Be Ready With an Answer

To the weak I became weak, in order to win the weak. I have become all things to all people, so that I may by all means save some. - 1 Corinthians 9:22 HCSB

Have you ever wanted to determine, once and for all to your intellectual satisfaction, that there actually is a God? Have you ever had to deal with someone who did not believe in the existence of a Supreme Being and placed your faith on the same order as Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy? Have you ever, in those late night hours when you were alone and looking on the shambles of your life, reached out with your heart and asked, “Is there anybody out there?”

In order to deal intelligently with the study of religion, with its multitude of forms, denominations, cults and schisms, you have to first develop a better understanding of the study called “apologetics”. Apologetics is simply a systematic way of arguing in defense of Christianity. It does not mean you are apologizing for being a Christian; it means you are explaining reasonably why you believe that Christianity is Divinely inspired when there are so many other religions that make the same claims.

Keep your thoughts in line with Scripture.
There are some Scriptural guidelines for the study of apologetics. Christians are warned, “Be careful that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit based on human tradition, based on the elemental forces of the world, and not based on Christ.”[1] There are many dangers inherent in blindly swallowing the multitude of philosophies out there. The righteous need to always compare the findings of our minds to the Scriptures and the wisdom of other, older believers so that we don’t go off on wild tangents.

Be able to answer any question concerning the faith at any time to anyone.
Peter urged, “But set apart the Messiah as Lord in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you. However, do this with gentleness and respect, keeping your conscience clear, so that when you are accused, those who denounce your Christian life will be put to shame.”[2]

We are commanded to be able to answer any man as to the reasoning behind our faith and our joy. We must be ready at any time, under any circumstances to “reason together.” All Christians encounter questions like “Why do you have such hope when the world is falling down around our ears?” “Why do you believe that such an old, outdated book like the Bible is Divinely inspired?” “Why do you even believe there is a God when science so clearly has proven that we have evolved from more primitive life-forms?”

We must be able to answer these questions meekly “with gentleness and respect, keeping your conscience clear.” This attitude is possible only if you are confident in your knowledge and do not feel threatened by your questioners. Obviously, this implies that we must study beforehand and study is sometimes difficult. It requires seriousness, diligence and disciplined thought. Our Master requires this of us. After all, He set the example for us. Didn’t He speak to each man in his language, on his level and to his need?

Speak to each man in his language, on his level and to his need.
Paul, probably the greatest missionary ever, writer of a good portion of the New Testament, and martyr for the Faith, showed us the method he used to evangelize. He explained, “For although I am free from all people, I have made myself a slave to all, in order to win more people. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win Jews; to those under the law, like one under the law--though I myself am not under the law--to win those under the law. To those who are outside the law, like one outside the law--not being outside God's law, but under the law of Christ--to win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, in order to win the weak. I have become all things to all people, so that I may by all means save some.”[3]

He made Himself without law to the lawless, weak to the weak, strong to the strong. There are certain men that, when approached, already have the assumption of God’s existence and with such, it is unnecessary to deal with chemistry, physics and apologetics. It would unnecessarily confuse the more important issue of their salvation. We must not be side tracked by petty arguments from preaching the cross.

However, others fancy themselves to be wise. Paul described these people for us saying, “For though they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God or show gratitude. Instead, their thinking became nonsense, and their senseless minds were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools”.[4]

With such, it is sometimes necessary to approach on an entirely different level. It is primarily for these that we study apologetics, or as some refer to it “natural theology.” Paul’s goal was, as ours must be, the winning of eternal souls. All other considerations must have the importance of “dung” when we are faced with the possibility of winning Christ.[5]

Use the study of nature to lead them to faith.
In this effort, nature is our ally. Nature can be used to come to know God in a limited fashion. This is the point of Paul’s discourse when he accused non-believers, “For God's wrath is revealed from heaven against all godlessness and unrighteousness of people who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth, since what can be known about God is evident among them, because God has shown it to them. From the creation of the world His invisible attributes, that is, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what He has made. As a result, people are without excuse.”[6]

This passage in the letter to the Romans gives us the foundation for the study of apologetics. It teaches the possibility of knowing the “invisible things” of God through the study of the visible, clearly seen creation. This makes it right and fair for a Holy God to judge a primitive tribe in the jungles of Ecuador for their sin; because they should be able to know of the existence of God, and even some of His nature and attributes, simply by observing nature.

Am I simply taking an isolated passage and interpreting it the way I choose? Look at how Paul himself meant this: “So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the message about Christ. But I ask, "Did they not hear?" Yes, they did: Their voice has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the inhabited world.”[7] He’s alluding to a passage in the book of Psalms that goes, “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky proclaims the work of His hands. Day after day they pour out speech; night after night they communicate knowledge. There is no speech; there are no words; their voice is not heard. Their message has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the inhabited world.”[8]

Anyone who looks carefully and deeply at nature finds in its complexity and order signs of intelligence. We discover a garden in the middle of chaotic woodlands and know there is a gardener at work. Look into the vastness of space and know God’s immensity. Look into the sun and worship His power. Gaze upon a snowflake and stand in awe at His workmanship. Sit beneath sighing pines and bathe in His comfort.

Study widely, read generally, seek wisdom everywhere.
Another point that we can learn from Paul is that we not only need to heed the Scriptures, we not only have to balance our views with scientific observations, but we are also allowed to know, quote and refute our audience’s own works. When preaching on Mars Hill to a bunch of Greek philosophers, Paul quoted the Cretan poet Epimenides, and the Cilician poet Aratus.[9] He knew their writings well enough to quote them on the spot. Yes, Paul was a famed scholar, but his studies had been in Judaic Halakha at the feet of Gamaliel. His normal course of study would not have included Greek philosophy, so somewhere along the line, Paul spent time reading their books, studying their thought patterns.

Notice, that even though these poets were godless philosophers, they had stumbled on a useable truth. Just because a person is not a Christian does not mean that person is an idiot. Wisdom can be found in the market square, in the city gates, outside the town, on the hill top – everywhere.[10] Sometimes, men listen to just a part of what Wisdom is saying. I may hear something you don’t. You may hear something another can’t, but each of us is capable of hearing if only we’ll listen.

Expect to work hard.
Last, expect to work hard. Paul cried out for Christians to study, to think and to prepare for the furtherance of the truth.[11] You will find that your faith is not unfounded. You need not be ashamed in an “age of science.”

You need to show that you are not following a particular man or set of man-made dogma; that you did not simply wake up one morning and haphazardly pick Christianity as a metaphysical outlook. You did not simply look in the phone book and pick the first denomination that fell under your eye. Your faith is not blind! It is reasonable, based on demonstrable truth.

In order to “correctly teach the word of truth”, you need to be able to know the difference between the statements “I possess a soul” and “I am a soul.” It is more than semantics. It is the basis of life-changing decisions. Of course, it is hard work, but it is a responsibility that God has placed squarely on His disciples’ shoulders.


[1] Colossians 2:8
[2] 1 Peter 3:15-16
[3] 1 Corinthians 9:19-22
[4] Romans 1:21-22
[5] Philippians 3:8-9
[6] Romans 1:18-20
[7] Romans 10:17-18
[8] Psalm 19:1-4
[9] Acts 17:28
[10] Proverbs 8:1-4
[11] 2 Timothy 2:15-17

Are Christ’s Disciples Anti-Science?

But set apart the Messiah as Lord in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you. - 1 Peter 3:15 HCSB

You often hear people assert that religion (Christianity in particular) has been an obstacle in the way of science’s progress. Sometimes, they will even view Christianity as a formidable enemy. In many works of fiction, the noble scientist has to work around the rabid, sweaty Christian evangelist who is trying to stop legitimate research out of paranoia, or simple greed for power.

Like all the best lies, this one has a grain of truth at its heart. This view could actually be supported by a little bit of fact because the religion of Christianity has, in fact, often proscribed the legitimate pursuit of knowledge and understanding.

Actually, this attitude is not limited to Christianity. Even before Yeshua ben Adonai deigned tread our Earth, those who sought to go against the social grain and hold unpopular thoughts faced persecution. Anaxagoras was arraigned for holding “impious doctrine.” His blasphemy? He held that the sun was an incandescent stone that was larger than Peloponnesus. He only kept his life through his political connection with Pericles.

Those who studied the black arts of alchemy (modern chemistry’s precursor) were often condemned as being in league with the devil and even Aquinas’ teacher, Albert the Great, did not wholly escape this suspicion. And Roger Bacon! How vehemently Christians actively opposed his desire to dissect human cadavers, something we accept without difficulty today.

Everyone knows about Galileo. Sure, like many physicists today, he was impudent enough to stray beyond the confines of physics into the realm of doctrine. But his judges were also in error for forcing an old man to perjure himself when they knew perfectly well what he still held in his heart.

Lest we begin to feel that the problem lies only in the Catholic Church, understand that Protestantism also must bear the burden of its attacks upon science. Ever since the systematic study of geology has arisen, its students have had to defend against a bitter and protracted war waged against them. As Cowper satirized,

“Drill and bore the solid earth, and from the strata there

Extract a register, by which we learn

That He who made it, and revealed its date to Moses,

Was mistaken in its age.”

A Cause of Intolerance – Erroneous Application

There are many causes for this intolerance. First, we tend to accept our religious beliefs as revealed by God and our religious beliefs as taught by our human teachers to be one and the same. For instance, Greeks, like Plato and Aristotle, believed that the stars were gods. They believed that the stars were intelligent and influenced the lives of humans. So when Anaxagoras said that stars were no more than incandescent stones, they felt that their theology was under attack. Rather than look carefully and see if they had not perhaps made some unfortunate applications from their doctrine, they chose instead to leave their theology intact and attack the facts as presented through science.

Unfortunately for the Church, Aristotle loomed large in the Patristic age. He came to be viewed by many of the early church fathers almost as God’s mouthpiece. Don’t get me wrong, Aristotle’s thoughts were useful and helped us across several important intellectual hurdles. I have nothing against the man. I appreciate his Traditional Square of Opposition as much as the next logician. It’s his followers who licked his intellectual boots in such a servile manner with whom I have a problem. As long as they maintained this unquestioning attitude to centuries old thoughts, Christianity made little to no progress.

Having said this (and probably alienated half of the Christians who may have had the temerity to actually begin reading), let me say that science as we know it would not even exist were it not for Christians.

Because of this fawning attitude toward Aristotle on the part of Christians, the Arabs made some small steps forward in the Long March of Science. I say small not out of a disrespect for their advances, but out of an attempt at an honest evaluation of their part of the big picture. After all the Nestorians (a nominally Christian sect) were influential in early Arabic science and it was Syrian and Christian physicians who taught Alfarabi and Avicenna. Considering the lack of world-wide communication and modern intellectual tools, Arabic advances were quite astonishing. However, when compared to such notable names as Copernicus, Galileo, Tycho Brahe, Kepler and Newton, their accomplishments (as necessary and brilliant as they were) begin to fade. It is interesting to note that the decline of Aristotle’s preeminence, the rise of the Reformation and the rise of modern science all seem to be interrelated. It was during this fertile period that the greatest methods, instruments and observations arose.

A Second Cause of Intolerance - Suspicion

Another reason for the unfortunate tension between religion and science is that we theologians are often a suspicious lot. Like most humans, we are slow to give up a cherished idea that has worked very well for us for a great number of years.

However, this attitude is not limited to religious men. Every new scientific idea has had to fight for its place of preeminence against a bunch of tenured professors whose comfortable university positions are either threatened by the new view, or who are stricken with terminal apathy.

Is this not the very essence of the scientific method? A type of intellectual Darwinianism? Someone comes up with some new insight that contradicts or adds to the traditional view and publishes. The idea undergoes vigorous peer review and if it manages to survive, gains a few hardy followers. With time and experimental affirmation, it becomes the new traditional view and everyone acts as though they ALWAYS held this once reviled view.

This is a very old and valuable method and it was not created by scientists. Theologians have used this very technique for millennia. We created it. This method was used to establish the Canon of Scripture. To the degree that the Church has been faithful to its Scriptural foundation, it has been a strong supporter, if not a source, of good science.

The Bible teaches that God is the source of the universe. He is the Prime Cause, the First Mover. Thus, to understand the universe is to understand something of its Architect. David agreed with this thought. He wrote: The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky proclaims the work of His hands. Day after day they pour out speech; night after night they communicate knowledge. There is no speech; there are no words; their voice is not heard. Their message has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the inhabited world. In the heavens He has pitched a tent for the sun. - Psalms 19:2-4 HCSB

Is this not the reason Paul castigated humanity saying, From the creation of the world His invisible attributes, that is, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what He has made. As a result, people are without excuse. - Romans 1:20 HCSB

Christians should be on the bleeding edge of science if for no other reason than their passion for “all things God.” Just as we rejoice at a letter from our sweetheart, tear it open while still standing by the mail box, and let our emotions rise and fall with each line, we should be endlessly fascinated by the discoveries of science.

Must we mindlessly accept all the interpretations of science? Absolutely not! Any good scientist would agree with this. The fundamental tenet of good science and good theology is “question everything”. After all, a conclusion is just where you got tired of thinking.

Do not doubt the veracity of the Bible, but be sure to question your understanding of the Bible. When God’s two books, the Scriptures and Nature, seem to disagree, be sure that they don’t. We simply don’t know enough yet to consolidate the two. Rest assured, a little more research, a little more experimentation, a little more study of the Scriptures and we will soon discover that Science and Theology are simply two paths toward one truth – Elohim.

All That and a Bag of Chips

Not that I have already reached [the goal] or am already fully mature, but I make every effort to take hold of it because I also have been taken hold of by Christ Jesus. Brothers, I do not consider myself to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead, I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God's heavenly call in Christ Jesus. Therefore, all who are mature should think this way. And if you think differently about anything, God will reveal this to you also. – Philippians 3:12-15 HCSB

There is a deeply twisted, dark tendency in each of us that the Jews refer to as the “yetzer hara” or the “negative impulse.” The really strange thing about this negative impulse is that it consistently comes out as highly positive and motivational.

“You are glorious! You are unlimited!” we are told. They might as well trumpet “You are all that and a bag of chips!” Our sick and deceitful hearts (Jeremiah 17:9)respond with a quickened beat. Our darkened minds, longing for the title “wise”, (Matthew 23:8) betray the fact that we are yet trapped in our prideful sins (Acts 8:22-23) and are in fact fools (Romans 1:21-22). We don’t realize that Satan is once again luring us with that stale, age-old bait “you can be like God!” Genesis 3:5)

Like all the best lies, this one is based on a grain of truth. The Scriptures do in fact teach that we have unlimited potential. “I am able to do all things through Him who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13) However, notice that the sense of worth or potential lies not within the human, but within the One who is within us. If we conquer, it is only because the One who is in us is greater than anyone in the world. (1 John 4:4)

Where the world calls us to be strong and self-sufficient, the apostle Paul taught that we should not merely admit that we are weak, but actually revel in the fact that Christ’s power resides in us and perfects us. (2 Corinthians 12:9) He recognized that, but for the grace of God, he would be nothing more than lion food. (2 Timothy 4:17) He readily admitted that he needed to be rescued. At the end of his life, at the pinnacle of his spiritual maturity he still admitted, “I’ve not yet achieved my goal. I’m still lacking. I’m still trying to be Christ-like.” (Philippians 3:12-15)

I understand many people struggle with self-esteem. I know how hard it is to strive and fail. But feeding into human pride through appealing but essentially humanistic thought processes will not help. It is like pouring gas onto an open flame. We will never conquer our yetzer hara by appealing to pride.

Pride is the ultimate sin. The desire for self-advancement and glory, the love of money, power and accomplishment is the very root of evil. Pride caused the devil to fall. (Ezekiel 28:17) Pride caused Adam and Eve to fall. (Genesis 3:5) Pride made Moses stumble. (Numbers 20:10-12) Pride and the longing to have others think well of them caused Ananias and Saphira to die. (Acts 4:36-5:11) The same thing got the apostle Peter a public rebuke by Paul. (Galatians 2:11-14) God resists the proud but He draws near to the humble. (James 4:6-10)

When we have a true encounter with God, the result will not be a swelling of our chests. Like the prophet, we will say, “Woe is me, for I am ruined, because I am a man of unclean lips and live among a people of unclean lips, [and] because my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of Hosts.” (Isaiah 6:5)

Should an Anencephalic Baby Be Aborted?

"When men get in a fight, and hit a pregnant woman so that her children are born prematurely, but there is no injury, the one who hit her must be fined as the woman's husband demands from him, and he must pay according to judicial assessment. If there is an injury, then you must give life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, bruise for bruise, wound for wound. - Exodus 21:22-25 HCSB

Anencephaly (pronounced an-en-sef-ul-ee) is a birth defect in which the baby is missing a large portion of the brain as well as skull and scalp. Most of these babies will be stillborn or spontaneously aborted through miscarriage. Those that actually make it to birth usually die within hours or days though some do live for as long as a year.

As a result of the brain end of the neural tube failing to close correctly, a major portion of the brain, skull and scalp fail to grow. The child is born without a forebrain and a cerebrum (the thinking and coordinating part of the brain).

The child is usually blind, deaf, unconscious and unable to feel pain. Though there may be a rudimentary brain stem, and reflex actions like breathing and responses to sound or touch may occur, the fact that the cerebrum is missing precludes the possibility of the child ever being conscious. The child will have no sense of self-consciousness, no awareness of his or her environment, and no ability to interact with other persons.

God never called his elders to be dispassionate in their dealings with His people. In fact He specifically chose zealous, passionate people to lead. However, this issue is so painful, so fraught with emotional landmines that it is incredibly difficult to render a righteous judgment on the matter. The only way that I can offer any advice is to attempt to maintain the principle of sola scriptura or “only the Scriptures”. As Paul said, we must learn “nothing beyond what is written” lest we start the slide of emotionally biased favoritism.[1]

As difficult as Scriptural truths may be, we must beware of trying to know more than omniscient God or being more righteous than the Holy One of Israel. We must stick to what God says and not twist it, not even if we think it presents Him in a bad light. Our brother Job demanded, “Would you testify unjustly on God's behalf or speak deceitfully for Him? Would you show partiality to Him or argue the case in His defense? Would it go well if He examined you? Could you deceive Him as you would deceive a man? Surely He would rebuke you if you secretly showed partiality.”[2]

There are several biblical passages that treat the issue of the destruction of unborn children.[3] In Exodus[4], we were given specific punitive principles to apply when a fight resulted in the death or damage of a fetus.

It is noteworthy that the pre-existing physical condition of the child was unrelated to the punishment. The child’s life was worth the offender’s life regardless of the child’s potential handicaps. This goes with the Bible’s clear teaching that human life is intrinsically worthy, regardless of its capacity to contribute to society. No matter how genetically deformed, a developing child in utero is still a human person.

It is critical to understand that functional definitions of “personhood” are universally metaphysically inconsistent. Besides, if there is anything we learned from the Nazi eugenics program, it is that ascribing personhood according to usefulness is also a social powder keg!

The Bible is clear in its teaching that life begins at conception, regardless of where that conception leads.[5] God’s work in a human’s life begins while that human is still in the womb, unconscious and unable to add anything to its environment.[6] In fact, the Bible does not even distinguish between a fetus, regardless of its development, a newly born child or a young child. In each case the same word is used.[7]

God’s wants each person to be born. He has a plan for each person. They have worth and identity before they are even born, regardless of their physical condition,[8] simply because they are created in the image of God.[9] The Psalmist said that children are a reward from the Lord[10] and he did not limit that truth to healthy children.

The Scriptures present us with an underlying principle of life. Whenever we are given the choice, God’s people should automatically choose life.[11] Human life is so valuable that God Himself chose to die in order to save us from an eternal death. That is why the crime of murder is so horrendous and must be dealt with without pity.[12]

It would be easy to acquiesce to the argument, “I have the final say over what happens to my body.” However, the Ransomed believe that our bodies are not our own. We have been bought with a price.[13] Like our Master,[14] we must present our bodies as living sacrifices,[15] as God’s holy sanctuary[16] and must do His will regardless of the personal cost. We are to not only look out for our own interests but also consider the needs of others.[17]

In the Gospel of John we read that Jesus and His disciples came across a man blind from birth. His disciples questioned Him: "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" "Neither this man nor his parents sinned," Jesus answered. "This came about so that God's works might be displayed in him.”[18]

Every human that is conceived is capable of displaying the glory of God. Not because of anything they may do but because of what God may do through, to or for them. To delete a child that does not reach our arbitrary standards of health is to diminish all of humanity because it removes an opportunity for humans to experience God’s great strength.

Paul warned us that we who are strong have an obligation to bear the weaknesses of those without strength.[19] In what way would this not apply to a child born with what is essentially a terminal illness?

If we think of the child as being essentially born with a terminal illness, then we are not obligated to treat what is basically futile to treat. It is impossible to restore the child’s brain. It is impossible to keep them alive in perpetuity. Therefore there is no obligation to take heroic measures to save the child. However, as with all the dying, we are still required to offer comfort and dignity while the disease runs its course. We do not have to deny this baby’s personhood or remove the intrinsic quality of her humanity.

Allow the child to die at God’s prescribed time. Watch over her. Protect her and cherish her as long as she exists. Then look forward to seeing her in heaven – whole, complete and accurately reflecting the image of her God.


[1] 1 Corinthians 4:6
[2] Job 13:7-10 HCSB
[3] Exodus 21:22-25; 2 Kings 8:12; Hosea 13:16; Amos 1:13
[4] Exodus 21:22-25
[5] Exodus 21:22-25; Ruth 4:13; Psalm 51:5; 139:13-16; Jeremiah 1:4-8; Hosea 9:11
[6] Psalm 139:13-14; Job 31:15; Isaiah 44:2; 46:3
[7] Greek brephos; Strong’s# 1025; Luke 1:41, 44; 2:12, 16; 18:15; Acts 7:19;
[8] Isaiah 49:5; Jeremiah 1:5; Psalm 139:13-16; Proverbs 16:9; Matthew 10:29-31; Romans 9:11; Galatians 1:15
[9] Genesis 1:26-27; 9:6
[10] Psalm 127:3-5
[11] Deuteronomy 30:19; 1 Corinthians 15:25-26
[12] Genesis 9:5-7; Proverbs 24:11-12; Exodus 20:13; 21:22-25
[13] 1 Corinthians 6:12-13, 19-20
[14] Philippians 2:5-8
[15] Romans 12:1-2
[16] 1 Corinthians 3:16-17
[17] Philippians 2:4
[18] John 9:1-3 HCSB
[19] Romans 15:1

God Is in Control

He (Herod) had been very angry with the Tyrians and Sidonians. Together they presented themselves before him, and having won over Blastus, who was in charge of the king's bedroom, they asked for peace, because their country was supplied with food from the king's country. So on an appointed day, dressed in royal robes and seated on the throne, Herod delivered a public address to them. The populace began to shout, "It's the voice of a god and not of a man!" At once an angel of the Lord struck him because he did not give the glory to God, and he became infected with worms and died. Then God's message flourished and multiplied. - Acts 12:20-24 HCSB

God is always in control – even when we suffer. A wicked King by the name of Herod cruelly persecuted the church and killed James, John’s brother.[1] He got such a positive reaction from the mob that he decided to arrest Peter too. Now Peter had already been in jail twice[2], but this time, just to be sure he’d be available for their shenanigans, they put four squads of four soldiers each in charge of guarding him. God got Peter out anyway. However, God being in control doesn’t mean that we will escape all suffering or even death. Just ask James!

God is always in control – even in our darkest hour. It was midnight when the angel showed up. Peter was presumably going to be executed at dawn because the praying Christians assumed he’d simply been killed early when he showed up at their doorstep.[3] God being in control doesn’t mean that He will rescue you at your convenience. He is sovereign nevertheless.

God is always in control – even when we lack faith. Peter didn’t even realize that the angel was real. He thought it was simply a wishful dream. As we stated earlier, the other Christians were praying like crazy but when God answered precisely as they asked, they didn’t believe it! God was still in control, however. Those who tell you that God can only work “if you have enough faith” apparently haven’t read that God can even raise a dead man!

God is always in control – even when our circumstances aren’t. Herod killed the guards who had let Peter escape. Then he so dominated the Tyrians and Sidonians that when they sued for peace and he took the opportunity to speak, they all cried out, “It’s the voice of a god and not of a man!” Everything at that moment seemed to say that Herod was fully in control. He was king and looked the part.[4] Nevertheless, God struck him down with worms no less (imagine the ignominy!) and God’s messaged flourished and multiplied.

Christian, are you persecuted? Are you dying? Are you suffering? Natsar 'Adam, the Watcher of Mankind[5] is watching and you are precious to Him.[6]


[1] Acts 12:1
[2] Acts 4:3; 5:18
[3] Acts 12:12-15
[4] Acts 12:21-22
[5] Job 7:20
[6] Psalm 72:14

BASE Jumping

Then Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in front of the entire congregation of Israel and spread out his hands toward heaven. He said: LORD God of Israel, there is no God like You in heaven above or on earth below, keeping the gracious covenant with Your servants who walk before You with their whole heart. - 1 Kings 8:22-23 HCSB

From time to time, people ask me what it means to serve God with their whole heart. Every godly person wants the intimacy that comes from d’vekut[1] but it is unfortunately difficult for sinful humans to achieve – even for those that have been ransomed.[2]

Explaining religious devotion or awe to an outsider is nearly impossible. One of the ways I can think of to explain it is in what I have felt just as I leaned off a tower and let go with nothing more than a pair of big rubber bands attached to my ankles.

No, that’s not quite it. Even the feeling brought on by stepping out of an airplane thousands of feet in the air is a pale shadow of what true religious commitment is like. Why? Because even a half-hearted person can end up tottering out of a plane or off a tower. Plenty of people hesitate, or start to jump and change their minds only to realize that it’s too late.

Whole-hearted devotion must be maintained continuously to be any good at all. D’vekut cannot be achieved by “putting our hands to the plow then looking back.”[3] A doubter or as the KJV puts it a “double minded man”, driven and tossed by the surging sea and wind cannot expect to receive anything from the Lord[4], especially the quiet thrill of utter, loyal devotion.

Of all the human endeavors that come close to replicating the thrill of being absolutely committed to something, I believe that BASE[5] jumping would come closest. The jumper must run full out toward the edge and then leap with every muscle straining in order to get as far from the base as possible.

Paul implied this when he said, “Brothers…one thing I do: forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead, I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God's heavenly call in Christ Jesus.”[6] He’s talking about complete focus on and abandonment to d’vekut.
This is the devotion that the Levites must have felt when they strapped their swords on at God’s command and waded into the rioting mob, impartially attacking family or strangers until order was restored.[7]

This utter commitment to the Father must have been what drove the only begotten Son of God as He felt His divine aspects trail away,[8] when He came into human consciousness as a small baby in Bethlehem or as He staggered toward the cross.

One last thing: notice that the BASE jumper must get as far away from his base as possible? What implications does that have for the Christian?[9]

[1] (duh-vay-KOOT); Literally “cleaving” to God. A Hebrew word identifying the deep, passionate, mystical relationship or communion that can exist between the Spirit of God and the spirit of a human.
[2] 1 John 1:8
[3] Luke 9:62
[4] James 1:6-7
[5] An acronym that stands for Building, Antenna, Span (i.e bridge) or Earth (i.e cliff)
[6] Philippians 3:13-14 HCSB
[7] Exodus 32:2-29 cp Numbers 25:11-13
[8] Philippians 2:7
[9] Romans 12:1-2; 2 Corinthians 4:2; Ephesians 5:8, 11; 1 John 1:6

A False Calling

"If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his own father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters--yes, and even his own life--he cannot be My disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple." - Luke 14:26-27 HCSB

There once was Christian woman who faithfully attended Church and Bible studies. Her husband actively led several church ministries. However, one day her husband presented her with a dilemma. She discovered that he had had an internet relationship for months with a single woman who had four kids.

When confronted he claimed that he had fallen in love with the kids and simply wanted to mentor them. He would refer to the kids as “our precious kids”, meaning his and the single woman’s. He insisted that his wife help take care of the kids and even keep them on weekends so that the single woman could rest. He also wanted to support the woman financially.

When the married woman naturally resisted this idea, he claimed to be following Christ’s call and that if it cost her then too bad. When she went to her church leaders about the situation they advised her to submit to her husband’s wishes.

I too believe we must follow God’s commands even at the cost of our human relationships. However, we must be certain that we are actually following the prompting of the Holy Spirit and not our own will.[1] People misconstrue or even deliberately twist the Scriptures on a disturbingly regular basis![2] Humans have an almost limitless capacity for self-deception – even concerning something as critical as their salvation.[3]

The Holy Spirit will never contradict the Word of God and the Scriptures clearly dictate that a husband must sacrificially love his wife, place her above his own interests and seek her welfare.[4]

I believe that this lady’s husband knew the truth of this. He was “kicking against the goads”[5] of the Holy Spirit, trying to justify himself in his sinful attraction to this woman. Hashem speaks directly to him and says that a man is to take pleasure in his wife lest he get entangled in the ropes of his own sin.[6]

According to Romans 1, if we suppress the truth that the Holy Spirit voices, we darken our own mind and become even more foolish.[7] I find it noteworthy that this particular sin leads directly to immorality!

If that man does not change his ways, his worship will be useless. The Lord will reject this husband’s offerings simply for acting treacherously against his wife.[8] His prayers will be hindered.[9]

In fact in my judgment he needs to carefully consider whether or not he has truly understood salvation and has a relationship with Christ or is merely doing external works.[10] When we are truly submissive we will know our Shepherd’s voice.[11] We must make sure that we are not victims of a false calling.[12]

[1] Ephesians 5:15-17; 2 Corinthians 13:5
[2] John 16:2; Romans 1:18-22
[3] Jeremiah 17:9-10
[4] Ephesians 5:25-31; 1 Timothy 5:8
[5] Acts 16:24
[6] Proverbs 5:18-22
[7] Romans 1:18-22
[8] Malachi 2:13-16
[9] 1 Peter 3:7
[10] Matthew 7:22-23; 2 Corinthians 13:5
[11] John 10:4-5, 27
[12] Acts 17:11

The Last Human Freedom

Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account, so that they can do this with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you. - Hebrews 13:17 HCSB

Holocaust survivor Viktor Frankl wrote, “We who lived in concentration camps can remember the men who walked through the huts comforting others, giving away their last piece of bread. They may have been few in number, but they offer sufficient proof that everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms – to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.”[1]

The truth of the matter is that all of us are dying. We are simply counting time until the Death Angel[2] comes knocking. Richard Baxter said he “preached as never sure to preach again and as a dying man to dying men.” However, knowing our bodies are mortal does not mean our spirits have to yield.

Godly elders will keep this in mind as they move about their flock, helping the tottering to stand and strengthening feeble knees.[3] Whether they preach or not, all the elders should participate in formal church functions. [4] These can include serving communion, teaching within the church, helping with weddings, funerals or baptisms and (with the right training) counseling. To say that only the pastor may do these things is to elevate the pastor to the Catholic idea of priesthood, something completely contrary to Protestant, evangelical doctrine.

Elders need to make prayer a regular part of their spiritual diet.[5] They need to be personally in touch with God before they can take a lead in any corporate worship. They are to welcome and practice hospitality toward visiting fellow servants,[6] receiving reports on God’s work and taking appropriate action.[7] Elders must strive to be competent counselors for individuals, couples, families, businesses and churches.[8] They should recommend the appointment of other elders to the church after much prayer and fasting and after the candidates have had adequate time to clearly demonstrate their character and servant’s spirit. Once the congregation has indicated their willingness to follow the Spirit’s leading in the matter, the elders should publicly ordain that person by the laying on of hands.[9]

However, all these functions are useless if they are not performed by the elders out love of God and of their wards.[10] As they move through the flock, feeding, comforting, praying, teaching and guiding, they need to be motivated by humble, grateful joy at having even been chosen for such a momentous task. They must keep the eternal view that God has placed in their hearts[11] in the forefront of their minds.

The congregation’s responsibility is to practice the last human freedom – the freedom to choose their attitude as they obey their shepherds within the boundaries of Scripture;[12] being careful that their caretakers can perform their duties with joy.[13]

[1] Viktor Frankl, Man’s Search for Meaning, p.75
[2] 2 Samuel 24:16; 2 Kings 19:35; 1 Chronicles 21:15-16; 2 Chronicles 32:21; Psalm 35:5-6; Isaiah 37:36
[3] Job 4:4
[4] 1 Kings 8:3
[5] Acts 6:2-4; Colossians 4:2; James 5:15-16; 1 Peter 4:7
[6] Acts 15:4; 1 Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:8; 3 John 1:9-11
[7] Acts 15:4; 20:17-18; 21:18-19
[8] Ezra 7:10; Nehemiah 8:8; Colossians 4:6; Titus 1:9-11; 2 Timothy 2:15
[9] Acts 13:2-3; 14:23; 1 Corinthians 4:1-2; 1 Timothy 4:14; 5:22
[10] 1 Corinthians 13:1-3
[11] Ecclesiastes 3:11
[12] Acts 5:27-29
[13] Hebrews 13:17

Judging the Externals

Reconsider; don't be unjust. Reconsider; my righteousness is still the issue. Am I lying, or can I not recognize lies? - Job 6:29-30 HCSB

When seeking to understand a passage, it is important (among other things) to know who is speaking to whom. In this case, Job[1] is answering someone. Job was a man who held the position of elder. If we consider the New Covenant characteristics of an elder[2] and compare them to Job’s life, we quickly determine that the man was supremely qualified![3]

Because the person Job was answering was long-winded, we must turn back several chapters to see that the last speaker was Eliphaz the Temanite.[4]

So Elder Job was answering some guy by the name of Eliphaz the Temanite. However, there were two other gentlemen present, one named Bildad and another named Zophar.[5]

It’s interesting that only three showed up. If we examine the passages that refer to Job’s righteous life spent serving others, we wonder where were all those people he had helped? Why only these three so-called “friends”?

In the biblical culture and in the church I pastor, at least three elders must be assembled before making any major decision. We do this simply because the Lord told us to.[6] When two or three elders have gathered together to render a judgment on a matter, this group is called a beit din. I believe that was what was happening with Job. Job referred to the other three as “witnesses” that God was bringing against him[7] and as “worthless doctors”, implying their supposed role as spiritual healers.

Unfortunately, even though God Himself repeatedly described Job as unique in his status as a man of perfect integrity, who feared God and turned away from evil,[8] that beit din looked at Job’s circumstances and judged him to be a sinner under the wrath of God.

This is a common error. The disciples made the same mistake when they thought that a man who had been born blind must have been under God’s judgment for either his own or his parent’s sin. They were quickly disabused of that error by the Master who said that the handicapped man had been designed for the glory of God just like the rest of us.[9]

So Job was defending himself against the erroneous criticism of three friends who were judging a matter based solely on circumstantial evidence and a shallow understanding of the God who said, “I form light and create darkness, I make success and create disaster; I, the LORD, do all these things."[10]

What should we learn from this? Among many possible lessons, we should understand that we must not judge matters quickly,[11] that just because we are righteous does not mean that we can have “Your Best Life Now”, and that Kadosh Yisra’el, the Holy One of Israel,[12] will always do what’s right.

[1] Job 6:1
[2] 1 Timothy 3:2-7; Titus 1:6-9; 1 Peter 5:1-3
[3] Job 1:1, 4-5; 4:1-4; 23:11-12; 29:7-8, 12-17, 21; 30:25; 31:1, 24-34
[4] Job 4:1
[5] Job 2:11
[6] Numbers 35:30; Deuteronomy 17:6; 19:15; Matthew 18:16; 2 Corinthians 13:1
[7] Job 10:17
[8] Job 1:1, 8; 2:3
[9] John 9:1-3
[10] Isaiah 45:7
[11] Proverbs 18:13; 1 Corinthians 4:5; 1 Timothy 5:22
[12] 2 Kings 19:22; Psalm 71:22; 78:41; 89:18; Isaiah 1:4; 5:19; 5:24; 10:20; 12:6; 17:7; 29:19; 30:11-12, 15; 31:1; 37:23; 41:14, 16, 20; 43:3, 14; 48:17

Is Lying Ever Permitted?

"You must not steal. You must not act deceptively or lie to one another.” - Leviticus 19:11 HCSB

We must be very careful to not allow ourselves to be overly simplistic in our approach to moral dilemmas. For instance, in advocating honesty, Immanuel Kant went so far as to say that if a murderer were to ask where his potential victim was, an honest person would be obligated to tell him![1]

Augustine also said, “…a lie may never be told for the preservation of the temporal life of another.”[2] Respectfully, Kant and Augustine are dead wrong and contradicting the clear example of Scripture.

Hashem is supremely concerned with justice.[3] Biblically, ethical principles are not relative, but they are nested and hierarchical and the principle of justice overrides all other concerns including the very important principle of honesty.

Before we go further, we must be clear in understanding that there are very few instances in which justice is better served by dishonesty. It is not going to be a common experience.

Having said that, let’s consider the example of Rahab. She saved the lives of the Israeli spies by lying.[4] Not only was she saved from the destruction of Jericho, but so was her entire family. We are told that this came about specifically because of her action.[5] She was further granted the privilege of being in the Messianic line,[6] admission into the great Hall of Faith[7] and James tells us that it was this action that justified her![8]

God ordered the use of deceit in the capture of the town of Ai, commanding Joshua to set an ambush for the men of the city.[9] The presumable motivation was to save the lives of the Israeli soldiers. A long, drawn out battle would have cost a far greater number of lives so God allowed the stratagem of deceit when it might save lives in a military action.

God Himself used the same tactic in the pursuit of justice. In order to make sure that a mass murderer got his comeuppances, God sent an evil spirit to cause the lords of Shechem to treat Abimelech deceitfully so that the crime he committed against the seventy sons of Jerubbaal might be avenged.[10]

Granted, it is sometimes difficult to know if justice is best served by honesty or dishonesty. For instance what if, as it used to be in 18th century England, simple theft was punished by death? Would a Christian be obligated to honestly describe a theft he’d witnessed when he knew it would result in a punishment that is disproportionate to the crime? I would think not, but it must be up to the conscience of each Christian.[11]

Generally speaking, however, lying is permitted in those very rare instances when the preservation of human life is at stake.

[1] On a Supposed Right to Lie from Benevolent Motives
[2] Treatises on Various Subjects; “On Lying”
[3] Exodus 23:2; Deuteronomy 16:20
[4] Joshua 2:3-6
[5] Joshua 6:17, 23, 25
[6] Matthew 1:5
[7] Hebrews 11:31
[8] James 2:25
[9] Joshua 8:2
[10] Judges 9:23-24
[11] Romans 14:13-23; 1 Corinthians 8:4-13; 10:23-33; 1 Timothy 1:5

The Earth’s Safety Zone

When I observe Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You set in place, what is man that You remember him, the son of man that You look after him? - Psalms 8:3-4 HCSB

When reading this psalm, I usually focus on the humility that comes from observing the vastness of space but what struck me today was the association of the placement of the heavenly bodies with Yahweh’s protection. The Lord our God provided the heavenly bodies for the benefit of all people everywhere.[1]

The earth is vulnerable to asteroids and comet heads. These arrive as meteoroids and those that make it to the surface are called meteorites. We can see evidence of their existence in the craters on the moon.

The Earth is the only planet located in the Habitable Zone of the solar system. The prime location of the planet allows temperatures and pressures to be such that liquid water is stable at the planetary surface.[2] This further allows an atmosphere that forms a protective barrier, burning the vast majority of the meteors that actually make it this far.

However, the Earth is also protected because a lot of the interplanetary debris has been swept up, reducing the rate of large impacts on our planet.[3] But what swept up the debris? For one, the Earth is somewhat protected by the moon from collisions.

However, Earth's distant big brothers, Jupiter and Saturn are continuously sucking meteorites and asteroids from traveling inwards towards the earth.[4] Jupiter, in particular, has been responsible for attracting many such bodies including most recently and spectacularly, the comet Shoemaker-Levy 9.

Years ago, astronomers predicted a spectacular meteor storm in 1899 that failed to show on schedule. It was later determined that the Leonids did not make it at the same rate as was predicted due to close encounters with both Jupiter in 1898 and Saturn in 1870.[5]

In 1967, one of the first mathematical surveys of the perturbations suffered by the Leonid meteor streams determined that Jupiter and Saturn were primarily responsible for altering the courses of potential meteorites but that Earth itself could also shorten their revolution period by several years, strongly altering their eccentricity and even their inclination!

The only conclusion I can draw is that the combined effects of the Earth’s constant motion around the sun, the sun’s overpowering attraction as asteroids approach the center of the solar system, the constant shielding presence of a large rock circling us, and the two planets farther out that each come in and out of the range of incoming debris, places Earth at a precise sweet spot within the solar system.

Add to that a protective atmosphere capable of burning up most of the debris that makes it through that gauntlet and which is only available at this precise distance from the sun and I’d say that God is doing a pretty awesome job of looking after us.


[1] Deuteronomy 4:19
[2] http://www.nhm.ac.uk/index.html
[3] http://library.thinkquest.org/12857/earth/earth.html
[4] http://naca.central.cranfield.ac.uk/dcsss/2004/C21_vedern1c.pdf; also, Wetherill, Science News February 18, 1995; also, Liou and Mlhotra, Science, January 17, 1997 p. 375 “Depletion of the Outer Asteroid Belt”
[5] http://meteorshowersonline.com/showers/leonidhis.html

His Glory Fills

In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a high and lofty throne, and His robe filled the temple. Seraphim were standing above Him; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called to another: Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of Hosts; His glory fills the whole earth. – Isaiah 6:1-3 HCSB

When God sits securely on his rightful throne in our hearts, his robe will fill the temple of our bodies.[1] Angels will stand around us, guarding us[2] and bringing us Hashem’s answers to our prayers.[3] They will join the Holy Spirit in crying out to our spirits, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Hosts.” Everywhere we look we will see the glory of the Adonai adonim.[4]

The very foundations[5] of our vain philosophies will be shaken as we come face to face with Attiq’ Yomin – the Ancient One.[6] As our mindsets crumble before the onslaught of such truth, our lives will become characterized by prayer.[7] Standing in the presence of such glory we will be forced to cry out, “Woe is me, for I am ruined, because I am a man of unclean lips and have lived among people of unclean lips, and because my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of Hosts.”[8]

Elah Shamayim v'Arah, God of Heaven and Earth,[9] is drawn toward such humility.[10] He finds it irresistible. When we honestly confess our sins to Him, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Our wickedness will be removed and our sins atoned for, not by anything we will have done but by the grace and mercy of the Great King.[11]

Having touched our lips with the burning coal of redemption, our speech will become seasoned with grace, no longer yielding to the temptation of lashon hara or evil speech[12] but marked by having stood in the presence of God.[13]

Only then will we hear the Master call “Who shall I send? Who will go for Us?” and have the requisite faith and boldness to cry out “Here I am. Send me!”[14] Such an experience – such a calling does not guarantee a fruitful ministry. The Lord of the Harvest may demand that we labor in an unfruitful field, with a deafened and blinded people who refuse to be healed.[15] This is a hard saying and not many will yield to it.

Frustrated by long years of difficult and thankless ministry, or pressured by the fires of persecution you may ask, “Until when, Lord?” He will answer “Until that Great Day of judgment, when cities will lie in ruins, houses will be uninhabited and the land is ruined and desolate.”[16] Do right until the stars themselves fall. Even if you feel that He has forsaken you, rest assured – the holy seed remains – waiting to rise again.[17]

[1] Isaiah 6:1; 1 Corinthians 6:19
[2] Isaiah 6:2; Psalm 34:7; Daniel 6:22; Acts 12:7-11
[3] Isaiah 6:3; Daniel 9:21-23; Luke 2:9-10; Acts 27:23-24
[4] Lord of lords Deuteronomy 10:17; Psalm 136:3
[5] Isaiah 6:4a
[6] Isaiah 55:9
[7] Isaiah 6:4b cp Revelation 8:4
[8] Isaiah 6:5
[9] Deuteronomy 4:39; Ezra 5:11
[10] James 4:6; 1 Peter 5:5
[11] Isaiah 6:7 cp 1 John 1:9; Titus 3:5
[12] Colossians 4:6; 1 Thessalonians 2:5; 1 Timothy 4:12; 6:20; 2 Timothy 2:16
[13] 1 Peter 4:11
[14] Isaiah 6:8
[15] Isaiah 6:9-10
[16] Isaiah 6:11-12; 13:6, 9, 13; 22:5; 24:21
[17] Isaiah 6:13

Justifiable Disgrace

Some, to be sure, preach Christ out of envy and strife, but others out of good will. These do so out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel; the others proclaim Christ out of rivalry, not sincerely, seeking to cause me trouble in my imprisonment. What does it matter? Just that in every way, whether out of false motives or true, Christ is proclaimed. And in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice - Philippians 1:15-18 HCSB

[1] A wicked man once tried to disgrace a tzaddik by making it look like the elder had fallen into sin.[2] The righteous man did not fall into the trap[3] and went on about his ministry as usual. At the following worship service, the wicked man went to see if his plan had worked. Instead, he found the elder in front of the congregation reciting, “By this I know that You delight in me: my enemy does not shout in triumph over me. You supported me because of my integrity and set me in Your presence forever.”[4] Then the tzaddik bowed his head and prayed, “Yahweh Aman! Faithful God![5] May those who wish to harm me suffer no harm because of me! Let this be my prayer!”

Struck to the heart, the wicked man rushed to the front and knelt before the tzaddik, begging forgiveness. The elder gently took the man’s hand and stood him up. “There is nothing to forgive, brother,” he said. “Even if you had succeeded in your plan to disgrace me, it would only be the fate I deserve for all the other sins that I have committed.”

The apostle Paul possessed such exemplary humility. He knew that there were other people out there preaching, not out of a pure love of Christ, but out of envy for Paul’s popularity. They preached out of rivalry rather than righteousness. They were actually hoping that their growing congregations would be a source of trouble to Paul while he remained in jail and his ministries were forced to stagger on without him.

However, Paul echoed John the Baptist’s feelings, “He must increase, but I must decrease.”[6] As long as the attacks were simply against him, Paul did not defend himself. It was only when the attacks were against the church or could harm Christ’s bride that he went on the offensive.

We who serve in ministry need to get off our high horses and develop a thick skin. We need to rest, not in our reputations, but in the truth that the humble will have joy after joy in the LORD, and the poor people will rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.

For the ruthless one will vanish, the scorner will disappear, and all those who lie in wait with evil intent will be killed-- those who, with their speech, accuse a person of wrongdoing, who set a trap at the gate for the mediator, and without cause deprive the righteous of justice.[7]


[1] Rembrandt van Rinj, 1631 — Apostle Peter Kneeling
[2] Psalm 140:5-6; 141:9; 142:3
[3] Psalm 119:110; Proverbs 6:5
[4] Psalm 41:11-12
[5] Deuteronomy 7:9; Isaiah 49:7
[6] John 3:30
[7] Jeremiah 29:19-21

Magical Places

The LORD loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob. - Psalms 87:2 HCSB

I was once told a story of two brothers who traveled through Eastern Europe several hundred years ago. They had spent days on the road, walking from town to town for the sake of their ministry, when they came upon a small town named Oushpitsin.

Not wanting to spend another night sleeping in ditches and hay stacks, they approached an innkeeper about having a place to stay. They didn’t have any money, so they couldn’t afford a room. However, the innkeeper was a kind man and allowed them to huddle in the space behind the stove and sleep in the dry warmth of its light.

Sometime during the night, they awoke simultaneously with a terrible sense of horror and foreboding upon them. They couldn’t explain their mounting panic but it was so strong that they chose to gather their belongings and head down the road even though it was still deep night. They couldn’t get far enough away from that seemingly innocuous little village fast enough!
Much later, that village became known as Oswëcim – or as we now know it – Auschwitz.

There are places so laden by sin that they become cursed. Consider the curse Joshua laid upon Jericho! It was so potent that when Hiel the Bethelite tried to rebuild its foundations, he lost his oldest son. When he tried to set up its gates, God took his youngest son![1]

Or consider Babylon, which was cursed by the Lord through the prophet Jeremiah. He said that He would cut it off so that no one will live in it – man or beast but would remain desolate forever. He prophesied that Babylon would sink to never rise again because of the oncoming disaster.[2]

However, just as there are certain places where the accumulated sin has brought about a spiritual moribundity, some geographical locations are magical places of great joy and blessing. Many years ago I was hiking through the woods of Nova Scotia when I came upon a place of great natural beauty. Instead of the usual scrub pine normally found all over that rocky island, here I found huge, majestic trees rising hundreds of feet into the air. The light filtering through the leaves took on such a subdued tint that it put all stained glass windows to shame.

I have seen many beautiful places in my life but none claim the love of God as does Zion! The Lord has chosen Zion and He desires her for His home.[3] Kadosh Yisra’el founded her and is making her a place of refuge for the afflicted.[4] Akal Esh’s[5] fire is in Zion and his furnace is in Jerusalem.[6]

Therefore, let all who hate Zion be driven back in disgrace![7] The ransomed of the LORD will return and come to Zion with singing, crowned with unending joy. Joy and gladness will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee.[8]

[1] Joshua 6:26 cp 1 Kings 16:34
[2] Jeremiah 51:60-64
[3] Psalm 132:13; Isaiah 8:18
[4] Isaiah 14:32
[5] Consuming Fire - Deuteronomy 4:24; 9:3 cp Hebrews 12:29
[6] Isaiah 31:9
[7] Psalm 129:5
[8] Isaiah 51:11