Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. (1 Peter 3:15)
Two nights ago, I got a phone call about our church. The caller wanted to know about some of our theology and specificially about our theology about women. Now, I'm the pastor. It's expected that I'll get questions like this from time to time. But it was also a reminder that working on your theology is a constant job. It's not ok to just know answers while you're preaching. It's not ok to just know answers when you've had time to write a paper. Peter said, always have an answer.
Now, I know he was talking about being able to explain salvation. But I want to expand that a little further. One of the problems Christians today have is not knowing what they believe and not knowing why they believe it.
Many of you have heard of the answer Miss Teen USA contestant, Caitlin Upton gave to the question, "Why is it that 1/5 of Americans could not locate the United States on a world map?"
“I personally believe that U.S. Americans are unable to do so because, uhmmm, some people out there in our nation don't have maps and uh, I believe that our, I, education like such as, uh, South Africa, and uh, the Iraq, everywhere like such as, and I believe that they should, uhhh, our education over here in the U.S. should help the U.S., uh, should help South Africa, it should help the Iraq and the Asian countries so we will be able to build up our future, for us.”
Wow! I wonder how clear our answers are when we are asked about our faith. I'm afraid that many times our answers come across like Miss Upton's.
Scriptures tells us to study to show ourselves approved to God, a workman who doesn't need to be ashamed. (2 Timothy 2:15 paraphrased).
Let's use the example of Miss Upton to make sure we never need to be ashamed at how seriously we take our Christian faith.
Pastor John
Monday, September 03, 2007
Evil Spirits Today
Many people sitting in the pews of American churches today have bought into the belief, at least unconsciously, that evil spirits do not exist. They read or hear about the accounts of demon possession in the Bible and they think that it 1) never happened, 2) was a result of faulty medical diagnosis, or 3) only happened back in Bible times or in primitive cultures.
Usually, this belief is thought out. It's just a result of living in a modern culture. Somehow, we've managed to get to the point where we really don't believe that we are in a spiritual battle. Even when we use that term, we usually think about doing battle with our own temptations.
The Bible however is clear. There are spiritual forces at work in this universe. And they are not all good! Jesus recognized this and taught about this. He struggled with Satan in the wilderness at the beginning of His ministry. He told us that that the Devil comes only to steal, kill, and to destroy. He cast out demonic spirits out of various people. He knew that there was and is a great spiritual battle for the souls of men.
In the Miami Herald Tribune, I just read the account of Galindo, a man who was controlled by demons. From his childhood, he's been tormented by the evil spirits and this evil spirit that he named Candelo finally led him to murder.
Was he crazy? Was he "brainsick" as one definition of crazy is given? No! He was possessed! He was living out in dramatic fashion what the Bible say.
Some would think, he just needed to get "religion". Well, he had "religion". He practiced the religion of Santeria, described as a blend of traditional African religions and Roman Catholicism.
You see, not all religions are the same. All but one, enslave you to false beliefs and false practices. Only one leads you into the kingdom of Heaven. All but one, leads to hell, both in this life and in the next.
Jesus Christ said, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but by me. Everyone is going to practice some kind of faith. I just pray that you will follow Jesus and find the heavenly Father before the father of lies destroys you.
Evil spirits are at work in the world. But be of good cheer, (Jesus) has overcome the world. John 16:33
Pastor John
Usually, this belief is thought out. It's just a result of living in a modern culture. Somehow, we've managed to get to the point where we really don't believe that we are in a spiritual battle. Even when we use that term, we usually think about doing battle with our own temptations.
The Bible however is clear. There are spiritual forces at work in this universe. And they are not all good! Jesus recognized this and taught about this. He struggled with Satan in the wilderness at the beginning of His ministry. He told us that that the Devil comes only to steal, kill, and to destroy. He cast out demonic spirits out of various people. He knew that there was and is a great spiritual battle for the souls of men.
In the Miami Herald Tribune, I just read the account of Galindo, a man who was controlled by demons. From his childhood, he's been tormented by the evil spirits and this evil spirit that he named Candelo finally led him to murder.
Was he crazy? Was he "brainsick" as one definition of crazy is given? No! He was possessed! He was living out in dramatic fashion what the Bible say.
Some would think, he just needed to get "religion". Well, he had "religion". He practiced the religion of Santeria, described as a blend of traditional African religions and Roman Catholicism.
You see, not all religions are the same. All but one, enslave you to false beliefs and false practices. Only one leads you into the kingdom of Heaven. All but one, leads to hell, both in this life and in the next.
Jesus Christ said, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but by me. Everyone is going to practice some kind of faith. I just pray that you will follow Jesus and find the heavenly Father before the father of lies destroys you.
Evil spirits are at work in the world. But be of good cheer, (Jesus) has overcome the world. John 16:33
Pastor John
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