Are You a Christian Weasel?

But let your communication be,
Yes, yes; No, no:
for whatever is more than these comes of evil.
Matthew 5:37

I listened yesterday to an interview with a graduate of Patrick Henry College on KPLU, an NPR radio station. Patrick Henry College, or PHC, is a Christian college that was started specifically to provide a college education for Christian home-schooled children. The school has accomplished much in the few years of its existence and its graduates are among the best in the nation.

The interviewer, in his closing question to this former student, asked if he knew the Dalai Lama, to which the young man responded that although he did not know him, he was familiar with whom he was. The interviewer then asked him if the Dalai Lama was going to Hell. The graduate replied by telling a story about a previous Dalai Lama who, when he had died, was found with a crucifix. From that he concluded that it is not our place to say such a thing because we never really know what a person really believes. As Charles Spurgeon once said, it would take India rubber lips to get around that answer.

Why are we afraid to tell the truth? Certainly, God has not set us as judges over our fellow man. However, to say that the Dalai Lama may not go to Hell is a lie. Interestingly enough, the other interviewee was a woman that had written a book about PHC in which the male had been highlighted. The author had a female PHC student living with her. One day the author’s husband asked the student, “Do you think I am going to go to Hell?” She hesitated, thinking, then said, “Yes, but I am not jumping up and down with joy over it.” She told the truth in a polite, considerate, and kindly way.

I learned long ago that beating around the bush or using weasel words only exacerbates the offense. When people realize that, in effect, you have lied to them, they will respect you and your message even less. Tact, politeness, kindness, genuine love and concern, along with a respect for the other person, will allow you to say things that are painfully truthful. Some will receive it the way it was intended; some will not.

One thing that is critically important for every person to know is that “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved (Acts 4:12). About this there can be no equivocation. About this there can be no beating around the bush. There is only one way to Heaven: it is through faith in Jesus Christ, the only begotten of God. All other paths lead to Hell.

Certainly men and women who believe differently will take offense. That we cannot help. Some years ago I was witnessing to some men in a mosque and the conversation was congenial until I quoted Acts 4:12. Upon hearing that, the men became livid, excited, and for a few seconds I wondered if I would walk out of there without harm. Those men needed to hear that, though, and to have told them that if they were sincere in their desire to please God through their adherence and belief in Islam it would only rise up to judge and convict me of the most heinous and egregious cruelty at the last judgment. To have said, “Well, I really don’t know what is in your heart so maybe you’ll make it in the end” would not only have been a lie but would have served to further damn them.

The Bible gives us several examples in the book of Acts of how we should speak: Peter on the day of Pentecost, Stephen before the Sanhedrin, Paul before his tribunals. These men not only scorned weasel words, some of the things they said were blatantly offensive. But these men were filled with the Holy Spirit who gave them boldness. Maybe that’s the difference?

But let your communication be,
Yes, yes; No, no:
for whatever is more than these comes of evil.
Matthew 5:37

Baptist Distinctives

What makes a Baptist a Baptist? Someone once said that Baptists are like Heinz's products — 57 varieties. There are Southern Baptists and Northern Baptists (now called American Baptists, Hardshell Baptists, Softshell Baptists, Reformed Baptists, Missionary Baptists, General Association of Regular Baptists, Independent Baptists, Bible Baptists, Fundamental Baptists, Full Gospel Baptists, Seventh-Day Baptists, and many more. And that is just in North America. Although there are some significant and polarizing differences among these different Baptist denominations, there are certain things that most, if not all, Baptists hold in common: the Baptist distinctives.

1. Baptists believe in the authority of the Bible. The Bible is the first and final word in matters of belief and behavior.


2. Baptists believe in soul liberty. That means that each individual may believe according to the dictates of his or her own conscience.
   


3. Baptist believe in the autonomy of the local church. Each church is independent of hierarchical control. Churches are free to associate with other churches and religious bodies but are under no compulsion to do so.


4. Priesthood of all believers.


5. Baptists believe there are but two ordinances, preferring not to use the term sacrament. The two ordinances are believer’s baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
   


6. Baptists believe in a regenerate (born again), or saved church membership.


7. Baptists believe there are only two church offices: pastors and deacons.


8. Baptists believe in the separation of Church and State. This is understood to mean that the State cannot dictate to the Church nor is the Church to control the State.

There are often differences of interpretation and implementation of these distinctives among Baptists and some of these are also held by other denominations. Baptists are not creedal, meaning their belief system is not bound by any creed. Their view of the Bible and their belief in soul liberty allow them a liberty not readily available in other denominations of being able to come to a better and fuller understanding of the truth and of living out their faith with a good conscience.

So the Bible Is Wrong?

“The Bible got it wrong. Pride only goes before a fall when it’s hubris – excessive pride that veers into self-aggrandizement and conceit.” That sentence leads off an article on the value and necessity of pride for well-being. You can read it here.

Well, if this isn’t another case of gross stupidity, ignorance, and arrogance. “The Bible got it wrong,” Science Daily reports. Has the author of that statement ever read the Bible? Did he or she even bother to read the alleged quotation?

In the first place, the Bible doesn’t say, “Pride goes before a fall.” The reference is to the wise King Solomon’s statement found in Proverbs 16:18 that “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” That’s from the King James Version, modernized to contemporary verb endings.

Solomon is using a literary device called parallelism, in which the thought found in the first clause is repeated with different words in the second clause. In other words, pride and a haughty spirit are paralleled, as are destruction and fall. Perhaps if Solomon were alive today he would have used the word hubris rather than a haughty spirit. They are one and the same.

The research data, rather than disagreeing with the Bible, supports it. However, for a scientist to admit the Bible is right on relegates their work to the ash bin. Nonetheless, the Bible is right and no amount of research by all the puny minds that science can muster can match the wisdom of the Almighty. Whenever a scientist says the Bible is wrong (those are not the words of the researcher, but of the reporter) you can be assured that it is the scientist that is wrong.

Archaeologists used to prate that the Hittites mentioned in the Bible never existed. They had to eat crow on that one. They said Pilate, the governor that sentenced Jesus to death, was a fiction. They had to eat humble pie when evidence was unearthed to reveal that there was a real Governor Pilate.

There is only one reason to rail against the Bible: if the Bible is true, the unbeliever and the scoffer are doomed, for they will be held accountable by the Judge of all the Earth. Seems to me the Bible says the same thing, but much more eloquently:

Blessed is the man that walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law he meditates day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he does shall prosper. The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind drives away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the LORD knows the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish. (Psalms 1:1-6)

...and that’s what is meant by pride going before the fall.

Sunday School Curriculum

It seems to me, and this is purely personal observation, opinion, and bias, that children growing up in evangelical churches nowadays are as ignorant of the Bible at the age of eighteen as they are at the age of eight. They do not know basic Bible teachings and as a result are totally unprepared to face the challenges of living for Christ once they have left their homes.

I was asked a while back what I thought a child should that has grown up in the church under my care should know by the time he or she is eighteen. After giving the question some thought I came up with the following items. If I were to give it more thought I could probably add some things to the list.

• The necessity of the new birth and how one finds life in Christ
  
  
• That salvation is entirely a work of God, is by grace and not by works
  
  — Is appropriated by faith alone
  — Involves a turning away from sin as well as a turning to Christ.
  

• The doctrine of the Bible with respect to inspiration and authority.

• How to determine if a translation or version is good or poor.

• Why we reject the Apocrypha

• The names of all the books of the Bible in the order they appear.

• How to study the Bible for oneself.

• The major characters of the Bible and what their roles.

• The major events of the Bible and where they are found.

• The Ten Commandments and where they are found.

• The Beatitudes and where they are found.

• The Lord’s Prayer and where it is found.

• The differences and similarities of the Gospels.

• The attributes and names of God.

• The meanings of theological words such as conversion, redemption, atonement, satisfaction, propitiation, sanctification, justification, and glorification.

• How to determine if a religious group is orthodox or a cult/false belief.

• How to know the will of God.

• What the Bible says regarding marriage, divorce, and sexual purity.

• The difference between Law and Grace.

• What it means to be united with Christ and how to preserve that connection.

Praise to the Holy Trinity

Three years ago I started a series of sermons based on St. Peter's first epistle. I needed a hymn to go along with the first three verses of the first chapter which read:

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to God's elect, strangers in the world, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood: grace and peace be yours in abundance. Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. (1 Peter 1:1-3)

I found nothing suitable in the hymn book, so wrote this. It may be sung to Duke Street (Jesus Shall Reign Where'r the Son)

Praise to the Holy Trinity
Praise to the Father, Spirit, Son
Praise for salvation, full and free.
Praise to you God for all you’ve done.

Praise to the Father, God above
Who chose me from eternity.
To be his child, his son of love,
That I might live from sin set free.

Praise the Spirit, who gave me birth.
Who sanctified me, cleansed my soul.
You made me see my soul’s great worth,
You washed my heart and made it whole.

Praise to the Son, who for me died
It was for me your blood was spilled,
With your love I am satisfied.
In your presence I am so thrilled.

Praise to you, Holy Trinity
Praise to you, Father, Spirit, Son
Praise to you through eternity
Praise to you,
O great Three in One

© 2004 Willard Paul, All Rights Reserved

The Nature of Man

Why do so many preachers and Bible teachers get it wrong when it comes to discussing the nature of man? What kind of nature does a man (or a woman) have? The answer is quite simple: a human nature. What else would you expect? Listen to enough contemporary preachers and teachers and you will soon hear that we do not have a human nature but we have a “sin nature.” In fact, one does not have to go far to see that. A blog I recently read entitled "The True Nature of Man." says: “First, I want to suggest that man, all of us are born in sin. That is with a sin nature... .”

Man does not have a sin nature, he has a human nature. Since Adam's lapse from grace our human nature has been corrupted, but it is still a human nature.

Why am I so particular about this? The answer is quite simple: if we had a sin nature than we would not be responsible for our sin. Dogs, which have a canine nature, sniff each other because that is what they do by nature. Humans that engage in such behavior are considered crazy. Birds fly by nature, cows moo by nature, kangaroos hop by nature. Sinning, however, is contrary to our nature. We were not made to sin and we shall be held accountable for our sin.

When God made Adam and Eve he created them in his own image. That is our nature. Before Adam bit into that forbidden fruit he knew no sin but was capable of it. Once having eaten, his human nature was taken captive by sin. In his post-Fall condition he could do nothing but sin. He did not lose his human nature, but sin entered in and has held him and us captive ever since. Our release from that bondage is only effected by the new birth in Jesus Christ.

I could spend a lot of time and space on this subject. I only want to provoke you into reconsidering the popular theology of a sin nature to see that it is an unscriptural and unbiblical term. There are two basic reasons for challenging the "sin nature" teaching:

• It puts the saving work of Christ Jesus in question. If man has a sin nature, what kind of nature then did Jesus Christ have? Is he not fully man?

• The Scriptures do not teach that man has a sin nature. You will find some translations (the New International Version, for instance) using the expression “sinful nature,” but that is an adjective modifying a noun. Our natures are sinful and that is a problem. That is the problem the new birth fixes. “For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:” (Romans 8:3).

The problem of sin in its theoretical sense has plagued and divided man for ages. How do we explain sin in its operations? What makes us sin? Why do we sin? All these are questions that have answers but that does not mean the answers are easy to ascertain. Unfortunately, in the desire to be as simple as possible, erroneous explanations like having a sin nature have been taught as truth. The end result of such thinking manifests itself in the Alcoholics Anonymous statement that “I admit I am an alcoholic and am powerless to help myself,” a statement that is repeated as a mantra long after a person has dried out. If one is an alcoholic either by virtue of supposed disease or nature, than one has a good excuse for drinking. If an alcoholic is powerless to help himself, why then is he held accountable for being an alcoholic? This thinking can fit any sinful behavior.

The Christian has a renewed nature, as it says in Colossians 3:10: “And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:” When we sin, as we all-too-often do, we do not sin by nature. There is not one reason or excuse a Christian can give for sinning. So, if we do not sin by nature, why then do we sin? That may be the subject of another blog but a concise answer is given by St. James in his epistle: “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it brings forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, brings forth death” (James 1:14-15).

This may seem to be an inconsequential matter to you, but error can never be inconsequential. In this case, a proper understanding of why we sin and sin's relationship to our nature, has a great deal to do with our ability to live victorious Christian lives.

Where Are You Going?

“Where am I going?” may be the most important question that you will ever consider. “Where are you going?” The answer that counts is not the one that you provide but the one that Almighty God provides.

God has much to say respecting our final destinies. Although we may think we will live forever, we know that is not the case. We may try to convince ourselves that this world and its existence is all there is. However, down deep in our hearts we know that to be false. Some claim that when this life is over we come back in the form of an animal or perhaps as another human being. That, too, is merely wishful thinking. Others teach that when we die we go to sleep in the grave, awaiting a future day of judgment. That is not the case, either.

The only revelation that God has given man about what happens to him at death is found in the Bible. The Bible tells us we either go directly into God's presence or we go directly to a place of torment, called Hell. Those are the options: there are no others.

The Apostle Paul said that he desired to depart “and to be with Christ.” Where is Christ? He is in heaven. And that is where all those who have placed their trust in Christ for salvation go immediately upon dying.

Those who do not believe in Jesus Christ are immediately in hell. I realize this is not a pleasant thought. I do no like it, myself. But it is the truth. Jesus tells about a rich man, sometimes called Dives, who died. The sixteenth chapter of the Gospel according to Luke records his words: “The rich man also died, and was buried; and in Hell he lift up his eyes.” In those few words we find three truths: hell is a reality, there is consciousness, and there are no stopping-off places before going there. Other expressions of consciousness which Jesus used are: “being in torments, seeing, crying and saying.” These are activities of a living, conscious entity.

“It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment. (Hebrews 9:27).” This lifetime is all you have. There is no coming back. There are no second chances. When you die your destiny is no longer in question. “Now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2). You may not have another tomorrow.

“He that believes on the Son has everlasting life and he that does not obey the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God continues to dwell on him” (John 3:36, paraphrased). “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved” (Acts 16:31).

Heaven or hell–where are YOU going?

Why Am I Here?

The second of the three great philosophical questions is: "Why am I here?" or "What is my purpose in life? The first, "Who am I?" has already been considered. The third, "Where am I going?" will be answered in the next posting.

"Why am I here?" is a question most of us ask at least once. There are many ways to respond to the question. The answer hinges on first answering "Who Am I?" Once we recognize that we are created beings we also recognize that we have a responsibility to the Creator. If we are the product of chance mutations, we have no responsibility to any one higher than ourselves, for there are none; we also have no soul-satisfying reason for being here.

"Why am I here?" The Westminster divines answered that question by saying, "The chief end of man is to glorify God and to enjoy him forever." The Apostle Paul said, "Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all for the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31)." Again, in Romans 11:36, he says, "For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory forever."

"Why am I here?"

"You are here to glorify God."

"How do I glorify God?"

To glorify God is to do those things that he requires. Things like loving God with all of your heart, soul, mind, and body as well as loving your neighbor. Things like refraining from intentionally damaging your body by abstaining from tobacco products, overindulging in alcoholic beverages, eating too much, using non-medicinal drugs and using medicinal drugs for non-medicinal purposes. Things like providing for your family and not wasting your money on lottery tickets and other forms of gambling. Things like helping the poor and downtrodden and not laying on them burdens greater than they can bear.

Other ways we may glorify God are through artistic creativity, singing his praises, worshiping God both individually and gathered with others, using our minds to design and improve technology for the benefit of mankind, and recognizing that all that we are is a result of God's blessing on our individual lives.

The best and most meaningful way we can glorify God is to believe in the one whom he has sent, even Jesus Christ. That means we accept God's verdict on who Jesus is and believe the Biblical account of the Son of God. When you place your trust in and commit yourself and your future to Jesus Christ, you will not only be glorifying God but you also will be able to enjoy him forever.

Who Am I?

The three great philosophical questions are: “Who am I?” “Why am I here?” and “Where am I going?” The Bible has the answers.

Genesis 1:27, “God created man in his own image,” answers the first question. We are created by God. We are not here by happenstance nor have we arrived through chance evolutionary processes. Each of us is here because God created us. God made us from nothing and we are here by his express desire.

Because God created us we have a purpose in life. Because we are created we have responsibility and accountability. It is to God that we will answer for the things we have or have not done in this life. Creation implies we neither have ultimate control over the course and destiny of our lives nor do we have the inherent right to do as we please. Evolutionists and humanists attempt to make an end run around these implications by either denying creation or by insisting that man is autonomous.

Genesis 1:27 also teaches we are created in the image of God. What does that mean? Does it mean that we look like God? No, that would make God a hermaphrodite—half man and half woman. Not only that, but God explicitly states that he is not a man (Numbers 23:19). In what way, then, are we made in the image of God?

The image of God consists of the moral and intellectual nature of man. God is spirit (John 4:24) and the essence of man is spirit. Man is a spirit clothed in a body of flesh, bones, and blood.

Man differs from animals in that man is a moral being. Animals, while possessing various degrees of intelligence, are not moral creatures. Animals perform by instinct. Man's performance is based on rational thought coupled with the workings of his conscience.

When God created us he put into us the knowledge of his law. We know that it is wrong to murder, to steal, to commit adultery. These things we do not have to be told. Animals, on the other hand, mate according to instinct. Some are monogamous, others are not. Some exist by stealing because that is the way God made them. Predatory animals kill other animals instinctively and without remorse.

It is the image of God in man that makes the sin of murder so heinous. There is no sin in killing an animal provided the animal is not wasted or killed for greed. To kill a human being, however, is to destroy the image of God.

As we realize we are image bearers of the Creator and honor that image we will find peace and satisfaction that will carry us through the difficulties of life and provide comfort for our souls.

It's Not That Easy

Last week I wrote an entry titled, "It's Not as Simple as ABC." I had intended for that to be the last word on the subject, but this morning I was directed to a missionary's web site on which there was a page entitled, "Becoming a Christian is as Easy as ABC." A search on Yahoo revealed many more similar pages. This error is worse than the first. Celebration Church in Blountville, Tennessee has a typical presentation. The heading says, "Becoming a Christian is as Easy as ABC," followed by the same ABC enumeration mentioned in my previous article.

I believe this presentation is not only unscriptural but sends the wrong message. After all, easy come — easy go. What is easy is, in most cases, of little value. Our churches are filled with so-called believers who do not value the salvation they claim to possess.

I know that no two salvation experiences are alike. I cannot judge the manner by which you became a Christian with the way I was introduced to Christ. Some, like Zacchaeus and Saul of Tarsus, appear to have been saved with little preparation or mourning for sin. Martin Luther, on the other hand, agonized for years until he finally found peace in and with Christ.

The plumb bob of Scripture does not warrant our saying that becoming a Christian is easy. Let's examine the Scriptures to see if this is so.

"Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many," Jesus said, "will seek to enter in, and shall not be able," (Luke 13:24). Does this sound easy to you? Strive is also translated in other versions as "try hard," "make every effort," "exert yourselves." The Greek word from which it is translated is the same word that we get agonize from. It seems to me that Jesus is saying that getting in at the strait gate isn't easy at all. For one thing, the gate is strait (not straight). The American Heritage Dictionary says of the word in its noun form that it is, " A position of difficulty, perplexity, distress, or need." The context of the quotation bears that out for "many will seek to enter in and shall not be able."

In another place Jesus lays down one of the requirements to be his disciple:

"If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brothers, and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. And whosoever does not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first, and count the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, Saying, 'This man began to build, and was not able to finish.' Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first, and consult whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that comes against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends ambassadors, and desires conditions of peace. So likewise, whosoever he be of you that does not forsake all that he has, he cannot be my disciple." (Luke 14:26-33)

Does that sound easy to you? No, it isn't. Why don't we hear that from our pulpits? Because it doesn't preach. It doesn't build big churches. It isn't seeker-sensitive. It might chase off those we would like to reach.

To tell people that it is easy to become a Christian is first a lie. All lies have their origin with Satan (John 8:44). To tell people it is easy to become a Christian is to care more about the size of your church or the notches on your evangelistic rifle than to care about truth, Jesus Christ, or the souls of those that are misled by your attempts at getting them saved.

To tell people that it is easy to become a Christian is to set them up for a fall. It is easy to say A, B, C. It is much harder to become a Christian. It is easy to repeat a mantra; it is much more difficult to be a disciple of Christ. It is easy to join the Army: it is much harder to be a soldier.

Too often, we parrot that which we have been told without thinking much about it. Our desires and our motives are pure, but the message is faulty. We need to think biblically and we need to think critically. When we know the truth, we should tell the truth and let the consequences rest with God.

Not as Simple as A-B-C

The Southern Baptist Convention, and many other evangelicals, are enamored with the ABC's of becoming a Christian. For those not familiar with these "ABC's" they stand for admit, believe, and confess. My Sunday School teacher's quarterly says, "The ABC's of Becoming a Christian is a simple and effective way to share God's plan of salvation." I think it is defective.

"A" stands for admit: admit to God that you are a sinner. Some instances will include the need to repent. "B" stands for believe: believe that Jesus is God's Son and accept God's gift of forgiveness from sin. "C" is for confess: confess your faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.

The first reason I believe they are defective is that they are not biblical. They are "adding to His words." I have read the Bible umpteen times and have never seen these ABC's. They are a man-made concoction that confuse the issue and give a false sense of security. Let's examine them one-by-one.

Admit you are a sinner. Where does the Bible tell you to do that? Obviously, if sin separates us from God the recognition of one's sinfulness must be an issue. In today's parlance, admit doesn't mean much. "Oh, sure, I'm a sinner. So what?" I can admit that without the slightest hesitation. To see myself a sinner as God sees me is another matter.

Believe that Jesus is God's Son and accept God's gift of forgiveness from sin. Well, were getting closer here. This, though, is a false statement. The first part is a teensy-weensy correct: the latter is erroneous. The Bible nowhere speaks of us "accepting Christ" as either Lord or Savior. Granted that we are to believe that Jesus is God's Son, that still leaves a lot to be desired. We are to believe much more than that. The Apostle Paul tells us, "That if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved" (Romans 10:9 NIV). Belief is in a person, not a fact. Belief is in Jesus Christ, not that he is God's Son. Believing in the person requires a bit more knowledge than this one letter can give.

Confess your faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. Now, exactly what does that mean? This statement is not found in the Bible. It is not what Romans 10:9 says, and I fear that we neither understand the statement of Romans 10:9 nor do we mean the same thing. To confess is to say the same thing as. Are we to confess our faith? Sure. Does that save us? No. What are we to confess? "Jesus is Lord!" When we confess that Jesus is Lord we are saying two things: Jesus is Jehovah and Jesus is our Autocrat. Jesus is the Creator who owns us (our not "accepting" him as Lord makes no difference) lock, stock, and barrel. Our confession of Jesus as Lord means we worship and serve him as God himself.

The second reason I believe the ABC's of Salvation are defective is because the Scriptures do tell us how to be saved. When the jailer at Philippi asked Paul and Silas, "What must I do to be saved?" they answered, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household," (Acts 16:31 NKJV). Or this: "Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, 'Men and brethren, what shall we do?' Then Peter said to them, 'Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit,' " (Acts 2:37-38 NKJV). We'll take up the relationship between believe and repent in a future blog entry.

The third reason I believe they are defective is that they are too simplistic. They strive for the least amount of intelligence and cognition. I do not believe we need to make things difficult. Simple and simplistic are two things apart. Simple is fine; simplistic is over-simplification. We use these ABC's and gloss over a great many things that need to be addressed. Believe that Jesus is God's Son? Other belief systems claim to believe that but that does not save them. Salvation is acquired through faith. Faith is founded on fact. "A blind leap of faith" is an absurdity. You must believe something and that something must be substantive. You cannot worship God ignorantly (John 4:24).

The fourth reason I believe the ABC's are defective is they give a false sense of security. " Congratulations! If you have sincerely completed these ABC [sic]. Jesus said: 'there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.' Luke 15:10," says one web site. Besides being poorly worded, the statement is false. The writer assumes that completing these ABC's makes one a Christian. No so. Being saved is a sovereign work of grace and is a gift from God. It is appropriated by faith resulting in a changed life. Perhaps I am over-simplifying but it seems to me that the ABC's are mechanical. It's like marking off a checklist.

I find it amusing that most of my fellow Southern Baptists are against the using of creeds but have no problem with the ABC's. They wouldn't think of reciting the Apostles Creed (even though many would learn something) which is a time-tested concise statement of faith but yet reduce salvation to a formula. There's something wrong there.

I believe we should get back to the Bible. Let's say what the Apostles said. Let's press upon men, women, and children the necessity both to believe and to repent, to turn from idols to the Living God, to turn their backs on darkness and to walk in the light. Maybe then our baptized membership would be truly converted.

Preciseness

I read a lot — and that is an understatement. I read blogs, newspapers, magazines, bulletin boards (the bbs kind as well as those in supermarkets or wherever), and books. I also listen a lot — perhaps not as much as I should.

Some of the things I read and some of the things I hear really make me wonder about the intellectual capacities of the writers and speakers. I am not being an intellectual snob when I say that because some of the speakers and writers are far more intelligent and much better educated than I; however, for one reason or another they are not able to articulate their thoughts precisely.

Some do not use precise language because they believe they have to talk down to their audiences, addressing the lowest common denominator. Some of our modern Bible translations and versions are like that. I am thinking particularly of The Living Bible, The Message, and the Contemporary English Version. These are not alone, just representative. Even the more widely-used New International Version uses imprecise language, often noting the correct translation in the notes.

Others do not use precise language because they are careless. That is usually the case with me. One of my pet peeves in this area is the incorrect and improper use of me/I. Another one, of which I am more forgiving, is the confusion of who and whom. Those are common mistakes and do not ordinarily make any difference. However, when we make theological statements carelessly we can leave people with an erroneous understanding.

Some do not use precise language because their perceptions of what they are saying are different from ours. For instance, Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses will use the same terminology as we do (in some cases) but with different meanings attached. When "New Age" adherents talk about "the Christ within you," they are not at all speaking of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

I have, on occasion, corrected someone's misstatement by saying, "You meant such-and-such, didn't you?" only to have them reply, "Whatever." No, it is not whatever. If your physician talked to you like that, you would be incensed. If he told you the pain in your abdomen was a tummy ache, you would think he either had reverted to his childhood or thought you a child.

There is no room for error or misunderstanding in theological matters. Errors arise, often, out of misunderstanding. The key to preciseness is to know what you are talking about and how to communicate those ideas in understandable, and accurate, terminology. Unfortunately, too many believers don't know either one.

I started this poem who knows when and then filed it. Last May I came across it and read what I had written to my wife. She said, “You should finish that.” So I did. It has no title because I haven’t given any thought to that.

---

Grace…

grace…

great grace…

amazing grace

Words of beauty, which found no place

Within this cold and wicked heart

That with my God would have no part.

I, who had in Adam sinned,

Thereby became corrupt within.

An enemy of God was I:

to his refuge I would not fly.

An enemy — yet so much more!

For against him I was at war.

A rebel who could do no good,

and wouldn't — even if I could.

I railed against His Majesty —

the One who had created me.

I fought with him at every turn;

his proffered mercies I did spurn.

I did not know nor understand

— for I am but a puny man —

that none can fight against the Lord

and wrest him of his mighty sword.

Sinner! Sinner! You are undone!

There is no place that you can run.

Put down your arms and quit your fight!

None can endure my awful might!

Turn ye! Turn ye! Why will you die?

Turn! Turn! — and to my bosom fly!

Lay down your arms, and to me come

Give up your fight, you are undone.

Yet, deaf was I and could not hear

the words of doom that reached my ear.

My heart was hard, and just as cold,

Weighted down with a heavy load.

A son of disobedience,

Spiritual things made no sense.

Dead was I — yes, dead in my sin —

But soon there’d be new life within.

Behind the scenes, within my soul,

God was working to bring me low.

Afraid,

afraid,

afraid was I

Afraid to live, afraid to die.

Then came love — such tender love

From God himself, who lives above;

Love that wiped away all my tears,

A love that vanquished all my fears.

A Love that entered deep within,

A love that paid for all my sin;

A love that brought God down to man,

A love that gave me life again.

Now I to him do belong, and

Within my heart he put a song —

A song of praise, a song of peace,

A song of joy and of release.

Soon I’ll be in heaven’s land

And before my Lord I’ll stand.

I who was a child of Hell

Will with my God forever dwell.

‘Tis more than I can comprehend,

That God loved me enough to send

His son to meet the Law’s demand.

That is so great, that is too grand.

Grace…

grace…

great grace…

amazing grace

Poured out freely on Adam’s race.

That I should stand before his face.

Grace…

grace…

great grace…

amazing grace.

(C) 2007 Willard Paul

Clap Your Hands, All You People!

Clap Your Hands...

“O clap your hands, all you people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph.” (Psalms 47:1)

OK, so I’m quoting it out of context. It really doesn’t refer to the subject at hand. What I am referring to is the clapping of hands in church after someone has sung or played an instrumental piece. This is a custom of modern origin, being popular no more than about 35 to 40 years.

Ostensibly we attend church services to worship God. Then, when someone sings or plays a musical selection, we clap for them. This ought not to be.

George Santayana said: "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." One of the great failings of Americans is their ignorance of history. Christians are even more guilty. Clapping in churches was a problem 'way back in the latter part of the fourth century. Then it was not singers that got the applause, but preachers. Philip Schaff, in his History of the Christian Church, writes: "Chrysostom mourns over the theatrical customs, such as loud clapping in applause, which the Christians at Antioch and Constantinople brought with them into the church." — [Philip Schaff, History of the Christian Church, Vol. 3, p 290]. Later, he says, "Pulpit eloquence in the fourth and fifth centuries reached a high point in the Greek church, and is most worthily represented by Gregory Nazianzen and Chrysostom. But it also often degenerated there into artificial rhetoric, declamatory bombast, and theatrical acting. Hence the abuse of frequent clapping and acclamations of applause among the people." [op. cit., p. 367]. A humorous note is appended: "This Greek custom of applauding the preacher by clapping the hands and stamping the feet was a sign of the secularization of the church after its union with the state. It is characteristic of his age that a powerful sermon of Chrysostom against this abuse was most enthusiastically applauded by his hearers!"

What is wrong with clapping? I believe, first of all, that clapping is done to express delight with a performance. Singing in church, no less than preaching, should be an act of worship rather than an exhibition of talent. Special music should draw us closer to the Living God. It should never be entertainment or amusement. The appropriate response should be an "Amen!" or "Praise be to God," or some such similar sentiment. Secondly, clapping for a singer diminishes the glory and praise that is God's alone. Thirdly, at the rate the Christian church is conforming itself to the world, clapping for a good sermon is right around the corner. I hope I don't live to see it.