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"Discernment is not a matter of simply telling the difference between right and wrong; rather it is telling the difference between right and almost right."
Charles Spurgeon
(1834-1892)

"Among the gifts of the Spirit scarcely one is of greater practical usefulness than the gift of discernment. This gift should be highly valued and frankly sought as being almost indispensable in these critical times. This gift will enable us to distinguish the chaff from the wheat and to divide the manifestations of the flesh from the operations of the Spirit."
A.W.Tozer
(1897-1963)

"If the church marries herself to the spirit of the times, she will find herself a widow in the next generation."
Charles Stanley

"If I see aright, the cross of popular evangelicalism is not the cross of the New Testament. It is, rather, a new bright ornament upon the bosom of a self-assured and carnal Christianity. The old cross slew men, the new cross entertains them. The old cross condemned; the new cross amuses. The old cross destroyed confidence in the flesh; the new cross encourages it."
A.W.Tozer
(1897-1963)

"If the professed convert distinctly and deliberately declares that he knows the Lord's will but does not mean to attend to it, you are not to pamper his presumption, but it is your duty to assure him that he is not saved. Do not suppose that the Gospel is magnified or God glorified by going to the worldlings and telling them that they may be saved at this moment by simply accepting Christ as their Savior, while they are wedded to their idols, and their hearts are still in love with sin. If I do so I tell them a lie, pervert the Gospel, insult Christ, and turn the grace of God into lasciviousness."
Charles Haddon Spurgeon
(1834-1892)

"The vague and tenuous hope that God is too kind to punish the ungodly has become a deadly opiate for the consciences of millions."
A.W. Tozer
(1897-1963)

"Here is the great evangelical disaster - the failure of the evangelical world to stand for truth as truth. There is only one word for this - namely ACCOMMODATION. The evangelical church has accommodated to the world spirit of the age. First, there has been accommodation on Scripture, so that many who call themselves evangelicals hold a weakened view of the Bible and no longer affirm the truth of all the Bible teaches....This accommodation has been costly, first in destroying the power of the Scriptures to confront the spirit of our age; second, in allowing the further slide of our culture."
  Francis Shaeffer
(1912-1984)

"Satan knows that he can undermine the structure of the church by slyly removing just one fundamental doctrine at a time. He frequently loosens a large foundation gradually, chiseling it away bit by bit. That is why tolerance for the sake of peace may be dangerous. One step by giving in will lead to a next step, and will not God visit us with blindness if we deliberately darken the truth He has graciously entrusted to us. How shall we justify ourselves if we permit even a little of the truth to be laid aside? Is that ours to do? When peace is injurious to the truth, peace must give way. Peace with God is of greater value than peace with men."
Abraham Kuyper
(1837-1920)

"God's Word will never pass away, but looking back to the Old Testament and since the time of Christ, with tears we must say that because of lack of fortitude and faithfulness on the part of God's people, God's Word has many times been allowed to be bent, to conform to the surrounding, passing, changing culture of that moment rather than to stand as the inerrant Word of God judging the form of the world spirit and the surrounding culture of that moment. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, may our children and grandchildren not say that such can be said about us."
Francis Shaeffer
(1912-1984)

"You say, 'We want unity.' Oh, really? What kind of unity? 'We want all the churches to get together.' Oh, really? You mean in error, in confusion, in heresy? That is, dear friends, the ecumenical movement of our hour, in which all the great denominations and all the great church leaders are becoming more and more unified. In what? -- in compromise and theological error; and this is the ultimate horror."
 John Whitcomb Jr.

"On the right and on the left, ordained and self-proclaimed "reverends" and honorary "doctors" appear to spend more time trying to reform a fallen and decaying world through politics and earthly power than they do promoting and proclaiming the ultimate answer [the gospel] to that fallenness."
Cal Thomas

"This is exactly where a liberal attitude to the Bible leads us: there is no final authority, no reliable words of Christ, no test by which we shall be judged, and nothing to obey."
Brian H. Edward

"The greatest persecutor
of evangelical Christianity
is probably liberal Christianity."
John MacArthur

"Religion today is not transforming people; rather it is being transformed by the people. It is not raising the moral level of society; it is descending to society's own level, and congratulating itself that it has scored a victory because society is smilingly accepting its surrender."
A. W. Tozer
(1897-1963)

"A dog barks when his master is attacked. I would be a coward if I saw God's truth attacked and yet would remain silent."
John Calvin
(1509-1564)

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1. Pop Psychology Myths

By Kerby Anderson

Go into any bookstore and you will see shelves of self-help books, many of which promote a form of "pop psychology." Although these are bestsellers, they are filled with half-truths and myths. In this essay we are going to look at some of these pop psychology myths as exposed by Dr. Chris Thurman in his book Self-Help or Self-Destruction. If you would like more information or documentation for the issues we cover in these pages, I would recommend you obtain a copy of his book.
Myth 1: Human beings are basically good.
The first myth I would like to look at is the belief that people are basically good. Melody Beattie, author of the best-seller Codependent No More, says that we "suffer from that vague but penetrating affliction, low self-worth." She suggests we stop torturing ourselves and try to raise our view of ourselves. How do we do that? She says: "Right now, we can give ourselves a big emotional and mental hug. We are okay. It's wonderful to be who we are. Our thoughts are okay. Our feelings are appropriate. We're right where we're supposed to be today, this moment. There is nothing wrong with us. There is nothing fundamentally wrong with us."
In other words, Beattie is saying that we are basically good. There is nothing wrong with us. At least there is nothing fundamentally wrong with us. There isn't any flaw that needs to be corrected.
Peter McWilliams, in his best-seller Life 101, actually addresses this issue head on. This is what he says in the brief section entitled, "Are human beings fundamentally good or fundamentally evil?"
My answer: good. My proof? I could quote philosophers, psychologists, and poets, but then those who believe humans are fundamentally evil can quote just as many philosophers, psychologists, and poets. My proof, such as it is, is a simple one. It returns to the source of human life: an infant. When you look into the eyes of an infant, what do you see? I've looked into a few, and I have yet to see fundamental evil radiating from a baby's eyes. There seems to be purity, joy, brightness, splendor, sparkle, marvel, happiness--you know: good.
Before we see what the Bible says about the human condition, let me make one comment about Peter McWilliams's proof. While an infant may seem innocent to our eyes, any parent would admit that a baby is an example of the ultimate in selfishness. A baby comes into the world totally centered on his own needs and oblivious to any others.
When we look to the Bible, we get a picture radically different from that espoused by pop psychologists. Adam and Eve committed the first sin, and the human race has been born morally corrupt ever since. According to the Bible, even a seemingly innocent infant is born with a sin nature. David says in Psalm 51:5 "Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me." The newborn baby already has a sin nature and begins to demonstrate that sin nature early in life. Romans 3:23 tells us that "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." We are not good as the pop psychologists teach, and we are not gods as the new age theologians teach. We are sinful and cut off from God.
Myth 2: We need more self-esteem and self-worth.
The next myth to examine is the one that claims what we really need is more self-esteem and self-worth. In the book entitled Self-Esteem, Matthew McKay and Patrick Fanning state, "Self- esteem is essential for psychological survival." They believe that we need to quit judging ourselves and learn to accept ourselves as we are.
They provide a series of affirmations we need to tell ourselves in order to enhance our self-esteem. First, "I am worthwhile because I breathe and feel and am aware." Well, shouldn't that also apply to animals? And do I lose my self-esteem if I stop breathing? In a sense, this affirmation is a take off on Rene Descartes's statement, "I think, therefore I am." They seem to be saying "I am, therefore I am worthwhile."
Second they say, "I am basically all right as I am." But is that true? Is it true for Charles Manson? Don't some of us, in fact all of us, need some changing? A third affirmation is "It's all right to meet my needs as I see fit." Really? What if I meet my needs in a way that harms you? Couldn't I justify all sorts of evil in order to meet my needs?
Well, you can see the problem with pop psychology's discussion of self-esteem. Rarely is it defined, and when it is defined, it can easily lead to evil and all kinds of sin.
It should probably be as no surprise that the Bible doesn't teach anything about self-esteem. In fact, it doesn't even define the word. What about the term self-worth? Is it synonymous with self-esteem. No, there is an important distinction between the terms self-esteem and self-worth.
William James, often considered the father of American psychology, defined self-esteem as "the sum of your successes and pretensions." In other words, your self-esteem is a reflection of how you are actually performing compared to how you think you should be performing. So your self-esteem could actually fluctuate from day to day.
Self-worth, however, is different. Our worth as human beings has to do with the fact that we are created in God's image. Our worth never fluctuates because it is anchored in the fact that the Creator made us. We are spiritual as well as physical beings who have a conscience, emotions, and a will. Psalm 8 says: "You have made him [mankind] a little lower than the angels, and you have crowned him with glory and honor. You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands, you have put all things under his feet."
So the good news is that we bear God's image, but the bad news is that all of these characteristics have been tainted by sin. Our worth should not be tied up in what we do, but in who God made us to be and what He has done for us.
Myth 3: You can't love others until you love yourself.
Now I would like to look at the myth that you can't love others until you love yourself. Remember the Whitney Houston song "The Greatest Love of All?" It says, "Learning to love yourself is the greatest love of all."
Peter McWilliams, author of Life 101, promotes this idea in his book Love 101 which carries the subtitle "To Love Oneself Is the Beginning of a Lifelong Romance." He asks, "Who else is more qualified to love you than you? Who else knows what you want, precisely when you want it, and is always around to supply it?" He believes that the answer to those questions is you.
He continues by saying, "If, on the other hand, you have been gradually coming to the seemingly forbidden conclusion that before we can truly love another, or allow another to properly love us, we must first learn to love ourselves--then this book is for you." Notice that he not only is saying that you cannot love others until you love yourself, but that you can't love you until you learn to love yourself.
Melody Beattie, author of CoDependent No More, believes the same thing. One of the chapters in her book is entitled, "Have a Love Affair With Yourself." Jackie Schwartz, in her book Letting Go of Stress, even suggests that you write a love letter and "tell yourself all the attributes you cherish about yourself, the things that really please, comfort, and excite you."
Does the Bible teach self-love? No, it does not. If anything, the Bible warns us against such a love affair with self. Consider Paul's admonition to Timothy: "But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!" (2 Tim. 3:1-5).
The Bible discourages love of self and actually begins with the assumption we already love ourselves too much and must learn to show sacrificial love (agape love) to others. It also teaches that love is an act of the will. We can choose to love someone whether the feelings are there or not.
We read in 1 John 4, "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God, and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him." The biblical pattern is this: God loves us, and we receive God's love and are able to love others.
Myth 4: You shouldn't judge anyone.
Let's discuss the myth that you shouldn't judge anyone. No doubt you have heard people say, "You're just being judgmental" or "Who are you to judge me?" You may have even said something like this.
Many pop psychologists certainly believe that you shouldn't judge anyone. In their book entitled Self-Esteem, Matthew McKay and Patrick Fanning argue that moral judgments about people are unacceptable. They write: "Hard as it sounds, you must give up moral opinions about the actions of others. Cultivate instead the attitude that they have made the best choice available, given their awareness and needs at the time. Be clear that while their behavior may not feel or be good for you, it is not bad."
So moral judgments are not allowed. You cannot judge another person's actions, even if you feel that it is wrong. McKay and Fanning go on to say why: "What does it mean that people choose the highest good? It means that you are doing the best you can at any given time. It means that people always act according to their prevailing awareness, needs, and values. Even the terrorist planting bombs to hurt the innocent is making a decision based on his or her highest good. It means you cannot blame people for what they do. Nor can you blame yourself. No matter how distorted or mistaken a person's awareness is, he or she is innocent and blameless."
As with many of these pop psychology myths, there is a kernel of truth. True we should be very careful to avoid a judgmental spirit or quickly criticize an individual's actions when we do not possess all the facts. But the Bible does allow and even encourages us to make judgments and be discerning. In fact, the Bible should be our ultimate standard of right and wrong. If the Bible says murder is wrong, it is wrong. God's objective standards as revealed in the Scriptures are our standard of behavior.
How do we apply these standards? Very humbly. We are warned in the gospels "Judge not, that you be not judged." Jesus was warning us of a self-righteous attitude that could develop from pride and a hypocritical spirit. Jesus also admonished us to "take the plank out of [our] own eye" so that we would be able to "remove the speck from [our] brother's eye" (Matt. 7:1-5).
Finally, we should acknowledge that Jesus judged people's actions all the time, yet He never sinned. He offered moral opinions wherever He went. He said, "I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me" (John 5:30). Judging is not wrong, but we should be careful to do it humbly and from a biblical perspective.
Myth 5: All guilt is bad.
Finally, I would like to look at the myth that all guilt is bad. In his best-seller, Your Erroneous Zones, Wayne Dyer tackles what he believes are two useless emotions: guilt and worry. Now it is true that worry is probably a useless emotion, but it is another story with guilt. Let's begin by understanding why he calls guilt "the most useless of all erroneous zone behaviors."
Wayne Dyer believes that guilt originates from two sources: childhood memories and current misbehavior. He says, "Thus you can look at all of your guilt either as reactions to leftover imposed standards in which you are still trying to please an absent authority figure, or as the result of trying to live up to self- imposed standards which you really don't buy, but for some reason pay lip service to. In either case, it is stupid, and more important, useless behavior."
He goes on to say that "guilt is not natural behavior" and that our "guilt zones" must be "exterminated, spray-cleaned and sterilized forever." So how do you exterminate your "guilt zones"? He proposed that you "do something you know is bound to result in feelings of guilt" and then fight those feelings off.
Dyer believes that guilt is "a convenient tool for manipulation" and a "futile waste of time." And while that is often true, he paints with too large of a brush. Some guilt can be helpful and productive. Some kinds of guilt can be a significant agent of change.
The Bible makes a distinction between two kinds of guilt: true guilt and false guilt. Notice in 2 Corinthians 7:10 that the Apostle Paul says, "Godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death."
Worldly sorrow (often called false guilt) causes us to focus on ourselves, while godly sorrow (true guilt) leads us to focus on the person or persons we have offended. Worldly sorrow (or false guilt) causes us to focus on what we have done in the past, whereas godly sorrow (or true guilt) causes us to focus on what we can do in the present to correct what we've done. Corrective actions that come out of worldly sorrow are motivated by the desire to stop feeling bad. Actions that come out of godly sorrow are motivated by the desire to help the offended person or to please God or to promote personal growth. Finally, the results of worldly and godly sorrow differ. Worldly sorrow results in temporary change. Godly sorrow results in true change and growth.
Pop psychology books are half right. False guilt (or worldly sorrow) is not a productive emotion, but true guilt (or godly sorrow) is an emotion God can use to bring about positive change in our lives as we recognize our guilt, ask for forgiveness, and begin to change.
©2010 Probe Ministries, www.probe.org

2. Thinking Positively Verses Positive Thinking

What you need to know regarding ‘thinking positively’ and ‘positive thinking.’

1) Thinking Positively

- Basis Godly.
- Focus outward/upward.
- Reality based constructive thinking, mature self-talk/reasoning

“I can do all things through Him who strengthens me” (Phil 4:13, ESV).
“Jesus said to them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of His own accord, but only what He sees the Father doing; for whatever He does, that the Son does likewise’ ” (John 5:19, RSV).
“For I know that nothing good dwells within me, that is, in my flesh. I can will what is right, but I cannot do it” (Rom 7:18, RSV).
“For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men” (1 Cor 1:25; RSV).
“For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose” (Phil 2:13, NIV).
“He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might He increases strength” (Isa 40:29, RSV).

2) Positive Thinking

- Basis humanism.
- Focus inward/self.
- Focus human power, not God’s power.
- The basic premise is that the human mind has mysterious inherent powers that are capable of creating ones own reality, psychic power.

"I have the power within me."
"I have unlimited power."
"I can do anything I believe I can do."
"There is no challenge I cannot conquer."

“Because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen” (Rom 1:25, RSV).

I must not think negatively?

The Scriptures do not teach positive thinking or negative thinking. What the Scriptures do teach, first and foremost, is truthful thinking. The emphasis in God’s Word is not on positive or negative thinking but on developing the mind of Christ.
The phrase 'positive thinking' was originally borrowed from the founder of Unity - a spiritualistic organisation.

3. Promises

By Rod Bailey, a sabbatarian

God's word is full of His promises to you, and they can be trusted! Can they be trusted? Completely? Unequivocally? Without question? Are these promises so sure that you are able or even willing to stake your life on them?
What do we do with such broad sweeping promises such as Mark 11:24? --  "What things so ever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them." Does Christ really mean what He says?
I recently had an experience with one of God's promises that really challenged me. While attending a ministry retreat in the Czech Republic last year, I lost my wallet. Credit cards, licenses, cash...It was a small thing, but extremely inconvenient.
I prayed about it, and appealed to the retreat delegates to pray for the return of the wallet, and to keep their eyes  "peeled". Many came up to me over the next couple of day's fully confident it would be returned, and shared
experiences in their own lives where God had honoured their prayers and returned lost items. We were all sure that God would answer our prayers and return my wallet.
In each break between meetings I retraced my steps wherever I had walked during the day or so before I discovered my wallet was missing. This was a challenge, for my tracks crisscrossed the creeks and gentle slopes of the
surrounding Czech forest.
After a few days I was impressed to claim a specific promise. I chose Matthew 7:7 -- "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you." With my Bible in my hand, I said, "Lord, I am asking, I
am seeking. I present your promise here where you say that if I ask, you will give, and if I seek, I will find. You say that you stand behind every promise you make with your personal and faultless guarantee, and I believe you. I look
forward to the fulfilment of your promise, that your will may be done, and that you may be glorified. Lord, I believe, help my unbelief."
And many times each day I kept asking, and I kept seeking, and I kept claiming this same promise. Day after day went by, and I started to notice an interesting phenomena. At the beginning people would come to me with expectant faces and ask if I had found my wallet, and when I said "No", they would respond with expressions like, "That's OK, I am sure you will find it soon. Have you searched through your suitcase again?" Others would say, "Sometimes God allows these things to try our faith for a while before He answers... " Others said, "Maybe it's not God's will that you find it. .. " And I knew that they could be right, yet I kept claiming.
But as the days wore on, and the retreat was coming to a close, less and less asked me whether the wallet had been found, and those that did, when I answered again in the negative, said things in a wistful, disappointed voice like, "Oh, that's too bad." Or, "He doesn't always answer our prayers in the way we would like ... "
There were but a few, a very small remnant it seemed, who retained a rock-like assurance that it would be found before we left, and only one that I can recall who had complete confidence that the Lord would answer our prayers and fulfil His promise to me, "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find ... "
The retreat was to finish on Sabbath evening, and I would leave for Norway at 7am the next morning. Sabbath  afternoon I decided to spend the time alone with God, praying, claiming His promise, and once again walking my now
familiar forest paths. Late in the afternoon I decided to retrace our steps of the the previous Sabbath, where we had all walked to a nearby lake. Much of this distance was on a busy road, and the side of this road dropped sharply down
a bank to a ditch filled with spring rain runoff. As I walked and prayed, my eyes continually scanned up and down the steep grassy bank and the edge of the ditch. I found many surprising items, but no brown leather wallet.
I walked all the way to the lake and then turned for home. The sun was dropping low in the sky, and the temptation was to quit looking and just walk quickly back to camp, admitting that God had other plans regarding my wallet, and that although His promise was, "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find ... ", He had another purpose in this instance.
But I was impressed to continue to scan the bank as I walked home. And about 1 km from the campsite, half way down that unmown grassy bank, my eyes were drawn to my wallet, the corner peeking out from under some thick grass...
Why do we hesitate to claim God's plainly spoken promises? Why do we dare to doubt? Why should the sons and daughters of God be reluctant to pray, (and to claim His promises), when prayer is the key in the hand of faith to
unlock heaven's storehouse where are treasured the boundless resources of Omnipotence?
Friends, what are we going to do with God's promises? Or maybe we should ask ourselves, what are we going to do with our hesitance to boldly claim them? What are we going to do about our lack of faith in them? Have we
become so sophisticated with our faith, that we have practically lost it?
"When the Son of man cometh, shall He find faith on the earth?" This is the question for you and I to solemnly consider. What are we going to do with God's promises?
"Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief."

4. Fame Is No Blessing

By John Fischer

She mounts the platform for yet another award. The picture at the conclusion of the music award ceremonies will show her struggling to hold the arm-load of trophies she has received this night. But as she approaches the podium for the last time to a standing ovation, there is a seriousness of purpose dimly visible behind her gracious, winning smile.

"I know you are probably expecting me to give God the credit for all these awards tonight, but I'm not sure He wants any part of this." She lets the shock settle in for a moment before continuing. "In fact, it occurs to me as I stand here, that God may not have had anything to do with these awards at all. It wasn't God who came up with a great production, it was my producer. It wasn't God who made me famous, it was my marketing company. It isn't God who is even remotely interested in my popularity, it's my manager. Business is business, ladies and gentlemen, and I'm fortunate to have some of the best around me, but when it comes to God, He's far more concerned with how I live my life than He is acting as my promoter or the reason for my success. For all I know, He might be fighting against my success right now. So thank you, all of you, for acknowledging the hard work of the people around me, and now if you'll excuse me, I've got to get back home to my life as it really is, and right now - to tell you the truth - that life needs a bit of attention. You see, I've sacrificed my family for these awards, and I need to get home and made sure I still have one."

No this didn't actually happen-outside my imagination, that is-but it is a way to dramatize a point. When we think of success and fame, the tendency has been to think that these things come as the result of some kind of blessing from God.

I wonder.

Why would we think of giving God credit for personal fame? What would lead us to believe that He is interested in such a thing? Isn't it more that we have bought into fame, and we think that since it is so important to us, it must be important to God? For all we know, God might be the most disinterested party of all when it comes to celebrity status.

What if it's quite the opposite? What if fame is a curse? Or worse: What if it's idolatry? Are we rewarding the idol and thanking God for helping us create it? At worse, fame is idolatry; at best, it is a huge responsibility. Nowhere do I see it as a blessing - certainly nothing anyone would want to be glibly thanking God for in front of cameras. Fame is no blessing. That much has been made clear through the failure of those who have treated it as such.

Fame carries a responsibility to tell the truth because the spotlight will not tell it for you. Fame works against the truth. It deals in myth, and those who have had any real impact on society from a celebrity role are those who have been strong enough to shatter the myth - politicians who have actually served their community, movie stars who have taken up causes away from the camera, or rock stars who have been quick to parody their own image.

Now that Christian artists are cast in similar celebrity molds as the world, where they are set apart as more highly desirable than others, can we expect them to somehow be exempt from the lie of fame just because they are Christians involved in "ministry?"

The light of the spotlight will always be a bent one, regardless of who it's shining on. This is true not only of those who shine the light and stand in it, but of those who watch as well. The general public wants an image to worship. It's us who have bought into this fame thing; I doubt God is involved. When He sent His own Son into the world, He shunned fame. At one point the god of this world offered Him the highest pinnacle of worldly praise, and He rejected it. And when it came time to seize the day in front of all creation, God has His Son humiliated on a cross.

It is truly dangerous to think that one has been awarded some kind of special compensation from God due to a certain success in the world. It is equally dangerous to think that because of success, a different set of rules applies.

Fame carries a responsibility - a mine field to be carefully and prayerfully navigated. It is far from being a blessing.

5. Regarding Suffering

By John Henry Jowett

"The range of our possible sufferings is determined by the largeness and nobility of our aims. It is possible to evade a multitude of sorrows by the cultivation of an insignificant life. Indeed, if it be a man's ambition to avoid the troubles of life, the recipe is perfectly simple -- let him shed his ambitions in every direction, let him cut the wings of every soaring purpose, and let him assiduously cultivate a little life, with the fewest correspondences and relations.

By this means a whole continent of afflictions will be escaped and will remain unknown. Cultivate negations, and large tracts of the universe will cease to exist. For instance, cultivate deafness, and you are saved from the horrors of discords. Cultivate blindness, and you are saved from the assault of the ugly. Stupefy a sense, and you shut out a world. And, therefore, it is literally true that if you want to get through the world with the smallest trouble you must reduce yourself to the smallest compass.

And, indeed, that is why so many people, and even so many professedly Christian people get through life so easily, and with a minimum acquaintance with tribulation. It is because they have reduced their souls to a minimum, that their course through the years is not so much the transit of a man as the passage of an amoeba.

They have no finely organized nervous system, or they have deadened and arrested the growth of one nerve after another; they have cut the sensitive wires which bind the individual to the race, and they are cosily self-contained, and the shuddering sorrow of the world never disturbs their seclusion. Tiny souls can dodge through life; bigger souls are blocked on every side.

As soon, therefore, as a man begins to enlarge his life, his resistances are multiplied. Let a man tear out of his soul the petty selfish purpose and enthrone a world purpose, the Christ purpose, and his sufferings will be increased on every side. Every addition to spiritual ambition widens the exposure of the soul, and sharpens its perception of the world's infirmity and the sense of its own restraints."

More on suffering

When God first created this world, and its inhabitants, everything was perfect. There was no pain or suffering.
But sadly, pain and suffering, eventually came about because of Satan. Satan was originally the head of all the angels. He was next to Christ in power and authority. At some point he became jealous of God, desiring to be like Him in position, power and glory. Finally his jealousy turned into rebellion, so God had to remove him from heaven along with the angels who foolishly sided with him (Isa 14:12-14; Ezek 28:14-16; Rev 12:7-9,12).
Satan in his anger then tried to gain control of this fresh new world [our planet] that God had created. He succeeded by fooling Adam and Eve into sinning also (Gen chapter 3). Their sin then brought death and misery upon all of this earth’s inhabitants (Rom 5:12) . 
If God had immediately destroyed Satan when he rebelled, heavenly beings would have served Him through fear. God couldn’t afford to handle Satan’s rebellion in a manner that would leave doubts in the minds of others. God is love. His nature is merciful, kind, long suffering, forgiving, good, truthful, and just. He has given everyone the time needed to judge the true nature of Satan’s rebellion and its extent. God is permitting Satan’s ultimate plan to run its course. Thus when the time is right God will be able to destroy Satan, sin and suffering with the approval of the universe [other worlds He has created (Heb 1:2; Rev 12:12)]. Since Christ has not yet returned, the time has not come for Satan’s
destruction (Rev chapter 20). But when He does come, then God will be vindicated [proven right and just] once and for all before the universe. Satan has made accusations against God right from the beginning of his rebellion in heaven,
accusations that can only be answered God’s way and in His time. Unfortunately we are caught in the middle of this great controversy [battle] between good [Christ] and evil [Satan] (Eph 6:12) that is being played out.  
Now that we have seen how suffering originally came about, lets look at specific causes of suffering —
A) Some suffering comes about through foolish choices or behaviour (Gal 6:7). In other words, we often bring trouble upon ourselves. We therefore only have ourselves to blame. This kind of suffering can occur through ignoring God’s counsel. An unhealthy lifestyle, for example, can lead to physical illness.
B) Sometimes we suffer because of evil others do (Hab 1:13). God has given everyone, good or bad, freedom of choice. If God were to stop someone hurting us, it would violate their self will [freedom of choice], the same will we have, which stops us from being robots. God has never promised to alter circumstances or release us from trouble.
C) Some suffering is the result of accident or natural disasters (John 9:2,3). After all, this world is temporarily under Satan’s rule. We therefore have to expect unfairness and tragedy. While God clearly has the power to intervene, in a sense He can’t. Sin must be allowed to demonstrate what it’s really like, and where it leads, or we simply won’t take it seriously enough. If God put a special hedge around the Christian and let it be known that he would never be sick, involved in accidents, suffer loss from earthquake, or fire, would never be poor and hungry or homeless, then of course everyone would be a Christian for what they could get, and not for love to God.
D) Some suffering is caused by others irresponsibility and carelessness. Friendly fire?
E) Some suffering occurs through faithfulness to Christ (2 Tim 3:12; John 15:20; Acts 14:22). Jesus Himself suffered because of evil people. His followers have no reason to expect life to be any easier for them. We are not told to invite or provoke persecution, or to enjoy it, but we are told to expect it. All who truly follow Jesus must expect to be misunderstood and subjected to suffering of every kind.
F) Some suffering is needed (Deut 8:5; 2 Cor 7:10; Heb 12:7,8,10; Ps 119:67,71, KJV, Psalms only). Just as a parent punishes his child to keep him on the right track, so God sometimes permits hardship and sorrow to come to us in order to turn us from an evil or harmful course. Sometimes this is the only way God can achieve what’s needed. Sometimes this is the only way God can get our attention.
Though none of us like suffering it can achieve positive things —
A) It can help us to be more understanding and sympathetic to others (Matt 18:33, KJV; 2 Cor 1:4, KJV; Job 6:14, KJV; 1 Cor 12:26).
B) It can help us to trust more in God, and realize our dependence upon Him (2 Cor 12:9,10).
C) It can humble us, help remove wrongful pride.
D) It tests our faith and its genuineness (2 Tim 2:12,13). Unless our muscles encounter resistance, they will never become strong. Thus our spiritual muscles also need building up.
E) It can improve our characters (2 Cor 4:17, KJV). Without challenges to meet and obstacles to overcome we will never grow spiritually.
F) It can help us to get our priorities right, help us to realize what really is more important.
God’s Word tells us that He always attempts to bring good out of our suffering (Rom 8:28).

You may also wish to read The Job Experience which is article 20.

6. Why The Back Door Swings

Though feeling a burden for the young, I can't help feeling at times that there is a disproportionate focus on young folk, hence my putting pen to paper, so to speak, in an effort to provide a little food for thought, and in an effort to also provide some balance, given that so many churches have been bending over backwards in order to get young folk back into the church, given that so many have opted out of church.
Young folk aren't the only ones who can struggle spiritually, nor are they the only ones who're spiritually new to the scene, or spiritually wet behind the ears, given that many folk don't find Christ until well advanced in years, or aren't born again until well advanced in years, and hence why their children are often not well grounded in the spiritual and usually very worldly -- like their parents, undoubtedly.
However, in order to get young folk back into the church, or to prevent them from leaving, many churches have lost the plot biblically, compromised terribly, and as a consequence, have become nothing more than entertainment centres and social clubs, with a biblically forbidden holy and unholy mix -- all froth and little substance.
Not only do I believe that churches have got things terribly wrong in this regard, but that they have failed to see what is really causing that drift out the back door.
Thus, I'd like to mention three reasons why I believe young folk, (indeed older folk), are leaving their church:
1) A lack of unconditional love.
2) A lack of security.
3) A lack of inclusiveness.
Ask yourself how many churches, (church members), really radiate Christ-like love? And who isn't quick to spot such? All of us! How many young folk, (indeed anyone), are going to be attracted to a church that doesn't radiate Christ-like love, warmth, care, and acceptance?
How many young folk are going to want to remain where they are not encouraged to take part and be a part? I'm not talking about them taking over the church, as such would hardly be wise. After all, there needs to be very wise and experienced heads piloting each ship, but young folk must play an integral part.
And lastly, why would young folk wish to remain where the church is always shifting the goal posts, questioning or disputing much in God's Word, and where there's no clear boundries, no clear instruction, no church discipline, no clear doctrinal beliefs, but rather, where one is just encouraged to accept Christ as their personal Saviour, and that's about it?
And let's not forget the hypocrisy, scraping, and ladder climbing that goes on. Oh, and that nasty grapevine. Hardly a turn on. Unfortunately, many folk don't have a sound enough walk to rise above such, nor to deal with such, more so if new to the faith, or very young.
Let me put it another way in order to make it clearer what I'm getting at.
What young person feels safe and wants to remain in a family home where there is blatant hypocrisy, constant scraping, selfishness, and where they're not loved unconditionally, where there are no clear boundries, where there's little discipline, no clear direction, no real connection, and no solid or sound foundation?
And therein lies the problem, I believe. Forget the drum-kits, the rock guitars, the drama, the cafe churches, and so on. Not only does this latter lot shift things futher away from the Word, the apostolic model, and blurs the church's witness, but such also has young folk feeling that there's little difference between the world and the church, and as a conseqence, heading back to where the razzle dazzle is even brighter, given that the world knows even better how to entertain. Who wants so-called Christian jazz or rock when they can have the real thing?
Surely all this compromised pandering to the young, (or whoever), shows a lack of faith in the power of the Word, the ability of the Spirit, and declares our spiritual bankruptness. Isn't ancient Israel's foolish behaviour enough of an example for us, with their embracing of worldly (pagan) ways, their holy and unholy mix, their turning away from truth? And what about the Golden Calf? Now there's a classic case of people pleasing for you. How many more examples do we need?
We must also remember that despite the best laid plans, despite doing all the right things, the world, (or sin), will always get the better of most, for such has always been the way. Look at how many entered the ark in Noah's day? Likewise, it always has been, and will be, a minority heading through church doors, and it'll be a minority heading through Heaven's gates come Christ's soon return.  Hence why it's quality we need to focus on, not numbers.
God has never been impressed with the lukewarm brigade, those who're people pleasers, those who have a foot in both camps, nor those who don't like rocking the boat. And errant leaders figure even higher on His wrath list, given their sway and godly duty.
In summary:
If you don't want to see young folk leaving the church:
a) Love them unconditionally.  Make them feel wanted, and that they've much to contribute. Include them. Relate to them. Show you care. Be there!
b) Give them clear boundries -- tell them from Scripture what they should and shouldn't be doing, and loud and clear.
c) Exercise loving discipline in the same way as a parent should wisely rebuke and chastise their child. Remember, it's all about how one goes about it, never about discarding such. Any parent who fails to do so soon loses their child's respect and ensures a rebellious path that brings shame and pain upon all.
d) Don't dismantle nor manipulate God's Word in order to please. God is the God of truth, and His Word makes it clear that His truths are to be upheld at all times. A church without clear doctrines and standards is a rudderless ship, a social club, nothing more than a bunch of happy clappy members on the same wide path as the unsaved.
e) Don't reduce worship to anything that resembles the oposite to what it's all about, nor create a wrongful and confusing mixture. Heaven invites change, not worldly imitation. When we walk through the doors of a church, or enter into worship, the difference between the heavenly and the worldly should shout. And underneath, deep down inside, perhaps something in all of us senses that, knows that, albiet unconsciously. They say that opposites attract, and no where should there be a stronger difference than between that which is heavenly and that which is worldly. That difference between the two, and that God intended so, is clearly conveyed and apparent in the struggle that many have to leave the world behind. We can't have it both ways.

The following two articles (A & B) are well worth pondering on:

A) Compromised Youth Ministries Now Admit Failure.

Sugarcoated, MTV-style youth ministry is over, Time magazine reported. The current trend that is packing teens in pews -- Bible based worship.
Youth ministers have tried to engage teens in the church with a message wrapped in pop-culture packaging to initially attract the young crowd. The approach has successfully drawn a large number of youth to the pews. But it has failed to keep them there.
Research groups have tracked a dropping percentage of young adults still participating in church activities or attending church at all since their teenage years. A Barna survey showed 61 percent of people in the 20-29 age group had participated in church activities as teens but are now disengaged...
The sugarcoated Christianity that was popular in the past few decades was found to be causing growing numbers of kids to turn away from youth-fellowship activities and the christian faith altogether, according to Time...
One surprising finding that Fuller Seminary's Center for Youth and Family Ministry revealed in an ongoing study was that teens attend youth group because they like their youth pastor and to learn about God. Those reasons were listed by the majority of the surveyed students. The Barna Group found the top reasons listed among teens for attending church was to "understand better what I believe."
Students also said they wanted to have more time for deep conversation and also desired more accountability in their youth groups. Games or other activities were not a desired priority.
Time reported churches now focusing on Scripture and less on entertainment are actually growing.
Over the past few decades churches by the thousands have caved in to the pressure of the culture. They compromised their values and capitulated to "what the kids want." What they wanted was entertainment, a good time, fun and games, rock music, no work, no demands and certainly no standards. Now they are forced to "fess up" to their failure. The churches went along, and so did the kids (for a while).
Then when the kids headed to college they had no spiritual foundation to sustain them; so church was abandoned to whatever was next on their list of things to do.
Kids need to get a steady diet of Bible teaching and strong preaching with an emphasis on Scripture, salvation, sanctification, separation, standards, soul winning and the surrendered life!
Churches need to let young people be young people (there is time and room for fun and games too), but they are the followers, not the leaders. Let the seasoned adult leaders lead with a scriptural agenda and let the kids follow their example.
Our churches should have great youth ministries that are solidly based. What folks want and what they need are often two different things. You and I need to step up and lead. If we do, I'm confident the young people will come along.
One thing is certain (now certified by this research): the entertainment, give 'em-what-they-want youth ministries are woefully deficient, tragic failures.

I'm unsure of the source of this first article, and author, but I think it may have originated from Christian Witness Ministries (who were drawing from Time magazine, Christianpost.com, and Sword of the Lord). Penned 2006?

B) Contemporary Christian Music
By Steven John Camp, a contemporary Christian singer

Out of love and zeal for Biblical truth and the desire to bring it to light, I come to you, brethren, burdened and broken over the current state of Christian music. I come--not out of a heart of condemnation, but out of convictions immersed in tears, one in desperate need daily of our Lord's grace to be conformed to His image. I come being aware of the depravity from which I have been saved and that my heart, apart from the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, is desperately wicked and eternally sick.
Early in my own musical journey I wrote songs that neither represented good music nor precise theology. My motives were vitiated; my actions were not godly; and my lips were unclean.
The thirst for prominence and position made my heart prideful, judgmental and callused. But the Lord, out of His infinite grace and otherworldly love, broke me with His chastening hand to bring true repentance in my own life--and it's that life of repentance, which is my greatest desire and my greatest failing. It is out of the crucible of those experiences that I am driven to speak with conviction to these issues.
This document is a call to Reformation--a clarion call to recover Biblical Christianity in the arts.
Music is a powerful tool from the Lord Jesus to His church Intended for worship, praise, encouragement, edification, evangelism, teaching, admonishing, and exhorting God's people to holiness--with always our chief aim “to glorify God and worship Him forever.”
But beloved, the serpentine foe of compromise has invaded the camp through years of specious living, skewed doctrine and, most recently, the secular ownership of Christian music ministries. While I assert this, I recognise that there are godly men and women who love and work for these companies, but that's not the issue here.
The crux of the matter is that the overall nature of our industry has dramatically shifted. The Apostle Paul warned "it takes only a little leaven to leaven the whole lump" (1 Corinthians 5:6). When sin is tolerated it ultimately permeates and corrupts the entire church. What is pure today will inevitably be polluted tomorrow if we do not "purge out the old leaven..."
In the past several years, there has been a not-so-subtle drifting away from Christocentric music to an anthropocentric music. Sadly, this has resulted in various visible manifestations of spiritual sedition--where currently, the CCMI finds itself on a slippery slope sliding away at accelerated speeds from the Saviour, the Scriptures, and the church.
Contemporary Christian Music originally began unashamedly declaring Jesus Christ as Lord. Within a few years His name was replaced by several generic titles filtering out the name of God ultimately to the non-specific cognomen, 'LOVE". This led to a multitude of pseudonyms: 'The Man Upstairs", "My Higher Power", "Our Family Values Expert", ad nauseam, ad infinitum.
This Biblical illiteracy I've coined as 'theological ebonics"--Biblical language diminished to cultural unintelligible chatter affirmed as profound, acceptable spiritual truth. Os Guinness is "spot on" when saying, "We have seen a change from an emphasis on 'serving God", to an emphasis on 'serving the self" in serving God."
The object of faith is no longer Christ, but our self-esteem; the goal of faith is no longer holiness, but our happiness, and the source of faith is no longer the Scriptures, but our experience. Christian music currently reflects this. We are producing a generation of people that "feel" their God, but do not know their God. We have been given a solemn and sacred duty to communicate through music the fathomless riches of God's eternal Word. The Word of God is the most holy thing we will ever hold in our hands in this lifetime. As Dr John MacArthur says,
"This book contains: the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners, and the happiness of believers. Read it to be wise, believe it to be saved and practice it to be holy..."
Lamentably, the music of heaven has been sold to the world--to the ones who had the deepest pockets and made the sweetest promises. In a very real sense, "Simon the Sorcerer" has succeeded in purchasing the work of God from "the apostles" of our industry. (Acts 8:14-25).
What has been the result of this partnering with the world? Gospel music today has become music for the moment, but not for eternity. Transitory, temporal, trivial messages that devalue Deity and raise "felt need" affairs above eternal "real need" concerns produce disposable, consumer driven, cotton-candy music. This is playing marbles with diamonds.
We are unequally yoked with an unbelieving world. Sin goes undisciplined--is even tolerated for some artists because of their visibility and sales power --and the truth and authority of Scripture is all but abrogated. Biblical illiteracy is pandemic. Accountability to the local church has all but been abandoned. Moral pluralism and erroneous forms of ecumenism are the dyslexic doctrines of today. A politically correct, reductionist gospel that appeals only to the flesh, and a syncretistic methodology in communication through the arts, have sought to replace the true "Gospel According To Jesus" evidenced in the fruit of an obedient life fully surrendered to the Holy Spirit and His truth.
Could it be that the love of money is at the root of it all? Or could it be that ignorance has revealed the unschooled in matters of faith and doctrine? Unquestionably both. For many, money has been and continues to be the prerequisite for 'ministry" and Biblical truth is no longer vital but vicarious! Departure from the Word of God is now clearly evidenced in our music, lyrics, business practices and Alliances. Beloved, if we do not repent of our sins, God's judgment will surely be upon us.
When Martin Luther stood at Wittenberg's Door in 1517 he called for reformation from the recalcitrant Roman Church. Now it is our turn, almost five centuries later, to sound the alarm in our generation. This time, to call the Christian Music Industry to reformation--back to the supremacy, sufficiency and Lordship of Jesus Christ.
Genuine revival--a fresh return to obedience in Christ--is surely needed today, but that would be almost impossible given the current environment of our industry. Why? True revival is marked by repentance; true repentance brings restitution, true restitution demands that Christian music be owned and operated only by believers whose aim is the glory of God consistent with Biblical truth. This  means that the current CCMI labels must return all the money they have received to their respective secular counterparts that purchased them and divorce alliances with them.
The CCMI has gone too far down the wide road of worldliness and there is not the tenacity of character and the Biblical courage of heart and mind to do the right thing no matter what the cost.
These are serious times, brethren, that call for real answers. This is not a time for duplicitous people, proclaiming a diluted message, from disingenuous ministries. It is a time for those whose lives are tempered with the steel of righteousness, girded with the belt of truth, standing firm in the gospel of peace, raising high their shield of faith, guarded with the helmet of salvation, to wield the sword of the Spirit with a surgeon's exactitude, "praying always with all prayer and supplication, with all perseverance for all the saints in the Spirit." (Ephesians 6-10-20).
Will we champion again the manifesto of the Reformers: Sola Fide (by faith alone); Sola Gratia (by grace alan"!); Sola Scriptura (on the Word alone), Salus Christus (because of Christ alone), and Soli Deo Gloria (to the glory of God alone)? Do we have the conviction of heart and courage of mind to do what's just? Do we have the boldness to shout above the roar of the marketplace that the Emperor has no clothes? Will we leave our careers, our contracts, our carefully cultivated plans and press releases, our unequally yoked record companies to serve the Lord again with all our heart, soul, mind and strength? There is no grey in this--it's a matter of obedience.
Oh brethren, "we have a name to be alive, but we are dead". (Revelation 3:1). There is no greater love song to proclaim than the once-for-all sacrifice of Jesus Christ our Lord at Calvary, but yet others feel content to sing about the chaff of this world. What the New Testament church wrestled with the least is what our industry craves the most--money! How dare we think we can play politics with God, with His truth, and with His church! We can't negotiate with sin no matter what kind of capital is at stake--and that really is the issue here.
Let us "press on, that [we] may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of [us]" (Philippians 3:12).
Let us "lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us" (Hebrew 12:1).
Let us fall on our faces before our Holy Lord, repent of our sin and return to our First Love. With lives bathed in

His grace, let us provoke one another to love and good works. With undivided hearts may we leave the prodigal's pigpen and come back to the Father's house. Let us commit ourselves to prayer and fasting, seeking the Lord's will with a broken, contrite, and obedient heart. Let us return to our churches, and to the faithful pastors/elders that shepherd us--submitting ourselves to their godly leadership.
May we be students of His Word, filled daily with His Spirit. Let us come away from an industry that has all but abandoned Christ and forqe, by God's grace, what it was always meant to be ... a ministry -- doing His work, His way, according to His Word, by His Holy Spirit
Pray on this. Pounding on "Wittenberg's Door", let us come together to make history--to make Contemporary Christian Music Christian again.

Once again, I'm unsure of the exact source of this second article, (a letter), which I understand was penned in 1997.

7. Similarities And Parallels

Fathers: A reflection on the earthly and divine.

A father lovingly attends to and caters for his family’s needs, is always there for them, provides protection, and his love for his family should be such that he would even be prepared to die for his family.

Christ lovingly attends to and caters for our needs, provides us with the Holy Spirit’s presence, dispatches angels to assist and protect, and He also came and died on our behalf that we might be saved.

A father is responsible for setting boundaries, laying down requirements, and is responsible for the overall smooth running of the home, both generally and spiritually. Such boundaries and requirements show his loving concern for his family, their safety, and their general and eternal well-being. Such boundaries and requirements (when upheld) also prevent shame coming upon the family and siblings being influenced wrongly.

Christ also sets boundaries, provides us with a book (the Bible) and a Law (the Ten Commandments) that show His requirements, and He also presides over God-fearing homes and the Church as its Head. Such boundaries and requirements show Christ’s loving concern for His children, their safety, and their general and eternal well-being. Such boundaries and requirements (when upheld) also prevent His children from bearing a false witness as His ambassadors and becoming stumbling blocks.

A father instructs his children, imparts wisdom, shows his children where they’re erring, warns, and attempts to spare them from paths of harm.

Christ via His Word also instructs, imparts wisdom, corrects, warns, and attempts to spare His children from paths of harm.

A father exercises grace, and he also acts somewhat like a lawyer in his home in the sense that he officiates in family or sibling disputes and mediates on behalf of any member who’s in need or in trouble.

Christ displays His grace in various ways, acts providentially in our best interests, and He also acts like a lawyer as He mediates on our behalf before the Father in order to save us from the penalty of sin.

A father acts somewhat like a judge in his home in the sense that he ultimately must pronounce and administer any punishment that rebelliousness necessitates. Such is doubly needful given that such rebelliousness also threatens the stability of the home.

The Scriptures tell us that Christ will one day judge mankind and dispense Divine justice upon those who’ve usurped His authority, rejected Him, ignored His will, and led others astray. Such sinners as these would threaten the stability of Heaven and the earth made new.

A father reveals masculine traits and behaviour that are necessary for the healthy emotional growth of his sons, for the honour of his wife and daughters, and for dealing with those duties that are unsuitable for females (and that would detract from their femininity).

The Bible is full of the masculine/male imagery of God the Father and Christ the Son continued via the apostolic appointment of men as elders/pastors, and the man’s headship role within marriage and the home, as laid down in Scripture. Christ was clearly concerned for the welfare of women, and Scripture admonishes husbands to show due care for their wives.

A man leaves his parents and cleaves to his wife displaying the initiative that’s part of the husband’s role as head, protector, provider, and selfless lover.

Christ left His Father and became the Bridegroom of the Church — the bride — whom He watches over (heads), protects, provides for, and unselfishly loves.

8. Truth — God's Word

We often hear Christians talking about truth – God’s truth, or truths. That little ‘s’ that is often found on the end of truth is not insignificant. You see, there may be one gospel in the sense of God’s gift of grace – in other words, salvation – but there are many biblical truths. How do we know what these truths are? Well, such can only be discovered via the diligent study of God’s Word, aided via the Holy Spirit (that guides one to truth, John 16:13; 1 John 5:6), and a receptive heart and mind.

Dare it be that we spend more time or intensity perusing consumer magazines than we do the Scriptures. Aren’t eternal realities worth greater effort than that which we put into choosing a house, a job, or an appliance?

Now, I’m not going to discuss the subject regarding the ordaining of women as elders or pastors (for example) but if we haven’t studied such a subject deeply how can we know whether it actually is okay to ordain women as elders or pastors? We could end up following humanistic reasoning rather than God’s will.

As Christians we not only have a duty to uphold God’s truths (1 Peter 1:22) but also a responsibility to make sure we get them right. Such we should never take casually (Titus 2:1; 2 Tim 2:15; 1:13; Prov 12:17; Rom 1:18; 2 Peter 3:16). We’re even told that the Church is the pillar and ground of truth (1 Tim 3:15).

How can we instruct others regarding God’s truths if we don’t have them correct ourselves (Heb 5:11-14; Eph 4:14; 2 Peter 3:16; 2 Tim 3:7)?  In fact, we’re admonished to search the Scriptures diligently in order to see that we’re not misled (Acts 17:11; 1 Thess 5:21; Eph 4:14), and in order to not mislead others. Imagine preaching a false message!

In Galatians 1:9 we see a rebuke being levelled at any whose teachings are at variance with God’s Word. Clearly we’re not to trifle with God’s Word (Prov 19:5). In fact, getting God’s Word right is a prerequisite for leadership (Titus 1:9). After all, a leader’s sphere of influence is far greater. Sometimes leaders are too afraid to take a stand and yield to the whims of their parishioners. Instead of leading they’re effectively led, bringing about not only their own eternal loss but perhaps that of their parishioners as well. Leaders are to preach what God wants heard, not what some prefer to hear (2 Tim 2:15; 1:13; Titus 1:9; 2:1).

We shouldn’t refrain from warning folk about God’s impending judgment (for example) just because some parents have wrongly used such to scare their children into His kingdom? And if God’s Word says not to ordain women as elders or pastors, shouldn’t we still be preaching such even if many women have been downtrodden by domineering men (Gal 1:10; 2 Tim 4:2)? If we don’t continue to preach such we’ll simply be pleasing people rather than God --  something that the Scriptures strongly condemn (Gal 1:10).

Do we bend over backwards to avoid doctrinal discussions with those who hold a differing view? Are we too nervous, concerned about our own discomfort, backlash (Mark 8:38)? The biblical challenge is not to avoid truth that is controversial but to speak the truth in love (Eph 4:15). We’re called to be bold for Christ. In fact, we have a moral imperative to expose and condemn false teaching and practice (Rom 16:17,18; Matt 24:24; 1 John 4:1; 1 Tim 4:1; Isa 62:6, KJV; Ezek 3:17-19). God’s Word says blessed are the peacemakers, not the peacekeepers.

Surely we wouldn’t dream of leading our loved ones astray -- our children. Well, God feels the same way about His children and that’s why us getting His Word correct is so important to Him. God is a God of truth remember (Deut 32:4; John 14:6; Isa 65:16; Ps 31:5).

As the representatives of God’s oracles, as once were the Jews, we will lose our credibility in our doctrinal witness if we get things wrong, and throw doubt on God’s Word. When we do not have the correct understanding of Scripture we can put ourselves and others at risk. Imagine getting to heaven and discovering that we had been distorting God’s truths, teaching falsehood instead, and to add insult to injury, accusing those who were right of being wrong. Wow!

I guess you’ve heard the argument, “Let’s forget our doctrinal differences in the interests of Christian love”? Well, that’s not how God sees it, believe me. Though the Scriptures command us to love they also command us to abide by the truth. Yes, the Scriptures constantly bind love and truth together (1 Peter 1:22; 1 John 2:5; 3 John 3:4; John 17:7). Truth is tremendously important to God. Exchanging truth for the sake of some sort of unity is certainly not biblical. Nor is the, “God says, but I think,” mentality (Prov 3:5, KJV; 2 Tim 4:3,4). A passion for truth should activate every Christian (2 Thess 2:10). After all, we’re the representatives of the God of truth, and it’s His truth that sets us free (John 8:32).

Yes, the neglect and disregard of Scripture is one of the greatest insults that we can give to its divine author.
God is very particular about people getting His Word right. Through His Word He clearly —

A) Condemns all who deliberately misinterpret or cover up His Word (Rom 1:18; Gal 1:8,9).
B) Warns Christians not to get His Word wrong through carelessness, lack of study or through being biased (2 Peter 3:16; Hosea 4:6; Heb 5:11-14) .
C) Warns about being unwilling to receive things He’s trying to say through His Word (2 Thess 2:12, KJV), or through someone else for that matter.
D) Warns about being led astray by wrong doctrine (Eph 4:14; 1 Tim 4:1; 2 Thess 2:9-11) and those who teach it (Matt 24:23,24; 5:19; 7:22,23; Isa 5:20, this text only KJV; Col 2:8; 2 Cor 11:14,15; Rev 16:13,14; 1 John 4:1; Jer 23:1).

Satan, right from the beginning (John 8:44; Eph 6:10-12), has tried to misrepresent Christ and His Word, and is still actively doing that today. He achieves this in different ways. For example —

A) Through people who wrongly mix humanistic thinking [man’s word] with Scripture, confusing God’s messages (Col 2:8; Matt 15:3,9; Prov 14:12; 30:5,6; 1 Tim 6:20; Mark 7:9).
B) Through people who pick holes [faults] in the Bible thus creating doubt about God’s Word (1 Cor 2:10,13; 1 Thess 2:13; Prov 30:5,6; Isa 40:8; 2 Tim 4:3,4).
C) Through people who are careless with God’s Word, or who don’t study it properly, thus only getting half the story right (2 Tim 3:7; 2 Peter 3:16; Heb 5:11-14).
D) Through people who will accept what someone else says rather than checking it out thoroughly to see if it is right (Acts 17:11; Eph 4:14; Heb 5:11-14).
E) Through people who wrongly think that it doesn’t matter if you don’t know God’s Word that well, or correctly, just so long as you believe in Him and accept Him. However, God has made it very clear in His Word, that knowing His Word well, and correctly, is of the utmost importance (Acts 17:11; 1 Thess 5:21; 1 John 4:1; Isa 8:20, this text only KJV). This is why God will not and can not accept people putting doctrine aside for the sake of some sort of unity among different believers (Gal 1:10).

Remember:

A) God’s Word gives us information that can save us from eternal death. 
B) God’s Word gives us information that can help us to be happier, healthier and wiser.
C) God’s Word gives us information that helps us to come to know Him better.
D) God’s Word gives us information that helps us to know what He requires of us.
E) God’s Word gives us information that provides us with hope for the future.
F) God’s Word gives us information that provides us with the answers to life itself.
G) God’s Word gives us information that we can use to help others come to know Him, and His will, so that they too can be saved and live happier, healthier and wiser.

Food for thought:

Has Satan been denigrating the holiness of God’s Word, the Bible, by encouraging folk to treat it like a common book. Surely the physical Bible itself should always be treated and presented in a way that never detracts from its dignity, the importance of its contents, the solemnity of its message, or in a way that trivializes it and lessens respect for it. Is not this occurring by dressing it up in jazzy secular book fashion, bright, gourde colors, putting out paper back editions, filling it with cartoon pictures, cheap illustrations, and common modern banter, all in a misguided and erroneous attempt to make it cool or so called relevant [another form of compromise?] to the younger generation, as if God’s word is not relevant enough as it is. Isn’t such behavior showing a lack of faith in the Holy Spirit?

Do we always place our Bibles on top of other books, showing how we esteem it, and thus God, or is it often found covered, or even tatty through misuse, like something someone doesn’t really value?

11. Questions For The Christian

(In no particular order)

What activates your humour? Could it be racism, sexism, misfortune, cruelty, discrimination, weirdness, crudity?

What affects your choice of clothing, car, house, décor, etc? Could it be pride, vanity, ego, the “Jones” mentality?

Does the way you treat your spouse, family, friends, workmates, neighbours, relations, and even strangers, reflect and please God? Are you quick to apologise, reconcile, make good? Do you keep your promises, stick to your word, and display loyalty?

Do you look after your possessions, thus showing gratitude to God for what you have? Do you take pride in your surroundings, reflecting order, cleanliness, thought, and care?

Do you prolong the life of all that you own, thus refraining as much as possible from contributing to the stockpile of rubbish contaminating our planet and the extra pollution that is caused by producing more?

Do you recycle? Do you pass on to others (who’re less fortunate) what you no longer need, or do you sell it unnecessarily to increase your already ample supply of needs? Do you use contaminants carefully with the environment in mind, and do you avoid using contaminants wherever possible?

Does what you read, watch, attend, and listen to, reflect discernment, and a strong spiritual accent and goal?

Does the way you think, speak, and act, truly reflect God? Who else might it be reflecting? Does the way you dress reflect God, or place a stumbling block in the way of another, either via temptation (sexual) or wrongful influence? Does it vainly say, “Admire me?”

How do you respond to those of a different faith? When they want to share their beliefs with you, do you display indifference, reticence, impatience, a bias, prejudice? Are you tolerant and respectful towards other faiths and those who disagree with you? Do you give what they say fair consideration?

Does the way you treat your body show gratitude to God (the Creator) and thought for your spouse and family? Do you harm your body via wrong substances, thrash it, deprive it, overindulge, put yourself at risk?

How ethically do you run your business? Do you inflate prices, do dodgy deals, indulge in tax evasion, cross acceptable advertising standards for the Christian, put profit before staff (inadequate wages), become too absorbed with it to the detriment of family, friends, and God Himself?

Do you covet more than an already adequate wage, house, car, etc? Do you secretly covet a prestigious church office, religious position, even secular one?

How much time, effort, money, and support do you give to others’ needs? How does it compare with what you’re doing for yourself? Do you grumble about how often humanitarian agencies request money, yet, happily purchase your 29 inch television, mag wheels for your car, designer clothing, spa pool, invest in the share market, regularly trip overseas, etc?

How much of your time does God get? As much time as you give to your own pursuits and pleasures? How much time is spent in deeply studying His Word, being about His business?

Do you misuse God’s name by uttering it carelessly? Do you bring dishonour to His name via hypocrisy?

Do you shoot God’s creatures for sport? Do you justify doing so when alternative and adequate food is available?

Do you patronise certain unnecessary events that waste dwindling and needed resources, pollute the environment, and that use money desperately needed to alleviate suffering and death? Motorcar racing, fireworks displays, etc?

How much of your money supports the spread of the Gospel to a dying world? Only what you feel you must give? How much is spent on your own comforts and desires in comparison? What’s the state of repair of God’s house in comparison to yours?

How much importance do you give to attending church, and how much time do you spend there? Does the way you dress for church display how much importance you attach to the One you’ve come to worship, meet with? Do you begrudge giving Him one day of worship (total presence), even though He has generously given you six days for yourself? Have you chosen to worship where the focus is on God-centred adoration or where the focus is on self-centred gratification?

If someone tells you that they can’t meet their needs, do you reach into your pocket, or do you tell them you’ll remember them in prayer and look for justification for not parting with your money? Do you say that you’re struggling financially too, when what you’re talking about is maintaining your desired standard of living as opposed to their difficult or struggling existence?

Do you tell so-called little white lies, trick (deceive) others for a laugh, gossip behind someone’s back?

Have you happily accepted God’s grace, yet, are somewhat indifferent or antagonistic to His will for you? Are you careless regarding the standard He has set for Christian conduct (the Ten Commandments, by which He judges us)? We are His ambassadors, don’t forget.

Are you stealing by doing your own things in your employer’s time; by not putting money in the parking meter when you use it; and by not giving your spouse or family the time or support that they are due?

How do you react to those who offer you constructive criticism, disagree with you, or who have a problem with you?

Would you, via legislation, seek to encroach upon another’s freedom of expression, civil/religious liberty?

12. God, War, And Violence

Am unaware of who the author or authors are.

Some refrain from becoming Christians because they cannot accept the idea of an Old Testament God who orders killing and extermination. However, the Old Testament is often misread and misunderstood. In assessing the Old Testament God, we should look again at the picture the Old Testament provides. The first violent act recorded in the Bible is Cain’s murder of his brother (Gen 4:1-8). However, before his destructive act, God spoke with Cain, trying to bring him to his senses (Gen 4:6,7). Without success. The Creator disapproved of Cain’s action and made clear to him that he would have to bear its consequences (Gen 4:10-12). God took a risk in modeling us in His image and giving us freedom to act and decide (Gen 1:26,27). But, of course, we must face the consequences of our actions (Gen 3:17-24). The Bible records only a few occasions where God decided to interfere with humanity’s violent behaviour. One occasion was during the time of Noah, when violence was so great on the earth that it threatened the existence of life.
God intervened and wiped out an entire generation with the flood. The situation was bad. Whereas God had created everything “good,” (Gen 1:31) people were doing exactly the opposite of what they had been designed to do (Gen 6:5,6). The Bible writer records that instead of continuing the process of creation in a positive way, people were thinking and doing evil constantly. The earth was full of violence (Gen 6:13). And this threatened the existence of the human race, the animals, and all of nature. Life is precious to the Creator. There was only one option for Him—to act as a surgeon in cutting away. Thus, God saved humanity and the animal world.
On another occasion God destroyed the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen 19). Once again, human evil had reached its peak (Gen 18:28; 19:6,7,9,13). And the evil of these cities threatened the people surrounding them. But God did not act in a blind, choleric way. The recorded dialogue between God and Abraham, who lived near the cities, reveals that God had thoroughly and responsibly investigated the case (Gen 18:16-33). And He saved all He could from destruction. As with the people in Noah’s time, the residents of these cities would have destroyed themselves in time. But at least God was able to intervene first and save the destruction of others.
To a great degree, people’s fate lies in their own hands. This is demonstrated in the case of Nineveh, the capital of Assyria. If any people deserved to be wiped out in the ancient Near East, it was the Assyrians (Jonah 1:2). It was the most violent nation of the time. It had strongly established its reputation by committing atrocities on its numerous defeated enemies. However, God cancelled His verdict of extermination on the city because it genuinely reversed its conduct.
Nineveh stopped its violence. And the Ruler of the universe responded. Nineveh was not annihilated (Jonah 3:7-10). This incident demonstrates God’s character. The Old Testament God only carried out a definite sentence when there was no sign of reversal, and when the existence of others and their environment was at stake.
But what about God ordering the Israelite wars? How can all that killing be justified? In trying to answer these questions, each situation needs to be looked at to avoid generalization and exaggeration. From the time God liberated Israel from slavery in Egypt, He wanted it to become a model nation (Ex 19:5,6). Obviously, if He was going to give the Hebrews independence, He would also have to give them a home and country. In the setting of the ancient Near East, where warfare was the order of the day, it was impossible for God to require Israel to be pacifist. The struggle for survival was conducted with a spade in one hand and a weapon in the other. God assigned to Israel an area populated by the Amorites. The Bible records that these people had a contempt for human life—as reflected in their human sacrifices (Deut 9:4; 12:29-31; Gen 15:16). It would have been impossible for Israel to co-exist with them. Israel learned that the inevitable result of wickedness is death. And Israel had to learn to perform like a student surgeon, by cutting out evil where it had proved irreversible.
It was not easy to educate Israel as a model people. It was composted of slaves, adventurers, Egyptians and other nationalities (Ex 12:38; Num 11:4). This complex group of people operated at low levels of ethics, hygiene and human relationships. God’s plan to make them a model nation, a “holy” people,” a “royal priesthood,” was ambitious. God gave Israel commandments and prescriptions—not to enslave them again, but to lift them to a higher level of human existence. They included laws to regulate warfare. And against the background of the ancient Near East, they stand out as humane and idealistic. For example, when going to war, those who had marriage plans, or who had just bought a house or a field and had not yet enjoyed the benefits of it, were allowed to remain home. Further, all who feared to face the enemy were also allowed to remain home (Deut 20:1-9). Who today would dare to run an army on those terms? Yet the God of Israel did. And it shows how deeply He appreciates human life. Only those who were committed and had already benefited from the joy and value of life were invited to risk their lives.
But even more startling, these Mosaic warfare laws required a liberal and humane attitude toward the enemy (Deut 20:10-15). For example, when marching to war, the Israelites had to offer peace to the enemy, with the guarantee of no bloodshed. If the offer was refused, only males were to be killed in battle. Women and children, who represented the future of their people, had to be kept alive. At all cost, life had to be safeguarded. Soldiers were even forbidden to cut the enemy’s fruit trees (Deut 20:19,20). Later generations had to be able to eat and live.
Israelite men also had to show respect to female captives. Raping or any violent treatment was forbidden. If an Israelite was attracted by a conquered woman, he had to allow her a month to mourn before marrying her. She then had to be treated as his wife with full Israelite rights (Deut 21:10-14).
A God who orders such war ethics in a period when hardly any existed cannot be called a God of violence. Of course, not all Israelites applied the rules strictly. Even King David was at times cruel (2 Sam 8:2,4). But the Old Testament pronounces its verdict on him. God refused to let him build the temple—the thing he most desired to do—because he had shed too much blood (1 Chron 22:7,8).
Finally, there is an extra dimension in the Old Testament history that should not be overlooked. On several occasions, military conflicts were solved by a conscious choice of non-violence. For example, the Israelite prophet Elijah confronted the Arameans who were attacking Israel. The Bible records that he was given power to temporarily blind them. He then brought them to Samaria, the capital, and handed them over to the Israelite king. The king asked Elijah if he should annihilate them. But Elijah prohibited him from doing them any harm, and instead ordered the king to offer them a meal. This action would have done Gandhi or Martin Luther King proud. And it must have impressed the Arameans. They did not raid Israel again (2 Kings 6:15-23). In such instances, when conflict was solved non-violently, God was showing to His people that He does not like bloodshed.
The prophet Isaiah expresses God’s ideal well. He pictures the world to come where nations will express their desire to be with God and to be taught by Him (Isa 2:4-6). In his vision, Isaiah sees these people beating their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning hooks. Thus, God considers life to be sacred and valuable. In Old Testament times He allowed violence only when there was no other solution, and when the life of others was at risk. God hoped to lift Israel to a higher, more humane level of morality, and to thereby influence the other nations.

13. The Church Is A Charter Boat

By Skip Johnson — SkipJohnson777@gmail.com

21. Circumcision

According to the Word of God, circumcision has much value:

“Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision? Much in every way…” (Rom 3:1,2, ESV).

The apostles only spoke against circumcision in the context of one's salvation. Thus, circumcision was hardly given as a sign only. Our creative all-knowing God deserves far more credit than that.

Facts:
Circumcision decreases penile cancer.
Circumcision decreases cervical cancer.
Circumcision decreases urinary tract infections.
Circumcision facilitates better hygiene.

Circumcision existed before the Jews and their ceremonial law:

“ ‘Moses gave you circumcision (not that it is from Moses, but from the fathers [patriarchs])…’ ” (John 7:22, ESV).

Interestingly, when God commanded that Abraham be circumcised, and all his offspring, He intended it be forever:

“ ‘...So shall My covenant be in your flesh an everlasting covenant’ ” (Gen 17:13, ESV).

Yes, it was actually God himself who instituted circumcision:

“ ‘This is My [God] covenant, which you shall keep, between Me and you [Abraham] and your offspring after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised. You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and you’ ” (Gen 17:10,11, ESV).

A male child should be circumcised on the eight day:

“ ‘Throughout your generations every male among you shall be circumcised when he is eight days old…’ ” (Gen 17:12).

In a new born baby, ‘prothrombin’ shoots up on the eighth day to a level that is above normal, then it levels off. The eight-day-old-baby therefore has more prothrombin at that time than on any other day in its life. Prothrombin is a key element in the complex process of coagulation of the blood. It prevents excessive bleeding. Hence why circumcision should not be carried out immediately after birth, but only on the eighth day, thereby preventing the complications that occur [like excessive bleeding] that arouse the negative reactions to circumcision. To offset the excessive bleeding that can occur when a baby is circumcised immediately after delivery, doctors administer an injection of vitamin K. Vitamin K plays an important role in the production of prothrombin.
Source of above paragraph:  Institute In Basic Life Principles

Sometimes one has to be cruel to be kind, so to speak.

 A question to ponder:

Was circumcision man’s naturally created state in the garden of Eden, and did the non-circumcised state come about as the result of the fall?
Or
Was man’s naturally created state in the garden of Eden one of non-circumcision, but circumcision later implemented as a necessary step due to the fall and its complicating factors?