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Judeo-Christian Culture: How Can We Raise Faithful Families who Keep the Faith?

Judeo-Christian Culture: How Can We Raise Faithful Families who Keep the Faith?

The idea that a common Judeo-Christian ethics or Judeo-Christian values underpin American politics, law and morals has been part of the “American civil religion” since the 1940s. Young people who have grown up with freedom and convenience tend to take it for granted even to be lured by tyrannical “utopian” doctrines because they don’t know what it’s like to be without God, and without freedom.

Facts:

  • 4% of Millennials (18-29-year-olds) hold beliefs consistent with biblical teaching.  (February 2017 Barna survey)
  • 17% of adults ages 50 and above hold to those same Christian teachings.  (February 2017 Barna survey)

Churchgoing parents want to pass on their faith to their kids and to see their children make that faith their own, but they don’t always know how best to make that happen.  

What Can We Do About It?

God’s word gives us the answer. ‘And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.’ – Deuteronomy 6:6,7 KJV

LifeWay 2017 survey of 2,000 parents of young adults (ages 18-30) also states:

“The most common factor in the experience of the children who still hold onto faith was having read the Bible regularly as a child. Also praying, serving, and listening to mostly Christian music.” – Scott McConnell, LifeWay executive director

Step 1. An Ounce of Prevention

Sadly, many have fallen prey to substance abuse. But there is something we all can do. It’s as simple as eating family meals together.

Families who eat together, stay together.

Family meals were a solid tradition since biblical times until recent decades, with the advent of drug trafficking, television, electronic devices, and atheism in the schools.  Eating meals together has the potential to strengthen family bonds as it provides a daily time for the whole family to be together and is associated with healthy dietary food patterns.  And secular sources verify it because according to the Center on Addictions and Substance Abuse (CASA), children who eat family meals together abuse drugs less, eat healthier meals and also perform better in school.

A 2000 survey also found that the nine to 14-year-olds who ate dinner with their families  most frequently consumed more fruits and vegetables and less soda and fried foods. Furthermore, studies have proven that there’s a significant link between family dinners and academic performance.

Step 2. Restoring Our Biblical Heritage

What did our founding fathers know that we have forgotten?

“The most effective way to destroy people is to deny and obliterate their own understanding of their history.” – George Orwell

July 9, 1755, was a crucial day in USA history. Our fragile nation hung in the balance. It was during the French and Indian War that a 23-year-old colonel was fighting alongside the British commanding 100 men from Virginia. This man was a strong believer and follower of Christ.

David Barton America’s Godly Heritage clearly sets forth the beliefs of many famous Founding Fathers concerning the proper role of Christian principles in education, government, and the public affairs of the nation.

Step 3. Home Academy—Mentoring Young Adults for Leadership

The Birthright Covenant Allegorical Trilogy for Young Adults. Each book teaches gospel principles and biblical worldview with critical thinking questions.

Book 1—Escape to Faith and Freedom, (Coming in March!)  is about a battle for the very souls of the people he loves. Benjamin Benamoz flees for his life from the tyranny of the Iron Curtain. He finds freedom and faith in Christ, but even in America, vicious enemies seek to wipe out his people and their cherished way of life. As Western Civilization hangs in balance, Ben must restore the ancient birthright to its sacred place. Can he fulfill his epic quest before it’s too late?

“Papa, why are they burning Bibles?” “Because they are afraid of the truth.” “Why are they afraid of the truth, Papa?” “Because truth frees us from their tyranny.” –  C.A. DAVIDSON

 

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Album Review: Remedy Drive – The North Star

Remedy Drive

There’s a common misconception amongst non-believers that Christian music is all about praise, worship, and gospel songs; that it’s over sentimentalised, cheesy, and mentions God or Jesus in virtually every line, and therefore would have no appeal to anyone usually interested in secular rock or alternative. In this new music section of Godinterest, we hope to dispel some of those myths by exposing and reviewing some of the best rock, punk, hip-hop, urban and alternative albums, singles and EPs that fall under the Christian moniker.

These days, a growing number of bands and artists are moving away from Christian record labels and shirking the generic label of “Christian band”, opting for a more subtle and insidious approach, creating music and lyrics that appeals to a secular audience and sometimes perhaps, on the surface, pass as a regular songs. But dig a little deeper and the faith and purpose of these artists shines through, and by using their God-given creative talents to spread the Word for those who might not normally get to hear it (ie. not preaching to the choir), these unsung heroes of the Christian music world deserve a little bit of accolade for the good work they’re doing.

This week, pop rock trio Remedy Drive released their seventh studio album under that name, since changing it in 2006 from Remedy. The band are unashamedly Christian and their faith is clearly a big part of who they are, with plenty of little biblical references littering the lyrics here and there (the title being one of them – The North Star), but the album itself actually focuses on a specific and important issue the band wishes to expose and discuss. “We’re making a rock and roll album to shine a light on slavery and injustice” they stated on their Kickstarter page which was launched on September 27th, 2017. Within a month, they had astonishingly raised $37, 361 with the help of 515 backers. Remedy Drive might not be topping the charts, but they clearly have a dedicated and loyal fanbase willing to show that through their donations and continual support.

Lead vocalist and songwriter, David Zach, who was a founding member of the band way back in 1995 has spent the past four years out in Southeast Asia and Latin America, “finding evidence of sex trafficking, using covert gear to capture that evidence and then partnering with local authorities to make raids”¦Our goal was that the devastating reality of slavery and injustice would find its way onto this album. We need your help to get these songs out there. Songs that have been inspired by the courage of ordinary people in history and today that are fighting against injustice. Songs that I hope and believe will inspire ordinary humans to live like Martin Luther King Jr. said with a “dangerous unselfishness”.” Dangerous unselfishness seems like a familiar concept from the Bible, and of course, one that should be encouraged and worked into our lives as Christians if we are to fulfill God’s desire of living in his image and being as ‘Christlike’ as possible.

Remedy Drive
Remedy Drive – The North Star

This is actually the second album of theirs along the same theme, with the 2014 album Commodity also addressing the same issues. The North Star could perhaps be seen as a Part II to that, although it stands on its own as a great album with some memorable tracks.

Having quickly and easily achieved their monetary goal, the band recorded and released the album entirely independently, having split from their label, Centricity (a Christian label), back in 2013/14. Since then they’ve been doing just fine on their own and consistently putting out high-quality music in the alternative genre. These guys are pretty hard to classify in terms of styles. The beats are funky and up-tempo, with shimmery guitars, harmonious vocals, and some electronic elements but also heavier sections with screeching guitar solos and thundering bass.

“You don’t look a thing like Jesus Christ to me, you look like self-righteous apathy”¦” mocks Zach sarcastically on Warlike, a dirty half-rapped rocker criticising the capitalist, nationalist and consumer-driven societies we’re all currently a part of whether we like it or not, asking how we became this way, and why we put money and possessions before other people.  

One of the highlights and reoccurring themes of the record is the chorus of Sunlight On Her Face. It’s probably the most depressing of the various tracks, and details the story of a fifteen-year-old American girl trapped into a life of prostitution in a foreign country, praying and wondering if God will answer her. The chorus is catchy and stays with you, particularly as it’s repeated again in the final track, a sort of reprise of the song entitled Sunlight On Her Face (Cello).

It’s not always an easy listen, but it’s not supposed to be. Although the music is often jaunty and happy sounding, with catchy choruses and beats, borrowing from different genres, even a touch of hip-hop with the occasional rapped lines (see You Got Fire, Warlike), but the lyrics are sometimes sad and dark, describing the pain and suffering of those trapped in sex trafficking. Despite the dreary subject matter, there is a definite message of hope, and that if we work together (and with God’s grace) we can overcome these situations and put a stop to what’s going on. The record is definitely designed to make people think, and it does that. Hopefully, it will encourage people to take action too – “give me action, not your words, one spark catches a fire, one voice becomes a choir”, as Zach sings in Brighter Than Apathy.

The North Star is also genuinely a really good pop/alternative album, but the best part about it”¦is the fact that it’s not just that. Remedy Drive has something to say. They’re delivering a positive message to the masses, and one that will surely make a difference to all that hear it. Keep up the good work, guys!

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The Andy Savage Scandal: Two Things Churches Should Learn From

Andy Savage has been accused of sexual misconduct.

Both Andy Savage and Jules Woodson must not have thought that what privately transpired between them 20 years in the past would cause a huge interest and coverage among the general public today. Sadly, the consequences of wrongdoing committed then still affect these two individuals today and have generated a ripple effect, touching the whole Christian community. Churches and leaders are put into question. Church administration and policies are being doubted. What should have been done? What shouldn’t have? Some published articles ask, “How does the evangelical church handle sexual abuse cases? Do victims get justice?”

Many question the accuracy of the account Jules Woodson gave. When she publicly shared her experience she identified herself with the #MeToo movement, a movement that exposes sexual abuse and supports the victims. A number have provided analysis of her account, one of which offers a thorough evaluation confirming mutual consent between them. While her very own statements seem to verify that she was not forced and that she agreed to everything that happened that night, Andy Savage can’t dismiss the fact that he was in a position of leadership and influence over Jules at that time. That factor causes many people to view that Andy has indeed broken the law.

Chapter 5 of the Texas Penal Code says that sexual assault occurs if “the actor is a clergyman who causes the other person to submit or participate by exploiting the other person’s emotional dependency on the clergyman in the clergyman’s professional character as spiritual adviser”¦”

While his innocence and the truthfulness of her account remain in question, there are two things that churches should take note of and learn from.

1. Sin should never be applauded.

After Andy Savage went before the congregation of Highpoint Church to confess and seek forgiveness for this past sexual offense, the congregation applauded and gave him a standing ovation. It seems the church has forgotten the purpose of public confessions. In 1 Timothy 5:20, Paul says,“those elders who are sinning you are to reprove before everyone, so that the others may take warning.” In the King James Version, it says “”¦so that others may fear.”

While in the spirit of love, we must be supportive of the confessor, it should not be what’s most apparent.   The presiding minister must take most of the opportunity to discuss the gravity of sin and warn the congregation about sin in their lives. Nowadays, presiding ministers only focus on affirming love and supporting the sinning person. This is wrong. A believer must come out of this type of closed-door meetings with a commitment to live pure before  God, not just the thought that,“whatever I do wrong, the church will be there with open arms.”

2. The consequence of sin should never be celebrated.

In her account, Jules Woodson said that the church even held a going away party for Andy Savage when he had to leave the ministry because of the offense that was committed. Andy Savage confirms this in an interview with Ben Ferguson on iHeart Radio.

Is the church now oblivious to what is appropriate?   While disgraced executives of business companies are afforded graceful exits, it should not be so in the church. If out there, companies hold going away parties or forced retirement parties for superiors who mess up, churches should in no way do that for erring ministers. Their service to the church can and should privately be appreciated. But, the church must be careful never to minimize the gravity of the offense.

The church should not conform itself to the practices of secular organizations and business companies in this world.   Wrongdoing should never be covered up nor made little of. Moreover, the church should not conform itself to the values of this world. Love never makes light of wrongdoing. Love makes sure that wrong is dealt with so that purity and holiness can be restored. For only then can we live a life that blesses us personally and glorifies our God in heaven.

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Were they “bad girls of the Bible” or just misunderstood?

Part 1 of an interview with Sandra Glahn,  Editor of  Vindicating the Vixens

Bathsheba, Tamar, Rahab, Hagar, and the Samaritan woman at the well—were they really the “bad girls” of the Bible or simply women whose situations were greatly misunderstood? In Vindicating the Vixens: Revisiting Sexualized, Vilified, and Marginalized Women of the Bible (Kregel Academic), sixteen writers, alongside general editor Sandra Glahn, take a closer look at the stories of these and other prominent women to help readers gain a better

understanding of these women’s God-given roles in the biblical narrative. The church has a long history of viewing notable women of the Bible through a skewed interpretive lens. For example, Eve is best known for causing the fall, Sarah is blamed for tensions in the Middle East, Ruth acted scandalously on the threshing floor, and Mary Magdalene is infamous for a life of prostitution. But do these common representations accurately reflect what Scripture says about these women of the Bible?

Part 1 of an interview with Sandra Glahn,  Editor of  Vindicating the Vixens

Bathsheba, Tamar, Rahab, Hagar, and the Samaritan woman at the well—were they really the “bad girls” of the Bible or simply women whose situations were greatly misunderstood? In Vindicating the Vixens: Revisiting Sexualized, Vilified, and Marginalized Women of the Bible  (Kregel Academic), sixteen writers, alongside general editor Sandra Glahn, take a closer look at the stories of these and other prominent women to help readers gain a better understanding of these women’s God-given roles in the biblical narrative.

The church has a long history of viewing notable women of the Bible through a skewed interpretive lens. For example, Eve is best known for causing the fall and Mary Magdalene is infamous for a life of prostitution. But do these common representations accurately reflect what Scripture says about these women of the Bible?

Q: Vindicating the Vixens is a collaboration written by an international team of scholars. How did the concept and execution of the book come together?

Vindicating the Vixens has been on my heart and mind for more than a decade. When I served as editor-in-chief of Dallas Theological Seminary’s magazine for seventeen years, I became acquainted with the writing and research of men and women from a cross-section of multiple societies who brought perspectives to some biblical stories that seemed truer to the original than what is typically taught in the West. Then, as I studied history and ancient cultural backgrounds at the doctoral level, I ended up revisiting some of our western-influenced interpretations such as marriage practices in the ancient Near East. The woman Jesus met at the well in Samaria would not have dumped five husbands. More likely, she had been widowed many times.

As I revisited some Bible stories such as this one and as I read the works of others who had done similar work, I wanted to bring all this research together in one place and include a variety of ethnicities and backgrounds.

Q: Some women in the Bible most certainly fall into the category of “bad girls.” How do those women differ from the ones discussed in the book?

Right! Our goal is not to vindicate women who did evil—such as Jezebel who lied and had someone killed over property or Potiphar’s wife who tried to seduce Joseph and left him stuck in jail. We are looking at women wrongly vilified. Take Bathsheba, for example. There is nothing in the text that even suggests she consented to physical contact with David and certainly not that they “had an affair,” as some claim. The text says she was washing herself—and that word “washing” could mean she was washing her hands. What we know about power differentials also suggests that when we consider a king’s authority over the wife of one of his soldiers, we need to stop making Bathsheba responsible. That is not how the author of the story tells it. The text says David saw her washing and sent for her—sent men, plural, for her.

What happens when we blame her instead of placing the responsibility where the author does? We can end up with the idea (prominent in many churches) that women are the temptresses; we can teach that it’s a woman’s job to keep a man from falling, that men are helpless and controlled by their passions so women must cover up, be hidden, and take responsibility for men’s actions. What an insult to men! We women are called to love our brothers, but we are not called to take responsibility for their actions.

Q: When discussing the genealogy of Jesus as outlined in Matthew 1, it’s not uncommon to point out the few women included and refer to their sordid pasts. Why do we have the tendency to focus on the negatives of their history, especially when the men in the bloodline had as many flaws as the women?

Jesus’s genealogy in Matthew is full of both male and female sinners, but the women’s sinfulness is not the point Matthew is making. Not all of the women in Jesus’s line had sordid pasts, and in making their sex lives our focus, we miss what the author is telling his Jewish readers. In the highly stylized genealogy in Matthew’s Gospel, every person is intentional, with Jesus’s ancestors arranged into three groups of fourteen generations. Matthew makes a break from the usual exclusion of women from genealogies, and he’s clearly up to something. In his Gospel, foreign  kings worship Jesus at his birth. Later a centurion—a Roman soldier—requests healing for his servant, and the text says this centurion “amazes” Jesus with his faith. Jesus grants the request and tells the disciples, “I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.” Notice “not anyone in Israel.” Matthew salts his narrative with the faith of Gentiles. In the genealogies, Matthew is setting up his readers, the Jewish faithful, to accept cultural and racial outsiders into the community of faith through belief, not blood.

Judah married the Gentile Tamar. Bathsheba is the wife of a Hittite. Rahab is a Caananite. Ruth is a Moabite. These are outsiders who are women of faith in the Messianic line. Judah says of Tamar, “You’re the righteous one, not I.” Rahab says she believes in Yahweh Adonai as Elohim. Ruth says Naomi’s God will be her  God. Bathsheba suffers a great injustice but is grafted into the royal line. The idea of Gentiles being included would have blown the minds of Matthew’s readers, but that was the promise God had made to Abraham—that through him all nations would be blessed.

Q: Throughout the past couple of months, the news has reported story after story of women coming forward, sharing their experiences of sexual harassment and abuse from men in a position of power. What similarities might their stories have with someone such as Bathsheba?

Sarah Bowler, the person who wrote the chapter on Bathsheba, said of her that understanding her tale has ramifications for how Christians respond to a world saturated with sexual misconduct. She wrote, “As I researched, I found current examples in which Christian writers and editors failed to be empathetic toward victims as they reported stories. Even sadder, some spiritual leaders rape or sexually abuse young women, and many of the victims still receive partial blame in situations where a spiritual leader is fully at fault.

“It really hit home for me after a pastor’s kid I had discipled several years ago started reading [my writing] about Bathsheba. She got back in touch to say: ‘Thank you. I was raped two years ago Friday on a date in my home. I had three ministry leaders whom I held on a pedestal put full blame on me. . . . I can never thank you enough for not blaming the victim.’ How we interpret biblical narratives affects how we interpret events around us. When we say phrases such as ‘Bathsheba bathed naked on a roof,’ we overlook the fact that Bathsheba was an innocent victim. We may also forget the modern-day Bathshebas. I long for the day when believers eradicate the line of thinking in which the victim shares partial blame for a perpetrator’s sin. One step toward that end is sharing the true  Bathsheba story.”

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The Powers That Be Don’t Really Care. Do You?

The Powers That Be Don’t Really Care. Do You?

Did you ever have a “friend” in high school that loved causing fights? You know the kind. They act like your best friend but whisper bad things about others in your ear. Then they turn around and say nasty stuff about you to others. They strike a match, sit back and enjoy the flames.

This kind of person has no interest in right or wrong. Justice is a joke to them. All they want is blood.

The world today sees a similar attack, and many Christians fall for it. We don’t realize that powerful persons and entities seek to destabilize society by any means possible. They aren’t really interested in gender ideology or immigration. They just want to see the world fight about it to gain power from conflict. Satan manipulates our moral compass to do his dirty work.

What’s really going on here?

I’m not saying we shouldn’t have convictions. But it’s become so much more about taking sides and much less about people.

The best examples of how to rise above it all come from Scripture.

When the woman was caught in adultery, did Jesus take a side? Yes. He took the woman’s side. She was caught in the act. Adultery is wrong. According to Jewish law, it was punishable by death. Jesus didn’t condemn the woman though. He sidestepped the political argument and shot for the heart instead.

He condemned all sin. He elevated mercy above all things. Do we see current events from this heavenly point of view?

“Should we pay taxes to Caesar?” the Pharisee asked. They tried to set a trap for Jesus. It’s the same trap we fall into when we get tangled up in political debates. Beat your drum all you want, that’s fine. Do you really think you’ll change their minds? The religious powers of biblical times preached morality for generations — and it didn’t work. Stealing is bad, murder is wrong, corruption is evil”¦ we all know this, and all these things continue to thrive. How much more difficult will it be to convince someone of more ambiguous (secularly speaking) issues such as gay marriage?

We must mark the boundaries of morality, but this can never replace our testimony of the Risen Lord.

When people challenge me about the Christian position on homosexuality, what’s my reply? I present Jesus to everyone – gay, straight, whatever – since we’ve all sinned and we all need a Savior. I know the issues. I do my homework to understand the complexities. I can debate it until the cows come home. But I’m done trying to convince anyone. I only hope to inspire them to seek God instead.

How can you change a heart? How much are you praying for those on the other side of the political fence? Or are you too preoccupied with out-arguing them? Give unto God the things that are God’s.

Stop taking church teaching and weaponizing it politically. This only feeds the spirit of the Pharisee.

Our true mission

Take your eyes off the headlines and look to your community, to your family. Where is the need? Who is suffering? How can you help? Where can you share the Gospel? Don’t you trust in this method over any other? How much are you willing to love?

When we see injustice, it should be denounced. But like Jesus, condemn all sin — not just the other guys. Otherwise, it’s politics – and all politics cares about is winning. But the victory of our Lord has already been won. Believe this! Go all in and trust God’s plan. The political arena is not the essence of our faith. Instead, we are preoccupied with saving souls and helping those in need. This work is much harder, and our only hope for success is our complete dependence on the Holy Spirit.

Take up true arms

If we’re so afraid that we’ll lose the political fight, it appears to me that we’ve already surrendered the spiritual one.

Political arguments are easier since we can rely on intellect, knowledge, and wit. The spiritual war, however, requires other resources that we are afraid to trust.

It‘s paramount to understand and identify this ploy used by Satan himself to keep us off balance and distracted.

Return to the real fight. Our Captain calls us. Be not afraid.

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The Paradox of our Time

The Paradox of our Time

Look out your window. Isn’t it a beautiful day? But just in case you were feeling really good about yourself today, allow us to hit you with a dose of reality.

These are 25 facts about the world we live in:

  1. *We live in times when we see many humans, but not enough humanity;*
  2. *We live in times when the rich have more rooms than children and the poor have more children than rooms.*
  3. *We live in times when smartphones bring you closer to those who live aboard, but distance you from those who live in your own home;*
  4. *We live in times when we open Facebook, more than Holy Book;*
  5. *We live in times when a single mother can look after five children, but five children can’t look after a single mother;*
  6. *We live in times when the rich walk miles to digest food, while the poor walk miles to obtain food;*
  7. *We live in times when women are paid to be naked, while others are fined to be dressed;*
  8. *We live in times when our contact lists are massive, but our relationships are diabolical*
  9. We live in times when at least 10 times as many girls are now trafficked into brothels annually as African slaves were transported to the New World in the peak years of the trans-Atlantic slave trade;*
  10. *We live in times when our possessions are more, but our appreciation of life is less;*
  11. *We live in times when we can earn a good living, but somehow forget how to live;*
  12. *We live in times of commercialization of the gospel and if the broadcaster is not selling a book, it will be a CD, anointed water, or some seed sewing advert;*
  13. *We live in times when a typical cow in the European Union receives a government subsidy of about $2.20 a day, that about 1.2 billion more than the world’s poorest people;*
  14. *We live in times  when we value possessions and where there is no value for a human life.*
  15. *We live in times when many know the price of everything, but  the value of nothing;*
  16. *We live in times with nearly 210 million orphans, but nearly 15% of them will commit suicide before turning 18;*
  17. *We live in times when  the  United States now spends about $200 billion on the correctional system each year, a sum that exceeds the gross domestic product of twenty-five US states and 140 foreign countries;*
  18. *We live in times when  22,000 kids die every day because of poverty, but  in rich countries, a staggering 30-50% of all food produced rots away uneaten;*
  19. *We live in times when over 650 million adults were obese in 2016, but yet in 2016, 315,000 women died in childbirth because they were malnourished and lacked basic nutrients;*
  20. *We live in times with  the  largest population of refugees and asylum seekers in  human history.
  21. *We live in a times  of genocide and the destruction of the Amazon rainforest;*
  22. *We live in times where we are taught as kids to read and write big numbers, but we’re not taught to think about the reality beneath the surface of those numbers;*
  23. *We live in times of  false doctrine, where some pastors encourage the first wives to die to self and be able to allow their husbands to take in more wives if they wish to;*
  24. *We live in times of  false prophets:  where people would prefer to follow a Siberian traffic cop who proclaim to be Jesus Christa the Messiah, rather than believe in Real McCoy;*
  25. *We live in times when according to the United Nations, there are around 65.3 million people displaced from their homes worldwide, yet in the UK alone  the “housing surplus” nearly doubled from 800,000 spare homes in 1996 to 1.4 million homes at any one time in 2014;*

Think about that for a moment? Can you even imagine it? Like, really imagine it.  We’re not reacting, it’s just that  there are so many different problems of large scale that we need to be working harder to combat.

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How Can You Trust Christianity Is True When There Are So Many Unanswered Questions?

How Can You Trust Christianity Is True When There Are So Many Unanswered Questions?

“Have patience with everything unresolved in your heart and to try to love the questions themselves as if they were locked rooms or books written in a very foreign language. Don’t search for the answers, which could not be given to you now, because you would not be able to live them. And the point is, to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps then, someday far in the future, you will gradually, without even noticing it, live your way into the answer.” –   Rainer Maria Rilke, Letters to a Young Poet (1929)

I found this quote so helpful many years ago. I had left the high control and high demand religion in which I had grown up and was going with a friend to a Catholic Church. This brought many conflicting emotions, for though it was some years since I had left, for the best part of thirty-six years, I had been indoctrinated with the belief that all religions, apart from one, were part of “Babylon the Great”, “false religion” or not “The Truth” as they called it, and therefore, condemned to be destroyed at the final war against all wickedness, Armageddon.

The focus was on social justice issues, the church had a community agency attached which offered practical assistance to the homeless, refugees, those with addictions and ex-prisoners. A men’s shelter was located on the other side of the church and sometimes during the service on Sundays, an older inebriated male would cause a noisy distraction at one of the side doors, however, the person would be treated with gentleness and compassion.

Passages from the Bible were read before the homily, not the jumping backward and forwards all over the Bible to prove a particular point and taken out of context to which I’d been accustomed.

The rituals, the garb the priests wore, the hymns, the physical church itself were all alien and mysterious. However, somehow it felt nurturing to my hungering soul.

Fast forward several years and I am the other side of the world for work and to have the opportunity to travel. I am with several other social workers recruited from Australia to work in the UK and though I find their company helpful initially as we settle in, soon I am longing for belonging. And not just to a social group, but a faith community where there are people who live by Bible principles.

So I end up at the local Borough Church which is Anglican. I am greeted at the door by an elderly woman who is a Warden. The church is full of people of many different ages, some with learning or physical difficulties are assisted by carers and there has been a presentation by the children before the sermon. The new minister is dressed in a suit and open-neck shirt and preaches about a long passage in Matthew, bringing out several levels of insight and depth, making it relatable and relevant to life today; I feel as if I have “come home”.

When the service is finished, the minister comes directly to my seat to introduce himself and invite me to the new group he will be starting shortly called “Christianity Explored” which he says is going through the book of Mark. He emphasizes there will be no pressure and questions are welcome.

I go to the first of six meetings at the vicar’s family home. There are others also attending the group, however, my mind is on high alert, watchful for any number of dangerous outcomes and I am not “present” enough to absorb their existence.

The weeks pass, and though still wary, I am enjoying the simplicity of reading a portion of Mark followed by discussion and any questions. I even asked one or two myself, long-held questions on passages that are covered, but for which previous explanations had been unsatisfactory. As well, the minister holds a tension with the view and expectation that some answers will not become evident until we have the full picture at the end.

When this happens, and I have an understanding that is so true for me of my own imperfection and that God’s love and grace (translated “undeserved kindness” in the Bible used by my previous religion) have redeemed me and I can never do or not do anything that will lose them, I am able to invite Jesus into my life, as an adult. Whilst at 12 years of age, I had dedicated my life to the god of my childhood religion and been baptised in symbol of that, it held me to one interpretation – one that meant I would be shunned if I left, one that meant I could not think for myself, could not get a higher education, had to remain in an abusive marriage and had to only wear skirts or dresses at any church-related gatherings including going door to door to try to bring others into “The Truth”.

The Gospel came alive to me. The four years I remained in that church was some of the best in my life, how valuable is hindsight in appreciating those times. Yet they prepared me to some extent for the many challenges I would face on my return to Australia. That is another story, and I include the painting below by Janet Goodchild-Cuffley called “Ellen Meets Her Maker” depicting Ellen Kelly, mother of the notorious Australian bushranger Ned Kelly after a long life full of loss and difficulty. It aptly represents my position towards the many questions I still have for God. In the meantime, I will continue to draw on the comfort of Rilke’s famous quote at the beginning of the article.

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Is our Creator God still Creating Today?

Is Our Creator God Still Creating Today?

I was working on some paper works one day. As I rested my eyes for a bit, I got a view of my son outside through the window blinds. He was out there again, at his usual spot, working yet again on another craft project. My son just loves creating stuff with his hands. He is into building dioramas and other miniature stuff. He re-creates scenes from his favourite superhero or sci-fi films. He loves playing with his toy figures. He enjoys creating backgrounds and stage sets for toy photography and mere play. The thing about him is that he can’t stand taking a break after completing a project. You will see him appreciating and celebrating his finished product. But, within a day or two, everyone’s sure to observe this creative boy pouring his mind into deciding and planning what to build next.

I leaned back and felt a smile of amusement form on my face. Then, thoughts wandered towards God, our creator God. With an extremely creative mind, could He be that way as well? Could he be like my son who can’t stop imagining stuff to do and make? Could he be exactly like my son who gets excited about the prospects and the process of coming out with another finished product? Like my son, could he be so in love and passionate about creating? My heart believes Him to be so. My heart believes God is highly much more than how my son is as a creator.

Well, yes; Genesis 1 to 2:2 does give us an account of the creation of this world we live in. And, yes; the passage further tells us that God finished the work He had been doing and then rested. This may clue us that God has stopped creating in our part of the world. However, this doesn’t tell us that God is done with creating.

Just by looking at our side of the universe, we see how great and awesome God’s handiworks are. Nature gives us a glimpse of His power and capabilities. Job shared his thoughts and wonderings on that in Job 37.   We just need to behold all the natural landscapes and breathtaking wildlife and feel instinctively that God must still be creating today. His creative genius must not be bottled up. It is impossible for One of magnificent talent to just sit by and do nothing.

We can consider God’s astonishing work on our bodies. Much has been understood about how our body works and all that is inside of us. Yet all this time more remains to be discovered and understood.   In January 2017, scientists have just recognized and have given a name to one important organ in the body, the mesentery. It connects the intestine to our body and keeps it in place. The mesentery transports blood and lymphatic fluid between the intestine and the rest of our body. It is crucial to a right functioning of our “intestinal, vascular, endocrine, cardiovascular and immunological systems.”

We can also think about the humungous blue whale for a minute. The National Geographic confirms it to be the largest animal on earth. It grows up to 105 feet and weighs up to 200 tons.   A cool thing about these graceful swimmers is that they can communicate with each other up to 1,000 miles away. They have excellent hearing. With their voice, they sonar-navigate the deep and dark oceans. Search for testimonies of those who go whale watching. You’re sure to read accounts of people crying, breathless, and frozen in wonder at the sight of such a great creature.   Isn’t it highly unlikely that the creator of this blue whale remains unproductive, “wasting” his talent when He is at an unending prime of His life? Isaiah 40:28 tells us of an everlasting Creator God who never grows tired or weary. He is forever strong. He is forever able.

Believing that God is still creating today leaves me excited about an eternity to come. In ignorance, some people make comments on how boring it would be to spend eternity in heaven. This won’t be so for a child of God. The Bible speaks of a new heaven and a new earth that will be there for exploring. And with such a God as we have, there must be so much more out there for us to discover, explore, and enjoy. To fully grasp the wonderful nature of God; to behold all the wondrous works that an unlimited God can do; well, eternity may just not be enough!

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Why Truth Matters: Biblical Truth for Rising Generations

What is Truth?

This question has echoed through the ages since Pilate asked it of Jesus the Christ. This is a good question today for some who, sadly, are “ever learning, but never coming to a knowledge of the truth.” We can only hope that at some point their prejudices may give way before the truth. Those seeking truth in the spacious towers of moral relativism will search in vain, because truth abides forever and ever, not subject to popular opinion, not based on trendy fads. Truth is absolute.

Why Are We Here?

Without truth, many wonders, “What is the purpose of life?” These are the ones who sincerely seek the truth, only to be kept from it, for they do not know where to find it.

So How Do We Find the Truth?

One ancient prophet said of his Creator: “He is a God of truth, and cannot lie.” Therefore, a logical place to start looking for truth is in the word of God. Saint John said, “it is the Spirit that beareth witness because the Spirit [of Christ] is truth.”

So, if we ask what is true, with a sincere heart, having faith in Christ, He will manifest the truth to us, by the power of the Holy Spirit. And by the power of the Holy Spirit, we may know the truth of all things.

But Why Does Truth Matter?

Not too long ago, Sean McDowell, Ph.D.,  a professor of Christian Apologetics,   was speaking at a youth event. Afterwards, a student came up to him and said, “You talked about truth a lot. What’s the big deal?  Why is truth even important?”

Why Does Truth Matter?

Why does truth matter? I would suggest to this young man: “At some point in time, in some real crisis, not an imagined one, perhaps you will even be faced with death. In that defining moment, real truth will be important.”

Dr. Peter Marshall, a beloved chaplain in the United States Senate in the 1940s, was invited to speak at the Naval Academy. He was prepared to address his concern about the loose morals of the young people at that time. But the Spirit gave him a different message.  He felt strongly impressed to speak to them about death. He said:

“But what is death?   Is it to be blown out, like a candle in the wind?   Is it a shivering void in which there is nothing that lives?   Is is a cold space into which we are launched to be evaporated, or to disappear?   Are we to believe that a half-mad eternal humorist tossed the worlds aloft and left their destiny to chance?   That a man’s life is the development of a nameless vagrancy?   That a hole in the ground six feet deep is his final heritage?   There are a thousand insane things easier to believe than these!   How can we believe that human personality will not survive when One who went into the grave and beyond came back to say, “Whosoever believeth in me shalt not perish, but have eternal life.”

He also told them about a young boy with a fatal illness. The boy asked his mother what it was like to die.   She reminded him of those days when he had come in from play, so exhausted that he had fallen asleep on his mother’s bed, without even changing his clothes. When he awoke in the morning, he was in his own bed. Daddy had lovingly lifted him up in his strong arms and carried him to the comfort of his own bed, where he belonged.

That is what death is like, his mother continued. You fall asleep and when you wake up in the morning, you find that the Heavenly Father has lifted you up and brought you home to the comfort of His loving arms, where you belong because the Lord Jesus has loved us and the little boy no longer feared death.

So the Spirit prompted Dr. Marshall to tell the truth about death to hundreds of bright young sailors at the Naval Academy. Shortly thereafter, Pearl Harbor was bombed, and many of those sailors faced death in the devastating war that followed.

Yes, truth matters. We need it to give meaning to our lives.

Saint John reminds us that the Spirit “will guide you into all truth.” And Jesus Christ is that way, that truth, and life eternal. At the end of the day, through Him, we can return home, where we belong.

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. ~ 3 John 1:4

Dr. Peter Marshall was Chaplain to the United States Senate from 1947, until his sudden death in 1949. He served as pastor of the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church in Washington, D.C.   Born in Scotland, he traveled to New York in 1927 to follow his call to Christian ministry and attend Columbia Theological Seminary where he graduated with his doctorate in 1931.   He accepted an invitation to preach a morning sermon in the chapel of the United States Naval Academy, December 7, 1941.   Neither he, nor anyone in attendance at the chapel service that day was  aware that the Imperial Navy of Japan was attacking the U.S. military bases at Pearl Harbor.   Many of the young sailors in the chapel that morning were hearing their last sermon and would give their lives in defense of our nation in World War II.  

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2 Things to Remember About God’s Love

2 Things to Remember About God’s Love

The Bible talks a great deal about God’s love. And when Scriptures talk about God’s love, it’s mostly in superlatives. John 3:16 says God so loved that He sent His one and only Son to ensure man’s full redemption from the doom of hell. What no amount of human sacrifices can achieve, Christ secured for us once for all on the cross. By placing our full trust in Christ’s finished work, we all enter into this love relationship. Forever redeemed, forever experiencing the love of God. This is the best thing that can ever happen to a lost sinner.

God’s love is unlimiting.

Human love can be suffocating at times. It can be demanding or restricting. At times, we love someone so much, we begin to fear and worry. Overprotection sets in, we don’t want them getting hurt. Jealousy and insecurity may surface; we don’t want to lose them.

God’s love is unlimiting. It is in fact liberating. Those who don’t understand think Christianity is boring and rigid. They have the idea that in this “religion”, people don’t get to be and do a lot of things.   But the Bible shows us differently. In true Christianity is freedom. There is liberty. We become free and enabled to do right. We don’t need to be sinful all the time, we don’t have to do succumb to wrong pleasures each time temptation comes. Once, we had great tendencies for evil and wrongness. Now, as children of God we are empowered by the Holy Spirit for right and fruitful living.

God’s love is unlimiting. It unleashes the strength and grace of God in our lives. We find endurance to press on towards fulfilling our goals. We find wisdom in making right directions and pursuits. We learn to put our efforts into what is worthwhile and we get to experience satisfying joy, not just in achieving but in the journey itself.

God says His plans for us are for our welfare and not for evil, to give us a hope and a future. (Jeremiah 29:11) In love, He works all things for our good. (Romans 8:28) Sometimes, the present doesn’t seem to be turning out well but while the end remains hidden from sight, we can trust God’s love in the process.

God’s love is relentless.

While some debate the idea that we can call God’s love as reckless, there’s no doubt that His love is relentless. We understand the reckless love doesn’t consider the risks. It is not cautious. It is not deterred by danger or loss. Reckless love jumps right in no matter what. Indeed, God’s love may be somewhat like that. But on a whole, reckless love is a far term to describe God’s love. Reckless bears a primary usage and meaning of “heedless of danger or the consequences of one’s actions; rash or impetuous.”

God’s love is nothing like that. In eternity past, He has counted the cost. He has foreseen the danger and the consequence. He has deliberately and committedly set His love toward us. In Luke 22:39-46, we gain insight into how painful and agonizing it was for the triune God to face separation for the first time. The sin of the world was to be laid upon Christ and the Father had to look away as the full weight of our sin was placed upon Him. That was far from a reckless kind of love.

Relentless love is unceasingly intense. It is persistent and continuing. It is unstoppable.   It does not allow itself to be hindered. It is defiant in a sense that it will cross boundaries to provide what is beneficial for its object of love. It is unsparing in a sense that it will give whatever is necessary for the benefit of its object of love. Relentless love is thoughtful love. It is deliberate. It counts the cost and takes intelligent account of what is necessary to achieve the highest good for the object of its love.

God’s love is relentless.   It is non-stop. “One Thing” by Jesus Culture articulates it quite well. The message says, “Your love never fails. It never gives up. It never runs out on me.” The rest of the song lyrics say:

Higher than the mountains that I face

Stronger than the power of the grave

Constant through the trial and the change

One thing remains. This one thing remains

Your love never fails, and never gives up

It never runs out on me

Because on and on and on and on it goes

Before it overwhelms and satisfies my soul

And I never, ever, have to be afraid

One thing remains. This one thing remains.

Be encouraged with the truth of this song today.

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10 Innovations That Could Change the Developing World

This $1 Cup Could Prevent Millions Of Babies From Starving

The world is changing every day. As technology changes the way we live our day-to-day lives, it is fascinating to imagine what the immediate future will bring.

Never before in history have new innovations unfolded so quickly from global health to social justice to humanitarian aid, a slew of scientists, technologists, and activists have come together over the last year to create impactful solutions to some of our most pressing problems.

Below, we look at 20 initiatives that are set to make a real difference and positively impact people’s lives.

1. Safariseat

SafariSeat is the first project from Uji, a social enterprise company determined to make a difference
SafariSeat is the first project from Uji, a social enterprise company determined to make a difference

While Africa may be catching up in many respects, this is not the case for those who are unable to walk.  Safariseat is a revolutionary low-cost, all-terrain wheelchair that gives people independence, unlocking access to education, employment and a life beyond the confines of their own home.

“There is great power in being able to see from each other’s perspective, to understand how one another feels and to have true empathy for those with backgrounds different to our own. Our beliefs, our habits, our unique abilities; diversity is life’s greatest asset, which makes inclusion one of our greatest design challenges” explains co-founder Cara O’Sullivan.

The seat is projected to start production in Kenya in the coming months.  Safariseat is made of bicycle parts, and the device is propelled forward by hand levers and durable wheels.

“Open design is empowering, inclusive and ethically sound – it creates better products by crowdsourcing ideas and experience” explains Deeble.

SafariSeat is the first project from Uji, a social enterprise company determined to make a difference

2. The Shoe That Grows

The Shoe That Grows
The Shoe That Grows
The Shoe That Grows
The Shoe That Grows
The Shoe That Grows
The Shoe That Grows

One day while out walking with the kids, Kenton Lee noticed that the little girl in a white dress next to him had shoes that were way too small for her feet. Over 1.5 billion people suffer from soil-transmitted diseases worldwide. That led to a brilliant idea. With The Shoe That Grows, kids are more healthy, attend school more often, and are more confident. It took 5 years of hard work and experimentation, his idea had become reality. The shoe has 5x the impact of ordinary shoes because it expands 5 sizes and lasts for years.

The Shoe That Grows is making an impact in developing regions around the world where the nonprofit delivers donated shoes to children and families.

3. ‘The Life Saving Dot’ Social Good Campaign

Almost every Indian woman wears a bindi – a traditional symbol of beauty. But what if these tiny little dots could do more?

'The Life Saving Dot' Social Good Campaign
‘The Life Saving Dot’ Social Good Campaign

In rural India, millions of women suffer from Breast Cancer, Fibrocystic Breast Disease, and complications during pregnancy. Most of these cases are linked to an iodine deficiency.

The Life Saving Dot is an idea that transformed bindis into iodine patches. Every woman requires between 150 – 220 micrograms of iodine daily. The  bindis deliver a wearer with the recommended daily amount of iodine and only costs 10 rupees — or 16 cents — for a packet of 30, fitting the budgets of women in rural India.

Previous attempts to reduce the deficiency with tablets had failed—Indian women just weren’t used to taking them. This is a great example of how a simple solution, aligned with everyday practice, can solve a fundamental problem.

4. NIFTY Cup

The NIFTY cup for newborns: when breastfeeding is not an option.

The NIFTY cup for newborns: when breastfeeding is not an option.
The NIFTY cup for newborns: when breastfeeding is not an option.

When an infant in a developing country is unable to nurse, they’re at risk of severe malnutrition — or even death. This PATH-designed cup provides an ingenious way for infants to sip with a spout that makes collected milk easy to drink by infants with cleft palates.

According to a article by PATH (the NIFTY cup designer) “several million babies born each year in Africa and South Asia can’t breastfeed due to prematurity or craniofacial anomalies like cleft lip or palate.”

The cup is reusable and only costs only $1 to create has already been credited with preventing starvation of infants in poor African communities.

Trish Colley, who is an expert in neonatal health technologies explained:

“Infants who are preterm can have problems sucking. Their sucking reflex has not  developed enough for them to be able to breastfeed successfully. The NIFTY cup allows them to drink breast milk at a pace and flow that each individual infant establishes. This occurs because of the unique reservoir and flow channels that let infants lap the milk rather than have it poured down their throats.”

A collaboration with a nonprofit manufacturer is bringing it to market.  It will soon be widely distributed in Africa.

5. Embrace Warmer

6. Hippo Roller

The “Hippo Water Roller Project” was established in 1994 in response to the unique needs and constraints in terms of access to water of rural women and children across Africa. Hippo Roller makes it extremely easy to collect water in tough rural conditions – up to 5x more water than a single bucket, by simply rolling it along the ground.

8. LifeStraw

Drinking contaminated water can lead to devastating disease and illness. It’s estimated that every 90 seconds a child dies from a water-related disease. The LifeStraw is making contaminated water safe to drink.

LifeStraw
LifeStraw

About 783 million people — or 11 percent of the world’s population — lack access to improved sources of drinking water. The LifeStraw is a water filter designed to be used by one person to filter water for drinking. It filters a maximum of 1000 litres of water, enough for one person for one year and removes almost all of waterborne bacteria and parasites.  

 

The company not only provides straws to communities in need but also donates larger filtration systems to poor communities around the globe.

9. Lucky Iron Fish

When Canadian science graduate Christopher Charles visited Cambodia six years ago he discovered that anaemia was a huge public health problem.  Pregnant women faced serious health complications before and after childbirth, such as hemorrhaging.

Iron deficiency is the most widespread nutritional disorder in the world, affecting an estimated 3.5 billion people. Lucky Iron Fish are fish-shaped cast iron ingots used to provide dietary supplementation of iron to individuals living affected by iron-deficiency anaemia.

However, the standard solution – iron supplements or tablets to increase iron intake – isn’t working.  The tablets are neither affordable nor widely available, and because of the side-effects, people don’t like taking them.

10. ‘Better than tablets’  

Lucky Iron Fish
Lucky Iron Fish

The Iron Fish is an object that families can place in a pot of boiling water prior to cooking to enrich vegetables with additional iron. The company works on a one-to-one donation scale, allowing individuals in developed nations to purchase  their own fish while simultaneously donating one to a family in need.

“The gift of making a change in this world is not given to people like us, we are too small, too insignificant in the scheme of world events; BUT, if as a result of our actions we save but ONE LIFE, we have changed this world, albeit in a very small way, but we have changed it forever, and who can foretell the result of the saving of that one life”. David Dutson

10 Innovations That Could Change the Developing World
10 Innovations That Could Change the Developing World

Are there any great inventions we missed? Please feel free to add to this wonderful list.

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Does Wikipedia have a strong liberal bias against Christianity?

Does Wikipedia have a strong liberal bias against Christianity?

Wikipedia’s own page explains that Wikipedia is “a free, web-based, collaborative and multilingual encyclopedia project.” It says “Its more than 20 million articles that have been written by volunteers around the world.” Anyone with access to the site can edit most of its articles.

To answer the question set forth, let’s say outright that based on statistics alone, Christianity has a minor representation on Wikipedia.  But why?

A  2017 article by The Guardian says “that nearly half of the population of UK has no religion.”

From many surveys, Statista reported in 2017 that Christianity in America has waned.  

Fewer Christian Contributors

The fact is, there are fewer Christians in the world. Likewise, we can expect fewer Christians contributing to the development of Wikipedia pages. As to information quality control and truth verification, we know that not all you read on Wikipedia is accurate. Some could only be echoing opinions since we know that no formal training is needed and anybody can easily make additions to the site.

Active Antagonism Against Christian Views

Few Christians actively pursue the defense of Christianity. Many others choose to be peacemakers while others propagate Christian truths via modest means. On the opposite end, anti-Christian groups are more diligent in their pursuit of eliminating any pro-Christian ideas and programmes. It is not at all surprising that news like the one featured on PJ Media is happening on Wikipedia right now.

Gunter Bechly is a recognized German insect paleontologist. He contributed an entry on Wikipedia and found that it was removed in October 2017. What seems to be plain was his position on intelligent design which was also discussed on that entry. Intelligent design is a scientific position that holds the view that there is evidence for design behind nature. It’s not at all surprising to hear this kind of action against intelligent design while nothing happens to entries that promote Darwin’s evolution theory.

Wikipedia editors reasoned that Bechly was not that notable to warrant an entry. Yet, what about contributors with fewer qualifications having long entries on Wikipedia? John West, the VP of Discovery Institute has a strong belief that it was an act of censorship to suppress the free flow of information and ideas.

Bechly presented some credentials and accomplishments: new insect orders, eight species named after him, an insect family named after him, two books, one German book about him, press coverage, exhibits, and a ResearchGate score that tops over 85% of other members’ scores. It is sad that none was enough to warrant his credibility in their Wikipedias sight. Was the disqualifying factor because he was a Creationist?

“What Wikipedia did is definitely an act of censorship and an effort to suppress the free flow of ideas and information,” John West, vice president of the Discovery Institute where Bechly works

This incident may well suggest an indication that Wikipedia holds a bias against Christianity. It would be no shock to hear more reports like this surfacing in the future.

 

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Best advice to find your spiritual gift

It breaks my heart that the spiritual gifts don’t seem to be taught or emphasized much throughout Christendom these days. Their utilization is critical for the Church to function properly in society.

Paul taught, “We have different gifts, according to the grace given us… let [us] use [them] in proportion to [our] faith,” Romans 12:6.The spiritual gifts are found in three separate passages in the New Testament (Romans 12; 1 Corinthians 12—14; and Ephesians 4). The lists are not exactly identical. Some overlapping occurs. According to 1 Corinthians 12:6, God the Father pours in the power, Jesus the Son assigns the ministry, and God the Holy Spirit gives out the gifts as He deems necessary for the proper functioning of the church body.

The gifts may be organized in several ways. We will use the most common grouping.

Establishing Gifts (Ephesians 4:11 and 1 Corinthians 12:29): Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, and Pastor-Teachers. These gifts are used primarily for planting and growing churches.

Supporting Gifts (Romans 12:6-8): Prophecy, Service, Teaching, Encouragement, Giving, Administration/Leadership, and Mercy. These gifts are used primarily to organize and administrate the church so that it may best carry out its responsibilities.

Ministry Gifts (1 Corinthians 12:8-10, 27-31): Wisdom, Knowledge, Faith, Healing, Miracles, Prophecy, Helps, Administration, Leadership, Distinguishing Spirits, Speaking in Tongues, and Interpreting Tongues. These are the tools that the Holy Spirit utilizes for the ongoing ministry of the church.

It goes without saying that congregations are spiritually impotent when the members do not freely and responsibly allow the Holy Spirit to manifest God’s ministry and power through the gifts He has given. Here are a few guidelines on how to identify and unwrap your spiritual gift(s).

#1 — “Can I lose a spiritual gift (such as by my sinning) once I have received it at the time of my salvation?”

There is simply no evidence that a spiritual gift is ever taken from a believer. It was a “grace gift”, and unless God takes His gifts back, then we will always have our gifts.  Now, the gift might not be used as a person is living sinfully and selfishly, but it remains our gifts. We are stewards of all that God has given us including our spiritual gifts, and, as with our money and opportunities, we will give an account as stewards at the Judgment Seat of Christ (see 1 Cor. 4:1-5).

#2 — “Can I asked God for other spiritual gifts, if I believe that I don’t have a particular gift?”

It is unlikely that we should ask for additional gifts.  Keep in mind that the all-knowing, sovereign Holy Spirit decided who would get what gifts.  The Spirit knew your life and where you would go and what believers you would be in contact with, and gave you those gifts to cover all those settings.  So unless He missed something (which is not going to happen), we should trust His choices.  Quite often    1 Corinthians 12:31 is appealed to as evidence that we are given permission to ask for additional gifts.  But if you read the context carefully (12:11-31), it will be seen that Paul is talking to the church and not to individuals when he says to seek the “better gifts”.  He is exhorting them, as they gather together as a church, to look for the gifts that are designed specifically to edify believers.  These gifts are the ones which are “better” for the spiritual maturing of believers and should dominate the public services.  Some of the sign gifts, such as tongues and miracles, do not directly edify believers and so should not play a significant role at the church gatherings. But people with such gifts as teaching or exhortation should be given a priority when the church comes together; they have the “better” gifts for the edifying of believers.

#3 — “Can unbelievers have spiritual gifts?”

The short answer is “no”.  While they might initially appear to have a certain gift, such as teaching, they do have that “version” of teaching that can edify the Body of Christ.  They could well have a natural ability which came to them at their physical birth, but they have not had a spiritual birth and so have not been anointed as a believer-priest by the Holy Spirit. What they have might resemble the spiritual gift, but usually a closer inspection allows us to see that what they have is not one of God’s spiritual abilities.

#4 — “What is the relationship, if any, between my spiritual gift and a natural ability that I might have?”

To the believer in Jesus, God has given both natural abilities as well as spiritual gifts.  We have been “packaged” by God to be able to serve Him and live for Him in a wonderful way.  We believe that He intends for these natural abilities and spiritual gifts to be wedded together.  For example, a person might have natural musical ability, and they might also have the spiritual gift of encouragement.  We can easily see how God might use this person to encourage and challenge fellow believers through their musical abilities.

#5 — “Must I wait for the Spirit’s “moving” on me to use my spiritual gift.”

No, the gift was given to you by the Spirit and it “belongs” to you.  It is now part of your stewardship responsibility and thus you are in charge of it.  As Paul put it, “the spirit of the prophets is subject to the prophets.”  In other words, you determine when and how you will use your gift.  And you are responsible for using it and will eventually give an account to the Giver for our use of it.  Of course, the Spirit can give us direction in using it, just like He can in using our/the Lord’s money in our giving to others.

#6 — “Can a believer be living in unconfessed sin and still use his/her spiritual gift in a way that shows results?”

Unfortunately, believers can use their gifts even when out of fellowship with the Lord.  It should not be this way, but sometimes it is.  For example, a pastor with the gift of pastor/teacher might effectively open the Word of God on Sunday mornings to his congregation with the result that many are built up by the Word. They are clearly benefitted with the pastor’s ability to make the Scriptures understandable.  And yet, he might at that very time in his life be involved in immorality, which could go on for some time. But usually in this life, as well as at the Judgment Seat of Christ, the matter will be dealt with. What we need to keep in mind is that the “fruit of Spirit” and the “gifts of the Spirit” are two different things.  The “fruit” shows where we are in our spiritual maturity and relationship with the Lord, while our gifts are simply those abilities (capacities) that have been given to us. They both should, of course, be part of our lives as believer-priests of Jesus Christ.

#7 — Are all spiritual gifts permanent and for today or are some of them temporary, really just for the first days of the church?

There does seem to be evidence that some spiritual gifts were designed to be temporary, being needed in the early days of the early church.  But to answer the question about any particular gift, there are two things that must be considered.  First, what is the gift; that is, how does the Bible define it. It is not what we say it is, it is what the Bible says it is. For example, the gift of “apostle” is seen as a foundational gift for the church (Eph. 2:20).  Apostle were ones “sent with authority” by Christ; that is, they had the ability to work miracles to validate their new message (see 2 Cor. 12:12).  So, unless someone can “on demand” work miracles then that one is not an apostle.  And while some claim to work miracles, the evidence does not support their claims. This points to the temporary, foundational nature of the gift of apostle.  But if “apostle” is defined loosely as “one who is sent”, such as a missionary, then you would argue for their presence in the church today. But this looser definition fails to include the all-important aspect of authority.  Second, what is the reason why God gave the gift. Its purpose must be understood.  Lack of clarity in seeing the purpose will always breed lack of clarity in answering the question, “was the gift temporary or permanent”?  For example, healings were done to authenticate God’s message and messenger (see Jesus’ point in John 5:36 about His miracles).  They were not done primarily to compassionately heal people (remember that everyone healed in the NT is now dead, so the healing didn’t last).  Once God’s message (the Scriptures were authenticated) the gift of healing/miracles was not needed.  (God can, of course, heal anytime He wishes, but that is different from a human being having the gift of healing/miracles).

This is a short answer, but the point is that the evidence is that some gifts are no longer needed today because the purpose for them is not in existence today.  (See the question on the gift of tongues in a separate discussion).

#8 — How do I find out what gift(s) I might have?

We must assume that God is not playing “hide and seek” with us.  He wants us to know, so it would be important to ask Him. So pray.  Second, when we have a gift it will soon be evidenced with “results” and a personal “passion” that we have when operating in the area of our gift.  So, seek ministry/service opportunities in your church, noting where you seem to be most effective.  Third, speak to believers that know you and that are spiritually mature and ask them what they see in you related to your spiritual gifts.  Often, they will agree on what is evidenced in your life of service.  But even if it does not become immediately clear what your gift(s) are, serve Christ.  Soon you will come to see what your gifts are.

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Everything you wanted to know about your talents, abilities and gifts, but were afraid to ask!

Natural talents are the gift of God
Natural talents are abilities that are part of who you are — they may be artistic talents, intelligence, physical strength, organizing ability and so on. They are something that is ‘innate’ — part of us. Sometimes they are ‘latent’ — unrecognized and unused until some life circumstance brings them forward, and we discover that we have this hidden capacity or talent that we had know nothing about. These ‘talents’ are part of the way God made us.

Learned abilities are a gift from God
Learned abilities are the result of our informal and formal education — things we have learned to do as a result of observing other people do them [in the first instance, our parents], or by deliberately learning how to do them [at school, university or ‘on the job’].

Sometimes learned abilities overlap with our natural talents. For example, a person with a musical talent who has also studied music in a formal way.Complete Section #2 in the Study Five Worksheet now.

Identifying your natural talents and learned abilities
With the help of interactive discussion with your Christian peers, make an inventory of your natural talents and learned abilities. Include everything you and they can think of.Do this in Section #3 of the Study Five Worksheet now.

The inter-relatedness of the three areas of ability

Natural talents are abilities we are born with. Someone might, for example, naturally be a fast runner or have the ability to sing in tune. These talents become evident as we grow and mature, as opportunities for their use or expression occur, and as our environment facilitates their development. It is possible that a person might never know what their natural talents are if their environment was repressive and/or no opportunities to express and use these talents arose.

Learned abilities are abilities which we have learned either by our own personal observations and trial and error, or by being taught by someone else. Sometimes learning a skill can cause a natural talent to come to light and/or be maximized. For example: a person with a natural talent for maths has to be taught geometry or algebra, but because they have mathematical talent they will learn it far more quickly and efficiently than a person who has no mathematical talent; and, having been taught, will be able to develop and use their natural talent beyond where it was before they were taught.

Spiritual gifts are God-given abilities of a particular spiritual nature and/or a spiritual purpose. They may or may not over-lap or coincide with natural talents or learned abilities. For example: a person may be born with an aptitude for teaching. He goes to university and learns the practical ins and outs of teaching. This gives direction and boundaries in which his natural talent is used. After his conversion and subsequent study of the Scripture he discovers that he has the spiritual gift of teaching — something that is more than his natural talent or learned ability: that God works powerfully and effectively through his teaching of the word of God for the instruction and edification of his people. [This includes God enabling him both to understand and to present his Word with spiritual clarity and spiritual power and authority.]

As we observe Christians in action, we can see:

  • Spiritual gifts, learned abilities and natural talents coinciding
  • Spiritual gifts as the development of natural talents or learned abilities.
  • Spiritual gifts that are apparently totally additional to natural talents and learned abilities.
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What Does #MeToo: Stories of Sexual Abuse, Harassment Have to Do with You?

How to cope with a mis-sold job

There is a concept that some in the field of neuroscience call “increased integration.” Apparently, when someone tells his or her story and is truly heard and understood they feel a greater sense of emotional and relational connection, decreased anxiety, and a greater awareness of and compassion for others’ suffering.

In recent months the #MeToo  has spread virally as a two-word hashtag used on social media in October 2017  by women around the world who shared their experiences of sexual harassment and assault on social media.

The allegations of sexual assault and rape against Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein also saw tens of thousands of people taking to social media to share their stories using the hashtag, ‘#MeToo’. Additionally, an assertion that being “touched upon the metro” should be a “non-event” also provoked fury.

“There is a line, obviously, between [sexual] desire and realization, and some cross it and some don’t.”

Thanks to women coming forward to tell their stories about being raped, fondled or harassed by men, we can now see the prevalence of this practice.

The tweets show that people of all ages, genders, backgrounds and sexual orientations are vulnerable to sexual violence.  The perpetrators also ranged in age, background, and ethnicity.

So what could possibly be fueling this upsurge in harassment?

Perhaps the breakdown of morality, lack of a spiritual life and old-fashioned selfishness. But is that all there is? There have been men who exhibit high morals who have harassed women. There have also been Pastors who have done the same.

So what is the common denominator?

Pornography!

The Internet is really really great”¦ FOR PORN!
I’ve got a fast connection so I don’t have to wait”¦ FOR PORN!
There’s always some new site”¦ FOR PORN!
I browse all day and night”¦ FOR PORN!
It’s like I’m surfing at the speed of light”¦ FOR PORN!
The Internet is for porn!
The Internet is for porn!
Why you think the net was born?
Porn! Porn! PORN!

In 2003, these lyrics were heard on the Broadway stage courtesy of Jeff Marx, Robert Lopez and the puppets of musical show  Avenue Q. It would quickly become a famous Internet meme and catchphrase. But why?

In the last 30 years, pornography has grown to be a multi-billion dollar a year industry. Today’s children live in a digital world that has embraced sexuality. Images of sex abound on the internet, and are freely accessible to children with the simple click of a computer button, or by downloading an image on a cell phone.

Pornography is not just something a few men view in the late hours in the privacy of their homes.

According to recent statistics at least 70 percent of porn is downloaded during work hours (9 am to 5 pm).

The wages of sin are enormous when pornography is involved.

“The societal costs of pornography are staggering. The financial cost to business productivity in the U.S. alone is estimated at $16.9 Billion annually ; but the human toll, particularly among our youth and in our families, is far greater.”

I heard from a young woman the other day who didn’t get why I was anti-porn. “It’s a great way for my fianc, to meet his needs when I’m not in the mood. I don’t want him to keep bugging me if I’m not into it that night. And he shouldn’t just have to ‘deal’ with frustration, either.”  

So What’s Not to Love About Porn?

Well, Patrick F. Fagan, Ph.D, psychologist and former Deputy Assistant Health and Human Services Secretary research states that pornography hurts adults, children, couples, families, and society. It also states that among adolescents, pornography hinders the development of a healthy sexuality, and among adults, it distorts sexual attitudes and social realities. In families, pornography use leads to marital dissatisfaction, infidelity, separation, and divorce.

The average age when a man is first exposed to pornography is at 11 years of age and the largest consumers of porn are 12 to 17-year old’s. Victor Cline, a psychologist, documented how men become addicted to pornographic materials, then begin to desire more explicit or deviant material, and finally act out what they have seen.

He maintained “that memories of experiences that occurred at times of emotional arousal (which could include sexual arousal) are imprinted on the brain by epinephrine, an adrenal gland hormone, and are difficult to erase. This may partly explain pornography’s addicting effect.”

The next step is escalation. Previous sexual highs become more difficult to attain; therefore users of pornography begin to look for more exotic forms of sexual behavior to bring them stimulation and so on.

A Biblical Perspective?

God created men and women in His image (Gen. 1:27) as sexual beings. But because of sin in the world (Rom. 3:23), sex has been misused and abused (Rom. 1:24-25). The act of sex was originally meant to bring a husband and wife into a close, intimate relationship that only they could share. Pornography attacks the dignity of men and women created in the image of God. Pornography also distorts God’s gift of sex which should be shared only within the bounds of marriage (1 Cor. 7:2-3). After years of watching it, consciences become  smeared and he or she can no longer see what is right and wrong. – Timothy 4:2

Are You Addicted?

Some of you reading this may have already developed an addiction to porn. If you see any of the patterns I’ve described above in your life, you need to put the brakes on right now. Is porn beginning to control your life? You can’t put it down — you keep going back for more? Perhaps you find yourself needing to see increasingly graphic pornography. You’re starting to take risks or act out physically for sexual thrills.

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind”¦” Romans 12:2

The Bible also warns against the misuse of sex. Premarital and extramarital sex is condemned (1 Cor. 6:13-18; 1 Thess. 4:3). Even thoughts of sexual immorality (often fed by pornographic material) are condemned (Matt. 5:27-28). Christians, therefore, must do two things. First, they must work to keep themselves pure by fleeing immorality (1 Cor. 6:18) and thinking on those things which are pure (Phil. 4:8).

General pornography stats

  • Every second 28,258 users are watching pornography on the internet
  • Every second $3,075.64 is being spent on pornography on the internet
  • Every second 372 people are typing the word “adult” into search engines
  • 40 million American people regularly visit porn sites
  • 35% of all internet downloads are related to pornography
  • 25% of all search engine queries are related to pornography, or about 68 million search queries a day
  • One-third of porn viewers are women
  • Search engines get 116,000 queries every day related to child pornography
  • 34% of internet users have experienced unwanted exposure to pornographic content through ads, pop up ads, misdirected links or emails
  • 2.5 billion emails sent or received every day contain porn
  • Every 39 minutes a new pornography video is being created in the United States
  • About 200,000 Americans are “porn addicts”

Valerie Hughes co-wrote this post and is the founder of Sufficient Grace Ministries offering hope and healing to women who have been involved with a porn addiction. Her current book “When Porn Takes the Place of Love” tells of her journey of healing and includes a 10-part Bible Study.  

Disclaimer:  Fighting the stigma faced by sexual violence survivors is a crucial step in forcing the change referenced by Tamblyn. The “#MeToo” hashtag shows that more and more people are ready to share their stories and change the dialogue surrounding sexual violence.  The article attempts to shed light on one of the overlooked influences that help develop a man’s mindset on how they treat women.

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Sparkling Dews of Hope 2006 – 2018

Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift of God, which is why we call it the present. This small selection of poetry was written starting back as early as 2006 when I was first called to write for the LORD.

Later I would write Christian articles and prophetic utterances from Jesus. My love of poetry is spontaneous and has been chiefly inspired by the Psalms of David together with the emerging love and grace of Father God, now my heavenly daddy, through His beautiful son, Jesus. Truly Jesus is full of Grace and Truth.

I live in Cornwall, England and have done so for the last twenty-one years. I moved with my mother and daughter in 1997 from Nottingham. It is here in Cornwall God still continues to do His greatest healing in my life. I live in a small bedsit with my now elderly dog Cindy. I love to walk and my hobby is photographer and writer.

Many things are possible for the person who has hope. Even more is possible for the person who has faith. And still, more is possible for the person who knows how to love. But everything is possible for the person who practices all three virtues. I hope you enjoy this small collection of poetry and pray you will be blessed by these words for Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever.

May Jesus have all the glory for all that I am and do for His Kingdom.

 

 

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