It's been a while, it's been a journey

After a year and I half, I came back to see what I last wrote. I was so glad that I wrote what I did. It was humbling, but encouraging. The Lord still walks with me. Blessed be His Name.

Forgiveness

During this whirlwind Christmas of 2009, when people are struggling, but hopeful, and the future is still uncertain, it is uncomfortable to spend money carelessly like we so often did in the past.  However, there is a gift that does not cost money and is more valuable than anything that can ever be bought in a store.  That is the gift of forgiveness.

Anger and hate are poisons to the soul and mind and even the body.  Forgiveness, though not always easy medicine, is the cure and healing.

I’m not sure how much we understand that forgiveness, though not unique to Christian belief,  is essential to our faith.  You cannot truly walk with the Lord if you cannot forgive.  Forgiveness is another one of God’s marvelous blessings that allows us to master and free ourselves from the bonds that keep us from His full love.

Know what you believe!

Let us understand our faith! Let’s not confuse the command to love one another as being greater than God’s revealed path to salvation. Jesus is very clear when He said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6) “Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.” (John 3:18)

This is the word of God. I either believe all of scripture or I do not, and if I do not believe all of it, then I cannot believe any of it. If I do not believe scripture, then I do not have faith. Without faith, there is no righteousness. And without the imputed righteousness of Christ, I cannot enter into the presence of God Most High. And if I do not enter into God’s presence, then I have no salvation and am condemned.

While some may preach that there are multiple paths to salvation, their preaching is not of the Bible. It may be hard for us to trust a just God; we may not understand how religious people will not find salvation within their own religion; why truly good non-believers are not also promised entrance into God's presence based on their goodness, while not-so-good believers are promised salvation. But ours is neither to judge others nor question God's promise. Ours is to believe the Word of God and have faith that God's justice is greater than our understanding.

Call Me Israel

"Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God..."

How often I find myself feeling like I'm struggling with God! How often I feel Israel is my name! Without a doubt, I love God. I am comforted by the knowledge that God is my God. I am comforted that God's promise and His love doesn't depend on me, for surely I fail daily to keep my promises to God. And if God's love was based on my strength to do what is pleasing to God, instead of His omnipotent Grace, I would surely perish.

But is it God who I struggle with? Are his commandments a burden to me? Is seeking His face an arduous journey? Certainly not!

Instead, I think it is Satan that I struggle with. Satan is the one who tempts me. So subtle he is that I think it is God that I struggle against. But when I stop and consider the nature of my struggles, I realize that it is temptation that confronts me and conflicts my desires. And God doesn't tempt. Satan tempts, God tests.

So when I think myself to be Israel, it is not Israel, but instead, one who struggles against Satan. What is the name for that?

Always Be Prepared To Give An Answer

I recently attended a briefing on Islam given by Professor Irfan Shahid from the Department of Arabic & Islamic Studies at Georgetown University. The briefing was given to the FBI Headquarters personnel to further our understanding of Islam and Muslims. The professor led us through the history of Islam from the days of Muhammad until the present. He briefly explained the difference in the various Islamic sects.

One of the themes of the briefing is that the similarities and common origins of Islam, Christianity and Judaism should be the basis for reconciliation between the three religions. The professor started by stating that Islam is a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion and shares a common origin with Christianity and Judaism. It traces its lineage to Abraham through Ishmael, Abraham’s first born son.

Islam was founded by the Prophet Muhammad and born into a culture of jihad, that jihad was an invention of Christianity and Judaism. Christianity was the state religion of the Roman Empire at the time, a conquering force in the world. Judaism has a biblical history of invading and conquering other nations. Therefore, today’s Islamic jihad is the response to the atrocities committed by Christians and Jews throughout history. At least, that was the opinion of the professor.

The professor went on to say that Jesus is the most exalted Prophet in the Qur’an, that Muslims acknowledge Jesus as a Messenger and Prophet of God, but do not recognize Him as God. (Nor do the Muslims recognize the Trinity as a valid monotheistic view.) The professor pointed out that Muhammad lived at a time when certain Christian theologies, such as Arianism, may have influenced his beliefs. The professor said this is not unusual as there are many Christians today who hold the same belief.

Lastly, when a question was asked about suicide bombers, the professor said that these martyrs are giving their lives for what they believe in, that they just don’t throw the bomb and run, but that they give their lives for their beliefs.

I was watching the briefing through a webcast and was unable to ask questions of the professor. But I had several concerns as there are some significant errors in what the professor said. The first concern was whether the professor was expressing his personal views or the common beliefs of Muslims. If he expressed common beliefs among Muslims, we have a major cause for concern because of the errors in what he said.

The first error is that a Christian can believe that Jesus was a very good man, and even a prophet, but not God. Belief in the deity of Jesus as the eternal person of the Trinity, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, begotten and not created, is not up for debate. It is the essential belief of the true Christian who will confess with his mouth that “Jesus is Lord” and believes in his heart that God raised Him from the dead. To believe otherwise is not biblical and a distortion of the truth.

The second error is that the professor implied that giving one’s life for his beliefs makes one a martyr and his act of martyrdom justified before God. When it comes to suicide bombers, where is the honor in the indiscriminant killing of innocent human lives? Of God’s commandments, murder makes the top ten. What is murder other than the unjustified taking of an innocent life? The suicide bomber is committing murder, not the will of God!

Some may say that God is using the suicide bomber to fulfill His Will. I say that is unbiblical and contrary to God’s revelation of Himself to us through scripture. To God, life is precious. Does the Bible record mass destruction? Yes. But whenever God has chosen to destroy en masse, it has been through His own Hand, not the hand of man. The notion that it is fulfilling God’s will to indiscriminately kill innocent human beings is a falsehood promulgated by the father of destruction. Suicide bombers are the unwitting instruments of the devil.

Why is this important to understand? It's important that we read the Bible and understand the differences and similarities in our beliefs. It's important that we do not become deceived by clever arguments. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. 1 Peter 3:15

Sin no more!

Dear brothers and sisters,

It's been a very long time since I posted to this blog. I don't know why other than I lost interest, not in the purpose or theme, but in trying to develop things to say. I no longer felt inspired to write. Maybe that was because I was no longer listening to the Lord, but to my own ego. Anyway, I now have something I want to say and I feel the Lord would not disagree.

A lot is happening right now in our country and across the world. Many "end-timers" are pointing to Biblical prophecy and saying the Lord's return is near. (Of course it is! Every day it's nearer than the day before.) I look forward to the Lord's return, but am content and secure in knowing that no one knows when that will occur and that the Lord will remember me when He does return.

There is a daily email newsletter that I get that focuses a lot on world events and often associates them with prophesized end-times events. I enjoy reading them, but sometimes disagree with the position taken by the author.

One such disagreement is a remark in his latest newsletter. This author was making a call to the Christian Church in the United States to rise up and demand "Biblical justice" from ourselves and our nation. The comment made was, "But instead of the Church rising up, we have millions of people marching in the streets on behalf of total anarchy who are not even legally in this country and should have no say over our government whatsoever." Obviously, he was referring to the recent issue of illegal alien workers in this country, namely (though not exclusively) Mexicans.

The problem I have is that that attitude is un-Biblical. God told Israel that the aliens in their country to be treated fairly, because Israel was once aliens themselves. The implication is that there should be no unfair discrimination against others because they are simply alien. Without getting into a legal discussion (or getting off track), my comment is about being fair and unbiased in our attitudes expressed toward "illegals" (and others who may be different).

When Jesus forgave the woman at the well, He told her to "go and sin no more". He knew she was going to sin again. He knew it would be impossible for her to not sin again. But that didn’t stop Him from forgiving her. He knows our imperfect nature. Does it stop Him from forgiving us? Did He ever say that forgiveness is contingent upon our never sinning again? She had not even repented when Jesus forgave her. What do we do with that knowledge?

As Christians, we must know our Bible. We must consume the Word of God such that it causes us indigestion when we hear another Christian make derogatory or discriminatory remarks against others who may be members of Christ’s Church just like he is. We must not fall into the same trap.

Why is this important? Mostly because we must seek God’s Will in all we say and do and think (much easier said than done!); but, also because the world is watching. Are we good servants of the Lord when we ignore or (choose to) forget His instructions to us? Let’s remember the woman at the well and Jesus’ unending love for her and us. Let’s remember to behave the way the Lord showed us to.

Amen.

De colores.

Re: Freedom of Speech Islamic Style

Dear Bill,

Thanks so much for being the voice of the Believer and calling us to remember Jesus in all we do.

After reading several news articles concerning the Muslim response to the cartoons of Mohammed, I felt moved to comment. While I disagree with their actions, I agree with their outrage over the mockery of what they hold sacred. It's the same feeling I have everytime I see the blasphemous depiction of the Ichthus with legs and "Darwin" in the body of the fish on someones trunk lid, or the mockery of my faith by Hollywood with such shows as "The Book of Daniel".

The Scriptures warn us not to mock the spiritual world, and we shouldn't. But what distinguishes Christianity (hopefully) from other world religions today is that God calls us to pray for our enemies (as hard as that may be). We must remember that those who would mock Christianity (as well as other religions) have no fear of God and are lost. We should pray for God's mercy on them and that He would call them to Him.

While I don't know when our Lord will return, I do know that we are one day closer then we were yesterday.

Peace in Christ,
Bill

---- The Daily Jot <bill@dailyjot.com> wrote:
> The Daily Jot
>
> Monday, February 6, 2006
>
> Greetings in the Name of Him Who Is Truth!
>
> Muslims around the world are rioting. In Indonesia, over 300 protestors stormed the European Union embassy. In Gaza, Palestinian gunman scaled the walls of the EU offices, closing them until further notice. Some 400 Islamic students burned the French and Danish flags in Pakistan. Angry Muslims are threatening to kidnap French, Spanish, Danish and Austrian citizens. Already, Islam is boycotting businesses associated with the European Union. And several EU countries are recalling their diplomatic corps to avoid threatened violence in Islamic nations. What ever could have sparked such a chain of events? A cartoon of founder of the Islamic cult, Mohammed, originally printed in a Danish newspaper.
>
> The militant reaction to a Danish newspaper printing several cartoons of the prophet Mohammed was only inflamed as newspapers in France, Italy, the Netherlands, Germany, Spain, Austria and others followed suit and reprinted many of the cartoons. One of the cartoons showed Mohammed with a bomb strapped beneath his turban. Seems as though the European newspapers are a bit fed up with Islamic militancy and are making the point that they can print what they want in the name of freedom of speech. But the enraged Muslims are seeing blood because it is considered blasphemous to make images of the prophet Mohammed—as if they needed an excuse to rape, pillage and kill.
>
> Europe has appeased Islam for so long, that the militant cult becomes outraged when the European free press makes a point through satire. So much for the love of Allah. But the riots late last year across Europe after two boys, who thought they were being chased by police, were electrocuted when they hid in a high voltage box were just the beginning of many a problem Europe will face with its fast growing Islamic population. Mark Steyn, a syndicated columnist for the Wall Street Journal recently said that Islamic countries are having babies at a rate four to five times that of Europe, which is in a population decline. And Islam is moving into Europe as the fastest growing immigrant population.
>
> Steyn predicts that by 2010, the European population will be more Islamic than European and that riots in the streets will be commonplace. Already Europe has taken in 20 million Muslims and in Britain more Muslims attend religious services each week than do Christians. In Jeremiah, the Lord speaks of the Babylonian judgment where an immoral society is desolated. Europe and the United States have a lot of Babylonian characteristics. The Lord says in Jeremiah 51:14, “Surely I will fill you with men, as with locusts, and they shall lift up a shout against you.” Locust often meant Ishmaelite, the forefathers of the Arabs, because they consumed the land like locusts and moved on. Time to turn to Christ and his salvation.
>
> Have a Blessed and Powerful Day!
> Bill Wilson
> Word of Life Ministry
> www.dailyjot.com