Category: Apologetics/Defense of the Faith

Prosperity Gospel and Lottery may claim the same victims

Studies and statistics (here, here, here, and here) continue to show that it is those in the lowest economic percentiles who consistently spend their income on state sponsored lottery games.

I wonder if that same dynamic is at work in those who follow the “prosperity gospel” hawked by so many today?

Think about it:

  • Why would someone who is already successful in their job/career be attracted to the prosperity gospel?  It can’t give them anything they haven’t already gotten for themselves.
  • It only makes sense that those who truly have “felt” financial or health issues would be attracted to the “pie in the sky” promises of a theology that makes God their ultimate benefactor.

I’d love to see some research on this…

Theologically speaking…

The prosperity gospel is virtually the same as the lottery – a gamble, based on nothing that is theologically sound.  It’s the snake-oil salesman all over again.  Only this time he wears a $1000 suit.

God is not about our comfort… He’s about His glory, demonstrated through our holiness.  And getting us to holiness, typically doesn’t include dollar signs.

What do you think?  Are the same people victims of both?

Books from the PF Journal..

A lesson in humility & wisdom… well taught (a story from my past)

Dr. Russ Rogers - photo courtesy of DePaul University

When I was working on my Bachelor’s degree at Colorado Christian University, the school held annual student retreats… times when we would get away from our studies for a few days (yes, I did too study!) to attend a mini-conference in the mountains.  Each year’s topic, speakers, and approach was different, I think intentionally so.  I loved those times.  They were timely breaks in a busy schedule.

One year (I think it was the 89-90 school year), our speaker was Dr. Russ Rogers, who was then part of the faculty of Asuza Pacific University, and is now serving as part of the faculty of DePaul University.  His topic was, “Dreaming Dreams and Making Them Happen.”  I found it to be very helpful as a college student with a head full of dreams.  In fact, I somehow got my hands on a set of cassette tapes on the topic which I listened to many times over the next 8 or 10 years.

Keep in mind, this was in the late 80s, early 90s.  The “New Age Movement” and the fear of it was all the rage in the Evangelical world at the time (why do we Christians DO that?).  As a result, much of what Dr. Rogers had to say hit the ears of some of my classmates as dancing dangerously close to the edge of the New Age minefield.  I think some of them thought Dr. Rogers had run headlong into it, dancing joyously as he went!  As a result, during the Q&A session at the end of each talk, Dr. Rogers was relentlessly peppered with questions and accusations, which in my mind were completely unwarranted.  Those attacking him didn’t seem to have listened closely to what he was saying, or to have heard his heart in it.  He was far from being a New Age heretic (in my humble opinion).

After the retreat was over, I dug up Dr. Rogers’ address and wrote him a quick note.  More than anything I wanted to let him know that not everyone at the event had the same opinions as the more vocal among us, and that his input and time were greatly appreciated.

Dr. Rogers took the time to hand-write a short note to me, and in it he said this…

The key to wisdom is the essential humility to reserve judgment until comprehension sets in.  Clearly, each of us learns this in his own time.

Those two phrases etched themselves instantly in my memory banks.  It was like a modern-day proverb, lodged there, immovable.  They have informed my thinking on a variety of situations throughout the years, in powerful ways.

In a nutshell, my take-away from what Dr. Rogers was saying, is this…

  • Take the time to find out what you are talking about before you start talking about it
  • If you are not willing to do that, you aren’t very humble
  • Which also means you aren’t very wise

His gracious reply was so instructive to me, and I’ve never forgotten it.  On countless occasions it has reminded me to stop and truly listen to what others are saying before I pass judgment… to re-read the book of an author that I think I might be at odds with… to realize that I am not inerrant in my opinions or interpretations of the facts once I do have them.  Sometimes true comprehension takes a long time.  Other times it takes a very, very long time.  As the truth of my own proneness to error soaks into my soul, his words drive me to prayer, seeking the Lord’s illumination of my darkened understanding.

Thank you Dr. Rogers.  Your lesson to me regarding wisdom & humility was well taught… and I have not forgotten it.

Is a “homosexual identity” a modern invention?

I’m on sabbatical (translation: I’m resting),
so this is a pre-scheduled post for your encouragement, education and enjoyment! 

We live in a day where the rhetoric and venom over the issue of gay-rights, homosexuality, and same-sex-marriage are powerful and prevalent.  There’s plenty to be found on the internet and the nightly news about the subject… from both sides of the argument.

But in all the hubbub over the issue, history often becomes the casualty, as well as the straightforward way in which the Bible addresses the issue.

In a recent set of articles, Tony Payne wrote about this issue… and sheds some very helpful light on the subject.  Here’s a taste…

We were reading the second half of Romans 1 in Bible study the other night, and I asked the group what they thought would happen around the water cooler at work if they actually expressed out loud what Romans 1 says about gay sex.

There was an awkward silence.

“I’d be ostracized”, someone said. “It would be the end of any respect from my colleagues”, said someone else. “I’m not sure that I would be able to remain at my workplace”, said another.

Best to keep quiet then.

But the trouble with burying what we know to be true, for the sake of retaining people’s respect or regard, is that the truth has a way of rising from the grave. And when it does, we are shown to be shifty and insincere, which apart from being bad in itself, also tends not to be so good in the respect-and-regard area.

You can find the rest of the article HERE.

Persecution of Christians still happens – Myanmar

I’m on sabbatical (translation: I’m resting),
so this is a pre-scheduled post for your encouragement, education and enjoyment! 

I read this interesting and convicting article from Voice of the Martyrs… it has to do with a young Christian who was threatened to be ostracized by her family if she did not recant her Christian faith.  This is not one of those “old time” stories… it happened just recently.  Read this short article HERE.

Struggling with doubts about your faith?

I’m on sabbatical.  (translation: I’m resting).  This is a pre-scheduled
post for your encouragement and enjoyment!

I think this post from C. Michael Patton is very helpful for anyone who is struggling with doubts – be they intellectual, emotional, or experiential.  I pray you will be touched by the Lord through this post…

For those who are struggling with intellectual doubts:

Focus attention only on the issues that make or break the core essence of Christianity such as the resurrection of Christ and the existence of God. Don’t spend time on more ancillary issues such as creation/evolution, the world-wide flood, or the perfect harmony of the individual authors’ truth claims. These, either way you go with them, do not effect the essence of the Gospel message. If Christ rose from the grace as an historical reality, then all else, though they may shake, crack, or crumble, do not have the sting of apostasy on board.

For those who are struggling with emotional doubt

Remember that our emotions do not have a determinative vote in truth. We must be willing to trust God even when the truth claims we are asked to believe seem to militate against our moral compass. Remember that God gave us our emotional dispositions and he knows the struggles we have, yet he tells us that he loves everyone more than we do and knows what he is doing. In this sense, he holds out his hand and says “Trust me. I know you would do things different, but just trust me.”

For those struggling with experiential doubt

Remember that the lot life hands us will often be filled with experiences that differ from the experiences we would bring about were we in control of the world. Contrary to popular opinion, the Bible does not guarantee anything but suffering, pain, and perplexity as we attempt to live for God. This is why so much of the Bible points our thoughts to the unseen future that God has promised. Often times we “punt to the eschaton” not as a cop-out, but because in it is our true hope where tears will be no more.

Is Mormonism Christian?

I often learn a lot from Al Mohler… and the article I’m about to cite is no exception.  He’s been very helpful to my thinking and my theology (he is a theologian after all).

His article is based around the issue of having two candidates seeking nomination to the Presidency who are professed Mormons, and whether evangelicals should vote for them.

That’s not my concern… I’m mainly concerned that Christians not be fooled into thinking that Mormonism is just a “type” of Christianity.

It is not.

Al Mohler’s article (the first part) makes that pretty clear, in a simple and convincing way.  HERE IT IS – enjoy!

Defending the faith? OR Arguing about it?

Anyone who has heard a handful of my sermons knows that I’m not one to shy away from a controversy or to be afraid to call “wrong” WRONG.  I believe with all my heart that Christians (and their Pastors/Elders) must make careful distinctions about what is true gospel teaching and what is not.

But having said that… there’s a very fine line between being a defender of the faith and simply being argumentative.  I’ve noticed that Paul makes that distinction in his writings to Timothy and Titus, and I’ve honestly had trouble understanding the difference at times.

I recently read an article, the first in a series, by Tim Keller, Pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Manhattan, NY.  In that article, recounting an event in the life of Dr. Martin Lloyd-Jones, he says the following,

In their meeting, Shields asked Lloyd-Jones if he enjoyed reading the works of another contemporary defender of orthodoxy. Lloyd-Jones said that he seldom read the author, because “he doesn’t help me spiritually.” Shields asked, “Surely you are helped by the way he makes mincemeat of the liberals?” Lloyd-Jones responded, “You can make mincemeat of the liberals and still be in trouble in your own soul.”

That’s helpful to me.  Very helpful.

How often have I been up in arms about a controversy or bad teaching and at the same time been in a bad place in my own soul because of it?  I’m not sure I know the answer to that question, but I’m confident it’s been more than I’d care to admit.  I guess it’s speaking to the issue of a sorry attitude – and I can have as much of it as the next guy.

Lord, humble me to be a defender of Your truth because it is Yours, not because I perversely feel superior to those who are not embracing it.   Remind me constantly of the great gift of grace it is that I have Your truth at all.  Help me to be a servant who knows You deeply, and speaks from that well of life and refreshment, rather than one who knows “about” You, and speaks tepid words that don’t satisfy as a result.

 

 

Why the Doctrine of Hell Matters… (repost from John Piper)

Lately whether or not hell exists and who goes there has been a very big issue.  It seems to crop up from time to time throughout the history of the church.

Today I read a post from John Piper at www.desiringgod.org that very clearly described why a biblical answer to those questions is such a big issue…  here’s a quote…

None of us ever experience suffering more severe than we deserve. If we are not in hell at this moment, we are experiencing massive mercy.

Loud love is calling us from heaven. O that we may have ears to hear:

“Do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed” (Romans 2:4–5).

Instead embrace Christ as your God-given substitute: “Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God” (1 Peter 3:18). Christ endured hell for all who own him as their Life.

Is Allah the same as the Christian God?

I came across this quick interview in my morning “update” and study time.  It’s from the Gospel Coalition, interviewing Pastor Thabiti Anyabwile, a one-time Muslim.  I felt it important to post this video because it helps to clear up some of the confusion about the differences between the Muslim and Christian faiths.