Walk in light
As we explore dark stories in the Bible (this past Sunday we explored Demas of 2 Timothy 4:
“Demas has forsaken me having loved this present world”.
We always want to remember that the darkness cannot overcome the light. In fact, darkness is simply the absence of light. Satan is the father of lies, and peddles darkness instead of light. He began this pattern by questioning the truth and authority of God’s word in the Garden (Has God really said … You won’t die?) and it has continued through the ages.
Many through the pages of Scripture questioned the power and promises of God, only to fail and fall before His faithfulness. This questioning of God continues today as the message of God is compromised for a trinket of peace and love, but without the Prince of Peace and the God of Love as the source and standard.
Yesterday I first read of a “new Bible” that has been released for those aged 4-10 called “The Just Love Story Bible.” One of the co-authors states, “Our agenda is to teach young people a theology of love and justice that we don’t have to unlearn.” Their hope is to prompt children to question and challenge traditional beliefs. To the point that one states about the resurrection, their response is “Did that happen? For me, it matters more that children know that love never dies.”
Our institutions of higher learning (colleges, universities and seminaries) have long peddled some of these lies and questions leading many to question and leave the faith (which is a dark day for their parents and grandparents). We know that the darkness of the lies of the enemy have filtered down to public education at all levels, but this Bible is now promoted for parents or grandparents to bring into their home for a weekly dose of untruth and darkness.
There is no hope in love and justice without the Loving God dispensing justice. While the cry of darkness is that everyone can determine truth for themselves, that only works if everyone gives up their right to truth for the truth of darkness. This Christmas season, do not pick up a copy of this book, caught up in the lie of the title, “The Just Love Story Bible.” It is not just nor is it loving to allow men, women, boys and girls to not know the truth that we are all broken, all sinful, all separated from a holy and just God who loved us enough to send His Son to die for those sins to redeem us to Himself.
And did the resurrection happen? I stand with Paul when he says in I Corinthians 15:13-19:
“But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up — if in fact the dead do not rise. For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.”
Pressing on…
Ron Tipton, Senior Pastor
