The cover of Newsweek magazine is a strange place to see a cross, especially since it’s surrounded by blackness and emblazoned with irregular red letters across and down that read "The Decline and Fall of Christian America."
Just in time for Good Friday, the article sounds the statistical retreat of American Christianity. While the cover is media overkill, the article does trace the loss in the culture wars by conservative evangelicals and the shifting views on faith and religious practice in our country.
Perhaps the dismal picture is an unintended affirmation of the words of at old hymn, "The Old Rugged Cross." As George Bennard put it, "O that old rugged cross so despised by the world, has a wondrous attraction for me; For the dear Lamb of God left His glory above to bear it to dark Calvary."
Calvary appeared to be a dismal failure, but now crosses are sometimes cast in gold and silver, placed upon church steeples and worn on chains around the neck. A current TV commercial offers an ornate silver cross with a tiny eyepiece imbedded in the center through which the viewer may observe Bible verses.
But the "old rugged cross" is a death instrument, and the Newsweek cover background in black recalls its morbidity and distress. According to Paul’s review of the cross, it also represents an introductory death experience in entering the born-again life.
Galatians 6:14 says, "But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world." The cross signifies a death separation from one sphere to another.
When a person was crucified, he was not coming back; he faced forward and had no future plans. It was an excruciating transition from life to death and from time to eternity. The cross of Christ similarly is a marvelous transition to life since Christ rose from the dead. Romans 6:6-10 spells this out. "Knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. For he who has died has been freed from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him." (emphasis mine)
The risen Christ and the empty tomb insure a new enduring life dimension. "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me" (Gal. 2:20-21).
The term "accepting Christ" means more than mere casual mental assent. It is the unreserved acceptance of God’s viewing us as have been crucified with Christ and risen with Christ by receiving Him personally into our lives.
At the very least, I’m glad Newsweek published a word-formed cross on its cover. When Christ suffered and died on that old rugged cross, he was the Word become flesh and dwelling among us as John 1:14 says. As the ultimately victorious "King of kings and Lord of lords" (Rev. 1:4), He is portrayed as "clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God."
Statistics may show fewer of us Christians in America, but when the last chapter is written, we win.
Dave Virkler
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Who was the historical Jesus?
The topic surfaces every Easter season. This time it is Rachel Havrelock, a Biblical scholar and professor at the University of Chicago. Her premise is that the historical Jesus may not be exactly who many of His followers may think He was. Havrelock’s opinions are being featured in a Discovery Channel documentary titled “Who Was Jesus?” In it, she seeks to confront common misconceptions about the Bible's teachings concerning its primary character - Jesus of Narareth.
The professor states, among other things, “The concept of God was, and perhaps still is, a radical social idea. The core of Jesus' message was directed to the economically downtrodden, the poor farmers, laborers and others who had little power in their own lives.”
There are also other fundamental issues that Havrelock questions. For instance she says, “Certain details of Jesus' life simply don't fit with idealized notions of a Messiah. The prophets of the Old Testament speak of a future king who will restore the Jews to their land and establish order and peace." Then she suggests, "The wording of the baptism accounts reveals embarrassment. Why should a son of God have to be baptized, since he should have been born without sin? It appears that John the Baptist was involved in creating another movement at around the same time as Jesus.” When asked just what permitted Christianity to spread so quickly, she relied, “Paul the Apostle was a marketing genius.”
The good scholar no doubt knows Bible history inside and out. But it would seem that she may lack some understanding of the Bible’s deeper spiritual truths concerning the person and purpose of Jesus Christ.
If she would read and understand Isaiah 53 she would see the clear concept of suffering by a sin-bearing Messiah. Verse two begins, “He has no form or comeliness; and when we see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him. He is despised and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.”
If she understood baptism correctly, she would see that John was embarrassed to baptize Jesus. But it was not because Jesus was a sinner in need of some ceremonial cleansing. John’s issue was that he himself was a sinner and was overwhelmed to be baptizing the holy Son of God in a highly symbolic and instructional act. “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” (Matthew 3:11) As far as John doing his own thing on the side, she might want recall the separating of John’s head from his body for his unbending worship and in the vital preparation for the ministry of his Lord.
If the scholar knew anything about the Apostle Paul, she would also know that his ‘marketing’ skills would not be too popular with most mere mortals. He summed up some of the results of his ‘genius’ in 2 Corinthians11:23-28. “I speak as a fool — I am more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often. From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness…” It is difficult to imagine this course of action as acceptable in any MBA degree program today.
And if the professor correctly understood the work of Jesus, she would know His purpose as stated in 1 John 3:8. “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil." She would also know that He did not serve select groups, rich or poor, but came to deal with the sins of the whole world. (John 3:16) His issue with wealth was only as it pertained to being a huge stumbling block to accepting His gift of salvation. And his attitude towards material things can be summed up in Matthew 6:33. “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”
So exactly who is this Biblical and historical Jesus?
He was fully man.
“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14)
He is also full and absolute deity – known in theological circles as the “hypo-static union”.
“Taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death.” (Philippians 2: 6-11)
He is the Creator of the universe.
“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.” (Colossians 1:15-17)
He is head of the universal church.
"I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom." (2 Timothy 4:1)
He is the Savior of sinners.
"And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life." (1 John 5:11-12)
He is the keeper and the rewarder of all who know Him, trust Him, love Him, and who serve Him.
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." (1 Peter 1:3-5)
So once again, who is the historical Biblical Jesus? Perhaps it is best to simply allow Him to answer that all-important question in His own words!
"I am the way , the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." (John 14:6)
Bill Breckenridge
The professor states, among other things, “The concept of God was, and perhaps still is, a radical social idea. The core of Jesus' message was directed to the economically downtrodden, the poor farmers, laborers and others who had little power in their own lives.”
There are also other fundamental issues that Havrelock questions. For instance she says, “Certain details of Jesus' life simply don't fit with idealized notions of a Messiah. The prophets of the Old Testament speak of a future king who will restore the Jews to their land and establish order and peace." Then she suggests, "The wording of the baptism accounts reveals embarrassment. Why should a son of God have to be baptized, since he should have been born without sin? It appears that John the Baptist was involved in creating another movement at around the same time as Jesus.” When asked just what permitted Christianity to spread so quickly, she relied, “Paul the Apostle was a marketing genius.”
The good scholar no doubt knows Bible history inside and out. But it would seem that she may lack some understanding of the Bible’s deeper spiritual truths concerning the person and purpose of Jesus Christ.
If she would read and understand Isaiah 53 she would see the clear concept of suffering by a sin-bearing Messiah. Verse two begins, “He has no form or comeliness; and when we see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him. He is despised and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.”
If she understood baptism correctly, she would see that John was embarrassed to baptize Jesus. But it was not because Jesus was a sinner in need of some ceremonial cleansing. John’s issue was that he himself was a sinner and was overwhelmed to be baptizing the holy Son of God in a highly symbolic and instructional act. “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” (Matthew 3:11) As far as John doing his own thing on the side, she might want recall the separating of John’s head from his body for his unbending worship and in the vital preparation for the ministry of his Lord.
If the scholar knew anything about the Apostle Paul, she would also know that his ‘marketing’ skills would not be too popular with most mere mortals. He summed up some of the results of his ‘genius’ in 2 Corinthians11:23-28. “I speak as a fool — I am more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often. From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness…” It is difficult to imagine this course of action as acceptable in any MBA degree program today.
And if the professor correctly understood the work of Jesus, she would know His purpose as stated in 1 John 3:8. “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil." She would also know that He did not serve select groups, rich or poor, but came to deal with the sins of the whole world. (John 3:16) His issue with wealth was only as it pertained to being a huge stumbling block to accepting His gift of salvation. And his attitude towards material things can be summed up in Matthew 6:33. “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”
So exactly who is this Biblical and historical Jesus?
He was fully man.
“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14)
He is also full and absolute deity – known in theological circles as the “hypo-static union”.
“Taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death.” (Philippians 2: 6-11)
He is the Creator of the universe.
“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.” (Colossians 1:15-17)
He is head of the universal church.
"And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence." (Colossians 1:18)
He is the final judge of all men."I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom." (2 Timothy 4:1)
He is the Savior of sinners.
"And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life." (1 John 5:11-12)
He is the keeper and the rewarder of all who know Him, trust Him, love Him, and who serve Him.
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." (1 Peter 1:3-5)
So once again, who is the historical Biblical Jesus? Perhaps it is best to simply allow Him to answer that all-important question in His own words!
"I am the way , the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." (John 14:6)
Bill Breckenridge
Monday, April 6, 2009
A Bloody Week In America
The news came fast and furious, leaving little time to take one incident in before another event assaulted the senses.
It began with a mighty massacre at an immigration center in upstate NY. When the dust settled, thirteen had been gunned down in a gruesome slaying. Then days later, three police officers were ambushed and killed in Pittsburgh, PA. That was followed by the horrific murder of five children by their jealous dad in Washington State.
Like other places in the world, America is more and more becoming the home of random acts of brutality and senseless violence. This new way of life has many asking the question, “What is going on in our country?” The short answer is the same as it is anywhere else on planet earth: sin.
In a few days, Easter Sunday, the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, will arrive. And for those who ‘truly’ understand its meaning, there is no question as to why evil and violence exist. But for those to whom the holiday is simply candy, eggs, bunnies, and a new outfit for their semi-annual trip to church, the question of evil remains.
Good Friday and the glorious Sunday that follows it is about sin and a loving God’s response to it. It is about a sinless Savior who voluntarily took the guilt and penalty of a rebellious world and became literal sin for all. Paul presents that incomprehensible truth in 2 Corinthians 5:21. “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”
Philippians chapter two describes this miraculous sacrifice. “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.” (Philippians 2:5-8)
The reason for, and the reality of, human sin is explained in graphic detail in Romans chapter one. Those searching for the ‘why’ of evil and a broken world need look no further. But for any desiring to go beyond why sin exists and locate a solution to the same need to continue on in the book.
Before long they will land in chapter three and verse twenty-three where they will discover that all sin is an offense to a Holy God, not just those things of the caliber of a ruthless mass murder. Paul informs in Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Then a few chapters later they will fix their gaze on words where the writer reveals the penalty for sin and the solution to sin just one short verse. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23)
All that is needed now to complete the inquiry is to discover what must be done to receive the ‘gift’ that deals with the plague and punishment for sin. That will be explained clearly in chapter ten. The Apostle records there “that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Romans 10:8-10)
Yes, it has been a bloody week or two in America, and something that will likely be repeated again before long. These kinds will also likely remain a terrible mystery to many in a nation forced to deal with increasing forms of evil and acts of brutality.
There are others, however, who fully comprehend the cause and remedy for wickedness of any caliber. These have experiencd eternal life in Jesus Christ. They have gained salvation through their understanding and positive reaction to their Savior's blood-based solution to sin. "In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.' (Ephesians 1:7)
All evil, on any level, is about sin. And dealing with all sin, on any level, is what Easter's crucfixion and resurrection is all about!
Bill Breckenridge
It began with a mighty massacre at an immigration center in upstate NY. When the dust settled, thirteen had been gunned down in a gruesome slaying. Then days later, three police officers were ambushed and killed in Pittsburgh, PA. That was followed by the horrific murder of five children by their jealous dad in Washington State.
Like other places in the world, America is more and more becoming the home of random acts of brutality and senseless violence. This new way of life has many asking the question, “What is going on in our country?” The short answer is the same as it is anywhere else on planet earth: sin.
In a few days, Easter Sunday, the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, will arrive. And for those who ‘truly’ understand its meaning, there is no question as to why evil and violence exist. But for those to whom the holiday is simply candy, eggs, bunnies, and a new outfit for their semi-annual trip to church, the question of evil remains.
Good Friday and the glorious Sunday that follows it is about sin and a loving God’s response to it. It is about a sinless Savior who voluntarily took the guilt and penalty of a rebellious world and became literal sin for all. Paul presents that incomprehensible truth in 2 Corinthians 5:21. “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”
Philippians chapter two describes this miraculous sacrifice. “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.” (Philippians 2:5-8)
The reason for, and the reality of, human sin is explained in graphic detail in Romans chapter one. Those searching for the ‘why’ of evil and a broken world need look no further. But for any desiring to go beyond why sin exists and locate a solution to the same need to continue on in the book.
Before long they will land in chapter three and verse twenty-three where they will discover that all sin is an offense to a Holy God, not just those things of the caliber of a ruthless mass murder. Paul informs in Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Then a few chapters later they will fix their gaze on words where the writer reveals the penalty for sin and the solution to sin just one short verse. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23)
All that is needed now to complete the inquiry is to discover what must be done to receive the ‘gift’ that deals with the plague and punishment for sin. That will be explained clearly in chapter ten. The Apostle records there “that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Romans 10:8-10)
Yes, it has been a bloody week or two in America, and something that will likely be repeated again before long. These kinds will also likely remain a terrible mystery to many in a nation forced to deal with increasing forms of evil and acts of brutality.
There are others, however, who fully comprehend the cause and remedy for wickedness of any caliber. These have experiencd eternal life in Jesus Christ. They have gained salvation through their understanding and positive reaction to their Savior's blood-based solution to sin. "In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.' (Ephesians 1:7)
All evil, on any level, is about sin. And dealing with all sin, on any level, is what Easter's crucfixion and resurrection is all about!
Bill Breckenridge
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Record Drop In Home Prices
As though more bad economic news is needed, Selected Cities Standard & Poor’s Case-Shiller Home Price Index has reported that the prices of homes fell 19 percent in January, as compared to the previous year.
The evaluation uses 20 metropolitan areas and discovered that the worst hit area fell nearly 59%, with 13 more showing record declines. In addition, no market revealed any month-to-month improvement. Values in places like Phoenix, Las Vegas, Miami, San Francisco and San Diego dropped more than 40 percent causing David Blitzer, chairman of S&P’s index, to state, “There’s no daylight that I can see in this report.”
Rapid change and growing uncertainty have become commonplace in a nation where citizens have long enjoyed a fairly stable lifestyle. But today, troubling news invades constantly on a variety of fronts - the economy being the obvious leader at this juncture. And as the effects of a crumbling financial system trickle down, even those with large investments have felt the impact on their lives and futures. The growing question and controversy now is whether or not the government should take control and change the world’s greatest system of capitalism to one of socialism – something proven throughout history to not fare very well.
Today many formerly secure Americans are slowly realizing that nothing is guaranteed to stay the same. At the same time many Christians, who also share a dual heavenly citizenship, are again appreciating the blessing of a personal relationship with a loving, comforting, and stable God. And the current crisis has become, for some, a keen reminder of the safety and the security they enjoy in Jesus Christ.
While speaking of God’s coming Messenger the prophet Malachi made reference to the duration of the Creator. In chapter three, verse six he penned, "For I am the LORD, I do not change.” Then the writer of Hebrews in the New Testament affirmed the same truth when he wrote, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever." (Hebrews 13:8)
Not only is God’s character changeless, but so are His promises - especially those dealing with man’s salvation. Jesus made this abundantly clear in John 10:28 declaring, “And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.” Then, too, the most familiar verse in the Scriptures teaches the same. In John 3:16 Jesus reveals the duration of redemption. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
The changes in the today’s modern world are real and rapid. And with some notable exceptions, they mostly fall on the negative side of the global ledger. But even this real trend is no real shock to Bible believers who know the disturbing and prophetic words beginning in 2 Timothy 3:1. “But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come.” The Greek word rendered ‘perilous’ in verse one carries the idea of something difficult, dangerous, fierce, and something that reduces strength.
For those outside God’s family of faith, the ever-changing world must be frustrating at best and absolutely frightening at worst. But for those in Christ, the world’s greatest pressures are superceded by scores of God’s even greater promises.
“For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." So we may boldly say: "The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?" (Hebrews 13:5-6)
Bill Breckenridge
The evaluation uses 20 metropolitan areas and discovered that the worst hit area fell nearly 59%, with 13 more showing record declines. In addition, no market revealed any month-to-month improvement. Values in places like Phoenix, Las Vegas, Miami, San Francisco and San Diego dropped more than 40 percent causing David Blitzer, chairman of S&P’s index, to state, “There’s no daylight that I can see in this report.”
Rapid change and growing uncertainty have become commonplace in a nation where citizens have long enjoyed a fairly stable lifestyle. But today, troubling news invades constantly on a variety of fronts - the economy being the obvious leader at this juncture. And as the effects of a crumbling financial system trickle down, even those with large investments have felt the impact on their lives and futures. The growing question and controversy now is whether or not the government should take control and change the world’s greatest system of capitalism to one of socialism – something proven throughout history to not fare very well.
Today many formerly secure Americans are slowly realizing that nothing is guaranteed to stay the same. At the same time many Christians, who also share a dual heavenly citizenship, are again appreciating the blessing of a personal relationship with a loving, comforting, and stable God. And the current crisis has become, for some, a keen reminder of the safety and the security they enjoy in Jesus Christ.
While speaking of God’s coming Messenger the prophet Malachi made reference to the duration of the Creator. In chapter three, verse six he penned, "For I am the LORD, I do not change.” Then the writer of Hebrews in the New Testament affirmed the same truth when he wrote, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever." (Hebrews 13:8)
Not only is God’s character changeless, but so are His promises - especially those dealing with man’s salvation. Jesus made this abundantly clear in John 10:28 declaring, “And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.” Then, too, the most familiar verse in the Scriptures teaches the same. In John 3:16 Jesus reveals the duration of redemption. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
The changes in the today’s modern world are real and rapid. And with some notable exceptions, they mostly fall on the negative side of the global ledger. But even this real trend is no real shock to Bible believers who know the disturbing and prophetic words beginning in 2 Timothy 3:1. “But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come.” The Greek word rendered ‘perilous’ in verse one carries the idea of something difficult, dangerous, fierce, and something that reduces strength.
For those outside God’s family of faith, the ever-changing world must be frustrating at best and absolutely frightening at worst. But for those in Christ, the world’s greatest pressures are superceded by scores of God’s even greater promises.
“For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." So we may boldly say: "The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?" (Hebrews 13:5-6)
Bill Breckenridge
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
April Fool
Every year on April 1st, jokesters try to ambush gullible friends, relatives and fellow workers into believing nonsense and then say, "April Fool!" The day evidently began in the 1500s when news of a major calendar change either reached people late or was rejected altogether. Improperly celebrating a given event could make one a fool. But the Bible has prior claim on definitions and descriptions.
The word "fool" is found about 66 times in the Bible. It variously means "silliness," "stupid," "wicked," "perverse," or, in the New Testament, "to be frothing at the mouth," "dull" or "a blockhead." Adding the words "foolish"and" foolishly," there are countless more variations of meanings including "silly talk," "fat,""slack," "moronic," etc.
Evidently being a fool or foolish is extremely common for God's Word to address the problems of requently. Confining April Fool's to a singly day minimizes the problem and lets people off the hook. Biblically, folks can be fools any day of any month by going askew from God's norms. Let me list a few examples.
Saul - "…I have played the fool and erred exceedingly" (1 Sam 26:21). His sin was pursuing a righteous man and failing to see God's ultimate plan.
The atheist - "The fool has said in his heart, 'There is no God.' They are corrupt, They have done abominable works, There is none who does good" (Psalm 14:1). His problem was imagining himself as a mortal filling the whole universe which, if possible, would have made himself God , so very self-contradictory.
The rich man - "But God said to him, 'Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?'" (Luke 12:20). His problem was stashing away wealth for years to come but ignorant of imminent death. He was ready to live, but he was unprepared to die.
The supreme folly is ignoring God's wisdom for life and death. Proverbs 14:9 says, "Fools mock at sin, but among the upright there is favor." Years ago, martyred missionary Jim Elliott left behind this wise legacy: "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose."
As Easter approaches, shedding foolish ignorance of Jesus Christ's greatest victory is a worthy task. After His resurrection, Christ spoke to travelers on the road to Emmaus. "Then He said to them, 'O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?' And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself" (Luke 24:25-27).
This year, Wednesday, April 1st is trumped by Easter Sunday, April 12th.
David Virkler
The word "fool" is found about 66 times in the Bible. It variously means "silliness," "stupid," "wicked," "perverse," or, in the New Testament, "to be frothing at the mouth," "dull" or "a blockhead." Adding the words "foolish"and" foolishly," there are countless more variations of meanings including "silly talk," "fat,""slack," "moronic," etc.
Evidently being a fool or foolish is extremely common for God's Word to address the problems of requently. Confining April Fool's to a singly day minimizes the problem and lets people off the hook. Biblically, folks can be fools any day of any month by going askew from God's norms. Let me list a few examples.
Saul - "…I have played the fool and erred exceedingly" (1 Sam 26:21). His sin was pursuing a righteous man and failing to see God's ultimate plan.
The atheist - "The fool has said in his heart, 'There is no God.' They are corrupt, They have done abominable works, There is none who does good" (Psalm 14:1). His problem was imagining himself as a mortal filling the whole universe which, if possible, would have made himself God , so very self-contradictory.
The rich man - "But God said to him, 'Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?'" (Luke 12:20). His problem was stashing away wealth for years to come but ignorant of imminent death. He was ready to live, but he was unprepared to die.
The supreme folly is ignoring God's wisdom for life and death. Proverbs 14:9 says, "Fools mock at sin, but among the upright there is favor." Years ago, martyred missionary Jim Elliott left behind this wise legacy: "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose."
As Easter approaches, shedding foolish ignorance of Jesus Christ's greatest victory is a worthy task. After His resurrection, Christ spoke to travelers on the road to Emmaus. "Then He said to them, 'O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?' And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself" (Luke 24:25-27).
This year, Wednesday, April 1st is trumped by Easter Sunday, April 12th.
David Virkler
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