Category Archives: Current Issues

ALL Because of Words?

Posted by Dan C. on

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That meme showed up in my FB feed sometime last week; I forget which day. I have waited to say anything because it made me angry and I needed to process my emotions. There’s already too much vitriol in every form of communication on the planet about the death of Charlie Kirk, whose strong stance for his faith upset more than a few people.

I couldn’t help but think that to place the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King, and Charlie Kirk on the same level (All Because of Words) isn’t actually accurate. I don’t think that any one of those assassinations was ALL about words, and I KNOW that the death of Jesus wasn’t all about words, even though many of the words he spoke during his short three-year ministry angered both Jewish religious leaders, secular authorities, and many who were lost in their sin. Here is exactly how the death of Jesus came about:

“Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.” (Acts 2:22-24)

No angel from heaven or anyone else prophesied that any of the 4 on the left would save anyone from their sins. An angel of the Lord did appear to Joseph, Mary’s betrothed, when Joseph had doubts about marrying her because the child she was carrying was his own. Here is the record of that divine encounter
“Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.

“And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” (Matt 1:18-21)

The original author of that meme might really not even have had a clue about the ultimate reason for Jesus’ crucifixion. I refuse to stand in judgment. I do however, with all the love I have in my heart for the perfect and sinless one who died for MY sins, suffering the wrath of God due ME, have a Christian obligation to tell “the rest of the story”.

All of those deaths were evil, but they are not the same. Food for thought.”

I pray that God has blessed you in the reading of this little post.

CHRISTIAN MASCULINITY: THE MAN GOD HASN”T CALLED YOU TO BE

Posted by Dan C. on

That’s the title of an article I read this morning that I will link to at the bottom of this short post. I found the article because a post popped up in my FB feed about a book called “The DNA of a Man: How Your God-Given Masculinity Rebuilds Your Mind, Your Marriage, and Your Mission” that the post author was selling directly for $7:00 that Amazon also sells for $7:99 (Kindle) and $19:99 (Hardcover and Paperback).

The FB post talked about all the things that the author had tried in order to overcome all sorts of problems with his marriage and how he had been totally emasculated by his wife. He had tried everything in  areas connected to his faith (church going, doing what his church taught him about loving and serving his wife, etc) and they had all failed.

He “discovered” (God told him) how to regain his “God-given masculinity” and promised that if you would just buy his book all sorts of great things would happen. Per his ad, you could even find out the hidden key to God’s design for masculinity that’s in the book of Genesis!

Since I am old and have read and studied the Bible for a few decades now and have never found God’s plan for my “masculinity” taught in its pages, my FB comment to “Follow the money.” wasn’t well received. I was finally blocked, but not after I posted a couple of quotes from the article I am referencing that clearly stated what the Bible says about being a godly man.

Anyhow, here’s the link to the article. I didn’t find anything new about being a man of God, but I did find out the roots of the “Christian masculinity” movement.

Christian masculinity – Converge or https://www.convergemedia.org/christian-masculinity/

Enjoy the read, share it and let me know what you think. Smile

Thanks to the New Pope!

Posted by Dan C. on

It seems that since the recent choosing of a new Pope,  debates and arguments are once again prolific in certain circles.

In a Facebook post this morning I found the following statement accompanying a video clip in which a Catholic priest used passages from John 6 to defend adding works to faith as requirements for salvation:

“The shift to both Faith and Works for Salvation! Father Nathaniel Mudd of the Fathers of Mercy explains that in the Bread of Life Discourse (John 6), Jesus says, “whoever believes has eternal life,” showing the necessity of faith. He then declares, “unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you,” introducing a required work. This shift supports the Roman Catholic teaching that salvation involves both faith and works, especially through the Eucharist.

I responded that I wasn’t going to argue about it, but I believed that Eph 2:8-9 is the most powerful passage in the Bible concerning the relationship between faith and works concerning salvation, among many others.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”

I suggested that readers please read and study what the Bible has to say in the matter.

So what was Jesus saying in those passages from John? Let’s look:

Joh 6:47 “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life.”

Joh 6:53 So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.

The fuller context reads:

John 6:53–58, Jesus says, “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day. For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them. Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your ancestors ate manna and died, but whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.”

Was Jesus adding the “work” of partaking of a sacrament to faith, or was he speaking metaphorically/parabolically? Perhaps Jesus answers that with another passage from John 6.

Joh 6:63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.

I suggested that if it’s even possible that Jesus was speaking metaphorically/parabolically (and he did just that many times) can you ‘dogmatically’ teach that Jesus was adding a human work (a sacrament) to simply believing in him?

Please note that I have only asked questions to encourage reading and studying the Bible for yourselves.

I’m sharing this here since the choosing a new Pope has definitely revived some rather ‘excited’ discussions lately. I also have reminded some folks that faith alone/faith plus works issues were settled long before the formal organization of the Roman Catholic Church and all of the other “issues”.

If you are reading this and get into some of the heated discussions, here’s your opportunity to get past all of the RC church traditions and get to the real issue.

Be Blessed!

Will America Survive?

Posted by Dan C. on

image“Survive what?”, you ask. The current election cycle? The immigration crisis and the problems (criminal and societal) it has caused across our nation? The State sponsored moral crisis that has invaded our society and culture? Programs and policies that do more to divide Americans than unite us? Etc., etc., etc… I’m sure that anyone reading is already thinking about any number of specific examples for the categories of issues facing not only our nation but every American citizen, in one way or another.

As Christians, we know (or should know), and often tell others that God is in control, but what do we mean when we say that? Do we mean that, at the end of the day, God will work all things together for the good of His people (Rom 8:28), or do we mean that God actually controls and directs the affairs of men and their nations? We suggest the latter. The two theological terms we use to describe God’s role in the affairs of men are His “sovereignty” and His “providence”. They are inextricably connected, but different terms. John Piper describes them as:

“God’s sovereignty is his right and power to do all that he decides to do. Job 42:2: “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.” But notice that nothing in that definition of sovereignty refers to God’s wisdom or God’s plans. When he decides to do a thing, he does it, and no one can stop him. That’s sovereignty.

So, to make sovereignty a Christian concept, not just a philosophical one, we have to bring in other things we know about God from the Bible, like wisdom and justice and righteousness and grace. Providence, however, includes what sovereignty doesn’t. Providence, as I use the word and as most Christians have used it, is sovereignty in the service of wise purposes. Or you could say providence is wise and purposeful sovereignty.”[i]

To return to the issue of America surviving our tumultuous times, John Piper offers the following concerning God’s sovereign rule over nations:

· Psalm 103:19: “The Lord has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all.” That’s true now, and that’s true always.

· Psalms 47:2: “The Lord . . . is . . . a great king over all the earth.”

· Proverbs 8:15: “By me kings reign.” There’s no reign of any king anywhere at any time except by God’s decree.

· Daniel 4:17: “The Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will.”

· And when God puts the kings in place, he governs what they do. Proverbs 21:1: “The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will.”[ii]

Several passages in the book of Daniel describe God’s control of the nations:

“He [God] changes times and seasons; he sets up kings and deposes them. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.” (Daniel 2:21 NIV)

God raises up rulers as well as removes them. Daniel also wrote,

“For this has been decreed by the messengers; it is commanded by the holy ones. The purpose of this decree is that the whole world may understand that the Most High rules over the kingdoms of the world and gives them to anyone he chooses—even to the lowliest of humans.” (Daniel 4:17 NLT)

The prophet Daniel made it quite clear to the pagan King Nebuchadnezzar that God is the ruler of the nations when pronouncing judgment upon him. He said,

“You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like cattle. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes.” (Daniel 4:32 NIV)

Not only is God the sovereign ruler over the nations, God is the One who ultimately judges the nations. The psalmist wrote about this aspect of God’s character. He said,

“I say to the boastful, ‘Do not boast,’ and to the wicked, ‘Do not lift up your horn; do not lift up your horn on high, or speak with haughty neck.’” For not from the east or from the west and not from the wilderness comes lifting up, but it is God who executes judgment, putting down one and lifting up another. (Psalm 75:4-7 ESV)

The prophet Daniel stressed the fact that God will give the kingdom to whomever He wills. He can withdraw kings as well as raise them up. They rule at His pleasure.

So What?

What does all that have to do with our nation, the United States of America? Will we survive? Will the upcoming election result in America becoming great again, or will the current decline continue? Will American thrive again, or is judgment coming against a nation that seems to have turned against God?

Well, since the fate of our nation is in God’s hands, perhaps we should ask ourselves the same question Dr. Francis Scheffer asked in the title of one of his books, “How Should We Then Live?”. Do we, as Christians have a specific mission – a particular job to do as we wait for the blessed return of Christ to rule and reign on earth?

That question was answered by Jesus himself when, on his way to Jerusalem to meet his fate he, along with some of his disciples visited the home of the tax collector Zacchaeus and told them a parable:

“He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.”(Luke 19:12-13, KJV)

We know the rest of the story. The servants who invested the money given to them were commended, while the one who buried it for safekeeping it was chastised.

We are to ‘occupy’, (‘do business’ in more modern translations) until Jesus comes back. What business? Jesus left no doubt their either:

“ And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations” (Matt 24:14)

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20)

No matter what our main occupation or situation in life might be, we are to be about the business of the gospel, proclaiming it and making disciples. We are to be about ‘investing’ the gospel in our own lives and in the lives of others. We should be continuously growing in our own knowledge of God and His Son, sitting under sound Biblical teaching, and at the same time pointing the lost around us to the Cross of Christ and helping other believers grow in their faith.

And that isn’t just the mission we have as individual Christians, but it’s also the calling and mission of Christian Military Fellowship. CMF exists to help Christians, especially those serving in our Armed Forces not only grow in their own faith, but also to be engaged in the Great Commission until Jesus returns to rule and reign forever.

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[i] Are God’s Providence and God’s Sovereignty the Same? | Desiring God

[ii] Does Christ Rule the Nations Now? | Desiring God

More Interesting Preterist Questions

Posted by Dan C. on

Here’s the first of two questions posed in a full preterist FB group I visit on occasion. Like ithers I have discussed here, it’s a ‘leading’ question, in that it is the type of question that prompts a respondent towards providing an already-determined answer. In this case, the predetermined answer is that genuine Christians do not ‘need’ to be raised bodily since we have already been raised spiritually and have received life in Christ Jesus. A corroborating passage of scripture is offered as ‘proof’ of the presupposition driving the question. Here is the FB question:

“If believers already have His life, already been raised with Him from the dead, in the likeness of His resurrection and having the resurrection and the life, Jesus Christ Himself, what need is there then there for a physical body resurrected from the grave when believers have already bourne the image of the earthy, the natural, the physical, the temporal but we are to bear the image of the heavenly, the spiritual, the eternal? You know as Paul wrote how flesh and blood did not inherit the kingdom?” (1 Cor 15:50 – I cited the reference the reference since the post author must have inadvertently omitted it.)

I call it a leading question because it was posed by a full preterist whose mission in life seems to be trying to convince others that full preterism (ALL biblical prophecy was fulfilled in 70 A.D.) is God’s truth. Period.

Here is my initial response:

“I don’t think it’s a question of NEEDING a bodily resurrection, but it’s a question of what has been promised that we will receive one. We agree that we, as believers have been spiritually resurrected to new life in Christ. The term ‘resurrection’ in the Bible seems to always refer to a bodily resurrection. Not a single reference to the resurrection of believers tells us it will only be spiritual. Jesus was raised bodily and so will we. It’s a promise easily checked out. Your reference to 1Co 15:50 “I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.” simply means that the current physical bodies in which we are encased are not worthy of inheriting the kingdom. I could present you with a multitude of irrefutable scriptures pointing to the believer’s bodily resurrection, but I need to head for a local hospital for an iron infusion procedure right now.”

I got into trouble once again with the ladies who are admins for the Group (Pauline Doctrine). My mistake was not providing any specific verses to back up my claim that there was “irrefutable scriptures” pointing to the bodily resurrection of believers.

The second question was the Following:

“O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” Romans 7: 24 kjv

“What was the body of this death?”

My response to that one was:

Obviously, from the context, Paul is contrasting the law of God in the heart and mind of a believer with the law of sin and death in our mortal bodies:

Rom 7:22-25 “For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.”

Paul speaks of the inner conflict between two “laws” every believer faces. Some tell us that he was talking about his pre-conversion life, but the context states otherwise. I’ve talked about the conflict and the resolution to the conflict in “hunting dog” terms. If I own 2 hunting dogs, The one I love the most and take care of will perform the best during a hunt. I think the bigger question might be “How do we resolve the inner conflict?” The answer I suggest is feed and nourish our “new” creation in Christ Jesus.

Naturally, I got in trouble once more, I assume for not providing the post author’s desired response the initial question. I thought that by providing the context of the quoted passage would explain it quite clearly. My intent was to let the reader examine the passage given in context and let God speak to them directly.

Well, what followed was a barrage of responses excoriating me for NOT providing my personal opinion, but scripture itself (which I vainly tried to explain as politely as I could). The final response I received from one member of the admins was in part:

“… the original intended audience (the readers of the original post) should be allowed the relevancy FIRST”.

I guess I stuck my foot in it when I responded:

“That sounds like “opinion first” and context later, if at all. Did you forget about the actual ‘Context”? You did talk about comparing with other scripture. I would recommend placing a single passage into its own context first and then comparing it with other scripture, with the let what is clear interpret what is less clear.”

To make a much longer story short, I’ve been banned/blocked once again. I’ve also found out that others have faced the same fate, and probably for the same reason – daring to disagree or not responding with the ‘right’ answer to a leading question. From now on I’ll probably stop by that FB Group on occasion to see what preterist doctrine the admin ladies are pushing, but keep my mouth shut.

I think my “Preterism” library is now quite complete. My final question had to do with what a 70 A.D. completion of all Biblical prophecy meant for today’s believers. In an article published by Ligonier Ministries I found this comment:

“One theologian sums up the full preterist position like this: “The coming of Christ in judgment was fulfilled in the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70, Satan and Antichrist have [already] been thrown into the lake of fire, the kingdom of God has arrived, the resurrection is understood in spiritual terms, the Great Commission has been fulfilled, all things have been made new (the old heaven and earth have passed away; the new heaven and earth have come), the promised restoration has arrived, and the world now continues as it is ad infinitum.”[i]

According to the preterist, the “new heavens and new earth” spoken of in Revelation 21:1 is, to the preterist, a description of the world under the New Covenant. Forget about the “new earth” being a re-creation of this earth as God originally intended. We are already in it, with all of its “mess”. We can, however continue to share the gospel with the lost world around us and help others find Christ and an eternal spiritual resurrection, but there is no future bodily resurrection of believers in full preterism.

And that’s all, folks!

As an epilogue to my little “adventure into preterism”, I did find an article that explained the behavior of preterists to the proverbial “T”, at least as I have experienced it:

“Preterism, like all systems that can be characterized as being taken up by ideologues, is a system that is based on deductive reasoning that then requires all the particulars to be forced into the deductive system despite how the particulars may testify against the deductive system. Preterism, will not allow any contrary evidence from particular texts of Scripture because Preterism has as straight-jacket template that requires all to fit the system. Preterism, is a procrustean bed that will take texts and force them to fit their system. To the Preterist hammer all the eschatolgical texts are nails.

What the above paragraph means then is that having a conversation with a Preterist on this subject can be excruciatingly difficult because for them this is not just about eschatology. Indeed, for them Preterism is their whole weltanschauung (worldview).”[ii]

[i] Preterism | Ligonier Ministries

[ii] Continuing with the Problems of Full Preterism

Be Blessed!

“Here Comes the He Gets Us Campaign Again: Why Its Portrayal of Jesus is Still a Problem” By Natasha Crain

Posted by Dan C. on

Here is the introduction to a lengthy, yet hugely informative article concerning the “He Gets Us” campaign, some of which filled screens during the NFL playoffs and will again appear during the Super Bowl.

Last year, I wrote an article called “7 Problems with the He Gets Us Campaign,” in which I critically responded to the $100 million advertising campaign featuring a website, billboards in major cities, a book, and ads that have been viewed more than 300 million times. Perhaps most visibly, the campaign’s ads were featured in last year’s Super Bowl. When thousands of people went searching for more information on it, my article came up, and it went viral—actually pulling down my site at one point! Clearly, a lot of people are interested in knowing more about the nature of these ads.

Fast forward to 2024. Super Bowl Sunday is in a few days, and He Gets Us will once again be running ads that generate widespread curiosity. Given the reach of the campaign and high interest level, I wanted to do an updated evaluation of what He Gets Us is doing today. To that end, I’m going to answer four questions:

  1. Does the He Gets Us Campaign get skeptics interested in Jesus?
  2. Does the He Gets Us Campaign get skeptics interested in the right Jesus?
  3. Do the He Gets Us campaign reading plans take people to the next level of understanding Jesus (beyond the slick website and TV ads)?
  4. Does the He Gets Us campaign direct people to theologically solid churches for continuing their search for truth?

I highly recommend reading this latest article, as well as Natasha Crain’s first article, which is linked to above and can also be accessed here. The remainder of this article can be read online at:

Here Comes the He Gets Us Campaign Again: Why Its Portrayal of Jesus is Still a Problem | Natasha Crain

Be Blessed!

Is It the Mission of the Church to “Redeem” the Culture?

Posted by Dan C. on

That’s a big question, and one for which the phrase, “redeem the culture” needs to be defined before we try to provide an answer. Based on my limited research, there seem to be, at least in the U.S., several distinct “camps”:

  1. Two Kingdom Proponents—God is working through the church and we should not be engaging too heavily with worldly, dying culture.
  2. Transformationist Proponents—The church should be active in seeking to redeem the culture as we move toward the end times.
  3. Counterculturalist Proponents—The church stands as a clear model of God’s kingdom and, as such, is a prophetic voice against the prevailing worldly culture.
  4. Cultural Relevance Proponents—Christians should be looking for where God is active in culture and affirm that.

If you are reading this, you might want to see where you fit, I know I did. All four describe ways in which Christians, and the church in general can engage culture. Listed below, in no particular order, are some of my findings from online research, with links to their respective Web sites.

Chuck Colson has been quoted as saying, “Redeeming culture is the never-ending mission of the church.”

A blog article at the Culture Redeemed site states:

“As Christians, we were not just created to glorify and enjoy God, but to be His emissaries to the world, redeeming culture.”

“According to Google, the definition of the word ‘redeem’ is to “compensate for the faults or bad aspects of (something)” or to “gain or regain possession of (something).” Ultimately, redemption can only be accomplished through the work of Jesus; He came to make right what was broken (Col. 1:19-20). But the Lord has chosen to use ordinary people to bring His message of hope and love to a world in need of Him (Matt. 28:19-20). For believers, redemption is an on-going process. We ourselves are being redeemed, but Christians are also envoys sent to assist in redeeming the culture around us.”

A few years ago, FOCUS on the Family aired a broadcast called Teaching Your Child to Redeem the Culture that stressed teaching our children about culture, saying:

“Jesus uses a lot of those “re” words – renew, restore, redeem, repent, resurrect. God must really love ‘re’ words, right? Because they’re all over the Bible. And “re” means to fix something that was broken, to go back to what it was intended to be.”

Dr. Jams Anderson, Professor of Theology and Philosophy at Reformed Theological Seminary (RTS) Charlotte, in an article titled “How should Christians engage with the culture?” reminds us that:

“We are affected by the culture around us, and we also affect the culture around us. We need to recognize that we ourselves as Christians are part of the culture. So we can’t separate ourselves from culture, we can’t isolate ourselves from culture. We are affected by the culture around us, and we also affect the culture around us, for better or for worse.

Lastly, we need to view culture through the lens of the Great Commission. There are many things that we are called to do as Christians to serve God in this world. But the Great Commission, that great calling to take the good news of Christ to the nations, to make disciples of the nations, to bring the teaching of Christ to the nations and to build up the church, that has to be a priority for us.”

An article at Proclaim & Defend tells us:

“Jesus will redeem the culture.

The tenor of scriptural prophecy that tells us that God’s people will take the gospel effectively to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8), does not indicate that there will be gradual warming to God’s people as we move forward toward the Kingdom. Attempts of human to Christianize the world’s culture will ultimately fail according to scripture. However, Jesus will return and He will do it. All the Old Testament passages regarding the Kingdom will be fulfilled (literally) and Jesus is the One who will make that happen (Revelation 19-20).

People must be redeemed; the culture is incidental.

The Great Commission, which is the mission of the church, is about bringing people to redemption and transformation.  The souls of individuals must be redeemed.  Only then can the works of their hands be pleasing to God.”

An article in the Christian Post reported that author Andy Crouch told the audience at a higher education conference a few years ago in Orlando, FL that “If the Gospel is to be relevant for a rapidly changing society Christians must re-examine their doctrine that functions like culture is too soiled to redeem”.

An article by Ken Ham at Answers in Genesis, in answer to the question, “Are Christians Commanded to Change the Culture?” tells us that it’s the Gospel that can change culture:

“The Lord Jesus Christ gives God’s people two commands:

“Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” (Mark 16:15)

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations . . . teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:19–20)

We need to understand that the gospel changes people—changes their hearts and minds. And it’s hearts and minds that change a culture.”

In order to bring a measure of clarity to our question, let’s look at some dictionary definitions of the term “redeem”:

Merriam-Webster: 1) To buy back, to get or win back, 2) To free from what distresses or harms, such as a) To free from captivity by payment of a ransom, b) To extricate from or help to overcome something detrimental, c) To release from blame or debt, d) To free from the consequence of sin

Cambridge English Dictionary: 1) To buy back something, or to exchange something for money or for goods or services, 2) To make up for something 3) To buy, get, or win back something. 4) To make good or fulfill a promise. 5) To exchange something for something of value.

Oxford American Dictionary: 1) To make someone or something seem less bad, 2) To get back a valuable object from somebody by paying them back the money you borrowed from them in exchange for the object, 3) To save from the power of evil.

The application of this term to Christ’s death on the cross is quite telling. If we are “redeemed,” then our prior condition was one of slavery. God has purchased our freedom, and we are no longer in bondage to sin or to the Old Testament law. This metaphorical use of “redemption” is the teaching of Galatians 3:13 and 4:5.

Related to the Christian concept of redemption is the word ransom. Jesus paid the price for our release from sin and its punishment (Matthew 20:28; 1 Timothy 2:6). His death was in exchange for our life. In fact, Scripture is quite clear that redemption is only possible “through His blood,” that is, by His death (Colossians 1:14)

In the Bible, the word redeem literally means “to buy out,” and was used specifically in reference to the purchase of a slave’s freedom. It includes the ideas of loosing from a bond, setting free from captivity or slavery, buying back something lost or sold, exchanging something in one’s possession for something possessed by another, and ransoming. This is similar to the secular meaning but it has far weightier implications. According to the Essential Bible Dictionary, redemption refers to God’s merciful and costly action on behalf of his people. For example, God delivered Israel from Egypt.

In Exodus 6:6, God said to the people through Moses, “Therefore, say to the Israelites: ‘I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. I will free you from being slaves to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment.’”

Later, Christ’s death on the cross served as redemption — payment of our sin-debt — to ensure our salvation (Mark 10:45).

The Bible does not explicitly mention society as a beneficiary of redemption. However, it is possible to interpret redemption as having a broader impact on society. We could also say that redemption is also part of God’s plan for society.

In Leviticus 25:47-49, we’re told that If an Israelite becomes poor and must sell themselves to a foreigner, they retain the right of redemption after they have sold themselves. One of their relatives may redeem them, or if they prosper, they may redeem themselves. (See the Book of Ruth.)

Conclusion:

When I consider of the redemption of God’s people my thoughts always return to the glorious scene in Heaven recorded in the Book of Revelation:

“And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals. 2Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?” 3And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it. 4So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll, or to look at it. 5But one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals.” 6And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne. 8Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9And they sang a new song, saying: ‘You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation.’”  (Rev 5:1-9, NKJV)

“Is It the Mission of the Church to “Redeem” the Culture?” In the form of a statement, my answer is a resounding NO! To claim that it IS cheapens what God did for His people through the life, death and resurrection of  His beloved Son. In the form of a question, my answer is another question, “What did the Angel of the Lord say to Joseph prior to His Birth?”

“And she (Mary) will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21, NKJV)

As one of the referenced articles summarized it:

Jesus gave his disciples two commands:

“Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” (Mark 16:15, NKJV)

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen.” (Matthew 28:19-20, NKJV)

What we need to understand is that the gospel changes people and it’s people with changed hearts and minds that can change a culture. Only Jesus can “redeem” our culture, and one day He will!

Be Blessed!

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List of online resources used in this post:

Are Christians Commanded to Change the Culture?

How should Christians engage with the culture?

Should We be Focused on Redeeming the Culture?

What is the meaning of Christian redemption?

Should the Church Seek to ‘Redeem’ the Culture?

What Does It Mean to Be Redeemed?

The Global Transformation of Redeeming Cultures

Redeeming the Culture (Part 1) Proclaim & Defend

Redeeming the Culture (Part 2) Proclaim & Defend

FOCUS on the Family Podcast Transcript

Think About These Things

Posted by Dan C. on

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Paul’s letter to the church at Philippi can be characterized as a very positive book. There are a few personal rebukes and hints that the Philippian church could appear to be more unified (what church doesn’t need lessons in unity?). Most of the book is a positive statement and encouragement of what the church should do rather than a rebuke of what they are failing to do or an exhortation to stop doing something.

In the final chapter, Paul admonishes and encourages Philippian believers to stand firm in the Lord, rejoice in the Lord always, let their gentleness be evident to all, to not be anxious about anything, but pray about everything, and finally what their thought life should look like:

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”

This does not mean that our thought lives will always reflect Paul’s list of “whatever’s”, however it does mean that believers can control their thoughts and that their thought life should be characterized by what is good and uplifting. We suggest to you that thinking about whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and worthy of praise applies to every area of life.

Dear friends, we are living in a world whose god is Satan, and while living and working in this world, we are surrounded daily by unbelievers whose minds have been blinded by this world’s god (2 Cor 4:4). We are constantly bombarded with this world’s (and American culture’s) values and priorities, many of which have been legislated into law, although they represent that which is evil and even called “abomination” in the sight of God. The same man who, as a Senator, signed the “Defense of Marriage Act” in 1996 defining marriage as between a man and a woman, has signed (as the nation’s President) woefully named “Respect for Marriage Act” legalizing same-sex marriage on a national level.

Popular media is filled with the “apostles” of our culture’s moral insanity. Whether we are talking about music, TV, movies, literature, or social media, we are constantly bombarded with information and material that utterly fails the Philippians 4:8 test concerning what should characterize our thought lives. This does not mean that everything we watch, read, or listen to must be overtly Christian in nature, but it does mean that while we can never tune out all media consumption, we can exert a level of control. We can also apply the Philippians 4:8 rule to whatever we are being fed by the media in our TMI world.

I also have to confess that applying the Phil 4:8 rule is easier said than done. It makes me angry, even furious sometimes to see our government legalizing and even celebrating that which God calls abomination, especially when that same government also wants me to celebrate what God hates. I am reminded of a passage in the book of Romans:

“Though they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.” Romans 1:32

For an even more detailed picture of what’s going on in our world, read Romans 1:18-32 in its entirety.

As someone who served his nation in uniform for 28 years, and as a government defense contractor for another 15+ years, I hate to see this once great nation being torn to pieces, all the while knowing that God is sovereign over every nation on Earth.

I don’t much care for much for the ‘professing’ Christian church being an adventure in missing the gospel by ignoring/minimizing sin and feeding us a steady diet of ‘our best lives now’, in its many forms. I’d rather listen to classic hymns of the faith in their original forms, both lyrical and musical. Maybe that’s just because I’m old. I remember when Sunday morning worship was all about God, not me and my feelings. I’m not riding the snivel train, just trying to be honest. I’m sure others might agree with me.

So you see, sometimes it’s hard to shift gears from the bad news that constantly bombards us the things Paul tells should most occupy our minds and characterize our thought lives. While I can avoid a lot of what today’s media and culture sends my way, I can’t block it all out. While I cannot personally fix everything that is broken, I can support those who are trying in meaningful ways to restore the “old paths” (see Jeremiah 6:16).

But I still ask myself “Self, what can you do, not only to maintain a Godly thought life, as Paul advises us, but to fix that which is broken, whether it’s in the church, in our society and culture, in my neighborhood, my family, or wherever I have the ability to effect change?

In answer to that, I am reminded of something Martyn Lloyd Jones once said:

“There can be no doubt whatsoever that all the troubles in the Church today, and most of the troubles in the world, are due to a departure from the authority of the Bible.”

While I agree with the Doctor, that statement presents me with the monumental task of trying to restore the world in which I live to the authority of the Bible. Maybe I should break that down to developing and applying a Biblical worldview to everything in my life. Perhaps when I behave differently than others around me, and when I am asked why I seem to react differently than most to the cultural and political insanity, I can refer to Scripture and how it affects my life, and perhaps even share some of the Biblical truths that fuel my spirit.

But most importantly, above anything else, I can share the story of the gospel of Jesus Christ, that when believed and received, is THE starting point that leads to lasting change in ourselves, in our society and culture, and indeed in the larger world around us.

Christless Conservatism

Posted by Dan C. on

Kirk Cameron talks about ‘Christless Conservatism’ in a short clip from Apologia Studios.

In the clip, Kirk says that “Christless conservatism” cannot solve the problems we have in America and its institutions. He is correct.

He also says “we need a spiritual earthquake that throws open the prison doors of sin and we need to rush out as Christians armed with the only weapon powerful enough to subdue the earth and its institutions – the Word of God.” Also, true. The Word of God is able to subdue the earth and its institutions, and someday it will – in the new heaven and new earth spoken of the Book of Isaiah 65:17 & 66:22, 2 Peter 3:13, and the Book of Revelation 21:1.

Kirk tells us: “We need to take the truth that we know and redeem a dying culture through a Revival.” Now that sounds like a great idea – “redeem a dying culture!” At the same time, I have a simple question: Did Christ die to “redeem our dying culture?”

Here are just two passages to consider:

”And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21)

And they sang a new song, saying,

“Worthy are you to take the scroll
    and to open its seals,
for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God
    from every tribe and language and people and nation,”  (Revelation 5:9)

Please know that I’m not bashing Kirk Cameron. I just want to take the idea of redeeming our dying culture one step further. I would suggest to you that as Christians, we are not called to ‘redeem a dying culture’, but to share the gospel message that WILL redeem lost and dead sinners who CAN in turn make an absolutely profound effect on our culture.

“Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures.  (1 Corinthians 15:1-4)

Be Blessed!

Alice in Trans-Land: Trans Agenda Meets Academia in ‘Biological Women’ Controversy

Posted by Dan C. on

By Jeff Maples

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Just as Alice plunged into the rabbit hole and found herself navigating the dizzying absurdity of Wonderland, we too seem to be hurtling down a similar abyss, a world unmoored from objective reality. This is no child’s story, but the sobering reality of our modern American society, where principles of truth and reality, once held inviolable, are now eclipsed by a storm of subjective make-believe.
Case in point: A seemingly bright, inquisitive student receives a failing grade, not due to any academic shortcomings, but because she dared to mention the term ‘biological women’ in a project proposal about “transgender women” in sports. An issue that deserves rational discourse, grounded in objective scientific truth, and guided by moral clarity, has instead become a breeding ground for intellectual intimidation.

This begs the question: How did our institutions of higher learning, once a stalwart of free speech, truth, and knowledge, become strongholds of censorship, where reality is a taboo and free inquiry a crime? We have strayed far, beloved, from the wisdom of our Creator, the author of all truth, and the compass of our lives.
The fear of the Lord, as the Bible attests, is the beginning of wisdom. Yet, our society has completely abandoned and forgotten this fundamental truth. Instead of seeking wisdom from God, the author of objective reality, we are bartering it for the hollow ideals of worldly acceptance. This is our Babel moment—a relentless pursuit of human wisdom and human understanding, a tower built on shifting sands, ready to crumble at the slightest gust of wind.

To quote the Scriptures, “Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?” (1 Corinthians 1:20). The current discourse on transsexuals in women’s sports is but one glaring example of this foolish wisdom.

The complexities of human identity and competition in sports cannot be navigated by suppressing the truth about biological distinctions between males and females. These distinctions are not human constructs, but divine designs, each beautifully and wonderfully made, each fulfilling its unique role in God’s good purpose for life.

We cannot succumb to the foolishness of the world, but we must resist the pull of this cultural tide, this societal demand to embrace subjective reality over God’s objective truth. This ideological conformity seeks to intimidate us into silence.

Yet our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against a spiritual fog that has descended upon our society, blurring our vision, and leading us away from God’s light. It is time for us to wake up, to shake off this slumber, and to reclaim our commitment to God’s truth, and not just in our academic institutions, but more importantly in our churches and our homes.

Much like the Ninevites who repented and turned from their sinful ways when confronted with the truth, we too must confront the uncomfortable realities we face today. We must counter the narratives that deny God’s design and bring into the light the truth of the gospel that our world so desperately needs to hear.

Our journey out of this rabbit hole won’t be easy—it demands courage, conviction, and most importantly, a steadfast reliance on God’s wisdom. Yet, as daunting as this journey might be, we take solace in the knowledge that we do not walk alone. We tread this path guided by our Creator, the author of truth and knowledge, who grants wisdom generously to those who seek Him.

Remember, brothers and sisters, we are not just contenders in a culture war, but ambassadors of the Kingdom of God. As we rise to this challenge, put on the armor of faith, girded by truth, and stand fast in our commitment to defending the truth while we “destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ…” (2 Corinthians 10:5)

We are called to be salt and light in this world, to infuse our society with God’s wisdom and illuminate the path of truth for those lost in the labyrinth of human rebellion—our battle is not merely against errant ideologies; it is a fight for the souls of those entangled in this web of deceit.

In this endeavor, let us anchor ourselves in the promise of Scripture, “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you” (James 1:5). With hearts open to divine wisdom and minds committed to the pursuit of truth, we can brave the storm, secure in the knowledge that our God is with us.

Finally, let us stand fast, not swayed by the changing tides of societal narratives, but rooted firmly in God’s unchanging truth. Let us lift our voices, not in the clamor of human wisdom, but in the confident proclamation of the gospel, and only by embracing this reality, we will find the clarity to navigate the complexities of our times.

Alice emerged from her journey through Wonderland with a newfound appreciation for reality. May our journey through this present Wonderland lead us back to a deeper understanding of God’s world, a reality grounded in His wisdom, upheld by His truth, and illuminated by His love.
“Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation” (Psalm 25:5).

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Online Source: Alice in Trans-Land: Trans Agenda Meets Academia in ‘Biological Women’ Controversy (disntr.com)