Appearance Can Be Deadly

Jessie Vigil of Las Vegas, New Mexico, has a unique automobile. He customized his Ford Mustang (seen at right) to replicate the police cars seen in the movie, Transformers, citing his seven-year-old son's love for the blockbuster film.

According to New Mexico State Police, what Mr. Vigil has done with his car is not illegal as long as he doesn't "act like a police officer."

Even though Vigil may not actually be trying to impersonate an officer of the law, there are some who find it advantageous to do so in the perpetration of crimes. Quite a few criminals have taken advantage of unsuspecting citizens by adequately passing themselves off as members of a law enforcement agency.

How is it these men convince motorists and pedestrians of their supposed status as law officers? Are they successful in carrying out these schemes by flashing a flimsy toy badge or donning a cheap imitation of a real uniform?

When successful in carrying out their cruel and heinous acts, these criminals are able to do so because their badges, uniforms, and flashing blue lights are so convincing -- so close to the real thing that the minute differences are virtually undetectable to the average citizen. That is what makes these individuals so dangerous. The penalty for impersonating an officer is stiff, but probably ought to be even more severe.

There is an important spiritual parallel in thinking about how this deception is accomplished. How are individuals convinced that a religious group or organization is "from God" when, in fact, they do and teach that which is not congruent with the Scriptures? Many times, the answer lies in what we observed in the impersonation of police officers.

These groups establish their legitimacy by sticking very close to the teaching of the Bible, thus piggybacking on the authority the name of Christ carries. However, an up-close examination of a given group may reveal some doctrines and practices that have no Biblical foundation. The Bible speaks of certain groups or individuals that may "disqualify you" (Colossians 2:18). These groups do so by doing that which is "according to human precepts and teachings" (Colossians 2:22). The final analysis of organizations such as these is that...

...these have indeed an appearance of wisdom...but they are of no value...
Colossians 2:23, ESV

Just as a criminal with evil intentions -- who looks for all the world exactly like a law officer -- can have deadly consequences, so too can aligning oneself with a church or other religious body that has only an "appearance" of wisdom and truth. Appearance only goes so deep. If we would invest more time in honest investigation of what our particular church or group teaches and how it accords with the word of God, there would be drastic changes in the world of religion.

r2

Christ Is Optional?

You may be familiar with some individuals and groups who profess to be followers of Christ that teach universal salvation. With the increasing pressure to be "politically correct," and pluralistic worldviews shaping the minds of upcoming generations, this comes as no real surprise.

However, most of these groups and individuals have traditionally been on "the fringe" of what the world sees as Christianity (as opposed to the New Testament). Most "mainstream" personalities and groups would never consider Christ to be optional -- take Him or leave Him.

One of the most prominent figures in the "mainstream" of denominational religion who has taught the supposed non-compulsory nature of Christ is Robert H. Schuller (pictured at right). You may know Schuller from his long-running nationally televised program, The Hour Of Power. Schuller and his son, Robert A. Schuller, preach at the Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, California -- although the elder Schuller officially retired back in 2006.

Approximately five years ago, I watched Robert H. Schuller (the father) as he was interviewed on a news magazine program. Although I cannot give you his exact words (I am still trying to locate the transcript for that program), Schuller made several statements that indicated people of all faiths (i.e. Muslims, Jews, Hindus, Buddhists, etc.) would receive the grace of God and an entry into heaven. Certainly, this is nothing new. However, for individuals such as Schuller who most consider to be an "evangelical" or in the "mainstream," this is considerably more noteworthy.

Clearly, Mr. Schuller does not teach the divinely given method of redemption, nor does he teach the singularity of the Lord's church (i.e. "one body," Ephesians 4:4). Therefore, diligent students of the Bible know that Schuller is a false prophet -- not a Christian as that term is used in God's own word.

That fact notwithstanding, the world in general recognizes Mr. Schuller as a "Christian," and so do millions of individuals who comprise the multitude of denominations in existence today. What should we say to men like Schuller and those who agree with this false, pluralistic corruption of the gospel?

Say nothing -- only allow the word of the Lord to be heard. Jesus said...

I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
John 14:6, ESV

Without the WAY, you cannot go.
Without the TRUTH, you cannot know.
Without the LIFE, you cannot grow.

Friend, if "life" is what you desire, "truth" is what you must obey, and "the way" is what you must travel to attain it. There is no such thing as salvation outside of Christ...no matter who teaches anything to the contrary.

r2

A Secret And Hidden Wisdom Of God

Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away. But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory.
1 Corinthians 2:6-7, ESV

The God-breathed words written by the apostle refer to a certain "secret and hidden wisdom of God. Contextually, this section of Paul's epistle to the church of Christ in Corinth is contrasting the manner in which the world proclaims wisdom with the manner used by the apostle and his fellow laborers.

This "secret and hidden wisdom" (mystery, NKJV) to which Paul refers is simply that which had not been revealed of God's will until the time of Christ and the period immediately following his resurrection and ascension. Thus, by the preaching of the apostles, this divinely given wisdom was being conveyed to mankind.

In the words that follow the verses above, the Scriptures reveal at least six phrases describing how the "secret and hidden wisdom of God" was made known:

• They (i.e. secret and hidden wisdom) were prepared by God (v. 9)
• God revealed them to us through His spirit (v. 10)
  
• We have received the Spirit who is from God (v. 12a)
  
• We can know the things freely given to us by God (v. 12b)
  
• These things were spoken by the apostles (v. 13a)
  
• The Holy Spirit taught them what to speak (v. 13b)
  

How wonderful it is to know the words spoken and written by the apostles of Christ are trustworthy. The precepts of the New Testament are principles upon which a sound life is built -- not because they were spoken by wise and respected men -- but because they reveal to us the very mind and will of the eternal God.

r2

Do Words Have Meaning?

I sometimes wonder if words have lost all meaning.

Today on my lunch hour, I went by the Comcast customer service center to return our cable and internet equipment. Without even intending to do so, I noticed a very large sign on the door that read, "NO SOLICITING."

As I walked up to the window to turn in the equipment, I overheard the customer at the adjacent window say, "I'm not soliciting, but..." In my experience, when someone begins a statement by saying, "I'm not __________, but...," that generally means they are about to do or say exactly that which they just said they are not doing or saying.

This woman wanted to drop off coupons for her business. The sole purpose of her presence in that office was to direct increased traffic to her business...also known as SOLICITING. Despite the obvious flagrant disregard for the company's rule, the Comcast employee accepted the coupons.

So I ask, do words even have meaning anymore?

Much of our society has fallen into intellectual laziness -- the kind that bristles at the use of simple logic or proper use of terms. This has spilled over mightily into the spiritual realm.



For example, when the Bible says...

He who believes and is baptized shall be saved (Mark 16:16),

The world says, "Baptism isn't necessary to be saved."

When the Bible says...

There is one body (Ephesians 4:4), the church, which is His body (Ephesians 1:22-23),

The world says, "There are many churches, and one is as good as another."

When the Bible says...

God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth (John 4:24),

The world says, "There is no right way and wrong way to worship God."




My friends, there can be no doubt that when it comes to certain matters, for some, words have lost all meaning. Seeing that the method by which God has revealed His will to mankind is through the written and spoken word, this is a genuine tragedy.

The Holy Spirit guided inspired men to write "all the truth" (John 16:13). The truth has been conveyed by words, and it is these truths alone that have the ability to set the soul of every man free from the grips of sin and death (John 8:32).

It is time to renew our appreciation for words and their meaning -- especially when it comes to the words of the Almighty God.

r2

Why You And I Need Christ

Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and he life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
John 14:6, ESV


Without the WAY you cannot go.
Without the TRUTH you cannot know.
Without the LIFE you cannot grow.

r2

Ehh....Close Enough

A bank teller in South Carolina refused to open a new checking account for a man after he handed her a $1-million bill (a photo of which is at right). Alexander Smith of Augusta, Georgia was arrested on forgery charges for attempting to pass off this counterfeit bill as legal U.S. tender.

By the way, the United States Treasury has never printed a $1-million bill.

Despite the fact that this case involved a somewhat obvious counterfeit bill, it still amazes me how precise many counterfeiters can be in their attempts at duplicating genuine notes. Add to that the hundreds of millions of dollars worth of counterfeit merchandise sold every year (such as footwear, clothing, watches, electronics, DVDs, pharmaceuticals, etc), and this country has an epidemic.

There is something for you and I to consider here relative to matters of faith: You and I need to be on guard for counterfeit Christianity.

The Bible speaks of the danger of joining oneself to such a group:

But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.
2 Timothy 3:1-5, ESV

Friend, be very cautious when it comes to your inner man -- the part of you that will exist throughout all eternity. Pay close attention to how the church you attend compares to the Scriptures. Are there any conflicts? Perhaps only small ones?

Let's go back to the counterfeit bill for a moment. The difference between the best "fakes" and the genuine article is minute -- undetectable by most! But go into a bank and try to open an account with counterfeit bills and see if they say, "Well, these bills do not match authentic currency....they cannot be real....but hey, they are VERY close. So we are going to accept them and open your account." Not going to happen, folks!!

Under the inspiration of God, one true apostle of Christ wrote to God's people regarding false apostles of Christ:

For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.
2 Corinthians 11:13-15, ESV

Here is a fact: Some people know very well they are deceiving souls, and some do not. The ones who do not know they are teaching falsely are themselves deceived. Now, whether one deceives another intentionally or unintentionally, the problem remains. The only solution is to expose them to truth and hope the heart is soft enough to be receptive thereto.

Let every last one of us always keep these questions before us:

1. Why do I believe what I believe?
2. Why do I worship in such a way?
3. Why am I a member of _______________ church?

If the answers ever become something other than, "Thus says the Lord," we can be certain that our source of authority has become something other than God's word; and any source of authority outside of that word will be woefully insufficient as we plead our case before the judgment seat of Christ.

Friend, let's get back to God's way of doing things.

r2

How To Be A "Joy-Giver"

Are you interested in bringing your Christian brothers and sisters joy? Follow these guidelines, and you will be a great source of encouragement for the family of God:

1. Walk in truth (2 John 4)
2. Love the truth (2 John 6)
3. Abide in truth (2 John 9)
4. Welcome no untruth (2 John 9-11)

(Click here to read the brief book of Second John)

The result will be joy among the people of God!

r2

SEARCH

In the 2001 blockbuster, A Beautiful Mind, Russell Crowe plays John Nash, the brilliant but mentally unstable mathematician whose work won him a Nobel Prize. The irony of a brilliant mind being handicapped by its own schizophrenic tendencies provides for an intriguing story.

The New Testament records a statement in the book of Acts that reveals what God considers a "beautiful mind" to be:

These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.
Acts 17:11, NKJV

This God-breathed statement describes the noble nature of the men and women in the city of Berea when it came to receiving the word of the Lord. Obviously, then, there is a right way and a wrong way to receive spiritual teaching. The Scriptures teach that searching the word of God is an attribute of a beautiful mind.

How should we search the Scriptures?

S -- seriously (1 Peter 4:7)
E -- earnestly (Hebrews 2:1)
A -- anxiously (2 Timothy 2:15)
R -- regularly (Deuteronomy 6:7-9)
C -- carefully (Joshua 22:5)
H -- humbly (James 4:10)

r2

Beckham's Fans Know His Voice...Or Do They?

With "Beckham Mania" in full swing here in the "States," it was only a matter of time until someone tried to use the excitement to their advantage.

Check out this story...

An imposter pretending to be soccer superstar David Beckham made a dozen prank calls to county offices to chat about charity work and drop names of celebrity friends, officials said.

County Public Information Officer Judy Hammond said the bogus Beckham also suggested bringing underprivileged kids to a practice session of the Los
Angeles Galaxy, Beckham's new team.

Clerk Maria Saenz and student worker Susana Guillen, avid fans of the real Beckham, "were just jumping up and down" after the first call, Saenz said.

Officials realized the calls were a hoax after Department of Children and Family Services staffers grilled the caller.

"It just smacked of bogusity," department spokeswoman Louise Grasmehr said.

Representatives of Beckham confirmed he had not made the calls.

The matter was being investigated to "see if it rises to the level of some kind of offense," sheriff's spokesman Steve Whitmore said.

County Chief Executive William T. Fujioka said officials were never really duped.

"We're not country bumpkins," he said.

Even some of David Beckham's most avid fans were not able to recognize the imposter's voice. Jesus said...

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.
John 10:27, ESV

Those who follow Christ are those who are able to discern truth from error. The wisdom of man has concocted a virtually endless supply of false religion and perverted doctrine. The real danger lies in that which has just enough truth to take on "a form of Godliness" (2 Timothy 3:5), but stops short of being the doctrine of Christ. Anything outside the genuine gospel of Christ is utterly powerless to save a single soul (cf. Romans 1:16; Galatians 1:6-10)


Is this not exactly what enabled the bogus Beckham to get as far as he did with his prank? He used the right name, and I assume even used the British accent to win the trust of a few naive office staff. In the end, just because someone says something does not make it truth. To claim oneself as a disciple of Christ is wonderful, but to prove it by obedience to his unmistakable voice is the true test of fellowship (see 2 John 9-11).

r2

Like A Cedar In Lebanon

The cedar tree is mentioned some 75 times in the text of the Bible. The cedar trees in Lebanon were, at one time, the most prominent in the world.

In Psalms 92, the Bible says:

The righteous flourish like the palm tree, and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. They are planted in the house of the Lord; they flourish in the courts of our God. They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of
sap and green...
Psalms 92:12-14

The wood, bark, cones, and even the leaves were saturated with resin. The inside, or "heart," had a reddish cedar color, and the exterior was whitish.

King Solomon selected these famous trees for the construction of many of his famous structures, especially in the Temple (1 Kings 6:15). Scripture refers to them as "lofty and lifted up" (Isaiah 2:13, ESV). In a symbolic way, the great cedars of Lebanon suggest grandeur, beauty, power, and majesty. Given the physical makeup, there are several loose spiritual applications we can make from this tree:

1. The heart is a reddish color, bringing to mind a heart that has been cleansed by the blood of the Lamb of God, -- Jesus Christ.
2. The exterior is a whitish color, making us think about a life holy and without blame.
3. The wood, bark, cones, and leaves are filled with resin (the sap of life), which calls to our remembrance our commitment to present our whole bodies as living sacrifices, filled with the Spirit of life.
4. The cedar of Lebanon is tall, stately, and very beautiful to behold, symbolic of one's stand for the Lord, reflecting and projecting His beauty.

While I would certainly hesitate to say these allusions are inherent in the text, understanding the makeup of the great cedars of Lebanon is very helpful in reminding us of these fundamental spiritual truths.

r2

iPhone Madness!

Today is the day millions of "cell phone junkies" have been waiting for. Apple released the much anticipated iPhone for use on the AT&T wireless network.

Prices for this cutting-edge gadget begin in the $500-$600 range with a two year service agreement, and monthly service plans for the iPhone are significantly higher than with other devices. For many avid "gadget geeks," price is not an object. Click the link below to watch an interview with a gentleman from New York City who waited in line by himself for four days in order to score the first iPhone.

See interview here

The Bible says...

Buy the truth and do not sell it; buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding.
Proverbs 23:23, ESV

The truth is more precious than any accumulation of gadgets. It is of more value than any amount of money, fame, power, or popularity. Being what Jesus called, "the pearl of great price" (Matthew 13:45-46), it is infinitely and eternally more valuable than anything and everything the world has to offer aggregately.

To what lengths will you go to acquire and firmly take hold on the truth that sets man free (John 8:32)?

r2

What Good Will It Do?

Over a five day span in June of 2006, visitors to a popular faith-based website were asked to participate in a survey. 10,567 individuals answered questions dealing with the subject of hell. One of the survey questions was, "Do you believe in hell?". 76 percent of the more than 10,000 individuals responded with a "no." Keep in mind the fact that this website is visited primarily by those who profess to be Christians.

Is this an accurate sampling? Do three-quarters of those who profess Christianity really believe there is no such place as a literal hell? Speaking from personal experience, I would say the number is at least that high.

Understandably, it is human nature to avoid sad and frightening subjects. However, there is great wisdom in addressing such subjects -- especially when doing so will prevent an individual or many individuals from experiencing pain and suffering.

For example, one of the last statements anyone wants to hear is, "You have cancer," but would a patient really be wise in plugging his ears and denying the very existence of the disease? Much the same way, will denying the reality of hell benefit me in some way? To the contrary.

If the calculations I have seen are correct, the inspired record shows that Jesus preached on the subject of hell three times more often than he did on the subject of heaven. Granted, just because one subject is addressed more than another in Scripture does not mean it is more important. More than one of my denominationally minded friends have brought that up in discussion as proof that belief is somehow more importance than obedience. That being said, it is interesting that Jesus spent significantly more time on the subject of hell. Why might that be the case?

Jesus says his earthly purpose was to "seek and save that which was lost" (Luke 19:10). With so much of his time dedicated to declaring the devastatingly real nature of hell, it is clear that a significant aspect of "seeking and saving" involved educating the finite human mind about an infinite, eternal separation from God in torment and destruction.

76 percent notwithstanding, Jesus taught there is indeed a hell by:

1. Direct Statements (Matthew 10:28; 23:33)


2. Powerful Allusions (Mark 9:43)


3. Historical Reference (Luke 16:19-31)

Friend, what good will it do to stare an angry charging bull in the face, declaring all the while that angry charging bulls do not exist?

r2

Bidding "God Speed"

This past Saturday, Kelly and I went down to the Richmond Intermediate terminal on the James River to take part in an event dubbed, “Rock The Boat.” This three-day event was in celebration of Richmond’s 400th anniversary. Just 11 days after Captain Christopher Newport and John Smith landed at Jamestowne, a group from that first settlement ventured upriver to the falls of the James. Although the city would not actually be incorporated until years later, this voyage marked the true beginning of what we now know as “River City.”

“Rock The Boat” was an opportunity to see several replicas of the ships these settlers used to make their journeys. One of the three ships that made its way across the Atlantic to Jamestowne in 1607 was the Godspeed. At just 68 feet in length, this 40-ton brigantine was not all that large when compared with some of the other ships of that day. All 39 passengers and 13 sailors she carried on that voyage to the new world were male. The opportunity to see a replica of the vessel that brought the first British settlers to the shores of what would be America was very inspiring.

The evening was capped off by a rousing and impressive performance by the Richmond Symphony. As they wrapped up Tchaikovsky' 1812 Overture, a spectacular fireworks show lit up the night sky. The huge masts of the docked ships on the river were in the foreground, and the skyscrapers of downtown Richmond in the back. It would have made for a poetic photograph showing the past mingling with the present, but our camera battery died.

The tourism tagline for Richmond boasts, “Easy to love.” After five months of living here, it really is hard to argue with such a claim (this is my little plug for our lovely area so you will really think about joining us in November for our lectureship!).

Anyhow, on with the “thinking-food.”

The name “Godspeed” reminded me of the admonition given to us by the Lord in Second John, especially the King James’ translation (who, by the way, was the namesake not only for Jamestowne, but also the James River):

“Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.”

2 John 9-11, KJV

Bidding one “God speed” was (and still is in some places) a greeting extended to someone to show support and acceptance. Whether this greeting is put forth verbally or merely by implicative action, there is usually no mistaking the message one intends to convey.

Thus, we must be very careful not to lend our support to the spread of false doctrine by words, co-laboring, or financial means. On the other side of the coin, God’s people ought to be actively seeking works by which we can promote the furtherance of the pure and powerful soul-saving gospel.

Consider the words in the last of John’s three epistles regarding the support of faithful brothers walking in truth…

“Therefore we ought to support people like these, that we may be fellow workers for the truth.”

3 John 8, ESV

Thus, if we love the Lord, his gospel, and souls in need of its power, we will always use care in bidding “God Speed” to the ones whom God approves.

R2