Paul, in 2 Timothy 3:15-17 said that all scripture is profitable for teaching, correction and training in righteousness. In verse 15, he said the scriptures were the writings Timothy knew from childhood, what we know as the Old Testament.

Peter, in 2 Peter 1:17-21 claimed the voice of God he heard on the mountain confirmed the prophetic OT scriptures about Jesus.

While Paul and Peter would have claimed the words they wrote were authoritative, and from the Spirit of God, I doubt they considered they were writing scripture to be held on par with the five books of Moses. None the less, Peter was correct, “men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God”. We acknowledge Peter and Paul’s writings as scripture, the Word of God. Considering what they wrote in the passages above, I would hazard a guess that they would be aghast to think anyone would consider their writings to be a replacement or a new improved version of the Old Testament.

Jesus didn’t JUST fulfill the Law, He established it in Matthew 5:1-7:29 The Sermon on the Mount (Romans 3:31). Not only did He establish it, He raised the bar and reiterated disciplines for life and holiness.

Are they the requirements to gain salivation? No! Absolutely not! They are the behaviors of those being saved by the Spirit of God. You can recognize those being saved by their behaviors and what motivates them.

I think this literal, contextual, understanding is necessary to understand then how Leviticus applies to today.

I am looking at the Bible, not with the idea it has an old, outdated testament and a new improved testament. I’m looking at the Word of God as a testament of uninterrupted contiguous thought… the thoughts of God of which Leviticus has a current, relevant part because it points to the truth of who and what we are supposed to be in Christ 1 Peter 1:23-25. Let me explain…

Offerings to God
Leviticus 1:1-7:38 is about offerings to God. The root of the Hebrew word offering is TO DRAW NEAR. Offerings bring us close to God.

Jesus is our sin offering that tears down the veil of separation between God and man and allows us access to God. Leviticus tells us we need a sin offering. Jesus is the fulfillment of the promise made to Abraham long before Moses wrote Leviticus. A sacrifice must be made to atone for our sins.

1 Cor. 15:3, 21-22, For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures. For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.

Other offerings draw us near to God, as well; our thank offerings, love offerings, and offerings that remind us of God’s provision. Our bodies and lives dedicated to God is our greatest personal offering… but everything we have is an offering too.

Romans 12:1-2 Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.

Luke 12:31-34 But seek His kingdom, and these things will be added to you. 32 Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom. 33 “Sell your possessions and give to charity; make yourselves money belts which do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near nor moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

The Priesthood of God
Lev. 8:1-10:20 Is about the consecration and separation to service of the priests. The priests were the only ones with true access to God. They were the go mediators between God and man and they maintained the holy dwelling place of God.

The apostle Peter and John both taught all who have had their sins forgiven by Jesus ARE now the Priests of God! 1 Peter 2:9-10, Rev. 1:6. Not only that, we are the temple of God! No longer does God dwell in man made houses, He dwells in us, Emmanuel (God with us). Eph. 2:19-22, 1 Cor. 6:19-20.

We the people of God are the temple and the priests of God. We are sanctified and separated and dedicated to Gods service. Gods priests are holy.

Leviticus demonstrates how the priests of God are sanctified and made holy and separate from the rest of man for service to God.

2 Cor. 6:14-7:1 Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? 15 Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? 16 Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said,

“I will dwell in them and walk among them;
And I will be their God, and they shall be My people.
17 “Therefore, come out from their midst and be separate,” says the Lord.
“And do not touch what is unclean;
And I will welcome you.
18 “And I will be a father to you,
And you shall be sons and daughters to Me,”
Says the Lord Almighty.
7:1Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

Laws for Holy Righteous living
Leviticus 11:1-27:34. The Laws of God for a Holy and Separate People..

The Laws of Leviticus were for all the people, priests and citizens alike. God separated His people Israel from all the people of the world and set His priests even more separate from His people. Today, all the people of God are the priests of God, doubly separate, to serve God. The laws are a call and command for a holy people. Jesus in His Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5:1-7:29) didn’t just reiterate the laws, He raised the bar of holiness and separated living. He spoke these words to the people who He was calling to the kingdom of God whom He was going to redeem.

Psalm 119:1-3, 9-11
How blessed are those whose way is blameless,
Who walk in the law of the Lord.
2 How blessed are those who observe His testimonies,
Who seek Him with all their heart.
3 They also do no unrighteousness;
They walk in His ways.

How can a young man keep his way pure?
By keeping it according to Your word.
10 With all my heart I have sought You;
Do not let me wander from Your commandments.
11 Your word I have treasured in my heart,
That I may not sin against You.

We the people of God are a holy people! 1 Peter 1:15-16, Eph. 1:4, 4:24, 1 Thess. 4:2-8, 1 John 3:2-3. We walk with God as a separate people, a holy people, who do not view God as asking too much.

Deut. 30:10-14 Obey the Lord your God to keep His commandments and His statutes which are written in this book of the law, if you turn to the Lord your God with all your heart and soul. 11 “For this commandment which I command you today is not too difficult for you, nor is it out of reach. 12 It is not in heaven, that you should say, ‘Who will go up to heaven for us to get it for us and make us hear it, that we may observe it?’ 13 Nor is it beyond the sea, that you should say, ‘Who will cross the sea for us to get it for us and make us hear it, that we may observe it?’ 14 But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may observe it.

Summation:
2 Corinthians 3:6 God who made also made us adequate as servants of a new covenant not of the letter, but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

All the elements of Leviticus are present in the New Testament.

1 Peter 2:2-10 like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, 3 if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord. 4 And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God, 5 you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For this is contained in Scripture:
“Behold, I lay in Zion a choice stone, a precious corner stone,
And he who believes in Him will not be disappointed.”
7 This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for those who disbelieve,
“The stone which the builders rejected,
This became the very corner stone,”
8 and,
“A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense”;
for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this doom they were also appointed.
9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Just as this passage says, the people of God long for the Word of God and they are being built into the House of God as the Priesthood of God, that we may bring sacrifices and offerings to God by the power of Jesus Christ.

If the power and Spirit of Christ is not in you, you will be unable to look like a temple of God or a priest of God, much less be holy or bring a decent offering.

Leviticus shows us the elements of what and who we are. Leviticus is not the Old Testament, it is part of THE Testament. Jesus didn’t do away with Leviticus, he threw the door open wider and included us.

If you are looking at yourself and you and others around you don’t see a Holy Temple of God or a Holy priest…. call on the Lord that you may yet be found.

Jeremiah 29:13-14. And you will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. And I will be found by you declares the Lord.

Romans 12:1-2 Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

Remember not the babe because it is Christmas,
Rather, obey Jesus for He is God with us.

With our sports, what else stirs the pride of our nationalism but the trappings of our government, the pomp and circumstance of an official visit from our leader? Those of us without a monarchy watched with wonder the wedding of Princess Diana to Prince Charles and expectantly wait, as well, for the royal pageantry of their son, Prince Williams, wedding. None were, or will be, more proud than the British.

Our military on display during national moments of remembrance or of celebration stirs our hearts with pride and even brings a tear to toughened, world wise, military eyes.

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be from another country? Have you ever wondered how you could possibly ever be proud being from ________? Have you ever wondered why THEY could be proud being a ________? After all, compared to MY country, their country …….

I’ve talked to immigrants who love the country of their origin, their culture, history and traditions, but because of opportunity, escape from politics, or escape from their own past, etc., they have changed countries. To some degree, and for whatever the reason, none of them leave the country of their birth with their whole heart. They make sure those of the next generation learn import aspects of the culture and traditions of their genetics, “where they came from”.

In my reading through the Bible, those were some of the thoughts I was thinking as I read the book of Ruth.

A fellow, Elimelech and his wife, Naomi, with their two sons left the land of Israel (Bethlehem in Judah) to go to the land of Moab (Modern day central Jordan) because there was a famine in Israel. While in Moab, Elimelech died and his two sons married Moabite women. The two sons died leaving their Moabite wives widows, as well as Naomi, childless and alone. Even if Naomi’s daughters in law were Jewish, it would have been considered normal for them to go back to their fathers households but more so since they were of a different nationality and had few prospects if they stayed with Naomi. On her way back to Bethlehem, Naomi pointed out the fact of their few prospects to them and told her daughters-in-law to go back to their mothers’ house, ostensibly to be a help to their mother and hope for another husband. The women said no. They would go with Naomi. Naomi insisted they go, and live their lives to the fullest. Daughter-in-law Orpah kissed Naomi good-bye and then left, but Ruth clung to Naomi. This was their conversation:

And they lifted up their voices and wept again; and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her. Then she said, “Behold, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and her gods; return after your sister-in-law.” But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or turn back from following you; for where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God. “Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. Thus may the LORD do to me, and worse, if anything but death parts you and me.” When she saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more to her. Ruth 1:15-18

Ruth not only changed loyalties, she exchanged her identification of who she was so to identify with what Naomi identified with, anywhere Naomi would go. Naomi’s people would be her people, her cultural traditions exchanged. She would exchange the gods she grew up with for Naomi’s God. Ruth’s statement was to turn her back on everything she knew previously, what was comfortable, to follow whatever Naomi did. Ruth was true to her words. She gained respect and a reputation even as a foreigner among a clannish people:

“…all my people in the city know that you are a woman of excellence”.

It wasn’t that many years before that marriage to Moabite women brought a plague from God upon Israel where many of Israel died (Numbers 25). The problem was the women induced the Israelite men to worship their gods. Ruth abandoned her nationalism to follow Naomi and her God. What was noticed by everyone was Ruth’s character, “a woman of excellence.”

Could we do that today? Could we repudiate everything that we’ve known and accept every new thing that comes with our new life… and call it good? Can we erase our cultural traditions, assumptions, education, religion, language, even our accents in the purge of the old in exchange for the new? Is it possible to completely erase our former identities?

The Apostle Paul wrote about this very thing in his letter to the Philippians. He said to them; if anyone can be proud about their heritage, I can! He listed his points of pride in his nationalism (Philippians 3:4-6). He really didn’t sound like he had been any different than a World Cup soccer/football fan in what made him proud to be a Hebrew.

Like Ruth, the Apostle Paul commented on what he thought of his previous nationalism and what he exchanged it for:

But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, 9 and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; 11 in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. 12 Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. 13 Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:7-14

Paul said he now considered what he thought previously was important as rubbish. The translators of my Bible didn’t translate this word “rubbish” accurately since the actual word was a bit too vulgar for their tastes. Let’s just say “manure” would be closer to the truth. That was what Paul thought of his previous nationalism. He exchanged it for a new nationalism:

For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; 21 who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself. Philippians 3:20-21

Hebrews, chapter 11, talks about those who share the same viewpoint as Ruth and the Apostle Paul; by faith they obeyed God, leaving what they knew, what they could see, touch, and feel, in exchange for the unknown, obedience to God. Their faith was reckoned to them as righteousness because they believed God and then took action on what God told them. These, like Paul, turned their back on what they knew and looked forward to the promise.

All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. 14 For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. 15 And indeed if they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them. Hebrews 11:13-16

Verse 15 says if they had their concentration on where they came from, they would have returned to what they knew, but instead they were looking for a better country… the Kingdom of God.

For here we do not have a lasting city, but we are seeking the city which is to come. Hebrews 13:14

For we know that if the earthly tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For indeed in this house we groan, longing to be clothed with our dwelling from heaven, 3 inasmuch as we, having put it on, will not be found naked. 4 For indeed while we are in this tent, we groan, being burdened, because we do not want to be unclothed but to be clothed, so that what is mortal will be swallowed up by life. 2 Corinthians 5:1-4

The real question for each of us to answer; is it possible to be followers of Jesus Christ like Ruth followed Naomi or the Apostle Paul followed Jesus Christ and for us to NOT abandon what makes us proud here on earth? Is it possible for us to have a different attitude than what the Apostle Paul had? This is what Paul said:

Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you; 16 however, let us keep living by that same standard to which we have attained. 17 Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us. 18 For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, 19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things. 20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Chris ; 21 who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself. Philippians 3:15-21

Maybe we can straddle the fence, get the best of both worlds. Isn’t that pragmatic? Jesus calls those who think that way lukewarm.

‘I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. 16 ‘So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth. Revelation 3:15-16

Here we are, back to those translation sensibilities. When Jesus said “, I will spit you out of My mouth”, literally it says I will vomit you. In other words, you make Me sick! You can’t live in, and identify with, hell for breakfast and dinner and somehow hope you’ll get heaven for dessert.

Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Hebrews 12:1-3

By the way, Ruth the Moabitess? She married the guy who recognized she was a woman of excellence. His name was Boaz. Boaz and Ruth’s son was Obed, King David’s grandfather. This Moabite woman, who left everything she knew to become one of the people of God also became a part of the line of Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:5-16). Jesus was her great, great…. grandson.

What line are you a part of?

.

Life is a world covered by ocean. We each have a row boat. No matter how hard you row there is nowhere to go. The only way to feel relevant is to interact with people in other boats. You can chain together to spell each other in your rowing or to convince yourselves there is a point to your rowing even though there is nowhere to row to. You can splash people in other boats with your oars to make yourself feel relevant, but if you thought about it very hard you would realize there really is no point.

These two paragraphs describe the reality of modern existentialism. Life is defined by what you can see touch and smell, by our senses. Apart from the here and now, nothing is relevant. This philosophy was generated by men and women who wanted to give a reasonable pretext to do what they wanted, when they wanted, without moral guilt imposed by a supreme being.

“Existentialism is a philosophy concerned with finding self and the meaning of life through free will, choice, and personal responsibility. The belief is that people are searching to find out who and what they are throughout life as they make choices based on their experiences, beliefs, and outlook. And personal choices become unique without the necessity of an objective form of truth. An existentialist believes that a person should be forced to choose and be responsible without the help of laws, ethnic rules, or traditions.” (All About Philosophy)

“Existentialism attempts to describe our desire to make rational decisions despite existing in an irrational universe. Unfortunately, life might be without inherent meaning (existential atheists) or it might be without a meaning we can understand (existential theists). Either way, the human desires for logic and immortality are futile. We are forced to define our own meanings, knowing they might be temporary. In this existence the individual defines everything.” (The Existential Primer)

What is sad is many who call themselves Christians live as existentialists. Their beliefs are based on what is practical and pragmatic for me… now. That is exactly the attitude Eve had in Eden, the garden of God;

When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate. Genesis 3:6

Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever. 1 John 2:15-17

Do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. James 4:4

Many of those who call themselves Christians pick and chose what they will believe from the Word of God rather than believing the Word of God. They form groups that affirm them in their “distinctives” whatever they might be. When these “Christians” encounter biblical passages that challenge their self centered willfulness, they pass them off as cultural to biblical times and not applicable to today.

This melding of modern (really its old) philosophy and the Christianity of the bible is syncretism. Syncretism is the attempted reconciliation or union of different or opposing principles, practices, or parties, as in philosophy or religion. It really is a blending of oil and water.

“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth. Matthew 6:24

“I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. Galatians 2:20

We walk by faith, not by sight 2 Corinthians 5:7

For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God ; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. Romans 8:5-8

In Philippians chapter 3, Paul pointed out if he was to evaluate his confidence in his place and relevance by the worlds standards from the world’s perspective, he could be far more confident than most. Instead he rejected his confidence in his worldly station;

But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death ; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet ; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:7-14

Paul’s identification with Christ was complete;

For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; Philippians 3:20

All these (those who lived in obedience) died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. And indeed if they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God ; for He has prepared a city for them. Hebrews 11:13-16

For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. Philippians 1:21

There is a saying that goes; “you can be so heavenly minded that you are of no earthly value”. This would be to say that Jesus and Paul were useless to God. That saying was from the lips of the devil. If you are earthly minded, you are of no value to heaven, it makes you an enemy of heaven and a friend of the devil.

We cannot have it all. Jesus did not come to make your life better; He came to bring life and it has not been realized yet.

God does not exist for us, we exist for Him. Our life is not about us, it’s about Him. (LINK)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ ; and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls. 1 Peter 1:3-9

You don’t add Jesus to your life… you die and grasp for the promise of His life. It’s all or nothing. No syncretism, its one or the other.

To crawl up on the altar and die is acceptable worship to God. Romans 12:1

Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory. Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience, and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them. But now you also, put them all aside : anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him. Colossians 3:1-10

The only way to prove you are not an existential christian is to live by the Word of God; To know God by the Word of God; To obey God by the Word of God; to absorb the Word of God. Anything else is a product of your own personal philosophy. Can that philosophy save you?

Some might say; how do I know the Word of God is accurate?

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures. Romans 1:18-23

Quit flitting from flower to flower… and really live in the life of Jesus Christ.

God’s call came to Moshe to go to the mission field while he was at a mission’s conference in Jerusalem. Moshe was quite sure he heard the Word of the Lord call him to missions but where God had called him to go, troubled him greatly.

He confided to his friends in his Church what God had put in his heart but he also shared with them his reservations about God’s call because God wanted Moshe to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ on the streets of Damascus, Syria!

His friends were aghast. They said; “Don’t you know the Syrians hate us Jews, and want to destroy us? They are butchers who kill all who do not worship as they do. On top of that, they hate Christians and won’t tolerate anyone giving a testimony of Jesus Christ in a corner much less a street, and besides, we hate the Syrians! Don’t you remember their treachery when they attacked us on a holy day and endeavored to destroy our nation?”

Conflicted, Moshe didn’t know what to do. Several weeks went by and Moshe continued on in his life as if everything were normal. The Lord’s call came again to Moshe when a visiting evangelist came to Moshe’s Church. Frantic, Moshe shared with his friends what the Word of the Lord said since he did not know what to do.

One of Moshe’s friends Chaim, a successful business man, knowing Moshe’s whole story and about Moshe’s call to Damascus, offered his services to Moshe. He said; “Moshe, I have a private jet and a pilot. Please use them and get away! Go to my house in Italy. It has a private air strip and a sports car as well as servants who will care for all your needs. There also is a good Church nearby with Jewish believers near my house. You will be far more comfortable in my house in Italy than you will be here. You must get far away from Syria since we know what a Godless, difficult people they are. They will never listen to your message. At best they will imprison you. More likely, they will cut your head off with a dull knife! God does not want you to lose your life, He wants to give you life! Run! Flee! Go now!”

Moshe boarded his friend Chaim’s private jet and flew out of Israel.

As he sat in the private jet gaining altitude heading away from his calling and his homeland, Moshe looked around at the splendor of the jet, reflecting on the opulence of Chaim’s home he would now be occupying with many servants to take care of him and he remarked to himself; “It is good to go to Italy. There I will be better off than I was in Israel. Many opportunities have opened up to me now. I can serve the Lord in foreign missions in Italy in a Church that has Jewish believers. Since my expenses are paid, I can devote all my time to the Lord. It is good that I go to Italy. Chaim, my friend is not named “life” for nothing!”

As Moshe was thinking these lofty thoughts of serving the Lord in Italy and the beautiful accommodations he would have and the new life his friend had given him, the Word of the Lord came to him again at the same instant both engines in the jet caught fire and quit. “MOSHE, WHY HAVE YOU REBELLED AGAINST ME?”

Moshe’s thoughts were all jumbled as everything was happening at once. As emergency buzzers sounded and the cabin lights went out, the pilot yelled over his shoulder for Moshe to fasten his seat belt and to make sure, if he could, to get into the life raft because they were going to crash into the Mediterranean Sea! Panicking, Moshe was trying to grab his suitcase and put his shoes on.

With no time to think or react, the beautiful private jet skipped across the waves of the Mediterranean Sea. The wings were ripped off and the plane, just behind Moshe, was torn in two as the plane shuddered to a halt. As the aircraft came to a rest in the Sea, Moshe was first aware of the cold water rushing into the airplane. Then reason returned to him; “I must get out before I’m drowned!” Unfastening his seat belt he tried to drag his suitcase with him and find his shoes but realized his life was in imminent danger because the plane was sinking rapidly. He must get out. Abandoning everything, Moshe swam through the gigantic hole that used to be the rear of the beautiful private jet.

As the aircraft sank swiftly, Moshe swam clear of the airplane toward the surface of the sea… to air. With his lungs hot and almost bursting, Moshe broke into the sunshine and gulped huge amounts of beautiful, glorious air thanking God he could still see sunshine, breathe air…. and live.

Taking stock of himself to make sure he was intact and then looking around, Moshe saw the pilot of the aircraft about 100 yds away in a life raft. Immediately he struck out and started swimming to the life raft. The pilot spotting Moshe began to row the raft toward Moshe. As hard as Moshe swam and as hard as the pilot rowed, the wind and the waves drove them further apart until he could no longer see the pilot or the raft. Moshe quit swimming and started to float. He was so exhausted.

Floating and treading water for six hours in the waves of the Mediterranean Sea brought Moshe’s energy reserves to an end and he could not float or swim any more. Slowly, quietly, in despair, Moshe slipped beneath the surface of the water into the depths of the Mediterranean Sea.

And the LORD appointed a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the stomach of the fish three days and three nights. Jonah 1:17

Then Jonah prayed to the LORD his God from the stomach of the fish, and he said, “I called out of my distress to the LORD, And He answered me. I cried for help from the depth of Sheol ; You heard my voice. “For You had cast me into the deep, Into the heart of the seas, And the current engulfed me. All Your breakers and billows passed over me. “So I said, ‘I have been expelled from Your sight. Nevertheless I will look again toward Your holy temple.’ “Water encompassed me to the point of death. The great deep engulfed me, Weeds were wrapped around my head. “I descended to the roots of the mountains. The earth with its bars was around me forever, But You have brought up my life from the pit, O LORD my God. “While I was fainting away, I remembered the LORD, And my prayer came to You, Into Your holy temple. “Those who regard vain idols Forsake their faithfulness, But I will sacrifice to You With the voice of thanksgiving. That which I have vowed I will pay. Salvation is from the LORD.” Then the LORD commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah up onto the dry land. Jonah 2:1-10

What is the moral of this story I’ve written?

Chaim whose name means “life”, did not give life to Moshe in helping Moshe rebel against God. Chaim was a pragmatic humanist who thought what was best for the moment, according to what he could see, was more important than obedience to God.

If Chaim was a prominent figure in the story of Jonah as he was in Moshe’s story, what would God have done with Chaim, considering what happened to Jonah?

How often do we act just like of Jonah or Chaim and rebel against God? Can you rebel against God and truly live?

“THE LORD WILL JUDGE HIS PEOPLE.” It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” Hebrews 10:30-31

On any given Sunday, it would seem, the friendliness cools a little. You see, this small town has five poor churches:

A Catholic church, by far the most affluent in appearance, a Community Church, both of which are on main street and within sight of an off street where there are three more churches in a row, a Seventh Day Adventist, Presbyterian and a Church of God. Their theological differences are seemingly tall walls that surround their “churches” though the only visible barrier is a large pile of dirt on the sidewalk where the property line between the Seventh Day Adventist Church and Presbyterians meet. These buildings caught my attention as I stayed in one of the motels within sight of all the churches. Why did they seem out of place? What exactly caught my attention?

I pointed out that three of these churches are on a dirt street. The sidewalk connecting two of the buildings is not on the street, but instead speaks of a happier time when whoever occupied the two buildings were friendly. But now a four-foot pile of dirt blocks the sidewalk on the property line; apparently a visual reminder of their theological differences.

What happened in this town where all the inhabitants went to the same small school where grades 9-12 is comprised of only 68 students? Maybe it’s that these buildings are poor and seem to speak in regard to the status of love in that community. Love of God and love of each other. While I don’t think building aesthetics are important, these buildings look more like abandoned outbuildings on a ranch than places where the church meets. How many actually gather in these buildings that are smaller than the upstairs of my house? How many come into this town to fellowship; the largest town in a county of 1200 people and the only town in 50 miles?

The letters on the front of the building that once said, “The Church of Christ Meets Here.” now, because of missing letters, utters an incomprehensible message. But I wonder, is there a larger, more incomprehensible message being spoken by the five run down churches in a small town of which three of the churches are next-door neighbors? Is this what caught my attention?

What is the message being spoken by these churches to the patrons of the bars in town? What message do the visiting hunters receive? Maybe the inhabitants are proud that the churches slightly out number the bars in their town. Maybe in the bar they are proud they have five churches in their town. Maybe the hunters are pleased that the devout among them can choose their flavor to fellowship with; or maybe they don’t even give it a thought. I wonder if Christ is happy with this diversity, this division, in His Body. I wonder if the Lord Jesus is satisfied with His dismembered, spread out, cut up Body? I wonder if He thought of this town, among many others, when He said, “By this they’ll know that you are my disciples, that you have love for one another.” He didn’t say; “They’ll know you are my disciples by your theological purity” or “what by day you meet on”, or “by your style of worship and polity”, or “by your eschatology or your rituals”. He said love proves you are His disciples. Self sacrifice for the benefit of others. He demonstrated this love so His disciples would know exactly what He was talking about.

I know, some will say; “there are good reasons why we separate.” I say; be careful how you wave your knife around and certainly don’t run with that knife in your hand. You could be the one who is hurt.

On the other hand, there is a place where the Church is one. There is a place where people love and support one another regardless of their differences. There is a place where the style of your collar doesn’t matter, where your theological distinctives don’t matter or any other differences. That place is a concentration camp; a gulag. That’s the place where the Body of Christ is persecuted, but the Body is one; that is where it is one Church. Just as Jesus showed His greatest attribute in His persecution and death; real love. His Body will show a true distinctive that separates it from the world; real love in the face of persecution. That is when the differences and distinctives are inconsequential. That is not the place where His body bleeds because of its dismemberment and its division, but rather bleeds in its solidarity, as a Body, in love for one another. Lord Jesus may this judgment come quickly. This world needs real Disciples of Christ.

What does the church look like in your town?

1 Peter 4:1-2 Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.

1 Peter 4:12-19 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation. If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. Make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler; but if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name. For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? AND IF IT IS WITH DIFFICULTY THAT THE RIGHTEOUS IS SAVED, WHAT WILL BECOME OF THE GODLESS MAN AND THE SINNER? Therefore, those also who suffer according to the will of God shall entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right.

To say this over and over is not hard for me and it’s a reminder, a guard rail for you. Guardrails are good; they keep us from falling off the edge. We have short attention spans and are always following the next bright thing with our eyes.

2. Beware of the outsiders, those who are not of us, those who want you to stumble and fall to join them. Beware of those who say they are separated aliens to God and are not.

3. We are truly separated from the world. We are truly aliens who prove the worth of God by our actions by the Spirit of God who makes it possible to revel, bask and submerge ourselves in Jesus Christ and we do not trust what we can see, touch, and feel, but rather, we trust in what was promised by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

4-6. If anyone can have faith in what can be seen, touched, and felt, Paul says he can. If anyone else can be confidently pragmatic, Paul can, more so.
A. He was set apart according to God’s promise to Abraham to be a special nation among nations.
B. Of that promise, of the nation of Israel, a son of the promise to Jacob.
C. Of the Tribe of Benjamin with a perpetual inheritance here in the world according to birthrights in the land of promise.
D. Among Hebrews of the promise a stand-out guy.
E. As to the Law of Moses, very devout.
F. A devout patriot in his nationalism and sect, a persecutor of the followers of Jesus who were called out of Paul’s nationalism.
G. As to self justification and pride in the Law, without blame.

7. Whatever I thought made had me something, I count as nothing; I discard, throw it away it for the sake of Christ who really is something. I throw away the nothing I thought was something to gain everything which is Jesus!

8. More than that, I throw away everything I ever thought was important just for the tremendous value of just seeking to know Christ Jesus my Lord for whom I lose and throw away all things and attainments and consider them to be degrading and disgusting manure in order that I may gain Christ. I trade everything for Christ. I no longer seek relevance or experience here; instead, I seek only relevance in Christ. To gain Jesus Christ is to become relevant. Not me, Him in me.

9. When I gain Christ, I have no righteousness gained by my own works, not in or of me by me, but I have the righteousness of Christ through faith, the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith; faith being repentance that lets go of what I see to grab hold of what I don’t see but wait eagerly for.

10. That I might intimately know first hand the power of His resurrection (in me) and the fellowship of His sufferings being conformed to His death; I leave all behind and suffer gladly because it keeps me calling on Him for succor and salvation so I will be brought to life from His death. I die to this life gladly to gain real life, His life.

12. Not that I’ve been resurrected yet or even become mature yet, but I press on, I push against the tide so that I might grab hold of that life, that resurrection which is why Christ laid hold of me.

13. I don’t have it yet, but this one thing I focus on; forgetting everything I thought was important, forgetting and casting off everything the world thinks is important, I have my sight, my aspirations, fixed high.

14. I press on toward the goal, Jesus. I press on to the prize; life, which is what I was called to by God in Jesus Christ. This consumes me.

15. You who are mature, or aspire to maturity, have this same attitude… If you have a different attitude, God will show you… but will you listen?

16. Live by the standard to which you’ve attained. Don’t go back. Only go forward. Grow.

17. Follow my example. Watch those who walk as I do. Follow this pattern of single-mindedness in reaching the goal; the only goal worth having.

18. Speaking of walking: Many have walked, but now I tell you, while weeping, they are now enemies of the cross of Christ (Heb. 10:26)

19. They will be perpetually destroyed. Their god is their self-willed desires. They have it all backwards: What they glory in, what they say is good is shameful. They love the world. What consumes them is what they see, touch, and feel as if it was truly of importance. They grasp death willingly with both arms and embrace it.

20. Not us! We are citizens of Heaven. We are passing through as pilgrims and aliens headed to our home; the Kingdom of our Lord King Savior Jesus whom we eagerly, longingly wait to see.

21. He will transform us from what we rejected to be conformed, made like, the body of His glory, LIFE, which is what we embrace! The same power that gives us LIFE is the same power by which He made all things and the same power by which He will subject all things to Himself.

Amen!

P.S. Friend, what do you aspire to?

Peter’s letter to those who reside as aliens, strangers, and pilgrims
Aliens are not part of society
Aliens are outsiders
Aliens have a different loyalty and home association
To reside as an alien is to be apart, separate.
It’s to be within but have no commonality among those they live, to stand out obviously

The aliens were chosen by God by the separating work of the spirit to be those who obey Jesus Christ.
Aliens have been chosen to be separate by God
Aliens have been chosen to obey Jesus Christ

Separated aliens are attached to God through His mercy to be born again, dead to our old loyalties and pursuits raised to be children of a different Kingdom. As aliens here, our new life is possible through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead so that we will obtain our inheritance in our new country, God’s Kingdom, which is undefiled (opposite of here) and reserved, waiting for us.

We as aliens are protected by the power of God through our faith for the consummation, the reuniting of our true country with our true brethren and our true King, awaiting our salvation from this homesick existence in this decay and death.

We are Looking forward, keeping our eyes on the prize, the imminent rescue, we rejoice, even though it’s difficult residing as an alien because of trials and difficulties.

Trials prove our faith, prove if we are truly aliens, prove we are looking for the Promised Land or are just trying to integrate here; trying to fit in. Faith, like gold, when tested by fire, removes impurities as well as reveals the true metal, the true beauty of our calling to be separated to God as aliens in the world.

This successful proving of our faith results in praise, glory, and honor when Jesus is revealed.

This tested faith proves our praise to Him. It gives Him glory, and honors Him as King over His people.

Jesus relates the same to His people, His aliens; He gives praise, glory and honor.

The people of God, His aliens here, do not walk by sight, are not led by pragmatism, but our belief is equal to our obedience. We as aliens rejoice in this truth with inexpressible joy because we don’t see here, but look there, to our goal, our country of God.

The outcome of our tested faith, our unseeing obedience, our life as outcasts and aliens, is the salvation of our souls, our adoption as sons and daughters, our being brought home to our real country.

Because of this, be alert; be prepared, keep self controlled, keep yourself under reign. Affix yourself tenaciously, your hope completely, on this undeserved gift to be brought to you when Jesus is finally revealed. As obedient children don’t quit being aliens in the world, don’t be degraded by the passions that comprise of decay and death, but be separated from the world, the culture, the entertainments, the sin, separate from everything that is here in the world that takes our eyes and loyalty off of God, for it is written, “You shall be separated to me for I am separate.”

Dennis

If you notice, the background on the left is in black and white with a tree devoid of leaves with lightening striking. This is representative of our dead and dying world. The world is subject to sin and disease caused by the sin of man.

Romans 8:19-25 For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.

In the foreground is a rock wall partially built with the names of each member of our family engraved on a rock with the name of Jesus on the cornerstone. Also notice there is a rock with the name YOU on it. This part of the picture comes from:

1 Peter 2:4-10 And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God, you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For this is contained in Scripture:
“BEHOLD, I LAY IN ZION A CHOICE STONE, A PRECIOUS CORNER stone,
AND HE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.”
This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for those who disbelieve,
“THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED,
THIS BECAME THE VERY CORNER stone,”
and, “A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE”;
for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this doom they were also appointed.
But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God’s OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD; you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY.

Also:

Luke 19:37-40 As soon as He was approaching, near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the miracles which they had seen, shouting:
“BLESSED IS THE KING WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD;
Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”
Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples.” But Jesus answered, “I tell you, if these become silent, the stones will cry out!”

Notice the lyrics of our bluesy song “Living Stones.” Walking dead all around, just like stones on the ground… they have hearts of stone, but the ones called by God are “Praising Stones” and “Living Stones”. That’s us. We are called by God, brought to life, from a dead, useless stone, to be useful for God. Without Jesus, we are dead!

The lyrics of the song “Stained Glass” say;

Looking for truth in a land full of lies
I find God’s Son the Way, Truth, and Life
I wonder how long ‘till God’s wrath will come…
It’s stained glass, dark mirror…

1 Corinthians 13:11-13 When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known. But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Attempting to know the purpose of God in Jesus Christ is like stained glass; hard to see through and understand, i.e. the dark mirror in our own understanding.

But;
A cordial of blood o’er my soul
Anointed my head cleaner than snow
It ran in my eyes and caused me to see… IT”S ME!
I’m stained glass, bright mirror, reflect God, so pure
Deep river, bright sun, His love shines on…
I’m stained glass, stained glass, stained glass.

We are the stained glass. Notice the album cover, all of our pictures are in the stained glass window but the window is spattered with blood. The Blood of Jesus Christ! We are spattered with His blood to satisfy the wrath of God against sin. Jesus took our punishment for us!

Isaiah 53:4-6, 10-12 Surely our grief’s He Himself bore, And our sorrows He carried; Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being {fell} upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed. All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him….
But the LORD was pleased To crush Him, putting {Him} to grief; If He would render Himself {as} a guilt offering, He will see {His} offspring, He will prolong {His} days, And the good pleasure of the LORD will prosper in His hand. As a result of the anguish of His soul, He will see {it and} be satisfied; By His knowledge the Righteous One, My Servant, will justify the many, As He will bear their iniquities. Therefore, I will allot Him a portion with the great, And He will divide the booty with the strong; Because He poured out Himself to death, And was numbered with the transgressors; Yet He Himself bore the sin of many, And interceded for the transgressors.

The mirror is dark no longer! I am redeemed for Gods purpose to Glorify Himself in His Son Jesus Christ the Righteous! I am now a bright mirror that reflects Jesus to God.

1 Corinthians 6:20 For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.

That’s us, Stained Glass and Living Stones as well as all who are FOLLOWERS of Jesus Christ. In and of ourselves is no good thing, just dead rocks:

Psalm 53:1-3 The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God,” They are corrupt, and have committed abominable injustice; There is no one who does good. God has looked down from heaven upon the sons of men To see if there is anyone who understands, Who seeks after God. Every one of them has turned aside; together they have become corrupt; There is no one who does good, not even one.

We could not redeem ourselves. God had to send Jesus to redeem us from His wrath. That means, apart from Christ, we are nothing. We are just children of destruction. Apart from Jesus, we are irrelevant. We are only relevant pursuing the will of God. There is no relevance for us in the dead and dying world except to obey God.

Finally, our attitude in the stained glass is prayerful. Our eyes are closed. We are not reliant upon what we see, but we walk in faith that God will lead us to Him.

Habakkuk 2:4 But the righteous will live by his faith.

We are not pragmatists, we are followers on paths not seen with eyes.

John 14:1-6 “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. “In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. “If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.
“And you know the way where I am going.” Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

We are just Stained Glass and Living Stones. How about you?

Dennis

I’m not going to fool you. You already can guess where I’m going just by how I’ve framed the thesis question. Maybe you’ve heard some version of this discussion before. As opposed to a knee jerk reaction, I appeal to you to engage this subject as you would all the other vital and important subjects and or information that come to all of us on a daily basis on which we make value judgments. Weigh the evidence and or logic. Is it truth? If it is not truth, no damage has been done. I’ve just had another great opportunity to exercise my neural connections before they are re-absorbed by the cold and indifferent universe of pointless existence. If it is truth, how shall I respond? We all must accept and reject all kinds of information for all kinds of reasons. Remember though, fear should never be the arbiter of rejection or acceptance, the truth of the matter is the real arbiter, whether we wish to agree with it or not, truth is static, unchanging, and absolute regardless of whatever philosophy is in vogue about truth.

Cauliflower is good for you…. but I still don’t like it, nor will I accept it for my own consumption. It is a conscious, deliberate decision I’ve made and live by. On the other hand, if I had only one alternative to save my life and that was to consume cauliflower, would I do it? Yes! Would I be grateful for it? Yes! My self derived “sensibilities”, the grotesque appearance smell and flavor of cauliflower, would take a back seat to the truth and gratitude of saving my life. Rather, I would become an exponent of the virtues of cauliflower consumption. Thus I would find distinction in the aroma and flavors of cauliflower because of my close association with its efficacy and my positive mindset to it. There is nothing like a foundation of truth to stand on to find satisfaction, peace and a real cause we are willing to die and live for, in that order. Once real truth is understood and accepted, we then alter our lives in accommodation to it. Truth never accommodates itself for us, it is static, unchanging. We must rather submit ourselves to truth. Most “Christians” have not grasped this concept. If you do not accommodate yourself to the truth, you haven’t accepted it. If you do not accommodate yourself to the truth, you have rejected it as truth. To not put truth into practice is to have had no more than the neural exercise mention before.

The questions about our purpose have been asked introspectively by everyone or at least have been wondered about from time to time. We especially consider these questions when confronted with our mortality, or by someone else’s mortality. Many of us quickly put these thoughts out of our minds because; 1. We fear the answers, or 2. We know the answers and refuse to deal with them in an honest fashion because we wish to continue in the direction we have chosen, our self derived “sensibilities”. Subconsciously we can think, “If I don’t think too deeply, I don’t have to deal with the consequences of not considering these questions.” Physical science proves there are consequences to every action or inaction. Absence of action does not excuse you from being hit in the face with a ball aimed at you. Even our US law says you are not excused from consequences for not knowing the law.

Donald Chittick, Ph.D., in his book, The Controversy: Roots of the Creation-Evolution Conflict examines two distinct biases when approaching that controversial subject of creation vs. evolution.

“Why did modern science start from a culture with a Christian base? The reasons are not difficult to determine. A proper philosophical base for investigating the universe was needed and the Christian doctrine of creation provided that base. The Creator established laws for people and laws for the natural world. A created universe was expected to have design, order, and purpose. Man, using his created rational mind, could study this ordered universe in a rational way and seek to discover its laws; and modern science is based on the assumption of scientific law. In addition, moral laws given by the Creator established the ethical base for science. Scientists must be honest and truthful.

By contrast, if the universe were not created, it must have come to its present state by the impersonal interaction of the material of the universe, itself. No intelligence would have been involved. With such a philosophy, there would be no reason to expect such a universe to operate in a rational way. Man’s mind would also be a product of the same chance universe. It should not be capable of rationally studying anything. Hence, a materialist philosophy of this sort would tend to discourage one from becoming a scientist.”

The first bias assumes a Creator or designer. With design come the rules of design or laws that make the design possible. These should be observable. They are. Even biased science textbooks enumerate the physical laws of the universe.

The second bias assumes there is no Creator or designer, just an impersonal random chance interaction of material in the universe. If this was true, we would not be able to observe it because chaos would still reign now and forever. There would be no one around to debate how random chaos came up with physical laws that don’t change.

Obviously you know my bias from how I’ve worded this essay. We all approach every subject with a conscious or un-conscious bias. The excellent question as framed by Dr. Chittick is; which bias is the best bias to be biased with. If the second bias were true we would not be here to discuss it. Using the logic that because we are here to discuss it means it could be true. That would be nonsensical logic. What it comes down to is our reasoning for wanting to defend one position or another.

I remember arguing with my parents about why I should go to the school dance. My real reason was pure hedonistic expectation. I was careful not to reveal that! I don’t remember my “reasoned” argument, but it probably consisted of some formulae of “you don’t trust me, all my friends will be there, I don’t get much free time just to be with my friends and enjoy a night out like you and mom do” or something like that. My parents for their part were concerned about what kind of mischief I’d get into. They were teenagers at one time as well and still had fair recollections of the kind of trouble youngsters could get into. No, they didn’t trust me, but wouldn’t say that (why I don’t know since I really was untrustworthy as all kids who invoke that phrase are). They let me go. I ran headlong to more hedonistic trouble than I’m sure they conceived possible… on more than one occasion. The point is; I defended my wanting to take part in those hedonistic activities not because of my logical well thought out reasoned arguments, which they were not. The real reason was I wanted to do what I wanted to do without anyone telling me I couldn’t do it! It was pure rebellion. We both accept and practice absolute truth or we are in rebellion to it.

In my work I can ignore the truth of the properties of H2s or Nh3. If I rebel against that truth, I die. If I practice the truth (proper protective clothing and masks) I live and make a living. Whether I live or die has nothing so much to do with my bias, as to the truth of my bias.

Absolute truth is not just a foundation, but a point of reference. If I ignore truth, I have no point of reference. If I invent my own point of reference, I have no truth.

All the paths of the LORD are loving-kindness and truth to those who keep His covenant and His testimonies. Psalm 25:10

You have given a banner to those who fear You, that it may be displayed because of the truth. Psalm 60:4

The Bible reveals truth as well as man’s origin, being, and purpose. As to the truthfulness of the Bible, I can point out no other work of literature that can make the same claims when it comes to the accuracy of the Bible. The Bible is 66 books written over a period of nearly 1500 years by over 40 different authors agreeing with and building on the same subject. How is this possible?

So we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts. But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God. 2Peter 1:19-21

All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 2Timothy 3:16

As to proof of the accuracy of this ancient document, a young law student named Josh McDowell, with the idea that the Bible was a fable that just got in the way of his pursuits, set out to disprove the accuracy of the Bible. He became convinced of its accuracy and became obedient to that truth. He compiled his evidence into a book named: Evidence That Demands a Verdict. Since then he has written another book: New Evidence That Demands a Verdict. These books are in depth analyses of evidential proofs of the accuracy of the Bible. Another author that examines the accuracy of New Testament claims from the standpoint of a reporter getting to the bottom of an expose’ Lee Strobel’s: The Case for Christ: A Journalist’s Personal Investigation of the Evidence for Jesus.

My bias as to the truth of scripture is built on the observation that as it relates to science, the Bible is true, as it relates to human nature; it’s true, as it relates to fulfilled prophecy; it’s true, as it relates to it’s own accuracy; it’s true, and as it relates to my greatest needs of relevancy and a future; it’s true.