Jesus - Yahweh Saves

       I had the privilege of preaching at the nursing home again this week. It's a wonderful ministry our church has - every Monday at 3:30, one of our church's pastors is at the nursing home leading singing and preaching. You would think that the residents were the ones who are invaluably blessed, but most of the time, it's us. It is such an honor to sing and preach the Word of God to those delightful people. I often walk away filled with joy, comfort, and encouragement just from the 45 minutes or so that I'm around these friends. They bless my heart. This week was our Christmas service. I had the privilege of speaking on the name of Jesus... what does it mean, and why is it important?...

       'Tis the season, so they say. The "Most Wonderful Time of the Year," as the familiar song goes. We have been - and will be over the next few days - singing familiar Christmas carols, gracing the doors of shopping malls and specialty stores, sending and receiving Christmas cards, wearing the clothes/jewelry we only get to wear once a year, decorating our houses with Christmas cheer, and visiting with family and friends. We'll experience the Christmas story a hundred times this year via many different mediums: songs, decorations, church services, family Bible reading, you name it. It is the greatest story ever told. There's a song that says, "Love came down at Christmas." Exactly.

       You know the story of the manger. You know the story of the shepherds, the angels, the wise men, the trip to Bethlehem, and the shining star ("But do you recall the most famous..." - kidding. Hahaha). But do you know the story of the Name? That's right - the story of the Name - the name, Jesus.

Matthew 1:21 - "And she shall bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name 'Jesus,' 

for He will save His people from their sins."

       God hatched the plan and carried it through. The Angel's job was to deliver the news. The Holy Spirit's job was to conceive the Boy. It was Mary's job to birth Him. It was the shepherds' job to announce His birth. It would be Jesus' job to do the saving. What was Joseph's job? Where did he fit in? He had only one job. A very important one, at that. It was Joseph's job to name the Boy, "Jesus."

       Why "Jesus?" Ever thought about that? Why not Jeremiah, Josiah, Jairus, Jacob, or Jehosaphat? We know that in scripture, Jesus has many names: Emmanuel, Prince of Peace, the Christ/Messiah, Son of David, Son of God, Lord, Master, etc. Why was Joseph to name Him "Jesus" instead of one of these others?

 יְהוֹשׁוּעַ   =   Ἰησοῦς   =   Jesus

(Yĕhowshuwa`= Iēsous = Jesus)

       The three names above are a progression. The first name is written in Hebrew, the second in Greek, and the third in English. Our English word "Jesus" is basically a transliteration of the Greek name written before it. And that Greek name is basically a transliteration of the Hebrew name before it. Go ahead and pronounce the Hebrew name out loud, woth a soft "o" for the fourth letter (the pronunciation is in italics below it). What does this name sound like? Yep, you guessed it... Joshua. Jesus' name is the same name we translate "Joshua" from the original Hebrew text of the Old Testament. Why is this important? Well, the name Joshua has a very special meaning itself...

       The name יְהוֹשׁוּעַ means "Yahweh saves," or "Yahweh is salvation." Who is Yahweh? Yahweh is the name God chose for Himself. Jesus' name literally means, "God saves." Now read the Matthew 1:21 text again...

Matthew 1:21 - "And she shall bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name 'Jesus,' 

for He will save His people from their sins."

Simple leading questions: 
1. Who will do the saving in Matthew 1:21?
2. Who does the saving in the meaning of the name "Jesus?"
3. What does this imply about the relationship between Yahweh and Jesus?


       As we used to say in Middle School... "Winner, winner, chicken dinner." You guessed it. Jesus is God. When referring to the Old Testament Joshua, never does the Bible say that he would "save his people from their sins." Only Jesus can do that. Only Yahweh can do that.

WHAT YOU NEED TO TAKE AWAY FROM THIS:
       From eternity passed and especially in the birth of Jesus, we can see God's plan for salvation through Jesus. You may see a Baby in a manger on a hundred different lawns in your neighborhood this week. But whenever you do, you need to know that without the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, it would just be a pretty picture. Without the propitiatory work of Christ in the reconciliation of mankind with God through blood sacrifice, that Baby in a manger would be nothing more than a yard decoration.
    
       You will hear the name "Jesus" countless times this Christmas season. What does it mean? Why is it important? Yahweh saves. This baby in a manger is God's wonderful plan to reconcile you to Himself. When you hear the name "JESUS" this season, think... "Yahweh saves."


Grace and Peace,
Tony

Let 'em Fly!

       I am constantly reminded of how great a joy it is to have two handsome, healthy children. About a year ago, Vanessa, Ethan, Aaron, and I were in Guitar Center. We were doing some reconstruction on our stage at church, and I took my family to look for some microphone cable to run underneath the stage. We had been there for about 30 or 45 minutes, and the boys had been excellent. But you know how little boys are - they started to get bored.
       If you've never been to guitar center, men, you are missing out on one of the great pleasures in life. There are so many instruments to pick up and play, drums to hit, cymbals to crash, and buttons to push... it's like a massive candy store for men. Even if you're not musical, it's fun just to go push the buttons and drool on the electronics. Well, Aaron (three years old at the time) had resisted long enough.
       There was a giant mixing board which controlled four massive speakers in a little tiny room. Soft music was playing in the background as people were shopping and dreaming. This sound board was invitingly positioned in the center of this relatively small room. Vanessa, Ethan, and I were at the checkout desk in the same room - me, a little perturbed by the amount of time it was taking. All of a sudden, I hear the music getting louder and louder and LOUDER!!! And very soon, it was so loud I thought my eardrums were going to bleed. In a split second, all kinds of thoughts raced through my mind... "That's loud enough, you idiot!" "I can't concentrate - turn that mess down!" "Whoever is doing that needs to be kicked out of this store!"

       So I turn around in anger and frustration to see my handsome, healthy three year old Aaron with his fingers on the yellow "Main" sliders of this mixing board in the center of the room. The other hand had become a plug for his left ear, and his eyes were ten times the size they normally are. So I did what any good, calm parent would do. I yelled at him. And then it clicked, "Oh, he doesn't know he's making the music do that..." So I raced over to the mixing board, grabbed his hand and threw it off the sliders, and abruptly turned the music down to a more sensitive level. I don't know if Aaron was more in shock because of the loud music or my evil-penetrating eyes that had become fixated on his childlike innocence. After a few seconds of bewildered speechlessness, I looked up to meet the eyes of three different couples who still had their hands over their ears and their jaws on the ground.
       "I'm so sorry," I mustered up. Making eye contact with each individual... But none of them said a word - or even moved for that matter. I told myself their reaction was probably because they couldn't hear me... then I had one of those light-bulb moments. First of all, I hadn't been watching my three-year-old son - he could've been anywhere in the store at all. Secondly, I had been so frustrated with the amount of time my trip was taking, and my perceived incompetency of the staff, yet my child was the one who made everyone else's shopping experience horrendous that day. And lastly, I looked back to see my three year old Aaron resembling a frightened little puppy-dog in the corner, who had just been beaten by his unforgiving master. My ears hurt. My pride hurt. But that was no excuse to let loose on Aaron the way I did. I held him for a while. He's such a blessing - my reaction was my problem, not his.

Psalm 127:3-5a says:

"Sons are indeed a heritage from the Lord, children, a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the sons born in one's youth. Happy is the man who has filled his quiver with them."

       In that moment, I forgot that God had blessed me with these two adorable children. They are a heritage from the Lord. A reward of which I am obviously unworthy.

       As I continually reflect on what this passage means, I am reminded that arrows in the hand of a warrior are not very productive, useful, or valuable if a few things do not become reality.

1. These arrows have to be constantly cared for. If the same arrows sit in a quiver for eighteen years, unattended, un-oiled, and largely neglected, their feathers will fray, their points will dull, and their shafts will bend or become weak. My children are needy and deserving of my constant attention, affection, and direction.

2. It is one thing for arrows to be in a quiver. It is something completely different for them to be "in the hand of the warrior." The warrior who hold arrows in hand is ready for battle. His arrows are not just "with" him. They are part of him. Without him, the arrows would be useless. And without them, he would be weapon-less. If his arrows are not in hand, he's not really an arrow-wielding warrior. He's just a guy who owns some sticks with points and feathers on them. Children are an extension of who we are as parents. It is impossible to be good parents without children. I have to hold them "near and dear." It's not the rest of the people in Guitar Center that need my apology, attention, empathy, and affection the most. It's Aaron. It's Ethan. They, for this period of time, are a part of who I am.

3. At some point, the warrior will have to let the arrow fly. If he holds his arrows in hand, or in quiver, and never lets them fly, he has done an injustice to what they are and their inherent purpose. The day will come. At some point, my boys will be ready to fly. I'm actually tearing up just thinking about it. Will I have trained them astutely? Will I have cared for them sufficiently? Will I have wielded them truthfully? It's difficult for me to think about right now, but one day, these handsome, healthy arrows my God has blessed me with will be ready to fly. Their time will come, and I will not be a true warrior if I don't let 'em fly.

       I have the best two little boys in the world. I'm thankful for every second God gives me with them. And I pray that He gives me the wisdom to be thankful, the ability to be educative, the passion to be effective, and the faith to be obedient. Thank you, Lord, for Ethan and for Aaron.


Grace and Peace,
Tony

The Southern Baptists of Texas Convention

       This weekend, my wife and I will venture down to Corpus Christi to gather with thousands of other ministers, denominational figures, and church members from across the state of Texas. It is an event to which we look forward all year long, ever year. It gives us that "boost" we need to continue with the strenuous work of ministry. We get to hear powerful sermons from the Word of God, enjoy heartfelt worship with brothers and sisters in Christ from across the state, and collaborate with friends and ministry partners who are encouraging, uplifting, and sincere. We'll hear reports from the Southern Baptist schools in our state, vote on issues that direct the future of our convention and our denomination, and this year... we'll take part in the SBC North American Mission Board's commissioning service.

       Very often, I hear church members who are confused over the importance of belonging to such an organization. Perhaps we (I) don't do a good enough (or frequent enough) job explaining the dynamics of the organization, and why we belong to a denominational group like this. In this blog, allow me to clarify some things of which maybe you are unaware, or maybe you just haven't thought about in a while...

I. Global Impact.
       Acts 1:8 challenges the local church to be Jesus' witnesses to our immediate community, our region, and to the ends of the earth. This is a tall order. Hopefully, as a local church, we are passionate about reaching our community for Christ. In all honesty, it takes most of our income to realize this goal. We pour money, and rightfully so, into our immediate context - people right around the corner from us are desperate for someone to meet them at their need and share the life-changing truth of Jesus with them. It is both time-consuming and resource-consuming.
       But what of the other areas in Texas that do not have a strong local church to reach out to their community? Who will bear witness to those communities? And what of the un-evangelized regions of the world like Myanmar, North and Central Africa, Peru, Asia, Russia, and so forth? Who will take the light of the gospel to those spiritually darkened places?
       Through our cooperation with the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention (SBTC), our little church in Rosenberg, TX is able to join with other little churches in Texas to fund missional efforts in the least-reached parts of our state. The moneys we give to the SBTC are combined with the moneys of other convention churches to optimize evangelistic impact where witnesses for Christ are few and underfunded.
       On top of that, our church's giving to the SBTC helps fund world-wide efforts for gospel saturation...

II. The Cooperative Program.
       The Cooperative Program of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) is an agreement between State Baptist Conventions (like the SBTC) and the national Southern Baptist Convention (SBC). When local churches send funds to the state conventions, those state conventions send a percentage of the funds to the SBC. The SBC divides these funds between the North American Mission Board (NAMB) and the International Mission Board (IMB). That means that through the Cooperative Program (me giving to the SBC through my local church's gifts to the SBTC), I am able to support over 5100 missionaries in North America, and over 5600 missionaries in every other part of the world.
       By itself, our church would be hard pressed to fully support even one missionary. But through our cooperation with the SBTC and the SBC, we support over 10,700 missionaries worldwide. A Side Note: NAMB and IMB commission new missionaries into the field. This year, at the 2010 SBTC, NAMB will be commissioning new missionaries into the field... and anyone is invited to come see the ceremony. Two years ago, at the SBTC's annual meeting in Houston, TX, the IMB held its commissioning service. It was an amazingly inspiring event - and I'm expecting NAMB's commissioning service to be equally as inspiring.
       PERCENTAGE of funds passed should be inquired of. I'm very pleased to tell you that 54% of everything given to the SBTC from local churches goes straight to the SBC (national convention to support NAMB and IMB). That is more (way more) than any other state convention. Our convention leaders are pioneers in cooperative funding. They have worked tirelessly to keep local, national, and international mission work a priority.

III. Standing for Truth.
       In an American culture (and arguably, even in a world culture) where truth is rapidly being viewed as relative, unstable, and subjective, the SBTC takes an unwavering stance on the inerrancy, efficacy, and infallibility of the Bible. You may not be aware of this, but there is a movement - even within the Southern Baptist Convention - away from the Bible as the center and source of truth. Entire state conventions question the authenticity of the Bible as a whole, and the accuracy of Genesis chapters 1-11. Instead of standing up for truth, and being the salt of the earth, these individuals and organizations are profaning what it means to be Christian. They are undermining God's revealed word to us, and replacing His truth with what is convenient for them and acceptable in the culture.
       But not the SBTC. Our convention stands firm in the midst of great opposition. Dr. Jim Richards, the Executive Director of the SBTC, and the other elected and employed leaders of the convention uphold the traditional biblical values of Christianity, and the supreme authority of the Word of God.

       These are just a few points I thought I would share with you concerning the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention. It is my privilege to be a part of this extraordinary organization. This weekend will be a much needed time of ministry rejuvenation, network connection, and spiritual renewal for my wife and I. May God receive the glory and the honor that He is due as we work to share His truth with a truth-deprived world.


Grace and Peace,
Tony

Elections, Government, and Christian Obedience

       Last Tuesday night, I watched waaaaaay too much of the election coverage. I'm pretty sure I should've gone to bed much earlier than I did. But it captivated me, really. I've always been fond of the election process. Not many countries in this beautiful world have the opportunity - the privilege - to choose for themselves the ones who will represent them in their government. And of all those countries who do have this privilege the United States of America is the pioneer. What a concept - a democratic electoral process in a constitutional republic. Amazing.

       I've been hearing all kinds of things about this election. How it has sent an undeniable "message" to the current leadership of our great country. Even from his own mouth, President Obama has admitted that the American people, through this electoral process, have sent him a firm message. The exact nature of that message, and how that message should affect political strategy are up for debate - but one thing is admitted of all sides... that a message has indeed been sent. How amazing is that? That a message of political and governmental nature can be sent to one person, or a small group of people, from 300 million Americans?

       Along with all the talk about what this "means" and how it is going to affect policy and strategy in the coming months and years has come some rather disturbing utterances from my fellow Christians. I'm beginning to get the feeling that we really believe a political party (one or the other) is going to be the salvation of our country. I've got news for you, Christian brother or sister - it's not. While economic policy and political purity is important for many reasons, and while it has the potential to prod a people in a positive direction, it cannot and will not even come close to addressing the deepest need of our country - the individual salvation of souls.

       I'm praying that we don't, spiritually speaking, sit back on our haunches (donkeys' or elephants') and wait for the government to "fix our problem(s)." A common biblical theme, throughout Old Testament and New, is that the greatest blessings - individually, corporately, and societally - will come when God's people are obedient to His Word, and are mobilized for His cause.

"Look, today I set before you a blessing and a curse: there will be a blessing if you obey the commands of the Lord your God I am giving you today, and a curse if you do not obey the commands of the Lord your God, and you turn aside from the path I commanded you today by following other gods you have not known." - Deut. 11:26-28.

       Here, Moses is speaking to the Israelites about being careful to obey God's commands so that they may receive blessing. Of course, we all know what happened. They Israelites did indeed "turn aside from the path" (Jer. 2: 17) in disobedience to God. I could be speculating here, but I'm sure the Israelites believed the priests, Levites, and national leaders (judges, lawmakers, and kings) were the focus of this warning. Surely God was issuing this statement to the politicians and governmental authorities. After all, THEY'RE the ones who need to be righteous, and careful to follow all of God's commands. If THEY will do that, then surely God will bless the nation.

       Yes, I'm being facetious. God's desire was, and still is, that obedience and devotion to Him and His Truth be central in the life of every one of His children. In this Old Testament passage, the blessing the nation will experience is directly correlated with individual obedience and consecration. If we want to be blessed as a nation, Christians must focus their energy on being obedient to God. He's called us to speak Truth in a truth-decayed world. He's called us to bear witness to His glory and His salvation to the ends of the earth. He's called us to depend upon Him for all that we need as individuals and as a nation. He is our Hope. He is our Salvation. He is our God. And no politician, political party, or elected chamber can bring what He alone is capable of bringing - blessing.

       We must vote. No doubt about it. And we must consider Biblical morality and ethicality when voting - they should guide us in our electoral decisions. But elections and political parties are not what will save this country. They are not what will bless this country. I've seen more on FaceBook, and heard more in person over the past few days (even in church) about politicians and parties than I have about the saving grace of Almighty God. Christian friend, let's keep "Number One" number one.



Grace and Peace,
Tony

Homosexuality: The Biblical Perspective (Part 2)

       My last post (click to see) explored the biblical instances where homosexuality is considered a sin. It would also be helpful to note that there is never a biblical instance where it is NOT a sin. Also, we looked at some secular thoughts on homosexuality, and came to these conclusions:

1. The Bible declares homosexual activity as sin, just as it does lying, theft, adultery, etc. 
2. The culture's arguments for genetic causation and progressivistic justification are lacking. 
3. The Bible offers hope for freedom from sin through the person of Jesus Christ. 

In this post, I'd like to discuss how this information should affect Christians, and also, I would like to offer a word to homosexuals who read my blog...

CHRISTIANS:
       What started this blog topic was a link to a facebook page where a self-proclaimed "Christian" indicated (publicly, mind you) that he wished all homosexuals would catch AIDS and die. I don't think that's the way Jesus would've handled it...

Jesus: Maybe you don't realize this - Jesus was harsh toward Pharisees and Sadducees. NOT sinners! He scolded, debated with, drove out, and embarrassed the religious elite who claimed unique authority on scripture and spiritual things, but lived in a constant state of hypocrisy (see Mat. 23:1-7). These people were more concerned with their own positional security and pious elitism than with representing God and being an example and a channel of His blessings, love, and truth to the people around them.
       The only other group of people (that I can think of) with whom Jesus got a little upset were the disciples. In Matthew 26:40-46, Jesus seems a little agitated with the fact that they couldn't stay awake to pray for Him. Another instance of Jesus' frustration with His disciples is in Matthew 16, when they didn't quite understand Jesus' allusion concerning the yeast of the Pharisees. He calls them, "ye of little faith!" (v.8).
       But we don't see examples of Jesus being harsh, angry, or agitated with the lost. In fact, we see the opposite. In John 8, we read the story of a convicted adulteress - a reprehensible sin/crime - whose sentence is stoning. But Jesus says, "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone." Then, he speaks to her, "I don't condemn you... Go and sin no more." He told her what she was doing was a sin - but He offered forgiveness.
       Luke 7 tells a short story of a woman who "was a sinner" that brought fragrant oil and poured it out on Jesus' feet, then continued to wipe his feet with her tears and wash them off with her long hair as he was reclining at the table with a Pharisee. The Pharisees were upset that Jesus would let someone so disgusting, so stained by sin even come close to Him - But we read His words to Simon in vs. 44-46, "you gave me no water, but she washed my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but she hasn't stopped kissing my feet. You didn't anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with fragrant oil."
       Jesus met sinners, even the ones who were social refuse, at their place of need. He offered them forgiveness. He addressed their sin as such, but displayed unconditional love, hospitality, kindness, and heartfelt compassion at the same time.

The New Testament letters also tell us a great deal about how to treat sin (including homosexuality), as well as how we should feel about it.

The New Testament Letters: In Part 1 of this subject, I stated that we would revisit 1 Corinthians 6:9. Paul lumps homosexual offenders together with idolaters, adulterers, thieves, drunkards, greedy people, etc. and the judgement is that "they" will not inherit the kingdom of God. Let me take a brief pause here to say that the greatest damage that is being done by these individuals is not to our society, is not to our family, and is not to our legal system. It is to their eternity. Our first, most heartfelt response to any kind of sin should be that those without Christ will spend eternity separated from God in a real place called Hell. Secondly, let me point out that there is a dichotomy represented here. Two "kinds" of people... (1) those labeled as "thieves, homosexual offenders, liars," etc., and (2) those who are "justified in the name of Jesus" (v. 11). Just as it is impossible for someone who is a practicing, non-repentant homosexual to be part of Gods family, so it is for a practicing, non-repentant adulterer, greedy person, or swindler. Homosexuality is not "the sin" that disqualifies one from being saved. It is the sin of rejecting Jesus Christ that leaves individuals unregenerate, unjustified, and bound for Hell. If one accepts Christ, he or she becomes a completely new creation (2 Cor. 5:17). He or she is no longer defined by sin, and likewise, will not seek to unrepentantly participate in it. Instead, he or she is defined by position in Christ, and will now seek to participate in His righteousness and holiness.

       There are plenty of NT passages that deal with this subject specifically. Let's move on to something a little deeper. Read this from Paul:

"I wrote to you in a letter not to associate with sexually immoral people - by no means referring to this world's immoral people... otherwise,you would have to leave the world... But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother who is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater... drunker... swindler. Don't even eat with such a person." 

(I Cor. 5:9-11)

I hope you're reading this with an obedient heart. Would you be okay with going to a homosexual's house, reclining at his table, and letting a convicted thief wash your feet? Jesus would. Why? How are we going to communicate biblical truth in a loving way if we disassociate ourselves from the lost? Keep in mind that we are to speak the truth - that homosexuality is sin - but we are also to speak it in love, and finish the story... Yes, homosexuality is sin. But through Jesus Christ, that sin and all others can be cast as far as the East is from the West, and a new standing of righteousness and justification can be applied to the sinner. 

       

       Christian, God has called you to be a beacon of truth and love to the world around you. When you start to swell with religious elitism, you'd better put yourself in check and realize that you too were once a sinner in desperate need of someone who would love you enough to meet you at your need and speak words of life, hope, and truth. 

       And then, you hate the fact that sin is separating this individual from God. You hate the fact that if he doesn't place his life in Christ Jesus, he will spend eternity in Hell. You hate the repercussions - physical, social, emotional, relational, and spiritual - that come from a world/life scarred by sin. But you LOVE the person committing the sin. You go out of your way to be kind, compassionate, and useful to him. Get your eyes off of your pride, and onto your calling.

HOMOSEXUAL FRIEND:

       The Bible declares homosexuality sin - as it does adultery, lying, theft, murder, etc. The Bible is the standard of truth for Christians... therefore, it is inconsistent and hypocritical for a Christian to support or agree with homosexuality. 

       However, I would like for you to know that God loves you with an everlasting love. He created you specially and wonderfully for His glory. You are significant to Him. So significant in fact, that He gave His own life to satisfy the penalty for sin - yours and mine alike. I was a liar. I was a thief. I was an adulterer at heart. But now I'm a new creation. I still struggle with those desires sometimes, but I have a God who is faithful to walk along side me as a Counselor, and who is also able and willing to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me from all unrighteousness if I'll only confess it, and agree with Him that it is indeed sin (1 John 1:9). 

       I don't hate you. And no true Christian would. In fact, I'm not "wierded out" by you or angry with you either. I love you. Really, I do. And if the Bible is reliable and accurate, then the perfect plan that God has for your life will never be actualized until you rid yourself of what He declares to be sin, and place your life in Him. He offers you eternal life, and an abundant, purposeful life here. Becoming a Christian doesn't magically take away our sinful desires, but God does promise the gift of the Holy Spirit who will dwell within you and provide you with truth, comfort, and conviction to help you along your journey. 

It boils down to this: Either the Bible is reliable and homosexuality (along with a long list of other things) is sinful... or the Bible is not reliable, and there is some other standard by which to measure morality and truth. What is your take on all of this? If you're a Christian, has your perspective on any of this changed? If you are not a Christian, do you have a better idea why Christians see homosexuality as a sin?

COMMENTING: I've opened this post up to comments. I pray we can all be loving and honest in our conversations and interactions here. 

Grace and Peace,

Tony

Homosexuality: The Biblical Perspective (Part 1)

       Earlier this week, I clicked on a link to an article which displayed a Facebook page of someone who claimed to be a Christian, but was hurling hatred toward homosexuals. It infuriated me. I feel a need to clarify the biblical perspective on homosexuality. There are non-Christians in our culture who are seeing all of this hate-speech, and rejecting the God of the Bible because of His followers' idiocracy. And there are Christians who are honestly confused over how they should feel about homosexuality, and how they should treat homosexuals.

       This will be a two-part attempt at clarifying the biblical stance on homosexuality. In this post, I'll discuss the biblical position and compare that to some current secular claims. In the next, I'll discuss how this information should affect Christians.

       Let it be first understood that I am a biblicist. I believe that the Bible is true, reliable, and accurate, and that it is, on its own, "profitable for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work," (2 Tim. 3:16-17). It is not a god, but it does reveal "the" God. 

       Many times, when discussing the issue with Christians and non-Christians alike, I hear that the Bible "doesn't condemn homosexuality." Section I here will be dedicated to the instances in scripture (both Old Testament and New) that treat homosexuality as a sin...

Section I. The Bible on Homosexuality.

OLD TESTAMENT:

       Genesis 19 - This is the story of Sodom and Gomorrah. Two angels visit Lot, outside the city and the men of the city demand that Lot hand them over so that they may "know them." Many translations even read, "so that we may have sex with them." Some more recent translators argue that the men of Sodom just wanted to understand who the men were, but that is not consistent with what the rest of the context says. Verse 8 tells us that Lot offers his virgin daughters as a substitute for what the men of Sodom were wanting. Whether that substitution was "right" or "wrong" is not the issue here. Sodom's men wanted to have sex with the men in Lot's home. So why is this bad? Verse 7 describes what the men of Sodom were wanting to do as "evil." (In the New Testament, Jude vs. 7 recalls this event, and the common practice of sexual immorality in Sodom and Gomorrah, and re-testifies that homosexuality is a sin against God.)

       Leviticus 18:22-24 - Part of the Law given to the people by God Himself, through Moses: "you are not to sleep with a man as with a woman; it is detestable. You are not to have sexual intercourse with any animal... ...a woman is not to present herself to an animal to mate with it..." Verses 23 and 24 says these things "defile" a person. Verse 22 says it is "detestable." 

       Leviticus 20:13-21 - This part of God's OT Law puts man-with-man sexual relationships in the same category as incest and bestiality. 

       Judges 19:16-23 - A story that is either a repeat of Genesis 19 from above, or more likely, another incident describing the same basic thing. The men of the city want to have sex with the men in the house, and the Bible calls it "evil" and a "horrible thing" (verse 23).

       I Kings 14:24, 15:12, 22:46, and II Kings 23:7 - These are instances where the Hebrew word קָדֵשׁ describes men (it is a masculine noun) who have consecrated themselves to the worship of Astarte or Venus (ancient Serian gods of sex and pleasure) by prostituting themselves to other men for money in pagan temples. The word is translated "sodomite." In every instance, the act is considered an "abomination" to God.

NEW TESTAMENT:

       Romans 1:26-27 - Perhaps the most convincing of all the biblical text that homosexuality is a sin. Men were "inflamed with their lust for one another... ...committed shameless acts with males" and women "exchanged" natural intercourse with what is unnatural. In verse 28, God deems this "worthless/reprobate" (ἀδόκιμον) and "morally wrong/shameful," (καθήκοντα).

       I Corinthians 6:9 - Paul, here, lumps homosexual offenders and those "male prostitutes" from earlier with thieves, drunkards, greedy people, liars, and adulterers who will not inherit God's kingdom. We'll come back to this verse in the next post. It tells us that homosexuality, though a sin, is not a "greater" sin than any other.

       I Timothy 1:9-10 - In this letter, Paul tells us that God's Law (from earlier in this post) condemns those who are sexually immoral ( πόρνοις) and those who are homosexual (ἀρσενοκοίταις). Once again, these two sins are not singled out - they are lumped together with those who are unholy, irreverent, murderers, and liars. 

FYI - These are examples of CON-HOMOSEXUALITY. There are also countless examples of PRO-HETEROSEXUALITY (as the "right" way of living, and as God's design for sex and family).

       Now, Section II in this post will discuss some of the secular/scientific argument(s) for PRO-HOMOSEXUALITY. Then, of course, I will raise some questions/concerns with these arguments.

Section II. The Culture and Homosexuality.

THE BIOLOGICAL ARGUMENT

      Much of the modern-day biological debate for homosexuality is founded in the work of D.F. Swaab and M.A. Hofman (1990 research). So that we can be on the same page, and so that you have a fair chance to view both sides of this argument (theirs, and mine), I've included a link where you can download the .pdf file. You can download and read Swaab and Hofman's research, article, and conclusions here: http://depot.knaw.nl/668/. 

       The general principle here is that deceased homosexual men showed an increase in size and volume of the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) - a section of the brain known to be involved with one's "biological clock," but now (after this study, mind you) thought to be involved in sexual preference and reproduction as well. The primary, overall conclusion of the authors of the paper is that "the SDN data do not support the global hypothesis that homosexual men have a female brain." NOTE: The "SDN data." Their official conclusion did not even address the SCN. It addressed the SDN - sexually dimorphic nucleus - a completely separate part of the brain. Unofficially, however, the authors allude to the assertion that an enlarged SCN is the biological reason for homosexuality in men.

       

       Firstly, let me present some scientific problems with this research. (1) The sample size was hardly enough to make this important of a conclusion. Only 14 individuals (it says 18 at one point, and then in the same paragraph and for the rest of the paper, it says 10 homosexual men and 4 heterosexual men) were studied. There needs to be much more research on this with samples from all over the globe (or country at least) that are representative of the entire population, not just one small geographic area. (2) The control group consisted of 4 heterosexual males, and the variable group of 10 homosexual males. Every good scientist knows that the control should be at least equal to the variable. For instance, what if those four heterosexual males are not representative of the entire population (close to 3 billion worldwide, I'm estimating) of heterosexual males? (3) Every one of the subjects (both heterosexual and homosexual) died of AIDS. The scientists themselves admit in the last section of this article that this could seriously hinder the results of experimentation. They suggest that "homosexual men who did not die of AIDS should certainly be studied in the future."

       Secondly, let's look at other possible conclusions. One possibility brought up, but quickly glossed-over in this paper is that during early years of development, different interactions with sex hormones could affect the size and matter of the SCN. Why is this not a HUGE topic???!!! Even secular Behavioral Psychologists such as B.F. Skinner would agree that the amount of and kind of interaction with a child/adolescent during developmental stages seriously affects an individual biologically, emotionally, and socially. While Skinner would conclude this means it is not the individual's "fault," at least he recognizes the influence of the outside world on behavior and sexual orientation. If this idea were to be concluded, it would indeed mean that individuals are NOT "born" with an enlarged SCN. Another possible conclusion is that (if we approach it with a biblical world-view, agreeing with the Bible that homosexuality is sin) sin corrupts the emotions, spirit, and biology of an individual. As a supporting note here, it is proven through research that schizophrenia and other health issues also cause enlargement in different regions of the brain. Children are not born schizophrenic. It is a learned, developed behavior/mental health problem. 

       Thirdly, let's take this to the next level. If homosexuality is a genetic response to a biological or biochemical deformity (which is what this boils down to), then is excessive aggression also? Have we done a study on death-row inmates' corpses in which we examine the amygdala and prefrontal cortex of the brain (thought to be related to aggression)? If these areas are abnormal when compared to the control group, would we then justify the aggressive behavior as a biological deformity, as these scientists are attempting to justify homosexuality?

       I don't want to get too caught up in the biological argument. I just want you to see that there is no solid evidence for a biological cause of homosexuality. Let me move on to the Postmodern argument. 

THE POSTMODERN ARGUMENT

       This is a more recent development which assumes that "This is how I am because this is how I feel." It leads to questions like, "Why would God create me this way (or let me 'feel this way') if it's a sin?"It is an argument based on personal emotion/feeling which is grounded in experience and a humanistic/relativistic idea of truth.

       I have no doubt that many people are inclined toward homosexual tendency. I have never said that homosexuality doesn't exist, or is a figment of the imagination. I believe some people really struggle with same-sex attraction. "Well then, how can you argue against it, Tony?"...

       We all have our struggles... spiritual struggles, that is... Some struggle with the sin of gluttony. Some are compulsive liars. Some are inclined to theft, lust, or rage. Each of these sins is real, and repugnant to Almighty God. Christians who constantly struggle with lust, for instance, must set boundaries for themselves and put their actions and feelings in check. When we're struggling with alcoholism or drug addiction, we join a support group. When we are constantly angry at others, we go to counseling in an attempt to control our fits of rage. Why do we do these things? Because we are genuinely struggling with sin.

       The Bible, throughout its pages, tells the story of an originally perfect creation which has been almost completely disfigured from the effects of sin. People hate each other. Disease and sickness take lives. Beautiful creation withers and fades. Individuals are influenced by sin and enticed to rebel against God and His standard of holiness. Seems hopeless, right? Well, it's not. 

       Just as the liar is offered forgiveness and salvation if he confesses it as sin, repents, and places his life inside Christ Jesus... so is the murderer... so is the adulterer... so is the thief... so is the homosexual. The battles we face, the sin we so desperately must elude, are conquerable through a relationship with Christ Jesus. 

CONCLUSION: The Bible declares homosexual activity as sin, just as it does lying, theft, adultery, etc. The culture's arguments for genetic causation and progressivistic justification are lacking. The Bible offers hope for freedom from sin through the person of Jesus Christ. 

You'll notice that I've disabled comments for this post. I do want your comments - but I want you to read all of Part 2 (my next post) first. Comments are allowed on the Part 2 page... but only in a constructive, collaborative, non-condemning manner. 

You can go straight to the Part 2 by clicking HERE. 

Grace and Peace,

Tony

"Where Is the Lord" (Sermon Video)

I was privileged to fill in for our Pastor at Calvary in Rosenberg, TX on Sunday, September 5, 2010. This is the video from that sermon...








A link to Jon Meacham's article from NewsWeek, April 2009 - not "Times Magazine" as I said in the sermon... oops... wrong magazine. Many apologies. 





Grace and Peace,
Tony

Home, Heritage, and Heart

       Vanessa likes to move things around in our house. Especially in the early years of our marriage, I'd come home, and the entire bedroom or living room would be flip-flopped around, or certain pictures, tables, or other furniture would be taken from one room and put in another. It keeps things interesting, for sure. I'm sitting in "my chair" right now. She moved it from one side of the living room to the other about a week ago. I like it here - because every time I look up now, I can't ignore the various Christian-themed decorations on the wall directly across from me.
       I'm looking at them right now - a 14x16 matt of John 3:16 with the words "for GOD so LOVED the WORLD" boldly embossed on top of the verse - surrounded by two delicate crosses... ...and adjacent to that elegant presentation, a beautiful plate-rack looking fixture housing three tablets respectively displaying, "Faith," "Hope," and "Love." It's an encouraging, yet sober reminder of who God is in my life, our home, and our world.

       Very often, I'll write a Bible verse on my home screen (computer). I usually don't write out the whole verse, but just the reference. It's often a verse I'm trying to memorize, that is directly applicable to where I find myself at that specific point in life. For instance, a few months ago, it was Romans 13:14, "Put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no plans to satisfy the desires of the flesh."
       I saw Ethan (my oldest) with a cross-necklace on going to school the other day. He's had it in his room for a while, but has only worn it a few times. I was proud that he decided to put his faith on display that day... and was not ashamed of who he is in Christ.

       Very often, I hear people criticizing the wearing/displaying of religious symbols and paraphernalia. I understand that many times these things are displayed for the wrong intentions or in an improper manner. But I do enjoy subtle reminders that help Christians recall Whose they are. Have you ever walked into a house that has Joshua 24:15 written over the entryway, or stitched into a matt outside their front door? It encourages me. When I walk in a house that is gently ornamented with biblical reminders, a feeling of comfort and trust consumes me.

       The Jews, from millennia past, hold dear what they call the Sh'ma or Sh'ma Yisrael. Sh'ma (or, shema) is a verb meaning "listen," or "hear." It is the first word in Deuteronomy 6:4 - an imperative addressed to Israel (Yisrael, from above) by God through Moses. Here's more of the verse...

Hear, o Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is One. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, 

with all your soul, and with all your strength. - Deut. 6:4-5

What an incredible reminder of Who God is, and how we should live.

       I know you've heard this verse before. In Matthew 22 (as well as Luke 10), a Pharisee asks Jesus how he might inherit eternal life. In Jesus' answer, He identifies the Sh'ma as THE most important commandment. It is arguable that even the "second, which is like it," stems from the first. Viz. if you love God, you will in turn love others. You've heard this more recently in the phrase, "Love God, Love People." And you've even heard it described in the shape of a cross: Vertical line (Loving God), and Horizontal line (Loving people).

       What's so interesting about Deuteronomy (to me anyway) 6:4-5 is what follows it - in verses 6-9...

6:6 - These words I am giving you today are to be written in your heart. 
We see here that from the earliest of commandment giving, it was God's desire that living for Him be from the heart. His word isn't to be obeyed out of habit or ritual. It is to be a matter of the heart. This verse also forms the basis of so many of your favorite scriptures: Psalm 119:11, Proverbs 2:1, Deuteronomy 10:16, and Romans 2:29 to name a few.

6:7 - Repeat them to your children. Talk about them when you sit in your house, and when you walk along the road, when you lie down, and when you get up.
Do you know that your children will learn more between the ages of 1 and 6 than they will for the rest of their lives? Capitalize on this crucial time in their development to instill within them something more important than worldly expectations. Teach them scripture. And don't just expect them to learn about God at church. This verse says in your house, when you're walking on the road, at bedtime, and in the morning. Every moment that passes holds irreplaceable teaching opportunity. When your children disobey you, what do you tell them? How about mentioning Ephesians 6:1? Not ever to demean them, but rather to teach them God's Word and how they can bring Him joy by being obedient to you. We're so proud when our 4-6 year olds ask questions about math, science, or language - and we immediately explain to them the concepts involved. What about when they ask about sickness, church, God, death, or ghosts? Let the Word of God be a normal and regular part of the interaction you have with your children.

6:8 - Bind them as a sign on your hand and let them be a symbol on your forehead. 
"Tie a ribbon around your finger!" I always thought that was a little ridiculous when I was a kid. But I never "tried it," so I guess I can't "knock it." But I'll tell you what - those yellow ribbons around the oak trees... every time I see one, I think of our soldiers who are fighting for our freedom all over the globe. It's a symbol of reminder. Years ago, the WWJD bracelets became popular. And as soon as they came on the scene, so did the critics' ranting about their invalidity and how they relegated the gospel message. But I know for a fact that wearing something like that on your wrist affects the way you act. It's a gentle reminder of our position in Christ. You don't have to wear a WWJD bracelet. But sometimes, especially when we're struggling in a specific area, a tangible reminder of Whose we are is very helpful.

6:9 - Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
Identify your home as one belonging to God, and dedicated to His purposes. "Play Like a Champion" - the sign painted between the locker room and the tunnel leading to the field at Notre Dame, is one that every football player slaps on his way into battle. It reminds them of the approach they are to have on the field they're about to enter. It's a sign marking a respectable truth on their home territory. It's more than a sign - it's a commitment.
       What commitment does your home display? If you invited someone into your house for the first time, would they identify you as a Christian by the decorations in your house? A better question... ...are you constantly reminded by the pictures on your walls and the trinkets in your display cabinets that your home is dedicated to Christ? I'm not telling you how to decorate your home. The good Lord knows that is NOT my calling! But I am telling you that the Bible tells us to put reminders in our home that will prompt memories of His love for us and of our devotion to Him.

What does your home say of your faith? 

What does your heritage teach of Christ?

What does your heart reveal of God's Word?

Grace and Peace,
Tony

Soap Box: The First Amendment

       There is a serious misunderstanding over the first amendment in our country right now. I was reading the news today and came across this article (linked below). It's not the first time I've read about this kind of thing happening, and I'm guessing it won't be the last. But is this really a matter for the ACLU to pursue? Is this really a violation of the First Amendment - the "Separation of Church and State?" Go ahead and read the article...

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/10/07/aclu-threatens-lawsuit-nc-town-does-remove-christian-flag-war-memorial/

The Logical Argument:


       It is incredibly telling that the ACLU's and the protesting local citizens' only solution to this disastrous problem was to take down the Christian flag. After all, we can't "show favoritism" for one religion over another," right? That would be a violation of the First Amendment. WRONG.
       If it's equal rights for other religions that the ACLU wants, then why not propose putting up flags of other religions at the memorial? The council was not showing favoritism by displaying the Christian flag. It was showing honor, and reflecting the interests of the community. If the community wants other religious flags to be displayed, then so be it. But forcing the removal of the Christian flag is not a logical solution to this problem. It's a biased, bullied scare tactic.
       And what of the cross that is being argued over? Did you read that about 2/3 of the way down in the article? Well, if you didn't make it that far, I understand - because I was boiling by the time I got there too. The council is going to have to remove a cross from one of the memorials? Really? Come on. What if burial sites were sacred to a certain religion? Wouldn't the forcing of the cross's removal be a violation of the First Amendment? And even if burial sites are not sacred... why, again, is the only answer to remove the cross? Has anyone suggested that their loved one be memorialized by a goat's head? A nine-point star? A peace sign? A Buddha statue? If so, then by all means, add it to the memorial site.
       But let's be honest here - this is not really about being equally tolerant of all religions. It's about being universally INtolerant of Christianity.


The Historical Argument:


       The pilgrims came to America seeking freedom from the religious oppression of Europe. They had seen in Italy, Spain, France, Germany, and England how a nationalized religion destroys the supremacy of scripture, and how in a marriage of church and state, the church is always the abused spouse. They settled, and later established America as a country where the government would have no control over or "say" in the religious affairs of the people.
       When you read our founding documents, or even the personal letters of the Founding Fathers, you would be blind to conclude that religion did not influence government. Specifically - the Christian religion. Who is it that "endowed us with certain unalienable rights?" The government? The collective ideas of society? Nature? Philosophy? Nope - that would be our Creator. My friends,

the point wasn't to keep Christ out of the government, 

it was to keep the government out of the church. 

       Oh my, how far we've come. I'd like to think that maybe we've just started rolling down a steep, unforgiving hill of some kind. Taking prayer out of schools, refusing to allow people to pray in Jesus' name at public gatherings, fighting over whether or not we can put our national motto "In God We Trust" on our currency and on state license plates. Now look where we are... We can't even hang a Christian flag in a public cemetery.

       But I know better than that. I know that our battle is not against legislators, lawmakers, supreme court justices, presidents, or the ACLU. It's against the powers and principalities, the forces of this world (Ephesians 6:12). We're in a spiritual battle against an enemy who has blinded (2 Corinthians 4:4) the ungodly of this age. It's not them we're fighting against. It's him.

Am I the only one who sees this as an attack on Christianity? Am I wrong by asserting that taking down the Christian flag is NOT the logical option here? Somebody help me out...

Grace and Peace,
Tony

Spankings: When, and Why?

       I was eleven or twelve years old. I had been at baseball practice for about an hour and a half at a local Jr. High's field, and practice was over. As I waited for my mom and dad to pull up in the blue Astro-Van to pick me up, I can remember getting a little bored. All my friends' parents had picked them up already - all except one or two... If you have sons, like I do, you know that the most opportune time for young boys to endanger their lives is when there is no one around but a couple of friends their age. Oh yes - it was a formula for disaster. So, I did what every bored little boy trying to impress his friends would do. I climbed on the school's roof.

       It was a pretty neat little world up there. I found all kinds of fun stuff - some tennis balls and frisbees... a couple of plastic bottles and pens. Not to mention the extreme rush of being 25 feet up in the air where I KNEW I was not supposed to be. I was so cool. Well, until my parents drove up. Somehow I missed the big blue house-van coming down the road. Fatal mistake. My mom jumped out of that van and some how, even though I was 25 feet off the ground, she made me feel like I was about 2 feet tall. She was yelling at me all the way across the roof, the slide down the support poles to the ground, and every mile of the way home. I was busted. And I was in trouble... ...So my dad came in my room, gave me a good talkin' and then, a good spankin'. And if I told you that was the first time OR the last time I ever got a spanking, I would be lying. But I'll tell you this: that WAS the last time I climbed on a school's roof.

I don't beat my kids. I don't hit them, and I don't abuse them. But I do spank them.
When? Two specific times:

1.) Direct disobedience. When I have told them not to do something and they do it anyway, it's a spanking, and they know it. Likewise, when I tell them TO do something and they choose not to do it, you guessed it. Spanking.

        - WHY, Tony? It's not about a power trip, it's about safety. Children very rarely see the dangers around them. They need to know that when Mommy and Daddy say something, it is to be obeyed immediately. Where we go wrong is by separating the "little" offenses from the "big" ones. We say, "No, you can't have a cookie right now, but you can in 10 minutes." They go grab a cookie immediately and start to eat it - (direct disobedience)... "BUT, I was going to give him one in a few minutes anyway. That's really not worth a spanking." Wrong.
       Vanessa and I often observe interactions between parents and their children. One day not too long ago, a couple's daughter was running out into the road, and cars were coming. The parents said "Sarah (not her real name), stop!" And you guessed it... Sarah turned and acknowledged her parent's order, but did not stop. Thanks be to God, the driver of the approaching vehicle saw Sarah and stopped while the indignant parents ran to her rescue in the middle of the road. Why didn't Sarah stop? Because she did not associate direct disobedience with immediate repercussion. She has gotten away with disobedience all her life, so why should this time be any different?
       I have a great friend who is an excellent woodworker. One day we were in the shop together and his little boy was in there. Something happened, and a dense cloud of sawdust shot down from the roof around the boy. My friend immediately said, "Tommy (again, not his real name), close your eyes!" Tommy immediately shut his eyes because he knew that his dad's commands were to be obeyed without question. That saved him a lot of pain.

2.) Disrespect. The second reason I spank my children is for disrespect. Disrespecting me, my wife, their teachers, other peers, and other figures of authority in their lives. And we don't play around with this one either. My youngest was yelling at me earlier today. I had already told him once today that if he talked to me like that again, I was going to spank him. There aren't three strikes in our house. Only two. Aaron got a spanking today. You can only imagine... when he did it the second time, he knew it was coming. After he realized what he had done, he immediately said, "I don't want a spanking, Daddy." As touching as that was, I followed through with my promise.

       - WHY, Tony? two reasons. [REASON A] Aaron wasn't sorry for what he had done. He was sorry that he got caught, and the only reason he was sorry was because he knew that a spanking was coming. Take away the spanking, and the remorse would be gone. [REASON B] I believe our world today is absent of respect for authority. Just ask any school teacher or police officer you know. They'll tell you very quickly that kids (and even adults) today are much less respectful than they were 10 or 20 years ago.
       God institutes authority in our lives for a reason, He is the God of order and institution. We see numerous times in scripture analogies of Christ as the "head" of the church, the husband as the "head" of the family, governmental officials as being empowered and instituted by God Himself, and infrastructural organization such as heads of clans, tribes, cities, and peoples. It is a fact that children in early developmental years perform and develop best when they are in a structured environment. Children need authoritative parents who stand by their word and teach them to submit to instituted authority over them.        
       These skills will shape the rest of their lives. One day, your son will be employed, and he will have to follow orders from his boss. He will need to respect his boss as authority over him. Also - it promotes the character trait of humility. The bible tells us that if we will humble ourselves before the Lord, He will lift us up (James 4:7-10). Kids don't learn that from the culture. They need to learn it from their parents.

That's It! Those are the only two times I spank my children. And believe me - that's enough!!! We were in the movie theatre about a year ago and a "bad word" was said in the picture. Ethan (my oldest) repeated that word loudly and proudly, so everyone around us could hear - including the 70-80 year old woman who stared right through my bone and marrow to my very soul in utter condemnation. Did I spank Ethan then and there? Nope. He had never used or even heard that word before. So I made sure to explain to him that was not a word we used. We came up with the solution, "If you've never heard Mommy or Daddy say a word before, ask us before you use it." That seems to work pretty well. He's never used that word again - but if he does... now he knows it will constitute a spanking.

Then what about when spanking doesn't work???!!! That is a VERY relevant question. I believe authoritative spanking is an excellent way to instill respect in and foster discipline in our children's lives (Proverbs 13:24). But for some couples, spanking just doesn't seem to be working... and that is very frustrating. Let me first ask a couple of questions:

1.) Are you consistent? If you say, "Do that again and you will get a spanking," then you MUST follow through with it. If you don't you're teaching your child that you are inconsistent, and then they never know whether they can expect a spanking or not. NEVER threaten with a disciplinary action if you are not willing to follow through with it.
       Also in this category is the degree of the spanking. A quick pat on the butt one time, and a full-fledged "take-em to the room and wear-em out" at others is NOT consistency. Spankings are meant to be consistent disciplinary action. If it is deserving of a spanking, it is deserving of a spanking, there are not degrees of spanking. Let your child know that each offense is a serious one, no matter how "little."

2.) Are you angry? I make it a point NEVER to spank my children when I'm angry. After all, it's not their fault that I'm angry - it's mine. I can't control their actions, but their actions also can't control my emotions. I can choose to respond in a number of different ways - and my anger is MY problem, not theirs.
       When parents spank their children in anger (especially dads), the intensity of the spanking is usually compromised. If you need to cool down a bit, then send him to his room while you chill out.

3.) Where do you spank? Seems like a silly question - but it's a good one. We never spank in public. The goal is never to humiliate the child - only to be consistent with the disciplinary action. If the offense is done in public, we go to a bathroom.
       At home, we spank in the kids' bedroom. It provides a private atmosphere where our children are not put on public display (even amongst each other or the other parent), and where, after calming down a bit, we can talk to him briefly about the offense and reassure him of our love.

4.) Have you clearly defined offenses after which spankings will come? Aaron (our youngest) doesn't know the terminology yet, but he knows when he's done something that constitutes a spanking. I don't have to tell him. He just knows. Ethan, on the other hand... he can tell you that he will get a spanking if he is disobedient or if he is disrespectful. Clear as day to him.
       This is part of the disciplinary structure your child needs to develop emotions properly. If spankings are dependent on your mood or your physical stamina, the child will learn two things: (1) He can get away with certain things when you are acting a certain way. Later in life, this can develop into usery or manipulation. (2) Sometimes it is right to do a certain action, while at other times it is wrong. It is confusing for the child, and can seriously interrupt the process of learning moral and ethical standards.

5.) Are you being concise? We had friends at one time that had incredible difficulty with their children. They spanked, but before the spanking and after the spanking, there was a monologue on how the action was bad, who all it affected, why it should not be repeated, and how it was going to affect the child for the rest of his life. Notice the word "monologue." It's one thing to dialogue with your kids - that keeps interest and promotes meaningful understanding. It's something completely different to monologue.
       In our college education classes, the teachers and books told us that children between 2 and 8 have about a 30 second attention span. 30 SECONDS!!! If you don't change the inflection of your voice, solicit a response, or make some physical motion to keep/regain their attention, you'll lose them faster than you can sing the alphabet song.
       Be concise. Tell your child everything he needs to know in as few words as possible. It was wrong. Do it again, and there will be another spanking. I love you so much. The end.

BUT - what if I'm doing it all right, and it's still not working???!!! Stop. Try something else. But use the same principles. Be consistent, be communicative, and be concise.

I know how frustrating it is to raise a stubborn child - and my Mom tells me that I was pretty stubborn myself. Keep in mind that this child you are raising is an amazing creation of God. He or she has infinitely more going on physically/emotionally/spiritually/biochemically than you or I could even imagine. But as I'm finding out very quickly, they grow up so fast. Your child will learn more between the ages of 2 and 6 than he or she will the rest of his or her life. Capitalize on that, and instill Godly morality and biblical principles within now.

Oh yeah, and don't forget... to ENJOY him. They're so much fun. And most of the time they want nothing more than to spend a little time with you. So here's your chance. Get off the computer, and go play a silly game with him. That's what I'm about to do.


Grace and Peace,
Tony

Righteous vs Rebellious (Hosea 14:9)

What is the standard of truth? How do we know what is "right" and what is not "right?" Is "what is right" subjective to our circumstances? Is it subjective to our health? Is it subjective to our happiness?

For the Christian, these questions should be easily answered. The Bible is the standard of truth. What it says is true, and what it commands is good/imperative. God has chosen to reveal Himself to us through human authors who have recorded His divine revelation in the books of the Bible. Its truth is truth 100% of the time; there is never a time when God's truth is not truth. And there is never a time when His commands are mere suggestions. Some of us read things like this and say, "well, it's not important to think about all of this logic stuff... we just need to live right and love God." Jesus said "if you love me, you'll obey my commands," (John 14:15).

But do we really believe that? There's a difference between intellectual ascent (knowledge/belief) and active obedience (wisdom). James 2:19 says that even the demons believe in God... Christianity is about much more than belief - it's about surrender. "Surrender what?" Keep reading.

If we believe that God's word is truth, then what do we do with it when it reveals sin in our lives? For instance... what do you do when you come across a passage like James 3:10 (the tongue)? It tells us not to let filthy talk/cussing/curses come out of our mouths. So when we read that, what do we do with it? If it's truth, then it is to be obeyed. And it is impossible to "love Jesus" and not obey His commands.

"But Tony, sometimes it's just not that easy." I know - and I agree. Many times, being obedient to God's commands is just down-right hard... but that doesn't change the imperativeness of the command, or the degree of the truth. Let's take an excerpt from Jesus' sermon on the mount into consideration. In Matthew 5:28, Jesus tells us that if we look on someone with lust in our hearts, we've already committed adultery. So how many of us, when we lust after someone (who is not our spouse) repent, confessing the sin of adultery? That's what I thought. "But Tony, you can't be serious! Really??? Adultery?!" Yep - not my words. Jesus' own words.

Here's the big one... Same passage, but now verse 32. You know the one... no divorce except in the case of sexual unfaithfulness.

side note: ---------------------------

"But Tony, do you mean to tell me that I'm supposed to stay in this relationship even if it is making me miserable?" Matthew 5:32. "But Tony, what if she's spending all of our money and sending us into bankruptcy?" Matthew 5:32. "But Tony, he keeps telling me that going to church is a waste of time, and that God doesn't really love me." Matthew 5:32.

Now let me throw in a disclaimer here... Sometimes, it is necessary to set boundaries in relationships. Henry Cloud and John Townsend co-authored an excellent book entitled Boundaries in Marriage, which I recommend to any of you who is dealing with this concurrently. I don't want to take the space to explain the concept here - if you are experiencing a great challenge in marriage, I suggest reading it. I'll let you borrow my copy if you'd like.

HOWEVER - divorce is not the answer. In fact, even in the case of sexual unfaithfulness in marriage, I don't think divorce is the best answer. God is the God of restoration, forgiveness, and reconciliation, and He CAN restore your relationship. I've seen it many times. 


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Back to the point - - - 


Why, then, are some Christians okay with divorcing their spouse because they "just aren't happy anymore," they "feel like he doesn't care about me like he used to," or, "I just don't love him anymore?" This is where the -surrender- part comes in. "Surrender what?" you ask... Surrender your desires to His commandments. 


"Why are you harping about marriage, Tony?" Because I believe that Satan is on a ravenous binge, seeking whomever he may be able to devour (1 Peter 5:8). I think he's playing on our American-culture's obsession with our own happiness, and using it to destroy family after family, and Christian influence after Christian influence. Marriage is under attack - and I don't mean just legally, or philosophically. I mean spiritually. Satan is attacking our families, and it breaks my heart to see marriages - especially Christian marriages - fall apart because of our Western-world claim to happiness above all else, even above God's truth.  


I know, I know... this seems so barbarian. "Surrender my desires?" "Doesn't God WANT me to be happy?" Sure - but, as I've written in other posts - more than wanting you to be happy, He wants you to be holy. And why? Why doesn't God just want you to do your own thing and pursue your own happiness above all else? Because He knows that your happiness will result when you are pursuing His holiness. 

"How happy are those whose way is blameless, who live according to the law of the Lord! Happy are those who keep His decrees and seek Him with all their heart." - Ps. 119:1-2

God knows that true happiness doesn't come from indulging ourselves in our own desires. He knows that true happiness comes from delighting ourselves in Him. Does He want you to be happy? Oh yes... but He wants you to be REALLY happy... and He knows that can only happen when you surrender your own ways, stop explaining away His truth, and become obedient to His commands.

"For the ways of the Lord are right, and the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them." - Hosea 14:9.

What are you? - - - righteous, or rebellious?

Grace and Peace,
Tony