of them.
A final note I like to bring attention too is the educational level of the pastors in the survey. 78% of the Pastors in those traditional non-charismatic churchs have graduated from a seminary (somewhere), compared to 49% of the Pastor's from Charismatic churchs. Is theology and doctrine important. You bet, a seminary degree is not everything, but it gives you something to hang your hat on. I have met seminary grads that don't need to preach, but have found many more preachers preaching....that have no seminary degree, and they shouldn't be.
It is an interesting survey and they attempt to give some reasons for the growth in Charismatic churchs. I encourage you to read it here http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?Page=BarnaUpdateNarrow&BarnaUpdateID=287 .
A figure that threw me for a loop was that 7% of Southern Baptists hold to a Charismatic movement. Fortunately, I haven't found one of them.
A final note I like to bring attention too is the educational level of the pastors in the survey. 78% of the Pastors in those traditional non-charismatic churchs have graduated from a seminary (somewhere), compared to 49% of the Pastor's from Charismatic churchs. Is theology and doctrine important. You bet, a seminary degree is not everything, but it gives you something to hang your hat on. I have met seminary grads that don't need to preach, but have found many more preachers preaching....that have no seminary degree, and they shouldn't be.
It is an interesting survey and they attempt to give some reasons for the growth in Charismatic churchs. I encourage you to read it here http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?Page=BarnaUpdateNarrow&BarnaUpdateID=287 .
Monday, January 7, 2008
A new level for me
This is officially my first post so I would like to explain or outline why i'm doing this blog and what I intend to gain from it.
First, all that I do is for the glory of God. I imagine one day Christ in all his glory taking his church home. The title of the blog is a play on words. Reformed plays on the "Reformation". Some like to call it Calvinism, but I prefer the title "Reformed Faith". God is the giver of my salvation, through his Grace I'm saved. Nothing I can do, will do, or can ever do will save me. Reformed also plays out on my past. I am reformed from what I was. I was a boy that thought I was a man and lived my life in a manner that did not come close to glorifying God. I was a tramp and I hurt many people in the way I lived my life. So Reformed in the title takes a play on words, twice.
Second, this blog is for my family. I dedicate this blog to them. They are why I work so hard. I want to make their lives better. Through my children I see what I always wanted when I was a kid. I don't try to live my life through them, but I strive to have them live a better life than I did prior to my conversion. I want to be the father that is there for them, the dad that can pick up a football and throw it at 40 years old, the father that can pick up a video game controller and at least have the image of being good, and I want to be the father that can discipline my children, but also let them know how much I love them and that the discipline is a reflection of my love. I will be a good father and a good husband. I pray that in the company of other women, my wife will be proud of me while speaking of me. I'm not perfect, just ask her, but I do try.
Country is the third reason. I love my country, i'm proud to be an American. I am a baseball game, apple pie, and American patriot at heart. I spent 8 years in the United States Marine Corps, which to me is putting my talk into action. I worked as a Police Officer and learned that not all American's see America as I do. I still believe it is a place to live your dreams out. A place where Rockefeller's are still made. Hard work pay's off. I have been all around this world and I have not seen a place that comes close to what we have here in the good ole' United States. I am proud to claim my United States Citizenship, and would not replace it no matter who becomes President, which brings me to another reason for this blog.
Politics are one of those subjects that you are never to bring up at parties. I plan to bring it up in this blog because my political beliefs help define who I am. I have utopian dreams, however my faith as mentioned before guarantee's utopia for me. Through politics we can make the best possible country where all people can get off their butts, work hard, and with that, live to a standard that demonstrates to the world that in our country, hard work still matters and it will get you ahead. I promise you, hard work pays off. I am someone that would allign more to the Conservative Republicans in this country. However, I do support many social programs. How could someone truly believe in Christ but yet not support programs that help those without the capability to truly help themselves. It would be shameful, and we owe it to our brothers and sisters in Christ, whether they believe or don't believe in "our Father in Heaven". Like the song from High School Musical, "WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER".
Sports are breakers of barriers to include social, religion, race, and etc.... I love sports. I love playing sports; well the one's that any 39 year old male can still play. I have a great affinity for the University of Michigan Football team. I do support my hometown Vols, but I am true Blue, right down to my vanity license plate (OSUHATER). I'll let you figure that one out. I love the Detroit Lions, Detroit Pistons, and the Detroit Red Wings. Can you tell which city/state I grew up in. I will blog on many national, regional, and local sports occasionally, but I will definetly blog on University of Michigan Football as the stories come in.
I intend to gain a better understanding of who I am, what I'm here on earth for, and why I am who I am. I don't do this with grand illusions of becoming some famous writer (which anyone can see by looking at my sentence structure and limited writing ability). I don't do this to be some famous blogger, or to get rich. (LOL) I do this for me , to find out more about me. However as I stated earlier, I plan to Glorify him who created me in how I carry myself as a blogger and as who I am.
May you enjoy what you read, and may I be able to inform others about Faith, Family, Politics, and Sports.
First, all that I do is for the glory of God. I imagine one day Christ in all his glory taking his church home. The title of the blog is a play on words. Reformed plays on the "Reformation". Some like to call it Calvinism, but I prefer the title "Reformed Faith". God is the giver of my salvation, through his Grace I'm saved. Nothing I can do, will do, or can ever do will save me. Reformed also plays out on my past. I am reformed from what I was. I was a boy that thought I was a man and lived my life in a manner that did not come close to glorifying God. I was a tramp and I hurt many people in the way I lived my life. So Reformed in the title takes a play on words, twice.
Second, this blog is for my family. I dedicate this blog to them. They are why I work so hard. I want to make their lives better. Through my children I see what I always wanted when I was a kid. I don't try to live my life through them, but I strive to have them live a better life than I did prior to my conversion. I want to be the father that is there for them, the dad that can pick up a football and throw it at 40 years old, the father that can pick up a video game controller and at least have the image of being good, and I want to be the father that can discipline my children, but also let them know how much I love them and that the discipline is a reflection of my love. I will be a good father and a good husband. I pray that in the company of other women, my wife will be proud of me while speaking of me. I'm not perfect, just ask her, but I do try.
Country is the third reason. I love my country, i'm proud to be an American. I am a baseball game, apple pie, and American patriot at heart. I spent 8 years in the United States Marine Corps, which to me is putting my talk into action. I worked as a Police Officer and learned that not all American's see America as I do. I still believe it is a place to live your dreams out. A place where Rockefeller's are still made. Hard work pay's off. I have been all around this world and I have not seen a place that comes close to what we have here in the good ole' United States. I am proud to claim my United States Citizenship, and would not replace it no matter who becomes President, which brings me to another reason for this blog.
Politics are one of those subjects that you are never to bring up at parties. I plan to bring it up in this blog because my political beliefs help define who I am. I have utopian dreams, however my faith as mentioned before guarantee's utopia for me. Through politics we can make the best possible country where all people can get off their butts, work hard, and with that, live to a standard that demonstrates to the world that in our country, hard work still matters and it will get you ahead. I promise you, hard work pays off. I am someone that would allign more to the Conservative Republicans in this country. However, I do support many social programs. How could someone truly believe in Christ but yet not support programs that help those without the capability to truly help themselves. It would be shameful, and we owe it to our brothers and sisters in Christ, whether they believe or don't believe in "our Father in Heaven". Like the song from High School Musical, "WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER".
Sports are breakers of barriers to include social, religion, race, and etc.... I love sports. I love playing sports; well the one's that any 39 year old male can still play. I have a great affinity for the University of Michigan Football team. I do support my hometown Vols, but I am true Blue, right down to my vanity license plate (OSUHATER). I'll let you figure that one out. I love the Detroit Lions, Detroit Pistons, and the Detroit Red Wings. Can you tell which city/state I grew up in. I will blog on many national, regional, and local sports occasionally, but I will definetly blog on University of Michigan Football as the stories come in.
I intend to gain a better understanding of who I am, what I'm here on earth for, and why I am who I am. I don't do this with grand illusions of becoming some famous writer (which anyone can see by looking at my sentence structure and limited writing ability). I don't do this to be some famous blogger, or to get rich. (LOL) I do this for me , to find out more about me. However as I stated earlier, I plan to Glorify him who created me in how I carry myself as a blogger and as who I am.
May you enjoy what you read, and may I be able to inform others about Faith, Family, Politics, and Sports.
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