test 8/15/17

The Tuesday Group

A Study of The World’s Religions and Cults Compared to Biblical Christianity

An Introduction

“All religions are basically the same,” is one of the biggest lies Satan has ever promoted. There are significant differences between biblical Christianity and any other faith/belief system. My small group is out to prove it.

Why would a group of educated men feel the need to do such a thing? One reason is that they want to lead their families in a way to encourage true happiness and minimal pain. Another reason is they see the world unraveling before them as politicians, teachers, preachers and evil people confuse their children and grandchildren by promoting false doctrine, or no faith at all. These men care.

There are many non-biblical worldviews tugging at the hearts of young and old alike.

 

Naturalism tells us God does not exist; only physical matter does.  Related to this are secular humanism, evolutionism, and empiricism.

Pantheism, from the East, in the form of Hinduism and Buddhism has fed the New Age movement in the West. “All is one, one is all, and all is God,” describes pantheistic monism.

Polytheism tells us that there are many “gods, goddesses, and spirits that we must appease and please to have a reasonably good life.”

 

Lastly, we have the relativists. These folks pick and choose from naturalism, pantheism and polytheism specific elements of each to fit the mantra “whatever works for you.” Secular humanists, postmodernists, and new agers love relativism because they believe that there is no moral truth outside of what they think works for them. Thus, there is no value to biblical sin, unless it happens to match their vision, or worldview.

Everyone has a worldview. It describes what they think and who they are.

 

Sometimes, people who call themselves Christians really are not. Being a Christian is a personal matter between an individual and God. Only God and the individual know the truth about the relationship they share. No one can “make” you a Christian, or do it for you. Being a member and attending a church does not make you a Christian. I can stand in a garage and make noises like a car, but it doesn’t make me a car. Being a true Christian requires a personal transaction and relationship with God. You have to do business with Jesus Christ, putting your trust in Him as your Savior and Lord.

For the biblical Christian, it is only through this relationship that one can even see the kingdom. It might sound farfetched to the person who does not believe, but to those who have made the transaction and are born again, there is no more absolute truth than the existence of God, and the veracity of the Bible.

   

So, our little boat has set sail with a small but determined crew to find truth.  Our next stop will be determining significant facts about biblical Christianity. These facts will serve as a plumb line to which we will compare the other belief systems.  We will discuss the authority of scripture, how the canon was formed, and why Christendom is so splintered.

Our main resource will be So What’s the Difference by Fritz Ridenour.

Why Charlie Gave Up On God

Charlie’s father was a physician and considered quite an influential man. His three hundred and fifty pound stature made him an imposing figure. He liked to command the household.

Charlie’s mother died when he was but eight years of age. He loved his mother and grief overwhelmed the little boy.

Charlie loved the outdoors. He loved to hunt and was fascinated by nature.  But his father thought Charlie was becoming worthless in his nature pursuits. He wanted his son to be a doctor, like himself. So, Charlie reluctantly went to school to study medicine. He immediately realized that he did not have the stomach for surgery. He was too sensitive to watch people suffer. He quit school.

Charlie’s dad then told him to study theology, assuring him he didn’t really need to believe what was taught, and that he could have good status in society as a clergyman. Charlie obeyed again, but now he was in his early twenties and found partying, cards and girls a priority over studies. He fell in love with a beautiful girl. He finally did graduate, barely, with a theology degree.

 

At this point, Charlie was getting tired of trying to please his father. He wanted to pursue his love of the outdoors. After having a relative convince his dad it was okay for him to follow his dream, Charlie started living that dream of studying nature full time. This meant going overseas for a period of time. He was concerned about losing the girl he had fallen in love with, but she assured him that she would wait for his return so they could continue toward marriage. All of the stars seemed to have aligned for Charlie, and life was looking very good.

Not long after Charlie had been gone, he received a “Dear John” letter from his girlfriend. She had decided to marry someone else. He was crushed.

Charlie threw himself into his work and did fabulous research. It was the only thing that could take his mine off of the heartbreak. He returned home at the age of twenty-seven.

At the age of thirty, after careful analysis of the pros and cons of marriage, Charlie decided it was time for him to find a wife. He married a cousin who also came from a wealthy family. She was a Christian. Charlie had become doubtful in the validity of the Bible, and thus Christianity. He and his wife loved each other, but this difference caused tension in their relationship. Some thought that their faith conflict might have had an impact on Charlie’s health.

The two had many children. As is often the case, dad had a favorite. Her name was Anne Elizabeth. She and Charlie were inseparable. Their love for each other was immense, until Anne Elizabeth got sick and died at the age of ten. Charlie was crushed again. He became very angry with God, and at this point in his life totally rejected Christianity. In his grief, he again threw himself into his work. But this time, he could only focus on work for about three hours a day.

Charlie’s research took him further from Christianity. His health, mental and physical, suffered. When he heard of another researcher prepared to disclose findings nearly identical to his, he snapped out of the doldrums and completed his book describing his theory. After all, he wanted credit for the research to which he had dedicated his life.

 

At the age of fifty, Charles Darwin published The Origin of Species. It is not hard to understand why he took the perspective he chose. He had an overbearing, somewhat know-it-all bully of a dad whose approval he struggled to receive. His first love broke his heart. The men he travelled with during the years he did his research mocked his faith. His daughter, the apple of his eye, Anne Elizabeth, contracted an illness that killed her. He wondered if his weak constitution had contributed to her death. He felt guilty, and it fit part of the theory he was proposing to the world.

 

I wonder how Charles’s theory would have read if he had not lost his mother at the tender age of eight, if he had a more loving father, a successful first love relationship, less criticism from peers, and had he not lost his precious daughter to a cruel illness. Had he not abandoned his faith in anger, and had someone there to help him through his hardships, I wonder if he would have seen more of the beauty of creation, rather than the darkness of natural selection and survival of the fittest.

As for me, while I always admired nature, I never saw the full beauty of creation until God opened my eyes during a journey of personal hardship. I finally allowed God back into my life. When I called out, he answered me. My life was never again the same. My belief in creation became every bit as strong and logical as Charles Darwin’s belief in The Origin of Species.

"Love your neighbor as yourself." Jesus

Seven Portuguese men were seated around a makeshift table. Some were in the shade of a large weathered umbrella. All talked loudly as men do when on their own. I couldn’t understand a word they said.

As I approached with my cell phone in hand, the conversations stopped. All eyes were on me. There were no smiles. “Who is this guy and what does he want?” was written on every face.

“May I take your picture?” I asked.

Two of them grinned.

One man without a smile jumped up from his chair, reached for a bottle of red liquid and began to fill two plastic cups. The group of rugged men had curious looks on their faces as they sized up my new friend Bill and me.

All I wanted was a couple of pictures for my artist wife, Peggy, to paint. This group of hardened workers, enjoying a seafood feast in front of their boat, was quite a paintable scene.

We had interrupted this crew of commercial fishermen while they were eating their lunch of fresh fish, part of the day's catch. The man with no smile ordered one of the men to vacate the chair next to his. Orders were immediately followed.

Within seconds, two cups of the red liquid were placed on the table. "Sangria," the one still without a smile said as he pointed to the cups with one hand and the vacated chairs with the other. "Sit."

I shook his hand and looked him in the eye. He nodded, and almost smiled.

I didn’t understand the Portuguese the men spoke, but I did recognize the word “captain,” indicating the bossy one. Bill and I decided following orders was the right thing to do. 

Our backsides hadn't been in the chairs for thirty seconds before our captain placed two giant sardines on bread with olive oil in front of us. Everyone at the table was smiling. I felt a little lost not knowing their language, so I just smiled and pointed at my fish to let them know how good it tasted. One of the men then asked, "Do you speak English?"  

Oh no, I thought. "Yes.  This is very good!" I replied feeling a little foolish for assuming no one in the group would be able to understand us.

No sooner had we eaten half of our sandwiches, the captain produced two more. With hands that had never seen an easy day's work, he showed me how to peel the skin from my catch.  

It was evident the captain had molded this crew into a unit any NFL defensive coordinator would be proud to lead. All were good sports, sharing a meal with total strangers. But of one thing I am certain, I would rather not be on the bad side of any of them. Seamen have a look that marks them as survivors...of anything.

We finished our meal. Bill and I stood, and after the third time of thanking the captain for everything, he reluctantly granted us permission to exit.

So a valuable lesson learned, again. Never judge a book by its cover. These rugged gentlemen exhibited the hospitality the ambassador of any embassy would welcome.  

Another new friend asked me if I was sure they hadn't given me baitfish. I laughed, and for a split second had second thoughts. Then I realized how special today's encounter had been. Dining in the shadow of a commercial fishing vessel with the captain and crew had opened my eyes.

The experience this visitor in a foreign land enjoyed was first class all the way. Even if the fish had been baitfish on a bun, one thing was certain, and that is that total strangers really can get along when pretense is put aside.

Upon reflection, this Portuguese captain and crew allowed me to be part of what could have been a biblical story. I suspect the captain had weathered a life-threatening storm somewhere along the way that helped him understand who God is, and what loving your neighbor is all about, especially if the neighbor was a sojourner in a foreign land.    

1 Peter 4:9, Leviticus 19:34, Hebrews 13:2, Matthew 22:39, James 2:8

So who really are those people in the pews?

I was sitting in church last Sunday, when a thought crossed my mind. The people in the pews were quite a diverse group. I’m not talking about ethnic diversity, but spiritual diversity.

Remembering back to my pre-Christian days, I wondered if I would have recognized the diversity then.

 

Joined together on Sunday morning were Christians, fans of Christianity, “seekers” (people wanting to know about Christianity), and probably some atheists and/or agnostics there with friends. But to the casual observer, they would all look the same. Just a large building full of Christians.

 

That would be like saying all of the people inside the stadium walls on a fall Saturday afternoon would be on the football team. Pretty ridiculous, huh.

Let’s define who is really in the building. We will just be talking about the adults.

The fans of Christianity are like the football fans in the stadium stands. They might even be members of a congregation. Fans like what they think the “team” stands for. The social side of church is very important to this group. Fans usually go to church on Christmas, Easter, weddings and funerals. They generally feel awkward when someone mentions a personal relationship with God through His Son Jesus.  Any relationship can feel awkward at the beginning. Becoming a fan is often the first step someone takes toward becoming a Christian. 

Seekers are individuals who want to know more about this “relationship” with God and Jesus, so they are checking things out. They might also be members of a church congregation somewhere. This does not necessarily mean they are Christians. Their interest could be more than a fan’s. The great thing about seekers is that they are asking important questions about tenets of the faith.

Our third group is people who have recently developed a relationship with God by accepting Jesus as their savior. These folks are usually very excited about this new relationship and the new person they have become. All churches are not the same. But if new believers are in the right church, they will want to be at church and among Christian friends. Getting up Sunday morning is no longer a chore, but something to look forward to. Another key difference for the new Christian is that they want to know more about what the Bible says.

Our fourth group is the maturing Christians. These people have been Christians for a while and are engaged in Sunday school, Bible studies, small groups, Wednesday night activities and worship on Sundays. They are growing in their understanding of the faith.

Last but not least are the mature Christians. These people have studied the Bible for years, taught classes, been officers of the church, are usually prepared to pray out loud upon request, and are comfortable leading Bible studies. But above all, their faith is very strong, and ever growing. 

The last three groups I described are real Christians. But to the non-Christian, everyone in the building looks the same. So, if someone is going to evaluate the actions of Christians, they should focus on the ones who are new believers as described above (born again), the maturing, and mature followers of Christ. Sure, all will make mistakes, but they will go to God quickly, ask forgiveness, and be relieved of guilt as they change their behavior to avoid the mistake again.

What does this mean to the person questioning the validity of Christianity?

It means that they are experiencing the same thing nearly every other person in the building has experienced. I would venture to say even the most ardent follower of Jesus, at one point, questioned the whole concept of Christianity. There was a man named Paul who hated and persecuted Christians for a living. Once he was convinced Jesus was who He said He was, Paul became a new person, matured in the faith through study, and ended up being one of the strongest promoters of the new church of the first century. 

If it could happen to Paul, happiness and fulfillment could happen for anyone.

(John3: 1-15, Acts 9: 1-2; 26:12-18)

FC Larmore Today: Leadership…the right kind.

FC Larmore Today: Leadership…the right kind.: Inspired by a true story. There was a young soldier, an officer, who commanded a platoon in a combat zone. Dangerous missions were ...

Leadership…the right kind.

Inspired by a true story.

There was a young soldier, an officer, who commanded a platoon in a combat zone. Dangerous missions were run by several units every day in the zone. Many soldiers were wounded or killed completing these missions. Leadership often determined who would come home, and who would not.

There are two types of leaders in combat. Some send their troops into battle. Others lead their troops in. If you were a foot soldier, which leader would you respect most? Which do you think would generate the most loyalty? For which type would you most likely be willing to risk all? The answer should be obvious. Those who are willing to lead their troops into conflict will generate the most respect and create the most loyalty because they will risk their own safety when asking others to do the same.

 

Our young officer was this type of leader. He viewed his role not as a superior, but as being responsible for the success and safety of the men in his unit. If each man was successful, the mission would be successful, and the chance of all returning safely would be greater.

He cared about his men, not just himself. His men cared about him. When his tour was over, he came home in one piece, a hero.

 Our officer never considered those who reported to him subordinates. He considered their importance to the unit equal to his own. He chose to serve side by side with them. There was no selfish ambition. He did not lord his position over his platoon. He was a servant leader.

A decorated combat veteran put it best. “As a CO, when it comes to the day-to-day stuff, you act more as a shepherd to the guys, making sure they are okay.”

   

You don’t have to be a platoon leader in combat to be a servant leader.  You might have a tougher assignment like single parenting a teenager.  You might have an easier one like building a business.  But the principles are the same in each situation.

If you don’t have a servant leader as a boss, or you are not a servant leader, then perhaps something needs to change, especially if you want to lead like a Christian. Jesus was a servant leader. He was willing to pay the ultimate price for his followers. He served them. All Christians are called to follow his example.

Servant leaders are prepared to sacrifice themselves, serve others they are responsible for, and ask no one to do something for them that they wouldn’t be willing to do for the other person. They cannot lie without feeling extreme guilt. Lying destroys trust, and without trust, the ability to lead is lost.

So the bottom line is this, whether you are leading a family, a business, a team, or a non-profit, if you are looking for a leadership role model, why not consider Jesus. His style works. It is what authentic Christians do.

(Matthew 20:20-28, Mark 10:35-45, Luke 22, Philippians 2:1-11)