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It has become culturally fashionable to make the claim that “Jesus never said he was God.”

Lots of folks would like to claim Jesus as their own but his divinity gets in the way. The Muslims claim Jesus was a great prophet to the Jews but far less than even their prophet Muhammad. Some Jewish folks would like to acknowledge him as an ancient Jewish rabbi teacher if they could leave out the God thing and ignore the terrible treatment many Jews have received from some of his misguided followers over the centuries.

Even Hindu and eastern gurus like to make the claim that Jesus traveled to India and learned everything from them. Then there is the strange case of Richard Dawkins who wants to claim that Jesus Would Be An Atheist Today.

The real problem is that the Bible gets in the way and supports the divinity of Jesus. Not only that, but Jesus clearly indicated on a number of different occasions that he was the “I am” God of the Old testament. The response of those who heard him at the time confirms it.      <<Read the rest on my Apologetica page>>               *Top

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Rick Santorum is running for the GOP nomination for President of the US. Over the weekend, Senator Santorum was called out by Fox News host Shepard Smith to catch up with the rest of the nation and accept same-sex marriage. Here’s Santorum’s reply:

“everybody is entitled to live the life they want” … “what we’re talking about is changing laws.”

“The question is whether we should change the laws of this country to reflect a different value structure. What we’re talking about here are different values. We have Judeo-Christian values that are based on Biblical truth and truth that can be acclaimed and resolved through reason. And, those truths don’t change just because people’s attitudes may change.”

“People are allowed to love a lot of different people and a lot of different, and we honor those relationships, but we don’t call them marriage and we don’t treat them like marriage.”

Santorum concluded by explaining that, “Family is the foundation of our society and marriage is the glue that holds that family together. That’s not being against anybody, that’s being for something.”

Response: Actually a very good response. It summarizes my feelings on the issue very well. I do not believe that being FOR traditional marriage between a man and a woman is a stand that is against anyone else but recognizes the importance of marriage and families as the basic building block of our society.

Our laws were originally based upon Judeo-Christian values found in the Bible whether one wants to accept them today or not. Biblical values and teachings are not up for grabs and change. We can either accept them or reject them.

This nation unfortunately is turning its back upon Biblical principles and values and society is beginning to demand that Biblical Christians go along with that change and ‘catch up.’

What is going to happen in the future to those of us who want to maintain a Biblical world view and refuse to ‘catch up?’ Unless there is a new awakening or revival in America, I shudder to think what the future will bring. Will the first amendment protect us? Already there are signs and indications that it may not entirely protect us in the future.              *Top

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When you first hear about this story most people consider the Amish beard attacks to be a prank or a sick joke. It almost sounded laughable in the beginning. However when you take into consideration the traditions of the Amish this really is a serious ‘hate’ crime against an entire community and the FBI are taking it serious. What is really shocking is that it was apparently carried out by a rival Amish group.

According to the AP, the FBI raided an Amish community this morning (Wednesday) and made 7 arrests in this case:

BERGHOLZ, Ohio (AP) — Authorities raided the compound of a breakaway Amish group in eastern Ohio on Wednesday morning and arrested seven men on federal hate crime charges in hair-cutting attacks against Amish men and women.

Among those arrested were the group’s leader, Sam Mullet, and three of his sons, said Mike Tobin, a spokesman for the U.S. attorney’s office in Cleveland.

Authorities have said several members of the group carried out the attacks in September and October by forcefully cutting the beards and hair of Amish men and women.

The leader of this rival Amish group, Sam Mullet says that the haircutting attacks were carried out in retaliation for the way the other Amish treated his community. According to the AP account “Cutting the hair is a highly offensive act to the Amish, who believe the Bible instructs women to let their hair grow long and men to grow beards and stop shaving once they marry.”

Response: When I first read about the beard cuttings a month or so ago I must admit that I thought the story was a joke and rather humorous. However that just demonstrates how ignorant I am of the Amish customs and culture. Also I didn’t take the time to consider how I would feel if it happened to a member of my own family.

The fact that long beards and long hair are a part of their religious beliefs changes the entire character of this crime and does potentially make it a ‘hate crime.’ Not a laughing matter at all.

Also, put yourself in their place and see how you would feel if your family was treated this way.  If someone snuck into my house and cut my wife’s hair while we were sleeping I would consider it to be a serious and frightening violation indeed and we have no religious beliefs about hair.            *Top

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Yesterday President Barack Obama boldly said that even God wanted to put Americans back to work, implying divine support for his ‘jobs bill.’

He was being critical of Republicans in Congress for passing a bill supporting the national motto -“In God We Trust” while more important things were being ignored:

"That’s not putting people back to work. I trust in God, but God wants to see us help ourselves by putting people back to work."

Later, White House spokesman Jay Carney responded to those who thought the President might have gone too far invoking the name of God in a political battle:

"I believe that the phrase from the Bible is ‘the Lord helps those who help themselves.’"

"I think the point the president is making is that, you know, we have it within our capacity to do the things to help the American people."

Only problem, the popular phrase is really not in the Bible and later the White House was forced to admit it.

Actually it was one of Benjamin Franklin’s favorite phrases which appeared in his 1736 almanac. It reflected his belief as a Deist that God did not intervene in earthly affairs so people needed to take the responsibility upon themselves for making a better world.

However, it didn’t originate with him, the proverb can be traced back to ancient Greece. Nevertheless this brings up the question:

Does God really help those who help themselves?

After all, there might not be a Bible reference for it and yet the teaching might still be somewhat true. So is the phase actually true to Biblical teaching anyway?

No.

The closest thing in the Bible teaches the flip side only. There are a myriad of passages which teach that the lazy or slothful should not expect any kind of blessing or help from God. But that doesn’t necessarily mean that God is going to bless those who work hard and help themselves.

Actually God is more likely to Help those who can’t help themselves or do all they can and ask for his help in the process. The popular phrase actually leaves God out of the process and seems to imply that we should expect God to go along with what ever we decide to do and bless us anyway.

Here’s two scriptures which teach nearly the opposite:

“He who trusts in himself is a fool…” –Prov. 28:26

“This is what the LORD says: "Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away from the LORD."  -Jer.17:5

So there you have it. God is more likely to help those who trust in him, seek his guidance, and then do the best they can. Those who trust and ‘help themselves’ leaving God out of the process should not expect his help after all.            *Top

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In Plano, Texas you can get a discount on your oil change at Kwik Kar for reciting  a Bible verse -John 3:16:

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
KJV

The practice has become controversial and several customers have actually gone to the State to complain about ‘discrimination.’

The business owner Charlie Whittington stands by the discount and explains that it is available to anyone who quotes the verse:

“If I’m standing for what I believe, so be it. Bring it on.”

Response: It is amazing what’s controversial in America these days. Anyone can get a discount at this business, even atheists by merely quoting the Bible verse. So exactly where is the ‘discrimination’ or harm?  If customers don’t like the practice they are free to go elsewhere.

One thing the owner did get out of all of this controversy is a lot of great publicity. You can bet that lots of Christians will now be going out of their way to get their auto serviced at a discount at Charlie’s Kwik Kar.

Nevertheless, look for the ACLU to get involved if they can figure out some kind of legal angle.

Years ago in the 70’s I remember a hamburger stand in Needles, California that used to give out discounts and free food if you could answer Bible questions. I never took them up on the offer even though I could have answered every single question the owners had put up. Didn’t think it would be exactly fair since I was a Bible teacher. Anyway their food was very good and at a good price,  and I could see that this family worked very hard indeed.

Now if I am ever in Plano, Texas and need an oil change you can bet I will be happy to take Charlie Whittington up on his deal.            *Top

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There is a prevailing trend in mainline Protestantism to disregard the authority of the Bible and view it as merely a fabrication of people writing their own opinions while being somewhat inspired by some sort of outside cosmic source that one might refer to as divine.

Therefore when folks like the Apostle Paul seem to talk about homosexuality in a disparaging way than he can be discounted as merely speaking from his cultural upbringing in first century Judaism and not necessarily giving us an inspired message that is relevant for us educated folks in the 21st century.

When the Bible is deemed to be nothing more than somewhat inspired teachings of a former day and culture but maybe not valid for today, then anything goes. It means that you are free to pick and choose what scriptures and historical teachings are meaningful to you and reject the rest.

So we have the recent case of a venerable denomination- the Presbyterian Church (USA) choosing to disregard New Testament teachings on homosexuality, fidelity in marriage, and sexual chastity before marriage. Now it would seem to be officially Ok in that denomination for unmarried clergy whether they be heterosexual or homosexual to have sexual relationships and maybe even ‘shack up’ with a significant other. Also, adultery may no long disqualify one from the ministry?

More serious is what is happening in Europe, particularly in the Netherlands. A recent BBC article joins in a conversation where mainline church leaders there are talking about redefining a new European form of churchianity without Christ or even a belief in a personal God.

The Rev Klaas Hendrikse of the Protestant Church in the Netherlands (PKN) is at it again preaching his own version of ‘non-faith’ in the article. We have posted about this atheistic ‘Christian’ pastor once before. Here are a few quotes from ‘Rev.’ Hendrikse in the BBC piece:

“…God is not a being at all… it’s a word for experience, or human experience.”

He also indicated to the BBC interviewer that “the Bible’s account of Jesus’s life as a mythological story about a man who may never have existed, even if it is a valuable source of wisdom about how to lead a good life.”

Another Dutch minister, the Rev Kirsten Slettenaar, joined in with similar thoughts discounting the divinity of Jesus:

“I think ‘Son of God’ is a kind of title,” she says. “I don’t think he was a god or a half god. I think he was a man, but he was a special man because he was very good in living from out of love, from out of the spirit of God he found inside himself.”

Professor Hijme Stoffels of the VU University Amsterdam talks about God as being a ‘bridge too far’ for most:

“In our society it’s called ‘somethingism’,” he says. “There must be ‘something’ between heaven and earth, but to call it ‘God’, and even ‘a personal God’, for the majority of Dutch is a bridge too far.

“Christian churches are in a market situation. They can offer their ideas to a majority of the population which is interested in spirituality or some kind of religion.”

Response: The whole idea communicated in the BBC article is that the Christian church is outdated for the 21st century and must be changed into something different in order to compete in the arena of ideas.  People are still searching for some kind of spirituality or religion –just not traditional Christianity? So the church must change and adapt and cast off the traditions and teachings of the past? A typical BBC anti-Christian propaganda piece.

A church that does not believe in Jesus as Christ nor God as the personal God the Father and Creator is no longer part of Christianity at all. It is something else altogether regardless of the sign on the building or a tie-in with a historical denomination.

This is what happens when you deny Biblical authority and begin to pick and choose what you want to believe in. The end result is something other than Christianity.

Fact is, the liberal protestant churches of Europe are dying precisely because they are turning their backs on Biblical teaching and not the other way around. Same thing for the more liberal denominations in America.

Some churches are actually growing in Europe -the independent conservative ones. Churches that still believe in Biblical authority and demonstrate that the personal God is still active in changing lives for the better through His Holy Spirit and still saving and healing folks in the name of His Son Jesus Christ.            *Top

Here’s a link to Dr. Albert Mohler’s response to the same BBC article.

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Iranian authorities recently seized and destroyed 6,500 copies of the Bible. It is the latest demonstration of an on-going campaign in Iran to capture and eradicate all Bibles in the country.

They consider the book to be a subversive threat against Islam and the very existence of their nation.

According to Dr Majid Abhari, adviser to the Iranian Parliament:

“…these missionaries with reliance on huge money and propaganda are trying to deviate our youth”.

“With regard to the activities of these Christian missionaries to deceive people specially youngsters, they have begun a huge campaign by spending huge sums and false propaganda for deviating the public.”

“These books were made with the best paper in the world in pocket size.”

“The important point in this issue that should be considered by intelligence, judicial and religious agencies is that all religions are strengthening their power to confront Islam, otherwise what does this huge number of Bibles mean?”

According to the Mohabat News, revolutionary guards seized 300 bibles from a bus after its inspection last November and “in a shameful action, burned them all in the village of Darishk”. Also according to that news source:

 ”Insulting the Christian Bible is a continuation of an organised campaign by agencies that view anti-Christian propaganda on the top of their agenda.”

Response: I agree with the Iranian authorities, the Bible is a threat against their regime. It teaches about the true Jesus Christ and the way of salvation which is far different than the ‘cult of the Iranian 12th imam’ mullahs.

The Gospels would teach the Iranian youth to love all people while their religious leaders teach them to hate all infidels and be prepared to destroy all those who oppose Shiite Islam.

Something that you will not find referenced in the main stream media is that there is an incredible revival of Christianity going on right now in Iran. At least 500,000 Muslims have been converted to Christianity in the last 5 years or so.

That is why thousands of Bibles are being smuggled into Iran all of a sudden, hundreds of thousands of new Iranian Christians want copies.

This is also a ‘revolution’ that the Revolutionary Guard cannot contain. Many of these people are being converted through dreams and visions of the real Jesus and his angels. There is no way to stop a sovereign move of God.

Just ask the Red Chinese who thought they had destroyed the church in China only to wake up 20 years later to find that there is a hundred million or so new Chinese Christians meeting in house churches that are expanding exponentially with no end in sight.

Iran is one of the greatest threats to peace in the world. Particularly with their nuclear weapons programs and their plans to destroy Israel. The currant US administration has not been successful in challenging the Iranian threat in any way.

I figure that he best thing we can do at this point is pray for the Iranian people and for the revival to continue. Also, help those organizations that are taking Bibles into the country.               *Top

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