What is God like?

What is God like?

If I asked this question of ten different Christians I would get ten different answers. If I asked this question of ten different unbelievers I too would get ten different answers. Why is that so?

When it comes to our beliefs we often seem ready to express how we feel rather than based on facts. We feel hot. We feel cold. There are some days I do not feel saved, but I am. That is a fact. Does not matter how I feel on that day. I am saved. My focus should be on obeying God, not the other way around.

Theology: The rational and systematic study of religion and its influence and of the nature of religious truth. I have heard the words theology and doctrine kicked around church like a football. Mostly from those in leadership positions who in fact could not explain the definitions of either if their life depended on it. There in charge and that is it according to them. Not hard to see what is wrong in our churches today.

Feelings, beliefs and facts? Sometimes it seems all three are preached in today's pulpits. My feelings are just that. Feelings. They come and go. As Rick Warren once said. “Some people will tell you it does not matter what you believe as long as you are sincere. The problem with that is that you can be sincerely wrong. You can pick up a glass of poison and sincerely believe it is water. You still would be sincerely dead. Dead wrong”

My beliefs must be based on facts. With that said I am often asked, “How do you know the bible is correct?” Over 2,000 years the Bible has been scrutinized, examined, researched, archaeological reviewed and explored. It still is the most studied controversial book in our history. Based on such evidence I believe it is the Word of God. The facts confirm my belief. Your feelings may not.

So what is God like? This is a question I am often asked when witnessing and we need to give them an answer.

First: God is Holy:

(Psalm 99:9, 119:9, Revelation 15:4) God can do nothing that is not Holy. His love is a Holy love. His justice is a Holy justice. His wrath is a Holy wrath. God is free from all sin and evil and in Him is absolute moral perfection. This is beyond our understanding.

Second: God is sovereign:

God has absolute authority and rule over all of His creation.

(1 Chronicles 29:11-12) God is omnipotent (has all power) He is omniscient (has all knowledge) and omnipresent (in all places). God can do and when and will do what he likes and with whom He likes. (Job 23:13)

God is the God of providence:

Nothing happens by chance or luck. God is always at work in our lives. God is always in control. (Genesis 41:22, Ephesians 1:11)

God is good:

(Psalm 145:9, 15-16) Here most people will agree but seldom look beyond what the scriptures tell us. God is kind and generous. This is where most seem to veer off course. They see God's love, kindness and generosity as a sign of weakness or softness. God is not someone you can take advantage of. God is not some cosmic vending machine that you can just push a button and all your problems are solved. We are responsible for the circumstances we find ourselves in. Only through God can we be led out of them towards the will of God.

God is love:

It is undeserved love. (Romans 5:6-8) It is undesired love (1 John 4:10) It is inconceivable love. (1 John 3:1) Here again is where most people lose it. Our own interpretation of love is way off base. We love movies. We love a certain type of food. We love going out and so on. We ourselves have destroyed the meaning of love. On the cross, Jesus demonstrated sacrificial love. Giving Himself. Allowing them to take Him. Beat Him. Mock him. Then crucify Him. Publicly murder Him for all to see. It is one thing to say you love Christ. Would you be willing to sacrifice your own child? This is what Abraham was willing to do to his son Isaac for God. It is what God did for you and me.

What is God like? Here are just a few examples. Read and study your Bible. Speak from truth and not what you feel or think you believe. Speak from fact.

Teach, Preach and Reach. <>< 

Losing Jesus

Losing Jesus:

Lets take a look at the Book of Luke, in chapter 2. Joseph and Mary had lost their son. Lost him in the most unlikely place of all, in the temple. The church.

When Jesus was twelve years old, they attended the festival as usual. After the celebration was over, they started home to Nazareth, but Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents didn’t miss him at first, because they assumed he was among the other travelers. But when he didn’t show up that evening, they started looking for him among their relatives and friends. When they couldn’t find him, they went back to Jerusalem to search for him there. Three days later they finally discovered him in the Temple, sitting among the religious teachers, listening to them and asking questions.

Luke 2:42-46 (NLT)

We would think the last place on earth we would lose Jesus is in the church. Yet, that is the very place where most of us lose him. Just a few weeks ago I was in a conversation about all the different churches in town and how many if not most of them where founded by splits of other churches. Not planned church plants. Coming from California I find it hard to understand. We had a hard enough time keeping our church up and running. Planting new churches was a fight with the local planning commission and zoning commission. Not founded by infighting of fellow church members. So to hear a church was founded by splitting off from another church takes me to the edge of understanding.

This is where we lose Jesus. For a time everything is just going fine and well within a church. Then the pastor preaching a service which the message comes from God, and it hits too close to the heart for some members. Without warning someone's feathers get all ruffled up and starts screaming, “Get the torches and pitchforks!” Or time comes to replace the carpet. One group likes green. The other wants blue. Again the Torches and Pitchforks come out. The piano gets moved or the music seems too modern or the choir director tries to appeal to a larger and a more diverse audience. Getting crucified for it when all he is trying to do is please everyone. I hear these stories over and over again. Some churches have such a bad reputation that local neighborhoods will have nothing to do with them. These churches go through pastors like kids go through shoes. Bright and shiny at first will all kinds of ideas and on fire for God. Then crushed when the truth of what they are really part of comes crashing down around the poor new pastor.

Any church staff member can tell you how hard it is. How would you handle having 50, 100, a 1,000 pairs of eyes looking over your work in the smallest detail each week? It can become disheartening and down right depressing. When someone does tell you good job. It is like a cup of water after you have spent days in the desert.

Losing Jesus happens all the time. One time when I was part of the church basketball program as our gym's time keeper. We had a game were the parents were a little too emotional to put it lightly. Two men sat close to me always making sure I heard their comments when our referees did not make a call to their liking. When the night was over I was so grateful that I would never have to deal with those men again. Oops! Just lost Jesus!. Should have been praying for them than counting myself lucky in abandoning them. God was about to teach me a lesson.

Two days later I was with my oldest daughter and her boyfriend. We had stopped at McDonald's for lunch. There was only one person in line when we got there. Who was it? You guessed it. The same man from the basketball game. Talk about God giving me a clear message. It was the father's son who broke the ice. Recognizing me from the game just two nights ago. Sounds like Peter when asked if he was with Christ? To make matters even more obvious there was only one table open for us to sit. Yes you guessed it again. Right next to them. We continued to talk and I learned his brother who was the other man at the game had suffered a stroke. He did not like to speak much and I was wrong just 48 hours ago thinking he was rude to me. You see. I had lost Jesus. We both left with renewed spirits. A lesson well learned.

So how about you. When have you lost Jesus? In church when you are trying to focus on the pastor preaching and you get distracted by a child crying thinking their parents should keep that kid quite? At work when someone cracks a joke that rubs you the wrong way? At the store when someone cuts in front of you? At home? Around friends? With family? We seem to lose Jesus just as easy as Joseph and Mary did. Like them, when we lose Jesus. We need to run back and find him immediately.

Teach, Preach and Reach.

No Response

Yesterday, Friday, June 24, 2011 the Sate of New York passed a law for same-sex marriage becoming the largest state in the union making same-sex marriage legal. While viewing the New York Times website I saw no evidence or rebuttal from any affiliation of the Roman Catholic Church. Then I went to the Southern Baptist Convention website. There again I found absolutely no response or rebuttal on the recent event. The Catholic Church and the Southern Baptist Convention represent the two largest Christian organizations on the planet. Yet, they remain silent on the matter.

Homosexuality is deemed a political hot potato. Same in our pulpits as more and more preachers are threatened with being accused of promoting “Hate Crimes.” It seems our First Amendment rights from the Constitution of the United States continues to take a back seat to organized political machines.

Years ago when I lived in California I worked in an office where several of the employees were Gay. Even the boss was a lesbian. Not once was any sexual slur or any inappropriate action was ever taken against me or anyone else in the office. In fact those who were Gay were some of the hardest working employees there. I cannot say the same for any Christians. Based on that experience, the Gay community has my respect. Which I must say does not sit well with my Christian beliefs.

Homosexuality is a sin. That does not give us the right to persecute individuals for we ourselves as Christians have been persecuted and still are throughout world-wide. Today in our century.

What a political hot potato this is! If we as Christians do nothing then thousands of brothers and sisters will be going straight to Hell for their sin. If we make a stand we are looked upon as no better than the Romans who mercilessly slaughtered millions of Christians.

It is the sin and not the sinner we should be against. Hard to separate the two. As Christians we should be the first ones to step up and freely admit that we are sinners. Making us no different. Yet, Christianity does not stop there. After giving ourselves to Christ we must follow and obey. This means giving up our sinful life and/or lifestyle. This is the problem all of us Christians face each day. Do we obey God or not? This question stands in front of each Christian every second of our life once saved by grace through Jesus Christ.

So what do we do? We cannot condone it. We cannot ignore it. We cannot persecute and condemn them.

A homosexual couple is not welcome in a church. Yet, one of the first things we offer is to come to church. The very place, ground zero, of persecution in their eyes. What alternative can we offer? Their eternal salvation for one, but that is hard to see shaded by us Christians standing in the way of the will of God.

As Christians we do not speak with one voice. With nearly 80% of the population of the United States claiming to be Christian we cannot even vote Christians into positions of political power. In the book of John, chapter 17 is the longest prayer ever recorded of Jesus. A prayer of unity. As Christians we are no closer to that unity as we were 2,000 years ago when Christ first made that prayer. How sad a thought.

If we had boldly given our lives to Christ then we would fully admit that we are no longer calling the shots in our lives. That we are no longer truly in control of our lives. Jesus, not me is in control of my life. This goes against worldly thinking. It we truly have given our lives over to Christ we would support our pastors, preachers and evangelists around the world to freely preach and proclaim God's Word. No matter who it might offend. The very souls of our brothers and sisters as well as our own are at stake here. We fail to realize it. Too busy with our day-to-day activities. Working at a job. Paying bills and living for the weekend.

Solution:

We need to publicly proclaim God's Word no matter what the consequences. If the law threatens our pastors, preachers and evangelists then we must go with them. Insisting that we be jailed too. We need to learn to witness as Jesus did. See Luke 18 beginning with verse 18. Convincing others that we are all guilty in God's eyes. That we have sinned against God. Heart convicted as we kneel at the cross and not a promise of prosperity as many of the modern gospel preach. God centered preaching and not a man centered message. Not offering an alternative lifestyle. The offering of an eternal salvation through Christ and Christ only. 


Teach, Preach and Reach. 

Weeds in the Garden Tells Us Everything:

This evening I was sitting outside of church before evening service reading my Bible. (The Evidence Bible, compiled by Ray Comfort) Studying the question on “Why does God allow suffering in the world?” Pastor Comfort suggest studying the soil for a moment. I was outside so I did. As he had stated, “There you will find weeds.” Weeds seem to grow everywhere. Even though you pull them out by the roots they still grow back again. No one plants them. No one cares for them making sure they receive enough water. They just appear. They grow up in the cracks of sidewalks and the streets we drive on. As Brother Ray puts it, “They are a curse.” Why?

And to the man he said, “Since you listened to your wife and ate from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat, the ground is cursed because of you. All your life you will struggle to scratch a living from it. It will grow thorns and thistles for you, though you will eat of its grains. By the sweat of your brow will you have food to eat until you return to the ground from which you were made. For you were made from dust, and to dust you will return.” Gen 3:17-19 (NLT)

Did you see it? Look at the words “the ground is cursed because of you.” We over look it. I never gave it that much thought. Yet, it is the key to the problems of the world.

Pastor Comfort goes on in the lesson noting that we are constantly subject to hurricanes, earth quakes, tsunamis, tornadoes and other what we call natural disasters. According to scripture there is nothing natural about them. Sin entered the world and we and all the earth was cursed. Am I reading it wrong? I do not think so. It makes sense.

Weeds are a curse. Disasters are a curse. Diseases are a curse. Again Brother Ray points out sin and suffering cannot be separated. The Bible tells us that God cursed the Earth because of Adam's transgression. What is Sin?

….for sin is the transgression of the law 1 John 3:4 (KJV)

Therefore we should be reaching out to God instead of pointing the finger at Him accusing Him of wrong doing. Scripture tells us who the real accuser is in Job 1:6, 2:1 and in Zec 3:1 in the New Living Translation of the Bible. Check it out for yourself.

Next time you see a weed in your garden, in your lawn or growing out of the crack of a sidewalk it is a reminder of what is wrong in the world. Sin and suffering cannot be separated.

The Toughest Commandment:

When studying your Bible, which commandment would you say is the toughest to obey? Many would say I certainly have not killed anyone yet in 1 John 3:15 God's Word explains that if you hate someone you are guilty of murder. So when that car pulled in front of you without looking did you hate them for just an instant? That is all it takes. That is a tough lesson.

Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him.
1 John 3:15 (HCSB)

How about loving your enemies? You know sometimes a friend betrays you. A bully at school. An unhappy neighbor. In my case recently our home was vandalized. Hard to forgive one who is bent on causing you harm. What does Jesus command us to do? Another tough lesson to learn.

But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you
Matt 5:44 (HCSB)

Here is one I know we all deal with daily. How many times do we worry? Worry about if you will have enough money. Worry about your health. Worrying about your job and career. Again Jesus is very specific on what we are to do.

This is why I tell you: Don’t worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Isn’t life more than food and the body more than clothing?
Matt 6:25 (HCSB)

Therefore don’t worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Matt 6:34 (HCSB)

In fact all of Matthew 6:25-34 is devoted to teaching us the cure for anxiety. It is a hard lesson to learn and to put into practice.

Witnessing is the life blood of a church and of a fellow Christian. Yet few of us including myself obey our Lord's commandment in doing so.

And then he told them, Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone. Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned.
Mark 16:15-16 (NLT)

What is your toughest commandment to obey? Leave a comment.

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A Quest for Vengeance:

Just last night our house was Rolled. What that means is the trees rain down with toilet paper usually just harmless fun. Here in the South it is deemed a compliment. I do not know why.

This time it was different. Not a compliment but a vicious attack. Using spray paint they painted the words, "Hail Satan" along with other vulgar words and satanic symbols across the cement driveway and on the front lawn. It was a malicious attack against our family and our God. Upon seeing the damage I was expectantly angry. Why would one do such a thing? To be such a coward to attack in the middle of the night hiding their faces and their wicked deeds. What do you do? The cowards have left. They have no dignity to come to you face to face. Then the anger quickly turns into a thirst for vengeance. A natural reaction you are attacked and you want to strike back.

Just a few weeks ago in our Sunday School class we studied Psalm 56, which I would like to point out verse 7.

Don’t let them get away with their wickedness; in your anger, O God, bring them down.
Psalms 56:7 (NLT)

What we learned in the lesson is that David was not asking for vengeance, which we would expect one would ask for. Instead we learn how David gave it up to God asking for justice from the Lord upon the wicked who seek to destroy His children.

I pray for those who attacked our home the other night. They will face the Throne of Judgment. They face God’s wrath. If I am to expect my Lord to forgive me then I must forgive those who seek to persecute me. For I know their fate unless they repent and accept Christ as the Lord of their life they will endure for all eternity pain and suffering the likes of which we cannot possibly imagine.

One thing is for sure by this attack. They realize that we are Christians. Confirming that they see Christ in us even though it offends them. Pray we serve Christ and not ourselves.

-<><

Why did Jesus have to die?

When you visit the nursing homes you hear a lot of conversations on death, religion and God. There you find parents, sons and daughters, grandparents and great grandparents. You also will see children. Children ask the best questions in my opinion. One question I hear many times over is, “Why did Jesus have to die?” The answer I hear spoken by many is, “Honey, Jesus died for our sins.” Think about that statement for a moment it means absolutely nothing to a child. The worst thing is that same statement means absolutely nothing to a teenager or an adult who is a not-yet believer. I know. I was taught that very same statement. So why are we surprised when a teenager or an adult suddenly becomes defensive when we talk to them about Jesus? By now they have come to believe there are other people far worst than them. In his or her minds the death of Jesus has no value or meaning. We need to tell others the truth. When one asks, “Why did Jesus die?” Look them in the eye and say, “Jesus died for you.”

There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
John 15:13 (NLT)

Why did Jesus die for me? We need to give them an answer. An answer they will understand. If I do not feel guilty of a crime then I will not feel responsible for the consequences of that crime. Even worst if I do not realize I have committed a crime or an offense how can I feel responsible for it? In the unbeliever’s mind they have not committed a crime or an offense. How can you call me a sinner if I do not believe that I am a sinner? There is the root of the problem. What did Jesus do?

When we look at Luke 18:18-24 Jesus tells us how to witness. Pastor Ray Comfort uses Jesus’ teachings in his TV series “The Way of the Master.” Have you ever told a lie, half-truth, a white lie, or an exaggeration? What does that make you? A liar. Have you ever stolen anything regardless of its value? Even when you were a kid? What does that make you? A thief. Ever-used God’s name to express discuss? Instead of using a four-letter word that starts with “S” you use God’s name instead. It is called blasphemy a very serious offense in God’s eyes. You are starting to get the picture. A un-believer must be convinced of their transgressions against God before they can ever come running to Christ in repentance. The rich man walked away from Jesus. Jesus’ objective was repentance not conversion. We must learn repentance first.

Put it another way. You are standing in a courtroom before a judge. You admit to being guilty. Just before the judge pronounces sentence a man you have never met before stands in front of the judge and says, “Judge I have paid for this man’s crime. I have taken and paid in full for this man’s punishment.” The judge looks at you and says, “You are free to go.”

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23 (NLT)

If I myself do not realize my crimes against God how can I come running to our Saviour in repentance to escape the wrath to come? This is why we have so many false converts in our churches today. They are not running to Christ to save their lives. They are walking up to him for life enhancement. A gospel of prosperity is what they are being told.

The truth is Jesus took my place. I deserve to be on that cross. You deserve to be on that cross. He did not die for my sins. He was punished and died for me. It is my sins that required my death. That is God’s law. Jesus died for me. Jesus died for you. Payment made in full. This is why a personal relationship with Christ Jesus is the foundation of our faith. What did it say in John 15:13 above? It did not say no greater love than to die for one’s sins. It says no greater love than to die for one’s friends. Jesus died for you.

What Produces Faith?

Be careful this might be considered a theological question. The focus is on Luke 16:19-31, the story of the rich man and Lazarus. This story raises many theological issues. Here Jesus names one of the individuals by name, Lazarus. Many then conclude that this is not a parable but perhaps a real story of a real experience.

We find the rich man enjoyed all the best that life had to offer at least materially speaking. The rich man could have eased the suffering of Lazarus without really interfering with his own lifestyle. In fact little effort would have been required if the rich man really wanted to help the poor man.

They both die. The rich man finds himself in torment. The KJV says Hades. The NLT says he went to the place of the dead. The poor man was not. It is verse 31 (vv. 31) that is the focus of this article. The rich man asks Abraham to send a messenger from the dead to his brothers so they will believe and repent to escape such punishment. Abraham tells him flat out no. Miracles will not change them.

Here is a story. I met a man and shared my faith in God with him. After talking a while he still told me that he just does not believe in God. So I asked him, “What would it take for him to believe.” He looked around the room for a moment then at his jacket hanging over the chair. He said, “When my green jacket turns red then I would believe.” Looking at me as if I could snap my fingers and poof it is done. We soon parted ways. Later that evening there was a heavy rainstorm. The hillside behind the man’s house which he had lived for years was saturated and broke loose mud spilling towards the back of the man’s house. The next morning the man came downstairs to survey the damage. The coat closet had some damage. Within the muck he pulled out his jacket. At first he did not recognized it. The green jacket was now red. Did he immediately believe in God? No, instead he tried to explain what had happened. By chance they had had a very heavy rainstorm. By chance the hillside behind his house, which had been stable for years some how, gave way. By chance the iron rich mud slid to the back of his house where the coat closet was located. By chance the red mud mixed with the pigment of the green jacket changing it from green to red. Did he deny that the jacket had turned from green to red? No. He simply denies that what had happen was by chance and not by God. So do miracles produce faith? No, that is what Jesus is telling us in Luke 16:31.

So what produces faith? In Romans 10:17 faith comes from hearing by the Word of God. We see in Genesis that Satan attacks Eve by manipulating God’s Word. We see atheist groups trying to manipulate God’s Word to further their cause. When we fail to regularly study God’s Word we find ourselves attacked more and more. Studying God’s Word regularly keeps us in communication with Him along with prayer. Knowing the scriptures and knowing the author are two different things. Many atheists know the scriptures better than us. The bible tells us that Satan himself knows them better than we. I find it interesting that in Romans 10:17 the word “hearing” is used. We need to hear God’s Word. That means out loud. Shared among us through group study, reading aloud, song and worship. Yet our streets are void of God’s Word.

The Power of Pride

The other day I was driving home following one of those luxury vehicles with a bumper sticker on it of all things. Welcome to the South. The background of the sticker was the American flag and in bold print it read: “The Power of Pride.” No better statement to describe the terrible condition our country is in right now. Pride has taken down more countries than any war. Pride has ruined more companies than any economic downturn. Pride has destroyed more families and marriages than drugs or alcohol. Pride has split more churches and crushed more Christians than any terrorist attack. The fact is that pride kills. Why?

Our country of today is selfish not selfless. We are tuned into the most popular radio station of all time. Running in our heads 24 hours a day each day of the week. It is WIIFM. (What's In It For Me) We see it on our television screens. I want this and I want that. I want the bigger house. I want the bigger car or the better boat. In churches across the nation we hear I want to be moved. I want to be filled by the Spirit. I want a message that tells me how good I am. I want music that moves me. I want a church that meets my needs. We hear people crying out I, I, I.

Look at the word “Pride.” What is the middle letter? Yes, that is right it is “I.” Pride is about self. Pride brought down King David. Pride brought down Solomon. Pride is killing America. Pride is killing you. Now look at the word “Sin.” What is the middle letter? Right again, it is “I.” Now here is the kicker. What is the middle letter in the word “Lucifer?” Go ahead and say it.

In this MTV generation it is hard not to desire a bathroom so big you can play baseball in it. Cruising down main street on a motorcycle that costs more than the average home. We push our children to get better grades so they can go to college so they can get that high paying job. Learn to climb the corporate ladder. Telling them not to care about the people they step-on while on their way up because they have no intention of ever stepping back down. Do it for yourself. If it is going to be then it is up to me is the saying. Look at what the prophet Micah told the leaders of Israel.

I said, “Listen, you leaders of Israel! You are supposed to know right from wrong, but you are the very ones who hate good and love evil. You skin my people alive and tear the flesh from their bones. Yes, you eat my people’s flesh, strip off their skin, and break their bones. You chop them up like meat for the cooking pot. Then you beg the Lord for help in times of trouble! Do you really expect him to answer? After all the evil you have done, he won’t even look at you!” Micah 3:1-4 (NLT)

Are we really much different from the 8th century B.C.? The problems facing Israel nearly 3,000 years ago still face us today. The power of pride is a power not from God.

Apple's Bad Rap

We all remember the story of how Eve gave Adam the apple and they ate the forbidden fruit. Wait a minute; how did the apple get into the picture? It certainly did not come from the Bible. So where did it come from?

Recently I have been reviewing some of the children's bibles around our church. Each of which contain some type of image showing Adam and Eve under an apple tree. Some showing red apples while others show some green and yellow or golden apples in the tree. Where does this come from? Correct me if I am wrong, but my bible does not mention the word apple or apple tree.

But the Lord God warned him, “You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die.”
Gen 2:16-17 (NLT)

So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too.
Gen 3:6 (NLT)

Sorry the word apple is not in the above scriptures. So why are all the illustrations of the event set under an apple tree? The scriptures say fruit. It could have been any kind of fruit. So why is the apple so prevalent in our understanding of this critical event in human history?

The technical answer: Etymologists, one who studies the origin and historical development of linguistic forms, would say that the word apple is a generic word for the word fruit. If true, you could say that each time you see the word fruit you could replace it with the word apple and be correct. OK, nice but I am not buying it. Take the potato for example. It is also known as the apple of the earth. The French name for it is pomme de terre. The word pomme is from the Latin word pomum which means fruit and/or apple. If the apple is the symbol of the fall of man then we should see references to that effect throughout the bible? Just the opposite it is true. Examples can be found in Proverbs 7:2, 25:11, Psalm 17:8 and others.

So where did the story of the apple tree come from?

Scary version: In Greek mythology The god, Zeus is to marry Hera. Mother Nature, also known as Gaia gives the new married couple a gift. A tree of golden apples in a garden which is guarded by a serpent. A serpent who never sleeps.

What kind of fruit was it then?

My personal theory: Let us jump forward into the New Testament.

In the morning, as Jesus was returning to Jerusalem, he was hungry, and he noticed a fig tree beside the road. He went over to see if there were any figs, but there were only leaves. Then he said to it, “May you never bear fruit again!” And immediately the fig tree withered up.
Matt 21:18-19 (NLT)

Here we find the only destructive miracle performed by Jesus. Many commentaries will state that this is a lesson for the people of Israel. They were growing but not bearing any spiritual fruit. Therefore they would be cursed. Sure I agree with the lesson. Why was a fig tree chosen? If the symbol of the fall of man is an apple then why not an apple tree to be cursed? It would have made more sense and emphasized the symbol of the fall. Now let us jump back to the Old Testament.

At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves.
Gen 3:7 (NLT)

The scriptures tell us they sewed fig leaves together not apple leaves. Another question I have in this particular verse are the words “eyes were opened.” Opened to what? Well that is another article to write about. Back to the subject at hand.

The word apple first appears in Deuteronomy 32:10 in the King James version of the Bible. The verse does not contain a negative connotation of the apple or an apple tree.

Sorry in my opinion, the forbidden fruit was not an apple nor an apple tree. I guess that would mess up good old American marketing about give the teacher an apple. I am sure Apple Computer has no desire to change its logo to a juicy gooey fig. In fact how many teachers would like to receive from their students a bowl of figs?

When we study the Bible we need to also study what is not in the scriptures to better defend the faith.

What To Do When Your Friends Abandon You

It happens. We do not want to admit it. We do not want it to ever happen but it does. I am sure you have heard the following as many times as I have. When you need help is when you really find out who your friends are. Actions speak louder than words. God’s Word gives us great counsel.

Putting confidence in an unreliable person in times of trouble is like chewing with a broken tooth or walking on a lame foot. Prov 25:19 (NLT)

There is no doubt in my mind that all of us have been on both sides of this dilemma. We never wish to abandon or hurt somebody's feelings especially that of a friend. Yet we cannot avoid that feeling of bedrail or abandonment. When we are pushed our gut reaction is to push back. If we do not push back and keep it all inside a greater battle within grows to a point like a boiling teakettle. If it is not allowed to let off a little steam a greater explosion is certain. In my experience, when you have this ticking time bomb within you it is best to avoid contact with others and seek the only one who can help you. God.

Christians are not bullet proof. We are not perfect in fact just the opposite is true. It is realizing our weakness and sin that point us to Christ. For some strange reason the world thinks that the children of God have it easy that they have no worries or doubts. That their problems are trivial. Their relations with others are perfect and free of conflict. They have God and that is all they need. You know something, they are right. All we need is God. Perhaps it us that just do not see it. We are so close to the forest that we fail to see the trees. Let alone take the time to admire the beauty of God’s creations.

So what do you do when friends abandon you? Pray for them. Let’s be honest about it. We become so burning mad that prayer is the last thing on our minds. It should be the first thing in our hearts. Again God’s Word gives us great counsel.

Wounds from a sincere friend are better than many kisses from an enemy.
Prov 27:6 (NLT)

Do the wounds just go away? No, like any injury it takes time to recover. The scars remain. It is easy to become bitter. Yes, you will be cautious the next time. Let us tell it like it is. You will be doubtful next time. Doubt is a weapon of the Devil.

The Devil was having a yard sale. There were many items on display for sale. Yet one in particular in the back had a large sign on it stating, “This item is not for sale.” Of course everyone who came to the yard sale asked about this particular item. When asked the Devil explained that this was his favorite tool. He called it “Doubt.” He went on to explain that he uses it to pry open men’s hearts. Once he is able to that he can fill them with what ever he wants.

The best weapon the Devil has is a friend specifically a Christian friend. When the evil one can get one Christian fighting or angry with another the Devil is winning.

What is SIN?

Author Paul Copan, PH.D. describes it best. He says, “Sin is doing what you want. Sin is having attitudes that are self-absorbed and self-centered rather than being God-centered.”

I was saved in my early 30’s. Yet even to this day I am amazed by the many different Christian denominations we have in the United States. When I ask the question of “why” I received just about the same answer. Each church or denomination follows it’s own doctrine.

Let me see if I am following you D.C. on this one. You are saying that each church or denomination reads the same Bible? Each Christian church that is, Yes. They teach from the same Bible? Yes. They preach from the same Bible? Yes. Yet each has a different doctrine, set of beliefs or policies when it comes to the Christian faith? Yes, you got it.

If the Christian churches cannot seem to get it together how can we expect individual Christians to get it?

The answer is within your question. We do not get it. We are not supposed to get it. That is why we need a redeemer, a savior the one who has it and always has and always will have it. That is going the long way around the barn for the answer. My point is we need Christ Jesus more now than our ancestors did over 2,000 years ago.

Let me warn you here D.C. You are skating on that precious word of doctrine that the higher-ups hold dear to their hearts.

Then let me put it the way I see it. From my point of view doctrine today is used like a football. We hold tight of it when it is beneficial to us. We do not think twice about kicking it down field or throwing it out of bounds when we want to. We often fumble it and then yell at others for dropping it.

The fact is very few of us ever take time in the study of Biblical doctrine. We leave that to others. Make no mistake about it. I am guilty too, but by doing it ourselves we would be interpreting the scriptures. We might come to realize that we are doing things the way we want to and not how God wants us to do.

So tell me. What is SIN?