The Idol

The Egyptian god Anubis stands at mall entrance

Anthony is like most people I meet while sharing my faith. I began my conversation with him just like I often do by asking if he had a Christian background. Of course, he replied. However it did not take long to figure out this was only skin deep. We went through the law and he agreed he had broken the commandments, just like the rest of us, but he still did not agree that he deserved hell. God knows my heart and he knows I’m a pretty good person, Anthony insisted. Your right, I said, He does know your heart and that’s the problem.

The photo above is of a statute that towered above us as we spoke. It’s part of the décor for the mall’s movie complex. It helps illustrate Anthony’s problem. Like this statue he had created an idol. Not one of stone but one in his mind. He had an image of God that is completely contrary to how God describes Himself in His word. Despite showing this gentlemen passages in the Bible that demonstrate that God see us as lawbreakers, that our hearts are wickedly deceitful, and that we deserve Hell, he continued to proclaim his goodness. (See Proverbs 20:6)

Don’t make the same mistake. Confirm your impression of who God is with His word. Go over His commandments and read Mathew 5:21-30 and make sure you have not created an idol for yourself.

On a side note: The idol above depicts the Egyptian god Anubis who was the “keeper of the scales” in Egyptian mythology. After death he would weigh the dead man’s heart on his scales. On one side would be all your sins and the other side was a feather. But God does not use a scale but instead measures you by His standard. His standard is to be perfect as He is perfect. Do you measure up? Take this test to see. The Good Person Test

Declaring the Truth in Words

“…that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.  And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.” – 1 John 1:3-4

Truth must be proclaimed always. And that Truth is that there is no fellowship with God apart from Jesus Christ. But which Jesus Christ? Since the beginning Satan has been at work to deceive those who do not know the scriptures. A task he has been very successful at. Look at the ranks of JW’s and Mormons. Look at the theology of the Catholic Church. In each case the nature of Jesus Christ is attacked and replaces by a false theology. The JW’s say Jesus is the archangel, to the Mormons he a created being and the brother of Satan, to the Catholic he is ineffectual without the nagging of his mother Mary on the sinners behalf. I heard John MacArthur say once that the greatest thing we have is Truth and the greatest threat to it is error. How right he is. Words have meanings and if we do not clarify those meaning we can hold entire conversations thinking we are in agreement while all the time our definitions and our understand of truth be diametrically opposed. We can speak of repentance. We can talk about Christ. But if we do not define our words when speaking to those lost in false religions we can do great damage.

America's Christian Roots – “in Quotes”

I though with the coming of Independence Day that we reflect on our countries Christian roots by pondering the quotes of its founding fathers.

“Had the doctrines of Jesus been preached always as pure as they came from His lips, the whole civilized world would now have been Christian.” – Thomas Jefferson

“Labor to keep alive in your breast that spark of celestial fire called conscience.” – George Washington

“And forasmuch as ingratitude is one of the most odious of vices, let me not be unmindful gratefully to acknowledge the favours I receive from Heaven..For all Thy innumerable benefits; for life and reason, and the use of speech, for health and joy and every pleasant hour, my Good God, I thank Thee.” –Benjamin Franklin

“The Bible is the best book in the world. It contains more than all the libraries I have seen.” – John Adams

“We have this day restored the Sovereign to Whom all men ought to be obedient. He reigns in heaven and from the rising to the setting of the sun, let His kingdom come.” – Samuel Adams 

“WE hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness…”

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!