Christ and Common Sense

Thoughts from a Central Valley Pastor

Page 9 of 13

Jesus Brings Great Joy

October 22, 2021 /

The joy that Jesus brought the earth is incomparable with any other joy or feeling of happiness that can be experienced in life. It is a supernatural joy that was brought to the earth in a unique way when God took on human form and became the Savior of the world! 

The Bible describes the joy that Christ brought as “great joy” (charan megalēn in the original Greek text). This phrase first appears in Matthew 2:10 to describe the amazement of the wise men when they saw the star they had been following “came to rest over the place where the child was.” (ESV) Why would a star make these men so happy? They knew that God was using the very stars in heaven to direct them to the location of the promised Messiah. 

Luke 2:10 uses the same phrase to proclaim that the world is going to be filled with great joy because of Jesus Christ. An angel of the Lord said, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” The shepherds who heard that declaration were blown away by that message and the host of angels who delivered it to them. They immediately hurried to Bethlehem to learn more about the source of this great joy. 

The rest of the book of Luke reveals how the world was dramatically changed by the words and works of Jesus Christ. His entire ministry was filled with bringing joy to people’s lives. His first miracle was turning water to wine at a joyful wedding feast. He healed people who were lame, blind, sick, and diseased. He brought people back from the dead! Can you imagine the joy on the face of the widow of Nain who’s grown son was raised from a funeral procession and given to her alive?! Jesus brought supernatural joy to people’s lives! 

The greatest joy of Jesus’ ministry was even more profound than healing someone or even bringing back someone from the dead. The greatest joy that Jesus brought was when he saved people from their sin! This took time for people to realize because many people struggled to accept that he was the Son of God. Many people doubted that he could forgive sin, but he made it clear that he could and that spiritual healing was the most powerful part of his ministry.

When a paralytic man was brought before Jesus, he turned to the religious leaders and said, ““Why do you question in your hearts? Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the man who was paralyzed—“I say to you, rise, pick up your bed and go home.” And immediately he rose up before them and picked up what he had been lying on and went home, glorifying God.” (Luke 5:22-25)

The Bible makes it clear that Jesus himself was able to endure the horrific pain and torture of the cross by focusing on the supernatural joy of God. Hebrews 12:2 explains it this way, “Who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” Jesus Christ was motivated to drink the cup of God’s wrath to the dregs because of the supernatural joy that it would bring to the Father! This type of joy is powerful. It can overcome every difficulty in life. It makes it possible for Christians to endure the worst trials in life with joy (James 1). 

The last time “great joy” is mentioned in the gospels is after Jesus leaves the disciples in Bethany and ascends into heaven. It always strikes me that this should have been a time of incredible mourning and pain. I mean, the disciples’ beloved teacher was leaving them. Their amazing leader was gone. Wouldn’t they be scared? Wouldn’t they feel lonely? Wouldn’t they be ready to go back to fishing in Galilee? Not at all. Luke 24:50-54 says this, “And he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven. And they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple blessing God.”

They returned to Jerusalem with great joy! There was no depression creeping up in their hearts. There was no doubt or bitterness at Christ for leaving them. They knew they had supernatural work to do! They knew that he was with them spiritually. They knew they had nothing to be afraid of! They had the joy of the Lord and that type of joy is not dependent on circumstances! Oh may we understand this kind of joy! May it be the foundation that our lives are built upon so that we may have joy regardless of the difficulties that life is bound to bring. 

Four Reasons to Read the Bible Correctly

October 15, 2021 /

There is a lot at stake when it comes to reading the Bible. If you read it correctly, we believe God can show you His holiness and the universal problem of sin. He can use His word to reveal the way of salvation through Jesus Christ to you, and He can show you how to live in a way that is pleasing to Him. 

But, if you read the Bible incorrectly, you may actually be led even further astray. You may become more entrenched in your own man-made religious beliefs. You may fall into the trap that has claimed so many cults and false teachers. You may become self-righteous and hypocritical, emphasizing a form of godliness without having the power of God in your life (2 Timothy 3:5 ESV). 

This is a frightening thought because reading the Bible incorrectly has moral implications. If you submit to how God wants it to be read, then you will be rewarded, but if you reject His word, you will be condemned. Paul made this very clear when he wrote the following inspired words, “Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.” (1 Thessalonians 4:8) 

So how can we make sure we are reading the Bible correctly? It all starts with an attitude of submitting to God. It starts by opening the Bible and saying, “I am ready to hear and obey.” This cuts directly against the human tendency to read our own interpretation into what we see and hear. If we humble ourselves and recognize that the Bible is a supernatural record of God’s thoughts and actions in human history, then we will be ready to let the original author’s message impact our lives the way God intended. 

One reason I wanted to write about this is because I am going through a men’s Bible study on hermeneutics. Hermeneutics teaches believers how to study Scripture correctly. We are using a class developed by Dr. Abner Chou for the Institute for Church Leadership. He gives four reasons why we need to care about how we read the Bible. 

The first reason is this, “Hermeneutics drives the entire theological enterprise.” How we interpret the Bible is one of the most foundational aspects of understanding God’s word. If we make the mistake of reading our own thoughts into the passage or of creating an allegorical meaning out of every Old Testament passage, then the end result will be skewed. If we care about understanding God correctly, then we have to care about interpreting the Bible correctly. 

Dr. Abner Chou’s second reason for studying hermeneutics is because of how easy it is to interpret the Bible incorrectly. He gives many examples of people taking verses out of context and using a false interpretation for their own personal gain. Dr. Chou makes the sobering claim that the uninformed reader of the Bible will most likely come to the wrong interpretation! This is one reason why finding trustworthy teachers is such an important part of studying the Bible. You might spend years sitting under someone’s teaching, but if they have not been taught correctly, then you are probably wasting your time!

The third reason given for studying hermeneutics is because Christians need to live with conviction. How can a pastor say, “Thus says the Lord” if he doubts that he is reading the Bible correctly? Unfortunately, it is becoming more rare to find people who are committed to not only studying Scripture, but to studying it the way God intended. 

The last reason for learning how to read Scripture is because God cares about how Scripture is read. Deuteronomy 18:18 says this, “I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him. And whoever will not listen to my words that he shall speak in my name, I myself will require it of him.” Not only does God care about those who speak God’s word. He also cares about those who hear it. His word tells us he will hold those who listen accountable as well! 

The judgment of God should be discussed when teaching hermeneutics because if people study the Bible incorrectly, they will not be saved from their sin. The Bible makes it clear that those who reject Christ as Lord will be condemned before a holy God. This is what Paul had in mind when he wrote the following warning to Timothy, “Charge them before God not to war against words, which does not good, but only destroys the hearers.” (2 Timothy 2:14; Authors translation) Paul warned Timothy that spiritual destruction was inevitable if leaders allowed the church to war against the clear teaching of God’s word. 

This is a sobering message that Christians need to hear. Instead of defining hermeneutics as an academic issue for biblical scholars to quarrel over, we need to realize God has equipped each of us to be theologians who can study God’s word on our own. Not only are Christians equipped to study God’s word correctly, but we have a moral obligation to understand it and submit our lives to it. We need to have the words of God ringing in our ears, “But be doers of the word and no hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” (James 1:22) May God give us the strength, stamina, and dedication to meditate on God’s word and put it into practice.

Being Discerning About Halloween

October 8, 2021 /

We’re approaching the darkest time of the year again. People have started decorating their homes with objects that look like they are from a crime scene. Fake body parts are littered over people’s yards. Imitation grave stones and skeletons are carefully placed near immaculate lawns and driveways. Giant spiders with matching spider webs are strung across the garage. All this is done to help the neighborhood join in the festivities of the darkest night of the year. 

I used to struggle to give an explanation to our kids about the carnage of October, but now I don’t hesitate. I tell them the history behind Halloween, and it all makes sense.

Halloween is undeniably connected with the occult. October 31st was chosen because of the ancient Celtic ritual of Samhain. It was the day that celebrated the end of fall and the beginning of winter. The orange and black of Halloween comes from the orange of autumn and the black of winter. Samhain was known as the day when the veil between the demonic world and the natural world was at its thinnest.

All Hallows Eve was established on Oct. 31st to distract from Samhain. It was supposed to prepare people for All Saints Day, which falls on November 1st. The name was shortened from All Hallows Eve to Halloween, but instead of distracting people from Samhain, the traditions became even stronger.

Many of the traditions surrounding Samhain were brought to America during the 1800s. Bonefires, soul bread, and wearing costumes to fool the evil spirits were adapted to feed the people’s desire for a night of ghoulish entertainment. 

In the early 1900s, Halloween became known as a night of mischief in America. Young people would roam rural communities stealing gates from homes and farms. This became so common that some communities began referring to October 31st as “Gate Night.” When Halloween came to the cities, things went out of control. Some American cities actually considered banning Halloween, but they were afraid of the backlash from the people. So instead they tried to organize it and make it “family-friendly.” After World War II, the candy and costume industries took hold of the holiday and began commercializing it. They were so effective in commercializing it that today, seventy-five years later, most people are unaware of the sinister history of Halloween.

The reason Christians need to be aware of the history of Halloween is because the Bible tells us to be discerning. Ephesians 5:8-11 makes it clear, “For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.” (ESV) 

What is the right way for Christians to think about Halloween? Just ask this question, “Are we celebrating something that is good and right and true according to how God defines them, or is this a celebration of darkness?” If you take the time to study the history behind the costumes and the candy then you will see that they do not help fill our children’s minds with what God wants. Philippians 4:8 says, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”

My prayer for believers during this dark season is that we would fill our homes and our lives with the light of the gospel of Jesus Christ. He is the one who said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12) 

See the following article for more information about the history of Halloween (https://www.history.com/news/halloween-was-once-so-dangerous-that-some-cities-considered-banning-it).

New Evidence for the Destruction of Sodom & Gomorrah

October 8, 2021 /

The biblical account of Sodom and Gomorrah’s destruction is one of the most dramatic events recorded in Scripture. Genesis 19:24-25 describes the cataclysmic event like this, “Then the Lord rained on Sodom and Gomorrah sulfur and fire from the Lord out of heaven. And he overthrew those cities, and all the valley, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground.”

God’s wrath against the wickedness of those cities may be shocking, but it was completely justified. Psalm 98:14 says, “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne.” God defines justice. Romans 12:19 says, “Beloved never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine. I will repay, says the Lord.’” God’s violent justice matches the violent wickedness of the people. If you know the story of Sodom and Gomorrah, then you are already aware of the unconscionable evil that motivated God to respond with a cosmic dose of justice. 

We know it was a cosmic punishment because the Bible says God rained down sulfur and fire out of heaven. We know this is true because God’s word says so, but is it possible to have a scientific explanation for such a supernatural event? I believe the following archeological and geological evidence would support the biblical account of Sodom and Gomorrah. 

James Kennet is a distinguished professor of earth science at UC Santa Barbara. He has been studying the geology and archeology of an ancient city at a site called Tell Al-Hammam. It is located northeast of the Dead Sea in the country of Jordan. As scholars study this large manmade hill they are able to reveal history through the successive layers of the earth. James Kennet said, ““It’s an incredibly culturally important area… Much of where the early cultural complexity of humans developed is in this general area.” 

There is one layer of the Tell that has puzzled researchers for many years. It is a 1.5 meter thick layer that modern archeologists date to the Middle Bronze Age II (around 3,650 years ago or 1650 BC). This layer is remarkable because it contains evidence of extreme heat that is much higher than any temperature that could be produced by humans at that time. Philip Silva, a field archeologist and supervisor with the Tell-Al Hammam Excavation Project, found pieces of pottery that were turned to glass because of the high heat! In fact, he discovered pieces of a mineral called zircon that turned to gas — which requires 7,230 degrees Fahrenheit (4,000 degrees Celsius). 

Now how could this type of heat be produced in the middle of the Jordan desert? Philip Silva said, “The only naturally occurring event capable of causing such an unusual pattern of destruction is a cosmic airburst.” A cosmic airburst, also known as a meteor air burst, happens when a large meteor explodes as it hits the thicker part of the atmosphere. The most powerful recorded example of this happened in 1908 in northeastern Russia. The Tunguska event was a 12 megaton explosion that flattened an estimated 80 million trees over an area of 830 square miles. Eye witnesses recorded successive waves of intense heat, earth quakes, and thunderous sound. It is estimated that the meteor disintegrated at around 3-6 miles above the surface of the earth. 

Scientists believe the cosmic airburst that occurred above Tell Al-Hammam happened much closer to the earth because the area of destruction was limited to 200 square miles. If the meteor exploded less than a mile above the earth then the targeted area would have experienced the equivalent of 1000 atomic bombs (The Hiroshima bomb had an estimated value of 15 kilotons). This is staggering to consider and could explain why James Kennet discovered that even quartz, which is one of the hardest minerals on earth, was cracked under such high pressure. 

There is also a fascinating description of how the explosion caused salt to be disbursed over the entire area. According to a paper published last month in the scientific journal Scientific Reports, the researchers discovered an unusually high percentage of salt in the 1.5 meter layer at Tell Al-Hammam. James Kennet wrote, “The salt was thrown up due to the high impact pressures… And it may be that the impact partially hit the Dead Sea, which is rich in salt.” This would explain why a high level of salt appears throughout the area at this time in history, which is one reason why archeologists believe the entire region became uninhabited for the next 600 years (this is referred to as the Late Bronze Age Gap). 

As Christians, we are not surprised to read of discoveries that seem to confirm the biblical account. The Rosetta Stone, the Dead Sea Scrolls, and the Tel Dan inscription are just a few of the remarkable discoveries that confirm what we have already known all along. The biblical account is true and accurate in its description of history, whether it relates to the natural or the supernatural world. But even more importantly we believe that the Bible is true in terms of the theology it describes. The theology of Scripture teaches us that God is holy and humanity is sinful. It teaches that there is only one way to be saved from God’s just wrath against sin and that is by confessing our sin and trusting that Jesus Christ died as a substitutionary atonement for those who “confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead.” (Romans 10:9). 

So was the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah a result of a cosmic meteor airburst? It’s possible that God used that to bring punishment on these cities, but it is also possible that there could be another scientific explanation for this event. What we can be certain of is that the Bible is accurate in its description of history, and the archeological and geological findings support the Biblical account.

The research for this article came from the following sources: “A Tunguska sized airburst destroyed Tall el-Hammam a Middle Bronze Age city in the Jordan Valley near the Dead Sea” in the 20 September 2021 edition of Scientific Reports; https://scitechdaily.com/sodom-and-gomorrah-evidence-that-a-cosmic-impact-destroyed-a-biblical-city-in-the-jordan-valley/; https://www.livescience.com/64179-ancient-cosmic-airburst-middle-east.html

Faithful Love, Sacrificial Love

September 24, 2021 /

The bible tells us that love should be defined by the agape love that God showed us when he sent Jesus Christ to earth to die on the cross for our sins (1 John 4:10). I often think of His supernatural love for us when I hear stories of people sacrificing for each other. That was the case when I read the story of Jean-Pierre and Bernadette Adams’ remarkable commitment to their marriage vows. 

When Jean-Pierre and Bernadette Adams were married in the late 1960s they had no idea how strongly their love for each other would be tested. The couple was living in southern France when Jean-Pierre suffered a knee injury at a soccer training event. He went to a hospital and was advised to get surgery to fix the injury to one of his tendons. During the surgery, a complication arose that put him in a coma that lasted thirty-nine years.

By the grace of God his body was able to survive for all those years, and it was also the grace of God that allowed his wife to care for him during that time. 

The first fifteen months of the coma were spent in the hospital. Bernadette made sure to watch over him there, even though she was also caring for their two young children. She was advised to place her husband in a nursing home, but she loved him so much that she said, “I don’t think they knew how to look after him, so I said to myself: ‘He will come home’ and I’ve looked after him ever since.”

They moved to their home and Bernadette began round-the-clock care for her husband. From the start of the day until Jean-Pierre fell asleep she would care for all his needs. Even after he was asleep, she would need to turn him in the middle of the night. In one interview she said, “Sometimes when the night goes badly, I’m up for the whole thing.” 

Jean-Pierre had played professional soccer for several teams in France, including the national team, with 22 appearances. When this tragic event occurred, many of those in the soccer community rallied to help him. They helped pay for his home to be customized with amenities that would make life easier for him. Through it all his wife was constantly there for him, ready to keep her marriage vows to him. 

There have been times when she has been asked about euthanasia. In one interview she responded this way, “It’s unthinkable! He cannot speak. And it’s not for me to decide for him. What do you want me to do—deprive him of food? Let him die little by little? No, no, no.” Her commitment to loving him continued until September 6 of this year, when Jean-Pierre passed away.

As I have reflected on this story I have been amazed by the picture of love that it represents. Bernadette’s love was sacrificial, selfless, faithful, kind, and compassionate. Her desire to care for him was grounded in the commitment she made when they were married fifty-two years ago. 

The picture of faithful love that is contained in marriage is so powerful because it comes from God. He is the one who gave the institution of marriage to humanity at the creation of the world. The idea that two people would sacrificially love each other for their entire married life is just a small glimpse of God’s love for us. Paul’s letter to the church in Ephesus gives us the ultimate definition of love in marriage. Paul wrote, “Husbands love your wives as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.” 1 John 4:10 says, “In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” 

The agape love that God has for the lost was perfectly illustrated when Jesus was willing to die on the cross for our sins. We are amazed at Bernadette’s sacrificial love for her husband, but that love is just a shadow of the love that Christ has for us. I am amazed by her story of faithful love because it reminds me of Christ’s love for us. May we never stop being amazed by how he proved his love for us on the cross. May we never take his love for granted, and may we be motivated to love others with the same love that he showed us. 

Interviews mentioned in the article were taken from the following sources: https://edition.cnn.com/2016/01/04/football/football-jean-pierre-adams-coma/index.html; https://gentlereformation.com/2021/09/18/for-better-for-worse/. 

The Bible and Global Warming

September 24, 2021 /

In 2006 Al Gore starred in a documentary called “An Inconvenient Truth.” In it he made the unsubstantiated claim that there is a strong scientific consensus that the earth is warming primarily because of human activity. His argument was that as more humans populate the earth, more carbon dioxide is created in the atmosphere, which results in higher temperatures around the world. The documentary used sensationalized images to create a sense of doom and gloom that gave people a justification for regulating human activity on the earth. Global warming activists have used this theory to curtail human innovation, placing the environment as a higher priority than the needs of people.

There are many scientific theories surrounding global warming, and scientists around the world are far from reaching a consensus on the issue. The Answers Research Journal published a paper in 2010 that proves this point. It is titled “A Proposed Bible-Science Perspective on Global Warming” and it reveals there are many scholars who disagree with Al Gore’s theory on global warming (https://answersresearchjournal.org/bible-science-global-warming/). The issues related to global warming are more complicated than is often presented in the media. Instead of reducing the issue to sensationalized images of polar bears floating on icebergs, the discerning reader needs to study the science behind many issues including glaciers, carbon dioxide, climate, and temperature. The Christian reader also needs to look to Scripture to make a determination about this issue. 

As a Christian, we are called to be discerning about issues that are presented to us (1 John 4:1). We are called to look to God’s word to understand how to live a godly life here on the earth (2 Tim. 3:16-17). Many Christians are unaware that there are passages in Scripture that address the theories presented by global warming. I will just focus on two main passages. 

The first issue that the Bible addresses is that, contrary to global warming activism, humans take priority over the environment. In Genesis chapter 1 God creates man and woman in his image and gives them this command, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” Humans are thus commanded by God to rule over the world that he created. The environment is not more important than human life. Instead, human life takes highest priority, and the rest of God’s creation comes second. 

The second issue the Bible addresses is the destruction of the earth. Global warming activists predict massive flooding and a dramatic disruption of the atmosphere. However, the Bible makes it clear that God already brought a global flood that destroyed the earth with water, as described in Genesis chapters 6-7. God destroyed the earth because of the unprecedented level of wickedness that existed on the planet. 

After destroying the earth, God reestablished human life through Noah and his family and made a promise to Noah that He would never again destroy the earth by water (Genesis 9:11-17). God gave the rainbow as a sign that “never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.” (Gen. 9:11). God further promised in Genesis 8:21-22, “I will never again curse the ground because of man, for the intention of man’s heart is evil from his youth. Neither will I ever again strike down every living creature as I have done. While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease.”

The last sentence is especially relevant to the theory of global warming. God’s word states that the earth’s atmosphere will continue to function according to God’s design until “the earth remains.” 2 Peter 3:10 says, “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.” This means that God has already established a time when the earth will be destroyed, not by water but by fire at the time of Christ’s return, and then the earth will be remade (Revelation 21:1). We need not fear the doomsday predictions of global warming activists because the Bible already tells us that God will determine the end of the earth, not human activity. Instead, we must listen to God’s word and ask ourselves, “Are we ready for Christ’s return?”

Four Restraints Against Evil

September 24, 2021 /

One of the best messages I heard this last year was an explanation of how God has given humanity four restraints against evil. The reason I thought it was so memorable was because of its biblical clarity and timeliness. It was a timely message because this last year has been filled with the most disruption to our society that I have ever experienced. The message brought clarity because it showed how the Bible explains what happens to a society when God’s societal restraints have been removed. 

Pastor John MacArthur has preached on these four restraints on several occasions. I was able to find a manuscript of his sermon from February 22, 2015. This article is a summary of that message. 

The first point of the message is that the greatest evil in the world is sin, which resides in the heart of every human being. God’s work makes it clear that all humans are born into sin (Rom. 3:23). Jesus said, “That which proceeds out of the man, that is what defiles the man.  For from within, out of the heart of man, proceed evil thoughts, acts of sexual immorality, thefts, wickedness, murders, adulteries, deeds of coveting, and wickedness, as well as deceit, debauchery, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness.  All these evils proceed from within and defile the man.” (Matthew 15:18-19 ESV) 

In order to protect against the wickedness of the human heart God has given each human a personal restraint called the conscience. The conscience allows every person to know right from wrong because God has written the law on the hearts of all people (Romans 2:15). Romans 1:18-23 explains how God is just for judging people for their thoughts and actions because each of them has a conscience that tells them there is a God and that there is right and wrong. 

Humans are able to twist their God-given conscience in two ways. They can create a new morality and convince themselves it is right. We can clearly see this with the issue of abortion. People are trying to convince themselves that the mother can choose one life over another. The other way to twist the conscience is by rejecting God’s law that defines right and wrong. This can be done by teaching people to ignore their conscience. This is why we hear our society proclaim that “Guilt is bad” when guilt for sin is actually the result of a keen conscience. 

If someone has a twisted conscience, then they have removed the restraint of their God-given conscience, and they feel free to commit all kinds of evil against themselves and others. 

The second restraint against the human propensity towards evil is the family. One of the reasons God gave marriage to humanity was so people would be born into families where the father and mother would invest countless hours into training up the children so they would have a keen conscience that would guide them the rest of their lives (Deuteronomy 6). MacArthur put it like this, “The family is the divinely-given institution for formation of restrained sinners, who by multigenerational morality and wisdom with instruction and discipline in love develop into good citizens who benefit others, enjoy God’s creation, and are thankful to Him.”

If a society begins to see the degeneration and failure of families, then that society will see the rise of wickedness in society because the restraint against evil has been weakened.

The third restraint is civil authority or government authority. God has ordained governments to have authority on the earth so that they will punish bad behavior and encourage good behavior (1 Peter 2:14). The main purpose of human institutions is to enforce moral behavior. The government as an entity is used by God to protect citizens from uncontrolled chaos and anarchy. 

There are many examples of countries descending into chaos when the government is removed. I worked in Albania several years after the country descended into anarchy in 1997. Many of the police and military in the country left their posts, and for a short time the country was governed by “self-rule.” The Bible records a similar time in the book of Judges when it says, “Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” (Judges 21:25) 

The fourth restraint is a spiritual restraint. It is the restraint that true, biblical churches bring to the evil in society. These churches are a restraint against evil in society because they are filled with people who teach the truth. Pastors of these churches proclaim how people can be saved from their sin. These are the churches that the gates of hell can not overcome because through the gathering of believers and the preaching of God’s word, people are changed from sinners into saints (Romans 10:9-10). 

Pastor MacArthur’s message was a sobering one. Over the last century our country has been on a trajectory to remove these four restraints from society. If families are broken, then people will not be taught the natural restraints found in a nurturing home. If the government becomes corrupt, then morality will not be enforced. If the country is filled with false churches, then people will not be restrained spiritually from their sin, and the country will descend into chaos. 

Thankfully, God has made his promise to believers in Matthew 16:18 when Jesus said, “I will build my church.” We can have hope knowing that he is in control. As Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” 

Standing Firm

September 3, 2021 /

Earlier this year I wrote an article arguing that the local church is essential. No matter what the government says, God’s word makes it clear that believers are called to continue gathering together for fellowship (Hebrews 10:24-25). The government can tell Christians to stop stepping over the entrance of the church, but if the government decides to draw that line in the sand then they are the ones who have over-stepped their God-given jurisdiction. Romans 13 makes it clear that God ordains governments to reward good behavior and to punish bad behavior. But we must not forget that God is the one who ultimately defines what is right or wrong, not the government. As Christians, we must never forget that gathering together to worship God is always good. 

The County of Los Angeles did not agree with that last statement and so in August of last year they sued Grace Community Church for refusing to enforce Covid-19 guidelines such as in-person meetings, wearing face coverings and physical-distancing requirements. The church immediately sued the state and county for restricting their constitutional rights for religious freedom. 

Many Christians were confused about who was in the right, the state or the local church? Now the issue has been clarified considerably. Just this week, the LA County Board of Supervisors recognized they could not force churches to follow the health departments guidelines. The

board voted to pay the church $800,000 for legal fees (half will be paid by the county and half by the state). In total, the county will end up paying $1,350,000 in legal fees for suing the church. The board released the following statement, “After the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that some public health safety measures could not apply to houses of worship, resolving this litigation is the responsible and appropriate thing to do.”

I would completely agree with that statement. The county learned an expensive lesson about over-stepping their jurisdiction. The first amendment clearly states, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” As Christians we are to respect and uphold our country’s laws, but if they ever go against the law of Christ, as revealed in Scripture, then the outcome is simple. We must always obey God’s law over human law or run the risk of sinning against our conscience. 

That issue of conscience also came into play with pastor James Coates and the Alberta Health Services (AHS) in Alberta, Canada. You may remember that he was put in jail because he could not agree with the stipulations of bail, which required him to stop leading his congregation. He knew, before God, that he had to stay in jail because he could not willingly agree to stop preaching the gospel. 

On April 7, 2021 the AHS requested local law enforcement to seize the property of GraceLife Church. When church members continued to occupy the building the AHS ordered triple fencing to be placed around the entire campus. This did not stop the church from meeting. Instead, they found secluded locations where they could meet without being disturbed by the government. 

On July 1, 2021 the church was able to move back onto their property because the AHS rescinded the restrictions that had previously been placed upon them. Pastor Coates sued the health department, but in June a judge dismissed the case stating that James Coates’ religious freedom rights had not been violated. Pastor Coates plans to appeal the decision. 

Covid-19 has forced Christians around the world to confront their fears. Do we fear God and his command to continue gathering together? Do we fear a virus? Do we fear the government? 

The leaders of Grace Community Church and GraceLife are to be applauded for standing firm in the face of opposition. Their conviction to gather as the local church will always be a cherished belief of true believers. Throughout history Christians have continued to meet in times or war and plague and states of emergency. The apostle Paul gave us the right perspective when he wrote, “For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:16-18) 

Citizens of Heaven

August 27, 2021 /

The struggle of living a holy life in a fallen world can be overcome if believers find their identity in Jesus Christ, instead of some cheap substitute. 

In an interview about his book Dangerous Calling, Paul David Tripp said, “The normal human struggle is “I look for identity horizontally, when I was hardwired by God to get it vertically.” This is a simple concept, but it is incredibly profound. If a Christian understands that his identity is wrapped up in Christ, then he is mentally equipped to resist the desires of the world, the flesh, and the devil.

The apostle Paul understood this. He wrote, “Whatever gain I had I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.” (Philippians 3:8 ESV) Paul was able to write “For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” because his identity was centered upon the person of Jesus Christ. Instead of finding purpose in legalistic religious tradition, Paul was consumed with serving Jesus Christ and bringing glory to his heavenly Father.

This really hit me when I was preparing for our church family’s sermon series on Philippians. I was struck with how much time Paul spent helping his readers understand their identity as followers of Christ. He mentions more than a dozen illustrations that help create a vivid picture of how a Christian is supposed to see themselves. 

One of the most powerful illustrations is found in Philippians 3:20, “But our citizenship is in heaven and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.” 

Jesus Christ is our king and we are his citizens. This can be difficult for us to grasp because there is no flag for Heaven. God does not have a political embassy on Pennsylvania Avenue. 

A day is coming when his spiritual kingdom will be gloriously established as a physical domain here on the earth, but until that day comes we have to live as spiritual citizens of heaven. 

This is difficult to do because we are surrounded by a society that constantly distracts us from our spiritual citizenship. As Americans this can be a great struggle because we are taught to ground our identity in our homeland. We are taught to salute our flag and pledge our allegiance to the great ideals that this country was founded on. And I agree that our constitution has a wonderful standard for protecting the rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, but as Christians we must never forget that those ideals pale in comparison to what awaits us in heaven. 

I think one reason I have been so impacted by this is because I have spent almost half of my life outside of the United States. Whenever I have travelled elsewhere as an adult I have understood that I am an American traveling abroad. I am just visiting. I know these other countries are not my home. I am just a passing through. This mindset has helped me grasp what Paul was talking about in Philippians. As a Christian, my citizenship is in heaven. I am just a sojourner on this world. I am grateful for the time God gives me in the United States, but I know it pales in comparison to what God has in store for us when the Eternal State is established on the earth. Revelation 21:23 says, “And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb.” 

When life is difficult here on the earth I find great comfort knowing this is not my eternal home. I  can give up the fleeting pleasures of this world because I know lasting treasure is only found in heaven. I pray this will be an encouragement to you today. Remember as a Christian you are a citizen of heaven and that can give you the peace needed while living on this tumultuous earth. 

Christians with Conviction

August 12, 2021 /

“…for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.”  — 2 Timothy 1:12


The Apostle Paul was a man who was fully persuaded about the importance of the Person and work of Jesus Christ. Though he was facing execution for his proclamation of the gospel and his faith in Jesus Christ, he knew that “for me to live is Christ and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:21) 


Acts 18:4 says that Paul “… reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.” Verse 13 of that same chapter records the complaint of some religious leaders concerning the Apostle Paul. “This fellow persuades men to worship God contrary to the law.”  Acts 19:8 says that Paul “…went into the synagogue and spoke boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God.


Without question, the apostle Paul was a man of intense conviction!  Those to whom this apostle spoke were never left trying to guess what he stood for. Paul made no attempts to “razzle dazzle” people with ambiguous rhetoric.  No double talk, no evasive dialogue to side skirt the issue. When this man spoke, all who were present soon knew of his allegiance to Jesus Christ.


How refreshing!  Especially in a day were so many who profess to follow Christ are so unpersuaded about what they believe, why they believe it and their commitment to live it out. Some of the blame for that may be that many pulpits are rather ambiguous when it comes to a clear presentation of who Jesus really is and why He came. The purity of the gospel of Christ is being exchanged for a kind of psychological counseling session or it’s cheapened by today’s pop theology into a gospel that promises you the moon if you just know the proper “keys” to getting what you want from God. This distorted version of the gospel has grown rapidly in popularity over the years even though much of what is being taught does not mesh with the clear teaching of scripture. 


Today what is needed in the body of Christ, are clarion voices that will not give way to these seducing doctrines. Jesus’ church needs believers who are absolutely persuaded about who Jesus truly is, what He truly is like and what He came to accomplish. His church needs men and women who have a deepening knowledge of Whom they have believed and are absolutely persuaded to keep that which they have committed to do for the great cause of their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! People who not only know what they believe but are committed to living it out in every strata of life.


Too many congregations today are top heavy with tag-a-long, do as you please believers. Never really persuaded about, nor committed to, anything in particular. They never live out their faith in such a way so as to persuade a lost person about their need to trust Christ. These people are salt that has lost its saltiness (Luke 14:34), candles that are hid under a basket (Luke 11:33). They are characterized by shallow convictions which stem from a shallow understanding of the Person of Christ and the work He came to accomplish.


The writer of the book of Hebrews urges all believers to “draw near [to Christ]…in full assurance of faith…” We are to be confident, absolutely persuaded, of who Christ is, what He is like and what He desires in terms of our commitment to His kingdom.


Paul prays for the church at Ephesus that “the Father of glory would give them the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him [the Person of Christ];and that the eyes of their understanding would be enlightened; that they would know what is the hope of his calling…[the work of Christ].”


Find someone who is absolutely persuaded about the Person and work of Jesus Christ, and you’ll find someone who is committed to His calling upon their life.

Pastor Frank Caudell has served as an associate pastor at South Valley Church in Lemoore for over twenty years. You can contact him at frank@svcclemoore.org. 

« Older posts Newer posts »

taking the road less traveled

I've been to 30 out of 217 countries

© 2026 Christ and Common Sense

Theme by Anders Noren — Up ↑