Category Archives: Issues

G.I. Jesus?

I hope the title doesn’t upset anyone, but I wanted to get my point across quickly. Other titles I considered were “Rambo Jesus” and “Who Would Jesus Shoot?” (as a play on What Would Jesus Do?). My point is this: Can you picture Jesus Christ dressed for combat (or perhaps only half dressed Rambo style) carrying an M60 machine gun ready to blow away His enemies? No? Then why do so many who name the name of Christ think it is perfectly fine for them to join the military and either directly participate in or support the killing of thousands of people in wars? And why do so many politically active Christians think it right to support or even lobby for war?

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Q. Does Jeremiah 10 describe the decorating of a Christmas tree?

A. Jeremiah 10 has often been cited as describing the decorating of a tree in a fashion similar to the decorating of Christmas trees today. Jeremiah 10:3-5 says, “For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not. They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good.”

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Q. Does God still directly communicate with His people?

A. The questioner is referring to audibly hearing God, God directly communicating with our minds, and His giving us visions and dreams. The Holy Spirit’s causing us to have strong desires, so that we do something God wants us to do, might also be included. Most charismatic and Pentecostal churches would answer the question with a definite yes. But many Protestant and Baptist churches would say that direct communication from God has ceased. (As far as the leading of the Holy Spirit, many might agree that the Holy Spirit often leads us, but they might disagree over how compelling that leading can be.) But can there be a third answer that is in-between both extremes? I believe that there is, and I am going to tell you of an incident in my own experience.

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Christians, Voting, and Politics

We recently had an election here in the United States. I didn’t vote. Why? Besides the fact, as I have stated before, that even the best choice is still merely the lesser or two or three evils—and the lesser among evils is still evil (see “Voting for the Lesser of Two Evils Is Evil“)—another reason I didn’t vote is that my real citizenship is not in the United States of America.

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Brit Hume and Witnessing for Christ

As most Americans know by now, on January 3, 2010, TV news anchorman Brit Hume committed the equivalent of the politically correct (PC) world’s unpardonable sin. During a panel discussion show on Fox News, Hume was asked what advice he would give golfer Tiger Woods, recently scandalized for having numerous adulterous affairs. To the horror of many, Hume replied,

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Are Some Born that Way and Does It Matter?

We humans are diverse in our likes and dislikes, personalities, talents, and behavioral tendencies. Why? Are various tendencies, including sexual orientation, physically based (usually, but not always, meaning genetically determined)? Do they stem from our environment, the parenting we received, the friends we had, the stability or lack of it we experienced? Or are they really only a matter of choice? Do the answers to these questions make any difference as far as the Bible is concerned? That is, does a link to some physical factor, such as a particular genetic configuration, for what the Bible defines as sin absolve the person from responsibility?

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Q. Does the Bible say I should refuse to serve or hire people in my business because of their sexual orientation? Are Religious Freedom Restoration Acts biblical?

A. These questions are based on a controversy raging in the United States as I write. Several states have already passed, and others are in various stages of trying to pass, what are being called Religious Freedom Restoration Acts. In general, these acts are designed to define the right of “persons” to act according to their religious beliefs or consciences in their businesses, so long as doing so does not conflict with a “compelling state interest.” In some of these bills, such as that in Indiana, “person” means more than just an individual. Person is also defined as “a partnership, a limited liability company, a corporation, a company, a firm, a society, a joint-stock company, an unincorporated association” organized and operated for profit or nonprofit purposes that can sue and be sued. Many assert that the motive behind such legislation is to legalize discrimination for religious reasons against people based on their sexual orientation.

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Q. Aren’t biblically unsound and even cultic groups doing good in the world by promoting standards of decency and morality? Does Luke 9:49-50 say we shouldn’t forbid them?

A. Let me begin by asking my own questions: What is the commission Christ gave to His disciples? Is it to promote decency and morality? Or is it to preach the Gospel message that Jesus died to save sinners who will trust Him as their Savior?

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