ParentalRights

I visited the site ParentalRights.org today. There’s some scary stuff happening out there that I think that parents should be aware of. What disturbed me the most was a video that was posted under the article, We Cannot Trust the Parents. They’ve also got some other interesting articles. Check it out and remember to be vigilant in prayer for our children and our country.

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The Necessity of Abiding in Christ

From cover to cover, the Bible is the story of God’s relations with man. From the Garden of Eden to the plagues and destruction in Revelation, I see a God Who is reaching out and calling to man to have a relationship with Him. Though God can change our wills, He rarely does, preferring instead to allow us free will and giving us the choice to willingly come to Him. The same God Who does not force us to come to Him initially does not force us to stay in Him and with Him either. In my previous post, I discussed Christ Is Salvation.  Here are some Scriptures which stress necessity of remaining in Him.

“Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father. And this is the promise that he hath promised us, eternal life.” (1 John 2:24, 25)

“If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.” (John 15:6)

Besides the verses I just quoted there are also exhortations given by the apostles and the calls to persevere that further lend credence to this concept that abiding and continuation in the faith is not automatic.

“Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.” (Acts 13:43)

“Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.” (Paul speaking to disciples from Lystra)(Acts 14:22)

From these appeals to continue (as well as stated consequences for not continuing), we can see that perseverance is conditioned on the Christian choosing to use the grace that God gives to remain in the faith. 

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Expelled: Coming to theaters this week

For those of you interested, Expelled will be coming out this week, Friday, April 18. For those of you who haven’t heard, this movie has been made to address the academic persecution that scientists face who dare to oppose Darwinism. The official movie site is http://www.expelledthemovie.com

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Dietary Commands for Christians

Most Christians don’t even know this, but though Gentile Christians, we do have dietary commands that we are to follow.  They are most decidedly scant, which is all the more shame that most Christians don’t even know them, much less concern themselves with keeping them.  God gave to Noah one dietary command for His people to keep which was reiterated by the apostles:

“Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things. But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat.” Genesis 9:3,4

“For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay no greater burden on you than these requirements: You must abstain from eating food offered to idols, from consuming blood or eating the meat of strangled animals, and from sexual immorality. If you do this, you will do well. Farewell.” (Acts 15:28, 29)

What’s off the diet:

1) Food offered to idols.  Hardly a problem in this day and time.

2) Eating blood.

3) Eating the meat of stangled animals.

I know this will be a hard blow to those of you who like their meat cooked somewhat rare, but God doesn’t want us eating blood.  Honoring God is definitely more important than our meat preferences.  If what you like out of rare meat is having moist, juicy food, there are other ways of having moist meat than leaving it bloody.  Some ideas include:  using meat tenderizer or a good marinade, using some good sauce like steak sauce or barbecue sauce, or getting more tender cut of meat.  Always put God first in every aspect of your life and He will bless you.  God bless.  Rachael

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Question on the Death Penalty

I was recently visiting Dawn’s blog; she was in the middle of having a debate with Pizza Man about the death penalty.  She asked me what my thoughts/beliefs on the death penalty are.  Since my reply to her has gotten a bit too long to post into a comments box, I have decided to post it here.  I hestitated to do so, since I tend to shy away from discussions on social issues, preferring instead to stick with Biblical and spiritual topics.  Maybe, though, this information will be useful to others who are looking to find the Biblical position on this issue.

THE PRECEDENT

The death penalty is a God-ordained means of justice instituted well before the law was given to Moses. 

“And surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man; at the hand of every man’s brother will I require the life of man. Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.” Genesis 9:5,6 (God said this to Noah immediately after the flood.)

IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

“Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.” Romans 13:1-4 Written by Paul to the Christians in Rome. 

Here we are told of the government’s role and authority in the lives of Christians that we are also to respect as the ordinance of God. Notice the terminology such as bearing the sword and revenger to execute wrath.  Yes, these terms could be symbolic of simply punishment, but if the government shouldn’t have the power to execute, maybe it should have said something like keeper of the bonds or something instead of bearer of the sword and revenger to execute wrath.

OBJECTIONS

1) But the government is corrupt!

A: And you don’t think that the Roman government was as well?  Are you forgetting about the persecution of the apostles and churches?  Of course you’ll find corruption in the government.  Corruption will always exist in systems where men are in control, ALWAYS. 

2) I’m pro-life.

A: Yes, and so am I.  For that matter, so is God Who instituted the death penalty.  Death isn’t something that anyone prefers to use and certainly something that is not enjoyed, but is necessary.  Don’t forget the part about the higher powers being a terror unto those who practice evil. 

3) There are those who deserved death who did not get the death penalty.  Like what about Cain, Moses, Paul, and David?

A: First and foremost let us not forget that God can forgive; God is the ultimate Judge, so it is God’s choice whom He will show mercy and a stay to.  On a case by case basis: Cain – crime committed before the institution of the death penalty, but did not excape being punished by God. Moses – was a case of defending another man who was being beaten; this was a case of defense, not of murder.  Paul – misguided zealousness, but acted with the permission of the leaders and within full accord of his civil law; not a murderer.  David – repented for his actions and got a stay of execution from God, but did not by any means escape punishment, paying for his crimes by losing 4 children.  (By some who are parents, it might be agreed that death would have been preferrable.) 

4) I’ve done things to earn death from the Levitical law. 

A: Our government hardly imposes the Levitical law.  So bringing up the death penalty for matters like these is raising a moot point because our government never has and never will implement the Levitical law.  If you have sinned against God by committing acts that He finds detestable or abominable, then repent so you can receive His mercy.

WHICH OFFENSES?

The next question I was asked was essentially, which offenses deserve the death penalty? Tricky question.  I would say that Biblically the only crime which God seemed to demand blood for from both Gentile and Jew alike was murder. “So ye shall not pollute the land wherein ye are: for blood it defileth the land: and the land cannot be cleansed of the blood that is shed therein, but by the blood of him that shed it.” Numbers 35:33

If I made the laws of the land, I’d also want that those who commit sex crimes to see the death penalty, especially those who violate children.

I’ll conclude at this point for now.  If I get more points that need to be addressed, I may edit this post to include them.

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Christ is Salvation

THE NATURE OF SALVATION

When many people thing of salvation, they think of the event at which they “got saved.”  While salvation is not devoid of this event, this view is too limited in scope and tends to lead errors in how one perceives salvation.  I believe that the best way to see salvation is as less as an event and more as a person: the Person of Christ. Christ said, “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, and you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.” (John 15:1-6)

“And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” (John 17:3)

“I am the way, the truth, and the life.” (John 14:6)

“And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.” (1 John 5:20)

“When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.” (Colossians 3:4)

“And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.” (1 John 5:11)

Knowing this aspect of salvation helps us to realize that salvation is not easily lost but is kept as long as we abide or remain in the One Who is our Salvation. 

Thank You, God for Your unending love and mercy Who would stoop Yourself to patiently remain with and be faithful to me, a completely undeserving person.  I love You, dear Lord.

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