Why I Take the Bible Literally

Why I Take the Bible Literally

There is perhaps no other book that has had as great an influence on society as the Bible. It is a priceless collection of love songs, poems, epic plays, tragedies, and devotionals. The Old Testament is largely the story of the history of the Jewish people and God’s dealings with them while the New Testament records the birth of the Christian church.

In the pages of this epic one can find great comfort and inspiration. The stories of the Old Testament have especially been used as parables for inspiration. Consider the story of Queen Esther who goes before her husband, the King of the Persian Empire, to beg for the lives of her people. According to the customs of the day she could have been killed for going uninvited, yet she went anyway. Many have used Esther as a basis to preach about faith and perseverance in times of great conflict.

Indeed, all the stories of the Old Testament could be used in this way. Moses had faith to lead God’s people through the Red Sea. Haven’t you heard someone preach that God will make a way for you as he did for Moses? Sure you have; it is the perfect story for an inspirational message. The possibilities are endless if one wants to inspire courage. There is Daniel in the Den of Lions, The Three Hebrew Boys in the Fiery Furnace, Caleb fighting for his mountain at the age of eighty five, and the list goes on.

            If the Old Testament were only a book of inspirational stories it would still be the greatest literary masterpiece in the history of the world. It is far more than that, however. The Old Testament is a history of real events that can also be used as parables. Many of the great stories in the Old Testament are more than just inspirational; they are prophetic, speaking of the future Messiah that would save Israel from her sins.

            Consider the story of Samson, the strong man who was betrayed by the woman he loved. He was turned over to the enemy and mocked. Yet he loved his people and sacrificed for them in his death. He died while pulling down the pillars in a pagan temple and killing more Philistines in his death than in his life. This is a foreshadowing of the story of Jesus, the Strong Man of our salvation, who would sacrifice himself to save his people.

            There is Joshua, the Savior, who led God’s people into the promised land. His Hebrew name, Yeshua, is the same as Jesus’ Hebrew name. He is not just a historical figure but a type of the Messiah in the Old Testament. There is also Samuel. His name, Shem-u-el, literally translates as “Name of God.” He was raised up by God to turn the people of Israel back to God. Again, a type of Jesus, the Messiah.

            One could go on naming the figures in the Old Testament whose lives tell us something about the future Christ. There is David the Giant Killer, Jeremiah the weeping prophet, Jonah whose trip in the whale is a parable of Jesus in the tomb, Gideon, Barak, and many more. While being true historical figures, all of these people were types of the future Savior of Israel.

            Every story in the Bible is interlinked with the others. Each hero in the Old Testament points to Jesus the Messiah in the New. Each story of God’s grace is a foretelling of the ultimate story of salvation in Christ. The story of each individual character fits together like a piece of a giant jigsaw puzzle, weaving together a beautiful story of God’s love for humanity. Each person’s birth, life, and death are so detailed that these things could not have happened by accident. Only God could have arranged the details in such a way. This is why I do not take the Old Testament as just a collection of inspiring stories.

            Samson’s story is a parable of Jesus. He was the strongman sent to save Israel. Yet Samson was a flawed human and could not save himself. He died in disgrace. Samson was not enough; we needed Jesus. Hebrews 12:24 speaks of “better things.” Though there were great and mighty men in the Old Testament, they were all as flawed as we are. Jesus came as God’s perfect gift to humanity, bypassing the flawed genes of sin by being born of a virgin through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus had no sin and no flawed genetics. He did for us what the Old Testament characters could not do. He redeemed us to God through the sacrifice of his own blood. We are free to worship in Spirit and in Truth because of his redeeming sacrifice. Sure, we love the inspirational stories of the Old Testament but without Jesus they would not be enough. In Jesus we find everything that we need for life, hope, salvation, and ultimately for peace when it comes our time to die.

The Bible is not just a book of inspiring stories. It is the promise of Eternal Life through Him who loved us. If you don’t have this promise of eternal life today, the Bible tells you how to get it. You can repent, be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, and be filled with Holy Ghost. Many believe the promise of the Holy Ghost is no longer for us but I have experience and know that it is real.

This method of salvation is Biblical and will bring you great peace with God such as you have never known. I urge you today, take the scripture for what it means. Obey the plan of salvation today and see why I take the Bible literally.

Pilate and Herod became friends

There is a scripture in the book of Luke that has always intrigued me:

That day Herod and Pilate became friends;

Before this they had been enemies (Luke 23:12, NIV).

The setting for this verse is during Jesus’ trial. When Jesus was arrested he was brought before Pilate. Pilate did not want to be guilty of condemning Jesus so he sent him to Herod. The ploy did not work because Herod, finding that Jesus was under Pilate’s jurisdiction, returned him to Pilate. Right in the middle of this drama and political circus something remarkable happens: Herod and Pilate’s long term feud was halted and they became friends.

In this verse I believe we see the essence of why Jesus came. He came to heal our broken relationships. First off, Jesus came to heal mankind’s broken relationship with God. Since the garden of Eden men have been at odds with God. Jesus came to heal this breach  through the atoning sacrifice of His blood.

As a consequence of man’s broken relationship with his God, humans also suffer from broken relationships with one another. We hear heartbreaking stories of family members that will not speak to one another. Long time friends allow a slight to separate their friendship. I have even heard of fellow church members taking one another to court instead of working out their own issues as Paul instructed (I Corinthians 6).

All of these things show us just how broken our relationships can become. We are all human and have all hurt been hurt and hurt others. We even inflict pain on our own selves at times. We humans are a pitiful lot without the help of God. Yet all is not lost. This Christmas season we celebrate the fact that God came into the world, wrapped in the body of his Son, Jesus Christ, to save us from our sin. Along with the healing for our sins I believe his sacrifice also paved the way for broken relationships to be restored. If two Roman politicians could have their friendship restored while they were plotting to crucify Jesus how much more could God do for his children.

Is there a broken relationship in your life? Perhaps it’s not completely broken but just needs a little love and care. What better time than at Christmas to reach out in love. Send a card, write a letter, make a phone call. You never know what God will do until you try. It may be this Christmas season that God brings the healing in your circle of influence.

Merry Christmas,

Sullivan Jones

Concrete Faith

Christmas time is approaching and my mind has turned to gift giving. When I was a kid I expected Christmas presents. I knew from an early age that my dad and mom were the only Santa in our home. Mom would tell me to make a list of things I might like for Christmas and she would see what she could get. I wasn't shy about making that list either. When mom said to make a list, I made a list. I eagerly awaited Christmas morning to find out what I had gotten. One thing I never did as a child was consider how my parents were going to pay for the things they bought me. I just considered it there job because I was their child. It was only later that I realized some of the sacrifices they made to show me that they loved me.

 Now that we are grown, it is easy to forget that someone else once bought the gifts. We rightfully take our place in the adult world and try to be productive members of society. Lists of anticipated Christmas gifts turn into long lists of work and family responsibilities and bills to be paid. We do not expect anyone to ask us for a list of what we want. With such responsibilities on our shoulders it is easy to forget that we do have a Heavenly Father who cares for our needs. The Bible says that our Heavenly Father is better than earthly parents. If earthly parents know how to give good gifts to their children, how much more does our Heavenly Father give good gifts to his children? (Matthew 7:11).

 As I contemplated this topic  I had the following thought: my faith in God is not abstract. It is not just a good idea but a reality. My Heavenly Father loves me and wants to take care of me. Just as my parents would tell me to make a list, I can give God my lists of responsibilities. When the demands of life get overwhelming, I can give them to God and ask him to help. He will have ideas that I would never have thought of. He will come up with answers that I couldn't have foreseen. He cares about me and knows how to take care of my needs.

I believe he even cares about my wants. I recently told a relative this: if it concerns me, it concerns my God. I can pray about anything and God will not be offended. I believe He is happy that I trust him enough to give him my lists. My wife and I recently made such a list. We were talking about buying a house and the things we would  like to have in it. She suggested that we make a list and then give it to God so we did. In his timing, I expect God to give us the house we have asked for. We did not make an extravagant list but a practical one that will meet our needs and I believe God to honor it. It may seem silly to some, but I believe God will honor it. I have seen him honor such requests before. My faith in God is absolutely dependent upon his love for me and not my goodness. I am confident that I can go to him as a child to his father. I will not be shy in my request because I am a king's kid.

Sincerely,

Sullivan Jones

Meaning of Judgment

The favorite mantra of many today is "don't judge me." There are those who insist that a Christian has no right to judge and that any judgment of another is unchristlike. I was discussing this with one of my classmates and he brought out a good point. There is more than one meaning to the word judge. To judge can mean both "to pass sentence on" and "to discriminate or discern between."
If one is using the first meaning then it is certainly true that no human can decide the ultimate fate of another. Our understanding of the facts is limited. Ultimate heaven and hell judgment will be left up to God. Each of us will one day stand before the Creator and give account for the things he or she did while on earth. According to scripture, some will enter into eternal rest and some into eternal judgment on that day. As a Christian, I believe the criteria of who will enter into eternal rest (and who will not) is set out in the word of God. Those who have been born again, and lived a faithful Christian life, are promised the joys of heaven. The unregenerate do not have that promise. Only God will be able to decide on that day who is allowed into heaven and who will go to hell. Our understanding of the facts of each case it too limited to make such a judgment. God is not unfair, however, and the decision will be made based on the path to salvation he has laid out for us in his word.
The second meaning of judgment is to discriminate or discern. One of the fruits of the Holy Spirit is discernment (I Corinthians 12:8-10). Any manager knows that he or she will one day have to make a judgment call. One does not do this based on his own opinion but according to company policy. Every company has a manual somewhere that tells what is and is not allowed on the job. No one questions a manager's right to decide who is right in a dispute, even if they do not agree with her decision. A managers job often requires that he make a judgement. We make judgments on a regular basis while driving. Do I have time to merge or should I let that car pass? Should I beat this yellow light (not a good idea) or sit through a red light? These are judgment calls and a skilled driver will take them seriously. The same is true in one's relationship with God. Everyday I am called on to make a judgment. Is this music good for my spiritual life? How should I respond truthfully without being critical or sharing gossip? Is this preaching according to scripture or is this man stating his own opinions? All of these are judgments that a Christian can and must make to ensure her life is in line with the word of God.There is nothing wrong with making the statement that someone's lifestyle is contrary to the Word of God. Although these comments are not politically correct, they are necessary to practice Biblical and spiritual discernment. So is a Christian supposed to judge? The answer is absolutely YES! While I can not and would not wish to decide someone's eternal fate, I must constantly practice discernment while on this earth.

Sincerely,
Spanish Pastor Jones

The Song of Humpback Whales

Psalm 148: 7 - Praise the LORD from the earth, you great sea creatures and all ocean depths.

The King James Bible says in Psalm 148:7 that the dragons praise God. Dragons? Aren’t those mythical creatures that breathe out fire and smoke? Is the Bible really saying that dragons existed at one time? While our God is certainly capable of creating such a creature, this is not the intended meaning. The NIV translates the Hebrew word into English as sea creatures. So the sea creatures praise God? That makes more sense, but is it verifiable? Do the creatures of the sea really praise God or is this just the whimsical writings on an ancient poet? Let’s consider the evidence.

Today we know that Humpback Whales do indeed sing beautiful, intricate songs that can last up to 30 minutes. Katy Payne, a marine biologist and musician, has spent years recording the sounds of Humpback Whales. Being a trained musician, Katy first used computer programs to chart the melodies and rhythms she was hearing in the recorded sounds of the whales. Over time she realized that it is only the males that sing, and that their songs are not random. The male whales will at times all sing the same note together. At other times the rhythm, pitch, and variation of a song will change while one male leads the singing. Katy has memorized some of the music and recorded her own voice singing the notes along with the whales. It is truly remarkable to hear.

I first stumbled across this information about the whales’ singing from a passing reference in a magazine article. I am currently taking a class on Biblical Apologetics, the branch of Christian Theology that attempts to show the historical and scientific reliability of the Bible, so I was intrigued. As I studied the information about Humpback Whales and their singing I was reminded again of the majesty of our God. The lyrics of an old song come to mind as I ponder this:

Walk with me in a forest where the wild beasts trod, and then tell me again there is no God.

Certainly there must be a God who created the earth and everything in it (Acts 17:24). God could have created a bland world with drab, gray colors and no music. But our God loves beauty so much that he gave the Humpback Whales one of the most beautiful songs on earth. Aren’t you glad to be serving a God like that!

Awed in Worship,

Sullivan Jones

References

http://www.npr.org/2015/08/06/427851306/it-took-a-musicians-ear-to-decode-the-complex-song-in-whale-calls

Ending a Sentence with a Preposition

I John 5:3 – His commandments are not burdensome.

Have you ever heard that you shouldn’t end a sentence with a preposition? This was told to me in school and it didn’t make sense to me then. It makes less sense now for several reasons. Don’t have a clue what I am mean? Let me explain.

In simple terms, a preposition is a word that connects two nouns (or a noun and a pronoun), such as table and elephant. In the phrase, the book about the elephant, about is the preposition; it connects book with elephant.  Examples of more prepositions are to, with, at, for, etc. Though we do it all the time, there are English teachers who insist that one should never end a sentence with a preposition. If we follow this rule, “who are you talking to?” should become “to whom are you talking?” Some more examples are below:

Ending with a preposition                                                  

Sandra has much to be happy about.

           

Corrected

Sandra has much about which to be happy.

Though the second sentence is possible, the first sounds more natural in everyday conversation. Below are some more examples where following the no preposition at the end rule just makes the sentences sound ridiculous are even like bad English.

Prepositional Ending

The house was not paid for, so she had to sell it.

There is nothing to be afraid of.

Corrected

Paid for the house was not, so she had to sell it. (Bad English)

There is nothing of which to be afraid. (Overly formal)

In the above sentences it is easy to see why it is simply easier, and sometimes almost necessary, to end a sentence with a preposition. The English language has always been full of phrases that end with prepositions. If so, where did this rule come from? Or should I say, from where did this rule come? The answer is simple. Until the 16^th or 17^th century, English had no consistent spelling. The English-speaking people who were literate wrote English as it sounded to them. This created a situation where one English speaking person could have difficulty reading what another English speaking person wrote. This was true even for people who lived in the same city and could converse quite freely when speaking.

To compensate for this, some educated people started trying to impose rules on the written language. One way they did this was by trying to impose Latin grammar on spoken English. This was almost impossible to do because the languages are so different. Yet in the minds of many, Latin was the language of education and English should follow its rules. The result was that several rules were imposed upon English that did not fit; this rule about prepositions was one of them. In Latin, misplacing a preposition can change the meaning of a word. In English this is not the case. “Who are you talking to?” and “to whom are you talking?” are both instantly understood. The first word order is the way that English naturally developed. The second one arose only when Latin speakers tried to tell English writers that they couldn’t end a sentence with a preposition. In other words, an arbitrary rule has caused headaches for English-speaking grammar school students until today (pun intended).

So what is the point of all this? There are some rules that we can get by without. They serve very little purpose other than to be, well… arbitrary at best. Other rules, however, are absolutely necessary. Usually these rules have nothing to do with grammar. (English teachers forgive me.) They are rules such as stopping at stop signs or not riding bicycles on the sidewalk. They do more than get on a grammarian’s nerves. Failure to follow these rules can actually cause someone much harm.

As I contemplated this, I began to think about the laws of God. There are some people who think that God’s list of dos and don’ts are somewhat like made-up English grammar rules. They might make a preacher happy but they serve little purpose in life. Sound familiar? Nothing could be farther from the truth.

The wisdom of God found in the Bible is not just a list of rules or a good moral code. God’s word is instruction for life. The things it tells us to do will cause us to prosper if obeyed. Things like telling the truth, being kind, and treating others with respect will ultimately prosper a person. Other things like lying, gossiping, etc. will cause heartache. Someone wisely observed that most of society’s ills would be fixed if people observed the seventh commandment. (I’ll let you ponder that one.)

I John 5:3 tells us that God’s commandments are not arbitrary (my translation of burdensome.) The purpose of God’s word is to give us strength and direction in life. It is not to make us follow an old-fashioned lifestyle, akin to speaking a dead language like Latin. We are not just following a system of outdated laws in considering what the Bible has to say; we are drinking from a wellspring of life by following it laws.

When I begin to talk about obeying God’s law, some always respond with, “no one is perfect.” Though this is true, it must not be an excuse to ignore the Bible’s teachings. Realizing that we are imperfect should make us even more apt to consult the word of God for direction. Doing so will only bring us clarity, peace, and joy. We ignore the Bible to our own peril. When we obey it we find life and blessing.

The word of God is not just a list of rules. It is a fountain of life for all who will hear and obey.

Sincerely Yours,

Rev. Sullivan Jones

Abundant Life

John 10:10 I have come that they might have life …

Did you know that you can pray the word of God over situations in your life and they will change. The word of God is living and powerful (Hebrews 4:12) and has the power to change circumstances. I remember a time when I was very sick and the doctors did not know what was wrong. I could keep not food down for several weeks. I was losing weight rapidly and was dehydrated. I had read about using scriptures for healing and decided to try it. I looked up every scripture I could find in the Bible that had anything to do with health and healing. I found scriptures such as:

Isaiah 53: 5 – … with his stripes we are healed.

Exodus 15:26 – I am the Lord who heals you.

Jeremiah 30:17 – I will restore your health and heal your wounds.

I made a list of these scriptures and began to read them like a prayer several times every day. I can’t say exactly when it happened, but the word of God began to strengthen me. Eventually the doctors realized that my gallbladder was not working and I had surgery. However, even before the surgery I was well. God had touched me as I prayed through his word.

Is there a situation in your life that you need God to touch? Maybe you need a financial blessing? Perhaps a loved one is sick in body or suffering from depression? No matter the ailment, God’s word has the answer. Here is a scripture for you to pray over your life.

John 10:10- The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

Begin to thank God for abundant life today. Speak life into your body and ask him to reverse sickness. Speak life into your finances and ask him to break the cycle of poverty. Ask God to restore anything that the enemy may have stolen from your life. Praise him for abundant life and expect to see things change. The word of God is powerful and will act as a medicine when applied to the situations of our lives in faith. Thank God for abundant life today and watch things change!

Living Abundantly,

Rev. Sullivan Jones

Three things that should be obvious

A wise leader once said that there are three things one never has tell another because, if true, they are obvious to everyone around.

1. I am a Christian.
Oh, to be a true disciple of Christ, showing the love of God to others. A Christian should be so in love with the Savior that God's grace is exhibited to those around him/her throughout the day. Though none of us is perfect, it should be evident that a Christian's faith is genuine and that God is working in his/her life.

2. I am honest.
If one professes to be a Christian then s/he should always be honest and aboveboard. The Christian should strive to live in such a way that everyone around takes his/her word as gospel truth. If one makes a mistake, s/he should be true enough to admit the mistake and know that God will honor integrity.

3. I am a professional.
No one should be more professional in the workplace than a professed Christian. One's daily habits,  actions, and treatment of co-workers speaks volumes about who one is and what one believes.

Workplace Prayer:

Lord, help me today to be diligent and professional in all that I do. . Give me ideas that will contribute to the betterment of my agency and bring glory to your name. May I be honest and aboveboard in all that I do and say, treating everyone as I would like to be treated. I want others to see the light of Christ in me. Amen!

Sincerely,

Sullivan Jones

 

What is good preaching?

Elenctics? Have you heard of it? I would venture to say that most haven’t. It is a theological term that means to make a case for the gospel. A word you might have heard of is apologetics. Apologetics is not apologizing for the gospel but defending the gospel against undue criticism and attack. Let’s says that someone says the Bible is discriminatory against women. I can point out many scriptures throughout the New Testament where women were given a place of honor and even leadership. There is enough evidence to silence the unfair criticism. This is called Apologetics.

 Elenctics is the opposite of apologetics. Instead of waiting to defend against an attack, Elenctics seeks to propagate the gospel message by presenting a case for consideration. It is an offensive rather than a defensive strategy.

The origin of the word Elenctics is a Greek word that means “to bring to shame.” As I contemplated this thought, I realized that herein lies the true message of the gospel. The gospel is supposed to cause us to realize our sins, feel not just shame but sorrow for our sins, and then repent. When the true gospel is preached is should make us uncomfortable enough with who we are that we fall on the mercy of God and beg him to cleanse us of our sins through his blood; it should also be a catalyst for us to change.

There are not many who are comfortable with this kind of preaching in our day. The message of the hour seems to be, “make me feel good preacher.” Much of what is called preaching in our day is actually self-help instruction. It is intended to make one feel good about oneself, rather than bringing conviction of sin. While I agree that there is a place for encouraging, feel-good preaching, there is even more cause for convicting, soul searching preaching.

Let’s consider a few scriptures where the preaching of the gospel brought strong conviction:

·         In John 16:8 Jesus told us that the Holy Spirit would come to reprove the world of sin. This word reprove means “to cause to feel shame or regret.”

·         Acts 2: 37 - When the Apostle Peter preached on the Day of Pentecost the people were so convicted that they cried aloud asking Peter what they could do. The scripture says they were “cut to the heart.” This sounds like a very convicting message.

·         Acts 16: 29-30 – The Philippian jailer came to Paul and Silas trembling, wanting to know how he could be saved. This sounds like a very stirring, emotional experience.

In the few examples we have considered one thing seems to stand out. With the preaching of the gospel came a very powerful conviction that brought a change of heart and lifestyle. The gospel message shined light on a heart that was full of sin and caused the person to want to repent and live holy before God.

As a child I remember hearing older people refer to certain preachers as “hell fire and brim stone preachers.” From some of the messages I remember hearing, the description seems to fit. They would preach so hard that I could almost feel the flames of hell and sense the smoke. By the time the message was finished I wanted to run to the altar and repent, even if I couldn’t think of anything I had done wrong. I didn’t want to a take a chance on not being right with God and going to hell.

We don’t hear that kind of preaching much anymore. Truth be told, none of us wants to. If I had to choose a label for people to put on my preaching, I’m not sure I’d want to wear the hell-fire and brimstone label. It just doesn’t sound very flattering. I’d rather people talk about how much I encourage them, how well my presentation is, my study habits and ability to tell a story. There is just one problem: while there is nothing wrong with this, it gets the cart before the horse.

The Apostle Paul gave his young protégé, Timothy, instruction on what a sermon should be like. We can find it in 4:2 where Timothy is told to preach the word by reproving, rebuking, and exhorting. Notice that reproof and rebuke come before exhorting; reproof and rebuke both mean correction.  A good message should be two-thirds correction and one-third encouragement. Before a positive message can be delivered, a convicting message must be preached. The preacher must make me want to repent and then encourage me to do better.

This is the essence of that fancy word, Eclenctics, we started with. I want the preaching of the gospel to be offensive (the opposite of defensive). My prayer is that I would always be convicted when the gospel is preached and never allow myself to be hardened against the message. If the message makes me uncomfortable, good! It gives me a chance to repent and this is the greatest privilege in the world.

In Christ’s Service,

Sullivan Jones

 

Preaching the Gospel Requires Words

The Preaching of the Gospel Requires Words

Preach the gospel, and if necessary, use words …

This saying, usually attributed to St. Francis of Assisi, has become extremely popular over the last few years. You’ve probably seen it on t-shirts, bumper stickers, and the like. It is popular for several reasons. For one, it is a catchy saying that basically means, “don’t preach to me; do something for me.” We like that. In our culture where anything and everything goes, no one wants to be “preached at.” And the quickest way to feel better about ourselves is to think about the good we do for others. So we have a nice catchy little phrase that basically means, “I don’t need preaching; I need you to do something for me.”

There are a couple of problems with this saying, however. Number one, there is no record of St. Francis ever saying it. St. Francis was a member of a preaching order. It was not uncommon for him to preach up to five times a day. He understood the power of the spoken word and utilized it. The saying doesn’t fit with St. Francis’ lifestyle. [1]

Besides all that, the most troubling thing about this saying is that it is simply not Biblical. The gospel means the “Good news.” It is the story of Jesus' birth, life, death, resurrection, and second coming. It is the good news that Jesus Christ came into the world to save us from our sins. Jesus' final commandment to his disciples was to “Go and teach all nations.” The word “teach” in this instance could also be preach. It is a word that means proclaiming with words. It takes words to transfer a thought from one person to another. The preaching of the gospel always requires words.

I understand the thought behind the aforementioned saying. As Christians we are commanded to love one another. If we see a brother or a sister with a need, and we can help, we are supposed to do what we can (James 15:16). But this is not preaching the gospel; neither is it the primary purpose of the church. The purpose of the church is to preach the gospel and tell people how to be saved.

If we do good deeds for people they may feel good about us. They may even say something like, “I know those people are real Christians.” But have we really accomplished anything if we haven’t told them how to be saved? After all, this is the most important thing isn’t it? The salvation of the eternal soul.

I believe Christians should be the most friendly, helpful people on earth. We should always be willing to lend a hand in time of need without expecting anything in return. Truthfully, we as the church could (and maybe even should) do more for our communities and families in need. We cannot, however, buy into the line that we are the church because we do good deeds. We are the church because we have been born again and called out of the world to be a separate people, committed to living a holy life dedicated to the service of our God. This is what makes us the church.

We have a story to tell. It may be a little different for each of us but the fundamental message is the same. It is the story of how we were once lost in sin. Then someone preached the gospel to us. We responded and were born into the family of God. Now we strive to tell everyone else how they can be a part of this family. This is the gospel message. You must be born again!

When was the last time you told your story to someone else? Don’t be afraid to tell someone what God has done for you. This is the way the church has been replicated for 2,000 plus years. One person tells another and then and then another about his relationship with Christ. This is, in its simplest form, the preaching of the gospel.

Tell someone about Jesus today! And use words! They are powerful!

Sincerely,

Rev. Sullivan Jones

---

[1] "Preach the Gospel, and Since It's Necessary, Use Words by Ed Stetzer." Ligonier Ministries. Accessed June 08, 2016. http://www.ligonier.org/learn/articles/preach-the-gospel-and-since-its-necessary-use-words/.

Dorothy kills a witch

My sister posted a mock newspaper article on Facebook this morning that caught my attention. The picture was a snapshot of Judy Garland in her role as Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz; almost anyone in North America would recognize the scene. The headline above the photo read:

“Mugshot of runaway girl who killed an elderly woman and stole her shoes, claiming it was an accident, 1939.”

Naturally, I laughed when I saw it. I found it so amusing that I had to show it to my co-workers. My first thought was, this is how the media distorts things. One little shred of “information” is taken and a story is concocted that appeals to our universal sense of right and wrong. It doesn’t matter if the story behind the headlines actually fits the facts or not. The purpose is to sell news and it seems the more horrifying or scandalous the story, the more people want to read about it.

The world we live in is full of information. While I am thankful for the freedom of the press, much that we read, hear, or see in the news is intentionally distorted to promote a certain agenda. The liberal mindset desires to keep people on edge and knows how to frame a situation to its advantage to get a reaction from the public. There is so much contention and strife in our world, so much information to sort through. Can we trust any of it?  No wonder that Snopes.com is such a popular cite. In this day of hype and instant internet information one almost cannot be too careful in fact checking before sharing.

In the case of Dorothy, she really did run away from home but she came back before the cyclone hit. She also did drop a house on the Wicked Witch of the West but it certainly wasn’t intentional; she didn’t take the shoes on purpose either. While the caption was meant to be humorous, it can also teach us all a vital lesson; there is always a different way to look at a situation. Whether it be a situation that arises at work, at church, or in society at large, we rarely get all the information we need to make a snap judgment. This is why juries are supposed to be selected at random and supposed to hear all the evidence before reaching a verdict. A first impression can create a false perception.

While I am all for being up-to-date on current events, we would all do well to remember that not everything we read, see, or hear is true. It is always best to listen to another source before taking a stance. Even more importantly, the Christian should remember that the only true and unbiased reports on daily life come from the word of God. If we want to fact-check something it is best to go to the source of ultimate truth. The word of God has never let us down and never will. Its wisdom is priceless and ageless. It is relevant to every culture and every age and will never be obsolete. Are you wandering what news you can trust? Go to the source. God’s facts are always trustworthy!

Blessings,

Spanish Pastor Jones

Who is God?

­Good Morning readers,

I am taking a class on Biblical counseling and something that I read in the text over the last couple of days has provoked me to do a little Bible study. For those of you who may not realize it, I am not a Trinitarian. I believe that God is completely One, all by himself. I believe, as the Bible says, that Jesus Christ is the express image of this formerly invisible God. Jesus Christ is not just part of a triune God but he is the Only God who manifested himself in flesh.  

I am studying for my bachelor’s degree through a Trinitarian school. I have been through several theology classes and have had to endure teachings on the doctrine of the trinity, though I don’t believe it. I have seen all of this as an opportunity to learn. I have tried to be respectful and have only voiced my opinion on a couple of occasions when the situation merited it. I have had not great arguments over this issue and almost no one in my classes, instructors included, was offended when I said I was Oneness.

The class I am taking now is Biblical counseling. The author of the textbook we are using is decidedly Trinitarian; he is so Trinitarian that he almost doesn’t use the word God in a sentence but uses “the Trinity.” As I am reading through this book, I have come across a couple of things that really bothered me. In talking about the Trinity (which is not really what the class is about) the author says:

“Before they created, the Trinity related. What were the Father, Son, and Spirit doing before they created? … They were experiencing constant uninterrupted, intimate relationship.”

The author goes on to say:

“What did the Trinity do before they created? They enjoyed each other and bragged on each other. They were thrilled with each other. They shared sheer delight.”

“Father, you are incredible.” “Son you are amazing.” “Spirit, you are awesome.”

"There was never a time when the Trinity was denied the pleasure of delighting in their mutual glory."

The author of this book would have us to believe that there are three beings in heaven (how this is one God I will never know) involved in an intimate relationship. He even goes so far as to say that the three members of the Trinity are eternally united in a celestial hug. This is completely unscriptural. The word of God says in Isaiah 43:

Isaiah 43:1 – But now thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: For I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.

43:3 – For I am the Lord thy God, the Holy one of Israel; thy Saviour.

Throughout this entire chapter God continues to refer to himself as “the Holy One” and say things like “I did this” or “I did that.” There is no room for this author’s idea of “they did this” or “they did that.” It simply isn’t there. The prophet continues writing to say:

Isaiah 43:10 – Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.

43:11 – I, even I, am the Lord; and beside me there is no Savior.

43:12- I have declared and have saved …

Again in Verse 14: Thus saith the Lord, your redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.

The Holy One

There is no mention in any scripture of the holy three. So where did this idea come from? It came from the Greeks and Romans. Most of us know that the Greeks believed in many gods. They also believed these gods quarreled among themselves. Furthermore, they believed these gods had lewd, intimate, even incestuous relationships among themselves. In their jealousy for power, these gods fought over control of the universe and put curses on one another.

In contrast, the Holy One of Israel is always depicted in scripture as a God who is God all by himself. This is the main reason I have a problem with the aforementioned explanation of a Trinitarian God. This author would have us to believe that there are three beings in heaven who eternally worshipped one another from before the earth was created. His explanation borders on the lewd and causes one to think of the perverted, lewd relationships that the pagans of the ancient world attributed to their gods. This does not sound like a Holy God to me. Our God is anything but lewd.

I have close friends who are Trinitarian. I would venture to say that many of them would not agree with the description this textbook gives us of the three members of the Trinity praising one another. I believe most people who self-proclaim to be Trinitarian do not actually understand that the idea of a Trinity is anything but Biblical. It does not come from Jewish thought and cannot be found in the Old Testament at all. The apostles who wrote the New Testament had no thoughts of a Trinitarian God. Any reference to the Father, son, and Holy Spirit in the New Testament are best answered by an understanding of God’s Oneness.

While I try to respect the beliefs of others, I cannot find the idea of a Trinity in scripture. The same author of this text spends a good deal of time warning his readers not to mix pagan ideas with their Biblical counseling methods. Yet I contend that he is doing exactly that with his ludicrous ideas of the members of a Trinity having intimate relationships among themselves throughout eternity.

Isaiah 43:11 – I, even I, am the Lord; and beside me there is no Savior.