Evil in this World and a loving God??!!

People from the Christian Faith, present God, as being good! One big reason people say they cannot believe in this God is that it is contradictory with all the evil that they see around them!

If God is good, and all powerful, how, and why would he allow evil to happen?

My opinion, is that most of what people call "evil" cannot actually be blamed on God. Either you want to be controlled, and be a robot; or you want to be free to do what you want. If it is freedom you want, then you are saying that you want God to give you as much potential to do good as to do bad! If you get this potential, then so does everyone else! Why then would you just blame him for the bad that you are responsible for yourself!? Most of the evil we want to blame on God, like famine, disease are actually man's fault. There is enough food in the world to feed everyone. So why don't we feed everyone? Is it not just our selfishness? Aids is often transmitted through doing stuff that the God of the Bible does not approve of, so you can specially not blame him for that!! Apparently most of cancer could be man made!
http://www.endalldisease.com/scientists-admit-cancer-is-man-made/
 http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1320507/Cancer-purely-man-say-scientists-finding-trace-disease-Egyptian-mummies.html

Having said this, we are still left with earthquakes, thunderstorms, diseases... I can't blame man for everything!

So how to reconcile evil in the World with an all loving God? I believe that God allows evil to exist because He is awesome!

First thing I want to argue, is that if you believe in evil, then you must believe in God. If something is evil, it means that you feel that it ought to be different. As soon as you say it :"ought" you are saying there is a "proper" way things should be. You are bringing meaning to the universe. Either it is your imagination, or there really is a purpose, and organization,  intelligence in the Universe... God.


What the Bible teaches, is that all men have sinned, and deserve to die. 
Maybe you agree with that or maybe you don't. Whatever your view is, you must acknowledge that those who believe this must see evil being part of God's grace.

Let me explain: You and I deserve to die. But God sent his only Son to die, to pay the price for our sins in our place. Those who don't believe will die for their sin, because they are relying on themselves for salvation rather than on the God who saves.

What if all the evil seen in the world, was God pleading with you, agreeing with you, that this is NOT as it ought to be! "Come to me, and let me save you!". Satan is the one trying to get you to think that nothing is wrong with the world. Nothing is wrong with the way you behave. Satan gets you to believe that you are a good person. The Devil gets you to think that if heaven exists, then God would owe it to you, because you have not killed anyone and are a good person! Only an evil God would hide the consequences of sin from you. Only an evil God would not plead with you to repent from your evil ways. A god could chose not to want to be reconciled to all mankind, but this is not the God of the Bible.


Thus, I think Evil in this World and a loving God go perfectly together. When Christ returns all things will be made new. The renewal of the heavens and the earth will come with the destruction of death, pain, suffering, tears... This is what we wait for as Christians. If you believe in evil, then this is what you long for, as you've identified that the world is not as it should be!

My invitation, if you believe in evil, accept God's invitation repent, and become part of his children, who desire to manifests God in all they do, share the Good News about this Kingdom that is, and is coming, where this evil will be no more. Believe in the God who is good and all loving who would not deceive us by hiding our disastrous state and evil from us!

Gospel of Luke, Chapter 13:1-5

13 Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. 2 Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? 3 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. 4 Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloamfell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”

Salt n Light (Mat 5:13-16)

Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him.2 And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.5 “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons1 of God.10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.11 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.13 “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet.14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that2 they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Summary Beatitudes

The Beatitudes is a passage that describes what the people of the kingdom of Heaven look like today.

My believe is that the Kingdom of God is something later! It was the kingdom promised to Abraham, and then David, God promised that one in the line of David, would reign on his Throne forever! I believe that this kingdom we are waiting for is this one, that will be after Christ returns!

My view is that these people being described do manifest this future kingdom today, and receive some of the blessing prescribed to each attitude, but they will be fulfilled once Christ Returned.

The first attitude is toward ourself – poor in spirit

The second is towards our sins – mourn and Meekness, hunger thirst for righteousness

The Third is towards God – mercy, pure in heart, peacemakers

The fourth is towards the world – persecuted, salt and light.

Salt and Light

So the verses dealt with yesterday were v.13-15.

First the salt, if it's lost its saltiness it has no purpose at all!

Secondly the Light – It is what shines in darkness. Darkness does not really exist it is just lack of light! As soon as there is light in a room there is no more darkness. Darkness cannot put up a fight against light! When light comes, the darkness goes away there is nothing more to it. It is impossible for darkness to overcome light. Which is why I find this term for Christians so huge. We are the light of the world. No sin, no dark spiritual force could possibly stop us!

How are we the salt and the light? 

(based from a John Piper Sermon)

so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

This should be key for us to understand how to interpret what being the salt and light of the world means.

How can we live in a way, that other people might give glory to our Father who is in heaven when they see us?

Many people see good deeds and this does not cause them to give glory to our Father who is in heaven! So being salt and light is more than just doing good works! We must live in a way that reveals that we have more to live for than just the stuff we own. Our life must reflect our knowledge of something, hidden but greater that all that can be seen. Our hope is more than just this life, for we know Jesus and with him we have a treasure in heaven.

When we go back to the previous verses:

11 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Our hope allows us to rejoice in persecution. Our Joy leads to the overflow of good deeds that would not be expected of us under the circumstances we are in and leads others to glorify our father.

We saw on one hand that doing good works was not enough because they do not necessarily cause others to glorify God. Here we have the idea of rejoicing. But it is not on it's own. It is rejoicing while being persecuted. Who does not rejoice when he prospers?

We see that because of the hope we have in our heavenly reward, even when we are persecuted, we are still able to rejoice. This is the light that will trouble outsiders to the Christian Faith. It should shock the world! This light and salt is seen when we react in a completely different way than what is expected. When we love our enemies, bless those who persecuted us, when we learn to forgive the most horrible things done to us. When we live in such a way that forces people to ask the question – What is the reason for the hope that is in you?!? (1 Pet 3:15). When we don't complain, we don't grumble, we don't criticize, but appreciate everything as gifts from God. When we don't judge anyone, because we see them through God's eyes as precious children worth dying for.

Being salt and light is about the heart we have while we do those good actions, as we rejoice because of the things to come, our reward with Jesus. We are the salt in the light, when nothing seems to be going well, but we still realize Christ is enough to rejoice for!! We are light when people realize that God must be real to us, because of our perseverance, in difficult situations, a rough marriage, challenging job, inconvenient pregnancy, when anyone in their right mind would have given up a long time ago, filing for divorce, quitting the job, getting an abortion.

God is glorified in us, as we satisfy in Him, how much more glorified is he in us, when nothing would entails us to rejoice in anything, but yet, we still do in Him, before the world?

The Prodigal Son - Luke 15

Last week I heard a really interesting take on the Prodigal Son!

- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWopbpBYSbc

Jesus told them this story: “A man had two sons. The younger son told his father, ‘I want my share of your estate now before you die.’ So his father agreed to divide his wealth between his sons.
“A few days later this younger son packed all his belongings and moved to a distant land, and there he wasted all his money in wild living. About the time his money ran out, a great famine swept over the land, and he began to starve. He persuaded a local farmer to hire him, and the man sent him into his fields to feed the pigs. The young man became so hungry that even the pods he was feeding the pigs looked good to him. But no one gave him anything.
“When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, ‘At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger! I will go home to my father and say, “Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant.”’
“So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son.’
“But his father said to the servants, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet. And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast, for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ So the party began.
“Meanwhile, the older son was in the fields working. When he returned home, he heard music and dancing in the house, and he asked one of the servants what was going on. ‘Your brother is back,’ he was told, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf. We are celebrating because of his safe return.’
“The older brother was angry and wouldn’t go in. His father came out and begged him, but he replied, ‘All these years I’ve slaved for you and never once refused to do a single thing you told me to. And in all that time you never gave me even one young goat for a feast with my friends. Yet when this son of yours comes back after squandering your money on prostitutes, you celebrate by killing the fattened calf!’
“His father said to him, ‘Look, dear son, you have always stayed by me, and everything I have is yours. We had to celebrate this happy day. For your brother was dead and has come back to life! He was lost, but now he is found!’”

The Gospel is great, but what if it was even GREATER than what we thought.

So we always go on as we share the Gospel, that Christ died for the sins of mankind, that no matter what we've done, the Cross of Jesus is greater, to overcome all sins!

We must repent and be baptized (Acts 2:38).

God reveals himself to us, so that we can believe (Mat 11:27; John 6:44)
In chapter 15 in the Gospel of Luke, the first two verses are so important -

Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. 2 And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”

For this reason, Jesus tells them 3 parables - The Parable of the Lost Sheep, The Parable of the Lost Coin and the Parable of the Prodigal Son.

In all three Parables, Jesus is explaining to them why it is, that he eats with tax collectors and sinners, to respond to their grumbling. Jesus teaches them about the Father's love for everyone. How much worth he finds in everyone.

If I had 100 chocolate bars. If I lost one, it will not even be an issue, I probably wouldn't notice, and if I did, it really would not matter, because of the 99 I have left! God does not work that way with us. He cares so much about each one of us individually, to the point that there is great celebration at the end of each one of these parables - as the lost sheep is found, the lost coin is found, and the lost son returns home.

This is all straightforward - the new insight I got from the message, is that this is only the beginning of God's great love! The second son had who stayed home, while his brother was out spending all his father's money. When he hears about the party in honor of his brother's return, he blows up in anger! He represents the Pharisees who are grumbling about Jesus hanging with the sinners. This next verse is so key:

28 But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him,

Pharisees are the Proud religious jews who believe they have been made right with God through their good actions. This leads them to judge/condemn sinners. Jesus comes to rebuke them. Setting the standards so high that no one could ever be good enough to please the Father. As disciples of Christ, we must then be very careful not to play the Pharisee's game by judging them back!

The whole point of these three Parables was to show the Pharisees why he was after sinners. But this did not mean by any means that they were not to be part of the kingdom, and of the celebration. The pharisees are in sin! If they truly loved the sinners they would be celebrating that Jesus had come to make a way for them. But for this reason, they are like the lost sheep, the lost coin. No matter how much condemning and shaming they have done, we must be as Christ, agents of reconciliation, loving them, serving them, and leading them to God. In the Parable, the father came out to invite the angry son to join them in the celebrating, we must do the same, as we try to reflect the Father's love.

Christian Hedonism

I want to be happy while I'm alive! I really do! And I think that we all do! While we are here why not make the best out of every opportunity!?

I believe in God, I believe he is good, and has created all things for his purposes. I believe we all admire things. I think God created us as worshipers! We look up to people, we adore good food, good music. We stand in awe when we see a beautiful sunset, or admire the mountains, and tropical beaches! In one way or another, we live differently according to our objects of worship, and YES, some worship computer games!

So, I believe that God created us as worshipers. I also believe God being God and all, is the most worthy object of our worship. He is behind everything we worship, he is the creator, he is the greatest, and nothing could ever be greater than he. The only way we can flourish is when we worship THE ONE who HE created us to worship... HIMSELF, rather than all the good things that are intended to point our worship to Him.

So this next part could be weird, but I think it makes sense! When people love themselves, it's a good thing, but it can get a obnoxious when people go on and on about themselves right?! But now if God is the only worthy object of our worship, what does that mean for him?! He must be obsessed with himself right?! And I want to say that if he wasn't all about himself, how could he expect us to be all about him?!?

Because he is all about himself, God just loves it when we worship him, when we appreciate him, when we delight in Him, when he is the one we depend on, when he is our all. Any replacement of Him in our lives is idolatry. When we replace God with something else, it upsets Him, because he is a jealous God, and also because he is a good God, he would not have created us with the purpose of worshiping anything lesser than himself. Worship anything other than God, is like Mountain biking with a road bike, it's really bumpy!

Hedonist= one who strives to maximize net pleasure. (wikipedia)


I want to claim that we are all hedonists, we all want to be happy, we want pleasure, and joy! But I believe most of us aren't hedonistic enough! The way to truly experience pleasure to the fullest is when we are in a relationship with the almighty God and strive to do his will. So maybe I've just lost you with the religious talk!

So here it goes! A few years ago, I went from being an atheist, not believing that there was any purpose in life at all (I didn't really have a problem with that, believed it was just the way things were!) to believing that everything on earth has a purpose. That God exists, that he is love, and he is in the process of reconciling all things to himself, through the death of Jesus Christ. This just changed my life in the best of ways. The Bible, God's word, is about God's love for mankind, and I see now, that it's not just a book of do's and don't's, but that God as a father looking out for his children's best interest warns against what is harmful to us, and recommends what is best for our well being. What is best for us, is to worship Him as Lord. Anything which leads us away from delighting in him is sin, anything that is in line with his plan allows us to flourish and he calls "good"! Because he is love, and loves us, he wants us to flourish. Because he loves himself, he wants us to love him! These both go together. The best thing is to love God, it causes us to flourish!

I love God! And it just happens that He loves that about me! He is glorified in me as I delight in Him. This joy I have, is the kind that makes me want everyone else to partake in. According to John Piper - Love is the overflow of Joy in God that gladly meets the needs of others. My joy, is based on the joy of others! How can I be truly joyful if others are not?

I want to be joyful! And I think you want that too! And I want to help you, because that will make me joyful too!

When we look at the world we must realize that something is not right! Just turn on the news, and read all the terrible things happening around the world! People aren't successfully finding joy. And what more they do not want anyone to find joy either. Since the fall of Mankind, when Adam sinned in the garden (Genesis 3), we are fallen creatures, we seek to serve ourselves. We are so short sighted, we look to alcohol, drugs, and sex for pleasures which do not last, but destroy us! We've given up on the only one who can satisfy. But right from the Beginning of Time, God has had a plan, to save humanity from its sin and deception. We all fall short of the glory of God, but He has sent his only son, to die in our place for our sins, so that we could be reconciled to Him. This is the greatest news ever. The only truth that can satisfy! Jesus Christ died, was buried and was raised from the dead. If you have better news than this, please let me know... I Want to know!! If it is not a truth that leads you to tell everyone then it can't be as good!!

It is in my best interest to share this with everyone because it will produce much joy for them, more joy for me and the best part of all, it is what I believe glorifies God the most!

Christian Hedonism is the best way to hedonism! As we were designed to find our joy in God! I don't see a finer way of glorifying God!

For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. 1 John 5:3

This verse has often been on my mind. As I first started reading the Bible, I really started to understand that God is not about being a party poopper. Rather, he is our loving Father who wants the best for his children! He is the designer, so who better than Him, to help us live successfully in this world he engineered!? Who better than Him to give us a manual for life?! You can think that maybe God really appreciates "the sacrifices" you make for him everyday, and maybe you might even feel like he OWES you back? But is that really how you do relationships? "Hey Honey, because we are married, it is my duty to buy you flowers, so here you go..." Expect a big slap in the face! That is no relationship at all! Your spouse might prefer - "I love you so much, I could not help myself from getting these for you....'

I'm sure as we are, God is more interested in the second kind of relationship! Because he wants you loving Him, adoring him, delighting in Him! John Piper's definition of love - love is the overflow of joy in God which gladly meets the needs of others. Do you feel loved when someone does something for you out of pure duty?

I think the world would be a better place if everyone understood the beauty of glorifying God in delighting in him. Seeking what God wants for them, delight and joy for their life. If we were all filled with this overflowing joy that leads us to gladly meet the needs of others, then what could possibly go wrong in the world! Everyone wants to be happy, but as C.S Lewis says -

“It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.”

Here are a few verses about JOY from the Bible:

James 1:2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds

Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.

Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

1 Peter 1:8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory,

Rom 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

John 16:22 So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.

Nehemiah 8:10 And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.

John 15:11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

Biblical Worldview: Abortions....

We all know the Pope says abortion is a sin! I feel like there's still so much misunderstanding between what the general consensus that Christians believe abortion is wrong, and then what the Bible really has to say on the issue, since the word "Abortion" does not appear in the Bible!

The Gospel - Reconciliation

A quick summary of the Bible, is that God is the Sovereign Lord of the Universe. He is the creator of all things. He created man Good, but because man sinned now everything is messed up - the world, Evil, Disease, our minds, and even our thinking. Our sins separate us from the perfect God (Isaiah 59:2), but the Bible tells us about how he's worked with mankind to reconcile everything to himself. The whole Bible points us to Jesus. The Gospel, is the good news about how Jesus was punished in our place for all the sins we have committed, and will commit, so that we can be reconciled to God, without any guilt. Jesus proclaimed the Gospel that he was the Messiah the one prophesied about in the Law and the Prophets of the Old Testament. Once Jesus died, was buried and rose, the good news proclaimed is that God has done it, he has solved the World's Sin Problem (1 Cor 15:3-4). 

My point being, as Christians, we believe this Gospel, we have witnessed God overlook all our sins, we have experienced mercy, and so even though I will call a lie, "lie", and murder "murder" I do not do it in a condemning way, otherwise I would just be condemning myself first of all. If you think I am wrong to call abortion murder that is between you and God, but please do not take it as me condemning you, I'm not! As witnesses of God's mercy, Christians must speak the truth revealed in the Bible, but the point is not to condemn anyone, the goal is to bring people to God. I believe God created us to have a relationship with him, and a person can only truly flourish once they have been reconciled to Him. The sacrifice of Jesus is more powerful that any sin, whether it is a lie or genocide. So I hate abortions! But I love women who have abortions. If I want them to stop it is so that they can live according to God's will that they may flourish.

If you've had an abortion and there you are truly happy about it! You probably don't need to read any further, it will just be nonsense to you. If your experience has been bad, I pray that you will find comfort in knowing that it is okay. It is normal to feel bad for something God opposes, you and God are now on the same page!

Greg Laurie on the Topic of Abortion

When does life start?

The Bible does not give a mixed message about when life starts: 

Psalm 139

 13 For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. 14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. 15 My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth.16 Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.

Jeremiah 1

5 "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations." 

God recognizes the unborn child, so they should be given the chance to live!
God has a plan for every baby out there.

Pregnancy is inconvenient?

We should be so grateful to be alive. If we would have been aborted we would not be here! So many adults today were born at a time that could have been inconvenient for their parents, but aren't they thankful to be alive!

Maybe you accidentally got pregnant, and you are not married or something, but there is no such thing as illegitimate children, there are only illegitimate parents! 

Pro-choice?

There are Choices!

Number 1: perfect scenario, you marry the guy, and raise the kid in the ways of the Lord!

Number 2: you raise the kid as a single mother

Number 3: you put the child up for adoption 

You do not have the choice of aborting the child if you believe in what the Bible says. 

A fetus is not a potential human being, what else is he going to become a horse? A fetus is a human being with great potential!

Sonogram

I'm just quoting here I don't know the source - but apparently, mothers thinking of getting an abortion, who do a sonogram, have way more chances of going through with the pregnancy. Once they do the sonogram, the details reveal to them that the fetus really is a human being. They can't kill the baby.

What if you need to make a choice between the mother and the child?

If a mother is walking across the street, with her child. If she sees a car coming, does she get out of the way to protect herself without caring whether her child makes it or not? 

Any self-respecting mother would impulsively push the child out of danger and if she got hit, that's just the way it would go.
Abortion is no different...

What about rape?

Every time you say that you believe abortion is against God's plan, the thing that comes up EVERY time is, what about if the woman was raped?

The fact the you are trying to justify it with such an extreme case means that deep down you know that it is wrong. If you did not you would not need to bring up those sad examples. 

My view is that whether a woman was raped or not, the Baby is still innocent! I don't see how you can justify killing an innocent...

Reconciliation

There's a big problem with communication between the Church and women who have abortions. 

1. The first thing, because I'm pointing out things I believe are wrong, it could come across as: "listen to me, because I'm perfect and have it all together"! It is not my intention, I want to start dialogue between everyone so that we can better understand each other's points of view and help each other to live better today!
2. God is about reconciliation, but it might be hard to tell by the way we act as Christians. We seem so condemning, and judgmental. So I don't think I have been in this post, so don't call me intolerant just because you disagree with my view, or I'll call you intolerant for disagreeing with me! But it is true that we have done a poor job at being tolerant, and loving towards people who disagreed with our Biblical Standards. 
3. I like to look at it like a relationship between a parent and their child. If a mother sees her child doing something she thinks is wrong, she will tell the child it is bad. There's a reason why she thinks it is bad, most often the consequences are negative for the person doing the action. The mother is only loving her child by teaching him what is right and wrong. I think everyone can input in others' lives, being the mother caring for the child. I don't think it is arrogant to think you can teach others. I feel strongly about something and here I want to say why, and if you disagree, I want to hear it! All I want is the truth! When you know something I don't, I want to hear it!

So if you've had an abortion, God loves you!  I love you! And we want you to know it. But I still hold a view that it is wrong, bad for society. The same way every sin is in one way or another. Jesus did not come to condemn but to save the world (John 3:17), I want to serve him as an ambassadors of reconciliation (2 Cor 5:18-19), not condemn, but point to him, share his love, his truth. 

How the Devil tempts and accuses to make us sin - From a Tim Keller Sermon

The devil means liar! 

His lies can take two forms - Temptation and accusation.

• Temptation gets you to have too higher view of yourself, so you go and do things that you should not. Satan is hiding from you God's Holiness, and how much He hates sin, he hides that from you and plays up the love. 
• Accusation is the devil's way of getting you to have to low and self hating view of yourself, so you go do things that you should not. Satan hides from you God's love. He plays up God's Holiness, and his wrath against sin.

Temptation and accusation are lies, Satan uses to get us to move you to do what is wrong

Specific Temptation Methods:

1. He shows you the bait and hides the hook. He shows the short-term pleasure and hides the long-term misery.
2. He gets you to rationalize sin as virtue. I’m not really greedy; I’m just thrifty. I'm not nosy, I'm just concerned. 
3. He shows you the sins of Christian leaders. He did it too; nobody’s really that pure.
4. He over-stresses the mercy of God. Do it. God will forgive you; that’s his job.
5. He makes you bitter over suffering. I’ve suffered; I deserve this.
6. He shows you how many bad people seem to be having great lives. I might as well do it; playing by the rules doesn’t pay off.
7. He gets you to compare one part of your life to another. I’m very good over here so it’s okay that I do that.

Specific Accusation Methods:

1. He causes you to look more at your sin than at your Savior.
2. He causes you to obsess over past sins that have done damage that can’t be undone.
3. He makes you think that the troubles you are going through must be punishment.
4. He makes you think that the inner struggles you have couldn’t possibly be had by a Christian. If I were a real Christian, I wouldn’t be having these thoughts and desires.

The Sin of Achan and The Death Penalty

I read Joshua 7 yesterday, and was a little bit surprised at Achan's punishment - Stonned and burned!

Bible RECAP:

(Gen 1) God created everything Good
(Gen 3) Man sinned, messing the perfection up
(Gen 3-50) God wants to reconcile man to Himself, works the men - Noah, Abraham, Jacob
(Ex 2-19) Through Moses God frees the Iraelites from Slavery in Egypt.
(Ex 19 - Deu 34) God Makes a Covenant with his people, he will bless them if they please him.

The Book of Joshua begins with the Israelites crossing over into the Promised land (Ch 3), and the Fall of Jericho (Ch 5-6). This is Israel's first victory.

Story of Achan

Before destroying Jericho, Joshua commands them:
Joshua 6:

18 “Do not take any of the things set apart for destruction, or you yourselves will be completely destroyed, and you will bring trouble on the camp of Israel. 19 Everything made from silver, gold, bronze, or iron is sacred to the Lord and must be brought into his treasury.”

Joshua 7

1 But Israel violated the instructions about the things set apart for the Lord. A man named Achan had stolen some of these dedicated things, so the Lord was very angry with the Israelites.  

11 Israel has sinned and broken my covenant! They have stolen some of the things that I commanded must be set apart for me. And they have not only stolen them but have lied about it and hidden the things among their own belongings. 12 That is why the Israelites are running from their enemies in defeat. For now Israel itself has been set apart for destruction. I will not remain with you any longer unless you destroy the things among you that were set apart for destruction. 

15 The one who has stolen what was set apart for destruction will himself be burned with fire, along with everything he has, for he has broken the covenant of the Lord and has done a horrible thing in Israel.” 

Achan is found as guilty. He stole a babylonian Robe (set apart for destruction), and silver and gold (set apart for the Lord). Achan confesses his sin is taken with everything he ownes and his family. They were stoned and their bodies burned.

So Death Penalty is it right or wrong?

God cares so much about life, that he demands a murderer's life -

Gen 9

“Whoever sheds the blood of man,by man shall his blood be shed,for God made man in his own image.

Lev 24

17 “Whoever takes a human life shall surely be put to death.

Numbers 35

“But if he struck him down with an iron object, so that he died, he is a murderer. The murderer shall be put to death. 17 And if he struck him down with a stone tool that could cause death, and he died, he is a murderer. The murderer shall be put to death. 18 Or if he struck him down with a wooden tool that could cause death, and he died, he is a murderer. The murderer shall be put to death. 19 The avenger of blood shall himself put the murderer to death; when he meets him, he shall put him to death. 20 And if he pushed him out of hatred or hurled something at him, lying in wait, so that he died, 21 or in enmity struck him down with his hand, so that he died, then he who struck the blow shall be put to death. He is a murderer. The avenger of blood shall put the murderer to death when he meets him.22 “But if he pushed him suddenly without enmity, or hurled anything on him without lying in wait 23 or used a stone that could cause death, and without seeing him dropped it on him, so that he died, though he was not his enemy and did not seek his harm, 24 then the congregation shall judge between the manslayer and the avenger of blood, in accordance with these rules. 25 And the congregation shall rescue the manslayer from the hand of the avenger of blood, and the congregation shall restore him to his city of refuge to which he had fled, and he shall live in it until the death of the high priestwho was anointed with the holy oil. 26 But if the manslayer shall at any time go beyond the boundaries of his city of refuge to which he fled, 27 and the avenger of blood finds him outside the boundaries of his city of refuge, and the avenger of blood kills the manslayer, he shall not be guilty of blood.28 For he must remain in his city of refuge until the death of the high priest, but after the death of the high priest the manslayer may return to the land of his possession. 29 And these things shall be for a statute and rule for you throughout your generations in all your dwelling places.30 “If anyone kills a person, the murderer shall be put to death on theevidence of witnesses. But no person shall be put to death on the testimony of one witness. 31 Moreover, you shall accept no ransom for the life of a murderer, who is guilty of death, but he shall be put to death. 32 And you shall accept no ransom for him who has fled to his city of refuge, that he may return to dwell in the land before the death of the high priest. 33 You shall not pollute the land in which you live, for blood pollutes the land, and no atonement can be made for the land for the blood that is shed in it, except by the blood of the one who shed it. 34 You shall not defile the land in which you live, in the midst of which I dwell, for I the Lord dwell in the midst of the people of Israel.” 

In Norway - for killing Anders Behring Breivik has been sentenced to 21 years of prison for killing 77 people. That's about 3 months per life he's taken.
A 17 year old punched a soccer referee which led to his death. He's got 3 years of prison.

I'm not saying these decisions are right or wrong, because it depends what you are striving for. If we were shown justice for everything we had done, we would probably all be dead!
So I want to argue that the only 'Just' punishment for death is death! But it is okay to show mercy and grace. One thing that bothers me a little, is that people confuse mercy with justice - like going to prison for 5 years for killing someone is Justice. They don't see that murderers deserve death, and 5 years in prison is Mercy (not getting what you deserve!).

I think that the death penalty shows the importance of life. "I care so much for life that I will not tolerate anyone taking someone else's life". I hate murder but I want the murderer to get what he deserves.

And then you'll say, yeah, so if you care so much about life why do you want to take someone else's by practicing the death penalty. My opinion and you can disagree is that it is different when a person murders, and when a government chooses to exercise capital punishment

I believe the death penalty has its place but I tend against it (putting it in practice):

• Mistakes! It's horrible that innocent men and women get executed
• Mercy! I feel like God calls us to mercy - "I desire mercy, not sacrifice". 

Death Penalty Irony

I would be curious to see how many people who are against the death penalty, would be okay with people getting abortions on demand?

They want to save the guilty, and kill the innocent?!?!

The GOSPEL

The Good News about Jesus Christ is that - even though we are sinners (we could not stop sinning to save our life!) Jesus Christ has died for all sinners - whether you've lied once or started a genocide, Jesus Christ has paid the price, the punishment for your sins in God's eyes, allowing you to be reconciled to God today if you believe in Him, and allow Him to be Lord of your Life! So I've you've murdered, committed adultery, lied, gossiped, whatever it is you've done, because of what Jesus did, nothing can disqualify you, if you want to be reconciled! If your sins were too big for God, he would not have bothered to send Jesus to die for you! I'm making sure to write this, because just because I think abortion is murder I don't want anyone to feel like I'm condemning anyone! It is murder! But God wants all to be reconciled to Him! So that's what I want too!