8/18/15

From Mark Copeland... "FOLLOWING JESUS WITHOUT DENOMINATIONALISM" How To Find A New Testament Church


              "FOLLOWING JESUS WITHOUT DENOMINATIONALISM"

                   How To Find A New Testament Church

INTRODUCTION

1. In this series of lessons I have sought to propose that "Following
   Jesus Without Denominationalism" is possible today when we:
   a. Appreciate why denominationalism is wrong, and therefore disdain
      sectarianism
   b. Imitate the example of Jesus by maintaining a non-sectarian
      relationship with God
   c. Properly respond to the call of the gospel, for that is how
      Christ is adding people to His church
   d. Allow the "apostles' doctrine" to be our standard of authority in
      religion, recognizing that is how Christ is directing His church
      today
   e. Develop those qualities of Christ-like character enjoined in the
      apostolic epistles, so that we can "maintain the unity of the
      Spirit in the bond of peace"

2. What I have proposed is really nothing new, and has been a plea
   expressed by many others...
   a. I am personally convinced that throughout church history there
      have always been groups of Christians seeking to follow Jesus in
      this way
   b. Even today, there are thousands of congregations composed of
      those who are "Following Jesus Without Denominationalism"
   -- Indeed, I believe there are many churches true to the example and
      pattern of the Lord's church as found in the New Testament

3. But suppose one wanted to find "a New Testament church" today?
   a. Where would they begin?
   b. What would they look for?

4. In this lesson, the final one in this series, I wish to offer some
   thoughts on "How To Find A New Testament Church"
   a. Not an exhaustive study, of course, but some simple suggestions
      that might help one get started
   b. These are the sort of suggestions that I myself would follow if I
      were seeking to find such a congregation

[First, I would...]

I. BEGIN WITH THE "NAME"

   A. THE "NAME" OF THE CONGREGATION REVEALS MUCH....
      1. It can quickly tell whether the church is concerned with
         "Following Jesus Without Denominationalism"
      2. For if the name is a denominational name, religious division
         must not be a major concern of those in the congregation

   B. THE "NAME" SHOULD BE A SCRIPTURAL NAME...
      1. There is really no one scriptural name for the Lord's church
         in the New Testament
         a. The expression "church of God" (1Co 1:2), "churches of God
            (1Th 2:14), and "churches of Christ" (Ro 16:16) are
            commonly used
         b. Other terms are used also, and they all reflect an
            association with God and Christ (body of Christ, kingdom of
            God, bride of Christ, temple of God, etc.)
      2. But the use of scriptural names instead of a humanly-conceived name...
         a. Reflects a desire to follow the Scriptures, and not human tradition
         b. Certainly conveys a desire to honor God and Christ, and not
            some man, creed or particular doctrine

   C. UNFORTUNATELY, THE "NAME" ALONE IS NOT A SURE GUIDE...
      1. Just as the name "Mrs. Copeland" alone is not a sure guide if
         you were seeking to find my wife
         a. For there are a lot of women who go by the name, "Mrs.
            Copeland"
         b. But only one who bears the name is properly my wife!
      2. So there may be many congregations that bear the name of
         Christ or God that may not be truly honoring them!
         a. For example, there are over 200 separate denominations that
            use the expression "Church of God"
         b. Likewise, there may be "Churches of Christ" that are no
            less denominational than any church with a denominational name!
      3. Yet I would still recommend beginning with the name, and in
         particular those congregations that use the expression "church of Christ"
         a. Because so many denominations have chosen to use the
            expression "church of God", the likelihood of simply
            finding a denomination is much greater
         b. Whereas most "churches of Christ" I have known are seeking
            to follow Jesus without denominationalism, therefore the
            possibilities of find a church true to the New Testament
            are greater

[But even when one has found a church that is non-denominational, that
does not automatically mean the people are truly members of the Lord's
body.  That is why I suggest the next step is to...]

II. EXAMINE THE "GOSPEL" BEING PREACHED

   A. REMEMBER HOW CHRIST IS BUILDING HIS CHURCH...
      1. Through the gospel, Christ calls us - 2Th 2:14
      2. As we heed the gospel call, the Lord adds us to His body, the
         church - Ac 2:41,47
      3. That is why it is so important that the gospel not be
         perverted in any way - Ga 1:6-9

   B. IF THE GOSPEL IS DIFFERENT...
      1. By changing either the facts or commands of the gospel
      2. Then people are not being saved, and the Lord is not adding
         them to His church!

   C. A CHURCH WITH A PERVERTED GOSPEL...
      1. May have the nicest people, but they are still unregenerate
         people!
      2. May wear the name of Christ, both as individuals and as a
         church, but are not truly the people of God!

[So while a group of people may identify themselves as a "church of
God" or "church of Christ", it is only Christ who truly makes them such
when they properly respond to the call of the gospel.  That is why it
is imperative a church teaches the pure and simple gospel of Christ!

A final suggestion, but one that might require very careful examination
over a period of time, is to...]

III. COMPARE THE "PRACTICE" WITH THE NEW TESTAMENT PATTERN

   A. IN THE NEW TESTAMENT, WE FIND A PATTERN...
      1. The N.T. describes the early church during its first 60 years
      2. A careful study of Acts and the epistles reveal a picture of
         the church
      3. From this picture, a pattern emerges in reference to:
         a. The worship of the church
         b. The work of the church
         c. The organization of the church
      4. This pattern emerges as we see the early Christians continuing
         steadfastly in the "apostles' doctrine"

   B. A CHURCH ABIDING IN THE "APOSTLES' DOCTRINE" WILL REFLECT THIS
      PATTERN...
      1. Their worship will be like that described in the New Testament
         a. Involving such elements as singing, prayer, Bible study,
            preaching, and the Lord's Supper - Col 3:16; 4:2; 2Ti 2:
            2,15; 4:2; Ac 20:7; 1Co 10:16-17; 11:23-29
         b. Their assemblies seeking to provoke one another to love and
            good works - He 10:24-25
      2. Their work as a congregation will be similar to that found in
         the New Testament
         a. Equipping the saints for ministry (edification) - Ep 4:11-16
         b. Furthering the spread of the gospel by sending out
            evangelists (evangelism) - Php 4:15-16; 3Jn 5-8
         c. Meeting the needs of the saints as problems arise
            (benevolence) - Ro 15:25-26; 1Co 16:1-4; 2Co 8:1-9:15
      3. Their organization as a congregation will seek to be like that
         found in the New Testament - cf. Php 1:1
         a. With elders (also known as bishops, pastors, presbyters,
            shepherds) qualified to oversee and tend to the local
            congregation - Ac 14:23; 20:28; 1Ti 3:1-7; Tit 1:5-9;
            1Pe 5:1-4
         b. With deacons also qualified to serve as they minister to
            the local congregation - 1Ti 3:8-13
         c. With saints (members) who sojourn in this world with
            conduct that is honorable and which gives glory to God -
            cf. 1Pe 2:9-12

CONCLUSION

1. By carefully studying the "pattern" of the Lord's church as revealed
   in the New Testament, we can know when a congregation is faithfully
   observing the "apostles' doctrine"
   a. This places upon each of us the responsibility of carefully
      studying the Scriptures
   b. For only then can we be able to distinguish between the
      "authentic" and a "counterfeit"

2. I am confident that there are many "authentic" congregations all
   over the world...
   a. It is likely that one exists in your community already!
   b. Please feel free to contact me if you would like for me to
      help you find one

3. But even if we live in an area where there is no church that
   "continues steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine", we can start one
   in our own home! - cf. Ro 16:5; Phm 1-2
   a. By proclaiming the simple gospel of Christ, and abiding in the
      "apostles' doctrine" as revealed in the New Testament...
   b. This will not be some new denomination, but simply a church of
      the Lord, a congregation of disciples that meet together to
      worship God and edify one another in their service to the Lord

Are you "Following Jesus Without Denominationalism"?  Don't you wish
to?  Remember the prayer of our Lord:

   "I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe
   in Me through their word;"

   "that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You;
   that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that
   You sent Me."

   "And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may
   be one just as We are one:"

   "I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and
   that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them
   as You have loved Me."
                                   -- Jn 17:20-23

May all those who have come to believe in Jesus strive to be one!

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2011

New Study Supports Biblical Record by Kyle Butt, M.A.


https://apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=13&article=1765

New Study Supports Biblical Record

by  Kyle Butt, M.A.

The oldest sections of the Bible date back almost four thousand years to about 1600 B.C. There is no question about the fact that the Old Testament is an ancient book. Due to its antiquity, many in the modern “scientific” world have accused the Bible of being outdated, out-of-touch, and out-of-line with our “current” state of advanced information and knowledge. The interesting thing about this allegation is that it is patently false. In fact, rare is the week that some new study or finding does not verify some aspect of the biblical record.
For example, in January of 2006, the results of a technology known as Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) began to show that those who drink alcohol excessively are damaging important parts of their brain. Scientists working with this technology have shown that alcohol can damage nerve fibers known as white matter. This damage potentially affects “working memory,” which is described as “a form of memory [that] allows one to remember, say, a phone number long enough to dial it (Singer, 2006). Other studies are looking into the negative effects on white matter of alcohol consumption by teenagers, due to the fact that much white matter growth occurs during these years (2006).
These “new findings” correlate perfectly with the description of drunkenness giving in the ancient biblical record. In Proverbs 23:29-35, a very accurate description of the effects of alcohol is recorded. The text explains that those who “linger long at the wine” have sorrows, woes, complaints, and various other maladies. The writer urges his readers to avoid the temptation to drink, because the effects of alcohol bite “like a serpent” and sting “like a viper” (vs. 32). With a catalog of such negative effects, it is no wonder that the New Testament also instructs its readers to avoid drunkenness: “And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation” (Ephesians 5:18).
The Bible is not an outdated book of human invention. It is the inspired Word of an all-knowing God whose descriptions of natural phenomena remain as relevant and accurate today as they were thousands of years ago. It is no wonder that accurate, scientific findings continue to corroborate the veracity of the biblical record.

REFERENCES

Singer, Emily (2006), “Your Brain on Booze,” Technology Review, January 26, [On-line], URL: http://www.technologyreview.com/BioTech/wtr_16197,304,p1.html.

God’s Love by Caleb Colley, Ph.D.


https://apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=12&article=1438

God’s Love

by  Caleb Colley, Ph.D.

French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte once said, “Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne, and myself have founded empires, but upon what do these creations of our genius depend? Upon force. Jesus alone founded His empire upon love: and to this very day millions would die for Him” (as quoted in Ankerberg and Weldon, 1997, p. 29). If every one of God’s characteristics was to be summarized in a single English word, only one word could suffice: love. Of course, the idea of love does not encompass all of God’s characteristics, but it is a fitting summation of God’s personality. In fact, John wrote simply that “God is love” (1 John 4:8-9,16)—perhaps the most powerful statement ever made about God’s love (we do not, as some do, charge that God’s justice is inconsistent with his love and mercy [see Colley, 2004a]).
When Paul listed the fruits of the Spirit—characteristics that appear in the lives of Christ's followers (Galatians 5:22-23)—the first fruit he mentioned was love. Jesus said that all the law and the prophets hang upon love (Matthew 22:40; Mark 12:28). God is not merely a loving God, but God is love, and love defines His very essence. Every action of God has been carried out, ultimately, because of His magnificent love.
God loves His Son. The relationship between God the Father and Jesus Christ is one of great love. God’s eternal love has an eternal object, and that eternal object is Christ. Consider a sampling of the passages that bear the special relationship the Father and Son share:
  • Isaiah 42:1: “Behold! My Servant whom I uphold, my Elect One in whom My soul delights! I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the Gentiles. He will not cry out, nor raise His voice.”
  • Matthew 3:17: “And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, ‘This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased’ ” (cf. Matthew 17:5).
  • John 1:18: “No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.”
  • John 5:20: “For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does” (cf. John 3:30).
  • John 17:24: “Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me.”
God loves His Son’s followers. Paul wrote to the Christians at Rome: “Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us” (Romans 5:5). The Greek verb translated “poured out” in Romans 5:5, ekcheo, is the same verb used to describe the outpouring of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:17ff.). This suggests that, through Christ, God has blessed His spiritual children with an abundant amount of love. The tense of the verb is perfect, indicating a settled state or a completed action. The idea, then, is that the love of God has filled our hearts, and, like a valley remains full of flood water, our hearts remain full of Christ’s love (see Packer, 1975, pp. 129-130). Those who are in Christ (Romans 6:3-4; Galatians 3:27) are in a covenant relationship with God, a relationship in which both God and the Christian are pledged to each other.
Again, Paul wrote: “For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39). Although Christians can (and, sadly, sometimes do) cease to love Christ (Acts 8:12-13; Galatians 5:4; James 5:19-20; see Jackson, 2003), Christ will never cease to love them, for God is unchanging (James 1:17; see Colley, 2004b). Packer wrote concerning the unchanging quality of God’s love:
…[T]his does not mean that He is unfeeling (impassive), or that there is nothing in Him that corresponds to emotions and affections in us, but that whereas human passions—specifically the painful ones, fear, grief, regret, despair—are in a sense passive and involuntary, being called forth and constrained by circumstances not under our control, the corresponding attitudes in God have the nature of deliberate voluntary choices, and therefore are not of the same order as human passions at all. So the love of the God who is spirit is no fitful, fluctuating thing, as the love of man is, nor is it a mere impotent longing for things that may never be…. There are no inconstancies or vicissitudes in the love of the almighty God who is spirit (1975, pp. 133-134, parenthetical item in orig.).
God loves the world. That is, God cares even for people who disregard Him. Paul wrote: “But God demonstrates His own love toward use, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8, emp. added). The Greek word translated love in Romans 5:8 is agape, which appears abundantly (82 times) in the Greek New Testament. Agape is a selfless love that motivates one to sacrifice on the behalf of others, so it has come to be known by many as “Christian” love. This purest form of love is the agape under consideration when Paul wrote: “And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love” (1 Corinthians 13:13). It was that love that made Christ willing to “taste death for everyone” (Hebrews 2:9).
God despises sin, but loves sinners. He does not approve or overlook sin; rather, He wants each sinner to repent of his wrongdoing and change his life (Acts 17:30). Peter wrote: “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9, emp. added). God delays the Second Coming of Christ, not because He is undependable or incapable of fulfilling the promise of judgment (1 Peter 4:17; 2 Peter 3:7-9; 1 John 4:17; Jude 6,15; Revelation 14:7), but because His love motivates Him to give sinners more opportunities to repent. Instead of admiring or imitating the wrong actions of sinners, we should abhor sin (Romans 12:9), and share God’s concern for lost souls—a concern that should motivate us to share the Gospel (Mark 16:15-16; John 14:6).
Jesus said, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another” (John 13:34, emp. added). In stating that the commandment was new, Jesus obviously intended to draw a distinction between His commandment and everything else that would have been familiar to His disciples concerning the topic they were discussing. Though the command to love one’s neighbor was not new (Leviticus 19:18), Christ’s command was new in that it demanded that we love, not as we love ourselves, but as God loves us. This would be the sign to non-Christians that the first-century disciples really were followers of Christ (John 13:35; see Pack, 1977, 5:54-55), and it serves the same purpose today.
William Evans wrote: “As love is the highest expression of God and His relation to mankind, so it must be the highest expression of man’s relation to his Maker and to his fellow-man” (1994, 3:1932). God’s love should motivate us to express our love for Him by obeying His commands. Jesus could not have put it any clearer than He did when He said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15). Let us pray that as we obey Christ, we will be able to “comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height” of His love, which “passes knowledge” (Ephesians 3:18-19).

REFERENCES

Ankerberg, John, and John Weldon (1997), Ready With an Answer (Eugene, OR: Harvest House).
Colley, Caleb (2004a), “God’s Mercy and Justice,” [On-line], URL: http://www.apologeticspress.org/articles/1860.
Colley, Caleb (2004b), “The Immutability of God,” [On-line], URL: http://www.apologeticspress.org/articles/2567.
Evans, William (1994), The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, ed. James Orr (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson).
Jackson, Wayne (2003), “Galatians 5:4—Fallen from Grace,” [On-line], URL: http://www.christiancourier.com/notes/fallenFromGrace.htm.
Pack, Frank (1977), The Living Word Commentary, ed. Everett Ferguson (Austin, TX: Sweet).
Packer, J.I. (1975), Knowing God (London: Hodder and Stoughton), second edition.

Comets, Chameleons, and Illogical Conclusions by Eric Lyons, M.Min.


https://apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=9&article=3724

Comets, Chameleons, and Illogical Conclusions

by  Eric Lyons, M.Min.

It never ceases to amaze me the lengths to which some will go to reject the rational conclusion that God created everything in six days (Genesis 1-2; Exodus 20:11). In an effort to counter various common-sense arguments that Christians present for a literal interpretation of Genesis one and a recent Creation (as opposed to a multi-billion-year, evolutionary process), evolutionists continually draw irrational conclusions. Consider two explanations by evolutionists attempting to explain away evidence creationists present for the coexistence of humans and dinosaurs in the past.
1. Whereas creationists believe that both the Bible and secular history teach that man once lived on Earth with dinosaurs (or “dragons;” see Lyons and Butt, 2008, pp. 13-45,109-134), evolutionists must somehow explain the existence of a plethora of stories of humans interacting with “dragons.” Why has humanity “since the dawn of recorded history” (“The Spread…,” 1981, 89:103) told stories of large reptilian creatures with long, serpentine necks, elongated bodies, massive tails, horned-heads, and some with membranous wings? Although evolutionist Ker Than was honest enough to admit that “[o]f all creatures that ever lived, pterosaurs probably most closely resemble the dragons of European legend” (2007), surely this couldn’t be the answer. After all, evolution says that pterosaurs and dinosaurs went extinct 60+ million years before humans allegedly evolved. What was Ker Than’s #1 explanation for the undeniable existence of antiquated “dragon legends” around the world? With all seriousness, he wrote:
To people living in ancient times, a comet streaking through the skies with an icy tail millions of miles long would have closely resembled such a creature…. If comets were the inspiration for some dragons, it could help explain why dragons are ubiquitous in the myths and legends of so many different cultures in all corners of the world (2007, emp. added).
In one of the few places I have ever seen evolutionists attempt to answer the dragon/dinosaur conundrum, a popular evolutionary writer concludes that a comet closely resembles a dragon. Absurd!
2. If, as the Bible teaches, humans once observed dinosaurs in the distant past (Genesis 1-2; Exodus 20:11; cf. Job 40:15-24; Job 41:1-34), it would seem logical that they not only would have told stories about what they saw (i.e., “dragon legends”—no doubt some were exaggerated), but occasionally they would have made some type of drawing or carving of them. In fact, this is exactly what has been found around the world: antiquated carvings and paintings of dinosaurs and dinosaur-like creatures (see Lyons and Butt, pp. 47-107). But such evidence conflicts with evolutionary theory. (If the ancients never lived with dinosaurs, and we did not learn about dinosaurs from the fossil record until modern times, our ancestors allegedly could not have illustrated dinosaurs; see Lyons, 2008.) Other explanations must be proposed; else evolution’s “factualiDinoty” would be called into question. Sadly, more often than not, evolutionists choose to “toe the party line” and come up with other explanations, regardless of their improbability.
Take, for example, the explanation one evolutionist gave of the Ta Prohm temple carving near Siem Reap, Cambodia (a carving that we have discussed at length elsewhere; see Butt and Lyons, 2008). Rather than admit what any unbiased child would call the animal (a “Stegosaurus,” or “dinosaur” at the very least), Dr. Steven Novella chose to point out what he called “creationist illogic” (2008). After showing two pictures of chameleons, he writes: “Ding, ding, ding, ding, ding! I think we have a winner. At the very least we can conclude that the temple relief looks much more like a chameleon than a stegosaurus” (emp. added). A chameleon? Really? One wonders why, when I randomly showed a class of middle school students this particular rock carving (which I had every reason to believe they had never previously seen) every student in the class identified the animal as a dinosaur, or more specifically as a Stegosaurus. [To read much more about this rock carving, as well as several others, see Lyons and Butt, 2008. NOTE: The most distinguishing part of a Stegosaurus (its plated back) is unlike any animal alive today. Though the carving may not be what a meticulous scientific illustrator would draw, one has to keep in mind that the ancients were (1) carving on rock, (2) working within the confines of a relatively small circular area, and (3) likely working from memory (either their own or from others who described the animal).]
A toy dinosaur that was originally (when sold) confined within a toy dinosaur egg. Notice that toy makers made the easily identifiable Stegosaurus without tail spikes. This particular feature of the dinosaur was purposefully left off of the toy model for various reasons (e.g., space limitation within the egg), yet any person remotely familiar with dinosaurs knows that toy makers were intending to manufacture a Stegosaurus.
Although Christians are continually mocked for believing that God designed all the various kinds of animal and human life on days five and six of Creation, in reality such a Creation makes perfect sense. The Bible, history, and true science are in complete agreement. It is logical to believe that “in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them” (Exodus 20:11). What we find illogical, however, is to maintain that “dragons” came from comets and that the CambodianStegosaurus carving looks like a chameleon.

REFERENCES

Butt, Kyle and Eric Lyons (2008), “Physical Evidence for the Coexistence of Dinosaurs and Humans [Part 1],” Reason & Revelation, 28[3], March, http://ap.lanexdev.com/apPubPage.aspx?pub=1&issue=599.
Lyons, Eric (2008), “Did the Ancients Base Their Dinosaur Drawings on Fossils?” http://ap.lanexdev.com/APContent.aspx?category=9&article=2444&topic=59.
Lyons, Eric and Kyle Butt (2008), The Dinosaur Delusion (Montgomery, AL: Apologetics Press).
Novella, Steven (2008), “Ancient Cambodian Stegosaurus?” NeurologicaBlog, http://theness.com/neurologicablog/?p=196.
Than, Ker (2007), “Top 10 Beasts and Dragons: How Reality Made Myth,” LiveScience.com, http://www.livescience.com/animals/top10_dragons.html.
“The Spread of Dragon Myths” (1981), Science Digest, 89:103, May.

Year of the Frog by Jeff Miller, Ph.D.


https://apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=7&article=2868

Year of the Frog

by  Jeff Miller, Ph.D.

[EDITOR’S NOTE: The following article was written by A.P.’s staff scientist. He holds M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Texas at Arlington and Auburn University, respectively, with emphases in Thermal Science and Navigation and Control of Biological Systems.]
I recently went to a zoo with my family. While in the amphibian building, we noticed a dated video that was playing on the television monitors located throughout the facility. The video spotlighted a campaign to “save the amphibians,” many species of which were reported to be going extinct. The goal was to raise 50 million dollars for the conservation effort. Amphibian conservationists all over the United States are running to the rescue for our little slimy, hopping friends, even having formally declared 2008, “Year of the Frog.” Several zoos have “jumped” on board this effort. The Nashville Zoo’s Web site says that
Earth is facing the largest mass extinction since the disappearance of the dinosaurs. After thriving for over 360 million years, 1/3 to 1/2 of the world’s approximately 6,000 known amphibian species could become extinct in our lifetime. In response to this epidemic, scientists and conservationists formed an Amphibian Conservation Action Plan (ACAP), including research, assessment and conservation in nature. For species that cannot be saved in nature, the plan is to rescue them before they are gone and protect them in captive facilities until the threats to the wild populations can be controlled. Nashville Zoo and other organizations supporting ACAP are participating in a global public awareness campaign, Year of the Frog. The goal of Year of the Frog is to raise awareness among media, educators, corporations, philanthropists, governments and the general public about the vulnerability of amphibians and the extinction crisis they face as well as generate much-needed funds to implement ACAP (“Year of the...,” 2010, emp. in orig.).
Amphibian Ark Communications says that their fundraising goal is to raise 50 to 60 million dollars to save several amphibian species (2010).
Now to the point: Imagine what could be done for the Lord’s cause if people contributed that money to Him instead of the frogs. How many souls could be reached if the conservationists declared 2008, “Year of the Human Soul” instead? Imagine how many missionaries could be sent out with one million dollars, much less 50 to 60 million. How many kingdom-advancing books and tracts could be published? How many television/radio programs could be aired? Imagine what could be done with the man-hours that are being poured into this effort.
Are the amphibians, as well as all living creatures, important to God? Yes. God feeds the birds of the air (Matthew 6:26) and clothes the grass and flowers of the field (Matthew 6:28-30). However, are animals more important than human beings, or even equal to human beings? No. Jesus said in Matthew 6:26 and 12:12 that human beings are “much more valuable” than them. Humans were made in the image of God (Genesis 1:26), unlike the animals. This is why humans were given a position of superiority over the created order, to have “dominion” over the animals and “subdue” them (Genesis 1:26,28).
Is it true that God would have us to be good stewards of the blessings that He has given us, including the Earth and its contents? Certainly. The parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30) teaches this principle, and the Old Testament gives specific examples of how God expected the Israelites to be good stewards of the land and wildlife around them. For instance, Deuteronomy 25:4 indicates that oxen were not to be muzzled while stamping out the grain from the chaff (Barnes, 1997), that they might enjoy the fruits of their labor (1 Timothy 5:18). Exodus 23:12 indicates that one of the reasons for the weekly Sabbath day was to give the animals a day of rest. Leviticus 25:1-7 and Exodus 23:10-11 indicate that every seventh year the land was not to be sown or reaped for food, but was to be given a year to recuperate and to provide food for, among others, the animals of the land. So, God expected the Israelites to consider the well-being of the animals, trees, and fields of the land. We are to be good stewards of what God has given us. We should not waste or be destructive with what God has given us. However, note one of the primary rationales for why we should be good stewards of the land. Deuteronomy 20:19 discusses the protocol that the Israelites were to follow in besieging the cities that they would be coming up against in their conquest of Canaan: “When you besiege a city for a long time, while making war against it to take it, you shall not destroy its trees by wielding an ax against them; if you can eat of them, do not cut them down to use in the siege, for the tree of the field is man’s food” (emp. added). Notice that trees that bore fruit were to be left alone in the making of siege equipment. However, what was the rationale for this? They were to be spared due to their role in sustaining human life. Plants, animals, and the Earth are only important insofar as their value to humanity. They are instrumentally good—not intrinsically good (Warren, 1972, pp. 38ff.).
Many in the animal rights, environmental, and conservation movements simply do not have their priorities straight on what should be the appropriate use of time and money. To pump millions of dollars into saving the animals or the environment rather than souls is to miss the point of our existence. When people sacrifice more of their time and money to try to save the world and the creatures of the world rather than to help the cause of Christ in the world—spreading the Word and serving humanity—then those things have become their idol. Regarding unrighteous men, Paul wrote
because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen (Romans 1:21-25, emp. added).
The rationale of the extremist elements of the conservation, animal rights, and environmental movements is based on a lack of faith in God as the Protector and Sustainer of life—Who is “upholding all things by the word of His power” (Hebrews 1:2-3) and in Whom all things hold together (Colossians 1:17). It is based on faith in the Earth as our savior, serving Mother Nature, instead of Father God. This worldly, faithless rationale says, “We cannot count on God! We need to save the world.” It is based on panic and anxiety, rather than on the peace that we can have through faith in God to care for us (Philippians 4:6-7). It is based on human arrogance, confidently asserting that we have the knowledge to save the world when, even if such were possible, we could hardly have the power to do so. Perhaps God in His infinite knowledge desires that some species cease to exist at certain points in history. Who are we to claim we could know such things?
The extremist rationale is carnally minded. We should not treasure the Earth or its contents by dwelling on them or prioritizing them above other more important matters (Matthew 6:19). We should, rather, “lay up for [ourselves] treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:20-21). The infallible principle of entropy treks onward. The Second Law of Thermodynamics says that it will win every battle and implies that it will ultimately win the war, regardless of what we as humans do to fight it. Simply put, the “earth will pass away” (Luke 21:33). So, we should set our minds “on things above, not on things on the earth” (Colossians 3:2).
The Lord told us how this Earth will come to an end. Ironically, it will be a form of global warming. However, it will not be man-made global warming:
But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless (2 Peter 3:10-14, emp. added).

REFERENCES

“Amphibian Ark Communications and Fundraising Plan” (2010), Slideserve, [On-line], URL: http://www.slideserve.com/presentation/4878/Amphibian-Ark-Communications-and-Fundraising-Plan.
Barnes, Albert (1997), Barnes’ Notes (Electronic Database: Biblesoft).
Warren, Thomas (1972), Have Atheists Proved There Is No God? (Ramer, TN: National Christian Press).
“Year of the Frog” (2010), Nashville Zoo at Grassmere: Education, [On-line], URL: http://www.nashvillezoo.org/education_year_of_the_frog.asp.

From Gary... Chicken


Cute picture, but I will never know if it is true (I don't do cannibalism). However, it is a fact that people are all the same. We all do the same things in life- all the normal functions of the human body. We may look a little different on the outside, but inwardly we all have the same organs. Not only that, but we all are prone to sin.  Jesus said a great deal about that...

Matthew, Chapter 9 (WEB)
9  As Jesus passed by from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax collection office. He said to him, “Follow me.” He got up and followed him.  10 As he sat in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Jesus and his disciples.  11 When the Pharisees saw it, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 

  12  When Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are healthy have no need for a physician, but those who are sick do.   13  But you go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ for I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

We all have sinned; but the doctor of all humanity can make it right-. That's why he came. Jesus is ready, willing and able to help anyone who will obey him.  Don't be "chicken", do something about your sin, today!!!