God Issues

The door with no handle

2006-06-15T05:57:00.000-07:00

We have been learning to listen to God. Yesterday we practiced the discipline of meditation by focusing on a scene from his word. This morning we'll seek to hear the Spirit by focusing on a part of his world.

I'm speaking this week at Monteagle Sunday School Assembly outside Chattanooga, Tennessee. Monteagle was established in 1882; most of the 160 or so cottages on the grounds were built in that era. I led worship Sunday morning, and speak each evening during "twilight vespers." I've spent my days working in the screened porch of the minister's cottage. I've found this porch to be a wonderful place for study and reflection, primarily because of the massive tree which stands just beside it. The tree and I have become friends this week. This morning its Maker has something to say to me through it.

I don't know what kind of tree this is. I don't know an elm tree from a maple, a hydrangea from a chrysanthemum. In fact, I had to think hard just now to come up with two names for flowers. My tree has a single trunk which rises six feet or so, then splits in two. Its branches start at the split and spread out 30 or so feet in all directions. Its leaves are broad with pointed tips, reminding me of hands. My screened porch blocks the upper part of the tree, so that I have no idea how tall it is.

I could comment on its root system, making the spiritual point that we cannot serve God publicly unless we know him personally. I could focus on the individual leaves and their remarkable detail, observing the fact that God made you with the same detail and purpose. But as I prayed for a word from the Lord just now, my mind was drawn to the ground around the tree. It is bare of all growth. The tree's thick foliage blocks all sunlight from the earth around it. Nothing can grow below it.

At first that seems a shame. It would be more beautiful to see a carpet of green grass or the vibrant color of beautiful flowers around the tree. But we cannot have both. We must choose either the massive tree with its dense branches and leaves reaching to the sun, or a small tree with spindly branches and tiny leaves allowing the sun's rays to reach the lawn below. The larger the tree, the more bare the ground at its feet.

So it is with following Jesus. I cannot do everything I would like in his Kingdom. Paul said, "This one thing I do" (Philippians 3:13). The more I concentrate on his one call on my life, the less I can do anything else. There is a price to pay in serving my Lord. But the more I pay it, the larger my tree becomes in his will. We can be a tall tree or a grass lawn, but not both. What is his "one thing" for you? We'll conclude tomorrow.

Boats in trees

2006-06-09T06:06:00.000-07:00

It's tempting to talk about the Dallas Mavericks' first-game win last night, but I recognize that not everyone reading this essay knows what a Maverick is, or cares. So we'll resist the temptation and move on to a sight we can all wonder at together: boats in trees. This morning's New York Times has the story about Bayou La Batre, Alabama and its ongoing reminder of Katrina. It's a mystery wrapped in an enigma.

How two dozen shrimp vessels wound up suspended amid scrub oak and pine trees is not the question. That's the power of a hurricane. But why the vessels, some more than 80 feet long and weighing more than 100 tons, are still there--that's the mystery. It seems that most shrimp boats were insured, enabling their owners to pay for their return to the bayous, but these were not. A county health official declared the boats a public hazard, prompting the Coast Guard to remove their fuel and batteries. Then FEMA decided it had no reason to spend public money to retrieve private property.

So state and city officials applied to the Clinton-Bush Katrina Fund for help. They received $1.6 million to return the boats to their bayous. But the Army Corp of Engineers did not want to drag tons of steel across protected wetlands, so they are encouraging salvage crews to take the long way around. For some boats, the path to the bayou might mean disturbing an Indian burial ground. While the Gulf Coast worries about future hurricanes, the boats remind us that the past is relevant to the present.

What boats are still in your trees? What past issues are still problems for you this morning? A recurring temptation? A frustrating person? A decision you wish you'd never made? A decision you wish you'd made?

Paul assured the Philippians, "one thing I do: forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:13-14). You cannot run forward very well if you're looking backwards.

Helen Mallicot: "I was regretting the past and fearing the future. Suddenly my Lord was speaking. 'My name is, "I Am."' He paused. I waited. He continued. 'When you live in the past, with its mistakes and regrets, it is hard. I am not there. My name is not "I Was." When you live in the future, with its problems and fears, it is hard. I am not there. My name is not, "I will be." When you live in this moment, it is not hard. I am here loving you always. Trust in me and be happy. My name is: "I Am."'" When we give our past problems to his present grace, we can step into his future in hope. Well?

I invite you out to God Issues for more information: GodIssues.com

Al-Zarqawi and the best news there is

2006-06-08T06:15:00.000-07:00

As you've no doubt heard from morning news sources, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi was killed last night. The leader of al-Qaida forces in Iraq was killed yesterday at 6:15 p.m. in an air strike against an identified, isolated safe house.

Gen. George W. Casey Jr. explained earlier today: "Tips and intelligence from Iraqi senior leaders from his network led forces to al-Zarqawi and some of his associates who were conducting a meeting approximately eight kilometers north of Baqubah when the air strike was launched… Coalition Forces were able to identify al-Zarqawi by fingerprint verification, facial recognition and known scars."

Al-Zarqawi was known to be responsible for the deaths of thousands of Iraqis in his efforts to undermine the Iraqi national government and Coalition forces. Al-Qaida has stated that the death of its leader in Iraq only strengthens its resolve to continue its war. President Bush affirmed this morning that he expects fighting to continue in that country. But military analysts are nonetheless calling this a major victory for Iraq's new government and Coalition forces seeking to support it.

So there is good news in the midst of bad. This morning's New York Times headlines, "Efforts by C.I.A. Fail in Somolia, Officials Charge"; "Iraqi Ties to Iran Creates New Risks For Washington"; "Betting Scandals Have the World Cup on Guard." Dallas Mavericks fans are paying $1,500 for a decent seat at tonight's NBA championship game, while Phoenix Suns fans wish they could. The Rangers scored four runs in the ninth inning last night to beat the Royals; we're excited, and they're infuriated. The rain which helps the farmer frustrates the baseball fan. And so it goes.

The best news is that one day there will be only good news. One day there will be no more wars or rumors of wars, as evil is vanquished forever and God's people rejoice in his paradise. I am conducting two funerals this week; one for an older man and dear friend, the other for a three-year-old girl and her devastated family. One day there will be "no more death or mourning or crying or pain" (Revelation 21:4).

Future hope gives present help. You can endure nearly anything if you know there's an end in sight. This may be a tough week, but if a long-awaited family vacation starts Saturday, you can get through Thursday. Are you living for this world or the next? For success here or reward there? Here's the paradox: the more we live for God's heavenly glory, the more blessed and joyful we are on earth. I can't explain that, but I can experience it. So can you. This is the hope of God.

Visit God Issues today.

Subject to interpretation

2006-06-07T04:45:00.000-07:00

In a postscript to yesterday's ominous date, today's Dallas Morning News is reporting that mothers-to-be around the country took steps on Tuesday to ensure that their children were not born on 6-6-6. C-sections were sped up or put off, as were labor inducements. Some mothers saw the issue differently, pointing out that their child's birthdate would always be easy to remember. That much is beyond dispute, wouldn't you say?

Meanwhile, today's CNN is telling the worrisome story of Hakan Yalincak, a former New York University student who pled guilty to bank and wire fraud yesterday. He admitted that he forged documents to pose as heir to a billionaire Turkish family. As a result, he was able to trick investors into pouring millions of dollars into a nonexistent hedge fund. Prosecutors claim that investors lost more than $7 million, a figure Yalincak disputes. Authorities say the money was spent on a Porsche, a Tiffany diamond, and a $1.25 million donation to NYU. Good news for the university quickly wasn't.

So much of life is subject to interpretation. Is it enough to have a memorable birthday, even if it's memorable for ominous reasons? Do you get credit or blame for securing a gift later exposed as fraudulent? USA Today reports that a Wisconsin police officer has sworn off eating donuts for a year, but only after he ate 13 in three minutes and was crowned world champion donut-eating officer. Which is the good news in that?

The recent stir over The DaVinci Code has caused millions of people to consider the evidence for biblical authority and Jesus' divinity. We spent weeks on the subject in this column. But when all the evidence is considered, we are still required to take a step beyond what is provable, whether we choose for Jesus or against him.

Faith in God is a relationship. And all relationships transcend the evidence. You cannot prove to me that your family loves you. I cannot prove to you that mine loves me. You'd have to experience our commitment to each other to know its reality. All relationships are ultimately self-verifying. So it is with a personal, intimate relationship with Jesus. If you've asked him to forgive your sins and become your Savior, you have met him for yourself and know that he is the living Lord. The best way you can help persuade your friends and family to trust him is to demonstrate his relevance to your life, morals, and character. Your life is your most persuasive sermon, for good or not.

In 1966, Life magazine printed a cover which asked, "Is God Dead?" Someone asked Billy Graham for a response. He smiled and said, "He's not dead--I spoke with him this morning." Have you?

Hexakosiolhexekontahexaphobia

2006-06-06T09:13:00.000-07:00

That's the technical term for fear of the number 666. You didn't need to know that yesterday. But today is the sixth day of the sixth month of the sixth year in this century. In numeric terms, this is 6-6-6. It won't be again for another hundred years. I'll be 148 then, and the date won't matter much to me. Or to you.

Imagine life on June 6, 1906. I did a little research this morning, and learned that Theodore Roosevelt was president that year, and the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize as well. Life expectancy was 48.7 years (it's 77.6 now). Editorials in the newspapers were reporting on the women's suffrage movement and the likelihood of its success in coming years. (Women finally won the right to vote in 1920.) The earthquake which destroyed much of San Francisco on April 18 was still on everyone's mind. The Ford Model N was America's most popular car, retailing for $500.00.

This essay would have been produced on a manual typewriter (invented 32 years earlier), reproduced at a local print shop, and mailed (at a cost of two cents per letter). Given our current distribution list, the process would have cost around $1,000 per week. Progress is not all bad.

Now imagine life on June 6, 2106. You can't, or at least I can't. Will computers exist as distinct entities? (Probably not.) Will the Internet be so ubiquitous that people won't think of it at all? (Probably.) But human nature won't change. We'll still feel guilt over the past and fear of the unknown future. Today's date is an example.

666 is an ominous number for many, primarily because of its biblical significance. Revelation 13 warns of a "beast" which will accompany the "Antichrist" in wreaking havoc on earth. The "number" of the beast is 666 (Revelation 13:8). Most interpreters see the number as symbolic: seven was seen as the perfect number, so that six signifies imperfection. Anything repeated three times in the ancient world was raised to the highest level (think good, better, best). So the number six repeated three times would be the height of evil.

I don't really know the larger significance of 666, but I don't think today's date has much to do with it. I don't know who or what the Antichrist will be. Nor do you. Nor should we worry much about the question. God has given us this Tuesday. It's all there is. "Tomorrow" is just a word, not a reality. Obedience is success with our Father this morning. So stay faithful to the last word you heard from him, and open to the next. All of God there is, is in this day. No matter what your calendar says this morning.

It's never too late

2006-06-05T05:05:00.000-07:00

For the last several weeks we have been conducting an experiment with this GodIssues ministry. Each day I have recorded a radio spot which has aired on three secular stations. This daily essay has then been posted on godissues.com as "the rest of the story" to which we invite the radio listener. Early results are extremely encouraging. We will continue airing radio spots on single stations for the next few weeks, testing the market for each station in preparation for the next stage of the radio ministry strategy in the fall.

Meanwhile, I'm now returning GodIssues Today to its original purpose: a daily email which looks at current news in spiritual perspective. There's much in the news which invites comment today. But being a Dallas resident and fan of our basketball team for 26 years, I am irresistibly compelled to write today about this simple fact: the Mavericks are going to the NBA finals. Even if you don't care, there's a lesson in that fact worth considering this morning.

When the Mavericks fell behind by 18 points early in Saturday night's game, it seemed we were destined to lose. Just as we were sure to lose the previous series to the defending world champion San Antonio Spurs, playing game seven on their home court. But new coach Avery Johnson has taught the Mavericks a fact we do well to affirm today: if you'll keep playing hard, you're never out of the game. Try hard enough for long enough and good things will happen.

It's a fact of Scripture. When the Hebrews were enslaved in Babylon, with no hope and no future, the Lord assured them, "I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future" (Jeremiah 29:11). He planned to rebuild their nation and eventually bring the Messiah through them to the world. But there was and is a condition: "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart" (v. 13). If we will seek our Father's purpose and submit to his plans, we will experience all that he intends for us. He will work for his glory and our good.

So we must not give up. The motivational creed is also a simple fact: quitters never win and winners never quit. That's true by definition. If we quit before the game is over, we cannot win it. If we keep shooting, and running, and playing defense, something good will eventually happen. It's always too soon to give up.

Where does that fact find you this morning? Do you have an "insolvable" problem, an "incurable" disease? No, you don't. Stay in the game and trust your Father. It's always too soon to quit. This is the warning, and the promise, of God.

What are demons?

2006-06-02T06:15:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we learned about Satan, the ruler of the forces of evil. Today let's discuss his footsoldiers, known as "demons" in the Bible. We need to know about them, because they're after us this morning.

According to the Bible, a "demon" is a created spirit being, a kind of angel. These beings sinned with Satan in heaven, and so are commonly called "fallen angels" or "unclean spirits." Satan is now their ruler (Matthew 12:24), and he has organized them into his army of evil (Ephesians 6:11-12). God created hell for them, where they will be with Satan forever (Matthew 25:41).

The Bible says that demons are real, evil and unclean, stronger than us, always seeking to destroy us. How do we fight back? We don't. When we're tempted, we go straight to Jesus. We seek his help and strength, his victory and power. And we ask him to use us in rescuing others. There is a spiritual war going on for the souls of mankind. You'll be attacked by temptation this morning. For more on finding victory through faith, I invite you to godissues.com today.

Who is Satan?

2006-06-01T06:16:00.000-07:00

C. S. Lewis once suggested that we make two mistakes regarding the devil. One is to give him more authority than he deserves--then he can do what he wants. The other is to deny that he exists--then he can do what he wants. People today typically think of Satan as a symbol of evil, wearing red tights and a tail, the stuff of Saturday cartoons. He's just as happy to be ignored as to be feared.

But it's impossible to ignore his work--broken hearts and homes, abuse, disease and immorality. Even those who do not admit the reality of Satan must admit the reality of Satanism. In some places in America, the worship of Satan is growing ten times faster than any Christian church. I want to convince you that Satan is both real and defeated. He wants you to believe neither is true. The choice is yours.

Expect to be tempted by your mortal enemy. Stand in God's strength today. When you fail, go to God for forgiveness and victory. For more on Satan, I invite you to godissues.com today.

What are angels?

2006-05-31T06:54:00.000-07:00

What are angels? Are they real? Do they matter today?

The Bible makes five facts clear: angels serve us; they protect us; they guide us; they warn us; and they empower us. The Bible calls them "ministering spirits" (Hebrews 1:14). As they helped Jesus (Luke 22:43), so they wait to help his people today.

Where do you need an angel's service, protection, guidance, warning, and power? You cannot see radio waves, but you're hearing these words because of them. You cannot see love, but you believe in its power. You cannot see friendship, but you have experienced its blessing. Not all truth fits in a test tube. Nothing worth proving really can be proven.

God's word says that you are surrounded right now by an angelic guard you cannot see with human eyes (cf. 2 Kings 6:8-23). You cannot see them, but they can see you. They are watching you listen to these words, reading your mind and heart, and hoping you'll trust their Creator as your Savior and Lord. For more on the relevance of angels, I invite you to godissues.com today.

What happens to babies when they die?

2006-05-30T10:28:00.000-07:00

I will never forget that day. A nine-month-old girl had fallen victim to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. I was asked to perform the funeral. As I looked into that tiny casket, I suddenly saw the face of my own nine-month-old son. I had to step out of the room and gather myself. My sons are my greatest treasure. I cannot imagine the unspeakable pain of burying one. What happens to those who die so young?

Jesus "called a little child and had him stand among them. And he said, 'I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven'" (Matthew 18:2-3). Later he added, "the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these" (Matt. 19:14).

Jesus died to pay the penalty for our sin, so we could be forgiven and receive eternal life. But what happens to those who are too young to understand this gift? How does God's word relate to them? How can faith help a parent going through the worst grief of life? For more on this difficult subject, I invite you to godissues.com today.

What is hell like?

2006-05-29T08:54:00.000-07:00

One of the most common questions people ask about the Christian faith has to do with hell. Is it real? What is it? Does it matter today?

Hell is a real place, mentioned 23 times in the New Testament, 15 times by Jesus himself. The Bible calls it a place of "torment" (Luke 16:23), "fire" (v. 24) and "darkness." Worst of all, hell is permanent separation from God (Luke16:26; Matthew 7:23; Luke 16:26; Revelation 20:14).

Dr. Charles Garfield has done extensive research with those who died and were brought back to life medically. His results: "Almost as many of the dying patients interviewed reported negative visions (demons and so forth), as reported blissful experiences." Dr. Maurice Rawlings tells about a patient who died three times. At his first death he saw things so horrible that he experienced a religious conversion. His second death produced a wonderful experience. At his third and final death, he was the one reassuring his doctor.

God doesn't choose hell for us (2 Peter 3:9), but we can choose it for ourselves. Don't make that mistake. For more on hell, I invite you to godissues.com today.

What is heaven like?

2006-05-26T04:38:00.000-07:00

We're all fascinated with the subject of heaven. We hope our loved ones who have died are there. We want to spend eternity there ourselves. What does God's word say about his home?

First, heaven is real. It is certain--no figment of religious imagination, no superstition, no "opiate of the people" (Karl Marx). John said, "I saw a new heaven and a new earth" (Revelation 21:1). Second, heaven is a place (vs. 1-2). John "saw" it. He didn't feel it, or dream of it, or hear about it. Third, heaven is where God is (v. 3). John reveals, "Now the dwelling of God is with men." When we get to heaven, we get to God. We spend eternity with our Father in heaven. Fourth, heaven is a blessed place (v. 4). Because God is there, all that is perfect is there as well.

What will we be like? Will we be angels? Will we know each other? For more on heaven, I invite you to godissues.com today.

What should we believe about miracles?

2006-05-25T04:39:00.000-07:00

79% of Americans say they believe in miracles. But should they?

Dictionaries consider a "miracle" to be an event or action which apparently contradicts known scientific laws. Sometimes we experience a miracle of coincidence, where highly improbable but not impossible events occur (a friend calls you unexpectedly, just when you most needed to hear from her). Other miracles are actual violation of physical laws (a friend calls you on a telephone which is disconnected).

Both kinds occurred often in the biblical record. But many remain unconvinced. As J. S. Mill said in 1843, "If we do not already believe in supernatural agencies, no miracle can prove to us their existence." If you haven't experienced a miracle, you may deny that they are possible. But on that basis, why should a man living in a warm climate believe in ice?

If God created the universe, can't he alter it as he wishes? What do you think? For more, I invite you to godissues.com today.

What should we believe about creation?

2006-05-24T05:41:00.000-07:00

High atop any list of questions about Christian faith is the subject of creation and evolution. Four facts are important. First: the Bible was not intended to be a science textbook. It tells us what we need to know to follow Jesus, not all we would like to know about the world he created.

Second: the Bible tells us that God created all that is (Genesis 1:1) and pronounced it good (v. 31). Third: the Bible doesn't tell us when God created the universe, because such information is of no practical significance to our lives.

Fourth: you are the greatest miracle you know. For instance, your brain contains 13,000,000,000 nerve cells. The number of atoms in the universe is 1 followed by 100 zeroes. The number of different patterns possible in your brain is eight times larger. And your unconscious brain database outweighs your conscious brain 10 million to one. You literally cannot imagine how remarkable you are.

For more on creation and its relevance to your life, I invite you to godissues.com today.

Isn't the Bible filled with contradictions?

2006-05-23T04:34:00.000-07:00

The DaVinci Code gives Christians a remarkable opportunity to talk to our culture about Jesus. For several weeks we have considered facts and issues which might help make such conversation more effective. Today we'll consider a challenge Christians hear often: isn't your Bible filled with contradictions?

Jesus claimed to be fully God and fully man; God is three and yet one; the Bible is divinely inspired but humanly written; God knows the future but we have freedom to choose. Inside every essential Christian doctrine there is a paradox, an apparent contradiction. Relationships defy strict logic, and faith is a relationship.

What about other statements in the Bible which seem to contradict each other? For instance, the Bible prescribes "an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth," but it also says to turn the other cheek. Which is right? Why does this issue of contradictions in the Bible matter to your life this morning? For more, I invite you to godissues.com today.

Alligators and the love of God

2006-05-22T04:43:00.000-07:00

Have you heard about the recent alligator attacks in Florida? A woman was found inside the mouth of an alligator during a snorkeling trip. Friends pulled her out and took her to shore, where she was pronounced dead. The same day, the body of a woman was found in a canal, with bite marks on her body consistent with those made by an alligator. Another woman was apparently attacked by an alligator as she was out jogging. She was dragged into a canal and killed.

Officials say such attacks are rare, but they cannot be prevented entirely. One put matters bluntly: "if someone doesn't want to face the risk of an alligator attack, they should live in a state with no alligators."

Why did a loving and all-powerful God make a world with alligators and hurricanes and AIDS? Where is that question personal and practical for you on this Monday morning? Evil and suffering pose the hardest question Christianity must face. For responses, I invite you to godissues.com today.

Controversy and the love of Christ

2006-05-19T04:52:00.000-07:00

The movie version of The DaVinci Code will be released today. It stars Tom Hanks and is directed by Ron Howard. The Barna Group, a national polling organization, has released fascinating facts regarding the significance of the book and the movie.

According to Barna research, The DaVinci Code has been read "cover to cover" by roughly 45 million adults, one out of every five adults in our country. That makes it the most widely read book with a spiritual theme, other than the Bible, in America. About 11 million say the book was a helpful spiritual document. About two million say they changed their beliefs or religious perspectives because of the book's content. 10 million adults who have not yet read the book are expected to see the movie.

Should Christians be angry? Should we ignore the controversy? Or can we use this issue to help people find God's love in Jesus? What does the controversy mean for you this morning? For the rest of the story, I invite you to godissues.com today.

The truth behind Opus Dei

2006-05-18T04:51:00.000-07:00

The Priory of Sion and Opus Dei are the two organizations central to The DaVinci Code. We saw yesterday that the Priory is based on fabrication and myth. What of Opus Dei?

This organization, named "the work of God" in Latin, figures prominently in Mr. Brown's plot. The novel describes the movement as chauvinistic in the extreme. But even critics of the organization do not make such accusations. One of the crucial characters in the novel is called a "monk" in Opus Dei. But Opus Dei has no monks whatever. Members of the group are understandably upset with the novel's unfair depiction of their movement.

More than 30 million people are expected to see The DaVinci Code in movie form after it is released tomorrow. If you go, know that you're watching a story which is based entirely on fiction. Its depictions of the Bible and early Christianity are simply wrong on the facts. For more on the controversy, I invite you to godissues.com today.

Secrets of the Priory of Sion

2006-05-17T04:54:00.000-07:00

The DaVinci Code movie will be released in two days. If you see it, you'll hear about the Priory of Sion, an organization supposedly founded in 1099 and led by such famous people as Leonardo da Vinci and Sir Isaac Newton. For a thousand years, as the story goes, the society has protected documents proving that Jesus and Mary Magdalene were married and produced children. Their line is the "holy grail," and can be traced to the present. At least that's the claim of The DaVinci Code. What are the facts behind the fiction?

Fact one: the Priory of Sion was founded in 1956, not 1099. Fact two: the documents which supposedly prove the ancient origins of the Priory were fabricated. 60 Minutes and other objective news sources have proven that the Priory is a deception. If the Priory cannot be trusted, what of the novel based on its existence?

For more on the most controversial story of our time, I invite you to godissues.com today.

Hurricanes and the Priory of Sion

2006-05-16T04:46:00.000-07:00

Three major hurricanes will strike the United States this year, according to weather forecasts released yesterday. The total number of hurricanes will be above average again in 2006. None of us will forget Katrina, the costliest storm on record with $80 billion in damage. Dennis, Rita, and Wilma also packed wind speeds in excess of 110 miles per hour. This year won't be much better, if forecasters are correct.

Where is Jesus when disaster strikes? Nowhere relevant, according to The DaVinci Code. It claims that Jesus was a mortal prophet, not God in the flesh. It accuses the Church of deifying the human Christ three centuries after the fact and covering up the truth ever since. After the movie is released in three days, as many as 30 million adults are expected to see it.

If the novel and movie are right, Jesus won't be much help when the storms of life come your way. To get the facts, I invite you to godissues.com today.

Medicaid, mistakes, and miracles

2006-05-15T04:45:00.000-07:00

You may have had a tough weekend, but at least you're not Sharon Curtiss-Rivera. The state of Missouri mailed 339,000 letters to Medicaid recipients, including a hot line for hearing- and speech-impaired people whose services were being cut. The trouble was, they listed her business phone as that hot line number. She's fielded more than 1,000 angry calls. Now the state promises to reimburse her expenses.

Mistakes happen. Most of them don't matter much, but some are crucial. According to The DaVinci Code, Jesus was a man deified three centuries later by the Church. If that's true, belief in the resurrection is a mistake, one which has misled billions. How, then, do we explain Jesus' empty tomb on Easter Sunday?

Skeptics offer five explanations. What are they? What are the facts? Why does the issue matter to your life and soul on this Monday? For more on mistakes and miracles, I invite you to godissues.com today.

The Nukak, miracles, and the modern world

2006-05-12T04:55:00.000-07:00

Have you heard about the Stone Age tribe which recently decided to join the modern world? The Nukak live in the jungles of Colombia. They hunt monkeys with blowguns for food. They don't know that a country named "Colombia" exists. They ask whether the planes flying overhead are moving on an invisible road. Nearly everything we take granted in modern life is miraculous for them.

Of course, a miracle to the Nukak isn't a miracle to us. Electricity and computers and radio programs like this one require no supernatural explanation. According to The DaVinci Code, the same is true for Jesus. The novel claims that he was a man like the rest of us, made into a divine figure three centuries later through Church politics.

Is that true? Are Christians wrong about Christ? Is there objective evidence for the biblical claim that Jesus is our living Lord? To decide for yourself, I invite you to godissues.com today.

Good news, bird flu, and Jesus

2006-05-11T04:41:00.000-07:00

There's good news and bad news this morning. The good news is that the bird flu apparently has not spread among wild birds as much as scientists had predicted. Today's news reports that birds migrating to Europe are not carrying the flu virus. That's the good news.

The bad news is that no one knows what the good news means. Maybe the virus isn't as strong as we feared. Maybe it's dying out in the wild. Or maybe the flu cycle will start again this year and be worse. Maybe the virus will mutate so that it can be spread from humans to humans anyway, causing the much-feared flu pandemic. No one really knows, with one exception.

The God who made the heavens and the earth is still in charge of both. The DaVinci Code claims that Jesus was just a man, but he's not. He's the God who became one of us, so we could be one with him. Whatever fear you're facing this morning, if you'd like to know Jesus better I invite you to godissues.com today.

History and God's story

2006-05-10T04:43:00.000-07:00

The DaVinci Code has told 40 million readers that early Christians knew Jesus to be a man and not God. The novel claims that the divinity of Jesus was invented by Constantine three centuries after Christ. If the novel is right, Christianity today is wrong. What does the evidence show?

Pliny the Younger was an ancient Roman administrator. Two volumes of his letters still exist today. One of his letters, written around AD 112, contains the earliest non-biblical description of Christian worship: "They were in the habit of meeting on a certain fixed day before it was light, when they sang in alternate verses a hymn to Christ as to a god." Note that they worshiped Christ as God, not a religious teacher. And they did so in AD 112, not two centuries later during the time of Constantine.

Is the Bible right or wrong? Is Jesus God or not? How does the issue affect your life? For more, I invite you to godissues.com today.

Iran and the divinity of Jesus

2006-05-09T04:40:00.000-07:00

The Wall Street Journal tells us that Iran's leader has written the first letter from an Iranian head of state to an American president in 27 years. The letter reportedly suggests "new solutions" to the differences between the countries. So far, no one in either government is making the content of the letter public. And no one knows if it will lessen tensions or make them worse.

There's no question about the significance of The DaVinci Code for biblical Christianity. Simply put, if the novel is right, the Bible is wrong. The book claims that Constantine fabricated the divinity of Jesus Christ three centuries after his earthly ministry. The Roman emperor then created the Bible we have today to cover up the truth. So, is there objective evidence outside the Bible for the life and divinity of Jesus? Why does the question matter to your life and soul today?

For answers, I invite you to godissues.com this morning.

Sunday and the Son of God

2006-05-08T04:57:00.000-07:00

Last Friday we considered the day Christians worship Jesus. Now let's ask why they worship him. Here we come to the central accusation of The DaVinci Code against biblical Christianity: its denial of the divinity of Jesus Christ.

The novel claims that until the AD 325, "Jesus was viewed by His followers as a mortal prophet . . . a great and powerful man, but a man nonetheless. A mortal" (p. 233, emphasis his).

It was Emperor Constantine who made Jesus a divine figure, according to the book: "Constantine turned Jesus into a deity who existed beyond the scope of the human world. . . . Many scholars claim that the early Church literally stole Jesus from His original followers" (p. 233). We're told that the vast majority of Christians know the history of their faith (p. 234), that "almost everything our fathers taught us about Christ is false" (p. 235, emphasis his).

Who's right--The DaVinci Code or the Bible? To learn the answers for yourself, I invite you to godissues.com today.

Sunday and the Son of God

2006-05-05T04:49:00.000-07:00

According to the polls, 40% of Americans will attend a church service in two days. Why then? What makes Sunday better than Thursday for public worship?

The DaVinci Code states as fact: "Originally, Christianity honored the Jewish Sabbath of Saturday, but Constantine shifted it to coincide with the pagan's veneration day of the sun. . . . To this day, most churchgoers attend services on Sunday morning with no idea that they are there on account of the pagan sun god's weekly tribute--Sunday" (pp. 232-3, emphasis his). Is this true?

First century documents make clear that Christians worshiped on Sunday, centuries before Constantine. In AD 150, Justin the Martyr records that "on the day called Sunday," Christians gather to worship Jesus for the Lord's Day. The novel is simply, on the merits, wrong.

But so what? Why does this issue matter to your life and soul this morning? For more, I invite you to godissues.com today.

Bird flu and the Bible

2006-05-04T04:20:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, the White House announced that the federal government will stockpile 75 million doses of antiviral drugs and 20 million doses of vaccine. All this in an effort to prepare for any outbreak of pandemic flu. But today's New York Times reports that local governments and individual communities will have to shoulder most of the burden in battling the disease. There's only so much a far-flung national government can do.

The DaVinci Code claims that the Roman emperor Constantine manufactured the Bible we have today, and that the Catholic Church covered up the true story of Jesus. Could such a far-flung organization keep such a secret? Did they? The novel claims that the Dead Sea Scrolls and books like the recently discovered The Gospel of Judas are "the earliest Christian records." Is that true?

If you go to godissues.com this morning, you'll learn the facts behind such fiction. I invite you to find the truth for yourself, today.

Resolutions and the truth of Scripture

2006-05-03T04:41:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, the United States, Britain and France drafted a binding United Nations Security Council resolution which requires Iran to stop key nuclear activities. They know that resolutions are just words, but that words change history. Billions of Christians around the world have staked their souls on the belief that the words of the Bible are true. Why should you join them?

The DaVinci Code claims that history has never had a definitive copy of the Bible. According to scholars, manuscript evidence proves just the opposite. Archaeological findings continue to confirm the truthfulness of the biblical texts. And consider fulfilled prophecy. Jesus fulfilled 48 Old Testament predictions regarding the Messiah. What are the odds of that? One in ten followed by 156 zeroes. That's more than the atoms of the universe.

For more on the Bible and its relevance to your life this morning, I invite you to godissues.com today.

Boycotts and the Bible

2006-05-02T04:37:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, hundreds of thousands of immigrants took part in an economic boycott intended to show their importance to the nation's economy. What effect will the boycotts have on legislation pending in Congress? It's too soon to know. But when that many people believe in something, they are a force to be noted.

40 million people have read The DaVinci Code. And so Christians must respond to the book's claim that scholars cannot confirm the authenticity of the Bible. The novel says that the Bible "has evolved through countless translations, additions, and revisions. History has never had a definitive version of the book." The Bible, like all ancient books, has been passed down across the centuries through handwritten copies. And we all know how unreliable they can be.

So how do we know that we have what the biblical authors wrote? Why does the answer matter to your life today? For more on this crucial issue, I invite you to godissues.com today.

History and the word of God

2006-05-01T04:49:00.000-07:00

The DaVinci Code has told 40 million readers that the Bible is not what Christians say it is. The book claims that Constantine created the Bible as we know it, three centuries after Christ. Quoting from the novel, "To rewrite the history books, Constantine knew he would need a bold stroke. From this sprang the most profound moment in Christian history. . . . Constantine commissioned and financed a new Bible, which omitted those gospels that spoke of Christ's human traits and embellished those gospels that made Him godlike. The earlier gospels were outlawed, gathered up, and burned" (p. 234, emphasis his).

The novel's assertions grow even more critical of Christianity: "The Bible is a product of man . . . Not of God. . . . History has never had a definitive version of the book" (p. 231, emphasis his). Later the book adds that scholars cannot confirm the authenticity of the Bible (p. 256).

What are the facts behind these damaging assertions? For the answers, I invite you to godissues.com today.

How the books of the Bible were chosen

2006-04-28T05:00:00.000-07:00

Trust in communication is vital to any relationship. That's why responding to The DaVinci Code's attack on the Bible is so important. The novel has told 40 million readers that the books of the Bible were chosen by Constantine as the result of a political and power-driven agenda. The facts are otherwise.

Early Christians quickly developed a process for accepting a book as Scripture. First, it must be written by an eyewitness or based on such testimony. The so-called Gospel of Judas and other second-century books were quickly eliminated for this reason. Second, the book must possess clear merit and authority in use.

Third, a book must come to be accepted by the entire church, not just a single congregation or area. And last, a book must be approved by the decision of the larger church, not just a few advocates. How did the process work, and why does it matter? For more, I invite you to godissues.com today.

Trusting the words of God

2006-04-27T05:02:00.000-07:00

Tony Snow is the new White House press secretary. Today's New York Times quotes the president on his relationship with the sometimes critical Snow: "My job is to make decisions. And his job is to help explain those decisions to the press corps and the American people." If the words don't make sense, the policies seldom will.

Today we turn to the first crucial issue within The DaVinci Code's characterization of Christianity: its attack on the trustworthiness of Scripture. If we cannot trust what the Bible says, how can we know the God who said it? Remember again that Mr. Brown claims his depictions of documents to be accurate. We'll investigate this issue in three parts: the creation of the biblical canon (the list of books to be included), the trustworthiness of the Bible we possess today, and the significance of the Dead Sea Scrolls and Gnostic gospels.

Fictional historian Teabing calls the creation of the Bible "the fundamental irony of Christianity!" and asserts, "The Bible, as we know it today, was collated by the pagan Roman emperor Constantine the Great" (p. 231). If this is true, the Bible we have today was produced by a process which occurred around AD 325. Let's look at the actual facts.

The Old Testament canon was finalized by two councils held at the city of Jamnia, one in AD 90 and the other in AD 118. The actual books which compose our Old Testament were in wide use for centuries before, and in fact had been translated into Greek 200 years before these councils met. They in no sense "created" the Old Testament. And they completed their work two centuries before Constantine.

Perhaps Teabing means the canonical process of the New Testament. Here the facts are just as damaging to his case. The early Christians quickly developed four criteria for accepting a book as Scripture. First, it must have been written by an apostle or based on his eyewitness testimony. This criteria alone excluded the second-century Gnostic writings, as we'll see in coming days.

Second, the book must possess merit and authority in its use. For instance, The First Gospel of the Infancy of Jesus Christ tells of a man who is changed into a mule by a bewitching spell but converted back to manhood when the infant Christ is put on his back for a ride (7:5-27). In the same book, the boy Jesus causes clay birds and animals to come to life (ch. 15), stretches a throne his father had made too small (ch. 16), and takes the lives of boys who oppose him (19.19-24). It was easy to dismiss such fiction. Let's continue the discussion tomorrow.

Tarot cards and souls

2006-04-26T04:48:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, President Bush announced that he is halting oil deposits in the nation's strategic petroleum reserve for the summer. This morning's New York Times reports on the debate raging over the cause of high gas prices. Some blame a global economy which is demanding more oil than ever before. Others blame terror threats and instability in the Middle East. Others blame the oil companies. The government is investigating whether manipulation is occurring. It's hard to know who or what to believe.

The faith issues raised by The DaVinci Code can be equally frustrating. The book claims that "all descriptions of artwork, architecture, documents, and secret rituals in this novel are accurate" (p. 1). So let's check the facts. Already we have seen that Leonardo would not be called "da Vinci" by art historians, despite the way the novel describes him.

Later Mr. Brown states, "Originally, Tarot had been devised as a secret means to pass along ideologies banned by the Church. Now, Tarot's mystical qualities were passed on by modern fortune-tellers" (p. 92). The historical fact is that Tarot cards were invented for innocent gaming purposes in the 15th century, hundreds of years after the time when the novel claims that the Church was banning ideologies. These cards did not acquire occult associations until the late 18th century. The cards' suites carry no Grail symbolism whatever.

In a dramatic plot twist, one of the characters encounters "Job 38:11." Mr. Brown writes, "It was only seven words. Confused, he read it again, sensing something had gone terribly wrong. The verse simply read: Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further" (p. 129). The scene is indeed moving. But the verse is not "only seven words." Here is the entire Scripture: "when I said, 'This far you may come and no farther; here is where your proud waves halt'?"

Still later, the book describes Noah this way: "Noah of the Ark. An albino. Like you, he had skin white like an angel" (p. 167). Nowhere does the Bible describe Noah as an albino. Apparently Mr. Brown took his idea from the non-canonical 1 Enoch 106:2. And note that Leigh Teabing, the renowned historian, describes Joseph of Arimathea as "Jesus' trusted uncle" (p. 255). But nothing in the Bible or early historical tradition suggests this connection.

Of course, none of these issues are central to the book's plot or to Christian belief. But such factual errors do call into question the book's claims to historical accuracy. Tomorrow we'll begin investigating issues of far greater importance to our souls.

Leonardo was not named Da Vinci

2006-04-25T04:59:00.000-07:00

Two paragraphs sum up the central challenge to biblical Christianity made by Dan Brown's The DaVinci Code. First, regarding the word of God: "The Bible is a product of man, my dear. Not of God. The Bible did not fall magically from the clouds. Man created it as a historical record of tumultuous times, and it has evolved through countless translations, additions, and revisions. History has never had a definitive version of the book" (p. 231). If that's true, the Bible is not the trustworthy word of God.

Second, regarding the divinity of Jesus: until the Council of Nicaea (in AD 325), "Jesus was viewed by His followers as a mortal prophet . . . a great and powerful man, but a man nonetheless. A mortal" (p. 233). If that's true, Jesus is not our Lord and God.

The book is a novel, of course. But it claims that "all descriptions of artwork, architecture, documents, and secret rituals in this novel are accurate" (p. 1). The Bible is one of the "documents" it describes. And the novel quotes a Harvard professor and expert historian when it rejects biblical authority and Jesus' divinity. When Tom Clancy describes Jack Ryan on a submarine, we know Ryan to be a fictional character but we assume his description of the submarine to be accurate. It is the same with Mr. Brown's depiction of the historical "facts" behind the Christian gospel. It is impossible to tell in the novel where historical fact and fiction separate.

Clearly, many readers have not made the distinction. Celebrities have been quoted with gratitude for Mr. Brown's exposing of the truth behind the Christian movement. I have spoken with a large number of people who assume the novel's portrait of Christian origins to be accurate. Even many who claim a strong personal commitment to Christ are confused. They don't believe what the novel claims, but don't know how to respond to its falsehoods or explain the truth to others.

So, is the novel an accurate depiction of the history it claims to record? Before we move to the main subjects of the book, let's consider a few test cases.

First, let's deal with the title of the book. Mr. Brown's characters frequently refer to the artist as DaVinci. But his name was Leonardo. He grew up in Vinci, a village near Florence in central Italy. "DaVinci" simply means "from Vinci." And so art historians all call him "Leonardo," not "DaVinci." No Harvard symbologist and art historian, real or fictional, would call him "Da Vinci." This would be like calling Jesus of Nazareth, "of Nazareth." This mistake is not crucial to the plot of the novel, of course. But it is a symptom of the way the book treats historical facts. We'll see more examples tomorrow.

The DaVinci Code--facts and fiction

2006-04-24T05:00:00.000-07:00

The DaVinci Code is the most controversial novel in decades. Now the movie, starring Tom Hanks and directed by Ron Howard, hits theaters in a little more than three weeks. The novel has sold more than 40 million copies worldwide, and has been entrenched atop bestseller lists for three years. Many Christians are outraged over its treatment of Jesus, the Bible, and the church. Others say it's just fiction, and don't know why it matters.

Part of The DaVinci Code's popularity is surely its fascinating plot. To summarize: Christ was deified by Constantine the Great in A.D. 325 at the Council of Nicaea. The "Priory of Sion" (supposedly founded in 1099) knows the "truth": Jesus was a man, married to Mary of Magdalene. The couple had a daughter they named Sarah, who was raised in France; her bloodline can be traced to this day. Her tomb and story are the "Holy Grail," the "cup" containing the "blood" of Christ.

Leonardo daVinci was Grand Master of the Priory of Sion from 1510-19. In this capacity, he used artistic means to tell the "truth." His The Last Supper pictures Mary Magdalene at Jesus' right hand. His Mona Lisa was named for Amon (the Egyptian male god) and Isis (their female god), intended to show the union of man and woman.

However, the Roman Catholic Church's most militant sect, Opus Dei, has attacked the Priory of Sion before it can release its "truth" to the world. As a result, the current Grand Master of the Priory, Jacques Sauniere (curator of the Louvre), must pass the key to the location of the Holy Grail to his granddaughter, Sophia Nevea. Robert Langdon, a Harvard professor of religious symbology, helps her find the key and the path to the Grail, with the assistance of renowned English historian Leigh Teabing.

Each character is of course fictional. And so many dismiss concerns over the book's claims, citing the fact that the work is a novel. However, Mr. Brown claims that his plot is built on historical truth. The first page of his book is titled "Fact." It ends with this claim: "All descriptions of artwork, architecture, documents, and secret rituals in this novel are accurate" (p. 1). Documents such as the Bible. Secret rituals such as those the book identifies with the Church.

How do the facts line up with Mr. Brown's fiction? Why does the issue matter to your life this morning? Any book which has sold 40 million copies around the world is relevant to our culture. And when that book tries to convince its readers that the Bible got Jesus wrong, that he was a man deified centuries later by the Church, Christians need to seize the opportunity to give the true Jesus to the world. We'll begin tomorrow.

Hussein, Hamas, and Us

2006-04-21T04:46:00.000-07:00

The longest-running battle in the Middle East remains the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. In many ways it is fueling the other unrest in the region. This week's suicide bombing in Tel Aviv is only a symptom of the larger struggle for the Holy Land. How did the conflict begin? Is there a pathway to peace in the most troubled region of the world? Why does this issue matter to your life this morning?

In AD 70, Rome destroyed the Jewish Temple and nation, scattering their people and renaming the land "Palestine" (for the Philistines in the area). After Muslim armies captured Jerusalem in AD 638, most of the land's inhabitants converted to Islam. In 1517 the Ottoman Turks conquered the land, ruling until 1917. In that year, Britain defeated Turkey and took control of the land. Their Balfour Declaration promised the Jews a national home in Palestine, and Jews began migrating to the land in ever-increasing numbers. The Holocaust made clear to the world the need for a secure Jewish homeland.

On May 15, 1948, British troops left the land. The Jewish armies defeated an Arab coalition and established the modern state of Israel. The 1967 Six Days War enabled Israel to seize the Golan Heights from Syria, the Sinai Peninsula from Egypt, and the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem from the Palestinians. The 1973 war strengthened Israel's military position.

In 1982, Israel signed an historic peace accord with Egypt, and returned the Sinai peninsula to Egyptian control. In 1993, Palestinians were granted autonomy in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Peace was reached with Jordan in 1994. Further negotiations continued toward a complete settlement of the Palestinian issue, but broke down in 2000. On September 28 of that year, violence erupted following a visit by Ariel Sharon to the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. False rumors spread that he had entered the mosque, spreading the uprising. The "intifada" ("shaking" in Arabic) continues today.

Is peace possible in a land where both sides want the same Temple Mount and land? Jesus said, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid" (John 14:27). We cannot have the peace of God until we are at peace with God. When we ask Jesus to forgive our sins and become our Lord, we find peace with God and each other.

In all of recorded history there have been only four years without armed conflict somewhere on our planet. No man-made peace will last. But when we draw closer to Jesus, we draw closer to each other. Where do you need his peace in your life today?

The Dome of the Rock

2006-04-20T04:43:00.000-07:00

The Palestinian-Israeli conflict has been in the news all week, after the latest suicide bombing in Tel Aviv. Today's New York Times reports that Jordan is accusing the new Palestinian government of storing weapons on its territory. It has canceled a visit by the Palestinian foreign minister, as tensions in the region escalate.

Israel claims the Holy Land given to it by God and reclaimed in the 1948 war. Palestinians want the land back. And both want the famous Dome of the Rock.

The "Dome of the Rock" is called by Muslims the al-Aqsa Mosque. It was built between 687 and 691 by Abd al-Malik, the ninth Caliph (leader) of Islam. The second Caliph Umar prayed at the site after the Muslim conquest of Jerusalem in 637, so that it is sometimes called the Mosque of Umar today.

Muslims believe that the rock enshrined within the Dome is the place from which Muhammad, accompanied by the angel Gabriel, ascended through the heavens to God. There he is believed to have consulted with Moses and was given the Islamic prayers before returning to earth. Jerusalem is never mentioned in the Qur'an, though a reference within the book to Muhammad's journey later came to be associated with the city and site.

Most Jews believe the rock to be part of Mount Moriah, the place where Abraham offered Isaac to God and Jacob saw the ladder to heaven. Traditionally it has been understood to be the place where the Holy of Holies was constructed within the Jewish Temple. During my last trip to Israel, a tour guide told us that an archaeologist had been allowed to study the rock for an afternoon. He claimed to have discovered an indention made by human tools which fit precisely the measurements of the Ark of the Covenant, proving to his mind that the rock was indeed the location of the Holy of Holies.

During the Crusades, the Knights Templar made the area their headquarters, believing it to be near the Temple of Solomon. Their name was derived from its location. Today, some in Israel want to relocate the Dome of the Rock to Mecca and replace it with a Jewish temple. Some Christians believe that the Temple must be rebuilt on the site before Jesus returns, or when he does. And so the one rock is sacred to both Muslims and Jews, and of vital interest to many Christians as well.

What is the significance of this site and the conflict it represents? How does all this affect us in America? We'll conclude tomorrow.

Palestine then and today

2006-04-19T04:55:00.000-07:00

The most recent suicide bombing in Israel continues to rock the Middle East. Today's New York Times reports that Israel is continuing its support for an international boycott of the new Palestinian government. Why? Who are the Palestinians? Where did they come from? Why are they in conflict with Israel? How do their issues relate to us?

"Philistine" (Hebrew pelesheth) means "migrants," as they came to Canaan, the ancient Holy Land, from abroad. By the time the Hebrews encountered them, they had come to inhabit the southwestern Mediterranean plain of the region between Gezer and Gaza. They were descended from Ham (Genesis 10:14) and the land of Caphtor (probably Crete; cf. Jeremiah 47:4, Amos 9:7).

The Philistines were so entrenched at the time of the Hebrew conquest of Canaan that their great towns were left alone by Joshua and his armies (Joshua 13:2-3; Judges 3:1-4). They conquered Israel for 40 years during the time of Samson (Judg. 13:1; 15:20). By this time they had occupied the plains of Judah.

The Philistines battled Israel for the Holy Land during the time of kings Saul (1 Samuel 14) and David (cf. 1 Sam. 17, where he defeated their champion Goliath). David defeated them (2 Sam. 8) and subjected them to his son Solomon (1 Kings 4). Hezekiah fought them as well (2 Kings 18). They held the town of Gath in the time of Amos (6:2), and the towns of Gaza, Ashdod and Ekron during the days of Zephaniah (2:5). They still held these cities at the time of Zechariah (9:13).

The Philistines continued to occupy the the region known as the Gaza Strip today during the time of the Romans. In AD 70, the Empire defeated the Jewish uprising, destroyed their Temple, and dispersed their people. The Romans then renamed the area Palestina (Latin for Philistine) in honor of the Philistine occupants. Many Palestinians in the Holy Land today trace their descent from these foes of ancient Israel.

From AD 70 to 1948, there was no state of Israel. Many Jews continued to live in the land of "Palestine," though more were scattered abroad. When the nation was recreated during the war of 1948, its land was taken from "Palestine." For nearly 60 years, the Palestinians have believed that their land was stolen from them. Some refuse to recognize Israel's right to exist, and are engaged in a battle to regain their territory.

Additionally, many (though not all) Palestinians are Arab Muslims. Why does this fact add to the conflict? And why does it matter to us? Let's continue tomorrow.

Iran, Enron, and Easter

2006-04-17T04:49:00.000-07:00

Worried about Iranian nuclear development? You're not alone. According to today's New York Times, Iran's president claims that his scientists are developing something called the "P-2 centrifuge." This technology would enable the country to obtain weapons-grade nuclear fuel much more quickly than through conventional means. But no one seems to know if the president is telling the truth or not.

Meanwhile, Jeffrey Skilling is in the news with his claim that he "bled Enron blue." His critics say he bled the company dry. Last week, the former Enron president accused the prosecution of misrepresenting his actions. The prosecution counters that he deliberately misled investors and employees, leading to the largest bankruptcy in U.S. history.

Someone has lied to someone. Either the Enron executives lied to the public, or prosecutors are lying about them. Either the Iranians are developing fast-track nuclear capacity or they're not. I don't know which it is, but I'll bet you know the feeling. Who was the last person to lie about you? What was the last lie you told?

Yesterday, Christians celebrated the resurrection of Jesus Christ. But not everyone is convinced that the story is really true. The DaVinci Code claims that the Church deified the mortal Jesus three centuries after the fact. The Gospel of Judas paints the picture of a spiritual teacher desperate to die so his soul could be liberated from his body.

Last week's U. S. News and World Report publicizes yet another rewriting of the Jesus story. In this one, he was a military Messiah intent on establishing an earthly kingdom. John the Baptist was his partner, and his half-brother James the chosen successor. The fact that his "kingdom" failed makes him no less heroic for the effort, or so we're told.

All such attempts to retell Easter ignore very plain facts. Ancient historians document clearly Jesus' life and death, and the belief of early Christians that he was their risen Lord. In fact, I could have preached the Easter story yesterday without a Bible, using only non-biblical historical sources. It is impossible to explain the transformed lives of Jesus' disciples and the explosive growth of early Christianity without a resurrection. And with Easter a fact, the divinity of Jesus is obvious.

But the best way to know if Jesus is really our living Lord is to meet him for yourself. Ask him to forgive your sin and become your Savior; open a Bible and ask his Spirit to speak to you; take a moment to connect with him in prayer. If you'd like to know that Jesus is risen from the grave, you may ask him. Why not this morning?

Moussaoui, justice, and grace

2006-04-14T05:49:00.000-07:00

Zacarias Moussaoui is the only person charged in this country in connection with 9-11. Jurors are now deciding between life in prison and the death penalty. Last Wednesday, recordings from United Flight 93 were played for the jury, bringing back even more terrible memories from the most horrible day most Americans can remember. It is impossible for most of us to feel any kind of sympathy for the man who has admitted his complicity in the attacks.

Today's New York Times carries a long article on Moussaoui's role in this tragedy. He has testified that he was intended to pilot a plane which would strike the White House. Even though he was in a Minnesota prison for immigration violations on 9-11, it has been concluded that his lies to investigators contributed to their inability to prevent the terror attacks. Should he be executed for his crimes? Or would such punishment give him the martyr status he craves? What is the relationship between forgiveness and justice?

This is Good Friday. On this day 20 centuries ago, forgiveness and justice met on the cross. Justice, in that sin was punished. Forgiveness, in that the sins were ours. Jesus himself was "tempted in every way, just as we are--yet was without sin" (Hebrews 4:15). Because he had committed no crime, he could die for ours. In that way, justice could prevail and yet forgiveness could be granted.

On this day, Jesus died for your crimes, and mine, and Mr. Moussaoui's. What failures are in your past? What mistakes are hanging in your closet? What shame are you hiding from the rest of us? If your thoughts for the past hour were projected on a screen before your colleagues or friends, would that be a good thing?

God wants you to know that he will forgive all you'll confess: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9). He stands ready to cleanse your past and give you a new start. The consequences of your mistakes will remain, of course, just as the hole is left when the nail is pulled from the fence. But justice will be served, your penalty pardoned.

But there's a "but." Even the God of the universe cannot give what we will not receive. If Mr. Moussaoui were to be pardoned for his crimes, he would have to accept that pardon. If you want to experience the joy of God's forgiveness, you must first accept it. So why not come to Jesus on this Good Friday? Why not admit your guilt and failures, and ask him to forgive and cleanse you? If you've not asked him to be your Lord, today's a perfect day to give your life to him. After all, on this day he gave his life for you.

Help for the stress of life

2006-04-13T05:34:00.000-07:00

Mark Dochtermann has the best job in America, according to today's report on CNN. As a technology director, he writes and supervises code for computer games. CNN rated jobs on stress level, work environment and hours, creativity, and advancement in the field, and his came out first.

The top ten: software engineer, college professor, financial adviser, human resources manager, physician assistant, market research analyst, computer IT analyst, real estate appraiser, pharmacist, and psychologist. Did your job make the list?

The article profiles other jobs further down the roster. "Clergy" was in the bottom half, which is no surprise to many people. For instance, after the challenges of Sunday, members of our church sometimes ask me why I don't take Monday off. My reply: I don't want to feel that bad on my day off. But the rest of the time, I think I have the best job in the world. I hope you feel the same about yours.

It all comes to purpose. If you're doing what you were made to do, you're where you need to be. If you know your God-given reason for being, and you're fulfilling it, you're in the right place at the right time. No matter its stress and challenges.

Maundy Thursday illustrates that fact more than any other day in human history. This is the night when Jesus chose to be betrayed by Judas and arrested by the soldiers. He went to the one place where he was sure his betrayer would find him.

Tonight he would choose to stand trial on trumped-up charges before an illegal court. If he had stood silent, he could not have been convicted. Instead, he proclaimed the fact of his divinity, the claim he knew would lead to their conviction and his death. Tomorrow he would choose to die on the cross for us. No one I know would choose such torture.

Why did he choose Maundy Thursday and Good Friday? Because he loves you and me. Because he knew we could not pay for our own sins and still go to heaven. Because he knew we would need his forgiveness and grace. Because we could not climb up to God, he climbed down to us.

Do you need to be forgiven for your past or encouraged about your future? Remember that Jesus chose this night because of you, for you. Why not ask him to forgive your sins and be your Lord? Why not give your guilt and fear to him right now, and turn your life over to his control? He chose to die for you. Will you choose to live for him?

Arresting Jesus

2006-04-12T05:04:00.000-07:00

The most wanted man in Italy was arrested yesterday. Bernardo Provenzano, the undisputed chief of the Sicilian Mafia, had been on the run for more than four decades. Many Italians believed he would never be caught. According to this morning's New York Times, he was apprehended while hiding in a farmhouse.
It wasn't nearly that hard to arrest the most wanted man in Jerusalem. Jesus waited where he knew Judas would lead the soldiers to him. He stopped his disciples when they tried to defend him. He went willingly to the cross, the most painful form of execution ever invented. But why? And how is his death relevant to your problems this morning?
If you're not a Christian, Jesus' cross means that you can become a forgiven child of God today. You don't have to find a church and join it, be baptized, turn over a new leaf, or try harder to do better. If you will turn from your mistakes and failures, asking God to forgive you for them, inviting Jesus Christ into your life as your Savior and Lord, he will answer your prayer. Guaranteed.
There's nothing else you have to do--it's all been done. You can have the assurance of eternal life right now. Then you will worship with a church, read the Bible, pray, serve and give--because you are God's child, not to become one. Because you are loved, not so you will be. Because you are forgiven and accepted--not so you will be. You can have eternal life, right now, if you will ask Jesus to forgive your sins and become your Lord.
If you are a believer, Jesus' cross has set you free from yours. You're no longer on Death Row. You’re a free man or woman. The jury is in, the Judge has pronounced the verdict, and you're freed from jail, free to go from death to life. Now when you turn from your sins and ask God to forgive them, he does. And he forgets them. He remembers your sins no more. As Corrie ten Boom put it, God buries your sins at the bottom of the sea and posts a sign over the spot which says, "No fishing."
For us all, Jesus' cross means that God loves us. How do I know? He must--he sent his only Son to die for us. He watched his Son's tortured execution. He transferred our guilt and sin to his sinless Son. If my sons get a nosebleed my world stops turning. I cannot imagine a Father watching his Son die on a cross for me. But he did.
The cross proves how much God loves us. Sacrificially, completely, without condition. As you are, where you are, no matter who you are. Right now. This is the word, and the promise, of God.

Popularity isn't enough

2006-04-11T05:10:00.000-07:00

Immigration reform leads the news again today. The New York Times carries a photograph of marchers converging on Washington, D.C., amid speculation that immigrants are becoming a potent political force. "Today we march; tomorrow we vote" is the refrain. The message is clear: such a groundswell cannot be ignored.

Popularity always magnifies the message. Consider the confusion surrounding Jesus during this Holy Week. The DaVinci Code has sold more than 40 million copies. Its claim that Jesus was a man deified by the Church has confused millions. The Gospel of Judas is still making headlines, with its assertion that Jesus wanted to be betrayed so his soul could be liberated from his body. So, then, why did Jesus die? Why does his death still matter, 20 centuries later?

In short, Jesus died to solve a problem which we could not solve ourselves. The Bible says that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). All of us, no exceptions. Your last sin includes you in this group. The pack of gum I stole as a kid earned my membership into this society.

What happens to those who sin? "The wages of sin is death" (Ro.. 6:23a). The penalty for the crime of sin is death. The Lord warned Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden: "You must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die" (Genesis 2:17). They did, and they did. When someone sins against the holy God of the universe, someone must die for that sin. That's just how things are.

So God could watch his children spend eternity separated from him in spiritual death and hell. Or he could provide a sacrifice to take our place. But that sacrifice must be sinless, or his death would pay for his own sins. I cannot use the same money to pay your house note and mine as well. Only a sinless, perfect person could take our place on the cross.

There's been only one candidate for this job, only one Person in all of human history who never sinned--only one "who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet was without sin" (Hebrews 4:15). That Person was God's own Son. So he and his Father decided before time began that he would come to our world and die in our place. He would "bear the sins of many" (Isaiah 53:12). That's why he came, and why he died.

You and I were on Death Row for our sins. Jesus went to the execution chamber for us. He took the fatal injection we deserved, and died in our place. Now, what does his death mean for you and me today? Let's continue tomorrow.

Why did Jesus die?

2006-04-10T07:57:00.000-07:00

Today has been designated the National Day of Action for Immigrant Justice, with events scheduled in more than 120 cities across the nation. This morning's New York Times carries pictures of the 500,000 who marched in Dallas yesterday, a prelude to the rallies to be held today. Meanwhile, Phil Mickelson won the Masters golf tournament for the second time. And the Rangers even won a baseball game.
In the midst of such interesting headlines, it's amazing to me that the Gospel of Judas is still making the front pages. The second-century book claims that Jesus wanted Judas to betray him so his body would die and his soul would be liberated. Despite what you've heard in some of the news accounts, the heretical sect which produced the book has been known to historians for many centuries. The book adds nothing to our knowledge of the Gnostics, or of the New Testament and the true picture of Jesus. (For a larger review of the book, its history, and its significance, please go to the Gospel of Judas paper I wrote over the weekend, available at pcbc.org and godissues.com.)
While this news isn't really news, the story does raise some profound questions which seem especially appropriate for this Monday before Easter. Is there proof outside the Bible that Jesus Christ really existed? If so, why did he die? What difference does Easter make for our lives and world today? Let's examine each in turn this Holy Week.
First, how do we know Jesus even existed? If ancient books like the Gospel of Judas can describe him in such different ways from the narratives we find in the New Testament, how do we know which is right? Or if either reflects historical reality?
Thallus the Samaritan (A.D. 52) refers to Jesus' crucifixion. Mara bar Serapion (ca. AD 70) describes Jesus as the Jewish king. The Roman historian Tacitus (AD 55-120) recorded, "Christus . . . suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of one of our procurators, Pontius Pilatus, and a most mischievous superstition broke out" (Annals XV.44). Pliny the Younger recorded in AD 112 the fact that Christians "sang in alternate verses a hymn to Christ as to a god." And the Jewish historian Flavius Josephus (AD 37/38-97) describes Jesus in detail (Antiquities 18.3.3).
Even without a New Testament, we can know that Jesus existed, that he was crucified under Pontius Pilate and that the first Christians believed him to be raised from the dead. But the best way to know if Jesus existed is to meet him for yourself. If you will ask him to forgive your sins and become your Lord, you'll learn for yourself that he is alive. He's waiting to answer your next prayer. The first step is yours.

The "Book of Judas" and you

2006-04-07T06:12:00.000-07:00

According to The DaVinci Code, the Bible is the product of man, not God, and history has never had a definitive version of the book. In today's news we find fuel for the fire of doubt. An ancient book called the Gospel of Judas has surfaced. It claims that Jesus asked Judas to sell him to the authorities, and that the Bible got the Easter story wrong.

The book is an example of second-century Gnostic literature. The Gnostics were a heretical group which adopted the Greek separation of the "spiritual" and the "secular." They believed that the soul is good, the body bad. Jesus could not have been the physical presence of God on earth; rather, the heavenly Christ used the earthly Jesus to accomplish his divine mission.

The Gospel of Judas thus claims that Jesus told Judas, "You will sacrifice the man that clothes me." Jesus meant that Judas would help him get rid of his physical body, and so liberate his true spiritual self and divine being. The so-called Gospel adds nothing new to what we already knew about the Gnostics and their heretical beliefs. But it does raise the larger question: who decided what books would be included in the Bible? Why?

Other questions follow. The book was copied by hand for centuries--how do we know that we have what the authors wrote? Isn't the book filled with contradictions anyway? And can we really believe that a book 20 centuries old is still relevant to our lives and problems today?

One-sentence answers follow. God's people, led by God's Spirit, decided what books should be in the Bible; there was no conspiracy. The books were reproduced so painstakingly that scholars believe our copies to be virtually identical to the original. So-called "contradictions" melt away when we place the texts within their intended context. Since human nature doesn't change, the Bible is still as relevant to our lives today as when it was first inspired by God.

For more on each of these subjects, I invite you to the "tough questions" section of GodIssues.com. In the meanwhile, the best way to know if the Bible is God's word is to read it for yourself, open to its truth. Ask the Lord to speak from his word to your mind and heart. Seek the intended meaning, then apply it directly and obediently to your life.

Augustine called the Bible "love letters from home." J. I. Packer described it as "God preaching." God really did write a book--and he wrote it for you. This is the invitation, and the promise, of God.

Help for hurting hearts

2006-04-06T11:39:00.000-07:00

A "baby shower gone bad" is how police describe what happened yesterday in Springfield, Massachusetts. Today's New York Times has the story. An argument escalated into a brawl in which one man was shot and the pregnant guest of honor was beaten with a stick. Three people were arrested. If you're not safe at a baby shower, you're not safe anywhere.
At least Apple and Windows are getting along better. This morning's Wall Street Journal reports that Apple Computers will release software enabling its machines to run the Windows operating system. Apple stock jumped ten percent as a result. If only the rest of us could get along so well.
The divorce rate in America stands at 43 percent. According to the averages, six in ten men and four in ten women will have an affair at some time in their lives. If your marriage is in trouble, or another relationship is causing you pain, where can you turn for help? It's not too late to pray. How?
First, be honest with God. I used to think that the Lord only listened to "thees" and "thous." Then I learned enough about the Bible to know that its original languages had no such sanctimonious words. If Jesus could cry from the cross, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" then you and I can be honest with God. In fact, he invites us to "argue it out" (Isaiah 1:18). We can shake our fist at God and know that he won't shake his at us.
So tell God where you're hurting today. Name names. Describe what's been done to you. And don't omit what you've done as well. If you own even ten percent of the problem, admit what you need to confess. The first step in every Twelve Step program is naming the addiction or issue. Start where you're hurting.
Second, ask God to help in whatever way is best. You may need to speak with a counselor. You may need to confront the person who's hurt you. You may need to admit your failure to the person you hurt. Ask him to guide your thoughts, and he will.
Third, take this a step at a time. Counselors say it sometimes takes as long to heal a relationship as it did to hurt it. Pain which has built up over years does not evaporate overnight. Keep trusting God with each day as each day comes.
If Jesus is your Lord, you are the child of God. Why not turn to your Father now?

The bird flu and you.

2006-04-05T07:30:00.000-07:00

Today is a day you'll never see again, unless you live another hundred years. This morning, at two minutes and three seconds after 1:00 AM, the time and date were 01:02:03 04/05/06. That will happen again in 2106. And not a second before.
There are days when I'm not sure I'll live another week, much less a century. Each day's news gives us more reason to wonder about the future. This morning's New York Times reports on the continuing student unrest in France, and its effect on travel across Europe. The embattled leader of Thailand says he'll resign. Yesterday afternoon we learned that Rep. Tom DeLay will not run for reelection. The Enron trial continues, as charges and countercharges make the hourly headlines. Controversy seems to call the shots.
Meanwhile, a continuing news story is moving closer to home. Is the bird flu starting to scare you? This morning's Wall Street Journal reports that more work is needed to prepare for a potential pandemic. One expert says, "I think of it as the earthquake in San Francisco, you know it's on the fault. You know it's going to occur but you can't tell if it's going to occur this year or next year or the year after." Now don't you feel better?
How can we find peace in such an uncertain world? "Turn to God," we're told. But is faith relevant to the biggest problems you're facing today? In a culture which separates religion and the "real world," the "spiritual" and the "secular," can you keep your soul and body together? Can God help you with whatever worries you right now?
The answer is Yes. Jesus was clear: "Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?" (Matthew 6:26-27). Our Creator cares passionately and personally about his Creation. But he is also a Father. And a father cannot help a child who refuses his assistance.
Self-reliance is the mantra of our age. "I did it my way" is our theme song. All the while our Maker is waiting to show us his care and power. If we will ask him to forgive our mistakes and failures, and turn our lives over to him, he will make us his children. He will give us eternal life. And he will be our strength and shield on earth until he takes us to be with him in heaven.
When was the last time you admitted that you needed God's help, that you couldn't do life without him? We don't know what the future holds, but we can know the God who holds the future. Does he hold yours?

Where was God?

2006-04-04T14:35:00.000-07:00

Why would a good and powerful God allow a two-month old child to die in a car crash? Today's Dallas Morning News reports on the truck driver whose 18-wheeler killed three children and seven others in 2004. Miroslaw Janusz Jozwiak spoke in public for the first time since the fiery wreck. The 46-year-old truck driver accepted blame for the tragedy, and apologized tearfully to the victims' families. Reading the story, I found myself asking God, "Where were you?"
As a father, I can't imagine burying a child. We know that someday we will probably have to bury our parents, as hard as such a thought is to bear. But everything in nature rails against losing our children. I cannot begin to imagine what it's like to face the man responsible for such pain. Or to pray in the face of such loss.
There have been times in my life personally when God didn't seem to show up. You know the feeling. If God is all powerful, couldn't he stop AIDS and war and 18-wheelers? If he is all-loving, wouldn't he want to? Why, then, do children die in wrecks and war? Why are their parents left with such an aching void in their souls?
The Bible teaches that God made us with free will so we could choose to worship him. If we misuse that freedom, the consequences are not God's fault but ours. When a child dies because of an adult's sin, the cause is not with the Creator but the creature. However, doesn't God sometimes intervene miraculously in the face of human failure? The Babylonian king sinned by casting Daniel into the lions' den, but the angel of God prevented the prophet's innocent death. Why doesn't he always?
Christianity faces no more difficult question. There are theological approaches to this challenge, as this link shows. But even better, the Christian faith provides practical hope. All the abstract reasons for a child's death will not carry a grieving parent through a single day of pain. But the help of a Father who lost his own Son will.
My father died while I was in college. The person who helped me most was a friend who buried her father just a few months earlier. Those who have suffered divorce are the best encouragers for those walking through such pain, proving that life can go on. Cancer survivors are the best cancer counselors.
So it is that Christianity uniquely offers the help and hope of a God whose Child died in our place, to purchase our forgiveness and place in heaven. Whether you're the truck driver or the parent who lost the baby, he is ready to help you today. Will you let him?

Time We'll Never Lose

2006-03-31T13:36:00.000-08:00

Are you a little sleep-deprived this morning? Wishing you had that hour back we lost yesterday? I'm grateful I live in Texas and not Indiana, where millions are observing Daylight Savings Time for the first time in 35 years. Some of the state is in the Central Time Zone, while some is in the East. To make matters worse, 77 counties in Indiana refused until this year to observe Daylight Savings Time at all. The rest of us may be sleepy, but at least we know what time it is.

I'm feeling especially sorry for myself this morning. You see, I lost two hours to Daylight Savings this year. A week ago Sunday I was in Italy, leading a study tour of Paul's ministry and early Christianity in that country. The Italians "spring forward" on the last Sunday in March, Americans on the first Sunday in April. Now someone has two hours of my life, and I want it back.

Unfortunately, it's gone forever. Time is the one commodity none of us can reclaim. The minutes you'll spend reading this essay cannot be reused for any other purpose. We can say we're "multitasking," but we're actually just doing a lot of stuff sequentially. We can only do one thing at any given moment. When that instant of time is gone, it's gone.

Except with God. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). While you and I cannot step outside the space-time continuum and cannot imagine reality without it, our finiteness makes his omnipresence no less real. A native of Saudi Arabia has likely never seen an Eskimo, but her experience does not affect his existence.

I'll admit that it's sometimes hard to wait on God's timing, but it is always best. Today's essay is an example. For years I have sensed God's leading to consider radio as an expansion of this ministry. Today, that idea is a reality. A 60-second spot is airing in Dallas at 7:50 this morning on KRLD (1080 AM), KVIL (103.7 FM) and KLUV (98.7 FM). Their combined Arbitron listening audience is 985,000 people. The spot will introduce www.godissues.com, a new website designed to help people find and follow Jesus. I will record a new spot each weekday morning for the next nine weeks. The daily email essay, now titled GodIssues Today, will relate to the same news as the radio spot. My prayer is that the email, radio spot, and website will together help many people know Christ more personally. I ask you to join me in that prayer.

I'm learning that when we trust "tomorrow" to God's timing and stay faithful "today," we never "lose" time--we invest it in eternity. What is God's next request of you?

Copyright © 2006.GodIssues.org. All rights reserved.