Final Encouragement

“Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel, for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God’s word is not chained. Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.” — 2 Timothy 2:8-10 NIV (Bold added for emphasis)

These are some of the last words of encouragement shared to my by a Christian friend. May God Bless his family and him as they begin a new chapter in their life story.

Inward Renewal

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.”– 2 Corinthians 4:16 NIV

Private footnote: Thanks for the “sword” and glimpse into eternal friendship.

An Infidel in Mecca

Last week I had the opportunity to visit the Holy Land of the Mormon Faith, Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Utah. On Monday evening, I had the honor of visiting the new Art Museum with my parents and two sisters. They are all Mormon. So out of respect for them, I restrained myself from interrupting the tour guide as she explained the different displays. From my eyes the museum is an attempt for Mormons to find some substance to their faith. Their faith is anchored only to a single testimony.

The witness of visitation by God and of receiving new holy scripture. This alleged holy scripture chiseled on Gold Plates, the original source of the Book of Mormon, is nowhere to be found. It is said they were taken back to heaven until the world can handle the remaining sealed portion of its message. One can only image that marvelous day, when an angel from Heaven brings the plates and more written scripture is given to the Mormon saints. Joseph Smith, jr. is the witness. The only person who has supposedly seen God, the Father, and Jesus, and was instructed that no truth could be found on the earth and he needed to restore it. These main pillars of faith for the Mormon are based on the words of a single boy.

The museum tries to anchor the Mormon Faith to reality. There is no disputing that their was a farmhouse where Joseph lived when he was a boy or that the Hill Cummorah even exists. It is also remarkable all the effort and craftsmanship that early believers poured into their faith. But what can not be shown in any photograph or by any physical evidence is the truth of the claims made by the Mormon faith. It is not unlike what some early Christians attempted when visiting the Holy Land. Building large monuments to show where milestones in Jesus’ life took place. His birth, His miracles, His death, His resurrection. There is danger in creating idols or the needing of physical evidence for faith. It is even more dangerous to deceptively advertising these relics as proof of faith. Relics do not prove faith. They may demonstrate the commitment of the believer, but it does not prove the claims.

Later in the week, I returned to Temple Square. I had planned to met up with a small group that was passing out tracts at the North gate of temple square, but I arrived way too early. So as a non-member, infidel, I entered the gates of Mecca to the Holy Sites of the Mormon Faith. The visitor center was to my immediate right so I went in. I wondered around the first floor looking at the lovely paintings of Jesus and climbed the arching walkway up to the giant statue of Christ. It is a magnificent statue.

Next I wandered into the basement where the distinct Mormon story is told. The displays demonstrating the diverging beliefs and world view of the Mormon faith compared to traditional or historic Christianity. The theme was a restored gospel. It was in the middle of these displays when I was approached by two young ladies, Mormon missionaries.

They arrived at the moment I touched the screen to listen to a short narrative about the two witness of Christ. The Bible. The Book of Mormon. I listened and the two missionaries asked me how I felt about what I had heard. I took this as my Que to begin sharing my Christian faith with them. After talking with them for several minutes, I walked toward the next display and sat down. They followed cautiously joining me on a neighboring bench.

Eighty minutes later and at some point of the discussion two more missionaries joined us, they made their final testimonial witnesses and departed. The Mormon Tabernacle Choir was about to begin rehearsal and they wanted to go and listen. So we parted. It is hard to remember everything I asked them about and talked about and heard, but much of our discussion was about truth, discovery of truth, feelings, the bible, the need for modern prophets. One point I remember asking them, “Why do you consider the Latter-Days after Joseph Smith the fullness of times, and not the time when Jesus walked in Galilee?” They assured me that the mission of Christ was important and nothing measured up to the atonement of Christ, but that Joseph weaved all the gospel together. Restoring it to its fullness.

Another moment that I wanted to share was about truth. The discovering of truth is unrelated to warm feelings. Human emotion is fickle. Truth is not. I shared with the missionaries that asking the Lord to confirm the truth of written words by feelings, is backwards. The written words should confirm themselves without tempting God for emotional proof. There is a subjective response for me when I read or discover truth in the bible. I did not ask for the response, it is given, though. My point is that if you are looking for a specific emotional response to measure your spirituality, you will eventually get it.

In the end, the challenge remains to me and to the rest of the world either Joseph was a prophet or he was not? Either the Bible is the word of God, or it is not? Either Joseph was a prophet or the bible is the word of God? Both can not be true. They both exclude that possibility. The only other option is that neither is. For me I have chosen to trust that the Bible is the word of God. That God is able to protect his words. The apostle Peter, recognized by Mormons, Catholics, and Protestants clearly states in his epistle,

“Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; for ‘All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever.’ And this word is the good news that was preached to you.” 1 Peter 1:22-25 (ESV)

Destroying Truth

After listening to a conference talk given by a false Mormon apostle testifying of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon, I post this as a rebuttal. The Book of Mormon is a fable authored by a guilty false prophet. This is the story of the printing press, a symbol of dispersing the truth of God. A divine instrument of salvation and the death of liberty, when it is destroyed. I would ask that false teacher, did he step over the mangled printing press in Nauvoo to find the truth of the cornerstone of his religion?

Part One.
Some of the inventions of mankind are so revolutionary that they change the course of history. These inventions are inspired genius. They are even more remarkable when they redistribute power from the ruling classes and restore it to the people. It is especially marvelous when a single invention can flood the world with the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

The printing press changed the world by mass production of written text. It allowed for the printing and mass distribution of the holy bible. The power of God unto salvation was released to the four corners of the world again. God in his infinite wisdom spread His merciful message of grace through thousands of copies of the scriptures just as He did in the beginning of this common area when thousands of scrolls flooded the ancient world with the written gospel message of the saving faith available to all through Jesus Christ.

“For I the LORD do not change” Malachi 3:6 “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” Hebrews 13:8. Just as the hand written scrolls of the ancient world flooded the world with the written word of the Lord, so did the printing press fill the world with the preserved written word of God again.

Those ancient scrolls and the printing press were able to spread the word of truth given in the written word, so that the Truth would be revealed. “What is Truth?” asked the Roman Dictator. But before the question is ever asked aloud our Lord provided the answer, “I am the way, the truth, and the life”. The printed words of scripture are made alive by the power of God’s Spirit to testify of the Truth, Jesus. The word made flesh. Immanuel. Urged on by the Rulers of some of the Jews that Roman Dictator would try to silence the truth and crucify the word made flesh. An appeasement to keep the kingdom of Caesar at peace. By killing the Prince of Peace.

Those printed words upon the pages are only reinforced, not undermined as more of those ancient manuscripts are found each year. The reliability of the written word of scripture, the Holy Bible, is sustained by Almighty God. The Psalmist sing, “The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever.” Psalm 119:160; The prophets proclaim, “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.” Isaiah 40:8; The Apostle appeals “but the word of the Lord remains forever.” 1 Peter 1:25. And the authority of the Master declares, “For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.” Matthew 5:18. The printing press, an instrument used to proclaim truth, flooded the world with the written truth, the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Part Two.
There is another story about the printing press that is a little more obscure. It is a small printing press from Nauvoo, Illinois around 1844, about 300 years after its invention. When another truth was being made known to the world. The truth that the false prophet Joseph Smith, jr. had been a closet polygamist and had more than one wife. Published proof that Joseph was living contrary to the commandments of God “Thou shall not covet thy neighbor’s wife” and “Thou shall not commit adultery”; yet he still professed to be the prophet of God. “If you love Me, keep My Commandments” the Lord said. What prophet of God would rebel against God by not keeping His commandments?

Rather than take responsibility for the consequence of his many sins, the false prophet led a mob and broke into a private business and destroyed the offending printing press, the symbol of dispersing the truth. He attacked the sacred right of freedom of speech and of the press. This American Dictator did this to kill the truth to protect his small kingdom in western Illinois. Not unlike that Roman Dictator did so many years before in killing truth and murdering its twin peace. Yet the rule of law would finally prevail, he would be arrested for this crime of destroying another man’s property. While waiting for trial the wage of sin found him, death.

Joseph claimed to be a lamb being led to the slaughter. The last lie in a long string of “bearing false witness.” The largest lie being the five hundred page fable titled the Book of Mormon. He was guilty, has there ever been a guilty lamb? No.

Yet, was this last crime punishable by death? No, the breaking into a private business and destroying a printing press does not deserve death. But then again was the loss of several minutes from a single tape from the oval office that bad? No, but when it is the last link in a long chain of immoral activity, why shouldn’t the full measure of the law be enforced? Did Al Capone deserve 21 years in Alcatraz for tax evasion, or did he deserve more than that for all the other high crimes he had committed. Wouldn’t Joseph the false prophet deserve more punishment for enslaving millions on his highway (shiny and paved four lane toll road) to hell? Wouldn’t all the false prophets that succeeded him deserve the same condemnation?

Conclusion
Where am I going with all this? The tale of the printing press is a symbol of the dispersing of truth with two different endings. The divine and the dark. First the divine story, after a thousand years of abuses by the powerful Catholic hierarchy, the power of God was unleashed to the masses, through this small invention millions were set free into the Liberty of Christ. Second the dark tale, another printing press was destroyed to enslave millions more in a vain attempt to kill the truth. A desperate act to destroy truth. Has any harm ever come from shining the light of truth into darkness? yes, but it is harm for the devil and his minions. The light burns evil. Evil must destroy truth along with every instrument that brings it forth. Even if it is only a small printing press in a little newspaper office on the frontier of America. Truth must die for evil to grow.

“and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:32.

This is one more testimony among many thousands of others I hold for my love for the written word of my LORD, the Holy Bible. The great sovereignty of God to save mankind through the expansion of truth. The truth of His Son, Jesus Christ offered to save us from the growing evil and those who would destroy the truth or try to hide it.

The written word of God is not only a pillar of belief for conservative Christian theology. It is the truth of God. It completely and clearly reveals the power of God unto Salvation. It reveals Jesus Christ, in all his power, glory, and splendor made weak like the rest of His Creation to suffering and die to set men free from sin. Don’t try to cover your own sins by destroying your neighbor’s printing press, don’t kill the truth, instead let the blood of Jesus wash you clean. Believe Jesus. Trust Jesus. Love Jesus. Obey Jesus. Jesus will set you free.

Christian Theology in a box or as a road sign?

Christian Theology, Liberal or Conservative?

How do I define Conservative Christian Theology? Since Theology is a system of interconnected beliefs, I will begin my discussion of Christian Theology by examining a single point. The Christian’s view of the bible. From my point of view as a Conservative Christian (from the last several days of studying both Liberal and Conservative Christianity, there is little doubt that I would be classified as conservative), I will focus on one of its pillars. The Conservative Christian’s high regard of Biblical Authority over all areas of one’s Christian experience. Experience in salvation by each individual. Experience in the expression of the gospel through effort after salvation. All Christian experience should lead to the glorification of God.

If a religious or spiritual experience does not lead to the glorification of God, It is worthless. The underlying foundation of Biblical Authority is the belief that the words of scripture originate and are sustained by Almighty God (Inerrant, Infallible, & Sufficient). And finally, the emphasis of Jesus Christ, as the risen Messiah (the Only One).

In looking at the difference between Liberal and Conservative Christian Theology over the past several days one thing really stands out. The way a person answers, how do I view the bible? This single question divides people. It marks them as either Liberal or Conservative.

My working definition of liberal Christian Theology follows. A Liberal view of the bible leads to liberal Theology. A Liberal Christian will see the Bible as God’s word in function, but crave new and fresh ways to look at its pages. This same individual sees the bible as a series of narratives that explain or symbolize Christian understanding of reality.

The Liberal continues with the view of the bible as being composed of a collection of many human authors and its words describe their beliefs and feelings about God while they were writing them. All their writings should be looked at within the historical and cultural context as a point of view or perception of man. It is not a collection of factual statements or history.

According to them one does not discover truth from reading the bible, but one can create models or processes based on the concepts presented within the bible which can then be used to find truth which will be of great benefit in understanding one’s self, relating to others, and in knowledge of God. Love the Lord. Love your neighbor. Feed the hungry. Visit the sick. A collection of warm and fuzzy notions to add to one’s personal treasure box of wisdom.

An image that I would use to describe a Liberal Christians view of scripture would be that of a box. The Liberal Christian sees the bible as putting an infinite God into a box, and therefore more can be learned about God from outside the box or words of the Bible than from continuous examination of the box.

The bible to many of them is nothing more than a pamphlet, God for dummies. There are other more enlightened and sophisticated ways to discover more about God and even about ourselves. Fixation on the box, the bible, limits the ways one can experience God.

This contrasts to the Conservative Christians view of the bible which I will describe as a road sign. They see the Bible as the infinite God using words to point to the narrow way which is more than a journey of discovery, learning more about God and ourselves, but also leads them to the most desirable destination. The place where God is.

Next I will continue with discussing my view of the Bible in greater detail. A view that most would consider an important element of Conservative Christian Theology.

Next Step

In search of my promised land

Why did I interrupt my discussion of Theology to insert a post about politicians and the lies they tell. Trust or lack of trust are connected to my “conservative” theology (Perhaps a future discussion of how I define conservative theology is coming soon). At the intersection of my life right now both are woven or knitted together. Without theology or truth about God and His revelation, where can anyone stand that is not sand? and standing on the rock alone is without gain absent from relationship or trust in God and others?

I find myself at a rest stop in my journey of discovery. And the next step, in my journey is still a mystery. I have not put that next foot forward yet, because the next destination on my journey is unknown. But there is value in the preparations, I make before taking that next step.

Father Abraham packed his possession and traveled to his promised land. It was not only a journey of distance but also of time. Did he know the final destination or even any of the intermediate stops before he left? No. Yet he stepped out by faith setting each foot in front of the other until he arrived at his destination. For as believers we walk by faith, not by sight.

Did he know that his journey would take him through Egypt beyond his final stopping place? Or that it would include breaking fellowship with his nephew? or in giving away the fertile valley of easy living in exchange for the rugged life upon the hill tops of the Land of Canaan? Or in the waiting of his heir to be miraculously born when he was nearly a century old? Faith is sometimes not even knowing the questions beforehand, that is not saying anything at all about the answers.

Near the end, he stood on the mountain top with his son of promise tied and ready to offer him as a sacrifice in obedience upon an altar. A picture of our Heavenly Father offering His Beloved Son on top of that same hill centuries later. Abraham did not have to kill his son, because God would kill His Only Begotten. A death to appease His wrath against sin. A suffering by our Redeemer, so we could live in the everlasting presence of our Creator.

The journey for Abraham was long and many times he wandered from the path the Lord had set before him. Yet it was accounted righteousness to Abraham because of his faith. For the just walk by faith. May I also walk by the same faith that led Father Abraham to his promise land, So I can take those steps into my promised land.

What lesson is there in this narrative for me? I have all ready taken the first steps in my life’s journey. But the next one is difficult to find. I ask myself, why? So I listen to words of my Lord, once again. “Strength will rise with those who wait upon the Lord.” The next step must require much or why would so much waiting and strength be needed in my reservoir for it?

Yet I remain in my spiritual discipline of reading the bible and praying. I trust God that the answer will come. The question is where is my promised land, the place called home. Where, is it exactly? I know it is in or near Cache Valley, but exactly where within this narrow twenty mile valley it is–I do not know. God willing, spring will bring an answer.

As important as the place is, what of ministry? Part of that promise land is ministry to others? The obvious ministry to my wife and children remains no matter where home is. But beyond that God given ministry to family, what works should flow from my faith? God willing, I hope it would be bible teaching in some form.

Beyond My Theological Label

As you can tell I have taken a break from writing my book, and have returned to the world of web logs at least for a while. Recent events in my life have urged me to turn the mirror on myself. My next entries will be self exams beginning here.

As important as my theology is, it is not as important as my humility in accepting correction for all my bad theological positions. By theology I mean what most consider religious ideas and practices that come from those ideas including but not limited to my view of man, my view of God and my study of God. Whatever my theological label may be that current label is not important. The real question is, Can I change my theology, if it is exposed as being incorrect, or am I too stubborn and proud to let go of that label? Am I meek in accepting correction for all my bad theological positions? Part of my theology is that the only source for correcting my wrong theology is God. My theological position is that the only reliable and authoritative source for God’s position is the Holy Bible.

If I wear my theological label without meekness, it can hold me captive and keep me from growing into deeper fellowship with the Lord and from a right relationship with God. For me, the right relationship with God is the most important part of anyone’s theology. The Bible reveals God as the Creator, the Judge, the King of Israel, the Holy One, in summary the Sovereign of the Universe, these revelations about God begin in the Old Testament with the patriarchs, continue through the Law, and on into the Prophets. All of these attributes of God help me in getting the right relationship of submission to God. It is not submission out of fear or being intimidated by the Almighty. My right relationship with God is perfectly revealed in Jesus; It is a relationship of a parent and child. It is a voluntary submission to authority because of the love, I have for my Father. It is by faith in Jesus, that I become spiritually born and join His family as an adopted son. This does not remove the other attributes of God, it only creates a personal affection between me, an adopted child and Him, my Father. This is the right relationship with God. Parent and child. Not equals.

It is true that the Bible also teaches me that God the Son, Jesus, is my friend. One who walks along side me in life. It also teaches me that Jesus became like me, human and frail. But unlike me, as God the Son, He was able to resist temptation overcoming sin and its consequence of death found in the grave. The only victory I have against these two foes, of sin and death, is the sacrifice of my Friend. The One who came along side me and took my place in punishment, so I could receive His reward of obedience. Greater love has no man, but he that lays down his life for a friend. But does that friendship include sharing in the suffering as well as the good times. Would I walk along side my friend on His way to the cross, or abandon Him? So if I like to think of God the Son, as my friend I must also consider that friendship is more than picnics on sunny days in the park. There are also the cold stormy evenings in the wilderness. But Jesus promised me, He would never leave me or forsake me whether in the feasts of picnics or the famines of the wilderness. So Jesus is my truest friend, but am I a true friend to Him? I can do all things through Christ. I can do nothing without Him.

The Teal Notebook

It is far too complex and the wounds have not healed from all the storms of life that have been blowing around me, but I am left with questions.  I am also left with wounds that only the Lord can help me heal.  The wounds are only collateral damage.  But, I still need a time of quietness so I can heal.  Eventually I will find the Glory of God in the scars left behind.  For scars are the witness and reminder that God heals our wounds.  It is the scars on my Redeemer’s hands and feet that remind me of how much God loves me.  Those scars should be mine, but they are carried by my Savior.  I still need that time of quietness so I can hear and respond with obedience to my God.

The cold order of events.

1. New Teaching Pastor begins ministry.

2. My help was requested in a minor leadership role.

3. Teaching Pastor resigns.

4. Other Pastor requests my continued help in a minor leadership role.

5. Personal difficulties and family concerns led me to resign from my minor leadership role.

6. Those same concerns led me to begin a journey of discovery.  Where do I fit into the Kingdom of God?  Where does my King want me to be?

7.  What lessons do I take from this?

I have a one-inch teal notebook (well I have been told it is teal, I don’t really know what color it is) with my notes from my two month tour of minor leadership.  What do I do with those notes.

a) Burn them.

b) File them away to be forgotten.

c) Carefully examine them.

Well, I should carefully examine them and see what lesson I can take from them, and apply them for all future leadership in my life.  The best place to start applying these leadership lessons would be in my own home.  Even scripture teaches us this. 1 Timothy 3:4-5 “He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church?” (English Standard Version)

Calming music for the mind and heart

Thank you, Pastor John Piper for enriching my life with the illumination of the word of the Lord with a timely message.  Truly the Psalms are to be a way to think and feel about God in all circumstances of life.

Psalm 42

To the Chief Musician. A Contemplation of the sons of Korah.

As the deer pants for the water brooks,
So pants my soul for You, O God.
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When shall I come and appear before God?
My tears have been my food day and night,
While they continually say to me,
“Where is your God?”

When I remember these things,
I pour out my soul within me.
For I used to go with the multitude;
I went with them to the house of God,
With the voice of joy and praise,
With a multitude that kept a pilgrim feast.

Why are you cast down, O my soul?
And why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him
For the help of His countenance.

O my God, my soul is cast down within me;
Therefore I will remember You from the land of the Jordan,
And from the heights of Hermon,
From the Hill Mizar.
Deep calls unto deep at the noise of Your waterfalls;
All Your waves and billows have gone over me.
The LORD will command His lovingkindness in the daytime,
And in the night His song shall be with me—
A prayer to the God of my life.

I will say to God my Rock,
“Why have You forgotten me?
Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?”
As with a breaking of my bones,
My enemies reproach me,
While they say to me all day long,
“Where is your God?”

Why are you cast down, O my soul?
And why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God;
For I shall yet praise Him,
The help of my countenance and my God.

Spiritual Authority

I am taking a short break from spending my time in writing my book to post the following message.

There is a false teaching and attitude that has been circulating around the Christian community that fosters sin and rebellion.  It is an evil taint and twisting of scripture.

It is one that I have encountered this week while studying Galatians.  It is one that has been tugging on me since February when I first encountered it when reading about the beliefs of a ministry on the internet.  It is very close to home right now, and I am grieved over it.  Many churches and ministries fondle this passage to promote the human notion of equality within community and even within governance.

The passage:

” For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” — Galatians 3:26-29

Many have wrongly taken this passage to mean that everyone is equal as Christians.  It does not matter if you are male or female, young or old, we are all equal.  There are no barriers between us any more.  What a man can do or want to do, A woman can also do.  The authority of a bishop or pastor is no greater than the member.  We are all equals in authority.  This is a heresy and goes against the context of this passage and against the rest of scripture.  It is true that all who come to Christ are equally redeemed from their sins and enjoy the abundant new life God gives, but it does not mean that all are equal.

This passage needs to be coupled with the following particularly as it relates to roles within the church.

” For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.” — Romans 12:3-8

When both scriptures are rightly applied, the Holy Spirit is instructing Christians that not all members have the same function.  This particularly applies to other passages of scripture that forbid women being pastors, overseers, bishops, or elders. see 1 timothy 3:1; Titus 1:6.  This is a hard saying for some, but one I must say.  The church is not a community of equals.  God appoints Pastors to watch over them and Deacons to care for them.  As spiritual authorities and leaders they have been delegated authority by God and been given gifts to watch over the members, members need so show them obedience and submission, just as Jesus showed us in the garden before he went to the cross to bear our sins.  He submitted and was obedient.

Members need to submit and be obedient to our God appointed spiritual leaders.

Repent Christian of your rebellious heart;

Seek Forgiveness from your Spiritual Leader now–Do not wait, Again I say NOW!.

Humble yourself before God and His appointed and delegated authority.

Your Brother in Christ.