Jesus on How to Grow and Change

Jesus told his disciples, "The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. -Matthew 13:11-12.

I don't know about you, but I want to be one who has an abundance! Being a disciple of Jesus is the most important thing you can do in life. It means learning about and putting into practice exactly what God, your creator, has designed you for.

But so many people miss the "knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven." We see this often today. Even people who attend church services regularly never seem to experience the radical transformation that New Testament Christianity promises. Why? I think we need to pay more attention to the way Jesus made disciples. Here are five key strategies Jesus used:

1. Preaching.

We have many examples of Jesus preaching in the New Testament, most notably the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7). This was a key part of how Jesus made disciples. However, many listened to Jesus' sermons and did not become disciples. In fact, Jesus never intended for his preaching to make disciples by itself, that is the point of Matthew 13:11-12 above. This is a common theme in the Bible. God sent the prophets in the Old Testament to preach to the people, but they rejected the message. While preaching is useful for changing hearts and compliments the other processes of discipleship, it is largely ineffective by itself to bring about real and lasting change.

2. Small Group Discussion

It was the smaller group of disciples that followed after Jesus wanting a fuller explanation of the parables and illustrations he used in his sermons who learned biblical truth. Jesus put a lot of emphasis on small groups, spending much of his time with the twelve disciples and meeting frequently in homes with other disciples and potential disciples. He also took Peter, James, and John aside for more focused discipleship. Jesus used great questions to provoke curiosity and conversation. He asked, "Who do you say I am?" (Matthew 16:13-17), and caused confusion with "I have food to eat that you know nothing about" (John 4:32). In both occasions (and many others), Jesus used the resulting conversations as teaching moments. Jesus didn't only proclaim truth, he dialogued with small groups to develop understanding. The practical application for us is that we need both the preaching that is common in a Sunday morning worship service, and a small group with good discussion about the Bible, such as a Sunday School class or discipleship group.

3. Teaching Assignments

The Bible warns against being "a hearer of the word and not a doer" (James 1:23). Jesus did not preach and teach merely to get disciples to grow in knowledge. They needed to go do things. Jesus started small. He had his disciples do baptisms early on (John 4:1-2). Then he moved them towards more independent ministry when he sent them out on a short-term mission trip (Luke 9:1-6). When they returned, they reported to Jesus what happened, showing that Jesus held them accountable to the ministry he assigned to them. Finally, he sent them out on the Great Commission, but not before they had worked their way up to this great task by doing smaller tasks first. We need more than good preaching and Bible study. In order to grow, we need an action plan and accountability.

4. Modeling

Jesus lived his life in front of his disciples, modeling for them how they should live. After washing the disciples feet, Jesus declared, "I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you" (John 13:15). Jesus did this throughout his earthly ministry. We need godly role models in our lives that we can observe and learn from.

5. Scripture Study and Memorization

Jesus emphasized knowing the Scriptures. The Sermon on the Mount is a lot like a Bible study. Jesus quotes passages and explains what they mean and how to apply them in daily life. Jesus told Satan, "Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God" (Matthew 4:4). We need every word from God to have "life" in any meaningful sense. Jesus told the religious leaders that they were in error because, "You do not know the Scriptures" (Matthew 22:29). These people read the Scriptures more than anyone, but they studied in order to defend their positions rather than to hear from God. Jesus went on to say, "Have you not read what God says to you," (Matthew 22:31), demonstrating that we are to hear God speak to us through the reading of the Scriptures.

I believe Jesus also emphasized Bible memory. He emphasized the importance of every letter of the Old Testament (Matthew 5:18). He emphasized every command in the Old Testament, including Joshua 1:8, "Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.” The Bible speaks about changing to be the person God wants you to be when you are constantly "meditating" on God's Word. That must include going over it again and again in your mind. It also says to keep it "always on your lips," so you are to speak it frequently.

Although we don't see examples of Jesus spending time with his disciples working on Bible memory, we do see evidence of it. If you read Peter's Pentecost sermon in Acts 2, you will notice that Peter quotes from the Old Testament a number of times. In one instance he rattles off five straight verses from the book of Joel (Acts 2:17-21). He was an uneducated man. Clearly, he worked on memorizing this passage at some point, and it was almost certainly during his time with Jesus.

Consider also James 1:25: “But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it-- he will be blessed in what he does." It is not enough to read or know about the content of biblical verses, but we must look at them “intently.” James adds that we must not forget what we have heard. This does not necessarily mean a word for word memorization of the verses, but it certainly means being able to remember everything about the content of a verse that you have looked at intently. The best way to follow this command is to memorize.

Do you have these five elements of discipleship in your life? If you want the "abundance" of the kingdom of heaven that Jesus promises, commit to: 1) Regular preaching, 2) A small group Bible study focused on discussion 3) A mentor, teacher, or ministry leader that can give you things to do to put your faith into practice (talk to your pastor if you need help with this), 4) Look for people in your life that you can look up to as godly examples, 5) Commit to a regular Bible reading/study and memory plan. Pick out at least 12 verses to memorize in the coming year, one for each month.

 

Trust the Bible's purpose is to grow your confidence that the Bible is true and the ultimate resource for life." You can join the Facebook group by clicking here. Trust the Bible is a weekday radio program that begins at about 8:10 each morning on WDOG 93.5 in Allendale, SC. Listen to previous programs online: www.fairfaxfbc.org/trust-the-bible.html

Reincarnation and the Bible

A four-year-old tells his family that he misses his "previous" family. He remembers living as a child in a different town with different parents and siblings as an older boy. Five years later, he sees a man that he believes is his "real" father. The man acknowledges that he had a child that died right around the time that the four-year-old was conceived. They take the boy to the man's house and he recognizes the other family members and is very emotional, crying as he sees them. This is one example of many well-documented cases supposedly demonstrating evidence of reincarnation (see Ian Steven's "Twenty Cases Suggestive of Reincarnation"). The situation described above is a true account. Does this mean that reincarnation is real?

Billions of people in Eastern religions like Hinduism believe  in reincarnation. Many others also say they believe in reincarnation, from the half-joking to the more serious. There are many reasons for doing so:

1. There is a motivation to believe. None of us want this life to be all there is. Reincarnation explains that life continues after this one. In addition, I think all of us like the concept of a "do-over." We've made mistakes in life and we want another chance to get it right. It's not hard to see how the idea of reincarnation became popular.

2. Many religious texts teach reincarnation. Reincarnation seems plausible because sources claiming a certain level of authority on truth claim that it is true. I will speak specifically about the "Bhagavad Gita" below.

3. Specific examples are given, like the one above. Sometimes these involve children knowing a foreign language that they have never heard before. Compared to the number of people in the world these examples are rare, but altogether there are many cases like this.

But how does this compare to what the Bible says? The Bible also teaches that this life is not all there is. However, the Bible does not allow for a "do-over." Hebrews 9:27 says, "Man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment." Many accounts in the Bible emphasize that after death, our soul continues to have the same identity and continues to exist in either heaven or hell, awaiting the resurrection of the body and a final judgment. (See Also, "What About Hell?")

Both of these views cannot be true. Either reincarnation is true and the Bible is false. Or the Bible is true, and reincarnation is false. How should we decide? The more reasonable position is the one that can explain the evidence for the other. Let's look at the evidence.

1. There is a motivation to believe. Clearly, this should not matter. No matter how much we may want something to be true, that has nothing to do with whether or not it is true. However, I think there are many reasons why reincarnation is not something we should even want to be true. It fundamentally doesn't make sense.

One of the more popular Hindu texts that supports reincarnation is the Bhagavad Gita. It retells a conversation between Arjuna (a warrior leading an army into battle), and Krishna (one of the most important gods in Hinduism). Arjuna has a moral dilemma. Should he go into battle and kill many people? Krishna responds that Arjuna should go into battle. His argument does not focus on the just cause of the war, but rather on the implications of reincarnation. Essentially, he says that since Arjuna is a warrior, he is supposed to fight. The people he kills in battle will simply reincarnate and start life again in a new form. The people who die have done bad things in their life and have built up a need to suffer (karma). By killing them, Arjuna is helping to burn off their bad karma and allowing them to enter into a new life free from the bad karma. (Admittedly, this is an oversimplified explanation.)

Therefore, the implication of reincarnation is that you have to keep trying to do better and better each lifetime to reach some goal (the goal varies in different religions). But anything you do to hurt others is actually helping them burn off bad karma and anything you do to help them is causing them to expend their good karma. There is no meaningful way to do right and wrong. There is an almost hopeless cycle of going through different lives, suffering immensely, and hoping to one day escape through your own strength.

Christianity offers real hope. This life matters. You can achieve perfect righteousness right now! You receive it as a gift through faith in Jesus Christ.

2. Many religious texts teach reincarnation. Yes, but they have no supporting evidence like the Bible. We don't really know anything about who wrote the Bhagavad Gita or even when. Nor do we have any reason to think Arjuna was a real person or that the events described in the book actually happened. The only way we can evaluate the claims is to ask ourselves, "Does this seem like truth to me?" But that is not a very good method. We are simply guessing, with nothing to guide us (except for #3 below).

The Bible is a very different kind of book. It identifies the authors and places them in real places and times. People may question that the Bible is right, but you can investigate it historically, it is not simply internal guess work. In addition, the Bible is authenticated by miracles. Jesus claimed to be God and proved it by dying and rising from the dead. The Bible's verification is based on a historical event that occurred in public with many eye-witnesses. You may doubt the claims of Christianity, but it is a matter that one can study historical evidence for and against. The evidence is not based on personal, subjective feelings. (See, "How Do We Know the Bible is God's Word?") Rather, it is based on historical facts.

3. Specific examples are given, like the one above. Yes, reincarnation is an explanation for these stories, but the Bible also offers an explanation for cases like the four-year-old described above. I think the Bible offers a better explanation.

First, the Bible says that Satan blinds the eyes of unbelievers (2 Cor. 4:4). Believing that reincarnation is true is an obstacle to believing in Jesus as the hope for eternal life. Clearly, if Satan is a real being as the Bible says, he has a motive to deceive people into believing reincarnation. In fact, God tells us that this is exactly what Satan does, he acts to deceive people into believing things that conflict with the truth.

Second, Satan can use spirits, or demons, to communicate to people. In Acts 16, Paul encounters a woman who had a "spirit" and earned money as a fortune-teller. She followed Paul, shouting, "These men are servants of the Most High God." She knew things about Paul because of what a spirit was telling her.

In the case of the four-year-old boy, the Bible would say that he never had a previous life. Instead, a spirit was telling him things about a boy who lived earlier. Growing up in a Hindu home, he either interpreted the messages to be about his previous life, or he was deceived by the spirit into thinking he really used to be the former boy. This is exactly the kind of thing the Bible says Satan does, and fits with the mechanisms available to Satan.

This is a better explanation for several reasons. First, there are similar stories that reincarnation cannot explain. Ian Stevenson documents cases where the "earlier person" was still living when he supposedly reincarnated into another person. For example, suppose a case just like the four-year-old boy described above. Yet, this time, imagine that the "previous child" who died, died a year after the four-year-old was born. Many cases like this have been recorded. Reincarnation clearly cannot explain this, because it requires a person to reincarnate into another human embryo a year or more before dying. The Bible offers a better explanation for these cases. There is a demonic spirit at work. The biblical view is the only one that can explain all the evidence, not just the cherry-picked cases.

Second, notice that the Bible can explain the evidence for reincarnation with no difficulty. However, those who believe in reincarnation do not have an easy explanation for all the evidence supporting the Bible.

Third, the whole system of reincarnation is full of logical difficulties, as outlined above. Who started reincarnation? Who enforces it? How long has this been going on? What is the real goal or purpose? Many Eastern religions seem to offer creative approaches to these questions, but none offer objectively verified evidence. Christianity offers a historical person that revealed everything we need to know about God, the purpose of life, what we must do, and how we can have eternal life. The events of his life were done in public with objective evidence available for any person to examine.


Trust the Bible's purpose is to grow your confidence that the Bible is true and the ultimate resource for life." You can join the Facebook group by clicking here. Trust the Bible is a weekday radio program that begins at about 8:10 each morning on WDOG 93.5 in Allendale, SC. Listen to previous programs online: www.fairfaxfbc.org/trust-the-bible.html

What About Science?

"I trust science, not an outdated religious text," is an often cited reason for rejecting the Bible. There are two assumptions behind this statement that I think are false:

1. Science is useful tool to find the truth about everything.
2. Science and the Bible are in conflict with each other.

Assumption #1 overstates the case for science. There are many truths that science is useful for, but not everything. Why was Abraham Lincoln assassinated? How can we find the answer to a question like this? Certainly we would not run experiments, record observable data, and demonstrate scientifically the reason. We would instead read documents that John Wilkes Booth and others wrote. We might look at other evidence like court records and eye witness testimony. We would study history to find the answer, not science. In fact, we cannot even know that Lincoln was shot at all if science is our only source of information to answer the question.

Similarly, we cannot answer basic spiritual questions using science. "Does God exist?" A question like this is a matter of theology or philosophy. Science is by definition limited to the study of the physical world. It is not equipped to make a case for or against the non-physical, supernatural world.

Many people reject miracles because they are "not proven scientifically." But think about that for a moment. A miracle occurs when something happens when the normal laws of nature do not operate properly. A biologist can give a natural explanation behind a pregnancy. However, if a religious text claims that a virgin conceives, we know it is referring to a miracle - something other than the only available natural explanation occurred. A scientist might claim, "A virgin birth is scientifically impossible," and they would be right. It is scientifically impossible, but does this mean it is impossible? If God can create the universe, can he not cause a virgin to conceive? Can he not reveal that this occurred through the Bible? I believe this happened because Jesus says it is so, and Jesus rose from the dead. I can trust him. You cannot prove it scientifically, but you cannot prove it wrong either. It is a truth claim that science simply isn't equipped to address.

Assumption #2 is difficult to demonstrate. The Bible does make scientific claims. Science can either verify or falsify those claims. Take, for instance, Genesis 1:1. The Bible claims that there is a beginning to the universe. Only in the last 100 years has science advanced enough to verify this claim. Many philosophers, atheists, and Eastern religions assumed that the universe has always existed. However, during the 20th century the evidence that the universe must have had a beginning steadily increased. The data observed by the Hubble telescope in the 1990s put the issue completely to rest. How could ancient writers have known this if God did not reveal it? Perhaps it was a lucky guess. However, any religious text that gets this wrong loses credibility. Science can help confirm the trustworthiness or untrustworthiness of any religious text that makes scientific claims.

But doesn't the Bible make many other scientific claims that are wrong? I don't think so. I believe that when science and the Bible seem to conflict, either the science is wrong, or our interpretation of the Bible is wrong, or both. My assumption is that the Bible is infallible, but my interpretation may be wrong or science may be wrong (it has often been wrong).

For instance, some people think that the Bible teaches that the earth is flat. Numerous places speak about the "four corners of the earth." However, this is best taken as a metaphor for the four directions on a compass. No Christian church ever believed or taught that the earth was flat. It is often believed that Columbus was trying to prove that the earth was round on his voyages. This is a myth created by Washington Irving in the early 1800s. All political and church leaders believed the earth was round from the very beginning of the church. The Bible even records that God "sits enthroned above the circle of the earth" (Isaiah 40:22). The Bible often uses metaphorical language, just like we do. We often talk about the "sunrise" or "sunset" even though we know that the earth's rotation merely makes the sun appear to rise or set. I do not know of any instance where their is a contradiction between a proper interpretation of Scripture and proper science.

But what about evolution? Many books have been written on the topic, and I can only say so much here. However, I do believe once again that either science is wrong, or our interpretation of the Bible is wrong, or both. There is no need to think the Bible is wrong.

One issue with evolution is the origin of life. Part of the claim of evolution is that life originated from nonliving matter, and that this happened through natural processes. However, this isn't really science. There is no scientific evidence for such an event. It is really just an assumption that natural processes can explain everything in our world. That is an assumption the Bible rejects.

In Darwin's day, it may have seemed feasible that simple life forms could randomly form out of nonliving matter. The problem is that since that time, our knowledge of "simple" life forms has increased dramatically. Today, we know they are complex machines. Consider this diagram of a cell membrane, the "wall" around simple living things:

This is just the cell membrane! Multiple different parts inside the cell are much more complicated and all work together to make a living organism. So where did the first living organism come from? Scientists look to find the best natural explanation. The Bible says God created it. The explanations scientists can offer are very limited. Remember, they aren't even looking for the best explanation, they are only looking for the best natural explanation. I think the biblical view of God creating life is a much more plausible explanation than anything science can come up with on the topic.

The Bible greatly encourages science. The Bible tells us that the God we worship is the creator of nature and all there is. He has given humans the unique ability to study and observe nature in a way that helps us know about God (Rom. 1:20). He has given us the instruments we need to study nature (eyes, ears, etc.) He gives people the charge to "rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky..." (Gen. 1:26). This is why many of the great scientists like Kepler, Galileo, and Newton were deeply committed Christians. God wants us to explore and understand our world. But understand that science is a discipline that can only answer certain kinds of questions. Problems come when science is viewed as the ultimate vehicle for finding truth.


Trust the Bible's purpose is to grow your confidence that the Bible is true and the ultimate resource for life." You can join the Facebook group by clicking here. Trust the Bible is a weekday radio program that begins at about 8:10 each morning on WDOG 93.5 in Allendale, SC. Listen to previous programs online: www.fairfaxfbc.org/trust-the-bible.html

What About Hell?

One of the greatest challenges to the Bible today is hell. In a culture that values tolerance and mercy more than righteousness and justice, hell is very unpopular. Can we trust what the Bible says about hell? Here are answers to some common questions:

1. Isn't it mean to talk about hell?

It depends on your motive. Jesus is the most loving person to ever live, and Jesus talked about hell quite a lot. "Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell," (Mat. 10:28). Jesus acknowledges that talking about hell should cause fear. That may sound unloving, and indeed, talking about everlasting torment will make everyone feel uncomfortable at the very least. However, sometimes fear is a good thing. I want my children to fear talking to strangers or playing in the street. If your motive is to warn people about a very real and terrible place so that they will avoid going there, then talking about hell is loving. In fact, it would be unloving and selfish to keep such an important truth to yourself just because you didn't want to bring up an unpopular subject.

2. Would God really punish people forever when they have sinned a limited number of times?

The Bible says that people suffer forever in hell. The Bible also says God is just. This is difficult for us to understand, but that doesn't mean it's wrong. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

First, the Bible does say there are different levels of punishment in hell (see Mat. 12:41-42 and Lk. 12:47-48). Those who have greater sin will suffer more.

Second, don't assume that no one will sin in hell. In fact, it is pretty safe to say that those in hell will continue with a rebellious attitude toward God and will continue to sin. Those in hell do not have a limited number of sins.

Third, we naturally underestimate how bad our sin really is because we are all sinners. We do not have the proper moral compass to evaluate ourselves. The subject of hell should not lead us to ask, "Why is God so cruel?" But instead, "How bad must my sin be for someone as loving as God to need to send me to hell for it?" The truth is, we have all willfully rebelled against an infinitely holy, righteous, and loving God. Of course we deserve an infinite punishment.

3. Is hell really a lake of fire?

The Bible describes hell as the "lake of fire" only in Revelation 19 and 20. The Bible also frequently describes hell as a place of fire. However, other passages describe hell as a place of darkness (Mat. 8:12, 22:13, 25:30). Many Bible verses emphasize separation from God and do not mention fire. "They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty of his power," (2 Thess. 1:9). Or, "Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!" (Mat. 7:23). There is some mystery as to what hell will actually look like and be like. The very phrase, "lake of fire" is mysterious. What does it mean for fire to form a "lake?"

What is clear from many descriptions is that people will live consciously with physical bodies in hell. "Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt," (Daniel 12:2). Note that the "everlasting" state of hell is directly compared to life everlasting in heaven (in many other verses as well). In other words, if hell is not eternal, then neither is heaven. Not only will people live forever, but they will suffer mental and physical pain, "where their worm will not die, nor will their fire be quenched, and they will be loathsome to all," (Is. 66:24), and, "there is no rest, day or night," (Rev. 14:11). Absolutely no one will "party with their friends" in heaven.

4. Does God really send people to hell because they don't believe in Jesus?

To some, hell makes God sound like he is self-centered with an out of control ego. "Worship me, or I'll send you to hell," he seems to be saying. Or, "Believe in Jesus or else!"

Well, actually, God is self-centered, and that is a good thing! All of us should be God-centered, including God himself. There is nothing else worthy of our worship and attention. God alone is perfectly holy and good, and we should enjoy him when we think about who he is and worship him. God loves us by calling on us to pay attention to him. As for ego, we sometimes say when someone seems full of himself, "Who do you think you are, God?" Of course, God is God, so he has an incredibly high, but perfectly appropriate ego.

God does not send people to hell because they don't believe in Jesus. God sends people to hell as judgment for their rebellion against his good and just commands. God does not want anyone to go to hell. In fact, God created hell for "the devil and his angels," (Mat. 25:41). But those in sin cannot go to heaven to be in the presence of God, so they also go to hell. God has provided a way of escaping hell. Jesus paid the price for our sin. If we believe in him, we receive the gift of salvation, which includes forgiveness of sin and therefore no need for us to go to hell.

5. Isn't it wrong to believe in Jesus just because you are scared of hell?

Yes and no. Saving faith in Jesus is trust in the person of Jesus and his death and resurrection. Fear of hell alone cannot generate that kind of faith. However, fear of hell certainly can and should motivate a person to take seriously the offer of the free gift of salvation. In Luke 16, Jesus describes a rich man who was in "agony" and "torment" in hell. The man hopes that his brothers will avoid the same fate if only Abraham will send a resurrected man, Lazarus, to warn them. Jesus uses this story to emphasize that the Bible is sufficient for anyone to believe. If they reject the Bible, "The will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead," (Luke 16:31). The story demonstrates that Jesus calls on us to trust the Bible. It also shows that thinking about hell should lead everyone to at least consider and take seriously the claims of the Bible and the free gift it speaks of. "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord," (Rom. 6:23).
 
Trust the Bible's purpose is to grow your confidence that the Bible is true and the ultimate resource for life." You can join the Facebook group by clicking here. Trust the Bible is a weekday radio program that begins at about 8:10 each morning on WDOG 93.5 in Allendale, SC. Listen to previous programs online: www.fairfaxfbc.org/trust-the-bible.html

What About All Those "Contradictions" in the Bible?

"But it is full of contradictions," say many who do not trust the Bible. The best way to respond to this statement is to ask, "Can you please give an example?" The examples given (if they can think of any examples at all), are not actually contradictions, but more like Bible difficulties. In many cases, the differences we find in biblical accounts actually strengthen the reliability of the Bible. Here are a few examples.

1. Matthew tells us that Jesus encountered two demon-possessed men when he arrived at the region of the Gadarenes (Matthew 8:28). In the exact same event, Luke tells us that Jesus was "met by a demon-possessed man from the town." So, did Jesus meet one or two demon-possessed men, and is this a contradiction?

This is not a contradiction. A contradiction would be if Luke told us that Jesus met one, and only one, demon-possessed man. Assuming Matthew is correct that there were two, Luke says nothing to contradict Matthew. Luke is correct that Jesus did meet a demon-possessed man, he simply doesn't tell us about the other man that Jesus met.

Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and sometimes other New Testament books, describe many of the same events in Jesus' life. The fact that they include and exclude different details, or write about the same events in different ways, does not mean that they contradict each other, instead it adds validity to their writings.

Experts consider eyewitness testimony more compelling when multiple accounts describe the same event in different ways without actual contradictions. For example, consider the scene of an automobile accident. Police may talk to multiple people who saw the same event from different angles. Their age, race, and socioeconomic status may influence who they consider to be at fault. Regardless, each person will probably state what they saw differently. They will start and finish the story at different points, and include and exclude different details. If two "random" people have the exact same story, they arouse suspicions that they worked together to create the story they want the police to believe. When multiple people tell different versions of the same story, the testimony is more reliable. That is what we have in the New Testament, different versions of the same stories that support each other and give us multiple perspectives of the same event. Here are other examples:

2. Luke tells us that one of the criminals crucified next to Jesus "hurled insults at him." But the other criminal "rebuked him," saying "We are punished justly...But this man has done nothing wrong" (Luke 23:39). Matthew, however, says that both criminals "heaped insults" at Jesus, saying nothing to differentiate between the two criminals (Matthew 27:44). Most likely both criminals heaped insults at Jesus for a time, just as Matthew says. Later, however, one of the criminals changed his mind about Jesus. Perhaps watching Jesus act lovingly towards his enemies greatly impacted him. Luke focuses on this incident in order to demonstrate that anyone, at anytime, can find salvation through faith in Jesus. Matthew only describes the earlier event to stress Jesus' humiliation - even death row criminals were mocking the righteous King Jesus. It's also possible Matthew witnessed the earlier part of Jesus' crucifixion, but was not present later on when one of the criminals repented.

3. Matthew tells us that Judas died when he "went away and hanged himself" (Matthew 27:5). Luke does not say Judas hanged himself, but tells us that "he fell headlong, his body burst open and all his intestines spilled out" (Acts 1:18). Which is correct? Although the Bible does not explain how both are correct, there is no reason to assume that only one version is true. Judas did hang himself. Then his dead body hung over the side of a steep, rocky hill (archaeologists may have identified this spot). Eventually, he either fell or was cut down. Then, his body fell headlong, landing on the rocks far below, and "his body burst open." Matthew gives us the bare facts. Luke gives a graphic depiction so that readers consider more seriously how tragic the end was for Judas, because he refused to repent.

4. There are a number of differences in the resurrection accounts. For instance, Matthew records Jesus first appearing to a group of women after his resurrection (Matthew 28:1-10). Paul, on the other hand, records that Jesus "was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve" (1 Corinthians 15:4-5). However, Paul does not deny that Jesus appeared to the women before appearing to Peter. He simply doesn't write about that earlier appearance. Paul was writing to give supporting evidence for the resurrection of Jesus to a Gentile audience in Corinth. They did not accept testimony from women in a legal setting, so it is understandable why he would leave it out. Paul would only contradict Matthew if he wrote that Jesus appeared to Peter before appearing to anyone else. All the different resurrection accounts can work together into a single list of events.

There are many other types of supposed "contradictions." However, Jesus taught that the Bible is God's Word, and God does not make mistakes (See, "How Do We Know the Bible is God's Word"). Perhaps you have come across a statement in the Bible that presents a difficulty. Feel free to share those and I will be happy to respond.


Trust the Bible's purpose is to grow your confidence that the Bible is true and the ultimate resource for life." You can join the Facebook group by clicking here. Trust the Bible is a weekday radio program that begins at about 8:10 each morning on WDOG 93.5 in Allendale, SC. Listen to previous programs online: www.fairfaxfbc.org/trust-the-bible.html

Can I Know I'm Saved?

Yes, you can know you are saved! However, you can also believe you are saved when you are not. 

First, the Bible does offer hope to those who doubt their salvation. "I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life" (1 John 5:13). Jesus even says we can have reasonable confidence whether or not others are saved, "By their fruit you will recognize them" (Matthew 7:20). God wants us to know.

On the other hand, the Bible warns those who believe they are saved for the wrong reasons. "Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'" (Matthew 7:22-23).

In both cases, the Bible tells us that assurance (knowing you are saved) only comes after a careful examination and an understanding of the proper identifications. Jesus urges cautious evaluation through the story of the wolf in sheep's clothing (Matthew 7:15). From a distance, or with an innocent glance, a wolf may appear to be a sheep. But if you look with a critical eye for the right things, you will notice that the legs underneath the sheepskin belong to a wolf. 

When it comes to evaluating Christians, a profession of faith is the sheepskin. Yes, sheep will have a sheepskin, but a wolf might as well. A profession of faith does not mean a person is, or is not saved. Jesus says immediately after the passage about the wolf that "Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord..." They have a profession of faith; they even call Jesus "Lord." Many Christians have been told they should not doubt their salvation if they have a profession of faith. If they have said a prayer asking Jesus into their life, or have been baptized and joined a church, or responded to an altar call, then nothing else matters, their salvation is secure. However, Jesus clearly does not agree with this teaching.

So, what evidence does indicate true salvation? First, let's define salvation. The reason for confusion on the issue of assurance is in part based on the idea that salvation means nothing more than an entrance into heaven. However, the Bible also speaks about freedom from God's condemnation that we deserve (John 3:18), the forgiveness of sin (Ephesians 1:7), being set free from the power of sin (Romans 6:22), a new birth in which we come alive spiritually (John 3:3, Ephesians 2:5), the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives (Romans 8:15), and much more! In short, it is a total change of direction in life from a path leading to destruction to a path leading to life and holiness (Matthew 7:13-14, Romans 6:22).

No one can experience the changes that are promised to all Christians and not demonstrate that a change has taken place ("by their fruit you will recognize them"). Be careful, though, about assuming "good works" are evidence of salvation. Jesus warned against works of righteousness that are done "to be seen by men" in Matthew 6. In addition, the ones Jesus "never knew," who cried "Lord, Lord," claimed great works - miracles and casting out demons. Jesus taught about a different group of signs that indicate that the heart is truly transformed by God's grace:

 

1. A humility about one's own righteousness. Jesus said, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:3). When asked, "Why should God let you into heaven?" true Christians quickly acknowledge that they have violated God's law, and deserve his condemnation. Their only hope is the promises of God to freely apply the work of Christ to their sin. This gift is based on God's mercy and love and not any deservingness in the believer. "False" Christians will answer this question with statements about how hard they are trying to do what is right, how they are "better" than they used to be, or list their works of righteousness such as church attendance or giving.

 

2. Repentance from sin. We are commanded to believe in the Lord Jesus (Acts 16:31). Once Jesus asked, "Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?" (Luke 6:46). The Bible also talks about our need to respond to the gospel with repentance and faith (Acts 20:21). This is another way of saying believing in Jesus as Lord. You no longer want to sin. You want to do what Jesus says. The same Savior who gave his life for us will certainly not command us to do something that is not for our good. We have faith in him, not only for our forgiveness of sin, but also that he loves us and gives good commands. This does not mean you will stop sinning, but the sin in your life is now something you are fighting against. You do not want it, and you will grow and have victories over it. Jesus puts it this way, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled" (Matthew 5:6). A serious warning sign that someone is not a true Christian is when they are caught in a sin and still want to keep right on doing it.

 

3. A love for God's Word. "My sheep listen to my voice. I know them and they follow me" (John 10:27). The wolf in sheep's clothing will not love the shepherd's voice. True sheep enjoy learning about the Bible, recognize that it is God's Word, and desire to put it into practice. The one who is truly saved is the "wise man," Jesus says, "who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice" (Matthew 7:24). Another serious warning sign is when someone rejects a clear teaching of Scripture to follow a popular viewpoint or one supported by many "experts." Usually, the root problem is that they don't really recognize that the whole Bible is God's Word. See, "How Do We Know the Bible is God's Word."

 

4. A willingness to forgive others. When you have experienced God's amazing forgiveness, it no longer makes sense to withhold forgiveness from others. Jesus says, "Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy" (Matthew 5:7), and "If you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins" (Matthew 6:14-15). In both passages, Jesus is not saying you must forgive others before God can forgive you. Rather, he is stating a characteristic of the forgiven. A person forgiven much will desire to forgive others. Similarly, Jesus says, "Do not judge, or you too will be judged" (Matthew 7:1). See "Forgiveness."

 

Are these evidences in your life? "Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you-- unless, of course, you fail the test?" (2 Corinthians 13:5).

 

 Trust the Bible's purpose is to grow your confidence that the Bible is true and the ultimate resource for life." You can join the Facebook group by clicking here. Trust the Bible is a weekday radio program that begins at about 8:10 each morning on WDOG 93.5 in Allendale, SC. Listen to previous programs online: www.fairfaxfbc.org/trust-the-bible.html

Depression

If you, are someone you love struggles with depression, you know that it is not an easy problem to solve or overcome. Is the Bible a trustworthy resource for helping with this problem? Well meaning people have frequently offended the depressed with advice along the lines of "sing a few songs" or "read a few Bible verses." However, I do believe the Bible is the ultimate resource for life, even for a problem as complex as depression. The Bible gives us an understanding of the human being that helps us make sense of depression, gives us strategies for alleviating depression, and gives us a context for understanding the pain caused by depression.

1. The Bible gives us an understanding of the human being that provides the proper framework for dealing with depression.
Outside of the Bible, a popular view today is that depression is purely a physical problem, that it is a matter of chemical imbalance in the brain. Therefore, the answer must be a physical one, usually medication. This is based on the assumption that man is purely physical, there is nothing more to us than the molecules that make up our body.

The Bible presents a more complex view of man. There is a physical and spiritual component. Yes, problems can originate with the physical, and doctors can treat the physical body. In Luke 5:31, Jesus says, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick." So, the Bible recognizes an important role for doctors. As far as they have advanced in treating physical conditions, they are a useful resource. However, doctors are limited in their abilities. The Bible also tells us of a woman who was "subject to bleeding for twelve years," and that, "She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse" (Mark 5:25-26). Doctors do not always have the answers.

In relation depression, there are still many more questions than answers when it comes to a medical understanding of depression. In a small percentage of cases, there are medical conditions that cause the symptoms associated with depression. In many cases, there may be some physical illness that is not yet understood. There can also be physical factors that contribute to depression that are not necessarily illnesses, such as lack of sleep, diet, and exercise. Frequently, medication can help alleviate the symptoms of depression, but often it does not, and can cause other unwanted side effects. Anyone who struggles with depression should see a doctor. Exploring medications may be an option as part of treatment. If medication has been successful for you, praise God that he has led you to something that has helped! However, one should also not neglect the spiritual component that may contribute to depression.

2. The Bible gives us strategies to help with the spiritual component of depression.

Sometimes depression is entirely a physical problem. Sometimes it is entirely a spiritual problem. It may also be a combination of the physical and spiritual. Coming up with a plan for treating depression should never consider only one aspect. The Bible gives us strategies for addressing the spiritual components.

First, the Bible examines possible causes. We see anger as the underlying cause of Esau having a "downcast face" in Genesis 4. Fear underlies Elijah's depression in 1 Kings 19. David struggles with fear, frustration, and anger throughout the Psalms, leading him to question, "Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me?" (Psalm 42:5).

The Bible shows us that not all cases of depression are the same. But the Bible does tell us to examine the desires of the heart. "Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart" (Psalm 37:4). Just like Jesus teaches about worry (see, "Do not worry"), depressed people need to examine the desires of their heart, then their thinking (what do you really believe about God- his goodness and sovereignty?), and finally their faith. Feelings of fear, anger, and excessive sorrow may contribute to depression if they are caused by, or combined with a weakness in one of these three areas (heart, thinking, and faith). This is not to say that all depression is caused by sin, but in some cases it may be. Or, the symptoms may be greater because of sin. The Bible helps us see sin in our lives, not to make us feel guilty, but to help free us from burdens. Jesus says, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28).

Interestingly, God gives Elijah a specific list of assignments that help pull him out of a depressed state in 1 Kings 19. Indeed, depression can reinforce itself when we do not respond in the right way. It is easy to withdraw from responsibilities and focus inward, on ourselves. This usually leads to a deepening depression. By making the hard choices to start doing tasks for God and others, depression may start to lift.

3. The Bible gives us a context for understanding the pain caused by depression.

So far, we have looked at several possible solutions to overcome the terrible feelings that depression brings. Examine possible medical causes. Consider your sleep, diet, and exercise. Examine the spiritual aspects. Even after doing all this, depression may not completely go away, or it may not go away at all (however, in most cases it will significantly improve). So what then? The Bible helps us to understand why we have trouble, and that we have reason to hope in spite of our trouble. Depression certainly makes life difficult. However, many people have difficult conditions and circumstances that make life hard.  The Bible tells us why we can find hope in God even in the midst of great difficulties. See, "What does the Bible say about pain and suffering?"

The Bible does not offer a simple solution that will immediately make us feel good. However, the Bible does offer us with the information we need to know how to think about depression, gives strategies for those who are depressed to consider, and offers hope even to those who feel oppressed by depression.

Trust the Bible's purpose is to grow your confidence that the Bible is true and the ultimate resource for life." You can join the Facebook group by clicking here.Trust the Bible is a weekday radio program that begins at about 8:10 each morning on WDOG 93.5 in Allendale, SC. You can listen to previous programs online here: http://www.fairfaxfbc.org/trust-the-bible.html

Do Not Worry

The Bible frequently says, "Do Not Worry." That's a command we really want to follow! The Bible says that worry "weighs down the heart" (Proverbs 12:25). We often lose sleep, feel uncomfortable, and create other health problems (which lead to further worry). Thought patterns of worry can even contribute to the loss of control of breathing and other physical symptoms in a "panic attack." We all recognize we would be better off if we could follow this command. However, how do we do it? Simply saying over and over in our mind "Do not worry," will not work!

Fortunately, the Bible gives us the strategy we need to follow this command. While it may not be easy to implement, neither is continuing to worry! We probably would rather have nothing to worry about, than to learn how to not worry. However, Jesus says, "In this world you will have trouble, but take courage! I have overcome the world" (John 16:33).  Jesus outlines a strategy of overcoming worry by addressing issues of the heart first, thinking second, and finally faith in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 6:25-34.

First, the heart. Jesus begins by saying, "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life" (Matthew 6:25). So, "Do not worry," is a command that is the result of the teaching Jesus had just given. He says, "therefore," because the reason we are not to worry is based on the previous principle. What was that principle? "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth...but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven." That is because treasures of this earth are temporary. Jesus adds, "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Matthew 6:19-21). Throughout the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus urges us to love God and seek His glory above all other things. He returns to this theme again in the passage on worry, concluding that section with, "Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness" (Matthew 6:33). If the desires of your heart are aimed in the right direction (God's glory and living to please God), then you are on the path away from worry.

Second, Jesus addresses our thoughts. When your heart is focused on the right thing, you are now ready to correct faulty thinking that leaves the door open to worry.

"Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?" -Matthew 6:26-27

Here Jesus invites us to "look" and therefore think about the birds. We cannot imagine them pacing back and forth on a tree branch, worrying about their next meal. We know this doesn't make sense. Jesus wants to make sure we are thinking correctly about God. First, we are more valuable to God than the birds, who he cares for. Second, worrying accomplishes nothing. We cannot improve our situation by worrying. Third, Jesus goes on to say that God knows exactly what our needs are (Matthew 6:32). Jesus keeps explaining that thinking the right thoughts about God is going to lead us away from worry. God is a good God who cares about us and is in complete control of every situation. In addition, He knows exactly what our needs are. When our hearts and thoughts are lined up correctly, where is there room for worry? Yes difficult times will come, but God is in control. He will only let us go through what is ultimately for the good (Romans 8:28).

The final area to work on is faith. Jesus addresses those who worry as having "little faith" (Matthew 6:30). Even if our heart is aimed in the right direction, and we know the right things about God, there is still one possible cause of worry - a lack of faith. We know the right things about God, but are we really trusting Him? Here, we can ask God for help. Jesus says, "Ask and it will be given you" (Matthew 7:7). Paul writes, "I can do everything through him who gives me strength" (Philippians 4:13). The context of Paul's statement is overcoming worry even in difficult circumstances (see Philippians 4:4-13). Ask for God's help to trust Him in difficult circumstances, and He will answer and give you the strength to do it.

If you are struggling with worry, keep working on these three areas - heart, thinking, and faith. Ask God to help you. Jesus wants you to be free from the burden of worry.


Trust the Bible's purpose is to grow your confidence that the Bible is true and the ultimate resource for life." You can join the Facebook group by clicking here.Trust the Bible is a weekday radio program that begins at about 8:10 each morning on WDOG 93.5 in Allendale, SC. You can listen to previous programs online here: http://www.fairfaxfbc.org/trust-the-bible.html

The Bible and Same-sex relationships, Part 2

In my previous post, I addressed three Bible verses that demonstrate beyond any reasonable doubt that the Bible does not affirm same-sex relationships. Is this an unreasonable position? At least 10 arguments are frequently made today to say "Yes, you cannot trust the Bible because of its position on this issue." I will briefly state each of these and offer a response below each one.

1. "They are born that way"/"God made me this way."
      First, Christians have often too quickly dismissed the idea of sexual orientation. An attraction to people of the same sex is often powerful, develops early in life, and is not something someone simply chooses to have one day. However, it is another leap to say that God has "made" a person this way. Studies on identical twins reveal that anywhere from 50% to 75% of a time one twin has a same-sex orientation, the other does not. That means without a doubt that you cannot explain sexual orientation primarily by genetics.
     But could the cause be something beyond a person's control? Actually, yes. There may be a relationship between genetic factors, events during pregnancy, social environment, and traumatic events at an early age. However, none of these things mean that the Bible is unreasonable. The Bible itself teaches that we are born with a sin nature because of Adam, and that we live in a fallen world where sin is destructive and even warps our behavior.
     In biblical thinking, having a same-sex orientation may be the result of having someone sin against them, their own sin nature (which everyone has) or even a medical issue during a pregnancy that is itself a sign of the sinful, fallen world we live in. The Bible gives a very realistic picture of the suffering that sin causes, and explains the causes. God did not design the world to be this way. The Bible does not always give the easy or popular answer, it seeks to truthfully tell us why things are the way they are. The Bible also points us toward the solution, and a reason to hope - Jesus Christ. People who have a same-sex orientation will have a certain set of challenges in living out the Christian faith, but so does everyone else who is seeking to live according to the Scriptures.

2. "Why would someone choose to be this way?"
     Again, same-sex orientation comes with a set of challenges, but everyone goes through life with challenges. The Bible is God's gift to us to show us the right way to respond. God's instructions are loving, they show us the path to true success, happiness, and peace in life. Although someone may not choose their orientation, they can certainly choose what they will do with it. Disobeying biblical rules may help a person feel good for a time, but it will not ultimately be helpful. This is true with any sin.

3. "Animals do it."
     I have heard this type of argument so many times. Really? Are we going to base our sexual morality on what animals do? I don't think I need to elaborate more.

4. "Love Wins"
     What is your understanding of "Love"? Following biblical teaching does not mean a man cannot love another man. It means a man cannot have sex with another man. For the "Love Wins" argument to work, "love" has to be defined as synonymous with sex. The Bible gives us a much deeper understanding of love. Jesus loved us so much that he died in humiliation on a cross for our sins. This same Jesus taught that sex and marriage relationships should be between a man and a woman. I trust Jesus view on this issue, and that his view is the most loving view, than what "seems" right to our culture at this time.

5. "We cannot impose our morality on others."
     Well, no. I cannot make someone be righteous. However, I am obligated at times to speak about what is right and wrong. If this statement is saying that our laws must endorse same-sex marriage, or relationships, then that is an entirely different matter. Just because I cannot prevent you from sin does not mean the government should support your sin by affirming it. See #6.

6. "This is a civil rights issue."
     Since same-sex attraction is not genetic, it is not the same as race, something someone is clearly born with. But even if the attraction was genetic, the behavior is not. There are all sorts of behaviors that people may have a "genetic predisposition" toward. But no reasonable person would consider treating other behaviors by marking off a special class deserving of legal protection like race and gender.
     The definition of marriage is not a civil rights issue. It is a definition of marriage issue. Before marriage was redefined by the courts, it was available to every person regardless of race or gender. The only thing that changed was what the definition of a marriage is. The Bible defines it as a life-long commitment between a man and a woman. The courts have now ruled that marriage is something different than that.
     In a democratic republic like ours, people can have different views on this issue. Those who support same-sex marriage can elect officials who can pass laws to recognize same-sex marriage, and those who oppose it should have the right to seek legal means of opposing it. However, the Supreme Court by-passed this process. They based their decision on the assumption that homosexuality is not a behavior, but an essential part of who a person is, like a race. They did so not because of science or any secular field of study, but purely because of the political will to do so. Since the Bible says otherwise, that homosexuality is in fact a behavior and not at all like race, the Supreme Court had to essentially rule that the Bible is wrong in order to make the decision they made.

7. "You don't want to be on the wrong side of history."
     Of course, if the Bible is right, affirming same-sex relationships is the wrong side of history. God's say in the matter is more definitive than where our culture is right now, or where it appears to be heading, because God has the final say on the matter.

8. "Do not Judge."
     The kind of "judging" that Jesus has in view here is not the same kind of "judging" that people think of in a 21st century American context. In the same sermon, Jesus told his disciples they should "Watch out for false prophets...by their fruit you will recognize them" (Mat. 7:15-16). Jesus also frequently gave moral commands and even confronted many teachers of his day, calling them "hypocrites." The very command "Do not judge" shows that Jesus does not shy away from making absolute statements about morality. Jesus himself taught that homosexuality is wrong (see #9).
     When you look at the context of Matthew 7:1-6, you can see that what Jesus is speaking about is holding others to a higher standard than you hold yourself to. See "Hard Bible Verses: Do Not Judge"

9. "Jesus never addresses it."
     Maybe not directly, using the word "homosexual," but he made it clear what his position is on the issue. See my previous post.

10. "But how does it affect your marriage?"
     I don't know of a single person who opposes same-sex marriage who argues that their marriage is going to be hurt. This is a straw man.
     According to the Bible, marriage is a unique relationship created by God that is between one man and one woman for one lifetime. Jesus taught that only God can truly create this union (Matthew 19). Therefore, when the government declares a same-sex relationship a "marriage" it is declaring fiction. Only God can make it a true marriage, and his definition will not change. When the government recognizes marriage relationships, it must have a definition. That definition should be one that the people in that government reach an agreement on. Again, people may want to (wrongly) change the definition of marriages that the government will accept to include additional types of relationships beyond the biblical and traditional understanding of marriage. However, people who believe in the traditional view should have a right to support their view as well. Given that God warns of possible punishment for nations that embrace homosexuality (Leviticus 18 and Romans 1), this is an important political issue for Christians, regardless of the fact that there is no personal impact on our marriages.


Conclusion: Yes, our culture and the Bible are in conflict on this issue. Yes, from our culture's viewpoint, the Bible sounds unreasonable. Equally true, though, is that from the Bible's viewpoint our culture seems unreasonable. There is no argument advanced in support of same-sex relationships that should undermine the reasons for trusting the Bible. See How Do We Know the Bible is God's Word?


Trust the Bible's purpose is to grow your confidence that the Bible is true and the ultimate resource for life." You can join the Facebook group by clicking here.Trust the Bible is a weekday radio program that begins at about 8:10 each morning on WDOG 93.5 in Allendale, SC. You can listen to previous programs online here: http://www.fairfaxfbc.org/trust-the-bible.html

The Bible and Same-Sex Relationships

There is increasing pressure in our culture to affirm same-sex relationships, including marriage. What about the Bible? Is trusting the Bible unreasonable because of its statements on homosexuality? Some answer this question by arguing that the Bible isn't really against homosexuality. I understand the motive for doing so, but the problem is that the Bible is so clear on this subject, it amounts to an argument that you cannot understand anything in the Bible. After all, if we can't know what the Bible teaches on this subject, how can we know what the Bible teaches on any subject? In this post, I will demonstrate from three places in Scripture what the biblical position is. In my next post, I will answer ten common arguments that the biblical position is unreasonable.

I must deal with one immediate objection before moving into the biblical passages. There is an assumption that simply explaining what the Bible says on the topic is unloving. On the contrary, I believe that all of God's commands are given in love, with our best interest in mind. The same Jesus that died on a cross in order to pay for our sin (nothing could possibly be more loving than this), taught that sexual relationship are limited to one man and one woman. Jesus loves more than anyone, so his position must be the loving position, not the other way around. Anyone teaching that biblical commands are wrong or can be ignored is misleading people and putting them on the wrong path, this is not love. I write not to attack any person or group of people, but defend the truthfulness of the most loving message ever written, the Bible.

There are numerous passages that show plainly what the Bible teaches, but I will focus on just three.

1. First, Leviticus 18:22 says, "Do not lie with a man as one lies with a woman; that is detestable." I don't know how anyone could argue that this verse does not declare homosexuality a sin. However, many people do question the relevance of the passage. After all, they say, "Doesn't the Bible also condemn the eating of shellfish, and Christians don't have any problem doing that, right?"

This amounts to an argument that biblical teaching is out of date and everyone must pick and choose what they will believe. Notice first of all that Jesus completely rejects this kind of view of the Bible. He teaches that, "I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished." (Matthew 5:18). Jesus is specifically affirming the relevance and authority of every Old Testament command.

So, does Jesus require all Christians to stop eating shellfish, as Leviticus 11 teaches? Well, no. In fact, that is not what the passage teaches.

Context is the key. In Genesis 12:1, God tells Abraham, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you." This verse does not mean that I  must leave America and go to who knows where. The verse was clearly written to Abraham for a specific time. This verse is still relevant and authoritative over me, because it teaches me to live by faith, like Abraham. But it is not a specific command for me. In the same way, prohibitions against shellfish (which, by the way, are not as strongly worded as prohibitions against sexual sin, including homosexuality) are authoritative and relevant, but not directed to me, they are directed to Israel. I can learn from this command that every area of my life should conform to God's standards, without specifically obeying a command that never addressed Gentiles living after the time of Christ's death and resurrection. The same thing is true about many passages in the New Testament. It is always a matter of context.

Leviticus 18:22, however, comes with a different context. It is for all nations. In Leviticus 18:24, God declares, "'Do not defile yourselves in any of these ways, because this is how the nations that I am going to drive out before you became defiled." In other words, God holds all nations accountable to the standards outlined in Leviticus 18, not just the Israelites. One can chose to reject the Bible (and Jesus) and affirm same-sex relationships, but you cannot study this passage and conclude that both are right.

2. Romans 1:27, "In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men." The passage addressing homosexuality is much longer than what is quoted here and the context makes it even more clear that homosexuality is wrong. Or does it? Recently, gay-affirming Bible interpreters have offered the possibility of a new understanding of this passage.

The "new understanding" offers two possible explanations. First, Paul may not have been aware of loving, long-term same-sex relationships. He is not addressing all homosexual relationships, but only those that are "inflamed with lust" or "indecent." If he knew about the homosexual relationships of today, he would not oppose them.

There are several problems with this argument. First, Paul most likely would have known of various types of homosexual relationships. There were a broad range of same-sex relationships in his time, and he was a well educated and well traveled person. Suggesting he wouldn't know is at best a weak argument from silence. Furthermore, regardless of what Paul knew or didn't know, the text itself does not support a position that is open to same-sex relationships. The text speaks of men abandoning "natural relations with women." We can't simply guess at what Paul's view was and force that on our interpretation of the text. The text itself is very clear. Remember, Jesus taught that the text itself is the very Word of God.

The second possible explanation is that Paul did know and understand about loving, long-term same-sex relationships. Not only that, he believed that same-sex attraction is something that people are basically born with or have no control over whatsoever. When he speaks of abandoning "natural relations," he is talking about going against one's sexual orientation. In other words, it is only wrong to engage in homosexuality if you are a heterosexual. If you are a homosexual, it is fine. Notice though, that this forces the absurd conclusion that Paul is saying a man who is a homosexual would be sinning if he married a woman, he would then be abandoning what comes natural to him! It is also not what the text says. The text is speaking about abandoning "natural relations with women," not abandoning one's sexual orientation. Once again, this is an argument from silence, based on an assumption about Paul's views that has no supporting evidence, that is used to force a rather strange interpretation that the text does not support.

3. Matthew 19:4-6 "Haven't you read," he <Jesus> replied, "that at the beginning the Creator 'made them male and female,' and said, 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh'? So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate."

Those affirming same-sex relationships often say that Jesus never addressed homosexuality. True, Jesus never used the word homosexuality, but he clearly addressed the topic. In answering a question about divorce, he explains the purpose of sexual relationships and bases it on Genesis 2. Here he speaks of a "man" and "wife" joining together, with the man leaving "father" and "mother." He could have left it at that, but he also pulls a quote from Genesis 1, "male and female" and attaches it to the quote from Genesis 2. He goes out of his way to stress that sexual union was created by God to be a life-long relationship between one man and one woman.

In addition, as I have already stated, Jesus gave the strongest endorsement possible for every command in the Old Testament, which includes Leviticus 18:22.

Furthermore, even if we didn't know of these two strong statements, the idea that Jesus may have approved of homosexuality because he didn't address it is at best a weak argument from silence. He didn't address it directly because no one would have wondered what his position was. In a first century Jewish context, people would assume that a Jewish rabbi was opposed to homosexuality. Jesus was not afraid of controversy, if he held a position so at odds with the rabbis of his day, one that affirmed same-sex relationships, we would almost certainly know about it. However, we don't have to wonder because he does make his position clear in Matthew 19.

One final point, the argument that Jesus did not oppose homosexuality because he didn't directly address it assumes that Jesus' words during his earthly ministry are more important than the rest of the Bible. It concedes that other parts of the Bible oppose homosexuality, but those parts are suspect because they are not contained in quotes attributed to Jesus. That assumption is based on the idea that we might trust Jesus, but we cannot trust the Bible. However, Jesus himself taught that he is God and that the Bible is the Word of God. If anyone thinks that they can follow Jesus and yet reject, say, Leviticus 18:22, they are making a huge mistake. First, they are rejecting what Jesus told his followers to think about the Bible.

Second, they must reject Jesus' teaching that he was God, or reject his teaching that the Bible is God's Word, or both. If Jesus is God, and the Bible is God's Word (both essential beliefs of the Christian faith), then everything, including Leviticus 18:22 is just as much the words of Christ as the "red letters." Rejecting Romans 1 or Leviticus 18, according to Jesus, is the same thing as rejecting the teaching of Jesus.

In the next post, I will respond to ten common objections that the biblical position is unreasonable.


Trust the Bible's purpose is to grow your confidence that the Bible is true and the ultimate resource for life." You can join the Facebook group by clicking here.Trust the Bible is a weekday radio program that begins at about 8:10 each morning on WDOG 93.5 in Allendale, SC. You can listen to previous programs online here: http://www.fairfaxfbc.org/trust-the-bible.html

The Bible and Sex

A common summary of biblical teaching on sex is that it is should only occur within the context of "One man and one woman in a covenant relationship for one lifetime." If that is true, it rules out not only adultery, but remarriage after divorce (with some exceptions, see The Bible and Marriage), AND...any sex before marriage, everything in the lesbian, gay, and bisexual category, and of course, polygamy.

To most people today, this view is obviously wrong. It is also an intensely personal and highly prioritized part of life. A common response is, "What difference does it make to God if I am having sex with my girlfriend?" Or, "But I'm in love with this person, certainly God wants me to be happy." This issue like no other today brings into focus the enormous implications of choosing to trust the Bible. "My way seems right." Or, "Just about everyone agrees with my view." Runs right into, "God says..." Which are you going to choose?

Before I go any further I should point out that according to the Bible God's primary goal for you is not your immediate happiness. Jesus says, "Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness" (Mat. 6:33). God wants you to obey his commands more than he wants you to be happy. Of course, obeying God's commands will lead to what's best for you in the long run.

God loves you so much he sent Jesus to die for your sin - no one else will ever love you like that. So, clearly, what he commands is motivated by his love for you, not some sort of strange desire to place unnecessary limits on your fun. In addition, God is infinitely more capable and qualified to know what is best for us. He knows way more about us individually than we know about ourselves! He knows the future and everything about human history. He designed and created us. We should expect to run into areas where we disagree with him about what is best for us, because in comparison we are largely ignorant when it comes to the topic.

But trusting the Bible is choosing to trust Jesus (He taught us to trust everything in the Bible). It is choosing to believe God loves us. It is choosing to believe his commandments are right and good.

Others question that the Bible really teaches a conservative view on sex. In answering a question about divorce, Jesus answered, "Haven't you read that at the beginning the Creator 'made them male and female,' and said, 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh'? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate" (Mat. 19:4-6)

Jesus does way more than address divorce. He explains the whole biblical view of sex, based on passages from Genesis one and two. He shows God's intention in creating sex, that it is for one man and one woman in a life-long covenant relationship. This, Jesus says, is the starting point for understanding everything else the Bible teaches about sex.

The Bible says that sex is for producing children (It is commanded in Genesis 1), but this is not the only or even the primary purpose. Proverbs 5:18-20 speaks of enjoying each other sexually with no reference to procreation. 1 Corinthians 7 likewise talks about couples needing to be with each other sexually on a regular basis in order to maintain a healthy relationship. Sex is a physical act that communicates and solidifies a spiritual union between two people.

Therefore, any sexual activity outside of a marriage between a man and a woman is to use sex in a way that God did not intend for it. If you are not married and believe you are ready for sex with another person, then you must also believe you are ready to enter into a life-long covenant relationship with that person. Sometimes STDs and pregnancy are used to scare people away from pre-marital sex or adultery. While there is truth to these arguments, Christians should focus instead on desiring to live a life that is honoring to God. Jesus taught that it is the only kind of life worth living.


Trust the Bible's purpose is to grow your confidence that the Bible is true and the ultimate resource for life." You can join the Facebook group by clicking here.Trust the Bible is a weekday radio program that begins at about 8:10 each morning on WDOG 93.5 in Allendale, SC. You can listen to previous programs online here: http://www.fairfaxfbc.org/trust-the-bible.html