Wednesday, February 23, 2005

Cosmic Retribution

Can you say, "Cosmic Retribution"? I know I can, but I don't know where the author of the article (the URL linked to the title of this entry) got the idea that such a thing could exist...

On Monday, February 14 (Valentine's Day), Alan Keyes' daughter, Maya Keyes, came out of the closet at a gay rights rally in Annapolis, MD. She is a lesbian and obviously proud of it. (note Romans 1:25-32) Alan Keyes called homosexuality "selfish hedonism" during his most recent campaign in Illinois. To quote the above article link, "When asked if he thought Mary Cheney, the lesbian daughter of Vice President Dick Cheney, was a selfish hedonist, he replied, 'Of course she is.'"

Now, I highly respect Alan Keyes and his stance on many things, especially this one. The odd thing about this article is the following quote: "But for gays and lesbians there's something particularly satisfying about watching a prominent antigay conservative learn that his or her own child is homosexual. It smacks of cosmic retribution: Mr. Keyes now has to choose between his antigay 'pro-family' rhetoric and a member of his own family."

Of course this article was written by a homosexual who lives with his partner, both of whom are raising a son together. =( The ending of the article points out that "If we [homosexuals] don't want the same fate to befall us - and I don't - then it's only prudent for us not to take too much pleasure in the plight of Alan Keyes. The next time someone like Maya Keyes comes tumbling out of the closet, we should all try to be gracious and not succumb to our baser instincts. Because one day it's going to be our turn."

First I must point out sever words used... fate, gracious, baser instincts... Does anyone notice a problem here? Or is it just me?

If anything, this article smacks of unfounded superstitious Cracker Jack card - ism.

Come now, do we really think that there is somehow a universal scheme of retribution going on in the cosmos (assuming an atheistic/naturalistic worldview)? I don't think so... But then again, we could be living in a world where every person born is born into a sin nature regardless of who their parents are and the only way to get rid of that nature of slavery to sin is by a sovereign act of the Triune God showing mercy upon an individual according to His good pleasure alone. What if that were the case? =)

I think that anyone who uses the term 'cosmic retribution' from a non-theistic worldview is looking for a way to feel more comfortable acknowledging a deity without acknowledging a deity. Kinda like Buddhism or something similar. Nevertheless, God does not respect a superstitious adherence to 'cosmic retribution.' He will do as He pleases and convert the heart and mind of anyone He so chooses.

Here are two Biblical standards to live by if we are ever going to help anyone understand who God is and that He alone is worthy of devotion, glory, honor, and praise:

1 Peter 3:15-17: "But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil."

2 Corinthians 10:3-6: "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled."

Let us therefore pray, study, and seek God's Kingdom above all earthly things so that we might take part in the ministry of reconciliation and the consummation of all things when the fullness of God's Kingdom has come. Then we shall see the wicked go off into eternal death and the righteous into eternal life.

In Christ and In Defense of the Faith,

Thursday, February 17, 2005

Now You Will Pay... Mr. Harvard President...

Genesis 1:26-27: "Then God said, 'Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.' So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them."

Genesis 2:18: "Then the LORD God said, 'It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him.'"

In case you missed why this post is titled the way it is... Their is a URL link attached to the title if you haven't noticed. =) So, that should explain why the entry is named like that.

The modern day 'feminist' hates the Triune God. She looks at the creation and does not seek to give Him glory. She only strives to belittle and castigate anyone who would tell her that men and women are of equal value (based on the imago Dei) yet CREATED for DIFFERENT roles.

The reason I say they hate the Triune God is for this... Bear with me a moment... The Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit are all of one essence/being. Yet the person of the Father is not the person of the Son or the person of the Spirit, the person of the Son is not the person of the Father or the person of the Spirit, and the person of the Spirit is not the person of the Father or the person of the Son. God, who IS (not having beginning or end), exists eternally of one substance and in three distinct persons (His tri-unity). Let me say it this way too... God exists eternally as three distinct persons in one Godhead, that is ONE divine nature/being.

See The Creed of Athanasius for one of the greatest doctrinal statements on the Trinity. He said, "And the Catholic Faith is this: That we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity, neither confounding the Persons, nor dividing the Substance." I must say that ultimately we cannot comprehend the Trinity, but we must be careful how we describe the nature of God so as to not enter into heresy or overly inadequate expressions of His existence.

Let me clarify, finally, what I mean by their hatred of the Triune God. A man and a woman are two different beings with singular personhood each. They are created for different roles. Now, the feminist who rejects the distinct roles of a man and a woman does not acknowledge the distinct roles of the Godhead in all things, especially the salvation of mankind.

For the feminist to understand reality, she must understand the Trinity. All three persons of the Trinity are co-equal in glory, majesty, and worth. They are inter-loving, co-eternal, and all the attributes of the Godhead are held in fullness of unity with each other. Once the feminist understands this fact she can go on to realize the beauty of men and women serving distinct roles just as the three Persons of the Godhead carry out unique roles in history.

We must give the example of the salvation of God's people for a final understanding of this truth. In Eternity the Father gave to the Son a people. The Son came into the World to save all whom the Father gave Him. And the Spirit (throughout history) has applied the work of the Son in the lives of the individuals the Father chose before the foundation of the World, who's names are in the Book of Life. (Scripture references: John 6:35-40, Matt. 1:21, Titus 3:5, Ezekiel 36:24-29)

We see the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit each carrying out different roles in the Salvation of the World. Thus we can realize that it is not an inferior thing for a man to lead the household and for a woman to submit to her husband. If we are to honor God and His reality then we must submit to the truth of His word and obey His commands. By doing this we will find everlasting joy and pleasure in everything we do in this life that is glorifying to the Trinity.

I love the Trinity because the Trinity first loved me. I hope you will consider these things and seek to apply this truth of how God created man and woman to your own lives. If we believe that God is honored in this way then joy should flow as we live our lives as God created them to be.

In Christ and In Defense of the Faith,

Saturday, February 12, 2005

Wedding Dress

If you could love me as a wife
And for my wedding gift, your life
Should that be all I'll ever need?
Or is there more I'm looking for

And should I read between the lines
And look for blessings in disguise
To make me handsome, rich, and wise
Is that really what you want?

(Chorus) 'Cause I am a whore I do confess
But I put you on just like a wedding dress
And I run down the aisle, I run down the aisle
I'm a prodigal with no way home
But I put you on just like a ring of Gold
And I run down the aisle
I run down the aisle to you

So could you love this bastard child?
Though I don't trust you to provide
With one hand in a pot of gold
And with the other in your side

'Cause I am so easily satisfied
By the call of lovers so less wild
That I would take a little cash
Over your very flesh and blood

(Chorus)

Because money cannot buy
A husband's jealous eye
When you have knowingly deceived his wife

(Chorus 2x)

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Words and Music by Derek Webb
Copyright 2002 Niphon, Inc.

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Well, what do you think? Can you honestly make this confession to God? Can you admit that your sin against God is whoring around? Have you ever really considered what sin is? And just how horrid and detestable to God it is? Do you know the holiness of God? How He cannot look upon sin or let it go unpunished?

These are some things that everyone must consider if they are ever to have the chance to understand reality and the situation humanity is in.

"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus." (Romans 3:23-26)

This is how we know that God is holy and just and a punisher of sin and at the same time full of grace and mercy unto His precious people whom He foreknew and sought to redeem for Himself - God's unrighteousness in passing over sin (Proverbs 17:15) was made righteousness in Christ and His death on the cross.

"For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." (2 Corinthians 5:21)

The Gospel is so precious to my eyes. For once I was blind but now I see and once I was lost but now I have been found! I once was dead, but Christ said, "Live!" and I came to Him and received eternal life! I cannot turn back, I cannot be condemned, I cannot be ashamed - for Christ has saved me, He has justified me, He has done that which I could not do for myself! He made me, who was unwilling and unrepentant, to be willing and one who diligently seeks after Him - turning away from my sins and loving Him with all that I am.

If God is for me, then who can be against me? If Christ has satisfied the wrath of God for me, then how can wrath still be upon me? No one can and it cannot be, I respectively answer.

After writing Hebrews 11, the author says this in 12:1-3, "Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls."

Therefore, let us draw near unto the Throne of Grace - with a true heart that has been sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies that have been washed with pure water! For all who are in Christ know and trust Him in all that He has promised. But for all who are outside of Christ, there is nothing but wrath and indignation in which to await.

On the day of judgment I hope your conscience is clean and that eternal joy in Christ is your sole comfort! Therefore, be patient in this life until He comes or until you pass from this earth, and seek always to be found in Him on that great and awful Day and great will be your reward!

In Christ and In Defense of the Faith,