Author Archives: Dave
How Should Christians Think about the Hamas-Israel Conflict?
January 28, 2024 Pastor’s Roundtable
Thinking about the War between Hamas and Israel
Pastor Dave Chambers
Pastor Ted Jolls
Pastor Tom Schierkolk
Pastor Jon Michael
Who was Peter?
Is God in Everything?
“God is in everything.” Those words sparked a lengthy conversation about the relationship of God to the physical universe. Christians who make that statement do not mean the same thing a Hindu or Buddhist might mean by a similar statement. The Christian might mean that since God is Creator of all things then all things contain an active part of God. Therefore, His being can legitimately be said to be in all of His creation. This asserts more than the existence of evidence of God’s creative work in the things He created, but that all things contain a part of God. This asserts that a piece of God is present in every created thing. Is this a Biblical assertion?
The Bible teaches that God is present everywhere. “Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence?” (Psalm 139:7) “Can anyone hide himself in secret places, so I shall not see him? says the LORD, Do I not fill heaven and earth?” (Jeremiah 23:24) God is present everywhere in His creation and His presence fills all His creation. God is truly present in all places simultaneously. The Biblical teaching of the unlimited presence of God is not the same as the teaching that God is present in everything
The Bible teaches God is present everywhere while also remaining completely distinct from His creation. God is everywhere, but God is not in everything. Declaring that God is in all things blurs the line between creature and Creator, a line which the Bible draws clearly. Aside from the incarnation of Jesus, the Divine and the created are never described in the Bible as co-mingled. God is greater than all the world and is higher than the heavens. He cannot be contained by the universe or even by Heaven. (1 Kings 8:27) Isaiah 40:22 says, “It is He who sits above the circle of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers, Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them out like a tent to dwell in.” Isaiah shows God is separate from His creation. He sits above the earth. He spreads out the heavens. He is infinitely greater than all His creation.
Isaiah 40:25 asks, “To whom then will you liken Me, or to whom shall I be equal?” If God is in everything and everything contains the Divine, then what could be wrong with portraying God as a Sun, an elephant, a calf or some other created thing? Only because God is not in any of those things is it wrong to represent Him by an image of them. God is not in all creation, but “above all.” (Ephesians 4:6)
Understanding that God is always present with all His creation in all places and at all times while also always separate and distinct from His creation is not easy. The distinction is difficult but important. To mingle God’s being with His creation is to elevate the creation to the level of the Divine and to diminish the infinite, limitless God until He becomes equivalent to His creation. God is not equal with any or all of His creation. He is infinitely greater than all His works. None dare lessen His greatness. All must marvel at the infinity and intimacy of God who transcends all creation and remains present with each person.
What if I do not feel the peace God promises?
What is the Great White Throne Judgment?
Has science discovered a genetic link to sexual behavior?
Recent headlines declared, “Scientists discover genetic underpinnings of bisexuality.” A study by two men at the University of Michigan explored the connection between same sex behavior, bisexual behavior and number of children. The study did not seek to find a genetic basis for sexual behavior. The authors were examining how genes controlling same sex behavior are passed on in a population. Since same sex behavior is notoriously inefficient at producing offspring how is it passed from one generation to the next?
The study relied upon the United Kingdom Biobank which combines genetic sequencing with a wide array of other data and allows researchers to trace connections between genes and outcomes. The study compared over 450,000 individual genomes with the donor’s answers to survey questions regarding sexual behavior, offspring and risk-taking. In doing so they found a correlation between a specific set genes, male risk taking and male bisexual behavior. In other words, males possessing a particular set of genes showed a greater tendency towards risk-taking and/or bisexuality.
This study did not prove a person is genetically predetermined toward a particular sexual orientation. Rather, it presupposed genetic influences upon sexual behavior and acknowledged the affect of other factors upon sexual behavior. The authors did not address sexual orientation or sexual identity. They did not assert that any specific genes produced any specific sexual behavior. The study did show a link between a certain set of genes, bisexual behavior, risk taking and number of children.
One interpretation of the presence of certain genes in those who engage in bisexual behavior is that the genes play an important role in the person’s sexuality. The fact that the genes associated with bisexuality are also associated with risk taking suggests an alternative explanation. The genes in question could be less about sexuality and more about risk aversion or thrill seeking. More research is required to determine the most accurate explanation of the function of those genes.
Scientists did not discover a previously unknown genetic basis for bisexuality. The study presupposed such a link and showed a strong connection between bisexuality, risk taking and a specific set of genes. Even if in the future a determinative link is shown to exist between sexual behavior and a specific portion of the human genome such a genetic correlation will remain unable to speak to the morality of sexual orientation, behavior or desire.
Only the Creator has the authority to determine if something is moral or immoral. Genetics may result in an individual having a natural bent towards a particular sin, participation in that sin is never justified because of a natural inclination towards it. The Bible consistently shows that man’s bent toward sin is proof of moral corruption. Desire is not an extenuating circumstance but an aggravation of the offense. God’s Word remains true and clear in its condemnation of all forms of sexual activity outside the bounds of heterosexual marriage.
Who was the Apostle Paul?
What is the Judgment Seat of Christ?
The Bible speaks of three future, Divine judgments of humans. Two of these judgment take place after death. Hebrews 9 says no one will escape God’s judgment. “It is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment.” (Hebrews 9:27) One judgment is of those who die without having received Jesus as their Savior and is called the Great White Throne Judgment (Revelation 20:11). The other is called the Judgment Seat of Christ, or The Bema Seat.
The Judgment Seat of Christ is a judgment of Christians, which raises a lot of questions. Will the Christian be judged for his sins? Will the Christian be judged for unconfessed sins? If the Judgment Seat of Christ is not a judgment of sin, what will be judged? Will anyone at that judgment not make it into Heaven?
Second Corinthians 5 gives this judgment its name, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ.” (2 Corinthians 5:10) The verses immediately before this statement are clearly addressed to Christians. This means every Christian will stand at the Judgment Seat of Christ to be judged by Him. Because this is a judgment of Christians it cannot be an examination of sin. God promises that at salvation a person’s every sin is forgiven. “Their sins and lawless deed I will remember no more.” (Hebrews 10:17) If God promises that at salvation He will take away a person’s sin and never again bring it to mind, then a later judgment of sin is impossible. The Judgment Seat of Christ cannot be a judgment of sin.
First Corinthians 3 appears to be discuss the same Judgment Seat of Christ when it says, “Each one’s work will become clear; for the day will declare it because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work of what sort it is.” (1 Corinthians 3:13) The judgment seat of Christ is a judgment of work done for Jesus. The quality of the Christian’s work for Jesus will be evaluated. Christian work that is ultimately worthless, whether it be selfish, mean-spirited, proud or self-reliant, will be burned up. That which is truly worthwhile will remain.
At that judgment rewards will be given and taken away. (2 John 1:8) However, even Christians who have no rewards enter Heaven. “He himself will be saved, yet so as by fire.” (1 Corinthians 3:15) The reception of rewards at the Judgment Seat will have not cause anyone to boast in their rewards. All will recognize the rewards they received is only because of the grace of God. Revelation 4:10 shows believers laying their crowns at God’s feet in recognition that He alone is worthy of praise.
The Bible does not say exactly when the judgment seat of Christ takes place. Certain indications suggest this judgment happens sometime after the individual’s death and before the full inauguration of Christ’s millennial kingdom. Though a person’s eternal state will not hang in the balance, the Judgment Seat will be a time of great seriousness. Those who have done little for Jesus will be ashamed. Therefore, all Christians must live to please God now so they will be ready for the day when they stand before their Savior and give account for how they have served Him. (2 Corinthians 5:9)
Everlasting Truths 