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.
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.
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!
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.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Sunday, September 26, 2010
What 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.
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.
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?"
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.
If you think I'm very mistaken on something you can tell me! Or if you like something or have a question.
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.
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?"
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.
If you think I'm very mistaken on something you can tell me! Or if you like something or have a question.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Thinking 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.
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.
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.
In future posts I want to open up some of these topics and look at them through the Bible.
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.
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.
In future posts I want to open up some of these topics and look at them through the Bible.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
What'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?
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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!
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