From Darkness to Light

My friend and nemesis (now there's an oxymoron!) GMPilot, has started a thread at my message board on the topic of the movie "The Golden Compass" which is derived from author Philip Pullman's "The Dark Trilogy" novels.

He also hinted that perhaps I should get away from my "Obama" and "Expelled" rants. heh heh

Anyway, here is his post:

Although I'm quite an omnivorous reader, there are some things I don't read: horror novels (I find Stephen King ultimately boring), "bodice-rippers", westerns (excepting always Zane Grey), and fantasy stories. In science fiction, there's usually plausible-sounding (and often possible) theories behind the universe's science; in fantasy, things just are.

In practice, this means I pass right by the shelves containing Tolkien, Lackey, and Moorcock on my way to Niven, Weber and Ringo.

As a result, I never heard of the His Dark Materials trilogy until last autumn, when I read your rant against it on your blogsite. The release of the movie based on Book 1 of the trilogy was imminent, and the publishers of the books were moving in concert with that. I saw copies of the books bound into a large trade paperback, prominently displayed in a number of places--not all of them bookstores. Normally I'd have passed them by, too, but by then I'd read your screed, so I stopped to look.

The publishers tried to pass the trilogy off as sci-fi, but in most places I saw it in the "fantasy" section--or the "young adult" section, next to the translated manga (Japanese comics). Booksellers know their customers' heads.

I decided to find out more about the movie before I chose to spend $6.50 or whatever on it. I was certain that since it was aimed at the same demographic as "Narnia 1", it would be of little interest to me. I did learn quite a bit more about the film, but as things turned out, I never did see it.

A friend gave me the trilogy as a Christmas gift. By this time I'd heard most of the smack: how "subversive" it was, how "anti-Catholic", that it had a reputation as "the anti-Narnia", and all that. Now that I had the story in my hands, I decided to learn not only the facts, but the truth.

Now, The Golden Compass is in release on DVD. I'll be picking it up in a day or two, and find out if it was worthy of all this hoopla-- especially from you, Christine, and that gentleman whose writing you so lovingly quoted.

I know you've got a lot on your plate, what with slicing pieces off Senator Obama and trumpeting the 'triumph' of Expelled, but if you can take time out for this, I'll try to set you straight.

Hey, there's always Narnia 2 ("Prince Caspian") due this summer to chill out with.

GM also pointed out my previous blog post, Warning: Avoid "Dark Materials" Trilogy.

A few days ago, I noticed that the "Compass" movie was out on DVD. What is particularly disturbing to me (as is mentioned in my previous post about it) is how the author intentionally targeted the movie towards children - encouraging them towards atheism.

I wonder. How many unsuspecting parents picked up that DVD thinking that it might just be an entertaining, harmless movie for their children? Anyone know the rating on it? Is it PG-13?

Here is my reply to GM's post:

It is so weird that you brought up the topic of "horror" novels....and specifically mentioned Stephen King! Yesterday, I was looking out my kitchen window and thought about that fiction horror writer. But let me backtrack a bit.

This happened just after taking our puggle dog for a walk. It was as close as I have ever seen of a perfect day! Warm, sunny, comfortable temperature. Clear, pollution-free blue sky. When I got to the top of the cul-de-sac, I could clearly see all of the homes nestled along the hills, far in the distance. Not a cloud in the sky! A gentle breeze was blowing and the palm trees were rustling. During this walk, I began to imagine that this must have been similar to what it was like in the Garden of Eden. Paradise!


Upon returning home, I looked out the window at all the greenery and the beautiful roses growing on the bushes. I noticed that some of the roses were dying and needed to be cut down.

The thought of how evil and sin spoiled God's original intent for us to live forever in paradise crossed my mind at that point. We weren't originally meant to die. Our souls have been created to live forever. Our bodies would have too - if it were not for evil and sin.

That reminded me of Stephen King and his horror novels. I wondered why a person would want to think up such terrible things and write books about them. I thought that it must be a result of a dark mind.

Anyway, I won't be watching "The Golden Compass" nor reading any of the "Trilogy" novels. Not interested.

To each their own...I guess.

I am looking forward to Narnia 2.

One thing that I can agree about is that Pullman certainly labeled his "Dark Materials" Trilogy accurately!

Check out all of the meaning in that word, "Dark".

These definitions apply quite well:

1. having very little or no light: a dark room.
2. radiating, admitting, or reflecting little light: a dark color.

10. evil; iniquitous; wicked: a dark plot.
11. destitute of knowledge or culture; unenlightened.

dark'ish adj., dark'ly adv., dark'ness n.
These adjectives indicate the absence of light or clarity. Dark, the most widely applicable, can refer to insufficiency of illumination for seeing

Contrast that term with the term "Light."

However, the most important descriptions of the term "Light" are in the Bible, especially when describing Jesus Christ!

John 8:12 - Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

John 9:5 - As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world."

John 1:9 - The true light that enlightens every man was coming into the world.

John 1:4 - In him was life, and the life was the light of men.

John 1:5 - The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

John 12:46 - I have come as light into the world, that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.

2 Corinthians 4:6 - For it is the God who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

Acts 26:18 - to open their eyes, that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.'

Revelation 21:23 - And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine upon it, for the glory of God is its light, and its lamp is the Lamb.

Revelation 22:5 - And night shall be no more; they need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they shall reign for ever and ever.


HT: GMPilot from Talk Wisdom message board.

The Hopelessness of Life Without Christ

In this thread, I asked a commenter named David:

What's your destiny, David?

November 20, 2007 4:03:00 PM PST

His reply:

You're curious about my "destiny" are you? Well, Christine, my destiny is exactly the same as yours. We are both biological animals created by evolutionary processes that are well-explained, and proven, using science and logic. This evolutionary history explains not only our moral and social development but also explains the advent of religion. Religion as a cultural institution, was created by natural evolutionary processes to address our fear of death. Without this fear of death, we would likely not have survived as a species -- it gives us a distinct evolutionary advantage. It has also motivated us to build communities, start agriculture, and eventually create civilization. I understand that your fear of death is so consuming you will suspend logic and reason to believe in mythological beings such as "God". But no matter how much you try, you will someday die just like the rest of us. And when we die, that is it. We no longer exist. Our time on this planet has expired to make room for other evolutionary life to flourish. Some of us, namely atheists, have a more advanced moral development and do not live our lives in fear of death.

I'm sure in response you will try to tell me how wrong I am and how these mythological characters from a 3,000 year old book will try to punish me (a book, btw, written by slave-owning polygamists). I hate to disappoint you, however, as I have as much fear of "God" as I do the Easter Bunny, Santa Claus, or the Tooth Fairy.

We are now quickly approaching a time in human history where religion has accepted defeat against truth and science. It is a war that religion has been loosing for 300 years now. You and your children represent the last Christian generation that will enjoy majority status. Only about 10-30% of American children are choosing Christianity as adults. A new study (search Religion News Service for details) of Americans age 18-29 demonstrated that 91% view Christianity as "anti-gay" and another 85% view it as hypocritical. Christians are doing an EXCELLENT job of ensuring their future irrelevancy. And this atheist couldn't be happier about it.
Happy Thanksgiving!! ;)

November 20, 2007 6:40:00 PM PST

David,

You have placed your faith in Darwinism and appear to have a certainty regarding your final destiny.

Evolution cannot address the reality of our eternal souls.

The Bible, Jesus Christ, and Christian faith informs us of the fact that there is life after death. Depending upon whom one places their faith (in your case, Darwin) in this life determines the ultimate destiny of the soul in eternity.

Perhaps you might be familiar with the humanist Bertrand Russell. In his book Why I Am Not a Christian, Russell writes:

Man is the product of causes which had no prevision of the end they were achieving,...his origin, his growth, his hopes and fears, his loves and his beliefs are but the outcome of accidental connocations of atoms,...no fire, no heroism, no intensity of thought and feeling can preserve an individual life beyond the grave, and...all the labor of the ages, all the devotion, all of the inspiration, all the noonday brightness of human genius are destined to extinction in the vast death of the solar system. The whole temple of man's achievement must inevitably be buried beneath the debris of a universe in ruins. All these things, if not quite beyond dispute, are yet so nearly certain that no philosophy that rejects them can hope to stand. Only within the scaffolding of these truths, only on the firm foundation of unyielding despair can the soul's habitation henceforth be safely built.

Now...that's a rant on hopelessness and utter despair if I've ever read one!

Contrast such a belief with what the great philosopher Immanuel Kant wrote:

...life without an afterlife, like the marathon runner with no finish line, would be an absurd and meaningless joke. It would be, as Shakespeare so eloquently put it, "a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing."

Kant reasoned from the point of ethics. Everyone, he says, realizes right and wrong exist. Without ethics, life becomes meaningless and chaotic. Ethics, however, he reasoned, depend ultimately on justice. Why should we do right rather than wrong if there is no such thing as justice? If justice does exist, then there must be a life beyond death, because it's quite obvious that in this world evil people often prosper and the good suffer.

Kant didn't stop with an afterlife. This afterlfe, where justice is dispensed, must be ruled over by a great Judge. This Judge, unlike human judges, must be absolutely perfect in His knowledge. Therefore, He must be omniscient - knowing all facts, circumstances, and motives - if He is to judge justly. Once He has judged, He must also be omnipotent. He must have the power to enforce His ruling. That, of course, sounds very much like the Christian God, doesn't it? Kant said that without all this, life is meaningless. (fn1)


Did you know that you can know for sure that when you die, you will go to heaven? Here is what the Bible says:

"These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God" (1 John 5:13).

The brilliant scientist, Michael Faraday, the discoverer of magnetism, was asked on his deathbed, "Sir Michael, what speculations do you have about life after death?"

He replied in astonishment, "Speculation! Why, I have no speculations! I'm resting on certainties! 'I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day.'" Only in Christianity is there such certainty, and this certainty is based on the veracity of God's Word. (fn2)

I have been studying the Bible for 21 years. Each and every year of study has solidified my certainty that Jesus Christ is whom he claims to be. The Messiah, Son of the living God, Savior, King of kings, and Lord of Lords.

Biblical Christian faith is a reasonable faith, based on an historical person named Jesus Christ whose death, burial and resurrection is a proven fact of history. God's Word points to the coming of the Messiah in the Old Testament, and the New Testament reveals Him. Most of the over 300 prophecies written about the coming Messiah in the OT were fulfilled by Jesus Christ. The rest will be fulfilled at his Second Coming. The odds of one Man fulfilling such a large amount of prophecies is astronomical and the revelation of all of these prophecies is unique only to the Bible.

Jesus performed many miracles (the miracle of the resurrection to life being the point and destiny of his mission) during his three year ministry on earth. Over 500 people saw the risen Lord over the course of 40 (I think) days.

I think that 500 witnesses to someone's resurrection from the dead would stand up in any court testimony no matter how many years ago it happened.

The life of Jesus Christ proves that God exists. Christ also had surprising character witnesses, including, some secular detractors who could not negate the reality of his existence, life, death and resurrection to life eternal. Several wrote about his life after the resurrection.

The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is the hope of the world. He overcame the problem of evil, sin, pain, and death; pointing to life eternal with God in heaven for those who believe in Him. He is the only way to be reconciled back to God the Father.

The question is who needs a savior?

The answer is everyone.

Why?

Because we all sin and fall short of the glory of God. If you are spiritually lost, you need the Savior.

No matter what happens in this world, even when all is dark, it's wonderful to know that my faith is built on historical facts and that those who went before me found the faith to hold up to death itself.

As Christian believers, it is precisely because the Bible is true and because we love and belong to God, that we should all examine our lives and our goals and the way we live. Our foremost goal is to glorify and honor God.

How do Christians do that? D. James Kennedy summed it up when he wrote:

1. Living a life worthy of His high calling, by obedience to His commandments, including the command to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love those people God has placed in our lives.

2. Keeping close to the Lord by daily Bible reading and prayer.

3. Striving for holiness, without which no person can honor the Lord.

4. Bearing witness to others and striving to bring them into the kingdom of God.

5. Making disciples, teaching and encouraging and helping our fellow believers.

6. Keeping our spiritual eyes open to see the good deeds He has prepared for us to do, so that in reliance on the Holy Spirit, we may do them to His glory. (fn3)

Such a life as this will be glorifying to God, and so we will then be able to enjoy Him forever in heaven when our lives on this Earth are over. All of this we know through the words of the Bible, which is verified from many different angles. We can know the truth and the truth will set us free.

"If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." John 8:31b-32

Footnotes 1,2,3:

Skeptics Answered by D. James Kennedy, 1997 Multnomah Publishers, Inc.

*******
Update:

See Dr. David Jeremiah's Living a Life of Wisdom

Excellent!!

Outline for Study:

LIFE WIDE OPEN

Dr. David Jeremiah

“Living a Life of Wisdom”

Ephesians 5:15-21
Eph 5:15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise,
Eph 5:16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
Eph 5:17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
Eph 5:18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,
Eph 5:19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,
Eph 5:20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Eph 5:21 submitting to one another in the fear of God.[fn3]



November 25, 2007

I. The Wise Walk Is a Diligent Walk – Ephesians 5:15

A. Walking Diligently Keeps Us from Defection

Psalm 14:1
Romans 1:21-22
Titus 3:3-6

B. Walking Diligently Keeps Us from Disobedience

Galatians 3:1,3

C. Walking Diligently Keeps Us from Destruction

1 Timothy 6:9

II. The Walk in Wisdom Is a Disciplined Walk – Ephesians 5:16

Colossians 4:5
Ephesians 5:15-16
Psalm 90:10
Psalm 103:15-16
James 4:14
1 Chronicles 29:15
Psalm 39:5
Job 7:6
Psalm 102:3
Psalm 39:4-6

III. The Walk in Wisdom Is a Directed Walk – Ephesians 5:17

Psalm 37:4
John 7:17
Psalm 32:8
Psalm 32:9

IV. The Walk in Wisdom Is a Dynamic Walk – Ephesians 5:18-21

A. The Command to Be Filled with the Spirit

Ephesians 5:18

1. Desire to Be filled
2. Denounce Sin in Your Life
I John 1:9
3. Dedicate Yourself Fully to Christ
Romans 12:1-2

*******
Update #2:

At the end of Dr. Jeremiah's sermon, he shares:

In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word for "wisdom" meant "skill" - used to describe the skill of a craftsman. In the Bible the term wisdom means "the skill of living life successfully".

In the book of Proverbs, the term "wisdom" is used to reveal the moral and spiritual failures in our lives; as well as how to avoid them.

The apostle Paul described Jesus as being the Wisdom of God. By knowing Him, we know the very foundation of wisdom itself.

1Cr 1:24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

Without Sound Doctrine, One Can Easily Be Deceived

In a former blogpost, I emphasized that sound doctrine is crucial in our Christian walk with Jesus. I re-posted that thread at my message board, and a member named Sothenes brought up this point:

What is missing here is an understanding as to why Sound Doctrine is important. There are a lot of good verses here but there are two overall points that I would like to make.

I know people who are constantly erring in the faith and they think they are more spiritual because they are charismatic and yet they will believe in things that are constantly unscriptural and when I object, they say something like,"Why aren't we Christian?"

If we make something other than God the object of our desires, the major themes will be idolatry. Dinonysus was the god of sex so even though we don't understand sex as a god, the ancients did have them as gods.

Only the foundation of the Church (Apostles and Prophets) were given infallibility through inspiration and we can't claim that alone without scripture. We can make mistakes but scripture won't. People who try to build upon the foundation should be careful as to how they build because if it isn't scripture, it will just be a wind of doctrine that won't stand parallel to God's plumbline.

My reply:

Well put, Sothenes.

"Spirituality" does not always mean that a person is a true Christian. Jesus told us what is necessary. "You must be born again." It is only then that a person receives the Holy Spirit of God indwelling the soul. And, the work of the Holy Spirit is to lead them in understanding Scripture, as well as sanctifying them towards God's will in their lives.

The term "Christian" is misused all the time. When it is used to describe the true meaning of the label, it means "Christ in one." That only happens when the gospel message is heard, believed, and received through being born again in Christ. It cannot be faked. Perhaps some people will be fooled for a time, but God knows who is genuine. He will one day separate the "sheep from the goats" (meaning, true believers from false converts). Meanwhile, we will still evangelize, even with with the "goats" in our midst.

What you wrote here is so true:

"If we make something other than God the object of our desires, the major themes will be idolatry"

That object of idolatry can be anything. When people lift things, other people, or desires above their worship for God, it is then that they can easily decend into idolatry. Many are so self-deceived in this way, that the only hope for returning to God is to repent, confess, and ask for forgiveness for their sin. Those who love their idols don't want to do the very thing that can save them from deception. Giving up their pride of self and humbling themselves before the Lord is anathema to them.

God's Word even tells us how far their hardness of heart and refusal to repent and turn to the Lord will go; even during the Great Tribulation of the end times:

Rev 6:12 And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;


Rev 6:13 And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.


Rev 6:14 And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.


Rev 6:15 And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;


Rev 6:16 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:


Rev 6:17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?

How utterly foolish it is for people to think they can hide from God! How totally deceived and reprobate they will be to want to commit suicide rather than repent and be saved.

Where else in Scripture have we heard someone tell a believer to just "curse God and die?"

Job 2:9 Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die.

Nowhere in Scripture will you find someone telling another to "curse God and live."

Why?

Because we all have the need, if not just the desire, to be reconciled with God and live. To know and love God, and be loved by Him, despite our foolish sinfulness, is the ultimate desire of our souls. Nothing else in this world can ever satisfy our need for God.

Oh yes. Sin may be "pleasurable for a time," but ultimately we find ourselves to be "utterly wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked" because sin leads to nothing but death. Allowing sin to consume us and keep us in darkness and deception is the ultimate goal of the enemy of our souls. What he offers us is absolutely nothing but evil, sin, deception and death.

When compared to the agape love, mercy, grace and eternal life with God through Christ's gospel message, we see how ridiculous it is to be fooled by the "blue pill" of Satan.

Rev 3:17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:

Jesus' own words in Revelation 3:18-22 describe the truth (can be similarly described as being like the "red pill" of reality in the movie, The Matrix):

Rev 3:18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and [that] the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.


Rev 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.


Rev 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.


Rev 3:21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.


Rev 3:22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Favorite Bible Verses of the Day

Phl 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!

Phl 4:5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.

Phl 4:6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;

Phl 4:7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Phl 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things.

Philippians 4:4-8 NKJV

Court asked to rule Jesus' crucifixion illegal

A case on behalf of Jesus Christ has come knocking on Kenya's High Court door, lodged by a fervent Christian group that wants his conviction declared null and void and his crucifixion illegal.

read more digg story

Perhaps this is a well-meaning group of people who think that they are somehow doing good in this case, but it is certainly a misplaced idea and disturbs me for many reasons.

1. The Old Testament prophecies predicted that the Messiah would be crucified despite being innocent of the charges. To try and change "history," so to speak, is an attempt to defy the very reason why Jesus Christ came into the world in the first place!

2. There is no forgiveness of sin without the cross! I have referred to the fact that we must Beware the Cross less Gospel many times at this blog. Although this group may mean well in their courtroom efforts to claim Jesus' crucifixion illegal, they are stepping on God's Law and the Prophets by doing so. Also, they are dangerously "messing" with God's will, judgment, holiness and righteousness. It is as though they are claiming that God "made a mistake" to let Jesus be crucified for the sins of the world.

3. The groups' actions may not seem to appear (at first) to be a kind of heresy that leads to apostasy, but in light of #2 above, we can see that it could be deemed a very deceptive way to carry that out!

*******more to come later but feel free to comment*******

The Landmine of Unforgiveness

Who has not struggled with the landmine of unforgiveness? The answer has to be no one! The truth is that we all have struggled with the spirit of unforgiveness that looms all around us on a daily basis.

However, I do believe that people who are not born again in Jesus Christ are much more intensely vulnerable to the physical landmine of unforgiveness. Why? Because they are caught in the web of the spiritual deception that unforgiveness, and the related state of refusing the need for repentance, need not be dealt with in their own lives.

Let me explain.

I have been reading Dr. Charles Stanley's new book, "Landmines in the Pathway of the Believer." It is truly an excellent book and I would recommend it to all. When I reached the chapter on unforgiveness, something became more clear to me than ever before. I am going to illustrate this through the recent posts I have done on the homosexual agenda, but you could take any compromising, sinful movement and apply such "darkness of sin through deception type of agenda" towards what I will share here, too.

I have often been perplexed about why gay activists absolutely hate ex-gays and ex-gay ministries.

It seems the more I read about this ongoing battle here at Talkwisdom, at online ministry sites and at other blogs, the more intense the rage becomes.

This phenomenon used to make me question...why?

Why does the gay community have such intense hatred for ex-homosexual people; especially those who have been saved through the grace and redemption offered through Jesus Christ?

The secular humanistic "politically correct" reasons and answers to my question are blaringly obvious, of course. However, as was stated in the comment section of this post, I have often wondered why Christians are so silent on this issue.

Could it be fear?

Could it be laziness?

Could it be their own struggle with immorality?

Could it be insecurity to speak out against it and deal with it?

Could it be pride?

These are just some of the "landmines" that Stanley describes in his book that can hurt one's Christian walk and obedience to God.

So, if believers have difficulty with such issues, then what of the non-believer?

I personally think that they must have it far worse.

How could I possibly know this? Because I was once a "nominal Christian" who acted more like a "worldly" unbeliever than a follower of Jesus Christ.

What was missing from my life at the time? Answer: true faith in Jesus Christ, the gospel message of salvation and the knowledge and obedience to God's Word.

The Gospel message of the Cross exemplifies our fallen nature due to sin and the need to repent of our sins in order to receive forgiveness. It is only then that the unmerited grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and the salvation of our souls can be given.

We can't skip over our individual need to repent in order to become heirs to the kingdom of heaven and live eternally with God forever. Jesus took the punishment that we each deserved (because of our sins ) on that cross at Calvary in order to satisfy the death penalty that sin brought upon us.

God does not take sin lightly. He is the Righteous and Holy Judge of the universe. It is part of His character to keep His Holy Word.

When we, as individuals, realize the magnitude of what Christ accomplished at the cross, it is then that we can humble ourselves, repent, turn away from sin out of love for our Savior, and obey God's Word.

Jesus said, "if you love me, keep my commandments." (bold mine) Jesus would not have said that if it didn't matter how we live our lives after the moment of salvation. It is then that the sanctification process of the soul can begin. With it, the healing of our hearts through the power of experiencing God's forgiveness afforded to us through Christ Jesus takes hold in our lives. We then want, and desire to please God, not ourselves.

Selfishness becomes selflessness.

The desire to sin doesn't have it's power over us as it once did.

Keeping our eyes on Jesus, studying His Word, the Bible, and living our lives with Him indwelling our souls through the power of the Holy Spirit keeps us from our former selfish desires.

We would rather do anything than "grieve the Holy Spirit of God."

Eph 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.


Eph 4:31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:


Eph 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

I have a theory about non-believers. I would like my fellow Christian blogging friends to add any insight or comments they would like to share about this theory.

From what I have gleaned from Scripture, it appears to me that those who do not experience God's forgiveness through salvation in Jesus Christ, have a much harder time (if not impossible task) of forgiving others.

Now, I know what some will say. They will adamantly claim that they have, and can, forgive others through their own flesh without the help of God or Jesus Christ and have done so many times. That's not the kind of forgiveness that I am referring to. The forgiveness I am talking about is a spiritual forgiveness. It is one that cannot be accessed until a person humbles themselves to first receive it from God through Jesus Christ; then they are able to release it towards other people through the guidance of the Holy Spirit's indwelling within the soul.

Here's an example:

In a previous post I shared the story of a PFOX ex-gay person being persecuted by a gay activist. Here's a portion of the account:

The gays became infuriated when our ex-gay volunteers testified about leaving homosexuality. They adamantly refused to accept the ex-gays' sexual orientation. One gay man went so far as to hit our ex-gay volunteer because he refused to recant his ex-gay testimony. We summoned a police officer, who ejected the gay man off of the fairgrounds. Our ex-gay volunteer decided not to press assault charges against the gay man because he wanted to turn the other cheek as Jesus had done.

It could have been very easy (and reasonable) for the ex-gay man to press assault charges, but he chose not to. What (or more specifically Who) made the difference for him to turn the other cheek?

Answer: Jesus Christ!

I truly believe that this ex-gay man knew that the gay man had not experienced the release from bondage of sin afforded to all through repentance in Jesus Christ; and therefore, he also understood that the gay man was still in the midst of the power of darkness because of his unconfessed sin, and unrepentant heart. Therefore, the gay man had the spirit of unforgiveness upon him that would not let go and allow him to accept the ex-gay man.

That is the reason why gay activists can accept anyone and everyone who has a sinful sexual orientation that they agree with; yet when a person is released from such bondage, it infuriates them.

Why?

Because the ex-gay Christian man or woman has been released from the bondage that they (unrepentant gay men and women) are still in bondage to.

That's the truth, folks.

Whether gay activists and their supporters want to admit it or not, that is why "anything but formerly gay expression" is allowed in their "community."

Repentance leads to the destruction of the spirit of unforgiveness!!


What can keep us from repenting and receiving forgiveness of sin through Jesus Christ?

All of these landmines:

1. The Landmine of Pride
2. The Landmine of Jealousy and Envy
3. The Landmine of Insecurity
4. The Landmine of Compromise
5. The Landmine of Unforgiveness
6. The Landmine of Disappointment
7. The Landmine of Fear
8. The Landmine of Immorality
9. The Landmine of Slothfulness (laziness)

Stanley's book goes through each and every one of these individually, then in the last chapter presents ways to defuse the landmines along your path.

While reading the chapter on the landmine of unforgiveness, I realized that the spirit of unforgiveness can be one of Satan's most powerful weapons against all of us. We must all admit that we have been on both sides of the unforgiveness landmine; the receiving end as well as the giving end of this landmine.

In my own life, I recently felt that I was being led by a spirit of unforgiveness towards my best female friend. We have been friends for over 15 years, and I can only remember one other incident where we had a "spat." But this time, I was so hurt, disappointed and angry by what I perceived as several uncaring, unthoughtful, commitment-breaking acts by her that I was seriously thinking that our friendship might be over.

I ask you, from whom do you think these thoughts were coming from?

I needed this chapter on the landmine of unforgiveness to break me free of my funky feelings toward my best friend!!

Back to my questions regarding why homosexual activists hate ex-gays; particular Christian believers.

I think that you could pick any number of the landmines listed above to understand what leads the gay community at large, as well as the homosexual activists, in particular, to attempt to portray them as "non-existent people" and/or bash them as phonies, fakes, liars, etc. because they don't walk lock-in-step with the gay agenda. Once you pick one or more of the landmines listed above, the one that stands out the most is the landmine of unforgiveness.

You see, they hate the fact that Christian ex-homosexual people have found the peace that forgiveness brings.

Why?

Because they don't have it...that's why!!

In order to receive the peace that forgiveness brings, each individual person must own up to his/her own sinful nature and repent of it. Only then, is the peace that surpasses all understanding through the love of God and our Lord, Jesus Christ, available to heal the heart and the brokenness within.

The enemy of our souls loves to keep people in bondage to sin. He puts forth this feeling of "no need to repent" to those who are steeped in sin; thus, they miss the forgiveness and peace that Jesus Christ could bring to them.

Satan has twisted the minds of reprobates to such an extent that they perceive those who are trying to share Christ with them as the enemy!! How perverted is that?? But it's true!

I pray that each person sitting at his/her computer who are currently not believers will have their hearts and minds quickened by the Holy Spirit who is outside of their bodies, knocking on the door of their hearts and individually inviting them to be born again in Christ Jesus so that they will experience the peace that forgiveness brings and spend eternity with God when this brief life is over.

I would love to share the entire chapter here, but time constraints allow me to paraphase and just share a few brief quotes.

The landmine of unforgiveness can cause a "feast of emotion" that causes a "desire to retaliate" until a root of bitterness grows within. Then, it's payback time, tempers flare, anger erupts and someone gets hurt.

Stanley tells us that "refusal to forgive is one of the most exhausting struggles we face."

He continues:

The landmine of unforgiveness is unlike the other landmines. It explodes, but the devastation is not immediate. There is a "click" within your emotions. You feel hurt, disappointed, or angry, but you may deny it by pushing these feelings aside.

As time passes, you reexamine the hurt you have felt. You hold on to it. And slowly the explosive work of unforgiveness takes a toll on your life. As long as you refuse to forgive those who hurt you, you remain bound to them through the anger and resentment you feel. You are not free but bound emotionally and spiritually to this deadly sin.

***to be continued***

Return Unto Me, says the LORD

This is really sad to read. Only about 30% of young adults ages 18-30 keep attending church, despite the fact that they attended regularly with their parents during their youth and teen years.

Lots of reasons why they fall away stated in this article's sidebar.

The good news is that Proverbs 22:6 is correct about making the effort to "train up a child." God's Word does not return void. Some may depart for a while (in similar ways to the "Prodigal Son" account), but the research shows that many return to the faith in their 30's. Getting married and having children can spur some back towards the faith.

Pro 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

Excerpt from article:

The news was not all bad: 35% of dropouts said they had resumed attending church regularly by age 30. An additional 30% attended sporadically. Twenty-eight percent said "God was calling me to return to the church."

The survey found that those who stayed with or returned to church grew up with both parents committed to the church, pastors whose sermons were relevant and engaging, and church members who invested in their spiritual development.

Perhaps those who experienced a period of time away from church can attest to the fact that it served as an important spiritual growth lesson. The article shares that those who left, later realized their need to return to the Lord. The Lord was calling them back to faith! And Jeremiah reiterates that returning back to God with their whole hearts is key.

Jer 24:7 And I will give them an heart to know me, that I [am] the LORD: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto me with their whole heart.


HT: Christian Business Daily

The Joy Of Knowing God

Tuesday, May 22

Who Do You Know?

And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. John 17:3

Recommended Reading

Matthew 7:21-23

At the world's trendiest night spots and restaurants, long lines of the hopeful form who want to be admitted. They stand behind velvet ropes under the watchful eye of those who keep the door. Suddenly, an individual walks past the long line of hopefuls, catches the eye of the doorkeeper, and is motioned forward. The clasp on the velvet rope is released, the door is opened, and the favored guest enters in, leaving all the rest to wonder, "Who does he know that we don't know?"

It's from those kinds of situations in life that the familiar expression arose, "It's not what you know but who you know that matters." And that is definitely true when it comes to eternal life. Jesus said that not everyone who called Him "Lord" would enter the kingdom of heaven. To those who practice lawlessness, His reply to their, "Lord, Lord," will be, "I never knew you." There is a difference in knowing about God and actually knowing Him. And only by knowing Him do the doors to the kingdom of heaven and eternal life open.

Do you know God or only know about Him? Gaining access to a restaurant brings enjoyment for a night. Gaining access to heaven brings joy forever.

Oh, the fullness, pleasure, sheer excitement of knowing God on Earth! Jim Elliot

Read-Thru-the-Bible

Job 1:1 - 5:27

Turning Point Online

More Attention to Body or Soul?

Image Makeover

For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

Romans 8:29

Recommended Reading

Psalm 119:67-71

There is a growing epidemic in Western cultures: dissatisfaction with one's body image. Men and women are reporting that they are not happy with how they look. Painful solutions run the gamut from daily workouts in the gym to eating disorders and plastic surgery. Even then, the goal for too many remains elusive.

We're not happy with our physical image, but God is not happy with our spiritual image. Fortunately, He has a solution: He has chosen us to be eternally conformed to the image of His own Son, Jesus Christ. But just as "no pain, no gain" applies to diet and exercise, so it applies in the spiritual realm as well. Here is God's principle for reshaping our spiritual image: He will not spare present pain if it means eternal profit. The Old Testament patriarch, Jacob, is a good example. Long a deceiver, God used Jacob's Uncle Laban, who was himself a shady dealer, to teach Jacob some hard lessons (Genesis 29 30). If you're experiencing pain, see if you can find the eternal profit that it is designed to produce.

Based on how long each will last, which of our images should get most of our attention—body or soul?

"Pain can either make us better or bitter." Tim Hansel

Read-Thru-the-Bible

Leviticus 8:1 - 10:20

HT: Turning Point Online

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I seriously needed to read this today! Tell you why later...