Yielding a Big Religious Paintbrush Is Just Not Smart

Being Saved vs. Being Religious: 10 Things that distinguish salvation from religion

The harm that has been done to Christianity by the many things done in the name of religion is beyond the content of voices.yahoo.com and probably the whole of the internet. The problem occurs when those who claim to be religious or who claim to be a christian act like the devil. It occurs when so many engage their tongue or hand before they engage their mind. It occurs because people do not wish to see the difference between who people are, as demonstrated by their deeds, and who they claim to be. It occurs because its easier to write or to voice a critical personal opinion than it is to find the truth by doing some research. It occurs because people do not wish to see the difference between being religious and being saved, that is, born again by the Spirit.

Another article on yahoo ( http://voices.yahoo.com/10-things-dont-like-religion-877777.html?cat=9 ) entitled “10 Things I Don't Like About Religion” has inspired me to look at these ten things as a way to compare religion to salvation, Christianity. (Note to the author: go ahead and say hate. It's OK. If you feel it, say it. Is that good advice, good writing or good behavior?) Reader, I ask you to decide that after reading this article.

I must praise the author for his analysis of religion and the listing of some of its many wrongs. However, even though the author says he does not like anything that attempts to control the masses. His article on religion does just that. How? Because most times when religion is discussed a problem automatically occurs. The problem arises because so many of us tend to group things together. It arises because so many fail to or refuse to see the stark difference between being and doing or claiming and living. (For more info the term Christianity and what it really means and who is worthy to wear it see: http://blogs.christianpost.com/just-sayin/i-am-a-back-row-baptist-with-a-smart-mouth-and-a-quick-tongue-christian-9624/#more ) When one talks or writes about religion, everything that the mind of the reader or listener groups into the category of religion gets painted with the same brush. So, when you talk about religion, especially when you attack it, many will agree with you because they have a religion they don't like. The number of religions and religious sects is too big for me to even attempt to count. Certainly, they are too many for one person to know all about them. Too many for one person to be able to talk intelligently about them all. Yielding a big paintbrush requires a very big and very strong arm and should be done only when one's enormous intelligence is controlled by even greater wisdom.

Being religious and being a christian can be, should be and must be very different. Even atheists and agnostics are classified as religions by many. Remember readers, just because one claims it and names it does not mean they live it.

This article lists ten of the differences that exist between religion and Christianity. I will let the Bible speak for itself where possible by providing verses that clearly shows that true Christianity is as different from religion in general as light is from dark.

1. Religion makes us feel bad about ourselves versus lifting us up, but not true Christianity.
   John 14:27: Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
   Psalm 46:1-3,7: God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, ... The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah.
   Micah 7:19: "...he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea."
   1 John 1:9: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from ALL unrighteousness."
   John 10:10:"...I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."
2. Religion keeps us from having to take responsibility for our action, but not true Christianity.
   Isaiah 55:6 & 7: Seek ye Jehovah while he may be found; call ye upon him while he is near:
   let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return unto Jehovah, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
   Matthew 5:19: Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
3. Religion is used to gain votes by those running for political office, but not true Christianity.
   George Washington (1732-1799) "It is impossible to govern the world without God and the Bible." (Thinkexist.com) Many of the verses in the Bible establish the rules any civil society needs. "The source most often cited by the Founding Fathers was the Bible, which accounted for 34% of all citations..." from John Eidsmoe, author of Christianity and the Constitution. (The rest were cited from men, writings that cited the Bible, so I've read somewhere.) Some examples of Bible inspirations available to our forefathers:
   Leviticus 19:36 Just balance, just weights, a just ephah (a grain measure) and a just hin shall
   ye have...
   1 Timothy 5:4-8: But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house...
   Leviticus 19:9&10: ...thou shalt not wholly reap the corners of thy field...thou shalt leave them for the poor and stranger...
   We need elected officials who know the Bible and whose core values are taken from it. We the electorate must be informed so we can defeat the pretenders and elect true believes, if we want to have a civil, moral, ethical government.
4. Religion is used to convince people they should blow up or kill others, but not true Christianity.
   (Matthew 5:43 - 45): Ye have heard that it was said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy: but I say unto you, love your enemies, and pray for them that persecute you; that ye may be sons of your Father who is in heaven:...
   1 Peter 3:8 & 9: Finally, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, affectionate, compassionate, and humble. Do not return evil for evil or insult for insult, but instead bless others because you were called to inherit a blessing.
5. Religion is used to create or maintain war, but not true Christianity.
   1 Peter 3: 10-12: For the one who wants to love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from uttering deceit. And he must turn away from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous and his ears are open to their prayer. But the Lord’s face is against those who do evil.
   1 Peter 4:7 & 8: For the culmination of all things is near. So be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of prayer. 8 Above all keep your love for one another fervent, because love covers a multitude of sins.
6. Religion makes us feel like we deserve more than others because we are the chosen, but not true Christianity.
   I would recommend another article: http://voices.yahoo.com/10-bible-verses-humility-5801352.html?cat=34 .
7. Religion can be used as our sword and our shield but not as our back bone, but not true Christianity.
   2 Tim 1:7 (AMP) For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control.
   Deuteronomy 31:6: Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.
8. Religion is used as an excuse to carry out genocide, but not true Christianity.
   1Timothy 5:1-4: Rebuke not an elder, but exhort him as a father; the younger men as brethren: the elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, in all purity. Honor widows that are widows indeed. But if any widow hath children or grandchildren, let them learn first to show piety towards their own family, and to requite their parents: for this is acceptable in the sight of God.
   James 1:13-15: Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God; for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempteth no man: but each man is tempted, when he is drawn away by his own lust, and enticed. Then the lust, when it hath conceived, beareth sin:...
   1John 4:16: ... God is love; and he that abideth in love abideth in God, and God abideth in him...
9. Religion is used as a tool to make us feel better about ourselves versus a measure by which we might be called good, ethical, holy, kind or generous, but not true Christianity.
   Colossians 4:5-6: Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer each one.
   Luke 10:27: And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.”
10. Religion is used to control the masses, the individual or the soul from an external rather than a personal source, but not true Christianity.
    1 Corinthians 6:19: What? know you not that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have of God, and you are not your own?

The author's less than clear understanding of the issues involved were also highlighted by some of the other comments. For instance, the comment “I don't like any system that controls the masses.” So, that would mean our constitutional republic, our form of government. It would mean any moral or ethical standard of conduct that a society has. It seems obvious to me that they are needed for a civil society. Maybe another comment explains his position, “People are meant to live in small numbers.” Tell that to the people of New York, London, Paris, Chicago and the names just keep on coming. One other of his comments illustrates the point of this article, “I believe that Religion should be a guide to God and a guide to life.” Sorry, “Jesus said unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6). Religion is an invention of man. A relationship with my Lord, my Savior and my God is what true Christianity is all about. And, it is the ONLY way to God.

Christianity is not a political position, a religious position, or a social position. Christianity is a relationship. It is a position in Jesus Christ. It is a position in the Kingdom of God. It is not obtained just by claiming it, one must be born again. That is plain for these verses:

John 3:5-7 KJV 2000: Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto you, You must be born again.

1Peter 1:23 KJV 2000: Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which lives and abides forever.

When it comes to religion why has so many gotten it so wrong?

John 3:16-21 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God sent not the Son into the world to judge the world; but that the world should be saved through him. He that believeth on him is not judged: he that believeth not hath been judged already, because he hath not believed on the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the judgment, that the light is come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light; for their works were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, and cometh not to the light, lest his works should be reproved. But he that doeth the truth cometh to the light, that his works may be made manifest, that they have been wrought in God.

2 Timothy 4:2-4: preach the word; be urgent in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure the sound doctrine; but, having itching ears, will heap to themselves teachers after their own lusts; and will turn away their ears from the truth, and turn aside unto fables.

Making the Church Relevant Means Being A Disciple-Making Church

Not every church is alike. Different churches have different talents. Just as our body has different parts that have different functions, so the body of Christ is composed of different churches that have different gifts. But, every church needs to be seen as relevant by the community it ministers to. This is done by making disciples.

Since churches are ministering to different communities, they need to be different. In order to meet the varying needs of the community they serve, they need to have different goals. So, to be relevant each church needs a different mission and a different vision. That sounds great and it rings true. The problem is Matthew 28:18-20

And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations(disciple them), baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things (can't just teach what we want to teach) whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

You need to remember that not everyone goes to every church. Granted, in our mobile society, people are likely to change churches more than once in their lifetime. But, if only a few churches are into disciple-making, most church goers will likely never enter one that is a disciple-maker.

You are convinced. The Word of God has convicted you. You want your church to become relevant. You are ready to help turn it into a disciple-making church, but your church just does not have this gift. It's not a strength of your church.

In the quote above Jesus said he has all power in heaven and in earth and he is with us always. That seems to me to nullify that excuse. If not, then combined with the following one it must certainly does.

And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (2 Corinthians 12:9)

Granted none of us are able to do anything without him. Is it not great that he is with us always? And, our weakness is just what he needs to show his strength to all. So, if it's not your churches strength, then it's exactly your church that God can use to do it.

Well, come to thank of it. Your neighboring church would be best at doing it. Your church just does not have the resources to make disciples. You are confident that your neighboring church is doing a great job. You could be mistaken. According to a 2009 survey by Barna, only 9 percent of the people who call themselves born again believe absolute moral truth exists. So, your neighboring church is not doing it either. If they are trying, they are not succeeding. So, maybe God wants your church to help.

If your church can become a disciple-making church, it will become relevant. If it can stay a disciple-making church, it will stay relevant.

Fixing Public Education: 7 Things That Will Not Work and 1 That Will

American Public Education continues to rank poorly compared with other developed countries. American students ranked 17^th overall among 40 developed countries. In 2009, U.S. mathematics students ranked 25^th out of 34 developed countries. Many approaches and solutions are constantly being discussed and many have been implemented over the past years and decades, yet these studies show that our students are not gaining ground.

As a student then later a mathematics teacher and educator for 30 years, I started with the new math during the race to space and I have stayed through many changes both in course content, methodology, and teacher training. Yet, American students performance has declined. Instead of being able to brag about all the success of these changes we are still talking about how to fix public education.

I have the only solution that will absolutely work. I doubt many will accept it. So, I want to point out the errors in these popular solutions first. Maybe, the discussion will then turn towards the only solution. So, first a look at what will not improve the performance of our students.

Get Rid of Bad Teachers. Bad teachers are not something that have just came along. We've always had them and always will. Getting rid of bad teachers is impossible in our current society. It's not because we don't know who they are. The administrators, teachers, and parents knows who they are. But, there are three reasons bad teachers are still teaching:

1. Is there a good teacher available? An examination of the Department of Educations website where a list of teacher shortages by State is listed will convince anyone that there are always areas where demand exceeds supply. There is, has and always will be a shortage of teachers.
2. Why not train more good teachers? For two reasons that is “easier said than done.” (1) All the current bad teachers had to graduate from some teacher training institution which implies that there are some institutions letting some bad ones graduate. Right? (2) Given a choice any administrator would hire the better teacher. They would never hire their best friend's child or a student they taught years ago over a better teacher. They would never hire a winning football coach when they could get a really good teacher instead.
3. Is there a will to fire the bad teachers? We don't have to worry about lawsuits, political correctness, protects by civil rights groups or a biased judge's orders--Do we? If it would help improve education would you willingly be fired, or support your child or your friend being fired? Or, would you call the teacher organization? Do you know some who would?
4. Is tenure the enemy? If you get rid of teacher tenure, what prevents administrators from firing a great teacher to hire a less capable friend. Tenure was not created to protect bad teachers it was created to protect good teachers from bad administrators.
   Getting rid of bad teachers is harder than it sounds. It seems such a simple solution. But, “the devil is in the details.”

Institute Performance-based Pay. There is no empirical evidence that performance-based pay helps student achievement. Maybe, all the factors that affect student success in a classroom are too hard to define and control to construct a valid study. However, the fact that more pay does not result in better teaching can be proved by looking at the current system. Most systems currently pay teachers who have advanced degrees and teachers who have the most experience the most. One would expect these teachers would be better than the beginner, but that has not proven to be true. I support performance-based pay, but it is not the solution to the poor performance of students.

Properly trained and motivated teachers have been doing a good job for hundreds of years. So, why not institute performance-based teacher pay to motivate the bad teachers into better performance and to reward the good teachers? I support it. I think good teachers are not getting compensated for the work they do. But, as with any solution this one comes with its own set of problems. Most significant is how do we separate the bad teachers from the good ones? Consider the following:

1. If you use student achievement on teacher made tests, what would keep bad teachers from lowering the standards on their tests? Doing this would improve the test scores of their students thus making them eligible for the performance-based pay.
2. If you use student achievement on standardized tests, then how do you account for the many factors besides the teacher than influences achievement scores. Factors like--parental involvement, natural ability of the students, and outside tutoring--must be neutralized to be fair to the teachers. Some have suggested that providing preschool for all would level the field. While studies have shown Head Start Programs have proven successful at raising the achievement of children. They have also shown that these successes are not permanent. These gains disappear once the intervention activities are stopped.
3. If you use evaluations by supervisors, then you have the possibility that personal relationships will influence the evaluations. This would allow bad administrators and bad teachers to do a little “you scratch my back and I'll scratch your back” resulting in both of them getting good evaluations and performance-based pay.
4. If you go with outside evaluators, then you have to come up with even more money to pay the evaluators. If outside evaluators would work, why are they not being used now to eliminate the bad teachers before they gain tenure?

While performance-based teachers pay sounds great, “it is a can of worms” that I doubt our society is prepared to honestly handle or that taxpayers are prepared to fund until they are assured that the money is going to only the good teachers.

Providing the Latest Technology. Giving every child an iPad is great. I support it. But, it will not make students perform better or learn more. I personally assisted in the introduction of the Internet and other marvels of technology into a county school system. I saw them mushroom across the system. Everybody wanted a modern classroom. I could only dream of the revolution in education I was helping to bring to my hometown. However, all this technology did not universally improve the teaching. In some classrooms it did, but the percentage was low. In general, what happened was that the same things were taught using the same pedagogy just with shiny modern equipment.

If we can't replace all the bad teachers with good ones, then will using online learning or distance learning to supplement instruction or to replace them entirely provide a better quality education program? The research does not support this happening. The best results of online learning studies is that kids do no worse than in traditional classes. These results were obtained only in hybrid programs were some of the work is online and some is done with the help of teachers. The research does not offer us any hope that the answer will be found here.

What about using other types of technology to compensate for the lack of teacher skill or effort? Would turning every room into a multi-media room and giving every teacher and student a laptop improve the results in the classroom of a bad teacher? I've seen it done. I've helped do it. You just don't get your money's worth. Consider this: No matter how much high tech or robotics is involved, you would not send a GP doctor in to perform brain surgery. Similarly, putting all the tools of a carpenter in the hands of an English teacher will most likely not get a house build. While these examples are a bit far out, they do accurately point out the problem with implementing technology into the classroom. Teachers need to be trained and motivated to use technology.

The Internet, online learning, distance learning, or any type of technology do offer education some powerful tools. But, putting any of them into the hands of a bad teacher is like putting a power tool in the hands of Tim “the Tool-man” Taylor. In case you are too young, let me say that nothing good ever came from putting a power tool in Tim's hands.

Online Learning or Distance Learning. The best results of online learning studies is that kids do no worse than in traditional classes. These results were obtained only in hybrid programs were some of the work is online and some is done with the help of teachers. I believe, it's because the higher order learning skills need personal teacher-student interaction.

Early Education (Preschool for all). Most of these type programs talk of preschool and daycare programs for kids living below the poverty line. While studies have shown Head Start Programs have proven successful at raising the success of underprivileged children. They have also shown that these successes are not permanent. These gains disappear once the intervention activities are stopped. I believe every child five years of age should have public preschool available, but its not the solution to the poor performance of our students.

The Calendar. I fully support year-round schooling. For decades, all educators have known that a big break in learning means lost learning. Often, the first weeks of a new school year are busy getting students adjusted back to the routine and reviewing what they forgot over the break. So, I believe in year-round schooling, but not as the solution to public education.

Solution: To fix education—fix our priorities. Based upon 30 years in public education, I can say that the solution is not modern equipment, the curriculum, the teachers, their methods, the calendar, or the buildings. If we really want to fix public education, we must get our priorities in order. Education performance will start to improve when:

• Sports and band return to being extracurricular activities in the minds of school leaders.
• Parents are more concerned about their child's perform in the classroom than in athletics.
• Students take more pride in their grades than anything else.
• Teaching is esteemed as a high calling worthy of appropriate compensation.
• We can honestly evaluate a teacher based only on performance.

Making the Church Relevant Again: Relevance is Found In the Wisdom of God

Man's wisdom has made the church often irrelevant. What is needed to make the church relevant again is for it to learn to lean on God's wisdom and not man's. During the Israelites journey from slavery in Egypt to the promised land God attempted to teach them this simple fact. But, with no success. What is hurting the church today is that we think we know what the world needs. To become relevant again the church needs to learn how to be led by God.

Mankind is proud of its achievements. The technology it has bought forth that has benefited the lives of many. The medical advances that have us living longer than mankind has in recent history. Its intellectual pursuits that has created a society whose morals are crumbling, whose ethics are spotty, whose education system is failing the masses and whose society as a whole is built on shifting and sinking sand. Yet, mankind proudly points to its wisdom in rejecting God while extolling its own learning.

Leaning to lean on the wisdom of God is something that took the Israelites decades to learn, if they ever learned it. Learning to lean on God seems to take many a long time to learn. And, even when the lesson is learned we tend to revert back to leaning on our own wisdom. In this article we will see where that got the Israelites. Mankind is proud of its achievements. The technology it has bought forth that has benefited the lives of many. The medical advances that have us living longer than mankind has in recent history. Its intellectual pursuits that has created a society whose morals are crumbling, whose ethics are spotty, whose education system is failing the masses and whose society as a whole is built on shifting and sinking sand. Yet, mankind proudly points to its wisdom in rejecting God while extolling its own learning.

Leaning to lean on the wisdom of God is something that took the Israelites decades to learn, if they ever learned it. Learning to lean on God seems to take many a long time to learn. And, even when the lesson is learned we tend to revert back to leaning on our own wisdom. In this article we will see where that got the Israelites.

Numbers 10:35-36 & Numbers 11:1-6 Whenever the ark set out, Moses said,“Rise up, Lord! May your enemies be scattered; may your foes flee before you.”Whenever it came to rest, he said,“Return, Lord,to the countless thousands of Israel.” Now the people complained about their hardships in the hearing of the Lord, and when he heard them his anger was aroused. Then fire from the Lord burned among them and consumed some of the outskirts of the camp. When the people cried out to Moses, he prayed to the Lord and the fire died down. So that place was called Taberah, because fire from the Lord had burned among them. The rabble with them began to crave other food, and again the Israelites started wailing and said, “If only we had meat to eat! We remember the fish we ate in Egypt at no cost—also the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic. But now we have lost our appetite; we never see anything but this manna!”

Although the people were where God had led them. Although they where they needed to be to get to what God had for them. Although it was a place were God was going to provide for them. Although it was a place where they had much to learn before they could enter the land of promise. Although they had seen a miracle every day. Despite the cloud by day, the pillar of fire by night, the manna and the water, they still complained. They did not think they are being feed as they deserved or needed. They presumed to tell God what he needed to feed them. They thought their wisdom was wiser than the wisdom of God.

DID YOU NOTICE WHO STIRRED THEM UP? The rabble.

I ASK YOU WHERE WAS THE LEADERSHIP? In Exodus Chapter 18, Moses under the advice of

Jethro is father-in-law had previously selected leaders from among the people to help him govern the people. He selected wise men who were already respected by the community. Last we saw where they failed to lead wisely at the time of the creation of the golden calf. Tonight we see them again failing to step forth and provide wisdom and direction to the people when the rabble stirred them up.

Maybe, that is why God decided to call forth men to be leaders and to anoint them with the spirit that he had placed upon Moses.

Numbers 11:16-20 Jehovah said to Moses, Gather to Me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom you know to be the elders of the people, and the officers over them. And bring them to the tabernacle of the congregation so that they may stand there with you. And I will come down and talk with you there. And I will take of the spirit on you, and will put it on them, and they shall bear the burden of the people with you so that you do not bear it yourself alone.

(Reminds me some of our ordination services.)

And say to the people, Sanctify yourselves for tomorrow, and you shall eat flesh. For you have wept in the ears of the Lord, saying, Who shall give us flesh to eat, for it was well with us in Egypt? Therefore Jehovah will give you flesh, and you shall eat. You shall not eat one day, nor two days, nor five days, nor ten days, nor twenty days. Even a whole month, until it comes out at your nostrils, and it is hateful to you, because you have despised Jehovah among you, and have wept before Him, saying, Why did we come out of Egypt?

God anointed 70 elders with the same spirit that he had imparted to Moses. Then, he taught them and the children of Israel a lesson about telling God what they needed. He tried again to impart to them their need to trust in the love and wisdom of God. And, not to lean on their own understanding.

Moving on. God had something in store for them. All they had to do was get through what they saw as a dry and barren land. Even it was a land of miracles and provision. Maybe not to their liking, but according to God's plan, if they would only open their spiritual eyes and see it. If they could get their eyes off what they wanted and see what God had for them in the future and right now. And, there leadership seemed to be just as bad.

Now, we find the nation of Israel on the edge of the promised land. God has them on the threshold of the blessed land flowing with milk and honey. Yet, God paused them. Maybe their previous attitude led God to see the need for them to verify what he had for them so,...

Numbers 13:1-3 Jehovah spoke to Moses saying, Send men so that they may search the land of Canaan, which I give to the sons of Israel. You shall send a man from every tribe of their fathers, everyone a ruler among them. And Moses by the command of Jehovah sent them from the wilderness of Paran. All those men were heads of the sons of Israel.

Finally, they had arrived at the edge of the promised land. The jumping off point for the abundant life God had waiting for them. Notice they did not send out untested men. These men who had been selected were respected as rulers and leaders. Men who had earthly wisdom. Yet.... We know the story. It does not have a happy ending

Numbers 13:25-33 And they returned from spying out the land after forty days.... And they told him and said, We came to the land where you sent us, and surely it flows with milk and honey. And this is the fruit of it. … JEHOVAH HAS NOT LIED TO US. THE LAND IS AS HE SAID. LET US HURRY AND PACK UP AND TAKE POSSESSION OF THIS LAND. SURELY THE LORD HAS BLESSED UP AND ALL THAT HE HAS TOLD US SHALL COME TO PASS...

(Finally they had learned. I had about given up on them myself. Moses and God both had at times been mad at them. But, it had all worked out.)

However, the people that dwell in the land are strong, and the cities are walled, very great. And also we saw the children of Anak there. … But the men that went up with him said, We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we.

(They had seen God destroy the mighty Egyptian army while they lifted not a figure and they lost not a man. Yet...These people scared them.)

And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched to the sons of Israel, saying, The land through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eats up those who live in it. And all the people whom we saw in it were men of stature. And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, of the giants. And we were in our own sight like grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.

The problem here, as often it is, they did not select men with the heart and mind of God or with their spiritual eyes opened. These were men who apparently had wisdom. All twelve returned from the hostile land, so I am sure they selected capable men. They had traveled the land for forty days without getting caught. I am sure they selected trustworthy men. Well regarded men. Men whose words the congregation would receive and believe. That is evident by the fact that the report of the 10 false witnesses was believed. Even through there report stood in stark contrast to the plan and words of God.

Yet, their advice was heeded. And, as a result of their words, …

Numbers 14:2-4 And all the sons of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron. And the whole congregation said to them, Oh that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or, Oh that we had died in the wilderness! And why has Jehovah brought us into this land to fall by the sword, so that our wives and our sons should be a prey? Would it not be better for us to return to Egypt? And they said to one another, Let us make a leader, and let us return to Egypt.

Here they were just days away from the land of promise. Having seen the daily provision of God. Selected rulers had confirmed the words of God about the bountiful land ahead. Yet, almost everyone wanted a new leader and they wanted to return to the land of bondage. They would have preferred to die in the wilderness than to claim what God had for them. It might have required a battle or two. Some may have died. But, many more would die in the wilderness. Because they would fail to listen to the ones who had the mind and heart of God. They chose the majority report. They rejected the words of the two men who had the mind and heart of God.

We blamed the 10 whose spiritual eyes where not working, BUT, where were the other leaders upon whom God has placed his spirit as he had on Moses. None seemed to be led by the wisdom of God. All seemed to be relying on their own wisdom.

Numbers 14:6-10 And Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, of those that searched the land, tore their clothes. And they spoke to all the company of the sons of Israel saying, The land which we passed through to search is an exceedingly good land. If Jehovah delights in us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us, a land which flows with milk and honey. Only do not rebel against Jehovah, neither fear the people of the land. For they are bread for us. Their protection has moved from them, and Jehovah is with us. Do not fear them. But all the congregation said to stone them.

The two who had the heart and mind of God, were ignored. Instead of seeing the vision these two had confirmed, they wanted to kill them. If God had not intervened these two men of God would have been killed. And, if Moses had not beseeched God on their behalf, all the congregation might have died.

WHY? Because they were smarter than God. Because they knew more than God. Because they wanted what they wanted?

ENDING: The lesson learned by looking at this period in the birth of the Nation of Israel is reinforced in the New Testament.

1Corinthians 2:14 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.

Acts 6:3 Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty.

1Corithians 1:19-20 For it is written, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart. Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?”

Why is the church deemed by many to not be relevant? God has gifted the church with:

Educated people.

People with business savvy.

Experienced people. (Old people are a gift, if they have learned the lesson God has provided for them.)

Energy in the form of youth. (Young people are a gift, it they are able to utilize the wisdom of the old.)

Financial resources.

Many who have various talents and gifts.

If we can learn to place these resources under the control of God, the church will be relevant again.

All we need is to learn to lean on God for direction at this time. God is relevant. His wisdom created the world and all that are in it. All we need to be relevant is the follow God's will. To listen to the Holy Spirit's direction. Certainly, the church has done it at times in the past and it will do it at times in the future, but to be relevant the church needs to be sure that it is doing it now.

Gay-Marriage: 6 Arguments That Do Work

Gay-Marriage Is and Has Always Been A Perversion In God's Eyes

Determination of what is natural or what is perversion is not the decision of mankind or the Supreme Court. Studies have shown that eyewitnesses cannot reliably agree on what they have seen, how can mankind agree on what is or is not a perversion of nature. Their fix for this is to declare there are no absolutes, thus everything is okay. But, steal their car and see if its okay. Sleeping around is okay, as long as, it's not their spouse doing it. Yes, there are absolutes. And, mankind is not capable of agreeing on what they are. Calvin Coolidge recognized this when he said, "Men do not make laws. They do but discover them. Laws must be justified by something more than the will of the majority. They must rest on the eternal foundations of righteousness." That foundation of righteousness is the Bible.

Most legal systems in the world and specifically western legal systems are based upon the 10 commandments. Our moral compass's true North is the Bible. There can be no other choice. Therefore, it is the Bible, the Word of God, that decides what is moral, what is ethical, what is natural, and what is not natural.

With this understanding, let us look at six reasons against gay marriages that do work because …

It's Not Natural!  It is declared so in the Bible. “For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.” (Romans 1:26-27 ESV). Clearly, ….

The Bible's Against It!  But why? Because God had a purpose of mankind: to procreate. “And God blessed them. And God said to them, 'Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth'...” (Genesis 1:28) It was a job given to mankind. “But from the beginning of creation, 'God made them male and female. Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.' So they are no longer two but one flesh.” (Mark 10:6-9) Since gay-marriage is against the plan and commandment of God, then it is sin, thus …

It's Filthy! Why, because …

It's Immoral! “Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality,” (1 Corinthians 6:9). Many of our founding fathers understood that the success of our government would rest upon how close its people followed God. That is why ...

The Founding Fathers Would Hate It! Thomas Jefferson said, "God who gave us life gave us liberty. And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are of the Gift of God? That they are not to be violated but with His wrath? Indeed, I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that His justice cannot sleep forever; That a revolution of the wheel of fortune, a change of situation, is among possible events; that it may become probable by Supernatural influence! The Almighty has no attribute which can take side with us in that event." --Notes on the State of Virginia, Query XVIII, p. 237.

This nation and its people can use all the psychology they wish. They can label people as intolerant. They can sue for their civil rights. They can even win, but it will not change the facts. God said, "For I the LORD do not change;” (Malachi 3:6)

10 Great Reasons for Not Being an Agnostic: Agnosticism is the Weakest Intellectual Position

All the agnostics I know like to say their refusal to take a position shows true open-mindedness. By not accepting there is a God and by not saying there is not a God, they claim intellectual superiority because they remain open to both sides' arguments. Yet, unconvinced by either.

Agnosticism seems to be the worst position one can take in an intellectual debate, because it shows a lack of understanding of a basic fact of intellectual life: The refusal to choose is the worst choice. Jesus said it this way: "I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.” (Revelations 3:15-16 ESV) Agnostics by choosing not to choose are showing a lack of intellectual and moral character.

Below are 10 reasons why I believe agnosticism is not the better position in the debate between evolution and the Biblical account of creation. The refusal by agnostics to take a side in this important debate requires one to ask...

1. Are Agnostics Cowards? A failure to support a position by default indicates one is against both. With both sides claiming the case has been proved, how can someone not make a decision. One must conclude this results from a lack of moral and intellectual courage. The courageous and honest thing is to say which side you believe. Thus, one must ask…
2. Are Agnostics Honest? Jesus said, “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.” (Luke 11:23) Not choosing is a choice. Claiming that the most intellectual thing to do is not to choose begs the question...
3. Are Agnostics Being Irrational? You claim that neither side has convinced you. Yet, evolutionists claim that evolution is an established fact; that no open-minded person can ignore the assembled evidence. While at the same time, Bible believers present their evidence that says science proves the Bible true. But, you are too busy to study the evidence and decide. Therefore, we must wonder …
4. Are Agnostics Lazy? A refusal to study the evidence and make up one's mind shows intellectual laziness. Perhaps, intellectual arguments are too much for you. Perhaps, you cannot be bothered with studying the evidence so I must ask …
5. Do Agnostics Love Fence-sitting? So, you sit on the fence claiming the high ground. Refusing to support either side. By doing this…

6. Are Agnostics Allowing Wrong to Continue? By not fighting for the right side, you are allowing wrong to continue. Neither side likes fence-sitters because their support might bring the battle to a conclusion. So, does a refusal to join either side mean that …
7. Agnostics are not Respected by Either Side? Your failure to join the battle leaves both sides questioning your intellectual ability and courage. They do not believe that anyone truly believes in nothing yet …
8. Agnostics believe in nothing. They believe that neither is right? What a horrible life to live being in nothing, if it is living at all. It is certainly not intellectual life. They find themselves in the black hole of nothingness because …
9. Agnostics only see the wrong in both sides. How black a mind and heart must be to only see the errors in both sides. Maybe both sides do have some minor points wrong. But, they are polar opposites, so how can both sides be wrong? One side must be near the truth, so support that one. But, they refuse. So one must conclude that …
10. Agnostics do not advance the truth. They hinder the truth. They ignore the truth. They fear the truth.

Agnosticism is not okay for all the reasons above.

Why Did God Create Everything: God's Plan for Mankind

As a person, I have so many questions for which I wish I knew the answer. As a Christian, I have fewer questions for which I need the answer. For instance, I don't need to know if the hot blonde babe is digging me. I don't need to know the lottery numbers. I don't need to know if I can get away with a little white lie to the IRS.

Not only do I not need the answers to a lot of question, but, as a Christian, I know the answer to a lot more questions. One of the biggest of them is the question of creation. Why did God create mankind and place him in the universe which he created to be his dwelling. 

The simple answer is found in Revelation 4:11 (KJV), "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created." But, this begs the question. What pleasure could we provide God? 

Let us attempt to get some insight into the mind of God, so we can answer this? We know that "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my (God's) ways higher than your ways and my (God's) thoughts than your thoughts" (Isaiah 55:9). This is reiterated in Romans 11:33, "O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!" If we are to get answer, God will have to provide them in the Bible, because our feeble attempts at reasoning can no way compare to God's thinking. 

The question having been posed needs some attention. And, the point having been made that we need God's help to understand why. Then we will turn to his word, the Bible, to find the answer. Consider how Adam and Eve came to be in the Garden of Eden. Some of the scriptures about Adam and Eve will provide insight into God's special care for and relationship with mankind. 

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them" (Genesis 1:27 KJV). "And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed. … And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him" (Gen 2:7-23). "And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man" (Genesis 1:28). … " And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden. And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?"(Genesis 3:6-9).

An image is not the real thing. So, we are not mini-gods or god-like. We are human being. But, God made man superior to all his creation in that mankind was to have dominion over all on this Earth. And, we unlike all of the creatures on Earth are able to know God, to love God, to worship God, to serve God and to fellowship with God. 

God can observe the acts of the creatures he created and God can communicate with them, if he chooses. It appears from the above that He did come regularly in the cool of the day and walk and talk with Adam and Eve; He enjoyed fellowship with them. Does God need this? I don't know, but he must have wanted it. He did create the universe and place man in it. So, God created man to have fellowship with him. But, there was a problem. 

When the thought entered the mind of God that he would create a people to bring him pleasure, He immediately knew that Satan would tempt man causing man to sin. This rebellion against God would stand between mankind and God. It would keep mankind from entering into the presence of God. Jesus words from the cross which were taken from Psalm 22:1, " My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" points to this fact. Thus, man's choice to sin eternally separated man from the presence of God. God knew that He had to bring an end to sin in order to fully enjoy His creation. So, he developed a plan to do just that. Specifically, he had a plan " to finish the transgression and to make an end of sins, and to make atonement for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the Most Holy" (Daniel 9:24). How this is accomplished is the next in this series of articles. All that is happening in the world is part of God's plan to restore man, so that he can once again walk with God in the cool of the evening.

Click here if you are interested in how God plans to do that.