Of the two choices given in the title of this blog, which would you say is most important to you? Would you rather be happy, or holy? Some would say, “Why does it have to be one or the other? Why can’t I strive for both?” And that is, I suppose, a logical question. But for the sake of discussion, let’s hypothesize that you come to a juncture in life at which you have to choose between the two. It comes down to a very real, very distinct choice between being happy and being holy.

For a beginning point for this discussion, let’s revisit the classic Biblical example: Job. Job had literally lost everything: his possessions, his flocks and herds, his ten children, his health, everything. The only thing spared was Job and his wife. And in the midst of this horrific loss, and of his personal physical suffering, he is told by his wife:

“Do you still retain your integrity? Curse God, and die!”

Job 2:9

What encouragement! His own wife seems to have lost all hope, and all happiness, in face of the multiplied troubles that have befallen them. She, too, has lost everything. All those possessions were theirs; the ten children were theirs; the flocks and herds were theirs. She has witnessed it all, and is now suffering the excruciating agony of living in the aftermath. Her response is pretty much the same as countless others who have literally lost it all.

But now, let’s listen to Job’s response to this admonition from his wife:

“You speak as a foolish woman speaks,” he told her. “Should we accept only good from God and not adversity?”

Job 2:10

Now, for just a moment, think about the purpose of Job’s life as he uttered these words. Do you think he was striving for happiness, or holiness? I would venture the guess that he was certainly not happy with the circumstances of his life during this time of loss and suffering. I would suggest that he was stricken with grief over his extreme loss. I would suggest that he, like so many others in times of personal loss and suffering, was struggling to make sense of it all. He was, after all, a man of integrity. The description given of him in chapter one is certainly one to be emulated. Listen to these words spoken by God Himself:

“Then the Lord said to Satan, ‘Have you considered my servant Job? No one else on earth is like him, a man of perfect integrity, who fears God and turns from evil. He still retains his integrity, even though you incited Me against him, to destroy him without just cause.”

Job 2:3

What an absolutely revolting thought, right? God states emphatically that Satan had incited Him to destroy Job without just cause! In other words, there was no apparent reason for Job to suffer the way he did. God drew Satan’s attention to Job, and then gave him the freedom to destroy everything Job had.

And even after suffering so terribly, Job continued to maintain his integrity. His desire was not for happiness, but for holiness. His desire was to bring glory to God regardless of life’s circumstances. We could all learn a lesson from that, couldn’t we?

I read with keen interest some things people post on social media. When life is good, and all is well, and everyone is happy, then we see words of praise and adoration to a loving Father in heaven. But let things go south – let the news from the doctor be the “C” word, or let the child stray from the path we taught them to follow, or let the finances hit rock bottom, or let the promotion be given to someone else, or let the downsizing mean you no longer are employed, or let the; well, you get the picture. Something happens that affects our happiness, and it sends us down a hole of enormous proportions.

I have seen some who call God’s goodness into question. I’ve seen others who rail out against God, blaming Him for being unfair. Still others will say that if God doesn’t do something, they will lose faith entirely. Their understanding of the love of God is based upon their preconceived ideas about what makes Him good.

Job’s wife tells him to curse God and die. She undoubtedly thought that Job’s suffering made his life not worth living. In today’s culture of death, there are multitudes who believe that if a person’s health declines to the point that they are no longer productive citizens, then the merciful and loving thing to do would be to end their lives. Others will do everything within their power, coupled with the promise of this or that medical procedure, to hold on to every precious moment of life. So, what is the answer?

Job’s response, “Should we accept only good from God, and not adversity?”, is the response we should make in light of every eventuality of life. God is ultimately in control of everything that happens in life. We enjoy the blessings and bounty of His amazing supply, while at other times we suffer loss and trouble beyond our ability to control. In and through it all, we are to maintain our integrity, strive for holiness, and set our goal on bringing Him glory through it all.

Faith, we are told in John’s first epistle, is the victory that overcomes the world. Faith is the ability to see the invisible. God is at work every moment, and always has our best interest in mind as He providentially guides, bringing about His desired purposes and plans for us.

Let me conclude by relating a story found in the Gospels. In Mark 9:24, we hear the cry of a man who had brought his child to Jesus for His healing touch. Please read slowly, carefully, and prayerfully Jesus’ response: “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” At this point, the heart of the man was laid bare before Jesus, as he cried out:

“Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”

Mark 9:24

My encouragement today is simply this: when life throws us a curve; when our plans have fallen through; when the light at the end of the tunnel is barely visible; when everything is completely chaotic and out of control; then run to Jesus! Cry out in our times of distress, “Lord, help my unbelief!” He will show His mighty hand. The outcome may not be as we had hoped, but with His help we will see our way through. We will, indeed, realize that all things are possible to him who believes.

Whatever your life experience is as you read these words, turn it over to the One, and only One, who can really make a difference. Trust Him; depend upon Him; accept by faith His will; and trust the outcome to His grace. Let’s set our minds and hearts on striving for holiness, and not simply happiness.

We all make mistakes. I have certainly made my share of mistakes through my lifetime, and I know that there will be others in the future. I am eternally grateful for a loving, forgiving Father in heaven who has promised to grant forgiveness for our sins. The Bible clearly teaches this truth. Read carefully the following words found in the First Epistle of John:

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us of all unrighteousness.”

1 John 1:9

I am so extremely thankful for that amazing promise! And I’m sure you are as well.

But now, let me get to the point of this blog. Our daughter, Charity, is in great need of assistance right now due to a bad decision she made five months ago. In a period of extreme struggle, she placed herself in a compromising situation, and is now pregnant. She has shown sincere remorse and repentance for her actions, and, based on the verse quoted above, has received the gracious gift of forgiveness from God. However, she is now bringing a child – which I know she will love and cherish – into this world as a single mom.

She is in need right now of those basic necessities to begin the journey of motherhood. If you feel it is something you might be able to help with, there is a link at the end of this blog where you will find her registry with items she has selected. It would be a tremendous help, and a huge blessing, if you could purchase one of these items through this online shower.

Luna Rey will make her entrance into this world around the first of November. If you would like to help out, please visit the web site below and have the item sent to: Charity Stewart, 3160 Hwy 21 Suite 103 #4, Fort Mill, SC 29715. Charity would be deeply appreciative for any help with the purchase of these items.

Disclaimer: some of the items are expensive, and we do not expect anyone to purchase one of them unless you are inclined to do so.

Thanks in advance for your help with this. Above all else, please pray for Charity as she begins this new adventure. Being a single mom is no easy chore, and your prayers are greatly needed and appreciated.

Click on this link to find her registry:

https://www.buybuybaby.com/store/giftregistry/viewregistryguest/550440953?eventType=Baby

A simple question that is asked countless times every day: What do you think? It can be asked about anything: What do you think about the ball game? about the weather? about the assignment? about the debate? about my new car? about the chances of your team winning the championship? about the… Fill in the blank.

At the conclusion of this blog I might ask, “What do you think about my remarks?” I would be asking for your personal opinion, your thoughts, your insights, your suggestions, etc. The answer to the “What do you think?” question will be vastly different from person to person. For example, if you were to ask me “What do you think about the weather?”, my answer would be based on my personal preferences. My answer to that question is valid as long as we understand that personal preference is nothing more than one person’s opinion, and that answer is correct for the person giving the answer. However, someone else could be asked the same question and give a completely different answer.

That is perfectly fine. Personal opinions are simply that: PERSONAL OPINION. There is an endless supply of questions that can be answered with my own personal opinion, based on my own personal preferences.

But now, let’s get very specific. There are some things that need more than an answer based on my personal preferences and opinions. There are some questions that have two possible responses: the correct response, and the incorrect response. These questions should not be answered by personal preference, feeling, emotion, etc. A couple of examples will be sufficient to illustrate my point.

First, let’s think about the subject of abortion. Much has been said, written, and documented on this subject. There are those who identify themselves as pro-choice, and others as pro-life. Those are two very broad, encompassing terms that are then explained in a variety of ways. It is all a matter of personal preference – right? I would suggest that it is not a matter of personal preference at all.

My answer to this question is based on a source of authority, a standard, which is authoritative in its own right: the Bible. The subject of abortion is not directly mentioned in Scripture, but it is clearly alluded to. However, before we discuss the subject of abortion, let’s think for a moment about life. The Bible is crystal clear on the subject of human life: God created man (and woman) in His own image. Every individual human being bears the image of God. Life is a gift of God, and every life begins at the moment of conception, according to Scripture. The Bible teaches clearly that every child is formed in the womb by the intricate work of Almighty God. As the psalmist says, we are fearfully and wonderfully made, being “woven” in the womb by God Himself. Of course I realize there are many who would argue vehemently against what I have just written, and they would say that I am only stating my opinion, and that they have just as much right to their opinion as do I.

But, there is a big difference here. My opinion is not based on my personal preferences, but rather on the teachings of God’s word. Therefore I am not stating simply what I believe, but what the Bible teaches. Every human being is fearfully and wonderfully made, being created in the image of God Himself. Therefore, there is something intrinsically valuable in every human life. To end that life – while in the womb, partially out of the womb, or completely out of the womb – is an abomination according to the Bible. So, on this subject, we might debate forever our personal beliefs, but when we turn to the Bible as our source of authority we are faced with facts that must be considered in our final determination.

Let’s think about another social hot topic: biological sexuality. Once again turning to Scripture, we are taught clearly that God created male and female, and that both bear His image. There are clear biological differences between male and female. There is never any question in the mind of the doctor who delivers a baby as to what sex that baby is: there are only two choices. God made man, and God made woman. Period. That is not personal opinion or preference. That is biological, anatomical fact.

In our present societal and cultural climate, there are those who are striving to remove all terminology relative to biological sexuality. They want to be referred to as “they, them, us, or we,” but never “he, him, or her.” Now, granted, I am perfectly fine with looking at a crowd of people and referring to that group as “them”, but that is simply a generic term for everyone in the group. However, if I were to refer to individual persons in the group, I would refer to each one with a pronoun that identified their sexuality – he or she, him or her.

Is that my personal opinion? I suppose some would say that it is, but I would submit that it is a fact based on biological evidence of their sexuality. And that is based on the clear, concise, concrete teachings of the word of God.

There are so many other social hot topics we could consider, but for the sake of time and space I will allow these two to suffice. You see, there are many subjects we could discuss and simply share our personal opinions. We could very easily both be right, based on our personal preferences. For example, I could make the statement that it is a miserably hot and humid day, while someone else might say that it is a perfect weather day. Who’s right? Both are, because they are giving their personal opinion based on their personal preferences.

But those things really don’t matter, do they? If you love hot weather, and I detest hot weather, then we are both right in our assessment based on our preference. However, when it comes to other subjects, such as those discussed above, then there is a right response and a wrong response. You can ask what I think about those subjects, but when it comes to the clear teachings of Scripture, there is absolute truth concerning these matters.

So, what do you think? I would love to hear from you about your “opinion” on these matters. Have a blessed day!

“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own by name and leads them out. And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.”

John 10:1-5 (Jesus speaking)

In my last few blogs I have attempted to discuss the subject of right and wrong, and who, if anyone, has the authority to determine what is right and wrong. I tried to show how the Bible is the only true source of absolute truth, and therefore, contains God’s standard of right and wrong. All other “truth” sources, then, must align with the teachings of Scripture, or: 1) be changed to align with Scripture, or; 2) be discarded altogether.

For those who identify themselves as Christians, and followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, it is of vital importance that we submit ourselves to the teachings of Scripture and strive to obey the principles laid out for us there. But how are we to do that? How are we to know what is truly right and wrong? Especially in those “gray” areas where the Bible does not give explicit instructions.

Well, in all honesty, I feel that there is ample “black and white” instructions given in Scripture that will give sure direction in most decisions we face in life. For instance, if we consider the hot button topics in our contemporary setting we will find absolute answers if we will simply search the Scriptures. Abortion, euthanasia, homosexuality, gender-neutral phraseology, transgenderism, domestic violence, racism, and so many others, are debated constantly in all forms of media. Each of these can be found in Scripture, and guiding principles can be learned.

But again, how are we to know all that the Bible teaches on these, and other, topics? For the believer in Jesus Christ, it is our responsibility to study the Bible, to delve into the teachings we find there, and to put them into practice in our lives, while at the same time helping others to know what the Bible teaches. But still, can we know everything the Bible teaches on these topics? I have read through the Bible forty-five times, and still have so much to learn. There are still so many principles I have to research when certain topics arise.

But, that’s why the above quoted passage from John’s Gospel is so important for us to understand. It states clearly that once an individual becomes a follower of Jesus Christ, he/she then is able to “hear” the voice of the Shepherd (Jesus) and follow Him. And please listen carefully to the statement of Jesus: his sheep will not follow a stranger because they do not recognize his voice. As a matter of fact, they will actually flee from him!

We should make it our desire to learn the voice of Jesus so well that we cannot easily be deceived by the voice of a counterfeit. We can accomplish this to a large degree by developing a healthy diet on the word of God. Read it regularly. Study it diligently. Apply it stringently. Live by it faithfully. And then listen: listen intently for that voice of the Shepherd. He will guide and direct. He will lead His sheep into the lush pastures of His love. He will guard us against the alluring voice of the enemy.

And when He speaks, we should always – always – follow His voice. Let’s face it, there are multitudes of voices that are striving to get us to follow them. Voices that sound so appealing, so pleasant, even so right. But we must stay the course. We must not allow ourselves to veer off the path that has been clearly established for us by the Shepherd. It is His voice that we should follow.

Vance Havner used to say, “We all need to come apart before we come apart.” What wisdom there is in those few words! Havner would then use Jesus as the ultimate example: He would withdraw Himself for periods of time to be refreshed and renewed. He set the example for His followers in doing so.

Where do you go to “come apart”? What is that special place that you retreat to for a season of renewal? Anyone who knows me at all knows that my go to place is pretty much anywhere in the mountains. I have spent time in the Great Smoky Mountains, the Blue Ridge Mountains, the Appalachians, the Ozarks, the Rockies, and the Grand Tetons. I have seen the majestic peaks of Switzerland glistening in the sun above the clouds below as I flew to Germany. I have witnessed the grandeur of the mountains of Romania, Hungary, and Transylvania. There is something about the towering peaks of mountains that calms my spirit, and centers my thoughts on the One who created that unbelievable beauty.

But there is one very special place that I love to go to for times of spiritual, mental, and physical renewal. Fruitland Baptist Bible College is that most wonderful place, and I find myself drawn to it more and more as I grow older. I remember to this day the very first time I set my feet on Fruitland soil. God had graciously and gloriously saved me, and then called me into ministry. My pastor told me that I should check into attending Fruitland Baptist Bible College (Institute, as it was then), nestled in the rolling hills near Hendersonville, NC. He then took a day out of his busy schedule to drive me up to Fruitland, to spend a day visiting classes, talking to students, and speaking with professors.

As we pulled into the parking lot that day, I knew from the moment I stepped out of the car that this was where God wanted me to spend the next two years of my life. I had never been so certain of anything as I was of that. And so began the journey that has now spanned over forty years. I was so privileged to sit under the tutelage of those spiritual giants who invested their lives into the lives of those young “preacher boys” who had felt the same spiritual urging as had I.

Beyond my two years at Fruitland I furthered my education by attending Wingate University, Criswell College, and Trinity Theological Seminary. But now, after all these years, as I look back over my educational journey, I must say that what I received at Fruitland gave me the solid foundation upon which the furtherance of that journey rested. I am forever thankful for those two precious years.

I remember clearly a conversation I had with my wife as the time of my graduation from Fruitland grew close. I said to her that I hoped there would be the day that I would be able to teach on that campus, and prayerfully be a blessing to students as my professors had been to me. And now, for the past two decades, I have been privileged to teach in these same hallowed halls. Some of the classes I have taught have been on the Fruitland campus, while others have been at the satellite campus in Monroe, NC, while still others have been taught online. But to have the opportunity to put back to some degree what I received at this wonderful place is a blessing beyond words.

So, when I need to come apart before I come apart, I flee to Fruitland. I certainly don’t get to go to the campus as often as I would like, but it is my very special place. It is there, like no other place in my life, where I can go to be refreshed in God’s Spirit. It is there that I sense the presence of God like no other place I have ever been.

I just returned home from Fruitland today. My good friend, Ben Tackett, librarian and professor of computer science, invited me to speak in chapel, so Teresa and I made our way up the mountain to once again spend some precious time at my go-to place. If you have never visited this beautiful campus nestled in those majestic rolling hills, let me encourage you to do so. It will be time well spent, and you will be spiritually refreshed for having come apart, before you come apart.

One of the fastest growing trends of our contemporary setting is called cancel culture. A working definition of this term is as follows:

“The Cancel Culture is a collective attempt to harm the reputation, livelihood, and social presence of people, products, TV shows, celebrities, employees, etc., for violating a particular ideological standard.”

Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry, January 5, 2021

This, of course, is only one of many attempts at defining the term, but it will be used in this blog as a beginning point for our discussion of the topic. Cancel culture is the targeted attempt to destroy the reputation of someone or some entity that disagrees with your particular view of reality.

In the opinion of this writer, we are seeing this played out in the arena of our modern American society. It can be readily seen in every avenue, but for the sake of time and space I will focus my thoughts on one particular area: social media. It has become quite obvious that anyone who makes comments on any social media platform is subject to extreme scrutiny. We have all heard of someone being place in “Facebook jail” because they posted some remarks that went against Facebook’s policy. I know quite a few individuals who were censured because of remarks made in a personal post.

This is a seemingly innocent thing, wouldn’t you agree? Well, I, for one, adamantly disagree. It seems to me that if you are of a particular political persuasion which does not align with the “policy” of whichever social media platform you use, you could be banned from that platform for propagating what they deem to be inappropriate. For example, if you are against abortion, but the social platform police deem your comments about the harmful effects of abortion are against their policy, then you could be censured. Therefore, anything that does not align with their ideology is banned.

Again quoting from the Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry:

Cancelling can occur for not being on the right side of such topics as…

1. Black Lives Matter – A leftist, anti-family, pro-marxism ideology
2. Critical Race Theory – Examining society as it relates to race and power.
3. Gender Identity – A person’s sense of his or her own gender regardless of biology
4. Intersectionality – How discrimination and privilege manifest in a person’s social framework
5. LGBTQ – An acronym symbolizing many sexual deviations
6. Race/Racism – Discrimination or privilege based on a person’s skin color.
7. Sexism – Discrimination of privilege based on a person’s sexual orientation
8. Socialism – Increased governmental oversight with a decrease of personal freedom
9. Transsexuality – The surgical alteration to change a person’s birth-sex
10. White Privilege – The inherent privilege in society due to being white

Please note carefully my next statement: Cancel culture is not solely the agenda of the left. Please read that sentence again. Anyone, of any ideological mindset, can be guilty of attempting to cancel culture. Advocates of pro-life can attempt to cancel advocates of pro-abortion. Advocates of the Biblical view of marriage being between one man and one woman can strive to cancel the beliefs and practices of the LGBTQ community. Cancel culture goes both ways, and it is wrong, no matter which “side” you happen to be on.

I, you, have the right to stand up for, speak up for, use social media as a platform to present our views and beliefs without being ridiculed, harassed, and verbally assaulted for our particular beliefs. I may adamantly disagree with you on any given topic, but you have just as much right as do I to present my views in a public forum as I stand for what I believe.

Different beliefs should be open for discussion, but not for being shamed, ridiculed, and even banned from presenting those beliefs. It would be wonderful, in my opinion, if we could join in healthy dialogue on controversial topics instead of striving to cancel each other out because of those differing points of view.

My thoughts and comments are always rooted in political and theological conservatism. Yours may be rooted in extreme political and theological liberalism. We may never agree on certain social and cultural beliefs and practices. But that doesn’t mean we have to go at each other with verbal assaults, trying our best to cancel each other out. We should respectfully allow each to his own.

I can, and should, love everyone, no matter what. That doesn’t mean I have to like you or what you stand for, but it does mean that I respect you and your right to your opinion. I’m not going to bash you in any public forum, but I may discuss with you why I disagree with your particular views.

In conclusion, I have no right to involve myself in any attempt to ‘cancel’ someone or some entity simply because I disagree with them. I will respect you, and ask you do the same for others. What I will do, as a believer in Jesus Christ – striving to follow His mandate to be a light shining in a world of darkness – is to share the message of His love and grace with red, yellow, black and white, as they are ALL precious in His sight. And ALL need to hear about His amazing love story of redemption.

In my last two blogs, I have tried to take a serious look at right and wrong. Is there really any absolute source of authority from which we can learn what is right and what is wrong? Is there any such thing as absolute truth, from which we can be taught clearly what is ethically and morally right?

Last week’s blog focused on religion and religious sources of authority. There are as many different sources of authority as there are different religions. Each religion has its own sources which teach its adherents what is right and what is wrong according to its traditions. We tried to decide if any one source is absolutely true, to the exclusion of all others. It was my personal assessment that the Bible of the Christian faith is the only source of absolute truth and authority. Therefore, all other religious sources of authority must of necessity be subjugated to the teachings of Scripture.

This week I would like to turn my attention to two other sources of authority which are viewed by some as sources of absolute authority: culture, and government. First, let’s focus our attention on government. Civil authority is a reality in every form of government: democracy, monarchy, dictatorship, socialism, communism, oligarchy, aristocracy, colonialism, theocracy, and totalitarianism. Right and wrong are determined by the authority of each governing philosophy. However, right and wrong are not necessarily absolute. For example, during different periods of a nation’s history, its view of correct behavior may change based upon the beliefs of those in power. We are seeing this in the United States, as conservative politicians and liberal politicians clash over what is right and wrong on many ethical and moral issues.

So, the question is this: if the government decides to change the law pertaining to ethical or moral issues, does the new law mean that we are to obey? We have a clear lesson in Scripture that answers this question. It is found in the book of Acts. Read slowly and carefully the following passage:

“So they (the religious leaders) called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered and said to them, ‘Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.’

Acts 4:18-20

This is an example of governmental authority demanding that the apostles obey them rather than God, and the response is clear: if the law of man contradicts the law of God then we must obey God rather than man.

Now, having said that, please understand that as long as the government’s enacting of law is not contradictory to the law of God, then we are certainly to be law-abiding citizens. As a matter of fact, Christians should be the most upstanding law-abiding citizens there are. However, if man’s law contradicts God’s law then we much follow the teachings of God.

It is crucial to remember the teachings of Paul in Romans 13. It is there that we are taught to obey the governing authorities. And what was Paul’s reasoning behind this? He states it clearly in the following words:

“Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.”

Romans 13:1-2

Governmental authority comes from God, and as long as the laws enacted by the government are in alignment with God’s Word, then we are to obey. But if and when the government enacts any law that contradicts God’s Word, then we must not follow, but rather be true to God’s authoritative Word.

Let’s turn our attention briefly now to the changing tides of culture. In every society there is what we might refer to as the ebb and flow of culture. Cultural practices differ from one people group to another. Beliefs and behaviors based on contemporary culture are different than they were a few decades ago. Cultural relativism is the concept that right and wrong, beliefs and behaviors, are relative to the culture of a society at any given time. Therefore, what was viewed as wrong two decades ago, may now be viewed as perfectly acceptable today. Does the change in cultural practices have the authority to change a behavior from being wrong to being right? If so, culture becomes the authority, and when that happens there can be no right or wrong at all: it is all subjected to the practices of any culture at any given time.

So let’s try to wrap up this discussion. If there is in existence any source of absolute truth, then there must of necessity be only one source. If there are two sources of absolute truth, but they contain contradictory teachings concerning moral and ethical belief and behavior, then that means there can be no source of absolute truth.

But if there is one source of absolute truth, then all other sources of purported truth – whether it be from religious sources, political sources, governmental sources, or cultural sources – must be subjugated to that one true source. If a law enacted by the government contradicts the truth in that one source of absolute truth, then it must be deemed false, and therefore rejected. If a religious source contains material that contradicts the source of absolute truth, then it must be rejected. If a cultural practice contradicts the truth contained in the one true source of absolute truth, then it must be rejected.

The Bible claims for itself that it is absolute truth. It does not simply contain truth: it is in and of itself truth. Those who claim to be followers of Jesus Christ, therefore, are called upon to obey the commands, and enjoy the promises and blessings, of this source of absolute truth.

Politics, governments, religions, philosophies, cultures, must all be subjected to the teachings of God’s Holy Word. Then, and only then, will we see a movement toward civility in a world filled with animosity toward one another.

Next week, I will give my attention to the movement referred to as ‘cancel culture’ and see how it relates the discussion of the past two weeks.

In last week’s blog, “Knowing and Doing”, I introduced the topic of knowing and doing what is right as opposed to what is wrong. I raised the question as to the authority behind the determination of right and wrong, and shared briefly that there are many different sources of authority to which one might submit. It might be a religious authority, a civil authority, a cultural authority, or one of many others.

This week I would like to investigate a few of these sources with the desire to determine if, indeed, one is correct and all others insufficient. Let’s begin by giving consideration to religious sources of authority. Please understand from the outset that it would be impossible to investigate each religion’s source of authority, so we will consider them all as a whole.

All of the world’s religions have their individual sources of written authority. The three major world religions – Christianity, Judaism, and Islam – base their moral and ethical codes on their holy writings. Then, all of the other religions in the world also have their own sources of authority. Is it possible that one is right to the exclusion of any other? Well, to put it very simply, if there is such a thing as absolute truth, then there can only be ONE source of absolute authority. If something is absolutely true in one source, then it cannot be subjugated to any other source. Therefore, it would only stand to reason that there must of necessity be an absolute source upon which all truth is determined.

So, let’s summarize this brief discussion on religion’s sources of authority by stating the obvious. If the teachings of Judaism are correct, then all truth is contained in the writings of the Old Testament Scriptures. Thus, the New Testament is viewed as irrelevant, and the teachings of Jesus Christ, along with the writings of all the authors of the New Testament books, have no authority. The same can be said of the Koran of the Islamic faith. If the Koran contains the absolute source of authority, then all other sources are subjugated to it, and therefore have no basis in reality as a source of absolute truth. And finally, if Christianity is correct in its assessment that the Bible, in its entirety, is the source of absolute truth, then Islam’s Koran, and Judaism’s Old Testament, must be subjugated to the Scriptures contained in both Old and New Testaments.

Adherents of each of these three major world religions base their beliefs and behaviors on the teachings found in their respective sources of authority. So, is there any way to know with absolute certainty that the source of authority chosen by any individual is the correct source? Or, does it really make any difference at all in the eternal scheme of things? I’m sure we have all heard someone say, “It really doesn’t matter what you believe, as long as you believe it sincerely.” But that is an absolutely ludicrous remark when we think about it. If that is true in one situation, it must of necessity be true in every situation. So, for example, if I sincerely believe that I can drink poison and not suffer any ill effects then it will be true for me, then I should be able to do it. But, we all know how ridiculous that would be.

So, when we apply that to religion’s sources of authority, it would mean, in essence, that all roads lead to heaven. As long as I believe sincerely, and practice my religious faith with total consecration, then I will have a home in heaven awaiting me when I pass from this physical life.

However, if we take the Bible literally, and base our beliefs on the teachings of Jesus Christ, then we learn quickly that believing something sincerely does not make it right. Allow me to share a couple of examples which will be sufficient to prove this point.

First, let’s give our attention the the words of Jesus recorded in Matthew’s Gospel:

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'”

Matthew 7:21-23

This example focuses on certain individuals who obviously believe that a home in heaven is based on a life of works. They believe sincerely that doing all these things will attain for them eternal life, but Jesus says that it will only result eternal condemnation. Religion will not save you, no matter how sincere you are in your belief and behavior.

One more example, again coming directly from Jesus:

“Jesus said to Him [Thomas], ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.'”

John 14:6

If the Bible is the source of absolute truth, then these words must be true. Therefore, if the words of Jesus recorded here are indeed true, then all claims of all other religions on how to attain an eternal home in heaven must be false. Two contradictory or opposing truth claims cannot be true if there is any such thing as absolute truth.

So now let’s get to the bottom-line question: How do I know that the Bible is the one true source of absolute truth? The adherents to the belief system of the Islamic faith believe their holy writings are true. The adherents of the Jewish faith believe that their holy writings are true and complete. They believe it just as adamantly as the Christian believes the Bible to be the only true source of absolute truth.

As I concluded last week’s blog, it all comes down to a matter of faith. Now, I know that some of you are already a step ahead of me, and you are asking the question concerning faith, “Didn’t he just say that it didn’t matter how sincere your belief is as long as you sincerely believe?” Yes, I did say that. But what we need to understand is that it takes sincere faith, but that sincere faith must be grounded on the truth.

I take the words of Jesus to be literally and absolutely true. My belief in His words does not make them true, just as someone else’s unbelief in His words does not make them false. My belief is based on the authority of Scripture, and the Lordship of Jesus Christ. I stake my eternal well-being on the words of Jesus. Adherents to the teachings of other belief systems may believe just as sincerely as I do, but if their belief is based on falsehood, then it is a false hope and will end in eternal destruction.

So, who, and what, do you believe? And are you now acting on your belief by living true to the teachings of Holy Scripture? If the Bible is true – and I believe that it is – then it makes all others false and void of any authority. They only serve to deceive. Make sure your faith is in the REAL truth, found only in the Bible.

In next week’s blog I will strive to look a little deeper at civil authority and cultural authority to see how they align with Scripture.

There is a vast difference between knowing and doing. Just because you know something is wrong will not keep you from doing it. And, just because you know something is right does not mean that you will choose to do it. Knowing and doing are two entirely different things: vastly different.

As a child, I was taught that there were certain things that were right and others that were wrong. I wish I could say that I always did what was right, but that would be far from the truth. Oftentimes, far too many times to recount, I knew what was right, but chose to do what was wrong. A couple of examples will suffice to illustrate the point.

When I was about 13 years old, my father told me that he hoped I would never decide to smoke a cigarette (which was a bit hypocritical since he smoked!), so I smoked my first of many cigarettes. From the age of 13 to the age of 26 I smoked, and smoked, and smoked. When I finally did quit smoking, I was averaging between two and three packs per day.

Another example had to do with drinking alcohol. When I was approximately 14 years old, my father took me aside and encouraged me to never drink an alcoholic beverage (this was not hypocritical, as my father never drank any type of alcohol), so that very day I drank my first beer.

There are so many other examples I could cite, but hopefully these two will help me make the point. I was taught that smoking and drinking were wrong, and yet I chose to involve myself in both behaviors. I became a chain smoker, and an every-day drinker. This was no one’s fault but my own. I chose to smoke, and I chose to drink.

Now, I realize someone reading this might be thinking, “Well, I don’t see anything wrong with either of those habits. I smoke, and I drink. Just because it seems wrong to you doesn’t mean it is necessarily wrong for everyone.” And that is the very specific thought I would like to pursue in this blog. What determines if something is right or wrong? And, to further delve into this matter, is there really any such thing as right and wrong?

This is where the friction begins. Let’s first consider whether there is really a standard of right and wrong behavior. If we were to ask a Christian, then the answer should be affirmative and assertive: yes, there is a standard of right and wrong. That standard is the Bible. However, if we asked a non-Christian the same question, their answer would be different. Some might answer that there is a standard of right and wrong, but others might say there is no standard at all. And even for the ones who might say there is a standard, it would be something other than the Bible.

Then, if we continued our investigation into this matter by considering the thoughts from others who adhere to religious belief systems other than Christianity, we might once again learn that they do indeed believe in right and wrong. Their beliefs and behavioral practices will also be built on the foundation of what they deem to be an inspired book, but not the Bible. And in those books, they might be taught something that is contradictory to the teachings of the Bible. Does that make the teachings of their standard right, and the teachings of the Bible wrong?

And, just for the sake of discussion, let’s add one other group into the mix: those who believe right and wrong is determined by the culture in which they live. It is obvious as one travels to countries other than their country of birth that there are vastly different practices from one culture to another. For example, we might go to a country in which pre-marital sexual activities are not viewed as morally wrong, but rather are accepted and celebrated. For those who adhere to the teachings of the Bible as their standard of behavior and belief, this would be viewed as wrong behavioral practices because of the Bible’s teachings on human sexuality. Does their culture make it right, even though the Bible says it is wrong?

I realize this topic to far too broad to develop in one brief blog, but I wanted to give us all some food for thought on this matter. The reason for that is because in our present cultural state in the United States of America we are witnessing a deterioration of our long-held beliefs in the Biblical teachings of right and wrong, and seeing a turning to behavioral practices which are diametrically opposite of those teachings.

I would simply encourage each Christian who reads this blog to make sure our beliefs and practices are based on the teachings of Scripture and not on the shifting sands of cultural relativism, or the influence of adherents to other religious belief systems which contradict the teachings of Scripture. Let’s commit ourselves to stand for the truth of God’s Word in the face of opposition from those who embrace a different set of moral and ethical guidelines. And finally, let us, in love, share the truth of God’s Word with those who have embraced the shifting sands of cultural relativism so that they may know the truth. That truth, according to Scripture, has the power to set them free in Christ.

“But one of the Twelve, Thomas (called ‘Twin’), was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples kept telling him, ‘We have seen the Lord!’ But he said to them, ‘If I don’t see the mark of the nails in His hands, put my finger into the mark of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will never believe!'”

John 20:24-25

He is often referred to as “doubting Thomas.” It really seems only logical when we give consideration to the two verses quoted above. Notice how emphatic Thomas was as he made his assertion: “I will never believe!” (emphasis added) However, lest we come down too hard on Thomas let’s remember that all of the disciples doubted. It was not until after the personal experience of the power of the resurrection that any of them truly believed.

Doubt. It can be a fleeting thought, or it can be a captivating enslavement to questions concerning our faith. And if we, like Thomas, allow it to enslave us, then we lose the intimacy of fellowship with our Lord, and with fellow believers. Doubt, as we said about despair, can have a paralyzing affect on those who succumb to its power.

Think with me for a moment about a very common example of doubt. Have you ever been reading the Bible when you come across one of those stories of an astounding display of God’s miraculous power? We’ll use Jonah for a case study. It is a truly fantastic tale, wouldn’t you agree? Not just the story of Jonah being swallowed by a giant fish, but the entire book.

There is really no problem with the part of the story that tells us of a wandering, backslidden prophet. We can all relate to that part of the narrative. We may not even have any difficulty believing the part about the horrific storm that caused even seasoned sailors to fear for their lives. We may not have any difficulty believing the end of the story, where God causes the gourd to grow which provided shade for Jonah temporarily.

But think for a moment, not about the occurrence of those events, but the timing. Was it coincidence that the storm arose at that precise moment? Was it coincidence that when the sailors decided their only hope was to throw Jonah overboard, the giant fish was there, waiting to swallow the wayward prophet? Was it coincidence that the gourd grew at just the right time to provide Jonah shade from the blazing, burning sun? And, what about that giant fish? Did that really happen?

There – there it is: that moment of doubt. Did that really happen? It is at that moment in time that we have to decide: fact, or allegorical fiction? Did the events recorded in the book of Jonah really happen, or is it simply a fabricated tale which was created to teach valuable lessons of faith and practice.

And, of course, it is not just this fantastic tale, but there are so many others in the Bible that would cause us to ponder the question, “Did that really happen? Or is it a powerful story that has deep spiritual truths to help me grow in my relationship with God?

Did God really create everything out of nothing? Does God providentially guide in the affairs of mankind? Did the ten plagues against Egypt really happen? Did God really provide for the Israelites as they wandered in the wilderness forty years? Were Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego really thrown into that fiery furnace? Did Elijah and Elisha really perform the miracles they are said to have performed? Did Jesus really raise the dead? Cause the blind to see? Cause the deaf to hear? Cause the lame to walk? Did Jesus really arise from the grave?

We can respond to each of these by faith, or by doubt? If we choose to doubt one, then we will end up doubting all. But if we by faith believe one, then we will have a much better chance of believing all.

This certainly doesn’t mean that we will never again experience moments, or even seasons, of doubt. But faith gives us the ability to see beyond the doubt, to embrace the veracity of the story, and to grow in our faith because we are willing to believe the unbelievable.

Perhaps something has rocked your world recently, and you are reeling in the quandary of doubt. Perhaps that doubt has caused a grievous breach in your spiritual defense system. Perhaps you are right now wondering if God’s Word can be trusted, and it is causing your trust in God Himself to dwindle.

The writer of Hebrews tells us that it is by faith we believe that the worlds were formed by the word of God. We don’t have empirical evidence, but we have the trustworthy Word of God. The Bible tells us that faith is the victory that overcomes the world. Again, no empirical evidence, but the personal testimony of those who have experienced the victory God gives, even when we can’t explain it.

Did Thomas overcome his doubt? Yes, but only after he had seen the risen Lord. But the Lord’s response to Thomas is what we need to give special attention to:

“Jesus said, ‘Because you have seen Me, you have believed. Those who believe without seeing are blessed.'”

John 20:29

Let’s, by faith, truly believe. And our belief will give us victory over whatever the world throws at us. Remember, this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith. Let us live by faith, seeing the invisible, and not by sight, allowing the troubles and trials of this life to cause us to doubt the wonderful promises of our Great God!