God is In Control

Just look at the serious chaos in America and around the world. You may be tempted to ask the question, where is God?   Sometimes it just seems as if everything is spinning out of control. But I want to tell you emphatically that God is still in control.

In my personal Bible study, I am currently studying the Book of Jeremiah. As I meditated on what I had been reading this week, a thought occurred to me that I find absolutely powerful, and I want to share it with you in this post.

Because of the disobedience of God’s people’s, He led them into captivity in Babylon. Now that seems ironic that God would take a heathen nation, make it His servant, and use that nation to chastise His own people! But He did.

But that’s not the end of the story. Because the king of Babylon got lifted up in the process, later God said these words through the mouth of Jeremiah: “Behold, I will punish the king of Babylon and his land, as I have punished the king of Assyria. And I will bring Israel again to his habitation” (Jeremiah 50:18-19a). And for those of you who know the rest of the story, God did restore His people to their land.

Moreover, in the Book of Jeremiah, God pronounced judgment upon other nations, such as the Philistines (chapter 47), the Moabites (chapter 48), the Ammonites, the Edomites, and Damascus (chapter 49).

OK, let me get to the point, here. The point is that these nations upon which God pronounced judgment had no affiliation with Him. They served idols as their god.  So how could God just impose judgment upon those other nations as if they were His? Because my friends, they were and are His.  Jehovah was God of all the earth. All nations were accountable to Him.

I submit to you that nothing has changed. I know that in America we have freedom of religion. And I know that in nations around the world, there are so many religions we can’t know the number of them. But there is but one true God. Yes, He allows things to go on that are not consistent with His will. And yes, He allows us to reject Him and even deny His existence.

But this is only for a season. Ultimately, He will set the record straight. In every nation throughout the world, those who reject Him will be accountable to Him and upon them He will impose judgment. God is the Judge of all the earth, the powers that be are subject to Him, and God is in control. In this let us be encouraged.

Copyright © 2012 by Frank King. All rights reserved.

What the Trayvon Martin Case Says About Us

(Article first published as What the Trayvon Martin Case Says About Us on Technorati)

Only God in heaven knows how the case regarding the February 26, 2012, shooting death of Trayvon Martin will end.  But even with what we do know and what we don’t, this tragedy says some things about us as a nation.

As far as I know, only two living witnesses know exactly what happened that fateful night. They are God and George Zimmerman, the one who shot and killed Trayvon, and right now neither of these witnesses is talking.  Reportedly, there is a person who claims to have witnessed the shooting, but I am sure we will find out more on that with time as well. My point is that if I were to express in writing my take on what happened and the context in which it happened the night of the incident, it would be speculation at best.

So what does the Trayvon Martin case say about us? One, which I am sure that most will agree, is that evil is alive and well in our society. Regardless to whether or not the situation was that Trayvon attacked Zimmerman and he killed the teen in self-defense, or that Zimmerman unjustifiably killed or murdered an innocent teen, or that the truth is somewhere betwixt these possibilities, evil prevailed that fateful night.

Two, racism has not taken a hike. I have read several articles on the Trayvon Martin tragedy, and when I read some of the comments, a number of them were racially charged and directed at those who had posted previous comments. Unfortunately, too many people won’t be able to see beyond the color of Trayvon and Zimmerman’s skin. I certainly believe America has made much progress in the area of race relations, but what the Trayvon Martin case says about us is that we still have a long way to go.

Then there are statements like that of Geraldo Rivera who said that Trayvon was partially responsible for his own death because he was wearing a hoodie. Say what! I’m not quite sure what to do with that statement. But—it all feeds into the discussion as to what this case says about us as a nation.

I submit to you that evil and racism, which is an evil itself, won’t ever cease to exist-- not in this world. They will remain and continue to raise their ugly heads until the Lord Jesus Christ returns and establishes His Kingdom. But still it behooves us to do whatever  we can to wage war on the evils of our society. To be sure, we have much room for improvement. That’s what the Trayvon tragedy says about us.

Copyright © 2012 by Frank King. All rights reserved.

The Meaning of the Cross (Easter Message)

As I write this post, we are a couple of weeks away from the time we celebrate Easter in many places around the world. For local churches, this is one of those very busy times of the year, as they prepare to exalt the risen Savior through special services and activities. I know that as a preacher, I love proclaiming the story of the crucifixion of Christ and His victorious bodily resurrection.

I believe that one of our most important missions during this time of the year is to help people understand the meaning of the cross. Yes, most people know that the gist of Easter, or Resurrection Day or whatever name they use, is that Christians celebrate the death and bodily resurrection of someone by the name of Jesus Christ. But when I refer to the meaning of the cross, I am referring to the practical meaning of the cross. Consider the following:

1. The cross means that God loves us. “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,” Jesus said (John 3:16). How many of us would give our only son for the lives of others who were worthy of death? That’s exactly what God did for us because He loves us.

2. The cross means we can’t save ourselves. There are many self-righteous people in the world today. They are quick to boast about all the great things they do. That they strive to live a life of integrity and honor is commendable, but it’s not enough to earn their salvation. “By the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight,” the Bible declares (Romans 3:20). Faith in Jesus' redemptive work on the cross and His bodily resurrection is the only way.

3. The cross means God has power over death. Before Jesus submitted Himself to death on the cross, He told His disciples how He would be betrayed, condemned to death, mocked, crucified, “and the third day he shall rise again” (Matthew 20:19). He totally trusted the Father with His life. Jesus knew that after He commended His Spirit to His Father that God had the power to raise Jesus again from the dead and He did!

This is the good news of the Easter message. This is the meaning of the cross that we must tell the world: God loves us, He can save the "hopelessly lost," and for those who accept His risen and resurrected Son, He will raise from the dead to ever be with the Lord. Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!!

Copyright © 2012 by Frank King. All rights reserved.

We Must Have Faith AND Love

“Everything is possible for him who believes,” Jesus said (Mark 9:23, NIV). Think about how powerful this truth is. Even during biblical times, there were people who met Jesus who did not receive from Him what they asked for because they failed to believe. Hence, it behooves us to commit ourselves to growing in our faith in God.

On the other hand, we must be careful to not take one thing or one truth too far. Yes, it is true that “everything is possible for him who believes,” as Jesus says, but….

What’s the rest of the story? It is that if you take the aforementioned words of Jesus without regard for other related truths in the Bible, you may be led to believe that this one verse is all you need to embrace to receive from God whatsoever it is that you need from Him.

But consider this verse penned by Paul the apostle: “If I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing” (1 Corinthians 13:2b, NIV). Wow! This is another stunning verse on the subject of faith. Note, this verse does not say that a person cannot have faith without love. In fact, it presents the scenario of being able to move mountains through faith without love.  But more importantly, this verse reveals that if we have such strong faith in God that we can accomplish awesome things through Christ, it means nothing to God if we fail to walk in love!

To me, the important take away here is that God is far more interested in how we do what we do for Him than He is in what we do for Him. His requirement for us to walk in love trumps His requirement for us to live by faith.

Jesus Christ is our perfect example. He modeled the life we should live. He always trusted the Father. Everything He did during His public ministry was done through faith in the Father. But equally important, Christ’s faith in God was always accompanied by His compassion. Several times in the Bible, it is stated that Jesus was moved with compassion.  

So He taught us that we should have faith in God. Christianity is characterized by a lifestyle based on faith in God. It pleases Him when we come to Him in childlike faith. He wants to answer our prayers and grant us our every petition. But more important than all of this, He wants us to emulate the character of Christ.

Copyright © 2012 by Frank King. All rights reserved.

Poll: Most Americans Say Religious Liberty Not Threatened

(Article first published as Poll: Most Americans Say Religious Liberty Not Threatened on Technorati)

In a pluralistic society, where the various entities vie for what they believe to be their due, it should be understandable that a particular group may feel that its rights or liberties are being threatened. During the on-going Republican candidates’ debates and campaigning, the subject of religious liberty has come up not a few times.

Being a preacher, I don’t want to bog down in the political war of words that has been going on as it relates to the subject of religious liberty and the role of religion in government. Interestingly, a few days ago, Public Religion Research Institute published the results of a survey on this very subject.  According to the survey results, most Americans (56%) don’t believe the right of religious liberty is being threatened in America today. 

But of course, it all depends on whom you ask. According to the survey, the majority of Tea Party members (72%), Republicans (60%), and seniors (56%) do believe that religious liberty is being threatened. Interestingly, the only major religious group in which the majority (61%) believes religious liberty is being threatened in America today is that of white evangelical Protestants, according to the poll results.

The truth is that America’s social fabric is growing increasingly more complex. Recently, for instance, we have seen the rise of the Tea Party, the Wall Street Occupiers, a more progressive agenda of the LBGT community, to name a few. All are making their demands, and knowing we must coexist, we seek to find a balance—if there is such a thing. This I say because, for example, I am a preacher of the gospel. I am not looking for a practical balance. Rather, my goal is to spread the Christian gospel as far as I can.

I am certain that other segments of our culture endeavor to influence society at large with their convictions as well. And sometimes, perhaps oftentimes, the advances of one group or cause are at the expense of another. Hello, welcome to America.

In the Public Religion Research Institute’s survey, when those who say they believe religious liberty is being threatened were asked to explain why they felt that way, the most frequently mentioned reasons were the removal of God and religion from the public square (23%), government interference in religion (20%), and hostility toward Christians or religion (10%).

Copyright © 2012 by Frank King. All rights reserved.

Hundreds of Churches Embrace Rewriting of the Ten Commandments

According to an article last week in the Christian Post, a popular British preacher has rewritten the Ten Commandments. Moreover, the author, J. John, has introduced a related DVD teaching series, “Just 10 for Churches,” aimed at helping Christians gain a better understanding of the Ten Commandments. Reportedly, hundreds of churches are using the series and find it refreshing.

Now I don’t want to read more into J. John’s work than I should.  His objective was not to rewrite the Bible, as if to say it was flawed. He has simply revised the wording of the Ten Commandments and introduced a series aimed at making the Decalogue more practical to Christians of today.  But I do want to use this event to occasion some discussion on a broader level.

So do I think this is a good thing that so many churches have joined the crusade? Personally, no, I do not.

First of all, I find no fault with the Ten Commandments as currently written in the Bible. To me, they are practical as they are written, and they are as relevant to today’s culture as they were to those in the past.

My second concern has to do with what I believe about the Holy Scriptures. “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God,” the Bible says (2 Timothy 3:16), and that’s what I believe. Though God used men to write the Bible, He is its Author. That’s what makes the Bible reliable and unique to every other literary work in the world. And to be truthful, I have read portions of some modern versions of the Bible, and the way some of the text reads is seriously flawed. In the authors’ attempts to add clarity to what God has said, they sometimes take away from or add to what He said.

Moreover,  when someone unilaterally goes about rewriting portions of the Scriptures and promoting said work among body of Christ at large, there always exists the possibility of imposing on the Scriptures one’s own views or theology that differs from God’s perspective. It is the Holy Spirit who guides us into all truth (John 16:13). I vote for leaving the Word of God as it is and allowing the Holy Spirit to illuminate our understanding. What about you?

Copyright © 2012 by Frank King. All rights reserved.

Harold Camping Asks for Forgiveness for End of the World Predictions

(Article first published as Harold Camping Asks for Forgiveness for End of the World Predictions        on Technorati)

Last year, Harold Camping, a Christian radio broadcaster and president of Family Stations, Inc., caused quite a stir in the news when he insisted that the beginning of the end of the world would occur in May 2011, and the ultimate end in October 2011. Earlier this week in a letter (click on “An Important Letter”) to his listeners, however, Mr. Camping humbly asked for forgiveness for his bold but wrong predictions.

According to the board of Family Radio, its desire was to mail out the letter to listeners before posting it to its website, but “Because it was leaked to the internet without our authorization, we have made the decision to post it immediately to avoid confusion.”

Posting this letter must have been a humbling experience for Mr. Camping and his followers.  Last year, some avid followers forsook their daily affairs to devote themselves to spreading the message and warning the world to get ready for Christ’s return and for the end of the world. ‘We now realize that those people who were calling our attention to the Bible’s statement that “of that day and hour knoweth no man” (Matthew 24:36 & Mark 13:32), were right in their understanding of those verses and Family Radio was wrong,’ the letter stated.

Though Mr. Camping and the board believe some good came out of his errant predictions because they exposed many people to the subject of Christ’s return for the first time, my contention is that false prophecies do far more bad than good. Those of us who have been entrusted with the ministry of teaching and preaching the Bible must do so responsibly. I realize that preachers and Bible teachers are not perfect, and perhaps no one’s theology is without some error.

But in the case of those who are so bold as to give an exact date that Christ will gather His followers to Himself and of the end of this present age, they are without excuse. The Bible is clear that no one knows the day or the hour.  According to Mr. Camping’s letter, “Family Radio has no interest in even considering another date.” How great it would be if everyone else followed that lead. But I know; that’s just not gonna happen.

Copyright © 2012 by Frank King. All rights reserved.

Faith to Face the Future

There is little or no demand on our faith in God when life is good. During those times, we don’t think much about trusting Him. The test of our faith occurs when life becomes too much for us to handle or when we are tormented by fear of our future, real or imagined.

This is when the quality of our faith really matters. That doesn’t mean we should neglect our faith until life tests us. On the contrary, we should live every day cultivating our faith in God. A smart soldier doesn’t wait until the battle starts to prepare for battle. He prepares in the time of peace so when the battle comes, he is prepared. Similarly, we must cultivate our faith daily so that when the test of our faith occurs, we will be spiritually prepared.

Understandably, many people today are greatly concerned about the future. I can only imagine what our world will be like in another 10 years. There is so much discontent in the Middle East. The nuclear arms race seems to be accelerating. Our federal government appears to be completely paralyzed. Traditional social values are going by the wayside….OK; I think you get my drift.

But no matter how ominous the future may appear, we can have a bold faith to face the future. “For I am persuaded , that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39)!

Notice, Paul the apostle said he was persuaded of the above truth. How do we become persuaded about something? By putting it to the test and allowing it to prove itself repeatedly until we become convinced beyond the shadow of a doubt. This is what I mean by cultivating our faith. Hence, if we want to embolden our faith to face the future, we must live each day exercising and building up our faith in God so that it becomes increasingly strong.

God has promised in His Word that nothing today or tomorrow will separate us from His love. That means He will always be with us no matter what the future brings. It is when we become persuaded of this truth that we will have faith to face the future.

Copyright © 2012 by Frank King. All rights reserved.