The Value of Definition (Prop 8.1)

This whole idea, and argument, of "marriage" and "equal rights" comes down to "definition". The real question is.... are we drilling down far enough in our questioning? Or, are motives simply to get what a group wants? That is not "necessarily" a bad thing, but can be a dangerous, slippery slope. Who "defines" the idea or concept of marriage, and where did we get this idea or concept from? Is the concept biblical / of God? Or, did man originate it? Simply, a guy / gal can say... "I want my dog to be my life mate." Nothing can prevent that freedom. I can have my dog as my life partner and no one could argue otherwise. However, to ask to legally wed that dog (don't read into "dog". I could've used "cat".) would mean to RE-DEFINE the original idea. Although, from a Christian standpoint, I do not / cannot support homosexuality ...that is nearly a completely separate topic from what is under debate in California as we speak, I CAN, without any contradiction, support two peoples' freedom and decision for that lifestyle. Why? Because there is nothing "constitutionally" against it. They are free, under man's law, in that decision. But, to take that freely decisive union and request a constitutionally legal "marriage" (again, who / what originally defined "marriage") is explicitly asking to re-define an original definition ...is it not? It's like me wanting to change my citizenship to legally state that I am a citizen of the nation of "Bob". Well, that is simply inaccurate, and simply defies what is constitutionally and legally accurate / true about my own citizenship; regardless of what I "say". I can walk around all day long and say.... "I am a citizen of the United States of Bob." No one can "prevent" me from saying so. They can only disagree. But if I wish to utilize the "benefits" of being a citizen of the United States of America .....why would I be intent on saying I am a citizen of the United States of Bob? It simply defies logic. Furthermore, why would I even "want" to reap benefits of an idea / ideal which I fundamentally oppose? By saying I am of "Bob", would I not be disagreeing with the idea of being American? So, the only available alternatives are (1)to accept the idea / law as it was originally intended by the author(s) or (2)request that very idea / law be "changed". THAT (option 2) is where we walk on a very, very slippery slope! If we choose to change / re-define .....where does that end? We've effectively pulled the rug from under ourselves. Original definition no longer has any value. Moreover ....do "we" have the liberty to presume to change what is already defined?

Agreeing With God

Somewhere between the time Jesus entered Jerusalem on a donkey's back and His crucifixion, within a week.....

the people went from crying "Hossanah" ...to "hang Him"!
From shouting "Messiah"...to "murder Him".
From hailing Him as Christ the King ....to "crucify Him"!

Man agrees with God as Deliverer, as Savior, but as Sovereign Lord ....we demand control back.

Not Better, Just Better Off

We live in a world so concerned with hurting people's temporal feelings that we're effectively unconcerned with their eternal feelings. Now, don't mistake that for liberty to be a smart-mouthed, know-it-all. The world needs to purge itself of that too. But it is entirely possible to say what ya' mean, and mean what ya' say, all without purposefully trampling over someone else's emotions. Especially true if you are a Christ-follower, carrying the precious cargo of Jesus' gospel.

A simple, work-a-day example of this.... I spoke to a Jehovah's Witness yesterday. I wasn't rude. No need to be. It was a very, very polite lady and presumably her daughter. But I had to tell her I didn't believe her doctrine. The problem was that whether the opportunity just wasn't there, or I didn't make one, I didn't get to tell her what the truth of Jesus' teaching and life really is. That frustrates me. Always in a hurry.

Along those lines of thinking... let me ask you something, Christian. Is your goal to be "right", to show what you know? Or is your goal to warn folks of God's wrath toward sin and the good, wonderful, amazing news of the gospel truth?

Let me ask you something, un-believer. Is your goal to be "right", to demonstrate that you're smarter than any hokie religion? O would you be willing to demonstrate that you're wrong in order to do the right thing? Do you really believe you can escape God's wrath by avoiding the problem [sin]? Or do you believe a half-gospel that says God is all about love (as our definition might fit at any given moment), and would never allow His people to go to Hell?

It's time for some straight-talk. We can lick our self-received wounds later, and apologize if we "do" inadvertently hurt feelings. God as my witness..... I won't do it on purpose. But I love you [people] too much to find myself tip-toeing through the topics [too much bible interpreting and fitting].

What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin, as it is written: "None is righteous, no, not one; (Romans 3:9-10)

For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. (Romans 3:20)

BIG QUESTION: Is God "justified" in "judging the world" (v6), or "inflicting His wrath" (v5)?

BIGGER QUESTION: Are you willing to dillute the truth of God's word to make Him out to be a mean God ....so that you can feel better about going to Hell? Or willl you fool yourself into thinking you're just "ok"?

All have sinned

verses 9 express that Christ-followers, no more than those who inherited God's favor, are any better off than anyone else ....unless they recognize that we have all sinned, and are all sinners.

If just doing the right thing were the answer, let me ask you.... how is that really going for you? Do you do the right thing(s)? All the time? How frequent? Do you ever do the wrong thing(s)? How frequent? What covers you're tail then? What justifies that? Does anything?

ALL have sinned! NONE are righteous.

All have been warned

verse 10 warns that none of us have any special favor with God. Romans 2:11 says.... "For God shows no partiality."

verse 20 clarifies that there is nothing we could or would do, anyway, which would justify us before God.

verse 23 says it clearly... "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,"

You would put me in a bag and throw me in the ocean if I did not warn you of, for example, a coming tornado. We spent millions on technology to provide an "early warning system". Our favorite television shows are frequently interrupted so that we can know those systems work. But start "warning" folks about eternity, and now we're stepping on toes.

All are justified by God's grace, through faith in Jesus Christ,

and it is a gift to you and I, which cost Jesus a great deal. How is that mean? How is that offensive? How is that anything but loving? How about we just leave everyone alone, and if they rot in Hell, well.... at least we didn't get in their business. I'm not judging your business. I have my own to deal with. And God, Himself, will judge that. I just want you to know this simple oft repeated, truth. I am a sinner. You are a sinner. All have sinned. We do not really seek to please God. Listen to what Paul quotes from Psalms 5:9 and 10:7.

as it is written: "None is righteous, no, not one;  no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one." "Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive." "The venom of asps is under their lips." "Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness." "Their feet are swift to shed blood; in their paths are ruin and misery, and the way of peace they have not known." "There is no fear of God before their eyes." 

The Heart of The Gospel

Meteors falling to Earth, tsunamis, hurricanes, tornadoes, all leveling cities or shutting down the daily ebb and flow of life. Wars, and rumors of wars. Popes stepping down. I even read an article that whoever fills Benedict's role would supposedly be the final Peter; by name and position. Don't know where that comes from and sure don't want to start rumors for our Catholic friends. Disease and what seem to be pandemics. I've been sick all week with what feels like the bubonic plague, myself. Are these all signs of end-times or just a cycle repeated many times before of life on planet Earth? Facts can be, and are, argued both ways. But here's the real question. What does any of it have to do with the heart of the gospel? I had a dream last night. I won't say vision, as I had several memorable dreams last night. Strange dreams of abduction. I dreamed myself, Layne, and Adam were in a trailer, hoisted up on an overhead trolly system and taken away. Another dream of thieves at my grandparent's home in Alabama. Strange dreams. Are they signs or visions, or just random thoughts of a head filled with mucus from a severe cold? I don't know, but I got a sermon title out of it. One of the many dreams, and all I can recall of this particular one, are the words..... "What does any of this have to do with the heart of the gospel?"

We get hung up on lots of theological ideas, or things that sound lofty. Some aren't even fit for the category of "theology". We debate creation as if we weren't crafted. And I ask you, what does any of this have to do with the heart of the gospel? That is, Jesus Christ, the Messiah. I urge that we keep our focus on the only One in whom we have hope of redemption of the formerly mentioned scares.

The author of Hebrews said well of this hope, of Jesus.....

Jesus, Author:

Long ago, at many times and  in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets,  but  in these last days  he has spoken to us by  his Son, whom he appointed  the heir of all things,  through whom also he created  the world.  He is the radiance of the glory of God and  the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power.  After making purification for sins,  he sat down  at the right hand of the Majesty on high,  having become as much superior to angels as the name  he has inherited is more excellent than theirs. (Hebrews 1:1-4 ESV)

Jesus, Finisher:

And just as  it is appointed for man to die once, and  after that comes judgment,  so Christ, having been offered once  to bear the sins of  many, will appear  a second time,  not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly  waiting for him. (Hebrews 9:27, 28 ESV)

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and  sin which clings so closely, and  let us run  with endurance the race that is  set before us,  looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith,  who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising  the shame, and  is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:1, 2 ESV)

Just Because

"Why, O LORD, do you stand far away? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?" (Psalm 10:1)

Why would God allow evil? It's an age-old question, and one not easy for the human mind to claim an answer to.

The Atheist:

The atheist exclaims there is no God. He leans strongly on his own moral judgment. Yet, in regard to that moral judgment, there is no consistency from one standard / person to the next. Life, itself, is hopeless, pointless, directionless, and ultimately meaningless. His only possible god is Today.

The Deist:

The deist is more rational. He believes there is a greater power; one who has spun us into existence only to leave us hanging. He is not a personal god. He is not an interactive god. Either he cannot control the events of our daily lives or he simply doesn't care to.

The Believer:

Can it be possible, even feasible, that God is sovereign in choice and action, and His ultimate will spans generations, millennia! It reaches beyond our physical world and into the spiritual. The Scriptures (our only concrete basis for knowing and understanding the God of Adam, Abraham, and Father of nations) indicate...

"For  we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against  the rulers, against the authorities, against  the cosmic powers over  this present darkness, against  the spiritual forces of evil  in the heavenly places." (Ephesians 6:12 ESV)

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In order to answer David's question for ourselves we need only to turn back to God's Word, and view it wholly, completely, not parsed and picked. Chapter 9 of Isaiah clearly demonstrates David's specific outlook on God.

His ways are not ours.

"Seek the  Lord  while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the  Lord , that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the  Lord." (Isaiah 55:6-8 ESV)

"Forgiveness" is not our nature. Our natural reaction is condemnation ....unless it involves one's self as the offendor, the aggressor against God. So why does God forgive evil? Well, you or I just might need that forgiveness ourselves.

Our ways are not His.

"For the wicked boasts of the desires of his soul, and the one greedy for gain curses and renounces the LORD." (Psalm 10:3)

With either no god, or one who doesn't care ...one is puffed up and prideful; a god in his own mind, yet lacking the tools or the solution to actually play the part.

Seeking gain exclusively for oneself is antithetical to pursuing God.

"He must increase, but I must decrease." (John 3:30 ESV)

So, is there a God .....or are we on our own?

"In the pride of his face the wicked does not seek him; all his thoughts are, "There is no God." (Psalm 10:4)

"The  fool says in his heart,  There is no God. They are  corrupt, they do abominable deeds, there is none who does good." (Psalms 14:1 ESV)

If there is God ......does He care about our daily lives?

"His ways prosper at all times; your judgments are on high, out of his sight; as for all his foes, he puffs at them." (Psalm 10:6)

Jesus is God's "because"!

"but  God shows his love for us in that  while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.  Since, therefore,  we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from  the wrath of God.  For if  while we were enemies  we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by  his life.  More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received  reconciliation." (Romans 5:8-11 ESV)

We need to get back to balancing the checkbook of our lives; to "balance" back to an agreeable product .....not the balance "I" desire, not the balance the "world" desires, but the balance which our Great Common Denominator enacts. We have to trust "His" life-ledger. Jesus brings things back in balance. He "is" God's because, the answer to what the world asks "why".

It is often said that the gospel can be summed up in John 3:16 .....this "because" of Jesus Christ.

"For God so loved the world"...... He redeemed us while we were still sinning,

"that He gave His only begotten Son" ........instead of us paying for our sin.

"that whosoever believes in Him"..... His liberty applies to the just and unjust. The choice is freely ours,

"should not perish" .......for what hope is there otherwise?

"but have eternal life" ......a conclusion, a profitable conclusion, where God is sovereign and just, merciful and mighty, King of Kings, Lord of Lords, and Friend of sinners .......the Because to all our why's.

A beautiful day, I stand in the warm
No concern of pending storm
Worry not what tomorrow will bring
God's provident will demands a Spring

Be Still, Be Quiet

Our mouths must first be closed before we can hear from God. Once heard, men can be given tongues of The Spirit. Be still. Be quiet. Know that He is God. Then be anointed of The Holy Spirit of God!

"Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. And they would have called him Zechariah after his father, but his mother answered, No; he shall be called John. And they said to her, None of your relatives is called by this name. And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he wanted him to be called. And he asked for a writing tablet and wrote, His name is John. And they all wondered. And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God. And fear came on all their neighbors. And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea, and all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, What then will this child be? For the hand of the Lord was with him. And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying, "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David, as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us; to show the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant, the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace." (Luke 1:57-79 ESV)