10 Wrong Thoughts About God

What do you think about God? I mean, what do you mostly ponder as thoughts concerning Him? I'd like to suggest that a whole lot of men and women's thinking is not in line with who God really is. Truth be told, in many cases it is far, far from it. There a number of reasons for that. Our parents (especially fathers) are meant to portray Him. They don't always do such a good job. The media definitely presents God in a warped way. (That's being kind.) Even His own people (Christ followers) at times misrepresent the Lord through ungodly attitudes and actions. (Ouch.) That's why it's so important to always look to the Scripture for our understanding. There we find out who God really is. It's a good picture. It'll help you to overcome the following...

10 Wrong Thoughts About God:

1. He doesn't care about me (Romans 5:6-8)
2. He isn't a part of my life (Psalm 139:1-18)
3. He's mad (Luke 15:11-24)
4. He makes bad things happen to me (Romans 8:28)
5. He isn't on my side (Romans 8:31-32)
6. He doesn't want to be my friend (John 15:13-15)
7. He doesn't have good plans for me (Jeremiah 29:11)
8. He doesn't hear my prayers (Jeremiah 29:12)
9. He's hiding Himself (Jeremiah 29:13)
10. He doesn't love me (John 3:16)

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The Truth Is Out There?

"And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (John 8:32; NKJV)

If there's anything I've learned (and noticed) while serving the Lord is there is just a whole lot of mis-appropriation, application and interpretation of the Bible (God's Word).

Take for instance the above verse. How many of you have heard, "And you shall know the truth and the truth shall make (set) you free"? Have you heard that quoted? Rarely is it spoken of, referred to in it's context (immediate and/or in view of the entirety of the Scriptures). Usually, it's stated randomly ~ like somehow the truth is "out there" (kind of like Fox Mulder looking for extra-terrestrial life in the X-Files) and it'll somehow find you (the truth, not aliens) via some sort of new age cosmic osmosis.

The Bible says nothing of the sort.

If we would know the truth that makes us free, there's only one way for that to happen. It's actually a conditional promise whereby a condition must first be met for the result to take place. That condition is found in the verse prior to "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." That verse is John 8:31 where Jesus says, "If you abide (or continue) in My word, you are My disciples indeed." (John 8:31; NKJV) Then and only then comes: "And you shall know the truth and the truth shall make (set) you free." Do you see that? "If you abide in My word" comes first.

Abiding in Christ's Word ~ it's equal to abiding in Jesus Himself. (John 15:4) And it's the proof that we are His disciples. "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed." "Abiding" is an initial transaction (the salvation experience) and then an ongoing progression (the sanctification process). It includes not only the intake (reading the Bible, studying and meditating on it, etc), but the outworking ~ the living out in our lives what the Scripture says (what God tells us to do or not do).

Let me say it again. Then and only then (with the "abiding" in place) comes: "And you shall know the truth and the truth shall make (set) you free."

Spin Zone - Part 2

With Jesus standing before him, Pilate asked the question, "What is truth?" And it was because Pilate lived in a day much like our own, I'm convinced, where we just don't know what to believe anymore since it isn't always the case that we can trust what we're being told. Right? We literally live in a land of liars (Isaiah 6:5) under the management of the father of lies. (John 8:44)

And so how can we discern the truth in such a place? Is it really possible to separate spin / fiction from fact?

Well, in this second post on the subject (Spin Zone - Part 1: HERE) I'm gonna do my best to give you an answer. You want to know the truth? Do you really? Then here's how...

First, get Jesus in your life. After all, He is "the Truth." (John 14:6) Separating fiction from fact starts with Christ. It is through living in a close relationship with Him that we gain the sensitivity to tell when it's a lie we're being fed.

And then the second thing you can do to know the truth: Hunger for the truth. When I want pizza and somebody gives me broccoli instead, it just doesn't cut it. Amen? I won't be satisfied until I sink my teeth into a thick, fluffy pan crust with pepperoni and sausage and five different cheeses on top. And it needs to be the case with truth. What are you hungering for today? "'Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.'" (Matthew 5:6) And I believe it's the same when it comes to the truth, too. Don't be satisfied with anything less.

And then the third thing you can do to know the truth: Immerse yourself in the truth/Scriptures. When was the last time you read your Bible? Hmm? And that's just the least you can do, beloved. There's so much more. The writer of the book of Hebrews was surprised over the condition of certain Jewish followers of Jesus. They were still "babes" when they should have been "teachers." (Hebrews 5:12-13) And some Christians are still sucking on a pacifier in their understanding and application of God's Word. Is it any wonder that these same people could think that abortion was a viable choice for women? Are you kidding me?

And then the last thing you can do now to know the truth: Find someone who's trustworthy that can teach you. Apollos was a great instructor in the early church. But he still needed Aquila and Priscilla to take him aside and explain the "Way" more "perfectly." (Acts 18:24-26) Let us not fool ourselves that somehow we know it all (or can).

And so to summarize the four points: (1) Get Jesus in your life; (2) Hunger for the truth; (3) Immerse yourself in the Scriptures; and (4) Find someone that can teach you. As you do these things you will become good at separating spin / fiction from fact. And you'll be able also to help others answer the question, "What is truth?" for themselves.

Spin Zone - Part 1

Many years ago Pilate asked Jesus the question, "What is truth?" And Pilate asked that question, I'm convinced, because he lived in a day much like our own - where we just don't know what to believe anymore. Do you ever find yourself feeling like that? And as everything that happens and everything that's talked about and said, it seems like it's up for grabs whether it's fiction or fact.

For instance, the Holocaust - it didn't really happen - right? - according to one world leader. He's probably the best example of how many are giving their own "spin" on things these days. Do you know what I mean by "spin" and "spinning"?

And if you really want the truth about something, well, you just better make sure to read the New York Times.

And then - whatever happened to Dan Rather? On the eve of the 2004 Presidential elections, he produced documents raising questions about George W. Bush's national guard service. (They were forged. CBS fired him over it.)

And then there's another reliable source to go to where you can be convinced beyond a shadow of a doubt about things: Wikipedia - the encyclopedic website where they offer a rather unique approach. You see, it's collaborative. You can add your own "take" to entries on Wikipedia. It's not revolutionary. It's evolutionary (literally).

It's just another example of what I'm talking about - we just don't know what to believe anymore and the potential for "spin" and "spinning" is everywhere and anywhere. What we really could use is a "No Spin Zone." They ought to have a show like that. (Of course, I know about Bill O'Reilly's show on Fox. I also know there's even "spinning" that takes place in the "No Spin Zone"?!)

Which brings me back to the question: "What is truth?" which was relevant to Pilate's time and is to ours as well. So how do we answer the question? How do we discern the truth? How do we separate fiction from fact? Watch for "Spin Zone - Part 2" where I'll do my best to give you an answer.

(Picture above in public domain: HERE.)

What is Truth? - Part 2

With Jesus standing before him, Pilate asked the question, "What is truth?" And it was because Pilate lived in a day much like our own, I'm convinced, where we just don't know what to believe anymore since it isn't always the case that we can trust what we're being told. Right? We literally live in a land of liars ("the heart is deceitful above all things" - Jer. 17:9) under the management of the father of lies (John 8:44). And so how can we discern the truth in such a place? Is it really possible to separate fiction from fact? Well, in this second and final post on the subject (click here to read "What is Truth? - Part 1") I'm gonna do my best to give you an answer. You want to know the truth? Do you really? Then here's how: First, get Jesus in your life. After all, He is "the Truth" (John 14:6). Separating fiction from fact starts with Christ. It is through living in a close relationship with Him that we gain the sensitivity to tell when it's a lie we're being fed. And then the second thing you can do to know the truth: Hunger for the truth. When I want pizza and somebody gives me broccoli instead, it just doesn't cut it. Amen? I won't be satisfied until I sink my teeth into a thick, fluffy pan crust with pepperoni and sausage and five different cheeses on top. And it needs to be the case with truth. What are you hungering for today? "Those who "hunger and thirst for righteousness shall be satisfied." And I believe it's the same when it comes to the truth, too. Don't be satisfied with anything less. And then the third thing you can do to know the truth: Immerse yourself in the truth/Scriptures. When was the last time you read your Bible? Hmm? And that's just the least you can do, beloved. There's so much more. The writer of the book of Hebrews was surprised over the condition of certain Jewish followers of Jesus. They were still "babes" when they should have been "teachers" (Heb. 5:12-13). And some Christians are still sucking on a pacifier in their understanding and application of God's Word. Is it any wonder that these same people could think that abortion was a viable choice for women? Are you kidding me? And then the last thing you can do now to know the truth: Find someone who's trustworthy that can teach you. Apollos was a great instructor in the early church. But he still needed Aquila and Priscilla to take him aside and explain the "Way" more "perfectly" (Acts 18:24-26). Let us not fool ourselves that somehow we know it all (or can). And so to summarize the four points: (1) Get Jesus in your life; (2) Hunger for the truth; (3) Immerse yourself in the Scriptures; and (4) Find someone that can teach you. As you do these things you will become good at separating fiction from fact. And you'll be able also to help others answer the question, "What is truth?" for themselves.

What is Truth? - Part 1

Many years ago Pilate asked Jesus the question, "What is truth?" And Pilate asked that question, I'm convinced, because he lived in a day much like our own - where we just don't know what to believe anymore. Do you ever find yourself feeling like that? And as everything that happens and everything that's talked about and said, it seems like it's up for grabs whether it's fiction or fact. For instance, the Holocaust - it didn't really happen - right? - according to one world leader. He's probably the best example of how many are giving their own "spin" on things these days. Do you know what I mean by "spin" and "spinning"? And if you really want the truth about something, well, you just better make sure to read the New York Times. And then - whatever happened to Dan Rather? And then there's another reliable source to go to if you can't get the New York Times or have HDTV (Dan Rather's show is on it) where you can be convinced beyond a shadow of a doubt about things, my brothers and sisters. I'm talking about none other than Wikipedia - wikipedia.org - the encyclopedic website where they offer a rather unique approach. You see, it's collaborative. (Web 2.0 I think they call it.) You can add your own "take" to entries on Wikipedia. It's not revolutionary. It's evolutionary (literally). It's just another example of what I'm talking about - we just don't know what to believe anymore and the potential for "spin" and "spinning" is everywhere and anywhere. What we really could use is a "No Spin Zone." They ought to have a show like that. Do you think? (Of course, I know about Bill O'Reilly's show on Fox. I also know there's even "spinning" that takes place in the "No Spin Zone.") Which brings us back to the quesion: "What is truth?" which was relevant to Pilate's time and is to ours as well. So how do we answer the question? How do we discern the truth? How do we separate fiction from fact? Watch for my next blog post on this subject where I'll do my best to give you an answer.