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Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and inHere's a simple rule: To be a tue Christian, you have to think like a true Christian, talk like
thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then
will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
-- Matthew 7:22-23
What is Pride?
1) self-promotion, selfishness;
2) non-gracious counter to an offense;
3) controling, dominating mindset over others;
4) resistance to legitimate authority, applied legitimately;
5) hatred of submitting to others, whether out of need
for authority's sake or for courtesy's sake;
6) arrogance, presumption
Why I Am Not An Apologist I'm not cut out for the role of an apologist, but why?
Where Are All the Bones? Is there a dearth of human fossils from the pre-Flood times?
If this is so, to whom is it the bigger problem: young-earth creationists or old-earth evolutionists?
On the untrue hiddenness of God This page presents first my essay on the so-called hiddeness of
God, called, 'Lord of the Rings, Carl Sagan, and the Hiddenness of God'. Then it links to a few
YouTube videos on the hiddenness topic, with some commentary from me.
On the Semi-Hiddenness of God's Agenda God has spoken to us many times through His prophets
over the millenia to tell us the broad outline of His agenda to bring His rightousness back to the
earth -- whether we want Him to or not. Anyway, some of these prophecies seem to indicate
advanced human technology that is well beyond what could even have been imagined at the times
the prophesies were made. Thus, God has been revealing Himself to us in these prophesies. Look
at the evidence I present and then judge for yourselves.
Spiritual discernment Is discernment no more than rational thought applied to the relevant facts?
What if you don't have all the relevant facts?
Rational Redemption Answered My reply to the charges made by MindShift against Biblical redemption
in the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.
Frank Turek dodging again? My reply to the charges made by MindShift of Frank Turek dodging
a question (it's both yes and no).
Genetically Modified Skeptic My reply to Drew's claim of "leaving the church" for 3 ethical reasons.
Coments on gays and inline-skaters.
God, free will, and Determinism. Reply to Prophet of Zod.
My various SciManDan commentaries.
12 Atheists Speak Out about God A lot of different views for me to respond to.
10 Controversial Questions About Christianity That You Wouldn't Dare Ask a Christian
Quit saying, 'It's only a theory!' This essay goes over the three main ways that the term 'theory'
is used, from everyday usage to technical usage in mathematics and the sciences.
Better Not to Marry Jesus said that divorce and remarriage is adultery.
Walk in the Spirit Galatians 5:16 -- a wonderful promise, but how does it work?
What Lost 10 Tribes of Israel?? Here, we assess the Biblical evidence for or against the notion of
the 'Lost Ten Tribes of Israel'.
If you want to live the victorious Christian life - in whatever condition you're in - you must
be a doer of the Word (James 1:22). Christianity is the working man's religion and let no one tell
you otherwise. Jesus calls each one of us to be servants and servants work! God does not give
us His grace so that we can brag to be saved while doing nothing for the Kingdom of God. Jesus
said that we would know the good from the evil by their fruit, but if we don't do any good works
to glorify God, how can we have fruit to be judged worthy of salvation? Just remember, whatever
you do for the Kingdom of God, do it in the love of God and your neighbor.
Jesus called us to be salt and light of the world. But how are we to do this?
Let's begin with an Old Testament passage that will set the stage for the Biblical mode of
victory over sin
and other problems of our lives. From Isaiah 58:6-8, we read:
Is not this the fast that I have chosen?Sounds to me like we all ought to get off our comfort zones and go do good works that glorify God. How? By doing good to the poor, the needy, the lost, the widows, the strangers, the fatherless, and the orphans. If you're not already doing any of that, why not? Get going! Jesus said we should occupy till He returns (Luke 19:13), so get going! We need to take these admonitions and exhortations from God literally. Note: Occupying is Not about Moralism. You can't find any support for those dead works in the New Testament. On the contrary, believers are forbidden from doing those things (1 Cor. 5:12-13a).
to loose the bands of wickedness,
to undo the heavy burdens,
and to let the oppressed go free,
and that ye break every yoke? Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry,
and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house?
when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him;
and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh? Then shall thy light break forth as the morning,
and thine health shall spring forth speedily:
and thy righteousness shall go before thee;
the glory of the LORD shall be thy rereward.
Let's take notice of this warning the Lord gave to the Jews long ago just before they were driven out of their homeland for their severe sins against God, and see if they contain any similar warnings for us to adhere to:
Jeremiah 7:1-13
1 The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, 2 Stand in the gate of the LORD's house, and proclaim there this word, and say, Hear the word of the LORD, all ye of Judah, that enter in at these gates to worship the LORD. 3 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, Amend your ways and your doings, and I will cause you to dwell in this place. 4 Trust ye not in lying words, saying, The temple of the LORD, The temple of the LORD, The temple of the LORD, are these. 5 For if ye thoroughly amend your ways and your doings; if ye throughly execute judgment between a man and his neighbour;Jesus continued this same theme (Matt. 25:34-36):6 If ye oppress not the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, and shed not innocent blood in this place, neither walk after other gods to your hurt: 7 Then will I cause you to dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers, for ever and ever.
8 Behold, ye trust in lying words, that cannot profit. 9 Will ye steal, murder, and commit adultery, and swear falsely, and burn incense unto Baal, and walk after other gods whom ye know not; 10 And come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, We are delivered to do all these abominations? 11 Is this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes? Behold, even I have seen it, saith the LORD. 12 But go ye now unto my place which was in Shiloh, where I set my name at the first, and see what I did to it for the wickedness of my people Israel. 13 And now, because ye have done all these works, saith the LORD, and I spake unto you, rising up early and speaking, but ye heard not; and I called you, but ye answered not.
34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
By the way, for us Christians, the land we are to dwell within is the Kingdom of Heaven, which Jesus told us we are to strive to enter (Luke 13:24). Don't say to yourself, "Once saved, always saved!" And don't say within yourselves, "Works are an insult to grace!" The truth is that the failure to do good works is the insult to God's grace! God gives us grace (talents) so that we will be zealous of doing good works with a pure heart toward man and God. Make no mistake, friend, he that doeth righteousness is righteous! (see 1 John 3:7). If you would be saved, you must walk as Jesus walked (1 John 2:6). And how are we told that Jesus walked? He went about doing good (Acts 10:38). We are to be a people zealous of doing good work (Titus 2:14).
That bit about not oppressing the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow - who are the strangers in your lands today, Christian? Are they the wealthy visitors to your city from elsewhere? Or, maybe they're the illegal aliens who crossed your border? If it's the latter, then, in your heart, do you consider them first people (made in the image of God) who might need help, or do you regard them as merely an inconvenience, a financial burden? Is your heart right in this matter with God? I'm not saying that we can't have laws about illegal immigration, but I'm asking you to get your heart right on this matter first before you make and support laws. Treat all people as people, please. Do good to the poor, the stranger, and the needy, and God shall be your reward. But do evil to the poor, the needy, the orphan, the widow, and hell fire awaits you. As Jesus told us, from whom much is given, much shall be required - and much to give an account for on Judgment Day. So, how to do what is right in God's eyes and get over your complacency (idleness)? Here are some suggestions: Be a mentor to some boy or girl at your church. Volunteer at a soup kitchen or homeless shelter each week. Give a bag of food to the homeless in your area. Give time to help your brothers and sisters in the Lord. Visit the sick and the lonely. Free up your monthly calendar to have time to do good works (Titus 2:14)! The idleness of the well-off is not that they live on the public dole; rather, it's about them not lifting a finger to help the poor, the needy, the homeless, the stranger - all the people they'd rather just die or disappear to save them their money from taxation, and like Dickens's character Scrooge thought, to decrease the surplus population. It seems that they never get it: God has placed the poor and needy among them to see if they will love them more than loving their own money and ease of life afforded by their wealth. And to see if they will humble themselves to help the poor, the stranger, and the needy.
Beware of the seduction of politics. Beware of moralism. Beware of greed for money, material things, or political power. Beware of covetousness. Beware of adultery, fornication (sexual sins), uncleaneness (masturbation), and porn (pornography).
Beware of the many false teachers in the church today, who preach prosperity, but really justify selfishness and greed and covetousness. Your own eternal soul is at stake! Paul said of our times, speaking of false Christians (2 Tim. 3:1-5):
1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.Paul went on to say (2 Tim. 4:1-4):
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good [do good works],
4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5 Having a form of godliness [going to some church or saying hypocritical things], but denying the power thereof [not regenerated by the Spirit of God]: from such turn away.
1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;Unfortunately, very few churches these days preach the hard things required of us by the gospel of Christ. Jesus told us to strive to enter His kingdom (Luke 13:24).
2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
Now, for some more scriptures on how to regard and treat the poor, the needy, the widow, the stranger, and the orphan:
He [the Lord] doth execute the judgment of the fatherless and widow, and loveth the stranger, in giving him food and raiment. Love ye therefore the stranger: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt. (Deut. 10:18-19).If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates in thy land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother (Deut. 15:7).
Cursed be he that perverteth the judgment of the stranger, fatherless, and widow. And all the people shall say, Amen (Deut. 27:19)
Did not I weep for him that was in trouble? was not my soul grieved for the poor? (Job 30:25).
Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy. Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked. (Psalm 82:3-4).
He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor (Prov. 14:31).
Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud (Prov. 16:19).
He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord; and that which he hath given will he pay him again (Prov. 19:17).
Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard (Prov. 21:13).
He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor (Prov. 22:9).
The righteous considereth the cause of the poor: but the wicked regardeth not to know it (Prov. 29:7).
Everyone has probably heard the verse from Isaiah 1:18:
Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.But how many know the verse just before it?17 Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.Some of you readers would trample heaven and earth to stop health care for poor people and at the end of the day think you have done God a favor. Really? You should read the actual Bible and see why you have made yourself the enemy of God instead.As a practical matter, we only have so many hours in a day or year to do good works, and if we dedicate our lives to seeking worldy pasttimes to be our avocation, when do we have time to do the good works of compassion that Jesus told us to do?
For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment (James 2:13).Jesus said in Matthew 25:31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: 32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: 33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.Stop worrying about communism and socialism and gays and illegal aliens and go out into the world and proactively look for someone to help in Jesus's name!34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. 37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? 38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? 39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? 40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: 42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: 43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. 44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? 45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. 46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.
Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy (Eze. 16:49).
The people of the land have used oppression, and exercised robbery, and have vexed the poor and needy: yea, they have oppressed the stranger wrongfully (Eze. 22:29).
Hear this, O ye that swallow up the needy, even to make the poor of the land to fail (Amos 8:4).
And oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor; and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart (Zech. 7:10).