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Should Christians ever lie?
The joke has been made that “A lie is an ever present help in a time of need.” I have had many discussions with believers regarding the use of lies in dire circumstances. Escaping Nazi Germany is always an example that justifies the use of lies. Likewise, there are numerous biblical examples of godly people lying that are cited, too.
My wife and I started watching the TV show, “Lie to Me,” because of the intriguing use of body language to determine when someone is lying. They used to show many still pictures of famous people caught in the act of lying who had the same facial expression as the character in the show. They don’t do that as much anymore, perhaps because of lawsuits.
Nonetheless, on a recent episode a disgruntled farmer parked his tractor outside a government building where the Lightman Institute is located with a possible bomb. As it happened a group of children were touring the institute and had to sheltered. Stuck with the job of entertaining the kids, Will Loker (played by Brendan Hines) gets the kids to write a song on lying called, “White Lie.” Since we recorded the show, I was able to rip an mp3 of the song and copy the lyrics for this post. You can play the song and read the lyrics as it is sung. Read the rest of this entry →
As I have continued to meditate on the need for us to have root in ourselves, I am naturally drawn to the example given to us by Jesus. Jesus, more than anyone, had root in Himself. He knew who He was. While addressing the Pharisees who were trying to find fault with Him, He said to them:
John 8:43-46
43 Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say.
44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
45 Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me!
46 Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me? (NIV)
He knew He was sinless. He knew He was the Son of God by the time of His Bar Mitzvah as demonstrated in Luke chapter 2. It would be a mistake to think the devil never tried to assault his identity before the wilderness trial. The accusation of being a bastard began in infancy.
But, more than that, wisdom requires humility. Humility is an honest assessment of truth. The humble are teachable. Pride is a defense mechanism that hinders truth because it is too busy defending its error. Truth needs no defense. Because he is the Truth He was able to empty Himself. These verses are often misunderstood regarding Jesus: Read the rest of this entry →
I became a fan of “So You Think You Can Dance” last summer. I was drawn in by the incredible artistry of the routines created by the professional choreographers for the top 20 elimination. Mia Michaels proved herself to be the consummate artist creating one great performance for the dancers after another.
This video from the Wednesday October 14th broadcast of the Las Vegas eliminations caught my attention as a matter that the Church has disregarded and confused in errant theology. As you can see by the dancers statements, her choreography transformed their lives. It may not be obvious from these testimonies, but as an athlete who has been involved with acrobatic dance for the last 30 years, I understood them completely.
The Church has struggled with the spirituality of the body throughout its history. The body has been regarded as the source of “the flesh”. The Gnostics viewed the body as pure evil, whereas only the spirit was good. For many in the Church a carnal Christian is one who is focused only on the material and the sensual pleasures of the body. Read the rest of this entry →
Unless the Lord joins people together, there is no complete assembly.
An associate of mine, Art Nelson, through several social networks provided an outstanding explanation on the meaning Hebrews 10:25. This verse is the main gun pointed at those who leave the paid clergy system. He provides many outstanding points that are worth meditating upon.
by Art Nelson
Let’s look at the Greek word [in Heb 10:25] for “assembling”–episunagoge (Strong’s # G1997). This is the only occasion that it is used in connection with the translation “assemble” (there are other Greek words that are normally used for “meeting”). The only other place that this particular Greek word is used in in 2 Thessalonians 2:1, which refers to our gathering together with the Lord at His return.
[Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, (II Th 2:1 KJV) -episunagoge]
The original Greek word comes from episunago (Strong’s #G1996) and means “a complete collection”. Its root is in two other Greek words—Strong’s numbers G1909 and G4863, which mean “to collect upon the same place; gather”. Putting all of this together, we get “to collect upon the same place to complete collection (assemble).” Based on this, it appears evident that the way we have been using “assemble” falls far short of its true meaning. To assemble together is more that meeting together. The parts of the Body are collected together upon the same place to complete the assembly. Read the rest of this entry →
Danny DeVito defines character as actually caring about people, instead of selling Jesus to people.
I have posted this video of Danny DeVito in the “Big Kahuna” because he provides a rough illustration of organic pastoring. In a previous article I made the case that we all have only one Pastor, the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus referred to all His help as “hirelings“ who care not for the sheep, but will flee when wolves arrive (John 10:12-13). I stand by this still. Only Jesus knows everything about us and cares about all the details of our lives. It is impossible for another human being to do so.
Later on I wrote another article on the organic functions of the “5 fold ministries” in which I explained the temporary nature of ministry. God brings people into our lives from the body of Christ to meet needs temporarily in those seasons of our lives when we have such needs. Pastoring is one such ministry, even though we are all hirelings while we are in His service. Read the rest of this entry →
Last night I was at a Creation Science meeting with a dear friend of many years when I got a phone call from a brother from a house church fellowship that my wife and I had been attending for the last 6 months.
The brother has taken a personal interest in my life, having met me for lunch on several occasions, so I was delighted to get the call.
Then he told me something that completely floored me.
The fellowship began with a woman who calls her self the pastor. When my wife and I first visited we were concerned, not that she is a woman, but that she calls herself “pastor”. I believe that God has many people that are pastors in heart, and even the brother who called me, has a pastor’s heart, but I am leery of people assuming the title for it implies control. Read the rest of this entry →
We are not human marionettes controlled by the Spirit
Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty (2 Cor. 3:17).
Life and salvation as given by God is one of freedom. I have heard statements like these many times in the past.
“We are either controlled by our self-centered flesh or by the Holy Spirit who indwells us.” (Bible.org)
“Spirit-Controlled Temperament , by Tim LaHaye, examines the four basic temperaments and discusses how Christians can live Spirit-controlled lives.” (Young Ladies Christian Fellowship)
“Acts 13:52, from The New Testament by Kenneth S. Wuest reads, ‘And the disciples were constantly filled with joy and CONTROLLED by the Holy Spirit.’” (One Thing Blog)
The examples are numerous but you can see the common opinion that God should control our lives. But, frankly, this is a lie. God did not create us to be robots or marionettes on strings. He created all life to be free, and He controls no one. Read the rest of this entry →
I have long wondered why so many metaphors have been used in describing our relation as Christians to God. I think the Lord has given me a reasonable answer. I shared this with my wife and and a client and they both were ho-hum about it. So this information will probably only be of interest to those avid theologians out there. Here goes.
We are called the body of Christ (Rom 7:4, 1 Cor. 10:16, 12:27 & Eph. 4:12) in the Bible. How are we His body? I think this can be answered when we understand how we are made in the image of God. As humans we are a created spirit made by the breath of God, a body made by from the dust of the ground, and a living soul which is the result of the spirit and body interacting (Gen 2:7). As a spirit, soul and body we mirror the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. I believe that the human spirit compares to the Father, our human souls compare to the Word who is the Son, and our human bodies compare to the Holy Spirit. Read the rest of this entry →
The blaspheme of the Holy Ghost is revealed in only one scene. In this story, the scribes have accused Jesus of casting out devils by the power of the Beelzebub, the prince of devils. Jesus responds by saying that a house divided can not stand, and if Satan casts out demons, he can not stand (Mark 3:22-26). Jesus concludes by saying:
Mark 3:28-29
28 Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme:
29 But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation: (KJV)
The context is very clear: to call the work of God the work of Satan is blasphemy. And I would say it is possible that calling the work of Satan is the work of God is blasphemy, too. Read the rest of this entry →
