The Lord who made the world and everything in it, he who is the Lord of heaven, does not live in shrines made by human hands, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mortals life and breath to all things.”
Observation
In Athens, Paul is distressed by all the idols he sees everywhere. He argues with Jews in the synagogue and debates with Gentiles in the marketplace.
Paul says to them that he can see that their religious practices including an altar to an unknown god. Paul says that this unknown god is too big to be housed in a shrine and does not need humans to serve Him. He made the earth and all people and will judge them for their sins. But salvation is found in the man whom God appointed and raised from the dead.
Some scoff at the idea of the resurrection, but others become believers.
Application
Religion is hopeless to save people.
The Athenians were amongst the most religious people in the world with idols and shrines all over the city, but they still needed a Saviour.
Today people are religious in all kinds of ways and about all kinds of things Muslims, Hindus, New Agers, crystal devotees.
Religion will not forgive your sins.
But Jesus will.
Prayer
Thank you Lord for your salvation. Eternity does not depend on me being good enough, but only on the Blood of Jesus. Hallelujah!
Michael Brown says that the church will divide over gay “marriage” and that this is not a bad thing.
Let the Separation Come
Dr. Michael Brown
As much I as I am constantly tackling controversial subjects, I am also working for the unity of the body, trying to major on the majors on my radio show (which reaches quite a diverse audience) and often interacting privately with those with whom I differ. Yet I recognize that sometimes division for the sake of truth can be healthy. Now is one of those times.
This past Wednesday, May 14, I gave a lecture at the Family Research Council in Washington, D.C., from noon to 1 p.m. It was also aired via live webcast, and the talk focused on issues related to my latest book, Can You Be Gay and Christian?
Shortly before the lecture, I was informed that at the exact same time and also live online, there would be a panel discussing Matthew Vines’ new book, God and the Gay Christian, with participation from Rachel Held Evans, Tony Jones and Jay Bakker, all of whom highly praised the book.
What excellent timing, and what an excellent opportunity to compare and contrast these two very different views. (For the record, my book is not a response to Matthew’s book, and the fact they came out at roughly the same time is providential rather than planned.)
One view says that while God deeply loves all people and offers them redemption in Jesus, under no circumstances would He ever bless or approve of two men (or two women) having sex together.
The other views says that under the right circumstances, God would bless and approve of two men (or two women) having sex. (For those who think that sex is not the issue, bear in mind that one of the major arguments made by same-sex “marriage” advocates like Matthew Vines is that it’s better for gays to be able to “marry” than to burn with lust, based on a serious misapplication of 1 Corinthians 7.)
Without a doubt, this issue will become a great dividing line in the church, and I, for one, welcome it, since it points to a much deeper divide in our approach to God, His Word and the people He wants to redeem. Ultimately, it will separate those who put God first and ask, “How can I fulfill His desires?” from those who put themselves first and ask, “How can He fulfill my desires?” (Although some will take extreme offense to this statement, if you analyze the major “gay Christian” arguments, they often boil down to this perspective.)
As nice as it can be to tuck ourselves away in some nook and cranny, all by our lonesome, and read the Scriptures we want to read, pray the prayers we prefer, play the songs we like, memorize the verses we pick, and fast from food when it’s convenient — as important as it is to pursue a regular rhythm of “private worship” in these personal disciplines — this is not the pinnacle of our Christian lives.
We were made to worship Jesustogether. Among the multitude. With the great hoard. Swallowed up in the magnificent mass of the redeemed. God didn’t fashion us to enjoy him finally as solitary individuals, but as happy members of a countlessly large family.
When the fog of everyday life clears, and we catch a glimpse of heaven’s bliss, we don’t find ourselves sequestered at a study desk or hidden alone in a prayer closet in paradise, or even standing alone before the great Grand Canyon or mountain peak of God’s majesty, but joyfully lost in the worshipping throng of Christ’s people from every tongue and tribe and nation.
You’ve heard that 50% of all marriages end in divorce and that the situation is the same in church as outside, but it’s not the whole story. In fact the reality is much better. This article is based on US data but Australian trends tend to be similar to the US.
Author Debunks Myths About Divorce Rates, Including of Churchgoers
Many of the most demoralizing beliefs about marriage, especially when it comes to discouraging statistics commonly passed around, are just not true, says social researcher and best-selling author Shaunti Feldhahn.
“A subconscious sense of futility about marriage is everywhere, as everything we hear says marriage is ‘in trouble,'” states Feldhahn. “And while some of the bad news is accurate (for example, 41% of children are born out of wedlock), many of the most demoralizing beliefs just aren’t true. For example, the notion that half of all marriages end in divorce or that the divorce rate is the same in the church… neither are anywhere close to true.”
Here’s the wash-up of “gay marriage”. No matter how much they promise freedom of religious practice for churches, no matter how much churches are promised to be exempt under the law, the pressure to buckle under just keeps increasing. It’s happening in the U.S. and now the U.K. If they win in Australia it will happen here too.
City Council Demands Churches Conduct Same-Sex Weddings
(Stefano Bolognini/Creative Commons)
A local council in the U.K. has been forced to apologize after issuing a letter that incorrectly demanded churches be licensed to perform same-sex marriages.
Essex County Council wrote to all churches in the county registered as wedding venues telling them that with “immediate effect” they “must” be licensed to “conduct same sex marriages.”
The words immediate and same were bold and underlined, with the latter also capitalized.
Simon Calvert of the Christian Institute says the council’s letter shows the need for churches to know their legal rights.
He says, “There is no legal reason whatsoever for churches to stop holding marriages in the ways they always have. They are free to do so.”
The Christian Institute has produced a new free legal guide, which gives reassurance that churches are well within their rights to say no to same-sex marriages.
“The behavior of Essex County Council goes to show why churches need to know their legal rights, because bureaucrats who want to push for gay marriage will try and go beyond the law,” warns Calvert.
He adds, “We want to be clear that Christians still have the right to express their belief that marriage is between a man and woman. Christians have every reason to be confident and bold in upholding the truth about marriage.”
“This is just the kind of thing we feared would happen,” says Colin Hart, campaign director of the Coalition for Marriage, which spearheaded opposition to the introduction of same-sex marriage.
“If this has already happened in Essex, there is a real danger that this kind of pressure will be applied by unelected officials across the country,” he warns.
The letter “lifts the lid on the Orwellian future that this ill-thought-through law creates,” Hart says.
You can memorize big chunks, even books, of the Bible. Unless you’re part of the very small percentage of us who’ve suffer from a traumatic brain injury or stroke or disability, you really can. And you should. But why should you?
1. Because you have a bad memory.
Don’t say you can’t memorize because you have a bad memory. That’s why you need to memorize. I have a bad memory too. I think it’s worse than average — seriously. I forget names of people I know and see regularly! I have to force my faulty, inefficient brain to drive things that matter most into my long-term memory. This only happens by the process of repeating (memorizing) every day over a period of time. You’d be surprised what you can commit to memory if you have a simple system and put forth some effort. I’ve memorized five New Testament books and am working on my sixth. And that’s because I have a bad memory.
Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.”
Observation
This is at the Last Supper.
Jesus reassures His disciples. There is enough room in the Father’s house and Jesus is going to prepare their place.
Thomas says, “We don’t know where you are going or how to get there.”
Jesus replies, “I am the way, the truth and the life.”
Philip asks Jesus to show them the Father. Jesus tells him that He and the Father are one- to see Jesus is to see the Father.
Application
There is only one way to the Father and that is Jesus. Our culture wants to believe that all religions are equivalent and lead to the same destination. Jesus says, He is the only way.
There is no compromise here. If you want a place in heaven, Jesus is the only way to get there.
Muslims without Jesus will not see heaven.
Hindus without Jesus will not see heaven.
Buddhists without Jesus will not see heaven.
Atheists without Jesus will not see heaven.
My neighbour without Jesus will not see heaven.
We must pray and share our faith to see people saved. Jesus is their only hope.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank you for saving me. I pray that those people close to me who do not know you will come to salvation in Jesus’ name. Amen.
But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests,a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.
Observation
We are to get rid of all sinful behaviour. Instead, we are to crave the pure spiritual milk that will grow us into maturity.
We are living stones in the Temple of which Christ is the cornerstone. Those who trust Him recognise the honour that God has given Him, but those who reject Him stumble because they refuse to obey God’s word.
But we are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation.
Application
We have been saved from sin- not just its consequences but its reality. That means that sin no longer has power to hold us captive.
We are always subject to temptation in this life, and at times we will fall. But this is not an excuse to hold on to the ways of sin. As holy people we must learn to live holy lives- lives dedicated to a holy God.
This is impossible in our own strength. As we surrender to the Holy Spirit, He will change our sinful ways to holy ways.
Prayer
Lord, today I cry out to you for that pure spiritual milk. Feed me on what is holy. Transform me into that pure person you designed me to be, totally submitted to you. Amen.
(Photo: Shaunti Feldhahn)
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