Great dreams require great courage. And for each one who is equal to the task, there are others who come along side to assist us on our journey.

With this sentiment in mind, we pause to consider national challenges of our past, present, and future -- while acknowledging those who have come along side to help make a difference.

Happy Thanksgiving,

Roy Tanner




With Gratitude

While each generation is tested and found grateful in its own way, what was originally celebrated at that first Thanksgiving?

Looking back, we find the custom, of setting aside one day in honor of God’s grace and providence, starting in the 17th century. The 1st (Plymouth) Thanksgiving took place in 1621, in the Fall after the Pilgrims arrived. The British North American colonies that eventually formed the United States of America were settled by men and women who (in the face of European persecution) refused to compromise passionately held religious convictions.

The New England colonies: New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Maryland -- were conceived and established as "plantations of religion." They enthusiastically supported their leaders efforts to create "a city on a hill" for a "holy experiment," whose success would prove that God’s plan for His church could be successfully realized in the American wilderness.

The historic 1620 voyage of the Mayflower started with 102 passengers, lasted 60 days and was perilous to the all lives aboard. This initial landing party, later referred to as Pilgrims, comprised the founders of New England. The difficulty in clearing land, brutal Winter storms, and disease, claimed the lives of over half the colony that first year.

However, by the grace of God, the fortitude of the settlers, and the help of the Wampanoag indians, the Pilgrims prevailed. Considering their good fortune, the original Thanksgiving was motivated by the plentiful harvest, peace and friendship with the natives, and the establishment of a free colony that would honor God.

Since then, Thanksgiving proclamations have followed by City Founders, U.S. Presidents, and successive Congressional bodies, noting God’s protection and provision. In 1777, the Continental Congress proclaimed the 1st national Thanksgiving. Successive proclamations would also follow by Presidents: Washington, Adams, Monroe, Lincoln, and Roosevelt.

In each generation, Thanksgiving has become all the more dear to those who were called upon to prevail in the midst of revolution, civil war, economic depression, and various threats to freedom posed by the ideological spread of Nazism, Communism, and terrorism. And with each trial, Americans summon anew a courage born of the conviction -- that it's in God we trust.

So this Thanksgiving, when we call to mind the providential grace that God has lavished upon us, let us also be mindful of the means to these ends -- the courageous men and women who have gone before us. Let's remember, that as the recipients of their hard-fought gains -- to whom much has been given, much is required.

And may those who have gone before us find us faithful in carrying on the godly traditions that made this country great...with gratitude.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



2004 "Thank You" Acknowledgements...

My Top 5 List:

5) President Bush - I believe God raised up a principled servant from Midland, Texas for such a time as this. I also recommend you read David Aikman's book "A Man of Faith," to really grasp what has shaped the life of George W. Bush. I don't know about you, but I personally take great comfort in knowing that the 43rd President of the United States -- the most powerful man in the world, is also a man who daily renews his commitment to live the life -- of a man of faith.

4) Military Veterans - There is no greater love, than to lay down your life for your fellow man. And while ever having to resort to war is tragic in and of itself, in the course of human events, on occasion "just wars" must be waged to prevent even greater human tragedy. So for those who, at great personal sacrifice, have risked life and limb in defense of our country, let me extend my deepest admiration and gratitude. Service men and women of our armed forces -- I salute you.

3) Values Voters - To those who expended their time, talent, and treasure in volunteer work to make the 2004 campaigns and election so successful let me say...thank you. And to those who summoned the courage to look beyond the expedient course of immediate gratification, who prayerfully counted the cost of wearing the mantle of "citizen" in the greatest nation on earth, because you took a stand for righteousness in our time -- future generations will say...thank you.

2) Family & friends - For some reason it seems as if those nearest and dearest to me, never adequately receive the love, appreciation, and gratitude that they so richly deserve -- just for being who you are. So in this season of thanksgiving, allow me to personally acknowledge my wife Wendy, my daughter's Jackie & Erika, my Mom & Dad, my brothers and sisters, my Church family, and my friends elsewhere. You have provided me (and countless others) blessings in this life, that are sure to echo in eternity.

1) The Almighty - Think for a moment. What do we have of any merit or value that wasn't first granted to us from above? Surely all that is praiseworthy comes from Him, and rightly should be for Him, and ultimately will be to Him. And how I long to stand in that assembly which will praise the Father, Son and Holy Spirit forever.

Roy Tanner




Uprising

The Revolution of a Man's Soul. This is a call to enlist -- to join an army of godly men who want nothing less than to change the world. Of course, that means personal change; a willingness to be transformed from the inside out; to let Christ be not only our Savior but the Sovereign Lord of every area of our lives.

Are you ready for that? Are you willing? Yes, it will involve hardship and sacrifice -- these times require nothing less. And while we honor the valor and sacrifice of our public safety workers and the courageous warriors engaged in the physical battle around the world, we need men willing to represent the Lord in the dangerous, confusing and morally ambiguous times we live in today.

Here in 2004, we at PK realize that as men of God we all have a long way to go. Not only is our country threatened by radical terrorists out to destroy everything we stand for, but our nation continues its moral slide away from God, the Bible and its own Christian heritage. America today is literally under attack from within and without, and yet we seem powerless to stop the slippage, much less bring positive change. Clearly, we're in need of renewal and revival. In short, the revolution of our souls.

In light of this, over the next couple of days (and beyond) we'll be focusing on three "quests." The quest for honor. The quest for nobility. And the quest for enlightenment. As Erwin McManus says in his book Uprising, "God calls you to dream great dreams and to have the courage to live them. Great dreams require great courage."

That's the charge. That's where we're going. There are many more men to reach with the Gospel. Do you hear the call to impact the world around them the way the early disciples did? They were referred to as, "these who have turned the world upside down." I believe that Promise Keepers' best days are still ahead. Join us and let's change the world!

Tom Fortson
President/CEO


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

More About PK...

Promise Keepers is a Christ-centered organization dedicated to introducing men to Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord; and then helping them to grow as Christians. This is mainly accomplished through their Seven Promises and men's conference ministry. Millions of men have participated since 1990 when PK first began.

The Seven Promises are as follows:

A Promise Keeper is committed to honoring Jesus Christ through worship, prayer and obedience to God's Word in the power of the Holy Spirit.

A Promise Keeper is committed to pursuing vital relationships with a few other men, understanding that he needs brothers to help him keep his promises.

A Promise Keeper is committed to practicing spiritual, moral, ethical, and sexual purity.

A Promise Keeper is committed to building strong marriages and families through love, protection and biblical values.

A Promise Keeper is committed to supporting the mission of his church by honoring and praying for his pastor, and by actively giving his time and resources.

A Promise Keeper is committed to reaching beyond any racial and denominational barriers to demonstrate the power of biblical unity.

A Promise Keeper is committed to influencing his world, being obedient to the Great Commandment (see Mark 12:30-31) and the Great Commission (see Matthew 28:19-20 ).


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Updates...

In Orlando, Fla. - Nov. 6, 2004 - nearly 13,000 men and boys in central Florida worked on the inside… of their lives. Promise Keepers (PK), the international ministry to men, hosted "Uprising - The Revolution of a Man’s Soul" at T.D. Waterhouse Centre. The event was re-scheduled due to the path of Hurricane Charley last August.

Author of Uprising - the book - Erwin McManus outlined the three great quests for men this weekend: Honor, Nobility, and Enlightenment. At the program’s climatic ending on Saturday, the men declared, "I am ready to join the Uprising! I commit to being a revolutionary to living a life of honor and nobility. I will leave those around me better than when I found them."

On Saturday morning, conference attendees raised more than 6000 pounds of canned food for the downtown Orlando Union Rescue Mission.

On Friday night, Missouri camp director and cancer survivor Joe White portrayed a heart surgeon to encourage men to receive "a new heart, a changed heart." More than 2000 men responded to White’s invitation to the Christian faith, 375 of whom confessed Jesus Christ as Lord for the very first time.

PROMISE KEEPERS RETURNS TO CENTRAL FLORIDA IN ’05

Promise Keepers locates one of its U.S. men’s conferences next year at T.D. Waterhouse Centre in Orlando on August 19-20, 2005. The theme for 2005 is "The Awakening." Registration for the 2005 season is available online or by calling 1-800-888-7595.




Revisiting The Big Picture

Prophecy - Signs
Tuesday, November 09, 2004
Jack Kinsella - Omega Letter Editor

Now that the dust has begun to settle -- slightly -- from Election 2004, one can catch a glimpse through the haze at a world in transition. A world that appears to be aligning itself to Bible prophecy for the last days as if deliberately following a script.

I spend almost all my waking hours studying global trends as they pertain to the Bible's description of the last days. An unhappy consequence of this is what could be termed the 'yawn factor' -- something along the lines of the old saying, 'familiarity breeds contempt'.

'Contempt' is not the right word, which is why I named it the 'yawn factor'. Some of you will be able to relate, I think.

For example, I recall how incredibly excited I was by a December issue of TIME Magazine in 1992 devoted to coverage of the emerging European Union.

The magazine was filled with unintended apocalyptic imagery, such as the use of the symbol of Europa astride Minos (a woman astride a beast). In the magazine, Minos (the beast) was even colored scarlet by the artist!

("So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet colored beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. -- Revelation 17:3)

The new EU consisted of ten full member states and there was much speculation about how that would influence the Group of Seven leading industrialized nations, since four of its members were European, giving the new European Union an automatic majority.

Even more stunning was TIME's publication of the EU's commemorative stamp, depicting Europa riding the beast over a stream in which there were porpoises jumping, symbolizing the EU's vastly expanded control of the world's waterways.

("Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters:" -- Revelation 17:1)

Boy, did that get my blood to pumping! But that was a dozen years ago, and it opened the floodgates for so many other fulfillments of prophecy for the last days that, after awhile, the 'gee whiz' factor began to fade and the 'yawn factor' took over.

Now and then, it helps to step back and look at the Big Picture to rekindle that excitement. Particularly following some world-changing event such as Election 2004.

For the last dozen years, the world has been lurching toward a single, seminal event in human history -- a global effort to remove the last physical reminder of God [Israel] from the face of the earth.

During the Tribulation Period, the Church is absent, removed by the Rapture. The Tribulation saints are those Jews and Gentiles who get saved during the final seven years of human government.

Earlier this week, I received an email from a disgruntled Canadian liberal I know that included his own version of the US electoral map.

My friend clearly intended the parody map as an insult to the collective intelligence of the American voter, but it could not have come as a higher compliment. Indeed, it got my blood flowing in much the same way as that twelve-year old TIME Magazine article did.

When one considers the Rapture as the possible answer to the question, "Where is America in Bible Prophecy?" -- the concept of America as 'JesusLand' is quite encouraging. The emergence of 'JesusLand' dovetails with the ever-expanding role of the European Union in the global political scene, particularly in the Middle East.

The EU continues to seek ways to insinuate itself into the Arab/Israeli peace process, convinced that Washington is too pro-Israel to be an honest broker.

The war on terror comes at exactly the right moment in history for the EU's argument to have credibility, particularly since a Bush presidency politically unencumbered, by virtue of its recent mandate, will be much more likely to expand the battlefield to include Syria and Iran.

While Israel is extremely wary of Europe's rampant anti-Semitism, if the EU offers a credible hope for peace, the Israelis have already proved they will bargain with anyone. (After all, they bargained with Yasser Arafat.)

Now, with Yasser Arafat dead (although being kept warm by life support -- think 'Weekend at Bernie's 2") the various Palestinian factions (all 14 of them) are re-evaluating their failed war with Israel.

It isn't too optimistic to suggest they may actually reverse course as a last resort and resume efforts towards a negotiated settlement with Israel.

Such a settlement would obviously include taking down Israel's hated security fence, creating the modern 'land of unwalled villages' described by Ezekiel for the last days. It would undoubtedly include some kind of settlement regarding Jerusalem and the Temple Mount -- it is not impossible to envision the two sides sharing the complex -- there is enough room -- provided the EU were able to offer some credible security guarantees.

Despite its protests of friendship with the West, Russia continues to pursue it's policy of forging alliances with Middle East dictatorships. Despite the war on terror, Moscow continues to facilitate terror groups like Hezbollah through its relationship with Iran (Persia).

The EU, despite consisting nominally of 28 states, is divided into different tiers of membership, with the original ten members remaining the only 'full' members of the EU. The original ten ("Old Europe") is where we find the most virulent anti-American bloc of European states. The newer members, mostly from Eastern Europe, having been freed from Soviet domination by the US, are much more pro-America.

Daniel's image of Revived Rome's ten toes, partly strong and partly weak, like 'iron mixed with miry clay' (Daniel 2:41) could not be more perfectly descriptive.

So, stepping back to look at the Big Picture, as we approach the close of the 4th year of the 21st century, it looks something like this:

JesusLand is going forth to do battle with the forces of Islam, which has dedicated itself to the destruction of both Israel and JesusLand. At the same time, revived Rome is seeking some kind of accommodation with Islamic terror, while simultaneously jockeying for a role in the post-Yasser Arafat peace process.

Russia continues to develop its Islamic alliances in the Middle East, playing both sides against the middle in the war on terror, a practice that can only lead to an eventual confrontation with Israel. With JesusLand removed from the picture, Israel would be the only physical reminder on earth that Islam's Allah is an imposter god.

The U.N.'s Millennium Peace Summit of Religious and Spiritual Leaders, heavily backed by the EU, is advancing the concept first enunciated by Episcopal Bishop William Swing for a United Religions Zone. They've been working on the details since the Millennium Peace Summit held in New York in August, 2000.

Only one thing holds back the forces of Islam, keeps the EU in its place, ensures Israel's continued survival, restrains the Gog-Magog alliance, prevents the antichrist from seizing global power and dooms the UN's Millennium Peace Summit's United Religion Zone's plan to mediocrity.

JesusLand.

It's time to get excited! It is time to get off the couch and shout from the housetops that Jesus is coming soon for His Church. For the last dozen years, we've witnessed the final preparations for the coming Tribulation come together at breakneck speed.

The world is primed and ready for that charismatic leader to arise from the revived Roman Empire and announce a solution to the Arab/Israeli conflict that has raged, virtually unabated, for the last four thousand years.

It is ready for a kinder, gentler, more inclusive religious system that eschews fundamentalism and embraces diversity, a global religious system that includes everybody except Jesus.

It is tired of Israel, sick to death of hearing about the Holocaust, unimpressed by Israel's Biblical deed to the Holy Land, and prepared to impose a solution on the Jews, whether they like it or not.

But JesusLand is in the way. For now.

"And when these things BEGIN TO COME TO PASS, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh." (Luke 21:28)

The election results are pre-determined...before a single vote is cast. No, I'm not trying to advance the latest conspiracy theory -- just testifying to the sovereignty of God in the affairs of men (Daniel 2:21).

Depending on which Christian school of thought you align with, God, to a greater or lesser degree, preordains the course of human history. From the "prescient viewpoint" mankind's free-will is emphasized, with predestination resting upon God's foreknowledge of history. By contrast, the "Augustinian view" of God's sovereignty suggests that all of history is merely the outworking of His-story -- predestined, before the world began.

In light of either of these sovereign vantage points, political elections can be viewed as more than just contests between opposing candidates. One might also conclude that they're more like referendums on the collective heart and soul of a nation (1 Samuel 8:19). Essentially the people, represented by their electors, vie for a prevailing national worldview every four years.

This year we have conservative supporters backing a principled incumbent that humbly consults the Almighty for wisdom before adopting an unshakeable position. On the other hand, we have the liberal camp promoting a mercurial candidate, who's decidedly populist approach is subject to change based on circumstances. But it's through this contention, between those who believe in government versus those who trust in God, that the Almighty's hand moves to either bless or curse the nation.

In a future known only to God, are answers to questions like: Have we reached the tipping-point in American society where revival will return to the nation? Are America's best days yet future, or will God judge the "zeitgeist" in this culture, subjecting us to leadership that reflects our increasingly secular outlook?

This month we consider the spiritual dimensions of an election that promises a record turn-out. We begin by examining our personal destiny, in the light of the doctrine of election. Then, to discern the collective direction of our nation, we address the contending ideals of the 21st century? Finally, given our polarity of worldviews, we discuss how best to reach out our culture?

It is my hope, that through the prayerful intercession of God's people, we continue to enjoy His blessing on our nation -- as reflected in our election.

Roy Tanner



Election
by Grace To You

Election is the act of God whereby in eternity past He chose those who will be saved. Election is unconditional, because it does not depend on anything outside of God, such as good works or foreseen faith (Romans 9:16). This doctrine is repeatedly taught in the Bible, and is also demanded by our knowledge of God. To begin with, let's look at the biblical evidence.

The Bible says prior to salvation, all people are dead in sin-- spiritually dead (Ephesians 2:1-3). In this state of death, the sinner is utterly unable to respond to any spiritual stimulus and therefore unable to love God, obey Him, or please Him in any way. Scripture says the mind of every unbeliever "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 8:7-8, emphasis added). That describes a state of total hopelessness: spiritual death.

The effect of all this is that no sinner can ever make the first move in the salvation process. This is what Jesus meant in John 6:44, when He said, "No one can come to Me, unless the Father who sent Me draws him."

This is also why the Bible repeatedly stresses that salvation is wholly God's work. In Acts 13:48 we read, "And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord; and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed."

Acts 16 tells us that Lydia was saved when, " . . . the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul."

Romans 8:29-30 states, "For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first-born among many brethren; and whom He predestined, these He also called; and whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified."

Ephesians 1:4-5,11 reads, "Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will . . . also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will."

Ephesians 2:8 suggests that even our faith is a gift from God.

In 2 Thessalonians 2:13, the apostle Paul tells his readers, "God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation."

Second Timothy 1:9 informs us that God "has saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity."

Occasionally someone will suggest that God's election is based on His foreknowledge of certain events. This argument suggests that God simply looks into the future to see who will believe, and He chooses those whom He sees choosing Him. Notice that 1 Peter 1:2 says the elect are chosen "according to the foreknowledge of God the Father," and Romans 8:29 says, "whom He foreknew, He also predestined." And if divine foreknowledge simply means God's knowledge of what will happen in advance, then these arguments may appear to have some weight behind them.

But that is not the biblical meaning of "foreknowledge." When the Bible speaks of God's foreknowledge, it refers to God's establishment of a love relationship with that person. The word "know," in both the Old and New Testament, refers to much more than mere cognitive knowledge of a person. Such passages as Hosea 13:4-5; Amos 3:2 (KJV); and Romans 11:2 clearly indicate this. For example, 1 Peter 1:20 says Christ was "foreknown before the foundation of the world." Surely this means more than that God the Father looked into the future to behold Christ! It means He had an eternal, loving relationship with Him. The same is true of the elect, whom we are told God "foreknew" (Romans 8:29). That means He knew them--he loved them--before the foundation of the world.

If God's choice of the elect is unconditional, does this rule out human responsibility? Paul asks and answers that very question in Romans 9:19-20. He says God's choice of the elect is an act of mercy. Left to themselves, even the elect would persist in sin and be lost, because they are taken from the same fallen lump of clay as the rest of humanity. God alone is responsible for their salvation, but that does not eradicate the responsibility of those who persist in sin and are lost--because they do it willfully, and not under compulsion. They are responsible for their sin, not God.

The Bible affirms human responsibility right alongside the doctrine of divine sovereignty. Moreover, the offer of mercy in the gospel is extended to all alike. Isaiah 55:1 and Revelation 22:17 call "whosoever will" to be saved. Isaiah 45:22 and Acts 17:30 command all men to turn to God, repent and be saved. First Timothy 2:4 and 2 Peter 3:9 tell us that God is not willing that any should perish, but desires that all should be saved. Finally, the Lord Jesus said that, "the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out" (John 6:37).

In summary, we can say that God has had a special love relationship with the elect from all eternity, and on the basis of that love relationship chosen them for salvation. The ultimate question of why God chose some for salvation and left others in their sinful state is one that we, with our finite knowledge, cannot answer. We do know that God's attributes always are in perfect harmony with each other, so that God's sovereignty will always operate in perfect harmony with His goodness, love, wisdom, and justice.

For further study see: J. I. Packer, Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 1961).



The American War
Commentary on the News
Sunday, March 21, 2004
Jack Kinsella - Omega Letter Editor


A culture war has been raging in the United States for years. Unlike traditional wars, it cannot be won by military action, but it is a real war, being carried out on US soil by US citizens against one another.

For example, when San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom defied state law by allowing same-sex marriage licenses, a New York Times profile reported him sporting "a wide grin," "describing his motives as pure and principled," and cited his "business acumen, money, good looks and friends in the right places."

But when Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore also defied the law -- by installing a Ten Commandments display in his public building -- a Times profile said that "civil liberties groups accused Justice Moore of turning a courthouse into a church," while allowing that he had also become "an Alabama folk hero."

On the editorial page, the Times criticized Moore, likening him to George Wallace standing in the schoolhouse door, but supports Newsom's protest and gay marriage.

America's culture war can be defined as conservative vs. liberal, Right vs. Left, rich vs. poor, Democrat vs. Republican but in reality, the war is between believers in Christ and believers in the world system, both inside and outside of mainstream Christian culture.

It isn't really a war between cultures so much as it is a spiritual conflict. For example, while polls show a majority of Americans oppose gay marriage, some of the country's top editorial pages support it.

"Same-sex marriages pose no threat to anyone but rather affirm a commitment of love, an emotion that is universal," says the Boston Globe.

"We believe that extending the benefits and responsibilities of marriage to same-sex couples would be fair and beneficial; we understand that many Americans feel otherwise," says The Washington Post.

"Clearly those who claim that it signals the end of civilization need to get their outrage odometers adjusted," says the Los Angeles Times.

Polls demonstrate the culture war between Christ and the world is taking casualties within mainstream Christian culture as well: A poll conducted by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life suggest that opposition to same-sex marriage is widespread among white evangelical Protestants (84 percent) and blacks (65 percent).

Other mainline Protestant Christians showed a 20-point drop in opposition to same-sex marriage (from 64 percent to 44) and a 19-point drop among white Roman Catholics (from 60 percent to 41 percent) but only a 1-point decline among white evangelical Christians and African Americans. Do you see a pattern developing?

Another front in the culture war is the battle raging over Mel Gibson's movie, "The Passion of the Christ." Before it was even released, it had ignited passions across the country.

"Too gory!" exclaimed movie reviewers. The same movie reviewers loved Quentin Tarantino's "Kill Bill" and "Pulp Fiction." Not to mention "A Nightmare on Elm Street" "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" and "Natural Born Killers" all of which have achieved 'cult film status' and are immune to criticism. The same reviewers who criticized "The Passion" for its gore cheered the historical accuracy of the first thirty minutes of "Saving Private Ryan."

The culture war isn't over the movie, but rather the subject material -- namely the Salvation of the human race. The world system doesn't like to think that it needs salvation, and it doesn't like to be reminded of the historical Jesus.

If the Passion of Jesus is real, then hell is real. And if hell is real, then it becomes decision time. And to the world, 'decision time' means giving up all the 'fun stuff' -- something they would rather not do.

So rather than admitting outright that their real objection is to Christianity in general, they fall back on whatever seems safe. Anti-Semitism, or too much gore, or historical 'inaccuracies' that didn't seem to bother anybody when reviewing "The Last Temptation of Christ" or "Jesus Christ, Superstar".

Abortion is another example -- recently the Los Angeles Times corrected a review about a play that celebrated fertility (a favorite subject of the world) in which the reviewer called the play 'pro-life'. Although the play had NOTHING to do with abortion, the LA Times' editors changed 'pro-life' to 'anti-abortion'.

The words 'pro-life' are forbidden by the Times' editorial board because it might give the impression that if those opposing abortion are 'pro-life' then those who favor it are 'pro-death' or 'anti-life'. 'Anti-abortion' strikes the right semantic 'balance'; who wants to be 'anti' something? Especially since the opposite of pro-life is, by definition, anti-life?

Last week, the UC Student Senate passed a bill to give $2,400 to send 10 buses of students to a pro-abortion rally in Washington. That is considered 'education' but you won't find public universities shelling out funds to send students to a pro-life rally.

Cincinnati's Xavier College ponied up $30,000 to pay lunatic left-winger Michael Moore to address the student body. Some students wanted to hear from conservative columnist Walter Williams. They even put up $10,000 of their own money. Xavier refused to kick in the balance of $3000.00 -- about ten percent of what they paid Moore.

That the world is well aware of the spiritual conflict is easily seen by the automatic assumption that anybody who is pro-life must be a Bible thumping born-again Christian, so financing such a student trip would violate the alleged 'Separation Clause'.

Polls show the majority of Americans are pro-life, but the world system equates being pro-life to Jesus Christ. And hates it.

The spiritual war raging in America is taking place at the same time a larger spiritual conflict has gripped the whole world. Unlike America's war, this one IS being fought using bullets and bombs. That war pits Muslims against Jews and Christians, which is what brought it to America's shores. Because America is rapidly becoming one of the last strongholds of Christianity left in the world.

While there are more Christians in China than there are Americans on earth, no nation on earth has more Christians per capita and no nation on earth exerts more global influence than 'Christian' America.

The culture war raging in America represent the opening skirmishes in the coming War of Armageddon that rages throughout the Tribulation Period.

Consider what would happen to America if suddenly, there were no Christians remaining to continue the spiritual conflict with the world system. What if the only worldview left in America were the one espoused by the liberal left and the God-haters?

What would it mean to America's global status? What if there was nobody to restrain Ted Kennedy or John Kerry or Jay Rockefeller's doctrine of internationalism? What if there were no Christians left for Islam to fight?

One of the spiritual wars taking place in America right now concerns whether or not America is really a Christian country to begin with. In America, pledging allegiance to one nation 'under God' is already illegal. So is displaying the Ten Commandments on public land.

If there were no Christians, America's culture war would be over and the stage would be set for the War of Armageddon to begin in earnest. The Armageddon War isn't against the Church, it is against Israel and the Tribulation saints.

What would happen if, suddenly, Christianity disappeared from the face of the earth is outlined by the Apostle Paul. Paul had taught in his first Epistle to the Thessalonians of the coming Rapture of the Church.

"For this we say unto you by the Word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words." (1 Thessalonians 4:15-18)

In his Second Epistle, Paul is specifically addressing a heresy that was being taught in Thessalonica that the Lord had already returned for His Church and that they had been left behind.

"Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto Him, That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;" (2nd Thessalonians 2:1-3)

Paul outlines the spiritual conflict, saying that "the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only He who now letteth will let, until He be taken out of the way."

The NIV translates this same verse, "For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the One who now holds it back will continue to do so till He is taken out of the way."

The One Who 'holds it back' is the Holy Spirit of God indwelling the Church. The Holy Spirit is God. God is omnipresent, meaning He is everywhere. The Psalmist wrote; "If I ascend up into heaven, Thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, Thou art there." (Psalms 127:8)

It is only AFTER the restraining influence of the indwelt Church is removed, Paul says, that the Antichrist can come to power. "And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the Spirit of His Mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of His coming:" (2 Thessalonians 2:8)

Note that the text makes 'that Wicked' a proper noun, and that he will be destroyed by the 2nd Coming of Christ at the conclusion of the Tribulation Period. The identification of 'that Wicked' as the antichrist is obvious from the context.

After the indwelling of the Holy Spirit is 'taken out of the way' Paul explains the 'strong delusion' that will cause the secular world to embrace the antichrist.

"And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness." (2nd Thessalonians 2:11-12)

The Rapture would decimate the United States, hand victory to the internationalists, the liberals, the homosexual movement, the God-haters and the abortionists in a war they undoubtedly will think they have won.

It is obvious that the only thing restraining evil today is the believing Church. For those to be left behind, the conditioning process has already begun.

The Rapture is at hand. That means there isn't much time left for us to fulfill our commission as watchmen on the wall.

The King is coming! Tell somebody.

Excerpted from the Omega Letter Daily Intelligence Digest, Vol: 30 Issue: 18



How to Confront the Culture

You may know I pastor a church in Los Angeles, California. I have the blessed privilege of mining the truth from God’s Word every week of my life. Doing that in L.A. only makes it more interesting, if for no other reason than the tremendous diversity of people, culture, and language here. When we take the gospel to our city, it’s amazing to watch God’s Word transcend the culture—and every false religion—to change lives. The message of salvation in Christ truly knows no hindrance.

If you think evangelism is a somewhat arduous task in that environment, you’re right. We face a culture that has rejected absolute truth and now considers it stylish to openly embrace and encourage degrading passions. The ecumenical, syncretistic spirit of the age recoils in horror at the exclusive claims of Christ. And popular, evangelical seeker-sensitive churches only make the task more difficult by refusing to confront sin in an effort to make the “unchurched” sinner comfortable.

Preaching today is clearly out of season (2 Tim. 4:2) and evangelism is difficult, but that’s nothing new. Paul faced worse challenges in his day. He faced an increasingly anti-Christian culture—there was no spirit of tolerance to shield believers from hostility. Still, he preached the gospel of Jesus Christ–a hard, uncompromising message of repentance. That is best illustrated in Acts 17:16-34 where Paul faced one of the most intellectually erudite and morally corrupt audiences ever–the philosophers on Mars Hill.

The Situation: Acts 17:16-21Paul came to Athens after being forced to flee Thessalonica and Berea (Acts 17:1-15). Athens was the heart of Greek culture and thought, renowned for its art and philosophy and some of the most famous philosophers. The founders of two dominant philosophies, Epicurus (Epicureanism) and Zeno (Stoicism), had taught in Athens.

Athens was also the home of almost every man-made god in existence. The pagan writer Petronius once said it was easier to find a god in Athens than a man. In fact it was Athenian idolatry that drove Paul to preach the gospel in Athens—such idolatry offended him to the core (v. 16). In customary fashion, he marched directly to the local synagogue and was reasoning from the Scriptures (cf. v. 2) “with the Jews and the God-fearing Gentiles, and in the market place every day with those who happened to be present” (v. 17).

Some Epicurean and Stoic philosophers heard Paul’s message in the market place and brought him to the Areopagus on Mars Hill before some of the most astute philosophers in Athens. They had no interest in the gospel; Paul was simply a novelty to them. They set him in their midst as a specimen that would amuse their interest in “telling or hearing something new” (v. 21). That’s the setting for Paul’s message and method for confronting a godless culture.

The Method: Acts 17:22-34Paul spoke his message to an indifferent and arrogant audience, like many to whom you and I speak today. As we look at how Paul preached to the philosophers, you’ll see three essential elements of an effective message to confront our post-Christian culture with the truth.

First, tell them that God is (vv. 22-23). Here’s Paul’s first point: “You are ignorant and I’m going to give you the truth.” Try recommending that opening line at an evangelism conference. Some people think Paul commended their religiosity when he mentioned their many objects of worship. He wasn’t commending them at all–their idols infuriated him (v. 16). Rather, he started with a given: all men are innately religious. All men are created to be worshipers–they either worship God or something else, but everyone worships something. The Athenians were no different.

Externally, God has given witness about Himself through what He created: “The heavens are telling of the glory of God; and their expanse is declaring the work of His hands” (Ps. 19:1). Internally, according to Romans 1:19: “that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them.” They have an innate sense of the true God of the Bible, His standards are written on their hearts, and their consciences hold them accountable (Rom. 2:14-15). But because of sin, they “suppress the truth in unrighteousness” (Rom. 1:18). They willfully reject what they know to be true and choose instead to worship in ignorance.

Second, tell them who God is (vv. 24-29). This is Paul’s lesson to the ignorant about the unknown God. This is Theology 101. It’s ironic that Paul was teaching the ABCs of theology to those who were known worldwide as supreme intellectuals. It proves the truth of 1 Corinthians 1:25: “The foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.” Here are five things ignorant, rebellious men need to know about the “Unknown God.”

God is the Creator. Verse 24a: He “made the world and all things in it.” In Paul’s day and ours, the truth makes no room for men’s opinions regarding origins.God is the Ruler. Verse 24b: “He is Lord of heaven and earth [and] does not dwell in temples made with hands.” It logically follows that if God is the Creator, He is also the rightful Ruler of what He created. And if He is Creator and Ruler, He doesn’t live in what His creatures have made.

God is the Giver. Verse 25: “He [is not] served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things.” Far from needing anything from men, the Creator “causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous” (Matt. 5:45).

God is the Controller. Verse 26: “He made from one man every nation of mankind … having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation.” That statement was a blow to the national pride of the Greeks, who scornfully referred to non-Greeks as “barbarians.” Nonetheless, God controls the affairs and destinies of men and nations.

God is the Revealer. Verses 27-29: Men should “seek God … He is not far from each one of us … Being then the children of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like [anything] formed by the art and thought of man.” God, by creating, ruling, giving, and controlling all things, has clearly revealed Himself in what He has made—men are truly without excuse (Rom. 1:20).

Third, tell them what God says (vv. 30-31). Paul’s evangelism method ends with a simple, powerful point: tell them to repent or be judged. In the past, God was patient. But a day is coming when He will judge the world through Jesus Christ. God gave sufficient proof of the truth of His Word in the resurrection of His Son—He holds all men accountable to that evidence. His grace in the past and His wrath in the future require repentance in the present. As Paul said elsewhere, “Now is ‘the acceptable time,’ behold, now is ‘the day of salvation’” (2 Cor. 6:2).

That message isn’t popular today, but then again, it has never been popular. “Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some began to sneer … so Paul went out of their midst” (v. 32-33). I mentioned earlier that Paul’s method was effective, and it is. Look at verse 34: “But some men joined him and believed, among whom also were Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.” It was effective to save those whom God chose to save. Paul was faithful to proclaim the truth. He left the results to God.

From Athens to Los Angeles, first century to twenty-first century and everywhere in between, repentance may not be popular, but it’s still the gospel. Teach this post-Christian culture about God and then command repentance. That’s the only message we have; without it, no one would be saved.

Adapted from Acts 13-28, The MacArthur New Testament Commentary © 1996. All rights reserved.

Whose side is God on, the Republican's or Democrat's? Shhh...Neither one (see Joshua 5:13-15). God is on God's side. But as followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, we are called to support candidates with positions consistent with biblical teaching. So as it relates to the 2004 election (described by many as the most important in modern history) -- what role will you play on God's side?

This month we consider these issues by examining how God's people can make an impact for His glory. We begin by suggesting a better balance in the debate over "separation" Of Church & State, which tends to marginalize Christians.

We follow this up with a couple of articles provided by the Christian Coalition, which suggest specific ways to make a difference in this election, as we Join God's Army, while being mindful of What Churches Can and Cannot Do.

Lastly, we provide an article by Reverend Jerry Falwell, entitled Calling all pastors of courage. Specific information is included here on the upcoming pastoral summit "Politics and the Pulpit" (Sept, 26-29). In effect, all of these articles comprise a balanced Call to Action for the Church.

As mentioned in We Will Pray for Election Day, by Thomas Freiling & Michael Klassen, in this upcoming election, let's not ask for God to join our side, or to assume that He's already there. Rather let's pray, "God, give us your heart. Show us your way. Help us to know where You are so we can join You in Your work -- and taste the fruit of Your blessing."

Roy Tanner

Of Church & State

Christians in America face a historic opportunity this November.

Elected leaders will make decisions that determine the nation's direction for the next four years...and beyond. There will be nomination and ratification of Supreme Court and State Supreme Court justices. Legislation that defines what constitutes a family and what constitutes a viable human life will be decided. Tax and economic determinations that dramatically affect the rich and poor will be passed. And decrees that ensure our freedom to worship God and share our faith in Christ will be voted on.

In We Will Pray for Election Day, Thomas Freiling & Michael Klassen report that "many political observers say that more than any other election in modern history, the 2004 race could change the course of the United States of America. That is because the government is almost evenly divided between Republicans and Democrats. If either party takes a majority of the races on November 2nd, we would soon see a major shift in the kinds of laws that get passed and enforced."

So what impact can Christians make in the 2004 national elections? According to the NAE, "we make up better than one quarter of all voters in the most powerful nation in history. Never before has God given Christians such an awesome opportunity to shape public policy in ways that could improve the well being of the entire world." With all that's at stake, "disengagement is not an option. We must seek God's face for biblical faithfulness and abundant wisdom to rise to this unique challenge."

We engage in public life because Jesus is Lord over every area of life. Through Him all things were created (Col. 1:16-17), and by him all things will be brought to fullness (Rom. 8:19-21). "To restrict our stewardship and political concerns to the private sphere alone, would be to deny an important part of His dominion, and to functionally abandon it to the Evil One. We know that we must wait for God to bring about the fullness of the kingdom at Christ's return, but for the interim, the Lord calls the Church to speak prophetically to society and to work for the renewal and reform of its structures."

In Essential Truths of the Christian Faith, Dr. R. C. Sproal noted that "in our day, the concept of separation of church and state has been widely misinterpreted to mean the separation of state and God. More and more civil government seeks to be out from "under" God. It seeks autonomous power and authority. When the church cries "foul' the church is criticized for intruding into the domain of the state. The church, however, is not trying to be the state. The church, in offering prophetic criticism, is calling the state to be the state as God ordained it and rules over it."

In their Faithful Citizenship statement, Catholic leadership also suggests that when we bring our moral convictions into public life "we do not threaten democracy or pluralism but enrich them and the nation. The separation of church and state doesn't require division between belief and public action, between moral principles and political choices, but protects the right of believers and religious groups to practice their faith and act on their values in public life."

According to Bishop Wenski, "the stakes are high. For Christians today, flight from the world or surrender to the world cannot be options. For if we flee from the world -- including the world of politics -- we would just relegate ourselves to second class citizenship. But when we enter the world on politics, we must do so as Christians. To make our faith "private," without consequence for our public positions, is to surrender to the world. In doing so, we lose our identity as Christians."

The NAE recently drafted an evangelical declaration, "For the Health of the Nation: An Evangelical Call to Civic Responsibility." In this document they concluded that you and I are to "commit ourselves to support Christians who engage in political and social action in a manner consistent with biblical teachings. We call on Christian leaders in public office or with expertise in public policy and political life, to help us deepen our perspective so that we might better fulfill our civic responsibility."

They went on to say, "We call on Christians to vote and communicate biblical values to their government representatives. We urge Christians to take their civic repsonsibility seriously even when they are not fulltime political activists, so that they might more adequately call those in government to their task."

Essentially, the Bible affirms the following key points:

1. In this dispensation, church and state are two distinct institutions ordained by God and answerable to Him for their respective tasks.
2. Civil authority is ordained by God and given the power of the sword.
3. No government is autonomous or separated from God.
4. When governments seek to be autonomous, it is the duty of the church to criticize them.
5. However, obedience to government authority is a sacred duty for every Christian. Civil law must be scrupulously followed, unless it is contrary to the Word of God.

(For additional reflection refer to 2 Chronicles 26:16-20; Psalm 2:10-12; Romans 13:1-7; 1 Timothy 2:1-4; and 1 Peter 2:13-17)

Last but not least, we are reminded "above all, we are to commit ourselves to regular prayer for those who govern, that God may prosper their imperfect efforts to nurture life, justice, freedom, and peace."

Roy Tanner

For additional reading on this subject also see Lausanne Covenant (Quixote Ministries, May) and Till Kingdom Come, American Citizen (Regent Forum, March)



Join God's Army
Make a Difference

Today, Christians are playing an active role in government again by uniting to stand up for families and people of faith. Hundreds of pro-family political leaders have been elected to local, state, and federal office. Pro-family activism is changing policy and influencing decisions from school boards all the way to the US Congress. You can help by joining with us.

Add your voice to the millions across America who have said it's time for people of faith to speak up and become involved. With your help, innocent human lives will no longer go unprotected by our laws, more public schools will at least meet minimum standards, and fewer of our young people will be snared by drugs, violence, and sexual promiscuity.

Your becoming involved means that Christian Coalition of America can distribute more voter guides and scorecards, train more activists and sway more crucial votes in Congress and the states. By joining with us, you won't just sway one vote -- you will impact America forever.

Set a Christ-centered example for others to follow. It seems there is an incredible void of worthy role models suitable enough for our kids to admire and emulate. Action item: Become a Prayer Coordinator

Pray daily for our nation and for it's leaders. For the believer, this is more than just merely a good practice. God's Word instructs that we pray for our leaders. Action Item: Join the Christian Coalition prayer email list.

Become involved. This is exactly why The Christian Coalition of America came into existence. For far too long people of faith have sat on the sidelines watching as their values and principles have been walked on and regarded as invalid. The Christian Coalition of America involves people of faith in having a voice in their government. You don't have to be a politician in order to make a difference. All that you must do is be willing to let your voice be heard, then exercise the privilege of voicing it. Action Item: Join a Local Christian Coalition Chapter

Be a Church Liaison. Studies indicate that as many as three-quarters of church attending, self-identified Christians do not vote regularly. And, only half of those eligible to vote are registered. The role of a Church Liaison, although not difficult, is one of the most important positions in the organization and one that can have the greatest impact. Becoming involved as a Christian Coalition Liaison in your local church provides a means for enabling you to make a difference in your town, state, and even the nation. Action Item: If you would like to talk with someone about you or your church's involvement please call (202) 479-6900.


What Churches Can and Cannot Do

The impact of The Christian Coalition can easily be traced one election at a time. With your help, we print and distribute tens of millions of non-partisan voter guides give to the electorate an impartial and accurate record of where candidates stand on issues of importance to pro-family voters.

With the approval of your pastor, you can become a participant and have a positive impact on our great nation by becoming a Church Liaison. As a liaison you may: 1) Conduct voter registration drives in the church; 2) Distribute non-partisan voter guides and legislative scorecards; 3) Form and oversee a Citizenship Ministry in order to help involve fellow church members in Christian citizenship.

What Churches May Do:

• Conduct non-partisan voter registration drives
• Distribute non-partisan voter education materials, such as Christian Coalition voter guides and scorecards
• Host candidate or issue forums where all viable candidates are invited and allowed to speak
• Allow candidates and elected officials to speak at church services; if one is allowed to speak, others should not be prohibited from speaking
• Educate members about pending legislation
• Lobby for legislation and may spend no more than an insubstantial amount of its budget (five percent is safe) on direct lobbying activities
• Endorse candidates in their capacity as private citizens - A pastor does not lose his right to free speech because he is an employee of a church
• Participate fully in political committees that are independent of the church
  

What Churches May NOT Do:

• Endorse candidates directly or indirectly from the pulpit on behalf of the church
• Contribute funds or services (such as mailing lists or office equipment) directly to candidates or political committees
• Distribute materials that clearly favor any one candidate or political party
• Pay fees for partisan political events from church funds
• Allow candidates to solicit funds while speaking in church
• Set up a political committee that would contribute funds to political candidates
  

If you have questions about what is or is not allowed, please don't hesitate to contact our national office at (202) 479-6900, or visit our site at: http://www.cc.org/getinvolved.cfm

Calling all pastors of courage
Posted: August 7, 20041:00 a.m. Eastern
© 2004 WorldNetDaily.com

It is becoming increasingly evident that conservative pastors in America are being targeted for speaking out on political issues that confront our nation. And while it has become fashionable for so-called civil-libertarian groups to run screaming to the IRS if a conservative pastor speaks his mind, the fact is that pastors in this nation have a right and a mandate to confront the consequential problems of the day.

As I recently reported, Americans United for Separation and Church and State – an organization that seeks the removal of every vestige of religious substance from the American public square – has called for the IRS to investigate a recent column I wrote in which I suggested that conservative Christians almost exclusively favor President Bush in this November's presidential election.

Now, that same organization has filed a complaint against the Rev. Ronnie Floyd, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Springdale, Ark., after he preached a sermon allegedly promoting the re-election of President Bush.

In a letter to the IRS, Americans United President Barry Lynn – who dubiously calls himself "reverend" – said that when Pastor Floyd lauded President Bush's stand on issues such as abortion and homosexual rights, he was effectively urging his congregants "to be sure to vote for Bush."

Furthermore, In Kansas, the leftist Mainstream Coalition will send observers to state churches to monitor the contents of pastors' sermons.

Should pastors be frightened by these obvious scare tactics?

Of course not!

Pastoral summit

In fact, because the political heat is being turned up to intimidate conservative pastors in our nation, I am announcing today that Liberty University will be hosting a special summit for pastors and church leaders this Sept. 26-29.

This forum, which will be a part of our annual Super Conference in Lynchburg, Va., is titled "Politics and the Pulpit," and will be hosted by Mat Staver, president and general counsel of the Orlando, Fla.-based Liberty Counsel, and my son Jerry Falwell Jr., vice-chancellor and general counsel of Liberty University. (Last year's Super Conference was attended by more than 13,000 pastors and church leaders.)

My son Jonathan, executive pastor of Thomas Road Baptist Church, and I serve as hosts of this annual event. New York Times best-selling author Rick Warren ("The Purpose-Driven Life") is returning this year as our featured speaker. (In addition, Dr. Ed Young Sr., Dr. Ed Young Jr., Dr. and Mrs. Jim Cymbala and the Brooklyn Tabernacle Singers will be featured.)

In "Politics and the Pulpit," we will be highlighting the mass participation of churches in the July 11 "Protect Marriage Sunday," in which thousands of pastors in our nation urged their congregants to call their senators in order to ask them to support the Federal Marriage Amendment. We literally overwhelmed the Capitol switchboard with calls and, while the amendment was voted down, we sent a message to our senators – the Church of Jesus Christ is alive and well.

In the progressively more hostile environment we are witnessing against Christians, I believe it is high time that conservative pastors become enlightened as to their rights in the pulpit. Here is a crucial fact: Pastors may endorse political legislation as long as such lobbying activities do not constitute a substantial part of their overall activities. I doubt that most pastors are aware of this fact.

Mr. Staver recently stated: "It is time for pastors and other church leaders to shed their moral laryngitis." He noted that no church has ever lost its tax-exempt status for engaging in lobbying activities.

Mr. Staver, who served as a pastor before starting Liberty Counsel, added, "Churches and other communities of faith should and must vocally and actively support the preservation of marriage as the union of one man and one woman, and must confront the culture by standing on our biblical foundations."

He has been at the forefront of many important legal issues and is rapidly becoming a key point man in the battle to retain our religious freedoms.

I am urging pastors and church leaders to prayerfully consider attending this essential conference on the rights of pastors and churches.

To learn more about this year's Super Conference, please visit our website: http://www.superconference.us/

Rev. Jerry Falwell, a nationally recognized Christian minister and television show host, is the founder of Jerry Falwell Ministries and is chancellor of Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va.

We all live by faith. But what is our faith in? Some people place trust in themselves, their riches, their education or their careers. While others have placed their faith in human nature, social relationships or government for solutions. However, all these things are temporal and subject to change. Without being fatalistic, is it possible to have a faith that's unshaken by changing events and circumstances?

This month we address fundamental areas of faith and practice. We start by examining the concept of "worldview" -- the presuppositions and biases that affect the way we view all of life and reality. And as you might expect, we do this from a Christian Worldview. Next, we take things a step further by examining the evidences for Why we can trust the Bible as the basis of our outlook. And finally, we offer some insight on how to interpret the Bible's "message of the ages" by examining the concept of Dispensation.

What we center our worldview on and place our trust in, affects vital issues like: how we relate to others in the world around us, our approach to God, and ultimately our eternal destiny. It is my hope, that in understanding these concepts better, the statement "in God we trust" becomes more than just a motto for our currency.

Roy Tanner



Worldview

Worldview is the latest buzzword in Christian circles. We're all told we need one, and whether we know it or not, we all have one.

Although the Bible never uses the word "worldview," in Colossians 2: 6-8, we are commanded to be able to discern and discard false philosophy-which is essentially worldview. "So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world, rather than on Christ."

But what is a worldview and how is it formed? A person's worldview consists of the values, ideas or the fundamental belief system that determines his attitudes, beliefs and ultimately, actions. Typically, this includes his view of issues such as the nature of God, man, the meaning of life, nature, death, and right and wrong. We begin developing our worldview first through interactions within our family, then in social settings such as school and church, and from our companions and life experiences. Increasingly, our media culture is playing a key role in shaping worldview. We are a culture saturated with powerful media images in movies, television, commercials and music. Consistently consuming entertainment with false ideas though will inevitably distort our view of the world.

Although our worldview is well established by the time we're adults, the challenge is to formalize it by asking probing questions to help you understand what you believe and why you believe it. During this process, if your thinking is inconsistent with biblical teaching, you can discard the false ideas and replace them with truth. Different resources employ somewhat different approaches, but they all provide foundational answers to the big questions of life. To help formalize your own worldview and evaluate competing worldviews, seven questions are common to many worldview resources:

1) Is there a god and what is he like?
2) What is the nature and origin of the universe?
3) What is the nature and origin of man?
4) What happens to man after death?
5) Where does knowledge come from?
6) What is the basis of ethics and morality?
7) What is the meaning of human history?

It doesn't matter how many questions you use, just that you begin asking the big questions of life in four key areas -- deity, origin, nature and rules -- and then answer them based on Scripture. Finding answers using the Bible provides the foundation of the Christian or biblical worldview. For example, someone who holds the biblical worldview would answer the question, "Is there a god and what is he like?" using what he knows to be true about the character of God according to Scripture. The Bible teaches that God is sovereign, personal, infinite, transcendent, just, omniscient, immanent, and good. These attributes are not exhaustive by any means, but do establish the basic character of God. This checklist provides a starting point for identifying false or competing worldviews.

Answers to the other questions can be derived from Scripture as well, and are presented in numerous worldview books or works of Christian apologetics. Once you can answer those questions clearly for yourself based on Scripture, you then can apply them to everything you watch, read or listen to. Why is this important? Any objective social analyst would conclude that the United States faces its fair share of moral and spiritual problems. A recent research study from the Barna Research Group also suggests that a large share of the nation's moral and spiritual challenges are directly attributable to the absence of a biblical worldview among Americans.

For the purposes of their research, a biblical worldview was defined as believing that absolute moral truths exist; that such truth is defined by the Bible; and a firm belief in six specific religious views. Those views were that: Jesus Christ lived a sinless life; God is the all-powerful and all-knowing Creator of the universe and He stills rules it today; salvation is a gift from God and cannot be earned; Satan is real; a Christian has a responsibility to share their faith in Christ with other people; and the Bible is accurate in all of its teachings.

Citing findings from a national survey of 2,033 adults showed that only 1 in 20 hold a biblical worldview as the basis of their decision-making, and researcher George Barna described the outcome. "Behavior stems from what we think -- our attitudes, beliefs, values and opinions. Although most people own a Bible and know some of its content, our research found that most Americans have little idea how to integrate core biblical principles to form a unified and meaningful response to the challenges and opportunities of life. We're often more concerned with survival amidst chaos than with experiencing truth and significance."

One of the most striking insights from the research was the influence this way of thinking has upon people's behavior. Adults with a biblical worldview possessed radically different views on morality, held divergent religious beliefs, and demonstrated vastly different lifestyle choices. Today's "culture wars" for example are, in fact, "worldview wars." Whether in the student's classroom, the neighborhood school board meeting, or the office hallway, dialogues and debates over abortion, gay and lesbian issues, or how the federal budget should be balanced are ultimately grounded in a person's worldview. And because we get our worldviews by and large from our parents, family, and larger surrounding culture, -- today's generation, unfortunately, is being grounded in whatever worldview dominates the arts and media of popular culture.

Upon comparing the perspectives of those who have a biblical worldview with those who do not, the former group were 31 times less likely to accept cohabitation (2% versus 62%, respectively); 18 times less likely to endorse drunkenness (2% versus 36%); 15 times less likely to condone gay sex (2% versus 31%); 12 times less likely to accept profanity 3% versus 37%); and 11 times less likely to describe adultery as morally acceptable (4% versus 44%). In addition, less than one-half of one percent of those with a biblical worldview said voluntary exposure to pornography was morally acceptable (compared to 39% of other adults), and a similarly miniscule proportion endorsed abortion (compared to 46% of adults who lack a biblical worldview).

Although attributes such as gender, age and household income showed no statistical relationship to the possession of a biblical worldview, adults who have a biblical worldview possessed a somewhat different demographic profile than those who did not. For instance, individuals who attended college were three times more likely than those who did not to have this perspective. Married adults were more than twice as likely as adults who had never been wed to hold such a worldview. And whites were slightly more likely than either blacks or Hispanics to hold this ideology.

One of the largest gaps was between Republicans (10% of whom had a biblical worldview), Independents (2%) and Democrats (1%). Also, residents of Texas and North Carolina were more likely than people in other states to have a biblical worldview. Among the states in which such a worldview was least common were Louisiana and the six states in New England. The nation's largest state - California - was average (i.e., 4% of its residents had a biblical worldview).

This research also found that one of the most effective methods of enabling people to develop a biblical worldview is by addressing the seven critical questions that consistently lead to beliefs and behaviors that are in tune with biblical teaching. Outlining that process in a new book he has written (as an outgrowth of the research), entitled "Think Like Jesus," Barna also noted that many churches are already helping their congregants to implement such a way of addressing daily challenges and opportunities.

"The emphasis of these churches is to not only teach biblical perspectives," according to Barna, "but also to help people connect the dots of the core principles taught. Rather than simply provide people with good material and hope they figure out what to do with it, these are churches whose services, programs, events and relationships are geared to weaving a limited number of foundational biblical principles into a way of responding to every life situation. The goal is to facilitate a means of interpreting and responding to every life situation that is consistent with God's expectations. These are not perfect people, but once they catch on to the critical principles found in the Bible and train their minds to incorporate those views into their thinking, their behavior varies noticeably from the norm."

So how about your worldview, is Jesus Christ at the center of it? Have you invited Him into your heart as your Leader and Forgiver? Do you know why you are here, what you are to do, and where you are going? Do you have an everlasting certainty and hope in your heart of heaven, or a sense of foreboding regarding the afterlife? The Christian worldview transcends all others because it meets humanity's deepest need, namely peace with God, from which flows purpose, acceptance, belonging, significance, destiny and glory.

The Christian worldview can be summed up in a single phrase: "Jesus is Lord" -- which is the first creed of Christianity. Yielding to Christ's lordship over all of life is no easy task though. Yet, once we begin to understand that all of life -- not just "church" life -- is of intense interest to God, we are able to bring a renewed sense of purpose to our lives and faith. As such, the Lordship of Christ does not allow us to ignore art, politics, or literature, any more than it allows us to ignore the lost, hungry, sick, or the poor.

Only by seeing the world through God's eyes, or being "Christ conscious" will we understand our mandate to redeem the fullness of our culture and reach out to a dying world.

This report references data from Barna Research and Focus on the Family.



Why We Can Trust The Bible?

When asked, "What credentials back-up the claims of Christianity?" how do you respond?

As Christians, the basis for our beliefs (and worldview) are dependent upon the Truth claims as revealed by the God of the Bible. Consider however, that the Bible was penned over a span of 1,500 years, comprising over 40 generations and over 40 authors (from every walk of life), across 3 continents, and in 3 languages. As such, can the Bible be trusted as a reliable source of our faith and practice in the 21st century? After considerable personal due diligence on this topic, I join a multitude of scholars by answering that question with a resounding yes!

Essentially, our trust in God's plan of salvation not have to be based on just blind faith, sincere feelings, or circular reasoning -- when we have objective biblical (and extra-biblical) data to draw from. While this article does not provide exhaustive sources, I have listed some summary thoughts for why we can trust the Bible as the source of our faith and practice. This format, which originated from the Bible Answer Man's "MAPS" acronym, has since been embellished with the work of other Christian scholars as noted. Essentially, we can place our trust in the world's most prolific book based on:

Manuscript Evidence, which answers the "accuracy" questions. As for the NT alone, there are over 24,000 manuscript copies in existence today. These are comprised, according to McDowell's Evidence that Demands a Verdict (pg. 39), of more than 5,300 known Greek manuscripts, plus over 10,000 Latin Vulgate, and at least 9,300 other early versions. As for the OT, there is a wealth of corroborating manuscript evidence as well, such as the Greek Septuagint and the Hebrew Dead Sea Scrolls. Given the weight of available manuscript evidence, there is no basis to question the accuracy of Scripture. To do so, is to discredit all books of antiquity.

Archeological Finds, which addresses "authenticity" issues. For example, in Ron Rhodes book, The Complete Book of Bible Answers (pg. 21), sources indicate that more than 25,000 OT region sites have substantiated Scripture by producing artifact discoveries of ancient Biblical societies and cultures that have long since disappeared. It goes on to state categorically "that no archeological discovery has ever controverted a biblical reference." Only the Bible substantiates its historicity in this manner.

Predictive Prophecy, which answers "authority" questions, since only God can demonstrate that He knows the "end from the beginning." Involving over one fourth of Scripture, the Bible contains over 2,000 specific prophecies (involving people, places, and events), made hundreds of years in advance of their fulfillment (according to apologetic works by McDowell, Lindsey, Jeffrey, Kennedy, Swindoll, Hagee, etc.). For me, the book of Daniel is most notable in that it traces the rise and fall of world kingdoms like Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece and Rome (before they happened) as they intersect with Jewish history. Also, 1 of every 30 verses in the Bible refers to the prophetic 2nd return of Christ. Predictive prophecy sets the Bible apart as divinely inspired.

Statistical Probability, which answers "absolutely," scientifically. In evaluating the claims that Jesus is the Savior of the world, Norman Geisler in When Skeptics Ask (page 116) mentions, "Logically, it is possible for chance to have caused all things to converge on one man, but it is certainly not probable. Mathematicians have calculated the probability of sixteen predictions being fulfilled in one man at 1 in 10 (to the 45th power). If we go to forty-eight predictions, the probability is 1 in 10(157) ...All evidence points to Jesus as the divinely appointed fulfillment of the messianic prophecies." By the way, if chance exceeds 1 in 10(50), it's considered beyond reasonable probability. So for Jesus to be anybody other than who he claims, is beyond reasonable doubt.

In summary, the Bible is altogether trustworthy and uniquely different from every other so-called "holy" book based on evidences of divine inspiration and inerrancy. As such, the Bible's message to you and me today is as relevant as when it was first delivered under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. And what is that message? Essentially, from Genesis to Revelation, the Bible deals with God reconciling mankind to Himself through the Person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ.

"In God we trust" becomes more than a motto for our legal tender, when the Almighty speaks to us through His Word -- the Bible.

Roy Tanner



Dispensation

The only thing mankind has ever learned from history, is that -- mankind has never learned from history. With this lament in mind, we can still draw some "lessons learned" on how God has chosen to deal with mankind throughout the ages -- in each dispensation.

Many people are familiar with the concept of covenants made between God and man on the basis of law and grace. Facilitating this relationship is the concept of dispensation (or administration). From this concept a school of Bible interpretation known as "dispensationalism" has emerged that is associated with evangelical Christianity. It has been most influential in the United States, outside of which its influence is mostly limited to areas evangelized by dispensational missionaries. However, some political analysts have argued that dispensationalism has also had large influence on American foreign policy and hence had a large indirect influence worldwide.

Dispensationalism seeks to address the apparent contradictions in doctrine and practice that arise from viewing both the Old and New Testament as Scripture. The dispensationalist approach to reconciling these issues is based on what they call "rightly dividing the word of truth" (cf. 2 Timothy 2:15). They do this by breaking sacred history up into several different "dispensations" (time periods) which mark separate covenants that God is thought to have made with humanity. The word dispensation is occasionally used in the King James Bible to translate the Greek word "oikonomos," which refers originally to the government of a household, and is the origin of the English word economy. The most common lists include seven such dispensations:

1) Innocence - With Adam in the garden
2) Conscience - After man sinned, up to the flood
3) Government - After the flood, with the death penalty instituted
4) Promise - Abraham to Moses and the giving of the Torah
5) Law - Moses to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ
6) Grace - The cross to the Millennial Kingdom
7) Millennial Kingdom - The 1000 year reign of Christ on earth

Dispensationalism teaches that the second coming of Jesus Christ will be a physical event, by which a world-wide kingdom will be established in human history, geographically centered in Jerusalem. As such, dispensationalism is associated with the circulation of end times prophecy, which professes to read signs of the second coming in current events.

Dispensationalism tends to go hand-in-hand with a very protective attitude toward the Jewish people, and the modern State of Israel. As such, God looks upon the Jews as his chosen people and continues to have a place for them in the dispensational, prophetic scheme of things. While virtually all traditions of Christianity teach that the Jews are a distinct people, irrevocably entitled to the promises of God (because "the gifts and calling of God are without repentance"), dispensationalism is unique in teaching that the covenant with the Church is only a provisional dispensation, until the Jews finally recognize Jesus as their promised Messiah (during the trials coming upon the Jews in the Great Tribulation). This approach envisions Judaism as continuing to enjoy God's protection, parallel to Christianity, literally to the End of Time, and teaches that God has a separate track in the prophecies for Jews, apart from the Church.

The Apostles determined at the Council of Jerusalem (Acts 15) that it was not necessary for Gentiles to become Jewish in order to become Christians. Thus, the church is not a sect of Judaism but a separate entity. The term 'Israel' in the Bible always refers to physical descendants of Jacob. Similarly, the terms 'church' and 'kingdom' are never used interchangeably in Scripture. Paul claims that Israel will be grafted in again (Romans 11). Abraham was saved by faith, 430 years before the Law was given to Moses. (See Galatians 3:6,16-19.) The Book of Galatians is understood to teach that the Law continues to have binding force for Jews, but not for Christians. Now that Christ has come, Christians are not under the supervision of the law (3:25), but Jews are still governed by the law (5:3) unless they are in Christ (3:28).

Dispensationalism also teaches that Christians should not expect spiritual advocacy from earthly governments, but that social conditions will decline as the end times draw nearer. Dispensationalist readings of prophecies often teach that the Antichrist will appear to the world as a peacemaker. This makes some dispensationalists suspicious of all forms of power, religious and secular, and especially of human attempts to form international organizations for peace such as the United Nations.

Almost all dispensationalists reject the idea that a lasting peace can be attained by human effort in the Middle East. Dispensationalists teach that churches that do not insist on Biblical literalism are in fact part of the Great Apostasy. This casts suspicion on attempts to create church organizations that cross denominational boundaries such as the World Council of Churches. (See also Ecumenism.) Dispensationalism as a school of Biblical interpretation is associated with a number of fundamentalist institutions, of which the best known are the Dallas Theological Seminary and the Moody Bible Institute.

Some political analysts have argued that dispensationalism has had a major influence on the foreign policy of the United States because as believers in dispensationalism have had large amounts of influence through the Republican Party. This influence has included strong support for the state of Israel and rejection of Palestinian calls for a separate state as well as a general distrust of multinational organizations such as the United Nations. Some dispensationist authors such as Hal Lindsey have explicitly identified the Antichrist with the Soviet Union or the European Union. Dispensationalist themes also form the basis of the Left Behind series of books.

Lessons Learned

Of the many things God has shown man through the dispensations, the lesson that should stand out above the others is that -- man is in a hopelessly lost position without God. He is simply not capable of living up to God's righteous standard no matter how "enlightened" and able he may think he is.

From BC: Place mankind in a beautiful garden with everything he needs, including fellowship with God, a beautiful and compatible wife, the earth under his dominion, access to the Tree of Life, etc., -- and man will forsake it all and choose death. Leave him alone with his conscience to guide him -- and man will become so exceedingly wicked that he must be removed from the earth with a flood. Give him great and sure promises -- and man will flee them and speak lies in unbelieving fear. Make of him a chosen nation for God to speak through and dwell among, with His holy Law and priesthood, -- and man will abandon his God and worship dumb idols.

Through AD: Give him an eternal redemption from sin and hell, everlasting life, an indwelling Holy Spirit, the promise of a new body, a home in New Jerusalem, and birth him into God's own family making him His son, -- and man will repay his Savior with rebellion, worldliness, and indifference. Give him a perfect, uncursed earth, a cooperative environment, no Satan to tempt him, extended lifespan, and Jesus Christ himself to reign over him, -- and man will revolt and try to force Christ from His throne.

The evidence is clear. Apart from God, man is a sinful and vain creature, utterly hopeless and bound for damnation. The surest proof of this, is a quick review of current events. After 6,000 years of recorded history it is apparent that mankind has not tamed his fallen nature in the least. That's why, regardless of the age in which we've been placed, our only hope is in God.

Throughout history, God continues to initiate relationship with us. This is seen first when He revealed Himself through the light of creation (Romans 1), then by the light of conscience (Romans 2), and finally in the light of Christ (Romans 3). However, from Adam's first transgression, God provided a sacrificial covering for sin that pointed to the Savior.

In the fullness of time, God incarnate walked among us to perfectly satisfy the demands of His law, before laying down His life as the substitutionary sacrifice for the sin of the world. With peace between God and man restored, by grace through faith in Christ, the cross, juxtaposed between the covenants of law and grace, acts as a fulcrum in human history for mankind's redemption. So, while prophets of old looked forward to Messiah, we look back to the Savior's atoning death and resurrection.

In the final analysis, we are to "believe in the Lord" (Acts 16:31) to be saved. Through every age and every administration, whether on the basis of conscience, law or grace, God demonstrates mankind's inadequacy without His intercession. Alas, "there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men -- the testimony given in its proper time" (1Tim 2:5-6).

Regardless of the dispensation, this common theme reminds us that reconciliation between God and man, is only on the basis of grace through faith in the Lord God -- our Rock of Ages.

Sources for the article included:
Enns, Paul: The Moody Handbook of Theology
External links:
http://www.dispensationalism.com/
http://www.hallindseyoracle.com/
http://www.alternet.org/print.html?StoryID=15221
When U.S. Foreign Policy Meets Biblical Prophecy

It's called the "doctrine of the Incarnation"...and it suggests that you and I can be partakers of the divine nature (2 Peter 1:4)...making even the most quixotic ideals (from the world's assessment) attainable through Kingdom living -- here and now. For those who grasp these principles and put them into practice, the world's most intractable problems are availed the "mind of Christ" (1 Cor. 2:16) and mere mortals experience the abundant life that Christ provides (John 10:10).

This month we describe this incredible reality that, for so many of us, remains illusive. In our "natural" state we suppose "eternal life" is merited, in effect -- getting mankind out of earth into heaven. But what's really called for is getting God out of heaven into man. So we begin with Incarnation, a commentary which addresses "what" we should know about this supernatural phenomenon. An article follows on "why" this transformation is availed "not by might nor by power" (Zec. 4:6), but instead through a Grace that works. Finally, we examine The Spirit-Filled Life, which lists some practical steps on "how" we can come to experience God's presence.

It is written, "For He made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." (2 Cor.5:21). In this verse, Paul summarizes the very heart of the Gospel, personified by God incarnate -- namely, Jesus Christ.



Incarnation
practicing the presence of God

In God Came Near, Max Lucado described the dual nature of Christ this way..."When God chose to reveal Himself, he did so (surprise of surprises) through a human body. The tongue that called forth the dead was a human one. The hand that touched the leper had dirt under its nails. The feet upon which the woman wept were calloused and dusty. And His tears...oh, don't miss the tears...they came from a heart as broken as yours of mine ever has been."

From God's perspective, during the "incarnation" (God becoming man), "Christ surrendered only the prerogatives of deity but nothing of the divine essence, either in degree or kind. In His incarnation, the eternally existing second person of the Trinity accepted all the essential characteristics of humanity and so became the God-man (Phil. 2:5-8; Col. 2:9). As a result, Jesus Christ represents humanity and deity in indivisible oneness (Mic. 5:2; John 5:23; 14:9,10; Col. 2:9)."

From our perspective, the incarnation avails nothing less than "wonder working power" through God's presence for people of faith today. Herbert Lockyer, in All the Doctrines of the Bible suggests that "at our regeneration (that moment of rebirth, preceding faith, at God's divine initiative in salvation), there was added to our already existing human nature, a divine nature," in the presence of the Holy Spirit (see John 3:3-8 & Titus 3:5). Think about that for a moment...The ramifications of this doctrine, in terms of the capability we can call upon through Christ's Spirit, are "mind blowing" (Eph. 3:20). Christian News Alert: The people of God, as keepers of the Holy Spirit in earthen vessels, are equipped to impact their world in every dimension of life, and in every sphere of influence!

Try and picture this...In his sermon, How to Practice the Presence of God, Dr. Adrian Rogers mentioned that in the Old Testament period, "God had a temple for His people" but in the New Testament era "God has a people for His temple" (see 1 Cor. 3:16). Essentially, because Christ dwells in our hearts by faith (Eph. 3:17), every day can be holy, every place can be sacred, and every deed can become an act of worship. In other words, those who are "saved" (with the Holy Spirit resident in our hearts) and yielded to His power -- can at anytime "be naturally supernatural"...or if you prefer "supernaturally natural."

Although this may sound a little too ethereal or mystical to the uninitiated, let me assure you that the key to victory in the Christian life is as practical as practicing the presence of God, or being "Christ conscious." In his book The Jesus I Never Knew, Philip Yancey writes..."When a light is brought into a room, what was a window also becomes a mirror, reflecting back the contents of that room. In Jesus, not only do we have a window to God, but we also have a mirror to ourselves...Human beings were, after all, created in the image of God, but Jesus reveals what that image should look like."

In The Purpose Driven Life, Rick Warren affirms this "back to the future" end-game when he explains, "You were created to become like Christ. From the very beginning, God's plan has been to make you like His Son, Jesus. This is your destiny and (the third) purpose of your life. God announced this intention at creation: "Then God said, 'Let us make human beings in our image and likeness'" (Genesis 1:26). In all of creation, only human beings, are made "in God's image." This is a great privilege and gives us dignity."

Incarnation, God becoming man -- is also becoming to His people. According to Dr. Rogers, "as you allow Jesus to inhabit your humanity, He'll display His deity," such that "every demand upon your humanity, becomes a demand upon His deity." Indeed, the very crux of Christian living is bound-up in -- becoming now who we already are eternally in the Lord Jesus Christ. In the words of the apostle Paul, " I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life that I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me" (Gal 2:20).

Child of God, practicing the presence of God...is very becoming.

Roy Tanner



Grace that works
the test of pragmatism

While pragmatism will not always validate what’s true -- truth is evidential. But even by this limited measure of "what works," grace is revealed as the superior means to the end we all seek.

Consider the prevalence today of news headlines that expose mullahs who condone "jihad," or priests who prey on pupils, or ministers that fleece their flock—and you needn’t be a hardened skeptic to question the credibility and practical relevance of holding any faith in the divine. Surely beliefs lead to behavior. But before we sacrifice our idealism on “the alter of skepticism” though, I assert that any belief system’s efficacy can be substantiated by hard-data, with demonstrable success greatly favoring those that approach the tenets of their faith by grace.

Said differently, regardless of how much we strive (in our own strength) humanity’s proclivity for evil will eventually overcome even our best efforts to do otherwise. Conversely, while we are called to be participants in our faith’s practical outworking, only to the extent that we allow God to have His will and way in our lives, will we overcome our evil with good. From a Christian perspective, this involves a yielding to the leadership and forgiveness offered (again) by grace—through faith in Christ.

Grace relies on a theological concept found only in the Judeo-Christian doctrine of atonement, which makes allowance for God to accomplish something for mankind that we would never achieve on our own—perfection. The unmerited favor of grace, assumes that we’re accountable to the sovereign Creator’s standard, who demands justice be served, yet He provides the means to this perfect standard through His compensating love. In deed, God’s promise to reconcile humanity to Himself was accomplished at Calvary, such that those who put their trust in His “saving” work are set free from both the penalty and the power of their waywardness.

Grace avails the power of God’s Spirit to those who believe. His affect, achieving the unachievable for us, reduces the tyranny of our previous works righteousness into a compulsion of love and gratitude. Evidenced countless times throughout history in advancement of society, governing principle, acts of service and charity, God’s approach is the only hope for this world. Conversely, those who spurn His completed work, attempting to achieve self-righteousness through observance of religious ritual, application of situation ethics, or just living by selfish desire—are destined to leave a legacy of frustration and grief.

When you consider data on the rise in illegitimate births, the spread of STDs and the heartache of broken homes, the allure of promiscuity loses some of its appeal. When you examine the high incidence of premature mortality amongst the gay community, it’s hardly an endorsement of any “life” style. When collusion and greed run ahead of the checks & balances built into the free enterprise system, people’s livelihoods are ruined and their wealth is gutted. When modernity is assailed and radical fundamentalism is forced upon a populace, murder and mayhem result. Cite your instance, and strive as you may (without grace), the results remain the same—bondage and misery.

Sadly, these all too common examples of our human experience represent attempts to meet legitimate needs, albeit in an illegitimate fashion. To those who are “weary and heavy laden” in these pursuits, put grace to the “test of pragmatism.” Validate for yourself that the abundant life everyone chases is only realized by those who approach it on the basis of grace through faith in the Savior. To those that seek the true “road less traveled,” it is a journey that is marked by character building and blessing.

The data has been gathered, and the facts are in. Evidently, the only way to real life and truth is found in seeking God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense.

Roy Tanner



The Spirit-Filled Life

Have you made the wonderful discovery of the Spirit-filled life? In his Keys to Dynamic Living Series, Dr. Bright addresses the Christian's abundant life in Christ. Have you ever wondered if there was something more exciting than you are experiencing as a Christian? This study describes the Christian way of life - what it is and how it works practically. The overview (excerpted below) discusses the problems of sin and temptation and the spiritual warfare of life. For more information see: http://www.ccci.org/spiritual_growth.html

Every day can be an exciting adventure for the Christian who knows the reality of being filled with the Holy Spirit and who lives constantly, moment by moment, under His gracious direction. To provide some context for this truth, the Bible tells us that there are three kinds of people:

• Natural Man (one who has not received Christ). "A natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised" (1 Corinthians 2:14);
• Spiritual Man (One who is directed and empowered by the Holy Spirit). "He who is spiritual appraises all things...We have the mind of Christ" (1 Corinthians 2:15);
• And Carnal Man (One who has received Christ, but who lives in defeat because he is trying to live the Christian life in his own strength). "And I brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to carnal men, as to babes in Christ. I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to receive it. Indeed, even now you are not yet able, for you are still carnal. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshy, and are you not walking like mere men?" (1 Corinthians 3:1-3). Understanding our needs, God has provided an opportunity for an abundant and fruitful Christian life. Jesus said, "I came that they might have life, and might have it abundantly" (John 10:10). "I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me, and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing" (John 15:5). "But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law" (Galatians 5:22, 23). "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth" (Acts 1:8).

The degree to which these traits are manifested in the life depends upon the extent to which the Christian trusts the Lord with every detail of his life, and upon his maturity in Christ. One who is only beginning to understand the ministry of the Holy Spirit should not be discouraged if he is not as fruitful as more mature Christians who have known and experienced this truth for a longer period.

Why is it that most Christians are not experiencing the abundant life?

Carnal Christians cannot experience the abundant and fruitful Christian life. The carnal man trusts in his own efforts to live the Christian life:

1. He is either uninformed about, or has forgotten, God's love, forgiveness, and power (Romans 5:8-10; Hebrews 10:1-25; 1 John 1; 2:1-3; 2 Peter 1:9; Acts 1:8).
2. He has an up-and-down spiritual experience.
3. He cannot understand himself - he wants to do what is right, but cannot.
4. He fails to draw upon the power of the Holy Spirit to live the Christian life. (1 Corinthians 3:1-3; Romans 7:15-24; 8:7; Galatians 5:16-18)
5. In fact, the individual who professes to be a Christian but continues to practice sin should realize that he may not be a Christian at all (see 1 John 2:3; 3:6, 9; Ephesians 5:5).

The third truth gives us the only solution to this problem...

Jesus Promised the Abundant and Fruitful Life as the Result of Being Filled (Directed and Empowered) by the Holy Spirit. The Spirit-filled life is the Christ-directed life by which Christ lives His life in and through us in the power of the Holy Spirit (John 15), characterized by:

1. One becomes a Christian through the ministry of the Holy Spirit, according to John 3:1-8. From the moment of spiritual birth, the Christian is indwelt by the Holy Spirit at all times (John 1:12; Colossians 2:9, 10; John 14:16, 17). Though all Christians are indwelt by the Holy Spirit, not all Christians are filled (directed and empowered) by the Holy Spirit.
2. The Holy Spirit is the source of the overflowing life (John 7:37-39).
3. The Holy Spirit came to glorify Christ (John 16:1-15). When one is filled with the Holy Spirit, he is a true disciple of Christ.
4. In His last command before His ascension, Christ promised the power of the Holy Spirit to enable us to be witnesses for Him (Acts 1:1-9).
   

How, then, can one be filled with the Holy Spirit?

We are filled by the Holy Spirit by faith; then we can experience the abundant and fruitful life which Christ promised to each Christian. You can appropriate the filling of the Holy Spirit right now if you:

1. Sincerely desire to be directed and empowered by the Holy Spirit (Matthew 5:6; John 7:37-39).
2. Confess your sins. By faith thank God that He has forgiven all of your sins - past, present and future - because Christ died for you (Colossians 2:13-15; 1 John 1; 2:1-3; Hebrews 10:1-17).
3. Present every area of your life to God (Romans 12:1, 2).
4. By faith claim the fullness of the Holy Spirit, according to:

• His Command - Be filled with the Spirit. "And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit" (Ephesians 5:18).
• His Promise - He will always answer when we pray according to His will. "And this is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked of Him" (1 John 5:14, 15).
  

Faith can be expressed through prayer...

We are filled with the Holy Spirit by faith alone. However, true prayer is one way of expressing your faith. The following is a suggested prayer:

"Dear Father, I need You. I acknowledge that I have been directing my own life and that, as a result, I have sinned against You. I thank You that You have forgiven my sins through Christ's death on the cross for me. I now invite Christ to again take His place on the throne of my life. Fill me with the Holy Spirit as You commanded me to be filled, and as You promised in Your Word that You would do if I asked in faith. I now thank You for directing my life and for filling me with the Holy Spirit."


Does this prayer express the desire of your heart? If so, bow in prayer and trust God to fill you with the Holy Spirit right now.

How can you know that you are filled (directed and empowered) with the Holy Spirit? Did you ask God to fill you with the Holy Spirit? Do you know that you are now filled with the Holy Spirit? On what authority? (On the trustworthiness of God Himself and His Word: Hebrews 11:6; Romans 14:22, 23.) Do not depend upon feelings. The promise of God's Word, not our feelings, is our authority. The Christian lives by faith (trust) in the trustworthiness of God Himself and His Word.

How do we walk in the Spirit?

Faith (trust in God and in His promises) is the only means by which a Christian can live the Spirit-directed life. As you continue to trust Christ moment by moment:

1. Your life will demonstrate more and more of the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22, 23) and be more conformed to the image of Christ (Romans 12:2; 2 Corinthians 3:18).
2. Your prayer life and study of God's Word will become more meaningful.
3. You will experience His power in witnessing (Acts 1:8).
4. You will be prepared for spiritual conflict against the world (1 John 2:15-17); against the flesh (Galatians 5:16-17); and against Satan (1 Peter 5:7-9; Ephesians 6:10-13).
5. You will experience His power to resist temptation and sin (1 Corinthians 10:13; Philippians 4:13; Ephesians 1:19-23; 2 Timothy 1:7; Romans 6:1-16).

Practicing "spiritual breathing"...

By faith you can continue to experience God's love and forgiveness.

If you become aware of an area of your life (an attitude or an action) that is displeasing to the Lord, even though you are walking with Him and sincerely desiring to serve Him, simply thank God that He has forgiven your sins - past, present and future - on the basis of Christ's death on the cross. Claim His love and forgiveness by faith and continue to have fellowship with Him.

If you retake the throne of your life through sin - a definite act of disobedience - breathe spiritually.

Spiritual breathing (exhaling the impure and inhaling the pure) is an exercise in faith that enables you to continue to experience God's love and forgiveness.

1. Exhale - confess your sin - agree with God concerning your sin and thank Him for His forgiveness of it, according to 1 John 1:9 and Hebrews 10:1-25. Confession involves repentance - a change in attitude and action.
2. Inhale - surrender the control of your life to Christ, and appropriate (receive) the fullness of the Holy Spirit by faith. Trust that He now directs and empowers you; according to the command of Ephesians 5:18, and the promise of 1 John 5:14, 15.

Dr. Bill Bright