Can God use pain, destruction, and death?

About a year ago the deadly tsunami struck Thailand and other areas. Many wondered at the time if it was God's judgment upon the predominantly Muslim area. Here is my question--could it be both God's judgment and His grace?

Example: In Thailand (which is mostly Buddhist) there were very few Christian churches prior to the tsunami. In fact, many areas had no church. As a result of Christian relief efforts, there are now many small churches.

So, could such destruction have been both an act of God's judgment and His grace? Perhaps so. Consider Psalm 98: This is a song of praise for God's salvation, strength, faithfulness, and strangely, His judgment. Thus, there is at least one passage that links grace (in this instance, salvation) and judgment.

But notice particularly verses 7-9 of Psalm 98:

"Let the sea roar, and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell in it; let the rivers clap their hands, let the hills be joyful together before the Lord, for He is coming to judge the earth...."

It is quite interesting to me that there is a reference to the sea "roaring" coupled with salvation and judgment. Coincidence? What do you think?


P.S.

Phra Viroth Titaphoonyo, the abbot at Wat Laem Pom, a Buddhist temple in Thailand said this about the difference between Buddhism and Christianity:

"The way to help the people is totally different. If you are Buddhist, when the people jump in the water and ask for help a Buddhist teaches you how to swim. A Christian just gives them a hand and pulls them up."

Well, at least he understands what God does for people. His quote is a great paraphrase of Psalm 113:7:

"He raises the poor out of the dust, and lifts the needy out of the ash heap."

Keep it up, Christians!

Name change with a twist

I don't know how often complete name changes take place, but I am sure that when people do change their names they have a good reason. This one, though, I'm not so sure about:

A New York man's holiday spirits soared to celestial heights Friday when a judge gave him permission to change his name to Jesus Christ.

Jose Luis Espinal said he decided to change his name about a year ago when he realized, "I am the person that is that name." (editorial comment: I will refrain from opining here--a very difficult thing for me--but I'm sure you can guess what I might say).

The judge before whom the man appeared said that name-change applications are usually not denied "just because the change might cause practical difficulties or be thought unwise, as long as a person with the same name does not object to the proposed change."

Hmm...I think I know Someone who might object.

...and you shall call His name Jesus...

Perhaps you are familiar with a little book entitled, What's In a Name? that gives meanings behind popular names. This last week we have been studying the titles and names given to the Messiah, and the significance behind those names. This being Christmas day, it is most appropriate to conclude with the direction given to both Joseph and Mary to call the name of the Child born in Bethlehem, Jesus.

What's in this name? Of all the names, why Jesus? What is involved in this name? In a word, everything!

The word itself is a form of the Hebrew name Joshua, and around the time of Jesus it appears to have been widely used among the Jewish people. Very simply, the name means savior.

The reason this name was given to the Christ is revealed to us in Matthew 1:21 where Joseph is told, "for He will save His people from their sins." The natural and appropriate name for One who will save people is savior. The truth of Jesus being a Savior is revealed over and over in the "Christmas story" and in the New Testament as well:

Zacharias, the father of John the Baptizer said that the Child born in Bethlehem would "... give knowledge of salvation to His people by the remission (forgiveness) of their sins..." Luke 1:77

The angels announced to the shepherds, "For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." Luke 2:11

Simeon declared, when he saw the Child, "For my eyes have seen Your salvation..." Luke 2:30

Peter quotes from the Old Testament in reference to Jesus when he says, "Whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved." Acts 2:21

Paul told the Philippian jailer, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved..." Acts 16:31

If you have been following along all week until today, the celebration of Lord's birth, then the picture should be clear. A promise was given that a Child would be born and a Son would be given. In every way, the prophecies proclaimed, He would be fully God. In fact, He was declared to be Immanuel, God with us, who would be a ruler of His people. He was promised to be a Wonder of a Counselor; He was declared to be the only, true, Mighty God, the One who is beyond time, the Father of Eternity. And He came to bring everlasting peace as the Prince of Peace. This will be all be accomplished because today is born for you, Jesus the Savior.

"I have come that they may have life,
and that they may have it
more abundantly."
John 10:10

The Prince of Peace

This world is always seeking peace, isn't it? It may not always be on the homefront, but somewhere in our world there is always war; there are hostilities of all kinds occurring at all times. Even more, there is often "war" at home--in families. Is there hope for this plight?

As I have mentioned the last few days, Israel was facing a perilous situation. In their very near future was invasion by a foreign nation, and subjection to foreign kings for hundreds of years. For them, peace was nowhere in sight, much less lasting peace.

Enter: the Child born in Bethelehem.

"For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6

This prophecy given by God through the prophet Isaiah must have been music to Israel's ears! A Prince is coming, and He will be a Wonder of a Counselor (in government and the military), He will be the all-powerful, Mighty God, who is our eternal, loving, caring Father. And He will bring peace....

This is precisely where Israel became sidetracked. In looking at this verse, among others, they saw a Messiah who was God Himself, who would come to bring national peace by means of military prowess.

What they failed to grasp is what we, too, need to understand. Simply terminating war does not bring about everlasting peace. Simply removing the invader or the suppressor or the home-breaker does not usher in eternal love.

Rather, to have everlasting peace we must first remove the cause of war: sin. When sin is removed, then there can be true, lasting peace. For man's sin to be removed there must be peace between God and man. In other words, man must be at peace with God, and God must be at peace with man. The enmity between God and mankind must be removed. When that happens, then there can be true, lasting peace.

Enter: the Son given to us.

"Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Romans 5:1

The Prince of Peace was promised not merely to bring in national peace for Israel, but ultimate, complete, eternal peace that only the Mighty God and Everlasting Father can provide. This Prince furnished peace by paying the ultimate price to remove the cause of war.

"For He Himself is our peace..."
Ephesians 2:4

Are you looking for some peace in your life? Are you seeking true, authentic peace? There is eternal peace offered to you as a free gift from the Prince of Peace. Simply place your trust in Him alone (Romans 5:1, 6:23). There is daily peace offered to you by the Child of Bethlehem. This is called the "peace that passes all understanding." Simply lay your cares at His feet (Philippians 4:6-7).

Above all, understand that the Prince who is the Father of Eternity has come, and He offers Himself to you. He is peace, and He wants you to have all of Him. When you have the Child, you have peace.

"And you, Child, will be called the prophet of the Highest...
To give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death,
To guide our feet into the way of peace."
Luke 1:76, 79

He will be called...the Everlasting Father

The last few days I have written much about how the titles given to the Messiah speak of His deity. The next name is no different: Everlasting Father.

"For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6

It is quite likely that a better translation for this Hebrew word is "Father of eternity." But either translation gives us the same basic thought: this Child is a Father, and this Child is eternal.

As a Father, this Son who is to be given to the people will guard His people and supply all of their needs. He will be the Good Shepherd, the Bread of Life, the Living Water, etc., etc. to His people. He will lead His children, He will train them, discipline them, and make them into His image with hearts that desire to follow Him. He will guide them with tenderness, love, comfort, grace, and mercy.

As the Father of Eternity, this One is beyond the boundaries of time. He will never cease to exist, but rather wherever one goes in eternity--whether past, present, or future--He is there! He inhabits eternity (Isaiah 57:15). What a thought (try to wrap your brain around this one)--a Child will be born, but He already has been...is...and will be a Father, and oh by the way, His existence doesn't begin with His birth because He always exists!

In this one verse we have a very clear statement regarding the incarnation and the theology of Christmas. That statement is this: The eternal God will take on the form of a servant, being born into His own creation as a promised Child.

What a promise! Israel was nearing a time of discipline for their sin. They would be under the rule of the Assyrians. Following that, they would fall under the rule of Rome and the Caesars. What hope is there? Years and years of difficulties, frustrations, stress, death, faithlessness, disobedience...what hope is there?

The hope is this: They have a loving Father--One who is not bound by time. All things are in His control, and they can trust in Him to care for them no matter the situation. He will provide for their needs, He will continue to love them, and His grace would still be evident. And at the right time that same God of Eternity would come...

As a Child...

To die...

For me.

"You, O Lord, are our Father;
Our Redeemer from Everlasting
Is Your name."
Isaiah 63:16

He will be called...the Mighty God

Many throughout the centuries have questioned the deity of Christ. Reasons for that method of thinking vary, but generally the thought is that the incarnation (that is, God becoming man) simply could not take place. As Christians, belief in the incarnation forms the basis for our faith. Without the incarnation there would be no perfect sacrifice, no victory over death, and no provision for salvation. We would be hopeless people. But thanks be to God for His marvelous gift of Himself!

This brings us to the next title given to the Messiah by Isaiah the prophet. To refresh your memory, here is Isaiah 9:6 again:

"For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."

Mighty God has long been a controversial title for the Child. Some have sought to explain away the word "God" (Hebrew: 'el) by saying that in this usage of the word it means "man" or even "angel." There are a couple of problems with this thinking, however. First, if the term were the general word for God (Hebrew: elohim), then perhaps there could be an argument. Elohim sometimes means something other than God. 'El though, rarely, if ever, means anything other than God. Second, in Isaiah it is very clear that 'el only refers to God.

So it's settled then, right? If context and word usage throughout the Old Testament show that this word means God, then this Child of whom Isaiah is prophesying is God, right? Not so fast! The next issue is the word mighty. This word is used frequently in the Old Testament, and is associated with warfare. Specifically, it speaks of the strength and vitality of a successful warrior. Based on this idea, the word is often translated mighty, strong, valiant, or great. Thus, Mighty God. There are some, though, who have sought to combine the thoughts of the two words to arrive at a translation such as Great Hero. While possible, it is an unwise and improper translation. Isaiah is clearly using couplets (pairs of words, see previous post) to indicate the identity of this Child: God Himself. There, it's settled !

Let's summarize this: Isaiah is writing to people faced with a foreign invasion. Their thoughts are directed towards warfare. Who better to fight for them, to lead them into victory than the Wonder of a Counselor who is none other than the warrior who is the Mighty God?

Application: Have you ever been faced with a daunting challenge, an insurmountable fear, an overwhelming heartbreak, or an impossible situation of any kind? If you are a human being (please say you are ) then you probably have. You are then able to appreciate the situation with which Israel was faced. You are also able to experience the comfort, the grace, the courage, and the boldness that comes with being able to face those difficulties with the Mighty God at your side...no, leading you!

This prophecy was also given to Israel to give them hope for the future. In other words, their Messiah had not come yet; their hope was still focused on the future fulfillment of the promise. Friends, your Mighty God has already come! He was the Child of Bethlehem. He has proven that He is the Mighty God by paying an infinite price for your salvation and by conquering death.

Thus, we can say with the Apostle Paul:

"Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him... the Mighty God...who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our...Mighty God." Romans 8:37-39

Wonderful Counselor

Today we move to Isaiah 9:6 in our study of the names attributed to the Messiah:

"For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."

Each of the names ascribed to the Child in this verse are couplets--that is, they are pairs of words placed together to form a descriptive name. Some translations have five names (making "Wonderful Counselor" into "Wonderful" and "Counselor"), but grammatically it is better to only have four (thus, "Wonderful Counselor" as in the NKJV).

The first of these titles/names is perhaps the most confusing of the four. Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace all speak clearly of the deity of this Son, but Wonderful Counselor seems out of place; at the very least it appears to not speak as strongly concerning the deity of the Baby. Or does it? (You were expecting a trick question here, weren't you? )

Actually, it does speak very strongly of the deity of the promised Son. But first, some context! Isaiah 9:6 is encompassed by political and governmental language. At the time of this prophecy, Israel was about to be invaded by the Assyrian armies. That would mean the loss of freedoms, loss of land, and the loss of national independence. But God is promising that there will be a Son to reign on David's throne whose reign will last forever.

Now to the name: While the word Wonderful is adequate, it is probably not best. The reason I say that is because Wonderful is an adjective but the word in the Hebrew language is a noun. Thus, it is probably better to translate the word as Wonder. The way this word is used in the Old Testament tells us that this Child is not merely an extraordinary human being, but One who in every way is a Wonder. He goes beyond our thinking and imagination...He is God Himself.

Consider another verse for a moment: "And the Angel of the Lord said to Him, 'Why do you ask My name, seeing it is wonderful?'" Judges 13:18. The Angel of the Lord is the Lord Jesus Himself (before He came to earth as the promised Son), and He identifies Himself as having a name that is incomprehensible, beyond understanding. Perhaps for this reason He is called Wonder by Isaiah.

The counselor part of the name is a little simpler. In the context of Isaiah 9 this has a government and military connection. This Child will be a Wonder of a ruler, governing and leading and counseling unlike any human king. Compare Isaiah 28:29: "This also comes from the Lord of hosts, who is wonderful in counsel and excellent in guidance."

At one point in their history, Israel desired a king in order to be like the other nations around them. There is a problem with human kings, though--they are imperfect, sinful, and generally unwise. God's promise to Israel is a Son...His own Son...to be their perfect, eternal King. He is a Wonder...He is a Wonder of a Counselor.

Application: Israel was to be encouraged and strengthen by the hope of this promise from their God. They were to look at this verse and have their faith invigorated. Assyria was coming and with them a host of other issues. But wait...God promised them a Wonder of a ruler! He was coming, and with Him eternal freedom, perfect government, and perfect wisdom in the perfect Ruler. In light of that, Assyria didn't matter. They could hope in their God.

Where is your hope? Do you get caught up in the happenings of our world? Do the actions of our country/state/society cause stress and worry in your life? Why? Your King has come! There is no need for worry or fear--trust in this Child. He is your God; He is far beyond your comprehension, far beyond even your imagination. He is perfectly wise and all-knowing, and yet He is the Wonder-Child born for you.

Call His name Immanuel

There are four passages in Scripture that contain the term Immanuel. One of the passages (Is. 8:10) is generally not considered a name, but rather a comment on a situation. The other three passages are names:

Isaiah 7:14: "Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel."

Isaiah 8:8: "He will pass through Judah, he will overflow and pass over, he will reach up to the neck; and the stretching out of his wings will fill the breadth of your land, O Immanuel."

Isaiah 8:10: "Take counsel together, but it will come to nothing; speak the word, but it will not stand, for God is with us."

Matthew 1:23: "Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel," which is translated, "God with us."

The last verse (Matt. 1:23) is a quotation of Is. 7:14, giving us our first hint as to what insights can be found in this term. That hint is the meaning of the Hebrew word Immanuel: "God with us."

Why would there be a need for a name meaning God with us? The answer to this question is the key to understanding the name Immanuel.

The Old Testament passages (i.e. the Isaiah texts) were written during a time in Israel's history where there was stress (and fear) regarding the probability of coming under the domination of the Assyrian kingdom. Prior to this time, Israel was full of hope. This hope was generated by God destroying the Persian kingdom under whose domination Israel had suffered. Thus, Israel was regaining strength as an independent nation. Spiritually speaking, it was an entirely different story--faithfulness went from bad to worse. God then began to judge Israel's sin by bringing along the Assyrian armies to rule over Israel. So, Israel moves from fear to hope and back to fear.

But there is no need to fear...God is with us (Immanuel). God's communication to Israel was that no matter what took place in their world (either as a result of their obedience to God or disobedience), they could take courage and comfort in the fact that the Almighty God was in their presence. In essence, God gave this prophecy to Israel to prompt faith and to encourage trust in Him.

Ultimately, this prophecy is fulfilled in the Lord Jesus as Matthew 1:23 states. The previous verse in Matthew says, "So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet..." Matt. 1:22.

How is Jesus Immanuel? In every way! He is God, and so to Israel He was the complete fulfillment of God's promise to be with them. What a dismal account...they crucified their Promise...they put to death their Immanuel...for so long they yearned for God to be with them, and when He came they said, "No thanks...."

Application: Jesus is our Immanuel in every way as well. Think of it...there is nothing to fear! Even death itself has no hold on us because He is with us even then. Because Immanuel died and conquered death, Immanuel is with us all the way. Because Immanuel returned to His glory with the Father, He sent His Spirit to be in us. Thus, immanuel...God is with us at every point, at all times, in every situation.

This truth should give us hope and cause us to trust Him implicitly. That means we can different...we can be bold...we can have integrity...we can suffer for our faith...we can thrive in difficult situations...He is Immanuel! The Hope of Christmas!

A Son is Given

This post begins a week-long look at the titles of the Messiah used in the “Christmas” passages of Scripture. The posts will be as follows:

Today: miscellaneous terms

Tuesday: Immanuel

Wednesday: Wonderful Counselor

Thursday: Mighty God

Friday: Everlasting Father

Saturday: Prince of Peace

Sunday: Jesus

There are several miscellaneous nouns that are used throughout Scripture to refer to the Messiah. For our purposes we will focus on those found in Isaiah 7:14, 9:16, and Micah 5:2.

“Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.” Isaiah 7:14

“For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given…” Isaiah 9:6a

“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be Ruler in Israel, whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting.” Micah 5:2

Child: This designation from Is. 9:6 is an indication that this Child’s destiny is determined from a very young age. When we look at the Is. 7:14 text, we see that the indentification of this Child as "Immanuel" is from an even younger "age"-- conception. The use of this particular noun, especially coupled with the following “son,” provides an indication that this child is especially unique.

Son: Initially, this is an indication that this unique individual will be male (sorry to point out the obvious, but this is becoming an ever-increasing problem in today’s gender-neutral society). In the context of the passages, this Son is not merely any Jewish son. Rather, He is of the line of David, the ruling line of Israel. Along with the other titles coming up in the next few days, we see this Son is chosen to Rule in Israel on the throne of David.

The One to be Ruler: This indicates the purpose of the Child. What is interesting in this passage (Micah 5:2) is not the designation as ruler but rather the description of the ruler as One “whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting.” This very clearly indicates that this Ruler is not merely another sinful, fallible human king from the line of David, but One who is eternal.

Summary: God's choice to use these particular words in the prophecies concerning the Messiah tell us that hundreds of years before the birth of the Lord Jesus, He is identified as a child – that is, He would not come as a full-grown adult, or as some type of glorious Being to whom everyone would gravitate. This Child is a matchless Son, uniquely placed and equipped to be Israel’s King. Amazingly, this Child, this Son, having an actual birth in lowly Bethlehem, is not Someone who began life as the child of an unwed mother and was taught the royal life, but is the One who has no beginning and no end and has no need of learning. He simply is.

Application: Israel tended to get caught up in emancipation—they intensely desired their freedom from imperial Rome. In their thinking, their freedom-savior would be a radical, war-minded adult ready to lead his people to war with Rome. Anyone who came along to give them that hope was looked upon as that savior. They weren’t looking for a Child. They weren’t looking in Bethlehem. They weren’t looking in a cave. They weren’t looking with the sheep.

Are we any different? Sure, we recognize the Child. We have learned from Israel’s “mistake.” I can’t help but think, though, that we too often see the Child and miss the Eternal One. We focus on the baby in the manger and miss the King of Kings, the One who is, who was, and is to come. Is this Child your King?

Christian Christmas Conniption

Much has been said and done in America this winter regarding the removal of religious connotations from the Christmas holiday--I have posted and commented on some of them. Some Christians are ready to fight for the right to be religious at the drop of the proverbial hat. There are legal proceedings, boycotts, and media presentations, among others, that are used by Christians to keep the religious aspects of the holiday in place. Others are content to let things slide by, understanding that we live in an evil world.

I have often wondered what the proper response is when society is seeking to remove those things which we hold dear. Perhaps a better question is, "is there a proper response?" Should the Church stand up and fight for our religious rights? Should individuals rally together to boycott organizations who reject our beliefs?

These are all good questions -- perhaps some day you can answer them for me .

Since I don't have the answers, I thought I would share with you a few personal thoughts regarding the matter.

1. We shouldn't be surprised when things don't go our way. God never promised us a free country with the religious rights that our constitution provides. Rather, we should understand that we live in a world directed by the enemy of God who seeks to remove Him -- even all reference to Him -- from this world. This should remove much of the emotionalism from the situation. If we know that it will happen then we will be expecting it.

2. We should understand that God designed it that way. God planned for the removal of "Christ" from Christmas? Well...yes and no! In my devotions this morning I came across the verse from Romans 9:33: "Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and rock of offense, and whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame." The stumbling stone and rock of offense mentioned here is the Lord Jesus. This is actually a quote from the Old Testament (from Isaiah 8:14 and 28:16) that the Apostle Paul is using to show that God expected people to stumble over and be offended by Jesus...but even more, God planned it--the text says that God laid the stone in place! A parallel passage to this is 1 Corinthians 1 where Paul says that the message of the cross is a scandal and foolishness in the eyes of the world. Basically, we should understand that what we believe is foolish and moronic to those who do not believe. Question: what is the best way to win those who believe we are fools -- by taking them to court, boycotting them, forcing our way onto them, or by suffering as Jesus did?

3. We should understand God's method of working in our world. Did Jesus come to change Imperial Rome? Did Jesus come to make sure that the Roman world showed deference to the Jewish faith? Did Jesus take the Pharisees to Roman courts to make sure His beliefs were upheld? No, no, and no! Rather, Jesus came to change the world by changing people--one individual at a time. And He does this by working from the inside-out. He changes the heart to change the world. It appears to me that many Christians are seeking to change the world in order to change the heart.

4. Does all of this mean that we cannot take advantage of the freedoms allowed us by living in the United States? Again...yes and no. God, in His mercy and grace, has caused His face to shine upon us in that we have particular freedoms in our country. In my opinion, Christians have a right and even an obligation to use those rights and freedoms. However, those rights and freedoms must always come under the direction of God's Word. That means, as far as fighting for Christmas is concerned, our actions need to fall in line with items #1-3 above.

Update on "And they are God's chosen people?"

I posted a note awhile back on Israel's government creating a law allowing euthanasia by machine (click here to see it). As I was writing it, I was aware that there was an increasing amount of info floating around regarding the death penalty and the then-upcoming execution in California. I half-expected that someone would take what I had written and go a step further based only on the one verse I quoted from the Old Testament. If done, the conclusion that one would naturally reach is that the death penalty is biblically wrong.

Here is the verse I quoted: "The Lord kills and makes alive; He brings down to the grave and brings up." 1 Samuel 2:6, NKJV

The point I was making was two-fold. One, that it was a case of justifying actions and two, that the taking or the giving of life is under God's direction. In the context of 1 Samuel 2, this verse comes from Hannah's prayer for a child -- a prayer directed to the One who has control over life or death. In other words, it is the Lord's (and His only) prerogative to take or give life. That being the case, unless God says otherwise, the taking of life by machine is no different than the taking of life by human hands. To my knowledge, there is no biblical reference stating otherwise.

Apparently, my expectation was confirmed. What I had intended to be specifically applied to Israeli law has been taken to apply to the death penalty as well. Please understand--that was not my intention. If it had been, I would have written more concerning that issue. To take a verse of Scripture and direct it toward something it was not intended to be directed toward is unwise, if not dangerous biblically and theologically.

If I would have gone further and written of the death penalty, here is what I would have written:

God is the creator of life. It is His decision whether one lives or dies. Thus, we must look to His Word to determine what is written regarding the taking of life. That is the standard by which we must abide. Human beings are not to make decisions about the taking of life (and allowing machines under the direction of human beings to do so is the same as human beings taking the life).

That being so, what does God have to say about the matter?

"Whoever sheds man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed; for in the image of God He made man." Genesis 9:6 This is the institution of the death penalty for murder, given by God to mankind through Noah. NOTE: this is God making the decision for death, not man.

"He who strikes a man so that he dies shall surely be put to death." Exodus 21:12

Although there are others, these will suffice. It is clear: for the taking of life, God directs mankind to take the killer's life. NOTE: this is God making the decision for death, not man! Man is never given the right to decide.

Sure, some will argue that these are Old Testament verses applying to the Law of Moses, and that we are no longer under the Law, but under Grace. True, we are no longer under the Law. So, let's remove Exodus 21:12 (given under the law) from the equation. That still leaves Genesis 9:6, given long before the Law was given. And notice the basis of the charge: In Genesis 9:6, God says the reason for the death penalty in the case of murder is because man is made in God's image. Has that changed? No! If the sanctity of life due to mankind being made in God's image has not changed, then perhaps the charge of Genesis 9:6 still remains. It appears that God has not rescinded that verse.

By the way...If the commandment to not kill (given under the law, which has a specific consequence) is repeated in the New Testament (which it is--see Romans 13:9), why should we change the consequence?

Update on "Freezing in Wisconsin"

Remember the Dodgeville, WI school that changed the words of Silent Night to "Cold in the Night" -- a change from religious to secular (see previous post)? After a flood of responses, the school has changed its mind. Silent Night will be sung; Cold in the Night will not.

Random thoughts on Hope

The following appeared in The Atlantic Journal:

The world is too big for us. Too much going on, too many crimes, too much violence and excitement. Try as you will you get behind in the race.... It's an incessant strain, to keep pace...and still you lose ground. Science empties its discoveries in you so fast that you stagger beneath them in hopeless bewilderment. The political world is news seen so rapidly you're out of breath trying to keep pace with who's in and who's out. Everything is high pressure. Human nature can't endure much more!

Sound familiar? Whoever wrote this paragraph articulated very clearly concerning the world in which we live. Here's the catch: it was published on June 16, 1833, over 170 years ago! Our world is big, and yet it is also very small with the advent of international television, radio, internet, etc. And yet, our worldly advances have done little to deter crime, violence, and excitement over the last 100-plus years. How are we to view this situation as Christians?

Answer: look to Haggai. Yes, you read that correctly--Haggai! That little-known, little-read Old Testament prophet and book. Why do I say Haggai? Because this prophet was thrust into a situation similar to that described by the newspaper article. Israel was experiencing an increase in the size of their world (they were released from captivity), and the speed of life was also rapidly increasing. At the same time their world was shrinking due to technological advances, political advances, and commerce. Israel had recently returned from 70 years of captivity in Babylon (modern Iraq) after being released to return to their homeland to rebuild the walls of their capital city and then to rebuild the temple of the Lord. In this situation filled with frustration, worry, and wonder, God directs Haggai to give Israel a message of hope and triumph.

The last four verses of the book address the governor of Jerusalem. His name was Zerubbabel. Good ol' Zerubbabel was God's chosen person to reinstate the right of the Davidic line to rule (you will find him in the line of Jesus in Matthew and Luke). The captivity temporarily interrupted the ruling line of David. Upon the return to Israel, it is reinstated. Thus, there is hope for Haggai and his people! God has brought Israel back to the promised land, and reinstated the line of David as having the right to rule. This also looks toward a future promise of the Messiah, God Himself, as the Son of David.

Both Matthew and Luke in the New Testament identify the fulfillment of this promise of the Messiah, through the line of David, in the birth of Jesus who was a descendant of Zerubbabel. For us that means that we can live with even more hope than the people of Haggai's time. They were looking forward to the return of the Davidic kings and eventually the Messiah. But friends, Jesus has already come, having fulfilled the Old Testament hope!

Israel's "Christmas" was the Passover. It was a celebration intended to look back at what God had done in bringing Israel back to the promised land, but it was also a forward look to when the Messiah would come. Our "Christmas" is also a look back, but at the advent of that same Messiah for which Israel was hoping. But, we too look ahead. Our God will come again. The Lord Jesus will return to take us home. Let's not get distracted by the busyness, the size, or the nature of our world. God gave Haggai and Israel a message of hope: their God is coming. God has given us a message of hope too: our God has come - with the hope of Him coming again.

And they are God's chosen people?

PLEASE NOTE: SEE UPDATE HERE!


I am often surprised by what is done in God's name, or how actions are justified in light of God's standards. This one may take the cake, accomplished by God's chosen people:

Machines will perform euthanasia on terminally ill patients in Israel under legislation devised not to offend Jewish law, which forbids people taking human life. A special timer will be fitted to a patient's respirator which will sound an alarm 12 hours before turning off.

Normally, carers would override the alarm and keep the respirator turned on but, if various stringent conditions are met, including the giving of consent by the patient or legal guardian, the alarm would not be overridden.

It seems a bit strange for God's chosen nation to advocate the taking of life, even in dire cases. Are you wondering about the reasoning followed? Here it is:

"The point was that it is wrong, under Jewish law, for a person's life to be taken by a person but, for a machine, it is acceptable," a parliamentary spokesman said.

"A man would not be able to shorten human life but a machine can."

The bill was approved by a vote of 22 to 3, with one abstention. It becomes Israeli law next year. Perhaps my mushy mind is a little slow this morning, but I fail to see the difference between a man and a machine. It seems to be a situation of seeking to justify one's actions.

Needless to say, the Old Testament declares that man or machine are not to take life--it is God's work: "The Lord kills and makes alive; He brings down to the grave and brings up." 1 Samuel 2:6, NKJV

Tax dollars at work...

Jesus told his disciples to give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar--thus, we pay our taxes. It is always interesting to me how the government spends my tax dollars. This one ranks with the most ridiculous:

Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory have found massive amounts of lead in bone fragments belonging to 19th Century composer Ludwig von Beethoven, confirming the cause of his years of chronic debilitating illness.

A portion of Beethoven's skull was examined by powerful X-ray machines at the lab. Personally, I fail to see how lead in Beethoven's head helps understand modern energy sources. What may be more interesting is how God will gather that piece of skull back to the composer's body at the resurrection. Imagine the shock the scientists will receive when that happens!

Just a Reminder

Don't forget that there is no evening service this week. Instead, show up at Pastor's house for a fellowship time from 6-9pm.

Explain this to me, please!

Tayshea Aiwohi, a native of Hawaii who had a history of substance abuse, was indicted Oct. 9, 2003 for manslaughter. The reason: she was accused of recklessly causing the death of her newborn son Treyson, who died two days after he was born. The medical examiner determined the boy died of methamphetamine poisoning. Apparently, Aiwohi used crystal meth days before the birth of her son and the day of his birth. Consequently, Treyson died as a result of drug poisoning.

Aiwohi pled no-contest in a plea agreement that allowed her to appeal the case. She was sentenced to 10 years probation with no prison time. Last year she filed an appeal which was heard by the Hawaii Supreme Court. On November 29, 2005 the Court overturned her conviction:

In an unusually quick turnover, the justices issued a majority decision yesterday agreeing with mother Tayshea Aiwohi that her unborn child was not a "person" as defined under state law, and that her conduct did not meet the requisite elements of manslaughter...

The high court essentially ruled that "conduct can't be perpetuated on a fetus to justify a criminal prosecution," Eddins said. "Conduct must be perpetuated on a live human being."

Not a "person" under state law; not a "live human being?" Only days prior to birth and the child is not considered a person?

I think I am going to have to side with God on this one. Look at what God says to the Old Testament prophet Jeremiah:

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you to be a prophet to the nations." Jeremiah 1:5, NKJV

Seems to me like God thought Jeremiah was a "person" long before he was born.

How persuaded are you?

"Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present not things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:37-39, NKJV

The word persuaded in this text comes from the Greek word peitho which means to be thoroughly convinced of something. In the Greek-speaking world it could be used to convince someone of something true or false, to convince someone to do something good or bad, or to convince someone that they were right or wrong. The usage of the word in the Greek language appears to have action involved as well. That is, to be so convinced of something that you act upon your belief.

This word in Romans 8:38 is also used interestingly in the grammar of the language. It is in the perfect tense. To put it simply, that means the word speaks of a past action, and that action has continuing results in the present and the future.

This brings us to some compelling thoughts:

1. Have we come to the point in our lives of faith that we are absolutely, altogether, completely convinced that nothing... that nothing will be able to separate us from the love of God?
2. If so, do we live in such a way that the world can see that complete trust in the One who gave His life for us?
   

We are not told when the Apostle Paul came to that point of persuasion in his life. Perhaps it was on the Damascus Road, perhaps some other time; we are not told that information. However, his actions throughout his life of faith demonstrate that complete trust, that thorough persuasion:

• Whipped with 39 lashes on five separate occasions.
• Beaten with a rod on three occasions.
• Stoned once (but survived).
• Shipwrecked three times.
• In prison, danger, life-threatening situations, being hungry, cold, etc., many, many times.

Through all of these situations, the Apostle's attitude was based on his firm belief that nothing could separate him from his Lord: "But we have this treasure in earthen vessels (our bodies), that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us...always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our body." 2 Corinthians 4:7, 10

Are you thoroughly persuaded?

Freezing in Wisconsin

Dodgeville, WI - Ridgeway Elementary School's "winter program" has changed the name of "Silent Night" to "Cold in the Night." Sung to the tune of "Silent Night," the lyrics have been secularized as follows: "Cold in the night, no one in sight, winter winds whirl and bite, how I wish I were happy and warm, safe with my family out of the storm."

Apparently, the school allows such holiday decorations as Labafana (a Christmas witch), but will not allow a song of God in a manger. Go figure.

Free Gifts

Everyone enjoys free stuff, right? This is true especially if we are in need of something and God supplies it for us--free. I'm sure you've heard the illustration of every person having a God-shaped void that only He can fill. This is an eternal need that exists in every human being. God then supplied a free gift to meet that need:

"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 6:23, NKJV

Most Christians have, at the very least, heard this verse once or twice in relation to salvation. Romans 6:23 is an excellent verse identifying the message of Christmas as well. But did you know that God's "free-gift-giving" does not end there? Consider another Romans passage:

"Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character, and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us." Romans 5:1-5, NKJV

Did you notice all of the "free gifts" God has given His children? In case you didn't, here is what I noticed:

1. We have peace with God.
2. We have access to God's grace.
3. We stand in God's grace.
4. We can rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
5. We can glory in tribulations.
6. We have the love God in our hearts.
7. We have the Holy Spirit.
   

Someone once said that the best things in life are free. I would think that these few verses from Romans will support that thesis. If we receive no other "gifts" this Christmas, we should realize that we have already been given the most wonderful gifts by the God whose birth we celebrate, whose death we remember, and whose resurrection gives us hope.

Question: What better "gift" to give this year than to point someone to God's free gifts?

An Ode to God

Psalm 104 is a lengthy song written to describe and praise God's honor and majesty. As such, the content is mostly about what God has done and is doing in creation. If you are ever in a position where you can't think about things for which to praise Him, please read this psalm!

Anyway, after going through the recitation of God's works, the psalmist writes these words:

"I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have my being. May my meditation be sweet to Him; I will be glad in the Lord. May sinners be consumed from the earth, and the wicked be no more. Bless the Lord, O my soul! Praise the Lord!" Psalm 104:33-35, NKJV

The first sentence in this quotation makes sense, doesn't it? After recounting the greatness of God in creation, what better way to respond than to sing praises to the Creator God? Question: Does thinking about the greatness of God cause you to burst into spontaneous song?

The second sentence in the quotation also makes sense. The psalmist is praying that God will accept the content of the song as an offering of worship because it comes from a heart that is focused on the Lord of the Creation. Question: Do we ever present an offering of something to God that would be "sweet" to Him?

Then there is the statement about sinners being consumed from the earth...does that make sense? At first glance it seems to not belong, but actually it does fit, and quite well. After composing this song to honor God's creative power and might and majesty, the psalmist understands that God is awesome, God is almighty, and God is holy. Remember, worship begins with understanding who God is. When the psalmist worships by knowing his God, he then turns to look at the people in the wonderful creation and realize that they don't measure up to God's holiness. His understanding of God has caused him to have a proper understanding of sin and how repulsive it is to God. In other words, his worship has caused him to have a proper perspective. This is why the Psalm ends with praise:

"Bless the Lord, O my soul! Praise the Lord!"

Question: When was the last time your worship brought you into a greater understanding of your God, caused you to present a sweet offering to Him, and changed your worldview? Perhaps we need to look at Psalm 104 more often...

The Hope of Christmas

This morning my devotions were in Romans chapter 4. This chapter details how Old Testament saints were saved by faith rather than works (thus, no different than today). Just like my post a few days ago on Romans 1, I had never had the thought that chapter 4 could be a Christmas passage (Can you tell that my mind is on Christmas? Must be all that pondering on what to do for Christmas messages!).

In the middle of the chapter, Paul is addressing the account of Abraham and Sarah receiving a promise from God that they would have a child in their old age. Paul follows this with the statement that Abraham believed God because he understood that God is One who gives life to the dead. Then there is this statement referring to Abraham:

"...who, contrary to hope, in hope believed..." Romans 4:18, NKJV

Essentially, Abraham placed his faith (that is, his "hope") in the One who could change their "good as dead" bodies (see Hebrews 11:12) even though humanly speaking, there was no reason to hope.

This is the lifeblood of faith and it begins at Christmas time. Use your imagination for a moment. Let's say that a teenage girl went to her school counselor saying that she was pregnant, and yet had never been intimate with a man. The first reaction of the counselor would be one of scoffing, perhaps thinking she was lying, trying to "not get caught," or something similar. Generally, the response would be one of unbelief and skepticism. And rightly so--that just doesn't happen!

But it did. Christmas time is a season which tests our faith. If we belief in the virgin birth of our great Savior, we are like Abraham-- in hope believing. And yet, from a human perspective it is contrary to hope. The core of our faith is this grain of truth: Contrary to hope, we in hope believe that our Savior was born to a virgin teenage girl (which points to His deity), who then died and rose again to prove that He is worthy of our hope. Where is your hope this season?

For Your Information 3

Don't be getting any big ideas, but...

Billy Joe Daugherty, a well-known pastor in Tulsa, OK was attacked during a church service:

Daugherty has preached in more than forty countries, many of them dangerous, third-world countries. And, he was in Russia last week. In all of his travels around the world, he has never been physically attacked. That all changed Sunday, in of all places, right in front of his own congregation at Victory Christian Center.

"Standing just like this, he went 'POW', and that knocked me back and I spun like that and he grabbed my coat."

It was an altar call Billy Joe Daugherty will never forget. The pastor is now sporting a black eye and stitches two days after the altercation at the altar that was caught on tape.

"I had been preaching on praise and Thanksgiving in every situation," he says. "And this guy walked forward. I thought he was coming to receive the Lord, but he had another plan."

He sure did. As the music played, without warning, the man punched Daugherty in the face. And, before he could land a knockout blow, he was yanked away.

"The first time I was hit, what went through my mind was, did he just hit me? I mean it was bam, bam."

With blood pouring down his face, Daugherty kept on preaching and forgiving.

"We don't forgive because we feel like it," he says. "We forgive because it's the right thing to do."

Daugherty wasn't going to press charges. But, 50-year-old Steven Rogers was hauled off to jail after allegedly hitting two more people, including a security guard.

Praise God for Billy Joe. Finally, a preacher shows the nation how a Christian should respond!

Don't be getting any ideas, though!

For Your Information 2

The University of Kansas was scheduled to have a class entitled "Special Topics in Religion: Intelligent Design, Creationism and Other Religious Mythologies" in the upcoming spring semester. Aside from equating intelligent design and creationism with mythology, I am impressed that KU would support having such a class. That is, until Paul Mirecki, head of the school's Religion Department and scheduled teacher of the class, wrote some emails including the following:

"The fundies (fundamentalist Christians) want it all taught in a science class, but this will be a nice slap in their big fat face by teaching it as a religious studies class under the category ‘'mythology,'"” Mirecki wrote.

In one of the new e-mails, Mirecki wrote: “"I don'’t think most Catholics really know what they are supposed to believe, they just go home and use condoms and some of them beat their wives and husbands."

KU canceled the course. My question is this: Should this guy be teaching religion? He has a doctorate of theology from Harvard, but apparently it didn't change him much. What do you think? Should he be teaching religion in a public (or any) university?

For Your Information 1

Apparently the National Council of Churches (a large, mostly non-evangelical, ecumenical group) has a problem with MacDonald's treating its workers unfairly:

The general secretary of the National Council of Churches USA has expressed disappointment that the McDonald's Corporation has chosen to endorse what he calls an "anaemic code of conduct" for the treatment of its farm workers.

The Rev Dr Bob Edgar said McDonald's decision contrasts sharply with precedent-setting agreements earlier this year with two major food corporations - Taco Bell Corp, a division of Yum! Brands, and the Mt. Olive Pickle Co.

Both companies took major steps to improve the wages and working conditions of their farm labourers, but McDonald's has opted to "retreat and protect the status quo," Edgar said.

Does this mean I have to give up double-cheeseburgers?

I know that there are many who support boycotting for various reasons, and we do live in a country where we are free to voice our opinions and seek to make a difference (which I believe we should do).

Nevertheless, does that mean that I have to give up double-cheeseburgers? Is that part of being unashamed of the gospel? What are your thoughts on this situation? Before you post a comment (which I invite you to do), please consider the following:

"Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh. For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully." 1 Peter 2:18-19, NKJV

Follow-up to "Let It Begin..."

Two different groups, the Liberty Counsel (affiliated with Jerry Falwell), and the Alliance Defense Fund, say they have almost 1,600 lawyer-volunteers between them ready to fight what some Christians view as a secular movement against nativity scenes, Christmas trees and even the greeting "Merry Christmas."

Based on my previous post, is this an appropriate way to be "unashamed" or not? I welcome any comments.

Let It Begin...

It is December 1, snow is falling, Thanksgiving is past, the tree is up...I guess that means it is officially the Christmas season, like it or not. My devotions for this morning were in Romans chapter 1 which is a part of Scripture that actually fits this thought. Before this morning I had never thought of Romans 1 being a "Christmas" passage, but I guess I can't know everything, right?

Anyway, here is what first jumped out to me:

"...concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead." Romans 1:3-4 NKJV

This verse is found in the Apostle Paul's "resume." He is describing God's work in calling him to be an apostle. Specifically, the passage above is a definition of the "gospel of God" mentioned in the first verse. What is the gospel according to these verses? That the Lord Jesus, coming as a human being in the family of king David, was shown to be God Himself. The proof of this is His death and resurrection. Isn't this the message of Christmas? True, we often focus on this specific message at Easter, but it all begins with the birth of the Savior does it not?

The second item that jumped out at me is in verse 16:

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek." Romans 1:16 NKJV

This is a key verse for the book of Romans. Most of the book is an in-depth explanation of what Paul is not ashamed of--the gospel of Christ. Does this apply in some way to this discussion of Christmas? I believe it does. As Christians, we are not to be ashamed of the good news (the gospel) of salvation. That means if the gospel begins with the birth of the Savior, then we should not be ashamed to reject the claim of society on this holiday (the commercialism, Santa Claus, etc.) and instead proclaim the Savior's birth unashamedly. Why? Because it is the power of God. Who wouldn't want that (the power of God in salvation) for a Christmas gift? Will you join me this Christmas in the fellowship of the unashamed?