Jan 18 2014

“Right to Life” Does not Belong in New York

I never thought I would hear a president or a governor make such a statement.

I never thought a governor would make a public statement that a segment of people of his state do not belong there.

Wow.

That is exactly what democrat New York governor Andrew Cuomo said about those who think there is such a concept of “right to life.”  Here is the quote:

“Who are they? Are they these extreme conservatives who are right-to-life…? Is that who they are? Because if that’s who they are and they’re the extreme conservatives, they have no place in the state of New York, because that’s not who New Yorkers are.”

Such a sad turn of events when we consider his father’s stance on abortion.  The elder Cuomo declared in the 1980’s that everyone has a right to life including unborn babies. And now the current gov. Cuomo not only disagrees with the pro-life position, he wants to kick pro-lifers out of his state.

How many millions are you going to kick out of New York, Mr. Cuomo? Are the tens of thousands slaughters every year before they are born not enough?

Now, we know that politicians are crafty, and they are very careful speaking on issues relating to race, religion, life, etc. But every once in a while, they expose what is in their heart for all to see. Such is the case with the New York governor. The darkness and hate he harbors in his soul was displayed for the nation to see.

For liberals like Cuomo, tolerance applies only if you agree with them.

How long will God in His holiness and justice tolerate the sin of humanity and the slaughter of millions of babies in their moms’ tummy?

How long oh, LORD?

Jan 15 2014

What Makes Porn and Sexual Sin Different?

Man looking closely into computer screen, profile

I have seen statements to the effect that all sins have the same consequence. Some say that sexual sins (flirting, porn, pre and extra-marital sexual relations. etc…) have the same consequences as gluttony and addiction to hobbies.

The problem is that these statements are only partially correct.

Theologically speaking, ANY sin that is not brought to the cross and atoned via the blood of Christ leads to death.  However, the Bible teaches that not all sins are the same in how they affect unbelievers, and for that matter, believers.

Take sexual sin for instance. What is it that makes pornography or adultery different from other sins like anger, or theft?

The Bible goes as far as classifying sexual immorality in a camp of its own. The reason for this is because sexual sin and all its cousins destroy every aspect of human life: PHYSICAL, SPIRITUAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL, FAMILIAL, and SOCIAL.

The consequences of said sin ruin every aspect of one’s life. That’s why it is different. Here are some (very brief) examples:

  • psychological: porn addicts have altered brain chemistry and are unable to have healthy marriages because their brain is wired for a perverted understanding of sex, one that is based on lust, violence, and lack of responsibility; loneliness and depression are frequently associated with this sin
  • social: pre-marital sex ruins lives by ruining reputations, leading to abortions and children out of wed-lock, community stigma and broken hearts
  • physical: multiple partners leads to sexually transmitted infections (STIs), infertility, cancer, and death from cancer and infection
  • familial/relational: not only the stuff listed above, but breaking-up of families and breaking of vows taken before God
  • spiritual: just like any unrepented sin, sexual sin leads to spiritual death

This is why porn addiction is different from the sin of coffee addiction.  This is why indulging in sexual sin will ruin your life in every aspect.  All sin leads to spiritual death, but sexual sin brings much more suffering in this life in addition to spiritual death.

Scripture will back up the above claims:

“Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body.” 1 Cor 6:18

“He who commits adultery lacks sense; he who does it destroys himself. He will get wounds and dishonor, and his disgrace will not be wiped away.” Prov 6:32-33

So yes, porn addiction and other sexual sins are more damaging to the person committing them than other sins.

People who preach the half-gospel of love, and go around saying that homosexuality and pornography should not be treated differently than any other sin do not have a grasp on the differentiation the Bible makes between sexual immorality and other sins.

So young readers, maintain your sexual purity because you will have much reward in this life and the next.

“How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word.” Ps 119:9

Jan 13 2014

How Another Doctor Challenged My Faith

surgeon hospital pay

“Hey, so I understand you go to church and all that stuff…”

“Do you really believe that there is a God who created the universe?”

“How do you reconcile all your years of studying science and medicine with your faith?”

These were the blunt question, and sometimes these are the conversations in the operating room (when the situation permits).

My colleague is a bright physician of Jewish descend who sometimes attends synagogue for social reasons because deep down he does not believe in God. So we proceeded to discuss creationism vs. evolution.  I went to the heart of the matter showing him problems in the theory of evolution, particularly relating to speciation. We discussed the Big Bang, and I pointed out problems there including the concept of the expanding and contracting universe necessary for the Big Bang theory; also how the issue of time complicated the matter. After all, the Big Bang does not explain how the universe came to be, it merely places the problem into a different context.

As a naturalist, his only comeback was that science has not yet figured it out.

After a while the Holy Spirit made me realize that this is not the way to handle an apology for the Christian faith.

Next I went to the real heart of the matter.

Jesus.

Because in that name there is power.

As a Jewish man, he was well acquainted with the Davidic kingdom. It was a perfect opportunity to ask him how would he explain the Messianic prophecy of Psalm 22 coming true in the Person of Jesus Christ.  Here we have David under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit writing one of the most specific prophecies about Christ which came true 1000 years later when Christ was crucified.

“He trusts in the LORD,” they say, “let the LORD rescue him. Let him deliver him, since he delights in him.” (Ps 22:8)

Evangelists Matthew accounts this exact accusation at the cross by the priests and scribes:

“He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he desires him” (Matt 27:43)

Again in Psalm 22:

“All my bones are on display; people stare and gloat over me. They divide my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment.” (Ps 22:17-18)

Apostle John accounts this exact detail at the cross:

“When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his garments and divided them into four parts, one part for each soldier; also his tunic. But the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom, so they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it shall be.” (John 19:23-24)

I presented this prophecy to my friend including the historical account of its fulfillment.  There was no concept of crucifixion at the time of David, no concept of casting lots of for the victims clothing by the ones crucifying the victim. I asked him, how do you explain such accurate description of the passion of Jesus Christ  as the Messiah written by David 1000 years before it happened?

He was at least somewhat impressed by this outrageous information. He promised to go home and read the Scripture I quoted.

May the Holy Spirit continue his work here.

Jan 11 2014

I Must Refuse This Invitation

AP PROVIDES ACCESS TO THIS PUBLICLY DISTRIBUTED HANDOUT PHOTO PROVIDED BY SATANIC TEMPLE FOR EDITORIAL PURPOSES ONLY.

An invitation to sit in the lap of Satan. What?

The Oklahoma State Capital is the site of religious controversy. Again.

A few years ago a large statue of the Ten Commandments was placed there, and now Satanists want a piece of the action. They raised $20.000 so far in their effort to erect a statue of Satan as Baphomet, a goat-headed figure with horns, wings and a long beard.  On either side of this Satan, there would be children sculpted looking up at him.

Wait, there is more.

The statue would have a functional aspect to it as well. Subjects would be able to sit in the lap of Satan for a time of prayer, contemplation or perhaps selling their soul to him. This sounds funny to most people, but this concept is a physical manifestation of the forces of darkness at work in our world.

There is no doubt that at some point this will end up in the courts and the outcome may be on the side of “progress and fairness.” In this case progress and fairness may be giving center stage to the occult who celebrate the fallen nature of man.

The Church of Satan describe their theology like this:

“acceptance of Man’s true nature—that of a carnal beast, living in a cosmos that is indifferent to our existence. To us, Satan is the symbol that best suits the nature of we who are carnal by birth—people who feel no battles raging between our thoughts and feelings, we who do not embrace the concept of a soul imprisoned in a body.”

People who do not feel a sense of morality, a sense of eternal accountability, a sense of consequence of evil — these are the people who want to put their stamp in a government institution.

And who want to invite you to sit in the lap of Satan.

I would like to remind my readers that  “The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.” 1 John 3:8

May the true God revealed in the Person of Jesus Christ rebuke this unholy effort!

Jan 9 2014

The Consensus Sin in America

CNN conducted a poll of 1,010 adults asking them to pick which behavior is morally wrong.  Right, CNN of all networks dealing with an authoritative issue such as morality, but that is another story. Here are the results with the percent of subjects saying the behavior (sin) is morally wrong:

#1 Cheating on your spouse 94%
#2 Cheating on your taxes 90%
#3 Having an abortion 57%
#4 Engaging in homosexual behavior 50%
#5 Looking at porn 46%
#7 Smoking marijuana 35%

This brief survey shows how uncircumcised the heart of the average American is with respect to sin. It shows that most Americans believe in a RELATIVE system of MORALITY. Fifty percent said that it is wrong to cheat on your spouse while they said is it not wrong to engage in porn.

Nietzsche wrote, “You have your way, I have my way. As for the right way, it does not exist.”

The average American does not believe that God punishes sin with His mighty wrath. If the average American believed the gospel, he/she would know that ANY sin will send him/her to hell no matter how ‘little’ said sin is.

What the American moralist does not realize is that his system of RELATIVE MORALITY points to an absolute standard. Everything in this universe is measured against a standard. Morality is the same. Since we have relative morality, logic dictates that there must be some higher, absolute standard.

That standard is God and His Word. God and His Law.

You break a tiny part of the Law, you are guilty of breaking the entire thing.

This survey once again confirms what the gospel claims, and that is the fact that we are dead in our sins. And we try to make ourselves feel better by ranking various sins. How convenient.

The Bible is clear on this subject, I just wish the average American would care to heed what it says in Romans 2:15 about the fact that deep down we know what is right and wrong:

“the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them”

Jan 8 2014

Five Most Dangerous Places in the World to Be a Christian*

1. North Korea – For the 12th consecutive year, this is the place where Christian persecution is most extreme. The God-like worship of the leader, Kim Jong-Un, and his predecessors leaves no room for any other religion, and Christians face unimaginable pressure in every sphere of life. Forced to meet only in secret, they dare not share their faith even with their families, for fear of imprisonment in a labor camp. Anyone discovered engaging in secret religious activity may be subject to arrest, disappearance, torture, even public execution.  50,000-70,000 Christians imprisoned in labor camps.

2. Somalia – Pressure is increasing on the tiny Christian community in this Muslim-majority country. Islamic leaders and government officials publicly reinforce that there is no room for Christians, and there is a strong drive to purge Christianity from Somalia. The militant Islamist group, al-Shabaab, targets Christians and local communities. Ten believers are reported to have been killed by members of al-Shabaab in 2013. There is a high level of fear and mistrust among believers, who have to hide their faith for fear of betrayal. The country has a population of 10.3 million with a reported population of Christians less than one thousand.

3. Syria – As the civil conflict inside Syria becomes more and more severe, targeted violence against Christians has escalated. The Syrian opposition is increasingly ‘Islamizing’, and Christians are becoming more vulnerable in all spheres of life. Many Christians were reported to have been abducted, physically harmed or killed, and many churches damaged or destroyed. On October 21st, Islamist militias invaded the ancient Christian settlement of Sadad, killing at least 45 people, and injuring many more.

4. Iraq – There was an increase in attacks and threats against Christians in 2013. Islamist terrorist groups, influenced by the conflict in Syria, are increasing in number. One of their aims is to empty the country of Christians, and this situation is aggravated by the government’s total authority. According to a local source, every two or three days a Christian is killed, kidnapped or abused. As a minority, Christians are an easy target for kidnappers.

5. Afghanistan – The situation in the country remains unstable, and Islamic extremist groups continue to gain power. Christianity is still considered a ‘Western’ religion, and is seen as hostile to Afghan culture, society and Islam. Those who leave Islam are treated as apostates, and face huge pressures from family, society and local authorities. In September 2013, an Afghan MP called for the execution of converts to Christianity. There is no public church, even for ex-pats. Christian converts keep their faith secret, since any connection with Christianity is dangerous. The country has a population of 31 million but only a few thousand Christians.

Do not forget to keep the persecuted church in prayer.

*worldwatchlist.us

Jan 7 2014

What to Say When Jehovah’s Witnesses Come to Your Door

Here is how one should demonstrate to a Jehovah’s Witness that Christ is the same as the Lord God:

1) Begin by reading with the Jehovah’s Witness from Revelation 1:8.

“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “Who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”

After reading this verse together, ask them the following question, “Who is the Alpha and the Omega?” They will respond by saying something like, “Well, it says right there, the Alpha and the Omega is the Lord God (or Jehovah God in their translation).”

2) Next, ask them if they will read another passage of scripture with you, and read from Revelation 22:13.

“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End”

After reading this verse with them, ask them, “Now, who exactly is the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last?” And they will probably respond by saying something like, “We just saw who the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last is, he is the Lord God (or Jehovah God in their translation).

3) Lastly, ask them if they’ll look at one more passage with you, and read with them from Revelation 1:17-18.

“When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last (stop here and ask again, ‘who is the First and the Last?’). I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever!””

After reading this last passage of Scripture with them, ask the Jehovah’s Witness, “So, when exactly did the Lord God (or Jehovah God in their translation) die?”**

This will be a perfect introduction in presenting the Gospel to a Witness. Asserting the fundamental truth of Christ’s divinity is central to the Gospel because only God in the Person of Jesus has the credentials to redeem us via his death and resurrection.

Witnesses need the Gospel just like everyone else. The approach to their evangelism should not be any different from the approach to other unbelievers.

**Christian Ministries International

Dec 30 2013

Depravity Predictions for 2014 :(

Pope Francis

Delight in Truth predicts that 2014 will bring worsening of morality in the following areas:

  • Pope Francis and the Catholic Church will encourage gay marriage by continuing to declare equality of love in homosexual relationships.
  • More US States will legalize gay marriage
  • Marijuana and perhaps other drugs of abuse may become legal in more States
  • There will be more Phil Robertsons, conservatives who dare to speak out against the progressive agenda; they will be labeled as bigots, retards, and threatened in various ways
  • There will be a push to normalize and perhaps decriminalize pedophilia (sexual relations between adults and children). The American Psychiatry Association will be a key player in the issue.
  • Polygamy will continue to gain popularity and legal status in multiple US States
  • Children will become exposed to pornography at younger ages, and will erroneously learn that those videos represent true intimacy
  • The Evangelical Church will become more compromised on moral grounds; scandal, divorce, gay marriage, ordination of gay ministers
  • The true Body of Christ will be squeezed from multiple angles on these issues and threatened with loss of tax-free status, or other more severe legal recourse
  • Hate-speech legislation will be introduced in certain legislatures; hate-speech is a code term for preaching the truths found in Romans 1 and 1 Corinthians 6 about sexual deviancy
  • Abortionists will fight any regulation of abortion at the federal or state level
  • Other states will follow California in allowing boys to use the girls locker rooms and bathrooms if their gender identity so dictates

Dear readers, do not be dismayed when these things come to pass. These events must occur as the moral fiber of society breaks down. Other societies experienced some of the same types of decay before they collapsed.

But more so now, as we head toward global unity and the preparation for the one who will provide the solution for an upcoming political and economic crisis.  These events prepare the way for the anti-Christ or the Son of Perdition, the one who will appear as a savior but will ultimately set up the Abomination of Desolation mentioned by the prophet Daniel and referenced by Jesus.

The Bible tells us that in the end-times morality will break down and people will become more evil.

This accelerated course evident in the last few years will intensify in 2014.

And it must be so because the Word of God told us so.

1But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. (2 Tim 1-5)

12Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived (2 Tim 12)

Photograph: Alessandro Bianchi/Reuters
Dec 21 2013

A Holiday from Abortion? Yeah, Right…

medicii din timisoara nu mai fac avorturi crime ginecologi gravida nou nascut

It would appear that the sinful human mind is looking for an opportunity to anesthetize its conscience.

Notice the choice of words above…. The sinful human is not looking to get rid of the sin that enslaves him, but he is searching for an analgesic to said sin…

Case and point: Timişoara, Romania.

A Facebook friend posted a news article from one of the largest and most modern cities in Romania citing how all OB-GYN doctors there decided to take a holiday from providing abortions. For three weeks. With the occasion of the Christmas holiday. Apparently they did the same thing at Easter under pressure from the ultra conservative Eastern Orthodox Church.

Delight in Truth responds to this with a sad LOL.

So now, one of the largest per-capita abortion providing countries in the world is pulling a moral prank which means nothing. It will delay abortions for three weeks to observe the “holy”holidays.

My FB friend commented with the analogy of a cheating husband.  Suppose the husband cheats every day of the year except the days surrounding these so-called holy holidays.  Does this make any difference to the wife?

No!

There maybe those who will applaud such meaningless token action to please the Orthodox Church.  But like Psalm 14 says: “The Lord looks down from heaven on all mankind” and He knows what is in the hearts of mankind. He sees the insincere motives behind man’s actions.

Even such action to withhold abortion for three weeks will be evidence for their condemnation one day.  It shows that they know the truth, but they choose to suppress it.

So during these “holy” holidays please remember the struggle with abortion sin that Romania is going through, and do not forget to pray that God would melt the block of ice in their hearts via the gospel.

Dec 5 2013

Which Bible Translation Do You Read?

There are dozens of English translations and versions of the Bible.

There are formal equivalency versions (word-for-word) and dynamic equivalency versions (thought-for-thought).  On the far end of the thought-for-thought variety is a particularly concerning type of translation called paraphrasing.  A couple of versions exist on that end, the Living Bible and the most extreme, The Message.

Delight in Truth highly recommends the English Standard Version for older children and adults.  It contains sentence structure at the 8-9th grade level, it is very easy to read, and it is very adequate for Bible study because it is close to the word-for-word approach.

The New International Version (NIV) is also suitable for reading, but much less suitable for Bible study due to a more thought-for-thought approach.  It is written closer to the 7th grade level of competency.  This is one the reasons many recommend the NIV for younger children or new converts.

I would still recommend the ESV for middle school children because of it is true to the original text and easy to read.

Traditionally, the most popular version is the King James Authorized Version (KJV), a beautifully translated Bible in 1611 which has stood the test of time.  However, its archaic language places it at the 12th grade level (or perhaps college level).  It contains the thous, thees, and medieval English verb conjugations.

Are any of the translations in mainstream use today bad?

John Piper was asked that question and he said that any translation is better than no translation.  While that may be correct, one needs to know that extreme thought-for-thought and paraphrase translations insert the translator’s theology and perspective into the Word of God.  That is not a good thing because it dilutes and even changes the message.

I will provide one passage from the ESV followed by the same passage in the Message to illustrate the contrast

1 Corinthians 6:9-10

“Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.” (ESV)

“Don’t you realize that this is not the way to live? Unjust people who don’t care about God will not be joining in his kingdom. Those who use and abuse each other, use and abuse sex, use and abuse the earth and everything in it, don’t qualify as citizens in God’s kingdom.” (The Message)

What a difference! 

The Message does not mention homosexuality and the other sinful lifestyles, but it inserts the environmental agenda in there.  So, the word of God is twisted to fit the flesh and liberal agenda of progressive Christians.

Examine the chart below and see where your translation of the Bible falls.