So without further ado, here are the rules that I propose for the journey:

1. The Bible is the infallible, inerrant and sufficient Word of God. It contains all the answers that we need to understand how we should live and what is expected of us.
2. Therefore, all points need to be made with reference to scripture, quoted in context.
3. We will seek the truth that Scripture teaches on these issues, and are prepared to conform our views to scripture where they differ.
4. All arguments must use sound logical principles.
5. When debating arguments, attack the argument and not the person.
6. Always take five minutes to think about each comment before responding.
7. Keep the discussion on topic. If a question arises, ask and we can cover it in a separate posting.
8. Keep responses short. This helps stay on topic and makes responding to points easier.

(Did I miss any obvious ones? Let me know and we will add them to the list)

This journey is intended to be a discussion and not a sermon. I know for a fact that I have far more questions than I do answers. I don’t expect to be have the right answer every time. Some posts will ask far more questions than they answer, and many of the answers will not be easy or obvious. I want you to participate in the discussion with me, to bring your understanding and arguments to the table. As I have said, this is a journey–I know where we are going, but how to get there and what the destination looks like are yet to be discovered. Are you excited? I certainly am.

So how did we get to this stage? What has changed in the western world that we have–in less than one hundred years–gone from holding the truth of the Bible as the standard for life to viewing it as a quaint relic of history? More importantly, how should we respond to the challenge against its morality?

This journey started for me about four months ago. For those who don’t know me I have been hosting a radio show called Worldview Edition for the past 18 months or so, and over the past six I have moved from joint hosting the show to being the main voice. As I my understanding of worldviews has grown, I have become more aware of the spiritual battle which is raging in the culture today. Three months ago I wrote an article which I was going to post here on the CGC website entitled “One Christian’s Thoughts on Gay Marriage.” However this post, despite its length, really didn’t get to the heart of the issue. I had so many other thoughts floating through my head that I needed to work through to really understand. And so this series will be the progression of this thinking. At this stage it is just a basic outline, which we will work through over however long we need.

So I invite you to join me on this journey. I don’t know where it will go, or specifically what we achieve. I expect that we will all be challenged in our thinking. My desire is that it becomes a starting point for a deeper understanding of how we are to live and act as Christians, and how we should respond to the challenges that the world throws our way. My intention is to post weekly, but I can’t promise that. Join in the discussion, either in the comments below, or on the CGC Facebook page.

What happens when you take two girls and pit them against an industry that’s typically testosterone driven? Armed with nothing but a drum, a keyboard and a handbag full of devastatingly, honest melodies… you get the beat-riddled brilliance of The Arrows!

OK, so this isn’t so much of a single album review, but a band review of their two albums to date. The Arrows are a South African duo whose style of music can only be described as vast. On their full length album Make Believe the styles range from piano and vocal solo, to modern pop with an electronica mix thrown in for good measure. There are upbeat praise songs, and slower worshipful melodies.

But the ultimate question is not what the music sounds like, but what is the theology behind the songs. And it is there, that these two ladies from Durban shine. Make believe starts with a C. S. Lewis-esque track No Robots which is sure to appeal to non-Calvinists. This is followed up with the completely politically incorrect Entropy which includes such cracking verses as

What the hell’s going on here?
We’re killing our babies before they’re born
We’ve become so convenient
Even life has to wait until it’s called
And it’s not enough to say “it’s human rights”
So what the hell’s going on here?
People are killing our friends for their cars and phones
And we’ve become so complacent
We just switch on our alarms when we’re not at home
Shrug it off and say
“Well this is Africa baby”

The latest single released by The Arrows is entitled All In and starts out with a common catch cry of churches these days, before rounding it off with a memorable line “I’ll be sitting on your promise like a stubborn mule”.

“Show me a sign!”
I scream I scream
“Then maybe I, then maybe I can believe”
How much convincing do I really need
After everything that’s already been

So how did I find out about this band? Welcome to the world of social media. Flying past my Facebook account one day was a link to one of their videos from YouTube. Normally I skip past posts like this as I see a number each day from old friends which I really don’t want to see. But my wife asked me for my opinion on it. So I listened. And we then proceeded to sample both albums from iTunes. What song was this? Another C.S. Lewis-esque piece, this time in the style of The Screwtape Letters. In The Words (of Satan) is a fascinating look at how Satan is busy deceiving us through his lies.

Warning: This video contains some graphic images. I wouldn’t suggest watching this with smaller children around, or while eating your dinner.

With our focus on evangelism within Cornerstone Gospel Church, I have to say that the song Next Time is one of my favourites. This song directly confronts our attitudes towards witnessing, and I can’t help but be convicted every time I hear the chorus kick in:

“These are people’s lives you’re playing with” He said
“Every time you get a little bit scared
You let another one slip through the net” He said
They need Me more than you need to be comfortable
I said stop listening to your head
Oh and Listen to Me
Your mind doesn’t understand the things that I see
Next time next time next time listen to Me
Because My voice should be louder than your reasoning, your reasoning
Those human things

So is everything peachy and rosy? No, as no person is perfect. There are a few lyrics that could be mis-interpreted. For example; In the Words (of Satan) contains a line “but I’m watching you and all of hell is with me too, helping me make my lies look true” which carries the implications that Satan is ruling in heaven; and Ode to a Patient God starts out “You sit and watch, the cars and planes hurry by. You wonder when they’ll arrive” which seems to indicate more of an Open Theism view of God. Don’t misunderstand me: I do not know (or believe) that they are teaching these as doctrines, and I haven’t attempted to clarify this with them either. My point is simply that we must listen to all music with an eye on the scripture so that we can be testing everything that is said.

Additionally, on their website they have provided links to what appear to be good ministries who are providing support and training for people within Africa. However they list these under a heading of “justice” which gives the connotation of a (albeit common) misuse of the term justice for helping people in need. Picky I know, however I am a stickler for details.

Overall, I would highly recommend both Make Believe and The Arrows for your listening enjoyment and Edification. Both albums can be purchased online from either iTunes or Amazon. They also have a website, a blog, facebook, a YouTube channel and twitter.

Maiden Victorian Parliamentary Speech 8 February 2011 ASSEMBLY Mr Geoff Shaw - Liberal Party, Frankston

Mr SHAW – At the outset I would like to thank my family. For too long over this campaign my family has not been first in my life.

I want to thank my wife, Sally, for being here tonight and thank my four kids, Nathan, Ebony, Daniel and Aaron, who are wherever the internet is. I will give them a wave on camera. I thank you guys for who you are. I love you lots and adore you. Thanks heaps.

In taking my place in the Legislative Assembly it is appropriate for me to acknowledge the original owner of the land on which we stand – God, the Creator, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of the Bible. What a blessing that the Creator has given us stewardship of this place, and what a responsibility we have to govern here in Victoria and govern well. Of course there are a number of references acknowledging God in Parliament. Parliament opens with the words of Jesus in the Lord’s Prayer and many take an oath, raising the Bible in their right hand. In 1900 the men who composed the Australian constitution wrote in the preamble: … humbly relying on the blessing of Almighty God …

Former Prime Minister John Howard said he would never shrink from the belief that Australia has been moulded on the Judaeo-Christian ethic and that this is an asset worth preserving. The acknowledgement of God was also clearly seen when this building was constructed over 150 years ago. In the tiles on the floor of the vestibule are the words from the Book of Proverbs 11:14, which states: Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety. King Solomon is not just talking about a collective number of people; he is talking about a collective number of people who give good advice and wise counsel, coupling that with righteousness. I am glad to be here as part of the new coalition government that knows the difference between righteousness and self-righteousness, in a place where truth is no longer on the endangered species list and where we are no longer on the spending-spree express escalating towards wasteful, costly and poorly conceived projects. We are on the common-sense express, where we will carefully assess our spending decisions, knowing we are stewards of Victorian taxpayers money. General Norman Schwarzkopf stated: Leadership is a potent combination of strategy and character. But if you must be without one, be without the strategy.

What a pleasure it is to be part of a team under the leadership of the Ted Baillieu, the Premier, and Peter Ryan, the Deputy Premier, who both have character and strategy. They have shown great leadership during the disastrous events that have flooded parts of this state. In the midst of these floods they have released resources, men and women, to Western Australia and Queensland to give them a hand with their worst floods since 1974. I am also pleased to be joining my newly elected members along the Frankston train line and other members who are not so privileged as to live along that train line. I wish them all success in their electorates and in government. As a representative of the people of Frankston in Parliament it is my job to put Frankston people first. They sent me here. They are the ones who put their faith in me and this government, and we will be delivering. Frankston takes in areas such as Frankston South, Frankston East and Karingal. We have two tertiary education establishments; a major hospital, which my wife and four kids were born in; great sporting clubs and facilities; three private golf courses and one public one; shopping precincts at both Karingal and Frankston as well as small street shops in a number of places. Frankston has wonderful environmental assets, such as the beach, Sweetwater Creek, Kananook Creek and Frankston Reservoir. I have lived in Frankston since I was seven. I went to St John’s Primary School and then John Paul College. I completed my bachelor of business in accounting at Chisholm Institute in Frankston, which is now part of Monash University. When I was nine I worked as a paper boy and then did a variety of jobs throughout my school life, such as being a casual worker for Coles and Ritchies. My wife, Sally, and I started our accountancy business in Frankston in 1992, and there are now 10 in the team. Why did I become involved in politics? After more than 18 years helping individuals and businesses achieve at a financial level it was time to transfer this knowledge and skill into an area that over the last decade has lacked any semblance of restraint, common sense or competency – government – and to use these skills for the betterment of Victorians. I note that when 57 per cent of people in Frankston said they were Christians, there was an underrepresentation from Labor. The majority of businesses in Frankston are small businesses employing under 20 people, and there was an underrepresentation from Labor because its members have limited knowledge in this arena. When government needed to stand up for Frankston in the core areas of responsibility such as police and safety, the electorate received the lowest funding of the six central activities districts, receiving only $25 million compared to Dandenong’s $290 million. This was an underrepresentation from Labor. It is time for a fair go for Frankston. Although Frankston was neglected by the previous government it has a solid, lively and intriguing history, one to be proud of. Frankston has hosted great events. In 1934 we held the first scout jamboree outside Europe and the only Australian jamboree attended by Lord Baden Powell. Frankston had a population of only 3000 at that time, but the number of scouts who attended was around 12 000, and there were 62 000 visitors. In 1980 the Frankston city bowls club held the first world bowls championships in Australia. I remember being just a teenager delivering papers and witnessing the excitement around that event. In the same year Frankston held the first-ever Melbourne indoor tennis championship with Vitas Gerulaitis and Peter McNamara playing in the final. To put this event into perspective and to highlight the calibre of the players, that year Gerulaitis lost to Bj rn Borg in the French Open and Peter McNamara and Paul McNamee won the doubles at Wimbledon. In the following year the event was again held in Frankston, and I was a ball boy. In 1983 Neighbourhood Watch was started in Kananook, which is part of the Frankston municipality. In Frankston we have had and do have successful men and women of industry, politics, commerce, literature, art and sport. Household names like Sir Reginald Ansett lived in the older boundaries of the Frankston electorate, and his helicopter was seen regularly travelling between home and work. But that was not the case for Sir Edgar Coles; he caught the bus and train to and from work. He lived within the old boundaries of Frankston as well. He was the CEO of Coles from the early 1940s to the 1960s. He had 70 acres on Old Mornington Road, and his daughter Lois Coles lived there until 1997. Thomas Ritchie started Ritchie’s Supermarkets in Frankston in 1870. Now Ritchies Supa IGA, through its community benefit card, has raised close to $38 million for schools, community groups, sporting clubs and charities. Another big name is Safeway, and in Australia Safeway started in Frankston. Bill Pratt took over his father’s Pratt’s stores in Frankston in 1946. A pioneer of self-service and supermarkets in the 1950s, Bill Pratt caught the eye of US company Safeway in 1963, and his company of three stores merged with the giant supermarket chain. He took the helm of Safeway (Australia) in 1967 and by 1985 he had 130 stores. Bill went to Frankston Primary School and Frankston High School. His father was the shire president and was part of the team that held the 1934 scout jamboree in Frankston, and he was made commissioner. Dame Elisabeth Murdoch lives right on the boundary of my electorate and she has lived there for 80 years.

George and Helen Grech, owners of Astra Billiards, pioneered Sunday trading in the 1980s along with a couple of others, selling a book for $3000 and throwing in a free pool table. They have lived in Frankston for over 35 years. Perc Hosking started his first store, Hoskings Jewellers, in Frankston in 1945 and was our first mayor.

Other local identities that are well known to the people of Frankston are the Crowder family, who have been in real estate in Frankston for over three generations. Geoff Crowder is deeply involved with Frankston’s development. Jerome Breen from Jerome Breen’s Driving School is another icon; he and his business have taught thousands of local teenagers, including me, my wife and my 20-year-old, how to drive. Brad Smith, a young Australian of the Year finalist, runs his motor bike operation, braaap, in Frankston.

Politicians such as Prime Minister Stanley Bruce and Sir Phillip Lynch both lived in Frankston. Past Frankston electorate members, including my friend the Honourable Graeme Weideman and Andrea McCall, still live in Frankston because they love it, and I thank them both for their contributions during my campaign.

Sporting stars who grew up or moved to Frankston include world champion boxer John Famechon, who was inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame. He moved to Frankston at a young age and has since called it his home. Dual Brownlow medallist Robert Harvey went to my school. Other Australian Football League legends lived in Frankston. like Jack Dyer, who lived there for a number of years. Kelvin Moore, the 300-game full-back for Hawthorn, and Mike Patterson, the Richmond ruckman and coach of St Kilda and Richmond in the 1980s, also lived in Frankston with a host of others. TV news presenters – the list keeps going – Mal Walden and Peter Mitchell went to school in Frankston.

Graham Kennedy lived in Frankston, and Nevil Shute’s On the Beach, starring Gregory Peck and Ava Gardner, was filmed mostly in Frankston.

The Frankston foreshore is one of our major assets, with Frankston beach winning the best beach prize in 2008. Another asset is the Frankston Reservoir, probably the last conservation area in Frankston and one that needs protecting. With all the household names and businesses originating from Frankston – – Mr Madden – What about Karingal? Mr SHAW – They came from Karingal, too! Many were inducted into the City of Frankston’s hall of fame, so it is regrettable that we have developed a less than desirable image and a reputation for crime, so much so that the council initiated the state’s first city safe officer program to patrol the city streets.

In an attempt to clean up Frankston’s image the council has also banned smoking in a number of streets in the central activities district.

Crime is not limited to Frankston. There has been a failure in society and the family in general to instil values. There is a lack of discipline and responsibility amongst many of our youth. We need to be tougher on crime and make people realise there are boundaries and that there are consequences for actions. The Police Association of Victoria tells us we are 111 police short in Frankston. Thankfully our government is addressing that with a record number of 1700 additional police. In an announcement made in Frankston last month by the Chief Commissioner of Police we heard that Frankston will receive 35 police before 30 June and a similar figure in the next financial year.

Frankston has had and will have a great future under this competent government. The resolve and entrepreneurial spirit of the past is with us still.

A big thanks goes to my campaign team: Katrina Flannery, Marc Middleton, Jerome Breen, Glenys Holland, Graeme and Marita Johnson, Michael Frazer, Marshall Hughes and Jos and Mary-Jo Reumer. I thank all the volunteers who did so much on that rainy election day and during the campaign. To the team at 104, Damien Mantach, Tony Nutt and Sarah Casey, the Liberal Party members and a variety of state and federal politicians, my supporters and the people of Frankston: I thank you.

I started with my family and I will end with my family. I thank them ever so much for the support they have given me.

What exactly does desiring the word mean? There is a difference between reading out of duty, and reading out of joy. We should have a hunger for the word, and desire to read it. We will get more out of the bible if we have an appetite for it than if we simply read it out of a sense of legalistic duty. The more you desire food, the more you enjoy it and get out of it. That doesn’t mean you won’t get anything out of it, but most of it will pass through with little consideration, and therefore be quickly forgotten.

We remember the things we enjoy. If we don’t have much interest in something most of the details will go straight over our heads, but when we love something we pay more attending to it, and therefore retain more.

We should have an attitude like Job and Jeremiah.

Job 23:12 …I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food. Jer 15:16 Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.

Do you lack a desire for God’s word? Then read it. The more you read the scriptures the greater your desire will grow. The more you read the more you will understand, and the more you will get out of it. Often the reason we lose our hunger for it, is because we don’t feel like we’re getting anything out of it. But that could also be partly because of what we dealt with in part two, not studing the word. If we only ever gleam over the scriptures we won’t get much out of it, and therefore lose interest.

So read the word, study the word, ask God to open your eyes to His word and your hunger for it will continue to grow. It’s like a spiral either going up or down. One thing will lead to another, either for the better or for the worse.

Part four cover our attitude to the scriptures, and coming to them like a child.

Getting your hands dirty.

We must have a willingness to not only read the scriptures, but to labour in them.

My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; Yea, if thou cry after knowledge, and lift up thy voice for understanding; If thou seek her as silver, and search for her as for hid treasures; Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God. - Prov 2:1-5

Simply browsing over the text won’t do much for you. Just like with a lot of fruits, the vitamins are just below the skin, so with Bible reading most of the treasure is just below the surface. That is not to say that it is hidden, coded or only something the ‘super spiritual’ can see, but simply that it takes a little bit of effort to grasp what is actually being said.

We need to study the text over, ponder it, memorise it, think it through and align it with other passages that speak on the same subject. When you do this, you’ll start to see the details of the broader context.

When looking for treasure, if you just gleam the surface, you may happen to pick up a coin or two, but it’s usually not until you start digging and panning that you find the gold. Gold mining is not easy work, neither is studying the scriptures, but studying God’s word is certainly more rewarding than finding precious metals.

The best thing we can do during and after reading is THINK. That may seem stupid, but too often our minds are on other things, when it should be on the text in front of us. Blessed is he who “meditates” in the law of the Lord, day and night. God commanded Joshua to “meditate therein day and night”. Meditation is not sitting with your legs crossed humming a mono-tone note, but thinking over and musing over it. What will profit your body more, just tasting vegetables, or chewing & digesting them. The same goes for bible reading.

Part three will be on desiring the word.

Spiritual Understanding

The first thing all students of the bible must have is spiritual life in Christ. Only when we are born spiritually can we understand the deepest parts of God’s word. And only then do we have the power of God’s Spirit to actually obey what we read. In 1 Corinthians we read:

But the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. - 1 Cor 2:14

Although the natural man can know what the bible says, the deep treasures of grace and wisdom are concealed to him.

It doesn’t matter how well we know our English, Greek or Hebrew language, unless we are connected to the Divine author we will lack the ability to fully grasp what we read. Only with the help of the Holy Spirit are we able to profit from the scriptures.

God has revealed this word to us so we can be equipped for every good work. We read in 2 Timothy:

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work. - 2 Tim 3:16-17

Having the Spirit of God is more profitable than knowing the original languages. Though knowing the original languages is great, one who has the Spirit of God and the scriptures in his own language will profit more than the one who knows all the languages but does not have the Holy Spirit.

This applies also to those teaching the scriptures. It would make no sense having an unregenerate person teach the scriptures as he lacks spiritual understanding which comes by the Holy Spirit. It would make as much sense to have an unregenerate person teach the bible as it would to have a person who only had a technical knowledge of paint teach an art class. An aesthetic sense is required to teach an art class, and likewise a spiritual sense is required to accurately teach the bible.

Part two will be on getting your hands dirty.

Early in the morning the chief priests with the elders and scribes and the whole Council, immediately held a consultation; and binding Jesus, they led Him away and delivered Him to Pilate. Pilate questioned Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” And He answered him, “It is as you say.” The chief priests began to accuse Him harshly. Then Pilate questioned Him again, saying, “Do You not answer? See how many charges they bring against You!” But Jesus made no further answer; so Pilate was amazed.

Now at the feast he used to release for them any one prisoner whom they requested. The man named Barabbas had been imprisoned with the insurrectionists who had committed murder in the insurrection. The crowd went up and began asking him to do as he had been accustomed to do for them. Pilate answered them, saying, “Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?” For he was aware that the chief priests had handed Him over because of envy. But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to ask him to release Barabbas for them instead. Answering again, Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Him whom you call the King of the Jews?” They shouted back, “Crucify Him!” But Pilate said to them, “Why, what evil has He done?” But they shouted all the more, “Crucify Him!” Wishing to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas for them, and after having Jesus scourged, he handed Him over to be crucified.

The soldiers took Him away into the palace (that is, the Praetorium), and they ​called together the whole Roman cohort. They dressed Him up in purple, and after twisting a crown of thorns, they put it on Him; and they began to acclaim Him, “Hail, King of the Jews!” They kept beating His head with a reed, and spitting on Him, and kneeling and bowing before Him. After they had mocked Him, they took the purple robe off Him and put His own garments on Him. And they led Him out to crucify Him.

They pressed into service a passer-by coming from the country, Simon of Cyrene (the father of Alexander and Rufus), to bear His cross.

Then they brought Him to the place Golgotha, which is translated, Place of a Skull. They tried to give Him wine mixed with myrrh; but He did not take it. And they crucified Him, and divided up His garments among themselves, casting lots for them to decide what each man should take. It was the third hour when they crucified Him. The inscription of the charge against Him read, “THE KING OF THE JEWS.”

They crucified two robbers with Him, one on His right and one on His left. And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “And He was numbered with transgressors.” Those passing by were hurling abuse at Him, wagging their heads, and saying, “Ha! You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself, and come down from the cross!” In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes, were mocking Him among themselves and saying, “He saved others; He cannot save Himself. “Let this Christ, the King of Israel, now come down from the cross, so that we may see and believe!” Those who were crucified with Him were also insulting Him.

When the sixth hour came, darkness fell over the whole land until the ninth hour. At the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” which is translated, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” When some of the bystanders heard it, they began saying, “Behold, He is calling for Elijah.” Someone ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a reed, and gave Him a drink, saying, “Let us see whether Elijah will come to take Him down.” And Jesus uttered a loud cry, and breathed His last. And the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. When the centurion, who was standing right in front of Him, saw the way He breathed His last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!”
Mark 15:1-39

But as Christians, which holyday do we put more emphasis on? Which do we celebrate more? I submit that Christians in general tend to celebrate Christmas far more than Easter. Why? Because it is the pressure of the world.

Am I saying not to celebrate Christmas? That is up to you. What I am saying is that we need to, as Christians, get our thinking off the world, and onto the things of God. Is Christmas important? Yes. It is when God Himself stepped down off His throne and was made flesh incarnate. But if we only had Christmas, we would have no hope in this world.

Easter is when we celebrate God’s death, burial and resurrection. Without Christmas, there would be no Easter. But without Easter there is no forgiveness of sins. Without Easter, we have no hope of reconciliation with God. Without Easter, we are condemned to an eternity of torment for our sins.

So while you rest with time away from work, think about what the meaning of this holyday is, and it’s importance. And let’s break from the world’s ways, and start putting more emphasis on Easter.

Remember: He is risen!

When Paul writes to the Philippian church he commended a fellow-soldier named Epaphroditus. Paul was sending him to the Philippians to minister to them and to comfort them because, “he longed after you all, and was full of heaviness, because that ye had heard that he had been sick.” Then Paul states that “indeed he was sick nigh unto death”, and later “because for the work of Christ he was nigh unto death”.

In examining this text the “faith preachers” will usually point to the fact that Paul states in verse 27 that “God had mercy on him”, with their logic being that ultimately God healed him*. Doubtlessly, that is what Paul is referring to. However, we need to be reminded that, within the context of this passage the emphasis is upon the fact that whilst Epaphroditus was in the service of Christ he was sick near unto death.

For the “faith preachers” this passage can only be explained by stating that Epaphroditus must have had a breakdown in his faith in order for sickness to come upon him, and that he was consequently healed because of his faith.

Do we know that this was the case? No! Such a conclusion is purely eisegetical in nature, requiring the reader to input their presupposition into the text; i.e. Epahproditus was sick because of lack of faith, and continued to be sick until he was healed through his faith.

Exegesis would demand that we examine the passage to see what scripture specifically says did happen. What we do know is that God had mercy on him! That is what scripture reveals. Did Epaphroditus and Paul pray for God to heal him? It is reasonable to assume they did, however, the fact is that Paul looked upon the healing of Epaphroditus as being God’s mercy. Rather than seeing his healing as some kind of right that Epaphroditus was able to claim, Paul saw it as being mercy. Mercy can be understood to mean that people do not get what they deserve. This is definitely an interesting use of language on Paul’s part as he describes the scenario.

Finally, aside from Paul’s own ailment that he described as being allowed to persist in his body so as to keep him from pride, Paul also mentions another labourer, Trophimus, whom he left at Miletum, sick. Clearly, Paul was not surprised by the existence of physical ailments among those who belong to the household of faith. My personal conviction concerning those who are brethren and have become ill is that we continue to pray for God to show mercy in healing them, whilst waiting on clear direction from God concerning the presence of such ailments.

Lionel Letcher Pastor

~~~~~~~~~~

• Just another thought to ponder; though we see that God had mercy on Epaphroditus, the passage does not clearly state that he was healed. He may have been strengthened to function in/through his malady. The fact that he was able to travel to the Philippians was an indication of a degree of healing.

“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God” II Tim 3:1-4

I recently received an email requesting Christians to pray for Valley Forge Christian College because they have been targeted by Soulforce, a homosexual activist group. Each year Soulforce conducts “The Equality Ride” which targets Christian/religious schools that they deem to be teaching injustice toward homosexuals. They travel to schools and promote their philosophy. There have also been other GLBT (Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transgender) groups who have invaded churches while in worship in order to disturb the preaching and proclaim their agenda. Though their mistreatment of Christian groups is plainly obvious to everyone, the world mostly says nothing.

Then there is the upsurge of modern-day atheism which is very vocal and self-righteous in proclaiming their message. Atheistic groups have made it their agenda to publicly criticise any scientific research that promotes intelligent design, and are particularly vociferous in decrying creationists. Though Christians have been openly vilified (even being dismissed from employment without cause), the world does not rise to their defence.

So what about the church? With such militancy being paraded by secular/humanist groups, it should be natural to conclude that the Christians would also be militantly active. Sadly, the opposite is the case; the church is passive, acquiescent and often sides with the world against Biblical Christianity.

II Tim 3:3 states that the last days will reveal people who are fierce and despisers of those that are good. Fierce has the original meaning of savage, while despisers of those that are good carries a far greater meaning; those who despise others who are good must themselves be radically bad.

While atheists stand and proclaim their agenda “Christians” are cajoling the world into “asking Jesus into their hearts”. While GLBT activists broadcast their agenda “Christians” are attempting to show the world how relevant they are by declaring the benefits of being a Christian.

But what did Jesus tell us to do? Placate the masses with sappy extra-Biblical appeals? No! Jesus ordered the church to preach the gospel to everybody, everywhere. In these times Christians will either stand up, or we will slip away into safe obscurity. That choice belongs to each believer.

• Grace is revealed to us in God’s gift of salvation. This is best represented by the idea of God bestowing something upon someone though they did not deserve it. The key passage used to teach this principle is Ephesians 2:8, which states that we are saved by grace. In this passage, charis is usually described as unmerited favour.

• Grace is also God’s favour upon believers in circumstances. Acts 4:33 shows that grace was upon them during a trial and persecution.

A word that is commonly used in conjunction with grace is, mercy.

Mercy can be simply described as not getting what we deserve. In other words, God was merciful to you when He saved you as it means you will not receive His wrath. Grace is quite different in that because of grace we do get that which we do not deserve – salvation. In summary; because of God’s mercy a genuine believer is spared from wrath, while simultaeneously because of God’s grace the same believer is granted the provision of salvation.

In this age of easy-believism, it is common to hear things like “It’s just as well I am saved under grace”, thereby giving the sentiment that their sinful behaviour is not that bad under the New Covenant. Having easily been led “to Christ” by saying a “sinner’s prayer” Jesus has brought them into His new age of grace in which there is a very low requirement for holiness. But that is not a true understanding of Biblical grace. It is severely distorted, and the primary reason for this distortion is lack of the consideration of the grace and mercy of God. For the true believer, saved through faith in the completed work of Christ Jesus at Calvary, grace is not something that is considered cheap. The true believer knows he is totally undeserving of God’s grace, but because of God’s incredible love for humanity (mercy), it has been provided for him anyway. Also, the true believer has taken time to contemplate the incredible cost of mercy and grace. He sees a gnarly old cross and a completely ravaged man hanging upon it. He realises that it should have been him on that cross, but instead, God showed mercy to man by choosing to suffer in our place. The cross is a picture of the power of sin. The Lord of Life took our place to pay the price we never could; God in human form died on the cross for sinful man.

1Jn 2:2 MKJV And He is the propitiation concerning our sins, and not concerning ours only, but also concerning the sins of all the world.

May we never lose sight of the incredible cost that has made grace available to every one of us.

Who is Man? ~ Who is Christ? ~ What Christ did?

There is another crucial part of the message, and that is the response. If we present a false response, then we leave the person in a dangerous place.

Though someone may repent and place faith in Christ without you even telling them what to do, if we tell them that all they need to do is make a ‘decision’ (to follow Christ) to be saved then we could find ourselves damming their soul to Hell. Because if someone places the assurance of their salvation in their decision, rather than the work of God in the heart, then their faith will be in their decision, rather than in Christ. God is the one who saves. He is the one that regenerates us, making us a new creation in Christ. Until God has done this work in someone they are not saved.

God has promised to save all them that come with a broken and contrite heart, in repentance and faith. But God will do the regenerating, not man. If someone relies on a decision they made 10 years ago rather than their continued faith in Jesus (displayed in a righteous and sanctified life) for proof of their conversion then their trust is on shaky ground. Decisional regeneration (the teaching that YOUR decision saves you rather than God) has sent multitudes to Hell. We must not leave someone with the impression that their decision to follow Jesus will save them, but rather coming before God in repentance and faith, until God has done a work of conversion in their heart, evidenced in: a hatred for sin, a new love for God, assurance of salvation (given by the Holy Spirit), love for the brethren and the Word of God, to name just a few.

God will save the person in His timing, when He has brought them to a place of genuine Godly sorrow which works repentance. God may save a person before they even open their mouth, because God looks at the heart, and conversely He may keep others crying out for days, in order to bring them to a place of true repentance, striping them of all self reliance and self righteousness.

God bless,
Chris Sandford

Then, all of a sudden, with a noise like a horse shedding its saddle, the load on Christian’s back fell off. It just fell off, and rolled down the far side of the hill.

He ran after it, as if it were fill of his dearest belongings, before remembering how he had longed to be rid of it. He followed it as it bounced over gorse bushes and rabbit holes, over boulders and tree stumps.

“John Bunyan’s A Pilgrim’s Progress” retold by Geraldine McCaughrean

My wife and I have started reading A Pilgrim’s Progress to our children, as we found a fantastic version at the local library. Tonight we read about Christian coming to and ascending the Hill, where in the shadow of the Cross his burden fell off his back.

What struck me was the next sentence: “He ran after it, as if it were full of his dearest belongings, before remembering how he had longed to be rid of it.” How often does this apply to us in our lives? As christians, once we are saved, we always seem to chase after our sin, even though we know that we want to be rid of it.

We are not alone in chasing what we desire to be rid of. Paul lamented this in his epistle to the Romans, and also provides to us hope from it also:

For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practising what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate. But if I do the very thing I do not want to do, I agree with the Law, confessing that the Law is good. So now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want. But if I am doing the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me.
Romans 7:17-20 (NASB)

It is freeing to hear Paul tell us that if we ourselves are doing that which we desire not to then we are agreeing with the Law, and are bound by it. But if we are truly born again, it is not us who desires to do this, but our sin nature in us, inherited from Adam.

So how do we know if we are born again, and it is the sin in us and not ourselves chasing after the sin? Paul continues:

I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good. For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man, but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin.
Romans 7:21-25 (NASB)

We must be waging war against the sin that we do. If we meekly roll over an accept our sin then it is not the sin in us doing it, but our own self. If we are not hating and warring, we are deceived and are heading for Hell. We look at Jesus’ words to the disciples, and think they are kind of harsh:

If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it from you; it is better for you to enter life crippled or lame, than to have two hands or two feet and be cast into the eternal fire. If your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and throw it from you It is better for you to enter life with one eye, than to have two eyes and be cast into the fiery hell.
Matthew 18:8-9 (NASB)

But this is the attitude that we must have. God cannot tolerate sin in His presence. It will not happen. Ever. So if we are OK with sin, we cannot be OK with God. It is that simple.

So the questions I leave with you today are:

• What sin do I think is not that big of a deal?
  • Lying?
  • Lusting?
  • Gossip?
• What sin is God showing me in my life to deal with?
  • Do I hate it?
  • Why not?
• Who controls my life?
  • My flesh?
  • My spirit?
  • God’s Spirit?

Soli Deo Gloria

Jerome