Living Under The Law

Me ~ Paul said in Romans "that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law... and that it was not through law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith. For if those who live by law are heirs, faith has no value and the promise is worthless, because law brings wrath... the law was added so that the trespass might increase; but, where sin increased grace increased all the more, so that just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

The law and laws are what make civilized people and free. I think most people would agree with that. Perhaps, it is for this reason that the law is what we in this fallen world have been subjected to in order that we overcome this fallen world.

John ~ Well, the law increases where sin increases. This is a fallen world and sin is ever increasing; the world of nature and science reveal the state of decay - corruption. Because sin is so onerous God introduced grace knowing that man could not save himself in this state of decay. If sin remained unchecked without the presence of God's spirit in this world it would destroy the entire world.

Me ~ But, isn't total destruction revealed in Revelations?

John ~ Jesus said that if he did not return to stop the march of sin, everything would be destroyed. He is going to intervene in time to stop it.  This is a future event.

Me ~ I understand. Let's go back to the law. Jesus through Paul and in His own teachings showed us that the law is more than we can accomplish on our own. Right?

John ~ Correct, the law is impossible for fallen man to obey. The law does not restrain evil. God's spirit does. God's law was very comprehensive covering every conceivable behavior that people could commit. He had prescriptions on how to deal with it. It was so detailed that it was burdensome, in fact impossible for anyone to fully obey. Which is why God introduced the blood sacrifices for the atonement of sin for the breaking of the law. He sent His only Son to atone for sin for those who would accept it.

Me ~ Why does man then continue to make laws which he thinks will make this world a better place?

John ~ Because, laws do temporarily restrain sin but do not eliminate sin. Hence, laws are strengthen and created; however this has the unfortunate affect of eliminating personal freedom. God's solution goes directly to the heart of the matter by changing the hearts of people; so that they no longer desire to do wrong.  Thus, preserving individual liberty and increasing it.

Me ~ Amen!!!

What Does Toleration and Being Tolerant Mean to the Christian?

Me ~ Opponents of Christianity make the claim that toleration and being tolerant are not part of the Christian world view. Why is that?

John ~ First, we have to define what tolerance is. It is putting up with things such as  ideas or views that people have which are relativistic and arbitrarily arrived at. The tolerance we as Christians should have is that we can only put up with so much ungodly behavior based on what God expects, using His standard of measure. In saying that, we as Christians are not out to condemn people and throw them into the lions den; rather we call out the sin and try to guide the sinner back onto a path toward salvation.

Opponents of Christianity want us to judge using their standard which is always in flux, whatever the culture feels like at the time, this is their basis. For example, we cannot criticize homosexuals today but we can criticize Christians for being Christians.  If opponents of Christianity claim that Christians are intolerant of what God says is evil, then they are correct. What opponents are actually saying is that Christians are intolerant of what they say is evil, not God. 

They are saying that Christians are hypocrites because they claim to be tolerant yet call out sin. Christians are not hypocrites in this respect. Because, they are tolerant to a certain point. That means when they can no longer put up with the sin that they recognize based on God's standards not their own they have a right to call out the sin in order to save the individual from further damnation.

Christ himself told his people to judge with a righteous judgement and to discern good from evil. If we as Christians fail to do that, then we as Christians are not being the salt in light in the world that they are called to be. It means that we as Christians are looking the other way instead of being salt and light. Salt burns the darkness and sin away... light exposes the truth!

God's Genetic Programming

Me ~ There is a new agenda on the horizon, genetic enhancement. The argument is that such manipulation of genes is evolutionary for man. What do you think?

John ~ First of all, the idea of intentional evolution is an oxymoron. Darwinist evolution is a mindless process that takes place over eons of time without purpose or direction. Gene manipulation in the laboratory is not evolution in fact it is creation which is the very thing that scientists deny happens in nature. So, if we are going to manipulate our own genes, this is creation and we are playing God.

Secondly, the whole idea that life is getting better through Darwinist evolution is in contradiction to the second law of thermo-dynamics. I point this because, evolution requires energy. In a state of entropy any kind of change for the 'better' (and what would that be?) would not be necessary. Better actually would be conservation of energy and thus less evolution; it would be better in fact to be a single cell that stores energy.

Me ~ I know that we are in a state of entropy because this is a fallen world. However, when you look at the world, you see incredible complexity which definitely has the Creator's mark on it. God seems to have a plan... are we evolving in God's program? Some say yes as we select our mates. In fact, this is part of the argument being used to do genetic enhancement. What do you think?

John ~The idea that we must improve ourselves physically is not scriptural. In fact, the flesh is called the enemy of the spirit. Because the spirit is the true nature of man in the image of God. And, as scripture says over and over everything physical will be destroyed by fire included fools who think that they can live forever by becoming machines. The entropy in the universe was put there by the creator so that evil would not continue forever. It has an expiration date. And the entropy in the universe prevents corruption from spreading to far before succumbing to this natural decay.

Me ~ I agree, but what about man's (including woman) choosing a mate. Don't we make choices based on physical appearance? 

John ~ Yes we do. All based in the five senses which are of the flesh and are corrupt and not an accurate means of choosing a mate. But, certainly it is the means used by fallen man which is why it is not working so well. We should be choosing someone that God selects for us. I mean we should be making a choice based on God's selection for us, God brings you together. If you seek the Lord, you will know the 'right' person when you meet them.

What Consequences Can We Expect?

Me ~ Not so many posts ago, we blogged about marriage between a man and a woman. As of this past week, the US Supreme Court recognized 'gay' marriage. There is no need to go on about marriage between a man and a woman in this post because if anyone wants to know what we blogged they can go back and read it. Now, I just want to ask, what consequences can be expected from this decision?

John ~  Legally, the supreme court has decided that laws no longer have meaning which means that laws are arbitrary and we no longer live under the rule of law which was established about 400 years ago. This essentially is where the Roman Empire was just before its collapsed as the emperors became arbitrary and tyrannical. What this means for the individual as the group is that we cannot trust the written laws to mean what they say.  

Socially, this means that the fundamental construct of human society is now loosely associate in fact by bare threads. What once was stable society held together by a strong fabric of God fearing people has been changed by costumed individuals playing God.  If the family wasn't already on death's door, it is certainly in the coffin now. What does this mean for the future? It means chaos and anarchy for social reality.

Religiously, it means that the state now will work very hard to shut down any religion that contradicts the dictates of the state. Which is essentially is where we were 200 years ago. So, we have gone from tyranny to liberty to corruption back to tyranny.

Ultimately, we have moved from a nation that trusted God to a nation that leans on its own whims. The covenant we made founding this country has been broken and now we will pay the price for our folly. It will be the most devastating, destructive and terrifying upheaval since the fall of the Roman Empire in Europe.

What will come out on the other end side of this is any one's guess, it may not be the country we once lived in nor be a country at all.  God is going to the only thing He can do once a society codifies sodomy into law and that is wipe it out.

Gender and the Bible

Me ~ Could transgendered people proclaim that their agenda is supported by scripture... as a way of overcoming the flesh?

John ~ They could claim it but what they are forgetting is that God's creation is very good. He created two genders which is repeated often in the Bible; there are mentioned only two genders that He the creator intended for humanity.

I would like to add that it seems to me that what is actually going on is an indulgence in the flesh. It is not just skin bones but the flesh includes the soul and mind. We have people who are poorly socialized or have genetic defects and are mentally ill. These are fleshy problems, not spiritual problems. So, by allowing their flesh to lead them, they are making changes that God never intended. When they stand before the creator, they will stand as the gender that He created them as either male or female, not regarding their feelings. Corruption enters us at birth, even before birth given that children in the womb as they develop are being socialized by godly or ungodly parents.

Me ~ Would you apply the same reasoning to homosexual and bi-sexual individuals?

John ~  Absolutely, because we are dealing with people led by the flesh rather than people led by the spirit.

Me ~ What about transhumanism as a means of overcoming the flesh, is that indulging in the flesh or is it trying to escape it?

John ~ Once again, the flesh is anything not of the spirit. When we indulge in anything that is not the spirit, it is of the flesh. So transhumanism is indulging in the flesh. Transhumanism main goal is immortality in the flesh rather than allowing God to do what He said He will do which will be to provide us with glorified bodies; which will lead us from death to life. Transhumanists mistakenly promote the idea that man can achieve eternal life. Mechanical things break down just as much as biological. the universe is in a state of entropy and everything is breaking down. This is because since the fall, the world as we know which includes our perception of the cosmos and even our experience of it is in a state of entropy.

Me ~ What should people be doing given their propensity for indulging in the flesh and their likely view that if this is a state of entropy then why not indulge in the flesh?

John ~ Indulging in something in that is always decaying is the height of foolishness. The Bible says that everything is going to be destroyed with fire when God returns to create the new heaven and new earth. That means that all humans and everything that the flesh can come up with with be destroyed. The better choice would be to indulge in the spirit which is eternal ....in order to be saved before that event.

End Times ~ Where When and Who Part I

Me ~ Are we living in end times?

John ~ Indeed. The end times are the period in history where God is raping up his plan for this current age of man. which fits into His eternal plan. Technically speaking, the end times began with Christ's resurrection and return to heaven. However, we can also use that term to describe the years preceding His return. Within those preceding years is a seven year period called the great tribulation. In this period of time the bride of Christ is purified and brought to heaven while the world undergoes judgement through the works of Lucifer and the Fallen ones with incredible natural catastrophes which culminates in the second coming of Christ at the battle of Armageddon.

Me ~ Concerning then 'end times' where, when and who are we talking about?  Maybe we should start from who?

John ~  The end times involves the human race. Though specific individuals are mentioned during this great tribulation period. The main character is the Dragon or Satan also known as Lucifer knows as the fallen cherub. He is the one who has been hurled to earth and is trying to hang onto what is left of his kingdom. Preparing the world to repel the invasion of Christ at Armageddon. The second most important character is the beast known as the anti-Christ. He is an individual who becomes the world ruler at this time. And, is possessed by an evil spirit sent by Lucifer. The second character is the false prophet who is a false Messiah and causes the entire world to worship the beast.The final character is the Lord Jesus Christ who returns to establish his rule on the earth and recreate the Garden of Eden and imprison Lucifer and his fallen ones for a thousand years until judgment.

Me ~ OK, but what the discussion about that where they come from suggests who... The Bible says that the false prophet will come out of the earth and he looks like a lamb with horns and the anti-Christ comes out of the sea which likely means the area of the Mediterranean.

John ~ The anti-Christ is an Assyrian. That is Biblical. Also, he is of the people that destroyed the temple in 70 A.D. which was a Syrian legion of the Roman army. Also, he will be a man of fierce countenance and will conquer by peace and war. He honors a god of force and is not interested in the desire of women and will claim to be god and demand to be worshiped as such in his short career. He will take over the temple in Jerusalem and kill the Jews and fight a battle against Jesus - Armageddon.

Me ~ We have talked before about the Rapture. Where in this spectrum of end times is that?

John ~ The word rapture is  not used in the Bible. It is a permutation of the Greek word -parousia which means the coming. This word refers of Jesus Christ's coming. Appearing the air when he comes to remove the church prior to the judgment of mankind. Paul referred to this as the Blessed Hope. It occurs somewhere either just prior to the tribulation and or up to the mid point which is about three and half years into it.

Me ~ Do we know when that is?

John ~ We will know when we see the sing of the Son of man in the sky. It maybe be the sign of a cross or His actual visage. We do know that when the sun goes dark and the moon turns to blood and what looks like the stars falling to earth, (I strongly believe a super volcano or cometary impact on the earth) we will know His coming is imminent. 

Interstellar ~ What was it about?

Interstellar

*Readers note - this is quite lengthy so take the time to read it, perhaps over two days...

Me ~ The critics say that this science fiction movie is an wrapping of basic spiritual/emotional human desires (for home, for family, for continuity of bloodline and culture), as well as a horror film of sorts—one that treats the star voyagers’ and their earthbound loved ones’ separation as spectacular metaphors for what happens when the people we value are taken from us by death, illness, or by unbridgeable distances.

I thought that this film "Interstellar" was somehow attempting to understand what the universe really means for man as in his role in it being part of a greater cosmic experience; especially in that the main characters seek to discover an alternative place to live given the planet's 'earth' supposed destruction is inevitable. The storyline gives us a futuristic dystopian society, not drastic but evidently very different. We thus get a sense that there is a desire to get answers that would solve a serious problem and lead to a better life. While, we can appreciate that, we are not sure that the people are entirely committed to the idea of finding a better place or life outside of life on earth. I would even go as far as to say that the actors and director did not seem to be committed to the original storyline. For instance, in the beginning of the film, we are led to think that there's a ghost in this film, writing out messages to the living trapped in reoccurring dust storms. Other characters (scientists) strain to interpret distant radio messages as if they were ancient texts written in a dead language, and stare through red-rimmed eyes at video messages sent years ago, by people on the other side of the cosmos. 

What do you think the film was trying to achieve, was it a search for the creator?

John ~ I think the film was trying to touch on the same ground as the movie 2001 A Space Odyssey. It was more than an allegory and leaning on science. Except for the dawn of man, all other elements were there, a Stargate, artificial intelligence, you have a new home for mankind and you have the individual going there and coming back who has acquired a greater sense of reality than when he left and imparts this experience on all mankind for his benefit.

Me ~ Why are we interested in making and watching such films?

John ~ It is all basically trying to identity our location and place in creation. Are we more than just animated dust? Do we have a deeper connection to the cosmos? Do we have a destiny in the larger universe? What is the nature of time and space? Are they 'things' that can be manipulated by intelligence. Because, in this film, they were. All these questions, are asked by all religions, faiths, and each one has its own answer. Nowhere in the film was there a higher intelligence than man. What they thought were aliens were us, which puts man in the god seat. This means that the movie comes from a secular humanistic point of view.

Me ~ Why does man want to be God?

John ~ Because of Christian man's ego. Some cultures do not question nature, they simply accept it. The Chinese made a lot of discoveries but never applied them because what they discovered did not seem necessary, just a curiosity. For example, a primitive society would see a light bulb, but they would not know what to do with it or want to do something with it because it would not fit with their symbiotic life with 'nature'; thus, it would just be a curiosity. Now, the Chinese would today know what to do with it, but given that they discovered gun powder many years ago they did not do anything with it... it was a curiosity.

Whereas Europeans went the distance with it. Why? Because, the idea of questioning and investigating nature is a purely Christian/European phenomenon. Which has now spread all over the world, because the Europeans spread out. Science was/is their method by which they question and investigate and imagine what is beyond what they see. This kind of thinking and investigating has now become accepted and applied by the world but again, in many cultures this kind of thinking, imagining was not original to them. 

Me ~ Does this make Christianity exceptional, and in what way?

John ~ Yes, it means that 'Christian' man takes a dominate position over nature rather than a submissive role as we find in Pagan beliefs. Right from the beginning, (Genesis) man was given dominion over all of nature, while he lives with it, he is master of it. God gave him the ability to name the animals. This was the means and authority of assigning them their nature. Pagan, animistic and pantheistic beliefs place man equal to or subservient to the natural world.  If one is subservient to nature, one does not question it nor bother to understand it.... it simply is. Which means that modern science is a direct consequence of the Judeo-Christian world view. If it were not for that world view, appearing in Europe, we would not be living in the world of technology that we live in today.

Naming was important, as in naming as an action, giving commands. In computer programming naming is important. God created man, and man was commanded. Man did the same, he established the nature of things by naming, which shows authority and not submission... we are co programmers of the world ~ what we were meant to be.