excuses excuses

I ran into another man recently who said (repeatedly) that he no longer went to church, has not for about three years and dared me to prove that the Bible is true.

Now he did not say he would go back to church if I could prove it. But he did juxtapose those two things implying that his doubts about the Bible had caused doubts in his faith. Now no one can really prove the Bible true. As I commented as you study Biblical Greek you find there are other extra factors that confuse things even more. ONE MUST ACCEPT GOD ON FAITH.

I think the bottom line is you must accept the claims of Jesus to be Son of God and fully man, that he came to earth died for our sins on the cross and then God raised him from the dead in three days.

But by this man's own admission he did once believe and did attend church. This whole doubt story is a smoke screen. He simply does not want to change his behavior. He understands (somewhat rightly) that he cannot continue in the behavior that he is doing if he honestly wants to be a true Christian.

Someone once aptly said, he has been inoculated to Christianity. Now he knows the claims, even knows the truth of the claims, but he can resist because he likes life as it is. The pearl of great price that a man hid and sold all he owned so he could buy, this man has found too expensive. He knows its worth but still can refuse to buy it. So he uses this excuse that the Bible cannot be proven to be true. In this he is absolutely right. I think you come to faith first and then God reveals all.

He then throws in things about science. This morning he posed a question. What if another planet was discovered with people worshiping a different god? That's a lot of ifs. This is a conditional based on an untrue premise.

Based on experience and faith, there is sufficient reason to have faith in the cross and resurrection of Jesus for anyone who wished lay down his life. But if one does not want to give his life he can find reasons, superficially good reasons, to say he cannot believe. But it is all a crock, a pretense, a smoke screen.

Mark 1

John and Jesus both came to preach Good News of a coming kingdom. They came to a world fractured by war. The Jordan River was a boundary between Rome's empire and the enemy. As such is was an uneasy place. Yet people came out to be baptized. This is where John baptized many people.

Both Jesus and John preached about the advent of a new world. John came to announce the savior. Jesus was the savior. As savior he would announce the coming kingdom that he would rule. There would be a new world, new rules. Yet it did not really happen. Instead we come into the kingdom one by one, not as a group. The whole nation of Israel did not repent and accept her savior. They rejected and killed him.

This reminds me to pray today for places that have strife. We pray that the kingdom of God will come there. Just as Jesus came to bring the kingdom to Israel. Jesus does come to these places calling people to repentance and peace. Yet still today most people reject his advances. Yet still today people come into the kingdom one person at a time.

I can think of a few places where there is strife. Syria and Congo (Zaire) come to mind. I am sure there are others. Let us pray for souls to repent and accept Jesus and join a fellowship of believers. And let us pray for peace.

Let us pray or workers in those wartime places.

Isaiah 3

Isaiah 3 speaks of God's judgment. First God speaks of capricious rulers. This brings a sort of judgment all its own. Isaiah lists people types: warrior, judge, elder, honorable man, artisan but if those who lead are not fair and cannot be relied upon then you are always insecure no matter how personally capable you are. Next God seems to be speaking of a lack of leadership, people desperately trying to find someone to lead them. Having a cloak is sufficient qualification for leadership. But people refuse to lead. This seems to be a sort of judgment from God as well. Perhaps people really refuse to be led, making anyone of any ability unwilling to take on such a thankless task.

Then there is a section where God describes how the rich abuse the poor and powerless. I always ask myself if I am fair and righteous in my business dealings? I try to be. But I'm never sure.

Then women are denounced. The young women (daughters) proudly strut their stuff for all to see. They use cheap jewelry to attract attention. Isaiah gives a long list of the types of ornamentation the women wear. Almost all of it seems to make noise as the women move. This shows a further effort to get attention. But God says judgment will come. Instead of well set hair they will have a plucked out scalp. OUCH! Instead of a beautiful belt they will wear a rope. Instead of fine clothes they will wear sackcloth. This makes me picture slavery, servitude. Also a judgment to them the young men will die in battle, even the strong men. So the women will be left alone, with no one to marry and give them children.

The survivors will be left to beg for a man. They will accept anyone who will call himself husband, even if he refuses to support them. These women, rather than be cursed with spinsterhood will be willing to live in their own place and get their own food if a man will call himself her husband. They are willing to share this man with other women. It is implied that most men do not find this arrangement satisfactory. They do not wish the responsibility and find it hard enough to survive. So probably many of these women do not find a husband under any condition.

All this is a judgment from God for the people's sin. It describes a commentary on the situation that Isaiah sees around him. He sees it through the eyes of God and shares it with those who will listen. And he writes it down for posterity.