“Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!” (Psalm 95:6, ESV). A man who was a great preacher of the gospel of Jesus Christ for more than seven decades, and a dear friend of mine, was Denver E. Cooper (1923-2015). He once shared with me that when he began his preaching career in the 1930s many church people would kneel when they prayed. Do we do much of that today? If not, one wonders why.
Read MoreThere are a number of contemporary movements which hold to the same ideas as to their basic “foundation stones.” These are: pluralism, ecumenism, liberalism, and secular (atheistic or agnostic) humanism. All of these hold to—in more or less the same stringent form—relativism, agnosticism, misology (or logophobia), and “union-in-diversity.” It should be helpful to say at least just a bit about what each of these viewpoints actually mean. . . .
Read MoreThe historic Warren-Flew debate on the existence of God occurred on four consecutive September nights during America’s Bicentennial year of 1976. Conducted on the campus of what was North Texas State University (now University of North Texas), the event attracted nightly audiences of several thousand. Some attendance estimates have been as high as 9000 for one evening of the debate.
The Warren-Flew debate is considered by some as the most devastating defeat suffered by atheism in the 20th century—likely including earlier centuries. Dr. Antony Flew was recognized as one of the most highly acclaimed philosophical atheists of his time. Flew died in 2010. Dr. Thomas B. Warren was a great preacher of the gospel of Christ and a brilliant philosopher. He passed away in 2000.
Read MoreAs regards the eternal purpose of God, Paul said:
Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, was this grace given, to preach unto the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; and to make all men see what is the dispensation of the mystery which for ages hath been hid in God who created all things; to the intent that now unto the principalities, and the powers in the heavenly places might be made known through the church the manifold wisdom of God, according to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord; in whom we have boldness and access in confidence through our faith in him. Wherefore I ask that ye may not faint at my tribulations for you, which are your glory. (Ephesians 3:8-13)
The eternal purpose of God is inextricably related to His providence. This chapter is about that relationship.
Read MoreThe Psalmist asked the same question that is asked by man in each generation. “for what futility have you created all the children of men?” (Psalm 89:47, New King James Version). The New English Translation reads, “Why do you make all people so mortal?” And the New Living Translation reads, “Remember how short my life is, how empty and futile this human existence!”
There are circumstances in life that drive people to express such sentiments, but in their expressive frustrations, many choose different answers. The Psalmist never lost sigh of rationality; he knew well the Lord God brought man into existence. He was not of the irrational mindset that said the material universe came into existence from nothing, absolutely nothing. Neither was he of the silly notion that the material university has always existed. He may not have known much, but he knew that he was brought into existence by a power, force, mind greater than anything of human creation.
Read MoreI do not know if you have ever met Marian Anderson or not, but she is a great singer and declared by those who know her as a very great person. Over three decades ago, she made a tour around the world to take the message of good will and the friendship of the United States to the people of other lands. This great singer, great artist in music, also carried another message and one far greater in the solution of world problems. This greater message was carried in the words of a song that she sang, and which song she made popular (it also helped to make her famous). Everywhere she went she sang, “He’s Got The Whole World In His Hands.”
Read MoreMore than half a century ago, while I was still a child, I recall hearing a number of older people offer the following explanation for the great disasters that had befallen Russia: Men have forgotten God; that’s why all this has happened.
Since then I have spent well-nigh fifty years working on the history of our Revolution; in the process I have read hundreds of books, collected hundreds of personal testimonies, and have already contributed eight volumes of my own toward the effort of clearing away the rubble left by that upheaval. But if I were asked today to formulate as concisely as possible the main cause of the ruinous Revolution that swallowed up some sixty million of our people, I could not put it more accurately than to repeat: Men have forgotten God; that’s why all this has happened.
Read MoreThe Bible is the one ultimately authoritative book with the right answers to life’s most crucial questions. One of these questions is the following: “If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?” (Psalm 11:3). One writer described the situation as the pillars being pulled down. The pillars, the foundations of civil society, provide for the ongoing existence and well-being of society.
Presently, there are some who have the intention of literally pulling down historical American monuments and memorials. As deeply troubling as their agenda may be, there is something more troubling, because it is more foundational. It is the efforts of those who intend to pull down what Washington called the “indispensable supports . . . great pillars . . . the foundation of the fabric” of “every species of free government” which Washington identified as religion and morality in his 1796 Farewell Address.
Read MoreI try to do as the Apostle Paul did, to preach the whole counsel of God.” I try to preach that every man ought to love every other man on this Earth; that if there is any answer to the racism we find in the world, it is in the religion of Jesus Christ; that the gospel has the great purpose of drawing all men into one body, that we may all be one in Christ, no matter whether you are from Africa, Europe, China, South America, or wherever. Paul makes this clear in Ephesians 2:13-16. And to intimate that we Christians do not love those who live in adultery or in homosexuality or that we do not love those who are even guilty of murder is to simply and flagrantly misrepresent us. The fact that we point out that these things are sin and that those who live in willful disobedience and who die in that condition will be lost, does not mean that we do not love them!
Read MoreSome Introductory Matters
1. The problem and its importance. Presently many Christians are very naïve about the danger (to the cause of Christ) of skepticism both in our own nation and around the world. But every Christian should be easily alerted to this great danger by coming to realize just how widespread skepticism is today. For example, atheism is a fundamental element of Marxist Communism, which is now the dominant power in nations which comprise approximately one-half of the world’s population. Marxism is militantly anti-God and anti-religion. The devotees of Marxism hold that it provides an all-around criticism of any and all religion and shows ways and means of ridding the world of it. In the light of this fact, it is fearful to realize that not only is Marxism completely dominant in such nations as Russia and China, but clearly gaining followers in such “religious” nations as Italy, France, and Portugal.
Further, Marxism apparently has a considerable number of followers here in America. And, other philosophies which are widely taught and accepted in our own nation are either atheistic or agnostic. I dare say that there is not a state college or university in the United States which could not be described accurately as a “hotbed” of both atheism and agnosticism. The theory of atheistic evolution is taught, not as a mere theory, but as an established fact not only in our state colleges and universities but also in our public schools. The influence of this false theory against the cause of Christ is indeed enormous.
Read MoreMR. PRESIDENT:--The small progress we have made, after four or five weeks’ close attendance and continual reasoning with each other, our different sentiments on almost every question, several of the last producing as many noes as ayes, is, methinks, a melancholy proof of the imperfection of the human understanding. We indeed seem to feel our own want of political wisdom, since we have been running all about in search of it. We have gone back to ancient history for models of government, and examined the different forms of those republics which, having been originally formed with the seeds of their own dissolution, now no longer exist; and we have viewed modern States all round Europe, but find none of their constitutions suitable to our circumstances.
Read MoreOn August 20, 1775, George Washington wrote a letter to Major General Philip Schuyler. Two months earlier Washington had been appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army by the Continental Congress meeting in Philadelphia. In addition to the details of military strategy included in his letter, Washington included these words: “I am sure you will not let difficulties damp your ardour. Perseverance and spirit have done wonders in all ages” (founders.archives.gov).
This statement from the man whom the late Supreme Court Justice, Antonin Scalia, called “the greatest American of them all” implies qualities needed for such a time as this. Perseverance and spirit have done wonders throughout the ages and certainly throughout the history of America. This is a different time, with different details, but it remains a time for the qualities of perseverance and spirit to work wonders again.
Read MoreI was supposed to be in Memphis, Tennessee, today speaking at the Knight Arnold congregation in Memphis for their annual lectureship, but both I and the doctor decided that we weren’t really in the situation to do that so at least I am glad to be here to fill in for Ferman.
I want to talk today about a topic that I feel very deeply about, and that I believe God feels deeply about. In fact, there can’t be any question about it. I’ve entitled this study: “The Power and Necessity of Love” and the passage which was read just a few moments ago gives the basic information about it.
The apostle Paul made clear the absolute necessity of loving God when he said, “If any man love not the Lord Jesus let him be anathema, let him be accursed, if you do not love Christ” (1 Corinthians 16:22). The apostle Paul here makes clear that no man who does not love the Lord will be saved. Every phase of our lives involves in some way, this matter of love. What we think, how we conduct ourselves, what goals we set for ourselves, and many, many others. In fact, there is nothing in our lives that does not involve this point. Without love, even great things, that is, the things which with love are very great, without love they are not great but with love they are. Those that are without love are worthless.
Paul made clear that without love, first, even great oratorical abilities, men who are great speakers in preaching the Word (they may preach the Word, but there is something missing) become as sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal; so we learn in 1 Corinthians 13:1. Even if one has spiritual gifts which can result in great deeds, the possessor of those gifts is nothing, that is, not pleasing to God, according to 1 Corinthians 13:2, if he does not have love, and third, even tremendously sacrificial acts of benevolence, giving goods to the poor, giving one’s body to be burned, and so on. We deceive ourselves sometimes into thinking that we are really loving servants of God when we are not. If these things are done without love they profit the sacrificing person nothing. This, God says in 1 Corinthians 13:3.
Read MoreHumans are in a position, but not a predicament. We are somehow poised in an ontological setting which makes sense if we use sense in evaluating it. By “sense” I do not mean physical impressions, but metaphysical or mind impressions. In other words, if we use judgment, then that to which my mind applies seems rational. There has to be some rational explanation forthe fact of the coherence of the physical universe and for the fact of the relationship that exists between the physical universe and my consciousness of it. There has to be some explanation for the fact that I can reason about the universe and that I can reason about reason.
Read MoreThe planet earth is our earthly home. We ask often, “Why things happen as they do?” This is a fair question. This is a deep question. To begin to answer the question, we reason there are several active players. We may not admit all of them, but they all exist. Denying any of the players exist is poor reasoning and produces an unclear picture of the cause and effect in life. Consider the players: First, God who created all things. Second, man is the apex and made in His image (Genesis 1:26-27). Man is created a free moral agent; therefore, man is capable of good as well as bad. God gives man a biblical worldview adapted to the dispensation in which he lives, yet working in harmony to its ultimate end—Christianity. Third, Satan who rebels against God (Revelation 12:7-9) and who opposes God’s plan and man (Genesis 3; John 8:44; 1 John 5:19). He will do so until the final judgment (Revelation 20:11-15).
Read MoreINTRODUCTION
In order to adequately know himself, man must know God. To know himself, man must know of his own origin. (“How is it that I am here?”)
To know how one is here, he must know of his origin. Was he created or did he evolve from some non-human thing? A proper analysis of and valid reasoning concerning one’s own body, mind, and spirit (including his conscience) will result in the conclusion that he (man) was created by the infinite Being (God).
To know why he is here, man must know God and His Will.
In order to know what to do with his own life (how to be saved, how to live as a saved person), man must know God (John 17:3) and His will.
In order to know of his eternal destiny, man must know God (Matthew 25:46; Mark 9:43-50; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9; Matthew 7:13-27; et al.). This study is about knowing God.
Read MoreDr. Barnhart says that he recognizes the essentiality of punishment, but that he doesn’t know what punishment should be given! This is indeed a great admission that the theory of Bentham is false because—according to Bentham’s theory—under these two sovereign masters, pleasure and pain, they will guide you and make you do things because of your natural constitution—what you ought to do and you shall do.
In my closing remarks I want to call your attention to the fact that the great God of heaven has certain rights in regard to man in the world.
According to Luke 13:69, which sets out the parable of the fig tree, there are certain things that we should learn.
Read MoreWatching a televised Fourth of July presentation of a “Salute to America” was impactful and insightful. The sights and sounds were impressive. Much of the focus centered on the nation’s military, which should exist to protect the citizenry, especially those who seek to be, and do, good (cf. Romans 13:3-4). The presentation included an array of tanks, precision military units, and powerful weaponry such as multiple aircraft displayed in impressive flyovers performed by units such as the U. S. Navy’s Blue Angels. Watching those Blue Angels soar above in a six-plane delta formation while unleashing a display of white smoke was a special sight to behold. However, there was more than military prowess on display. Hearing the names of great American heroes, some of whom we have been aware of since childhood, was inspirational. There were such names as George Washington, Betsy Ross, John Glenn, Martin Luther King, and numerous others. Some of the individuals may have been lesser known such as Dr. Emil Freireich whose work in oncology has resulted in successful treatment of childhood leukemia. All were American heroes. Hearing the U. S. Armed Forces Chorus sing service songs adopted respectively by each of the five branches of the United States Armed Forces was powerful.
Read MoreIn the March 25 edition of the New York Times, Professor Peter Atterton, in his article entitled “A God Problem,” concluded that the concept of God, as viewed by most in the Western World, is an incoherent one. This is an exceedingly bold claim, and it will here be shown to be an incoherent one.
Mr. Atterton asks, “Does the idea of a morally perfect, all-powerful, all-knowing God make sense? Does it hold together when we examine it logically?” And then Mr. Atterton proceeds to discuss the concepts of omnipotence, omniscience, and moral perfection, but he does so in a glaringly illogical way.
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