June 22nd, 2009
In areas of the world where religious freedom is neither cherished nor protected, persecution and harassment of religious groups is a constant—and growing—problem.
Jews have, of course, suffered from prejudice around the world. In fact, Christian countries have been among the most hostile to Jews who were blamed for everything from controlling the banking system to killing the Christian Messiah. The Holocaust was the most visible example of this persecution, but anti-Semitism was strong in most Christian and non-Christian countries of that day. Sadly, anti-Semitism continues to this day. The June 2009 shooting by a known white supremacist at the Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C. was but the latest example.
Rapidly changing political and economic circumstances often cause an increase in hatred against groups of individuals (religious, ethnic, etc.) who are either a minority or who are blamed—often falsely—for one problem or another.
Prejudice and persecution can take many forms:
• Defacing or destroying personal or religious property
• Threatening believers
• Employment and civil rights discrimination
• Boycotting or demonstrating against religious groups
• Violence and murder
Today, in many parts of the world, western Christians are often considered the problem because we are considered synonymous with:
• Capitalism (which is blamed for the current economic crisis and the wide gap between rich and poor)
• Cultural sabotage (the influence of western media for changing the historic culture of a region or people)
• Domination of peoples, who were neither Christian nor white skinned, as European explorers founded colonies around the world
• Warfare (from the crusades, to European colonization, to modern warfare)
European and American history is not immunized against such charges. Perhaps this is why Jesus made serious statements about persecution in his Sermon on the Mount and at other times in his ministry:
Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. - Mat 5:11-12
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to them. Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you and say all kinds of evil things about you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad because your reward is great in heaven, for they persecuted the prophet before you in the same way. – Mat 5:10 -12
Remember what I told you, A slave is not greater than his master. If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. – John 15:20
But I say to you, love your enemy and pray for those who persecute you. - Mat 5:44
Therefore, I [Paul] am content with weaknesses, with insults, with troubles, with persecution and difficulties for the sake of Christ, for whenever I am weak, I am then strong. - 2 Cor 12: 10
Author’s Conclusion:
Religious intolerance is the norm in many parts of the world. However, persecution or discrimination against people of any religion is an anathema to most Americans and most Christians.
Early Christians faced death and persecution by Roman authorities. Since that time, thousands of Christians and Christian missionaries throughout the world have faced similar trials—sometimes leading to death. Christians must stand together against such intolerance and hatred while fully understanding that evangelizing the Word or just living the life Christ called us to lead can lead to intimidation, persecution, imprisonment and even death.
We must pray that our brothers and sisters in Christ will be sustained by God in the face of hatred. Plus, we are called to support missionary activities with our time, money and talent. In a very real sense, this commitment is what can separate Christians in name only versus Christians committed to Christ.
You shall love your neighbor as yourself. But if you show prejudice, you are committing a sin and are convicted by the law as violators. – James 2: 8
In Christ’s name,
Dale R. Terry
If you agree, disagree or have other thoughts about this subject, please post your views online here. By sharing our experiences, beliefs and understandings in a respectful manner, we enrich each other.
Tags: Christianity, Persecution, Social Trends, This Life
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June 22nd, 2009
Across the American landscape, megachurches have literally sprouted from the ground with convention center-size worship centers. This relatively new phenomenon has redefined the church-going experience for million of people who attend these churches.
But according to an August 2008 survey conducted by the Hartford Institute for Religion Research, the megachurch experience is different than a traditional church experience in many ways.
• An estimated 1,300 churches in the US qualify as megachurches.
• Megachurches attract a younger crowd, and more singles, than the average Protestant church.
> The average attendee’s age is 40 compared to 53 at typical Protestant churches—with nearly two-thirds under 45 compared to about one-third of attendees in Protestant congregations of all sizes. Therefore, the vast majority of attendees are between 18 and 44.
> Nearly a third of megachurch attendees are single, compared to 10 percent in other Protestant churches. They also tend to be wealthier and better educated.
• About 98 percent of megachurch attendees describe themselves as a committed follower of Jesus Christ and 62 percent said they had experienced spiritual growth in the previous year.
> However nearly 45 percent of congregants never volunteer at the church and 32 percent give little or no money to the church.
> Nearly a quarter of megachurch attendees had not been members of any church before attending the megachurch.
Author’s Conclusion:
Are megachurches just a fad or a sustainable new way of worshipping God and creating fellowship with believers? Will megachurch attendees eventually gravitate toward smaller churches as they age? Or, will they stick with the type of church that brung ‘em to the party?
Honestly, no one knows the answer. But one thing is clear: These modern-day cathedrals are meeting a need in Christian society that may have gone unmet by traditional denominations and churches.
Perhaps the fact that these churches are large (like a shopping mall), and exciting to attend (with lively musical performances, stages and stage lighting and usually have a non-liturgical manner of worshipping) is an appeal that will not dim with age.
To counter the feeling that these churches are “too big,” most churches create clusters within the church to provide members with smaller group experiences for Bible study, Sunday School and specialized ministries for women, teens, young people and men.
But someone has to pay to keep a church, any church, alive. If nearly half of the megachurch members do not give of their time and nearly a third do not give of their wallets, then this is a troubling sign that thousands of people may show-up on Sunday, but far fewer are actually involved in building a church community.
In Christ’s name,
Dale R. Terry
If you agree, disagree or have other thoughts about this subject, please post your views online here. By sharing our experiences, beliefs and understandings in a respectful manner, we enrich each other.
Tags: Churches, Social Trends, This Life
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June 22nd, 2009
We read in the Old and New Testament about the Temple of God and the Holy Temple of the Jews. However, the true temple of God is not in Jerusalem and was not destroyed around 70 AD. We are told that the true temple of God is our human body—one which should not be defiled through sin.
The author of 1st and 2nd Corinthians is Paul. This letter was written to the relatively new converts in the church at Corinth which was composed of both Jews and Greeks, though it may have been mostly a Gentile church since it was while Paul was in Corinth that he reinforced an earlier proclamation that was to define his ministry, “From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”
The letter has many themes and instructions for the church and for Christians. One of the themes is a proclamation about the sanctity of the human body.
The body is not for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. Now God indeed raised the Lord and he will raise us by his power. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Should I take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! Or do you not know that anyone who is united with a prostitute is one body with her? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.” But the one united with the Lord is one spirit with him. Flee sexual immorality! Every sin a person commits is outside of the body– but the immoral person sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God with your body. - 1 Cor 6:13
If someone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, which is what you are. - 1 Cor 3:17
Thankfully, since all Christians are sinners, God’s love, mercy and forgiveness is available to those who believe when we sincerely confess and ask for forgiveness.
Yet, we live in an age where the human body is glorified in ways that stray far from Paul’s instructions.
The sexuality of the body is glorified in advertising, art, athletics, media, song and pornography. Our society places a high premium on such beauty. Especially for the young, the type of beauty represented by societal standards is hard to resist for they are being raised in a culture that celebrates skin. Just this week, Calvin Klein posted a provocative billboard showing a threesome engaged in titillating activities. In an effort to sell blue jeans, Klein knows that sex sells.
Today, popular culture puts a intense emphasis on external looks, but far less emphasis on internal character and morality. Projecting that external look can be achieved, while it is far harder to work on that which is more important: our inner self.
But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body. - Philippians 3:20-21
Author’s Conclusion: The price is that a focus on how we look externally masks what is truly important and beautiful inside of every person. For those of faith, a focus on beauty in this life takes away from what Paul tells us about our bodies:
Now this is what I am saying, brothers and sisters: Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Listen, I will tell you a mystery. We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed in a moment, in the blinking of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. Now when this perishable puts on the imperishable, and this mortal puts on immortality, then the saying that is written will happen: ‘Death has been swallowed up in victory.’ - 1 Cor 15:50
If someone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, which is what you are. – 1 Cor 3:17
Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that could defile the body and the spirit, and thus accomplish holiness out of reverence for God. - 2 Cor 7:1
In Christ’s name,
Dale R. Terry
If you agree, disagree or have other thoughts about this subject, please post your views online here. By sharing our experiences, beliefs and understandings in a respectful manner, we enrich each other.
Tags: Morality, Sin, Social Trends, The Body, This Life
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June 22nd, 2009
Jesus ranks among the best known and least understood historical figure of all time. His life changed the world’s calendar, eventually overtook an empire, and his words spread worldwide. Yet, the Lord Jesus Christ who Christians know is not the Jesus others portray.
The Jesus of Judaism:• The illegitimate son of Miriam (Mary).
• He lived in the first century and led people away from Judaism into a cult.
• His followers were first called Netzerim (people of the branch) and later Christians.
• In Christ’ss name, Jews have been persecuted and killed over the centuries.
• Jews who admit to believing Jesus was the Messiah are sometimes considered dead to their families.
• Jews don’t believe in a second coming because they don’t believe Jesus was the messiah.
The Jesus of Islam:• Jesus was a prophet and teacher on a par with Mohammed.
• His role was to help prepare people for the great leader from Allah coming at the end of time to judge the world.
• Jesus was born of a virgin but was not the son of God because the Quran says “God begets not, nor is he begotten.”
• Jesus did not die for the sins of others, because in Islam salvation comes from good works or martyrdom.
• Muslims who convert to Christianity often face death—or at the very least, disinheritance by their Muslim families.
• According to Islam, Jesus was not resurrected. Instead, at the time of crucifixion, Allah took him live into heaven and someone else was crucified in his name. Mohammed also ascended into heaven.
• Jesus will return at the end of the age to defeat the antichrist; call everyone to Islam; and prepare the world for judgment.
The Jesus of Mormonism: • Jesus is the spirit brother of Lucifer.
• Both are sons of a god who was once a man and had many wives.
• Jesus became a human as the result of being born to an unmarried Jewish girl named Mary, but the “father” is not identified as the Holy Spirit.
• Jesus and Satan, like the rest of us, were spirit brothers and sons of God before the spirit of Jesus was given a body by Mary in Bethlehem. The Mormon “Book of Moses” presents Satan and Jesus as contenders for the privilege of taking a body of flesh in order to become the redeemer, with Jesus winning the contest.
• Jesus is often called the Savior, but never Lord, because although he’s one of God’s sons, he’s not God.
• If Jesus determines that you’ve done everything you possibly can to earn your own salvation and are still short of that salvation, he will graciously make up the difference. However, Mormons can pray for dead ancestors in an attempt to gain them access into heaven.
• Jesus will return at the end of the age, having protected his saints through the time of the Great Tribulation, to set up his kingdom.
The Jesus of Jehovah’s Witnesses: • Jesus is a son of Jehovah, but he is not God. Rather, he was a perfect man just like Adam originally was.
• Before he became a man, Jesus was the Archangel Michael, who The Witnesses believe to be Jehovah’s first created being. Jesus chose to become a man when he willingly was transferred into the womb of Mary.
• Just believing in Jesus is not enough to save us. Believers also have to become a Jehovah’s Witness, be baptized. Then they must obey God’s laws all of their life to prove themselves worthy.
• Jesus was not physically resurrected, but came back to life in Spirit form. He returned to Earth in spirit form in 1914 and will become a physical being again at Armageddon.
The Jesus of liberal Christianity, Emergent or New Age Churches:• Jesus was a first century man who lived such an exemplary life that it appeared as if he was God. He was a great teacher who is to be admired and listened to.
• Jesus did not die for our sins because there’s no need for salvation.
• The New Age Jesus is really one borrowed from old ideas. This Jesus originally appeared in first century Gnosticism. This Jesus was a man who holds the key to knowledge (gnosis) that will bring about the next phase of human evolution—a spiritual growth that will finally make peace on earth possible.
• All major religions are valid ways to understand and experience God. God will accept everyone who lives a good life, based on works and regardless of faith, into heaven. Newer theologies seek to integrate understandings of non-Christian beliefs such as Buddhism, Hinduism, and others because various religions are just different ways God relates to diverse cultures and times.
• For the most part, liberal denominations don’t believe in the literal fulfillment of end-time events.
• There is also a new “understanding” of Christianity today—one which is taught in many European and US seminaries. Although different theologies abound (such as process theology, liberation theology, continental philosophy, emergent movement, etc.) many hold that the knowledge we have gained through science, philosophy, enlightened modern values and other disciplines is of equal or of more importance than the often mythical accounts of the Bible.
• In short, many of these newer theologies often seek to redefine God through new eyes and redefine the role of God and God’s relationship with humankind.
NOTE: Various groups have different understandings than the generalizations above.
The Christian Jesus:• Jesus is not a created being. Jesus is our Creator and one with God in the Holy Trinity (Father, Son and Holy Spirit.) As Paul wrote of Jesus:
By him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. – Colossians 1:16
This is the Jesus presented in the Bible:
1. He was born a Jew and claimed to be the Son of God in the form of man (John 10:30 and 14:9) and those who knew him agreed.
2. His ministry lasted only a short time before he was crucified, buried and rose again. He later appeared to hundreds and then ascended into heaven. Paul taught the deity of Christ and so did John.
3. Christ promised to return again at a time known only to the Father.
4. Most Christians believe in an eternal, triune God consisting of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Author’s Conclusion: New Testament scripture has proven its metal.
• The events recorded in the gospels and throughout the New Testament are historically and theological concrete because they were recorded by eyewitnesses, written within a short time span of the actual events, and the events of Jesus’ life—including his death, resurrection and ascension—were witnessed by hundreds and thousands of people.
• New Testament texts have held-up remarkably well throughout the ages as each book was translated and re-translated over time.
• This man named Jesus is also found in other documents of the era which support New Testament writings.
• By the power of the Holy Spirit, Christianity spread like wildfire—eventually becoming the official religion of the Roman Empire which had previously attempted to discredit and even kill Christians. Of the over 3000 pagan and polytheistic religions (believing in more than one god) around the Mediterranean and Middle East at the time of Jesus, only Christianity grew and spread by the power so fast.
• Jesus’ disciples and many of his followers were so convinced of Jesus’ authenticity that many willingly died in his name.
• Paul, who was a non-believer and a Jewish Pharisee. Therefore, he was publicly opposed to Christians. However, he underwent an unlikely conversion and became the greatest and best known writer and interpreter of Jesus’ teachings.
• The alternative Jesus found in other ancient documents (such as the Gnostic Gospels) were written far too late to be considered historically or theologically credible.
• Attempts to dismiss or redefine Jesus by skeptics, new age thinkers, philosophers, and other religions have failed for over 2,000 years.
In Christ’s name,
Dale R. Terry
If you agree, disagree or have other thoughts about this subject, please post your views online here. By sharing our experiences, beliefs and understandings in a respectful manner, we enrich each other.
Tags: Christianity, Jehova's Witnesses, Jesus, Judaism, Mormons, Prophecy, This Life
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June 22nd, 2009
I wonder if Christians are sometimes hypocritical in standing firm against one sin, but not another? Of course, it’s impossible to discuss every conceivable sin, but the list below encompasses some “hot topics”—mostly related to the bedroom—in Christianity and society today.
• Homosexuality and gay marriage: This practice is specifically denounced as a sin in both New and Old Testament scripture. However, the references to this sin are few and far between. Scientific and social views have changed dramatically in recent years. No longer labeled a psychosis, researchers generally support the position that homosexuality is an orientation the individual has no control in choosing. Most churches have stated that it is not a sin to be gay, but that homosexual acts are sinful. A recent ABC/Washington Post poll shows that 50% of Americans support legalizing gay marriage, 48% oppose it while a majority of Americans no longer believe it is right to discriminate against those who are homosexual. In fact, a majority of Americans have a family member or friend who is gay.
• Sex outside of marriage: While scripture speaks to the sacred nature of marriage that unites two as one, over 90% of all couples in most all Christian denominations have sex before marriage. This is a statistic that has remained largely unchanged since surveys were taken in the early 1900s. In fact, it is the norm now for couples to live together for a period of time before marriage and for the majority of individuals to experienced sex with more than one partner before marriage. In addition, younger people don’t have a corner on the cohabitation bandwagon. Older people, widowed or divorced, are increasingly moving in together, as well. Therefore, few pastors adamantly preach on this issue and most pastors quietly acknowledge that most couples have sex prior to marriage.
According to the National Fatherhood Initiative’s Father Facts: “Compared to children born within marriage, children born to cohabiting parents are three times as likely to experience father absence, and children born to unmarried, non-cohabiting parents are four times as likely to live in a father-absent home.”
The Census Bureau reports that a 1000 percent rise in cohabitation has occurred in just 40 years. More than half of couples live together before marrying, but a 2000 study published in Population Studies found that 40 percent of unmarried couples split up within five years.
…men are to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourishes and cherishes it, even as the Lord the church: For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. - Ephesians 5:28-31
• Single Parenthood: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, births to single mothers have risen sharply in recent years. In 2007, nearly 40%of all babies in the US were born to single women—an increase from 34% in just five years. About 40 percent of mothers are living with the baby’s father, and some will marry later. Nevertheless, single parenthood (as a result of children born outside of wedlock or because of divorce) is no longer scandalous in society. In fact, over half of all children are raised in a home without two parents at some point in their childhood.
• Adultery: While adultery is often referenced as a sin in the Bible, some surveys estimate that over half of all married couples face infidelity at some point during their marriage. All churches remain adamantly opposed to this, but generally choose to keep the subject low-key.
• Divorce: While grounds for divorce and remarriage are addressed in scripture, it is as common among Christians as non-Christians today. Therefore, most churches simply accept divorce and remarriage as a fact of life and rarely adhere to scriptural positions on these issues.
• Birth Control: This is an issue only within the Catholic Church. The Church believes that conception is an act of God that should not be prevented by humankind except through means of early withdrawal—which is an ineffective “natural” birth control method. Yet, most Catholics ignore these teachings. Just as Christian churches know that most engaged couples have sex before marriage, most churches realize that most couples use some form of birth control for periods of time during their relationship. Is this a sin?
• Abortion: Like birth control, the issue of abortion is not specifically mentioned in scripture, but “thou shall not kill” and belief in the sacred nature of life is referenced as the reason why abortion is a sin. Nevertheless, in many parts of the world abortion is used as a regular means of birth control. Even in the US, where people have ready access to birth control methods, abortion has still resulted in an estimated 50 million terminated pregnancies—over 15% of our current population. While polls have demonstrated an increasing acceptance of abortion, more recent polls show a shift among Americans (51% pro-life, 42% pro-choice.) Still, when faced with a personal decision, most Americans believe this is a decision best left to a woman, her partner and a doctor.
• Capital Punishment: Many who are against abortion have concluded that capital punishment is authorized in scripture because governments have the right to punish and terminate the life of those considered a threat to society. Others consider capital punishment to be inhumane and against God’s commandments.
• Pornography: The Supreme Court refused to define pornography and left the decision to local community standards. However, former justice Potter Steward famously said he could not define what is obscene, “but I know it when I see it.” Today, the Internet has changed everything. The “community” is now worldwide. And, pornography is the number one use of the Internet. Online porn is so common, and so utilized throughout society, that only non-Christian China and a few other countries are taking dramatic steps to reduce its availability. Pastors and churches condemn it, but like other sexual matters, its use is private and is virtually uncontrollable.
Author’s Conclusions:
The Bible is full of examples of sinners, forgiveness and the need to submit to God’s commands. Because God understands our nature, and because God’s mercy is granted to those who believe in him, we should not judge on God’s behalf. And we certainly should not elevate one sin above another.
But related to our bodies and sin, Paul gives us an important insight.
… your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God with your body. - I Cor 6:19-20
There will always be swings in how human societies regard matters of sex and other social issues. Humankind has also traditionally applied different moral standards to one sin versus another. But human history is also full of secular laws prohibiting liquor, drugs, abortion, pornography, prostitution and other restrictions that have been dismal failures when it comes to deterring individual choices and society’s ability to enforce the law.
However, God’s instructions do not change (although committed Christians may have different interpretations of what God’s instructions really mean.)
It is my humble opinion that we are to abhor sin, but love sinners—for we are all sinners equal in the eyes of our God and creator. We must remember that judgment is God’s business—not ours.
You shall love your neighbor as yourself. But if you show prejudice, you are committing a sin and are convicted by the law as violators. – James 2: 8
Should we be cafeteria Christians by ignoring some instructions but adhering to others? Are we hypocritical if we demonize homosexuality or abortion while being more accepting of sex before marriage or divorce and remarriage?
Christians and Christian churches should communicate and model their beliefs through word and action. But since we are all sinners and we should not demonize others while glossing over our own weaknesses. Remember, Jesus asked those without sin to throw the first stone at the sinner. When his words dispersed the crowd gathered against her, he told the woman she was forgiven because of her faith and to go and sin no more.
NOTE: For more additional perspective see “Coming Out of the Church Closet.”
In Christ’s name,
Dale R. Terry
If you agree, disagree or have other thoughts about this subject, please post your views online here. By sharing our experiences, beliefs and understandings in a respectful manner, we enrich each other.
Tags: Gay, Homosexuality, Sin, Social Trends, This Life
Posted in AlphaOmega-Magazine | 3 Comments »
June 22nd, 2009
As a seminarian, I wrote a paper on the polarizing issue of homosexuality and the church. My view at the time was very different than my views today.
At that time, my conclusion was that dramatic shifts in American cultural values would soon render homosexuality as a non-issue in most churches. Plus, society is increasingly seeing homosexuality as a genetically-programmed orientation. Therefore, I concluded, the cultural acceptance of “alternative lifestyles” would eventually bring a change in long-held theological positions opposing homosexuality as a sin.
Today, I have a different viewpoint.
So-called “bedroom issues”—homosexuality, divorce and remarriage, birth control, pornography, children outside of marriage, sex outside of marriage, (abortion, birth control, etc.—continue to generate heated debates in most churches. These questions are referred to in the US as a “cultural war” by some or as the enforcement of “true biblical doctrine” by others.
Christian clergy—from conservative to liberal— and even within the same denomination are often split on these issues. Because Christian laity is also sharply divided, these matters are rarely addressed in most pulpits.
I must admit that like so many other Christians, I am at times perplexed about how I “should” feel. Yes, my thinking is impacted by society’s cultural attitudes. And yes, I do believe that the US Constitution and overall American values guarantees equality for all.
But, my understanding of scripture complicates any simplistic answer as I try to understand issues in light of biblical teachings and 21st century American values. Then, a conservative, married, 40-something, Republican, Methodist friend of mine surprised me with his unsolicited opinion one day when he said to me,
“I’ve been thinking about this gay marriage thing and I think the entire debate is ridiculous. Two people who are gay and living in a committed relationship should have equal protection under the law for legal and financial purposes. Maybe it shouldn’t be called marriage because a legal act uniting two people is a civil action, but I believe everyone should be treated equally regardless of who they sleep with. But if two people want to marry in the eyes of God, this is not a civil action—it’s a religious act. So I think government should be able to legally unite two people without making lifestyle or moral decisions, but each church must have the right to marry or not marry someone—heterosexual or homosexual. My church won’t and that’s a good thing.”
I thought for a split second before finding myself in total agreement with his church versus state logic. This is a simple answer to a complex question—probably too simple to produce any short-term agreement—until the Supreme Court of the U.S. rules on what is legal.
Research studies prove that the majority of American Christians favor equal treatment legal status for everyone—regardless of religion, ethnicity, gender, age or even sexual orientation. However, Christians are split about homosexuality in the church.
• Some regard it as a sin because the Bible describes it as such.
• Others regard it as a possible sin which the Bible mentions only rarely. And, depending upon the understanding of those biblical passages within the context of the times in which they were written, these passages may speak more to the subjects of pedophilia or prostitution than homosexuality.
So stay tuned… but it is my guess that those in favor of gay civil rights and homosexual unions will see the government affirm their “rights” because of our history of separating matters of church and state and affirming equal rights under the law.
Meanwhile, as moral teachers and leaders in society, it is up to each church to either publicly affirm or disavow these civil positions.
Author’s Conclusion: There are many Old and New Testament commandments that we choose to ignore. For example, most congregations readily accept and even want female leadership within the church as a reflection of modern society’s view that women are equal to men and should not live under an artificially imposed glass ceiling. Yet, on this issue, many conservative bible churches are in agreement with the Catholic Church that places limits on female leadership roles in the church.
However, most churches ignore such teachings on this and a wide-variety of other subjects because modern theologians read biblical principles as out-of-date and representative of the times in which they were written. But are they?
Perhaps in placing limits on human choices, God was placing roadblocks in our way that—at any point in human history—secular society might reject. Perhaps God is saying that if you love me and believe in me, you should not always do as you please based upon whether you agree or not, whether you believe it is fair in your opinion, or whether you think my commands are old and outdated.
While most Christian churches publicly state that they subscribe to a “sola scriptura” (the Bible alone) theology, far fewer practice these beliefs. We are all cafeteria Christians—choosing what we wish to obey while ignoring other commands. For more examples, see Part Two of this article.)
Yet, if we believe the Bible was inspired by God… that the original texts in Hebrew and Greek texts have survived thousands of years virtually unchanged… if we believe that God has given us commands which have been proven to be sound … what right do we have to claim that we can now understand the Bible in a new and correct light? If society or a church begins to rewrite the rules based upon what we think we now know, it is we who are changing God’s Word. This violates scriptural statements commanding us not to tamper with the Word of God.
Christian theological teachings in many churches has changed in the past 200 years or so based upon “knowledge” gained from science and new understandings based upon evolving human philosophies.
• Yes, I fully acknowledge that churches must wrestle with questions like science vs. the Genesis accounts of creation. I also accept the fact that it is impossible for any human to actually know how, when or why God did things.
• Yes, I know that God gave us a book full of contradictory passages, allegories and stories passed down through the ages in an oral tradition of story telling that were meant to inspire or teach versus accurately passing down historical facts, I also accept the fact that humans in any age do not have the knowledge or wisdom needed to pick and choose what we believe or how we behave.
Therefore, while my human heart knows that many homosexuals are in committed and loving relationships and that all people deserve equal treatment under the law, my faith tells me that I am not allowed to say “this is okay” or “this is not okay” based upon my 21st century, white, male, middle-class, American worldview. I also know that while a degree in theology gives me knowledge and understanding that most Christians do not have, I do not remotely believe that this gives me any power or insight to “interpret” God based upon what I would like.
If you believe, as I do, that God has all power and all knowledge… then I must willingly submit to his commands—whether I like or agree with those commands or not. In short, following God’s commands is an act of submission, an act of faith, an act of proving my unconditional love for the father and creator.
This is why I believe society’s law should treat all people equally and that no religious group has the right to enforce its’ belief system on society as a whole. However, churches and Christians must strive to make decisions based upon God’s teachings. This can be hard to swallow. But we do not have the right to be cafeteria Christians. We do not have the right to say “this is okay, but this is not” based upon what we want.
However, those who point out “bad” scripture must be careful. Some say, for example, that the bible endorses slavery. It does not. Scripture simply says that if human society or government imposes slavery, then the slave must honor his or her position under that governance just as we must be willing slaves to Christ. Obviously, we do not agree with slavery. But this is a secular decision with biblical foundation about how we are to love and treat one another. Therefore, it is right that churches stand against slavery—past, present and future. Yet, we cannot interpret such important commands such as love one another as a basis for overriding commands such as for a man not to lie with another man. Christ proved this by willingly submitting to human authority that he be crucified. He asked God to spare him, but he knew that God’s will must be done.
My opinion is, in the greater scheme of things, unimportant for debates about homosexuality will likely take years to clarify in our minds. My understanding, however, is that while we should love and accept homosexuals in the same manner we love and accept all sinners (which is everyone) into our church, we must also honor and submit to Gods teachings that this sin, like all sins, is wrong. This should be done, however, with full knowledge that all who believe have the opportunity to be forgiven because God loves us all. But that is God’s call—not ours.
NOTE: For more of a perspective on this and other moral questions, see “Are Some Sins Worse than Others?”
In Christ’s name,
Dale R. Terry
If you agree, disagree or have other thoughts about this subject, please post your views online here. By sharing our experiences, beliefs and understandings in a respectful manner, we enrich each other.
Tags: Gay, Homosexuality, Sin, Social Trends
Posted in AlphaOmega-Magazine | 2 Comments »
June 22nd, 2009
• The Wall Street financial crisis
• The credit crisis
• The banking crisis
• The monetary crisis
• The bankruptcy crisis
• The housing crisis
• The loan foreclosure crisis
• The unemployment crisis
• The recession or potential depression crisis
• The Middle East crisis
• The terrorism crisis
• The pandemic flu crisis
• The environmental and global warming crisis
Everything, it seems, is now a crisis! For news junkies, life has become a continuous Pepto Bismol moment.
Yet, we must keep things in perspective.
This may be difficult to do if you overdose on daily news and politics. But as St. Augustine of Hippo wrote in his fifth century classic “The City of God,” Christians who are totally focused on the things of this world are not living the life we were commanded to live.
Americans today, as compared to almost any time in human history, are spoiled. No, make that spoiled rotten. In the course of human events, few generations have enjoyed the relative peace, security, wealth, health and mild weather patterns that most Americans have enjoyed for the last few generations.
Will this be sustained?
I think not—if only because our definition of what is normal is anything but normal.
God did not promise us a rose garden in this life. God only promised that the next life will be beyond the earthly imagination of believers. So while we’ve come to expect that our well-fed, air conditioned, internet-connected American experience is normal—it is not. The history of the world is one of continuous change. A single event, such as war, a rapidly spreading pandemic, a natural disaster of biblical proportion, or a sudden drop in economic activity can uproot us from our definition of what is normal. And, that is normal.
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Our focus should be on the world to come for God will take care of our earthly needs in spite of times of trial.
Easily said, “yes.” Hard to do, “oh, yes!”
But I have a feeling that anyone who is overly focused on the news and issues of this world is not reflecting what God wishes his people to center on. But the redemption offered by Christ and the sharing of the good news is what matters—both in this life and for the next.
In Christ’s name,
Dale R. Terry
If you agree, disagree or have other thoughts about this subject, please post your views online here. By sharing our experiences, beliefs and understandings in a respectful manner, we enrich each other.
Tags: End-time, Eschatology, Future, This Life
Posted in AlphaOmega-Magazine | 3 Comments »
June 22nd, 2009
Part One of this article examines how various faiths view Jesus and prophecy. Part Two examines specific end-time beliefs from two very different Christian views.
Throughout history many Christians have speculated about the identity of the antichrist, although this particular term has limited use in scripture. It is assumed that references to “the prince,” “the beast” and other terms refer to the antichrist.
Over time, contenders for the title have ranged from Nero, Napoleon and Hitler to such modern-day figures such as Prince Charles, Bill Clinton, Saddam Hussein, Tony Blair and Barrack Obama.
The antichrist, we are told, will not be identifiable until the last week of Daniel’s 70 weeks. One week, in scripture, is believed to equal seven calendar years, with a year equaling the Jewish calendar’s 360 days. Dispensationalists, and others, believe that 69 weeks are now fulfilled. One theory states that there was an interruption in the 70 week period—a time often called the Church Age lasting from Christ’s death through today. Now, however, the countdown may be on to fulfilling the 70th and final week in prophecy.
• Antichrist will make (or reaffirm) a seven year covenant with Israel (Daniel 9:27)
• Antichrist will invade Israel and desecrate the temple (Daniel 11:40-41; Matthew 24:15-20)
• Gog in the land of Magog, and his allies, will invade Jerusalem (Zechariah 12:1-9; 14:1-2)
• The people of Israel will flee into the wilderness to escape the wrath of Satan. [Satan inhabits the antichrist] (Revelation 12:13-17)
With the year 2012 fast approaching, some Christians link end-time prophecy to everything from Nostradamus’ quatrains, to the 2012 end of the Mayan calendar, to global warming, to the threats from some Muslims to destroy Israel.
In keeping with prophetic beliefs among a minority of Muslims, the soon-to-arrive Mahdi (the prophesized redeemer of Islam) and the return of the Islamic Jesus will lead to world-wide destruction of Jews, Gentiles and all non-Muslims.
NOTE: In Shia and Sunni versions of Islamic eschatology, the Mahdi will rid the world of error, injustice and tyranny alongside Jesus. However, the concept of Mahdi is not explicitly mentioned in the Quran or in Sunni oral traditions (which only mention the second coming of the Islamic Jesus.)
This theology teaches that the Christian church has replaced Israel in God’s plan. Adherents of Replacement Theology believe Christians have replaced the Jews as God’s chosen people. Most dispensational Christians do not subscribe to Replacement Theology (which is most commonly subscribed to by most mainline Protestant denominations and Catholics.)
For those rejecting Replacement Theology, Israel remains God’s time clock. Therefore most Old and New Testament prophecy focuses on Israel.
The nation of Israel today does not include what we now call Palestine (Israel controls the territory, but there is political pressure for Israel to give up this territory in a land for peace deal with Arabs) and the City of Jerusalem (including control of the Temple Mount which is considered a holy place by Jews, Christians and Muslims.) Although Israel was created by the United Nations after World War II and the Holocaust, condemnation of Israel leads the list of all UN resolutions in recent years. Many countries, not just Arab countries, still refuse to acknowledge Israel as a legitimate state even today.
The focus of Israel in prophecy is the reason why many Christians lend support to Israel today.
And I will bless them that bless thee [Israel], and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. - Gen 12:3
The word rapture is not found in the Bible. However, events described in the Bible lead many to conclude that Christian believers (living and dead) will meet up with Christ in the sky upon his return. However, those who believe Daniel’s 70th week (the seven year Tribulation period) will be a living hell on earth, differ on when, or even if a literal, physical rapture will occur.
• Pre-tribulation believers contend the Christian church must be raptured from this earth prior to the seven year tribulation period in order for the evil of the antichrist to take root. This school of thought also identifies certain scripture as God’s promise to protect Christians from the war, famine, disease and other events associated with the Tribulation.
• Mid-tribulation believers contend that believers will be raptured three and one-half years into the Tribulation (the mid-point of the final seven years preceding Armageddon and Christ’ss return.) Christ will then return again just before all is lost.
• Post-tribulation believers contend Christians will not be spared from the end-time tribulation, but that we will meet up with Christ upon his final triumphant return to Earth.
There is also disagreement among end-time followers about other events that must occur before Christ’ss return:
• Will the last earthly empire intent on Israel’s final destruction —the one controlled by the antichrist who will seek to destroy Israel—be a re-constituted Roman Empire (now known as the European Union) or will the empire of the beast (the antichrist) be a reconstituted Ottoman Empire dominated by Muslim nations and their allies?
• Is Russia, in combination with its southern allies, the land of Gog and MaGog, that will seek to annihilate Israel?
• Are climatic changes, increasing natural disasters, new diseases and more wars evidence of prophecy fulfillment?
• Will worldwide political and economic chaos ultimately result in a one world government and one world currency where everyone who buys and sells must have the Mark of the Beast on their hand or forehead?
• Will there be one, two or perhaps three wars involving Israel before Christ’s return. All agree upon the final battle of Armageddon (the Valley of Megiddo in northern Israel just a few miles from Nazareth,) but some also believe one or two other wars are prophesized before the final battle—including what is believed to be a new understanding of Psalm 83 where Israel will take control of large portions of the Middle East (as given to Israel by God)—thus making Israel secure without walls and one of the wealthiest nations on earth.
These and other questions are the subject of a variety of books by authors who try to interpret prophecy through 20th and 21st eyes. Books by Joel Rosenberg, Tim LaHaye and Hal Lindsey have been best sellers on the New York Times and the Christian Booksellers Association lists. Obviously the interest in the end-times is widespread today.
On the other hand, the vast majority of Protestant denominations and the Catholic Church do not focus on the end-times. As with the Jews, the subject of the messiah’s appearance is considered to be a future event open to interpretation and speculation and will occur at a time unknown to us in advance.
Eschatologists contend that these churches are simply in denial—just as Jewish leaders were in denial about messianic prophecies.
Go your way, Daniel, for the words are closed up and sealed until the time of the end… and none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand. - Daniel 12:9-10
Jesus repeatedly told all who believe to be on alert for signs of his return and he provided specific signs that will mark the end of the age. However, Jesus also reminded us that it is our responsibility to be prepared for the end by always being faithful to the Word of God.
If we are the generation who will witness Christ’ss return, these events should be less important to us than our ongoing responsibilities to spread the Word and to model Christ-like behavior to others.
So whether we are living at the beginning of the end… or whether today’s end-time-focused believers are just another chapter in historical predictions which will fail to materialize… should not be of overriding importance to Christians. We are duty bound to deepen our faith and to help others experience the peace, understanding and salvation that is only available through faith in God. For worldly events, while exciting (and even terrifying) to witness, are not the reason we are here. We are here to glorify Christ during this and all ages.
But which school of thought is right? The answer, I presume is that time will tell.
In Christ’s name,
Dale R. Terry
If you agree, disagree or have other thoughts about this subject, please post your views online here. By sharing our experiences, beliefs and understandings in a respectful manner, we enrich each other.
Tags: End-time, Eschatology, Messiah, Prophecy
Posted in AlphaOmega-Magazine | 2 Comments »
June 22nd, 2009
This article examines how Jews and Christians view Jesus and prophecy. Part Two examines specific end-time beliefs from two very different Christian views.
The books of Daniel… Ezekiel… Isaiah …the Gospels… Revelation… What, if anything, does scripture say about the end of this world as we know it?
• Some Christians believe most biblical prophecies have already been fulfilled or are just allegorical in nature.
• Others believe we are rapidly approaching the end of days.
The debates about whether Old and New Testament prophetic scripture are mostly 1) allegorical and fulfilled—as most Christian traditions have long contended, or 2) a glimpse into our collective future, continues to this day. Scripture itself fuels this debate because nearly 30 percent of the Bible is considered prophecy related.
Yet, there should be little debate about the accuracy of Bible prophecy. Scripture has been remarkably accurate in foretelling the future—even if many prophecies were not understood at the time or perhaps until after fulfillment.
As you can imagine, however, different religious groups have different views of both Jesus and prophecy.
Jewish Viewpoints:
• Most Jewish traditions do not regard the coming of the messiah, or a focus on the afterlife, as a matter of high importance. Most Jews simply regard these subjects as matters best left to God.
• These are two reasons why the Old Testament prophecy cited by Jesus and his followers did not have credibility among Jews in Jesus’ day—or even today. Jewish prophecies concerning the coming of the messiah were controversial even before Jesus’ time. Even today, Jews do not agree on what type of Messiah to expect: an earthly savior for Israel, or a messiah who will save Jews in other ways.
• For Jews, the Christian story of Jesus remains simply an old, incorrect and insignificant “occurrence” in history.
• Just as importantly, Jews have learned to fear Christians because their history is full of discrimination, persecution, recrimination and the murder of Jews—often in the name of Christ:
“Due to [Israel’s] disobedience the Jews have suffered terribly. They were ruled by Rome in Christ’s day, but rebelled in A.D. 70 when as estimated 250,000 were killed. They rebelled again in A.D. 135 and again Rome smashed them, killing even more and scattering them throughout the empire. Since then, they have been bitterly persecuted. Jews were forcibly expelled from England in 1290 and from France 1306. In 1298 more than 100,000 were killed in Europe. From 1648 to 1658 some 400,000 were massacred. From 1939-45 Hitler’s Nazis killed more than 4 million… In its history, Egyptian Pharaohs, Assyrian kings, Babylonian rulers, Persian satraps, Greek Hellenists, Roman Caesars, Holy Roman emperors, Roman Catholic pontiffs, Medieval monarchs, Christian crusaders, Spanish inquisitors, Nazi dictators, Communist commissars, Arab sheiks and United Nation delegates have all turned against the Jews yet they still survive” — Charles L. Monk, “A Look at Bible Covenants and Their Meanings,”
Christian Viewpoints: Old and New Testament prophecies concerning end-time events and the return of Christ have generated divergent views for nearly 2,000 years.
• The benefit of 20/20 hindsight about messianic prophecy, and the actual life, death and resurrection of Jesus, was “proof” to early Christians that Jesus was the Messiah.
• Statements by Jesus and writings of early Christians about the future in the New Testament continued a long Jewish tradition of prophesying the future. But prophecy was not always understood correctly. For example, Jesus’ own disciples expected Christ to return in their lifetime.
• Most Christian faith traditions advocate that biblical prophecies—from Genesis through Revelation—have been largely or completely fulfilled.
• Yet, others voice different opinions. For over 1900 years those citing what they believe to be prophetic scripture have generated a flood of inaccurate forecasts about the end-times and Christ’s return. Today, there is another group of mostly conservative, evangelical Protestant pastors who have a new understanding of end-time prophecy. Even though they fail to agree on the specific chain of events to occur before Jesus’ return, they stand united in their belief that we live in or are fast approaching the last days.
To fuel debate, we must remember that the Revelation of Jesus Christ to John was barely approved for inclusion in the official Christian canon because then, as now, it remains one of the most controversial and least understood biblical texts. Likewise, some Old Testament texts have been largely ignored by both Jews and Christians for generations. However, in recent years, some Old Testament prophecy narratives have been “rediscovered” and “re-understood” by Christians.
• Most Christian churches contend that Revelation was written in symbolic or coded language about events of John’s time which were then largely fulfilled.
• Yet, other Christians contend most Old and New Testament end-time prophecies remain unfulfilled. They believe Revelation is the last book of the Bible for a reason—it is Jesus’ testimony to John about events leading up to the end… that the symbols, characters and events foretold in Revelation were not meant to deceive Roman authorities, but were meant to remain a mystery (like Daniel) until the last of days when the prophetic text would be understood.
Search from the book of the Lord, and read: Not one of these [prophecies] shall fail; not one shall lack her mate. – Isaiah 24:16
Watch therefore: for you know not what hour your Lord doth come. But know this: if the good man of the house had known in what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not, the Son of man cometh. – Matthew 24:42-44
The Protestant theology called Dispensationalism was developed in the late 19th and 20th centuries rooted in the writings of John Nelson Darby. The term is derived from the concept of a “dispensation” (or administration) of chronologically successive eras. Dispensationalists believe the Bible is to be understood literally through a series of progressive revelations. The seven dispensation periods consist of the age of:
• Innocence (Gen 1:1–3:7), prior to Adam’s fall,
• Conscience (Gen 3:8–8:22), Adam to Noah,
• Government (Gen 9:1–11:32), Noah to Abraham,
• Patriarchal Rule (Gen 12:1–Exodus 19:25), Abraham to Moses,
• Mosaic Law (Exodus 20:1–Acts 2:4), Moses to Christ,
• Grace (Acts 2:4–Rev 20:3) the current church age.
• An earthly 1,000-year Millennial Kingdom that has yet to come. (Rev 20:4–20:6).
Dispensationalism also teaches that God’s relationship covenants with the nation of Israel are distinct from those of the Christian Church. Most dispensationalists believe that God is going to fulfill his promises to Israel and that Christ will rule the world from there upon his return.
Many dispensationalists cite the 1948 establishment Israel (or the 1968 capture of Jerusalem by Israel) as the single most important event signifying that the end is near. Jesus’ parable of the fig tree is used to proclaim that we should read and understand the early warning signs (or what Jesus described as “birth pangs”—especially the rebirth of Israel, the return of Jews from around the world to Israel, the need for Israel to take control of the lands originally given to Jews by God—including what is now called Palestine, Gaza and territory in other countries surrounding Israel,) and the worsening woes of the times (war, disease, famine, earthquakes, etc ). In making note of scripture that says that the “generation” who witnesses the rebirth of Israel will also see the return of Christ, there is no agreement on how many years constitute a generation.
Now learn the parable of the fig tree; when its branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh. So likewise when ye see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. Verily I say unto you, this generation shall not pass, till all these things are fulfilled. – Matthew 24:32-33 (Also Luke 21:29-33 and Mark 13:28-30)
But ye, O mountains of Israel, ye shall shoot forth your branches and yield your fruit to my people of Israel; for they are at hand to come… For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land. - Ezekiel 36:8, 24
The burden of the word of the LORD for Israel, saith the LORD, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him. Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem. And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth are gathered together against it. – Zech 12:1-3
Part Two of this article concerns the antichrist, the rapture, Israel and other topics.
If you agree, disagree or have other thoughts about this subject, please post your views online here. By sharing our experiences, beliefs and understandings in a respectful manner, we enrich each other.
Tags: End-time, Eschatology, Messiah, Prophecy
Posted in AlphaOmega-Magazine | 3 Comments »
May 28th, 2009
In times like these, God reminds us; “do not worry about anything, instead pray about everything.” Phil: 4:6. While God does not promise an easy life on Earth, God does promise to bless those who believe in Him both here and most importantly in the next life. So pray as Jesus did: telling God what you want, but asking God for what is best according to His plan.
Posted in The Word | No Comments »
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