Act Like Men from Living Stones on Vimeo.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Living Stones Q&A - #5
A few months back Living Stones hosted a Question & Answers night and received over a hundred questions. Many of them were addressed during our gatherings and can be found on our podcast here. For the next few weeks I will be posting up answers to some of the remaining questions that were not answered. Answers for the questions have been provided by various Living Stones Elders.
Why is homosexuality "wrong" when animals exhibit homosexual behavior?
This question presupposes that humans and animals are essentially the same. But Scripture teaches otherwise. Genesis 1:27 and 5:1-2 teaches that man was created in God’s image, and correspondingly, is distinct from the rest of creation. Thus, although animals may exhibit homosexual behavior, because man is made in God’s image he has commanded mankind not to.
How many Christians are there in the world? How many really live it? Your thoughts?
A Christian is someone who has a saving faith in Jesus Christ, as Romans 10:9 teaches. Determining the exact number of Christians worldwide is difficult because certain people and certain religions identify themselves as Christians but deny Jesus Christ is God and that he lived, died, and rose again for their sins, among other tenets essential to the Christians faith. Further, many acknowledge Jesus and the truth, like demons, but do not have a trust and love for God. See James 2:19.
Regarding living with your boyfriend, being married does not mean that you are worshiping God more than a non-married couple. All sins are equal, right?
All sin is equal in that it constitutes disobeying God and inconsistent with unity with Jesus Christ, but not all sin has the same consequences. Some sin, e.g., sexual sin, has consequences severer than other sins, as 1 Corinthians 6:18 teaches. It is unwise, moreover, to justify one’s sinful conduct by comparison with others’. In saying that all sin is equal, we are saying that all sin is horrendous crime against God and his creation. In this way, living with your boyfriend is equal in rebellion to a man who rapes and murders children. God hates all sin.
If God has a certain path for me yet I have sinned (ex. Having a child out of marriage), how do I know if I will ever follow his path, the right path?
God is bigger than sin as he defeated it on the cross. If God has a plan for you, your sin didn't screw up what he had in store for you. In fact, he can turn your sin into an incredible blessing such as a child. In regard to the second part of the question, a good check to see if you are following the Lord's path is to ask, are you repenting of sin? A life of a believer is one of repentance and so his will for your life will be to repent as you become more like Jesus.
How do I know if I am idolizing my spouse? What are ways I can keep God central yet love and devote myself to my husband and let him lead?
Great question. This is not something we often discuss in the church as it is one of those "accepted sins" within the church. The answer to the question, if you lost your husband, would it cause to to lose the desire to live or want to turn away from God?... will reveal a lot about the difference between idolizing your husband and loving him.
Why is homosexuality "wrong" when animals exhibit homosexual behavior?
This question presupposes that humans and animals are essentially the same. But Scripture teaches otherwise. Genesis 1:27 and 5:1-2 teaches that man was created in God’s image, and correspondingly, is distinct from the rest of creation. Thus, although animals may exhibit homosexual behavior, because man is made in God’s image he has commanded mankind not to.
How many Christians are there in the world? How many really live it? Your thoughts?
A Christian is someone who has a saving faith in Jesus Christ, as Romans 10:9 teaches. Determining the exact number of Christians worldwide is difficult because certain people and certain religions identify themselves as Christians but deny Jesus Christ is God and that he lived, died, and rose again for their sins, among other tenets essential to the Christians faith. Further, many acknowledge Jesus and the truth, like demons, but do not have a trust and love for God. See James 2:19.
Regarding living with your boyfriend, being married does not mean that you are worshiping God more than a non-married couple. All sins are equal, right?
All sin is equal in that it constitutes disobeying God and inconsistent with unity with Jesus Christ, but not all sin has the same consequences. Some sin, e.g., sexual sin, has consequences severer than other sins, as 1 Corinthians 6:18 teaches. It is unwise, moreover, to justify one’s sinful conduct by comparison with others’. In saying that all sin is equal, we are saying that all sin is horrendous crime against God and his creation. In this way, living with your boyfriend is equal in rebellion to a man who rapes and murders children. God hates all sin.
If God has a certain path for me yet I have sinned (ex. Having a child out of marriage), how do I know if I will ever follow his path, the right path?
God is bigger than sin as he defeated it on the cross. If God has a plan for you, your sin didn't screw up what he had in store for you. In fact, he can turn your sin into an incredible blessing such as a child. In regard to the second part of the question, a good check to see if you are following the Lord's path is to ask, are you repenting of sin? A life of a believer is one of repentance and so his will for your life will be to repent as you become more like Jesus.
How do I know if I am idolizing my spouse? What are ways I can keep God central yet love and devote myself to my husband and let him lead?
Great question. This is not something we often discuss in the church as it is one of those "accepted sins" within the church. The answer to the question, if you lost your husband, would it cause to to lose the desire to live or want to turn away from God?... will reveal a lot about the difference between idolizing your husband and loving him.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Living Stones Q&A - #4
A few months back Living Stones hosted a Question & Answers night and received over a hundred questions. Many of them were addressed during our gatherings and can be found on our podcast here. For the next few weeks I will be posting up answers to some of the remaining questions that were not answered. Answers for the questions have been provided by various Living Stones Elders.
As followers, how do you reconcile yourself and your faith with the evil things done in God's name?
Evil things done in God’s name are exactly that, evil things that people attempt to justify using God’s name. But God is perfect can neither author or approve evil. See Matthew 5:48; Luke 18:19; Psalm 100:5; and Psalm 18:30. Even when people invoke God’s name, we can know that they are not acting consistent with his direction when their activity contradicts God’s character revealed in Scripture and the person of Jesus Christ.
Did Moses ever actually write any of the Old Testament? I have heard other people authored the books but were simply inspired by Moses, who in turned was inspired by God..
Moses wrote the first five books of the Bible (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy), under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, which means that Moses was divinely inspired to produce the words comprising those books. See, e.g., 2 Timothy 3:16 and 2 Peter 1:20-21.
If God oversaw the creation of the Bible, wasn't god also overseeing the creation of the Koran and the book of Mormon and all the heretical books too?
God in his sovereignty allowed the Koran and Book of Mormon to be written, but Scripture is clear that only the Bible is written by God and indeed it teaches against adding to it in any way. See 2 Peter 1:20-21; 2 Timothy 3:16; Deuteronomy 12:32; Proverbs 30:5-6; and Revelation 22:18-19.
Because our bodies are temples, are getting tattoos/piercings a sin?
The Bible does not prohibit tattoos or piercings. 1 Corinthians 6:19 does teach that “your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God[.] You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” Accordingly, Christians have a responsibility to exercise responsible stewardship over their bodies, but this does not necessarily preclude getting tattoos or piercings. Instead, a Christian is free to do those things if doing so does not go against his or her conscience and ultimately can be done to God’s glory. See Romans 14:23; 1 Corinthians 10:29-33.
How do you know if God is real?
God has revealed himself in Scripture and the person of Jesus Christ. Further, Romans 1:19-20 teaches that the natural world bears witness to God through its beauty, complexity, usefulness.
As followers, how do you reconcile yourself and your faith with the evil things done in God's name?
Evil things done in God’s name are exactly that, evil things that people attempt to justify using God’s name. But God is perfect can neither author or approve evil. See Matthew 5:48; Luke 18:19; Psalm 100:5; and Psalm 18:30. Even when people invoke God’s name, we can know that they are not acting consistent with his direction when their activity contradicts God’s character revealed in Scripture and the person of Jesus Christ.
Did Moses ever actually write any of the Old Testament? I have heard other people authored the books but were simply inspired by Moses, who in turned was inspired by God..
Moses wrote the first five books of the Bible (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy), under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, which means that Moses was divinely inspired to produce the words comprising those books. See, e.g., 2 Timothy 3:16 and 2 Peter 1:20-21.
If God oversaw the creation of the Bible, wasn't god also overseeing the creation of the Koran and the book of Mormon and all the heretical books too?
God in his sovereignty allowed the Koran and Book of Mormon to be written, but Scripture is clear that only the Bible is written by God and indeed it teaches against adding to it in any way. See 2 Peter 1:20-21; 2 Timothy 3:16; Deuteronomy 12:32; Proverbs 30:5-6; and Revelation 22:18-19.
Because our bodies are temples, are getting tattoos/piercings a sin?
The Bible does not prohibit tattoos or piercings. 1 Corinthians 6:19 does teach that “your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God[.] You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” Accordingly, Christians have a responsibility to exercise responsible stewardship over their bodies, but this does not necessarily preclude getting tattoos or piercings. Instead, a Christian is free to do those things if doing so does not go against his or her conscience and ultimately can be done to God’s glory. See Romans 14:23; 1 Corinthians 10:29-33.
How do you know if God is real?
God has revealed himself in Scripture and the person of Jesus Christ. Further, Romans 1:19-20 teaches that the natural world bears witness to God through its beauty, complexity, usefulness.
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Living Stones Q&A - #3
A few months back Living Stones hosted a Question & Answers night and received over a hundred questions. Many of them were addressed during our gatherings and can be found on our podcast here. For the next few weeks I will be posting up answers to some of the remaining questions that were not answered. Answers for the questions have been provided by various Living Stones Elders.
Do you believe that other religions demonstrate how to live valid and good lives?
Other religions espouse principles consistent with the common understanding of living a good and valid life; e.g. forbidding rape, stealing, lying, etc. Those religions typically teach that adherence to those principles, among others, leads to salvation. The Bible is plain, however, that salvations is by faith in Jesus Christ alone, not by our work in adhering to rules. See Galatians 2:16. What distinguishes Christianity is that obedience (i.e., living a good and valid life) flows from loving God for what he has already done for us in Jesus Christ’s life, death, and resurrection. See John 14:15; 1 John 5:3. Moreover, the principles for living a good and valid life that other religions promote are often based on personal experience and observation, but Scripture teaches that wisdom begins with fearing (i.e., demonstrating reverence and humility before) God. See Psalm 111:10. Thus, while other religions may teach useful principles, they do not go far enough. Living righteously begins with God, not our experience and observation. Additionally, our obedience is only possible through the Holy Spirit’s empowerment, not through exerted personal effort or any other external assistance, such as a better circumstance, meditation, reading a self-help book, etc. See Philippians 2:12-13.
If going through a hard time in life where in the Bible do I turn to?
Although myriad passages of Scripture are helpful when suffering, the Psalms are a good place to start, as many of them were written by a man named David, who experienced severe hardship in his life. During those times, he wrote down his prayers to God, seeking help, expressing frustration and confusion, and ultimately praising God. Check out Psalm 46, Psalm 22, and Psalm 55.
In 1 Tim 4:10, we read that "...because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe (ESV)." I thought that Jesus is the savior ONLY of those who believed...? How then is He the Savior of "all people"?
As the question suggests, 1 Timothy 4:10 appears to teach universalism—that everyone will be saved and that no one will suffer eternal punishment in hell. But such an interpretation contradicts much of Scripture; e.g., Psalm 53:3; Romans 3:23; Daniel 12:2; and Matthew 5:29-30; 10:28; and 18:9. Instead, it appears that the term “Savior of all people” in 1 Timothy 4:10 likely refers to God’s temporal blessing enjoyed by all mankind, referred to as his common grace; e.g., the enjoyment of God’s creation, rain that produces crops, and the breath that sustains us. See Matthew 5:45; Acts 14:15-17. The phrase “especially of those who believe,” then, is a reference to the more specific way in which God saves those who live by faith in Jesus Christ.
Should Christian teens date or wait till they’re older?
The Bible does not say much about dating specifically because the modern understanding of dating is a relatively recent invention, developing in the last 100 years. In my view, a person should not pursue a serious romantic relationship until he or she is mature enough and ready to marry. Meanwhile, the individual should focus on maturing by, for example, taking on adult responsibilities, studying Scripture, living on mission, and pursuing godly mentorship.
God still speaks through people today. I have my personal testimonies where I feel God spoke to me. Can I write my own "book of the Bible?"
No. The Bible unequivocally prohibits us from adding anything to it or considering any other writing as equal in value to it. See, e.g., Deuteronomy 12:32; Proverbs 30:5-6; and Revelation 22:18-19.
Do you believe that other religions demonstrate how to live valid and good lives?
Other religions espouse principles consistent with the common understanding of living a good and valid life; e.g. forbidding rape, stealing, lying, etc. Those religions typically teach that adherence to those principles, among others, leads to salvation. The Bible is plain, however, that salvations is by faith in Jesus Christ alone, not by our work in adhering to rules. See Galatians 2:16. What distinguishes Christianity is that obedience (i.e., living a good and valid life) flows from loving God for what he has already done for us in Jesus Christ’s life, death, and resurrection. See John 14:15; 1 John 5:3. Moreover, the principles for living a good and valid life that other religions promote are often based on personal experience and observation, but Scripture teaches that wisdom begins with fearing (i.e., demonstrating reverence and humility before) God. See Psalm 111:10. Thus, while other religions may teach useful principles, they do not go far enough. Living righteously begins with God, not our experience and observation. Additionally, our obedience is only possible through the Holy Spirit’s empowerment, not through exerted personal effort or any other external assistance, such as a better circumstance, meditation, reading a self-help book, etc. See Philippians 2:12-13.
If going through a hard time in life where in the Bible do I turn to?
Although myriad passages of Scripture are helpful when suffering, the Psalms are a good place to start, as many of them were written by a man named David, who experienced severe hardship in his life. During those times, he wrote down his prayers to God, seeking help, expressing frustration and confusion, and ultimately praising God. Check out Psalm 46, Psalm 22, and Psalm 55.
In 1 Tim 4:10, we read that "...because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe (ESV)." I thought that Jesus is the savior ONLY of those who believed...? How then is He the Savior of "all people"?
As the question suggests, 1 Timothy 4:10 appears to teach universalism—that everyone will be saved and that no one will suffer eternal punishment in hell. But such an interpretation contradicts much of Scripture; e.g., Psalm 53:3; Romans 3:23; Daniel 12:2; and Matthew 5:29-30; 10:28; and 18:9. Instead, it appears that the term “Savior of all people” in 1 Timothy 4:10 likely refers to God’s temporal blessing enjoyed by all mankind, referred to as his common grace; e.g., the enjoyment of God’s creation, rain that produces crops, and the breath that sustains us. See Matthew 5:45; Acts 14:15-17. The phrase “especially of those who believe,” then, is a reference to the more specific way in which God saves those who live by faith in Jesus Christ.
Should Christian teens date or wait till they’re older?
The Bible does not say much about dating specifically because the modern understanding of dating is a relatively recent invention, developing in the last 100 years. In my view, a person should not pursue a serious romantic relationship until he or she is mature enough and ready to marry. Meanwhile, the individual should focus on maturing by, for example, taking on adult responsibilities, studying Scripture, living on mission, and pursuing godly mentorship.
God still speaks through people today. I have my personal testimonies where I feel God spoke to me. Can I write my own "book of the Bible?"
No. The Bible unequivocally prohibits us from adding anything to it or considering any other writing as equal in value to it. See, e.g., Deuteronomy 12:32; Proverbs 30:5-6; and Revelation 22:18-19.
Monday, May 23, 2011
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