Hebrew & The Greek New Testament

The Old Testament Hebrew (or the New Testament Greek/Old Testament Septuagint for that matter), often uses several different means to describe/command the same thing.  This demonstrates emphasis and not necessarily a sequence of things to do or particularly look for. It may show sequence, but, in prophetic literature, such constructions are often used to magnify a particular point and not many.

For example, Isaiah uses a litany of phrases when he commands the people to repent in light of God's coming judgement, for he may use many lines to say the same thing about how wretched the people are as opposed to how righteous God is.  This is important because emphasis occurs not only with the repetition of the same word like Holy, Holy, Holy, but it is also brought out by using different words and phrases when describing a particular event or a command to do something.  For this reason, word studies are useful but must be used with caution because 1) the word can be very interchangeable and/or 2) the writer is simply using several different words or phrases in a close context to magnify the situation.

A further issue arises in the realm of eschatology because some expositors tend to take a prophetic passage (which uses a tremendous amount of allegorical and figurative language) and parcel it out into a whole list of things to note versus seeing the list as an extended metaphor for the magnitude of an event that will indeed come about. For example, if speaking of judgment, said judgment is real and inevitable, yet the descriptions are often there to bring attention to the gravity of a situation and not necessarily provide elaborate details. However, when the prophet explicitly explains what the figurative language represents in detail (like Daniel often does), then the passage is not simply magnifying a situation; rather, a detailed list is also in mind. When comparing prophetic or poetic literature with narratives, the situation is different.  For example, when God gave Joshua a sequential plan to take out Ai, He meant for Joshua to follow this sequence of events, though narratives can use repetition and emphasis to magnify a point. Context is key. 

How does this relate to the Greek New Testament?  Most of the writers were either Jewish/Semitic or were heavily influenced by Jewish/Semitic thinkers. For this reason, understanding Hebrew provides critical insight into the mind of a Jewish thinker who is writing in Greek. Though he is writing in Greek, he will still think like a Semitic/Hebrew minded person. For example, when I speak or write in Spanish, it will still have an English taste because I am most trained to think in English syntax and grammar.  My Spanish will be correct, but it will contain a strong flavor of American English thought.  Such was the case in the First Century with the Greek New Testament, and this language relationship is predicated upon the Septuagint (Greek Old Testament), which was translated into Greek from Hebrew just before the time of Christ.

Therefore, when I observe strong language, intentional repetition, or other Hebrew syntactical grammatical flavors in the Greek New Testament (which is usually hit upon in a well translated English version as well), I  take notice and become keenly aware of what the author intends to convey. That is when the hard work of linguistic study starts to pay off and become useful in exegesis, exposition, and ultimately application.

Independence In Perspective

American Independence has been treasured for generations, though there is very little of it left.  Most of America was once an assembly of independent homesteads.  However, they were not totally independent because man cannot provide everything himself. 

Truthfully, rugged individualism can become idolatrous when God is not recognized as the Ultimate Provider. Though man was created to be creative and to do things for himself on a broad spectrum, only God can cause the sun to rise and the rain to fall.

In the News: The President--He's Not Our Savoior

The upcoming primary and general election has brought a key question back to the forefront.  What are we looking for in a president?  That is an important question, but, in this blog, I would like to address another question that often goes overlooked.  What are we not looking for in a president?

Anyone that runs for public office is fallen and has baggage.  Even the best Christian representative is still in need of the grace and mercy of God.  We must take that into account when we elect our officials; if we don't, then we are only setting ourselves up for disappointment and future apathy.  No man will ever be perfect this side of death, and so we must not see any candidate as our potential Savior. 

A politician is not our Messiah.  He must govern with a righteous attitude, but he is not the King of kings and LORD of Lords.  Only Christ is our Savior. He alone washes away sin. He alone laid down His life for His sheep who were enemies of God.  No one else can do that. 

Therefore, when we vote, we must consider what an official must possess, but we must also know who he is not.

The King of Glory May Come In!

Christ is the King of Glory! He is the One Who has clean hands and a pure heart. He is the Suffering Servant who laid down His life for His sheep.

No other was capable of atoning for the sins of sinners, so let us be thankful that the LORD strong and mighty died upon a cross to set men free.  May we never take for granted the burden that Christ lifted from His people: their sins.

Integrity & The Lack Thereof In America

George Washington along with many Christians prized integrity for several centuries in both colonial and republican (our cconstitutional rrepublic) America.  That does not need mean that these men were perfect nor does it mean that America is without blemish, for she has many.  However, when someone took an oath or vow in which integrity was on the line, it was serious because that vow or oath was in the name of The God of the Bible. They were not made rashly, and they were not made on unBiblical grounds. 

However, integrity is an after thought today. Why?

As America has left its Christian base, its moral compass has been abandoned for relativism and situational ethics.  For this reason, integrity means very little to most people, and the results are enormous.  Not only does this affect the court system in cases of perjury, but it affects everyday life, especially marriage.  American citizenry looks for ways out of honesty instead of binding its conscience to that which is honorable.  Ironically, to be honorable today is to be outdated and old-fashioned. 

How shall we then live?

As Christians, we are held to a higher standard no matter the era or culture we live in.  We must not let the wiles of the world, the flesh, and the Devil deter us from that which good, loving, holy, and just.  We are to honor parents, spouses, etc., and we must do this with great fervor in the realm of integrity. 

Therefore, let us walk in Biblical honesty and be circumcised of heart that our praise maycome from God and not merely men from religiosity and a culture that is steeped in dishonesty.

Defining Worldview

Worldview has been defined in numerous ways, yet it usually encapsulates both thought (known or unknown) and action.  It can be simply defined as that body of beliefs (known or unknown) that one treasures and applies to life.  I use the term treasure because where your treasure is, there your heart lies. I say known or unknown because there some things that we acknowledge as part of our belief system and other things that are there but that we may suppress or be ignorant of.  Furthermore, what your heart treasures will be expressed in thought, deed, and word.  This is to imply that whatever a man treasures as his system of belief will then be intrepeted and applied to all of life according to these respective principles which he then proclaims and lives out.

No one is without a worldview, which means that no one is unbiased.  Bias is not always negative, but it is there.  For example, a judge that treasures life will not be very lenient on a convicted murderer.  Likewise, a NAZI will see no problem murdering Jews becuase his worldview rejoices in it.  Bias is important to point out because many people believe that they are or can be unbiased.  However, this is an impossible position because everyone sees the world through some type of lens.  This affects everything from how one understands knowledge to why one justifies behavior, and it is magnfied in education, religion, and politics.

New Year Scripture Reading

With the beginning of the new calendar year, I especially encourage you to read the Scriptures regularly.  Instead of simply reading through the Bible, meditate on the texts that you are reading throughout the day, and apply them to your life.  Don't just read it and forget it. 

Also, take time to memorize scripture, for this is actually one of the best ways to meditate upon God's Word.  If you know it, you will be far more likely to apply it.  Memorize a whole chapter or several verses in context.  Not only does this prevent interpretation out of context, but it helps in gaining the full picture surrounding the punchline of a text.

To Him be the glory!

The Praise of Man: What will people think?

Have you ever heard the question "What will people think?" or something to that effect. Do we strive to receive praise from God or man? We consume ourselves with what other people think about us yet give little thought to what God thinks. This is because we want the approval of man and not God. It is hard to have a backbone in a godless age where false accusations run rampant. The truth is that the Apostle Paul dealt with the same thing, for his 2nd letter to the Corinthians is dealing with just that. There is nothing new under sun.

Our response flows from our heart. We are not to be fake on the hand, yet we are not to act rudely on the other. Blessing those that curse us and who make false accusations about us is quite difficult. Every fiber of our being wants to lash out, yet we must let the strength of the Lord keep us calm. For many years, I always gave a retort when falsely accused, yet now I leave room for the vengeance of God, for He will always enact a better judgment than I could ever conjure up.

As painful as such gossip may be, in time you really find out who is trustworthy and who is not. You begin to notice who has your back and who doesn't. At times, those who become the most trustworthy are those that you may even once had a serious beef with before. I have seen this is on my own life. Biblically, we are not to be doormats but rather confront those with whom we have a difficulty with. When both sides acknowledge their sin, then an incredible reconciliation occurs to the point where both people think highly of each other and become true friends and/or comrades.

Some refuse to admit their sin, and reconciliation becomes bleak, yet we must not harbor bitterness towards such people. That does not mean we have to act as if we have not been wronged, and it does not mean that we are to regard the person with a high level of trust. However, we are to still love the person, which means that we are willing to come to their aid should aid be needed. In doing so, we heap burning coals upon their head (Rom 12). I have been on both ends of that as the Lord's vengeance is given. Verily, it is far better to repent and seek reconciliation if at all possible, for it is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the Living God when we live with bitterness and resentment! Amen!

Believing The Lies: Evolution from Goo to You

Men believe in macro evolution, which is to say molecules to man, because they detest the True and Living God in their suppression of the truth in unrighteousness (Rom 1). In spite of the absurdity of materialism, which is the philosophy that matter is all there is, men like Richard Lewontin stated himself that he cannot allow a Divine Foot in the door because of a prior commitment to this materialism.

I use the word believe because materialism is a religious system of thought. It is a worldview with no foundation at all, yet men embrace it with all their heart. Men would rather believe in the unfounded absurd than submit to the One True Triune God Who demands their repentance and worship.

Even moreso, men who call themselves Christians act like practical materialists when they pray little, advocate secular psychology, and refer people to godless therapists and counselors in time of need.

Repent you fool! If you are enslaved to this godless system, turn from your evil, and cast yourself upon Christ, Who is the Perfect Lamb of God! Amen!

America's Atheocracy

Those who oppose Christ regularly erect the straw man that any effort to impart Biblical principles into our society is an attempt to establish a theocracy. Not only is this dishonest, but it is also deceptive.

1) It is dishonest because from the Foundation of America, Christian Statesmen were not advocating a theocracy but a Constitutional Republic that is based on Biblical principles. Lest one challenge this, a specific example is warranted. The very assumption of original sin is clearly implied in the Constitution, for, when one reads the documents that surround it like the Federalist and Anti-Federalist papers, the inherent sinfulness or evil bent of man from birth is clearly expounded upon. The fundamental difference is that both sides were at odds on how to contain sin within a fallen society.

2) It is deceptive because some worldview will win the day at any given time, and what is alleged to be secular and thus neutral is a lie. On the contrary, we are becoming and have set the stage for an Atheocracy.

How would I define an atheocracy?

If a theocracy, namely a Christian theocracy, is a government based on the Bible and executes harsh punishment for any violation of Biblical Law wherein the Kingdom is manifested in its glory visibly, then an atheocracy is a society wherein God or any semblance of God is removed from all facets of life, especially public life. Any attempt to introduce God into the picture is rejected and condemned as a religion against the state.

If this sounds familiar, then you should not be surprised, for our nation is being overrun by formal and practical atheists in all parts of government and public life. All of this is done under the disguises of tolerance, acceptance, approval, and neutrality.

How shall we then live?

"Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord!" proclaims the Scripture. Though we surely defend liberty of conscience, we must never agree that an atheistic style of government whereby the Lord God is defamed and ridiculed is the pinnacle of good government. Rather we must explain how a worldview affects a society and then boldly defend why a system of government based on Biblical worldview principles is the best system of government in a fallen society. It is the only system within a fallen society that exercises restraint with liberty of conscience on the one hand while maintaining justice and order on the other.

No other worldview can accomplish such balance because they are all based on the whimsical philosophies of fallen man and thus have no absolute basis for Law. Governments based in human philosophy always result in the tyranny of one, an elite, or just mob rule.

If an atheocracy is what we desire, then we truly deserve all of the horrendous fruits that it bears. Exhibit A: Joseph Stalin. Any questions?

Children, Anxiety, and Idolatry

In Matthew 6:25-34, Jesus Commands us not to worry.  "25For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26"Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? 27"And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? 28"And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, 29yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. 30"But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! 31"Do not worry then, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear for clothing?' 32"For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33"But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 34"So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

As a father, I am especially prone to have anxiety over my children, which is sin.   We live in a fallen world, and calamity is going to occur, and our love for our children can easily become idolatrous, which is why anxiety sets in.  Because we can set our love for them above our love for God, we do everything we can do preserve this idol.  However, our children are not our own, and, is not God more grieved at this fallen world than we are?

Sometimes we think that God is apathetic to our calamities, yet Christ experienced such things on a regular basis.  He was grieved over the death of Lazarus and the effects of sin in a fallen world.  Because the world is fallen, Lazarus would taste death (twice actually), and Christ wept over the ills that sin had brought into the world since Adam, even though He was about to raise Lazarus from the dead! 

In Romans, 8:28-30, we read "28And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. 29For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; 30and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified."  God is not going to forsake His beloved sheep, and when we experience hardship, He is not vindictive against us.  He does discipline us when we need it, but He does not hate His sheep.  He is the Good Shepherd, and laid down His life for the sheep (Jn 10:11-18).  

He not only loves His sheep, which don't deserve it, but He is also in absolute control of all things.  Even the hearts of kings are ultimately subjected to His divine will. Proverbs 21:1 states,"The king's heart is like channels of water in the hand of the LORD; He turns it wherever He wishes."  God is Sovereign in all things, and we must rest in that.  We are commanded to do so, and we reflect that from the heart when we are not anxious.  God is God, and we rest in Him.

Therefore, we humbly bow before the Risen Christ, and submit to the will of our Triune God! Amen!  Anxiety stems from our desire to be in control, and that control stems from pride, and where pride is, the burden is immense.  Let us give Him the burden that we can't handle and thus the glory that we don't deserve.  He reigns, and we rest in Him! Praise Him who is in control of all things! To Him be the glory forever! Amen!

Holiness of God In Evangelism and Lies That Breed Wolves

One of the greatest and most damning lies today is how we evangelize the lost. We must not simply come up to people and ask them if they have accepted Jesus into their hearts! For what Jesus did they accept: the Hindu Jesus, the Buddhist Jesus, the Muslim Jesus, the Mormon Jesus, the Jehovah's Witness Jesus, the Evolutionist Jesus, or some other false god that enslaves men?

On the contrary, let us proclaim to men everywhere to repent of their sin and cast themselves upon the mercies of Jesus Christ the Son of the Living God, Who is King of kings and LORD of lords, and what He did on the cross for wretched sinners!

God is Holy, Holy, Holy! He is not an idol forged by the wicked hearts of men! Amen! Father, forgive us when we preach a gospel that caters to the sinful flesh, for that is no gospel at all! God does not compete against the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life; He is God Almighty and not a creation of man! Amen!

When men ask us how to be saved, we must tell them to repent, which is to turn from sin, and turn to Christ putting all of their trust in Him alone for salvation! When asked if someone is a Christian, many people say they are Christians because they said a sincere prayer a long time ago asking Jesus into their heart and then got baptized, yet they live like devils who chase after the vanities and myriads of idols of the world! That is not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, and Father forgive us if we ever believe and preach such lies as that, lest we breed wolves who seek to destroy the sheep of God! O God, strike us down if we tell such lies! Amen!

When a man wants to know how he can be sure he is saved, we must do as Paul declared to Corinthians. We are to examine ourselves and see that we are in the faith lest we not be in the faith! A true believer will bear the fruit of the Holy Spirit as is written in Galatians 5:22, and those that see no fruit in their lives don't know God and shall be gathered and cast into the everlasting fire of eternal Hell!

We as mere men cannot declare a man to be saved, for only the Holy God of all creation knows the heart. All we can do is command men to repent as God has said in His Word and then tell them to examine their lives. A true believer loves God and hates his sin! A true believer, though he struggles and wars against the sinful flesh, wants Christ and nothing else! Amen!

I want Christ and to know Him more everyday! He who saved me from my sin and made me into a new creature is worthy of all my praise and worship and nothing else!

To Him be glory! Amen!

In The News: Currency Crises and Gold

The Euro, which was strong at one time has become increasingly weaker.  This is in turn continues to send tremors through Europe and the rest of the world.  As debt mounts in the world with very few nations willing to tighten the belt strap, there is no reason to suspect anything positive out of the Euro and many other fiat currencies in the long term. How should we think about this Biblically? Why have precious metals been on the rise, and why were they important in the Biblical world?

Fiat currencies, which are those currencies not bound to a commodity (especially that of precious metals), tend to inflate quickly over time.  The government can print money at will in order to increase its purchasing and borrowing power, not to mention redistribute wealth.  However, that devalues the currency and can make it worthless. 

Currencies that have survived any amount of time are those bound to a precious metal or other strong commodity standard of some sort, though precious metals are the best long term because of their ability to withstand environmental elements like rust, rot, rats, mold, etc.  For this reason, even those that have remained while going fiat, only go fiat for a short time and then return back to a precious metal standard. 

For this reason, the patriarchs and the great kings of times past and present stored great volumes of precious metals.  They hold their value long term because they have the intrinsic ability to outlive just about everything on earth.  The primary concern is basically thieves, which is a concern with all commodities like food storage for that matter. However, food can spoil but precious metals hang around.

Precious metals may not increase wealth over time, but they do maintain it, which is something of great value when wealth is passed down from one generation to the next.  It doesn't have to keep up with inflation because it rides parallel with it for the most part.  That's not to say that its value doesn't fluctuate, but it does remain over decades, centuries and millennia. 

Therefore, because having an asset like gold and silver is not condemned Biblically and is even considered the norm for maintaining wealth (not necessarily massive amounts but just any wealth), we should not condemn others as foolish for having it nor should we consider ourselves fools for possessing it. That doesn't mean we sell the farm and put everything in it because it does fluctuate. Rather, a diversified mentality is best.  Even Solomon, who had an enormous amount of wealth in precious metals, also had vineyards, swords, shields, land, and, most of all, Divine Wisdom from the LORD. 

Ultimately, any security in the world is illusory, which is why our hope must be in Christ not in the treasures of this life.  We are to be good stewards of any material treasure, yet such is not our everlasting hope. That only comes in Christ.

Better in a House of Mourning than Feasting

Every man faces death, and we tend to be cynical or insular. Neither are Biblical, which is what makes Homeward Bound by Edward Hartman so refreshing.

Hartman brings the reader face to face with death without diminishing one's responsibilities in this life. If we are not heavenly minded, we will value that which is fleeting today. We are to value this life and the blessings in it, but we must take care not to hold on too tightly to that which we cannot keep. We are stewards, and God will honor right stewardship, yet that must be understood in the face of eternity, whether beholding the glory of God in Christ or bearing His wrath in Hell.

I love how Hartman uses Ecclesiastes (a great treasure in my heart), for Solomon goes to great lengths to describe the vanity of life apart from God. It is better to be in a house of mourning than feasting because it forces us to come to grips with our own mortality. To insulate ourselves from the reality of death is foolish, for there will be Hell to pay for dismissing the Lord's admonition to the impenitent. This is why the gospel is so glorious. Those who repent and bow before Christ no longer fear death. On the contrary, they are ever preparing to behold the Lamb of Glory into the ages! Amen!

I have said this many times and it never gets old. My greatest desire is to behold the glory of God in Christ face to face for all eternity as I fall at his feet in worship. That focus always leads me to repentance, for I do not desire sin but detest it. Woe is me when I take my sin lightly and trample upon the grace of God!

Face your own death and embrace the Lord of Glory, He who is King of kings and Lord or lords! Amen! Amen!

Children and the Prison of Modern Psychology

Initially, one can become enticed to embrace a 'psychological disorder'. For example, if one has no control over being ADD, then it's easy to use the 'I have ADD' line to justify abhorrent and aberrant behavior. It may seem quite useful at times, especially in parenting difficult children who are like wild animals; we have three of them. and one on the way. The reality is that they don't have ADD, they just have energy, yet that energy must not go unchecked, lest it turn into disciplinary/obedience problems. Daily discipline is hard, monotonous, and even frustrating at times, yet that is the answer to unruly children, not a bottle of pills and/or a cop-out label. We live in a fallen world, and punishment (even corporal) for misconduct is required instead of misinformation and parental laziness.

The great tragedy of these labels is that one ultimately finds oneself in a hopeless prison. After using it as a convenient alibi for a while to evade work and discipline, eventually this mindset becomes debilitating. One no longer wants to simply blame 'bi-polar'; rather, one wants to to be set free from such problems. Many professing Christians become entangled in this web also, and much of that is due to defective biblical and systematic theology which leads to impotent applied theology (ie counseling, discipleship, and evangelism). What then is the answer?

Regular digestion and right understanding of Scripture always lays the groundwork for meaningful application. The Lord's Sufficient, Authoritative, Inerrant, Inspired, Holy Word is the only true answer for someone whose attitude and disposition is like a yo-yo all the time, as is the case with many of the 'disorders' that exist. 'Meds' are not the answer; a right relationship with the Living God is! Amen!

Taking Back the Rainbow: The Insult of Gay Marriage to the LORD God

If marriage is not defined as between one man and one woman for a lifetime, then it can mean anything. Gay marriage is only the tip of the ice-berg. Why not polygamy, or two men and three women, or four animals and a woman, or two boys and five men, etc? It just becomes that insane. Believe me, there are plenty of people waiting to jump on that crazy roller coaster of sin.

My greatest beef with the homosexual community is how they have hi-jacked the rainbow. The rainbow is one of the most beautiful phenomenon when it appears in the sky, for it is the great sign of God's grace to humanity as displayed before Noah after the Flood. Now it is a symbol of rebellion and hatred towards the LORD God! It's so bad that if you put a rainbow on your car, people think you are gay! What blasphemous times we live in! Amen!

However, like dinosaurs and every other created thing, we are taking them back as Ken Ham would say. The godless have stolen the things of God and claimed it for themselves, but God will not let His Name be trashed forever. We shall reopen the old wells and let the glory of God shine forth! Amen!

Therefore, may ye who are opposed to the LORD God repent while His grace is extended to you. Ye need not face the wrath of God and continue in your mire of vanity. This world of sin cannot bring satisfaction; it only brings judgment and personal disaster. Repent and be baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit! Amen!

Thanksgiving: Let Us Thank Him Who Died For Us

May we honor Christ this Thanksgiving with our hearts as we express gratitude for what He accomplished on the Cross for His beloved sheep.  We ought to be thankful for all that have, yet all else pales in comparison to the glory of the Cross of Christ.  Let us not be bitter and discontent, for our God reigns, and He has given us new life in Christ!

To Him be the glory!

Homeschool: Thinking Biblically

Why has homeschooling become so popular, and why do we tend to see it growing amongst Christians especially? The answer is that the Biblical worldview requires parental responsibility on education. As public education and even much of private education become more infused with naturalism, the more hostile these outlets become to Christianity. Combating 40 hours a week of secular indoctrination with a few hours here and there at home and Church is virtually fruitless.

For this reason, many Christian parents have decided to homeschool their children instead, which is not new, for this has been done for millennia. Not only does the actual education tend to be far better (more one-one-interaction, regular field-trips, etc.), but it also gives the parent more authority in raising a child in the fear and admonition of the Lord. This is what the anti-Christians condemn, for they desire nothing more than to lead our children astray with a set of values that lead to moral and salvific bankruptcy.

Home-schooling for its own sake is meaningless, but, when it is done for the right reason, the glory of God shines all the brighter as each family takes seriously the importance of raising a child according to His Word.

The Underrating of Church History

The value of Church history is underrated today because post-modern skeptical deconstructionism reigns supreme. When one takes the Scripture out of the picture, one no longer has a basis for knowing history. It becomes arbitrary and impossible to document. This mentality has permeated into the Church, and it has been devastating.

Heresies that were once dealt with have reemerged with a vengeance, especially ones like the Jehovah's Witnesses cult. Because we failed to teach the Bible as authoritative, which in turn grounds history itself, many have been deceived into this cult. Sadly, these same people think that it is novel, yet it is just a repackaged form of Arianism (early Church heresy) with its focus on good deeds and the denial of Christ as fully God.

This and many other heresies are only the tip of the ice-berg. Rather, let us stand upon God's Word, which alone forms the basis of any rationality, and proclaim the truth of God's Word that has been delivered to the prophets and kept by our fathers that have heralded orthodox truth.

The Resurrection: An Inconvenient Truth

The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is the central question of Christianity, for it rises and falls upon the bodily resurrection of Christ.  Everything He said and did was cemented by His resurrection.  For this reason, many fables have been developed to deny His resurrection.  The stolen body, the swoon theory, the flat out denial of Jesus ever living to begin with, etc. are all vain attempts to deny Christ, who is Lord of lords and King of kings.

We just cannot get past the marvel that is the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.  There were so many converts to Christ from pagan cultures right from the start.  The God of the Bible is different than all the pagan deities, and the resurrection of Christ from the dead magnifies this.  Vast numbers of people literally forsook their old ways of paganism to worship the Living Christ! 

Such mass conversion would not have happened apart from the resurrection.  To wave the magic wand of materialism and simply dismiss everything is both dishonest and deceptive.  Explaining away the resurrection is a fool's work, for it forces one to deny the birth of Christianity via the resurrection and its mass propagation shortly thereafter. 

The glory of it all is that the Apostles were willing to die for a truth that no sane man would do if he knew it were a lie.  Maybe one man might die for a lie, but to believe that all of the Apostles (along with many affiliates) would do so is beyond comprehension.  Though such does not prove the resurrection, their willingness to suffer immensely for what they knew was the truth is completely consistent with reality. 

The truth of the matter is that men steal from the Truth of the Resurrection in order to argue against it, for it is God in Christ that makes sense of the world and gives us an accounting for law, knowledge, ethics, etc.  They despise the Lord of hosts, but they need Him to justify their very ability to argue and complain in a meaningful way, for, without Him, they cannot even justify the reality of their own existence.