Most all Christians have some form of prayer life, even if it is only at dinner or bedtime. Some have memorized prayers for certain occasions, especially those who belong to more liturgical denominations. While regularly practiced prayers have their place, the child of God is commanded to “Always rejoice, constantly pray, in everything give thanks. For this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5.16-.18). What does this mean, to constantly pray?
Read more: Frequent Prayer
It’s long been my belief that a follower of Jesus Christ cannot be possessed. The Bible does not mention any believer being possessed, but does give several warnings about “partaking” (1 Corinthians 10.20-.21) with demons, “giving them a foothold” (Ephesians 4.27) and even “consorting” (Deuteronomy 18.10-.13) with those who are involved with demons. I’ve always assumed that a demon would be unable to exist in a person who is indwelt by the Holy Spirit, although the Bible never addresses this specifically and warns believer’s not to “quench” the Spirit (1 Thessalonians 5.19). So the question remains, can a Christian be possessed?
Read more: Demon Possession
We’ve all heard it from someone or other, I’m sure, “Why is God such a kill-joy?” It’s usually a question asked by someone who wants to partake, or wants you to partake with them, in a sinful behavior. The common perception is that “sin” is fun and that doing right is at best, well, boring. But that is the World’s culture speaking, and as usual it’s wrong. Dead wrong.
Read more: World Culture
In college I remember one class discussion about abortion. I asserted by conviction that abortion was immoral, which was quickly challenged by a classmate. “You don’t know that.” He angrily stared me down. “Just wait until you get your girlfriend pregnant then you’ll see it’s not so black and white.” The class went silent, a lot of people were staring at their desks. “I appreciate this is an emotional issue for you,” I began. “But I can tell you two things. One, I’ll never be in that position because I have convictions about my behavior with women. But assuming I were in that position, we develop convictions about such things first, so that should the time arise we can make the right decision.”
Read more: Morality, Part Two
Last week we talked a lot about the activities of demons in our world, their habits, practices and tactics. Today we want to look at how a follower of Jesus can overcome spirits of darkness. You may be surprised at what makes the list, and what doesn’t. Our Lord doesn’t desire us to become demonologists (Ephesians 5.11-.12), or to rejoice in our authority over them (Luke 10.20); instead God’s desire for us is to be holy and unblemished (Ephesians 1.4). Is it any wonder that those things which increase our holiness also help protect us from evil spirits?
Read more: Meditation
Ghost stories are big right now, with reality shows aplenty trying to meet the public interest in supernatural narratives. “Hunted America”, “Most Haunted”, “TAPS”, are only a few examples. Most of these stories share the same general outline: young woman is victimized by a jealous husband, or children are done in by overly religious parents, and so on. They die horribly in or around the home and those who move in later are visited by their left-behind spirits. Except these spirits are not who they claim to be, not at all.
Read more: Familiar Spirits
Today we’re going a little off the beaten path to a social studies lesson related to thinking Biblically.
The Wall Street Journal reported (Friday, April 14th 215, “Mideast’s Christians Trapped by Extremists”) that the Christian population of Lebanon has been decreasing since 1900. Where at that time Christians made up 80 percent of the population that number has steadily dropped and as of 2010 that number is only a tick above 34 percent. My conjecture is that this drop in the Christian population has directly led to the destabilization of the country.
Read more: Christianity & the Mideast Crisis
Last Sunday night a friend of mine and I were talking politics and he mentioned (in relationship to Romney) that “Mormons are more moral than Christians; they have more rules to follow.” We laughed but it’s true that many equate religious rules with morality. If that were true Muslims would be extremely moral people, but as we’ve learned recently Islam excuses lies and murder. So if rules aren’t equivalent to morality, then what is morality?
Read more: Morality, Part One
If you’ve been a Christian very long you are familiar with a gospel tract called “The Four Spiritual Laws”. The material quickly and simply explains why we need a savior and how to be saved. The literature notwithstanding, there are in fact spiritual laws just as there are laws of physics which govern the physical world. There is, for example, the Law of Faith (Romans 3.27) which states that a person is declared righteous by faith and not works. There is also the Law of Lineage (Romans 8.2, Ephesians 2.11-.19) that states anyone who is of Adam is sinful and will suffer eternal separation from God, while those who are of Jesus will not suffer condemnation.
Read more: Demon Oppression
It was early May, 2001 and 19-year-old James Matherson waved to his neighbor as he strolled to his car, enjoying the feel of the Spring sun on his naked body. He slid behind the wheel and was thankful for the seats not being upholstered in leather or vinyl. He drove around the city of Aurora for a while, enjoying the breeze coming through the open windows when he suddenly stopped in front of Living Hope Baptist Church. He strolled into the building, a broad smile on his lips, and he walked into the empty sanctuary. He picked up a Bible from one of the pews and made his way to the front where he promptly began urinating on the podium.
Read more: The Strange Case of James Matherson
“The Bible contains the most profound philosophy, the most perfect morality, and most refined policy, that ever was conceived upon the earth.” – John Adams
Read more: Morality, Part Three
Yesterday we looked at atheist dictators and the sheer amount of bloodshed caused by their ruthlessness. As I pointed out them, not all atheists resort to such methods and many are very kind people, but there is something inside a person who is so bent on denying the possibility of a supreme being. In America such atrocities haven’t erupted from the 0.7% of atheists, but they haven’t been friendly neighbors of Christians either.
Read more: The Problem of Evil - Atheism in America
