Who Cares?

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If you would rather read this message, the words are provided below…

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Not long ago, I posted an article about Christians and the use of marijuana. In response to my article, I received one comment in particular that disturbed me and left me disheartened. A man by the name of Russell claimed to be a Christian and essentially told me he didn’t like my article. I’m not bothered by the fact that someone didn’t like my message – many people are going to reject the message I bring. In fact, GOD’s Word tells us that we will be rejected and possibly persecuted on His behalf just as He had been (Matthew 24:9-13; Philippians 1:20-21,29-30; 1Thessalonians 3:3-4). What upset me was that this man claimed to be a Christian yet opposed my Christian message. I will first share his comment regarding my article so his argument can be known in his own words and then I will respond to that comment.

“Let me give you a better Christian perspective… Who cares? Let’s focus on loving our neighbors and spreading the good word. Marijuana is a very non-essential issue and I respect that you said that, even though I disagree with your prospective. I am a Christian and I do not see any difference between marijuana and alcohol. We obviously know there is nothing unbiblical about alcohol since Jesus drank wine at virtually every meal he partook in and turned water into wine. It is very hypocritical to not apply the same rules to marijuana. The key to both is moderation and both can be used in moderation. Here is an example, 2 puffs is like 1 glass of wine, 5 puffs is like 2 glasses of wine, etc. That is not a perfect example since the effects of marijuana are not nearly as strong as alcohol, but it illustrates how both can be used in controlled moderation. And there is a large % of people that can use alcohol and marijuana responsibly. Last, you are way over exaggerating the effects of marijuana. It is not mind altering like your portraying. A few puffs simply gives a relaxing feeling for 15-20min similar to the way drinking a Red Bull gives you a jolt for 15-20. I still have never heard a good argument that responsible use of alcohol or marijuana is any more unbiblical then going to an ice cream parlor and devouring a brownie sundae or going to Starbucks and downing a double espresso latte.”

I want to respond to that comment, but I don’t want to confine this response to Russell alone. Though this response is specifically for Russell, this response is also for all Christians in general.

First and foremost, I’d like to thank you for watching my video, “Christians + Marijuana = ?” (assuming that you watched the entire video and didn’t comment without first watching the entire video). Second, though your comment left me disheartened, I do appreciate the fact that you took the time to write a comment to me. 

Now, you claim that you are a Christian and so I must take you at your word on the matter. However, if you feel led to challenge your own claim and see if you are in fact in alignment with your claim of being a Christ-follower, see my other article, “What Does It Mean To Be A Christian.”

Before I reply to specific points of your comment, I’d like to remind you that anger and argument amongst Christian brothers will not destroy the Gospel, but it can destroy each individual’s testimony and effectiveness in sharing it. With that said, may it be known that I am going to do my best to speak Truth in love (just as we are instructed to do in Ephesians 4:15) and I hope that if you respond to this, you will also do the same.

If I am doing GOD’s will, why would you – as a Christian – oppose my work? However, if I am not doing GOD’s will, then by all means rebuke me and then correct me. Rebuking and correcting another Christian for false teaching is biblical and right (Matthew 18:15-17; Galatians 6:1-2). However, unless you are rebuking me for false teaching, then you’re wasting time and effort to oppose another Christian. In fact, because you have made the claim that you are a Christian and opposed my message on a public platform via social media, I am now compelled to defend what it means to be a Christian on this public platform. I now have to use my valuable time in order to clear up the confusion your comment may cause for unbelievers. I now have to redirect your misguided missile of ‘meh’ that can be seen by the masses. If your comment to me was an attempt to rebuke and correct me, then consider this response your rebuke and my defense as to why your rebuke is without warrant. Had you not made your comment public, I would not have needed to post my response for the public. If you would have written to me privately, I could have responded privately. But as it is, I now must post a public response just in case someone is confused by your comment. 

You stated that a “better Christian perspective” is “who cares?” Who cares?! I now need to rebuke you for that careless comment that is often the center of complacency. Perhaps it is because you do not care that you do not understand the importance of this message. We – Christians – are to live by example (Titus 2:6-8). You stated correctly that Christians are to love others and share the Gospel. However, I exhort you to watch my other video, “Superhero: What Is Love?“, which clearly explains that we are to never cause anyone else to stumble.

Like it or not, believe it or not, small things tend to build up and become bigger issues. And because the small things matter, even this seemingly insignificant topic of marijuana matters. Everything matters! You also stated that there is no difference between marijuana and alcohol because they’re both acceptable in moderation. As I explained in my other article, “Should Christians Drink Alcohol?“, the key is not moderation; rather, the key is love for others and an unwillingness to ever cause someone else to stumble.

I’m not saying that marijuana and alcohol is literally sin being consumed; rather, I’m saying that a loving Christian should be willing to let go of worldly desires (that we won’t need in Heaven anyway) in order to direct others to healthier lifestyles here on Earth, but more importantly, to their eternal salvation in Christ.

Please correct me if I’m wrong, but by the context clues of your comment, it seems evident that you are simply unwilling to let go of worldly desires that bring you mere moments of pleasure. Are you willing to let go of your worldly desires in order to ensure that you will never cause someone to stumble? Or are you more concerned with pleasure than purpose, for self-satisfaction than others’ salvation? Are you a slave to your desires? I challenge you to see my other article, “Break Every Chain” and test yourself to see if you are a slave to your desires.

If you are a Christian, I admonish you to get rid of your “who cares” attitude and start caring more than you currently do. Again, you were correct to say that we need to love others and share the Gospel, but we need to care more for others than for self if we are to be an accurate reflection of the love of Christ. I also challenge you to see my other article, “Reflection And Direction“ – what we reflect determines our projected path. You need to take into consideration that our actions determine how others perceive Christians and Christianity and how our actions play a vital role as to whether or not unbelievers will receive the Gospel we are called to share. What do unbelievers think when they see Christians acting just like everyone else in the world? There is an absolute moral standard and Christians are called to be set apart to live righteous lives.

Now, a common substitute for true righteousness is self-righteousness. And I can understand how one might perceive that I am being self-righteous. I get it. But that’s simply not the case. Hear me out… Self-righteousness is the opposite of what GOD desires. Self-righteousness makes a list of rules and checks them off, and then congratulates self on how ‘good’ he/she is doing compared to others. That’s pride, not righteousness. The Pharisees were masters of self-righteousness, but Jesus had harsh words for them:

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness. So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.”
(Matthew 23:27–28) -ESV

To pursue righteousness means we must recognize that we cannot please GOD in our sinful state (Romans 8:8). We turn from trying to justify ourselves by our good deeds and instead seek the mercy of GOD. We desire that He transform our minds (Romans 12:2) and conform us “to the image of His Son” (Romans 8:29). In the Old Testament, men were declared righteous when they believed GOD and acted on it (Genesis 15:6; Romans 4:3; Galatians 3:6; James 2:23). Before Pentecost (Acts 2:1–4), people pursued righteousness by keeping GOD’s Law, seeking holiness, and “walking humbly with GOD” (Micah 6:8). No one was justified by rule-keeping but by the faith that enabled them to obey GOD (Romans 3:20; Galatians 2:16; Ephesians 2:8-9).

Likewise, today we are justified by the faith that leads us to Jesus (Romans 3:27-28; 5:1; 10:10). Those who are in Christ continue seeking GOD in order to please Him (Colossians 3:1-17). When we come to faith in Christ, He gives us the Holy Spirit who empowers us to pursue righteousness for its own sake (Acts 2:38). He commands us to “walk in the Spirit” (Galatians 5:16, 25). Walking in the Spirit means we live a lifestyle of total surrender to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. We cultivate the ability to hear GOD and the habit of obeying His voice in everything.

We pursue righteousness when we pursue the character of Christ and desire holiness more than fleshly indulgence. We avoid the temptation to become self-righteous when we understand that true righteousness begins with godly humility (Psalm 25:9). We remember that Jesus said, “Apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). When we spend time in the presence of the Holy and perfect GOD, we become more aware of our own sin and shortcomings. Teeth can be perceived to be white, but a white-strip test comparison will soon reveal the discoloration and impurities that are present and we will see that we’re not so perfect. Pride and self-righteousness cannot remain in the presence of a holy GOD. Pursuing righteousness begins when a humble heart seeks the continual presence of GOD (James 4:10; 1Peter 5:6). The humble and believing heart leads to a lifestyle of righteous action acceptable to GOD (Psalm 51:10). It all boils down to this one question: Are you willing to put others before yourself? In other words, are you willing to let go of your pursuit for pleasure in order to pursue purpose?

I challenge you to set aside time right now to read Romans 14 and 1Corinthians 8. Make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in another person’s way. You possess free will and you have freedom in Christ. However, with that freedom, comes responsibility to do right by others. 

“You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.”
(Galatians 5:13) -NIV

In order to serve others in love, sacrifice will be required. Sometimes we must let go of things that we want so that others may get what they need. 

Conclusion:

I rebuke you for your careless comment, “who cares?” I care! And if you’re upset because I care, you need to ask yourself if you care enough. What does that say about you? You care that I care because you don’t want to care yet you care enough not to care to come at me because I care. Do you see me wearing a shirt that says, “Come at me, bruh!”? No. I’m not the enemy, bro. He who receives me receives the One who sent me. You may not care about the small things, but I care about everything that possesses the potential to affect everyone. I had once lived on the other side and dwelled in darkness, but I came out of the cave of darkness as a more-than conquerer in Christ. As someone who used to be a darkness dweller, I am able to tell you from experience that Satan is subtle; evil is deliberate. All the small things matter because everything matters. Satan doesn’t care about the majority of your collective decisions throughout your lifespan; Satan only cares about the final deciding moment that will determine your eternity. But many people end up sliding down the slippery slope into Hell because compromise slowly led them beyond the boundary of righteousness to the point of no return. But the closer we grow and come to Christ, the farther away we will be from Satan’s slide. Satan always sells his slide as a fun ride. Understand this: ‘fun’ is subjective and needs to be placed in proper perspective. The danger in disregarding the small things is that subtle shifts can create a big gap over time. And if you happen to be on the wrong side of the great chasm that is fixed for all eternity, you will be like the rich man of Luke 16:19-31.

You told me it is “very hypocritical” not to apply the same rules to marijuana as we do for alcohol. I agree. I do, however, apply the same standards – I abstain. I don’t do this because I believe I’m better than everyone else. I do this because if I am able, I should also be available. What I find to be hypocritical is when those who claim to be Christians proclaim they love people and want others to be saved yet they are unwilling to die daily to themselves, take up their crosses, set aside their desires, and willingly sacrifice for those they claim they love (Matthew 16:24-25; Luke 14:27; Galatians 2:20; 5:24). Too many people attempt to justify their selfish decisions because they don’t want to let go of mere moments of pleasure that will soon pass and never satisfy the soul. Understand this: we do not live righteous lives in order to show off how ‘good’ we are and glorify ourselves; rather, we strive to be righteous through love and obedience to GOD and out of love for others. I know who I am because I know who GOD is.  I do what I do because it is our call of duty. Who cares? GOD cares. I care. And you should too. Christians should care; in fact, Christians should care more than those in the secular society. In my mission as a messenger of GOD, I refuse to willingly place a stumbling block in front of those who are lost in the darkness yet seeking the Light. And that should be your mission as well. We should be doing everything possible to help the lost enter by the narrow gate:

“Someone asked him, ‘Lord, will only a few be saved?’ He replied, ^‘Work hard to enter the narrow door to God’s Kingdom, for many will try to enter but will fail. When the master of the house has locked the door, it will be too late. You will stand outside knocking and pleading, “Lord, open the door for us!” But he will reply, “I don’t know you or where you come from.” Then you will say, “But we ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.” And he will reply, “I tell you, I don’t know you or where you come from. Get away from me, all you who do evil.” There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, for you will see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in the Kingdom of God, but you will be thrown out. And people will come from all over the world—from east and west, north and south—to take their places in the Kingdom of God. And note this: Some who seem least important now will be the greatest then, and some who are the greatest now will be least important then.’ ”
(Luke 13:23-30; see also Matthew 7:13-14) -NLT

You have free will. If, by your free will, you place a stumbling block in front of others and they live a life of sin because of your actions, you’ll be held accountable. We’re all going to be accountable to GOD. I’m going to be held accountable for my sins. But I do not ever want to hear that I caused someone to live a life of sin because I made sin seem satisfying and somehow acceptable. I’m not even going to gamble with money, let alone with peoples’ lives or eternities. The entrance is narrow. What are you willing to risk for the sake of mere moments of pleasure? This is all about love for others. I implore you to seek GOD and to stay in alignment with His will. 

Superhero: Solution Seekers

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If you would rather read this message, the words are provided below:

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This is Part 5 of my Superhero series. In the introduction of this series, I provided the argument that heroes are real and then I distinguished between heroes and superheroes. I also provided a list of what defines a superhero. In Part 1, we learned that superheroes recognize the absolute standard of Good and realize that evil is a mere privation of what is good. In Part 2, we learned that superheroes recognize the absolute moral standard and realize that what is wrong can only be known by the standard of what is right. In Part 3, I defined and expounded upon love because all superheroes are full of love and are compelled to act out from love. In Part 4, I explained that superheroes desire to save people from all forms of danger and/or death and this desire comes from love.

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In this message (Part 5), I’m going to examine another defining characteristic of superheroes: they are solution seekers!

Solution seeker! Yes! Being a solution-seeker is a great concept and a wonderful thing to write on a resume! But there’s one problem: we often worry about what’s wrong. Many people are prone to pointing out problems. In fact, I just pointed out a problem by pointing out that problem. (Oh no! That’s a problem!) But wait – there’s more! I have good news to share! Where there are problems, there can be solutions! In fact, here is a solution to problems: Never point out a problem unless you’re also willing to seek a solution. At the very least, you must be willing to seek a solution to a problem or else you become the problem. For the one who refuses to seek a solution accepts the problem as a permanent pain.

If seeking solutions is such an easy answer to pesky and persistent problems, why are there so many people who are depressed and/or filled with anxiety or worry? Why do so many people consider suicide? Well, there exists two major evil villains that prevent people from seeking solutions: Fear and Doubt – they are the fork in the tongue of the serpent. Many people often allow problems to paralyze them from going forward due to fear of failure; many people also what-if themselves into indecisiveness and doubt themselves into idleness.

Fear and Doubt:

Fear paralyzes people and prevents possibility. Even if you do not fear anything, you can still be denied possibility due to Doubt. If Doubt becomes a barrier between you and Belief, it becomes equal to fear in the sense that it still prevents you from possibility. The person who allows Fear and Doubt to take control becomes his/her own problem because he/she is imprisoned within his/her own mind. In the prison of problems, your only cellmate is stagnation.

There Is Hope:

I’m going to let you in on a secret in the hope that you’re going to tell everyone and it will no longer be a secret: Doubt fears Belief, and Fear doubts Belief. Even with as much hatred and evil as Fear and Doubt have within themselves, they still understand the concept of teamwork; together, they can imprison you! However, Doubt fears Belief. Doubt fears Belief because Belief banishes Doubt away. Where is your concept of teamwork? You cannot have teamwork with Fear or Doubt while seeking Possibility. Fear and Doubt already work together with plans of destruction and their target is you! You can only pair up with Belief and Vision in order to find Possibility. Belief banishes Doubt from you when you and Belief join together to create a team. Together, you can then overcome Fear because you would believe that you can do so. However, because Fear doubts Belief, Fear will follow you, doubting that Belief will remain within you. Since Belief banishes doubt from you when you team up with Belief, Doubt will live inside of Fear (who is following you), motivating Fear to follow you. However, the pursuit will be in vain because Belief is eternal so long as you never have an about-face of doubt. That means you will always be able to find Possibility so long as you team up with Belief. But belief in what? Not what, but who! Belief in the Savior, Christ Jesus! The Savior is the Solution – we simply need to seek the Solution to all problems if we are to find the specific solutions for specific problems!

Resist and Receive:

“So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come close to God, and God will come close to you.”
(James 4:7-8) -NLT

“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.”
(Matthew 7:7-11) -NLT

The special stipulation to this promise is found in James 4:2-3; our desires need to be in alignment with GOD’s will. Ask yourself three important questions:

1. For what are you asking?
2. Why are you asking for that specific request?
3. Will it benefit the Kingdom of GOD?

Knowing GOD takes faith, focus, and follow-through. Jesus promises a reward for the passionate pursuit of seeking GOD’s will.

What Does GOD Say About Fear?

There are over 300 instances in the Bible in which we are instructed not to fear. There are two major reasons why we should not fear:

1. Trust in GOD;
2. love for others.

(1) There should be no fear in this limited lifetime because we know our eternal destiny:

“Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell. What is the price of two sparrows—one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.”
(Matthew 10:28-31) -NLT

(2) Why would we fear the outcome of choosing to love?:

“And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world. Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love.”
(1John 4:17-18) -NLT

Therefore, we do not fear people nor do we fear punishment. Perfect love casts out all fear. And since we trust in GOD – who is love (1John 4:8,16) – and we choose to love GOD and others, we have no reason to fear.

What Does GOD Say About Doubt?

“When doubts filled my mind, your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer.”
(Psalm 94:19) -NLT

Do you see how this works? Belief banishes doubt. Faith (trust) in GOD creates hope. With hope, one has reason to seek solutions. While seeking the Solution, the Holy Spirit gives the seeker wisdom and vision. Wisdom and vision plan out and produce possibilities.

“And Peter answered him, ‘Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.’ He said, ‘Come.’ So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, ‘Lord, save me.’ Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, ‘O you of little faith, why did you doubt?’ And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, ‘Truly you are the Son of God.’ ”
(Matthew 14:28-33) -ESV

Peter had faith and so he walked on water. However, he allowed doubt within and he started to sink. But remember: doubt was living inside of fear and fear is faithful to follow. Doubt and fear joined forces and caused Peter to sink. But in seeking the Savior, the Solution was found: trust in the Lord is the solution. Faith creates hope and hope gives birth to possibilities.

“Then Jesus told them, ‘I tell you the truth, if you have faith and don’t doubt, you can do things like this and much more. You can even say to this mountain, “May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,” and it will happen. You can pray for anything, and if you have faith, you will receive it.’ ”
(Matthew 21:21) -NLT

So, faith is foundational and prayer is powerful. But in order to pray we must first be seeking GOD. If prayer, however, is one of the keys to being a solution seeker, then prayer needs to be properly understood.

Faith-filled Purposeful Prayer:

Prayer needs to be purposeful if it is to be powerful (I’ll expound upon prayer in parts 21-22). Prayer is not a means of merely asking for what we want. GOD is not a magic genie and prayer is not the magic lamp by which to summon GOD. Prayer is a connection between us and GOD. A healthy relationship requires constant communication. So, talk. Prayer is also a way to love others. We should pray for others (Ephesians 6:18-19). But we should also pray that GOD’s will be done and not our own (Matthew 26:39, 42, 44). In the connection of prayer, the goal is to come into alignment with GOD’s will. Regarding prayer, it is important to remember that GOD always answers our prayers in one of three possible ways: yes, no, or not yet. And it is important to thank GOD for all the “no” answers. All the “no” answers eventually lead to the “yes” moment. When we pray, we must pray for the right reasons. Motive matters. We don’t need a mantra, we need a meaningful connection with the Maker. Prayers need to be genuine and purposeful. But remember: you don’t always need to know exactly what to say (Romans 8:26-28). Just be honest.

“But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.”
(James 1: 6-8) –NIV

Doubts are sometimes unavoidable and seem inevitable. Whether intellectually based or emotionally charged, all doubts need to be doubted and examined. If you find yourself doubting, you’re certainly not alone in your struggle. In Mark 9:24, the father of the possessed son asked Jesus to help his unbelief. Having the courage to doubt your doubts and investigate their causes leads to greater confidence in your relationship with Jesus. In seeking the Savior, He can help work through your doubts to increase your faith. Therefore, investigate your doubts. Seek Truth. Be specific about what your doubts are – write them out and list reasons for and against them. Also, pray! And never stop praying (1Thessalonians 5:17)! Like the father of the possessed son, we too can ask GOD to help with unbelief. Be a Solution seeker! This is important because belief casts out doubt and love casts out fear. The faith-filled become the faith-full! The faithful and loving solution-seeker is stable and also able to pursue possibilities.

Beyond, Through, and To:

“Give all your worries to him, because he cares about you.”
(1Peter 5:7) –NCV

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”
(Philippians 4:6-7) -NLT

Though the Bible does not explicitly say that worry is a sin, we can still logically conclude that it is a sin by examining all the available evidence. One simply cannot trust GOD to provide if one worries about provision. Likewise, one cannot trust GOD about wellbeing if one worries about wellbeing. Faith is trust. There’s no trust in worrying because worrying comes from doubting GOD.

“And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.”
(Hebrews 11:6) -NLT

Know this: GOD already told us He will take care of all our needs (Matthew 6:25-34).

“And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.”
(Philippians 4:8-9) -NLT

Pray Your Way To Peace:

Prayer is not our last resort; rather, it is our first line of defense! And that is why prayer is being discussed here in addition to the end of this book. How do we get GOD’s peace? By putting into practice what we learned. We have learned that we need to put our trust in the Lord (Proverbs 3:5-6). So, let us put into practice our faith by living confidently in Christ. We can pray our way into peace! Look beyond the problem, through the potential and to the possibilities by seeking the power of GOD in prayer. If we focus on all that is good and right, our focus won’t be on what is bad and wrong. That’s easier said than done – I know. But no one ever said that what is simple is also easy. If we fill our minds with GOD’s Word, we won’t have enough room to fill our minds with the Satan’s lies and the world’s ways. Christians must think about what they’re thinking about and not allow their minds to wander into the chaotic circus of sin. In our spiritual warfare, we need to wear the helmet of salvation (explain in Part 19) because it is spiritual armor for the mind. Negative thoughts can be replaced with positive ones, and the more that godly substitution takes place, the more peace and joy we can experience. Many times we are asking GOD to change our situation when GOD desires to change our stinkin’ thinkin’! GOD’s peace is promised to guard those who pray – with thanksgiving – about everything.

“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.”
(Romans 8:28) -NLT

Stay Focused:

We already know the ending of the story! Christ returns, evil is banished to Hell, and all believers will live happily ever after with Jesus for eternity (Revelation 19-21). Knowing this, our focus should simply be on how to continually make things better until Christ returns. GOD gave people the great gift of free will. Where free will exists, evil is always possible; in fact, bad things are inevitable in this sinful fallen world. But GOD created us to create good while we choose to live a life of love. So, what are you creating? In order to be a solution seeker, we must trust in GOD and love others. Belief banishes doubt and love expels fear. Without fear and doubt, GOD’s peace will be with you and GOD’s power will enable you to be more than a conquerer in Christ (Romans 8:37).

Conclusion:

“Show mercy to those who have doubts. Save others by snatching them from the fire of hell.”
(Jude 1: 22-23) –GW

You can be a superhero! You can be a superhero by simply being a consistent solution seeker! In the name of Jesus, go be a defender of the faith by helping others battle fear and doubt. Peter was saved while sinking in the sea of doubt because he reached out to Jesus. All people can find salvation by doing exactly what Peter did – by reaching out to Jesus and trusting Him to save. In fact, I did the same thing when I once found myself sinking and Jesus saved me too! To read my testimony, see my other article, “My Testimony: From Agnosticism, To Atheism, To Christianity“.

Here’s the bottom line: When a problem comes along, you must whip it! Whip it good… in the name of Jesus!

 

Superhero (series) – Introduction

Why am I writing a book about superheroes? After all, I’m a Christian pastor. Can I justify writing a book on such an unbiblical concept such as superhumans with superpowers? I admit that at first glance, this book appears to be unbiblical, but that’s merely the surface. Remember: don’t judge a book by its cover. To discover Truth, we must dig into the depths beyond the surface. The real question we need to ask ourselves is, “What biblical truths can we learn by studying superheroes?” For all superheroes only exist because of the One true Superhero: Jesus. The purpose of this book is to define the qualities of a superhero and reveal how all of those qualities come from GOD. 

Ever since I was a little boy, I had been fascinated by superheroes. And like many others kids, I wore Superman and/or Batman pajamas with an attached cape. I played with my action figures and used my imagination to create different scenarios for which the superheroes would be needed in order to save the day. I had even created my own mask out of a paper plate and made up my own superhero name. Eventually, however, life redirected my attention to other matters such as sports, girls, jobs, bills, etc. But in recent years, Marvel has released many superhero movies. And as an adult, those movies spoke to my inner child and inspired me to once again think about superheroes. While watching the 2012 movie, The Avengers, I thought, “It would be so awesome to be a real superhero!”

Almost as soon as I finished that thought, I had another: “Because it would be awesome to be a real superhero, I bet there are people who have attempted to fight crime while wearing ridiculous outfits.”

I then went home and researched news articles that might have mentioned such people and sure enough, there have been grown adults who attempted to fight crime in ridiculous costumes! One such example was in Seattle, Washington – a man by the name of Phoenix Jones. In fact, he was the leader of the “Rain City Superheroes” – a group of 10 crime-fighters at that time. While I admired Jones’ passion to patrol the city and keep it safe, I also recognized that real superheroes possess more than enthusiasm. But it made me think: “What if superheroes were real? What would they actually look like? Would they even bother wearing a costume? Are superheroes actually possible? Do superheroes exist?”

And – yes! They are not only possible, but they are real! Their appearance doesn’t usually match our expectations, but superheroes do exist. 

GOD uses ordinary people to achieve extraordinary accomplishments. Heroes are not specific species born into existence, nor are they genetically modified or engineered beings; rather, they are average humans who become above-average people due to the decisions they make out from their free will. How a person freely responds to the challenges and difficulties of life will determine if he/she is a hero. An example of a hero would be a man who risks getting injured by pulling a woman out of a burning vehicle in order to save her life. That would be a heroic act; therefore, we can recognize that man as a hero. But how will that man choose to live the remaining time of his life after the initial heroic moment? Will that incident puff up his pride and cause him to glorify himself? Will he continue to respond in a consistent heroic manner in the future? Will he be a one-hit-wonder? Will he later decide that taking risks for other people is too dangerous and that he’s not willing to sacrifice anymore? It’s worth thinking about it. Anyone can become a hero by simply doing one noteworthy act. Just one noteworthy act can bump someone up from average status to above-average status. But should we set our standards so low? 

A superhero is not a Superman who comes to Earth from outer space wielding supernatural powers; rather, a superhero is merely a hero with supreme status due to his/her decision to go above and beyond the call of duty through sacrificial love on a consistent basis. An example of a superhero would be Mother Teresa — she went above and beyond by sacrificing nearly everything in order to dedicate her life to loving the unloved. She proved that a woman can be a superHERo.

Sadly, superheroes should be common, but they are not. In this sinful and fallen world, people are often selfish. And because of this sad truth, you would think that superheroes shine and stand out against the backdrop of the darkness in this world. Unfortunately, superheroes often go unnoticed unless the spotlight of fame happens to highlight them. Mother Teresa was one of the superheroes who ended up in the spotlight. But there are many superheroes who work in the background, blend in, and go unnoticed. People are usually distracted with entertainment, celebrities, and their own problems, and so the background superheroes go unrecognized. But there’s another reason why superheroes often go unnoticed: they don’t need the recognition. Superheroes are not superheroes because they get recognized as such; rather, they are superheroes whether anyone recognizes them or not simply because of what they do and who they are. Superheroes do not live for the praise of humanity; they’re not in it for the audience applause, they’re merely doing it for the cause. They don’t seek to please people; rather, they desire to pursue people with a loving purpose. 

In reality, superheroes don’t typically wear ridiculous costumes. So, how can we recognize these superheroes working in the background who go unnoticed? In order to find these superheroes, you need only to seek to find the character qualities of these superheroes. So, what are these qualities? I have dedicated one chapter per character quality so that we can expound upon each quality and discover the depth beyond the surface of superheroes. Superheroes:

1. recognize evil because they realize there is an absolute standard of goodness by which all evil can be known (GOD is the standard for all that is good)
2. recognize what is right and wrong because they realize there is an absolute moral standard by which all wrong can be known (GOD is the standard of all that is right)
3. are full of love and are compelled to act out from love (GOD is love and love comes from GOD)
4. desire to save people from danger and/or death (this desire comes from love)
5. see beyond problems, through the potential and to the possibilities (if they are to save people, they need to be solution seekers)
6. do not “what if” themselves into failure (because they are solution seekers)
7. are willing to sacrifice for the betterment of others (if the solution means sacrifice, then so be it)
8. make themselves available to be used (sacrificial love steps forward and offers service)
9. are not blue cord bums (they walk the walk and don’t just talk the talk)
10. go above and beyond the call of duty (if you’re going to make yourself available, don’t just put your foot in the water — dive in)
11. are courageous, committed, consistent, and unwilling to quit (going all in is to never back out; because they are willing to do what is necessary, they will not back down, give in, or give up)
12. know why they do what they do
13. do it for the cause, not for an audience applause — they don’t need recognition (they are only motivated by love)
14. understand that meaningful REALationships require love; they desire to be loved
15. understand that teamwork works — Batman linked with Robin; Ironman was smart, but still linked with Avengers; even Superman linked with Justice League)
16. understand pain and suffering
17. have real problems because they’re real people (in an intimate connection with close personal relationships, they can receive as much as they give by simply admitting they don’t want to deal with their problems alone)
18. make conscious decisions to overcome darkness with Light
19. are more than conquerors (our problems don’t define us; exterior circumstances should never alter our inner dispositions)
20. are woven together by faith (we are defined by our identity and our identity is found in origin)
21. understand their calling
22. are always ready for battle because they wear the Belt of Truth
23. understand Truth
24. are always ready for battle because they wear the Breastplate of Righteousness
25. are always ready for battle because they wear the Shoes of Readiness
26. are always ready for battle because they hold the Shield of Faith
27. are always ready for battle because they wear the Helmet of Salvation
28. are always ready for battle because they carry the Sword of the Spirit
29. live, eat, and breathe Truth
30. are always ready for battle because they pray at all times and on every occasion (Powerful Prayer – Part 1)
31. understand who they are praying to (nature of GOD)
32. understand who they are praying to (Jesus)
33. understand who they are praying to (Trinity)
34. know how and when to pray (Powerful Prayer – Part 2)
35. Superheroes have superpowers!
36. are focused and completely committed
37. understand what it means to be a Superhero
38. choose to be superheroes rather than evil villains

Church History (Introduction)

What does church history look like? When reading and studying the entire history of the church, we must keep our focus on the bigger picture and compare what GOD’s Word actually teaches to what GOD’s people actually did or did not do. There has always been and will always be deviation from Truth and lights that get extinguished from the church, leaving only darkness in some areas and at some times. This all is from the Fall. From Cain murdering his brother, Abel, to the Day of Christ’s return and the battle of Armageddon, GOD’s people and the church will always be forced to shine light through the darkness of this world. Sadly, when evil infiltrates and contaminates GOD’s people, the world is left with doubt about GOD and His Word. And when they look at the stained glass in the church window, they are uncertain if the color red should represent the claim of Christ’s sacrificial blood or the notorious fame of a blood-thirsty mass of supercilious saints who masquerade about with malicious motives and pious performances. GOD’s people must live out a delicate balance of love and Truth. Even the slightest ‘one-degree’ deviation demonstrates demonic deeds that make the world believe blood-saturated saints to be devils in disguise and Christ a mere guise.

This is what church history looks like — it is one long war with many battles of GOD’s people trying to keep the faith, defend Truth, yet all the while correct the mistakes that have tarnished the perfect name of GOD. As representatives of GOD, Christians, with wrong actions, are capable of driving people away from right belief. I recently encountered the trending hashtag on Twitter, “ChurchToo”, which essentially was used for people to share their horrible stories of how church members or church leaders abused their position and power in order to sexually assault people, or mentally or physically abuse people. Are all the accusations true? Probably not. This hashtag popped up only after sexual allegations against celebrities became popular news headlines and Hollywood started devouring itself like a king snake swallowing another snake. Many unbelievers probably took advantage of the situation in order to throw mud on the church. However, many of the “ChurchToo” accusations are undoubtedly true, coming from victims who had once been afraid to speak up but now emboldened to do so because of what’s happening in Hollywood. It is all a sobering reminder of the real problem of sin in this world and humanity’s inability to save themselves. While reading and studying church history, it is important to keep in mind the bigger picture of the Creator’s original design and intent, the Fall, and the purpose of Christ to reunite the creation with Creator. Keep these following points in mind while reading and studying church history:

• Humanity’s inability and often refusal to abide by the absolute moral standard does not prove GOD’s standard to be wrong, it only reveals that the Law is good and necessary (read Romans 7).
• Purity is good & commendable, which is highlighted by the uproar against immorality. The Law is good and necessary, which is highlighted by the uproar against injustice.
• The church is not a country club for saints but a hospital for sinners (read Matthew 9:11-13). The church is not a place for perfect people, but for finite and fallible fallen people who need a perfect GOD.
• Everyone makes mistakes. Everyone needs Jesus, all the time, even those in the church — especially those in the church.
• The church is not above correction; in fact, all Christians should be held to a higher standard because they should know better (read James 3:1; 4:17).
• We should not confuse the problem of sin with the only solution of Jesus and the absolute moral standard as being the problem. The mistakes of humanity are not accurate reflections of the character quality of the perfect GOD.
• To purge the church of sin is to restore the church to righteousness; restored churches will help victims heal from pseudo-saints.
• Sin is the problem, not the church, unless sin is in the church, then the church becomes a problem, but not the problem.

It all leads back to the beginning and we must keep our focus on the bigger picture and compare what GOD’s Word actually teaches to what GOD’s people actually did or did not do. For it is GOD’s Word and only GOD’s Word that should define how the church is to be both operated and viewed. And with that said, may GOD’s light of Truth shine as you read and study even the darkest periods of the church and remember that the church is the purified Bride of Christ at the end of days. View the church as a total makeover transformation, much like we have seen on reality television shows. The church is to be viewed as a whole and seen as Christ will see her at the end of days — she’s beautiful! Just as individual humans have had bad pasts before becoming good later in life, the church is the same. Just as individual humans have seemed ugly prior to receiving a total makeover transformation and then looking marvelous, the church is the same. Don’t judge the church by her past, judge the church by who she strives to become and who Jesus tells us she will be. Church history reveals the growth of the church. Just as Abraham’s descendants are beyond counting (Genesis 15:5), the church started out with a dozen disciples and it will end with a countless number (Revelation 7:9). Don’t judge a sequoia tree by the sprout or seed — only in its final stage will you know what its glorious state will be.

If you are already a Christian, then church history is your family history. Studying church history is like opening a photo album with commentary and exploring family heritage. If you are a Christian and do not know church history, it is imperative that you take the journey to learn the past. Our past history will help mature us for the future by rooting us in reality, replacing ignorance with Truth, and opening us up to understanding of what actually happened rather than us assuming what might have happened or what we wished would have happened. The beauty of church history is that it enables us to learn from past mistakes, which will help us to grow in righteousness and help us to stay in alignment. Church history provides us with perspective and helps us plan for our purpose. As you learn church history, may you be in awe of GOD’s faithfulness despite humanity’s unfaithfulness. Though church history is the study of the works of men and women, it is ultimately the study of the work of GOD.

[ Read: Church History – Part 1 ]

Sikhism

[ To read the previous post of the Quest for Truth, CLICK HERE! ]

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The name Sikhism comes from the Punjabi word Sikh, which means a “disciple;” thus, a Sikh is literally a disciple of Guru Nanak, the founder of the religion, who lived from AD 1469-1538. Guru means a dispeller of ignorance or darkness (gu) and bringer of enlightenment (ru).

Sikhism has two unique symbols: khanda and Ekankar. The most prevalent symbol is the khanda, which represents the Sikh faith to the outside world. At the center is the actual khanda, which means “double-edged sword.” Together with the circular throwing weapon, the chakkar, it stands for the unity of God and his all-pervasive presence. On each side are the two ceremonial swords, kirpans, that refer to the spiritual and political dimensions of the Sikh community. Within the Sikh community – for example, in a Sikh temple – one often sees the second symbol. It refers to the unity of God. The little symbol to the left that looks like the Western numeral 9 is actually the numeral 1, and the other part means “the only one.” So this symbol means that God is the “one and only one.” In Punjabi, it is “Ekankar.”

Sikhism began as an attempt to heal the division between Muslims and Hindus that was causing problems in India during the sixteenth century AD. Thus, to understand Sikhism, you must first understand Islam and Hinduism. Most of India was ruled by the Moguls, who had conquered India and brought Islam with them. Guru Nanak had a Hindu father and a Muslim mother. Nanak was born into the kshatriya caste that was under Muslim domination. It is said that at around age 30, Nanak mysteriously disappeared for three days. When he emerged three days later, he taught that there is no Hindu and there is no Muslim.

Guru Nanak sought to combine important elements of both Hinduism and Islam. From Hinduism, he maintained the belief of reincarnation from the law of karma. From Islam, he maintained the belief that God is one and is not to be represented with idols; consequently, Hindu avatars are rejected. His message was that by living a life in keeping with divine virtues a person would eventually become one with God and escape the cycle of reincarnation. Nanak was adamant that our thoughts of God should not be limited by what just one religion teaches. God is not just Allah and not just Krishna, but that God is a reality greater than any human words or concepts could encompass. In this present day, when Sikhs talk about God, they typically use the term “one and only one,” or “Ekankar” in the Punjabi language. Sikhism also teaches that physical self-denial encourages a false piety, which may impress others but does not contribute to one’s spiritual development. Consequently, it forbids fasting as a spiritual exercise and frowns on any other way of using the deprivation of food in the name of religion. World renunciation does not figure in this faith. The Sikhs have no tradition of renunciation, asceticism, celibacy, or mendicancy.

There were ten gurus of Sikhism. Guru Nanak was the first. The fifth guru, Guru Arjan Dev (A.K.A., Arjun Mal), collected the hymns and chants written by all the gurus, including himself, as well as the works of some of the writers who had influenced Nanak, and issued this “exalted book,” the Granth Sahib, which has been the holy book for Sikhism ever after. This exalted book is also known as Adi Granth, meaning the true Granth. There are a few names for this exalted book because granth literally means “book;” therefore, it needs to be distinguished from other books.

The tenth and final guru, Gobind Rai (Gobind Singh) declared that he was the last of the human gurus and that from that point on only the holy book, the Adi Granth, would be the guru for Sikhs. The Adi Granth, like all the human gurus before, became the embodiment of God. Consequently, Sikhs find themselves worshipping this exalted book. The Adi Granth’s most important significance is not so much in its content as in its presence. As the divine guru, it is the focus of worship and veneration as an object, apart from its message. A typical Sikh temple has a copy of the Adi Granth (the original is in Amritsar), and during the day it is displayed on an altar, where people bow before it. In the evening it is literally laid to rest in a bed, complete with sheets and bed curtains, and in the morning it is awakened and placed on the altar again – both times with special ceremonies.

As for worship practices, they seem to be centered on community and gathering for meals. The “common kitchen,” or langar, may be the most distinctive aspect of Sikh community gatherings. All people, regardless of social or economic standing, sit side by side on the floor, eating the same food together. Thus, Sikhism continues to extol the equality of all human beings and to repudiate the caste system.

However, over 200 years following Guru Nanak, a number of developments took place. There was increased conflict between the Muslim rulers and the Sikhs, culminating in armed combat. As a result, Sikhism changed from being a community intended to bring peace and unity to becoming a virtual army, ready to defend itself at a moment’s notice. But that is bound to happen if someone attempts to claim one Truth while combining or uniting the pantheistic, polytheistic, and pluralistic beliefs of Hinduism with the monotheistic religion of Islam.

When Guru Gobind Singh established the order of the khalsa, a part of its requirements were certain unmistakable items of apparel. They are commonly referred to as the five K’s, based on the words for them in the Punjabi language:

1. Long, uncut hair and beard, covered with a turban (kesh).
2. A wooden comb, inserted into the hair (kanga). Together with the comb, uncut hair (gathered in a turban) shielded the skull while tying in with the yogic belief that uncut hair conserves vitality and draws it upward. The comb symbolized cleanliness and good order.
3. An iron bracelet (kara). This provided a small shield while at the same time “shackling” its wearer to God as a reminder that hands should always be in God’s service.
4. Shorts (kachara). The shorts replaced the Indian dhoti and symbolized that one was always dressed for action.
5. A sword or dagger (kirpan). Now largely symbolic, it was originally needed for self-defense.

My Final Thoughts:

Sikhs are forbidden to worship idols yet they worship the Guru Granth Sahib (a book). This religion was formed very late in our history thereby making it one of the youngest world religions. Because Sikhism is one of the youngest religions, it would need to possess a uniqueness about its core beliefs in order for it to stand apart from all others that have already been in existence for centuries. Unfortunately, Guru Nanak’s disappearance and reappearance after three days is all too similar to Jesus of the Christian faith. But that is to be expected because Islam branched off from Christianity. Furthermore, Sikhism was formed in an attempt to unite two contradicting religions in order to create peace. This religion compromises and settles for relativism rather than demanding absolute Truth.

Conclusion:

Though Sikhism rejected polytheism, it found itself in pantheism due to its keeping of the law of karma and the belief that a life lived with divine virtues would eventually lead the believer to become one with God and escape the cycle of reincarnation. Pantheism has already been rejected. However, Sikhism also attempts to claim monotheism by asserting that there is only one God. But the monotheistic God of Islam and the pantheism of Hinduism contradict each other and cannot combine. It is quite obvious that this religion was produced by human effort in order to put an end to the violence that had been experienced at that time.  And because Guru Nanak had a Hindu father and a Muslim mother, it seems as if Nanak invented an irrational religion in order to justify the contradiction between his parents and make sense of his own life. Sikhism is nothing more than a plea for peace without regard for maintaining integrity of Truth. Sikhism must be rejected as Truth and eliminated as a choice.

[ Continue the Quest: Islam ]