Month: June 2021

Is the Bible’s Authority Being Wrenched Away?

On June 30, 2021

Young people today see many conflicts between what they are taught in school and what they are taught from their Bibles. At school (5 times a week, 7 hours day) they are taught that the universe is 13.77 billion years old and that the earth is 4.54 billion years old. At church (3 times a week, and for a much shorter time period) they are taught that God created the universe and everything in it in 6 days.

In addition, the vast majority of the people the world puts forth as being “academic” hold to this ancient universe theory (as well as the theory of evolution). In fact, if one does not hold to these mainstream “theories” they are ostracized in academia, often to the point of being made fun of.

I feel that the church has a responsibility to reveal the truth to these young people. What is the truth? The truth is there is a vast amount of scientific evidence that points to a young earth. You won’t hear about that evidence at school (or even at many churches), but the truth is that young earth creationism is backed up by solid evidence.

The purpose of today’s article was not so much to enlighten folks on the age of the earth as it was to enlighten them about what their children and grandchildren are being taught in school. It is no wonder that we see so many kids falling away from the church. If the secular theories of ‘The Big Bang’ and evolution continue to seep into the subconscious of our youth it will do vast amounts of damage.

What damage will it do? Well, it will undermine scripture and push forward the idea that we are highly evolved apes – animals. And, if we are just highly evolved animals then there is no reason not to have promiscuous sex, curse, steal, murder – you name it. If we are merely animals then there is no objective truth, just mankind’s subjective opinion of what is right and wrong.

As it says in the Dostoevsky novel The Brothers Karamazov, “If there’s no God and no life beyond the grave, doesn’t that mean that men will be allowed to do whatever they want?” I think any sensible person would say yes, that if there is no God then morality is subjective (up to each individual), and following that to it’s logical conclusion we find that someone such as Ted Bundy simply had a “different opinion” than the majority on killing for pleasure. He was just living out his dream, “you do you”, “be yourself”, “follow your heart” and all that.

This is ludicrous. We know inherently that some things are right and some are wrong – and the Bible puts forth mankind’s morality in the most divine and perfect way imaginable. Yet the world is wrenching away the Bible’s authority over their morality. It scares me to think what will happen over the next few decades if we continue to rebel against the authority and perfect morality of the Bible.

Let us all teach our children that the Bible is THE source of knowledge and that the wisdom of men is often folly. Not only that, let us instill the power of the Bible and God’s Word into our youth and into ourselves. We cannot let the false wisdom of the world influence the church of Christ without fighting back:

1Co 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

1Co 1:19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.

1Co 1:20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?

I will end this article by leaving you with a few resources. These resources provide evidence to the contrary of the “wisdom of this world”. Be sure to check these out if you have time:

Assumptions and the Age of the Earth

Creation and the Age of the Earth

Atheist Blogger Leah Libresco Converted to Theism by Morality

Getting Started is the Hardest Part

By Jay

On June 23, 2021

In Christian Productivity

Getting started has to be one of the most difficult tasks we undertake as human beings. I have no idea why it’s so hard to begin a task – but there definitely something in us that just wants to keep procrastinating.

I was blessed enough to teach class last Wednesday night at Berea church of Christ. We discussed many things during the course of the lesson, but one of the most important was the fact that we don’t have to jump from 0 to 100 in our spiritual (or even physical) lives. I used to say (when I was a personal trainer) that “any movement is an improvement”. I still hold to this.

We all have the ability to improve spiritually but it is just so hard to get going! Getting started is the hardest part of achieving a goal. So, what is the solution?

In that Wednesday night class I put forth that one could start reading the Bible simply by reading one verse a day. Any movement (as long is it is forward movement) is an improvement. Maybe you can handle a chapter a day, five minutes a day, or maybe you are advanced and can engage in long study sessions. Any of these work as long as we aren’t “going backwards” and falling away from our good spiritual habits.

Remember, this isn’t just about Bible study. This applies to other areas of your spiritual life as well. Maybe you need to stop doing something. Maybe you need to add in more evangelism. Maybe you want to attend more services. The list is endless (we all need improvement in many areas).

So, this week’s blog is short and sweet and it encourages you to ask yourself just a few simple questions. Are your habits moving you towards Christ or away from Him? Are you improving or falling away? Are you growing spiritually or shrinking?

I think we all need to ask ourselves these questions from time to time and we all need to make sure our spiritual priorities are in the right order. After all, if we aren’t moving (forward) we aren’t improving! Thanks so much for reading and I’ll talk to you again soon.

The Answer is (Probably) Right Under Your Nose…

By Jay

On June 15, 2021

In Bible & Doctrine

So many people in this world are lost, confused, depressed, and hopeless. Our culture today (and, honestly, throughout history) is focused on prestige, power, material gain, and money. This is really nothing new but the situation we are in now is “different” to say the least.

Never has technology made it so easy to gain information, and yet still people are uninformed. We watch the news, read blogs (yes, I’m aware this is a blog!) and ask others (often priests, rabbis, or ‘pastors’) what we should do to remedy our derelict lives, yet many fail to think of looking for themselves.

Pro 16:9 A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.

According to the American Bible Society 87% of households own a Bible – yet only around 1% of Americans belong to the Lord’s church. This is a sad situation indeed. Think of how many people have passed away with the secret to eternal life only a stone’s throw away!

We are a culture that has become overly reliant on so called “experts” and under reliant on the Word of God. When we are searching for answers in our daily lives let us first turn the Bible, the Word of God – not to worldly experts and information.

After all the most comprehensive book of knowledge on the planet (sorry Webster) is probably right there under our noses. Only when we begin to turn to our Bibles for the ultimate truth will we truly know we are on the right path.

Psa 119:105 NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, And light unto my path.

Are We Designed to Seek Glory and Spectacle?

By Jay

On June 7, 2021

In Recommended Resources

Are we designed to seek “spectacles” – feats of greatness, grandeur, splendor, and glory? I just finished a book called Competing Spectacles by Tony Reinke and I must say that I recommend it…with a caveat. Get ready to feel some discomfort if you read it. The basis of the book is that secular media (T.V., Social Media, YouTube, politics, etc.) is starting to take the place of God for many of us in America.

In this book the author talks about something that I have mentioned on this blog quite a few times, the fact that we are designed to worship. We are designed to bow to something greater than us (God made us this way) and if we do not worship God we will find something, anything to worship to fill that void. This is one of the primary causes of idolatry (which doesn’t necessarily have to be graven images). Paul tells us what kind of things we should concentrate on in the Book of Philippians:

Php 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Php 4:9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

All media is not inherently bad, but we should take Biblical principles into consideration every time we consume one of these “media spectacles”. Many of these spectacles do not conform to the above verses (and many other verses in the Bible). This means it needs to be looked at carefully:

Jas 1:27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

When we see this content we should try and see behind the curtain. We should think a bit about who is pulling the strings and be open to the (very likely) possibility that they have motives for producing the content they do. What are they trying to get us to believe? What are they trying to get us to do? How are they trying to get us to behave?

Now it must be known that the author of the book Conflicting Spectacles is not a member of the Lord’s church. It also should be known that I’m not recommending any doctrinal matters the book might promote, but honestly I don’t think the book mentioned doctrine anyway. What I do recommend is the basic premise of the book, which I feel hits the nail right on the head when it comes to the current social & cultural situation in America.

The Basics of the Book

The core of it is this: we are designed (by God) to worship the ultimate spectacle, Jesus Christ, but when we fall away from Jesus we end up with a “God shaped hole” in our lives. What many in America turn to to fill this hole is secular media. So that might be movies with amazing special effects, YouTube binges, fiery politics, hilarious sit coms, novels, you name it. Even scarier is the fact that the media is getting better and better at “hooking us” with these false and misleading spectacles.

Again I will repeat, this does not mean that partaking in Social Media, T.V., books, and other forms of media is a sin. What it means is that we should actively think about what we are consuming and whether it fits into a Christian life.

One final thing that I’d like to mention is the amount of time we spend consuming secular media. We should be careful to avoid spending too much time on the things of the world at the expense of the things commanded us in the Bible. Studying the Bible, listening to Biblical programs, and doing things that enhance your life (outdoor work, hobbies, learning, etc.) is more valuable than listening to the agendas of the world. The agenda of the Bible is truth and it’s news is neither fake nor untrue – God and scripture should be our number 1 priority:

Act 17:11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

Let us search the scriptures daily to see if the things we are partaking in are healthy for our soul. After all, the Word of God has the final say in all matters temporal or eternal. Here is a rather long section of scripture that I think is pertinent to this week’s topic:

Eph 5:8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:

Eph 5:9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)

Eph 5:10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.

Eph 5:11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.

Eph 5:12 For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.

Eph 5:13 But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.

Eph 5:14 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.

Eph 5:15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,

Eph 5:16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

Eph 5:17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.

So, if you are brave enough (I’ll warn you, it is almost sure to cut you to the heart as it did with me) you might consider looking up this book. I think it is around twelve dollars on Amazon (I’m not going to link to it from here). Regardless, the core message is one that I’m sure we can all agree on, most of us need to reevaluate our consumption of secular “spectacles” and focus on the ultimate spectacle; Jesus Christ’s death and glorious resurrection. Then, and only then will we be truly fulfilled and gratified.