A Difference of Style?

I find this interesting. 

2 Timothy 4:2-5(NKJV)

Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. 

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 

and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. 

But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

Here is what I find interesting about it.  Paul seems to be saying "do whatever it takes to convince people to accept Jesus.".  But is that what Jesus would do?
 

My belief is that today's Christians expend way to many resources and energy trying to convince people to accept Christ.  What should they do instead?  Present the gospel, give people a chance to choose, accept their choice, and move on.  There are more people out there that need to hear the Gospel for the first time  so that they can make a choice.  To me that seemed be the way Jesus did things. 
 

As you read the Gospels you see where more than once Jesus simply tells them that if they want to play games and ask gotcha questions, they can pound sand.  He, Jesus, wasn't going to play their silly games and answer their gotcha questions.  In other words, He wasn't going to try and talk them into it.

I guess I attribute this to a difference of style more than anything else.  Is it a big deal?  Not to me.  The Bible quite clearly tells us that we all have different strengths and abilities chosen and given to us by God to accomplish His purposes in our lives.  So it makes sense that we are all different and we are all going to approach our work for God in the way that He directs us, we won't all be doing it the same.  Pretty cool actually!

Does Scripture Put Limits On Charity?

This is one issue that I think today's Christians get wrong.  There seems to be belief that no matter what people do as far as rejecting God, they are still deserving of charity.  I disagree.  I believe that Scripture tells us that some do not deserve charity.  I offer this Scripture as proof. 

1 Timothy 5:9-16(NKJV)

Do not let a widow under sixty years old be taken into the number, and not unless she has been the wife of one man, 

well reported for good works: if she has brought up children, if she has lodged strangers, if she has washed the saints’ feet, if she has relieved the afflicted, if she has diligently followed every good work.

But refuse the younger widows; for when they have begun to grow wanton against Christ, they desire to marry, 

having condemnation because they have cast off their first faith. 

And besides they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house, and not only idle but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not. 

Therefore I desire that the younger widows marry, bear children, manage the house, give no opportunity to the adversary to speak reproachfully. 

For some have already turned aside after Satan. 

If any believing man or woman has widows, let them relieve them, and do not let the church be burdened, that it may relieve those who are really widows.

Here is one Scripture, there are more, that do put limits on charity and it even gives the reasons for the limits.  I think we should learn from that!

Using the Bible to hurt...blah, blah, blah.

Here is another Scripture to refute the Facebook meme that "if you are suing the Bible to hurt people you are using it wrong".

1 Timothy 5:20(NKJV)

Those who are sinning rebuke in the presence of all, that the rest also may fear.

Now you'll notice that those who say that are usually trying to deflect criticism of something that they are doing. 

This Scripture, along with others that I have posted, say just the opposite.  This Scripture tells us that we are to confront sinning publically in the presence of others.  It even tells us why it should be done. 

Now might somebody be hurt by that?  Probably.  Does that mean we shouldn't do it?  Not according to Scripture.   

So who you going to listen to?  A Facebook meme or the Bible? 

But Paul, what about that whole forgiveness thing?

But Paul, what about that whole forgiveness thing?

2 Timothy 4:14-15(NKJV)

Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm. May the Lord repay him according to his works. 

You also must beware of him, for he has greatly resisted our words.

Not sensing a lot of forgiveness here.  Paul is asking God to give this guy what he deserves.  At least that is what a lot of people in our modern culture would say.  Non-Christians seem to think that we Christians should let people walk all over us and then greet them with a big wet kiss and a hug afterwards.  To do anything less shows that you didn't forgive them and are being hateful.
 

To which I say BS.  Forgiving someone but still wanting to see them punished for what they have done are two separate things.  I can think of no better way to illustrate that than to look to Jesus.

2 Corinthians 5:10(NKJV)

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. 

Scripture tells us that Jesus died for our sins.  When we accept Jesus we get eternal life.  But as the above Scripture tells us we must still stand before the judgment seat of Christ and our rewards in Heaven will be adjusted based on the good and bad in our lives.  We get eternal life but we don't escape all punishment.   

Just another example of why it is so important to know your Bible so that you aren't led astray buy those who like to twist the Bible to their own unrighteous purposes. 

Another Scriptural strike against Kumbaya Jesus

Ran across this verse today.  As the title says, this is another Scriptural strike against Kumbaya Jesus in my opinion.

2 Timothy 4:1(NKJV)

I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: 

If Kumbaya Jesus is going to let everyone in no matter if the embrace or reject Him, then why does Scripture tell us that Jesus will judge the living and dead at his return?  If He was just going to let everyone in what need is there for Him to judge anything?  Hmmm?

How come God never wanted vegetables sacrificed? :)

As I was driving today a funny thought occurred to me.  In the Old Testament where it describes the sacrifices it often cites meat an fat burring on the fire and making a pleasing aroma to God.  But not once do I remember God mentioning the pleasing aroma of vegetables on the fire.

Here in the USA we are celebrating Labor Day this weekend.  A weekend when we traditionally cook on the grill.  Let's all throw a steak on the grill and send up a huge pleasing aroma to God this weekend.

Have a blessed weekend and I'll be back on Tuesday!

God and Ayn Rand - Oh the irony! :)

My favorite book in the world is the Bible.  I have spent countless hours studying it and have lost track of how many times I have read it through.

My second favorite book is Atlas Shrugged, a book written by atheist Ayn Rand.  Some people find that ironic and somewhat hard to reconcile.  I don't.  This Scripture helps explain why.

2 Timothy 1:7(NKJV)

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

This is actually another of my foundational verses.  Some much in one short verse.  All through the Bible God tells us not to fear and I have given my belief that fear is a physical manifestation of lack of faith.  Well this verse also tells us point blank that God did not give us a spirit of fear.  So if we allow fear into our lives we are allowing an influence that isn't from God.

What kind of spirit did God give us?  Well first he gave us a spirit of power!  Now that seems to stand at odds with Jesus telling us the 'meek shall inherit the earth doesn't it"?  I believe that is because many people have in incorrect understanding of what is meant by meek but we'll save that discussion for another time.

Next Scripture tells us that God gave us a spirit of love.  I agree.  I think that is where our yearning to help our fellow man comes from.  Here is what Any Rand had to say about love.

"Love is the expression of one's values, the greatest reward you can earn for the moral qualities you have achieved in your character and person, the emotional price paid by one man for the joy he receives from the virtues of another."  Ayn Rand

I don't see any real conflict there, do you?

And lastly God gave us a spirit of sound mind.  In other words God didn't build "mind numbed robots".  He gave humans an intellect and Scripture gives us plenty of warning that God expects us to use that intellect.  Here is one example.

2 Timothy 2:14-15(NKJV)

Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. 

Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 

I think we can all agree that it takes a sound mind to listen to both sides of an argument and then "rightly divide the truth" does it not?

Any Rand was a champion of reason and the supremacy of the mind of man over all of the other animals on earth.  It is that reason, that intellect, that elevates us and is why I believe that God gave man dominion over all on earth.

Let me end with another Any Rand quote. 

"To achieve, you need thought. You have to know what you are doing and that's real power."

Ayn Rand

If you haven't read Atlas Shrugged I would highly recommend it.  Disregard her atheism and learn from the rest.

Who is John Galt?