Light-work

The Next Big Thing? Pt. 3

Please humor me. "The rapture" has so many different notions attached to it - it will help you to process the information below if you jettison the term for the time being. (You may have it back, once we invest it with biblically informed content.) I would like to start with a clean slate. So let's pretend we know nothing about whatever is being described in 1 Thess. 4:13-18. We will call this event "1-T-4" and begin to gather clues about it.

1. 1st and 2nd Thessalonians are among the earliest New Testament epistles. They may predate most, if not all, of the books in the New Testament. So other epistles were not available to the original audience to serve as "interpretive keys" for "1-T-4." However, if a term or phrase is used repeatedly WITHIN 1st and 2nd Thessalonians to refer to "1-T-4," this will be very helpful in drawing a composite picture of the event.
2. "1-T-4" is called "the coming of the Lord" (1 Thess. 4:15). This phrase or a variant of it appears six times in these two epistles.
3. 2 Thess. 2:1 is important because it LINKS the "coming of the Lord" with "the day of the Lord," a phrase that also appears in 1st Thess. 5:2.
4. When we say the "coming of the Lord" is linked to the "day of the Lord," we are not saying these are synonyms, two terms that describe the same event.  Look at 2 Thess. 2:1-2, for example, where both terms are linked; it appears that the "day of the Lord" represents a period that cannot begin without the "coming of the Lord." Think of the "day of the Lord" as an extended span of time, and the "coming of the Lord" as a specific event that kicks it off.
5. We have hit the motherload. There are eight passages connected to "1-T-4" within the Thessalonian Epistles. We should be able to draw a compelling composite drawing of "1-T-4."

Here for handy reference are these eight passages. We will gather more clues in Part 4 - but for now, start with a clean slate, look at all eight passages, and tell me what you see, Grasshopper!

1. For who is our hope or joy or crown of exultation? Is it not even you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming? (1 Thess. 2:19).
2. So that He may establish your hearts without blame in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints (1 Thess 3:13).
3. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep (1 Thess 4:15).
4. For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night (1 Thess. 5:2).
5. Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Thess. 5:23).
6. Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him that you not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come (2 Thess. 2:1-2).
7. Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming (2 Thess. 2:8).

Perspective

Last night I watched In the Shadow of the Moon. Yes, I like documentaries and have always been fascinated by the challenge to "put a man on the moon." But, from my perspective, this Ron Howard masterpiece is a "must see" for everyone, not just Apollo junkies. It's not about the hardware. As the process is recounted, it is graced with the comments and reflections of the men who went to the moon.

These men had the rare opportunity to look at earth from another celestial body. They saw our world from a truly unique perspective. Their reflections on what it was like help us see life differently. Check it out - you will gain some great perspective on God and the world He has given us.

The Next Big Thing? Pt. 2

How much is a ticket to the Superbowl worth? That depends ALOT on whether it is a ticket to a past or future event. If it is an unused ticket to Superbowl XLII, it may have some collector's value - I see a stub on ebay with a current bid of about $40. But it won't gain you entrance to anything. A ticket to Superbowl XLIII is worth far more because it will grant you entrance to the next ultimate football spectacular on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2009 - the current price range is between $2,600 and $12,935. 

The believers in Thessalonia were wondering what kind of ticket they were holding. Paul had declared, "Jesus is coming back," and that everyone "in Jesus" has a ticket with his name on it. But as the big day was delayed, some "in Jesus" died. The Thessalonians wondered, "Have these ticket holders missed out? Is the 'coming of the Lord' only going to be attended by those who live long enough (or are born late enough)? Or have we missed out, the main event has already happened, and we're just holding onto memorabilia instead of a living hope?"

Paul responded to these burning questions by writing the following: But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words (1 Thess. 4:13-18). Paul is making a rather bold claim: Just because a man has died doesn't mean he will miss anything. (This is SOME TICKET!) In fact, NOBODY, alive OR dead, will miss anything.

There's not a lot of controversy about what I've said so far. But now it's time to jump off the deep end and try to keep our heads above water. Here's how we will approach the issues. FIRST, we will gather clues from 1 Thessalonians about the event Paul is describing. THEN, let's ask and answer this question: Is this a description of something hitherto unknown or is it supplementary information about something described elsewhere in the Bible? NEXT, we will try to pinpoint where this event fits with other future events in the Bible. FINALLY, I will propose a solution to these questions which attempts to boldly declare what the Bible expressly says and refuses to "fill in the gaps" where the Bible is silent.

By the way, there may be a few posts on other issues sprinkled throughout this series. But each post titled, "The Next Big Thing," is intended to move us through the process I have outlined in the paragraph above. If you are still on board with me by the time we reach the end, how you live WILL BE DIFFERENT. Don't say I didn't warn you!

The Next Big Thing? Pt. 1

In the late sixties, I was scanning the shelves of Dightman's Bible Book Store when I came across Clarence Larkin's book, Dispensational Truth. Originally published in 1918, it is the quintessential prophecy chart book from the heyday of the Scofield Reference Bible. Who wouldn't get excited about having such a detailed prophetic road map? It's like a great directory of time with a red "you are here" arrow to help you anticipate "what's next."

Mr. Larkin was both a Bible student and draftsman, and his chart filled opus has all the tidiness of an architect's blueprint: There is a place for everything and everything is in its place. The example to the left is just half of one of the 90 charts in his book! The prophetic framework popularized by Scofield and charted by Larkin informs the "Left Behind" series that has sold 65 million copies! In this framework, "the next big thing" is the rapture, an event in which believers will meet Jesus "off planet" while those who are left behind go through seven years of tribulation.

The key associated passage seems straight-forward: For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord (1 Thess. 4:16-17). At some point in time, believers will be united with Jesus among the clouds, never to be separated from Him again. I believe that this passage is descriptive of something we CAN look forward to. But when? Now that's a great question! Warning: Please do not read subsequent posts on this topic unless you are willing to have your presuppositions challenged and your charts messed up.

Knowing People Who Count

In a previous post, I talked about the American Idol Effect (the AI Effect) by which contestants disconnect fame from greatness. They long to be well known, even if it means they are not well thought of. (At the start of a new season of American Idol, we wonder if people will finally get this. Nope. I loved Ryan's line - "the auditions never seem to disappoint.") But, I also think there is something profound going on.

The need to be known is a basic human need. It is precisely this need which is addressed here: But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how is it that you turn back again to the weak and worthless elemental things, to which you desire to be enslaved all over again? (Gal. 4:9). If anyone supposes that he knows anything, he has not yet known as he ought to know; but if anyone loves God, he is known by Him (1 Cor. 8:2-33). The search for fame is a poor substitute for finding true significance, the significance of being known by the One who matters, our heavenly Father. If you love God, you are NOT a nobody! Don't let anyone, including presidents and celebrities, tell you otherwise.

The First Angry Man

...For Cain and for his offering [God] had no regard. So Cain became very angry and his countenance fell. Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it” (Gen. 4:5-7).

These verses recount what happened BEFORE Cain killed his brother, Abel. Cain had prepared an offering for the Lord. The details are somewhat sketchy, but based upon God's response, we can be sure that Cain's offering deviated from what God desired. Perhaps, when God covered the nakedness of Adam and Eve using animal skins, He made it clear that innocent blood must figure into a man's offering. Perhaps, Cain's offering deviated by putting emphasis on himself and what he could produce. Regardless of the reasons that lay behind God's response, Abel's offering was accepted; Cain's was rejected. And this made Cain mad.

For anyone who wants to conquer anger, there are two key lessons in this passage. First, it tells us something about WHY men get mad. Cain is angry because God has not honored HIS plan. Cain had already worked out in his mind how things would go. He had prepared an awesome offering of fruits and vegetables; God was supposed to say, "Wow! Thanks, Cain. You're swell!" But God didn't come through with high fives - He showed complete disinterest.

Cain's face clouded with disappointment. God responded, "If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up?" God is intimating that Cain has not done what is right, and this is the source of his problem. Like Sinatra, Cain "did it my way" but wants God to respond as if he did it GOD'S way. Cain is angry for the same reason men get angry today: We want to do things our way AND want God to bless us for it.

When you get angry, ask yourself these two questions:  Have I done something wrong? Am I mad because I am reaping the consequences of my poor choices? If the answer to both questions is "yes," there is a simple solution. Change course and do what is right! Your anger will evaporate.

When God warned Cain, "sin is crouching at the door," He was alerting Cain to the fact that his rage had increased his vulnerability to sin. An angry man can do something he would never otherwise think of doing. Cain's anger made him an easier target for sin's impulses.

Knowing this ought to give us a healthy fear of becoming angry. Like drunkenness, so anger can distort our vision and weaken our resistance against sin. Look what happened to Cain! His brooding anger made him a sitting duck when the impulse to kill his brother asserted itself. When you are angry, sinful words and deeds which would otherwise make no sense at all will seem perfectly reasonable. Don't give sin such an advantage. Lay off the anger to get things into their proper perspective!

Internet Based Bai-Bai

For the last thirty years, we have supported R & S. R is a fellow Talbot Alum; he and his wife, S, live in Taiwan and minister in another big country. In their last prayer letter, R summarized a recent television commercial airing in “Central City.” To understand the “product,” he gave some background on the practice of bai-bai (pronounced “bye-bye”):

When people go to a brick and mortar temple in Taiwan, their prayer ritual goes through several steps:

• As they hold their incense sticks, [worshipers] pray to their favorite deity, sitting there carved and silent.
• Then, they can step closer to the altar and pick up several kidney-shaped blocks. These are thrown down on the ground and, depending upon the way they land, the answer is either yes or no.
• Lastly, there is a large cup with carved, long sticks in it. These are loosely held and shaken until one stick appears to stand out from the others.
• The stick is picked out and it has a number carved or printed on it which corresponds to fortunes that are available off to the side in a cupboard in dozens of numbered pigeonholes.
• Once the fortune is given and the desired answer is secured, the “worshiper” then goes home happy with the answer, satisfied their religious duty has been performed and life is going to work out after all.

Here is what R saw in the commercial. A mother and daughter are admiring the latest cell phone. Phones are not the featured product, but an internet service for your cell, a “virtual temple worship service for every occasion.” Here’s R’s summary of the benefits of using this internet based bai-bai .

• No need to hack your way through traffic! And why pay the fees to buy the incense and other paraphernalia at the temple to do your worship? You already have it right here at your fingertips.
• Just hit a couple of buttons on your phone and bingo - there’s the incense!
• Hit another, and boom! You’ve thrown the blocks. Yes or no? If you don’t like the answer, try again!
• Push another sequence of buttons, and behold! There’s your fortune for the week.

I couldn’t agree more with R’s summary: Hi-tech meets the world of smoke and shadows! Now people can be spiritually misled through the virtual world at their fingertips, too. Satan is a master of disguise and now he’s in the middle of our 21st century gadgetry, ready to snare whoever is looking for his form of “guidance,” whether in person or through the web. Not much different from some of our own websites, is it?

Thank God, He leads our feet on level ground and on paths of righteousness for His sake - no need for special software! Just plug into His Word on a daily basis, and we receive all the guidance we need.

Amen, Brother! Preach it!

Do You Agree with Your Pastor?

Here is a video clip from Fox News in which Obama sought to move national attention away from the constant loop of sermon footage of his pastor. Click on this link for the related story from Fox. Can you ever remember a time when more people were watching and talking about a local pastor and the content of his sermons? Wouldn't you know the sermons everybody is talking about are being talked about for all the wrong reasons. What might life in America be like if sermons that well represented Jesus were creating this kind of buzz? Wishful thinking!

Obama is taking the following approach: "He's my friend. I don't agree with him but I support him as my friend." It is healthy for a friendship to thrive despite disagreements. I imagine that this will actually play well with the demographic he is courting, a demographic that believes relationships trump truth. Of course, I can't help but remember the statement from Proverbs, "Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but deceitful are the kisses of an enemy" (Prov. 27:6). A friend is willing to wound you when you step over the line. He loves you too much to just say what you want to hear. He loves you enough to say the hard things. I wonder if Obama has given out any "faithful wounds" to his friend, Rev. Jeremiah Wright Jr.?

I am the pastor of a community church, so it is easy for me to personalize these events. Every Sunday, I strive to communicate clearly and fairly what the Bible teaches. Despite my attempts to get it right, I am sure there are sermons in which my words fall short of doing justice to God's Word. But let's say we are not talking about nuance, depth, and effectiveness. Suppose I really blew it by consciously, persistently, and passionately stating something that was squarely at odds with what the Bible clearly teaches. Let's also assume that friends and fellow leaders appealed to me to return to the truth and were repeatedly rebuffed by me. Would people decide to continue attending the church and simply "agree-to-disagree?" I doubt it. If I blew it like this, wouldn't my flock promptly and surely vote with their feet. Wouldn't they be right to do so? Wouldn't a failure to do so raise questions about their own spiritual health?

Obnoxious Christians - Pt. 2 of 2

Some state, "There is only one way to be saved, through a personal relationship with Jesus as one's Savior and Lord." Others declare, "There are many ways to be saved." Who's right?

Remember the politician who beamed, "Some of my friends are for it, and some of my friends are against it - I'm for my friends." Is it possible to take a cue from him and embrace both statements? Yes, except for the stubborn phrase, "only one." If you exchange "only one" in the first statement with something less exclusive, then both statements can become friends. It would yield this composite: "There are many ways to be saved. One way is to be saved through a personal relationship with Jesus as one's Savior." Break out the candles and start singing Kumbaya! Stated this way, the Jesus people can do their thing while everyone else discovers what works for them.

Once we insert the phrase "only one," however, these two statements become hopelessly irreconcilable. Both of them claim to be the truth, but only one can have the title. If Jesus is the "only way," then there CANNOT be many ways. So, is insertion of the "only one" clause necessary? Jesus declares, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me" (John 14:6). This passage seems to clearly demonstrate that the inclusion of the "only one" clause is Jesus' idea. There are some who say that this key passage is being misapplied. We have been around this block before, so let me just direct you to one of our exclusive "pretty good downloads," an analaysis of John 14:6. Sift through the evidence, and you can be sure of this: Christians believe that Jesus is the only way to salvation because Jesus taught it.

Remember the principle I asked you to tuck away last week? We have a moral obligation to communicate with others what we know about the good and the bad of choices that are theirs to make. If Jesus is the only way, then men who turn to any other way are in grave peril. And, the imperative to "love your neighbor as yourself" requires us to make their peril known. Why not take our approach to publishing truth about temporal issues and adapt it for use in matters of eternal importance. Remember the process we described last week? Here's an adaptation to the Gospel: A sense of moral obligation should drive us to share this information with a circle of friends, acquaintances, and contacts; anyone who could benefit from this knowledge. How could we face them in the future if we withheld what we know? We need not cajole or pressure anyone to respond; we should give them the information and sources to examine the issues for themselves; we ought to encourage them to take our appeal seriously; we must answer their questions with patience and grace.

There are two trends afoot that I think are at cross purposes to this approach. On the one hand, I will admit with shame and sadness that there are those who claim to be Christians but whose speech and behavior detracts rather than adds to our credibility among those who need to hear our message. We deserve some of the invective we are receiving from our culture. We do Jesus no service when we give people reasons to dismiss our message.

But we should not kid ourselves. People are going to find reasons to dismiss our message, simply because the "only one" clause puts us in a position where someone is right and someone else is wrong. So here is my second concern: Some believers are responding to the criticism by losing their voice. They are tempted to downplay the "only one" clause, or even concede this point to the culture of "many ways" in order to get off the hot seat. There is no way to reconcile our "only one" view with the modern mind of "many ways." We cannot pretend that there would be no conflict if we "just understood one another."

So, on the one hand, let's give our culture every reason to listen to our message. Our truth-claims exclude competing claims - Let's not use any confidence in our position as an excuse to be arrogant and dismissive. But, let's ALSO not fool ourselves into thinking it is possible to be popular with the "many ways" crowd without compromising our essential message. Stay the course between the twin perils of arrogance and silence: Don't be obnoxious, but speak up!

Obnoxious Christians, Pt. 1 of 2

There is plenty of disdain out there for the "bigoted Christian." TG at the Drudge Forum finds herself shocked that "Christian bigots, sometimes referred to as Christian Fundamentalists, will flat out tell you that if you do not believe as they do, that you are going to suffer damnation in an eternal and torturous hell." She sees a "thought template" here that is indistinguishable from that of "Muslim Radical Theology" that is "killing hundreds of thousands all over the world."

Her perspective deserves some analysis for the fact that she is not alone. A rising tide of invective threatens anyone who dares to believe that salvation is found in Jesus alone. I am confident that if you are sharing the Gospel with any frequency, you have reaped such a "how dare you" response. So let's use her comments as the basis for some analysis of the trend.

First, let's examine the definition of "bigotry" that TG us using. According to the Random House Webster's College Dictionary, "bigotry" is "extreme intolerance of a . . .  belief that differs from one's own." Note that there are two components to this definition. There is "extreme intolerance." And there is a "belief that differs from one's one." Based on this definition, there are two tests that must be passed before the term "bigot" is appropriately assigned. First, there is the belief test. Person A (the possible bigot) has beliefs that differ from those of Person B (the possible target of the bigotry). Second, Person A demonstrates intolerance that rises to the level of being "extreme" toward person B. Even though person A may have a fundamental disagreement with person B, by itself, this does not constitute bigotry in the absence of "extreme intolerance." Both components, different beliefs AND extreme intolerance, must be present before the term "bigot" is appropriate.

In TG's world, she defines bigotry using a modified definition; when Christians "flat out tell you" what they believe, they earn the label. Here is a mystery to solve - How have they met both conditions necessary to earn the label? Clearly, the Random House first condition for bigotry has been met. There is a difference of opinion between TG and the "Christian bigot." But where's the "extreme intolerance?" Here's my best shot at an answer. When the Christian bigot "flat out tells you" his view, he has, in TG's mind, gone to extremes and met condition #2. For person A to merely COMMUNICATE his view to person B is "extreme intolerance."

I wonder if this sword cuts both ways? Isn't TG, whose opinion differs from the alleged Christian bigot, "flat out" communicating her opinion, too? What makes the Christian's self-expression bigotry and not hers?

Golden Heights and Good Choices

This week, the price of gold touched the psychologically significant number of $1,000 per troy ounce. Gold has been making records over the last few months, so I thought you might appreciate a view of the bigger picture. Here is a marvelous chart and article prepared by BBC news titled "30 Years of Gold Highs and Lows."  It traces the rise and fall of the price of gold from $35 per ounce in August, 1971, to the heady heights of the present. Annotations are included that pinpoint key events affecting the price of gold. Nice overview!

In January of 1980, gold hit a record of $850 per ounce, a record that was unbroken until January of this year. Just to keep things in perspective, there has been significant inflation since 1980. Depending on the metrics you use, 850 "1980 dollars" would equal over 2000 "2008 dollars." So while it is true that gold is in uncharted territory in "nominal" terms, it still has a long way to go to set any REAL records. The dollar is coming under increasing suspicion as the reserve currency of choice. There is nothing categorically different between Federal Reserve Notes and other modern currencies (which all have no intrinsic worth), so these other currencies are unfit to serve as reserve alternatives. Under these circumstances, is it possible for the price of gold to make real records in the years ahead? Wouldn't you be pleased to have bought some gold about 8 years ago when it was selling for about $250 per ounce?

About five years ago, I became convinced that silver (which was selling for about $4.50 an ounce at the time) would make a dramatic upward advance in the coming years. A sense of moral obligation drove me to share this information with a circle of friends who had the means to benefit from this knowledge. How could I face them in the future if I withheld what I knew? I did not cajole or pressure anyone to respond; I gave them the information and sources to examine the issues for themselves; I encouraged them to take my appeal seriously; I answered those who had questions. Interestingly, I know of only one person who acted on this information. Because silver has moved above $20 per ounce, he is happy with his decision; it has proven to be a good one.

I am not saying "I told you so." I am not advocating we pursue some get-rich scheme. I am definitely not giving you investment counsel. I simply want you to hang on to something that is illustrated above. Next week, I will post two articles on "Obnoxious Christians." Please bring to those posts a knowledge of a KEY principle: Men are free to make their own choices, but not all choices are created equal. Some are bad choices, some are good. Especially when we are dealing with choices of the utmost importance, we have a moral obligation to communicate with others what we know about the good and the bad of choices that are theirs to make.

Does God Evolve?

ET writes: I was having a discussion with a friend, and he was attempting to argue for evolution, saying that God used evolution to shape us in His image. I told him that evolution, by definition, is a never-ending improvement and change. So if God used evolution to shape us in His image, that means that He is changing too, which should be impossible since He is perfect. My friend then quoted Scripture saying, "So the LORD changed His mind about the harm which He said He would do to His people" (Exodus 32:14). I was wondering if you wouldn't mind clearing things up for me.

Great question, ET! Let's answer it in two parts. First off, let's deal with the question of the possibility of God "evolving." A passage like James 1:17 describes God as "the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow." The moon's light waxes and wanes, the light from the sun varies based upon cloud cover, seasons, latitude, and time of day. But our Father is the SOURCE of all light and His light does not vary. He is the one true constant. This is a way of saying that God does not change in who He is. His character is not subject to development or improvement. God will never become more loving, more holy, more just, more powerful, or more wise.

So what do we do with a verse like Ex. 32:14? I find it helpful to recognize that there is a difference between WHO GOD IS AND WHAT HE DOES. Who God is will never change. But what He does can change. In the case of Exodus 32:14, it is a marvelous testimony to the power of prayer. Moses interceded for Israel, and God altered His plans accordingly. God's CHARACTER did not change. But because Moses pled for the welfare of Israel, God decided to TAKE A DIFFERENT COURSE OF ACTION. By the way, note how Moses' prayer was informed by a knowledge of and appeal to God's character. Moses declares, "Show yourself as the God of goodness and covenant faithfulness." God's character did not evolve or improve in this passage. But what God did was affected by humble and earnest prayer grounded in bold knowledge of who God is.

Part two: I am not sure I would use the line of argument you outlined with your friend. I think your approach has merit, but it's power as proof is compromised by what happened in the Fall. When Adam sinned, the image of God in man became effaced or distorted. Man is still "created in God's image." But as through a lens that is fogged up, it is now harder to see something of what God is like by looking at man.  Redemption is about unfogging the lens. I would not say that man is "evolving." But I would say that men who are redeemed are being transformed. Someday, we will see Jesus face to face, and in that moment become perfect lenses through which to see the image of God.

Because your friend might not see the difference between "evolution" and "transformation in Christ," here's a thought that might suggest a new tack to your conversation. Evolution is theorized to be the engine of improvement driven by chance. Transformation in Christ is the engine of improvement propelled by God's grace. Ask him, "What are the pro's and con's of each approach?" God offers any man the sure hope of becoming a new man in Christ. Your friend does not have to wait millions of years. He does not have to leave things to chance. He can take God up on His amazing offer, RIGHT NOW! Show him the evidence: God's offer is worth believing and receiving. Now that would be an interesting conversation!

The Peaceful Religion

After September 11, President Bush declared that Islam is a religion of peace. Is this a fair assessment? Over the last several years, I have read a number of books in search of an answer. Three are now on my "essential reading" list. Each book fills in a different gap, so you need to read all three. Understanding the Koran, by Mateen Elass, is a great primer for Christians who want to become familiar with what the Koran teaches. The Koran and the Bible agree on some significant points; and they differ in some drastic ways. If you don't know which is which, get this book. Dr. Elass was raised in Saudi Arabia and holds degrees from Stanford University, Fuller Theological Seminary, and a Ph.D. from the University of Durham in England. Because the book has both a subject and Koran index, it is also a very helpful reference tool.

Read Understanding the Koran first, then follow it up with Islam in Context by Peter G. Riddell and Peter Cotterell. Our current struggle with Islam centers on how it interacts with the non-Muslim world. So how have Muslims engaged with non-Muslim culture in their past. Islam in Context is fascinating and illuminating with its answers to these questions: When did Islam begin, what were the circumstances from which it was born, how did it expand, and what corresponding challenges and influences did it face?  Dr. Riddell (Ph.D., Australian National University) is director of the Centre for Islamic Studies and Muslim-Christian Relations at London Bible College. Dr. Cotterell (Ph.D., London University) is a lecturer at the Centre for Islamic Studies. This is one of those books that I couldn't stop reading; with each page I found myself saying, "I never knew this!"

The third volume needed to round out your study is Understanding the Arab-Israeli Conflict by Michael Rydelnik. Why does "peace in the Middle East" seem so illusive? Why is peace that important? Much of what you hear through public news sources is incomplete or distorted. This book is the best I have found to explain what is really going on. Prepare to be shocked! The author is a professor of Jewish Studies at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago.

If you have any Muslim friends, your ability to have conversations about spiritual things will be severely hobbled without the information in these three volumes. If you are a home-schooling parent of high school age students, maybe you could do a history unit on the Middle East and read these three books. As Islam exercises an increasing influence on world affairs, your children need to understand what they will be dealing with.

Obama-anity

I don't know how the Hillary-Obama mud-wrasslin' bout will end. But I am struck by two distinguishing differences in their campaigns. One is the generational contrast between them. Hillary is the boomer candidate. But look at the crowds at Obama events and you will be struck by a decidedly younger, hipper demographic. Obama is the first shot across the bow from a generation that is hungry to seize power. Enough domination from the baby boomer fat cats!

Then there is the religious fervor of Obama's zealots. Does it sometimes sound like he is being described in messianic terms? Check out the website, "Is Obama the Messiah?"  The video clip above gives you a taste of the mania. You can order T-shirts here that boldly declare Obama to be the Messiah, '08. This is not a joke!

Mankind is hungry for a man, a messiah, who will bring "change we can believe in." There will come a day when way more than mud-wrasslin will be involved, a day when Satan's and God's candidates for the position will go head to head. Most people will be cheering for Satan's man because he "thinks like us" and makes promises that are believable ("change we can believe in"). No one will be asking whether the promises are valid. The mere fact that men CAN believe them will be deemed sufficient. In the end, the antichrist's believable proposals will prove to be "change we will die for." Jesus offers "change for the better" and that's the kind of change I believe in!

At The Ready

I listened to "Amanda" (not her real name) as she shared how she came to Christ. Her heart was aching and ready, but she needed truth. On the shuttle to work, she dropped her ID between the seats. She reached into the dark crevice to retrieve it. When Amanda pulled it from where it had fallen, a gospel tract was also in her hand. It told her just what she needed to know and Amanda found her Savior.On the back of the tract was the name of a church in another state, a pastor, and a phone number. She immediately called the number and was surprised to hear the pastor answer her call. He affirmed her in her decision, encouraged her in her new life in Christ, and prayed with her.

This is why I love gospel tracts  - think of them as "timed release truth capsules." When I am talking to someone about the Gospel, he may not be ready to respond right then. But, give him a tract, and God can make it show up "right on time." This tract is one of my favorites. It is available from the American Tract Society and gives a simple, clear and complete presentation of the Gospel. You can order packs of 20 for $2.50 at their site. Whether you like this one or not, find a tract you do like and keep a supply with you. You will be surprised at the ways God can work through you when you dispense "timed release truth capsules."

Inflation 102

Uncle Sam has a problem. Because of the amount of debt he is carrying and the expense of promises he has made, he needs some serious cash. Normally, he could just levy taxes to refill his coffers, but he needs 70 trillion dollars. It would take almost $600,000 from every household in America to yield that kind of revenue. The money just isn't there. So what's to do?

Let's examine the benefits of inflation for those in debt. I am not advocating debt, I just want you to understand how Uncle Sam's indebtedness and inflation are linked. This is a very simple example; many relevant but secondary factors have been removed. This is also somewhat out-of-touch with reality; no way Mark would make a loan to Sam as described below. But this example can clearly make the point that inflation favors debtors.

Let's assume that in the year 2010, Mark, who has been very sensible with his finances, has no debt and has one million dollars in the bank. Let's also assume that Sam has nothing. Sam wants to buy a non-depreciating asset that will cost about a million dollars. He sees that Mark has the cash so he convinces Mark to give him a loan. Mark and Sam agree that Sam will repay the loan in full in 2020. (For our discussion, assume this is an interest free loan.)

Inflation ravages the dollar in the next ten years and it drops in value by 90%. In 2020, a dollar will only purchase what you could buy with a dime in 2010. But in 2020, Sam is as good as his word and pays back his loan by giving Mark one million dollars. Because of inflation, Mark's one million dollars (in 2020 bucks) only has the purchasing power of $100,000 (in 2010 dollars). Mark has just lost $900,000. Where did it go?

Remember that Sam used his one million dollars to purchase a non-depreciating asset in 2010. Because it has retained it's value, it is now worth ten million dollars in the inflated dollars used in 2020. He liquidates his asset and pays back Mark his one million dollars. He retains the other nine million, which has a purchasing power of $900,000 (in 2010 dollars). The bottom line? By borrowing from Mark and putting the money in a non-depreciating asset during a time of inflation, Sam transfered most of Mark's wealth to himself. Yes, you read that correctly. Pretty sneaky! Here is what you must take from this example: Inflation penalizes savers and rewards debtors. (If you would like an expanded presentation of this, click here.)

So how does this relate to Uncle Sam's indebtedness? Federal Reserve Notes are a fiat currency (there are no hard assets backing them - click here for more info). Because the US government can print as many dollars as it chooses, someone who owes trillions of dollars has the power to repay each dollar with a dime. Is there any doubt in your mind how this will play out? As the greatest debtor, uncle Sam has the greatest possible incentive to stoke the fires of inflation. Uncle Sam has both the motive and the means to devalue the dollar.

Yes, Uncle Sam's debt problem could be resolved by declaring bankruptcy - the equivalent of dissolving the government. Yes, Uncle Sam could solve his problem by coming clean with the nation and saying the days of entitlement are over. But isn't it much easier to simply "control" inflation by printing more dollars but "not too many at a time" in order to gradually but unrelentingly diminish the real value of what he owes.

We have already been trained to accept this process as normal. When I bought my first Toyota Corona fresh from the showroom, it cost $2,400 in 1969. Today, a Camry would cost about ten times that amount. It has taken almost forty years for the 90% devaluation (illustrated in our tale of Sam and Mark) to occur. The chart at left (from babylon today) tracks the expansion of the money supply from 1909 to 2006 and shows exactly why those Toyota prices have changed. The velocity of devaluation (which matches the pace of money creation) is increasing. Uncle Sam has the presses rolling. Are you ready? What does the Bible say about how to GET ready?

Inflation 101

In last month's economic post, we talked about what's in Fort Knox and explored the concept of money. This month, I want to discuss another MUCH MISUNDERSTOOD economic concept, inflation. Someone has access to your savings, retirement, and investment accounts and is quietly transferring your money to his pocket. Most people don't have a clue about it because they don't understand inflation.

First, let's get a handle on our national debt. Check out the National Debt Clock which reports a figure that exceeds nine trillion dollars. That's about $30,000 per citizen! By the way, "debt" and "deficit" are not the same. A deficit is a shortfall between income and expenses. For almost every year of its existence, the federal government has spent more than it has received. In those years, it has operated at a "deficit." The "national debt" is the net shortfall from these annual deficits (and a few surpluses) accumulated during the history of our republic.

So how can the US government function when it appears to be so seriously insolvent? How would you? You would try to find someone who is willing to loan you the money until you can "get your head above water." Our government has done precisely this. To make it easier to contemplate, think of this as a GIANT loan extended to Sam. Here is some helpful background on Sam's loan. There is interest involved. At a rate of 5%, the interest on Sam's loan would be about 450 billion dollars per year. So without ever paying off any principal, let alone getting "his head above water," Sam has to come up with 1.2 billion dollars EVERY DAY just to make interest payments.

Bad as this is, it's only part of Sam's sorry story. Imagine that Sam has said to several hundred million of his closest friends, "I will take care of you when you get old." If you will pay me some money NOW, I will take care of you LATER. There is a problem with Sam's generous offer. The contributions he gets from his friends don't cover the costs of what he has promised to do. He has created a major unfunded future liability. How big is Sam's liability?  According to one report, He has promised to provide SIXTY TRILLION DOLLARS worth of future benefits to his close friends.

Sam is in major trouble! He is deep in debt and he has made expensive promises to friends that he can't possibly keep. How do I know he can't keep them? Simple math! If Sam collected enough money to pay off his loan and fund the promises to his friends, he would have to receive over $500,000 from every household in America. Sam has the power to levy taxes, but there is not enough money in American households to cough up that kind of cash! (Most households are just as badly in debt as Sam!) No amount of taxation is capable of fixing Sam's problem.

So what are Sam's options? There are three: (1) Declare bankruptcy - for America this amounts to the collapse of the government. Not a happy thought. (2) Renege on promises - for Sam this would mean saying, "I know I promised you I would take care of you. But I don't have the money to do what I promised. Here's all I can do." For America, this option would mean a drastic dose of reality for a society addicted to entitlement. Not gonna happen! So what's the third possibility?

A Biblical Pep Talk

Is The Secret a suitable motivational resource for Christians? Isn't some "positive thinking" valuable for believers facing a challenge? If you are unfamiliar with The Secret, check out the previous two posts. The first examines its core philosophy; the second examines its view of God. Both examinations conclude that, at a fundamental level, The Secret and a biblically informed world-view are polar opposites. In which case, I would look elsewhere for material for my next motivational pep-talk.

There is a very different kind of "we can do it" speech in the Old Testament. Here's some background: The Philistines, Israel's enemy, had the upper hand. To maintain their dominance over Israel, the Philistines maintained a monopoly on blacksmith services. By controlling the manufacture and repair of all metal implements, they kept metal weaponry out of Israel's hands. (How would you like to fight an enemy who decided what weapons you could use against him?)

So when we come to 1 Sam. 14, Israel's army has a total of two iron swords, one for King Saul and one for his son, Jonathan. Jonathan decides one morning to go on a little scouting expedition (along with his armor-bearer). They spy out a Philistine garrison and Jonathan gives "the big speech:" Then Jonathan said to the young man who was carrying his armor, “Come and let us cross over to the garrison of these uncircumcised; perhaps the Lord will work for us, for the Lord is not restrained to save by many or by few” (1 Sam. 14:6).

Here's what I really like about Jonathan's pep-talk with his armor-bearer. He discerns what they CAN do and what they CAN'T. Jonathan knows that it is his choice about whether to use his sword to fight Philistines or not, and He looks to God for guidance about what choice to make. Jonathan also knows, however, that God will choose the outcome, and His choice will not be constrained by circumstances or numbers.

What happened next? God made it clear that Jonathan should use his sword to battle Philistines. About twenty men fell before his blade. Then God shook things up with an earth-quake. Confusion rippled through the Philistine camp, and everyone with a sword (no shortage of swords in the Philistine camp!) used it against a fellow Philistine. When the dust had settled, "the Lord delivered Israel that day" (1 Sam. 14:23).

Jonathan did not get confused about who does what. He didn't try to psych himself up. He didn't say, "If we just believe in ourselves, we can win." He was quite clear that victory did not depend on his ability to convince himself he had the right stuff. He deferred to and relied on God. Jonathan was bold in the knowledge that if God decides to work, then it doesn't matter who has more swords. It only matters who is following the Lord's direction.

Your ability to psych yourself up is not the key to success. Success is doing what God directs, regardless of how things look.