July 22, 1997
Mandy shut her eyes and shouted, “There, you’re gone. I made you disappear.”
Her pesky brother laughed back, “You wish!”
Major segments of the population wouldn’t last long if shutting our eyes could make them go away. Neither would any other offensive realities. Nevertheless, recently elected members of the Michigan Board of Education have decided to try it anyway.
They voted five to three against certain portions of their mission statement. The unwanted and offensive parts “thanked God for the blessings of freedom,” and said “children are created by God” and “religion is necessary for good government.” Those statements are supposedly “a violation of laws concerning separation of church and state.”
Is that really the intent of that mission statement and those laws? By its nature, the church (at least as described in the Bible) is a group of people under the sovereign rule of Jesus Christ. It cannot be ruled by anyone else and still be the church. However, in the days of the Roman Empire, the emperors were declared head of the church regardless of their spiritual qualifications. They ruled as they pleased. This often resulted in not only bad government but in serious spiritual deterioration in the church. More recently, Christians have welcomed laws that protect the church’s unique submission to Christ from being undermined by ungodly political entities.
At the same time, the Bible teaches that we are to “submit to the governing authorities” unless they demand we disobey God. In a normal sense, “they are God’s servants to do us good” (Romans 13). The idea is that political leaders should also submit themselves to God so their rule is wise and just. God had no intention that leaders abandon a genuine, biblical religion.
Even though political abuse of God’s principles once motivated laws to protect the church from political domination, now the church is considered a threat to political entities. In an odd turnabout, leaders are using these same laws to keep God and God-fearing people from having a voice in the way they govern. This has gone so far as to strike mention of God and religion from anything remotely connected to government activities and documents. It is as if they think that by putting both out of sight, God and religion will simply disappear.
Apart from using separation of church and state to keep God from political and legal arenas, many individuals also try to shut their eyes to God. While they may want a God who is there when they need Him, as in tornadoes, hurricanes and earthquakes, they push Him out of day-to-day decision making. Unless disaster strikes, both individuals and governing bodies would rather try and make Him disappear than admit any need for help from Him.
The psalmist observed a similar foolishness in his day. He asks, “Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against His Anointed One. ‘Let us break their chains,’ they say...”
He goes on, “The One enthroned in heaven laughs. . . I have installed my King on Zion...”
God has firmly established Christ as Sovereign King over all. Shutting our eyes or pretending He does not exist will not make Him vanish. According to God, He is Lord, whether we say so or not.
As for religion, people who “thank God for the blessings of freedom” should appreciate and safeguard that freedom. People who know they are “children created by God” should respect themselves and others. People who feel that “religion is necessary for good government” should bring godly wisdom and fairness into their political activities.
Shutting out God will not make Him go away but what will happen if closing our eyes to Him instead shuts out freedom, respect, and justice?
Showing posts with label God's power. Show all posts
Showing posts with label God's power. Show all posts
Friday, March 17, 2017
Wednesday, December 16, 2015
The Power of Repentance ............. Parables 366
April 20, 1993
Imprisoned television evangelist Jim Bakker is now saying, “I have been convicted twice...”
A small news item reports Bakker is asking former supporters to forgive him. He claims that a study of the words of Jesus has deeply convicted him of his guilt in teaching false doctrine. He admits that he once believed having money was a sign of God’s favor on a person’s life. He now says, “if that is true, then crooks, pimps and drug lords are blessed of God — and that cannot be.”
Bakker’s downfall produced far larger headlines than did this story. Perhaps that’s because his reputation seems forever scarred by deceit. Few editors want to publicize what seems like another false claim by an exposed has-been.
But what if the change is real? Could it be that the Bible has the power to transform lives, just as God claims?
This lack of publicity concerning Bakker’s confession could indicate society is more interested in bad news than good news. Certainly the sordid stories of Bakker’s sins, complete with photographs, gained attention. However, isn’t it newsworthy that reading the Bible can turn people from lies to honesty? from sin to godliness? This is good news and good news should attract attention too.
Yet some people don’t want to hear about the power of God to make bad people good. It is acceptable to fantasize or talk about a world of wonderfully good people, but in reality, does anyone care to know if God can make us that way?
Notice the Bible knows what we are like. It says, “There is none righteous, no, not one. There is none that understands, there is none that seeks after God. They are all gone out of the way, they have all become unprofitable; there is none that does good, no, not one” (Romans 3).
According to God, no one is interested in being holy. He says that whenever we try to be godly, our efforts are a mere “form of godliness” lacking divine power. Even though some “religious” people pretend to be holy and some “good” people try hard, He says none of it holds a patch on the true holiness He wants and will even give to us.
Some might wonder why God would bother giving anything to a religious traitor who preached a false gospel of prosperity and kept wanting more, bigger, and better (to prove God favored him?). When this man became blinded by his lies, tripped over his own error and fell into disgraceful immorality, onlookers even mocked the Christian faith he claimed to have. For months after his trial and conviction, he still insisted he was not in the wrong. Why wouldn’t God simply let a hopeless case like him fade out of the picture?
First and contrary to the way we tend to think, God is interested in hopeless cases. Jesus said He came to call sinners to repentance. Working a change in the likes of a convicted hypocrite is just what He loves to do.
Second, if Bakker really does know God, then God is committed to change him. The Lord does not accept sinners because they are already righteous but because He plans to transform their lives and make them into godly people. He does it all the time. But this good news seldom makes headlines.
Imprisoned television evangelist Jim Bakker is now saying, “I have been convicted twice...”
A small news item reports Bakker is asking former supporters to forgive him. He claims that a study of the words of Jesus has deeply convicted him of his guilt in teaching false doctrine. He admits that he once believed having money was a sign of God’s favor on a person’s life. He now says, “if that is true, then crooks, pimps and drug lords are blessed of God — and that cannot be.”
Bakker’s downfall produced far larger headlines than did this story. Perhaps that’s because his reputation seems forever scarred by deceit. Few editors want to publicize what seems like another false claim by an exposed has-been.
But what if the change is real? Could it be that the Bible has the power to transform lives, just as God claims?
This lack of publicity concerning Bakker’s confession could indicate society is more interested in bad news than good news. Certainly the sordid stories of Bakker’s sins, complete with photographs, gained attention. However, isn’t it newsworthy that reading the Bible can turn people from lies to honesty? from sin to godliness? This is good news and good news should attract attention too.
Yet some people don’t want to hear about the power of God to make bad people good. It is acceptable to fantasize or talk about a world of wonderfully good people, but in reality, does anyone care to know if God can make us that way?
Notice the Bible knows what we are like. It says, “There is none righteous, no, not one. There is none that understands, there is none that seeks after God. They are all gone out of the way, they have all become unprofitable; there is none that does good, no, not one” (Romans 3).
According to God, no one is interested in being holy. He says that whenever we try to be godly, our efforts are a mere “form of godliness” lacking divine power. Even though some “religious” people pretend to be holy and some “good” people try hard, He says none of it holds a patch on the true holiness He wants and will even give to us.
Some might wonder why God would bother giving anything to a religious traitor who preached a false gospel of prosperity and kept wanting more, bigger, and better (to prove God favored him?). When this man became blinded by his lies, tripped over his own error and fell into disgraceful immorality, onlookers even mocked the Christian faith he claimed to have. For months after his trial and conviction, he still insisted he was not in the wrong. Why wouldn’t God simply let a hopeless case like him fade out of the picture?
First and contrary to the way we tend to think, God is interested in hopeless cases. Jesus said He came to call sinners to repentance. Working a change in the likes of a convicted hypocrite is just what He loves to do.
Second, if Bakker really does know God, then God is committed to change him. The Lord does not accept sinners because they are already righteous but because He plans to transform their lives and make them into godly people. He does it all the time. But this good news seldom makes headlines.
Wednesday, October 7, 2015
The Reasons for Praise ................ Parables 336
September 22, 1992
People who easily praise other people or who easily praise God sometimes make me feel uncomfortable. Are they real? Or am I to proud to give anyone else any glory for what they do, God or human beings?
I notice how much easier it is to be picky and critical. I can easily complain and wish other people (and God) did things more to my liking, even while hiding behind a pious self-evaluation that my “standards are higher” and everyone else is sloughing off. (Dare I admit that I might think that of God?) Why should praise be so important anyway?
After being hard on myself (another way to focus on me instead of God), I checked out some biblical reasons why God should be praised. They fall into three categories: His character is worthy of praise; His deeds are worthy of praise; and praise itself is good for the person who offers it.
The psalmist says: “Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, My lips shall praise You” (Psalms 63:3). Lovingkindness is only one attribute of God. His holiness, power, creativity, goodness, faithfulness, righteousness, sovereignty, wisdom, and mercy are more reasons we should praise Him.
The psalmist also says: “I will praise You, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will tell of all Your marvelous works” (Psalms 9:1). God has created all things. He has met the needs of those who seek Him, cared for the humble of heart and protected His people. He has performed miracles, disclosed Himself through His written Word and through the incarnation of His Son. He keeps His promises and is faithful even when we are not. These are more reasons for praise.
Praise is sometimes difficult to offer because we don’t feel like it and circumstances don’t seem to warrant it. In these cases, the Bible rightly calls praise a “sacrifice.” Yet even in the sacrifice, praise benefits us. The Bible says praise brings a sense of His presence and beautifies those who offer it. (The fact that God asks us to do something that will bring Him honor yet uses that obedience to our profit is another reason to praise Him!) God encourages praise because it is so right. Think of it, what could God allow praise for other than Himself? That would be suggesting He could deny His own character and even the fact that He alone is worthy of praise. His nature and deeds are far above anything we are and do. Furthermore, praise takes our eyes off ourselves and our often miserable circumstances and puts them on the Lord. He raises our sights, purifies our goals, and gives us His own incomparable beauty to behold.
The Psalmist says: “Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous! For praise from the upright is beautiful” and “Praise the LORD! For it is good to sing praises to our God; for it is pleasant, and praise is beautiful” (Psalms 33:1, Psalms 147:1). Praise gives us pleasure because we are creating something God calls beautiful; no wonder we experience His joy when we “create” it.
Praise is not only an antidote to human pride but conquers depression and grumbling. When we turn our eyes on God and thoughtfully consider His character as He has revealed Himself, we marvel. While we cannot fully comprehend all that He is, we do know He is majestic and utterly awesome.
When we study what He has done, not the deeds people sometimes credit to Him but the deeds He Himself affirms in His Word as His, we also marvel. Only God could form the heavens and speak the worlds into existence. Only God could give sight to the blind and raise the dead. Only God could deliver us from the sins that so easily entangle us and promise us an eternal home.
When we exercise faith and obediently offer praise, we discover praise is indeed beautiful, simply because it has to be — the One to whom it is directed is the epitome of beauty. So today, let’s just praise the Lord!
People who easily praise other people or who easily praise God sometimes make me feel uncomfortable. Are they real? Or am I to proud to give anyone else any glory for what they do, God or human beings?
I notice how much easier it is to be picky and critical. I can easily complain and wish other people (and God) did things more to my liking, even while hiding behind a pious self-evaluation that my “standards are higher” and everyone else is sloughing off. (Dare I admit that I might think that of God?) Why should praise be so important anyway?
After being hard on myself (another way to focus on me instead of God), I checked out some biblical reasons why God should be praised. They fall into three categories: His character is worthy of praise; His deeds are worthy of praise; and praise itself is good for the person who offers it.
The psalmist says: “Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, My lips shall praise You” (Psalms 63:3). Lovingkindness is only one attribute of God. His holiness, power, creativity, goodness, faithfulness, righteousness, sovereignty, wisdom, and mercy are more reasons we should praise Him.
The psalmist also says: “I will praise You, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will tell of all Your marvelous works” (Psalms 9:1). God has created all things. He has met the needs of those who seek Him, cared for the humble of heart and protected His people. He has performed miracles, disclosed Himself through His written Word and through the incarnation of His Son. He keeps His promises and is faithful even when we are not. These are more reasons for praise.
Praise is sometimes difficult to offer because we don’t feel like it and circumstances don’t seem to warrant it. In these cases, the Bible rightly calls praise a “sacrifice.” Yet even in the sacrifice, praise benefits us. The Bible says praise brings a sense of His presence and beautifies those who offer it. (The fact that God asks us to do something that will bring Him honor yet uses that obedience to our profit is another reason to praise Him!) God encourages praise because it is so right. Think of it, what could God allow praise for other than Himself? That would be suggesting He could deny His own character and even the fact that He alone is worthy of praise. His nature and deeds are far above anything we are and do. Furthermore, praise takes our eyes off ourselves and our often miserable circumstances and puts them on the Lord. He raises our sights, purifies our goals, and gives us His own incomparable beauty to behold.
The Psalmist says: “Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous! For praise from the upright is beautiful” and “Praise the LORD! For it is good to sing praises to our God; for it is pleasant, and praise is beautiful” (Psalms 33:1, Psalms 147:1). Praise gives us pleasure because we are creating something God calls beautiful; no wonder we experience His joy when we “create” it.
Praise is not only an antidote to human pride but conquers depression and grumbling. When we turn our eyes on God and thoughtfully consider His character as He has revealed Himself, we marvel. While we cannot fully comprehend all that He is, we do know He is majestic and utterly awesome.
When we study what He has done, not the deeds people sometimes credit to Him but the deeds He Himself affirms in His Word as His, we also marvel. Only God could form the heavens and speak the worlds into existence. Only God could give sight to the blind and raise the dead. Only God could deliver us from the sins that so easily entangle us and promise us an eternal home.
When we exercise faith and obediently offer praise, we discover praise is indeed beautiful, simply because it has to be — the One to whom it is directed is the epitome of beauty. So today, let’s just praise the Lord!
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