The Account

Places to Shop

2006-05-04T21:34:00.000-04:00

This is outside my ordinary stream of posting, but after some browsing, I figured I would post this. A website called Buy Blue has been encouraging "progressive" people to boycott businesses that regularly contribute to Republican campaigns...and they say WE are partisan. Anyways, here are the businesses that you want to support in the future:

Dell Computers
Walmart (it pains me to actually do this, but oh well)
Wendy's
Outback Steak House
Dominos Pizza
Red Lobster
Olive Garden
Eckerd
CVS
Walgreens
Curves for women health clubs
GE
Exxon/Mobil

These businesses cover all the basic areas of life - fuel (Exxon/Mobil), appliances (GE), health (Eckerd, CVS, Walgreens, Curves), food (Wendy's, Outback, Dominos, Red Lobster, Olive Garden), and anything else (Walmart). If nothing else, Republicans at least no how to eat good.

The Coming War: Who Stands with Gog?

2006-05-03T16:33:00.000-04:00

Persia, Cush, and Put are with them, all of them with shield and helmet; Gomer and all his hordes;Beth-togarmah from the uttermost parts of the north with all his hordes -- many peoples are with you. Ezekiel 38:5-6, ESV

Magog (Russia) will not be alone in its military ambitions. In fact, as we see from the words of the prophet Ezekiel, quite a coalition of nations are allied with them and present in military force: Persia, Cush, Put, Gomer, and Beth-togarmah. These five nations form the heart of a deadly alliance that threatens the world as it is. Consider who these nations are:

Persia - Iran
Cush - Sudan
Put - Libya
Gomer - Cimmerians, originally inhabited the area around the Caspian Sea and later driven out by the Elamites (Persians) to "the uppermost parts of the north." Scholars and various traditions have identified his descendants as being the Gauls - which places France quite squarely in the alliance.
Beth-togarmah - traditionally, Armenia (their original homeland) - meaning the ancient Armenia which was located more centrally in what is now Turkey.

A close examination of each of these nations will demonstrate one thing they have in common: a significant Islamic population. In the cases of Iran, Sudan, Libya, and Turkey, Islam is THE official religion, making up the religious belief, in the smallest proportion, 70% (Sudan) of the people. In France, the CIA has estimated that as much as 10% of the French population is Muslim - a minority that is growing more vocal as the days go by. Consider, also, their current military strength:

Iran: 15,665,725 men (18-49) are fit for active military duty (this count excluding any volunteers under 18 and 2,653,820 other men that can be called up if the need arises). 862,056 men reach the age of military service every year.
Sudan: 5,427,474 men (18-49) are fit for active military duty (this count excluding 2,864,221 other men that can be called up if the need arises). An estimated 426,320 men reach the age of military service every year.
Libya: 1,291,624 men (17-49) are fit for active military duty (this count excluding 214,051 other men that can be called up if the need arises). 62,034 men reach the age of military service every year.
France: 11,262,661 men (17-49) are fit for active military duty (this count excluding 2,413,848 other men that can be called up if the need arises). 389,204 men reach the age of military service every year.
Turkey: 13,905,901 men (20-49) are fit for active military duty (this count excluding 2,850,422 other men that can be called up if the need arises). 679,734 men reach the age of military service every year.
Russia: 21,049,651 men (18-49) are fit for active military duty (this count excluding all men 17 years of age and 14,197,398 other men that can be called up if the need arises). 1,286,069 men reach the age of military service every year (excludes draft registration for every 17 year old).
TOTAL (active): 68,603,036 + (all Iranian volunteers aged 16-17)
TOTAL (entire): 93,796,796 + (all Russian draft registrants aged 17)
ESTIMATED TOTAL +1 YEAR: 97,502,213 + (all Iranian volunteers aged 16-17 and all Russian draft registrants aged 17).

(All facts provided courtesy of the Central Intelligence Agency via The World Factbook).

Judging from these figures, were this war to occur next year, the armies would number a force that could very well exceed 100 million men! That force exceeds the United States available manpower by 40 million! One could not face them in open battle without great loss. No, the only way to defeat such a force would be nuclear holocaust - an instant death for 100 million souls. Yet, whom shall this force attack and how shall they be defeated?

The Coming War: Who Is Gog?

2006-05-01T21:31:00.000-04:00

The word of the LORD came to me: "Son of man, set your face toward Gog, of the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him and say, Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I am against you, O Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal. And I will turn you about and put hooks into your jaws, and I will bring you out, and all your army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed in full armor, a great host, all of them with buckler and shield, wielding swords. - Ezekiel 38:1-4, ESV

The prophet Ezekiel, a priest in exile received some of the most amazing visions ever given to prophets. Isaiah stood before the throne, an eyewitness to the majesty of God while Ezekiel, upon the banks of the Babylonian rivers, saw visions of God's great power - the raising up of Israel and the reunion of its people (fulfilled in part in 1948), the final temple of God (not yet built) and the Kingdom of the Prince (not yet fulfilled). Yet, it is not for these that Ezekiel is most well-known, but for his prophecy against Gog. Who is Gog? From the information given, there is no solid answer save to say that he is the "chief prince of Meshech and Tubal." Yet, it is obvious we can identify certain things about his location and position.

The first term is the "land of Magog." In the entire Bible there are five references in total to Magog. Of these, two are in Ezekiel. The others are Genesis 10:2, 1 Chronicles 1:5, and Revelation 20:7-8 (ESV):

The sons of Japheth: Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras.
The sons of Japheth: Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras.
And when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison and will come out to deceive the nations that are at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle; their number is like the sand of the sea.

In the first two references, information is given that Magog is a son of Japheth - the forefather of one of the "seventy nations" of the earth according to Hebrew tradition (a quick count of the genealogies will demonstrate that there are, indeed, seventy groups represented). Josephus, in his Antiquities, details the Hebrew traditions:

For Gomer founded those whom the Greeks now call Galatians, [France/Belgium] but were then called Gomerites. Magog founded those that from him were named Magogites, but who are by the Greeks called Scythians. Now as to Javan and Madai, the sons of Japhet; from Madai came the Madeans, who are called Medes, by the Greeks; but from Javan, Ionia, and all the Grecians, are derived. Thobel founded the Thobelites, who are now called Iberes [Spain/Portugal]; and the Mosocheni were founded by Mosoch; now they are Cappadocians. There is also a mark of their ancient denomination still to be shown; for there is even now among them a city called Mazaca, which may inform those that are able to understand, that so was the entire nation once called. Thiras also called those whom he ruled over Thirasians; but the Greeks changed the name into Thracians. And so many were the countries that had the children of Japhet for their inhabitants.

Now, on a few points, I certainly disagree with Josephus - for quite a few reasons. For one thing, critical Biblical scholarship has noted that other nations (most notably the Egyptians and Assyrians) have made the following correlations:

Gomer - Cimmerians, originally inhabited the area around the Caspian Sea and later driven out by the Elamites (Persians) to "the uppermost parts of the north."
Magog - Magogites, originally denominated separately but with the Scythian hordes constantly marauding the borders, any northern tribe soon earned the distinction of being a Scythian.
Javan - Greeks
Tubal - The Iberes of the Caucasus (modern-day Georgia), founders of the city of Tobolsk
Meshech - The forefathers of the Moscovites of later Russia.
Tiras - Tyrsenoi, originally inhabited the coasts of Asia Minor (Troas), later moved westward to become the forefathers of the Etruscans.

Note, however, the location of Magog - to the north of the Levant. Only one great land stands there: Russia. Bible scholars are near universally agreed that the only nation to which Magog could apply is Russia. God has sworn to Russia that He will "put hooks" in its jaw and pull it out - with its large army - for war. Such a war as that they have pulled every single man of their army and readied it. What nation, then, would require such a force?

What Measures Up? Part IV

2006-04-29T12:53:00.000-04:00

They were not alone. In fact, early on, the heretics of the Church began deciding their own canons - flagrantly changing and editing that which they did not agree with - and one of these was Marcion. In the mid-to-late second century, A.D., Marcion - a wealthy merchant - was excommunicated for his heresies - namely, rejecting the Tanakh as the Word of God and teaching that Yahweh was a “sub-deity” that did not represent the Supreme God of Jesus. Consequently, he developed a canon for his followers that was composed of the following (in that order) - all of them modified so they would fit his views:

The Gospel of Luke
Paul’s Epistle to the Galatians
Paul’s Epistles to the Corinthians
Paul’s Epistle to the Romans
Paul’s Epistles to the Thessalonians
Paul’s Epistle to the Ephesians (which Marcion called the Epistle to the Laodiceans)
Paul’s Epistle to the Colossians
Paul’s Epistle to Philemon
Paul’s Epistle to the Philippians

Marcion, heretic that he was, most likely provided the motivation behind the Church’s renewed efforts to define what truly composed the Scriptures. Shortly after that time, the Muratorian Canon appeared, including all four Gospels, the Acts of the Apostles, all of Paul’s Epistles, John’s First and Second Epistles, the Epistle of Jude, and the Revelation of John, although also including the Apocalypse of Peter - which, was not supported by any of the early Church Fathers. The composition, however, demonstrates the broad recognition that most of the New Testament experienced - even while false Gospel accounts, acts, epistles and Apocalypses constantly appeared from heretical sources continued to appear. Despite the amazing number of these writings - most of them being Gnostic - the New Testament was thoroughly maintained and recognized at an early date.

With these writings of the Early Church Fathers, we can see that although the canonical standard would face challenges in the centuries following, that it was completed and fully developed early on - recognized by all the churches as the Holy Word of God. From the early writings of Moses to the Revelation of John, it was deemed inspired and accepted as the standard of Christian life and none might add to it, according to the words of John in Revelation 22:18-19 (ESV):

I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.

Bibliography: Athanasius, Bishop of Alexandria. Festal Letter XXXIX. . Excerpted from Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Second Series, Volume 7. Edited by Philip Schaff and Henry Wace. American Edition, © 1894. Online Edition Copyright © 2005 by K. Knight.

Cyril, Bishop of Jerusalem. Fourth Catechetical Lecture. Excerpted from Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Second Series, Volume 4. Edited by Philip Schaff and Henry Wace. American Edition, © 1894. Online Edition Copyright © 2005 by K. Knight.

Davis, Glenn. “Cross Reference Table: Writings and Authorities,” “Authorities,” and “Writings.” The Development of the Canon of the New Testament. ©1997-2005. Last Updated 2005. Accessed March 27, 2006.

Thayer and Smith. The New Testament Greek Lexicon (online). Available at Studylight.org at http://www.studylight.org/lex/grk. Accessed March 17, 2006. “Bible: The Old Testament” and “Bible: The New Testament.” Encyclopedia Americana, Volume 3. © 2001.

Theopedia contributors. “Development of the OT Canon” and “Development of the NT Canon.” Theopedia: An Encyclopedia of Biblical Christianity. March 1, 2006. Available at http://www.theopedia.com. Accessed March 24, 2006.

Wikipedia contributors. “Biblical canon.” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. March 23, 2006. Available at: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Biblical_canon&oldid=46142304. Accessed March 23, 2006.

Appendix

Torah (The Law)

Genesis (Bereishit) of Moses Exodus (Shemot) of Moses Leviticus (Vayikra) of Moses Numbers (Bemidbar) of Moses Deuteronomy (Devarim) of Moses

Nevi’im (The Prophets)

Joshua (Yehoshua) of Joshua, finished by Samuel Judges (Shoftim) of Samuel (1 & 2) Samuel (Shmu'el) of Samuel, Nathan and Gad (1 & 2) Kings (Melakhim) of Nathan, Gad, and Jeremiah Isaiah (Yeshayaho) of Isaiah Jeremiah (Yirmiyahu) of Jeremiah and Baruch Ezekiel (Yehezqu’el) of Ezekiel The Twelve (Trei Asar) Hosea (Hoshea) of Hosea Joel (Yo'el) of Joel Amos of Amos Obadiah (Ovadyah) of Obadiah Jonah (Yonah) of Jonah Micah (Mikhah) of Micah Nahum (Nachum) of Nahum Habakkuk (Habaquq) of Habakkuk Zephaniah (Tsefania) of Zephaniah Haggai of Haggai Zechariah (Zekharia) of Zechariah Malachi (Malakhi) of Malachi

Kethuvim (The Writings)

Psalms (Tehillim) of David, the sons of Asaph, and others Proverbs (Mishlei) of Solomon Job ('Iyyov) of Moses, Solomon, or another prophet Song of Songs (Shir ha-Shirim) of Solomon Ruth of Samuel Lamentations (Eikhah) of Jeremiah Ecclesiastes (Kohelet) of Solomon Esther of Mordecai Daniel of Daniel Ezra of Ezra Nehemiah of Ezra and Nehemiah (1 & 2) Chronicles (Divrei ha-Yamim) of Ezra

Devotional: John 1:29-31

2006-04-28T10:30:00.000-04:00

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is the one I meant when I said, 'A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.' I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel." John 1:29-31

Since His birth about three decades before, none had testified as to the purpose of Jesus's life on earth. In this passage, John the Baptist continues his testimony of the Christ. In this part of John 1, the Apostle uses a historical testimony to convey a theological truth. This occurred the very day after John's first testimony - that he was not the Christ, the Prophet, or Elijah. At this time, Jesus Himself did not begin to minister, for it was still John's time. Here, again, he testifies - but not of Christ's role as the giver of the Holy Spirit or the righteous Judge, but as the "Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world." There is great significance in John's usage of the lamb. Since the time of Adam, the only way by which sin could be atoned for was by the sacrifice of an unblemished lamb. As Hebrews 9:22 says, "In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness." It had special significance as well to the Jewish people. In Exodus, when nine plagues had brought Egypt to its knees and God prepared to send the tenth and final plague upon them: the death of the firstborn. In order for the Israelites to escape the judgment, they had to place the blood of an unblemished lamb upon the posts of their doors. When they did so, the angel of death would pass over them.

Afterward, when they received the Law at Sinai, they were told that every firstborn male - whether human or of livestock - must be consecrated to God. In Exodus 13:13-16, we read:

Redeem with a lamb every firstborn donkey, but if you do not redeem it, break its neck. Redeem every firstborn among your sons. In days to come, when your son asks you, 'What does this mean?' say to him, 'With a mighty hand the LORD brought us out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. When Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, the LORD killed every firstborn in Egypt, both man and animal. This is why I sacrifice to the LORD the first male offspring of every womb and redeem each of my firstborn sons.' And it will be like a sign on your hand and a symbol on your forehead that the LORD brought us out of Egypt with his mighty hand.

The way the firstborn were redeemed was by the sacrifice of an unblemished lamb. Any who were not redeemed by this would be put to death - either by the supernatural intervention of God Himself or the by the people under the Law. With the death of the firstborn, God's anger against the lawbreaker would be appeased. Now, understand the significance here. Jesus, as the unblemished lamb, atoned for every sin of man. Jesus, by the power of His blood, protects us from the eternal Death. Jesus, as the "firstborn of all creation," died that God's wrath against mankind could be appeased. What greater mercy could their be - and the insight with which John lauds him held a lot of significance to his Jewish disciples.

And yet, he continues on with his testimony by acknowledging that Jesus is the Eternal One - existing with the Father before Creation, and yet, now entering that very same Creation. Instead of prophesying, John testifies that Jesus is the very Man he spoke of. The next words of John are quite puzzling, however, "I myself did not know him..." Weren't Jesus and John relatives? Yes, they were. From the Gospel account of Luke, we know that Mary and Elizabeth were cousins. Jesus and John, then, were cousins also. Is it possible that this is the case? James Burton Coffman, in his commentary on John 1, states:

These words of John the Baptist are remarkable for a number of reasons. He was a cousin of Jesus and as well acquainted with him as it was possible to be, from the purely human standpoint; and the meaning here has to be that John did not know that Jesus was the Messiah. He did know, however, that the Messiah was soon to appear, that he would shortly be manifested to Israel, and that his own heavenly commission was definitely connected with the appearance and identification of the Messiah. The words here are the equivalent of saying, "I did not know who Jesus really is, any more than you did." This and the following verses reveal the means by which John himself was enabled certainly to identify Jesus Christ as the Messiah.

This is also in fulfillment of the prophecies in the past - and the will of God - that, though He would be in the world and manifest the signs of Messiah, the world would refuse to recognize Him for who He really was. John then, again, notes his place in the scheme of things: "the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel." John testimony still rings through the ages, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" In this season especially, we remember the Almighty's grace in sending Jesus to be the sacrifice for sin - the firstborn to redeem the world and turn God's wrath away from His fallen Creation.

What Measures Up? Part III

2006-04-26T21:35:00.000-04:00

And what of the New Testament? We know that, as early as 90 A.D., the Tanakh was fully accepted by both Jews and Christians. Did the New Testament writings receive the same treatment as the Law and the Prophets when collected? In a manner of speaking, they were received as such but it was quite some time later that they were formally accepted. For example, we know that Paul’s epistle to the church in Ephesus was received, applied, and given the respect it deserved as coming from the mouth of God. However, it was not until the leadership of the Church first undertook to formally recognize canon from heresy that it was officially given that status - since, up to that time, the “Scriptures” typically referred to the Tanakh. In the next two or three centuries following the crucifixion of Jesus, the writings of His followers quickly emerged and the following books gained universal acceptance among Church authorities (who lived at all times between 50 A.D. to circa 400 A.D.):

The Gospel of Matthew
The Gospel of Luke
The Gospel of Mark (with the exception of Ignatius of Antioch, whose opinion isn’t known)
The Gospel of John (with the exception of Ignatius of Antioch and Polycarp, whose opinions are not known - although they would have accepted them given they were discipled by John himself).
The Acts of the Apostles (with the exception of Justin Martyr, whose opinion is unknown).
Paul’s Epistles to the Romans, Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and the Thessalonians (with the exception, at times, of Ignatius of Antioch and Polycarp, and, in all cases, of Justin Martyr - whose opinions are unknown).
Paul’s Epistles to Timothy (with the exception of Ignatius of Antioch and Justin Martyr, whose opinions are unknown).
Paul’s Epistle to Titus (with the exception of Ignatius of Antioch, Polycarp, and Justin Martyr, whose opinions are unknown).
Peter’s First Epistle (with the exception of Ignatius Antioch and Justin Martyr, whose opinions are unknown).
John’s First Epistle (with the exception of Ignatius of Antioch and Justin Martyr, whose opinions are unknown).
John’s Apocalypse (Revelation) (with the exception of Ignatius of Antioch and Polycarp, whose opinions are not known - although they would have accepted them given they were discipled by John himself).

As seen, the only books that were questioned as canonical were Paul’s Epistle to Philemon, the Epistle to the Hebrews, the Epistle of James, Peter’s Second Epistle, John’s Second and Third Epistles, and the Epistle of Jude. These make up what are now called “The Catholic Letters” or “The General Letters” that were written to the entire Church, not to any one congregation in particular.

It was not for “spurious doctrine” or doubtful teaching that they were disputed, but they each were disputed on a different basis. Paul’s Epistle to Philemon was disputed on the fact that it was of no great doctrinal value and contained only the letter of Paul to a fellow Christian. The Epistle to the Hebrews was disputed on the basis that it had no stated author. Since its authorship cannot be verified, the church leaders were unsure of whether or not to accept it. Granted its doctrinal contributions and excellence in connection with the Scriptures, however, it was later accepted.

The Epistle of James remained in dispute because many could not agree on its authorship - although many of the Eastern Churches were quick to declare its canonicity. The situations with Peter’s First Epistle, John’s Second and Third Epistles, and The Epistle of Jude were much the same - church leaders wanting to be sure that the works were, indeed, of the author they claimed.

Church leaders disputed over these books for many years - some claiming there were other Gospels or Apocalypses - even other books of Acts, such as the Acts of Thomas or the Acts of Andrew. Yet, as early as 367 A.D., Bishop Athanasius of Alexandria, the apologist who had defeated the Arian heresy of denying the divinity of Jesus and the existence of the Trinity, wrote in a letter to all the churches and monasteries in his charge concerning the canon that was to be received in all the churches - both of the Tanakh and the Old Testament:

4. There are, then, of the Old Testament, twenty-two books in number; for, as I have heard, it is handed down that this is the number of the letters among the Hebrews; their respective order and names being as follows. The first is Genesis, then Exodus, next Leviticus, after that Numbers, and then Deuteronomy. Following these there is Joshua, the son of Nun, then Judges, then Ruth. And again, after these four books of Kings, the first and second [books of Samuel] being reckoned as one book, and so likewise the third and fourth [books of Kings] as one book. And again, the first and second of the Chronicles are reckoned as one book. Again Ezra, the first and second [Ezra and Nehemiah] are similarly one book. After these there is the book of Psalms, then the Proverbs, next Ecclesiastes, and the Song of Songs. Job follows, then the Prophets, the twelve [minor prophets] being reckoned as one book. Then Isaiah, one book, then Jeremiah with Baruch, Lamentations, and the epistle [of Jeremiah], one book; afterwards, Ezekiel and Daniel, each one book. Thus far constitutes the Old Testament.
5. Again it is not tedious to speak of the [books] of the New Testament. These are, the four Gospels, according to Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Afterwards, the Acts of the Apostles and Epistles (called Catholic [“universal”]), seven, viz. of James, one; of Peter, two; of John, three; after these, one of Jude. In addition, there are fourteen Epistles of Paul, written in this order. The first, to the Romans; then two to the Corinthians; after these, to the Galatians; next, to the Ephesians; then to the Philippians; then to the Colossians; after these, two to the Thessalonians, and that to the Hebrews; and again, two to Timothy; one to Titus; and lastly, that to Philemon. And besides, the Revelation of John.

With the exception, obviously of the additions to Jeremiah (Baruch and the Letter of Jeremiah) and Esther, Athanasius’ canon is complete and consistent with the Scriptures used by the Church for millennia. He addresses the deuterocanonical books that Catholics and Orthodox accept, as well:

7. But for greater exactness I add this also, writing of necessity; that there are other books besides these not indeed included in the Canon, but appointed by the Fathers to be read by those who newly join us, and who wish for instruction in the word of godliness. The Wisdom of Solomon, and the Wisdom of Sirach, and Esther, and Judith, and Tobit, and that which is called the Teaching of the Apostles, and the Shepherd. But the former [the Old and New Testaments], my brethren, are included in the Canon, the latter being [merely] read; nor is there in any place a mention of apocryphal writings.

In this, we see approval only of certain books - the Wisdom of Solomon, the Wisdom of Sirach, Judith, and Tobit - this to the exclusion of 1 & 2 Maccabees, the additions to the book of Daniel and, presumably, the additions to the book of Esther. Why Esther is not accounted canonical by Athanasius is mainly due to the fact that many of the Rabbis at Jamnia were unsure of whether this belonged into the canon and the leadership of the Church had a similar dispute. Rather than taking the risk of blaspheming the Word of God, Athanasius chose not to include it at all. Cyril of Jerusalem, a contemporary of Athanasius, however, did so - while also composing a near identical list in his Fourth Catechetical Lecture.

What Measures Up? Part II

2006-04-21T15:26:00.000-04:00

The manner in how the books were received played a vital role in how and when they were accepted. In the Hebrew Tanakh, for instance, there was very little official action needed to indicate that it should be accepted as the authoritative and inspired Word of God. In the case of the Torah - the Law - everything that Moses wrote down and gave to the Israelites was immediately accepted on the basis that he was a prophet and had received special revelation from God concerning four of the five books of the Torah. In much the same way, the Nevi’im - the Prophets - were accepted as the direct revelation of God to his chosen people. This not only included the works of the major and minor prophets, but also the books of Joshua, Judges, 1 & 2 Samuel, and 1 & 2 Kings (which, in the Tanakh, are Joshua, Judges, Samuel, and Kings). Because prophets wrote them, they were received immediately as if they had been written at the very throne of God. So they were received as having authority, but what made them holy? Those who received them recognized all of the books as holy, but during the lax periods of Israel, were they still recognized as such? During the reign of King Josiah of Judah, the Temple of Solomon was being restored and, among the ruins, there was found a scroll - the book of the Law, since identified as the Book of Deuteronomy. When King Josiah heard the words written within this book, he was grieved seeing how far the Kingdom of Judah had gone from the Law of the LORD. In order to make certain that this was, indeed, the Word of God, however, Josiah sent the scroll with some of his chief men to the house of the prophetess Huldah. Concerning it, she said that it was the holy Word of God - being the first person in recorded history to state that the Torah was "set apart" from other writings. So the Torah and the Nevi’im - "the Law and the Prophets" that form such a familiar phrase to Christians and Jews - were accepted as canon centuries before Christ. Yet, what of the other books of the Tanakh? The Psalms, the Proverbs, and even the Book of Daniel were not considered canon from the day they were given. Just when did they become canon? At this point, it is important to make a distinction between canonical treatment and canonical acceptance. Before the first century A.D., The Psalms were well established in the Hebrew community - being used by all the people for the worship of God. The teachers of the people used them to encourage them and often spoke concerning them. Much the same was done with the books of Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and the book of Daniel. Even the Song of Songs had a place in Hebrew worship - being read often at weddings, as with the book of Ruth. 1 & 2 Chronicles - a repetition of sorts of the books of 1 & 2 Kings, although focusing further on the kingdom of Israel - were used by the scribes and scholars for reference and as a general history of the monarchy - continued with the accounts in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah (which, in the Tanakh, are kept as one book). The book of Esther was read yearly with the celebration of Purim while Lamentations was read on the Ninth of Av - a day of mourning for all the Hebrews remembering the sack of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar. Thus, the books were treated as canon for many years. In 90 A.D., however, the Council of Jamnia formally adopted them as canonical Hebrew Scripture and declaring that the Tanakh was complete - being the entirety of the revelation of God to His people concerning His promise. Today, Protestant and Evangelical Christians retain the canon that was formally accepted in 90 A.D. by the Council of Jamnia. The Roman Catholic Church and the Greek Orthodox Church, along with other liturgical churches in the Near East, refuse to accept the council’s ruling of authoritative because they believe that the Hebrews lost the authority to determine what was canon at that time. They ignore, however, the fact that, besides the Council of Trullo, early Church Fathers like Athanasius (the historical defender of the doctrine of the Trinity) and Cyril of Jerusalem - both respected elders in the Church - accepted the Hebrew canon. Still, refusing to accept this, the Roman Catholic Church did not formalize their canon until the Council of Trent that convened in 1545 and adjourned in 1563. This collection was quite different from the Tanakh - holding historical books and literary fiction that was never accepted as holy by the Hebrews - despite the fact these books were long available before Jamnia. They are the following:

Tobit
Judith
Additions to Esther
1 & 2 Maccabees
The Wisdom of Solomon
Sirach (also known as Ecclesiasticus)
Baruch (including the Letter of Jeremiah)
Additions to Daniel (including the Prayer of Azariah, Bel and the Dragon, Susannah, and the Song of Three Holy Children)

Of these, only 1 & 2 Maccabees are verifiably historical - and, ironically, they are also the only ones that originated in the land of Israel. All of the others were written originally in Greek and were popular among the Jews of Alexandria - who placed them in the Greek translation of the Tanakh - the Septuagint - which was written on the order of Ptolemy Philadelphus for his library.

The Orthodox traditions are divided on the issue - many citing the Council of Trullo as an authority and claiming the Hebrew canon. However, early church tradition in that denomination also recommends the Septuagint for personal edification - although Slavonic and Russian Orthodox churches have adopted it as authoritative. As of the present, the Orthodox tradition has never truly defined its standards universally.

What Measures Up? Part I

2006-04-19T17:47:00.000-04:00

Note: This is Part I of a series on the Development of the Hebrew and Christian Canon. In the 21st century, a complete Bible is readily available in stores, in churches, and hotel rooms. Unfortunately, very few people know or understand how the books that make up the Hebrew and Christian Scriptures came to be there. Who said, "These books are the Word of God" and for what reasons? Was there specific criteria for the acceptance of these books or were they chosen simply because they were in agreement with one school of thought? All of these questions contribute to the understanding how the Hebrew and Christian canon were received, accepted, and declared the Word of God. The word "canon" is used to refer to those books that are accepted as holy and perfect. In Hebrew and Protestant circles, this describes the 39-book Tanakh (Old Testament), while all Christians include the 27-book New Testament as well. "Canon" comes from the Hebrew word qaneh and the Greek kanon - both of which refer to a "measuring rod." This fact highlights one important facet of the canon - it has to meet certain standards. Some theologians have defined those standards as the following:

Prophetic/Apostolic Origin
Universal Acceptance
Liturgical Use
Consistent Message

Apostolic and Prophetic Origin refers to the belief that all canonical works must be the work of a prophet or apostle. A prophet, in the traditional understanding of the Hebrews and early Christians, is a person, before the ministry of Christ, who was filled with the Holy Spirit - as that quality was not common before the Christian day of Pentecost. A cursory examination of the Biblical record will show that this understanding of "prophets" is not limited to men like Isaiah and Daniel, but also gives the status to Moses, to David, to Joshua, and other leaders of the ancient Hebrew tribes.

An apostle was one who "had been with Jesus," usually since "the baptism of John until the day he was taken up…" From the New Testament records, we know that there were quite a few people with such authority - the chief of them being the Twelve Apostles - Peter, Andrew, James, John, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, Judas (not Iscariot), and Matthias. In addition to their number was the Apostle Paul who received special revelation concerning his place among them. In some cases, the teachings and histories of the apostles were committed to writing by their companions - but always based solely on the apostle’s word. Yet, Prophetic and Apostolic origin was not, in itself, sufficient.

Universal acceptance indicates that canonical books would not be limited, in use, to a few areas. When the rabbis of the Jews and the early Church Fathers began to ponder and to question which writings were canonical, they often noted which were accepted universally throughout their faith - regardless of the community’s location. In terms of the New Testament, for example, the Gospel of Matthew was just as much accepted by Christians in Egypt as it was by Christians in Rome as being the authoritative word of an apostle of Christ.

This was closely tied to the qualification of liturgical use. It is one thing for a work to be considered worthy of study and quite another for it to be used in the worship of God. In terms of the Tanakh, the Psalms - along with the other "Writings" - were not officially sanctioned as canon until 90 A.D. at the Hebrew Council of Jamnia. However, the Psalms had been used in the worship of the Hebrews for centuries. This determined that they were, therefore, worthy and acceptable to be viewed as canonical.

Yet, origin, acceptance and use would have proved to be of no use if there was no consistent message. When the Church Fathers first began examining what was appropriate for use in the Church, they all agreed that none of it should abrogate or contradict that which was already accepted as inspired Scripture - namely, the Tanakh. Any scholars who read through both the Hebrew and Christian Scriptures will note that, in fact, there is nothing contradictory contained within its pages. Thus, the standards, together, worked to ensure the validity of the canon.

Revive Us, O LORD, Part II

2006-04-10T20:21:00.000-04:00

Misunderstanding about Revival Revival, as we have already found, is not a miracle. But there is one other thought that greatly hinders revival: a misconstrual and misapplication of the sovereignty of God. As Finney states in Revivals of Religion,

Revivals have been greatly hindered by mistaken notions concerning the Sovereignty of God. [...] some people are terribly alarmed at all direct efforts to promote a revival, and they cry out: "You are trying to get up a revival in your own strength. Take care, you are interfering with the Sovereignty of God. Better keep along in the usual course, and let God give a revival when He thinks it is best." [...] This is just such preaching as the devil wants And men cannot do the devil's work more effectually than by preaching up the Sovereignty of God as a reason why we should not put forth efforts to produce a revival.

It must be understood that this is not an attack on any interpretation of God's Sovereignty. All true Christians agree on the fact that He is the All-Powerful One. What Finney addresses here is the tendency of some Christians to "leave it to God." A revival only comes with the aid of God and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit but it will not come upon lax hearts. This principle is clearly demonstrated in the Parable of the Talents [Matthew 25:24-30, ESV]:

He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, 'Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.' But his master answered him, 'You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sowed and gather where I scattered no seed? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'

Indeed, that believer is like he that is spoken of in James 2:14-24:

What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled," without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, "You have faith and I have works." Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe--and shudder! Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness"-- and he was called a friend of God. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.

Revival, as we shall discover, is closely tied with faith - and faith is closely tied with works. In light of the Scriptures then, God will only bring revival through willing servants. Those who do nothing for the cause of Christ abuse the grace they have been given and are as the servant entrusted with one talent. So, then, the greatest misunderstanding about revival is that it only comes by miraculous intervention by God - when in fact it is inspired by God through the works of men.

If I Speak in the Tongues...

2006-04-09T08:46:00.000-04:00

Note: Since Matt blogged about tongues and prophecy, I figured I'd come out with my own post so he isn't alone on that one...seeing as most of our blog-associates are cessationist (meaning that they believe spiritual gifts like tongues and prophecy ceased with the time of the Apostles). We'll start with a passage in 1 Corinthians 13:8-12:

Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.

Okay, the first statement is "Love never ends." Well, of course it doesn't. As we know from 1 John 4:8, "God is love." So, obviously, love could never cease to exist. Now for the cessationists rally cry. The passage says that prophecies, tongues, and word of knowledge shall cease. All Christians will agree on that. The disagreement is on when they will no longer be available for use. I believe Paul provides an answer to that in this passage as well. He continues saying that "we know in part" and "prophesy in part" (note he doesn't mention tongues in that phrase - a very curious lack of mention there). This looks at, primarily, the fact that we have limited knowledge - or otherwise there would be no need for prophecy or word of knowledge. We are finite; we are limited to the things that have been revealed. "But when perfection comes..." After the resurrection of the dead, when our bodies shall be raised up, glorified, and brought into a state of existence that has not existed since the time of Adam - then all shall be complete and accomplished - perfection shall have come. Until that time, however, we are still "at war with our flesh" and our natural and spiritual bodies are not united in following God. Paul continues that in the rest of the passage. Note the words of Jesus in Mark 16:16-18:

Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.

He lists signs that will accompany "those who believe" - not just "those who will lead the believers." The signs are:

The casting out of demons
The gift of tongues
picking up serpents* (poisonous snakes without harm)
protection from poison
supernatural healing

Now, a note should be made that these gifts are not done by man but are done dependent on the will of God. There have been Christians who died of poison or snake bites so it's not universal. Where it is the will of God, so it will be. This is the same with tongues, as we see in Acts 2:4:

And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

They spoke only what the Holy Spirit commanded them to speak - despite the fact they could not understand it. But this begs the question, "Are tongues still around today?" Veritably, YES! After all, why should God, "who knows what you need" cease to give these gifts to His children? I believe there is a firm foundation for these gifts today in the Church. In 1 Corinthians 12:27-31, Paul says:

Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the higher gifts.

See the progression here? Apostles, Prophets, Teachers, Workers of Miracles, Healers, Servants, Administrators, and Speakers of Tongues. An apostle, in the context intended here, is one who plants a Church - who begins new works and congregations. A prophet is one who "builds up the Church" and strengthens it. A teacher is one who continues to give it knowledge and wisdom through the Word of God. Then, there are manifested gifts: miracles, healing, serving, administrating, and tongues. Supernaturally-enabled gifts are placed with the mundane gifts of serving and administrating! If they were "set apart," then they would not have been listed together with them. Again, "Do all speak with tongues?" No. Just what are these "higher gifts" that he speaks of? In 1 Corinthians 14:1, Paul provides (yet another) answers:

Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy.

Prophecy, in terms of the cessationist debate, is a more contentious issue than tongues. Why? Because of the charge that by prophesying, believers are adding to the Divine Revelation of God - the Bible. This charge is, I think, being misapplied. After all, God would never reveal anything contrary to His Word or His Will. But let's think practically for a moment. Let's say there is a prophecy concerning someone's illness - that they will be healed (and I've seen this done before), it brings hope and joy to them and their family (especially diseases like cancer) and renews their faith and fervent prayer usually follows on their part and on the part of the congregation. Would it have made sense for God to specifically place a prophecy of that particular healing in the Bible? Certainly not, because it doesn't meet the standard of "universal applicability." That word applies in that one situation, not "in any and every situation." That was one of the primary criteria for the acceptance of canon. This brings me to my next point: if tongues and prophecy were only limited to Apostolic times, then why would so much of Scripture be devoted to discussing them? 1 Corinthians 14 is limited, almost entirely, to tongues and prophecy. As I said, the Bible is meant to apply in every era and every situation and what is written in it applies just as much to the Church today as it did to the Church 1900 years ago. Why wouldn't it? I conclude with the words of Paul (1 Corinthians 14:39)"

So, my brothers, earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.

Podcast: The Chronicles of Narnia

2006-04-08T16:25:00.000-04:00

Extra! Extra! Jonathan McCarthy and I have teamed up to bring you a special podcast in honor of the Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe release on DVD. In this podcast, we discuss the plot, the magic, the "pagan elements," and how well the movie portrayed the books, among other issues. Enjoy! Click here to download.

Revive Us, O LORD, Part I

2006-03-30T21:49:00.000-05:00

Note: This is the beginning of the promised series on revival in the Church based on Charles Finney's Revivals of Religion. This book is highly recommended for everyone and will not conflict much, if at all, with any one denomination's doctrinal stands. What Is Revival?

A "Revival of Religion" presupposes a declension. Almost all the religion in the world has been produced by revivals. God has found it necessary to take advantage of the excitability there is in mankind, to produce them to obey. Men are so sluggish, there are so many things to lead their minds off from religion and to oppose the influence of the Gospel, that it is necessary to raise an excitement among them, till the tide rises so high as to sweep away the opposing obstacles. They must be so aroused that they will break over these counteracting influences, before they will obey God."

Such does Reverend Finney's first lecture in the series state early on. Although these words were stated well over one hundred years ago, they have a meaningful application for today - when the Church in general is lukewarm, unwilling to stand upon the living and abiding Word of God and to minister through the power of His Holy Spirit. There are many signs of this as I noted over the summer of 2005 - pointing out the abandonment of Israel, the consistent decline in leadership in rejecting homosexuality, the appointment of women to lead whole denominations, and the utter refusal to stand up for life. My brothers and sisters, the Church of today stands at a turning point, a point where it must come back to life and to minister in the world as a witness to the nations. Therefore, we must cry out with Habakkuk [3:2, ESV], "O LORD, I have heard the report of you, and your work, O LORD, do I fear. In the midst of the years revive it; in the midst of the years make it known; in wrath remember mercy." Jesus Himself is crying out to us that revival should come [Revelation 2:4-5a, ESV]: "But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first." As a matter of fact, if you were read the whole of Revelation 2 and 3, you would find, if nothing else, a Church in desperate need of revival. But what is revival? We so desperately need it, but how can it come if we do not know what it is? For one thing, as Finney points out, revival is not a miracle. There is nothing about a revival that isn't natural. This might sound counter-intuitive, but bear with me. It is not a miracle for multiple reasons: (1) it is not accomplished through supernatural signs or anything that abrogates the laws of nature, (2) it is accomplished through the work of men, directed by God, and (3) it doesn't demonstrate God's universal power over the physical realm. If anything, it is simply God putting His house in order. A revival indicates that the Church, overall, is backslidden. A revival, then, is the return of the Church away from those backslidden ways. In reference to Jesus' appeal to the Church, it is returning to the love it had at first. But how is it to be obtained? First, there must be an acknowledgment of sins. Jesus says, "Remember, therefore, from where you have fallen." The very fact that remembering indicates our fall demonstrates this. Second, the Church must be brought to repent. Repentance is basically to turn away from our sins and to turn back to God, as a Body. As Finney says, "a revival is nothing else than a new beginning of obedience to God." What comes after acknowledgment and repentence? The renewal of faith. Their return to the Holy God and to His truth will give them a new brand of zeal and passion for the things of God. There will be a keen sense for the fallen nature of the lost all around. Evangelism, then, becomes a key result of revival. This coincides, again, with the words of Jesus. What was the work that the Church first did? On the day of Pentecost, they were equipped through the power of the Holy Spirit and began to PREACH, to WITNESS, and to EVANGELIZE, the Jews of all nations. Later, they went to the Gentiles and thus did Christianity come out of the backwaters of a world empire to dominate the Western World for the next 2,000 years. That was a powerful force and Christ is calling the Church back to that action. So the Church would grow; is that all? By no means! It would set the captives free. Christians today are enslaved to materialism, to sin, to the fallen things of the world. A revival in the Church would break their addictions and renew their strength. The cultures themselves will be revived because of the renewal that takes place in the Church. Revival is powerful, it is the Gospel being renewed in the life of the Church and being put out before the world as the "power of God for salvation for everyone who believes."

Technical problems....

2006-03-28T08:15:00.000-05:00

Can someone PLEASE explain to me why my sidebar is BELOW my posts?

Praise GOD!

2006-03-26T13:32:00.000-05:00

Hallelu-Yah! (Hebrew for Praise Yah, by the way). According to the Associated Press, the case against Afghani Abdul Rahman, will be dropped by the court on the basis that there is a distinct lack of evidence:

Abdul Wakil Omeri, a spokesman for the Supreme Court, confirmed that the case had been dismissed because of "problems with the prosecutors' evidence."

Some cite political pressure as being the main reason the case was dropped - given that President Hamid Karzai was backed by the United States in his candidacy and the international community's constant overtures on Rahman's behalf. Some also credit Rahman's family - some of which had stated he has "mental problems." For me, I'd have to say that it is the prayers of the saints - God alone knows how many were praying for this man's sake and - beyond hope - he pulled him from the claws of death. I pray that Mr. Rahman will be empowered to minister to his people who - although so ready to tear him to pieces - are in desperate need of His salvation. Hallelu-Yah! Thanks to Jacqui of unconformed for the tip!

O Sovereign Lord....how long?

2006-03-25T13:36:00.000-05:00

Note: Please see unconformed's blogroll on this topic to see a lot of great articles. In Revelation 6:9-11, we read:

When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne. They cried out with a loud voice, "O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?" Then they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been.

This is yet to be fulfilled, obviously, and, in accordance with my pre-millenial view on the end times, it will not happen until Antichrist rules the world. However, I strongly believe that this has application today and, especially right now. All over the blogosphere, Christians - young and old alike - have taken up the cry for freedom - the freedom of one Afghani man in particular. Abdul Rahman, a former Muslim who accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior many years ago, was imprisoned and is going to stand trial on the charge of conversion of Christianity - which is forbidden in countries under Shari'a - Islamic religious law. Since Afghanistan was liberated from the Wahabi Taliban (The Wahabi are an extremely conservative sect within Islam - a sect that includes bin Laden, the Taliban, and the family al Saud), it has instituted a democratic process but still holds to the Islamic Shari'a - a law that does not espouse the traditional Western doctrine of freedom of religion. Despite international pressure from the United States, Germany, and other European powers - all of which aided the war in Afghanistan - it is expected, at this point, that Abdul will not be released. I hope that is not the case - with all of my heart. But the reality of the situation doesn't indicate that result. Yet, the day Abdul enters into the Presence of God, let the Church cry out: "O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?" What has always happened when there was one martyr? Acts 9:1 tells us this after the martyrdom of Stephen: "And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church." Let us pray for the strengthening and encouragment of our brothers in Afghanistan - that the Gospel shall prosper and grow there that the tyranny may end!

Devotional: John 1:21-28

2006-03-25T07:36:00.000-05:00

They asked him, "Then who are you? Are you Elijah?" He said, "I am not." "Are you the Prophet?" He answered, "No." Finally they said, "Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?" John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, "I am the voice of one calling in the desert, 'Make straight the way for the Lord.' " Now some Pharisees who had been sent questioned him, "Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?" "I baptize with water," John replied, "but among you stands one you do not know. He is the one who comes after me, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie." This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

John 1:21-28

From the beginning of John 1, we have received the testimony of Logos - that He was in the beginning with God, that He is God. We've seen how Logos was the agent of creation - providing the creative power behind the universe. We have seen how Logos sent John the Baptist as a witness and a testimony to the light "that was coming into the world." We have seen how Logos came in the flesh and "made his dwelling among us." We have seen the testimony of that the disciples had "seen His glory." Now we must understand the messenger: the identity of John the Baptist. We already understand him to be the last of the prophets and the final witness to the first coming of the Jewish Messiah. But what about this passage reveals new characteristics? He denied being the Christ, so we, with the people of Israel, must ask, "who are you?" Quite simply, John tells us who he isn't. They first ask him if he is Elijah. This is a reference to the prophecy in Malachi 4:5 - "See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the LORD comes." The "day of the LORD" was often identified with the advent (or revelation) of the Messiah - the Savior and King of Israel. From 2 Kings 2, we know that Elijah never died, but was taken up to heaven in a fiery chariot. We also know that all men must "die once and after that, the judgment." (Hebrews 9:27). Thus, the Jewish scholars and religious leaders believed that Elijah must literally return before the day of the LORD. They were right and, for that reason, John denies being Elijah. Some might point to two separate statements made by Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew:

Matthew 11:13-14: "For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John, and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come." (ESV) Matthew 17:10-13: And the disciples asked him, "Then why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?" He answered, "Elijah does come, and he will restore all things. But I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but did to him whatever they pleased. So also the Son of Man will certainly suffer at their hands." Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them of John the Baptist. (ESV)

What Jesus does here is to say that the prophet Malachi spoke concerning Elijah and it applies just as much to John the Baptist. "[H]e is the Elijah who is to come" in the sense that his ministry brought about the first coming of the Messiah. However, from the prophet Joel, we know that there is not one coming, but two: "Be glad, O children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God, for he has given the early rain for your vindication; he has poured down for you abundant rain, the early and the latter rain, as before." (Joel 2:23, ESV). The early rain (the first coming of Christ) was for the "vindication" of Israel. Vindication, according to The American Heritage Dictionary, is defined as "The defense, such as evidence or argument, that serves to justify a claim or deed." The key word in that definition is "justify." We know that through the blood of Christ comes justification. Justification is the act of being considered "righteous" by God. This can only happen through salvation. But, in the prophecy, God reveals His purpose for the first coming: to bring salvation to Israel - and, indeed, to all men. The second coming - the true day of the LORD - will see the glory of God visited upon the nations. But before that time, Elijah shall come and minister before the people of Israel. So we know that John, although a type of Elijah, is not Elijah who is to come. The next question put to John is whether he is "The Prophet." This refers to the prophecy of Moses in Deuteronomy 18:15-18: ""The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers--it is to him you shall listen-- just as you desired of the LORD your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly, when you said, 'Let me not hear again the voice of the LORD my God or see this great fire any more, lest I die.' And the LORD said to me, 'They are right in what they have spoken. I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him." Christians have understood that this prophecy refers to and was fulfilled in the person of Jesus. Jesus, not John, is "the Prophet." At this time, however, the scholars of the day were unsure of the Prophet's identity. The Messiah was a King, but, before Jesus, no king had served in the capacity of a prophet - especially not in the form of Moses. So we have this about John: "I am not the Christ. I am not Elijah. I am not the Prophet." We, again, must ask with Israel, "who are you?" And here, we have John's answer - an answer now famous: "I am the voice of one calling out in the desert, 'Make straight the way of the Lord.' " This is found in Isaiah 40, speaking of one who would come and "comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem and cry to her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received from the LORD's hands double for all her sins. [...] and the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken." (Isaiah 40:1-2, 5, ESV). John's ministry was that of announcing the redemption of the world that was coming. But this hardly served to satisfy the leaders of the people. They next ask him, "Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?" It is important to understand here the significance of baptism in the terms of the Jewish understanding of the time. The Jewish Enyclopedia states the following:

"Baptism is not merely for the purpose of expiating a special transgression, as is the case chiefly in the violation of the so-called Levitical laws of purity; but it is to form a part of holy living and to prepare for the attainment of a closer communion with God. [...]Baptism was practised in ancient (Ḥasidic or Essene) Judaism, first as a means of penitence [...] The Baptism of the proselyte has for its purpose his cleansing from the impurity of idolatry, and the restoration to the purity of a new-born man."

The only people qualified to perform baptismal rites were the priests and the prophets (and until John, there had been no prophets for hundreds of years). That is only in terms of regular baptism (which was practiced regularly by the Jewish people) but a signal for national repentance and preparation for the Coming One (Jesus) could (in the mind of the religious leaders) only be done by the Christ, Elijah, and the Prophet. This prophecy from Zechariah 13:1-2 (ESV) says as much:

"On that day there shall be a fountain opened for the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and uncleanness. And on that day, declares the LORD of hosts, I will cut off the names of the idols from the land, so that they shall be remembered no more. And also I will remove from the land the prophets and the spirit of uncleanness."

Does this not sound like the preparation ministry of John the Baptist? And what does the passage continue with: "I baptize with water," John replied, "but among you stands one you do not know. He is the one who comes after me, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie." Jesus had not yet been revealed to Israel and was, only now, coming to be baptized by John in order that "all righteousness be fulfilled." And what does John claim of him? That he is unworthy to perform the tasks reserved for the lowest of slaves for Jesus. John's message and John's purpose was to give Israel the chance to repent, to lower themselves and become aware of the fact that God is holy and high above all things. This was a blow to the self-righteous attitude that pervaded the ranks in that day - when many leaders were so concerned with their righteousness that only token subservience was given to God. But now comes John's ministry - "Repent! Know that the Holy One is coming! Recognize the glory of God and tremble in your sins!" It is the precursor of salvation: learning that we are sinners and in need of the grace of a Holy God.

Conservative and Courageous: Senator Santorum Prepares for Battle

2006-03-24T20:00:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to meet United States Senator Rick Santorum at the opening of his campaign headquarters in Pittsburgh, PA. In the modest office suite being used for the purpose - many leaders and members of the community gathered to recognize the senator's efforts to maintain his incumbency in the United States Senate - which will be put to a test this fall as he is challenged by Bob Casey, Jr. - who is currently serving as Treasurer of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. This will be a tight race, admittedly, due to the fact that many may vote for Casey based on his shady pro-life position. In any case, the Senator was introduced by one of the primary supporters and staff members in making sure everything worked out in the opening of the campaign office. His remarks, although brief, gave a strong argument in favor of Senator Santorum. The crux of the issue came down to the fact that Senator Santorum shared common values and has worked constantly with them. Those values named are:

Lower taxes. Senator Santorum voted to cut federal taxes - voting not only to initiate them to begin with, but also to make them permanent. He is in support of having no marriage penalty and is currently working with other Senators to the tax burden on the American family.
The Second Amendment. Senator Santorum is a strong supporter of the Second Amendment, believing that the citizens of the United States have a guaranteed right to bear arms without penalty from the federal government. He is a strong supporter of loosening gun-ownership restrictions in the United States.
Life. Senator Santorum has consistently voted to uphold the inalienable right to life. He is a traditional Catholic and recently wrote a book called It Takes a Family writing in defense of America's core institution (which, by the way, is not the IRS!) and the preservation of society. He is in support of banning abortion of all types and thus ending the murderous rampage that has followed Roe v. Wade.
War on Terror. Senator Santorum is a firm believer in the concept of defending our nation - meaning we seek the terrorists out first. Osama bin Laden is one terrorist out of many and the Senator is adamant that we continue to ensure our national security.
Troop Support. Along with that, Senator Santorum has consistently supported measures to encourage and better equip our troops - in terms of appropriations and legislation. He has a deep respect and gratitude for the men and women who have given up an otherwise normal life to serve their country in this manner.
Health Savings Accounts. Senator Santorum supports the President's idea of health savings accounts - thereby decreasing the measure of control the federal government has over the welfare and health of its citizens and placing the common American in charge of his life once more.
Lastly (and this is a direct quote), Senator Santorum is "a family man." A father of six children (one of which has gone on to be with the Lord), he homeschools them and has endeavored to instill values and the traditional Judeo-Christian beliefs in their lives.

The Senator's Remarks: After a rather humorous opening of "He just gave my speech," the Senator stressed the precarious position of the election, the values that he was emphasizing, and the characteristics that define his view on being a Senator in the United States Congress. He referred to the election as "another tough battle" noting that he had been in this position before when running, first, for the House of Representatives. The situation was much the same then - polls indicating a loss but the determination of his supporters won the day. It is my hope and prayer that they will do so this year as well. Speaking on his values, he said, "These issues [are] the core of who we are in America" and went on to express his determination to see that core protected and encouraged in the life of American society. His governmental philosophy? "I believer that I owe you what I think." The Senator expressed the fact htat, if he did not speak and act in accordance with his beliefs, he had failed as a representative of his constituents. If he did not do so, he was no more than a liar. With that, he promised, "You'll know what I believe, you'll know what's on my heart..." For me, that is certainly a promise worth supporting. If every official in the government thought in that respect, this country would be a lot better off. His attitude, surprisingly, is also humble: "What a gift, whan an honor, to make an impact on the greatest nation in the history of the world." I can only give a hearty "AMEN!" to his statements. I ask you, if you live in Pennsylvania, to support Senator Rick Santorum in this tough election. He is a man of values, of honor, and humility and is well-qualified to serve as the Senator from Pennsylvania.

Review: How the Bible Was Built

2006-03-20T18:47:00.000-05:00

How the Bible Was Built Authors: Charles Merrill Smith and James W. Bennett Length: 97 pages Age Category: 12+ Genre: Non-fiction Published: 2005 by Wm. B. Eerdman's Publishing Co. Score: 2 Stars "When the members of a family build a house, they first talk about it." So begins How the Bible Was Built in its attempt to explain how the Christian Bible came to be. Unfortunately for the authors, they failed miserably. Of course, many do wonder and question how the Christian canon came to include a 39-book Old Testament and a 27-book New Testament. Many young believers just assume, not in reality, but in mindset that God said "Let there be my Book" and it was so. Of course, it's flat out foolishness - something that the most conservative pastor would laugh at. While liberals are set on the documentary hypothesis (which you can read about that in my article at Regeneration Our Culture) and the "Q Theory" (which states that the Four Gospels - or at least Matthew, Mark, and Luke, had an unknown source before they were written), the orthodox Christian position has always held that the Bible we have received is exactly as it was given to the prophets and apostles (A prophet being anyone before Christ who was filled with the Holy Spirit and apostles being those who were direct disciples of Christ). This book, although published by a nominally conservative company (Eerdman's has been in the business of supplying Christians with solid, Biblical material for a long time), this book is, surprisingly, more on the liberal side of things in terms of the Scriptures. True, the authors do not take a stance on interpretation but they have been so deluded as to think that contemporary scholarship has the weight of the evidence in favor of these ideas that basically state that the Old Testament was originally oral tradition that was written hundreds or thousands of years after its "supposed" author's lifetime. They even go so far as to say that 1 & 2 Timothy and Titus were not even written by the Apostle Paul! Aside from its lack of Christian orthodoxy in terms of the reception and authorship of the Scriptures, the book is also written very simplistically - meaning, unfortunately, that the sentences are abrubt, simple, and very little of the literary necessities like sentence variation, creativity, and flowing style that go so far to make a book interesting. The irony of the fact is that Mr. Bennett states in the introduction that he had done those with the manuscripts. Now, I'm not saying that these author's are necessarily heretics or anything of that sort. I am not condemning them so much as I am condemning their work (Mr. Smith, in fact, is deceased - a reality that existed before Mr. Bennett's comilation and edit). However, I cannot, in good faith, recommend How the Bible Was Built as an authoritative, trustworthy source for Christians. Those who are strong in their faith may benefit from reading this as they will have an uncomplicated glance at the typical liberal position, but that is, really, the only value to be obtained.

Godly America?

2006-03-19T14:42:00.000-05:00

This is in response to Anabaptist blogger, Javan Lapp, at KingdomSeek. Javan is a passionate believer and had an honest challenge for the Conservative "rebelutionaries" on the web - challenging, among others, myself, Tim Sweetman, and Kristin Braun. His challenge can be read here. What is a Godly nation? The Scriptures are filled with references to Godliness, to nations, and to a combination of the two. The Psalmist says in Psalm 33:12-19: "Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people whom he has chosen as his heritage! The LORD looks down from heaven; he sees all the children of man; from where he sits enthroned he looks out on all the inhabitants of the earth, he who fashions the hearts of them all and observes all their deeds. The king is not saved by his great army; a warrior is not delivered by his great strength. The war horse is a false hope for salvation, and by its great might it cannot rescue. Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love, that he may deliver their soul from death and keep them alive in famine." A long passage, maybe, for a comment, but it does go to show you that God (1) blesses those nations who acknowledge Him as God, (2) looks to their sustenance, and (3) gives them hope and strength. We know that God appoints all authority from heaven above. It doesn't matter if it's the President of the United States or the Prime Minister of China - it's all appointed by the Throne of God. So, any nation has the chance to be holy and Godly. How is America "the mostly Godly nation on the face of the earth?" In terms of its foundation, Americais unique among all other nations on the face of the earth, excepting Israel. Which nation was birthed out of an abundance of fervent prayer, with ardent Christians playing their rightful, civil role in the formation of a government, and based on Judeo-Christian principles that are so clearly demonstrated in the Scriptures? My answer to you, no other. America, by the grace of God, was able to win a war that, historically, could not have happened without the aid of Providence. Do you think some backwoodsmen with rifles could honestly beat what was then the greatest army on the face of the earth without supernatural aid? I tell you it is so! Have we been in earnest like our fathers in that? No, we haven't and we have suffered for it. The greed of men's eyes, the slaughter of the innocents, and the willful rebellion against authority is now greater than ever. What are we, as Christians, to do? What about the founding of America reflects the life or teachings of Christ? Have you ever read the writings of the Founding Fathers? Have you, for one minute, examined their letters? They were ardent patriots but adamant that there is "no greater Source" than the Bible. They were adamant and proclaimed "No king but King Jesus" from the shores of distant Boston to the fields of the Carolinas and Georgia. That was the rallying cry of the War for Independence. Was Jamestown Christ-like? Was Puritan New England Christ-like? Jamestown? Certainly not in its beginnings - but John Smith's faith is what sustained it. Puritan New England? It wasn't perfect and it fell, and look where it is now - the home of radical liberalism and big government. But it produced Godly leaders. The revivals that came out of it - Jonathan Edwards, Charles Finney, and others have renewed the spirit of America's churches and they came from New England. Maybe the Declaration of Independance (the height of Enlightenment logic) was Christian, being penned by our great Christian hero Thomas Jefferson? The Declaration may have the tone of the Enlightenment but was grounded in the works of John Locke and William Blackstone - two unashamedly Bible-believing Christians. (And as for Thomas Jefferson, he was a strong proponent of the Bible's authority in government). Maybe you can see Jesus, who dealt with evil by suffering before causing suffering, in the American Rebellion? It wasn't a rebellion. England lost its authority and attempted to invade a land that was forming its government. They had no right. We but defended ourselves. Maybe you can see the Holy Spirit in the writing of the Constitution? (Can you also see Him in the Church councils on Mary, the saints, and the infallibility of the pope?) The General Councils of the Church aside (which, by the way, never made declarations concerning Mary, dead saints, or the pope), can you say that the Constitution hasn't been effective? France's "democracy" emerged just after our Republic and it has already gone through numerous constitutions, emperors, and dictators - not to mention the havoc that was the French Revolution. The United States has had none of that or we would surely not be here today. But my impression is that this is about more than advocating a Biblical worldview for Christians, but for all people in our society. Will this make more followers of Christ? And do people need to "turn out" like us? Do they have to share our interpretations and approaches? What is most important? A government legislates morals. What must be determined is what kind of morals. The current US government legislates that abortion is legal, therefore, moral for people to commit. We cannot make people moral on the inside but we can certainly make this country such that to give into the fleshly instincts (polygamy, homosexuality, abortion, etc) is not allowed or tolerated - thereby discouraging them. Is there a subtle or significant difference between “strengthening and renewing a Christian culture” and “making our culture Christian?” There is a difference. On the one hand, it refers to the Church and the culture within the Church - which, albeit, is not healthy. The other deals with the entire nation and seeks to bring the truth back to society - which inevitably makes a good ground for evangelism. Obviously, political differences will continue to exist but there should be no moral differences (in terms of domsestic society) among Christians. And a few things about your manifesto (very well-written, by the way): (1) Everything that happens is in the will of God. I'm no Calvinist but to say that God's will can be abrogated or ignored is to say He is not sovereign - which the Bible clearly teaches. (2) No Christian I know has ever said that "one organization" or "one man" is the mouthpiece of God. (3) No Christian claims capitalism either. Granted, it is certainly more fair than, say, communism or socialism, but it's not a Christian doctrine - simply common sense. (4) Some philosophers have called war the natural state of man...while I disagree, it shows something in man's nature. God called man out to war. War is a necessary evil and must be just when conducted (you can find my Just War post on the sidebar of The Account) but it MUST be conducted by a government, not by a Church or an individual. The governing authorities are given the sword for the punishment of evildoers. (5) We are called to be in the world, not of the world. The monks of the Middle Ages looked only to the next world and, because of it, many souls now suffer in eternal torment. We must be focused upon our Redeemer and reach out to the world around us that they may realize that "today is the day of salvation." Anyways, I'm ready for cross-examination. ;)

Repost: The Meaning of Life

2006-03-18T22:24:00.000-05:00

We are everyday surrounded by life. But each and every day, we are also reminded of the painful existence of death. In the wake of one highly-publicized death - Terri Schindler Schiavo - I thought that this topic would be particular appropriate. Philosophers have tangled with the question, "What is the meaning of life" for hundreds of years, little knowing that the answer had been given in the beginning of time. Genesis 2:7 says, "the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being." It's clearly evident the life of a human being is of great value. Not only did God form mankind in a very personal manner (everything else was spoken into existence); not only did He make mankind in His very image; He breathed "the breath of life" into his nostrils. It is important to note here that this indicates that man was given an eternal soul. The result is also important: "and man became a living being." This phrase is not used to describe any other creature upon the earth. Men, are indeed, blessed by God and have an unique creation found nowhere else. The value of man's life: priceless. With this in mind, let us examine the Terri Schindler Schiavo case: Terri was a healthy, mentally-capable, human being. She possessed an eternal soul that was given to her by God. She, like every other human being on the face of this planet, was "fearfully and wonderfully made." Terri was, in effect, a "living being." Yet, the cruel hands of men robbed this innocent woman of her inalienable "right to life" and took the place of God. Congratulations, America...you've just murdered a special creation of God.

The Generation Rising

2006-03-17T21:24:00.000-05:00

My grandmother went to a women's prayer breakfast for ladies of all denominations last Saturday. While she described the breakfast as a good thing, etc. and enjoyed herself, one thing she mentioned really caught my interest. A minister, at one point, got up on the stage, and asked everyone present under the age of 20 to come up there. They did (must have been quite a few). He prayed over each one of them and then prophesied, saying that this generation would bring a revival to the Church, that this generation would see the promises of God fulfilled, that this generation would be as a remnant raised up by God as a testimony to the power of God. Now, I don't think this is coincedence. Not for one second do I doubt this man. For one thing, I've been reading Charles Finney's Revivals of Religion (an EXCELLENT book that I wholeheartedly recommend even on the personal level as it deals with prayer, Christian living, and the Holy Spirit as well). Second, can anyone point out another generation that is so lost and, yet, there is a small group within that generation that is entirely sold out for Christ and standing up for Him now. We see Regenerate Our Culture. We see Generation Joshua. We see a movement of teens - on the blogosphere and in the Church that are committed to God entirely. No other generation has such a parallel! I mentioned Finney's work. Well, it turns out that my series will be taking certain passages from the book and expounding on them further. The one thing that has really been on my heart for the longest time is revival - and with revival come unity and activity. "Take heart, for I have overcome the world."

It's Coming...

2006-03-14T21:46:00.000-05:00

Regenerate Our Culture makes its debut release tomorrow with the first edition of its magazine. With a sponsorship of over 50 blogs before its launch, the debut is sure to make a big splash tomorrow as it launches. Promising a first edition featuring fifteen "top Christian bloggers" on the web, I am personally looking forward to reading what the other fourteen have to say. I am truly amazed at how fast this has caught on - stretching from Agent Tim Online to Wholesome Works, it really has made an impact if only in anticipation levels. Really, I'm amazed at how this has all pulled together. I'm really excited at how they have pulled together some excellent aspects into one overhead - making SquareTalk Radio the official podcast, including a blogging network to ensure that all the Christian blogosphere is able to be united in fellowship and committed to the goal of regenerating our culture. So, when the sun rises tomorrow, be sure to check out Regenerate Our Culture.

Review: Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt

2006-03-12T21:45:00.000-05:00

Review: Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt Author: Anne Rice Length: 322 pages (including Author's Note) Age Category: 14+ Genre: Christian Historical Published: November 2005 by Alfred A. Knopf Co. Score: Five Stars "I was seven years old. What do you know when you're seven years old?" [1] With these first sentences, Mrs. Anne Rice catapults the reader back to the first century A.D. and brings the ancient Middle East to life. The childhood of the world's most influential figure takes on flesh and blood in a most convincing way through this uncharacteristically accurate novel. Thsi work of fiction, "based on the gospels and on the most respected New Testatment scholarship," is compelling, interesting, and portrays the early years of Jesus Christ with Christian reverence and a deep devotion to God. [2] Writing Anne Rice is no amateur writer. Having authored numerous books, including two dramatic trilogies to what I believe to be the crowning achievment of her writing career. Her three decades of experience have prepared her for every aspect that this project involved. One, it taught her how to research properly and thoroughly. In any historical novel, good research is the key and to do research on this scale would have been a daunting task - even to an experienced author such as Mrs. Rice. The second key skill gained is her abilit to make her own questions, her own inquiries, come alive through her writing. As she stated in the Author's Note at the end of Christ the Lord, "I stumbled upon a mystery without a solution, a mystery so immense that I gave up trying to find an explanation because the whole mystery defied belief. The mystery was the survival of the Jews. [...] I decided that I would give myself utterly to the task of trying to understand Jesus himself..." [3] Thirdly, she gained the ability to express the characters and the facts in a believable, as well as remarkable way. In Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt, Jesus is portrayed with such realism and humanity that the reader is in awe from the beginning. His struggles, His questions, and His childlike innocence are but a demonstration of her ability to breathe life into the childhood of Jesus of Nazareth. She aptly does the same thing with characters like Joseph, Mary, James (his brother, portrayed as an elder step-brother in Christ the Lord), and even John the Baptist. The caretful precision of each written word, the well-developed plot, and the pwer of the diction throughout the book only serve to justify Anne Rice's skills as a writer. History The depth and historical accuracy of Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt is one of its obvious strengths. Mrs. Rice wen to great lengths to ensure that her work was not only historically accurate, but also historically involved. Through the eyes of the child Jesus, the reader receives a detailed look at ancient Alexandria, the glories of Jerusalem before its fall and the small town of Nazareth in the shadow of Sepphoris. She correctly and astutely identifies the social, political, and religious atmosphere of the area between Alexandria and Sepphoris, almost exclusively among the Jews. In Alexandria, for instance, there is a greater attitude of affluence - especially where the Romans and the Scriptures are concerned. As these words from the characters in the book demonstrate:

"No, and it's Greek that you're teaching them, Scripture in Greek!" said Alphaeus. "And we teach them here at home in Hebrew because you don't even know Hebrew and you are the Teacher, and this is what the House of Study is here, Greek. [...] Jerusalem does not speak Greek!" [4]

This reveals an important fact of the time to the reader: the tension between Hellenized and traditional, Hebraic Jews. This also sets the stage for the Jerusalem conflicts between the conservative Pharisees and affluent Sadducees. Mrs. Rice has relied heavily on some of the best in New Testament scholarship - including Bishop N.T. Wright. In an interview with Christian talk show show and entrepreneur, Jerry Bowyer, Mrs. Rice states:

I did read quite a bit. I read as much as I possibly could and I'm continuing to read as I go on with the story [is that a suggestion of a sequel?] and I know I'll be reading N.T. Wright until I die. I mean, N.T. Wright has produced these magnificent books of New Testament scholarship and he is, I think, one of the greatest scholars, if not the greatest scholar because of his great joy in his faith. [5]

She has brough the civil unrest - caused by revolutionary brigands and Zealots - to life through the terrified eyes of the child Jesus. Another observation, made by Mr. Jerry Boywer is this:

One of the things that really struck me about your novel is the Jewishness of Jesus, the Hebraism of his character, because it doesn't often show up. I mean, people have written historical novels - Ben-Hur, Quo Vadis. I mean, you've read these. But I'm not sure that anybody I've read so far, other than scholars - and none of them are fiction writers - has quite made clear that we're reading about, among many other things, the formation of a Rabbi. [6]

This is a very apt observation and, as Mr. Bowyet notes, this vital historic fact is too often overlooked - but Anne Rice has done her research and does not make that mistake. Christian Content One question that will concern many readers will always be: "Is the Jesus that Anne Rice presents in Christ the Lord Biblically sound?" My answer is a strong affirmative. Although much of the content is, indeed, fictional, virtually none of it falls outside of Biblical parameters. This fact impressed me beyond any other aspect of the book. After all, finding an interesting and a solid portrayal of the child Jesus is not something you will find on the bookshelf every day. One of the more interesting characteristics is the acute lack of omniscience and awareness in Jesus. The child does not truly realize His identity all throughout the book and only begins to discover it later - as He is slowly let in on the "family secret." Some Christians might object to this saying that Mrs. Rice "limits" the Deity of Christ. She has, however, made the case based on the writings of the Apostle Paul and Augustine - more particularly in Paul's statement that Christ "emptied" Himself when He took on flesh. It's still Christian orthodoxy, no less. One other issue is one that Mrs. Rice herself addresses:

Then there were the legends - the Apocrypha - including the tantalizing tales in the Infancy Gospel of Thomas describing a boy Jesus who could strike a child dead, bring another to life, turn clay birds into living creatures and perform other miracles [...] They were fanciful, some of them humorous, extreme to be sure, but they had lived on into the Middle Ages, and beyond. I couldn't get these legends out of my mind. Ultimately, I chose to embrace this material, to enclose it within the canonical framwork as best I could. I felt there was a deep truth in it, and I wanted to preserve that truth as it spoke to me. If course that is an assumption But I made it. And perhaps in assuming that Jesus did manifest supernatural powers at an early age I am somehow being trut to the declaration of the Council of Chalcedon, that Jesus was God and Man at all times. [7]

A controversial choice? Certainly, but Mrs. Rice did not abuse it or make it the focus of the story. In fact, they merely contributed to the overall magnificence of the Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt. Conclusion In short, the quality of the writing, the accuracy of its historical context, and the intent reverence for the Gospel-based identity of Jesus make Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt a worthy book to read. Anne Rice, an indisputably qualified author, has given the Church a great work to read - to place on the shelf beside Ben-Hur and Quo Vadis. The question remains: is this the book for you? I'll let Mrs. Rice answer that one: This is a book I offer to all Christians - to the fundamentalists, to the Roman Catholics, to the most liberal Christians in the hope that my embrace of more conservative doctrines will have some coherence for them in the here and now of the book. I offer it to the scholars in the hope that they will perhaps enjoy seeing the evidence of the research that's gone into it, and of course, I offer it to those whom I greatly admire who have been my teachers though I've never met them and probably never will. I offer this book to those who know nothing of Jesus Christ in the hope that you will see him in these pages in some form. I offer this novel with love to my readers who've followed me through one strange turn after another in the hope that Jesus will be as real to you as any other character I've ever launched into the world we share. [8] Sources:

Rice, Anne. Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt. New York: Alfred A. Knopf Co. (c) 2005. pg. 3
Ibid. (book flap)
Ibid. pgs. 308-309
Ibid. pgs. 10-11
Bowyer, Jerry. From Vampires to the Messiah: An Interview with Anne Rice. Available online in downloadable audio at http://www.jerrybowyer.com/podcasts/JerryBowyer--AnneRice.mp3
Ibid.
Rice, Anne. pg. 320
Ibid. pgs. 320-321

The Future of the Account, Continued

2006-03-12T15:15:00.000-05:00

There wasn't as much output as I had hoped for The Future of the Account post, but I believe I'm seeing the general flow of things from it. Here are the final counts:

Theological - 3 votes (MVB, Matt A., and Another Faith)
Theo-Philosophical - 1 vote (Mom)
Theo-Historical - 2 votes (Javan and Sarah)
Theo-Social - 2.5 votes (Kierstyn, D3, and Lindsey)
Theo-Literary - 1.5 votes (Jenn and D3)

So, in order, they would be Theological, Theo-Social, Theo-Historical, Theo-Literary, and Theo-Philosophical. As I was thinking about this, I realized that Theo-Philosophical is already being covered over in my posts at Kingdom Knights. So that issue is solved. As far as the Theo-Literary focus goes, I would continue to write reviews of books and movies anyway (a review for Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt by Anne Rice is coming out this week!) and Karen Kovaka of Rhetorical Response does a much better job on the literary side of things. So that's another area covered for. It just wouldn't work as a focus. The three remaining, Theological, Theo-Social, and Theo-Historical are things I all enjoy. Yet, the more I think about it, the more I am realizing that Alex and Brett Harris, Tim Sweetman, and Kristin Braun seriously do have a handle on the Theo-Social aspect of things. So, Theological and Theo-Historical remain. Honestly, I think I can handle a combination of the two. I have a few ideas in the works and I'd actually like your feedback on them...A new series is coming shortly after the Christ the Lord review. But here are future ideas for your curiosity. Do let me know what you think:

A Christian examination of the Old Testament Apocrypha
A Christian examination of the New Testament Apocrypha
A Christian examination of the Hebrew Talmudim
A Christian examination of the Hebrew Mishnah
A Christian examination of the Hebrew Midrash

As you can see, all of these deal with texts that are forgotten, ignored, unknown or rejected by most Christians today. It is my belief that although none of the above are actually canonical, they can provide insights and ideas that will aid in the strengthening of the faith - whether it reveals truth or reveals the lies of the enemy.

Regeneration in the Western World

2006-03-04T10:19:00.000-05:00

I today's world, society has changed all the values of life: a mother is allowed to kill her child (infanticide was nearly universally condemned even before Christ) , the disabled are no longer guaranteed their inalienable right to life (Terri Schindler-Schiavo was denied this right, despite her coherence), and those who are sold out for God are no longer protected (Praying youth were arrested at the White House, Pro-life youth were pushed out of a church, Christians everywhere have become second-class citizens). This is the state of American culture today. So what are we to do about it? Many of us in the blogosphere are committed to changing that by speaking the Truth. In an interview with SquareTalk radio, I stated as much. The Account, The Rebelution, Agent Tim Online, Spunky Jr., and multitudes of others are wholly committed to advancing the Kingdom and bringing the world back to its Redeemer. Is it enough? I don't think so. So we invented magazines and newsletters. The Christian Homeschooling Youth's Gazette is now in its fourth year of reaching the world - featuring Biblically-based writing for the strengthening and renewal of the Christian culture. In about 10 days, a new force is emerging - Regenerate Our Culture. Brought together by some of the premier bloggers on the web - Tim Sweetman, Alex King, Kristin Braun, and Jake Smith - Regenerate Our Culture is committed to bringing our culture back to Christ. Featuring a bi-weekly magazine, a blogger network, and a solid, Biblical message, this is definitely a force to be reckoned with. God alone knows what else they have in store. In other words, CHECK IT OUT!

Review: The Door Within

2006-03-01T14:45:00.000-05:00

Note: Please leave your opinion concerning the Future of the Account in the comment section for that post. Review: The Door Within Author: Wayne Thomas Batson Length: 320 pages Age Category: 10+ Genre: Christian Fantasy Published: September 2005 by Tommy Nelson Publishing Co. Score: Five Stars Warning: Review may contain spoilers. “Even were the hordes of darkness to assail you in hopeless demand of your life -- even then do you swear devotion forever to the King?” [Batson, 124]. Such is the question that follows the journey of Aidan Thomas from where we meet this angry (and oft misunderstood) young man in Colorado all the way through his adventures in the Realm in the service of King Eliam the Everlasting. Combining the greatest elements that appear in The Lord of the Rings, The Chronicles of Narnia, and Eragon (and quite unintentionally, at that), author Wayne Thomas Batson has given the Christian universe a tale that they can hold onto and enjoy for many years to come. After being uprooted from his home in Maryland, separated from his best friend, and facing constant unbelief from his parents, Aidan Thomas has had quite enough with life as it is and is, understandably, angry about it. When he discovers some mysterious scrolls in the basement of his grandfather’s home, he is sure that all will change for the better. Yes and no. Although his parents still refuse to take him seriously, his “Grampin” encourages him to believe and to enter the Door Within. The rest of the book goes on to detail his entrance through that Door to the Kingdom of Alleble in the Realm, where he is taken into the service of the King and sent out with eleven others to reach another kingdom with the offer of peace from Alleble. That would be a relatively easy task if the Kingdom were not at war with an ancient enemy - Paragory. As Aidan discovers the ancient roots of the conflict and just how far the enemy is willing to go to bring their mission to a disastrous ending, he finds himself changing - and for the better. I had the opportunity to interview Mr. Batson about The Door Within in the last week and, through our correspondence, this is what emerged: David Ketter: What was the concept in mind with which you began writing The Door Within?

Wayne Thomas Batson: There were two interrelated concepts, really. The first was an event that really hit me pretty hard. I had just become a Christian, and I finally had learned enough and gotten enough courage to tell some very important people about the good news. When I was finished spilling my guys, they laughed at me. It was kind of life, Awww, that’s cute. I couldn’t take that. Argue with me, dispute my facts, but don’t laugh. So I wanted to write a story where the protagonist had something important to share, but would not be believed. The second concept that fueled The Door Within was the amazing truth that there exists a spiritual realm where angels and demons fight for the souls of people. I didn’t want to replicate Frank Peretti’s work, but I wanted to create a world like our own, oblivious to the certainty of a connected “other” realm.

DK: You have named Tolkien, Paolini, and others as influences in your writing. Could you elaborate what aspects of The Door Within they had the most impact on? Would you number C.S. Lewis among them?

WTB: Tolkien gave me a love for fantasy. If it hadn’t been for the professor, The Door Within might have been something akin to a contemporary thriller rather than a medieval fantasy. The Door Within doesn’t have Elves, Dwarves, Hobbits, and wizards like Tolkien’s Rings Trilogy, but the Glimpses of the Realm have very different cultures from each other, and the comparisons can be made. The Glimpses from Yewland for instance, have a lot in common with the traditional Elves. Also, because I became so enamored with Tolkien, I read his Rings Trilogy once a year for the last 12 or 13 years. I think that was a mixed blessing because on the one hand, I gained an appreciation for the creation of various, lush worlds. I learned the power of the written word to transport the reader to another place. A negative was that I think I absorbed a lot of Tolkien’s language. I know that sounds crazy. Why would that be a negative? Well, Tolkien was a master of language, but his style is quite dated. He used a lot of passive voice, being verbs, and loads of modifiers. Most contemporary schools don’t like that style as much these days, my editors included. Paolini’s work didn’t really influence my writing at all, but I was inspired by his work to get Eragon published. He’s an extraordinarily determined young man and I think you have to be if you want to break into the publishing world. C.S. Lewis, though I truly respect his writings, didn’t really influence my writing. I’m kind of ashamed to admit that I didn’t start reading The Chronicles of Narnia until about 3 months before the movie came out. His theology is incredible and his style of apologetics has inspired me in my personal life. Just not his writing.

DK: What would you say is the overall message of The Door Within?

WTB: The overall message of The Door Within is that there is a plan for your life, a plan full of adventure--and danger, but you can face it with courage because you are not alone.

DK: The second book of The Door Within Trilogy, Rise of the Wyrm Lord, is due to come out in a few months. Can we expect it to carry the same message or will it have a different concept in mind?

WTB: Due out in a few weeks actually. ;-) There are similar themes throughout, but there are definitely new concepts in mind, as there will be an additional main character to follow, [and] more of the Realm’s history will be uncovered.

My encounter with this book came by quite accidentally (or, as I prefer to say, providentially). It was truly a God-send that I found this book. I'm no stranger to the Christian literary world - being self-taught under the influence of Christian greats like J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis. What I see in The Door Within is a true application in the tradition of their work. Like The Chronicles of Narnia, The Door Within is readily symbolic and heavy-laden with the elements of orthodox (or "Mere" as Lewis would say) Christianity and portray compelling lessons and values that are sorely needed in the youth culture of the Christian Church today. Aidan, the protaganist of the story, is wound up in the adventure of a lifetime while hating every aspect of his situation: the loneliness, the location, and the relational problems that he has with his parents. The Door Within shares characteristics with Tolkien's universe as well. The epic-like stage in which it is set (the kingdom, race, mythological dynamic) quickly put any reader familiar with Tolkien at home and it draws one into the story. The myth-like mystery of Alleble and Paragory only serve to engage the reader and give them a desire to learn (or maybe create) the ancient history of that world. As seen, Mr. Batson has invested quite a bit of thought and effort into The Door Within. His writing style is well above the norm and the plot is not only interesting but constantly surprising to the reader. In terms of the message, The Door Within ranks among the greatest books I have read, along with the works of Tolkien and Lewis. In this day of literary mediocrity, Mr. Batson has arisen to give the Christian universe a revival in fantasy. Note: The Rise of the Wyrm Lord will be released March 7, 2006.

Rings, Knights, and the Kingdom

2006-02-27T21:34:00.000-05:00

Note: Please leave your opinion concerning the Future of the Account in the comment section for that post. So, I went to the Silver Ring Thing last night. I definitely think it's an event worth attending. Now, I'm sure that most of you are, like me, conservative enough to have already making a commitment to purity and saving yourself for marriage (especially those of us who read I Kissed Dating Goodbye and Boy Meets Girl). Frankly, this event was almost five or six years too late to convince me of that. HOWEVER, having that commitment isn't always easy to demonstrate and that's what I think this event can do. The ring stays on - just like a wedding band would - and it can certainly get people asking questions, which may open the opportunity to share the Gospel. Outward testimony of inward reality. You may or may not know that I began a project with another homeschooling friend of mine named Jonathan McCarthy. Too often, those in Evangelical/Fundamentalist circles have no intellectual history or tradition to refer to. Reformed Protestants and Traditional believers have the great traditions of Melancthon, Aquinas, Augustine, Lombard, and Calvin that they can turn to for intellectual content but for those of us who are not of those beliefs (Pentecostals, Baptists, Charismatics, non-denominationals, etc.), there is nothing. As Dr. Mark Noll said, "The scandal of the evangelical mind is that there is not much of an evangelical mind." Kingdom Knights: Fight the Scandal, is all about changing that reality for the better. Featuring discussions on everything from Narnia to honoring parents and the logic of Intelligent Design, it is definitely the place to go if you want to have a good, intellectual discussion. Obviously, our target audience is of the stripe of Evangelicals that we profess to be part of but it seems that those who find us are traditional and reformed, so do stop by. Articles that you may find helpful are on the sidebar at KK. What do these two things have in common? Both are for the furtherance of the Kingdom. It is my prayer that you will consider and support them both. Let this generation rise up and become Christ's beacon to the world!

The Future of the Account

2006-02-26T08:50:00.000-05:00

Well, it's been quite a long time since I've done a REAL post, hasn't it? Well, between school, work, scholarship stuff, and the mock government, I haven't had much time for all of it but I'm certainly going to fix that problem right now. I was looking back at my posts over the last year and a half (The Account started on September 29, 2004) and noticed that I had posted a lot of different types of articles. And looking at that, I know that there is no way I could keep up with all of them. So, I'm putting the ideas before you on what you think the focus of The Account should be. Just comment and let me know.

Theological - The Account should focus mainly on Christian doctrine and theology. This includes Christian "essentials" (basic doctrines of Christianity) and "non-essentials" (mainly my own theological beliefs)

Example: Predestination: A Biblical Concept

Theo-Philosophical - The Account should focus mainly on Christian philosophy. This includes Christian views on social issues, philosophical problems, and commentary on philosophers/philosophies, past and present.

Example: Courageism: The Account Perspective

Theo-Historical - The Account should focus mainly on Christian and Jewish history. This includes the history of Israel, the Church, the Church Fathers, specific movements and the rise of different denominations and cults.

Example: An Examination of the Church Fathers, Part II

Theo-Social - The Account should focus mainly on Christian issues in society. This includes public issues like abortion and Church issues like Israel, as well as current events in the news.

Example: God Is Faithful

Theo-Literary - The Account should focus mainly on Christian outlook in reviews. This includes movies, music, and book reviews.

Example: Review: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

I'm looking forward to your thoughts!

Interesting Technological Things...

2006-02-23T12:30:00.000-05:00

Posts that contain "David Ketter" per day for the last 30 days. Get your own chart! Definitely intersting...now I have to decide if those mentions are outliers or the sum of the data, lol. :P

Purpose and Love: Mary, the Mother of Jesus

2006-02-23T12:02:00.000-05:00

Note: This appeared in the December 2005 edition of The Christian Homeschooling Youth's Gazette. In most non-Catholic and non-Orthodox circles, Mary the mother of Jesus is often overlooked as a necessary, but relatively minor figure in the history of the Gospels. In my opinion, this is a grave error. While I do not hold with the Catholic and Orthodox ideas concerning her state in relation to sin and her relationship with Joseph after the birth of Jesus - much more their veneration of her - Protestant and Evangelical Christianity have come to the point where they no longer recognize the mother of the Christ as an important figure. I will argue that, aside from God Himself, she was probably the most influential figure in His life. She had endured persecution for His sake, had raised Him, with Joseph, as a pious Son of Israel and was His earliest follower. Jesus apparently cared enough for her that He granted her requests (the wedding miracle in Cana - John 2:1-11) and ensured that she would be cared for (committing her wellbeing to John - John 19:25-27) when He could no longer do so. In order to have a clear image of who this woman was, let us turn to how the Gospels of Matthew and Luke introduce her:

"This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit." -Matthew 2:18 "In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you." Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end." "How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?" The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God." "I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her." -Luke 1:26-38

From these passages, we learn key things about the indentity of Mary. First of all, she was pledged to be married. Without considering the theological and prophetic importance of this fact, the societal impacts will be examined. At this time, women, regardless of their nationality or tribal identity married at a young age. The men themselves were often young, as well. Betrothal, the pledging of the bride, could take place when the girl was but an infant, but was often established when the girl was eleven or twelve years old, and she could be married when she reached the age of thirteen. For this reason, and others, the majority of conservative Biblical scholarship - regardless of denomination or doctrinal beliefs - believe that Mary was around the age of thirteen or fourteen when the angel Gabriel announced that she would become the mother of Jesus. So, we have the fact of her youth. Second, we have Gabriel's greeting "Greetings you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you." It would be astounding enough to be in the very presence of an angel, but to be greeted in such a way would be utterly terrifying - especially for a woman of Mary's age. And that is exactly what Luke tells us - that she "was greatly troubled." The internal aspects of Luke's record in this early history of the Gospel's indicates that he must have talked to someone very close to Mary, or to Mary herself, concerning this event. Young, barely eligible for marriage, and highly favored of God are three characteristics that we can glean just from the first few sentences. Yet, that is only the beginning, and it hardly matches the fear that she must have had at his announcement: "You will be with child and give birth to a son..." Step back for a moment and consider this picture: a young teenage girl, of a righteous family that is well-known for its piety and observance of the Law of Moses is found to be with child. Not only that, she is betrothed and the man whom she is going to marry is not the father. According to the girl, there was no father, but that she was "with child through the Holy Spirit." Consider that, based on appearances alone, Mary would have been stoned as an adulteress. But there were a few factors that prevented this and their names are Joseph and Elizabeth. We know from the Gospels that Joseph planned to "divorce her quietly" so that no attention would be drawn to it. When an angel appeared to him in a dream and told him not to be afraid of taking her as his wife, he was obedient to God and acted as the legal father of Jesus Christ. Elizabeth, too, provided Mary with the assistance she needed. Known to be a relative of Mary, Elizabeth was dealing with her own miracle during that time as she was also with child - a child that was later to be known as John the Baptist. After Gabriel's visit, Mary went to the house of Elizabeth and stayed with her a few months, and left just before John was to be born. This, more than anything, probably saved her life because it allowed her to escape the eyes of her neighbors and people that knew her in Nazareth. Encouragment, too, was what Elizabeth offered: "Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!" (Luke 1:45). Afterward, she returned to Nazareth and married Joseph. Following that time is the series of events with which everyone is familiar: the census of Caesar, the journey to Bethlehem, the birth of the Christ in a cave (which was used as a stable in sheep-herding towns like Bethlehem) and the visit of the shepherds. After His birth, they started a new life in Bethlehem. Some time later, Magi came from the east, first to Jerusalem, and then to Bethlehem and worshipped Him, bringing kingly gifts - gold, incense, and myrrh. And through all this, what was Mary's response? "But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart." (Luke 2:19) Here is a woman of God - devoted to His Law, faithful to His commands, and loving to His Son. Mary, the mother of Jesus, the wife of Joseph, and the daughter of the House of David, was given a task to raise the Only Begotten Son of God. To this end, she had a purpose beyond that of many people, past or present. She was a servant of the Most High and was obedient to that purpose. She bore His Son and she loved Him from His birth, to His death, to His resurrection, and from there, unto her own death. Her's was the love of a mother to her Son, and the love of a believer to her Savior - a rich combination that required someone who loved God and obeyed His commands. And in those things, she was successful.

Prayer

2006-02-12T08:15:00.000-05:00

First thing: watch this video. What do you think the Church would be like if it was as excited about prayer as these guys were? Second thing: read the lyrics to this song. Do you have an answer now? This is a discussion post...I'll put my own thoughts on it after this. Grace and Peace, David Ketter

Courageism: The Account Perspective

2006-02-11T21:10:00.000-05:00

Note: At the behest of Scott Somerville, I have written the following on "courageism." It can also be read at Mr. Somerville's blog, along with other teen blogger's thoughts. Courage has a lot of meanings in the world today. Some take it to be bravery - that is, facing our fears. Others believe courage is perseverance - that is, persisting in what we have set out to do. These two primary elements, and others form the crux of courageism (a phrase, admittedly, I've never heard up until this day). They form a vital part that is too often lacking in the train of Western thought. Yet, Jesus Christ embodied this perfectly. Courage as Bravery It's almost a stereotypical situation when someone is told that bravery is not the lack of fear, but facing fear in spite of oneself. In the Gospel accounts of Matthew and John, we can see the anguish and fear with which Christ looked forward to His crucifixion. Yet, despite the difficulties, the inevitable pain, He went forward to His Cross with joy and triumphed - redeeming man from sin. In this aspect, we must be faithful - despite our fears, our worries, and the things that it might cost us (in the cases of Christ, King, and Gandhi, it cost them their lives) - despite all of that, we must face it. Terrorism is not a pretty thing and it will not be an easy enemy to defeat (coming from my theological point of view, an enemy that we cannot defeat) but the battle must still be fought. Courage as Perseverance Perseverance - continuing what you are doing until the goal is accomplished - is obviously an essential portion of courageism. After all, if we do not have that attitude to finish the job, it's not going to get done. I am reminded again of how Jesus approached the Cross. Even with the difficulties on the road and the attempts to dissuade him from his disciples, He continued on to Jerusalem. Even when the teachers of the law and the Sanhedrin abused Him and cursed Him, even when brought before the most powerful authorities in the land - Pilate and Herod - He persisted in His silent witness. Even when He was beaten and scourged in such brutality such that He could barely stand, He carried His own Cross - going willingly to His death. Even when He could have given up His life before the appointed time, he persisted in fulfilling the word of the prophets in taking of the vinegar. And when all had been accomplished, he said, "It is finished." "Perseverance," says the Apostle James, "must finish its work that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." (James 1, NIV) Courage as Zeal Zeal, too, is vital. If we no longer have the passion for what we fight for, we shall surely be defeated. Zeal is rewarded in the Scriptures - as we see in the case of Phinehas, the son of Aaron (Numbers 22?), and in the case of King David (1 Samuel 17). It is also the case with Jesus. During the week before His crucifixion, He preached in the Temple every day. Among His words was a stinging rebuke to the leaders of the people, "Woe to you, teachers of the Law and Pharisees, you hypocrites!" sounded throughout the holy mount. He cleared the Temple of barters and traders who were systematically robbing the Israelites when they came to sacrifice before the LORD. He cast them out, fulfilling the prophecy, as John says, "Zeal for your house will consume me." This is vital...Zeal means we have the energy to continue to fight and carry to cause forward. Courage as Vision There can be no victory without a Vision. Dr. King had a vision - "I have a dream..." - and it cost him His life. Jesus had a vision as well - "I pray for them, Father, that they might be one, even as you and I are one." His Vision was that the Redeemed would worship "in Spirit and in truth" and be united in that. He suffered, He taught them servant-leadership, gave them the authority and the call to be one in Him. Paul carried that on, "Is Christ divided?" (1 Cor. 1). The Bride of Christ will be whole and one - that was the vision of Jesus. In order for this courageism to be contained, we must have a definite vision, a goal, an ultimatum. Courage in Love "And faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love." (1 Cor. 13:13, ESV). "If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, I am but a noisy gong and a clanging cymbal. And if I prophesy and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that removes mountains, but have not love, I am nothing." (1 Cor. 13:1-2, ESV). "God is love. Whoever abides in love, abides in God and God in him." (1 John). The Christian message is preserved in love. Courageism cannot sustain itself ("Apart from me, you can do nothing" -John 15, ESV) and without God's aid and His love, we shall not seize the victory. Courageism, then, is made up of these five things: Bravery, Perseverance, Zeal, Vision, and Love. With these, there is nothing that cannot be defeated. As our Lord once said, "Take heart, for I have overcome the world" - and He did....He did.

The Lord's Day and the Sabbath

2006-02-10T21:13:00.000-05:00

There is some controversy concerning the status of the Sabbath-rest and its place in the Church. Many in the past few centuries have argued that Christians are bound by the Law to keep the Sabbath-rest on Sunday. Historically, traditionally even, it has been understood that the Christian day of worship was not equal to the Sabbath. This can be understood from the Scriptures themselves, the writings of the early Church Fathers, and through simple logic. The written distinctions of the Apostle John is evident.

Revelation 1:10-11: On the Lord's Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, which said: "Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea." (NIV)

This passage in Revelation tells us two things. One, that John's vision came during his worship of the One True God and, two, that this worship was taking place on "The Lord's Day." Any theologian of religious historian will be able to tell you that the phrase refers to Sunday. Revelation was written circa 95 A.D., enough time for such a conflict to develop - if, in fact, there had been one. Look also, at the command of the Voice of the Lord. He was telling His follower to work on the Lord's Day. John had no inhibitions about doing this despite the fact that the Hebrew Christians still held to the Hebrew customs and laws - including the Sabbath-rest. The Law was quite clear (Exodus 20:8-11, ESV):

"Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy."

This command was given to Moses for the people of Israel to observe. You see, though, that is one of the major distinctions. The command, the Law, was given unto the Jews for their observance. Romans 9:4 (ESV) indicates this as well: "They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises." (emphasis mine) Yet, look at the actions and words of Jesus concerning the Sabbath:

Luke 1:10-16: Now he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. And there was a woman who had had a disabling spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not fully straighten herself. When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said to her, "Woman, you are freed from your disability." And he laid his hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and she glorified God. But the ruler of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, said to the people, "There are six days in which work ought to be done. Come on those days and be healed, and not on the Sabbath day." Then the Lord answered him, "You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the manger and lead it away to water it? And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day?" (ESV)

John 5:16-18: For this reason the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because He was doing these things on the Sabbath. But He answered them, "My Father is working until now, and I Myself am working." For this reason therefore the Jews were seeking all the more to kill Him, because He not only was breaking the Sabbath, but also was calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God. (NASB)

Our Lord's actions do not demonstrate a disregard of the Law but using the Law correctly. Jesus is a Jew - the only Jew, in fact, to have followed the Law entirely - and He would not break the commandments that He gave. When we read the Gospel of John, we see His own admission that He is constantly working on the Sabbath. Some might object that Jesus is God. Very true, but the fact is that Jesus is also very much human. He was God in the Flesh - bound to the humanity that He had created. He is a Jew by birth and fulfilled the Law as was required of him. In fact, Thomas Aquinas, perhaps the most brilliant of all theologians - past or present - wrote specifically concerning Christ's seeming "disregard" for the Law:

Our Lord excuses Himself from any transgression of the Law in this matter, for three reasons. First, the precept of the hallowing of the Sabbath forbids not Divine work, but human work: for though God ceased on the seventh day from the creation of new creatures, yet He ever works by keeping and governing His creatures. Now that Christ wrought miracles was a Divine work: hence He says (John 5:17): "My Father worketh until now; and I work." Secondly, He excuses Himself on the ground that this precept does not forbid works which are needful for bodily health. Wherefore He says (Luke 13:15): "Doth not every one of you on the Sabbath-day loose his ox or his ass from the manger, and lead them to water?" And farther on (Luke 14:5): "Which of you shall have an ass or an ox fall into a pit, and will not immediately draw him out on the Sabbath-day?" Now it is manifest that the miraculous works done by Christ related to health of body and soul. Thirdly, because this precept does not forbid works pertaining to the worship of God. Wherefore He says (Matthew 12:5): "Have ye not read in the Law that on the Sabbath-days the priests in the Temple break the Sabbath, and are without blame?" And (John 7:23) it is written that a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath-day. Now when Christ commanded the paralytic to carry his bed on the Sabbath-day, this pertained to the worship of God, i.e. to the praise of God's power. And thus it is clear that He did not break the Sabbath: although the Jews threw this false accusation in His face, saying (John 9:16): "This man is not of God, who keepeth not the Sabbath." [1]

So whence does the Law demand the Sabbath-rest? Aquinas, again, has an answer:

It is a moral precept in the point of commanding man to aside a certain time to be given to Divine things. For there is in man a natural inclination to set aside a certain time for each necessary thing, such as refreshment of the body, sleep, and so forth. Hence according to the dictate of reason, man sets aside a certain time for spiritual refreshment, by which man's mind is refreshed in God. And thus to have a certain time set aside for occupying oneself with Divine things is the matter of a moral precept. [2]

As we understand it, then, we see that the Law was given to the Jews and this command was given to them that they might be spiritually refreshed and focus on the things of God. Given this purpose, the Christian does not need a Sabbath with such intent! The Christian's focus is to be on the Lord from the first day of the week until the seventh, in every day of every year of his life. Do we need physical and mental rest? Certainly, but God has not dictated to us which day it is to take place upon! Logically, if Christians were to have a Sabbath, it would be on Saturday. Why? God's command specifies that the "seventh day" is the Sabbath. The Scriptures refer to Sunday as the "first day" of the week. The Lord's Day occurs on the first day of the week - the day of His resurrection. The Sabbath occurs at the conclusion of the week - Saturday; or rather, it begins Friday at sundown and ends at sundown on Saturday (according to the Hebrew tradition of accounting a day's beginning with the evening). Clearly, there is a conflict there. Finally, I offer the words of the Apostle Paul from Colossians 2:13-16 (ESV):

And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him. Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. (emphasis added)

References

1. Aquinas, Thomas. Summa Theologica. Online edition, (c) 2003 to Kevin Knight. Available at http://www.newadvent.org/summa/404004.htm 2. Aquinas, Thomas. Summa Theologica. Online edition, (c) 2003 to Kevin Knight. Available at http://www.newadvent.org/summa/312204.htm

Devotional: John 1:15-20

2006-02-10T21:11:00.000-05:00

John testifies concerning him. He cries out, saying, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.' " From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father's side, has made him known. Now this was John's testimony when the Jews of Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, "I am not the Christ." John 1:15-20

Having now established his historical context, placing the Creator, Logos, into the realm of time, the Apostle John continues concerning the testimony of John the Baptist. What we see now is the fulfillment of prophecy. It is nearly universally agreed that John the Baptist was the last of the prophets - that is, in the sense of ancient prophets. From the Scriptures, we know that prophets were gifted with the Holy Spirit - which was a rare thing at that time since man was still separated from God. This definition fits more closely with the traditional Hebrew stance that this is the only qualification for being a prophet. In Rabbinic thought, a prophet did not necessarily make predictions. Rather, the prophet (or prophetess) was the instrument of the Almighty to save His people. Thus, heroes like Joshua and David are put in the ranks of men like Isaiah and Daniel. And John the Baptist was the last of them. He marked the end of an era. Even Jesus acknowledged this in Matthew 11:7-13: As John's disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: "What did you go out into the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind? If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings' palaces. Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written: " 'I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.' I tell you the truth: Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it. For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. Thus, John, last of the prophets and the greatest of them as well, testified concerning Jesus, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.' " For a man dressed in camel hair and living off of locusts and honey, John certainly had wisdom to put forth such a provocative statement. Notice how he puts Logos in time - "He who comes after me...was before me." No rational being can truly wrap their minds around this idea but that is the case with eternity. After all, God is outside of time. Therefore, from the eternal perspective, yesterday, next week, and two thousand years ago are virtually occurring simultaneously. That is the meaning behind God's identifying Himself as YHWH to Moses - I AM demonstrates his eternal, timeless nature. Even the early Christian hymns do the same as the song in Revelation 4:8 reveals: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come." What John the Baptist has done here is put the Word in the flesh, while maintaining His divinity and, even so, leaving no room for doubt by declaring "I am not the Christ." (John 1:19-20) This train of thought is what the Apostle echoes in his next statements - the glory of Logos and His grace and majesty are exalted. The English Standard Version, literally translated, provides an even clearer exaltation of John 1:16: "And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace." That repetition of "grace" (Greek charis) is not significant in English and, with too much of it, almost makes it sound badly written but in ancient writings of any sort, it is the writer's way of saying, "Pay attention to this part!" It was the author's way of focusing the reader on key ideas and events. The concept John wants us to embrace here is that through the fact that "the Word became flesh" and His eternal nature, we have received God's loving grace, and continue to receive it. And why do we need His grace? John answers in John 1:17 (ESV): "For the law was given through Moses..." The Scriptures declare in Romans 3:20 that "through the Law we become conscious of sin." Sin has separated us from God and He had in His will to change that. So, first, He made us aware of our sin. Next, He revealed to us "grace and truth came through Jesus Christ." (John 1:17, ESV). Through Him, we come to the Father that "no one has ever seen." (John 1:18) See, what John has done - through philosophy, history, and a very good knowledge of the Scriptures is to introduce the focal concept of his Gospel: Grace.

A Rare Tag

2006-01-29T19:54:00.000-05:00

Well, Pete tagged me for school subjects. He's currently doing an excellent series on the Communist Manifesto...definitely check it out! 1. Bible - personal devotions, personal studies, many articles written, youth group, and church. 2. AP Statistics - taken through the local high school over the internet. 3. Honors English - us PA homeschoolers have this wicked-awesome option to label courses in which we do a lot of work as "Honors" so English makes sense in that respect. :D 4. Philosophy II - mostly working on a treatise about philosophy and the Christian life. 5. European History - a textbook, papers that I'm working on as I go through. 6. Church History - Church Fathers, articles, books, etc. It should be noted that courses 4 and 6 were voluntarily selected. I have completed two courses at a community college last semester - General Literature and Information Technology: Hardware and Software.

He Trains My Hands For War...

2006-01-03T13:48:00.000-05:00

"He trains my hands for war, my arms can bend a bow of bronze." The Psalmist's words here talk of how God strengthens his people in their time of need. The tragedy of the Ninth of Av - the expulsion of Jews in Gush Katif and the Gaza region - and the increasing calls for Jerusalem to be divided are only evidence that Israel is greatly in need of God's strength. Israel National News reports that the Jews in Hevron (Hebron in English) are resisting an expulsion of their own. I ask that you keep them in prayer, that God shall strengthen them and keep them in His love. The story can be read here.

Scratch Those Resolutions

2006-01-01T12:45:00.000-05:00

I've been thinking about the concept of "New Year's resolutions" the past few days and it's really been bothering me, to tell you the truth. And I've basically come to the conclusion they are one of the biggest scams of all time. I mean, deception could hardly be better connived! What I mean is this: every year, millions around the globe fool themselves into thinking that they are going to be better people that year by making these "resolutions." The sad part of it is that we Christians fall into the mire with it, too! When we know the Truth and we know the sad reality and we still ignore it anyway. We know from the Scriptures that we are never going to be better people of our own efforts and yet we still persist! Romans 3:10-18 sheds some light on an important characteristic of man:

As it is written: "There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one." "Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit." "The poison of vipers is on their lips." "Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness." "Their feet are swift to shed blood; ruin and misery mark their ways, and the way of peace they do not know." "There is no fear of God before their eyes."

That isn't a very pretty picture. So, if this is man in his naturally fallen state, he has a lot of resolutions to make:

Begin to understand right and wrong
Seek God
Turn back and gain worth
Do good
Practice truth and live with integrity
Learn peace
Fear God

Even for Christians, redeemed and sanctified by His grace, this is a tall order. As the Scripture says in Romans 3:23, "...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." We can make as many resolutions as we want and we are going to "fall short" every time. Some might say, "I can't do this on my own but I'm going to call upon God to aid me in my resolutions." But it still is not free of the deception. Why? Because if we defining the areas that we think need work and are asking God's help in those areas, we are unconsciously limiting His work in our lives. Who are we to discern our problems, our areas of need? Who are we to say, "Father God, I want your help in this area, but that's it." I don't think many of us would admit to it, but I think most of us have done that at some point...maybe not in so many words, but in that very way, we are ignoring what could be the true problem in our lives. Only God Himself can fully make us aware of our problems and the only way He will do that is if we desire it and if we ask. "Father, break me. Father, conform me to the image of Your Son. Father, I want to be like you." So this year, instead of making resolutions, I'd encourage you to continually seek God and ask Him to make His own resolutions for you...and to make you grow in Him. Happy New Year!

In Rejection of Mediocrity: Christ is the Season!

2005-12-25T13:13:00.000-05:00

David MacMillan and his father have put together a wonderful PowerPoint presentation about Christmas and the Gospel...I'd encourage you all to check it out at In Rejection of Mediocrity. The URL is http://standonbible.blogspot.com/2005/12/christ-is-season.html. Grace, Peace, and Merry CHRISTmas! David Ketter

God is Faithful

2005-12-18T13:45:00.000-05:00

There is still much controversy in the Christian community regarding Israel's place in the plan of Almighty God. Most Evangelicals and some Protestants hold that they were, and continue to be, God's specially Chosen People - "the apple of the Lord's eye." Some Protestants and Traditionalists - Catholics and Eastern Orthodox - are unwilling to accept that, saying that Israel's former role has been assumed by the Church. While the debate in theology could go on for centuries with no satisfying conclusion (as it has in the past), there is no denying the evidence that we see before our very eyes. I wrote months ago, around the Ninth of Av, about the courageous actions of the citizens of the Gush Katif region. I also wrote in "Rachel, Weeping For Her Children" when they were expelled from their homes and citizens by their fellow Israelites. Months later, God is revealing His power and sovereignty to the Arabs who took their homes and and farms, where the Israelites had been working and worshipping for fifty years. How so? First, a little history. Before the Israelites settled that area near fifty years ago, the region surrounding Gush Katif was known by Arabs as "the Cursed Land." Frankly, that's why they had no objections when the first Israelites returned and settled in the area to farm. Yet, when God's promises held true and even the desert bloomed from their work, no one could have been more surprised. Gush Katif was among the major hubs of production in Israel. The Arabs who moved in hoped that they would obtain the same prosperity. Yet, thanks be to God, they have obtained only the full reward of their greed and treachery. According to Arutz Sheva, these farmers are having a multitude of problems growing crops. Could the evidence be any clearer? Praise our Lord and God, who still cares for His Chosen People! Am Yisrael Hai!* *The People of Israel live!

Review: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

2005-12-18T13:30:00.000-05:00

This review is also available at NarniaWeb. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe Time: 140 minutes Rating: PG for battle sequences and frightening moments Directed by: Andrew Adamson Co-Produced by: Mark Johnson and Douglas Gresham Starring: William Mosely, Anna Popplewell, Skandar Keynes, Georgie Henley, Tilda Swinton, James McAvoy, Patrick Kake With the voices of: Liam Neeson, Ray Winstone, Dawn French, and Rupert Everett Score: Five stars Warning: Review may contain spoilers. "There must be some sort of mistake. We're not heroes." Peter Pevensie (William Mosely) shot the mark all too truly in this statement to Beaver (voice of Ray Winstone). When the four Pevensies first arrive in Narnia, they look to be anything but heroes. In fact, they just as easily could have been victims to the wiles of the White Witch, hostages to a renegade Faun, or subjected to the horrible conditions of the Hundred Years Winter. Indeed, it can be nearly guaranteed that this would have been the case but for one person: Aslan. All of the centaurs, fauns, gryphons, dwarfs, and talking beasts would have been without hope and they hardly would have been expected to follow a few upstart children who's only knowledge of war was confined to its terrors. Many people have fallen head-over-heels for The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe over the years since C.S. Lewis wrote it. Millions of children and adults have retained a near-fanatical devotion to the purity and innocence of the books. It only makes sense to keep it that way. After all, Master Lewis had a simple way of making the reader relate to the characters, to their struggles, and their successes. We felt the boredom of the Professor's mansion, the urgency of their flight to Aslan at the Stone Table, and their excitement and solemnity at their coronation as Kings and Queens of Narnia. This being the case, it was only natural that the primary question in people's minds would be, "Did the movie stay true to the books?' In simplest terms: absolutely. Before Walden Media even obtained the options (e.g., permission) to make the Chronicles of Narnia movies, they assured the C.S. Lewis Estate that they would remain true to the original story. Douglas Gresham, C.S. Lewis' stepson and virtual head of the C.S. Lewis Estate was adamant on the point and believed that they would do what they promised. Next, Walden Media went on a search for a director. In the midst of the cutthroat industry, they found Andrew Adamson, the famed director of Shrek and Shrek 2, two totally computer-generated comedies. When approached him about the movie, Adamson made it clear that he would not do it if it wasn't true to the original story. According to Adamson, he had read it as a child and still retained a keen memory of the tale. After he accepted the job, there was the mandatory meeting with Douglas Gresham to confirm it all. Mr. Gresham agreed to it with one condition: that Adamson would have to play Puddleglum the Marshwiggle when they make The Silver Chair. That is only the start of their devotion to staying true to the story. It even extended to finding the right actors and actresses, designing the costumes, scenery, and prosthetics for the many creatures of Narnia, and, most importantly, consulting Mr. Gresham on numerous occasions. Their devotion was very obvious in the movie, since there were only a few slight changes. Among them would be the mysterious "Deeper Magic" that Aslan speaks of to the children after his return. This, by far, is the greatest disappointment since it has such a treasured role in the book. Some viewers might object that there is much more in the movie than in the book. That is true but here is the reason why. C.S. Lewis' writing style was almost vague. It gave a short description that never went beyond what was needed, except in special cases. Tolkien was just the opposite. He literally spelled everything out for the reader, down to the last detail. When one reads The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, the book simply begins the journey and your imagination fills in everything else. For Andrew Adamson, that meant showing the details of the battle, the appearance of multiple races of creatures that aren't described in the books, like the hags, and the horrors of World War II that brought the children to the Professor's house. This creativity also went a great deal into designing armor, weapons, and the respective camps of Aslan and the White Witch. The graphics were very well-done, carrying on the great tradition of The Lord of the Rings. The CGI people worked very hard to ensure that everything from fauns' legs to centaurs' lower body to Beaver and Mrs. Beaver themselves were realistic and well-applied, as was the acting selection. William Mosely (Peter), Anna Popplewell (Susan), Skandar Keynes (Edmund), and Georgie Henley (Lucy) did an excellent job with their characters - bringing them to life in a very believable manner. Tilda Swinton also had a magnificent performance as the White Witch (with whom she shares no real-life characteristics). James McAvoy, as young as he is, proved to be the best actor for the role of Mr. Tumnus. Perhaps the greatest surprise, however, was the quality of Liam Neeson's performance as the voice of Aslan. Many fans had expressed concern that his voice did not have the depth required for the part but there is no doubt in my mind that he certainly pulled it off. Everything we envision in Aslan - his majesty, his authority, his grief, and some of his well-placed humor - were skillfully implemented by Neeson. The devotion to the story, the skill by which it was portrayed, and the magnitude of the production all come together to form a masterpiece that is well-worth its 140 minutes viewing time. It is only fair to congratulate Walden Media, Mr. Adamson, Mr. Gresham, and all others involved on a job well-done. Thanks to them, Narnia is no longer held captive to our imagination, but is available to every last one of us in this film. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe has my full recommendation. I am also looking forward to the rest of the films in the series (which are already slated for production).

Devotional: John 1:9-14

2005-12-15T21:47:00.000-05:00

The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God - children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:9-14

John finally reaches his conclusion to the philosophical opening of his book, turning more and more to the historical purpose for which it was written. Granted, the Gospel according to John has much more in terms of theology, philosophy, knowledge, and even symbolism, but that only enriches its history. If history were only a set of facts, it would be no better than any other science or study. It would not inspire men to do great things or to even record the deeds that were done. John himself, sums up the purpose of history very well - especially the history of Christ - in John 20:31: "But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name." It is with that understanding that we can note John's melding of philosophy to history - "The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world." What an amazing statement! To simply read it and listen to it spoken will do nothing. But think further. The Light was coming into His Creation. The fallen were about to be in the physical presence of the Holy One of God. An awesome thought - literally a humbling and awe-inspiring idea, such shall have no match until His return. As these words are read, can you not sense that irreplaceable surprise, that utter amazement, and an instinctive notion that we would welcome Him with open arms, with a feast fit for the King of Kings? Alas, that is not the case. Neither we nor any of the race of men would ever, even if we could, accept Him in such a way. Note John's next words: "He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him." Rejection, humiliation, and total abandonment characterize the Word's welcome into the world. We failed to see our own Creator. Let us not deceive ourselves and say "If we had been there, we would have recognized Him." That is the same error that the Pharisees fell into in Matthew 23:30-32: "And you say, 'If we had lived in the days of our forefathers, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.' So you testify against yourselves that you are the descendants of those who murdered the prophets. Fill up, then, the measure of the sin of your forefathers!" If we deceive ourselves in such a way, we are only condemned, as the Israelites were condemned for the blood of the prophets. It is just as much our sin, as the sin of our forefathers. Such a reason for despair! Who among us, if we had the power, wouldn't destroy such ignorance and absolute disrespect in the blink of an eye? Who among us would allow such behavior to continue with impunity? Had any one of us been in the place of the Word, the world would not exist and its people would be eternally condemned to the fiery tortures of Hell. But, by God's Grace, we are not the Word and the Word is a very different person from anyone born of man. This very Word, who wept for the terrors that were to come upon Jerusalem in 70 A.D, who forgave men their sins and healed them of their infirmities, who "did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness..." [Philippians 2:6-7] knew the rejection that He was to come into. Oh, He certainly knew. Centuries before, Isaiah the prophet spoke concerning Him [Isaiah 1:3-4]: "The ox knows his master, the donkey his owner's manger, but Israel does not know, my people do not understand. Ah, sinful nation, a people loaded with guilt, a brood of evildoers, children given to corruption! They have forsaken the LORD; they have spurned the Holy One of Israel and turned their backs on him." Yet there is hope! Despite our sin, despite His grief and this heinous offense against the Word, we can know that He has forgiven us of it. "Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God - children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God." How great is God's love! Many are the things that have been written on "The Reason for the Season" and how Christ's birth is a time for joy. Not enough can be said of the fact! We also read often that although we can't determine the time of Christ's birth, it's the celebration of thanks that counts. All that is very true except for one thing: Scripture indicates the time of His birth! In verse 14, we read "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us." A fairly straightforward statement, to be sure. Yet, when we look closer at the words used in Greek, the meaning becomes quite clear. Literally translated, it should read "The Word became flesh and tabernacled among us." One of the Divinely-instituted festivals of the Israelites was the Feast of Tabernacles. In Hebrew, it is called Sukkot, referring to the booths built during the weeklong feasts. This was, in simplest terms, the harvest celebration for Israel, one of the most joyous times of the year for Israelites. Sukkot takes place in the second half of the month of Tishri (that is, September/October). John makes a stunning conclusion to his philosophical treatise on the Word: "We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth." Many are the glories of our God but, by far, His greatest glory came as a result of His incarnation as the Son of Man. As the angels sang on that festal night so many years ago, let us join our praise to their's in eternal gratitude and awe at the love of our Savior. "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." [Luke 2:14]

Discrimination in the United States?

2005-12-06T17:52:00.000-05:00

I'm back! Okay, so this is not going to be a real post...not the kind you want, anyway. But D3 has written an EXCELLENT article on discrimination in the United States today. The article is entitled Second Class Citizens and D3 goes at great lengths to point out the characteristics of that particular group, as well as looking at some of the major discrimination going on in this country. To find out more, though, you'll just have to read his article yourself at "In Rejection of Mediocrity." Here's the link.

Devotional: John 1:6-9

2005-11-15T21:50:00.000-05:00

There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.

John 1:6-9

The Apostle John has now stepped away from the philosophical abstracts with which his recording of the Gospel began and has brought in a new element: history. For a moment, we must consider history's relation to philosophy and its importance as displayed here.

Philosophy, in a manner of speaking, is the mother of all sciences. That is, all fields of study - be it natural sciences (biology, chemistry, etc.), history, theology, or abstract sciences (mathematics, etc.). Why is this? Well, it's really quite simple to establish the relationship. For example, we know that natural sciences are the study of natural life. Philosophy, then, is the science of Life - physical, spiritual, emotional, and more.

With history, the relationship is quite different. History is the study of the past, an examination of facts that we know to be true but are no longer occuring in the present. Philosophy is the science of Time - past, present, and future. It is philosophy that grants perspective. It is philosophy that gives us means of interpreting events. It is philosophy that ties every action, past, present, and future, together.

John clearly understood this relationship when he wrote these opening words and decided to introduce a grounding fact that his readers could relate to, a historical person that was known to exist: John the Baptist. From this passage, we learn that the Baptist was "sent from God." The words used here, apostello para theos, give us a clearer understanding of John's purpose. Apostello is related to our term Apostle, used of Jesus' disciples - men who had been with Him from the beginning of His ministry up to the time of His resurrection. This clearly does not apply to John the Baptist, but looking at the word more closely reveals much more: appointed to go forward. John, by this definition, was a prophet - a messenger to God's chosen people of Israel.

Moving on, we see the same indication: "he came as a witness..." The Greek word used here, "marturia," is often used to refer to "the office committed to the prophets of testifying concerning future events." Some of you may think of what you know about John the Baptist and recall that he did not make prophecies like Daniel or Isaiah. In that, you are correct. But John was a prophet in every aspect of the position. Before the Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus, there were a few requirements in order to be a prophet:

They had to be filled with the Holy Spirit. In Pre-Christian times, God's Spirit was not freely available to everyone. It was reserved for a select few - priests, kings, leaders of the people and a few exceptions (especially after the division of Israel and Judah).
They had to bear a message from God. A prophet is a messenger of the Almighty God and unless there is a message, then there can be no messenger.
They had to speak truth in fulfilling their office. If a prophet's message was not of God, or if there was a prophecy that did not come true, then they were not valid prophets.

John clearly fulfilled all of these qualifications, as demonstrated by the Scriptures:

Luke 1:76, 80 - And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him...and the child grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the desert until he appeared publicly to Israel.
Matthew 3:1-2, 11 - In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." ... "I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
Matthew 11:7-11 - As John's disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: "What did you go out into the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind? If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings' palaces. Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written: " 'I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.' I tell you the truth: Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist...

John was the final prophet, the last of a succession of men who were sent by God to call His people and lead them to Him. His purpose was to prepare Israel for the coming of its long-awaited Messiah. In his account, John expands God's purpose by saying, "so that through him all men might believe." The Apostle also emphasizes the fact that John was a forerunner and not the Messiah: "he himself was not the light. The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world."

By our examination, we can understand the Apostle's (and, thereby, God's) intent by introducing John the Baptist at this point. First, he established a credible connection between abstract Truth and temporal actions. That is, he made a clear connection between Logos and the humanity of Jesus by placing it in a very specific period of time. By history, John establishes credibility for the account of Christ that he is recording, granting credence to his philosophical treatise. This is not a situation where "in theory, it would work." No. John is providing the evidence that this is beyond theory, beyond guessing. This is Truth.

Blogging Sabbatical

2005-11-02T21:18:00.000-05:00

Now if this isn't the hardest thing I've ever done... This will be my next-to-last post until December. I have already promised to write on the issue or losing salvation and will do that soon. However, I believe that it is time for me to step back and rethink my purpose, my priorities, and other things of that sort. In that time, I will be seeking God's will and asking that He give my focus and vision, and the strength to do what is right in every situation, even if it means that I don't blog as often as I formerly did. This is not a decision I make lightly and I don't doubt that it will be a struggle at first, but I believe it is for the best. No, The Account is not going away permanently. No, I haven't lost the will or the "fire" to do it, but perhaps that is my problem. Those that are close to me can tell you that I am an "all-or-nothing" kind of person. When something has my attention, it has all of my attention and my best efforts are entirely devoted to it. And this blog, good as it might be, is taking my efforts away from other things that are equally, if not more important. I will continue to read the blogs but will not comment often. You are all awesome people and I am honored to be able to talk, debate, and work together with you on the blogosphere. I will, God willing, participate in A SideTracked Focus, so you'll probably see me there. If you should need me during these next few weeks - whether you have a question, etc., you can either email me (DavidKetter [at] gmail [dot] com) or leave a comment here and I'll get back to you. When I come back to blogging in December, I will continue my series on the Church Fathers and other things, but I can't really say what will change or what won't. Your prayers during this time would be much appreciated. Grace and Peace to all of you. In His Strength, David Ketter

Evangelism On the Spot

2005-11-01T20:35:00.000-05:00

It seems that everyone has been writing about Evangelism this week. Is some sort of theme-bug going around the teen Christian blogosphere or something? I mean, last week, everyone was talking about Predestination and now the topic of the week is Evangelism... Lindsey (Daughter of the King) has just concluded a great series on the topic. Although her BLOG is very new to the 'sphere, Lindsey has been around for awhile now, commenting and challenging all of us to work harder. Here are her posts (in order of appearance):

Jake (Mission 3:6Teen) has also been looking at it:

If you've seen a post on Evangelism, just comment and let me know. Grace and Peace!

Blog of the Year announced

2005-10-30T08:20:00.000-05:00

Agent Tim has been declared the victor of MVB's "Blog of the Year" Award. In a final surge of over 30 votes, Tim snatched the title on the last day of voting. This surprising burst took Tim from sixth place (where he had been the night before) into an unbeatable lead, garnering 31% of the vote. This has been a rather unpredictable, but friendly, competition all week long. Here are the standings throughout the week (blogs that received votes are listed): Friday:

Pete's Place
Spunky Jr.
Agent Tim, Strangely Normal
Blogging Boy Scout, The Account
Polka Dotted Pickles, Jennifer's Musings

Saturday:

Strangely Normal
Pete's Place, Spunky Jr., The Account
Agent Tim
Blogging Boy Scout
Polka Dotted Pickles, Jennifer's Musings

Sunday:

Strangely Normal
The Account
Spunky Jr.
Pete's Place
Agent Tim
Blogging Boy Scout
Polka Dotted Pickles, Jennifer's Musings

Monday:

Strangely Normal, The Account
Spunky Jr., Pete's Place
Agent Tim, Polka Dotted Pickles
Blogging Boy Scout, Jennifer's Musings

Tuesday:

Strangely Normal
The Account
Spunky Jr.
Pete's Place
Polka Dotted Pickles
Agent Tim
Blogging Boy Scout
Jennifer's Musings

Wednesday:

Strangely Normal
The Account, Spunky Jr.
Pete's Place
Polka Dotted Pickles
Agent Tim
Blogging Boy Scout, Jennifer's Musings

Thursday:

Spunky Jr.
Strangely Normal
The Account
Pete's Place
Polka Dotted Pickles
Agent Tim
Blogging Boy Scout
Jennifer's Musings

By midnight, on Friday, here were the standings (provided courtesy of MVB at the King's Highway):

Agent Tim Online : 31% (40 votes)
Spunky Jr. : 21% (27 votes)
Strangely Normal: 12% (16 votes)
Pete's Place: 10% (13 votes)
The Account: 9% (12 votes)
Polka Dotted Pickles: 8% (11 votes)
Jennifer's Musings : 4% ( 5 votes)
Boy Scout Blogger: 4% (5 votes)
Mission 3:6teen: 1% (1 vote)

Tim's secret? Getting half the Southern Baptist Convention to vote for him. MVB's new rules will probably be "no getting your denomination in on it" and "no family members may campaign." Just kidding. Congratulations to Tim and to all the nominees. The fact that any of us made that list is honor enough. Thank you, MVB for that opportunity and thank you, Tim, for a very interesting competition. God Bless.

Did My Beliefs Change?

2005-10-28T21:58:00.000-04:00

Well, I took that Denominational Tradition Selector test again and my results were actually different... (100%) 1: Baptist (non-Calvinistic)/Plymouth Brethren/Fundamentalist (98%) 2: Pentecostal/Charismatic/Assemblies of God (83%) 3: Anabaptist (Mennonite/Quaker etc.) (73%) 4: Seventh-Day Adventist (70%) 5: Congregational/United Church of Christ (68%) 6: Methodist/Wesleyan/Nazarene (67%) 7: Baptist (Reformed/Particular/Calvinistic) (62%) 8: Eastern Orthodox (54%) 9: Anglican/Episcopal/Church of England (51%) 10: Presbyterian/Reformed (50%) 11: Church of Christ/Campbellite (49%) 12: Lutheran (36%) 13: Roman Catholic I am sure I gave the same answers BUT I placed different emphases than before. Compare it with my previous results and tell me what you think...I found it interesting that just about everything increased.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

2005-10-28T10:02:00.000-04:00

I'd like to wish Brett and Alex Harris of The Rebelution a VERY happy 17th birthday. These guys are the spokesmen of the Rebelution - a "generation of young people, specifically those in the Christian, homeschool community, who will one day assume positions of leadership in all spheres of life: social, political, and spiritual." [1] Right now, the "twin duo" are in San Antonio, TX reporting on the San Antonio Independent Christian Film Festival. You can find pictures, constant updates, etc. all at the Rebelution. What a great way to celebrate their birthday, huh? Blogging. :D And here's a list of other people that have something to say to you, Alex and Brett. God Bless!

Harris, Alex. "The Rebelution: Historic Times: A Call to My Generation." August 10, 2005. http://rebelution.blogspot.com/2005/08/historic-times-call-to-my-generation.html

Jon Knox: Videoblogging and Hurricane Wilma

2005-10-25T21:10:00.000-04:00

I wanted to give everyone a heads up on the live video footage from Jon Knox in St. Petersburg, Florida. Definitely something to check out! Testimonium perhibeam veritati: Videoblogging and Hurricane Wilma

Blog of the Year Award!

2005-10-22T21:55:00.000-04:00

Hey everyone. In case you haven't already heard it from Pete or Neo yet, MVB of "King's Highway" is hosting his own Blog of the Year award. The blog that receives the most votes will be awarded this prestigious title. Here is the list: 1. The Account 2.In Rejection of Mediocrity 3. Spunky Jr. 4. Polka Dotted Pickles 5. Boy Scout Blogger 6. Pete's Place 7. Agent Tim Online 8. Mission 3:6teen 9. Jennifer's Musings 10. Strangely Normal: NeoFascist? 11. Smart Homeschool Voting will be available from October 21 (tomorrow) until October 28, so make sure to go over to King's Highway sometime during that period and vote for the blog you think deserves the award the most. That doesn't mean to vote for me, necessarily...just be honest with yourself. Congratulations to all nominees.

Predestination Roundup

2005-10-22T15:45:00.000-04:00

Everyone seems to be writing about Predestination lately - or something related to salvation anyway. So, here's a listing of article that you should definitely read:

Predestination: A Biblical Concept by David Ketter
Created to Die? by Agent Tim
Biblical Predestination by Pete
Can Salvation Be Lost? by Matt
What Is Repentance? by Richard Abanes
Repost: Arminian and Catholic Soteriologies, Part Deux by Ales Rarus

Check them out! If you know of any others that have been published recently, let me know and I'll add them to the list.

Predestination: A Biblical Concept

2005-10-21T21:45:00.000-04:00

Romans 8:28-30: And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. [1]

Ephesians 1:4-14: For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment—to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ. In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession—to the praise of his glory. [1]

Perhaps one of the oldest debates in Christendom, the fight over "predestination" has always existed in one form or another in the Church. The earliest affront against the concept of predestination, Pelagianism is not an unknown heresy among theologically-inclined circles. The doctrine, introduced in the late Fourth and early Fifth centuries A.D. by a British monk called Pelagius, states that man is basically good and was never affected, in any way, by the Fall in Genesis 3, except for Adam and Eve themselves. It also denied the need of God's saving grace. Augustine, Bishop of Hippo, reacted strongly against it. In A Treatise On the Merits and Forgiveness of Sins, and On the Baptism of Infants, he says:

Let us then drive away from our ears and minds those who say that we ought to accept the determination of our own free will and not pray God to help us not to sin. By such darkness as this even the Pharisee was not blinded; for although he erred in thinking that he needed no addition to his righteousness, and supposed himself to be saturated with abundance of it, he nevertheless gave thanks to God that he was not “like other men, unjust, extortioners, adulterers, or even as the publican; for he fasted twice in the week, he gave tithes of all that he possessed.” He wished, indeed, for no addition to his own righteousness; but yet, by giving thanks to God, he confessed that all he had he had received from Him. Notwithstanding, he was not approved, both because he asked for no further food of righteousness, as if he were already filled, and because he arrogantly preferred himself to the publican, who was hungering and thirsting after righteousness. [2]

This renowned theologian of the early medieval Church, revered by Christians of many denominations - Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Lutheran, and Presbyterian, to name a few - wrote much, much more on the topic. Most of his works can be read at the Christian Classics Ethereal Library.

Throughout the Church, Augustine's arguments turned most people against the Pelagian heresy and it was officially condemned by the Synod of Carthage by 418 A.D. [3] They did not give up, however, and a new group formed that called themselves Semi-Pelagians. They conceded that man needed God's grace but still retained the belief that man had the ability to seek God of his own accord. Of man's fallen state, they described it as "injured" - that is, he was unable to attain redemption because of sin but that his nature was not fully corrupted as the Reformed tenets hold. This was also declared heretical by the Roman Catholic Church at the Second Council of Orange. [4]

A note should be made that many accusations have been made in regard to Semi-Pelagianism and the Roman Catholic Church. Some have held that the denomination eventually accepted the heresy as truth. Of course, the Roman Catholic Church has consistently denied it and after examining their official teaching on the matter, I have found that the charges of Semi-Pelagianism to be false. All Christians hold that in order to be saved, God must act first. It is the extent of His involvement and the nature of His actions that they disagree on.

From that time on, various things were written on the matter by Roman Catholic theologians like Peter Lombard, Thomas Aquinas, and others. Aquinas, in his Summa Theologica defined the relationship of free will to predestination in this manner:

Free-will is the cause of its own movement, because by his free-will man moves himself to act. But it does not of necessity belong to liberty that what is free should be the first cause of itself, as neither for one thing to be cause of another need it be the first cause. God, therefore, is the first cause, Who moves causes both natural and voluntary. And just as by moving natural causes He does not prevent their acts being natural, so by moving voluntary causes He does not deprive their actions of being voluntary: but rather is He the cause of this very thing in them; for He operates in each thing according to its own nature. [5]

By the time of the Reformation, Calvin presented what the Roman Catholic Church calls "predestinarianism" - a necessary distinction in theology. The Calvinist position has traditionally been that everything that occurs was foreordained by God in His power and justice. Of His mercy (so they say), He chose some to be the elect of Scripture, before the foundations of the world were laid. Although the Roman Catholic Church declared this to be heretical, it has made endeavors over the years to reach out to those of the Reformed community that hold to "predestinarianism" (to make sure there is no confusion, I will continue to use this term of the Calvinist position).

After Calvinism took Europe by storm, one theologian by the name of Jacobus Arminius left the predestinarian fold. As a professor at the University of Leyden, Arminius had been studying and searching the Scriptures in order to defend predestinarianism and, instead of confirming it, his study led him to believe otherwise. He gained a small following among the clergy and, after his death, in 1610, they issued the Five Articles of Remonstrance in opposition to Calvinist Christianity. They are, in summation, as follows:

That God has ordained two results for man: eternal bliss in heaven, or eternal suffering in hell. That He ordained, in His foreknowledge, the sending of His Son.
That Christ died in atonement for all men - saved and unsaved, that God's grace should not be limited unless man reject it.
That man is totally depraved.
That God's grace is the source of all goodness in man.
That through God's grace, man receives power to maintain his salvation but should he forsake the spirit, his salvation is lost.

From that point on, non-Catholic Christianity has had a tendency toward either Arminianism or Calvinism. I have been party to many debates (as Pete, Matt, and MVB can testify to) on this topic and had I not been so stubborn, I would probably be supporting the Calvinist interpretation today (When you're outnumbered a hundred to five, it makes you wonder whether or not you're really right after a while).

One of the primary Scriptures quoted in this debate is Romans 8:28-30, which states:

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. [1]

The first thing we see is that God acts in the lives of "those who love [H]im" for their own good. Next, we find that His people were "called according to [H]is purpose." In order to understand this calling, we must understand His purpose. And what is it? 2 Peter 3:8-9 offers an answer:

But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

And we see it again in Matthew 18:12-14, the very words of the Master Himself:

"What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost."

Finally, there is John 3:16-21, the words of our Lord to Nicodemus:

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God."

This is just a sampling of what the Scriptures say about God's purpose for salvation. From the words of the Apostle Peter, we can see that His purpose is His express desire. One translation says that "God desires that none should perish." We know also, from the words and teachings of Jesus Christ to His disciples and to Nicodemus, that God purposed that salvation would be available to everyone. We shall look at the dichotomy of this universal offer and how only some have come into this relationship a bit later.

Havin established his purpose (that salvation should be available to all men), we turn to verse 29, in which we find that God knew - before time - who would love Him and who would not. Moving on, we see that they are "predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son." This is not a passage that speak of man being predestined to salvation. The verse is quite clear that those that God knew would come to salvation, have been ordained to become like His Son - the goal of God's work in an individual. Christians are called to become like Christ and this verse simply states that God has decreed it as such. From verse 30, then, we can see that He justifies and glorifies those who have received salvation. What is predestined in this passage is not salvation, but the after-effects of it!

In agreement with this is none other than Reformed John Calvin (Yes, I heard that gasp):

The verb προορίζειν, which some translate as to predestinate, must be understood in the context of this passage. Paul means no more and no less than that, by God’s arrangement, those who are adopted must bear the image of Christ, that they must conform to the image of Christ, and not merely to Christ. In this way he teaches that in Christ God has put before us a living and visible example, who must be imitated by all God’s children. In short then, free adoption in which our salvation consists is inseparable from that other decree which demands that we carry the cross [of Christ]; because no one who does not first conform to the only-begotten Son of God can inherit the heavenly life. . . .And those whom he has predestined (praefinivit), them he has also called. He now proceeds step by step to establish with a clearer argument the truth that, if we are to be saved, we must conform to the humiliation of Christ. He teaches us that our call, and our justification, and finally our glory, are bound up with our association with the cross and cannot by any means be separated from it. To make sure that the reader understands the mind of the apostle better, it is well to repeat and remind him of what I have stated before: that the word predestinate refers not to election but to that decree or purpose of God by which he has ordained that his own bear the cross. In teaching that they are now actually called, he brings out that God has not kept his purpose concerning them hidden in his own hands, but has rather laid it open that they may submit to the rule imposed upon them with a calm and good-tempered spirit. For, calling is here distinguished from hidden election as coming after it. [6]

This is in accordance with my own beliefs, that all those who have come into the family of God are subject to the law of grace that demands becomings like Christ. Indeed, those who have been cleansed of their sinful nature (though still at war with it), have a new-found desire to become like their Creator. In this, we find a common ground between all Christians - that the Saved must imitate the Savior. And in this, all can claim to believe in God's decrees - that He has ordained our Christian walk; that He has ordained our justification in His sight; that He has ordained our glorification on the day of resurrection! Any who disagree that God predestines this work in the believer's life endangers his doctrine.

Another passage used by Calvinists is Ephesians 1:4-14. In verse 4, Paul essentially says that the believer has been chosen to live a life that is holy and blameless. This is an echo of Romans 8:29. Paul speaks firt of our call to sanctification. He goes on to state that the believer has been chosen for adoption into the family of God. This is yet another echo of Romans 8:29 ("that he might be the firstborn of many brothers"). This is an important point. God could have easily just redeemed us and held us captive only as servants - as slaves. Instead, He gave us the adoption of sonship and a share in the inheritance of Christ - far more than we can ever imagine. The Parable of the Prodigal Son illustrates the concept very well, although it is not evidence in the matter. God, in His sovereignty, deemed that all believers should be adopted into His family. From verse 6, we learn that He does this for His own glory and that His grace is freely offered "in the One." And in this One - through this One - we have redemption and forgiveness.

Paul points out, in verses 9 and 10, that salvation is offered - redemption and forgiveness are offered - "according to his good pleasure." This is reminiscent of what we saw in 2 Peter 3:9. The verse actually goes on to say that it was His purpose in Christ. In these six verses, Paul has said the same thing to the Ephesians that he once told the Romans. The most powerful message, howeve, comes in verses 11 through 14:

In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession—to the praise of his glory.

This is probably the key point in this passage. Many have taken the first sentence, to the phrase "purpose of his will" and run away with it in order to prove predestinarianism. However, to put it in perspective, it is necessary to look at the passage as a whole and with inspection of the word "chosen" in verse 11. It turns out that some translations are much clearer on the Apostle's intent:

In Him we Jews have been made heirs, having been chosen beforehand in accordance with the intention of Him whose might carries out in everything the design of His own will, so that we should be devoted to the extolling of His glorious attributes--we who were the first to fix our hopes on Christ. And in Him you Gentiles also, after listening to the Message of the truth, the Good News of your salvation--having believed in Him--were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit; that Spirit being a pledge and foretaste of our inheritance, in anticipation of its full redemption--the inheritance which He has purchased to be specially His for the extolling of His glory. (Weymouth Bible Translation) [7]

God always does what he plans, and that's why he appointed Christ to choose us. He did this so that we Jews would bring honor to him and be the first ones to have hope because of him. Christ also brought you the truth, which is the good news about how you can be saved. You put your faith in Christ and were given the promised Holy Spirit to show that you belong to God. The Spirit also makes us sure that we will be given what God has stored up for his people. Then we will be set free, and God will be honored and praised. (Contemporary English Version) [8]

Paul is not saying that Christians were predestined to to salvation but that the Jews were predestined to hear the message first and to take it to the Gentiles. I will say here and now that I believe that there is a corporate predestination, or general predestination. God has ordained the rulers of nations (John 19:8-11, Romans 13:1-17, 1 Peter 2:13-17), and has ordained their ends (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, etc.). He also deals with corporate groups (the Jews, the Church, members of various Israelite tribes, Christians in various cities, etc.) and ordains certain ends and events. However, I do believe that He has given them the ability to roam about as they will in within certain parameters (that, for the most part, God alone knows).

With individuals. We know that God has ordained the limit of our lives (Psalm 139:16, Job 14:5). We also know that everyone is given the opportunity to receive salvation. So we come at last to the dichotomy of universal atonement and limited acceptance. Some have used the Parable of the Sower to demonstrate different ideas. One is that God "actively reprobates" those who are not of the fertile soil. The other states that the seeds that fell on rocky or thorny ground are awaiting the day that God will remove them that they may receive God's redemption. Frankly, I don't agree with either one.

In this parable, the Sower seeds land on all hearts but the results are different. Those seeds that fell on the road (the "mainstream" so to speak) and were eaten up are the hearts that have been "handed over to Satan" and he obviously has no intention of letting them accept the Savior.* Of course, we must remember that God has limited Satan to certain actions that varies by the person (their status as either a Christian or non-Christian does, of course, factor into that) but God does allow Satan to snatch the Gospel away from those particular hearts. If you are interested in how God limits Satan, the book of Job is a good place to start.

Those seeds that fall on the rocky ground - the ones that grew quickly and were scorched - I believe represent those who have come to faith in Jesus Christ (due to God's spreading of the Gospel) but have not matured in their faith because they are afraid of persecution. Recall, if you will, Paul's prayer for the Ephesians "that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." (Ephesians 3:17-19). The problem with those hearts was that they could not grasp it.

Those hearts among the thorns that received the Gospel and it grew in their hearts represent a group that has the message in them but does not bear fruit. Notice the words of Jesus in Mark 4:7 that make it apparent the Gospel was not taken from them: "So they did not produce any grain." They are too consumed with the things of this world to be concerned with what God has to offer. And finally, there is the group that landed on fertile ground that "grew and produced thirty or sixty or even a hundred times as much as was scattered." (Mark 4:8) So this Parable illustrates that there are two groups: saved and unsaved. The saved are then divided into three groups:

Those who never mature because of their own fears.
Those who are caught up in the pleasures of this world.
Those who are "on fire for God" and committed to doing His will.

One may question why I do not consider myself an Arminian. For one thing, I do not believe that man, of his own free will, can come to God and ask forgiveness. He must be prompted to do so and it is God that moves Him in that direction. For another, I do not believe He is capable of losing that which God has irrevocably given. From Romans 11:29, we know that "God's gifts and his call are irrevocable." Thirdly, that man can, of his own free will, actively reject the call of God in His life. Without the influence of a power greater than himself, man is helpless to resist. We can therefore remember that all men are, or were once subject to the rule of Satan. Ephesians 2:1-2 has much to say of this state:

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.

So Satan is ACTIVE in his work to detract the minds and souls of men from their Creator. God allows it, yes, but only that men may praise Him for allowing their eyes to be opened and their souls raised in Christ. Amen.

In conclusion, I would like to share this passage from 1 John 4:7-19:

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.
God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
We love because he first loved us.

Actually, I think we'll conclude with prayer: Father God, I praise You this day for Your saving grace. I thank You for opening my eyes to the Truth of Your Gospel and the atoning blood of Your Son, Jesus. Thank you for dying for me, and for conquering death for me. Lord, who am I that You would leave Your perfect dwelling in heaven? Who am I that You should love me and adopt me as Your son? Who am I that I should be allowed to bring You glory? Father, I know You've said that it was for Your praise and Your honor and Your glory. I rededicate my life to fulfilling that desire that You express so clearly in Your Word. Thank You, Jesus. Amen.

*This is another topic that I would like to explore in the future.

All Scriptures used, unless otherwise noted, are from the New International Version. Available at www.BibleGateway.com.
Bishop Aurelius Augustine of Hippo. A Treatise On the Merits and Forgiveness of Sins, and On the Baptism of Infants. Book II, Chapter 6. Available on Christian Classics Ethereal Library at http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf105.x.iv.vi.html.
Havey, F.P. The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume I. "African Synods." Online Edition Copyright © 2003 by K. Knight. Available on New Advent at http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01199a.htm.
Havey, F.P. The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume I. "Councils of Orange." Online Edition Copyright © 2003 by K. Knight. Available on New Advent at http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11266b.htm.
Thomas Aquinas. Summa Theologica. Online Edition Copyright © 2003 by K. Knight. Available on New Advent at http://www.newadvent.org/summa/
Calvin, John. Commentaries. Available on Christian Classics Ethereal Library at http://www.ccel.org/ccel/calvin/calcom.xi.html.
Weymouth Bible Translation of Ephesians 1 available from the Weymouth New Testament Online at http://weymouthbible.com/ephesians/1.htm.
Contemporary English Version of Ephesians 1 available from www.BibleGateway.com at http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians%201%20;&version=46.

Review: The Village

2005-10-13T21:30:00.000-04:00

Note: I watched the Village awhile ago and gathered notes, etc. together to write the review and never did so. That being the case, I'm going to write it now. The Village Time: 108 minutes Rating: PG-13 Directed by: M. Night Shyamalan Produced by: M. Night Shyamalan, Scott Rulin, and Sam Mercer Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Bryce Dallas Howard, Adrien Body, & Sigourney Weaver "I'm not worried about what will happen, only what needs to be done" -Lucius Hunt (Joaquin Phoenix) This line, above all other, characterizes The Village. The mysterious tale, masterfully woven by award-winning author and director M. Night Shyamalan (Signs, The Sixth Sense) is a film worthy of attention. Its merits lie chiefly in the depth of the plot, careful development of the characters, and the moral code presented. *Please note that spoilers are present in the review* The film begins with a child's funeral, a grieving father, and the formation of many questions in the viewer's mind. When the elders, a group of men and women who govern the town, gather together to hear the request of residents of the town, young Lucius Hunt arrives on the scene. Lucius Hunt, a quiet, well-intentioned, and thoughtful person wishes to seek "the towns" to "gather new medicines" that others who succumb to the disease as the now-deceased child did. Pained as they were, the elders consistently denied permission. The rest of the film continues in this stream, although the plot most certainly thickens - pardon the cliche. It heavily involves his long-time friends, Ivy and Noah, and all the characters are well-developed. Even with the many revelations, the mystery thsat radiates from every scene never diminishes and Shyamalan has done an excellent job maintaining that. I have mentioned that the film has a strong moral compass that is displayed. The town is very Puritan in appearance and one could imagine this setting during the days of the Salem Witch Trials. Actually the superstition present throughout the film - fear of red objects, "protective cloaks," etc - just reinforces the idea. All in all, I would give The Village five stars for excellent production, top-notch story, and a very awesome display of morality.

An Examination of the Church Fathers, Part II

2005-10-10T22:43:00.000-04:00

Church Fathers (List) Clement, Bishop of Rome, to the Church in Corinth Clement is a very mysterious character in the early Church. From his epistle to the Corinthians, we do not know much about him, aside from what legend and tradition tell us. But, as can be shown, that is not flawless. For instance, legend says that Clement was tied to an anchor and drowned. Tradition states that this occurred during the reign of Domitian. Eusebius, the "Father of Church history" states that Clement was martyred in the reign of Trajan - in 101 AD, to be exact. So the legend and tradition are suspect when it comes to Clement. In any case, we are told that he was "co-Presbyter" with Linus and Cletus in Rome, that is, a bishop. The letter is dated around the year 97 AD and is quite relevant to the Church today (though not so easily applied as the Scriptures). Due to how much the Apostle Paul wrote to the Church in Corinth, we have a pretty good understanding of the situation there for many years: a quarrel-ridden, group-forming, and heresy-loving city of congregations. A generalization to be sure, but a very true one! And it seems that this hadn't changed in the decades since:

[W]e feel that we have been somewhat tardy in turning our attention to the points respecting which you consulted us; and especially to that shameful and detestable aedition, utterly abhorrent to the elect of God, which a few rash and self-confident persons have kindled to such a pitch of frenzy...

He goes on to praise those in Corinth who live out the faith - "sober," of "serious mind," and "blameless." He also mentions that from these blessings, "the worthless rose up against the honoured" and broke the peace of the church. He then recalls those who suffered in the past - Abel, Moses, David and others. Then he brings the current events of the time into focus:

Let us set before our eyes the illustrious apostles. Peter, through unrighteous envy, endured not one or two, but numerous labours and when he had at length suffered martyrdom, departed to the place of glory due to him. Owing to envy, Paul also obtained the reward of patient endurance, after being seven times thrown into captivity, compelled to flee, and stoned. After preaching both in the east and west, he gained the illustrious reputation due to his faith, having taught righteousness to the whole world, and come to the extreme limit of the west, and suffered martyrdom under the prefects. Thus was he removed from the world, and went into the holy place, having proved himself a striking example of patience.

So we know from Clement that, in the recent past, Peter and Paul - two of the greatest apostles, had entered into their inheritance. Christ's prophecies concerning them had come true:

[John 21:18-19] Jesus said, "Feed my sheep. I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go." Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, "Follow me!"

[Acts 9:15-16] But the Lord said to Ananias, "Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name."

Such a disheartening piece of news, or so one would have thought. Although Christian grieved at the loss of these great men (as they had at Stephen's martyrdom), they were joyful that these "pillars" had achieved the ultimate honor and had died to sin, becoming more alive in Christ. A notable event, indeed, and we must not forget Clements words concerning them. After delivering this grievous information, he lists other martyrs, the Danaids and Dircae, and goes on to encourage them to hold onto their faith. He also asks that they remember to repent before God. He also calls them (through examples of the Scriptures) to righteousness, faithfulness, faith, hospitality, godliness, and humility. He cites examples like Enoch, Abraham, Lot, and Rahab. Clement's grasp of the Old Testament is remarkable - remembering details very well. It may also reveal a familiarity with Hebrews 11 which mentions all of the above. Moving on, he cites Christ and the universe as examples of peace and harmony - the general theme of the epistle. He also stirs up the embers of hope with them, telling them to look toward Jesus' return and to the resurrection. In finality, he exhorts purity and obedience. Clement goes onto cover various theological topics: justification through faith, rewards for good works, and the authority of Christ. Clement's next topic is also interesting: unity in the Church.

Let our whole body, then, be preserved in, Christ Jesus; and let every one be subject to his neighbour, according to the special gift bestowed upon him. Let the strong not despise the weak, and let the weak show respect unto the strong. Let the rich man provide for the wants of the poor; and let the poor man bless God, because He hath given him one by whom his need may be supplied. Let the wise man display his wisdom, not by [mere] words, but through good deeds. Let the humble not bear testimony to himself, but leave witness to be borne to him by another. Let him that is pure in the flesh not grow proud of it, and boast, knowing that it was another who bestowed on him the gift of continence. Let us consider, then, brethren, of what matter we were made,-who and what manner of beings we came into the world, as it were out of a sepulchre, and from utter darkness. He who made us and fashioned us, having prepared His bountiful gifts for us before we were born, introduced us into His world. Since, therefore, we receive all these things from Him, we ought for everything to give Him thanks; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

He later goes on to say,

Ye are fond of contention, brethren, and full of zeal about things which do not pertain to salvation. Look carefully into the Scriptures, which are the true utterances of the Holy Spirit.

How true! He also refers to the "time of Paul" and the Apostle's letters to that church:

Take up the epistle of the blessed Apostle Paul. What did he write to you at the time when the Gospel first began to be preached? Truly, under the inspiration of the Spirit, he wrote to you concerning himself, and Cephas, and Apollos, because even then parties had been formed among you. But that inclination for one above another entailed less guilt upon you, inasmuch as your partialities were then shown towards apostles, already of high reputation, and towards a man whom they had approved. But now reflect who those are that have perverted you, and lessened the renown of your far-famed brotherly love. It is disgraceful, beloved, yea, highly disgraceful, and unworthy of your Christian profession, that such a thing should be heard of as that the most stedfast and ancient Church of the Corinthians should, on account of one or two persons, engage in sedition against its presbyters. And this rumour has reached not only us, but those also who are unconnected with us; so that, through your infatuation, the name of the Lord is blasphemed, while danger is also brought upon yourselves.

Finally, he exhorts them to the love of Christ and asks that they send word as to whether peace is restored in the church or not. Clement has made many excellent points worthy of study and I would encourage a closer look at his epistle to the Corinthians at Studylight.org. You can view it here.

View this page in: Deutsch Espanol Italiano Portuguesa

I've been tagged!

2005-10-08T12:00:00.000-04:00

Well, Pete tagged me and said I wouldn't do it so I just had to prove him wrong. :P Anyways, I have to list my five favorite songs....

Who Am I by Casting Crowns. This song is absolutely one of the greatest in history. It's so amazing to sing it and realize your own insignificance and then realize, even more, God's extra-special attention and sacrifice for us.
Set Me Free by Casting Crowns. Okay, another Casting Crowns song, but this one's great too! It's based on the story of Jesus and the demon-possessed man, Legion, but it's message is great - "Jesus, rescue me!"
I Can Only Imagine by MercyMe. This song speaks for itself!
God of Wonders by Third Day. What better way to worship the "Lord of all Creation?"
What If His People Prayed by Casting Crowns. So I'm a Casting Crowns nut! This song is all about settin' the Church in its place...right where it should be!

Okay, my turn to tag....Agent Tim, D3 of In Rejection of Mediocrity, and Jake of Mission 3:6teen.

Prayers Please

2005-10-07T21:01:00.000-04:00

I am asking that everyone keep the Harris family in their prayers. Alex and Brett Harris of the Rebelution have reported that their niece, Faith, passed away this past Thursday morning. Although the family takes comfort in the fact that Faith is no longer experiencing pain and is with our Lord even now, nothing can take away grief - it's a fact of human life. So I ask that everyone ask God to strengthen and comfort them in their time of grief. Thank you. Alex and Brett, if you read this, you are most definitely in our prayers and we look forward, together with you, to the day when we all stand in the presence of our God. Grace and Peace, David Ketter

Iraq War: Just?

2005-10-05T07:58:00.000-04:00

Note: This is for Travis' "Political Perusal." The list of similar posts will be up on Blogging Boy Scout later today. -David

Iraq has stirred a lot of controversy in the past few years and it will not stop - even twenty years from now when this is just "history" for the next generation. Many have attempted to justify the war through political reasons, humanitarian reasons, and even security reasons. Whether or not these reasons are valid is beside the point - there is a higher standard than man's reason. War has been a part of man's legacy from early times. It was so far-ingrained into man that social contract theorist and philosopher Thomas Hobbes (Leviathan) believed it to be man's natural state! Clearly that is not the case, but it speaks of war's deep impact on our species. In the spirit of finding that "higher standard," many philosophers, politicians, and theologians sought to find the answer. Thomas Aquinas, perhaps one of the greatest philosophers of medieval Europe, wrote out the qualifications of what is called the "Just War Theory" in his epic work, Summa Theologica. According to Aquinas, there are three requirements to make the case for a "just war."

"First, the authority of the sovereign by whose command the war is to be waged. For it is not the business of a private individual to declare war, because he can seek for redress of his rights from the tribunal of his superior. Moreover it is not the business of a private individual to summon together the people, which has to be done in wartime. And as the care of the common weal is committed to those who are in authority, it is their business to watch over the common weal of the city, kingdom or province subject to them. And just as it is lawful for them to have recourse to the sword in defending that common weal against internal disturbances, when they punish evil-doers, according to the words of the Apostle (Rm. 13:4): "He beareth not the sword in vain: for he is God's minister, an avenger to execute wrath upon him that doth evil"; so too, it is their business to have recourse to the sword of war in defending the common weal against external enemies....
"...Secondly, a just cause is required, namely that those who are attacked, should be attacked because they deserve it on account of some fault....
"...Thirdly, it is necessary that the belligerents should have a rightful intention, so that they intend the advancement of good, or the avoidance of evil. Hence Augustine says (De Verb. Dom.): "True religion looks upon as peaceful those wars that are waged not for motives of aggrandizement, or cruelty, but with the object of securing peace, of punishing evil-doers, and of uplifting the good." For it may happen that the war is declared by the legitimate authority, and for a just cause, and yet be rendered unlawful through a wicked intention. Hence Augustine says (Contra Faust. xxii, 74): "The passion for inflicting harm, the cruel thirst for vengeance, an unpacific and relentless spirit, the fever of revolt, the lust of power, and such like things, all these are rightly condemned in war." [1]

The first qualification requires that a GOVERNMENT wage the war. Vigilante citizens do not and cannot have the authority to declare war. The United States federal government declared a military operation in Iraq - de facto war. The second requirement asks for a "just cause." Who can doubt that fighting for the freedom of the Iraqi people is just? We have ousted a tyrannical dictator who slaughtered thousands upon thousands of his own subjects and are aiding them in establishing their own free government. The final qualification is just intent. While some have said that "money" or "oil" or "pride" motivated this war, there is no way that the authority's believe that simply because we haven't taken anything away from the Iraqis. They even retain possession of their dictator - to judge him as they see fit!

Three requirements:

Just Authority
Just Cause
Just Intent

The United States government has met all three of these requirements and has waged (and is currently waging) a Just War against tyranny and terror in the desert nation of Iraq. Thomas Aquinas - an astute scholar grounded in the word of God and knowledgeable in thelogy and philosophy, paved the way for Christians to weigh whether or not a war is just or not. By this higher standard - which is untouchable to any politico, humanitarian, or security official - the fight for Iraq is absolutely justified and right.

Source: University of San Diego. "St Thomas Aquinas, On War" http://ethics.sandiego.edu/Books/Texts/Aquinas/JustWar.html. October 4, 2005

Explanation for Absence, Part 1 updated

2005-09-30T15:38:00.000-04:00

Greetings! I'm sorry that I have not posted in a long while. My busy schedule (with lots of school work) did not permit it. And this past week, I was out of town with my family and had no access to a computer. In any case, I'm back and, though I'll be busy in the next week or so in recovery from the trip, I'll try to blog some... Also, I updated my post "Examination of the Church Fathers, Part 1" because I was reading Ignatius of Antioch's other letters and found most of them to be similar to that in Ephesus. Time permitting, I will return to each and every one of them individually when I complete this cursory examination of the Fathers.

Devotional: John 1:3-5

2005-09-25T22:04:00.000-04:00

"Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it." John 1:3-5

Having established his philosophical argument in favor of the Word's eternal nature - one with God, John goes on to establish His purpose. It is with this understanding that we can examine verse three: "Through him, all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made." The Word, powerful in nature, acts as the very Agent of Creation. God the Father created the universe through Logos. This is a difficult concept to grasp and even those much wiser and of much greater intelligence than myself have yet to attain its fullness. This does not mean, however, that we cannot understand it in part. In Genesis 1, we see that God the Father spoke creation into existence. For instance, Genesis 1:3 says, "And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light." We know our LORD to be omnipotent - all-powerful - and we also know that God had but to think and all the universe would have emerged - as fully-created as it proved to be after six days. Yet God, in His almighty grace, had mercy on us - putting creation in finite terms that we can all understand. So God spoke creation into existence. Logos is translated as The Word. Therefore, we can ascertain that the Christ was the most visible participant in Creation - the immediate Maker. This falls directly in line with Jesus' words on earth: "The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him." [John 8:29]. All throughout the Gospel accounts, we see Jesus constantly telling others, "I do only the will of my Father." Therefore, the Father spoke and Logos created. Logos is not only the Agent of Creation, but the Source of Life as well: "In him was life, and that life was the light of men." It is important to understand the meaning of this word "life." The Greek word used here is zoe, which refers to a living soul - not merely physical life. Again, John resonates with Genesis, which says in chapter two, verse seven, "the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being." This is important in John's presentation of the Christ as Logos because, even as He is the giver of the "new" birth, He is also the Maker of our souls. What is also significant about that verse is its reference to "light." Let us reason on the properties of that physical light we use everyday: it guides us and it reveals dangers and stumbling blocks in our path. So does the living spirit of Logos. Christ is here named "the light of men." How true! Jesus, in both His earthly ministry and His heavenly intervention, gives us light that we may walk the path before us and avoid the stumbling blocks. This is not to say that we won't go off the path or fall along it, but it is a blindness of our own making, rather than the fault of God. Even as we turn a blind eye to the light of Logos, so "the darkness has not understood it." Another possible translation is "the darkness could not stand against it." Both betray the superiority of Logos over the evils of the world. Not only is it superior in knowledge (for who can know what is to be seen if there is no light to reveal it?), but also in might (a warrior who knows his enemy shall overcome the one who does not). Thus is the purpose and power of Logos established: Logos is the Agent of Creation, the Giver of Life and the Sustainer, thereof. No power - be it death or immorality, can take away that which Christ has filled. Even believers, who share in the life of Christ, in the new birth that has redeemed us.

Help People Recover From Katrina and Rita

2005-09-22T18:33:00.000-04:00

D3, author of In Rejection of Mediocrity, has teamed up with Ryan B, a fellow teen from Mississippi who found himself and his family disinherited by Hurricane Katrina. Not one to sit around (as D3 has always been, and apparently, Ryan B is the same...), the two put their heads together and started a blog called Gulf Coast Connection. According to the site, the purpose is to find "a way for teens displaced by Hurricane Katrina or Hurricane Rita to connect with their friends." They do this by collecting a profile and email address of the said persons and posting them for their friends to find. Personally, I think this approach is visionary and hope that it goes well for Ryan and others like him. If you know someone affected by Katrina or Rita, please get them hooked up with GCC. Grace and Peace, David

Replacement Theology Rebuked

2005-09-18T20:44:00.000-04:00

Well, SecDef made quite a case against Replacement Theology on his blog. SecDef is a Generation Joshua member, as well as a member of its developing Online Government. He is, from what I understand, involved in ROTC through GMU. In any case, he did a superb job on it. Check it out!

An Examination of the Church Fathers: Part I

2005-09-16T22:47:00.000-04:00

For the next few months (God willing), I will be taking a look at the writings of the Church Fathers. Some of these men were literally the disciples of the Apostles (such as Ignatius and Polycarp) and the next generation of spiritual heroes in the Early Church. Unfortunately, they have largely been ignored by both Protestant and Evangelical Christians and are remembered for the most part, only in the Roman Catholic Church and the Greek Orthodox Church. Church Fathers (List) Ignatius, Bishop of Antioch, to the Church in Ephesus Ignatius was one of the first bishops of Christian history, serving as the overseer of the church in the city where Paul and Barnabas had served as elders and where believers were first called Christians. He was a Gentile, and reputedly a disciple of the Apostle John, who was either near death at this time, or dead within the decade of this writing. Accordingly, it has been over a decade since John wrote to Ephesus and many, many decades since Paul did. What Christ, through John, wrote to them was jarring [Revelation 2:4-5]:

Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.

Ephesus was a major breakthrough in Paul's ministry and he returned there often. Timothy, his disciple and companion, later became the leading elder there and it was in that position that he received Paul's letters to him [Quote from Ignatius: "Such, then, are ye, having been taught by such instructors, Paul the Christ-bearer, and Timothy the most faithful. "]. Yet, between that time and 95 A.D., the Church in Ephesus, thought active and "living the faith," had lost its love for Christ. It was essentially, spiritually dead. The threat? Removal from the Body of Christ. If they did not repent, then they would join those who, at the Last Day, Christ would say, " Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels." [Matt. 25:41]. Yet Ignatius, a decade or so later, paints quite a different picture:

I have become acquainted with your name, much-beloved in God, which ye have acquired by the habit of righteousness, according to the faith and love in Jesus Christ our Saviour. Being the followers of God, and stirring up yourselves by the blood of God, ye have perfectly accomplished the work which was beseeming to you...I received, therefore, your whole multitude in the name of God, through Onesimus, a man of inexpressible love, and your bishop in the flesh, whom I pray you by Jesus Christ to love, and that you would all seek to be like him. [emphasis mine]

Such a difference! The Ephesian believers had clearly taken God's Word to heart and had regained their first love. You might wonder why I point this out. Had it not been for the letter of Ignatius, we should be wondering and speculating over the fate of the Ephesian church. What happened to those believers? Did they repent? Did they reject God's Word? Yet this great hero of the faith (who was being transported to Rome to be executed) exhorts their love and their faith and notes their deeds. Surely such a man, who had been very familiar with John, would understand the change in them. Many people wonder at the authority of these early leaders of the Church. Did they lord their authority over believers as a master dictate to thralls? Not in the least, consider these words of Ignatius:

I do not issue orders to you, as if I were some great person. For though I am bound for His name, I am not yet perfect in Jesus Christ. For now I begin to be a disciple, and I speak to you as my fellow-servants. For it was needful for me to have been admonished by you in faith, exhortation, patience, and long-suffering.

It was not the good bishop who dictated orders to the faithful, but THEY who admonished HIM. Such a striking thing, is it not? Yet it rings of the words of Christ to His disciples in Luke 22:26:

But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves.

Even after the death of the last remaining Apostles, the Church held fast to this principle. It has often been said since that time that the blood of the martyrs kept the doctrine of the Church pure. It apparently worked. Following his praise to the Ephesians, Ignatius begins a series of admonitions that can be summed up in this way:

Obey the Church Leadership ("appointed by God")
Live in the unity of Christ
Watch for False Teachers

He then highlights some facts that are in accordance to Christ's letter to that church in the years preceding (both texts will be provided for comparison. The Scriptures are in red):

Nevertheless, I have heard of some who have passed in among you, holding the wicked doctrine of the strange and evil spirit; to whom ye did not allow entrance to sow their tares, but stopped your ears that ye might not receive that error which was proclaimed by them, as being persuaded that that spirit which deceives the people does not speak the things of Christ, but his own, for he is a lying spirit.

I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false.
But some most worthless persons are in the habit of carrying about the name [of Jesus Christ] in wicked guile, while yet they practise things unworthy of God, and hold opinions contrary to the doctrine of Christ, to their own destruction, and that of those who give credit to them, whom you must avoid as ye would wild beasts.
But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

It is a worthy epistle to read. It is not the Word of God (for this godly man, worthy as he was, was not the instrument of God's hand in this way). However, through him, we can understand the Apostles' teaching, from which the early Church grew by. Through it, we can check our doctrine against it. They are not infallible, but chances are that they are correct in what they write.

Note: The Bishop of Ephesus is named multiple times and is called Onesimus. It is possible that this is the selfsame believer for which Paul interceded in his letter to Philemon - who, at that time, was Onesimus' master. Textual evidence indicates that the letter was written in Ephesus (references to Timothy, Demas, et al.). It stands to reason, then, that Onesimus would already have been familiar with the Ephesian church. If anyone has information regarding this, I would be very interested in it.

If you would like to read Ignatius' epistle to Ephesus, please go to this page. These writings are from Studylight.org's resources.

UPDATE: Similar letters were written to the churches in Magnesia, Tralles, Philadelphia, and Smyrna. [Note that two of those cities were also written to by John in Revelation]. One letter, written to Rome, spoke of Ignatius' desire for martyrdom and warned the Roman Christians not to prevent it. A letter was addressed also to Polycarp, bishop of Smyrna and a discple of the Apostle John. It was very much like the Pastoral Letters - 1 & 2 Timothy and Titus - and worth reading.

Unity in the Church?

2005-09-16T21:20:00.000-04:00

I read an interesting article just a few minutes ago by Mr. Gregg Harris, father of author Joshua Harris (I Kissed Dating Goodbye, Boy Meets Girl, Not Even A Hint) and big-time bloggers Alex and Brett Harris (The Rebelution - highly recommended by the best of us). The article is entitled Reformed, Charismatic, & Evangelical: Keeping the Fire in the Fireplace! and is located at the Household of Faith Community Church website. It basically examines how those three groups emphasize different points of the Gospel but oftentimes take it too far. In light of my own studies on the matter of Christian unity, I'd say this is the fairest analysis I've yet to see! The only thing I could possibly add to the list is Traditional Christian churches. We who are not Catholic or Orthodox cannot often get past the idea of veneration of saints or hierarchical church government that is rather extensive. Some of us have other (or many) issues with their doctrine. However, I must say that those churches, of all of the others, have preserved the idea of God's majesty and power in such a way that I often wonder why we fail to recognize it. One of these days, I will have to write about what different groups have preserved (not like Mr. Harris - I'm referring to elements of the Early Church and what groups carry forward from it. Unfortunately, no denomination has it all!) Anyways, it is a good read and I recommend it so check it out!

The Rumblings of the Future

2005-09-13T17:55:00.000-04:00

Note: This post is going to be a little out of character for me, but please, just bear with me on it. Over the past few months, I have gotten to know quite a few of you out there in the blogosphere or through Generation Joshua (or both) and I can honestly say that I respect each and every one of you. We don't always agree (and it's a pleasant surprise when we do...) but we've managed to form quite a group (not consciously) - a group that is very diverse in its theology, its vision, and its interests, and that's not saying anything about background. In any case, I would like to just share some observations about some of you. Before I do that, I should explain a few things. I believe God has given me a gift to virtually see different strengths in people and how that will be used. This is not prophecy or anything of the sort, but take it for what it's worth. Second, if I did not mention you, it's not because I didn't consider you "important enough" - but only that I did not feel I knew you well enough to say anything (note that I've also covered you in alphabetical order so there's no primacy of one over another). Tim (Agent Tim Online) - Tim has some qualities about him that I would like to touch on in particular. He has a pastor's heart, for one thing, and a pastor's mind as well. I don't know what his plans are for the future, but I know that should God lead him to ministry, he is well-equipped for it. Some of my friends here have read his blog and said that we are alike in zeal and in vision. As one astutely put it, "Whatever The Account doesn't cover, Agent Tim does - and vice-versa." This is not to say that I'm this great person or anything like that - it was a simple observation by a close friend and I can see some truth in the statement. While I might cover Harry Potter, heresies, the place of youth, Tim's coverage is more social in outlook - homeschooling in Germany, The Purpose-Driven Life, etc. But I digress too much! By a pastor's heart, I mean that Tim can sympathize with people, yet can also gently point out their wrongs (a quality that I, unfortunately, do not have). He seeks to understand them and to show them the Truth of God's Word. He also thinks like a pastor in that the mission is more important to him than anything else he does. Tim, I know God has great things in store for you. D3 (In Rejection of Mediocrity) - David (aka "D3") is quite a different case. If people thought that Tim and I were alike, they would say the opposite in D3's case. Why? Well, a few things. This guy actually understands and likes science! Not only that, but he can duke it out with the best of 'em out there. I watched a few months back as he single-handedly disposed of every argument that a macro-evolutionist researcher (working at some special institute in New Mexico toward earning his PhD)! His scientific aptitude is only one of his strengths. Another that is rather obvious is his grasp on practical apologetics. This is one person who has taken "be ready to give an answer to anyone that asks you the reason for your hope" very seriously. I know he plans on applying to Ivy League schools (another wow for me...my SAT score would disqualify me immediately) for post-secondary education. What he plans to do for a career, I've either forgotten or never heard...D3, I know that you will conquer all that rises against you through the power of Christ. Jon (Testimony to Truth) - Jonathan Knox is a paradox to me. About four or five years ago (time, indeed, does move swiftly), I received an email with the subject "End Times Alert for Operation Revelation." Needless to say, I was intrigued. The email from this mysterious "Jon Knox" contained summaries and insights into some international current events and why they were significant to Biblical prophecy. In the ensuing conversations, I went on to learn that we were twins in all but genetics. There was nothing that we didn't agree on - in politics, in society, in theology (especially eschatology). So our friendship, for so I deem it, blossomed for a period of three and half years and then the shock of my life came (and is, of yet, unsurpassed): Jon had given his heart to the Roman Catholic Church. The change was...well...instantaneous. Jon is still Jon - with the same strong interest in the things of God (which I applaud heartily) and a keen apologetic spirit that demands a reason for everything (not skepticism, but you better know why you believe something!). The only change, then, was in our theology. It was difficult for me to accept this at first because, as must be understood, our friendship had been built upon theology and our commonality in it. I know that Jon has a vision, a passion, for seeing Truth restored to the Church and for all believers coming to that unity in Christ and I pray that God will grant him his desire to be a part of that. Jon, you are open to this work, but do not be surprised if God does something unexpected with it. Kristin (Spunky Jr.) - Kristin is the rose among the thorns. In all the rowdy debating, bantering, and squabbling that goes on among "us guys," Kristin has consistently been a calm voice of reason. That only tops the list - her writing shows a distinct level of sophistication, intellect, and humor that, in my humble opinion, bears the mark of balance that is beyond me (and perhaps some of the guys would agree?). I have seen some mention of college but have no idea as to her (other) future plans. Given her talents and strengths, however, I have no doubt that God will use her in a mighty way. Kristin, go forth boldly and express the love of Christ that has been given you in such a mighty way. Pete (Pete's Place) - Pete - our good ol' reformed friend to keep us all in line. ;-) Pete is another one of those guys gifted with the apologetic spirit. If I wasn't so stubborn, he could have made a fine Calvinist out of me one of these days! At first, on the GenJ forums, it was pretty hard for us to have a civil conversation (both of us getting into heats because we disagreed) but we've gotten SO much better at it lately. In any case, let us continue. I was really impressed with Pete's gripping mastery of the Word of God. Apologetic Gifts+Scriptural Mastery+Passion=A hard debater to beat. As with the others, I don't know Pete's plans very much and I won't make any assumptions (he'll ask for evidence...) on them. Pete, Our Lord came with the Sword - bear that sword on for the Kingdom! I'm telling you what - these are the people you want to watch, and others. I know God will do great things through them and I look forward to the day (when they're all famous :P ) that I can point them out and explain to whoever the unfortunate is beside me, how I "knew" them. I wish you could say the same of me...honestly, I do. Please, don't mistake it as pride - a lot of people have made that mistake. The truth is, what you see on The Account or in your comment section is all fine and good but it's all I have to offer - nothing more. It shows the whole of one part of me. It's about as accurate a picture of me as this caricature. Forgive me if this part of the post seems self-centered but it is, by far, time to level with you. I have always felt a desire to be someone - to do something great. It was just something that came naturally to me. At the same time, I was never outgoing or attention-grabbing - actually, I was very shy until I turned 12 or 13. In any case, I still struggle with that desire. I believe I have some good ideas about the Scriptures, about the Church, and I have no problem expressing them. But it constantly strikes me how incapable I am to perform the steps required. My pride cries against it and I constantly say to God, "Why did you give me the thoughts and the ideas but not the ability to put it to work?" It is arrogant of me, I know. Yet, ironic as it is, my comfort has been the Scriptures:

To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. (2 Corinthians 12:7-8)

I do not presume to compare myself with the Apostle but this verse is very, very applicable to my dilemma. And just now, as I was reading it, I noticed what follows:

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)

Answer to prayer. Finally, (yes, I'm almost done) I must say that I am honored by your association - all of you. It is a good thing to see how the Body of Christ works among us - if only it were the same out there. To God, who is our Support, be all the Glory. Amen.

Josh McDowell Sounds Out

2005-09-12T19:45:00.000-04:00

Well, Josh McDowell has some interesting things to say - thanks to Worldview Weekend for the tip.

Christians Condemned by Palestinians

2005-09-03T09:09:00.000-04:00

According to this story from the One Jerusalem Blog, Palestinian organization Hamas - a terrorist group that represents the majority of the Palestinians - have condemned "Christian zionism." In light of a recent study that states "radical" Islam is believed by the majority of Muslims, this is no idle threat. It is well-known that Hamas has ties with Hizbullah and Iran's religious leaders - all of which hate Israel and the United States. I fail to see why ANY Christian should support the cause of the Palestinian state. There are Christian Palestinians, yes, but they, too, are denounced as "Zionists" because of their faith. It is for the best that Israel is only government there. Also, check out this video with Benjamin Netanyahu and Natan Sharansky. Their passion and zeal for the covenant land is indeed admirable. Their vision for Jerusalem is great.

"Who Are You?" Poll Results

2005-08-27T16:26:00.000-04:00

Who Are You? This poll stressed the group-identification of The Account's readership. Participants were asked to identify themselves as Traditional, Protestant, Evangelical, or Non-Christian. The results were strongly in favor of the Protestant camp (who broke 60%), with Evangelicals claiming second (just over 30%). Traditional readers were unable to break 10% and there were no non-Christian participants. For final results, please see http://www.blogpoll.com/poll/view_Results.php?poll_id=19928.

Rachel, Weeping for Her Children...

2005-08-18T21:30:00.000-04:00

It is a grievous time in the history of Israel. Indeed, she has not a friend in the world that will remain true (corporately speaking) to her and the nation is at war with itself. Soldiers are evicting their own people from synagogues - houses devoted to the worship of the Almighty! The President of the United States ignores the atrocity and commends the Israeli government for its "good work." So does her Secretary of State! The nations are in agreement with this. Can it get any worse? Unfortunately, it has. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America has condemned Israel. Even the CHURCH has begun to turn its back on Israel. May all the people on earth beware the wrath of El Shaddai - for his judgment shall not sleep long! Ironically, it is Hamas who knows what this disengagement can provide. Pray for Israel - that is all that I have the heart to say. Woe to us that we must witness the darkness of these days! Expert: Moderate Muslims are a Tiny Minority Congregation is Fighting for Bishop-Controlled Church Catholic Bishop Agrees to Call for Unity with Lutherans (Bad news...they have it in for Evangelicals) Youth Ministers Say Kids -- Including Evangelicals -- Are Dabbling in Wicca U.S. Court Okays Men in Dresses, Showering With Women at Work (It just had to be Pennsylvania....) Pope Causes Stir by Urging Crucifixes in Public Buildings Shalom. May Shiloh grace us in these days of Ge-Hinnom. Come, Y'Shua, spare us this great grief. Amein.

Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Gone Astray?

2005-08-13T22:30:00.000-04:00

According to this story from Worthy News [Original Source: Haaretz], the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has begun to carry out its threats concerning the divestment of Israel. The denomination plans to do this by placing economic pressure on major corporations with investments in Israel - in particular, the Gaza Strip. In fact, PCUSA has been quite clear on their reasoning:

[Because these companies] support and maintain the occupation; establish, expand, or maintain Israeli settlements; support or facilitate violent acts by Israelis or Palestinians against innocent civilians; and support or facilitate the construction of the Separation Barrier.

Aside from that brief mention of Palestinians, everything is directed at Israel. Bad idea. I have always been a passionate supporter of the Israelite nation - the apple of God's eye. The Psalmist prays that all who love it prosper, and for good reason! In the words of the Apostle Paul [Romans 9:4-5], "...the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption as sons; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises. 5Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of Christ, who is God over all, forever praised! Amen." Many have questioned me regarding the place of Israel...not for an answer but to challenge my convictions concerning the Chosen Ones. In each case, they point out God's love for the Church (making no distinction between Jew and Gentile) and maintain that God does not have a special relationship with this blessed people in these times. My answer now is this [Romans 11:28-29]: "As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies on your account; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs, for God's gifts and his call are irrevocable." And let us be on our guard Sunday August 14 - Tishe b'Av for the Jews. It is a record-setting day of bad news for Israel. Both the first and second temples were destroyed on that day, along with MANY other significant, disasters in the Hebrew history. Pray that they may come through this day unscathed. Not only this, but God promises that the entire nation of Israel will one day be redeemed - sworn irrevocably to the allegiance of Messiah - King of Israel, Redeemer of the Nations, the Root of David, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, Prince of Peace. May all of us in the Church look forward to that day and pray earnestly for the redemption of Israel (which, according to Luke 21 shall not come until the "fullness of the Gentiles")! [For another Israel-related story, see Netanyahu Resigns from Government] Of course, there is always a spark of hope somewhere in the Church. In fact, we have quite a few today:

Theologian Sees Female Leaders as Scriptural Compromise (Religious News Service and Christian News [Original Source: AgapePress] -At last, a voice preaching sound doctrine in this rather controversial area! This is not to say that I believe women should not be involved in ministry. In fact, the Bible is quite clear that women are to instruct other women in the Body...but they cannot instruct men. That is the key thing.
Antiochian Orthodox Leave National Council of Churches (Religious News Service and Christian News) - For all that many claim to find fault with in Orthodoxy (not I, since I have not studied it in-depth), they cannot deny that the Orthodox hold strongly to the Word of God.
Churches of Christ Distance Themselves from UCC (Religious News Service and Christian News) - No comment needed

And if you simply feel the need to be confused, see Salty Dogma (from WORLD mag)

Apologies and Stories

2005-08-04T21:50:00.000-04:00

First of all, I'd like to apologize for not blogging in the past week. Things have been much busier than usual and I have grieviously been distracted from The Account. Unfortunate for both myself and you, however, is the fact that I will not be able to blog from August 6-13, as I will be out of computer access. Anyways, to the real point of this post (besides abating Jake's rare comments :P ). Religious News Service and Christian News reports that the Christian Church (Discliples of Christ) denomination has elected a woman to the oversight of the organization. Rev. Sharon Watkins was made general minister and president by the General Assembly, which eagerly acclaimed her election. In my opinion - big mistake. Also from Religious News Service and Christian News is this piece that states the the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ECLA) will maintain a policy that calls for ignoring the denomination's problems with homosexuality. Conservatives fear that this will lead to the same quagmire the the Episcopal Church is currently in since the election of Gene Robinson as bishop. Am I missing something or is every Protestant and Traditional denomination having trouble? (Note that this is not an attack on your denomination, but it is an observation of the reality). As if this is not enough, Religious News Service and Christian News [original source: AgapePress], posted this story which details the recent takeover of St. John's Episcopal Church in Connecticutt by a bishop. The reason? The rector of St. John's - a conservative - is anti-homosexual. The bishop, however, is not and he forced the rector out of the church's ministry and installed a pro-homosexual woman as leader for the time being. I will say no more...you already know my questions. Another "End Times" - type story is found in Worth News [original source: Fox News] with "Chip Implants: Better Care or Privacy Scare?" Could this be the Mark of the Beast? Many believe so, and I must admit that there is a good case for it, but we shall see as the days go by. Enough depressing news...here's some good news for once. Religious News Service and Christian News [original source: LifeSiteNews] reports that the "Youth of America" have sent a strong message (petition, actually) to the movie producers of Hollywood. Due to some of its rather mature content, I'll only quote some of it, but if you'd like to see the full text, go to this page.

You do so much more than provide "entertainment." We don't walk away from movies merely amused; we walk away with images in our minds, dreams in our hearts, and expectations for our future...That's why we're upset. What you've shown us isn't real...All we ask for is the truth.

And that's not all. The Assemblies of God are reporting that the number of conversions to Christianity have made significant advances. For more info, see the story. A related story comes out of Illinois with this headline: Rockford Sees "Firestorm of Revival" More:

Bush Backs Intelligent Design in Schools (Religious News Service and Christian News)
Brain-Dead Woman Gives Birth To Baby (Religious News Service and Christian News) [Okay, it's hard to classify this one. It's good that the child survived but it's really sad the mother will not]
Christians Must Be Prepared to AnswerDa Vinci Code Questions (Religious News Service and Christian News) [It's good news that Christian leaders are waking up to the threat...not that the threat exists

Okay, since you've had a break in the disappointment, here's some more:

Is Peace Worth the Price?

2005-07-27T20:56:00.000-04:00

Shimon Peres has opened his mouth, again. And, again, it's nothing worth listening to. According to Worthy News [Original Source: Haaretz], Peres stated that there would be no peace in Israel unless Jerusalem is divided. Once again, I must question the man's sanity. The Scriptures (that he supposedly believes) clearly state that Jerusalem will remain undivided and in Israel's hands until Messiah comes to reign on earth (this, all Jews and most Christians will agree to...). Peres speaks with the spirit of antichrist...God save us. And, hope at last, Jeff Robinson of BPNews, reported by Religious News Service and Christian News, that liberal churches are coming into the era of judgment. According to this story, people are flocking out of the liberal churches because they "cut loose from [their] anchor" [the Bible]. This article comes in the wake of a book called Exodus: Why Americans are Fleeing Liberal Churches for Conservative Christianity written by David Shiflett. For the full article, see Baptist Press' story. And, shocker of shockers, an insider reports that Hillary Clinton will vote to confirm Supreme Court nominee, John Roberts! [Source: Religious News Service and Christian News]. And if you're looking for more of the "shock factor" - a Washington D.C. radio host recently stated, "The problem is not extremism, the problem is Islam...We are at war with a terrorist organization named Islam." Wow...There is hope for this country after all. I am so glad that SOMEONE out there is still standing up for the truth. See the original story for details. [Source: Ibid.] Have the Maccabees come back? It seems so. The legendary freedom-fighters of Israel have been resurrected in the actions of the Yesha Council. Everyone has heard of Ariel Sharon's disengagement plan yet the inhabitants of one of the villages in particular, Gush Katif, have resisted the state's efforts to remove them. Behind all this is the Yesha Council - composed of rabbi's and other leaders of the Israeli people. God bless their efforts as they seek to remain in "the land the LORD has given them."

The Defender of Religious Freedom: Islam?

2005-07-23T22:04:00.000-04:00

Recently, a Muslim Imam addressed the Canadian Senate Committee and spoke on the topic of hate crimes and how it was affecting the top three monotheistic faiths in a negative way:

"This is the trend we are going with; and the trend for changing the contents of the Bible or the Koran or the Torah has already started in the name of hate crimes. Some of the verses of the three major scriptures of the world will come under the hate crimes of Ontario and other provinces. They will say these verses should be taken out or changed. This demand is already there. Where will we stop? That is the concern I have."

I must admit that I am extremely impressed with Imam Patel. For more on the story, please see Religious News Service and Christian News' story here. According to Worthy News [Original Source: Yahoo! News], NBC is going to release a "contemporary" Jesus series this fall entitled "The Book of Daniel." It's really quite offensive to think about it, but you never know how it's going to turn out. For more info, see this story. And if you think that episode in California with the Catholic pro-lifers was bad, here's a head-turner: Pro-Life Teens Arrested at White House for Praying. Is it just me or did these agents just violate the constitution? Why wasn't the media on this? Apart from Religious News Service and Christian News, this has not been heard anywhere else. And for other recommended stories, please see:

Senator is Bashed by Liberals for Telling Truth
Conservative Lutherans Tell ELCA 'Not to Divide Our House'
Methodists Will Host Pro-Homosexual Rally Over Labor Day
Iraq's Christians Fearful of Looming Islamic Law
Muslim Fanatic Interrupts Church Service
Canadian National Public Radio Broadcasts Call for State Control of Religion
Canada 4th Nation to Legalize Gay Marriage
Vietnam Government Razes Portion of Mennonite Church
Turin Shroud confirmed as a fake [Note: This still does not explain many factors in the Shroud, such as the pollen particles that date from first century Palestine...This theory is simply ludicrous]
Dramatic findings from the First and SecondTemple periods uncovered
The Bible tells us that the Earth is about 6,000 years old
Gravity doughnut promises time machine
UN Continues to Push for Criminalization of Parents [since win can the UN tell us what to do?]
Vanuatu Islands on the Brink of Revival
Number of Jews in Israel Will Soon Pass U.S. Jews [The complete restoration of Israel is well on its way!]

New Header for "The Account"

2005-07-22T13:29:00.000-04:00

I'd like to thank David MacMillan (aka D3) for creating the awesome header now displayed on "The Account." D3 is a fellow Generation Joshua member and author of D3's Blog. If you like the header, why don't you give his blog a try and let him know! [And if you don't, you're wrong not to. ;) ]

The Battle Continues: The Church At War

2005-07-16T15:51:00.000-04:00

For years now, the Church has been fighting heresies and Hell-based doctrines that have infiltrated its structure. These falsehoods have been eating at the House of God like termites do a wooden frame. Though many care little about the condition of the Church, there are still some who seek to bring it back to the First Century A.D. Here are some stories: Kirk Cameron's Calling: Helping Christians Share Their Faith (Relgious News Service and Christian News) Iraq Evangelical Churches Grow between Death and Destruction (Worthy News) Pope Opposes Harry Potter Novels (Relgious News Service and Christian News) MegaShift Claims Cause Controversy (Relgious News Service and Christian News) Mennonite Pastor Remains in Post After Same-Sex Ceremony (Relgious News Service and Christian News) Comments are encouraged (as always). ;)

Devotional: John 1:1-2

2005-07-15T22:44:00.000-04:00

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

Very few people realize how philosophically-inclined the Bible is. Most would consign philosophy to being the realm of Greek thinkers like Aristotle and Plato. Yet, it is true that the Word of God is the only book in the world that is completely true in regards to its philosophical aims. Perhaps it would be worthwhile to discuss the meaning of philosophy in this situation. Philosophy comes from the Greek for "Love of Knowledge." The science of philosophy is the study of abstract principles and laws and how they apply to everyday life. Basically, philosophy endeavors to show the why of things. For instance, philosophy, in theory, could explain the purpose of life and time. The Biblical book of Ecclesiastes explores the question. While exploring life and time is quite an endeavor, there are much greater issues to be examined: the nature of God, for instance. Now, it has been understood for centuries that God is not one that can be fully understood. Believe it or not, philosophy has established that. However, God has granted His creation the ability to understand Him in part - different aspects of His nature as they exist, just not all of them together. John 1 is perhaps the most philosopical explanations of the personality of God the Son. The apostle John, inspired by the Holy Spirit, uses the Greek word Logos, which gives us a few bits of information concerning the divine nature of Jesus. One definition of Logos is "Reason." As we'll see later, this aspect of God's character has a lot to do with our own existence. Another definition is "Account." This refers to two types of accounting:

a "reckoning of accounts" (i.e., a payment of debt).
an "explanation in reference to a judgment."

This is particularly fitting as Jesus was the payment of our debt. He gave His life for our's - conquering sin and death that we might enjoy His life. He is also the explanation - the answer of God's judgment. The Scriptures tell us that Christ will one day judge the world according to the Will of the Father. Yet another meaning for Logos is "cause." Many have heard of the Law of Cause and Effect. In the context of that law, John 1 virtually names Christ as the Cause of all things. Another definition is not to be found in Greek lexicons, but in classical literature. Around 600 B.C., a philosopher named Heraclitus used the word Logos to refer to the Divine Plan that works the universe. This is an important concept to understanding that God is the ruler of the universe and dictates its movements. This is an expansion of the previous definition of Logos as the "Cause." In English, Logos is translated "The Word" - which is the primary meaning of Logos. With this in mind, let us turn now to John 1: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning." So we know that the Word (Christ) is eternal and outside of time. Not only is the Word eternal, but He is co-existent with God, and is one with Him, and has always been so. This has always been traditional Christian doctrine in regards to the divine nature of Christ. It is important to note, though, that John established the principle through philosophic means.

More Trouble Brewing in the Church

2005-07-13T17:51:00.000-04:00

Well, quite a bit is going on in this Church these days and very little of it is good, unfortunately. Worthy News [Original Souce: Yahoo! News] reports that the Church of England (not the Anglican Communion as a whole) is considering the ordaining of women bishops. This is mostly due to a self-imposed pressure to be like other influential congregations within the Anglican Communion - like those in the United State, Canada, and New Zealand, who already permit them, along with eleven other national congregations. What I see in this story are two things:

A depature from the Truth. The Scriptures have already given the qualifications of Church officials - be they pastors, elders, or deacons, and in each case it says that they are to be men.
A repetition of Israel's famous mistake. Before the anointing of Saul as king of Israel, we see that one of their reasons was because all the other nations had one...I see much of the same idea here in this story. The Church of England wants women bishops "because everyone else is getting them too."

In light of this story, Religious News Service and Christian News reports in this story that such a move would split the Church of England, literally. Nearly 25% of the church's bishops oppose the move but recognize that if it is passed, they will have to leave. Bishop Andrew Burnham said the following:

A Church of England with women bishops would no longer have a united episcopate. Bishops would no longer be what they say they are. I would have to leave.

Burnham, along with other Anglican leaders, states that he would most likely join the Roman Catholic Church. In all honesty, if the motion passes, this might be beneficial to the Vatican to have more conservative theologians to straighten out some doctrines purported by liberal renegades in Rome - maybe even rid the Catholic Church of any evolutionary ideas (for more on that, see this story provided by Religious News Service and Christian News).

And, if you're looking for some encouraging news, see this awesome testimony of the Power of God: Former Crack Dealer Now Pushes the Gospel.

Josephus on Jesus: A non-Christian Testimony to the Power of Christ

2005-07-10T19:00:00.000-04:00

Josephus, a first-century historian who is renowned for his works on the history of the Jewish people, primarily in his Antiquities and The History of the Jewish War, makes a rather significant mention of Jesus in the 18th volume of The Antiquities. There are two texts, one of which contains some interpolation by later Christian writers:

At this time there was a wise man called Jesus, and his conduct was good, and he was known to be virtuous. Many people among the Jews and the other nations became his disciples. Pilate condemned him to be crucified and to die. But those who had become his disciples did not abandon his discipleship. They reported that he had appeared to them three days after his crucifixion and that he was alive. Accordingly, he was perhaps the Messiah, concerning whom the prophets have reported wonders. And the tribe of the Christians, so named after him, has no disappeared to this day.

Here is the interpolated text:

Now there was about this time Jesus, a wise man, if it be lawful to call him a man; for he was a doer of wonderful works, a teacher of such men as receive the truth with pleasure. He drew over to him both many of the Jews and many of the Gentiles. He was [the] Christ. And when Pilate, at the suggestion of the principal men amongst us, had condemned him to the cross, those that loved him at the first did not forsake him; for he appeared to them alive again the third day; as the divine prophets had foretold these and ten thousand other wonderful things concerning him. And the tribe of Christians, so named from him, are not extinct at this day.

From the original (source: Josephus: The Essential Works by Dr. Paul L. Meier), we can see that Jesus was very respected in the Jewish community long after his crucifixion. We know that Josephus was born three or four years after the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord and though he never became a Christian, he held nothing against them. In fact, it is clearly seen that he respected them. This was generally the case among the common people of Judea, who saw them as sadly mistaken concerning Jesus being the long-awaited Messiah, but good and virtuous people. Of course, this is not to say that the religious leaders agreed with them (most did not), but the leaders were in their dying days - the very generation that Jesus said would see the temple destroyed and Jerusalem deserted. Scholars generally agree that the second sample (can be found at Studylight.org) received some "artistic" editing from Christian scribes in the centuries proceeding after the reign of Constantine. Many ascribe it to Eusebius, although none are sure. This is not the only reference to our Lord. In fact, He is mentioned later on when Josephus details the death of his brother James:

Having such a character, Ananus [the son of the Biblical high priest Annas] thought that with Festus dead and Albinus still on the way he would have the proper opportunity. Convening the judges of the Sanhedrin, he brought before them the brother of Jesus who was called the Christ, whose name was James, and certain others. He accused them of having transgressed the law and delivered them up to be stoned. But those of the city residents who were deemed the most fair-minded and who were strict in observing the law were offended at this.

It should be noted that this is translated word for word from the texts that we have and these were not edited by later Christian writers. Josephus' phraseology still indicates that he is not a believer but that Jesus was apparently notable enough, and his followers respected enough that the stoning of his half-brother was deemed offensive by many of the upstanding Jews in Jerusalem (most likely Pharisees, who would probably have been more than happy to take the side of the Christians since it was the Sadducees who made the judgment). This is in keeping with the Scriptures, which tell us so in Acts 5:13:

No one else dared join them [those who were not true believers], even though they were highly regarded by the people.

And also in Acts 5:26:

At that, the captain went with his officers and brought the apostles. They did not use force, because they feared that the people would stone them.

These texts, though often overlooked, provide ample proof of the respect and notoriety that the early Church enjoyed, before the fall of Jerusalem in 70 A.D.

There's Hope After All...

2005-07-08T19:55:00.000-04:00

Well, I was reading a story out of the Washington Post today and I have come to the conclusion that there's hope for the Church after all. The headline of the story is Evangelicals Building Base In Iraq. Note that I don't hold anything against the traditional churches there, personally. However, it is high time that their leaders be handed over for judgment. Not evangelizing? Discouraging the spread of the Gospel? Are they out of their collective minds? I can only thank God that He has allowed the passion of the first believers enter into the land between the rivers. May God bless their efforts! Here's a different thought - wouldn't it be scary to see a missionary from Iraq come to evangelize in the United States...course, it's no different than missionaries coming from "backward" Galilee to "civilized" Rome. That just may be the case one of these days. Update (8:49 PM) Not only is that news encouraging, but so is this little bit. According to Religious News Services and Christian News, the governor of the liberal state of Massachusetts has denied a 70% increase in state funding for pro-sodomite programs in the state's public schools. And, possibly just as exciting as the Iraq story, popular Jewish hip-star 5o Shekel has announced his commitment to Messiah. Religious News Services and Christian News has published the story here. Also, a bill in the Pennsylvania legislature would allow Intelligent Design to be taught in public schools. Praise God! For a rather leftist report, see CNN's story. And Yet... According to a story put out by Religious News Services and Christian News, some pro-life Catholic teenagers were recently prohibited entrance into Our Lady of the Angels Cathedral in Los Angeles, California where pro-death Cardinal Mahoney was speaking. This has outraged both civil and ecclesiastical authorities, who have denounced the actions of Cathedral security and staff. For more, go here. [Original source: www.LifeSiteNews.com] Protestants and Evangelicals continue to clash over the nation of Israel and their place in God's will. According to The Jewish Times, the mainstream Protestant move toward the divestment of Israel has gotten Evangelicals on the war path. Frankly, I am an evangelical and I stand by them in this. For the sake of those who are part of the United Church of Christ, I pray that they make the right choice and stand by Israel. The full story can be read here. And just for some interesting reading... Some believe that the menorah that stood in the Second Jewish Temple could still be around - right in the Vatican. See this TINY piece right here.

Is It Time to Purge the Church?

2005-07-05T21:14:00.000-04:00

As the days pass us by, I am becoming more and more convinced that the Church is in need of a purging. According to a story but out by Religious News Service and Christian News, clerics in some mainstream denominations - including the Episcopal Church, the United Methodist Church, the United Church of Christ, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), and the Catholic Church - are calling for President Bush to nominate a pro-choice Supreme Court Justice. The Scriptures warn us of false teachers and false prophets - followers of the "doctrines of demons" - but it seems that many in the Church are not heeding their words. Let us return to them and let us ask God to purge the Church of them!

GOP in Trouble?

2005-07-05T12:22:00.000-04:00

Conservatives have been, for some time now, quite aware that the GOP is not idealogically united. There are Republicans like Senator Arlen Specter and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger who are Republicans in name only. Others, like Senator John Thune and Senator Rick Santorum are politically and socially conservative - the true ideal of the GOP. According to this story out of Yahoo! News, provided by Worthy News, the possible reformation of the United States Supreme Court could rend the GOP to pieces. The reason is that social conservatives, especially Christian evangelical leaders, hope that the appointments that President Bush may have to make (besides the replacement for Justice O' Connor), could bring the dream of a conservative Court a reality. Among the effects would be the possible reversal of Roe v. Wade. This controversial ruling has sealed the fate of millions of unborn infants, as well as many mothers, in the past 32 years. Yet, its reversal would most definitely split the GOP. "Moderates" like Senator Spector and Rudi Giuliani would most likely take the high road and get to the safety of the Democratic Party.

Spiritual Gifts

2005-07-04T08:53:00.000-04:00

In some circles of the Church today, spiritual gifts is probably one of the most controversial topics that can be brought up. The reason is that there are many diverse opinions concerning them. Some say that they are still manifested today, as they were in the Apostolic Age. Others object completely saying that such gifts as prophecy and miraculous powers ceased to be given when the canon was closed with the completion of Revelation. What do you think?

The Forsaking of the Chosen People

2005-07-01T17:50:00.000-04:00

Over the past year, more and more Christians have begun to believe that the Church should no longer support Israel. The first denomination to suggest it (although it has not officialized the idea, yet) was the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Now, the Anglican Communion may be joining them. According to this story at Religious News Service and Christian News, the Anglican Consultative Council believes this step to be important in supporting the "Palestinian occupation." To be frank, this irritates me to no end. What will it take to show these churches that they are turning their collective backs on the apple of God's eye? God has brought Israel back to the land of her fathers - the land promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob - promised to their descendants forever. Even if you don't believe that they are still the Chosen People (Replacement Theology), God did make a very clear promise concerning the land of Israel - it was to be their's forever. Were they forced to leave it here and there? Of course, but not totally....there has always been a remnant in the land and in 1948, the land was restored to an Israelite government. The Palestinians, it might be added, were quite content to live under that government until Yasser Arafat led many refugees (who really weren't Palestinian, except in name) there and started a radical front for the so-called "Palestinian Cause." Now, though Arafat is dead, the churches have begun to take up his cry. Where are they going with this? Come back to your rightful place to SUPPORT the people of God!

Being Raised From the Dead?

2005-06-30T19:26:00.000-04:00

According to the Friday Fax, a man was raised from the dead at a wedding in Bulgaria. Here's the story: "In a letter published in "Verfolgte Christen" ('Persecuted Christians'), pastor Vesselin Lazarov from Shumen, Bulgaria, thanks the missions agency AVC for their practical assistance. He reports "God has performed many miracles in our midst. We recently witnessed a man raised from the dead. While some Gypsy musicians from our church were playing at a Turkish wedding, a man fell to the ground, dead. People tried to resuscitate him, but without success. Then a member of our church prayed, commanding the spirit of death to leave the man, and called him back to life. The man stood up! The over 100 astonished eyewitnesses shouted 'A miracle! A miracle!'" Source: Nehemia Info/AVC, www.avc-schweiz.ch" I'll be honest - I have no idea on what to think of this story... What are your thoughts?

Presbyterians in Trouble?

2005-06-26T19:31:00.000-04:00

Well, it seems that the bastion of Calvinistic Christianity is going through some rough times in regards to membership. The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is reporting a near-2% decrease in membership since 2003, and most are not just moving to another church, they are entering the secular world. I'm really not sure what to think of this one....what are your thoughts? For more, see the story at Relgious News Service and Christian News.

An Outside Defense of True Christianity

2005-06-26T19:24:00.000-04:00

According to Religious News Services and Christian News, an organization known as Jews Against Anti-Christian Discrimination has been giving quite a fight in favor of our Judaically-inclined faith. Along with this defense comes the recognition that "Christians are the last barrier standing in the way of moral deconstruction in America." For more on the story, please see here.

Disturbing News....

2005-06-24T15:34:00.000-04:00

Here's the latest from the Christian Worldview Network: "According to Rick Warren, Your “Purpose” isn’t Prophecy" - http://www.worldviewweekend.com/secure/cwnetwork/article.php?ArticleID=35 Quite disappointing....

Updated: The Infliltrated Church

2005-06-23T21:10:00.000-04:00

Many Christians today realize that the Church as a whole has been infiltrated and hijacked by powerful people who use their influence to advance the cause of Hell. Such are the false prophets and teachers. A new group has arrived on the scene: The Christian Alliance for Progress. According to Religious News Service and Christian News, this group "plans to appropriate Christian language to advance its extreme and divisive political agenda. Using Christian rhetoric the Christian Alliance for Progress hopes to convince millions of Americans to share its liberal views and leftist vision." This leftist vision includes, but is not limited to, socialism, universal (federally-provided) healthcare, recognition of sodomite "marriage," and unrestrained abortion. For more, please see RNS-CN at http://www.religionjournal.com/showarticle.asp?id=2665 As if that is not enough, studies have revealed the today's "Christian youth" are really Deists. According to World Magazine, the majority of teenagers today are actually "Moralistic Therapeutic Deists." Their beliefs can be summed up this way:

"A god exists who created and ordered the world and watches over human life on earth."
"God wants people to be good, nice, and fair to each other, as taught in the Bible and by most world religions."
"The central goal of life is to be happy and to feel good about oneself."
"God does not need to be particularly involved in one's life except when God is needed to resolve a problem."
"Good people go to heaven when they die."

The study was conducted by two secular researchers and even they could see how far removed the above is from Christian doctrine. For more, please see World Mag here

Hat tip: Boy Scout Blogger

Agent Tim Update...

2005-06-21T14:44:00.000-04:00

Here's the heads up on Agent Tim's ministry in California: Things Are Looking Up! - http://www.agenttimonline.com/archives/2005/06/mission_update_1.html

One Evangelical, Many Bickering Episcopals, and One Beast of a Problem

2005-06-20T14:24:00.000-04:00

Three stories on the board today:

Graham is "looking forward to heaven."
New Anglican Communion Coming Soon?
Schiavo could have lived at least 10 more years.

1. On June 16, 2005, world-famous evangelist, Billy Graham made an appearance on Larry King Live. According to this story by Jason Anthony at Religous News Service and Christian News, the old-time preacher is ready for the Heavenly Father to call him home. Used by God to be one of the most extraordinary evangelists of the 20th century (and continuing in this one), Billy Graham has made significant contributions to the Evangelical community. God bless him and make his passing a joy to him.

2. A document has been circulating through the Anglican world (and some secular media) that declares that the conservative wing of the Episcopal/Anglican Church to independent of the Anglican Communion. This, in effect, would leave the liberal and apostate congregations of that denomination in the "mainstream" position, but would bring new life to those congregations that follow God truly. Of course, no one has claimed this document and it may be fraud. The Anglican bishop of Pittsburgh, the leader of the conservative movement in the Episcopal Church, however, has threatened separation if the Communion does not reform itself. For more, see this story from Religous News Service and Christian News.

3. Too shocking for words...http://www.religionjournal.com/showarticle.asp?id=2639

Agent Tim in California

2005-06-17T12:46:00.000-04:00

Well, Agent Tim (from Agent Tim Online) left early this morning for California. According to this story at http://www.agenttimonline.com/archives/2005/06/gone_fishinfor.html, Agent Tim arrived safely in Atlanta and has progressed to California. He is on a missions trip there with his youth group and they would appreciate your prayers (and, I'm sure, especially considering that an earthquake just occured there not long ago). God bless! -David UPDATES: Team Interviews -http://www.agenttimonline.com/archives/2005/06/mission_report.html "Preparing to Serve" - http://www.agenttimonline.com/archives/2005/06/mission_update.html

EU or UN? Who's To Know?

2005-06-17T12:35:00.000-04:00

Well, you've probably read my whole deal with the European Union and the Last Days...if not, go here (and be sure to read the comment section). Well, there's a new piece out of MSNBC news (thanks to Worthy News for alerting me about it) that says Bush would like to see the United Nations Security Council expanded. If you'd like to read the story, go to http://www.worthynews.com/zone.cgi?http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8244377. Now, sure, this doesn't bring the Security Council to 10 permanent members, but it's certainly a step toward that direction. Am I worried? No. We of the Church have nothing to fear from anything in regards to the Last Days. However, it does pain me to see the possibility of our President and our Country involved in this evil work. An update on the EU: EU leaders are considering delaying the ratification of their constitution in light of the rejection by both the French and the Dutch. They remain insistent that it will carry through, but officials believe that a time for preparations is advisable for the future of the Union.

Devotional: 1 Corinthians 13:8a

2005-06-15T22:04:00.000-04:00

"Love never fails..." 1 Corinthians 13:8a

As we conclude our study of 1 Corinthians 12 and 13, it is important to realize the all-encompassing power of agape love. Up until this very statement, Paul has given a very intense discourse concerning various issues in the then-Corinthian church: division, acceptance, and, most importantly, love. Yet, as he begins to let the dust settle, the Holy Spirit leads him to write a simple summation about the power of love: "Love never fails." Now, we know that Paul was a Pharisee, a theologian trained by Israel's most-renowned instructer - Gamaliel. With his knowledgable background, in addition to his renewed understanding of the Scriptures from the time of his conversion to Christ, Paul could have easily made quite a dissertation about the power of love to the Corinthian Church - the how and the why of things, as it were. Yet, God, in His infinite wisdom did one better - He stated the simple fact. In the study of sciences and logic, there are such things as axioms - which are basically rules that are simply true, that have no exception, yet no proof for them either except the fact that they work every time. I believe that the Christian life is much the same. There are "axioms" of a different sort: the existence of God, the infallibility of the Scriptures, the Divinity and Humanity of Jesus Christ, His atonement for sin, etc. Upon these, our entire faith is based. This is not to say that man put them there, but that God "laid the foundation as an expert builder." In this class, we can place the simple but powerful truth: love never fails. We have studied the meaning and the nature of agape love and we can only realize its power by applying it to our everyday lives. This is the key to unlocking the power of love, putting it into action. As Christians, we are called to be like our Heavenly Father. 1 John4:8b states, "God is love." If, in His own being, God is Love incarnate, we must also become like Him in agape love.

A Mythical Christ?

2005-06-14T17:12:00.000-04:00

How's this for a story? Religious News Service and Christian News reports that Brian Flemming, "a former Christian" (yeah right....) has produced a film called The God Who Wasn't There which states that Jesus Christ was a myth, a legend - someone that is not based on a historical personage. He is also working on a film called The Beast that will be a story-line approach to demonstrating his "thesis" (if it can even be called that). What do you all think about this? The story can be found here.

Are Muslims Hungry For the Truth?

2005-06-13T16:02:00.000-04:00

According to Religious News Service and Christian News, Muslims are coming to Christ at phenomenal rates. According to this story, thousands upon thousands of Muslims in Asia have been coming to their Lord and Savior - with heavy concentration in the North Africa and countries in the Eastern part of Asia. In America, many Christians have the conception that Muslims are very resistant to the Gospel. While this is true, it is also far too generalized. There are even living testimonies to the Truth in this matter: Dr. Ergun Caner, and his brother, Dr. Emir Caner. With prayer and God's sanction, Christians shall be able to continue the work among the Islamic community. In other news, rapper Nick Cannon has released a PRO-LIFE video. Yes, you read it right. Nick Cannon, on his debut solo album Can I Live? makes a strong statement in favor of the life of the unborn. Although I am not a rap-listener by any stretch, I was deeply impressed with this powerful video and the song (both available for free). If you would like to see for yourself, go to http://www.nickcannonmusic.com/index_main.html.

The Prophetic Lewis

2005-06-09T20:53:00.000-04:00

Many people are familiar with C.S. Lewis as the fabled author of the Chronicles of Narnia. He is also know for his apologetic works like The Pilgrim's Regress, Mere Christianity, and The Problem of Pain. Lesser known, but not any less in significance, is his "Space Trilogy" :

Out of the Silent Planet
Perelandra
That Hideous Strength

As Tolkienites (People who know Middle-Earth inside and out) will tell you, J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis ("Tollers and Jack") were close friends. In fact, it was their friendship that spawned Lewis' creation of the Trilogy and the seed of Tolkien's Numenorë (and, hence, Middle-Earth in general). During one of their frequent discussions on various means of writing - Master Tolkien was a philologist (student of languages) and taught Old English at Oxford University and Master Lewis was a learned scholar in medieval and Romantic literature at Magdalen College) - they decided that they would each write a story about different modes of travel - space travel and time travel. As we now see, Lewis drew the straw for space (and I'm rather glad he did!).

What this has to do with my title might be rather hard to figure out but I believe that Lewis, as early as 1938 saw where our world was heading. It is not so much the events in the story (as they are not only improbable, but completely impossible at this time), but the attitudes, concepts, and principles that are portrayed in this classic work of fiction.

In the books, Dr. Ransom, the main character, finds himself in a cosmic struggle between Good and Evil (stereotypical-sounding, but not so in the books!). In the beginning, he finds that the war is far beyond his own being and finds his strength in Maleldil - the "Old Solar" name for God. Yet, his work for Maleldil brings him a new strength, a separation from the natural order of the sons of Adam (which you'll have to read the books to find out about...) and, even though he must fulfill hard tasks in order to see its accomplishment, the darkness is finally warded away (although its full power is not even conceived of until That Hideous Strength).

Chiefly, the Enemy is moral relativism, the spirit of antichrist, the commencement toward the final battle between God and "the bent one" - that is, the Devil. The siege of our world is being raised and the enemy's holding infiltrated, but it is the battle - the strength of the darkness that reminds one of our current situation in the world.

READ THEM!

U.S. Takes Second In Religious Fervency

2005-06-09T16:45:00.000-04:00

According to Religious New Service and Christian News, the United States is the second most fervent in regards to the importance of religion in everday life. I find this very curious considering the moral depravity that this country has been experiencing in the past five or six decades. 84% of 1,000 adults surveyed in the United States said that "religion is important" to their everday life. 70% said that they "know God really exists and [they] have no doubts about it." Of the respondents, 26% claimed to be Catholic, 30% to be Protestant, and 31% believe some "other religion." These were the top three, leaving atheists (9%), agnostics (1%), Muslims (1%), Buddhists (1%), and Jews (1%) far behind. Is it just me or does this whole equation just not compute? Moral relativism is rampant. There are members of the government and extreme left who would like nothing better than to see organized religion removed from society (at least, they'd like to see the CHRISTIAN religion removed), and yet a whopping 84% claim that they are religious! Jesus spoke all too truly! "You shall know them by their fruit." I'm reminded of a verse from James 1: "If anyone considers himself religious, and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless." The principle of the verse is that if you claim to be "religious" and your life does not show it, you are lying to both yourself and humanity in general (not to mention the fact that you are robbing yourself). If you would like to read an article concerning this, check it out here and here. For the poll, go to the Associated Press website here. Ten other nations were polled as well.

The Existence of God: Axiom or Assumption?

2005-06-05T20:12:00.000-04:00

For some time now, I have been reading (and discussing) a piece by Anselm, Archbishop of Canterbury (1033-1109) at Pete's Place. Plainly spoken, Anselm wrote his Proslogium (Latin for "Discourse") in order to show that the existence of God is axiomatic in nature. The primary argument can be found in the Second Chapter. Technically speaking, this is known as the "ontological argument for the existence of God." Ontology is the philosophical science of existence. It attempts to explore every area of "being" - defining existence, physical nature, identity, etc. [For basic information, please refer to Wikipedia's articles at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ontology and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Ontology. For more detailed study, go to http://www.formalontology.it.] Some might argue that Anselm's argument was not that God's existence is axiomatic. Anselm denies it flatly, saying:

"But what art thou, except that which, as the highest of all beings, alone exists through itself..." -Chapter V

Anselm states that God alone exists through His own nature. This is in accordance with traditional Christian theology which says that God alone is eternal - the Alpha and Omega. Though we often speak of spending eternity with the Father, only He has existed in that state eternally (e.g., created beings have a beginning within eternity while God does not). It is not that this state is outside of time that defines eternity, but rather God's own nature that defines it. When He spoke time into existence, He created that which is not part of His own being - which answers for the constraints of the physical universe. We exist by Him. John 1 says that "Through Him, all things were made." Many Christians entering debates say that the existence of God is a foundational assumption, a first principle that is assumed by the person in order to formulate all proceeding principles. For myself, I don't think this makes a very strong case for the Christian faith. Anselm, if you read the entirety of Proslogium (found HERE), equips the believer with an axiom - a sure rule that proves itself.

Awesome Classical Piece on Christian Unity

2005-06-02T19:52:00.000-04:00

I have found (another) excellent piece on Christian Unity. Francis Bacon, the famed classical philosopher of England wrote a short treatise Of Unity In Religion. It can be found at The Philosophy of Religion website here.

2005-06-02T19:46:00.000-04:00

Pack Place tells the world about "The Account" !!!

UPDATE: The Netherlands reject EU Constitution

2005-06-02T17:28:00.000-04:00

Following in the footsteps of the French people, the Dutch rejected the unifying treaty with an even wider margin. It seems that there is a clear "problem spot" (for the EU) in the western portion of Europe. Even now, Britain is questioning whether or not to have the vote on the constitution this year. I have watched the EU closely for about five years now and this is the first time I have seen such indecision amongst them. Dispensational interpretation says that there is a "restrainer" that holds back the evil of the Antichrist from the world. While we are unsure as to the exact nature of this restraint, we might indeed be seeing it at work. Is the the EU - possibly the revived Roman Empire - being restrained at this time that more may come to Christ before the judgments? I pray it is so. While we, as Christians, have nothing to fear from the wrath of God in regards to the great judgments, there is a small part of me that fears for those who know not the love of God - members of my family, friends - all who have not committed to the saving grace of our Lord.