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Archive for June 2007

“Faith Hijacker” Barack Obama Accuses Christians of “Hijacking Faith”

June 26, 2007 by Shane Kastler.

In a recent speech before the ultra-liberal United Church of Christ convention, presidential hopeful Barack Obama accused conservatives of “hijacking faith” saying: “Faith got hijacked, partly because of the so-called leaders of the Christian Right, all too eager to exploit what divides us.”  Obviously this was nothing more than an “applause line sound bite” that the eager beaver Obama  used to garner accolades at a liberal “church” convention (I use the word ‘church’ loosely here).  But context aside, I would be curious to hear Obama elaborate on exactly HOW, conservatives have “hijacked faith.”  Of course “hijack” means you forcibly take over something that isn’t yours.  Would conservatives be “hijacking” faith by teaching the Biblical view of marriage between male and female?  Would conservatives be “hijacking faith” by opposing the vile practice of murdering babies while they’re being delivered (a practice Obama proudly supports)?  Or would conservatives be “hijacking faith” by desiring God’s Name be allowed in the public domain?  I would love to hear the “junior” Senator from Illinois elaborate on this, and specifically give examples of where the “faith” has been hijacked.  I wouldn’t expect much of a reply, but he no doubt knows quite a bit about “hijacking faith” given his obvious expertise at the practice.
            In case you’re unfamiliar with the practice of “hijacking faith” for your personal ambition, let me give you some examples.  EXAMPLE 1.  Giving a political candidacy speech at a United Church of Christ convention.  Let’s be honest, this wasn’t a “church” function, it was a political rally.  How pathetically ironic that he would utter the “faith hijack” jargon, while he himself was in the very process of doing it.    EXAMPLE 2.  Belonging to a church/denomination that would dare use the name “Christ” yet oppose everything the REAL Jesus Christ stood for.  Let’s be honest, the United Church of Christ isn’t “United” they’re not a “Church” and they really have nothing to do with the teachings of “Christ.”  The only word in their name they can honestly use is “of.”  It’s ambigious, pointless, and small, just like the U.C.C.  They’ve been ordaining gay ministers since 1972 and have led the way in promoting gay marriage.  They’re an absolute joke of a “church” that only exists to advance flaky political causes…and they have NO INTEREST in preaching  the gospel of Christ. EXAMLE 3.  Rambling nonsense about how faith should “unite” us….when Jesus clearly taught otherwise.  Here’s an example.  In his speech, Obama said:  “Somehow, somewhere along the way, faith stopped being used to bring us together and faith started being used to drive us apart.”  But what did JESUS say?   
 

“Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. “But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven. “Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. “For I came to SET  A MAN AGAINST HIS FATHER, AND A DAUGHTER AGAINST HER MOTHER, AND A DAUGHTER-IN-LAW AGAINST HER MOTHER-IN-LAW; and A MAN‘S ENEMIES WILL BE THE MEMBERS OF HIS HOUSEHOLD. “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. “And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.”  (Matthew 10:32-38 NASB)
 

Let’s be honest.  Jesus number one goal wasn’t to unite all “faiths” in some sort of liberal, tree-hugging excursion in which we all join hands, skip in a circle and sing “We Are The World.”  Jesus came to preach the gospel truth.  And the “gospel truth” divides.  His gospel is exclusive, it is offensive to many, and it is humbling.  All sinners may come to Him, but they’ll have to turn from their sin (repentance) and follow HIM alone (faith).  The fact is you won’t be able to please both Jesus and the “United Church of Christ”…Obama has clearly chosen the latter for the sake of his political ambitions.
            Quite frankly, Obama’s “charm” is getting more and more nauseating by the day.  In the early stages of his candidacy, he was fairly sly in his “religious talk.”  In fact, I feared he would hoodwink Biblical Christians by how glowingly he spoke of “faith.”  But, as time has passed, and his poll numbers have plummeted (he now trails Queen Hillary by double digits), Obama has begun to show his true liberal colors and bash all things Biblical in an effort to rally his political base around him.
I’ll close with one more asinine quote from the Barrack Hussein Obama’s recent speech:  “There was even a time when the Christian Coalition determined that its number one legislative priority was tax cuts for the rich. I don’t know what Bible they’re reading, but it doesn’t jibe with my version.”  First of all, it’s a rather blatant lie.  Second of all, invoking the name of the Christian Coalition was nothing more than another cheap applause line.  Why bring up a group whose apex of influence peaked in 1994?  And third, what version of the Bible IS Obama reading?  I think we would all be very intrigued to see a version that supports the diabolical issues he so passionately embraces.
            Obama knows a lot about “hijacking faith” given the fact that he does it on a daily basis.  To accuse conservatives of this is a gargantuan case of the “pot calling the kettle black.”  Liberals like Obama want us to believe that following Jesus means nothing more than giving money to poor people, giving women the right to kill (choose), and graciously accepting/condoning/encouraging a dangerous and shockingly perverse practice known as homosexuality.  Indeed Senator, what Bible version are you reading?  And did that Bible teach you how to deftly “hijack faith” while accusing others of the very thing you so blatantly practice yourself?  Just curious…
 

Posted in False Religions, Politicians, Political Issues, Homosexuality | Print | 4 Comments »

Knowing God With Your Head & Your Heart

June 21, 2007 by Shane Kastler.

Knowing Jesus with your head won’t save you. You must know Him with your heart. One of the most brilliant Jewish scholars of the 1st century was a young man named Saul of Tarsus. By his own admission, he was advancing in Judaism “beyond many of my contemporaries among my countrymen , being more extremely zealous for my ancestral traditions.” (Galatians 1:14 NASB) Not only was Saul bright and zealous, he was also educated by the best Rabbi in all of Jerusalem. Gamaliel poured his vast Hebrew knowledge into his protégé Saul, and no doubt longed to see Saul reach the pinnacle of Judaism. Gamaliel was so highly respected in Jerusalem that he had earned a nickname among the Jews. They called him, “The Rabbi.” Not “A Rabbi” mind you, but “THE Rabbi.”

For a young Jewish man to be educated at the feet of Gamaliel would have been the 21st century American equivalent of having a Ph.D. from Harvard. Just as the Old Testament King Saul was “head and shoulders” above his cohorts, so this New Testament Saul, was “head and shoulders” above his contemporaries in a Jewish intellectual sense. In fact, Saul may have even reached that pinnacle of Judaism by serving as a member of the ruling group of 70 men, known as the Sanhedrin. And it was about this time, when Saul was around 30 years of age…that he first became acquainted with the Name of Jesus.

Stephen was a Christian. And not just any Christian, he was a faithful, and you might even say, zealous Christian. In fact, he was to be the first Christian martyr, stoned for his faith by the 1st century Jews. Saul was there when they killed him…and he couldn’t wait to see Stephen die. Saul hated Stephen, and everything Stephen stood for. When it came time to vote on his execution, Saul heartily cast his vote against him. (see Acts 26:10) But Stephen wasn’t quite ready to die. Though his death was imminent, he was going to go down in a blaze of glory. He would die preaching the very gospel that led to his fate. In Acts 7, we read Stephen’s final sermon. In an amazing combination of Old Testament history, reasoned argumentation, and Spirit empowered zeal, Stephen starts with Father Abraham and goes all the way to Jesus. As the Spirit inspired Stephen, his rapid-fire dialogue became more and more bold. With one final pronouncement of judgment upon the Jews, Stephen rails, “You men who are stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears are always resisting the Holy Spirit; you are doing just as your fathers did. Which one of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? They killed those who had previously announced the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become; you who received the law as ordained by angels, and yet did not keep it.” Acts 7:51-53 (NASB)

And now…Stephen must die. To say the Jews were livid would be the understatement of the millennium. They gnashed their teeth and charged him. Like any good thug, they first took off their coats. It wouldn’t do to get blood on the cashmere jacket. Saul, guarded their coats for them, while they furiously flung rocks at Stephen’s head and torso, until he was savagely bludgeoned to death. But Stephen’s final sentence was chilling: “Lord, do not hold this sin against them!” (Acts 7:60 NASB)

Saul was now, not only enraged…he was also inspired. Young men can be very dangerous, if they believe in a cause. Many have been willing to kill and be killed for something they believe in……even if they’re wrong. And so it was with Saul. He made it his life’s work to destroy these followers of Christ. He would chase them down. He would imprison them. If need be, he would see to their death. And yet, what was it about this message that SO ENRAGED Saul? Perhaps, it was because, way down deep within Saul…if he was honest…he had to admit, that Stephen’s gospel…………made sense. Saul HATED even thinking that…and would have never said it aloud. But that message stuck with him. That witness. That boldness of Stephen. Saul knew the Old Testament as well as anyone. And if he were honest, he had to admit, that Stephen’s sermon was right on. The Jews REALLY HAD killed the prophets sent to them. The Old Testament REALLY DID speak of a coming Messiah. And Jesus Christ fit the description down to the tiniest detail. Saul’s HEAD was starting to believe Stephen’s message……but his hardened heart, cried out against it. And at least for now, Saul’s emotion triumphed over his reason. He would destroy this Christian threat to his brand of Judaism.

The more things change, the more they stay the same. Today, some people know the gospel, with their head. If you tell them of their sin and God’s forgiveness through Christ…they know that. If you tell them they deserve Hell, but can go to Heaven…they know that. If you point out that they’re life doesn’t show any commitment to Christ…they know that. They know ALL OF THIS, with their head….but Jesus must be bowed to…with the heart. The responses can be varied. Some people know they’re not living right and simply put off change. They plan to get right with God sometime before they die. Of course 99% of them NEVER WILL. Others, don’t seem to have plans of turning to Christ. They know the truth of the gospel with their heads……and it infuriates them. The more they hear it, the angrier they get! Any talk of Jesus, causes the blasphemy and insults to fly. They don’t want to hear about it! They want to destroy this message that is a threat to their sinful pleasures. They are……just like Saul.

Do you know what causes this anger? The Holy Spirit does. Conviction stings, and they want none of it. Jesus finally had enough of Saul’s antics. On a murderous rampage to Damascus, Saul is knocked off his horse, and flat on his back by none other than Jesus Christ Himself. The biggest problem (from Saul’s standpoint at least) was that Jesus had died. Everyone knew he had been crucified by the Romans, on behalf of the Jews. And yet this blinding figure, towering over the flattened Saul identified Himself, clearly: “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.” (Acts 9:5) And then Jesus says something, very telling. Jesus reveals to Saul, and to every reader of the Bible, that the vicious killer Saul, had in fact, been mulling over the claims of the gospel. Saul had, in fact, been convicted by the Holy Spirit. Saul, had in fact, begun to see the truth of the gospel. Jesus said to Saul, “It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” (Acts 26:14)

Just like a stubborn cow that refuses to adhere to the shoot…Saul refused to submit to the gospel. His head could see that it was true. But his wicked heart refused to believe……until now. Saul, NOW, would be forever changed. “You are My chosen instrument,” Jesus said. And so it was. Finally Saul’s head and Saul’s heart converged at the feet of Jesus. There was no denying the resurrection, when the risen Christ is standing over you talking. And if the resurrection is true, then the gospel must also be true. Deep down, Saul knew this. His Old Testament knowledge clearly pointed to this Jesus of Nazareth as the long awaited Messiah. At last, Saul was saved.

The Lord’s conviction is a sheer gift of grace. So often, we kick against the very thing we know to be true and saving. God might let us continue on in that rebellion, and many do. They have rejected the truth and will pay for it in an Eternal Hell. Others submit to Christ. If you have come to Christ, be thankful for His Grace that saved you. It wasn’t your brilliance, nor your character…it was HIS GRACE. If you’re feeling that conviction right now…that’s also grace. Stop running. Bow before Him. Find forgiveness. Commit your life to Him. And be forever changed. Saul was. In fact he even changed his name. As a Jew, he went by Saul. But as a Christian he went by Paul. As in “The Apostle Paul.” He’s remembered to this day as one of the greatest followers of Christ.  He wrote half of the New Testament. And just as Gamaliel was known as “THE Rabbi.” Paul is often know as “THE Apostle.” He loved Jesus more than anything. He lived for Him, and He died for Him. And now…he worships Him forever, in Heaven. All true followers of Jesus will one day worship Him there too. Will you?

………

And Paul said, “I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service, even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief.” (1 Timothy 1:12-13 NASB)

Posted in Eternal Issues, Theology | Print | No Comments »

SUPREME SOVEREIGNTY: The GOD of The BIG & The small

June 20, 2007 by Shane Kastler.

Believing in a Sovereign God can be a dangerous thing. Don’t get me wrong, I think you should believe in God, as He is…..and He is sovereign. But when you let your mind and heart bow before a God of SUPREME SOVEREIGNTY … it will change the way you live…the way you think…the way you act…the way you pray…and the way you worship.

This past weekend (actually it was Sunday night-Tuesday morning which is as close as a Pastor ever gets to a ‘weekend’), I took the family camping. Of course, you have to understand that camping (at least with me) is always a bit of an adventure. First of all, my truck doesn’t have air conditioning…so we piled the family into the truck, hooked on to the trailer, opened the windows and headed to the great outdoors. As we pulled out of town it was hot and sunny, within 10 minutes it was cloudy and cool. It even looked like it might rain…but it never did. SOMEONE chose to knock the temperature down 15 degrees and send a cool breeze as we spent an hour driving in the UN-air conditioned truck.

The next day, the kids were begging to go swimming but I knew that might be painful. The cloudy and cool temperatures didn’t do much to entice most people to the swimming beach, but my kids were not deterred. Finally, at about 11 o’clock I announced, “After lunch, go put your swimsuits on…We’re GOING TO TRY and go to the swimming beach.” We got to the beach, the kids walked towards the water…AND THE SUN broke through the clouds just as the kids reached the shore. SOMEONE chose to let the sun shine, while my kids swam. (In fact it shinned so well that Andrew had a touch of sunburn.)

As soon as we were done swimming, the clouds rolled back in. In fact that evening the clouds REALLY rolled in and began to look rather ominous. The camp host told Erin that storms were expected after midnight, and if it got bad enough we would need to go to the bathhouse for safety. That evening, we had one of those moments that only come when camping. All 5 of us huddled into the camper listening to KKOW radio out of Pittsburg. I serenaded the family by singing along with George Strait, then we would all quiet down to listen to weather reports. Once darkness came, Savannah slept (in spite of my crooning). Then Karissa fell asleep. Andrew stayed awake and tried to act like he wasn’t scared of the approaching storms…though he was. The DJ came on the radio and said that a big storm was moving into Bourbon County and Northern Crawford County, and that in 10 minutes we would be having a downpour. I waited…and waited…but it never came. I went outside and watched the lightening and listened to the thunder….but it was just North of us. SOMEONE chose to make the storm pass us by, while my kids slept. NOW, I ask, who might that SOMEONE be?

The next evening I walked over by the lake and beheld nature’s glory. The sky was lit up with pink, which reflected off of the calm lake surface. Birds glided effortlessly right above the water. Crickets chirped. Fish jumped. It was beautiful. As I sat there taking it in, I prayed. And I wondered what an atheist does in a moment like that. The Psalmist writes, “The Heavens Declare the Glory of God, the sky shows His handiwork.”(Psalm 19:1) Does an atheist look at such a scene and say “WOW!!! I love evolution!” or does he say, “The Heavens declare the Glory of the BIG BANG theory!” or does he say, “How glorious that all of this came from primordial ooze over billions of years of natural selection!”…..OR does he simply ignore it? Does he cynically scoff at the God who created him and the beauty that he placed him in? The Psalmist was right…“the Heavens DECLARE the glory of God” (emphasis on DECLARE). God screams His presence through the world…some accept it, some ignore it. But all will one day know the truth. It’ll be too late for them to follow Him as Lord, but they’ll know they wasted their life in pursuit of passing things. Indeed, they’ll know all too clearly…that there IS a GOD!

So, WHO was it that controlled the weather on our camping trip? It was God. In fact it was the same God who allowed the air conditioning to go out at the church that Sunday morning. And the same God that allowed all 3 of our kids to cough the entire first night of camping so that NO ONE slept. The first night was one of those nights, when I was hoping someone would break into the camper and say to me “your money or your life.” I would have responded, “you can have all my money…but PLEASE, PLEASE go ahead and shoot me anyway!” OK, it wasn’t quite that bad, but it was a tough night on everyone…and God allowed it. Then God allowed a raccoon to get into our ice chest and eat all of our butter and cheese…the only thing he left was the hamburgers I cooked the night before, which to be honest, kind of offended me. ( Later I found the wrapper to the burgers, so he actually ate those too…thank goodness.) God allowed us to get several mosquito bites, and a couple of tick bites, and some mild sunburn. This morning, God allowed the battery on my car to be dead. I promptly jump started it with Erin’s van, drove the van back to the garage, walked back around to my car, only to find it was dead again. At that point, I decided God had allowed me a nice walk to the church. And as I walked I thought, and I prayed. The God I was worshipping, allowed a train to roar through town and lay on it’s whistle for 45 SECONDS, almost causing me to curse the train, as I praised the Lord.

Do you believe in the God of Sovereignty? Do you believe in the God of SUPREME SOVEREIGNTY? Here’s the point. If you believe in a God who blesses you with little and BIG things…then you must also believe in a God that allows you to face trials in little and BIG things. Some want to have their cake and eat it too. They want God’s blessings with no trials. Or they praise God for good things…and simply curse Satan for bad things. Make no mistake, Satan is evil and vicious…but GOD’S Sovereignty TRUMPS Satan’s power EVERTYTIME. We must bow to the Sovereign ONE when things are good…and when things are bad. THIS is the very essence of worship. Anyone will brag on a God who blesses them. But mature, cross-bearing disciples will praise their King, even when He chooses to send pestilence and misery into their life.

God’s blessings always pose a veiled challenge…..Will we worship the GIVER? Or do we simply worship HIS GIFTS? The first option is Christianity. The second option is Idolatry. God is either Sovereign over all things….or He is sovereign over NOTHING. Anything less is a god of human design….and unworthy of worship. SO, praise Him in the sun…and praise Him in the storms. Praise Him in the air conditioning…and Praise Him in the sweltering heat. Praise! The GOD of SUPREME SOVEREIGNTY! For He Alone is Worthy….

… … …

“The Heavens Declare the Glory of God, The sky shows His handiwork.” (Psalm 19:1)

Posted in Theology, Atheism | Print | No Comments »

Are You Righteous?….Are You Sure?… 3 Kinds of Righteousness That ALL CHRISTIANS Should Have

June 15, 2007 by Shane Kastler.

Are you righteous or not? Here’s why its important, and why you need to examine this in your own life: Many claim to be righteous (and claim to be saved) who are not. A brief examination of their life would show that clearly. Sadly, many of them will never do the self examination required. Another reason why this is important: Many Christians fail to see the inescapable link between their standing in Christ and their behavior in the world. Like we’ve talked about in 1 John….those who have fellowship with God, “will walk in the light.” (1 John 1:7) I’m going to now explain 3 different types of righteousness: imputed, positional, and practical. By the way…if you’re still reading, then you’re doing better than the 95% of people who made it through the first paragraph, but exited this blog when they read the last sentence containing the phrase: “I’m going to now explain.”…..Congratulations…you’re the cream of the crop….keep reading…

…

Imputed Righteousness—–If I’ve mentioned this phrase once, I’ve mentioned it 100 times. I’ve taught it to the Youth, and I’ve taught it on Sunday mornings. It is the righteousness of Jesus Christ, which is granted to our account (imputed) because of our relationship with Him. Most Christians have a pretty firm grip on the idea of Jesus paying for our sins….but sometimes we forget that we are also credited with His perfect life. Nowhere is this better explained than in 2 Corinthians 5:21: “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” (NASB) This is the great, glorious, divine, switcheroo…..We get His perfection, credited to us….He gets our sin, credited to Him on the cross. Therefore, on the Judgment Day, when we stand before the Lord with eternity hanging in the balance, the Righteous Judge will look at us…..and see the perfect life of Jesus. That’s Imputed Righteousness.

Positional Righteousness—–This is very similar to Imputed Righteousness. It has to do with our “position” in Christ. If you want to get technical (and you probably don’t), Positional Righteousness, comes after Imputed Righteousness. In other words, we are given the perfect life of Christ (Imputed Righteousness). After that we are in a state of Positional Righteousness. Our “position” before God is righteous…not because of our good works, but because of Christ’s perfect work. Are you still with me? I hope so, because the next one REALLY affects your life…

Practical Righteousness—–This is simply the “practice of righteousness.” In other words, if you are righteous by imputation, and by position….THEN YOU WILL ALSO BE RIGHTEOUS IN PRACTICE. You will be committed to a life of righteousness because of your love for God and what He has done for you in Christ. This is where many so-called Christians fail miserably….because THEY ARE NOT REALLY CHRISTIANS. This is what John continually hammers away at in the epistle of 1 John. If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. (1 John 1:6 NASB) By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. (1 John 2:3 NASB) If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. (1 John 2:15 NASB) If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone also who practices righteousness is born of Him. (1 John 2:29 NASB)

I could go on, but for time’s sake I won’t. Do you see the clear teaching of Scripture? If you are saved, then you will (on some level) imitate Christ by living a life of righteousness. This doesn’t mean you will never sin. This doesn’t mean every Christian is at the same level of spiritual maturity. But it DOES mean that all true Christians will have a desire to be righteous and holy and Christ-like in how they live.

Here’s where the rubber meets the road……If you know someone (or you are that someone) who is NOT following Christ with their life….and is NOT bothered by sin in their life….and is NOT interested in Christian fellowship….and is NOT interested in personal holiness…..THEN that person is probably NOT saved. The only reason I say “probably” is because it is possible for a Christian to fall into sin, FOR A PERIOD OF TIME, in which they don’t appear to be convicted (though if they are truly saved, they will be convicted), and they don’t appear to be committed to personal holiness. But if that person continues in sin for very long, then they are not showing the fruit of a Christian, and should therefore be considered lost. Listen to what Jesus said: “If your brother sins , go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother. But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every fact may be confirmed. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.” (Matthew 18:15-17 NASB)

In other words…consider him lost. Some of you have loved ones that you’ve confronted WAY MORE than 3 times about their sin….and they don’t repent. Should you consider them, “saved and backslidden” OR should you consider them “lost and perishing.” Clearly they are lost and perishing….they have NO PRACTICAL RIGHTEOUSNESS, because they are not POSITIONALLY RIGHTEOUS …because they have no IMPUTED RIGHTEOUSNESS…and are therefore “dead in their sins.” (Eph. 2:1)

I’m not saying this because I simply want to “burst your bubble” about the condition of that straying loved one. I’m saying it because we need to recognize the lostness of these people and approach them (and pray for them) as lost people. Many of them have heard the gospel a million times…..and they don’t care. Pray for a change of heart, and continue to look for opportunities to point them to the cross.

Commit yourself to a life of Practical Righteousness. If you’re saved, then the desire WILL be there. But it will take some discipline to live the life. Be overwhelmed at the amazing grace of God…..that Christ paid for your sins….and granted you HIS PERFECT LIFE. Recognize your Positional Righteousness in Him…and live your life “in the light” of Practical Righteousness because of your love and devotion to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Until next time…

Posted in Theology | Print | 1 Comment »

Everybody Will Worship SOMETHING…..So Why Don’t They Worship GOD?

June 15, 2007 by Shane Kastler.

Acts 19 gives an interesting account of the Ephesian people going berserk over their neighborhood idol, Artemis (aka-Diana). An idol-maker named Demetrius stirs up a crowd to oppose Paul and the Christians because they were teaching that idols are all phony and that people need to turn to Christ. Demetrius and many others were motivated by money. They made silver statues of Artemis and made a fortune peddling them. But why would people buy them? Isn’t it obvious that a “god” made by a man’s hands is not a real “God?” God makes men…Men don’t make God. So why worship an idol? Or why worship at all? 

I want to try and answer two primary questions: First–why do people worship? Second, why DON’T they worship the REAL God? 

People are born with a desire to worship SOMETHING. Even a casual read of the book of Romans bears this out. Paul writes: That which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them.  For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. (Romans 1:19-20 NASB, also see Rom. 2:14-15)  In other words, there is enough evidence of God from creation and from an internal stamp of the Creator that ALL people, deep down, know there is a God, that He should be worshipped, and they are accountable to Him. Man was created in the garden of Eden to worship and glorify God…and this desire to worship exists even after the fall of man. But when Adam fell in sin, and the world became “sin cursed,” something else happened too. Man in his sinful depravity KEEPS the desire to worship, but SHUNS the worship of the One, True, GOD. So here’s the short answer to the questions: Why do people worship? Because they were designed to. Why don’t they worship God? Because they’re too sinful to. Now if you want the longer version…keep reading. 

Ultimately, the reason people don’t worship God is because of sin. That shouldn’t be a surprise to you. But you may be surprised to know how far reaching the effects of sin are. Sin doesn’t just make you “less than perfect.” Sin SEPARATES you from God in a devastating kind of way. Sinners don’t have a relationship with God, and what’s worse, they (you) don’t DESIRE a relationship with God. So don’t buy into the lie that the world is full of sinners who LONG to be saved and know God, but can’t because God’s too mean to let them. Sinners want nothing to do with the worship of Jesus Christ….unless they are “born again” sinners (see John 3). So what makes a sinner NOT want to become a Christian? Sin…right. But what kind of sin? 

For some it may just be laziness. You share the gospel and the demands of Christ to turn from sin, deny yourself and follow Him….and people say NO WAY. Following Christ is hard. Living for my own desires is easy. So people choose self over salvation. But some religions DO call people to self-denial, yet are still false. For example, Islam calls people to fast and deny themselves and to pray in a very disciplined manner. If a person is willing to do all of that “hard stuff” why don’t they just turn to Christ? Again, the short answer is sin. The long answer is that they take that longing to worship SOMETHING and they perceive that true worship must take work….so they buy into a “works salvation” in a false god. Out of all the various “religions” they choose the one that seems right to them. They can remain a hardened sinner and follow Mohammed, or Buddha, or anyone else for that matter. Why? Because their sin doesn’t separate them from Mohammed…in fact it unites them because Mohammed was a sinner too. Their sin separates them from Christ. And they have no desire to turn to Christ because of that sin nature. This leads to another reason people don’t worship the true God—-their culture. 

Go to a “Muslim country” and most people will be Muslim. The same is true of any other religion. This is because people are not JUST sinners….they are also “cliquish” sinners. They want to be like everyone else….and in some countries they HAVE to be or they’ll be disowned. But let’s be sure to stay off our American high horse and not pretend our country isn’t the same. Americans are probably more cliquish than any country. We clique up over everything (religion, politics, sports, etc.). Of course we don’t “clique up” over Jesus, because contrary to 3rd world opinion, America is NOT a Christian country….and it hasn’t been for a LONG time. But that’s a blog for another day. 

One final reason I’ll mention for why people don’t worship the Real God. Some people drop out of religion all together. They are secular and say either: all religious are wrong or all religions are the same, therefore it doesn’t matter what I do. They’re ALMOST right. All religious are wrong (except Christianity) and all religions are the same (except Christianity). They’re all the same in the sense that they’re all wrong about Christ and thus all lead to the same eternal damnation. The last couple of sentences sound extremely arrogant to our 21st century ears. But, like it or not,…..that is the ESSENCE of the teaching of Jesus Christ. He preached a gospel that is as exclusive as it gets. “I am the way the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father, except by me.” (John 14:6) 

When you read Acts 19 and see the riot that occurred over Artemis the false god, it is somewhat fascinating. These lunatics paraded through town and then gathered at a stadium and shouted, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians” for 2 hours. That’s what religions do. They are excited about their god. Is it hard for you to imagine someone being excited and shouting for 2 hours? How about 4 hours? In hard stadium seats? Ever seen a Chiefs game? By the way….I’m NOT joking. The Ephesians were fanatics (fans) of Artemis. They yelled for Artemis. They packed a stadium for Artemis. They were willing to fight for Artemis. Does this type of religious zeal exist in America? Yes….its just NOT over religions that are spiritual…its over religions that are “American.” How many people in this country worship athletes, or singers, or movie-stars? The passion for false religion is alive and well in America….its just not always what we think of as “religious idols.” There’s nothing wrong with being a fan…but is your greatest passion the Chiefs, or the Christ? 

All people worship something. Some won’t admit it…but their life bears it out. Some worship “false gods” in the form of another religion (Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, etc., etc.) Some worship false “Christs” (Mormon, Jehovah Witness, Liberal Christianity, etc., etc.). Some worship other things (money, self, people, possessions). Few…very few…truly know and worship Jesus Christ the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. We CAN’T change their sinful hearts…but we can mourn over them. We CAN’T argue them into the kingdom…but we CAN (and are commanded to) tell them how to get there. But realize this…Christianity, the REAL Christianity, not the one of American “ear-ticklers”…REAL Christianity is a HARD message. It won’t “sell.” That’s why GOD gives it as a “free gift.” And ultimately, its only GOD that can change their heart. Everybody’s going to worship something or someone…..WHO will YOU worship? 

  

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ADMITTANCE of Sin vs. REPENTANCE of Sin….Is Salvation HARDER Than ABC?

June 15, 2007 by Shane Kastler.

In Acts 19:17-20, we are told of a group of people in Ephesus who appear to have been saved. After the incident with the demon possessed man and the failed exorcism of the Sceva boys—we read that “Many also of those who had believed kept coming, confessing and disclosing their practices.” (Acts 19:18 NASB) Magicians were being saved and (it appears) were repenting and turning to Christ. 

I think this is very important to point out—-We are NOT saved by ADMITTING we are sinners and “asking Jesus into our hearts.” I have heard evangelism pleas numerous times that say things to this affect. As a case in point, perhaps you’ve heard that salvation is as easy as A-B-C. Admit you’re a sinner, Believe in Christ, and Confess your sins and ask Jesus into your heart. Sounds good doesn’t it? Its clever, its cute….but it doesn’t go far enough in sharing the true Biblical gospel. Here’s the problem. 

Admitting you’re a sinner is a far cry from repenting of your sin nature. I can catch my son picking on his sister and force him to admit his guilt, and even force him to give her a mock apology….but is he REALLY sorry? Of course not. The same is true of us spiritually. Anyone can admit they’re a sinner. But Jesus said,  “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matt 3:2 NASB) AND “Unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” (Luke 13:5 NASB)  

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Here are some differences between ADMITTANCE and REPENTANCE. Admittance requires only head knowledge. You tell someone what they did is wrong, and they agree with you. Repentance requires head knowledge AND heart affection. To repent means you genuinely feel bad (towards GOD) because of your sin. Admittance requires no conviction. Repentance requires Holy Spirit conviction. Admittance requires no change in behavior. Repentance leads to a changed life. Admittance has no saving power (contrary to the cute gospel presentation above)— Repentance is required for salvation. Unless you turn from your sins in REPENTANCE and place your faith in Christ as Lord…you will perish. 

The ABC gospel is a very “American” type gospel. Many Americans don’t want to be told they must turn from their sin to be saved. They want to continue in their sin and get eternal Heaven to boot. The problem is you can’t reconcile that with what Jesus continually taught. But many preachers (some naively) have taught that all you must do is Admit, Believe, and Confess. Its scary to think that Hell may be running over with people who “admitted sin” and prayed a “sinner’s prayer” yet had NO TRUE change of heart—which is proven by NO TRUE change in behavior. 

What about “believing?” We must believe to be saved right? Yes, but we must be sure to tell the lost (and understand ourselves) that “believe” means more than simply believing the truth or validity of a statement. Believe means to “put your faith in.” Saving faith (belief) involves NOT ONLY believing the “facts” about Jesus. But bowing to Him as the One and Only, Supreme LORD of your life. One of the saddest statements you’ll ever hear is to hear someone who just lost a loved one say, “I know they’re in Heaven because they ‘believed in Jesus.’” Sometimes you’ll hear this said of people who clearly were NOT followers of Christ on earth. Yet they and they’re loved ones are deluded into thinking salvation comes by mere “intellectual belief.” It doesn’t. Jesus never said it did. 

Confess. What does it mean to confess. Some would say it means to “agree with God about your sin.” Some would say it means to publicly confess your sins. Both could be true. But once again we must realize that mere confession (taking to a priest or pastor, etc.) does not save. We must confess Christ as Lord to be saved. This means our faith MUST be public. Incidentally Biblical public confession NEVER means coming forward at an altar call. They didn’t have altar calls in the Bible–and we don’t have to have them today. People are saved by turning from sin (repentance) and turning to Christ as Lord (faith). The church ordinance we are called to do to publicly “confess Christ” is baptism. Of course if you’re not “confessing” Christ with your life, then your baptism didn’t amount to much anyway but a public dunking. Baptism is required for obedience, but not for salvation. (Don’t forget–saved by grace, NOT works…but true salvation leads to works, such as baptism). Baptism is scriptural, altar calls aren’t (but that’s a blog for another day). Which is why when we do the invitation, I NEVER say, “come forward and be saved.” You’re not saved by changing locations in a building. I do invite people to come and pray with me, or to come and make a public “decision.” Oh well, I’ve chased that rabbit far enough… 

Salvation involves more than “Admit, Believe, Confess.” Salvation involves REPENTANCE and FAITH and it leads to a changed life. The Ephesian magicians gathered up all their magic books and burned them publicly. That seems to be an evidence of genuine salvation. Of course some of them could have been caught up in the excitement and acting rashly. How do you know if they were really saved? You look at their life one year, five years, ten years down the road. Are they following Christ, or are they pulling rabbits out of their hat? Acts 19:18 says they “kept coming” and disclosing their evil deeds. It was continuous. So is true saving faith. We are NOT called to make “converts” who admit, believe, and confess. We are called to make “disciples” who deny themselves, persevere, follow, and if necessary die for their King. Do you want to be a convert or a disciple? Do you want to admit or repent? Do you want to go to Hell or Heaven? Do you want Jesus as your Lord, or do you only want Him as eternal “fire insurance?” If you don’t REALLY love Him, and follow Him, then you won’t REALLY go to Heaven…because you’re not REALLY saved. Sound harsh? Sometimes the truth hurts. But not as bad as eternal judgment does. Jesus said: “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.  Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles ?’  And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me you workers of iniquity.” (Matt 7:21-23)  

So who are the one’s who are saved? Those who “repented.” Who are the one’s who are deluded? Those who “admitted.” ……. Which one are you? 

  

 

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Can A Christian “Lose” Their Salvation?…Election, Eternal Security, & Evangelism

June 15, 2007 by Shane Kastler.

I have a two-fold reason for writing this one. First, at the end of Revelation, reference is made to some who “lose their part in the Tree of Life” (v. 19) because they “took away from the words of this prophecy.” I didn’t have time to get into this Sunday morning. If I would have–then those in the church who turn into pumpkins at 12:15 would have probably left me. My second reason for this blog has to do with Wednesday night’s Bible study, which will hit on the doctrine of Election (Acts 18:10), or the belief that God chooses some for salvation. Since Eternal Security and Election go hand-in-hand, I thought I would link Sunday and Wednesday with a blog. The easy thing to do is avoid Election, but then I would be guilty of “taking away from the words of this book” and we all know how ugly that would be. So, here it goes… 

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The short answer to the above question is NO. A true, born again, believer CANNOT lose their salvation. If you’re busy (or just too lazy to read the rest of this) then stop here and rest in your eternal security (if you indeed have it, which you may not). If you want to know more then read on…but I WARN YOU, I’m going to talk about some “controversial doctrines.” But they are also “God-inspired” doctrines, so you better try to understand them. 

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I’ll begin by saying that Christ offers us ETERNAL life. By definition, “eternal” means something that lasts forever. Therefore if you could lose it (salvation) then its not eternal. Furthermore, Jesus made very clear, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand.” John 10:27-28 (NASB) I can’t imagine Jesus making it any more clear than that. But let’s delve deeper by asking, Who are his sheep? … 

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This is where Election comes in. If you study Scripture you will see that doctrines “tie together.” The quickest way to get confused and fall into error is to try and build a mountain on one doctrine at the neglect of others. Election makes sense if you first understand the nature, and far reaching affects of SIN. The Bible teaches that we are “dead in our sins” (Eph. 2:1), that there is NO ONE who seeks after God (Rom. 3:10), that “all have sinned” (Rom. 3:23), and that the “wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23). When you understand all of this to be true (and many Christians would deny some of those realities), then you begin to see how truly helpless (and depraved) human beings are. 

Now we must understand God’s Holiness and Righteous standard. ALL PEOPLE DESERVE GOD’S WRATH. Perhaps that sounds harsh, but it’s true. As painful as it may be to admit, HELL is just. Hell is where we all deserve to go, because we have all rebelled against the God who created us. And as Creator, Lord, God, Master, etc.–He has the right to give any punishment He wishes, and He is justified in doing it. Maybe you’re thinking, “if only He were a God of Grace instead of Justice. Then maybe SOME would be saved.” That’s exactly what we are promised will happen because He is a God of Grace AND Justice. Jesus told Paul to keep preaching in Corinth “because I have many people in this city.” (Acts 18:10) In other words Paul was guaranteed that some would be saved. Why? Because God chose to save them. Jesus makes this clear again in John 17 when praying to the Father about Himself, Jesus says, “You gave Him authority over all flesh, that to all whom You have given Him, He may give eternal life.” John 17:2 (NASB) Jesus whole-heartedly taught the doctrine of Election. Do you whole-heartedly believe it? 

What about “free will?” Didn’t I choose God? Yes, but you never would have unless He chose you first. Again I quote Christ, “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him.” (John 6:44) And about the time the disciples began to get the “big head” Jesus hit ‘em with this one: “Remember, you did not choose Me, but I chose you.” (John 15:26) So are we saved against our will? No. That’s part of the beauty of salvation. That’s what it means to be “born again.” God imparts a new nature that WANTS AND LOVES Him, rather than our “old nature” that REBELLS AGAINST Him. And the fact is: God doesn’t do that for everyone…and He doesn’t have to do if for anyone. 

What about evangelism? What’s the point if salvation is God’s work? First, we are commanded to share the gospel. Second, God has told us that He will save NO ONE except through the proclamation of the gospel (Rom. 10:14). Notice that when Jesus mentioned Election to Paul in Acts 18:10–Paul’s response was not to throw a fit and say “what’s the point of evangelism if God chooses people”–Paul’s response was to joyously and faithfully proclaim the gospel with the FULL ASSURANCE AND GUARANTEE that some in Corinth would be saved. Without the doctrine of Election, we can preach the gospel every day for the rest of our lives and NO ONE would ever be saved…of course without Election we would have never been saved ourselves. Always remember, that Election and Evangelism go hand-in-hand. Too many people toss Election aside because they think its “anti-evangelistic.” To the contrary, its very “pro-evangelistic.” We can share the gospel with everyone–knowing that GOD WILL SAVE SOME. Ultimately, it doesn’t depend upon man’s fickle emotions (or his will), but upon “God who shows mercy.” (Rom. 9:16) The majority of the pioneer missionaries believed and taught the doctrine of Election…and it inspired them to go to other lands with the gospel. William Carey, Adoniram Judson, Hudson Taylor (not to mention Peter (see 2 Peter 1:10-11), Paul, and the rest of the Apostles) all believed in Election…AND practiced Evangelism. 

The truly saved will not lose their salvation because God chose them before the foundation of the world (Eph. 1:4), He drew them (John 6:44), convicted them of sin (John 16:8 ), gave them a new nature (John 3:3), and will keep them until the end (John 10:29). Romans 8:30 talks about those whom God predestined, and those predestined, He called, and those called, He justified, and those justified, He glorified. Who is He talking about? Who gets justified and glorified? Everyone? NO, believers (those whom he foreknew, predestined, and called). Kevin is about to tackle all of this in Sunday School so those in that class might want to settle in for about 6 months worth of Romans 8 & 9. It’s heavy stuff. But it’s glorious, edifying, God-exalting stuff! So keep wrestling with it. 

One more thing I better add about Eternal Security. Some people think they have it, who aren’t saved. If you’re NOT following Christ in obedience, then the Holy Spirit WILL NOT give you assurance. Those who are obviously not following the Lord–yet claim to be Christians are probably deluded. (see Matt. 7:15-23) If they have assurance–then it’s a demonic assurance that wants to keep them bound in sin. They need your prayers, and they need to hear the truth. No matter how painful it may be. It may be hard to understand, but Man is responsible for his sin and commanded to repent–even though he never will apart from the Spirit’s work in his heart.  If you go to Hell, its your fault. If you go to Heaven, its God’s grace.  Sin is man’s fault because Adam chose to sin (and you would have to, rather you want to admit it or not).  

I guess I better bring this to a close. I doubt anyone has made it this far, but if you have I commend you. Let me just end by saying that if “eternal security and election” are issues you struggle with, I understand. Most people struggle with Election because it runs opposite of our nature which teaches us that God owes us something. You’ll understand Election better when you understand the sin nature better. But I encourage you—don’t discard certain doctrines just because they are hard to understand. God put it in the Bible for a reason. One of my old professors used to say, “Don’t you leave it OUT, when God has put it IN.” Do you want to grow spiritually? Then you must wrestle with hard doctrines. Do you want to know God deeper? Then you must wrestle with hard doctrines. Do you want to LOVE GOD MORE? Then you must wrestle with hard doctrines. 

Don’t be angry with God for His Election of you—THANK HIM FOR IT! You would NEVER be saved without it. ADMIT that “His ways are above your ways.” (Isa. 55:8) Pray for the lost and share the gospel with them…God has PROMISED to save some. And continue following the Lord in obedience–He will grant assurance of salvation to you by way of the Holy Spirit if you continue to follow Him. If you “back slide” then you’re bound to lose assurance. If you “back slide” for an extended period of time–then you were probably never saved to begin with. Remember the words of Christ: “My sheep hear my voice and they FOLLOW me…and NO ONE shall snatch them out of my hand.” (John 10:27,29)…Marantha (Come Lord Jesus)….Come and gather Your sheep, and take us home to be with You… 

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P.S.– Those mentioned in Revelation 22:19 didn’t lose their salvation. They never had it to begin with—If they did, they wouldn’t have been intentionally “monkeying” with God’s Word. In a sense, they lost “eternal life” before they ever had it, and thus lost their part to the “tree of life.” 

  

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Abortion — 34 Years of National Tragedy

June 15, 2007 by Shane Kastler.

(Originally posted Jan. 23, 2007 at www.narrowroadblog.com)

Imagine if something horrible happened to the United States and scores of people perished. In fact, imagine that 20 percent of our population was killed by some catastrophe. Would there be sadness? Would there be mourning? What if the catastrophe was a planned act of violence against our citizens? Would there be outrage? What if the act was committed only against children….and even then only against the smallest, most defenseless children? Would you be appalled? Would you be appalled enough to fight to see the wrong made right? Imagine….on second thought, stop imagining. You don’t have to imagine…because it’s not imaginary. It’s real. It’s abortion. And it’s tragic beyond words.

January 22nd, marked the 34th anniversary of the deplorable Roe vs. Wade Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion. Since that time, over 47 million babies have been legally killed in America. That would be roughly 1/5 or our entire national population wiped out. The shameless politicizing of this national tragedy is an embarrassment to our country’s morals. Gutless politicians, eager to please a radical feminist agenda, frequently spout off pious sound bites about defending a “women’s right to choose.” It would be so heroic and noble, if politicians were defending a woman’s right to choose anything other than murdering her own child. If you decide to bury your head in the sand and call it “choice” go ahead….I choose to call abortion what it is. All too often, we like to hide our ugly sins behind pretty words. But the fact is, abortion kills babies. Don’t call it “choice.” Call it “tragedy.”

In the Bible, the Psalmist wrote these words to God, “For You formed my inward parts; you wove me in my mother’s womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” Psalms 139:13-14 (NASB) How tragic and sad, that while God is creating that life in the womb, a man’s cold, sharp needle sometimes ends it. How heinous it is that this happens purposely, and with the full blessing of American law. That needs to change.

Pray that the dark stain on America’s soul known as abortion would come to an end. Be courageous and speak out for those who can’t speak out for themselves. Refuse to tolerate the lunacy coming from “pro-choice” politicians and demand them to defend our nation’s helpless children. If they refuse, then help them find a new occupation. Every American, regardless of their political affiliation should oppose abortion. There’s simply no excuse for defending it. If you’re currently on the wrong side of this issue….change sides. If you’ve had an abortion in the past, remember that God stands ready to forgive. If you ever face an “un-wanted pregnancy” remember that there are plenty of other options besides abortion. America needs to come together on this issue. We can debate lesser issues, but when a baby’s life is at stake we should all stand united. How many more millions will die before we see a change? Pray and act. Oppose abortion. And pray that God might see fit to forgive our nation for the vile sin of legalized infanticide.

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For more facts on abortion go to the National Right to Life website at www.nrlc.org.

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Evolution Takes A Hit—-“Creation Museum” Opens In Kentucky

June 15, 2007 by Shane Kastler.

May 28th will mark the Grand Opening of a new museum in Petersburg, Kentucky dedicated to the Biblical view of God’s 6-day creation of the earth and all that is in it. The Creation Museum is the brainchild of Dr. Ken Ham, a well known Creationist, who heads up the ministry called Answers In Genesis, which is devoted to teaching a Biblical worldview (contra evolution).

But, if you visit the Creation Museum (located near Cincinnati, Ohio)—don’t expect to see cheap and pathetic exhibits made of cardboard and construction paper. The Museum was a $27 million endeavor, done in part by engineers from Universal Studios in Hollywood. Life size animated dinosaurs can be seen, along with sculptures of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. In addition to this the Museum features a “state of the art” theater, equipped with vibrating chairs to the give the Creation account more effect.

But the Creation Museum is more than simply a Christian view of Science….it has an unashamed motive to equip the Christian, and evangelize the Non-Christian. As the Museum’s mission statement says, it exists to: “Exalt Jesus Christ as Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer through a safe, wholesome, family-friendly center for learning and discovery that clearly presents major biblical themes from Genesis to Revelation. This center will equip Christians to better evangelize the lost with a sense of urgency, through a combination of exhibits, research and educational presentations that uphold the inerrancy of the Bible. This center will also challenge visitors to receive Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord and to accept the authority of the Bible by providing culturally relevant biblical and scientific answers from a biblical worldview.”

It sounds like a noble cause. So why are so many Scientists and Educators angry about the Museum? Eugenie Scott, the executive director of the National Center for Science Education told ABC News that kids will “Show up in classrooms and say, ‘Gee, Mrs. Brown, I went to this spiffy museum last summer and they say that everything you’re teaching me is a lie.” When told of the quote, Ken Ham’s response was: “I say, great. Amen. That’s what this place is all about, it’s meant to challenge people.”

And herein lies a crucial point I would like to expose. Science Educators are aghast that the validity of their flawed theory might be questioned by a student. Yet Christians are supposed to cower and bow the knee to Atheistic Scientists who mock everything they stand for and believe in. The double standard is shocking, absurd, and of course completely predictable coming from a secular and Godless scientific community. I find it interesting that Science professors (as well as other College professors) take our kids and attempt to debunk everything they believe about God, and claim they are simply challenging the kids to “broaden their horizons” by looking at (and accepting) other viewpoints. Yet, if a Christian parent, Pastor, or Church attempts to teach OUR OWN KIDS of the genuine flaws inherent in the THEORY of evolution, we are accused of brain washing, indoctrinating, and thwarting their education. Why aren’t we allowed to “broaden their horizons” beyond the Science lab? The answer lies in the fact that evolution isn’t really just a school subject. At its core, it’s a religious, philosophical, and atheistic worldview that champions “chance and natural selection” over God as the Creator of our world. Not to mention the fact that evolution is rejected, even by many “secular” Scientists. It’s flawed, and it’s unbiblical. Pure and simple.

I also find it interesting that the Scientific Community would attack the Museum because it was so professionally built. Again I quote ABC News: “Mainstream scientists worry that because this museum is so sophisticated it will be more effective at giving children a distorted view of science.” Of course we see the implication here. Biblical Christians are supposed to be backwoods rednecks, who live in log cabins, eat possums, marry their cousins, and cling to their Bibles. HOW DARE a group of Christians raise money and build a museum that is both “sophisticated” and “Biblical” in its approach. Why if we’re not careful we’re liable to……influence our own children. We’re liable to even teach them Divine Truth. We may even (Heaven forbid)…..encourage them to believe (dare I say it) …believe in ……GOD. AAAAGGGGGHHHHHH!!!! Science teachers all over America will begin to run and scream and cover their ears! Kids are going to a Museum in Kentucky and coming away believing in GOD! The next thing you know they might even “bow the knee” to Jesus Christ….rather than Charles Darwin. They might trust their Bible more than a textbook. And, when it’s all said and done, they might submit to the authority of GOD……over Science. Rest assured, the American Educational establishment won’t accept that reality…without a fight.

According to the latest survey, 60 percent of Americans believe GOD created the world in 6 days. Like it or not, the Scientists are outnumbered. Though right now, they have most of the power in our Nation’s corrupt educational system. Go to a public university and try to find a Science professor who believes in Creationism (you’re more likely to find a talking unicorn). And even if you manage to find a Creationist Professor….they won’t be allowed to teach it. Paganism rules the roost, and everyone (Christians included) are expected to “toe the line” and accept lunacy as reality, and theories as fact.

I say “kudos” to Ken Ham for having the courage to go against the grain and engage the culture with Biblical truth. I hope the Creation Museum is a roaring success that God uses to change how people think, then change how they believe, then change how they live….by changing WHO they worship.

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“For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them.” (Exodus 20:11 NASB)

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“All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.” (John 1:3 NASB)

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“At the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:10-11 NASB)

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The ‘Faith’ of Atheism: Believing The Absurd, To Avoid The Obvious

June 15, 2007 by Shane Kastler.

Atheism is making a bit of a comeback. While the majority of Americans believe in the existence of a Divine Being, several recent books by atheists have hit the shelves, and the best sellers list. On May 1, a book entitled, “God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything” by Christopher Hitchens was released, and this week it tops the New York Times Bestsellers list for nonfiction hard covers. Other similar books that have recently been released, and been “bestsellers” include: The God Delusion, By Richard Dawkins, Letters to a Christian Nation, By Sam Harris, and God: The Failed Hypotheses, By Victor J. Stenger. What this trend seems to indicate is that atheism is becoming popular once again. 

For quite some time, “spirituality” has been on the rise in America. That’s not necessarily a good thing, because the “spirituality” that is so popular today is of a vague, ethereal, Oprah-like, new age, flaky, “all roads lead to Heaven” kind of variety. In other words, rather than sound Biblical, Christ exalting “spirituality” we have seen an increase in “deceiving spirits,” or what the Apostle Paul referred to as “doctrines of demons.” (1 Timothy 4:1) Surprise, Surprise! Demons still exist, and they love teaching their warped and diabolical insights to unsuspecting dupes who are looking for the “new thing” in spirituality. 

In a recent sermon, I mentioned the Conversations With God book series by Neale Donald Walsh as the number one example of a new age American “spirituality” that is demonic in nature. The thrice divorced Walsh was seeking God in a hospital room several years ago, when he claims God began to speak directly to him about all things “spiritual.” Walsh then claims to have picked up a notebook and started writing all of God’s “thoughts.” Walsh probably should have asked his “god” for a picture ID, because what his “god” told him was that everyone goes to Heaven, there are no moral right and wrongs, and that all religions are messed up. Walsh simply joins the list of delusional cultists who claim “everyone is wrong but me!” Unless things change, he will one day join the likes of Joseph Smith (Mormonism) and Charles Taze Russell (Jehovah’s Witnesses) in the “spiritual” wing of Hell. But that’s a blog for another day. 

The point is…a belief in a Divine being (or force) has been on the rise for some time. But now, atheism is making a comeback. And in all honesty, if you’re going to believe in a made up god…you might as well be an atheist. Both roads are damnable. But, I’d like to look at another road. The “Narrow Road” and in so doing, offer a refutation of the recent fascinations with atheism. (As a side note, I plan to post a critique of “God Is Not Great” in the next couple of weeks, Lord willing). 

All people are “hard wired” to believe in God. Some atheists deny this, claiming that most Americans believe in God when they’re young because of religious and family influences, but that’s simply not true. And as an example, I cite the book of Acts, chapter 28. 

The Apostle Paul was going to Rome as a prisoner, when the ship carrying him, his guards, and the ship’s crew (276 people in all) got caught in a fierce Nor’easter. After two weeks of being storm tossed, the ship finally lands on the island of Malta, some 90 miles South of Sicily. Here’s what happened after they came on shore. “The natives showed us extraordinary kindness; for because of the rain that had set in and because of the cold, they kindled a fire and received us all. But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened itself on his hand. When the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they began saying to one another, “Undoubtedly this man is a murderer, and though he has been saved from the sea, justice has not allowed him to live. However he shook the creature off into the fire and suffered no harm. But they were expecting that he was about to swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But after they had waited a long time and had seen nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and began to say that he was a god.” (Acts 28:2-6 NASB) 

First, let’s note that these “natives” were not exactly Ph.D’s in theology. While they probably weren’t “head hunters” they certainly didn’t have access to very much religion, church, or spirituality. And yet, they assume a couple of things. First of all, they assume that there is a universal standard of right and wrong. They knew that Paul escaped a ship wreck. Then they saw him get bit by a snake. Now, what is the logical conclusion? To them it was that Paul had done something to make God mad, and that Paul would pay for it. While they didn’t have details about God…they certainly believed in His existence, and that a standard was set, by God, for humans to follow. They assumed (wrongly) that Paul was living in violation of God’s standard, and would thus be punished. Which leads us to point number two. 

They believed in Justice. Not only does God exist, and have standards, but He will also see to it that Justice is served when those standards are not met. It’s impossible to read this text and not remember what Paul himself wrote in Romans 2 concerning the Law of God. Obviously, God’s people should know God’s Law and obey it. But what about pagans (such as these Malta-men)? “When Gentiles who do not have the Law do instinctively the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves, in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them.” (Romans 2:14-15 NASB) Even “Gentiles” (a.k.a.—Pagans), know deep down that God has a standard, and it should be obeyed. They know “instinctively” that God requires goodness, and blesses it. And God abhors wickedness, and punishes it. What did this knowledge of God cause the Malta-men to do? According to Acts 28:2 above, they “showed us extraordinary kindness” and “kindled a fire and received us all.” In other words, they were motivated to treat these strangers kindly, because God will bless kindness, and punish evil. This belief is clearly seen because of what they erroneously thought about Paul and the snake bite. All of their conclusions weren’t correct, but their inherent belief in a God of Justice, who has moral standards, was right on. They didn’t have enough knowledge of God to be saved. But, in their savagery, they weren’t foolish enough to be atheists. Notice what else they believed about God. 

They believed God transcended nature. Once Paul survived the snake bite with no ill effects, they concluded he must be a god. Why did they assume this? Because a mere mortal would have died from the bite. At the very least he would have gotten a swollen hand and threw up, or something. But Paul just shakes the snake into the fire and goes on his merry way. A couple of hours later, Paul is cooking a hot dog and drinking a Coke by the fire, while they continue to stare at him expecting him to topple over. The obvious conclusion? He must be a god. 

Again, their conclusion was wrong, but their inherent “Theistic” beliefs were right on. And, like it or not, everyone, including avowed atheists, have this belief in a Divine Being “hard wired” within them. You’re not an atheist by default. You have to spend some time conjuring up the “faith” to be an atheist. 

As another example of “hard wired” Theistic belief, I cite Acts 17:28. This account has Paul on Mars Hill trying to share the gospel with the philosophical pagans of Athens. In Paul’s brilliant sermon he begins by talking about the pagans current beliefs and then (as Spurgeon used to say) “make a beeline for the cross.” One of the beliefs these pagans already had was in a “Creator” God. Notice what Paul says:  “For in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we also are His children.’” (Acts 17:28 NASB) Paul makes the argument for God as a “Father” (i.e., “Creator) based upon some of their very own pagan poetry which declared ‘we are His children.’ Where did they get this belief? From philosophy? From their parents? From their school teachers? No. Ultimately, that got it from their heart. The belief in a Supreme Power exists within the heart and mind of all sane creatures. 

One only needs to open their physical eyes to see what’s around them to believe in God. “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.” (Romans 1:20 NASB) All people should be able to look at the falling rain and the growing crops and say “God does that.” All people should be able to look at the miracle of child birth and say, “God does that.” All people should be able to look into the sky on a clear night, see the stars and moon and say, “God does that.” To ponder on the fact that we live on a planet that is suspended for thousands of years in space, spinning at a constant rate, and say “God does that.” To say anything else is not simply irreligious. It’s completely irrational. So, where did all of this stuff come from anyway? “Chance” created the world? By “chance” people came into being? All of the intricacies of our world and universe is being held together……..by “chance?” Let’s get real! It takes FAR, FAR more “faith” to believe such lunacy, than it does to believe in God, the Creator, Sustainer, Author, and Finisher of all things. Atheism must be conjured up over time because its completely absurd. To be an atheist you must deny the obvious. Even the foolish savages in the African jungle aren’t crazy enough to do that. It takes education, and it takes arrogance….to deny the Divine obvious. Step one on the road to Heaven, is a belief in a Divine being. Step two, is to place your faith in the REAL Divine Being, and His Divine Son Jesus Christ…rather than following a false religion, of a false god, that leads to a very real Hell. 

I’m sorry, I can’t be an atheist. I don’t have the “faith” to pull it off. Instead I’ll believe the obvious and give in to my “hard wired” beliefs in God. Then I’ll bow before the ONE through whom “all things came into being” (John 1:3). And I’ll pray that all the atheists of the world will one day do the same…before time runs out. 

  

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