4/7/14

From Jim McGuiggan... Who would I die for? And so what?


From: Kyle Butt, M.A. ... Where Was God in Newtown, Connecticut?

  http://apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=12&article=1589

Where Was God in Newtown, Connecticut?

by  Kyle Butt, M.A.

The events that occurred in Newtown, Connecticut on December 14, 2012 are, in every sense of the word, tragic. A gunman named Adam Lanza shot and killed 20 children, six adults, himself and his mother in one of the most deadly school shootings in U.S. history. As is always the case when tragedies like this occur, various people and groups use the events to propel their agendas. In the past several decades, the atheistic community has used occurrences like this as “evidence” that a loving God does not exist. These atheistic writers and speakers contend that if there is a loving God, He would never allow a person to shoot 20 innocent children in cold blood. If there is a loving God, they claim, He would stop such a brutal killing. Since He did not stop it, either He does not have the power to stop it, or He is not a loving God who cares for innocent children. Either way, they suggest, the concept of a loving, all-powerful God such as the one portrayed in the Bible cannot exist in the face of such senseless brutality. “If there is a loving God, where was He on December 14, 2012 in Newtown, Connecticut?” they demand. What can the Christian say in response to such reasoning?

Evil Did Occur—Which Proves Atheism Cannot be Right

It is a fact that the actions of the gunman were evil. He should not have killed 27 people and himself. Virtually every person who hears an account of his actions rightly understands that what he did was horribly wrong and evil. Yet, in a world without God, there is no way to contend that what he did was evil. Atheist Frederick Nietzsche understood this perfectly. He wrote: “We believe that severity, violence, slavery, danger in the street and in the heart, secrecy, stoicism, tempter’s art and devilry of ever kind—that everything wicked, terrible, tyrannical, predatory, and serpentine in man, serves as well for the elevation of the human species as its opposite” (2007, p. 35). You see, if humans are merely the product of mindless, random, naturalistic processes over millions of years, then how can any person claim to know that Adam Lanza did something evil. From where would the concept of evil originate if nature were all there is or was?
 Charles Darwin was fully aware of the implications of atheism and godlessness. He wrote: “A man who has no assured and ever present belief in the existence of a personal God or of a future existence with retribution and reward, can have for his rule of life, as far as I can see, only to follow those impulses and instincts with are the strongest or which seem to him the best ones (1958, p. 94). Thus, if there really is no God, then Adam Lanza was simply following the instincts and impulses that seemed the strongest to him. If other products of natural processes (humans) do not like what he did, they cannot say it was evil, or wrong, all they would be able to say is that they do not have those same instincts or impulses. And yet, the truth of the matter is, something evil, wicked, and wrong did occur. If that is true, there must be a God.
In a very famous statement, C.S. Lewis captured this thought perfectly when he wrote:
My argument against God was that the universe seemed so cruel and unjust. But how had I got this idea of just and unjust? A man does not call a line crooked unless he has some idea of a straight line. What was I comparing this universe with when I called it unjust...? Of course, I could have given up my idea of justice by saying it was nothing but a private idea of my own. But if I did that, then my argument against God collapsed too—for the argument depended on saying that the world was really unjust, not simply that it did not happen to please my private fancies. Thus in the very act of trying to prove that God did not exist—in other words, that the whole of reality was senseless—I found I was forced to assume that one part of reality—namely my idea of justice—was full of sense. Consequently, atheism turns out to be too simple (Lewis, 1952, pp. 45-46, italics in orig.)
If something that was, in fact, evil, took place in Newtown on December 14, 2012, then there must be a God.

But What About the Children?

Once we establish the fact that the existence of evil does not militate against God’s existence, but actually establishes it, there is still the emotional question of how God could allow innocent children to die. In fact, it is often the case that atheists will attempt to draw attention away from the rational side of the discussion and argue from pure emotion. “How could a loving God let innocent children die?” they insist. Their contention is that God has, in some way, wronged the innocent children. Their allegation fails, however, when we understand the true nature of what has happened.
The Bible repeatedly stresses the idea that physical death is not complete loss, and can actually be beneficial to the one who dies. The Bible explains that every person has a soul that will live forever, long after physical life on this Earth is over (Matthew 25:46). The Bible consistently states the fact that the immortal soul of each individual is of much more value than that individual’s physical life on this Earth. Jesus Christ said: “For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16:26).
Although the skeptic might object, and claim that an answer from the Bible is not acceptable, such an objection falls flat for one primary reason: the skeptic used the Bible to formulate his own argument. Where is it written that God is love? In the Bible, in such passages as 1 John 4:8. Where do we learn that God is all-powerful? Once again, that information comes directly from the Bible, read Genesis 17:1. Where, then, should we look for an answer to this alleged moral dilemma? The answer should be: the Bible. If the alleged problem is formulated from biblical testimony, then the Bible should be given the opportunity to explain itself. As long as the skeptic uses the Bible to formulate the problem, we certainly can use the Bible to solve the problem. One primary facet of the biblical solution is that every human has an immortal soul that is of inestimable value.
With the value of the soul in mind, let us examine several verses that prove that physical death is not necessarily evil. In a letter to the Philippians, the apostle Paul wrote from prison to encourage the Christians in the city of Philippi. His letter was filled with hope and encouragement, but it was also tinted with some very pertinent comments about the way Paul and God view death. In Philippians 1:21-23, Paul wrote: “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. For I am hard pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better” (emp. added).Paul, a faithful Christian, said that death was a welcome visitor. In fact, Paul said that the end of his physical life on this Earth would be “far better” than its continuation. For Paul, as well as for any faithful Christian, the cessation of physical life is not loss, but gain. Such would apply to innocent children as well, since they are in a safe condition and go to paradise when they die (see Butt, 2003).
Other verses in the Bible show that the loss of physical life is not inherently evil. The prophet Isaiah concisely summarized the situation when he was inspired to write: “The righteous perishes, and no man takes it to heart; merciful men are taken away, while no one considers that the righteous is taken away from evil. He shall enter into peace; they shall rest in their beds, each one walking in his uprightness” (57:1-2, emp. added). Isaiah recognized that people would view the death of the righteous incorrectly. He plainly stated that this incorrect view of death was due to the fact that most people do not think about the fact that when a righteous or innocent person dies, that person is “taken away from evil,” and enters “into peace.”
The psalmist wrote, “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints” (Psalm 116:15). Death is not inherently evil. In fact, the Bible indicates that death can be great gain in which a righteous person is taken away from evil and allowed to enter peace and rest. God looks upon the death of His faithful followers as precious. Skeptics who charge God with wickedness because He has allowed the physical lives of innocent babies to be ended are in error. They refuse to recognize the reality of the immortal soul. Instead of the death of innocent children being an evil thing, it is often a blessing for that child to be taken away from a life of hardship and evil influence at the hands of a sinful society, and ushered into a paradise of peace and rest. In order for a skeptic to legitimately charge God with cruelty, the skeptic must prove that there is no immortal soul, and that physical life is the only reality—neither of which the skeptic can do. Failure to acknowledge the reality of the soul and the spiritual realm will always result in a distorted view of the nature of God. “The righteous perishes…while no one considers that the righteous is taken away from evil.”

What Should We Do?

Our hearts are breaking for those in Newtown who have suffered such tragic loss. No words can adequately describe such emotional pain. But instead of allowing the skeptical community to use the evil actions of Adam Lanza to push people into the despair of atheism and unbelief, we should use this opportunity to encourage those in Newtown, and worldwide, to seek their God and Creator in times of trouble. The apostle Paul wrote to the church at Corinthian: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4). What can atheism tell the survivors?—that nothing evil was really done, and that their precious children have simply ceased to exist. Oh, how desperate. But what can Christianity offer those who mourn? We can acknowledge that evil was done, that innocent children were killed, but that their immortal souls are in paradise with their Creator. And that God offers all who will obey Him the opportunity to live forever. Thus, parents can be reunited with their children when the fleeting years of this brief earthly life are past. God, the God of all comfort, is the only One who can offer any hope or consolation in such a tragedy.

REFERENCES

Butt, Kyle (2003), “Do Babies Go to Hell When They Die?” Apologetics Press, http://www.apologeticspress.org/apcontent.aspx?category=13&article=1201.
Darwin, Charles (1958), The Autobiography of Charles Darwin, ed. Nora Barlow (New York: W.W. Norton).
Lewis, C.S. (1952), Mere Christianity (New York: Simon and Schuster).
Nietzsche, Friedrich (2007), Beyond Good and Evil, http://books.google.com/books?id=BAz7fkKhu30C&dq=%22We+believe+that+severity,+violence%22&source=gbs_summary_s&cad=0.

From Mark Copeland... Slow To Wrath (James 1:19-20)

                         "THE EPISTLE OF JAMES"

                         Slow To Wrath (1:19-20)
                               
INTRODUCTION

1. In Jm 1:19-20 we find a trio of graces:
   a. "swift to hear"
   b. "slow to speak"
   c. "slow to wrath"

2. From the context, it appears that these admonitions are given in
   regards to our reception of the Word of God - cf. Jm 1:18, 21
   a. Therefore, they are qualities needed especially in times of trial
      when we need most the Word of God
   b. In other words, we need to humbly and calmly be receptive to what
      the Word of God has to say

3. In this lesson, I wish to concentrate our attention on the third
   admonition:  "slow to wrath"
   a. Especially in view of verse 20:  "For the wrath of man worketh not
      the righteousness of God."
   b. And also because "wrath" (and its close cousin "anger") are too
      often excused as "minor" sins

I. AN "OVERALL LOOK" AT ANGER AND WRATH

   A. DEFINING "ANGER" AND "WRATH"...
      1. ANGER - (Greek, "orge")
         a. "Indignation which has arisen gradually and become more
            settled" - THAYER
         b. "ORGE suggests a more settled or abiding condition of mind,
            frequently with a view to taking revenge" - VINE
         c. Anger, then, is a lingering, seething emotion
      2. WRATH - (Greek, "thumos")
         a. "The sudden outburst of passionate anger" - ZONDERVAN
            PICTORIAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF THE BIBLE
         b. "The blaze of temper which flares into violent words and
            deeds, and just as quickly dies" - BARCLAY
         c. Today we would call this "blowing off steam"

   B. THE OLD TESTAMENT BOOKS OF WISDOM SAY MUCH ABOUT ANGER AND WRATH
      1. In the Psalms:  Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not
         thyself in any wise to do evil. (Ps 37:8)
      2. In the book of Proverbs:
         a. [He that is] soon angry dealeth foolishly (Pr 14:17)
         b. [He that is] slow to wrath [is] of great understanding: but
            [he that is] hasty of spirit exalteth folly. (Pr 14:29)
         c. A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but [he that is] slow to
            anger appeaseth strife. (Pr 15:18)
         d. [He that is] slow to anger [is] better than the mighty; and
            he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.
            (Pr 16:32)
         e. A man of great wrath shall suffer punishment: for if thou
            deliver [him], yet thou must do it again. (Pr 19:19)
         f. [It is] better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a
            contentious and an angry woman. (Pr 21:19)
         g. Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious
            man thou shalt not go:  Lest thou learn his ways, and get
            a snare to thy soul. (Pr 22:24-25)
      3. In the book of Ecclesiastes:  Be not hasty in thy spirit to be
         angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools. (Ec 7:9)

   C. THE NEW TESTAMENT ALSO SAYS MUCH AGAINST ANGER AND WRATH
      1. To the brethren in Rome, Paul wrote:  Dearly beloved, avenge
         not yourselves, but [rather] give place unto wrath: for it is
         written, Vengeance [is] mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
         (Ro 12:19)
      2. It is included with those things Paul lists as the "works of
         the flesh" in Ga 5:19-21
      3. To the Ephesians Paul writes:  Let all bitterness, and wrath,
         and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from
         you, with all malice: (Eph 4:31)
      4. In a similar vein to the Colossians:  But now ye also put off
         all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication
         out of your mouth. (Col 3:8)

   D. HAVING SAID ALL THAT, WE MUST ALSO NOTE THAT...
      1. Paul seems to concede that there is a place for a certain kind
         of anger:  Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down
         upon your wrath: (Ep 4:26)
      2. On several occasions Jesus expressed anger
         a. Towards the money changers in the temple - Jn 2:13-17
         b. Towards the hypocritical scribes and Pharisees - Mt 23:13-
            36
      3. In both testaments, God is presented as a God of anger as well
         as a God of love
         a. In the Old Testament:
            1) He cast upon them the fierceness of his anger, wrath,
               and indignation, and trouble, by sending evil angels
               [among them].   He made a way to his anger; he spared
               not their soul from death, but gave their life over to
               the pestilence;   And smote all the firstborn in Egypt;
               the chief of [their] strength in the tabernacles of Ham:
               (Ps 78:49-51)
            2) For they provoked him to anger with their high places,
               and moved him to jealousy with their graven images. 
               When God heard [this], he was wroth, and greatly abhorred
               Israel:  So that he forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh,
               the tent [which] he placed among men;  And delivered his
               strength into captivity, and his glory into the enemy's
               hand. (Ps 78:58-61)
            3) Therefore is the anger of the LORD kindled against his
               people, and he hath stretched forth his hand against them,
               and hath smitten them: and the hills did tremble, and
               their carcases [were] torn in the midst of the streets.
               For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand
               [is] stretched out still. (Isa 5:25)
         b. In the New Testament:
            1) For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all
               ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth
               in unrighteousness; (Ro 1:18)
            2) Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and
               forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the
               goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?  But after
               thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto
               thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of
               the righteous judgment of God;  Who will render to every
               man according to his deeds:  To them who by patient
               continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and
               immortality, eternal life:  But unto them that are
               contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey
               unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,  Tribulation and
               anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the
               Jew first, and also of the Gentile;  But glory, honour,
               and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew
               first, and also to the Gentile:  For there is no
               respect of persons with God. (Ro 2:4-11)

[How do we then reconcile those passages which demand that anger and
wrath is folly and something to be put away, with those that speak of
anger on the part of God, Christ and even the Christian?

A closer look may help provide the answer...]

II. A "CLOSER LOOK" AT ANGER AND WRATH

   A. CONCERNING THE ANGER OF GOD...
      1. God's anger is ALWAYS A JUST REACTION TO EVIL (as clearly
         pointed out in Ro 1:18-2:11
         a. Being Divine, and all-knowing, His wrath is NEVER MISGUIDED
         b. He is therefore capable of properly directing anger and wrath
      2. Man, with his imperfections, is not so capable!
         a. His anger is often misguided (through ignorance, misunder-
            standing, etc.)
         b. Haven't we ever been angry about something, later regretting
            it when we realize we were in error?
      3. Therefore, just because God may display wrath and anger, this
         does not necessarily justify man doing so!

   B. CONCERNING THE ANGER OF CHRIST...
      1. What has already been said of God could also be said of Christ
         a. Especially in light of His ability to read the hearts of
            men - Jn 2:24-25
         b. With such divine knowledge, He could not mistakenly direct
            wrath and anger
      2. Also, in the examples of His anger...
         a. There is nothing of self-interest
         b. Only HOLY ANGER against unrighteousness which is abhorrent
            to God
      3. He was angry, but only for God's honor!
         a. When personally abused, He said nothing - 1Pe 2:21-23
         b. But when it was against God, He displayed "righteous anger"
      4. Again, man with his imperfections often uses anger improperly
         a. For example...
            1) We remain silent when sin is exalted and GOD is dishonored
            2) But then get angry when someone offends US personally!
         b. Too often, therefore, what we justify as "righteous
            indignation" is really "SELF-righteous indignation"!

   C. CONCERNING THE ANGER IN EPHESIANS 4:26...
      1. Whatever our interpretation, it needs to be in harmony with the
         context
      2. Especially with what Paul writes just a few verses later: Let
         all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil
         speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: (Ep 4:31)
      3. I understand this passage, rather than justifying anger, to be
         directing us how to deal with it when it arises in our heart:
         a. First, "DO NOT SIN"
            1) The emotion must be CONTROLLED
            2) Don't allow it to manifest itself in a sinful way
            3) Such as saying or doing something that is wrong
         b. Then, "DO NOT LET THE SUN GO DOWN ON YOUR WRATH"
            1) The emotion must be DISPELLED BEFORE NIGHTFALL
            2) Otherwise, we may be giving Satan ample opportunity to
               tempt us to sin - cf. Ep 4:27
      4. In view of what Paul actually says in Ep 4:26 and then later
         in Ep 4:31, it seems highly unlikely that he is justifying
         anger and wrath

CONCLUSION

1. Concerning the subject of anger and wrath, we would do well to take
   James' admonition to heart and to be "slow to wrath"

2. For though the "wrath of God" may on occasions accomplish the 
   "righteousness of God, it is clearly stated that the "wrath of man"
   does not:

   For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. (Ja
   1:20)

3. Following the example of Christ, there may be a place for anger, but
   if so, ONLY in things pertaining to the honor and will of God!

4. In all other things, we would do well to remember another admontion:

   And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto
   all [men], apt to teach, patient,  In meekness instructing those
   that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them
   repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;  And [that] they
   may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken
   captive by him at his will. (2Ti 2:24-26)

"Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow
to speak, slow to wrath:" (Jm 1:19)

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2011

From Gary.... Trust


I saw this on facebook today and immediately knew I was going to put it on the blog.  Why? Well, it is both clever and useful. Then, I realized I had something even better- a memory.  About 11 or so years ago, I was headed for my second thyroid surgery and was felt quite discouraged about it. Then one of the chemists at my workplace quoted the following verse to me and I realized how foolish I was.  If L.L. ever reads this- THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!...

Psalm 20
  7 Some trust in chariots, and some in horses,
but we trust the name of Yahweh our God.

Trust in God. Such a simple statement, but at times, so hard to do.  I know, I have been there. Yet it is amazing how a simple verse like this can rekindle trust.  Truth: God loves us and we need to trust HIM!!!  Everything on the list (except the Hugs and kisses) will eventually wear out, but The God of all creation will not.  Even when the last memory of every hug or kiss ever given is removed from the last person on earth, God will be there. And this reminds me of a passage from the book of Hebrews..
 
Hebrews, Chapter 1
 1 God, having in the past spoken to the fathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways,  2 has at the end of these days spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom also he made the worlds.  3 His Son is the radiance of his glory, the very image of his substance, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purified us of our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

 Trusting in God beats the contents of a plastic bag- doesn't it???