Tolerance Intolerance

Chick-Fil-A Appreciation Day in Westminster, MD

If the battle against Chick-Fil-A illustrates more than anything else it’s the fallacy of tolerance. Christians are often criticized as being intolerant when we uphold biblical values and teachings. But this creates a logical error in our opponents. By refusing to tolerate our position on things such as marriage they are in fact committing the very act they charge us with. The reality is that they are being intolerant of Christianity. But should this be any surprise? The world system is completely opposed to Christ. Every thought and action perpetrated by the unbeliever is anti-christ. This is what John is speaking of in his first epistle.

“…even now many anti-christ have come, by this we know it is the last hour.” – 1 John 2:18

Before we are drawn to Christ by the Holy Spirit to become “children of God” (1 John 3:1) we were enemies of God. James illustrates this quite forcefully in James 4:4 when he said, “Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God?”

It should be noted that the term world in these verse refers to the world system, not the created world or people in general. The creation reflects the glory of God and we should have a compassion for people. But as Christians we oppose that which defies God and we know the world system stands against Christ; “therefore the world hates you.” (John 15:19)

So next time you hear such hateful words being uttered against Christian virtues don’t be shocked. Instead remember that this is a symptom of the disease called the sinful nature and be spurred on to bring the cure of the gospel.

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!

A Theme Park Bible

Over the past weekend I took my family to see a Pennsylvania landmark called Dutch Wonderland. Dutch Wonderland is an amusement park created by the late Earl Clark in the early sixties that has a theme centered on children. Among the rides there are some features that I believe are original to the park. These are all small buildings; a one-room school house, an Amish farm house, and a gingerbread house. Tucked up under a tree is also a small church building. Inside I found two benches and a stand containing a bible opened to the gospel of John. (Below is a picture) In this day in age I find it interesting in the middle of a commercialized theme park that a bible and gospel message would be on display. It may be only a matter of time before this is removed due to our ever increasing PC society. 

I tried to find some history and background on Earl Clark as to what motivated him and his family to include this as part of the attractions. I could find nothing. But regardless it stands as a reminder and contrast to what appears important and what is actually important. I watch people walk by absorbed in the fun of the day and focused on the next ride’s entertainment to the point that they completely missed this tiny church. Few ever entered it and when they did it was out of curiosity. When inside and faced only with God’s word they must think it’s a mistake. How is this suppose to be fun may be their thoughts. In the book of Proverbs verse 6:23 we read that God’s words are like a lamp and light leading to the way of life. This book hidden in the back of a tiny church building under a tree contains the way to eternal life. But because the world lives in darkness they cannot comprehend it. (John 1:5) Let us use all the opportunities granted to us to reveal God’s words of light to a world of darkness.

Servant Evangelism Examined

A recent buzz word I have ran across is a style of reaching the lost called Servant Evangelism which is credited to Steve Sjogren. I decided I needed to understand its teaching so the following is my thoughts on its biblical basis. 

The basic premise of SE as stated on Steve’s website is for a “straightforward approach to sharing God’s love in simple, practical ways” which is further clarified as a “no strings attached’ method.

I have some reservations and concerns about SE after doing some research. The lack of biblical support or a clear declaration of what the Gospel is on the website prompted the need to look to the biblical text to examine if SE is really evangelism at all. 

The first point of contention I have towards SE is that it equates “sharing God’s love” with acts of service like: handing someone a free soda on a hot day, washing someone’s car then paying them, or cleaning gas station restrooms. We should ask the question to ourselves, what does God’s love look like? Let look at Romans 5:8.

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Here we see that God’s love equals Christ dying. So when we do acts of service and say we are sharing God’s love are we saying that God’s love equals getting stuff? Acts of service are good things but our good works are a result of our appreciation for God “sharing His love” towards us in the atoning work of Christ.

The next issue I take with SE as it is described is that it appears to discourage biblical evangelism. In the FAQ section of the SE website it states: 

“To give out a tract as we serve would defeat the concept of free. If we served and distributed tracts, we would convey conditional love”…“Be careful not to come across as though you have an ulterior motive. Pre-Christians can sense a mixed motive from a block away.”

Are we saying that to want to proclaim the word of God is “an ulterior motive”? Doesn’t the bible say that “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”- Romans 10:17

Lastly, SE emphasizes charitable acts over gospel proclamation. This has an inherited logical flaw. Examine the quote below:

“We lay down our lives through service. Church members have many opportunities to serve. We can do small acts of kindness for our neighbors, take part in community service, fulfill responsibilities within our local congregations or contribute to the Church's large-scale humanitarian efforts. These actions, whether great or small, let us feel the happiness of connecting with our brothers and sisters and remind us that God often allows us to be the answer to someone else’s prayers.”

SE promotes small acts of kindness in an effort to demonstrate God’s love towards other. The idea seems to be that if they see God’s love in us they may come to know Jesus. But which Jesus? The Jesus of the bible or the Mormon Jesus, or the JW Jesus, or some other man-made image. You see, the quote above is from the Mormon Church. It could have been just as well from any Christian denomination. But what do you do if hand out free sodas at one red light and then at the next red light the Mormons are giving away sodas and a sandwich? You can’t compete on kindness in the worldly sense. Only the love of God as describe in the bible as the His payment for sin leading to eternal life is true kindness. The Gospel is sufficient. (2 Corinthians 12:9)

But don’t take my word for this. Examine the scriptures as to what is the Love of God and by what means does God save sinners. If we do not follow God’s prescribed plan no matter how it may rub against the grain of worldly wisdom our efforts will be vanity.