Do Christians have to Grow Up?

There's a phrase that goes, "You get old, but you don't have to grow up." I typically hear people say this in a positive light, as if it's a good thing not to grow up. It makes sense that this phrase is well received in our culture obsessed with youth. If you want to make something attractive in this world, you typically have to make it young or young at heart. People don't like the thought of growing up, and this is no exception in the Christian community. Many believers cling to Jesus' words, "Be like children," to promote their desire for youth and even immaturity. So, as believers, do we have to grow up?

Walt Disney once said these words.

First, let's take a look at those famous words from Jesus. In the book of Matthew Jesus "called a little child to Him, and placed the child among [the disciples]. And He said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven,"" (18: 2-3). From this it seems straight-forward that Jesus is saying He wants His followers to act like children. Many have looked at those verses and thought, "Tah dah! There's proof-text for embracing your inner child and never growing up!" Not so fast now, because there's more to what Jesus says. He says, "Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me," (Matthew 18:4-5). Jesus is teaching that His disciples must be humble, if they are to be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. This is the same principle Jesus teaches His disciples, when He washes their feet (John 13:14-17). This is to what Jesus was referring, when He said, "Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth," (Matthew 5:5).

They say that I can move the mountains

And send them falling to the sea

They say that I can walk on water

If I would follow and believe

With faith like a child

- Jars of Clay

Now, I'm sure some people will say in favor of being childish, "But Jesus still said we have to become like children, so that's still a go-ahead from Jesus to embrace our inner child." Not exactly. When we read those verses from Matthew chapter 18 in our English translated Bibles, we see Jesus used the word "like" when referring to how the disciples should reflect a child's behavior. The English translators chose to use the word "like" to show that Jesus is using a simile: A figure of speech for comparing aspects of things, often noted by the words "like" or "as". Jesus used a simile to address how His disciples should mimic a child's meekness, and not to say they should mimic every aspect of a child. If that were the case, then when God said the simile, "like a woman in childbirth, I cry out," He was saying He was a pregnant woman (Isaiah 42:14). Of course, He's not. Furthermore Paul said he was like "a nursing mother," and Paul was definitely not a mom (1 thessalonians 2:7).

So, if Jesus wasn't actually talking to who His disciples about not growing up, does that automatically mean that Jesus wants His followers to grow up? Well, we shouldn't jump to any conclusions. Just because Jesus doesn't mention something in His teachings, doesn't mean that the rest of the Bible won't as well. This is why we, as believers, have all of God's Word to study as approved workers for His kingdom (2 Timothy 2:15). We need to consult not only the gospels but also all of the Bible, for our questions on how to live a righteous life (2 Timothy 3:16).

If your parents helped you study the Bible as a child, then "continue in what you have learned
and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it,
and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make
you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus," (2 Timothy 3:14-15).

Yes, the Bible does teach that Christians should grow up, but it teaches specifically as to how Christians should grow and mature. Peter taught believers to "grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ," (2 Peter 3:18). Paul wrote to encourage believers, "Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly-mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready," (1 Corinthians 3:1-2). This is a call from Paul for people to mature about their beliefs in the Spirit and not live by the beliefs of the world; a call for growing in Christ as opposed to what the world thinks is growing up. This is what Paul meant when he wrote, "When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me," (1 Corinthians 13:11). In another letter to old and yet immature believers who could not understand beliefs about Jesus Paul wrote the following words from Hebrew chapter 5 verses 11 to 14:

We have much to say about this, but it is hard to make it clear to you because you no longer try to understand. In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.

Yes, Christian. The Bible makes it very clear. If you want to live righteously, you have to grow up. You have to mature in your understanding of God's Word. You have to grow in Christ, by studying your Bible. It is written, the one who studies God's Word "is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither-whatever they do prospers," (Psalm 1:2-3). Oh, and as a reminder, that verse is using a simile. It's not saying you have to be a tree. What you have to do, if you want to live a God pleasing life, is grow up.

There may have been a time when you learned about God from a book like this,
but Christians should graduate from studying what is elementary,
so they can grow in their understanding of God.

Sources

• The Bible (New International Version)
• Open Bible Info: Growing Up
• Jars of Clay: Like a Child

Colossians 1:17 (God holds the Earth Together)

Colossians 1:17

He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.

Who is it who keeps the whole world spinning? Who has caused all the grass to grow? Who has sent rain to nourish the flowers? Who pulls and pushes the tides across beaches? Who bends and breaks the waves of the seas? Who sends sunlight down below to strengthen the ocean's coral reefs? Who beckons trees to rise and stand tall? Who placed the rocks to form mountains and valleys? Who is the creator and sustainer of all the earth? It is God!

God created the heavens (the stars, the planets and the comets) and He created the earth (and every animate and inanimate thing on it). God's creation and His works are wonderful (Psalm 92:5). There is no being higher or lower (no man or mother of nature) who can take any credit for what God has done on earth (John 1:3). He created everything in seven days, and He called His creation good (Genesis 1). Hear what the Psalmist wrote of God and His creation in Psalm 33 from verses 6 to 9:

By the word of the Lord the heavens were made,

    their starry host by the breath of His mouth.

He gathers the waters of the sea into jars;

    He puts the deep into storehouses.

Let all the earth fear the Lord;

    let all the people of the world revere Him.

For He spoke, and it came to be;

    He commanded, and it stood firm.

God made everything on earth, and He made you as well (Genesis 1:27). We should praise God, for we are "fearfully and wonderfully made," because God's "works are wonderful," (Psalm 139:14). We, who are believers, should respect ourselves and cherish our bodies, because they were carefully designed by our Creator. It is wise for us to remember that Scripture says, "Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own," (1 Corinthians 6:19). Our bodies do not belong to us, so we, as believers, should not scorn them, hate them or regret them. We were knit together in our mothers' wombs, by God's hands (Psalm 139:13). We are a beautiful part of His creation.

The same hands that designed every fish and bird
also designed you (Genesis 1).

Since God is the sustainer for all the earth, what is His will for this world? Sadly, His will is...to destroy it.

God made everything perfect, but we, as human beings, scorned our Creator, and now we, as well as everything on this earth, are doomed to die (Romans 5:12). The world is passing away; it's dying (1 John 2:17). Scripture says that this world and everything in it is subjected to futility and "frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God," (Romans 8:20-21). So the world is dying and decaying due to sin, but it can be liberated from its futility through the children of God. How are the Children of God going to help save the planet? It will be by their preaching of the Gospel, and through this God will save the world and everyone in it who believe in Him (1 Corinthians 1:21). The earth we know now, though, will be destroyed, but not by water or rising tides, (Genesis 9:13-16). This earth will be destroyed by fire from heaven; by the power of God (2 Peter 3:11-13). After the world is destroyed, God will bring down from heaven a new world that will never perish or rust (Daniel 2:35). God will one day bring forth a new heaven and a new earth (Revelation 21:1). In this new earth there will be no more sorrow or pain, "for the old order of things has passed away," (Revelation 21:4). 

The Lord says, "See, I will create new heavens and a new earth.
The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind," (Isaiah 65:17).

Yes, this world is dying, but it is because of God's will, and it is for His glory.

While we have this earth, we should care for it, as is our duty. God told human beings to, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground," (Genesis 1:28). We are to be caretakers of God's creation; every plant and every wild beast. It is written, "The righteous care for the needs of their animals, but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel. Those who work their land will have abundant food, but those who chase fantasies have no sense," (Proverbs 12:10-11). The earth is temporal, but it is our domain, and God has entrusted it to us.

Wouldn't it be nice, if we could run the world? Yet, it is good and perfect that God is in control of the earth (Psalm 18:30). When we look at the earth, we must remember that it is in God "all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together," (Colossians 1:16-17). He keeps the world spinning! For this goodness, let us praise Him!

Let all creation sing in wonder

Every sea, every creature, every star

You opened up my eyes to wonder

What a vision, what a wonder You are

Let every rock cry out

Let every knee bow down

You opened up my heart to wonder

What a love, what a wonder You are

- Newsboys

Sources

• The Bible (New International Version)
• Open Bible Info: Beauty of Earth
• WWUTT: The Environment
• Newsboys: In Wonder

How Should a Christian Pray for Racists? (Response to "A Rhythm of Prayer")

A new devotional is on the shelves at every major department store in America, and it has become a best selling book nearly overnight. It is listed as the current #1 best selling book on Amazon for "Spiritual Meditations." It's called "A Rhythm of Prayer," and it is a collection of prayers written by various authors and edited by Sarah Bessey. One prayer from this book in particular has been making headlines; "Prayer of a Weary Black Woman" by Chinequa Walker-Barnes, a theology professor at Mercer University. Take a look at the first paragraph from this prayer, and you'll likely see why it's become such a popular talking point.

Barnes begins her prayer with the statement, "Dear God, please help me to hate White people." What a statement that is indeed, especially as a prayer. Barnes goes on to specify that she is not praying about "White antiracist allies" or "ardent racists," but she is praying to hate "the other White people – you know, the nice ones. The Fox News-loving, Trump-supporting voters who 'don't see color'.'" Barnes even asks God in this prayer to stop her "from being hopeful that White people can do and be better." She says, "Let me see them as hopelessly unrepentant." Sarah Bessey, the editor of the devotional says, "Dr. Walker-Barnes’ prayer is a faithful, honest lament, modelled on Scripture. It is a gift of intimacy and vulnerability to the Church and we are grateful to her, not only for the prayer, but for her work and her witness in the world."

Now, if all of this was just the words and beliefs of Bessey and Barnes that was published in some bestseller, then it wouldn't matter that much in the grand scheme of things (certainly not to this blog). However, Bessey and Barnes have published these words and beliefs within the context of a prayer to God; a prayer they are encouraging their readers to imitate and follow.

Is this prayer a Biblical response Christians should have toward racists? This question will be answered, by examining various key sentences from Barnes' prayer. These sentences from this prayer will be compared with Scripture. Not every sentence will be examined, and the only ones that will be examined will feature Barnes making herself an example of how believers should pray for racists. This Biblical examination of these key sentences from "Prayer of a Weary Black Woman" is as follows:

• Barnes: "Dear God, please help me to hate White people. Or at least to want to hate them. At least I want to stop caring about them individually, and collectively." 
• Biblically speaking God does in fact want His children to hate those who do wicked deeds. I have addressed this before in a previous post. The truth is that God hates those who sin and He commands that His children also hate sin. It is written, "Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good," (Romans 12:9). What a Christian hates should be something that strengthens them to love God better. If a Christian asks God to let them hate something that they should instead embrace, then God will not honor their prayer.
• Barnes: "I'm not even talking about [hating] the ardent racists...who open fire on Black churchgoers, or who plot acts of racial terroism hoping to start a race war. Those people are already in hell. There's no need to waste hatred on them."
• God hates people who "shed innocent blood," (Proverbs 6:17) and hating wicked people the way God hates them would not be wasted hatred. Since Christians are called to imitate God, (1 Corinthians 11:1) a Godly hatred of evil strengthens a Christian's sense of righteousness. It would be a waste, though, to harbor bitterness. Christians should "get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice" (Ephesians 4:31).
• Barnes is incorrect in asserting that those who murder churchgoers or those who plot acts of racial terroism are already in hell; especially if they are alive. It would be Biblical to say people who delight in evil are under God's wrath (John 3:36), however even they still have a chance to be saved. Saul was a very wicked man who had many Christians sentenced to imprisonment and death while they were in church (Acts 8:3), but after he met Jesus the living Christ he became born again (Acts 9:17-18). He repented of his sins, and became one of the most prominent witnesses for Christ (Romans 1:1). If it is possible for a horrible sinner like Saul to be saved, then it is true that "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved," (Romans 10:13).
• Barnes: "My prayer is that you would help me to hate the other White people– you know, the nice ones... who make thinly-veiled racist comments about 'those people.'...The people who politely tell us to leave when we call out the racial microaggressions we experience in their ministries."
• Barnes' claims about wanting to hate people for making "thinly veiled racist comments" or for speaking "racial microaggressions" is not Biblical. Microaggressions are not explicitly made slights against someone, but are rather perceived attacks. It's not right for Christians to try and find sin in someone when it is not explicitly clear, (Matthew 7:2-3), nor is it right for a Christian to try to make out whether what someone did is sinful, if they cannot clearly perceive that sin through Scripture (1 Corinthians 4:6). It may even be possible that what one person perceives as an attack against them might actually be a Biblical truth being given to them for their training in righteousness; especially if it is given through a ministry.
• Barnes: "Lord, grant me, then, the permission and desire to hate the White people who claim the progressive labels but who are really wolves in sheep's clothing."
• For Barnes to say that people who claim to support liberal ideals but really do not are wolves in sheep's clothing is misappropriation of God's Word. Jesus says that it is false prophets who "come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves," (Matthew 7:15). He is not speaking about people who support the stances of a political party. To misspeak on a Bible verse in conversation is a bad thing, but to be someone who says they have studied the Bible and then misidentifies the meaning of a Biblical phrase is a much worse thing. This is why it is written, "Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly," (James 3:1).

Chanequa Walker-Barnes,
author of "Prayer of a Weary Black Woman"

• Barnes: "Lord if it be your will, harden my heart. Stop me from striving to see the best in people."
• A Christian should never pray for God to harden their heart, for to pray such a prayer would be for them to ask God to release them from His grace and mercy. The Lord says, "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh," (Ezekiel 36:26). No one from whom God has removed their heart of stone should ask God to put it back in them. "If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed," (John 8:36).
• For Barnes to ask that God will help her to stop seeing the good in people is for her to ask God to help her to stop loving others, as love "always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres," (1 Corinthians 13:7). Christians should not pray this to God, as it is Him who said, "I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven...If you love those who love you, what reward will you get?... And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect" (Matthew 5:44-48).
• Barnes: "Let me see [White people] as hopelessly unrepentant."
• It is sinful for anyone to ask for such a prejudicial mindset. A Biblically based God honoring prayer will not feature someone asking to sin. To claim that any group of people or any person is without hope of salvation is blatant blasphemy against the saving power of the cross. Any wicked person who repents of their sin and comes to Christ can be forgiven of their sin. Jesus says, "All those the Father gives Me will come to Me, and whoever comes to Me I will never drive away" (John 6:37). Paul wrote of Christ's saving power, "Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners - of whom I am the worst," (1 Timothy 1:15).
• Barnes: "Free me from this burden of calling them to confession and repentance. Grant me a Get Out of Judgment Free card if I make White people the exception to your commandment to love our neighbors as we love ourselves."
• Barnes is explicitly requesting that she not be convicted by God's command to all believers to "go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit," (Matthew 28:19). To ask to be released from this command (even concerning one group of people) is for a Christian to ask that God will be done with them and remove them from the earth. It is not God's desire to remove any of His children from the earth, when they could still be witnesses to the lost (John 17:15).
• Barnes asserts that God freeing her from needing to love her neighbor will save her from God's judgement. It is wrong for her to believe this. If someone could save themselves from God's judgement by loving their neighbour, then they could save themselves through their own works. This is not the case, "for it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9). What saves someone from God's judgement is believing in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ (John 3:18).
• Barnes: "Thus in the spirits of Fannie and Ida and Pauli and Ella and Septima and Coretta, I pray and press on, in love. Amen."
• Through this conclusion, Barnes is demonstrating to believers that can pray in the name of Christ but also the names of various African American activists. A Christian should never pray in the spirit of any human leader, as humans have no power to do what only God can do. Christians should pray in the name of the Lord their God only, as God "is a jealous God," (Exodus 34:14). Jesus says, "This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven hallowed be Your name,"" and His name only (Matthew 6:9).

From Barnes' words, it appears her primary message through her prayer is to imply that racist people are beyond repentance; the sin of being racist is unforgivable. It is true that God commands His children to "stop judging by mere appearances, but instead judge correctly," (John 7:24). It is true that God is not impartial towards any person nor does He show favoritism towards anyone, (Romans 2:11) so Christians should know that if they show partiality or favoritism to one group of people or another they are sinning (James 2:9). This is how the Bible defines the sin of racism and prejudice, and it is this sin that can lead people to be greedy, take advantage of others and become idolaters of themselves. Even so the Word of God says there is forgiveness for such people. It is written, "Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God," (1 Corinthians 6:9-11). No living human is beyond repentance. No human is outside of the love of Christ, so why should we pray that we treat them as if they were?

Will you love me if I'm dirty and I've lost my way

Till the blood is washed me white and I'm no longer grey

If I don't need your approval will you let me stay, and pray for me

- Kirk Franklin

So, if what Barnes prayed about racists is largely anti-Biblical (even heretical) when compared with Scripture, how then is a Christian supposed to pray for racists? 

A Christian should pray for those who offend them, the same way Jesus prayed for all sinners on the cross, when He said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing," (Luke 23:34). A Christian should pray for their enemies and those they dislike, because God has called them to do so (Matthew 5:44-48). A Christian should lament for their suffering, but they should contribute their situation of suffering to the will of God (Lamentations 1:12). A Christian should pray for a wicked person to repent and put their trust in Jesus Christ alone, as Peter prayed that everyone who heard him would repent of their sins and receive forgiveness (Acts 2:38). A Christian should pray that they will not begin to act in the wicked ways that they see others doing, because they know that "good itself does not dwell in [them], that is, in [their] sinful nature. For [they] have the desire to do what is good, but [they] cannot carry it out," (Romans 7:18). A Christian should pray that God will have mercy on them for their sins (Matthew 17:15). A Christian should not pray for God to destroy their enemies and be quick to anger, because God will rebuke a request like that (Jonah 4:1-4). A Christian should pray that they be given the strength to live as a child of God, even when they are suffering and afflicted (Phillipians 4:13).

The best way for Christians to keep themselves from the sins of racism and prejudice is to dwell on God's Word, where it is written, "there is no difference between Jew and Gentile - the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on Him," (Romans 10:12). Christians should not desire to hate one group or another. Rather, Christians should love the world, as God loves the world (John 3:16). 

Don't be fooled by Barnes' prayer, or any prayers similar. These kinds of prayers are not God honoring, but are instead people pleasing. If the world likes what you are praying (by making it a bestseller), then what you are praying is against God. Don't you know "friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God," (James 4:4). The world will not embrace anything Godly, because the world hates God and hates all of those who follow Him (John 15:19). It is written, "Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe," (Proverbs 29:25). Christians should not be led astray by the beliefs that please the world, but should focus on God's Word and His will (Romans 12:2). Christians should follow Jesus Christ and imitate and listen to Him alone.

I listen to the Trumpet of Jesus

While the world hears a different sound

I march to the drumbeat of God Almighty

While the others just wander around

I'm a member of the Holy Ghost traveling band

We're moving on up to a better land

I hear the voice of a Supernatural Singer

Like only those who know Him can

- The Imperials

Sources

• The Bible (New International Version)
• A Rhythm of Prayer
• Not the Bee: Best Selling Devotional about Hating White People
• Newsweek: Help me Hate White People
• ReligionNews: Some Christians want Target to Stop Carrying this Best Seller
• WWUTT: Microaggressions
• Open Bible Info: Racism
• Kirk Franklin: Pray for Me
• The Imperials: The Trumpet of Jesus

Ephesians 5:20 "Always Give Thanks to God"

 

Ephesians 5:20

always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Back in the days when the Bible was written, Paul wrote a letter to Ephesus and in that letter he wrote a lot about what it means to be a child of God. If you are a believer, and have put your faith in Jesus Christ as the sole forgiver of your sins, then you are a child of God (Romans 10:13). Paul writes in his letter to Ephesus that children of God are blessed, chosen and made blameless in God's sight (Ephesians 1:4). Later on in his letter Paul writes about what seperates a child of God filled with the Holy Spirit from the rest of the world that is filled with darkness; what are the attributes a child of God should display that those of the world cannot. Here is what Paul writes of children of God in Ephesians chapter 5 from verses 15 to 20:

Be very careful, then, how you live-not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

There is a lot of importance and truth here that Paul has written inspired by the Spirit of Truth (2 Timothy 3:16), however I would like to bring your attention to the last sentence of this paragraph: "Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Ephesians 5:19-20). From this sentence it is clear that if you are a child of God, then you should sing to the Lord and always give thanks to God for everything.

So, what does that look like? Let's look at the two halves of this sentence in reverse order.

Ephesisans chapter 5 verse 20 says we should give thanks to God for everything. Most believers have heard before that they should "give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever" (Psalm 107:1), but what Paul writes goes a step further than this. He writes that children of God should give thanks to God not just because He is good, but that they should give thanks to Him for everything. When you think about it, God is in control of everything that happens on earth, (Proverbs 19:21) and so He is the provider of everything that comes your way and mine.

Everything that comes our way comes by the sovereignty of God, and so we should always thank Him for everything. This is why children who grow up in Christian households learn at a young age to pray for their food, because they are thanking God for the meal He has given them. Beyond our meals, we should thank God for all of our friends and our family. We should thank God for every single day that He has made (Psalm 118:24). We should thank God for all the TV shows and movies He has allowed us to watch and by which we are entertained. We should thank God for every sunset He makes. We should thank God for every painting that He has allowed to hang in a gallery of public or private nature. We should thank God for the churches that He has brought up from the ground, so that believers may gather in them. We should thank God for everything in this world that we like.

Let's not stop there, though, as we should thank God for the things in this world we don't like. We should thank God for every opportunity He has taken away from us (Job 1:21). We should thank God for every storm and hurricane He has sent our way (Job 37:11-13). We should thank God for every friend and family member that He has led away from us. We should thank God for every sickness and weakness He gives us (John 9:1-3). We should thank God for every time someone else has been admired or received favor, when we thought we should have gotten it. We should thank God for every time we have not been glorified. We should do this, because God has revealed to us that "all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose" (Romans 3:28).

Remember God deserves thanks for all things. He will be glorified above all things, because of how He has orchestrated all things. He uses everything in life that we perceive as good and everything we perceive as bad to happen all for His glory. For it is written in the Scriptures that one day God's host shall sing of Him, "You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for You created all things, and by Your will they were created and have their being,” (Revelation 4:11).

When we understand that we are to thank God for everything in our lives (the good and the bad/the liked and the disliked), our hearts will be filled with joy for His namesake. With this joy that comes from the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22) we will be able to "sing and make music from [our] heart to the Lord," (Ephesians 5:19). When we are always thankful for everything God gives us, we will always have a joy in our hearts to sing to Him. "Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before Him with thanksgiving and extol Him with music and song" (Psalm 95:1-2). With thanksgiving for God and all He has done, let us sing to Him!

Give thanks to the Lord, our God and King

His love endures forever

For He is good, He is above all things

His love endures forever

Sing praise, sing praise

Forever, God is faithful

Forever, God is strong

Forever, God is with us

Forever

- Chris Tomlin

Sources

• The Bible (New International Version)
• Open Bible Info: Giving Thanks
• Open Bible Info: Singing
• Chris Tomlin: Forever

What's a Bad Defense on Judgement Day?

Disclaimer: The following post is written from a satirical perspective for the rhetorical purpose of illustrating the foolishness behind arguments against God's sense of justice and righteous judgement. The author character of "Swindleman" the demon lawyer is completely fictitious, and was created by my imagination for the purpose of drawing readers' attention to particular Biblical texts. Thank you.

To the Unbeliever this Concerns:

I'm sure by now, considering your many miserable years on this earth, that you are aware you're going to die. Well, I've got some news for you. That day you're going to die is...let's say coming down the tracks faster than you'd like. I'm sure knowing that your entire life on this single blue marble in the vast expanse of space is coming to a complete end will meet you with some reprieve. Well, then forgive me (though I know you can't) for what I'm about to tell you. Your life is going to go on long after your death.

Let me catch you up to speed on it all: Turns out, if you believe it or not (and I know you don't) that there is a god, and not just any god. It's that one you hate hearing about more than any other. It's the God of the Christians. As it turns out, He's the only one in control of everything (Job 42:2). To my disdain, as I am sure it is to yours, He runs the show. What's worse is He's the only one running the show. There's no Brahman, Buhda, Allah or even Thor (James 2:19). And believe me when I say you'd rather have your man Zeus reigning over you, than the God who is currently in charge.

When you die, human, you will unfortunately be judged (Hebrews 9:27). And that aggrandizing self-promoting God is going to be your judge (Isaiah 33:22). He's going to knit-pick your entire life for every stupid little sinful mess-up you ever committed (Revelation 20:13), and He's going to hold all of them against you, as if they were crimes committed against the highest being in all of eternity. As far as He's concerned, unbeliever, He's already got you marked for His wrath (John 3:18). He's going to send you, the sweet hearted above average human being you are as per your standards, to hell; the bad place (Revelation 20:15). You're not that bad of a guy, now are you? But He's just a stingy God, who doesn't want to admire all your good deeds (Isaiah 64:6). He doesn't want to give you a chance at getting out of hell, other than having to go through Him (1 John 1:9).

Who does He think He is? Why do the heavens keep calling Him the righteous judge (Psalm 50:6)? Why should a God like that be your judge? I know you believe that's just not fair. Still, He is the judge, and you'd better realize you're going to need some good counsel when you're in His court. You've had your chance to get the kind of lawyer God gives to Christians (Job 16:19), but you've certainly rejected that advocate time and time again. You can't get the best lawyer, but you don't have to give up on getting your justice.

This is exactly why I am writing to you. You can consider me the second best lawyer in all of the heavenly courts. I've never missed a day in court, and I'm always there to represent my clients. The judge has always heard me out. I speak on behalf of your heart, which I believe is not as warped and beyond repair as He says it is (Jeremiah 17:9). I believe you're a good person. You believe you're a good person. I'm sure you'll want me to represent you before God. You can trust me. I am a heaven-sent for you; your guardian angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14). You have my word, for what it's worth.

Now, before your day in court comes, let me give you some advice free of charge about a few...let's call them, claims you can make that won't hold up in court (and I for one am just tired of hearing the same old same old from my clients). 

 

First off, I would suggest not saying that you haven't heard about God before. The stars and the skies do nothing but keep on talking about Him, and it's driving all of my kind crazy (Psalm 19:1-2). I know it's driving you crazy too.

Secondly, I beg you not to present the old, "But I don't believe in God," rambling you humans often do, unless you want to be embarrassed in the highest court in all of eternity. Nothing shuts up those people's ramblings like looking at the God who made them right in His eyes (Psalm 139:13-16). Oh, it's quite hilarious to watch, until those people became my clients. He doesn't call Himself "I AM" for nothing (Exodus 3:14), so please don't become another one trying to say, "He isn't."

Another thing you're not going to want to say to Him, and I don't want to hear it again, is that you should get into Heaven because you called yourself a Christian. I don't want to see anymore tears from people begging Him to let them into His home just because they did some nice stuff, went to church occasionally, and claimed they did it all in His name. He won't open His doors to that kind of groveling (Matthew 7:21-23). Besides if you really were a Christian, then you wouldn't be getting this letter from a demon interested in your case. You'd be reading something else; those letters from Paul (2 Timothy 2:15), and in reading you'd understand you have all the assurance you need to know you are saved (Romans 8:1).

While we're on the subject, let's not have you become another whining sinner saying you were too bad a person to be saved. My ears will burst, if I have to listen to one more weeping brat saying they were a hopeless and lost cause. Let me put a stop to that now, by saying Peter blasphemed Jesus Christ and he still was given authority to take care of God's children (John 21:15-19). If that arrogant, loud mouthed, wicked little fisherman, who three times denied God, could be restored and renewed by just the words of Jesus, then no one sinner is a hopeless cause.

If you do lose your case, and you have to get sent to hell, don't grit your teeth and start lashing out at God for His judgement over you. You think you look cool, but no one is going to want to be your friend after that (Proverbs 22:24). All an angry guy does is bring a bunch of headache on themselves, (Proverbs 29:22) and you'll already have enough of a headache from the torment you'll suffer where you're going. For my sake, just don't become another guy gritting their teeth or a sob story bawling their eyes out, while they're in hell. Everyone else in hell is already doing that, (Luke 13:28) so if you got to go, try to be original.

One last thing, don't try to give God any excuses. He just keeps saying over and over again; "I've come so now they have no excuse for their sin," (John 15:22) "My authority has been clearly seen, so everyone is without excuse," (Romans 1:20), "You have no excuse, because you passed judgement on so many people while you were alive that you are condemning yourself by your own standards," (Romans 2:1). Augh! I'm tired of hearing it. So, for me, will you please not present any excuses?

I'm sure it might seem difficult, maybe even impossible, to win your case in God's court, now that you know what you really shouldn't do. Don't lose your trust in me just yet, because I am sure that there is a chance for you; you big self-righteous sinner. I am committed to this belief, that there has to be a way to get you into heaven, without believing in salvation through Jesus. He cannot be the way, the truth and the life like He continuously says He is,(John 14:6). We can be the ones who live amongst His children, without having to go through Him (John 10:1). I hate Him, and you hate Him, (John 15:18) so we've got to find a way to the good place around Him. Of course, He'll just keep on saying that only those who believe in Him get to be His children and have a seat at His house (John 1:12).

It's because of my beliefs, as well as yours, unbeliever, that I have dedicated my eternity before my own judgement (Revelation 20:10) to ensuring that you receive your self-proclaimed just reward, anything but eternal conscious torment (Mark 9:48). You owe it to yourself to get the justice you deserve.

Yours flamingly,

Swindleman

Here's my card. Look me up, and see my credentials.

Sources

• The Bible (New International Version)
• Knowing Jesus: God is Judge
• John Macarthur: People in hell never repent
• Open Bible Info: Demons

Matthew 28:1-10 (He has Risen)

 

Matthew 28:1-10

After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, 

Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.

There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord 

came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, 

rolled back the stone and sat on it. 

His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 

The guards were so afraid of him 

that they shook and became like dead men.

The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, 

for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 

He is not here; 

He has risen, 

just as He said. Come and see the place where He lay. 

Then go quickly and tell His disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead

 and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see Him.’ 

Now I have told you.” So the women hurried away from the tomb, 

afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell His disciples. 

Suddenly Jesus met them. 

“Greetings,” He said. 

They came to Him, 

clasped His feet 

and worshiped Him.  

Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. 

Go and tell My brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see Me.”

Like a slow sunrise, the first Easter morning started in a dark place; in shadow.

Then God's heavenly soliders, the angels, came to shake things up in our world.

Obedient to God, they rolled the stone over Jesus' tomb away.

They had to make a straight path for the Lord to travel (Mark 1:3).

They saw it was dark, but they knew the Son of Man would rise.

Then onto the scene come humans, us who are a little lower than the angels (Psalm 8:5).

And to a group of women, those who will bear the seeds of generations, the angels speak.

The angels say plainly that they came looking for a dead man, but they won't find Him here.

"Why do you look for the living among the dead?" (Luke 24:5)

No one will ever find Jesus, our Lord and Savior, among the dead, because He is not there.

He is risen!

Look for Him among the living, because He is alive!

The world says that death is a certainty in life, but when the women heard this, it wasn't anymore.

They shook with fear at the truth of life beyond the grave.

They were filled with joy knowing death is not the end.

It will be just as Jesus said,

"“Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming 

when all who are in their graves will hear [the Father's] voice 

and come out.

Those who have done what is good will rise 

to live, 

and those who have done what is evil will rise 

to be condemned" (John 5:28-29).

They believed that death had been defeated, and that Jesus was alive!

And then they saw Him.

The Son of Man had risen.

He said to them,

"Good morning!"

As if it were any other day.

It wasn't just any other day.

That day more than any before really was a good morning.

That is the good news of the morning.

That is the good news of every morning.

Good morning!

He is risen!

Source

• The Bible (New International Version)

Why did Jesus not want to go to the Cross?

Do you know why Jesus did not want to go to the cross? This is not a trick question. I'm not purposefully trying to mislead. There's no extra semantics behind these words. I'm asking if you understand why it was that Jesus did not want to go to the cross.

On the night before Jesus died He and His disciples went to the garden of Gethsemane. In that garden Jesus went away from His disciples, so that He could pray. As it is recorded in the Word of God, there is only one thing Jesus prayed that night. We read about it in the gospel of Matthew where it says, "Going a little farther, He fell with His face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from Me. Yet not as I will, but as You will"" (26:39). Jesus prayed this same prayer three times (Matthew 26:42, 44). The gospel of Luke writes about this same prayer describing the anguish and the physical pain in which Jesus was, as He prayed. We read in Luke chapter 22 from verses 39 to 44:

Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and His disciples followed Him. On reaching the place, He said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, “Father, if You are willing, take this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done.” An angel from heaven appeared to Him and strengthened Him. And being in anguish, He prayed more earnestly, and His sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.

The name Gethsemane means "to press," and it was in that garden
where Jesus was pressed so much His blood dripped out.

Jesus prayed in such anguish that His Father sent an angel to comfort Him. He was so distraught by what was about to happen that He began to sweat blood. This is a rare medical condition known as hematidrosis, and studies state it occurs in someone when their "fight or flight" instinct is deeply triggered; when someone is warring against their urge to escape from turmoil. What turmoil did Jesus struggle to face? It was the cup that He prayed would be taken from Him (Mark 14:36). It was His death that He prophesied (John 12:31-33). It was the cross.

Why did Jesus not want to go to the cross? If we think about the cross as simply the way in which Jesus died, this question doesn't make much sense. Jesus Himself said, "I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in Me will live, even though they die" (John 11:25), so it seems bizarre (even somewhat hypocritical) that Jesus would not want to die. He knew that His death would not be the end of His life, because "whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16), and who could have believed in Jesus more than Himself? Jesus even spoke through parables that when a righteous man dies they are immediately brought up to heaven (Luke 16:22), and Jeus knew after He died He would be going to heaven (Luke 23:43). Moreso it appears foolish for Jesus to be afraid of His death to the point of wanting to not suffer, as it was Him who said, "Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell" (Matthew 10:28). So, what's going on here?

What's going on is that Jesus was a human; fully God and fully man (Hebrews 2:17). Humans are afflicted with temptation, and every temptation appeals to a human's sinful desires, the desires of the flesh. Scripture says, "the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want" (Galatians 5:17), and Jesus' flesh and Spirit were in conflict that night. His flesh wanted so much to run away from the cross and not look back, but His Spirit warred against those earthly desires for the sake of His Father's desires, for "it was the LORD's will to crush Him and cause Him to suffer," (Isaiah 53:10a). Understand it was God's will for His one and only son to not only die on a cross but suffer every last torment and blow Jesus endured all through the night, into the morning and then to conclude on the afternoon of Good Friday. Thank God that His will was accomplished that day. Praise the Lord and Savior of the world that He did not run away, but instead conquered the desires of His flesh so that He could stay and endure all the pain, evil and anguish of His death until at last He could cry, "It is finished," (John 19:30).

Were you there when they crucified my Lord?

Were you there when they crucified my Lord?

Oh! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.

Were you there when they crucified my Lord?

- The Seldom Scene

Because Jesus did not flee from the cross, what did He suffer? You see, the crucifixion of Jesus Christ was like no other death in history (past, present or future). Even if someone were to endure the same physical pain that was unjustly brought upon Jesus (which includes being flogged (Matthew 27:26), having His head pierced with thorns (John 19:2), having His bones pulled out of joint (Psalm 22:14), being stricken so much that His bones were visible (Psalm 22:17)), they still would not, nor could they ever endure what was the true nature of all of Jesus' pain. It is written in the Scriptures that anyone who hangs upon a cross is cursed (Deuteronomy 21:23), and the curse Jesus faced was like no other.

The pain Jesus suffered on the cross had no word for it at the time,
so a new word was created to describe Christ's suffering, and that
word is excruciating, which in Latin means "out of the Cross".

To understand the true curse Jesus was under on the cross, we have to examine the cup that Jesus prayed would pass from Him. This cup did not first appear in the Biblical texts at Jesus' prayer in Gethsemane. It appeared hundreds of years before back in the Old Testament. There was a prophet named Jeremiah to whom the LORD spoke, and one day He told Jeremiah, "Take from My hand this cup filled with the wine of My wrath and make all the nations to whom I send you drink it. When they drink it, they will stagger and go mad because of the sword I will send among them" (Jeremiah 25:15-16). Jeremiah writes that he did take that cup to all of the kings of Israel and the neighboring nations, yet none of them could drink it. The kings knew to drink it would "make them a ruin and an object of horror and scorn, a curse," (Jeremiah 25:18). God said that anyone who did not drink it, would be told to drink it and if they did not drink it they would not go unpunished (Jeremiah 25:27-29). It is written in the Scriptures, "In the hand of the Lord is a cup full of foaming wine mixed with spices; He pours it out, and all the wicked of the earth drink it down to its very dregs" (Psalm 75:8). None of the kings to which the cup was given could drink it, and so all the nations were punished.

That cup from God's hand was God's wrath against sin, and the punishment for sin is death (Romans 6:23a). Following death those who are wicked will be sent away from the goodness of God and into a place known as hell (Luke 13:28). God does not turn a blind eye to sin, and so it is wise to say, "God will bring into judgment both the righteous and the wicked, for there will be a time for every activity, a time to judge every deed," (Ecclesiastes 3:17). Whoever God judges a sinner is one who will be under His wrath, as surely as it is written, "The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness," (Romans 1:18). We are all sinners (Romans 3:23). We all deserve God's wrath. We all deserve to drink God's cup, yet none of us can.

It was the Father's will that the cup of His wrath should be given in full
to His son, so that no one else would have to drink it, which is
mercy and grace like none of us could ever know apart from God.

Who is it who has drank this cup, so that no one else will have to? Who is it who suffered the fullness of God's wrath, so that no human will have to endure it? What man took on such pain, torment and anguish that no man has ever experienced nor will ever experience? Who did this, so that we could be set free from our sin debt to God? Who is it?

It is Jesus the Christ who died to take upon the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2), so that anyone who believes in Him shall never be under the punishment of God (Romans 8:1-2). It was for our sake that "God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God," (2 Corinthians 5:21). It is Jesus Christ alone!

In Christ alone! - who took on flesh,

Fullness of God in helpless babe.

This gift of love and righteousness,

Scorned by the ones He came to save

Till on that cross as Jesus died,

The wrath of God was satisfied

For every sin on Him was laid

Here in the death of Christ I live.

- Stuart Townend

Believe in Jesus Christ's life and sacrifice for you, so that you may live. Know that "whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them," (John 3:36). This is the love God has shown us through the cross. It is written, "God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by His blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!" (Romans 5:8-9).

Sources

• The Bible (New International Version)
• Got Questions: The Cup Jesus Drank
• WebMD: Hematidrosis
• That the World May Know: Gethsemane Meaning
• Johnny Cash: Were you There
• Truth Chasers: Excruciating
• Open Bible Info: God's Wrath Poured out on Jesus
• Newsboys: In Christ Alone