Giving Thanks In The Christian Walk

        One major theme of Scripture is thankfulness. There are literally dozens of exhortations in the Bible, from the Psalms to the Pauline epistles, for the saints to be showing appreciation for and rejoicing in the things of God. It is from Him that all blessings, temporal and eternal, flow (James 1:17). God is the ultimate source of our provisions in life. Acknowledging our blessings cultivates a peace that is rooted in the knowledge of God’s faithfulness and promises.

        The fundamental reasons for giving thanks to Him should be evident to any sincere, faithful Christian. We have been redeemed and forgiven of our sins (Colossians 1:14). We have been rescued from the kingdom of Satan (Colossians 1:13). We can also show thankfulness to God for the natural world and its beauty. These are blessings which God has given to us.

        A person cannot praise God without also giving thanks to Him. A person cannot worship God to the fullest extent without also giving thanks to Him. The aforementioned point accounts for Scripture associating ingratitude with sin (Romans 1:21-32; 2 Timothy 3:1-5). If we are unthankful, then how can we really trust in God? If we are not trusting in God while professing to follow Him, then we bring dishonor to His majesty. We fail to recognize His goodness.

        The Lord is the source of all wisdom. We are to be appreciative for whatever gifts that He has bestowed to us (Matthew 7:11). Every gift or blessing that we have originates from Him. Every good thing no matter how small by human standards is from Him. We are not to approach life in a secular way that leaves out the workings of God.

        Thankfulness is good for our souls. It reinforces humility and selflessness. It counteracts our tendency to boast. It keeps anger and resentment at bay. Giving thanks serves as a constant reminder of the blessings that we do have. Giving thanks takes our focus off potential things that we may desire to have, thus making us happier. Complaining only makes life unbearable for oneself and others.

        Thankfulness changes our perspective of matters in this life. It is an inward state of heart, which points to God and brings glory to Him. The test of whether we are truly thankful does not lie in good times, but in our times of trouble and unease. We should be thankful, even in the midst of suffering and persecution (James 1:12; 1 Peter 4:12-19). Thankfulness acknowledges that things usually can be much worse than what they are, which itself is a blessing in disguise.

        A refusal to show heartfelt gratitude is one of the biggest mistakes that one can make in the Christian life. The preaching of the gospel is to be done in thanksgiving to God. The gospel itself is a call for all people to give thanks to God. If we refuse to give thanks to Him, then already existing bitterness will fester within us and rob us of any real joy.

Liberty Requires Sacrifice

"Posterity! You will never know, how much it cost the present generation, to preserve your freedom! I hope you will make a good use of it. If you do not, I shall repent in Heaven, that I ever took half the pains to preserve it."

John Adams, Letter to Abigail Adams April 26, 1777

The Meaning Of Holiness

"The primary meaning of holy is “separate.” It comes from an ancient word that means “to cut,” or “to separate.” To translate this basic meaning into contemporary language would be to use the phrase “a cut apart.” Perhaps even more accurate would be the phrase “a cut above something.” When we find a garment or another piece of merchandise that is outstanding, that has a superior excellence, we use the expression that it is “a cut above the rest.”

God’s holiness is more than just separateness. His holiness is also transcendent. The word transcendence means literally “to climb across.” it is defined as “exceeding usual limits.” To transcend is to rise above something, to go above and beyond a certain limit. When we speak of the transcendence of God, we are talking about that sense in which God is above and beyond us. Transcendence describes His supreme and absolute greatness. The word is used to describe God’s relationship to the world. He is higher than the world. He has absolute power over the world. The world has no power over Him. Transcendence describes God in His consuming majesty, His exalted loftiness. It points to the infinite distance that separates Him from every creature. He is an infinite cut above everything else.

When the Bible calls God holy, it means primarily that God is transcendentally separate. He is so far above and beyond us that He seems almost totally foreign to us. To be holy is to be “other,” to be different is a special way.

We are so accustomed to equating holiness with purity or ethical perfection that we look for the idea when the word holy appears. When things are made holy, when they are consecrated, they are set apart unto purity. They are to be used in a pure way. They are to reflect purity as well as simple apartness. Purity is not excluded from the idea of the holy; it is contained within it. But the point we must remember is that the idea of the holy is never exhausted by the idea of purity. It includes purity but is much more than that. It is purity and transcendence. It is a transcendent purity."

R.C. Sproul, The Holiness of God, p. 37-39, 212

A Roman Catholic Quotable On The Eucharist

"When the priest announces the tremendous words of consecration, he reaches up into the heavens, brings Christ down from His throne, and places Him upon our altar to be offered up again as the Victim for the sins of man. It is a power greater than that of saints and angels, greater than that of Seraphim and Cherubim.

Indeed it is greater even than the power of the Virgin Mary. While the Blessed Virgin was the human agency by which Christ became incarnate a single time, the priest brings Christ down from heaven, and renders Him present on our altar as the eternal Victim for the sins of man, not once but a thousand times! The priest speaks and lo! Christ, the eternal and omnipotent God, bows his head in humble obedience to the priest’s command.

Of what sublime dignity is the office of the Christian priest who is thus privileged to act as the ambassador and the vice-gerent of Christ on earth! He continues the essential ministry of Christ: he teaches the faithful with the authority of Christ, he pardons the penitent sinner with the power of Christ, he offers up again the same sacrifice of adoration and atonement which Christ offered on Calvary. No wonder that the name which spiritual writers are especially fond of applying to the priest is that of alter Christus. For the priest is and should be another Christ."

John A. O'Brien, The Faith of Millions: The Credentials of the Catholic Religion, p. 255-256

Is Your Pastor Qualified To Be Preaching From The Pulpit?

Introduction:

The Apostle Paul expressed in a straightforward manner the qualifications required of a man before he can be ordained a bishop or elder in the church (1 Timothy 3–5). These are not arbitrary standards, nor are they subject to cultural revision. They are divinely inspired criteria, given for the purpose of preserving the integrity of the church and protecting the flock from spiritual harm. The first point of consideration is whether a man even desires to wield such a position of authority (1 Timothy 3:1). This desire must be rooted in a genuine calling, not in personal ambition or a thirst for recognition. The office of overseer is not a platform for self-promotion—it is a sacred trust.

The required characteristics are presented in outline form as follows:

*Not needing continued criticism
*Wise
*Worthy of respect (this has to be earned)
*Able to show hospitality
*Competent (well grounded in the faith and not a new convert)
*Responsible
*Faithful
*Loving, selfless, and humble
*Setting a good moral example (e.g. not selfish, conceited, greedy, combative, aggressive, contentious, or an alcoholic)

These qualifications are not merely external traits—they reflect the inward condition of the heart. A man who is to shepherd the people of God must first demonstrate spiritual maturity and moral consistency in his personal life. The church is not a place for experimentation with leadership; it is the household of God, and its leaders must be proven and trustworthy.

A rhetorical question that the author raises in this context illustrates the importance of fitting the above provided description: "If a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?" (1 Timothy 3:5)

How a man manages his own household is indicative of how well he would handle a leadership position in the church. Is he fiscally responsible? Are his children believers? Does he lead with gentleness and conviction? Obviously, authority comes with responsibility. It is even more so the case with becoming a minister, since it entails preaching the entire counsel of God. The spiritual health of the congregation is, in part, shaped by the character of its leaders. If a man cannot lead his family in righteousness, he is not equipped to lead the church in holiness.

The Holy Spirit has given to us through Paul a thorough set of guidelines to be adhered to so as to determine whether a man is fit to be a pastor. He regards this kind of work as being of a most excellent kind. It is not a casual endeavor, nor is it to be taken lightly. The weight of responsibility is immense, and the consequences of failure are severe. If a man has qualities that do not match up with the list provided, then he is not fit to be in that office. The church must not compromise on these standards for the sake of convenience or sentimentality. The purity of the gospel and the spiritual well-being of the congregation depend on faithful adherence to these divine instructions.

Receiving Praise From God

          "It does not concern me in the least that I be judged by you or any human tribunal; I do not even pass judgment on myself; I am not conscious of anything against me, but I do not thereby stand acquitted; the one who judges me is the Lord. Therefore, do not make any judgment before the appointed time, until the Lord comes, for he will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will manifest the motives of our hearts, and then everyone will receive praise from God." (1 Corinthians 4:3-5)

          The Apostle Paul focuses on stewardship in the church of God. From the viewpoint of oneself, we are not to evaluate in a non-spiritual fashion the quality of ministerial work. Themes of selflessness and humility are clearly being enforced here. All manner of teaching, preaching, and exhortation is to be done for the glory of God. We plant the seeds of conversion, but it is He who causes the growth. It is He that makes godly the ungodly. His praise and approval are what ultimately matters.

          The Apostle’s words also serve as a reminder that human perception is inherently limited. We are prone to error, partiality, and bias. Even our own self-assessments are flawed, for we do not see ourselves as God sees us. Paul’s refusal to pass judgment on himself is not an act of pride, but of spiritual sobriety. He entrusts his standing to the Lord, who alone discerns the heart with perfect clarity. This posture of surrender is what all ministers of the gospel must adopt—knowing that their labor is not in vain if it is done in faith and obedience.

          From a general standpoint, this text serves as a condemnation of passing hasty or harsh judgments regarding the faithfulness of those who preach the counsel of God. We do not know the thoughts and intentions of other people. Only God has that kind of knowledge. He reveals truth. On Judgment Day, every person will be rewarded according to his or her deeds. God looks at our works in judgment because they are descriptive of who we are as people.

          Furthermore, this passage reinforces the principle that divine judgment is both patient and precise. The Lord does not rush to condemn, nor does He overlook what is hidden. In His appointed time, He will expose every motive and intention, bringing to light what was once concealed. This should instill both reverence and hope in the believer. Reverence, because nothing escapes His notice; hope, because those who have labored in secret for His glory will be openly vindicated. The praise that comes from God is not based on outward success, but on inward faithfulness.

The Uniqueness Of Trinitarian Monotheism

         In simplest terms, polytheism is belief in the existence of multiple gods. Cited examples could range anywhere from the Roman pantheon of gods to religions that still thrive such as Hinduism. It is both an ancient and modern concept. The fundamental logical dilemma for polytheistic worldviews is rooted in the fact that the gods of such religions do not function in perfect harmony with each other. They certainly are diverse. Such gods are by no means unified. 

          In a polytheistic framework, there is no final arbitrator of truth. The deities fight amongst each other. In Greco-Roman literature, gods killed and stole wives from each other. They spitefully contradicted and blasphemed one another. The gods of polytheistic religions are subject to defeat. Thus, morality is rendered subjective in a polytheistic worldview. Peace becomes nonexistent. Chaos abounds fully. Of what avail is polytheism to our lives? Homer and Hesiod themselves record such quarrels and deceits among the gods, further illustrating the disorder inherent in polytheism.

         In contrast, the God of the Judeo-Christian worldview exists as one in three separate, divine persons. He is all-knowing, all-powerful, and all-present. He is eternal and self-sufficient. God is love, and enjoys fellowship with creation. He is righteous. Trinitarian monotheism is the most rational expression of monotheism. No mere man could have invented a doctrine as sophisticated, yet so profound, as that of the Trinity. The gods of pagan religions, however, act exactly like depraved man himself. Are they even worthy of being worshiped? Norman L. Geisler and Frank Turek wrote:

         "...the Trinity helps us understand how love has existed from all eternity. The New Testament says God is love (1 John 4:16). But how can love exist in a rigid monotheistic being? There's no one else to love! Tri-unity in the Godhead solves the problem. After all, to have love, there must be a lover (the Father), a loved one (the Son), and a spirit of love (the Holy Spirit). Because of this triune nature, God has existed eternally in a perfect fellowship of love. He is the perfect being who lacks nothing, not even love. Since he lacks nothing, God didn't need to to create human beings for any reason (he wasn't lonely, as some preachers have been known to say). He simply chose to create us, and loves us in accordance to his loving nature." (I Don’t Have Enough Faith to be an Atheist, p. 353)

         The so-called deities of polytheistic religions are defective and so have proven themselves to be nothing to us. They are beneath our consideration. They are not fit recipients of our effort, attention, or respect. The history of the Old Testament makes this reality clear to us who have faith in the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It was He who delivered the Jews from the hands of Egypt's pharaoh. It was God who spared Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fiery furnace. It is against this kind of a backdrop that a Psalmist wrote about pagans and their gods:

         "Their idols are silver and gold, the work of man’s hands. They have mouths, but they cannot speak; They have eyes, but they cannot see; They have ears, but they cannot hear; They have noses, but they cannot smell; They have hands, but they cannot feel; They have feet, but they cannot walk; They cannot make a sound with their throat. Those who make them will become like them, everyone who trusts in them." (Psalm 115:4-8)

         This passage contains elements of sarcasm as well as irony. The Psalmist disparages the gods of foreign nations by noting their inability to do anything even for themselves. People who follow after them are thus considered stupid and senseless in this view. They are viewed as objects of contempt. The gods of foreign nations are described as having characteristics of living beings, yet having no life or power in them. They have no use, being nothing but a product of human imagination.

          The Bible from beginning to end tells us in no uncertain terms that there is only one true God (Exodus 20:1-3; Isaiah 43:10-11). He stands out in contrast to the false gods of this world. He is the living God; the rest are dead and helpless. God has no name like Zeus or Apollo. Human reason cannot even begin to fathom the depths of who He is. God alone is the Creator of heaven and earth. Logical deductions used to argue for the existence of God, such as an orderly universe and objective moral truths, are consistent with monotheism.

A Basic List Of Questions To Use In Evangelism

Introduction: 

How can Christians go about presenting the gospel to the lost world? Each witnessing encounter will be different. One effective approach to initiating a conversation is by posing thought-provoking questions. Different questions suit different circumstances, depending on the audience. Good questions challenge conventional ideas, provoke reflection, and can lead to more meaningful discussions, thus creating opportunities to share the gospel.

Some General Questions:

• "Where do you see yourself in 10 years?" This question can encourage the person to think about their future aspirations and life goals. It opens up a conversation about their hopes and dreams, and how their faith or beliefs might influence their future plans.

• "What do you think happens after death? Do you believe in life beyond the grave?" This question delves into their beliefs about the afterlife, allowing for a profound discussion on spirituality, existential thoughts, and religious convictions.

• "How do you get right with God?" By asking this, you invite them to explore their thoughts on morality, repentance, and redemption. It can lead to a conversation about their understanding of sin, forgiveness, and how one can achieve spiritual peace.

• "Who is Jesus to you?" A question that invites personal reflection on who Jesus is to them and their understanding of his role in their life.

• "What do you think Jesus is doing now?" This can prompt a discussion about their beliefs on the current activity and influence of Jesus.

• "Where did we come from? Who made us?" A fundamental question that explores their views on creation and the origin of life.

• "Who are we, and why is life sacred?" Exploring the value or purpose of life and what makes it sacred.

• "What has gone wrong with the world, and what can we do to fix it?" This question allows them to share their thoughts on the world's problems and possible solutions, which can lead to a deeper conversation about the role of faith in addressing these issues.

Questions to Ask During Discussions:

• "What do you mean by that?" This question helps clarify their statements and ensures that you understand their point of view.

• "How did you come to that conclusion?" (Or "Why do you think that?") Encourages critical thinking and introspection. It helps to understand the reasoning behind their beliefs and can lead to a more in-depth discussion about the foundations of their faith or worldview.

• "How do you know that's true?" This question challenges the basis of their beliefs and encourages them to consider the evidence and reasoning behind their views.

• "Is there an objective evil? Where did it come from? What is its source?" This can lead to a philosophical discussion about the nature of good and evil. It invites the person to consider the moral framework of the universe and the role of divine justice.

• "Where did human conscience come from?" A question that explores the origins of human morality and ethics.

• "What would it mean to you if what you believe is true? What if it is not true?" Prompts them to reflect on the implications of their beliefs. It can lead to a conversation about the importance of faith in their life and how it shapes their actions and worldview.

• "Do you believe that what you believe is really true?" Encourages them to evaluate the strength and authenticity of their convictions.

• "How did you reach the verdict that I am wrong?" This question invites them to explain their reasoning and can help clarify misunderstandings or differing perspectives.

• "If God asks you why He should let you into His kingdom, how would you answer?" Addresses the concept of salvation and personal righteousness. Encourages them to think about their relationship with God and what they believe is required to attain eternal life.

• "What kind of person do you have to be for God to accept you?" Invites them to reflect on the qualities and actions that they believe are necessary to be accepted by God.

• "Since you don't have access to all knowledge, is it possible that God exists outside your sphere of knowledge?" Humbly acknowledges the limits of human understanding and opens the door to considering the existence of a higher power beyond our comprehension. Invites the person to contemplate the possibility of divine mystery.

• "If God is discovered, would that make your life better or worse? How would it change your life?" Encourages them to think about the practical implications of discovering God's existence and how it would impact their life and beliefs.