We are entering into the Christmas season and all throughout town, I have seen it proudly displayed: JITR for the season. Why? Why do we only talk about Jesus during the Christmas season, why don’t we as Christians talk about Jesus any other season? Why do we have to wait for Christmas to proudly proclaim our love for Jesus? What’s wrong with May 3, or July 25, or August 28 or October 25 or September 17. Why December 25? Daniel, that’s Jesus’ birth, duh.
Ok, but we need to be prepared in season and out of season (I Tim 4:2) Christmas time is a good time to spread the Gospel, but so is May 18. We can’t talk about his birth without talking about his purpose, which included his death. Can’t we do that March 31? Why December 25? What is so special about December 25 that isn’t so special about Feb 26.
We are in a season of confusion. December 25 has become so secularized that the whole purpose of Christmas has lost it’s meaning. The purpose of Christmas is to celebrate the birth of Lord Jesus, our savior. Not to celebrate some fat man in a red suit sliding down a chimney. It’s not about the gifts that we give to other people, but the gift God gave to us.
As we near Christmas day, look for other meanings of Christmas: Happy Holidays, Merry X-Mas, Goodwill towards men, Peace oil earth, Angels of all varieties, etc. People still try to keep a religious overtone towards Christmas while trying to keep secularism in it. What a shame.
Christmas is about the birth of Jesus, but why not tell of his birth on March 7. Then while discussing his birth, we can discuss his life. Why not do that on November 28.
When discussing Isaiah 9 why wait until the Christmas season, do it June 6. When teaching about Genesis 3, why not do that April 7.
Christmas songs are songs about Jesus and his birth. When we sing hymns in church we’re singing about Jesus, why not sing O Holy Night on July 18. Why don’t we sing Joy To the World on March 2. Definitely, don’t sing songs about reindeer, city sidewalks, or rooftops.
When we teach about gifts, why not teach Romans 6:23 on October 12. Why don’t we teach Ephesians 2:8,9 on June 23.
How many friends do you have or know that don’t know Jesus as their savior? Open up the gospel to them, and show them what Jesus has done in your life. And if you have to, do it Dec 27.
Christmas is about Jesus. One day at work, they were trying to come up with something for a Christmas slogan, and I piped up from my desk, "I can tell you what Christmas is about." And one of the ladies sighed and answered, "We already know what you’ll say, you’ll say it’s about Jesus and the angels." My answer was simple, "No, I would never say it’s about angels" Christmas is about Jesus, and not just one day but all days. Jesus Is The Reason For All The Seasons.
Have a Very Merry Christmas
Daniel G Vandenburg
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
Giving Thanks
How easy is it for us to give thanks for the things that we enjoy, that we like, and for the wonderful situations that we find ourselves in? How many times though, do we give thanks for the unwanted things, the despised things, and the trials that we face? It’s rare, very rare indeed when we approach God with a thankful heart, when things aren’t going the way we want them to do. Generally, we want to blame other people for our problems, we even want to blame God for our problems and losses. Yet, what we need to do is give thanks in all circumstances, "Be joyful always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." (1 Thes 5:16-18 NIV emphasis mine)
The key to this, is not to give thanks for the circumstances, but in the circumstances. While we are going through the trial, give thanks to God, praise God, give the glory to God. Why? That is God’s will for you. He wants you to give thanks, regardless of the situation you find yourself in. When Paul and Silas were in prison, instead of grousing about the unfairness of the situation, complaining to anyone who wanted to hear, or even blame God, they sang hymns to God. They were giving thanks, not for the situation, but they were giving thanks to God.
What if the situation is something that we caused? Give thanks to God for the wake up call. If you get pulled over for driving under the influence, don’t blame the police, the bartender, or your neighbors dog. God allowed you to go through that situation so that you can conquer that addiction. Give thanks to God for that is what He wants.
What if the situation is something that we have no control over? "Consider it pure joy my brothers when you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. . . Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him." (James 1:2,3,12 NIV) When we find ourselves in a trial, God is testing us and our faith. These trials aren’t little struggles that we find ourselves in. These trials are major faith testing scenarios. Death, illness, loss of a job, end of a relationship, and countless other things that make us question whether God exists, or even cares about us. First we should be joyful that we are facing these trials. Does that mean we don’t weep? Not at all, if we lose a loved one, for any reason, we should weep for the loss. This isn’t baseball so it’s ok to cry. But, do not consider it a curse or punishment. Realize that when we face these trials, God is trying to enhance our faith and make us grow. There are times that we get a little self absorbed, forget about God’s grace, and focus on ourselves. These trials, let us refocus on God. Sometimes, we get away from God and He uses these trials to bring us back.
What about the people in our lives that bring us misery? Give thanks for them. Love them as you love yourself. Pray for them, do not curse them. "But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you." (Luke 6:27,28 NIV). How do you do good? First and foremost, forgive them of their transgressions against you. You have to release the animosity, anger, and hurt that you have carried for this long. Pray to God to help you with the forgiveness for that person. We can not expect God to forgive us, if we don’t forgive those who transgress against us. Is it easy? No, not at all, but it is necessary, for your own sake and your own spiritual growth. Don’t seek vengeance or reparations from the person. If they stole something, forgive them, don’t ask for the object back. Yes it’s tough, but continue to read Luke, scripture even states, don’t ask for it back. Forgive them and be nice to them, and it will be like holding hot coals over their heads. Yes, it is hard and difficult, but that’s what God is there for. To help you overcome your trials. From a personal standpoint, I was stuck spiritually for a long time, and it took a while for me realize it was unforgiveness on my part. When I prayed to God to help me with my unforgiveness, I felt a burden release from me. I felt a part of me grow. I even enhanced the personal relationship with this person, and I feel no animosity towards the person. I see the person as God sees the person, one of His own.
There is only 3 times that we should thank God. When times are good. When times are normal. When times are bad. Whatever struggle, or burden you are carrying, go to God and give thanks. Ask God to help you with your struggles and commit yourself to His will.
Have a blessed week
Daniel G Vandenburg
The key to this, is not to give thanks for the circumstances, but in the circumstances. While we are going through the trial, give thanks to God, praise God, give the glory to God. Why? That is God’s will for you. He wants you to give thanks, regardless of the situation you find yourself in. When Paul and Silas were in prison, instead of grousing about the unfairness of the situation, complaining to anyone who wanted to hear, or even blame God, they sang hymns to God. They were giving thanks, not for the situation, but they were giving thanks to God.
What if the situation is something that we caused? Give thanks to God for the wake up call. If you get pulled over for driving under the influence, don’t blame the police, the bartender, or your neighbors dog. God allowed you to go through that situation so that you can conquer that addiction. Give thanks to God for that is what He wants.
What if the situation is something that we have no control over? "Consider it pure joy my brothers when you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. . . Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him." (James 1:2,3,12 NIV) When we find ourselves in a trial, God is testing us and our faith. These trials aren’t little struggles that we find ourselves in. These trials are major faith testing scenarios. Death, illness, loss of a job, end of a relationship, and countless other things that make us question whether God exists, or even cares about us. First we should be joyful that we are facing these trials. Does that mean we don’t weep? Not at all, if we lose a loved one, for any reason, we should weep for the loss. This isn’t baseball so it’s ok to cry. But, do not consider it a curse or punishment. Realize that when we face these trials, God is trying to enhance our faith and make us grow. There are times that we get a little self absorbed, forget about God’s grace, and focus on ourselves. These trials, let us refocus on God. Sometimes, we get away from God and He uses these trials to bring us back.
What about the people in our lives that bring us misery? Give thanks for them. Love them as you love yourself. Pray for them, do not curse them. "But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you." (Luke 6:27,28 NIV). How do you do good? First and foremost, forgive them of their transgressions against you. You have to release the animosity, anger, and hurt that you have carried for this long. Pray to God to help you with the forgiveness for that person. We can not expect God to forgive us, if we don’t forgive those who transgress against us. Is it easy? No, not at all, but it is necessary, for your own sake and your own spiritual growth. Don’t seek vengeance or reparations from the person. If they stole something, forgive them, don’t ask for the object back. Yes it’s tough, but continue to read Luke, scripture even states, don’t ask for it back. Forgive them and be nice to them, and it will be like holding hot coals over their heads. Yes, it is hard and difficult, but that’s what God is there for. To help you overcome your trials. From a personal standpoint, I was stuck spiritually for a long time, and it took a while for me realize it was unforgiveness on my part. When I prayed to God to help me with my unforgiveness, I felt a burden release from me. I felt a part of me grow. I even enhanced the personal relationship with this person, and I feel no animosity towards the person. I see the person as God sees the person, one of His own.
There is only 3 times that we should thank God. When times are good. When times are normal. When times are bad. Whatever struggle, or burden you are carrying, go to God and give thanks. Ask God to help you with your struggles and commit yourself to His will.
Have a blessed week
Daniel G Vandenburg
Thursday, November 09, 2006
Begun the Clone War Has
"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth . . .So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him." (Gen 1:1,27) Then in the year 2006, man decided to create man in his own image. No matter the spin, we have entered into the area known as cloning humans especially for the purpose of destruction, but soon, for other purposes. Daniel you are an alarmist, the procedure doesn’t call for cloning, and it is only for stem cell research, then the embryos will be destroyed. No loss of human life. Like I said, no matter the spin, life will be created by humans, (not the natural wonderful way to create humans), and soon, maybe not in my lifetime, but for other purposes. The movie The Island may have prophetic overtones after all.
How important is stem cell research? Useless, and very important. When it comes to stem cell research, the main thing that isn’t talked about is what type. Those that support embryonic stem cell research are misleading, to out right lying to the public. When they point to all the advances that have come from stem cell research, they are somewhat right. I personally support the initiative to increase stem cell research, and a lot has been done with stem cell research. Cures, and medicinal therapy have resulted in stem cell research. Advances in Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson disease, MS, and various other genetic diseases have come from stem cell research. Those are facts that can not be disputed. The other aspect of these facts, that the embryonic stem cell supporters don’t want you to know, is all of these advances have come from adult stem cell research. There has not, I repeat, not been any advance or cure done by embryonic stem cell research. All that embryonic stem cell research has accomplished is the destruction of human life.
The authors of the Missouri initiative to increase stem cell research kept pointing out that their bill does not mention cloning. The problem is the use of the language. Top medical schools, Johns Hopkins, the AMA, various other scientific journals and universities all said that it increases the use of cloning. Regardless of the language that they used it increased and promoted cloning. What is going to happen in the future? There are many possibilities, and some will accuse me of being an alarmist, or even a doomsayer, but knowing human nature, this is a strong possibility of happening.
What is that you might ask? Adult clones.
Hitler once dreamt of the Aryan race. With cloning now on the forefront, that dream of his will not be far off. Man can determine if the child will have a genetic defect and therefore lead to aborting the baby. Man can manipulate the gene pool, to make sure the baby doesn’t inherit any genetic flaw. People can determine the sex of the child, and the very make up of the child. And if they don’t like the results, they can abort the child and start again.
Through the results of cloning, laws can be past to regulate who will have children. The government will decide if the couple is worthy enough to have children, and then if they can, they have to spend a bundle to make the right child. Don’t believe me, people have been writing books and short stories for the past 70 years, discussing these things. China has laws to prohibit certain people from having any babies, not just 1, they can’t have any. China has a large sterilization policy that affects a lot of people.
Aside from the limits, will come the harvesting clones. The movie The Island dealt with that topic. Ewan McGregor (a second movie about clones for him) plays a clone on an island. The movie is about clones that are unaware that they are clones. The just think they live in a city with the chance to go to paradise in the lottery. What they are unaware of is that the lottery is not a good thing, nor is it random. When chosen for the lottery, they are taken into a lab and their body parts are harvested for the original person. They are basically their originals organ donors. We might come to that some time soon.
Then there is the clone army. I’m not just talking Star Wars here. There will come a point where the powers that be, instead of taking enlisted men, will start to create their own perfect soldier. It is the Aryan race with the purpose of going to war. They will be grown, bred, and trained for destruction. An actual clone war will break out.
Ultimately though, we are crossing into a threshold that belongs solely to God. God is the creator of all things. He created the heavens and the earth. He created the animals of the land, the birds of the air, the fish of the sea. He created you and me. "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s wound." (Psalm 139:13) "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations."(Jer 1:5) "Who is this that darkens my counsel with words without knowledge? Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me. Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me if you understand." (Job 38:2-4)
We are starting to play God. We are denying the creator and worshiping the created things. We are making our own laws and disobeying the Lawgiver.
We can no longer truly say we are a nation of Christians. We as a nation have turned to away from God. We are serving the created instead of the creator (evolution). We knew God, but we no longer glorify God. We claim to be wise, yet we are foolish, (Read Romans chap 1)
Jesus said that if we are not for him then we are against him. As a nation, we pretty much showed that we are not for him. We allowed a cloning law, we allowed for homosexual marriage, we didn’t even get out to vote. A voice of silence is acceptance.
Being the Star Wars fan that I am, I can understand how Bail Organa felt watching the clone ships take off. He stood there on the balcony overlooking the area, and clenched his fist in despair and pressed it against the ledge.
As Yoda said to Obi-Wan Kenobi, "The shroud of the dark side has fallen. Begun the clone war has."
Have a blessed week
Daniel G Vandenburg
How important is stem cell research? Useless, and very important. When it comes to stem cell research, the main thing that isn’t talked about is what type. Those that support embryonic stem cell research are misleading, to out right lying to the public. When they point to all the advances that have come from stem cell research, they are somewhat right. I personally support the initiative to increase stem cell research, and a lot has been done with stem cell research. Cures, and medicinal therapy have resulted in stem cell research. Advances in Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson disease, MS, and various other genetic diseases have come from stem cell research. Those are facts that can not be disputed. The other aspect of these facts, that the embryonic stem cell supporters don’t want you to know, is all of these advances have come from adult stem cell research. There has not, I repeat, not been any advance or cure done by embryonic stem cell research. All that embryonic stem cell research has accomplished is the destruction of human life.
The authors of the Missouri initiative to increase stem cell research kept pointing out that their bill does not mention cloning. The problem is the use of the language. Top medical schools, Johns Hopkins, the AMA, various other scientific journals and universities all said that it increases the use of cloning. Regardless of the language that they used it increased and promoted cloning. What is going to happen in the future? There are many possibilities, and some will accuse me of being an alarmist, or even a doomsayer, but knowing human nature, this is a strong possibility of happening.
What is that you might ask? Adult clones.
Hitler once dreamt of the Aryan race. With cloning now on the forefront, that dream of his will not be far off. Man can determine if the child will have a genetic defect and therefore lead to aborting the baby. Man can manipulate the gene pool, to make sure the baby doesn’t inherit any genetic flaw. People can determine the sex of the child, and the very make up of the child. And if they don’t like the results, they can abort the child and start again.
Through the results of cloning, laws can be past to regulate who will have children. The government will decide if the couple is worthy enough to have children, and then if they can, they have to spend a bundle to make the right child. Don’t believe me, people have been writing books and short stories for the past 70 years, discussing these things. China has laws to prohibit certain people from having any babies, not just 1, they can’t have any. China has a large sterilization policy that affects a lot of people.
Aside from the limits, will come the harvesting clones. The movie The Island dealt with that topic. Ewan McGregor (a second movie about clones for him) plays a clone on an island. The movie is about clones that are unaware that they are clones. The just think they live in a city with the chance to go to paradise in the lottery. What they are unaware of is that the lottery is not a good thing, nor is it random. When chosen for the lottery, they are taken into a lab and their body parts are harvested for the original person. They are basically their originals organ donors. We might come to that some time soon.
Then there is the clone army. I’m not just talking Star Wars here. There will come a point where the powers that be, instead of taking enlisted men, will start to create their own perfect soldier. It is the Aryan race with the purpose of going to war. They will be grown, bred, and trained for destruction. An actual clone war will break out.
Ultimately though, we are crossing into a threshold that belongs solely to God. God is the creator of all things. He created the heavens and the earth. He created the animals of the land, the birds of the air, the fish of the sea. He created you and me. "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s wound." (Psalm 139:13) "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations."(Jer 1:5) "Who is this that darkens my counsel with words without knowledge? Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me. Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me if you understand." (Job 38:2-4)
We are starting to play God. We are denying the creator and worshiping the created things. We are making our own laws and disobeying the Lawgiver.
We can no longer truly say we are a nation of Christians. We as a nation have turned to away from God. We are serving the created instead of the creator (evolution). We knew God, but we no longer glorify God. We claim to be wise, yet we are foolish, (Read Romans chap 1)
Jesus said that if we are not for him then we are against him. As a nation, we pretty much showed that we are not for him. We allowed a cloning law, we allowed for homosexual marriage, we didn’t even get out to vote. A voice of silence is acceptance.
Being the Star Wars fan that I am, I can understand how Bail Organa felt watching the clone ships take off. He stood there on the balcony overlooking the area, and clenched his fist in despair and pressed it against the ledge.
As Yoda said to Obi-Wan Kenobi, "The shroud of the dark side has fallen. Begun the clone war has."
Have a blessed week
Daniel G Vandenburg
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
Media: Madonna vs Mel
"If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you." (John 15:18,19 NIV) Recently there has been a struggle within myself with the always politically correct media. The media will tell you there is no discrimination amongst their news stories. They view all discrimination with disdain. Yet, they perpetuate their own versions of discrimination, without regards to the people they offend. Daniel, I’ve watched the news and they are vehemently against discrimination, what news discriminated against African- Americans, homosexuals, Jews, or Muslims? None, that I am aware of, but there is a strong anti-Christian bias within the media. Before you have a hemorrhage, read the whole entry.
Just recently I was flipping the channels and happen to come across the Crap News Network. They ran a 10 minute story on the evil anti-Semitic Mel Gibson. TEN MINUTES!! On something that happened a while back. (Also understand I don’t think Mel is an evil anti-Semite. That’s how the media portrayed him). What he did is reprehensible, but he has repented and felt very remorseful for what he has done. Is what he did unforgivable? Not at all. We all have had a momentary lapse of reason and when we repent and ask forgiveness, God will forgive us, and as Christians we are to forgive those who sin against us. Which actually brings me to my problem with the media.
Just even more recently the beloved Madonna was stripped of her "artistic creativity" because "fundamentalist Christians" petitioned NBC not to show a part of her show. The part of the show, her giving herself a mock crucifixion. In an interview with a famed woman journalist, Madonna claimed that she was censored and should have been allowed to show her mocking of the crucifixion. She is an artist and she should be able to do what she wants, even if it offends a certain type of person. If she did something that offended African-Americans would the media still be encouraging her? Of course not, and they would be treating her with the same disdain that they treat Mel at this point.
A couple of years ago, I was listening to Focus on the Family, and Dr Dobson had on an African-American pastor. (Unfortunately, I can not remember his name, but I remember the conversation) He made a valid point: All the references that the media made about him being a Christian (or anything Christian) would have been made about his race, he could sue for discrimination, but because it was about him being a Christian there wasn’t anything he could do about it.
When we think of persecution of the Christians we think of people being beheaded or thrown to the lions. We think we are a civilized society and none of that happens today. Wake up and look at what’s going on in our society. Lawsuits are being presented to stop children from bringing Bibles to school, children praying over their lunch, and organizing of Christian after school groups. Christians are being portrayed as narrow minded hate mongers, (unfortunately, there are some "Christians" that help spread that image) or simple minded idiots. Christians are portrayed as hypocrites and mindless lemmings. Christians are being sued for preaching hate, when they speak out of the Bible. Pastors are being persecuted, maligned, and hated by the media, because they speak God’s word. Why? Read the opening quote. I never gave that much thought until just recently. People hate Christians because of Jesus.
I was watching Bill O’Reilly one night and he had on his show a liberal woman. I used to like this woman as an actress and comedienne, but after that interview I was turned away from her. She talked about how "Christian conservatives" were narrow minded and wouldn’t let other people express their opinions. Bill masterfully wove the conversation onto that discussion. It was interesting to watch her stumble bumble around after he turned the tables on her. What did he say? He just pointed out the liberal style of thinking. "It’s all right to have an open mind as long as you agree with what they say. But, they're narrowminded if they don't agree with you." I have seen countless interviews from many people and it is my opinion that the liberal interviewers won’t allow others to speak their mind, unless it’s something they want to hear, and conservative interviewers to allow others to speak, even if it differs, but respond with truths, and the other person has a problem with responding back. It’s interesting how when someone quotes scripture on TV, they become narrow minded, yet when someone quotes Gloria Steinem they’re open minded.
Another case in point, Saturday, on my drive to visit my pa, I was listening to the radio. The topic was on abortion, particularly partial birth abortion. A woman called in to say she believed abortion to be all right. So the host asked about partial birth abortion, and the woman said she supported an abortion at any stage to be the right of the mother. The host then described a partial birth abortion to the woman. WARNING: The following account can be disturbing, read the following very very carefully, if you have a weak stomach or love for children skip to The media wants to. . .
The host described a partial birth abortion. He said, "A partial birth abortion is when they deliver the baby, except for the head. So the legs are flailing around, the arms are swinging. The stomach is compressing. The heart is beating. And the doctor then slides a scalpel into the woman and makes an incision into the head of the baby, and then uses a suction tube and sucks out the brains of the baby, causing the skull to collapse, aborting the child. What then is the difference in 3 inches and the doctor doing the same thing, after the baby has been delivered." The response of the woman, "You don’t need to put it in those terms, that makes it sound bad." The hosts response, "That’s because it is bad. And the current laws make no difference between 3 inches, between abortion and infanticide. Abortion is infanticide!" And a certain news channel was upset because the host of the show disagreed with the caller, and made her think.
The media wants to make Madonna a saint and Mel the second coming of Hitler. The media wants to make Christians to be narrow minded hate spewing idiots. The media wants you to think anything Christian is stupid. And they will do everything they can to portray Christians in a negative light and anti-Christians in a positive light. When you ask yourself why the media does what it does, keep the opening scripture in mind.
Have a blessed week
Daniel G Vandenburg
Addendum: This is posted after I originally posted this blog. An independant study in the new stories released a study. It was done on the media coverage in the last 6 weeks beginning in Sept. of the political parties. It found that 77% of the media stories favored the democrats and 12% favored the Republicans. That is the news stories, not the advertising. And to say there is no bias in the media.
Just recently I was flipping the channels and happen to come across the Crap News Network. They ran a 10 minute story on the evil anti-Semitic Mel Gibson. TEN MINUTES!! On something that happened a while back. (Also understand I don’t think Mel is an evil anti-Semite. That’s how the media portrayed him). What he did is reprehensible, but he has repented and felt very remorseful for what he has done. Is what he did unforgivable? Not at all. We all have had a momentary lapse of reason and when we repent and ask forgiveness, God will forgive us, and as Christians we are to forgive those who sin against us. Which actually brings me to my problem with the media.
Just even more recently the beloved Madonna was stripped of her "artistic creativity" because "fundamentalist Christians" petitioned NBC not to show a part of her show. The part of the show, her giving herself a mock crucifixion. In an interview with a famed woman journalist, Madonna claimed that she was censored and should have been allowed to show her mocking of the crucifixion. She is an artist and she should be able to do what she wants, even if it offends a certain type of person. If she did something that offended African-Americans would the media still be encouraging her? Of course not, and they would be treating her with the same disdain that they treat Mel at this point.
A couple of years ago, I was listening to Focus on the Family, and Dr Dobson had on an African-American pastor. (Unfortunately, I can not remember his name, but I remember the conversation) He made a valid point: All the references that the media made about him being a Christian (or anything Christian) would have been made about his race, he could sue for discrimination, but because it was about him being a Christian there wasn’t anything he could do about it.
When we think of persecution of the Christians we think of people being beheaded or thrown to the lions. We think we are a civilized society and none of that happens today. Wake up and look at what’s going on in our society. Lawsuits are being presented to stop children from bringing Bibles to school, children praying over their lunch, and organizing of Christian after school groups. Christians are being portrayed as narrow minded hate mongers, (unfortunately, there are some "Christians" that help spread that image) or simple minded idiots. Christians are portrayed as hypocrites and mindless lemmings. Christians are being sued for preaching hate, when they speak out of the Bible. Pastors are being persecuted, maligned, and hated by the media, because they speak God’s word. Why? Read the opening quote. I never gave that much thought until just recently. People hate Christians because of Jesus.
I was watching Bill O’Reilly one night and he had on his show a liberal woman. I used to like this woman as an actress and comedienne, but after that interview I was turned away from her. She talked about how "Christian conservatives" were narrow minded and wouldn’t let other people express their opinions. Bill masterfully wove the conversation onto that discussion. It was interesting to watch her stumble bumble around after he turned the tables on her. What did he say? He just pointed out the liberal style of thinking. "It’s all right to have an open mind as long as you agree with what they say. But, they're narrowminded if they don't agree with you." I have seen countless interviews from many people and it is my opinion that the liberal interviewers won’t allow others to speak their mind, unless it’s something they want to hear, and conservative interviewers to allow others to speak, even if it differs, but respond with truths, and the other person has a problem with responding back. It’s interesting how when someone quotes scripture on TV, they become narrow minded, yet when someone quotes Gloria Steinem they’re open minded.
Another case in point, Saturday, on my drive to visit my pa, I was listening to the radio. The topic was on abortion, particularly partial birth abortion. A woman called in to say she believed abortion to be all right. So the host asked about partial birth abortion, and the woman said she supported an abortion at any stage to be the right of the mother. The host then described a partial birth abortion to the woman. WARNING: The following account can be disturbing, read the following very very carefully, if you have a weak stomach or love for children skip to The media wants to. . .
The host described a partial birth abortion. He said, "A partial birth abortion is when they deliver the baby, except for the head. So the legs are flailing around, the arms are swinging. The stomach is compressing. The heart is beating. And the doctor then slides a scalpel into the woman and makes an incision into the head of the baby, and then uses a suction tube and sucks out the brains of the baby, causing the skull to collapse, aborting the child. What then is the difference in 3 inches and the doctor doing the same thing, after the baby has been delivered." The response of the woman, "You don’t need to put it in those terms, that makes it sound bad." The hosts response, "That’s because it is bad. And the current laws make no difference between 3 inches, between abortion and infanticide. Abortion is infanticide!" And a certain news channel was upset because the host of the show disagreed with the caller, and made her think.
The media wants to make Madonna a saint and Mel the second coming of Hitler. The media wants to make Christians to be narrow minded hate spewing idiots. The media wants you to think anything Christian is stupid. And they will do everything they can to portray Christians in a negative light and anti-Christians in a positive light. When you ask yourself why the media does what it does, keep the opening scripture in mind.
Have a blessed week
Daniel G Vandenburg
Addendum: This is posted after I originally posted this blog. An independant study in the new stories released a study. It was done on the media coverage in the last 6 weeks beginning in Sept. of the political parties. It found that 77% of the media stories favored the democrats and 12% favored the Republicans. That is the news stories, not the advertising. And to say there is no bias in the media.
Thursday, November 02, 2006
We Are Witnesses
What is a witness? A witness is someone who has first hand knowledge of the events that have transpired. What makes a good witness? In today’s society a good witness is one who has seen or experienced the events that have transpired. As Christians, we are called to be witnesses to Christ. The following is the gist of the message that God gave to me to give to my brothers and sisters at Dayspring Christian Fellowship Church in Junction City KS, on October 29th 2006.
Peter and John were found standing in the porch of the temple before a crowd of people. They had just healed a lame beggar who went throughout the temple, jumping and praising God. This got the attention of some of the people that had come on this day for worship. As the people came to Peter in amazement, Peter began to lecture (sermon) those gathered around about the history of Jesus. He boldly called them murderers and then proceeded to inform them about the power of Jesus. The power of change, the power of love, and the power over death. And how did he know all of this, his statement as recorded in Acts 3:15 "You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this." (NIV, emphasis mine). Now, as Christians, we must boldly proclaim those same three words. WE ARE WITNESSES.
We may not have seen the death and resurrection of Jesus, but we have experienced the transforming power of the death of resurrection of Jesus Christ. We know what it’s like to be a new creation, we know what it’s like to be redeemed, justified, and sanctified by the power of the resurrection of Christ. So why then, do we remain silent.
The great commission tells us to go and to proclaim the gospel throughout the land. In the four gospels of the New Testament, in one form or another, the great commission can be found. We are to spread the gospel into all the nations. Beginning in Jerusalem and working it’s way out. The town you live in, is your Jerusalem. Begin by telling your neighbors, your friends, your co-workers, your enemies, and your family about Jesus Christ and what he has done in your life.
If you don’t know what to say, start by saying what Jesus has done for you. No one can deny nor take away from you what Jesus has done in your life. What have you been delivered from? Porn? Alcohol? Adultery? Satanism? Getting involved with a Satanist? Homosexuality? Drug Addictions? Or from something else. Ignoring the family? Caring only for yourself? Unbelief? Idolatry in worship (Traditions that lose it’s significance)? Lack of faith? Whatever your sin, you have been delivered from it. Tell people about him and what he has done for you.
If you don’t want to tell people about your own testimony, for one reason or another, tell them about someone else’s testimony. Can’t think of anyone, tell them about me. I’m now a child of the living God, sanctified, justified, and purified, by the death and resurrection of the Savior Jesus Christ. I am a sinner saved by grace through faith. I have been bruised, crushed, broken, but remade in the image of Christ. If that doesn’t work, tell them about other people you know. Josh McDowell was an atheist who absolutely wanted to prove to the world that Jesus never existed. Through exhaustive and extensive research, wrote a book titled Evidence That Demands a Verdict. Josh McDowell, became saved while trying to prove Jesus didn’t exist.
Tell people about Jesus. Look for a situation where you can optimally open up the love of Jesus for that person. Don’t walk up to them, grab them by the shoulders and shake them saying, "Do you know Jesus?" In any conversation where you are unsure of their knowledge of Jesus, just ask them, "What is your relationship like with Jesus?" or "How well do you know Jesus as your Savior?" Be kind to them and show them love.
Witnessing isn’t just about the words we use, it’s about the actions we do. St Francis of Assisi remarked, "At all times preach the Gospel, if you must, use words." We are more judged by what we do than what we say. The old saying is more true than what people tend to make it, "Actions speak louder than words." Don’t just say it. Do it. Don’t just say it. Show it. Don’t just say it. Live it. Be a witness for Christ in your actions and your everyday living. I’m not just talking about going to church Sunday morning, Sunday evening, Wednesday evening and any time the doors of the church are open for service. Wherever you’re at, be a witness for Christ.
Show God’s love an applicable way. Do you know someone who is not involved in any church, has been dissuaded by "organized religion", or has completely tuned out the Gospel of Christ? Fix them a dinner and take it to them. Take them to the grocery store, or ask them if they need something to pick up while you’re there. Mow their lawn. Wash their car. Do something to show them that God loves them. All the while, you’re going to be witness.
Do you have an enemy? Do you have an antagonist at work? "But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those that hate you, bless those who curse you, pay for those who mistreat you." (Luke 6:27,28) And how do you bless them and love them. By being a witness for Christ. This is one of those instances where your actions will speak volumes. If you are mistreated, pray for that person. Love that person, do things to help that person out. Show God’s love in an applicable way, witness to that person.
We are to go into the nations and preach the good news to all. It is not a Christians responsibility to prove Jesus lived 2000 years ago, but it is a Christians responsibility to show that Jesus is alive today. Proudly proclaim: WE ARE WITNESSES.
Have a blessed week
Daniel G Vandenburg
Peter and John were found standing in the porch of the temple before a crowd of people. They had just healed a lame beggar who went throughout the temple, jumping and praising God. This got the attention of some of the people that had come on this day for worship. As the people came to Peter in amazement, Peter began to lecture (sermon) those gathered around about the history of Jesus. He boldly called them murderers and then proceeded to inform them about the power of Jesus. The power of change, the power of love, and the power over death. And how did he know all of this, his statement as recorded in Acts 3:15 "You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this." (NIV, emphasis mine). Now, as Christians, we must boldly proclaim those same three words. WE ARE WITNESSES.
We may not have seen the death and resurrection of Jesus, but we have experienced the transforming power of the death of resurrection of Jesus Christ. We know what it’s like to be a new creation, we know what it’s like to be redeemed, justified, and sanctified by the power of the resurrection of Christ. So why then, do we remain silent.
The great commission tells us to go and to proclaim the gospel throughout the land. In the four gospels of the New Testament, in one form or another, the great commission can be found. We are to spread the gospel into all the nations. Beginning in Jerusalem and working it’s way out. The town you live in, is your Jerusalem. Begin by telling your neighbors, your friends, your co-workers, your enemies, and your family about Jesus Christ and what he has done in your life.
If you don’t know what to say, start by saying what Jesus has done for you. No one can deny nor take away from you what Jesus has done in your life. What have you been delivered from? Porn? Alcohol? Adultery? Satanism? Getting involved with a Satanist? Homosexuality? Drug Addictions? Or from something else. Ignoring the family? Caring only for yourself? Unbelief? Idolatry in worship (Traditions that lose it’s significance)? Lack of faith? Whatever your sin, you have been delivered from it. Tell people about him and what he has done for you.
If you don’t want to tell people about your own testimony, for one reason or another, tell them about someone else’s testimony. Can’t think of anyone, tell them about me. I’m now a child of the living God, sanctified, justified, and purified, by the death and resurrection of the Savior Jesus Christ. I am a sinner saved by grace through faith. I have been bruised, crushed, broken, but remade in the image of Christ. If that doesn’t work, tell them about other people you know. Josh McDowell was an atheist who absolutely wanted to prove to the world that Jesus never existed. Through exhaustive and extensive research, wrote a book titled Evidence That Demands a Verdict. Josh McDowell, became saved while trying to prove Jesus didn’t exist.
Tell people about Jesus. Look for a situation where you can optimally open up the love of Jesus for that person. Don’t walk up to them, grab them by the shoulders and shake them saying, "Do you know Jesus?" In any conversation where you are unsure of their knowledge of Jesus, just ask them, "What is your relationship like with Jesus?" or "How well do you know Jesus as your Savior?" Be kind to them and show them love.
Witnessing isn’t just about the words we use, it’s about the actions we do. St Francis of Assisi remarked, "At all times preach the Gospel, if you must, use words." We are more judged by what we do than what we say. The old saying is more true than what people tend to make it, "Actions speak louder than words." Don’t just say it. Do it. Don’t just say it. Show it. Don’t just say it. Live it. Be a witness for Christ in your actions and your everyday living. I’m not just talking about going to church Sunday morning, Sunday evening, Wednesday evening and any time the doors of the church are open for service. Wherever you’re at, be a witness for Christ.
Show God’s love an applicable way. Do you know someone who is not involved in any church, has been dissuaded by "organized religion", or has completely tuned out the Gospel of Christ? Fix them a dinner and take it to them. Take them to the grocery store, or ask them if they need something to pick up while you’re there. Mow their lawn. Wash their car. Do something to show them that God loves them. All the while, you’re going to be witness.
Do you have an enemy? Do you have an antagonist at work? "But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those that hate you, bless those who curse you, pay for those who mistreat you." (Luke 6:27,28) And how do you bless them and love them. By being a witness for Christ. This is one of those instances where your actions will speak volumes. If you are mistreated, pray for that person. Love that person, do things to help that person out. Show God’s love in an applicable way, witness to that person.
We are to go into the nations and preach the good news to all. It is not a Christians responsibility to prove Jesus lived 2000 years ago, but it is a Christians responsibility to show that Jesus is alive today. Proudly proclaim: WE ARE WITNESSES.
Have a blessed week
Daniel G Vandenburg
Sunday, October 22, 2006
Take A Stand
Have you ever been near someone who appears to be indecisive? It can be very frustrating for you and for the other person. Whether it is in deciding what movie to see, where to eat dinner, what church to visit, or what socks go with a purple shirt and green pants ensemble. Aside from those minor indecisions, there is a stronger form of indecisiveness. What do we do with the laws that God has set down for us to follow and obey? Do we become complacent and not worry about what God says? Do we just stay in the middle of the road, for the fear of being labeled a "right wing Christian fundamentalist"? Do we therefore become like the Laodicean neither hot nor cold, but lukewarm.? It is time to take a stand for God and His righteous decrees and quit hiding our collective heads in the sand.
What happened to the Ladoicean church? Let’s look to God’s word for the answers. "So, because you are lukewarm - neither hot nor cold - I am about so spit you out of my mouth." (Rev 3:16 NIV). Because they didn’t take a stand, Jesus politely told them that he would spit them out of his mouth. Jesus will have nothing to do with them. It is something he prophesied about. "Not everyone who says to me ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophecy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers." (Mat 7:21-23 NIV)
There is a saying, "God said, I believe it, that settles it." The problem with that statement is we are saying that if I don’t believe it to be God’s word or law, therefore it isn’t settled. I say, "WRONG!" God said it, that settles it. If God made it law 2000 years ago, it is still law today. Notice I said God’s law not man’s law. "Your word, oh LORD, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens. Your faithfulness continues through all generations; you established the earth, and it endures. Your laws endure to this day, for all things serve you." (Psalm 119:89-91NIV) If God said something is detestable to Him 4000 years ago, then it is still detestable to him now.
Murder is murder, adultery is adultery, stealing is stealing, no matter how flowery we put the language. We only deceive ourselves when we try to justify our own actions by using different language. It’s not murder, she had an abortion. It’s not adultery, it’s an open marriage. It’s not stealing, it’s enhancing my taxes for a better return. It is murder, it is adultery and it is stealing. If God said it is a sin, then it is a sin
The latest justification for sin is "I was born that way, or It’s genetic," or something to the equivalency of the nature of the person. Hogwash and nonsense. We are born with the disposition to sin. It is when we give in to the desire that sin is born. "When tempted, no one should say, ‘God is tempting me.’ For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full grown, gives birth to death." (James 1:13-15 NIV)
So as a Christian, we need to take a stand. Fully grasp what God says is right and wrong. The extreme of sin is applauding and accepting the sin, rather than regretting the sin of others. Society tells us that we must be tolerant of other peoples differences. In one regard I accept that and fully understand that. Yet, when it comes to distorting the Bible and claiming that what once was sin is no longer sinful, I can not be tolerant. We are even warned against such behavior, "Although they know God’s righteous decrees that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those that practice them." (Rom 1:32) We can not continue to accept sin as OK. We must love the sinner, the ones who practice the sin, but not what they do. We can not continue to fool ourselves and say, "That is their nature, we must be tolerant and allow them to do what they want to do, even though it’s wrong." To give you an example as to how inefficient that is: Two young children (ages 4, 6) are playing together. The older child hits the younger child. If you use the logic that states, "That is their nature", then you wouldn’t punish the older child for his malfeasance. You would accept it as their nature. But, you don’t see it like that, the hitting of the younger child is wrong. Why then, do we accept the destructive behavior of others that we know will lead them to an eternity without inheriting the kingdom of God?
It is time, as Christians, to take a stand. Stand up for God’s laws. It won’t be popular and many people will ridicule you. But, it is better to stand for Christ than to stand for the world.
Know God’s laws and rebuke those with love. Know where God stands on issues of the day, and be not afraid to take a stand.
Have a blessed week
Daniel G Vandenburg
What happened to the Ladoicean church? Let’s look to God’s word for the answers. "So, because you are lukewarm - neither hot nor cold - I am about so spit you out of my mouth." (Rev 3:16 NIV). Because they didn’t take a stand, Jesus politely told them that he would spit them out of his mouth. Jesus will have nothing to do with them. It is something he prophesied about. "Not everyone who says to me ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophecy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers." (Mat 7:21-23 NIV)
There is a saying, "God said, I believe it, that settles it." The problem with that statement is we are saying that if I don’t believe it to be God’s word or law, therefore it isn’t settled. I say, "WRONG!" God said it, that settles it. If God made it law 2000 years ago, it is still law today. Notice I said God’s law not man’s law. "Your word, oh LORD, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens. Your faithfulness continues through all generations; you established the earth, and it endures. Your laws endure to this day, for all things serve you." (Psalm 119:89-91NIV) If God said something is detestable to Him 4000 years ago, then it is still detestable to him now.
Murder is murder, adultery is adultery, stealing is stealing, no matter how flowery we put the language. We only deceive ourselves when we try to justify our own actions by using different language. It’s not murder, she had an abortion. It’s not adultery, it’s an open marriage. It’s not stealing, it’s enhancing my taxes for a better return. It is murder, it is adultery and it is stealing. If God said it is a sin, then it is a sin
The latest justification for sin is "I was born that way, or It’s genetic," or something to the equivalency of the nature of the person. Hogwash and nonsense. We are born with the disposition to sin. It is when we give in to the desire that sin is born. "When tempted, no one should say, ‘God is tempting me.’ For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full grown, gives birth to death." (James 1:13-15 NIV)
So as a Christian, we need to take a stand. Fully grasp what God says is right and wrong. The extreme of sin is applauding and accepting the sin, rather than regretting the sin of others. Society tells us that we must be tolerant of other peoples differences. In one regard I accept that and fully understand that. Yet, when it comes to distorting the Bible and claiming that what once was sin is no longer sinful, I can not be tolerant. We are even warned against such behavior, "Although they know God’s righteous decrees that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those that practice them." (Rom 1:32) We can not continue to accept sin as OK. We must love the sinner, the ones who practice the sin, but not what they do. We can not continue to fool ourselves and say, "That is their nature, we must be tolerant and allow them to do what they want to do, even though it’s wrong." To give you an example as to how inefficient that is: Two young children (ages 4, 6) are playing together. The older child hits the younger child. If you use the logic that states, "That is their nature", then you wouldn’t punish the older child for his malfeasance. You would accept it as their nature. But, you don’t see it like that, the hitting of the younger child is wrong. Why then, do we accept the destructive behavior of others that we know will lead them to an eternity without inheriting the kingdom of God?
It is time, as Christians, to take a stand. Stand up for God’s laws. It won’t be popular and many people will ridicule you. But, it is better to stand for Christ than to stand for the world.
Know God’s laws and rebuke those with love. Know where God stands on issues of the day, and be not afraid to take a stand.
Have a blessed week
Daniel G Vandenburg
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
Demise: Extraction
Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down. For it is written: He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone." (Matt 4:5,6 NIV) Satans agenda for the Christian and the church is our demise. One of his strategies is extraction, to take out of context the meaning of God’s Word and twist it to meet his own need. He will use many different methods to accomplish this task.
In the previous scenario taken straight out of Matthew, Satan is tempting Jesus. The first time, Jesus rebuked him with scripture and Satan lost. The second time, Satan tempts Jesus, he quotes scripture but twists it to meet his need. Jesus’ response to Satans extraction. "Jesus answered him, ‘It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’" (Matt 4:7 NIV). Jesus’ response was back with scripture. Jesus fully understood the scripture and the context, He knew how to apply it.
What is extraction? Extraction, in it’s most basic definition, is taking something out of context, to fit your wants. Not only is it taking out of scriptures something that is not there or misapplying it, it also deals with anything that is written and taken out of context. People that have a certain agenda, (see Satan above) will extract only what they want to make it fit what they want. Some people, after reading something, will jump to a conclusion that doesn’t fit what the writing was about. They will read into something that isn’t even implied, but through guilt or some other means, will see their own sin or faults, and get upset because they’ve been called on the carpet, or as one person said, "Their toes have been stomped on."
Daniel, what does that have to do with extraction? I’m glad you asked. Anytime someone feels guilty about something, and they subsequently get called out, they will lash out in any method necessary. They’ll read something, jump to a conclusion the author had no intention of meaning, and get upset. They’ve extracted something that wasn’t there. But, by their own guilt, they’ve read into something that isn’t there and assumed that was the meaning of the text.
How, then, do you avoid that type of extraction? The first step is to read it closely. Then, reread it again, only slower. I’ll give you an example of someone close to me, reading something into the Bible that wasn’t there. They were reading the passage on the arrival of the wise men. As they read their Bible, they kept saying "three wise men". Upon a closer slower read, they soon realized the word "three" was never mentioned. They kept reading it that way, because that’s what they were taught, but it was never there. That happens more often than we’d like to think.
The second step is to understand the context. Someone once suggested the 20/20 approach to reading scripture, 20 verses prior and 20 verses proceeding. Sometimes that works, sometimes that doesn’t. Another method pointed out to me is the 67 method. Use all 67 books for the context. That’s effective if you fully understand the Bible. The method I like to use, is the writer/speaker method. By that I mean, who wrote it and what did they write about it later, and who said it and what did they say later about it. You have to study the scriptures to fully understand what they mean about a subject.
The third step (which should be the first step) is prayer. Pray for wisdom to fully understand the context. Pray for guidance so that you don’t misapply the scripture. Pray for knowledge to know how to handle the scripture. Pray so that you will know how to counter someone who uses extraction to justify their own actions.
What are the dangers of extraction? If you extract bits and pieces of scripture to fit your own wants, you won’t develop and strong faith. When cornered, you will stumble and fall. It leads to self fulfilling prophecies. Prophecies that you work at fulfilling, not by the hand of God. It leads to misleading lifestyles. I know people that justify their sinful lifestyles, by quoting scripture. Yet, their lifestyle goes against what God intended it to be.
A wise man once told me, "Son, (oops I gave it away) man spends more time putting into the Bible what they want, and not enough time taking out of the Bible what God wants." The biggest danger of extraction is it leads to your demise. Take for example the well known extraction sequence, Luke 10:37 (NIV) "Go and do likewise." What do we need to do likewise? John 13:27 (NIV) "What you are about to do, do quickly," Jesus told him." What do we have to do likewise and quickly? Matt 27:5 (NIV) "So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself." So according to scripture then, we should go and hang ourselves. That’s what we do, when we extract the wrong things from the bible.
Satan will use extraction to cause our demise. Understand the full context of scripture. Don’t extract what you want to fit your wants, or you will help Satan accomplish his goal. Our Demise.
Have a blessed week
Daniel G Vandenburg
In the previous scenario taken straight out of Matthew, Satan is tempting Jesus. The first time, Jesus rebuked him with scripture and Satan lost. The second time, Satan tempts Jesus, he quotes scripture but twists it to meet his need. Jesus’ response to Satans extraction. "Jesus answered him, ‘It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’" (Matt 4:7 NIV). Jesus’ response was back with scripture. Jesus fully understood the scripture and the context, He knew how to apply it.
What is extraction? Extraction, in it’s most basic definition, is taking something out of context, to fit your wants. Not only is it taking out of scriptures something that is not there or misapplying it, it also deals with anything that is written and taken out of context. People that have a certain agenda, (see Satan above) will extract only what they want to make it fit what they want. Some people, after reading something, will jump to a conclusion that doesn’t fit what the writing was about. They will read into something that isn’t even implied, but through guilt or some other means, will see their own sin or faults, and get upset because they’ve been called on the carpet, or as one person said, "Their toes have been stomped on."
Daniel, what does that have to do with extraction? I’m glad you asked. Anytime someone feels guilty about something, and they subsequently get called out, they will lash out in any method necessary. They’ll read something, jump to a conclusion the author had no intention of meaning, and get upset. They’ve extracted something that wasn’t there. But, by their own guilt, they’ve read into something that isn’t there and assumed that was the meaning of the text.
How, then, do you avoid that type of extraction? The first step is to read it closely. Then, reread it again, only slower. I’ll give you an example of someone close to me, reading something into the Bible that wasn’t there. They were reading the passage on the arrival of the wise men. As they read their Bible, they kept saying "three wise men". Upon a closer slower read, they soon realized the word "three" was never mentioned. They kept reading it that way, because that’s what they were taught, but it was never there. That happens more often than we’d like to think.
The second step is to understand the context. Someone once suggested the 20/20 approach to reading scripture, 20 verses prior and 20 verses proceeding. Sometimes that works, sometimes that doesn’t. Another method pointed out to me is the 67 method. Use all 67 books for the context. That’s effective if you fully understand the Bible. The method I like to use, is the writer/speaker method. By that I mean, who wrote it and what did they write about it later, and who said it and what did they say later about it. You have to study the scriptures to fully understand what they mean about a subject.
The third step (which should be the first step) is prayer. Pray for wisdom to fully understand the context. Pray for guidance so that you don’t misapply the scripture. Pray for knowledge to know how to handle the scripture. Pray so that you will know how to counter someone who uses extraction to justify their own actions.
What are the dangers of extraction? If you extract bits and pieces of scripture to fit your own wants, you won’t develop and strong faith. When cornered, you will stumble and fall. It leads to self fulfilling prophecies. Prophecies that you work at fulfilling, not by the hand of God. It leads to misleading lifestyles. I know people that justify their sinful lifestyles, by quoting scripture. Yet, their lifestyle goes against what God intended it to be.
A wise man once told me, "Son, (oops I gave it away) man spends more time putting into the Bible what they want, and not enough time taking out of the Bible what God wants." The biggest danger of extraction is it leads to your demise. Take for example the well known extraction sequence, Luke 10:37 (NIV) "Go and do likewise." What do we need to do likewise? John 13:27 (NIV) "What you are about to do, do quickly," Jesus told him." What do we have to do likewise and quickly? Matt 27:5 (NIV) "So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself." So according to scripture then, we should go and hang ourselves. That’s what we do, when we extract the wrong things from the bible.
Satan will use extraction to cause our demise. Understand the full context of scripture. Don’t extract what you want to fit your wants, or you will help Satan accomplish his goal. Our Demise.
Have a blessed week
Daniel G Vandenburg
Friday, September 01, 2006
Demise: Speculation
John was driving home late one night when he picked up a hitchhiker. As they rode along, he began to be suspicious of his passenger. John checked to see if his wallet was safe in the pocket of his coat that was on the seat between them, but it wasn’t there! So he slammed on the brakes, ordered the hitchhiker out, and said, "Hand over the wallet immediately!"
The frightened hitchhiker handed over a billfold, and John drove off. When he arrived home, he started to tell his wife about the experience, but she interrupted him, saying, "Before I forget, John, do you know that you left your wallet at home this morning?"
One of Satan’s strategies for our demise is Speculation. We begin to second-guess our friend/co-workers’ motives, what they must have been thinking, or why they said what they said (rather than simply ask). In the above story, John speculated that the hitchhiker stole his wallet. He then forced the shocked hitchhiker out of the car. Imagine his shock when he got home to find that he left the wallet at home. Do you think he looked for the hitchhiker to apologize?
What is speculation? Speculation is when we presume something will happen, has been said, or understood that is not based on fact but on opinions or falsehoods. Most speculation derives from not knowing the full facts of a situation. It also tends to come from fear of the unknown, what may or may not happen in the future.
There are ways that we speculate without realizing that is what we are doing. We use words like, concern, worry, doubt, conjecture, and theorize. We end up falling right into Satan’s hands. What does the bible say about worry. "Therefore I tell you, do no worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?" (Matt 6:25 NIV) And. "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." (Matt 6:34 NIV) (For the full context read Matt 6:25-34)
What are most of our speculations built on? Most are built on our own abilities to succeed or fail. We base it on past experiences, pessimism, or ignorance. When we speculate on our past experiences, most of the time, we narrow it down to a minor incident. For example, I had a phone call from a member of the church. I wasn’t home to receive the call, so I got a message that he called, but not why he called. In the past he when he would call, it was just to chat and see how my day went. One time out of 100 he called and had some complaints. When he called this time, what did I speculate he wanted to discuss? Did I speculate that he was wanting to talk about our week, and how well everything has gone? Or, did I speculate that he wanted to complain about something? I speculated he had a complaint. He called me 1 time out of 100 to complain, yet that is what I thought he wanted to talk about. So did I call him back right away? No, I didn’t want to hear him complain. So I called the next day (How very rude of me) and what he wanted was NOT to complain, but ask what time we were going to be moving things at the pastors’ new house. (We did that the night before and it took us about an hour and half to do what needed done), but since I didn’t call right away, he didn’t come to help and it left Pastor David and myself to do all the work. I learned quickly not to speculate about him.
We tend to base our speculations on pessimism and ignorance. When we tend to speculate about the future (worry) we tend to do it in a negative manner. We don’t know what the future holds for us, yet we know it’s a bad thing. At least that’s how we tend to act. I’ve seen relationships end because of the lack of faith in God, and the wholehearted faith in our selves to mess things up. We speculate sickness that may not come, we speculate lack of income that may not come, we speculate the struggles, but fail to lean on God to help. I know some people reading this are thinking, "But Daniel, you need to get off your lazy butt and do it, God is not going to hand you the money to survive on. He is not going to pay your bills. You need money to survive, to pay bills, to buy food, clothing, and provide the shelter." Evidently noone pays attention to scripture, but I’ve been called an arrogant person (among the gentle versions) who belittles everyone else’s faith, because they don’t think like I do. If you think I’m belittling your faith, then I am. OPEN UP YOUR BIBLE AND STUDY IT! When God calls you to do something, then do it, don’t speculate about how it’s going to get done, just, as the commercial says, "Do It". God will provide the means for your success if YOU have faith in him. And yes, I am talking about blind faith at the same time. God calls you to do it, then DO IT.
That’s how Satan uses speculation to further our demise. He doesn’t want us to lean on God, he wants us to lean on our own understanding and our own power. Put your faith in God and let Him lead you. Read the whole context of the previous verses in Matthew. Jesus mentions our needs. He points out the love God has for His children and how important we are to Him. He knows our needs and when we put our faith in Him, God will provide the means to help us. We have to accept those means. Sometimes, we have to struggle to know humility, and to learn grace. When you accept God’s call for whatever He has planned for you, don’t speculate about how you will accomplish it, or if you will fail. Know that you will succeed, it will be a struggle, but God will reward your faithfulness.
Don’t let Satan tear you down through speculation.
Have a blessed week
Daniel G Vandenburg
The frightened hitchhiker handed over a billfold, and John drove off. When he arrived home, he started to tell his wife about the experience, but she interrupted him, saying, "Before I forget, John, do you know that you left your wallet at home this morning?"
One of Satan’s strategies for our demise is Speculation. We begin to second-guess our friend/co-workers’ motives, what they must have been thinking, or why they said what they said (rather than simply ask). In the above story, John speculated that the hitchhiker stole his wallet. He then forced the shocked hitchhiker out of the car. Imagine his shock when he got home to find that he left the wallet at home. Do you think he looked for the hitchhiker to apologize?
What is speculation? Speculation is when we presume something will happen, has been said, or understood that is not based on fact but on opinions or falsehoods. Most speculation derives from not knowing the full facts of a situation. It also tends to come from fear of the unknown, what may or may not happen in the future.
There are ways that we speculate without realizing that is what we are doing. We use words like, concern, worry, doubt, conjecture, and theorize. We end up falling right into Satan’s hands. What does the bible say about worry. "Therefore I tell you, do no worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?" (Matt 6:25 NIV) And. "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." (Matt 6:34 NIV) (For the full context read Matt 6:25-34)
What are most of our speculations built on? Most are built on our own abilities to succeed or fail. We base it on past experiences, pessimism, or ignorance. When we speculate on our past experiences, most of the time, we narrow it down to a minor incident. For example, I had a phone call from a member of the church. I wasn’t home to receive the call, so I got a message that he called, but not why he called. In the past he when he would call, it was just to chat and see how my day went. One time out of 100 he called and had some complaints. When he called this time, what did I speculate he wanted to discuss? Did I speculate that he was wanting to talk about our week, and how well everything has gone? Or, did I speculate that he wanted to complain about something? I speculated he had a complaint. He called me 1 time out of 100 to complain, yet that is what I thought he wanted to talk about. So did I call him back right away? No, I didn’t want to hear him complain. So I called the next day (How very rude of me) and what he wanted was NOT to complain, but ask what time we were going to be moving things at the pastors’ new house. (We did that the night before and it took us about an hour and half to do what needed done), but since I didn’t call right away, he didn’t come to help and it left Pastor David and myself to do all the work. I learned quickly not to speculate about him.
We tend to base our speculations on pessimism and ignorance. When we tend to speculate about the future (worry) we tend to do it in a negative manner. We don’t know what the future holds for us, yet we know it’s a bad thing. At least that’s how we tend to act. I’ve seen relationships end because of the lack of faith in God, and the wholehearted faith in our selves to mess things up. We speculate sickness that may not come, we speculate lack of income that may not come, we speculate the struggles, but fail to lean on God to help. I know some people reading this are thinking, "But Daniel, you need to get off your lazy butt and do it, God is not going to hand you the money to survive on. He is not going to pay your bills. You need money to survive, to pay bills, to buy food, clothing, and provide the shelter." Evidently noone pays attention to scripture, but I’ve been called an arrogant person (among the gentle versions) who belittles everyone else’s faith, because they don’t think like I do. If you think I’m belittling your faith, then I am. OPEN UP YOUR BIBLE AND STUDY IT! When God calls you to do something, then do it, don’t speculate about how it’s going to get done, just, as the commercial says, "Do It". God will provide the means for your success if YOU have faith in him. And yes, I am talking about blind faith at the same time. God calls you to do it, then DO IT.
That’s how Satan uses speculation to further our demise. He doesn’t want us to lean on God, he wants us to lean on our own understanding and our own power. Put your faith in God and let Him lead you. Read the whole context of the previous verses in Matthew. Jesus mentions our needs. He points out the love God has for His children and how important we are to Him. He knows our needs and when we put our faith in Him, God will provide the means to help us. We have to accept those means. Sometimes, we have to struggle to know humility, and to learn grace. When you accept God’s call for whatever He has planned for you, don’t speculate about how you will accomplish it, or if you will fail. Know that you will succeed, it will be a struggle, but God will reward your faithfulness.
Don’t let Satan tear you down through speculation.
Have a blessed week
Daniel G Vandenburg
Thursday, August 24, 2006
Demise: Isolation
Satan has a strategy for the Demise of the church and of the individual. He uses different tactics to acquire our demise. Satan realizes that when Christians are gathered together in the name of God, He will be in their midst. (Matt 18:20). So one of Satan’s strategies is to keep fellow believers from gathering together by convincing them of their need to be alone. Satan plants the temptation to withdraw fellowship, (for self-protection or self-righteous reasons) to remove our support system. Satan knows it is not good for man to be alone, so he tries to get us to move into a form of isolation.
"Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." (1 Pet. 5:8) If you’ve ever watched the nature programs on National Geographic or Discovery you can see the symbolism in this statement. A herd of wildebeests are gathered at the river to drink. If the lion pounces while they are organized, he will get his brains kicked in. But, when he lets out a roar and causes the animals to go into a panic, he is able to separate a weak or young one to feast on. He has isolated one to devour. That’s what Satan does, he roars to get us to panic, so he can isolate us and devour us.
How does he do it? Sometimes he has us concentrating on our own sins. He gets us feeling unworthy to serve God, the church, or the people. He’ll whisper in our ears our moral failings, and tell us we’re no good. He gets us to focus on what God has already forgotten about. A pastor had been called to a new church to lead. He had a past that he didn’t want the congregation to know about. After a couple of months, a woman in the congregation came to him and said she had visions of God every time she prayed and that God and her would talk. The pastor being skeptical of the situation devised a plan. He asked her, "The next time you talk with God, ask him what great sin your pastor had committed." The woman said she would inquire of God. Later in the week, the woman approached the pastor and told him that while she was praying, she was visited by God. The pastor asked her, "Did you ask Him the question that I asked you to ask?" She nodded and answered, "I asked what great sin you had committed in the past and God’s answer was, ‘I don’t know, I forgot it." Don’t let your past sins keep you from worshiping with others.
Another tactic is fear. Satan gets us to be afraid of the church and the people. We become uncomfortable of the situation. We’re afraid of what others will think of us. We’re afraid of what others will do. We’re afraid we’ll embarrass ourselves when the church does their normal traditional things. We’re afraid of appearing stupid around others. All of those excuses for fear are hogwash. Christians brothers and sisters are not concerned about where you’ve come from, what you wear, how embarrassing you are with the traditions. Christian brothers and sisters are concerned about where you are going though.
The bible teaches against isolated worship. "How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?" (Rom 10:14 NIV emphasis mine) Someone has to teach the gospel. The passage goes on to say that noone can not teach without being taught. Worship needs to include more than 1 person. Scripture itself is not meant to be held by a persons own interpretation "Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophets own interpretation." (2 Pet 1:20 NIV)
So what does the bible say then about worshiping together. First it doesn’t have to be in a group of 200 or so, it can be a small number "For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." (Mat 18:20 NIV) So it is possible to have small group bible studies, but don’t make that you only form of worship. We still need to gather with believers for the purpose of encouragement. "Some people have gotten out of the habit of meeting for worship, but we must not do that. We should keep on encouraging each other, especially since you know that the day of the Lord's coming is getting closer ." (Heb 10:25 CEV)
It is not good for man (or woman) to be alone. We need the support of others to help us grow as Christians . Only by meeting together on a consistent basis, can we overcome Satan’s strategy for our Demise
Have a blessed week
Daniel Vandenburg
"Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." (1 Pet. 5:8) If you’ve ever watched the nature programs on National Geographic or Discovery you can see the symbolism in this statement. A herd of wildebeests are gathered at the river to drink. If the lion pounces while they are organized, he will get his brains kicked in. But, when he lets out a roar and causes the animals to go into a panic, he is able to separate a weak or young one to feast on. He has isolated one to devour. That’s what Satan does, he roars to get us to panic, so he can isolate us and devour us.
How does he do it? Sometimes he has us concentrating on our own sins. He gets us feeling unworthy to serve God, the church, or the people. He’ll whisper in our ears our moral failings, and tell us we’re no good. He gets us to focus on what God has already forgotten about. A pastor had been called to a new church to lead. He had a past that he didn’t want the congregation to know about. After a couple of months, a woman in the congregation came to him and said she had visions of God every time she prayed and that God and her would talk. The pastor being skeptical of the situation devised a plan. He asked her, "The next time you talk with God, ask him what great sin your pastor had committed." The woman said she would inquire of God. Later in the week, the woman approached the pastor and told him that while she was praying, she was visited by God. The pastor asked her, "Did you ask Him the question that I asked you to ask?" She nodded and answered, "I asked what great sin you had committed in the past and God’s answer was, ‘I don’t know, I forgot it." Don’t let your past sins keep you from worshiping with others.
Another tactic is fear. Satan gets us to be afraid of the church and the people. We become uncomfortable of the situation. We’re afraid of what others will think of us. We’re afraid of what others will do. We’re afraid we’ll embarrass ourselves when the church does their normal traditional things. We’re afraid of appearing stupid around others. All of those excuses for fear are hogwash. Christians brothers and sisters are not concerned about where you’ve come from, what you wear, how embarrassing you are with the traditions. Christian brothers and sisters are concerned about where you are going though.
The bible teaches against isolated worship. "How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?" (Rom 10:14 NIV emphasis mine) Someone has to teach the gospel. The passage goes on to say that noone can not teach without being taught. Worship needs to include more than 1 person. Scripture itself is not meant to be held by a persons own interpretation "Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophets own interpretation." (2 Pet 1:20 NIV)
So what does the bible say then about worshiping together. First it doesn’t have to be in a group of 200 or so, it can be a small number "For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." (Mat 18:20 NIV) So it is possible to have small group bible studies, but don’t make that you only form of worship. We still need to gather with believers for the purpose of encouragement. "Some people have gotten out of the habit of meeting for worship, but we must not do that. We should keep on encouraging each other, especially since you know that the day of the Lord's coming is getting closer ." (Heb 10:25 CEV)
It is not good for man (or woman) to be alone. We need the support of others to help us grow as Christians . Only by meeting together on a consistent basis, can we overcome Satan’s strategy for our Demise
Have a blessed week
Daniel Vandenburg
Monday, August 21, 2006
Demise: Miscommunication
One of Satan’s strategies to further the demise of you and/or the church is . . . Miscommunication. God is not the author of confusion but Satan loves to cause confusion. Disrupt or confuse your enemies communication and you can seriously hinder their ability to succeed.
The first thing you must ask yourself is: Are you Jesus’ or are you Satan’s? "Why do you not understand what I am saying? It is because you cannot hear My word. You are of your father the devil, and you want the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies." (John 8:43,44, NASB) Why aren’t you understanding God’s communication? Who’s side are you on? "He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me, scatters." (Luke 11:23 NIV) In order for you to understand God’s words you must be on His side. There is no middle of the road when it comes to God.
How then does Satan cause miscommunication among the believers? First, he uses distractions (see previous posts) to make sure you don’t listen properly. You may be bored, you may be tired, you may be busy with something else. Satan realizes that and will keep you distracted to keep you from getting the proper communication. If you’re not listening and don’t hear it correctly, you will misunderstand what was being said.
If you don’t understand what is being said, it is difficult to do the task. What is it that we do that leads to the misunderstandings. First we don’t asks questions. If we don’t understand something, our pride and ego, most of the time, won’t allow us to ask a question for fear of looking stupid. If you don’t understand something, you must ask the questions. Especially if your salvation is dependant upon it.
Second, not talking it out with someone leads to misunderstandings. If someone says something, but you hear the tail end of it, you may not fully understand what it is they are talking about. If you think they said something that they didn’t say, or said it differently than what you heard them say, leads to the same misunderstanding. What Satan thrives on when our miscommunication leads to misunderstanding is the affects it has on the people. What are those affects?
The most prevalent one is gossip. You start talking about the other person. Since you are unaware of what was actually said, you are then unsure as to what was meant. (This type of Satan’s strategy will be discussed later) The worst aspect of the gossip is slander. You say nonflattering things about someone. All of these are based on false perceptions of what was said about you are a situation. You then speak out against that person in a false malicious way. You may not even think or realize that’s what you’re doing. So, to avoid that, stick with the old axiom, "If you can’t say something good about someone, don’t say anything at all." Most importantly though remember what is written in Ephesians. "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." (Eph 4:29 NIV)
What does miscommunication create? Divisions within the church. Miscommunication destroys the trust one has with other believers. People start taking sides, against one another. They start working independently of each other. They start going against the pastor or leadership of the church. They place themselves, or perception thereof, ahead of the general needs of the church. That all leads to a destruction within the church and within yourself.
To combat Satan’s schemes of miscommunication we need to focus on Jesus. Approach each other with love when we don’t understand something, whether it was said, or done. Don’t jump to conclusions that only lead to divisions and hurt. Don’t let Satan’s schemes lead to the destruction of the church or yourself. Satan loves to cause confusion, turn him away and keep your eyes focused on the prize.
Have a blessed week
Daniel G Vandenburg
The first thing you must ask yourself is: Are you Jesus’ or are you Satan’s? "Why do you not understand what I am saying? It is because you cannot hear My word. You are of your father the devil, and you want the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies." (John 8:43,44, NASB) Why aren’t you understanding God’s communication? Who’s side are you on? "He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me, scatters." (Luke 11:23 NIV) In order for you to understand God’s words you must be on His side. There is no middle of the road when it comes to God.
How then does Satan cause miscommunication among the believers? First, he uses distractions (see previous posts) to make sure you don’t listen properly. You may be bored, you may be tired, you may be busy with something else. Satan realizes that and will keep you distracted to keep you from getting the proper communication. If you’re not listening and don’t hear it correctly, you will misunderstand what was being said.
If you don’t understand what is being said, it is difficult to do the task. What is it that we do that leads to the misunderstandings. First we don’t asks questions. If we don’t understand something, our pride and ego, most of the time, won’t allow us to ask a question for fear of looking stupid. If you don’t understand something, you must ask the questions. Especially if your salvation is dependant upon it.
Second, not talking it out with someone leads to misunderstandings. If someone says something, but you hear the tail end of it, you may not fully understand what it is they are talking about. If you think they said something that they didn’t say, or said it differently than what you heard them say, leads to the same misunderstanding. What Satan thrives on when our miscommunication leads to misunderstanding is the affects it has on the people. What are those affects?
The most prevalent one is gossip. You start talking about the other person. Since you are unaware of what was actually said, you are then unsure as to what was meant. (This type of Satan’s strategy will be discussed later) The worst aspect of the gossip is slander. You say nonflattering things about someone. All of these are based on false perceptions of what was said about you are a situation. You then speak out against that person in a false malicious way. You may not even think or realize that’s what you’re doing. So, to avoid that, stick with the old axiom, "If you can’t say something good about someone, don’t say anything at all." Most importantly though remember what is written in Ephesians. "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." (Eph 4:29 NIV)
What does miscommunication create? Divisions within the church. Miscommunication destroys the trust one has with other believers. People start taking sides, against one another. They start working independently of each other. They start going against the pastor or leadership of the church. They place themselves, or perception thereof, ahead of the general needs of the church. That all leads to a destruction within the church and within yourself.
To combat Satan’s schemes of miscommunication we need to focus on Jesus. Approach each other with love when we don’t understand something, whether it was said, or done. Don’t jump to conclusions that only lead to divisions and hurt. Don’t let Satan’s schemes lead to the destruction of the church or yourself. Satan loves to cause confusion, turn him away and keep your eyes focused on the prize.
Have a blessed week
Daniel G Vandenburg
Wednesday, August 09, 2006
Demise: Excuses pt 2
It's full of hypocrites. It's starts too early. It lasts too long. All they want is money. It's just a fashion show. There's nothing for my kids. What are these excuses given for. To avoid going to a wedding. No that's not it. They are given to avoid going to church. Satan uses many strategies to enhance his agenda. What is Satan's agenda for us? Our DEMISE. Giving people excuses to use is one way to separate us from God and other Christian people to hasten our demise. As for some of the excuses given for not attending church they might as well say: I'd rather be on a golf course on Sunday. I want to sleep in. I want to get the best seat at the best restaurant. I'd rather spend my money on me. I don't want to wear a suit and tie (or dress). I will keep my kids from God. There is no difference between the two sets of excuses other than the second set is more honest.
The church is full of hypocrites. Let's take that excuse a step further. The sad news is there are hypocrites everywhere. Do you not continue to go to work, yet there are hypocrites there. Do you continue to go the bowling alley, grocery store, neighbors house, families house, movie theater, and an assortment of other places that have a gathering of people. There are hypocrites everywhere. Do you stop going someplace because a hypocrite will be there? Why then stop yourself from worshipping the LORD, because of other people? Why base your decision on a handful of people? I am reminded of the story of a pastor and a hog farmer who refused to go to church because of hypocrites in the church.
A certain hog farmer refused to have anything to do with the church because all he ever saw was a bunch of hypocrites who belonged to it. He always named two or three.
One day the pastor of the church came by to buy a hog from him. After looking over the farmer's entire swine herd, the pastor pointed to a scrawny, sickly, ugly little runt and said, "I want that one."
The farmer remonstrated vigorously, "Why, Preacher, you don't want that one. He's the scrawniest runt I ever saw. Look, here are some fine hogs over here." "That's all right," said the preacher, "I want that one."
After the purchase was completed, the pastor said, "Now I am going to haul this pig all over the country and tell everyone that this is the kind of hog you raise!"
"Hey, Preacher, that's not fair," the farmer protested. "I raise fine hogs. An occasional runt doesn't ruin my whole stock."
"I am only following your example of condemning a whole church because of the stunted spirituality of a few of its members," explained the pastor.
It's starts too early. It lasts too long. We don't have a problem getting up at the crack of dawn (or even before) to head to the golf course, to go hunting, (I'm not against hunting, I do it every morning. I hunt for my glasses. I hunt for my wallet. I hunt for my shoes.) to go shopping or an assortment of other things we feel we need to accomplish before 9 in the morning. Yet, when it comes to serving the LORD, 10 o'clock is awfully early. The other side of that excuse is it lasts too long. Most non Pentecostal services last roughly an hour now. People don't have a problem with sitting through a movie that lasts for two hours, or a ball game, or a theatre play. They use that excuse so they can get to a restaurant to eat, instead of eating at home at the family table, or being patient and wait 20 minutes to eat. (I'm not bashing Pentecostalism, in fact, I'm in favor of not clock watching and letting the Holy Spirit control the ending time of the service, not your belly.)
All they want is money. Don't separate me from my money. We put so much stock in the all mighty dollar. It controls us. We need it to survive. We need to take care of our needs (wants). Isn't it funny how large a $100 bill looks in the offering plate, but how small it looks at the mall. Whatever we sow we will reap. "Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work." (2 Cor 9:6-8 NIV)
It's just a fashion show. I know someone who only went to church to see what others were wearing. That person is an anomaly not the norm. God doesn't care what you wear on the outside, He cares what you have on the inside. The church is not to be a showcase for the saints, but a hospital for the sinners. As above, don't let the stunted spirituality of a few, keep you from attending church.
There's nothing for my kids. So let me get this straight. You would rather keep your children home and uneducated about God, than take yourself and your family to church, because there's nothing for them. Growing in Christ should be enough for you and your children. There is a line that shouldn't be crossed when it comes to worship and that is turning the message into full blown entertainment time. Not that the message and method can't be entertaining, but not to the point of only entertainment. Don't use your children as an excuse not to attend church. Use them as an excuse for going to church.
Satan will give you many excuses to avoid going to church. Don't listen to any of them. Get up and go. "Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another- and all the more as you see the Day approaching." (Heb 10:25 NIV) Don't let Satans strategy of excuses lead to your Demise.
Have a blessed week
Daniel Vandenburg
The church is full of hypocrites. Let's take that excuse a step further. The sad news is there are hypocrites everywhere. Do you not continue to go to work, yet there are hypocrites there. Do you continue to go the bowling alley, grocery store, neighbors house, families house, movie theater, and an assortment of other places that have a gathering of people. There are hypocrites everywhere. Do you stop going someplace because a hypocrite will be there? Why then stop yourself from worshipping the LORD, because of other people? Why base your decision on a handful of people? I am reminded of the story of a pastor and a hog farmer who refused to go to church because of hypocrites in the church.
A certain hog farmer refused to have anything to do with the church because all he ever saw was a bunch of hypocrites who belonged to it. He always named two or three.
One day the pastor of the church came by to buy a hog from him. After looking over the farmer's entire swine herd, the pastor pointed to a scrawny, sickly, ugly little runt and said, "I want that one."
The farmer remonstrated vigorously, "Why, Preacher, you don't want that one. He's the scrawniest runt I ever saw. Look, here are some fine hogs over here." "That's all right," said the preacher, "I want that one."
After the purchase was completed, the pastor said, "Now I am going to haul this pig all over the country and tell everyone that this is the kind of hog you raise!"
"Hey, Preacher, that's not fair," the farmer protested. "I raise fine hogs. An occasional runt doesn't ruin my whole stock."
"I am only following your example of condemning a whole church because of the stunted spirituality of a few of its members," explained the pastor.
It's starts too early. It lasts too long. We don't have a problem getting up at the crack of dawn (or even before) to head to the golf course, to go hunting, (I'm not against hunting, I do it every morning. I hunt for my glasses. I hunt for my wallet. I hunt for my shoes.) to go shopping or an assortment of other things we feel we need to accomplish before 9 in the morning. Yet, when it comes to serving the LORD, 10 o'clock is awfully early. The other side of that excuse is it lasts too long. Most non Pentecostal services last roughly an hour now. People don't have a problem with sitting through a movie that lasts for two hours, or a ball game, or a theatre play. They use that excuse so they can get to a restaurant to eat, instead of eating at home at the family table, or being patient and wait 20 minutes to eat. (I'm not bashing Pentecostalism, in fact, I'm in favor of not clock watching and letting the Holy Spirit control the ending time of the service, not your belly.)
All they want is money. Don't separate me from my money. We put so much stock in the all mighty dollar. It controls us. We need it to survive. We need to take care of our needs (wants). Isn't it funny how large a $100 bill looks in the offering plate, but how small it looks at the mall. Whatever we sow we will reap. "Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work." (2 Cor 9:6-8 NIV)
It's just a fashion show. I know someone who only went to church to see what others were wearing. That person is an anomaly not the norm. God doesn't care what you wear on the outside, He cares what you have on the inside. The church is not to be a showcase for the saints, but a hospital for the sinners. As above, don't let the stunted spirituality of a few, keep you from attending church.
There's nothing for my kids. So let me get this straight. You would rather keep your children home and uneducated about God, than take yourself and your family to church, because there's nothing for them. Growing in Christ should be enough for you and your children. There is a line that shouldn't be crossed when it comes to worship and that is turning the message into full blown entertainment time. Not that the message and method can't be entertaining, but not to the point of only entertainment. Don't use your children as an excuse not to attend church. Use them as an excuse for going to church.
Satan will give you many excuses to avoid going to church. Don't listen to any of them. Get up and go. "Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another- and all the more as you see the Day approaching." (Heb 10:25 NIV) Don't let Satans strategy of excuses lead to your Demise.
Have a blessed week
Daniel Vandenburg
Saturday, July 29, 2006
Demise: Excuses pt 1
There is no God. The Bible is outdated. Church is too early. I wouldn't know what to say. They'll reject me. All roads lead to heaven. That's the pastors responsibility. What do all of these statements have in common? Among many things they are excuses people have given me to either: 1. Reject Christ 2. Reject church 3. Not to witness. People are full of excuses. They give the excuses to avoid confrontation or a sticky situation that they may or may not have any control over. Excuses are ways to avoid doing what a person is supposed to do. All of them are Satans strategy to plot our demise as either a single soul or a church.
There is no God All religions lead to the same place. I am a good person. Christianity (the Bible) are just outdated and insignificant to today's society. These are excuses people give for not being a Christian. There is no God. "The fool says in his heart, 'There is no God. They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good." (Psalms 14:1). To deny God's existence is to deny all of creation. Humans tend to worship and put faith in things that were created and not in the creator. (Read Romans 1). God is to be forever praised. Isaac Newton was a little known scientist, who had a movable model of the solar system. It was the envy of the the science community. All the planets revolved around the sun on a scale model and time. An atheist friend of his was visiting and commented on how much he liked it and wanted to know who made it. Isaac balked at the information. His friend became incredulous and demanded who made it. Newton calmly responded, "Why do you want to know who made this, when you don't believe in the One who made the real thing?"
All religions lead to the same place. I am a good person "Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'" (John 14:6) If all religions led to the same place, it wouldn't matter what we believed then. The problem with that is, if being a Christian is going to get me into Buddhist heaven, then I haven't lost anything. Being a Christian is going to get me into God's kingdom, then those who don't have Jesus as their savior will be lost. Why run that risk?
Christianity (the Bible) are just outdated and insignificant to today's society. "Your word, O LORD, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens . . . Your laws endure to this day." (Psalms 199:89,91 NIV). There is a saying, "God said it, I believe it, that settles it." As nice as that sounds, that's wrong. God said it. That settles it. It doesn't take me believing it to make it true. Romans chapter 1 once again, shows the relevance to today's society. You can sit down with a piece of paper and for every verse draw a line connecting it to the US. Don't let the "it won't happen to me" syndrome get to you. The signs are there, it will happen to you, because you choose not to listen. If you choose to listen, then ignore that last statement.
Satan plants many excuses into our hearts to avoid coming to Christ. He also plants excuses in our hearts to avoid going to church and to avoid spreading the gospel of Christ. I will discuss those at a later date. If you don't know Jesus as your personal savior and would like to know more about Him, talk to a pastor or Christian friend near you. If you don't know a pastor or a Christian friend feel free to contact me and I will pray for you and communicate with you the wonders of having Jesus in your life. One of Satans greatest planted excuse is "There is still time". Time, though is running out, and tomorrow your life might be asked of you. Turn it over to Jesus and don't let Satan give you any more excuses.
Have a Blessed week
Daniel G Vandenburg
There is no God All religions lead to the same place. I am a good person. Christianity (the Bible) are just outdated and insignificant to today's society. These are excuses people give for not being a Christian. There is no God. "The fool says in his heart, 'There is no God. They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good." (Psalms 14:1). To deny God's existence is to deny all of creation. Humans tend to worship and put faith in things that were created and not in the creator. (Read Romans 1). God is to be forever praised. Isaac Newton was a little known scientist, who had a movable model of the solar system. It was the envy of the the science community. All the planets revolved around the sun on a scale model and time. An atheist friend of his was visiting and commented on how much he liked it and wanted to know who made it. Isaac balked at the information. His friend became incredulous and demanded who made it. Newton calmly responded, "Why do you want to know who made this, when you don't believe in the One who made the real thing?"
All religions lead to the same place. I am a good person "Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'" (John 14:6) If all religions led to the same place, it wouldn't matter what we believed then. The problem with that is, if being a Christian is going to get me into Buddhist heaven, then I haven't lost anything. Being a Christian is going to get me into God's kingdom, then those who don't have Jesus as their savior will be lost. Why run that risk?
Christianity (the Bible) are just outdated and insignificant to today's society. "Your word, O LORD, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens . . . Your laws endure to this day." (Psalms 199:89,91 NIV). There is a saying, "God said it, I believe it, that settles it." As nice as that sounds, that's wrong. God said it. That settles it. It doesn't take me believing it to make it true. Romans chapter 1 once again, shows the relevance to today's society. You can sit down with a piece of paper and for every verse draw a line connecting it to the US. Don't let the "it won't happen to me" syndrome get to you. The signs are there, it will happen to you, because you choose not to listen. If you choose to listen, then ignore that last statement.
Satan plants many excuses into our hearts to avoid coming to Christ. He also plants excuses in our hearts to avoid going to church and to avoid spreading the gospel of Christ. I will discuss those at a later date. If you don't know Jesus as your personal savior and would like to know more about Him, talk to a pastor or Christian friend near you. If you don't know a pastor or a Christian friend feel free to contact me and I will pray for you and communicate with you the wonders of having Jesus in your life. One of Satans greatest planted excuse is "There is still time". Time, though is running out, and tomorrow your life might be asked of you. Turn it over to Jesus and don't let Satan give you any more excuses.
Have a Blessed week
Daniel G Vandenburg
Thursday, July 20, 2006
DEMISE: Distraction
What is Satan's agenda for us? Our DEMISE -- and these are some of his favorite strategies.*
"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." (John 10:10 NIV)
Satan doesn't have to "make" us do wrong to hinder God's work. All he has to do is keep us busy doing less important things or NOT doing what God desires. All Satan has to do is distract us from God's plans. How does he accomplish this distraction? "You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth? That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you. 'A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough.' I am confident in the Lord that you will take no other view. The one who is throwing you into confusion will pay the penalty, whoever he may be." (Gal 5:7-10 NIV)
First are the secular distractions: TV, Movies, Video Games, Work, and People. But Daniel, you watch TV, go to movies, play video games, have a job, and converse with people, what kind of hypocrite are you? That's a good statement and question. I do watch TV, I go to movies, and all the other things. I will not deny it. The distraction is not inherently the TV, movies, etc. It is the amount of time spent doing these things and how consuming these things become.
How many people do you know (or maybe it's you) get home from a long day of work, kick off your shoes, lean back in the EZ chair and . . . reach for the remote. Then you don't budge from the chair until it's supper time. Once supper is done and the bathroom breaks are finished, it's back to the ol' chair until bedtime. There have been numerous studies done about TV watching. None are good. Most show the average family spends 5 hours a day watching TV. Think about this, you sleep for 8 hours, work for 8 hours and watch TV for 5 that only gives you 3 hours to do anything else. By the time you take out personal hygiene, restroom, clothing changes, and other assundry of little things people do, you have about 27 seconds to devote to God. And that's just based on watching TV. Think about the time spent playing games, or movies. Understand it's not the TV, it's about the time spent, that can be given to God.
But Daniel, you mentioned work. I have to feed my family, so I have to work. I can't just quit my job. I'm not asking you too. The problem arises when we put more emphasis on the job. How many people on their deathbed said, "I should have spent more time at the office." It's when we take away from God's time and make it company time. Here's a little illustration:
There was a story in a Rochester, Texas church bulletin about a young man who was working in a large department store, being told by his employer that he would be required to work on Sunday. It so happened that the hours assigned to him would have prevented his attending any of the worship services to which he had been accustomed to attending since childhood.
The young man informed his employer that he would not be able to continue his work under these conditions, and his employer told him he would have to go.
A few days later, the young man answered an ad in the paper from a bank which had advertised a vacancy for a teller. In checking the young man's previous employers, the bank president contacted the department store head and inquired as to the boy's record and whether he could recommend him. The store manager replied, "Why, yes, I will be glad to recommend him. He will make you a good man. I just fired him a few days ago."
"Fired him?" the bank president exclaimed. "Why would you recommend a man whom you just recently dismissed from your service?" The store manager explained the circumstances under which the boy was released, and remarked, "I know he will make you a good man for your bank, because if he will not steal the Lord's time, he will not steal your money."
God will take care of you if you allow Him to take care of you. Put your trust in Him and He will not let you down.
Satan also uses church and Christian ideals to distract us. Why would Satan use people that are against him? He stays away from Christians. Does he? Nothing pleases Satan more and hurts God more than to see the children of God doing Satans work. How does Satan do it? "Sin"gled minded focusing. (It's a term I thought of) He gets Christians focusing on a specific type of sin. Instead of focusing on leading people to Jesus, we are bent on "sin"gling out sin and beating it to death. Homosexuality, abortion, murderers, prostitution, gambling, and an assortment of other sins. Churches (and individuals) become so one sin focused they lose the focus on Christ. Yes, these are issues that should be discussed, but not singled out. Don't spend 40 years focusing on a single sin that you lose track of Jesus.
There is also the inward or outward focusing. We focus only on those within our own church so much we forget to "go into all the nations". Or, the flip side, we spend so much time focusing on the outsiders of the church, we forget about the family inside. There can be a balance kept, so that both parties are being reached.
Then there is the doctrinal differences between churches. We focus so much on the differences in the denominations and not enough on the similarities. If you really sit down and do a study, you will find out, that the differences in denominations are so slim, that if it wasn't for the name on the church, you wouldn't know the difference. So what if they sing accapella, or the women wear hats, or they speak in tongues, or they take or communion every time they get together, or any other difference. As long as the truth about Jesus is being preached. As it is written, "We preach Christ crucified, . . ." (1 Cor 1:23 NIV) I have written a long essay on this subject "Separation of Church and Church" contact me, and I will e-mail you the gist of it, and hopefully be able to e-mail the essay itself.
How do we go about fixing this problem. Focus on Jesus. Read scripture daily, pray daily, be prepared. My dad's favorite verse, (if not, it should be he quotes it to me all the time) "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth." (2 Tim 2:15 NIV) (He quotes it to me in KJV though). Spend a quality amount of time in study. Meditate on the Word. Pray for understanding and wisdom. Ask if you don't understand. Do not let Satan distract you from keeping with God.
Have a blessed week
Daniel G Vandenburg
*The concept and the formula DEMISE comes from our newest co-pastors David & Jessica Swisher. I thank them for allowing me to expound on it.
"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." (John 10:10 NIV)
Satan doesn't have to "make" us do wrong to hinder God's work. All he has to do is keep us busy doing less important things or NOT doing what God desires. All Satan has to do is distract us from God's plans. How does he accomplish this distraction? "You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth? That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you. 'A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough.' I am confident in the Lord that you will take no other view. The one who is throwing you into confusion will pay the penalty, whoever he may be." (Gal 5:7-10 NIV)
First are the secular distractions: TV, Movies, Video Games, Work, and People. But Daniel, you watch TV, go to movies, play video games, have a job, and converse with people, what kind of hypocrite are you? That's a good statement and question. I do watch TV, I go to movies, and all the other things. I will not deny it. The distraction is not inherently the TV, movies, etc. It is the amount of time spent doing these things and how consuming these things become.
How many people do you know (or maybe it's you) get home from a long day of work, kick off your shoes, lean back in the EZ chair and . . . reach for the remote. Then you don't budge from the chair until it's supper time. Once supper is done and the bathroom breaks are finished, it's back to the ol' chair until bedtime. There have been numerous studies done about TV watching. None are good. Most show the average family spends 5 hours a day watching TV. Think about this, you sleep for 8 hours, work for 8 hours and watch TV for 5 that only gives you 3 hours to do anything else. By the time you take out personal hygiene, restroom, clothing changes, and other assundry of little things people do, you have about 27 seconds to devote to God. And that's just based on watching TV. Think about the time spent playing games, or movies. Understand it's not the TV, it's about the time spent, that can be given to God.
But Daniel, you mentioned work. I have to feed my family, so I have to work. I can't just quit my job. I'm not asking you too. The problem arises when we put more emphasis on the job. How many people on their deathbed said, "I should have spent more time at the office." It's when we take away from God's time and make it company time. Here's a little illustration:
There was a story in a Rochester, Texas church bulletin about a young man who was working in a large department store, being told by his employer that he would be required to work on Sunday. It so happened that the hours assigned to him would have prevented his attending any of the worship services to which he had been accustomed to attending since childhood.
The young man informed his employer that he would not be able to continue his work under these conditions, and his employer told him he would have to go.
A few days later, the young man answered an ad in the paper from a bank which had advertised a vacancy for a teller. In checking the young man's previous employers, the bank president contacted the department store head and inquired as to the boy's record and whether he could recommend him. The store manager replied, "Why, yes, I will be glad to recommend him. He will make you a good man. I just fired him a few days ago."
"Fired him?" the bank president exclaimed. "Why would you recommend a man whom you just recently dismissed from your service?" The store manager explained the circumstances under which the boy was released, and remarked, "I know he will make you a good man for your bank, because if he will not steal the Lord's time, he will not steal your money."
God will take care of you if you allow Him to take care of you. Put your trust in Him and He will not let you down.
Satan also uses church and Christian ideals to distract us. Why would Satan use people that are against him? He stays away from Christians. Does he? Nothing pleases Satan more and hurts God more than to see the children of God doing Satans work. How does Satan do it? "Sin"gled minded focusing. (It's a term I thought of) He gets Christians focusing on a specific type of sin. Instead of focusing on leading people to Jesus, we are bent on "sin"gling out sin and beating it to death. Homosexuality, abortion, murderers, prostitution, gambling, and an assortment of other sins. Churches (and individuals) become so one sin focused they lose the focus on Christ. Yes, these are issues that should be discussed, but not singled out. Don't spend 40 years focusing on a single sin that you lose track of Jesus.
There is also the inward or outward focusing. We focus only on those within our own church so much we forget to "go into all the nations". Or, the flip side, we spend so much time focusing on the outsiders of the church, we forget about the family inside. There can be a balance kept, so that both parties are being reached.
Then there is the doctrinal differences between churches. We focus so much on the differences in the denominations and not enough on the similarities. If you really sit down and do a study, you will find out, that the differences in denominations are so slim, that if it wasn't for the name on the church, you wouldn't know the difference. So what if they sing accapella, or the women wear hats, or they speak in tongues, or they take or communion every time they get together, or any other difference. As long as the truth about Jesus is being preached. As it is written, "We preach Christ crucified, . . ." (1 Cor 1:23 NIV) I have written a long essay on this subject "Separation of Church and Church" contact me, and I will e-mail you the gist of it, and hopefully be able to e-mail the essay itself.
How do we go about fixing this problem. Focus on Jesus. Read scripture daily, pray daily, be prepared. My dad's favorite verse, (if not, it should be he quotes it to me all the time) "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth." (2 Tim 2:15 NIV) (He quotes it to me in KJV though). Spend a quality amount of time in study. Meditate on the Word. Pray for understanding and wisdom. Ask if you don't understand. Do not let Satan distract you from keeping with God.
Have a blessed week
Daniel G Vandenburg
*The concept and the formula DEMISE comes from our newest co-pastors David & Jessica Swisher. I thank them for allowing me to expound on it.
Monday, July 17, 2006
Deception IV: The "Lost" Books of the Bible pt 2
"The Bible, as we know it today, was collated by the pagan Roman emperor Constantine the Great . . . More than eighty gospels were considered for the new Testament, and yet only a relative few were chosen for inclusion - Matthew, Mark, Luke and John among them. (Dan Brown The DaVinci Code p. 231) This line was spoken by Sir Leigh Teabing a fictional art symbologist and historian in the book/movie The DaVinci Code. The purpose was to promote a false history of the bible, and separate fiction from the truth.
First, Constantine had nothing to do with the Bible. The First Council of Nicaea was called by Constantine and they had about 20 directives to solve. None of which had anything to do with the Bible. It was the Synod of Hippo Regius in North Africa in 393 AD that accepted the Bible as it is now. Later it was confirmed at the Third Synod of Carthage in 397 AD. They didn't pick and choose what books best described their sense of theology. They merely confirmed what had already been affirmed for more than 300 years.
When setting up the standards for canonization, the synod primarily used 3 statements for canonization: 1 apostolicity, 2 orthodoxy, 3 catholicity.
Apostolicity was defined as; 1 was it written by an apostle, or 2 was it written by an associate of an apostle. Therefore, it had to been written by an apostle or someone who had a personal relationship with an apostle. Being a friend of a friend didn't work.
Orthodoxy was defines as; did it conform with other known writings and teachings. If it taught something that was completely different from what was written or taught, it was disregarded.
Catholicity was defined as; generally accepted by most of the churches. Were the early churches and priests already using these books.
The second statement that more than eighty gospels were considered but a few were chosen is a huge stretch of the truth. When looking at some early attempts at making a lasting Bible, there were roughly 50 to 60 books that were used. When the standards were applied, those books got narrowed down in a hurry. To roughly the 27 books we have in the New Testament today.
The reference may have been to the more than 50 Gnostic "gospels". The Gnostic writings were never recognized by the early church fathers, (catholicity)(see previous post). It taught completely different ideas about Jesus, and women among other things (orthodoxy). The earliest known writing (and this is a very conservative date) appears around 150 AD. That's roughly 110 years after the death of Jesus, and 50 years after the death of John. Therefore, they couldn't have been written by an apostle or even an acquaintance of an apostle (apostolicity)
What about Jesus being married to Mary Magdalene? There is a gospel that shows they kissed on the lips and were married. That's a nice question, one that has led many people towards deception. The "gospels" that has been the source of the marriage of Jesus and Mary Magdalene are "The Gospel of Phillip" and "The Gospel of Mary Magdalene". Both gospels were written between 250 AD and 300 AD. Knowing that they could not have been written by either person, tends to remove credibility. The second aspect of that is the standards used at the Synod of Hippo also shows they weren't even considered for canonization.
The biggest misconception is that the "Gospel of Phillip" has an exchange were Jesus approached Mary Magdalene and kissed her on the lips. The problem with that is in the narrative, the words lips aren't there. The parchment was torn and the word was missing. In other words, it says, "and Jesus approached Mary and kissed her on the [blank]. Gnostics and antiChristian people have been inserting lips to show a sexual relationship between Jesus and Mary. Yet, it could easily have said [hand], [cheek], [forehead], all signs of greetings.
I have talked to an attorney and asked him about the evidence that Jesus and Mary were married. He did some studying (he is an affirmed Gnostic) and after an extended time said this to me, "If the case of Mary Magdalene and Jesus being married were to be taken to court, it would be dismissed for lack of evidence. There is no proof that they were ever married, nor did they even have a sexual relationship. There is more proof that shows they were never married, ."
For further research check out these websites:
http://www.ntcanon.org/
http://www.anabaptists.org/history/howwegot.html
http://go.family.org/davinci/content/A000000092.cfm
http://go.family.org/davinci/content/A000000049.cfm
"6I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel-- 7which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ." (Gal 1:6,7 NIV)
Have a blessed week
Daniel G Vandenburg
First, Constantine had nothing to do with the Bible. The First Council of Nicaea was called by Constantine and they had about 20 directives to solve. None of which had anything to do with the Bible. It was the Synod of Hippo Regius in North Africa in 393 AD that accepted the Bible as it is now. Later it was confirmed at the Third Synod of Carthage in 397 AD. They didn't pick and choose what books best described their sense of theology. They merely confirmed what had already been affirmed for more than 300 years.
When setting up the standards for canonization, the synod primarily used 3 statements for canonization: 1 apostolicity, 2 orthodoxy, 3 catholicity.
Apostolicity was defined as; 1 was it written by an apostle, or 2 was it written by an associate of an apostle. Therefore, it had to been written by an apostle or someone who had a personal relationship with an apostle. Being a friend of a friend didn't work.
Orthodoxy was defines as; did it conform with other known writings and teachings. If it taught something that was completely different from what was written or taught, it was disregarded.
Catholicity was defined as; generally accepted by most of the churches. Were the early churches and priests already using these books.
The second statement that more than eighty gospels were considered but a few were chosen is a huge stretch of the truth. When looking at some early attempts at making a lasting Bible, there were roughly 50 to 60 books that were used. When the standards were applied, those books got narrowed down in a hurry. To roughly the 27 books we have in the New Testament today.
The reference may have been to the more than 50 Gnostic "gospels". The Gnostic writings were never recognized by the early church fathers, (catholicity)(see previous post). It taught completely different ideas about Jesus, and women among other things (orthodoxy). The earliest known writing (and this is a very conservative date) appears around 150 AD. That's roughly 110 years after the death of Jesus, and 50 years after the death of John. Therefore, they couldn't have been written by an apostle or even an acquaintance of an apostle (apostolicity)
What about Jesus being married to Mary Magdalene? There is a gospel that shows they kissed on the lips and were married. That's a nice question, one that has led many people towards deception. The "gospels" that has been the source of the marriage of Jesus and Mary Magdalene are "The Gospel of Phillip" and "The Gospel of Mary Magdalene". Both gospels were written between 250 AD and 300 AD. Knowing that they could not have been written by either person, tends to remove credibility. The second aspect of that is the standards used at the Synod of Hippo also shows they weren't even considered for canonization.
The biggest misconception is that the "Gospel of Phillip" has an exchange were Jesus approached Mary Magdalene and kissed her on the lips. The problem with that is in the narrative, the words lips aren't there. The parchment was torn and the word was missing. In other words, it says, "and Jesus approached Mary and kissed her on the [blank]. Gnostics and antiChristian people have been inserting lips to show a sexual relationship between Jesus and Mary. Yet, it could easily have said [hand], [cheek], [forehead], all signs of greetings.
I have talked to an attorney and asked him about the evidence that Jesus and Mary were married. He did some studying (he is an affirmed Gnostic) and after an extended time said this to me, "If the case of Mary Magdalene and Jesus being married were to be taken to court, it would be dismissed for lack of evidence. There is no proof that they were ever married, nor did they even have a sexual relationship. There is more proof that shows they were never married, ."
For further research check out these websites:
http://www.ntcanon.org/
http://www.anabaptists.org/history/howwegot.html
http://go.family.org/davinci/content/A000000092.cfm
http://go.family.org/davinci/content/A000000049.cfm
"6I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel-- 7which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ." (Gal 1:6,7 NIV)
Have a blessed week
Daniel G Vandenburg
Friday, July 07, 2006
Deception IV: The "Lost" Books of the Bible pt 1
When, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one band of people to stand up for the truth and to present to each other a complete and historically accurate representation of the full Word of God. That sounds pretty intellectual doesn't it. Daniel finally got some smarts in him. Nope, not really. I just paraphrased the opening of the Declaration of independence. Why? Lately archeological discoveries , the last 70 years, have unearthed books that dispute the Bible.
Books that present a different form of Jesus, and a different belief than that which Christians have followed for over 2000 years. When "discovered" these books were supposedly going to turn Christianity on its ear, and force the Church to change their teachings. These books were going to prove that Jesus was divine and not human; that women were the rightful leaders of the early church; that Jesus conspired with Judas to be betrayed; Jesus was married; and an assortment of other things. All of these things go against what the Bible teaches. And what are these books called: The Gnostic Gospels.
I was in a bookstore a while back and there on a shelf was a book called, The Lost Books of the Bible. I looked at the cover and realized, rather quickly, they were the Gnostic writings. What really intrigued me was the title. If something is going to be "lost" then it has to be part of the original texts. These books were never included in the earliest texts, or the later texts for that matter. An early church father, Origen, spoke against the Gnostic writings, "I know a certain gospel which is called "The Gospel according to Thomas" and a Gospel according to Matthias" and many others have we read - lest we should in any way be considered ignorant because of those who imagine they possess some knowledge if they are acquainted with these. Nevertheless, among all these we have approved solely what the church has recognized, which is that only the four gospels should be accepted" ( Darrell L. Bock, PhD, Breaking the Da Vinci Code p 119, 120)
What is wrong with the Gnostic gospels? First Gnostic gospel is a misnomer. Gospel means "good news" and the Gnostics didn't teach the "good news". The Gnostic writings taught a different Jesus than the recognized gospels. They taught a different way to salvation. Many of their teachings went against the bible. "The gnostics were a knockoff pseudo-Christian group that came to be defined by (1) a black or white mentality in which all material (including the body) was seen as evil and spirit was seen as good; and (2) a view of spirituality that equated knowledge - especially secret knowledge- with salvation" (Focus on the Family's Response to 'The DaVinci Code' http://go.family.org/davinci/content/A000000049.cfm ) Looking at the first definition of their teachings you will see the body is sinful. Jesus was sinless, therefore, Jesus could not have come in the flesh. But, that was what John discussed in his first letter. "1Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world. " (I John 4: 1-3 NIV emphasis mine) Why would John write that, because the teaching was already prevalent at that time. The other teaching was that knowledge is all powerful. The term gnosis is Greek for "knowledge" and they taught that the more one gains in knowledge the closer to salvation you became. Especially in secret knowledge that most people would not have access too. To quote a PSA, "The more you know."
What about the choice of women to run the church and not the men, specifically Mary Magdalene and not Peter? What did the gnostics teach about women? Before we get to that, let's discuss the major transformation that one goes about when they ask Jesus into their lives. When someone accepts Jesus as their Lord and Savior, they undergo a deep spiritual change. Jesus now leads their lives and they submit to His authority. They go from a deep sinner to one saved by grace. They begin to live for Jesus and not for themselves. Why do I mention that change in ones life? According to the gnostics, the women had to make a change also. One that is a bit more drastic and physically impossible. So, what do the Gnostic writings say about women, let's look at the source "Simon Peter said to them, 'Let Mary leave us, because women are not worthy of life.' Jesus said, 'Look, I shall lead her so that I will make her male in order that she also may become a living spirit, resembling you males. For every woman who makes herself male will enter the kingdom of heaven." (Gospel of Thomas Logion 114). Wow. And the Bible was against women? At least the women didn't have to make a physical change. What about the women leading the church? Misinterpretation, from what I can see. I studied a lot of the Gnostic writings to prepare myself for this and the seminar, I didn't see it anywhere. I doubt if any of the Gnostic writings taught that Mary should lead the church, everything I saw on the Gnostic writings was that women were inferior to men, look at the above quote.
I have divided this into a couple parts, so people can digest different parts of it without being overwhelmed. I will discuss more indepth the how the bible was selected and the false teaching on the marriage of Jesus and Mary Magdalene. I do hope that this does open up some people eyes to the truth. "6I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel-- 7which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ." (Gal 1:6,7 NIV)
Have a blessed week
Daniel Vandenburg
Monday, June 26, 2006
Deception III: Who's at Fault
There is an ancient saying, "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me." When it comes to deception, that is a truthful saying. There was a question that was once posed to a general audience (a forum group) "when one is deceived who's at fault? The deceiver or the one willing to believe the lie without ever being the Berean & checking what they hear against the word of God." That is a good question, one that many people have philosophically asked, and had many lengthy midnight discussions about. So what does society say, and what does Scripture say.
Society teaches not to argue with authority. If someone of authority teaches you something, you should accept what they teach as correct. Society teaches that if something istaught wrong, then the fault lies within the teacher not the student. There is a hierarchy of student to teacher: minor student, advanced student, grad assistant, teacher, professor. (This isn't set in stone and there are multiple levels of hierarchy) You can teach the ones under you, but you can't argue with the ones above you. Because they have letters either preceding or proceeding their names, we give them a distinct honor and hold them, in essence, infallible. Therefore, if they falsely teach something, the fault lies within the teacher. But, who's going to point out the mistakes. This also lies within the church. How many pastors accept correction from a lay person, let alone an associate. Unfortunately, there comes a level of ego, that surfaces when someone with a degree is challenged by an uneducated person. (Before any body gets a hemorrhage ask yourself, am I like this? and be honest with yourself. No body likes to be rebuked even by a "commoner". At the same time, there are pastors who are open to rebuke, I'm generalizing as a whole, not saying all are this way, just most)
So what does society as a whole teach? They teach the fault lies within the teacher for misleading, but they can't mislead if they have the education. They are just teaching something different. What does scripture say as to where's the fault?
James 3:1 "Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly." (NIV) There you go, even Scripture shows that it is the teacher that will be judged more strictly. Therefore, it is the teachers fault. Not so fast, Slick. Let's look at another piece of Scripture. I John 4:1 "Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world." (NIV, emphasis mine) Do not believe, but test the spirits. Why don't we test those that teach. In today's instantaneous, sped up, broadband, MacNews society, we want it now. We don't want to have to do the work, we expect the teachers to put in the time, therefore they should have it right. We want to believe what is given to us and not to question it.
When it comes to authority, who in the early church had the most authority? Paul would have to rank right up there in authority. What happened to him while he was in Berea? What does Scripture say? "Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul taught was true. (Acts 17:11 NIV, emphasis mine) They examined the Scriptures and compared it to what Paul taught to see if Paul was teaching correctly. Did Paul rebuke them or get upset with them? It was recorded about their character, if you're upset with someone, you generally don't refer to them as noble.
So who's at fault for deception, the teacher or the student? According to Scripture, it's both. But, the fault for being deceived lies with the student. There are so many warnings not to be deceived, and to test everything. Test me, and when I'm wrong rebuke me. I will easily change my thoughts and teachings if I am shown the error of my ways, but there is a way to rebuke me. Show me in the Bible where I am wrong. If you show me a magazine article and say, "Dr So and So says this, and he proves you're wrong, therefore, Daniel you need to change." You'll have a battle on your hands. But if you use Scripture and say, "Daniel, when you taught this, did you think about this? I think this Scripture shows where you are mistaken." I will study and when proven wrong, I will change. I am also man enough to apologize to those offended and to correct myself in public.
"A wise son heeds his fathers instruction, but a mocker does not listen to rebuke." (Prov 13:1 NIV)
Have a blessed week
Daniel Vandenburg
Thursday, June 22, 2006
Deception II: Choosing to be Deceived
During the course of the seminar I have been involved with, I have come across many different types of people and different responses. The general responses range from "It's all a bunch of hooey, and you are just perpetuating the curiosity of those who wouldn't have planned on reading the book (seeing the movie)" to "I believe what I want to believe and I won't let anyone else tell me different." It's that last statement I want to discuss. Why would someone choose to be deceived?
Do you want to know how absurd that statement is? When I was in elemental school, my teacher asked me, "Daniel Vandenburg, what is 1 plus 1" If I would answer 3, the teacher would correct me. After correcting me, I said, "Well, I believe it to be 3, therefore I won't let you tell me any different." What would the teachers response be? She'd be perplexed at first, and then dismayed, that someone would choose to believe a falsehood.
Why would someone choose to be deceived, when the truth has been presented to them? First is ease of belief. It is easy to believe a lie than the truth. Daniel, are you off your rocker again? The truth is so much easier to believe. Is it? How many married couples, when confronted with adultery, would rather believe their spouse wasn't cheating on them? How many people would close their eyes to abuse? How many people would believe their child is innocent of any crime, despite overwhelming evidence against them? Humans would rather believe a lie, because it is easy.
Second is the peer pressure. If you surround yourself with a group of individuals that think different than you, studies have shown, within a given amount of time, you begin to think like them. You begin to share opinions and attitudes. Why? Confrontation. Most people despise confrontation and will concede a belief if it meant not fighting. Daniel, you're full of hooey, I'm well grounded in my beliefs and nothing is going to change me. Good. But, I have known a lot of people that were well-grounded in their beliefs, and it happened to them. People utter 5 words that will lead them to catastrophe. It won't happen to me. WRONG!!! Civilizations have fallen because of that deception. If you think it won't happen to you, then think again.
Thirdly is the belief that there is no such thing as absolute truth. I will believe what I want to believe and you believe what you want to believe and there is nothing wrong with that. That problem is two fold. First, it denies the Laws of God, and second it denies logic. I can see how it denies God's Laws, but logically speaking it makes sense. Does it? Let me tell you a story: A priest is listening to a woman speaker talk about absolute truth. Every time she makes an emphatic point, she glares at the priest. She talked about homosexuality, fornication, and abortion. All the while staring down the priest. Towards the end of her speech she says, "If I believe something to be right, then it is right for me. If you believe something to be right, then to you it is right. No one can tell you what you believe is wrong." With that, the priest quietly got up from his chair and walked over to the ladies purse. He then opens it up and begins to rummage through it. The woman stops her speech and yells at the priest, "Stop that! What you're doing is wrong, you can't go through my purse." The priest looks up at her and replies, "I believe it's right."
"A wise son heeds his father's instruction, but a mocker does not listen to rebuke. (Prov 13:1 NIV) When rebuked with the truth, do not choose to be deceived.
Have a blessed week
Daniel Vandenburg
Monday, June 12, 2006
Deception I: The Truth about Deception
What is deception? An outright lie, or a partial truth? Deception is a lie designed to make the person believe it to be true. If I said I was 7'12" you wouldn't believe me, but if I said I was 5'9", 180lbs, brown hair, mustache, and wore glasses you would believe me. If you did believe me, you have been deceived. Though most of that is true, I am not 5'9". That is where the deception is made. Humans are not idiots (though some peoples actions make that statement deceptive), they don't believe and outright lie, but humans are gullible and will believe a lie, if it is sprinkled with a kernel of truth.
"For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect - if that were possible." (Matt 24:24 NIV) One of thethe hardest things to do is deceive an "expert". Yet, today, there is an attempt to deceive "experts". If one truly knows and believes the truth, then they can not be deceived. As stated earlier, those who are "experts" about me can even be deceived. There are Christians that appear to be strong in their beliefs and convictions, yet, even just recently, have been deceived. Teachings, they thought, were infallible and unshakeable, have been shaken. Does that mean that they are weak? That they aren't strong in their faith?
Yes and No. A momentary lapse of reason, and they failed. After coming back to their senses, they realized they were deceived. In order to know our faith, we have to be tested in our faith. Many years ago, a gentlemen, whom I regarded as a strong Christian, said, "If someone held a gun to my head and told me I would die if I said I believed in Jesus, I don't know what I would answer. I don't know if I would deny Jesus." I puffed out my scrawny chest (spiritually and physically) and responded, "I wouldn't deny Jesus. I would accept death." My was I wrong. I deceived everyone in that room, especially me.
Was a gun held to my head? No, but my life from that point on, reflected a denial of Jesus. I became involved with a woman right after that. From there I deceived myself with the "everybody is doing it" and "I'm not hurting anyone else" and "there's nothing wrong with how I am living." With all those quotes and the life I was leading, I was denying Jesus. Those who knew me, thought I was a Christian. So, they would do what I was doing, thinking, "Daniel is doing it, so it must be ok." I quickly turned my back to Jesus. Thankfully, He didn't turn His back to me. And I must point out, my undoing was not because of the woman. She wanted me to continue on the path I was headed before we met, but I wanted the best of both, and lost both.
Afterwards, I was like Jonah. God had a plan for me, but I was running the other way. Finally, I was swallowed up, and spit out. I have been redeemed by God for my disbelief. He led me to another woman, sadly, that too didn't work out, but God has another plan for me. Maybe, somewhere out there, God has designed the one for me. Maybe she's from my past, or maybe she's in my future. I don't know, it's in God's hands from this point. But the point of this discussion is not to feel sorry for Daniel and his failed relationships. It's about deception.
The saying, "If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, looks like a duck, then it's a duck." I wouldn't' be to sure of that. Check it out completely. If something is based on reality and claims to be authentic, check it out. Do your own research. I just finished with a seminar on The DaVinci Code. The seminar was titled "Separating Fact from Fiction". When I say I finished, I mean, I still have 5 sessions left. (The next 5 Wednesdays) and when I say I finished, I mean, I am a keynote speaker. It is sponsored by the Abilene Wesleyan Church, Pastor David Swisher, pastor Jessica Swisher, and myself are the ones conducting it.
The sessions are "Priory of Sion" presented by Pastor David, "Can We Trust the Bible" presented by me, "Who Was/Is Jesus" presented by Pastor David and myself, "Paganism, the Occult and Sexuality" presented by me and "Suppression of Women by the Church" presented by Pastor Jessica. The one thing we were very careful to do was we didn't want to condemn the book, tell people not to read it or see the movie, nor boycott everything about it. Nor were we going to stand up and defend the church in it's wrong doings. We systematically did a lot of research, to bring the facts to the surface. The book is a nice mystery and a decent page turner. I would recommend it, but don't believe it, lest you be deceived.
Have a blessed week
Daniel G Vandenburg
"For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect - if that were possible." (Matt 24:24 NIV) One of thethe hardest things to do is deceive an "expert". Yet, today, there is an attempt to deceive "experts". If one truly knows and believes the truth, then they can not be deceived. As stated earlier, those who are "experts" about me can even be deceived. There are Christians that appear to be strong in their beliefs and convictions, yet, even just recently, have been deceived. Teachings, they thought, were infallible and unshakeable, have been shaken. Does that mean that they are weak? That they aren't strong in their faith?
Yes and No. A momentary lapse of reason, and they failed. After coming back to their senses, they realized they were deceived. In order to know our faith, we have to be tested in our faith. Many years ago, a gentlemen, whom I regarded as a strong Christian, said, "If someone held a gun to my head and told me I would die if I said I believed in Jesus, I don't know what I would answer. I don't know if I would deny Jesus." I puffed out my scrawny chest (spiritually and physically) and responded, "I wouldn't deny Jesus. I would accept death." My was I wrong. I deceived everyone in that room, especially me.
Was a gun held to my head? No, but my life from that point on, reflected a denial of Jesus. I became involved with a woman right after that. From there I deceived myself with the "everybody is doing it" and "I'm not hurting anyone else" and "there's nothing wrong with how I am living." With all those quotes and the life I was leading, I was denying Jesus. Those who knew me, thought I was a Christian. So, they would do what I was doing, thinking, "Daniel is doing it, so it must be ok." I quickly turned my back to Jesus. Thankfully, He didn't turn His back to me. And I must point out, my undoing was not because of the woman. She wanted me to continue on the path I was headed before we met, but I wanted the best of both, and lost both.
Afterwards, I was like Jonah. God had a plan for me, but I was running the other way. Finally, I was swallowed up, and spit out. I have been redeemed by God for my disbelief. He led me to another woman, sadly, that too didn't work out, but God has another plan for me. Maybe, somewhere out there, God has designed the one for me. Maybe she's from my past, or maybe she's in my future. I don't know, it's in God's hands from this point. But the point of this discussion is not to feel sorry for Daniel and his failed relationships. It's about deception.
The saying, "If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, looks like a duck, then it's a duck." I wouldn't' be to sure of that. Check it out completely. If something is based on reality and claims to be authentic, check it out. Do your own research. I just finished with a seminar on The DaVinci Code. The seminar was titled "Separating Fact from Fiction". When I say I finished, I mean, I still have 5 sessions left. (The next 5 Wednesdays) and when I say I finished, I mean, I am a keynote speaker. It is sponsored by the Abilene Wesleyan Church, Pastor David Swisher, pastor Jessica Swisher, and myself are the ones conducting it.
The sessions are "Priory of Sion" presented by Pastor David, "Can We Trust the Bible" presented by me, "Who Was/Is Jesus" presented by Pastor David and myself, "Paganism, the Occult and Sexuality" presented by me and "Suppression of Women by the Church" presented by Pastor Jessica. The one thing we were very careful to do was we didn't want to condemn the book, tell people not to read it or see the movie, nor boycott everything about it. Nor were we going to stand up and defend the church in it's wrong doings. We systematically did a lot of research, to bring the facts to the surface. The book is a nice mystery and a decent page turner. I would recommend it, but don't believe it, lest you be deceived.
Have a blessed week
Daniel G Vandenburg
Wednesday, June 07, 2006
Seek the Truth
Just recently, a movie was released, it was based on a best selling novel. The book and subsequently the movie was fictional. The mantra for those that don't understand the damaging effects it has to Christianity, is "It's just fiction, so why are you concerned with it." And I must admit, for the longest time I wasn't. I did view it as fiction and not worth my time to respond. Then people started asking questions based on the book and asking how come I don't believe it.
Then one day, God thumped me on the noggin, and planted a truth in my spirit. What if, you were standing there in line and someone walked up to someone else behind you, and started talking to them. You were not part of the converstation, nor were you invited into the converstation. Then one person says, "What I am about to tell you is going to be the truth." And the conversation stears toward your parent. They say, "So and So has 3 children (truth), they've been married for 30 years (truth) and then proceeds to tell lies about your parent. Harmful, hurtful, and hateful lies. Knowing you're not part of the conversation, do you still sit idly by while your parent is trashed or do you speak up and say, "I know the truth and what he says is not the truth."
Then one day, God thumped me on the noggin, and planted a truth in my spirit. What if, you were standing there in line and someone walked up to someone else behind you, and started talking to them. You were not part of the converstation, nor were you invited into the converstation. Then one person says, "What I am about to tell you is going to be the truth." And the conversation stears toward your parent. They say, "So and So has 3 children (truth), they've been married for 30 years (truth) and then proceeds to tell lies about your parent. Harmful, hurtful, and hateful lies. Knowing you're not part of the conversation, do you still sit idly by while your parent is trashed or do you speak up and say, "I know the truth and what he says is not the truth."
Knowing that God is greater than anyone and that He doesn't need defended, I will still defend the truth. Why? For 2 reasons. First, He may not need me to defend Him, but He wants me to defend him and secondly, because silence is still acceptance.
I don't want to get too deep on the DaVinci Code aspects of things. The church is hosting a seminar on the DaVinci Code, and I am one of the panelists that will be sharing some things about it. I will discuss a couple of things here, though.
First of all, the idea of Jesus being married isn't something new. It's not something that just popped into this writers brain. There is a psuedo christian sect that has been teaching the marriage of Jesus for a mighty long time. They've taught that Jesus had children. The only thing I am unsure of, is if they teach that Jesus was married to Mary Magdalene.
In the early 80's there was a book that promoted Mary and her baby as the holy grail. Once again, if this was a deep truthful secret kept by a secret society, they did a poor job keeping it. I definately wouldn't want them to keep a secret for me.
Aside from the other blasphemous aspects of the book (will be discussed later), I wanted to point out the strong occult teachings. The book is laced with it. In one part, the police chief made the comment about devil worship and the main character reprimanded him. In essence he told them that the Christians are narrow minded idiots and there is nothing wrong with any non christian practice. He gave him a history on early worship practices (which is goofed up anyway) and said that's how early cultures worshipped their gods. Therefore, there is nothing wrong with what they do.
I opened up my bible and found myself in Luke. "He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me, scatter" (Luke 11:23 NIV) Simply put, either you are for Jesus or you're not. If you have questions, ask. Most importantly. SEEK THE TRUTH!
Have a blessed week
Daniel Vandenburg
I don't want to get too deep on the DaVinci Code aspects of things. The church is hosting a seminar on the DaVinci Code, and I am one of the panelists that will be sharing some things about it. I will discuss a couple of things here, though.
First of all, the idea of Jesus being married isn't something new. It's not something that just popped into this writers brain. There is a psuedo christian sect that has been teaching the marriage of Jesus for a mighty long time. They've taught that Jesus had children. The only thing I am unsure of, is if they teach that Jesus was married to Mary Magdalene.
In the early 80's there was a book that promoted Mary and her baby as the holy grail. Once again, if this was a deep truthful secret kept by a secret society, they did a poor job keeping it. I definately wouldn't want them to keep a secret for me.
Aside from the other blasphemous aspects of the book (will be discussed later), I wanted to point out the strong occult teachings. The book is laced with it. In one part, the police chief made the comment about devil worship and the main character reprimanded him. In essence he told them that the Christians are narrow minded idiots and there is nothing wrong with any non christian practice. He gave him a history on early worship practices (which is goofed up anyway) and said that's how early cultures worshipped their gods. Therefore, there is nothing wrong with what they do.
I opened up my bible and found myself in Luke. "He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me, scatter" (Luke 11:23 NIV) Simply put, either you are for Jesus or you're not. If you have questions, ask. Most importantly. SEEK THE TRUTH!
Have a blessed week
Daniel Vandenburg
Wednesday, May 31, 2006
The Gospel Truth
Within the last couple of months, Christianity has been under attack. Not necessarily by bombs and terrorists, but by agnostics and psuedo christians. As a bible believing and thumping person, this distresses me greatly. Not because non-believers are adhering to the teachings of these so called gospel truths, but that christians are believing these teachings to be true. As it is written in Galatians "I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel - which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ." (Gal 1:6,7 NIV) It is time for Christians to get a backbone, stand up, stop making excuses and start evangelizing the Truth.
I know some of you reading this is thinking, "Wow, something has gotten Daniels dandruff all a twitter, he's not being funny like he usually is" When it comes to "perverting" the Truth, I get all shades of miffed. (And that's using nice terminology)
What is the Gospel Truth? At the end of the first four books of the New Testament, Christians are given the great commision, in one form or another. (Matt 28:19,20 Mark 16:15 Luke24:47 John20:21) We are commanded to preach the Gospel (or good news) What then is the Gospel Truth?
"Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to Gentiles" (1 Cor 1 :22,23 NIV) In essence the Gospel Truth is the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Anything that does not recognize this basic truth is FALSE. Any writing, speech, or hand gestures that teaches Jesus was not resurrected or died for mankind is false. And the thing I learned in school (something actually stuck with me aren't you proud Ms. Cowen) about true false questions is this: If any part of the statement is false, then the whole thing is false. Do not be persuaded by false teachings, just because it's packaged neatly and sounds cool.
Some of you might ask "But, what I have read in this book doesn't dispute that, it just says other things that the bible doesn't say. Can you explain that?" Thanks for asking, I will do my best.
Other false teachings especially found the "Gnostic Gospels" can be found and disputed by using the bible and facts throughout history. Currently right now, there is a big to do about the "Gospel of Judas" One of the most glaring false teachings is that Jesus conspired with Judas to have Judas betray him. Let's look at what the bible says about the betrayal of Jesus by Judas. First, Judas stood before the pharisees and conspired with them to turn Jesus in. Second, Jesus knew what was on Judas' heart and knew what was going on. Third, at the last supper, Jesus announced to all that someone was going to betray him and when he pointed out Judas, all Jesus said to him was "What you are about to do, do quickly" (John 13:27b) That is not conspiring with Judas, that is similar to when you are at work and someone says they will inform the boss of your misdeeds and you say, "Fine, do what you have to do" Does that mean you have conspired with him to turn you into the boss? No. It just means, you know what's going to happen, so get it done with.
What about that other book, the one about the painter that are making a movie about. That my dear brothers and sisters is another time. As they say in TV "Stay Tuned"
Know the truth and preach the truth. Stand firm and do not waver. "Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ" (Gal 1:10 NIV)
Have a blessed week
Daniel
I know some of you reading this is thinking, "Wow, something has gotten Daniels dandruff all a twitter, he's not being funny like he usually is" When it comes to "perverting" the Truth, I get all shades of miffed. (And that's using nice terminology)
What is the Gospel Truth? At the end of the first four books of the New Testament, Christians are given the great commision, in one form or another. (Matt 28:19,20 Mark 16:15 Luke24:47 John20:21) We are commanded to preach the Gospel (or good news) What then is the Gospel Truth?
"Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to Gentiles" (1 Cor 1 :22,23 NIV) In essence the Gospel Truth is the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Anything that does not recognize this basic truth is FALSE. Any writing, speech, or hand gestures that teaches Jesus was not resurrected or died for mankind is false. And the thing I learned in school (something actually stuck with me aren't you proud Ms. Cowen) about true false questions is this: If any part of the statement is false, then the whole thing is false. Do not be persuaded by false teachings, just because it's packaged neatly and sounds cool.
Some of you might ask "But, what I have read in this book doesn't dispute that, it just says other things that the bible doesn't say. Can you explain that?" Thanks for asking, I will do my best.
Other false teachings especially found the "Gnostic Gospels" can be found and disputed by using the bible and facts throughout history. Currently right now, there is a big to do about the "Gospel of Judas" One of the most glaring false teachings is that Jesus conspired with Judas to have Judas betray him. Let's look at what the bible says about the betrayal of Jesus by Judas. First, Judas stood before the pharisees and conspired with them to turn Jesus in. Second, Jesus knew what was on Judas' heart and knew what was going on. Third, at the last supper, Jesus announced to all that someone was going to betray him and when he pointed out Judas, all Jesus said to him was "What you are about to do, do quickly" (John 13:27b) That is not conspiring with Judas, that is similar to when you are at work and someone says they will inform the boss of your misdeeds and you say, "Fine, do what you have to do" Does that mean you have conspired with him to turn you into the boss? No. It just means, you know what's going to happen, so get it done with.
What about that other book, the one about the painter that are making a movie about. That my dear brothers and sisters is another time. As they say in TV "Stay Tuned"
Know the truth and preach the truth. Stand firm and do not waver. "Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ" (Gal 1:10 NIV)
Have a blessed week
Daniel
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