Effective Antagonism

There are times we want to discuss a particular subject, teaching, or event in order to learn more about it. Sometimes we want to enter into a dialogue to understand the other person’s point of view, and sometimes we want to talk it over in order to correct or counter what we perceive to be an error in thinking. These are all legitimate aims.

Sometimes we are so convinced of the rightness of our own position that we run roughshod over those that disagree with us. I have seen pastors of many years do this as well as the exuberant young convert who is aflame with passion for his new-found views. Unfortunately, we often do great harm to the cause of God and truth by failing to take into consideration the person with whom we are contending. Next to the Bible, every contender for the truth should be thoroughly familiar with the principals of inter-personal relationships enumerated in How to Win Friends and Influence People, by Dale Carnegie. How we pursue our objective will either gain us a hearing or a dismissal as just another troublemaker. Carnegie’s book will help to make it the former rather than the later.

I am not afraid of those with opposing viewpoints nor am I always opposed to having those views expressed in this blog. I, being human, am not perfect and therefore do not have perfect understanding. There are times I need to be corrected. One gentleman who did that in a humble approach was Russell Earl Kelly, PhD, Author of Should the Church Teach Tithing? You can read his comments at http://hermeneutical.blogspot.com/2007/09/honor-lord-with-your-substance.html.

Anyone can write a blog (and I am proof of that) and unless you know that person personally or by reputation you have no idea if he even knows what he is talking about. As a blogger, I have to do my best to establish and hold a readership. Proper use of language, vocabulary, punctuation, and correct spelling go a long way in giving me credibility. But more than that, I have to know what I am talking about. This holds true for those that want to comment on my posts as well. Let me give you a case in point.

The man that wrote in opposition to my article on the Trinity said, “Sorry, but your Trinitarian belief is incorrect. If you will check the Greek, you will find that the Pronoun used when referring to the Holy Spirit is neutral. The Holy spirit [sic] is the power of God. The bible uses the pronoun 'He' when referring to the Holy Spirit and it should be correctly rendered ‘It’. Just check the Greek.”

Any first-year Greek student will chortle upon reading that. “Just check the Greek,” — like the man is a Greek scholar. This man either has not the slightest exposure to the structure of Greek or is suffering from an advanced case of Alzheimer’s. Greek, along with many other languages, has three genders: masculine, feminine, and neuter. “Spirit” is neuter in gender, not neutral. The word “spirit” may be translated, depending on context, as “wind” or “breath” as well as “spirit.” It does not follow that because spirit is a neuter word that the object represented by the word is. One of the words used in the New Testament for child is tekna (τεκνα). Tekna is also a neuter word. Sometimes it refers to a female and at other times to a male child. No linguist would translate an antecedent or subsequent pronoun referring to tekna as “it.” Checking the Greek has to go beyond a quick reference to Strong’s concordance. By the way, there are also Greek masculine words with feminine endings. At any rate, the Bible translators are correct in assigning an English masculine pronoun to references to the Holy Spirit. This we will, the Lord enabling, show in a future post. If you don’t know Greek don’t use it in an argument. If you don’t know what you are talking about it is better to not say anything than to show your ignorance to the whole world.

Handling Antagonists

How can you tell if someone is interested in discussing a difference of opinion or just wants to dump his or her views on you? How can you tell if a person is truly interested in learning or is entering the discussion as a teacher, a know-it-all? More than that, how does one deal with such a person?

I received two responses from the same individual to a blog article I had written some time back on the basis of the Trinitarian belief. The first of these started with, “Sorry, but your Trinitarian belief is incorrect.” Not much to discuss, is there? Judgment has been passed. I (or at least my understanding of the subject) has been tried, condemned, and declared anathema. What do I say, “Is too”? Mr. Obdurate isn’t going to listen. His mind is made up. I’m wrong and that’s all there is to it.

Can this person enter into a civil and gentlemanly discussion at this stage of the game? I do not think so. He has thrown down a gauntlet and is daring me to pick it up. He is picking a fight rather than looking for light and for a reasonable answer. It is his prerogative to not believe what I have written. A better course of action would have been to ask me to provide additional support for my belief in the Trinity. Then we could enter into a discussion of the pros and cons of our respective positions. But he did not do that. He just spoke ex cathedra and declared me to be in error.

What is my response to be? I guess I could answer in kind, but that would shed no light and only generate ill feelings. I could respond to his reasoning with logical counterpoints but that would probably be met with arms akimbo and an equally closed mind. And I could ignore him. I could do a combination of these responses but that would be counterproductive.

The one thing I will not do is post his thoughts on this blog. Why not? Many blogs will allow just about anyone to say anything, pro or con. This particular blog does not fall under that category. I am not afraid of opposing viewpoints and have allowed some readers to post views differing from what I believe. The purpose of this blog is not to allow just anyone to vent or push his or her own understanding of the Word of God, but to (as much as is humanly possible) present a clear and orthodox understanding of Scripture and Christian doctrine. This man’s views are unorthodox and from an historic Christian perspective, heretical.

What I will do is to present portions of his response and show the weakness(es) in his thinking. That way, those interested in having their convictions regarding the doctrine of the Trinity made more concrete will also have more knowledge to answer those whom you may encounter that think like this man or are leaning toward his views. My antagonist is welcome to read my posts and learn why the Church has insisted that orthodoxy include belief in the Trinity. He is also free to continue to disagree. He is free to discuss, to offer remonstrances, or to ignore me. He is not free, in this forum, to push his present views.

There's Only One Road to Heaven?

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)

Has this verse been excised from your Bible? I hope not, although I fear it has been removed from many. How clearer a statement than this could not be expressed.

Over the years I have heard many say that as long as one is sincere it really doesn't matter what one believes. That is, if the Hindu, Jew, or Mohammedan sincerely believes he is worshiping God, than that is all that matters. I would like to believe that, but it is simply not so. If you do not trust in Jesus Christ as your Savior you are not, nor can be, saved until you embrace him with all your heart, soul, and mind as the Redeemer.

Sad to say, those that once were luminaries have apostatized by giving credence to the possibility that Jesus Christ is not the only way of salvation. In 1978 Billy Graham, in an interview published in McCall's magazine, said "I used to believe that pagans in far off countries were lost going to hell if they did not have the Gospel of Jesus Christ preached to them. I No longer believe that. I believe that there are other ways of recognizing God through nature for instance and plenty of other ways of saying 'yes' to God". In 1997 he said essentially the same thing in an interview with Dr. Schuller of Crystal Cathedral fame:

"I think there's the body of Christ which comes from all the Christian groups around the world, or outside the Christian groups. I think that everybody that loves Christ or knows Christ, whether they're conscious of it or not, they're members of the body of Christ. And I don't think that we're going to see a great sweeping revival that will turn the whole world to Christ at any time.

"What God is doing today is calling people out of the world for His name. Whether they come from the Muslim world, or the Buddhist world, or the Christian world, or the non-believing world, they are members of the body of Christ because they've been called by God. They may not even know the name of Jesus, but they know in their hearts they need something that they don't have and they turn to the only light they have and I think they're saved and they're going to be with us in heaven."

So Billy Graham and others that agree with him have a higher authority than St. Peter? They know more than God who put the words of Acts 4:12 into his mouth and had them flow from Luke's pen? How much clearer than, "Neither is there salvation in any other" can it be stated?

No one, no Christian, can take any pleasure in the death of the wicked or of relatively good sincere unbelievers. The recognition and acknowledgment that they all will have their part in the lake of fire is not a comforting thought. In fact, that knowledge presses upon any with the knowledge of God an urgency to declare the riches of God's grace in Jesus Christ to those that have not yet believed.

Jesus Christ himself said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes to the Father, but by me." (John 14:6) Notice, he did not say, "I am a way," but "I am the way." That one statement excludes all other paths, all other ways. All roads may lead to Rome, but only one leads to Heaven. Peter affirms this in the verse under discussion, the last clause of which states: "whereby we must be saved." The Greek indicates that if one is to be saved he must of necessity be saved by faith in Jesus Christ.

The question then remains: In what or whom are you trusting for your salvation? Many have told me they made a decision and that's all they need to know. They have "put a stake in the ground." My friend, making a decision for Christ will not save you. Jesus saves, and he alone. Baptism does not save you, church membership does not save you, being born into a Christian family or a Christian nation does not save you.

Peter said, "there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." The name is the person. Salvation is in a person and that person is Jesus Christ. However much we may want to believe that people can be saved some other way, the Bible tells us the only way is Jesus Christ. This we must boldly and unashamedly proclaim, for it is man's only hope.

(This post was originally published on my hermeneutics blog on August 22, 2007)

The Basis of the Trinitarian Belief

In my blog post “One God — or many?” I said, “The Bible teaches that God is one,” and, “. . .this one God exists in a plurality of persons.” Many reject the idea of God as a Trinity because they cannot comprehend it or because they misunderstand it. The belief that the one God consists of three persons is difficult to understand, I admit.

There are those that would argue that the Trinity is not mentioned in the Bible. They are correct. However, the truth of the Trinity is taught in the word of God. The Bible does not teach systematically. One must often deduce truth by compilation: that is, we find bits and pieces here and there which, when put together, bring us to a certain conclusion.

Some argue against the Trinitarian position by claiming that the early church never taught it. That is also correct. However, The early church never taught contrary to the Trinitarian position, either. Specifically, the Church has never taught that Jesus was a god separate from the one, true God. Nor has the church ever accepted such a teaching that Jesus Christ was a created being. The Trinitarian formula was developed to counter the heresy espoused by Arius (d. A.D. 336) that Jesus was a created being and not truly divine. Arius and his beliefs were subsequently tried before the Council of Nicaea (A.D. 325) which formulated from the Bible the first Trinitarian statement of faith.

Only God can have all the attributes of divinity. The Bible ascribes to Jesus Christ and to the Holy Spirit all the attributes of divinity. One example should be sufficient to support the Trinitarian position. Only God is eternal. The Bible ascribes eternality to God the Father (Deuteronomy 33:27). It ascribes eternality to Jesus Christ (Isaiah 9:6). It also ascribes eternality to the Holy Spirit (Hebrews 9:14).

Only God can create something from nothing. The Genesis creation account says God created the heavens and the earth. When God was about to make man he said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness." This is the first indication the Bible gives, and that in the first chapter, that God consists of a plurality of persons. The apostle John said (John 1:3) Jesus Christ created the world. “All things were made by him, and [to add emphasis] without him was not made anything that was made.” Jesus could not have created himself nor could he be previously created, seeing he created “all things.” Likewise, the Holy Spirit was involved in creating the earth. Many scripture passages refer to the Holy Spirit working in creation, Psalm 104:24-30 among them: “You send forth your Spirit, they [the works of God] are created: and you renew the face of the earth.”

A careful study of the Bible can lead only to a belief in the Tri-unity of God, and only a study of the Bible will lead there. May God bless you with the realization of this truth.

What Is a Christian?

When I lived in New York, a Yankee was someone from New England. In the South, I discovered, a Yankee is anyone from the North. Later, when I was in Europe, I discovered a Yankee is anyone from the United States.


The designation of “Christian” is much like that. To many, anybody that does not belong to an obviously non-Christian religion is a Christian. Others believe that a Christian is one who belongs to or is associated with a Christian church, whether it be Catholic, Protestant, or Orthodox. Some, being of narrower thinking, would limit the designation only to those who belong to their particular church, sect, or denomination.


The followers of Jesus Christ were first called Christians (Acts 11:26) because they were mimickers of him. They were devoted — body, soul, and spirit — to Jesus. People outside their ranks knew where they stood and what they stood for.


In the United States, according to a Barna poll taken a few years ago, a full 74% of the population claims to have made a commitment to Jesus Christ. That means that almost three-quarters of the country believe they are Christians. If that many Americans are “mimickers of Christ,” why is this country in the mess that it is in?


Do you consider yourself to be a Christian? What difference has that made in your own life? How has that affected your family life? How has that affected the society in which you live?

Being a Christian is more than belonging to a church. Being a Christian is more than being baptized and confirmed. Being a Christian is more than being faithful to the services of the church. Being a Christian is even more than just believing in Jesus Christ. Although a part of Christianity, none of these things can make you a Christian.

What then is a Christian and how do I become one?

A Christian is one who has been given spiritual life by the Holy Spirit resulting in a full acceptance of all that Jesus Christ is and claims to be along with a complete submission to the will of God in all areas of one’s life. This new life is entered into through the new, or second, birth and matures the Christian over the years as he learns more of God’s will and Word. In the Christian, God the Holy Spirit is performing a life-changing feat which will eventually result in the believer’s becoming more and more like Jesus Christ himself.

Is this your experience? Do you more and more hate those things that God hates and more and more love that which he loves? This is the experience of the true Christian. This is the experience that will effect changes in our society. This experience and this life can be yours for the taking. It comes simply by believing. “He that believes on the Son has everlasting life,” John 3:36.

Spiritual Gifts No Assurance of Salvation

He was a man’s man. Head and shoulders he stood above his countrymen. No self-seeking politician or glory-seeking entertainer was he. With his good looks and manly stature he could have, in today’s world, been either one.

This young man was, as one writer put it, “one in a thousand.” By outward appearance he was “the man.”

One day God sent an emissary to him in the person of the prophet Samuel. From this day forward his life would be changed. The farm boy was to be the inaugural king of his nation, the nation of Israel.

It came about that his dad sent the young man and a servant off to look for some missing donkeys. They searched high and low for the donkeys and were gone so long that Saul, for that was his name, began to worry that his father would worry about his welfare. Just before they headed back the servant told Saul that there was a seer in the city where they were. It was not long before Saul stood before Samuel and enquired of the lost donkeys. Samuel invited Saul to be the guest of honor at a feast and then put him up for the night.

The next morning as Saul was leaving the city accompanied by Samuel, Samuel revealed to him that God had anointed him to be king over Israel. This incident is related in 1 Samuel 9 and 10.

On his way home, in accord with Samuel’s prophecy three things happened: the Spirit of the Lord came upon him, God gave him another heart, and he prophesied.

On another occasion (1 Samuel 19) Saul prophesied again after the Spirit came upon him.

On the first occasion, Saul was an unknown. He was not a leader, not famous, and not tried. On the latter occasion he was king, had turned against God and was in pursuit of David.

There is a tendency to characterize gifted people as spiritual. Some may be. All are not. In both cases Saul’s behavior as a prophet was out of character and so amazed those that knew him that they questioned, “Is Saul also among the prophets?” (1 Samuel 10:12)

In the New Testament Jesus calls twelve men to be his apostles. “Jesus answered them, ‘Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?’” (John 6:70). That devil apparently was as gifted as the other eleven apostles. Matthew relates in his Gospel (chapter 10, verses 1-8) how Jesus chose them and commissioned, or ordained, them to not only go and preach but to heal, raise the dead, and cast out demons.

Some look to their gifts, talents, and exploits as confirming proof that they are Christians. This is most dangerous. How terrible are those words which our Savior shall speak to some who will cry out to him, “Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name and in your name have cast out devils? and in your name done many wonderful works?” And what was that response from the Master? “I never knew you. Depart from me, you that work iniquity,” (Matthew 7:21-23).

Workers of iniquity? Jesus called these miracle workers, these spiritually gifted individuals workers of iniquity.

The problem here is that all of the outward manifestations of Christianity can be and are duplicated by peoples of other religions. And, as we have seen, it is possible for an unbeliever to have been gifted by God himself.

Saul was gifted, but was no friend of God. Judas Iscariot was gifted, but was no friend of God. They sometimes looked good on the outside, but there was no heart change. How sad.

A fuller treatment of this subject may be found in Charity and Its Fruits by Jonathan Edwards.

Adjusting to the New President

Barack Hussein Obama II was elected the 44th President of the United States this past Tuesday, winning both the popular vote and the electoral college.

Many Christians are in a tail spin over his election. It is true that the President-elect professes to be a Christian but many of his ideas and positions are contrary to the Word of God. His proposals for a changed America are often in conflict with the Kingdom of God. Many true believers are fearful of what the next four years will bring.

God has given us direction for living our lives not only when the political arena is tolerably friendly to the Church but also when it is antagonistic towards us.

We must, first of all, recognize that no one rules whom God has not put into office. “For promotion comes neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge: he puts down one, and sets up another,” (Psalms 75:6-7). Any dissatisfaction with the results of the election must be tempered with an active submission to the will of God.

Secondly, we must remember that those whom God appoints to rule over us rule in his stead, for him. Paul tells us this in Romans 13. Be mindful then that “Everyone must submit to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those that exist are instituted by God, (Romans 13:1 HCSB).

God has given specific instructions to us with respect to our leaders, whether they be mayors, governors, or presidents.

Of highest importance is our duty to pray for our leaders. “First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, for kings and all those who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good, and it pleases God our Savior, (1 Timothy 2:1-3 HCSB). Our prayers may be used of God to change the hearts of our leaders for good.

The Apostle Paul got a little testy and responded to the High Priest in an insulting way. When it was pointed out to him that he was addressing the High Priest Paul said, “I did not know, brothers," Paul said, "that it was the high priest. For it is written, You must not speak evil of a ruler of your people,” (Acts 23:5 HCSB). He was referring to Exodus 22:28. We must be careful of how we speak of our rulers because they stand in the place of God by the will of God.

“Do all you have to do without grumbling or arguing, so that you may be God's children, blameless, sincere and wholesome, living in a warped and diseased world, and shining there like lights in a dark place,” (Philippians 2:14,15 Phillips).
How we behave under adverse conditions or how we behave when averse to unreasonable or burdensome laws and regulations may open or close the doors to winning others for Christ and will affect how unbelievers glorify God.

Our national Constitution gives us a right not afforded to believers under the Caesars. That right is the right to petition our government. We can petition our government formally by presenting a petition with many signatures or by writing a short letter asking them for their support in a certain area. Keep a close eye on
proposed legislation and write your Representative, your Senators, and even the President and ask them to vote the way you would like them to. A short, polite explanation and a sincere thank you for their considering your request will gain you a fair hearing.

Then too, don’t be afraid to send letters of thanks, congratulations, or appreciation for the good things they do. Our leaders are people, too, and appreciate hearing more than complaints.