Choosing a Perspective

There are varied definitions of ‘perspective’ but they all center on the way in which one views events or situations relative to each other or to a base. This subject was brought to the forefront recently when president Obama’s former chief of staff contended that Fox News Channel was not really a news organization but was rather an organization that offered a specific perspective on current events. In this case Fox was described as an organization that focused on the conservative view point. Of course there are other ‘news agencies’ that focus on a more liberal perspective. It is very interesting to listen to Fox and MSNBC discuss the same topics such as the president’s effectiveness, climate change, health care, etc.

It is widely accepted that everyone has a perspective on life and death and has considered such issues as the meaning of life and whether death really means the end of it all. One’s overall perspective will also define how they interpret current events in concert with their existing circumstances.

Inasmuch as nearly 8 out of 10 Americans claim to be Christians, let’s examine the Christian perspective and see how that viewpoint defines one’s interpretation of events.

Christians definitely believe there is life after death and a person can freely choose their own final destiny. The Bible also clearly outlines the choices necessary to achieve the destiny of one’s desire.

The Bible begins with Adam and Eve being given a simple instruction in the Garden of Eden and the consequences of not following that instruction. The consequence of disobedience was death, not only physical death, but also spiritual death or eternal separation from the Creator. Eternal separation from God is commonly referred to as ‘Hell’ which ultimately is the everlasting Lake of Fire. The Bible goes on to state that everyone has disobeyed God’s instructions and is incapable of reversing their own destiny of eternal separation from God and must; therefore, rely on God’s provision for reversing the consequences of their choice to disobey. Let’s face it, man had a tremendous dilemma. Throughout the Bible God exhibits extreme patience with man and let’s him continually fail to prove to himself that he must ultimately rely on God’s provision and do it His way. The ultimate outcome for the earth and its inhabitants is clearly outlined in the Bible but each individual person may choose their part in that outcome.

Consider back at the time of Moses.

“I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; that you may love the LORD your God, that you may obey His voice…but if your heart turns away so that you do not hear, and are drawn away, and worship other gods and serve them, I announce to you today that you shall surely perish…” Deuteronomy 30:15-19

Consider next the words of Solomon as he personifies wisdom.

“Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the LORD, they would have none of my counsel and despised my every rebuke. Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way; and be filled to the full with their own fancies.” Proverbs 1:29-31

Regretfully, the Bible reveals that many will reject God’s wisdom and provision for life and will instead rely on their own wisdom and choose to do it ‘their way.’

“There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.” Proverbs 14:12

Therefore, even though the end has already been written, man has the free will to choose his eternal destiny as well as the freedom to choose his actions as his life progresses. Let it be clearly stated that God’s sovereign election and predestination as described in the Bible are in perfect harmony with mans’ freedom to choose.

One would think that a Christian nation would legislate and govern according to scriptural teachings. Below are several current challenges and initiatives that reveal conflict with that premise.

• Attempting to force democracy on other nations and then align them into coalitions

• Ignoring the Ten Commandments in favor of contemporary ideologies

• Pursuing political correctness instead of Biblical truths

• Granting authority to government not recognized in the Bible such as the redistribution of wealth via taxation or ‘entitlement’ programs

• Allowing any anti-Christian and/or anti-western ideology to gain footholds in America

• Approving flagrant anti-Christian legislation such as Roe v. Wade

• Favoring a Palestinian state within Israel’s borders

The above is puzzling inasmuch as the end has already been written and our handling of contemporary issues is in many instances counter-Biblical, but then again, we have the freedom of choice.

Isn’t it wonderful to live in a free country where each individual can choose his/her own personal perspective and view life accordingly? One may choose varying perspectives including Christianity or fatalism, atheism, agnosticism, monotheism, polytheism, progressivism, secularism, liberalism, conservatism, Islamism, or whatever ism they desire and determine their own meaning of events and circumstances. Wouldn’t it be boring if everyone had the same perspective?

Born to Die

When we celebrate Christmas, we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, the ultimate ‘seed of the woman.’ The Christmas story begins in the book of Genesis, where in fact all theology begins.

“And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, ‘Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.’” Genesis 2:16-17

“So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate.” Genesis 3:6

Now many believe only physical death was involved. But the Hebrew word translated ‘die’ also connotes ‘separation.’ And, therefore:

“…the LORD God sent him out of the Garden of Eden…So He drove out the man; and He placed cherubim at the east of the Garden of Eden…to guard the way to the tree of life.” Genesis 3:23-24

But before they were expelled, God pronounced a curse on the serpent and announced the future birth of Christ.

“And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.” Genesis 3:15

The above is confirmed in the New Testament.

“…For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.” I John 3:8

The Bible clearly teaches that continued disobedience results in death.

“As righteousness leads to life, so he who pursues evil pursues it to his own death.” Proverbs 11:19

“For the wages of sin is death…” Romans 6:23

The day would come, however, when death would lose its grip on mankind and life would prevail.

“He will swallow up death forever, and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces…” Isaiah 25:8

Well, the birth of the One to defeat death and execute the curse on Satan was confirmed with specific details 700 years before the event.

“Therefore, the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.” Isaiah 7:14

“But you Bethlehem…Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me…Whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting.” Micah 5:2

In accordance with the gospels Jesus Christ was indeed born in Bethlehem. But even the glory of His miraculous birth was exceeded by His death and glorious resurrection.

Note the words of John the Baptist when he first saw Jesus three decades after His birth.

“…Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! ...” John 1:29

If death is caused by sin, and the Lamb of God came to take away the sin of the world, then the Lamb would defeat death. This would be accomplished by the Lamb ‘without blemish’ experiencing death in place of the sinner.

“…But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone.” Hebrews 2:9

To prove that Jesus’ death appeased a holy and just God, Jesus was raised from the grave. Death, the last enemy of man, was in fact defeated once for all with the resurrection of Jesus!

“But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have died…For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive…The last enemy that will be destroyed is death.”
I Corinthians 15:20-26

It is, therefore, impossible to separate the miracle of Jesus’ birth with His death and resurrection. To confirm the significance of Jesus’ death we note that Jesus is never called the Christmas Lamb, or even the Hanukah Lamb. He is, however, called the Passover Lamb.

“…For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us.” I Corinthians 5:7

“But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities…He was led as a lamb to the slaughter…for He was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgressions of My people He was stricken.” Isaiah 53:5, 7-8

“…and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain…Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne…and they sang a new song, saying: ‘You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals; for You were slain and have redeemed us to God by Your blood…’” Revelation 5:6-9

Jesus, the Lamb of God was born to die.

And when was the decision made by God the Father to offer the Lamb, i.e. His Son as a gift to us?

“…the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” Revelation 13:8

The decision was made far before the miraculous birth of Jesus in Bethlehem and even far, far before Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden.

Thank you Lord Jesus for the priceless gift of life!

Taking a Stand

Approximately four months ago we began this series on Islam and Christianity with the first installment entitled: ‘Christians, Muslims, and the Undecided.’ The intent of the series was to inform and present both sides, i.e. Christianity and religious Islam, democracy and political Islam. This series was written and published within the guidelines of the first amendment which states in part:

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press…”

The first amendment allows varied religions the freedom to exercise their beliefs within this great nation. That includes both Christianity and Islam. What it does not allow is for any political system to present itself as a religion and then use our First Amendment freedoms to rise up with the intent of abolishing the very constitution that provides such freedom. Islam presents their religion as inseparable from their political ideology and sharia law.

As Islam has been examined in the previous weeks much care was given to rely on Islamic teachings and documentation. While we have compared major tenets of religious Islam with the Bible we have used caution to limit commentary and not attempt to interpret their intent.

Recall the Muslim Brotherhood, i.e. the largest Islamic organization in the world. Supporting the inseparability of their religion and political ideology, they openly state:

“The Muslim Brotherhood must understand that their work in America is a kind of grand jihad in eliminating and destroying the Western civilization from within…so that it is eliminated…”

“Islam isn’t in America to be equal to any other faith, but to become dominant. The Koran should be the highest authority in America, and Islam the only accepted religion on earth.”

Remember also CAIR (Council on American Islamic Relations). CAIR is regarded as America’s largest Muslim civil rights organization. One of their primary tactics is to categorize anti-Islamic statements and/or policies as civil rights violations or hate crimes which would subsequently be in violation of their First Amendment rights.

Very recently SQ 755 limiting the application of Islamic sharia law in Oklahoma passed with a 70% margin. The people’s voice was immediately challenged on constitutional grounds. The man who initiated the lawsuit, Muneer O. Awad, is the executive director of the Oklahoma Chapter of CAIR. It appears that Mr. Awad has won the initial round.

Our own president and his administration have co-sponsored UN resolutions that would make it a hate crime to make statements about Islam that might offend them, even if such statements are true.

The American democratic system and political Islam are totally irreconcilable regardless of what Mr. Obama claims in his addresses to the Muslim world.

“I have come here to seek a new beginning between the United States and Muslims…based upon mutual interest and mutual respect…based upon the truth that America and Islam…share common principles…”

“So let there be no doubt: Islam is a part of America…and I believe that…all of us share common aspirations – to live in peace and security…”

“I made it clear that America is not – and never will be – at war with Islam.”

“Islam is not part of the problem…it is an important part of promoting peace.”

Both presidents Obama and Bush 43 repeatedly emphasized that the United States was/is not at war with Islam, but we have our heads in the sand if we think that Islam is not war with the United States. Which is more disturbing, recognizing the openly self-proclaimed agenda of Islam, or the political correctness which ignores it? Jesus warned of apathy.

“I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold or hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth…” Revelation 3:15-17

Christianity and religious Islam are likewise irreconcilable; however, the Church and Christians are to love the individual Muslim. Islam’s political ideology is an outgrowth of their religious origins. Their religious beliefs include Mohammed superseded Jesus as the final prophet of Allah. They further claim the Bible has been corrupted and is no longer reliable. They deny the deity of Christ and the historical facts that He was crucified and resurrected. They deny the doctrine of grace and cling to retaliatory sharia.

Americans have the right to reject any political ideology that attempts to replace (either by stealth or by sword) the constitution, culture, and way of life. Similarly, Christians not only have the right, but the responsibility to reject any religion that is anti-Biblical or anti-Christ. President Obama has voiced his stance on Christianity in America:

“Although…we have a very large Christian population, we do not consider ourselves a Christian nation.”

Two years ago I wrote a column entitled: ‘Recognizing Freedom’s Threats.’ The column ended with these words:

“Apathy, or indifference, leads to apostasy, or abandonment, which opens the door to replacement which will lead to loss of freedoms. We need to be passionately aware of our freedoms as well as be aware of the foundations on which they stand. The threats to our freedoms are very real and present. We need to cherish and defend these freedoms instead of giving them away.”

There are two important lessons we can learn from Islam, firstly to be more zealous about our religion and secondly to open our eyes to that which threatens us. The ‘supreme ideologue’ of the Muslim Brotherhood, Sayyid Qutb, stated:

“…the Muslim Brotherhood must ‘open people’s eyes’ to the danger, the threat, that modernity and western culture…posed to Islam.”

We should do no less.

It’s time to take a stand!

Merry Christmas and God bless America!

Islam and Retaliation vs. New Testament and Grace

As Christ was being crucified, He was fulfilling the Old Testament law. Due to God’s indisputable attribute of justness, it was required that the law be fulfilled and not just set aside.

“Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.” Matthew 5:17-18

No other man on earth could accomplish that indescribable feat. One of the favorite songs of the heroes at the Veterans Hospital includes the words, “…I had a debt I could not pay, He paid a debt He did not owe…”

Recall how the Apostle John felt when he thought there was no one worthy to loosen the seven seals of the title deed to reclaim the earth.

“And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals. Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, ‘Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?’ And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it. So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll, or to look at it. But one of the elders said to me, ‘Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals.’” Revelation 5:1-5

So when the law had been fulfilled, God offered grace to all mankind. The fulfilled law meant that retaliation between men was no longer applicable.

For example, consider adultery in the Old Testament under the law.

“If a man is found lying with a woman married to a husband, then both of them shall die (by stoning) – the man that lay with the woman, and the woman…” Deuteronomy 22:22

Now Islam continues to believe that death by stoning is still appropriate, at least for the woman. But what does the New Testament say?

“Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery…they said to Him, ‘Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?’…He said to them… ‘He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.’” John 8:3-7

Then Jesus said to the woman that He would not condemn her either but she was to ‘sin no more.’ John 8:11

The Bible explains that retaliation by man has been replaced with God’s righteous judgment.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ … But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also…” Matthew 5:38-39

The above in no way means that people are free from punishment by man if they disobey the law of the land. While God is the ultimate judge, man has been appointed to administer civil order in the present era.

“Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake.” Romans 13:1-5

This key passage confirms that God has appointed all governing authorities to maintain law and order and whoever resists such authority directly defies God. The appointment of governing authorities is for the general benefit of all people. As long as citizens obey the law of the land they have nothing to fear. Citizens are admonished to obey the law not just to avoid punishment, but because of their innate awareness of right and wrong.

It is interesting to note that only three of the original ten commandments are part of our legal system, however, God’s righteous judgment will take into consideration all of the original ten.

Therefore, while Islam still employs retaliatory measures for sins committed according to sharia, the Christian will ultimately answer to Christ who is the ultimate judge of mankind. A Christian’s behavior, however, is monitored and adjudicated by civil appointees during this era to maintain order. The wonderful aspect of New Testament grace is that the Christian’s sins, past, present and future have already been paid for with the priceless blood of Jesus as He was fulfilling the law and thus forgivable if asked for. Such grace is not a license for the Christian to sin, on the contrary, if the Christian sins, he/she is to ‘repent,’ i.e. forsake that sin and ‘sin no more.’

Grace, as described above, is available to all nationalities, races, and ethnicities regardless of one’s past including their belief system. Consider the Apostle Paul, He experienced God’s grace even though he had been the chief persecutor of God’s people, i.e. Christians.

Final installment of series next week.