Community and Citizenship

I'm generally an optimist.  I think overall the world is getting better.  I'm writing a blog on my laptop in my basement listening to free music online with no commercials.  For basically free I am able to publish my idea's worldwide unhindered by all of the restrictions and limitations that were in place even a few decades ago let alone a generation or two ago.  And that's only one small benefit we have at our fingertips.

I survived a severe heart attack this summer because of a medical marvel called a "stent."  A tiny wire tube, three actually, have healed my heart.  I'm now as strong as ever with no negative symptoms.  Wow, that's much better than a generation ago when every heart attack meant open heart surgery &/or extreme limited lifestyle.

One of the biggest problems in the USA is obesity.  My grandparents struggled to feed their family.  There was rationing of food during the 1940's.  Now we have too much of everything.  We have so many benefits in our day that we forget to even notice them.

Nevertheless many evils still exists in our day.  One evil that promotes and empowers other evils is the division, segregation and strife in our society.

How can the message of love and unity affect such a divided and fractured society?  How can the message of the Cross, that presents the hope and promise of unity and eternity for all penetrate the frustration, fear and factions that divide and dominate our world?

In this new series of teaching I attempt to address these questions from a Biblical standpoint.  I hope these messages are a blessing to you.

Click here for the notes to part 1 - Jesus' Counter Culture Message.

Click here for the notes to part 2 - Living in Community

Click here for the notes to part 3 - Community & Citizenship Means Responsibility

Click her for the notes to part 4 - Community and Citizenship Means Accountability

My most recent series "When the World Ends - the reality of judgment, heaven & hell" concludes this Sunday.  We will look at what the Bible describes as the destination for those who follow Christ and spend eternity with Him.  This series has intentionally avoided the tangled and divisive discussion about the series of events that occur before the return of Christ - which is known as eschatology.  I respect the study of eschatology and believe that it has value.  Although I think that it is far less important than understanding the reality of our eternal destiny.  Everything that will occur in the end-times as it is traditionally thought of only occupies a few years.  If you include the cryptic idea of the millennium reign, it is still just over 1000 years.  Compared to eternity - that's a drop in the bucket.  
Throughout the Bible the discussion of the final events always points to our individual readiness by being in right relationship with Christ, and by living in a way that demonstrates His rule in our lives.  It is with this in mind that I have taken the time to talk about the reality of judgment for all humankind, an eternal hell, and the promise of eternal life.  I hope that this series is a blessing to you and helps you know how to be prepared for the day when you will stand before Christ as King of Kings and Lord of Lords and will answer for your words, actions and thoughts.  Our only hope is in the saving grace of our Lord.  But that grace is not a "free-pass" to live selfishly.  It is a supernatural empowering to live Christ-like in the present.

Here are links to my notes for this series:
Part 1: The End of the World and Judgment to Come
Part 2: The Reality of Hell
Part 3: The Destiny of the Blessed

For a detailed view of some answers to the end-times questions Mike Bickle from the IHOP (International House of Prayer) ministry offers the following information found in the link below.  I agree with some of what he states.  I don't have an opinion on much of what is brought up - not because I don't think it's valid, but because I have not felt called to devote the time to study such topics in depth and I personally do not find them relevant to  fulfilling the purpose of the Bible's teaching on the end time.  As I've stated, the purpose is to be in right relationship now - not to understand and predict the details of what will come to pass.  Nevertheless the ideas in this teaching much better represents what I believe to be accurate than most of what is taught in our day. 

IHOP's 100 Most Frequently Asked Questions About the End Times.

ACCELERATE! - Advancing God's Kingdom in OUR Lives pt. 1

Jet lag after the Japan trip was intense.  Having the whole family go through it really threw our home into chaos.  Then we were hit with the holidays.  Which are great of course but require lots of extra time commitments.  So its been a while since I last posted.

Here at least are my sermon notes for part one of "Accelerate - Advancing God's Kingdom in Our Lives."  Its the January series for New Day Community Church, Kalamazoo.  I introduced it last week, but this message is really the first part of the series.  Hope you are blessed by this!

Accelerate – Advancing the Kingdom of God in OUR Lives

• A series about understanding what WE (individually and as a church) are called to
• How to see it happen, and how to Accelerate, speed up, the things of the Kingdom!!!

Last Week we looked at Christ's Command

• Matthew 6:33 NKJV But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
• Jesus clearly told His followers what their priorities should be based upon

Hebrews 11:6 NKJV But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

• “Diligently seek” = to search out, that is, (figuratively) investigate, crave, demand, ... worship: - en- (re-) quire, seek after (carefully, diligently).
• A form of the same word that Jesus used.
  • Not a passive acceptance
  • But a passionate pursuit
• Faith is a gift
  • Ephesians 2:8-9 NKJV For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.
  • This is undisputed. Nothing we could ever do could atone for sin – our ability to accept forgiveness because of the death of Jesus on the Cross, having faith and believing in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior is a gift.
  • But an overemphasis on what God has done can lead to an underemphasis on what God calls us to do.
    • Actually it is a misunderstanding of the result, or outcome of what God's done
    • God's free gift doesn't just bring us out of sin – it brings us INTO His Kingdom
    • Colossians 1:13-14 NKJV (13) He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, (14) in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.
    • And look at the next verse in Ephesians 2:10 NKJV For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
      • Grace and faith doesn't exempt us from doing things
      • It means that our works are the fruit, the outcome, of what God has done, the response to being in right relationship
      • Not a means to right relationship, or a way of earning God's favor – but the result of being in God's favor.
      • It's KINGDOM living
• Heb. 11:6 Defines faith with three key things:
  • “must believe that He is”
    • Simply -- you must believe in the existence of God. Not merely that there is a God out there somewhere – but the God of the Bible, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The God Jesus revealed.
  • “He is a rewarder”
    • Wow. This is an integral aspect of faith.
    • God is a rewarder – he gives out prizes!!!
    • If you believe in God, but you believe He is only a “punisher” you don't have genuine faith – or your faith is lacking.
    • This verse says FAITH = believing God is a Giver
  • “ those who diligently seek Him”
    • The GIFT of faith, Biblical faith, has in it a hunger, a craving, a demanding, a passionate pursuit after God and His Kingdom.
    • You have that hunger... or you would not be here. Stir it up, cultivate it, feed it, and sharpen it. That's what this series is about!

There are Things we can do to ACCELERATE the Kingdom in OUR lives

First: Believe that it is possible, even our responsibility to hasten the day...

2 Peter 3:10-14 NKJV But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. (11) Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, (12) looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? (13) Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. (14) Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless;

Peter asks a question. In the NIV, it reads like this:

2Pet 3:11NIV Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be?

• His answer is:
  • You ought to live holy and godly lives
  • (verse 12) as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.
• “Looking for and hastening” NKJV, literally means living in anticipation of, and “to speed” or “urge on.” the coming of the day of the Lord.
• “Be diligent” in verse 14 is a different word than that we read of earlier in Hebrews.
  • Here is literally means, “to use speed”
  • to hasten, make haste, to exert one’s self, endeavor,
• The Bible challenges us to live expectant of, and in preparation for, the Lord's return
• That we can actually “SPEED UP” the manifestation of Christ's return
• I believe that this works two ways:
  • This refers the the “Now and Not Yet” nature of God's Kingdom
  • We can speed up His Kingdom NOW, in our present life
    • We can see Christ salvation, His healing power, His freedom from sin and the curse, His power to transform people, families, communities, nations – NOW!!
    • It also means that we can make quicken His final return – when He comes to rule and reign and puts an end to all suffering and sin and pain.
• Matthew 6:10 NKJV Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.
  • Jesus told us to pray this
  • This is not a prayer that confesses passive acceptance
  • It is a command for fulfillment – a calling out, intercession for God's Kingdom to come
    • When we pray the next line, “Give us this day our daily bread” we don't want or expect that to be fulfilled in some figurative sense – we are asking for food.
    • Likewise when we pray for Kingdom Come; Will Be Done – we should expect to see it, touch it, experience it.
    • This applies to each of us as individuals
    • And to New Day as a church – and to the church world-wide.

Secondly: Know the Season

• Just as there are seasons in nature, there are seasons in life, and in the dealing of God
• Know, be aware of the season
  • In your life, in the life of those around you
  • In the church, in your community and the world.
• Seasons Natural seasons point toward spiritual seasons in our lives
  • Matthew 16:3 NKJV and in the morning, 'It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.' Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times.
  • God can change the season
    • Jesus was able to change the natural weather, when He calmed the storm
  • You can change the season
    • John 14:12 NKJV "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; & greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.
    • Last Feb. in the worst winter storm of the year, Kathie and I changed season... we sat down, waited a few hours, and stepped out into 80 degree weather
    • We just had to change our position
    • Likewise, you can change your season OFTEN/NOT ALWAYS by making a change in or to yourself – you don't have to fly to Cancun – but you have to change
• Romans 13:11-14 NKJV And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. (12) The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. (13) Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. (14) But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.
  • “It is high time to awake out of sleep”
  • Romans 13:11 NLT This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.
  • Now is the time...
  • 2 Corinthians 6:2 NKJV For He says: "IN AN ACCEPTABLE TIME I HAVE HEARD YOU, AND IN THE DAY OF SALVATION I HAVE HELPED YOU." Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

To accelerate the Kingdom of God in OUR lives we must:

• Believe it is possible
• Accept that is is our responsibility
• Know the that NOW is the time!

Japan Mission Summary 2011

Click HERE to see some photos of the trip.

Click on the video to watch a clip of me helping the carpenters rebuild a home.

Another short video of our relief work in Japan.

Wow. Thirteen days of non-stop movement!!! It was an amazing and exhausting trip and well worth both the cost and the effort. How can I summarize such a diverse and life-changing two weeks?

Here's a day by day summary:

1. Wed. 11/16 – The Wrights (Kathie, William, Lewis and I) rose early morning to get to the airport at 8:30 AM. We spent the next 18 hours en route to Japan. We arrived at 4:30pm Thursday 11/17 (yep a day later) in Tokyo. We then took a cab to the hotel and had a delightful but expensive dinner.
2. Fri. 11/18 – We slept well and then met up with Dennis and Kaku Sager who came to pick us up at the hotel. As a special treat to the boys we spent the day in Tokyo Disney. For those who know us, Disney is a family tradition, and since it is right on the way we indulged in this as a motivation to overcome jet lag ... it worked. We had a fun time. Then left Tokyo around 5 pm for the 3 hour drive to the Sager's home.
3. Sat. 11/19 – This was our least busy day. It rained non-stop and we spent much of the time recovering from the journey and helping the Sagers prepare for the trip to Sendai area for the tsunami relief.
4. Sun. 11/20 – We rose early to go to church. I ministered at their Sunday morning service. Afterward we had a Birthday Party for the Sagers and Kathie and I – as all our birthdays fall within the week. We then spent the entire day preparing the food and materials for the trip. We did not make it back to the Sager's home until 7 pm, 11 hours after leaving.
5. Mon. 11/21 – We rose early and met up with a truck loaded with supplies that drove in late the night before. With two vans and the truck we depart for Yokohama to pick up the team from New Day who flew in on Sunday. After some confusion in Yokohama, we find the hotel and load up the team and a third van and drove to our lodging at a Bible training center about 1 ½ hours out of Sendai. We arrived at 8:30 pm at the bath house (Onsen) for a delightful but quick wash before going to the camp to settle for the night. Oh, it was sunny and warm at the Sager's but the last 2 hours of driving was in the snow. The climate is much colder there.
6. Tues. 11/22 – The ladies slept upstairs and froze, as the room heater was broke. The guys downstairs had a wood stove and were comfortable (but noisy). We all woke up early to load up for the big day of working in the tsunami area. We drove through the area where nothing but foundations were left prior to reaching the homes where we ministered. The devastation, even this many months latter was staggering. In the distance we could see many mountainous piles of debris and ruined vehicles as they sorted it out to recycle. About half the team set up and cooked a feast for those who live in the remaining homes – all of which were heavily damaged. The other half of the team either helped clean out mud, or helped the carpenters. I was fortunate to have carpentry skills and was put to work prepping walls for drywall installation. I worked all day with four other carpenters in one small home. While working everything was all business – no chatting. But during the breaks, it was pleasant to get to know these guys who have given months of their lives to rebuild other's lives. During lunch we all gathered for the BBQ. I was able to hear the story of one woman who survived, although her nephew, a police officer, perished while trying to save others. His bride is overcome with depression. This woman cried on my shoulder as I prayed for her (a very un-Japanese behavior). We served the first beef that these people have eaten since the disaster and the first fresh cooked rice (not prepackaged). You could see the delight on their faces. We also had a large quantity of food to give away, and once we announced it was free to take, the people rushed to get the fresh fruit, rice and other stuff. This caused Kaku Sager to cry, as it was so un-Japanese behavior. You could see their desperation. After a long day we loaded everything back up in the trucks and vans and at sunset headed out. After a brief dinner we again went to the bath house for an amazing Japanese Onsen!
7. Wed. 11/23 – Another day of travel. But the big truck would not start and we eventually had to leave it behind to wait for a service vehicle. The time waiting for them to try to get it to work ended up becoming an intense time of prayer and intercession for the region and especially for those who live in Japan that were with our team. There were a total of six pastors on the team, each representing a different church – what a great expression of unity. It was warmer and sunny and the fall colors were at their peak in this area. The drive back to Yokohama was long, but pleasant. After nine hours on the road we finally arrived late in Yokohama in time to eat dinner and crash for the night. Although some of the young ones went out and explored the city a bit.
8. Thur. 11/24 – We woke to a delightfully sunny and warm (low 60's) day in Yokohama. We spent the morning and early afternoon prayer-walking the city. We prayed at Yokohama Grace Bible Church with Pastor Scott and his team – it was a powerful time of intercession. We then prayer-walked through a very old part of the city, and the original Christian section – the first “modern” Christians to resettle after over 400 years of exclusion were restricted to this part of the city. It no longer has much visible Christian influence, yet we believe the prayers of those who went before are still heard in heaven. We also prayer-walked through China town. Afterward we left at about 2 pm for the several hour journey back to Izu city (where the Sager's live) on the Izu Pennisula. After arriving there we unloaded everything and got the team members to their host families and said our goodbyes to the other pastors that had come with us to do the relief work. We were all exhausted after so much travel and hard work – but we all felt fulfilled and glad to have been able to help.
9. Frid. 11/25 – In the morning the New Day team along with the Sagers went to Hope International Church to spend the morning in prayer and intercession. I stayed back at the Sager's home to work on my teachings for Sunday. The prayer time ended up going much longer than expected with many prophetic words and pictures being shared. Kaku Sager picked me up to join the team for lunch at a favorite dinning spot – Jib Curry. After dinner we had some free time for shopping and then the team members had dinner and spent the evening with their host families.
10. Sat. 11/26 – This was a busy day as the trip was winding down. A group of us hiked up the Castle Rock mountain – about an hour hike up a steep path. This mountain overlooked the entire city and region and is a great spot to pray. Heather Hays also arrived via train from where she is living in Japan teaching English. It took her 5 hours to get to us – but we were all so happy to see her. After descending the mountain we had lunch and then prayer-walked a local Shrine, school and the area around where the Sager's lived. I always find the times praying in the temples and shrines to be especially powerful. At 3 pm the entire team along with many from Hope International met at a church members new home as it was only about half constructed. They desired to not have the Buddhist monks perform the regular rituals during the construction of their home, and asked that we do Christian alternatives. So the Sagers had prayed and anointed the ground before groundbreaking, and now were were blessing the home and placing Bibles and prayers in the framework before the finish work was done. It was another powerful time of prayer. Following this we all packed into vans and visited a very old Buddhist Temple and town nearby. This temple in Shuzenji is the primary temple in this region and has “zen” in its name as it was the place where Zen Buddhism was established in the region. This was the first time I visited in the evening and although it got very cold, it was beautiful seeing the town all lit up with festive lights. After returning late, some of the team couldn't resist going to the Onsen, for a delightful time soaking in the hot springs – Japanese style!
11. Sun. 11/27 – We again rose early to go to Hope International Church. Some of the team assisted the worship team, others ministered in prayer, and some helped with the children. I again preached the sermon. After church we had another wonderful meal prepared by the church members. We then had an additional teaching time in the afternoon so that I could finish up my series on “Relationships – It's Complicated” -- an abbreviated version of what I recently preached in Kalamazoo. We finished the afternoon session and had just an hour or so before heading out to dinner. The day was again concluded with a visit to the Onsen for one last refreshing and relaxing soak. I was glad that both my boys and Kathie enjoyed the Onsen as much, if not more than I do!
12. Mon. 11/28 – Again we rose early to load up the vans for the long drive to the airport. We left the house by about 10 am and got lunch on the way at a rest stop (which are much different than in the states – most have stores, sit-down restaurants, as well as fast food and even cart vendors, and of course the ever present vending machines). The Wrights departed from Terminal 1 whereas the rest of the team from Terminal 2, so we said our good-byes when we were dropped off at the terminal. We spent about 4 hours waiting for our flights and finally departing at 6:45 pm Monday. We landed in Chicago ahead of time (literally) at 3 PM the same day (due to crossing the dateline). Rather than waiting until 10 pm for our flight to Kalamazoo we rented a car and drove home, getting here around 8 pm. We were all exhausted even though we all slept some on the plane.

Thank you to all who helped through prayer and financial support. We, along with many others, have used this disaster to minister the love of God and the hope of the Gospel to the people of Japan. The pastor in the Sendai area was overwhelmed at the openness of the people in the aftermath of the disaster. Now with a continual stream of Christians coming to help – more has been done for Christ's sake than we could have ever imagined.

Click HERE to see some photos of the trip.

Here are my notes for the final part of the Is It Relative? series.  As always, you will be able to listen and download the notes as a pdf after I preach them on Sunday (11/13/11).

Is It Relative? Living morally in an Amoral World.

Joh 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

Relative Truth and morality (right & wrong)?

• If everyone is true... then there isn't any real truth...
• Not applicable in the material world – Natural law operates with absolutes.
• Not consistent with “real life”
  • If a child takes a cookie when told to not take a cookie... did the cookie really exist?
  • Moral Relativity would say, that the child must decide for himself if it's time for a cookie
• Not reflective of God's nature

The problem with the idea of Relativity is that it is almost right

• There are many things that are dependent upon culture, language and circumstances
• God relates to each one individually, in this way there is an aspect of “relativity” that is true.
• But it is a corruption of this truth to say that because some things are relative, that there is no objective truth. The statement “all things are relative” is taken as objective, absolute – and therefore negates itself.
• It is more correct to say, because some things are “dependent” all things are “dependent” as all things are dependent upon God – and God is not vague, ambiguous, or indifferent.

Jesus is the truth – Do you believe Jesus when He says, “I am THE truth.”

• Truth is not relative, it is relational – in the sense that being true is defined by your relationship with the person Jesus Christ.
• John 8:31-32 NKJV Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. (32) And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."
  • “abide” = dwell, remain, to live in.
  • Experiential truth, Biblical truth is never merely academic or intellectual, it is experiential
• John 3:3 NKJV Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

What about Romans 14:14-23 “I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself; but to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. (15) Yet if your brother is grieved because of your food, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy with your food the one for whom Christ died. (16) Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil; (17) for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. (18) For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men. (19) Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another. (20) Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are pure, but it is evil for the man who eats with offense. (21) It is good neither to eat meat nor drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak. (22) Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. (23) But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin.

• Specifically addressing two things – food and observing of religious holidays
  • Conflict of Judaism (Ritual law) and Paganism (eating meat offered to idols) with Christian freedom
  • Goal – unity and love, NOT abusing personal freedom!!!

1 Corinthians 6:9-13 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, (10) nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. (11) And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God. (12) All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. (13) Foods for the stomach and the stomach for foods, but God will destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.

• Christian freedom does not allow what is clearly forbidden here and elsewhere
• Anything, even if it is not forbidden, is a trap – if we are “brought under the power of any” -- the question is = who is in control
• Is this something Jesus would do?
• Which fruit of the Holy Spirit does this express?
• How will this affect those around me, will it lead to greater holiness?

Isaiah 5:20-21 Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! (21) Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, And prudent in their own sight!

Proverbs 14:12 There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.

Proverbs 12:15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, But he who heeds counsel is wise.

Proverbs 16:2 All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, But the LORD weighs the spirits.

Romans 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. (2) And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Future Judgment:

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man's all. (14) For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil.

Matthew 25:31-32 "When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. (32) All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats.

2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

These are my notes for the second segment of the Is It Relative? series.  You can hear the podcast by clicking on the link in the side panel to the right.  You can download these notes from this LINK.

Is It Relative? Living morally in an Amoral World.

Joh 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

• Joh 18:38 Pilate said to Him, "What is truth?" …

What is truth? Four common views of “truth”: Philosophical, Logical, Moral and Religious

1. Philosophical (ontological) truth:
   1. Accurate and adequate idea of existence as ultimate reality
      • This is the “truth” Pilate was referring to
      • This use is never the primary intent in Scripture – as it is presupposed
      • Philosophical truth is dependent upon the philosophical theory one ascribes to – Relativism being one theory.
      • Deconstructionist influence over the past century...
        • Attempt to remove every cultural influence in order to get to truth
        • In the end dismantle everything to the point of disorder – nothing means anything if you pick it completely apart
      • Rather, our cultural “grid” enables us to grasp what exists beyond our culture
        • This happens every day, it is an essential aspect of human life
        • Bridging the gap between perspectives, is one of our strengths and is something that we need to use to understand one another and the whole of truth – not something that gets in the way
   2. Blind men and the elephant
      • One sees a tree trunk, one a wall, one a snake, one a fan...
      • Philosophers are keen to say, Jesus saw one aspect, Buddha another, Muhammad another – all seeing in part
      • This sound good, until you realize that it assumes that these wise men that shifted entire cultures were not as wise as we are?
      • They didn't consider this idea of relative truth? Really? They were too simple to understand something we can explain to a child?
      • And we are so arrogant to dismiss their claims?
      • Relativism is an arrogant response, that demeans others – even though the intention is the opposite.
2. Logical Truth – Something is true if the concept corresponds with the facts.
   1. Logical truths are truths which are considered to be necessarily true. This is to say that they are considered to be such that they could not be untrue and no situation could arise which would cause us to reject a logical truth.
   2. That wall is white. Law of non-contradiction – something cannot be true and untrue at the same time.
   3. This use of “truth” is also not the primary sense in Scripture
3. Moral Truth - the primary sense that the word “truth” is used in Scripture
   1. It includes:
      • The correspondence of expression with inner conception - “I believed and therefore I spoke;” “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.”
      • Correspondence of thought & intention, of concrete reality with ideal type.
      • Something is true inwardly AND outwardly – something is true when it aligns to external reality and internal motive and intention.
      • Is about being whole, complete, consistent and fulfilled in our identity and purpose - inwardly in relation to ourselves (heart, soul and spirit), and outwardly in relation to others and ultimately to God.
4. Religious Truth – A modern term, “no sound basis in reason & none at all in the Bible”
   1. All truth is ultimately religious and only superficially can one think of something as a religious truth independent of logical, moral and philosophical truth.

Three Ideas about Biblical truth –

1. Truth is revelation. It is not something separate, self-contained, a standard by which we judge everything including God.
   1. God is not “subject” to truth in this sense. If so truth would be greater than God. Truth is true because it finds it's meaning & definition in the person of God.
   2. “In the Bible, the known will of God is final for man as a standard of truth, not as arbitrary, but as expressive of God's nature. God's nature is all-comprehensive of fact and goodness, and so is, all and in all, the source, support and objective of all concrete being. The will of God thus reveals, persuades to and achieves the ideals and ends of complete existence. The term “truth” is sometimes, therefore, nearly equivalent to the revealed will of God.” ISBE
   3. People who are their own Gods can think this applies to them, hence “my truth vs. your truth” or Relativism. That error is part of believing the lie that the serpent fooled Eve with... “you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
2. Truth is personalized in Jesus Christ. He truly expresses God, presents the true ideal of man, in Himself summarizes the harmony of existence and becomes the agent for unifying the disordered world. Hence, He is the Truth, the true expression of God,
   1. John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word (Logos), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
   2. John 1:17 For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
3. Truth is experienced. It is primarily something to be realized and done, rather than something to be learned or known. Truth is God's nature finding expression in His creation. Truth in a Biblical sense is not primarily an intellectual affair, to be learned, but essentially a voluntary willful experience and duty to be done for the glory of God in the realization of the complete truth or nature of God.
   1. Not a series of propositions, to be accepted and contended for, but in the subjective way of experience, in a series of ideals to be realized and propagated.
   2. If anyone wishes to do God's will, he shall be able to decide the truth of religious teaching, and the Son who is true will give the freedom of truth
      • John 7:17 If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority.
      • John 8:31-32 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. (32) And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

Real Life

1. This is not circular reasoning because, God is true because truth = God.
   1. God is an absolute – truth is that which accurately and adequately represent God
   2. “My idea of God” is not truth – but I can actually know God, as can anyone
   3. Romans 1:20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse”
2. Truth as a person, and not a list of propositions is more “real.”
   1. This is how people actually live (it better corresponds to reality)
   2. This is why love triumphs over reason – not that reason is unnecessary, it just isn't enough. People will do far more for love then they will for any good reason

Why this matters

1. If we understand truth in regards to the person of God, that God's person-hood is what is the basis for understanding truth, reality, existence.
2. Then we can see that the person-hood of each individual is what gives them value, regardless of any and every other aspect of their existence. The fact that they are means they have value and purpose and meaning.
3. Relativism attempts to give value by saying everyone's claim to truth is equal, but in the end that means that by definition if everyone is true; then no one is true, because there is no objective true. But if truth is the person of God, and God has invested Himself into each human giving them the opportunity to know and interact and experience Him – then each life has meaning – relevance, purpose – TRUTH.
4. God is a FATHER (Tell a story... what kind of father would you prefer?)
   1. Each of His children have meaning and purpose, He is invested into every one
   2. Relativism says, you are all gods, do whatever you think is right
   3. Jesus says, Matthew 5:48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.
   4. Matthew 5:48 You, therefore, must be perfect [growing into complete maturity of godliness in mind and character, having reached the proper height of virtue and integrity], as your heavenly Father is perfect. [Lev. 19:2, 18.]
   5. Relativism is the ultimate express of “orphan thinking.”
   6. John 14:18-21 I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.

Next week we'll focus on how behavior – living morally in an amoral world, flows from our understanding of truth.