Let's start our thinking process with these words from John Piper, for these words charge that man is the cause of his own disbelief.
"If our disapproval of God's existence is strong enough, then our sensory faculties and our rational faculties will not be able to infer that He is there."
(John Piper "Think")"
Is this true? Does our disapproval of God's existence blind us from the very reality of His existence? In other words, does our prejudice against our having to submit to God, like Him or not, kick into gear a "refusal to believe" that TRUTH which we do not want to face? Human beings respond to God much like a child who covers his eyes when he sees something scary. "I'll cover my eyes, and then I do not have to accept that reality. Now IT is not there anymore." Of course, the child can cover his eyes all he wants, the scary picture, or dog, or dinosaur IS STILL THERE!
If GOD IS, then ALL MEN must answer to Him. This means that one should acknowledge, should seek the truth, no matter what the cost, for if GOD IS, then surely GOD IS TRUTH.
Now here is the dilemma. WWhat if the individual does not like the TRUTH? What if what he or she learns as truth conflicts with one's own ideas, or one's own way of thinking about life and how it should be lived? John Piper writes "We love man centered error more than Christ exalting truth, and our rational powers are taken captive to serve this adulterous love."
This is the dilemma of all mankind. God is. God created all things. God created man. Man must answer to his Creator. Man does not like His Creator AS HE IS.
What can man do in such a predicament? Well, he either twists truth, creates his own false view of God, and embraces a lie, claims ignorance(though ignorance is not bliss), or he embraces the TRUTH, the very reason for which man was made.
Man loves truth when he feels that it benefits his situation. "Justice!" he cries.
Man hates truth when he feels that it hurts his situation. "What about everybody else?" He cries. "Give me a break!" He pleads.
The Bible says that "men suppress the truth of God for a lie,... and worship and serve created things rather than their Creator..."(Romans 1:18)
What is the "created thing that they worship? Their own lies. Rather than say they disapprove of God, they imagine God to be who He is not. They refuse to accept and embrace Who He(GOD) is. The Man's rational faculties are then no longer capable of inferring, receiving, or embracing the TRUTH. The world, and the Bible call this "depraved".
Are you one who desires truth, even if it means that your whole world will be shaken?
You see, God, Who is Truth, interferes with our corrupt view of life. Our opinions must bend the knee to GOD, WHO IS TRUTH.
Marriage, money, work, sex, relationships, all must be in accord with God, Who is Truth.
Are you one who covers your eyes TO THE TRUTH, as that child sitting on the rug in his living room, covers his eyes from what confronts him?
Only the Truth shall set you free. Jesus said "I AM THE TRUTH". Seek Him...
Showing posts with label truth. Show all posts
Showing posts with label truth. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Monday, January 17, 2011
Remember to K.I.S.S. when sharing the gospel!
I remember hearing this acronym in school as we were preparing to deliver our first sermons. Over and over the professor would repeat himself to us "Keep it simple stupid." Well, the last "S" for "stupid" I didn't need to hear. But the main point of the professor was that when we are preparing and preaching our sermons, we say it so that even the children could understand, or the uneducated. If the children get it, the others will too.
Dr. Martyn Lloyd Jones quotes Martin Luther as saying "When I preach I regard not the doctors or magistrates..., no, I have all my eyes on the servant maids and the children. And if the learned men are not pleased with what they hear, well, the door is open." Dr. Martyn Lloyd Jones then adds that if the learned man feels that he is not getting anything out of it, it is because he is not spiritually minded. He is not able to receive spiritual truth because he is puffed up. The same must be true when sharing the gospel. K.I.S.S. "Keep it simple, son."
What are you wanting to share with a person when you share the gospel? It is good news! God is passionate about saving sinful man. He even came to earth to take care of it Himself!
Always keep in mind that a child must understand what you are saying. This takes work. I have a much easier time explaining "justification" and "sanctification" to adults than children. But it must be broken down to it's most basic sense, so that even the uneducated can receive it. If the gospel, and all of God's truth can not be broken down for the average man, then it is an elitist message, one for only the learned, and if that is true, then it is a message that is arrogant, and to be despised.
What is the most important need to understand God's truth? Men, and children must have the accompaniment of the Holy Spirit. One may not be able to read, or write, but if he has heard the truth of the gospel, and has truly been born again by the glorious message of the gospel of God's grace, then indeed he or she has been equipped to understand things that the wise and learned cannot.
Yes, remember the acronym K.I.S.S. or even K.I.S.S.D. "Keep it simple son, daughter". BUT MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE TELLING THE TRUTH! THE TRUE GOSPEL!
"How beautiful are the feet of him who brings...", not complex arguments for the learned and highly educated, but "who brings good news".
Dr. Martyn Lloyd Jones quotes Martin Luther as saying "When I preach I regard not the doctors or magistrates..., no, I have all my eyes on the servant maids and the children. And if the learned men are not pleased with what they hear, well, the door is open." Dr. Martyn Lloyd Jones then adds that if the learned man feels that he is not getting anything out of it, it is because he is not spiritually minded. He is not able to receive spiritual truth because he is puffed up. The same must be true when sharing the gospel. K.I.S.S. "Keep it simple, son."
What are you wanting to share with a person when you share the gospel? It is good news! God is passionate about saving sinful man. He even came to earth to take care of it Himself!
Always keep in mind that a child must understand what you are saying. This takes work. I have a much easier time explaining "justification" and "sanctification" to adults than children. But it must be broken down to it's most basic sense, so that even the uneducated can receive it. If the gospel, and all of God's truth can not be broken down for the average man, then it is an elitist message, one for only the learned, and if that is true, then it is a message that is arrogant, and to be despised.
What is the most important need to understand God's truth? Men, and children must have the accompaniment of the Holy Spirit. One may not be able to read, or write, but if he has heard the truth of the gospel, and has truly been born again by the glorious message of the gospel of God's grace, then indeed he or she has been equipped to understand things that the wise and learned cannot.
Yes, remember the acronym K.I.S.S. or even K.I.S.S.D. "Keep it simple son, daughter". BUT MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE TELLING THE TRUTH! THE TRUE GOSPEL!
"How beautiful are the feet of him who brings...", not complex arguments for the learned and highly educated, but "who brings good news".
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Are You Fishing Yet?
When I was in my pre teen years, I read all about fishing, all of the time!
Fishing Facts magazine was always in my hand. The magazine taught what, where, when, and how to catch freshwater fish. Cold weather fish, warm weather fish, deep water fish, shallow water fish, all were taught about in this magazine.
I bought special lures, spinners, spoons, plugs, worms, and whatever promised to land me the BIG GUY!
The best part was not reading about fishing however. I went fishing! I went fishing in lakes, in ponds, everywhere, but the BIG GUY knew how to avoid my line much better than I knew how to land him on it!
Even though the BIG GUY was better at the game than me, I still managed to catch a few decent sized fish over the years.
"Okay, so what's with the title?" "Are You Fishing Yet?"
Jesus spoke to two real and experienced fisherman, Simon , and his brother Andrew "Come, follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men. At once they left their nets and followed him." (Mark 1:17). They went fishing with the Master Fisherman.
We believers are the fishers of men that Jesus Christ has appointed.
At least we already know the nature of the manfish. He is in his nature what we were in our nature. We know what manfish likes,what he hates, what he is prone to feed on, where he hides, what he avoids, how he fights, how resistant he is, and how difficult he can be to land. We were the manfish! But even though we know this manfish even as we know ourselves, yet we cannot land the manfish that we know so well!
For we do not know which manfish are looking to be landed! Yet, unlike fish in lakes and rivers, there actually are manfish desperately looking to be pulled in. We do not know which manfish are searching the waters of their world, hoping to find exactly what we have on the end of our line. And even if we knew which manfish were ready for the taking, we must have the proper lure.
How shall we catch them? With God's lure, the gospel lure. The gospel is how they are caught! God rules over the heart of all manfish, and He alone draws out the manfish that will strike at our line as we cast out God's appointed lure, the gospel of grace. This gospel lure must be the real thing. And we will catch them, not with a baited and hidden hook, manipulating and snagging them, but with Jesus Christ. He is the Gospel! Yes, these God appointed menfish have a God given hunger for, and are in search of Jesus Christ. When they see Him, they are attracted to Him, even more so, He is irresistable to them. They hear of Jesus sacrificial, death defying, atoning love, His mercy, His kindness, His full forgiveness, His sure promises, and His altogether immeasurable unearned favor, yes, all of this, pointed toward them, all of Jesus Christ Himself, moving forward to embrace them. And here is the amazing truth about it all. Christ does this through us, His fishermen! These menfish are drawn to Christ through us. For we are Jesus Christ's representatives, and through us they see the character of Christ, and hear and embrace the beautiful good news of Christ, the gospel! Yes, they come and are joyfully caught in plenty.
Jesus said "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few." Can we not say with Jesus "The manfish ar plentiful, but the manfishers are few."?
Jesus told them "Come" and they left everything and followed Him, learning how to be manfishers! Are you fishing yet?
Fishing Facts magazine was always in my hand. The magazine taught what, where, when, and how to catch freshwater fish. Cold weather fish, warm weather fish, deep water fish, shallow water fish, all were taught about in this magazine.
I bought special lures, spinners, spoons, plugs, worms, and whatever promised to land me the BIG GUY!
The best part was not reading about fishing however. I went fishing! I went fishing in lakes, in ponds, everywhere, but the BIG GUY knew how to avoid my line much better than I knew how to land him on it!
Even though the BIG GUY was better at the game than me, I still managed to catch a few decent sized fish over the years.
"Okay, so what's with the title?" "Are You Fishing Yet?"
Jesus spoke to two real and experienced fisherman, Simon , and his brother Andrew "Come, follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men. At once they left their nets and followed him." (Mark 1:17). They went fishing with the Master Fisherman.
We believers are the fishers of men that Jesus Christ has appointed.
At least we already know the nature of the manfish. He is in his nature what we were in our nature. We know what manfish likes,what he hates, what he is prone to feed on, where he hides, what he avoids, how he fights, how resistant he is, and how difficult he can be to land. We were the manfish! But even though we know this manfish even as we know ourselves, yet we cannot land the manfish that we know so well!
For we do not know which manfish are looking to be landed! Yet, unlike fish in lakes and rivers, there actually are manfish desperately looking to be pulled in. We do not know which manfish are searching the waters of their world, hoping to find exactly what we have on the end of our line. And even if we knew which manfish were ready for the taking, we must have the proper lure.
How shall we catch them? With God's lure, the gospel lure. The gospel is how they are caught! God rules over the heart of all manfish, and He alone draws out the manfish that will strike at our line as we cast out God's appointed lure, the gospel of grace. This gospel lure must be the real thing. And we will catch them, not with a baited and hidden hook, manipulating and snagging them, but with Jesus Christ. He is the Gospel! Yes, these God appointed menfish have a God given hunger for, and are in search of Jesus Christ. When they see Him, they are attracted to Him, even more so, He is irresistable to them. They hear of Jesus sacrificial, death defying, atoning love, His mercy, His kindness, His full forgiveness, His sure promises, and His altogether immeasurable unearned favor, yes, all of this, pointed toward them, all of Jesus Christ Himself, moving forward to embrace them. And here is the amazing truth about it all. Christ does this through us, His fishermen! These menfish are drawn to Christ through us. For we are Jesus Christ's representatives, and through us they see the character of Christ, and hear and embrace the beautiful good news of Christ, the gospel! Yes, they come and are joyfully caught in plenty.
Jesus said "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few." Can we not say with Jesus "The manfish ar plentiful, but the manfishers are few."?
Jesus told them "Come" and they left everything and followed Him, learning how to be manfishers! Are you fishing yet?
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
God's Moral Truth speaks to us in movies!
Last night I watched Spider man 3 with my grandsons.
Here are a few scenes and thoughts from the movie that even the secular world recognizes as wrong behavior, all the while embracing this behavior in our own lives.
Spider man kisses another woman even though he is proposing to his girlfriend.
Spider man shows off at a parade for the sake of his own ego.
Spider man seeking revenge, not justice
Spider man seeing women as sex objects as he is walking down the street.
The movie's theme is that Spider man is overtaken by some "symbiotic" substance, and the nature of the substance is to (overtake those who will not resist it, but embrace it(The Darkness)
The whole idea of the movie is that Spiderman is overtaken by evil, and the fans of Spiderman, what do they want? A worldly Spider man that seeks to respond in a dark way, or the good Spider man that seeks to respond with fairness and justice?
Will he overcome the darkness? Will the darkness overcome and possess him?
The truth is that as a viewer, we kind of like Spider man in his dark suit, for it feels more natural, more like we would want to respond if we had that power!
We relate better to the Spider man who shows no mercy to his enemy.
Yet we also know that this is not the nature of the "red" Spider man. Hmmm...
Every movie plays off of good and evil. Some movies elevate evil and darkness and sin as desirable, while others show the battle between good and evil, building in the viewer a hope for good's victory over evil.
What's my point? Moral truth is written in the heart of every man. Our movies address these truths in the viewer, and either seek to entice their viewer to embrace and take pleasure in the evil, in movies where we identify with the villain, live out our fantasies with the adulterer,or the wealthy, or the vigilante.
On the other side of the coin we are torn emotionally by truth's pain as we identify with loss of loved ones, sad love stories, and sad endings.
We cannot avoid the truth. We can only deny it, suppress it, or embrace it. Truth will never go away. We are all accountable, and truth shall always have it's effect upon us, either to teach us, judge us, or bless us.
Jesus said "Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness rather than the light...".
Jesus said "I am the Light of the world".
Here are a few scenes and thoughts from the movie that even the secular world recognizes as wrong behavior, all the while embracing this behavior in our own lives.
Spider man kisses another woman even though he is proposing to his girlfriend.
Spider man shows off at a parade for the sake of his own ego.
Spider man seeking revenge, not justice
Spider man seeing women as sex objects as he is walking down the street.
The movie's theme is that Spider man is overtaken by some "symbiotic" substance, and the nature of the substance is to (overtake those who will not resist it, but embrace it(The Darkness)
The whole idea of the movie is that Spiderman is overtaken by evil, and the fans of Spiderman, what do they want? A worldly Spider man that seeks to respond in a dark way, or the good Spider man that seeks to respond with fairness and justice?
Will he overcome the darkness? Will the darkness overcome and possess him?
The truth is that as a viewer, we kind of like Spider man in his dark suit, for it feels more natural, more like we would want to respond if we had that power!
We relate better to the Spider man who shows no mercy to his enemy.
Yet we also know that this is not the nature of the "red" Spider man. Hmmm...
Every movie plays off of good and evil. Some movies elevate evil and darkness and sin as desirable, while others show the battle between good and evil, building in the viewer a hope for good's victory over evil.
What's my point? Moral truth is written in the heart of every man. Our movies address these truths in the viewer, and either seek to entice their viewer to embrace and take pleasure in the evil, in movies where we identify with the villain, live out our fantasies with the adulterer,or the wealthy, or the vigilante.
On the other side of the coin we are torn emotionally by truth's pain as we identify with loss of loved ones, sad love stories, and sad endings.
We cannot avoid the truth. We can only deny it, suppress it, or embrace it. Truth will never go away. We are all accountable, and truth shall always have it's effect upon us, either to teach us, judge us, or bless us.
Jesus said "Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness rather than the light...".
Jesus said "I am the Light of the world".
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