Joel Osteen and The Prosperity Gospel

Think on These Things Articles
Joel Osteen and The Prosperity Gospel
By Dr Gary Gilley

The New Age book and video by Rhonda Byrne, The Secret, which gained popularity recently due to Oprah Winfrey’s strong promotion, teaches that we can “create [our] own happiness through the law of attraction.” Whether it is cash, health, prosperity or happiness, all can be ours if we will just learn to use “the secret.” Byrne tells us, “Disease cannot live in a body that is in a healthy emotional state.” But be warned: “If you have a disease and you are focusing on it and talking to people about it, you are going to create more disease cells.”[1]

Such rhetoric should sound familiar to anyone even faintly aware of the Word of Faith Movement, often termed “the prosperity gospel.” This group has been infiltrating evangelicalism for decades and is now the fastest growing segment of Christianity in the world. Some have estimated that up to 90 percent of those claiming to be Christians in Africa are of the prosperity gospel variety.

Well-known personalities within the movement include Kenneth Hagin (deceased), Kenneth Copeland, Robert Tilton, Paul Yonggi Cho, Benny Hinn, Marilyn Hickey, Frederick Price, John Avanzini, Charles Capps, Jerry Savelle, Morris Cerullo, Joyce Meyer and Paul and Jan Crouch.

As implied by the title “Word of Faith,” the supporters of this movement believe that faith works like a mighty power or force. Through faith we can obtain anything we want — health, wealth, success, or whatever we please. However, this force is released only through the spoken word. As we speak words of faith, power is discharged to accomplish our desires.

In Christianity in Crisis, Hank Hanegraaff summarizes the theology of Kenneth Hagin (considered by many to be the father of this movement) as found in his booklet How to Write Your Own Ticket with God:

In the opening chapter, titled “Jesus Appears to Me,” Hagin claims that while he was “in the Spirit,” Jesus told him to get a pencil and a piece of paper. He then instructed him to “write down: 1, 2, 3, 4.” Jesus then allegedly told Hagin that “if anybody, anywhere, will take these four steps or put these four principles into operation, he will always receive whatever he wants from Me or from God the Father.” That includes whatever you want financially. The formula is simply: “Say it, Do it, Receive it, and Tell it.”

Step number one is “Say it.” “Positive or negative, it is up to the individual. According to what the individual says, that shall he receive.”
Step number two is “Do it.” “Your action defeats you or puts you over. According to your action, you receive or you are kept from receiving.”
Step number three is “Receive it.” We are to plug into the “powerhouse of heaven.” “Faith is the plug, praise God! Just plug in.”
Step number four is, “Tell it so others may believe.” This final step might be considered the Faith movement’s outreach program.[2]
Kenneth Copeland states the faith formula this way: “All it takes is 1) seeing or visualizing whatever you need, whether physical or financial; 2) staking your claim on Scripture; and 3) speaking it into existence.” [3]

Paul Yonggi Cho, pastor of the world’s largest church in South Korea , borrowing from the occult, has developed what he calls the “Law of Incubation.” Here is how it works: “First make a clear-cut goal, then draw a mental picture, vivid and graphic, to visualize success. Then incubate it into reality, and finally speak it into existence through the creative power of the spoken word.”[4]

If a positive confession of faith releases good things, a negative confession can actually backfire. Capps says the tongue “can kill you, or it can release the life of God within you.” This is so because, “Faith is a seed . . . you plant it by speaking it.” There is power in “the evil fourth dimension” says Cho.

Hagin informs us that if you confess sickness you get sickness, if you confess health you get health; whatever you say you get. The spoken word releases power — power for good or power for evil is the commonly held view of the movement. It is easy to see why the title “positive confession” is often applied to this group.

As you might guess, the teachings of the “Word of Faith” movement are very attractive to some. If we can produce whatever our hearts desire by simply demanding what we want by faith, if we can manipulate the universe and perhaps even God, then we have our own personal genie just waiting to fulfill our wishes. The similarities between Word of Faith teachings and The Secret are unmistakable.

The New Look: Joel Osteen

Many Christians can discern the obvious error of New Age teachings behind The Secret and similar books such as Eckhart Tolle’s The New Earth (another Oprah favorite), as well as the over-the-top proclamations of many within the prosperity gospel movement. However when similar teachings are repackaged, reworded and presented in a winsome fashion, a larger number will fall prey. Enter Joel Osteen and his brand of the prosperity gospel-lite. As we will see, Osteen teaches essentially the same theology as his Word of Faith mentors, but he gives it an updated twist.

Joel Osteen has become a household name due to his incredible success. He “pastors” the largest church in America , Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas, which in 2008 boasted average weekend atten dance of 43,500, almost double that of its nearest competitor.[5] Osteen took the helm of Lakewood Church in 1999 upon the death of his father, John. John Osteen was openly a prosperity gospel preacher who founded Lakewood in 1959 and had built it into a 6000 member church before his son replaced him. Joel, who until that point had given leadership to the television ministry of Lakewood and had preached only once before, was thrust into the pulpit and immediately the church began to explode. Today Lakewood services are broadcast in over 100 countries, Joel has written two multi-million seller books, and he, along with his wife, mother, and numerous musicians from Lakewood, travel throughout the world offering an event they call “A Night of Hope.” While most churches struggle to find and keep members, people are willing to purchase $15 tickets to attend “A Night of Hope” and the auditoriums are usually packed.

Osteen has no theological training and it is obvious from his books, sermons and interviews on television that he has little knowledge of the Scripture. Nevertheless, he has caught an unprecedented wave of popularity and could clearly claim the title as the most admired pastor in America . This popularity of course is due largely to his message. Eschewing anything controversial or negative (such as hell or judgment or even sin), Osteen proclaims a message of pure positivism. The title of his first book, Your Best Life Now, summarizes what Osteen has to offer his many audiences. If we will follow certain principles or steps (seven to be exact), so the storyline goes, our existence will be happy, healthy, and blessed with everything that would make this life wonderful. This is a message that appeals to the flesh of unbelievers and worldly- minded Christians and would account for the superstar status that Osteen now has. Of course this is a harsh accusation. I am charging Joel Osteen with being a false teacher: a man who has twisted the gospel to entice the fallen nature of people, who has turned God into a genie, and who has distorted Scripture to present a warm and fuzzy yet warped form of Christianity. In order to see if I am correct or just being mean-spirited, we need to turn to Osteen’s actual words as found in Your Best Life Now.

What the reader will find in this best selling book is a mixture of common sense, helpful practical advice, and a multitude of success stories interlaced with a heavy dose of deceitful teaching. Let’s begin with the gospel. It is not so much that Osteen presents a false gospel (which he seems to do in Your Best Life Now) but rather, no gospel at all. In a 300 page book which will be read by millions of unbelievers, the closest Osteen ever comes to the gospel is, “Work out your own salvation. Salvation is more than a onetime prayer. It is constantly working with God, dealing with the issues He brings up and keeping a good attitude, fighting through until you win the victory.”[6] What Osteen believes concerning the gospel is uncertain, but what is undeniable is that the emphasis of his ministry is maintaining a positive outlook on life rather than a right relationship with God. Except for this one sentence, the entirety of the book is taken up with “seven steps to living at your full potential” as stated in the subtitle. This theme resonates with the thinking of those whose lives and minds are in conformity with this world system rather than being “transformed by the renewing of our minds” (Rom 12:2).

It really should not surprise us that men like Osteen have caught the public’s eye since they are merely telling it what it wants to hear (2 Tim 4:3) which is: we need to make the best of this life, enjoy every minute we can, because this is the best it is ever going to be. This philosophy is the world’s, not God’s who consistently calls us to live for higher values than this world and self (1 John 2:15-17). As Paul wrote to the church at Colossae, “Set your mind on things above, not on the things that are on the earth” ( Col 3:2). Paul did not mean by this, as conservative Christians are often accused, that we are to ignore life on this planet and go hide somewhere until the Lord returns. It means that we live for a higher purpose than personal pleasure and success “for you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God” ( Col 3:3). Osteen makes no attempt to draw his readers to this higher purpose, to a life lived for God. Instead God is to be manipulated for our own pleasure. I think Osteen would appreciate Eliphaz’s advice to Job (later condemned by God), “Yield now and be at peace with Him; thereby good will come to you” (Job 22:21).

Let’s take some looks at specifics:

The Offer

Osteen’s attraction is found in what he is offering which is nothing less than a life of good health, abundance, wealth, prosperity and success, “If you develop an image of victory, success, health, abundance, joy, peace, and happiness, nothing on earth will be able to hold those things from you” (p. 5).[7] Since these are the things most people treasure and, since Jesus informed us that “where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matt 6:21), it is predictable that the seductive promise of a map leading to these treasures would find many adherents. And it certainly does. But what specifically is being offered?

Health

If we follow the teachings of Osteen we can expect good health. His mother for example was diagnosed with terminal cancer twenty years ago, but because she confessed good health she is cancer free today (pp. 126-127). As a matter of fact, one of the highlights of the “A Night of Hope” events is the testimony by Osteen’s mother concerning her physical healing – implying of course, that those in the audience can also be healed if they will but do what Joel suggests.

Abundance

Osteen, without qualification, declares that all of us are destined for greatness of every kind: “You were born to win; you were born for greatness, you were created to be a champion in life” (p. 35), and abundance, “He wants you to live in abundance. He wants to give you the desires of your heart…God is turning things around in your favor” (p. 78). As a matter of fact, apparently irrespective of our relationship with God, “Before we were ever formed, He programmed us to live abundant lives, to be happy, healthy, and whole. But when our thinking becomes contaminated it is no longer in line with God’s Word” (p. 114).

Two things should be noted at this juncture. First, the Scriptures teach no such thing. While eternal life with the Lord is the ultimate destiny of the redeemed, judgment and then the lake of fire is the ultimate destiny of the lost (2 Thess 1:9; Rev 20:14-15). In the meanwhile, in this life the rain falls on the just and the unjust, and Christians may suffer as many trials as unbelievers, perhaps more (Rom 5:3-5; James 1:2-4; 2 Cor 4:8-12, 11:23-29; Heb 11:35-40). It is true that Psalm 37:4 promises, “Delight yourself in the Lord; and He will give you the desires of your heart,” but upon a little reflection it will be seen that one who delights himself in the Lord desires God, not mere material blessings, good parking spots, success in business and a nice wardrobe. Osteen’s program trivializes the abundant life Jesus came to give His followers (John 10:10).

Secondly, when the prosperity teachers use the phrase “God’s Word,” the reader must carefully discern what is meant. Often, as in this case, “God’s Word” is not a reference to the Bible but to words spoken, supposedly by God, extrabiblically through the Word of Faith adherents. Osteen then is not accusing people of being out of step with the Scriptures, but being out of step with the teachings of men such as himself. This is nothing less than a claim that God has revealed His Word apart from Scripture and through prosperity leaders.

Wealth

“God wants to increase you financially, by giving you promotions, fresh ideas and creativity” (p. 5), or so Osteen promises. How does he know this since in biblical times promotions were not common practice, fresh ideas and creativity did not carry the value they do today and wealth was not necessarily seen as a sign of God’s pleasure? Someone might counter that David and Solomon were wealthy, but this was not the case for Jeremiah and Habakkuk, both godly men who lost everything. Job flourished for a time, lost it all, and then gained it back. Did one of Job’s “comforters” clue him in on prosperity philosophy? Was that the turning point? Hardly. It was when Job repented of his arrogance that God restored his former affluence, and God was under no obligation to do that. The scriptural principle is that the Lord is sovereignly at work in our lives. He can choose to bless us with riches, or He can choose to bless us by taking our riches away.

So where does Osteen come up with the idea that “God wants to increase us financially?” His basis is in his very limited and selective experience. He tells us, for example, that when his father was “willing to go beyond the barriers of the past [by applying the principles found in this book], he broke that curse of poverty in our family. Now, my siblings and I, and our children, grandchildren, even great-grandchildren, are all going to experience more of the goodness of God because of what one man did” (p. 25). Of course, millions of examples throughout the world and throughout history could be given of godly people living in poverty, and the children of the wealthy wasting their inheritance and privileges, but Osteen seems to conveniently ignore such examples. Instead he is convinced “God wants to give you your own house” (p. 35). The U.S. government and the banking system seemed to agree with Osteen until the recent economic crash. Now they’re taking away many of those houses. But this does not deter Osteen; he is persuaded that we will prosper.

Prosperity

Prosperity is more than health and wealth; it includes all the good things life can give. Apparently God is working extra hard to make life easy for us. Osteen promises, “It’s going to happen… Suddenly, your situation will change for the better…He will bring your dreams to pass” (pp. 196-198). Such statements leave no room for the cancer patient who does not get better, the factory worker who is laid off and never again finds a comparable job, the athlete who has a career-ending injury, or all those losers at the “American Idol” auditions (we can be thankful for this one at least). Such people would have reason to question Osteen’s pronouncement that, “God didn’t make you to be average. God created you to excel” (p. 82). Just two minutes of reflection would unveil the fallacy of this statement. By definition everyone cannot be above average – somebody has to be in the middle of the pack, and someone has to bring up the rear. This kind of idea sounds like the familiar grade inflation going on in many of our schools and universities today. If ninety percent of students all make an “A” average (which is not uncommon anymore) that does not mean that they are smarter than past students, it just means that the evaluation system has been changed so that more students (and potential employers) think they are successful. In addition, did not Paul tell us that of the ones God calls there are “not many wise, not many mighty, not many noble; but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise…” (1 Cor 1:27)? Our Lord seems to have standards and values that are out of alignment with Osteen’s.

Still Osteen insists, “You will often receive preferential treatment simply because your Father is the King of kings, and His glory and honor spill over onto you” (p. 40). Osteen prays, “Father, I thank you that I have Your favor” (p. 41). By God’s favor Osteen has in mind such earth shaking issues as finding the perfect parking spot in a crowded lot (pp. 41-42). Why a perfectly healthy middle-aged man would pray for the premier parking spot, knowing of course that someone with greater physical needs will be denied such a spot, is never explained. Osteen admits God sometimes refuses to answer his parking prayer, but this “doesn’t mean that I am going to quit believing in the favor of God” (p. 43). Osteen can’t lose. If he finds the best spot in the lot he has God’s favor; if he circles for 15 minutes and fails in this all-important task, it is not going to derail his theology.

Success

“God wants you to go further than your parents” (p. 8). This statement is made without a speck of biblical evidence. On the contrary it was a rarity in Scripture to find a child who exceeded a godly or successful parent. Further, the same is often true in our own experience – some children go further than their parents, others do not. Osteen is making an unsupportable statement.

But not to be deterred we are told, “God wants you to live an overcoming life of victory. He doesn’t want you to barely get by. He’s called El Shaddai, ‘the God of more than enough’” (p. 33, emphasis his). On the contrary: El Shaddai is a title used for our Lord in the Old Testament which is often translated “God Almighty.” It speaks of the all sufficiency of God, and is a special title of reverence. Osteen has invented his own meaning and in the process turned God into our personal sugar daddy, ready to hand out the goodies to any who think they have discovered the secret to His heart.

Good self-image

“God wants us to have healthy, positive self-images, to see ourselves as priceless treasures. He wants us to feel good about ourselves… God sees you as a champion… He regards you as a strong, courageous, successful, overcoming person” (p. 57-58). Really? From what source does Osteen draw his view of self-image? Certainly not Scripture which never mentions such a thing. Rather than chase after good self-images Paul warns us “not to think more highly of ourselves than we ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment” (Rom 12:3). But instead of taking seriously the instruction of Scripture, Osteen is happy to chase after the fads found in pop-psychology. He goes on, “When you are tempted to get discouraged, remind yourself that according to God’s Word, your future is getting brighter; you are on your way to a new level of glory” (p. 67). Eternally this is a true statement for the child of God, but to promise such will be the case in this life is pure deception. And since Osteen makes no distinction between the redeemed and the unregenerate in his book, he is offering a false and damning hope to most of his audience, those who do not know Christ as their Savior.

The Belief System

Upon what does Osteen base his belief system? It is certainly not Scripture for the Bible never teaches anything remotely similar to this prosperity brand of Christianity. That is not to say that Your Best Life Now is totally devoid of biblical references, but the few that are attempted are almost all hopelessly out of context or twisted beyond recognition (see pp. 10,14,18, 30-31, 33, 61, 76, 79-83, 87-89, 104, 115, 129-130, 134,164). Osteen gives notice early and often that his views are not drawn fundamentally from Scripture but from his experiences and those of others. Still, in the introduction Osteen writes, “Within these pages, you will find seven simple, yet profound, steps to improve your life, regardless of your current level of success or lack of it. I know these steps work, because they have worked in the lives of my family members, friends, and associates, as well as in my own life” (p. viii).

Osteen supports his thesis through the use of numerous success stories of one type or another. Some of his stories are impossible and/or at best incapable of being documented and therefore raise a red flag concerning his integrity (pp. 12, 23, 73, 122, 161, 167, 201-202, 229, 280-281, 292). Others are highly selective examples of happy endings (see pp. 4, 7-8, 27, 111-112, 125, 127, 199-200, 246). As a result of such stories Osteen can promise that, if his theories are embraced, “suddenly, things will change, suddenly, that business will take off. Suddenly, your husband will desire a relationship with God. Suddenly, that wayward child will come home. Suddenly, God will bring your hopes and dreams to pass” (p. 199). Or maybe not! Inexplicably (given his belief system and insistence that God will bring prosperity to our lives if we follow the formula) Osteen must admit that all things do not end in success. Both his sister and father experienced the failure of divorce (pp. 151, 176), some people are not healed (pp. 181-182), things don’t always work out the way we desire (pp. 207-209), his father suffered kidney failure and was on dialysis for years (p. 247) and died of a heart attack (p. 248). While Osteen declares “God does not send problems” he admits that “sometimes He allows us to go through them” (p. 205). But the fact is that even in Osteen’s story-theology world the people of God suffer the same ups and downs, successes and failures, health and sickness and so forth as the unbeliever. One has only to glance through the Psalms to realize that this is not our “best life now.” We live in a corrupt world and until the Lord returns our sin-tainted universe will often disappoint and grieve us. Stories of success (and failure) can be lined up from here to eternity, but such stories are not the basis of truth, or of life; the Word of God is.

The Methods

Drawing, however, from many selective stories, and ignoring what God has to say, Osteen presents a methodology that he promises will produce a life of abundance, success, health and affluence. This system is not unique to Osteen, having come almost verbatim from the prosperity teachers mentioned above, but he has taken this false teaching to a new audience. Let’s examine how the program works.

There are three basic steps to “your best life now.”

Visualization

The initial step in Osteen’s program is visualization: “The first step to living at your full potential is to enlarge your vision. To live your best life now, you must start looking at life through eyes of faith, seeing yourself rising to new levels. See your business taking off. See your marriage restored. See your family prospering. See your dreams coming to pass. You must conceive it and believe it is possible if you ever hope to experience it” (p. 4, emphasis his).

The reason why visualization is necessary is because it has the power to bring about what you envision. “You will produce what you’re continually seeing in your mind… If you develop an image of victory, success, health, abundance, joy, peace, and happiness, nothing on earth will be able to hold those things from you… Start anticipating promotions and supernatural increase. You must conceive it in your heart and mind before you can receive it… You must make room for increase in your own thinking, and then God will bring those things to pass” (pp. 5-6).

Apparently even God is at the mercy of that which we visualize; after all, “Thoughts [not God] determine destiny” (p. 101). “If you don’t think your body can be healed, it never will be… When you think positive, excellent thoughts, you will be propelled toward greatness, inevitably bound for increase, promotion, and God’s supernatural blessings” (p. 104).

Faith

It is not enough to think about and visualize what we want, we must also express faith. “God works by faith. You must believe first, and then you’ll receive” (p. 33). “We receive what we believe. Unfortunately, this principle works as strongly in the negative as it does in the positive” (p. 72). “Understand this: God will help you, but you cast the deciding vote… [we must] get into agreement with God” (p. 74). “It’s our faith that activates the power of God” (p. 306).

It is vital that we visualize what we want and to expect (“express faith”) because our faith attracts what we visualize. While Osteen never calls this the “law of attraction" notice its similarity to the same concept as taught by New Age teachers such as Eckhart Tolle, Rhonda Byrne and others. “Your life will follow your expectations. What you expect is what you will get” (p. 13). “Our thoughts contain tremendous power. Remember, we draw into our lives that which we constantly think about. If we’re always dwelling on the negative, we will attract negative people, experiences, and attitudes. If we’re always dwelling on our fears, we will draw in more fear. You are setting the direction of your life with your thoughts” (p. 109).

Words

Still, it is not enough to think good thoughts and express faith in them; it is necessary to speak your desires out loud. This is why the prosperity gospel is often called the “Word of Faith” movement – for power lies in the spoken word. Follow Osteen’s thinking. “Our words have tremendous power, and whether we want to or not, we will give life to what we’re saying, either good or bad… Words are similar to seeds, by speaking them aloud, they are planted in our subconscious minds, and they take on a life of their own” (p. 122). Osteen suggests, “Get up each morning and look in the mirror and say, ‘I am valuable. I am loved. God has a great plan

for my life. I have favor wherever I go. God’s blessings are chasing me down and overtaking me. Everything I touch prospers and succeeds. I’m excited about my future!’ Start speaking those kinds of words, and before long, you will rise to a new level of well-being, success, and victory. There truly is power in your words” (p. 123).

But there is more. We must also speak to our problems, “Whatever your mountain is, you must do more than think about it, more than pray about it; you must speak to that obstacle… Start calling yourself healed, happy, whole, blessed, and prosperous. Stop talking to God about how big your mountains are, and start talking to your mountains about how big your God is” (p. 124). Osteen can confidently promise us, “Friend, there is a miracle in your mouth” (p. 125). How so? “The moment you speak something out, you give birth to it. This is a spiritual principle, and it works whether what you are saying is good or bad, positive or negative” (p. 129). Therefore, “You must start boldly confessing God’s Word, using your words to move forward in life, to bring to life the great things God has in store for you” (p. 130).

And it is totally up to us to pull this kind of life off. “God has already done everything He’s going to do. The ball is now in your court. If you want success, if you want wisdom, if you want to be prosperous and healthy, you’re going to have to do more than meditate and believe; you must boldly declare words of faith and victory over yourself and your family” (p. 132). Osteen is presenting a pure self-help program and baptizing it in the name of God. Those who fail to reach these promised benefits have only themselves to blame, since they apparently did not follow Osteen’s formula.

Conclusion

Whenever the supposed things of God and people of God become popular with the inhabitants of this fallen world we would be wise to walk softly and be extra discerning. The Jews persecuted and/or killed almost every one of their prophets (Acts 7:52); the apostles were despised by the world and Jesus was murdered by those He came to save. Jesus pronounced a blessing on those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness (Matt 5:11) and warned, “If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you” (John 15:20). Why? Because the message of the Cross is foolishness to those who are perishing (1 Cor 1:18). Therefore when we find a Christian message or ministry or man or woman being praised by unbelievers we can be assured that either unregenerate humanity has not yet caught on to what is being said, or that what they are saying is in line with what the unbeliever already believes. As we have demonstrated Osteen’s message is exactly what unbelievers and undiscerning Christians want to believe and they are thrilled to have someone who claims to be a reliable spokesperson for God agree with them. This would account for Osteen’s incredible success, but it does not account for, or excuse, the inconceivable gullibility and immaturity of professing Christians.



[1] Taken from The Secret DVD.

[2] Hank Hanegraaff, Christianity in Crisis (Eugene, Oregon: Harvest House Publishers, 1993), p. 74, 75.

[3] Ibid., p. 80.

[4] Ibid., pp. 83, 84.

[5] http://churchrelevance.com/top-100-largest-churches-in-america-of-2008/. It is worthy of note that according to this source, attendance has dropped by 3,500 people from the previous year; a virtual megachurch in its own right.

[6] Joel Osteen, Your Best Life Now ( New York: Faith Word, 2004), p. 212.

[7] Quotes and page numbers throughout the rest of this book are taken from Osteen, Your Best Life Now.

A list of false teachings in the Roman Catholic Church

A list of false teachings in the Roman Catholic Church
by Matt Slick

The Protestant Reformation happened for a reason. Basically, it was to combat the many false teachings that the Roman Catholic Church had adopted through the centuries. When Martin Luther compared Catholicism to Scripture, the result was his nailing the 95 theses to the Wittenberg door. However, instead of reforming the Roman Catholic Church, it resulted in the protesters, the Protestants, whose aim was to get back to the Scriptures.

Following is a summarized paragraph with references found in the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) of many of the false teachings of Roman Catholicism. How do we know they are false? By comparing Scripture with what is taught.

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The Catholic Church is the one true church (CCC 2105), Infallibility of the Catholic Church, (CCC 2035), Only the Roman Catholic Church has authority to interpret Scripture (CCC 100), The Pope is the head of the church and has the authority of Christ (CCC 2034), The Roman Catholic Church is necessary for salvation (CCC 846), Sacred Tradition equal to scripture (CCC 82), Forgiveness of sins, salvation, is by faith and works (CCC 2036 CCC 2080 2068), Full benefit of Salvation is only through the Roman Catholic Church (Vatican 2, Decree on Ecumenism, 3), Grace can be merited (CCC 2010 CCC 2027), The merit of Mary and the Saints can be applied to Catholics and others (1477), Penance is necessary for salvation (CCC 980), Purgatory (CCC 1031 CCC 1475), Indulgences (CCC 1471 CCC 1478 CCC 1498 CCC 1472), Mary is Mediatrix (CCC 969), Mary brings us the gifts of eternal salvation (CCC 969), Mary delivers souls from death (CCC 966), Prayer to the saints (CCC 2677), The Communion elements become the actual body and blood of Christ (CCC 1374 CCC 1376).

The Catholic church is the one true church
CCC 2105 "The duty of offering God genuine worship concerns man both individually and socially. This is 'the traditional Catholic teaching on the moral duty of individuals and societies toward the true religion and the one Church of Christ.' By constantly evangelizing men, the Church works toward enabling them 'to infuse the Christian spirit into the mentality and mores, laws and structures of the communities in which [they] live.' The social duty of Christians is to respect and awaken in each man the love of the true and the good. It requires them to make known the worship of the one true religion which subsists in the Catholic and apostolic Church. Christians are called to be the light of the world. Thus, the Church shows forth the kingship of Christ over all creation and in particular over human societies."
Infallibility of the Catholic Church
CCC 2035, "The supreme degree of participation in the authority of Christ is ensured by the charism of infallibility. This infallibility extends as far as does the deposit of divine Revelation; it also extends to all those elements of doctrine, including morals, without which the saving truths of the faith cannot be preserved, explained, or observed."
Only the Roman Catholic Church has authority to interpret Scripture
CCC 100, "The task of interpreting the Word of God authentically has been entrusted solely to the Magisterium of the Church, that is, to the Pope and to the bishops in communion with him."
The Pope is the head of the church and has the authority of Christ
CCC 2034, "The Roman Pontiff and the bishops are 'authentic teachers, that is, teachers endowed with the authority of Christ, who preach the faith to the people entrusted to them, the faith to be believed and put into practice.' The ordinary and universal Magisterium of the Pope and the bishops in communion with him teach the faithful the truth to believe, the charity to practice, the beatitude to hope for."
The Roman Catholic Church is necessary for salvation
CCC 846, "How are we to understand this affirmation, often repeated by the Church Fathers? Re-formulated positively, it means that all salvation comes from Christ the Head through the Church which is his Body: Basing itself on Scripture and Tradition, the Council teaches that the Church, a pilgrim now on earth, is necessary for salvation: the one Christ is the mediator and the way of salvation; he is present to us in his body which is the Church. He himself explicitly asserted the necessity of faith and Baptism, and thereby affirmed at the same time the necessity of the Church which men enter through Baptism as through a door. Hence they could not be saved who, knowing that the Catholic Church was founded as necessary by God through Christ, would refuse either to enter it or to remain in it."
Sacred Tradition equal to Scripture
CCC 82, ". . .the Church, to whom the transmission and interpretation of Revelation is entrusted, does not derive her certainty about all revealed truths from the holy Scriptures alone. Both Scripture and Tradition must be accepted and honored with equal sentiments of devotion and reverence'."
Forgiveness of sins, salvation, is by faith and works
CCC 2036, "The specific precepts of the natural law, because their observance, demanded by the creator, is necessary for salvation."
CCC 2080, "The Decalogue contains a privileged expression of the natural law. It is made known to us by divine revelation and by human reason."
CCC 2068, "so that all men may attain salvation through faith, Baptism and the observance of the Commandments,"
Full benefit of Salvation is only through the Roman Catholic Church
"For it is only through Christ's Catholic Church, which is "the all-embracing means of salvation," that they can benefit fully from the means of salvation," (Vatican 2, Decree on Ecumenism, 3).
Grace can be merited
CCC 2010, "Moved by the Holy Spirit and by charity, we can then merit for ourselves and for others the graces needed for our sanctification."
CCC 2027, "Moved by the Holy Spirit, we can merit for ourselves and for others all the graces needed to attain eternal life, as well as necessary temporal goods."
The merit of Mary and the Saints can be applied to Catholics and others
1477, "This treasury includes as well the prayers and good works of the Blessed Virgin Mary. They are truly immense, unfathomable, and even pristine in their value before God. In the treasury, too, are the prayers and good works of all the saints, all those who have followed in the footsteps of Christ the Lord and by his grace have made their lives holy and carried out the mission in the unity of the Mystical Body."
Penance is necessary for salvation
CCC 980, “This sacrament of Penance is necessary for salvation for those who have fallen after Baptism, just as Baptism is necessary for salvation for those who have not yet been reborn."
Purgatory
CCC 1031, "The Church gives the name Purgatory to this final purification of the elect, which is entirely different from the punishment of the damned. The Church formulated her doctrine of faith on Purgatory especially at the Councils of Florence and Trent. The tradition of the Church, by reference to certain texts of Scripture, speaks of a cleansing fire:
CCC 1475, "In the communion of saints, "a perennial link of charity exists between the faithful who have already reached their heavenly home, those who are expiating their sins in purgatory and those who are still pilgrims on earth. Between them there is, too, an abundant exchange of all good things." In this wonderful exchange, the holiness of one profits others, well beyond the harm that the sin of one could cause others. Thus recourse to the communion of saints lets the contrite sinner be more promptly and efficaciously purified of the punishments for sin.
Indulgences
CCC 1471, "The doctrine and practice of indulgences in the Church are closely linked to the effects of the sacrament of Penance. What is an indulgence? 'An indulgence is a remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven, which the faithful Christian who is duly disposed gains under certain prescribed conditions through the action of the Church which, as the minister of redemption, dispenses and applies with authority the treasury of the satisfactions of Christ and the saints.' 'An indulgence is partial or plenary according as it removes either part or all of the temporal punishment due to sin.' The faithful can gain indulgences for themselves or apply them to the dead.'"
CCC 1478, "An indulgence is obtained through the Church who, by virtue of the power of binding and loosing granted her by Christ Jesus, intervenes in favor of individual Christians and opens for them the treasury of the merits of Christ and the saints to obtain from the Father of mercies the remission of the temporal punishments due for their sins. Thus the Church does not want simply to come to the aid of these Christians, but also to spur them to works of devotion, penance, and charity.
CCC 1498, "Through indulgences the faithful can obtain the remission of temporal punishment resulting from sin for themselves and also for the souls in Purgatory."
CCC 1472, " . . . On the other hand every sin, even venial, entails an unhealthy attachment to creatures, which must be purified either here on earth, or after death in the state called Purgatory. This purification frees one from what is called the "temporal punishment" of sin . . . "
Mary (there are many false doctrines concerning Mary found in Roman Catholicism, here are a few)
Mary is Mediatrix, CCC 969, "Therefore the Blessed Virgin is invoked in the Church under the titles of Advocate, Helper, Benefactress, and Mediatrix.'"
Mary brings us the gifts of eternal salvation, CCC 969, "Taken up to heaven she did not lay aside this saving office but by her manifold intercession continues to bring us the gifts of eternal salvation . . . "
Mary delivers souls from death, CCC 966, " . . . You [Mary] conceived the living God and, by your prayers, will deliver our souls from death."
Prayer to the saints
CCC 2677, "By asking Mary to pray for us, we acknowledge ourselves to be poor sinners and we address ourselves to the 'Mother of Mercy,' the All-Holy One. We give ourselves over to her now, in the Today of our lives. And our trust broadens further, already at the present moment, to surrender 'the hour of our death' wholly to her care."
The Communion elements become the actual body and blood of Christ
CCC 1374, "In the most blessed sacrament of the Eucharist "the body and blood, together with the soul and divinity, of our Lord Jesus Christ and, therefore, the whole Christ is truly, really, and substantially contained."
CCC 1376, "The Council of Trent summarizes the Catholic faith by declaring: "Because Christ our Redeemer said that it was truly his body that he was offering under the species of bread, it has always been the conviction of the Church of God, and this holy Council now declares again, that by the consecration of the bread and wine there takes place a change of the whole substance of the bread into the substance of the body of Christ our Lord and of the whole substance of the wine into the substance of his blood. This change the holy Catholic Church has fittingly and properly called transubstantiation."

Lord, Teach Me to Laugh

Lord, Teach Me to Laugh
ANN SPANGLER

"Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Will I really have a child, now that I am old?’ Is anything too hard for the LORD?" Genesis 18:13b-14a (NIV)

My prayer life ramped up significantly the day I became a parent.

As the single mother of two adopted children, I feel both tremendously blessed and incredibly challenged.

Like any mother, I want my teenage girls to launch well, to know that they will reach adulthood as people who can take care of themselves and relate well to others.

Because both have special needs, I’m anxious about how difficult this might be. Sometimes, in fact, I feel like one big blob of worry.

Since I adopted my children late in life, I love recalling the story of Sarah. She’s the woman in the Bible who had a baby when she was 90 years old. I love her not just because she holds the world record as the oldest woman ever to get pregnant, but because she’s so real. Like most of us, she’s a long way from perfect. Still, because of how God worked in her life, she learned that nothing is too hard for Him. Here’s a tiny window into her story:

Hers is a face that still makes men look; so beautiful it once charmed kings.

You might think her a fool for all the nonstop laughter. Her body shakes with it. But she is no fool, only a woman who can’t stop marveling at what God has done. Although her husband is more than 100 years old and she’s not far behind, she is pregnant with his child. Who wouldn’t find that funny? Two old sticks kindling a fire!

Sarah’s joy is so strong and wild that nothing can stop it. "God has brought me laughter," she says, "and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me"(Genesis 21:6, NIV). And so she named her son Isaac, which means laughter.

I love learning about Sarah because it gives me hope for the story God is telling with my life and the lives of my children. Like her, I want to become a woman who has learned to laugh, not because she’s perfect or her life is easy, but because she finally gets it — that nothing in this great big world is too hard for God.

Like Sarah, I haven’t a clue as to how the future will unfold. But instead of allowing myself to dissolve into that big blob of worry when difficulties arise, I can express the truth that God will help my children and me, regardless of whether or not He does so according to my timeline. From a practical standpoint, I’ve found my faith growing stronger as I’ve learned to fill every prayer request with praise and thanksgiving.

I expect that learning to laugh in the midst of life’s challenges will be a process rather than an event. It may take the rest of my life. But as I’ve added more praise and thanksgiving to my prayers, I’ve discovered my anxiety receding and my joy increasing.

Lord, thank You for the way You’ve surprised me with so many good things. Please help my faith to grow stronger so that regardless of circumstances, I will always find joy in You. May my laughter be like a song of praise to You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

TRUTH FOR TODAY:
Psalm 126:4-6, "Restore our fortunes, LORD, like streams in the Negev. Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy. Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them.’ (NIV)

Proverbs 31:25, "She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come." (NIV)

RELATED RESOURCES:
Sarah was "wicked" old, but God’s promise brought her joy and laughter. Discover how the lives of the Bible’s most outrageous women can yield rich insights into God’s mercy and love with Ann Spangler’s book, Wicked Women of the Bible.

Enter to WIN a copy of Wicked Women of the Bible by Ann Spangler. In celebration of this book, Ann’s publisher is giving away 10 copies! Enter to win by leaving a comment here, letting us know why you’d like a copy for yourself OR whom you would give the book to, if you won. {We’ll randomly select 10 winners and email notifications to each one by Monday, September 28.}

REFLECT AND RESPOND:
Spend 10 minutes reflecting on the positive surprises God has brought into your life.

Sarah’s story is evidence that nothing is too hard for God. Ask God to show you one thing you can do to increase your faith in Him.

© 2015 by Ann Spangler. All rights reserved.

KEEPING THE MAIN THING THE MAIN THING Acts1: 1-8

KEEPING THE MAIN

THING THE MAIN THING

· This text records our Lord’s last meeting with His disciples while He was here on earth. He is preparing to ascend back into Heaven to sit down at the right hand of God. Before He leaves, He commands and commissions His men to reach the world with His message. He reminds them of what should be the central focus of their ministry. He reminds them that they are to keep the main thing the main thing!

· He had to overcome a distraction, v. 6-7. The disciples want to talk about future things. Jesus is trying conduct the world’s first mission’s conference and they want to turn it into a prophecy conference. They want to know if the time has come for Jesus to establish His kingdom here on earth. He tells them that the “times and seasons” are not their concern. Their responsibility was to be faithful to Him and work while they waited.

· Nothing has changed. Our duty is not to get caught up in future events, or any other theological dispute that distracts us from the main thing. We need to be careful that we do not allow Satan to distract us from our very purpose in being left in this world. Our duty is to be busy working for the Lord while we wait for Him to return. Verse 8 tells us what our duty is.

· Jesus, here, commands His disciples, living in all time periods, to be His witnesses to the world of His Gospel and of His saving grace. (Ill. The Gospel – 1 Cor. 15:3-4; Rom. 4:25 – Many believers disagree about how salvation takes place, but that does not change the Gospel! People should be able to disagree about the methods while embracing the same message!)

· Verse 8 is clear! Every believer is commissioned, commanded and constructed to share the Gospel with a lost world. We are His “ambassadors” in this world, 2 Cor. 5:20.

· Let me share some of the qualities shared by all Gospel witnesses. This text reminds us of exactly what we are to be doing as we move through this world. This passage teaches us about the main thing that the church is to be doing. I want to examine this passage and preach for a few minutes on Keeping The Main Thing The Main Thing.

· Why do I say this is the main thing? I say it because, here is Jesus Christ, crucified and resurrected from the dead, and about to ascend into Heaven. He could have talked about anything in the world. But, His last words were a command and a commission to share the Gospel. If it was that important to Him, it should be equally important to us! The church needs to learn this lesson about Keeping The Main Thing The Main Thing.



I. WE MUST HAVE

THE RIGHT MESSAGE

· Jesus tells His men that they are to be witness “unto Me”. Jesus is to be the sole focus of their message.

· That has not changed! We are to tell the world about Him. We are not to talk about us, our lives, our beliefs, our denomination, our church, or our favorite preacher. None of those things have saving power! His message does, Rom. 1:16! We are to tell the world about Jesus!

· We are to tell the message of His love, His death and His resurrection. We are to share the message of the Gospel – 1 Cor. 15:3-4; Rom. 10:9-10; 13; John 3:16; Acts 16:31. We are to tell the world that Jesus will save anyone who comes to Him by faith!

· We are not sent to try and impress the world with our grasp of theology. Many people know the theories of theology, but they do not know Jesus. Many know all about the glories of Heaven, but they are headed to Hell. Like that blind man in John 9, all I know is, “once I was blind, but now I see,” and Jesus is the reason! That is the message we are to share with the world.

· Our only mission is to point people to Jesus. He is the only hope the world has for salvation, John 14:6; Acts 4:12; Acts 16:31.

· As someone said, all we are is “one beggar telling another beggar where to find bread”. Jesus is the “Bread of Life”, John 6:35. He is the solution to the spiritual hunger of the world. (Ill. I need to share with others what others shared with me, 2 Tim. 2:2!)



I. We Must Have The Right

Message



II. WE MUST HAVE

THE RIGHT METHODS

· The word “witness” translates the Greek word “martus”. It refers to “those who bear witness to the truth.” It came to be used of those who bore the ultimate witness to the truth; of those who laid down their lives for the truth. Thus, we get the word “martyr” from this word. The issue is not myths and legends, but facts and truth. Jesus is calling His people to tell others the truth about Him.

· The word “witness” was used in Bible times like it is used today. It speaks of those who testify in a court of law. A witness in a trial is called upon to tell what they have seen and what they know to be true.

· God is calling His people to tell what they know and what they have seen to be true. Do you know anything about Jesus Christ? Has God done anything for you through Jesus Christ? If you can answer yes to those questions that is what you are to tell the world.

Ø Do you know that God loves you? Tell the world!

Ø Do you know that you are saved? Tell the world!

Ø Do you know how God saves sinners? Tell the world!

Ø Do you know who to tell? Tell the world!

· We have some great examples in the Bible:

Ø Peter at Pentecost – Acts 2:14-41

Ø Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch, Acts 8:26-39

Ø Paul before King Agrippa, Acts 26:1-31

Ø The Blind Man before the Sanhedrin, John 9:10-12; 15-17; 24-27; 30-33

Ø These great witnesses just told what they knew!

· That is all the Lord wants you to do – 1 Pet. 3:15!



I. We Must Have The Right

Message

II. We Must Have The Right

Methods



III. WE MUST HAVE

THE RIGHT MINDSET

· The witness in a court of law is to testify to the judge and the jury. The witness to Jesus Christ is to testify to the whole world! That is a big task, so Jesus breaks it down for us. We are to begin close and move out!

· We need to adopt the mindset of John Wesley who said, “The world is my parish!” Wesley knew that anywhere sinners could be found, there was a need for the Gospel and the Gospel witness. Our mission field is anywhere lost people can be found!

· Most of us will never go to “the uttermost part of the earth”, but we can serve in our Jerusalem. We can witness to our families, our friends, our co-workers, total strangers, to anyone we meet, anywhere we go.

· We are to always be “on mission” for Jesus, telling a lost and dying world that Jesus saves. If we get the opportunity to go to our Judea, our Samaria and the uttermost part of the earth, we should make good use of those open doors.

· Everyone we meet is either a believer, or they are in need of the Gospel! Let’s tell them about our Savior! Let’s share the glorious news that Jesus saves and will save all who will come to Him by faith, Rev. 22:17.

· What is really sad is that most believers will not talk to anyone who is outside their comfort zone. They will visit friends, family and acquaintances, but they won’t go to someone who is lost. They are afraid to share the Gospel outside their own realm of safety. As a result, most church members are not involved in any kind of evangelism. They have the mindset, “My four and no more”, when there is a whole world that must be reached with the Gospel of grace, and it is our job to take it to them!

· If we really believe that people are going to Hell without Jesus, and if we really believe that the Gospel is for all men, then why aren’t we doing more to get the Gospel to them? Why aren’t we out there telling a lost world that Jesus saves? Could it be that we really don’t believe everything we claim to believe? Could it be that we are saved and satisfied? Could it be that we have forgotten to keep the main thing the main thing?

We are preaching on the radio and the Internet every day. We are on TV every Sunday. A small handful of our people are involved in outreach through the C.A.R.E. ministry. Those things are good, but they do not take away our individual responsibility to share the Gospel with the world.



I. We Must Have The Right

Message

II. We Must Have The Right

Methods

III. We Must Have The Right

Mindset



IV. WE MUST HAVE

THE RIGHT MUSCLE

· If our message is to have any power; if our methods are to be successful; and if our mindset is ever to be what it ought to be; we are going to need help from outside ourselves. Jesus tells us in this verse that our help comes from the “Holy Ghost”.

The people in the upper room were promised that the Spirit of God was coming, and that when He came, He would fill them with God’s power, Luke 24:49. When that power came on the day of Pentecost, those terrified disciples, who had been hiding from the Jews in fear, became bold preachers of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, Acts 2:1-21. When they preached the Gospel, 3,000 souls were saved, Acts 2:41.

· What made the difference? It wasn’t their eloquence. It wasn’t their oratory. It wasn’t their delivery. What made the difference was the power of God on their lives!

· Where did that power come from?

Ø It came from the fact that they were saved and indwelled by the Holy Spirit, John 14:16-18; 1 Cor. 12:13.

Ø It came from the fact that they were prayed up and clean before God, Acts 1:14.

Ø It came from the fact that they were united in love, heart and purpose, Acts 2:1.

· That same power is available to us today! If we are going have the power of God on our witness, our words and our works, we are going to have get our lives in the kind of shape the Lord can bless and use. We are going to have to get like the early church, Acts 2:42-47. When we do, we will see the Lord pour out His power on our witness to the world. Until we do, we will spin our wheels and accomplish nothing for His glory.

· We desperately need God’s power on our lives and on our church. We will never enjoy His unction and power until our hearts are right with one another and with Him.

If you have a problem with a brother or sister in Christ, and you have not dealt with that issue biblically, that is a hindrance to the power of God being manifested in your life. If you have some secret sin buried in your life, it is a hindrance to the power of God being manifested in you. We need to stop looking at others and deal with our own hearts. When we do, and when we get where He would have us to be, we can and will enjoy His power on our witness.



Conc: How important is being a witness to you? What are you willing to change in your life so that you can be more effective as a witness? What are you willing to deal with so that the power of God may rest upon you? What price are you willing to pay for the touch of God on your life? How long has it been since you told someone else about Jesus?

Let me just remind you that everyone of us will give an account of our witness to Jesus come day, Rom. 14:12. The hour is late and the time to tell the world is now, John 9:4.

Church, we have been distracted from our mission. I think we all share some responsibility in that. This is the hour to recapture our mission. This is the moment when the main thing needs to become the main thing once again. It’s time to deal with our personal issues and it’s time to deal with our sins so that the power of God might rest on us and that God might be pleased to save souls in this place. It’s time to obey His voice.

Liberty in Christ

Liberty in Christ
—The only freedom that can be guaranteed

In Australia we enjoy a level of personal freedom that is the envy of most people in the world. But maybe we take that freedom too much for granted, as if it were guaranteed. Australians don't realise that if they use their freedom selfishly, as a licence to sin, they will become slaves of their sin.

1 There is freedom from sin

All liberty is precious, but political and physical freedom, is freedom merely of the second order. Freedom of the first order is spiritual freedom, and this is transcendent.

You can have freedom of the second order yet be spiritually enslaved. Many Australians are in the grip of that paradox today.

On the other hand, you can be deprived of your second-order freedom yet be spiritually free. This was, for example, the experience of Paul the Apostle when he was in chains (Colossians 4:3 Galatians 5:1).

Jesus said, "If you abide in my teaching, then you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free... If the Son frees you, you will be truly free" (John 8:31-32,36).

This greatest freedom of all can only come from Jesus Christ. It is the only freedom that can be guaranteed, and Jesus is the only authority that can guarantee it.

2 There is no freedom in sin

But notice furthermore that to have this greatest freedom, we must greatly restrict ourselves: we must abide in the teachings of Christ. If we will not submit to Christ's authority, if we will not sign up as his slaves, then we cannot be free. We must then be the slaves of sin.

Enslavement to Satan in sin, and liberty through Christ and his law, are not mere "ideas". They are very real, because Satan and Christ are real persons with real powers, and we all must be under bondage to one of them. The only freedom we really have of our own, is to choose which it will be.

To choose our enslavement is to determine our destiny —either the wages of sin or the gift of God (Romans 6:23). To be free to do that, is to be free indeed, however if we choose wrongly we will not be free but in bondage.

3 There is no freedom to sin

Liberty in Christ is not liberty to sin. We are not free to be fornicators, idolaters, drunkards, etc (1Corinthians 6:9-11). If we have been purchased by Christ, he owns us body and soul (1Corinthians 6:19-20).

Our liberty in Christ frees us from sin, but it does not free us to sin.

Many Christians do think they are at liberty to commit sin. That's why Peter warns: "Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live rather as slaves of God" (1Peter 2:16). Similarly, Paul warns: "You, my brothers, were called to be free, but do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather serve one another in love" (Galatians 5:13).

We are not free to please ourselves

One of the hardest lessons for Christians to learn, is that our liberty does not start where sin ends. We are not free to do every non-sinful thing. Many things are not wrong in themselves, yet we are still not always at liberty to do them.

Paul tells us to be careful that the exercise of our freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak (1Corinthians 8:9). What you choose to do may not be sinful in itself, nevertheless by doing it you could "sin against your brother" (1Corinthians 8:12).

We could take the position that everything that is not sin is permissible. Paul replies, "Everything that is permissible is not necessarily beneficial or constructive. Nobody should seek his own good. Everybody should seek the good of others" (1Corinthians 10:23-24).

There are many matters of conscience and matters of weakness that we should take into account. It is not legalism to expect you to restrict yourself in such matters. For example when drug and alcohol abuse is a serious problem for others, you can hardly cry "Legalism!" when the church expects abstinence from you.

You should gladly restrict your own liberty for the sake of others. If you argue that the thing you insist on doing is not a sin in itself, then you are the one who is adhering to the strict letter of Christ's law and using a technicality to excuse your insensitive and selfish behaviour. You therefore are the legalist.

Liberty and responsibility

It is an axiom that every liberty comes with a responsibility. If we exercise the liberty without exercising the responsibility, then we have abused our liberty. When Christ sets you free, he also makes you responsible..

In this series of lessons we have considered various questions of conscience and circumstance which affect how we act. We have seen that an action right in certain circumstances may be wrong in others. It is your responsibility to ensure that you become sensitive and aware of the circumstances in which you choose to do whatever you do.

How to be a Christian Ambassador in Troubled Times

How to be a Christian Ambassador in Troubled Times

Living in Troubled Times

Growing up in the 80’s and 90’s, I seem to recall some Christians who saw engaging the culture more like fighting a “culture war” for Jesus. But things have changed over the past few decades. Today, we find ourselves in the position of a cultural minority in our country. The question is, “How should we engage with a culture that’s getting more and more hostile to Christianity?”

In this post, I’ll share three lessons from the New Testament about being an ambassador of Christ in troubled times. The big idea is that we need to honor the Lord though our message and tone as Christian ambassadors and apologists–even in a world that pushes back against the gospel. I learned these lessons directly from Darrell Bock, who pointed me to the examples of the early church, Peter and Paul.

The Early Church’s Example

is-religion-evil-praying-manDid you realize the early church grew up in a skeptical context? Check out their example in Acts 4:24-32. Here, the Apostles Peter and John were just jailed and threatened by the Jewish authorities after healing a crippled person and preaching in Jesus’ name. Was the church caught off guard or surprised when they heard about this kind of persecution? Nope. They realized Jesus said this kind of thing would happen.

The church’s response is a good example for us: They didn’t freak out and act like the sky was falling. They didn’t withdraw from the world and hide in a hole somewhere. Instead, these early Christians prayed that they’d keep speaking with boldness and keep ministering to the very people who were opposing them.

Check out Luke’s account of their prayer (NET):

24 When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. 25 You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David:

“‘Why do the nations rage
and the peoples plot in vain?
26 The kings of the earth rise up
and the rulers band together
against the Lord
and against his anointed one.

27 Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. 28 They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. 29 Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. 30 Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”

31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

cults_talkingWhat about us? How do we respond to insults, hostility and persecution? Let’s stay faithful in proclaiming Jesus, defending the faith and showing God’s grace by loving our neighbors and ministering in the community. Let’s show our neighbors God cares about them.

Why? Because when our message comes alongside loving service, it tends to give people pause. Your apologetic arguments are never heard in a vacuum. They come in a wrapper that is your life. Doing this enhances the credibility of our apologetics and gospel message.

Arguments aren’t heard in a vacuum. They come in a wrapper that is your life. #Apologetics
Peter’s Example

Second, Peter was all about speaking the truth with gentleness and respect. This is another thing we’ve got to do, even as we challenge certain parts of the prevailing culture. In 1 Peter 3:15, the apostle wrote,

“But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect.”

This is that great “apologetics memory verse” that many apologists love to quote. But let’s never forget the last part of his command. Let’s engage the culture, make our case and defend the faith with a demeanor of kindness. Let’s be generous in spiritual conversations as we explain our faith to our skeptical friends and even those who challenge it in less than generous ways.

Engage the culture. Make the case. Defend the faith. All with a demeanor of kindness. #Apologetics

Paul’s Example

apostle-paul-in-athens-3Third, the Apostle Paul used the picture of an ambassador when he talked about evangelism. In 2 Corinthians 5:20, he said, “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God” (ESV).

Think about this: Just like ambassadors travel around the country where they’re assignment; just like they represent their home country to those they meet, we as Christian ambassadors shouldn’t just hang out in the church.

We shouldn’t just expect skeptics and seekers to come to us. Apologists like you and me were never designed to be shut off from the world, but we are called to engage the culture as representatives of Jesus. And when we do engage, we need to do it with a humble attitude.

Paul knew truth matters. But he knew tone matters, too. And his message balanced challenge with invitation. [See my post on 3 Cultural Engagement Tips from Paul’s encounter in Acts 17]

Truth matters. But tone matters, too. Paul balanced challenge with invitation in Acts 17.

Truth in Love

In the end, people tend to get that God loves them more easily when they see us loving them. As apologists, our arguments and evidence are never heard in isolation. They are heard in the context of your life–how people see you at work, school and in your community. it’s no surprise that people tend to be more open to deep spiritual conversations when they know you have their best in mind. Indeed, our character says a lot about our credibility. So let Christ’s love shine through you.

Instead perpetuating the old tendency to view engagement as fighting a “culture war,” let’s focus on our diplomatic mission of reconciliation. Let’s ask the Lord to help us minister generously. Let’s ask the Holy Spirit to help us speak boldly while balancing invitation and challenge—even in a world that opposes us. After all, our goal isn’t to beat down everyone who disagrees with us, but to invite them into a relationship with Jesus.

May we honor the Lord as his ambassadors in troubled times.

The New Testament Pattern of “Giving”

The New Testament Pattern of “Giving”
BY WAYNE JACKSON
It is a strange phenomenon in today’s church. It is recognized widely that there are rules regulating worship. This is acknowledged in virtually every area of church activity—except in one’s “giving.” Many know how the music portion of the worship is to be conducted (with a cappella singing). Not a few understand the proper communion elements (bread and fruit of the vine), along with the day and frequency for the observance of the supper (each Sunday). They would vigorously, and correctly, protest any presumptuous alteration of these ordinances.

But some appear to think there are no regulations for giving. With many, there is almost a “design-your-own-system” procedure, along with a flippant “it’s-nobody’s-business-what-I-do” disposition. If the Lord has prescribed a pattern for what we do in other acts of worship, is it reasonable to presume that he left the matter of “giving” as an entirely optional feature—or at best very ambiguous?

Paul discussed several requirements for Christian giving in 1 Corinthians 16:1-2.

Now concerning the collection for the saints, do the same thing that I commanded the Galatian churches; every Sunday, let each one of you lay aside by himself, if he earns anything, and put it in the treasury; so that there will be no collections when I come (McCord’s Translation).
The Background
When Paul, in the company of Barnabas and Titus, went to Jerusalem to assure the church of the validity of his apostleship, and the genuineness of the gospel he preached (Galatians 2:1), he was readily endorsed. James, the half brother of the Lord, along with Peter and John, extended to the apostle the “right hand of fellowship” in the noble work in which they all were involved. They did encourage Paul, however, to “remember the poor,” which he was most zealous to do (2:10).

For the past half-dozen years, prior to the composition of 1 Corinthians, the great preacher had demonstrated his concern for the needy, and even now he was busily involved in a campaign to assist the poor among the saints at Jerusalem (cf. Romans 15:24-25; 2 Corinthians 8-9; Acts 24:17). In the apostle’s mind, there was no segregation of benevolence from evangelism; benevolence is evangelism (Matthew 5:16; Galatians 6:10)! These circumstances are the background of 1 Corinthians 16:1-4.

Command
Note that the instruction conveyed in 1 Corinthians 16:1-2 is in the form of a “command” (“order,” ASV; diatasso—16 times in the New Testament). Other texts that employ the word demonstrate the imperative nature of the language. When Jesus finished “commanding” his disciples, he departed to preach in their cities (Matthew 11:1). Aquila and Priscilla left Rome because Claudius Caesar had “commanded” all Jews to depart from Rome (Acts 18:2). The instructions that follow in this Corinthian correspondence are not optional suggestions. They constitute a pattern for the implementation of sacred duties.

As a result of something Paul later wrote to this church, some have surmised that this text is not to be viewed as a binding pattern. Regarding the same collection, the apostle would write: “I speak not by way of commandment, but as proving through the earnestness of others the sincerity also of your love” (2 Corinthians 8:8).

Regarding this seeming discrepancy one may observe:

The matter of supporting the cause of God in its various needs is unquestionably a sacred obligation.
The specific objects of reception, involved in rendering that responsibility, are a matter of judgment.
The general procedure for carrying out financial obligations is prescribed.
It is better to motivate by love than by coercion, when at all possible.
Professor Hodge of Princeton Theological Seminary once observed:

This [“order”] is the language of authority. For although these contributions were voluntary, and were required to be made cheerfully, 2 Corinthians 9:7, yet they were a duty, and therefore both the collection itself, and the mode in which it should be accomplished, were proper subjects for apostolic direction (362).
Frequency
The frequency of contributing is “every Sunday”; the Greek literally says: “the first day of every week” (cf. Matthew 27:15; Luke 2:41). It is a mystery as to why the force of the distributive preposition, kata (every), was not made evident in the KJV/ASV translations (see Danker, et al., 512).

One should budget his finances, therefore, so as to be able to give each Lord’s day. If one is ill, or away, thus unable to contribute at his local congregation, he should make provisions to leave his contribution behind, or else make it up when he returns. One is obligated to contribute as consistently as he has income. It is not right for a few to bear virtually the full expenses of a local work, while others “ride free.”

Individually
For each family income there must be a gift. If the husband/father is the sole wage earner, he obviously will be the only source for a gift. If the mother/wife has a separate income, she must contribute from that as well. When Christian teens have a job, they must give from their income. If they receive an allowance, a portion of that belongs to the Lord. If older folks are on social security, they are not exempt from this act of worship. “Each one” means “every one” who has income—rich or poor, young or old, male or female.

Treasury
The next portion of the passage is the most controversial. Is the Christian obligated to contribute into the “treasury” of the local church? What does the phrase “lay by him in store” mean?

The expression “by him” (par heatou) is commonly assumed to suggest, “save up at home.” The Seventh-day Adventists have long contended for this view in an effort to negate the first-century evidence for Sunday worship (Canright, 207-08). But the evidence does not support that view. The phrase “by him” most likely means, “let him take to himself what he means to give” (Hodge, 365). Or the words may be considered as a neuter form, “by itself” (McGarvey, 161), or “to put something aside” (Danker, 268). James MacKnight rendered the full phrase: “lay by itself putting it into the appointed treasury” (208).

The phrase “in store” derives from thesaurizon—an imperative mood (a command), present tense (repetitious action), participle. The verbal action depicts consistently depositing something in a “treasury” (thesaurus). Each Christian has an obligation to help sustain the local church treasury, regardless of the extra missionary and/or benevolent work to which he may contribute otherwise as an individual.

Some, in an attempt to negate church responsibility, dispute that the early church had “treasuries” at this point in time. “It is improbable that at that time there was any Church treasury, and not until much later was money collected during public worship” (Robertson / Plummer 384). And so, as noted above, a common allegation is that the “storing up” was what the individual did at his home. This is pure speculation and quite contrary to the explicit testimony of the passage, namely that these Christians (and others, e.g., those in Galatia) were to give “every first day of the week.” Moreover, common sense dictates that the monies collected had to be deposited somewhere.

Leon Morris noted that since “Paul expressly deprecates the collecting of the money when he arrives (which would be necessary if they all had it laid by at home) it is perhaps better to think of it as being stored in the church treasury” (238). See a similar discussion in: Shore, VII.353.

The modern translations (e.g., Wuest), and commentary assertions (e.g., Fee, 813), that the phrase signifies, “put aside at home,” are entirely unwarranted. There is no “at home” in the text—either stated or implied (contra Thayer, 168). Appeals to texts in classical literature are irrelevant to this context. This “at home” business is the very circumstance Paul was endeavoring to prevent—“that no collections be made when I come.” Another scholar responds:

Some have interpreted the words par heauto (literally ‘by himself’) to mean ‘at home.’ But then why mention doing it on Sunday, when they could just as well do it regularly at home at other times? The meaning must rather be that the Christians were to bring their offerings to church on Sunday, since that was the day they assembled for worship (Acts 20:7; Rev. 1:10). It is significant that the early church father, Justin Martyr (second century A.D.) testified that contributions to the church were received on that day (Apology I, 67.6) (Mare, 293).
Another writer also has observed that since the “laying by” was to “be done on the day of their religious assembly, and so that there should be no trouble or time lost in collecting it when he [Paul] came, it is rather to be inferred that on each Sunday it was to be deposited in the treasury of the church” (Sadler, 299).

The celebrated historian, Mosheim, in describing the Lord’s day worship of the first-century church, stated that: “Every Christian, who was in an opulent condition, and indeed every one, according to their circumstances, brought with them their gifts, and offered them, as it were, unto the Lord” (I.35-36).

Under the Old Testament regime the Hebrews were not allowed to be “free-lancers” with their “tithes.” Rather, the Lord charged: “Bring the whole tithe into the store-house [”treasury" cf. Job 38:22], so that there may be food in my house" (Mal. 3:10). Similarly, Christians have a primary duty to the local church; they may not act as independent agents in their giving to the Lord.

The assertion of some commentators, that this injunction is not a pattern and holds no authority for today, is a reckless statement of no basis. It wholly ignores the command motif at the commencement of the passage, as well as the application of the instruction beyond Corinth (1:2; 16:1).

Proportionally
The expression, “as he may prosper” is one word in Greek (euodotai) — a present tense, passive voice verb in the subjunctive mood (most likely). The subjunctive is the mood of possibility, the present tense reflects an action in progress, and the passive voice indicates that the subject is the recipient of action — in this case, prosperity from God. The term itself basically means “prosperous journey,” and thus suggests this idea: to whatever degree he “is prospered” by God, week-by-week, he must contribute a portion to the Lord’s work “according to his ability” (Acts 11:29; cf. the exceptional “beyond their power” — 2 Corinthians 8:3).

The more one is prospered, the more he should give; the less he prospers, less is required. As Christ once expressed the principle: “to whomsoever much is given, of him much shall be required” (Luke 12:48b).

Still, the amount expected seems vague. Is there more precision that might be anticipated, beyond the general principle—“to the degree one is blessed”?

While we do not live under the Old Testament economy, there are many incidental truths one can learn from those documents that assist us in arriving at various elements of truth. For example, Paul appealed to the law of Moses to establish the principle that one who exerts considerable labor in a cause, is worthy of sustenance for his effort (1 Timothy 5:17; cf. Deuteronomy 23:4).

The Old Testament “Tithe”
In the earliest age of Old Testament history, the patriarchal period, there are two examples of great servants of the Lord offering gifts to the Creator from their prosperity. Abraham gave to Melchizedek, a priest of God, ten percent of the “chief spoils” he recently had taken from some pagan kings (Genesis 14:20; Hebrews 7:4). Later Jacob, after his dream of the ladder that reached from earth to heaven, with its ascending and descending angels, set up a pillar to memorialize the occasion. He pledged to give a tenth of his resources to Jehovah (Genesis 28:22).

Later the Mosaic law formalized the “tithe” (a tenth) as the required giving of Israel (Leviticus 27:30-32). In addition they offered various sacrifices, and gave “free-will” offerings. So actually, they gave much more than the tithe (a portion being considered taxation), but ten percent appears to have been the very minimum (cf. Malachi 3:10).

Gospel ministers have not rendered a balanced service by merely stating: “We do not live under the law of Moses; therefore we are not required to tithe,” as if that somehow leaves us with no direction at all—and we are free to give as far below that level as we are disposed to do! Of course many are happy to accommodate themselves to a significantly smaller amount.

The Higher Ideal
One of the major designs of the book of Hebrews is to show the superiority of the new covenant of Jesus Christ, over the former covenant given through Moses. Again and again, the sacred writer uses the comparative term “better” to mark the qualitative distinction of the latter over the former.

Christ, as giver of the new covenant, is “better” than the angels, through whom the old regime came (1:4). We have a “better hope,” i.e., as priests ourselves (1 Peter 2:5, 9), a more direct access to God (7:21). The new covenant is a “better covenant” because of the unchangeable priesthood of our Savior (7:22). The ministry of Christ is a “more excellent” one; indeed it is a “better covenant” enacted upon “better promises” (8:6). The new covenant is one with “better sacrifices” (9:23)—a reference to the sacrifice of our Lord. [Note: The plural form is designed to correspond with the “sacrifices” of the Levitical system, but with a symbolic emphasis—suggesting the excellence of Christ’s offering, “perfect in all its parts” (Bengal, IV.426).]

In view of all this, how could a conscientious Bible student ever come to the conclusion that we may sacrifice less than the ancient patriarchs, or the nation of Israel — when we have far more revelation, and tremendously greater blessings, than they enjoyed?

We must give consistently, generously, and joyfully (2 Corinthians 9:7).

How could any informed Christian possibly contend that he, as a beneficiary of the new covenant, and as a part of the body of Jesus Christ, could love less, thus give less, than the Jew who professes to honor God, but knows not our Savior?

There is little doubt that if all Christians gave as much as 10% of their incomes, our contributions would soar far above what they now are!

Here is a mathematical challenge to your faith. Multiply your present contribution by ten, and ask God to bless you with an income in that amount. And perhaps hope he doesn’t!

SCRIPTURE REFERENCES: 1 Corinthians 16:1-2; Galatians 2:1; Romans 15:24-25; 2 Corinthians 8-9; Acts 24:17; Matthew 5:16; Galatians 6:10; 1 Corinthians 16:1-4; Matthew 11:1; Acts 18:2; 2 Corinthians 8:8; 2 Corinthians 9:7; Matthew 27:15; Luke 2:41; Acts 20:7; Revelation 1:10; Job 38:22; Malachi 3:10; Acts 11:29; 2 Corinthians 8:3; Luke 12:48; 1 Timothy 5:17; Deuteronomy 23:4; Genesis 14:20; Hebrews 7:4; Genesis 28:22; Leviticus 27:30-32; 1 Peter 2:5, 9

The Enemies of Israel — Their Ultimate End

The Enemies of Israel — Their Ultimate End
Biblical Research Monthly, — by Dr. David L. Cooper

I. God's Attitude Toward Anti-Semites
1. God to curse those who curse Israel
Those who curse Israel shall be cursed (Genesis 12:3). No weapon that is formed against Israel shall prosper (Isaiah 54:17). These Scriptures are of vital importance on this subject. Genesis 12:1-3 constitutes the cornerstone, the monument, of all prophecy. No one can mistreat the Jew and get away with it, as we say.

Now Jehovah said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto the land that I will show thee: and I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and be thou a blessing: and I will bless them that bless thee, and him that curseth thee will I curse: and in thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed.” (Genesis 12:1-3)

These verses constitute the second call of God to Abram. When Abram was in Ur of Chaldea, God-called him to leave everything; to separate from his parents; leave his brothers, friends, and all his possessions; and to go to the land that God would show him. Abram obeyed partially. He went from Ur and stopped at Haran, near Carchemish, in upper Mesopotamia (Acts 7:2-5). But God would not allow him to go any farther because he had taken his father with him. So he had to remain there in upper Mesopotamia until his father died. Then God gave him his second call, the one recorded in Genesis 12:1-3. It is a marvelous, wonderful statement. It is a sevenfold promise, or covenant, into which God entered with Abram.

“I will make of thee a great nation” - not numerically, thus far - but “I will make of thee a great nation.” I do not believe that there is a nation on the face of the globe that is great like the nation of Israel. She is God's choicest vine. God went down into Egypt, got the choicest vine upon the face of the globe - the Jewish people - brought it into the Promised Land and planted it there; and there He gave it the most advantageous opportunities (Psalm 80:8ff). Yet it bore wild grapes instead of luscious, sweet, good grapes, as Isaiah, chapter 5, reveals. But Israel — this vine — is a great nation.

“I will bless thee, and make thy name great”. He certainly has blessed the Jewish people though He has had to punish them severely from time to time, and is doing so at the present time. He will yet punish them as He has never punished any other nation. He punishes them double for their sins. A Gentile does something, and God punishes him, giving him one stroke. The Jew does the same thing, and God gives him two strokes punishing him double for all his sins (Isaiah 40:2, Jeremiah 16:18).

“I will bless them that bless thee, and him that curseth thee will I curse.” I know that statement to be true. I have been blessed all of my life — but, when I began to give my entire attention to Israel and to God's call, I received blessings untold, such as I had never experienced before. I see truths that I have never heard fall from any man's lips or seen written in man's book or paper. I say that I have seen these truths and God has certainly verified to me this promise to bless. “Him that curseth thee will I curse.” One who has anti-Semitism in his heart and curses Israel, God will, in His own time, curse.

2. No weapon formed against Israel to prosper
On this same point, one should turn to Isaiah 54:11-17, especially verse 15, but it should be read in its context.

O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted, behold, I will set thy stones in fair colors, and lay thy foundations with sapphires.”

As one sees from the entire text, this passage is a prediction with reference to Jerusalem. Now God says:

Thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted, behold, I will set thy stones in fair colors, and lay thy foundations with sapphires.” I believe He means exactly what He says. I believe the reason that He will create and use great sapphires for the millennial Jerusalem is that God's throne will be there.” (Jeremiah 3:16-18)

God says, “I will lay thy foundation with sapphires. And I will make thy pinnacles of rubies, and thy gates of carbuncles, and all thy border of precious stones.” Every statement is to be taken at its face value.

“And all thy children shall be taught of Jehovah ...” That statement means exactly what it says. They will all know God, from the least of them unto the greatest of them.

”... and great shall be the peace of thy children.” The Jews have never had any peace to amount to anything — anything that could be called peace — but they will have peace at the time here foreseen.

“In righteousness shalt thou be established; thou shalt be far from oppression” - that is, when this prophecy is fulfilled - “for thou shall not fear; and from terror, for it shall not come near thee.”

“Behold, they may gather together, but not by me: whosoever shall gather together against thee shall fall because of thee.” This is the crux of the passage. It is not God's holy directive will that they should do anything of that sort. God permits many things in the lives of people, as He does in the case of nations.

“Behold, I have created the smith that bloweth the fire of coals, and bringeth forth a weapon for his work; and I have created the waster to destroy. No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of Jehovah, and their righteousness which is of me, saith Jehovah.” This prophecy means exactly what it says and needs no further comment.

“I will bless them that bless thee, and him that curseth thee will I curse.” No weapon, no plan, no scheme that is devised against Israel can prosper. God will see that it will not.

3. Illustrations of God's curse upon Israel's enemies
Has God ever cursed those who have schemed against Israel? Egypt persecuted the Jews when they were there. They were not persecuted all of the 215 years that they were there, but for a great portion of it. The Pharaoh who hated the Jews wanted to exterminate them, did everything that he could against them, and made their lot miserable; but God brought them out, and He sent judgments upon Egypt far beyond any expectation.

I have studied this subject afresh and have seen new light, light regarding the terrific judgments that fell upon Egypt. At the University of Leiden, Holland, is a manuscript obtained in 1828 which gives a firsthand account from the Egyptian standpoint. It has heretofore been misunderstood and misinterpreted as a record of something else, but facts now show that it is a firsthand account of the devastation that wrecked Egypt from end to the other. There were plagues, just as one sees records of plagues in the Book of Exodus and in the early chapters of the Old Testament. God struck Egypt as He had never done before; and, according to this historian, who was an eyewitness, the whole country was devastated from one end to the other. There were earthquakes and other calamities. The seas were churned into a raging fury. All of the things occurred at the time of the deliverance of Israel from Egyptian bondage.

The Assyrians, the crudest nation of antiquity, devastated the land of Israel — first the northern section and then the southern, Jerusalem being left like a little booth in a cucumber patch after the season of fruitage has passed. In fact, Jerusalem was all that was left. Hezekiah was shut up in it; and, according to Sennacherib, the Assyrians captured all of the 46 fortified cities of Israel. Everything else was devastated. But this monster of cruelty went down in ignominy and shame and was blotted out. Assyria vanished from the face of the globe, and all we know about it is what we read on the monuments of that country that have been unearthed and, also, what we see in some histories. “I will curse them that curse thee.”

Then there were also the Babylonians. “Is not this great Babylon which I have built?” Nebuchadnezzar boasted. All there is of Babylon now is the ruins that have been unearthed by the archaeologists. Why were the Babylonians cast down? All because they mistreated the Jew.

II. A Prophetic View of the Present Day
1. Arabic coalition against Israel
Psalm 83 contains a prophecy that I believe is being unfolded before our eyes. It has not yet come to pass, but is in the process of being fulfilled. The first two verses refer to the time of the Tribulation. All scholars of whom I have any knowledge, both of the rationalistic type and of the conservative group, say that there is nothing in all the history of Israel that can be said to be the fulfillment of this prediction. It simply has not been fulfilled. Since it has not, and since God spoke it, we may be certain that it will be fulfilled exactly as foretold. Notice verse 1: “O God keep not thou silence: Hold not thy peace, and be not still, O God.” Why? The reason is found in verse 2: “For, lo, thine enemies make a tumult; And they that hate thee have lifted up the head.”

Israel will utter that prayer, and God will answer it literally. I am inclined to believe that these first two verses refer to a partial fulfillment of such a passage as Psalm 2:1-3, the forthcoming international atheistic, anti-Semitic, anti-Christian, politico-religious convention that will try to count God and His Christ out of His universe.

But the part of the prophecy in Psalm 83 which is now being fulfilled is found in verses 3-8: “They take crafty counsel against thy people. And consult together against thy hidden ones.” Certain ones are going to take crafty counsel against the Jewish people and against God's hidden ones, those of the Jewish people of Palestine that have honest hearts and that will accept the truth when it is presented to them. These hidden ones are like the people mentioned in Acts 18:9,10: “And the Lord said unto Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak and hold not thy peace: for I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to harm thee: for I have much people in this city.”

Verse 4 of Psalm 83 reveals the purpose of the enemies: “They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; That the name of Israel may be no more is remembrance. “In other words, the complete annihilation of Israel, even to the blotting out of the name from remembrance, is the purpose here proposed. Such plots have been made before, and they have been carried out in part. Pharaoh attempted to destroy Israel. So did Nebuchadnezzar, Antiochus Epiphanes, and Titus, Various other tyrants and nations have made similar attempts. Of these, Nazi Germany, under the leadership of the madman Hitler, was most guilty of this heinous crime. But Israel will never be annihilated. During the Tribulation, two out of every three Jews will be destroyed, but a faithful remnant will remain. Through them God will fulfill the promise to Abraham, that in Him all the families of the earth will be blessed.

The third time that I went to Palestine, in 1949, I had not been out of the airplane more than thirty minutes before I heard the report of what the Arabs were saying. They were vociferously asserting that if the United Nations would let them alone, they would mop up with the Jews and would not leave a single Jew in Palestine. They would either slaughter them or drive them into the Mediterranean Sea. I heard that report upon my arrival; and, during the days that I was there, I heard it time and time again. The Arabs were saying then and are saying today the very same thing: “Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance.”

In verse 5, the psalmist reveals that the enemies of Israel will make a military alliance and conclude a treaty against God and against His Chosen People: “For they have consulted together with one consent; Against thee do they make a covenant.”

Verses 6-8 list the names of the members of the coalition. Who are they? They are the Arabic nations that are today harassing Israel. In ancient times the term Arab applied to the Bedouin tribes in the northern part of the Arabian peninsula and east of Palestine. Today, the term applies not only to these Semites of Arabia, but also to their descendants, many of whom have mixed with native races in North, East, and Central Africa, as well as in Madagascar, India, the Malay Archipelago, parts of Syria and Persia.

In verse 6, “the tents of Edom,” The Edomites, in Transjordan, south of the Dead Sea, were originally the descendants of Esau, who was also called Edom, or reds because he sold his birthright for red pottage (Genesis 25:30). The Ishmaelites, nomadic tribes of northern Arabia, as name implies, are the descendants of Ismael the son of Abraham and Hagar. The Moabites, on the east coast of the Dead Sea, in Transjordan, are the descendants of Lot (Genesis, chapter 19). The Hagarenes, east of Gilead, in Transjordan, are a nomadic tribe mentioned in I Chronicles 5:10.

In is verse 7, Gebal probably refers to a site on the Mediterranean Sea (Byblos), forty-two miles north of Sidon. The Ammonites,in the centra lpart of Transjordan, like the Moabites, are descendants of Lot (Genesis, chapter 19). The origin of the Amalekites is obscure. They were an ancient nomadic tribe of the Sinai peninsula and were the first to come into contact with the Israelites (Exodus, chapter 17). The Philistines, in the Gaza strip, were of Greek origin. The inhabitants of Tyre were Phoenicians. Today, Phoenicia is called Lebanon. Assyria, in verse 8, is present-day Iraq.

Today, the descendants of the people named in verses 6-8 are all classed as Arabs. If one were to trace in the Bible the history of these people, he would find that most of them were at times hostile to Israel, even as their descendants are today.

The first eight verses of Psalm 83 are a prediction. The remainder of it is a prayer that the Jewish people will pray for God to intervene in their behalf. When they do, He will solve their problem.

In verses 9-12, God is implored to deal with Israel's enemies as He has done on former occasions: “Do thou unto them as unto Midian, as to Sisera, as to Jabin, at the river Kishon; “Who perished at En-dor, Who became as dung for the earth. “Make their nobles like Oreb and Zeeb; Yea, all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna: Who said. Let us take to ourselves in possession the habitations of God.”

The psalmist does not ask that Israel be permitted to wreak vengeance, for he realizes that vengeance belongs to God (Deuteronomy 32:35-43). When he uttered his prophetic prayer, he not only showed his awareness that vengeance belongs to God, but also pointed out the besetting sin of the enemies of Israel. The enemies say: “Let us take to ourselves in possession the habitations of God.” Is this not exactly what the enemies of Israel are saying today?

“But to whom does the Holy Land belong? In Leviticus 25:23, we find this declaration; “And the land shall not be sold in perpetuity; for the land is mine: for ye are strangers and sojourners with me.” In Isaiah 8:8, God claims the land for His Son, referring to it as “thy land, O Immanuel.” In Deuteronomy 11:12, one learns that God cares for this land in a peculiar manner, for His eyes “are always upon it, from the beginning of the year even unto the end of the year.”

The land belongs to God in a special way, and He has entrusted it to Israel, because He intends to use His Chosen People in a special way. “... and in thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed” (Genesis 12:3). Yet the above named enemies of Israel did seize the land divide it. [Editor Note: Since the six-day war of 1967 all on the west side of Jordan has been united under Israel, except the temple area.]

The remainder of the prayer in Psalm 83 contains two petitions. The first is in verses 13-16:

O my God, make them like the whirling dust; As stubble before the wind. As the fire that burneth the forest, And as the flame that setteth the mountains on fire, So pursue them with thy tempest, And terrify them with thy storm — Fill their faces with confusion, That they may seek thy name, O Jehovah.”

The last clause of this petition shows that Asaph is not uttering a prayer of vengeance. He wants the enemies overthrown for the most commendable reason possible — that they may be brought to a saving knowledge of God.

The second petition, verses 17 and 18, is prompted by the same motive. “Let them be put to shame and dismayed for ever; Yea, let them be confounded and perish “That they may know that thou alone, whose name is Jehovah, Art the most High over all the earth.”

In the preceding installments we Have seen God's attitude toward anti-Semites. His promise is to assuage the effect of those weapons arrayed against her. Illustrations from history have been noted. We now turn to passages of Scripture related to latter day assaults by Israel's enemies. Though allowed to go through the furnace of affliction, her ultimate salvation comes when Christ Jesus “rend the heavens — stand upon the Mt, of Olives — lift the curse from the earth — take the world situation in hand — solve the Jewish problem.”

2. Israel in the grip of the Nations
A passage of similar import as Psalm 83 is found in Ezekiel 36:1-8. Let us first observe verse 8: “But ye, 0 mountains of Israel, ye shall shoot forth your branches, and yield your fruit to my people Israel ...” Why? “For they are at hand to come.” That statement gives the perspective from which one must view the passage. In this oracle, Ezekiel says to the mountains and valleys of Israel: “You are going to bud, produce, and bring forth your full increase.” The reason is that God's People “are at hand to come.” They are on the verge of coming in to be settled there permanently. This prophecy, therefore, relates to what is going on at the present moment and to what will yet develop in the near future.

Now let us take note of the entire passage: “And thou, son of man, prophecy unto the mountains of Israel, and say, Ye mountains of Israel hear the word of Jehovah.” This message is from God; you are to listen, ye mountains of Israel. “Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Because the enemy hath said against you, Aha! And, The ancient high places are ours in possession ...” The enemies are gloating over their having the high places of the land of Israel in possession. So God commands Ezekiel: “... therefore prophesy, and say, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Because, even because, they have made you desolate, swallowed you up on every side ...” One should pause here to see what has occurred. Back in 1927, Transjordan, about half of the land that God gave to the Jew, was cut off and it became the possession of the Arabs. In 1948, when the British gave up the mandate and withdrew from Palestine, the Arabs of Transjordan captured practically all of the mountainous part of Israel.

“ ... Because, even because they have made you desolate, and swallowed you up on every side, that ye might be a possession unto the residue of the nations,” — Here probably is a reference to the United Nations. They are having a finger in the pie, but God pity the world when they meddle in Jewish politics. “... and ye are taken up in the lips of talkers, and the evil report of the people ...” The enemies are generally talking about the Jews and the Jewish problem, poking fun at them, and ridiculing them.

“... Therefore, ye mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord Jehovah: Thus saith the Lord Jehovah to the mountains and to the hills, to the watercourses and to the valleys, to the desolate wastes and to the cities that are forsaken, which are become a prey and derision to the residue of the nations that are round about ...” In verse 3, “the residue of the nations” refers to all the rest of the nations, but in verse 4 the term is, limited to the nations round-about Israel, the Arabic nations adjoining Palestine.

“... Therefore thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Surely in the fire of my jealousy have I spoken against the residue of the nations ...” Here, I am inclined to believe the expression “the residue of the nations” refers to the United Nations. God points them out, especially Edom — “and against all Edom, that have appointed my land unto themselves for a possession with the joy of all their heart, with despite of soul, to cast it out for a prey.” The Edomites were cousins of the Israelites, yet were their inveterate enemies. They have done everything they can against the Jews.

“Therefore prophesy concerning the land of Israel, and say unto the mountains and to the hills, to the watercourses and to the valleys. Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Behold, I have spoken in my jealousy and in my wrath, because ye have borne the shame of the nations: thus saith the Lord Jehovah: I have sworn, saying, Surely the nations that are round about you, they shall bear their shame.” God will requite Israel.

“But ye, O mountains of Israel, ye shall shoot forth your branches, and yield your fruit to my people Israel; for they are at hand to come.” They are “at hand to come” now.

Thus Psalm 83 and Ezekiel 36:1-8 deal with the Jewish situation today — the situation of Palestine surrounded by enemies. But the worst is yet to come.

III. Prophetic View of the Situation in Israel in the Near Future
1. Israel Scattered among the Nations
The situation that will prevail in Israel in the near future is also revealed in the Scriptures. Let us notice Joel 3:1-8. “For, behold, in those days, and in that time,” the time referred to in the final paragraph of chapter 2, the Tribulation Period, “I will gather all nations” — the United Nations again — “and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat” — in the valley of judgment, the valley of the Great Tribulation, — and I will execute judgment upon them there.” A mother or father may have several children; but Johnny, let us say, does something wrong. Does Mary get the whipping? According to the principles of right and justice, the parent punishes the guilty one. The same principle applies here. God is speaking here about the nations of the end time when He is gathering Israel back into the homeland. He says that he will enter into Judgment with them “for my people, and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations: and they have parted my land, and have cast lots for my people, and have given a boy for a harlot, and sold a girl for wine, that they may drink.”

Since God punishes only the guilty, and since He is here talking about the nations of the end time, one can be sure that the United Nations will literally kick the Jews out of Palestine — and everything looks in that direction now. They will scatter the Jews among the nations, part their land, and sell a Jewish boy for a harlot and a Jewish girl for a drink of wine.

In Micah 4:11-13, one learns that these enemy nations will gather against Israel unaware that God has brought them there.

And how many nations are assembled against thee, that say, Let her be defiled, and let our eye see our desire upon Zion. But they know not the thoughts of Jehovah, neither understand the thoughts of Jehovah, neither understand they his counsel; for he hath gathered them as the sheaves to the threshing-floor.”

Similarly In Zephaniah 3:8 one reads:

Therefore wait ye for me, saith Jehovah, the day that I rise up to the prey; for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger; for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jeaiousy.”

2. Israel Persecuted in the Land
Having seen the situation of Israel as set forth in Psalm 83 and Ezekiel 36:1-8, let us look at Zechariah 12:1-3, upon which this theme is based: “The burden of the word of Jehovah concerning Israel. Thus saith Jehovah, who stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, that formeth the spirit of man within him: Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of reeling unto all the peoples round about,” — notice that expression “the peoples 'round about,” those Arabic nations that are 'round about — “and upon Judah also shall it be in the siege against Jerusalem. And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all the peoples: all that burden themselves with it shall be sore wounded; and all the nations of the earth shall be gathered together against it.”

In verse 2 the word “peoples” is modified by the term “round about,” referring to the Arabic nations around Israel; but in verse 3 God has, as it were, lifted His eyes and is looking over the whole world at “all the peoples,” “all the nations of the earth.” He will make Jerusalem a burdensome stone that will wound the hands of all the nations.

David Baron, one of the greatest commentators on the Old Testament, said, “Here is a picture of a big rock. Men are putting their hands underneath it to lift it up; and lo and behold, they cannot lift it up, but it falls on them and crushes their hands.” That is the picture which God presents here. All nations, including the United States, my home land, which I love, will, I fear, burden themselves with Jerusalem and with Jewish politics; and they will suffer the judgments of God because of meddling in Jewish affairs. He will make Jerusalem as a rock which will crush their hands.

IV. Final Stroke of Judgment against Israel's Enemies
For the final act of this drama, let us turn to Isaiah17:12-14. "Ah, the uproar of many peoples, that roar like the roaring of the seas; and the rushing of nations, that rush like the rushing of mighty waters! The nations shall rush like the rushing of many waters...” All nations are against Jerusalem like a storm, as related passages of the Scriptures reveal they will do during the Tribulation. The prophet Isaiah sees this wave of anti-Semitism coming against the Jews. But notice now, — “... but he shall rebuke them, and they shall flee far off, and shall be chased as the chaff of the mountains before the wind, and like the whirling dust before the storm. At eventide, behold terror; and before the morning they are not. This is the portion of them that despoil us, and the lot of them that rob us.” Something has occurred. All the nations are rushing like demons against Israel. The picture could not be darker at evening, but overnight everything changes. “At eventide, behold, terror; and before the morning they are not.” The Jews will have at that time been given the facts with reference to the Lord Jesus Christ and His being the Jewish Messiah. They will consider these facts and see the mistake that their ancestors made more than 1900 years ago; repudiate the national sin; confess it before God and plead for Divine mercy and Messiah's return. They will be in prayer, fasting and repenting, for two full days, according to Hosea. On the third day they will be revived — the Spirit of God will come. Then Christ will rend the heavens and He will stand in that day upon the Mount of Olives. He will lift the curse from the earth, take the world situation in hand, and solve the Jewish problem.

The United Nations is putting pressure upon the Jews. The problems are very serious. America had better watch out. England had better watch out. They are tampering with explosives: “I will curse them that curse thee.” Those who burden themselves by making it their business to meddle in Jewish politics, will have God's judgment upon them. Jerusalem will become a burdensome stone that will crush their hands.

Let us pray God to overrule and direct the affairs of nations and to keep the saints fit to work in His cause proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ until He comes.