Destined to Choose

I’ve been reading and re-reading I Thessalonians for my devotions, and I knew, undoubtedly, that many truths from this passage would make it from the The Word, into my heart, and eventually onto these digital pages. But you never can be sure what truths the Lord will impress on your spirit as you read a passage. I try to go to my personal devotions like David; “open my eyes that I may behold wonderful things from Your law.” And sometimes you’re surprised by what He shows you.

Today’s “wondrous thing” rests easily between the comfortable armchairs of everyday Christian life and the well-worn benches of deep biblical study. I’m not going to flesh out this truth in its entirety, but the Holy Spirit impressed it on my life today and I believe I should share it with you.

In I Thessalonians 3:3, Paul speaks of the afflictions that he and Timothy had been experiencing. He even mentions that he sent Timothy to encourage the Thessalonicans so that no one would be disturbed by the trials of Paul and Timothy. Isn’t that just like Paul? Looking out for others spiritual needs even as he is in need himself!

But at the end of verse 3 he makes a little comment that has huge doctrinal importance. “For you yourselves know that we have been destined for this;” speaking of the afflictions he’d referred to earlier in the verse.

Merriam-Webster tells us the word destined means “decree[d] beforehand: predetermine[d].” Paul was completely aware that God is, and was, 100% in control of all that enters into our lives; just read Romans. Romans 8:28 “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” That’s how he learned to be content regardless of what happened to him.

“How can I fear?
Jesus is near? He watches over me.
Worries all cease.
He gives me peace. How can I fear with Jesus.”      -Ron Hamilton-

But then in verse 10, Paul says, “We night and day keep praying most earnestly that we may see your face.” Why does a man who believes in the complete supremecy of God; the One Who foreknows, predestines, and predetermines everything, think he needs to pray “most earnestly” for a personal desire?

This is the core of the lesson I was reminded of today. This is the beauty of the true, biblical doctrine of God’s supremecy and our free will. God is not bound by our mortal views. He can predestinate an action that will be born from the free will of the person acting! There is a balance, nay, a synchrony of divine determination and personal prerogative to every moment.

In the same way, even though we know that “what will be” is “what will be,” we can go to our Heavenly Father and request blessings of Him, and rest assured that our prayers have real efficacy.

We serve an awesome God! May your soul be quieted knowing that He hears our prayers and that nothing that happens in life surprises Him.

A Call to the Willing

Yahoo! news posted an aticle today (May 30th) about photographs taken of an “uncontacted” tribe in the Amazon. This photo shows three natives; the two painted bright red are preparing to fire arrows at the plane.

  

The article quoted Survival International in saying that this tribe is one of “more than 100 uncontacted tribes worldwide, more than half live in either Brazil or Peru.” Imagine that! More than a hundred villiages that have never been contacted by the outside world. They’ve never seen a white man. They’ve never taken advantage of modern medical practices. They’ve never see a T.V. or listened to an iPod. They’ve never known anything or anyone outside their own thatched huts.

The article also interviewed Stephen Corry, the director of Survival International.  “The world needs to wake up to this, and ensure that their territory is protected in accordance with international law. Otherwise, they will soon be made extinct.” What is endangering these primative peoples? Apparently deforrestation and new diseases are so bad they threaten to wipe these tribes off the face of the map.

So, here we have hundreds of people, possibly on the brink of extinction . . . and they’ve never heard of Jesus.

“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?” (Romans 10:14)

This is a call to the willing. A call to the Hudson Taylors and the Adoniram Judsons. A call to the David Livingstons and the William Careys. And possibly a call to the Nate Saints and Jim Elliots of the world. Which of us are willing to go and reach these people with the gospel? Which of us desire to fulfill the great commision by going into “the uttermost part of the earth”? (Acts 1:8- KJV)

I have a fantastic opportunity next week to minister to missionaries and their children. GFA Missions is having their annual Family Camp at The Wilds in NC and my family is running the children’s program for the week. I’ve been participating in this ministry since 1992 and am struck every year by the supreme privilage it is to work along side missionaries. They are the most wonderful people I know and I am honored to be a blessing to them.

But . . . “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.” (Matthew 9:37)

This news story should be a wake-up call, a ministry call, a missionary call. Are you willing?

Fundamentalism

The Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

Islamic Fundamentalists.

Christian Fundamentalists.

Is there a difference? Is it fair for the media to bunch together everyone who utilizes the “Fundamentalist” title? Scott Bidstrup, author of a hypertext essay called “Why the ‘Fundamentalist’ Approach to Religion Must Be Wrong,” says that:

“A fundamentalist religion is a religion, any religion, that when confronted with a conflict between love, compassion and caring, and conformity to doctrine, will almost invariably choose the latter regardless of the effect it has on its followers or on the society of which it is a part.”

It is a sad reality that many people hold to this hyper-dogmatic definition of Fundamentalism. Unfortunately few people turn to the originators of the word for an appropriate definition. The term was coined to describe a group of Christians who separated from theological liberals of the early 1900’s. Since then the movement has expanded and the word has taken on definitions not originally intended.

Dictionary.com says that Fundamentalism is 1.  A movement in American Protestantism that arose in the early part of the 20th century in reaction to modernism and that stresses the infallibility of the Bible not only in matters of faith and morals but also as a literal historical record, holding as essential to Christian faith belief in such doctrines as the creation of the world, the virgin birth, physical resurrection, atonement by the sacrificial death of Christ, and the Second Coming. 2. The beliefs held by those in this movement, & 3. Strict adherence to any set of basic ideas or principles.

If someone is speaking about a group or individual that is not a Christian Fundamentalist then the third definition is an acceptable derivation of the original intent: “Strict adherence to any set of basic ideas or principles.” To squeeze and manipulate this definition and employ unnecessary extrapalations, as Mr. Bidstrup did, does nothing more than show an a priori bias against the belief system of the chosen “Fundamentalist.” Also, to group together various organizations/belief systems who use the term “Fundamentalist” is not a wise idea. I don’t agree with Muslim Fundamentalists. Therefore I will not group myself with them, and I’m not oging to redefine the word.

As a Fundamentalist, myself, I believe that the doctrines of love and holiness are equally important. Mr. Bidstrup doesn’t realize that both can exist in perfect union. God is perfectly loving, and yet perfectly just. He loves everyone and wants them to spend eternity with Him, but if a man chooses to rebel against God, God’s perfect holiness demands punishment for sin. In the exact same way, Christian Fundamentalists strive to adhere to the express commands of the Bible. But if a Fundamentalist truly wants to glorify God she will always be loving, even toward people who are unsaved or living in sin. God commands us to love just as He commands us to be holy.

This short article does not even begin to deal with which fundamentals Fundamentalists hold to. But I hope it serves to present a more accurate picture of the word fundamentalist and explains that just because different groups utilize the title does not mean that they can be grouped together or attributed the same beliefs.

Peace: Part II

To start with, if you missed the first installment, please click on the following link to join us in our study on peace. We wouldn’t want anyone to feel left behind.

 

Peace Part I:  http://ambrewster.wordpress.com/2007/12/05/peace-on-earth-introduction/

 

 

Peace Part II:

 

As we delve back into our study in Philippians 4:4-9, we need to determine what “peace” actually is. Since we’re commanded to have peace (Galatians 5:22) it would behoove us to know what we have to do or be. How many Christians commit the sin of lasciviousness because they never bothered to figure out what it was? Let us not make that same mistake here.

 

1. Peace (as used in Philippians 4) does not mean a lack of war. If you look up “peace” in The American Heritage College Dictionary the first four definitions deal with the dichotomy of war and peace. For example, the first definition says that peace is “the absence of war or other hostilities.” The fourth definition maintains that peace is “public security and order.” It’s true that, more often than not, the Bible uses “peace” to refer to a lack of war, but in Galatians 5:22, Philippians 4:4-9, and Isaiah 26:3 a “lack of war” is not the appropriate definition. A person could posses this peace, even in the middle of a war. 

 

2. Peace is not a feeling. The belief that peace is an emotion lies at the root of many misunderstandings concerning God’s will for our lives. Today’s society is emotion soaked. Disney tells us to “follow our hearts,” psychologists speak of emotional disorders, and the media encourages us to amass stock in the “feelings-market” lest we bruise our self-esteem. Though emotions are wonderful gifts of God, we as Christians must realize that they are neither formative nor trustworthy.

 

I truly wish I could take a moment to flesh-out the “doctrine of Christian emotions;” but it would require a thorough going-over that we don’t have time for now. Still, there are cogent points to be made concerning peace and feelings. 1. Emotions are untrustworthy. In Jeremiah 17:9 we are told “The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; who can understand it?” How many times do our feelings rise and fall like an out-of-control roller coaster? I don’t know about you, but occasionally I don’t feel like a Christian. What if my reality was tied to my capricious feelings? That’s a horrific thought. 2. Emotions can’t be turned on and off. I can’t tell you to “have” loving feelings for an individual. It’s difficult to “shut off” anger. How many of us can genuinely laugh with no provocation? Emotions grow from the soil of our minds. What we believe and think puppet the stringed-joints of feelings.

 

Since we’re using analogies, I happen to like this one . . . Feelings are like a fuel guage. When the gas in your car is gone your car stops running. The fuel gauge is not the reason your car doesn’t run, it’s just there to warn you that there’s a problem. Our emotions were designed to confirm, and sometimes warn us about what is happening in our spirit, but they are in no way seminal to the issue.

 

So to sum it all up, God is not commanding us to possess a “peaceful feeling.” In times of distress it might be nearly impossible to work up positive emotions. Sure, there are many wonderful feelings that accompany biblical peace, but I don’t always have to “feel peaceful” to have peace. 

 

3. Peace is not a divine stamp of approval. This point ties in with the latter. Often times in decision making we search for some ethereal feeling of peace from God to validate our choices. The problem with this kind of thinking is two-fold. First, God does not give us extra-biblical revelation. The Bible is complete. The Cannon is closed. God is not in the habit of sending “angelic Post-It-Notes” with special messages designed exclusively for me. If I want to know what God says all I have to do is turn to His Word. I cannot depend on how I feel to discern God’s will. Though good feelings often accompany right choices, how many times do those same “good feelings” partner with awful choices? I cannot innumerate the number of decisions I’ve made that were hurtful to my relationship with God, and all the while I felt good about my course of action. Secondly, consider Moses. Moses stood before a burning bush that was not being consumed. God manifested Himself through the bush, and the ground around the bush was so holy that Moses needed to remove his shoes. Then God’s Own voice emanated from the bush and commanded Moses to go to Egypt and free Israel. But what was Moses’ response to the simple, obvious command from God? Here’s my interpretation of his words: “Lord, I just don’t have peace about that!” God gave Moses a clear command yet Moses was not “at peace” with God’s will. Now consider David. In the midst of troubling years, being hunted by his king (and later by his son), we read that David often experienced the peace of God.

 

4. SO WHAT IS PEACE???

 

In all scholarly honesty . . . I can’t tell you!

 

Peace is very difficult to define. But in my defense I turn you back to Philippians 4:7. Paul tells us that genuine peace from God “surpasses all comprehension;” it cannot be communicated in its entirety. This is both a sad reality and yet a wonderful promise (which we will deal with later). So why is it so difficut to define? Peace is not a feeling or an action. It’s not a thought or a word. Peace is a state of being. It is a reality that exists in our minds. Dr. Mark Minnick, pastor of Mount Calvary Baptist Church in Greenville, SC, defines peace as “soul-rest.” It is pretty easy to describe emotions, actions, and thought patterns, but it is not so simple to define a state of being. That is why Dr. Minnick’s explanation is so helpful. The fifth definition in The American Heritage College Dictionary is also helpful, it describes peace as “inner contentment; serenity; a state of tranquility.”

 

Serenity. Tranquility. Rest. To truly have the peace of God is to experience a state of being that defies comprehension. It can be accompanied by wonderful feelings, or it can sustain though our feelings are in chaos. It’s a knowledge. It’s an understanding. It’s a plane of living. That is what we’re commanded to have.

 

So, how do receive this peace? What must we do to achieve this state of being? Read Philippians 4:4-9 and we’ll discuss it in Peace: Part III.

 

Until then, God bless.

Not as the Word of Men

On my drive to school today I listened to talk radio. To be perfectly honest I don’t do that often. I don’t even like to watch the news. Since there are as many opinions as there are opinion-makers, they must be ingested with a strong draught of discrimination if anything intellectually-nutritional is to be gained from them.

Pretty strong words coming from someone who writes a blog! Thankfully, on Taking Back the Bible, we have one saving grace: I Thessalonians 2:13.

On this blog, if we’re careful, our words are not the “word of men.” I Thessalonians says “For this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe [italics mine].” Every true Christian understands that the Bible is not just a collection of works from 40 different writers spanning thousands of years . . . it is the very Word of God. It is true, perfect, and efficacious.

As I said, human beings are fallible. My writing is not inspired; it has the potential of being very wrong! But as long as my opinions and philosophies are grounded in God’s Word I cannot go wrong. That goes for you as well! That’s what this site is all about: 1. Taking a firm stand that the Bible is indeed the spoken Word from the one and only, Almighty, All powerful, All knowing God of the universe, & 2. From that starting point, dissecting God’s Word so as to apply it to our lives.

Peace on Earth: Introduction

 

Christmas is here! All over the world millions of Christians are celebrating the birth of Christ. Even those who are not Christians can be heard singing about “peace and goodwill to men.” One of our local radio stations has been playing Christmas music since the middle of November! I can’t count the number of times I hear the word “peace” trumpeted over the air waves.

Though Christmas seems to be the season of peace, it hardly has the market cornered. Green Peace is a year round endeavor. In high school, the word “peace” (accompanied by V shaped fingers) was one of our favorite salutations. Alright, I still use it today too. People drink to “peace in the middle east.” Protestors contrast peace and war on spray-painted banners. When making decisions, Christians search for the “peace” they believe will affirm their choices. Anxiety attacks and phobias are a mainstay of psychological counseling sessions. And what child isn’t afraid of the dark at one point or another?

Peace seems to be much longed for, yet seldom achieved.

No doubt many of you have a favorite Scripture passage you turn to in times of turmoil (moments without peace). There are numerous scriptures that deal directly with peace, and countless more that bear such wonderful tidings a Christian can’t help but let the truths wash over their soul with a peaceful, contented froth. So, if it’s impossible to pick up the Bible without facing truths designed to deliver peace, why do so many Christians struggle with inner doubt, anxiety, stress & distress, fear, and depression?

There was a time in my life I sloughed through discontentment and despondency. I hated my life and couldn’t believe this was God’s will. Thankfully, instead of running from God I searched the Bible for answers. My joy, my peace, was found in a thorough study of Philippians. To this day, Philippians 4:4-9 is one of my favorite passages.  

Over the next few weeks I will do a series on Peace. We will learn from God Himself what peace is and how we can achieve this elusive virtue. I hope it will be a study of supreme joy to any believer in God. Please join us as we take the first steps to “peace on Earth,” by beginning with our own lives.

Thank You for Your Word

“I will bow down toward your holy temple and give thanks to Your name for Your lovingkindness and Your truth; for You have magnified Your word according to all Your name.”

Psalm 138:2

It was Shakespeare who asked the immortal question, “what’s in a name?” When the Bible speaks of a name it means far more than the title you call when trying to get someone’s attention. Firstly, in ancient times names carried a deeper denotation. The word Abraham meant “father of multitudes.” The word Jacob meant “deceiver.” And more often than not a child was named for a very particular reason. Consider Hosea’s daughter, Lo-ruhamah (literally: “she has not obtained compassion”), named because God had chosen to no longer have compassion on the house of Israel (Hosea 1:6). There are also occasions were adults changed their birth names to reflect a modulation in their lives. Ruth’s mother-in-law, Naomi tried to change her name to Mara (“bitter”) for she believed God had “dealt very bitterly with [her].”

Secondly, without delving to deeply into the original language, the word often translated “name” speaks to the character of the individual. Proverbs tells us to choose a “good name” over great riches. Not that “Aaron” is necessarily a good name, but that my character might be pure.  

God has magnified His Word according to His name. Who is God? What is His character? Isaiah tells us He’s Holy. We know He cannot lie. He keeps His promises. He’s righteous. He’s loving, kind, merciful, and gracious. He’s eternally faithful. He seeks only our best interest. He’s infinitely an infinite amount of things . . . and everything He is has magnified, literally “made big,” His Word.

Do we make God’s Word big? Do we make it preeminent in our decision making, in our thinking, in our lives? The Bible is a perfect, though not complete, record of God’s doings in regard to man. He created the world. He ordered it’s way, and when the world chose a different way, God provided the ONLY way though Jesus Christ (see “What You NEED to Know). It is the all-sufficient guide for every situation in life. All of it is from God; you can’t pick an choose which parts God said, which He might have said, and which He didn’t say. It is all directly breathed out by the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. If it wasn’t completely inspired than God is a liar.

Thank you for You Word! Thank you for leading us to You and showing us how to glorify You in this life!  

A Personal Note about Thanksgiving

As November twenty-second descends on our country the vast majority of citizens will celebrate it without even a moment sacrificed to gratefulness.

As for me, Thanksgiving is a special time and I celebrate it much the same way any God-loving Christian would: I love having a day off to commune with my family and friends, and eat turkey, and play games, and go to parades . . . But most importantly I’m abundantly thankful for the countless blessings God has bestowed on my little family. We are packed, shaken down, and running over. And I’m sure each of you could share the same glorious testimony. But in my household we’re thankful for something very unique . . . it was my family who started Thanksgiving.

I’m a direct descendant of Elder William Brewster of the Mayflower Pilgrims. Interestingly enough, my wife is also a descendant of William Brewster (by marriage on the girls side of the family). This time of year is a big deal for my family because we’re not only celebrating a Christian, National Holiday . . . we’re also celebrating an ancient family tradition! In fact, we are so proud of our godly heritage we named out son Micah William Brewster.

But even though you may not be related to the men and women who crossed the Atlantic on the Mayflower, if you’re a Christian they are your spiritual parents. Without the firm stand the Pilgrims took our country might be religiously enslaved.

As we thank God for His innumerable blessings this year, don’t forget the one that allows us to worship God without persecution . . . freedom of religion. Never take that for granted. I told my 6th graders a few days ago there are countries today where Christianity is illegal and men and women are imprisoned, and sometimes killed, for their faith in God.

Make sure your focus is right this Thanksgiving and take a moment to thank God for the men and women who have fought to make this country free: The pilgrims, the Christian’s of ages past, our military, and the folks continuing the good fight of faith today.

And remember, on the first Thanksgiving they didn’t eat turkey!

What You NEED to Know

The most important thing you need to know in life is what happens when your life ends.

God’s Word teaches us that when a person dies they’ll spend eternity in one of two places: Heaven or Hell. Those who go to Heaven will spend forever in a perfect state, enjoying eternal blessings and communion with God. On the contrary, those condemned to Hell will suffer an eternity of agony in a place completely devoid of God and His blessings. This is the Bible. This is fact.

So how does a human being escape everlasting torment? Or better yet, how does a person enter into a relationship with the God of the universe? It’s actually quite simple. God has set a heavenly standard and all people who live up to that standard may enter Heaven. The standard? Perfection.

But even one wrong deed, just one bad thought, only a single unkind word will disqualify a person from eternal bliss with God. Have you ever stolen, lied, hated someone, disobeyed your parents, committed adultery? Of course you have. I have. In fact, everyone has done at least one bad thing. Everybody has sinned. “As it is written, there is none righteous, no, not one.” (Romans 3:9-10) “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” (Romans 3:23)

Whereas the reward of perfection is heaven, ”the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). Not just physical death . . . eternal death in the Lake of Fire. Though this may all sound very unfair, God is perfectly just setting the standard so high . . . He’s God. God is perfect. He cannot abide sin; He hates it with a perfect hatred. No one who has ever sinned can enter into the presence of His perfection and live.

So how then may one spend eternity with God? Some people believe they can get to Heaven by being “good” and “keeping the commanddments.” So, what if a man does his best to obey the 10 commandments? Fortunately it won’t work. Fortunately, because just one instant of disobedience automatically disqualifies a person. You only have to kill one person to be a murderer. You only have to tell one lie to be a liar. You only have to commit one sin to be a sinner, and no amount of good works will ever change that because in Ephesians 2:8-9 it says “for by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is a gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast [emphasis mine].” So if a man can’t work their way to Heaven, how is he to enjoy eternal life?

There is a way . . .  but there’s only one way.

God created the World and He loves His creation. John 3:16 tells us that “God so loved the world, He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” God knows man is incapable of perfection so He ordained a way for man to be saved from his damning sin. The way? Redemption! Let me illustrate: If you owed one trillion dollars you could never pay it off in a hundred lifetimes. You would be destined to eternal indebtedness, and your debt would incur punishment if it continued unpaid. But what if someone decided to pay the debt for you? What if a man wrote a check for one trillion dollars and handed it to the collection agency; would that satisfy the debt? 

We owe a debt to God; that debt is infinite perfection. But Jesus Christ, 100% God and 100% man, came to earth to pay our penalty. He needed to be 100% man so He could be a perfect substitute for us, but He also needed to be 100% God so He could pay the infinite debt for all of humanity.

And He did just that.

Jesus Christ was born into this world by a virgin. He was infinitly perfect the entire 33 years of His life, and then He was crucified on a cross for our sins. He willingly laid up His life that we might live. In that one act of dying on the cross, Jesus paid the eternal price of sin. Not only that, but on the third day He rose from the dead. Jesus Christ is alive today. He conquered death and Hell, He paved the way for sinful man to find forgiveness with God. “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the turth, and the life: no man cometh unto the father, but by me” (John 14:6).

So what must we do to be saved from our sin? All you have to do is ask. “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13). Jesus possess infinite righteousness and He’s willing to impart it to you to fulfill your debt to God. If you accept the free gift of salvation, God the Father will credit Jesus’ righteousness to your account. That’s all you have to do. “But as many as received Him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name” (John 1:12).

Jesus died on the cross for you, for me, for all mankind. He’s waiting to bestow His perfection on you if you’re willing to accept Him as your Savior.

Now, you might ask “I believe in God, isn’t that enough?” Well, the Bible says that even the demons believe in God. But they don’t love Him, they don’t beg Him for forgiveness from their sins, and they don’t ask Him to enter their hearts and clean out the sin that’s keeping them from Heaven. They believe God exists but they don’t want Him to rule their life.

God wants to be your Savior. He wants to have a relationship with you. All you have to do is accept His offer. Believe on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved! If you don’t know what to say, even if you’ve never prayed before, all you have to do is talk to God just like you’d talk to me. Tell Him, “Dear God, I know I’m a sinner. I know you hate my sin and you would never let me into Heaven the way I am. I believe that Jesus Christ came to earth, lived a perfect life, died on the cross and rose again the third day. I believe He did that for me. Please forgive my sin and cleanse my heart. Please come into my heart and save me.”

These aren’t magical words and they’re not the only things you can say, but it’s a start. If you’ve never accepted Jesus Christ into your heart please do it today. He will change you life and He will change your after-life.

If this article has helped you realize your need for salvation, or has helped you understand what it takes to become a Christian, or if you still have more questions . . . please leave a comment. We’d love to hear if you’ve become a believer! We’d love to know if God has cleansed your heart from sin! We’d also love to answer any more questions you may have.

This is the single most important decision a person can make. Please do it today, don’t wait. “Today is the day of salvation!”

Taking Back the Bible

This site is specifically designed for people who 1. believe the Bible says what it means and means what it says, or 2. are trying to find out what the Bible says in the first place.

Of course I’m not foolish enough to think we’re going to agree on everything, but you can feel safe knowing the writers, and most of the readers, are here because they yearn for the voice of God to resonate off the pages of His Word.

With that said please feel free to leave comments. In fact I strongly encourage you to comment and discuss. We need all the accountability we can get, and a little friendly debating never hurt anyone.

Please keep visiting this site as it grows . . . and may you grow because you visited this site.