Three Lies... Three Truths: Part II

Lie #2: Sin/self/World is a better option than God.

Truth:

"For a time is coming when people will no longer
listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and
will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to
hear. They will reject the truth and chase after myths."

II Timothy 4:3-4

It is true that at the present time 60% of teens in church reach their 20's and walk away from the faith and that 66% of Americans are considered "pew warming Christians"(apathetic and inactive Christians). In light of these truths we must work harder and pray dependently for the discipleship and depth of the next generation. Many will choose the world and sin over choosing to be faithful to God even though they have all the facts of faith in front of them and the rich experience of the Holy Spirit. They will forget their first love.

Action Point: Parents must pursue the practice of family worship and parent-child discipleship. Teens must engage in Faith ownership as they sit at the feet of Jesus... hear from His Word, pursue sound (healthy) Doctrine, and experience the richness of Christ daily.

May the following be said of this generation:

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained
faithful. And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the
Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return."

II Timothy 4:7-8

Three Lies... Three Truths: Part I

I just spent this last weekend with the Evangelical Friends Church Yearly Meeting Senior High Youth. I spoke on the topic of Apologetics (defending your faith). The next 3 posts are the content of the last talk before they left the event for home.

There are 3 lies we will face in life but each has a Truth that we can hold onto.

Lie #1: All Religions are the same.

Truth: It is impossible for all religions to lead to God. The Law of Non-Contradiction clearly shows that different religious doctrine negate one another and invalidate themselves if they embrace this idea of Pluralism (That is of course all but Pluralism itself which is, in reality, belief in nothing in particular). There can only be one Ultimate Truth.

Action point: If the God of the Bible is the one true God and Jesus is the only way to Him, then worship God passionately and with abandon. Anything less than this, is living as if we are not convinced of this Truth.

Who Would Jesus Vote For?

Was Jesus a Democrat or a Republican? Let me just let that one sit with you for a second.....

The absurdity of the question makes some laugh and some shake in anger. Obviously Jesus was part of neither political party... in fact, he did not do well at bowing to any party but One... and that was the party line of His Father in Heaven. In Luke 20 the religious leaders of the day were trying to take Jesus out and get Him to stumble over His words. So they sent spies to get Jesus to incriminate Himself with some misspoken words about the Roman Empire (the whole freedom of speech thing under Roman occupation in Israel wasn't exactly as we understand it here in the USA).

Jesus replied to the spies questions with "Render to Caesar what is Caesars... Render to God what is God's"

WOW!

In these words people were amazed and decided not to mess with Jesus (for the time). In this statement Jesus made clear His party affiliation, His voting record, His agenda... to do the will of His Father in Heaven!

Caesar, Bush, Obama, Reagan, JFK, Lincoln...are a list of the created, the temporary, the short-sighted and men of this world.

God... is the Creator of all things, eternal, Kingdom of Heaven minded and above and beyond this world.

I vote. I have political opinions. I have views on issues in our nation I am passionate about. I have a political party affiliation.

But... May you and I render to God what is God's so that when we render to Caesar what is Caesars we are believing, viewing and acting on things in such a way that it reflects our faithfulness to the eternal, the Biblical, the Creator of all things.

Are you...

Republican?

Democrat?

Independent?

Render to God what is God's.