A MOUNTAIN OF EVIDENCE - Focus Press€¦ · A MOUNTAIN OF EVIDENCE ZZ V Z YNY CUCCURRE INT IS SUES...

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CURRENT ISSUES FROM A DISTINCTLY CHRISTIAN VIEW

AUGUST 2018

WHY WE NEED APOLOGETICSCONFIDENCE IN THE CREATORPOWERFUL EVIDENCE

A MOUNTAIN OF EVIDENCE

CUCCCURRECURRECURRECURRENT INT ISSUES SUES FROM FROM A DISTINCTLY CHRISTIISTIANAN VIEW

APRILIL 201820181

MUST CHRISTIANS OBEY THE LAW OF THE LAND?

WHEN MUST A CHRISTIAN RESIST GOVERNMENT?

CONGREGATIONAL SECURITY

CAN THE BIBLE BE A LEGAL GUIDE?

1 T H E S S A L O N I A N S 5 : 2 1 :

“ Test all things; hold fast what is good.”

Brad Harrub, Dan Cottrell, Billy Davis, Keith Parker, Steve Hale, Jerry Groves, Jack Wilkie, and Will Harrub

Think: FROM THE EDITORS

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Here in 21st century America, we live in a world that demands proof

and evidence. When you apply for a loan or begin the process of renting

an apartment, you have to show proof of income. When you’re applying

for a job, most of the time you begin the process by submitting a resume

that shows evidence of your previous employment history. Children in high

school as well as university students are familiar with mathematical proofs

and constantly have the scientific method drilled into their heads. We live

in a world that demands evidence.

For some reason, however, this demand for evidence seems to

disappear when it comes to Christians in the New Testament church. Unfor-

tunately many Christians are content to go throughout their Christian lives

never knowing the evidence or how to defend their faith against skeptics.

Now there’s no denying the fact that effectively living out your Christianity

requires a significant amount of faith. Hebrews 11:6 reads, “But without

faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe

that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” Yes,

without a doubt the Christian life is a life that requires faith. The critically

important thing that we must not forget, however, is that Christianity is

not a blind leap of faith. It’s not a faith that requires us to believe that

God is real despite a lack of evidence. It’s not a faith that believes God’s

Word is inspired simply because that’s what we’ve been taught our whole

lives. Contrarily, it’s a faith that is built on a firm foundation of evidence.

It’s our prayer that in this issue of Think we can equip you with some

of the tools you’ll need to defend your Christian faith from the skeptics.

Paul tells us in Ephesians 6:13, “Therefore take up the whole armor of God,

that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to

stand.” It’s our prayer that New Testament Christians all over the world will

be able to stand when the strength of their faith is tested.

There are many different areas of Christian apologetics that are cru-

cial for Christians to comprehend. In this issue, we’re going to be delving

into proving the existence of God, despite the fact that we can’t prove Him

with the scientific method. Furthermore, while most Christians believe that

the Bible is the inspired Word of God, we’re going to be showing how we

can truly know that it is inspired based upon the historical and scientific

evidence.

Times have changed. We have virtually unlimited access to infor-

mation at the click of a button or the swipe of our finger. Social media

and the news cycle is constantly overloading our minds. Add to that the

fact that we have unashamed and deliberate indoctrination of children

from age 6-18 occurring every single day. It’s no longer sufficient for us

as Christians to sit lackadaisically in our pews and expect our faith to be

strong and expect our children to remain faithful without teaching them

the evidence for the faith. It’s our prayer that this issue will assist you in

strengthening your faith and the faith of your children and grandchildren.

We have solid evidence for what we believe. As always, we pray that you will

Think on these things.

A U G U S T 2 0 1 8 | THINK

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Brad Harrub, Dan Cottrell, Billy Davis, Keith Parker, Steve Hale, Jack Wilkie, Edwin Jones, and Will Harrub

Think: FROM THE EDITORS

BRAD HARRUB STEVE HALEDAN COTTRELL EDWIN JONESKEITH PARKERBILLY DAVIS JACK WILKIE WILL HARRUB

THE DEMAND FOR EVIDENCE

C O N T E N T S


5

Departments

Features

Kids/Teens FROM THE EDITORS ....................................................4

FEEDBACK ..................................................................6

SOUL FOOD / BILLY DAVIS .........................................7

WELLSPRING / TERESA HAMPTON .............................9

AS YOU ARE GOING / EDWIN JONES .........................24

TRENDING TOPICS / JACK WILKIE ............................26

DAILY WALK / JOHNNY O. TRAIL ..............................28

HEART OF THE MATTER / BRAD HARRUB .................31

WEE THINK / ANNIE WILKINSON ..................... 14

22

10 Why We Need Apologetics J a c k W i l k i e

12 The Numbers Just Add Up A b b i g a i l T h o m s o n

13 When History and Science Merge B r a d H a r r u b , P h . D .

18 Confidence in the Creator M a t t L y n d o e

20 Street Epistemology D e a n M e a d o w s

22 Powerful Evidence W i l l H a r r u b

10

13

FROM THE ROAD

Volume 13, Issue 8 • August 2018© Focus Press, Inc. 2018

published monthly by Focus Press, Inc.

Executive Editor / Brad Harrub, Ph.D.

Editors / Dan Cottrell, Billy Davis, Edwin Jones, Steve Hale, Keith Parker, Jack Wilkie

Student Intern / Will Harrub

Office Manager / Mindy Doughtie

Editorial Assistants / Tonja McRady, Melinda Harrub, Will Harrub

Creative Director / Nick Long

Stay informed. Join Focus Press on our Facebook group, Twitter, and YouTube and view our blog at focuspress.org

Articles in Think magazine may be copied and distributed for Bible study and other small group use, provided that any and all material is used exactly as it appears in the publication (i.e., no changes and/or edits). Additionally, portions of articles may be used in church bulletins/publications provided that complete sentences and/or paragraphs are used and titled with the same title used in the magazine, and no changes or edits are made. In all instances, copyright credit must be given to Think magazine: Focus Press, Inc. Brentwood, TN with month and year of publication included.

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Dean N.I just wanted to let you know that your son Will made a very positive impression at

our congregation on Sunday morning. His topic knowledge and his presentations were excellent and his confidence before a crowd was exceptional for a young man of his age. I didn’t know this until Sunday night, but our attendance Sunday morning for worship was the highest it has been in several years … 320. We will keep Will on our “call” list when we have vacancies and need a good preacher. Thank you for recommending him. Also, thank you for your presentations at Walter Hill. Sharon and I enjoyed your Friday night and Saturday night presentations and wish we could have been there on Sunday. I talked with the other elders about the seminar you presented and we may try to schedule you sometime in the future for a county-wide gathering for you to present this topic to all the folks we can gather together.

D. ReddingOh how I love Billy Davis’s articles. He writes with a wit that I can really connect with.

He is also obviously a Biblical scholar, and so every month I find myself learning more about God’s Word and digging deeper into it.

Kate M.Please pass along my sincere thanks to Teresa Hampton. We have known Teresa and

Gary through their work for many years. However, her article on multiple sclerosis came at just the right time.

L. MorganI wanted to let you know that your meeting was the most successful meeting we have

experienced in decades. We had more visitors than we have ever had at our building. And you could tell from the elders’ response Sunday that we are not used to having that many people come forward. I wanted to let you know that after you left Sunday we had two additional baptisms! Our congregation was truly blessed by your work here.

R. Neumann Wow, what a lot of content. I happened to pick up your book at a book sale. What a

gold nugget! I keep the book around to pick up points here and there and only wish I could store more of the information in my head for quick recitation. I just wanted to commend you on your stellar work. This book belongs in the Science section—evolutionists would be sent fumbling and stuttering if they had to publicly defend their stupid meme. With all the sudden awareness these days of “fake news” I hope to see evolution topple as the pseudoscience “climate change” has. This book could/would do it if only it were required reading where it should be required.


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Think: FEEDBACK

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One of the things I love about my job is meeting

so many good people all across the planet. My family

has been blessed to make connections all over—some

in person and some through emails, calls, or even social

media. Mechelle Bishop is one of those such people.

She has a wonderful talent for writing and has blessed

the readers of Think for several years with her articles.

Last month Mechelle emailed me and told me that she

was going to need to take a hiatus in writing for Think.

She pointed to two things that she wants to focus more

time on—a new book she is currently writing and her

grandchildren. It is hard for me to argue the importance

of those. We wish Mechelle the very best with her book (we

look forward to offering it to Think readers in the future!)

and many fond memories with those grandchildren. As

I’ve said many times, this is not goodbye, it is simply

Godspeed until we meet again. BH

“If you could select any one person across all of history to interview,

who would it be?” What a cerebral, insightful question! Who would you

select? When Larry King, the former iconic host of “Larry King Live” was

asked that question, he said he would like to interview Jesus Christ. When

the questioner followed with, “And what would you like to ask Him?” King

replied, “I would like to ask Him if he was indeed virgin-born. The answer

to that question would define history for me.” Dr. Ravi Zacharias requested

permission to use his quote through a friend. Larry King gave him permis-

sion and also added, “And tell him I was not being facetious.” I believe

Mr. King’s sincerity. After all, who wouldn’t jump at the sacred privilege to

interview the Lord Jesus Christ?

While Larry King posed a meaningful question, I was more impressed

and deeply touched to hear about a question that was inscribed on a wall

painting in Puerto Rico. It was the picture of a little girl holding the hand

of Jesus, as He tenderly gazed at her. She was clasping His hand as she

asked Him, “¿Qué pasó con tus manos?”—“What happened to

your hands?” That insightful question appears to address the doubt of

the skeptic, the duplicity of the believer, and the despair of the suffering.

In John 20:19-29, Thomas’s eyes were opened to this profound truth

when he encountered the risen Lord:

“So when it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’ And when He had said this, He showed them both His hands and His side. The disciples then rejoiced when they saw the Lord. So Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.’ And when He had said this, He breathed on them and said

to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, their sins have been forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they have been retained.’ But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples were saying to him, ‘We have seen the Lord!’ But he said to them, ‘Unless I see in His hands the imprint of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.’ (emp. added)

After eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors having been shut, and stood in their midst and said, ‘Peace be with you.’ Then He said to Thomas, ‘Reach here with your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand and put it into My side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing.’ Thomas answered and said to Him, ‘My Lord and my God!’ Jesus said to him, ‘Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.’” (NASB emp. added)

I thank God that some things must be believed—in order to be seen!

Thomas learned a powerful lesson! Have you? Have I?

The question, “What happened to your hands?” answers what it

takes to rescue me from self-serving intellect or from self-glorifying living.

It offers a visual answer to the incredible lengths Christ has gone to reach

my pain—and yours. And, it brings me to a place from which I no longer

live but Christ lives in me (Galatians 2:20). It is at the cross that I truly find

my definitive loss that I might obtain my greatest gain.

Let us aspire to so live and so love and serve the Christ that the world,

the skeptics, and doubters will see our marks/scars and ask, “¿Qué pasó

con tus manos?” Bon appétit!


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By Billy R. Davis, Ph.D. USAF Ret.

Think: SOUL FOOD

¿Qué pasó con tus manos?

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Every Sunday I partake of the Lord’s supper, as did first century Chris-tians, and I read several passages that draw my mind to the scene at the cross. Isaiah’s inspired words capture the despicable treatment inflicted on Jesus and the personal agony He endured on the cross.

“But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed”(Isaiah 53:5). The word chastisement means scourging. The scourging for our peace was upon Him. He took the stripes that were intended for me and for you! The apostle John wrote, “So then Pilate took Jesus and scourged Him” (John 19:1). The whip was similar to a cat-of-nine-tails. To the end of each tail was attached sharp pieces of debris, like bone or metal. The flesh was often ripped in pieces, sending the body into a state of shock.

“He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so He opened not His mouth” (53:7). The fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy came when Pilate asked Jesus, “Where are You from?” But Jesus gave him no answer. Then Pilate said to Him, “Are You not speaking to me? Do You not know that I have power to crucify You, and power to release You?” Jesus answered, “You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above …” (John:19:10-11a). Pilate immediately sought to release Him.

“And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all” (53:6). Embodied with complete purity and innocence, Jesus bore our griefs, our sorrows, and our transgressions. “He had done no violence, nor was any deceit in His mouth” (53:9b). He was as sinless as a newborn baby. Pilate declared the innocence of Jesus three times, saying, “I find no fault in him at all” (John 18:38;19:4,6). When the crowd shouted to crucify Him, Pilate said, “Why, what evil has He done? I have found no reason for death in Him. I will therefore chastise Him and let Him go.” But the people were insistent that He be crucified (Luke 23:20-22). Finally, Pilate took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, “I am innocent of the blood of this just Person. You see to it” (Matthew 27:24). Paul told the Corinthians, “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Isaiah summed up the magnitude of what Jesus accomplished on the cross by contrasting the horror of His death with the good things that would come through His sacrifice. “When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, And the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand. He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, For He shall bear their iniquities” (53:10b-11). All of these good things came to fruition because our Lord poured out His soul unto death, was numbered with the lawbreakers, interceded for them, and bore the sins of many (53:12b).

Even though I read this chapter every Sunday during the Lord’s Supper, I never grow weary of Isaiah’s words about the suffering Servant and His priceless gift. I am filled and overflowing with gratitude. Jesus Christ, who loved you and me enough to pay the ultimate price, deserves nothing less than humble obedience!

Today’s Verse: “And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age’” (Matthew 28:18-20).


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Teresa Hampton

Think: WELLSPRING

The Suffer ing Servant

By Jack Wilkie

WHY WE NEED APOLOGETICS


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One of the most challenging areas of study for the Christian is that of apologetics, or Chris-tian evidences. Because the information can get pretty deep in a hurry, it’s tempting to make the assumption that the study of apologetics is only for preachers and people in academic settings. The truth is, though, your Christian faith is being bombarded every single day. You are likely surrounded by people every day who don’t share your beliefs about God or the Bible, and many of them have their arguments lined up as to why. It’s vitally important that we as Christians ground ourselves in apologetics. Here are four reasons why.

It’s a different world

There was a time when the majority of people in America all held at least a somewhat similar foundation of beliefs. They believed in absolute truth, in God, and often in the Bible. That’s just not the case anymore. It’s hard to lay out the plan of salvation to someone who doesn’t believe God exists. In order to reach people, we have to be able to draw a path from where they are to a place where we can begin to discuss God. That’s why we need to learn apologetics.

Evangelism

I will make this stipulation to the last point —simply winning apologetics debates in an era of skepticism won’t convert folks. For most people,

the head follows the heart. Many have to want Christianity to be true before they will accept that it is. It’s for this reason that Jesus said our unity and love for each other would be what shows the world that He is from God and that we are His (John 13:34-35; 17:20-23). Once we have their hearts, though, that’s when we need to be able to give answers to the difficult questions that may still give people pause. If at that point we don’t understand the evidences for God and His Word, we will be little help to them. They might agree that there is some real substance to our Christianity, but they might still be unconvinced that Jesus truly rose from the dead or that the Bible wasn’t just slapped together long after the events depicted within. That’s why we need to learn apologetics.

Fake news

“Fake news” has been one of the hot terms of the last few years, and that was probably inevitable in our post-truth society. Since many believe truth is relative, they have no problem bending it to suit their argument. Consequently, Christianity is constantly being attacked with various forms of fake news—fabricated “hidden” books of the Bible, claims that the Bible stole from other cultures, claims that the Bible is full of contradictions, etc. The further we grow into this post-Christian society, the more people there are who are well-versed in these false arguments against God and His Word. That’s why we need to learn apologetics.

Fortifying our own faith

Doubt can creep into the minds of even the strongest, longest-tenured Christians. Difficult life circumstances can make us ask the tough questions like, “Why does God let bad things happen?” Worldly pressure can cause us to be unsure of who God is or if He really exists. If we don’t have a solid foundation of truth and know how to find answers for these questions, we will crumble. That’s why we need to learn apologetics.

You don’t have to know every argument for every challenge raised against the Christian faith. But it’s vitally important in this post-Christian, post-truth age that we know where to turn for answers when our faith is put under attack. I hope you’ll use this issue of Think as a launching point for greater study into some of the basic arguments for God, the proofs of the resurrection, and the evi-dences for Biblical inspiration. The more we know about these topics, the more we will be “prepared to give an answer for the faith that is within us.”

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Youth unfaithfulness is arguably the biggest issue facing the church today. Whether we embrace low dropout rates of 50-60% or believe it’s closer to 70-80%, it’s an issue we can’t keep ignoring, and education is at the heart of the discussion.

What is the truth about curriculum, sex, violence, and the Common Core? What are children learning about today’s hotly debated topics like religion and evolution? And how does government involvement affect public education? Are schools safe—physically and spiritually? What role does education play in the development of a child’s relationship with God? Is the public education model a viable idea? Failure answers these questions with an in-depth look at what Christian parents need to know before making an informed decision. This book is a “must-read” for Christian parents, teachers, and church leaders.

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THE NUMBERS JUST ADD UP


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It was the spring semester of 2017, and the class was Foundations of Higher Mathematics, a required course for my degree in statistics. On the first day of class, I marched in full of confidence and excited to be enrolled in an easy course. I thought we might review some basics of algebra, calculus, and trigonometry but quickly realized that I had underestimated the class. For the next 15 weeks, I worked harder than I had in any course before, and I learned the importance of mathematical proofs.

Mathematicians like Pythagoras, Euclid, and lHôpital knew that their ideas were meaningless until they were accompanied by a solid and strenuous proof. Even modern-day mathematicians uphold this standard. In 1995, after six years of private work, Andrew Wiles completed the proof to Fermat’s Last Theorem using 150 pages of modern mathematical tools.

Physicists share some of the same characteristics. In 1915, Albert Ein-stein published four papers on his theory of general relativity. According to Einstein, space combines with the dimension of time to create a fabric called space-time. Objects—namely light—that travel through this fabric can be warped by the objects within space-time. His ideas were widely contested by his fellow physicists until May 29, 1919, the day humans were able to look directly at the sun during a total solar eclipse. During this eclipse, astronomer Sir Arthur Eddington plotted the positions of stars close to the sun and compared them to their normal positions in the sky. He found that the positions were different in exactly the way that Einstein had predicted, and the theory of general relativity was proven. Gravity bends light as it moves through space and causes light rays to be bent into different paths.

We know it’s true: humans want proof. As soon as we can talk, we ask our parents “why?” In grade school, our math teachers instruct us to show our work, and in high school, our essay prompts require intense reasoning. Our legal conviction system requires evidence beyond a reasonable doubt. Does our fierce desire for proof lead us to struggle with the idea of a divine creation or an inspired Bible? I’m here to tell you that it is not a lack of proof that leads to our struggle, but a lack of knowledge.

By studying the ancient words of the Bible and comparing them to modern astronomy, oceanography and medicine, we can prove that the Bible is the inspired Word of God. Job 38:19-20 says, “Where is the way to the dwelling of light? And darkness, where is its place, that you may take it to its territory, that you may know the paths to its home?” Thousands of years before Einstein or Eddington, God was asking Job about the paths of light. Without God’s inspiration, the author would have known nothing about general relativity or the bending of light.

Similarly, Job 38:16 reads, “Have you entered the springs of the sea? Or have you walked in search of the depths?” This verse was all but overlooked until 2003 when a university professor discovered that seawater enters the seafloor’s crust, travels horizontally through the crust, then is discharged through vents miles away. With his field observations, laboratory experi-ments, and computer modeling, this man and his international team had discovered aquifers that the Bible had described thousands of years earlier. Without God’s inspiration, the author would have known nothing about the springs of the sea.

We can look to Biblical medical practices to further prove the authen-ticity of the Bible. It is scientifically proven that blood clotting is dependent on three factors: platelets, prothrombin, and vitamin K. In 1953, Luther Holt and Rustin McIntosh found that infants are more prone to excessive bleeding at two to five days old. Vitamin K is also adequately present in infants five to seven days after birth. In 1984, Dr. McMillen said that when an infant is 8 days old, his prothrombin is 10 percent above his normal level. Is it any surprise that God instructed His people to circumcise their sons on the eighth day?

I may have struggled through Foundations of Higher Mathematics prov-ing mathematical theorems, but it doesn’t take a professional mathematician to prove the existence of God; it only takes a Bible.

By Abbigail Thomson

Skeptics often ask why other historical writ-ers never recorded major events that are recorded in the Bible. Oftentimes their questioning rattles the faith of young people as they echo the same questions to their friends or youth leaders. For instance, in Matthew 27:45-51 we read about three hours of darkness over all the land and the earth quaking (see also Mark 15:33; Luke 23:44-45). Skeptics reason that if those things had really happened, then surely other historical writers would have written about them.

This is actually a reasonable question, and one that Christians should not shy away from. I have said many times, the Bible is a source of truth that will stand up to any challenge you throw at it. So then the real question back to the skeptic is this: If we prove conclusively using his-tory or science, are you willing to change your beliefs and embrace the one true living God?

In about 52 A.D., Thallus wrote his regional history. Thallus’s original writings have been lost, however he is specifically quoted by Africanus in his five volume History of the World (around A.D. 221). He wrote, “‘Thallus, in the third book of his histories, explains away the darkness as an eclipse of the sun—unreasonably as it seems to me.’” (see Gary Habermas. The Historical Jesus, pp. 196-7, College Press Publishing Company, 1996.) Africanus went on to describe the event, “On the whole world there pressed a most fearful dark-ness; and the rocks were rent by an earthquake, and many places in Judea and other districts

were thrown down. This darkness Thallus, in the third book of his History, calls, as appears to me without reason, an eclipse of the sun” (see http://www.christian-thinktank.com/jrthal.html).

Additionally, Phelgon, a Greek historian observed, “In the fourth year of the 202nd Olym-piad (i.e., AD 33) there was ‘the greatest eclipse of the sun’ and that ‘it became night in the sixth hour of the day [i.e., noon] so that stars even appeared in the heavens. There was a great earthquake in Bithynia, and many things were overturned in Nicaea’” (see Maier, Paul. Pontius Pilate [Wheaton, Ill.: Tyndale House, 1968], p. 366. Phlegon’s citation is a fragment from Olym-piades he Chronika13, ed. Otto Keller, Rerum Naturalium Scriptores Graeci Minores, 1, p. 101.).

So we have historical writers confirming the events we read about the day Jesus was crucified. Now let’s add the science to this event.

In July 2012, Jefferson Williams and his colleagues published an article in the journal International Geology Review. (see Williams, Jefferson & Schwab, Markus & Brauer, Achim. 2012, An early first-century earthquake in the Dead Sea. International Geology Review. 54. 1219–1228.) Their findings reveal there was an earthquake in the region sometime between 26 and 36 A.D.—precisely the time period biblical scholars place the crucifixion.

Jennifer Viegaas reported, “To analyze earthquake activity in the region, geologist


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WHEN HISTORY AND SCIENCE MERGE

By Brad Harrub, Ph.D.

Jefferson Williams of Supersonic Geophysical and colleagues Markus Schwab and Achim Brauer of the German Research Center for Geosci-ences studied three cores from the beach of the Ein Gedi Spa adjacent to the Dead Sea. Varves, which are annual layers of deposition in the sediments, reveal that at least two major earthquakes affected the core: a widespread earthquake in 31 B.C. and a seismic event that happened sometime between the years 26 and 36 (see http://www.nbcnews.com/id/47555983/ns/technology_and_science-science/t/quake-re-veals-day-jesus-crucifixion-researchers-believe/#.W2CvDi2ZOCQ).

So here’s how the evidence stacks up:

1. An inspired book—the Bible—records that

there was darkness upon the land and an

earthquake.

2. Early historical writers confirm that there was

darkness and an earthquake.

3. Scientists have dug into the earth and found

evidence for an earthquake in that region

between 26 and 36 A.D.When all of these factors are taken together

it becomes extremely hard for a skeptic to ignore the truth. In fact, one would have to purpose-fully ignore this mountain of evidence in order to remain skeptical. There was darkness and an earthquake on the day Jesus was crucified. The Bible records it. Historical writers confirm it. And science reveals it.


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By Annie Wilkinson

This month we’re going to do something different. Instead of our usual Bible Land walk together, we’re going to talk about what it takes to be a Christian. Teens, I’m not that much older than you are. Kids, my siblings are your age. Some of you are just beginning to think about getting baptized, some of you just got down into the water, and some of you may have been baptized for quite a while now. Regardless of where you are, being a Christian is not easy. Yes, there will be times when you are on those mountain top highs, when your soul sings out in joy to God. But there will also be times when you want to scream because of the persecution you and your family may be enduring, or cry because people will not hear the truth of God’s Word. There will always be highs and lows, and if I ever have kids, this is what I want to teach them …

Be strong, be fearless, be rebellious to the world, be kind, be merciful, be real, be humble, and care with all your heart.

We do not live in a time where we can be weak. Our parents grew up in a world that was still very “Christian” oriented; we do not have that priv-ilege. So we have got to strengthen our minds with constant study and Bible reading because our convictions will be under attack at some point. It may be in high school, it may be in college, or it may even be at church. We’ve got to know what we believe and be biblically educated enough to defend it.

Kids, now is the time to start. Some of you may be very young, but you can still read your Bibles, maybe starting out with the New Testament (your family can help you). Teens, keep your Bible reading a priority, but also search out books written by solid Christians on church history, science, and doctrine. You will need to have the knowledge of those topics well in hand once you get to college, maybe even before.

PICK UP YOUR CROSS


15

We also need to strengthen our hearts. We’re all going to get hurt at some point. That’s just part of being a Christian, taking up our crosses (Matthew16:24-26). We all have or will have different crosses to bear, and each one is hard in its own way. In order to get past the hurt, be able to for-give, and to keep serving God to the best of our ability, we have to be tough. Try not to take things personally, knowing the attack is not against you, as it is ultimately against God (John 7:7). He is the One who strengthens us. He even provides us with armor to protect us (Ephesians 6: 10-18). Put it on, wear it, and use it daily.

Being fearless can be difficult, but in order to win souls, in order to stand for Christ, and in order to be different from the world, it is something we all need to be really good at. We cannot be afraid (Joshua 1:9). We have to be able to take those leaps of faith. We have to be able to stand firm against people who wish to dissuade us from the truth, while treating them with respect and kindness. We have to be willing to talk to people about church, the Bible, and Christ. We can’t be afraid to look differently, talk differently, act differently, and live differently than the world. In fact, we need to rebel against the world’s standards (Romans 12:1-2). Rebel against using foul language. Rebel against living a worldly lifestyle. Boys, especially, rebel against looking at things you know you shouldn’t. Girls, rebel against the desires to dress in a way you know God wouldn’t approve of. Rebel against those who wish to exchange your Biblical convictions for humanistic ways of thinking. Be a fighter! Be a survivor of this earth so that you can eternally thrive!

“Be Kind,” “Have Courage and be Kind,” and “Just be kind” are popu-lar sayings right now. How often are we really kind and thoughtful of others, though (Colossians 3:12)? How often are we merciful (Luke 6:36)? We have to choose our battles wisely. Some battles don’t need to be fought at all. Instead of judging others over petty things or behaviors, be merciful, kind, and let it go. If it’s not unscriptural or un-Christ-like, then it’s not your business to worry or complain about. If we’re going to be real and humble, then we have to acknowledge that we’re not perfect either, and hope that people are kind and merciful towards our own actions, words, and behavior. The fact of the matter is, none of us are ever going to be “perfect Christians,” even if we strive our whole lives to be (Ecclesiastes 7:20; Romans 3:23). We can be real though, we can be sincere, and we can try our hardest. We’re all going to mess up, we’re all going to sin occasionally, and we’re all going to fail at some point. When that happens to us or to others, we have to kick in the mercy and kindness and be there for each other, hold each other up, and encourage one another. We’re in this together as a Christian family.

The teen years are hard. Don’t be afraid if you’re struggling to reach out and get help with any sin you might be struggling with, because chances are, your parents or the adults at your congregation have been in the same place you are at some point. Above all, lean on God, but remember that your family and your Christian family is there for you, too. Don’t be afraid to use them and their wisdom.

One last thing … How much do you care? Teens, I’m asking you especially. How much do you really care about God, about your eternity, about the souls of others, and about the church? Take a minute and seri-ously think about it. It may not be a whole lot right now, and that’s okay, as long as you’re growing and working on it. But soon you are all going to be adults. Within the next five years, some of you may even be getting married. Boys, someday you are going to be the husbands, the dads, the elders, the deacons, the preachers, and the missionaries. Girls, someday you are going to be the wives, the mothers, the Bible class teachers, the women’s ladies’ day speakers, and also the missionaries. These are all exciting and wonderful jobs, but they also come with much responsibility. You all are going to have to make decisions that will potentially affect others eternally. In other words, the choices you make, the way you handle situations, and the willingness you have to help others, will have eternal consequences; as in, may help determine whether or not someone goes to heaven or not. To make sure you do the right thing, you’ve got to care about God and people’s souls more than anything else in the entire world. It means that someday you will have to be willing to sacrifice your pride, your money, and maybe even your lifestyle or home to help others, and do the right thing.

I know this all may be overwhelming to you right now. I wasn’t even sure if I should write this article because I knew it would be a hard one to swallow, especially for you younger ones. But I also know that you’re going to be okay, and that when God needs you to act, He will help you, He will prepare you, and you’ll be able to do great things for Him, if you are willing. Even now, at your young age, you have so much influence (1 Timothy 4:12). You can truly change people’s lives for the better or for the worse. You would be surprised how much power even a young child can have on the future of a friend. Don’t underestimate yourself. Don’t underestimate how much God can use you for the kingdom. Be excited about that, even if you have to undergo hard times to bring Him glory! It’s worth it! The pain, the hurt, the struggle, it’s hard, but eternally, it’s worth everything. Fight the good fight kids and teens, and pick up your crosses. With God on your side, you are going to do incredible things!


15

Hand-colored by ______________________________________________________ Date _____________________

By Matt Lyndoe

CONFIDENCE IN THE CREATOR


18

Do you question that God exists? Do you fail to fully acknowledge that God’s Word presents real people, places, and events? Do you struggle to believe the case for Christ’s life, death, and resurrection? If you are like the large number of people that profess faith in God and still have these concerns, it’s time to address them head on. The results will positively impact your life by increasing your confidence in the Creator!

Why is your confidence in the creator important?

God calls Christians to live a life of confi-dence in Him. Hebrews 11:6 says, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” This belief in God is not a transitory and rudimen-tary thought; it is a firm confidence that He exists and that His promise to reward those who do His will is absolute. And Hebrews 11:1 says, “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” This Greek word translated “assurance” (hypostasis) could have also been translated “confidence.” God’s call for faith is a call for confidence that God and His promises, things hoped for, are true.

God desires that you seek a proper relation-ship with Him, fully confident that He is working

in your life through that relationship (Philippi-ans 2:12-13; Hebrews 13:20-21). He expects that you live with a constant hope, confident that He will fulfill His promises in the future (Hebrews 6:13-20). If you are not confident that God is working in the present, you may incorrectly place confidence in yourself (Matthew 17:14-21; Psalm 118:8), open the door for sin (Psalm 119:11; Hebrews 4:14-16) and lack all the blessings God has in store for you (Mark 11:24; 1 John 5:14-15). If you are not confident that God is going to do what He says He will do in the future, you are not eagerly expecting the Lord’s return and call to a place of rest (Hebrews 9:28; 4:9) and may be loving the world more than things above (1 John 2:15-16; Matthew 6:19-21, Colossians 3:1-2). Your lack of confidence in God will move you away from Him, toward an ultimate destination of unbelief.

How do you gain confidence in the creator?

Confidence in the PAST = Confidence in the PRESENT + Confidence in the FUTURE

If you’re honest with yourself and currently lacking confidence in God, try following the above formula. In other words, if you’re strug-gling with confidence in what God is doing in the present or what He promises He

will do in the future, you may need to be more diligent in your study of what He has accomplished in the past! You could be lacking confidence in God now because you’re truly not convinced that He exists and has accom-plished all that His Word says He’s accomplished!

Thanks be to God that countless resources are available that display the vivid realities of Him and His work. In addition to studying the Word of God (Romans 10:17; Hebrew 4:12) and pray-ing to God for wisdom (James 1:5-6), fervently and meticulously study sound Christian evidence materials that declare the truth (e.g. Think mag-azine)! You’ll be amazed by the confirmation of the word of God’s communication of the past and will confidently believe in what God is doing today and will do in the future.

The apostle Paul’s knowledge of the resur-rection of Jesus Christ gave him confidence that he was also victorious (1 Corinthians 15:57) and would one day be in glory (Colossians 3:4). Paul gained confidence in God’s promise of what was going to happen in the future by his conviction about what God did in the past. You can too! You’ll be blessed when you do! “Therefore do not cast away your confidence which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise” (Hebrews 10:35-36).

Jack Wilkie speaks from experience. Many of his peers have walked away from the church.

In his seminar The Lost Generation, Jack explains how we reached this point. He also identifies

some of the current reasons so many have walked away and how we can fix it. This powerful

series is a must for parents who do not want their children to end up as another lost statistic.

It is available in CD or as a download.

REVERSE THE LOST STATISTIC

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$25online download


By Dean Meadows

Street


20

Street Epistemology (SE) is an underground movement made up of mostly non-believers.

However, the movement is quickly growing since Peter Baghossian wrote A Manual for Creating

Atheists in 2013. Since then, (in my opinion) Anthony Magnabosco has elevated SE with his online

interviews with complete strangers. The goal of SE is to question deeply held beliefs. However, the

main goal for many skeptics who utilize SE is to generate doubt and the rejection of faith. Recently,

the Secular Student Alliance which has 276 campus chapters offered SE as a class at their national

convention this year.

With statistics showing that young people are leaving the church, all Christians need to be

familiar with and know how to dialogue with those who practice SE. Here are three tips for talking

with street epistemologists.

1. Ask them to Justify Their Scale.

Early on in a conversation with someone utilizing SE, you’ll hear a question like, “On a scale

of 0%-100% how confident are you that what you believe is true?” Now the initial emotional response

is to show a high number. But, what you should really do is ask a question about the scale, like;

“What does 100% look like?” “If someone is 5% certain and another person is 4% certain, what is the

difference? how do you determine that? How is that expressed empirically?” What you will soon find

out is that this scale is subjective in nature. And that is the point, the issue isn’t about the calibration

of the percentages, it is all about getting you to give a percentage, so the street epistemologist can

begin to chip away at your confidence. Instead, answer in terms of court terminology: “I think my

belief is more reasonable than not, based on the evidence.”

2. Be Wary of the Infinite Regress.

The main avenue of generating doubt in the believer is through what I call the “blitz” tactic.

In other words, the interviewer blitzes the one being interviewed with question after question until

an answer can’t be given. Admittedly, this is something I’ve experienced in dialogue. In a proper

debate, both sides must sustain the reason for the positions they hold. In engaging with SE, you are

the one who is constantly answering. Make sure to take it one question at a time and after you’ve

answered the question, turn the conversation back on the interviewer: “Do you think that is a good

reason/evidence? If not, why not?

3. Make Sure You Have Good Reason Why You Believe What You Believe.

The people who are most prone to leaving Christianity after talking to a street epistemologist

are the ones who don’t have good reasons for why they believe what they believe. The days of “I

had this experience” or “I was raised that way” are not going to convince the skeptics of today’s

world. Furthermore, you never know when someone will employ SE, so be ready! If you don’t have

any background in apologetics, start today! By

utilizing these three tips you’ll be better off when

engaging street epistemologists! It has definitely

helped me!

4. What Evidence Would You Need to

Believe in Christianity?

It is absolutely essential that Christians ask

this of our SE friends. Just as they want to know

what our confidence level is regarding Christian-

ity, we should want to know what type of evidence

they would need to believe in Christianity. More

often than not (in my experience) the demand is

simply unreasonable. I talked to a popular You-

Tube SE practitioner and asked, “What would you

need to believe that the resurrection of Jesus was

true?” He responded, “A time machine.”

This response reveals two important things:

(1) the extreme skepticism which the SE prac-

titioner had towards Christianity. (2) That in

order to believe in something that they deemed

impossible it would also require a machine which

would be impossible to make. Thus, in order to

believe the supposedly impossible it requires the

impossible to take place.

Conclusion

SE is on the rise and the wave is coming. We

all need to be prepared for it. Utilizing these four

tips will help in our conversations. Besides, no one

knows when or who will attempt to utilize SE on

us. These tips will neutralize the attempt to plant

seeds of doubt.

Dean Meadows Co-Founder of Apologia Institutewww.apologiainstitute.com

EPISTEMOLOGY

plus shipping and handling$10

Oftentimes the sight of a burqa—the traditional cloak worn by Muslim women—causes individuals to pause and stare. Its vision, and the world is represents, is so foreign to most Christians, that for many, it floods us with questions and maybe even fear. What really lies behind that veil? If those eyes could speak, what exactly would they say? In this DVD, Dr. Brad Harrub shares how Islam really started, who Mohammad really was, what the pillars of Islam are, how this religion treats women, and how to approach them with the Truth.



By Will Harrub


22

Have you ever walked outside on a clear, cloudless night and just sat outside gazing at the stars and constellations in the sky? Or maybe you’ve gotten to experience listening to the incredible sound of the ocean. Or maybe you’ve seen the joy of young children running around a front yard catching fireflies on a hot summer evening. This world is full of beautiful and marvelous things, and if you’re like most people, at some point in your life you’re going to look at those stars, that ocean, and that firefly and you’re going to ask yourself: Where did all this stuff come from? Children are notorious for being naturally inquisitive and constantly wanting to know what something is, where something came from, or why something happened. The desire to know the answers to where things came from is an integral part of human nature.

The problem is that American society is being indoctrinated by one theory and one theory alone of how the universe and man came into existence. Our school systems, our museums, and our media are teaching that man evolved from a common ancestor and that the universe was brought into existence through a “big bang” that occurred roughly 13.8 billion years ago. What you’ll hear on the news and what you’ll read in textbooks is that scientists have “proven” the earth was brought about by the big bang and that there’s solid “evidence” that humans evolved from a common ancestor. This is of course in direct opposition to what we read about in God’s Word. God’s Word teaches us in Genesis 1-2 (and also Exodus 20:11) that God created everything including humans in six days. The question is: How do we prove that our God really does exist? Because the truth is, you can’t measure God in a scientific laboratory. You can’t prove the existence of God using your five senses. How can we as Christians combat the evolutionary propaganda that runs rampant throughout our society by showing the evidence for God?

1 Peter 3:15 reads, “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.” What Peter is trying to communicate here is that Christians must be ready to give a defense to the skeptics. We must have the knowledge to answer faithfully when someone asks us why we believe what we believe. It’s incredibly unfortunate that we have pews full of Christians who don’t know how to defend their faith. That’s why Christian apologetics are so important. My prayer is that every New Testament Christian can adequately defend his or her faith against anything the world throws at us (Ephesians 6:11). In this article, I want to give you three ways that you can prove that God exists.; three evidences that show that the faith we have in God is not a blind faith.

1) The Cosmological Argument (Law of Cause and Effect)

If you think about everything around you in the room you’re sitting in right now, the chair you’re sitting in, the TV on the mantle, the shoes you’re wearing, the phone in your pocket,etc. there are only 3 ways they could have come into existence. Everything on the earth whether it’s your kitchen table or your iPhone, is either (1) eternal, meaning it has existed forever and will always exist, or (2) popped into existence from nothing, meaning it quite literally just came into existence on its own, or (3) it was created by someone or something. Now any intelligent person can look at the things around them and realize the first two options are simply incorrect. Your refrigerator or your TV is not eternal. Nor did they create themselves out of nothing. Obviously everything around you was created by something or someone. However, this doesn’t just apply to your shoes or your couch. What about the universe? We’ve proven scientifically that the universe is not eternal. Edwin Hubble and Albert Einstein were the first to show scientifically in 1931 that in fact the universe is expanding, meaning it had to have had a beginning. So option #1 doesn’t work for the universe. This means that atheists and proponents of evolution must hold to option #2: that the universe popped into existence from nothing, which is essentially what the big bang theory teaches. Any intelligent person however, realizes that the claim that the universe created itself out of nothing is both unscientific and utterly ridiculous. The only option remaining is that the universe and mankind were created by something or someone. That Someone has to be God.

2) The Anthropological Argument (Morals)

This argument for God’s existence is quite simple. There’s no denying that mankind has an inherent moral code. You can go virtually anywhere on earth and almost all people recognize certain

behaviors (killing, stealing, lying, rape, etc) as morally wrong. Even atheists admit the existence of a moral code. So the question is, where do we get our moral code from? There are only two options for this one. We either got our moral code from (1) God or (2) man. The obvious problem that comes with claiming morals originate from man is that you have to ask the question which man gets to decide the morals? Is it up to one person? Is it the person with the most power? What kind of world would we live in if a man like Adolf Hitler or Saddam Hussein was the man who got to decide the morals for everyone? The only logical explanation is that man received their moral code from God.

3) The Teleological Argument (Design)

You can’t look at the world we live in and not recognize the fact that we are surrounded by incredible design. You can’t look at the Grand Canyon or the Rocky Mountains without seeing design. You can’t study the universe, which sci-entists estimate to be 92 billion light-years in diameter, and not admit its amazing design. You can’t study the 86 billion neurons in the human brain or investigate the DNA of the human body and come away denying the astonishing design. As I mentioned earlier in the article, we are sur-rounded by so much design in this world. The bottom line is design demands a designer. You don’t build a house by accident; there must be extensive design and planning. You can’t create a laptop computer without extensive design. If you can’t create a house or a computer without design, how could you possibly have a universe without design? The only explanation for the design we see in nature, the design we see in the universe, and the design we see in the human body is that there is a loving and powerful God who is responsible for that design (Colossians 1:16).

There’s no denying that human beings are going to want to know the answers. Humans have been seeking scientific answers since before Aristo-tle. Unfortunately, much of the world has chosen to place their faith and allegiance in a man-made theory that falls desperately short of explaining how our world came into existence. We as New Testament Christians choose to place our faith in a mighty and powerful God. What I’ve attempted to show you in this article is that the faith we have in God is not a blind faith. It’s not a faith built on a lack of evidence. These three powerful evidences can be used by you as you prepare to give a defense to anyone who asks you a reason of the hope that is in you. These are evidences that can be used so Christians all over the world can know why they believe what they believe.


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Know why you believe what you believe.

problem. Other than some admittedly critical “theological” understandings

we can tie to Jesus, how would you possibly imitate Him? Revelation com-

pounds rather than solves your problem of identifying Jesus as a man who

walked about in the flesh and so won the victory over Satan (John 1:14).

Additionally, with regard to the five “steps,” His life reveals the truths

our specific responses are based upon. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John

provide the first-hand encounter the remainder of the New Covenant ref-

erences. Now consider when the plan of salvation shifts from baptism to

“whatsoever things I (Jesus) have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20).

Commandments separated from knowing Jesus, due to their being decon-

textualized, are destined to become mere items on a checklist rather than

taking on a vibrant life of transformation.

What, therefore, might be worth considering as a better way? How

might we more biblically approach the full six steps? I would offer a few

thoughts regarding the first five elements of the formula. First, I would

observe that the five steps never conveniently find expression in any one

particular text. While summation formulas may have their place, when

God chose to address these things He revealed them in broader contexts.

Perhaps we might allow a learner to look at the texts in their context and

then do the math to discover for themselves. Discovery is a very effective

way to take personal ownership of a teaching.

A second suggestion would be to associate each of the five steps to how

they prepare a person for the Christian life by introducing the principles a

convert will take with them as long as they live. Hearing is necessary if one

is to become a Christian (1 Corinthians 1:21), but a Christian is to continue

listening to God (2 Peter 1:3; 2 Timothy 2:15). It is important for both

unbelievers and believers to be careful what they hear and how they hear

(Mark 4:24; Luke 8:18). Placing our trust in God’s revelation is also both

a before and after conversion necessity (Acts 2:26-37; 1 Corinthians 4:2;

2 Corinthians 5:7). Changing our minds is also a pre and post conversion

In churches of Christ we have, and rightfully so, a strong consensus

regarding five “steps” leading to initial salvation. Much could be said about

those five areas of our general agreement and how they at times become

decontextualized and stripped of much of their Biblical richness. However,

our immediate purpose here is to consider the often included sixth step of,

“remain faithful until death.”

We are very specific about the actions we are to take in steps one

through five, but can be amazingly generic when it comes to the rest of the

story. Sometimes we may detail a few things relating to the church, its wor-

ship, and organization when we speak to those seeking salvation. Or, to put

it another way, things we practice that others do not. The virtual absence

of a robust everyday-life discipleship expectation in our posts and practices

relative to the complete plan of salvation, is, how shall I say, interesting.

To Restorationists, back to the Bible people, those who speak where the

Bible speaks and are silent where the Bible is silent, we must give the whole

of the Great Commission’s teachings. Ephesians 4:11-16 and Colossians

1:24-29 are far from obtuse. These verses address the bigger part of our com-

mitment. This continuing emphasis, Christ-likeness, the most discussed

interest of the Epistles (explicitly and implicitly), is, if mentioned, can often

be strikingly anemic. The biblical urgency associated with this mandate

is apt to fall by the wayside once baptism is completed leaving the rest of

discipleship not addressed as a robust Scriptural imperative. Where are the

ubiquitous, robust, fully New Covenant-reflecting discipleship agendas?

May I be so bold to suggest that learning Bible facts, never a bad thing

in itself, is at times confused with what I have in mind. I’m, therefore, not

talking about winning a Bible bowl pitted against our religious neighbors,

though I would hope to win, but rather a transforming change in character.

That said, believers being conformed to the image of Christ is the

very thing God has always intended (Romans 8:29). We must, therefore,

be schooled in both the thoughts and actions of the Christ if we are to be

faithful to God’s intentions (1 Corinthians 2:16; 11:1).

“Knowing” Jesus as He is discovered in the four Gospels is vital (John

17:3). Otherwise there is no context for all the Jesus references in the rest of

the New Testament. Imagine the confusion that would result from remov-

ing the four Gospels from the New Testament. As you begin reading in Acts,

how much do you know about the often-mentioned Christ as the basis of

salvation and the example for your life? In the Epistles, you face the same


24

Edwin Jones

Think: AS YOU ARE GOING

BEYOND THE FIVE STEPS TO PROCLAIM THE

requirement (Acts 2:38; Luke 9:23; Romans 8:29; Galatians 2:20; Ephesians

4:20-24). Agreeing with the Lord, literally “saying the same thing,” is yet

another example of an ongoing absolute (1 Timothy 6:12-13; Philippians

4:8; Mark 7:20-23; Matthew 10:32-33).

I know what you are thinking. “What are you going to do about bap-

tism?” Well, baptism has a before and after feature as well (Romans 6:3-4;

Colossians 2:11-13; Romans 6:12-13; 2 Corinthians 5:14-15; Galatians

5:24; 6:14). Dying and coming into a new life represent not only the one

time change of state in conversion, but the idea is, practically speaking,

also a daily concern.

Thus our first two observations may be summed up in our identifying

of the five entry level responses as simply connecting them to the rest of

the story. God has wisely intertwined them, so it would seem wise to follow

His lead.

Therefore, our concluding consideration when approaching someone

ready to put Jesus on in baptism concerns itself with an overt spotlight being

directed toward Jesus and the relationship they are entering into with Him.

We must be true to the enormous place Scripture gives to Christ-likeness.

The details of this transforming walk will follow. The specifics will

continue to unfold as long as a Christian will live. A new convert therefore

needs to realize the necessity of continuing the discipling process Jesus com-

manded in the Great Commission. The inescapable meaning of Romans

8:29 is much more than just God’s hopeful wish for a new convert. For God,

being transformed into the image of His Son has always been a necessity.

It represents His ultimate intention for those who would come to Him in

response to the Gospel!

Without at all disparaging the traditional five steps as somehow being

unnecessary, I wish to elevate them to their full measure of biblical con-

tent and complete them with a very rich sixth step of discipleship. Let us

be careful not to reduce the salvation process to being perceived as just a

checklist. Let us bring the Great Commission to full life when we present

Jesus to the lost.


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REST OF THE STORY

July 17, 2018. Eighth inning of Major League Baseball’s All-Star Game in Washington, D.C. Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Josh Hader gave up a 3 run home run to put his team behind … but little did he know that would be the easiest part of his night. As he was on the mound, Twitter users discovered a number of offensive things he had tweeted ranging from 6-8 years ago, tweets filled with racism, sexism, and anti-gay messages (actual hatred, not of the “I think homosexuality is a sin” variety).

As he returned to the dugout, he found that he was the talk of the night on social media, with many calling for him to be suspended and/or heavily fined. The rest of the night saw the baseball game overshadowed by the reaction to Hader’s breaking story, including interviews with him and various teammates who commented on the situation.

Hader wasn’t the only one whose past was mined for sins and indiscre-tions, though. Film director James Gunn of Guardians of the Galaxy fame had a number of off-color tweets brought to light, leading to him being fired from the third installment of the Guardians trilogy. Television director Dan Harmon and comedian Sarah Silverman also had past offenses brought to light, though they have yet to face consequences. The situation has

essentially devolved into a battle of people from different communities and political leanings trying to expose people on the other side to prove a point.

To be clear, all of these people did things worthy of criticism and con-sequences. But that doesn’t mean that they should be buried with no chance of ever making things right. To many, each of these offenders might never escape the shadow of their past mistakes. Whether they sincerely apologize or not, whether they make it clear they are changed people or not, they will always carry the weight of those misdeeds because it’s advantageous to others to keep them in that disgraced position.

My point here? This is the world’s version of justice. They will ruin you in a heartbeat to give themselves a leg up socially or politically. We get to feel like we are better people when we point out how people on some perceived “other side” are bad. The result is that many people’s lives have been radically altered once their reputation was irreparably damaged in the eyes of many. Many are driven to depression or even suicide following revelations of their deepest, darkest secrets.

We see the same style of mob justice built on embarrassing someone for strategic advantage in John 8. The Pharisees bring a woman caught in adultery to Jesus. They expose her sin in front of everyone to try to trap Jesus. Seeing this story from her viewpoint paints a horrifying picture. Her sin has been exposed for every one to see. She is there to bear it alone, and like the famous fictional character, she essentially has been branded with the scarlet A.

These stories show us the greatness of the Gospel. Every last one of us sins (Romans 3:9-23). Every last one of us has things in our past (or even our present) that we don’t want the world to see. Though humans often like to think of ourselves as more loving and forgiving than God, these situations show us how untrue that is. At our very worst, mankind will exile us with no path to restoration. On the other hand, at our very worst, Jesus died for us (Romans 5:6-8) to clear our slate. And though we’ll never be perfect here, His blood continually cleanses us.

Aren’t you thankful that through the cross God “forgives our iniquities and remembers our sins no more” (Jeremiah 31:34)? Aren’t you glad we can sit at Jesus’s feet and hear “I don’t condemn you, go and sin no more” rather than be destroyed by the world’s justice? Aren’t you glad that we can stand confidently before the throne to receive grace because of our great High Priest (Hebrews 4:16)?

In the world’s eyes, some sins are so great that there is no way the debt can ever be paid and removed from our ledger. In God’s eyes, there is no sin so great that Jesus’s blood could not pay for it.

“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit” (Romans 8:1).


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Jack Wilkie

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I have a manner of packing after a vacation that I suppose is like the method many other people use. When I leave to return home from vacation, I have one goal in mind—getting home. To that end, I am not always discriminating in the manner of packing up that I engage in to go home. My mantra: “Find an empty space and shove it in.” This is especially true when it seems that we always leave with more than we arrived with initially.

Just recently we returned from a vacation in Florida. One of the tasks to be completed before leaving our condominium is cleaning out the rem-nants of our refrigerator. To this end, we filled a trash bag half full of left over yogurt, chicken salad, sandwich meat, and other sundries. While this was happening I took a load of luggage and other items down to our van for final packing. When I came back to the room, I found the bag of trash and carried it to the van. I did not realize that it was in fact a bag of trash. We occasionally pack unsecured items in trash bags, and I reasoned that the kids had already taken the trash out of the condominium.

Remember my manner of packing for the return trip? If it is not glued down, stuff it in a vacant space and leave for home! This is exactly what I did with this bag of trash.

When I returned home and started unpacking, I realized my mistake. I had packed a bag of trash and drove it over a thousand miles from our vacation location to home in ninety degree weather. One rider in the back of the van remarked, “The van smelled like molded feet!” We suddenly realize “why?” when the contents of the trash bag revealed food items that went without refrigeration for over twelve hours.

What are the spiritual applications of such an occurrence? Simply stated, when one becomes a child of God, he is expected to leave the trash behind. This is exactly what the Corinthian brethren did upon their conver-sion to Christ. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 says, “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.” They repented of just about


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Johnny O. Trail

Think: DAILY WALK

Leave theevery sin that one could possibly imagine. By virtue of that fact, there is no valid reason for one not changing his life to follow after Christ.

These brethren threw away the trash in their lives when they repented from sin. Unfortunately, there were people in God’s writ who neglected to throw away the trash. It caused a stench in their spiritual lives. Conversely, the Roman brethren evidently carried their trash with them. Romans 6:1-2 says, “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” They were still bondservants to sin as a result (Romans 6:22-23).

When people convert to Christ, God expects them to leave the trash behind. Jesus commanded this very thing in Luke 13:3, 5 “I tell you, nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” Without a change (repentance) in our lives, there can be no forgiveness.

John the Immerser understood this concept as he baptized people under direc-tion of the Holy Spirit. Matthew 3:7-8 says, “But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance.” Their insincere reasons for repentance and baptism were known by this man who was inspired by the Holy Spirit, thus

their “change” was not truly valid. Our lives stink, spiritually speaking, when sin continues to control

us. Paul addresses this in Romans 6:11-14 when he says, “Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace” (KJV). When sin has “reign” and “dominion” over one who is a child of God, he has once again become the bondservant of Satan.

There remains no sacrifice for one who is unwilling to change his manner of behavior. Hebrews 10:26-27 says, “For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more


29

sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries” (KJV). One might con-tinually struggle with sin, but practicing until death condemns one’s soul.

When we do not repent of sin as outlined in the Bible, salvation cannot be effectuated (Acts 2.38). 2 Corinthians 7:9-10 says, “Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death” (KJV). Simply stated, there is a difference between just being sorry and sorrow that results in a person changing their life.

This might be exemplified by the reaction of the Jews in Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost on A.D. 33. Notice their response to realizing that their sins had murdered the Son of God. Acts 2:37 says, “Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?” The terrible news of their sinful actions cut them to the core. That is part of the problem with sinful behaviors—many people are not ashamed of their behaviors let alone cut to the bone with the implications of their actions. Our sins murdered the sinless Son of God. Nothing should cut us deeper!

When we carry trash in our lives, it causes us to be burdened. Hebrews 12:1 says, “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.”

If we truly leave the trash behind, we should not want to go back to it. 2 Peter 2:20-22 says, “For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.” Why would we want to return to something that has made us spiritually weak?

In converting to Christ, one must repent of every sin that could cause him to be eternally lost and leave it in the past. Again, the Corinthian brethren were guilty of every kind of sin (1 Corinthians 6:9ff), but they died to past sins after their baptism. 1 Corinthians 6:11 says, “And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God ”(KJV). We need to follow their example and leave the trash behind.

behind

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Having looked into the tearful eyes of parents whose children have abandoned the Faith, I have learned there are a million miles between our children “going through the motions” in reference to their spiritual lives versus our children possessing hearts that dictate their actions. In this column, I plan to share with you what I hope to instill in the hearts of my own children and those whom I love.

Do you want to know what someone is really passionate about? Spend just an hour listening to them talk and you will quickly discover their pas-sion. Maybe it’s their career. Or maybe they are passionate about decorating and having just the right “Magnolia” Fixer Upper look. Or maybe they are passionate about their children or their golf game. Whatever it is, sooner or later that person will talk about it—and when they do, you can almost see their face light up, as they begin chatting away.

It is somewhat distressing to me that Christians—who are supposed to be passionate about Jesus Christ—don’t talk about Him more often. Sure, we may occasionally talk about something that was mentioned in a sermon or we may even offer a “God bless you” when someone sneezes. But the reality is we often don’t talk about our Savior very much in public. And when we do, it is usually guarded and with a great deal of reservation.

I have heard from literally dozens of Christians, who are troubled by the fact that their denominational friends talk about Jesus and religious matters more openly than most New Testament Christians. Yes, we believe He is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6), but sadly we don’t bring Him up in everyday conversation.

Here’s what I intend to teach my children regarding talking about Jesus.

Let me start by admitting I don’t know the precise history on this one, but my understanding—having talked to many faithful Christians—is that more than fifty years ago there was a concerted effort for New Testa-ment Christians to separate themselves from the Pentecostal movement. Pentecostals were viewed as those “Holy Rollers” who spoke in tongues, raised their hands, clapped during worship, and often talked about being filled with the spirit. In an effort to separate us from them, New Testament Christians shifted the pendulum all the way to the other side and avoided anything that could even remotely be viewed as being Pentecostal.

In doing so, many members of the church stopped openly talking about their faith and stopped talking about Jesus. Oh sure, we would occa-sionally talk about doctrine, but we didn’t want to be viewed as weird or one of “them.” And so we grew silent. Here’s my first piece of advice about this one: Don’t be afraid to talk about Jesus. After all, if we are passionate about Him and want to share the truth with others, then we should feel good talking about Him.

Second, get comfortable talking about Him when you are young. If it becomes a part of your everyday speech then you won’t feel awkward later on in life trying to fit Him into your conversations. Part of being ready and able to give a defense of the hope that is in you (1 Peter 3:15) is being able to talk about Jesus.

Third, never ever forget the confession you made at your baptism (Acts 8:37), and do not fear confessing Him to anyone. I want you to soberly consider what Jesus said: “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 10:32-33). I believe many people deny Him by simply remaining silent and not defending Him and His teachings.

Later on Paul wrote to the Christians in Rome and declared, “If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Romans 10:9-10). Notice that with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Does that sound like Paul wants people to be timid or shy about Jesus?

Understand that in talking openly about Jesus some people may be offended. Try to be respectful and kind, but also keep in mind the desperate need they have for His cleansing blood. Additionally, you may make some Christians uncomfortable by openly talking about Jesus. They may not be used to hearing someone talk freely about Christ and their appreciation for Him. But stop and think about what that really says about their beliefs and their love for Him.

Do you really love Jesus? Are you thankful for what He did for you on the cross? Then don’t be afraid to shout it from the mountains or talk about it on the subway! Who knows, it might just open some doors for you to talk to others about Him.


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Brad Harrub, Ph.D.

Think: HEART OF THE MATTER

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