Justifying Sin Because of Birth Tendency of Environment

It was during a presidential election more than forty years ago when I overheard two men discussing the upcoming political race. The moral character of one of the candidates was an issue, yet one of these Christian men was adamant about his support. To him the only issue was the support of his political party. I remember his statement and also the reply of the other man. He said, “I was born a (his political party), I was raised a (political party) and I will die a (political party).”  It was the second man’s response that made such a profound impression on me and I think it will have the same impact on you. Before I tell you the other man’s unforgettable reply, look at some of the ways many use this same type of reasoning about their spiritual lives.

The attitude is as old as the first century. When John the Baptist began his preaching, some of the Jews sought to negate the impact of his preaching. Their attitude was somewhat like the man mentioned above. Their response was something like, “I was born a Jew, I was raised a Jew and I will die a Jew.” This had little to do with the moral issues John was trying to get them to change. His response was,  “God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones” (Mt. 3:9).

There are those who sometimes seek to justify the use of drugs by talking about the fact their mothers used drugs before they were born and the were raised in a home where drugs were being used. They seem to say, “I was born a druggie, I was raised a druggie and I will die a druggie.” This has little to do with the moral issue of using drugs and is no justification for doing wrong.

Then there are those who believe that the only explanation of homosexuality is that it has a genetic origin. They seem to say, “I was born gay, I grew up gay and I will die gay.” However, this has little to do with the moral issue of homosexuality.

Now get back to the response of the second man in the story. When the first said he was born, raised and planned to die as a member of a political party (regardless of the moral issue that was involved), the second man said, “I am like you in some respects. I was born a (member of the same political party), I was raised a (political party) but I have been born again!”

That seems to say it best. It make no difference as to the moral issue that is involved. The aspects of our birth or the influence of our environment do not change what God says about what is right or wrong in moral issues. The issue is not our birth, but our rebirth!

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You Have Been Summoned for Jury Duty

Imagine a courtroom scene where the future of a man’s life was hanging in the balance. Twelve men and women sat in the jury box and heard evidence presented which was overwhelming. The witnesses gave absolute evidence of all that happened, and their testimony was identical, even down to the very words that were said. The defense attorney made a final attempt by trying to bring in “witnesses” who were not there, and so at best, they could only give hearsay about what they thought might have happened and what someone had told them might have been said. This evidence was not permitted as the judge told the jury that hearsay evidence simply was not admissible.  There was no way to substantiate it as truth.

There is an amazing parallel between this story and how it applies to our own lives. When it comes to finding spiritual truth we are like those members of the jury. There is that testimony of those who were there when Jesus actually spoke. Their testimony is not hearsay—some story that resembles a fable concocted after the event by someone who had an ulterior motive. The issue is, did God actually say that Jesus was His son? Listen to the testimony of one of the apostles with Jesus on the mount of His transfiguration.

“For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased’” (2 Pet. 1:16-17).

They had sat at His feet and heard His words. To insure that their memory was not faulty and their testimony was complete He sent the Holy Spirit. Their message is not hearsay. It is absolute, without contradictions. It is understandable and trustworthy testimony.

Now since that time, others who were not there have brought in new teachings. They were not there, yet they still want those of us on the “jury” to trust them and their opinions of what He might have said or what He might have meant when He spoke. To elevate the testimony of those who were not there or those who did not receive the Spirit as admissible testimony for the evidence of our faith is nothing but folly.

In his first epistle John described how he had been with Jesus, had seen Him and touched Him. John’s joy was indescribable. John said he had written His testimony so that we might have that same joy.

Let me urge you as a fellow member of the “jury” to listen only to the admissible evidence.

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They Saw His Miracles, Yet, They Crucified Him

Think of how many people in the first century had the opportunity to become children of God. For the four hundred years prior to the coming of John the Baptist, God had said nothing to anyone on the earth. The silence must have been deafening! Every man needs God, yet He said nothing to them. Then in the wilderness of Judea appeared a man dressed in the skin of camels. His voice cried out and the people knew that God had broken His silence. Men were about to be given the chance to be brought even closer to God.

The response was remarkable. “Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins” (Matt. 3:5-6). When Jesus began His public teaching the impact was truly amazing. “The Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John” (John 4:2). The multitudes flocked to Him so that the only way one man of short stature could even get a glimpse of Him was to climb a tree, hoping Jesus would come that way.

When the Lord sent out the apostles and the seventy on their limited journey, even more could learn about Him in their own villages.  Could anyone ever say they had not heard?

Yet they crucified Him! They saw His miracles; they sat at His feet; they heard His words! But that time came in their lives when life’s circumstances changed and all they knew of Him meant nothing. They saw His miracles, yet they killed Him. We are so perplexed how this could ever happen.

It is still happening! Every sermon has those who hear about Him and turn away. They know the words being spoken are the words of truth, but they ignore them. Every church has been amazed when those who once were leaders in the church—elders, deacons, preachers, teachers—leave it all behind and go back to the world!  It is still happening.

The words of Solomon seem to sum it all up. “That which has been is what will be, that which is done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun. Is there anything of which it may be said, ‘See, this is new’? It has already been in ancient times before us” (Ecc. 1:9-10).  Truth does not change. The nature of man does not change. The way men respond to truth does not change!

What does that have to do with us? We must not forget how easily we could be like them. We must nurture and feed our faith every day. “Let him who thinks he stands, take heed lest he fall!”

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Checked Your Bucket List?

I am not sure about the origin of the expression “bucket list,” but I know the concept. It is a list of all the things one wants to experience before they “kick the bucket.” Sometimes the list is made in one’s youth and can be so imaginative. It might have items like visit the South Pole, skydive over the Grand Canyon, hitchhike around Europe, own a Ferrari, view an open heart surgery or a host of other things which are viewed as something one would never want to miss.

I have wondered what impact such a list would have on the life of a Christian if the list focused on his/her spiritual life. What items would you put on that list? What should you experience as a child of God to make sure that you do not miss the good life?  I am not talking about those extreme ideas which might never become a reality like spending a week atop Mt. Sinai, Swimming across the Sea of Galilee, exploring and finding Noah’s ark or helping rebuild Babylon. On a practical level, what do you think every Christian should do?

First on the list might be to make sure that one reads the entire Bible through, perhaps several times. Over the years I have been amazed at how many Christians have never done this. Can you imagine Moses coming down off Mt. Sinai with the words of God and people being too busy to read them? What could be more important than reading the words written by the finger of God? Yet, how different from one having the words of God, written by prophets’ hands under God’s supervision and being too busy to read them? Is this on your list? There is a final test, make sure you have read the textbook!

High on the list should be time devoted to prayer and meditation. If you don’t plan to pray privately, you likely will only pray in times of crisis! If you see a relationship between David and Daniel’s praying three times every day and their great spirituality, shouldn’t you put this on your list?

Imagine the impact it would have on the way you look at life if you put on your list that before you die you will lead someone to the Lord. Think of how greatly devoted Jesus was to sharing truth, then carefully look at what you plan to do with your life. He, too, had only one life to live and bringing others to God was at the center of His life. What about you? What do you really want to be sure you accomplish before you die.

You may not have a written list, but you probably have one. If given the chance to accomplish things on your secular list, you would do all you can to seize that opportunity. How devoted are you to your spiritual list?

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God is the Defender of Widows, Are You?

One remarkable truth that is often forgotten is just how much God loves those who are widows. While society may overlook them and their needs, God does not for they are mentioned about ninety times in the Bible. With the exception of the times they are part of a historical narrative or part of instructions about their marriages in keeping with the old law, almost every reference to them has evidence of God’s love for them.

Hear the words of David. “Let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God; yes, let them rejoice exceedingly. Sing to God, sing praises to His name; extol Him who rides on the clouds, by His name YAH, and rejoice before Him. A father of the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in His holy habitation” (Psalm 68:3-5). Our God sits on His throne and sits there as a defender of widows!

Historically, widows have been the target of mistreatment by society. The Bible speaks of those who “afflict widows” (Ex. 22:22); of those who “perverts the justice due the… widow” (Deut. 27:19); …of the person who “does not good for the widow” (Job 24:21); of those “mistreated the fatherless and widows” (Ezek. 22:7); and of those who “devour widows’ houses” (Matt. 23:14). What widow is there who has not at least suffered in some of these ways? When society takes advantage of widows, God sees it, and He will not forget it even though it may be hidden from others!

Based on the fact that ten percent of the members at Palm Beach Lakes are widows, it is reasonable to assume that in every congregation there are those widows who can so easily be overlooked. What a blessed opportunity the church has to be the hands of God in helping them! I rejoice that so many of you are aware of these hurting sisters and are showing your love to them in so many ways.  If God rarely mentions them in the Bible without showing His concern for them, should not each of us show our concern for these who are loved so much by God?

Every Christian relative of widows has a God given responsibility toward them greater than the responsibility of the whole church (1 Tim. 5:3-8, 16). That person who neglects providing for a widowed relative “is worse than an infidel and has denied the faith” (1 Tim. 5:8). The seriousness of our devotion to God can be measured by our attitude toward widows.

Looking for something to do? Pay attention to the widows in this church. There is no way to measure how much a simple phone call means to the lonely. God will see this for He is the Defender of Widows!

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