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september 2014

AMERICAN CHRISTIANITY AND THE RISE OF DENOMINATIONALISM

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CURRENT ISSUES FROM A DISTINCTLY CHRISTIAN VIEW HINDU

MAN-MADEISLAM RELIGIONS BUDDhISM

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“Butevenifweoranangelfromheavenshouldpreach toyouagospelcontrarytotheonewepreachedto you,lethimbeaccursed.Aswehavesaidbefore,soI sayagainnow,ifanymanispreachingtoyouagospel contrarytowhatyoureceived,heistobeaccursed!”

Galatians 1:8-9 Think September 2014-Interior_Interior 9/18/14 10:54 AM Page 3

in this issue SEPTEMBER 2014 20

14

22 features departments

______14 ______20 4 FROM THE EDITORS That Modern Devil Why I Am Not A Buddhist 6 MAILBAG M I K E L A N E KEVIN CAULEY 8 FAITH AND FINANCE 16 22 ______9 THE LOST GENERATION American Christianity and the Rise Turning the World Upside Down: 10 WHAT WOULD GRANDPA SAY? of Denominationalism Lessons from Our Muslim Friends MIKE BONNER CHANTELLE SWAYNE 24 AMERICA’S FAITH ______18 26 WELLSPRING Women: Precious or Property? 27 SOLID GROUND RACHEL HANDLEY articles 28 NOT A STATISTIC God’s S.W.A.T. Team ...... 12 31 HEART OF THE MATTER

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From the Editors Andrew Chavarrilla, Brad Harrub, Josh Taylor, Jay Lockhart, Keith Parker, Jack Wilkie, and Willie Franklin

Quite literally the world seems to be on fire. From rockets lighting up of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among the night sky on the Gaza strip, buildings and cars in Ferguson, Missouri, themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and planes shot down on the Ukraine-Russia border and coming to a fiery halt worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed as they meet the ground. It seems “hell is breaking loose” on this world forever! (Romans 1:22-25). we all call home. You see today many people have bought the lie just as they did in that Some Christians ask why this is happening? Where is God? Have we day. People think that they can have the presence of an immortal God who been left to fend for ourselves? All of these questions beg yet another ques- is pure and just but at the same time be able to mold Him into their needs tion. Has God forgotten us or have we forgotten God? The truth is that if to fit their lifestyles. However, look at what happens––it’s not that God we are going to be consistent with God’s Word, we have to know that when forgot His people; they forgot Him. As a result, therefore, God gave them we as a people turn our backs on God, He will leave us to our own devices up in the lusts of their hearts.” Heartbreaking, isn’t it. Jesus probably puts and desires. Even in Scripture He [God] never imposes on the free will of the world today in perspective when He says, man. Even still it is never without warning that we should “not be deceived: No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap (Gala- the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the tians 6:7). The decisions that we make will bear their legitimate fruit. So, other. You cannot serve God and money … . Therefore I tell you, do not when we choose to replace God with the things of this temporal life, what be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor can we expect to receive? God is consistent in His dealings with His peo- about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and ple and we know that “… God shows no partiality, but in every nation any- the body more than clothing? … And which of you by being anxious can one who fears Him and does what is right is acceptable to Him” (Acts 10:34- add a single hour to his span of life? … But seek first the kingdom of 35). In other words, God doesn’t play favorites––He expects everyone, every- God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you where to be equally obedient everyday. (Matthew 6:24-25, 27, 33). When we look at what is going on in the world around us, we cannot help but be reminded that “righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a re- We cannot serve two masters; we cannot serve God and uphold the same proach to any people” (Proverbs 14:34). That wasn’t just true of Israel and allegiance to the things of the temporal things of this life. Sadly, we know it’s not only applicable to America today; it’s for every nation everywhere. all too well today that selfishness dominates the way many view the world Turn on your computer and go to your favorite news site, turn on the tel- and success and because of that we are literally burning down the house. evision and go to a news channel, walk out to the curb or driveway and So how do we put the fires out? The answer is a lot simpler than you pick up the newspaper … watch or skim for just a few seconds––the world might think. Many today think you “fight fire with fire,” as the adage goes. is in a bad spot, right? I bet you saw something that has to do with mur- However, that just doesn’t work; it only makes the fire larger. When you’re der to some degree or another, probably sexual misconduct, something drug fighting fire, the best way is to extinguish it with water. So is the case now; related, probably something that has to do with the character of a lime- we must extinguish the fire, but how? For the answer again we turn to light individual, and you probably even saw something pointing to the ho- Jesus, “You shall love the Lord your God with all mosexual agenda. Today, however, is not the first time people have ex- your heart and with all your soul and with all your changed God for their selfishness. Look at the Roman lifestyle and the way strength and with all your mind, and your neigh- that it not only influenced the Gentiles but the Jews as well, especially bor as yourself” (Luke 10:27). Love is the answer. when it came to God, However, we cannot love others if we do not first love God. When God becomes our focal point, love Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of will prevail and the fires will extinguish. As always, the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and we pray you will Think on these things. L animals and creeping things. Therefore God gave them up in the lusts ANDREW CHAVARRILLA

BRAD HARRuB JAy LoCKHARt KEItH PARKER JACK WILKIE WILLIE FRANKLIN JosH tAyLoR

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Doris C. I love Focus Press, Inc; you guys speak the Truth and if someone likes or someones doesn’t like it, anything you say is nothing but the Truth. Volume 9, Issue 9• September 2014 © Focus Press, Inc. 2014 Corey T. published monthly by Focus Press, Inc.

It’s simple, it’s great! Love this work and the work that is being done by this organization Executive Editor (Focus Press, Inc.). Brad Harrub, Ph.D. Editors Kim M. Keith Parker If you want the Truth it’s here. I’m so glad to have Focus Press. And if you have never been to a Jay Lockhart Willie Franklin seminar I highly recommend you attend one, truly inspirational. Jack Wilkie Associate Editor Wayne R. Andrew Chavarrilla Great resource for those who seek the truth. Keep up the great work! Student Editor Josh Taylor Davette W. Advisory Council Highly recommend this work! Real deal … for those not scared to stand for Truth and think for Gene West themselves! Dan Cottrell Office Manager Tracy M. Saundra Thornton Production Manager/Director of IT Great people doing great things for the greatest cause. Michael Thornton Editorial Assistants R. DeLonge Tonja McRady, Julie Forthun We used your material with our neighbor who was searching for answers. We are excited to Creative Director say that he responded with excitement to our study, and was baptized after 4 weeks. Thank you Nick Long for producing such Biblically sound material that helps so many people.

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Articles in Think magazine may be copied and distributed for Bible study and W. Shepperd other small group use, provided that any and all material is used exactly as it appears in the publication (i.e., no changes and/or edits). Additionally, por- Focus Press, a great place to find info on spiritual matters. tions of articles may be used in church bulletins/publications provided that complete sentences and/or paragraphs are used and titled with the same title used in the magazine, and no changes or edits are made. In all instances, D. Rollins copyright credit must be given to Think magazine: Focus Press, Inc. Brent- Simply a great Christian resource. wood, TN with month and year of publication included. Focus Press, Inc. 625 Bakers Bridge Ave. Suite 105 Franklin, TN 37067 (615) 324-5870 • (866) 313-6474 From the road focuspress.org • email: [email protected] Focus Press is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization. The ability to travel all across the nation helps give us a perspective of what is happen- ing to both our culture and the church. It also shapes the resources that we make available Member of: to you. Jack Wilkie has written a new book titled Failure: What Christian Parents Need to Know About American Education which addresses the epidemic of young people losing their Photos: © ThinkStock faith because of the anti-God sentiment in our nation’s school system. Everyone Stay informed. Join Focus Press on our recognizes the system is broken. Jack reveals just how broken the system is. This highly Facebook group, twitter, and YouTube and at Focuspressblog.com informative book dives into not just the curriculum, but also tangential aspects of public education such as violence, sex, and the all-out the assault on God and Christianity. Andrew Chavarrilla has just wrapped up filming of a new DVD series titled Heart of a Nation. This is an excellent series of lessons that demonstrates where our nation is today and how we got here. It is a wake-up call to Americans about the health—both spiritual and physical—of our nation. But we need your help. There are a lot of people who still don’t know about our work. We ask you to share it with your coworkers and neighbors. And we also need the support of faithful Christians. If you haven’t donated to Focus Press, let me encourage you to please do so. We are a tax-deductible non-profit work of the church. Together we can help reach the lost. BH L www.focuspressblog.com

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Faith and Finance Clint A. Oppermann, CFA

Christian or seCular university? In last month’s column about choosing between a Christian or secu- The value of a degree varies significantly by university (and major). All lar university, we considered the direct effects of school environment on bachelor’s degrees are not created equal. Generally speaking, graduates the faith of young Christians. All else being equal, Christian universities from elite, private universities tend to make more than graduates from pub- are preferable to their secular counterparts in matters of faith. This is be- lic, flagship universities, which in turn make more than graduates from non- cause professors and peers at Christian colleges are much more likely to selective schools. For example, Vanderbilt University is an elite, private uni- share in the Christian mindset and belief system than their equivalents at versity in Tennessee, my adopted home state. According to PayScale, its secular universities. The environment at a brotherhood school is less like- graduates earn $52,100 per year with two years of experience and $97,700 ly to damage, and may even enhance, the faith of young, impressionable after 15 years at mid-career. These numbers are $43,900 and $82,300 per students. year, respectively, for the University of Tennessee at Knoxville (UT). Grad- Unfortunately, all else is not equal. Attending university is primarily an uates from Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) earn $39,200 ear- investment in human capital; students go to college and spend their time ly in their careers and $63,600 at mid-career (PayScale). Therefore, over and money to gain additional knowledge and a degree which have value the course of a career, Vanderbilt graduates typically earn hundreds of thou- in our economy. Secondary things may happen while at university (e.g. find- sands of dollars more than graduates of UT, which earn hundreds of thou- ing a spouse); however, these are usually not the motivating factors in this sands of dollars more than graduates of MTSU. Regrettably, almost all of decision. At its core, this choice is one of stewardship: stewardship of one’s our brotherhood schools are treated as non-selective universities in time and financial resources. As such, it is also a matter of faith; God ex- terms of financial remuneration, and their graduates earn less than grad- pects us to be good stewards of those things He has put at our disposal. uates of more selective, better-known universities (PayScale). Higher education is an investment in human capital. Before making an educational investment, you must make sure Consequently, we ought to analyze and treat it as every the expected value of the education far exceeds its cost. other investment. Warren Buffett is known to say It makes absolutely no sense to spend or borrow tens of regarding investments, “Price is what you pay. thousands or hundreds of thousands of dollars if there Value is what you get.” When analyzing various is not an incremental payoff. This is poor steward- educational alternatives, it is important to ship, and the resulting debt is enslaving (ESV, consider the price and value of each in order Proverbs 22:7). to make the soundest financial decision. Yet Jesus also said, “For what will it profit a The published price of a college education man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his can be breathtakingly high. It includes tuition soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his and fees, housing, meals, books, and other mis- soul?” (Matthew 16:26). Before settling on a cellaneous expenses. According to the College school, you must make sure your child won’t lose Board, a “‘moderate’ college budget for an his faith and his soul while pursuing his studies. The in-state public college for the 2013–2014 extra money likely to be earned by attending an Ivy academic year averaged $22,826. A moderate League university won’t matter much if he spends all budget at a private college averaged $44,750” of eternity in hell. Furthermore, the money saved by at- (COLLEGEData). This means the price of attending an in- tending a state school won’t make all that much difference state public college or a private college for four years may ap- if he fails to gain Heaven. proach $100,000 and $200,000, respectively. Thankfully, Combining this column with the last yields the following con- only the most affluent pay anything close to the published stick- clusion: students ought to attend the best university possible that er prices; for everybody else, grants and scholarships may has an afforable net price AND is not detrimental to their faith. offset much of the cost, resulting in a far lower net price. For some, this will mean attending a Christian universi- When comparing universities, it is important to ty on scholarship. For others, it will be commuting to focus on the net prices and not the sticker a flagship campus while living at home. Some may prices, since the net prices are what students even attempt an elite, private university provided and parents will end up paying. their faith is sufficiently strong and the net price As private universities, Christian colleges is modest enough. In all cases, however, care have published prices that exceed public should be taken to not destroy one’s faith or to universities. Before dismissing them as too go deeply into debt while pursuing an under- expensive, however, it might be worth it to see graduate degree. L if your student qualifies for a scholarship or other financial aid. Perhaps the net cost of If you are interested in scheduling a Faith a Christian school will approach the net cost of and Finance weekend seminar, please contact the seemingly cheaper public alternative. him at [email protected].

Works Cited COLLEGEData. What's the Price Tag for a College Education. n.d. Web. 5 August 2014. English Standard Version Bible. Wheaton: Crossway-Good News, 2007. Print. PayScale. Central South Schools by Salary Potential. n.d. Web. 5 August 2014.

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Jack Wilkie The Lost Generation

WHAT Relationships Despite the rise of the constant interpersonal connectivity of social me- dia (or maybe because of it), there are a lot of lonely people in the world today. Sometimes all a person needs is a friend or a group of people who care and are willing to be there for him/her. The temptation is to build our image of the church into a community where people can come and con- nect with other people to build meaningful relationships without mentioning Jesus. We can aim to get them in the door looking for friendship and hope to maybe add a little of the Gospel to their lives. People need to know they are loved, and they sometimes need to be brought along slowly, but if the ARE church never calls them to change in the way the Gospel has, something isn’t right.

Comfort We saw in the aftermath of 9/11 that people have a strong tendency to turn towards God when difficulty or fear springs up in their lives. It’s easy to reach out to people who are struggling or hurting and tell them that the church is the place where they will receive comfort from God and His people, and that’s very true. But that can’t be the only reason they connect YOU with the church. As a minister, I’ve unfortunately made this mistake myself. When you see a person going through great difficulty, it’s natural to want to bring them to Christ for comfort and to hope to connect them with the loving people that make up your congregation. But it’s a great challenge to keep them from developing a mindset that only drives them back to church when times are tough.

Fulfillment This one is especially strong among Millennials. People don’t want to be part of a stagnant church; no, they want to be part of a church that does HERE service projects, goes on mission trips, and makes a difference in the community. It’s a lot easier to ask people to come along on an activity than a Sunday worship gathering, and it’s a way to make people feel like they’re doing something. One doesn’t have to look far, though, to see that many churches who embrace this approach end up deemphasizing doctrine and worship. It becomes about chasing that good feeling of helping people rather than the feeling of being washed in His blood. Again, all of these appealing reasons to become part of the church are good, and are vital parts of strong, working churches. People should find FOR? loving relationships, heavenly comfort, and opportunities to serve when they become part of the church. However, we have to be very careful about mak- ing that the focus of our evangelism. It’s incredibly easy to make the key In earlier articles in this series I highlighted the wrong approaches that pitch for your church all the nice things it can add to a person’s life, but with- so many congregations take to try to reach out to people (specifically young out the Gospel, it’s nothing. How do we know when we’re doing that? By people). The conclusion was reached that it’s wrong to try to lure people our fruits (Matthew 7:17-20). We might do good things for a time, but it into the church building by compromising Truth or entertaining them, just offers no lasting connection if Christ is not the anchor of a person’s faith. as it’s wrong to remain stagnant and indifferent to the world around us. Pay attention and see if your congregation bills itself as a place where Truth However, those aren’t the only approaches churches take to bring is preached and Christ convicts each member to repent, or a place for people in. Oftentimes we want to help people see the need for the church relationships, comfort, and service. in their lives, and so we point to services or opportunities that the church Though I don’t agree with Paul Washer on his core doctrines, he got it offers. In this article I want to discuss three offerings that we frequently right when he said, “There are many benefits to the Gospel, but we must point to when trying to convince someone to come “to church.” Let me be proclaim Christ as greatest. He is more valuable than the combined worth clear —there is a big difference between the types of church outreach we’re of the rest. As Christians we should seek to show all men that in comparison discussing in this article and the entertainment-oriented approaches dis- to having Christ all other benefits of the Gospel are of little consequence.” cussed in previous articles. While nothing good can come of those other If the church offers Christ-like activities and comfort without Christ, it’s forms of outreach, the fact is that the ideas discussed here are actually only offering people a temporary relief from the woes of this life. Nothing a great thing and should be a part of every thriving, God-honoring can bring true peace and joy like the transforming power of Christ and church … but they can’t be the foundation for all we do. His Word. L

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What Would Grandpa Say? Jim Mettenbrink

LIES!“I can not tell a lie” was George’s reply when hisLIES! father asked him if In 2003, Steven Winn, aLIES! critic of declining American culture, wrote “We he cut down the cherry tree. Well, that’s not true. No, not the cherry tree, live in a society of widespread duplicity and deceit, reveling in falsehood.” but telling a lie. Lies! About thirty years ago while on the road, a song played One religious instructional tome declares lying takes place in “duplicity, dis- on the radio which I never forgot. The blues singer, with a sing-along au- simulation, hypocrisy, boasting, bragging, calumny and even falsehood in dience, cadenced only one phrase—“Everybody lie a little, everybody lie art.” Case in point: About 30 years ago, our composition professor remarked a little” —repeated over and over for the entire song. Lies! Lies! Lies! that his Bachelor’s degree was in marketing, but because of marketing Our sense of right and wrong recognizes that lying never results in jus- involved so much lying he could not in good conscience make it his career. tice. In court, people take an oath to “tell the truth, the whole truth and Some of us lie to ourselves, i.e., we deceive ourselves that reality nothing but the truth.” That eliminates lying … supposedly! To lie in court isn’t … reality. Like all professions there is a unique language, some of which is perjury and punishable. President Clinton’s impeachment was because makes something simple sound complicated … er … elitist. Lying to of his perjurious testimony, not his adultery. Article 107 of the Uniform Code oneself is actually denial, but made to sound like some sort of malady. of Military Justice makes lying a court martial offense, punishable by a Psychologists call it “normalcy bias.” For those of us simple folk, that is dishonorable discharge. Justice Jeanine Pirro recently stated on her TV denying that something bad is happening which is disturbing our daily life. program that as a prosecutor and judge, she heard the defendants’ lies In short, we deceive ourselves by trying to convince ourselves all is OK. every day in court for 30 years. And God says lying is a serious matter, list- Perhaps today the greatest of these self deceptions is a marriage falling ing it as a foundational commandment of His covenant with ancient Is- apart. A person might see it coming months before, but denies that it is rael—“You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor“ (Exodus really happening. The weeping prophet bemoaned this human weakness 20:16). He hates the lying tongue naming it among the seven abomina- —“The heart is deceitful above all things …” (Jeremiah 17:9)—self de- tions which He hates (Proverbs 6:17). As a final reminder of the serious- ception is perhaps one’s greatest sin. God declared “He who says, ‘I know ness of being a liar, God says they are hellbound (Revelation 21:8). Lying Him,’ and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not goes beyond perjury in the court room. in him” (1 John 2:4). To whom does this person lie? At the least to himself The word lie was so bad that saying “lie” was avoided, calling it a fib, first—self deception. stretching the truth, tall tales, etc. Lying is so prolific in society, that is has We see this nightly on the talk shows. An advocate staunchly defends been deemed a national epidemic, being highlighted by lying politicians a political decision regardless of its bad consequences. One might hasti- and journalists. We even have a National Tell a Lie Day—April 4th. Such ly conclude he is trying to deceive the viewers which everyone readily sees appears to be a tongue-in-cheek attitude, but seems to dismiss the seri- is a lie. Likely, he is not intending to lie to the public, but rather himself. ousness of lying. Thirty years ago, our new commander held a staff meet- Example: Those who support abortion will never admit that it is the killing ing, saying that he was proposing a project but we would have necessarily of human life. Some have admitted it, but then deny the zygote or fetus is to lie to do it. I thought I misheard him, then momentarily, I asked him if a “person,” in order to justify that long-held sinful belief that abortion is I understood correctly. So I asked to be excused because I could not in good okay. This sort of lying is a defensive measure to protect oneself essen- conscience be a part of this ruse. Then the Senior NCO next to me piped tially from admitting that “I am wrong.” Is it not difficult to admit you were in saying that we needed to do this honorably. Then the junior officers also wrong for years or decades? encouraged him to be truthful. By this time in my life, I had witnessed a Defensive lying is not new, in fact, it began in the garden. The devil’s lot of lying, but this was the first time I witnessed a person openly advo- deception seduced the pair to sin. But Eve’s lie was a defensive measure cating lying. to protect her pride “I didn’t really sin,” by blaming the devil. Adam justi- Most of us equate lying to knowingly telling a falsehood, an intentional fied himself by blaming Eve and God Himself—“The woman whom You gave deception. Some even say it is the telling of an untruth. However, there to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate” (Genesis 3:12-13). Ra- is a difference between unwittingly telling untruths and lying. Often politi- tionalizing sin involves lying to oneself and likely to others. Adam made a cians are accused of lying. For example, it has been repeatedly stated that true statement. God gave him the woman and Eve gave the fruit to him. President George Bush lied when he said the purpose of going to war with The lie was that he did not admit to himself that he sinned when he chose Iraq was production of weapons of mass destruction. The critics respond to eat the fruit. Further, did he really want to taste the fruit too? In effect there were no WMDs. To say he lied is to say he knew there were no such Adam’s answer was a half truth. weapons being made in Iraq or in Iraq’s possession. However, President Some, if not most, folks lie by knowingly telling half truths, which leave Clinton, European leaders, and their intelligence services were also of the a false impression and thereby deceive a person. How often have you told same view that Iraq was making WMDs. Was this a conspiratorial lie? only half the story to hide the other half? Recall the old adage, “A half truth Months after the 2003 war, captured senior Iraqi officials continued is a whole lie!”? It seems we are molded by circumstances and culture into “to believe it possible … that Iraq still possessed a WMD capability hid- this form of lying from childhood. It becomes a habit, so as adults we are den away somewhere.” Why would they lie about it at that point? Iraqi not consciously saying to ourselves, I am going to lie. But that is the ef- General Al-Tikriti (aka the “Butcher of Basra”) who was a southern regional fect. Is this the result of ignorance of what constitutes lying (Hebrews 9:7; commander for Saddam Hussein and General Georges Sada, second in com- 1 Peter 1:14)? Of failing to honestly examine yourself (2 Corinthians 13:5- mand of Hussein’s air force, stated that the WMDs had been moved to Syr- 6)? Or has your heart been hardened not to admit to lying (1 Timothy 4:1- ia. Why would they risk death by revealing that if it was a lie? Then there 2)? Would it not be honest to simply say, “I just don’t want to discuss is the video of the village people lying dead in the streets because of it?” Jesus implied this in His advice about be truthful. My grandpa Hussein’s chemical weapons. Yet, occasionally TV talking heads still occasionally admonished, “If your word is no good, you don’t have anything declare that President Bush lied about WMDs. It is possible he might have that’s good.” lied about the real intention of invading Iraq, but WMDs is not the lie. Un- In His sermon on the mount, Jesus laid out the constitution of how to wittingly telling an untruth is not a lie. Lying is knowing something is not live pleasing to God. To avoid lying He said, “But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ true and telling it with the intention to deceive. Let’s further consider this and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one” sin of lying. (Matthew 5:37). What a challenge! L

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GOD’S JONATHAN S.W.A.T.ZIRPOLO TEAM S.W.A.T.––Special Weapons and Tactics. some nuggets of wisdom here and there, but there was something missing. Truth. I was earnestly That is what I do. I am on call 24 hours a day, sev- looking for it and by God’s grace and providence, a young man in my high school class invited me en days a week. Sometimes the call comes at 2:00 to services where his dad was the preacher. The preacher took me to the only place in this world P.M. while other times it comes at 2:00 A.M. The where I could find Truth. The Truth. He took me to the Bible. To make a long story short, I was bap- operation generally has the same goal––catch the tized into Christ a few short weeks later. I had sought out wisdom and Truth and found it. bad guy. The rush your body feels as it dumps Maybe you’re reading this and thinking that you’d like to know more about the Bible and the wis- adrenaline into your system is almost unreal. It dom and truths found therein. Let me direct you to your local church of Christ congregation. There happens so fast yet feels like it takes forever. We you will find loving people with hearts for God who teach from the Bible. “Seek, and ye shall find line up by the door and you can hear everyone …” (Matthew 7:7). Maybe you are a Christian and you have been a bit slack in your Bible study. I starting to breathe a little heavier. You can feel want to encourage you to take up the sword (Ephesians 6:17) and keep studying. Keep reading. Keep the sweat starting to gather on your forehead. The practicing. You can do it. grip on the rifle gets a little tighter. The pound- On the S.W.A.T. team, we have to continually train to keep our skills sharp. I’ve seen it happen ing of a 40-pound ram hitting the wooden door many times where a veteran operator (that’s a fancy name for “S.W.A.T. team member”) who has- shatters the night’s silence. The door swings free n’t been to the shooting range in some months fails to requalify for the team. If we don’t re-quali- from its locks and we rush in. Seeking … fy, we lose our spot on the team. How sad is it that Christians every day are losing their place on S.W.A.T. When you hear that, what comes to God’s S.W.A.T. team because their Bible study grows lax and they drift away from the church! Don’t your mind? Maybe men and women in some law let that be you! Paul told Timothy, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth enforcement capacity that are highly skilled op- not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15, KJV). We need to always be eratives, trained in combat maneuvers and high- seeking wisdom and truth. We can do that by digging into our Bibles. We can do that by regularly ly capable marksmen? I want you to think of it a attending the worship services and Bible studies. Let’s become those Bible-totin,’ Scripture-quotin’ little differently, at least when it comes to your Christians God would have us to be. Every Christian should be S.W.A.T. Every Christian should be Christianity. I know, I know. What does S.W.A.T. Seeking Wisdom and Truth. Remember what the prophet Hosea said: “My people are destroyed for have to do with being a Christian right? Hear me a lack of knowledge” (Hosea 4:6). out. When you think S.W.A.T., think “Seeking Wis- The apostle Peter gave us an admonition to be “sober and vigilant” (1 Peter 5:8) because the dev- dom and Truth.” il is always looking for ways to knock a Christian off the narrow path (Matthew 7:13-14). S.W.A.T. Jesus told His disciples to, “Seek ye first the can take on a different meaning when you think of it from the devil’s perspective. Satan Will Al- kingdom of God and His righteousness …” ways Tempt. He is always looking for ways to bring you down or trip you up, isn’t he? Man, he’s (Matthew 6:33, KJV). In seeking wisdom and truth, good too. Well we should expect him to be; he has been at it for a while. Perhaps you have been we first have to always remember what is truly struggling with the tempter’s temptation and are feeling a little down in the dumps. Let me give you important while we spend these few moments on a word of encouragement: Don’t. Give. Up! You aren’t alone. Everyone struggles and everyone fails earth. It is not about us wearing the coolest at times. In the almost 1200 chapters in the Bible, you only make it to chapter 3 before you see man’s clothes. It is not about us eating the finest first failure. Don’t beat yourself up too badly if you have failure in your life. We all do. Seek Wis- meals, driving the nicest car, or relaxing in the dom and Truth in the Word of God. You’ll find that “… God is faithful, who will not suffer you to biggest house. It is about your glorifying God by be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that your life. It is about your getting into Heaven and ye may be able to bear it” (1 Corinthians 10:13, KJV). getting as many people to come with you as pos- There is nothing like being an active member on God’s S.W.A.T. team. Imagine with me for a sec- sible. Be more concerned about your spiritual life ond the eternal joy you will feel when you meet Jesus face to face as He welcomes you into your than the physical things. new home. A new home with no pain, no fear or sufferings (Revelation 21:4). A home of peace and I was that lost teenager looking for wisdom a place of sweet rest where the children of God will spend eternity with the creator of the universe. and truth. I was dying of spiritual thirst and I did- Can you picture it? This is the reward that awaits the members of God’s S.W.A.T. team. Have you n’t have a clue where to go. I looked all over the joined the team? Remember––you’re either S.W.A.T., or you’re not. L place. I tried the church down the road. I found

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MIKE LANE THAT MODERN DEVIL

“For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as com- ing in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an an- tichrist” (2 John 1:7). We first encounter the great deceiver in the book of Genesis where we have record of his treachery and temptation to the “mother of all the living” (Genesis 3:20, ESV). In verse 5 it reads, “For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” It is the same today in that humanity is not content with serving God––we must be greater, bolder, and more loved. Over the course of history, the perception of Satan has changed even to the point of building false religions. How did it get this way?

Aleister Crowley and the Book of the Law Edward Alexander (Aleister) Crowley was born in Warwickshire, England on October 12, 1875, to a family of evangelical Christians known as the Plymouth Brethren; or quite simply “The Brethren.” His father, having converted from Quak- erism earlier in life to “The Brethren,” would set the tone for their household. Young Aleister and his mother would listen each morning after

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breakfast as his father read from the Bible. He at- ment of Satanism and other false religions are ship into what LaVey called “The Infernal Empire.” tended an evangelical Christian boarding school without doubt. L. Ron Hubbard (LRH) the founder With the advent of the Internet, many former in Hastings and was a devout learner in Scripture of the controversial Church of Scientology was in- modes of communication have ceased within the until the death of his father when he was only 11. volved with Thelma in the early 1940s.6 Anton sect. Where people would previously meet in It was then that things proved disastrous as the Szandor LaVey, founder of the Church of Satan had “Grottos,” there’s now e-mail. “Satan repre- man whom he considered a friend and hero1 lost heard of Crowley but considered him a hypocrite sents indulgence, vital existence, undefiled wis- his battle with throat cancer. and that one could not learn anything from him. dom, kindness to those who deserve it, vengeance, While studying philosophy and English liter- man as animal, sin, and your best friend.”10 ature at Cambridge University from 1895-1898, Anton Szandor LaVey and the Aleister claimed to have his first mystical ex- Black Church Satan in America perience. Biographers tend to agree that this was If we were to search out a history of the In 2014, the “Satanic Temple” and the A.C.L.U. actually his way of referring to his initial experi- devil in the 20th century through the annals of have joined forces to petition a statue honoring ence with homosexuality and thus his realization America, we would find ourselves staring at Baphomet to be placed on the grounds of the Okla- that he had an affinity for both sexes. The Scrip- the scowl of Anton LaVey––a transplant from homa Capitol lawn next to the Ten Command- tures he no doubt heard in his youth condemning Chicago to San Francisco. At the age of 16 he ments. Its lap will allow children to sit upon it to such acts (Leviticus 18:22; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10) would leave home to join a traveling carnival and tell Satan all of their problems (Exodus 20:3-4; were of no consequence to him. circus. Though not reared in a particularly religious Matthew 4:8-10; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10).11 In 1898 he began to delve deeper into his stud- manner, it would be the carnival that turned him The cult of Satanism has waned over the years ies of the occult and was initiated into a socie- against the Creator. to be of little effect on society today, evolving into ty known as the Hermetic Order of the Golden Saturday nights were the most profitable. Leav- a subversive yet prevalent force in American life Dawn, which devoted itself to the study and prac- ing their wives and children at home, Anton would through other New Age philosophies. That is tice of the occult, metaphysics, and paranormal watch as men pulled into the lot and make their where the battle is: on the work of the devil and activity.2 The more modern and feminist pagan re- way to a tent housing the burlesque show. The those would see him glorified. ligion of Wicca derives many core principles from next day he would see many of these same men The “god of this world” (2 Corinthians 4:4, ESV) this sect. appear with their wives and children in tow to lis- has evolved from a serpent, to the visage of a goat- As he continued associating with the Golden ten to the minister.7 This was a moral double stan- headed man called Baphomet, to what we may Dawn and travelling to Mexico, India, Japan, Chi- dard the likes of which he could not fathom (James commonly see today: a cartoonish red creature na and Paris, he found himself married and in 1:22). with horns and a forked tail and pitchfork, sitting Egypt. It was here that Aleister claimed to hear Moving back to San Francisco, he worked for on the shoulder of everyone, tempting them to- the voice of a messenger of the idol Horus, who the police department as a “psychic investigator” ward evil. This is not so. The real spirit of the Sa- delivered to him what would later be called “The while studying the occult. On Friday evenings he tan (Ephesians 2:1-2) who runs “to and fro on the Book of the Law.”3 It would also be the central text would host lectures on the subject while borrowing earth” (Job 1:7; 2:2; 1 Peter 5:8) is that of a man in a business suit motioning before Congress to Satanism is evolving into a subversive yet prevalent force in American life. remove prayer from school or the teachers who will proselytize the theory of evolution in the class- room. The battles waged on television and film of a religion he would develop and call “Thelma,” ideas from various other works such as Ayn Rand for the promotion of homosexuality or the sanc- which would carry the creed: “Do what thou wilt (Atlas Shrugged), Friedrich Nietzsche (Beyond tioned murder of the unborn. This is what Satan shall be the whole of the Law. Love is the law, love Good & Evil, The Antichrist) and others. It was at now looks like in America. under will.” This creed is an indication that one of these meetings where someone suggest- Romans 13:12 tells us, “The night is far those who adhere to it should seek out their own ed he’d had enough to begin a new religion. Thus, spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off path in life; their own “true will.” on April 30, 1966, he founded the Church of Sa- the works of darkness, and let us put on the ar- Aleister considered himself a true occultist and tan. He would also shave his head to model me- mor of light.” Are you prepared for the spiritual for a time experienced some worldly success; how- dieval executioners and claim that God was war that is already at your doorstep? L ever, he was still plagued by diseases received now dead. 5 from prostitution and drug abuse. His religion Riddled with hypocrisy, they claim the title of References would also be damaged by accusations from oth- “Satanist.” This would indicate that they are in 1 “Booth, Martin (2000) A Magick Life: The Biography of Aleister er occult groups such as Ordo Templi Orientis (Or- fact, those who worship the deity of Lucifer. Their Crowley. London: Coronet Books 2 “Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn” http://www.hermetic.com der of the Temple of the East or O.T.O.), claiming official position, though, is this: “Satanists are 3 Crowley, Aleister (1904) The Book of the Law or “Liber AL vel he’d plagiarized their texts. His drive was to ob- atheists. We see the universe as being indiffer- Legis” tain for himself popularity and riches (Matthew ent to us, and so all morals and values are sub- 4 Liber XIII http://www.hermetic.com 6:19-21). jective human constructions.”8 This is a typical re- 5 Crowley, Aleister (1922) “Diary of a Drug Fiend” During the Second World War, he was an as- sponse from atheists in that you don’t need God 6 “L. Ron Hubbard Speaks about Aleister Crowley” sociate of Ian Fleming, director of Naval Intelli- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3yfsbi4L70 to make moral and ethical choices (Mark 7:21-23). 7 Barton, Blanche (1990) The Secret Life of a Satanist: The Author- gence for the British and the creator of famed char- (See also: Focus Press series on ethics.)9 ized Biography of Anton LaVey acter James Bond, as well as children’s author Actress Jayne Mansfield was a pledged 8 FAQ http://www.churchofsatan.com Roald Dahl. Prior to his death in 1947 from member and received a medallion with the title 9 Focus Press “Ethics” stores.focuspress.org/ethics-series/ bronchitis, he had adopted the moniker of “The 10 LaVey, Anton (1969) “The Nine Satanic Statements” from of “High Priestess of San Francisco’s Church of Sa- The Satanic Bible Great Beast 666.” tan” from LaVey. Other celebrities such as Liberace, 11 Christianity Today “Satanic Baphomet Statue Nearly Finished …” One may have never heard of Aleister Crow- Sammy Davis Jr., Sharon Tate, and Marilyn http://www.christianitytoday.com/article/satanic.baphomet.statue. ley before today, but his influence on the move- next.to.ten.commandments.monument.in.oklahoma.capi- Manson are just a few who embraced member- tol/37211.htm

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The Christianity that began at Pentecost, which stems from Jesus Christ, has repentance and remission of sins at its core. As a matter of fact, when Jesus stated, “Upon this rock I will build My church and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it,” He was basing it upon the confession Peter made about Him being the Christ, the Son of the Living God (Matthew 16:13-18). This confession is also at the center of God’s plan for saving mankind from sin and adding him to a place of security called the church. It is in Christ where all spiritual blessings are located for the purpose of blessing those in Christ to the glory of God the Father (Ephesians 1:3ff). When considering Christianity in America, we must consider the different facets of it and how it evolved to where it is today. Now Christianity in its purest form is seen in the Scriptures as individuals who abide by the Word of God (sound doctrine) and seek to practice it to the best of their abil- ity (Titus 2:1; Luke 6:46). Christians are those who walk according to the Spirit’s teaching, thus glorifying God in their daily lives (Galatians 5:16ff). Furthermore, those who practice pure religion, which is undefiled before God, seek to practice the care of those mistreated and abandoned by par- ents (James 1:26-27) in essence, treat others as you would like to be treated. Furthermore we can safely conclude the seven ones found in chapter four of Ephesians are paramount and necessary for salvation and obedience to the will of God.

So what is the concern about denomination- their knee to idols have begun to champion strange sounds thus drawing even the very elect from alism, and does it pose a problem to Christiani- the stronghold of pure religion. ty? When considering what denominationalism Furthermore what is seen in the rise of denominationalism is exactly what the serpent did unto is, we must consider it from a doctrinal per- Eve: he deceived her. Many in the religious world have bamboozled people into thinking the Scrip- spective. Denominationalism is the belief that tures are incomplete by championing “newfound material” supposedly inspired by the Holy Spirit. some or all Christian groups are legitimate False leaders and media are championing books such as The Gospel of Mary and The Gospel of churches of the same religion regardless of their Thomas, and so forth and so on. These things are weakening the faith of some as we speak. Also distinguishing labels, beliefs, and practices; in oth- on the rise is this idea of “Jesus versus … .” Some are saying the Scriptures teach Jesus is against er words it means to be a part of the whole. Tru- religion, some are saying, “Give me Jesus and you keep the church,” while others are exclaiming, ly to denominate means to divide the whole. Je- “You keep religion; I’m spiritual.” All of these are an affront to God and His Holy One Jesus Christ. sus’ prayer was for us to be one in teaching, prac- These are just a few things on the rise that are keeping people from seeking out the one true God tice, and purpose (John 17:21-23). This sense of and His Son Jesus Christ. division is seen as far back as the Garden of Eden. Christianity, however, in its purest form is only going to produce New Testament Christians. This division caused man to be separated from God Jesus commanded the Gospel (good news) to be preached for people to have an opportunity to be then, and it’s still causing man to be separated saved from the wrath of God (Romans 5:8-9). In the Gospel message, we see the necessity for from the Lord now. coming in contact with the blood of Christ for remission of sin (Colossians 2:12-14). It is by the blood In the beginning when God commanded of Christ we have our consciences cleansed from dead works to serve the living God, thus we must Adam and Eve not to partake of the tree of the live faithful till death, putting us into a covenant relationship with God (Hebrews 9:14). Unfortunately, knowledge of good and evil, “For in the day that many in the religious world fail to see the importance of Biblical authority and seek to believe it’s you eat of it, you shall surely die” (Genesis 2:17). a matter of opinion and judgment concerning the salvation of man. This is not the case, and God Eve was beguiled by the serpent to eat of the tree expects more from us than this. (Genesis 3). The woman being deceived by the dev- When God is rejected, man is respected! When God‘s Word begins to be circumvented, it leaves il was pulled away from the standard of God. She man to his own devices and reasoning. This is not only harmful but also deadly. Jeremiah stated, gave the fruit to her husband, thus rejecting and “Oh Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself, it’s not in man that walks to direct his own rebelling against the authority of God and ulti- steps” (10:23). “There is a way that seems right unto a man, but the end thereof is the way of mately separating them from the Lord. This is what death” (Proverbs 14:12). Solomon told his son, “Trust in the Lord and lean not to your own under- the rise of denominationalism has done to standing …” (Proverbs 3:3-5). Here is the problem concerning the rise of false religion or denomi- Christendom. This is the main concern with de- nationalism: it not only affects the worship of individuals but also the character and lifestyle of the nominationalism and the damnable teachings and ones embracing, endorsing, and practicing it. The real issue with denominationalism is that it strips practices they’re endorsing. As Christians and the very core of spirituality and replaces it with false pretenses, false securities, and many illusions those who are seeking after pure religion, it’s that leave souls wanting in the Day of Judgment. God not only wants us to worship Him in spirit imperative we seek to return to the standard of and in truth, but He desires people to walk according to the Spirit’s teaching thus transforming them authority, the Word of God (John 12:47-50). Just into the image of Christ Jesus our Lord (John 4:23-24; Romans 8:29). as Eve gave to Adam and he did eat, many have So how is the problem of denominationalism fixed? Honestly, it cannot be fixed by human taken the role (figuratively) of Eve and sought to wisdom and adhering to false ideologies, yet we must teach people about a risen Savior and the give others what they have swallowed hook, line, need to humbly submit to His Lordship in their lives. Jesus said, “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for and sinker. It’s time for the religious world to wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leads to destruction, and many there be which go in remember the old path wherein is the good way thereat, Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leads unto life, and few there be and walk therein (Jeremiah 6:16). So the rise of that find it” (Matthew 7:13-14, KJV). Unfortunately many are going to be lost in denominational- denominationalism has set the course for many ism. We can only demonstrate the love of Christ and share the good news of the Gospel in hopes strange teachings and practices in our land today. people will see the error of their ways and cling to the simplicity that is only in Christ our Lord. Seek Therefore, not only have those who say they the Lord and live, study the Word and grow, and serve the Lord and be justified by His grace. We believe in Jesus (denominationalism) but also may not be able to stop the rise of denominationalism, but we can keep ourselves in the love of the those who deny Jesus to be Lord and have bowed Lord as we work out our salvation with fear and trembling. Let God be true in all things. L

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MIKE BONNER

“And Jesus said unto them, thus it is writ- ten, and thus it behooved Christ to suf- AMERICAN CHRISTIANITYfer, and AND to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name THE RISE OF DENOMINATIONALISM!among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem …” (Luke 24:46-47).

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ow does the religious world view RACHEL HANDLEY women? Are they important or not? According to a study by the Pew HResearch Center in 2012, there are four major religious groups in the world today: Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism. There are regional and folk religions, but these four comprise almost 77% of the world's popu- WOMEN: lation. “Christianity” (in its loosest definition: those who believe in God, His Son Jesus Christ, and PRECIOUS OR PROPERTY? claim the Bible as their main religious authority) boasts 2.2 billion people, approximately 62% Catholic and Orthodox and 37% Protestant. Islam is the second largest religion in the world with 1.6 billion people. Just over one billion people affil- iate with Hinduism and nearly 500 million follow the Buddha’s path to enlightenment. Each of these major religions has its own unique book or set of teachings, a distinct deity (or deities) or revered prophet, and its own ideas about how women should be treated and valued … or not. Let’s look at the each to see how women fare in the top religions in the world.

Women in Buddhism From its inception, women were undervalued in Buddhism.2 They were not thought of as wise and the birth of a daughter was a disappointment. When he attained enlightenment, the Buddha or- dained an order of monks. Yet, when his mother- in-law asked that he ordain a similar order for women, he was reluctant, stating that if women were ordained, his teachings would survive half the time––only 500 years rather than 1,000. Five years later, he did ordain an order of nuns.1 3 The tenets of Buddhism teach all beings can be reborn and that male and female are purely physical and not spiritual, so they don't matter. However, it is believed one is reborn a woman due to bad karma. A common prayer in Buddhist countries is that one be reborn as a male.4 So, while it may seem women have made strides in some Buddhist societies, the prevailing thought remains that women are inferior to their male counterparts.

Women in Hinduism According to the Vedas (Hindu holy scriptures), the woman’s main role is subservient to her husband; primarily by giving birth to his children and raising them.5 Traditionally, Hindu women are dependent on men from birth to death. As young girls, they depend on their fathers; once married, their husbands; if widowed, their sons or their husband's family.6 If a husband dies very young, the wife is blamed and considered bad fortune and often shunned by the husband's family.5 Today, marriages are arranged and large dowries are

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required. Domestic violence and abuse are real- taking multiple wives, but God intended that each song (Ephesians 5:19, Colossians 3:16), and ities and often go unreported. Gender-based man would have his own wife and cherish her. learning the Word as it is preached (Acts 2:42), abortions are common and marriage for love Throughout the Bible, we see women valued. giving of their means (1 Corinthians 16:1-2), and outside of one’s caste or community can result in When Dinah was raped (Genesis 34), her broth- communing with Christ by observing the Lord's death.5 In some countries, women are gaining ers did not blame, beat, or kill her. Instead, they Supper (Acts 2:42). Some may argue that women more independence, but overall, Hindu women took vengeance on the men who violated their sis- are inferior because they are not permitted to lead remain oppressed in their religion. ter. She was precious to them and did not deserve in worship or to have authority in the church (1 to be mistreated (34:31). Women were an inte- Timothy 2:12). However, having a separate role Women in Islam gral part of God's plan to bring salvation to His is not inferior. We all have different strengths and In recent years, many have tried to paint people on numerous occasions. Rahab saved the roles by design. Women are also valued in the Islam as a champion of women’s rights,7 allow- spies in Jericho (Joshua 2) and did not perish with home as wives who are to be loved and protect- ing them more freedom than any other religion the city (Hebrews 11:31). Esther risked her life to ed (Ephesians 5:25, 28-29, Colossians 3:19) and since the beginning of time. This is a new move- save her people (Esther 4 and 8). Mary was cho- shown respect and honor by their children (Eph- ment. Some even quote passages from the sen to give birth to the Christ (Luke 1: 26-38) and esians 6:1-3). Women in the church are to be treat- Qur’an concerning women’s right to own property raised Him in the way of the Lord (Luke 2:21, 39- ed well as mothers and sisters (1 Timothy 5:1-2). or do business in her own name. But they 52). Women who lost their husbands and had no fam- ignore other parts of the Qur’an and other writ- Jesus Himself valued the women He came into ily to care for them were to be cared for by the ings and Muhammad's own attitude. contact with. He obviously loved and respected church, not blamed, shunned or left in seclusion The Qur’an7 makes abundantly clear in several His mother, making provision for her to be cared to fend for themselves (1 Timothy 5:3, 5, 16). passages that women are inferior to men (4:11, for after He died (John 19:27). Many women fol- 4:176 2:282, 2:228), unclean (5:6), and that their main usefulness is to fulfill the sexual desires of men, whether as wives (polygamy) or as slaves (in addition to wives) (2:223, 4:3, 4:24, 33:50). 7 GOD IS THE ONLY According to other writings, Muhammad himself taught women had inferior intelligence and treated them as property (Bukhari 6:301, 62:58). ONE WHO TRULY His favorite wife complained to him that women were equal to animals under Islam (Muslim 4:1039). His own son-in-law said, “The entire VALUES WOMEN. woman is an evil. And what is worse is that it is a necessary evil.”7 In modern practice, Muslim women are killed lowed Jesus throughout His ministry and He did Conclusion when they disgrace their families; beaten for not discourage them (Matthew 15:32-38; Luke While other religions try to paint themselves allowing themselves to be raped, requesting an 7:36-8:3; John 19:25). When He met the woman as pioneers for women’s rights, God is the only education, or upsetting their husbands; forced to at the well in Samaria (John 4), He did not shun one who truly values women. He established their wear head or head-to-toe coverings; denied her or treat her unkindly. He spoke to her and rights from the beginning and taught all along that their own identity; and, in some places, banned taught her truth, which not only surprised her, but they should be loved, cherished, and protected. from entering mosques.8, 9 These atrocities do not also the Apostles (4:9,27). This was a way of teach- God placed a high value on women before these just happen in Eastern countries where Islam is ing them as well that although the culture did not other religions began. He is the pioneer of the main religion. Muslim women experience sim- value women, to God they were equal and pre- women’s rights. Christianity, as established ilar things in Western cultures as well. cious. Two of Jesus' closest friends outside the by Christ in His church, is the only place twelve were Mary and Martha (John 11:1-44, 12:3- where women can find true religious and social Women in the Bible 8). He interacted with and taught them just as he freedom. L “Christianity” is wide reaching and all who did anyone else. And when a woman was accused References identify with it do not hold the same set of beliefs. of a crime in an attempt by the Pharisees to trap 1 http://buddhism.about.com/od/buddhisthistory/ Many have corrupted the truth of the Bible. So, Jesus, He, rather than allowing them to sentence a/buddhistwomen.htm 2 http://www.budsas.org/ebud/whatbudbeliev/227.htm I want to examine just what God has revealed in her unfairly, pointed out their error and forgave 3 http://www.enabling.org/ia/vipassana/Archive/D/DeSilva/Wome- the Bible about women and their value. her (John 8:3-12). nInBuddhism/womenInBuddhismSwarnaDeSilva.html 4 http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/ From the very beginning, the Bible (God) In Christianity, women have an equal right to dewaraja/wheel280.html values women. Eve was created as the perfect hear the Gospel, equal responsibility to respond 5 http://www.hinduwebsite.com/hinduism/h_women.asp 6 http://www.patheos.com/Library/Hinduism/Ethics-Morality-Comm- complement for Adam (Genesis 2:20-24). Not (Acts 16:14-15), and equal reward in Heaven for unity/Gender-and-Sexuality.html inferior, but his helper, to stand beside him and living as God has called us (Mark 16:15-16). 7 http://www.thereligionofpeace.com/Quran/010-women-worth- be his partner through life. God charged that man Women are commanded, just as men, not to for- less.htm 8 http://content.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,185647- would leave his father and mother and cleave to sake the assembly (so they are allowed in the 1,00.html his wife (one) for as long as they lived (Genesis meeting places of the church) (Hebrews 10:24-25), 9 http://chersonandmolschky.com/2013/10/07/treatment-women- islam/ 2:24). Sure, man corrupted this very quickly to participate in the worship in prayer (Acts 2:42),

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Why I Am not A BuddhIst

KEVIN CAULEY

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One may come to the conclusion that the Bible is God’s Word is by examining all of the religions There is justice in applying the death penalty to of the world and eliminating them from contention as viable truth systems. It takes some time to criminals who have merited such by their crimes. investigate their claims, but not as much time as one might think due to the proper desire to be ra- It simply isn’t the case that all killing is wrong. This tional in what one believes. Irrationality requires no evidence and implies that all conclusions are is another reason why I reject Buddhism. equally valid, a premise that must be rejected as the nonsense that it is. Hence, any religion that Regarding the concept of reincarnation/rebirth: rests upon a premise of irrationality may be dismissed. Moreover, that one may use rationality to While it is an interesting thought, where is the examine the religion of Buddhism is granted by the Buddha himself, who is attributed to have said, evidence that such is actually happening? In fact, “Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it Buddhists themselves would argue, based upon agrees with your own reason and your own common sense.” So, in light of reason and common sense, their conception (or lack of conception as the case let’s look at the claims of Buddhism. may be) of the self, that there would be no proof Buddhism is a large world religion that has been around for thousands of years. It proposes to for reincarnation. That is, the only reason to ac- following the teachings of the Buddha, a historical figure whose name was Siddhartha Gautama. cept it would be that the Buddha said it was so. He lived in northwest India and died around 400 B.C. Buddhism’s “noble truths” are that all suffer- Using the Buddha’s own standard of evaluation, ing is evil and must be transcended in order to reach nirvana, a state of impersonal bliss and cos- I would have to reject this doctrine. Hence, I can- mic awareness. Suffering is caused by one’s personal desires. Pursuing one’s personal desires in- not accept Buddhism because there is no evidence volves one in the cycle of karma, a sort of cause and effect in which evil begets more evil and good for reincarnation. begets good. To escape the cycle of karma and reach nirvana, one must follow a specific path de- This last concept of Buddhism, rebirth/rein- signed to purge one of all desire. This may take one several lifetimes of rebirth/reincarnation to achieve. carnation, also implies a sort of universal salva- Since Buddhism denies the existence of the self, one would have no personal awareness from life tion. That is, the principle of karma continues to to life what was happening. Enlightenment is the state in which one transcends personal desires recycle “me” (whatever the “me” is, it doesn’t stay and can be characterized as being harmonious with everything and nothing. Buddhism has no “god” the same from one life to the next in Buddhism) to worship per se. Everyone can become god by reaching enlightenment and joining their energy over and over until “I” achieve “enlightenment.” in the nirvana.1 That means that in the present, it doesn’t matter One key criticism of Buddhism would be the following: If all desire causes suffering, then the whether I become a Buddhist or not. So, why desire to reach nirvana would seem to cause suffering as well. It would be impossible to desire nir- should I take a chance on Buddhism, be wrong, vana and eliminate all desire from one’s life. Buddhists might counter this claim by saying that one and spend eternity being punished by a just and must even eliminate the desire for nirvana. But if such is the case, then one ought to cease prac- personal God? That would seem to be an awful- ticing Buddhism. Hence, the very desire to practice the religion, even to the point of meditating upon ly foolish choice. In fact, when presented with the nothing (a state that one must desire to reach), undermines the message of the elimination of two choices, Buddhism would always demand that all desire. I am not a Buddhist because what it sets forth as its “noble truths” are hopelessly you never choose it because ultimately, everything contradictory. will end up being “enlightened” eventually. Pursuant to this, I also question the idea that suffering is always bad and must always be elim- In the final analysis, Buddhism simply has too inated. Suffering, as a concept, is not necessarily a bad thing. Through suffering, we can learn to many contradictions and irrationalities. It is not avoid poor choices. Suffering can alert us to problems within the body. Suffering even has a cer- based upon evidence, but the pronouncements of tain cathartic aspect. Suffering can be good in developing moral character as well. The apostle Paul merely “wise” men. It boils down to being affirmed as much in 2 Corinthians 12:10, “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in nothing more than a system of traditional sayings. necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.” That’s not to say that Buddhists are not moral I am not a Buddhist because some suffering is good. people or that Buddhism does not have any good Moreover, one should also question whether all desires necessarily lead to suffering. Being thirsty aspects to it. I agree with many of their ethical is a desire for water. It seems unreasonable and beyond common sense to suggest that quenching concepts such as maintaining sexual purity, and one’s thirst with a drink of water leads to suffering. To the contrary, some desires are both natural abstinence from lying, stealing, and intoxicants. and reasonable and need not lead to suffering.2 What about the desire to not suffer? As has already Nevertheless, the lack of an individual eternal been pointed out, this leads to a contradictory conclusion. I am not a Buddhist because not all de- hope, its contradictory doctrine of desire and sires lead to suffering. suffering, the lack of real justice both here and The Buddhist concept of “god” is also problematic; god is both everything and nothing. When in eternity, and lack of evidence for reincarnation one reaches enlightenment, he sort of merges his energy with an indefinite and indeterminate ball is enough reason to reject it. L of cosmic energy/stuff which really isn’t anything in particular. There is no personal God to judge right and wrong, truth and error, light and darkness. No judge means no justice and no justice Work Cited means no absolute morality, a concept that must be rejected because it implies the false concept 1 Smart, Ninian. “Buddhism.” The Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Vol. that all actions are morally equal. A Buddhist may maintain some kind of morality, but he does 1. New York: so inconsistently with his theology. I am not a Buddhist because absolute morality demands 2 Macmillan Publishing Co., Inc. & The Free Press, 1972. absolute justice. Jesus implicitly taught that the desire for water is a good thing when he said, “And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little Buddhists also live by a strict code of not killing anything: people, animals, bugs, plants, germs, ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say rocks, whatever they believe is “sentient.” This is also against common sense and reason. It is rea- unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward” (Matthew 10:42). sonable that the earth and all of the things within it are very useful. We can use trees to build hous- es. We may use rocks to make bricks and construct buildings. We may use plants, animals, and even Kevin Cauley holds degrees in Philosophy, Greek bugs as food sources. Using these things often involves killing them. Hence, I am not a Buddhist Language, and Liberal Arts from the University of Texas because in Buddhism the principle of the utility of the earth, and all things in it, is rejected. This strict code of not killing also has moral repercussions in denying that there is ever a time at Austin and St. Edwards University. He is also a for the death penalty. The principle of the punishment fitting the crime is an old and reasonable form graduate of the Southwest School of Bible Studies in of justice. Eschewing all suffering would have to eliminate that principle all together, and, in fact, Austin, TX. He is the author of No Apologies: Giving no one could ever be punished for any crime if one were to pursue the concept consistently. Logical Answers to the Toughest Apologetics’

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This topic is something which may make a few of you squirm in your seats. I know that this is touchy subject—though I still do not fully understand why—as this is a topic which I have brought up a few times in conversation to some Christian friends, and almost every time I do I am met with darting eyes, uncomfortable glances, sarcastic comments, or even—sadly—anger. But I have always thought: If someone is doing something good, even if they are not doing everything as it should be done, can we not learn from the good things they TURNING THE WORLD UPSIDE DOWN: are doing? The truth is, we live in a world where almost LESSONS FROM OUR MUSLIM FRIENDS anything goes in terms of Christianity, and the lines between the followers of Christ and the CHANTELLE SWAYNE followers of themselves/something else /every- thing/nothing are becoming extremely blurred. Do not get me wrong, I know there are many people out there who are truly striving to make Christianity their own and make a difference— but there are also too many times where followers of Christ are too happy to blend in and be as much like the world as possible. There are too many people who are too happy to simply believe the world’s lies.

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Let us hold that thought for a minute now. If you are someone who does not believe in God and They demand to be given time and the Bible, then that is your choice, of course—though we have evidence that the Bible is inspired place to observe worship as they or “God breathed”—God made you a creature of free will. If you have chosen to follow your own believe it should be done. path, then there is really no moral compass guiding you, so you have reason to do or do not as you While many followers of Christ struggle to even see fit. I understand why an unbeliever would not hold to a particular code of ethics. tell others they are Christians, the Muslims are However I find myself continually perplexed when I see those who profess to be followers of making sure that they have their prayer rooms and Christ trying to blend in with the world as much as possible and blur the lines of morality. Perhaps the opportunity to take a break so they can pray they are doing this unintentionally—but then, we need to realise that that is the problem. to Mecca 5 times a day. Because they do not com- We cannot simply blend in. We cannot live unintentionally. promise, they are granted their requests. The Christian life should and must be lived intentionally. What is it saying when we are happy to skip I heard this statement once in a lesson: “If you really believe that what you believe is Bible classes or church on Sunday in order to earn really real, then you will turn the world upside down.” some more money or look good to the boss? Who Think about this: Do you really believe in what you are living for? then seems the more religious to the world? Does This is where the lessons from our Muslim friends come in. You see, I live in a country where it look like we are really convicted in our beliefs? there is a considerably large Muslim population (about 15% of those aged over 15 are Muslims), Are we acting like we believe what we believe and the adjoining country of Malaysia is a Muslim nation. While there are obviously things they do is really real? that I do not agree with as a Christian, there are some things I see that should put Christians every- Ok, so I know there are Muslims out there where to shame—they are clear evidence of the truth of the above statement: they are turning the who are simply going along with the practices and world upside down with their uncompromising beliefs. do things they should not, or are forced to con- form––as this is often the argument people They do not compromise in their standard of dress bring against learning lessons from this group of under any circumstances. people. Be reminded however there are many who I know too many followers of Christ, despite the Bible exhortation to be modest (1 Timothy 2:9, seriously believe that what they are doing is 10), to let their spouses only be satisfied with their naked bodies (Proverbs 5:19; Genesis 2:25) and right—and it is that group that are “turning the to not cause the opposite sex to lust after them (Matthew 5:27, 28; Matthew 18:6), who are all too world upside down.” The world caters to them be- happy to follow along with the world’s definition of modesty. They are often all too happy to take cause they do not compromise. all their clothes off to swim, save a few strips of cloth. Often I hear the complaints that it is too hard I once read in an article by a Christian woman to find modest swim wear, it looks strange, or it is inconvenient. that a Muslim man was disgusted with Christi- I saw something very refreshing in contrast a few months back. One day when I was passing a anity because of the things he saw a so-called pool in which I was so accustomed to seeing filled with naked bodies, I saw a few women splash- Christian nation engaging in. Are we putting the ing about in what at first appeared to be to be dress clothes—they were fully dressed, neck to toe! name of our Lord to shame because of our con- There was not a thing inappropriate about the way they were dressed. When I looked closer I re- duct (cf. Romans 2:23, 24)? Do you really believe alised that it was actually swimwear they were wearing. that what you believe is really real? Act like it. Turn These Muslim women do not make these excuses. They take their modesty seriously—and be- the world upside down. Do not compromise. Our cause they refuse to take their clothes off to swim, they now have their very own range of modest Muslim friends are proof that when you do not give swimwear. What would happen if the majority of Christians did not compromise? What could we way on morality, things will move for you. You can make happen? find something decent to wear. You can remain sober. You can choose not to give your money to They do not compromise on alcohol. unwholesome entertainment. You can get that day There are many Christians who say that drinking alcohol is a culturally relative idea—that we off of work. can drink in the right context or under the right circumstances—despite the commands to remain With a small group of 120 people (Acts 1:15), sober (1 Thessalonians 5:6-9), and to keep away from drunkenness (cf. 1 Corinthians 6:10; Galatians it was said of the early Christians in a few short 5:19, 20; et al.). Here in Singapore, however, we have a rather large selection of nice non-alcoholic years that they had grown and managed to turn wines. Why? Are the Christians demanding that they have a non-alcoholic wine selection? No, it’s the world upside down (cf. 17:6). There are so the Muslims—they refuse to drink any alcohol, and concessions are made for them. I even heard many more of us, and if we are convicted and them concerned about sugar-free gum with its sugar alcohol—because they do not even want stand firm then we too can make our impact on to drink a drop. What a contrast. the world—but we can only make an impact if we do not compromise (cf. 5:29). They do not compromise in their viewing choices. Live with conviction. “If you really believe that what you believe Lately I have noticed there are many followers of Christ posting up on Facebook about a num- is really real, then you will turn the world up- ber of TV shows that are increasingly out of line with the standard put in place in God’s Word (think side down.” L Philippians 4:8). “Game of Thrones” is one example—if there ever was a perverted show, this is it. It rated 10/10 for sex, nudity, violence, gore and profanity—or in other words—it cannot get any worse. Really, the parental guide for the show should be enough to make you sick, let alone actually watching the show! Works Cited Yet, while many are willing to simply watch such things for “a good story,” when I cross over https://www.google.com.sg/search?q=islam+in+singapore&oq=is- the border to Malaysia I can watch TV without having to deal with any of this smut. The Muslims lamin+singap&aqs=chrome.1.69i57j0l5.5882j0j8&sourceid=chrom have a strict set of channels and they censor out sex, violence, profanity, nudity, and even, at times, e&es_sm=93&ie=UTF-8 immodesty. They are taking what they take in seriously. What would happen if more Christians were http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0944947/parentalguide? ref_=tt_stry_pg serious about their viewing choices?

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America’s Faith Andrew Chavarrilla

STRENGTH AND WISDOM: LEADING THE CHURCH

When you read these words, what comes to your mind? For me, it’s a start early we will continue to lose them and never fill the void of pleasant reminder of the journey of age. It reminds me of the glory days leaders we need today. While there isn’t an easy answer, the best way to and that I am not as young as I once was. It even causes some reflection start is simple. First, we must teach our youth to step up and prepare them on all the things that I have learned. I can close my eyes and remember to lead. Secondly, the older men must be willing to let them. my time as a young soldier like it was yesterday. Then I am confronted with The older men will continue to have a leadership role but not the same reality when I look in the mirror and see that time has taken away some one they’ve had. It becomes more administrative and wisdom driven and of the strength I once had and that my hair isn’t quite as black as it used it’s equally if not more needed now than ever! Older men begin acquiring to be as it starts to pepper with gray. I may be younger than some, how- a quality in their 30’s that younger men do not yet understand … wisdom. ever, I am older than many and now, as a father of four, the gray hair re- Though declining in strength, older men grow in knowledge and in under- minds me life is good. So, what is the Biblical principle of aging that we standing until the very late years of life. In fact, it is by this very concept can take from this? Surely it is not simply a reminder that life is swift and that the carnality of Christ is explained to us, when we see that he grew we age. I would say from one simple proverb we can see a valuable les- in wisdom and stature and in favor with both God and man (Luke 2:52). We son for the church today. all must grow (Heb. 5-6). For many older men watching the youthful Proverbs 20:29 states, “The glory of young men is their strength.” When mistakes of young men has become almost like a spectator sport. Younger we think about physically demanding activities like running, lifting men hear and consider their advice and often end up doing the exact weights, and playing sports, there is a specific set of years we call being opposite because they are younger and “know more” and their way is in our “prime.” For most men that is somewhere between the ages of 18 better. However, it is the older man who usually knows the most efficient and 34. They can do most anything, if he puts his mind to it. We think about way to get the job done, for he has lost the ignorance of youth. Thus, the those as our glory days. Simply put, this is the time in a person’s life when younger men make mistakes and turn to the council of wisdom and follow he has reached the pinnacle of his physical accomplishments. But, let’s the examples that have been blazed before them. consider this idea of “prime-time” in a young man’s life from a church per- This is the case in the kingdom today. The church needs men of spiri- spective. It is around this age that a young man in the church should be tual age and wisdom, who have long known the Word. Men who have a starting to acquire the skills to lead and teach. When you consider what proven track record of righteous action and leadership. We need the aged Paul writes to Timothy concerning not only his own work as a young preach- and wisdom of the gray head to not only guide and shepherd the flock but er but also the qualifications for deacons, they are more active and phys- also train those who will soon fill their shoes. It is an effective plan and ically demanding. The deacons today should be tasked out just like those pattern that God has well equipped the church of His son with. Even still, in the book of Acts (6:1-7). While this is the ideal, I have learned some- this perfect plan is often lacking, not on the account of God, but rather be- thing in my travels; we are missing this age group in the church today. They cause we fail to fill the gaps. The older men today are often doing double are leaving in droves! If we don’t have leaders in their prime, who is left or triple duty because those in their prime are not stepping up and taking to do the work? Not that the older men cannot do it, because they are … their place in service. Let us start now to cultivate our young men for the but is it as effective? Will it last? This poses another thought for the work of Kingdom Harvest. We need their strength, spiritual ambition, strong application of this Proverb: are we training our young men in their hearts, and minds full of the Word of God. It is time that we start striving adolescence for the leadership role they will play in the church? If we don’t to grow the church in our respective areas. Are you fulfilling your role? L

24 SEPTEMBER 2014 | THINK Think September 2014-Interior_Interior 9/18/14 10:54 AM Page 25 ORDER NOW! REBUILDING FAITH RALLY AUDIO CD

Speakers: Order the entire rally on audio CD Andrew Chavarrilla $25 plus S&H Dr. Brad Harrub OR Jack Wilkie Each individual speaker Mike Bonner $ plus S&H Bill Davis 5 Timmy Walker Order online at Wesley Walker www.focuspress.org Luis Camacho or call 866-313-6474 Think September 2014-Interior_Interior 9/18/14 10:54 AM Page 26

Wellspring Teresa Hampton

For someone like me, who is directionally and topographically challenged, your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths” (Proverbs 3:5). it is one of the most incredible inventions of all time. It is GPS, short for He corrects us when we make a wrong turn and guides us back to the right Global Positioning System. path: “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for It works this way. You put an address in the GPS and it plots your course. doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” When you begin the journey, a woman’s voice guides you along the way. (2 Timothy 3:16). We can know with certainty that God is with us all the Some drivers like to give her a name, like Sheila. With a mellow tone, she way, even when the road is challenging or dangerous: “Have I not commanded gives directions saying turn this way or that way. If you’re going the wrong you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for way, she tells you to turn around. When you’re totally off course, she paus- the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9). “The Lord is es an interminable time, and finally says, “Redirecting …” then tells how my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; to get back on the right road. You eventually arrive at the correct place. He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in Sheila is incredible, for sure, but not perfect. There are times when she the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through does not recognize the address you entered, or worse yet, takes you to the the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; wrong place, like a cow pasture in the middle of nowhere. However, most Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me” (Psalm 23:1-4). of the time she gives clear, concise, correct directions. God’s GPS is amazing! When we believe and obey Him and walk with Did you know that God has provided us with a GPS? It is His Word, the Him each day, we will arrive safely at our eternal destination Heaven. Bible, and it’s flawless. He always identifies the correct destination: “For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a build- Today’s verse: “The things which you learned and received and ing from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens” (2 heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you” Corinthians 5:1). He never fails to give us the right directions: “Your word (Philippians 4:9). is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105). “Trust in the Today’s challenge: Take time to read the Bible daily, and then Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding; in all confidently follow the Lord’s directions. L

GOD’S GPS

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Lori Belihar Boyd Solid Ground

WHOM DO YOU LOVE?

As I contemplated the topic of “apologetics” for my article this month, I would never discount the importance of those things, but sometimes questions arose in my mind about what and whom I choose to defend in I need to remind myself that Christianity is a way of life, a continual demon- my own life. Eventually my thoughts rested upon this conclusion:I defend stration of my love for God, and not simply a list of things to do. that which I love; a statement that came tightly tethered to the When I return to reality following those moments, the question “How question: “Whom do I love?” am I showing my love for God?” continues to resonate, and I look more care- A number of years ago, while working a day shift on the Cardiac fully for opportunities to show my love for Him, not in an effort to earn my Intensive Care Unit at Vanderbilt, I found myself in a discussion with two salvation, but in a sincere response to His love for me. other nurses about Heaven. Death lurked behind doors and around corners Am I keeping His commandments? Am I faithfully obedient to His grace? in that area of the hospital, whispering a constant reminder of our own Am I helping others come to know Him? Am I caring for the poor, the weak, mortality, and in that particular moment we were talking to each other aboutthe sick, and the lonely? Am I using His Word to give hope to the hopeless what comes after this life. One nurse told us that she believes there and comfort to the hurting? Am I worshipping Him in spirit and in truth? are two questions which will be asked of every person on the Day of Am I spending time in His Word? Am I speaking to Him in prayer? Am I sac- Judgment: “Whom did you love?” and “How did you love?” rificing my life daily for Him? Am I ready to defend Him when questioned There is nothing in Scripture that tells us that those two questions will about His existence? be asked on that Day. We cannot know what the Bible does not reveal to “Who else did you love?” He asks. us, but we do know that one day we will be judged according to the words “The church,” I answer. of Jesus Christ (John 12:48) and that we will each give an account of our- “Tell me,” He says, “How did you love her?” selves to God (Romans 14:12), including the words we have spoken (MatthewAm I sharing the Gospel with the lost so they might become part of her 12:36), and the deeds we have done (2 Corinthians 5:10). body? Am I using the abilities God gave me to further her work? Am I help- Nevertheless, over the years I have recalled the conversation I had at ing her grow? Am I edifying and encouraging her members? Am I strength- work that day with my co-workers and I often find myself asking: ening her? Am I standing up for her when she is ridiculed? Am I praying “Whom do I love and how do I love?”I sometimes even imagine stand- for her? Am I teaching my children to love her? Am I ready to defend her ing before God and being asked those two questions at the Judgment, not when questioned about my faith? because I believe it will happen that way, but because those questions I imagine God asking, “How did you love your husband, your children, echo in my mind and I just cannot help but wonder how I would answer. your family, your friends, your enemies?” I imagine God asking,“Whom did you love while you were on the earth?” And I pray that my answers would bring glory to Him. I imagine answering, “I loved You.” We don’t have to wonder whether we will be asked these questions I imagine Him asking, “How did you love Me?” on the Judgment Day because, in truth, God is asking us right now through I imagine being on my knees at the throne of God who sacrificed His His Word, “Whom do you love?” and “How do you love?” The answers Son for me, considering my answer and feeling ashamed and unworthy. lie deep within our hearts, and it is from there that we will find the strength My mind is scrolling through those activities I had check-marked on and the ability we need to defend. I defend that which I love. L my spiritual “to-do list” (Attend worship services––check! Read the Bible all the way through in a year––check! Give money every week for If you are interested in scheduling Lori as a speaker for ladies’ events, contribution––check!), and in my imaginary scenario I begin feeling very please contact her through email at [email protected] much like the one-talent woman.

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Not a Statistic Savannah Cottrell If Your TechnologY Breaks, IT's TrulY noT The end of The World

Once upon a time, the screen of my phone shattered. 1. There’s so much good that you can do It was a total accident. I was carrying far too many things out to the with technology. car before an outing with family and friends when suddenly, I heard The wonderful thing about technology––especially for Christians something drop. When I looked down, I saw my phone with cracks in it looking to evangelize and reach new audiences––is that so much that resembled a spider's web. But in that moment of realization that I’d encouragement can be spread from it. Blogs exist that are authored by broken something I use on a daily basis, I made a decision … a decision real-life citizens who have insights on Scriptures or their Christian walks to not worry about it and enjoy what the rest of the day had to offer. in general that can be shared with others via social media. A status on Let me tell you, that was a decision well made. social media can also be encouraging, too, which can be a welcome sight I use my phone for a lot of things: reading e-books, checking email, in this day and age, as a lot of posts can be very negative. Whether you taking pictures, listening to music, texting family and friends, and correspond through social media, or just write your stance on an issue via playing games, to name a few. However, there was something strangely a single status or blog post, your voice can be heard, and others can freeing about not depending on an object while it was broken and while benefit from it. it was in the repair shop getting fixed. I could use that time to spend with people or do other things that were productive or just for fun. 2. Technology dependence can be curbed After the shattering and subsequent repair of my phone, I started think- with balancing priorities. ing about how I use technology in general, and how much I use it. I use A lot of us depend on technology for work, and a lot of us find a lot of it to work and play, and it’s amazing how much I can accomplish and what entertainment on various websites or social media. However, knowing when I can do with either a mouse click or a tap on a screen. However, as I’ve to “unplug” is an important life skill in an age where so many of us are look- gotten older, I’ve realized that there is an importance of balance between ing down at a screen instead of up and around us. You don't have to swear my time on-screen and off. off technology for good, but make sure that you're mixing up your regime So, here are some things I’ve discovered about technology, and how with things that don’t have a backlit screen. For example, you can write your it has applied to my Christian walk over the years. friend or family member a physical letter or card––I do this to keep up with friends from college, and it’s so much more meaningful than a text or message. You can also dabble in a new hobby, or just slide your phone into your pocket or purse while you share a meal with someone. If you start the habit of doing this now, it will be so much easier not to fret in the event that your screen breaks or your hard drive crashes. (On that note, make sure you back up important files for work, school, or anything else you want to keep if that does happen.)

3. No matter how you use technology, make sure that it's for His glory. This reaches back to the previous points in that there is so much you can do with technology that honors Him, so long as technology isn't the primary focus. The key here is to keep in mind that technology is a thing. In Matthew 24:35, Jesus told His disciples that “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.” Also, Jesus tells us to “… not lay up for yourselves treas- ures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in Heaven, where nei- ther moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:19- 21). We need to remember that because His Word and promises last forever, we need to focus on the permanence of His Word and promises instead of solely relying on our own devices––literally and figuratively. So, before you post on Facebook or a blog, ask yourself if you’re serving as an example to your fellow Christians. Before you check your phone for text messages, ask yourself if what you’re about to send is encourag- ing to your recipient, or going to build the relationship between you and the recipient that God has blessed you with. In a tech-filled world, we as Christians can spread His Word, all while under the guidance of the Creator who guides our path better than any GPS or map app. L

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Brad Harrub, Ph.D. Heart of the Matter

WORKS RIGHTEOUSNESS

Having looked into the tearful eyes of parents whose children have Jesus Christ (see Acts 4:12; John 14:6). You are unable to add to His abandoned the Faith, I have learned there are a million miles between our sacrifice and grace. Many people comprehend this intellectually, but their gut still tells them they must check off so many boxes in order to be a children “going through the motions” in reference to their spiritual lives godly Christian and go to Heaven. Listen to what Paul wrote to Titus, versus our children possessing hearts that dictate their actions. In this Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to column, I plan to share with you what I hope to instill in the hearts of my His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and re- own children and those whom I love. newing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life (Titus 3:5-7). Humans have a propensity towards “works righteousness.” We may not want to believe it, but deep down, most of us think we are playing a To think that we add to Christ’s sinless sacrifice is to cheapen it. It brings major role in our salvation. I think many Christians acknowledge the role Him down and elevates us. Paul admonished, “For by grace you have been Jesus Christ plays in our salvation, but the reality is we scour the saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not Scripture to find things “to do” and then work really hard believing we play of works, lest anyone should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). an important role. So, does that mean we should just live our lives however we want, and Often, our works righteousness attitude is grown out of fear or pride. not try to do good? If you are asking that question, then you are missing For those who live their lives in fear, every time something bad happens the point. When you truly comprehend how wretched you are, and what they believe it is because of something they did (or didn’t do well enough). Jesus did for you, it should stir a desire in you to do good and follow They honestly believe their own actions brought about the “bad” thing. after Him. It’s not that we are trying to work our way to Heaven. It is that Friends, that would mean that for every day that they experienced some- we are trying to pattern our lives after our Savior. It is my prayer that as thing “good” they would honestly believe they earned/deserved it. you deepen your faith, you will be on guard against this works That is not how God works and it is not God’s plan for man’s salvation. righteousness attitude. Humble yourself, and remember who you are— Likewise, there are many who have the attitude, “Thank you, Jesus, for and remember Who He is. For God so loved the world that He gave His L dying on the cross. Now, look at all this stuff I’ve done to add to your only begotten Son. sacrifice.” A lot of this arrogance is fed by the church and is supported by the humanistic/narcissistic egotism that is prevalent today. Here’s what I intend to teach my children regarding works righteousness. At your very best, you will be nothing but a filthy rag compared to God. I don’t say that to hurt your feelings. I tell you that so that you can always keep the proper perspective of who God is and who you are. (You know we have not been parents who pamper and build false self-esteem.) Allow me to back up what I said with Scripture: “But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; We all fade as a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away” (Isaiah 64:6). God is telling you that at your very best you are nothing but a nasty pile of rags. Paul wrote, “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one” (Romans 3:10). A few verses later he added, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). In other words, you ain’t all that. There are many people who will be uncomfortable with what we are teaching you, because they honestly believe they can—by their own hands— add to what Jesus did on the cross. But the reality is salvation is only through Love,Dad

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