Do All Dogs Go To Heaven?

This was originally written in 2008 with our dog Mo in mind. Since Mo's passing on 1/11/2014, I looked this over again and added an addendum.

The title of this writing, of course, comes from the movie “All dogs go to Heaven”. I personally did not see the movie. I have nothing against it and would gladly watch it for good clean fun, but it was obviously not a Biblical case for dogs in heaven, and I am just not a "go to the movies" person.

While I write this in part as a tribute to our dog “Silver” who was put to sleep on 9/11/2008, the thought of this actually came several months earlier. I was sitting on the bed one night just moments from going to sleep, and I saw our dog Mo sleeping over next to the wall. I considered the fact that all of our dogs were getting older and would be leaving us at some point. I thought about how hard that would likely be on Rose, and we had talked about that kind of thing in days past.

It is certainly true in these days that the thought or idea of pets being in heaven, going to heaven, being a part of the heavenly existence, etc. is a subject that people will talk about and ask questions regarding. I believe this has come about as emotional bonds are easily developed between humans and pets. As we see pets demonstrate this emotional capacity, the capacity to learn, use judgment, and exhibit such a wide range of feelings, we must conclude that we have here something more than just a physical entity. If I may be so bold, we come to believe that Spot is more than just a piece of meat standing there!  

In the book of Genesis, we see what I call three levels of life created on the earth.  On the third day, God made the grass, trees, etc. – which could be considered the most basic or elemental forms of life. Near the end of chapter 1, we see God making some animals on the 5th day, and then we see Him making some more on the 6th day. These animals could be considered the second form of life. (Now do not ask me about the bugs and such and where they fit in – I just don’t have the time or even know, and as far as pet rocks – don’t even go there!) . Then God made man on the 6th day, as well, which I consider the third form of life.

A discussion such as this will often lead to the question, “Does an animal have a soul?”  If you Google this question, you will find enough information to read until your soul departs! They go through all the various Greek and Hebrew words relating animal and souls, what other religions say, what people think, etc.

From the Bible we see that man is tripartite (made up of three parts). We see all three parts mentioned throughout the Scriptures but especially in 1 Th 5:23 KJV.  “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Here we see spirit, soul, and body – all the parts of man. Man is a spiritual being (in the image of God) as God is a spiritual being. John 4:24: “God is a Spirit…” Now don’t get the idea that I believe man and God are the same – but they are in the same class, if you will, in that they are spiritual beings – like angels are spiritual beings, cherubim, seraphim, etc. and a host of other “spiritual creatures” that are mentioned throughout the Bible. But, as often happens when we discuss things like this, we have gotten off the intended subject.

While there is no basis to conclude that animals are spiritual beings from a Biblical standpoint, it does appear that they are more than the trees and plants which appear to just basically have a body, form, or substance (whichever term you like).

In the Biblical time frame, we see plants and such first, animals and such second, and man third. Thus, appearances would lead us to conclude that God made the simplest first and then to the most complex being last.

Again, I can see no Biblical basis for saying that trees and plants have any inner, intelligent life (such as a soul). I know there are those folks that believe that you can bond with a tree, etc. but there is no Biblical basis for it or dictates to pursue such a thing. It just has a “body” or some type of physical framework, if you will. Now Biblically, we have seen that man has 3 parts – spirit, soul, and body.

Would it make sense then, that animals (the second aspect of life creation) would have two parts: a body and a soul? As I will explain later, I believe it is very difficult to make a doctrinal case for animals having a soul, yet; I believe some interesting facts for it can be looked at and discussed.

1. In Proverbs 12:10 we see: “A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.”  The word “life” in this verse is the Hebrew word “nephesh”

In Genesis 2:7, we read: “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” The word soul in this verse is the same word “nephesh” 

2. In original creation, God evidently thought it was good (Genesis 1:12, 21, 25) that man’s environment contain plants and animals. In the thousand year reign of Christ, we see the existence of plants and animals. There is no reason to doubt that plants and animals will inhabit the new heaven and the new earth.

3. I cannot believe that it is too far fetched to think that God would allow His children to have their pets in heaven if they desire. If He will raise up those who are born again to life eternal, it would certainly be no problem to raise up any animals (who He gave life to in the beginning). How all of the intricacies of this would work is likely one of those secret things of God. Pets in heaven are likely God’s least concern; His greatest outreach from a Biblical standpoint is getting people there!

I might interject here that I have not noted any type of spiritual interest or motivation in our dogs in any way. This may sound strange to some, but it is something that I have particularly looked for as I have considered dogs in heaven, etc. When we sing praise songs, hymns, pray, speak about the things of God, they show no interest and never indicate that this type of thing affects them in any way. This is just an observation that I find interesting – not trying to make any particular point.

Rose pointed out an interesting scripture in the first part of Genesis chapter 9. It seems to say that God will require the blood of man at the hand of the animals. In other words, if an animal kills a man, God wants to know why and in some way, the animal will have to answer. Further in the chapter, God talks about making a covenant and the rainbow is mentioned regarding never flooding the earth again. In those verses, God says He is making that covenant not only with man but all the animals, and He specifically points out those on the ark. Once again, it is difficult to form a deep, doctrinal statement from these verses; but perhaps it allows us a little insight on how God looks at animals - and perhaps it is a way we have not considered before.

Bottom line, I have to say this: The Bible, and indeed the gospel, is essentially between God and man. The aspect with animals is secondary, at best. That is why I said earlier that I do not believe you can make a Biblical statement about pets in heaven. The Bible deals with man’s relationship with God.  Pets being in heaven would certainly be an easy thing with God, and it is very difficult to picture the new creation without animals. I am reminded of Jesus’ words in Matthew 7:11 “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?”

I certainly believe pets can fit into those “good things”. A more important question: “Will you spend eternity with God”?  The Bible tells us if we confess with our mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in our hearts that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shall be saved (Romans 10:9-10).  What we are actually confessing is that we want the judgment that Jesus received - the judgment that He was righteous and acceptable to God. The Bible goes on to say that we then become acceptable because we are “in Him.”  Certainly, pages more could be written about this new life in Christ (being born again), but hopefully this will get your interest and lead you to a further study if this is a new concept to you.

Addendum (1/14/2014)

 1. I can find no scriptural reference or hint that there are animals in hell.

 2. I ask you to read Romans 8:19-23. You will likely see some thingsthat are not readily clear - especially in the King James. But I want to note a few things especially in light of the subject of this writing. The word "creature" is used. According to Vine's Dictionary of New Testament words, the words creature, creation, and create all come from the same root. It may help you to picture the word "creation" instead of "creature" in this passage. Remember II Corinthians 5:17 ~ If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature ... Either creature or creation is acceptable.

Now to our subject. We see here that creation fell (or came under the curse) when man rebelled. Note verse 20 says "not willingly" but because of man. Verse 21 says thecreature "or creation" shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. Any way you decide to imagine that - it is good and the verse calls it "glorious liberty"

Paul writes in verse 22 that creation groans and in verse 23 he says we ourselves groan waiting for the redemption of the body. These verses give us a glimpse regarding the new creation (heaven and earth) spoken of in revelation. It is interesting in this passage that the whole creation is linked together with man's redemption - and glorious liberty is meant for both

 

Isaiah 11 is a chapter that begins speaking about the coming of someone who could only be Jesus. After speaking about Him and His righteousness, we read this in verses 6-9: The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.

These verses certainly paint a different picture than what we see with animals today. Scripture would lead us to believe that it was the way God created the animal world. It further would make sense (spiritually and logically) that this is what God has in mind when He makes all things new. ~ Revelation 21:5

3. A question that comes to mind is: If there will be animals in heaven (and in the new earth), why don't we see it clearly in the Bible? I have an opinion, but that is all it is. If there was a lot in the scripture about animals in heaven, man would likely go off on a wild tangent. There would be every kind of idea, formula, and three-step procedure to get your pet over in glory land. Some would likely hold a pet crusade or last rites for animals (it's probably out there already). I hope you see my point. The main emphasis of the scripture is the redemption of man - to keep him from hell. This is where our emphasis should be.

A side note along the same lines - I believe this same principle is the reason we do not see the devil named very much as the cause of evil, destruction, oppression and sickness in the Old Testament. We see a glimpse in Job's troubles, we see satan standing up against Israel in I Chronicles 21:1, and satan standing against Joshua in Zechariah 3:1. But if the devil (satan) was named as the source of the bad coming on man, you can imagine the things man would do to try to appease the devil, seek after him, offer things to him in order to bring relief. We see it in the Old Testament with the worship of baal, molech and others, and even today in false religion. But when Jesus comes, it is face to face and out in the open as to who the devil is and what to do with him. We are told how to resist him and make him flee. Even with that, we know our attention should be toward God.

I conclude noting again that redemption's story throughout the Bible is for man. Man is the one who rebelled and needs salvation. It is where our focus should be - both for ourselves and others.

Finally, as parents many have dealt with children when a pet's life ends. It is often a time of many tears and a lot of sadness. We want to put our arms around them and do anything we can to bring them some comfort and get them through it. From the New Testament, we have to believe "how much more" our heavenly Father desires to comfort and bring us peace when it happens in our lives.

The Most Important Question about Your Faith ~ Part III

In the first two installments of this topic, I endeavored to lay out some important questions about our faith. I also pointed out the attacks and assaults particularly against Christian principles that are considered the basic Biblical tenets of our faith.

As I considered how I would answer some of these questions, I realized it could get quite lengthy and I do not want to do that in just one writing. So I thought to answer as succinctly and to the point as possible.

1. Why be whatever faith I claim?

I am Christian and became so by asking Jesus into my heart confessing Him as Lord of my life. (Romans 10:9-10). If this amounted to just words on a page, I would have cause to question it. But something happened on the inside of me that I cannot deny. A change occurred that brought the life of God into my spirit, a cleansing of my inner being, I knew I was right with God, and the peace that anchors my life is sometimes difficult to describe. The old hymn "Burdens Are Lifted At Calvary" says it so well.

2. Why should someone want to be of the faith you are?

I have seen no other faith that offers both the peace and power of Christianity. The impact of the Word of God and the infilling of the Holy Spirit I have seen in no other faith. We will never learn it all in this life, but I have seen nothing that can compare to this new life and journey we are in. It is the growth that we experience after becoming "babes in Christ" that will attest to the reality of this newness of life.

3. You must consider what you believe is right; what is wrong with other beliefs?

I know of no other faith that has a Savior. No deity of another faith died for the sins of the people of the earth and offered them a complete pardon and a new life. All other faiths in some fashion depend on works for salvation. Christians look to the works of Jesus (including His death) to satisfy the righteous requirements of God the Father for the human race. He paid the price for the sin of man. After receiving Him we should desire to honor Him with our conduct (this is where rewards come in). I certainly do not want to stand before God with my works as a price for sin and say I do not need what Jesus did.

If someone does not consider the blood of Jesus the price for their sin, then what do they offer to pay for their sin? Perhaps they consider their works sufficient. The children of Israel had required works as well (they indeed had a strict code) but it did not pay the price for their sin. They had to do the animal sacrifices to cover their sin until Jesus came. Thus to me, if someone is claiming works to pay the price for their sin, I wonder if they thought they should do any animal sacrifices. That would not likely go over well.

To deal with some of the other questions posed, I would ask this question: What do the other faiths have that I do not have? I have eternal life now and will have eternity with God, I have been filled with His Spirit, I have a clear conscience with joy on the inside, I enjoy His presence each day which gives me a wonderful reason to live.

Certainly we all continue to deal with the world, the flesh, the devil, and the results of the fall of all creation. This is not a cakewalk - we are called soldiers of Christ in the New Testament. There are ample scriptures to describe the warfare we are in. I have my days like everyone else when I have to get hold of my attitude, and fight the good fight of faith regarding some difficulty or trial. But I am so grateful that I have something to fight with, a power on the inside that enables me to continue, and a source of joy and peace in the midst of it all.

I would like to make a point concerning the sacrifice of Jesus. It was not just for "our sins" as such, but for our sin nature that we inherited from Adam. Romans chapter 5 describes this in detail. We could not help this happening - that is one reason why God paid for it Himself (in my opinion). I do not believe this is emphasized as much as it should be today. After our sin nature was dealt with (nailed to the cross in Jesus) our individual sins (and sin nature) can dealt with when we come to Jesus in initial faith and subsequently as noted in I John 1:9. The redemption from this sin nature inherited through Adam is something that man can not do on his own - no matter how many good works he has. I personally believe if anyone understands what God offers them through Jesus Christ, they will run to it.

Finally, I had the privilege of seeing my father come to faith in Christ Jesus a few months before he died. The change in him was evident and he talked to me about how different he felt on the inside and he knew that it was real. I remember asking him this question, "How to you get someone else to understand this change and want it in their lives"? He admitted that he had no answer, and I struggle to find a good one myself.

We are told in the Bible: "No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day." ~ John 6:44. As we share with others, we pray God will draw people to Jesus.

I have tried to answer as briefly as possible, but question if I have really done it justice. I hope this will help you either to give an answer or aid in your search for what is real about God. Thank you as always for reading.

The Most Important Question about Your Faith ~ Part II

I hope that after reading part I you took some time to consider the questions that were posed. If you engage this culture with these issues, you need to be ready with an answer.

I was talking with a friend recently about how the rhetoric and discourse along church lines have changed. After getting into church as a teenager, I began to note the conversation and points of view concerning issues. Some of the main ones involved:

1. Should you be baptized by immersion or sprinkling?
2. What are the basic differences between Catholics & Protestants?
3. When should we talk to our children about Santa Claus & the Easter Bunny?
4. Should women do everything in the church that men do?
5. Should churches celebrate Halloween?

I am sure there are others that could be listed, but hopefully you get the idea.

Today, things have almost gone ballistic. People are standing up telling the church what it is not going to do. References to God, prayer, and Christian displays are taken out of the public sector - lawsuits threatened at the drop of a hat. Life styles, behavior and conduct completely opposed to Bible are promoted and any debate or different point of view is squashed or belittled. We can only speculate the outcome of Islam and Sharia law in this country - but the issue will likely be intense.

Along with these blatant attacks against much of what used to be considered normal in behavior, lifestyle, and public discourse is the subtle removal of what was considered the standards of most individuals. For young people especially you see it in schools and television. You are naive if you blindly assume these two institutions are going to promote your values - especially if you stand for God, country and traditional social norms. Granted this may be too much of a generality but if you check this out you might get a wake up call.

One can just casually peruse the television programs that present family situations and note how they talk to each other and the values they promote. Even if you are watching what would be considered a family-friendly show, you should have your remote handy so you can at least mute the commercials. I can guarantee you do not want your children emulating what you see on many commercials for shows that are running.

Regardless of the area we look into, we see the constant challenge to what we believe and what we stand for.

In the first installment of this blog, I mentioned one important question and others that are relevant today. I have to answer these as well. In the next and likely final installment in this series, I will present how I would answer these questions.

Until Part III...

The Most Important Question about Your Faith ~ Part I

I realize that I am out on a limb by saying I will pose the most important question. That premise could certainly be argued. However I believe the question is certainly critical - especially in this day and time. Think of all the titles and distinctions that are out there. From a religious standpoint, we could go from:

Presbyterian to Pentecostal

Atheist to Amish to Anglican to Armstrongism to Agnostic

Catholic to Confucianism

Hindu to Holy Roller to Hare Krishna

Jehovah's Witness to Jews for Jesus

Mormon to Methodist to Muslim to Mennonite

New Age to Neopaganism to non-denominational

Baptist to Buddhist

Christian to Chinese Folk

Scientology to Seventh Day Adventists

Unification to Eastern Mysticism to Wicca to We aren't really sure...

There are more labels and names to distinguish us than we can count. There so many things we can be. So here is that question very simply:

Whatever you be ... why be it?

There must be something that causes you to claim a certain label or declare a certain faith.
If you can answer that question, be assured more will be coming that could be tough:

Why should someone want to be of the faith you are?
You must consider what you believe is right, what is wrong with other beliefs?
Of what benefit is your faith?
Most people have a religious belief that is supposed to bring them good after they die - What do you have that others do not?

These should be very important questions to anyone whose faith is important to them. I think they are very heavy and serious.

All of these questions continue in my heart and mind and I have been dealing with them for a while. So I am just going to end this part I right here. This should be enough for anyone to consider for a few weeks.

Playing The Jesus Card

Do you ever play the Jesus card? Have you ever seen a Jesus card? To be honest, I have never actually seen one. But there must be decks of them based on how often they are used.

These cards are rarely used when everyone is happy and smiling. Rather, they are usually played when the "game gets tight". They are sometimes used to either intimidate or try to make someone look foolish. Often they are used to promote a certain agenda.

I have never seen one used to promote Jesus Himself - but just to promote a particular idea someone believes Jesus would endorse. They often are used by politicians, news people, during debates, interviews, and across the internet. I am sure they are used in private conversations from time to time.

Here is an example of how to play the Jesus card. Someone will see that throughout the Bible, God's people are told to give to the poor, endeavor to help them, etc. So someone gets up and says they plan to tax people (or specifically people of a certain income) so that they can give money to the poor. That is what Jesus would do.

Notice they would want the government to run all of this. I wonder what they would say if we wanted all of that money collected to go to Franklin Graham and let him distribute it. Or just make sure when the money is sent out that it comes in a little card that says we are doing this because of what Jesus said. Do you hear the howling already? They do not mind using Jesus to get you to do it, but they would never tell anyone that we are doing this in the Name of Jesus. They would do it in the name of a compassionate government - who use other people's money by the way.

You never see these folks stand up and quote Jesus saying "ye must be born again" or the New Testament principles of how to live and conduct yourself. Are these people interested in you getting closer to Jesus or just doing something for a particular program?

I want to know something about the person who tells me what I should be doing because of what Jesus said. Sadly, to some Jesus is little more than something you use like a playing card. Is that person exemplifying as the old hymn says: "Living for Jesus a life that is true, striving to please Him in all that I do."

Yes we will all slip at times and fall short of the mark, but we who name the Name of Jesus should at least care enough to show that we are trying. I would hope everyone reading would do something out of a heart-felt desire to honor Jesus, and not because someone played a card on them.

Revolution Anyone?

For this writing we define the word revolution in two ways that could be considered extreme:

1. a drastic and far-reaching change in ways of thinking and behaving

2. the overthrow of a government by those who are governed

On the one hand we could say that any individual can have a revolution, while even today we see it sweeping across nations. Thus my title: Revolution Anyone?

Regardless of whether it is one person or a nation, eventually the revolution itself will end and this question will be faced: What do we do now? What happens next determines the result of any type of revolution.

The results of any revolution will be no better than the type of person or people who will be in charge after the revolution is over. Case in point: The thirteen colonies had a revolution beginning in 1776. The Bolsheviks had a revolution beginning in 1917. Off the top of your head, were the results of those revolutions pretty much the same or radically different?

Though you may know more specifics about the American revolution and the results of it, a review of names of some men who came to the forefront after these revolution will help make my point. After 1776 we see men such as Washington, Jefferson, Adams, Madison & Monroe. After 1917 we see men such as Lenin, Trotsky, Molotov, Stalin & Beria.

While the names given above quickly help make my point, some would argue that very different circumstances between the two revolutions would account for the different results. That discussion could take awhile and would open hours of debate that I believe would be very informative - but it is not for this blog.

Suffice it to say that circumstances do not make policy or carry out any actions. Circumstances can have an effect; but people, not circumstances, do the ruling, the governing, the dictating, and the serving.

Having a governmental revolution is one thing - building a nation is another. Having a personal revolution is one thing - walking out a life that is worthy of the Lord (see Colossians 1:10) is indeed another. Revolutions can come relatively quickly - dealing with its results is often quite a long, drawn-out process.

I have little hope for any government whose leaders do not understand Proverbs 14:34 - Righteousness exalteth a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people. Perhaps it would help if more Christians would set an example. For those who understand this principle, we can at least get started and endeavor to make a difference.

So we are back to the same place. What type of people will be calling the shots (literally or figuratively) after the revolutionary dust has settled? What will their character and principles be like, what God will they honor?

In light of the upheavals we see across the world and even these United States, these become very important questions.

Would Someone Please Show Me Any Job They Created

From listening to our leaders in government, you would think that creating jobs is a national pastime - right up there with baseball. I would like to see any job that has been created. Can you send me a picture of one? Is it bigger than a breadbox? Do they come in different colors?

Now I realize that I am almost getting silly. But it is no more silly to me than a supposed intelligent person standing up and saying how many jobs we have created. I contend that no normal person would do such a thing. Someone might possibly consider it if they used someone else's money - well, like our government. If you had an extra $100,000, what would you say to someone who told you to take it and go create jobs with it? I hope you would not hire them. At best you might find something for someone to do and give them some money for doing it; but that is hardly creating a job.

The entrepreneurial spirit that made this country an economic powerhouse would take that money and produce goods and services that would meet needs, enhance the culture and neighborhood, and develop technology to do even more of this. You will need workers to do this; thus, the jobs wonderfully appear. But you did not sit down with your chalkboard and associates and declare "We've got to create some jobs!" That would definitely be getting the cart before the horse. Why is our government almost famous for doing this?

Now, if you were to get a big inheritance and decide to prove me wrong, would you be able to create a job that could sustain itself? In other words, would you have to keep pumping money into it so the person could keep doing the job you created? That would be insane - unless again you are using someone else's money. Any business person would know you will run up a tremendous debt and eventually go broke creating the jobs. Does $14 trillion dollars in debt ring a bell? Granted, that did not all come from people pretending to create jobs, but it did come from people that have this same kind of thinking.

I do not want someone creating a job for me. I want to take my God-given abilities and the skills I have learned and go out and produce. I want to be a blessing to others and demonstrate that "... Godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come." This is what our young people especially should be learning in school - where many of these skills should be developed.

Finally, I realize that all of us may need help from time to time. I am all for giving help. It is one thing to help someone, it is another for them to live off of you. If you are one of those that just enjoy giving and giving with no accountability, perhaps I should move in with you and enjoy your hospitality. No - we help people in order to get them to a place where they can do the same for others.

Once again, if you do happen to create any type of job, I would love to see it and know how it is working out.

Did Jesus Bring a Social Gospel - Part II

In part I, we looked at how the social gospel movement began. In continuation we see this movement particularly was emphasized by some during the first half of the 20th century. Indeed if you Google "social gospel" you will see a lot of info in regards to the 20th century though many claim the movement essentially died out around 1930. Though the public use of the term seemed to diminish around this time, the concept and ideas behind it are still with us today.

I contend that it can basically be boiled down to the use of Christianity and its principles without the person of Christ Himself. It can be described as the use of programs designed to improve the economic and social positions of the recipients. It is promoted as something Christians ought to be involved in because Christians certainly want to help their fellow man.

One problem with this way of promoting "Christian" values is that is does nothing to change the people on the inside. Therefore the results are essentially external. You may temporarily improve some conditions but society (people) are not really being improved. While many may have good intentions, the system becomes the ultimate user. It uses good sounding phrases and causes, but because the standards that Christ laid down are essentially ignored, almost anyone or any group can join in - usually bringing their philosophy and demands with them.

Christian values from a Biblical view start on the inside and work their way outward. Once the "Christ in you" begins to shine forth on the outside coupled with skill and the ability to get things done, you can indeed do just that - get things done. In this way the gospel can dramatically impact society.

So don't get the cart before the horse or the program in front of the programmer. Without Jesus, we will not have the good sense to implement or adjust any program so that it accomplishes the desired goal - especially as complicated as the world has made things.

Before the gospel can change society it must change the individual person. If programs are just used to get "stuff" to the people, what happens when the "stuff" runs out? Have you seen the mob scenes around the world when people think they are going to lose their "stuff"?

The gospel will not only change you on the inside, it will help you develop the skills to get more than enough "stuff". But that is a message for another blog.

So to answer did Jesus bring a social gospel: Jesus brought the gospel to individuals. If individuals embrace that gospel, it will definitely impact them socially.

Did Jesus Bring a Social Gospel - Part I

The term "social gospel" is one that pops up every few years depending on the political climate of the time. If you Google the term, you will find more information than you will ever want to read. Various dates are given for the start of the movement in America - the earliest usually being around 1870.

When the term comes up, many people associate it with words that have the same root such as society and socialism. For that reason, the "social gospel" will normally ignite anything from a calm discussion to a heated argument.

After the Civil War had ended, America faced the task of rebuilding in a lot of different ways: the South needed a reconstruction, freed slaves needed education and a place in society, the North desperately needed raw materials, and people's nerves and feelings were frayed from the war and many wondered if anything would be normal again.

Particularly, many churches and Christian organizations began to help with things like education, teaching people to read, child care, hospitals, helping the aged, ministering to women, etc. Couple that with people like Booker T. Washington and Washington Carver, whose efforts toward educating and training the black population (both naturally and spiritually) cannot be over emphasized. It seemed that the country was getting back on its feet as people, churches, and organizations were impacting society especially in the urban areas..

Because many churches and Christian organizations were on the forefront of doing and being involved in these activities, it seemed this type of thing came to be a norm of Christian activity. I suppose they would indeed have worn the "WWJD" bracelets if they had existed in those days.

From the Bible, we do not see Jesus Himself doing much of this activity. He ministered the gospel that would change the hearts of individuals. Once that takes place, the works of the kingdom of God begin to be done by those people whose hearts were changed by Jesus coming in. Jesus said in Matthew 5:16 ~ Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. It is interesting that He was talking to those whose Father was in heaven.

Jesus brought the gospel to individuals and each individual will make a decision about the gospel for him or herself. The people who make Jesus the Lord of their lives and embrace the gospel have the opportunity to impact society in a number of ways.

Part II coming soon.

Who is going to run it?

Whether we are talking about the local PTO or examining the details of our federal government, the answer to one question will tell us a great deal about what we can expect from the organization we are studying. Who is going to run it? What skills do they have? What kind of character do they exhibit? How is their track record? Who are they accountable to and how? If it exists, somebody is going to call the shots.

A case in point is our federal government. For years there have been those who say the federal government should be running more and more of both the country and our daily lives. When the federal government obtained the power to tax individual citizens, a major shift occurred in America. Was there an evil intent – I have no clue. But now this taxation is run by the feds instead of the states. What kind of agenda is being promoted? Are high standards of ethics being exhibited? If the states had the power, they would need to be accountable as well. Know this – it is much easier to regulate states than to regulate this massive fed that has been created. Each requires diligent oversight. I could give you a list to boggle your mind of governmental agencies that have come about because of this type of thinking.

Here is an easy example to see – the federal government thought it could do a good job lending money. What was created – Fannie & Freddie. Can someone tell me why they still exist? When the economic crisis came, many said it was because capitalism and the free market failed. I say the free market did exactly what it was supposed to do. When the crooks, the inept, and the incompetent started making decisions, approving loans, and spending money – the system shut down. Thank God! The same thing will happen to you and me if we acted like that.

If your balance sheet showed say $100,000 in the red, would you just print more money if you had the power? Now our federal government has the ability to spend all this money and print it at the same time. Again I ask, what kind of people do you want running this thing?

Want another example? Now the feds want to run the insurance industry. Talk about a bureaucratic nightmare! Also, who wrote this 2300 page monstrosity that they had to pass so they could see what is in it? Who is anyone accountable to?

It is not just the federal government. Have you heard about all of these state officials with tremendous salaries and retirement packages? A number of these people have been named. My question is – did they set their own salary and retirement package? Don’t tell me some “board” set all this up. We need names if this foolishness is going to stop.

On the local level, a good scan of the budget is always helpful. The money that is spent on education is beyond belief – especially when you realize the money is going to the governmental school system. To say that it is going toward education might be a real stretch. Check on the people running the educational empire and the agenda of the National Education Association

In closing, I cannot tell you how many things that I and friends have dealt with lately that now require some type of license or permit. In doing some of your normal activities, do not be surprised one day if someone comes up and asks if you have a license or permit to do this activity. Will we read about your reaction in the paper or see your picture on the news?

When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn (Proverbs 29:2).

How to Cut Through the Governmental Gobbledygook

Are you like me? It only takes about 2 minutes of news about our government and my head is spinning from one thing after another: illegal immigration, the debt clock, uncontrolled spending, national healthcare, Fannie & Freddie, trying the terrorists in New York, who will we cap and trade next, Afghanistan & Iraq, the oil spill, closing Gitmo, who will define what a marriage is, Russian spies, I hope Iran does not get mad at us, I wonder what will be stimulated next, should we continue to help the Jews dodge those Hamas rockets, the 2300 page financial reform bill, who we gonna bail out next, how dare those Arizonians, on and on… Are we stuck in the muck? How did we acquire this massive quagmire?

You probably can add some more to the list and perhaps come up with catchy little rhymes that are better than mine. But how do you sift through all of this stuff and make any sense of it – much less try to come up with solutions. As a student and teacher of history, I endeavor to arm myself with facts and information from the founding of our government to the present. I desire to be able to talk intelligently about current issues and be able to defend my point of view. Honestly, it is an almost impossible task – with so many things that are at issue. Remember too that all we really know is what we have been told to some degree. Whatever the bill, whatever the legislation as it is written – some judge may rule against it, it may be stalled in committee, the President may or may not sign it, and perhaps it can be voted on again after they pass the bill the first time so they can see what is in it. Is your head spinning yet?

As I spent some time considering all of this, the simplicity of Biblical principles helped bring a lot of clarity quickly. The scriptures that have been so much a part of my history classes: Righteousness exalteth a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people (Proverbs 14:34). When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn (Proverbs 29:2).

Perhaps bringing these verses a little closer to home will help us realize how true they are: Righteousness will exalt your company, but sin will bring it to ruin. Righteousness will exalt your home, but sin will destroy its testimony. Righteousness will exalt you, but sin will be your disgrace.

Think about your company with a group of people who demonstrate honesty and integrity. They are loyal and they esteem others more highly than themselves. Now the boss is very comfortable letting these people use their talents and ambitions to produce for that company. Consider now the reverse: You have people with talent and ambition (they are smart!) but have no honesty or integrity. They are loyal only to themselves and esteem themselves higher than anyone else. With this scenario you will likely need a good lawyer. On the other side, choose which type of leader you would prefer.

Whether it is the nation or us as individuals, you know that all you need to do is sow a little sin into the mix and brace for trouble. Now I am not saying that standing for righteousness will always be the easiest thing to work out. I and certainly many of you have been in situations where the right thing to do is not as cut and dried as we would like it.

But first of all – does anybody care? Is anyone concerned about demonstrating any righteousness? If we will even take that first step, good results will be forthcoming. Perhaps we should not expect the world to jump on this bandwagon so quickly, but we should certainly expect it from Christians and the church. I personally would like to see more of it.

Yes we still should be able to talk intelligently and with common sense about our government and the situations that we face. Further, I believe if you begin comparing what is happening with the 2 scriptures mentioned above, you will indeed cut through the gobbledygook.

Remember to pray for our leaders each day. Below is an interesting quote from President James Garfield:

Now more than ever before, the people are responsible for the character of the Congress. If that body be ignorant, reckless, and corrupt, it is because the people tolerate ignorance, recklessness, and corruption. If it be intelligent, brave, and pure, it is because the people demand these high qualities to represent them in the national legislature….If the next centennial does not find us a great nation…it will be because those who represent the enterprise, the culture, and the morality of the nation do not aid in controlling the political forces.

How is this for a graduation speech?

Good evening ladies and gentlemen:

A few weeks ago, I was informed by the school administration that I would likely be the valedictorian of our senior class for this school year. I would have the privilege of giving a speech and addressing all who would be in attendance. While I do not consider myself much of a public speaker, I did consider it an honor for me and especially for my parents who have done so much to get me to this point.

At the time, I was also informed that I would need to meet with the principal in order to receive guidelines as to what in particular would not be permitted in my speech. I thought little of it as I realized certainly they did not want me bashing the school, cursing or using inappropriate language, or embarrassing myself, my parents, or the school in any way.

I arrived at the principal’s office at the appointed time on the specified day, making sure I had my notebook and pen at the ready. I certainly was grateful for any help I could get as I knew the school had been dealing with such things for a long time.

The meeting began well enough with information about how long the speech should be, how to stand, enunciate properly, project an image of confidence, etc. Then I was told there was a particular subject and a particular name that I was not to mention. It regarded aspects of faith and since I cannot mention the name, I describe Him as the One mentioned on our country’s coins. I was told this subject was too controversial, it might offend some people, the school might get into legal disputes, public relations hassles, etc.

I have to say at the end of the meeting I was quite upset – not being able to mention this One who is such an important part of my life. But later I thought better of the meeting. Indeed, why end the year in controversy, why stir up a stink, why mention names and subjects that are uncomfortable?

Thus my speech did end up taking an unexpected turn. I had wanted to thank the principal who had been so helpful to me over the years. But now I dare not mention his name. I know there are a number of people who are not happy with him because of some decisions he had to make over this past year. I have heard his name mentioned in a negative manner several times of late.

I am particularly grateful to some members of the school board, but I am sure their names would set some people off. Remember the students that were expelled this year and the action that had to be taken against a coach and a few athletes. I do not want to throw any more fuel on that fire – especially since that protest against the school board has been all over the news, not to mention Facebook. Therefore, I will refrain from mentioning the name of this school.

I want to especially thank my parents, but I am hesitant to mention their names. You may have noticed, I have not even mentioned my name. I am sure I have teed off some of my fellow students this year.

So I have written this speech in the “let’s all get along mode” But I have come to realize that if the name of the One on our money cannot be mentioned, then whose name is worthy to be mentioned? Therefore, think twice before mentioning anyone’s name lest a conflict erupts.

If this is the America that I am about to step into, I have my work cut out for me. I will be talking to the One whose name I cannot mention - if anyone would care to join me later on this evening.

Thank you

Did They Shoot the Albatross?

You probably know that “shooting the albatross” is the main theme in Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel T. Coleridge. Many would describe this particular work as an English student’s worst nightmare.

The symbolism and use of allegory in the poem is way beyond where I am going in this blog. But suffice it to say that a ship’s captain shoots an albatross with a crossbow. The albatross is seen as a symbol of good fortune (or a good omen) by seamen for the voyage ahead. To shoot one was to invite destruction.

The crew could not believe what the captain did. They hang the dead albatross around the captain’s neck in hopes that Providence will understand that the fault was not with the crew, and perhaps any vengeance or punishment for the act will fall upon the captain – the one who shot the albatross.

As you may have guessed, I am wondering if our Congress under Captain Obama indeed shot the albatross when they passed the healthcare bill. Of course many say it is not a done deal because both the House and Senate will each have to vote again. Does this mean that the legislators are cocking the crossbow again to either finish off fair albatross or are they going after his kin folk?

If they did indeed shoot the albatross, I wonder if it will be hung around the necks of our President and members of Congress who voted for it. Do you think they might try to hang it around the necks of the American people – surely not!

Is it a coincidence in regards to the length of both the healthcare bill and our Rime? Generally it is said the bill has about 2074 pages and our Rime has 144 stanzas. If you do not believe they are about the same, try reading those 144 stanzas!

I can almost guarantee that by the time you finish reading each one you will not be happy. Remember though, the Rime generally just tortures English students. The healthcare bill if passed will torture … (you can fill that in).

I understand that there are numerous no-fly zones around important governmental areas in DC. Please email this information to any albatross you may know. Better safe than sorry!

Note the Quote:

"We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion...Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other."
--- John Adams

Let Us Be Thankful

With the Thanksgiving holiday approaching, what better time to remind ourselves to give thanks and appreciation to God and also to others for being a blessing to us. Throughout the Bible, we are constantly reminded to give thanks and be thankful. Even in our prayers, we are told to give thanks.

Philippians 4:6-7

6 Be careful for nothing (do not worry about anything); but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Have you ever known people who are thankful for everything? They are grateful for anything you do for them and readily express it. I know such people and they are a blessing to be around. They are also people who are very willing to do things for you. They understand sowing and reaping.

I have also known people whose vocabulary does not include a “thank you”. They believe all the world (you and I included) owes them. They seem to take it for granted that others are supposed to do for them. Being around them is generally not much fun.

In II Timothy chapter 3, it begins by talking about the last days and the perilous times that will come. In the list, verse 2 particularly; it says that people will be “unthankful”. It is interesting that this would be called “perilous”. If people are not thankful, perhaps they are the opposite – selfish! Think about having a selfish person in your home – that is not a lot of fun and eventually it will have to be confronted. Think of what a country full of selfish people would be like.

How much money or stuff is required in order to give thanks? Absolutely none! If it is one thing that anyone can do, it is the ability to give thanks. But really being thankful is a matter of the heart. When we realize the goodness of God in so many areas, thanksgiving should come out of its abundance in our hearts.

As Christians, the day of Thanksgiving should not be very different than any other day as far as giving thanks. But I do like the food and festivities! I believe it is great to have the holiday to remind our country of God and His goodness, and it should be a great teaching tool to all – especially our young people.

It has been noted that beyond thanks-giving, we should be thanks-living! That raises the standard up. That should certainly be our testimony and a demonstration of Christianity.

As I close, I give thanks, praise, and appreciation to God the Father, God the Son – Jesus Christ, and God the Holy Spirit – three in one the blessed trinity. I thank God also for each one of you for being a part of my life. May you be blessed to be a blessing!

Something Fishy?

A few months ago, the White House supposedly wanted to know if anything fishy was going on regarding the President and his policies – were they being attacked or spoken against. Though I did not respond immediately, eventually I had to send him an email in all good conscience. The fishy stuff in my estimation was in regards to the statements and policies coming out of this administration.

I readily admitted that I did not know everything and certainly did not understand all of the complexities of government, foreign affairs, etc. that our country deals with. But I could find very little I could agree on based upon what is said in public by government officials in Washington. I did not want to list everything and make a 20 page letter that no one would want to read.

Beyond such a list, I see no call for righteousness regarding any of our elected officials. There is no emphasis on integrity, honesty, good character, or accountability. When this is not emphasized (or indeed demanded) the exact opposite starts showing up as many have noticed.

Remember Proverbs 14:34 – Righteousness exalteth a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people. As I discuss often with my history and government students, the nation is the people. Do not just point that verse at the “government”. It is righteousness that will exalt you and me. Likewise, sin will be a reproach to you and me.

This type of thinking needs to be on the minds of those making decisions - especially if they hope to have a chance of dealing wisely with the complexities that come before them. One glaring example is the Health Care Bill that recently passed the House – and what they passed that day (all the negotiation, compromising, and jockeying for position) may have little in common with any final bill passed by the entire Congress. (It may be no coincidence that the monstrosity is called a “bill”)

To help gain a perspective, what would you do with a 1,900+ page contract that was sent to you to sign for yourself and your family? You would want to know the nut job that came up with such lunacy. But there are those that signed right up for it with their vote for all of us in the country. It is entirely too massive for anyone to comprehend, explain, or likely to be paid for. What little I know of the details is really too tedious to write. Certainly we know some reform is needed, but a good bit could be taken care of with government oversight, competition, tort reform, etc. – but not government run.

A point I wanted to make with the President is that almost every decision that comes out of his White House is backwards from the decision I would make. I can understand differences of opinion and disagreement at times. But the decisions I see being made today defy common sense. Perhaps a political face has to be put out for the public and real governmental action is going on behind the scenes – but that might be seen as “two-faced” The PC (politically correct) way of doing things is really starting to look PC (politically corrupt). I can find few who can sensibly argue the opposite.

To just list a few of the areas:

ACORN: How many of our legislators spoke against what was exposed and today it was reported that they are going to sue the government over funds that were cut. I suppose they feel “entitled” to tax money. I can find little negative impact if that organization was abolished.

The UN: Why we continue to foot the biggest part of its expense, have to listen to the nonsense that some of the world leaders spew, and give any legitimacy the United Nothing is beyond me.

Afghanistan: The United States can win any war in Afghanistan. Now nation building - that is another thing entirely. The President should send a message loud and clear to the enemy in that country: We are going to win and you are going to lose, and say it loud enough for the bad guys in Pakistan as well. Make sure you are fighting a war – not doing a political dance.

The Stimulus & Healthcare – these have to be passed right away but the President cannot make a decision on Afghanistan. I am still waiting for the stimulus to stimulate anything someone can demonstrate

Fort Hood Attack – Whether this will be taken seriously as a Muslim terrorist attack remains to be seen.

Closing Gitmo – The prison seemed to work fine. No escapes, no one arguing about where to put them, and we seemed pretty safe. Now they are bringing them to the US for trial. I have little hope for this going well. We have been assured that the trial will serve to show the world the best of US justice system. It is possible that justice will be served, but I believe the world will likely see an American courtroom circus. Time will tell and I hope I am wrong.

Alternative Energy – Has anyone heard anything about that? I have heard not a peep – except we are warned that if we stood up to Iran that oil prices would go through the roof. I suppose we are still over the proverbial barrel. Where are all the politicians and their posturing about our need to get off of foreign oil? It just fizzled out.

I could go on and on but I hope you get the point. Some say we are making progress, but you can progress toward disaster, run off a cliff, or into a brick wall. If you think that is extreme rhetoric, check the extremities on the debt clock! In my writing to the White House, there is a box to check if a response is required – I checked this box. I also asked to President or staff to freely point out any mistakes I make or if I am off base. I have no reply. But I know they are busy – doing all this stuff that is difficult to explain.

Because I work with young people, I am often asked any advice I have for them. Beyond Christian values, good common sense, righteous character, and an awesome work ethic, I usually remind them of the Scripture where Peter is preaching to the multitude. He was speaking about salvation and the coming of the Spirit and then:

Acts 2:40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward (perverse) generation.

Amen!!! Save yourselves from this perverse (indeed heathen) generation. With all I have noted above, this mad dash toward heathenism that I see in this country is what troubles me the most.

To our government: Would all statesmen step forward and all politicians go find a real job!

Dealing with Confrontation

How much confrontation have you dealt with of late? Either you have been confronted or you had to initiate the contact in some way. From my study regarding this day and time, confrontation seems to have a negative connotation. It is the dealing with things that are often unpleasant or when there is a disagreement.

I am amazed at how confrontational people and society have become. I have concluded that there are some, perhaps many, in our land that intentionally stir up controversies and confrontations.

More and more, we are confronted with that which is against the values that we hold dear. It can come through people directly, through policy and things that go on in society, and through television, music, etc. Those behind it do not mind getting in your face – just daring you to say anything against their view.

There are three little words that often come up when confrontation or disagreements arise – and they are not “I love you!” These three words are: “That offends me!” That has become the slogan of the day.

What are you supposed to do if someone says they are offended by what you say or do? Are you going to jump through a bunch of hoops and change what you say, do or believe? Anyone can say they are offended by something but that doesn’t mean they are. The next time someone says they are offended by something, ask them if they could prove it. Could they show something in their daily lives, how they conduct themselves, or what they believe that demonstrates a true conviction concerning why they would be offended? More times than not, I suspect it would be difficult for many to show a lifestyle or conviction that would really justify being offended.

I do not know many who decide what they do based on whether someone is supposedly offended or not. I believe our standard should be what is right or wrong, not whether someone says they are offended. Of course the standards of right and wrong seem to be somewhat cloudy. I do not remember them being too cloudy when I was coming up – it is likely the case with you also. That why it is so important to have clear standards of right and wrong in your life.

The next time someone promotes an idea or addresses something with you that you think is a little off the wall, ask them why they think their idea is right. Certainly they must – they would not want to promote an idea that is wrong. It might surprise you how many people cannot justify what they promote on a basis of right and wrong. If this line of reasoning begins to generate some confrontation, you might get this question: “Who are you to decide right and wrong?” An easy answer: Somebody will!!!

That is the great struggle in our society today and indeed in our households. We see the government seeming to continually encroach in this area – telling us what is right and wrong – what you are going to do and what you are not going to do! With the “diversity of culture” mentality that is running rampant in our society, we also see a great diversity regarding what people think is right and wrong.

Biblical standards of right and wrong used to be pretty prevalent throughout American society – whether people actually realized it or not. These values shaped our character and hopefully caused us to be good and productive citizens. I wonder how many people run their decisions through Biblical standards before they make them? I wonder how many base their decisions on right or wrong?

Getting backing to the “I’m offended” battle, Biblical standards teach us that we should endeavor not to bring offense (also spelled: offence). Certainly we should not be in the business of intentionally going about to offend people. Yet, in standing for the truth and that which is right, Jesus did not back down regardless of anyone’s reaction. We would do well to heed that example.

There is an interesting Biblical passage regarding offense – Matthew 17:24-27. Some people who collected tribute money confronted Peter about whether Jesus would pay tribute. Some have said that this was a type of temple tax or tax by the priests for the work of God. For some reason, Peter answered yes - that is all we know.

When Peter then came to where Jesus was, he stopped Peter and asked him a question. He wanted to know who the kings of the earth received tribute from – their own children or strangers? Peter replied “from strangers”. Jesus said then the children were free (from paying the tax). To me, Jesus was saying he did not owe the temple tax or whatever the religious tax was because his father was indeed the King.

Jesus further said though: “lest we offend them…” – go and do such and such. It is interesting that Jesus tried not to offend people if possible. It is also most interesting that God supernaturally provided the means to satisfy those seeking tribute. That should be a good lesson to us when we are willing to go the extra mile to avoid offense when possible.

Dealing with confrontation is usually not easy or pleasant, but it is often necessary. It is helpful to realize that even when there is a difference of opinion or point of view, it does not have to end a relationship or strain it beyond repair. You can still have a great relationship with someone you may disagree with from time to time. If that is the case, your Christian maturity is definitely developing on a good foundation.

My advice – the next time to confront an issue, be sure you have a good right and wrong foundation and not just because you feel you have been offended. It is going to be interesting to see how this concept plays out.

Christians & the Military ~ Part II

In part I of this blog, we particularly looked at the military in light of units like the Army, Navy, Air Force & Marines. From the scriptures, our main purpose was to show them as ordained of God to do good and put down evil.

At the end of part I, I made mention of other people such as policemen and policewomen. Indeed even security people who are hired can be included in this category. Surely you can see how if they do their job properly, this helps make society, businesses, and indeed life more enjoyable. The better they do their job, the more at ease people can be mentally as well. To use this in a disturbing context today, think about security people in public schools. It is certainly a shame we have come to that place, but the security is there to physically stop anything harmful from happening, but it is also hoped that parents can have a little more peace of mind in sending their children to school. It is hoped that the security people will create an atmosphere that will deter any evil plans.

We can certainly see this applying to our Coast Guard. These folks have never gotten the credit they deserve. Today, they have a very serious and difficult responsibility. From my study, it is said that the Coast Guard is the most difficult branch of service to get into.

Now I’ll really jump into the fire and talk about securing the border and those who serve in that type of security. They too put their lives on the line and particularly today in an area that seems so uncertain, at times. I believe anyone in this day and time who does not believe we should secure our country’s borders is, at best, misguided or, at the worst, a traitor to this country! I am certain that all of our country’s leaders secure their own homes and properties. Do they just let people walk into their homes off the street uninvited? I think you get the point. Their homes will be secure, let there be no doubt. America is our home, as well, yet many say just leave the door open so anyone can come in. How absurd – particularly for someone who is supposed to be leading this country.

Now I am not saying for a minute that securing all of our borders would be easy by any means, but; it should be the policy and principle that we stand on, and it ought to be broadcast worldwide. Every enemy of this country should have in his or her mind that when they cross into our land, their life is on the line. Just like it would be if they walked into your house unannounced!

I would further say this, if you are having difficulty processing all of the problems and situations that our country is going through, ask yourself this question: What would be my position if this was my home or my family? In many instances you will find that things clear up very quickly when you view things from that perspective. It is an interesting study in the Bible to see what God says about watchmen and those whose job it is to watch out for a city or a land.

It is interesting that I am writing about this subject at this time. Last week, the world’s attention was off the coast of Somalia where pirates are attacking vessels, demanding ransom payments, etc. We remember Captain Richard Phillips whose ship was attacked and he allowed himself to become a hostage so that his men could go free. Many will remember that this went on for several days with the arrival of an American Navy vessel. Navy Seals took out the pirates and freed Captain Phillips – interesting enough on the day we call Easter.

There was, and continues to be, much rejoicing over the success of this mission from our standpoint. If we would look at the other side of it for a moment, three men were taken out in a moment. It is a shame that it ended that way, but little choice was given. The pirates set this whole thing in motion and they reaped what they sowed.

A point that this incident makes is this – evil will get in your face, it will come knocking at your door. It is certainly a disturbing trend in our country. I remember when we could leave all our doors unlocked (house and car) – how about you? Do you remember those days? It used to be the bad guys were far away and your code of conduct could be, I will not bother you if you will not bother me.

Those days are long gone with evil, as I said before, being unashamed to get in your face – invading your home through the television, through the internet, newspapers, magazines, music, violence in our schools, random shootings because people are depressed, gangs are coming to a neighborhood near you, and a culture that most of you would never allow in your homes. In many homes of people I know, I dare any 13-year-old to act like a majority of them do on the television programs that are standard issue – I know what your reaction will be, the same thing we got – a big whuppin’. We were taught unashamedly that people (including children) were not to act like a bunch of heathens!

Perhaps we have gotten a little off the subject, but I wanted to show that those in our society that are required to keep order and security are dealing with a number of people who are out of control, that have a confrontational personality, and for the most part never grew up with the values that many of us knew as normal discipline and training.

I have tried to show in this topic that we can demonstrate Biblically that people of God, and God Himself, (along with the hosts of heaven) are not hesitant to confront evil in both word and deed. Yes, there are times when we as individuals are required to turn the other cheek and times to suffer wrong and count it all joy. Yet we are told in the New Testament that we are soldiers in a spiritual battle first and foremost as individuals.

I will conclude by pointing out that from Genesis to Revelation, we see angels as those beings that often bear a sword. One angel was going to kill Balaam in Numbers in Numbers 22:23. In Exodus 33:2 we see an angel going before the children of Israel to clear out the Promised Land before their arrival. In II Kings 19:35 we see where one angel smote 185,000 in one night of an army coming against Israel. In I Chronicles 21:16 David sees an angel with a sword stretched over Jerusalem. We see angels fighting the hosts of darkness – the book of Daniel has a good example. In my first blog I mentioned the incident in the book of Acts where an angel smote Herod. The book of Revelation is full of angels in warfare. I would also mention that in Matthew 26:53, Jesus said that God would dispatch 12 legions of angels if He only asked for them. We can be assured that those angels would not be coming just to play harps.

Let us pray for the grace and wisdom to respond properly and in the right way to all of the difficult situations ahead of us.

Christians & the Military ~ Part I

This topic is one that could indeed be a lightning rod. In just the little study I have done, I believe a book could be written on it from the Biblical standpoint. Thus, I will likely not settle a great deal of conflict (no pun intended) with this little treatise.

While I personally know little of violent arguments that have come out of this question, many Pastors and counselors have spent hours with young people who have wrestled with the question as they considered their own military service. Some have fled the draft, others could not function on the field, and some have just tried to hold on with fear and trembling when confronted with the reality of actually being in a battle.

One of the first places to start is to realize that there is the Christian life of the individual (and how to settle conflicts that arise between individuals), and there is also the responsibility of individuals (either alone or as some organized unit) to protect people and property. Here is a good place to remember that we live in a fallen world, where the ways of God are generally not adhered to, and that which is evil or wrong must be confronted.

In the Bible we see God dealing with this before man ever did. There was a rebellion in the ranks of God’s creation – when true freedom is given, the chance of that is always taken. In a nutshell, all those involved in the attempted overthrow of God were stripped of all heavenly privileges, citizenship, and essentially came to be what is called satan and the forces of darkness. Countless books have already been written on the details of that, the demonic realm, what they do now, their final end, etc. Indeed there is a great deal in the New Testament about it. That is not our discussion at this time. The main point I want to emphasize is that God dealt with it in no uncertain terms: He did not offer a cease fire, a state of détente, or give an invitation to talk it over – they were all thrown out.

In the Bible, it is not long after the fall of man that we see the results. At first, we see it among or between individuals – such as when Cain killed Abel. You will recall that there is a great deal in the law of Moses about how to treat your fellow man – what to do when someone stole something, accusations of lying, when someone was killed, sexual misconduct, dispute over property boundaries, just weights and balances, and the list goes on. This was essentially between people within Israel – yet someone had to be responsible for carrying out judgment, punishment, etc. When groups began to form to the place where we are now talking about nations, we are now dealing with the same thing on a much larger scale. Now we are ready to consider a nation having an army.

From a Biblical standpoint, there is no better place to start than to look at the nation of Israel. When the people of Israel were in Egypt, they had no real government of their own. They had no army either, and God did the fighting for them that eventually led them out of Egypt.

It is estimated that Israel was between 1-3 million when they came out of Egypt. It was not long that we see things being put in place so they could function as a nation – rules and regulations, where each tribe would camp, how to deal with problems, etc.

Soon we see an army under the general command of Moses and the specific command of Joshua in Exodus 17:8-16. The Bible says that Amalek came and fought with Israel. It is interesting that at this time when Israel is under the leadership of the prophet Moses (there was no “king” in Israel yet), there seems to be no hesitancy in Israel joining the fight. In Exodus 17: 14, God instructs Moses: “Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.”

In Leviticus 26:7-8 we see, “And ye shall chase your enemies, and they shall fall before you by the sword. And five of you shall chase an hundred, and an hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight: and your enemies shall fall before you by the sword.”

In Numbers chapter 1, the number mentioned specifically is in regards to those who could go to war.

In Numbers 26, we see the same type of numbering again with a total given of 601,730 given in verse 51. If you read through the book of Numbers, you will see that they were called armies, they were to go out in battle and they were ranked.

From Moses through the prophet Samuel, the nation of Israel was governed in like manner – prophets as God’s representatives. Samuel ruled over Israel particularly when they were fighting the Philistines.

During the time of Samuel, the people of Israel began to ask for a king so they could be like other nations. Samuel said it would not be good to have a king like other nations, and God warned them that it would eventually destroy them. Nevertheless, the people insisted on a king and God gave them their first king – Saul. Note: I Samuel 8:6-7: But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the LORD.
And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.

From this point on, it appears that the king would be in charge of the army. He would be commander-in-chief. However, the king often asked the prophet and looked to God for specific instructions about when to go to war, who to fight, etc. It is also interesting in I Samuel 15 when Saul refused to kill the enemy King Agag, Samuel did it in no uncertain terms.

As mentioned earlier, a book could be written starting here on the Biblical cause for war, armies, etc. However, we also see that from the time of Saul on, the leadership in Israel was not in God’s perfect will. Even with all of the good things that God says about David and Solomon, and all the ways they were blessed; the whole system was not what God wanted and these kings would eventually lead to Israel’s downfall. Therefore, we do not see God’s perfect will in the nation of Israel from this time on in so many ways.

Likewise when we get into the New Testament, we see a lot about how to act as an individual Christian – Jesus specifically taught a great deal about this. The epistles also contain a lot on this theme and how the church should function. But also included in the New Testament are instructions regarding the “powers” and those in authority.

I particularly mention again the passage from Romans chapter 13. This scripture is particularly applicable to our study because it addresses our subject under discussion, it flows right with the principles of the Old Testament and the nation of Israel, and it agrees with the words that Peter wrote in his epistles.

If you will read Romans 13:1-7, even though it is a relatively short passage, it contains a copious amount of info and principles on this subject. Again, just a few points here:

First, it states that the principle of people being in power over others is something that is God-ordained. We know from the scripture that God would not ordain that which is bad or wrong. Therefore, the principle and design is good. All in authority should understand this before they ever serve in a public office.

Second, we should not resist that power, for in doing so, we are resisting God. I know this can be very difficult in these days and times. However, it should be our goal and desire to show both God and our government that we are trying to be obedient and flow with the program in place.

Third, these rulers are to be a terror to evil works, and those doing evil works should be afraid of these rulers. These rulers are also told to praise those who do that which is good. The Bible has much to say about people knowing the difference between good and evil. Every ruler should take heed in this regard.

Fourth, these rulers are to be ministers of God for us (God gave them for our benefit). They are ministers of God – a revenger who bears the sword for God to execute wrath on evildoers. That ought to get some people’s attention, and it would if those in authority would understand what God expects of them.

Fifth, we must not be evildoers for we know wrath may come our way and also because our conscience should tell us we are not pleasing God. Many of us can perhaps remember as a young person of times when we disobeyed our parents. Do you remember how loud and strong that conscience was on the inside that would make us feel so miserable?

Finally, we are to pay tribute for such a service. I would gladly pay for such a service if it would work like God wanted. Wouldn’t you – if you are the ones out there doing good – these ministers of God are out there to keep evil from bothering you.

All this applies to those in the military – these are the ones on the front lines against evil. I am thankful that there are some ministers preaching some of these things directly to our troops – and indeed all who have decided to serve. These men and women should know they are ministers of God with a weapon (that is a new thought to many). Therefore, they certainly should not be in any type of junk or trashy outfit – they should be first-class representatives of God in the earth. Any organization like that should literally scare the hell out of any terrorist.

Hey! – Policemen and women. You fall in the same category and do the same thing in a different aspect of society. Do you remember when policemen were those of utmost respect and integrity? Like the military, a relatively few bad incidents and people have caused a lot of problems. The police force and those guarding our country would benefit greatly from some sound Biblical teaching on these types of positions of authority.

Part II in a couple of weeks

The Elections - Part II

Remembering that Part I of the elections blog revolved around our elected officials, it is only fair and proper that we now address ourselves – the voters. It is quite interesting that one of the characteristics and indeed definitions of a free society is one in which the people have the right to choose their leaders/officials and vote in regards to many issues.

We have all heard the stories and seen the interviews of people who have come out of oppressive regimes and countries with dictators. They rejoice in the freedom to vote, and many have tears in their eyes when they think of their liberty in the USA. Regardless of your view on the war in Iraq, seeing the people enjoying the right to vote should certainly inspire a warm feeling of accomplishment. Many of these new voters shake their heads in disbelief on how unconcerned many in our country are regarding the right to vote.

Certainly we know the many excuses we can come up with for not voting. Of course the all time favorite is: It is just one vote – what does that matter anyway and what difference would it make? We have probably all thought that at some point in our lives – especially if we have gotten frustrated with some of the results. For starters though (just to get your blood going), picture the scene of someone coming to your home and letting you know (verbally and in writing) that you will no longer be allowed to vote. Perhaps it is because you have been so apathetic in the past, the whole process is just too much trouble, or this new law was just passed – and what difference would your one vote make anyway? I can imagine your reaction – you didn’t punch that guy did you or turn your dog on him? In some way, I believe you will let the appropriate people know that you have the right to vote and you intend to prove it.

Remember, no one that we vote for is perfect; they will all make mistakes just like we would if we held an office. To some degree, I feel like the person who said: I vote for the candidate who will do the least damage to the country, the state, or the county. That may be a little cynical, but if the list of choices dictates, it may be the way to go in some elections.

But back to our argument that it is only one vote that has little consequence. Let us first analyze that from a Biblical point of view. From this view, we must conclude that a vote is more that just a flip of a switch, or tapping a panel that eventually will be counted as one vote. The Bible teaches us that everything we do is just like a seed – and our vote is no different.

How many of us have prayed to God about our elections or our elected officials? If I was one who did not vote (and essentially did nothing); I certainly would not want God to call me on it.
What would I think if God responded: I am going to do nothing just like you did – Mr. Lazy! Wow - I have indeed reaped what I have sown.

In our society, we can see that it has not taken long for the “I see no need in voting” mentality to bear fruit. A father just decides not to vote. His wife and children see that and decide to do the same. The people they associate with begin to do the same, and it begins to spread indeed like seeds blowing in the wind. Thus we see the miserable percentage of voters in our land.

Turn that around the other way and let us all not only sow our seed, but be very careful about the seed we sow. I Corinthians 3:9 says we are laborers together with God. Have you been doing your part lately? You folks that are parents - which of these do you like to see in your child who is about 17 years old:

This child (he or she) is diligent. He is a go-getter yet careful about what he does. He is always looking to do something for you and the household. He sometimes makes a mistake, but he is doing the best he can and would never want to bring a reproach on the family name. He is looking at life the same way, as he knows the time will come when he will leave the household and have a family on his own.

This child (he or she) has little motivation other than to say: Let mom and dad take care of it – after all this is your house and he did not ask to be born. He has his own life that is completely separate from yours. He only hangs out with his crowd, has no clue what he is going to do in life, “his room” (in the afore mentioned “your house”) is waiting for mom or dad to clean it, yet he has the best set of headphones available so the sound of mom’s vacuum wont drown out the latest hip-hop tune that is often heard throbbin’ the walls.

All things being equal and if we see little change, we know #1 is sowing some good seed with some good results likely, while #2 is sowing seeds, as well, and the harvest will likely produce a professional bum. This is certainly a generalization (perhaps stretched somewhat), but the principles used are sound.

Now, if you have difficulty grasping the Biblical principle or think this is a stretch of the scriptures, let us look at it from a purely natural perspective.

Rather than saying everything we say and do is a seed, we could contend that everything we say or do produces or extends influence in the lives of others. Each time our lives come in contact with others, we impact them with some level of influence.

Let’s take our issue of voting again. If the tracking people see the majority of the Christian people are not voting, they will note that the Christian people are not having any voting influence on the people who are being elected. What they might deduce is that the non-voting Christian may be influencing the Christian who is voting. Which will have the most influence in your life?

Now let’s turn this around. Suppose the person you vote for is elected. Consider the influence this one official will have in that office (depending on the position they hold). This person will make decisions, he will hire, bring in, and appoint others in positions, and he will speak before untold numbers and groups – he has a public platform for his words and actions. Yes, because of a vote, this person will have influence that has increased exponentially over yours (just this one person). Further, each person in his sphere of influence will go out and do the same thing. This paints a vivid picture of why our country looks like it does today.

So whether you wish to call it sowing seed or extending influence, people are constantly doing it. Remember from the Bible, Jesus talked about wheat and tares. Both come from seeds. Remember our thoughts regarding influence, each of our teenagers above were influenced by a particular set of values. We certainly know that there is good influence and bad influence – remember in school, the good crowd and the bad crowd.

So I hope at least this blog will cause you to look at voting in a little different light – especially if you were one of those who looked at “vote” as another 4-letter word.

A special word for us who claim to be Christians: If we believe God will hold elected leaders accountable, we should also believe He will hold us accountable for the way we vote.

Warning: You can claim the Name of Christ with your lips and yet vote like a heathen – have you seen any of that lately? Thus, I would pray that at least we would show God that we care about how we vote and are thankful for the right to do it.

The Elections - Part I

The Elections – Part I

Since the inauguration and the major elections are now over, I might as well start here with what I consider a serious observation of our people in office. Certainly a great deal cannot be covered in one blog, but I have noted something in particular about many of our elected officials: There is no indication that many believe they will answer to God for the way they conduct the office and the duties they are elected to. Have you ever heard any of them say that they knew their office was a solemn or sacred responsibility and that they knew they were accountable to God for it? For that matter, have you had any say they were accountable to anyone?

From Genesis to Revelation, God has always called people to account – especially those in leadership, from Moses, to Saul, to David, to Solomon, all the kings of Israel, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, Belshazzar of the Chaldeans, and King Herod of Acts chapter 12. Though many of these had successful reigns, all had first-hand experience with the standards that God requires of leaders. Remember, God called those to account who just received a few talents.

All of these kings mentioned are certainly worthy of study in light of this subject, but the story of King Herod is very much worthy of note (read the whole chapter). Herod was a Jew whose reign and character were going downhill in a hurry. Finally he crossed the line when he entertained the thought and received the adulation that he was a “god”. His rule was abruptly ended. Though God presents Himself as abounding in love and mercy, throughout the scriptures we see evidence that He will only put up with so much for so long. If you read the whole chapter, you have to come to the conclusion: that with Herod’s death, mercy was being shown to the church. It is interesting to think about why this happened particularly with Herod. Many conclusions can likely be drawn, but it is interesting that Herod was coming against the leaders of the church, and it is stated that the church was praying without ceasing.

It can be noted that we function in much the same way. It is our desire to show mercy and compassion, but don’t we have standards? We don’t let just anything go in our households – and you might very well hurt someone who is trying to hurt someone in your family. If any of you run a business, you don’t let just anything go – you will try to work with people and help them fit in and do a good job, but sometimes a person needs to be fired! In our little “kingdoms” where we are responsible, we often do not hesitate to take action when needed. We will only put up with so much for so long. It is interesting that if you study the Bible, you will see God’s standard’s across the board for leadership – in the nation of Israel, in business, in the family, in the church, and in government.

Many of our leaders do not mind calling down others. They do not mind getting in the face of anyone who would challenge them. They would do well to remember that the God who raised them up to such a level of leadership, can take them down just as easily. Any of the aforementioned leaders could advise them on these matters.