Wednesday, May 31, 2017
Tuesday, May 30, 2017
What does the Bible say about Christian fathers?
What does the Bible say about Christian fathers?: What does the Bible say about Christian fathers? How does the Bible describe what a father should be like?
What does the Bible say about Christian mothers?
What does the Bible say about Christian mothers?: What does the Bible say about Christian mothers? How does the Bible describe what a mother should be like?
Monday, May 29, 2017
What is Free Masonry and what do Free Masons believe?
What is Free Masonry and what do Free Masons believe?: What is Free Masonry and what do Free Masons believe? Are Free Masons a men's fraternity or a cult?
Sunday, May 28, 2017
Saturday, May 27, 2017
What does selah mean in the Bible?
What does selah mean in the Bible?: What does selah mean in the Bible? Why does the word “selah” occur several times in some of the Psalms?
Should a new believer be baptized immediately?
Should a new believer be baptized immediately?: Should a new believer be baptized immediately? Should baptism occur immediately after a person trusts in Christ for salvation?
Friday, May 26, 2017
What does it mean that Jesus is our mediator?
What does it mean that Jesus is our mediator?: What does it mean that Jesus is our mediator? What do we need Jesus to mediate between us and God?
Wednesday, May 24, 2017
What do Gypsies believe? What is a Gypsy?
What do Gypsies believe? What is a Gypsy?: What do Gypsies believe? What is a Gypsy? Is there a Gypsy religion? What are some beliefs common among Gypsies?
Tuesday, May 23, 2017
How can I learn to trust in God?
How can I learn to trust in God?: How can I learn to trust in God? Why is trusting in God sometimes so difficult?
Monday, May 22, 2017
Sunday, May 21, 2017
What is meant by being a fruitful Christian?
What is meant by being a fruitful Christian?: What is meant by being a fruitful Christian? What kind of fruit should a Christian's life bear? What is a fruitful believer?
What is Jediism? What does the Jedi religion teach?
What is Jediism? What does the Jedi religion teach?: What is Jediism? What does the Jedi religion teach? How does Jediism compare with the Bible? Do some people really believe in the Force from Star Wars?
Saturday, May 20, 2017
What is Nirvana in Buddhism?
What is Nirvana in Buddhism?: What is Nirvana in Buddhism? Is Nirvana comparable to heaven? What is a biblical view of the Buddhist concept of Nirvana? What do Buddhists hope for in reaching a state of Nirvana?
Friday, May 19, 2017
The Greek "kharax" meant “pointed stake,” and its related verb meant “to cut, engrave, or sharpen.” A related noun was "kharaktÃer" (“engraved mark”), which slipped easily into English (via Latin and Old French) as "character." The “engraved mark” became a metaphor for that which marks one thing as different from another. Your character, then, is a “stamp” or “engraving” on your soul that sets you apart from others.
Causes of Evil
Causes of Evil: Our philosophy of evil matters. What we believe about evil - and what we believe causes it - affects our beliefs about the world, ourselves, and God.
Thursday, May 18, 2017
Wednesday, May 17, 2017
Doubting God
Doubting God: Nearly every believer doubts God - His intentions, faithfulness, love - at some point. We forget that people in the Bible doubted Him too, before they were witness to His steadfast care.
Tuesday, May 16, 2017
Monday, May 15, 2017
Should Christians support the nation of Israel?
Should Christians support the nation of Israel?: Should Christians support the nation of Israel? How can a balance be found between supporting Israel and not supporting all the actions that Israel takes?
Sunday, May 14, 2017
Saturday, May 13, 2017
What does 'Let there be light' means as it relates to creation? Why did God say, 'Let there be light'?
What does 'Let there be light' means as it relates to creation? Why did God say, 'Let there be light'?: What does 'Let there be light' means as it relates to creation? Why did God say, 'Let there be light'? What was God's creative command in regard to light?
Abundant - not easy - Life
Abundant - not easy - Life: It's a mistake to think once you become a Christian God will make your life easy. But He will make it abundant.
Friday, May 12, 2017
Should Christians join a union?
Should Christians join a union?: Should a Christian join a union? How can a Christian support workers' rights while ensuring their money doesn't support unbiblical causes?
Thursday, May 11, 2017
Trump
TRUMP AND PERSPECTIVE
Both pipelines approved, Dow at record high, NASDAQ at record high, illegal immigration down 70% even without the wall, Gorsuch confirmed, best jobs report in 2 years, best business attitude in a decade, oil and gas exploration reopened on federal land, Canada and Mexico agree to renegotiate NAFTA, TPP toast, Israel supported again, 11 Obama admin regulations reversed thru CRA never to return again, EPA brought under control, 11000 coal miners get their jobs back, 700 at Carrier that Obama wrote off, American missionary released from Egyptian prison, NATO allies agree to start funding their own defense instead of relying totally on us, strong reactions to Syria and NK vs Obama's cowardice and today a new executive order giving Obama-stolen resources and land back to the states.
And all of this in the face of unprecedented hysteria from the media, misrepresentation of facts, fake news, and liberals setting their hair on fire.
Wednesday, May 10, 2017
Alcohol in theBible
In general, we can say that the Bible neither condemns drinking per se nor promotes it. Drinking alcoholic beverages is one of those grey areas that is a matter of one’s personal conscience. But there is more in scripture than just this individualistic approach.
Isn’t it Really Grape Juice?
Some take the words for wine to mean ‘grape juice.’ If this were so, then why would there be prohibitions against drunkenness? One cannot get drunk on grape juice. Further, Jesus’ first miracle was changing the water into wine at the wedding of Cana in Galilee. He made between 120 and 180 gallons of wine! Even if this had been grape juice, it would soon turn to wine because the fermentation process would immediately begin. But it most certainly was not grape juice: the head waiter in John 2:10 said, “Every man sets out the good wine first, then after the guests have drunk freely, the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.” The verb translated ‘drunk freely’ is almost always used of getting drunk (and is so translated in the NRSV here). In the least, the people at this wedding feast, if not drunk, would certainly be drinking alcohol fairly freely (if not, this verb means something here that is nowhere else attested4). And this makes perfect sense in the context: The reason why a man brings out the poorer wine later is because the good wine has numbed the senses a bit. Grape juice would hardly mask anything. Note also Acts 2:13—”they are full of sweet wine”—an inaccurate comment made about the apostles when they began speaking in tongues, as though this explained their unusual behavior. The point is: If they were full of grape juice would this comment even have made any sense at all? That would be like saying, “Well, they’re all acting strange and silly because they have had too much orange juice this morning!”
There are other references to alcoholic beverages in the Bible: Several times in the first books of the Bible, wine and strong drink are prohibited to those who take a Nazarite vow (cf. Num 6, Judges 13). Even grape juice and fresh and dried grapes (i.e., raisins, as the NIV renders the word) are prohibited to the Nazarite (Numbers 6:3)!5 But that restriction is only for those who make this vow. If someone today wants to claim that believers do not have the right to drink alcohol on the analogy of a Nazarite vow (as some today are fond of doing), they also should say that believers ought not to eat Raisin Bran!
Negative Statements about Wine Indicate that it is not Grape Juice
Further, the Bible at times speaks very harshly about becoming enslaved to drink or allowing it to control a person, especially to the point of drunkenness. Proverbs 20:1—“Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, And whoever is intoxicated by it is not wise” (NASB). Cf. also Prov 21:17 (where heavy drinking and gluttony are equally condemned); 1 Sam 1:14; Isa 5:11, 22; 28:1 (drunkenness is condemned); 28:7; 29:9; 56:12; Jer 23:9; 51:7; Joel 3:3. In the New Testament notice: Eph 5:18 (“do not get drunk with wine”); 1 Tim 3:3, 8; Titus 1:7 ([elders and deacons ought not be] “addicted to wine or strong drink”); Titus 2:3 (older women, who would serve as role models to the younger ones, must not be addicted to wine). As well, numerous passages use wine or drunkenness in an analogy about God’s wrath, immorality, etc. (cf. Rev. 14:8, 10; 16:19; 17:2; 18:3).
The significance of these negative statements is just this: If this were only grape juice, why would excess in drinking it be condemned? If this were only grape juice, why are certain mental effects attributed to it (cf., e.g., Psalm 60:3)? One can’t have it both ways. You can’t say that wine is always grape juice, for then the negative statements in scripture make no sense; those who say that it is only grape juice tend to focus just on the neutral and positive passages, conveniently allowing them to condemn the drinking of real wine at all times. But even this position is not logical: If the Bible only speaks of grape juice, then it makes no comment about alcoholic wine. And if so, then it does not directly prohibit it. And if we are going to prohibit something that the Bible does not address, why stop at wine? Why don’t we include the ballet, opera, football games, country-western music (actually, I might be in favor of banning this one!), salt water fishing, zippers on clothes, etc. Once legalism infests the soul it doesn’t know where to quit.
In sum, is wine the same as grape juice? No, for if it were, the Bible would hardly condemn the abuse of such. Those who argue that the two are identical simply cannot handle the passages that speak about excess.
Neutral and Positive References to Alcoholic Beverages in the Bible
At the same time, there are several neutral, almost casual references to alcoholic beverages. Genesis 14:18 refers to Melchizedek, a type of Christ, as offering wine to Abram; Nehemiah 2:1 refers to the king drinking wine (Nehemiah was required to taste it first to make sure it was not poisoned); Esther 5:6; 7:1-2 speaks of wine that Esther (the godly Jewess) drank with the king; Job 1:13 refers to righteous Job’s family drinking wine; Daniel 10:3 speaks of drinking wine as a blessing after a time of fasting. Some of Jesus’ parables are about wine, wineskins, vineyards (cf. Matt 9:17; 21:33; even John 15 speaks of God the Father as the vinedresser!). Paul tells Timothy to drink some wine for his stomach’s sake and not just water (1 Tim 5:23). The same Greek and Hebrew terms that were used to speak of the abuses of wine are used in these passages. One cannot argue, therefore, that alcoholic beverages are in themselves proscribed, while grape juice is permitted. The lexical data cannot be so twisted.
There are, as well, positive statements about alcoholic beverages: Deut 14:26 implies that it is a good thing to drink wine and strong drink to the Lord: “And you may spend the money for whatever your heart desires, for oxen, or sheep, or wine, or strong drink, or whatever your heart desires; and there you shall eat in the presence of the LORD your God and rejoice, you and your household” (NASB). Psalm 4:7 compares joy in the Lord to the abundance of wine; Psalm 104:14-15 credits God as the creator of wine that “makes a man’s heart glad” (cf. also Hos 2:8); honoring the Lord with one’s wealth is rewarded with the blessings of abundant stores of wine (Prov 3:10); love is compared to wine repeatedly in the Song of Songs, as though good wine were similarly sweet (1:2, 4; 4:10; 7:9). The Lord prepares a banquet with “well-aged wines... and fine, well-aged wines” for his people (Isa 25:6) [obviously this cannot be grape juice, for aging does nothing but ferment it!].
The lack of wine is viewed as a judgment from God (Jer 48:33; Lam 2:12; Hos 2:9; Joel 1:10; Hag 2:16); and, conversely, its provision is viewed as a blessing from the Lord (cf. Gen 27:28; Deut 7:13; 11:14; Joel 2:19, 24; 3:18; Amos 9:13-14). Cf. also Isa 55:1; Jer 31:12; Zech 9:17.
Indeed, there was even the Passover tradition that went beyond the biblical teaching: by the time of the first century, every adult was obliged to have four glasses of wine during the Passover celebration. Jesus and his disciples did this in the Last Supper.6 The fact that the wine of the Passover was a symbol the Lord used for his blood and for the new covenant implicitly shows that our Lord’s view of wine was quite different from that of many modern Christians.
What is truly remarkable here are the many positive statements made about wine and alcoholic beverages in the Bible.7 Wine is so often connected with the blessings of God that we are hard-pressed to figure out why so many modern Christians view drink as the worst of all evils. Why, if one didn’t know better, he might think that God actually wanted us to enjoy life! Unfortunately, the only Bible most of our pagan friends will read is the one written on our lives and spoken from our lips. The Bible they know is a book of ‘Thou shalt nots,’ and the God they know is a cosmic killjoy.
I think the best balance on this issue can be see in Luke 7:33-34: John the Baptist abstained from drinking wine; Jesus did not abstain [indeed, people called him a drunkard! Although certainly not true, it would be difficult for this charge to have been made had Jesus only drunk grape juice]. Both respected one another and both recognized that their individual lifestyles were not universal principles. One man may choose not to drink; another may choose to drink. We ought not condemn another servant of the Lord for his choice.
As well, Romans 14 is a key passage for gleaning principles about how we ought to conduct ourselves in relation to one another on this issue: weaker brothers ought not to judge those whose freedom in Christ allows them to enjoy alcoholic beverages; stronger brothers ought not to disdain weaker brothers for their stance. Whether we drink or not, let us do all things to the glory of God.
Tuesday, May 9, 2017
Monday, May 8, 2017
Sunday, May 7, 2017
faith
Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift but as an obligation. However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness
Romans 4:4-5
Paul illustrates this idea with an example. A man who works has earned his wage as an obligation on the employer’s part. The employer pays the worker nothing until the payment has been earned through work, and when the obligation is paid, the employer has no obligation whatsoever to pay anything else. A gift is different, for it is given freely if it isn’t given freely, then it isn’t a gift. In the same way, grace is not earned by working because if it was it wouldn’t be grace; it would be a payment for services.
Romans 4:4-5
Paul illustrates this idea with an example. A man who works has earned his wage as an obligation on the employer’s part. The employer pays the worker nothing until the payment has been earned through work, and when the obligation is paid, the employer has no obligation whatsoever to pay anything else. A gift is different, for it is given freely if it isn’t given freely, then it isn’t a gift. In the same way, grace is not earned by working because if it was it wouldn’t be grace; it would be a payment for services.
Saturday, May 6, 2017
Faith
Faith is like a muscle -- one which must be "tested" to grow stronger. Imagine lying on a bench press. Standing over you is God, adding more weight to each side. You lift it, struggle with it, beg God to take it off you. But God is right there saying, "Push! I won't let it fall on you! Now PUSH!!" So you keep pushing. When it's over, you're exhausted, but stronger — knowing that with God, you can handle more than you thought you could....
Friday, May 5, 2017
What is the location of the Garden of Eden?
What is the location of the Garden of Eden?: What is the location of the Garden of Eden? Is the Garden of Eden still on the earth somewhere?
Thursday, May 4, 2017
What happens after death?
What happens after death?: What happens after death? When do we go to Heaven? When does a person experience the final judgment after death?
Wednesday, May 3, 2017
Tuesday, May 2, 2017
Is the Bible true?
What is shamanism?
What is shamanism?: What is shamanism? What are the core beliefs of shamanism? What world religions are shamanistic in their practices?
Monday, May 1, 2017
What is the Romans Road to salvation?
What is the Romans Road to sal
vation?: What is the Romans Road to salvation? What are the Scripture verses on the Romans Road to salvation?
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