“The Gun Is Civilization” – Maj. L. Caudill

This is one of the most original and well-argued articles I’ve seen. Check it out.

“The Gun Is Civilization”
by Maj. L. Caudill USMC (Ret)

Human beings only have two ways to deal with one another: reason and force.  If you want me to do something for you, you have a choice of either convincing me via argument, or force me to do your bidding under threat of force. Every human interaction falls into one of those two categories, without exception. Reason or force, that’s it.

In a truly moral and civilized society, people exclusively interact through persuasion. Force has no place as a valid method of social interaction, and the only thing that removes force from the menu is the personal firearm, as paradoxical as it may sound to some. When I carry a gun, you cannot deal with me by force. You have to use reason and try to persuade me, because I have a way to negate your threat or employment of force.

The gun is the only personal weapon that puts a 100-pound woman on equal footing with a 220-pound mugger, a 75-year old retiree on equal footing with a 19-year old gang banger, and a single guy on equal footing with a carload of drunk guys with baseball bats. The gun removes the disparity in physical strength, size, or numbers between a potential attacker and a defender. There are plenty of people who consider the gun as the source of bad force equations. These are the people who think that we’d be more civilized if all guns were removed from society, because a firearm makes it easier for a armed mugger to do his job. That, of course, is only true if the mugger’s potential victims are mostly disarmed either by choice or by legislative fiat–it has no validity when most of a mugger’s potential marks are armed.

People who argue for the banning of arms ask for automatic rule by the young, the strong, and the many, and that’s the exact opposite of a civilized society. A mugger, even an armed one, can only make a successful living in a society where the state has granted him a force monopoly. Then there’s the argument that the gun makes confrontations lethal that otherwise would only result in injury. This argument is fallacious in several ways. Without guns involved, confrontations are won by the physically superior party inflicting overwhelming injury on the loser.

People who think that fists, bats, sticks, or stones don’t constitute lethal force watch too much TV, where people take beatings and come out of it with a bloody lip at worst. The fact that the gun makes lethal force easier works solely in favor of the weaker defender, not the stronger attacker. If both are armed, the field is level. The gun is the only weapon that’s as lethal in the hands of an octogenarian as it is in the hands of a weight lifter. It simply wouldn’t work as well as a force equalizer if it wasn’t both lethal and easily employable.

When I carry a gun, I don’t do so because I am looking for a fight, but because I’m looking to be left alone. The gun at my side means that I cannot be forced, only persuaded. I don’t carry it because I’m afraid, but because it enables me to be unafraid. It doesn’t limit the actions of those who would interact with me through reason, only the actions of those who would do so by force.

It removes force from the equation… and that’s why carrying a gun is a civilized act.

By Maj. L. Caudill USMC (Ret.)

Assault Swords

I was teaching bo (a six-foot staff) this morning and mentioned to my students that most of the wooden weapons martial artists train with today were created by ancient people because their governments forbade them from having weapons with sharp points and edges (swords, spears, knives). I then had to reflect on the insanity of some of the arguments I’ve heard over this gun debate.

I’ve heard people say that hundreds of years ago when the constitution was written the guns were muskets. The “assault weapons” we have today were never in the minds of the founding fathers when they wrote the second amendment. Tell that to the ancient Asian cultures who weren’t allowed to own any swords or knives. Or explain that to the ancient Israelites who weren’t even allowed to have sharp farming implements. This has nothing to do with how dangerous the weapon is because no weapon is harmful in the hands of the right people. The real issue is “Who gets to have the swords?”

Don’t buy into the propaganda that the clip size, children’s safety, or “assault weapons” are the issue. Even when there were no guns on the entire planet, dictatorial governments tried to strip their people of the strongest weapons they had . . . not to protect the people, but to control them.

We’ve seen this trick before. When will we start learning from history?

Love Hides Sin?

I Peter 4:8b, “Charity shall cover the multitude of sins.”

I don’t know about you, but the common application of this verse has always troubled me. Which sins should I look over? How often should I ignore the sins of others? Does God do this with us?

Unfortunately, if you’ve heard that true love “covers up” sin by ignoring it, then you were subjected to the same poor interpretation that I was for so long.

Let’s look at one Old Testament verse and two New Testament verses that correctly interpret this idea of covering sin:

1. Psalm 85:2 “Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people, thou hast covered all their sin. Selah.” (emphasis mine)

2. Romans 4:7 “Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.” (emphasis mine)

3. James 5:20 “Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.” (emphasis mine. “Hide” is the same Greek word used in I Peter)

So, what’s the application?

1. Nowhere in Scripture are Christians told that love ignores sin. In fact, the number of passages that would blatantly contradict that concept are prevalent.
2. The four passages we looked at are, in fact, reminding us that the most loving and Christ-honoring thing we can do in the face of sin is to have a spirit of forgiveness. This interpretation is highly supported by numerous Scripture passages.
3. Therefore, don’t ever feel responsible to ignore sin.
4. Instead, in a spirit of love and forgiveness, speak to the erring borther about his standing before God.
5. Rebuking, reproving, and admonishing can be the most loving things to do when they’re done with the right attitude of restoration.
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“To My Gay Angry Friend” – Joe Dallas

In the midst of name calling, chikin dinners, protesters, politicians, waffle fries, and media hype, Joe Dallas has written a beautifully sympathetic letter to a Chick-fil-A protester. In his article he speaks freely of the conversation he wished he could have with the “calm, angry and unfazed” beacon of the gay cause.

What I like most about this letter is he got it right! Mr. Dallas writes,

“So put yourself in our shoes. If the owner of a restaurant chain said he favored same sex marriage, and in response a city councilman and two mayors of major metropolitan cities committed themselves to shutting his business down, how would you feel? Wouldn’t you be inclined to say that, wherever a business owner stands on homosexuality, city and state officials have no right trying to shut him down? Wouldn’t you feel you’d just time- warped into some totalitarian regime where the wrong words or beliefs could bring you ruin?

“So would we. I don’t think we turned out by the thousands to support Chick-fil-A just because of its owner’s positions, but because elected officials tried to punish him for those positions. That’s more than disagreement; it smacks of government intrusion. And believe me, if government officials try to shut a business down because of its pro-gay position, I’ll be there for them, too.”

His observations are spot-on and Christ-honoring.

Listen, folks. There are many Christians who are saying that true God-lovers wouldn’t have participated in supporting Chick-fil-A. I disagree with that statement on multiple levels for multiple reasons, but for now all I want to do is agree whole-heartedly with Mr. Dallas. This demonstration was right and good in God’s eyes as long as God’s children did it for the right reasons in the right way.

Thank you, Joe Dallas, for putting it so lovingly.

Westboro Baptist Church Lies About God

“God hates Jews.”

“Fags are beasts.”

“America is doomed.”

These love-inspired quotes are par for the course for many of the members of Westboro Baptist Church in Kansas. These types of sentiments are widely published by this congregation at every possible opportunity. In fact, their church web address is http://www.godhatesfags.com. How sweet.

Well, they’re at it again. This time the gracious people of WBC will be picketing the Aurora, CO memorial service. They believe that shootings like the one that took place last week are a sign that God hates Aurora and is judging it.

I originally found the story here. But there are so many things to be said about this situation that I believe their new picket is probably the least on my mind.

What do you call a church that lies about God? What does God have to say about people who twist his words? What does God really say about the above issues?

As I attempt to Take Back the Bible from Westboro, I would like to share just a few passages. Please feel free to read these verses within their broader context. The first two points deal directly with the consequences of their lies concerning God, and the second two address two of their propaganda statements.

1. It is the unstable and the untaught who distort God’s Word, and they do so to their own destruction.

II Peter 3:10 “Speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction. 17  You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men and fall from your own steadfastness, 18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

2. Christ says it would be better for a person to have never lived than for them to lead people away into falsehood.

Luke 17:1 “It is inevitable that stumbling blocks come, but woe to him through whom they come! 2 It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea, than that he would cause one of these little ones to stumble.  3 Be on your guard! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. 4 And if he sins against you seven times a day, and returns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ forgive him.”

3. God does not hate jews.

Romans 11:1 “I say then, God has not rejected His people, has He? May it never be! For I too am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.  2 God has not rejected His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel? 3  “Lord, they have killed Your prophets, they have torn down Your altars, and I alone am left, and they are seeking my life.” 4  But what is the divine response to him? “I have kept for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.”  5   In the same way then, there has also come to be at the present time a remnant according to God’s gracious choice.

4. God does not hate homosexuals.

John 3:16-17 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.  17  “For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.”

“Why Are Christians So _____________?”

What a fantastic question! I’ve always wondered that myself.

Daniel Threlfall recently spent some quality time with Google and God’s Word and came out with some fantastic observations. Read “Why Are Christians So _________?” and see what’s being asked and what you can do to help.

 

 

“The Witch-Hunt for Mark Regnerus”

Imagine someone who denies that 9/11 actually happened calling a university president and demanding that a history proffessor be fired for teaching the facts surrounding the 9/11 tragedy. Now imagine the univerity president who would actually do that.

Denny Burk has written a fantastic observation entitled The Witch-Hunt for Mark Regnerus. In this article he describes the position truth-declaring Christians are in. Mark Regnerus published a completely scientific study that cast homosexual parents in a negative light. He is now being burned for going against current cultural trends even though his science was accurate and well-supported.

The obvious application for the Christian is this . . . the world will hate us because it hates Christ (John 15:18). If we teach what He teaches, we will be persecuted. I agree with Burk when he said, “We will look back on moments like this one as one more step down the path of intolerance of Christian views. Mark Regnerus is in the crosshairs now, but it will be all of us before too long.”

“Biblical Words Cannot Be Dismissed”

It has rightly been said that the issue of homosexuality is the biggest battle that Christians will face in this generation. I have only made one small comment about it on this blog and have received a number of comments because of it. Given that God’s Word deals with it, and given the fact that it is a HUGE issue in the world today, Taking Back the Bible will be dealing with the issue in more detail at a later date.

But today I want to draw everyone’s attention to an article written by an Illinois pastor named Bob Bixby. His article, “Biblical Words Cannot Be Dismissed“ was included in the guest column of the Rockford Register Star. Please feel free to read the entire article, but wait a moment before doing so. I’d like to make a few observations from Pastor Bixby’s thoughts.

An argument often made by the gay community is that the biblical writers looked down on homosexuality because it was culturally unacceptable. Pro-GLBT christians argue that God doesn’t think it’s a sin, but simply that His Word was defiled by the opinions of man. Here are two points. One of them aligns with what Pastor Bixby said:

1. “Pastor Solberg says it is our job to discern what comes from culture and what comes from God, and I agree. But one cannot dismiss the biblical words against homosexuality on the grounds that the biblical authors were influenced by their culture (an unproven assumption) and then promptly argue on the basis of our culture that they were wrong. If the biblical authors’ culture misguided them, on what basis do we know that ours is rightly guiding us?” [emphasis mine]

2. If the Almighty God of the universe is so completely incapable of keeping mere created mortals from somehow defiling His Word, then can He really be the Almighty God of the universe? If He isn’t, He’s not worthy of having us follow Him. If the all-truthful God cannot correctly (and without confusion) communicate Himself, is He really all that truthful? He tells us His Word is perfect even though it contains errors? If He isn’t truthful, He’s not worthy of having us follow Him.

Pastor Bixby also says,

“While trying to affirm biblical authority, Pastor Solberg relegated it to a place beneath culture. If today’s culture is king, then it’s silly to say that the Bible is against or for anything. Because everything it says (even on promiscuity) will be gutted of its authority on the grounds that the biblical authors were more influenced by their culture than by God. Protestants have abandoned sola scriptura and replaced it with sola cultura.”

The Bible spans 4,000 years of history and deals with events that haven’t even happened yet. It starts in the beginning of time and goes straight on to the end. The billions of “cultures” covered by the biblical narrative have absolutely no sway whatsoever on its eternal truth. Practices that were deemed necessary for specific cultures were told as much. There is no confusion on this point.

Take the Bible at It’s Word or throw it out. Don’t bother teaching any of it if some of it is false.

Spanking: When Christians and Atheists Agree??

“Just as Rob Bell tried to erase Hell, egalitarians try to erase male leadership language from the Bible, and anti-spanking fanatics try to erase corporal punishment from the Bible. It’s all there, and it’s in language as plain as day. And for an atheist, that’s all understandable.
But throwing grenades at fundamentalists, denying total depravity, and erasing clear language of Scripture, all while pretending that you’re still a Christian parent . . . that’s the confusing part.”

The above article posses some fantastic questions and handles this issue very well. Please understand that it is not an all conclusive debate, but simply a well written and to the point response to a “Christian” using anti-spanking articles to destroy God’s Word. How can a Christian acccept atheistic thinking considering child discipline?

Click on the title to read Jeremy Larson’s Pathetic Look at Spanking.

Indonesian Hatred

“The Code stipulates five years in prison for religious defamation, two-and-a-half years for hate speech, and one year for printing texts liable to criminal charges.”

Indonesia has never been known for its religious freedom. It’s never been known for tolerance. And it’s never been known for being a country with happy, prosperous people. I don’t want to paint with too broad a brush, but none of the above are stereotypical of Indonesia. People don’t leave second world countries and move to Indonesia with dreams of a better life.

So why is America (the greatest country on the planet) so dead-set on becoming like Indonesia in their ridiculous hate-speech legislation?

The above quote levies punishment for speaking against someone’s religion. Historically, hate speech legislation is illegal in America because it infringes on our freedom of speech. Words hurt only when the listener allows them too. Words are not like “sticks and stones.” If my fist hits someone’s face without legal allowances, I have undeniably encroached on their rights. My right to swing my arm ends where their face begins. But words don’t work that way. Words hurt us because we choose to value them, not because they are inherently hurtful.

I must be painfully honest here, and a number of you probably won’t like this, but the truth is that hate speech legislation is for wimps. Hate speech legislation is for cry-babies. Hate speech legislation is for people who like being victims. Someone, please explain to me one good reason to make speaking out against people illegal? If you take “hate speech” to its logical conclusion, then anything that makes anyone feel bad would be hate speech. I can’t tell you I don’t like your shirt. I can’t tell an employee that they’re a poor worker. I can’t tell someone they’re lifestyle is killing them. I can’t tell them their parenting is hurting the family structure. I can’t tell them that smoking is a bad idea. I can’t tell someone they’re a sinner in need of God’s saving love and grace. I can’t tell people the most important things in life simply because they may not like it.

As Americans, we cannot allow our government (or anyone else) to persuade us that speaking out against something we don’t like/believe is wrong. Hate speech legislation is an infringement on our liberty. If someone hates me, they are entitled to post that in the comments. On the same hand, I’m entitled to delete that comment. I’m not going to cry myself to sleep, lose “self-esteem,” or questions my beliefs because someone doesn’t like me.

The Lord promises me that people are going to hate me in this life because they hated Him. Hatred aimed toward me doesn’t bother me. And I don’t want the government to throw someone in jail who speaks out against what I believe in.

Thank you Indonesia for showing us exactly what not to do.

A Note on Modesty: from a Hebrew word and a Hebrew man

“She needs a doily.”

This expression is occasionally used by me and my wife when a lady is showing a little too much skin. It’s a way for my wife to say, “Avert your eyes,” and for us to have a little fun with outdated modes of modesty at the same time.

In my study through Genesis I gave a longer than normal amount of thought to Adam and Eve’s pre-sin nakedness and post-sin clothedness. Modesty is not something that is discussed in great length in the Scriptures. Some people view it as being very subjective and tied solely to our culture. But I’d just like to make two particular observations concerning a Hebrew word and a Hebrew man.

Let us begin with some background. Genesis 3:7 tells us that immediately as Adam and Eve’s eyes were open to their sin, their first thought was they were unclothed. Even though they had been naked since their creation (and we can only guess how much time had passed since then) they were both immediately uncomfortable naked. There was no one else to see them. They were standing in front of the exact same person who had seen them naked their entire lives, but they were ashamed. The very first human occupation noted in the Bible is that of a gardener (Adam and Eve’s responsibility). The second was a tailor. The first was ordained by God; the second was created by sin. Sorry, seamstresses and tailors.

The point is, they were immediately embarrassed by their nakedness and sought to remedy the situation. Later on when the Lord confronted them, nakedness again was brought up. “I heard the sound of You in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid myself” (v. 10). Then again, after Adam and Eve received the consequences of their sin, God Himself made them clothes.

1. What caught my attention was the description of the clothes Adam and Even made for themselves. The Hebrew word chagorah is often translated loincloth. “Loins” refers to a very specific region of the human body best defined as “the hips and the lower abdomen regarded as a part of the body to be clothed or as the region of strength and procreative power.” In the waking moments of their sin, Adam and Eve covered their reproductive organs. Now, I have no idea how long Eve’s hemline was, but I do know that the inherent indecency of revealing that area of their bodies was foremost in their minds.

The word used to describe the clothes God made for them has a broader connotation. The coat/tunic/robe/covering God made appears to have done a better job of covering them up than their own loincloths.

2.  I don’t want to be unnecessarily descriptive here, but I believe this is an important point to make when discussing modesty; especially concerning women. My second observations come from the divinely inspired writings of a Hebrew man named Solomon. The Song of Solomon is a book that some Christian parents don’t want their young men reading. I can almost understand why. At the same time, it’s God’s Word and He didn’t include an “R” rating.

It is clear to see that Solomon had a pronounced preoccupation with breasts. There. I said it. This wouldn’t bear observing were it not included in the cannon of God. I believe it is safe to say, though, that inherent in men is a preoccupation (of one kind or another) for that particular area of a woman’s body. I understand that there are always exceptions, but history is fraught with countless literary examples, and the massive porn industry I think proves my point.

I shall speedily progress to my final thoughts without leaving too much time for unhealthy imagining.

Modesty should be defined in its most base form as a covering of the reproductive organs. I believe it is fair to extend this to our posteriors as well. Both areas of the body were designed by God for procreation as well as waste removal. The obvious coupling by God of the front and back demand that we treat them equally.

But I don’t think we can leave modesty there. I also believe that our divine insight into the sexuality of human males dictates that in the same way sex should be saved for marriage, so should exposing a woman’s bosom.

It is clear to see that even secular society agrees with my observations. Most people feel very uncomfortable exposing those parts of their bodies in public. There are governmental ordinances forbidding indecent exposure. Indecent exposure covers the three main areas I have detailed here. Where do these feelings of shame come from? They are inherent in our sinful humanity. Our sin causes us to be uncomfortable when we are naked in the presence of other people. Of course, like any other sin, we can become immune and calloused.

No one can argue that nakedness is always attributed with extreme purity, shame, or sexuality. The first is impossible for us to achieve, the second should always be avoided, and the third has divine precepts governing it. Ladies and gentlemen, we must be modest.

Now, the last thing I want to do is be pharisaical. I do not want to say something that God doesn’t say, but I would like to simply point out a wise idea. If God wants my loins covered, then I should probably not stretch the tightest fabric known to man over it so that every detail, line, and curve is observable. The same would go for women’s upper bodies. If it’s that big of a deal (and we can see from Genesis that it is), why do we try to be as tight, low, and high as we can? No, the Bible does not say that all skirts and shorts need to come to the knee. There is no divine three-finger rule. But the concept of modesty is evident and the importance of staying covered is obvious. God does not want us uncovering those areas of our bodies unless it is necessary. Intercourse between a married heterosexual couple, emergency medical situations, and the unavoidable chores of being a parent of small children all fall within Christ-honoring forms of nudity. Otherwise . . . keep your clothes on.

The Genesis of Gender: Part 2 of God’s Thoughts on Gender Roles

Should women employ men? Is it okay for men to cry? Biblically speaking, can a woman be president? What does God think of a stay-at-home-dad?

I hope to be able to deal with these questions and more for as long as the Lord allows us to keep up this discussion concerning men, women, and God’s plan for them in this world.

To understand the complete picture of the sexes, though, we must return to the beginning; the very beginning. Let us start with Creation. In Genesis 2:7 we read that God formed man out of the dust of the ground. God subsequently breathed into this man the breath of life (something He did not do for any other living creature). Following an unknown period of time in which Adam named the animals, God deemed it necessary to provide Adam a mate (Gen 2:19-20). Many have conjectured as to why God would wait so long. We assume when all of the other animals and birds were created, both males and females were created at the same time. Yet, God chose to make Adam significantly earlier than Eve. Here are some general items of note. Please understand that these passages do not as of yet provide any commands for the sexes, but do lay out some interesting principles and observations.

1. Adam (the male) received a unique creative process before Eve (the female).

2. Adam was allowed to live a span of time before Eve was created.

As we continue with the narrative, we hear God commenting that it isn’t good for man to be alone. It is for this reason that God said He would create a corresponding partner for Adam that will help him (2:18). The idea of “help” is a simple one. Help means to give assistance to or promote. Help is never offered from the standpoint of superiority. That is not to say that a superior cannot give help, but it is a willful submission that puts the helpers needs and desires below the one being helped. Something is always sacrificed to further the goals of the helpee. Eve was created to help Adam, not the other way around.

Here are some more observations thus far:

3. Eve’s creation was predicated on the fact that Adam needed someone to help him.

4. Eve was created to be that helper.

5. Eve was created using a piece of Adam. She was not created the same way Adam was.

6. They were commanded to bond in such a way as to create “one flesh.” (Gen. 2:24)

Again, all we have here are steps and stages. Can a doctrine of gender be construed from mere observations of form? I believe the answer is “yes” . . . to a degree. It is important to notice that God is very metaphorical. Symbolism plays a significant part in the revelation of God and His will. For God, the simplicity of the creative act is evident. He was not required to use six days, nor did He have to rest on the seventh. He could have created the world in an instant, but He chose to communicate to us via form and stages. I believe we have the same evidences here. Our Lord is a God of order. He created the home before the government which He created before the church. There are important truths to be understood in that created order. This is not to say that the highest life forms are fish and fowl simply because the were created first (we cannot misapply our hermeneutic), but it is evident that there was a purpose for Adam’s creation precipitating Eve’s.

What are the applications? I think we should wait a moment before delving into that channel. There is another Genesis passage we must consult before we can accurately apply these observations to ourselves. At this point Adam and Eve lived in an innocent stage of life. They did not know what good or evil was. We do not exist in that realm, so it is wise to note God’s ordinances for their relationship after sin was introduced to the world.

The fruit was eaten. Sin contaminated the human race. God passed judgment. In Genesis 3:16 God said to Eve, “I will greatly multiply Your pain in childbirth, In pain you will bring forth children; Yet your desire will be for your husband, And he will rule over you.” The final two statements bear study. 1. “Your desire will be for your husband” is not a romantic idea. To base feminine romantic preoccupation on this verse is blatantly fallacious. The idea in the original language is that “Your desire will be against your husband.” God is saying that you will “stretch out against” your husband’s authority. Interpreting this prediction would be difficult if it were not for the final statement, “And he will rule over you.” 2. To rule is to have dominion over, to reign over, to have power over. God told Eve that even though she would innately desire to have authority over her husband, she would have to submit to his will.

This verse contains a divine proclamation of order.

7. The husband will rule over the wife.

It is important to note at this juncture that the context is not that women will be ruled over by men. The proclamation is clearly set forth for the marriage relationship.

So what does the “Genesis of Gender” teach us about the roles of men and women?

1. Adam (the male) received a unique creative process before Eve. God chose for man to have an unequalled status concerning women. There is a clear preeminence shown in the creation timeline. As to its ultimate application, I do not believe we can be bold utilizing this passage alone.

2. Adam was allowed to live a span of time before Eve was created. This seems to illustrate the above point.

3. Eve’s creation was predicated on the fact that Adam needed someone to help him. Seemingly, the woman had no reason for existence had man never been created. Her founding purpose is tied to the man’s needs. There is no reason to argue that her core purpose has changed throughout the years. If, in a perfect world, a woman’s highest calling was to be the perfect completer of a man, what makes us think that God created a lesser purpose because of sin? Could their be a higher purpose if the original was perfect as it was?

4. Eve was created to be that helper. No one can help a man like a woman. Side Note: It can be inferred that a man cannot help a man nor a woman a woman the way God intended. This must be a potent observation for homosexuals.

5. Eve was created using a piece of Adam. She was not created the same way Adam was. I have two observations. First, it is undeniable that Eve was the secondary creation in the human race. In fact, as far as we know, she was the last direct creation. Therefore, the creative process leads us to think there is a difference in God’s mind between the man and woman. Eve represented a portion of man as she was removed from his chest. Her entire being was created by his rib. What exactly the difference is between men and women I do not believe can be extrapalated from this passage. But it definately cannot be said that Eve was as common as an animal. Her unique creation and the fact that she was rooted in the equally unique creation of man shows that she is much more than animal and should be treated as such. The rule Adam was given over Eve is not the same dominion that Adam and Eve were given over the world. Eve was not a possession nor a lower life-form. She was a co-steward over the rest of God’s created world. Women today share this responsibility with men as they always have.

6. They were commanded to bond in such a way as to create “one flesh.” In marriage there is a unique relationship formed that transcends all other human relationships. Though husband and wife become a single entity, do not make the fundamental flaw that both are completely equal in all matters. The Trinity is a perfect example for us. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are all 100% God. They do not differ in composition, but there is a divinely ordained hierarchy within the perfect unity. The same is true in husband/wife relationships.

7. The husband will rule over the wife. In this sinful world, God ordained that the man (an obvious choice given the aforementioned priority put on man) be the final word in the marriage relationship. There is no misconstruing God’s words on this point. To argue it would be to say God messed up.

So, can we start applying now? I believe we can.

A. As I mentioned before, we cannot be dogmatic at this point in our study in the application of our first two points. Yes, man was created first. Yes, certain rights and privileges were given to Adam long before Eve was created. But, to step into clear delineations between voting rights or employment is overreaching God’s Word.

B. We must acknowledge that women were created for men. This truth stands in the face of most contemporary feministic movements that purport that women don’t need men. In truth, men need women, and women need to fulfill that need within God’s will.

C. Within the marriage relationship (which I believe it is safe to say that women were created to participate in) the man is to be the leader.

So, let’s tackle one of the questions I opened with. How about last one? Does this passage have any bearing on a father being a stay-at-home-dad? I believe it does. But it’s not so much the action of staying-at-home as it is the attitude behind it. I have a friend whose wife is an anesthesiologist. She works and he takes care of their three children. Now, I am not intimately familiar with the unique dynamics within their house, but let’s say for sake of argument that the wife is the head of the household. She wants her career and she expects her husband to support her in that. Well, there’s a clear biblical problem with that. She would be obviously be desiring (and usurping) her husband’s authority. On the other hand, if the husband has chosen that his wife’s skills are far more conducive than his in providing for the family and maintaining the standard of living the family is used to, and they have come to an agreement that this is God’s will for their family under the direction of the husband . . . then I believe all is well.

We may encounter other passages along the way that would contradict our current application, and if that happens we need to reapply in order to take into consideration the whole counsel of God. But for now, we must accept that man and woman were created in two unique ways for two unique purposes and given two unique sets of responsibilities.

Your thoughts, questions, concerns, and observations are always invited and I hope we can sharpen each other through this discussion.

Click here to read Part I: God’s Thoughts on Gender Roles.

“Why I’m Not a Christian”

I appreciate Jeremy Larson’s handling of Bertrand Russell’s philosophies in his blog post Why I’m Not a Christian.

I have found that atheists are incurably inconsistent. It is true this is a common problem among humans, but it is not an issue with God. That is why when we argue from Scripture, inconsistencies cannot abide. But for the atheist, whose sole ground of authority lies in human reasoning, their arguments are fraught with inconsistencies and holes.

But, praise God, between those inconsistencies I find that God’s Word fits rather nicely.

When Wisdom Becomes a Sin

I like to deal with issues that are applicable to the culture we live in. For this reason I take the occasional cue from what others are writing about. When we’re all discussing it, it’s probably worth discussing. I was in a singles’ group once where we were going to cover “current cultural issues.” Most of the topics were met with confused looks from the singles because not one of us had an issue with any of the “issues.” But when we were allowed to express our own ideas about issues we faced every day we had more than enough fodder for the discussion.

David Crabb has once again put his finger on an important cultural issue in many churches in his article entitled Forbidding What God Allows. The title is extremely clear and the topic necessary.

David’s key ideal can be summed up in the following quote:

“When I allow what God prohibits, I am setting myself up as god–as the lawgiver. My rule is supreme. On the same token, when I prohibit what God allows, I am not ‘erring on the side of caution,’ but am actually setting myself up as god–as the lawgiver. My rule is supreme. If I cannot prove that God prohibits something, then I should simply acknowledge it. I might have an entire list of reasons I believe a certain course of action to be best, but far better to use words like ‘wisdom’ and ‘prudence,’ rather than absolute moral terms (e.g. ‘sinful’).”

A perfect New Testament example of this is when Jesus Christ was condemned by the Pharisees for “working” on the Sabbath (this happened frequently). First, we must recognize that Jesus never sinned. He was incapable of breaking the Sabbath. Second, we have to understand that the “laws” he was breaking had been instituted by men, not God. Therefore, the religious leaders of that day were telling God Himself that He was breaking His own law. They set themselves up “as god – as the lawgiver. [Their] rule [was] supreme.”

What’s the application for us? David’s article was helpful, but I’d like to put a finer point on it. We have every right as believers to uphold God’s law to the minutest. Adultery is always a sin. Gossip is always a sin. Bitterness is always a sin. Gluttony is always a sin. Vile speech is always a sin. But not everything in the Bible is a command. There are many principles and even some suggestions as to how we are to live. It is up to the individual Christian to apply these principles in the most Christ-honoring way possible.

Let’s take the example of women wearing pants. I admit that this is not the hot-button topic is used to be, but it will serve my illustration well. The Bible has nothing to say concerning whether women are allowed to have one pant leg (skirt) or two (pants). Deuteronomy 22:5 is the only “proof-text” that has ever been used for this issue. It says, “A woman shall not wear man’s clothing, nor shall a man put on a woman’s clothing; for whoever does these things is an abomination to the Lord your God.” This question has at least two main principles that apply to it. One, many of the sundry laws concerning clothing no longer apply to Christians under the New Covenant. Two, in our culture people make pants for women. There are men’s pants and women’s pants. A woman in pants is not a woman in men’s clothing. To flatly preach that a woman in pants is a direct violation of Scripture is as absurd as saying that a man wearing a shirt is a sin because women wear shirts and men aren’t to wear women’s clothes.

Millions of people have taken this verse, misapplied it, and have been acting as the Law-Giver by condemning women for wearing pants made for women.

Please understand, it is not wrong for a woman to never wear slacks. It is not wrong for a woman to think it best for her to not don pants. But it is wrong for anyone to tell a women in pants that she is sinning (barring indecency and immodesty both clear biblical commands).

If God’s Word demands it, we must demand it. If God’s Word applies it, we must apply it. If the Bible takes it back, so should we. But where God is silent, we should tread carefully. Where God does not apply, we should not command. We must always apply God’s Word to every area of our existence, but we must not call sin what God has not called sin.

A Wrong View of Grace

It’s been said that we personify God based off of our human father. This may be true, but I hope it’s not. I’m a father. I have a father. Neither of us are even remotely capable of giving a good picture of our Heavenly Father.

But if the above is true, that would explain why so many of us have a distorted view concerning the relationship between us and God. Here on earth a father’s love can be capricious. He smiles more when we please him, but he threatens to disown us when we don’t. Thankfully my father never threatened to disown me, but we must understand that no matter what your earthly father is like, God does not operate the same way.

On his blog, David Crabb quotes Holiness by Grace (a book by Bryan Chapell). In the article we are encouraged to realize that nothing we can do will ever cause God to love us any more or any less.

The reality of the redeemed’s situation is a glorious one! God does not love me because of me . . . He loves me because of Christ! Christ’s blood has covered my sins. His righteousness has replaced my wickedness. By His blood I have been pardoned before God. When God looks at me, He does not see Aaron Brewster. He sees His son, Jesus Christ. And because of this beautiful substitutionary atonement, God loves me the exact same amount as He loves His only Son. Wow!

Therefore, no amount of sin on my part can separate me from His love. At the same time, no amount of holiness will ingratiate me to Him more. He loves me with a perfect, undying love!

“He seemed like such a nice man.” & False Teachers

“He seemed like such a nice man.” How many serial killers and rapists do we need to hear such comments about before we realize that what a person projects to those around is not necessarily a mirror of their soul.

False teachers, no doubt, could have much the same said about them. Detroit Baptist Theological Seminary recently posted an article entitled Do False Teachers Preach in Denim? The main thesis was that wolves in sheep’s clothing do in fact look like sheep. They offer three ways to be aware of possible false teaching in your church. I’d like to add a fourth: Know God’s Word.

I understand that people lie, but inconsistencies will always leak out. Whether in public or private, no liar can feep up the facade day and night. This point aligns with DBTS’s second observation. But my purpose here is to show that lies cannot be seen as lies unless they are compared to truth. Bankers do not study counterfeit bills; they study real ones. If we are ignorant of the truth of God’s Word, we will never be able to perceive falsehood.

Satan beguiled Eve by re-wording the Word of God. A simple change of subject or voice inflection and the subtle false teacher can hook an unwary listener. If Eve had simply argued for what God had said, Satan would have been exposed for the snake he is.

Taking Back the Bible is committed to untangling the lies of those who would twist the Scriptures. Continue with us as we study God’s Truth and apply it to our lives.

Preaching Against Sin Requires Personal Application

Michael Riley reminds us here that when we preach, it must apply. It’s too easy to teach about things our students, children, counselees, and congregations don’t struggle with. This method is helpful, edifying, and useful for warning, but we CANNOT avoid dealing with the real-life issues that the people around us are dealing with. When we do that, we give a false sense of security. “I’m okay because I don’t believe in transubstantiation.” or “I’m glad we don’t have that kind of music in our church.” But are you preaching about gossip, lust, gluttony, disbelief, anger, hurtful sarcasm, laziness, spiritual apathy and the plethora of other ignored sins? #Balance in Preaching

Why Does the World Hate Us?

“Cassandra was that unfortunate woman who was cursed with an ability to foretell the future accurately, while at the same time never having her predictions believed. There is a sense in which that particular curse is a type for our times.”

Doug Wilson’s insights into the Christian’s “prophetic curse” are remarkably accurate. Every pastor, parent, counselor, teacher, and loving friend who has ever tried to warn someone about the consequences of their sin will understand what Doug is saying.

“The same thing happens to individuals. When someone starts making stupid and inexplicable choices, you can describe for him where it is all going to end up. Those concerns will just be taken as further proof of your lack of compassion. And the problem is, when it ends up right where you said, and he comes out of the closet (say), the chances are excellent that no one will say, “Whoa, boy, did you call that.” No, the more undeniably right you were, the more insufferable it will be for them, and the more bluntly it will be insulted.”

Christ tells us in John 15:18 “If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you.” I don’t think we often ask the deeper question here . . . why did the world hate Christ in the first place? The answer is simple: He told the truth.

Christ told the truth about everything! He told them Who He was. He told them what He came to do. He told them about sin, righteousness, and judgement. And because He warned them, because He offered them a way to escape the ends of their sin . . . they hated Him. It doesn’t make sense to the believer, but it doesn’t make the reality any less real.

Therefore, since sinful man hates truth, if not for the grace of God they will hate it when we share God’s truth with them as well. Of course, that does not remove our responsibility to share God’s truth. Romans 10:14 states,. “How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher?” Our simple mission is to do what Christ did. We share God’s truth. We do not change people. We do not make people believe. We tell the truth, and if they hate us, we know it’s because they hate God and His truth.

Read Doug Wilson’s blog post here at The Cassandra Effect.

Do it like Disney. No, wait . . . like God.

Why does the world perform customer service better than Christians?

In preparation for our first week of summer camp at Schaumburg Christian Day Camp, I have been training my staff using business tips from Walt Disney himself. Now, lest you fear that I am preparing a group of Christian counselors with the mere musing of a mouse man . . . do not tremble my brethren.

Here’s the thing: Most of Disney’s principles on running a successful business and growing a customer base can really preach! Isn’t that so often the case. Any time the world finds something truly amazing, earth-shattering, and guaranteed to work every time . . . we find out God’s been saying it all along.

Let’s look at a couple of Disney’s precepts and see how they compare with the Ultimate’s precepts.

1. “Two Ears, two eyes, and one mouth, use them in that ratio.” James is not the first biblical writer to warn us of the evils of the tongue. Proverbs overflows with admonitions such as this. Disney Cast Members (employees) are instructed to hear the Guest (customer) out. Listen to hear the real need and meet it as efficiently as possible. They are also told to watch their speech in front of the guests who have come to Disney World to escape the baser things of life, not to hear Cinderella lamb-basting Jasmine because she won’t cover her shift.

2. Make “Wow Moments“ by exceeding the guest’s expectations. This particular ideal has much in common with Panera Bread Company’s “We break any rule to satisfy a customer.” Here’s how it works – a customer complains that their sandwich wasn’t made correctly. Of course, the associate (employee) is listening intently so as to know how best to fix the problem. What is the customer expecting? They obviously want a sandwich made the right way. If the sandwich-shop employee remakes the sandwich, is that going to “wow” the customer. No. All he’s doing is meeting an expectation. An expectation, mind you that wasn’t met correctly the first time. So, how do you wow such a customer? You give them what they expect, and the drop something on them they don’t. “I’m sorry your sandwich wasn’t made correctly. Here’s the corrected sandwich and a fresh pastry do show you how sorry we are.”

In that moment, the customer (no matter how miffed they were) can’t help but look a little surprised. They weren’t expecting that. They were “wowed.”

Where’s the biblical principle? Everywhere. Ephesians 4:32 says, “Be kind to one another.” Providing solely what is expected is not kindness, it’s common sense. Kindness exceeds the expectation. I Peter 2:20 tells us, “For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God.” What does it matter if we patiently bear up under a tongue lashing we deserve? But if we smile and speak gracious words in love when that customer berates us, we’ve not only created a “wow moment,” but we’ve found favor with God in the process.

Time would fail us to speak on not taking vengeance on poor tippers, heaping coals of fire on the heads of messy children, loving our enemies who tell the boss we weren’t doing our jobs, and doing all to the glory of God whether I’m eating and drinking on break or serving soup.

3. “What time is the 3 o’clock parade?” Disney used this very common question at Disney World to reinforce the above points, and then teach a little about giving the benefit of the doubt. The answer to the question seems clear, but how often have we found ourselves asking stupid questions (it doesn’t matter what your teacher said, they do exist)? My administrative assistant used to work for the USPS where she was frequently asked if they sold stamps. Ouch. But here’s the thing. Disney taught his people to see beyond the question. They needed to give the guest the benefit of the doubt that they really didn’t see the obvious answer but were desirous for assistance. A heart of respect and love keeps us from responding rudely when confronted by perceived idiocy. Instead, we realize that a real person is seeking a real answer.

The second part of this was the Cast Member was encouraged to “add value” to their answer. “The parade starts at three, and the best place to view it from is . . . .” Not only did they give the helpful answer, they gave the guest the wow moment they weren’t expecting.

The point is this, Christians should be the quintessential experts on all things customer service. Yes, the Bible is sufficient for on the job conflict as well. We should be the most kind, the most helpful, the most forgiving, the most sacrificial, the most friendly, the most joyful, and the most productive individuals on the planet. Why? Because we have been created by God to be so, commanded by God to be so, and empowered by God to be so!

Snake-Bitten Snake Handeler – Not Faith Related

Perhaps he didn’t have enough faith? Pastor Mark Wolford, Snake-handler, Dies Of Rattler Bite

This is sad to hear, but important to notice. Do not test God. God never tells us to prove our faith by ridiculous show. We prove our faith by doing what Christ prescribed in His Word. We obey. We love. We submit. We preach. We follow.

Yes, Paul was bit by a snake and didn’t die. And yes, Jesus appears to say in Mark 16:15-18 that anyone who believes in Him will be able to handle snakes, drink poison, heal the sick, cast out demons, and speak in tongues. But as we learn to Take Back the Bible we have to interpret Scripture with Scripture. We have to search the whole of the Bible in order to correctly apply its truths.

1. Jesus was not referring to every Christian in this passage (though principally, some of it applies to us). Suffice it to say, miracles are not something that God is gifting His children to perform in this dispensation. I know that was a powerful comment with no biblical citations. And I agree that that is completely unacceptable here at Taking Back the Bible. But, as I mentioned above, an understanding of biblical principles requires a study of the whole of the Scriptures. This particular matter is quite involved and, admittedly, is hotly debated. I would love to delve into this subject in more detail, but the time and space provided on this topic keeps me from diving in.

2. In conjunction with the above point, James 2:18 does in fact tell us how to work out our faith . . . and it doesn’t involve miracles. ”But someone may well say, “You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” How do I know snake-handeling isn’t the “works” he’s talking about? James immediately follows these doctrinal comments with application for us. He tells us to watch our mouths because our tongues are full of evil (chapter 3). We’re told to avoid conflict, lust, the world, pride, presumption, and arrogance (Chapter 4). We’re instructed in how to use our money and are exhorted to be patient, cease complaining, pray for the sick, and much more (Chapter 5). But never once is it insinuated in any passage of Scripture that we should parade dangerous acts in an attempt to witness to our faith.

Do you want others to see your faith? Love God and love them. Your faith will be obvious.

God’s Thoughts on Gender Roles? Part I

“He doesn’t treat me like a princess!”

“Women are more emotional than men.”

(so consequently) “Real men don’t cry.”

“I’m a mom; I’m allowed to worry.”

“If your music minister is more concerned that the choir trills their r’s correctly than that they fill the sanctuary with loud sounds of battle, your worship service and church community might be effeminate.”

Where did all of these opinions come from? More importantly, are your beliefs about how men and women are to conduct themselves guided by culture or Christ? Are our gender roles defined by men or God? David Crabb recently solicited the assitance of Paul Matzko to deal with this subject. I am so glad that he did. I am going to link Paul’s article here and allow it to become a springboard for our own discussion on the subject.

Read this post, do some study, and return here for a hotly-debated issue: Violent Men, Working Women, and Evangelical Gender Norms

Thank You for Reading

We genuinely appreciate the number of views we’ve received today. We hope these posts have been an encouragement or challenge (whichever was most necessary), and we pray you continue to return for more timely application from God’s Word. You can also follow Aaron on Twitter and Facebook.

The next time you visit any of these pages please feel free to comment on what you read! We would love to hear from you and interact with you. Lastly, we will be developing an “Ask the Counselor” page shortly that will give you the opportunity to ask questions about how God’s Word applies to life. We greatly desire to help you take that next step as you Take Back the Bible!

Gendercide

LifeNews.com posted an article by Steven Ertelt about sex-selective, late-term abortions. The original article can be read here: Planned Parenthood Encourages Woman to Get Sex-Selection Abortion.

Let me be clear about this. It won’t take long. It won’t be difficult to understand. Murder is a sin.

The act of murder is defined by most dictionaries as “The unlawful premeditated killing of one human being by another.” By this definition, abortion is not murder as long as it’s legal. But, at Taking Back the Bible, man’s definitions just aren’t good enough. In biblical terms, murder is defined as “Taking the life of an innocent individual.” Exodus 20:13 and Deuteronomy 5:17 both prohibit murder. The Hebrew word רָצַח (ratsach) has always been understood to mean the purposeful or accidental taking of someone’s life for “personal or selfish gain” (Tyndale Bible Dictionary).

But the crux of the abortion argument always seems to be whether or not the “thing” being aborted can in fact be considered alive. Many scientists, doctors, and pro-choice advocates skirt the issue with imposing medical terminology or philanthropic straw men, and often they outright lie about the realities of life. But according to God’s perfect Word, we are living sinners at the moment of conception (Psalm 51:5). There was also a steep penalty for hurting a pregnant woman so that her child would die (Exodus 21:22-25). I’ve barely scratched the top of this topic in biblical terms. The Bible is explicitly clear on this is!

This particular variation on abortion (sex-specific gendercide) simply reveals how base and twisted abortion advocates are becoming. Not only is it okay to kill a baby because it’s a bad time to be pregnant, but now I don’t have to like its sex. What next? “Well, ma’am, genetically we can tell that your son will have brown hair.” “Oh, that’s too bad. I prefer red. I think I’ll have an abortion and try for red next time.” Beliefs concerning human rights deteriorate as the culture moves farther and farther away from God and His precepts.

God’s Word is sufficient for this situation. How can a atheistic doctor to tell us whether or not God hates abortion? If you are a Christian who supports the abortion (for any reason), you need to go to Wal-Mart, buy a white T-shirt and a black magic marker, and write “I Don’t Read My Bible” on the shirt. Or, if you read It and ignore It, you may write, “I Don’t Believe My Bible.”

Abortion is murder. Let’s Take Back God’s Word from those who ignore It or deliberately twist It.

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Now, I know perfectly well that this post was short, not-so-sweet, and to the point. But for those of you who are still grappling with this question, for those of you who have had an abortion, or for those of you who belive you are in a moral dilemma . . . I want to help.

If you live in the Chicago area, I would love to meet with you and help you see the wondrous hope God has for those who have already had an abortion. We can meet to discuss why you really need to carry your baby to term. We can sit down and find God’s answers to your questions and His peace for your soul. There are answers.

Identifying and Defeating Pride: Jerry Bridges & David Crabb

David Crabb has a wonderful synopsis of Jerry Bridges discussion on pride from his book Respectable Sins. Both this article and the book are a must read. Click on the link below to read the article.

Identifying and Defeating Pride

Demons Among Us?

A naked man in Miami was shot and killed when he refused to stop eating the face of his victim. Sources say he continued his gnawing even after being shot the first time.

We acknowledge that our society is filled with the abnormal, the aberrant, and the anomalous, but the only answers society can point to are the elusive “mental illnesses” or chemical imbalances. Of course the “professionals” have a hard enough time defining the mind let alone an illness of it, and they have no tests to prove the chemical balancing act. But since the Bible provides all we need for life and godliness, let us turn to the Scriptures for an explanation of deviant behavior. We will find there prevalent answers on the subject. Some of which are direct explanations and others are vivid illustrations.

The answer to the question, “where does aberrant behavior come from” is always sin. Scripture tells us that we are born sinners because Adam first sinned. We are informed that sin is anything that misses the mark of God’s standard. Since God’s standard is pure perfection, sin is the cause of anything that deviates from God’s holiness. This is why it’s impossible for humanity to please God with sin in our lives. This is why we need a Savior (see What You Need to Know for more information about your sin). Further we are told in God’s Word that sin is not only inherent in all of us, it is also present in the world because of us, and propagated by Satan to destroy us.

The first and second sources are easy for most believers to understand, but the third root of sin (Satan and his demonic followers) gets a few more quizzical looks. One reason satanic/demonic activity strains our head muscles is that everything they do seems to dwell in that “unknowable” spiritual realm. Another reason is the lack of “Demons for Dummies” sections in the Scriptures.

If you couldn’t already tell, I believe the type of behavior experienced recently in Miami (and on every continent, in every country, and [I would argue] in every city of this world) probably finds it roots in demonic influence. I would like to “take back” two key ideas with this article: 1. What demons are, and 2. What they do. I believe Satan succeeds the most when affluent, “intellectuals” deny his existence and work in this world. If nothing else, I hope we will be able to see through Satan’s lies concerning his henchmen . . . demons.

Side Note: This is not the only occurrence of what they are calling cannibal/zombie behavior. More and more situations like this one are popping up in the media every day, and every time it’s discovered that a new drug called “cloud nine” is the culprit. These bath salts are being blamed for the deviant behavior of the perpetrators. But here is the point I would like to make before continuing our discussion on demon activity: drugs have always been used in conjunction with demonic rituals. I believe there is more than enough evidence to prove that even though these (and other) drugs can alter the abuser’s reality, their presence does not disprove demonic activity.

What Are Demons?

We must go all the way back to Genesis via Revelation to understand what demons are. Simply put, they are the fallen angels that were swept out of heaven when Satan was cast out (Revelation 12:4). We are told that a third of the heavenly host followed the Devil to his destruction. They are the same as angels with one major difference; instead of choosing to commit themselves to God, they chose to reject Him. Therefore, everything the Bible has to say about angels, their characteristics, and abilities can be applied to demons as well. The main point I would like to confirm here is that they did and do in fact exist. Christ Himself dealt with many demons. His acknowledgment of their existence should be good enough for anyone who is trying to take back the Bible. For this reason, I do not intend to branch off into a full-out discussion on Angelology. Beyond that, many amazing men have written volumes on the subject for our personal study. Charles C. Ryrie deals with angels and demons in detail in his work Basic Theology (I will be relying on some of his thoughts for our discussion here). To the same degree, any theology book will deal with the angelology/demonology. The real hot-point of this discussion is going to revolve around the second and third questions concerning the work of demons and whether or not they are doing anything today.

Still, so that we are all on the same page, let me say that there is no biblical evidence to support that demons are deceased individuals. In like manner, the ideas that demons are the disembodied spirits of som pre-Adamic race or that they are the offspring of Angels and men, is extremely tenuous and rely heavily on the wide extrapolation of certain biblical texts. So, it is safe to say for our discussion that Genesis’ account of the fallen angels are, in fact, the demons of today’s talk.

What Did Demons Do Then?

The Bible attributes various satanic duties and responsibilities of demons:

1. They afflict man. The Bible says they are able to inflict diseases (Matthew 17:15-18), cause deviant thinking (Mark 5:5), and they can bring death (Revelation 9:14-19). I must say, though, that not all physical illness can be attributed to demons (much like what Christian Scientists believe), because Christ often distinguishes between the two.

2. They bring perversion to man. They twist God’s perfect standard. They promote idolatry and false religion (Deuteronomy 32:17, I John 4:1-4, I Timothy 4:1-3).

3. They possess people. It is easy to tell from the ministry of Christ that demons possessed unbelieving individuals. They appear to have the power to completely take over the actions and words (and presumably the minds) of human beings. Many times the possessed person acted very strangely, but it is important to note that extreme behavior was not always a consequence of demon possession.

What Do Demons Do Now?

Here lies the crux of the issue. Do demons have the same duties and influences on the modern world that they had thousands of years ago. Some would quickly point to our nude friend in Miami and say, “If anyone was possessed, he was.” Third world tribes still dabble in demonology on a regular basis. Yet there are those who would say the whole thing is ridiculous, and yet a fourth group lives like it doesn’t matter. I believe my audience is probably in the first or last category.

The first truth we must grapple with is that nowhere in the Scriptures does it say that angels of any stripe have ceased their activities on this earth. In fact, we know that they have been working and will continue to work right up until the point where God throws the evil ones into eternal bondage in the Lake of Fire (with a brief 1,00 year hiatus right before that). Demonic influences on this earth are just as real and active as they were when one-third of the created angels fell like a lightning bolt from heaven. We cannot deny this point, and no amount of makeup will hide it.

What’s the Application?

As you can probably tell from my opening illustration, I do believe the example in Miami is indicative of demonic possession. Without being there and witnessing it first hand, I would still say it has all the earmarks: extremely deviant behavior (unnecessary nudity, beating a man, eating his face), and superhuman power (continuing his actions despite a bullet lodging in his body). But this is not the main focus of this discussion. Even though I hope your eyes might be opening to the fact that Satan uses his minions to pervert the world, extreme examples like the one above are probably in the minority. The real scary stuff hides behind the mundane.

Satan’s stupid (he dared defy God), but he’s not an idiot. He knows the best way to deceive men’s hearts. He knows that few people today actually believe in him, he knows that generally only primitive people still go for the whole possession-thing, but he also knows that he cannot stop his work of perversion and possession lest more people be won to the cause of Christ. So, he’s had to change his tactics a bit. But sin is still sin. Sin always destroys and it always produces behavior that falls short of God’s perfection. Sin always creates abnormal behavior . . . even today.

Let us see if we can think of some contemporary forms of aberrant actions. Hmmm. It doesn’t take long before we realize that our TV’s provides us with the answer. Shows like “Hoarders” and “Obsessed” show us that even unsaved people find certain behaviors awkward. Then there are the plethora of sitcoms and movies that make fun of certain “personality disorders” and “mental illnesses.” The Big Bang Theory and Monk are perfect examples. Of course, we cannot forget the media outlets that treat these disorders like something to be victimized by. Doctor shows, shrink shows, and talk shows cannot stop talking about ADHD, ADD, ODD, OCD, schizophrenia, phobias, and the eating disorders plaguing our society. But what do all of these shows have in common? Regardless of what the cure is, regardless of whether or not we think it’s funny or scary, the vast majority of people in America agree that these individuals are exhibiting aberrant, abnormal, and/or anomalous behavior.

Before I continue, let me say again that not every disease is a product of demon possession, so I must be careful being too dogmatic about every case. But being a counselor, I do know that the medical community has absolutely no empirical evidence to diagnose someone as having a “mental illness” beyond simply observing the patient’s behavior. There are no blood tests, brain scans, or urine samples that can help us detect a “mental illness.” But that is no excuse. To blithely label a behavior as the symptom of an otherwise improvable ”disease” is foolish at best. At worst, it betrays the fact that unsaved men and women deny the existence of the spiritual. Therefore, even though they don’t understand it, they reason there must be some physiological reason behind the abnormal behavior. Unfortunately for them, just because you ignore the spiritual doesn’t make it disappear. Neither does medicating the physical.

Satan does exist. His demons still work in the lives of men today. Sin and Satan always produce destructive, aberrant behavior. Ladies and gentlemen, we are left with the profound conclusion that demon possession (and at least the effects of sin in general) are at the basis of every self-destructive and deviant behavior known to man.

So what do we do? We know that Satan is trying to tear us apart like a famished lion. We know that his henchmen are actively working in the lives of people all around us. In fact, demons may well be at work within the four walls of our own homes. If doctors can’t “cure” us, what do we do?

We take back the Bible! We choose to believe every line of God’s Word! We must accept that there are answers for all of life’s questions and trials within the pages of the holy Scriptures. We must take It back from those who would have us believe it’s not applicable and outdated. We must stand firmly on It’s promises and search it diligently for It’s answers.

This post and The New Me: Part 6 are the grand introduction for this site. My ministry this fall is going to make conversations like these a daily occurrence. By God’s grace I will be helping others wrestle with life-changing truths from God’s Word, and I want this site to be an off-shoot of that. I hope you will continue with me in this endeavor. There is wisdom in a multitude of counselors when those counselors take God’s truth and apply it to our lives.

Quick Note

I received my 5 year plaque this evening at the high school graduation. It was nice, but the real significance for me is not the piece of wood with a professional engraving; the excitement I’ve been attempting to encapsulate over the past few posts has everything to do with experiences and opportunities God has graced me with in the past 5 years. I’ve been treasuring them in my heart as Mary treasured the Angel’s words, and now I desire greatly to share them with you.

I will be posting my final update in this “The New Me” series in a short while. First of all, this final post will not be a conclusion to the past five years, but one more amazing open door to start off the next five (or however many God has planned for me here). I cannot wait to share it with you! Second, I have far more important things to write about. We need to seriously get to return to taking back the Bible. But as Part 6 of “The New Me” and the revival of this blog are so closely related . . . they must go hand in hand.

So check out all of “The New Me,” revel in the amazing grace of God that would take a sinful man and allow Him to be a channel for divine truth, and partner with me as I step out in faith on this new leg of my journey. I want so badly to walk with you as I dig deeper into what it means to be a believer. I hope you will come with me.

Always,
Aaron

Part 5: Student Leaders

Welcome to Part 5 of The New Me. Get caught up on the rest of the story! Click to view Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 & Part 4.

Two years had passed since I taught my first 6th grade class as SCS. But it was time to say goodbye to elementary. I found out over the summer that I would be moving up to the secondary level. I know not everyone agrees with me, but I love working with older kids. I find their reasoning skills are more defined, and they don’t always take everything at face value. If you’re not 100% genuine with them . . . they see it. I also have a burden for them because their level of independence is catching up with their decision making abilities. If they do not have a firm foundation in God’s truth, they will flounder and fall once the world is turned loose on them. Side Note: You’re not turning your kids loose on the world. You’re sending them out into the battlefield. I guarantee you the Army didn’t send a bunch of new recruits to storm Osama Bin Laden’s bunker. The commanding officers knew the enemy would destroy them. So why do we send off our unprepared young people into the world as if the world is the one who should watch out?! But I digress.

My new semester lineup included JH Bible, JH Speech, 9th grade English, 11th grade Economics, SH Speech, and Yearbook. I also took on the upcoming 9th grade homeroom. As the year progressed I was reminded every day why I love my job. I had the opportunity to take things like diagramming sentences, Jevon’s principle of diminishing marginal utility, and proper voice projection and apply it directly to my students’ lives. God’s Word came alive in discussions of friendship, moral tone, insatiability, and persuasion. Side Note: If you can’t find God in the mundane, you will struggle to find Him anywhere.

This continued for 3 years, and every summer my school room became a camp ground. But during second semester of my 5th year (3rd year teaching high school), the Lord provided me with a new challenge. Our school, like every other, is full of sinners (we teachers are included). But for the most part, the teachers are the ones pointing the way up the path of righteousness, and there are always a core of students who want nothing to do with it. In fact, they are setting up neon signs pointing down the opposite way. Human nature being what it is, who do the fence-sitting students want to be like? Do they want to emulate their teachers . . . or their friends? So, every day the students become more like each other in the giant cookie-cutter factory. Of course, you’re wondering “What about those kids who genuinely love the Lord and want to serve Him?” I have two questions for you: 1. Where you that kid? 2. How were you treated? I think we adults become senile a lot earlier than we believe when we allow ourselves to think that the scorners in our schools aren’t tearing down our kids left, right, and center. Once again, let’s use the Army metaphor. These new recruits know they want to serve their country, but they have no idea how to fight. If the enemy infiltrates the ranks, there is little hope.

So, how do you help the problem? Train the soldiers with a sense of urgency! I had the idea to start developing student leaders by instituting a Student Body Council program. We had a quasi-student leadership program before but it had deteriorated into a popularity contest between which heathen and which pagan had the most friends. Side Note: If your students leaders aren’t outspoken testimonies for Christ . . . they shouldn’t be student leaders.

Please don’t misunderstand me. No one is perfect. I have seen my fair share of college Prayer Captains, high school Student Body Presidents, and (dare I say) church pastors do one thing or another to disqualify them from their position. But that doesn’t mean we throw the baby out with the proverbial bath water. I say, “No!” We don’t give up discipling because we know they’ll never be perfect!

My plan behind the SBC was four-fold: 1. Give the students visible and productive roles within the school in order to be a good example. 2. Allow the students to suggest and even enact change that would help our school conform to God’s will for us. 3. To teach the students how to handle themselves like adults. Teach them to run meetings, vote, brain-storm, and produce a quality product without being harassed or cajoled by an authority figure. 4. Disciple them. I desired to use this council as an opportunity to find those God-loving young people and work with them one-on-one to become true leaders for Christ.

The student body was started and I have to say that our first experimental semester went very well, and I am looking forward to next year’s council. I’m also excited about some of the SBC’s summer projects!

But this service opportunity quickly shot off another tendril of service opportunities. Side Note: Do what God calls you to do and watch the opportunities multiply! I can’t actually remember how I got it into my head, but I was inspired in part by a friend. Yohannan Lee works at SCS in the kitchen, but he also is a tremendous help to me when it comes to Yearbook. Yo, is a gifted photographer and graphic designer. He created five of our Yearbook covers, takes tons of photos, Photoshops them all, and loves every minute of it. He is also a videographer. It just so happens that photography, graphic design, and videography are some of my passions as well.

Before long he and I created Student Body Films to function as our production company. We also founded Three Hands Studios to handle the technical side. In that first semester the Lord allowed us to produce the following projects and start our own YouTube channel.

The first was delivered by our Student Body President as a way to introduce the new SBC and tell the student body a little bit about how she viewed her school

The second was just for fun. Our basketball teams were both competing in the Illinois state IACS competition and we wanted to liven things up a bit.

Our third and longest project was designed to help our junior highers as they prepared for the state fine arts tournament.

The final finished project promoted our school play, Anne of Green Gables.

The overall goal is to help the student leaders have an impact far beyond the four wall of their school. We want to show the other students that they can make a difference for Christ if they just try. So far these few videos have been watched over 2,500 in over 20 countries. Next fall we will focus on more educational and spiritual projects as well as the occasional entertaining film.

Side Note: Never be ambitious for power and glory. But don’t pass on opportunities to widen your circle of influence. When He was bodily on earth, Jesus had hundreds of disciples, 12 apostles, 3 in His inner circle, and 1 who was considered the closest to Him (note that I did not say favorite). You don’t have to be intimate with everyone, but if you can write a book, keep up a blog, post videos on YouTube, or preach to people who most individuals will never have the chance to meet . . . then do it!

Pray for our student leaders. If God can capture their hearts and train them to serve Him with all of their minds, bodies, and strength they will be a powerful enemy against Satan and his destructive purposes. Train up the children!

Part 4: A Christian Ninja

The first year I was at Bethel Baptist Church my responsibilities seemed to change with the seasons. Actually, “change” isn’t the right word. Perhaps the best word is “grew.” Fall ’07: 6th grade teacher. Summer ’08: 6th grade teacher and Camp Director. Fall ’08: 6th grade teacher and Camp Director and Martial Arts Instructor.

I started training in Tang Soo Do in 1992. I earned my first black belt in ’98. This year (2012) marked my 20th year in the martial arts. I’ve been teaching for 17 years, I’ve studied 10 different styles, and I’ve earned black belts in 3 of those styles. I am currently working toward my 5th degree in Tiger Ryu Ninjutsu. SCS knew all about my training and we talked briefly when I was hired about the possibility of starting a program. I didn’t think it would happen for a loooooong while. Seriously, what Christian school has their own karate program? As Day Camp wound down and my second year of teaching grew near, one of the pastoral staff members got it in his head that I needed to start a martial arts program that fall! By God’s grace, in one month I went from nothing to a full-on curriculum. During the day I taught my new brood of 6th graders and after school I ran over to the gym to meet my “little ninjas.” Of course, our curriculum has changed many times over the past years, but I thank the Lord that when my first students walked in the door they were greeted by a no-holds-barred, full-scale martial arts program. Side note: There are some things that don’t need to be prayed about. If there is a need, and God has gifted you in that area . . . fill the need!

I spoke with my pastor and told him I expected about 40 students. God gave me 80. With twice as many students, my wife was able to quit her job and stay home full-time with our son. God also gave me a student who would be intregal in running a successful school. She was brand new to the martial arts, but she wanted to earn her black belt in two years (she was a junior and would be graduating and going off to college). I told her that it was possible, but that I would have to ninja kick her all the way. She said she was up for it. Two years later she earned her black belt and made a successful assistant instructor along the way (otherwise it was just me and 80 students!). I am very proud of Madelyn and her martial arts career.

The best thing about the program is that I can unashamedly preach God’s Word during the classes. We meet in a beautiful room off the school’s running track and everyone knows that we are as Christian as the church. In fact, it’s not simply a karate class, it is a Leadership Program. My students know that they are there to learn how to protect themselves and the ones they love from physical and spiritual harm. I have seen many young people develop and mature as they learn to discipline their minds, bodies, and souls. Side Note: If you’re not teaching God in all you teach, you’re teaching a world that works without God. When you do that . . . you lie.

Every year I have had more students than I can handle and every year God allows the program to mature. One of the reasons I consider myself to be so blessed is that God has given me a place to serve that allows me to utilize the various passions I have. God allowed me to have many unique experiences growing up in order to make me the man He wanted me to be. Now He’s given me an outlet and said, “It’s time to start using those skills I gave you.”

Just one calendar year later and I found myself loving my job and basking in the glory that was serving God.

Amazingly enough, He had even more changes and opportunities for service already prepared for me. Stay tuned to Part 5.

If you missed Part 1, Part 2,or Part 3 of The New Me. Just click away!

Part 3: Summer Officially Starts at Day Camp

When June 1st rolled around I had successfully finished my first year as a 6th grade teacher, but as a twelve month staff member my duties for the year had not ended. I was assigned to work with the maintenance crew for the summer. I thoroughly enjoyed myself that first month, and the school gained a whole bunch of new lights! I also learned some great skills and I made one really good friend. Thanks Stephen Doney for your lasting friendship!

But maintenance was not what God had planned for me the rest of the summer. About 25 years earlier the church has started a Day Camp program. Since then it had passed through the capable hands of numerous men. God had chosen that in 2008 I would be the next.

Schaumburg Christian Day Camp has become one of my most enjoyable duties. I graduated from Bob Jones with a Camp Ministries major, so being able to us what I learned has been fantastic, but I really enjoy having a lasting impact on the lives of my staff and campers. Originally I thought God wanted me working some place like the Wilds. I counseled there for two summers and loved every game, camper, flu, rain drop, trial, stair, and meal. The staff was integral in helping me align my life with God’s will. But I went into Christian schooling because I realized the one relationship that I enjoyed most in the camp environment was the relationship between the camp director and the counselors. The campers came and went faster than a game of Big Ball Volleyball, but those men and women had such a profound affect on me. I wanted to be able to do that for others, but I thought I had a better chance being a school teacher (once again, a job with long-term relationships) than I becoming a camp director. After my first year of teaching . . . I became a camp director too.

My goal through this camp has been to create something far more than mere child care. I want the campers to have an enriching experience. I want them to have a place to go where they can learn, have fun, and grow. But most importantly, I want a place where the children are being watched by men and women who genuinely love them and want the best for them. I want the counselors to help the campers see God in every moment, activity, conflict, and blessing. I want the campers to see how Christians live and breathe. God has given me hundreds of little lives to point toward Him. Thank you, Lord!

If you’d like to learn more about SCDC, just follow the link!

Quick Note

You can now follow me on Twitter @AMBrewster. I pray I can be an encouragement to you!