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A
HELL OF A PLACE TO GO:
Can those in heaven see and
hear their loved ones writhing and screaming in the inferno of hell? Not a
very heavenly thought, is it?
Copyright 1996 / Leslie A Turvey
laturvey@becon.org
A baseball player died and went to heaven. A year later he visited
one of his old team mates on earth and gave him the good-news-bad-news
routine.
"What's the good news?" asked his buddy.
"We've got baseball in heaven," came the enthusiastic
response.
"And the bad news?"
"You're pitching tomorrow!"
There's enough heaven jokes to fill a dozen newspapers. But it's
odd, when the time comes to go there, even among bible enthusiasts it
seems to be bad news. Why?
To begin with you can't get to heaven unless you die: there's no
other way. And despite the reward of a halo and a harp, or whatever you
believe awaits you beyond the pearly gates, the prospect of dying is not
the most gratifying way to start the day.
Then there's always the chance the departed from this life may have
sinned once too often, got God thoroughly infuriated, and find himself
unexpectedly transported somewhere else.
But the worst news about heaven is it seems to be a hell of a place
to go.
Most people use the account of Lazarus and the rich man (Luke
16:19-31) to prove you go to heaven. The story is well-known: Lazarus
was poor, and the rich man did nothing to help him.
Eventually they both died, and the rich man looked up and saw
Lazarus resting his head on Abraham's chest. He called to Abraham, asking
that Lazarus bring a drop of water to cool his tongue because a flame was
tormenting him.
If this story indicates Abraham and Lazarus were in heaven, and the
rich man was in an ever-burning hell fire, then imagine the following
scenario:
A saintly mother dies and goes to heaven. Her son, for whom she has
shed many tears during his life of debauchery, goes to hell. She loves her
son and longs to have him with her, but there's no way either can pass to
the other.
If the usual interpretation of Lazarus and the rich man is true, it
would indicate the mother can see her son forever tormented in the inferno
of hell, and hear his unbearable screams of agony, and be helpless to do
anything for him. Not the most heavenly way for her to spend eternity!
Where do we get our ideas about going to heaven or hell? Believe it
or not they don't come from the bible.
Instead they come through the Satan-inspired mind of Dante
Alighieri, an Italian poet who wrote The Divine Comedy nearly seven
hundred years ago, and thirteen centuries after Jesus Christ said Abraham
had not gone to heaven (John
3:13).
Despite the admonition to let the bible interpret the bible (II
Peter 1:20), people choose to treat the Lazarus and rich man account
as a heaven-hell story, rather than searching the scriptures for the
truth.
You may
contact the Life Lines author at laturvey@becon.org.
HAVE
YOU COMMITTED THE UNPARDONABLE SIN?:
The
bible is a book of good news. And some of that good news is you likely
have not committed the ultimate, the unpardonable sin.
Copyright 1999 / Leslie A Turvey
laturvey@becon.org
The bible can be a scary book for those who don't understand it.
One thing many people don't understand is the unpardonable sin.
The bible is also a book of good news, and if you have to ask
whether you've committed the unpardonable sin, the good news is you likely
haven't.
To begin with, sin is sin. There are no degrees of sin. One's as
abominable to God as another. And it's good news that Jesus said,
"Every sin and blasphemy can be forgiven (Matthew
12:31)," even if it's blasphemy against Jesus Christ himself.
"However," Jesus added, "blasphemy -- irreverence --
against the holy spirit shall not be forgiven."
Jesus had just cast out a demon from a blind and mute man. The
people were amazed. But the Pharisees had hardened their minds against
Jesus, and rather than admit he called on the power of the holy spirit,
they blasphemously claimed Jesus used Satan's power to cast out the demon.
This was not a simple mistake or misunderstanding on their part, or
giving into a momentary temptation. I'm a Christian, and I have to watch
everything I do. It's so easy to sin with the eyes, with the mouth, with
the mind. But when I do, I know God will forgive me if I repent: turn away
from the sin.
But the Pharisees' statement was a premeditated, determined sin, of
which they were not about to repent. It was a matter of Damn the
torpedoes: full speed ahead.
What is sin? Is playing cards, or having a drink, or dancing a sin?
What about lying, or theft, or adultery?
The first three aren't sin for me. Nothing in the bible shows me
they are wrong.
But they could be sin for you. Paul wrote, "Whatever
is done without a conviction of its approval by God is sinful. (Romans
14:23/Amplified Bible)."
If you believe dancing is a sin, then for you it is. And there's
two routes to travel. One is to not dance; the other is to come to the
understanding that God does not disapprove of it.
I
John 3:4 says sin is transgression of God's law. And lying and theft
and adultery are specified in the Thou Shalt Nots, the ten commandments of
God. So there's no question of whether God approves of these things: he
doesn't; he never will.
But even if a person is living in adultery, or stealing, or lying,
that person can be forgiven providing he changes his way of living. He has
not committed the unpardonable sin.
However, there comes a point when a person defiantly chooses to
continue the sinful course of life he's chosen. He's made up his mind, and
that can block him forever from repentance and forgiveness.
When that occurs, that person has committed the dreaded
unforgivable, unpardonable sin.
You may
contact the Life Lines author at laturvey@becon.org.
THE
GOOD NEWS CHRISTIANS:
God has a marvelous future
for all mankind, but Satan doesn't want you to know it. God wants you to
choose life so you may live happily forever.
Copyright 2000 / Leslie A Turvey
laturvey@becon.org
God has a marvelous future for you, even if you're not a Christian.
It's a future he intends for every person who has ever lived.
Satan doesn't want you to know this, of course, because he won't
have a part in it. So he's convinced Christians the wages of sin (Romans
6:23) is eternal life in a nether world blast furnace.
Be assured, there are wages for sin. People receive those wages
today in the form of sexually transmitted diseases, in mental instability,
in broken homes and marriages. But the ultimate wages of sin is death --
eternal death -- being burned to ashes in a sulphur - fueled lake of fire
(Psalm
11:6; Revelation
20:15; Malachi
4:1,3).
The bible tells us, "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither
have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for
them that love him (1
Corinthians 2:9)." We can't begin to imagine the magnificent
wonders the future holds.
So what benefit is there in being a Christian if God intends this
future for everyone? Why not just wait for the future?
Many of the benefits are available today. A God-fearing Christian
need not fear getting a disease from indiscriminate sex with multiple
partners, or with same-sex partners. He will not suffer the mental
instability of never knowing which way to turn. And if his marriage is
built on the sound foundation of Jesus Christ, it will last "till
death do us part."
Then there's that special future. Hebrews
11 tells of men and women who endured torture and death so they might
have, as verse 35
calls it, "a better resurrection." That better resurrection is
spoken of in 1
Corinthians 15:51-52. In verse 50 Paul says humans cannot be in God's
kingdom (Jesus said the same thing in John
3:1-8). But Paul continues, "Behold, I show you a mystery; We
shall not all sleep [die], but we shall all be changed. In a moment, in
the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound,
and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed."
Paul was speaking to Christians.
In verse 55
is a passage recited every springtime, "O death, where is thy sting?
O grave, where is thy victory?" When Jesus Christ returns to earth at
the sound of the final trumpet of the book of Revelation, deceased
Christians will be resurrected and, with those still alive, will be
instantly recreated into a perfect body that can never die. Revelation
20:6 says, "Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first
resurrection: on such the second death hath no power..." Death will
have no more sting for them.
But those who have not had the opportunity, or the understanding,
to become Christians will eventually be resurrected to human life, and as
humans will be able to die again. This is the second resurrection. If they
die the second death they have no hope. They will receive the wages of
their sin, eternal death.
Do these people have to die the second death? Not if they're
willing to follow God's way that leads to eternal life, to overcome the
sinful natures of their first life, and to accept Jesus Christ as their
King, their Lord, and their God.
God told the Israelites, and us, "I call heaven and earth to
record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death,
blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both you and your seed
may live (Deuteronomy
30:19)." Christians have chosen life today, with Jesus Christ as
their guide. They need not fear the second death.
Those who die without having formed a close relationship with
Jesus, have everything to fear. Why take the chance? Join the good news
Christians today.
You may
contact the Life Lines author at laturvey@becon.org.
GODS
TRUE CHURCH: WHERE?:
Many
people choose churches the way they choose breakfast cereal. But is that
the way to find the true church of God?
Copyright 1997 / Leslie A Turvey
laturvey@becon.org
Imagine visiting a new friend for the first time. He's told you the
name of the street, and that he lives in a big yellow house on the corner.
Would you go to another street, and knock on the door of a little green
house in the middle of the block? Not likely.
Yet most people choose their churches that way, don't they? They
look for one that's close to home. Or they choose one because they like
the minister. Or perhaps it's got a great choir, or a youth group, or
whatever.
But if you were looking for God's true church, how would you
identify it?
The various denominational churches all have major doctrinal
differences. That's what makes them who they are.
Paul asked, "Is Christ divided?" His answer is No.
So can any of Ourtown's churches be the true church? Well, one might be,
but that has to exclude the rest.
There must be a way to determine where God's true church is. Let's
try to find it.
Do the people of God's true church do good things? Definitely. And
the people of Ourtown's churches do good things, so it's difficult
to make a determination that way.
We'd expect the people of God's true church to attend worship
services. That doesn't help either, because the people in Ourtown's
churches attend worship services.
All the churches in Ourtown read from the bible. And they keep the
commandments. You know them: No other gods; no graven images; keep God's
name sacred; honor your parents; no killing, adultery, stealing, or giving
untrue testimony against another. And no lusting after anything that
belongs to someone else.
But wait. If you count them there's only nine. There's one missing.
It's the one that tells which day God's people are to set apart for
worship.
The bible says, "On the seventh day God ended his work; and he
rested on the seventh day. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified
it (That is, he set it apart) ." At least twice God tells us to
remember the seventh day, and keep it holy.
So wouldn't you expect to find the people of God's church keeping
the seventh day holy? That would certainly narrow down your search.
The minister of one church in Ourtown said in a sermon, "We do
not observe the Sabbath today as the scriptures teach us to observe it.
" Why not? If his church observed the day God sanctified, it would
certainly set his church apart from the rest. Maybe that would make his
church the right one.
But God's church does even more. It observes the other days and
seasons Jesus Christ observed. Why not? Of all people, he must have known
which were the right ones.
There's even more guidelines to finding God's church than just the
days and seasons, but they are a beginning.
So, if you're looking for God's true church, go first to the bible
and discover all its characteristics. Then look for the church that has
those same characteristics today. When you find it, you will have found
the true church of God.
You may
contact the Life Lines author at laturvey@becon.org.
Imagine,
JUST OBEYING, One Commandment!:
What
a wonderful life this would be if everybody obeyed the eighth commandment.
Copyright 1995 / Leslie A Turvey
laturvey@becon.org
What would life be like if everyone obeyed just one of the ten
commandments?
Imagine what a difference there'd be if everyone kept the eighth
commandment, if nobody stole anything.
We wouldn't need a pocketful of keys, would we? Our homes, cars,
offices, and the myriad things we own would be safe. Nothing would ever
sprout legs. Imagine the savings in insurance!
But there's more. When one steals, lies generally follow. "Not
me. I didn't take it." The implication is someone else did. Obedience
to the eighth commandment would mean we'd also obey the ninth. No one
would falsely accuse another. No one would steal from another's good
reputation.
How many murders take place during a robbery, or from avenging a
theft? Our courts and jails wouldn't be so congested if only that one
commandment, you shall not steal, was obeyed, because you shall not kill
would be less abused.
Adultery is theft of the affections of one's mate; theft from the
adulterer's self esteem. Without this kind of theft the seventh
commandment would be intact.
Theft comes from wrongfully desiring another person's possessions.
Your bible makes it plain, "You shall not covet your neighbor's
house, wife, hired help, livestock, or anything that belongs to your
neighbor." Obedience to the theft commandment would mean keeping the
tenth as well.
Theft dishonors one's parents, especially if they've done their
best to teach honor toward God and others.
And no parent would steal from a child's upbringing by failing to
teach him not to steal - that is if everyone obeyed the theft commandment.
If no one stole no one would steal from God's first place in their
life by making anything more important than God. No one would have other
gods before him.
No man-made image of God or Jesus Christ can begin to describe
their glory, so the second commandment would be safe. No one would steal
one iota of God's greatness by trying to picture him on canvas or in
bronze.
No one would take God's name lightly, for to do so also steals from
his greatness.
Finally, God's Sabbath would be kept holy for the reason God
created it, for worship and rest.
By breaking the Sabbath we steal from our own mental, physical, and
spiritual health by failing to give our minds and bodies the rest and
re-creation they need.
God gave us the ten commandments for your benefit and mine. When we
look at only one as we just have, it's easy to understand what James meant
when he said, "If you break one you're guilty of breaking them
all."
You may
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IS ALL ANIMAL FLESH GOOD TO
EAT?:
Jesus
said what goes into a person's mouth doesn't defile him. Does this mean we
can eat anything we want?
Copyright 1999 / Leslie A Turvey
laturvey@becon.org
Did Jesus declare all animal flesh good to eat?
Many people believe he did, and base their theory on Matthew
15:11:
It's not what goes into the mouth that defiles a man, but what comes out
of his mouth.
No intelligent person would read just one sentence in a newspaper,
and believe it tells the whole story. But people do that very thing with
the bible.
Betty and I had a yucky mess to clean up when one of our sons
managed to get his diaper off and smeared its contents on everything, even
into you know where. Yech! That stuff isn't just smelly, it's poison.
Now if Jesus said what goes into the mouth doesn't defile us, was
he giving us carte blanche to eat anything we want, as our son did? I
think not.
To understand what Jesus meant we must look at his statement in
context.
In Matthew 15:1-2 we hear the scribes and Pharisees taking Jesus to
task for letting his disciples eat without washing their hands.
The Pharisees had strict rules for everything. I guess that was OK
if you were a Pharisee. But they insisted the common folk live by their
rules as well.
One of their rules -- not God's -- was no food may be eaten except
the person wash his hands fastidiously first (Mark
7:3-4). It was a
tradition of the elders, and it had become an obsession within the
religious community.
Jesus had no qualms about berating the religious leaders for their
traditional rules. He said they nullified the word of God through their
traditions (verse 13).
Returning to Matthew 15:1-2 it's important to note the Pharisees
had taken Jesus to task, not because his disciples were eating pork or
shellfish, but for not washing their hands before they ate. In Mark's
account it specifically says they were eating bread.
Later in Matthew we read, "And [Jesus] called the
multitude...(verse 10)."
Let's not suppose for a moment the multitude was way off somewhere.
These were the people who had to live under the religious leaders'
oppressive rules, so were likely right close by to hear Jesus put the
Pharisees in their place. It's human nature.
Notice though, Jesus did not answer the Pharisees' question. He
criticized their traditions and commandments, then told the people, it
doesn't matter if there's a bit of dirt on your hands when you eat. It
won't do you any harm. It's not a bit of dust or sweat that will defile
you, but the things you say.
(Mind you, I don't think he was saying not to wash your hands if
you've been working on your car and have grease and grime all over them.
But they don't have to be spotless either.)
A few verses later Jesus told his disciples the things people say
come from the heart: we call it the mind. If your mind is filled with
filth, that's what will come out of your mouth and defile you.
There's no evidence in the bible that Jesus changed the dietary
laws of Leviticus 11 and
Deuteronomy
14, or that he changed the character
of animal flesh to make it nutritious.
But looking at Jesus words in context shows Isaiah was right when
he said the way to determine what a verse means is to study the bible
precept upon precept, line upon line, here a little and there a little (Isaiah
28:10). That way you'll get the whole story.
You may
contact the Life Lines author at laturvey@becon.org.
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MY
CHURCH IS BETTER THAN YOUR CHURCH!:
Do you hear through your
eyes, and smell through your hair? Denominationalism seems to say your
body works different than mine.
Copyright 1999 / Leslie A Turvey
laturvey@becon.org
Old timers will remember the kid's song, "My dog is better
than your dog." It's still sung today, but the words are, "My
church is better than your church."
Why do we have denominations? Why not just one world-wide church?
The history of schisms within the church is too long to detail
here. But it boils down to yet another version of the old song: "My
doctrine's better than your doctrine."
Before I was introduced to the Sabbath, the holy days, and the
dietary laws, I was a Baptist. We had it all right. It was those
Presbyterians who were wrong. And the Catholics: Well! They sprinkled
babies. We baptized believers the bible's way.
Oh yeah. Us Baptists had it all right. (Like Paul said in II
Corinthians 11:23, "I speak as a fool)."
And what did the Catholics and the Presbyterians think? Those
Baptists are sure out in left field.
The method of baptism, the day of worship, the frequency of the
Lord's supper, whether fermented wine or Welch's grape juice should be
served at communion, and a hundred other differences have divided
congregations, and resulted in new denominations.
This isn't something new. Paul wrote of it in I
Corinthians 11:18, and described it well in chapter
12 where he observed there were differences of spiritual gifts -
wisdom, knowledge of God's word, the working of miracles, the gift of
healing, and so on. But he points out these all come from one source, one
Spirit.
Referring to the human body he wrote, "the body is not one
member [part], but many. If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand
I am not of the body, is it therefore not of the body (verses
14-15)?" He goes on to note the eyes, the ears, the nose all have
their own work to do, but they are all part of the one body.
In verse
27 Paul associated the human body with the spiritual body of Jesus
Christ. He wrote, "Now you are the body of Christ, and members in
particular."
Unfortunately churches often use this verse to justify their
denominations, but they compare apples and oranges.
My eyes do the same work as your eyes, don't they? Doesn't your
right hand function the same as the next person's. But the Baptists would
have you believe their body is different than the Presbyterians or the
Episcopalians or the Anglicans.
Where do they get this idea?
It all comes from ignoring a verse in Peter's second letter. He
wrote, "no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation
(chapter
1:20)." Dr James Strong and my favorite dictionary agree that
prophecy is inspired speaking. Therefore Peter was speaking of the entire
bible, not just references to future events.
Divisions arise because, as Herbert W Armstrong stated, "Most
people change the meaning of God's Word to make it conform to their
belief, rather than changing their belief to make it conform to God's
Word."
As long as people interpret the bible for themselves, rather than
searching the scriptures, there will be denominational differences. But
when Jesus Christ returns there will be no more Baptists or Presbyterians,
nor your church or mine, but one unified church all teaching the same
thing. It will be called The Church of God.
You may
contact the Life Lines author at laturvey@becon.org.
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MOTHER:
She's Worth More Than Rubies!:
Bathsheba was a shameless
hussy, say some. But Solomon didn't think of his mother that way.
Copyright 1996 / Leslie A Turvey
laturvey@becon.org
My son, do not forsake the law of your mother (Proverbs
1:8)
What wonderful instruction from the wisest man who ever lived.
Solomon was able to write from the heart. His mother was Bathsheba.
First thoughts of Bathsheba are often thoughts of shame. In his
book Women of the Old Testament, Abraham Kuyper uses such expressions as
" her reckless, almost salacious carelessness,"
"co-responsible in David's sin," and " we have a low
opinion of Bathsheba's modesty."
But Solomon apparently didn't concern himself with his mother's
past. And Bathsheba obviously did not continue to live in shame: that was
all behind her, else Solomon wouldn't have wanted to advise his own son,
and all young people, " do not forsake the law of your mother."
Nothing is known of Bathsheba's mother, but her father's name,
Eliam, means God Is A Kinsman. It would seem Bathsheba came from a
God-fearing home, and despite her youthful sins, no doubt repented before
God.
Her adultery was punished by leaving her a widow and a grieving
mother. The son of her infidelity died young and nameless.
Bathsheba was remarried, this time to the father of her dead son,
and in the course of time bore David a son called Solomon - Peaceable.
It's likely the name reflected the peace that was Israel's by the
time of his birth. But it possibly also reflected a certain peace now
resident within Bathsheba, her atonement having been made before God.
Education was the realm of the mother in the days of ancient
Israel, so Solomon would have been taught at his mother's knee. No doubt
his education to prepare him for kingship was an on-going responsibility
of Bathsheba. Her ability to teach him would come from observance of her
husband as he made royal decisions day by day.
As a mother, Bathsheba was given the place of honor at Solomon's
right hand when he ascended the throne (I
Kings 2:19). Solomon had such respect for his mother he bowed to her
when she came into his presence.
Jewish tradition says Bathsheba recited the final verses of the
book of proverbs to Solomon at his marriage to his first wife. Other
traditions say he wrote them in honor of his mother.
Whatever is the truth, The Virtuous Woman speaks of mothers
everywhere. Her value is far above rubies, her husband trusts her, her
children call her blessed.
She speaks wisdom, and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
No wonder Solomon wrote for us in the 20th century, "My son,
do not forsake the law of your mother."
You may
contact the Life Lines author at laturvey@becon.org.
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A
MIRACLE IN PROGRESS:
When the gods of her native
religion failed her, Jagu was introduced to the healing power of Jesus
Christ.
Copyright 2000 / Leslie A Turvey & Jagu
laturvey@becon.org
India. Land of mystery; land of contrasts. Home of the innumerable
homeless who exist in the shadow of the grand Taj Mahal. Domain of the
many gods of the Hindu religion. Home of Jagu, a woman whose birthright
was the Hindu faith. Here is Jagu's story:
"I was born and grew up in India. We worshiped in the temples
and we prayed to many deities as all Hindus do. I didn't even know there
were other religious beliefs in the world.
"At age eighteen I moved to New Zealand to marry Bipin, a
marriage arranged by our parents. We wanted to start a family, but that
was not to happen for several years."
Jagu continues. "We went to India, and our families took us to
many temples to pray so we could have a child. I was told if I gave up
something I needed every day I might get pregnant. I gave up rice, an
essential part of our diet, for three years.
"My mum sent me an iron anklet that I had to wear on my right
ankle. We were faithful to do everything they told us."
After eight years Jagu became pregnant. It seemed the gods were
finally answering their prayers. Puja, meaning prayer, was born in
November 1992. Eighteen months later a son, Bhavik, was born.
One day Puja stopped talking, and began crying continuously. Tests
at the hospital showed no cause. Added to their worries, fifteen-month old
Bhavik was having trouble walking. Jagu and Bipin were told he had
cerebral palsy affecting his legs. "Where are my gods," Jagu
cried in
despair.
When Puja was two years old she was enrolled into a kindy, a
daycare center. Still she cried, she did not talk, and she looked scared
all the time.
"A Hindu woman told us that Puja was cursed, and to fix the
curse we had to go to India. Out of desperation for our child, we sold our
business, left everything we had, and went to India for six months. We
took Puja to many Hindu temples and had the priests pray over her. But the
gods did not hear us. Puja only grew worse."
When they returned to New Zealand, Pastors Keith and Andrew from
the kindy asked if they could pray for Puja. "At first we said, 'No.'
We had been told that Puja would talk within three months after coming
back to New Zealand and we believed she would. She didn't!"
Pastor Keith asked again in three months if he could pray for Puja.
This time her parents agreed.
After the first prayer Puja looked her parents in the eyes,
something she hadn't done in four years. Some Indian Christians also
prayed for Puja. "No one had ever asked to pray for Puja
before," says Jagu, "and here were total strangers praying for
her."
When Pastor Keith saw Jagu's Hindu stuff, he told her if she wanted
to see Jesus work it would have to be removed. "I was not happy
because this is what I had believed in all my life. But I was desperate
and got rid of it all. I was willing to do anything to make Puja well
again.
"When the pastor prayed in the name of Jesus, Puja settled
down. When we asked him why this happened he explained that we must pray
with faith. It took more than nine months to learn what this meant.
"One day, at kindy Puja said, 'God Made Me.' We were
overjoyed. That evening we asked Pastor Keith a lot of questions, and
followed the Lord in obedience to His word. We were baptized on February
2, 1998.
"Becoming Christian was very hard for me," says Jagu.
"I believed in the Hindu faith all my life, and to change was a big
thing for me.
"But because of Puja, we have come to know Jesus, so all the
hardship has been worthwhile. Praise God Puja is doing very well now and
is improving and healing a little every day. She is a miracle in progress.
We still have problems, but we have faith in Jesus now and He will help us
all the way."
You may
contact the Life Lines author at laturvey@becon.org.
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MARTHA,
MARTHA:
When
we become encumbered by the little things, we can lose sight of those that
are important.
Copyright 2000 / Leslie A Turvey
laturvey@becon.org
Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain
village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. And
she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his
word. But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him and
said, "Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve
alone? Bid her therefore that she help me." And Jesus answered and
said unto her, "Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about
many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good
part, which shall not be taken away from her (Luke
10:38-42)."
I've met Martha -- and her brother Marty -- many times during my
five or six years of writing Life Lines. Martha and Marty read a
paragraph, or a sometimes just a sentence, and fire off a letter telling
of my fault. In their anger they miss the message of the article. In
the bible narrative we are nowhere told that Martha was doing anything
wrong by waiting on tables and washing dishes. Jesus simply told her that
Mary had chosen something more important, that of hearing his message.
One of my Marthas is concerned about my lack of capitalization of
words such as "the old testament," "the new
testament," and "the holy bible."
Is it disrespectful to use the lower case for words that are
traditionally capitalized? Does it make such expressions as "the holy
spirit," or "he" when it refers to Jesus Christ,
insignificant?
Is it disrespectful that I write "God" and
"Lord" instead of "G-d" and "L-rd" which
seems to be the fad these days? Or God instead of YHVH?
I write with the King James Version at my fingertips. It shows
seven references to the holy spirit, and only one uses capitalization on
both words. Three capitalize "spirit," but not "holy,"
and the rest capitalize neither.
Throughout the new testament the noun 'spirit' in reference to
God's spirit is capitalized in some instances, but not in others. In Revelation
1:10 John says he was in the Spirit, yet in chapters 4:2
and 21:10
he says he was in the spirit. Of special significance is Jesus' statement
in Luke
23:46, "Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit."
Were the translators being capricious in their work, or did some
believe words referring to God, should be capitalized, while others
didn't? It seems it was simply a matter of choice.
Two thousand years ago the bible was the scriptures of the old
testament. Of the fifty-two references to scripture or scriptures
throughout the bible, none are capitalized. Yet they are used in the same
way we use the expression "the old testament."
God allows us choices. In Deuteronomy
30:19 he says, "...I have set before you life and death, blessing
and cursing: therefore choose life...." The choice is ours.
Although Martha may be cumbered about my choice of style in
writing, I don't find the Marys among my readership caring one whit about
it. The Marys have chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away
from them.
You may
contact the Life Lines author at laturvey@becon.org.
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LIVE
COWARDS AND DEAD MARTYRS:
Could your salvation be
based on selfishness? Or is it firmly grounded on the expression of your
faith?
Copyright 2000 / Leslie A Turvey
laturvey@becon.org
"It is a terrible waste for a Christian to die a natural
death." I do not agree.
Since his was not to be a natural death perhaps the Iranian martyr,
Medhi Dibaj, was biased. But people have died defending all sorts of
ideologies. Does that make their ideology correct? Does dying for
Christianity prove Christianity is the right ideology? The answer to both
these questions is No.
To the Christian, of course, Christianity is the right ideology,
and one worthy of dying for if need be. But the Communist who is willing
to die for Communism believes his is the right cause. He'd be a fool to
die for it if he believed otherwise.
Dying a martyr's death for Christ is not wrong, of course. But once
the martyr is dead, what more can he do for the cause of Christ? His
memory will be preserved by Christian writers, and orators may incite a
few young people to want to become missionaries. But morning comes, and
their zeal cools. By the time a few moons have passed, they have forgotten
the martyr's name, as well as their desire to follow in his footsteps.
Wilhelm Stekel said, "The mark of an immature man is that he
wants to die nobly for a cause. The mark of a mature man is that he wants
to live humbly for one." Stekel makes good sense.
This does not mean it's better to be a live coward than a dead
martyr. Far from it. It does mean each Christian should be doing the work
God has entrusted to him, for as long as God allows him another breath. It
would be a crazy Christian who woke up each morning hoping someone will
kill him for the work he is doing, just so he could be a martyr.
When two fellows shot up Columbine High School in 1999, Cassie
Bernall was killed while she knelt and prayed. She didn't stand up in
front of the fellow with the gun, and yell, I'm a Christian: shoot me. She
died a prayerful martyr, a Christian hero. But she didn't die a fool.
I'm certain Cassie would rather have lived to serve her God another
day, but such was not to be. She died nobly when the time came, but she
lived humbly for the cause of Christ.
I've read my share of stories purporting to be visions of hell, and
some would scare the hell out of anyone. But is escape from some
netherworld blast furnace a reason to live for Christ? That, to me, is
cowardice, a selfish salvation. It's generally predicated on convincing
others they
should also get saved to protect themselves.
There's a far better reason to live for Christ. It's to bring peace
and comfort to others today, to do for others what they may not be able to
do for themselves. It's to share a loving tear with those who mourn. It's
to lend a listening ear to those who need to pour out their heart to
someone. It's to listen to them, without breathing a word of it to anyone.
And if you someday have to die for being Christ's advocate, then you'll
die knowing your salvation will not be selfish, but will be established on
your Christian faith expressed by what you did for others.
A wise man once stated, "Commitment is a relationship with
Christ that enables you, in the midst of life's greatest comforts, to be
willing to die, and in the midst of life's greatest trials, to be willing
to live."
That is truly being a martyr.
You may
contact the Life Lines author at laturvey@becon.org.
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JESUS'
MISTAKE:
Did Jesus nail God's law to
the cross? Christians say he did. But who's making the mistake, Jesus? or
man?
Copyright 1998 / Leslie A Turvey
laturvey@becon.org
What a wonderful verse is Colossians
2:14. It proves God's law was nailed to the cross.
Or does it?
New testament Christians say it does. But Jesus said, "Don't
think I came to destroy the law or the prophets: I didn't come to destroy,
but to fill them to the fullest. Until heaven and earth pass, not one
comma or period shall pass from the law. (Matthew
5:17-18)."
Before we go further, let's look at
Colossians 2:14 to see what it
says. [Jesus Christ died] "blotting out the handwriting of ordinances
that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way,
nailing it to his cross."
Did David believe the law was contrary? He wrote, "The law of
the Lord is perfect...the testimony of the Lord is sure....The statutes of
the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart: the commandment of the Lord
is pure....the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous....More to be
desired are they than gold, yes, than much fine gold....by them is your
servant instructed: and in keeping of them there is great reward (Psalm
19:7-11)."
What? Jesus nailed something that was perfect, something that
brought joy, something that was true and righteous, something that was
more desirable than the finest gold, to the cross? Not only that he took
away our opportunity to have a great reward. Will someone please tell
Jesus he made a terrible mistake?
James called God's law "the perfect law of liberty (James
1:25)," and said those who do the works of the law will be
blessed.
There's so many other scriptures, in both testaments, that show
God's law is for our benefit, there's not room enough in this column to
list them all.
But if God's law wasn't nailed to the cross, what was?
Paul had been a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee (Acts
23:6). As a Pharisee he knew the pharisaical laws, and said he was
blameless, according to them, in persecuting the church (Philippians
3:5-6).
Jesus denounced the Pharisees in the bitterest language. He called
them hypocrites and said they laid heavy burdens on the people, but
wouldn't lift a finger to help them (Matthew
23:4).
William Smith's Bible Dictionary states, "...it was the aim of
Jesus to call men to the law of God as the supreme guide of life."
But the Pharisees decided it was their right to interpret the law,
and in so doing added such minuteness to it that the law of liberty became
burdensome to the people. The Pharisees decided how far one might walk on
the Sabbath day, whether one could eat an egg laid on the Sabbath, and
whether Jesus Christ, according to their law, could heal the sick on the
Sabbath.
Paul said he felt fine as long as he did not understand what the
law really demanded. "But when I learned the
truth, I realized that I had broken the law and was a sinner, doomed to
die (Romans 7:9 Living Bible)."
Paul felt it was perfectly OK to make the peoples' lives a living
hell with all the pharisaical commands and ordinances. But once converted,
he realized how wrong he was.
How would you like to live life so tightly bound by man-made
additions to the law, that you wouldn't dare eat a handful of meal without
carefully straining it, for fear you might eat a tiny gnat (Matthew
23:24)? Or count every step you took on the Sabbath, so you wouldn't
accidentally go beyond the limits prescribed by the Pharisees?
No, Jesus didn't make a mistake. It wasn't God's perfect law, but
the ordinances of the Pharisees that were nailed to the cross.
You may
contact the Life Lines author at laturvey@becon.org.
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JESUS
CHRIST, PRINCE OF PEACE?:
Isaiah
promised the Messiah would be the Prince of Peace, and to a few people
today he is. But on the world scene, Jesus Christ does not seem to be the
Prince of Peace. Is he? Will he ever be?
Copyright 2000 / Leslie A Turvey
laturvey@becon.org
A reader stated, "I feel that you haven't thought the
statement through that Christ has not yet come as the Prince of
Peace."
My reader made a valid point when she said Christians today have a
real peace in knowing Jesus Christ. I had to agree that for many
Christians Jesus is their Prince of Peace.
But while you're enjoying a sumptuous roast beef dinner tonight,
consider whether Jesus is the Prince of Peace to the thousands of walking
skeletons in Ethiopia? The one who could bring them nourishing food and
thirst-quenching water would be more of a prince of peace to them, than
Jesus Christ.
What about the young women in the Middle East who fear daily of
being executed "for the honor of the family." These are women --
some just girls in their mid-teens -- who have been accused of despoiling
the family image through alleged misconduct.
A parallel situation in John
8:3-11 shows Jesus as the Prince of Peace to a woman taken in
adultery. But, to a terrified woman in the cruel court of death, anyone
who could rescue her would be her prince of peace.
Drug addicts, alcoholics, abused children, women in the torment of
divorce: who is their prince of peace? To tell them of the love of God is
as James wrote, "If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of
daily food, and one of you say unto them, 'Depart in peace. Be warmed and
filled;' not-withstanding you give them not those things which are needful
to the body, what does it profit (James
2:15-16)?"
When I wrote, "Jesus has not yet come as the Prince of
Peace," I was not denigrating him. Rather I was expanding
Christianity's rather limited view of Jesus Christ. To an outsider it must
seem as though Jesus came only to save the Christians. But what does the
bible say?
There's likely not a Christian anywhere who cannot recite John
3:16, "For God so loved the world,
that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should
not perish, but have everlasting life."
Stop! Without looking, do you know what the next verse says?
John
3:17 says, "For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn
the world; but that the world through him might be saved." Jesus came
to earth so the entire world might be saved, not just a handful of people
here and there.
Mankind makes gestures to bring about peace, but how do they do it?
They war against their neighbors. They sign peace treaties that aren't
worth the paper they're written on. They agree to reduce the number of
nuclear missiles in their arsenal, yet maintain sufficient to kill every
man,
woman, and child on earth. It's obvious the Prince of Peace of the
Christians is not yet the Prince of Peace of the world. Isaiah said it
well, "The way of peace they know not (Isaiah
59:8)."
But the day is coming when Jesus Christ will return to earth as
King of kings and Lord of lords, and will at last teach the whole world
the way to peace. Then will come to pass Isaiah's comforting words,
"...and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty
God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace (Isaiah
9:6)."
You may
contact the Life Lines author at laturvey@becon.org.
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JESUS'
BROKEN PROMISE:
If the Christians are
right, then Jesus broke his promise to the thief on the cross. See how a
misplaced comma makes a world of difference.
Copyright 1999 / Leslie A Turvey
laturvey@becon.org
And there were also two malefactors led with Jesus to be put to
death. And when they came to the place which is called Calvary, there they
crucified him and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on
the left.
And one of the malefactors railed on him, saying, "If you be
Christ, save yourself and us." But the other rebuked him, saying,
"Don't you fear God, seeing you're in the same condemnation? And we
indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man
has done nothing wrong."
And he said to Jesus, "Lord, remember me when you come into
your kingdom." And Jesus said to him, "Truly I say to you, Today
you shall be with me in paradise (Luke
23:32-33; 39-43)."
These verses are read every springtime, and are used to prove the
thief is in heaven. But he's not. Jesus broke his promise.
It takes little reading to reveal the truth. Let's read the rest of
the story.
In Matthew
27:35, we see Jesus hanging on the cross. Above his head is a sign,
"Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews (John
19:19)."
The story continues with the vilification of Jesus by the passersby
and by one of the thieves crucified with him. But, according to Luke the
other thief recognized Jesus as the Christ, and asked that Jesus remember
him when he comes into his kingdom.
Now comes Jesus famous promise: "Truly I say unto thee, Today
you shall be with me in paradise."
But Jesus didn't go to paradise that day. He died, and went to the
grave.
Three days and three nights pass. (Now try to get that out of
Friday sunset to Sunday morning.) But the time passed, and early Sunday
morning Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to the tomb with spices to
anoint Jesus body (Matthew
28; Mark
10; Luke
24; John
20). Surprise. Surprise. Jesus wasn't there. Instead, two angels told
them he had risen as he said he would.
John
20:11 sees Mary Magdalene weeping at the gravesite. A man approached
and asked why she was weeping. She, supposing him to be the gardener, said
to him, "Sir, if you have borne him hence, tell me where you have
laid him, and I will take him away."
The man said to her, "Mary." She turned herself, and said
unto him,
"Rabboni," which is to say, Master.
Now comes the zinger.
Then Jesus said to her, "Touch me not; for I am not yet
ascended to my Father (John
20:15-17)."
If, three days and nights passed, and Jesus had not yet ascended to
his father in heaven, how could the thief be with him in paradise the day
of the crucifixion? Did Jesus break his promise?
No. Jesus didn't break his promise. But the fellow who punctuated
the bible apparently thought he did.
In the light of the entire story, move the comma to the right and
Jesus' words make sense. "Truly I say to you today, you shall be with
me [future] in paradise."
When we study the bible, it's vital to have the truth, the whole
truth, and nothing but the truth. And certainly not the misguided
traditions of man.
You may
contact the Life Lines author at laturvey@becon.org.
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ITS
JUST NOT FAIR!:
There's a story in the
bible that certainly looks like the key player is not very fair. But
what's fair sometimes depends on how you look at things.
Copyright 1995 / Leslie A Turvey
laturvey@becon.org
It's not fair. Jenny can stay up 'til nine. Why can't I?
The government's not fair. They take from the poor and give to the
rich.
The judge wasn't fair. He just wanted to throw the book at
somebody, and you were his target.
"It's not fair," is the lament of kids and adults alike.
But what is fair? For most people it seems fairness depends on
who's on the receiving end.
If Jenny had to go to bed earlier, perhaps she'd be the one
complaining about the need for fairness.
The rich certainly don't worry that the government isn't fair, as
long as they get their tax breaks.
And the person who gets off scot-free doesn't worry that the judge
is unfair to the other fellow.
What's fair is often a matter of perception.
There's an example in the bible, and it certainly looks unfair.
A nobleman distributed ten pounds among his ten servants. Later,
when he asked for an accounting, one man said he had invested the money
and it paid off well.
Another hadn't done so well, but he still made a good profit.
A third servant said he feared the nobleman, so he simply wrapped
up the money and put in a safe place.
You know the story. The nobleman took the pound from the fearful
servant and gave it to the man who had gained ten (Luke
19:12-25).
"Wait a minute," the people complained, "this
fellow's only got one pound. Why are you giving it to the guy with ten?
That's not fair."
Unfair? You decide.
If you were the nobleman, and a pound was worth $1,000, you would
have distributed $10,000 among your ten servants. The first servant would
have earned you $10,000, and the second would have earned you five.
The narrative doesn't tell about the other seven. Presumably they
increased your money to some extent. Or they may have even lost it in some
not-so-profitable investments.
But that one servant never even tried to use your money to gain
more. He simply slipped it under his mattress and slept on it 'til the
nobleman -- that's you -- returned.
Now do things look so unfair? That first fellow did some pretty
wise investing. Wouldn't you want to let him handle more of your money?
And would you really want the guy who didn't even put your money into a
bank to earn interest, handling any of your cash? Not likely.
Even those who may have lost your money, must have at least tried
to make it work for you. Better to try, and fail, than not to try at all.
So the next time you're inclined to say, "It's not fair,"
look at the whole picture. It may be a lot fairer than you
think.
You may
contact the Life Lines author at laturvey@becon.org.
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