Rubbish I Say

“Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation…For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent: for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season.” (2 Corinthians 7:4+8)

Recently Pope Francis addressed an audience at the Pontifical Academy of Sciences where he contradicted the Genesis account of creation arguing that theoretical science (Darwinian evolution and Lemaîtrian ‘big bang‘) are compatible with the Biblical narrative. That’s worth repeating: the Pope said God’s word and the unproven theories of men are agreeable, congruent, and coexistable.

The Big Bang, which today we hold to be the origin of the world, does not contradict the intervention of the divine creator but, rather, requires it. … Evolution in nature is not inconsistent with the notion of creation, because evolution requires the creation of beings that evolve.” – Pope Francis

Before I record my remarks, let me affirm that I am not a scientist, a Bible scholar, or a member of clergy. I am merely a man of faith who chooses to stand as firmly as I am able upon the Word of God. On issues scriptural, I maintain that I don’t have an opinion, I have a Bible. Furthermore I dismiss any source that does not agree with or affirm the Bible, not because I am an arrogant, Bible snob, but because there can only be one truth and I’m siding with God. I deem this stance the safest and most secure position known to mankind; the Word of God is the best defense for the Word of God. For my money, Charlie Spurgeon said it best: “The Gospel is like a caged lion. It does not need to be defended. It just needs to be let out of its cage.” I find this to be very freeing, pun intended. Christians don’t need titles, degrees, and strings of letters after their names. They just need the Bible and the God-given faith to trust it. If they also want to understand it, that’s a work of His Holy Spirit.

[T]he natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. (1 Corinthians 2:14)

So in regard to the Pope’s disputation (and with as much love and respect as one can muster in the written word), I boldly pronounce his remarks to be rubbish, trusting that God and His Word have my back. I say to Pope Francis, either ‘all Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,’ or it is not. Either God’s Word is truth, or it is not. You either take the warning to not add or subtract from God’s Word seriously, or you do not.

For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. (Revelation 22:18-19)

I cannot imagine remaining under the tutelage of a school teacher who does not believe in their textbook, but by his own words the Pope essentially made that exact declaration of disbelief, plus the more grievous one — Jesus is a liar. Jesus believed in the Genesis account of creation, so much so He quoted from it in the Gospels, therefore it must be asked, “If Jesus believes it, why doesn’t the Pope believe it”?

“Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female” (Matthew 19:4)

If the Pope, or anyone else for that matter, has any doubt whatsoever about the legitimacy of the Old Testament text, your skepticism should be immediately exorcised when Jesus, who knew no sin and who by His very nature is incapable of uttering a lie, teaches from the manuscript. If you believe in Jesus, you must believe the Book He teaches from. If you don’t; if you still maintain evolution and the Genesis account of creation are compatible, you are deeming our Lord and Savior a liar.

If you believe in Jesus, you must believe the Book He teaches from.”

That’s Judgemental 

Yes, when sharing these same Biblical truths on social media, I was told (by a professing Christian) I was being harsh, judgmental, divisive, and even Pharisaic. I have come to expect those remarks from the atheist, and I even tolerate their opposing views for the sake of sharing Bible truth with them, but when professing Christians say such things I am deeply saddened. My heart breaks for those who selectively receive only specific Bible portions and summarily reject those parts they either don’t understand, don’t agree with, or worse, don’t harmonize with their lifestyle choices. They’ll call Bible-believers harsh and judgemental, but reject the notion that their additions and subtractions to and from Scripture is arrogant, pretentious, and perhaps just steps away from blaspheming the Holy Spirit.

That’s Harsh

Labels such as those are served up for one purpose only: to silence the Bible thumper (a term I use in the best possible sense). What they call harsh, I characterize as bold and true. For the record ‘harsh’ is when somebody (for example) sticks a sign in your face that reads, “Fags Go to Hell.” That’s coarse and devoid of love. Please don’t ever throw God-loving and God-fearing Christians into that group. I’ll add here that if you’re sensing an attitude of judgement and divisiveness, you might be onto something — it could be you’re feeling the conviction of the Holy Spirit and it’s causing you to squirm. It could be that the divisiveness you sense is real, but it’s the result of the barriers you’ve constructed about your skewed ideology. I was there and I know how that feels. I also have learned that [that] sensation subsides when you submit yourself fully to God and His word.

“Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.  And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:5-7)

On Salvation

On this final point I want to be as crystal clear: I am not disputing anyone’s salvation, including the Pope’s. God only knows. But do I have an opinion regarding a person’s salvation if they elect to teach unscriptural doctrines? Yes I do, but I will not judge (condemn) anyone to hell — that’s God’s job. To say at this juncture, “The Pope is going to hell,” would be an opinion based on limited preponderance and access to all the facts. Repentance is always an option and one we should be praying for.

What we can affirm is that the Pope is adding and subtracting from the Word of God and that the act is a confessable and pardonable offense. Only God knows if the thin ice on which the Pope stands will support him in the interim. Salvation (in this regard) is perhaps a topic for another blog; my purpose for discussing the original issue was not to judge a man unto condemnation, but rather to judge him for the purpose of identification. In other words, let’s not glean from the Pope’s teaching on this one, for it unquestionably contradicts the Word of God. May it also serve as an admonition to those Christians who would do similarly. Let us rather rest in God’s Word and know there is nothing to be spiritually gained by glomming onto worldly wisdom at the expense of Bible truth.

Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb. Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.  Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.  And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.  Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. (Psalm 37:1-7)

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Our Bible, Our Truth

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1)

Do I take the Bible literally?

Of course.

God has given all men the faculty of mind to situationally distinguish between allegory and reality, unless we consciously or unconsciously block the process (see Romans 1:20-23). For the believer without ambiguity, the Bible’s literal six-day creation is contextually clear, as is Jesus’ metaphorical proclamation, “I am the door.”  It is in this light we take the Bible literally.

Does belief mean we fully understand?

Of course not.

 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways…For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9)

A wise man will not let his lack of understanding undermine his sensibilities, but will connect by faith these pieces until sight intervenes to confirm, knowing that there remains the likelihood that this will not occur until we arrive home. At this juncture, the Holy Spirit is necessary, for without Him our faith is in faith, but with Him, our faith is in the Lord.

“But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” (1 Corinthians 2:14)

But I believe in God ~and~ Darwinism!

Then you have a problem. If that’s your position, then you essentially maintain that God is a liar in spite of the fact that the Bible clearly specifies that God cannot lie (see Hebrews 6:18). Simultaneously you are also professing that man (in this case Darwin) is smarter than God. You must know that you cannot believe in man and God without consequence.

“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other.” Matthew 6:24

Are there other parts of the Bible you reject?

If so, with every occurrence you deny your God-given faith and subvert your confidence in the Father, while planting doubt in the minds of those over which you have influence. Your salvation may be intact, but what of the damage you may be causing along the way? Have you considered the wreckage found in the wake of your unbiblical convictions? Has Darwinism (or other false doctrines) helped, sustained, or profited you? I submit that unless you’re a teacher hired to promote God as a Divine deceiver, there is no sustained profit or gain in this ideology. A person of this ilk may in fact be nothing more than a tool in the hands of satan.

“A wise man will hear and increase learning, And a man of understanding will attain wise counsel” (Proverbs 1:5)

No Joke

A Darwinist and a Creationist die and find themselves standing before the throne of God. Consider the worst case scenario for each:

If the Creationist is wrong (that is to say, his literal interpretation of a six-day creation is errant), what might God say? I venture it would be something like, “Welcome my good and faithful servant, I can’t believe you took Me seriously! Come on in you silly goose!” 

But what if the Darwinist is wrong? Might the conversation go, “Why didn’t you believe Me? What part of, ‘I cannot lie,’ did you not understand?”

If you do not wholeheartedly believe God, do you know God? I for one will not gamble with that equation. By faith I’ll choose to err on the side of Biblical truth rather than on the side of religious skepticism, as there is nothing to be eternally gained by putting faith in man and everything to be gained by wholly trusting in the Creator of all things.

“What things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.” Philippians 3:7-11

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If You Wish to Make an Apple

“Because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.  Professing to be wise, they became fools” (Romans 1:21-22)

Recently I found myself in the middle of a discussion regarding Carl Sagan, the astronomer, astrophysicist, cosmologist, author, and former host of the 80’s television series called Cosmos: A Personal Voyage.  As a young adult I vividly recall watching these programs and being captivated by what this seemingly brilliant man was teaching. Then something truly astonishing occurred in my life – I discovered Jesus Christ. Actually, Jesus discovered me. I was lost and Jesus found me, cleansed me, healed me, redeemed me, and all of it He did because He loves me.

It took some time, but slowly Jesus began to reveal to me that everything Carl Sagan taught pertaining to the origin of the universe was an absolute lie. Whether Sagan knew it or not (he died in 1996), every word that poured out of his mouth in this regard was demonic; satan’s only purpose being in these matters to convey (by means of imaginative logic), that God is a fairy tale. At this point it almost goes without saying, Sagan did not believe in God. Today, and with all due respect to my fellow-man, I have no use for anything this vehemently anti-Christian and ardent evolutionist had to say .

Back in our conversation, one person had shared that although Sagan was wrong [about God], she saw ‘no contradiction in believing in evolution as part of God’s plan‘ (adding) that my views were only negative. Another person offered, ‘God knows his heart.’  Someone else added, ‘Sagan pointed us to the awe of creation…whether he knew it or not.’ Yet another, ‘God uses you…He can use anybody.’ The dialog ended with, ‘God spoke through a donkey, right?’

Back to the Bible

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” (Romans 12:2)

Clearly some of those notions are flawed, but others don’t seem to be too far-flung. Why shouldn’t we be drawn to the rants of an atheist if he is able to bring our attention to the Creator? Is there any danger whatsoever in cozying up to the likes of a Carl Sagan in order to appreciate that which God hath wrought?  

The short answer is yes, there is a danger.

“But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea.” (Mark 9:42)

First things first — the church is not starving for Christian resources or teachers, so why should we opt for one who ridicules the God of the Bible. Giving atheist Sagan undeserved recognition or portraying him in a positive light, could cause someone (an immature believer perhaps) to stumble. The thought of defending Sagan, or some similar atheist authority, because they’re nice guys with plausible intellect, boggles my mind. Personally, I’d rather defend the position of a brother or sister in Christ, then defend the position of a non-believer, especially one who mocks Christians.

Carl Sagan’s own words in regard to God, the Bible, and Christians:

“There is no reason to deceive ourselves with pretty stories for which there’s little good evidence…Life is but a momentary glimpse of the wonder of this astonishing universe, and it is sad to see so many dreaming it away on spiritual fantasy…A celibate clergy is an especially good idea, because it tends to suppress any hereditary propensity toward fanaticism.” [Carl Sagan’s Billions and Billions, page 215, random quote, & Contact, pg 244]

Sagan believed Christians were fanatical nuts, so tell me why we should want to embrace him?

Sometimes Donkeys Do Speak

I recently read an article about a man named John Joseph who, while listening to Bill Maher (a crude, arrogant, atheist comedian), gave his heart to Jesus. So it’s true, God can use anyone He desires, but I hesitate to believe that God would recommend ‘atheist Maher’ to John Joseph as a mentor, adviser  or counselor. The donkey as it turns out was just a doltish messenger, but otherwise not a reliable source of information. Having heard Joseph’s testimony, I assure you that when Maher’s name is mentioned, it is not in a positive light. Balaam’s donkey was never lauded as something great — that honor is God’s alone. As Christians, we need to be able to make a distinction between the fool (those who reject God, but otherwise seem okay) and those like us who were once foolish, for whether we realize it or not, our words and actions are being scrutinized.

“The fool (the atheist) has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, They have done abominable works, There is none who does good.” (Psalm 14:1, emphasis mine)

“But God has chosen the foolish things (born-again believers) of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty” (1 Corinthians 1:27, e. m. )

At the end of the day, a follower of Jesus Christ does not need anyone to point to the Heavens and suggest, imply, or proclaim that, “God did that!”  The Creator Himself has pronounced, “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse.” (Romans 1:20)

Let’s leave Sagan and his like for the atheists and let us embrace the Word of God, Jesus Christ, and those who follow Him, lest we be led astray or lead another astray.

These articles probably don’t relate to this article

• In Awe of the God of Science (daviddflowers.com)
• Carl Sagan Was On US Team To Nuke the Moon (science.slashdot.org)
• How the U.S. and Carl Sagan planned to nuke the moon (news.nationalpost.com)
• Cornell University pays tribute to Carl Sagan with stunning LED tribute (theverge.com)

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Programming Mistake or Masterpiece?

You know the household of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves to the ministry of the saints–that you also submit to such, and to everyone who works and labors with us. 1 Corinthians 16:15-16

“They have ‘addicted’ themselves to the ministry,” is the Kings James rendering of this verse.

I like that.

Addiction is something I can relate to.  I excel at addiction.  When I was a cop, I was addicted to the job — I soaked it up like a Twinkie in milk. Simultaneously I was addicted to golf, playing an average of two to three times a week. And I’m sad to report there were other times in my life where my addictions were less respectable, involving drugs and alcohol and the like.

What about you? What are you addicted to?

The truth be told, we’re all addicted to something.

Swapping-out the word addiction, Bob Dylan, in prophetic manner, reminds us that we’re all going to serve somebody or something.

You may be an ambassador to England or France,
You may like to gamble, you might like to dance,
You may be the heavyweight champion of the world,
You may be a socialite with a long string of pearls.

But you’re gonna have to serve somebody, yes indeed
You’re gonna have to serve somebody,
Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord
But you’re gonna have to serve somebody.

What an astute analysis.  Chilling actually.

Whether he realized it or not, Dylan stumbled upon the notion that we have been programmed, in advance, to behave this way.  Is this truly the case?  If so, who is responsible?

He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end. Ecclesiastes 3:11

God

God has put eternity in our hearts.

But what is this thing eternity?

From the get-go we’re clueless, but instinctively we know that it’s something satisfying and like pigs after truffles, we’ve been wired to track it down.

Eternity is in effect the wellspring of our addiction. However, outside of God we wonder and wander aimlessly, only occasionally stumbling upon things that bring temporary satisfaction and relief.

Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.” John 7:37

Seriously Jesus?  If anyone thirsts?  Dude (will all due respect), we ALL thirst.

Yes.  That’s the Point

Jesus would answer,

“Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst…the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.” John 4:13-14

Eternity is satisfaction perfected.

Wow.

Call it a God-sized hole, call it a thirst, call it an addiction; it matters not.  It is what it is.  All that remains is what are you going to do about it — with what or with whom will you fill the void?

Answer wisely.

The Problem With Philosophy

There is no problem with philosophy, unless of course you remove one of its components before you begin. That’s what secular philosophy has done — before commencing it proclaims, “We will accept all possible conclusions as long as one of them isn’t God.”  

That’s not philosophy, that’s stupidity.

Imagine a mathematician announcing,

I am about to undertake this incredibly difficult equation and I will accept any answer I come with, except of course the number seven.  I hate seven and I’m quite positive seven does not exist.”  

Insanity, right?

Once you’ve taken God out of the equation, you’ve lost all hope of arriving at the right answer.  A valid philosophy demands that all possible answers remain on the table, otherwise you spend your entire life trying to justify an error.

Case in point: evolution.  Identifying a deficiency (and while ignoring the obvious), theorists have conjured up a series of missing links, effectively replacing one void with several others.  That’s akin to filling a hole with another hole.

Excuse me, your emperor is naked.

Fear Not

Our natural reaction might be to reject rational thinking altogether.

Don’t.

Don’t fear philosophy, God doesn’t.  He knows that if someone is truly seeking the truth, to fill that void, to quench that thirst, they will ultimately arrive at the cross.

Check out this excerpt from Webster’s 1828 Dictionary on the word:

The objects of philosophy are to ascertain facts or truth, and the causes of things or their phenomena; to enlarge our views of God and his works, and to render our knowledge of both practically useful and subservient to human happiness. True religion and true philosophy must ultimately arrive at the same principle.

I love it.

True religion and true philosophy must ultimately arrive at the same standard.  God!

Experience is the Best Teacher

Practically every testimony I have ever heard shares this common theme: “My (bad) experiences led me to Jesus.”  

In other words, every attempt to fill a void or satisfy a craving ultimately failed. Why?  Because their addictive search for the truth omitted God.  However it was the pain associated with their failures that compelled them to put all possible answers back on the table.

I submit to you that this is a work of the Holy Spirit.  This is conviction in its finest hour!

My friends, experience is the best teacher, but it doesn’t have to be your experience. Learn from the mistakes of others and go directly to the Fountainhead–go directly to the Source eternal.  If you haven’t experienced a peace that surpasses all understanding, you haven’t considered all the answers.

Consider Jesus

The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy–meditate on these things. Philippians 6:5b-8

Related articles

• I’m a Masterpiece! (helpfortheheart.wordpress.com)
• Leadership Lessons from Ephesians: Masterpiece Moments (richardburkey.wordpress.com)
• Louie on the topic of being “Addicted” (briancoatney.com)

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*Evolution? Bring it Back to Jesus

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. Genesis 1:1-2

+

Debunking the Lies

It’s safe to say that most folks don’t believe in a divinely-orchestrated, six-day Creation. So how then do we go about presenting these Old-Testament truths as facts to those who would rather believe you and I crawled out from beneath a rock billions of years ago?

Bring it Back to Jesus

Can you see yourself in the Genesis 1 account above? I can. Like the earth, God also created me. Sin on the other hand left me without form or purpose. Void of godly recognition, darkness prevailed. But then came the cleansing by God’s word. Where’s that? It’s in the water, for we see it throughout the Bible as a symbolic reference to His word, as in:

He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word… Ephesians 5:26

Do You See Jesus Yet?

Some illumination will help:

Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. Genesis 1:3

Now enlightened, it isn’t long before we discover that the word is none other than Christ Jesus!

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. John 1:1-2

But That Won’t Convince Anyone

Are you sure? If your friends believe in evolution ~and~ Jesus, perhaps they are unaware that He (Jesus) believed in Adam (and that he was created by the Father), so much so Adam is included in His genealogy. If you believe in Jesus and if you also believe He is not capable of lying, then it has to be true: God created Adam and Eve, thus making evolution the lie. Continue reading Genesis and endeavor to see Jesus in every verse.

Related articles

• “Southern Baptist Voices”: Keathley’s Points of Concern (garriblog.wordpress.com)
• Reigning in this Life by Christ Jesus & what it Means to ‘You!’ (muchloveblog.wordpress.com)
• Pastors Preach Their Last Sermon, But The Final Word Has Already Been Spoken (garyware.me)
• Overcoming Temptation, Deception, Accusation (scripturenuggets.wordpress.com)
• My Word (abrazosybesos.wordpress.com)
• Gap Theory and Pre-Adamic Civilization Dialogue (oneway2day.wordpress.com)
• What Matters (nwelford.wordpress.com)
• Jesus, The Word that Could Not Return Void (arolitaadams.com)
• The Bible Records – Genesis 1:1 “The Beginning” – Jesus Was there (darrellcreswell.wordpress.com)
• The Cost of Discipleship (footsoldiers4christ.wordpress.com)

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