tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85538347091208400572024-03-05T23:24:24.629-08:00Biblical Reformation"...be reformed by me by these things..." Leviticus 26:23Amos Krahnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07959827764074554548noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8553834709120840057.post-45115134260554415662017-08-22T20:18:00.002-07:002017-08-23T12:06:44.509-07:00Theology and Bible Translations <div style="color: #454545; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: black;">While much has been written about Bible versions it is often very subjective. Some defend using only the King James Version but use arguments which would be useless for a person who doesn't read English while others would promote some new version which will be out of print in a decade. In this essay I'll attempt to explain some theological truths about Bible translation which could be helpful in any language and will not become obsolete. </span></span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; line-height: normal;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A foundational doctrine of Christianity is verbal plenary inspiration. In laymen's terminology, that means we believe by faith that God gave each individual word of scripture and did not merely give the general ideas to men. This is taught in the second epistle of Peter which says, Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. And Jesus said, For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.</span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; line-height: normal;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If one believes God breathed each word of the Bible then it is logical to believe he preserved the individual words for us. If God saw it important to give each word, and the scriptures are for our learning, then God must have preserved each word for us. The second letter to Timothy states, All scripture is given by inspiration of God. This is both inclusive of every word of scripture but is in a present tense which indicates that the Bible is still the Book God breathed and not just a similar work after hundreds of times being copied. </span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; line-height: normal;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Before the scriptures can be translated into English, Chinese, or any other language the translator must first have a copy in the original languages. A question then arises over which Greek text the translator will work from. This question can be answered correctly from a theologically sound worldview. </span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; line-height: normal;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If the words of scripture have been preserved, the translator merely needs to collect good present hand copies of each portion of scripture and use this compilation to translate from. This is the theological basis for the received text from whence Luther's German Bible and the Geneva and King James English translations come from. </span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; line-height: normal;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If God didn't breath each word of the Bible or preserve them, then it is just like any other old work. We can never be sure it's just like the original and it must be revised according to the oldest documents we can find, even if these are evidently sloppy copies. This is the heretical basis for Westcott and Hort's Greek text. Modern translations are often made from this critical text, so even if the translator does excellent work his version will have numerous flaws because of using a bad copy of the original. </span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; line-height: normal;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A second way in which sound theology can guide a translator and those choosing a translation is by determining the method of translation which should be used. Since God inspired the <i>words</i> of the Holy Writ the translator must translate<i> word </i>for <i>word</i>. Of course some grammar must also be translated or we get an incomplete translation with words in our common tongue but grammar in Greek or Hebrew. </span></div>
<div style="color: #454545; line-height: normal; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="background-color: black;"><br /></span>
<div style="color: #454545; line-height: normal;">
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Unfortunately many modern translations, like the New International Version, do not translate word for word. Dynamic equivalency or paraphrase methods make sense if you wrongly believe that God didn't give and preserve each word. But when we choose a version in our common tongue in light of good doctrine we must look for a word for word translation of the preserved text. </span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8553834709120840057.post-62010100143551019562014-06-19T20:51:00.000-07:002014-06-19T20:51:18.947-07:00Education Emphasis<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px;">
We worship education! Our nation spends about three-quarters of a <b>trillion</b> dollars on schooling each year while we only have less than a third of a <b>billion </b>people in our country. That means we average spending more than $2,000 dollars each on schooling year in and year out; yet a fifth of high school graduates are not functionally literate! </div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px;">
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>A while back I looked up in the Bible the words teach and taught because I wanted to know what subjects we were to teach and how they were to be taught. I would recommend others who want to know more of God's plan for teaching do their own similar search. What you will find is that the scriptures do not command us to diligently teach grammar or mathematics but rather God's word. Some of the specific terms used to refer to the matter to be taught are: ordinances, laws, commandments, statutes, judgements, the fear of the LORD, the way we should go, wisdom, understanding, and other similar things. One obvious thing is that the Bible has a completely different emphasis for the content of teaching than that which is required by the government and society.</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px;">
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Because of this significant difference, when we make schooling too important we are in danger of changing our priorities from those which God has given to those which come from the world. An example of this is when we require children to do their schoolwork but we leave their Bible reading or study up to their own personal desires. I'm thankful that my parents allowed me to spend time memorizing the Bible even if it meant I was more relaxed in how I studied my physics. </div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px;">
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>We also tend to prioritize schooling over real research of important things that are extracurricular. In other words, we make the learning of common core subjects more significant than pursuing wisdom and understanding. </div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px;">
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I could go on and write about how we make school more important than work or family relationships but for now I will wrap up. The conclusion is that we need to have different priorities than the world. We all have a tendency as humans to want to be like everyone else around but in the areas of schooling, the world is mistaken. We need to look to the Bible to see what God's will for us is in teaching children. We need to focus on teaching the things which God commands, how He commands to teach them and fit other things in as they relate to what God does command but give them secondary importance.</div>
<br />
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px; min-height: 22px;">
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8553834709120840057.post-38333364060251589232013-04-19T22:01:00.000-07:002013-04-19T22:01:42.790-07:00All Men Are Created Equal In schools today, students are graded like produce. If you take tests well you may be grade A and if not maybe grade C. The IRS will categorize into different graduated levels based on your income. In India, people are sometimes viewed in different castes, and even in the west peoples lives are thought of as being more or less valuable based upon their abilities, achievements or backgrounds. But the fact is that God is not a respecter of persons. this means that God does not view one person as being more important than another based on his position. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqtUZ5WYj5brOqZVFnilT5OwaQxLRKnYRZxNS9UCxuJtd36_UKTdVmYXLCTT8XWalZS5QxTf1JoT4L_MRirl2PgHa167B4vgnVgwfzwwcWhb9YRt8u6tFuSVvz-PNAb8jJzjYimUvJFu5B/s1600/produce.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqtUZ5WYj5brOqZVFnilT5OwaQxLRKnYRZxNS9UCxuJtd36_UKTdVmYXLCTT8XWalZS5QxTf1JoT4L_MRirl2PgHa167B4vgnVgwfzwwcWhb9YRt8u6tFuSVvz-PNAb8jJzjYimUvJFu5B/s320/produce.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
This truth has application for how we view others. People are prone to be intimidated in the presence of a dignitary. A person might be intimidated in the presence of someone like Bill Gates, because he has been involved in so much and made so much money. But, we should not be intimated by people of position in science or law or government or whatever else, because all men are created equal. And for this reason we should also not idolize a personality in Christendom or someone of wealth lest we become respecters of persons. Neither should we despise the weak or poor. An elderly person who is close to the end of life may not have the same capabilities as one who is young but he is just as important and so is the child who has not been born. Some think that abortion may be okay to save the life of the mother, but when considering difficult situations we must remember that each person created in the image of God is equally important.<div>
This should also affect the way we see ourselves. Gideon and Saul seemed afraid to do what God desired for them because they thought that they were to low. We can look at people of God in history or the Bible and think that they were somehow higher than us and we can't expect or do things like them but God has made us just as He did them and He will be just as faithful to us and will use us if we obey Him. On the other hand we need to recognize that no matter who we think we are or what we have done we are not better or more important than anyone else.</div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8553834709120840057.post-4479013191458268162013-01-15T21:12:00.000-08:002013-01-15T21:12:47.275-08:00Dealing with Bad Government - Part I When the founding fathers were working out our constitution they had many specific and sophisticated ideas about how government should be run. They understood some of the basic Biblical ideas about government but they also saw that the scriptures had great depths of wisdom for details of how each area of the state should run. <br />
We will never be in the same position that they were but there is just as much wisdom available to us for the situations that we face with our government and for each area in life if we will ask God for it and seek the scriptures. I do not know all the things that we will face in the days to come, but I believe it would be prudent for us to seek wisdom about the proper course of action if we were to face the outlawing of firearms, the limitation of family size or some other outrage before we are actually in the undesirable position. Daniel and his three friends purposed in their hearts that they would not defile themselves and then they were ready to deal with the situation they faced.<br />
One idea to consider is that we should not be surprised if a bad government makes illegal something that we should do. We see in Babylon that prayer to God was prohibited and I think the example of Daniel can be very instructive in what we ought to do if we face some similar thing. Daniel could have stopped praying except to the king or he could have hid or perhaps even tell the king, "I'm not going to listen to your new law." What he did was to not change what he did whatsoever! If a preacher were going through Genesis teaching on topics that came up and the state said, "No more talking against Sodomy," he should not let that prohibit him from speaking about what he would have otherwise. If he were in the habit of putting his sermons on the internet he should not keep one on Sodom and Gomorrah off because it would be to volatile but rather deal with it as normal. We see in the case of Daniel that God honored his steadfastness and changed the decree of this empire and He could do the same for us but even if He did not we should still do what's right. Daniel did have to go to the lions before there was a change and we may have to face similar things even if God does change a decree. I'm grateful that there were people who were willing to go to jail for homeschooling so I could be homeschooled and before that people were willing to die so I could have the Bible and many other such things. We may not be called to face such things but we should know what we believe it is our duty to do no matter what and be prepared to know how to respond to difficulty.<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8553834709120840057.post-12010914781221509742012-11-09T17:00:00.003-08:002012-11-09T17:03:29.983-08:00R.C. on D.C.There's a man who rules this country,<br />
and we have trillion dollar debts.<br />
There's a man who rules this country,<br />
and socialized medicine is not just in our rear-view mirror, it's tail-gaiting us.<br />
There's a man who rules this country,<br />
and there's blood in our streets up to our knees.<br />
Beloved, there's a man who rules this country,<br />
and He wasn't even born in this country......He was born in Bethlehem.<br />
As dark as these days may be,<br />
the Lord Jesus Christ reigns today.<br />
Dr. R.C. Sproul Jr., July 2010Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8553834709120840057.post-43947130763642056622012-08-08T22:13:00.001-07:002012-08-08T22:13:37.258-07:00How I Examine a Film<span lang="EN">
When I'm examining a movie the first thing that I consider is whether or not it recognizes that the LORD is and that He is God. I'm not interested in buying and having my children watch the <i>Beverly Hillbillies</i>. I do not mean to pick on this show. I've only seen one or two and that a few years ago they may be better or worse than I know. I enjoyed them but I do not know of them ever reading or quoting the Bible, praying or attending church. So even if there were nothing else questionable I'd just not want them because if one is not for Christ he is against Christ.<br />
<br />
If a movie accepts that the LORD is God then I consider if there are bad things in it which make it unacceptable to watch. If a picture is a horror film it is not acceptable even if it's somewhat Christian! There are some things which are a shame to speak about and how much more to portray in a film. It should be noted though that by sticking with movies that recognize God as God, most films with things that should not be viewed will be eliminated.<br />
<br />
Though I'd reject many films because of the sin portrayed in them, most stories will have some bad antagonist in them and this is okay, for the Bible is full of stories of men's sins. But when bad things are portrayed I have two questions about how they are portrayed. First is it dealt with discreetly and tastefully? Second are things that are bad clearly recognized as bad and those that are good as good?<br />
<br />
It seems to me that even if some sins are portrayed with some discretion and made to be bad a young child can still be disturbed because of not understanding the whole matter and so I think that I, as a father, need to be sure that I interpret what my children see for them so they know what's going on. And there may even be some very good movies which it would perhaps be wise of me to wait to let my children see till some older age. <br />
<br />
I do think that the quality of cinematography, acting, music, and other aspects of a film are important. It is good to have an appreciation for good work, but I want to be certain that I do not care more about the technical aspects of a particular picture, than about the more important aspects. <br />
<br />
Each family may perhaps have differing standards and varying ways of evaluating movies. This is altogether fitting and good, for each Christian is at a different place in sanctification and may have more or less issue with certain things. All Christians, however, should be conscious and intentional about what they watch and try to see that Christ would be happy with their films. We must avoid bad movies, but on the other hand I think we should have good movies in our homes. Films can communicate quite powerfully and a good sermon or documentary that is done well can greatly benefit a family. Some dramas are also very good and can help or encourage us like some of the Christiano or Sherwood films.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8553834709120840057.post-70664411762040456352012-07-24T21:27:00.000-07:002012-07-25T19:20:20.283-07:00What About Pictures? God does not change and what is good and evil does not change. Throughout history many groups of people have come and gone but all men are sinners and generally face the same issues just in different manifestations. For example, the Romans had violent games in the <span style="background-color: white;">Colosseum</span> for entertainment. We do not have that today, but many people are entertained by violent games on the computer. <br />
Movies are something that most people today watch. I do not know of any time in history before now when people had movies. And yet, at different times in history people have had theaters (Acts 19:31), plays, pictures, and music. Some have called a movie a "picture." While all of the issues that relate to movies have probably been dealt with before, films seem to be more complicated because they bring together so many different issues. There are pictures, words, music, and a story line; but they are also related to television, theaters, and a general captivation with entertainment. Because they are so popular today everyone has to deal with them in one way or another. Some in the world seem to be fine with anyone viewing any amount of any movies, but the Christians I know generally have some standards for what movies they will watch and often how much time they will spend watching movies. Some think we should watch no videos in our own homes, but while I'm not going to discuss it now, I believe the medium of film is very legitimate to use. People can watch too much and become like one who is sitting back and watching everything, but never doing anything, but I'm not going to discuss that aspect now either. In this post I'd like to share some thoughts on evaluating the content of movies.<br />
I've noticed that different Christian families have different things that are key in their evaluation of movies. Some are especially keen about violence and others about clothing. One thing people are often careful about is bad language. Each of these things is a moral issue. I believe it is very important to properly evaluate morals in a film, but there is something more important than morals. That is whether the movie is Christian or humanistic. If a movie has no swearing and is somewhat moral, but completely leaves God out as if He does not exist, it is a humanistic film. Some films treat life as if God exists and the Bible is His word. Of course we would think of the modern Christian films like <em>Time Changer</em> or <em>Courageous</em>, but there are also many other movies that do this, such as <em>Sergeant York</em> and some Roy Rogers. But many films on the market acknowledge another god. An example could be <em>Star Wars</em> which recognizes a "force" that is similar to Buddhism. Some films acknowledge the state as god, but many just make selfish humans to be god. The theology of a movie is more important than it's morality, because morality is determined by God. If we do not the LORD as God we have no basis to maintain any morality. Numbers 33:52 says, "Then ye shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you, and destroy all their <u>pictures</u>, and destroy all their molten images, and quite pluck down all their high places." (emphasis added) Just as the children of Israel were not to tolerate the pictures of the heathen, we should not tolerate motion pictures that are heathen. This includes <em>Harry Potter</em>, but also many other films that we may think are innocent. <br />
For sake of time I'm not going to discuss anything further in this post. Perhaps I shall have more to say another time. <br />
<em>Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Philippians 4:8</em>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8553834709120840057.post-31610420841530002542012-03-01T21:35:00.002-08:002012-03-01T21:35:52.142-08:00The Great Comission to Nations<em> Matthew 28:19-20 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. </em><br />
<em> </em>God has commanded us to preach the Gospel to every creature but He has also told us to disciple nations. There are three things that I would like to point out that we can conclude from the command to teach all nations.<br />
First, Christianity transcends nations. While countries come and go the church remains. One hymn puts it this way:<br />
Crowns and thrones may perish, kingdoms rise and wane,<br />
But the Church of Jesus constant will remian,<br />
Gates of hell can never 'gainst that Church prevail;<br />
We have Christ's own promise, and that cannot fail.<br />
Second, God sees people as being parts nations. Many in the world want to minimize national patriotism and instead replace it with alliegence to the earth. There are also some in the Church who do not want to think much of their national citizenship. While we are subjects of Christ's Kingdom, we still ought to love and be loyal to our own nation just as we should love our earthly family even though we are part of God's family which is far more important. God is the one who established governments and divided mankind into nations at the tower of Babel.<br />
Third, the preching of the gospel should have an effect on a nation as a whole. All the people in any earthly nation will probably never be saved but the commands of Christ and God's power will affect an entire nation when the great commission is carried out. The Bible will change the culture of any people who are taught it. The government of a nation will also be affected. A nation cannot follow both God's law and Sharia law.<br />
While nations are to be taught according to the great commission, we who are Christians are the one's who must do the teaching out of obedience to God.<br />
<br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8553834709120840057.post-75361981345298352422011-07-19T22:19:00.000-07:002011-07-19T22:19:06.403-07:00Of Evolutions, Kinds, and Families <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Fw9PJ9Yp8MIS8Jav5LxTbqicV9pBWDVajjzv98Qa8LJ4tjqKEHnGIsOzMeKaecES_qDohD_sRAVSRcfLxtDmgqwSM6nFxzsDprf_LH0H0R4iArd7qqmCEetvfEy3IWvybDTAeVElj8sZ/s1600/Bible+Animals+BBL1075-880a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Fw9PJ9Yp8MIS8Jav5LxTbqicV9pBWDVajjzv98Qa8LJ4tjqKEHnGIsOzMeKaecES_qDohD_sRAVSRcfLxtDmgqwSM6nFxzsDprf_LH0H0R4iArd7qqmCEetvfEy3IWvybDTAeVElj8sZ/s320/Bible+Animals+BBL1075-880a.jpg" t$="true" width="228px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.solvefamilyproblems.com/">www.solvefamilyproblems.com</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table> <div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> According to Richard Dawkins, once upon a time aliens visited a planet we call earth and the seed of life and it has since evolved into numerous kinds of plants and animals. But, we do not believe in evolution, our God is not a little green man! He is the God of the Bible, who created the earth about six thousand years ago and has told us about it in His Word. </div> Genesis 1 tells us about God making the various kinds of plants and making them to reproduce after their kind. It further goes on to describe God making all the animals on days 5 and 6 and causing them to reproduce after <em>their</em> kind. We see this clearly demonstrated in farming. There are numerous varieties of wheat and corn, yet they never evolve into another kind of plant. Also, among cows there are many breeds and some look quite different than others; but they are all cows. <div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> Intelligent evolutionists make accurate observations of animals varying and illogically conclude that animals can evolve into new kinds of animals though this is never observed. As Christians, we also can see animals vary but believe that they must reproduce after their kind as God said in Genesis 1. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> In Leviticus 19 God forbade the children of Israel breeding their cattle with a different kind. There is specific application here for scientists and those working with plants and animals. There is also a general principle in the Bible that while life can vary a great degree we ought not to change life into something that is completely different from what God created it to be. Our churches, governments, and families should follow God's original plan for them.</div> The world endeavors to reinvent marriage into something completely different than what God created. There can be great variety in marriages with different personalities, ages, circumstances, and other things yet we cannot define it differently than God does! When Jesus was questioned about divorce He went back to creation indicating that man ought not to change what God has established. When Paul was discussing the roles of men and women in church he went back to creation presupposing and confirming that we should not change the order God set up. <div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8553834709120840057.post-16136439171382207072011-01-24T21:14:00.000-08:002011-07-19T22:20:13.784-07:00Fruitfulness The first command in the Bible, in order of importance, is, "Thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul, and with all thy strength." The first command in the Bible that you will find if you start reading at the beginning is, "Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth..." Since this is one of the very first things God told man it must be pretty important.<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg62npsfci3-w9qbe4Tx-Qm30iAfoZtI7fo2dbrYzBEjDPEUKYQM_Pw9sv2hCbUbcFUpvZQSy6EmfteoTHI9cFl0IdVMhVQsZ2BffcKlIeWoBNxq2jVJgafyDKjSqU0ye-gQiqeH6sEIr8R/s1600/Baby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg62npsfci3-w9qbe4Tx-Qm30iAfoZtI7fo2dbrYzBEjDPEUKYQM_Pw9sv2hCbUbcFUpvZQSy6EmfteoTHI9cFl0IdVMhVQsZ2BffcKlIeWoBNxq2jVJgafyDKjSqU0ye-gQiqeH6sEIr8R/s320/Baby.jpg" width="320px" /></a> It is essentially saying, "have children, have children, have children..." However, as I thought about this it occurred to me that being fruitful refers directly to having one's own children, multiplying is what happens when one's children each are fruitful and replenishing the earth is what happens when this happens for generations. God created mankind to have dominion over the earth but obviously Adam could not do this by himself so God gave him a helper and told him to have children. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> This means that couples ought to desire to have children and actively do their duty. When a couple decides to use any form of birth control to prevent or space children, whether they realize it or not, they are deciding to not obey this command, at least for a time. How many children should one have? <u>All</u> the children that God will give by right means! One should not disobey one of God's principles to have children like Abraham did. Some couples will be barren and some may only have one, but if God gives a couple twenty, that would be great!</div> One of the implications of this command is that it is normative for people to get married. Furthermore, if God enables one to be prepared and able, it is better to marry young so there can be more years to have children. Thomas Malthus (one of the bad philosophers from the 1800's) said that famines, disease, and war were good for mankind because they kept our numbers low. He also taught that couples should marry older so they would have less children. In contrast to this, the Bible speaks of the wife of one's youth and Psalm 127 speaks of 'children of the youth.'<br />
Just as God blessed man telling him to be fruitful God wants all to come to repentance and become sons of God. God told the apostles to preach the gospel to every creature. They could not tell all the world by themselves but as those they taught teach others the Church can multiply also. <br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">P.S. To whom it may concern: while I enjoy blogging and think that it is a good idea, I feel that it takes some time that I could really use in other things while at the same time I do not think that I'm giving this blog enough time to do it well. Therefore I think I shall cease to post for a time. Perhaps I shall resume sometime in the future.</div> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8553834709120840057.post-90567293531530956852011-01-11T21:16:00.000-08:002011-01-11T21:26:51.670-08:00Man's Ideas or God's Word? Today we have an increasing number of satellites and people going to space. I assume we have more money being spent than ever and more men working astronomy related jobs. When modern astronomers make calculations they sometimes use a geocentric model and other times a heliocentric one, out of convenience. From what I can tell, most PhD. astronomers and astrophysicists believe in some relativistic model of the universe. Though there are some, even that work for NASA, who believe in a geocentric universe. The general populace though, is taught of a heliocentric solar system. In spite of this fact, polls show that about 1 out of 5 people in America and Britain believe that the earth does not move.<br />
We are often given the idea that the battle between belief in a geocentric or heliocentric universe, was fought and settled four centuries ago. As I've studied though, I have found that even though the general attitude switched from a geocentric to a heliocentric model of the universe after Copernicus and Galileo, ever since the topic has still been debated, and for a couple millenia before that as well. <br />
Introductory materials on this topic often contrast Kepler's Renaissance model with the Greek philosopher Ptolemy's geocentric model. This is somewhat erroneous, because some of the best astronomers at the time of Copernicus were developing current geocentric models and and when Aristotle and Ptolemy were refining geocentrism another Greek astronomer, Aristarchus, developed the first recorded heliocentric model. Yet, Jason Lisle says Ptolmey's model can predict planetary motion as well as Kepler's. I do not want to bore you with long tales about cosmology through the ages, I do not think it necessary to examine to many details since what people believed does not change reality and also since many of these astronomers were pagan Greeks, Babylonians, Indians, and Muslims.<br />
Before any of these models of the universe came out, people must have either believed that the earth was stationary while the sun moved or that the earth had motion which caused the sun to appear to rise instead. I suppose it's possible that they just didn't think anything about it, but I think most of them just assumed that the sun was moving while the earth was still, because unless you are taught otherwise, that is the way things seem to be. <br />
When we consider the heavens, we should think, "What is man?" People form great models and philosophical systems, and then pass away as the grass. All the while the earth remaineth and the sun and moon continue. Man thinks he is smart, and studies things out (which he should do), yet we are minuscule beings compared to the universe. On the other hand, the universe cannot contain God. Godknows all and God was before there were any heavens or earth, and He only had to speak to create them. <br />
As we look at scientific theories throughout history, they are constantly being modified and changed. The only reason the science of our day appears absolute, is that we may not live long enough to see it change! The Bible on the other hand, does not change, for God has preserved it and will do so forever. If we really want to know for certain if the universe is geocentric, heliocentric, or accentric, we need to find what the Bible teaches, if it teaches something on this issue. <br />
I've looked at Genesis 1 and I believe it tells of a geocentric universe. But what does the rest of Scripture say? Ecclesiastes 1:5 says, "The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he arose." If God wanted to tell us that the sun moves around earth, would this not be plain enough? Did God speak this way because of the people's beliefs while the Bible also tells of so many scientific truths that the people of the time were ignorant of? If one looks at the verses before and after this verse they are speaking very literally, so what gives us the right to say that this one is not? <br />
Psalm 19 says that the sun "is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race." Is this a good description of a stationary object that you are moving around? Any races I have seen, the ones racing are the ones moving, while the observers are sitting still. II Peter 3:5 refers to the earth as standing like as Joshua says the sun stood when it stopped. The end of Psalm 93:1 says, "The world also is stablished, that it cannot be moved." <br />
If you do a simple search in your concordance you can find numerous mentions of the suns motion, while you will find none indicating that earth turns on an axis or moves around the sun. You will also find a few verses which indicate that earth is not moving. Is it sound hermeneutics to not allow these verses to indicate anything cosmological?<br />
<em> The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. </em>-Psalm 19:7-9<br />
<br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8553834709120840057.post-16135957832291272010-12-13T22:03:00.000-08:002010-12-13T22:03:09.433-08:00'Owr' and 'Maowr' After having a conversation yesterday at church about the previous post I thought that I should note a few things. Before I do though, I'll admit that I have a very limited understanding of science and even though the scriptures are plain enough for a child to understand they also contain depths which we will never fathom in our lives.<br />
In our language we use one word 'light' to refer to both the light waves (or particles) and also the point from whence the waves come. Ex. when he turned on the light there was light. This is no problem for we can normally understand the meaning from the context, but in the Hebrew there is two words for light. 'Owr' refers to light waves and 'maowr' refers to the light source.<br />
The light which God created on day one was 'owr'. There was light but the source of it 'maowr' was not yet created until day four. All the light we see today has a definite source but obviously God could have used physics we do not know of yet. He could also have worked outside the laws of science which he made.<br />
God created this light and divided it so that it was light on one side of the earth and dark on the other and thus there could be evening and morning. God could have just caused the light to be divided like that without any point from whence it was coming. Or, He could have had or been a point from whence the light was coming.<br />
If God was a point from whence this created light was coming, as I postulated in the previous post, He was not shining forth in all His glory in our physical universe or all would have been consumed! God would rather have been sending forth light, without the sun, as He sent forth light with the pillar of fire or the light which caused Moses' countenance to glow on Mt. Sinai.<br />
Whatever the details are, I don't know enough (perhaps the passage doesn't say enough) to be dogmatic about what I have postulated. I do firmly believe that God created the earth stationary as a center around which the rest of the universe was created. I also believe that the sun is moving and the light did move around earth on a daily basis. The reason for this is that it fits all the scriptures perfectly and is a model which one could derive solely by studying the scriptures while the currently popular heliocentric or acentric models one would never find in the Bible unless he had first found it from some other source. When people decide to operate on human reason over what they think the Bible indicates in any area of life it can lead to serious problems especially over generations.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8553834709120840057.post-76811558904351596182010-12-10T21:35:00.000-08:002010-12-10T21:35:39.340-08:00Cosmology in Genesis As we look into the first book of the Bible at the very beginning we read of God creating the heaven and the earth. I was recently reading a booklet by a good man who (I was surprised to find) believes in the gap theory. Part of his argument was that the first two verses cannot be a summery of the creation week but that they fall before the rest of the creation chronologically. I have never seen a gap in these first verses and there is not one there. But, I do agree that this describes God creating the heaven and earth and then the chapter goes on to describe what God did in the rest of that first week.<br />
At this point in the creation the earth is the central object in the heaven for we read of no other object. The Spirit of God is there though, and He is moving on the face of the dark, unformed, and void earth. God said, "let there be light." and there was light. I think that the source of this light is God Himself for several reasons. First, God divided the light from the darkness just as later the sun divided the light from the darkness. Second, God will be the source of light in the new Jerusalem when they no longer need the sun. Third, the sun is a type of Christ in passages like Malachi 4. Forth, this source of light was all the earth's light throughout all the creation until just before things were created that could see, when it was replaced with the sun. John says, "No man hath seen God at any time." I think God replaced Himself with the sun right then so as not to be seen by any creature on earth. Also, fitting with this, something must have been moving for the morning and evening and God was moving so as He divided the light from the darkness there would be morning and evening. In accordance with this, the Bible speaks of the sun (our current light) rising, going down, and running a circuit.<br />
On day two we read of God creating the firmament to divide the waters from the waters. Anyone I've talked to just assumes that the earth is near the center of this firmament. I think that one should show that it is otherwise if he is to make a good case against this assumption. But, what's the point if the firmament is our atmosphere? The next place we read of the firmament is on day four when God made the sun, moon, and stars and put them in firmament! If the firmament is where the stars are, then the birds are still inside the firmament just as it says on day five. Am I saying that there is water outside outer space and earth is at the center? Yes! If this is true, then the universe is finite rather than infinite as some have suggested; and there is a center, it is not acentric as many now postulate.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRPkygPNHlCwYepH6r1WZFYr6cSiVHV5P0MVdSjrHpj56Kvuuc7q42dW6ZjSrzl6Bfvd3UUJJMQ-jJL427NXUG4xLwizA7i7RNgkjAPcvKFYZhi1w21RbPgAzK5jUZmVi4yyuEPmwo7rxF/s1600/Creation-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="196" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRPkygPNHlCwYepH6r1WZFYr6cSiVHV5P0MVdSjrHpj56Kvuuc7q42dW6ZjSrzl6Bfvd3UUJJMQ-jJL427NXUG4xLwizA7i7RNgkjAPcvKFYZhi1w21RbPgAzK5jUZmVi4yyuEPmwo7rxF/s200/Creation-1.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.solvefamilyproblems.com/">http://www.solvefamilyproblems.com/</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> At this point we shall move over day three since it seems insignificant to the topic of cosmology. On day four God made the sun, moon, and stars around the earth which already existed. It does not tell us they were even around earth in the center; nor does it tell us otherwise. It would appear (if we knew nothing of cosmology and had just started looking for it in the Bible) that the earth was in the center of the universe and the lights were created for earth and moved around it. I'd like to look at some other topics in Genesis 1, but for now, I'll conclude these thoughts. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> Genesis starts off telling us of the creation of the universe and it would seem the earth was stable in the center. The rest of scripture fits with this perfectly and reinforces it. I could take time and make history and science fit with this too but is the Bible really that clear? You could certainly take the current teachings about the universe and find the Bible to fit with them too, so can you make a solid case from scripture? Everyone must start somewhere and I'd contend that the Bible should be our starting point on <u>all</u> matters. So often we conform to just what our culture is saying about science, the family, the government, and so much else and then we read the Bible without taking thought that our minds need to be renewed.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8553834709120840057.post-11117418569798253152010-11-10T21:57:00.000-08:002010-11-10T21:57:00.379-08:00Be Ye Transformed When David decided to bring the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem, he first used an oxcart; similar to what the Philistines had done. David probably was not intentionally trying to be like the heathen, but simply moved the cart that way because it had been returned to Israel in a cart. Still, they suffered terrible consequences by moving the Ark that way. Then David realized how God wanted the Ark to be moved; and when he did it God's way he had God's blessing. <br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> Often, as Christians, we do the same thing in many areas. We tend to copy the world around us in our music, clothing, finances, view of the family, understanding of the state, and numerous other things. Therefore, God tells us "...be not conformed to this world but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind..." We should actively be searching the scriptures so we may do <em>all</em> things to the glory of God. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> One way we do this, is by searching to see what Scripture says about a certain thing. The Bereans did this when they checked out the teachings of Paul with the Bible. When we hear the teachings of some man or when we are thinking about some issue, we should think, "What does the Bible say about this?" And then search and see. The primary way we study the Bible though, is to simply read the Scriptures, memorize portions, and copy it down. As we put the Bible in our minds and think about it, the Holy Spirit will teach us things that we should be doing to be conformed to the image of Christ. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_B_DfcxUygRKgK_sqNIlh0E7ExMwUngXsBZ0FBtXEgXfIrf_oy39l2nb8wn5R1UOZZ4VyewDezTAhaEZgp8Nv4Jewi9LgSChMNcT4i7gQDvGtKzjbFpNrACJ2IMasj8UtqqSEPAHGgk0U/s1600/The+Blue+Marble.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_B_DfcxUygRKgK_sqNIlh0E7ExMwUngXsBZ0FBtXEgXfIrf_oy39l2nb8wn5R1UOZZ4VyewDezTAhaEZgp8Nv4Jewi9LgSChMNcT4i7gQDvGtKzjbFpNrACJ2IMasj8UtqqSEPAHGgk0U/s320/The+Blue+Marble.jpg" width="320" /></a> When one opens the Bible and begins to read, he will first find that, "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters." Nevertheless, numerous great Christians of the past and present have unwittingly accepted the world's theories about the age and origins of the earth. Being conformed to the world in this area has led to terrible consequences. There were other compromises, though, that led to the acceptance, by Christians, of an old earth. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> Francis Bacon, who is often credited with formulating the scientific method, believed that one could understand the world, without the Bible. Galileo Galilei claimed that one can use science to interpret the Bible. Galileo said the Bible tells us how to go to heaven, but not how the heavens go. Johannes Kepler said, science is "thinking God's thoughts after Him." This sounds great, but, it places science as a standard alongside the Bible. When one has two standards, he must sort out their reconciliation if they appear to disagree. And thus, his mind is ultimately the standard. When people accepted the teachings of Copernicus, even though they believed the Bible taught of a geocentric universe, they were then ready to accept science when it supposedly taught that the earth was very old. </div> If we want to not be conformed to this world, but rather be transformed by the renewing of our mind, we aught to hold the Bible as our ultimate authority in every area of life, from science, to various issues of our culture.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8553834709120840057.post-65172746568178472802010-10-31T21:32:00.000-07:002010-11-06T19:55:47.741-07:00Happy Reformation Day!<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIyrom68NWPRt9EdoIuL_1-dSE9PU0q-HIEVKXE_YF9XbTM5Ihv2J8GaJE29J00unOnO2nQ-Qi_jWxEhunQsj8TDToBwgrtu1yq-S3K7R2t4xTX0crH7IWEFUHO-HJiQSPlYj4yuKPwG-n/s200/Luther+nails+95+theses145.jpg" width="113" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.solvefamilyproblems.com/">http://www.solvefamilyproblems.com/</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table> On this date in 1517 Martin Luther nailed the 95 Theses on the door of the church, officially starting the Reformation. There have always been people who were justified by faith and strived to live righteously, but, at the time of Luther much of Europe was engulfed in Catholicism. Luther realized that many of the church's teachings and practices were unbiblical. The Church sold indulgences and believed in consubstantiation, but Luther saw that men are justified by faith alone not by sprinkling or some rite. He had 95 points that he believed the Church needed to examine so they could reform to be more in line with the Scriptures.</div> Martin Luther was a good guy, but he was imperfect. The problem is that some of his followers became Lutherans and followed his teaching and practices rather than standing on Sola Scriptura and continuing to reform their society. As a result, many of the Lutherans today have sadly regressed to almost a modified Catholicism. Some people, however, did continue to apply God's Word and reform thier Churches, families, and states. <br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> Many of those in America tried to build a nation and culture based on the Scriptures, which was radically different from thier mother countries. They preached sermons on just about any current issue of their day, including polotics. About 3 days ago I got a 2 volume set of <em>Political Sermons of the American Founding Era</em>. In it there was a sermon preached by Charles Chauncy on May 27, 1747, here is a short quote from that sermon -</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> <em>"The advice which Jethro gave Moses is here proper, 'Thou shalt provid out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness.' These are the men, men of understanding, courage and resolution; men of integrity, fidelity and honesty; men of piety and substantial religion; men of a noble generosity, setting them above the temptations, which those of narrow mindes and selfish views, are easily drawn away by and enticed: These, I say, are the proper men to fill the various posts in the state. And it would be injustice to the public, for the persons concerned in the disposal of them, to neglect these, and bestow them on those of contrary character."</em></div> We are not Catholics, but, nor are we perfect in all of our beliefs and practices. Let us study the Scriptures so that we can apply God's Word to every asspect of our lives.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8553834709120840057.post-57415390209690270392010-10-29T22:00:00.000-07:002010-11-06T19:52:17.635-07:00Reviled and Persecuted<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzX9eoI7RxXKTPiozwt-O416iP4VLL51K4EHn692GoJLP6rjnR5qKA8R-JwvxUdsdj5vllg2j4Ik5Vl7MVGXA0RKZEWVaCmlPZOTPhYJIp_Yq0Um2wqa_kUzZ25rhAqVtllKaj6HaU1rWR/s1600/Eliab_scorns_David+colored_1404_262.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzX9eoI7RxXKTPiozwt-O416iP4VLL51K4EHn692GoJLP6rjnR5qKA8R-JwvxUdsdj5vllg2j4Ik5Vl7MVGXA0RKZEWVaCmlPZOTPhYJIp_Yq0Um2wqa_kUzZ25rhAqVtllKaj6HaU1rWR/s200/Eliab_scorns_David+colored_1404_262.jpg" width="144" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.solvefamilyproblems.com/">http://www.solvefamilyproblems.com/</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table> Since I opened the topic of persecution in my last post, I decided that I would share some other ideas on this topic. I would like to note first, that I am not qualified to write on this issue by experience or by much reading or studying. Nevertheless, I have a few basic observations which a person could make just by reading the Bible. </div> 2 Timothy 3:12 reads, "Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." Often when we here the word persecution we immediately think of imprisonment, torture, and death either by the government or an anti-Christian group. Stephen, Paul, and many other Christians from the New Testament to the present time have suffered in these ways. Persecution can be much broader than this, because, "we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." The devil will persecute anyone who wants to live a godly, Christ-like life. We here in America do not suffer in the same way as Christians in China, but, the devil is out to persecute us in other ways.<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> In Matthew Jesus taught his disciples that they were blessed when they were reviled, persecuted, and spoken evil of. In Luke when Jesus was speaking of the same subject, He did not refer to any bodily damage, but said, "Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake." As far as I know D. L. Moody never was tortured for his Christianity, and yet I am sure that there were many men who hated and avoided him. Even so, we may or may not suffer physical persecution, but if we will live godly we shall have men speak evil of us and dislike us. </div> We should not let the danger of persecution turn us from living boldly for God, anymore than a soldier would avoid conflict because of danger. Though all who live righteously do suffer let us particularly remember them which suffer adversity and are in bonds. <br />
"O LORD my God, in thee do I put my trust: save me from all them that persecute me, and deliver me." Psalm 7:1Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8553834709120840057.post-67796369676242503332010-10-20T22:19:00.000-07:002010-11-06T19:50:16.894-07:00Our Nation, Prayer, and Persecution <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8V-DU4XBMZ5tVC45NaWrwnLe_-V_rtMeaTlA_YAHwcrvAQbpmcbHjAYXUNz8Q4DK9mCKkSJ6xQJEhyphenhyphenDoEIPc6K0JN1KwDBJ2lAujcRVyrl5kyLSQ9Gmfx1ELScc1B01KDb1tndf1dmRIg/s1600/Nathan2+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8V-DU4XBMZ5tVC45NaWrwnLe_-V_rtMeaTlA_YAHwcrvAQbpmcbHjAYXUNz8Q4DK9mCKkSJ6xQJEhyphenhyphenDoEIPc6K0JN1KwDBJ2lAujcRVyrl5kyLSQ9Gmfx1ELScc1B01KDb1tndf1dmRIg/s320/Nathan2+copy.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.solvefamilyproblems.com/">http://www.solvefamilyproblems.com/</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table> <em>"I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; for kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty." - 1 Timothy 2:1-2</em> <div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em> </em>As we consider our nation, our churches, and even our own lives and our families, it is evident that we need to pray. If we do not have God's help we are in trouble! Most of us are familiar with a number of statements the Bible has about praying, such as, 2 Chronicles 7:14, "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." Psalm 122:6 says, "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem." I think that we can apply this very specifically to Jerusalem, but can also derive a principle that we should pray for the peace of our own country. We also have numerous examples of people in the Bible who were praying for their country. Some of the prophets, such as Daniel, and the Psalmist made prayers for their nation.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0A_tQcADVh_J5oP5O7jDnC35EYTlUmdybQTkJgClhzwI4-EpiUr0j4Uw-P7mxqA3-exJ-Ij1uxg1nlBPRazKMbuS2yZ9zkLJqJVihsmfE57jcJtdKrH3lOYuoKzgcBmLpprhuG64zI5BJ/s1600/Christians_+in+coliseum7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; height: 150px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 201px;"><img border="0" height="150" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0A_tQcADVh_J5oP5O7jDnC35EYTlUmdybQTkJgClhzwI4-EpiUr0j4Uw-P7mxqA3-exJ-Ij1uxg1nlBPRazKMbuS2yZ9zkLJqJVihsmfE57jcJtdKrH3lOYuoKzgcBmLpprhuG64zI5BJ/s200/Christians_+in+coliseum7.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.solvefamilyproblems.com/">http://www.solvefamilyproblems.com/</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table> Now, I've heard some people talking about praying that persecution will come to our country so that the church would be strengthened. I've heard from multiple sources that some of the Christians in China are praying that we will be persecuted for our Christianity in America. They also don't want us to pray that their persecution will stop. I think that these Christians are some of the most sincere and dedicated believers. However, it is a sin for anyone to persecute Christians! Shall we pray for evil that good may come? God FORBID!!! </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> Jesus taught us to pray, "Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil." If we find ourselves in divers temptations we should count it all joy, and yet, when we are persecuted in one city we ought to flee to another. David in Psalm 7:9 prayed, "Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end; but establish the just..." I believe that we should not pray for persecution, but rather, that God would spare us and deliver others. Nevertheless, if we have prayed wrongfully God can still answer rightfully. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> When we pray for our country, let us recognize that God hears prayer and that His hand is not shortened, but that His is the kingdom and the power and the glory <strong>forever</strong>. Let us be humble and confess our own sinfulness and beseech God for His mercy. We need God to send out laborers into his harvest and revive us again and I think that we need far more than a revival of just renewed dedication and sincerity but we also need a vast reformation of our culture even within many of our churches. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> But aren't we nearing the end of time? </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> <em>"The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." 2 Peter 3:9</em></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8553834709120840057.post-76418708904390462552010-10-14T23:09:00.000-07:002010-11-06T19:46:15.789-07:00How Should We Then Vote? - Part III<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> In the previous blog post, I mentioned the passages in Exodus 18 and Deuteronomy 1 where God had the children of Israel vote for rulers, giving them qualifications which these men must meet to be voted for. I'd like to talk about these more in depth, but first I want to briefly restate some of the thoughts that I have already expounded on:</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> 1. We should vote exclusively pro-life since it is our job as mankind to protect life and punish murderers through the government.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> 2. We should vote only for men because God only allowed his people to choose men for their rulers.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> 3. The rulers of the children of Israel had to be from their own tribe. And, God told them when they chose a king that he had to be from their own country. We should only vote for people in federal positions who are Americans. (They have their birth certificates;)</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKWNMxnb8fbmttjK3Rjg2FGtptb51YzXOy9xSePybSIteKfFu9LiGFVk5tsarHQGz0uVrW2I-MXTaheFvPM9B0K9rUAMAKs7xT9M0kOOfSwgtoWPK7-hOiRS4dND-qdIG6Z8FBCU97HUpg/s1600/October+2010+006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKWNMxnb8fbmttjK3Rjg2FGtptb51YzXOy9xSePybSIteKfFu9LiGFVk5tsarHQGz0uVrW2I-MXTaheFvPM9B0K9rUAMAKs7xT9M0kOOfSwgtoWPK7-hOiRS4dND-qdIG6Z8FBCU97HUpg/s320/October+2010+006.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> Exodus 18:21 says that these Israelite men who were to be chosen as rulers must be <strong>able</strong>. Deuteronomy 1:13 states that they must be <strong>known among your tribes</strong>. In other words, we must vote for men who are capable of being rulers and have demonstrated this in other ways. Perhaps if a man has shown that he capable in his family and business, or other government positions he has held, we could say that he is able.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> Then in Exodus it says they must <strong>fear God</strong>. Now, the Bible mentions people who had no fear of God, and people who greatly feared God, so, there could be different levels of fearing God. They must have a fear of God, whatever the degree may happen to be. Therefore, we certainly should not vote for an agnostic, atheist, Hindu, Buddhist, or Muslim! Furthermore, Deuteronomy says they must be <strong>wise</strong> and <strong>understanding</strong>. We know that the fear of God is wisdom and the fool says in his heart there is no God. The fear of the Lord is to hate evil and to depart from evil is understanding. We cannot vote for someone that God says is a fool!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> These men were to be <strong>men of truth</strong>. It may be hard to find an honest politician (we need statesmen), but I believe we ought only to vote for someone who means what he says and keeps his word. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihPMnnTEBT_8QJkOFZ0YBCcL9057vwaTMyB5nNAfvkJycoB4e9joMvj_0fEeZvBnJr_LLrirbbQ84ajur2YfdvRvf8nfLM6NJsNVnzgjq8I0v435_VTf2sw98_xeVZelcaQX6j4lbwbLu7/s1600/David+becomes+King+1003-98.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihPMnnTEBT_8QJkOFZ0YBCcL9057vwaTMyB5nNAfvkJycoB4e9joMvj_0fEeZvBnJr_LLrirbbQ84ajur2YfdvRvf8nfLM6NJsNVnzgjq8I0v435_VTf2sw98_xeVZelcaQX6j4lbwbLu7/s200/David+becomes+King+1003-98.jpg" width="165" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.solvefamilyproblems.com/">http://www.solvefamilyproblems.com/</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table> Lastly, Exodus says they must <strong>hate covetousness</strong>. We should not vote for someone who is out to get money for himself or who wants to get money from tax payers to satisfy others' covetousness.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> To summarize this, God has certain principles for who we should vote for. First, we must vote for people who meet God's qualifications. Once they have met that, we can discuss which one is the best or which one we like the most. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> We should strive to vote for people who are qualified and find people to run if no one in a race is qualified. Sometimes, we might get people who seemed good at first, but then turned out to be untruthful or covetous. But, we should never vote for someone when we know it would be against God's principles.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> The Bible has many commands to government rulers. The king was to write a copy of the law, not multiply wives, and Proverbs says he shouldn't drink. These commands were given to the rulers, and every ruler aught to obey them. We could debate whether or not we can vote for someone who disobeys these commands, but certainly they should meet the minimum qualifications if we are to vote for them. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8553834709120840057.post-74097483080789647532010-10-06T21:38:00.000-07:002010-11-06T19:43:03.363-07:00How Should We Then Vote? - Part II - Women There are qualification for church rulers. A woman should want to marry a man who meets certain qualifications. What qualifications are there for government rulers? <br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> In Exodus 18 we read about when Jethro came to see Moses. All the children of Israel were coming to Moses to inquire of God. Jethro told him that God wanted him to set up rulers of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens to judge all of the small matters, so that they would just bring the large matters to Moses. In Deuteronomy 1 the Bible tells how Moses chose all of these rulers. He held a political election and made rulers of those whom the children of Israel chose.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh600nvXQmu5OFllJ1DVQI86rYJKMy9L00eplUQjO0WKGkYlkq-M3qkaBfPn8lGRp36PwIU9rpeYEqo5vq67KhRLEsJcTPwhI_T6qhE1enoZSulNgLD1aBhYQFZuULlac-ysl1hYGQp-d6t/s1600/Rebekah1468.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh600nvXQmu5OFllJ1DVQI86rYJKMy9L00eplUQjO0WKGkYlkq-M3qkaBfPn8lGRp36PwIU9rpeYEqo5vq67KhRLEsJcTPwhI_T6qhE1enoZSulNgLD1aBhYQFZuULlac-ysl1hYGQp-d6t/s200/Rebekah1468.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.solvefamilyproblems.com/">http://www.solvefamilyproblems.com/</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table> There were certain qualifications that these men had to meet in order to be chosen as rulers. Exodus says, "...thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness..." Deuteronomy says, "...wise men, and understanding, and known among your tribes..." Later in 2 Samuel 23:3 God said, "He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God."</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> Before we look at these qualifications in more depth, I would like to note a couple of things. First, God never said a government official must be a christian, nor did He give us an extensive list of current issues that he must be right on. But, rather, a few basic qualifications he must meet. Second, whatever our current relationship to the law is supposed to be, God never changes and He has eternal principles which always apply. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> The first things mentioned in Exodus 18:21, are that they were supposed to be chosen out of all the people, (they were not supposed to be foreigners), and they were to be able <em>men</em>. God chose to specify that these were to supposed to be men, not women. This fits with the order of creation and the purposes for which men and women were created. I think it's worth noting, that in the two other institutions God created, namely the church and the home, he chose men to be the leaders. In today's political world we need men in government, who are not just males, but manly and bold. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> When God set up the priesthood in Israel only men were allowed to be priests. And when God set up a monarchy in Israel, He chose first Saul, then David, and when he was old God chose Solomon, not Bathsheba! However, there is a big question, "What about Deborah?!" To answer that, first, does one example in the book of Judges trump every other precept and principle in the Bible? Second, the other judges in the book of Judges not only gave judgements but also were the chief executive and led the military. Deborah, on the other hand, was a prophetess, a wife, and a mother and people would come to her under a tree to be judged. When God wanted someone to lead the country and wage war, He chose Barak. Barak appears to have been a coward though, and not a good leader, so the honor went to a woman, Jael. (Barak is the only one mentioned in the New Testament.) Contrast that with the virtuous woman of Proverbs 31, who was occupied keeping the home and her husband was sitting in the gates with the elders of the land. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkvkurlRFQIv1sWbh3qtJUWVAQrX-X03NZja9lNZBfzbNqhQOkgWTL_mjf1Zgps7f7PNx_vKgFp4V53EmKQFch1LgkuoCNMDBPTq4nboFgdUi5EQC7coTZ3jDhSfZEFtK2DZHvtL9QaC48/s1600/Death+of+Athaliah+1207-107.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkvkurlRFQIv1sWbh3qtJUWVAQrX-X03NZja9lNZBfzbNqhQOkgWTL_mjf1Zgps7f7PNx_vKgFp4V53EmKQFch1LgkuoCNMDBPTq4nboFgdUi5EQC7coTZ3jDhSfZEFtK2DZHvtL9QaC48/s200/Death+of+Athaliah+1207-107.jpg" width="166" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.solvefamilyproblems.com/">http://www.solvefamilyproblems.com/</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table> In Isaiah 3 when God was pronouncing woe upon the wicked, he said that women would rule over them. The only female monarch Judah ever had was Athaliah. And, the most prominent woman in Israeli politics was Jezebel! Our country is under judgement of God, and we see ladies increasingly in government positions. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> To sum this all up, God's plan is for men to lead in the government, and women are only government rulers in times of judgement. I believe that God wants us to vote for able <em>men</em> as it says in Exodus, and even the example of Deborah fits with this idea. This means I could not vote for McCain, no matter how good he or Sarah Palin were. But, Obama got in! What's worse than Obama getting in? The church, as ambassadors for Christ, voting for people who do not fit God's qualifications is worse. God's blessing makes a nation great, not another politician.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8553834709120840057.post-29917011318443981312010-09-28T21:09:00.000-07:002010-09-28T21:09:57.348-07:00How Should We Then Vote? - Part I It is just over a month until we will be voting. So we need to think through what God's principles are for voting, before we are in the voting booth. Who has voted and who has not voted and how they have voted has had a significant part, has a significant part in how we have come to where we are in this nation. <br />
We find God first instituting human government in Genesis 9:6, "Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed; for in the image of God made he man." Notice that God did not start a monarchy, nor anarchy where any man could just go and kill a murderer. By saying, "man," the Bible is referring to mankind as a whole. In any particular nation man has the responsibility to have a government to bear the sword and execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. Therefore, in any nation where a man can vote, he has the responsibility before God to vote. <br />
Though our government does many things, like build roads, fund schools, etc., the purpose that God created government for was to defend life and execute murderers. If we were voting for a pastor and he said that he was going to have all sorts of programs for the church, but that he wasn't going to shepherd the flock, we would not think of voting for him. And, likewise, I do not believe that we should consider voting for a man to fill any government office if he is pro-abortion or anti capital punishment, because he is saying that he will NOT do his job!<br />
Now what do you do, if there are two candidates running for an office and neither of them will do his job? Do you choose the lesser of two evils? We need to do our job and vote for men who will do their job, so if there is none, we must find one or not vote for that office. We do not need to be pragmatic for God is the one that removes kings and sets up kings.<br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8553834709120840057.post-1368588640287898422010-09-26T14:25:00.000-07:002010-09-26T14:25:54.001-07:00What Saith Scripture? Proverbs 4:26 tells us, "Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established." In other words we need to think about how we do things and what we are doing so we will not be shaken and moved.<br />
When a missionary from an organized 'religion' goes into an area where the people just worship spirits or have some sort of collection of superstitions, the people are much more easily converted to that 'religion' than when a missionary goes into an area under an established 'religion' (at least that is what I've heard.) Similarly, when one who has not thought through his theology is confronted by Calvinism, Armenianism, or another organized theological system he is most likely to agree with the first one that comes by.<br />
Once I heard some people talking about what to name some baby. Should they turn on the television and use the first word they heard? or drop some silverware and see what it sounded like? Some like certain names and some others but we need to ask ourselves, "What does scripture say about naming babies?" Before you ask, "What college should I go to?" ask yourself "What does scripture say I should be doing now?"<br />
I want to make posts on many issues not because I know more than others but rather to help us think through things and discus them. Therefore, I would appreciate any comments that people want to leave.<br />
If you think I'm very mistaken on something you can tell me! Or if you like something or have a question.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8553834709120840057.post-72213264604101143152010-09-23T21:28:00.000-07:002010-09-23T21:44:11.717-07:00Thinking Biblically In Genesis chapter 2, God told Adam that he could not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. In Genesis chapter 3, the serpent first questioned God's Word, second denied God's Word, and finally got Eve to disobey God's Word. Rather than obeying God's clear command, Eve made a decision based upon her perception of reality. Satan has been decieving people throughout history in the very same way. <br />
In our society, even those in good churches, tend to believe in an unscriptural cosmological model based on human reason. Many people believe in an evolutionary history of the universe and not God's Word. Most Christians interperet what God says about clothing, music, marriage, family, children, occupation, the roles of males and females, education, and government through the culture which they happen to be living in. But instead we should carefully evaluate what our culture says about these things in light of the Bible.<br />
Our culture here in America has evidences of a Christian influence, but it is becoming increasingly based on humanism. As Christians we should be working through every area of life to see what God's commands and principles are for that area. If we don't, without realizing it, we will tend to do just what the world is doing. David did this when he tried moving the Ark with an ox cart, but then God brought judgment and David reformed to follow God's way.<br />
In future posts I want to open up some of these topics and look at them through the Bible.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8553834709120840057.post-58546266579380220732010-09-21T21:49:00.000-07:002010-09-21T21:49:57.204-07:00What's Wrong? What is wrong in America? Why do the churches seem ineffective? Is the problem evolution? Or is God just making things worse in spite of anything that we do, or don't do? Why haven't we seen a major revival for many years? Why are our children leaving the church?<br />
In Leviticus 26, God told the children of Israel that if they would keep his commandments he would bless them. He then told them that if they would not keep his commandments, but instead walk in their own ways or the ways of the heathen around them, he would punish them for their iniquities. In verse 23 God proceeded to tell them that if they would not be reformed by these things He would punish them even more. But in verse 40 it says that if they would confess their iniquities and the iniquities of their fathers and be humbled, God would remember his covenant.<br />
Leviticus 26 was speaking specifically about Israel. But the principles apply to any family, nation, or church. If they will keep God's commandments they will be blessed, but if they will not they will reap the consequences. God is judging our nation, our families, and our churches, because we are not keeping his commandments. God wants us to teach all his commands to all nations and always be reforming to be aligned with His Word.<br />
With this blog I would like to make some specific observations and point out areas where we as a people have left God's commands, principles, and patterns. We have by default been following the world, but we need to lay the ax at the root of the tree, and prepare the way of the Lord!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0