Biblical
Subjects
Can the Living Communicate with the Dead?
In his informative book, Understanding
the New Age, Russell Chandler notes that nearly half
(42%) of America’s adult population believe they have
been in contact with someone who has died (1988). This
was up 15% from a survey conducted in 1977. Of course
there is nothing new about necromancy (attempting to
communicate with the dead); it is almost as old as death
itself. (More)
To What Law were Ancient Gentiles Accountable? 
“In the Old Testament era,
the Jews lived under the law of Moses. But what about
the ancient Gentiles? To what law were they responsible?”
This is a question that is
puzzling to many Bible students. Let us develop some foundational
points that will help in supplying an answer to this question. (More)
General
Topics
Background of Gautama and Buddhism
Buddhism began as a reformation movement
within Hinduism. Its founder was Siddhartha Gautama, who
was born about 563 B.C. in the ruler warrior caste of Hinduism.
(Died in 483.) His father, Suddhodana, was a Raja a chieftain
of the Sakya clan, a family of the Kshatriya (warrior-nobility)
caste of ancient Bharata. His father reigned over (Kapilavastu),
a small district on the slope of the Himalayas on the Indian
that borders between India and Nepal. (More)
5 Ds for a Healthy, Long-Term Weight Loss 
Instead
of dieting, focus on living. The following 5 tips will
help you shed weight without feeling hungry, improve your
health, and help you feel stronger and more vibrant than
you have in years. This is living. (More)
Child Labor
What images come to your mind
as you read the title of this article? Probably you are
thinking of the sweatshops of Asia and third world countries
where young children are being exploited as cheap labor.
We think of them working in poor and dangerous situations
producing inexpensive goods for those living in developed
countries. You may even think of the earlier days in our
country where children also worked long hours in unsafe
factories. (More)
The Christian and Work
What images come to your mind
as you read the title of this article? Probably you are
thinking of the sweatshops of Asia and third world countries
where young children are being exploited as cheap labor.
We think of them working in poor and dangerous situations
producing inexpensive goods for those living in developed
countries. You may even think of the earlier days in our
country where children also worked long hours in unsafe
factories. (More)
Toys and Play
Play and toys and children
go together like summer and sunshine and grass. It is just
natural for children to play. This helps them to develop
other instincts and skills.
Toys can teach, train, and influence the children. My brothers and I often rode horses which were
only sticks about five feet long. (More)
Robert
G. Ingersoll:
Apostle of Infidelity, Robber of Hope
Robert Ingersoll (1833-99)
was a mediocre Illinois lawyer whose flair for oratory
thrust him into fame in the latter portion of the nineteenth
century. He crisscrossed the nation lecturing to large
crowds with vitriolic tirades against the Bible. He charged
that the Scriptures contain “a great deal of error, considerable
barbarism and a most plentiful lack of good sense.” (More)
Biblical
Subjects
Forgive and
Be Forgiven!
I’m confident that most people are unaware of the utter
importance of human forgiveness. Let’s
explore what the Word of God says about this commonly misunderstood
topic. First,
let’s look at the Lord’s teaching on forgiving others. In
His model prayer, Jesus says, “Forgive us our debts, as
we also have forgiven our debtors” (Matthew 6:12). (More) General
Topics
Nostradamus:
Prophet
or Pretender?
Predictive
prophecy is one of the strongest evidences in support of
the biblical claim that the Scriptures are inspired of
God—only God knows the future. If the Bible contains genuine
prophecy, such would argue for its divine origin (see Isaiah
41:21-23). (More) Benny Hinn
on Salvation
Benny
Hinn, teaching on what it means to be saved: “Say
after me: ‘Within me, is a God-Man.’ Say it again: ‘Within
me, is a God-Man.’ Now, let’s say [it] even better than
that. Let’s say, ‘I am a God-Man.’…This spirit man within
me, is God—is a –is a God-Man. (More)
Biblical Subjects
Be
Separate!
"Wherefore come out from among them,
and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean
thing;..." II Cor. 6:17). From the very beginning of
time God warned His people to separate themselves from evil.
Not only were they to not become engulfed in evil, they were
not even to touch it. In the Garden of Eden God warned Adam and Eve of the
danger of becoming involved in sin. (More)
The Television Set
The World in Your Home
"Love
not the world, neither the things that are in the world
..." (1 John 2:15).
Among
the world's amusements, television is a great villain on
the highway of time. It is rocking people to sleep morally
and spiritually. Its sinister force of evil has crept into
the living rooms of countless homes. Revolting scenes of
lust and crime have gained (More)
Atheism:
The "Church" of Amorality 
How do atheists determine what
is moral or immoral? While they frequently claim there
is a “standard,” closer examination reveals that the name
of the game is “make up your own rules.” (More)
The Uniqueness of the Biblical Creation
Dr.
George A. Barton served as a professor of Semitic languages
at the University of Pennsylvania. At one time he also
was director of the American Schools of Oriental Research
in Jerusalem. He was recognized as an expert in biblical
archaeology. In his massive volume, Archaeology And
The Bible, first published in 1916, professor Barton
makes the following statement: “[T]here is no better measure
of the inspiration of the Biblical account [of creation]
than to put it side by side with the Babylonian [account
of creation]”(pp. 297-298). (More)
Jesus:
The Master Teacher
Nicodemus,
a ruler of the Jews, conceded that Jesus of Nazareth was “a
teacher” from God, as documented by the “signs” which he
did (John 3:2). A wealthy young ruler approached the Lord
asking, “Teacher, what good thing shall I do, that I may
have eternal life?” (Matthew 19:16). Even Jesus’ enemies
addressed him as “Teacher” (Matthew 22:16, 24), though
their use of the expression was not always genuine. The
Lord is addressed as “Teacher” twenty-nine times in the
Gospels. The noun (teacher) and verb (teach) combined are
used of Jesus some ninety times. (More)
The Folly of Atheism
Jesus
once warned: “Whosoever shall say, ‘You fool,’ shall be
in danger of the hell of fire” (Mt. 5:22). And yet elsewhere,
the Lord, in addressing the scribes and Pharisees, declared: “You
fools …” (23:17). While the superficial student might see
a conflict here, actually, there is none; the respective
passages are addressing different matters.
In
the earlier context, Christ is condemning the impulsive,
insulting use of hateful epithets for the purpose of venting
one’s personal hostility. “Fool” (Greek – more)
may be designed to reflect upon the character of an adversary,
in the sense of: “You scoundrel!” (Bruce, 107). (More)
The Age of the Earth 
Dr. Hugh Ross, a theologian/scientist,
who contends that the earth is billions of years old, has
characterized the issue of the age of the earth as “a trivial
doctrinal point” (1994, 11). Others allege that the Bible
simply does not speak to this matter. (More)
The "Plan
of Salvation"
and
the
" Churches
of Christ"
The American Restoration
Movement arose about 200 years ago in the Pennsylvania,
Ohio, Virginia
(West Virginia), and Kentucky regions of the infant United
States of America. Through the efforts of Thomas and
Alexander Campbell, Barton W. Stone, Walter Scott, and
other devoted
and capable men, people in different denominations chose
to leave their religious backgrounds and initiate a movement
to restore the “New Testament order of things.”
This
included proper beliefs and practices that they believed
represented the way of Christ and the apostles, as
taught and practiced in the first century but lost shortly
after
the New Testament period, and especially after the
time of Constantine and continuing during the apostasy
of
the middle ages. (More)
Is
the Bible Creation Account a Myth?
A student in my Bible class
says he believes that the Genesis account of the creation
may be a myth, or at least just symbolism. How do I respond
to him?
There are several lines of
evidence which may be employed to show that the Genesis
record of the creation is not a myth, nor is it symbolic.
(More)
The
Baha’i
Movement
One of the rapidly growing
religious movements today is the Baha’i group. Originating
in Iran in 1844, this cult has been established in thousands
of places around
the world.
The founder of this movement
was Mirza ’Muhammad,
who claimed to be the forerunner of one who would be known
as the great World Teacher. This Teacher, it is alleged,
would be the holy prophet who would usher in the latest revelation
from the Divine Source. He would unite the human family into
a syncretic conglomeration of diverse peoples, and inaugurate
an era of peace. (More)
Are
Science and
Faith Compatible?
Well are they? Can one believe
in the concept of a universe that was created by God, and
not be considered an anti-science ignoramus?
Many people have been led
to believe that faith in God and the facts of science are
mutually exclusive propositions. In one of his books, Vance
Packard declared that “the discoveries of astronomers,
geologists, and space explorers have undermined the faith
of all but the most devout.” He asserted that most
of those who still believe in God probably see him as some
sort of “force,” rather than a Person who is
observing human behavior (1968, 27). Has the god of “Star
Wars” replaced the God of the Bible in the minds
of many? Apparently so, but without justification. (More)
Profanity
Swearing,
Jesting and Joking
The Bible says: "A good man out of
the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which
is good: and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his
heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance
of the heart his mouth speaketh" (Luke 6:45). The use of profane words is very prevalent
in many places and is looked upon as being up to date in
many present day societies where the most Important thing—salvation—is
neglected. Webster associates profanity with: Not sacred
or holy, irreverent toward God and man, contempt for holy
things, blasphemy and serving to defile that which is holy.
(More)
Heart Attack!
Reduce Risk and Avoid Bypass Surgery Can
I reverse heart disease? If you’ve had a heart attack, or your
doctor says you’re dangerously close to one, there
may well be a solution.
Most heart disease results from atherosclerosis,
which is cholesterol build-up, or plaque, in the artery walls.
Many people are able to stabilize and even reverse atherosclerosis. (More)
Benefits of Walking
Walking seems like an enjoyable
activity, but isn't it too easy an exercise to really provide
much benefit in terms of fitness, weight loss, calories
burned and general health?
It would seem that way in
this age of “No pain, no gain,” “Give
110%,” “Just do it,” and other gung-ho
catchphrases. How can something so simple, so easy, so
relaxing, and so enjoyable actually be good for you? It
doesn't hurt, there's no “wall” to hit; in
fact it's actually fun! C'mon, how can walking the dog
on a sunny day have any real health benefit?
It seems we've all been a
bit misled during the fitness craze that's accompanied
the baby boom generation into believing that something
enjoyable can't possibly be beneficial. But the facts don't
support that view. There is ample evidence that walking
has a multitude of benefits. (More)
Biblical
Subjects
Are You Putting Jesus First?
What is your passion? What
really excites you? What provokes your interest, stimulates
your thoughts, motivates your life? Is it your job? Could
it be your boyfriend or girlfriend? Possibly it’s
your spouse or your grandchildren. Maybe it’s your
favorite sports team, your musical interests, your music,
favorite food, or your hobby. Whatever it may be, this
enthusiasm for something on earth really isn’t worth
living for! (More)
General
Topics
The Real Mary Magdalene
The name “Mary” appears 54 times
in the New Testament. There is Mary, the mother of Jesus
(Matthew 1:18), Mary Magdalene (Luke 8:2), and Mary, the
mother of James and Joses (Mark 15:40), who is likely the
same as the “other” Mary (Matthew 27:56,61; 28:1)
and “the wife of Clopas” (John 19:25). Also mentioned
are Mary of Bethany (John 11:1), Mary, the mother of Mark
(Acts 12:12), and Mary of Rome (Romans 16:6). Obviously,
Mary (Greek Maria or Mariam) was a popular name in New Testament
times. It still is today (see “The Most Popular...,” 2006).
No Mary has been more popular in recent
days, however, than Mary Magdalene. A plethora of new books
feature her, including Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code,
which is based on the false notion that she gave birth to
the heir of Christ, whose descendants supposedly survive
to this day. (More)
The DaVinci Code and the Uniqueness of Christ
Among the many unsubstantiated accusations
that author Dan Brown made in his bestselling novel The Da
Vinci Code is one regarding the “unoriginality” of
Christianity. Allegedly, “Nothing in Christianity is
original” (Brown, 2003, p. 232). As “proof” of
this statement, Brown’s fictional character, Sir Leigh
Teabing,asserts: “The pre-Christian God Mithras—called
the Son of God and the Light of the World—was born
on December 25, died, and was buried in a rock tomb, and
then resurrected in three days...." (More)
General Topics
Sexual
Anarchy in the City!
If it were any other disease,
a national state of emergency would be declared and the
entire nation would be mobilized to fight the plague. But
due to the moral decline that America has experienced in
the last half-century, few seem concerned, let alone alarmed.
The New York City Health Department just announced that
more than one-fourth (26%) of adult New Yorkers are infected
with Herpes Simplex 2--a lifelong,
sexually-transmitted infection that causes painful genital
sores and doubles
the risk of contracting HIV. The rates are higher among
homosexuals (32% versus 18%). (More) Living for
the Lord
in a Wicked World!
With
special reference to family life 
Devoted Christians may long for circumstances
that are “ideal” for
their walk with the Lord. They
may wish they were in an ideal marriage with ideal children. Surely
then living the Christian life would be enhanced! They
may wish for a perfect job where fellow-workers are all
God-fearing, sweet, and kind. Surely then it would be
easier to maintain a constant sense of God’s presence! They
may wish for plenty of time, adequate money, a comfortable
house, and agreeable friends—and with all of this, surely
their Christian life would be positive and fulfilling!
The trouble is that few of us have the ideal situation.
Most of us must live in less-than-ideal circumstances and
a few of us must live in horrible life circumstances. Particularly
when a person comes to Christ after living in a totally
worldly environment and among worldly people, he may be
forced to live in difficult conditions even after his conversion. How
is it possible to live a deeply spiritual life when one
must be in a worldly marriage, family, and environment? How
can one survive spiritually when he has a compromising
job or must live with an abusive and unspiritual spouse? (More) Obesity!
“So
whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all
to the glory of God” (1 Cor. 10:31). One
who is obese can hardly be said to be obeying the exhortation
of Paul to “present your bodies as a living sacrifice,
holy and acceptable to God” (Rom. 12:1). A
fat person is frequently lazy and laziness contributes
to overeating. A
fatty often eats himself into bodily misery and a diseased
condition.
According
to cold insurance statistics, a fat person will not live
as long as a person with normal weight. These
statistics tell us that for each pound of overweight
after the age of 35 our life, expectancy is decreased
by one percent.
(More)
Do You Tithe Your Time?
While
we do not stress the tithe and think that it has been
the cause of much harm, it has occurred to us that we
don’t do the same with our other stewardship—the use
of our time. God
gives each of us 24 hours in a day and 168 hours in a
week. Do
we tithe the time that God has allotted us? If
we insist on a tithe of our income, why not a tithe of
our time?
How
much would a tithe of our time be? Since
there are 24 hours in a day, a tithe of this would be
144 minutes, which is one-tenth of the 1,440 minutes
in a day. This
would be two hours and 24 minutes tithe each day. (More)
Is
it Wrong
to Smoke?
One
of the most dramatic changes in the United States over
the past years has been the change in smoking habits. For
instance, in 1964, some 44 percent of adults smoked,
but today this has decreased to 23.5% of men (26.2 million)
and 18.1% of women (20.9 million) in the United States. We
laud this change—one of the few changes for better in
society!
However,
in the world, smoking is increasing. About
1/3 of the global male population smokes! Every
8 seconds, someone dies from the use of tobacco! Twelve
times as many British have died from smoking as compared
to all of the British deaths during the Second World
War! (More)
Comments
on the News
Michael
Jackson
or God?
Nearly everyone has heard of Michael Jackson,
the eccentric superstar who died on June 25, 2009, in Los
Angeles. His
was a household name to millions, even tens of millions,
of people. In
fact, many in the world know of Michael since he performed
in many other countries. From
Bangkok to Tokyo, from London to Mexico City, from Los Angeles
to New York, from Paris to Berlin, Michael Jackson was well-known
and followed. Especially
during the 1980s, he had a massive following, until charges
of child molestation were brought against him. (More)
Warfare
on Fort Worth Streets!
Encountering
the
so-called
Jehovah’s Witnesses!
I would like to share a recent experience with you that
remains vividly in my memory. But
first we need a little background.
Everyday we read or hear of conflicts between nations. Armed
conflict is frequently the way fallen men choose to settle
disputes. In
today’s news, uprisings are happening in the nation of
Iran. Afghanistan
and Iraq continue to be filled with violence. War
with North Korea may erupt at any time.
But there is another kind of warfare that continues
unabated through history. It
is of even higher importance and greater consequence than
any physical battle. (More)
Biblical
Subjects
Have You Been
Transformed?
Exploring the
Meaning of Repentance
The majority of the earth’s people are living in the
realm of the world, directing their lives according to
the standards and values of this present age, allowing
their heart to be wedded to the passing pleasures and treasures
of the present, and under the judgment that God places
on those who do not know Him. (More)
Renewing
Your
Mind!
Your mind is more important than you may ever imagine! Your
life now and life eternally is directly related to what
is in your mind and the condition of your mind. Since
God created our mind—as well as our body—He is vitally
interested in this aspect of our life and has much to say
about it.
God says, “Watch over your heart with all diligence,
for from it flow the springs of life” (Proverbs 4:23). In
the Hebrew, the “heart” usually “refers to the mind as
the center of thinking and reason.” It
includes the emotions, the will, and the whole inner being. (More)
Shocked
and Surprised!
We have all been surprised to learn about some wonderful
event, an unexpected benefit, and a pleasant visit of a
friend. On
the other hand, we may also have been shocked with news
of a horrible accident, a disastrous turn of affairs, a
loss of a job, or the death of a family member. We
can’t go through life without having these surprises and
being shocked with unexpected and unwanted news.
Imagine along with me for a few moments. John
Spencer is a decent neighbor, a responsible husband, and
a good provider. He
likes baseball, camping, golf, pizza, his dog, and his
green, well-kept lawn. John
is also a good church member and seldom misses a Sunday
morning service at the church where he and his wife have
been members for many years. He
has even held a few church offices and is generous with
his charitable and church giving. John
is a friendly sort of person, well-liked by his fellow-workers
at the plant where he works. He
assumes that everything is fine, that he will age gracefully,
then go to heaven when he dies. (More)
Biblical
Subjects
The Narrow Gate
and the Narrow Way
Many
of Jesus' profound teachings are so simple. So it is with
His teaching about the strait gate and the narrow way.
He said, "Enter ye in at the strait [narrow] gate:
for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth
to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which
leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it' (Matt.
7:13,14).The illustration Jesus used is easily understood,
but the meaning wants to slip from us. (More)
General
Topics
The
Meaning, Purpose, and Importance of Baptism
In
a day when many Biblical topics have been either underemphasized, overemphasized
or even perverted in some significant way, we constantly
need to search the Word of God to learn the
will of Christ for our belief, life, and practice. “What
does Scripture say?” should ever be our concern.
One
subject that has suffered abuse for nearly two thousand
years is that of baptism. Some
have elevated a water ritual they call baptism to the level
of a saving sacrament that regenerates the soul separate
from his conscious response of faith. Others,
in opposition to this historic practice, view baptism as
merely a work the Christian does
subsequent to an assumed
salvation, an act that simply adds one to thevisible local
church. Both
of thesetheological extremes may be corrected by a careful
examination of the primary baptismal scriptures in the
Word of God. (More)
*
The
Seriousness of
Secret Sin!
We’ve
all read of nationally known personalities who were caught
in a private sin of some kind. It
may have been taking drugs, an adulterous affair, or a
financial compromise. Well
known preachers have also been exposed in their sins. We
think of the televangelist who was twice discovered to
have been seeingprostitutes, who later tearfully confessed
before the TV camera. More
recently there was a mega church leader, the president
of the National Association of Evangelicals, who was exposed
as having a relationship with a homosexual prostitute for
some length of time.
(More)
*
* * * *
Images
of Jesus?
How
do you pray to Jesus
without seeing an image of Him?
I never see
an image of Jesus when I pray. From my background as a Roman
Catholic
and one having a degree in fine arts, I've seen a lot of
images of Jesus that men have painted, drawn, or sculpted--but
none were true images. They were depictions of what artists
have in their minds regarding what they think Jesus looked
like. No matter how impressive any image may have been, it
was nevertheless a false image.
I've been told by some
Christians that having an image of Jesus in their mind helps
them with their prayer life. It may seem to help, and I'm
sure they are sincere, but their practice is neither practical
nor biblical. (More)
* * * * *
Biblical
Subjects
Hinduism
The word Hindu originated, not as
the name of a religion, but as a geographical marker. Hindu derives
from the Sanskrit word for river, sindhu, from which
the Indus River received its name. Sometime in the first
millennium B.C., the Persians, who were then South Asia’s
closest neighbors, mispronounced sindhu, and designated
the land around the Indus River as hindu. Over a thousand
years later, in A.D. 712, the Muslims invaded the Indus Valley.
To distinguish themselves, they called all non-Muslims hindus;
the name of the land became, by default, the name of the
people and their religion. (More)
* * * * *
Drifting and
Dreaming!
The Early Church
and the Present Church
Sunday had arrived and the fashionably attired
members were filing into the large brick church edifice.
The sanctuary bore the
unmistakable imprint of religion,
with its towering steeple, stained glass windows, and ornate
furnishings. The altar in front, with its candles, cross,
and floral arrangements, was the center focus to the gathered
worshipers. Some of the men halted on the stop step and took
a last.
(More)
* * * * *
Will
We Ever Wake Up?
Suppose that you lived in New Orleans and the Weather
Bureau issued an urgent warning of a huge hurricane that
would reach the city tomorrow! Would
you continue your life as usual, unconcerned about the
ominous storm that threatened? Or
would you desert your property, forsake your job, and
immediately escape with your life for a safer area? What
would you do? (More)
What the Bible Teaches
About
War
While
God commanded war in the Old Testament, He set forth
a new covenant of grace and peace in the New Testament.
God's
Son Jesus said, "Ye have
heard that it hath been said...But I say unto you..." to
contrast the old sayings with the new teachings. Through
Christ, God more fully revealed His perfect will. He
taught of loving instead of hating, blessing instead
of cursing,
forgiving instead of taking vengeance, and accepting
mistreatment rather than fighting back. These new teachings
were the
rule by which the apostles and early Christians lived.
They are also for Christians today. (More)
* * * * *
General
Topics
Christian Giving!
We are living
in an age of unprecedented financial prosperity! While
this is true of the United States, it is likewise true
of other Western and developed nations. Presently,
there are some 5,000,000 (five million) millionaires in
America, including 400
billionaires! Bill
Gates, with $39 billion, is the wealthiest man in the country! Americans
have more than $10 trillion worth of wealth! (This
is a long article!)
(More)
* * * * *
General Topics
It is common to ask a person we meet, “Who are you? What
is your name?” We
want to identify a new acquaintance and see if there is
any connection to anyone else we may know or any place
we have been. This
is the kind of question we read in the Bible itself. Certain
people came to John at the Jordan River and asked, “Who
are you?” (John 1:19). They
wanted to know his identity and mission. On
one occasion Jesus asked His disciples, “Who do people
say that I am?” (More
* * * * *
Biblical Subjects
Common
Misconceptions about Jesus Christ
Most
people, other than hardened skeptics, acknowledge that
Jesus Christ lived on earth two thousand years ago. Liberal
professing Christians may go beyond this and admit that
Jesus was a great teacher, a moral reformer, an accomplished
leader, and a worthyexample of life. Those
with an Evangelical perspective will freely acknowledge
that Jesus was the very sinless Son of God who died for
the sins of the world and who was raised from the dead
to be exalted to heaven. (More)
|
|
Biblical
Subjects
Judas Iscariot: From Apostle to Apostate
There is likely no character
in the Bible who lives in such infamy as that of Judas Iscariot.
But the treachery of the traitor is not the entire story, though
it is most prominently displayed. Unfortunately the dark side has
become the exclusive characterization of Calvinists. This article will
consider two aspects of Judas. (More)
The Crucifixion of Christ: The Real Emphasis
Mel Gibson’s extravaganza, “The
Passion of the Christ,” has made its public debut, and, contrary
to the dire financial forecast of the liberal prognosticators,
it is hundreds of millions of dollars.
As expected, though, it has
received mixed reviews. Some have charged that it is “anti-Semitic,” that
is, that it portrays a misleading view of the first-century Jews
and, at the very least, it will generate hateful, anti-Jew emotions
in an unstable society. (More)
Are There "Signs" of
the Second Coming of Christ?
Church history is replete with
examples of sensational “prophets” who have attracted public attention
with the claim of knowing the time of the Lord’s return. William Miller, founder of
the Adventist movement, announced that Christ would come in 1843;
when that prediction failed, a revision was made and 1844 was set.
That “prophecy” also has proved to be somewhat short of the mark. (More)
Do Christians Hate?
In 1998 a gay college student
was beaten, tied to a fence, and murdered outside Laramie, Wyoming.
The crime outraged the gay community and many other people across
North America. One sad thing about this murder was that Christians
received much of the blame for the crime. (More)
Sin Can't
Condemn Us?
Does sin have the power to condemn a Christian? If
a saved person chooses to sin, will that sin keep him from heaven? One
of the popular teachings in our day is that a Christian who has
been saved from sin cannot do anything that will allow him to be
lost in hell. Is this
a Biblical teaching? Did
Jesus teach it? Did
the New Testament writers proclaim it? (More)
Resurrection:
Literal, or Merely Symbolic?
All four of the
Gospel accounts affirm that Jesus Christ was raised from the dead
(Mt. 28:6; Mk. 16:6; Lk. 24:6; Jn. 20:9). Later, the apostle Paul
argues that the resurrection of Christ is the very foundation of
the Christian’s faith. (More)
Love Never Fails
My love for and relationship
with others is a very tangible way in which I can continue the
work of the Lord Himself. Jesus wants me to love other people as
He would love them were He here in the flesh. What a solemn opportunity;
what an incredible challenge. Of our own, we simply are not up
to it, but by His grace and love continuing to work in us. (More)
Walking Humbly with God Most of us pursue something
or another. Recognition. Satisfaction. Success. Marriage partner.
Things. Kindness. Service. Peace. Friendship. Self-control. Money.
Love. Truth. Some of these are worthy pursuits; others, unworthy.
Are these attainable? Do we have to exert ourselves in reaching
these? (More)
The Fruit
of the Spirit
Numerous times in the Apostle
Paul's writings, he shows the contrast between the flesh and the
Spirit. The flesh is the hothouse of wrong desire and thus of sin
and all its consequences. Following the flesh, minding the flesh,
or walking after the flesh leads to a darkened mind and a dulled
conscience. (More)
Sudden Death--
Sudden Eternity!
Yesterday, I felt a tight,
gripping sensation in my chest. Dizziness. Weakness. This morning
I still feel weak, distant, dizzy. Did I have a heart attack?
Maybe. God knows, doesn't He? Will I die soon? Many people will
die today -- I could be one of them.
Am I ready to die? (More)
Be
Humble and Kind!
Self-exaltation leads to shame.
The surest way down is pushing
myself up. The surest way to shame is glorifying myself. Jesus
illustrates both of these precepts in both of the life lessons
He presented. We see these precepts clearly enough in His first
parable; they are a little more hidden in His second lesson. (More)
General Topics
Islam Explained in
Layman Terms
Islam is not a religion, nor
is it a cult. In its fullest form, it is a complete, total,
100% system of life. Islam has religious, legal, political,
economic, social, and military components.... Islamization
begins when there are sufficient Muslims in a country to agitate
for their religious privileges. (More)
Biblical
Subjects
Do the Dead Observe the Earth's Activities?
“Is
there any Bible evidence that would indicate that members of
our family, who have passed on into the realm of the dead,
are aware of our activities on earth today?”
There
is no detailed discussion of this topic in the Bible. Our conclusions,
therefore, can be drawn only from isolated and sketchy portions
of Scripture. (More)
Baptized in One Spirit 
Acommon
iterpretation of John 3:34 is that God gives different measures
of the Holy Spirit.
The last part of the passage reads: "for
God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him" (KJV).
The line of reasoning has been that if God does not give the Spirit
by measure to Christ he must to others. This has produced a fourfold
classification of the measures of the Spirit: the unlimited measure
(given to Christ), the baptismal measure (given to the apostles
and the household of Cornelius), the miraculous measure (given
to some first-century Christians), and the indwelling measure (given
to all Christians). The result is to draw a distinction between
being baptized in the Holy Spirit (the baptismal measure) and receiving
the gift of the Holy Spirit (the indwelling measure). (More)
The Historicity of Jesus Christ
E.F.
Harrison wrote: “Some religions, both ancient and modern, require
no historical basis, for they depend upon ideas rather than events.
Christianity is not one of these” (1968, 11). The religion of Jesus
Christ stands or falls upon the events of history. Did Jesus of
Nazareth ever live? Is the New Testament data regarding him reliable?
This is a crucial issue. (More)
The Use of "Hell" in
the New Testament 
The
term “hell” is found twenty-three times in the King James Version
of the English Bible. There is a great deal of confusion among
religious folks regarding this word due to the fact that the English
form “hell” actually represents three different terms in the Greek
New Testament. Let us give consideration to this matter.
Hades
The
Greek hades is translated “hell” ten times in the
KJV. Most recent versions transliterate the term, bringing
it directly into
English as Hades. The
origin of the word is a bit obscure. (More) Are
the Dead Conscious?
There
is an ongoing controversy in the religious community as to whether
or not human beings, after death, exist in a state of consciousness.
The Watchtower movement claims: “The dead are shown to be ‘conscious
of nothing at all’ and the death state to be one of complete inactivity” (Aid
to Bible Understanding 1971, 431).
Unquestionably,
the Bible teaches otherwise. Though there are numerous arguments
that one might employ to establish the fact that the dead are aware
of their post-mortem existence, the narrative concerning the rich
man and Lazarus is one of the most comprehensive affirmations of
this truth. (More)
My Name
is Gossip
Many
people consider gossip to be a harmless pastime.
What about you?
“My Name Is Gossip. I have no respect for
justice. I maim without killing. I break hearts and ruin lives. I
am cunning and malicious and gather strength with age.
The more I am quoted the more I am believed. I flourish
at every level of society. My victims are helpless. They cannot protect
themselves against me because I have no name and no face. (More)
Times are
Changing!
In some ways,
the times are better, but in other ways, times are worse...
Probably one of the chief signs of
advancing age is looking back to the past and comparing it to the
present. Young
people aren’t able to do this as well. Their perspective is
limited to a few short years and even these years are not easily
judged. The only way they know about the past comes from reading
history and learning the account of those who have lived through
periods of time before them.
As one grows older --through middle
age, younger old age, and into older old age—he can see differences
and make comparisons. With the aid of history, he is able to draw
patterns and see trends in society and life in general. Of course,
he must beware of imagination—that of imagining the past
as “the
good old days” and forgetting the real negatives that were
found in his youth and before. (More)
Homosexuality
What Does the Bible Say?
"In olden days, a glimpse of
stocking was something shocking, now anything goes!" Too true
with too many implications. The moral standards of our country,
and even more so of the world, have been in a tail spin for decades.
Sexual promiscuity has become all too common among the young unmarried
and the married as well. (More)
Is America
the
Great Satan?
The regular accusation by radical
Muslims across the Islamic world is that America is “the Great Satan.” Surely
they say this because of what they see in the United States that
they find wrong. They believe that America is full of corruption,
immorality, debauchery, licentiousness, and unspeakable perversion.
Additionally, they think that this
country is opposed to Islam on many fronts, that it supports the
Muslim enemy of Israel,
and that
there is little good in the nation. They oppose the principle of
freedom and insist that entire nations should be ruled by the Koran
and Sharia Law. Many Muslims do appreciate the technological advancements
and the abundant resources in America, but this is not sufficient
for them to overlook the wickedness they find in the country. Is
America “the Great Satan”? This may
be answered in more than one way. (More)
Modern Psychology and the Bible
For the past several decades, “psychology” has
been a popular theme in American society. Countless students become “psychology
majors” as they matriculate through school. The Yellow Pages
of the phone book are filled with listings for psychologists and
psychiatrists. For many, it is the “in” thing to have
a therapist. Exactly what is “psychology,” and how
does this area of interest relate to the Bible? (More)
The "Eye" of the Evolutionary Storm
In 1993, we published our book, “The Human
Body: Accident or Design?” (Courier Publications) Therein we
called attention to the amazing design characteristic of the human
eye. Such design eloquently argues for a designer, namely God. Further,
it disputes the baseless notion that random processes in nature could
produce such a phenomenal instrument.
Even staunch evolutionists have been forced to acknowledge
that it is almost impossible to believe the eye could have developed
by chance. (More)
Our Amazing Zip Code System
A thousand years before the birth of Jesus, David,
king of Israel, exclaimed: “I will give thanks unto thee; for
I am fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14). Truly,
the human body is a masterpiece of design. The late George G. Simpson
of Harvard University, one of America’s all-time leading advocates
of the theory of evolution, once characterized man as “the
most highly endowed organization of matter that has yet appeared
on earth” (1949, 293). The professor spoke more than he knew!
According to medical authorities, the human body
is estimated to contain one hundred trillion cells. The cell is the
most fundamental unit of biological life. And it is intricately structured.
(More)
Show Her!
Don't Just Tell Her!
I read an article recently that touched me deeply;
it also prompted me to try to be a more demonstrative husband. That
of which I was reminded I would like to pass along to others who
may need a little nudge as well.
A delightful Christian lady in another
state wrote an excellent article in which she discussed the fact
that many men
have a difficult time verbally expressing their emotions. (More)
Scientific
Errors In The Qur'an 
If the Qur'an is the infallible Word
of God, then it stands to reason that it would not contain factual
errors of science.
By "factual errors" we mean errors that can be physically
examined. We are not talking about contradictions between scientific
theories and the Qur'an. We are talking about hard evidence that
can be checked out.
But first, there is a question we
must answer: "Is
it legitimate to judge the Qur'an?" Many Muslims believe in
the Qur'an as a blind leap of faith. They really do not care if it
is filled with mistakes and contradictions. As far as they are concerned,
they were born Muslim and they will die Muslim. The more closed minded
they are, the more fanatical they become in their religion. When
ignorance unites with arrogance, fanaticism is born. (More)
An Evaluation
of the Key Doctrines in the
Health and Wealth Faith Movement
The Christian Church has always seen divergent groups
arise from among its ranks that have emphasized certain doctrines
to such a degree that they have become synonymously associated with
their teachings. (1)
Likewise, 'the health and wealth faith movement',
sometimes also called 'the name it and claim it movement' (2) has
arisen deriving its titles from its primary teachings, namely that
all mature and spiritual Christians should be living lives of total
success, health and wealth, attained through positive confession.
In addition to these beliefs, many observers have
discerned other doctrines peculiar to the movement that have deviated
from the
beliefs of the traditional historic Christian Church. This essay
will therefore
seek to expound and evaluate the key doctrines of this movement. (More)
Did Jesus Authorize Situation Ethics?
Matthew 12:1-8
In this article I have been asked to explain, in
its context, Jesus' defense of his disciples in Matthew 12. The Pharisees
had accused them of unlawful activity on the Sabbath. This is a difficult
passage, and in misusing it, some are led to dangerous conclusions
regarding what God allows in our response to his laws. Among these
conclusions is the belief that on occasion, necessity outweighs the
precepts of God's law, and al-lows us to engage in unlawful activity
without guilt. I trust you will open your Bible and read the entire
passage, in its immediate context, in con-junction with this writer's
explanation of the text. (More)
Should A
Christian Go to the Movies?
The movies are evil, and they are made by evil people.
The people who make the movies would teach us that evil is good,
that there is no harm in doing evil things, and that crime does pay.
Let us notice some warnings in God’s word. "Wash you,
make ye clean; put away the evil of your doing from before mine eyes;
cease to do evil; learn to do well; seek the judgment." (Isa
1:16,17) Can we learn to do well if we participate in evil things?
(More)
Biblical
Subjects
Love Your Loved Ones
before They Die!
A friend of mine just lost her mother a couple of
days ago. She and her husband needed to travel across the country
to attend the funeral and care for the father who remains after the
loss of his wife. I understand that the death was not unexpected,
although the quickness of death did surprise everyone.
Everyone must face death—and this includes
our friends and family members. Paul reminds us that “in Adam
all die” (1 Corinthians 15:22), and the Hebrew writer adds, “It
is appointed for men to die once” (Hebrews 9:27). After Adam
sinned in the Garden, death has been the common lot of everyone who
has lived, for “through one man sin entered into the world,
and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all
sinned” (Romans 5:12). Death has always been regarded as “the
king of terrors” (Job. 18:14). (More)
Simple, Sensible
Savings
Balance your budget and eat sensibly with these
simple tips that add up to surprising savings. (More)
The Wages of Sin and the Free Gift of God
It is a text of dual emphases. The one is darkly
foreboding, the other magnificently exhilarating. Paul wrote: “For
the wages of sin is death; but the free gift of God is eternal life
in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).
It cannot be determined exactly when the church
in Rome was established. Perhaps those Jews and proselytes who were
present in Jerusalem on Pentecost (Acts 2:10) migrated back to the
Imperial City and planted the cause of Jesus. By the time Paul penned
the epistle to the Romans (perhaps a quarter of a century later),
the glowing reputation of this church was known throughout the empire
(Romans 1:8). The letter is doctrinal (chapters 1-11), practical
(chapters 12-15), and personal (chapter 16). (More)
Things God
Cannot
Do!
Both Christians and atheists generally have assumed
that if the God depicted in the Bible exists, He can do anything—since
He is represented as being all-powerful. However, this assumption
is incorrect. The Bible does not claim that the omnipotence of God
implies that He can do anything and everything. In reality, “omnipotence” does
not, and cannot, apply to that which does not lend itself to power.
Skeptics and atheists have posed queries that they feel nullify the
notion of omnipotence, thereby demonstrating the nonexistence of
God. For example, “Can God create a boulder so large that He,
Himself, cannot lift it?” (More)
Is "Re-Baptism"
Scriptural?
What
about the issue of “re-baptism”? Some say that “re-baptism” should
never be practiced—no matter what the circumstances of
one’s original baptism were. But what do the Scriptures
say? Read this article and reflect upon the nature of your own
baptism, in light of the biblical teaching regarding this divine
ordinance.
Is there ever a justification for being “re-baptized”?
I have questioned my baptism. I was very young and really did not
comprehend the seriousness of what I was doing. I have considered
being baptized again, but some say that it would not be right to
be baptized a second time. (More)
General
Topics
Living with
a
Girlfriend
or Boyfriend?
Is it Really
Wrong?
Years ago I was speaking with a fellow-worker
who claimed to be a Christian. He off-handedly said that he was
living with his girlfriend. I asked him how he reconciled living
with a woman while claiming to be a Christian. He expressed surprise
that living with one of the opposite sex was sinful! I went on
to point out that the Bible calls this “fornication” and
God considers it to be a serious sin that will condemn those who
remain unrepentant. (More)
I'm a Good Christian!
So Why am I
Sick and Poor?
One should never allow life’s difficulties
to distort his view of God. A gentleman who professed an identification
with the Lord, became quite disenchanted with Christianity. When
an interested
friend inquired as to the nature of his problem, he replied:
“According to the Bible, God promised that those who follow him will be
blessed with health and prosperity. As I observe Christian people, I see vast
numbers who are sick and poor. I can no longer believe, therefore, in the promises
of God.”
What response should be made to this troubled man?
(More) Biblical
Subjects
The Value of Human Suffering
It
has been said that there is no greater education than matriculating
through the University of Hard Knocks. One thing is certain;
many who have passed through the crucible of suffering will acknowledge
that they have found themselves infinitely better for the experience—bitter
though it may have been. . . .
Atheism, of course, alleges
that the problem of human suffering represents one of the more
formidable arguments against the existence of a powerful and
loving God. (More)
Seven "Laws"
to Pray By
Does the privilege
of prayer apply equally to every one? Are there limitations on
objectives for which one may pray? Are there conditions regulating
the effectiveness of prayer? Let us reflect upon these challenging
questions.
Prayer comes very close to
being a basic human instinct. When one is in a life-threatening
danger, the inclination is to pray. When the sorrows of human
existence come crashing in and the heart is crushed under the
burden, one can scarcely restrain himself from calling out for
help—even when no discernable person is present. (More)
A Quick Look at a Scriptural Assembly
If
Lucius should walk into a modern cathedral, would he recognize
it as being the same religion he lived as a member of the community
at Antioch (Acts 13:1)? Should
beloved sister Dorcas visit one of the luxurious religious edifices,
would she identify it as the same Christianity she practiced in
her home town of Joppa (Acts 9:36)? What
would these early saints think about our form of church government? What
would they say about the pope, bishop, archbishop, nuns, friars,
presidents, synods, resident ministers, and all such?
Would
they question our formality in worship? And
how about the organ, choir, altar, pulpit, candles, incense, and
the like? Would they
recognize the modern clergy as the counterpart to such preachers
such as Peter and Paul? Would they draw a bold contrast between
the modern stereotyped “sermon” which is delivered from a pretentious
pulpit by a hired preacher who sells his wares much like a merchant
sells his goods and the simple, unassuming worship of their day
where each brother was a minister, not because he was paid to be
but because he was saved to be? (More)
How Serious is Remarriage?
Many
religious people, ones who are good church members, enjoy hearing
sermons about the love of God. They
may even read books that speak of self-achievement and self-fulfillment
with God’s help. But
when it comes to instruction on the will of God, they turn away
in unconcern. Some
even are repulsed when it comes to teaching from Scripture that
makes demands on their life.
Since
divorce is so common and remarriage often follows a divorce,
many people just assume that this is acceptable to God. Or
they may admit that it is not part of God’s “perfect will,” but
He will accept it as part of His fallen creation. After
all, He is a loving and merciful God and surely He will not
hinder our happiness in life, including our romance and love
life. He is not
a demanding God, One who issues commands and really expects
obedience. So goes
the common ideas of our society. Sadly,
it is also the perspective of far too many religious and church
people and not only the entirely unchurched society! (More)
Living for Time
--Or Eternity
Few
of us treat the issues of eternity and one’s eternal destiny
with the awesome respect that this deserves. This
is one of the clearest demonstrations of misplaced priorities
and mistaken perspectives.
Someone
has well said that to be diligently concerned about the passing
things in this life is like straightening the pictures on the
wall in the Titanic as it was sinking!
This
world and everything in it will be destroyed and this may occur
very soon (2 Peter 3:9-14). If
this all will pass away (1 John 2:17), why do we insist on
being preoccupied with these passing things? Paul
wrote, “Knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you
to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than
when we believed” (Romans 13:11). (More)
Are We to Fear God?
The word “fear” appears in
the New King James Version of the Bible 367 times. In some of these
occurrences, the text is expounding upon “the fear of the Lord” and
its relationship to wisdom (cf. Job 28:28; Psalm 111:10; Proverbs
1:7). In numerous other passages of Scripture, one can read where
God commands that His creation fear Him (Leviticus 25:17; Deuteronomy
6:13; Matthew 10:28; et al.). It is widely known that one of the
repeated truths in the Bible is that God’s “mercy is on those who
fear Him” (Luke 1:50).
It also is well known, however,
that in the New Testament Paul informed Timothy that “God has not given
us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2
Timothy 1:7). The apostle John went even further, saying, “There
is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear, because fear
involves torment” (1 John 4:18). (More)
General
Topics
Families Divided!
God’s
plan is always best. He
knows what is good for each person, each marriage, each family,
and for society at large. In
the beginning, the Lord wanted a man and a woman to marry, bear
children, and raise those children in the nurture, discipline,
and love so that His will would be followed and bring glory to
Him. Those who respect
God and His Will seek to please Him in this way today.
Sadly, God’s
will concerning marriage and the family is largely ignored. Even
among the people of God before Christ, we often observe marital
and family strife. There
was strife between Sarah and Hagar and between Rachel and Leah. There
was disharmony between Moses and his brother and sister. Eli’s
sons as well as Samuel’s sons were disobedient and rebellious. There
was much strife and disrespect among David’s children. Solomon
often wrote of marital strife and disrespect of children in the
book of Proverbs. (More)
The Test of Money
When we go to school, we can expect to be tested. When
we want to drive a car, we face a driving test. When
we have a medical condition, we may be tested. The
most important tests we have come from God!
God places tests before us to determine the condition
of our heart. He allows
circumstances to develop so that our real self, the condition of
our heart, may be manifested. It
may be a sickness, a rejection by a loved one, the loss of a job,
the slander of neighbors, or a prominent personal defeat. On
the other hand, it may be something that the world considers a
success—a marriage, the birth of a child, a raise at work, a new
house, a personal achievement, a financial gift, or an inheritance. God
uses a variety of events in life to test the condition of our heart. (More)
Biblical
Subjects
What God Wants
in the
Community
of Christ
Have you ever asked the questions: What were the
early Christians like? What
was Christ’s desire for His body? What
was God’s plan for His family, the community of saints? What
divine instructions were given to the early believers? Long
before the Catholic and Orthodox Churches arose in the fourth century,
long before the Protestant Churches developed in the sixteenth and
following centuries, long before the various cults were founded in
the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, what were the first Christians
like? (More)
"Christian"
Rock
Music
Christian or Satanic?
This tract carefully details the Biblical screens any
music must pass before it can be labeled as "Christian" (Eph.
5:18,19; Col. 3:16); i.e., the music must contain correct
doctrine, and (a) its lyrics should be edifying, spiritually
oriented, clear, conforming to biblical truth, and point our focus
to Jesus Christ, (b) its score (the arrangement of the musical
notes) should not overshadow the message conveyed by the lyrics,
but should compliment it, and (c) its character (the "attitudes" in
the music and of the performers) should be consistent with the purity
of the message it claims to convey (reverence, worshipful, etc.).
(Each of the above screens must stand on its own; i.e., one "good" aspect
of the music's nature cannot sanctify any of the others.) (Please
refer to Eph. 5:18,19 and Col. 3:16 at the end of this report.) (More)
* * * * *
Restating the Obvious
about Bible Translations
George Orwell (pseudonym for Eric Blair)
of ANIMAL FARM and 1984 fame is commonly quoted as saying that circumstances
have "sunk to a depth at which the restatement of the obvious
is the first duty of the intelligent man." I have been unable
so far to track this quote down to its exact reference, but inasmuch
as I have seen it ascribed in three different sources to Orwell,
I feel safe in assuming that it really is hisremark.
The churning, muddied
waters of the present English Bible translation dispute have sadly
obscured
the obvious and most basic truth of the whole matter. That basic
and obvious truth which cries out to be repeated is this--The whole
PURPOSE for having aBible translation--the very reason for itsexistence--is
to convey in words which people DO understand the meaning of words
(in the Greek and Hebrew originals) which people DO NOT understand.
(More)
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