Father's Love Letter

My Child…

You may not know me, but I know everything about you. (Psalm 139:1) I know when you sit down and when you rise up. (Psalm 139:2) I am familiar with all your ways. (Psalm 139:3) Even the very hairs on your head are numbered. (Matthew 10:29-31) For you were made in my image. (Genesis 1:27) 

In me you live and move and have your being. (Acts 17:28) For you are my offspring. (Acts 17:28) I knew you even before you were conceived. (Jeremiah 1:4-5) I chose you when I planned creation. (Ephesians 1:11-12) You were not a mistake, for all your days are written in my book. (Psalm 139:15-16) I determined the exact time of your birth and where you would live. (Acts 17:26) You are fearfully and wonderfully made. (Psalm 139:14) I knit you together in your mother’s womb. (Psalm 139:13) And brought you forth on the day you were born. (Psalm 71:6) 

I have been misrepresented by those who don’t know me. (John 8:41-44) I am not distant and angry, but am the complete expression of love. (1 John 4:16) And it is my desire to lavish my love on you. (1 John 3:1) Simply because you are my child and I am your Father. (1 John 3:1) I offer you more than your earthly father ever could. (Matthew 7:11) For I am the perfect Father. (Matthew 5:48) Every good gift that you receive comes from my hand. (James 1:17) For I am your provider and I meet all your needs. (Matthew 6:31-33) 

My plan for your future has always been filled with hope. (Jeremiah 29:11) Because I love you with an everlasting love. (Jeremiah 31:3) My thoughts toward you are countless as the sand on the seashore. (Psalms 139:17-18) And I rejoice over you with singing. (Zephaniah 3:17) I will never stop doing good to you. (Jeremiah 32:40) For you are my treasured possession. (Exodus 19:5) I desire to establish you with all my heart and all my soul. (Jeremiah 32:41) And I want to show you great and marvelous things. (Jeremiah 33:3) 

If you seek me with all your heart, you will find me. (Deuteronomy 4:29) Delight in me and I will give you the desires of your heart. (Psalm 37:4) For it is I who gave you those desires. (Philippians 2:13) I am able to do more for you than you could possibly imagine. (Ephesians 3:20) For I am your greatest encourager. (2 Thessalonians 2:16-17) I am also the Father who comforts you in all your troubles. (2 Corinthians 1:3-4) When you are brokenhearted, I am close to you. (Psalm 34:18) As a shepherd carries a lamb, I have carried you close to my heart. (Isaiah 40:11) One day I will wipe away every tear from your eyes. (Revelation 21:3-4) And I’ll take away all the pain you have suffered on this earth. (Revelation 21:3-4) 

I am your Father, and I love you even as I love my son, Jesus. (John 17:23) For in Jesus, my love for you is revealed. (John 17:26) He is the exact representation of my being. (Hebrews 1:3) He came to demonstrate that I am for you, not against you. (Romans 8:31) And to tell you that I am not counting your sins. (2 Corinthians 5:18-19) Jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled. (2 Corinthians 5:18-19) His death was the ultimate expression of my love for you. (1 John 4:10) I gave up everything I loved that I might gain your love. (Romans 8:31-32) 

If you receive the gift of my son, Jesus, you receive me. (1 John 2:23) And nothing will ever separate you from my love again. (Romans 8:38-39) Come home and I’ll throw the biggest party heaven has ever seen. (Luke 15:7) 

I have always been Father and will always be Father. (Ephesians 3:14-15) My question is…will you be my child? (John 1:12-13) I am waiting for you. (Luke 15:11-32)

Love, Your Dad
Almighty God

Text: http://www.fathersloveletter.com
Image: Google Images

Christianity or Islam?

Many people think that Islam and Christianity are just two ways of worshiping the same God.  Yahweh is Allah and Allah is Yahweh.  Is that true?

It is true that Arabic speaking Christians use the word "Allah" for God.  Simply because Allah just means "God".  If we have a man called John Smith, and I tell you that he is married with children you learn something about him.  If someone else tells you John Smith is single with no children, what would you conclude?

We see the same thing when we compare the Bible with the Qur'an.  

[Jesus asked] "why do you call it blasphemy when I say, ‘I am the Son of God’?" (John 10:36)

The Bible says, “but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.” (John 20:31).

O People of the Book! Commit no excesses in your religion: Nor say of Allah aught but the truth. Christ Jesus the son of Mary was (no more than) an apostle of Allah, and His Word, which He bestowed on Mary, and a spirit proceeding from Him: so believe in Allah and His apostles. Say not “Trinity” :desist: it will be better for you: for Allah is one Allah. Glory be to Him: (far exalted is He) above having a son. To Him belong all things in the heavens and on earth. And enough is Allah as a Disposer of affairs. (Surah 4:171)

And behold! Allah will say: “O Jesus the son of Mary! Didst thou say unto men, “Worship me and my mother as gods in derogation of Allah”? He will say: “Glory to thee! Never could I say what I had no right (to say). Had I said such a thing, thou wouldst indeed have known it. Thou knowest what is in my heart, though I have not known what is in thine. For thou knowest in full all that is hidden.” (Surah 5:119) 

Jesus clearly says he is the Son of God, the Qur'an denies this.  Both cannot be true.  Notice also, that the claim is that Jesus asked us to worship his mother, which is not Biblical anyway.

So clearly Allah and Jesus are very different - they cannot be the same God.

Furthermore, a cursory reading of the New Testament shows Jesus was crucified, died and was raised from the dead.  The Qur'an denies this:

And because of their saying: We slew the Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, Allah's messenger - they slew him not nor crucified him, but it appeared so unto them; and lo! those who disagree concerning it are in doubt thereof; they have no knowledge thereof save pursuit of a conjecture; they slew him not for certain". (Surah 4:157)

Ancient Jewish and Roman records also record the crucifixion of Jesus, which means the Qur'an stands in opposition to both the Bible and secular history.

Furthermore the Qur'an goes so far as to claim to confirm the Bible.

He sent down to you this scripture, truthfully, confirming all previous scriptures, and He sent down the Torah and the Gospel. (Surah 3:3)

So for the Qur'an to be true, the Bible must be true.  But if the Bible is true, the Qur'an cannot be true. Therefore, whichever way we look at it, Islam is a false religion.  

Image: Google Images

Jehovah's Witnesses - challenge accepted!

I met the Jehovah's Witnesses today, and they gave me a copy of the Watchtower magazine.  On page 7 a challenge was issued.  It is this:  "The next time you meet Jehovah’s Witnesses, why not ask them why they trust their religion? Examine their teachings and their record."

Okay, let's do that:

1. They predicted the end of the world in 1914 (later changed), 1925 and 1975 (to name a few).  
2. They are as guilty as certain other religious organisations on child abuse and cover-ups.
3. They do not believe historic Christian teachings on the Trinity, the soul, salvation or eternity (to name a few).  Their beliefs contradict the Bible.
4. They mistranslated the Bible, and published it as the New World Translation - so that they have a Bible that fits their beliefs.
5. A "Bible study" turns out to be a study of a Watchtower book, rather than the Bible.
6. Their organisation bans "independent thinking", encouraging complete obedience to the Watchtower Society.  Members are not allowed to read books critical of JW teachings.

So their teachings and record show that they are not the true Christian faith they make themselves out to be, but are in fact a cult based on Christianity.

If you are thinking about studying with the Jehovah's Witnesses, by all means, "Examine their teachings and their record."

Image: Google Images

Can God Cure Gays?

I was recently asked if I believe that God can cure homosexuality.  I am assuming the question meant, can "God make a homosexual, heterosexual?"

Yes.  I believe God can do that - with God all things are possible (Matthew 19:26).

By the same token, I believe that God can make the blind see, the deaf hear and the lame walk!  The question is not "what can God do?"  The question is, "what is God doing?"  And what does this tell us about how God views blind, deaf, lame and gay people?

Lots of research says that ex-gay ministries and reparative therapy does not work.  At best it persuades bisexuals to take opposite sex partners, and teaches homosexuals to suppress their sexuality.  At worst it instills a sense of shame which often results in promiscuity (as that's the only outlet for intimacy with another person when you can't allow yourself to fall in love - second rate, detached, emotionally empty sex).

In his book, "Speaking my Mind", Tony Campolo says that after interviewing hundreds of men who have been through reparative therapy, he is convinced that God is not "curing" homosexuality.

Of course the whole question assumes that there is something to cure.  I've said elsewhere that a Biblical understanding of homosexuality totally negates the question of curing it.  God is not, and has never been bothered by loving, faithful same sex relationships.

Image: Google Images

Trinity Sunday

Last Sunday was Trinity Sunday.  Coming from a Baptist background, a day for the Trinity was a new concept to me.  


Although the Bible never uses the term "Trinity", the concept is clearly taught throughout the Bible.  While it insists that there is only one God, it refers to Jesus, the Father and the Holy Spirit as God.  Each is seen to be a distinct personality, co-existent with each other.  

There is no single verse which explains the Trinity.  However the Bible is fascinating.  For example, in Isaiah we are repeatedly told there is only one saviour - God.  Then in the book of Titus we are given "God our Saviour" and "Christ our Saviour" interchangeably.  And then the statement, "We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed" (Titus 2:12-13).

Jonathan Sarfati explains:

• There is only one God (Deuteronomy 6:4, Isaiah 44:8). Note that the Hebrew word for ‘one’ is echad which means composite unity — it is used in Genesis 2:24 where the husband and wife become ‘one flesh’. The word for absolute unity is yachid which is never used of God in the Scripture.
• The Father is called God (John 6:27, Ephesians 4:6).
• The Son is called God (Hebrews 1:8. He is also called ‘I am’ in John 8:58 cf. Ex. 3:14 — see below for more biblical proof). He has always existed (John 1:1–3, 8:56–58), but took on full human nature in addition to His divine nature at the Incarnation (John 1:14, Philippians 2:5–11).
• The Holy Spirit is called God (Acts 5:3–4), and is personal (Acts 13:2), not some impersonal force as the Jehovah’s Witness cult believes.
• They are distinct, e.g. at the baptism of Jesus in Matthew 3:16–17 all three were present and distinct. The Son is baptized, the Father speaks from Heaven, and the Holy Spirit, in the form of a dove, flies down and lands on the Son. See the baptismal formula in Matthew 28:19 ‘baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost.’ Note that the word ‘name’ is singular, showing that all three Persons are one Being.

The Bible says much more, and there are many great books, and articles online which explain how Christians arrived at this understanding of God, such as the one on CARM which also answers a couple of objections against the Trinity.  It's at http://carm.org/cut-trinity 

While we can never fully understand God, we are invited into a relationship with him, and to be forever changed by knowing him.

Image: Google Images
Reference: http://creation.com/jesus-christ-our-creator-a-biblical-defence-of-the-trinity

Acceptance

Rev Jeff Bert from the Metropolitan Community Church
joins a vigil for same sex marriage.

Over the last few weeks I have heard religious authorities describe me as (among other things) immoral, intrinsically disordered and sinful.  I have heard my relationship with my partner described as wrong, of no value, and as something that can produce no good spiritual fruit.  We hear pro-marriage groups starting campaign groups with titles such as "...for marriage", as if I'm somehow against marriage!


When we hear prominent religious leaders saying these things, it's hard.  It's painful.  And it makes me angry.  


I know Jesus calls me to love these people, who are my brothers in Christ.  He asks me to accept them - even if they will not love and accept me.  That's a hard teaching.  My human instinct is to react, to fight back.  But God calls us to a higher standard.


I'm praying for marriage equality, and I am asking the Holy Spirit to give me the love to love these men.  

Image: http://www.chicagoreporter.com/news/2010/03/gay-marriage-numbers

Gay AND Christian

Leviticus and LGB People

I'm back after a long and well needed break! I recently was handed a list of Bible verses which are supposed to condemn loving same-sex relationships. I thought I could take each in turn, starting with the one that is most often cited: Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13. They say (NIV):

Do not lie with a man as one lies with a woman; that is detestable.

If a man lies with a man as one lies with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They must be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads.

Do these verses apply to us today? If so, what about other verses which say wearing clothes made of mixed fabric is wrong? (Leviticus 19:19)

The key to understanding Leviticus is this: "the law was designed to last only until the coming of the child who was promised" (Galatians 3:19). Leviticus ceased to be applicable with Jesus. Why? Again, the Bible tells us, "no one can be made right with God by trying to keep the law. For the Scriptures say, "It is through faith that a righteous person has life". This way of faith is very different to the way of law which says, "It is through obeying the law that a person has life"." (Galatians 3:11-12).

And here is Paul's bombshell: in Galatians 3:12 he quotes Leviticus 18:5 to show that Leviticus is part of the way of the law - not the way of faith in Jesus. In fact Paul goes on to say that if you think you have to keep one law, you have to keep them all! (Galatians 5:3). He says, "if you are trying to make yourselves right with God by keeping the law, you have been cut off from Christ! You have fallen away from God's grace" (Galatians 5:4).

So, when someone cites Leviticus to me, I remind them that Christians do not live under the Law of Moses. We live under grace, and we do not have to keep these laws.

Image from Google Images

Book of Mormon - Is it true?

I had the Mormon missionaries round recently. We got to talking about how we know what is true.

The Mormons cited the Book of Mormon:

"And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost. And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things." (Moroni 10:4-5)

And how does the Holy Spirit do this? The answer came from Doctrine and Covenants 9:8-9 (another LDS scripture). It says,

"But, behold, I say unto you, that you must study it out in your mind; then you must ask me if it be right, and if it is right I will cause that your bosom shall burn within you; therefore, you shall feel that it is right. But if it be not right you shall have no such feelings, but you shall have a stupor of thought that shall cause you to forget the thing which is wrong; therefore, you cannot write that which is sacred save it be given you from me".

In other words, if it feels good - it's right. It sounds simple, ask God and He'll make you feel good if it's true. But, then what of people in other religions who feel good about what they believe? Are feelings a good way to test truth claims?

The Bible says

"Look to God’s instructions and teachings! People who contradict his word are completely in the dark." (Isaiah 8:20)

This makes sense; if we are convinced the Bible is true, then we know that those who contradict it cannot be teaching what comes from God. Mormons believe that there are many "gods". God has parents and siblings who are also gods. Yet the Bible says,

"You have been chosen to know me, believe in me, and understand that I alone am God. There is no other God - there never has been, and there never will be." (Isaiah 43:10)

So, according to Isaiah 8:20, where is the Mormon Church on the issue of how many "gods" exist? Isaiah says that it is completely in the dark.

The Book of Mormon also makes an interesting, and testable claim:

"And the angel of the Lord said unto me: Thou hast beheld that the book (the Bible) proceeded forth from the mouth of a Jew; and when it proceeded forth from the mouth of a Jew it contained the fulness of the gospel of the Lord, of whom the twelve apostles bear record; and they bear record according to the truth which is in the Lamb of God. Wherefore, these things go forth from the Jews in purity unto the gentiles, according to the truth which is in God. And after they go forth by the hand of the twelve apostles of the Lamb, from the Jews unto the Gentiles, thou seest the formation of that great and abominable church, which is most abominable above all other churches; for behold, they have taken away from the gospel of the Lamb many parts which are plain and most precious; and also many covenants of the Lord have they taken away." (1 Nephi 13:24-26)

The claim is that the Bible has been deliberately corrupted by the early Church resulting in the loss of "plain and most precious" things. This means that we need a restoration of the truth - which is where the LDS scriptures come in. Without that corruption everything the Mormon believes is meaningless. So is it true? The Book of Mormon footnotes claim this was first written around 600-592 BC. Leaving aside the fact that there is no evidence to support the Book of Mormon's existence prior to the 19th century, we can test this claim. And the Bible says we should. It asks an important question:

"How will we know whether or not a prophecy is from the Lord?" (Deuteronomy 18:21)

Good question! The next verse answers the question:

"If the prophet speaks in the Lord’s name but his prediction does not happen or come true, you will know that the Lord did not give that message." (Deuteronomy 18:22)

This is genious - it's so simple and it confounds self-fulfilling prophecy! So, if Nephi is a false prophet there may be some of his predictions which would not come true. And this is one of them! We know from the Dead Sea Scrolls and over 40,000 manuscripts for the New Testament, that the Bible has not been changed.

Conclusion: Mormonism fails the tests of doctrine, factual accuracy, and the test of a prophet. Doctrinally it contradicts what God has already said. It has no historical basis before the 19th century. Even if it did, the Book of Mormon fails the test of a prophet. Mormonism is therefore not from God.

Is Jesus God?

Lots of people claim that Jesus is just a good man, or that he's a prophet, a good teacher etc. They say the Bible doesn't claim Jesus was God - but is that true?

As an example, the Jehovah's Witnesses claim that Jesus was the first thing created by Jehovah. Jesus is not God, and so John 1:1 should be translated, "In [the] beginning the Word was, and the Word was with God, and the Word was a god" (New World Translation, published by Jehovah's Witnesses). They are right in that you can argue this translation from the Greek, but it can equally be translated, "In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God" (New Living Translation, cf. New International Version).

Who is right? The trick is to keep reading. In their own translation verse 3 says, "All things came into existence through him, and apart from him not even one thing came into existence". If Jesus is a created being, this makes no sense. How could he create himself?

Those who heard Jesus understood exactly what he was claiming to be. When Jesus claimed that "The Father and I are one" (John 10:30 NLT), his listeners responded with aggression. Jesus asks why they wanted to stone him, and "They replied, “We’re stoning you not for any good work, but for blasphemy! You, a mere man, claim to be God" (John 10:33 NLT).

We see this again in John 5:18 which says, "So the Jewish leaders tried all the harder to find a way to kill him. For he not only broke the Sabbath, he called God his Father, thereby making himself equal with God."  This is all the more significant as this is the Bible stating what Jesus was doing, as opposed to reporting what others understood.

Yes, Jesus claimed to be God. The Bible records those claims so that we can evaluate them. In a few weeks Christians around the world will be celebrating Easter. At Easter we remember why God came to the earth. He came to do something awesome - open the way for each of us to know him for ourselves, to be forgiven for everything wrong we've ever done, and to live with him forever.

In his own words: "When he came to the village of Nazareth, his boyhood home, he went as usual to the synagogue on the Sabbath and stood up to read the Scriptures. The scroll of Isaiah the prophet was handed to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where this was written: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come.” He rolled up the scroll, handed it back to the attendant, and sat down. All eyes in the synagogue looked at him intently. Then he began to speak to them. “The Scripture you’ve just heard has been fulfilled this very day!”" (Luke 4:16-21 NLT)

I love that passage! Jesus tells us what he came here to do - and it's quite different to what many people think he's about! He is about Good News, not judgement. He's about freeing the oppressed, not beating us down! To quote the Newsboys, "I'm not following a God that's imagined - can't invent this deity!... I'm not following a God I can read about. I can't train this deity! And that's why Jesus is the final answer to who I want my God to be".

Image: spiritualmike.org/.../Jesus_Smiling-224x341.jpg (Google Images)
Updated 10 May 2014

Truth

Pilate famously asked Jesus, "What is truth?" (John 18:38). That's a great question!

I think there is a twofold answer to that question. On the one hand, truth is anything that is true! Truth is truth by virtue of it being true! But there's another answer as well. Jesus said "I am ...the truth" (John 14:6).

Jesus also said, "you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free" (John 8:32). I believe that we can take this in both senses of the word truth. Truth sets us free, and Jesus sets us free. We can know what the truth is, and we can know Jesus! I think that's awesome! So I guess I have one question for you. Are you free? Really free? If not, you could be.