How to Refute an Idolator

Definition of IDOLATRY

1

: the worship of a physical object as a god

2

: immoderate attachment or devotion to something

"You shall have no other gods before me.

 "You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments. (Exodus 20:1-5)

“Man's mind is like a store of idolatry and superstition; so much so that if a man believes his own mind it is certain that he will forsake God and forge some idol in his own brain” John Calvin

I believe that idolatry is the one sin that is little understood and therefore often ignored when it comes to pastoral teaching. Anything that man creates from his imagination is an idol. And we can even make an idol of the God of the Bible Anytime we define God that pleases our imagination, it is idolatry! Here are a few ideas about God I have heard in my ministry with each one followed by a refutation.

Scenerio 1

Suzie: It doesn't matter what we call God, it's all the same.

Christian: You're absolutely right, Nancy!

Suzie: My name is Suzie.

Christian: But if I can call God by any name I wish, then I should be able to call you by any name I wish. 

As you can see, to make oneself more important than God is idolatry!

Scenerio 2

Bubba: It doesn't matter what we believe about God, He loves us anyway.

Christian: What is 2 + 2?

Bubba: 4.

Christian: I believe it's 16!

Bubba: But that doesn't make any sense. You would get an 'F' from a teacher.

Christian: Then why does it make sense to come to any conclusion about God that one wants to?

I hear this a lot. Belief is subjective. Yet at one time man believed the earth was flat. We can believe anything we want but it does not make it true. To believe anything we want is idolatry.

Scenario 3

All religions are the same. 

Well if all religions are the same, then why are their names different? If all religions are the same, then how come only Jesus' tomb is empty? All religions except Christianity are based on works righteousness! No system of faith offers forgiveness of sins. Only one person, Jesus Christ the Righteous can do that. All religions except Christianity, have at their center the person who believes they are good. This is the beginning and the end of idolatry. As John Calvin also states, "Every one of us is, even from his mother's womb, a master craftsman of idols."

And as St. Paul writes:

"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen." (Rom. 1:18-25)

A Pastoral Understanding of Predestination

We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn within a large family. (Rom. 8:28, 29)

Perhaps one of the hardest doctrines of the Church to comprehend is predestination. The Anglican faith affirms predestination in Article XVII of the Articles of Religion:

Predestination to Life is the everlasting purpose of God, whereby (before the foundations of the world were laid) he hath constantly decreed by his counsel secret to us, to deliver from curse and damnation those whom he hath chosen in Christ out of mankind, and to bring them by Christ to everlasting salvation, as vessels made to honor. Wherefore, they which be endued with so excellent a benefit of God, be called according to God's purpose by his Spirit working in due season: they through Grace obey the calling: they be justified freely: they be made sons of God by adoption: they be made like the image of his only-begotten Son Jesus Christ: they walk religiously in good works, and at length, by God's mercy, they attain to everlasting felicity.

You will note the language of the article reflects Romans 8:28 & 29. Now why is predestination important to understand or for that matter a doctrine that should be taught as part of Christian faith? When we understand predestination, we can better understand God’s sovereignty and the fact He shows no partiality when it comes to whom He saves as our election is before the beginning of time. (Acts 10:34). When this us understood, we better understand why we cannot work our way into heaven.

What is also understood is why bad things happen to ‘good’ people*. What we perceive as bad may be to our benefit for God’s greater glory. That job loss, the ill will of others, broken relationships, all of that is “working together for good for those who love God, who are called according to His purpose.”  Remember we come into this world as sinners. Once we hear the word of grace, God begins a new work in our hearts so that we may conform to the image of His Son, our brother. And our circumstances are a part of His handiwork!

Free will carried many a soul to hell, but never a soul to heaven. -Charles Spurgeon

*Remember, no one is good except God alone. (Lk. 18:18)

An Evangelical Understanding of Sickness and Healing

9 Lessons From God Concerning Sickness « J.C. Ryle Quotes list's Bishop Ryle's understanding of sickness in God's plan of redemption. So often we hear from leaders of the healing ministry that illness comes from Satan. But even Satan cannot do anything without the permission of God our Father. When we blame Satan for our illness, something Job did not do, we become as guilty as Adam and Eve who took no responsibility for their disobedience and were cast out of the Garden. When we blame, we justify ourselves, something the Pharisees were known for. God is in control all the time. Our bodies are frail from the time of the Fall! All the more to be dependant on God not only for healing but for our redemption. Illness is part of God's plan, His visitation, to help us draw closer to Him.

The reformation was not bereft of the knowledge of God's healing as so many charismatics are so wanton to believe. The English Reformation produced the 1662 Book of Common Prayer. It is filled with exhortations, many of which have been removed in later editions. After all, what churchgoer wants to be corrected! But a beautiful one exists in the Order of the Visitation of the Sick reminding the believer that God chastises those whom He loves!

The Order for the Visitation of the Sick.

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When any person is sick, notice shall be given thereof to the Minister of the Parish; who, coming into the sick person's house, shall say,
EACE be to this house, and to all that dwell in it.


When he cometh into the sick person's presence he shall say, kneeling down,EMEMBER not, Lord, our iniquities, nor the iniquities of our forefathers: Spare us, good Lord, spare thy people, whom thou hast redeemed with thy most precious blood, and be not angry with us for ever.
      Answer. Spare us, good Lord.

Then the Minister shall say,Let us pray.      Lord, have mercy upon us.
           Christ, have mercy upon us.
     Lord, have mercy upon us .


OUR Father, which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; But deliver us from evil. Amen.
      Minister. 0 Lord, save thy servant;
      Answer. Which putteth his trust in thee.
      Minister. Send him help from thy holy place;
      Answer. And evermore mightily defend him.
      Minister. Let the enemy have no advantage of him;
      Answer. Nor the wicked approach to hurt him.
      Minister. Be unto him, 0 Lord, a strong tower.
      Answer. From the face of his enemy.
      Minister. 0 Lord, hear our prayers.
      Answer. And let our cry come unto thee.


Minister.LORD, look down from heaven, behold, visit, and relieve this thy servant. Look upon him with the eyes of thy mercy, give him comfort and sure confidence in thee, defend him from the danger of the enemy, and keep him in perpetual peace and safety; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

HEAR us, Almighty and most merciful God and Saviour; extend thy accustomed goodness to this thy servant who is grieved with sickness. Sanctify, we beseech thee, this thy fatherly correction to him; that the sense of his weakness may add strength to his faith, and seriousness to his repentance: That, if it shall be thy good pleasure to restore him to his former health, he may lead the residue of his life in thy fear, and to thy glory: or else, give him grace so to take thy visitation, that, after this painful life ended, he may dwell with thee in life everlasting; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Then shall the Minister exhort the sick person after this form, or other like.EARLY beloved, know this, that Almighty God is the Lord of life and death, and of all things to them pertaining, as youth, strength, health, age, weakness, and sickness. Wherefore, whatsoever your sickness is, know you certainly, that it is God's visitation. And for what cause soever this sickness is sent unto you; whether it be to try your patience for the example of others, and that your faith may be found in the day of the Lord laudable, glorious, and honourable, to the increase of glory and endless felicity; or else it be sent unto you to correct and amend in you whatsoever doth offend the eyes of your heavenly Father; know you certainly, that if you truly repent you of your sins, and bear your sickness patiently, trusting in God's mercy, for his dear Son Jesus Christ's sake, and render unto him humble thanks for his fatherly visitation, submitting yourself wholly unto his will, it shall turn to your profit, and help you forward in the right way that leadeth unto everlasting life.

If the person visited be very sick, then the Curate may end his exhortation in this place, or else proceed.AKE therefore in good part the chastisement of the Lord: For (as Saint Paul saith in the twelfth Chapter to the Hebrews) whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore, we have had fathers of our flesh, which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verity for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. These words, good brother, are written in holy Scripture for our comfort and instruction; that we should patiently, and with thanksgiving, bear our heavenly Father's correction, whensoever by any manner of adversity it shall please his gracious goodness to visit us. And there should be no greater comfort to Christian persons, than to be made like unto Christ, by suffering patiently adversities, troubles, and sicknesses. For he himself went not up to joy, but first he suffered pain; he entered not into his glory before he was crucified. So truly our way to eternal joy is to suffer here with Christ; and our door to enter into eternal life is gladly to die with Christ; that we may rise again from death, and dwell with him in everlasting life. Now therefore, taking your sickness, which is thus profitable for you, patiently, I exhort you, in the Name of God, to remember the profession which you made unto God in your Baptism. And forasmuch as after this life there is an account to be given unto the righteous judge, by whom all must be judged, without respect of persons, I require you to examine yourself and your estate, both toward God and man; so that, accusing and condemning yourself for your own faults, you may find mercy at our heavenly Father's hand for Christ's sake, and not be accused and condemned in that fearful judgement. Therefore I shall rehearse to you the Articles of our Faith, that you may know whether you do believe as a Christian man should, or no.

Here the Minister shall rehearse the Articles of the Faith, saying thus,OST thou believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth?
     And in Jesus Christ his only-begotten Son our Lord? And that he was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary; that he suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; that he went down into hell, and also did rise again the third day; that he ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; and from thence shall come again at the end of the world, to judge the quick and the dead?
      And dost thou believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy Catholick Church; the Communion of Saints; the Remission of sins; the Resurrection of the flesh; and everlasting life after death?

The sick person shall answer,All this I stedfastly believe.Then shall the Minister examine whether he repent him truly of his sins, and be in charity with all the world; exhorting him to forgive, from the bottom of his heart, all persons that have offended him; and if he hath offended any other, to ask them forgiveness; and where he hath done injury or wrong to any man, that he make amends to the uttermost of his power. And if he have not before disposed of his goods, let him then be admonished to make his Will, and to declare his debts, what he oweth, and what is owing unto him; for the better discharging of his conscience, and the quietness of his Executors. But men should often be put in remembrance to take order for the settling of their temporal estates, whilst they are in health.
These words before rehearsed may be said before the Minister begin his Prayer, as he shall see cause.
The Minister should not omit earnestly to move such sick persons as are of ability to be liberal to the poor.
Here shall the sick person be moved to make a special confession of his sins, if he feel his conscience troubled with any weighty matter. After which confession, the Priest shall absolve him (if he humbly and heartily desire it) after this sort.
UR Lord Jesus Christ, who hath left power to his Church to absolve all sinners who truly repent and believe in him, of his great mercy forgive thee thine offences: And by his authority committed to me, I absolve thee from all thy sins, In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.


And then the Priest shall say the Collect following.Let us pray.MOST merciful God, who, according to the multitude of thy mercies, dost so put away the sins of those who truly repent, that thou rememberest them no more: Open thine eye of mercy upon this thy servant, who most earnestly desireth pardon and forgiveness. Renew in him, most loving Father, whatsoever hath been decayed by the fraud and malice of the devil, or by his own carnal will and frailness; preserve and continue this sick member in the unity of the Church; consider his contrition, accept his tears, assuage his pain, as shall seem to thee most expedient for him. And forasmuch as heputteth his full trust only in thy mercy, impute not unto him his former sins, but strengthen him with thy blessed Spirit; and, when thou art pleased to take him hence, take him unto thy favour, through the merits of thy most dearly beloved Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Are You a Wheat or a Weed?

Jesus put before the crowd another parable: "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to someone who sowed good seed in his field; but while everybody was asleep, an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and then went away. So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared as well. And the slaves of the householder came and said to him, `Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where, then, did these weeds come from?' He answered, `An enemy has done this.' The slaves said to him, `Then do you want us to go and gather them?' But he replied, `No; for in gathering the weeds you would uproot the wheat along with them. Let both of them grow together until the harvest; and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Collect the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.”  (Mt. 13:24-30)

Not everyone is a Christian. Not everyone who calls themselves a Christian is truly elected by God's grace. The world is full of grain bearing wheat as well as weeds that bear no fruit. Jesus knows this. It is a part of God's plan. We are called to continually sow the Word of God to all people so those who may be called by God will hear His saving Word regenerating their hearts. (Rom. 10:17) The enemy is out there too filling the world with people who have no intention of surrendering to the will of God. It is not our job to judge who those people are but to continually keep our eyes on the things above. (Col. 3:1-4) Jesus will come to judge the living and the dead. He will know who has born fruit worthy of repentance. (Mt. 7:21-23) Until then, let us each take responsibility for our own discipleship. Let us daily pick up our cross and follow Him. (Lk. 9:23) Let us not look to the left or the right (Joshua 1:7-8) but look ahead to the cross, the means of our salvation inviting others to receive salvation that can only be offered through Jesus Christ, Lord and Savior.

"The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man; the field is the world, and the good seed are the children of the kingdom; the weeds are the children of the evil one, and the enemy who sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. Just as the weeds are collected and burned up with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will collect out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all evildoers, and they will throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Let anyone with ears listen!"  (Mt. 13:37-43)

What does the Bible say about gossip?

What does the Bible say about gossip?

Much is said about homosexuality. Some is said about adultery. And we take for granted that killing someone is a sin. But gossip is also a sin. In fact it is included among the above listed sins in Romans 1 as a fruit of idolatry. If we worship a product of our imagination, idolatry, God gives us over to a debased or worthless mind! (Rom. 1:28-32) In my parish ministry I have never dealt with someone guilty of murder except the guilt incurred from hatred. (Mt. 5:21-22) But I have seen gossip and I have seen the ill effects it has on people. I have also had little support from the congregation to rebuke and reprimand the gossiper because most people think it is just being human. Gossiping is part of our natural selves. It is not a part of our spiritual selves. When we are born again, we leave our old self behind and put on Christ who clothes us in righteousness. (Isaiah 61:10) We gossip because God has given us over to our worthless minds. The only solution is to see our guilt, gossip's harmful effects, and repent of our sinful behavior. If you are a gossip which includes listening to it, Read Romans 1 and ask God to change your heart that you may have grace to worship Him in truth and spirit. If you know someone who is a gossip, share this message with them reminding them that we all stand guilty before God! But it is Jesus who took our place on that Cross taking our debt upon Himself. If we are to gossip, let us gossip the Good News of Jesus Christ!

Proof That God Exists: logic

This link - Proof That God Exists: logic will take you to a website dedicated to using the laws of logic and science to prove God exists. One can only image how Mr. Spock would have dealt with skepticism of his day!

“When Paul spoke in Athens, why did he begin his preaching with creation as opposed to the Law?” | The Daily Evidence

“When Paul spoke in Athens, why did he begin his preaching with creation as opposed to the Law?” | The Daily Evidence

"Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the Law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. For by works of the Law no human being will be justified in His sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. (Romans 3:19-20)

Human Nature and the 10 Commandments

The 10 Commandments are full of thou shalt's and shalt not's. They were given to Moses after Israel was freed from the bondage of slavery. (Ex. 20:2) But they are not meant just as rules to be followed. They also help us understand how we are meant to be as human beings. (Rom. 7:13) Breaking any one of the commandments not only is an infraction against God’s will, (1 John 3:4) but it also diminishes our joy because we are not living up to our nature as God intended. Like the singer who cannot sing, or the artist who cannot create, our joy will be lacking if we do not fulfill our God given nature!

The first four commandments define our relationship with God. We are to live for Him and not ourselves. To make anything more important than God or define Him on our terms is idolatry. Worshipping something that is false make us false! (2 Kings 17:15) The next six commandments show how we are to treat others from our parents to our neighbor. This we all know. But let us look at the Decalogue as descriptive of human nature for we do not want to be false but true to who we are meant to be!

We are created in God’s image. (Gen. 1:27) Remember the Fall occurred when the first humans did not follow God’s Word. Shame took away their joy.  Today we often lack joy because we are not living up to the image God has intended for us. Taken as whole, we can see that the 10 Commandments reflect how we are to be as God’s creatures. We are to be honest, content with what we have trusting God for our needs. God is the source of our life and He should be the beginning and end of our devotions. We are meant to be centered in Him and not in ourselves. When we behave less than how God intended for us to be, we are not in a happy state.

The Good News is that Christ helps us be the persons God wants us to be. It is He who works in us fulfilling God’s will in our lives. (Phil. 2:13) Our joy comes from the knowledge that we have a Helper (Rom. 8:26-30) and that we are growing closer to our Heavenly Father on our earthly journey. (Luke 15:20) We can trust that our debts have been paid on the Cross and with that knowledge live a life fulfilling God’s desires as God molds us back into His image of us. To Him alone be the glory!

Casey Anthony and the Christian response. | Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry

Casey Anthony and the Christian response. | Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry

   Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.

  Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord." To the contrary, "if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Rom. 12:9-21)

The Gay “Christian” | The Daily Evidence

The Gay “Christian” | The Daily Evidence

The above article makes it clear how we are to authentically witness to those who claim to be gay. God can change our nature!

Do our Churches stand in Judgment of the World?

Do our Church buildings stand in judgment of the world? This question can be asked in this way, "Do our churches offer sanctuary to the elect?"

As I ponder the building of Noah's ark, I cannot help but wonder what were the people thinking as Noah built this huge ship. They walked by unaware of the coming judgment upon the world. Noah and his family were safe. They were invited by God along with His creation to take sanctuary inside the ship. Those left outside met their demise at the hands of our God. A God whose justice is perfect.

Image from Ancient Catcomb

"The ship was an ancient Christian symbol of the Church. It is the Church tossed on the sea of disbelief, worldliness, and persecution but finally reaching safe harbor with its cargo of human souls. Part of the imagery comes from the ark saving Noah's family during the Flood (1 Peter 3:20-21). Jesus protecting Peter's boat and the apostles on the stormy Sea of Galilee (Mark 4:35-41). It was also a great symbol during times when Christians needed to disguise the cross, since the ship's mast forms a cross in many of its depictions. In the same vein, the main part of a church's interior, the place where the people worship, is called a "nave," from the Latin "navis" -- ship." Taken from Jesuswalk.com

We, who are in the Church, should be escaping the storms of the world. We are seeking sanctuary in Christ’s blood that washes away our sin. (Col. 1:20-23) We are not to bring the world into the church. (1 Cor. 5:9-13) Noah was elected by God to take sanctuary in the ark. There was no good work he performed to earn this distinction. God favored him by His sovereign grace. (Heb. 11:7) Noah and his family had to separate themselves out from the world. And so, too, should we! (2 Cor. 6:14-18)

But if we bring the world and our unrepentant nature into the church, we have defeated the work of Christ upon the Cross! (Heb. 10:26-28) Like Peter who took his eyes away from the Savior trusting in his own righteousness, we will sink into the mire of the world. (Mt. 14:28-33) This results in the Church looking no different than the world.

Our churches should stand as structures of God’s judgment upon a wicked world and as a sanctuary to those who look to the cross to save us from our sins! As we enter a church building, let us leave the world behind, and look ahead to the Cross of Christ!