Materialism

Materialism

On September 28, 2004, the federal mint released a brand new fifty-dollar bill.  The new bill, which was unveiled in April 2004, has subtle background colors of red and blue, along with a blue-silver star. While the appearance of the bill had many new features, one thing that has not changed can be found on the back. Prominently displayed above the picture of the federal capital building will be the words “In God We Trust”—words that are found on most American currency.

Those words first appeared on the 1864 two-cent coin after Congress passed the Act of April 22, 1864. The motto was partially the result of increased religious sentiment exhibited during the Civil War. Many individuals wrote letters to then Secretary of Treasury, Salmon P. Chase desiring that America acknowledge its dependence on Deity in some form or fashion. The barrage of letters prompted Chase to write James Pollock, director of the Philadelphia mint, encouraging him to prepare a motto. In a letter dated November 20, 1861 Chase wrote:

Dear Sir: No nation can be strong except in the strength of God, or safe except in His defense. The trust of our people in God should be declared on our national coins. You will cause a device to be prepared without unnecessary delay with a motto expressing in the fewest and tersest words possible this national recognition.

Having received the mint director’s proposal, Secretary Chase wrote back on December 9, 1863 altering Pollock’s initial proposal to “In God We Trust.” After the Act of April 22, 1864 passed, Congress approved another on March 3, 1865, allowing the mint director (with the Secretary’s authorization), to inscribe the motto on all gold and silver coins that “shall admit the inscription thereon.” The words “In God We Trust” have appeared uninterrupted since, on almost all of America’s coinage. Almost 100 years later, in 1956, the 84th Congress passed legislation establishing “In God We Trust” as the national motto of the United States. The following year, in 1957, the phrase began appearing on paper money.

Interestingly, the idea of paying homage to Deity on American currency can be traced back to times long before 1865. Coins from the 1780s—just after the Revolutionary War—known as Constellatio Nova Coppers, also gave credence to God. These coins typically featured an “eye” on one side, with rays stretching out to thirteen stars, which represented the thirteen colonies. The eye represented the all-seeing “providential eye” of God. Thus, the rays symbolized God’s looking down on each of the new thirteen colonies. That same eye can be found today, sitting on top of the pyramid on the back of the one-dollar bill. The eye is located just under the Latin words, Annuit Coeptis—which means, “He (God) has favored our undertakings.” This all-seeing eye suggests the importance of divine guidance in favor of the American cause.

How foreign that phrase seems in a country filled with materialism. Many individuals place their real trust in things, bank accounts, or investment accounts. At what point will America really put their trust back into God? What will it take for “In God We Trust” to be more than just a familiar “catch phrase?” Could it be, that as more and more currency rolled off the press, Americans lost more and more trust in God and placed it instead in the freshly printed bills?

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Happiness

What Is God’s Plan for A Happy Life?

Happiness can be very difficult to describe for many. Though we desire to have happiness for ourselves, some search the world over, but are still unable to find happiness in life. Why is it that the multitudes do not find peace, tranquility and happiness? Could it be that they are seeking in all the wrong places, such as riches, fame and popularity? Each time these are obtained, they are found to be empty in regards to lasting happiness and real joy in life. We need to notice that these are the things of an outward nature, while we need to realize that God’s formula for happiness comes from within our hearts. God does have a place by which all can find happiness, but He promises it from His perspective and not from our own.

The keys for true happiness can be found in the thoroughly furnishing Scriptures given by God (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:3). We receive happiness and peace in life by being sure our actions are in harmony with God’s Word. With this said, let us notice six types of individuals who seek to find a happy life.

1. Some want to be in the family of God without being born again, which is an impossible way to happiness (John 3:3-5). Instead of being saved by faith only, Jesus said, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved” (Mark 16:16). The inspired apostle Peter said, “Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever” (1 Peter 1:22-23).

2. Some want to be happy without seeking the grace and peace from Jesus, which is only found in Him and His church (Philippians 1:2; 2 Timothy 2:1). We must focus our lives on forgiveness and hope if we are to find lasting happiness (2 Timothy 1:1-2).

3. Some want happiness without being thankful, for the gracious blessings of salvation, the talents given to us to use and the church built and purchased by Jesus (Ephesians 1:3; Romans 1:21-22; Philippians 1:3-5).

4. Among others things, people are privileged souls, who many times will not and do not submit to the Master of life, Jesus Christ (Luke 6:46; Matthew 7:21-29).

5. These, who attempt to find happiness, refuse to live a humble and faithful life, following the attitude and mind of Jesus (Philippians 2:5). They think too highly of themselves and their importance, to bow their knee in confession to the King of kings and the Lord of lords (1 Timothy 6:15). Such an attitude makes folks miserable as they wallow in their self-pity.

6. Many think they will find happiness in always complaining and murmuring at the providence of God (Philippians 2:12-14). These hold grudges against their fellow-man and are upset by every small thing that happens to them. This attitude is guaranteed to bring misery, not happiness (Philippians 4:6-7).

God has assured us that if we seek in the right way, happiness will be found. This happiness will not be in the form of money, cars and homes. The happiness that God provides is found when we bring ourselves in harmony with His word. Let us all follow His word as it guides us through life and leads us to a home in Heaven with our Creator.

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Worship in Song

The Design of Worshiping in Song

In Isaiah 55:8-9 God says, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.  For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”  Many use this passage to speak of God’s ineffable and inscrutable attributes.  There are other passages that teach such (e.g., Job 26:14, Romans 11:33), but this verse is not speaking of those things.  Rather, these verses teach that it is God’s purposes that are so much higher than man’s, and with human wisdom alone it is impossible to know God’s purposes.

In contrast, the general trend of religious thought today is that man’s purposes are God’s purposes.  And perhaps this is seen most clearly in contemporary “Christian” music, the primary design of which is to stir human emotion to such a fevered pitch that weeping, wailing, crying, caterwauling, and the so called ecstatic state are produced.  These emotional outpourings satisfy human purposes because they are quintessentially human.  Worship, however, must move beyond the human and into the divine in order to be true worship.  “God is a spirit, and they that worship him must worship in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24).

Turning our attention to God’s design for worship in song, we find that emotional fulfillment has little (if any) to do with New Testament teaching on the subject.  First, all Christian music is music produced by the human voice alone.  This in and of itself should rebuke the contemporary cacophony of choruses accompanied with the multitudinous mechanistically manufactured modulations.  Such artificially produced reverberations doubtlessly bring praise to human prowess, but do not glorify God; indeed such exaltation of human righteousness is without submission to the righteousness of God (Romans 10:2-3).

The lips, mouth, tongue, and voice, however, are God’s design, and when accompanied by the melodic stirrings of the heart, another of God’s creation, they harmonize with resonance divine (Ephesians 5:19, Colossians 3:16).  We see, then, that one great purpose of worshipping God in song is to bring glory to Him by the instrument of His creation; it is God who gives us the songs in the night (Job 35:10).  He is not worshipped by manmade things, but is the ever giving God who brings musical harmony to our whole being, heart, soul, and body (Acts 17:25).

Hebrews 13:15 reveals that by cultivating the “fruit of lips” we “offer the sacrifice of praise to God.”  Such sacrifices cannot come forth from leathern tympanis, wooden organs, or brazen strings – only the “fruit of lips” will suffice.  Praises to God must be sung, because praises to God can only be spoken in words, the “fruit of lips.”  The principles of sacrifice found in the Old Covenant teach us that God deserves the best, that sacrifice must personally cost us something, and that one must be wholly devoted.  Singing is the only musical act of worship that satisfies all of these principles.  The “sacrifice of praise” is a purpose that must be honored in our singing.

Another great purpose of singing is found in Colossians 3:16: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”  When we sing the words of Christ, we teach and admonish.  So many contemporary lyrics fail to provide this needed aspect of Christian music.  Songs of the New Testament period were originally composed to instruct, and even rebuke.  Today we have few songs in our songbooks that employ these didactic tools.  The contemporary “Christian” composers have left this purpose behind in their quest to glorify man.

What is the place of emotion in singing?  Human emotions must flow out of the God given purposes that are fulfilled in song, and must never be the object of our worship.  If the singing rebukes, we should feel ashamed.  If the singing exhorts, we should feel edified.  If the singing is glorifying God, we should feel humbled, awestruck even.  Whatever the particular intent of the individual song, the goal is to empty ourselves unto God in fulfillment of His purposes first, and, like the obedient eunuch, the result will be that we will go on our way rejoicing (Acts 8:39).  God’s design for worship in song is for His praise glory and honor, and our instruction and rebuke.  May we ever seek to fulfill God’s design.

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Contentment

Seeking Peace and Contentment in Life

There is within the heart of most people a desire for safety, freedom of thought, and opportunity to succeed in desired endeavors they may attempt. This is not just some utopian ideal; this is the desire of most people in the world. As we look about us we must make constant decisions about events and privileges extended to us in this life, those opportunities and privileges may be good for us or they may be bad for us[1]. I Say, good or bad, understanding that there are different ideals about what is good and what is bad. Even thought there are differing views about determining good or bad we must make decisions regularly that affect our life and the life of others in many situations. Because we live in a world that is in constant change (I.e., moral. ethical. spiritual, etc.), we must be careful that we do not create problems for ourselves that we cannot undo. For instance, there are things that I may choose to put into my body (I.e., illegal drugs, alcoholic beverages, etc), that will shorten my life and perhaps cause me to become involved in the maiming or death of someone who is innocent. Indeed, I may make a choice to put things into my body that may damage me and might cause me to unwillingly maim or kill someone else. You see, the choices we make may affect me as an individual but the peripheral damage that my choices cause others may be inexcusable. The secular law may convict a person of a felonious crime because he/she unwittingly harmed another person or persons because of their bad choice to put a mind altering substance inside their body.

A PERSON MAY OR MAY NOT CONTRIBUTE TO PEACE AND CONTENTMENT

Because we all have free moral agency it is our choice to do whatever we want to do, even to breaking laws that we know will cause us loss of freedom if we violate them. There are many people who practice many forms of law violation daily, yet they care not that they are in violation of law, both of man and of God. The lifestyle and choices each person makes in life is governed by their view of God, of His Book (I.e., the Bible), of Christ, of their fellow man (I.e., their neighbor), of marriage, of faithfulness to vows, etc.[2] consequently, whatever one believes in life, their environment, and influences will mold them into one of two totally different personalities. If a person believes in God that person will develop Biblical guided moral, ethical, and spiritual values (I.e., generally speaking – there are always exceptions to any given norm) but, on the other hand if one does not know about God or does not care to acquaint himself with God that person will develop qualities that are not like the person that does believe in God.[3] The person that cares not for God, regardless of their reasons will become problems in society, that person will not regard morals, ethics, and spirituality (I.e., based on God’s Word) of any value. In our lifetime, we have witnessed the results of a society in America that has turned from public acknowledgement of God, to attempts at eliminating the knowledge of God as a public policy. This philosophy, (I.e., the eliminating of God or any acknowledgement of God) is at the root of many problems in society today (Examples – increase in teen and pre-teen sex and sex orientations, increase in drug related crimes and consequence {drunken driving, suicides, etc}, infants being born with physical and mental handicap’s because of parental use of non-prescribed medications, abuse of their body, and alcoholic beverages, etc.). These by-products of Godless orientations are destroying those that practice them and are bringing secondary damages to those that are close to or involved with them in any way.

EVERYONE AFFECTS SOMEONE ELSE BY THEIR LIFE STYLE

We know that our actions, both public and private will affect someone else. Our actions will either benefit others (I.e., help others to achieve a better life) or our actions will corrupt others (I.e., make others worse off in their life and relationship with God). We must see this fact; no other description that one may find of personal action and reaction for displaying our lifestyle and allegiances in life.[4] No person can live for either the devil or for God and not affect other people by their decisions and their lifestyle (I.e., their choice). We cannot live life in an invisible state nor can we live life so that no one in the realm of our influence is affected. Indeed, I must, because of others, seek to find the best life that I can live so that I will benefit but also so that everyone in the realm of my influence will benefit from having interacted with me (Matt 5:13-16 {Christians Are Salt and Light} — > “13 You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.  > 14 you are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.  > 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lamp stand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.  > 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.“ (NKJV) In consequence of these facts it is apparent that the most productive and helpful life to others that one may live is a life of faithfulness to God.

COULD I REALLY HAVE THAT MUCH INFLUENCE WITH OTHERS

Yes, Example, Matthew 5:16, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in Heaven.”  God has revealed to the Christian that our ability to influence other people to do good things while we are serving him faithfully is evident in many places,

Please note the following references:

2 Timothy 1:5, “when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois  and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also” (NKJV).

2 Thessalonians 3:7-9, For you yourselves know how you ought to follow us, for we were not disorderly among you; nor did we eat anyone’s bread free of charge, but worked with labor and toil night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, 9 not because we do not have authority, but to make ourselves an example of how you should follow us” (NKJV).

1 Timothy 4:12, “Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity”

2 Peter 2:4-6 For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment; 5 and did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly; and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, making them an example to those who afterward would live ungodly” (NKJV).

CONSIDER THIS:

Yes, we may have a great deal of influence on others if we will serve God correctly and live  our lives openly as Christians. We may enjoy the greatest contentment and happiness in life because we serve God faithfully and are an encouragement and a good example for others that do not have God in their lives. We may also have an encouraging effect on those that are Christians and are going through difficult times in their life, simply by remaining faithful and living godly lives for them to imitate, as the apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 4:15, “Therefore I urge you, imitate me” (NKJV) and in 1 Corinthians 11:1, “Imitate  me, just as I also imitate  Christ” (NKJV).

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Remember the Sabbath Day

Remember the Sabbath Day—Who and How?

When Israel arrived at Mount Sinai, the voice of God echoed from the holy mountain and said, “Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy” (Ex. 20:7). While they could define the words spoken by God, there was no way they could have known how God wanted them to “observe the Sabbath day” (Deut. 5:12). Because of His words they could know there was sabbath (a rest day, for that is what the word sabbath means), but they had no way of knowing what was to be done.

The Sabbath was NOT known before the Jews left Egypt. Read carefully what the Holy Spirit of God revealed about the time when God’s people learned about the Sabbath. “You came down also on Mount Sinai, and spoke with them from heaven, and gave them just ordinances and true laws, good statutes and commandments. You made known to them Your holy Sabbath” (Neh. 9:13-14). There is no way to make known that which was already known. Israel did not know about the Sabbath before they left Egypt.

Adam, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Melchizedek, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph did not observe the Sabbath. There is not one verse which teaches that the Sabbath was observed before Moses lead the Jews from Egypt. This is critical in understanding the nature of the Sabbath. For anyone to affirm that godly men kept the Sabbath before the time of Moses is to add to the Bible! We cannot know that they did this unless God shows this to us. Where is that verse? It does not exist! Then let all mankind cease to affirm that any of these men kept the Sabbath until that verse is found! What does God reveal? God made known the Sabbath to His people at Mt. Sinai.

God did not sanctify the Sabbath on the day He rested in Genesis. Genesis 2 shows that God rested on the seventh day, but it does not show that God sanctified the seventh day on that day. Read it carefully. God rested on that day, then afterwards He sanctified it because He had rested on that day. It was sanctified because He had rested and sanctified after He rested!           So how does one observe the Sabbath? God gave that day of rest to Jews who had been slaves without rest (Deut. 5:15) and told them how to keep it. No one was to do any work, including slaves, cattle and guests in their houses (Deut. 5:14). Also two lambs were to be sacrificed at the temple, along with grains and oils (Num. 28:9). God gave the Sabbath to the Jews who had been slaves and told them how to observe it.

God did not sanctify Sunday as a holy day like He did the Sabbath. Next week we will show He did not make Sunday a “Christian Sabbath.”  Then what is Sunday worship all about?

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