Is Science A Tool To Deceive?

"Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may be wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, he catches the wise in their own craftiness. and again, the Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile." 1Cor. 3:18-20 

The problem with physics and mathematics and molecular biology is that it only works on paper, or under a microscope. It does not work in the real world. Things that make perfect sense to a physicist make no sense to anyone else. Things that look real under a microscope or through a telescope are not real to anyone else. And God looks at man's wisdom and accomplishments and He calls it all foolishness. Evolution is not scientific at all. It was a man's attempt to discredit the creation story in the Bible.

Speaking of the Bible, it is one thing that looks real on paper and actually works in real life. 

Note in the text how the word "deceive" and "craftiness" are used by the Holy Spirit. These words speak of a deliberate act to mislead and twist. Science seems to be a tool of the evil one to draw us away from God. Creation means that there was a creator. Evolution means that nature acts on it's own, randomly.

"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness." Romans 1:18

See, men suppress the truth of the Bible in their sinful behavior. But God keeps good records. He will give to every man the wages due him. 

It's time to repent.

More Valuable

 "Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father's will. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows." Mat. 10:29-31

I do not know how valuable a copper coin, or a farthing, is. But I do know that whatever it costs to buy two pigeons, you are more valuable than that. If God knows how many hairs you have on your head,  and if God is aware of every bird that dies, do you doubt that God knows you and is aware of what you are going through right now?

God still loves you no matter what you've done. God still wants to help you no matter what kind of trouble you are in. You still matter to God.  God will heal your broken heart and dry your crying eyes. You are still more valuable than a pigeon. Christ died for you, not for animals.

Maranatha!

The Bible on Slavery

 I wonder if you would be surprised to find out that the Bible nowhere condemns slavery. The Bible is an ancient book written in ancient times where life was very different from our modern era. It address things that we do not do or consider abhorrent. It is God's word written By men of God to ancient and somewhat heathen people.

Nowhere does the Bible condemn polygamy. God does speak clearly on marriage and on how marriage works best. Several prominent men in the Bible had more than one wife.  Also, the Bible actually speaks a lot about kings even though in our modern era we are anti king. In fact, our form of government is not found in the Bible. God refers to Himself as a great king of kings. Jesus said the kingdom of God is among you. All political activity in the Bible revolves around a king.

The same is true about slavery. Slavery was common in ancient times. Slavery is still practiced in the modern world. Slavery may be immoral to us, but it is never condemned in the Bible. The Bible actually gives instruction on how to be a Christian slave, and it gives instruction on how to treat slaves as their owner. The failure of American slavery was the ill treatment and the dehumanization of slaves by their owners. The South needed slave workers, but their treatment of them was terrible. In America, slavery became a moral and a human rights issue, as it is today. God views slaves as people who need to be saved just like everyone else.

It is always hard to understand ancient societies measured by modern standards. This is why we need the Holy Spirit to help us apply ancient words to our current situations.

You Have Built It. Have They Come?

 "If you build it, he will come." This line is from the movie Field of Dreams. We have changed it slightly to say, if you build it, they will come. We sometimes use this idea in our churches concerning buildings. We think that if we build or buy or rent a bigger building, more people will visit our churches. 

Pastor Mitchell did not build big buildings to attract big crowds. We enlarged the Ruth Street building at least twice to accommodate what God was doing in revival. When I first was saved in 1973 we were packed to the rafters with people. We used to sit on the floor in the alter space, crowded in like sardines in a can. We held services there three days a week. We held revival meetings there. We held the early conferences there. And when the building could not hold conferences, we bought the tents. The city of Prescott back then had no facilities to accommodate our crowds.

There are "rules" governing church attendance. They say that you will not grow beyond 80% capacity. I saw the Prescott church SRO and we grew. So much for rules. People come because the early days of real revival are always accompanied by explosive growth. Once we stopped growing we didn't need a bigger building anymore, even though we were at the magic 80 % line. But that didn't stop the Prescott church from building bigger buildings.

You who have built it so that they will come, have they come? 

An Amazing Book

 The Bible is an amazing book. It is so simple that an ignorant and unlearned child can read it and understand the big picture. But the Bible is so complex and deep that scholars spend their entire careers studying it and what it says and how it came to be a book.

Translation takes ancient writings in foreign languages and rewrites them into a language that the local population can read and understand. And while we are on this topic, the importance of the Bible is what it says, not in how it came to be. It's the word of God written down, just like the ten commandments that Moses received.

One interesting fact is that most of the new testament writings were simply letters written to local churches. They were not published or copywritten. Therefore, scholars tell us that we have no original copies of the ancient writings to translate. That letters dashed off to churches have survived in any form is a testament to the hand of God active in making sure the translators got it right.

Now, we take the Bible in our language, written in ancient times, and make it apply to current events. Now we pray for our pastors to get it right when studying the Bible.

All of His promises are yes and amen, no matter how long ago they were first written or spoken.

Selfish? Or Caring?

I know that our pastor is in high demand around the Fellowship. But knowing this does not mean that we do not miss him when he is gone. And on this trip pastor missed three Sundays in a row. I went from missing him to wondering if he was alright to wondering if he had an offer to take a bigger church.

So when I saw pastor last night I was happy to see him. And I was happy to learn that he was preaching to us. And then he said something that cut me to the core. He said that it was selfish to think that he needed to be home more or to stay home more. So now it is selfish to want our pastor to be here for his own church?

For years pastor Mitchell would, at great expense, make it a point to be in his own church on Sunday morning. The biggest and most important service of the week. It was rare for pastor Mitchell not to be there on Sunday morning, even if he would be flying out on Sunday afternoon. We had good assistants in Prescott. But I always felt that if it all went south, pastor would be back soon to set things right.

The danger of being gone so much is that you become irrelevant to the ongoing work of the church. We have a handful of guys who can still preach to your church. You only have one church full of faithful people who love you and who support the Vision.

Please do not call me selfish for missing you.

Random Thoughts

It's not good that a man  lives alone. Unless you are older. Then it is preferable.

Pastor says that we are being selfish for wanting our pastor at home. 

My birthday is coming up. It is not a milestone birthday so I am not making a big deal out of it.

Street preaching and open air preaching are not the same thing. Open air means no building is available.

Open air preachers preach prepared sermons. Street preachers preach a simple gospel.

When the boss is absent it's business as usual. When workers stay out business fails. Same with church.

It's never so bad that it can't get worse. Or so is the gist of Bible prophecy preaching.

Do we really need a fire and brimstone message on Sunday morning? Maybe we do. Oh me.

God bless us, everyone.