What are the consequences of false beliefs about the origin of races?

Acts 17:26

 And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth.

 False beliefs about the origin of races have led to widespread problems worldwide. The effects are far-reaching and include some of the following results:

Racism

One of the biggest justifications for racial discrimination in modern times is the belief that people groups have evolved separately. Thus, different groups are at allegedly different stages of evolution, and so some people groups are more backward than others. Therefore, the other person may not be as fully human as you. This sort of thinking inspired Hitler in his quest to eliminate Jews and Gypsies and to establish the “master race.”

Sadly, some Christians have been infected with racist thinking through evolutionary indoctrination that people of a different “color” are inferior because they are supposedly closer to the animals. Such attitudes are completely unbiblical (e.g., Acts 17:26, Colossians 3:11), although out-of-context Bible verses are often conscripted in attempts to justify racist views.

Rejection of the Gospel

The accuracy of the historical details of Genesis is crucial to the trustworthiness of the Bible and to the whole gospel message. So the popular belief that people groups evolved their different features and could not all have come from Noah’s family (contrary to the Bible) has eroded belief in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Bad influence on missionary outreach

Historically, the spread of evolutionary belief was associated with a slackening of fervor to reach the lost in faraway countries. The idea of savage, half-evolved inferior peoples somehow does not evoke the same missionary urgency as the notion that our “cousins,” closely linked to us in time and heredity, have yet to hear the gospel.  Even many of the finest of today’s missionary organizations have been influenced, often unconsciously, by this deeply ingrained evolutionary belief of how other people and their religions came about.

All Tribes and Nations Are Descendants of Noah’s Family!

The Bible makes it clear that any newly “discovered” tribe ultimately goes back to Noah. They are not a group of people who have never had superior technology or knowledge of God in their culture. Rather, their culture (going back to Noah) began with (a) a knowledge of God, and (b) technology at least sufficient to build a boat of ocean-liner size. Romans chapter 1 suggests the major reason for this technological loss and cultural degeneration. It is linked to the deliberate rejection by their ancestors of the worship of the living God.

Therefore, the first priority in helping a “backward” people group should not be secular education and technical aid, but first and foremost the gospel.

In fact, most “primitive” tribes still have a memory, in their folklore and religion, of the fact that their ancestors turned away from the living God, the Creator. Don Richardson, missionary of Peace Child fame, has shown that a missionary approach, unblinded by evolutionary bias, and thus looking for this link and utilizing it, has borne a bountiful and blessed harvest on many occasions.

Jesus Christ, God’s reconciliation in the face of man’s rejection of the Creator, is the only truth that can set men and women of every culture, technology, people group, or color truly free (John 8:32; 14:6).

-Creation Ministries International

Romans 10:12-13

“For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.  For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

How to Have a Christ-Like Heart

Then He answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the Word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts. Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubabbel thou shalt become a plain(Zech. 4:6-7).

The foundation of the Temple that lay desolate for fourteen years was evidence of the exile’s disobedience and lack of faith. Therefore, God raised up the prophets Haggai and Zechariah (Ezra 5:1) to proclaim His Word and to challenge them to finish rebuilding the Temple (Hag. 1:3-11). This time they ignored the threats of their enemies. And the elders of the Jews builded, and they prospered though the prophesying of Haggai . . . and Zechariah(Ezra 6:14).

The word mountain is a symbol of the great obstacles and powers that face Christians (Is. 40:4; 49:11; Dan. 2:35,45). But all the mountain-like obstacles can be overcome by steadfast faith when Christians put Christ and His Church first in their lives. We will be able to accomplish any task put before us by God. However, if Christ and His Church are not first in our lives, we will find things to be much more difficult. If we live in disobedience to the Word of God, it is next to impossible to have a fruitful life for God. We may still do the right things sometimes. However, we are acting in our own might. We need to allow God to rise up within us and work through us. He must increase, but I must decrease(John 3:30).

Haggai and Zechariah proclaimed God’s Word — the source of power by which any work of God is accomplished. It is not by might, nor by power(human effort), but as God’s Word is quickened — made alive and real by the Holy Spirit, so that we act upon it (Zech. 4:6).

We must read and study God’s Word continuously, over and over. This is how it takes control of our lives. The more we give ourselves to the Word of God, the more alive in our hearts it will become. The Word of God can then help us to have a Christ-like heart. For the Word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart(Heb. 4:12).

My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness (II Cor. 12:9).

-sbc.net devotion

Defending the Faith

Isaiah 43:10

“You are My witnesses,” says the Lord,

“And My servant whom I have chosen,

That you may know and believe Me,

And understand that I am He.

Before Me there was no God formed,

Nor shall there be after Me.

NKJV

 A few years ago, I attended an apologetics conference in New Orleans entitled “Defending the Faith.”  The course that I took looks specifically at Cult Doctrines of the 21^st century and specifically the false teachings of Mormonism and the false teachings of the Jehovah’s Witnesses.  One of our speakers was a man who grew up in a 4^th generation Mormon home.  When he was 21 years old, he gave his heart to Jesus Christ and stepped out of the Mormon faith and into a relationship with Jesus Christ.

You might ask: “who was it that was able to break through to this man with the truth?”  Well, James Walker, president of the Watchman Fellowship shared that actually, it was a boy in his 7^th grade class that actually took his Bible and showed him that there was no possible way that he was a Christian and that they did not worship the same God of the same Bible as Christians.  You see, a 7^th grade friend named Tommy had cared enough to go home and look up Mormonism in the encyclopedia.  When Tommy found out that the Mormons believe that we all have the opportunity to become the god of another planet one day, he took his Bible and shared Isaiah 43:10 with his friend James.  Although James did not get saved right away, God’s Word did not return void!  Nearly 10 years later, the seed of truth that a 7^th grade student named Tommy had planted, yielded a crop!  Students, Adults, yesterday, 2 Mormon churches were planted in this country.  Today, 2 more will be planted.  Tomorrow, 2 more….

Please contend earnestly for the faith! – BP

Jude 3-4

Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.   For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

ESV

Live Like You’re Not Dying

Psalms 119:32

 I run in the path of your commands, for you have set my heart free.

 As I sit at my desk at work, there are times when I can hear the radio that plays in the production areas…particularly after most of the employees have gone home in the afternoons so there is not much noise downstairs.

The other day, the radio was tuned to a country station and I heard a song playing that was constantly saying to “Live like you were dying”.  The song was trying to point out that we should live each day to the fullest like it was our last.  However, as I was sitting there hearing it say over and over to live like you were dying…I thought it was the stupidest thing ever.

Who really wants to live like we are dying?  That makes me think about the world!  Sinners that do not accept the blood atonement of Christ, are walking around as though they are dead…because the “wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23).

Thanks be to God that we don’t have to walk around dead in sin and slaves to sin.  “Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness.” (Romans 6:13)

The truth of God’s Word “sets us free” (John 8:32) and the Bible tell us “that if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9).

Christians are slaves to God, but we are free because “if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” (John 8:36)  This is what God has called us to and what Paul was reminding the church of Galatia when he told them “You, my brothers, were called to be free.” (Galatians 5:13).

Let’s not listen to the words of a country song, but let’s listen to the words of Almighty and let’s live our lives like we are not dying!  Let’s live our lives as people in which Jesus has “redeemed us from all wickedness” (Titus 2:14) and where Jesus who knew no sin became “sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:21).

God, in fervent prayer I am asking you to help me live each day for you.  No matter what trials or tribulations come my way…whether I am suffering, or happy, or sick…help me to praise you starting early in the morning and then being found faithful at night.  Help me to “rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus”.  (1 Thes. 5:16-18).

-RB

Chris Tomlin-Chosen Generation:

We run, with passion for Your name, we run

Freedom, You’ve broken every chain, we run

Our God will not be moved

Our God will never be shaken

We run to You, we run

We are a chosen generation

Rise up, holy nation

God, we live for You

You have called us out of darkness

Into light so glorious

God, we live for You

Hear My Cry For Help

Hear my cry for help,
    my King and my God,
    for to you I pray.

 In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice;
    in the morning I lay my requests before you
    and wait expectantly.
Psalm 5:2-3

 As I write this, it is the end of my day.  I know it’s probably the beginning of yours, so work with me.

Today has been challenging.  It started off outside in 40 degree weather trying to find a set of keys.  I slung laundry through the machines as I headed out the door with five kids in tow.  I was on the road most of the day playing chauffeur to the children in my home.  I caught a brief glimpse of my husband as I served him a drive-by meal.

I spent the afternoon on the phone with a hurting friend.  I then spent the evening trying to keep the baby off the table tops.  The night is not over yet even though the new day has officially begun and my bed is calling my name.

I know as I  lay down to pursue sleep I will cry out to the LORD for hurting friends, sleepy ball players, exhausted family members, and sick loved ones.

The new day will come soon enough with the blare of the clock radio.  I will hit the clock a few times (not too many!) and rise to begin again.

Once again I will pray for the things I pray for right now. I will pray expectantly, already looking for your answer.  Some answers will be Yes, some will be No, and others will be Wait.

As I think of sleep, I’m reminded of our Quiet Time today.  Jacob slept on a stone.  During the night the LORD spoke to him and showed him a glimpse of heaven and a glimpse of his future.  He woke up, refreshed even though he slept on a rock instead of like a rock, and he promptly committed his entire life (not just one day) to following God.

That’s a productive night’s rest!  Imagine spiritually growing while you sleep!  That sounds like some type of infomercial!  It sounds too good to be true.

But our God is good.  And believe it or not, He is not too good to be true.  He is good and He is true.

We can trust Him.  Go ahead and pray.  Go ahead and wait expectantly.  He will answer.  He will heal.  He will help.

-bbm

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

 James 5:16

Politely Parry Pushy Peers

Proverbs 20:1

 Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler;

whoever is led astray by them is not wise.

 Car salesmen are pushy and my husband is wise!

This weekend I learned the above two facts.  Actually, I already knew this; however, it was re-affirmed this weekend.  My husband and I have been shopping and praying about buying a work truck for about a month now, and this weekend we had finally decided on what we wanted and went to get it.

Once at the dealership that we had been haggling prices with all week on the phone, we had to deal with three different salesmen.  The first one was nice and someone that we could talk easily to.  He had actually worked in construction building houses, but has just recently had to start selling cars for a living.  We could tell that he was someone that didn’t like wearing suits.  When we were asking him how long it would take for everything to be finished because we had church later that evening, he complained about his work because they have started making him work on Sundays.

The second salesman was the man that we had to talk to about prices.  Actually, he always took the offers away to some “man behind the curtain” that we never met.  This salesman was pushy; however, we were able to talk him down and we eventually made an agreement on the price we were willing to pay.

The third salesman was the worst one and was more deceptive.  He was the finance guy that was just printing up the paperwork for us to sign on the deal we already made.  However, this guy’s agenda was to get us to agree to pay about $3,000 more by trying to sell us commercial warranty and GAP insurance.  We were in his office refusing offers for about two hours!  The first salesman later told us that most people aren’t in there that long.  During that time, my husband was telling the finance guy that the feature that really sold this particular truck to him was the toolboxes built into the side of the bed.  The man had then commented that where else would he keep all of his beer.  This is where my husband showed his wisdom!  My husband responded back that he doesn’t drink beer, and the pushy salesman was quiet for the longest time since we had been in his office.

That entire day we were at different dealerships talking to salesmen who were trying to persuade us to agree to things that we didn’t want to agree to.  Even when we thought we had a good agreement over the phone with the one we bought from, the entire process there took us about five hours to complete.  All day long, the peer pressure was intense.

This constant pressure seemed comparable to me to the pressure that teenagers are constantly facing with their peers.  There is pressure to give in and accept what is being offered.  After all, that seems at the time to be the easy thing to do.  There is pressure to ignore comments about sinful things and to not stand up on biblical principles.

Let’s not be pushovers!  Instead, let’s stand firm on God’s Word and be wise in our choices!

-RB

Proverbs 1:10

My son, if sinful men entice you,

do not give in to them.

 

The New Hypocrite

As I studied James 5:12 over the past week, my exegesis uncovered the fact that James was not so much warning against taking an oath or a vow, but rather he is warning against hypocrisy!  He says it should not matter what we swear by; actually, Jesus said you shouldn’t have to swear by anything…just do what you say you will do!  If you don’t, you are a hypocrite!

Over the last several days, I have reflected over what this looks like in a post-modern, relativistic, culture of religious pluralism. Just in the last several days I learned that it is now illegal to have a father daughter dance in Rhode Island because of gender discrimination!  Then I learned that according to a 4^th century fragment found recently, Jesus actually had a wife (not sure how He kept that one hidden for 500 years).

I have come to a startling revelation. As I continue to faithfully proclaim the truths of God’s Word without compromise, I am the “New Hypocrite.” Culture (under the influence of Satan) is seeking to take the Word of God and turn it on those who seek to be faithful to God’s Word. This is not a new strategy, Satan has been twisting the Word of God for his own agenda since Genesis chapter three. Here’s how it is playing out in 21^st century: God’s Word calls us to love one another, after all, this is how they will know that we are Christians right? But what does it mean to love one another? Does this mean that we accept and affirm everything that our brothers and sisters are doing around us? Is that truly faithful love? I would like to submit that faithful love would share the truth in love since it is the truth that sets men and women free.

The problem is this, when we share the truth in love, we become the “New Hypocrite.” Our culture looks at us and says, “Jesus wouldn’t condemn and judge like that!  You are a hypocrite! If you loved like Jesus, you wouldn’t call him a sinner!” Here’s what makes this accusation so especially challenging: It comes from within the church!

So what do we do? We are trying to love like Jesus, but as soon as we begin to stand firm on the Word of God regarding the issues of our time, we become the New Hypocrite! First of all remember this: Jesus didn’t condemn because He didn’t have to condemn us, we were condemned already! (John 3:18) Second of all, the love of Jesus that compelled him to spend time with sinners was never to help them feel good about their sin, but rather to show them the truth about their sin (John 8:11, John 4:17-18) that they might be rescued from their sin.

So here’s the word of caution, as you seek to be a faithful disciple maker in the 21^st century. Go ahead and mark it down, you are the New Hypocrite.  You see the New Hypocrite isn’t hypocritical in the eyes of the lost world, The New Hypocrite is hypocritical in the eyes of the liberal church! Press on dear soldiers, contend for the faith and when you love like Jesus, don’t be surprised if the world hates you! -BP

 For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. We should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother’s righteous. Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you.

I John 3:11-13

Missing the Mark

Galatians 5:2-3:

Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all.  Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law.

 This week at work, I spent a lot of time downstairs in the production areas…which is unusual for me.  Most of the time, I simply sit at a desk all day long…(or according to the Quality Manager, I’m always in the kitchen washing dishes).  However, this week, I’ve had to help set up “pass” quality reports on the tester computers for a new customer.

After I had finished setting up the report in the way that I thought had all of the correct information we would need, I was standing there waiting for an alternator to get tested so that I could make sure the report printed automatically and correctly.  I watched one alternator run through the stringent test cycle only for it to fail the test.  The alternator part number required an output of 78 amps on the top end which is at 6,000 rpms; however, the tested alternator only put out about 74 amps consistently at the higher rpm rate.  Since the alternator did not pass, I could not verify that the report was working correctly.

I stood there longer as another alternator was mounted on the test machine and then tested.  However, it too did not pass and only put out about 75 amps.  Therefore, this alternator was put in the rejected/re-work pile and another alternator was mounted and tested (btw…this is not a common occurrence!)  The third alternator also failed the test.  When the screen pulled up showing the test measurements, we noticed that it had measured, I believe it was 77.8 amps.  It only failed by two tenths of an amp!

It was commented about how close the last alternator had come to passing the test; however, it had to be put in the same pile as the other rejected alternators.  The Quality Manager asked if there were different degrees of bad.  As I hesitated to answer his question, he realized what I was thinking about so he added a clarification and said in the rebuilding business.  I answered, “Yes, in the rebuilding business there are different degrees of bad.”

All three alternators had measured differently and some were worse than others.  However, they would all have to be torn down, rebuilt with different rotor/stator combinations, and re-assembled and tested.  This made me think about when we as humans miss the mark.  If the mark or goal is perfection, then missing the mark is when we sin.  What if we only sin one time?  What if that one sin is a “small” lie that doesn’t seem to have any drastic consequences on our lives?

Even if we miss the mark by one inch, then we have failed!

The jr. high girls REACH class is going through the book of Galatians.  This week’s lesson on Chapter 5 reminds us of our reliance or faith on God’s grace as our salvation.  Without God’s grace, we all fall short of perfection.  If we are relying on our obedience of the law as our salvation, even if it is just one aspect of the law, then we will be judged according to the entire law in which we will all fall short.  Thank you God that it is not the law that saves, but His grace alone.

If salvation was a formula, it would not be Grace + Works = Salvation, but it would be Grace + Nothing = Salvation.

All we have to do is accept God’s free gift of salvation, and then God does the rebuilding!  He is the one that makes us new creations and begins molding us into His image so that the works result.

-RB

Galatians 5:4-6:

You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.  For through the Spirit we eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope.  For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.

 

Born of the Spirit

And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out My Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions(Joel 2:28).

After the Lord Jesus’ Ascension, the day of Pentecost, after they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, Peter said: This is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel(Acts 2:16). The next verse (17) repeats the Word of the Lord as a given to Joel which is a great end times prophecy. We are going to experience a great outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the latter days. God is going to pour out His anointing in a huge way on His obedient servants. If you want to be part of this, it is important to follow after the Word of God.

Later Peter said: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust(II Pet. 1:4).

Here, the two streams of life are contrasted: The corruption in the world through lust, and the divine nature which is in the world through the Spirit-filled life.

We receive the Adam-life by natural birth, and the Christ-life by spiritual birth. The believer has experienced two births in his life. The first birth comes to every human being that has ever lived. Our fleshly birth into this world is the Adam birth that is spoken of here. Jesus spoke to Nicodemus of a second birth. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God (John 3:3). This second birth that Jesus was speaking of was a spiritual birth. Nicodemus was confused at first asking: How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? (3:4). Many in the world today are just as confused. They don’t understand what being born again means. Jesus explained to him: Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the spirit is spirit(3:5-6). We as believers must help them to understand through the Word of God that by repentance and faith in Jesus, we gain this second birth and we obtain eternal life.

Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the Word of God (I Pet. 1:23).

(taken from sbc.net)

When You Think They’re Not Listening

Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the dumb shall sing. Isaiah 35:5-6

As a home care physical therapist, I often visit patients who have dementia and cannot communicate due to diminished mental abilities. It’s always a challenge to figure out how much they understand and how to best communicate with them. One gentleman in particular lived in a silent fog. He did not speak, always stared straight ahead and never showed any expression. He had to be led everywhere. It took LOTS of coaxing on my part to get him to walk to the sink where I soaked and massaged his hand that had withered and clenched.

I knew music had the ability to impact others. This man was no exception. I quickly learned he liked hymns (even the way I sang ’em!) He smiled and even clapped that withered hand. I talked to him about Jesus, uncertain of how much he understood. One day I asked him if he knew Jesus as his Savior because if he did then one day he’d have a new body that could laugh and run and hug. A tear rolled down each cheek. He couldn’t tell me anything. He’s since passed on. I’m eager to look him up when I leave this world. I’ve no doubt that the name of Jesus pierced his dark world with clarity that only the Holy Spirit can provide.

I can’t help but wonder how many opportunities to speak the name of Jesus did I miss thinking they weren’t listening.

Our youth begin a new ministry this weekend…Loving Our Seniors, an arm of MYPALM (Mature Young People About Love & Missions). We’re “adopting” a local nursing home. Please pray for this ministry to maintain an evangelistic focus. Pray that those participating can get past their fears and out of their comfortable places to ask a resident “Do you know Jesus?” Our seniors in nursing homes sit within arm’s reach of eternity and many need to meet Jesus now. Still others need to hear praises lifted to Jesus to lure them out of their invisible closets of depression, anxiety and loneliness they’ve retreated to. -MP

Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:9-11