Archive for the ‘Theology’ Category

Click Restore

Posted: June 23, 2011 in Bible, Christ, Christianity, Theology
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My approach to teaching is basically “Keep It Simple, Stupid” (or “Silly” if “Stupid” offends your fragile sense of self-worth).

I like to make biblical concepts as simple as possible so people can easily wrap their minds around them. This isn’t hard for me since I, myself, am pretty simple-minded.

Last night, about 5 minutes before I was due to teach, I thought of this (see image below) as a way of illustrating God’s ultimate plan for the universe. In a nutshell, we’ve completely messed up God’s creation (through sin and its various effects on our world) and God is about to click “Restore” to return His creation back to its original condition (like it was before we screwed things up). All of the “viruses,  corrupt files, messed-up settings, and useless apps” are going to be deleted and God’s creation will once again be “very good” (see Gen 1:31 & Rev 21:1-5).

So if you think of restoration as the goal and Jesus as the Restore button, then all you have to do is choose to “click” Restore. When you choose Christ, God begins the restoration process in you – a process that will ultimately result in — not just a new you — but a new creation altogether.

It doesn’t get much simpler than that!

Erasing Hell

Posted: June 7, 2011 in Bible, Christianity, Theology
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This is outstanding.

I had to share it with you.

Is eternity worth 10-minutes of your time?

Then watch this.

Hosea (part 3: Repentance)

Posted: July 27, 2010 in Christianity, prophecy, Theology
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“It happens in the world that if a man shoots an arrow, it may travel one field’s length or more. But great is the power of repentance for it reaches unto the Throne of Glory, as it is written: ‘Turn, O Israel, unto the Lord your God’ (Hosea 14:1).” -Pesikta de Rab Kahana (Jewish homily fom the 1st or 2nd century A.D.)

About Hosea:

The rabbis regarded the prophet Hosea as the great exponent of repentance in the Old Testament. Particularly the opening verses of Ch. 14 attracted their attention; it was this section (Hos 14:2ff.) which provided the reading from the prophets for the Sabbath of repentance between Rosh Ha-Shanah (the New Year) and Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement). Here the rabbis found their full doctrine of repentance. Here, too, they found a Scriptural base for their view that prayer, confession, and repentance are God’s chosen substitutes for sacrifice and burnt-offering, a view that became central after the destruction of the Temple made sacrifice impossible.

Source: Lane, William L. The Gospel according to Mark. New International Commentary on the New Testament, v.2. Edited by F.F. Bruce (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1974), pg.593.

The Doctrine of Repentance:

  • Repentance only makes sense in light of the fact that God’s nature is to extend grace and mercy, even in situations where one would expect sheer judgment.
  • The necessary components of repentance are: (1) the confession of the sin; (2) an imploring of pardon with regret and remorse; and (3) the abandonment of sin.
  • When one of the above elements is lacking, the repentance is not true, but deceitful; if the person continues in this manner, eventually the possibility of a genuine repentance will be withdrawn.
  • The man who sins with the thought that he can always repent later, inevitably loses out.
  • A pattern of repeated sin, repentance and restoration is inadequate. (Note: The preaching of John the Baptist and Jesus belongs to the prophetic tradition in which there is a radical demand for a once-for-all commitment to God, a “turning” of one’s whole self to the fulfillment of His will.)

2012: The End of the World?

Posted: December 22, 2009 in Christ, prophecy, Theology
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Whenever there are apocalyptic expectations combined with specific dates for the Lord’s return, it’s never a good combination. Jesus told us very plainly that we will not know the day or the hour, but rather, we should be ready at all times (see Matt 24:36-44).

The latest apocalyptic craze is based on the Mayan calendar (pictured above) which “ends” on December 21, 2012. In actuality, the Mayan calendar is cyclical and is founded upon an impressive knowledge of astrological orbits. Thus, the Mayans predicted a new era at the end of the current astrological cycle — not the end of the world.

Sandra Noble, executive director of the Mesoamerican research organization FAMSI, notes that “for the ancient Maya, it was a huge celebration to make it to the end of a whole cycle.” She considers the portrayal of December 2012 as a doomsday or cosmic-shift event to be “a complete fabrication and a chance for a lot of people to cash in.” The 2009 science fiction apocalyptic disaster film 2012 is based on this belief.

I place the current 2012 predictions in the same category as the Y2K debacle, Nostradamus nonsense, and 88 Reasons Why The Rapture Will Be in 1988 foolishness.

Personally, I am entertained by these things and I’ll probably watch the movie — but I am not the least bit concerned about any doomsday scenario. In the words of the great theologians, R.E.M., “It’s the end of the world as we know it … and I feel fine!”

Keep these things in mind:

  1. The end of the world will definitely come — some day.
  2. Nobody knows when that day will be.
  3. Life will continue “as usual” until the day of Christ’s return.
  4. Followers of Christ have NOTHING TO FEAR.
  5. Live every day as if the return of Christ was imminent (um…because it is).
  6. The End is actually just the Beginning (Rev 21:1-7; Rev 22:1-5).
  7. In the meantime, relax … God has everything under control.
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