The Sermon on the Mount

The Sermon on the Mount is one of the most difficult texts in the Bible. I believe it also summarizes in a few chapters everything that it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. Understanding the Sermon on the Mount is to understand the Bible. Matthew records Jesus' words in chapters 5-7 of his Gospel. It is undoubtedly the greatest sermon ever preached.

At first glance, the sermon seems to place an overwhelming burden on the shoulders of the followers of Jesus. "Love your enemies," "Turn to them the other cheek," "Anyone who is angry with a brother will be subject to judgment." Our default thinking is to take commands as challenges that we must do in order to prove ourselves. But this is not the message of the Bible, nor of the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus said, "Come to me, all you who are wary and burdened, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28).

The sermon is primarily a call to repentance in order to enter heaven. In the previous chapter, Matthew tells us that when Jesus started his public ministry he, "began to preach, 'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.'" So Jesus started and continued preaching a message that is best summarized, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near." The Sermon on the Mount follows as an example of what that kind of preaching sounded like. In the sermon, Jesus speaks of needing righteousness that "surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law," in order to "enter the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:20). He warns that those who express anger are, "in danger of the fire of hell," (Matthew 5:22). Near the end of the sermon he describes many disciples who are deceived and will be sent away at the judgment. He finishes by urging people to follow his words so that they will not come to ruin in the judgment (Matthew 7:24-27). The subject matter throughout is clearly a call to repentance in order to enter heaven.

Jesus also emphasizes true righteousness. Meeting God's standards requires more than making oneself stay within a certain boundary. The "Pharisees and the teachers of the law" had a type of outward righteousness, but it was not sufficient. Later, Jesus calls them "whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean" (Matthew 23:27). In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus takes some of the commands in the Bible and reveals that they require outward and inward righteousness. "You shall not murder," is not satisfied merely by not killing someone. God is not looking for people who can stop themselves from doing what they really want to do. He is looking for people who love their enemies and are not "angry with a brother" (Matthew 5:21-22). They don't murder because they don't want to bring harm on their enemies. God says "Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect." The law, in other words, was never saying you are righteous as long as you don't cross a certain line, it was about pointing to true righteousness, the kind that God has, obedience that is in line with the desires of your heart.

Can any of us truly meet this standard? No! So why does Jesus teach this as the way to heaven? The key to understanding the sermon is the beatitudes. Jesus begins by saying, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:3). Repentance is to recognize that you fail to meet God's standards. Then you "mourn" over sin. Then you are "meek," meaning that you have an accurate view of who you are, that you are not righteous or good in God's sight. Therefore, you "hunger and thirst for righteousness." You find mercy in the cross, and therefore you are now empowered to show mercy to others. All of these things are descriptions that Jesus gives of the "blessed," those who have embraced the Gospel as their hope of salvation (Matthew 5:3-10).

Moses received the ten commandments on a mountain after going without eating and drinking for forty days and nights. Jesus also fasted forty days and nights before going up on a mountain to teach about the law. Rather than giving ten commandments, Jesus begins with eight blessings. The "blessing" statements are not things to do, but to be. "Blessed are the..." The beatitudes list the characteristics of those who are true disciples of Jesus, those who have been changed by his grace. As Jesus would later say, repentance is not like the Pharisee who prayed, "God, I thank you that I am not like other people- robbers, evildoers, adulterers..." Instead, repentance is like the tax collector, who stood at a distance and would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, "God have mercy on me, a sinner" (Luke 18:9-14). He was "poor in spirit."

The rest of the sermon has two functions. First, it emphasizes how high God's standards are with the goal of humbling us and bringing us to repentance. Second, it describes the kind of righteousness that all disciples of Jesus are aiming for. With a changed heart brought about by the Holy Spirit, disciples of Jesus grow to become more and more like the person described in the Sermon on the Mount. They do not do this to achieve righteousness, but in response to the righteousness Jesus has given.


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 Government

Why can two people use the Bible and come to very different political positions? Is it because the Bible is not useful for addressing political issues? No, the Bible says a lot about government, and since the Bible is God's Word, everything the Bible says is the final authority. I think the problem is in the way that the Bible is used. What often happens is that people develop their political beliefs first, then they look for justification for their beliefs from the Bible. If the Bible is true and the authority in your life, you must start with the Bible and develop a biblical understanding of what government is. Then you can think through specific issues.

Matthew 19:8 Jesus replied, "Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning."

Jesus introduces a principle here. The Bible tells us about the beginning of something in order to understand it's purpose. This applies to marriage, but it also applies to government, as I will explain below.

Here are seven biblical principles about government.

1. All authority belongs to God. Governments exercise authority all the time. They send people to prison and even execute others. They declare wars and collect taxes. But only God has true authority. As the creator and all powerful being, nothing happens without God's knowledge and permission.

2. God lends his authority to earthly governments for a time. This was not always the case. Although God did give people the task of ruling animals (Genesis 1:26), God did not allow them to exercise authority over other people. God protected Cain who murdered his brother from other people. God alone was to judge people. But mankind became so wicked that God's judgement did come in the form of a catastrophic flood. After that time, God allowed mankind to judge and rule over other men. God now indirectly judges mankind through governments (Genesis 9:6). Jesus tells Pilate this in John 19:10. During Jesus' trial, Pilate tells Jesus that he has the power to set Jesus free or have him crucified. Jesus responds, "You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above." Jesus acknowledges that Pilate has that power, but only because God has given it to him.

3. Government's purpose is to punish wrong actions and commend right ones. Peter writes that governors are sent by God "to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right" (1 Peter 2:13). Paul writes that government "is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer (Romans 13:4).

4. Governing power is a special and distinct duty. In normal interactions on a personal level, we are called to love our enemies, forgive, and turn the other cheek. It is God's place to judge. But a government is acting in God's place when it comes to judging. Governments are supposed to judge. They have the God-given power to punish those who do wrong and commend those who do right. You do not have to be a Christian to hold a position of power and serve God. Cyrus and Nebuchadnezzar are examples of God's servant's who didn't believe in the true God (at least for a time). Pilate had God-given power to execute Jesus, even though he did not believe in God. A Christian can also serve God as a judge or governor. This role is separate from how he functions in other personal relationships.

5. You are a governor! You may not hold elected office, but if you are an American citizen who is eligible to vote, you have a certain amount of governing power. That power is given to you by God. Use it to honor him!

6. Government power is limited. Just because God has given government the power to do some things does not mean that government has the power to do everything. Government cannot punish what is in a person's mind or heart. That is an area reserved to God alone because only God can see the heart. This is why Jesus commanded the church to spread the message of the Gospel through preaching, not the sword. Government cannot punish a person for having the wrong beliefs without overstepping the authority God has given it. Governments also are in error when they command something that contradicts God's commands, because they are supposed to be serving God, not opposing him. When officials ordered Peter and the apostles to stop preaching, they replied, "We must obey God rather than men!" (Acts 5:29) Although there are wicked governments and no government is perfect, the world is better off because of government. The world is better than if there were no government at all.

7. Use this understanding of government as the starting point for thinking about political issues. Can the government "legislate morality?" Absolutely, that its purpose! The government cannot force you to think that something is wrong, but it can punish you for doing what is wrong. Christians should use the Bible to determine what is right and wrong and support government that will punish those who do wrong and commend those who do right, as long as it is within the bounds of what government has been given the authority to do. What about programs for helping the poor? This is a complex area. Often the Bible is quoted to support social programs because the Bible is concerned about the poor. However, the Bible is usually speaking to personal responsibility, not governments. God gives the authority to punish those who abuse the poor, but it does not have the authority to punish people for lacking generosity. I think care should be taken to achieve broad agreement from the people when government seeks to take on roles in this area. With this in mind, I will be happy to address any questions or comments about specific issues.

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 Politics

It's the middle of an election season. Candidates with very different political views proclaim their support of the Bible. Many conservatives and progressives will argue that the Bible supports their positions. Does the Bible really say who to vote for? If so, why is there so much disagreement?

I believe many of the issues that seem to separate Americans during elections aren't really the issues that separate us. We see the tip of the iceberg, but the real differences are somewhere below the surface. Our assumptions about God, the Bible, morality, and politics are all interconnected. So when we argue about a specific position related to issues like taxes or abortion, we're not really arguing about taxes and abortion. There are a number of beliefs we hold to deeply that we have decided before we get to a specific political question. We don't see why others don't agree with us, because we aren't even talking about the issues that divide us.

My observation has been that most people on the right and the left don't really allow the Bible to guide their political opinions. They have a certain set of political beliefs, and then they appeal to Scripture to support their positions. Of course, many don't really care what the Bible says at all.

However, to Trust the Bible, is to see it as God's Word. The Bible says a lot about politics and government. I believe everything the Bible says is right, and therefore, I don't want any of my political views to contradict the teachings of Scripture. Anything less than that would be to reject the Bible as something we can trust. The difficulty is that the Bible was not written with the American political system in mind, nor 21st Century issues in mind. The Bible doesn't say "vote for candidate "_____" in this election, or "support this specific healthcare policy." The Bible does give us principles of what government is supposed to be and do.

I also think it is healthy for Christians following the Bible to disagree about who to vote for in a particular election. If in every election a candidate knew that all the Christians were going to vote for them, or that none of the Christians were going to vote for them, they could ignore the questions and concerns of the whole group. But when there is fluid movement between candidates in the Bible believing community, then they are a group that those running for office will want to reach out to.

In my next post, I will discuss what the Bible says about the purpose of government. If you don't first establish what Government is, understanding what the Bible says about specific issues is confusing. If you really want to follow the Bible in every area, including political ones, you need to start at the foundation and work up to specifics. The use and abuse of Scriptures in the political realm causes doubts about whether we can trust the Bible, but the answer lies in finding what the Bible teaches on the primary political issues, instead of starting with specific and secondary ones. However, I will welcome comments and questions on specific issues and will respond to them.


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

 

Did Archaelogists Find Goliath?

There are a lot of fake stories passed around on the internet today. Many of these stories take advantage of Christians who are eager to prove to the world that the stories in the Bible are real. One "news" story claims archeologists have discovered the remains of Goliath, the giant that David killed in 1 Samuel. Some stories use the photograph above and to the left. Other similar stories show a giant skull with a stone sticking out of its forehead. Or, the same photos are used to claim the biblical "giants" of Genesis 6:4 have been found. Clearly, the above photograph is a fake, with the original shown to the right.

As a pastor, I have often had church members tell me how excited they are that they have seen a story posted on Facebook that confirms one biblical story or the other. Popular stories I have noticed are:

- Noah's Ark Found (More than once!)
- NASA Reveals Joshua's "Missing Day"
- The Remains of Pharaoh's Army from the Exodus Have Been Found

All of these stories are almost certainly false, although some of them are much more complicated to disprove than to simply show the original photograph. Some originate from obviously fake news sites, the kind that claim proof that Elvis was the real shooter of JFK. It's not my point to get into all the details of each story here. However, if you want to know more about the truth behind one of these stories or another one you have seen, please ask and I will reply. I'm sure some of you are surprised to learn one or more of these stories are not true.

What should we learn from this?

First, there is nothing wrong with looking for evidence of the truthfulness of the Bible. Is it possible that there are remains of Noah's Ark? I think so. Not very likely, but possible. Would it be exciting to find it? Absolutely! It could help start up conversations with people who have stopped believing any of the Bible is true. It might also encourage people who already believe the Bible. Plus, it would just be really cool! If Noah's Ark (or Goliath's skull) is found, it will be God's grace that has preserved it and allowed someone to discover it at just the right time.

However, Christians must be careful. First, it hurts our testimony when we look gullible, or even deceitful, when we present false evidence to support the Bible. Second, we must recognize that God has already provided sufficient evidence to support our faith and confirm the trustworthiness of Scripture. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is a well documented historical fact. But the Bible itself gives sufficient evidence for the truth of the Gospel. Jesus said, "If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead" (Luke 16:31). Christians must be careful that their excitement about a "new discovery" isn't actually a sign of unbelief, an expression of an inner desire to find  "just a little more" evidence before we will really believe.

Whenever you see a news story "proving" the Bible, try to check out the sources before you share it or repost it. Fortunately, sites like "Snopes.com" make it easy to find sources on most stories you will see on the internet, although you cannot always trust everything on Snopes either. Answers in Genesis is a Christian site that exposes false stories as well.


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

Are Near-Death Experiences for Real?

As many as five percent of Americans claim to have had a Near-Death experience. In a classic case, the person nearly dies or does die in some sense. They either have no heartbeat or no brain-wave reading for a period of time. But they recover and share stories of things they did or saw while they were dead. They often see a “light,” a loved one, Jesus, or their own life flashing before their eyes. They often report floating up over their body. These experiences are real and are reported frequently, the only question is what should we make of them? And do they give us evidence for trusting what the Bible says about life after death?

 
First, there are good reasons to be skeptical. Different stories present different, contradicting realities. Visions of heaven are frequently different from biblical descriptions and follow someone's own religious beliefs. It is impossible to confirm or deny any particular religious viewpoint on the basis of Near-Death experiences (NDEs). There is a also a high incentive to report NDEs. A person with an exciting story involving an NDE can sell a lot of books, which should make the story suspicious if there is no substantial evidence to back it up. 

In 2010 Alex Malarkey wrote a book with his father called, "The Boy Who Came Back From Heaven," about his NDE and trip to heaven as a six-year-old boy. The book sold over one million copies. But recently Alex, now older, confessed, "I did not die. I did not go to heaven...People have profited from lies, and continue to. They should read the Bible, which is enough. The Bible is the only source of truth. Anything written by man cannot be infallible."

Scientists naturally seek explanations for NDEs as well. Perhaps there is something that happens in the brain as it is shutting down. Perhaps NDEs occur as the brain is shutting down that triggers very real dreams of the afterlife. When the person wakes up, they assume that the experience occurred while they were "dead" when it actually occurred just before or after that time. This may explain a number of cases.

However, it does not seem to sufficiently explain all of them. In a number of instances there is external evidence that a NDE story is based on real events. For example, a woman named Maria described floating out of her body and above the hospital she was staying in. After recovering, she told her nurse she saw a tennis shoe on the roof. According to Maria, the shoe had a worn little toe. After searching on the roof of the hospital, the nurse found the shoe just as Maria described! There are many reported cases like this, if you are interested in reading more, I recommend the book, "Beyond Death Exploring the Evidence for Immortality" by Gary R. Habermas.

The Bible tells us that we are not merely physical beings. When our body decays, we do not cease to exist. We also have a "spirit" or "soul." We continue to have consciousness after death. One day, there will be a resurrection of our bodies and our spirit will be reunited with them. Believers in Jesus go to be with Jesus when they die. Their bodies will be resurrected when he comes back to earth and they will live with him forever. Unbelievers will be resurrected at the end of 1,000 years to face judgment. They are presently being kept in some sort of prison for spirits awaiting judgement (1 Peter 3:19, Luke 16:23). No one is presently in "hell" as far as what the Bible describes as the "lake of fire" (Revelation 20). Although heaven is a wonderful place for those who are in Christ, no one is yet in the "new heaven and the new earth" that is described in Revelation 21. Even those in heaven now are eagerly waiting for the resurrection when they can join with their bodies again.

NDEs do not give good supporting evidence for all that the Bible says about life after death. However, they do give strong evidence that there is life after death. I do not put much weight into accounts like "Heaven is for Real." In that case in particular, there is little supporting evidence that anything in the story actually happened. Numerous other examples offer more evidence. When it comes to understanding what actually happens after death, I trust the Bible. The source is not merely unreliable human testimony, but Jesus, who died and is the first human to truly be resurrected. Nevertheless, NDEs sometimes offer fascinating confirmation about life after this one. Are you ready for it? Jesus is the only one that offers us eternal life that we will enjoy forever. You can trust him!

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

 

What is Biblical Counseling?

    Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are wary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)

    The Bible provides solutions for life’s greatest problems. God knows us better than anyone, he created us! He also loves us and wants us to understand ourselves and how to overcome problems. He has revealed this information in his Word, the Bible.

    Biblical counseling is an opportunity for you to get help from God's Word. A biblical counselor seeks to learn and understand the problem you are facing and help you find solutions in the Bible. Through instruction, weekly assignments, and accountability, the counselor seeks to help you change the way you think about your problems. Sometimes taking the right steps can be hard, but the result is a life not so heavily burdened. 

    “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires, to be made new in the attitude of your minds, and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” (Ephesians 4:22-24)

 At First Baptist Fairfax, we would like to help with counseling needs such as:

• Marriage/Relationship Issues
• Depression
• Addiction
• Parenting Issues
• Anxiety
• And More

Our Counselor: Pastor David Janaro has a Masters degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and is pursuing certification from the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors and a Doctorate in Pastoral Ministry from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.
Call the church at 803-632-3228 to set up an appointment.

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 Mental Health

Can the Bible help us with mental health problems like bipolar disorder, ADHD, depression, and others? Yes it can!
The Bible says that God's "power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him (2 Peter 1:3)." He has given us everything we need to handle the issues surrounding mental health problems!
The Bible also says that "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work" (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

At first, this may not seem so. "If I have cancer," you might ask, "How will the Bible help me? Isn't that an issue for a doctor?" Therefore, you add, "How can it help me with mental health problems?"

First, I will explain how the Bible can help with medical issues like cancer. Second, I hope to show the differences between typical medical problems and other mental health problems. Mental health problems fall even more directly into areas the Bible can help you with. I hope that this gives hope to you or a loved one who is struggling with a mental health issue.

1. The Bible can help with medical issues. The Bible can help in several ways. First, following the Bible can reduce the risk of some medical issues. For example, heart problems and other cardiovascular problems may be caused because of years of stress and anxiety. This may in part be caused by not truly understanding and following biblical teachings on worrying, not taking a day to rest weekly, or pursuing worldly security instead of pursuing God. All of us would be healthier if we truly understood and followed all that the Bible teaches about managing our time, stress, and focus. Then, there is prayer! The Bible teaches us to pray and have faith in God. God may heal us through prayer.

Second, the Bible helps us with medical issues because it helps us understand them. "Why is God letting this happen to me?" "What reason do I have for having hope in the midst of this illness?" "How can I rejoice even though I am in pain?" "What can I learn from this illness?" All of these questions are things the Bible can help us with. It may not tell us how to find a cure, but it will help with how to handle the illness. So, when we face a medical illness, we need help from a doctor, but we also need help from the Bible.

2. But what about mental health? First, you need to understand the categorical difference between psychological disorders and other medical health issues. A psychological disorder is diagnosed on the basis of behavior, not a physical test. For instance, you can see cancer in a lab. There is nothing that is "seen" in ADHD. People with depression are often told they have a "chemical imbalance." Certain chemicals are involved in the transfer of information between neurons in the brain. If these chemicals are at abnormal levels, problems like depression may occur. However, this is only a theory. There is no way to test the levels of chemicals between neurons in a brain. Rather, depression is diagnosed on the basis of behavior. Now in some cases, medical issues like a problem with the thyroid may contribute to depression. A doctor may find a medical issue that can be treated, but if so it is no longer considered a psychological disorder but rather a medical health issue.

The labels given in psychological disorders are simply names for a pattern of behaviors. For instance, if I saw someone shouting, with a red face and clinched fists while shaking their head, I would say they are "angry." That is a label for certain behaviors. However, it does not explain why they are angry. Similarly, when someone behaves in a certain way, we say they are bipolar, or have ADHD. This is merely a label for the behaviors, it does not mean we know of a medical cause, or even that there is one.

What this means is that psychological disorders are right in line with the kinds of things the Bible can help us solve. Is there a medical aspect to them? In some cases, maybe. The theories in these cases may or may not prove true. Does this mean that medications cannot be helpful or should be avoided? No. Even if we do not know why they work, medication may be a means God uses to help bring some relief from the pain that psychological disorders cause. However, at the root of many psychological disorders are deeply ingrained patterns of thinking, behavior, or attitudes that the Bible can help us understand and find solutions to. Hebrews 4:12 says, "The word of God is alive  and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart."

I will address specific disorders in the future. For now, I simply want to express that the Bible offers care and support for all sorts of mental health issues. There is hope! Perhaps you or a loved one is getting treatment from a psychiatrist. I am in no way suggesting you should stop. What I am suggesting is that the counseling based on the Bible may offer you a greater range of options and depth at managing or even healing the disorder you are facing. If you have specific questions, feel free to contact me. You can reach me at 803-943-8237.

 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